p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 45. (11/8/1899)

Earlier text: THE USE AND ABUSE OF EXERCISE

PROGRESS OF SPIRITISM.

By Editor

THE Society for Psychical Research is blossoming into a Spiritualist organization, just as we were sure years ago it would, when it began so earnestly to investigate Modern Spiritualistic phenomena with human senses as a guide. Dr. Richard Hodgson, president of the American section, declares that Mrs. Piper the medium through whom he has been converted, is the most remarkable woman in the world's history. Professor Hyslop, of Columbia University, as we have before stated, is another convert; and he promises within two or three years proof of existence after death. Dr. Hodgson first visited Mrs. Piper a skeptic, "to unmask her," now he declares, "I simply say, I believe." The "influence" now guiding Mrs. Piper, he tells us, is bringing nearer together the states before and after death. This began in June, 1897. He further says (we quote from the Literary Digest of October 7):—

"The world is on the eve of great developments. In two years' time, or perhaps sooner, by means of the most remarkable woman who has appeared in the world's history, I will publish to the world a new interpretation of the laws of humanity, of that great primitive universal religion which no dogma and no sect of to-day can contradict. It will be a new revelation, a new faith. To suffering humanity, tortured for centuries with doubts, wavering first this way and then that, it will need no explanation. The new and yet ever old truths need only the restating—they compel belief."

Minot J. Savage, the Unitarian preacher of Boston, is another firm believer; and there are many more to follow on the same evidence. Of course these men and others will be told events of years ago. Of course there will be revealed to them things unknown to living mortals. We do not question the revelations; they are probably facts. But who are the revelators?—Not Mrs. Piper; not the spirits of the dead ("for the dead know not anything," declares the Word); but they are the demons of the bottomless pit who take advantage of an erroneous belief, and come in the guise of the spirits of the dead. "They are the spirits of demons." Satan said in the beginning, "Ye shall not surely die." He then laid the foundation of all idolatry, of the doctrine of transmigration of soul, purgatory, mariolatry, adoration of saints; and Modern Spiritualism is rearing a superstructure on the same base. The only escape from the delusion is God's Word. Isa. 8:20.

The Enduring Word of God

God's Word is the same now as when it made Jesus of Nazareth the character He was. It is the same now as when He said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." It is the same as when He prayed, "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth." It is the same as when Paul declared: "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." It is the same as when the same apostle said: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, . . . Preach the Word." It is the same as when another wrote: "For the Word of God is quick [living], and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Blessed is the man who builds on the Word; for "the Word of the Lord endureth forever."

Hiding God’s Word in the Heart

Would you be kept from sin? This is the Bible way: "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee."

Original Songs and Music

By Editor

The songs and music which have appeared in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES from time to time are original to this paper. Of course this makes them neither better nor worse, but it is well to know that they have not been published elsewhere.

World’s Harvest Number

By Editor

Our regular subscribers will receive the World's Harvest number of the SIGNS "out of due time," that is, in advance. This is that you may see what it is, and thereby be inspired to give it a wider circulation. Price, single copy, 10 cents; five to twenty copies, 5 cents a copy; twenty-five and over, 4 cents a copy.

Important Articles in This Paper

By Editor

There are most important articles in this paper. Read that by Mrs. White, on "The Seal of God;" that by G. E. Fifield, on "Sabbath Reformation;" that by Uriah Smith, on "The New and Living Way;" that by A. F. Ballenger, on "Humility Then Glory," and that on "The Second Coming of Christ," by F. M. Wilcox. These are all interesting as well as important.

God’s Mercy and the Effectual Plea

What a merciful Saviour is Jesus Christ! We may not plead our worthiness or works; at the best these are mixed with error. "All our righteousnesses [not sins] are as filthy rags." The effectual plea is that of David: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according unto Thy loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgression." And the prayer inspired by the Spirit will be heard of the Father.

Death of True Protestantism

"The Bible and the Bible only" was once the court appeal of Protestantism. Upon that it was founded; from that it drew its life vigor. Protestants held many erroneous opinions; they were only emerging from the papal wilderness of error, but the principles of the Bible, the standard and teacher, salvation by faith, Jesus Christ for King, for arms the Holy Ghost, were correct, and if followed would have led to such union and power as were manifest at the Pentecost. But Protestants have clung to the errors, and now they are yielding the principle. Now the Literary Digest says (Oct. 21, 1899): "That the teachings of modern critical research have seriously modified the Protestant view concerning the absolute authority of the Scriptures in matters of faith, is admitted on all hands." What is this but death to true Protestantism, and reversion to either Rationalism or Rome.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook

By Editor

Dr. Frederick A. Cook will contribute to the November number of McClure's Magazine the story of his adventures with the Belgian Antarctic expedition of last year. The members of this expedition were the first men to pass a winter in the Antarctic; they were in the south polar ice pack continuously for thirteen months. Dr. Cook's article will be illustrated from photographs taken by himself.

God Sees You to Save

"Thou God seest me" is generally used as a deterrent, to keep from sin, because God sees. It is usually quoted to children to keep them from evil deeds; but this was not its original use. It came to Hagar (Genesis 16) as a message of comfort. She thought she was driven out to die in the wilderness, but God saw her and supplied her need. God saw her; He therefore had not forgotten her. Remember this, discouraged soul. God sees you not to condemn, but to save.

THE REASON.

WHY did God say to Abraham the gracious words, "Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward"? Gen. 15:1. It is necessary to go back to the thirteenth chapter for the reason. In that chapter is recorded the strife between the herdsmen of Lot and Abraham, and Abraham's divinely unselfish solution. He to whom all the land was promised, said to Lot, his beneficiary: "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand then, I will go to the left." We know the sequel. Notwithstanding its wickedness, Lot chose the beautiful plain of Sodom, fertile, "even as the garden of the Lord," was captured in a war which followed, and was rescued without cost by Abraham, who remained in the less fertile heights of the promised land. It was then, and to such a heart, that God gave the gracious assurance: "Fear not, Abram; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee."

Perilous Times Are Here

The "Literary Digest," quoting from the Springfield Republican, gives an account from an eyewitness of wholesale corruption in army affairs in the Philippines, by which the government and private soldiers are fearfully swindled. But the same things are at home in our large cities. These things should emphasize to the Christian the truthfulness and importance of the prophecies of God's Word, which declare not only that these things shall be among professed Christians, but the cause of them: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, . . . truce-breakers; . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." See 2 Tim. 3:1-5. We are in the last days; the "perilous times" are here.

Waiting and Doing

True faith can wait God's time. When the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 15, the man of faith did his part of the work and waited for God. He killed the sacrifice, and divided the pieces. Still the Lord did not come. Fowls came to devour the sacrifice, but Abraham drove them away. At evening he was made to suffer the agonies of the Egyptian bondage, and when it was dark, God came. Faith waited; and blessed are those who, having done their part, can wait upon God. Faith also obeys. When the Lord told Abraham to circumcise the males of his household (Genesis 17), he did it on "the selfsame day." True faith both waits and acts; for it lays hold not of appearance, but of the Word of God.

Drifting

By Editor

Drifting.—The trend in theology is well characterized (tho not so meant) by the Independent the "Drift of Religious Thought." In speaking of the late Congregational International Council, it notes that the council was marked by "the almost complete victory of liberal theology." Again: "This recognized and pronounced liberalism indicates a general drift, for the Congregational Churches have always been in the van of religious thought of the country." It is a sad place to be in the van of a "drift." The current in this world is downward. Satan is working with mighty power. The enemy has come in "like a flood." God's Word is against that current. To drift is to go from God. The true child of God is climbing, not drifting.

The Most High Rules

What a satisfaction it is in this present state of affairs to know that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." The future is with Him. And so the Christian can even take "joyfully the spoiling" of his "goods, knowing" that he has "in heaven a better and an enduring substance." Heb. 10:34.

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

By Editor

Poetry.

The Christian's Motto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Blessed Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
My Ransom, M. ELIZABETH BURNS . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
When Papa's Sick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

General.

The Life-giver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
A Lesson for the Present . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Seal of God, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Second Coming of Christ, FRANCIS M. WILCOX . . . . . 3
The New and Living Way, URIAH SMITH . . . . . . . . . . 4
Humility Then Glory, A. F. BALLENGER . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sabbath Reformation, G. E. FIFIELD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Outlook.—The Educational Influence of War—Significant Conditions—"The Nations Were Angry" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9

Missions.—Manila and Its Surroundings, EUGENE G. WOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11

The Home.—Please Don't Tell Such Things, OSCAR—The Use and Abuse of Exercise, DAVID PAULSON, M.D.—Heck, the Newfoundland Dog, E. PAYSON HAMMOND . . . . . . . 12, 13

International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 15

Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15