A METHOD FREQUENTLY EMPLOYED IN SPEAKING TO MEN—THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FREQUENTLY OCCURRING STORM, EARTHQUAKE, AND FLOOD—THE CHEERING PROSPECT
By JOHN ORR CORLISS
VARIOUS methods have been used for Heaven's communications with men. At times God has pleaded by fire, but more commonly He has spoken from the clouds. He talked thus to the house of Israel on various occasions and in different situations. After this manner also He made known the mission of His only-begotten Son. Matt. 17:5. This voice was not always understood, because not all men were in touch with divinity. John 12:28-30.
A STREET WASHED OUT IN THE SUBURBS OF LOS ANGELES, THE CONCRETE MANHOLE AT THE RIGHT WAS EVEN WITH THE SURFACE OF THE STREET, AND IS NOW A LANDMARK, SHOWING WHERE THE STREET WAS.
It is possible, yea, even probable that He who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, pleads at this day from the clouds with those of the human family who will lend a listening ear to His mode of speaking. It may be, however, that many, as of old—even most of the people—are too much absorbed with pleasure, and other worldly pursuits, through the import of His words. But these words are as verity the ancient words of divinity, which cannot fail to interpret the "taste of the storm-bound" clouds which are not due to dwellers of various proportions of their lives. Twice recently within a single month Pacific coast been deluged and storm-tossed. Beginning January 25, a violent storm, accompanied by cloudbursts, continued for some days, destroying much property, and taking its toll of lives. February 17 another tempest broke over the coast, more particularly178over southern California, carrying, in its three days of continuance, a wreckage of life and property beyond computation. With the wind blowing for a time at a forty-mile rate, and rain falling to the depth of an inch each hour, nothing could possibly prevent the results which followed. As seen from surrounding heights, the lower country presented an appearance of a vast inland sea.
Nearly every city and hamlet in southern California was inundated, having from two feet to six feet of water in the streets, according to location and elevation of the town. In Covina, every store on one avenue was flooded, water raging through the street like a mill-race, at the depth of three feet. Every bridge in the surrounding country was either carried away or greatly damaged, and many acres of orange-trees were destroyed.
About Whittier hundreds of acres of lowlands along the San Gabriel River were completely under water. At Carpinteria the stream from Fithians Canyon left its regular channel, and cut across country, furrowing out a new course regardless of the value of the land it intersected. At Monrovia the water at one point was as high as a man's head, putting out of commission all forms of traffic. Near Bairdstown a lake was formed half a mile wide, which floated away a portion of the town foundation.
In Pasadena the water was over five feet deep on Huntington Drive. One street was a raging torrent from side to side, tearing out large boulders, which were rolled down the course and dashed into stores along the way. Four feet of water rushed along Brand Boulevard, the principal thoroughfare of Glendale city. All the beach cities were for a time cut off by rail from other parts, and a dam seventy-five feet high back of the Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle was completely swept away.
HOUSES WERE FLOATED AWAY
In some cases families were driven from their homes just in time to see their houses float away on the crest of the flood. More than fifty Mexican families were said to be huddled together at one time under trees on an elevation, from which place they were rescued with some difficulty. A wash, or creek, known as Arroyo Seco, which remains dry most of the year, became a raging torrent, sweeping away many houses along its banks, and threatening railroad terminal facilities. One bridge was dynamited to clear a way for the water backing up against it, and thus save homes on the bank above. The Santa Fe company dumped fourteen box cars from a bridge, hoping to turn the swirling waters of the Arroyo away from the bank upon which much of its terminal property was located. The general agreement was that no such havoc was ever before wrought in that region by the elements. A general estimate of the flood damages places them at the sum of $4,000,000.
But this storm was by no means local in its devastating career. In San Francisco, a portion of the great dome on the Panama-Pacific Exposition's palace of manufactures collapsed and fell, causing damage to the extent of $20,000. A part of the Stanford University grounds was flooded, and in Sacramento Valley low spots were inundated.
From east of the Rocky Mountains, terrific snow-storms were reported as having done much damage to life and property. As one said of the storm in southern California, "There's water everywhere," so one may safely say, There's storm and devastation everywhere.
Courtesy Los Angeles "Evening Herald"
WHAT DO THESE THINGS MEAN?
Concerning all this the question naturally arises as to what these late "record breakers" mean. To him who trembles at the word of Jehovah these happenings are significant, as fulfilling inspired warnings given to indicate the troublous days immediately to precede the coming of the Lord to judgment. Speaking of the all-absorbing greed to come when men would "buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes," and would so adulterate their marketable goods as to sell for food the refuse of wheat, which is utterly unfit to be eaten, and even then to sell by under weight, God says, "I will never forget any of their works." He then adds: "Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelled therein? and it [the cause of mourning] shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it [the selfish greed] shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt." Amos 8: 5-8.
ONE OF THE MANY ELECTRIC RAILWAY BRIDGES WASHED OUT NEAR LOS ANGELES BY THE LATE STORM
In view of this, and other scriptures just as direct, is not one justified in concluding that the late frequent storms and tempests are the warning voice from "out of the cloud," calling upon men and women to halt in their mad career of greed, lust, and crime, to meditate upon the steady forbearance of God, which has mercifully borne with the nearly uniform baseness of the race? Indeed, human conditions of the present time are clearly set forth in the prophetic portrayal of the apostle when he says: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, . . . heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3: 1-5.
With a knowledge of the oft-repeated highway robberies, and the apparent disregard of life in seeking gratification of the senses,—in fact, the utter selfishness in every walk of life and every grade of society,—can any one honestly deny that the present generation is the one pointed out by the apostle's description of those living in the "last days"? Yet another inspired writer testifies beforehand that when these foreboding occurrences appear, many will chase away their temporary fears by lightly asking: "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning." 2 Peter 3: 4.
It was the same when the Noachic Flood came as a besom of destruction to the earth. No one, except Noah's family, believed that the warnings and premonitions meant anything serious, until they were cut off from all help. Referring to this, the Saviour said, "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24: 37.
SOURCE OF SAFETY
But, that it is said that "unto the Lord for Him shall He appear the same, while without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9: 28. To all such the thickening signs of the times in earthquake, storm, and flood, and in the heartless actions of so many who were designed to be in the image of God, carry no terror of heart, but rather comfort; not because things are as they are, but because these appearances in this generation, in fulfilment of prophetic utterances, give the comforting hope of speedy deliverance from earthly trials, and a safe transport into the glorious presence of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
THE RIVERS SHALL NOT OVERFLOW
All those whose mind is stayed on God can readily avail themselves of that wonderful promise: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. . . . For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isa. 43: 2, 3. Such will always be ready to say with the psalmist, "Therefore will not we fear, though the179earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." This can be said with all confidence when one has heeded the exhortation, "Be still," or as the original will justify, "Let go, and know that I am God." Ps. 46: 2, 10.
Waiting in such attitude, every one can meet his Lord with the exclamation: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isa. 25: 9.
ELECTRIC RAILWAY BRIDGE AT GLENDALE BROKEN BY THE FLOOD
