p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 32. (8/15/1911)

A Voice of Warning

By Editor

The Nashville Banner for July 24 has an abstract of an address delivered by Rev. Madison C. Peters, D.D., of New York, in which he is quoted as stating some very hard, unwelcome facts. He declares: "The old order of society is breaking up. We are in the midst of a revolution, and do not know it. Materialism is crowding out spirituality." He also declares that the future church, by which we understand the church that is truly so, must be a distinctly Christian church. "The world is sick of dry, juiceless theological phrases. The world to-day wants Christ—not merely the crucified, but the living Christ. We must preach the Bible pointedly and directly; tell the robbers of the poor that they can't escape the damnation of hell unless they repent and make restitution to those they have robbed; preach explicitly every commandment of God, regardless of consequences, with wisdom in your head and courage in your heart." It is that kind of preaching which the Signs of the Times is endeavoring to do constantly, to lift up every commandment of God, and to preach the old Gospel, which if received will bring men into harmony with the commandments.

Dr. Peters continues: "Greed has commercialized business, mammonized the church, and hypnotized the clergy. We need old-time ministers, men of convictions, men of conscience, those who are prophets, not parrots or phonographs. The old-time minister was an insurgent, a progressive." He tells us that the church is "sadly lacking in spirituality. Much of the preaching we hear to-day is no more what Christ taught than the scarecrow the farmer puts up is the farmer himself. We need to save the church of God from theological putrefaction, and to preach the Bible fearlessly and practically." And there is more along the same line, to which we add hearty "Amen."

Baptists—for that is what Mr. Peters is—ought to be a faithful Bible people, following the great principles of the Bible; but to be true to this, would lead them to the observance of all the commandments of God.

Extravagance, Wealth, and Poverty

We read in the despatches for July 31 of a wealthy lady holding regular funeral services over a dog, burying it in a child's zinc-lined casket, with solemn rites and eloquent tribute paid to the animal. A short time ago a dog was sent in a special private car, accompanied by a woman, an expert dog doctor, and an eminent veterinary, clear across the continent to the best dog doctor in the world, in New York, at an expense of $2,500 to $3,000. Of course those who have wealth have the legal authority to use it as they will; and yet these things, what might be called wanton extravagances, are stirring up many souls, engendering class hatred, and the outcome will be seen by and by in bloodshed and violence. It would be well if those who are superabundantly rich would find a means of spending their wealth in benefiting humanity. How much better it would be if the thousands of dollars spent on cats and dogs were used to relieve the poor and the sick and the needy among the children of men! Sometime the prophecy in Habakkuk will be fulfilled to the rich: "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" Hab. 2:7. A New Testament prophecy declares, "Go to now,

ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." James 5:1. Yet it is not God's plan that the oppressed shall meet oppression with retaliation. In the same connection the Lord speaks to His own children, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." All who make God their trust can afford to leave to His final adjustment all differences. God rules, and in infinite wisdom waits. Leave it with Him. Eternity in glory will vindicate His prophetic justice. Remember that —

"The evil can not brook delay; The good can well afford to wait."

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., AUGUST 15, 1911

Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Revised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American Standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.

For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

Our Question Corner

3532 — The Word of Faith; 3533 — What Book Is Referred to? 3534 — Apostles; 3535 — A Sect . . . 2

Our Bible Band . . . 2

General

"Alway" . . . 3

Bearing Fruit for God . . . 4

Restoration of the Sabbath . . . 5

God's Message for To-Day — Studies in Revelation . . . 6

Our Bible Reading

The End of Sin . . . 9

The Outlook

Wanton Extravagance in Government . . . 10

The Christian Endeavor Convention . . . 11

Notes . . . 11

The Home

Letters to a Daughter — Saved to Serve . . . 12

Missions

China's Need . . . 14

Poetry

A Reverie . . . 5

For God and Liberty . . . 8

At Bedtime . . . 12

Our Message . . . 14

China Press Building Appeal

By Editor

We would advise our readers that it does not seem best to the editors to do more at the present time for famine in China. The souls who are dying for the need of the Bread of life cry with a far louder voice than do those who have been suffering for the want of the common necessities; and in fact we understand that most, if not all, of those are at present relieved. In large territories crops which are now being harvested will relieve the most of the sufferers. But the great religious field is always in need, always appealing to the sympathy of those who wish to see souls benefited not only in this life but in the life to come.

We feel especially burdened for our new press building in China. Our workers there are patiently, earnestly, faithfully, diligently working under extreme insanitary conditions. It is the best they have, and they are meeting it with uncomplaining, Christian fortitude. We sincerely hope they will not have to pass another summer in the hot, humid Chinese alleys of Shanghai. Ground has been purchased, but money is still needed for the building, which we hope will soon be in process of erection. We will give list of donors to other funds next week.

Absurd” and “Outrageous

By Editor

"Absurd" and "Outrageous."—Mr. Upton Sinclair, the ardent Socialist and well-known author, was arrested in Delaware July 30 for playing tennis on Sunday. Nine others were arrested with him for playing baseball, and another for having sold soft drinks. The law under which they were arrested was an old colonial law of 1794. Mr. Sinclair considered his arrest absurd and ridiculous, and declares that he intends to purge Delaware's statutes of the Blue Laws. He intends to start a crusade that will result in the arrest of every member of every fashionable club in which golf, tennis, or croquet is played on Sunday. Thus he hopes to arouse the public to the absurdity of a law which permits such outrageous arrests. Of course it is absurd. There never was a religious law framed but what was absurd, and if put in operation was outrageous. It is unchristian, unjust, un-American.

Turkey and Albania Troubles

Despatches from the Orient indicate that Turkey is doing its utmost to terminate the war on the Montenegrin border, and to bring the Albanians into subjection. From Turkish sources it is averred that other neighboring powers are standing with the Turks, but other sources indicate that there is sympathy with the Albanians. It is pretty difficult to ascertain just what the truth is in the present condition of things in Turkey. It is hoped, however, that the troubles there will be settled soon.

There is no question but the Albanians have suffered many things at the hand of fanatical Turks. The sultan, on the other hand, declares that all that is desired is peace, and that the Albanians shall have the liberty to profess their religion, and will be treated as leniently and kindly as native Turks. The late atrocities, however, would seem to indicate that there is but little difference between the new Turk and the old. The last army of the Turks numbers, we are told, 100,000. The new commander-in-chief, Abdul Pasha, Mr. William T. Stead tells us, is much more humane than his predecessor, and he declares that peace will be shortly forthcoming.

Survivors of the Puritan Shipwreck

An agonizing story comes from those who go down to the sea in ships. In June the British four-masted bark Puritan, in the midst of a fearful storm, foundered in the South Seas. Eleven of the survivors came into San Francisco the other day. When it was seen that the ship could not remain afloat, two boats were launched. These boats were on the ocean for twelve days, but at the end of six days the water ran out. Not a drop was left. The captain said: "With a hot tropical sun beating down mercilessly the suffering was terrible. Our tongues began to swell on the second day. No one was able to speak on the day before we reached the little island of refuge. The men had to scrape each other's tongues almost constantly to keep each other from suffocating." Yet notwithstanding these conditions, God in His goodness brought both boats to safety.

Sayings of Christ

"Sayings of Christ."—It is believed that a new canonical Gospel has been discovered in Egypt, according to an official announcement from the Boston headquarters of the Egyptian Exploration fund. Prof. Bernard F. Grenfell and Prof. Arthur S. Hunt are engaged in the work of translating. Two of the fragments translated read as follows:

"Jesus saith, Except ye fast to the world ye shall in no wise find the kingdom of God, and except ye keep the Sabbath ye shall not see the Father."

"Jesus saith, I stood in the midst of the world, and in the flesh was I seen of them, and I found all men drunken, and none found I athirst among them, and My soul grieveth over the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts."

Biblical scholars, however, will be slow to receive without the very best of evidence.

Hard Nuts for Seventh-Dayists

By Editor

"Hard Nuts for Seventh-Dayists."—We have been sent papers and tracts in abundance, during the last few years, containing a list of statements, numbered from 1 onward, by some author whom we do not know, who has been copied by numerous publications as finality on the Sabbath question. These statements are not difficult at all for a Bible student to meet. Most of them are fallacies. But in order to help some of those who are unacquainted with the Word, we will consider them from time to time, as we have space, and show that they are not "hard nuts," and when cracked have no meat in them.

Several Inquirers

By Editor

Several Inquirers.—In response to requests for the books entitled "The Date of Creation," "All Past Time," and other works by Mr. J. B. Dimbleby, we wish to say that these works are out of print. If it is possible to secure them through our facilities, in the great book marts of the world, we will get them for our readers if they order; but we wish definite orders. They will probably cost not less than $1.00 each. They may possibly cost more. We will not purchase if the price is exorbitant, nor do we wish to carry a stock of them ourselves; but we will order for others if desired.

Books Shipped to Burma

By Editor

Our first shipment of books was sent to far-away Burma the 24th of July, shipped to the superintendent of our mission there, Pastor H. H. Votaw. The shipment consisted of various publications, amounting in all to about one half ton. So our work is spreading to the farther parts of the earth.

Automobile Explosion Starts Forest Fire

One of the great forest fires in the vicinity of Redding, California, was started by the explosion of an automobile, which scattered blazing oil into the forest.

Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, California