p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 37. (9/13/1905)

Earlier text: LESSON 13.—SEPTEMBER 24.—REVIEW OF THE QUARTER'S LESSONS

Key West’s Churches and Cigar Factories

The island city of Key West, Fla., with a population of 25,000, has forty churches and ninety-five cigar factories. These facts are set forth as inducements for immigration.

The Exemptions for Observers of Another Day

By Editor

Attention is called to the article in our Outlook department, entitled, "The Exemptions for Observers of Another Day." Here is shown the futility of the plea for enforced Sunday observance on the ground of its being a civil sabbath. The exemptions nearly all show that religious observance is contemplated, inasmuch as those who are exempted from Sunday observance must keep some other day religiously; and not only religiously, but conscientiously. So that enforced religion is entailed upon not only those who observe Sunday, but upon them that are exempted. Such is the presumption of the Sunday-law principle.

Academy Calendars

By Editor

We have received the twelfth annual calendar of Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Texas; also the second annual calendar of the Maplewood Academy, Maple Plain, Minn., and would recommend those who are thinking of attending an educational institution to write for the calendars. The Maplewood Academy is an intermediate school, standing midway between the elementary schools and the colleges, while the Keene Industrial Academy carries the student into the higher studies, modern and ancient languages. We bespeak for these Christian educational institutions the warm support and patronage of the readers of this journal.

The Mosquito Evil.

The world is now making general war on the musical mosquito and his boring bill. There are 300 varieties of him, and to him now is generally laid the ravages of malaria and yellow fever. The anopheles tribe seems to be the worst. They multiply with astonishing rapidity. The New York World tells us that "one pond in New Jersey with a surface of 1,894 square feet was shown to have bred 10,000,000 mosquitoes. It was proved that enough could come from a teacup to worry an entire town. According to the Hudson County Extermination Commission a pool one hundred feet by twenty-five, thickly covered by larvae, will produce 53,000,000 specimens within ten days. As the mosquito breeds sometimes eight times in a summer, its possibilities of propagation almost attain infinity. It survives arctic winters and has been known to hibernate in a block of ice. It has been found in an altitude of 13,000 feet." Oil their breeding places, drain all stagnant pools.

The Cause of Shortage

By Editor

The Cause of Shortage.—Some one, whose name we do not know, has truthfully said: "God is not short of money for missions; neither are the bulk of Christians short of money. Hard hearts rather than hard times cause the trouble." True, the Lord is not short of money. He owns all the gold and the silver. "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts." But He has entrusted it to human stewards who are unfaithful to their trust. They are unwilling to render to Him that which He has required of them for the furtherance of His cause. Because of this, He charges them with robbery. "Ye have robbed Me," He says, "in tithes and offerings." He tells us just what to do that there may be no shortage for His work. "Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house." Just as long as there is plenty in the Lord's house for the sustenance of His laborers, His work will be prosecuted with vigor. The shortage is because of the covetousness of the stewards of His means, those who are daily living off His bounty, yet withhold that which the Lord has devoted to His own work.

The Key to Happiness

The truest happiness is found in forgetting self, and striving to make others happy. To seek happiness for one's own self is to lose the very key to happiness.

Special Numbers of Signs of the Times

By Editor

Do not forget the forthcoming special numbers of the "Signs of the Times;" and while remembering them, do not forget to plan to have a part in their circulation. Read again the setting forth of their interesting table of contents in last week's issue, and then ask yourself if you have not a duty to do in placing the set in the hands of your neighbors. They need them; you can supply that need; will you not do so?

Are You Following the Light?

Are You Following the Light?—This world is confessedly in the darkness. Rulers, divines, statesmen, do not know what lies before. God does. He sees the end from the beginning, "from ancient times the things that are not yet done." Of that word an apostle says: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:19. Are you following the light?

“Tainted” Money

By Editor

“Tainted” Money.—No, Mr. Rockefeller's money is not “tainted,” any more than many another man's money is tainted who gives liberally to benevolent purposes. Money is money, and that is all; it has no character. It is all right for Mr. Rockefeller to give of his vast fortune to worthy purposes, and it is all right for societies and institutions to take his money, provided they will take it without feeling obliged, by either apology or silence, to indorse his methods of getting money. But will they so receive it? that's the point. Which one of his large beneficiaries has found any fault with the trust idea, of which he is the most noted exponent—after receiving of his gifts? And where is there one that would accept a million or so without exercising an extreme charity toward the means by which the donor had acquired his wealth? We have heard much discussion of Mr. Carnegie's many gifts on the ground of tainted money, altho he is also of the trust magnate class. If money were tainted because of questionable business methods, and were generally refused on that ground, many educational and charitable institutions, and many churches, would soon be bankrupt.

OUR CHURCH PAPER.

By Editor

OUR good church paper, the Review and Herald, has been holding up the light of truth in the city of Washington, D. C., for two years. Its editors and managers, together with the General Conference officers, have fought a good fight there against the powers of darkness—the advocates of church and state union, or church dictation in the affairs of the government.

The Review is now well established in the capital city of the world's greatest republic, and in a position to wield a far greater influence for religious liberty, and the proclamation of the Gospel of the coming kingdom, than ever it has wielded before, or could wield in any other place.

But the Review is primarily the organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and its greatest power for good must be, in the very nature of things, wielded through and by its church constituency. It is also the organ of the Mission Board, and through its columns are given reports of the work throughout the world.

The laudable movement for placing the Review in every Sabbath-keeping family in the country, where the English language is read, has met encouraging success. So much so that, in the near future, the brother or sister without the church paper will not be abreast with the progress of the work, or abreast with the church in the onward march to victory. It is a time now when none can afford to be behind.

If you do not now enjoy the weekly visits of the church and mission organ, with its volume of indispensable information, you should subscribe at once. If you are a subscriber, be sure not to let your subscription lapse. No Seventh-day Adventist family can afford to be without the Review and Herald. $1.50 per year. Address, 222 N. Capitol Street, Washington, D. C.