Decadent Society | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 35.

Decadent Society.

KINDNESS to the brutes is one thing; exalting them to the brotherhood of man is quite another; and where money is lavished upon them in life and death, which the poor creatures neither appreciate nor enjoy, to the neglect of suffering humanity, such kindness and devotion becomes positively cruel, not to say disgusting. Many is the “society” woman who would not be seen caring for her own children, who voluntarily acts as nurse-maid and lady-in-waiting to some wretched canine, with the same devotion that the ancient Egyptian followed the sacred bull Apis. Just recently cable despatches tell us that London “society” ladies have adopted a New York fad—that of taking one’s pet dog out to dine. Some women, it is said, go so far as to refuse invitations to dinner when the honor is not extended to the canine pet. The despatch says:

“The intrusion of dogs in the dining-room is a source of much embarrassment to the butler and footman, while everybody who is not a devoted dog-worshiper scrupulously avoids houses where the four-footed guests are allowed at table.”

We think we should adopt the poet’s sentiment:

“Wilt with me abide? Leave thy dog outside.”

Following the law of gravitation in the mental and moral world, things and minds sooner or later find their level. Yet many of these “society” women have no more useful work to do. They could find, most of them, doubtless, enough of it among the children of the poor in the very shadow of their own houses.

Just recently a dog was buried in a fine grave, and a monument erected to his memory. Another dog was buried at sea with the American flag wrapped round him. A pacing mare was buried with elaborate ceremonies, according to the Louisville Times, and “a burial service was read over her by a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” The pacing mare won $2,500, it is said, and this was given to the M. E. Church Home Mission Board. The wretched morals and gambling of the race-track exalted with the poor, innocent mare. All these brutes may have been more worthy, or less unworthy than many humans, but that does not touch the case. The man who makes himself a brute is capable of more; he has within himself the glorious possibilities of God’s promises. Low as he may be, he should be regarded above a brute. Then what shall we say to brute-worship?

In Germany the ease of wealth, the idle lives of even scions of nobility and royalty, have developed into unspeakable rottenness and infamy; and the German emperor, a family man, be it said to his praise, is endeavoring to purge his court of the unspeakable corruption. Some have been banished. Several have committed suicide.

It has been pointed out that these vices—the lowest and most degrading—flourish especially among the rich. So it was in Sodom. “This was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” Eze. 16:49, 50. As it was in the days of Sodom, “after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” See Genesis 19; Luke 17:28-35.

The corruption of society, the festering masses in our large cities connived with by the authorities, winked at by men in high position, more and more regarded indifferently by people in general, is rapidly bringing the world to Sodom’s condition. We could not, if we would, print the constant evidences which come to light of the condition existing under the veneer of every-day life. We have no desire to do it. We point to it now as an evidence that God’s word is true when it predicts just such conditions in the last days.

There is salvation from even this unspeakable, unmentionable rottenness, in Jesus Christ our Lord. He can and will save every repentant sinner who cries to Him with “the whole heart” “out of the depths.” He will take the feet from the mire and the clay and set them upon the Rock and establish their going. O soul, whoever you are, in the chains and the slime of lust, will you not turn from corruption to the clean, mighty One, who longs to save you?

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Then why should they appeal to civil government to protect them from persecution? If all power in heaven and earth belongs to Christ (Matt. 28:18), and His followers are therefore to go into all the world with the Gospel, from what other source should they seek assistance in their work? “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” Luke 12:4.

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Central California has organized an intermediate school for those who desire to have their children taught the Bible and its principles of morality, as well as the usual branches of learning. The school has been in operation for the past year, and has met with success. It will soon be time for it to open again for its year’s work. If interested, address, B. L. Howe, Armona, Kings Co., Cal.

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A fanatical movement has sprung up in many different parts of the country over the “gift of tongues.” The adherents of the movement claim that unless a person “can speak with tongues” he has not received the Holy Ghost. And while claiming that they speak with tongues, there is no evidence that any one of them has ever been given, in a miraculous way, a language that any one can understand. Rev. Jasper A. Huffman has analyzed the movement in a pamphlet, and has given the Scripture teaching upon the subject of “the gift of tongues.” The little treatise is clear and plain, and it shows a good spirit of fairness and kindness in dealing with the fanaticism. As Mr. Huffman suggests, it is well-nigh hopeless to redeem any one from this delusion when he once gets into it; but his pamphlet is a splendid help in enabling any one to see the unscriptural and unreasonable grounds that are claimed, and hence will serve to keep people out of the delusion. And of course it will help those who have been ensnared by it to get out if they will only heed the plain teaching of the word of God that is presented. We are so well pleased with the pamphlet that we have ordered a supply and have them on sale at this office. Price, ten cents.