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Signs of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 21.

Editorial
Earlier text: CALIFORNIA CAMP-MEETING NOTES

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The Bible

and
Its Story
By Josephine Pollard
This volume has been published to assist parents, guardians, and teachers in the religious instruction of those under their charge, by enabling them to place in their hands a book which would reverently tell the Bible story. The one object that has been kept steadily in view throughout its preparation, has been to present a connected narrative of the sacred events, consecutively arranged in the order of their occurrence. The book contains 558 pages, with 280 illustrations. PRICE, Cloth, $1.00.
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WILL FIND THAT THE FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE

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From Chicago to Eastern Points are Unexcelled
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CHAS. M. HAYS, Gen. Manager, Montreal
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CHRIST

AND

HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS

BY E. J. WAGGONER.
The above is the title of a new pamphlet just issued in the Bible Students' Library.
There has been a demand for a treatise of this kind and we are much pleased to announce this new publication.
The following is a brief synopsis of the contents: How Shall We Consider Christ? Is Christ God? Christ as Creator, Is Christ a Created Being? God Manifest in the Flesh, Important Practical Lessons, Christ the Lawgiver, The Righteousness of God, The Lord Our Righteousness, Acceptance with God, The Victory of Faith, Bond Servants and Freemen, Practical Illustrations of Deliverance from Bondage.
Issued as No. 72 of the Bible Students' Library. Price, 15 cents. Order of any State Tract Society, or

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.,

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Apples of Gold Library

This little quarterly publication, especially designed as an auxiliary medium of conveying the truth in letter-writing, has, we believe, accomplished much good in this line. It can be enclosed in a No. 6 envelope without folding, and without additional postage, being only a leaflet of from four to sixteen pages. We recommend it as a very effective means of spreading the truth.
Thirty-six numbers of this library have already been issued, embracing a varied field of topics, from which one may choose according to what will be best adapted to each case. Among the latest issues we might mention the following:— Scripture Answers to Worldly Objections Seventh-Day Adventists and Their Work The Hope Set Before Us The True Church
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Publications on the Sabbath

THE LORD'S DAY, THE TEST OF THE AGES

Presents in the briefest, simplest manner a part of the Bible evidence concerning both sides of the Sabbath question. The subject is treated in a new and interesting way. Fully illustrated with diagrams and original illustrations. 128 pages, paper covers, just out, price 15 cents.

ABIDING SABBATH AND LORD'S DAY

A pointed review of two of the best recent productions for the defense of the Sunday sabbath. The best arguments in support of Sunday are undoubtedly presented in this book. 173 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

CHANGE OF THE SABBATH

A brief treatise answering the question so often asked, "Who Changed the Sabbath?" 218 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

A candid and thoroughly scriptural treatise on this important question. 96 pages, paper covers. Price 10 cents.

THE SABBATH AND THE LAW

This work covers the Sabbath institution from Eden created to Eden restored, and its arguments are clear and forcible and convincing. 192 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

THE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH

An exhaustive treatise on the Sabbath question, in which every passage in the Bible which has any connection with the Sabbath, either in the Old or New Testament, is examined at length. It is a veritable mine of information, both Biblical and Historical, on this subject. Three volumes, paper covers. Price $1.00 per set.
. . Send for Catalogue containing Price List of other . . Publications on this Subject.
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The Eastern Question and Prophecy

The Eastern Question seems to have changed a little in the last few weeks. It used to be, "What will become of the Turk?" or, "When will the Turk be driven out of Europe?" It seems now to be, "What will the Turk do next?" One report says: "The sultan openly declared he would not check his army until Dhomoko, on the old frontier, was in his possession. All Thessaly is his now beyond dispute, and he intends to retain it. Possession is much more than nine points of the law in diplomacy in Europe. Accordingly all the expressions of public opinion during the past few days have been unanimously against him. If mere words would drive him out, he would have to go, but few persons believe these will be of any avail. Nothing but force remains, and Europe is so mortally afraid of her own weapons she will submit to almost any indignity rather than use them." This is the present situation. There are yet more surprises in the Eastern Question to very many who think they know all about it before it is answered.
In the meantime the condition of one prophetic power is rapidly advancing to fulfilment, namely, the Papacy.

What Will Come.

Says a prominent advocate of Sunday laws: "Approached on any side a discussion of sabbath [Sunday] desecration opens up every living topic agitating the public mind." "In the Sunday question centers the problem of law enforcement and civic reform." We merely quote these words as the expression of a sentiment growingly prevalent among a religio-political class which "will not down." When we said some time ago that one of the absorbing questions in religious and political life would shortly be the Sunday question, people laughed at the idea. But we now see the beginning of the end. All the so-called "civic," "municipal," "Christian citizenship," and "temperance" reforms are more or less tied up with the Sunday-law question. Politicians who see its injustice yield to its pressure. Political parties make all sorts of promises to catch the Sunday-law vote, and the Sunday-law man pledges his candidate. How long will it be ere such methods force upon statute books a general Sunday law, hated by the very men who place it there, but who hope it will prove harmless? But place it there, and union of Church and State follows; Jesus Christ and his Gospel are forsaken for the gospel of force, and the State assumes the place of God over conscience, and becomes anti-christ.

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

Editorial. The Good Shepherd (notes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 2 The Everlasting Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3 Fallen Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Only a Shadow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Poetry. The Wreath of Laurel and the Crown of Gold . . . . . . . 5 The Length of a Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sowing and Reaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
General Articles. The Necessity of Faith, M. E. K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Office of the Spirit of God, H. F. PHELPS . . . . . 4 Going Before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Temptation—What Is It? MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . 5 Standard of Right, O. E. JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Better Come down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Jewish Customs and Traditions (The Day of Atonement), F. C. GILBERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Heroic Life-saving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Forgives like a Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Question Corner.—No. 576, Col. 2: 20-22—No. 577, Phil. 1: 23; 2 Tim. 4: 6—No. 578, Reporting Charity—No. 579, Braiding the Hair—No. 580, Revelation 16—No. 581, The Day of the Crucifixion—No. 582, Is It Spurious?—Rev. 20: 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The Outlook.—“Temperance” and “Christian,” W. N. G.—Sunday on Board a U. S. Man-of-war—Increase of Wickedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Fireside.—The Lord’s Money—Sophy, Baker’s Second Cousin, concluded—Watching . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10
Missions.—Missionary Work at Jammu, Cashmere—Village Schools and Scholars in India—Outlook in Burma—Our Work and Workers—California Camp-meeting Notes . . . . . 11, 12
International Sabbath-School Lesson.—Burial and Resurrection of Jesus (Lesson 11, Sabbath, June 12, 1897) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
International Sunday-School Lesson.—Paul’s Advice to Timothy (Lesson 11, Sunday, June 13, 1897) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
News and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Help Circulate the Signs

Reader, does not the SIGNS give you a vast amount of valuable and interesting instruction during the course of the year for one dollar? Every issue contains enough of God's precious truth to save a soul. Help us to pass it along. The times, the message it bears, the needs of millions of souls, call loudly that its circulation should be not 40,000, but 400,000. And why not?

Bible Readings for the Home Circle

WE are indebted for the cut on page 7, as well as for others we have used from time to time, to that most excellent book, which ought to be in every family, "Bible Readings for the Home Circle." Nearly all the great phases of Christian teaching and duty are covered by its instructions, almost wholly from the direct Bible text.

Representing God

GOD has placed us here not to represent ourselves nor others but to represent him. People will judge of God's goodness by his followers.

The Sunday Cause Is Weak

The California Sabbath Association, which, after all, is a Sunday association, held its annual meeting at the First Congregational Church in Oakland, May 18, 19. A brief report of its meetings may be given later. Suffice to say, its attendance was very small, not to exceed forty or fifty at the largest meetings. We understood that some of the members feared that the "weakness" of their cause, as represented by their number, would become known. But greatness or strength is not in God's work measured by human numbers; for one man alone with God is a host. The weakness of a religious cause is always inherent; if it is of God, it can not be overthrown. If it is not of God and truth, it will perish tho millions stand at its back.
The Sunday cause is essentially and inherently weak. It has numbers sufficient, but the men who answer to its shibboleth, do not themselves believe that it has intrinsic and God-given worth; if they do, it is an imagination of their own heart, or the instruction of their church or tradition; it is not a conviction founded in God's Word. In a way the Sunday movement will succeed, for God's Word says so; but it will be only seeming success, heralding utter and everlasting defeat, not only of Sunday, but of all who ally themselves with the institution in opposition to God. Jesus said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." The Sunday sabbath is not an institution of the Lord's planting.

Christian Carnivals

Christian Carnivals.—The city of Los Angeles, called so many times the City of the Angels, and "Christian city," because she has a municipal Sunday law, recently held a "fiesta," described by many as an olden-time Saturnalia. One of the papers of that city has the following note of the results of the orgies of the last night:—
"Stories continue to circulate of the scandalous occurrences of All Fools' Night. Dissipation on the part of men and women of good social standing was carried to a wretched excess. In the entrance of stores, in hallways, and on upper floors of restaurants, drunken men and women, young and old, masked and unmasked, lay sprawled out in a shocking manner, unconscious through the drink which they had acquired through their 'smartness' in visiting saloons."
Of course all this is of the earth, earthly, and it shows what is simply true, that the world is not Christian, nor is any State or city of it, except in name.

Good Counsel

Good Counsel.—In speaking of some overworked mental workers, the editor of the Christian Advocate, himself a student of health laws, gives the following good counsel, which some of our hard-worked readers might do well to appropriate:—
"The best of all rules is the equilibrium rule. If one overworks in any week, let him do as much less the next week as he has done more than he should have done; and, if possible, the same principle should be applied to successive days. It would be the physical and mental salvation of many brain workers if they would split wood about two hours a day. If the use of an ax on knots is too hard, let them split kindlings, and hold the kindling with one hand and the hatchet with the other. Under such circumstances, through fear of splitting a thumb or losing a finger, they will not be able to think of their last or their next sermon, or other taxing work."

The Cruelties of War.

They can not be pictured. No pen can portray them. They can only be felt and known by the accumulated experience of those who die, and those who remain to suffer, and those who suffer—the widows and orphans—because of those who die and who suffer. And yet it is a sad fact that some of the loudest clamors for war have come from the religious press and professed ministers of the Gospel of peace. Would they demand war if they had to do the fighting, if they were placed in "the forefront of the battle"? This demand for war is an evidence of the fierce spirit which is inspiring men everywhere. Men who repudiate prize-fights and bull-fights and cock-fights are hounding their fellow-men to battle, with the resultant widows and orphans and general impoverishment. Far from the scene of conflict men who may be reaping commercial advantage or gaining brief popularity in fanning the flame of human passion may laugh, but in the war-desolated countries strong men fall and groan and die, while women and children suffer. O, it is pitiful; and it is more pitiful to see the professed ambassadors of Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace, clamoring for war! It makes one long for the time when Christ shall reign over those who are willing that he should reign, and war shall forever cease. That will be true when Christ shall come.

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 one 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.

Christ, the Sinner’s Friend

THE Lord is no respecter of persons. He welcomes all. When here upon the earth, it was said by his enemies that he was “gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner,” and, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” A blessed life to merit such condemnation! Jesus Christ hated sin with all the strength of his blameless manhood, but he loved the sinner. He comes into their homes, he receives them when they come to him, he shares their troubles. He is the sinner's Friend. It is just as true to-day. Let no priestly cordon nor creed walls keep you back, brother sinner, from going to Jesus. The only court etiquet required to approach his throne is the humble heart of faith. He waits to welcome you with the kiss of pardon and the royal robe of righteousness.

Alcoholic Flavorings at Soda Fountains

A GROWING evil, says an exchange, is the use of alcoholic flavorings at soda-fountains. Under such names as "calisaya," and "creme de menthe," alcoholic liquor is given an innocent appearance. In other cases the forked tongue of the serpent is thrust out boldly in the name of the drink, as "sherry punch," "claret sangaree." The Central W. C. T. U. of Chicago has issued a warning, particularly to young girls, against the peril of these soda-fountain beverages, which create and nourish the appetite for something still worse. Let the same warning be heard in all our towns and cities.

You have reached the end of this edition.

Signs of the Times · May 27, 1897