Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 40. (10/4/1906)

Review and Herald

Oct 4, 1906

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Oct 4, 1906

Our Publishing Work

*The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11.*

See last paragraph on this page for instructions where to order.

SEED sowers should not forget the promise of the Lord not to suffer the truth to return unto him void, but that it should be as bread cast upon the waters to be gathered many days hence. The constant sowing of the seeds of truth through the printed page is accomplishing a wonderful work. How to do this kind of work more effectually should be the constant study of every believer. No message-believing person should suffer a day to pass without planting some seeds of truth.

IN the “Empire Series” will be found a study of the history of nations from the time of the flood down to our time, into which has been interwoven Bible history. Maps in colors aid greatly in the study. No other books like these are to be found. The series is composed of three large volumes. “Empires of the Bible,” treating of the time from the flood to the Babylonian captivity, $1.50. “Empires of Prophecy,” from Babylonian times to the fall of Rome, $2. “Ecclesiastical Empire,” from the fall of Rome to our own times, $2.50.

A NEW book by James Edson White, entitled “New Testament Primer,” is now in press, and will be ready for mailing in a short time. It is handsomely illustrated with new half-tone and line engravings, with type work in blue ink. All cuts are printed in two colors. It will make a beautiful and attractive book for children. It will contain four departments, the first a Scripture Alphabet, with each letter printed in two colors, and a text of Scripture by the side of each letter, the first word beginning with that letter, and ornamented with vines and flowers that grow in Palestine. The second department is made up of trees, flowers, animals, birds, and insects, with eleven pages of pictures in colors, and descriptions in blue. At the bottom of each page in this department is a slate exercise in writing lessons, drawing, and stick-laying, which will afford endless and useful amusement and home study for the children. The life of Christ is the subject of the third department. It is made plain, simple, and interesting. In this department are lessons on baptism, the Sabbath, the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ, which are interwoven naturally into the story. Following the life of Christ, the fourth department takes up the life of the apostles; beginning with their return from the Mount of Olives, their early mission is described; the experiences of Peter, in prison and out; the conversion of Saul, his ministry, his shipwreck, etc., while on his way as a prisoner to Rome. The book closes with John on Patmos, with beautiful full-page illustrations of “John Viewing the Holy City,” and “A Little Child Shall Lead Them.” These pictures are also printed in colors, and are especially good. Price in board covers, cloth back, 25 cents; in full cloth, 50 cents.

THE International Publishing Association of College View, Neb., has just issued a new English catalogue of foreign publications, which will be furnished free on application.

THE vocation of canvassing develops the individual more rapidly than any other calling in life. It develops self-reliance and the ability to successfully meet people. No education or training is complete without the discipline of the occupation of salesmanship.

THE following publications can be secured of the International Publishing Association, College View, Neb.: in the Portuguese language, “Great Speeches of the Vatican,” 1 cent; “Righteousness,” 1 cent; “Steps to Christ,” cloth, 50 cents; “Which Day Do You Keep, and Why?” 1 cent. In the Danish language, “Christ Our Righteousness,” 15 cents; “Steps to Christ,” cloth, 50 cents. In the Rumanian language, “His Glorious Appearing,” paper, 25 cents; “Steps to Christ,” cloth, 50 cents.

A COMPANY of three ladies began several weeks ago to sell 10,000 copies each of Life and Health and Liberty, and the following quotation from a letter dated September 23, will show how they are prospering: “The last week we sold 2,800 papers, nearly 1,000 copies for each of us. We shall probably send for 2,000 copies more about the twenty-sixth. We desire you to get up 20,000 special copies of Liberty for us. Let us know by return mail if you can furnish these magazines.” Let others try selling Life and Health and Liberty. Write for particulars and prices.

THE Sabbath-school Lesson Quarterly for the fourth and last quarter of 1906, contains a series of thirteen lessons upon the “Agencies of the Plan of Salvation.” The following are the sub-heads under which these agencies are to be treated: The Salvation Provided for All; The Head of the Plan of Salvation; A Just God and a Saviour; The Captain of Our Salvation; The Holy Spirit—Receiving the Seal; Work of the Angels in the Plan of Salvation; The Word of the Plan of Salvation; The Testimony of Nature Concerning God’s Power in Salvation; The World to Come; Testimony of the Ages; The Ministry; The High Calling; Ye Are My Witnesses. These lessons are the result of a thorough study of the Scriptures upon these subjects, and will be of great profit to all who desire to know more of the great plan of salvation. Price, 5 cents.

Orders for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society or to Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., or Battle Creek, Mich.

Also Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.; Portland, Ore.; Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Tex.

Some “Hard Nuts” Cracked

THERE is a little leaflet entitled “Hard Nuts for Seventh-day Adventists” which is being used to confuse the minds of those who are instructed in their duty to obey the Lord by observing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Our attention has been called by different ones to the arguments (if such they can be called) which are made in this leaflet, and we have been requested to give them some attention.

There is nothing new in them. They are neither original nor convincing, and when candidly examined, they are found to be mere quibbles, or to grow out of a misapprehension of the true teaching of the Scriptures; but they may serve to disturb the minds of those who have never reached a settled conviction concerning the Sabbath question. We shall therefore give a little time to the easy task of cracking some of these “hard nuts.”

The first demand is for “the proof that any man ever kept the seventh day, except by special commandment, prior to the proclamation of the ten commandments at Mount Sinai.” In the first place let it be noted that it would make no difference in the case if no such proof could be adduced. We are living this side of Sinai, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the seventh day was plainly designated as the Sabbath in the ten commandments which were spoken by the Lord’s own voice and written with his own finger at that time. But the proof demanded is not lacking. The apostle Paul proves that the law of God was in existence before it was spoken at Sinai, from the admitted fact that sin was in the world before that time, since “sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Rom. 5: 13. The Sabbath, which is included in the law rehearsed at Sinai, was instituted at creation. Gen. 2: 2, 3. Those, therefore, who, like Abraham (Gen. 26: 5), kept the Lord’s commandments, statutes, and laws, were observers of the seventh-day Sabbath. That the law of the Sabbath was well known previous to its proclamation at Sinai is further shown in that the Lord brought a test concerning this commandment upon his people in the wilderness of Sin to prove them, “whether they will walk in my law or no.” Ex. 16: 4, 5, 22-26.

A comparison of Ex. 16: 1 with Ex. 19: 1 will show how long this was before the children of Israel arrived at Sinai. It is thus perfectly clear that the Sabbath, instituted centuries before the existence of a Jew, was observed according to the commandment by the obedient children of God in the earliest times. To reject this evidence and to deny that the seventh day was observed from creation to Sinai on the ground that there is no specific instance of Sabbath observance recorded, is to set aside sound argument by a mere quibble. But there is no possible way of compelling a quibbler to acknowledge the force of any argument.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth paragraphs of this leaflet are inquiries concerning the observance by present Sabbath-keepers of certain regulations enjoined under the theocracy, but not of general or permanent obligation. Every serious student of the Scriptures ought to know that there were civil and ceremonial laws given under special conditions and for special purposes, which were not moral in their nature, and which were not of universal application. Therefore the instruction to the children of Israel that they should not go out of their tents on the Sabbath to seek for manna, that they should observe the year of jubilee, and that they should not build a fire in their habitations on the Sabbath day, which is not found in the fourth commandment, is not in force in this day, and does not enter into the question of Sabbath observance in our time. We are not now living under the theocracy or under the ceremonial law, but the lapse of theocratic and ceremonial observances does not in any way affect the obligation to keep the fourth commandment in harmony with the interpretation which Jesus placed upon it. Furthermore, the question, “Is it the duty of Christians to put to death those who

desecrate the seventh day?” may be answered by asking, Is it the duty of Christians to put to death the one who smites his father or his mother (Ex. 21:15)? or, Is it the duty of Christians to provide cities of refuge “that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares” (Num. 35:10, 11)? And yet who will deny the obligation to honor father and mother, and to refrain from taking human life, as directed in the fifth and eighth commandments? An argument which does not have any force when applied to some other commandment than the fourth is not entitled to any serious consideration when it is urged against the obligation to keep the Sabbath.

In the sixth paragraph of this leaflet the question is asked, “If Christians are under obligations to observe the seventh day, why did Jesus declare that all the law and prophecy hang on love instead of the Sabbath?” This is certainly a remarkable bit of reasoning! We might supply a little more of the same kind and inquire, If Christians are under obligations not to bear false witness against their neighbors, why did Jesus declare that all law and prophecy hang on love instead of the ninth commandment? But the true answer is found in the following words: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments.” 1 John 2: 4, 5; 5: 2, 3; 2 John 6. Among the commandments, the keeping of which is the outworking of love in the heart, is the fourth commandment inculcating the observance of the seventh day as the Sabbath. Any other keeping of this day than that which is the outgrowth of love is mere ceremonialism—a mockery of Sabbath-keeping. And the same is true of all the other commandments. Therefore Jesus said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matt. 22: 37-40. But this does not militate against the observance of the fourth or any other commandment.

This article is long enough, and a further consideration of these “hard nuts” must be deferred until some other time.

That Hope of the President

THE message which President Roosevelt recently sent to the pope conveying his “profound regards,” and expressing the hope that this republic will last for centuries, and that “there will be Catholic presidents as well as Protestant presidents,” has attracted attention outside of America. In the September issue of The Protestant Observer, published in London, we find the following comment on this message:—

Such a message only proves how ignorant President Roosevelt is of the true character of popery, its intolerance, and hatred of religious liberty. American Protestants could not well commit a greater act of folly than to place a Roman Catholic at the head of the republic, he being in all matters, civil and religious, a subject of a foreign sovereign called the pope of Rome.

It will be of interest in this connection to read a paragraph from an article lately published in the Independent (New York) written by one who has just abandoned the priesthood of the Catholic Church. Referring to the teaching of that church concerning the relation between church and state, he says:—

When Leo XIII’s encyclical on the Christian State appeared, I read it with great care. Like all American Catholics, I believed in a free church in a free state. But Leo XIII taught that the church is supreme, and the state her handmaid. My surprise was great. Later on I noticed that when our American prelates spoke of the church and state, they always explained, carefully, that the status here is the best for us. The only exception I can recall was the sermon of Archbishop Kain, of St. Louis, at the conferring of the red hat upon Cardinal Martinelli, in Baltimore Cathedral. He came out fairly and squarely for a free church in a free state, and whether he knew it or not, preached thereby heresy. From the Catholic standpoint the church is right. If she is the mother of all truth, she dare not brook a rival in the state any more than in the sects.

Those who would form a correct judgment concerning the real attitude of the papacy on any question must remember what has already been made known concerning “the double doctrine of the Catholic Church.” There is an esoteric Catholicism and an exoteric Catholicism—the inner teaching and practise and the outward teaching and practise. The American principles of the separation of church and state, of freedom of speech and of the press, are tolerated by Catholicism in this country because at present no other course is possible, but the record in Catholic countries shows what the Roman Catholic Church really holds on these questions, and what she would do in this country were she to come into power. And although Catholics in America may be more liberal and more tolerant in their views than are the Old World Catholics, yet the policy of the church is dominated from Rome, and can not be controlled by American Catholics. Furthermore, the avowed purpose of American Catholics is to build up a Catholic America, and they do not hesitate to use every influence available to accomplish this purpose. If a Catholic should ever occupy the president’s chair, there is no doubt that he would use his official position for the furtherance of the interests of the Catholic Church. If he did otherwise, he would not be true to the principles of genuine Catholicism.

Those who are looking for the fulfilment of the prophecy found in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation are watching with intense interest all these indications of union between Catholicism and an apostate Protestantism.

Editorial

By Editor

The A B C of Christianity is found in these three sentences:—

All have sinned. Behold the Lamb of God. Come unto me.

He who acknowledges that he is a sinner, accepts the sacrifice which has been made for sin, and comes to Jesus for deliverance, will experience a transformation of heart and life, and will be enrolled as a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. We need to repeat daily this A B C of Christianity.

The thrilling truth that the personal, literal, visible coming of our Lord is very near should be constantly emphasized. This doctrine, when heartily believed, will shape the life and mold the character. The whole purpose of this message is “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” While every phase of present truth should have its place in our teaching, yet the nearness of the return of Jesus to this earth should be the keynote of every message to the people. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him.” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

The growing Christian requires spiritual food. “The word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” A healthy, growing Christian does not attempt to take this spiritual nourishment in large quantities on infrequent occasions, but asks for, and accepts, his “daily bread.” “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” He who neglects to eat this spiritual food regularly will surely become weak and uncertain in his Christian experience.

The Growing Army of Youth

By William A. Spicer

“RUN, speak to this young man,” was the command to the angel in Zechariah’s vision. The Lord does not forget the youth. In every crisis in the history of his work, he has summoned young people to consecrate their energies and activities to the cause of truth. He is sounding that call to-day, and an army of youth is responding.

Have our older members noticed the last quarterly report of the young people’s work, printed in the Youth’s Instructor of September 11? It shows a most encouraging movement among the young people. The general secretary, Sister L. Flora Plummer, says in her notes on the report:—

This summary is the best we have yet had, and even now the secretaries have been quite unanimous in saying that the reports they send do not represent all the work done. Be that as it may, we certainly have cause for thankfulness that we now have two hundred and twenty-four Societies, with a membership, including the isolated, of more than five thousand. The host of young people represented by these figures brings forcibly to mind the statement, “We have an army of youth to-day who can do much if they are properly directed and encouraged.” The “army” now banded together for missionary purposes numbers five thousand. The work reported is considerable in the aggregate. Twelve hundred dollars for mission fields is an evidence that some at least in this “army” have the spirit of self-denial.

During the thirteen weeks they have given away 30,000 periodicals and considerably over a quarter of a million pages of tracts. Over 800 subscriptions for papers were taken, while 16,678 papers and 1,229 books were sold. Over 2,200 Bible readings were held, and 3,299 hours devoted to Christian Help work in behalf of the poor and needy.

The figures throughout the whole report are a bright register of the rising

spirit of service among the young people. This spirit is contagious, and wherever those who love the Lord Jesus are thus gathering and working and studying to help on the cause we love, listless and inactive ones are catching the inspiration and joining in the movement.

Again, as in Zechariah’s day, Zion is to be restored. This time it is to be the eternal city, from above. The work before us is to carry the definite gathering message to the children of Zion scattered among all the nations. Every soul who knows that the end is at hand is called to the work. Zechariah heard the commanding angel say, “Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited.” The same angel messengers are still, in tones of urgent haste, summoning every young man and woman to consecrate the life to the finishing of the work. W. A. S.

Leading into Canaan

By C. M. S.

THE law of God led the way into the land of Canaan. In the ark of God, representing the throne of God, the law went forward, and the people followed.

Between the people and the promised land lay a river that barred their way; but at the presence of the ark and the law the waters of that river were driven back and banked up that the people might go through unimpeded. The reason for that manner of leading, Joshua declares thus: “For ye have not passed this way heretofore.”

During forty years God had been preparing them for this. Doubtless every path of that wilderness had been trodden by them again and again; but there came a time when they must make a straight course, without regard to intervening obstacles. That last journey is over a path that is new to them, and as never before they will need careful leading. The directions for this entrance journey are very explicit. The law of God was to them the key that opened the promised land.

Is there no lesson in this for us, so near the border of the eternal inheritance? The last admonition of the Old Testament is this: “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.” That this admonition is for the people of the last generation is shown by the words preceding and following this text. It is the time just previous to the day that shall “burn as an oven,” consuming the wicked. It is the day when the message of Elijah the prophet is due “before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.” Is it not significant that the last admonition of the last Old Testament prophet is in regard to the law of God, and that it accompanies prophecies relating to the very close of God’s work in the earth?

At the time when all the world will be confederating together in opposition to the truth of God and his remnant people, the admonition of the prophet to the people of God is, “Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isa. 8:16. Is there no significance in this admonition given to a people who are to live at that time? In the days of ancient Israel the nations confederated together to hinder the plainly expressed purpose of God. Just so is it to be in our generation; and that confederating process is already under way. The law of God led the way then; it must lead the way now. The confederated nations could not prevent that law-led people from entering that promised possession; neither can they in the closing of God’s work in this earth prevent God’s law-led people from entering their promised home.

When the agents of Satan, through spiritism, are blinding the minds of the people to the truth of God, and gathering souls into the great nets of perdition, while they claim to be the very ministers of God, the instruction of the Word rings out clear and plain, “To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.” Isa. 8:20. That is, if they are not led by the law, there is no light for them or for those who follow them.

Of that mighty company that is to “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth” the Word declares, “They are without blemish.” They are righteous. “Harken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law.” Isa. 51:7. The psalmist says, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Ps. 119:97. Again: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps. 119:11. That attitude toward the law of God will transform the desires of the natural man, and build up a strong bulwark against sin; and at no time in the history of the world do men need such a bulwark so much as now in the time of sin’s culmination and the close of the gospel work. God says of that company which triumphs in that day, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

As truly as the law went before Israel of old into the promised land, it will go before spiritual Israel into the eternal inheritance, the kingdom of perpetual peace. From every side that law and that people will be attacked, as was Israel of old, by the confederated powers of sin; but that company, obedient to that law, are finally seen standing before the throne of God, and this is what is said of them: “These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God. . . . . The Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Rev. 7:14-17.

But let not man think to accomplish the keeping of that holy law in human strength. One who is “our Righteousness” has kept it; but his keeping it does not absolve us from loyalty to its every precept. Grace abounds, but there is no place in God’s everlasting kingdom for the willingly disobedient. Let us hide the law in our hearts, that it may work out in our lives and illuminate the way and lead the way into the enduring Canaan.

C. M. S.

Shall we Do Less?

By William C. White

AN offering was made in all our churches, Oct. 7, 1905, in behalf of the work among the colored people of the Southern States. The results of this movement were most gratifying. Nearly thirteen thousand dollars was contributed, nearly twice as much as was given the year before.

This year the day set for the annual offering in behalf of this work is October 6. Let us prepare for the occasion. Shall our gifts this year be more or less than the amount we gave a year ago? Our study of this question will call up several others:—

1. Are we as able to give as we were last year?

2. Are the necessities of the work as great?

3. Do the signs of the times, which indicate that the coming of Christ is near at hand, appeal to us as forcibly as they did a year ago?

4. Was the money given last year used wisely? and has it brought forth satisfactory results?

To all these questions my heart’s answer is, Yes, thank the Lord! Yea and Amen! I am convinced that the funds devoted to this work have been used carefully and wisely, and that the results are commendable and encouraging.

According to agreement, the $13,000 will be used as follows:—

1. For the work in Virginia and Maryland, five per cent, or $650. This is certainly a small sum in comparison with the work to be done.

2. For the work in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, twenty per cent, or $2,600.

3. For use in the Southern Union Conference, seventy-five per cent, or $9,750.

Of the $9,750 going to the many lines of work in the Southern Union Conference, $274.20 was appropriated to the Huntsville Orphanage; and the $9,475.80 will finally be distributed as follows:—

To the Huntsville School, forty per cent, or $3,770.32. In the operation of the school, it is found that by strictest industry and severe economy, the products of the farm and the small tuitions will pay the expense of residence and board of students, leaving the salaries of teachers ($2,400 a year) and all improvements to be provided for otherwise.

If we make our gifts a little larger than last year, the school can live, and grow, sending forth a corps of much-needed workers into the Lord’s harvest. Our colored brethren are aroused to the fact that time is precious, because it is short. They see that the harvest is great, and the laborers are few.

The portion going to the Southern Missionary Society is $2,842.74,—a small fund when viewed in the light of the vastness and the urgency of the work crying for assistance.

Six of the most needy conferences each will receive about $473.79. This enables them to keep one or more laborers constantly at work among the many thousands of colored people in each State. The results of such work are seen in the conversion of many souls.

Shall we do less than last year? Let the answer of October 6 be, No, no! We will increase our gifts and enlarge the work. W. C. WHITE.

The Collection on Sabbath, October 6

By George I. Butler

THE time for this important collection for the work among the colored people of the South is very near, and the writer, as well perhaps as any one, knows its importance, because of official responsibility as president of the Southern Union Conference, where perhaps three fourths of all the colored people in the United States of America live.

A great and important work among this race has begun in the Southern Union Conference. Great advancement has been made; yet it has by no means reached that degree of success that should be attained.

During the present year nearly every State composing the Southern Union Conference has had one or more colored ministers to labor for his people. Nearly all have churches of colored people, and some have schools for the colored children. The Mississippi Conference, where the operations of the Southern Missionary Society have been most active, has had nearly half a dozen church-schools of this race. In fact, the conference itself has quite a large proportion of colored members, and they pay fully one third of the tithes of the conference. Here was where the “Morning Star” began its work.

The efforts made to supply colored ministers has been quite successful. The colored schools are the greatest factors in building up the work. Wherever they are established and fostered, in nearly every case a church is the result. Then meeting-houses must be built, and so the work goes on.

But means are required to carry out this program, and we know not where to look for such help but to our October collection.

There is a great dearth of teachers for our colored church-schools, also of Bible workers and of laborers in every department of the work. Where are we going to find them? They do not grow up to these qualifications and positions by some natural process. They must be developed by education and instruction. Hence the great need of our training-school for the colored. We must seek out pupils of bright minds, and those who desire to become useful, and bring them to this institution to be trained for the vacant places needing their help. Hence our school must receive help, and it must be made what it ought to be. This requires means.

Over and over the Testimonies have pleaded with our people in behalf of this branch of the work, and yet we have not attained to what the Lord desires we should accomplish. But I am happy in saying we are slowly approximating it. God has precious jewels to be gathered from this unfortunate people. The day of God is hastening on apace. This truth is going to the ends of the world. We must plan for its faithful proclamation among this people. What was given last year for this purpose was a wonderful help, a blessed boon. We know not what we could have done without it. The work was strengthened, encouraged, built up, and established by the means contributed. We can not bear the thought that a lack of means this year should come like a killing frost, disheartening, discouraging, and disintegrating the efforts already put forth. We can not believe such a catastrophe will occur.

Dear brethren and sisters, let us rally on Sabbath, October 6, and give liberally for the collection for the work among the colored people. Then we can rejoice at the increase of interest and the steady progress of this noble work.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Note and Comment

UNDER the heading “Another New Sunday Law” a religious paper expresses great satisfaction that China has made a beginning in the matter of Sunday observance by enacting that “hereafter no visitors are to be received in any of the official departments in Peking on Sunday, in conformity with the diplomatic customs of Christian nations.” This step is designated as “an unexpected recognition of the Christian sabbath.” China is a heathen nation. Sunday is a heathen institution. A heathen nation takes a step toward the observance of a heathen institution, and is commended for it by professed Christians! What a pity that heathen nations can not be taught the truth concerning the religion of Jesus Christ!

The Sabbath Truth Will Triumph

The advocates of Sunday observance are evidently finding out that the work of Seventh-day Adventists must be reckoned with if they are to maintain the dogma of Sunday sacredness. We find frequent mention of our people and our work in our exchanges, generally including some argument in favor of the Sunday sabbath. We are confident that many honest seekers after the truth are having their attention called to the obligation to keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment even by those who are opposing the movement for Sabbath reform, and that when this message swells into the loud cry, a large number will quickly respond to the call to come out of Babylon. Let every Sabbath-keeper be faithful and loyal, and let the efforts be increased to proclaim the Sabbath truth to all the people. The truth will triumph.

The Protestant Principle

In a recent editorial the Interior (Presbyterian) made the following sound utterance:—

Let descendants of the Reformers who loved the Word of God above any word of man, hold steadfastly to the Protestant vantage-ground. Let us never suppose that we can buttress the testimony of the Bible by the dictum of the church.

This is the platform of this advent movement. A consistent adherence to this principle will result in a return to all those truths which were perverted or lost during that time when human authority took the place of the divine commands. If tradition and the dictum of the church should be set aside, the Lord’s Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, would be observed by every Christian believer. What glorious results would follow if Presbyterians and all other professed Protestants would be true to the Protestant principle!

Sowing and Reaping

“BUT this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

The River of Years

By Rev. H. G. Jackson

In the Sunrise land, when the morning ray Was flushing the hills and valleys with gold, My life-bark was launched on its venturesome way, Freighted with treasures of value untold; For who can measure the worth, alone, Of a human soul, with its hopes and fears, Embarked on a voyage to a port unknown, On the mystical river—the River of Years?

'Twas a gentle current that carried me on, And fair was the shore on either hand; The crystal wavelets rippled and shone Over glittering beds of silver sand; No storm-clouds threaten, no thunders affright, And life like a dream of enchantment appears, While idly drifting, by day and by night, Affloat on the tranquil River of Years.

But perils there were that I soon must try, Of tortuous channels and treacherous waves, Where hidden rocks 'neath the surface lie, And the hungry torrent madly raves. On the turbulent waters my bark is tossed, Each thrilling moment new danger appears, Faith yields to terror, and hope is lost In the angry rush of the River of Years!

But One was near, whose omnipotent word The tempest obeys on sea and land; My despairing cry for succor he heard, And quickly extended his saving hand. My battered bark from the rocks set free, He calmed my terror and dried my tears, And promised henceforth my pilot to be, Till I finish my course on the River of Years.

—Rev. H. G. Jackson.

Continue reading: Closing Days at the Oakland (Cal.) Camp-Meeting