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Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 40.

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

Review and Herald

Oct 7, 1909

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1909

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

By Worthie Harris Holden

Satisfied

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

It matters not how dark the night While we keep vigils drear, It matters not if it be bright When day-dawn shall appear,— How much we hold of weal or woe, Of sorrow or of cheer,— If through it all we may but know God's approbation here.
For love and home and friends will fail To calm the troubled mind, And wealth and fame can not avail A healing balm to find; But if my God will be well pleased With my endeavors frail, The prize of ages I have seized, And hid “within the veil.”
And when unveiled I see His face Whom, though unseen, I love, When sin and death have fled apace From radiant light above, Transcendent beauty will surpass All I have dreamed or known; Then only shall I sense at last This joy — I am His own.
Portland, Ore.

A Remarkable Experience

THE following quotation from a letter from Brother V. O. Punches, field missionary agent for the Virginia Conference, shows how the Lord is working through the printed page:— “The work has been very low here in our conference, but it is growing, and the prospects are that it will now advance. Many thought our large books could not be sold in this State. It seemed to be Satan’s purpose to make our people believe this, but the Lord showed the fallacy of this reasoning in a marvelous way. We had a brother who decided to canvass, but Satan tried to defeat him from the start. The way opened at last for him to go, so I went with him to help him get started, and from the first the Lord led us. The first week in the field we sold eighty-two and one-half dollars’ worth of books in thirty-three hours, and ever since he has been averaging more than two dollars an hour. Then the Lord had another blessing in store for the work here. After I left, one Sunday morning this brother went to Sunday-school, and there met the minister, who invited him to call at his room. Our brother did so, and as a result obtained an order for “Great Controversy.” The minister then took him before his church, and told his members that he had bought a book and wished them to do the same, then he had our brother canvass the church at once. The other two ministers of the town, when they saw him, did the same, one taking him to prayer-meeting, and helping him to get orders. Have you ever before known of a case where ministers took our canvassers before their people this way? Truly, this is the hand of God, and it only shows how he will work if we trust him.”
Certainly the Lord is finishing his work, and will cut it short in righteousness. It is high time to awake out of sleep, for our salvation is drawing nigh. Those who expect to have a part in the work of God, should decide now to get in touch with the current of life and power from above, and then be channels through which these blessings may flow on to others. We believe there are many who have been engaged in other lines of mechanical or mercantile pursuits during the summer, who could take hold of the canvassing work now, and do splendid service for the Lord during the winter. Write your field missionary agent regarding it. If you do not know his address, write to this office, and we will be glad to supply it.
THE magazine Christian Education is issued for the promotion of a broad, thorough, and rational education, based upon true Christian principles, expanding and enriching the present conception of education to the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers.
HERE is an example that ought to be followed by thousands of others in our churches: “I have not renewed my subscription for Life and Health because I am going to try to sell 25 copies each month among my neighbors and friends, so please send me 25 copies. You will find $1 enclosed.”
THE following represents the spirit that is rapidly permeating our churches in many parts of the field. We commend it to all our churches: “Can you send me four sample copies of our magazines? There are four of us—all busy farmer folks. We think we can find time to take subscriptions for our good journals. We are going to do what we can. The four of us represent the entire membership of our church.”
A REPORT from a sister 53 years of age gives as a result of her efforts 50 copies of Life and Health sold in one day and a half. This sister says she recognizes the fact that she is accomplishing a good work. The fact of knowing one is doing something for humanity, and also helping to proclaim the great advent movement is, in fact, worth far more than the amount secured from the sales of the papers. We trust other sisters, though they be 50 years of age, will follow the example of the above Life and Health worker.
DURING the last week over five hundred copies of “Testimonies for the Church,” Volume IX, have been sent out from the Review and Herald Office. Orders are coming in more rapidly than we are able to fill them, but within the next week we expect to have all orders filled. It looks good to see this volume of the Testimonies going out into the homes of our people. When the spirit of prophecy is studied, and its counsels heeded, it means spiritual growth. We hope every family of Seventh-day Adventists will provide themselves with a copy of Volume IX. The instruction it contains is varied and timely. It contains eight sections, as follows: Section 1, “The Coming of the King;” Sec. 2, “Literature in Service;” Sec. 3, “The Work in the Cities;” Sec. 4, “The Health Work;” Sec. 5, “The Spirit of Unity;” Sec. 6, “Among the Colored People;” Sec. 7, “The Religious Liberty Work;” Sec. 8, “Timely Counsels.” The book contains three hundred pages, and the price is only 75 cents in the cloth binding and $1.25 in leather binding. For ministers and workers, the thin edition on Bible paper, bound in red Russia, will be found very convenient. Price in that style, only $1.25.

THE WORK — AND — THE WORKERS

I. B. MALLORY, New York City, writes: “I am still selling the magazine, Life and Health, and the people are delighted with it.”
Christian Education advocates a system of education that builds up faith in God, and centers its highest aim upon moral character.
“THE sample of Christian Education came yesterday, and I am much pleased with it. We believe it is just what we have needed for a long time.”
A GOOD example for other educators to imitate will be found in the following order from Prof. M. E. Cady for Christian Education: “Enclosed please find $35, for which send Christian Education for one year to the enclosed 100 addresses.”
LET all church-schools that have difficulty in meeting the expenses, consider the plan of the pupils selling periodicals and applying the profits on school expenses. Some of our church-schools are reporting very favorably on this method. Some say they are meeting the entire expense of the school by allowing the pupils some time to solicit for the magazines. The time of the student is not wasted in work of this nature.
“SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCES.”—This little book of convenient size for carrying in the pocket, contains a wealth of information. The work is comprehensive, so far as the Scriptures themselves furnish direct, positive proof upon each point of the subject treated. A splendid help to one who desires to be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is within him. All the texts of Scripture upon the subjects covered by the book, are collated and classified, so that one can find instantly all that the Scriptures say upon the subject. Cloth binding, 30 cents; leather binding, 60 cents.
WHILE the REVIEW is the church paper of the denomination, and is intended for only our own people, it is nevertheless a paper often appreciated by other church people. The proof of this statement can be found in the fact that some are constantly ordering various numbers to be used in missionary work. We quote the following from one who has been using different numbers of the REVIEW in missionary endeavor: “Yours of August 27 anent the fact mailing me 100 copies of REVIEW of August 12, just at hand. Will say that I will distribute these papers among my friends free, although, to my mind, it would be a good number to sell. Heretofore, I have confined myself to the Signs and Watchman, also Liberty, taking regularly fifty copies of the two papers a month, and have been able to do excellent work with them, but this number of the REVIEW is one of the best papers for general distribution that has come my way. The articles are excellent, and short.” If outside people like the REVIEW, certainly our people ought to like it, and keep it coming to their homes every week.
OUR new journal Christian Education, aims to reveal the correct view of all the duties and responsibilities of life, and encourage the moral force to rightly discharge them.
A BIBLE worker in Washington, D. C., has just reported a new convert to the faith as the direct result of a copy of Life and Health sold by an agent preparing the way for further investigation. This magazine is indeed an effectual “entering wedge” for the full message.
MISS M. P. SPARKS writes: “You ask which paper sells the best. I have been studying and experimenting with that problem, and to state the facts as they have been demonstrated in my experience, the paper that appeals to me the strongest is the one in which I can most readily interest others. I am getting more and more interested all the time myself. I sell from 7 to 20 papers a day, and when I get stronger physically, I expect to sell from 25 to 50 copies a day.”

Editorial

By Editor

“WE know,” said Paul, “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Rom. 8:28. The margin of the Revised Version suggests an even stronger assurance: “God worketh all things.” It is not the things working, but God working the things.
It is often difficult to see how the things can work for our good, when they seem rather to be working out evil. But back of the things, overruling the circumstances that are forbidding or evil, stands One who loves his children, and who is able to turn even adversity into blessing.
THAT is what we need to know while in the trial. “We know,” said Paul; and the apostle’s oft-repeated positives stir our flagging spirits always with new courage. We know that God worketh and overruleth to give grace and comfort, and to extract from the very bitterness some sweet of Christian grace and experience.
We may not see how it can be. But that is because God works so wondrously. It is our part to know it is so. Then may we wait in hope and endure patiently until we see of his salvation. “All these things are against me,” cried the aged, sorrowing patriarch Jacob. It looked that way; but really all those things were being worked for him by a loving Father. It is one of the lessons hardest to learn. Again and again we must go over it. But by all the story of God’s dealings with men, not willing that any should perish, and by all the exceeding great and precious promises, let us hold to this truth, and seek for grace to say even in the trial, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

A Host Put to Flight

By W. A. S.

ONE of the experiences of the missionary Paton, on the island of Tanna, shows how God still sends his angels to deliver in time of danger. The time was near at hand when the missionary was to flee from the island. War had broken out between the tribes. Paton had fled from his home to the village of a friendly chief, Nowar. But now the enemy was coming upon them. The missionary says:—
On reaching Nowar’s village unobserved, we found the people terror-stricken, crying, rushing about in despair at such a host of armed savages approaching. I urged them to ply their axes, cut down trees, and blockade the path. For a little they wrought vigorously at this; but when, so far as eye could reach, they saw the shore covered with armed men rushing on toward their village, they were overwhelmed with fear, they threw away their axes and weapons of war, they cast themselves headlong on the ground, and they knocked themselves against the trees as if to court death before it came. They cried: “Missi, it’s of no use! We will all be killed and eaten to-day! See what a host are coming against us.”
Mothers snatched up little children and ran to hide in the bush. Others waded as far as they could into the sea with them, holding their heads above the water. The whole village collapsed in a condition of indescribable terror. Nowar, lame with his wounded knee, got a canoe turned upside down and sat upon it where he could see the whole approaching multitude. He said: “Missi, sit down beside me, and pray to our Jehovah God, for if he does not send deliverance now, we are all dead men. They will kill us all on your account, and that quickly. Pray, and I will watch!” . . .
We prayed as one can only pray when in the jaws of death and on the brink of eternity. We felt that God was near, and omnipotent to do what seemed best in his sight. When the savages were about three hundred yards off, at the foot of a hill leading up to the village, Nowar touched my knee, saying, “Missi, Jehovah is hearing! They are all standing still.”
Had they come on, they would have met with no opposition, for the people were scattered in terror. On gazing shoreward, and round the harbor, as far as we could see, was a dense host of warriors, but all were standing still, and apparently absolute silence prevailed. We saw a messenger, or herald, running along the approaching multitude, delivering some tidings as he passed, and then disappearing in the bush.
To our amazement, the host began to turn, and slowly marched back in great silence, and entered the remote bush at the head of the harbor. Nowar and his people were in ecstasies, crying out: “Jehovah has heard Missi’s prayer! Jehovah has protected us and turned them away back.”
We were on that day his trusting and defenseless children; would you not, had you been one of our circle, have joined with us in praising the Lord God for deliverance from the jaws of death? I know not why they turned back; but I have no doubt it was the doing of God to save our lives. W. A. S.

Worldly Unions or Union in Christ

By C. M. S.

It is the purpose of the Author of our salvation that there should be the closest possible union between himself and his children, a union as close as that of the vine and its branches, as close as the union between the Father and himself. “I in them, and thou in me,” was the prayer of Jesus for his disciples. That union with the Father made Jesus all-powerful for good; and Christ’s prayer fulfilled in his disciples will make them also a resistless power in the work of God.
In union there is strength. In the right kind of union there is increased power for good; in the wrong kind of union there is increased power for mischief. It is worth everything to know whether we are working with the one, or being worked by the other.
There are unions and unions. There is the ideal union in which the Leader is working for the good of all, and every member is working for the good of all men, and consequently for the good of that Leader. That is the perfect union—one working for all, and all working for that one, and for all others. That union is not of human origin. That is the union which Jesus Christ came into the world to institute among men for their eternal good and for the glory of God.
In the true Christian union there is an eternal principle which the mind of the worldly man can not comprehend. He clings to, and works for, self and its interests; gains his ends by himself if he can, or else by confederacies with others against those who oppose; but in true Christian union there must be the surrender of self and selfishness. In such a move the worldly man sees only ruin; but in it the Christian finds eternal gain, everlasting riches.

Worldly Unions

There are unions in which men bind themselves together under oaths and abjurations, with cruel penalties, to keep hid from the rest of mankind the secrets held in that union and the workings of that union; to keep among themselves and wholly restricted to themselves all benefits which it is in the power of that union to bestow. Such a union is of human origin. Christ had no secrets to hide from the people. The good works that he did were done for whomsoever was in need—the wealthy Zaccheus, the military official, the “teacher in Israel,” the impotent, the beggar, the maniac, or the loathsome leper. “In secret,” he declares that he “said nothing.” Every word of the glorious gospel he brought was as free to one as to another. The greatest boon that divinity could bestow upon humanity—eternal life—Christ declared was free to all who would come unto him. So these oath-bound and benefit-restricted unions are not of him, and are not doing his work.
There are unions in which men band together to bring under their control the industries of the land, forcing out of business all but a favored few who must stand with them in the work they do. Thus they bring into their coffers the major part of the profits of the handling of that industry, and divide it among themselves without regard to the welfare, the needs, or the wishes of others. When that industry is thus brought under the control of that few, the price of the commodity controlled is forced far above the normal price, and no matter what the needs of the people who require that product, the price must be paid. They may be in the depths of poverty; but this union knows no pity. Therefore it is not of Christ; for he said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” No member of such a union can follow that rule. “Whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?” It does not; therefore this union is not of God.
Again: “We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren;” but the members of this union can not lay down even a moiety of the inflated price to ease the hardships of the needy brother. God declares himself the helper of the widow and the father of the fatherless. This union is the oppressor of both widow and fatherless.
There is a union in which men and women covenant with one another to use every means at their disposal to accomplish the financial ruin of some one man or woman or firm—the boycott. In that, we have exemplified the cruel extent to which unbridled selfishness and disregard of commonest justice can drive a human being. It is not necessary to say that it is not Christian; it violates every principle of Christian treatment. Instead of helping the oppressed, this union lives on its power to oppress. Reproach is its weapon, and it uses it unsparingly to hound its victim to his ruin. Those who are approved in the sight of God can not indulge in such things. Here are some of the characteristics of such: “He that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his friend, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.” Such, the Lord says, shall dwell in his holy hill; but they who do the thing condemned can not be there. Christ’s command is, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” The boycott is contrary to these principles in toto. The boycotter can not carry out these requirements. Christianity and the boycott are diametrically opposed to each other; they can not dwell together in the same heart. While one is self-sacrifice, the other is selfishness; while one helps a neighbor, the other crushes him; while one lifts neighbor above self, the other would sacrifice neighbor on the altar of self, and elevate self above all its surroundings. It is antichristian on every count.
And then there is that other union—the labor union—in which men band themselves under penalties to let no consideration interfere with their own grasping of every pecuniary advantage which they can secure; to drive to the wall every business which they can not control; to prevent every man, woman, or child from obtaining employment who will not, or can not consistently, yield to the control of that combination. It matters not to what extremity the wives or children of its proscribed victims may be driven through the inability of the father and husband to obtain the necessities of life for those whom he had covenanted to shelter, protect, and provide for. It matters not what institution’s hands are tied; what wheels of industry cease, or what homes are disrupted, if the heads of those homes do not wear the badge of that union. If you are a member of that union, strike when the union strikes, boycott whomsoever the union declares “unfair,” jeer at the independent worker, and do all you can to force him either under your control or out of his job; pay your fine when you patronize an independent firm or employ an independent laborer, refuse to associate with non-union men, or to attend their funerals when they die; obey the laws of this union, no matter with what laws of earth or heaven they conflict. Then you are entitled to all the “benefits” it has to bestow. If you do not choose to do this, its “benefits” are not for you, and all its machinery will be set in motion against you.
This union also is of men; for it opposes the principles of the government of God. He declares, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and . . . thy neighbor as thyself;” but the one who is ruled by the principles of the union can not do this. To do so and act upon it would mean expulsion from the union. The union man must oppose his neighbor who refuses to join; he must refuse to work by his side; he must do his best to keep him from obtaining employment; he must not favor him in any way. The rule of God’s government is, “Relieve the oppressed;” and he declares that he will be a “refuge for the oppressed,” and a swift witness against the oppressor. And that means the laborer who oppresses his neighbor as well as the man of wealth who oppresses the poor.
Thus we find in all these worldly unions, these bandings together of men, principles that are directly opposed to the government of God. In them self is god, unionism the mode of worship, and all their votaries must kneel before that altar, even though in doing so they kneel on the neck of the dearest friend or nearest relative.

Life Union

The union which Christ taught is comprehended in the one word, love. Humanity had severed the cord that should have held it to the heart of the universe, and infinite love came down to join again the broken band. God was holding it forth to a world turning its back upon him, and he holds it forth still. There is infinite harmony in that union. Christ declares, “I and my Father are one;” and again: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” “All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” In that union with God through Christ, there is no bitterness, no oppression, no envy, no malice, toward any.
Christ illustrates that union by the vine and its branches. Separated from him, the life-channel is sundered, the branch withers, the fruit decays, and the keeper of the vineyard finds nothing but food for the flames where there might have been glorious fruit. In that illustration is the story of the gospel work and its results. There are the two classes: one in union with God, bearing fruit to his glory; one cut off from that union, withering into self and perishing. The union of the human creation is for a fragment of time, and the birthright of eternity is sold for its mess of pottage. It struggles for self, fights for self, exalts self to be its god, and lies down in the ashes of its idol to wake no more forever. How insignificant, how worthless, how transient, are the fruits ofsuch unions! In the working out, class is arrayed against class, company against company, hatred against avarice, man against man—to force the coffers of other men; and when it is worked out, all that might have been is lost, and the full coffers of eternity are bolted and barred against them. It is not worth it.
How much better, how infinitely much better, is that union which Christ is instituting among men! Running all through it are the golden threads of love, and hatred and strife and accusation have no place. Selfishness is sacrificed; but in its place we have all working for the good of each, and the hearts and interests of all twined and intertwined and woven into one harmonious web of love and peace, stretching out in undimmed and unending beauty as long as the universe holds and God lives. Works of love and mercy here, and all the blessings and riches of eternal life when Christ shall come,—that is the union for which the Christian will work and plead. C. M. S.

Keep Sweet, and Don't Grumble

By F. M. W.

This article is designed for two classes; first, for those who do grumble, and secondly, for those who do not grumble. We hope it may have some little influence on the grumblers to convert them from their evil ways, and on those who do not grumble to lead them more earnestly to persevere in right-doing. The grumbler, or faultfinder, whose ways are perfect in his own eyes, sees nothing good in the lives or doings of his fellows. He is a pessimist. To him there is no joy of hope; no pleasure of anticipation, everything is dark and foreboding. He robs himself of the pleasures God designed him to enjoy, and so far as his influence extends, he makes life miserable for others.
The grumbler is usually a conceited man, and imagines that criticism is an evidence of a great mind, and that his mental superiority enables him to pass judgment upon those around him. This broad conception of his exalted plane arises from the narrowness of his mental horizon. In reality, it takes a very narrow mind to grumble and complain and to find fault. It matters not whether the cause of complaint be real or fancied, the effect on the character of the complainer is the same. The grumblers or murmurers among Israel of old were the special objects of divine wrath. Says the apostle Paul: “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”
The journey from Egypt to Canaan was marked by the graves of the grumblers. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, two hundred fifty of the princes of the congregation, besides many others, went down into the pit because of their murmurings against God's providence, and what appeared to them the mistakes of their fellow men. Moses, Caleb, and Joshua looked forward with expectant hope. They endured as seeing Him who is invisible. The greatness of their heaven-appointed mission caused their personal trials and inconveniences to sink into insignificance. Before the criticizing, rebellious, stubborn hearts of their opposers, they could stand unmoved, firm in their loyalty and devotion to God. Not so, however, with the grumblers. Personal grievances and petty annoyances had become so magnified in their minds that they subordinated to these every worthy purpose and future hope. Instead of looking forward they looked backward. Egypt instead of Canaan was their goal.
Thus has it been through all the history of the world. The men who have stood for God, who have achieved something worth while in connection with any enterprise, have been the men who have looked forward instead of backward; who have subordinated personalities to principles; who have passed by ignominy and reproach, slights and insults. They have been pushers, and faithful, steady plodders. They have been optimists. By faith they saw visions of great things to be gained. In the contemplation of the objects which possessed their souls, they had no time for trivial incidents. Especially has this been true in Christian work. The heralds of the cross have had respect unto the glorious results to be attained rather than to the sacrifices necessary to their attainment. Their motto, like that of Carey, has been, “Expect great things of God, attempt great things for God.” And like the great apostle to the Gentiles, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” they have pressed “toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
We wish all the grumblers and growlers who read these lines would point out one man or woman in their knowledge in all the history of the world who, possessing their spirit, has accomplished anything in the world's work. They will search in vain for such characters.
But while the Lord regards with disfavor this unfortunate disposition of grumbling, his richest blessings are promised to those who with charity and joy and hopefulness, take hold of the tasks committed to them, and faithfully and uncomplainingly labor for their accomplishment. The spirit of divine revelation is the spirit of praise and thanksgiving. Nowhere does God exhort us to complain. Repeatedly does he exhort us to courage and good cheer. The warm hand grasp, the cheery smile, the word of praise and appreciation, accomplish much for God, and for our fellow men. This spirit drives away the gloom, and brings in light and liberty and blessing everywhere. Our fellows need smiles, not frowns, and encouragement rather than faultfinding.
Be a lifter for God in his great work for humanity. Keep cheerful and happy. Whatever may be your work, do it pleasantly. Are you a professional man, a tradesman, a mechanic, a farmer, or a housewife, do your work as unto God. Live not for self, but for others. Let no day pass without seeking to help the lives touched by your influence. Do the best you can. Be brave and true, pure and noble. Smile and push. If others fail, reach out the helping hand. If things do not go to your liking, pass it unnoticed. God is over all, and if we keep sweet and sunny and pleasant, it will serve to smooth away much of the roughness of life, and God will bring everything out all right, in the end. So let us keep sweet, and not grumble. If we learn this lesson, we learn the great lesson of practical Christian life.
F. M. W.

Monument to a Colonial Sabbath-Keeper

By W. A. S.

THE Philadelphia Record of September 27 has the following editorial note:—
Conrad Weiser, the pioneer settler to whom a monument was erected at Womelsdorf on Saturday, deserved to be remembered by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a great pacificator, and by his friendly influence did more to protect the early settlers of western Pennsylvania from the depredations of fierce and vengeful Indiantribes than could have been accomplished by many battalions of armed men. In paying a belated tribute to his memory a debt long overdue has been satisfied.
It is plain from the fragmentary record of Weiser’s private life that his interest in the Indians was primarily a missionary interest. He loved them and desired to help them; and this it was that gave him greater influence with the tribes from the Delaware to the Ohio than any other man of colonial times. Hence his services were in continual demand. It was the same loyalty to principle and the Word of God that made him a Sabbath-keeper which gave him so large a place in the Indian history of that period. W. A. S.

Dedicated to the Message

By William A. Spicer

DURING the recent camp-meeting season a good many acres of field and forest were pledged to God's cause, to hasten forward the message of truth. That means cutting down and cutting loose. And not only those acres given outright, but those that are being worked by Seventh-day Adventists are to preach the coming of the Lord.
In a very literal way, so far as Seventh-day Adventist lands and business enterprises are concerned, the psalmist's exhortation is to be fulfilled: “Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth.” Ps. 96: 12, 13.
“Say among the heathen [among the nations] that the Lord reigneth,” is the word just preceding. “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” And how it glorifies all business and toil to realize that the business is to be operated for God, and the proceeds to go to spreading his glorious truth among all peoples. W. A. S.

The End of the World

In the September issue of the Technical World appears an article by Winthrope Packard, under the title “The End of the World.” The article is profusely illustrated with striking astronomical views of star clusters and nebulae and an enlarged photograph of the sun and moon. The writer asks the question, “What will be the end of the world?” Before giving his answer to the question, he proceeds to throw discredit upon the prophecies of the Bible relating to that event. He says:—
Such prophets and prophecies have all been proved erroneous, and the Millerites and their kin have all been laughed out of serious consideration. Science has taught us better; and yet science, which seeks always new facts and revised reasoning, is now teaching us that our faith in the safety of the solar system is misplaced.
Science has also taught us that faith in the Word of God is unreasonable; that the world was not created, but evolved; that man was not created, but came up through a long process of evolution from a tiny wriggling speck in ocean slime to what we see him to-day. Science has also taught us that the Bible is unreasonable in its teachings and untrue in its history, and has created out of its own imagination, standards of morals which it considers better, and interpretations of history which it considers truer. Yet the morals of the people based upon the teachings of the scientists have been deteriorating in about the same ratio that the scientists lost faith in the divine Word; but the picks and shovels of the excavators are proving the Bible history true, and the criticisms of Bible history unfounded.
“Science has taught us better,” say the scientists; but in the same sentence they are compelled to admit that the foundations which they adopt must be continually revised. That leaves them without a solid basis upon which to rest. The faithless astronomer, the faithless evolutionist, and the faithless higher critic are all turning their guns upon the Rock of Ages, and yet it stands and will stand, and they who trust in it will find shelter, of which the faithless would gladly avail themselves when the unerring prophecies of God’s Word culminate in “the end of the world.” The very doubtings of the scientists and critics confirm the prophecies they seek to discredit.

Preaching Doctrines

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS are sometimes accused of too earnestly preaching the doctrines of the Bible. Some feel that the preaching of Bible doctrine should be relegated to the past. The Western Recorder (Baptist) in a recent issue makes the following sensible comments upon this charge as applied to the Baptists. It is quite as true as applied to this denomination:—
Baptists adhere to certain principles, however, that are not acceptable to other denominations. If we do not differ from others in our doctrinal teaching, we have no right to a separate existence. If, on the other hand, there are peculiar views for which we feel bound to stand, duty impels us to promulgate what we honestly believe to be the truth.
There is a wide-spread prejudice against doctrinal preaching. Modern revivalism of the sensational type is largely responsible for the notion that true religion consists principally of feeling. Blinded by the mists of sentimentalism, not a few have been led to discredit teaching altogether. The spiritless presentation of the gospel has also borne evil fruit. . . . Preaching doctrine is teaching something; it is imparting instruction. The sermon that has no doctrine in it, is like the soap-bubble—it has nothing in it. What a spectacle indeed does that gospel minister present who panders to the whims of an unthinking public! He is simply blowing up bubbles for the devil to explode. Paul declares that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
If, as some think, the preaching of doctrine does more harm than good, then the Scriptures are not “profitable for doctrine.” Speaking to Timothy, a young minister of the gospel, the apostle said: “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Tim. 4:13.
Are not the duties here enumerated binding on us to-day? Does not the world more than ever need to be taught the things pertaining to the kingdom of God? Jesus said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.” . . . So long as heaven has a single enemy on the earth, so long will it be necessary for Christians to fight the battle of faith.
Indifference to error finds no countenance in the teaching of the inspired Book. The mixing of error with truth is divinely forbidden. . . . Said Paul: “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.” 2 Tim. 1:13. Cling to the truth; our Captain is leading us; trust him. The struggle is furious, but he who loves as he fights will win. It takes power to contend for the right, and still more power to do so with such gentleness and tactfulness that instead of being driven from the truth, the people may be led to accept it.
The doctrines of the Bible constitute the great bonework of all Bible truth. Ignore or cease to preach them, and the real strength and backbone are taken out of gospel preaching. Preaching then degenerates into mere sentiment and sensationalism. The world to-day needs a revival of old-fashioned doctrinal preaching.

A Legacy of Evil

STRIKING testimony to the curse of even moderate indulgence in alcoholic drink is borne by a writer in the Cosmopolitan, who says:—
In a record of ten families in which the parents were moderate drinkers, it was recently found that of the fifty-seven children born of the unions, twenty-five died in the first few weeks, six were idiots, five undergrown, five had epilepsy, five suffered from lesser diseases which could be traced to the influence of alcohol, and of the whole number only eleven were considered normal. In the same locality a similar record was made of ten families in which both parents were temperate. Here it was found that five of the children died in the first few weeks, four suffered from slight diseases which were curable, two suffered from “inborn defects,” and the large proportion of fifty out of sixty-one were normal.
Only the records of the last day will reveal the terrible effects of intemperance on the human family. It saps the vital energies, debauches the moral nature, ruins the home, corrupts society, menaces the state. It produces paupers and imbeciles, and fills our state prisons and almshouses. Every Christian has a duty to set his face resolutely against this tide of evil.
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