p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 25. (6/18/1902)

WE DID IT UNTO ME

Unawares

WE DID IT UNTO ME

(“And He said, ‘The sin is pardoned, But the blessing is lost to thee, For, failing to comfort the least of Mine, You have failed to comfort Me.’”)

Such is the closing verse of one of the two poems found in No. 54 of the Apples of Gold Library under the above title. They are very touching and very good. Price, 50c per 100.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.

New York City Oakland, Cal. Kansas City, Mo.

Books for Parents

TEACHING TRUTH

The aim of this book is to answer, in chaste and scientific language, the queries of children as to the origin of life.

Price, 25 cents.

ALMOST A MAN

A frank talk to a boy who was “almost a man,” and the good it did him. As it is in story form, every boy will read it and be the better for it.

It is intended to help mothers and teachers in the delicate task of teaching the lad concerning himself purely and accurately.

Price, 25 cents.

ALMOST A WOMAN

Presents in attractive form the pure instruction needed by a girl.

Mothers will find this just what they have wanted to place in the hands of their daughters.

Price, 25 cents.

Pacific Press Publishing Co.

Oakland, Cal.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED

This tract points the way to that desired end. It is especially helpful at this time, when so many theories are taught. It makes a clear distinction between the true way and the false. A. G. L. No. 17. 50 cents per 100.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.

New York City Oakland, Cal. Kansas City, Mo.

God, and Then Ourselves

God, and Then Ourselves.—That is the way it ought to be, isn't it? Especially is this true as to selfish pleasures. Of course the necessities of life are demanded for both parties. Suitable food and clothing are required to do the best service for God. Here is what the “Christian” nation of United States is expending yearly, or did expend last year, in some lines: For bread, a necessity for God's service and man's existence, $600,000,000; for public schools, a great need, $195,000,000; for amusements, not needed, $400,000,000; for tobacco, $800,000,000; for intoxicating liquors, $1,250,000,000; for home church work, $100,000,000; for foreign mission work, $5,000,000. For the staff of life, common education, and religious work, 900 million dollars, while for amusements, poison narcotics, and stimulants were expended 2,450 million dollars. Over two and seven-tenths dollars for the useless and the vile to one for bread, temporal and eternal! How much “Christian” is this? Twice as much expended for liquid poison as for “the staff of life!”

God Is, and All Is Well

“God is, and all is well,” says the poet, and the child of God can ever say it, however foreboding appearances may be. Truly, if we look to the world alone, the picture is dark and forbidding. War and famine and pestilence devastate the earth; strife and hatred exist between the rich and the poor; crime and calamity occur with startlingly increasing frequency; pleasure-lovers are mad with mirth and recklessness. Yet we can say with Whittier—

“The clouds, which rise with thunder, slake Our thirsty souls with rain; The blow most dreaded falls to break From off our limbs a chain; And wrongs, from man to man but make The love of God more plain; As through the shadowy lens of even, The eye looks farther into heaven On gleams of stars and depths of blue The glowing sunshine never knew.”

Therefore the Christian need not fear. Rather, he may rejoice that “to them that love God, God worketh all things with them for good.” Rom. 8: 28, R.V., margin. God has not abdicated; He still reigns, tho He permits evil to develop, that men may see it to be evil. Out of it all He will bring good. “God is, and all is well” to the trusting heart.

Prayer

Read the article on “Prayer” on page 2.

Restoration from Babylon Series

By Editor

The article on the “Restoration-from-Babylon” series was set in 8-point type to be used in our Coronation number, but it was crowded out. There are two numbers more of this interesting series.

Stirring Things in Our Outlook

By Editor

Read the stirring things in our Outlook department. That taken from the Independent presents a true picture of the state of men's minds at the present. Next week we shall have other things of as great interest.

Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions.

By Editor

We hope to be able soon to present photographs of the devastations in Martinique Island, with descriptive article, by an eye-witness, of the terrible ruin wrought; and also what the Bible has to say concerning these things.

Our Coronation Number

By Editor

Our Coronation Number.—Orders are coming in refreshingly. Up to this writing 25,000 extras have been ordered. The employees of this office alone have subscribed for 5,655, and this does not include all our workers. We hope that our number here will be increased. A large number of these will go to New York, Canada, Australia, and England. Let the orders come in; the paper is full of saving truth, in which all true Christians will rejoice. All say that it is the best single number ever issued. Prices, ten copies 25 cents, twenty-five copies or more two cents each.

Knowing God, Not Self

A recent writer quotes as approvable, “Know thyself, and thou shalt know God and the universe.” This is the same as to say, “Thou art God.” So Satan deceived our first parents. Gen. 3:4, 5. Man can know himself only by knowing God. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jer. 17:9. But to know God is life.

Good Health and Signs Subscription Offer

By Editor

“Good Health” for June has the following articles of interest: “Sleep Producers,” “The Struggle for Existence,” “The School Girl’s Summer Vacation,” “Sanitation for United States Troops in Foreign Lands,” “Nerve Exhaustion,” “At Commencement Time,” “Rice as Food in India,” “Strawberries,” and other things of interest. The answers to correspondents is worth the price of the journal. This unexcelled health journal and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES can both be had for one year for $1.75. If you subscribe for each separately, it will cost you $2.50. Together you get the best health journal and the best prophetic journal in the world for $1.75. Address this paper. See last column, page 15, for instructions.

The Gospel of Mammon.—

By Editor

In the very interesting article on Japan in our Missions department, the writer says, “The gospel of Mammon is the gift of modern civilization;” and so it seems to have come to Japan. But it is the fruit of human greed, for which true civilization is no way responsible. It has cursed modern civilization; it has cursed ancient civilization, as profane history and the warnings against it in God’s Word amply demonstrate. But it is a vampire parasite on civilization, for which we can not hold true civilization responsible. It was but a generation ago in America that one’s word was considered as good as his bond, as Mr. Hasegawa declares it used to be in Japan; and generally speaking it was better than his bond is now. And this sterling honesty generally manifest was not the result of fashion or sentiment, but of sound principle. True civilization is one of the fruits of the true recognition of God, and man’s right relations to his fellows. It is an indirect result of the work of Christianity. It is not an object or end of the Christian missionary; it is not necessarily a means. It fails of results and is ever perverted when so used. Let Christianity preach Christ and save souls. All the blessings of true civilization will follow. But this will not necessarily be an American or a German or a French or a Japanese or an English civilization; but a better civilization, better adapted to the race, the people, the land, the climate than any plant of foreign graft. God has many better things for missions if missionaries would depend on Him more. We hope our readers will note the need of industrial work and education in Japan, to which attention is called. It is a need everywhere. If our brethren there do not get the help they feel they need from without, let them do all in their power, starting in a small way, and in co-operation with God it will grow.

The Creator of All Things

The distinctive feature of the true God is that He is the Creator of all things. “But the Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King; at His wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion.” Jer. 10:10-12. “All the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens.” Ps. 96:5. Sunday observance was instituted by men who worshiped idols; it was set apart as the memorial of an idol—the sun. It was introduced into the Christian Church by a compromise with idol-worship. The memorial of the true God is the seventh day, that being the memorial of His creative work. Gen. 2:2, 3; Ex. 20:8-11. It is a sign forever between God and His people. Ex. 31:13, 17; Eze. 20:12, 19, 20. Surely it is every one's duty to “give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name.” Ps. 96:8.

The Revised Presbyterian Creed Criticized

As showing the theological drift, the Independent thinks that the article of the Revised Presbyterian Creed “most to be criticized of all” is that which states that “our first parents, being tempted, chose evil, and so fell away from God,” and that “by reason of this disobedience, we and all men are born with a sinful nature.” The Independent thinks that “this is not the kind of doctrine to help inquirers or to cultivate the Christian life.” But why not? It is Bible, and what do we know of Christ or His life, save as we get it from the Word? Why should we accept of Christ, if we reject Moses? Jesus Himself said, “If ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” If men are not fallen, why do we need a Saviour? Then indeed were Christ’s sufferings vain, and Paul’s preaching for naught. By such insinuations the Independent and other such teachers are removing all ground for hope.

A Recent Sunday in Two Cities

From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican we take the following contrast of Sunday observance a few weeks ago in the two cities of Boston and New York:—

Never before has Boston seen such a vigorous enforcement of any law on the statute books as that given the Sunday laws this week. Drug stores, fruit dealers, bakeries, and laundries were the objects of the police attack. From one end of the city to the other soda fountains were silent, candy counters covered and idle, and fruit stores closed. On the other hand, the hotels did a rushing business, as liquor could be sold by them to patrons ordering food.

The Sunday laws were neither enforced nor observed to the letter in New York this week. If there were fewer excise arrests than on any previous Sunday of late, it was not because the saloon-keepers complied with the law.

Proofs Again

By Editor

Proofs Again.—In our issue of April 30 we noticed, under the term “Proofs,” a number of pieces of sacred song and music bound together. It contains eight songs and music, which have from time to time appeared in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. The titles are as follows: “My Heavenly Home;” “Let in the Sunlight;” “Speed, Heralds of our King;” “In the Temple;” “Satisfied;” “Shine In;” “A Guest of the King;” “Encampment of the Angels;” “Take My Heart, O Christ, My Saviour.” The price of these is very low, only 25 cents, single copy, not 15 cents, as erroneously stated in our former notice. In quantities of ten or more, less. Address C. A. Smith, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.

Articles in McClure’s Magazine

McClure's Magazine for May has the beginning of Miss Ellen M. Stone's account of “Six Months among Brigands.” The account is of intense interest in both the May and the June number. “The End of a Great Mountain Climber,” in the June number, is a thrilling sketch of what high mountain climbing means. Interesting sketches are given of Dr. Pasteur and Secretary of State John Hay.

Captains of Industry

The Cosmopolitan is running an interesting illustrated series entitled “Captains of Industry,” sketches of the men of wealth and action in the industrial and commercial world.

Giving Demonstrates the Right of Living

Giving is the demonstration of right of living. “God loveth a cheerful giver.”