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Review and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 49.

REVIEW AND HERALD

Review and Herald

Nov 19, 1914

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1914

REVIEW AND HERALD

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MRS. E. G. WHITE

By Ellen G. White

From House to House

MRS. E. G. WHITE

The Lord is calling upon his people to take up different lines of missionary work. Those in the highways and hedges are to hear the saving gospel message. Church members are to do evangelistic work in the homes of those of their friends and neighbors who have not yet received full evidence of the truth.
The presentation of the truth, in love and simplicity, from house to house, is in harmony with the instruction that Christ gave his disciples when he sent them out on their first missionary tour. By songs of praise to God, humble, heartfelt prayers, and a simple presentation of Bible truth in the family circle, many will be rescued. The divine Worker will be present to send conviction to hearts. “I am with you alway,” is his promise. With the assurance of the abiding presence of such a helper, we may labor with faith and hope and courage.
The monotony of our service for God needs to be broken up. Every church member should be engaged in some line of work for God. Let those who are well established in the truth, go into neighboring places, and hold meetings, giving a cordial invitation to all. Let there be in these meetings, melodious songs, fervent prayers, and the reading of God’s Word. And let the ideas expressed, and the words in which they are clothed, be such as the common people can readily comprehend.
There are those who can visit the homes of the people, reading to the members of the family on some simple, impressive subject of Bible truth. By such labor souls will be convicted and converted. Those who do this work should be able to read and speak with clearness and feeling, placing the emphasis where it belongs.
There are those who, because of pressing home duties, may not be able to do house-to-house work. But let them not think that they can do nothing to help. They can encourage those who go out, and can give of their means to help to sustain them.
Will not every church act its part as the Lord’s missionary society? Every member may do something. God’s people are to be laborers together with him. As they take up the work, there will be a manifest increase of piety and faith. There will be a greater readiness to offer prayer and praise to God in the testimony meetings held.
We see multitudes sunken in vice and ignorance, without hope and without God. Yet provision has been made that these may become children of the heavenly King. His mercy is still lingering for them. He is inviting them, weary, heavy-laden with sin, to come to him for pardon, rest, and peace. To us he has given the message of truth, the invitation of mercy, to bear to these perishing souls. Shall we not act our part in fulfilling the divine purpose, by giving light to those who are in darkness? Let us not wait for them to come to us, but let us go out and search for them. Let us devise ways and means of reaching them and of communicating to them a knowledge of the truth for this time. Let us point them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.
Says Christ, “Ye are the light of the world.” This applies not only to the ministers, but to every soul to whom Christ has revealed himself. In your several churches you are to be active, living, Christian workers. Are you acquainted with your neighbors? Have you the love of Jesus? If so, you will feel an intense interest for the souls for whom Christ died. Pure religion and undefiled is an active principle. It overreaches the walls of home. It goes forth in quest of objects that need help. Its light flashes into the highways and hedges, and it is seen and felt in the larger places of the earth. The lost sheep are searched for diligently, and wanderers are brought back to the fold.
Not all, however, who are enrolled as members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are faithful missionaries for God. As in former years, so today I must testify to a sad neglect of personal effort on the part of many, both for the members of the family and for our neighbors. Many seem to rest perfectly easy, as if heavenly messengers were to come to earth and in an audible voice proclaim the message of warning. These idlers in the vineyard are virtually saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Many associate almost wholly with those of the same faith, and feel no duty to become acquainted with their neighbors who are ignorant of the great and testing truths for the last days. Ladies who in the parlor can engage in conversation with wonderful tact and earnestness, shrink from pointing the sinner to the Lamb of God. O, there is so much work to be done for souls that is left undone because it is a cross, and because each seeks his own amusement, and works for his own selfish interest! Because of our unbelief, our worldliness, and our indolence, blood-bought souls in the very shadow of our homes are dying in their sins, and dying unwarned.
Until the judgment it will never be known how much might have been done, how many plans might have been devised, to save souls by bringing them to the knowledge of the truth. Self-indulgence, unwillingness to sacrifice, and a lack of true spiritual discernment, have led many to overlook the open doors which they might have entered to do a good work for the Master. Love of ease has caused them to shun the wearing of Christ’s yoke, the lifting of his burden.
Many, many, are approaching the day of God, doing nothing, shunning responsibilities, and as the result they are religious dwarfs. So far as work for God is concerned, the pages of their life history present a mournful blank. As trees in the garden of God, they are only cumberers of the ground, darkening with their unproductive boughs the ground which fruit-bearing trees might have occupied.
In the day of God how many will confront us and say, “I am lost! I am lost! and you never warned me; you never entreated me to come to Jesus. Had I believed as you did, I should have followed every judgment-bound soul with prayers and tears and warnings.”
In that day the Master will demand of his professed people, “What have you done to save the souls of your neighbors? There were many who were connected with you in worldly business, who lived close beside you, whom you might have warned. Why are they among the unsaved?”
Brethren and sisters, what excuse can you render to God for this neglect? I would present this matter to you as it has been presented to me; and in the light from the life of the Master, from the cross of Calvary, I urge you to arouse. I entreat you to take upon your hearts the burden of your fellow men.
No one who professes to love Jesus can long retain the favor of God if he feels no interest for sinners around him. Those who seek merely to save their own souls, and are indifferent to the condition and destiny of their fellow men, will fail to put forth sufficient effort to secure their own salvation. In hiding their talents in the earth, they are throwing away their opportunities to obtain a star-gemmed crown.
I write plainly, in the hope that every effort may be made on the part of all to remove from them the frown of God. Whatever the neglect of duty, of parents to children, or of neighbor to neighbor, let it now be understood and repented of. If we have sinned against the Lord, we shall never have peace and restoration to his favor without full confession and reformation in regard to the very things in which we have been remiss. Not until we have used every means in our power to repair the evil, can God approve and bless us. The path of confession is humiliating, but it is the only way by which we can receive strength to overcome. All the dropped stitches may never be picked up so that our work shall be as perfect and God-pleasing as it should have been; but every effort should be made to do this so far as it is possible to accomplish it.
We have the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” even so was “the Son of man . . . lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We are to “look and live.” Sinful and unworthy, we must cast our helpless souls upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Then will God restore unto us the joy of his salvation, and uphold us by his free Spirit. Then may we teach transgressors his way, and sinners shall be converted unto him.
Brethren, the Lord calls upon you to redeem the time. Draw nigh to God. Take on your neck the yoke of Christ; stretch out your hands to lift his burden. Stir up the gift that is within you. You who have had opportunities and privileges to become acquainted with the reasons of our faith, use this knowledge in giving light to others. And do not rest satisfied with the little knowledge that you already have. Search the Scriptures. Let no moment be unimproved. Dig for the precious gems of truth as for hid treasures, and pray for wisdom that you may present the truth to others in a clear, connected manner.
Many who have been left to darkness and ruin, might have been helped had their neighbors, common men and women, come to them with the love of Christ glowing in their hearts, and put forth personal efforts for them. Many are waiting to be thus addressed personally. Humble, earnest conversation with such persons, and prayer for them, heart being brought close to heart, would in most cases be wholly successful.
Let labor for souls become a part of your life. Go to the homes even of those who manifest no interest. While mercy’s sweet voice invites the sinner, work with every energy of heart and brain, as did Paul, who “ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” The heavenly messengers are waiting to co-operate with your efforts. Will you do the work appointed you of God?
Christ is coming soon. He declared that when there would be wars and rumors of wars, when there would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places, we might know that the time of his second appearing is near. The wickedness, the turmoil, the disturbances on every side, should be regarded by us as signs that the day of God is at hand. “When these things begin to come to pass,” he declared, “then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
We are standing on the verge of the eternal world. We have no time to lose. It is high time to tell the people that Christ is coming. Let us warn them, visiting them at their homes, and talking and praying with them personally. By such efforts we shall win souls to Christ. If we come to God in faith, he will give us power and grace for every duty.

The Second Advent Movement

By John Norton Loughborough

—No. 15

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
For testing the gift of prophecy we are furnished in the Scriptures with certain rules. These we shall notice, not in the order of their occurrence in the Bible, but as the mind would naturally inquire. Were a vision presented for our acceptance, we should be likely to say, “Is its teaching in harmony with the Scriptures, or contrary to them?”
Rule 1, Isa. 8:19, 20: “When they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, . . . should not a people seek unto their God? . . . To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” During the last sixty-two years I have read 11,196 pages of Sister White’s writings in her printed books, and 6,162 book pages of her articles in the REVIEW, as well as many hundred pages of manuscript, and I have never seen one sentence but that is in perfect harmony with the principles and plan of salvation set forth in the Scriptures. Her writings constantly urge upon us, as of the most importance, the earnest study of the Bible, and the following of its teaching. So they are in accord with Rule No. 1.
Rule 2, 1 John 4:3: “Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.” Mark that it does not say did come, but is come—a present, indwelling Saviour. Through all of Sister White’s writings, as well as in her public speaking, is the ever-present thought of an indwelling Christ. As a sample of her writings I refer to the volume “Steps to Christ,” which has been translated into a score of languages, and is declared by those not Seventh-day Adventists as “the best book they ever saw outside the Bible.”
For Rule 3 we call attention to one given especially for the detection of false prophets: “They are of the world: . . . and the world heareth them.” 1 John 4:5. In this same epistle (chap. 2:16) John tells us what constitutes the world: “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” All the Testimonies of Sister White strike directly against all this catalogue that constitutes the world.
For Rule 4 we refer to the testimony of James 5:10: “Take, my brethren, the prophets . . . for an example.” That is just what we are doing in this investigation. As we turn to Jeremiah, who had some experience among opposing false prophets, we get a very good description of them and their work. In chap. 23:17 he says, “They say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” Sister White’s writings are all entirely contrary to such teaching.
Rule 5, Deut. 13:1. This shows that a false prophet may perform a miracle, but that is no proof of the genuineness of his work, because with it he will teach contrary to the truth. The sentiment of the text really is that a miracle is no proof of a genuine prophet. That this is so is evident from the fact that the false prophet (Rev. 19:20) works miracles with which he deceives the people. Then, in the case of John the Baptist, of whom the Saviour said, “There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28), we read, “And many resorted unto him [Christ], and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.” John 10:41.
For Rule 6 we have the words of Christ, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:15, 16. The fruit of true prophets is set before us in Paul’s statement of the object of spiritual gifts. They are, according to his words to the Ephesians, “for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body [church] of Christ.” Eph. 4:12. How this gift has wrought in the advancement and building up of the cause of the third angel’s message will be noted in my next article.
Lodi, Cal.

Adversity’s School of Wisdom

By H. Vaughan

ADVERSITY is often described as a school in which the servants of God are taught wisdom. The evil of sin, the vanities of earth, the feebleness and uncertainties of an arm of flesh,—these are all matters of which we may learn something by the hearing of the ear, but it is through the medium of adversity that the eye seeth them.— H. Vaughan.

Faith and Truth

“FAITH forms the handle to every tool of truth in the divine workshop.

Changing One’s Mind—Willingly or Unwillingly

By John N. Quinn

JOHN N. QUINN
ENTRANCE into the kingdom of God cannot be obtained without a change of mind. “Repent” (which means to change the mind) was the cry of John the Baptist, a cry taken up by the Lord Jesus on entering his ministry, and by the apostles, after Pentecost, carried to “every creature which is under heaven.”

National Disaster

Had the Jews changed their minds about Jesus, his personality, message, and work, Jerusalem, instead of being made desolate, would have been a joy and rejoicing to the world. National and personal disaster came to the Jewish people because of a refusal to change their minds.
Men today need a change of mind concerning God, his character, his purpose, his government. God’s law is being rejected, and the blood of the everlasting covenant trampled underfoot, resulting in local, national, and world-wide disaster. The covetousness of the human heart lies at the base of our troubles. In the mad strife for wealth, God is forgotten, but when men are brought face to face with death, gold is abhorred; they change their minds about it.

Gold “the Veriest Dross”

“When the steamer ‘Central America,’ with nearly six hundred passengers aboard, was wrecked off Cape Hatteras, Sept. 12, 1857, in a fearful storm, many of the passengers who were returning miners from the gold mines of California, divested themselves of their treasure belts and scattered the gold upon the cabin floors, telling those to take it who would, lest its weight about their persons should carry them to their death. ‘Full purses, containing in some instances thousands of dollars, lay around untouched. Carpetbags were opened, and the shining metal was poured out on the floor with the prodigality of death’s despair. One of the passengers opened a bag and dashed about the cabin twenty thousand dollars in gold dust, and told him who wanted to gratify his greed for gold to take it. But it was passed by untouched, as the veriest dross.’”—“Our First Century,” pages 642, 643.
“When the steamship ‘Arctic’ was lost from a collision in mid-ocean, Sept. 20, 1854, one passenger offered thirty thousand pounds sterling, or one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, if the life-boats would put back to save him. They turned to do so, but he sank before they reached him.”—Id., page 614.
In that day, when “the Lord alone shall be exalted,” the idols of gold and silver will be cast to the moles and to the bats, and men shall flee to the rocks, to the tops of the ragged rocks, seeking to hide from the glory of God’s majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. See Isa. 2: 10-22. The mind will be changed, but the change will be an unwilling one.
By the majority of human beings sin is regarded as something to be reveled in; a change of mind makes it something to be abhorred.

Pomp and Pageantry in Religion

To the carnal mind, pomp and pageantry are the ultimate in religion. Possessed of the mind of Jesus, neither “Jerusalem” nor “this mount” is necessary to the worship of Jehovah. With the mind God is served, with the mind God is worshiped; and wherever the person may be who has surrendered the carnal mind and taken the mind of the Spirit, there that person can worship God and worship him acceptably.
God has exalted Jesus to his right hand that he might give a change of mind to men. “Ask, and ye shall receive,” but ask in faith, for a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

The Loss Is Gain

By HAROLD MAYER

HAROLD MAYER
He came unto the parting of the ways, Uncertain whether to go on or not; Ne’er seemed the world so bright with hope and cheer, Nor Fortune’s smiles so fair as on that day; While dark the path that duty bade him walk, Thorny and rough, and steep and dangerous. “Go not that way,” a smiling angel said; “That road leads but to darkness and despair.” Faith gently whispered, “Christian, follow on. The Master went that way. Some day you’ll know.”
His loved ones stopped him as he started on: “You are not leaving, son, your father’s house And friends, to go in that misguided way? Duty is here at home; the household gods Are all the creed that’s needed in this life. The world before you lies with prospects bright. Stay! Fools, fanatics, choose to go that way. You’re young and thoughtless; stop awhile and think.” A still, small voice: “I did far more for thee Than home and kindred; thou shouldst follow on.” “I’ll go,” he said, “if thou wilt walk with me, And I may see thy face and feel thine hand. The path is not too steep, the way too rough, The cross too heavy; I will follow on.” The Master only answered, “Follow me.”
The path grew rugged as he went along; Narrow and steep, and up a mountain led. Once glanced he at the near-by pleasant way, And saw the friend of youth he greatly loved Beckoning him to cross and take that road: “Come, let us walk together in this way, And share my honor and my hoards of gain.” The still, small voice in warning came to him: “I am thy Friend; walk thou along with me.”
The load grew heavier, harder still the way; His weary feet did ache for needed rest, His sad heart longed for human sympathy. A form stood in the path that well he knew: “Beloved, why hast thou wandered in this way? O, come with me! I’ll ease the aching feet, And bind the wounds, and rest the weary head.” As he reached forth her outstretched hand to take, The Saviour’s voice aroused him and he heard: “Beloved, mine is greater love. Go on.” Resigned, he said, “My Lord, I’ll follow thee, If I may see thy face and feel thine hand. The sacrifice is not too great to make.” The Master only answered, “Follow me.”
Now lighter grew his load, more smooth the way. There was a Presence walking by his side. He could discern Another’s kindly face, And clasped a hand that helped him gently on. O, it was worth it all — the price not great! “Why camest not before to smooth the way?” “Son, I’ve been walking all the way with thee; Thou sawest not, thine eyes were on this world. Here lay the burden down, there ends the way; Yon, thy reward. Thou seest the loss is gain.”
He looked, and saw his loved ones, and his friend, And her beloved that he had parted from: “Son, friend, and lover, we have waited here For thee, led by a Saviour’s matchless love!”

The Cost of Every Good Thing

“NATURE grants no free favors. Every wise law and custom must be paid for with corresponding treasure. Every good thing that marks the civilization of our day stands as a monument to toil and sacrifice in the past. ‘Some one suffered that this might be,’ is the unseen inscription on everything of value that is ours, from our eternal salvation to the most common material comforts in our homes.”

The Grace of Praise

By Harriet B. Stowe

LET us all resolve, first, to attain the grace of silence; second, to deem all faultfinding that does no good a sin, and to resolve, when we are happy ourselves, not to poison the atmosphere for our neighbors by calling on them to remark every painful and disagreeable feature of their daily lives; third, to practice the grace and virtue of praise.—Harriet B. Stowe.

Adding to God's Word

By F. M. W.

IN the last book of the Sacred Scriptures there is given a warning against adding to or taking from the Word of God. See Rev. 22:18, 19. We see many doing this at the present time. Many vital truths taught in the Scriptures are set at naught, or their importance is minimized. Thousands of Christians no longer believe that the law of the ten commandments is binding. Many ministers of the gospel discount the virgin birth of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, and the efficacy of his sacrifice and priestly ministry. The truth of God in many instances has been changed into a lie, its purity corrupted, its teachings perverted.
On the other hand, the Word of God has been made responsible for the teaching of many wild theories and doctrines which have no foundation in the sacred record. In the preaching of some a mere detail of truth has been made the center about which the entire plan of salvation revolves. This is an age of speculative philosophy. Especially during the last few months, in which so many thrilling events have taken place, many wild theories have been put forth regarding the fulfillment of prophecy. There has been much juggling with dates and prophetic periods.
We need to be careful that this spirit of idle speculation does not take possession of us. We cannot afford to mingle the curious and speculative with the plain predictions of Sacred Scripture.
There are some things which we know will occur in the future. The Word of God plainly predicts them. There are, however, many other events about which we cannot be so certain. We cannot clearly outline just what course will be taken by this nation or that nation, nor the precise order of events which will occur in the fulfillment of prophecy. It is barely possible that we might make a correct forecast, but it is more probable that we should fall far short in our calculations, and unfolding events of the future would serve to cast discredit upon our theories and upon the cause which we represent.
There are great principles which stand out clearly and prominently in the Word of God; there are lines of prophecy which are plain and unmistakable. Let us teach these, not in that detail which exceeds the revealings of the divine Word, but in their clear general outline and bearing. In our exposition of these let us go no further than the Word of God goes. Let us not hazard predictions which are based only on philosophical reasonings. Let us keep away from the speculative, the sensational, and the spectacular in our teaching. This will prove our safeguard in the times before us.
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Prov. 30:5, 6. F. M. W.

Sunday in the District

By C. M. S.

A NEW and striking development in the Sunday law situation in the District of Columbia has been brought about by a decision handed down by Justice Robb of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals on November 5. Last summer certain baseball clubs desiring to play ball on Sunday were forbidden by the District Commissioners. The baseball managers secured an injunction preventing the Commissioners from interfering with their Sunday games. The Commissioners carried the case to the District Supreme Court and it was decided against them. The case was then taken to the District Court of Appeals, where Justice Robb of that court reversed the decision of the District Supreme Court and upheld the Commissioners.
Justice Robb in his decision states that Congress has declared Sunday to be a day of rest; that in several enactments it has forbidden the doing of certain things on Sunday, such as the act of June 15, 1878, forbidding shooting or carrying guns on Sunday; imposing a fine (act of July 28, 1892) for disturbing a religious congregation; forbidding the sale (act of March 3, 1899) of liquor on Sunday. Despite the fact that in this country church and state are supposed to be separate, and are zealously declared so to be, this decision by a state official is based purely upon religious grounds. It reads, in part, as follows:—
It thus appears that Congress has recognized what all other legislative bodies have recognized; namely, that Sunday is a day of rest. While in the instances noted it has said to the people of the District that they shall refrain from doing certain things on that day, it has delegated to the Commissioners of the District general power upon the subject, realizing that the Commissioners, being in closer touch with local conditions, would be in a better position to judge as to what police regulations would be necessary for the protection of the health, comfort, and quiet of the people of the District. . . .
The object and scope of the regulation under review was to insure to the people of the District their day of rest, that their moral and physical well-being might be advanced. Having in mind the end desired, can it be seriously contended that the classification in the regulation is so palpably arbitrary as to amount to an unreasonable discrimination against those within the classes? Each of the prohibited things is purely secular in character and out of harmony with the atmosphere of Sunday. In short, each would constitute a false note and jar upon the sensibilities of those seeking the rest and quiet to which they are entitled. Nor do we think the exceptions are so palpably unreasonable as to warrant judicial interference. . . .
One of these games played within the limits of the city would cause as much or more interference with the quiet observance of Sunday than any other amusement embraced within the regulation. This the Commissioners well know. There is, therefore, every reason for giving the regulation the reasonable interpretation which its language permits. . . .
But, irrespective of any mandate of the law, the Christian world, of which this country is a part, has by common consent set apart the first day of the week as a day of rest, reflection, and devotion. In our own land State legislatures have taken cognizance of the traditions and customs of the people in thus setting apart Sunday, by enacting laws relating to the observance of that day, the theory of such laws being that they tend to promote the order and advance the moral and physical well-being of those affected. Viewed in their civil aspect, these laws have been sustained with uniformity as a valid exercise of the police power.
It is impossible not to see the religious animus in this decision. It will be noted that the day on which this form of activity is forbidden is “the day of rest;” that “each of the prohibited things is purely secular in character and out of harmony with the atmosphere of Sunday;” that the games would interfere with “the quiet observance of Sunday;” that “the Christian world, of which this countryis a part, has by common consent set apart the first day of the week as a day of rest, reflection, and devotion.”
We submit that religious custom or practice is no just ground for civil legislation; that wherever civil legislation is based upon religious grounds, there is in it the element of oppression because of religious conviction, and religious intolerance grows out of it as surely as the sprout grows out of the moistened acorn. It is impossible that it should not be so; for it is the religious conviction of the majority that is enforced, and the religious convictions of the minority that are put under the ban. Neither can it be truly said that such a law would not coerce; for a law that does not coerce is not a law. All human law is coercion, but coercion is not wrong in those affairs which affect the conduct of men toward one another. It is done that might may not triumph over right in civil things — that the weak may not be trampled upon by the strong.
When it comes to the passing of religious laws, however, there is a very material difference. Then the convictions of the strong, the majority, are made obligatory upon the weak, the minority. The pyramid of justice is then inverted, and instead of the weak getting protection from the law, they are oppressed by it, and their religious enemies are strengthened in their persecuting purpose. Whatever the immediate purpose of lawmaker and judge may be, base a law or a judicial decision upon religion, and, like a malignant cancer, its tentacles will reach out in every possible direction.
A careful reading of the whole decision will make plain that there is in it much more than a guaranty of the Commissioners' authority to stop games on Sunday. It virtually places in their hands the entire matter of Sunday observance in the District of Columbia. If that decision stands,—and there is only the Supreme Court of the United States that can reverse it,—everything that Sunday law advocates have been striving to accomplish for the District for years has been done, provided the Commissioners themselves favor Sunday laws; and the attitude of the present Commissioners in carrying the case up to the appellate court indicates that they do. It is one of the most far-reaching decisions ever handed down by a court in this country, and places liberty of conscience in the District of Columbia in the greatest jeopardy.
C. M. S.

Sowing the Wind: Reaping the Whirlwind

By F. M. W.

THAT a lessening of moral sense is responsible for the large increase of crime in the world, is the charge made by Alleyne Ireland in the New York World. He presents figures to show the marked increase in crime, particularly that of murder, during the last few years. At the head of the list of civilized nations he places the United States, and of this country he declares: “We are the most murderous nation which makes a claim to have emerged from savagery.”
In discussing the reasons for this, Mr. Ireland disputes the oft-repeated assertion that the increase of crime in this country is chargeable to immigration and the foreign-born population:—
The foreign-born population of the country is about fifteen per cent of the total; the number of foreign-born murderers is about sixteen per cent of the total number of murderers. This means that out of every one hundred murders, eighty-four are committed by native persons born in this country, and sixteen by alien immigrants, and that if every one, native and foreign-born alike, were equally murderous, the figures would be eighty-five for the native and fifteen for the foreigner.
This writer charges that there are two great causes for the increase of crime in this country. One is the slow and tardy process of justice, and the failure in the majority of cases to administer punishment at all. He quotes Carl Snyder as saying:—
If you commit murder in the United States the chances are, on the actual record, three to one that you will never be tried for your crime, ten to one that you will never be sentenced to the penitentiary, and eighty to one that you will never be hanged or electrocuted.
But even greater in its influence on the commission of crime, according to Mr. Ireland, is the lessening sense of moral responsibility which controls the public mind:—
But it is not merely the failure to punish murder which is a blot upon our administration of justice; our very sense of justice appears to be perverted, if we may judge by the frequency with which petitions signed sometimes by thousands of people are presented for the pardon of convicted murderers. Under the circumstances as they now exist, what possible restraining influence does society exert over a prospective murderer?
The Scriptures of Truth speak of a time in the world's history when judgment is “turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth falleth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.” Isa. 59: 14, 15.
Disregard for the justice of human laws springs from a disregard in the personal life of God's moral law. The lessening of a moral sense in the world generally, and among those nations of men where the gospel of truth has had the freest course, should not be regarded as an unusual condition when it is recognized that many religious teachers who are set for the defense of justice and equity are preaching today a gospel of liberalism. The law of God is discounted, and its holy requirements set aside. Cardinal doctrines which have formed the foundation faith of the Christian church are ridiculed.
For a long time the nations of men have been preparing for a terrible sowing, and the most deplorable consideration in this connection is that many Christian teachers have aided and abetted in this sowing. When, in order to evade the requirements of the fourth commandment, ministers of the gospel declare against the law of God, stating that it is an antiquated document, what can they expect as the result of this seed sowing? It will prove inevitably that if men lose confidence in God and respect for his requirements in their personal life, they will lose respect for all authority. When we sow the wind, we must expect to reap the whirlwind. F. M. W.
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