p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 1. (1/2/1901)

Is a Church Good for a Community?

Is a church a good thing in a community?—“Yes,” say some of our religious contemporaries, “and therefore it ought to be exempt from taxation.” But really all will not admit the affirmative of this. The unreligious, the time-server, the liberally religious, the unthinking man, will admit it as a general proposition, but will the Catholic admit that a Protestant church is a good thing? Will a Protestant admit that a Catholic Church is a good thing? Will two Protestant churches in a small village, with seating capacity for the whole town, admit that a third Protestant church would be a good thing? Would the tax-paying infidel and citizen admit it? Really, it depends greatly on what church and whose, doesn’t it? But, even tho a church is a good thing, ought every good thing to be exempt from taxation? A true Christian is a good man in a community—“the salt of the earth,” Jesus says— doing good at all times to all around him; but should he therefore be exempt from taxation? Was it Christ’s promise that the State should be with His church to the end of the age, or that He would? If the church is a real benefit, ought she not to be willing to wait to be recognized voluntarily by the community instead of forcing the public to do it?

A Happy New Year to all our readers.

There is a sure way to miss it, and that is to seek it for ourselves. Happiness sought is too elusive. A moment after we think we have her, she is gone; and there are many deceivers who parade in her stolen garments.

There is a sure way to find Happiness; that is, to seek the good of others and forget self. Do duty for Christ’s sake. Minister His life to all around you. Let self die, crucified on His cross. Let Christ live in your heart. And Happiness, no longer coy and elusive, will come like a bird to her nest, and make your heart her home.

The Preaching Needed.

The following, from an address by Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, a Presbyterian, to Methodist preachers, written at the request of the Christian Advocate, has a grand, glorious ring in these days of human devices and Biblical criticism: “I exhort you not to be caught by the current delusion that this ‘advanced age’ requires entirely new methods and a new style of preaching, and what is absurdly called an ‘up-to-date gospel.’ This age of ours, with all its mighty mechanical inventions and its increasing mammon worship, has not advanced one single inch beyond its indispensable need of the atoning blood of Jesus and the converting power of the Holy Spirit. All the telegraphs and the telephones, and all the universities, with their boasted achievements in scholarship, have not yet outlawed Calvary and Pentecost. Human nature has not changed; human sinfulness and sorrows have not changed; the Word of God has not changed; the Holy Spirit has not changed; the precious promises have not changed; and what fallen man needed to lift him Godward nineteen centuries ago he needs to-day. Stick to the old Gospel. When God gives you another, preach it, but not before. Don’t waste your breath in defending your Bible; it is self-evidencing. Your commission is, ‘Preach the Word,’ and God will take care of it.”

Favorite Texts.

The San Francisco Examiner asked various prominent men and ministers, Catholic and Protestant, for their “favorite texts.” Forty-two responded. Three, one of whom is President McKinley, gave the Bible in its entirety; the other two were Catholic prelates. Vice-President Roosevelt quotes a sentiment, “Above all, to thine own self be true.” Ten, all Protestant, quote John 3:16. Two quote, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (which is not Matt. 14:9, as given by the Examiner). Two choose the Golden Rule. Beside these no other texts are duplicated. Most of the texts chosen by Protestants express the love of God and faith in Him. None of those preferred by Catholics refer to faith. Rabbi Voorsanger prefers Ps. 23:1, 2. Archbishop Riordan prefers John 1:4. But does he actually believe that the Eternal Word was really made in the person of Jesus our flesh? Was Jesus really our Brother? Or was He separated from us by two immaculate conceptions? Well, the choice of each and all, save that of the Vice-President’s, is good; for God’s Word is the Good Book.

France and Religion

France and Religion.—Mr. Richard Davey, in the Fortnightly Review for August, maintains that the idea that France is an irreligious country is a mistaken one. He says that “of the two countries France and England, France is probably the more practically religious.” This religion, of course, is for the most part the Catholic religion. Mr. Davey illustrates his point by the fact that when the government passed a law suppressing religious instruction in the public schools, “the Parisians, in a surprisingly short time, collected many millions of francs for the establishment of free schools, which are invariably in the hands of the religious orders.” He notes the further fact that “at least two-thirds of the Roman Catholic missions in foreign parts are supported out of French money.”

The Stones Confirm the Word

The stones are crying out. Men refuse to declare the truthfulness of the Word of God. Nay, they dispute it. Even the professed friends of the Bible, who owe to the influences of the Book all that they are, dispute its ancient history. Creation is an allegory. The deluge is a myth. The Hittites never existed. But so have they declared. Time went on. The archaeologist went to work. The ruins of Assyrian and Egyptian temples and palaces yielded up their store of cylindrical tomes and brick records. The stones uttered their voice. The Book is not alone in its story of the creation. The flood is a tradition among all nations. The Hittites were a nation of power, as the Bible indicates. Boastful are the old records, in deeds and time. They exalt their heathen heroes unto gods and demigods, and magnify age and length of reign in proportion. Great liars are they, but they confirm the Word; they make foolish the world-wise scholars. Just now another, the Ur Expedition (of which Dr. W. R. Harper is president, Prof. Edgar James Banks, Ph.D., director, and Prof. W. H. Hazard, Ph.D., secretary, 72 Fifth Avenue, New York), is raising funds from every willing, able one, to excavate the buried Babylonian city Mugheir, or “Ur of the Chaldees,” the early home of Abraham and Sarah. They desire to begin as soon as funds are available. It is a good place to use some of the uncounted millions of rich men. Let the work go on. It will all redound to the confirmation of God’s Book. Not that the Bible needs to be confirmed to those who know Christ, but these confirmations will help the doubters, and manifest the folly of those who rise up against the Word of truth.

A Temple of Fame

A “Temple of Fame.”—The New York University has a Temple of Fame, upon the walls of which are to be inscribed in gold a roll of “immortal” Americans, and those are to be decided by the vote of a jury, composed of college professors, ex-presidents, doctors of science and divinity, lawyers, etc. To entitle him to a right on the scroll of fame in this New York University building, one must get at least fifty votes. Only thirty such have yet been found. Washington leads, with ninety-seven votes, and Asa Gray (how many can tell who he was?) is at the foot of the procession, with fifty-one. Now, as has been said, the men named are doubtless worthy of honor, and so may be honored, but fame does not come that way. But it is the people that give fame, and that not by vote. It is only stating a truth—sad tho’ it is—to say that John L. Sullivan is more famous than Horace Mann ever was. How different to man’s in many cases will be God’s roll of real immortals!

Preaching Christ, Not Horse Shows

If a man should go onto a vacant lot in Chicago and preach Christ in truth, without any other attraction or any sensation, the Associated Press would not telegraph a four-inch notice of the fact all over the United States. But when one begins his service with a free horse-taming entertainment, he not only is sure of a crowd, but he secures the coveted advertising. It is certain that at any religious service where the preaching of Christ is made secondary, and a horse-show is the attraction, the Spirit of God will not honor the occasion. “My glory will I not give to another,” saith the Lord, nor will He play second part to a horse-show. All the so-called “conversions” under such auspices are so many people deceived.

Good Health Midwinter Number

The Midwinter Number of the Good Health is one of special interest. It specially deals with diseases and food for the winter season. It must be seen and read to be appreciated. It is profusely illustrated with half-tones, and has a colored plate of samples of measly, tuberculous, scrofulous, and healthy meat. The price is only 10 cents, and it may be had in lots of ten or more at 5 cents each. Address Good Health, Battle Creek, Mich.

The Cuban Republic—Limited

There is a grim humorous irony in the title which Walter Wellman's article bears in December's Review of Reviews, albeit not intended; it is, “The Cuban Republic—Limited.”