p. (672) | Signs of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 42. (10/20/1898)

Earlier text: The Fairbanks-Morse Gas and Gasoline Engines

Unrest—Peace

By Editor

Unrest—Peace.—Paris is a type of what the world will soon be, seething unrest, bordering on revolution. Sixty thousand men are on strike, nearly all of whom are more or less in an inflammable state. The fire of revolt is smothered by the presence of troops; but the government itself is on the verge of collapse, and it is said that the army can not be depended upon. We look for these outbreaks first in such cities as Paris; but they will not be confined there. The world is fermenting with the poisonous germs of infidelity and superstition, born of the rejection of the saving truth of God. Strife, enmity, and anarchy are being fomented by impatient, dissatisfied spirits. How long will it be before the clouds of the bottomless pit of strife and anarchy will enshroud the world? And yet there is peace amid the turbulence and anxiety of the world's unrest, and that is found in Jesus Christ. “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” but in Him is peace, and in His soon-coming kingdom “abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.”

OUR QUARTER-CENTENNIAL NUMBER WILL CONTAIN

By Editor

1. An article by the world-famed oriental scholar and archæologist, the Rev. A. H. Sayce, LL.D., of Oxford, England, on God’s witnesses in stone, or the testimony of the monuments, as revealed during the last quarter century, to the truthfulness of God’s Word. This is written specially for this paper.

2. An article from the pen of Alonzo T. Jones, author of “The Two Republics,” “Rights of the People,” etc., on the progress which has been made toward State-and-Church union in this country during the last quarter century.

3. “Important Inventions for Twenty-five Years,” by Uriah Smith, author of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Here and Hereafter,” etc., and for many years editor of the Review and Herald. Elder Smith is himself an inventor, and his article will be of interest.

4. “Developments in Astronomy, Methods, Apparatus, and Discoveries,” by Prof. Charles Burckhalter, F.R.A.S., an article of interest to every student of astronomy.

5. “The Rise and Development of False Religions and Isms” during the last quarter century, by L. A. Phippeny, an article of special interest.

6. A story for our Home department, by Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, for many years at the head of evangelical work among the W. C. T. U.

7. A striking article entitled “Significant Items from European History of the Closing Quarter Century,” by Pastor H. P. Holser, of Basel, Switzerland. This will be a striking review of the European field politically and religiously.

8. “Military and Naval Development of the Last Quarter-Century,” by A. O. Tait, illustrated.

9. “The Development of the Money Power for the Last Twenty-five Years,” by Prof. P. T. Magan, vice-president of Battle Creek College, and dean of faculty.

10. “Progress in Medical Science for the Quarter Century,” by J. H. Kellogg, M.D. This will be illustrated, and the name and well-known ability of Dr. Kellogg as a practitioner and writer are sufficient guarantee of its interest and importance.

11. “The Demand for a Definite Message,” by J. O. Corliss, formerly editor of The Bible Echo, of Melbourne, Australia.

12. “The Last Reformation Predicted, by Prophet and Apostle,” by F. M. Wilcox, till recently editor of the Home Missionary and secretary of our Foreign Mission Board.

13. “Sabbath Reform, True and False,” by G. E. Fifield, author of “God Is Love.”

14. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ,” by E. J. Waggoner, editor of The Present Truth, London.

Here are about one-third of the number of the articles which this unexcelled number of Jan. 5, 1899, will contain. There will be in it that which every one will wish to know. It will have thirty-two pages of reading matter, with tinted cover, printed in colors. Are you preparing to help circulate it?

Unordered Copies of the Signs

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.

When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the “Signs” are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.

Illustrations from The Heralds of the Morning

The two illustrations in our Missions department are from an excellent little book soon to be published by this office, “The Heralds of the Morning.” It is written by A. O. Tait, of the SIGNS editorial staff.

An Astronomer’s View of Our Father’s House

“An Astronomer’s View of Our Father’s House” first appeared in the SIGNS several years ago, and is now published again by request. It has been revised by the author and brought down to date, with especial reference to what will follow in the second article concerning that giant of the sky, Arcturus. We need only say of the writer that he is not an amateur, but one of the thorough and growing astronomers of the day, to whose labors and researches the astronomical world is especially indebted.

A Free Man in Christ

The article beginning on page 2 is from an inmate of a penitentiary in one of our central States. Tho bound in by walls and bars, he is now a free man in Christ Jesus. While the article presents nothing new, it may help Christians outside to hear the message from such a view-point. A prison cell is not by any means the worst place in the world if the Lord is there and recognized. If men were taught that the grace of God is bestowed to make obedient men to every precept of God, there would be fewer criminals.

A New Dictionary.

Funk & Wagnalls Company, the publishers of the incomparable Standard Dictionary, will soon issue the Standard Intermediate School Dictionary, edited by James C. Fernald. It is announced as the most comprehensive, most precise dictionary of its class. This new volume is designed to give the orthography, pronunciation, meaning, and etymology of about 30,000 words and phrases in the speech and literature of the English-speaking peoples. It has 500 pictorial illustrations, and will contain about 550 pages. 12mo. Ready about January 1.

Henry K. Carroll’s New Appointments

Henry K. Carroll, LL.D., for more than twenty-two years on the editorial staff of the Independent, has resigned. He will furnish for The Christian Advocate monthly surveys of the intellectual, moral, and ecclesiastical progress and modifications of the different religions, creeds, and communions. He will also furnish the annual comparative table of the growth of the various denominations in this country. Just at the present, Dr. Carroll has been appointed by the President a Special Commissioner to Porto Rico, to inquire into the laws, institutions, customs, currency, industries, productions, schools, etc., of that island, and to recommend to the President a system of government suited to their control by the United States.

Light

Light.—It is the province of light to shine. It requires no effort to make it shine, it does so naturally. It will always shine spontaneously if not hindered. It is the covering of it with error or with neglect that prevents the light of truth from shining out to the world. The Saviour says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5: 16. Therefore to all Christians, all who have received the light of truth, this message comes with ever-increasing urgency: “Arise [don’t sit down in seclusion], shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isa. 60: 1–3.

TWO MONTHS FREE.

Those who subscribe for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES now at the full price—$1.00 a year—will receive the paper during 1899, and the remaining two months of this year. This means much to the subscriber. The articles by Dr. Waggoner on the book of Galatians will soon begin, and these articles alone are worth the price of the subscription; and there will be much more equally good. Your neighbor needs a good religious paper in his home, and may have none; perhaps you may be able to secure his subscription. Order at once. SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Youthful Depravity

One of the most alarming symptoms of our time is the outbreaks of youthful depravity manifest in all parts of our country. Such bold badness on the part of young boys was never before known among us. This is especially seen in licentiousness and crime. Not long since one of the officials of the Southern Pacific, Mr. Krutschnitt, being absent from his residence in San Francisco, returned and found it robbed, looted, plundered of almost everything portable. What could not be taken was destroyed or injured. The damage all told amounted to about $1,000. Detectives found that it had been robbed by children from ten to fifteen years of age. The youngsters had divided the spoil, selling it to pawnbrokers or carrying it home to their parents, inventing some plausible story as to how they obtained it. Mr. K.’s wedding suit was divided among several fathers. Cloth for a dress for his wife was given out to be made up by a young robber’s mother. The children are said to be of respectable parentage. This is a wholesale example, but not an isolated one. Facts continually come before us which are simply appalling. Confiding parents seem to think that their children are as safe as they were twenty-five to forty years ago. Those who regard the moral characters or the eternal welfare of their children can not be too vigilant.

Foolish Extravagance.

A Transvaal millionaire, visiting the Vienna Industrial Exposition, took a fancy to a ladies’ wheel, which secured the first prize for costliness of material. He determined to purchase it for his wife. It was inlaid in gold and beautifully carved. The price paid amounted to $500. He then took it to a Vienna jeweler, where he ordered nearly a half million dollars’ worth of diamonds and precious stones to be inserted in the frame. So says a New York paper. This is only an example of multitudes of such instances where men are so rich they know not what else to do with their wealth. But, O, why do they not feed the poor?

The Australian Financial Adviser

A bright monthly, well printed, well edited, and well illustrated, comes to us from Sydney, N. S. W., yclept The Australian Financial Adviser. It is published in the interests of merchants in general. The first article is by Col. George W. Bell, U. S. Consul at Sydney. He writes on “The Philosophy of Commerce,” and well expresses the condition of a purely worldly humanity in the following: “No possession satisfies; no success brings contentment.”

Why Should the Czar Not Want Peace?

The peace footing of his army is 1,743,244 men, 176,600 horses, and 2,672 guns, by which is not meant the individual guns of the soldiers. His war establishment is 5,008,284 men, 295,718 horses, and 6,084 guns. Is it any wonder he longs for peace, and that through European disarmament? Just the same, however, peace will never come that way. The nations will not disarm. God has spoken. See Joel 3: 9-12.

Hanford Camp Meeting

The Hanford, Cal., camp-meeting is not a long one, but it should be well attended. The date is October 25 to November 1. It is held by special and urgent request of those in that locality; and we expect it will be one of the best of meetings.

Spanish Army Losses in Cuba

Out of every 1,000 soldiers sent by Spain to Cuba 521 were lost.