San Francisco is starting another war against the evils on her “Barbary Coast”,—the name by which she designates her worst “red light” district. Much is promised in the reforms that are proposed. The dance halls are to be regulated, women are not to be allowed in certain resorts to solicit the sale of liquors among the patrons, and a lot of other things are to be done to “regulate” the evils that exist. We are coming to expect these periodical spasms in attempting reforms of the glaring evils that infect all our great cities. First one city and then another is widely advertised as having found a hero of reform that has taken hold of things—and the city will soon be cleaned up. At least its evils will soon be “regulated” so that things will be passably decent. But nowhere has the utopia of expectation and promise been realized. Our cities are reeking with corrupting vices and crimes, and there has been no means devised to stay the evil. Among the latest plans is to have the “federated churches” take hold of things, and great promise is held out from this quarter. But God has said that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,” and He furthermore declares that right at the end of time “the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” This old world is soon to go down beneath its weight of corruption and crime. It can not be “reformed” nor saved as a whole. The only thing we can do, is to raise the warning in no uncertain tones, and urge all that can be reached to hasten to escape from the impending destruction. God has provided a means of escape and safety, but it is not to be found in any of the political methods of reform that so many are leaning on. God provides now, as ever in the past, the all-powerful and the all-cleansing gospel. And those who seek through a knowledge of His Word for this citadel of power, will find a perfect shelter from the storm that will surely and quickly break upon the whole world.
The Furious Pace of the War Dogs
By T.
THE facts stated under the illustrations of the ships on this and the opposite page are quite sufficient to give a very realistic impression of the mad rush to excel in the art of war. The English battle-ship “Queen Elizabeth” is almost three times as large as the greatest battle-ships of fourteen years ago; it is about twice as speedy; and when it comes to actual effectiveness there is no comparison. Some of the best and most intelligent naval experts make the announcement that the war-ships of to-day are 1,200 times more effective than they were fifteen years ago.
This increased effectiveness is not due altogether to the increase of size and speed of the ships. There has been a great increase in the size and range of the guns; the torpedoes the ships carry have been greatly increased in range, accuracy, and power; and the highest possible nervous tension is kept up in drilling the men for swiftness in every motion, and for absolute accuracy in every detail of their work.
The “battle cruiser” or “cruiser battle-ship” or “high-speed-battle-ship,” as it is variously called, is illustrated on this page by the “Kongo,” from the Japanese navy. It will be observed that this class of powerful ship has reached the amazing speed of 27 knots an hour, and at the same time she is armed with a large battery of the modern high-power guns. This ship is being closely studied, and several of the leading nations are building them. England was the inventor and the first to make the experiment. She seems to think they are a success, for she continues to build them, and the nations that do not have them on their naval program are becoming nervous for fear they will be left behind. The battle-ship of fifteen years ago was thought to be about as large and powerful as could be made to float; but she would be powerless in the presence of one of the monsters of to-day. And we do not need to go so far back as that. The battle-ship fleet that Mr. Roosevelt sent around the world about four years ago, had some of the most powerful ships in it that had been built, up to that time. The only exception was the first of the “Dreadnoughts,” built by England in 1906. Those monsters of only four years ago made practically obsolete all war-ships of previous days. But those that are being built to-day are so far beyond the ships of four years ago, that it is hard to make comparisons. The increased speed of the vessel of to-day, together with her greater range of guns and accuracy and rapidity of fire, enables her to keep out of reach of the vessels of four and five years ago, while she would hammer them to pieces.
The first-class battle-ships of fifteen years ago cost about $4,000,000, while those of to-day cost about three times that much, and powerful battle cruisers are now being talked of that will cost $20,000,000 each. It is easy to see that the nations must quickly be bankrupted, when such large sums are being put into fighting craft to-day that will be out of date in four or five years, and have to be replaced by still more expensive ones.
That utterance made by the man of Patmos some eighteen hundred years ago is having a very literal fulfilment to-day. He said: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:12-14.
The war preparations of this time are awful, beyond description. And the furious pace at which the nations are exhausting themselves in preparing for the battle-field, made right in the face of the “Christian civilization of the twentieth century,” and all the strong efforts of influential men and mighty organizations that are working to keep the peace. In view of such stupendous facts, who can not see that we are even now living in that very time when the demons are doing the terrible work foretold by the inspired prophet? T.
Militant Suffragettes
It has been only a few days since some “suffragettes” smashed the crown jewel case in the Tower of London, and were sent to jail because of it. And on February 19, the despatches tell us, they exploded a bomb under the residence of Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd-George, at Walton Heath, completely wrecking his home. Mr. Lloyd-George is on a motor trip in France, and the residence had not been occupied yet, so there was no loss of life.
An official of the Woman's Social and Political Union told the police that the society had no knowledge of the perpetrators. But Mrs. Emeline Pankhurst, of world-wide suffragette notoriety, says it is the work of the women, and “General” Mrs. Flora Drummond says the same thing. In speaking of the affair Mrs. Drummond said:
“I think it is grand. It was a fine act successfully carried out, and shows the determination of the women. I say ‘all power to all kinds of militancy in the direction of harassing cabinet ministers short of taking human life.’”
Regardless of who did the deed it was certainly a dastardly affair, and it is only another one of the multitude of incidents that show the social frenzies of this time. Men and women are determined to carry their schemes. They are sure that “great reforms should be worked out.” And if they can not carry their proposed measures by argument, they will resort to the bomb and the fagot. The spirit is not only among the men, but it has taken possession of the women and children as well. It is not confined merely to one locality, but it is general all through the nations of this whole world.
It is high time that the people should awake to the fact that the foundations of social order and government on this planet are breaking down so generally and so completely that there is no salvation from universal anarchy. The very times demand the strong arm of the Infinite to deal with the situation, and the prophecies of the Bible make it clear that He is about to do it.
Poverty and Misery of Turkey
THE utter wretchedness and weakness of Turkey is thus pictured by a world traveled journalist, William T. Ellis, in the New York Independent of December 19, last:
Courtesy “Scientific American”
“Turkey, because she has never been able to depend upon the loyalty of her subjects, has borne all her Asiatic conscripts to her troubled European dominions, and the European soldiers to the deadly Yemen, from which few return. In Ma’an, Arabia, which is as far down on the Mecca railway as a Christian may go, my guard was a Turkish soldier from Diarbekir, in Mesopotamia, where his family lived, unable to subsist on the pittance of his pay, even when he got it. To this exiled soldier on the desert, the poverty-stricken but quaint old city of Diarbekir, on the head waters of the Tigris, was paradise. His ecstatic descriptions of it had the same homesick note as the psalms of the Hebrew exiles in Babylon. Multiply this man by almost the total number of the Turkish army, and something of the personal deprivation and loneliness involved in militarism is seen.”
A Dog’s Brain for a Man
A gentleman from Kalamazoo, Michigan, had been suffering from an abscess of the brain, and was taken to the hospital of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The surgeons there, as a last resort, cut away the diseased portion of the man's brain, and inserted instead a part of the brain of a dog. The patient is said to be doing well, and the prospect for his recovery is good. If there can be a choice of brains for such purposes, it is quite probable that some people would prefer other animals above the dog.
FRUIT FARM
By J. W. Carlock
For sale, or exchange for good real estate, 24 acres, with about 1,100 cherry-trees beginning to bear; 500 pear-trees, bearing; 292 peach-trees, bearing; and 100 apple-trees; 8 acres in strawberries. The proper elevation for fruit or health. Soil good. Fine well water. A paying proposition. Close to Graysville, Tennessee; ¾ mile to church and school — Adventist. Near railroad. Price $2,500. Also one seven-room house and lot near church, $1,000. Write to owner. J. W. Carlock, Graysville Tennessee.
“Patriarchs and Prophets”
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An edition of “Patriarchs and Prophets,” on thin paper, and bound in limp leather, has just been prepared. This is identical with the large work, except that the full page illustrations and division section pages have been eliminated. In size of page it is uniform with “The Acts of the Apostles,” and will weigh but a trifle more than that book.
Every Bible student should have “Patriarchs and Prophets.” Just now it serves as an invaluable commentary on both the Sabbath-school and the International Sunday-school lessons, and will be appreciated particularly in this beautiful, durable, light edition. 736 pages.
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New Testament in Esperanto
At the request of the International Congress of Esperanto and the British Esperanto Association, an edition of the New Testament is being published in Esperanto by the British and Foreign Bible Society. It has been prepared with great care, and is now on the press. It is believed that the New Testament, published in this “universal language,” will be read by some who would not be otherwise induced to look into it. It is both interesting and inspiring to observe the energy, earnestness, and determination that our good Bible Societies are putting forth to place the Bible within the reach of every person in all the world.
In Solitary Hours with God
In your solitary hours, get up into the mount with God,—let His glory shine into your heart, and when you go down to the people, your very face will tell of His glory, your presence will win souls to the Master. Let us take more time to be alone in His company.
President Wilson’s Inauguration
By Editor
The inauguration of President Wilson and Vice-president Marshall takes place on the day this paper is dated, too early for us to give it extended notice. We shall have more to say upon it next week, with photographs of national celebrities. The noted event promises to be not only important politically, but unique in its simplicity, as becomes a republic.
Opposition to Church Fairs and Lotteries
By Editor
A number of worthy people are seeking to start a strong crusade against church fairs, lotteries, and the training for gambling that grows out of these things. We have always stood opposed to such things being practised in the church, for the reason that we could not harmonize them with the teaching of Christ or the dignity of His character. We are glad to call the attention of our readers to the article on page four of this issue on the topic of “Church Festivals.” It states our position in brief, and is in harmony with what has frequently appeared in our pages. We are glad to be joined with all who see the evils that lurk in church fairs and lotteries, and with them to continue raising our voice against such things.
Poet Joaquin Miller Dies
Cincinnatus Heine (“Joaquin”) Miller, the “Poet of the Sierras,” miner, lawyer, express messenger, editor, judge, journalist, died at his home, The Heights, near Oakland, February 17, at the age of 72. He was a native of Indiana. Unique, eccentric, inconsistent, he was nevertheless a great poet. English critics have considered his poem on Columbus, “Sail On,” the greatest of his poetic productions. But the poem on the earthquake in San Francisco was great, and his “Mothers of Men” has taken hold of many hearts. On the night of his death his wife sang him to sleep with “Nearer My God to Thee.”
Hope Amid Discouraging Surroundings
Our dissatisfaction over conditions exists almost wholly within our own hearts. There are thousands of noble, sensitive souls, meeting all sorts of abnormal conditions within their own homes,— deprivation of the comforts of life, sickness, poverty, a drunken companion perhaps, and yet maintaining amid such discouraging surroundings, a heart of peace, a remarkable hopefulness. Their spirit is not an echo of visible surroundings. It is not an overflowing of joy and helpfulness poured into their heart by those surrounding them. Their hopefulness is born from above. The atmosphere which surrounds them is constantly created by the companionship of their Lord.
Rain at Their Fountains
“As torrents in summer, Half dried in their channels, Suddenly rise, tho the Sky is still cloudless, For rain has been falling Far off at their fountains; So hearts that are fainting Grow full to o’erflowing, And they that behold it Marvel, and know not That God at their fountains Far off has been raining!”
Golden Calf Worship
THE worship of the Golden Calf is more grossly materialistic now than when Israel bowed to it at the base of Sinai. Then it was worshiped as an ideal. Now men worship the gold and the man who controls it. This idolatry of money is well set forth in the following from an editorial in the New York World:
“If J. P. Morgan likes that sort of thing, the worshipful praise of his associates and dependents must fill him with joy.
“Henry P. Davison told the Pujo committee reverentially that ‘J. P. Morgan & Company could not do wrong if it was possible for them to do as they wanted to.’ George W. Perkins burned this incense: ‘If J. P. Morgan should make a bond issue from the Desert of Sahara, it would be subscribed to, probably.’ Referring to the concentration of credit in the house of J. P. Morgan & Company, George F. Baker graciously remarked that ‘If it got into bad hands it would be very bad; in good hands I do not say that it would do any harm.’”
The World intimates that these enthusiastic worshipers of Wall Street could be easily persuaded to sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” almost any day now.
The Demand for Sensational Literature
By Editor
Demand creates supply in the line of sensational literature as well as in other things. Circulars advertising “sensational matter” have come to our table, which are “prepared with the view of satisfying the demand,” etc., etc. We have no desire to rehash this circular before our readers. We do not want the “sensational page.” It bodes ill for a generation whose minds can only be satisfied with such a class of reading. God’s message to man, upon which depends eternal results, should be of so much greater interest that this kind of literature should have no place in any paper. “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.” Prov. 15:14.
Mexico and the Balkan-Turkish War
The situation in Mexico has about completely eclipsed the Balkan-Turkish war. But this is largely because that for the moment things have quieted down between the Turks and their foes, while new proposals of peace are being urged. But the trouble is still angrily smoldering, and it is hard to tell what a day may bring forth.
Mexico’s Unsettled Revolution
Madero, the late ruler of Mexico, has been sentenced to exile, his brother has been executed, and Victoriano Huerta has taken the oath of office as provisional president. But the revolution is not yet settled. The United States has strong land and naval forces within easy reach, and it is feared that the urgency of foreign powers, that their subjects be protected, may make it necessary for this government to intervene.
The Waning Crescent and Muslim Unity
The proclamation of a holy war in Mohammedan countries, the unfurling of the sacred green banner, the opening of the prophet’s sacred tomb at Mecca, are supposed to be a call for every Moslem to spring to arms. But the old unity of the ranks of the Moslem is broken, and there are many who do not hold to the Turks as the head of Islamism. It is a serious question among Mohammedans as to whether such a call would be effective. In the meantime the Crescent wanes.
Preventing Contagion in Schools
Look out for contagious diseases in the school. The tongue-licked or spittle-cleaned slate, the common roller towel, and the universal drinking cup are rapidly going. Let them go. But the exchanging of handkerchiefs, the dividing of chewing-gum, the borrowing of tongue-moistened pencils, the enthusiastic kissers, are still with the schools. Eliminate these, and there will be a falling off in cases of diphtheria and scarlet fever. Parents and teachers should look to this.
The Sabbath as a Badge of Loyalty
The Sabbath question is not a mere matter of two different days of like hours of darkness and light; it is a question of loyalty to God. It stands in His Word as a memorial of His creative power, and therefore a sign of His power to sanctify and redeem. The day of the Sabbath therefore stands unalterably against the theory of human origin or salvation by evolution. That day of the Sabbath is revealed clearly and enjoined strongly in God's Word, and therefore it is unalterably opposed to any sabbath of tradition. To him who sees this, the observance of the Sabbath is a badge of loyalty to God as his Creator, to Jesus Christ as his re-creator and Sanctifier.
