EVERY ambitious young person is looking toward the future, and has some purpose, or some idea of what he would like to be. I recently heard a noted architect, who had been converted, say that God has a plan of life for every one. His plea was that every one should let God work out this plan in his life. This certainly is the truth, and is in harmony with the Scriptures, too.
Paul, when he stood before the tribunal of Agrippa, after relating his wonderful experience, and the vision given him on his way to Damascus, said, "Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." In order to reach the purpose of God, and have His plan worked out, it is absolutely necessary that one pass through trials and difficulties, yes, even sufferings; for by no other way can one gain perfection. Even the Captain of our salvation was made "perfect through sufferings."
Ordinarily, when one is desirous of reaching a high position, or of doing something of importance in the world, he looks for many helps and great opportunities, expecting that by these he will reach the place desired. But always in the word of God we find that it is different with respect to the heavenly vision that Paul saw. The same angel that spoke to Paul, speaking with Ananias, said of the former, "I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." So Paul's call to greatness was a call to pass through trials and sufferings; and his greatness consisted in the fact that he was able to endure them and come through triumphant.
Among the sons of men, there have been none that could say, at the close of their lives, more triumphant words than those of this same humble follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. On the eve of his departure, when he knew that the time had come to suffer martyrdom, he wrote to Timothy these words: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."
Joseph had a similar experience. In fact, he saw the heavenly vision in early youth. He chose the good way, and was walking in it so faithfully that his father could trust him more than his other sons. But this same partial trust of the father brought its fearful results. Before Joseph could reach the place where he was ready to be a ruler of men, and the temporary savior of his own brethren, it was necessary that he pass through the severest trials. Sold as a slave, unjustly cast into prison, he still preserved his integrity and his faith in God. When he had passed the test, he was made ruler of Egypt.
His character was such now that when his brethren spoke of what they had done to him, he said, "God did send me before you to preserve life." When, after the death of their father, they spoke as though they feared he might take vengeance upon them, he wept that they should imagine him capable of doing any such thing.
It is character that God desires. It is that which He is trying to develop in the children of men at the present time. And if any are able to endure the test, and follow the heavenly vision, they will certainly reach the character that will be crowned with eternal life in the final day.
G. W. CAVINESS.
Destruction of Death
By William F. Martin
FOR centuries, death has held the victory over the human race. In fact, it has been the great destroyer, blotting out the lives of old and young. Nothing is truer than the saying of the philosopher, that "the young man may die, the old man must die." Death comes to the king on his throne, the business man, the child at play, and the peasant in his hut. As a blast of cold cuts down the flowers of summer, so death blights and destroys mankind.
But a time is coming when this shall be changed. "O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction." When this time comes, not only death, but the graves, will be destroyed, plowed up and filled in, never to be again. Long years after this text was written, the apostle Paul said, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." So this enemy is not simply to be conquered, but destroyed, blotted out, never to appear again.
Once more this divinely inspired writer sent the word, "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." Notice the expression. Death, the victor, so long master, who has seemed to exult in swallowing up the human race, will himself be swallowed up, exterminated, in victory. Then comes the time of which the seer of Patmos speaks, when "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death."
W. F. MARTIN.
The Infantile Paralysis Plague
By David Paulson, M. D.
Spreading from Northern Europe, the Modern Virulent Form Has Circled the Entire Globe — Its Sober Meaning
By DAVID PAULSON, M. D.
"Nine years ago, it assumed its present terrific death-dealing and tremendously contagious character."
JUNE 26, an epidemic of infantile paralysis began in New York City. Only nine days later, the disease had already ended the earthly career of a hundred children. By July 8, less than two weeks after the disease began, there had been about a thousand cases in New York City, and nearly one in four had died.
Death was not caused by the overwhelming of the heart by some poison, as in diphtheria, or by the ruining of the kidneys, as in scarlet fever, but by sudden paralysis of the breathing apparatus. Most of those who lived have had one or more limbs paralyzed, so that humanly speaking, to many of them death would have been preferable.
Before these two weeks were ended, cases of this dreadful disease had appeared in Boston, Chicago, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, San Francisco, Seattle, and other places.
What Has Caused the Plague?
Is it the legitimate result of wrong habits of life, like those disorders which follow acidosis of the blood from erroneous dietetic habits, or is it a veritable scourge permitted by God to fall alike "on the just and on the unjust"?
Cases of infantile paralysis have occurred here and there from days of old, and it was not supposed to be any more contagious than toothache or sick headache; and generally speaking, only one child in a family contracted the disease. It did not spread through the community. But nine years ago, it assumed its present terrific death-dealing and tremendously contagious character. It began to spread from northern Europe, and soon it had circled the entire globe.
In spite of the earnest study that eminent medical specialists have given this disease the last few years, the deadly germ, if such there be, has not yet been discovered. On this point, the editor of the Rocky Mountain News says: "This disease is gaining rapidly in this country every year. It has baffled the medical world and the bacteriologist, and will continue to do so until the fortunate investigator is able to distinguish the germ, and isolate it, and mark it, after which the rest will be easy — the discovery of an antitoxin." Whether the "rest" will be so easy as the editor imagines, remains to be seen.
The Voice of Medical Science
DR. FLEXNER, head of the Rockefeller Institute in New York City, who has made a most thorough investigation of this disease, says that the infection is contained in the secretions of the nose and throat, and also in the bowel discharges. The most discouraging part of all this is the fact that persons who are apparently in good health may carry about the infection in their nasal cavity, and thus scatter the disease, just as some healthy individuals carry diphtheria germs in their throat.
The secretary of the Illinois State Board of Health gives the following sensible advice:
"Restrict all affected children to the premises. They must not come in contact with other children.
"Thorough disinfection of patient and of everything coming from the sick room.
"Milk containers must not be removed from quarantined premises.
"Members of family should use one per cent solution peroxide hydrogen for gargle and general disinfectant.
"Books, toys, and other things used to amuse patients must be burned. Library and school books must not be returned.
"Household pets must be strictly excluded from the building.
"Care of the teeth is highly essential as a preventive measure."
Some Serious Reflections
SUPPOSE the Lord should permit this germ to become several times as infectious and virulent as it is at present. Who would survive?
Those of us who have our Bibles in our hands should stop and consider if there is not something inside of its covers that sheds light on the outbreak of such a plague.
The Lord told the children of Israel that if they failed to observe His law, and to fear His glorious name, "then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses." Deut. 28: 58, 59.
Inasmuch as the Lord is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, there is no reason why He should not deal with the people of this nation to-day, if they forget Him and fail to serve Him, just as He dealt with people three or four thousand years ago.
If we overlook the hand of God in these plagues and calamities which are coming upon us, we are missing something important. The Lord Himself says: "I have sent among you the pestilence: . . . yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the Lord. . . . Therefore . . . prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." Amos 4: 10, 12.
The great lesson for each one of us to learn is to see in all these things a call to repentance and to a more definite preparation to meet the Lord.
SOULS are asking, as they journey
Through this world of sin and care,
"When we see the curtain falling,
We are going where — oh, where?"
We can never, with our wisdom,
Solve the problem where we go;
But 'tis answered in God's Volume,
And the truth we all may know.
With the kings of earth, and princes,
We shall rest where troubles cease —
Small and great, as prisoners waiting
For a king to give release.
He is coming in His glory,
With the keys of death in hand.
In the air will be the meeting,
And in heaven the saints will stand.
In the house of "many mansions,"
Alleluias loud will ring,
Voices sound like many waters,
Singing praise to Christ, the King.
There a thousand years with Jesus
Will the loved of ages be.
In this earth reduced to chaos,
Satan, chained, his work will see.
Then the wicked dead will hearken
To a voice they scorned before;
And the Lord will send destruction,
Sin and sinners be no more;
And the earth will don new garments,
Mountains, plains, and hills rejoice;
For the Lord shall dwell forever
With the people of His choice.
Eden lost will bloom in beauty,
Flowers never, never fade,
Scorching winds no more sweep o'er us,
Clouds no more the sunlight shade.
God will be our light forever,
Pain and sorrow flee away.
Home will be where Jesus reigneth.
Haste, O, haste that welcome day!
Not Grace, but Conceit
By L. H. Christian
THE apostle Paul wrote, "By the grace of God I am what I am." He could say this truly, because he followed the Lord with a perfect heart. In his public labors, as well as in his private affairs, he lived the Christ life. Nowadays, however, many people quote this text, and make a wrong application of it to their own experience.
We have known those who made a high profession of holiness, but who were guilty of unholy and unseemly things, in meetings and out of meetings, yet they would say, "By the grace of God I am what I am." We have met husbands who were harsh and unreasonable in their homes, and we have heard them justify themselves, claiming that by the grace of God they were what they were.
Not long ago, a friend sent us a book which teems with errors and illogical reasoning. The author's photograph is on the title page, and under it are the words, "By the grace of God I am what I am." We know nothing about what God has done for this individual in his personal life; but we are certain that no man who writes or preaches doctrines which undermine the gospel can do this "by the grace of God." The text, "By the grace of God I am what I am," is a hard text, and for many, an impossible text, to repeat in truth.
It is more becoming to let other people say whether or not our life is holy and true. Many folks are very free to boast of their religious attainments. They mistake excitement and noise for genuine godliness. Their experiences are very superficial, and they are almost strangers to the grace of God. Of them it must be said, Not grace, but conceit.
L. H. CHRISTIAN.
Fighting the Baby's Summer Foe
By L. A. Hansen
How to Safeguard Baby Against Summer Diarrhea
ARTICLE TWO
By L. A. HANSEN
Associate Editor Life and Health
THE terrible loss of infant life from "summer complaint," or diarrhea, does not longer need to be put into statistics, it is so well known. What is of special interest is that it may be largely prevented, for no immutable law exacts this terrible summer toll. Fate has not made July and August death months for babies, nor does an overruling Providence demand the sacrifice of these infant lives.
This preventable loss of life results largely from ignorance and neglect, on the part of mothers, of simple laws of health. It is estimated that of 135,000 babies in New York City, 50,000 have mothers wholly ignorant of the simplest rules of infant hygiene.
Prevention Better than Cure
AN ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure when it comes to summer disorders; for preventive measures are always efficient, while the best curative skill too often fails when once the trouble is under way.
Two things stand out prominently as the causes of summer diarrhea — germs, or their poisonous product, in baby's food, and baby's weakened condition or inability to resist the action or effect of the germs. Hot weather is favorable to the growth of the germs, and is unfavorable to the baby's resistive powers.
A baby feels the heat of summer even more than do adults, and requires hot weather comforts accordingly. Light clothing, fresh air, baths, and plenty of good drinking water are essential to his health.
A napkin and a thin slip, and sometimes not even these, are sufficient clothing for baby on hot days. Well ventilated rooms, day and night, with outdoor naps whenever practicable, should be provided. Daily tub baths, supplemented by a sponge bath or two, especially when baby is feverish, are important.
The drinking water should be boiled and cooled, and should be allowed freely, both for quenching thirst and to aid the elimination of body wastes.
Greatest Danger in Feeding
IN feeding lies the greatest danger of summer disorders. Whether the baby is breast-fed or bottle-fed, observe regularity. Except under unusual conditions, he should even be awakened from sleep to be fed at feeding time. This regularity will insure better sleep and normal habits. Irregularity of feeding means a disturbed digestion, and interferes with both sleep and nutrition, causes the system to be underfed, takes away the normal hunger and appetite, and deprives the stomach of its periods of needed rest.
The mother nursing her baby must see to her own condition of health, observing regularity of habits, eating proper food, getting her sleep, and taking outdoor walks. Constipation in mother and colic in baby often go together. Make sure that the milk is of proper quality. Carefully note baby's condition, with special attention to marked changes.
With the bottle-fed baby, scrupulous cleanliness in the care of all utensils used in connection with the food must be observed. Wash feeding bottles as soon as emptied; and before using, cleanse with a solution of hot water and borax, one teaspoonful of borax to a pint of water. The nipples should be scrubbed inside and out with a brush used for that purpose only, the hot borax solution being used.
Care of Milk Imperative
ALL that is done under state and municipal inspection to provide milk as free as possible from disease-producing germs will count for little unless the mother adds her most vigilant watchfulness and care to keep the milk pure.
Keep milk covered, in freshly scalded vessels, and in a cool place. To insure safety in its use, sterilize by heating for thirty minutes in a double boiler or sterilizer, at a temperature of 160° F. This destroys most disease-producing germs without affecting the nutritive qualities of the milk. It is highly important that milk be rapidly cooled after heating. Set the vessel of milk in a vessel of cold water on ice. This prevents
the development of the germ spores or eggs that are not destroyed in the heating process, and which would soon produce in numbers if the milk were not cooled.
The germs that cause summer disease flourish in milk or in preparations in which milk is used. Warmth is essential to their development, and they multiply remarkably fast in warm weather. They find ideal conditions for growth in the digestive tract of the baby, where both temperature and food are provided. Care must be exercised to prevent, as far as possible, their introduction into this favorable breeding place. Hence the importance of proper care of milk, and of all food preparations, and of all vessels used in connection therewith.
Fourteen Helpful Hints
THE mother need not have special fear that baby's second summer will be its dangerous period. There is no physiological reason why the second summer should be more dangerous than the first. In fact, as baby grows older, gaining in health and strength, his chances for successfully combating disease improve, provided mother does her part. It rests with her to determine what the second summer shall mean to her baby. Any time that she relaxes her care may become a dangerous period to her little one.
With careful observance of a few simple principles of hygiene, mothers may help babies through summer. These are the things to observe:
Give plenty of fresh air.
Keep baby cool and clean by baths.
Water drinking for interior bathing.
Clean and light clothing.
Regularity in feeding.
Do not overfeed.
Provide good quality breast milk if possible.
Regular habits for mother.
Secure fresh and pure market milk.
Boil milk and nursing bottles as often as used.
Keep utensils scrupulously clean.
Keep flies away from baby and baby's bottles.
Get a physician whenever baby is sick.
Follow the doctor's orders.
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"TIME IS MONEY"
By Editor
Some Say.
Are you guilty of wasting time — minutes, hours? Our lives are measured by this precious thing. Some call it money. Time once gone cannot return; it is beyond recall. God has made us stewards of our time as well as our means, and He will hold us responsible for our use of it.
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SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAGAZINE
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA
The
By Editor
USE of the VOICE
This is the title of a pocket manual on breathing, reading, and speaking, by George B. Starr, of Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists. It is just completed, and is going to fill a long felt want among speakers generally. Of its plan the author says:
"The author of this pocket manual searched in vain the bookstores of this and other countries for a pocket sized instruction booklet on the speaking voice."
"Many excellent treatises were found, dealing exhaustively with voice culture in its various features, but usually accompanied with so many selections for reading and recitation as to make them cumbersome and expensive. To meet this apparent lack, and to furnish, in a brief and comprehensive form, practical suggestions to speakers, this little booklet has been written."
As an indication of its scope, please note the following
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VALUE OF VOICE MASTERY
THE POWER OF SPEECH
REWARD OF DILIGENCE
THE NASAL TWANG
SHORT AND CLEAR
KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT
BREATHING
PRONUNCIATION
ARTICULATION
COLDS
HINTS
OBJECT OF THE MINISTRY
VOICE TRAINING FOR WORKERS
The book contains a number of illustrations, and has been especially planned for pocket use. Bound in red leather. Price, 75c. Address your tract society.
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By Editor
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Europe Reverting to Heathenism
Much has been said, of late, about the revival of religion in Europe. "Not a little of this new religious fervor is really a religion without God," says a leading German publication.
Kings are exalted and worshiped, not God; and prayers of revenge and hatred against enemies are said. Has reason departed from the nations of Europe? Whither are they drifting?
The whole situation is carefully reviewed in an August Signs Magazine article entitled WORLD CONDITIONS.
THE GREAT WAR
By Editor
The big happenings of the month pictured and described impartially. The closing paragraph explains all with the use of Bible prophecy.
HUMANITY'S GREATEST NEED
By Editor
What can it be? In our frenzied efforts to gain greater comforts, more power, and the material things of life, we are prone to forget the vital and really important things. This splendid article by A. G. Daniells reminds the reader of man's natural hopeless condition, tells of his need, and suggests the only remedy for his regeneration.
AND THESE TOO
By Editor
A Revelation and Solution of Present Problems.
Human Emancipation.
Witnessing for Christ.
The Law of Christ's Kingdom.
The World's Need of Christ the Creator.
Evolution and the Problem of Evil.
American Tradition versus American Law.
All in the August number of the Signs of the Times Magazine. The single copy, 10c; yearly subscription price, $1.00.
Address our representative in your state, or the publishers.
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The Trend of the "Movies"
By L. E. F.
THE following paragraphs from an editorial appearing in the July Sunset Magazine are of more than passing interest:
"In practically every sizable community of the United States, the weekly capacity of the moving picture houses now exceeds the total population.
"During an investigation in Portland, Oregon, it was shown that out of 2,647 children selected at random in five grammar schools, 91.7% regularly attended motion picture shows. Almost one third of the total went at least twice a week. 64% attended screen shows every night.
"The committee found 197 girls between 16 and 18 who attended the picture houses at night without being accompanied by adults. On the basis of the findings, it was estimated that 5,564 schoolgirls under fourteen, and even a larger number of boys, visited the 'movie' theaters of Portland at night every week."
Commenting on this fact appeared the following words:
"The film that depicts crime, violence, unbridled passion, and reproduces the pictures of expensively and scantily dressed women in attractively staged orgies, must of necessity give the child a distorted view of life and its values.
"The thoughtful, unprejudiced observer cannot escape the conviction that the present interests of the child have not been served by the new form of entertainment. The juvenile population would be better off without it in its present form. The too prevalent film plays of crime and sex interest leave evil suggestions in the child's mind, suggestions that cannot be counteracted by the effect of the infrequent showing of really meritorious educational films."
The ruinous results of many of these suggestive pictures, upon the minds and actions of adolescent American youth, can hardly be overstated. The blasted reputations, the ruined characters, the heinous crimes, the broken hearts and shattered homes, are too familiar to need more than bare mention. Morality, decency, high ideals, character building — all are trampled underfoot in the mad scramble for sensational and sentimental amusement.
Yet this world-sweeping mania was foretold plainly in the Sacred Word — that "in the last days" the world would give itself over to pleasure. See 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. And the saddest feature of all is the marked change in the attitude — a lowering of the standard — among the professed followers of the spotless Christ. There is constant agitation, in the larger Protestant denominations, to rescind the former rulings of the church concerning amusements.
Shall the line of demarcation between the church and the world be utterly obliterated? What has the church in common with the "movie" theater? Let not the Christian church sanction these encroachments. Let not the money intrusted to her members by the living God be spent for these things that are sweeping the world away from Him.
The moving picture promoters have commercialized this pleasure craze that has the modern world in its grip. It has become a gigantic business scheme. Film producers send out the reels that are most demanded and consequently bring the greatest number of nickels and dimes into their pockets. Last year, some 7,000,000,000 nickels passed from the hands of American devotees of "pleasures" to the tills of the exploiters of this passion. Truly the times fit the prophetic mold. "Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" is one of the leading characteristics of the age.
Let not Christians be drawn into this deceptive whirlpool. The line of demarcation between the church and the world should be clear. L. E. F.
