MILITARY AND NAVAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
By A. O. Tait
BY ELDER A. O. TAIT.
[Author of "Heralds of the Morning."]
THE inventions, the discoveries, and the general material progress of the nineteenth century have placed our day in as marked contrast with all past ages, as would be shown by the loftiest and largest mountain rising in the midst of a perfectly level plain. And in no field is this great development more remarkable than in the realm of military and naval activity.
In 1812 the great Napoleon had reached the zenith of his military strength and fame. In that year he organized an army of 475,000 men to march against Moscow. He said to one of his generals that he had never made such great preparations for a military struggle. This French army was not only the terror of Russia, against which it marched, but it spread dismay over all Europe combined.
Napoleon, however, planted some military ideas. He placed the whole of the male population of France subject to service in the army. This was a new plan, but it was some time in developing. Twenty-five years ago the French army, on a war footing, had only reached 757,727. Yet this was nearly double what it was in Napoleon's time. His idea of organizing into immense armies all males who could carry arms was working, and in sixty years it had produced noted results.
But as the French army was increased under Napoleon's new idea, the rest of Europe had to increase its armies accordingly. Hence the combined armies and navies of the principal nations of Europe on a war footing in 1874 numbered, according to the Statesman's Year Book, 5,947,695. During the next eighteen years these armies were increased to 20,945,000, and in the following seven years they reached the amazing figure of 26,524,768. This shows for the last twenty-five years an increase of the men under arms in Europe of 20,577,073, of which vast increase 2,434,094 were added in the year 1897 alone.
If any of the achievements of all time deserve to be styled as marvelous, this gigantic increase of the armies of Europe during the last quarter century should stand in the front rank. And it has been our custom to speak only of military Europe; but the year 1898 was destined to cast the great America into the whirlpool, and territorial expansion, and the increase of army and navy, is the topic of the hour in the United States. Why all this mighty and world-wide arousing of the passions for bloody strife? Are not the demons of war madly driving the nations of earth to Armageddon?
But if the increase of armies during the last twenty-five years is a marvel, even in this age of marvels, the development of arms and equipments in their ingenuity of deadliness is still more appalling.
Twenty-five years ago the iron-clad man-of-war was in its infancy; to-day great battle-ships, armored with eighteen inches of steel—and a steel, too, that offers more resistance by far than anything that was known then—are patrolling all the seas.
Twenty-five years ago the muzzle-loading gun was just giving place to the breech-loading and magazine rifle.
Twenty-five years ago the automatic machine-gun had hardly materialized into a dream; to-day the automatic gun can throw from 600 to 2,000 rifle bullets per minute, 300 one-pound shells per minute, 150 six-pound shells a minute, and 60 nine-pound shells a minute.
Twenty-five years ago the old cast-iron, smooth-bore, muzzle-loading cannon, with its spherical shell, was just being side-tracked for the high-power, breech-loading, steel ordnance, with its long cylindrical projectile. These old cannon of twenty-five years ago could not drive a shell through four inches of common iron; to-day one of the big guns hurls its shell through forty-four feet of iron and oak and granite and concrete and brick, twenty-eight inches of which is compound plate and wrought iron. It took from five to fifteen minutes to load those old-fashioned cannon; but the modern 8-inch gun can be fired four times in one minute; the 6-inch gun, seven times a minute, and the 4-inch gun, fifteen times a minute.
And, while the old smooth-bore gun of twenty-five years ago could not pierce 4 inches of common iron, the big 16-inch gun of to-day uses a charge of 1,060 pounds of powder and throws a shell weighing 2,370 pounds with such terrific force that the power exerted would lift 64 of the largest locomotives 10 feet into the air; or it would hoist the great battleship Iowa from her dry dock 6 feet into the air. The 12-inch gun uses a power in hurling her shell that would lift such a ship as the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya 4 feet into the air; or, to make another comparison, the shell is shot out with a force equal to the driving power of a 60-ton locomotive with a train of eight cars running at fifty miles an hour.
Twenty-five years ago the smokeless high-power and slow-burning powder was not invented; to-day the powder is made in large blocks that burn from the inside so that the gases are given off gradually instead of with a bursting charge, and by this means, and through the agency of the long cannon, the pressure behind the shell begins gradually and increases all the time it is passing out of the barrel of the gun, reaching its maximum force at the muzzle. And twenty-five years ago the high explosives of to-day were hardly dreamed of. But to-day such powerful explosives are made that if a ton of them is discharged it will exert a pressure of 12,000 pounds to the square inch, at a distance of 250 feet. Mr.
BATTLE-SHIP ORIGON.
Hudson Maxim, who has done so much in the development of these high explosives, is hard at work on a gun that will throw a shell charged with a ton of this giant explosive a distance of 5 miles. The best scientific and military authorities think that he will succeed with this murderous weapon, and when it is done, he can stand off 5 miles and by striking anywhere within 250 feet of it destroy the greatest battle-ship afloat.
If the things that are actual facts in the military world to-day had been imagined and described twenty-five years ago, they would have been regarded as more fictitiously visionary than the wildest stories that an ignorant and superstitious nurse ever made use of either to terrify or entertain her nursery charge.
Would it be outside the realm of literal fact to say that if all the invincible armies, commanded by all their illustrious generals from the days of Nimrod down to Grant and Lee and Sherman, were marched upon a great battle-field, almost any one of the great nations of the now could send out a force that could mow them down and hardly lose a man? Supposing that all this great host of former times would have the courage to continue to advance, a hailstorm of monster shells would begin to meet them when they were ten or twelve miles away, and this storm would continue to increase as the distance was lessened, and these smaller guns that hurl out steel like a hard storm of hail were brought into action.
Such is the merest outline of the appalling facts in regard to the military and naval developments of the last twenty-five years. The long roll is sounding, and armies, not of thousands or of hundreds of thousands, but of millions, are falling into line. And the weapons with which these men are armed strike terror even to the brave.
What does it all mean? Why is this awful spirit of war rising and spreading like a hurricane in these closing decades of the nineteenth century? A single passage of Scripture tells the story plainly. It reads:—
“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16: 13, 14.
This scripture is too plain to need comment. It clearly tells of the world-wide work of the evil spirits as they go to the kings of earth to gather them to the battle of “that great day of God Almighty.” There are other scriptures that tell with the same vivid clearness the meaning of these unprecedented preparations for war. Read them, and let the Father, who loves you and who seeks to save you from the perils of this time, impress you by His Spirit as to your needs and duties in this hour of peril.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FALSE RELIGIONS AND ISMS.
By L. A. Phippeny
BY L. A. PHIPPENY.
TO BE consistent, a Christian must regard Christianity as the only true religion, and base his estimate of other religions, or systems, on their attitude towards it. Using a general term, they are false. It does not follow that they contain no truth, but it does follow that the Christianity which he holds as the standard must be the Christianity of its Founder, and the exponent of that religion, the Holy Scriptures, in their simplicity, interpreted only by the Spirit of the living God. Comprehended in its fulness, it contains all of truth, and its actuating principle is a love that casts out all fear. In its perfection it is more than mere religion, it is a life.
Modern Christianity.
But it is well recognized that the popular Christianity of the closing years of this nineteenth century is far removed from the faith of its Author. It lacks the life. This condition is deplored by those who would be its friends, and exulted over by its enemies. There are many reasons for the deterioration, chief of which is the waning of faith in the Bible as the only inspired revelation of God to man. The weightiest factor in producing this condition is the attitude of a large majority of the professed ministers of Christ. In place of the Word, the teachings of a changeable science are publicly advocated, with the result, inculcation of doubt in the minds of millions prone to gauge their faith by that of their pastors. This is in harmony with the constant purpose of Satan ever since the fall of man. As the centuries have rolled by, and the race has departed more and more from God, its knowledge of Him and of His love has been lost in the mazes of fables. And so it is that against the Scriptures of truth are brought to bear, in these latter days, the most delusive sophistries, with disastrous effect.
Evolution.
In all ages, as men have lost sight of God as He is and the true records of creation, numerous theories have been invented concerning the origin of things. Nearly all of these can be classed under the general term Evolution, which teaches the gradual growth of the earth through millions of years, and the development of all forms of life from lower to higher orders. In our day a mighty impetus has been given to the spread of the belief by the contributions of a hypothetical science in its investigations along these lines. Needless to say, science apparently disproves the testimony of revelation, and thus it is that evolutionists insist that the Bible opposes knowledge, and hence that its records must stand aside, and faith be placed somewhere else.
Higher Criticism.
Leading to practically the same conclusions as Evolution, or, as it is preferably called, "revelations of science," as concerns faith in the Bible, is the commonly called Higher Criticism. This scheme of supposedly critical and learned analysis of the text of the Scriptures in the original languages and from ancient manuscripts, claims to discover flaws here and there, with evidence upsetting the accepted authorship of certain books. Take these two systems together, as developed in modern thought, and they are fitted to destroy effectually all faith in divine revelation in the Bible. But in the estimation of the individual who sees in the Word one great harmony of design, and knows the power of the Author of that Word in his life, no weight can possibly attach to revelations of science that contradict its records, nor to the learned derogatory criticisms of its text by those who fail to discern the fulness of its teachings. In his view true science and the Bible harmonize perfectly, for the principles of all true science originate with the Creator. Hence the interpretations of nature by science will be guided by revelation, and not vice versa. Here modern science errs in supposing that conditions as now found in nature are perfect conditions. The Word teaches far otherwise.21
Note now some of the logical results of these errors. As faith in the Scriptures fades away, the trend of modern thought is towards man's estate in this world, independent of revelation. Perhaps by very few is the Bible cast aside entirely, but its teachings are interpreted conformably to the popular idea of progress, which is woefully unlike the simplicity of the Word. The principles underlying social conditions which it teaches are held to be universal in nature, and the conception of God as the first cause is retained, because human logic demands a first cause. But the incarnation and redemption are set aside consistently with rejecting Genesis and the record of creation and the fall. Christ is a wonderful man, but salvation now lies in the doctrine of good works, which teaches that the man best serves God who serves his country best, and contributes most to the popularly-estimated material and social welfare of his fellow-men. Under the name of Christianity a form of worship is maintained, which in a double sense denies the power claimed for it by the Word from which it originates.
Buddhism and Theosophy.
A striking similarity is noticeable in the popular thought and teaching as compared with many of the teachings of Buddhism and Theosophy. This is to be expected in view of the rapid strides the principles of these systems are making throughout Christendom. It is a noteworthy fact, also, that a missionary zeal has of late taken possession of the disciples of the religions of the far East. Especially is this observable since the holding of the Parliament of Religions at the World's Fair in 1893. From that Parliament the representatives of the East returned to their homes proclaiming a virtual victory for Buddha over the Christianity of the West. A Buddhist movement is now on foot in this country.
But, clad in form more pleasing to the Western mind, is Theosophy, altho more or less stigma has attached to the name in recent years because of divisions and wranglings among its leaders. Its announced mission is to reconcile and unify all beliefs, and to establish a universal brotherhood of man. In accordance with this idea, it does not seek to make proselytes, but rather to impart knowledge. It therefore requires of its adherents no change of denominational name. In this we discover one of the secrets of its quiet yet powerful influence. As its name implies (Divine Wisdom), it professes a knowledge of the mysteries of nature, and attainment to this knowledge along scientifically demonstrable lines. It thus appeals in a subtle manner to the more thoughtfully inclined. In this system, also, as well as in Buddhism, occur the finest expressions of moral conduct; but, nevertheless, it is taught that all salvation from conditions of evil depends upon a change in man's nature brought about by his own self-denial and self-control. The Christ of Theosophical thought is to all intents the Christ of professed Christians who reject His divinity, unless it be that the Theosophical conception is more elevated. It is essentially a religion of self-salvation, self-exaltation.
Christian Science.
Involved in the same thought of self-salvation, which is becoming so prevalent nowadays, is the principle at the foundation of Christian Science. The world is full of misery and sorrow because of sin and bodily sickness, and whatever promises relief is eagerly sought after. Christian Science presents an attractive name, and its promises draw large numbers who are afflicted with disease. The system is based on peculiar interpretations which give to the teachings of Scripture a spiritualized meaning. It holds that all sin and sickness are mental only, and that by following certain rules which it lays down, these ailments will be mentally banished. Beyond question, marvelous cures are effected through this medium, but as we compare its teachings with the great Standard, we must unhesitatingly place it among systems of error. The Word reveals the existence of a power other than God, capable of healing disease, and which will in these last days point to the signs attending its disciples as evidence that they are the true ministers of Christ. This plain testimony concerning another power, Christian Science and like systems deny by giving to it a spiritualized interpretation. But in the Word itself is divine healing, full and complete, for soul and body, without interpretation or spiritualization of simple and plain language. Follow its directions. There is power in the Lord.
Hypnotism.
One of the most inexplicable forces that modern science has to grapple with is that displayed in the remarkable phenomena of hypnotism. Here is a mysterious power, the use of which appeals strongly to vast numbers of minds, and whose possibilities have only begun to be grasped. A distinct field is already opened for its use by physicians in the treatment of disease, and in this direction we discover a kinship with the operations of Christian Science. But while it is thus used by some for the purpose of conferring good, the possibilities for evil are so immense that the laws of the land are taking cognizance of its operations. Surely it is not a hard thing to locate the power behind the scenes. The Scriptures tell of one who is the "prince of the power of the air," who works in the children of disobedience, to deceive and ultimately to destroy. The earmarks of this system show that it belongs among the dangerous systems of error that are so plentifully developing in this latter day.
Spiritualism.
Until recent years the claims for Spiritualism have been regarded with more or less disfavor, especially by men of science. The conduct of certain classes of its earlier adherents was such as to bring it into disrepute, while slight-of-hand fakers have contributed to unpopularizing it by pretended duplication of the spirit manifestations. The attitude of its earlier teachings relative to the Scriptures also retarded its progress. But late years have witnessed a surprising change of front in its professions. Gradually many of the coarser elements have been eliminated, until to-day it presents a well-defined organization, and stands knocking for admission into the lists of Christian religions by virtue of its acceptance of the Bible in the light of modern science and advanced criticism, and its millions of followers among all creeds.
Beyond controversy the central idea of this system is the greatest delusion ever sprung upon the human race. This is the theory of the inherent immortality of the soul, which is by no means limited to the one system, but, almost without exception, is the basic idea of every form of religion, faith, belief, creed, or ism on the face of the globe, that does not accept the plain teaching of Holy Writ on the subject. Unconsciously millions worship at this false shrine, and the way is now fast opening for the elaboration of the most sinister designs upon mankind that the master mind of a fallen angel can devise. This departure from the Bible and its revelations of the future has set adrift vast multitudes upon an unknown sea. As a consequence no line of thought is more intently pursued to-day than that which pertains to conditions beyond the grave. And it would seem, also, that to the blinding of men's minds concerning this theme, the arch-deceiver has given his special attention.
Psychical Research.
Probably the most significant movement in modern times along this line, and one that promises greatest results from the human standpoint, is the work of the Society for Psychical Research. This body, only a few years old, is already represented in all parts of the world by a membership of about 1,500, among whom are men of the highest standing in scientific and religious circles and in national affairs. Its present president is Sir William Crookes, F.R.S., and its secretary, Richard Hodgson, LL.D., of Boston, Mass. Among its vice-presidents are The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P., F.R.S., The Right Rev. the Bishop of Ripon, Prof. William James, of Harvard University, Prof. S. P. Langley, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., and others.
The object of this society is the investigation by scientific methods of super-normal manifestations through spiritistic mediums, as well as all other occult or hidden phenomena, such as telepathy, hypnotism, dreams, etc., for the purpose of arriving, if possible, at a knowledge of some of the mysterious forces producing these various phenomena. And, in the end, it is desired to prove or disprove the theory of the immortality of the soul, and the possibility and conditions of life beyond the grave.
Only the briefest reference can here be made to the results thus far obtained by the exhaustive and careful investigations of the society, which extend through a period of years. Suffice it to say that the most rigid tests were arranged again and again for the supposed communicators from the spirit world, and were so uniformly and successfully met that the learned secretary of the society, who at the beginning of the investigations was a pronounced disbeliever in any future existence whatever, is fully convinced that the soul does survive the death of the body, and can, under certain limitations, return and communicate with friends still in the flesh.
The society's published reports have produced a profound sensation and awakened widespread discussion. In the columns of the New York Independent of September 29, 1898, Prof. James H. Hyslop, of Columbia College, New York, admits that the facts produced by the society can not be "laughed out of court," and wonders if those who have hitherto doubted the demonstration of immortality by science would not better cease resistance to Spiritualism.
The True Light.
From this night of moral darkness there is only one escape, and that is in following the light of God's Word. In this Word is given full information concerning existence and conditions beyond the grave, and there is likewise furnished a logical and scientific explanation of the phenomena that are so puzzling unbelievers in this latter age. Two general truths of revelation settle these questions effectually. They are:—
First, (a) that in the day of death the thoughts perish (Ps. 146:4), and (b) that the dead know not anything (Eccl. 9:5); (c) that immortality will be bestowed only on the just, and at the time of their resurrection from the grave (John 5:28, 29; Luke 14:14; 1 Cor. 15:53); (d) the unjust receive the reward of their wicked deeds later (Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:12–15, etc.).
Second, (a) there are about us, tho invisible to our eyes, good and evil angels, beings superior to man. (b) Satan, the head of the evil angels, is called the father of lies (John 8:44), and the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9). His first lie on this planet was the notable assertion that has formed the basis of all false systems, and is the only text in existence upholding the theory of the immortality of the soul. It is found in Gen. 3:4, and is, "Ye shall not surely die." The Word reveals the history of both these classes of beings, and the reasons for their presence here. That Word of revelation is free to all who wish to search its pages.
Knowing, therefore, the state of the dead, and having information concerning the presence of wicked spirits possessed of superior powers, we know what intelligence it is that is working thus near the surface, tho with an air of profound mystery, in leading men to a pretended communication with the souls of departed human beings. Most certainly, marvelous things will be communicated, but it is a will-o'-the-wisp chase, for it is a deception, whose object, together with all other forms of error from the same source, is the destruction of souls that might otherwise, through faith in God's revelation, know of His love, and share in His high purposes for those who choose to be true to Him.
"And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:19, 20.
THE OPEN DOOR FOR CHRIST'S AMBASSADORS
By Allen Moon
AN APPEAL FOR MISSIONS.
BY ELDER ALLEN MOON.
[President Foreign Mission Board, Philadelphia.]
THE Gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." To the church the Saviour said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The promise of His presence is on condition that His people engage in the work of carrying out the commission.
So long as more than half the people of the world have never heard the Gospel, the church can not be excused for inactivity. Nor can it expect to retain the presence of Christ and spiritual power while it goes on in neglect of the commission conferred on it by the Head of the church. Never before in the history of the world were conditions so favorable to the preaching of the Gospel to every creature as now. Turn almost where you will—to continent, nation, or island—the gates are open, and the truth may be given to the millions of earth's inhabitants. It is little wonder that the church is shorn of its power, when under these circumstances nine-tenths of all the contributions for foreign missions are given by one-tenth of the church-membership, and, further, the members of the evangelical churches in the United States contribute for the conversion of a thousand million heathen, less than one penny a week each, and ninety-eight per cent. of all the contributions of the church for religious purposes is spent at home, and only two per cent. is devoted to the foreign-mission field
It is estimated that if evangelical church-members would devote a tithe of their increase of wealth to the work of foreign missions, it would amount to the sum of $4,347,900 annually, whereas the contributions to foreign work amount to less than one-thirty-second of one per cent. on the valuation of the property held by them at the present time.
There is no lack of means in the hands of the church. If this was consecrated, the Gospel could be given to the heathen quickly; but if held, even to be devoted to the home field, on which so much labor has been bestowed, the church certainly can not expect God's approval.
It is evident from such scriptures as Rev. 14:6 and Matt. 24:14 that the heathen are to have the Gospel. The Lord has waited for the church to use the means He has placed within its reach, and it has not as yet accepted the blessing in store for the faithful. Will He continue to wait for me and for you? or will He find other agencies and means to accomplish His work? It will be done.
Samonn Island Dancer.
CHINA—ITS NEEDS.
By Lizzie Nelson Fryer
BY LIZZIE NELSON FRYER.
[For many years a missionary teacher in China.]
FOUR hundred millions of people living without hope and without God; taught from early childhood to pray to heathen deities represented by hideous idols, and to look to them for aid and guidance; living for no object beyond the gratification of self; their good deeds done only with the idea of bettering their condition here and gaining merit in the other world; bound down by a constant and heavy upon their time and means by their obligations to keep up the worship of their ancestors; enduring all manner of privations in order to continue this tremendous expenditure, which affects nearly every family over the whole empire,—this in part is a picture of the people of China. Priest-ridden are they, with millions of Buddhists and Taoists, who, like wolves, prey upon the people and rob them of their hard-earned money because of boasted powers to ward off evil and threatening influences.
The people are everywhere oppressed with a corrupt officialdom and an iniquitous government; their women degraded and kept in ignorance, but little better than slaves. Among the higher classes each official usually has two or more wives and several concubines, so that the lives of the women are most neglected and unhappy, and their dispositions trained to jealousy and depression—"no cheer in this life, and no hope for the next" have I often thought after talking with them.
Add to these things the curse of the opium habit, which is increasing its power over men women, and children of all classes, deadening the voice of conscience within them, and the China of to-day reveals a picture of an immense, downtrodden mass of humanity, which human help can never relieve or lift to a higher plane.
What has been done for China?
It is now more than fifty years since a little band of noble Protestant men and women began their life-work in this empire. Now in many stations Christian Chinese are sending out laborers from their own numbers into the neighboring towns and cities, bearing the whole burden of their support. In the country may often be found churches wholly carried on by the native Christians.
During the last five years a great change has come over mission work in China. Where the people were difficult of access, they are now crying out for more help to be sent from the home lands. Schools are crowded as never before. The Bible has been translated into the many different dialects and taught in the schools of the various missions, and portions of it scattered by native colporters, until the "Jesus doctrine" has been heard of in nearly all parts of the empire.
The day of her long-talked-of and prayed-for "awakening" has, in the providence of God, arrived. The burden of those who have her best interests at heart will no longer be in regard to her conservatism, but will be about the influence that shall direct her progress as she enters into a freer intercourse with the rest of the world. Just at this time seems the hour for Christianity with a new impetus to press its truer and purer religion upon the people of this whole empire. While there is special encouragement among the different workers in China, still the seventy thousand Christians scattered here and there are only as a handful compared with those who have never been in the least influenced by Christianity.
The greatest need is for many more consecrated men and women to come to their assistance, who will be willing to give up home and country and friends, and devote their whole lives for the help of that people; for the chiefest influence one can have among such a people is a consistent, true, earnest, every-day life. I speak what I do know of this matter. Those are wanted who will not fear sickness or the trying climate, who have a knowledge of the laws of our physical being and obey them as far as possible, and will leave all the rest to Him who careth for such, and will sustain and guide in their labors. Above all, Bible teachers are needed, for it is the entrance of the Word that giveth light, that giveth understanding to the simple.
