p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 20. (5/14/1896)

Earlier text: BIBLE OBJECT LESSONS AND SONGS FOR LITTLE ONES

A Wicked Bill

By Editor

There is now a wicked bill before Congress for the purpose of establishing “a bureau of military education and to promote the adoption of uniform military drill in the public schools of the several states and territories.” The American Humanitarian League have done well in protesting against this by the issue of a timely pamphlet of 8 pages, in which it is shown by competent authorities that the military drill works evil in both the physical and moral development of the young. Medical men, military officers, educators, and humanitarians protest against the bill. Every parent ought. The pamphlet mentioned above may be obtained at 10 cents per dozen, 70 cents per hundred, from the American Humanitarian League, Box 215, Providence, R. I. We may publish some of the matter later.

Anglican Clergy and Rome

The Roman Curia, the pope’s cabinet, is considering the question of the validity of the ordination of the Anglican clergy, and an early solution and answer are promised. This was set on foot by the Anglicans themselves (the high churchmen of the Church of England), and Catholic papers insinuate that the decision of the Vatican will be disappointingly If the Anglican clergy would put forth one-half the effort to connect with God that they do to prove their connection with the see of Rome, it seems to us they would be great gainers. The question is not whether Abraham is our father after the flesh, but have we his faith?

California Camp-Meeting Notices

See page 12 for notices of the California camp-meeting.

Pacific Press Annual Meeting

The Pacific Press Publishing Association held its annual stockholders' meeting Wednesday, May 6, in Oakland, Cal. Particulars will be given in our next.

Religious Liberty for All

He who believes in religious liberty will not only demand the right to think and live for himself, but the right of the other man—his opponent—to think and live for himself.

The Greed of Wealth.

The ease with which wealth operates is well illustrated by the great steel combine of last month, including 21 companies. The output of Bessemer steel in 1895 was 3,000,000 tons, doubtless manufactured at a good profit. The combine decided to limit the production of April to 220,000 to 250,000 tons. Steel billets have advanced from $17 a ton to $20.25 for the western market and to $22.75 for the eastern. It is not men that the combine seeks to save, but more dollars to add to its aggregate capital of $300,000,000.

The Bible versus Tradition

One of the great questions of the day is the Bible versus Tradition, or, to put it in other words, Shall we believe man or God? On the side of tradition are the natural inherent immortality of man, the authority of tradition itself, the doctrine of union of church and state, the Sunday sabbath, etc., etc. On the side of the Bible are life and immortality in and through Jesus Christ, the supremacy of the word of God, the doctrine of religious liberty, the Sabbath of the Lord, etc. Which side, reader, are you on? Which side will you choose?

Congressman McRae’s Speech.

By Editor

We give in this issue the last of the quotation from Judge Black in the speech of Congressman McRae. It is worthy reading. But we would remark that tho America “stands pledged” to the principle of religious liberty in the Declaration of Independence, in her Constitution, and in every association of her national birth, she has proved recreant to the very truths which have made her the great nation she is. By every branch of her government she has repudiated the principle of religious liberty. But the principles are eternal, and, tho blotted from statute books, or trampled upon by venal legislation, they can not be torn from individual hearts, or from the Gospel of Christ.

“AN EVIL OF MODERN LIFE.”

The New York Observer of April 30 has an article with the above title; the evil discussed is the increased nervousness of humanity. It points out as illustrative of this evil the change in the use or interpretation of the word “nervous.” Fifty years ago a “nervous man” meant a strong man, but now nervousness stands for “invalidism in a greater or less degree, for a timidity which shrinks from the rough and tumble of life.” In discussing the primary cause it thus speaks:—

“Physicians tell us that under the rush and pressure of modern life, not only the muscular, but the nervous tissues of men are giving away. Many of them insist that the greater part of the current ills of life are due to this strain, and that unless something is done to relieve it, the race will become invalid, without physical or mental stamina.

“There are good reasons for such a forecast. All our modern conveniences, tho intended to make life easier, really make it faster, and so tends to shorten rather than to lengthen it. The business man does not find his labor lessened by the multiplication of inventions for its speedy transaction, but increased. The telegraph, telephone, the railway, typewriter, and daily newspaper are in a way killers of men. The modern school system, which crams the young brain and leaves the young body largely to care for itself, has much the same disastrous effect.

“Then, with all this overwork, comes worry as its natural and inevitable accompaniment. There is so much to be done in so short a time that there must be a great deal of feverish anxiety as to results. No one forced to crowd the work of a day into a few hours can work tranquilly, or even avoid a certain trepidation as to the outcome. The result is an incapacity for rest, a continued tendency to fuss and fidget, until the constitution ceases to have sufficient spring to dispose itself for quiet. We live so constantly in a flurry of hope and anxiety that we come to be distracted by the fear of distractions. We can not fix our minds long enough on one subject to subdue the unrest within.”

And in all this feverish unrest God and his power and wisdom and love, and the rest which he alone can give, are forgotten. Better the quieter days of old, and the time for rest and meditation. The world has more of a certain kind of knowledge, but less wisdom. It does more work and secures less lasting results. It gathers more of the mammon of unrighteousness, but less and less of the true riches of God. Many of the things which fret and harass and drive and crowd and astonish and enchain are Satan’s means to draw the mind and heart from the eternal rest and blessing and riches of God.

The Lord's Forgetfulness.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

There is not a sin that any soul has committed, that is not known to God. Yet the psalmist uttered the following inspired prayer: “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.” Ps. 25:7. It is the Spirit that teaches us how to pray, because he knows the human heart, and also the mind of God, and he maketh intercession for us according to the will of God. Rom. 8:26, 27. Therefore we may know that it is the will of God to forgive our sins, and we may ask it in full assurance. God says of those who hearken to his voice and yield to his Spirit, “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Heb. 8:12. What a blessed assurance! The great God, who knows all our sins, as even we ourselves can not know them, receives us gladly, and treats us as tho we had never sinned, because he forgets our sins, and sees in us only his own righteousness. Thus we can associate with him without any fear or restraint. He does not despise us, nor abash us with reproachful pity. He does not shrink from us, as tho fearful that we may defile him, but receives us into his bosom. Happy are they who know the Lord indeed; and happy are the repentant sinners who see only Christ in his professed followers. E. J. W.

HOW IS IT?

Does God Mean What He Says?

When he declares, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee,” does he mean it?

When the word says that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” does it mean what it says?

When the Lord declares that he “pardoneth iniquity” and “delighteth in mercy,” can we trust him?

When it is expressly declared that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity,” may we hope in the word?

God has given us many more “exceeding great and precious promises;” are they worth their face value? In other words,

Does God Mean What He Says?

What child will deny the word of such a Father?

Well, God has also given us commandments, “holy and just and good.”

He has said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal.”

Does he mean what he says?

The same law and Lawgiver which gives us the above commandments says also: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work; . . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day [the day of his rest], and hallowed it.”

The One who made the world and the Sabbath, and gave the law, came to earth, lived the law in his own life, that he might live it in our lives. He said, “Follow me,” “Keep the commandments.” His beloved disciple said, “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Does the Lord Mean What He Says?

If he does not in precept and example, does he in promise? If we will not to do his word, will he perform in us and to us his promises? Can we hope in one and ignore the other? These are vital questions. Christian brother and sister, how will you answer them?