Review and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 2. (1/9/1913)

Review and Herald

Jan 9, 1913

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 9, 1913

THE BOOK OF BOOKS

By Newell Dwight Hillis

But apart from and above all other books is the Book, the Bible. Alone it has civilized whole nations. Be our theories of inspiration what they may, this book deals with the deepest things in man's heart and life. Ruskin and Carlyle tell us that they owe more to it in the way of refinement and culture than to all the other books, plus all the influence of colleges and universities. Therein the greatest geniuses of time tell us of the things they caught fresh from the skies, "the things that stormed upon them, and surged through their souls in mighty tides, entrancing them with matchless music;" things so precious for man's heart and conscience as to be endured and died for. It is the one book that can fully lead forth the richest and deepest and sweetest things in man's nature. Read all other books, philosophy, poetry, history, fiction; but if you would refine the judgment, fertilize the reason, wing the imagination, attain unto the finest womanhood or the sturdiest manhood, read this book, reverently and prayerfully, until its truths have dissolved like iron into the blood. Read, indeed, the hundred great books. If you have no time, make time and read. Read as toil the slaves in Golconda, casting away the rubbish and keeping the gems. Read to transmute facts into life, but read daily the book of conduct and character—the Bible. For the book Daniel Webster placed under his pillow when dying is the book all should carry in the hand while living.—The Examiner.

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The Omnipresent One

By Delwin Rees Buckner

How sad to sail o'er bloated salt-sea waves When lightning spears like headlong lances fall, And have no present God on whom to call, One who can hear our pleading prayers, and saves Though seemingly we all must find us graves Down where weird, slimy octopuses sprawl, And hungry crabs with gore-smeared armors crawl 'Mid moss-wreathed rocks of shell-paved polyp caves.

When timbers of our valiant vessel groan, Scourged by the screaming billows of the deep, White with a fury none can understand, In such a peril feel I ne'er alone, Yea, even I can lay me down and sleep As sweetly as though housed on solid land.

Solis, Argentina.

Does the History of Turkey and Egypt Since 1798 Fulfil the Prophecy of Dan. 11: 40-44?

By A. G. Daniells

— No. 2

A. G. DANIELLS

"And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over." Dan. 11: 40.

On reading this passage of Scripture, a number of questions are immediately suggested to the mind of the reader. When is the time of the end? Who is the king of the south? Who is the "him" against whom the king of the south pushes? Who is the king of the north? Who is the "him" against whom the king of the north comes like a whirlwind? What does all this conflict mean? and when and where is it to take place?

Methods of Investigation

In order to ascertain their meaning, these points must be taken one by one, and given most careful study. And in the study of the prophecies of the Bible it is essential, in order to reach safe Scriptural conclusions, to have due regard for the following simple methods of investigation: —

Study the construction of the language used to express the points of prophecy.
Study all other lines of prophecy relating to the same time, parties, or events.
Study all the specifications of the prophecy being investigated, and compare with them the specifications of all other prophecies relating to the same points.
Study the history of the world that fulfils the specifications of the prophecy.

The Lord says: "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Tim. 2: 7. The conscientious seeker for light and truth who will study the prophecies of God's Word in the painstaking way here suggested will not search in vain.

Let us now consider the first specification of the verse before us: "At the time of the end." This expression occurs five times in the Scriptures, and each time in the book of Daniel. See chapters 8: 17; 11: 35, 40; 12: 4, 9. In each instance the same form of expression is employed by the prophet, "The time of the end." The term plainly refers to some definite point of time, and the uniformity of its use by the prophet indicates that he was in each instance pointing to one definite, specific period.

The Time of the End

"The time of the end." When will it begin? and what will mark its beginning? A partial answer is given in Dan. 11: 35: "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed." This verse and those immediately preceding it foretell a period of darkness and persecution to come upon the people of God. Note the different statements: — "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Verse 32. "Yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Verse 33. "And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed." Verse 35. This persecution of the church was revealed to Daniel in the visions recorded in the seventh and eighth chapters. Outlining the character and the work of that "little horn" which represents the Papacy, Daniel said: "He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High." Dan. 7: 25. "And he shall destroy . . . the mighty and the holy people. . . . He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes." Dan. 8: 24, 25. This same period of persecution was foretold by John in the Revelation. Of this papal power John says: — "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Rev. 13: 6, 7. In this revelation of the cruel domination of the Papacy over the people of God, a definite, limited period of time is given: "They shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. 7: 25. "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months." Rev. 13: 5. "And the woman [the church] fled into the wilderness" for "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." Rev. 12: 6. These different forms of expression all measure off the same period of time — twelve hundred sixty prophetic days, or twelve hundred sixty years. It was this period of time to which Daniel referred when he said, "They shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Dan. 11: 33. And it was to the end of this period that he pointed when he said:

"Some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed." Dan. 11: 35.

The time appointed for the persecuting domination and supremacy of the Papacy over the people of God was twelve hundred sixty years. At the termination of the "appointed" time the church would be set free, and that would mark "the time of the end."

When did that appointed time close? — In 1798. The history of the rise of papal supremacy shows that the prophetic period of twelve hundred sixty years began in 538 A. D., and ended in 1798 A. D. It was then that the papal church received that deadly wound by a sword foretold in Rev. 13: 10, 14.

From these considerations it seems plain that "the time of the end" until which the people of God were to fall must be marked by the close of the twelve hundred sixty years, when the power of the Papacy was to be broken, and God's people delivered.

That was the year 1798. Then, at that time, "shall the king of the south push at him."

The king of the south is the next specification of verse 40 to be considered.

From Egypt to Canaan—No. 2

By Clarence Santee

Time of Deliverance Near

THE king of Egypt was not alone in his efforts to thwart the purposes of God as expressed in his promise that Israel should leave Egypt and again enter the land of Canaan. Gen. 15: 16; 50:24. Satan, who is a diligent student of the Scriptures, knowing that the time was drawing near when God's promise would be fulfilled, united with the king to hold the Israelites in bondage and to destroy them. In fact, Satan was the one who moved the king to destroy the male children, as recorded in Ex. 1:22: "Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."

"Satan was the mover in this matter. He knew that a deliverer was to be raised up among the Israelites; and by leading the king to destroy their children he hoped to defeat the divine purpose."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 242.

Josephus states it in this way: "While the affairs of the Hebrews were in this condition, there was this occasion offered itself to the Egyptians, which made them more solicitous for the extinction of our nation: One of those sacred scribes who are very sagacious in foretelling future events (an ancient MS. says it was Jannes and Jambres who foretold this. See 2 Tim. 3:8), truly told the king that about this time there would a child be born to the Israelites, who, if he were reared, would bring the Egyptian dominion low, and would raise the Israelites; that he would excel all men in virtue, and obtain a glory that would be remembered through all ages. Which thing was so feared by the king, that, according to this man's opinion, he commanded that they should cast every male child which was born to the Israelites, into the river, and destroy it."—"Antiquities," book 2, chap. 9, sec. 2.

The Israelites themselves were looking for a deliverer; and though enduring bitter servitude, there were a few faithful children of God among them who understood the promises of God, and who were expecting deliverance. God has said: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. In all ages since the fall of man, the large number have turned away from strictly following the Lord, and the few have been led by the unerring voice of his Spirit. At one time, out of the many thousands of Israel, only two hundred were mentioned as having "understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." 1 Chron. 12:32.

The Jews have the tradition that an angel made known to the father of Moses the work that this son was to do. It reads: "For that child, out of dread of whose nativity the Egyptians have doomed the Israelite children to destruction, shall be this child of thine, and be concealed from those who watch to destroy him: and when he is brought up in a surprising way, he shall deliver the Hebrew nation from the distress they are under from the Egyptians. . . . When the vision had informed him of these things, Amram awaked and told it to Jochebed, who was his wife."—Id., secs. 3, 4.

Later, the parents evidently told this to Moses as a charge from the Lord. Stephen, speaking of this, records that when Moses helped the oppressed Israelites, "he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them." Acts 7:25.

Under the trying conditions recorded above, Moses was born. His mother hid him for three months. He was then placed in an ark of bulrushes and laid among the flags at the river's brink. The daughter of Pharaoh found him there, and, having compassion on the little one and on the poor mother who had taken this way to save him, she adopted the little Hebrew child, and his own mother was chosen to nurse him until he should be of suitable age to be taken into the home of Pharaoh. Ex. 2:1-10. In this way God's word was fulfilled which says, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee." Ps. 76:10. The child whom Pharaoh desired to destroy above all others, had he known him, was the one brought up in his own home, and educated at his own expense.

While Moses was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22), he did not forget the lessons of childhood so faithfully taught by a slave mother. While the father, who was driven to his tasks, prayed, the mother, bending over their little one, told him the story of Adam and his fall, of Enoch, of Noah, of the results of sin at the flood, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of the promises made to them, of the word of God to Abraham foretelling the sojourn in Egypt, of Joseph's and Pharaoh's dreams, of the prophecy that God would take them out of Egypt, and of how God had revealed that Moses was the one through whom this deliverance should come. A wonderful story! It was the word of God, and it became a shield to him, which all the worldly grandeur, riches, and outward show of Egypt could not, in after years, cause to be forgotten. "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Heb. 11:25, 26.

Who can say that his choice was not a wise one? Would you have chosen as he did? Are you making that choice? What you are doing is the best evidence of what you would have done.

Moses was not yet prepared for the great task to which the Lord had called him. While identifying himself with the downtrodden Hebrews, he held the mistaken idea that through human wisdom and the power of the sword, the Israelites must be delivered. The education and influence of Egypt had left their mold, and other years were required to learn the lesson of the power of faith in entire consecration and self-surrender. For this schooling he must leave Egypt, and in the wilderness learn with the helpless flock, and the association of such men as Jethro and Job. That the lesson was well learned is attested by his writing the book of experience which he received from the mouth of Job. "The earliest as well as the most sublime of poetic utterances known to man are found in the Scriptures. Before the oldest of the world's poets had sung, the shepherd of Midian recorded those words of God to Job."—"Education," page 159. Of this period it is also said, "Here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the book of Genesis."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 251.

Moses needed patience, forbearance, resignation, and trust. Whom could God have chosen to better teach these Christian graces than the man Job, of whom God could say, "There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man"? Job 1:8.

In these surroundings Moses was trained for duty, and the time for action had come.

Loma Linda, Cal.

Our Missionary Work and Why It Is Important

By I. G. Bigelow

I. G. BIGELOW

I BELIEVE our duty for this present time is clearly indicated by our Saviour in his revelation to St. John on the lonely isle of Patmos, recorded in Rev. 2:4, 5: "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick

out of his place, except thou repent."

"Do the first works." Now if we can find what the first works were, our duty will be made clear. I am glad that our Lord has not left us in darkness in regard to this.

We read in Matt. 4:12, 23, that when John was cast into prison, Jesus departed into Galilee and went about all that country, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. This was the work of the Saviour, not only in Galilee, but from the beginning of his work until his suffering and death on the cross; and even after his resurrection he showed himself alive by many infallible proofs, continuing with the apostles forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The question of the apostles (Acts 1:6), "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" shows plainly that they had become imbued with the spirit of his teaching, and a few months later we find Philip down in Samaria preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God.

As a result of this earnest work many believed and were baptized, both men and women, "and there was great joy in that city." Acts 8:5, 8, 12. Philip evidently believed in city missionary work.

Paul at this time was persecuting the believing Jews, but it was not long after this when he, too, was converted, and taking up the work of the Master, cooperated with Philip and the apostles in teaching Christ to be the Son of God, and preaching the resurrection, and all things pertaining to the kingdom of God. That Paul did not soon grow weary in well-doing is shown by the record in Acts 19:6-12, where we learn that he held a three months' effort, preaching in the synagogue, "disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God." And this was twenty-one years after his conversion. Four years later, during his counsel with the elders of Ephesus, he testified that through all his trials and persecutions, through all the dangers to which he was exposed, and the temptations he must have had to suppress those truths that were less acceptable to the unrenewed nature of man, or to the particular prejudice of the Jews and the Gentiles, he fully and faithfully declared "all the counsel of God." Acts 20:27. And in his letter to the church at Rome the same year he said: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed."

Have we during our experience in this message permitted the fear of ridicule and persecution to keep us from declaring all the counsel of God? Have we at any time been ashamed of the gospel of Christ? I believe these things have been recorded for our benefit, and Christ has left us an example that we should follow, for we are taught plainly that if we abide in him we ought to walk as he walked. Three years later and twenty-eight years after his conversion, we find Paul a prisoner at Rome. He was just as earnestly "preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him." Acts 28:23, 30, 31. Here he dwelt for two years in his own hired house, receiving all that came in unto him.

The work of Christ, Philip, and Paul represented the work of the whole church in its infancy. Therefore, I conclude that as Christ started the church by preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 1:14, 15), and as the apostles and the whole church in the beginning continued to follow the Saviour in preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the church should have continued its first works until all the world had been brought to the knowledge of the power of salvation in the gospel of Christ. And as the whole world has not been imbued with this knowledge, it is the work of the church to-day to continue the first works until every kindred, tongue, and people has heard the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations." This, then, is our missionary work: we are the church, therefore it is our duty to give this gospel to the world.

(To be concluded)

Keeping to the Affirmative

By Mrs. M. E. Steward

MRS. M. E. STEWARD

The servant of the Lord has often said, “Keep to the affirmative.” The same counsel is found over and over in the writings of the spirit of prophecy. “Do not discuss an error, lest you give the hearer a thought he never had before. Present the truth.”

The Bible tells us what to do when an error presents itself: “To the law and to the testimony.” Isa. 8:20. In connection with this counsel is given an example. It is modern Spiritualism. The Scriptures plainly declare: “The dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9:5. This brief statement sweeps Spiritualism entirely and forever off the board; no need to examine its manifestations in order to understand this error. Let the Bible give its unperverted testimony, and it will detect every false doctrine. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

Isaiah gives us further counsel in connection with the above: “Bind up the testimony [some one has sought to unbind it, so there is danger of losing part of the Bible], seal the law.” We know the seal has been taken from the law by abolishing the fourth commandment of the decalogue. “As God is true,” his word is “not yea and nay;” “all the promises of God . . . are yea, and . . . Amen.” 2 Cor. 1:18, 20.

A speaker sees that he can make a point more forcible by contrasting it with error. But there may be some one in the congregation who believes that the view the speaker is holding up to contempt, is true. A person is apt to consider his opinions a part of himself; and when they are treated disrespectfully, he feels aggrieved, as if it were a personal insult. Very likely the truth can never have the weight with him that God designed it should have. We are warned against dealing harshly with human souls; on the contrary, they should be treated with the greatest delicacy and tenderness.

Is there not sufficient reason to keep to the affirmative? By beholding we are changed. 2 Cor. 3:18. By gazing at darkness, our eyes become contracted so that if light shines in the darkness, the darkness comprehends it not. John 1:5. Let us talk of the divine character, which is all light and love and excellence. Let us dwell on the nobility, the purity, the simplicity, the benevolence of Jesus, and we shall be charmed into loving him supremely, while we can find no time nor disposition to discuss error, or to think of it. And by so doing, we shall be best prepared to detect error when it appears.

Sanitarium, Cal.

"Fear Not"

By Meade MacGuire

MEADE MAC GUIRE

WHEN Jesus called the men who were to carry forward his work on earth, he chose them from the humble walks of life. At least four of them were fishermen by occupation, and the manner in which they were called furnishes us with an impressive lesson.

They had not fully united with Jesus for service, nor abandoned their occupation, though they had been associating with him, seeing his miracles, and listening to his teaching. Apparently they would follow Jesus for a time, and then go home for a fishing expedition to earn money for their needs.

On one of these occasions they toiled all night with no success. No doubt they were weary and disheartened with their failure, and disappointed because they had not succeeded in getting the means which would enable them to rejoin the Saviour. But in the morning as they reached the shore, the Master was awaiting them. He stepped into Peter's boat and began teaching the multitude. As soon as the discourse was ended, he said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draft."

Though night was the only favorable time for fishing in the clear waters of the lake, and though they had fished all night and caught nothing, the result of obeying this command was a net so full that it began to break. James and John were called, and both boats were filled till they were at the point of sinking.

Peter was deeply impressed. He began to see his own helplessness and also the possibilities of a work which was sustained by divine power. As he fell at the feet of Jesus in humility and self-renunciation, he received the great assurance and commission: "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."

Jesus meant this great commission not for Peter only, but for all his followers till the end of time. It is the fear of failure, the fear that all the toil and effort and sacrifice shall be fruitless, that

no heart will respond, no soul be won to Christ, which keeps many from enlisting in personal work for him. But he points to his mighty miracle-working power and says, "Fear not," only give me your life as an unobstructed channel, and "from henceforth thou shalt catch men." He says to us to-day: "He who turns the hearts of men as the rivers of waters are turned, can bring the most selfish, sin-hardened soul to surrender to Christ." The power is his, and is sufficient to fill our nets, but we must be yielded fully for his use.

Turning from Peter, he addressed the others, Andrew, James, and John, saying, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Gathering the fishes from the sea, hunting for the missing sheep upon the mountain, compelling the lost to come in from the highways and hedges,—this is our work. The time is short. The harvest is great. The laborers are few. Give him all there is of you, and have his precious assurance, "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."

"And Knowledge Shall Be Increased"

By Edward Quinn, Jr.

EDWARD QUINN, JR.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Dan. 12:4.

By studying the prophecies of the Bible, we learn that one of the signs of the end is an increase of knowledge; and in less than a century wonderful changes have taken place in the world around us. Does this advanced knowledge result from the fact that men have greater intellectual ability than formerly? It hardly seems so when we read of the great mental powers of the men who lived in the early part of the last century.

The reason for this great increase of knowledge is found in the Word of God, for we read in Matt. 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Practically all the signs foretelling Christ's second advent have been fulfilled, and his gospel is truly being carried to all parts of the earth. What makes this possible? — Simply the increase in scientific knowledge during the past few decades. The following incident in the life of Edison will be read with interest: —

"In a great city telegraph-office scores of instruments were busily clicking away. Presently, in the midst of the din and clatter, the door opened, and in walked a young man — a stranger. He was tall and rather awkward, with a linen duster reaching nearly to his heels. In response to his request for employment the chief operator motioned him to a chair. By and by another instrument began to click. The most important work of the day was on hand. The press despatches were ready at a distant city; and by his table in that city sat one of the swiftest writers and most skilful operators in the service, waiting to begin his rapid sending. The chief motioned to the tall young man to take his seat at the table at which the press news was to be received. He quietly did so. The other workers lifted their heads from their instruments to look askance at the rustic stranger in his attempt to 'take' the fastest man on the line. They were watching for him to fail. But he had no notion of doing so. Answering the call, he took up his pen and began to write. And there for hour after hour he sat. Without a break, without a halt, writing a hand like a copperplate in its clearness and beauty, he tossed off sheet after sheet of copy to the waiting messenger boy, while all the office stared in astonished admiration. When the work was finished, the position was his without any further question. When asked his name, he replied — Edison."

From that time the steps in electrical progress have been very rapid.

The following citation from the London Quarterly Review of 1825 gives an excellent example of conditions as they existed at that time: —

"What can be more palpably absurd and ridiculous than the prospect held out of locomotives' traveling twice as fast as stage-coaches? We should as soon expect the people of Woolwich to be fired off upon one of Congreve's ricochet rockets as trust themselves to a machine going at such a rate. . . . We trust that Parliament will, in all railways it may sanction, limit the speed to eight or nine miles an hour, which, we agree with Mr. Sylvester, is as great as can be ventured upon with safety."

Think of it! Eight or nine miles an hour! then think of the great trains running from New York to Chicago, a distance of 908 miles, in eighteen hours, and steamships crossing the Atlantic in less than five days. Truly the end is near; the agencies for carrying the gospel are prepared, and this gospel is rapidly being preached to all nations. It is high time for every believer in this last message to arouse to a realization of the times in which we are living, and be active in doing something in the Master's service.

Aggressive Missionary Work

By William Covert

WILLIAM COVERT

IN our missionary endeavors we have the world as our field, and the hasty but effective preaching of the gospel to all people in it as soon as conditions and earnest labor can make it possible. Heeding our Lord's advice, we are praying that the number of qualified workers may be rapidly multiplied; and our conduct should harmonize with what we advocate upon the subject. These workers who go must be made ready for the work they are sent to do, and they must be financially sustained when they go. Large funds are needed for this business of the Lord's appointment, and we can not be excused from learning our responsibilities in these things.

The budget which the General Conference has announced mentions more than a half million dollars annually for the frontier fields, and to secure this amount, fifteen cents a week must be raised for each member in all our churches. The young and the old, the rich and the poor, are all counted, and every church is called upon to make this up.

It will be possible to provide the required amount when all plan and work for it. The Sabbath-school offerings, the Midsummer Offerings, the Annual Offerings, together with the Harvest Ingathering and special missionary offerings, are all counted. It is necessary to educate and give much counsel upon these themes, and it pays well to do it. There is plenty of money in the world that can be procured for this purpose if we plan and labor faithfully to that end.

Even much missionary work may be done while attending to the Harvest Ingathering work. An immense amount of gospel teaching is bound up in the proper circulation of a half million copies of our Ingathering magazine.

Thinking of these things, in the early part of the year 1912 a definite purpose was formed by the Northern Illinois Conference to do more real missionary work and to gather in more funds for missions than during any previous year of its experience. Many things occurred to prevent the doing of this kind of work, yet in less than two months $220 was secured while circulating about seven hundred papers.

Not only has this amount of missionary funds been secured, but the work has been a means of doing much good for at least some who have contributed to this worthy cause. Some of the time, brethren have taken me from place to place, and they, too, have shared in the blessing, and have become interested in this kind of work. Some who have been backward in missionary effort have decided to become aggressive in it. And why should not all who believe we have a message that must go to the world become active in the work of making that message known to the people?

Aurora, Ill.

Keep Clear of Personalities

Keep clear of personalities in conversation. Talk of things, objects, thoughts. The smallest minds occupy themselves with persons. Do not needlessly report ill of others. As far as possible, dwell on the good side of human beings. There are family boards where a constant process of depreciating, assigning motives, and cutting up character goes forward. They are not pleasant places. One who is healthy does not wish to dine at a dissecting table. There is evil enough in man, God knows. But it is not the mission of every young man and woman to detail and report it all. Keep the atmosphere as pure as possible, and fragrant with gentleness and charity.—Selected.

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