p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 39. (10/6/1909)

Earlier text: Gospel Facilities in China

The Cost of Automobile Racing

The mad, rushing world can not be satisfied unless it breaks some speed record. For instance, in a recent automobile race in Indianapolis, a Buick car lowered the speed record for 100 miles, from 104 minutes to 92 minutes and 42 seconds. At the same race meeting, five lives were lost in two accidents. At one time two cars ran together, a boiler exploded, one man was killed, others injured; and yet in a few minutes the great crowd of mad spectators were cheering the races as tho nothing had happened.

Education That Accomplishes Things

When Glenn Curtiss, one of the successful aeroplane operators, was introduced to President Fallieres of France, the president was told that Curtiss did not speak French; to which the president responded, “He does better than that; he accomplishes things.” Mr. Fallieres had the proper idea of true education. Doing things is more important than speaking a dozen languages. The real practical men of the world, some of whom are exceedingly well educated in book learning, while others are very moderately so, appreciate the kind of education that fits men to do things. That education is to be valued most which fits a man to be a man physically, mentally, and spiritually.

For Six Months

By Editor

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will give a special series of Bible studies on the special truths for this time.

The Bible is not a book for past centuries alone. God has not revealed His Word for merely local time or local people. It was not given simply for the men who lived in Palestine. The epistles of the apostles and the Gospels of the evangelists were not written for a few Jews who lived at the beginning of the Christian era. These were written for all time, and preeminently for the times in which we live. We could not look upon it otherwise than that and believe God to be what He reveals Himself to be, a kind, wise, discriminating, all-seeing, loving Father.

God cares for His children not simply in the age in which the truth is given to the world, but in all subsequent ages. He places His stamp upon His Word in all future time. That Word meets the very need of every age in every land, just as it meets the needs of this world to-day. Every downtrodden truth of the ages will be restored in these last days; every error will be met by corresponding triumphant truth; and those who abide by the truth will ride triumphant not only over the error, but over the prevailing sins of the age.

It is to emphasize and declare anew some of these important truths, that our Bible studies will be given during the next six months. We know that our readers will lose much if they fail to study them; and those who know them, have before them the precious opportunity of bringing these great truths to other souls who may be ignorant of them. Therefore we plead with our readers to do all in their power to help us in the circulation of the paper during this period of time. The terms are regular, the same as before. See previous page. The series begins with this issue. Now is the time to subscribe.

Christian Union Through Christ

True Christian Union is not union of mere sentiment or feeling, nor is it even a union of principles abstractly considered; it is a union of life and nature. Oil and water will not unite and blend into one homogeneous mass. They may be poured together into the same vessel, but they will not mix; they will not become one. Their natures are unlike. Some other liquid dominating both is necessary to their mixture. So with humanity. All men are naturally selfish; each one seeks his own. They can not in themselves unite. They must submit to a higher power, a power to which each is willing to submit. This necessity is met in Jesus Christ. When men submit to Him, there is no more need to worry over Christian union. It will come of itself through the one Life.

Tuberculosis Patients Starving in the West

The press service of the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis informs us that 4,000 consumptives starve yearly. Fully 7,180 hopelessly diseased with tuberculosis annually go to the States of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and California, by order of their physicians. Sixty per cent of these are so poor that they have not sufficient means to provide for the necessaries of life. Sometimes whole families who can hardly eke out a living in the East migrate to the West to save one member of their household. Something ought to be done to prevent this if possible. Twenty-eight state legislatures during the last year made appropriations of over four million dollars for the suppression of consumption. It is estimated that about eight million dollars have been appropriated in the United States alone for this purpose.

The Life Boat Rescue Number

The September number of “The Life Boat” is a special rescue number, and gives an interesting account of the early days in the rescue work in Chicago, by Dr. Lena Kellogg Sadler; an address by Mrs. E. G. White at the new rescue home; an article on the Need of Rescue Work, by Orrin M. Carter, Judge of the Supreme Court of Illinois; also a talk by Judge H. A. Parkin, Assistant United States District Attorney, Chicago, at the dedication of the Life Boat Rescue Home. There are other articles by Dr. Paulson and his coworkers. It is an excellent number and merits a large circulation. Address, Life Boat, Hinsdale, Ill.

Another Transatlantic Record Is Broken.—

Leaving Liverpool at 5:00 P.M., August 28, the “Lusitania” landed her passengers in New York at sundown September 2, running from light-ship to light-ship in 4 days, 11 hours, and 42 minutes. The average speed per hour was 25.85 miles; the distance, 2,784 miles; the number of passengers and crew were 2,800; the coal consumed was 5,000 tons, costing $16,250.

Armenian Conspiracy and Turkish Massacres

“The London Times” tells us that no one now believes that there was an Armenian conspiracy at the time of the recent Turkish massacres, but that the Armenians had done their best to make it seem probable that a conspiracy was hatching. They talked openly of Armenian independence and preached the duty of revenge; and these provocations gave ground for the Turkish action.

Lives Lost in Polar Exploration

Beginning with the year 1553, down to 1881, 750 persons lost their lives in the search for the North Pole or the northwest passage, an average of about two a year. This is not serious considering the time, several times surpassed in loss of life by the wrecking of one ship. The greatest number in any expedition was that of Sir John Franklin’s in 1845, when 135 were lost.

In Regard to Your Health

“In Regard to Your Health” is a beautiful little booklet published in the interests of health-seekers, by the St. Helena Sanitarium, Sanitarium, Napa Co., Cal. It is written by Dr. Edwards, who has himself found health at the Sanitarium. Let those who are interested in health matters send for it to the above address.

Cost of the New Battleships

The lowest bids for the new battle-ships in the United States have been those of Messrs. Cramp and the New York Ship Building Company. They amount to $4,450,000 and $4,675,000 respectively. When these battle-ships are equipped with their armament, they are expected to cost over ten million dollars each.

An Excellent Feature

An Excellent Feature.—The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition at Seattle is the only great national exposition that has absolutely excluded liquor from its grounds. That certainly is worthy of note.

Seventeen Nations Unite for Kongo Prohibition

It is now stated that seventeen nations have united to create prohibition in the Kongo territory. That ought to shut out absinth and opium and all other stimulating and narcotic beverages.