"Jehovah came from Sinai; . . . from His right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, He loved the people." Deut. 33:2, 3
"Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart." Deut. 6:4-6
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Lev. 19:18
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt. 22:36-40
"The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:7, 8
"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but My salvation shall be forever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law: fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but My righteousness shall be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation." Isa. 51:6-8
"My tongue shall speak of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172
"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth." Ps. 119:142
"Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them forever." Ps. 119:152
"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips." Ps. 89:34
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Prov. 6:23
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:13, 14
Of Christ: "I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:7, 8
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." John 14:10
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:17, 18
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17
"If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love." John 15:10
"Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14
"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." 1 John 3:4, 5
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law." Rom. 3:31
"Thou shalt call His name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21
"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:13
"If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well; but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:8-12
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Gal. 6:15
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Gal. 5:6
"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God." 1 Cor. 7:19
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12
"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14
"He that saith he abideth in Him [Christ] ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6
"It is time for Thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void Thy law. Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold." Ps. 119:126, 127
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3
THE TEN WORDS
Exodus 20:1-17
And God spake all these words, saying:
I
I am Jehovah thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
II
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
III
Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.
IV
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
V
Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
VI
Thou shalt not kill.
VII
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
VIII
Thou shalt not steal.
IX
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
X
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's.
World's Student Christian Federation Conference
By F. W. Field
From Our Own Correspondent
Temple, Neno Park, Tokyo
Old Feudal Castle, Nogoya
THE World's Student Christian Federation held its sixth conference at Tokyo, Japan, April 3-7. This organization is an alliance of the national student movements of the principal countries of Europe, the United States, Australasia, South Africa, India, China, and Japan. The total membership is now reported to be 113,000. Of the five conferences previously held, one was held in the United States, and the others in different countries of Europe.
The Tokyo conference was truly a representative gathering, yet at the same time it was distinctly Oriental. About 170 delegates were present from abroad, and of these over half were from Asia. The Japanese delegates numbered 330, making a round 500 in all. Among the leading delegates from abroad may be mentioned the following: Dr. Carl Fries of Sweden, Chairman of the conference; Mr. John R. Mott, General Secretary; Professor Beach of Yale College; Professor Bosworth of Oberlin; President Chas. Cuthbert Hall of Chicago; Professor Macalister of Cambridge, England; Sir Alex. Simpson of Edinburgh University; Count de Portales of Paris; and V. S. Azariah and Sherwood Eddy, National Secretaries for India.
The regular sessions of the conference were held in the auditorium of the Tokyo Y. M. C. A. Hall. At the opening meeting preliminary addresses were given by the chairman, and by Vice-president Honda of Tokyo, in which the work of the conference was outlined. Then followed a devotional season, a number of delegates offering prayer, each in his own language. The meeting closed with a hymn sung in French, German, English, Chinese, Korean, Siamese, and other languages,—a Babel of sound to the ear, yet a unity of sentiment in full harmony with the motto over the rostrum,—"Unum in Christo."
During the conference various topics relating to the extension of the work of the Federation were considered. Among these the following are worthy of special notice. The topic, "Enlisting Students in the Extension of Christ's Kingdom," was treated as a symposium. Mr. Sherwood Eddy gave an address on the subject, "Appeal to the Heroic and Self-sacrificing." Prof. Bosworth delivered a stirring oration on "Jesus Christ Our Lord." Professor Macalister gave two addresses on the subject, "The Scientific Attitude toward Christianity."
Topics Discussed.
"The Progress and Place of Christianity in the Life of Great Nations and Peoples," was spoken to by delegates representing the various great nations of the world. Mr. Theophilus Mann spoke for Germany. In defining Christianity he drew a clear distinction between the religion of Jesus Christ as set forth in the New Testament, and what he termed the modern Christianity of Harnack and other German scholars. Mr. Frank Lenwood of Oxford, speaking on the same topic, declared that England is not yet a Christian nation. "There is still the awful presence of immorality in its grosser forms, indifference and materialism, and even in the church, quarreling and uncertainty as to the Gospel."
All this is doubtless true; but if England is not yet a Christian nation, where shall one be found? Where is the nation in which these conditions do not exist? Let the National Reformers of the United States reply. Yet Mr. Lenwood spoke hopefully of the influence of Christianity in England. And well he might; for the Gospel of Christ is the only hope of sin-cursed humanity, not however in the aggregate as nations, but as individuals who feel their need of its provisions, and are willing to accept its conditions.
Baron Nicolay of Russia set forth the truth of the Gospel very clearly in the following earnest words: "Every Christian must make a constant study of the Bible to keep free from error and superstition. But knowledge is not enough. We may know our Bibles and still be lifeless. What we need is the vivifying, direct touch on our lives. God speaks to us through our Bibles. But we must be receptive. The study of the Bible sharpens our conscience. Even a Christian becomes dull if not on the alert. We must be forgiving, charitable, honest. The Bible corrects our angle of vision, our idea of God, our view of religion, our estimate of ourselves. He is able to do for us exceedingly above what we ask."
It would be impossible to give a detailed account of the whole conference within the limits of one brief article. Forenoon, afternoon, and evening sessions were held, and the carefully arranged program was well carried out in all its details.
Various Meetings.
The Y. M. C. A. auditorium being able to accommodate only the regular delegates, auxiliary meetings were held in various parts of the city for the benefit of the many students of Tokyo, and of others interested in Christian work. These meetings were attended and addressed by leading delegates from the conference. The evangelistic meetings for students were held every evening during the conference, and were well attended. At 3.00 p. m. each day addresses in English were given at the Kudan M. E. Church. At one of these meetings the speaker was the Hon. Yung Chi Ho of Korea. Mr. Yung was formerly Minister for Foreign Affairs in his native country, but has abandoned politics for Christian educational work. In his address he spoke of the great need of education in Korea, and of the plans and prospects for the future. At another meeting Mr. J. N. Farquhar of Calcutta spoke of the work that has already been done toward the evangelization of India, especially along educational lines; and of the obstacles to the introduction of Christianity in that caste-ridden country. At the same meeting an intelligent and highly educated young woman, a native of India, told of the condition of the women of her country, and of the efforts being made for their advancement. All these addresses were interesting and instructive, and should tend to draw the hearts of Christian workers into closer sympathy, as they understand better the peculiar difficulties met in the different fields.
The two weeks following the conference were devoted to a student evangelistic movement in twenty-five or thirty of the principal educational centers of Japan. The aim of this movement is announced to be "not only to draw general attention to the message of Christ, but to help to bring to open confession of Him those who have long been under instruction." Deputations of the foreign delegates of the conference, and the best obtainable Christian workers in Japan, were detailed to carry out this movement, spending one, two, or more days in a place. There are no available reports of the results of this movement at this writing, but the writer had the privilege of attending several of the meetings held at Kobe, and observed that a good degree of interest was shown, as manifested by crowded halls and earnest attention to the word spoken.
Far-Reaching Effects.
No doubt this World's Conference, the first international gathering ever held in Japan, will produce far-reaching effects. And we share the hope of its promoters that much good will result in furthering the kingdom of Christ in the hearts of the Japanese people. But there were indications during the conference that more than one wave of influence was set in motion or accelerated. There is good reason to believe that the attitude of many Japanese toward Christianity is precisely the same as their attitude toward Western civilization. In the words of a close observer who recently visited Japan: "It is still a debatable question just how far genuine Christianity has entered into Japanese life, and to what extent the outward form has been11adopted as a part of the advanced civilization of the Western world. There is certainly the greatest danger lest the Gospel should be looked upon as one of the steps toward national greatness, and be received from a desire to be like the so-called Christian nations."
That this danger is very real, the following circumstances in connection with the recent World's Conference will plainly show. In harmony with the time-honored custom of the West, many persons of prominence sent messages of congratulation to the conference. Among these were King Edward of England, President Roosevelt, and King Haakon of Norway. And in order to be in harmony with this Western way of doing things, several high Japanese officials did the same. Viscount Hayashi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a letter addressed to Chairman Fries, expressed his confidence that "your efforts in the cause of ethics and enlightenment will make for the betterment of humanity at large." Mr. Makino, Minister of Education, expressed the wish that the "grand conception to improve the moral well-being of the youth of the whole world, that is, the moral advancement of the future of the human race, will be crowned with full success."
The evident desire of noted Japanese to be on good terms with these leading Christian educators of the world was further shown by the elaborate social functions held for the entertainment of the foreign delegates of the conference. The first of these was a reception given to over two hundred of the delegates by Viscount and Viscountess Hayashi, at the official residence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. On the following day a reception was given the foreign delegates by prominent citizens of Tokyo. On this occasion, Baron Shibusawa, prominent in Japanese financial circles, read an address of welcome, in which he expressed the hope "that a gathering of this kind may be fruitful of vast and far-reaching results in bringing closer together the East and the West, and in bringing about the permanent peace of the world."
Low Ideals.
It is not to be wondered at that these Japanese statesmen and financiers, who make no profession of Christianity, should have no higher idea of its mission. But it is a cause of painful surprise that some professed Christians seem to have the same low ideal of the faith they avow. Even some of the speakers at the conference showed their lack of clear spiritual vision in comprehending the true nature and mission of Christianity. Mr. Tsunetsuru Miyagawa, a Japanese delegate, is reported to have said in an address given before the conference, that "there has been in Japan a collapse of moral principles, consequent upon the introduction of material civilization. At the critical moment, a few students at Sapporo and Kunamoto discovered that civilization can be reconciled with moral uprightness by means of Christianity. The amalgamation of the Christian spirit with the principles of Bushido forms the foundation of present Japan." When it is understood that Bushido is the comprehensive Japanese term for the spirit or code of the old feudal system of Japan, the full significance of this remarkable statement is seen. Yet we must not throw the whole responsibility for such teaching upon the Japanese. It is the legitimate fruit of World's Congresses of Religions, National Reform propaganda, and the like. But there are still grand opportunities, in Japan as elsewhere, for all who know the power of the Gospel in their own hearts and lives, and who will make no compromise with the specious errors of the world.
F. W. FIELD.
Tokyo, Japan.
Spiritual Declension.
By Editor
IN another column will be found an article on "The Religious World," in which the backslidden condition of the churches is affirmed as a state of things known to all. Much might have been quoted in confirmation of the statement, but the writer did not deem it necessary. We, however, present a view here from the editor of the Western Christian Advocate (Methodist Episcopal), of May 19, 1893, published in Cincinnati:
"The class-books [of the church] are filled with names of unconverted men and women. Official members may be found in box, dress circle, and parquet of opera and theater. Communicants take in the races, and give and attend card parties and dances. The distinction between inside and outside is so obscure that men smile when asked to unite with the church, and sometimes tell us they find the best men outside. . . . The enforcement of the unmistakable letter of the Discipline for a single year would cut our membership in half, bankrupt our missionary society, close our fashionable churches, paralyze our connectional interests, and leave our pastors and bishops unpaid and in distress. But the fact remains that one of two things must happen,—the Discipline must purge the church, or God's Holy Spirit will seek other organized agencies. The ax is laid at the root of the tree. The call is to repentance. God's work must be done. If we are in the way, He will remove us."
We prefer Bishop Moore's statement to our own. We can not believe that the Methodist Church is worse than others. The spiritual declension is general, and is a sign that Christ's coming is near. We are "in the last days." 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 24:12-14.
A Wrong Conception.
Father D. S. Phelan, editor of the Western Watchman, in a recent sermon said, "The Reformation stripped the temples of God of all their beauty of architecture and poetry of worship. Where there is no beauty and no poetry there God is not. They abolished saints and fast days and destroyed all symbolism and idealism in religion." Evidently Father Phelan's early education prevents him from seeing the one great truth that what God desires is beauty of character—beauty in souls, and not mere architectural beauty. Greece is an example of the age when the vilest kind of morals flourished, where there was the most of beauty of architecture and poetry and art. On the other hand it has ever been true that when God's people were nearest to Him there was the least of its outward expression in mere stone and wood. When God brought Israel out from the land of Egypt under Moses there was little, if any, manifestation of art, but certain great characters shone out like stars in wonderful beauty. At the very time when Solomon was giving wonderful expression in grand and elaborately ornamental edifices for the worship of God and other things, he was sinking into idolatry. When the church was reformed thru Hezekiah and Josiah, the idolatrous temples were thrown down and God Himself was recognized. So it was when the Lord Jesus Christ came; neither Samaritan temple nor Jewish temple was necessary to the true worship of God, but wherever the true heart was found. Men have builded mighty and costly and elaborate structures to the name of Peter and John and Paul, but these great soldiers of God reached the very height of their faith and devotion under the greatest and sorest of trials, knowing nothing of the outward beauty of cold stone or marble save as they saw it in temples upon which God had written "Ichabod;" but it was in the life and the transformed character of man, yea, of one Man, more precious in God's sight than all the cathedrals and churches in Christendom.
Lands Released from Temporary Withdrawal in the National Forest.
[Forest Service, Washington, D. C.]
TRACTS of land aggregating nearly one million acres in the National Forests in Washington, Oregon, California, and Wyoming have just been released from temporary withdrawal by the Interior Department, at the request of the Forest Service. This action has been taken in order to readjust the boundaries of the National Forests so as to include only land chiefly valuable for forest purposes. The tracts just released in the States named will be open to settlement late in July and to entry a month later. In the last two months tracts aggregating nearly three million acres have been released at the request of the Forest Service.
The releases which have just been made include 133,120 acres of land adjacent to the San Jacinto National Forest, San Diego County, California; 247,280 acres adjoining the Washington National Forest, Washington; 98,560 acres adjacent to the Mt. Rainier National Forest in Cowlitz, Clarke, and Skamania Counties, Washington; 28,440 acres from the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming and Colorado, and 478,760 acres adjacent to the Cascade and Heppner National Forests in Morrow, Umatilla, and Grant Counties, Oregon.
During the past winter and spring the Forest Service has had a force of men in the field readjusting the boundaries of the National Forests, and in accordance with the policy of the Forest Service, all land which is suitable for other purposes is now being excluded.
Scattered all through the National Forests are many agricultural lands, mostly small and narrow and more or less isolated so that their elimination is impracticable. Settlement is encouraged in these lands, which are open to homesteaders under the Act of June 11, 1906. This act provides for the homesteading of agricultural lands in the National Forests and is being generally taken advantage of for that purpose. Stockmen and ranchers are not slow in realizing the benefits of residence in National Forests, and in many cases petitions have been received by the Forest Service for further extension of their area. This, however, the Service is careful not to do unless it can be shown that the land is chiefly valuable for forest or protection purposes.
Train Wreck in Portugal
Seven persons were killed and twenty-one injured in a train wreck near Sibola, Portugal, May 25, the train being derailed.
The World's Cry for Peace.
By John S. Wightman
THE Second Peace Conference at The Hague, beginning June 15, will be THE WORLD'S FIRST AUTHORITATIVE UNIVERSAL CRY FOR PEACE. Reader, make no mistake! It is a stupendous and significant sign in the earth OF THE COMING OF CHRIST AND THE END OF THE WORLD! Not upon the far-away horizon, dim and distant, but here, in the midst of us, emblazoned upon the spires and minarets of the MOUNTAIN-TOPS of the nations, saying, "PEACE, PEACE, WHEN THERE IS NO PEACE." Forty-six nations will engage in the diplomatic struggle for arbitration, disarmament, and justice! For the abolition of war! But how futile are these hopes. Mighty preparations for war go on. Gigantic expenditures for battle-ships proceed. Battalions continue to drill. Torpedo boats are multiplied. Engines of destruction take a longer stride in power and death-dealing efficiency. The heathen and the Gentile "awake" for the last great battle of Armageddon. Isaiah's divine pencil, 2,700 years ago, limned the great picture now before us, and a lonely prisoner upon the rock-ribbed Isle of Patmos nineteen centuries ago, in vision, saw the nations of to-day engaged in a world-battle for supremacy! And, ah, sad as it may seem, the United States entangled in the diplomatic snare, and made to sit as a queen at the head of the banquet board of death and fierce destruction. Spirits of demons are hurrying on the nations and the preparations for universal slaughter, while lying spirits, false prophets, deceivers, and workers of iniquity, are lulling the people to a false sense of carnal security! "A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation." One bright star, one alone—shining brightly in the blackness of the night—serves as a beacon-light to the Christian's hope just beyond, THE GREAT DAY OF GOD, THE HARVEST WHICH IS "THE END OF THE WORLD," THE COMING OF JESUS IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN. "Awake, thou that sleepest"—"Awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand."—JESUS OF NAZARETH IS COMING AGAIN!
