Editorial and Mission News
By Editor
The cartoon on the first page and the first editorial article, "Which Shall It Be?" will speak for themselves. We hope the cartoon will be carefully studied. The quotations under the heading "Taught in Many Sermons To-day" are not expressions made up for the occasion, but are taken from sermons actually preached. He who is in the right can leave the vindication of his cause with God. It matters not what his enemies or friends may think, or say, or do. He may not be able to explain to them his motives, and the very doing of it might place him in a selfish attitude. The safest way, then, at such a time is to let God work out the ultimate and vindicate His own cause, and he who is with God can certainly trust Him to do it. Despatches from Rome declare that the pope has sent his congratulations to Secretary Taft, wishing him success in his Presidential aspirations. They refer to his pleasant relations to the Vatican in the past, and hope that if he is elected President more cordial relations may prevail in the future. We have not the exact words of the papal message at hand. If any of our readers can give it, in its exact terms, we would like to get it. A letter from Dr. H. W. Miller reveals the fact that our new mission press in China is fully organized with H. W. Miller, manager; B. A. Roberts, superintendent, and Mrs. Louise Roberts as treasurer. They have gotten out one regular job, besides a few letter-heads; announce themselves as the publishers of The Fuh In Hsuen Pao, which, Englished, is The Gospel Herald. A letter just previous to this tells us that the press has reached there safely, packed in eight boxes; has been put together and is doing good work. Of this we are indeed glad. We believe those whom the Pacific Press gave up for mission service will do good work for the Master. We have a plethora of matter for our new monthly issue; more, I am sure, than we can possibly use, even tho much of it has been solicited on purpose for that issue. Among the articles we note the following: A striking article on war by the associate editor; "Justice Brewer on War;" "Against Themselves;" showing the reactive influence of religious legislation; a missions article entitled "Toward the End at a Breathless Pace;" "Man's Condition and Need;" "After Death—What?" "Demoralizing Effects of Alcohol;" "The Sabbath in Prophecy;" "Cry of Humanity Against War;" articles on the second coming of Christ and the Sabbath. All these are excellent, helpful, and timely. The cover is a beauty, representing the different phases of truth which lead into the great path of righteousness. We are sure that our readers will be pleased with the number and it ought to have a large sale. Under date of May 28, Prof. J. L. Shaw, superintendent of our India Mission, sends a most encouraging letter, and tells us how much they appreciate the Mountain Mission Rest-Home, which is not merely a rest-home, but a center of activity for missionary work. The establishment of the rest-home at Mussoorie has made quite a change in the Indian work. They have opened a new sanitarium in the central part of the station, about a mile from the rest-home; and it is meeting with success from the start. They are not able to accommodate those who apply for admission. How much better this will be than to bury workers in the unwholesome atmosphere of Calcutta. It is much easier to invite the sick away from the hot, humid climate to the cooler mountain regions. He writes that they are also holding meetings in the central part of the station three times a week and have a good interest, so that the Mountain Mission Rest-Home is one in which the rest is chiefly found in change of labor. Brother Burgess, he writes us, has had a very serious attack of typhoid fever, temperature running to 105, and life despaired of, but he was brought to the Home and is now improving. Brother Shaw refers to the workers who have gone out from here,—a printer to Mexico, and another to China,—and pleads for a printer for India. He tells us that the workers there are praying for help in this respect. We hope that their prayer may be answered. India is a great field and we know of no place where the consecrated ambition of a good young printer could find a greater field for advancement and service. The God of the Bible speaks disparagingly of the men who delight in war; men who love to fight their fellows, who desire to destroy and tear down and kill. Some men manifest this with carnal weapons, the use of guns and swords. So the nations in these times, each and all, are preparing themselves for war and battle. But the same principles obtain in the heart of those who desire to combat their fellow men, who war not with principles but with men, who thru fancied slight or grievance, feel that some man or men are responsible, and who are determined to "get even" in some way with those whom they count their enemies, or who have placed obstacles in the path of their ambitions. This may not have been the case with those counted enemies, they may not have had one single thought along this line; they may have simply gone on doing their duty just as they have been during all the years of the past. It is an awful thing to make ourselves the judge of men's motives, and a still more awful thing to place ourselves on God's judgment-seat in administration of punishment. It is much better, and brings, O, so much sweeter satisfaction, to believe that "vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." We commend this text to those who have hard feelings against some one who they fancy has wronged them; and to those who are wronged, we commend that other text: "When He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered, threatened not, but committed His cause to Him that judgeth righteously." The Printed Page in Foreign Lands.—For many years missionaries have realized that one of the most effective ways for spreading the Gospel is by means of the printed page. The living preacher can reach but a limited number of people, but with the Scriptures and books and tracts, one devoted colporteur can place the good news into the hands of thousands every year. The publishers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, the Pacific Press Publishing Company, are doing all in their power to extend the knowledge of a soon-coming Saviour in the home field and in the regions beyond. As an indication of progress, note these book shipments: June 29, three thousand Spanish books to Mexico City, Mex.; June 30, thirteen hundred Spanish books to Valparaiso, Chili; July 1, thirteen hundred Spanish books to Guayaquil, Ecuador; July 2, several boxes religious and health books to Shanghai, China, and five hundred Spanish books to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Besides this, tons of books are shipped every week to all parts of the United States and Canada. And it is thus that the message is going. Health Rules.—Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, has given out the eight following precepts for the preservation of health during the summer weather. They are as follows:
"Eat one fourth less in summer than in winter."
"Eat meat in moderation."
"Banish all alcoholic beverages."
"Eat most largely of cooked fruits and vegetables."
"Drink nothing below sixty degrees in temperature, and drink sparingly."
"Be careful, and seek the society of cheerful friends."
"Practise moderation in eating, drinking, and open-air exercise."
"Don't fret; don't worry."
He remarks that thousands of persons are made sick in summer because they do not know how to eat; but the same criticism applies to the winter season as well. These rules contain good, common sense. If we were to criticize at all, we would say of the second, Eat no meat at all. It is absolutely not necessary, unless one is ill or needs prescribed diet. Rule five will be criticized by many who think there is nothing like ice-water, which, after all, rarely quenches thirst. The doctor well remarks that moderate eating, moderate drinking, moderate exercise in the open air, and cheerful friends, will keep any good man alive thru the summer; and yet it is better for a man to be cheerful toward others, than to expect the cheerfulness of others to sustain him. The Priesthood of Christ.—Our Lord is said to be a Priest "after the order of Melchizedek," but never after the order of Aaron or Levi. In other words, He is not a Levitical priest, but a Melchizedek priest. The Melchizedek who met Abraham was not a type of Christ, in the sense of a shadow or figure, but he was a priest in that order, even as is Christ. The Levitical priesthood was a type of Christ's priesthood in service for a sinful world, existing wholly because of man's necessities, having to do with the putting away of sin only, with all that implied, while the Melchizedek priesthood is adaptable to all conditions, times, exigencies. It has respect to conditions and principles, not only as regards the future and past, but all that are to come. Christ hath an everlasting priesthood, and His sons and daughters are kings and priests unto Him forever.