It is a high spiritual attainment to be able to look upon the glory of the Lord's presence. Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Matt. 5:8. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." 1 John 3:2, 3.
We have a remarkable illustration of the qualification necessary to a calm look at the glory of God. Saul of Tarsus, altho a religious zealot, was unconverted when he started from Jerusalem to go to Damascus. He was "exceedingly zealous of the traditions" of the fathers, but thought he "ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." When nearing Damascus, he "saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun," which struck him to the ground and blinded his eyes. The light which he saw was the glory of the Lord, but, being an enemy of Christ, he could not look upon it.
On the other hand we have the instance of Stephen, in whose martyrdom Saul was instrumental. When the Jews were "cut to the heart" by his stirring words, and "gnashed on him with their teeth," and it was evident that they would destroy him, he was encouraged by a view of his Lord and Master. "He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." He did not fall to the ground blinded by the glorious vision, as did Saul not long afterward. He calmly testified to the fact, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God."
Reverting to Paul, we find that after his conversion he had an "abundance" of "visions and revelations;" but he was not affected by them as he was on that first occasion, when he was arrested in his mad campaign against the Lord. Beyond this, too, we have the assurance through the prophet Isaiah that "he that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in His beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off." Isa. 33:15-17.
These are precious promises, but in contemplating the glory of their fulfilment, we must not fail to remember the conditions. G.
God’s Eager Love
God is not alone willing to bestow upon His children what they need; He is anxious. His gift of His Son is His pledge of His ardent love.
THE INTERNATIONAL PROPHETIC CONFERENCE.
By F. C. Gilbert
Boston, Mass., Dec. 10-15.
(Continued.)
THE first session of the conference was opened Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 2:30 P. M., nearly the entire afternoon being devoted to prayer and worship. Many earnest prayers were offered that light and blessing and power might come into the conference, with Boston shaken from center to circumference by the power of the Spirit which might be brought in. The writer certainly hoped it might be so; for it is evident that Boston, like all other large cities in the country and in the world, needs the power of the divine Spirit to shake things, especially the hearts and lives of sinners—to see Jesus Christ as He is, and to know the times in which we live.
The address of "welcome" was given by Emory W. Hunt, D.D., pastor of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church, and he said many good things. In his introductory remarks, he said that this church had for many years echoed and re-echoed the sound of the coming of the Lord. He thought the conference was very timely, in view of the fact there was so much in these days which sought to destroy the blessed Book, and supplant it with something else. There were three strong points he made, which were indeed relevant.
First, whoever discounts the prophetic elements of the Bible, really discounts the whole Book. The Bible is a unit. We can not place discredit on one part without discrediting the entire Bible. The Old Testament and the New must go hand in hand; and if we attempt to disbelieve the Old Testament, we shall eventually disbelieve the New. If we discredit the prophecies of the Old Testament, we shall be apt to discredit the miracles of the New. If we discount what we call the hardest part of the Bible, we shall eventually reject the whole thing.
Second, to eliminate the prophetic part of the Scripture is to place a discredit upon the whole Bible. One great reason why the supernatural is being so lightly regarded is because prophecy, as a part of the inspired record, is not believed. There is only one supposition that prophecy is from heaven, is supernatural, and that is, there is a God. There being a God, prophecy is possible. In order to eliminate prophecy, it is necessary first to eliminate God.
Third, the study of prophecy is needed in these days especially to confirm the faith of the saints. We are exhorted earnestly to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. In the teachings of Jesus He told His disciples great truths before they transpired, so that when they did transpire, they might have a stronger and sturdier faith in Him and in the blessed Bible. With the many rationalistic views, and the higher criticism abroad in the earth to-day, the tendency of which is to undermine the faith of the people of God, the study of prophecy ought to be revived, that the faith of Christians in these days might not grow dim, but may be strong and sturdy.
To these sentiments above expressed by Dr. Hunt, every child of God can say, "Amen;" and if the church of God on earth to-day would devote more time, thought, and meditation to the prophetic portion of God's Word, the Christian church would discover much more light shining in the pathway than they have ever thought of or even realized.
Dr. A. C. Dixon, chairman of the conference, formerly of Brooklyn, N. Y., at the present time pastor of the Ruggles Street Baptist Church of Boston, made the response. He said in substance, that if he were going to give the key-note of the entire conference, he would base it upon John 3:16 and 2 Tim. 3:16. The cream of the conference should be the entirety of the Bible; that the whole Bible is the inspired Word of God. The King James version and not the Revised is the correct rendering of 2 Tim. 3:16. Not only were the men inspired who wrote the words, but the words themselves were inspired, or God-breathed. He quoted several scholars who substantiated the idea that all the Scripture was God-breathed, not only that part of Scripture which was considered by men as inspired. Every scripture of the Bible exalted the Word of God itself. It was becoming rather popular at the present time to deny this fact. To admit the absolute inspiration of the whole Bible was considered rather narrow-minded; to deny, was to be liberal. Yet these liberal people are so broad-minded (?) that if every one does not agree with their ideas they become extremely narrow. Their broad-mindedness becomes extremely narrow. We should be loyal to the truth; and always manifest that loyalty. As to truth we should be as narrow as Jesus. We should never for a moment acknowledge one single error to be right. The Bible is the great yardstick of God to measure everything by. If the measure of ideas does not come up to the Bible, they are valueless. If what is considered as truth does not come up to this blessed standard, it should be rejected. The Bible is God's great Plumb-line to see if everything is all right in belief. What the plumb-line is to the mason to see if the work is all straight, that the Word of God is to all beliefs. If the belief does not come up to the fulness of the Word of God, it is not all right. One beauty, however, about the Bible, different from yardsticks and plumb-lines, is that if the doctrine is not all right, it can make it all right. If the measure of belief is short, the Bible can lengthen it; if the work is crooked, the Bible can straighten it. The Bible is able to do its own work of correcting as well as measuring.
The great battle of the present time, said Dr. Dixon, is not between light and darkness; it is between light and light. The devil at the present time is endeavoring to give people light, as is seen from 2 Cor. 11:14, 15; but what we need to-day is to know the difference between light and "THE LIGHT." The devil is willing for people to get light, if they will not receive "the Light." The great difficulty in the present day is that the devil is trying to palm off onto the world counterfeit; to counterfeit the true light. Morality in itself is all right in its place; but when it is placed in the stead of salvation, it is a counterfeit, and defeats the very object it was designed for. It is passed off for too much. To meet the counterfeits in all forms of religions at the present day, and to discriminate between light and "THE LIGHT" is one great object of prophecy. All these other things are being passed off by the devil to-day for light; the prophecy of God's Word is "THE LIGHT;" by this everything can be tested; by the prophecy of God's Word all things may be discerned.
Many other interesting and pointed remarks were made by Dr. Dixon, which, had the conference carried out, would have brought much more of "THE LIGHT" to many souls than they received. Yet we should be thankful for the many good sentiments which were expressed.
The sermon of the evening was delivered by Dr. L. Z. Broughton, evangelist, of Atlanta, Ga. It was one full of light and blessing; many of the thoughts presented were truly inspiring. His text was Col. 4:12, and he sought to impress upon the minds and hearts of all how we could know we were in the will of God. He said in part:—
How is a man to know whether he is in the will of God? Not by the peculiar experiences of the people; for experience may be misleading. We should desire experience; for Christian experience is very essential to a Christian life. More people needed Christian experience than those who have any at the present time. Still experience could not be relied upon as the surest and safest guide. That which was the most sure was "the law and the testimony." If we were ever in doubt about anything, if we were not positive we were fully in the will of God, we should go to the Book, and have ourselves measured up by it. For if they speak not according to this Word, there is no light in them.
The will of God is that we should be saved. 2 Peter 3:9. The will of God is that we should be sanctified 1 Thess. 4:3. The great trouble with the church to-day is, it does not recognize that God desires His people to be saved and sanctified. The Lord wants a clean people; the whole heart; a pure church, with all uncleanness and worldliness eliminated. We need more of the power of the Spirit to know what it is to be fully cleansed. There is not the difference between the church and the world to-day that there ought to be. So long as the world can explain Christians, so long will the world not be moved. The church should have that sanctifying power of God that the world can not explain her actions.
The will of God is that we should be kept from sinning, should be delivered from sin. 1 Cor. 10:13. God's will is that we should be saved, sanctified, and kept. We can yield if we will, but do not say that God is to blame if we fall. God's will is to give us of His Spirit. Luke 11:13. Jesus told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem till they were endued with the power from on high. As long as the church's actions can be explained by the world, then she is no better than any other society or organization. When the church has that power from on high, she will be an interrogation to the world; then her Pentecost will be as strange to the world to-day as was Pentecost, in the time of the apostles, to the people at Jerusalem. Acts 2. God's will is that we should be guided daily. God desires to take our lives in His hands, that He may work out every problem, that He may guide us in all our steps. If we do this, then we shall always know we are in the will of God.
And all the people can say "Amen" to these beautiful sentiments. Thus closed the first day of the conference. In the next issue the themes on some of the prophecies will be considered.
COMMERCIALISM IN POLITICS.
By Editor
One of the Most Subtle and Dangerous Evils of These Times.
It is not the open, grosser sins and crimes which destroy the vital righteousness of a people; it is the subtle forms of evil, the things winked at, cloaked under political necessities, and made to do service in philanthropical lines. It is the latter which harden the heart, benumb the conscience, and make greater and still greater crime possible, till a whole nation perishes in its own corruption.
One of these phases of evil is strongly set forth by Hon. Bird S. Coler, Comptroller of the City of New York, in an article in the Independent of October 31, entitled "Commercialism in Politics." We have not space to quote more than a few paragraphs.
Yet it has all been foretold in such scriptures as Isaiah 59, Amos 7, and elsewhere. We are nearing the end. Inherent corruption means decay and ruin. The only hope is in individual regeneration by faith in Christ Jesus.
Commercialism in politics provides no place in public life for a man who tries to be courageously honest. The system demands of those who serve it, or act as its agents in public office, a show of outward honesty of the ostentatious, rather than the aggressive, order. There must be no looting of the treasury, no squandering of funds in the open where detection is certain. A Tweed or a 'Tweed Ring' would be as grotesque and impossible in the New York or Philadelphia of to-day as stage coaches in Broadway. "Boodleism," by the old method, and "buses" passed together out of the political and material life of the city to return no more.
Commerce in the great benefits of power in politics has grown from a business of blundering force to an exact science by means of which public opinion, always suspicious, is so swayed and divided that it remains merely suspicious, never positive. The public mind has been made less inquisitive, the official conscience more elastic, by the skilful cloaking of political corruption into the outward form of honesty and respectability. Commercial transactions in politics, at least all those of magnitude, now bear the label of public benefits or municipal development.
The system of using public offices and political power for private gain, which is the plain English for commercialism in politics, has been so perfected during the past ten years in the larger cities and States of the Union, that its greatest beneficiaries are undoubtedly sincere when they say that they are honest and public-spirited citizens. They have not filched any money from a public strong box by the exact method of a thief or burglar; in fact, they9would not do so if the opportunity offered. They are honest, according to their own standard of honesty. The degree of their honesty is a matter of opinion or viewpoint. Their system teaches that the spoils of politics are legitimate, and they practise the politics that provide spoils. If they were engaged in trade or finance, they would live up to their present standard of honesty. They would not steal from a customer, not in the broad or vulgar meaning of the word—they would merely ascertain his needs and necessities, then corner the material to supply them, and take the lion's share of the profits. That is business—business of sharp practise the moralist may say; but those who succeed at it have no fear of prison or other punishment; therefore they are honest in their own conscience. The moral code of such men is that where there is no punishment, there can be no crime.
They [great political leaders] put into places of power and responsibility men who will do their bidding, or at least men who are expected to obey orders. The higher the personal reputation of the man elevated to office, the better for the interests of the representatives of commercialism in politics, provided, always, that he does not prove to be aggressively honest. The man favored by such interests to the extent of election to office is expected to be personally and outwardly honest, above suspicion. He must keep his own hands clean, but it is also expected of him that his honesty will be confined to the passive or negative state. If he proves honest to that degree of positiveness or aggressiveness that causes him to block commercial schemes, he at once passes out of favor, and becomes a marked man, one to be hounded, and, if possible, destroyed. When he reaches that stage, the fight against him will not be confined to his own party or faction, but it will be made by every party, faction, and individual interested in the commerce of politics.
This system promotes, in fact compels, a combination between leaders or rulers of opposing factions or parties, because their commercial interests in politics are identical. This community of interests has grown and extended in the course of the development of the commercial spirit in politics until its tentacles reach every social, professional, and moral influence, as well as all elements in business and political life. It is a marvelous system, and dangerous, not only to public interests, but to the moral standards of the community. Division of power and combinations of personal and commercial interests have brought the great political parties of the country to a condition, in some States, where a leader of one may say to the membership of the other party, in a great sub-division of the commonwealth remote from his home, "This man you may employ in your public service; that man you shall not." Not only has such a command been issued, it has been obeyed, and obeyed because the commercial interests of opposing factions were identical, and could not brook independent and aggressive honesty in public office.
There is a moral danger in this spirit of arrogant contempt for official honesty that is more to be feared than the constantly increasing expenses of providing from taxation the profits of commercialism in politics. To discourage true honesty in public life is a serious matter; but it is blunting the moral sense of the rising generation to blazon to the world the lesson that the public officer who bars the sluice from the public treasury to the private pocket is a marked man, doomed to suffer defamation for daring to do right. Such is the principle, such the methods, of commercialism in politics.
SECTARIAN SCHOOLS ADVOCATED.
THE University Club, of Los Angeles, recently gave a dinner at Del Monte, at which was present President Wheeler, of the University of California, President Jordan, of Stanford, Rabbi Hecht, and Bishop Montgomery, of the Roman Catholic Church. The most extended address of the evening was by Bishop Montgomery, in which he suggested the "possibility of modifying the American school system, and in modifying it, to make it better," and strongly advocated a division of public-school funds. In his reported words (Los Angeles Herald): "A course of study is prescribed by the State, and payment is made to any school that will give that grade of teaching. For the rest, let religion be taught in each particular school according to the religious tenets of the persons sending children there. Then there would be Methodist schools, and Presbyterian, and Jewish, and Catholic schools, and schools where no religion at all would be taught, to accommodate the children of unbelievers. I say that this is the only true and genuine non-sectarian system of education possible, and that it is the only one that can work fairly to all the people." But it could not, in the nature of the case, work fairly to all people, especially as between the larger and smaller sects. And worse than all, it would bring every church into politics, scrambling for funds. Such a thing may come, for the Catholic Church is working for it persistently; but woe worth the day when it does. The principal opposers were Rabbi Hecht and a Unitarian minister.
EARLY on the morning of January 2, the passenger steamer Walla Walla, plying between San Francisco and Puget Sound ports, was rammed by the French bark Max. The Max cut a large hole in the side of the Walla Walla, and the latter went down in about 25 minutes. The bow of the Max was so badly damaged that she was in great danger of sinking, and the attention of her crew was given entirely to keeping her afloat. The Walla Walla's life-boats and life-rafts were launched as quickly as possible; but a number of the passengers and crew went down with her, and failed to reach the boats and rafts. Many of those who found places on the rafts or in the boats were washed overboard and drowned, were lost in the capsizing of the boats, or succumbed to the terrible strain and exposure before they were picked up by other vessels. Some were killed or injured in their berths when the prow of the Max crashed into the steamer. Thirty-seven of the crew and passengers were drowned or killed in the collision.
Railroad Trust Consolidation
THE Northern Pacific Railway Company has retired the entire amount of its preferred stock, and all the stock of the company has been taken over by the Northern Securities Company. The Securities Company will also acquire all the stock of the Great Northern Company, thus bringing under the control of the trust both of these railroads. It is against this combination that the governors of several of the Northwestern States have begun a legal battle.
Trouble Brewing in China
FOREIGNERS in China are reported to take a gloomy view of the outlook there. Signs of impending trouble are numerous, and there are said to be indications that the empress is not sincere in her proposed reform measures. General Yung Lu is determined to organize two anti-foreign army corps to offset the influence of those Chinese leaders who are inclined to favor the foreigners.
Saloons Evade Sunday Closing Law
The lower-class saloons of New York City are now ordered closed on Sunday, and the "upper class" saloons are warned that they must not tolerate any noisy customers on that day. The Raines-Law "hotels" are now very careful to issue the sandwich with each drink. By doing this, they are "hotels" and are allowed to keep open on Sunday.
British Losses in South Africa
The total loss to the British forces operating in South Africa up to the present time amounts to 24,299 men. This includes those killed in battle, those who have died of wounds or disease, and those who are missing. A total of 64,330 men have been invalided home, a large portion of whom have recovered and rejoined their commands.
Rebellion Threatens Korea
THREATS of rebellion in Korea are causing much alarm to the officials. The emperor is hoarding the gold belonging to the government, and is maintaining the largest force of armed men ever kept by that nation. In parts of Korea the citizens have organized themselves into mobs, and are pilfering and plundering.
Electric Street Cars for Tokio
THE city of Tokio, Japan, will be the first city in that country to have an electric street-car line. American firms are to furnish the equipment, valued at about $800,000. Chief-engineer Enyo claims that the road will be in operation in 1903 on the principal streets in Tokio.
Sugar Trust Threatens Beet-Sugar Interests
The great sugar trust has been storing large quantities of sugar in this country, which it proposes to throw on the market suddenly for the purpose of embarrassing the beet-sugar interests, according to a report from one of the centers where the sugar is being stored.
Russia Retains Control of Manchuria
RUSSIA has refused to amend the treaty which she has been seeking to induce China to sign in regard to Manchuria. The matter is now practically at a standstill, with Russia threatening to break off negotiations and remain in control of Manchuria.
Nine New British Warships Planned
THE British Admiralty is planning for the construction in the immediate future of nine new war-ships. Of these two are to be battle-ships of 16,500 tons displacement, five are to be first-class armored cruisers, and two protected cruisers,
Sanitarium for Consumptive Patients
The sum of $1,000,000 has been placed in the hands of the king of England for the purpose of erecting a sanitarium for consumptive patients. The king has taken an active interest in efforts for the checking of that disease.
Cholera Ravages Java
A mining expert who has just returned from Java reports that thousands are dying in that island from cholera. During the month of November no less than 7,000 died of cholera in one city alone.
Colombian Insurgents Gain Ground
The insurgents in Colombia seem to be making some progress against the government, having received many fresh recruits and considerable supplies of arms and ammunition.
Children Burned by Unprotected Fires
OVER 600 children were burned to death in London last year as the result of parents leaving their children in premises containing open fires, lamps, and unprotected matches.
Mormon Missionaries Active in Germany
MISSIONARIES of the Mormon Church have begun an active propaganda in Germany, and have already gained over 2,000 adherents.
Peking Decorated for Imperial Return
The city of Peking is gaudily decorated in anticipation of the return of the emperor and empress dowager.
Troop Ship Sails for Philippines
The troop ship Sheridan sailed from San Francisco on January 1 with 1,500 soldiers for the Philippines.
War Threatens Arabia
WAR is imminent in Arabia between the shiek of Koweyt and one of the adherents of the sultan.
Bill for Temporary Government of Philippines
ON January 7 a bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Lodge to provide for the temporary government of the Philippines. It ratifies the acts of the Philippine Commission under the instructions of the President, and gives the President, as long as there is armed resistance in the islands, authority to control the inter-island trade. It empowers the government of the Philippines to make rules and regulations for the disposition of public lands, other than timber and mineral lands. It makes provision for perfecting the titles of the holders of such lands, and empowers the Philippine Commission to purchase the holdings of the friars and dispose of them on proper terms to the actual occupants.
American Coal, Iron, and Gold Production
The January number of Engineering and Mining Journal states that the amount of coal mined in the United States during the past year amounted to 300,000,000 tons, which exceeds the amount produced in any other part of the world. The amount of pig iron produced is stated to be greater than that produced by Great Britain and Germany combined, and gold reached the enormous total of $82,218,000.
Whymper Explores the Canadian Rockies
EDWARD WHYMPER, the first to reach the summit of the Matterhorn, has just returned to Montreal from an extended exploring trip in the Canadian Rockies, and reports having found an endless variety of the most magnificent mountain scenery. He reports having found one glacier of grander proportions than the well-known glacier of the SelkirkS.
Supreme Court Grants Railroad Land
The United States Supreme Court has rendered a decision which gives to the Southern Pacific Company 3,000,000 acres of land in Southern California, comprising alternate sections between the Needles and a point north of Los Angeles. The lower courts had decided against the railroad company, but the Supreme Court reverses their decision.
Central American Presidents Seek Peace
A REPORT from Nicaragua states that the presidents of the Central American republics expect to meet on January 15, at Corinto, Nicaragua, to confer on the subject of establishing more cordial relations among their respective republics, and to devise means for assuring peace among them.
Tutuila Requests Higher Taxes
The inhabitants of the island of Tutuila (Samoa), which now belongs to the United States, have asked that their taxes be increased, as the prosperity which has come to them makes higher taxes desirable. They intend to use the amount of the proposed increase in road-building in the island.
Maritime Disasters off Spain and Portugal
Twenty-three persons were drowned at the mouth of the River Lezero, Spain, on January 6, by the capsizing of a bark. On January 4 two colliers, the Alfonso and the Vilelva, collided off the coast of Portugal, and both sank, carrying down 19 members of their crews.
Gift for American Business Education
Robert Lebaudy, a French multimillionaire, has given the sum of $250,000 for the purpose of educating young Frenchmen in American business methods. A school for this purpose will be established in Chicago in connection with the University of Chicago.
Carnegie Institution Incorporated
At Washington on January 4 there was incorporated what is to be known as the Carnegie Institution. It is to be a university for scientific investigation, and will be endowed by Mr. Carnegie alone. The amount of his endowment is said to be $10,000,000.
Estrada Palma Elected Cuban President
The Cuban election has been held, and Tomas Estrada Palma has been elected as the first president of the Cuban Republic. The votes in the electoral college stood 55 for Señor Palma and 8 for Señor Masso.
Petroleum Liquid Resists Extreme Cold
A FRENCH scientist announces that he has discovered a method of extracting from petroleum a liquid which will not freeze at a temperature 200 degrees below zero. Scientists consider the discovery an important one.
Philippine Commission Judges Seek Better Health
Judge Ide of the Philippine Commission has been compelled to leave the islands for Japan to regain his health, and Judge Taft, president of the commission, is now on his way to America for the same purpose.
Missionary Women Held by Turkish Brigands
THE two missionary women captured by Turkish brigands are still in the hands of their abductors, who refuse to release them until the ransom has been paid over. Both women are reported alive.
Argentina and Chile Near Boundary Protocol
THERE is a prospect now that Argentina will sign the protocol with Chile in reference to the boundary dispute, and that thus the threatened war will be averted for a time.
Michigan Central Sues State for Damages
The Michigan Central Railroad has entered suit against the State of Michigan for $10,000,000 damages on account of the forced forfeiture of the charter of the company.
Cuban Postal Embezzlement Trials Begin
The trial of the cases arising from the Cuban postal embezzlements, opened at Havana on January 4. Over 180 witnesses have been called to testify in the case.
California Produces Millions of Barrels of Oil
California's yield of crude oil during the past year has amounted to 8,742,500 barrels. There are now 2,040 productive wells operated in the State.
Denver Citizens Organize Vigilantes
CITIZENS of Denver have formed a Committee of Vigilantes to make war on the burglars and thugs who infest the city.
Telephone Service Opens Between France and Italy
On January 1 a telephone line connecting France and Italy was completed and opened for business.
National Debt Reduction
DURING the month of December the national debt was reduced $8,643,192.
