p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 16. (4/26/1910)

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Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter VIII. From Egypt to Nazareth

MEANWHILE the carpenter of Nazareth still abode in Egypt. The lavish and generous gifts of the Eastern princes had made this long journey possible, and contributed to the support of the heaven-blessed family while in a land of strangers.

One glad night while Joseph slept under Egyptian skies, the angel once more spoke to him, and on the morrow Joseph made known to Mary the import of the heavenly message:

"See, my Mary, we be again appointed to return homeward; for in the visions of the night I saw the angel; and he said unto me, 'Arise, Joseph, take the young Child and His mother, and go again into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young Child's life.' Shall we go again into Judea?"

"Verily; and into the city of Bethlehem if it pleaseth thee?"

Finally in their journey they had passed the land of Simeon and entered the borders of Judea.

"Art thou weary, my Mary? See, the Babe sleepeth soundly. The sun dippeth his broad shield deep into the waters of the Great Sea. Yonder are the mountains of Judah. Our journey draweth near its close, — and blessed be the God of our fathers."

"But look ye, mine husband, we be scarcely two days' journey from Jerusalem, and we know not who succeedeth Herod as king. Come; yonder lieth the city of Beersheba; let us rest until the morning."

That night as they ate their humble meal prepared for them by Reuben, their kindly host, the man questioned, turning toward Joseph:

"Thou hast traveled far with this thy daughter," he began; "from whence camest thou, and whither goest thou, my brother?"

"The woman is indeed my wife," replied Joseph proudly, glancing at the young woman, "and we are come from Egypt, from the city of Heliopolis. To-morrow, if the Lord wills, we journey on toward Bethlehem."

"Toward Bethlehem!" exclaimed Adah, the wife of Reuben. "Verily ye have not heard what King Herod hath done in Bethlehem!"

"But Herod is dead," replied Joseph. "Yes; but of a truth he lived long enough to cause every male infant in Bethlehem to be slain, according to his word."

The face of the young mother turned white as marble, and she pressed her Babe closer in her arms. The delicate head bent lower until the waves of shining hair fell over her brow, while the violet eyes glanced timidly upward, with a frightened, appealing gaze, like that of the forest fawn, hiding from the hunter.

"How beautiful — how beautiful she is!" whispered Adah; "and the Child — how wondrously beautiful! I shall never forget the face of the woman."

"Who reigneth in the room of Herod, if thou knowest?" asked Joseph, uneasily, after they had listened to a description of the horrors of the massacre, from the lips of Adah.

"Archelaus, the son of Herod, doth reign," replied Reuben; "and much I fear he hath the temper of his father."

The next morning, the guests of Reuben made an early departure. But instead of passing north, through the country of Judea, as they had intended, they made their way in a somewhat more zigzag course, toward Nazareth of Galilee.

Nazareth — "the watched and guarded one." Completely shut in by a natural guard of some thirteen mountains of white and gray limestone, the quiet village lies in the valley of green, — itself an elevated plateau. The contrast between the white hills, which form the background from every direction, and the spring-time verdure of the valley, is very effective. Everywhere the landscape is dotted with brilliant flowers. The red of the anemone and the white and yellow of the rock-roses blend beautifully with the pink of the phlox and the yellow of the wild marigolds.

The rough mountain road, little better than a donkey path, approaches the village from the south.

At a little distance is the natural fountain upon which the simple villagers depend for their daily supply of pure water. Here gather the women, young and old, with their rude water-jars; while cattle and donkeys quench their thirst at the troughs scattered conveniently about. In every direction are gardens of figs and almonds, and orchards of pomegranates and oranges, while the trees and hedges of cactus are alive with song-birds.

Into this quaint little village, with its flat-roofed limestone houses and its narrow, winding streets, tramps a little procession from the south, at the close of one bright day: a tall, dignified-appearing man somewhat beyond the prime of life, and a beautiful woman, hardly past the first flash of maidenhood, seated upon the humble animal which has borne them all the long journey from the land of the Pharaohs.

In the arms of the woman lies a sweet Babe, to worship at whose infant feet journeyed the wisest princes of the East; for whom sang the angel choir over the hills of Bethlehem; and for whose sake the cries of the weeping Rachel echoed in the ears of the prophet.

Ah, it is that Babe upon the success of whose tremendous and mysterious mission depends the eternal weal or wo of every son and daughter of Adam.

And here, gentle reader, we will leave them, while the flowers of a dozen spring-times lift their heads and again wither and die upon the mountains of Galilee.

(To be continued)

Result of German Rationalism

Buddha or Christ

It is stated that there are about 250,000 Buddhists in Germany alone, and that the majority of them belong to the so-called cultured classes. The Reformation, a German magazine, says: "In Leipsic is a Buddhistic missionary institute with eleven itinerant 'preachers.' In Munich a circle of members of the nobility gather on the evening of every Sunday to engage in the heathen worship of Buddha. The gospel of self-atonement is being proclaimed, and captivated a prominent theologian of the modern school so that he set the crumbs of Indian philosophy before his congregation during eleven years. Francis Hartman, a German savant, who has spent eleven years in Buddhistic cloisters in India, cries out, 'Holy Buddha, we are at thy feet in Germany also.' It is a terrible fact. Among the noble and cultured this heathenism has its zealous followers, who spend immense sums for its spread. In Paris a German baron gave $125,000 for Buddhistic missionary work."—Detroit News Tribune.

Morning

By Mary Valliant Nowlin

BEHOLD the flashing of the light Athwart the eastern heaven. Its radiance spreads afar. The night Drops her sable robe, driven To the confines of her place, And morning smiles on nature's face.

The sky turns crimson gold. The stars Fast melt in the molten sea, And the calm day through golden bars Now advances lovingly. Pulsing life is felt anew, Thrilling nature through and through.

And as I watch the new-born day Lighting earth and sea and sky, My soul looks up; not far away Will greet my gazing, raptured eye, The coming of that other morn— Eternity's long-looked-for dawn.

Come quickly, morn of morns, O come; Long and dark has been the night; I, like a wanderer far from home, Will greet thy coming with delight— The healing day approaching near, Joy-laden, heavenly, and clear.

O in that morn of morns I'll sing No feeble song as I do now. Untrammeled then, my praise shall ring— The victor's crown upon my brow— For Him who saved me by His grace, When I shall see Him face to face.

Takoma Park, D. C.

The Secret

By John Greenleaf Whittier

THE riddle of the world is understood Only by him who feels that God is good, As only he can feel who makes his love The ladder of his faith, and climbs above On th' rounds of his best instincts; draws no line Between mere human goodness and divine, But, judging God by what in him is best, With a child's trust leans on a Father's breast. —Whittier.

The Missionary Idea

By Mrs. A. E. Ellis

BY MRS. A. E. ELLIS

THIS little volume aims to be a suggestive help to every missionary worker whose heart has been touched with a sense of the world's need.

Part One is designed to stimulate a healthy interest in missionary work, both "Home" and "Foreign." Each of the 16 subjects is arranged in the form of a "Lesson" with carefully prepared questions.

Part Two consists of contributed, selected, and arranged matter which, besides its inspiring character, will suggest to the thoughtful reader ways in which missionary information may constantly be gathered and missionary sentiment encouraged.

Part Three gives an outline of the work done in mission fields since 1874, with a brief history of each mission and outline map of the more important.

317 pages in two handsome bindings. Paper covers 50c.

Cloth bound $1.00, post-paid

Pacific Press Publishing Association

Mountain View, California

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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

By R. A. Underwood

In the Light of Reason and Revelation

BY R. A. UNDERWOOD

EVERY one who has any question as to the truth or falsity of the doctrines of Christian Science, in fact, every seeker after truth and light, should give this pamphlet a careful reading.

Fifty pages, printed on fine eggshell paper, with attractive colored cover. Issued as No. 197 Bible Students' Library. Price, post-paid, ten cents.

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LIBERTY

THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BUREAU

AN illustrated, 48-page, quarterly magazine, published as an exponent and advocate of true religious liberty; defending Christianity and the rights of conscience; upholding the Bible as the infallible word of God; recognizing the church and state as ordained of Heaven for specific and distinct purposes, but vigorously protesting against the alliance of the church with the state in the attempt to advance religion and to promote the state.

Price 25 cents per year. Liberal terms to agents.

Address, LIBERTY, Takoma Park, D. C.

Life and Health

By Editor

A PRACTICAL health journal, published with a view of meeting hygienic needs in every home; teaching how to care for the health and how to preserve life; prescribing simple home treatments to assist nature in throwing off diseases rather than adding more poison by using drugs or unnatural stimulants as remedies: teaching how to avoid disease as far as possible, how to manage in the home when sickness does come, and how to combat the disease by simple remedies which nature provides.

Send for sample copy and special rates to agents. Price 10 cents per copy or $1.00 per year.

Address, LIFE & HEALTH, Takoma Park, D.C.

A Dollar Bible

By Editor

For the Children

Our Dollar Bible is an old favorite with the little folks because it is so neatly bound in light leather, and is only 5 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches in size and less than an inch thick. The type however is a clear Pearl and it contains marginal references the same as a regular $8.00 Teachers' Bible. It also contains a Self-Pronouncing Dictionary of Proper Names, which is very helpful for older folks as well as for the children, together with Harmony of the Gospels, Maps, and Index to same. Price post-paid in a neat box, $1.00.

A Dainty Bible

By Editor

For the Little Girl

Perhaps you are looking for something especially nice for that little girl of yours; if so let us tell you about our "Dainty Bible for the Little Girl." It is a new bold-faced Pearl type printed on thin India Oxford Bible paper is only five-eighths of an inch thin. This paper is the same as is sold in the most expensive Oxford Bibles and you can hardly wear it out. It is bound in leather with overlapping edges, contains a nice series of maps and has marginal references. Post-paid in box, $1.80.

Name in gold on outside cover of either Bible, 25 cents extra.

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For Church-Schools

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66 Copies Left

By Editor

So far as we know these sixty-six copies of "Life Sketches of Elder James White and Wife" are all there are obtainable. While they last they will be sent post-paid at the regular rate of $1.25.

Address this office.

Do You Know "Uncle Ben"?

By Editor

Every little child in the country who has ever read any of "Uncle Ben's" good stories about his "Cobblestones" and his "Gold Mine" will be rejoiced to know that he has already begun another interesting series in "Our Little Friend"—this time about his "Cloverfield."

Would you like to hear some more about "that boy Tom," and about "Neighbor Roberts and little Maggie"? Would you like to hear about "little Gracie and her teacher Miss May"? Would you like to hear some interesting stories about that tiniest of birds—the wonderful little humming-bird, and stories about the busy, buzzing bee?

"Uncle Ben" will tell you all about these in his interesting series "Uncle Ben's Cloverfield." These stories began April 1. We will furnish back numbers if orders are received at once.

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DATE OF EXPIRATION

By C. H. Jones, Circulation Manager

The SIGNS wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date.

If herewith is an order-blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often can not be furnished.

C. H. Jones, Circulation Manager.

Roosevelt’s Counsel to Young Men

By Editor

Colonel Roosevelt said some excellent things before the University of Egypt, entirely apart from the political bearing which they had upon the country. We would like to commend the following to aspiring young men: "No man may reach the front rank who is not intelligent and not trained with intelligence. Mere intelligence itself is worse than useless unless it is guided by an upright heart with strength and courage behind it. Morality, decency, clean living, courage, manliness, and self-respect are more important than mental subtlety." "You can no more make a man really educated by giving him a certain curriculum of studies than you can make people fit for self-government by giving them a paper constitution."

Next Week our East Indian correspondent will tell us of some of the rapid and great changes which are taking place in troubled, restless India.

The Uncertainty of Eyewitnesses

Sometimes direct testimony is the most uncertain of all, while circumstantial evidence is the clearest. Professor McKeever of Kansas State Agricultural College, trained three young men to effect a hold-up while he was delivering a lecture, carefully rehearsing every word they were to say. In the midst of his lecture in rushed Jones, pointed a wrench at his pursuers, Smith and White, shouting, "Stop! I will shoot!" He then dropped to his knees, let fall a small bag, and dashed from the room. At his heels followed the other two students, calling on him to give up the bag, while White aimed at the fugitive a revolver from which the cylinder had been removed. The whole scene lasted but a few seconds, and then Professor McKeever explained his experiment to the frightened class, and asked each member of the class to write an account of what happened. It is said that if Smith had been on trial, it would have gone hard with him, for many declared that he snapped his revolver at Jones several times, whereas he had nothing in his hands whatever. White, the student who was really armed, was scarcely noticed, not one of the answers crediting him with carrying a revolver; and a great many different accounts were given of the personal appearance of the hold-up men and the words which they said. All of which, as one paper points out, shows how dangerous it is to rely on the human eye and the human mind when in a state of excitement.

The Billionaire Train

On the 25th of March a train left Pasadena expecting to arrive in New York April 1, called the "Billionaire Train," containing the Goulds, Mrs. Russel Sage, Andrew Carnegie, W. Seward Webb, and others. Such a train as that ought not to be possible in a democratic country with the mighty needs of humanity before us as at the present.

Peace Is Not a Feeling

Peace is not a feeling. Peace with God is not the settling down in content on your own course of action. It is the result of a definite act of absolute surrender on your part. God is not at war with you. He wishes peace. He gave Jesus Christ that He might be "our peace." But true peace, the peace of righteousness, the peace of true character-building, the peace worthy to persist to all eternity, is the peace which recognizes God's sovereignty, the holiness of His law, the immutability of His moral government. That is the peace which Christ brings, and, O soul, it is a blessed peace to possess. It is yours by surrender to Infinite Goodness.

Earth — World

SERIOUS errors often result from a misunderstanding of the Bible use of the above terms. Let us endeavor to make them clear to our readers.

In the Old Testament, the word "earth" comes from two different words, erets, and adamah; the first from a root meaning firm, and from that referring to earth, land, ground, and by extension, the people who inhabit the earth. For examples of its use see Gen. 1:1; Ps. 104:5, 9; Isa. 45:18; Ps. 96:1. The second Hebrew word is from the same root as "Adam." It means ground, land, earth.

In the New Testament the word "earth" comes from ge, meaning soil; by extension, land, country, earth; equivalent to the Old Testament erets. See Acts 14:15; 17:24, 26; Rev. 21:1.

"World" in the Old Testament comes (1) from erets as noted above (See Isa. 23:17); (2) from holam, a period of time hidden or veiled in beginning or ending; sometimes eternity; (3) from tebel, the earth as inhabited, or a part of it, and by implication, its inhabitants; (4) from cheled, from a root meaning to fly swiftly, temporary, transitory. Ps. 17:14.

"World" in the New Testament comes from three words largely: (1) Kosmos, orderly arrangement, beauty, as opposed to chaos; the world in a wide or narrow sense including its inhabitants. See Matt. 4:8; 25:34; 2 Peter 3:6, and many other passages. (2) Oikoumene, meaning land, earth, globe, including the people. Heb. 1:6; Rev. 12:9. (3) Aion, which means age, course; sometimes eternity; parallel to Hebrew holam. Matt. 13:39; 28:20; Heb. 1:2; 11:3 are instances of its use.

The Scriptures do not teach that the earth will pass away. In fact we are told emphatically, "The earth abideth forever" (Eccl. 1:4); that God made it "not in vain," but "formed it to be inhabited," and His purpose can not be thwarted. Isa. 45:18. But the world, the present condition of things, the cosmos that now is, will pass away. The age will give way to another, but the earth will come forth in that glorious coming age beyond the millennium transformed by the power of God, a new heaven and a new earth. So that the world in the sense of age will come to an end. These thoughts may help us in the understanding of the expression "the end of the world."

Give Me Thy Heart

God does not ask from His children of earth fulness of knowledge or infinite wisdom. He knows and appreciates their limitations. But He does ask what all may give, the whole heart, a faithful heart. "Son, give Me thy heart." Why not? Surely He is able to keep that which is committed to Him.

German Coal Strike

It is said that as soon as arrangements can be made, a great coal strike will take place in Germany which will sweep over the entire empire. This is planned by the Socialists. Shorter hours and better wages are demanded. Such a strike as that will paralyze all the industrial life of the country.

The 1910 United States Census

By Editor

The United States census of 1910 will begin April 15. The census enumerators will wear badges with "U. S. Census 1910" stamped upon them. When these with their badges come to a house, asking questions, they ought to be answered fully, because they are bound to give no information to any other parties save the United States Government, and this information is simply and solely to obtain facts. The questions asked are only those necessary to fill the schedules which are required by law, and the Government declares that in that official statement, "Nothing that is told him can in any way be used to the detriment or damage of any person, or his family, or his property."

Christians and the Sabbath

By Editor

A correspondent has sent us a little pamphlet entitled, "Ought Christians to Keep the Sabbath?" by R. A. Torrey. Mr. Torrey's conclusion is that the Christian should not keep the Sabbath. He probably would not admit that, and yet he would utterly do away with the Bible Sabbath. Wherever his pamphlet is circulated, we know of no better way to antidote its antinomian poison, which of course Mr. Torrey does not mean it to be, than with the tract by C. H. Edwards entitled "The Bible or Tradition? Dr. Torrey and the Sabbath. A Review," No. 193 Bible Students' Library, price two cents each. We hope that those who have read Mr. Torrey's little pamphlet will read what Mr. Edwards has to say on the matter. A vast difference will be seen in both the spirit and the argument of the two.

The Laymen’s Missionary Movement

By Editor

We are grateful to Mr. J. Campbell White, general secretary of the Laymen's Missionary Movement, the headquarters of which is 1 Madison Avenue, New York, for an advance copy of the program of the congress to be held in Chicago May 3 to 6. We have not space to publish the program, but it covers a large scope and takes in the world. Its aim is to enlist not ministers, but the church — the members of the church. This movement is taking on large proportions. We pray that God may guide it aright. Any movement whatsoever that arouses the true missionary spirit in all hearts, ought to awaken deep gratitude within the heart of every true Christian; and so Christians ought to pray that God may guide aright this movement, that the great laymen's organization may see not only the need of the world, but the true remedy — the simple Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bryan’s Reasons Against Darwinism

By Editor

Mr. Bryan's reasons for not accepting Darwinism, as given on page 6, may not appeal to you, reader, but it seems to us they are saturated with common sense. One naturally feels like doing honor to his ancestors; and if one had his choice it would seem that he would prefer God to a monkey.

Halley’s Comet

By Editor

Read "Halley's Comet" on page 10 if you wish the latest and best.

Busy Man’s Corner

By Editor

We hope to begin our "Busy Man's Corner" next week.