Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 6. (2/17/1914)

Signs of the Times

Feb 17, 1914

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 17, 1914

A War and a Crisis in State Church

By W. T. Bartlett

Will England's Established Religion Be Protestant or Catholic?—Leading Bishops Consider the Situation Grave—A Proposed Church Federation in East Africa Precipitates the Conflict

By W. T. BARTLETT

THE religious world in England finds itself to-day in the presence of a crisis of all-absorbing interest, in which crisis, strange to say, the name "Seventh-day Adventist" occupies a rather prominent place. Concerning the magnitude of this crisis the bishop of London says: "The church is face to face with a dispute which, unless it is properly and firmly and delicately handled, may split it into two pieces."

HOW THE TROUBLE STARTED

In June, 1913, some sixty missionaries in British East Africa gathered together in conference at Kikuyu. These missionaries, according to the published reports, represented the following Protestant missions at work in the protectorate: the London Missionary Society, the Church of England Mission, the African Inland Mission, Lutherans, Friends, Seventh-day Adventists, and United Methodists. At the close of the conference, the members took part in a united communion service. The only building favorable for the purpose was the Scottish church, and in this Bishop Peel, of Mombassa, celebrated the Lord's Supper, the bishop of Uganda being also present.

The object of the conference is said to have been to consider suggestions for the organization of a united native church, and a committee was appointed to prepare and submit a scheme. It is not to be supposed for a moment that the Seventh-day Adventists present were disposed to surrender principle and Bible truth for the sake of outward uniformity. They do, however, make it their aim, in their missionary operations in British East Africa as elsewhere, to cooperate just as far as possible with other missions. They have been able to do something along this line in the preparation and printing of literature for use in native schools.

It has been taken for granted, however, in the religious press, that the Kikuyu conference means a step toward the organization of a native church in which Seventh-day Adventism will have its share of representation; and the Church Times, the leading Anglican paper, speaks with scorn of "this amazing conference," sneering at the perplexity of a native Christian who should be addressed in turn from the pulpit of his church by a Presbyterian, a Lutheran, a Seventh-day Adventist, and a Quaker. The Roman Catholic press has also been amused by such a strange combination of preachers for one congregation as Seventh-day Adventist missionaries and Anglican clergymen.

Photo by Paul Thompson The bishop of Mombassa, who was the instigator of the controversy, with some of his native followers, on a preaching tour through his diocese.

THE ISSUE CALLS FORTH NEW BOOKS

Already books are being published dealing with the issues raised by the conference; and in one of these, Mr. Norman Maclean writes concerning the puzzling mixture of sects that distracts the mind of the native of central Africa:

"The Baptists confront the universities' mission, saying, 'You must be immersed to be a Christian.' The Seventh-day Adventists confront the Baptists, saying, 'You must keep the seventh day holy and not the first, and so be a Christian.' The Brethren confront the Baptists, and the Friends the Brethren, and each raises his testimony to the truth; and the African, in his bewilderment, asks, 'What is the truth?'"

Thus the name "Seventh-day Adventist" is bandied about in not only the religious press, but the daily newspapers. These recognize the importance and interest of the situation, and are giving it plentiful space in their columns. The Times especially has printed a large number of letters from the most influential people in the religious world.

THE WARRING BISHOPS

But while the bishops of Uganda and Mombassa were showing themselves favorable to the idea of unity among the various denominations at work in the mission field, the bishop of Zanzibar was stirred with indignation at the sight of Anglican prelates planning to organize a native church to which non-episcopal Christians

could be admitted on terms of equality, and dispensing the holy communion to non-conformists in a Scottish church. He has definitely charged the two bishops with heresy in departing from the Anglican doctrine in respect to episcopacy, and demands that they be tried for their offense by the archbishop of Canterbury and a suitable ecclesiastical tribunal in England. He insists that the Church of England is not Protestant in character, but Catholic, and that —

"We who deliver the whole Catholic faith to our people [in Zanzibar] are directly challenged to our faces by the two bishops who are within easiest reach of us, and our cause is by them betrayed into the hands of our Protestant neighbors, our work is hindered, our witness is stultified; we are made to appear as pretenders, impostors."

SHALL IT BE CATHOLIC OR PROTESTANT?

Accordingly the bishop of Zanzibar demands some definite and authoritative pronouncement, that he may know where the Church of England stands. He affirms:

"If to Protestantize the world and modernize faith be the work that she officially undertakes, I for my part have no longer place or lot within her borders. Let the Ecclesia Anglicana declare herself."

The Evangelical party in the Church of England, with its Protestant sympathies, has not been slow to declare itself at this juncture. The bishop of Durham, the most prominent leader of this section of the Anglican church, has written:

"If the bishops of Uganda and Mombassa are arraigned for heresy for their share of responsibility for a program which I think to be true to the mind of our Master, and full of promise for His work, I, for one, would willingly, if it may be, take my place beside them."

So far the archbishop of Canterbury, who is nothing if not a diplomatist, has declined to commit himself on either side of the question. He will wait till all the particulars are before him, and meanwhile the matter is receiving his best attention. The bishop of Zanzibar is on his way home to lay his case before the archbishop and other authorities of the church.

THE MOST CRUCIAL CONFERENCE SINCE THE REFORMATION

The bishop of Zanzibar recognizes the gravity of the issue he has raised. He says himself:

"There has not been a conference of such importance to the life of the Ecclesia Anglicana since the Reformation. For it has brought us to the parting of the ways, that we have so long dreaded and sought to avoid."

Photo by Paul Thompson. A medicine-man who was converted to the Christian faith by the bishop of Mombassa. He is preaching to his brother natives.

ENGLISH BISHOPS IN HOSTILE CAMPS

These charges of heresy, brought against one bishop by another, and the demands for a council that shall settle the question, together with the dividing up into hostile camps of the English episcopacy, and not least, the fact that the trouble arises in Africa, seem to carry the student of church history back into the atmosphere of the early centuries of the Christian era. The bishop of Zanzibar is not the only one who foresees a possible breaking up of the English church. If that prelate carries the day and secures the condemnation of the bishops of Mombassa and Uganda, grave consequences must inevitably follow. Says the dean of Canterbury:

"If the present conference should result in such repudiation of the Protestant character of the Church of England, not only would its bisection be inevitable, but the loss of its position as a national church would be unavoidable also. The religion of the nation of England is irrevocably Protestant, and the nation will never uphold with public authority, in every parish in the country, a church which repudiates the principles of the Protestant Reformation."

SET TOWARD ROMAN AND GREEK CHURCHES

For nothing else than this repudiation is really involved in the demand put forward by the bishop of Zanzibar. He is requiring that the church dissociate itself from the Protestant ideal, and identify itself with the Catholic, which in effect means that the Church of England shall shut the door against all recognition of English non-conformist bodies, and set its affections — albeit vainly — upon the Roman and Greek communions. The bishop of Zanzibar will be supported by the powerful High Church party, which for years past has been expressing the greatest detestation for the name and principles of Protestantism, and doing all in its power to restore in the Church of England the doctrines and practises of the Roman Catholic Church.

SEES THE ISSUE IN THE BATTLE

The bishop of Durham recognizes that this is the issue which must be fought out, and he declares his position boldly:

"If the English church comes to pronounce authoritatively such action heretical, a new epoch of vital or mortal import will enter her history. It will be officially avowed, for the first time, that we have no part nor lot with non-episcopal churches, to whom, by the way, in a sense unknown to history, the great word 'Protestant' is now being applied as a term exclusive of Anglicans. We shall be committed to the tenet, never before affirmed with authority by the Church of England, Catholic and reformed, that divine grace runs only for certain in the Episcopal channel; that all other ministries, as not irregular only, but invalid, are to be shunned in the name of spiritual truth."

BOTH PARTIES STRONG FOR CONFLICT

Both parties in the Church of England, the Catholic and the Protestant, are strong, and neither is disposed to give way, so that there is a possibility that the Church of England has before it one of the greatest crises in its history. The bishop of Oxford, Dr. Gore, says:

"I do seriously think, unless the great body of the Anglican church can again speedily arrive at some statement of its principles, such as will avail to pull it together again in a unity, comprehensive but intelligible, and compatible with the moral principle of sincerity of profession, it will go the certain way to disruption; with the appalling result that it will miss its great vocation in Christendom just when its characteristic witness appears to be most needed."

"WORLD CONFERENCE ON FAITH AND ORDER"

Another item that gives some added importance to the present crisis is the fact that a deputation is now on its way to these shores from America in the interests of the proposed "World Conference on Faith and Order." If the champions of an unyielding episcopacy carry the day in the Church of England, the World Conference might as well be abandoned. If, on the other hand, that principle is defeated in the struggle, and the Anglican church presents a kindlier aspect to the other religious bodies, the prospect before the World Conference will become distinctly more favorable.

WILL SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS TAKE PART?

Possibly the present agitation is preparing the way for a definite submission of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs to the World Conference on Faith and Order. The bishops and others who have been ready to stand side by side with their brethren of Uganda and Mombassa, assailed for the offense of regarding Seventh-day Adventists in Africa as brethren in Christ, will hardly be able to deny a hearing to Seventh-day Adventists at home if a hearing should be asked when the World Conference on Faith and Order convenes.

The Word of God

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Marvelous Outpouring of Spiritual Power

By Ellen G. White

The Climax of Prevailing Prayer at Pentecost—That Manifestation of God's Working Brought Thousands to Christ in a Day—A Far Mightier Work Lies Just Before

By MRS. E. G. WHITE

THE commission that Christ gave to His disciples just before His ascension, is the great missionary charter of His kingdom. In giving it to the disciples, the Saviour made them His ambassadors, and gave them their credentials. If, afterward, they should be challenged, and asked by what authority they, unlearned fishermen, went forth as teachers and healers, they could reply, He whom the Jews crucified, but who rose from the dead, appointed us to the ministry of His word, declaring, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth."

Christ gave this commission to His disciples as His chief ministers, the architects who were to lay the foundation of His church. He laid upon them, and upon all who should succeed them as His ministers, the charge of handing His gospel down from generation to generation, from age to age.

COMMANDED TO SEEK THEM OUT

The disciples were not to wait for the people to come to them. They were to go to the people, hunting for sinners as a shepherd hunts for lost sheep. Christ opened the world before them as their field of labor. They were to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." It was of the Saviour that they were to preach,—of His life of unselfish service, His death of shame, His unparalleled, unchanging love. His name was to be their watchword, their bond of union. In His name they were to subdue the strongholds of sin. Faith in His name was to mark them as Christians.

"YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER"

Giving the disciples directions, Christ said: "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." "But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."

In obedience to the word of their Master, the disciples assembled in Jerusalem, to wait for the fulfilment of God's promise. Here they spent ten days,—days of deep heart searching. They put away differences, and drew close together in Christian fellowship. At the end of ten days the Lord fulfilled His promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit. "Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." "And the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

THOUSANDS CONVERTED UNDER THESE MIGHTY LABORS

"And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." "With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them." Under their labors there were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the word of life, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that had filled their hearts with peace and joy. Hundreds proclaimed the message, "The kingdom of God is at hand." They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatenings. The Lord spoke through them; and wherever they went, the sick were healed and the poor had the gospel preached unto them.

So mightily can God work when men give themselves up to the control of His Spirit.

SECRET OF SUCCESS AND POWER

Notice that it was after the disciples had come into perfect unity, when they were no longer striving for the highest place, that the Spirit was poured out. They were of one accord. All differences had been put away. And the testimony borne of them after the Spirit had been given is the same. Mark the word: "The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." The Spirit of Him who died that sinners might live, animated the entire congregation of believers.

The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day.

GREATER BLESSING AND POWER YET TO COME

So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the "former rain," and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. What is the promise for those living in these last days?—"Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee." "Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."

PRAYER UNLOCKS THE POWER-HOUSE

By the grace of Christ the apostles were made what they were. It was sincere devotion and humble, earnest prayer that brought them into close communion with Him. They sat together with Him in heavenly places. They realized the greatness of their debt to Him. By earnest, persevering prayer they obtained the endowment of the Holy Spirit, and then they went forth, weighted with the burden of saving souls, filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross. And under their labors many souls were brought from darkness to light, and many churches were raised up.

Shall we be less earnest than were the apostles? Shall we not by living faith claim the promises that moved them to the depths of their being to call upon the Lord Jesus for the fulfilment of His word, "Ask, and ye shall receive"? Is not the Spirit of God to come to-day to His praying, trusting, believing workers, who are opening the Scriptures to those ignorant of the precious truth they contain? "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

UNSEEN AGENCIES BATTLE FOR CONQUEST OF SOULS

We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make-believe conflict. It is no mimic battle in which we are engaged. We have to meet most powerful adversaries, and it rests with us to determine which shall win. We are to find our strength where the early disciples found theirs. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

As the disciples, filled with the power of the Spirit, went forth to proclaim the gospel, so God's servants are to go forth to-day. Filled with an unselfish desire to give the message of mercy to those who are in the darkness of error and unbelief, we are to take up the Lord's work. He gives us our part to do in cooperation with Him, and He will also move upon the hearts of unbelievers to carry forward His work in the regions beyond. Already many are receiving the Holy Spirit.

A work similar to that which the Lord did through His delegated messengers after the day of Pentecost, He is waiting to do to-day. At this time, when the end of all things is at hand, should not the zeal of the church exceed that of the early church? Zeal for the glory of God moved the disciples to bear witness to the truth with mighty power. Should not this zeal fire our hearts with a longing to tell the story of redeeming love, of Christ and Him crucified? Should not the power of God be even more mightily revealed to-day than in the time of the apostles?

Post-Office Sunday-Closing Law

By S. B. HORTON

Criticized by First Assistant Postmaster-General—Early Congresses Grappled with the Subject—Un-American and Wrong to Settle Religious Controversy by Civil Law

By S. B. HORTON

THE law prohibiting the opening of post-offices and the delivery of mail on Sunday has added largely to the cost of the postal service, and materially lessens its efficiency, according to the annual report of Daniel C. Roper, first assistant postmaster-general, recently presented to Postmaster-General Burleson. One year's trial of the law has compelled the post-office department to coincide with the views of earlier Congresses which had the subject of Sunday closing of offices under consideration, that such regulation should be referred to the department to deal with according to the judgment of its officials.

CAME AS A "RIDER"

It will be remembered that on May 16, 1911, Representative Mann, of Illinois, introduced a bill (H. R. 9,433) "for the observance of Sunday in post-offices." The Religious Liberty Association of Washington, D. C., and others, inaugurated a campaign against the passage of the measure, and applied for a hearing. The committee to whom the bill was referred did not bring it up for consideration; but when the post-office appropriation bill was reported to the House, Mr. Mann moved an amendment to that measure, inserting his bill as a "rider," which went through, but not without protest from several members. Upon its reaching the Senate, protestants requested an opportunity, through a hearing, to point out reasons why the "rider" above referred to should be struck from the appropriation bill, but without avail.

DEFEATS ITS OWN PURPOSE

The Senate Post-office Committee, in reporting the bill favorably (Report No. 955, July 23, 1912), gave as one reason why the same should be passed, that—

"It has been suggested by some that the provision be changed so as to permit the delivery of mail for one hour or for delivery of mail through boxes on Sunday, but on a moment's reflection it will be readily apparent that the delivery of any portion of the mail for any portion of the day necessitates handling and distributing the entire mail, and, consequently, the employment of a considerable number of clerks, thus defeating the purpose to be accomplished."

In other words, the legislation was in the interest of economy to the service and rest to the employees. But according to the report of the first assistant postmaster-general, the legislation has done neither. On this point he says:

"The enforcement of this law, particularly the latter clause, not only adds largely to the cost of the service but materially lessens its efficiency. Mails are received and despatched at practically all first- and second-class offices on Sundays, and during certain hours this necessitates the employment of at least a part of the force. Under this law these employees must be granted compensatory time on one of the six succeeding days. . . . The granting of compensatory time to these employees during the succeeding week when the condition of the work urgently demands their presence and to employ inexperienced substitutes in their places results in a serious impairment of the force.

"The department believes it would be in the interest of both the service and the employees to amend the law so as to provide for the granting of compensatory time for Sunday work when the employees can be most conveniently excused from duty."—Report for the Year Ended June 30, 1913, page 14.

FIRST CONGRESSIONAL ACT OF ITS KIND

The law in question is the first favorable response by our national legislature to demands for Sunday observance by civil enactment which began to be made soon after the organization of the government.

PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT SUNDAY LEGISLATION

On January 4, 1811, a petition was presented to the eleventh Congress by the Synod of Pittsburg, asking for compulsory closing of the postal service on Sunday. This petition was referred to Postmaster-General Gideon Granger, who reported back that—

"From the peculiar phraseology of the ninth section of said act (act of April 30, 1810), it is doubted whether he be warranted by law in limiting the right of the citizens to demand their letters to one hour on the sabbath."

Postmaster-General R. J. Meigs, Jr., reporting January 16, 1815, to the thirteenth Congress, on a similar petition, said among other things:

"The usage of transporting the mails on the sabbath is coeval with the Constitution of the United States, and a prohibition of that usage will be first considered."

Other postmasters-general held the same views.

WARNINGS OF RELIGIOUS DESPOTISM

Though the principles involved in Sunday legislation were evidently recognized in our early history, the subject was more fully set forth in the twentieth and the twenty-first Congress, when faithful warnings against lawmaking of this character were sounded by patriotic statesmen. And these warnings were emphasized by a well-informed citizenship outside the halls of Congress. Reporting adversely on Sunday-closing petitions referred to it, the United States Senate Committee of the first-mentioned Congress, of which Col. Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, was chairman and author of the report, commented as follows on the principles involved:

"It should, however, be kept in mind that the proper object of government is to protect all persons in the enjoyment of their religious as well as civil rights, and not to determine for any whether they shall esteem one day above another, or esteem all days alike holy. . . . It is the opinion of the committee that the subject should be regarded simply as a question of expediency, irrespective of its religious bearing. Congress has never legislated upon the subject. It rests, as it has ever done, in the legal discretion of the postmaster-general. . . . Let the national legislature once perform an act which involves the decision of a religious controversy (which is in fact contemplated in Sunday laws), and it will have passed its legitimate bounds. The precedent will then be established, and the foundation laid, for the usurpation of the divine prerogative in this country which has been the desolating scourge to the fairest portions of the Old World."—"American State Papers."

The twenty-first Congress had the same question before it, and the House Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads made substantially the same comment on the principles involved. Its report against enacting a Sunday observance law gave evidence that the committee was familiar with the views held by the founders of the republic. "It is perhaps fortunate," says the report, "for our country that the proposition should have been made at this early period, while the spirit of the Revolution yet exists in full vigor." ("American State Papers.")

ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES IGNORED

The sixty-second Congress gave little or no weight to the views of its patriotic ancestors, or it would have refused to enter the forbidden path of Sunday legislation. In the present post-office closing law, it not only repudiated the great American principle of absolute separation of church and state, but it has involved the post-office service in a question of economics, and made necessary the pertinent strictures suggested by the report of the first assistant postmaster-general. The thing for Congress to do is to repeal the statute compelling the post-office to shut down on Sunday, and to keep its hands off this kind of unconstitutional and un-American legislation.

The Man Who Is Sincere

By J. W. McComas

THE popular adage is, "It makes no difference what a man believes, if he is only sincere." Let us see. A man indorsed a note for another, whom he sincerely believed to be honest. This latter man was a scoundrel, and left his friend to pay the debt. Did it make no difference?

A traveler takes the train going north, sincerely believing it is the south-bound one. Will it make any difference? Will that train take him south?

The popular adage is not correct. If a man is sincere, he will take pains to know the truth. Where facts are concerned, all the thinking in the world will not change them.

Before the year 1810, America had no foreign missionary organizations; but the young Adoniram Judson, who was reared and educated for a Congregationalist minister, became interested in missionary work. After earnest prayer, he gathered around him other young men whose hearts burned to help the lost, and a missionary society was organized. These young men were very much in earnest, and the Congregationalists urged them to go and establish work in India.

After some time, arrangements were made, and young Judson, with his wife and friends, started for Calcutta, India, expecting to meet, on their arrival, the English Baptist missionaries, and establish a mission near them.

Judson realized that this would make it necessary for him to explain to the natives the difference between the organizations. He therefore spent most of his time on the journey studying his Bible; and when he arrived in Calcutta, he and his wife were baptized, having been convinced that the Baptists were right upon the doctrine of baptism.

The Bible admonition to all is, "There is

a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 16:25. The sincere man takes time to find the truth. J. W. McComas.

Modern Skepticism Changing Front

By J. H. Parsons

Befogged by a Christianity Which Is Not Christianity—The Situation an Anomalous One—Did the Prophets Have a View of Existing Conditions?

MANY people, in reading the Bible, believe that the prophets were merely talented men, who wrote about their own times, to people now dead. They do not realize that each and every one of those prophets was inspired by the living God, to give a living message, which must bear fruit as long as time shall last.

TRUTH LIVES AND ACTS

Truth, to use the words of inspiration, "is living, and active" (Heb. 4: 12, A.R.V.), and can not be confined to any one people, day, or age. It is eternal, and will ever accomplish the same work, when the like circumstances arise to call it into action.

EVENTS THAT ARE FULFILLING PROPHECY

Some who have studied the long lines of prophecy that are woven through the narrative of the Bible, pointing down to the great climax of all history, the second coming of Christ, find a corresponding fulfilment in the rapidly gathering events that are recorded from day to day by the press.

STORM-CENTER OF HUNGRY QUESTIONING

The January issue of the Ladies' Home Journal says: "An age of doubt has been followed by an age of questioning. . . . The Bible is to-day literally the storm-center of hungry questioning."

EXTREME RESTLESSNESS AND A SPIRITUAL WAVE

A contemporary issue of the Literary Digest quotes Winston Churchill, the novelist-preacher, thus: "The extreme restlessness everywhere to be seen, he thinks, is the characteristic sign of the rise of a great spiritual wave in history. . . . We want a religion. Perhaps we are waiting for a new one. . . . We are unable to say, with the conviction of our fathers, 'This is the absolute truth.' For one thing, it may seem to us that the science and the agnostic critics of the age just past have riddled that religion." These are simple statements of fact, for this generation has departed from the old-time faith, and is drifting in a rudderless ship on the open sea of skepticism.

THESE EVENTS AND THE PROPHECY

Prophecy has foretold these conditions; and of "science falsely so called," which has undermined the faith of many, Peter says: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

RELIGIOUSLY HUNGRY

Of the fact that people have lost faith in God's word, yet are hungry for religion, inspiration says: "It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against Mount Zion. . . . And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I can not; for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men: therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Isa. 29: 8-14.

A PROUD AND WONDERFUL GENERATION

Yet there probably has never been a generation that has felt more proud of its position in the world's history than the present generation. It has practically all the knowledge of past generations at its command, and is making use of knowledge both new and old to such an extent that the daily life is a constant panorama of wonderful inventions, until it can be said: "All things are full of labor; man can not utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." Eccl. 1: 8.

ISAIAH'S VISION

In the last days, according to the prophet Isaiah, when many people will be preaching peace, "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end to their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made." Isa. 2: 2-8. Another prophet, speaking of the last days, says: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." Amos 8: 11.

THEIR VERY BLINDNESS FULFILS PROPHECY

The blindness of the Protestant churches to the trend of prophecy would surely be passing strange but for the fact that their very attitude is in itself a direct fulfilment of more than one prophecy; for "while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." See Matt. 25: 1-13. Christ's message to the last church on earth is: "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3: 17, 18.

Why Not Found Out Before

By I. C. Colcord

THE truth of the Bible is like gold in the earth. Many generations may walk over deposits of valuable mineral and know not what treasures are hidden beneath their feet. Likewise centuries of men may glance over the sacred page and know not what riches lie hidden from their intellectual apprehension.

Sometimes when they discover them they call them new truths. One might as well call gold, newly dug, new gold. But it is the same genuine article that has been there pocketed away for these many years, with its luster undimmed, and its intrinsic value undiminished. And so it is with this unsullied word of God that has stood and will stand the test of the ages. "Thy word is true from the beginning."

Mark 2: 28 says, "The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." Ex. 20: 10 says the seventh day is the Sabbath. Here are two plain statements of Scripture which may form the premises of a syllogism thus: The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath. The seventh day is the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord of the seventh day.

Forming another of which the above conclusion shall be the minor premise, we have this: Whatever day it is of which the Son of man is Lord, is the Lord's day. The Son of man is Lord of the seventh day. Therefore the Lord's day is the seventh day.

Though years have gone down into the past, the original Sabbath, coming on the seventh day of the cycle of the week, or the Lord's day — for they are synonymous — is still the same identical hallowed day of observance and commemoration.

This is not "new gold," nor a "new truth," but it is pure gold and a Biblical truth. Let us not pass over the hidden treasures.

I. C. COLCORD.

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