p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 34. (9/1/1909)

Earlier text: On Trial for Picking Strawberries on Sunday

Using Brains in Family Worship

By John F. Cowan

By John F. Cowan, D.D.

An unprepared waiting upon God, if it be a stated occasion of worship, is most likely to be a fruitless waiting. If the minister should not go unprepared, neither should the people. If the leader of a prayer-meeting needs to think beforehand, so do the led. If the head of a family should make the best Scripture selections for devotional reading, so should the rest of the family make some preparation for this “sweet hour of prayer.” It may be set down as an axiom in regard to all religious services that an impromptu participation is a dismal, dreary, perfunctory performance, instead of a “sweet” hour.

God gave us our brains to use, first in worshiping Him, and then in business and every-day life. We reverse the order. We know that we must take our brains to the counting-room or school. The trouble with a great many dull hours of family worship is that we think brains are not needed at the family altar. Nothing is planned. We rush in and rush out. We miss the joy. We would miss our appetite for a breakfast that had as little planning. How may family worship be so planned as to make it a joy to all the household,—something to which the children will look eagerly forward, and that will have a profound influence on their lives?

I know of one household in which the children hated the morning prayers, and made every excuse to absent themselves. The shrewd mother said to herself, after the third time refusing Susie permission to study her geography instead of coming to prayers:

“We are missing the mark, some way. James, are you ready to admit that a man who can succeed as a bank cashier has not wit enough to lead a ten-minute devotional exercise so that it is not a positive infliction to his children?”

James was not ready for that humiliation. When he came home to luncheon, he suggested thoughtfully, “Why not have a little program for each morning? I have to do that for our directors’ meetings; I guess we can do it for the Lord.”

“That’s a fine beginning, James,” she said, with a sparkle in her eye. “But why not make the children the majority membership of the program committee?”

The children’s eyes opened wide at the proposition, but they entered into it with eagerness. The first program read like this:

Program of the Thatcher family’s morning prayers.

All enter sitting-room promptly at 7 A.M.
All sit with bowed heads while Marie plays soft chords.
Singing, “I Love to Tell the Story.”
Reciting John 3:1-17, a verse each, three times around.
Prayer by Papa Thatcher, all joining in the Lord’s Prayer.
Singing, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,”
Repeating in concert the twenty-third Psalm.

The children each had a part in making the program, and looked forward eagerly to its execution. It gave a new dignity to family worship and a new charm. When they tired a little of one order of exercises, Mrs. Thatcher was quick to suggest some change. Sometimes they sang hymns, and had no other prayers. Sometimes Susie or Marie printed a list of the special objects of prayer, and it was pinned to the wall. Sometimes they read from the little book of “Daily Portions.”

Childhood likes little changes, and there are so many roads leading to devotion, that it is a pity that the “sweet hour of prayer” should not be always “sweet” to the dear children, when a little thinking will make it so.—New York Observer.

The Relation of Diet to Crime

By A. W. Herr

By A. W. Herr, B.S., M.D.

As the limitation and treatment of crime is one of the great questions of the day, it behooves us to search for its primary factors.

In a careful study of this subject, we are startled by the rapid increase in crime—rapid beyond the ordinary increase in population.

The census reports for five decades (the only ones we have at hand) show:

Year	Criminals	Ratio of Population
1850	5,737	1 to 3,442
1860	19,086	1 to 1,642
1870	32,901	1 to 1,171
1880	58,699	1 to 855
1890	83,329	1 to 757

These figures represent criminals punished, and probably two thirds escape punishment.

The population of New York City has increased in ten years thirty-three per cent, while crime has increased more than fifty per cent. In Chicago, the proportionate increase of crime over population is much more startling.

An important factor in the causation of crime is intemperance. Fully fifty per cent of the criminals arrested in Chicago are inebriates, and the police reports in New York show about the same proportion.

It has been well expressed that the saloon is the abode where criminals not only mediate their crime, but spend the money obtained by crime. The saloon is the true home of the criminal. It, then, is one factor in the cause of crime.

The cigaret is another fruitful cause. The superintendent of the Illinois State Reformatory, in an article on the relation of the cigaret to crime, says: “I am sure cigarets are destroying and making more criminals of more of them than saloons.” In his reformatory there were 278 boys averaging from twelve to fifteen years of age. Two hundred and fifty-six of them were cigaret smokers.

A third factor in the causation of crime, and really a basis of the other two factors,—a cause of these causes,—is the “festal board.” The way in which we spread our tables, the diet of our growing boys, is such as will cause an appetite for stimulants. How can the boy remain temperate in his habits of life when the delicate nerves are fed upon such irritating foods and drinks as flesh meats, pastries, tea, coffee, and spices? The congested mucous membranes of the alimentary tract, produced as a result of the use of these things, call for a soothing draft or the narcotic effects of a pipe or cigaret.

Rather in place of these irritants and blood-heaters upon the table, place before the boy or man well-baked breadstuffs, dextrinized cereals, properly prepared vegetables, a liberal amount of fruit and nuts, and observe the result.

Fruits in abundance are a safeguard against intemperance, as every saloon-keeper knows. The fruit-stand next door is his natural enemy, serving to otherwise quench the thirst of his patrons. The saloon-keeper is wise to his game. Hot spiced soups and highly seasoned meats, and not fruits, are found upon his lunch-counter. Why not the latter?

Intemperance begins at the table. Appetite is indulged, and overeating—no matter what the quality of the food—clogs the living machine, and poisons as toxic in their nature as chloroform and alcohol are produced in the system. These toxins circulating in the blood bemush the sensitive nerves of the brain, the liver is burdened, the stomach is overworked, producing a sense of languor which is interpreted to mean hunger. Then more food is partaken of, which only serves to increase the burden, thus producing a morbid condition of the

system. The unhappy victim of overeating thus seeks to drown his unsatisfied cravings by a recourse to narcotics, as tobacco and alcoholics.

Yes, alcohol is a true narcotic and not a stimulant, as believed by many. Chemically allied to chloroform and ether, it has the same depressing narcotic, anesthetic effect; the only difference being that it requires a larger amount and a longer time to produce the effect.

The true work of temperance reform should begin at the table. Education is needed concerning the proper and natural diet of man. The public mind needs to know and to be deeply stirred as to the true ethology of this rapid increase in crime.

Had the human race an intelligent knowledge of the laws of health, they might be free from disease. God does not arbitrarily bring disease upon any one. See Ex. 15: 26.

Disease is the result of wrong habits of life, and it has come to be well recognized that the criminal is a diseased person. His crime is often the result of nerve irritation, from which he seeks relief by using benumbing narcotics. The drunkard when he does the crime, may not be conscious of it. His responsibility begins when he lifts the cup to his lips; or responsibility may well be placed back to where he partakes of unhealthful or poorly prepared food, and the cook is crimes participans. When narcotized by drink, he then becomes unconscious of human rights.

Only recently in Cleveland a man was seen acting strangely, and accordingly was watched by two patrolmen. He was followed to a barn where he was prevented from taking his life just as the knife was at his throat. In court he denied having any knowledge of the fact.

A person under the influence of ether or chloroform knows nothing. He very often does strange things in this condition, due to the poison circulating through the brain. He is not accountable for what he says or does.

Chemically, let me repeat, alcohol is allied to chloroform, and chemically produces a similar tho a more tardy effect. The drunkard has no more control of himself when fully under the influence of liquor than the patient when under an anesthetic.

Overeating produces poisons in the alimentary canal as a result of the fermentation of the food, and one of these fermented products is alcohol.

The glutton is drunken with the food he eats, so gluttony must be classed with drunkenness. Anciently in the commonwealth of Israel, there existed a law that the glutton should be stoned to death.

Let us ask ourselves the questions: Do we deserve this punishment? Are we inebriates? See Luke 21: 34.

To prevent crime by a removal of the underlying factors, is far better than to ameliorate crime by locking up the criminal.

Let the public mind be educated concerning the laws of life and health. Teach the natural diet of man. Show that where health is on the increase, there crime will proportionately be on the decrease, for we are learning that crime and disease go hand in hand.—The Search Light.

Don't Borrow Trouble

By L. C. Hutchins

Don't borrow trouble any more, Lay it aside, my dear. The Maker ruled the world quite well Ere ever you were here. And doubtless He will rule as well When you are gone away; Then trust His boundless wisdom still To rule it while you stay.

The Ruler of the universe Most surely will do right; Rely upon His promises By faith and not by sight; Remember that His promise is, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” The sole condition always this, You must His word believe.

Write “disappointment” now with ease, By using “h” for “d”; Transposed, the disappointment flees,— ’Tis “His appointment”—see!

L. C. HUTCHINS.

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Daily News Bulletins

Life and Health

A PRACTICAL health journal, published with a view of meeting hygienic needs in every home; teaching how to care for the health and how to preserve life; prescribing simple home treatments to assist nature in throwing off diseases rather than adding more poison by using drugs or unnatural stimulants as remedies: teaching how to avoid disease as far as possible, how to manage in the home when sickness does come, and how to combat the disease by simple remedies which nature provides.

Send for sample copy and special rates to agents. Price 10 cents per copy or $1.00 per year.

Address, LIFE & HEALTH, Takoma Park, D. C.

California Dried Fruit

Shipped direct from ranch of Mrs. E. G. White to families, schools, restaurants, and sanitariums. Large variety, extra quality, prompt shipment. Write for circular “S” giving full information. St. Helena Home Fruit Co., Sanitarium, Napa Co., Cal.

“Knowledge Awakens Interest”

By Editor

HAVE you read what is said on page 13 of this issue about the September Signs Monthly?

The following figures merely indicate the good orders yet to come from our friends in the field.

A Few of the Single Orders Already Received:

4,000 to Kansas City, 2,000 to Chicago, 2,000 to Iowa, 1,000 to Michigan, 1,000 to Ohio, 600 to Tacoma, 500 to Seattle, 400 to Portland, 334 to the Philippines, 300 to Brooklyn.

Are you interested?

Send ten cents for sample copy

LIBERTY

THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BUREAU

AN illustrated, 48-page, quarterly magazine, published as an exponent and advocate of true religious liberty; defending Christianity and the rights of conscience; upholding the Bible as the infallible word of God; recognizing the church and state as ordained of Heaven for specific and distinct purposes, but vigorously protesting against the alliance of the church with the state in the attempt to advance religion and to promote the state. Price 25 cents per year. Liberal terms to agents.

Address, LIBERTY, Takoma Park, D. C.

Our Little Friend

An Illustrated Paper for the Smaller Men and Women, for the Children and Little Ones

Instructive and entertaining, clean, wholesome, sensible. It is a character builder, a helper to father and mother. Our Little Friend would plant seed in the joyous life of the children in the Present, that it may bear blessed fruitage in the Harvest of the Future. Respect your child's individuality. Take the paper for him or her. Only 50 cents a year.

Address, OUR LITTLE FRIEND, Mountain View, Cal.

Science and Diet

We have received an excellent little pamphlet entitled “Science Applied to the Diet Question.” It is published by the Health Culture Club, Cleveland, Ohio, and is written by A. W. Herr, B.S., M.D. It discusses “Flesh versus a Non-Flesh Diet,” and “The Proper Diet for Man.” It is dedicated “to those who would have erect form, firm, elastic step, a fair countenance, undimmed senses, untainted breath—all so many certificates of good habits, insignias of the nobility with which nature honors those who are obedient to her laws.” It points out the abnormal loads which are generally placed upon the kidneys, the normal proteid rations that the human ought to have; shows how many animals are diseased and meat infected; gives the result of endurance tests on the various diets, and then shows what is the proper diet for man. Followed, it would save many a doctor bill. The little pamphlet can be obtained of the author at the above address for twenty-five cents.

The Relation of Diet to Crime

By Editor

Read Dr. Herr’s article on “The Relation of Diet to Crime”, on page 14. It was sent us by the doctor, tho as it appeared first in the Search Light, we give that journal credit.

Protestantism and Its Drift

By Editor

We hope our readers are studying the principles and conditions set forth in the articles on “Protestantism and Its Drift,” in this and previous numbers. They are vital.

Wages and the Cost of Living

It is little of the “prosperity” which the average wage-worker reaps. When food-stuffs and living-expenses advance fifty per cent and wages but fifteen, it takes an abnormal eye to see prosperity.

Temperance Issue of Signs of the Times Monthly

The September issue of the Signs of the Times Monthly has a large number of articles on the important and vitally interesting topic of Temperance. Practically every side of this subject is presented in an authoritative way. The effects of drugs, foods, liquor, tobacco, and the general life upon the matter of one's self-control; the heritage of children born of intemperate parents; the Gospel of deliverance to those bound with some habit of intemperance, are all given in such excellent manner that the magazine ought to reach countless thousands. In addition, articles of a more general nature, as usual, are included. This number is now ready. The price is ten cents.

The Sabbath as a Sign of Redemption

Read the article on the Sabbath and the meaning of the expression, “Madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath.” Our only hope now is in God’s creative power. The Sabbath is still not only a memorial of creation, but a sign of God’s living, present power to redeem and sanctify.

The Wages of Sin

By Editor

In these days of easy morality we commend the reading of the article on page 4 on “The Sin of Achan.” “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,” men become hardened in sin. But let them not be deceived. “The wages of sin is death.” “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,” be the harvest near or distant.

Christian Science Is Not Christian

We have no quarrel with “Christian Scientists.” They have the fullest right so far as man is concerned to believe what they will. But we do wish our readers, “Christian Scientists” or otherwise, to know that “Christian Science” is not Christian, but a perversion of Christianity. Be sure to read the article on page 8 and in the previous issue on the same subject.

An Evil Law

By Editor

An Evil Law.—In our Outlook department, page 10, is a frank, clear account of a trial for the heinous “crime” of “picking strawberries on Sunday.” Every lover of liberty will commend the action of the jury. But the record gives another instance of how a bad law can be made the instrument of over-zealous, bigoted persons to persecute their unoffending fellows. It was the same spirit which found fault with Jesus and His disciples for rubbing out wheat and eating it on the Sabbath day. Why not leave God to care for His own. Or is there a fear that He will not own Sunday?

The Sublime Porte and the Vatican

It is highly probable that Turkey and the Vatican will come into diplomatic relations before long. The French protectorate, whose maintenance France made a condition of her participation in the Congress of Berlin, is at an end. The Latin Patriarch will no longer have to seek an audience with the Sultan through the French ambassador. The Young Turks desire to treat with the Vatican direct, and to that end an interchange of ambassadors will become imperative. French prestige in the East will suffer immensely; but the infidels of the republic must remember that “we can not eat our bread and have it, too.”—Western Watchman (Roman Catholic), July 25, 1909.

Roman Catholic Charity

Our Catholic friends say we are uncharitable. What have we ever said equal to the following from the Western Watchman, of July 1.

“When Protestantism attempted to enlighten the world, it made a sad mess of it. Every time it attempts to reform the world it only makes bad worse. It has no system of theology and no principles of morality. Its attempts to regulate the relations of the sexes have been arrant failures, and they have left the whole matter in the hands of the police and the divorce courts. The preachers never yet touched woman that they did not taint her. In all their relations to society they pretend to represent the Man-God in some ill-defined way; but they do not go far when the Man-God is supplanted by the old man Adam. In the early days of Protestantism the men and women entered the church by different doors and sat on opposite sides of the building. It is a pity they were not kept apart ever since.”

Woman Superintendent of Chicago Schools

Chicago has elected a woman as superintendent of public schools. Her name is Mrs. Ella Flagg Young. She is sixty-four years old. Her salary is $10,000 a year. She is said to be in every way worthy and competent. She will oversee 6,000 teachers, 275,000 pupils, and have the overcharge of property worth $50,000,000.

The Persian Status.—

The reign of Mahomed Ali is over. His twelve-year old son is Shah in his stead, a weeping boy who prefers to be with his father. The real rulers of the country are the Nationalist leaders Siphadar and Sardar Asad. The deposed Shah finds shelter in the Russian embassy. The Russian and English representatives seem to have acted together in the utmost harmony, so much so that one English newspaper remarks: “Incidentally the events of the week show that some of the old rivalry, not always beneficial to either party, between Great Britain and Russia, in Persian affairs, is dying out. We believe we may look forward to a much brighter era in the history of this important nation.”

Religious Liberty Workers in Kansas

There are certainly two religious liberty workers in Kansas. Independence daily papers tell us of nightly meetings held in the streets from drays by Mr. and Mrs. John S. Wightman. Mrs. Wightman, the papers tell us, is an eloquent speaker and attracts large audiences in her work. During the last few months she has spoken everywhere, from the drays in the streets to legislators in legislative halls at their own request. May God bless her in her work.

The Sabbath-School Lesson Quarterly

By Editor

The Sabbath-School Lesson Quarterly for the last three months of the year — October to December inclusive — is now ready. It covers the life of our Lord from the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, as recorded in Luke 8 and parallel scriptures, to the healing of the lepers, recorded in Luke 17. The price is 5 cents, postpaid. Address this office or state tract societies.

Objective or Incidental?

With many God’s work is an incident, not an object. First thought is not given to it. It is treated as a matter to which some attention must be given, but as little as possible. The objects of life are temporal things, and to them our best in time and strength are given. Think of it! Temporal, perishing things, first interest! Things of eternity, mere incidents!

Prison Reform

By Editor

We are in fullest sympathy with every wise effort in the cause of prison reform, altho in the purpose of this journal but little space can be given to the work. The punishments inflicted in some prisons are unmerciful, barbaric, savage. State prisons ought to work for the reform of men as far as possible, not for the development of degradation and the hatred of legal authority.

The Bible Reveals Christ

To reject the Bible is to reject Jesus as Christ; for apart from the Bible we know nothing of His being, His character, His mission. The Bible reveals Him, approves Him, bears witness to His divine mission. Turning from the revealing word is turning from the saving Christ.

Diphtheria Antitoxin Reduces Mortality

Whereas diphtheria used to produce a mortality of from thirty to forty per cent, by the means of diphtheria anti-toxin the mortality has been reduced to less than fifteen or twenty per cent.

Death of Don Carlos

The pretender to the throne of Spain, Don Carlos, is dead. He leaves his heritage to his son, Don Jaime. It is a question as to the greater gainer—Spain or Don Carlos.