Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 16.

Publishers’ Page

Review and Herald

Apr 21, 1903

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 21, 1903

Publishers’ Page

By Editor

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Company
English Damaged Books
We still have some of each kind of the English damaged books advertised in late issues of the REVIEW. As long as they last, we will mail them for the prices quoted.

Patriarchs and Prophets

German, Danish, and Swedish

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.25 to $1.15.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.75 to $1.40.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.50 to $1.75.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Holland

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.25 to $1.15.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.75 to $1.40.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Great Controversy

German and French

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.25 to $1.15.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.75 to $1.40.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.50 to $1.75.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Danish

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.25 to $1.15.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.75 to $1.40.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.50 to $1.75.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Swedish

Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.75 to $1.40.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.50 to $1.75.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Special Sale of Bibles

By Editor

We have a few copies of the American Standard Edition of the Revised Bible, printed in long primer quarto, a very large, plain print, especially desirable for impaired vision, or for reading by gaslight. Size, 8¾ by 6¾ inches; bound in cloth board, red edges. As long as they last, we will sell them for $1.25, postpaid.

The Nelson Bible

We have a few of three very popular styles of the “Nelson Bold Type Series,” which we offer at special reduced prices. This series is printed on fine India paper, with maps and index, only ⅜ of an inch thick, and about six by four inches in size, a very popular size for ladies and young people.
Number 3258X, French morocco, divinity circuit, linen lined, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges; regular price, $2.50; reduced to $1.75, postpaid.
Number 3108X, Egyptian seal, divinity circuit, linen lined, round corners, red under gold edges; regular price, $2; reduced to $1.35, postpaid.
Number 3265X, levant, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gilt edges; regular price, $4.50; reduced to $3.25, postpaid.

Special Sale of Foreign Books

This special sale of slightly damaged books will open the way for many to secure a good collection for missionary work. The prices at which these books are offered render this a rare opportunity. Perhaps there will never be another chance to secure our foreign books so cheaply.
The books we offer at reduced prices are about as good as new. Scarcely any one would notice the slight imperfections.

Bible Readings

German, Danish, Swedish, French, and Holland
Cloth, marble, reduced from $2 to $1.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.50 to $1.25.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.50 to $1.75.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.25 to $2.15.

Marvel of Nations

Our Country, Its Past, Present, and Future, and What the Scriptures Say of It

Published in German, Danish, and Swedish, neatly and substantially bound in cloth, plain and gilt edges. The cloth binding, plain edge, is reduced from $1.25 to 65 cents, and the gilt is reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents.

German and French

From Eden to Eden

German and French

Printed on heavy calendered paper, from new electrotype plates made especially for this book, and contains 264 pages. It is illustrated with numerous full-page engravings, and furnished in two very attractive styles of cloth binding, at the following reduced prices:—
Cloth, marble, reduced from $1 to 50 cents.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents.

Life of Christ

German and French
This book has 576 pages, and is beautifully and substantially bound in the following styles:—
Cloth, marble, reduced from $2 to 80 cents.
Cloth, gilt, reduced from $2.50 to 90 cents.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.
Half morocco marble, reduced from $3.50 to $1.20.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.25 to $1.50.

Christ Our Saviour

German, Danish, Swedish, Holland, and Spanish
Beautifully bound in cloth and board covers. The cloth binding is reduced from 75 cents to 35 cents, and the board, with the cloth back, is reduced from 50 cents to 25 cents.

Steps to Christ

German, Danish, Swedish, Holland, Spanish, and Portuguese
Cloth, plain, reduced from 60 cents to 30 cents.
French, Bohemian, Italian, Welsh, Rumanian, Polish, Finnish, and Hungarian
Cloth, plain, reduced from 75 cents to 40 cents.

Early Writings

German

This work is neatly bound in cloth, plain edges, and the price is reduced from 75 cents to 40 cents.

Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene

German

A rare and valuable book. Long out of print in the English. Cloth binding, reduced from 40 cents to 25 cents.

Heralds of the Morning

German

Cloth binding, marble edges, reduced from $1.25 to 65 cents; and the gilt edge from $1.50 to 75 cents.

History of the Sabbath

German

This book contains 548 pages, and is substantially bound in cloth. The price is reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents.

Mount of Blessing

German
The sermon on the mount. A companion volume to “Steps to Christ.” Beautifully bound, profusely illustrated, reduced from 75 cents to 35 cents.

How to Order the Books

MAKE all orders for the books described above, on the Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich

Daniel and the Revelation

Contains 757 large pages, exclusive of its numerous full-page illustrations, and is beautifully and substantially bound.

German

Cloth, sprinkled edges, reduced from $2.50 to $1.25.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.

Danish

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.50 to $1.25.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.75 to $1.90.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Swedish

Cloth, marble, reduced from $2.50 to $1.25.
Library, marble, reduced from $3 to $1.50.
Half morocco, gilt, reduced from $3.75 to $1.90.
Full morocco, gilt, reduced from $4.50 to $2.25.

Holland

Cloth, marble, reduced from $1.50 to 75 cents.

Editorial

By L. A. S.

Examine the Foundation
THE day is at hand which will try every foundation upon which men stand, whether connected with the church, or otherwise. Not all foundations that are thought to be secure now, will be found so then. Many an individual is supported to-day not by a solid foundation, but by props in which there is only human strength. Many lean upon the friendship of those about them, or upon the example of certain ones to whom they look as spiritual guides. When all these props are removed, as they will be in the trying times before the end, such will find that their foundation was not the solid rock, but the sand. Their dependence was upon the word of man rather than the word of God. The sudden falling of the props upon which they leaned will take them by surprise. Those whom they have made their spiritual guides may themselves make shipwreck of the faith. “Lights which have been admired for their brilliancy will go out in darkness.” Little do many anticipate the sudden giving way of human supports which they will meet in the days to come, or the unexpected pressure which will be brought upon them to cause them to yield their faith. At that time, unless they have built upon the true foundation, they will give way to discouragement and despair, and it will seem to them that it is of no use to try longer to stand with the peculiar people who keep God's commandments. Like Esau, they will lose sight of the value of heavenly things in their fear of the calamity which seems about to overwhelm them unless they shall yield their ground. Many who confidently assert their firmness in the faith now, will be found wanting then. The only safety lies in knowing now that our foundation is the Word of God alone. Every other foundation, of whatever sort, is soon to be swept away.
L. A. S.

Love Is the Test

By L. A. S.

MANY are the delusions with which the enemy of righteousness counterfeits the work of God in these last days; but there is one thing which he can not counterfeit, and that is Christian charity, or love. Where this is, there is the Spirit of God. Satan may be transformed into an angel of light, or he may move with new power upon his agencies in the world, as he is indeed will be doing at this time; but he never breathes forth the spirit of love. The genuine work of God will be characterized by God's spirit of love for lost humanity. At the last day, when the destiny of each soul shall be made known, many will plead the mighty works which they have done in Christ's name as evidence that they are his followers; but they will receive the answer, “I know you not; . . . depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” Their wonderful works, by which they had heralded their names abroad in the earth and passed as God's chief servants before men, fail entirely as a test of their discipleship before God. “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” and they are lacking in love; therefore they are reckoned with the transgressors. Love is the test of discipleship. By this “we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” Only those who receive the love of the truth will be safe from the lying delusions that are to sweep over the earth as the end draws near. If it were possible, the very elect would be deceived by the signs and wonders which the enemy of the truth is able to show; but they will not be deceived; for they are kept by the love of God. It is the love in the voice of the Good Shepherd which makes his voice recognized by his sheep. “He that lovoveth not his brother abideth in death.” L. A. S.

The Time and the Work

(Concluded)
ONE special prophecy which I wish to emphasize is the oath of the angel who stood with hand uplifted, with one foot upon the sea, and one foot upon the earth, and swore by him that liveth forever and ever, that “there shall be delay no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.”
Two years ago, when this General Conference opened its sessions, that message came to us with great distinctness, and with a power witnessed of God, “There shall be delay no longer.” And there was a response to that message;there was a stirring of the hearts; there went forth from that an inspiration which has been with us during these two years; and over and over again, as we rehearsed the prophecies, as we noted the time where we stand, we have said within our hearts, and we have said to the people, “The hour is come; there shall be delay no longer.” And the people’s hearts have been made glad when they have heard that word; and the people’s hearts have responded to that idea, and there has been a revival of the advent faith, a revival of the advent hope, in the hearts of many where the hope was almost dead, and where the faith seemed to be flickering.
Now we have compassed another two years, and I invite this Conference to listen to the remainder of that prophecy, and put the two together, and make them one, as the cry of this message: “There shall be delay no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, THEN IS FINISHED the mystery of God.”
And I invite this Conference to face very clearly and very distinctly the issue that presses itself upon us at this time. These prophecies all emphasize to us that this is the last generation; but how long shall this generation continue? Shall those who are mere children now take up the cry, and expect to come upon the stage of action, and say, “In this generation;” and their children come on, and say, “In this generation”? Where shall we draw the line that shall mark any sort of a limit to this time? Let us see.
When our Saviour gave his prophecy, in the course of which he used this expression, “This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished,” he told them very definitely of the overthrow that was to come upon their nation and their city; and he marked the experiences that were to follow immediately after his crucifixion; and he told them of a turning away; he told them that after they had rejected him, false messiahs would come in their very day; and then he closed his statement to them concerning the limit of their own national existence, when he said, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” And the end that was to come then was the end of their national life, the end of their existence as a separate people. The prophecy was definitely fulfilled; the false christs came forward when the true Christ had been rejected. There was a turning aside from the message that had been given; and, on the other hand, there was the complete, definite fulfillment of that prophecy of our Lord, that that very gospel, that very gospel whose basis was a Messiah crucified, risen, ascended into heaven, the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary,—that definite gospel should be preached in all the world for a witness in that generation in which it was uttered.
That generation in which it was uttered witnessed its fulfillment. Those who lived and were the active leaders at the time when John the Baptist gave his message, turned from it, and raised the cry, “Crucify him, crucify him.” Their children came upon the stage of action, heard the gospel message of that Messiah, and were given their opportunity to accept or reject it from an intelligent hearing of that gospel message, and then the end came. But the end came before those who were strong in middle life, and who crucified the Messiah, passed off the stage of action. That generation witnessed the fulfillment of that prophecy, and Jerusalem was in ruins.
Now, all that was a true picture, and a typical picture. All that had its definite fulfillment in relation to Jerusalem. It has also its definite fulfillment over again. And this generation is, as it were, the second edition of the first generation. And the prophecy of that generation belongs to the prophecy of this generation. In that time those in active life rejected the message from God, crucified the Messiah, and then their sons and daughters came to middle life, years of responsibility, were given an opportunity to accept or reject the Messiah, the gospel of the kingdom was preached in all the world for a testimony, and that generation saw the end. Just so, in this time. Those who heard the message when it was first preached, calling upon them to fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment was come,—those who were told of the coming of the Lord, near at hand, and who treated the message and the messengers just as the people of God anciently treated John the Baptist and his message, and who just as really crucified the message in that time, in the same spirit also as did the professed people of God in that first generation crucify the Messiah and reject the message,—their children have lived to come upon the stage of action as the responsible workers in this day, and they are given the opportunity to hear this threefold message, and to decide intelligently whether they will accept it or whether they will crucify it. But before that generation shall pass off the stage of action, which both preached and heard that first preaching of the message,—before that generation passes off the stage of action, the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of the judgment hour, the gospel of the soon coming of the Son of man, will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and the end will come.
Now, see where we stand. I appeal to these men with gray hairs, who have known this message from its beginning, and who are becoming few among us, who at times, perhaps, have almost wavered in their hope that they should see the end of this work. I ask, How much longer can we of middle life so conduct this work as to delay, and delay, and delay, and yet bring the end in this generation? I ask you to face it, not as a theory to teach, but as a fact which you and I ought to face this very first meeting of this Conference. And I want every one to examine himself, whether he is in the faith, and to know whether he has, at this hour, that courage which is born of a faith in God’s divine Word, in prophecies fulfilled for all these centuries. Who will be willing to take his stand anew upon this definite platform, that this generation shall see the end? I say we do not face any theory about this matter. I say it is a terrible, in one sense a terrible, situation that faces us. And I ask you to face it. I ask you to look at the facts of the prophecies; I ask you to look at the whole situation, set forth in God’s Word; then I ask you to reckon up with me, that for ten, and twenty, and thirty, and forty, and fifty, and sixty years, and more, this work has been going on, and where do we stand in this generation? Every one who faces that truth, with confidence in God’s Word, has got to say to himself, “It is the last hour.”

All Bands Must Be Broken

I do not see how any true Advent believer can face this situation without being most deeply impressed with the call that is in the very situation itself. And the call that is in the situation certainly emphasizes two things: First, all the hindrances must be removed; all bands must be broken; this message must go free. Second, No human power or human wisdom is sufficient to grapple with the situation now, and there must for this service come upon the servants of God in this generation what came upon the servants of God in that first generation, that they might do the work in their day, and that is the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Two things are emphasized by the very situation itself that we face: First, hindrances must be removed; bands must be broken; this message must go free; and, second, there must come upon those who hope to see the end before this generation passes from the stage of action, the enduement of the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is utterly useless for us to repeat phrases, to reiterate sermons, to speak again those same words, as we have spoken them over and over again. There must be the dawning of a new day in this message. There must be a new experience. There must be a vitalizing power of the Spirit of God upon the servants of God, or it is hopeless. Now, what is the responsibility that rests upon those who profess to be the servants of God, called to do God’s work inthis generation? If anything ought to bring us down before God, that we may be endued with power from on high, it is the very situation that faces us this very night. I am not conjuring up things for a scare. I am speaking words of truth and soberness. But I want this Conference to be willing like men of God to face that situation, and know what it means to each one individually.
Now, further: I must tell you that to-day there are being urged upon this people interpretations of this message that will throw it beyond the limits of this generation. I must tell you that there are plans, methods of operation, policies, being urged upon this people now, that, if accepted, throw it beyond any possibility of finishing the work in this generation. And I say to every one that we stand now facing a situation where we must do one of two things: We must take our stand in a clear and definite manner upon a definite message to be finished in this generation, or we must back off from the ground we have been attempting to occupy for these years. It is too late in the day now to occupy any longer an inconsistent position concerning this message and its work. And I urgently ask this General Conference to face this matter in all its deliberations, in all its plans, in everything which is brought before it. I ask them to keep in mind this one idea,—the hour of his judgment is come. This is the last generation, and this is the last end of the last generation. Anything that tends to delay longer, anything that tends to confuse the mind, anything that tends to wreck faith in this message, anything that will interfere with a clear-cut, definite work in a clear way, must be set aside at this Conference.
This is our only hope, and I plead for it, not in order to deliver a sermon, but in order to deliver my soul.

Turning Back the Hands

There is a scene that is often acted in the Senate of the United States. When the closing day of the session comes, and the hands of the clock begin to approach twelve o’clock, one watching might see the ancient doorkeeper of the Senate noting how the business is progressing, noting whether important measures that must be passed before that Senate adjourns have been passed, and, as he sees that the hands of the clock are getting up toward twelve, one might see that man turn back the hands; and they will go on with their business, and he will watch again to see if important measures that must be passed before the Senate adjourns at twelve o’clock have been passed; if not, he will go again and turn back the hands, and it never gets to be twelve o’clock in the Senate until they have passed those measures.
Now, I want to say to this General Conference that time and again have policies come in, have interpretations come in, have methods come in, which have turned back the hands of the clock, and we are to-day living on fictitious time, just as they do in the Senate; it is past twelve o’clock, but the clock does not say it. The hands have been turned back. We are living and acting on fictitious time. The clock of this message ought to have struck twelve long ago, and might have struck twelve long ago, if methods had not been allowed to come in, interpretations adopted, policies followed, that set the hands back, and I want to tell you that to-day we are facing a choice between interpretations, methods, plans, policies, that shall finish this important work, and let the clock strike twelve, or that shall put it back again. And I say, Let nothing interfere with the clock again. Let no methods or plans or principles or interpretations again be fastened upon this message that shall prolong our fictitious time. Let the clock strike, and let the end come.
But before the end comes, this gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness. Our work is not simply negative; it is not simply to keep free from something that hinders; it is to lay hold of something that helps, forgetting the things that are behind, and pressing forward, and it is in the very light of these facts that I urge this Conference to keep in mind the time, the hour, and the situation that we face.
There is only one message to be given in this generation. There are not several messages; there is only one complete whole, which includes all the parts of this message. There are no separate parts, each one equal to the other. That one message is the message that will prepare a people, body, soul, and spirit, for the coming King; a message that will gather out a people, and prepare a people completely, that they shall be ready for the coming of the Lord, and that work prepares the way for his coming. That is the message, and it is all summed up in this. It is not necessary to carve it off and dissect it, and label it. There is one living message when it is not dissected, and that message finds its keynote, that shall sound through every part of it, in the truth that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The day of the Lord is near; it is near, and hasteth greatly; prepare to meet thy God. And that is the message which the watchmen are to take up with one voice, so that, going out from this Conference, scattering to all parts of the world, there will yet be heard in every land, and in every nation, one voice sounding, one voice rising higher and higher, one voice speaking louder and louder, one voice thrilling the hearts of the people who hear it, one voice bringing conviction upon hearts. The coming of the Lord is near; the hour of his judgment is come; prepare to meet thy God. That is the inspiration that ought to take hold upon this people at this time, and this Conference should mark the turning-point; this Conference should mark in a special way a stepping forward, a definite move, that shall show to fifty or sixty thousand Advent believers in this country, and to the thousands in other countries, that this advent message still lives with power in the hearts of believers, and that there is a solid platform upon which some are willing to take their stand, and call to others, and raise the cry, that they, too, shall join us, and not get down off the platform to look to see if it is the true platform.
Eyes from all parts of the world are turned toward this Conference, and thousands of hearts are waiting to see how this Conference faces this very problem which I have put before you.
Let us be hopeful and of good cheer. In all this that I have said, there is nothing that need discourage the faith of the believer in God. The hour is late; but little time remains; but our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and only waits for human instrumentalities, and only waits for human channels through which he may pour the abundant tide of his power, that his work may be cut short in righteousness.

Seeing His Face

By L. A. S.

IN the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven two classes of people will be living upon the earth who will view his coming with widely contrasted emotions. To the one class there will be nothing so joyful as the sight of his face, and they will exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” To the other class there will be nothing so terrible as that countenance, and they will exclaim to the rocks and mountains, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” The one class have become acquainted with him; the other class have shunned his acquaintance. To the one class he comes as a friend; to the other he comes as an awful stranger. To the one class he is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” He is the same Jesus when sitting upon the throne of his glory, and coming in flaming fire at the head of the armies of heaven, that he was when he was simply Jesus of Nazareth, the meek and lowly teacher. He is the same that he was when, coming over the waves of Galilee, he spoke those words of cheer to his troubled and fear-stricken disciples, “It is I; be not afraid.” Amid the terrors of that scene of flaming fire, of shaking heavens and reeling earth, there comes to them that same message, “It is I; be not afraid.” If we long to see him now, we shall with joy behold him then. Is this the longing of your heart to-day?
L. A. S.

Who Condemns Us?

By L. A. S.

“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Rom. 8: 33, 34.
The gospel of God is not a means devised by him for the detection and punishment of sinners. The purpose of the gospel is not to condemn the sinner, but to save him.
In the natural blindness of our minds we have accustomed ourselves to think of God as a condemner, when his whole desire and aim is to be a justifier. Between the Father and his Son, our intercessor, is no conflict of desires, but “the counsel of peace” is “between them both.” Zech. 6: 12, 13.
There was one who sought to condemn, and to lay things to the charge of God’s elect, and that one was Satan. He “accused them before our God day and night.” But his accusations did not prevail. God vindicated his office as a justifier, and the accuser of the brethren was cast down.
Who, then, shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? Who shall force God to condemn when it is his purpose to justify? What can prevail against the work of him who died and is risen again, and is at the right hand of God to make intercession for us? For our offenseswas Christ delivered and put to death. But the purpose of God appeared in the fact that he was raised again for our justification.
Many, it is true, will be condemned in spite of the gospel provisions in their behalf. But who will condemn them? Not Christ; he is their intercessor. Not God; his office is that of justifier. Not Satan; he has tried it and has failed. Ah, they will condemn themselves! The individual who is lost is condemned by himself. His own hand it is that signs the death warrant. Like the unbelieving Jews from whom Paul and Barnabas turned away, he judges himself to be unworthy of everlasting life. God can not save the one who condemns himself.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Men turn away from the light; they refuse the light of the Word of God. And “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Only believe, and God himself is your justifier. Only refuse to believe, and you condemn yourself in spite of all the grace of heaven. Believe, and you have nothing to fear. No one can lay anything to your charge, for God himself is your vindicator, through Christ’s own merits, before all the worlds. L. A. S.

Catholic Federation

By L. A. S.

IN a recent issue of the New York Sun a half column is devoted to an announcement of a “giant Catholic federation” which is to be formed at a national convention of Catholic societies, to be held in Atlantic City, N. J., the last week in April. Either Cardinal Gibbons or Mgr. Falconio, the “apostolic delegate” from the pope, will preside over this convention, and a Catholic membership of more than one million will be represented. As there is already in existence one great American federation of Catholic societies, it seems probable that no second organization is contemplated, but rather a great extension and strengthening of the federation movement.
“The work it contemplates,” says the Sun, quoting a Catholic authority on the subject, “may be summed up thus: in religious action, it will tend to propagate Catholic schools, colleges, and universities; to uplift and encourage Catholic literary societies, periodicals, and books; to establish Catholic homes and to encourage colonization; to bring about Catholic conventions and demonstrations, Catholic congresses, State and national.
“In a social way it will deal with marriage rights, and attack the divorce laws, lax Sunday observance, obscene literature , and gambling, and will deal with the subjects of labor troubles and strikes.
“The nearest approach to politics the federation will reach will be in what might be termed civil work; that is, in regard to the religious rights of Catholics, in State institutions, in the public schools, in the army and navy, and in regard to taxation of church property; support of sectarian institutions and protection of Catholic civil rights. This is the line of work already mapped out by the leaders.”
The federation “will not enter politics”—so its promoters are careful to announce. That is, it will not put a Catholic political party in the field, nor will it be allied with any particular party. But it will do more: it will by consolidating Catholic political power in this country so that it can be brought to bear effectively at any time, force the leading political parties to do its bidding. It “will not enter politics,” but it will dictate politics to the parties already in the field.
It is interesting to note that Catholic writers are beginning to boast of what the federation has already done in a political way. One who signs himself “Dominicana” says:—
It is needless to assert that since the inception of the Federation movement, Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Bonaparte, of Baltimore, have been appointed the first Catholic members of the Board of Indian Commissioners; that a Catholic has been appointed for the office of assistant postmaster general; that a graduate of the Georgetown Catholic University has been appointed one of the private secretaries of President Roosevelt; that several Catholic chaplains have been appointed in our army, and that other notable personages have deservedly received positions of trust. Do not these results, speaking louder than words, tell us what united action—what a Federation of Catholic societies—can accomplish?
Notice that among other things, the federation will lend its power to the suppression of “lax Sunday observance.” Doubtless the Catholic attitude on this subject will become more positive at no distant date. L. A. S.

Note and Comment

THE public schools of Chicago were ordered by a committee of the school board to be closed on “Good Friday.” A school trustee named Stolz, a Jew, remonstrated against the action, pointing out that it was contrary to the fundamental principles of the nation, which separate church and state, and was also in violation of a rule recently passed by the school board, which declares that “in the theory of the separation of church and state the board of education has no right to take official recognition of any religious holiday.” The board, he said, never recognized Jewish holidays. Chairman Harris, of the committee, says the Chicago Tribune, in reply stated that he did not think it would be best to depart from precedent in this matter, the schools having been heretofore closed on Good Friday, and besides, there was a difference between the observance of Good Friday and of Jewish holidays in this country, since the United States is a Christian nation. Nearly all denominations, he said, now recognize Good Friday. On motion of Trustee Brennan, seconded by Mrs. O’Keefe, the schools were ordered closed.
What kind of a “Christian nation” is it—Protestant or Catholic—which in recognition of its Christianity closes its public schools on Good Friday?—A Catholic Christian nation, evidently. Any nation which unites church and state by ordering the public observance of religious festivals proclaims thereby that its Christianity is of the Catholic stamp; and it is then only natural that Catholic festivals and fasts are the ones to receive the nation’s homage.
Continue reading: Drunkenness Among Women