Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 46.
Out of the Old, Into the NewPage 1
Out of the Old, Into the New
Out of the distance and darkness so deep,
Out of the settled and perilous sleep;
Out of the region and shadow of death,
Out of its foul and pestilent breath;
Out of the bondage and wearying chains,
Out of companionship ever with stains:
Into the light and the glory of God,
Into the holiest, made clean by the blood;
Into His arms,—the embrace and the kiss,—
Into the scene of ineffable bliss;
Into the quiet, the infinite calm,
Into the place of the song and the psalm.
Wonderful love, that has wrought all for me!
Wonderful work, that has thus set me free!
Wonderful ground upon which I have come!
Wonderful tenderness, welcoming home! Out of disaster and ruin complete,
Out of the struggle and dreary defeat;
Out of my sorrow and burden and shame,
Out of the evils, too fearful to name;
Out of my guilt, and the criminal's doom,
Out of the dreading, the terror, the gloom:
Into the sense of forgiveness and rest,
Into inheritance with all the blest,
Into a righteous and permanent peace,
Into the grandest and fullest release;
Into the comfort without alloy,
Into a perfect and confident joy.
Wonderful holiness, bringing to light!
Wonderful grace, putting all out of sight!
Wonderful wisdom, devising the way!
Wonderful power, that nothing could stay! Our Publishing Work
By Editor
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11. ANY publication mentioned on this page may be ordered through your conference tract society or from any of our publishing houses or their branch offices. See last paragraph on this page for addresses of our publishing houses. PLEASE read again that list of the contents of the four special numbers of the Signs as published on this page in last week’s paper. Do you not think there are a goodly number of people to whom you ought to give the opportunity of reading these message-filled papers? Do not delay. OUR new printing-office at Takoma Park, D. C., has its roof on, and the windows will soon be in. There has been considerable delay in getting the necessary material as rapidly as it was needed, but our builder, Brother Whalin, is very resourceful, and has pushed the work just as rapidly as could be done under the circumstances. THERE has been a good demand for the little book on “Colds,” by Dr. Heald, and the first edition is exhausted, and a new edition is now being printed. This is the time of year when its helpful suggestions are most needed, and our people will find it a ready seller. Price, 25 cents, with subscription book discount to our canvassers. ARE you satisfied with what you have done thus far in the missionary campaign? If not, do not delay a moment, but take up some of the various kinds of work suggested in last week’s REVIEW. Some are aglow with enthusiasm, and are reporting excellent results. You can share in the same joy now, and have part in the reward by and by. THE new catalogue of publications of the Review and Herald Publishing Association is now ready, and copies will be mailed at once to those who have recently asked for it. We have not been able to comply with these requests earlier because the catalogue was out of print. This catalogue contains sixty-eight pages, and the list of books is arranged alphabetically, and not separated into subscription, trade, and music books as heretofore. A certain symbol appears before each title, and this indicates, as nearly as can be done, the particular class of books to which each belongs. A number of new books are listed in this edition. A copy will be sent free to any one on request. It may be secured from any conference tract society, or from our office at Washington, D. C., or Battle Creek, Mich. A MOST favorable opportunity is now offered to introduce our literature into the Sunday-schools. On December 10 the lesson is entitled “Reading and Obeying the Law.” This is a splendid opening for the wise use of leaflets showing the strict obedience which God requires in the keeping of his law. Such tracts as “Knowing and Obeying the Law,” “The Law of God,” and “The Perpetuity of the Law,” could be followed with “Great Controversy” and “Daniel and the Revelation.” Many of the Sunday-school students will be making presents to their teachers and superintendents. When opportunity offers, suggest to them what an excellent present “Desire of Ages” would be. It is the best book obtainable, irrespective of the price, for comparative study of the Sunday-school lessons for 1906. OUR factory in Battle Creek, Mich., has been very busy for some time, and editions of “Great Controversy,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Bible Readings,” and “Hymns and Tunes,” have been printed, and an edition of Sister White’s new book, “Ministry of Healing,” is now in hand. Besides all this, quite a good deal of other printing has come to us unsolicited. DURING the missionary campaign many workers will be puzzled to know what to give to some special person who is not at all acquainted with, or interested in, our literature. To such we would suggest a copy of the new tract, “The Celestial Railroad.” We wish every reader of the REVIEW knew just how interesting this tract is. It is filled with present truth, presented in such a way as to reveal the popular fallacies of the present-day “isms.” Price, 2 cents each, post-paid. IN answer to a long-continued and very urgent demand for a cheaper edition of our standard church hymnal, we have just ready for delivery a new thin-paper edition. It contains everything found in previous editions, but is printed on a little thinner, cheaper paper, and is substantially bound in one style of binding only, plain cloth, neatly stamped in black ink. The price is 75 cents a copy, post-paid. We are sure our people will appreciate this fine book at such a low price, and we trust it will have a wide circulation. WOULD it not be a good plan for every conference to arrange so that the address of every person who purchases a copy of “Ministry of Healing” shall be kept? Such a list of “Christ’s Object Lessons” subscribers was kept by some conferences, and the work was followed up later either by some worker, or by correspondence from the tract society office. We think it would be a good plan to keep at the conference office a list of the names and addresses of all persons to whom any of our subscription books are sold. These can then be furnished to the next canvasser who works the locality, or they can be given to suitable persons for missionary correspondence, and the knowledge of the particular book purchased gives good reason for addressing them. SOME time ago we got out a little catalogue of books selected from our list of subscription books. It was intended principally for the use of our canvassers, and as it had the heading “Birds of a Feather Flock Together,” it was called the “Bird Catalogue.” A brother in the State of Washington writes that as a result of leaving a copy of this with a teacher for examination, he was able to sell one copy of each of the following books: “Great Controversy,” “Desire of Ages,” “Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Christ Our Saviour,” “The House We Live In,” “The Story of Daniel the Prophet,” “Education,” “Land and Sea,” “Happy Home,” and “Best Stories.” He calls it a “door opener,” and no wonder. ORDERS for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society or to any of the following: Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C., and Battle Creek, Mich.; Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal., also Portland, Ore., and Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Tex. Every passing day brings the coming of the Lord so much the nearer: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly.” Men of the world are planning for centuries to come, and fortunes are being piled up for the purpose of providing for children’s children, but a fearful surprise is in store for those who refuse to heed the message which the Lord is sending to this generation. But even while the word is going forth that “there shall be delay no longer,” and while the advent of the Saviour is thus drawing nearer and nearer, there are some of those who have professed to believe this last message who are saying in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and they are joining hands with the world in business and in pleasure. But all this will make no difference in the fulfilment of God’s purpose. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” Why will any one refuse to give heed to the warning which is sent to him concerning this crowning event in the history of the world? Why will any adopt the mocking question of the scoffers, “Where is the promise of his coming?” and base his confidence for the future upon the false claim that “since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”? The lesson of the flood is designed to be a warning to this generation, and so an infidel science either ridicules the whole record or else explains it away so that the warning may have no effect. Nevertheless the day of the Lord draws nearer and nearer, and it will surely come whether men hear or whether they will forbear. Happy are those who now prepare to meet the Lord in peace. It is no sin to be tempted. Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Satan, however, is so determined to bring us into condemnation that if he can not seduce us into wilful sin, then he will try to confuse temptation with sin, and thus discourage our souls. There is one thing which we do well to remember; Satan never taunts us with the sins which we have really committed. It is true that he sometimes represents to us that our sins have been too great and too many to expect forgiveness, but this he does by misrepresenting the Lord’s mercy, rather than by reproving the sin as sin. His one purpose is to involve us deeper and deeper in sin, and to keep us from turning to the Lord for forgiveness. In order to accomplish this he will adopt any and every means which his long experience has suggested, but the Lord has exposed his deceptive workings, and taught us how to escape his snares. “We are not ignorant of his devices.” The Lord has not promised to save us from being tempted, but knowing that we should be tempted, he has given us both warning and encouragement. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.” “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.” “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation.” Provision has been made in the gift of Jesus to supply just the help we need in meeting temptation, “for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Modern Christianity Explained
ONE of the ways in which the advanced theologians of the present day mislead those who do not look carefully into their teaching is by using Biblical terms and phrases in a sense entirely different from that which has been established by the common usage of Christian believers. These dispensers of new light claim to believe in the gospel of Christ, and often quote the words of the prophets, of Jesus, and of the apostles as furnishing a sort of orthodox medium through which to convey their new philosophy, but an analysis of their teaching will show that they are utterly at variance with the real revelation made through “holy men of God.” Occasionally one of these so-called liberal Christians explains the meaning which he has attached to some of the familiar forms of expression in which fundamental truths have been crystallized, and thus makes clear the sense in which he uses them. An example of this is found in an address delivered at the State conference of Congregational churches at Gardiner, Maine, Sept. 27, 1905, by William De Witt Hyde, president of Bowdoin College. An abstract of this address is printed in a recent issue of the Outlook. President Hyde first sets forth his own conception of Christianity and of an impersonal God in these words: “There are two essentials of Christianity. The first is a reverent recognition of One Great Good Will, which has its way for every word we speak and every deed we do. [This is the doctrine of God in man.] . . . The second essential of Christianity is the democratic attitude toward other people. To fall short of the democratic attitude toward the humblest and worst of our fellow men is to fall out of the reverent attitude toward the Great Good Will, which includes the welfare of the lowest equally with the highest, of the worst no less than the best.” “From these two principles,” says Dr. Hyde, “all Christian doctrine and all religious duties can be logically deduced.” He then proceeds to illustrate his view in a manner both clear and astonishing. He says:— Is Jesus Christ the divine Son of God and the Saviour of the world?—Yes; because in precept and example, in life and death, he was implicitly obedient to the Great Good Will, and included the lowliest and worst in his sympathy and4service. Measured by these essential tests, Jesus stands forth as supremely divine. Is there a Holy Spirit?—Yes; for there have been and are to-day countless men and women who have reverence toward the Great Good Will and democratic sympathy toward their fellows as the attitude and spirit of their lives. Is the Bible inspired?—Yes; for its contents were produced, selected, sifted, and preserved by the spirit of reverence to the Great Good Will and helpful service of humble human need. Is prayer answered?—Yes; for every man who really wants this twofold gift of reverence toward the Good Will and democratic comradeship with men can have it; and no man gets it who does not earnestly want it and practically ask for it. Are we saved by the sacrifice of Christ?—Yes; for no man, from Christ to his humblest disciple, can do the Good Will and try really to serve others without suffering the enmity and hate of the selfish and sinful, with whose schemes the just and generous Christian man is bound to interfere. Do all men need conversion?—Yes; for it is not natural nor easy to make the Good Will for all our fellow men the principle of conduct; and no man is a Christian until that principle is consciously accepted and adopted as the spirit and purpose of his life. What is the basis of church-membership?—Fellowship with Christ in the effort to translate the Great Good Will for all men into personal life, and the life of the community. Note the frankness with which the essential doctrines of the Christianity of the Bible are perverted and the new theology taught by giving modern, philosophical reasons, rather than Biblical reasons, for assenting to orthodox forms of belief. Dr. Hyde first explains what he means by Christianity. In doing this he practically substitutes human philosophy for divine revelation. He next explains some of the fundamental verities of revealed Christianity in harmony with his philosophy. He is then, of course, free to declare his belief in the divinity of Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in the inspiration of the Bible, in answered prayer, in salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, etc., but what he really believes in is his own philosophy concerning these doctrines, and not in the doctrines themselves as set forth in the Scriptures. The difference between the two is as wide as the gulf which separates paganism from Christianity. That the Christianity which Dr. Hyde advocates is simply a refined and veneered heathenism is plainly shown by what he says concerning missions. We quote again:— What will become of missions? As a means of saving the heathen from future punishment by offering our creeds, our rites, our forms of organization, the missionary cause is already dead. The opportunity to infuse into their traditions and customs the spirit of reverence for the One Good Will, and sympathy for all men, makes missions the supreme duty of the present, and the promise of a better, richer, more diversified, and more comprehensive Christianity than the world has ever seen. The Christianity which the apostle Paul preached led the heathen who accepted it to discard their traditions and customs. At Ephesus “many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.” The apostle’s message to the heathen was: “We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God.” Dr. Hyde’s message would be: “We would like to infuse into your traditions and customs the spirit of reverence for the One Good Will.” Which is Christianity, and which is merely a compromise with heathenism? But Dr. Hyde is not the only teacher who puts his own meaning into forms of expression which have a settled meaning in common usage. The time has come when we must know whether a man has a theological dictionary of his own in which new definitions of old terms are to be found, or whether he accepts the old-time meaning of Biblical expressions, before we really know whether his profession of belief in the third angel’s message proves him to be in harmony with the body. When by the cleansing of the sanctuary prophesied of by the prophet Daniel one man means the actual work of Christ our High Priest in the sanctuary in heaven, beginning in 1844, while another means the movement for health reform in this generation, both may profess faith in the cleansing of the sanctuary as a most important doctrine, and yet be wide apart in their views. The same principle applies to other phases of this message. We grant freedom of choice to every man. In the ordinary sense of the expression, one man has the same right to accept the new theology as another has to hold to the gospel as revealed in the Scriptures, but both ought to be frank and honest in the expression of their views. Open and manly opposition to the truth is more honorable than a professed co-operation which undermines the fundamental principles of genuine Christianity. A Right Standpoint
By L. A. S.
THE standpoint from which a view of anything is taken determines the nature of the view obtained. A correct view demands a correct standpoint. Men may reason very logically from a wrong standpoint, and come to a conclusion that is wide of the truth. The more logically they reason, indeed, from such a standpoint, the more surely must their conclusion be erroneous. It is upon the Word of God that we depend for a correct standpoint in our view of Christian truth and duty. The Christian’s point of view is wholly different from that of the man of the world. It is a much higher standpoint, and affords a much broader and clearer view than any other. No matter what powers of intellect a man may possess, it is utterly impossible for him to see what the Christian sees so long as he occupies a worldly point of view. It is as impossible as for two persons to get the same view of an object looking at it from opposite sides. When the work of proclaiming present truth was first started, it was foolishness to the man of the world, and in his judgment it was an undertaking that must speedily collapse. There was nothing, from his point of view, to indicate that it would grow and gather strength through coming years. It had neither wealth nor numbers nor influence for its support, nor was it at all popular. Those who scoffed at it and looked for its collapse reasoned correctly from a worldly standpoint; but their standpoint being wrong, they entirely missed the truth. Likewise in the matter of the removal of the headquarters of this work from its old and long-established location; men of the world saw in it only folly, and predicted disaster as a speedy consequence. Their reasoning was perfectly logical and correct, from their standpoint; the only trouble with it was, their standpoint was not the right one. The churches of this time have largely made void the Word of God by tradition and the higher criticism, and are looking at the present and the future from a wrong standpoint. They are turning to the world for assistance in advancing the kingdom of Christ. They have a theory that, as one person of note expressed it, “the kingdom of Christ is to enter the realm of law through the gateway of politics.” They seek to effect great moral reforms, which will pave the way for the setting up of Christ’s kingdom, through the ballot and legislative enactments. Their reasoning is logical enough. The world is to continue on indefinitely, they believe, and yet God reigns and is all powerful, and the cause of righteousness must triumph. They note also that few men are being converted by preaching; the masses seem to be beyond the influence of the church and beyond the reach of the old-time methods of saving souls. The preaching of this day has little power. From these premises, it is a very logical step to the conclusion that the mighty power of the state, or of the ballot, must be invoked to sweep away the evils which threaten society, and secure that triumph of righteousness which they feel assured must come. Very logical reasoning,5but a very erroneous conclusion. Their standpoint is wrong. It is not a Scriptural one. To obtain a correct standpoint, they must go back to the point where they rejected the message, which began to be given prior to 1844, proclaiming the hour of God’s judgment. It was there that the churches diverged from the pathway of divine truth. If they had received that message, they would not now be devoting themselves to plans which look forward to coming centuries, but would know that the work God has given them is that of saving souls from a sinking ship, which is fast settling to its doom. What a vast difference in the views of Christian opportunity and duty for this time obtained from the standpoint which supposes an indefinite continuance of time, and that which reveals the coming end of all things in this generation! The correct standpoint is that of Him who sees the end from the beginning, and from whose eye nothing is hidden. When we see light in his light, we shall see the truth. We may not understand it, or be able to harmonize it with conclusions drawn from that of which we are cognizant, but we may be sure that the view it gives us of truth or duty is the correct one. Let us be sure that our view of things is from a right standpoint.
L. A. S. “Why Didn’t You Hurry?”
By William A. Spicer
A MISSIONARY has told us how he first received the call to go into distant lands with the life-giving message. He was crossing the fields from his work one evening, when he saw his little boy running to meet him. Suddenly the little one vanished from sight. The father remembered some old well holes in the field, and knew the boy had fallen into one. With all the speed that his agonized heart could give to flying feet, he ran to the rescue. To his joy he found the well shallow and empty, and the little one unhurt. But as he drew the boy out, the little fellow said with quivering lips, “O papa, why didn’t you hurry?” It had seemed to him such a long time of waiting—those few seconds of loneliness and fear. It set the father to thinking of the millions in the dark lands abroad, who have fallen deep into the pit of ignorance and sin, many of whom long for a helping hand to lift them out. He had often thought that some day he might go. The experience with his own little one in peril helped him to understand that there is need for haste in rescuing souls from sin. With our knowledge of the events occurring upon the earth, and with the final message of warning committed to our hands, we have a responsibility to do quickly all that God enables us to do, such as was never before pressed upon any people. The providence of God echoes the cry from all the ends of the earth, “Why don’t you hurry?” and the people to whom this marvelous message is just coming wonder that it had not reached their ears sooner. Ecuador is now having a chance to hear the advent message. From that field Brother Davis writes:— What a precious thing it is to find in these new fields persons who are hungry for present truth. But it has always been with a degree of shame that I tell them that the Adventist Church began over fifty years ago; for it always causes expressions of surprise, as if to say, Why have you been so long in coming this way? Thank the Lord that there is to be delay no longer. Heaven is hastening the message on—away beyond our own efforts and co-operation. These providences by which the standard is set so often far beyond our frontier lines serve notice upon us that the Lord expects us to quicken our steps. When he says, Delay no longer, the inactivity that once delayed the work will only sever the slothful servant from the work. May every soul during this coming week of prayer, and in this season of preparation for it, hear anew the cry of the waiting ones in all lands. We are to pray and work and give to hasten this message on just as we would if our very own were in the pit crying to us, Why don’t you hurry? Anything short of this means the loss of our own souls. Foretelling Russia’s Destiny
It is unquestionably true that Russia is a subject of prophecy in the thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth chapters of Ezekiel. It seems altogether probable also that this prophecy has an application to the closing years of the history of the world. It is therefore quite natural that the recent war between Russia and Japan should suggest an attempt to interpret and apply in a definite way the predictions found in these chapters. The results of one such effort are embodied in a small pamphlet with the title “Destiny of Russia,” which has recently been called to our attention. The contents of this pamphlet are outlined on the title page as follows: “The Armies of the United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, and Other Nations Soon to Assemble West of Old Jerusalem; Purpose of This Assembly; Gathering of the Jews from All Countries; Their Return to Palestine Now in Process; Some Inside Facts of Weighty Interest to Everybody; Connection of These Matters with Some Things the Lord Jehovah Is about to Do.” By a kind of interpretation which seems to be more ingenious than convincing the writer attempts to show from certain texts that “soon the Jews will be gathered out from their troublers, soon they will be separated from the nations and gathered together into an unmolested country where at first they will actually dwell in safety,” and that “this is therefore the sign for which we need now look in the development of events.” The summary of his conclusions are thus stated by this writer:— These are the events in their order according to the prophetic outline:— Shortly after Japan and Russia come to terms of peace, the Jews settle in Palestine. When the Jews settle in Palestine, Russia goes down after them to take both a spoil and a prey. When the Russian reaches Palestine, among other occurrences the towers fall [explained elsewhere as marking a time of great slaughter]. When the towers fall, the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit has already taken place, and God’s loyal people have been sealed to eternity. The fate of all mankind has been settled forever. The interpretation given to various passages of Scripture by this writer seems to us to be both fanciful and arbitrary. One illustration of this will suffice. Quoting the marginal reading of Eze. 39:2 (omitting one clause evidently through a misunderstanding of the proper place for inserting this reading), “I will draw thee back with an hook of six teeth,” he declares the meaning of this to be that the Lord has drawn back the Russians six times from their efforts to reach the sea. The sixth time is made to apply to the surrender of Port Arthur, but the fact seems to be overlooked that the Russians still have a permanent sea base at Vladivostok. The author of “The Great Nations of To-day” in his comment upon this same marginal reading says: “The six plagues of Revelation 16 are referred to in Eze. 39:2, margin.” Furthermore, this marginal reading does not appear at all in either the English or the American Revised Version, both of which render the passage thus: “I will turn thee about, and will lead thee on,” etc. It seems to us that altogether too free a rein is given to the imagination in handling the words of the prophet in this way. It is this sort of visionary interpretation which brings into discredit any effort to understand the prophecies. This whole forecast of the destiny of Russia depends upon the literal return of the Jews to Palestine, and this is made “the sign for which we need now to look.” It seems surprising that this teaching, which has been so completely refuted, should again be advocated among us. Those who adopt this conclusion6will soon find themselves utterly out of harmony with the third angel’s message. It is the beginning of many and grievous errors. We have had several interpretations of this prophecy in Ezekiel sent to us for publication, but each one contradicts more or less fully the conclusions of the others, and we think it will be altogether safe to wait for more light before announcing so many different destinies for Russia. For What Shall We Pray During the Week of Prayer?
By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells
WHY have Seventh-day Adventists set apart the week of December 9-16 for special prayer? Is it to unitedly pray for larger temporal blessings? Is it to ask God to stay the progress of some cruel war or some devastating pestilence, or to end some dreadful famine? Is it to pray for better crops, higher prices, and more wealth? We may very appropriately ask for these blessings for some of our suffering fellow men, and we may also express our gratitude for the blessings we are enjoying. But it is not primarily for any or all of these temporal blessings that the week of prayer has been appointed. This season of special prayer has been set apart for the purpose of seeking for spiritual blessings. We need the righteousness of Christ that we may be humble, pure, patient, self-sacrificing, and earnest in the Master's cause. We need the power of God to proclaim his message for this time, and win souls to his kingdom. These great blessings we need in far larger measure than we have ever received them. The righteousness of Christ is implanted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. “When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife.” It is the Holy Spirit that gives us power to render effectual service in soul winning. “Christ in his mediatorial capacity gives to his servants the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is the efficiency of the Spirit that enables human agencies to be representatives of the Redeemer in the work of soul saving. That we may unite with Christ in this work we should place ourselves under the molding influences of his Spirit. . . . To every one who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results.” It is by the vitalizing, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit that God will finish his work in this generation. In a recent communication through the spirit of prophecy this statement is made:— “God has committed to us a special work, a work that no other people can do. He has promised us the aid of his Holy Spirit. The heavenly current is flowing earthward for the accomplishment of the very work appointed us. Let not this heavenly current be turned aside by our deviations from the straightforward path marked out by Christ.” Seeing, then, that it is through the Holy Spirit that God gives us victory over sin, and power to win souls to him, should we not at this time pray most earnestly to be filled with the Holy Spirit? “For the baptism of the Spirit every worker should be pleading with God. Companies should be gathered together to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should men pray that God will baptize his missionaries with the Holy Spirit.” And the assurance is given through the spirit of prophecy that “this promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings in its train.” We need a new life put into us; we need the graces of our blessed Redeemer; we need more missionaries and more funds; we need much indeed, but above all we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit of the living God. This will bring all the rest. For this we should offer earnest, continued, triumphant prayer during the coming week of prayer. And while we pray for the baptism of the Spirit, we should earnestly seek to know the conditions upon which the Lord can safely bestow it, and should quickly and fully comply with them. Our motive in asking for the abiding presence of the Spirit should be to glorify Christ, to overcome sin, and to work successfully for the Lord. We must be willing to put away our sins, to crucify self, to surrender all we have to God, and to give our lives to him for service. With right motives and humble submission to his will controlling us, we may ask in faith for this highest of gifts, and we shall receive. This will lift us to a higher platform, and give the cause we love new life and power. It will provide all the workers and means required to speedily finish the Lord's work. Then let us pray and give to this end. The Medical Missionary Convention
By A. G. Daniells
THIS convention, as already announced, is to be held at College View, Neb., November 21-26. It has not been our desire to have a very large gathering, to make what would be considered a convention show. The purpose of this council is to do practical, earnest work in setting on foot measures that will advance the medical missionary part of the great movement which we as a people are carrying forward. We wish to inaugurate simple, feasible plans by which all our people can do something to impart to others the light God has given us regarding the laws of life and the rational treatment of disease. The fundamental principles of what has come to be called medical missionary work are a part of the third angel's message. These principles were discerned and adopted by the pioneers of this cause at an early date in its history. That pioneer in the truth, Captain Joseph Bates, was the connecting link between the great movement under the first and second messages, and the great movement of the third message. He was the first to begin the observance of the Sabbath after the disappointment of 1844. At that time he was an ardent temperance reformer. In fact, he organized the first temperance society ever formed in the United States. He not only discarded intoxicating liquors, but tobacco, tea, coffee, and flesh-meats as well. At its fourth session held in 1866, the General Conference recorded its acceptance of the light on health reform as given through the spirit of prophecy, and requested Dr. H. S. Lay to write articles on the subject for the instruction of the people. At its fifth session, a year later, the General Conference made provision for the preparation of a book on physiology and hygiene, and indorsed the steps that had been taken to establish a small sanitarium in Battle Creek, Mich. The book asked for by the General Conference was written by Elder J. N. Loughborough. This was the beginning of our medical literature. From that early period in our history, medical missionary work has been a prominent feature of this cause, and will continue to be until our work is finished. For sixty-one years this phase of the message has been kept before the public, the physicians and nurses, the ministers and the lay members, by the spirit of prophecy. Not all have been as loyal and true to the light of reform as we should have been, but the Lord has been merciful to us, and has blessed our efforts to enlighten and relieve our fellow men. The light we have regarding healthful living and the proper treatment of disease is what the world needs. It is a part of the light of the gospel of Christ. It has been given to us by the Lord. The spirit of prophecy has had much — more than all else — to do in guiding us along right lines. We have a large amount of most valuable instruction which the world needs, and the purpose7of the coming convention is to set in operation plans for giving to the world what is so dear to us. We are greatly encouraged by the success attending the humble, conscientious efforts being made at the present time. When we transferred the Pacific Health Journal from St. Helena to Washington, and changed its name to Life and Health it had a small subscription list. During the few months that have passed since this change was made, the circulation has gradually and steadily grown to nearly twenty thousand. In Australia, Great Britain, and other places where our conferences are carrying on medical work, the blessing of God is attending it. Let it never be forgotten that the medical missionary work given us to do is gospel work. It must be recognized as gospel light, and carried forward by genuine gospel methods. In view of all this, we desire to have all our people understand the object of our convention. We ask for your prayers that we may develop good plans. And we shall hope to have the co-operation of the physicians, nurses, and all the people who love this cause, in carrying out the plans agreed upon. Moral Decadence and Moral Principle
PRESIDENT NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER, of Columbia University, adds the following testimony to that given of late by other men of note, concerning moral decadence as a characteristic of the times:— Put bluntly, the situation which confronts Americans to-day is due to lack of moral principle. New statutes may be needed, but statutes will not put moral principle where it does not exist. The greed for gain and the greed for power have blinded men to the time-old distinction between right and wrong. Both among business men and at the bar are to be found advisers, counted shrewd and successful, who have substituted the penal code for the moral law as the standard of conduct. Right and wrong have given way to the subtler distinction between legal, not legal, and illegal; or better, perhaps, between honest, law-honest, and dishonest. This new triumph of mind over morals is bad enough in itself; but when in addition its exponents secure material gain and professional prosperity, it becomes a menace to our integrity as a people. This may be taken as President Butler's answer to the question whether the world—or this section of it—is growing better.