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A Lord’s Day Convention
By Editor
THE following item from the Oakland Tribune of October 22, shows that the friends of Sunday legislation in this State are neither dead nor sleeping:—
"What might appropriately be called a Lord's Day Convention was held in San Francisco yesterday, to see what could be done toward organizing a movement for the observance of the Lord's day. Dr. R. H. McDonald, of San Francisco, C. C. Clay and William Cubery, of Oakland, were appointed a committee to endeavor to raise $25,000 as a campaign fund. About $1,300 has already been raised."
The field secretary of the so-called American Sabbath Union is included in this plan as it is stated that Rev. Dr. Robert Mackenzie is at present in the East endeavoring to secure the services of Dr. Crafts for the coming season.
Let no unsophisticated student of the Bible suppose that by Lord's day in this item is meant the Lord's day of the Scriptures; Sunday is the day intended, and it is the Lord's day solely and only because the Catholic Church set it apart and gave it to the Lord in exchange for the real Lord's day, "the Sabbath of the Lord," the day of which the Son of man himself declared that he is Lord.
A Congress of Western Catholics
By Editor
THE Pan-American Congress in Washington has suggested to the Catholic Review the idea of a Congress of the Catholics of the Western Continent. The Review says:—
“The Catholics of the Continent, such as they are, outnumber the Protestants largely, and it would not be at all an impossible task so to blend them on general matters as to make them masters of the religious destinies of the Continent. If a commercial idea and the ability of Mr. Blaine can bring together eminent men from all parts of the country, cannot the Christian idea and the ability of Cardinal Gibbons bring together a similar body of men from the same quarters? There is no doubt that the Catholics of the North are to-day the Catholic body of the West, and, with the exception of the Germans and Belgians, the Catholic body of the world. We must lead the way in ideas and practical work. The Catholics of South America are fast asleep, not to say dead. . . . They ought to be rescued, waked up, and made alive. A visit of their leading men, ecclesiastical and lay, to this country, the education of their clergy among us, would make them acquainted with our methods, and at least trouble their consciences. Perhaps, too, it would be worth while for the Catholics of Washington to look after the Catholic delegates to this Congress and bring them into contact with American Catholicity.”
It may be that the Catholics of South America are in this condition described by the Review, but it would seem that their Northern brethren are active enough to make up for it. The Romanists of the United States never were so aggressive as now.
Beneficence and Piety
The Advance suggests that the present rate of beneficence for religious purposes cannot be materially increased without an increased degree of piety. The churches are doing about all they can do while standing on their present ground of consecration.
Proof of the Soul’s Immortality
By Editor
THE following question and answer clipped from the Interior of September 6, will be of interest to those who feel sure that the Bible is just full of texts which prove beyond the peradventure of a doubt the immortality of the soul. Of course they have never been able to find the texts, but they nevertheless imagine that they exist; the editor of the Interior is in about the same fix; he believes the dogma but can't prove it. The question and answer are as follows:—
"EDITOR OF THE INTERIOR: Would you be so kind as to publish in your paper a satisfactory proof of the immortality of the soul, or if that is too much trouble, to name a work where such proof may be found, and oblige.
Ulysses, Neb., September 1, 1889. SEEKER FOR LIGHT."
"There are a great many analogies both within and without ourselves, which point to the immortality of the human spirit, and these have been set forth in many treatises. The Presbyterian Board of Publication (Philadelphia), would furnish one or more of them on application. But there is only one proof, only one demonstration, and that is in the resurrection of Christ, a fact verified by many indisputable witnesses. A Christian, by living near to God in obedience and prayer, gets direct testimony from the witness of the Holy Spirit in his soul. But this evidence is not capable of being imparted by one man to another. He can testify that he has the testimony, but he cannot communicate the testimony itself. Only the Spirit can do that."
Just how the resurrection of Christ proves the immortality of the soul the Interior does not explain, and we confess that we do not know. To us it seems that the fact of a resurrection being set forth in the Scriptures as essential to a future life, is a most positive testimony against the dogma of natural and inherent immortality.
The Change of the Sabbath
DR. BRUCE, in his book, "The Training of the Twelve," page 97, makes an acknowledgment that is worth noting. After concluding that the change of the Sabbath was wrought by the church, he says:—
"How this change was brought about we do not well know. Probably it was accomplished by degrees, and without consciousness of the transition which was being made on its import. From the beginning believers seem to have met for worship on that first day of the week; but there is no evidence that they rested entirely from work on that day." "The likelihood is that the first Christians rested on the seventh day as Jews."
This is as good evidence for Sunday as Dr. Bruce could produce. And of this he is not at all certain. His evidence rests on a "seem" or a "probably," and it was all done "without consciousness" that they were changing the day. But is this the way God does things?—Nay, verily. He has declared his will over and over again, and a first-day Sabbath is no part of it. But what of the seventh day?
The Church and Gambling
By Editor
THE Herald of Truth well says that the gambler "has in the past given tone to the morals on this coast." "The truest patriot and Christian in California will beware of 'tickets' and 'cards.' Often these are the beginning of the gambler's career. The first step downward has been often taken in the parlor, and in the presence of Christian ladies." And, we ask, is not the church responsible for a part of this evil? Do not the bazaars, church fairs, raffles, and fish-ponds have something to do in exciting a spirit of gambling? And if the church had denounced these practices and lived above them, there would be but little need of the remark, "Preaching against it does comparatively little good." How would it do for the church to practice a while as well as preach?
Building Churches According to Ability
By Editor
THE following item concerning church building, taken from the Occident of October 16, we commend to our people everywhere, who are contemplating building churches. There are principles embodied therein which it is not wise to ignore:—
“Eleven churches built, one enlarged, and one improved, at a total cost of $42,960, of which $38,560 was in the presbytery of Los Angeles. While we should strive to make our houses of worship neat and attractive, and an honor to Christ and our denomination, still let us build according to our ability. A smaller and plainer building, paid for, is more honoring to Christ, than one more expensive, unpaid for. A mortgage is not an ornament to a church. Besides, we pioneers and foundation builders are not called on to pay all the bills of coming generations.”
The Czar and the Phonograph
"THE czar of Russia," says the New York World, "has been examining the Edison phonograph at Berlin. Did it appeal to him as a triumph of genius, as an evidence of progress, as a jewel found by science to crown the brow of civilization? Not at all. He examined it in all its phases, and wondered how it could be made available in war. The czar and his European rivals look upon the inventive achievements of the day, not from a utilitarian standpoint, but as great captains seeking to control new weapons with which to defend their unlawful possessions."
Sunday Law and Bad Characters
By Editor
THE Christian at Work is authority for the statement that a rector in New York City has determined to abandon his regular Sunday evening services in a certain neighborhood, because of the presence of so many bad characters. "He expects to be compelled to move his church away altogether," says our contemporary. That is bad for New York, especially as they have a Sunday law in that State. Would it not be well for the American Sabbath Union to do a little missionary work at home, before attempting to reform the world?
The Christian Endeavor Association
The Boston Morning Star says that “the object of the Christian Endeavor Association is to consolidate into one vast organization the young Christians of all evangelical bodies, for the purpose of breaking down all denominational lines.” Commenting upon this, a correspondent of the Baptist and Reflector says: “Will not Baptists take note of this and keep their children out of it? The aim of the Evangelical Alliance—and Y. M. C. A. is the same.”
The Law of God as Changed by the Papacy
By Editor
"THE LAW OF GOD AS CHANGED BY THE PAPACY," is the title of a chart which is advertised in another column. It shows at a glance the prediction and fulfillment of what the papacy has attempted to do with the law of the Most High. Younger ministers would no doubt find it a great help in impressing the truth upon minds when discussing the change of the Sabbath, and it would doubtless be helpful to all. It is an object lesson.
The Pope as Balkan Arbiter
By Editor
A DISPATCH from Rome under date of October 22, says: "General Ignatieff has arrived with an autograph letter from the czar, accepting the pope as arbiter in the Balkan question." And thus the influence of the Roman pontiff grows apace; thus is he regaining his lost prestige, not only as a temporal prince, but he is paving the way for being again recognized as head over all the churches, "defender of the faith and corrector of heretics."
The Pacific Press and Foreign Missions
By Editor
WE hope that none of our readers will pass by the article entitled, "The Pacific Press and Foreign Missions." It is a most worthy object, and in helping this institution one would be doing good missionary work. We bespeak for the article a careful reading and prompt action.
Notice Concerning Unpaid Papers
By Editor
We send no papers from this office without pay in advance unless by special arrangement. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers and hand them to your friends to read.
