In a measure it applied back to the time just before the ten-tribe kingdom fell. It is a type of the overweening covetousness and oppression of the last days. In fact, these things recorded of the past are types of the greater things to come. And the time God’s prophets forsook Israel, when they would no longer hear, and the nation was left without the Word of God, is typical of that time just before Christ comes, when there will be a famine in the land, “not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word the Lord.” The false prophets who cried peace will be confounded, and the true prophets will have done their work.
872. Feet-washing and Sunday-keeping.
Where do we obtain authority for feet-washing?
In the example and command of our Lord Himself. See John 13:1–17. “So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call Me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. . . . If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Verses 12–17. What would not many give to have as good evidence for Sunday observance? And if there were, we would gladly observe it. But even then, that would not abolish the Sabbath.
Read the context, verses 17 to 25. It is a picture of the inheritance of God’s people, contrasted with the earth as it now is. In that new heaven and earth “there shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days.” Age and youth will not then be reckoned as now; for all that will have passed away in the last period of judgment in the destruction of those who knew not God, who identified themselves with sin, mentioned in Rev. 20:4, 7–9, the “little season” (100 years?) when Satan deceives the risen host of the wicked, and they are finally destroyed; the child that filled this period, and the aged sinner will both die; “for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” But not so with God’s people, whose days are “as the days of a tree” (the tree of life).
874. Antediluvians and Sodomites.
(1) Will the people destroyed at the time of the flood, also at Sodom and Gomorrah, be resurrected at the second resurrection, to be destroyed again? (2) Would it be just to destroy them twice, and the rest only once? A READER OF THE SIGNS.
1. They probably will. “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.” Mark 6:11. This shows that Sodom and Gomorrah will be brought into judgment.
2. All the righteous die once, the wicked twice. The first death is the result of Adam’s sin. The second death we choose as we choose sin. The death of the sinners of Sodom was the consequence of remaining in the cities. Had they believed Lot, they would have fled. The real punishment of their sin will be the second death. And yet the destruction of those cities is a type of the destruction of the wicked, because it was utter destruction. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” asked Abraham. “Just and true are Thy ways,” sing the saints in glory.
Drawing
By W. N. G.
Drawing.—“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Gospel of salvation. It is that Gospel that He wants His ministers to proclaim to the world. It is this that He has given us with which to draw men. It is of no value to sinners to be drawn by anything else; and there is no call for a minister of the Gospel to use any other “drawing cards;” for the people of the world can do enough of that. Mr. Moody has been credited with the following utterance on this subject:—
“The people are hungry for the Word of God. Can we say that we retain the apostolic idea of preaching when ministers can preach only half an hour once or twice a week, and then have to take two or three months’ rest during the summer? The truth is, they wear themselves out looking for novelties, which prove to be vanity, because they bring no healthy increase in number or in spirituality. I undertake to say that a man who studies his Bible faithfully will be running over with sermons, and will always be in demand. There is nothing that draws crowds like the old Gospel.”
Illustrative of this thought, it is pertinent to cite an instance in this city. A few years ago an “evangelist” came and conducted “revival” services for several weeks. The regular house of worship of the church which he came to serve was too small for the large attendance, and a commodious hall was secured. Over two hundred additions to the church were reported as a result of the “revival.” Much ado was made over this, and it was announced that a larger house would have to be built immediately to accommodate the increased membership. Twice since that time the same evangelist has been here, and was much advertised, and “drew.” But that church, instead of building an enlarged house, is now worshiping in a smaller house than they occupied before the great “revival.” It doesn’t do any good to “draw” men unless they are drawn to Christ, unless they are drawn by the Spirit and the Word to that place where they can be kept by the power of God. W. N. G.
THE BOSS IN POLITICS.
By T.
It is no secret that there are numerous “bosses” in politics. Each ward and local precinct has its little “boss,” who looks after the details of all political business in his locality. The city has a big “boss,” who caters to all the little “bosses” and seeks to hold the reins of politics in his locality. Then there are more influential “bosses” in each State, and still greater ones in the nation at large.
These “bosses” do everything in their power to get their political friends elected, and they are not at all particular about the means they employ. When fair and honest methods happen to seem the best, they do not object to using them, but the usual plan is to resort to the worst kinds of frauds, bribes, and trickery. The object is to win. The means to be employed, provided they can keep from being found out, is not a matter to trouble their consciences.
When the “bosses” get their men in office, then begins the “dividing up of the spoils.” Positions are given to those who have been true to the political machine. New offices are created, and in every way imaginable the public is despoiled by the politicians.
The foregoing are facts that are freely admitted by every one. We hear it stated on every hand that the political corruption in our large cities is of the very darkest and worst type. And, furthermore, that what exists in the States and nation at large can not be said to be much better.
Papers and magazines speak out against it. The platform and the pulpit denounce it. Still, the evil work goes on, getting worse and worse. It seems impossible to make an impression upon it or even to retard the flood of corruption that is deluging every nook and corner of the whole nation. And we need not confine it to this nation, either, for the rest of the world is as bad, and some places much worse.
Did it ever occur to you that the money power of the world is back of much of this political corruption? The money power desires to have men in city offices that for a suitable bribe will grant them franchises and special privileges, so that they can go on unhindered in their heaping together of the earth’s treasures. They also want men in State Legislatures and in the national Congress that they can manipulate for their personal ends.
And while wealthy men will stoop to such methods of corruption, they will readily find those who are willing to be corrupted. And once the unclean fountain is opened up, it spreads its polluting stream with amazing rapidity. The politicians find out that the moneyed men will use bribes, and they take particular pains to exact these bribes in just as large quantities and just as frequently as possible.
Wealth when rightly used is one of the greatest blessings. It represents that which will buy our temporal necessities and comforts. But when the great mass of wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few men, and these men use its immense power to corrupt town and city councils, State and national Legislatures, and anything else that comes in their way, there is no describing the evil that follows.
The old Roman Empire fell because a few men got hold of her wealth and through that wealth made her so rotten that she simply broke in pieces. The hand of monopoly and concentrated and congested wealth had more to do than, perhaps, any one other thing in producing the Revolution and Reign of Terror that raged in France a hundred years ago.
But now we see the whole world under this blighting evil. What must be the awful fruit that will soon have to be reaped! The indications are strong and clear that we are standing in the very presence of that awful time spoken of by the prophet Daniel: “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.”
We should look facts squarely in the face, and be ready for the issue. T.
WEST INDIAN STORM AND TIDAL WAVE.
By Editor
On October 2 the papers were telling us about the great storm and tidal wave that was lashing the Atlantic Coast in the neighborhood of the West Indies. A few days before that the reports told of another most disastrous hurricane that spread desolation among a portion of the West India Islands. And continually we are reading of terrible storms in various parts of the world.
The most superficial observation must convince you that these storms are greatly on the increase. And not only do they increase in their frequency, but also in their disastrous effects. And, further, they are appearing in localities where it was supposed that such storms would never be seen, because the most ancient records showed no traces of storms in those localities.
Some are fondly hoping that this condition of things will change and that the earth will soon assume her accustomed tranquillity and freedom from these dreaded storms. All such should be undeceived. The storms that we are having and have had are as nothing to what is just before us.
The ancient prophet had a view of the desolating scenes of the last days, and following is his graphic language:—
“For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” Jer. 4: 22-27.
That which God’s prophet saw in vision, men living in these last days will see in all of its literal reality. And it is the constant and earnest aim of this paper to keep these important facts and their significant meaning continually before the people.
THE WORK OF PRIESTS IN THE ARMY.
The Catholic Mirror of September 17 prints a letter from “Father” McKinnon, one of the chaplains who accompanied the American volunteers to Manila. It is dated “S. S. City of Peking, June 26, ’98.” It is addressed to “Father” York, editor of the Monitor. The writer asks for “hymn-books, also a New Testament,” and “a few copies of ‘Faith of Our Fathers,’” and continues:—
“I have already baptized ten converts since coming on board and have others studying. I find that I need books of instruction very much, as so many want to find out more about the Catholic religion that without books to give them I find it hard to attend to all. In fact, about all my time is taken up hearing confessions. I have heard over five hundred since I left, and as many of them are of boys who have not been near a priest for years, it is not an easy task. I have had over fifty make their First Communion, so you see how backward some were. There are 803 Catholics in our regiment. Of the 50 officers, 31 are Catholics. Besides, there are about fifty more among the marines, so between all I have a large parish. I like the work very much, as I feel that I am doing some little good. Every one treats me with the greatest respect and consideration.
“The navy, I think, is about half Catholic, also. Last Sunday evening I went on board the Charleston to be with the boys for the expected battle at Guam, Monday morning, and I think more than half on board of her are Catholics. I heard confessions till 1:30 Monday morning, and then was not through, but, between the heat and the hard work, could not stand it any longer. Before the expected engagement, I gave a general absolution. It was quite a solemn sight, as all (even non-Catholics) seemed very much in earnest.”
This is in all probability not an isolated case.
WAR CLOUDS LOWERING IN EUROPE.
By G. B. Thompson
UNDER the above heading, the Cincinnati Post, speaking editorially, gives the situation in the far East as follows:—
“An Anglo-Russian conflict is written in the stars. Sooner or later it must come. The issue, involving, as it does, the natural dignity and prestige of both nations [England and Russia], becomes more clearly defined as one day pushes on another. The Muscovite insists that a certain district of Northeastern China is his ‘sphere of influence.’ He maintains that he, and he alone, has the exclusive right to construct railroads in the territory in question. The Britisher denies the contention. He alleges that he holds a concession, granted by China, to build a railroad from Pekin northeastward into the territory claimed by Russia as exclusively hers. And he stoutly asserts that, having the right to build the line, he will build it.
‘The situation is grave. A conflict between these two great nations will set all Europe aflame. The dying century may expire in more blood. France, Germany, Russia, Austria, Italy, and Turkey are armed camps. They await the firing signal. That first shot may be fired in Northeastern China, and then the alignments in Europe will be made. And the map will be changed, even as it was a hundred years ago, when the Little Corporal went through Europe at a double-quick step.”
Yes, the situation is indeed grave. With bated breath the world is waiting the beginning of the irrepressible conflict; and the initial movement on the chessboard of war will soon be made, which will “set all Europe aflame,” and change the map of the world. Diplomacy can not much longer ward off the dreaded yet inevitable struggle.
And, O, what a struggle it will be when the flower of manhood in all nations, armed with the most deadly weapons the genius of man can invent, shall meet in mortal combat! But in this anger of the nations is seen a sign of the end. Rev. 11: 18; Luke 21: 25. Beyond the affray in the valley of Jehoshaphat lies a time of peace, when war will have ceased unto the ends of the earth. The King of kings, followed by all the armies of heaven, will ride forth, and the slain of the Lord at that day will be many. Jer. 25: 31–33. The wicked will all be slain, and the faithful subjects of Prince Emmanuel gathered home.
It is time now to volunteer in the army of the living God, whose legion will secure ultimate and eternal victory. The recruiting office is still open to all. G. B. THOMPSON.
Cardinals and Cardinal-Making.
During his pontificate Leo XIII. has seen no less than 123 cardinals called by death from the Sacred College, the last to go being the Ruthenian primate, Cardinal Sembratowicz. He has himself created 117 cardinals, of whom only fifty are now living. The members of the college who were made cardinals by Pius IX. can be counted now upon the fingers of one hand.” —Catholic Mirror.
THE BATTLE FOR BREAD.
By B. F. Richards
TRAMP, tramp, tramp, they are coming from every direction, the poorly-clad men, women, and children, imploring for bread. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, their numbers are steadily increasing. Quietly and rapidly the wheels of time have turned, and with each revolution, without our consent, and almost without our knowledge, some have grown richer, while others have become poorer, until to-day, to a great extent, the rich have developed into millionaires, and the poor have dwindled into paupers.
A Modern Tenement House.
Looking back twenty-five years over the road we have traveled, it is easy to recall the time when the name “tramp” was first given to a man in the United States. This person was traveling on foot from place to place, looking for employment, and begging for food as he tramped along. It was not long before another tramp was seen, then another, until they became so numerous that a general complaint was sent to the councilmen of the village and to the board of aldermen of the city, praying them to try to provide food and shelter for this floating army, which had become a nuisance and a menace to the people.
Ordinances regulating this perplexing tramp question have been passed in villages and cities throughout the land; but tramps come, and tramps go, like the restless tide, until to-day there is not a house, be it ever so remote, but that the tramp has found it.
Arrest him for vagrancy, lock him up for from thirty to ninety days, and we do not miss him; for others take his place. Turn him from the jail after he has served his time, and he is still a vagrant; for he has no visible means of support. He is hungry, homeless, friendless, ragged, dirty, heart-sick, and footsore; but every door is closed against him, and to beg now on the public highway or from door to door is a crime. The friendly curbstone offers him a seat; and frequently while in this discouraged state, here pondering over his sad fate, looking for some way of escape, the hand of a policeman is again laid on his shoulder, and once more he is obliged to travel the same old prison route. But he is not alone; hundreds go daily over this road, and hundreds more are on the way. And what for?—Simply for joining the ranks of a growing army who are fighting the battle for bread.
We are told, truthfully too, that insanity is on the increase. Can we wonder at it? Exchange places for a few days with this poor tramp. Deprived of every friend and home comfort, how long would it be before the stoutest-hearted would become frantic and perhaps be driven to desperation?
The world’s population is estimated at 1,500,000,000, and of this vast number 150,000,000 are paupers, and on the dismal brink of starvation. Almshouses, asylums, poor-farms, jails, and penitentiaries are becoming filled to their utmost capacity. Additions have yearly been built, and new buildings are now in process of erection; but the growing army of mendicants and criminals fills them to overflowing .
Here are a few facts and figures bearing on this subject. During the winter of 1896 and 1897 the writer was connected with the Workingmen’s Home and Medical Mission of Chicago. We had been taking one or two hundred men, and sometimes more, from the station-houses each night, and providing them with suitable beds in the mission. These men were homeless and penniless, and had gone to the station-houses for shelter during the cold nights. On the morning of December 16, we called on the superintendent of police, and asked him to be kind enough to tell us how many men his departments had provided with floor space to lie on, during the fifteen nights just passed. And, to our astonishment, after he had received the reports from the precincts, he said 15,521. Then we asked him to see how many he had taken care of during the same nights in December of 1894 and 1895, and the report kindly given us by the chief of police shows how rapidly and alarmingly the homeless and dependent are increasing. In 1894, from December 1 to 15 inclusive, 321 men were given shelter; during the same time in 1895, 642 men; and in 1896, 15,521 men were taken care of. And last December, during the same time, missions and station-houses had all they could do in caring for the thousands of poor souls who called on them for bread and shelter.
Men and women who are stationed in missions, and officers and superintendents of places of charity and houses of detention, witness the daily growth of this vast army of crippled and wandering humanity, who are in the struggle, fighting the battle for bread.
What does it all mean? Why all this suffering, these broken homes and broken hearts? Is there no lesson in it for us to learn? Can we not see that this old world, that has been running the race so long, has gathered itself together, and is plunging down the home-stretch at a breakneck pace? History is now being reeled off to us at an astonishing and fearful rate. Think of it! The year 1875 marked the appearance of the “tramp” in the “land of the free, and the home of the brave;” and since that time tramps have overrun towns, villages, farms, cities, poorhouses, almshouses, prisons, missions, streets, lanes, highways, and hedges, till, like the “rolling stone that gathers no moss,” they find themselves landed in “poverty row,” at the foot of the hill, poor, maimed, halt, and blind, so wrecked and disfigured that not a trace of their former selves remains. With life’s race rapidly closing, they look into a widening, immeasurable eternity, and see that the crop of present reaping is the result of past planting. In that moment of awful, indescribable despair, goaded to insanity and desperation by the sleepless and ever-busy devil, they snuff with their own hands the flickering light from the wasted candle, and life’s realistic dream is o’er.
Is there nothing about this struggling pile of wretched humanity that will enlist the sympathy of tender hearts and the aid of helping hands? Mother, where are you to-night? Surely you have not forgotten when that prattling babe nestled close to your breast, when you told, as only a mother can, your love by the kisses you placed on baby’s brow. Where is that boy or girl to-night? Perhaps the cries of your loved one help to swell the doleful chorus that is rising like a funeral knell from the city’s slums.10
How long will this soul-destroying and life-taking condition continue?—Not long; for as all streams when nearing the falls move swiftly, so with this world. It is close to eternity’s brink, leaping and rushing madly on to its ultimate doom.
The “slums” of the city have become a great cesspool, into which the country road and the city street are emptying their human freight. Saloons, with their counterfeit attractions, opium dens, with their usual quiet exteriors, and houses of ill fame are here, as numerous as the bathing huts near a fashionable bathing resort. “For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” Matt. 24:28.
This state of things did not escape the far-seeing eye of the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked down the ages past the destruction of Jerusalem, through famines, earthquakes, pestilences, floods, tornadoes, and typhoons, through persecutions and wars, both on sea and land. His eyes rested on the age of invention, when the genius of man would turn out great steamships, moving about on the ocean as things of life, and on land the locomotive, pulling its train to earth’s remotest bound. He saw the telegraph, telephone, phonograph, and printing-press, and the hundreds of greater or minor inventions. Then He saw that machinery would take the place of men; that men would be thrown out of employment, and would travel from place to place looking for work, but unable to find it. They and their families would become discouraged; and, with starvation staring them in the face, they would reach the “slums,” where cries for bread would come from the throats of thousands.
It is now the “supper time” mentioned in Luke 14, and the Lord has sent out a broad invitation, “Come; for all things are now ready.” But the guests decline; they are not hungry; other matters require attention. From the “slums” there comes a cry that moves the heart of the “Friend of the poor,” and He speaks with majestic authority: “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” Luke 14:21, 23.
This is the last call for “supper,” the last appeal to a sin-laden people to “come; for all things are now ready.” It is the last summons from the God of love, the Saviour of men, to come and be saved. This call could not go forth before the “supper time;” when it could be said, “All things are now ready.” All things were not in readiness till after the poor began to gather and live on the streets, lanes, highways, and hedges of the cities. This took place when the tramp was introduced in the United States, in 1875; and the following year, as if in direct answer to the command of the Lord, Gospel meetings began to be held by the Salvation Army, among the slums and dives of the cities, where the poor and unfortunate were obliged to live.
Reader, “come; for all things are now ready.” This is your chance. Look! the day is far spent; the shades of night are creeping on. God’s last call to the marriage supper is now going forth. His house is fast filling up with willing souls who have heard the call. Will you not hear and accept the invitation? It comes to us fresh from the King of Glory, and He wants you to enter the field as a worker together with Him, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and in a general way caring for the poor; and in a little while, when the banquet takes place, every faithful soul will be there, and will hear the address of welcome given by the King. Matt. 25:31–40.
A large army of workers are needed now to engage in active labor in behalf of the Helping Hand and Medical Mission in San Francisco, gathering in clothing, bedding, fruits, peas, beans, and nuts, so that we can help the souls who are calling on us for these things. You can begin work for the Master where you are, in the country on the farm, in the village, town, or city, anywhere, but begin now.
B. F. RICHARDS.
THE BETTER WAY.
By Mrs. Carrie Butcher
Do not harshly judge thy neighbor,
Do not be too quick to blame;
Better far that each should labor
To uphold the other's name.
Has one sinned? Then let's be showing
How for him the Saviour died;
Point him to the fountain flowing,
Help him reach the cleansing tide.
Has the cruel tongue of slander
Gathered from the misty past
Some suspicion, thus to pander
To a base, deluded taste?
Must we herald every failing
Of some fellow-mortal, weak,
Wound his heart, nor heed his wailing?
O, 'twere better ne'er to speak!
No! let's seek the fount of healing,
Bid its waters o'er us roll,
Till a tender, Christly feeling
Floods and penetrates the soul,
Till we feel an anxious yearning
Over those who fail and fall,
Till within each heart is burning
Christ-like love for one and all.
MRS. CARRIE BUTCHER.
Waxahachie, Texas.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
BROTHER J. B. SCOTT notes the addition of four to the ranks at Bear Lake, Wis.
“TWO PERSONS lately baptized,” is the report of Brother G. A. Petrich, at Waseca, Minn.
BROTHER GEORGE A. SNYDER reports the baptism of three candidates in Los Angeles, Cal., during the past month.
ON the 28th inst., three sisters were baptized in Lake Michigan, at Sheboygan, Wis., by Brother H. W. Reed.
FOUR persons were baptized and added to the church at Bluffton, Minn., on the 17th ult., by Brother Andrew Mead.
“SEVEN souls have made a start in the good way,” is the report of Brethren B. G. Wilkinson and M. N. Campbell, at Stoughton, Wis.
AT the recent session of the West Virginia Conference four general meetings were appointed, as follows: Parkersburg, November 4-10; Walker, 11-17; Berea, 18-23; Amos or Fairmount, November 25 to December 1.
BROTHER C. H. JONES, president of the Pacific Press Publishing Co., returned last week from attendance at the Helena, Mont., camp-meeting. He reports a very enthusiastic meeting. That mission field was organized into a State Conference, with Brother W. B. White as president. Brother White’s experience in Nebraska and other conferences will be of value to the new enterprise. Mrs. W. B. White was elected secretary of the conference, and Brother W. J. Stone missionary secretary.
PROF. W. T. BLAND, president of Union College, at College View, Neb., writes to the Bulletin, of Des Moines, Iowa, that about ninety per cent. of the students at the college are there to fit themselves as soon as possible for some place in the closing work of the Gospel.
OF the Walla Walla (Wash.) Mission, Brother E. S. Ballenger says: “The private work is reaping good results, while the penitentiary and jail work grow in interest.” He calls for copies of the SIGNS, Sentinel, Instructor, and denominational books suitable for mission work.
BROTHER GEORGE M. BROWN, of Fond du Lac, Wis., has been assigned to the business management of Battle Creek (Mich.) College. Brother Brown is a son of Brother M. H. Brown, secretary of the International Sabbath School Association and editor of the Sabbath School Worker.
AT Arlington, Iowa, where Brother U. P. Long was recently holding meetings, a brother 77 years old walked eight miles to the meetings each alternate evening. This is inserted for the benefit of younger and stronger people who find difficulty in going a mile or less to sustain meetings.
ELDER S. H. LANE, president of Illinois Conference, gives in the Recorder a glowing account of the camp-meeting at Willow Hill, in that State. Twenty-two were baptized, among the number being a young man who had walked seventy-five miles to attend the meeting. He never before had seen one of our ministers; but in another State he had seen the Review and subscribed for it, and from it learned the truth that so deeply interested him.
THE matter of church schools is being advocated with considerable success by Wisconsin Conference. The Reporter says: “Church schools are now in progress, or soon will open, in Milwaukee, Milton Junction, Green Bay, La Crosse, Baraboo, Oxford, Loyal, Prescott, and Moon. Others are planning to enter upon this work soon.” After the summer school at Battle Creek, Mich., almost the entire normal class visited the camp-meeting at Owasso, in that State, and one of them reports that “there are not enough teachers to supply half the churches that have asked for schools.” The desire of Seventh-day Adventists to carry on schools of their own is not because of opposition to public schools. These have their place, and a very important place; but the Adventists believe that important religious truth should be taught to their children in connection with their ordinary education, and they know it is not the province of the public schools to teach these things. Wherefore the growing tendency to establish denominational schools, from the primary grade up to a collegiate course.
A Special Manifestation of the Spirit.—Brother A. G. Bodwell, who has been laboring in Fort Worth, Texas, sends the following interesting account of his work to the Reporter:—
“The Lord is working in a wonderful way. One evening not long before we took the tent down Brother Egner found a woman lying in the tent who proved to be one of the worst characters in Fort Worth. She was known as Cocaine Nell. After meeting she was brought to the house and nature’s remedies, with God’s blessing upon them, were applied. She told us just what she was, and said she had slept in the street the night before. This woman is now clothed in her right mind and free from the use of morphine and cocaine. She has not touched it for over two weeks, and she says that no amount of pain would cause her to touch it again. She had used it for eighteen years, and spent thousands of dollars trying to effect a cure. Altho she had fallen about as low as it is possible for one to fall, she is now rejoicing in a Saviour’s love. It does us good to hear her voice uplifted in prayer. All glory is due to God. Last Saturday night we held our first and only street meeting. I have never seen the Spirit of God present in a more marked manner. The longer the meeting lasted, the larger the crowd became, and when the meeting closed, people seemed loath to leave. Five stout, able-bodied men made a start for the kingdom, and after meeting they were very anxious for us to talk with them. The people seemed to be spellbound, and gave good attention.”
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
By Mrs. R. Cornish
BRANTFORD, Ontario, July 15, 1898.
I feel it a privilege to bear these few words of testimony before the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, trusting they may be an encouragement to some who are placed in similar circumstances.
I was born and brought up in the Methodist Church, and at twenty years of age was received into its membership on a profession of my faith in Christ. I enjoyed all her privileges and opportunities for Christian work, which are many, yet my heart was longing for a better knowledge of the things of God. For thirty years I had this leanness of soul, but was hungering for truth and praying for light. I praise God that my prayers have been answered, and bright rays of truth, more beautiful than my fondest dreams had ever hoped for, have commenced to dawn upon my pathway through reading the SIGNS and other similar literature.
About five years ago my attention was first called to the truth for this time; but, altho convinced of its truthfulness, I did not have the courage to live out my convictions. What a miserable condition to be in! May God deliver me from another such experience! After much careful and prayerful study, I grasped with a trembling heart these important truths, and such a blessed hallowed, influence has come into my heart! I can but exclaim, “What hath God wrought!” I found that it meant something to me to break the fetters that bound me, but when I submitted my will to God’s will, He made me free, and I am free indeed, for He has taken away my fears. Truly, perfect love casteth out all fears; and now I can say with the psalmist, “O how love I Thy law!”
Unquestioning obedience is what God requires of us all; and when that is rendered, He will fill our hearts with that peace that passeth understanding. As I eat of the bread of life, and drink of the living water, it makes me feel like saying to all, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” May some discouraged one be cheered and comforted by this brief experience, is my prayer. MRS. R. CORNISH.
NOTICE
BROTHER W. H. Wild now offers to send post-paid his excellent little “Bible Index” for only five cents. His address is 302 Washington Street, Battle Creek, Mich.
