p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 41. (10/9/1901)

CO-OPERATION CORNER.

By Editor

MANY of our faithful missionary workers would gladly use much larger clubs of the SIGNS than they are now circulating if they could afford to do so, while there are others who would be just as glad to pay for such clubs if they knew who needed them.

For these reasons we have opened the “Co-operation Corner.” It will contain requests for clubs of papers for use in various fields, short reports from those who are using such clubs, acknowledgments of money received, and such other information as will bring together those who can use papers but can not pay for them, and those who can pay for papers but are not situated so they can use them.

A Mission Sunday-school has been opened for the poor children of Oakland. A club of 50 Little Friends is needed each week, but the donations are not large enough to pay more than the rent of the hall in which the school is held.

Are there not some who would like to give this little paper to these children?

The cost of furnishing this club one year will be $20.00.

Send your donations to SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Looking unto Jesus

By A. G. L.

A remarkably impressive little tract translated from the French. It aims to lead souls so to behold Him that they will ask not, “What can I do?” but “What can He not do?” A. G. L. No. 1. 50 cents per 100.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.

New York City Oakland, Cal. Kansas City, Mo.

The Winning of Margaret

How Margaret and her skeptical friend Ralph were converted. A well-told story.

Price, $1.00 per 100.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.

New York City Oakland, Cal. Kansas City, Mo.

Support for the Fiji Mission

By Editor

“The People of Fiji” is the title of an article in our Missions department this week. Last week it was “The Work in Fiji.” We hope it will be read by all friends of mission work. We say again that this island work is in charge of the Australasian Union Conference, at the head of which, under God, is Pastor Geo. A. Irwin. The field is a great and needy one. The workers in it are poor and few in number compared with the work. In some cases advanced work has heavily involved some of the organizations in debt. The Australasian field needs help. Will not the one who reads this paper consider whether he may not have a duty, a privilege, a blessing, in helping those so bravely struggling in that field? Any who may wish to do this may write to W. A. Spicer, the secretary of the Foreign Mission Board, 267 West Main Street, Battle Creek, Mich., or send funds to this office, and they will be forwarded. Always state specifically what the donations are for. “Freely ye have received; freely give.”

“Can Not Forgive.”

By Editor

—In a memorial sermon in honor of President McKinley preached by an “evangelical” minister in San Francisco (the name of minister or church matters not, it is the principle we are after), it was said that the noblest trait in the President’s character—that of forgiveness of the man who shot him—had been omitted in sermons and prayers, “because we have not been thinking of forgiveness. The Lord’s prayer with its ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,’ has been chanted all over the United States, and yet we have not thought of forgiveness. I’m glad the foul deed was not done in California. There would have been no jail strong enough to hold the prisoner. Our blood is a little hotter than that of our Eastern brothers. . . . The American people could not forgive the murderer of their president, . . . . God alone could forgive such a sin.” And yet the Lord Jesus Christ declares: “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your ‘Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt. 6:15. “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy.” James 2:13. The most baneful poison to all goodness that can be conceived is the cherishing of an unforgiving spirit. He who can not forgive has not the Spirit of Christ; and “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” He who can not forgive has no faith in God’s ultimate, even justice. Thus much for the individual. The matter of the nation’s dealing with criminals for the protection of life is another thing.

The Greatest Anarchist

The greatest anarchist is the greatest rebel against the government of God.

Responsibility to God and Fellow Men

He who truly recognizes the great and solemnly important truth of his responsibility to God, will not fail to recognize his proper relation to his fellow-men.

Mary Wood-Allen’s Memorial Address

By Editor

Next week we print an address by Dr. Mary Wood-Allen. It was delivered at a memorial service in tribute to President McKinley. It will be of interest to all women, but of especial interest to mothers.

Living over a Mine

“Living over a Mine.”—Says the Hon. Charles H. Grosvenor, in discussing the crime of Czolgosz, the assassin of President McKinley: “If this man was driven by outside circumstances or inside deviltry, then the crime is a narrow one, and its effect upon the public will be in a large degree minimized. But if behind him stands an organized band of assassins, with ramifications in the various cities in the United States, the object of which is to produce chaos by murder, then indeed are we living over a mine or a volcano, which may explode with dire effects at any moment.”

Loyalty to God’s Government

Every man whose life is not in harmony with God’s government is an anarchist at heart. He may count himself loyal to human government; but it is the loyalty of policy, expediency, or, at the best, early teaching. The truly loyal man is the doer of God’s will as He has given it. He will not be “partial in ‘the law.” He will not choose inclination or popularity in preference to duty. His aim, his unswerving purpose, is to obey God, and to be obedient in all things.

Carelessness and the Spread of Apostasy

No human mathematics can compute the damage done by carelessness. All so-called “accidents” are generally the result of somebody’s carelessness or viciousness. An Eastern journal notes that “the ‘San Jose scale has a foothold in Central Pennsylvania, having been imported on young trees sent out by careless nurserymen. The scale has been here some six or eight years, and is slowly but surely spreading, and destroying as it spreads.’” So the church is carelessly admitting false doctrines and worldly ways into her creed and practise until apostasy is “surely spreading, and destroying as it ‘spreads.’” What makes this true of the church?—Because it is first true of individuals. Therefore “watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” Mark 14:38. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, ‘quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Cor. 16:13.

Two of the Best.

By Editor

We are glad to say that arrangements have been made by which we are enabled to offer the SIGNS OF THE TIMES (which many of our readers call the best religious paper in the world) and the Good Health (the best home and health magazine in the world) for one year, for only a little more than the price of the SIGNS alone.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES, weekly, a year $1.50 Good Health Magazine, monthly, " 1.00

But you can obtain the two together from this office, for only $1.75. With what these journals will furnish the year to come, this offer ought to bring an avalanche of subscriptions. Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Lowering of the Moral Standard.

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a hopeful, optimistic writer, thus speaks of conditions in the business world to-day: “There is ‘fever in the very air we breathe. It necessitates ‘being in an exalted state of spiritual serenity to ‘defy infection. All our standards in the business world seem to be lowered. I remember the time when a dishonest man of wealth was spoken of as such with scorn by other men. To-day it is customary to hear men speak with admiration of the ‘smart’ fellow who made the ‘corner’ and cleared a million or two for himself and beggared his associates. As it is frequently expressed, ‘The man who gets there’ is the best man in the long run. To ‘get there’ means, in business vernacular, to attain wealth, no matter by what means. Of course the lowering of the moral standard affects the whole character of the business world. When we begin to think it justifiable to wrong others in any respect, for any purpose, we easily drift into an indifference to their rights in any respect.” And it is all true. The Lord has foretold that it would be thus just before Christ came. Read Isaiah 59; 2 Tim. 3:1-5, and many other scriptures. Mrs. Wilcox is only recording the news given by the prophet of God so long ago. The end of it will come when Christ Jesus takes to Himself His great power, and reigns.

Death of Pastor Henry P. Holser.

We sadly chronicle the death of a devoted laborer of God, a noble, intelligent, companionable man, an able minister of the Word, gifted also with the pen, as many readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES can bear witness. For many years Brother Holser had general charge of our European mission work, residing much of his time in Switzerland. He traveled repeatedly through Southern and Eastern Europe, and Asia Minor, and everywhere left fruit of his labors. Our readers will remember his sketches from the Holy Land and his “Jottings,” published at irregular intervals in this paper, until failing health compelled him to lay down the pen. We wonder now why so useful, so young a man, is called from the work and the conflict; but God knows. “He ‘buries His workmen, but carries on His work.’” Brother Holser died at Carson City, Colo., September 11, of consumption. Our sincere sympathies are extended to the sorrowing relatives.

The Next Great System of Government.

A bright, voluminous writer of the day in both prose and poetry, in speaking of the degeneration of moral tone in the business world, says:—

That is why the best minds of the day are aroused to the needs of a new system of government—where men will be compelled to treat one another like human beings with feelings, rights, and privileges. That is why the workingmen are organizing; that is why co-operative societies are multiplying; that is why there is an Industrial Federation and a Single Tax Association—all spokes in the great Socialistic wheel that shall turn and turn until it sets in motion the New Government Machinery.

And this is the way the procession of government has gone through all the ages. One by one every system has demonstrated its unfitness to reign, and has gone to ruin and decay by disorders germinated within itself. Men have longed, as they saw its failure, for a "new system of government," which would do justly by all; a new system has been devised, existing for a time only, to follow the one that preceded it, and from the same general causes. So it will be with all men's devisings. But one government has thus demonstrated its right to exist forever, namely, the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and, glorious privilege! all may have a part in its everlasting blessings.

Pure Beer in Army Posts

One of the arguments for the maintenance of the “canteen” in army posts is that the government deals only in pure beer, and that pure beer is not intoxicating. Another argument is that it keeps soldiers from going to outside saloons to get intoxicating drinks. The two arguments are rather stultifying. It might as well be said that soda water or lemonade would keep them from the saloons, as to claim that an unintoxicating beer would have that effect. Inasmuch as the only demand for beer is because of its stimulating effect, no one wants it for any other purpose. As it was invented and is concocted especially for a stimulant, how could it be “pure beer” without that quality?

Must the Child of the Drunkard Accept Its Legacy?

No. 214 of Department Leaflets (Health and Heredity), published by the Women’s Temperance Publishing Association, Chicago, is entitled, “Must the ‘Child of the Drunkard Accept Its Legacy?’” by David Paulson, M. D. Price 25 cents per 100. The doctor shows that by careful Christian training and Christian hygiene the inherited instincts may be overcome. It is a good leaflet to read and scatter.

Following Christ Afar Off

There is more danger in following Christ afar off sometimes than in not following Him at all. He who follows at all, but afar off, invites the demons to tempt him. But he who follows with Christ, is so close to the Master that no temptation can reach him. In following Christ, walk with Him.