Earlier text: Christ Our High PriestThe Lord's Preparation Day
By Llala V. Everett
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21: 28. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matt. 24: 42. WHAT we are living in the last days of this world's history, and that the Lord is soon to return, to complete His work of redemption, no student of prophecy will deny. The "signs" on which our Saviour based His command for His followers to "know" that His coming is "near, even at the door," have been, and are now, coming to pass. The great and terrible "day of the Lord" spoken of in the second chapter of Joel and the first chapter of Zephaniah, is coming as fast as the rapid wheels of time can bring it. "It is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord." And it is with no uncertain sound of voice the Lord has commanded His servants: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." The watchman upon the walls of Zion is to fulfil his duty faithfully. First he is commanded to "watch;" and second, as he sees the "signs" coming to pass, and the "day of the Lord" approaching, he is then to "blow" the "trumpet" and "sound an alarm" among His people, proclaiming with a loud voice the coming of the "day of the Lord," that a people may be prepared to "abide" the day of His coming. We are living in an age of great and mighty achievements. The past sixty years are marked as an epoch of great advancement; in the way of inventions and discoveries; an age of most rapid progress and development. Many are asking the question to-day, and well may they ask: "What means this great and rapid progress and development? What mean all these wonderful inventions? Why these mighty achievements?" I answer: It is the "Lord's preparation day." The world is rapidly preparing for the "great and terrible day of the Lord." Surely this is the time of all times that the child of God should be awake and watching; for if we do not "watch and pray," as the Saviour has commanded us, that day will overtake us like a "thief in the night," in an hour we look not for Him. There have been marvelous changes and developments during the last half of the preceding, and the beginning of the present century; and as one writer has said: "The world of to-day would not be recognized at all by the men who lived and died one hundred years ago. Even those who have been dead but fifty or sixty years, if brought to life now, could hardly be convinced that this is the same planet on which they spent their lives." Just imagine their amazement as they would view our "lightning express-trains," our steamships, our electric lights, electric cars, automobiles, telephones, telegraphs, air-ships, mammoth printing-presses, sewing-machines, phonographs, gigantic guns and war preparations, wireless telegraphy, wireless telephony, and all the rest of the endless procession of inventions and discoveries that the rushing activity of this generation has produced. And last, but not least, of the marvelous achievements, the "newest miracle of modern progress," the gyro-car with its monorail. Can you imagine their astonishment as they would view these wonderful things? And have you, dear reader, not sometimes reflected on what these things may signify? These things are very striking illustrations of the "last days," and constantly remind us that some great event is about to take place. They can not help but draw the mind to the fact that the all-wise God has a divine purpose in it all. Long centuries ago, God foretold, through His prophets, what was to come to pass in the "latter days." In vision they saw the rise and fall of kingdoms. Even our own nation, the United States of America, its rise, its work, and its final overthrow, are all foretold in the "sure word of prophecy," of which the apostle Peter says, "Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." Knowledge Shall Be Increased
Daniel had a vision of the "four universal kingdoms," their rise and fall, together with the vision of the twenty-three hundred days, making a chain of prophecy which spans the history of the world, commencing with the kingdom of Babylon, and reaching to the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth. The angel Gabriel, after speaking of the "time of trouble," and the resurrection, said to Daniel: "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. The year 1798 marks the commencement of the "time of the end" by an event which occurred at that time, and which was foretold in prophecy. That time is particularly marked by the "many" who "shall run to and fro;" and further, by the fact that "knowledge shall be increased." Never in the history of this world has such a restless spirit pervaded the minds of men. Never before was there such a running "to and fro" as at the present time; never before have there been such facilities for running "to and fro" as have been provided in this generation. Who can estimate the millions of people that are at this moment running "to and fro," traveling over rail or by steamship? And never before has "knowledge" been "increased" as in this generation; and this knowledge is not confined to the Scriptures, but reaches every branch of industry, and penetrates deep into the arts and sciences. So wonderfully has this "knowledge increased," that to be placed back in the world as it was one hundred years ago would be like a change of being, the contrast would be so great. And now a brief examination of the Scriptures will throw much light upon the meaning of the unprecedented developments and marvelous inventions of this time. God has promised His people, that He will again, the second time, send His Son to earth, to complete the plan of salvation, redeem His people to Himself (John 14: 1-3; Acts 1: 11), and set up His everlasting kingdom upon the earth. Dan. 7: 13, 14, 27; Matt. 25: 34. And He holds the time—the "day" and the "hour" when He will do this—in His own keeping. Matt. 24: 36; Mark 13: 32. But He has given us "signs" and waymarks all along the pathway of this world's history, and commanded us to "watch" (Mark 13: 33-37), so that we may "know" when "He is near, even at the door." Matt. 24: 33. Our Lord is asked by His disciples, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matt. 24: 3. And among the many "signs" of His coming which He gives them in answer to their question, is that "this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24: 14. By the above scripture we see the Lord has a very important message to go to "all the world" before the end comes. And before He will send His Son in person to earth again, "this Gospel of the kingdom," the coming kingdom, and the "signs" of His near approach, must be given to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Every soul is to hear this message, and be given an opportunity to accept it. Bear in mind that it is the Gospel of the coming "kingdom," not merely of Jesus' name; it is the "everlasting Gospel," the Gospel sent in Jesus' name, which points forward to the establishment of His kingdom upon the earth. The great threefold message of Revelation 14 is the Gospel in all its fulness, and is the last warning message to go to the world. And so when the time arrives for "this Gospel of the kingdom" to be preached in "all the world for a witness unto all nations," God breaks down every barrier, and fur7nishes the facilities by which this vast work may be done quickly. "This generation" is to witness the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of the earth. This is the "day of His preparation;" and great and marvelous indeed are the facilities which He in His infinite wisdom has provided as a means by which to carry His Gospel quickly to "all the world" in "this generation." Our mammoth printing-presses are a marvel of ingenuity and perfection. They are doing their work in educating the people in "present truth," proclaiming the Gospel of the coming kingdom. And to distribute the printed page, and convey the missionaries to every part of the world, the "flying express-trains" and the great "ocean greyhounds" have been provided. The telegraph and telephone are also wonderful agencies in this work of carrying the Gospel. Doubtless it was the telegraph "in the day of His preparation" which was before the Lord's eyes when He asked Job the question, "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?" Job 38: 35. The first telegraphic message ever sent over the wires, was the inspired words, "What hath God wrought!" When all the world has been fully warned, and every soul has heard the joyful news of His soon coming; when all who will, accept this message and heed its warning, "then shall the end come." Already "this Gospel of the kingdom" proclaiming "His glorious appearing," has gone to nearly all the nations of the earth. The Bible is printed and circulated in almost every known language. Soon, ah, very soon, this Gospel of the coming kingdom will be heard in "all the world;" and then will the Saviour's precious promise, "I will come again," be fulfilled. Dear reader, the history of this world is fast closing. Events are taking place in the physical, political, and spiritual world, which show that we are living in a crisis such as never has been since the creation of the world. The "signs" of His coming are thickening all around us. We are living in the time of "distress of nations, with perplexity." Luke 21: 25. The nations are angry (Rev. 11: 18), preparing for war such as never has been known in all the history of the world "since there was a nation." One only needs to read the daily papers to see the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the "last days." Crime, murder, and suicide are increasing at an alarming rate; the victims of rage, greed, and lust move on by the tens of thousands in mournful procession to the grave. Fearful storms and disasters by land and sea, "earthquakes in divers places" with increasing frequency,—all these make a picture which is truly appalling, and we are admonished by it that the "great and terrible day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly." "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." The great nations of earth are preparing for the last great conflict; that great battle called the "battle of Armageddon," which takes place under the sixth plague. Rev. 16: 12-16; Dan. 12: 1. "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." Matt. 24: 34, 35. "We hear the long roll sounding, and the greatest armies that the world has ever known are falling into line." The prophet Isaiah, in view of this time, exclaims: "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night!" and the watchman said, "The morning cometh, and also the night,"—the glorious morn of salvation that will bring deliverance to the people of God; and the night of everlasting oblivion of sin and all identified with it. Now it is time to seek God. For Others' Good
By F. W. Hiddleson
THE rose that blooms by shady rill,
The flower that opes in leafy wood,
The soul that tries its lot to fill,
Lives not for self, but others' good,
May grow and blossom, fade and die,
And to this great world be unknown;
But in the realm beyond the sky,
Where we shall reap what here we've sown,
Where thoughts and deeds unhidden stand
Before the Judge of sea and land,
The motives pure that prompt such heart,
Of every guise will stand apart,
And rose and flower will get renown,
And shine as gems in soul's bright crown.
So may thy life, tho hidden now,
By many cares and burdens bound,
One day be free, and may thy brow
By a loving Saviour's hand be crowned. Tracks that Won't Wash Out
By C. P. Bollman
A SHORT time ago I had my front porch painted. It had been "primed," and the cracks had been carefully filled with putty, well worked into them. Then it received another coat, and then still another, designed to finish the job. When this finishing coat was about half dry the porch looked well. I viewed it with considerable satisfaction. But when I next saw it a few hours later it was changed. Some one had walked the entire length of the porch with muddy shoes, and every track was plainly discernable in the now thoroly hardened paint. Every effort to remove the "tracks" was unavailing. Soap and water had no effect. Not only did the prints made by the nails in the shoes remain, but even the clay forced into the soft paint could be seen after the whole surface had received a most thoro scrubbing. There was no help for it; the whole floor had to be repainted before it appeared as well as before it was tracked with those soiled shoes. And how much that porch floor is like the human mind, I thought. How easy it is to make impressions, especially wrong impressions, and how hard to remove them! We hear a deeply spiritual sermon. Almost as soon as the congregation is dismissed Satan sends some one to track over it with the soiled feet of gossip or frivolous suggestion. Plans are being laid to attend camp-meeting. Along come the soiled feet of discouraging suggestions, and the work has to be done all over again. Brethren and sisters, be careful what sort of tracks you are leaving behind you.—C. P. Bollman. 1. What is in the natural heart or mind of man?
"Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders." Gal. 5:20, 21. 2. To what do such dispositions and passions lead?
"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" James 4:1. 3. To what have these things always given rise among the nations of earth?
"Wars and rumors of wars: . . . these things must come to pass. . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Matt. 24:6, 7. 4. As we near the end, what does the Lord say will take place?
"Proclaim ye this among the nations; Prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. Haste ye, and come, all ye nations." Joel 3: 9-11. See also Jer. 25: 15-35. 5. What will stir men's passions up to this universal war?
"They are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty." See Rev. 16: 13-16, R.V. 6. Yet notwithstanding all this war preparation, what false cry will be heard?
"And MANY PEOPLE shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. . . . And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." See Isa. 2: 3-6. 7. Of what are we warned when this false cry of "many people" shall go forth?
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them; . . . and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5: 3. 8. When will there be peace?
When Christ "shall reign in righteousness" (Isa. 32: 1), then "the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever" (Isa. 32: 17). Prophesy Smooth Things
By Delwin Rees Buckner
THE flying waves, like raven wings, now sweep
Across the flooded timbers of the deck;
The boat — in such an ocean but a speck —
Is sinking to the bottom of the deep.
Men rush — they know not where, while women weep;
The rock-rent ship is even now a wreck;
The children clasp their mothers 'round the neck;
All fear but one, and he is fast asleep.
"What meanest thou, O sleeper? Quick, arise!"
The perishing, fear-stricken sailors cry.
"Arise and call upon thy God!" He shakes
His head, sees nothing only starlit skies.
"Alarm me not!" he whispers, "prophesy
Smooth things," then falls asleep, — but never wakes. Business with God
By Christian Observer
EARTHLY business may be done in celestial ways. James reveals the secret of this when he warns us to make all our business plans with the proviso: "If the Lord will." To take God into partnership with us in all our business interests is the dictate of wisdom. Why should men hesitate to seek God's favor and blessing in all their business affairs?—Christian Observer. Easing Another’s Heartache
By Abraham Lincoln
To EASE another's heartache, is to forget one's own.—A. Lincoln. What Does It Mean?
By Editor
The Christian Citizenship Scheme
In another column will be found an article sent out by the National Reform Bureau, entitled "World's Christian Citizenship Conference." On the face of it it seems a good thing. In its scope and conception it seems a grand thing. Why should not the world be educated in "Christian citizenship"? That the conference and the movement for which it stands are important, we call attention to the following. We shall be brief now, but shall have much more to say in the future: 1. It has for its purpose and object to unite all churches, missionary societies, young people's religious organizations, and every other association, religious, semi-religious, quasi-religious, and politico-religious. If this can be done, there will be no power on earth to restrain its influence. 2. It is not its object simply to educate or discuss principles and purposes, but to act,—not "merely for discussion, but for action." The object of the conference "looks beyond itself to important practical action." Surely such a movement should enlist the attention of all. 3. Its purposes are "to adopt a Declaration of Principles,—the Christian principles of civil government." But where shall we learn the Christian principles of civil government? Where but from Him, the Lord Jesus, the Author of Christianity? The Gospels do not leave us in doubt as to the Master's teachings. Both clear and conclusive they are on the weighty and important subject of the Christian's relation to civil government. a. Every movement of the Master was watched by jealous, suspicious enemies. Every utterance was weighed with the intent of entrapping Him as an offender against either the religious authorities of the Jews or the political authority of the Romans. It was with both in mind that His critics came to Him on one occasion with a question which to them would impale Him upon one or both horns of the dilemma. "Master," say they, in bland, suave, flattering tones, "we know that Thou art true, and carest for no man: for Thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" If the Master had replied that no true Israelite could be in bondage to others, and therefore they should not pay tribute, His enemies would have immediately turned Him over to the Romans as a malefactor—one guilty of teaching sedition, of fomenting rebellion. Should He say, It is lawful to give tribute, He would prejudice Himself and His work with the great mass of the Jews, who were groaning and chafing under exorbitant, tyrannical tax-gatherers. To remain silent would weaken His influence as a teacher. He replied, and O, the marvelous answer of the Master! Thus the record: "But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye Me? bring Me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And He saith unto them, WHOSE IS THIS IMAGE AND SUPERSCRIPTION? And they said unto Him, Cæsar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, RENDER TO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR'S, AND TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S. And they marveled at Him." Mark 12: 14-17. This principle ought to guide the Christian alway. All that bears the stamp of Cæsar belongs to civil government; all that bears the insignia, the superscription, of God should be rendered to Him, not to civil government, nor through civil government to God, but to God alone. Civil government has no part in regulating church service or worship or prescribing to the individual the duties which lie between himself and God. The Sabbath about which they purpose to legislate—does it bear the image and superscription of God, or Cæsar? Of God, certainly; for its origin, genesis, is distinctly religious. With it, then, Cæsar has naught to do. Neither can civil government enforce worship which must be distinctly spiritual. The civil magistrate or legislator has no more to do with Sabbath enforcement than he does with baptism or the Lord's Supper. b. The teaching of the Master before Pilate is still pertinent. Jesus had been accused to the Roman governor, not alone as his rival, but as a rival to Cæsar, as setting up a kingdom, a civil government for Himself. Pilate in his examination of Jesus met it squarely with the question, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" Jesus replied as frankly for Himself, and for the church, His body, for all time: "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence." John 18: 36. The kingdoms, or states, of this world can never come to Jesus Christ through "the gateway of politics," never by force of civil power, and what it implies, law and law-enforcement if necessary, with sword as well as statute, with bullet as with ballot; and to him or to those who would attempt it, the rebuke of Christ comes as it came to His rash, misguided, ambitious servant of old, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Matt. 26: 52. c. It was not the purpose of Christ, or of His church which stands in His place, to coerce or compel belief or acceptance of His tenets, or to punish or condemn the unbeliever. This is a strange statement in view of the purposes of the Christian Citizenship Conference; but we have the word of the Master for it: "I am come a LIGHT INTO THE WORLD, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness. And IF ANY MAN HEAR MY WORDS, and BELIEVE NOT, I JUDGE HIM NOT: for I came NOT TO JUDGE the world, but to SAVE the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: THE WORD that I have spoken, the same shall JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY." John 12: 46-48. To those who would use any other means of dealing with the unbeliever belongs the rebuke which the Master administered to two other zealous reformers who desired summarily to punish the Samaritans who slighted their Lord: "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9: 55, 56. 4. The conference proposes certain "Christian principles" "through the operation" of which "all Christian governments in history have arisen." Weigh it well, reader. What are the "Christian" governments of history—that is, the professedly "Christian" governments?—for there is a mighty difference between profession and character. Name one of these Christian governments. There was Rome for a time, notably in the days of Constantine and Justinian. There are Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Geneva under Calvin, England under both Catholic and Protestant régime, and others. Many essentials in these governments and in the conduct of people and rulers, belie the profession according to Christ's standard. Do you wish to see government again founded on the same religio-political principles which have molded these so-called Christian governments? "But," one asks, "will it not be a good thing to crystallize into law Christian principles, to introduce God in the government?" And we reply, NEVER. First, because in the very nature of the case no civil government can enforce spiritual things; and Christianity is spiritual or nothing. The acceptable practise of its principles pertains to motive and life and spirituality, all of which lie outside the realm of civil power. Civil government may, as regards religious principles, compel through fear or win through emolument or reward; but in so doing it makes slaves on the one hand and hypocrites on the other. In the second place, it is never the principles of Christianity that are enforced by civil statute or legalized creed, but only men's conceptions of divine truth. Divine truth is infinite in its scope and ramifications. When men attempt to define it and to coerce men into its observance, they unconsciously and unwittingly, we are bound to believe, put themselves in the place of God by assuming to interpret His truth. Well did the Senate of the United States in 1829 say in its adoption of a report involving these very principles: "Among all the religious prosecutions with which almost every page of modern history is stained, no victim ever suffered but for the violation of what GOVERNMENT denominated THE LAW OF GOD." The advocates of this sort of régime get around the idea of persecution by saying that it is the state based on a false religion that persecutes, the one based on the true9never persecutes, but justly punishes. But the fact remains that the victim suffers just the same for his faith; and the government that defines heresy and punishes heretics always believes itself to be true. 5. The United States Senate said another wonderfully yet logically wise thing in the adoption of the report alluded to above. It is this: "EXTENSIVE RELIGIOUS COMBINATIONS to effect a POLITICAL OBJECT are . . . always dangerous. This first effort of the kind calls for the ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRINCIPLE which, in the opinion of the committee, would LAY THE FOUNDATION for DANGEROUS INNOVATIONS upon the SPIRIT of the CONSTITUTION, and upon the RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF THE CITIZENS. IF ADMITTED, it may be justly apprehended that the FUTURE MEASURES OF THE GOVERNMENT will be STRONGLY MARKED, if not eventually CONTROLLED, by the SAME INFLUENCE. ALL RELIGIOUS DESPOTISM COMMENCES BY COMBINATION AND INFLUENCE; and WHEN that INFLUENCE begins to OPERATE upon the POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF A COUNTRY, the CIVIL POWER soon BENDS UNDER IT; and the CATASTROPHE OF OTHER NATIONS furnishes an awful WARNING of the CONSEQUENCE." The truest government to the Christian ideal of right relations of church and state that the world has ever known is the United States of America, that government that sought to separate forever between church and state and leave the soul in its religion and worship alone with God. Its magna charta of liberty, the Declaration of Independence, in its recognition of the equality of human rights and man's right to be free, protested mightily against all rule by king or lord or class; and the Constitution sought forever to establish the separation of church and state, and each man's kingship in religion so far as his fellows are concerned. Every man was left responsible to God, with no intermeddling of the state. Thus acted the new republic. In the words of the great historian George Bancroft: "VINDICATING the RIGHT of INDIVIDUALITY EVEN IN RELIGION, and in RELIGION ABOVE ALL, the NEW NATION dared to SET THE EXAMPLE of accepting in its RELATION TO GOD the PRINCIPLE FIRST DIVINELY ORDAINED IN JUDEA. It left the management of TEMPORAL THINGS to the TEMPORAL POWER; but the AMERICAN CONSTITUTION, in harmony with the people of the several states, WITHHELD FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT the POWER TO INVADE THE HOME OF REASON, the CITADEL of CONSCIENCE, the SANCTUARY of the SOUL; and, NOT from INDIFERENCE, but that the INFINITE SPIRIT of ETERNAL TRUTH might move in its FREEDOM and PURITY and POWER."—"History of the Constitution," book V, chapter 1. To yield to the principles set forth by the Christian Citizenship Conference promoters is to turn the world back again to the Dark Ages, is to make the state an engine of tyranny for the use of bigots, is to repudiate every principle of civil and religious liberty, and to develop a world of slaves and hypocrites. Christian brother, will you help to do it? World's Christian Citizenship Conference
By Rev. J. S. Martin
By the Rev. J. S. Martin of the National Reform Association PLANS are rapidly maturing for the World's Christian Citizenship Conference to be held in Philadelphia November 16-20, 1910. Hundreds of delegates from our own and other lands have already been appointed, with every mail bringing notices of additional appointments. These delegates are being appointed by mission boards and societies, church courts higher and lower, congregations, young people's societies, state and national peace societies, W. C. T. U., and various other reform organizations, and specially the National Reform Association, which has undertaken the work of arranging for the conference. Sixty popular speakers from this and other countries have been secured, among whom are prominent statesmen, missionaries, philanthropists, and leaders in Christian work, to discuss problems that are problems in all countries. Authentic reports from all lands on the attitude of the governments of these lands toward Christianity are being prepared and will be in evidence at the conference. The following practical aims are announced by those in charge. This conference has not been called merely for discussion but for action. We must not undervalue discussion; the world has been revolutionized by it. No combined or simultaneous action can ever be taken by men unless they confer together. But this conference looks beyond itself to important practical action: 1. The conference is expected to adopt a Declaration of Principles — the Christian principles of civil government. Every movement that has vitality and endures, springs out of certain principles of truth which command the assent of men and determine their action. All Christian governments in history have arisen through the operation of these Christian principles on the minds of men, and to the combined working of these principles in human society all future progress in the development of these institutions will be due. One of the tasks of this conference will be to state these principles clearly, and to lift them up to the attention of men. 2. The conference will be expected to adopt and recommend to Christian citizens of all countries a program of action which may be helpful in their efforts to realize in their several countries a Christian state of civil society. This program will refer to such matters as Public Education, laws affecting the Family, the Day for Rest and Worship, Righteous Men for Civil Office, the removal of the curse of Intemperance, the Reformation of Criminals, the abolition of War, the salvation of the cities, and, as fundamental to and including all these, a genuine revival of national religion. It is believed that help and strength will come to Christian workers in all countries from this comparison of views, and through the cooperation which will be in this way secured. 3. This Declaration of Principles and this Program of Action will come before the conference with the concurrence and the endorsement, not only of the large and representative committee which shall prepare it, but of a far larger number of leaders in the religious world before whom it will be laid for their suggestions and their concurrence. 4. This Declaration and this Program will be used as instruments in a world-wide work which will follow the conference. They will be translated into various languages, will be sent to missionaries in all the non-Christian lands, and will be widely distributed through the nominally Christian nations, and will, it is hoped, serve as a standard around which Christian men will gather, and will indicate the goal toward which their united labors may be directed. Especially in the United States, where this conference is to be held, it is hoped that it may prove to be a valuable and timely demonstration in support of the Christian elements of our national life. [See elsewhere, "What Does It Mean?"—EDITOR S. OF T.] A Question to the Purpose.—Referring to the question of the Jews to Jesus, "Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?" the Rev. George M. Mackie, M.A., D.D., correspondent of the Sunday School Times and missionary to the Jews in Beirut, says that such problems are often propounded in Syria at the present day; and then he takes a sample question that puts the Christian missionary in a corner, as follows: Thus a Jew asks a Christian, "Do you believe in the Old Testament, or not?" This is followed by another question, "Is it right to alter the truth of the Bible, or not?" When this also has been satisfactorily answered, the final problem is whipped out from the sleeve and unfolded: "Why should the seventh day be set aside, and another day take its place?" Mr. Mackie does not give us the Christian's answer. It would be of interest if he did. The question is pertinent, and the "why" ought to come home to the heart of all Christians. Young Old Men.—It is pitiful, isn't it, to hear men calling themselves old and talking of retiring from active life when they are between fifty and sixty? A well-written letter, full of interest in Bible study, comes to us from a young old man in the Buckeye state. Ill health prevented his attending the great yearly meeting of his state, and he casually remarks, "I rather think I am on the down-hill side." And how old is he?—Only eighty-one past. When the man in the fifties gets there he may thus talk; he has no moral right to do it now. Keep young by keeping the heart young. "With Him is the fountain of life." Anti-Sunday Amusement Law
An anti-Sunday amusement law was passed September 14, at Pasadena, California, by the Pasadena City Council, which will restrict theatricals and moving picture performances on Sunday.