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Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 37.

STRENGTH

Review and Herald

Sep 15, 1910

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 15, 1910

STRENGTH

By Phillips Brooks

DO not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle. But you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God. — Phillips Brooks.

General Tract List

(Preserve for future reference, or send for tract list in circular form)

Words of Truth Series

No.                  Each, Cts.
4. A Challenge to Protestants ................................ ½
5. Fundamental Principles of Seventh-day Adventists ............ 1
6. Candid Admissions .......................................... ½
7. Personal Questions and Answers Concerning the Sabbath ...... 3½
16. What to Do With Doubt .................................... ½
17. If’s and Why’s of Baptism ................................ 1¼
18. Sanctification ............................................ 1
19. A Woman-Ministry .......................................... 5
26. The Open Letter and Answers to the Open Letter ............ 1
29. The Seven Last Plagues .................................... 3
32. Can We Know? .............................................. ½
34. Present Truth ............................................. 2
35. The Third Angel’s Message ................................ ¼
41. What and How to Answer .................................... 1
42. Second Coming of Christ ................................... 2

Religious Liberty Leaflets

No.                  Each, Cts.
1. Principles Too Little Understood .......................... ½
2. Sunday Laws ................................................ ½
3. Logic of Sabbath Legislation .............................. ½
4. The Civil Sabbath .......................................... ¾
5. Civil Government and the Church ............................ ¼
6. Religious Liberty — What Eminent Authorities Say ........... ¾
7. The Church’s Greatest Need To-day ........................... ¼
8. Church Federation .......................................... ¾
9. Limits of Civil Authority .................................. ¾
10. A Vital Question — Is the Sabbath a Civil Institution? ..... ½
11. What Are Works of Charity and Necessity? ................... ¼
12. “Backward States” ........................................ ½
13. Alexander Campbell on Moral Societies ...................... 1½
14. William Lloyd Garrison on Sunday Laws ...................... ½
15. Sunday Mail Reports ....................................... ¾
16. Why Sunday Laws Are Wrong .................................. ½

“Meat in Due Season”

Tracts on Special Subjects

Signs of the Times

No.       Words of Truth Series       Per 100
12. War Between Capital and Labor ................................ $2.00
22. Is the End Near? .............................................. .50
27. Important Questions on Great Events ............................ .50
37. Signs of Our Times ............................................ 1.00
39. What Do These Things Mean? .................................... 1.00

Christ’s Second Coming

No.       Words of Truth Series       Per 100
1. Coming of the Lord ............................................. $ .25
9. Reign of Righteousness ......................................... 2.00
14. Come, Lord Jesus ............................................... .25
36. We Would See Jesus ............................................. 1.00
42. Second Coming of Christ ........................................ 2.00

The Sabbath

No.       Words of Truth Series       Per 100
2. How the Sabbath Came to Me ..................................... $3.00
7. Personal Questions and Answers Concerning the Sabbath ........... 3.50
20. Should Not Christians Keep the Sabbath? ........................ $2.00
43. An Appeal to Clergy ............................................ .50
23. The Rest Day ................................................... 2.50
46. Elihu on the Sabbath ........................................... 1.00
50. Rome’s Challenge ................................................ 2.00

The Law and Tithing

No.       Words of Truth Series       Per 100
11. The Law in Christ .............................................. $2.00
40. The Perpetuity of the Law ...................................... 1.00
47. Court Week in Heaven ............................................ .25
24. Ownership and Tithing ........................................... .50

Special Delusions

No.       Words of Truth Series       Per 100
28. Hypnotism—What Is It? .......................................... $3.00
38. Gospel Remedy for Present-Day Isms .............................. 1.00
48. False Hope of a Second Probation ................................ 2.00
51. The Emmanuel Movement ........................................... 5.00

The Faith That Will Stand the Test

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE
THE time has fully come when darkness is called light, and light is called darkness. We are living in an age when sham liberality is extolled; when those who scatter falsehood, false doctrines, and soul-destroying heresies are received and exalted by society; and when the most terrible deeds of iniquity are glossed over and excused on the plea of charity. Even the voices from the pulpits of our land are saying, “It shall be well with the transgressor.” Sin is not dealt with as a thing of fearful consequence, destined to bring inevitable ruin upon those who persist in its indulgence. It is not pictured in its abhorrent character before the people of the world. Smooth things are prophesied by false teachers, and the multitudes are resting in their sin, unmindful of the solemn warnings and examples of the Word of God. The time has come when we should “sigh and . . . cry for all the abominations” that are done in the land.
While the law of God is being made void in our world, there is a decided testimony to be borne. The truth is to be presented in its native force and clearness, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. This can not be done without exciting opposition. Those who refuse to receive the love of truth will not rest without attempting to retard its progress. They have been turned unto fables, and will unite with the great adversary of souls to bring the message of Heaven into contempt.
The apostle Paul warns us that “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” This is what we may expect. Our greatest trials will come because of that class who have once advocated the truth, but who turn from it to the world, and trample it under their feet in hate and derision. God has a work for his faithful servants to do. The attacks of the enemy must be met with the truth of his Word. Falsehood must be unmasked, its true character must be revealed, and the light of the law of Jehovah must shine forth into the moral darkness of the world. We are to present the claims of his Word. We shall not be held guiltless if we neglect this solemn duty. But while we stand in defense of the truth, let us not stand in defense of self, and make a great ado because we are called to bear reproach and misrepresentation. Let us not pity ourselves, but be very jealous for the law of the Most High.
Says the apostle, “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” On every side we see men easily led captive by the delusive imaginations of those who make void the Word of God; but when the truth is brought before them, they are filled with impatience and anger. But the exhortation of the apostle to the servant of God is, “Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” In his day some left the cause of the Lord. He writes, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world;” and again he says, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.”
Prophets and apostles experienced similar trials of opposition and reproach, and even the spotless Lamb of God was tempted in all points like as we are. He bore the contradiction of sinners against himself.
Every warning for this time must be faithfully delivered; but “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” We must cherish carefully the words of our God lest we be contaminated by the deceptive workings of those who have left the faith. We are to resist their spirit and influence with the same weapon our Master used when assailed by the prince of darkness,—“It is written.” We should learn to use the Word of God skilfully. The exhortation is, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” There must be diligent work and earnest prayer and faith to meet the error of false teachers and seducers; for “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” These words portray the character of the men the servants of God will have to meet. “False accusers,” “despisers of those that are good,” will attack those who are faithful to their God in this degenerate age. But the ambassador of heaven must manifest the spirit that was displayed in the Master. In humility and love he must labor for the salvation of men.
Paul continues concerning those who oppose the work of God, comparing themto the men who made war against the faithful in the time of ancient Israel. He says: “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” We know that the time is coming when the folly of warring against God will be revealed. We can afford to wait in calm patience and trust, no matter how much maligned and despised; for “there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested,” and those who honor God will be honored by him in the presence of men and angels. We are to share in the sufferings of the Reformers. It is written, “The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” Christ understands our grief. Not one of us is called to bear the cross alone. The suffering Man of Calvary is touched with the feeling of our woes, and as he has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are in sorrow and trial for his sake. “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned.”
God has provided abundant means for successful warfare with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places; for “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The Bible is the armory where we may equip for the struggle. Our loins must be girt about with truth. Our breastplate must be righteousness. The shield of faith must be in our hands, the helmet of salvation shine on our brows, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, be wielded to cut our way through the ranks of our bitter foes. We must be ready at the command of our Captain to follow where he may lead. We must be doers of his Word, not deceiving our own selves.
(Concluded next week)

Not Far Away

By WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
First dawns for thee redemption’s day, When in the silence of thy soul God speaks thee pardon, makes thee whole. There’s hope within, and all is bright; For God is love, and God is light, And heaven is not far away.
Erelong betides a cloudy day, When earth-friends fail or prostrate lie,— All hopes are vanished ’neath the sky. Then comes the Comforter to thee To hallow thy humility, And heaven is not far away.
Sometimes a glad and sunny day, When God’s world seems both bright and fair,— The birds are singing everywhere; The fragrant woods and perfumed meads Exhale the balm thy spirit needs, And heaven is not far away.
To thee must come the dread, dark day When thou art called the vale to tread, And mid the shadows leave thy dead. Then speaks the Christ, who is the Life, “I vanquish sin and death and strife,”— And heaven is not far away.
Ah, heaven is not far away! ’Tis e’en within you, till that day When, radiant, brighter than the sun, Thy home descends, and God will come To dwell with thee in heaven for aye!
Portland, Ore.

Are We Like Noah?

By A. CARTER

A. CARTER
In “Patriarchs and Prophets” we read: “The sins that called for vengeance upon the antediluvian world, exist to-day. The fear of God is banished from the hearts of men, and his law is treated with indifference and contempt.” Through the goodness of God, the antediluvians had an abundant supply of the blessings of life. “Their sin consisted in taking these gifts without gratitude to the Giver, and debasing themselves by indulging appetite without restraint. . . . A similar condition of things exists now.”
This being so, it is very evident that there is most urgent need for faithfulwitnesses for God, possessed of a Noah-like spirit, who will yield themselves and all they possess to the solemn work of warning the world of threatened destruction and of the nearness of Christ’s second coming.
The faith, sincerity, and earnestness of Noah were proved by one thing,—“all that he possessed, he invested in the ark.” His steadfastness was seen in his faithfulness in warning the world for one hundred twenty years, and at the same time preparing for the great crisis by building the ark. There is much more need now for a complete consecration than in the time of Noah, inasmuch as a vaster number of people are in danger, and the opened doors of opportunity are so many. Instead of an unbelieving and scoffing world, which was then faced by one family, there are now many thousands who are calling for help, and are filled with a yearning for light and a hunger for the bread of life. In his day Noah would never have been content simply to pay his tithe. No; he willingly invested “all that he possessed” in God’s work.
How few Christians in modern times have done that! A conspicuous example of men of faith is George Müller,—a man raised up by God in these days to show his professed followers what might be accomplished if they possessed a trusting, childlike faith in him. Does any one who has a few hundreds or thousands of dollars to invest hesitate about using it to meet one of the many calls the Mission Board is receiving? Let this statement in the inspired Word suffice: “The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.” 2 Chron. 25:9. George Müller and other noble workers have proved the truth of this promise, and received more and yet more to use for God. A few months ago we read in the REVIEW of a German brother who is now working his farm, not for his own gain, but for the benefit of God’s work in connection with the third angel’s message. This Noah-like spirit should be more general.
Who will follow the noble examples cited? In “Christ’s Object Lessons” we read: “God claims the whole world as his vineyard.” And again: “The Lord had instructed his people that he was the owner of the vineyard, and that all their possessions were given them in trust to be used for him.”
How few of us look at material things and our true position in this world from God’s view-point! This important matter of stewardship for the Lord is one of those things we all need to learn more fully about. It seems to be true that “there is a stupor, a paralysis, upon the people of God, which prevents them from understanding the duty of the hour.” Surely there is grave danger in this condition, and only the Great Physician is able to help us. Let us therefore, in private and in congregations and in little companies, call upon him to save us from this sad state, and to anoint our eyes with eye-salve, that we may see.
Sanitarium, Cal.

Light and Gladness

By G. B. STARR

G. B. STARR
THESE two most beautiful and suggestive words represent joyful, glad experiences, that belong to every child of God. Light and gladness are theirs by right of inheritance; for “light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” Ps. 97: 11. We are not the children of darkness and gloom, nor are we of the night; but we are the children of the day and of the light.
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all,” and those who live near him, and walk close by his side, do not walk in darkness and uncertainty. “Light is sown for the righteous” to reap, and we should daily gather our souls full of it to carry to all about us.
It is the duty and privilege of every child of God to be filled with gladness also. “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Ps. 32: 11. “Thou hast put gladness in my heart” (Ps. 4: 7), “that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.”
Our blessed Leader has been anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, so that he is the gladdest One in all the glad procession. Heb. 1: 9. He is leading the righteous over a pathway of gladness and light, that is to grow lighter and lighter until it ends in the light and gladness of eternal day. But now, just now, God wants his children to glorify him, being glad and rejoicing all their days. Ps. 90: 14. The heavenward, homeward journey is a happy, joyous road.
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Melrose, Mass.

Tempted in All Points

By L. A. HANSEN

L. A. HANSEN
“For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4: 15, 16. We may obtain mercy and find help in time of need because Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, and is therefore touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
In the fifth chapter of Hebrews we read that it was “in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears,” that he “learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” He learned by experience what strong crying and tears are, and what things the flesh must suffer, being thus fitted to become our high priest.
It may be difficult for us to understand how Christ was tempted in all points like as we are. We may sometimes consider the life of Christ, as presented in the Gospels, with a view to seeing how it can cover the experiences and temptations that come to us in our own lives. The recorded life of Christ does not seem to include just such temptations as ours. In fact, we think of some things in our own experience with a shrinking horror at the thought of connecting them in any way with the Christ-life. We are content, perhaps, with thinking that in a general way the germ, or principle, of all sin and temptation was bound up in the things that are recorded as having been met by him.
The record of the public ministry of Jesus, the last three and one-half years of his life, offers untold treasures in overcoming grace. It is impossible to exhaust the store of spiritual help that is here found. No suggestion is permissible that would imply that anything is wanting. But it is in place to suggest that there was more to the life of Jesus than is given in the record. That the long thirty years of his life, on which there is almost silence, must have abounded with experiences and trials, conflicts and victories, in our behalf, will surely not be doubted by any.
The more careful study we give to the public life of Christ, the more may we understand that it was the expression of principles and experiences gained in his previous private life. Those thirty years must not be passed over as of little moment in the perfecting of Christ as the Captain of our salvation. What he suffered during those years, how nearly his character was formed at their close, and how much they had to do with it, remain untold.
It is recorded that on two occasions the Father himself spoke from heaven. One of these was at the baptism of Christ, when he said, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was at the close of the thirty years, before his public ministry, before he had given a sermon or spoken a parable, and ere he had wrought a single miracle, or done any mighty works. Gethsemane, with its last test of the will and final conquest, was distant. Even the wilderness experience of temptation and victory was future. This approbation was evidently upon the thirty years of the Nazareth life of obedience to the Father’s will.
If we fail in finding our exact lot and portion presented in the recorded life of Jesus, may we not believe that these were fully met in that long part of his life that is unwritten? If his public-ministry life was unlike our sphere, can we not see in his private home life, with its every-day experiences, plenty of room for just such things as befall every one of us? Surely we may know that the word is true that he “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Takoma Park, D. C.

Disposing of News Items

By W. S. Chapman

Writing for the Press—No. 7

Disposing of News Items

W. S. CHAPMAN
An item of news may come to you. The first question to consider will be, “To what extent can I use it?”
Little Johnnie Piper goes skating, and slips on the ice, breaking his arm.
This item may be a “scoop” on the regular reporter of the local. How shall it be handled to the best advantage?
The relative importance of the story must be considered. Who is Johnnie Piper? Who are his parents? How widely are they known? The local paper must have the item, anyway, because it is a local of more importance to its editor than to any other. This right to it, as an unwritten law, must not be ignored.
In the local paper, also, it will be granted the greatest space, because of its interest to those who read it, as they are acquainted with the persons concerned. So, in writing up the story, you need not hesitate to use from three hundred fifty to five hundred words, or even more, bearing in mind, though, the regular news arrangement of a story,—the germ of the story in the first paragraph, the most important details in the next, following with the minor items.
Remember always never to comment, or give your own opinion, in writing up news. To do so is an unpardonable crime in newspaperdom. State facts, but keep yourself in the background. No one cares who the reporter is, or what he may think about a news item. People want the news, the facts, and these only. They will form their own conclusions, and do their own commenting.
After writing up and despatching the story to your local, it will be proper to consider the county paper, if separate from the home paper.
If Mr. Piper is a merchant, or a prominent person in the community, a story of from one to three stickfuls will be proper for the county paper. For this purpose use the matter contained in the first two paragraphs of the article in the local paper, changing slightly, and amplifying the second paragraph moderately. This second paragraph may perhaps be “killed,” but it will do no harm to send it. Often a story will be used entire—will “go”—if well written, because it is hard work for a county paper to get newsy items from surrounding towns.
It would not be proper to “query” your State paper, or one of more pretension, for permission to telegraph so simple an item. If the matter should be used, not over one-half to one stickful would be inserted, anyway. If, however, you would be able to mail in the story, and have it arrive at the office in ample time, it would be well to send in a stickful or two.
Remember, in dealing with great dailies, that they ask for matter of general interest, and nothing else. Yet a story may be restricted in interest, and yet be of general interest in its proper channels. For instance, anything happening concerning barbers, that is of interest to all barbers, is of general interest, though not of any importance to other classes.
When the Piper story has been carried up to the State paper, it has gone as far as an item of that character can be successfully handled, unless something very unusual and peculiar is attached to it.
If little Johnnie’s mishap should be the fourth time the child had been injured within four months,—fell in the fire and badly burned in the fall; kicked by a colt soon after; fell off the roof of the chicken-house and broke his collar-bone; and now laid up with a broken arm,—why, that item could travel all over the civilized world, occupying, possibly, one or two columns of space.
The ability to see clearly and quickly the value and possibilities concealed in an item is what must be developed to win success as a reporter.
But right here will come the question, “How must I use this item to make it tell to my own best advantage?” Here several things must be considered, and circumstances must govern to a great extent. You must be certain to gain and retain the good-will of your local editor,above any other consideration; therefore, in such a case, where you have something desirable and local, give him the lion’s share of the news—fill in two or three columns of “stuff,” being careful, always, to preserve the “unity” and “construction” of the story as already explained. Place the germ of the story first, allowing three or four paragraphs for it, then twice that space for the important items, using the balance for the minor details. The editor can then cut the story to suit “space.”
When you so favor the local paper, however, you must not let in the county and State papers. Let the local editor have a clean “scoop” of the whole thing, so far as the State is concerned, and force the other papers to “clip” the news from the local. This is recognized courtesy to your home paper, and places the editor under obligation to you.
However you shall treat an important item among the local papers, it will always be allowable to redress it, and forward to any metropolitan daily, or to several, printed in widely separated places.
In case such an opportunity comes to you, send in your “query,” thus:—
POUNICK VALLEY, ARK., Dec. 2. Editor New York Herald:— Boy seriously hurt four times within four months. Fell in fire; kicked by colt; fell off roof, broke collar-bone; slipped on ice, broke arm. Do you want story? JAMES ALBRIGHT. Filed 3:20 P. M.
Queries and all telegraph matter are sent to newspapers “collect,” because special rates are granted to them. In sending in news stories by telegraph, extraordinary care must be exercised to have everything arranged correctly along story lines.
In the foregoing query, you will notice that the year is not given in the date-line. The year is not used in newspaper work. The time of day at which it is given to the operator is written in. This is very important. I take it for granted that you have already written to the dailies, and ascertained the hours when the papers go to press on their several editions, and will make it a point to send off your despatches in ample time to reach the office before they go to press on one or the other of the daily issues.
If your query is about an item that the editor can not obtain through the regular channels, he may wire you to send it in, and name the number of words you are at liberty to use. Never exceed this limit, or use it fully, unless the story warrants it.
Should you not hear from your office, wire to another paper. Do not wait to hear from an editor before beginning to write out your telegram. Have it ready, if possible, as soon as an answer comes. Be certain to note on your telegram the hour you hand it in for transmission, because the early items are always set up first, and stand the best chance of being printed. You will receive pay for only the matter used. At the end of each month paste together all matter used, in long strips, and send in to the editor. You will be paid “space rates,” which average six dollars a column.
Do not drop out little words in telegraphing. It costs more to insert them again than the extra cost of telegraphing them. Write the article just as it is to appear in print, arranging it so that it can be cut to suit space. If the arrangement is not perfect in this regard, as I have explained, your telegram will surely be dropped into the waste-basket.
Get the main facts of the story into the opening sentences. State the particulars in the shortest and best words you can command, but do not drop out any necessary words. Substitute two-syllable for three-syllable words whenever possible. If you can get hold of a “Roget’s Thesaurus,” use it to obtain simple words in which to express your thoughts. Do not try to magnify or “pad.” Use calm, temperate, common-sense language, no matter how exciting or harrowing details may be.
If your story is well put up, the possibility may be that on some future day the editor may need a two- or three-column article from your section, and that he may give you the “assignment” instead of detailing a “staff reporter” to write it up. Telegraph editors are not likely to overlook a reliable telegraph reporter when needing a “good man.”
Continue reading: Dreams of Paradise