NEARLY two thousand representatives attended the Eleventh Annual Council of the Evangelical Free Churches, recently held in Birmingham. This powerful organization, made up chiefly of Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Baptists, Congregationalists, and Quakers, was formed about a decade ago, but has only in the last two or three years taken on national importance. Its activity in the recent elections has been dwelt upon in a previous letter; it may be of interest here to point out some of the more striking features of this its largest and most successful annual gathering.
Political Union and Social Reform.
The key-note of the meeting was without doubt social reform, considered mainly from a political point of view. One could not but notice how persistently the leading speakers returned to this subject. Thus F. B. Meyer, who is giving up his pastoral charge in London that he may have more time and strength for larger activities, stated in one of his addresses before the Council that it had become necessary to reconstruct society on a new basis. People said that he was backsliding spiritually, but he had lived long enough to see that men and women were being damned for time and eternity by abominable social conditions. Once he had thought of consecration as exclusive; now he realized that it was inclusive—that a man could live a consecrated life and still be deeply immersed in politics and business. He thought he himself had never been so really consecrated to the Lord as he had during the three stormy years just passed. It was necessary to construct anew the conception of the kingdom of God. We were to understand that the kingdom of God had come. Dr. Clifford, a very prominent Baptist preacher, spoke in much the same strain. He thought that a new sense of responsibility was pervading the churches and the country. The recent election marked the beginning of the Free Church of England. We had done with distinctions between church and church and were now banded together as one. The day of power for the church of Christ had come, and we had taken an advance step in the creation of the true modern state.
Temperance.
Temperance reform came up for some consideration. It was urged that a substitute should be provided for the public house. It was a disgrace in the twentieth century that “the tap-room, and not the Christian church, should be the social center and the chief attraction of the people.” Something of a sensation was created when Gypsy Smith, the well-known evangelist, turned his back to the audience and appealed earnestly to the ministers on the platform to become total abstainers, and thus free themselves from all complicity in the iniquitous traffic. He pleaded with them to do this: “the sake of the 80,000 fallen women of London.”
It may be noted in passing that Great Britain’s drink bill has been slowly decreasing since 1899. It amounted last year to something over £164,000,000, which was nearly £22,000,000 less than in 1899. When the natural increase of population is taken into consideration, the decrease amounts to about £34,000,000. By some this falling off in the consumption of alcoholic drinks is attributed to the hard times, and it may be partly accounted for in this way. Probably the strong stand against alcohol taken by many of the most prominent physicians, especially the members of the Medical Temperance Association, is having some effect. The wholesale fashion in which medical men in the past were in the habit of recommending alcoholic stimulants is rapidly coming to be considered unscientific and dangerous.
Sunday Observance.
Sunday observance also came up for consideration, and a resolution “viewing with grave anxiety the growing tendency to secularize the Lord’s day, and urging the Free Churches to strive to keep the Sunday free from the intrusion alike of mere pleasure and of week-day toil,” was moved by J. H. Shakespeare, secretary of the Baptist Union, and carried. Mr. Shakespeare also mentioned that a letter had been received from the secretary of the Archbishop of Canterbury inviting the Council to lend its aid in reducing the evils of Sunday desecration. This movement in favor of a more strict observance of Sunday, seems to be slowly gathering in strength. Sunday, July 1, has been suggested as a day for the preaching of simultaneous sermons in all the churches of the kingdom, and it is also proposed to hold a representative conference for the consideration of this matter next November. That the movement has some backing outside the clergy is evident from the statement of Lord Avebury in the House of Lords that 300 shopkeepers associations and a large number of corporations and trades councils have given their approval to Sunday-closing.
The Educational Question—A Certain Sound.
Naturally the education question came in for a good share of attention, and plenty of advice was given to the government on this delicate matter. As already indicated, the general tone of the gathering was social and political rather than religious. Nevertheless, one twenty-minute address was given by Principal P. T. Forsyth, of Hackney Theological College, in which timely truths were brought out. Dr. Forsyth said that in the very circles of evangelical believers a distrust of theology was spreading, and in some quarters distrust had given way to actual unbelief. The note of authority was lacking in modern preaching. Faith was not characterized by obedience. It could appreciate the spirit of Christ, but it was not abased before the majesty, the holiness, of Christ. Active religion tended to become bustling and jaunty. We were familiar with pulpit appeals for more love, more trust, more sympathy, etc. Believe, believe, the preacher urged, while largely ignoring the fact that faith and repentance and all the Christian graces were supernatural things,—were the gift of God. In religion, experience must fall to the ground unless sustained by theology. A church deprived of a well-defined belief would become a feeble church and then a worldly church. Preachers should bestow themselves upon the serious and resolute study of the Bible as the standing creator of Christian experience.
On the whole it was an excellent address, but it did not win much favor with the audience, and there was no discussion. The general current of thought was in quite another direction. Like the twelve disciples on the way to Jerusalem, the minds of the leaders were too much taken up with more material and worldly things to appreciate spiritual truth.
Matters in Parliament.
Turning our attention for a moment to Parliament, we find we are still in the vortex of social agitation. The new House of Commons has already given its approval to measures for the payment of members, the feeding of insufficiently fed school children, and for old-age pensions. It has also expressed itself unmistakably in favor of free trade. It is a people’s parliament indeed, a fact which leaked out in a significant way the other day when one of the waiters in the House of Commons restaurant was remarking on the number of shilling dinners he was called upon to serve. On the benches there is an absence of that dilettantism which had grown common under the Balfourian régime. The spirit of hard work is coming in to take its place. Democracy is lifting its head once more, and class privilege and hereditary rights are losing their hold. Thus far the Labor members have conducted themselves in a way to win the respect and confidence of their fellows, tho they have not found it easy to master the multitudinous rules of the House. They are nearly all total abstainers, and one of them has been giving some time to securing total abstinence pledges from his fellow members.
The prime minister, it may be said, is exceedingly popular in London, and, for that matter, throughout the country. He has managed things well in the House, and with his large majority can almost afford to ignore the feeble party in opposition.
A Difficult Question. A New Bill.
Of course the new government has made but a beginning. There are wiseacres who prophecy that it will yet be wrecked on the rocks of Education. This is not at all likely, tho the whole matter of the national education is indeed a difficult one to handle successfully. The Education Bill of 1902 was notoriously unfair to the Nonconformists, leaving the control of the children practically in the hands of the Roman Catholics and the state church, these two organizations happening to own almost all the voluntary schools which were subsidized by that bill. The new measure, brought in by the educational secretary, Mr. Birrell, provides that the voluntary schools, conducted by the Church of England and other denominations, in which religious instruction is given, shall be entirely cut off from public financial support. The only way in which they can become entitled to such support is by being made into public schools, and becoming subject to local authorities. There shall be no religious test for teachers, and no religious instruction shall be given by the teacher. But on two mornings in the week religious teaching may be carried on in the school by the pastor or some person appointed for the purpose, but no part of the expense of such teaching shall be borne by the taxes, and attendance shall not be compulsory.
Such is the bill as first presented. What changes may be made, either in committee or on the floor of the House of Commons, remains to be seen. Probably the most uncompromising opposition will come from the Roman Catholics and the High Church party, both of whom have expressed very strong convictions in regard to giving the children a thorough church training. The bishop of Salford (Roman Catholic) speaking at Salford the other week, said: “Our minimum is our maximum. We claim that which alone can satisfy our conscience—the retention of our Catholic, dogmatic teaching.” The Tablet, a prominent Roman Catholic organ, further explains the situation thus: “We are going to hold what we have got, and surrender nothing. The situation is wonderfully simplified by this fact.
We want Catholic teachers all the time in Catholic schools, who shall give definite Catholic teaching to Catholic children. However the Catholic teacher gets into the school, he has got to be there, and, subject to Catholic control, to give proper Catholic instruction to Catholic children.”
Needless to say, such claims are not provided for in the proposed bill. Time will demonstrate how much of this is bluff, and how much grim determination. It is not impossible that there will be some passive resistance on the other side of the fence should the present bill go through Parliament without much change. M. ELLSWORTH OLSEN.
RAILROAD EMPLOYEES OPPOSED TO SUNDAY LAWS.
A report from the Toronto Mail and Empire, bearing date of March 28, shows that the claims of the promoters of Sunday legislation in Canada are not correct in stating that the proposed legislation is in the interests of employees protecting them from Sunday labor, as the following will demonstrate:15Among the lodges heard from are those at London, St. Thomas (representing the G. P. R., Grand Trunk, Michigan Central and Wabash), London, Ottawa, Windsor, and Lindsay.
Toronto Junction Lodge, of the Order of Railway Conductors, sends a particularly strong resolution, setting forth that the bill is "arbitrary," that it interferes with the management of their own affairs by the railways, and that it will decrease the earning powers of the employees, while increasing the risk of life in handling the accumulation after Sundays. It is further set forth that tying up traffic on Sundays at frontier points will cause diversion to American roads from the Canadian lines.
This resolution, sent by a Conductors' Lodge, will be especially interesting to those who have heard the arguments that Sunday traffic is a menace to life and safety.
WHY THE EARTHQUAKE?
By G.
THE question, What causes earthquakes, is one that has engaged the attention of men for centuries. Various are the theories, and to the ordinary vision various are the causes of local disturbance of this kind. But God tells us of one yet future that will exceed all others in extent and severity, and He also tells us what will be the cause of it:
"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word. . . . The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. 24:1-6.
Note that this is true, "for the Lord hath spoken this word." Now if the greatest earthquake that the earth ever has, or ever will, experience is caused by the transgression of God's law, then is it not possible that others are permitted for the same reason—whatever the immediate physical cause? This is especially probable because "earthquakes in divers places" are to precede the time of this great and destructive one. And the people of to-day should heed this fact, because the earthquake phenomena have been rapidly increasing in frequency within recent years. In this connection we quote a verse omitted in the foregoing scripture:
"And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him."
Was not this the case in San Francisco, where all classes were for a time on an equality? All were alike the objects of charity, the victims of desolation. Is it too much to say that this was a sign, a foretaste, of the devastation of the soon-coming general overthrow? Note further the specification of the prophecy, and its miniature likeness in the catastrophe that has just passed:
"All the merry-hearted do sigh. The mirth of tabreth ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in. There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction."
Surely the conditions in the stricken city by the Bay were enough to impress upon the reflective mind a serious contemplation of the greater fulfilment of the prophecy, when we shall see that "the earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly." And when "the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage," it will be realized that "the transgression is heavy upon it." There will be no more question as to what causes the earthquake. Then it will be demonstrated that "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
Let us praise God for the blessed hope of the believer: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. "Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth." Isa. 24:17. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.
Even the terrible earthquake has its merciful message of warning and invitation. Men are so engrossed in the mad rush for wealth, and position, and pleasure, that nothing short of the quaking, burning evidences of destruction can cause them to halt for even a moment's reflection.
POSITION OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT.
THE Lord's Day Alliance recently sent a deputation to interview and memorialize the government concerning the proposed Dominion Sunday Law. These representatives combatted the positions taken by the Hebrews and Seventh-day Adventists, laying stress upon their comparatively small numbers. Noting this incident, the St. Thomas, Ont., Times says:
In reply Sir Wilfrid Laurier said the question was surrounded with difficulties. It was not possible in this country, where people were of different religious beliefs, to introduce legislation of this kind without having the whole community more or less in a turmoil. He suggested to them that when the bill was in committee and was being discussed clause by clause, they should meet the opponents of the measures and try to find a common basis which
would interfere as little as possible with the religious convictions of those of separate religious beliefs. If all sides met together in this spirit he thought they ought to be able to enact legislation. He must tell this to them frankly; it was the duty of the government to listen to all. They represented the minority as well as the majority. Government was bound to take the part of the minority, because they were in a minority. One might not agree with their views, but they were citizens under the protection of the British Crown, and were entitled to fair play. In this spirit the government approached the consideration of the question.
THE JAMESTOWN TERCENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
By K. C. Russell
TWO bills have recently been introduced into Congress, one in the House and the other in the Senate, which provide for a large appropriation that may aggregate two million dollars for the Jamestown, Virginia, Tercentennial Exposition to be held in the year 1907.
The particular feature in this bill against which every liberty-loving citizen should enter a most earnest protest, is embodied in Section 13, which reads as follows:
That as a condition precedent to the payment of the appropriation herein provided for, the Jamestown Exposition Company shall contract to close the exhibits and places of amusement to visitors on Sundays.
In the words of this section there is couched the wicked principle that is characteristic of all religious legislation.
It should be remembered that we are not opposing the closing of the Exposition on Sundays; that is, we believe that the Commissioners have a perfect right to close it or not as they may choose.
What we protest against is the interference of Congress in the affair; for in so doing she is legislating with respect to a religious institution, which is in flagrant contradiction to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Congress has no more right to make appropriation to the commissioners of the proposed Exposition on condition that it shall be closed on Sundays, than it has to make an appropriation to any other religious institution. The Roman Catholics would have just as good a right to demand an appropriation on condition that they observe Good Friday, Easter, or any other holiday.
Every public function possible, whether municipal, state, or national, is seized upon the promoters of religious legislation, with the hope of adding force and prestige to their unrighteous cause.
All should be able to hoist the signal of danger when the enemies of liberty attempt their attacks against the original American ideas of civil government and religion which were first enunciated by Christ and incorporated into the Constitution of this government, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." K. C. RUSSELL.
Sunday Bill in Massachusetts
A SUNDAY bill in the Massachusetts Legislature has been passed by the House. An effort was made the following day to reconsider it, but failed. It is expected, however, that the bill will be killed in the Senate.
Hopkins Art Institute Paintings Saved
Art lovers of the whole country who were acquainted with the contents of the Hopkins Art Institute will be glad to learn that the many beautiful paintings in that palace of art were saved. They were cut from their frames and taken to Berkeley, Cal. The value of the collection is placed at $200,000.
Boiling Mud Gushers After Earthquake
THE day after the great earthquake, hundreds of gushers of boiling hot mud leaped from the earth near Pajaro, on the Southern Pacific Coast Line. Along the tracks from Salinas (Monterey County) to Pajaro, and branching to Del Monte, trackmen were terrified by these new phenomena. In some places streams of hot sand and loam spurted to a height of ten to fourteen feet. Streams of hot muck ran along the track in ditches. One of the section houses was surrounded by a stream of this mud, and its occupant had to make haste in order to escape. These gushers showed especially at points where the track was settling. An engine and train-master was sent to investigate, and hundreds of craters were seen beyond where the engine could go. Quicksand areas were found where none had been noted before. This region is near the southern limit of the greatest quake extent.
Earthquake Fire Insurance Losses
The insurance commissioners of San Francisco have made a thorough inspection of the district destroyed by fire following the earthquake of April 18. The policies held by those whose buildings were burned will reach $175,000,000 and the commissioners estimate that the total loss will reach $300,000,000. As this is divided among about eighty companies, they assert that only a few of the smaller companies will go down; that in the main the companies will be able to pay dollar for dollar on their policies. Rates are being raised in Chicago, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia, and New York on an average of 25 per cent.
The Great Alaska Earthquake of 1899
"The Independent" of April 26 reminds us through Professor Tarr that there was a very severe earthquake in Alaska in September, 1899, the shocks continuing from September 3 to 10. For a distance of 150 miles the shore line was raised from one foot to forty-seven feet, tidal waves rushed in, glaciers gave way, ocean caves appeared, and mountains tumbled into the sea. Some of the shocks were very violent.
Religious Freedom Throughout the German Empire
By Editor
A REPORT from Berlin, Germany, announcing the religious freedom throughout the empire, reminds one of the early days of the Protestant Reformation when religious freedom was declared. The object seems to be to give more liberty to Catholics, but the amendment makes it much broader. Good. Here is the item:
Berlin, May 2.—The Reichstag to-day debated a Centrist's motion on the subject of religious freedom, demanding the abolishment of restrictive laws of the federal states. The house adopted the first paragraph with a radical amendment, which gives religious freedom throughout the empire to every one, irrespective of creed, and a socialistic amendment forbidding religious education or church attendance against the wishes of parents.
General Funston’s Work in San Francisco
General Funston and the soldiers under him did faithful, energetic, and excellent work during San Francisco's trial.
Christian Greatness Versus Military Power
The world's idea of greatness is great armies and navies. The world's ideal hero is the great general or the great admiral. But greatness achieved by such means is the result of destruction of human life. Nations that become great through such instrumentality must attain greatness at the expense of others. Can such a nation be a Christian nation? -It can be so only in name. Christian greatness is not attained in that way. The Founder of Christianity said of His career on earth, "The Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Yet of Him, before His birth, an angel said, "He shall be great." But even from the standpoint of temporal prosperity, the common people of the great military and naval powers are not the most prosperous. There may be more millionaires and more aristocracy, but in far greater proportion there are also more of the dependent classes. In Europe the greatest average material prosperity, as also the most general tranquility, is to be found in such states as Switzerland, Denmark, and Holland. They have no great armies or navies, mere non-producing consumers of the products of the people's labor, and for this reason they have fewer difficulties with their neighbors. To the professed followers of Christ, He says, "Put up thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Where are great Babylon, and Medo-Persia, and Grecia, and the iron empire of Rome—once proud nations with unlimited sway in the earth? and where are their all-conquering armies?—Perished forever.
India Mission Donations
By Editor
Read our article on India. We will report donations to that field next week.
Earthquake and Fire Issue
By Editor
Our news agents ought to have a good sale of this issue. It contains some fine illustrations and articles on the great earthquake and fire.
The Spread of Spiritism
By Editor
Will the one who sent us a type-written article on "The Spread of Spiritism," please send us his name and address. We do not desire the name of the author for publication unless agreeable to him. But we wish the name of the writer.
Selling the Earthquake Special
By Editor
Agents have done exceedingly well selling the Earthquake Special. One young man, a carpenter and cement worker, came in from a trip on which he had sold 1,300. It paid a great deal better than his trade, he said. It sells readily everywhere; it sells itself.
The Second Earthquake Special Edition
By Editor
Because of the San Francisco City Hall on the first page many have thought that our second edition was the same as the first. But the first page has a much better view of the ruins of the city hall and all told, fifteen different illustrations, in the whole paper, including its magnificent supplement, forty. The price is only five cents.
Earthquake and Fire Scenes Booklet
By Editor
Our first booklet of the earthquake and fire scenes was gotten out in haste and under great difficulties, and yet it is greatly superior to the most of them upon the market, and in giving a view of the whole field affected, it is without a peer. Among its unique features are: before and after the quake; the entire field as no other booklet covers it; the seismographic records, and the meaning of such disturbances and calamities. It is certainly worth its price, 25 cents.
EARTHQUAKE NUMBER.
By Editor
THE first edition of the earthquake special SIGNS OF THE TIMES reached 400,000. Then our rotary press paper gave out, gave out when orders were coming in at the rate of 20,000 a day. Then we issued our Second Edition, containing fifteen different illustrations and two new articles, one of which described graphically Santa Rosa's suffering, the other giving some of the causes of earthquakes.
This edition was corrected to date. It tells the plain story of the calamity. It covers the field from north to south as no other illustrated paper or magazine has.
When we ran out of rotary stock, we were 60,000 orders ahead of the presses. We have four presses now on the SIGNS, and expect our rotary press stock to-morrow.
The old giant has been idle and hungry these days. Soon, however, he will be devouring rolls of paper and turning out finished SIGNS at the rate of 6,000 or more an hour.
We are doing more with this second edition. We are printing on fine paper one of the most striking fire scenes taken, printing in a fine toned brown, suitable for framing, and giving one to each purchaser of the paper.
If you have the first edition, you will certainly want the second. You will want the second anyway.
Splendid Misinformation
By Editor
Splendid Misinformation.—It has been almost impossible to draw an exact map of the burned district of San Francisco, and the best we have seen and published are only approximate. But the following to a fire insurance company in New York by its chief adjuster in San Francisco, according to the usually very accurate Christian Advocate is a "precise statement of the boundaries of the district burned over in the conflagration of April 18-20:
"Beginning at the intersection of Lombard and Bay Streets, south to Mission."
We need not quote all of this "precise statement" when we tell our readers that Lombard and Bay Streets do not intersect. They are parallel streets in the northeast part of the city, three blocks apart. Neither one of them runs to the next street named, Mission; the nearest is twelve blocks away on the south side of Market. "East to Van Ness, north to Sutter" the "precise statement" runs, when Sutter crosses Van Ness at right angles and is both north and south of that avenue. It is to be hoped that this precise man will do better work in adjusting insurance losses.
The above is on a par with some of the books gotten out on San Francisco in the East. One advertises as the "standard and authoritative record of the San Francisco and all other calamities," the "authentic history." Another is advertized as "the only authentic book." Still another of the same sort represents the "Call" building as falling. It need not be said that these books will bear the brand of "precise" and "authentic" inaccuracy.
Heroic Firefighters and Gospel Messengers
One engine company of eighteen men fought the flames that attacked an extensive range of railroad freight sheds in San Francisco, and saved them after twelve hours of incessant, unflinching work. These have been reckoned as fire-traps for many years, yet blocks of substantial buildings in close proximity were swept before the flames. The old sheds were valuable for their treasures of freight. When men are ready to do such unselfish, heroic work for the salvation of souls, the Gospel of the coming kingdom will soon be heralded to the world. "And then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14), and great will be the reward of the faithful messengers.
Why Not Use the Bible?
By Editor
A correspondent sends us a letter of 1,500 words criticizing a tract entitled, "Is Man Immortal?" It will be sufficient to quote but a few of his many words to show how unbiblical is his argument. He says in answer to the title-question of the tract:
"I will answer that question. Of course, man is immortal. This question is as foolish as the question, Is there a God? The atheist and the denier of man's immortality are twin brothers. Every atheist denies man's immortality. God is a respecter of persons. He does not treat everybody alike," etc., etc.
An atheist is in the broad sense one who denies the existence of God. Of course, he is one who does not believe the Bible. This writer evidently does not believe the plainest passages of the Word of God; for that Book declares that God "only hath immortality" (1 Tim. 6:16); that "life and immortality is brought to light through the Gospel" by faith in which through grace it is possible to all (2 Tim. 1:10); that it is a thing to be sought, not something possessed (Rom. 2:7); that the believer will put it on at the last trump, when Christ comes; "then this mortal must put on immortality," if at all (1 Cor. 15:51-54). It has been the devil's endeavor to make man believe from the beginning that he had life and existence within himself. "Ye shall not surely die;" "ye shall be as God." Gen. 3:4. Man if in Christ has eternal life now. Immortality is God's stamp of an incorruptible character. This gentleman wishes to discuss this question with any competent person that respects truth, etc. But what standard does he have of truth? One utterance of God's Word, stated over and over again, is that "God is no respecter of persons." See Acts 10:34; Deut. 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Eph. 6:9; et al. This critic flatly declares, "God is a respecter of persons," and to show that his pen had made no slip, he continues, "He [God] does not treat everybody alike." The word of man or the Word of God: "What is the chaff to the wheat?"
Splendid Spirit of Courage
Splendid Spirit of Courage.—There is a splendid spirit of hope and courage among many of the people in San Francisco. This is exemplified in the following incident. A gentleman met Captain Dimond, not less than 110 years of age, after the fire and said: "Well, Captain, did you save anything?" "Only what I stand in," was the old man's reply. "I have to begin all over again." And it is the only thing to do; but it is well to build with God. Only so is it safe.
