“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.” Ps. 55:22.
CHILD of My love, lean hard,
And let Me feel the pressure of thy care,
I know thy burden, child. I shaped it;
Poised it in Mine own hand; made no proportion
In its weight to thine unaided strength.
For even as I laid it on, I said,
“I shall be near, and while she leans on Me,
This burden shall be Mine, not hers;
So shall I keep My child within the circling arms
Of My own love.” Here lay it down, nor fear
To impose it on a shoulder which upholds
The government of worlds. Yet closer come,
Thou art not near enough. I would embrace
thy care
So I might feel My child reposing on My breast.
Thou lovest Me? I knew it. Doubt not then;
But, loving Me, lean hard.
—Anon.
“THE LOVINGEST FACE.”
By Eben E. Rexford
“I LOVE you, mama,” my little one said,
As close to my heart crept her golden head;
“I love you lots,” with a clasp and kiss,
“The best of all mamas my mama is.”
“And I think,” said she, looking up in my eyes
With a glance that was tender, grave, and wise,
“That you’ve got just the lovingest face; O, O,
I’m glad you’re my mama, I love you so!”
What was the praise of the world to me
To the love of the little one throned on my knee?
And this was my prayer, as I kissed the eyes
That were smiling up at me, pansy-wise,
May the face of thy mother forever be
The “lovingest” face in the world to thee.
—Eben E. Rexford.
MAKING A GREAT SPEECH.
A LAWYER whose eloquence was of the spread-eagle sort, was addressing the jury at great length, and his legal opponent, growing weary, went outside to rest.
“Mr. B—— is making a great speech,” said a countryman to the bored counsel.
“O, yes; Mr. B—— always makes a great speech. If you or I had occasion to announce that two and two are four, we'd be just fools enough to blurt it out. Not so Mr. B——. He would say, ‘If by that particular arithmetical rule known as addition we desire to arrive at the sum of two integers, we would find—I say it boldly, sir, and without the fear of successful contradiction—we, I repeat, should find by the particular arithmetical formula before mentioned—and, sir, I hold myself perfectly responsible for the assertion I am about to make—that the sum of the two given integers added to the other two integers would be four.’”—London Tit-Bits.
NO ENEMIES.
“He has no enemies,” you say?
My friend, your boast is poor;
He who hath mingled in the fray
Of duty that the brave endure,
Must have made foes. If he has none,
Small is the work that he has done.
He has smote no traitor on the hip,
He has cast no cup from perjured lip,
He has never turned the wrong to right,
He has been a coward in the fight.
—Selected.
WHISKY AS A MEDICINE.
An inmate of the South Dakota penitentiary, in telling his experience to the Life Boat, gives this testimony:
“It is because of my own weakness and an unwise prescription that I am in this prison. The doctor prescribed whisky as medicine—a large glassful four times a day for six months, and I took this prescription, thinking as all do that I could quit any time I wished to. It was whisky that got me into the penitentiary. From this day I intend, with the help of God, to do differently. Would you advise public confession of Christ here in the prison chapel? I have seen convicts hold up their hands for prayer and have heard the remarks made by fellow convicts, and have wondered if it did not do more harm than good to make a stand for Christ here in this place. Do you think that I could be a Christian without this public confession? I have served the devil good and faithfully for thirty-five years, and all he did for me was to land me in the penitentiary. I am done with him forever.”
HINTS ABOUT TABLE LINEN.
By M. A. Y.
In buying table linen, it is always cheapest to buy the best that one can afford, for every dollar added to the cost adds to the length of time it will give service, and when hemming a tablecloth the ravelings should be wound into a ball and saved for darning the linen.
When one must economize closely, it is far better to buy the unbleached linen, and the ordinary washing and boiling will soon produce an astonishing degree of whiteness if properly done. It is a good plan to buy remnants of table linen to be used for making small cloths, and sometimes short lengths of linen can be bought at very low prices, and if care is taken in the selection to choose small patterns, these are highly satisfactory articles when finished.
While we call the embroidered pieces, such as carving cloths and centerpieces, ornamental, they serve a practical purpose as well, as they are a genuine saving to the large cloth beneath, and the small white cloths may be kept clean without hard rubbing by putting them to soak over night in a strong lather of white ivory soap and warm soft water; but if there are any colors in the embroidery these pieces should be washed and rinsed as quickly as possible.
The colors in the embroidery may be brightened by soaking the piece in warm water to which a little turpentine has been added, and turpentine in the starch gives an added whiteness and luster to the all white napkins and small tray cloths. When small cloths are ironed perfectly smooth and dry, place them in a box without folding, as creases will spoil the appearance of the daintiest linen.
M. A. Y.
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RIVER PLATE CONFERENCE.
By J. W. Westphal
DEAR SIGNS OF THE TIMES: I am glad to report progress in our work in the South American field. In the River Plate Conference, 1905 was the banner year in its history. The local funds, not including those for special purposes, increased about $2,000, while the membership increased more than one hundred. The special donations were also larger than before.
The year 1906 starts with bright prospects. During the month of January forty were baptized, and still others are awaiting baptism. The message is becoming more firmly planted in Buenos Ayres, the largest city of the southern hemisphere, and it is taking root in Rosario, the second largest city in Argentine. New places and new provinces are being entered.
In the West Coast Mission Field the work is also growing. The local funds as well as membership increased during the last year. The burning of their office and press, which threatened such a severe loss to this infant work, has been more than offset by the insurance and the liberal donations that it has called forth from the brethren in this and the River Plate field, and they will soon be in a condition to labor to better advantage. Since the beginning of 1906, ten have been baptized and twelve have united with the church, five at Santiago and seven at Iquiqui.
We are thankful for the help the Upper Columbia and South Dakota Conferences have sent us for Ecuador and Peru in the persons of Brethren Casebeer and Perry, both of whom are supported by their respective home conferences. Letters from them breathe faith and courage, and we hope soon to see the Third Angel's Message firmly planted there.
I can give no statistics as yet from Brazil. Letters of cheer and hope come from time to time, and reports of new converts receiving the truth and being baptized. Excepting that quite a goodly number have moved from that republic, I am sure that reports will give quite an increase.
When the burned printing-press in the West Coast field is replaced by a new and better one, which we expect soon to be the case, each of the three South American fields will have a press of its own to publish this closing message. J. W. WESTPHAL. Nueva Imperial, Chile, Feb. 28, 1906.
From Bulawayo Mission, South Africa.
By M. C. Sturdevant
EDITOR SIGNS OF THE TIMES—Dear Brother: Your good, encouraging letter of December 19 reached our mission in due time. We were truly glad to hear from you, and to learn of the progress of the work in the home field. Our eyes are ever that way, as our former labors were there, and we have left there those dear to our hearts. O my brother, my heart goes out to God this morning in thankfulness for a place, yes, any place, in His most blessed work. We are glad to be here, and can say our health is real good for this country. I think I can say, to the glory of God, my health has been as good, if not even better, than that of any one who has come from America to Africa. For this I do praise our heavenly Father. Tho our labors have been heavy, as all know, the health of our mission has been very good, notwithstanding all of the heavy rains the last two months.
Public Park, Buenos Ayres, South America.
The first of the season it seemed as tho we would have a dreadful famine. The rains held off, rivers dried up, grass withered, and the stock began to die. We lost many of our goats; however, we saved the cattle. No plowing or planting could be done. But before it was too late, our Father turned our captivity, and the rains came in abundance.
To-day our crops look as well as they did last year at this time, so that now we hope for a fair yield. Truly God is good to us.
Our little church is prospering; the spiritual interest seems good. As for the school work, I think I can truthfully say the interest never was better. Surely the children are taking hold in earnest, and enjoy their studies very much. Their whole aim is to learn quickly, to go at once and help finish the work in “this generation.” We keep this thought ever before them in all our work; for, my dear brother, I myself verily believe it is to be done, and that we are the ones God has entrusted to do it. O, let us awake. I myself want to awake early. Never had I a greater desire to lie low at the feet of the Master and be taught of Him.
Yes, we are doing all we can to push the work on some eighty or ninety miles farther north. I have started an out-school with two native teachers, twenty-five miles north; two others are teaching forty-five miles to the west and north. One boy is teaching, two are with Brother C. R. Sparrow at Mkupuvula, and one about ten miles from the mission. Three native teachers help me here. Others are in training, and will soon be able to go out and teach also. So you see we believe in progressive work.
Two of my English classes now read the English, and then in the class translate it into their own language. I am now getting hold of the language so it is not so difficult to understand all they say. I freely admit that it has been a hard task for me to learn the language. We teach out of the Zulu books. The children talk almost wholly the Centebele and Makalaka; and while it is true that the Centebele and Zulu are much alike, they are not alike, so we have to learn two words to keep up with the people.
It has been a hard task for me to battle with the three languages at once; but I think that soon I shall be preaching to them in their own tongue. My heart longs to speak to the people in their own tongue and face to face. I can talk to them in a common conversation13and be well understood, but I have feared to try to preach it yet, tho the boys tell me I could if I would try.
Pray for us, dear brethren, that the work may truly prosper in our hands, and that God may be glorified thereby. M. C. STURDEVANT.
MY PRAYER.
By Flora E. Yergin
LORD, I am blind. Hear now my earnest plea.
I come as one of olden days to Thee,
For mercy, pardon, and for sight. I pray
O Son of David, grant my prayer to-day.
Take now the blindness of my soul away,
That when the shadows fill the earth to-day
I still, O Christ of Nazareth, may see
Thy footprints, and arise and follow Thee.
What shall we render to our brother-man
From out our Heaven-sent store?
Reach out with thrusting heart, a brother's hand,
And open wide the door?
There is whose alms are small and wish them back;
There is who giveth all, and hath no lack.
Onaway, Mich. MRS. FLORA E. YERGIN.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
A CAMP-MEETING is to be held at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, July 10–17.
THE North Michigan Conference announces a camp-meeting at Iron Mountain, June 25 to July 2.
THE West Michigan Herald notes the addition of eight members to the church at Horr, April 29, all by baptism.
THE Lake Union Conference has added a Religious Liberty Department to the general work, and Prof. J. G. Lamson has been chosen secretary.
A CAMP-MEETING is to be held at Chicago, Ill., June 21 to July 1. The meeting is to be held on the North Side, in the vicinity of Fullerton and Lincoln Avenues.
A CHURCH of twelve members is now witnessing for the truth in Mc Lean, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was organized in April, by Brother F. H. Conway.
THE summer term of Emmanuel Missionary College at Berrien Springs, Mich., will begin June 19. In addition to the regular summer work, there will be given a special course for those desiring a short preparation for work in the field.
THE Review announces the death, May 13, of Sister Wakeham, wife of Brother W. H. Wakeham, our missionary in Egypt. She died on board the steamer Bremen, off the coast of Spain, en route to England, and was buried at sea.
IN the Workers’ Bulletin, Brother E. W. Wolfe notes the addition of ten members to the church at Lorimer, Iowa, May 19; Brother E. G. Olsen reports four baptized on the same date at Olin, and Brother J. T. Spriggs reports the addition of three to the church at Oakland, in the same state.
AT the recent session of Lake Union Conference, the following officers were elected: President, Allen Moon; vice-president, Wm. Covert; secretary, treasurer, and auditor, W. H. Edwards; educational superintendent, W. D. Curtis; religious liberty secretary, J. G. Lamson; canvassing agent, J. B. Blosser; medical superintendent, Dr. S. P. S. Edwards.
IN the Northern Union Reaper, Brother R. E. Harter reports a meeting at Artesian, S. D., at which eight candidates were baptized. The same paper states that a church was organized at Artesian May 12, and a neat house of worship dedicated on the 13th. Brother E. G. Hayes conducted the organization exercises. This good fruit is largely the result of labor by Brother C. M. Clark.
TO the Wisconsin Reporter, Brother J. Kloss writes from Crandon: “We have organized a Sabbath-school of twenty-eight members. We expect to have a church school as soon as we can secure a place in which to hold it. The brethren here talk of building a church, and making arrangements for a school-room,” and all this prospect while as yet there is no organized church. Such is the influence of the Spirit of truth.
THE real missionary spirit was manifested by the West Michigan Conference at its recent session. The Herald says the services of Brethren F. B. Howard and Myron Butterfield were tendered to Southern Illinois Conference, the former for one year and the latter for the summer, with wages paid. Also the sum of $500 dollars was appropriated to the work in Chicago, and the services of Brother and Sister J. C. Brower were offered to the Porto Rico Mission.
THE Southern Missionary Society (address, North Station, Nashville, Tenn.) is desirous of erecting a missionary school building at Greenville, Miss. A nucleus of the work has been furnished in donation of $170 by a brother in Healdsburg, Cal. For missionary work among the colored people of the South, there is nothing of a material nature so necessary as schoolhouses. The opportunity to do good by donating for such work is always open, and practically without limit.
WE are glad to learn that the Review and Herald Publishing Association is now in full occupation of its new building at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. We are also glad to know that the balance sheet of the past year’s operations shows a gain both at the main office and at the Battle Creek branch. The circulation of the various periodicals issued by the association are said to be on the increase, and we hope this will continue to be the case, in an ever-increasing ratio.
A GENERAL offering for missions will be taken in all our churches Sabbath, June 30. As the end approaches, and greater diligence than ever before is demanded, this mid-summer offering should be an unusually liberal one. Our motto, “The Gospel to the world in this generation,” demands not merely convenient giving, but sacrifice. The only safe investment to-day is in the cause of salvation—the greatest enterprise in the world. Such investment made in faith is absolutely proof against fire, or earthquake, or rust, or robber.
THE April number of Fuh in Hsuen Pao (The Gospel Herald), published monthly at Shang Tsai Hsien, Honan, China, is before us, and this moves us to again urge that many copies of this journal be circulated among the Chinese of America and other countries foreign to China. The fact that it is printed in the home land will attract the attention of these people everywhere. There is no way in which Chinese missionary work can be done more economically than by circulating literature among them in their own language. The price is only 25 cents a year, postage paid, or two copies for 40 cents. Address Dr. H. W. Miller, as above.
THE Hanford, Cal., Journal of May 11 gives over a column to a report of the closing exercises of the “Seventh-day Adventist Industrial Grammar School,” conducted by Sister Mina Mann. The program consisted of thirty-seven numbers—Recitations, essays, dialogues, songs, etc. The report says, “A noticeable feature was that the recitations and songs were principally of an edifying nature.” Of the twenty-eight scholars, it is said, “They were all so happy that they resembled one another, and the general look was an agreeable one.” There was a large and appreciative audience present. The county superintendent of schools, Mrs. N. E. Davidson, presented the diplomas. The class motto of the graduates had been, “I Can and I Will.” “And they did,” seems to have been the verdict of the audience.
CONCERNING the work in the great Northwest, Brother W. M. Adams writes to the Workers’ Bulletin: “We are planning on putting three or four tents in the field, and as our summers are very short, we need to put in all the time in order to accomplish anything. Some one has said that ‘we have only two seasons here, winter and late fall.’ Our conference includes the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, which in territory are nearly three times as large as Iowa, altho having only about one-seventh the membership. There is a very large immigration to this country. During the last three years three hundred thousand, which is not quite one-third of the entire immigration, have come from the United States. Nearly all nationalities are represented. There is every prospect of a good crop this year, and the country is on a boom.”
IN the Northern Union Reaper, Brother W. M. Adams reports some interesting experience at Gladstone, Manitoba. In course of his meetings, after twelve persons had accepted the faith, two clergymen essayed to preach against the message he was giving. But they made certain admissions that confounded their own positions. The Presbyterian minister said: “The Sabbatarians claim that Jesus Christ kept the seventh-day Sabbath, and that He never gave commandment to change it. They are right in both points.” The Methodist minister said: “There is no command in the Bible for the change of the Sabbath, and we don’t need any.” These acknowledgements in contrast with their claims for Sunday sacredness had the effect of confirming believers in the faith. It is a common thing for opposers of the truth to overreach themselves.
THE recent great earthquake is not nearly so important as a striking phenomenon in nature, as it is as a reminder of the frailty of man and his works, and the uncertainty of investment in earthly possessions. Perhaps its greatest importance is as a sign of the approaching end of all things now common in the life of human beings. It is in fulfilment of prophecy, and those who are giving the Gospel message to the world will lose much of their opportunity if they give the mere phenomenal sensation precedence over its spiritual lesson. In our literature pertaining to the earthquake and the fire, we have given the vivid illustrations in order to impress the lessons of truth that accompany them. The artistic presentation in picture is not designed, nor should it be allowed, to overshadow, but rather to emphasize, the great Gospel of the soon-coming kingdom. “This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
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LATE, clean copies of the Signs, Watchman, Liberty, Life and Health, and tracts, for distribution at tent meetings. Address, Milo D. Warfle, Albuquerque, N. M., general delivery.
SIGNS, Life Boat, and Bible Training School. Can use back numbers. Address, Robert S. Greaves, Ketchikan, Alaska.
GRAND CANYON OF ARIZONA
By Fred W. Prince
“A whole chaotic underworld. Most sublime scene on earth. A mile deep, 13 miles wide, 217 miles long, and painted like a flower.”
The great round world has nothing like it. A railroad to the rim. Excellent hotels: El Tovar, Bright Angel, and Grand View. Passengers going via Santa Fe may stop over at Williams for side trip to the Canyon. Round trip fare $6.50. Ask for pamphlet, “Titan of Chasms.”
FRED W. PRINCE, city ticket agent.
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From the wonderful victories reported for prohibition effort in various parts of the United States, one would naturally expect to find a decrease in the quantity of alcoholic beverages manufactured and consumed. But carefully-compiled statistics show the contrary to be true. The American Grocer, with excellent facilities for collating facts on this subject, gives extensive statistics, from which we take the following:
The usual annual estimate of the cost to consumers in the United States of stimulating beverages as made by the American Grocer, mounts higher and higher every year.
Since 1901 the cost has risen from $1,273,212,386 to $1,548,708,307 in 1905, a gain of $275,495,921, or 21.6 per cent. The population for the same period advanced from 77,647,000 to 83,143,000, an addition of 5,496,000, or 6½ per cent.
The statements presented show an increase in the use of malt liquor and such milder stimulants as tea and coffee, and a slight decrease in the use of spirituous liquors as compared with 1904, their use during the past three years showing a gain of 2½ per cent.; that of beer 6 per cent.
The per capita expenditure for all kinds of stimulating beverages for the year ending June 30, 1905, as estimated by the American Grocer, was $18.63, or $93.15 for each family of five persons.
The per capita cost of tea, coffee, and cocoa was $2.68, against $15.95 for alcoholic stimulants. In 1904 the cost was $2.70 for non-alcoholic drinks, against $15.63 for alcoholic beverages.
The total drink bill is one-fourth of the total estimated production of the cotton, wheat, corn, hay, tobacco crops, and every other product of farms, orchards, cattle ranches, dairies, and every other agricultural industry. It amounts to one-eighth of the nation's total expenditure for food.
During the past twenty years the per capita use of spirits shows little variation. It is no larger now than in 1883–84. Since then it has risen to 1.52 gallons, fallen as low as 1.01 gallons, and shows an average of 1.30 gallons annually for twenty years. On the other hand, the use of beer has risen from 10.62 gallons per capita to 18.50 gallons, the statement showing a steady increase in its popularity as a beverage.
Bringing together into one statement the cost to consumers of all beverages, as solely estimated by the American Grocer, we find that the United States consumed in 1905 alcoholic and non-alcoholic stimulants to the value of $1,548,708,307, as follows:
Item
Amount
Alcoholic drinks
$1,325,439,074
Non-alcoholic stimulants—
Coffee
$162,570,589
Tea
52,698,644
Cocoa
8,000,000
Total non-alcoholic stimulants
223,269,233
Total, 1905
$1,548,708,307
Total, 1904
1,498,622,715
Total, 1903
1,451,633,379
Total, 1902
1,369,098,276
Total, 1901
1,273,212,386
Total drink bill five years, 1901–1905
7,141,275,063
Average annual drink bill, 1901–1905
1,428,255,013
The above represents a per capita expenditure for beverages in 1905 of $18.63 for the 83,143,000 inhabitants of the United States, or $93.15 for each family of five.
The quantities of the four leading beverages consumed in 1905, as estimated by the American Grocer, were as follows:
Beverage
Gallons
Coffee
1,625,705,874
Beer
1,538,150,770
Tea
600,000,000
Spirits and wines
135,247,784
It is true that there was a slight decrease in the use of spirits in 1905, but there was an increased amount manufactured. However, there was an increase in the consumption of beer, as shown in the Grocer's statement. Here is its statement concerning shows it to be second as a beverage in favor with consumers. The consumption in 1905 was the highest on record, or 18.50 gallons per capita, a gain over 1904 of 0.22 gallons.
Beer.
The consumption from 1882 to 1885 averaged 10.41 gallons annually, arising to 12.52 gallons per capita from 1886 to 1890, inclusive. It then leaped, from 1892 to 1898, to 15.96 gallons, increasing to 16.20 gallons in 1901, and rapidly rising during the past three years to 18.50 gallons per capita, which probably means that beer-drinkers use from 75 to 100 gallons per capita every year.
The relative average retail cost per gallon of beer is 50 cents; coffee, 10 cents; tea, about 9 cents. The tax on beer returned a revenue in 1905 of $50,360,553.
The following table shows the annual consumption for the last ten years:
Year
Per capita, gallons
Gallons
1896
15.38
1,080,626,165
1897
14.94
1,069,310,262
1898
15.96
1,164,226,462
1899
15.28
1,135,520,629
1900
16.01
1,221,500,160
1901
16.20
1,258,249,391
1902
17.49
1,381,875,437
1903
18.04
1,449,852,934
1904
18.25
1,499,054,034
1905
18.50
1,538,150,770
On the basis of 50 cents per gallon for domestic beer (of which 1,532,949,602 gallons were consumed), and $1.00 for imported (of which 5,201,168 gallons were entered), consumers paid for beer in 1905 a total of $771,675,969.
It should not be forgotten that statistical figures can not include the enormous quantities of alcoholic liquors manufactured clandestinely by “illicit” distillers, and concocted by underhand means of various kinds. These do not get into the reports. Nor does the estimate include the millions of gallons of “patent medicines,” most of which are in the most deceptive form of alcohol mixture.
As we note these startling facts in face of the persistent and effective work of temperance advocates in various lines of effort, we are led to wonder what would be the condition without such effort. Apparently, were it not for the strenuous missionary temperance education in vogue on every hand, the world would be well-nigh saturated with strong drink. Therefore let the faithful Christian Temperance advocates be not weary in well-doing; for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.
A COMPARISON.
AFTER describing in vivid language the saloon-ridden condition of San Francisco before the earthquake, and the general rally of the country to the relief of the sufferers by the recent calamity, Evangelist James W. Zachary calls attention to the far-worse devastation continually at work throughout the United States under the saloon-license system. By way of comparison, he says:
But who cared for such moral devastation and debauchery? What millionaires banded themselves together and gave freely of their money to correct the appalling evils? What was done by the San Francisco daily press to arouse the city, mould public opinion, and drive out the city-debauching saloons? What did the mayor and supervisors do except to make it easy for saloons and harlots to conduct their business unmolested, in every way to the great detriment of the city?
America mourns the loss of San Francisco, and pours her wealth into the very lap of luxury to rebuild the “Pride of the West.” But the same people, without defense or plausible excuse, license, protect, and encourage in most all municipalities and states, the scourge of death in the form of law-sanctioned saloons, which each year kill, debauch, and enslave over five hundred thousand citizens, corrupt the very life-blood of the nation, and inflict untold physical, mental, and moral injury upon the race.
For the license saloon system puts a crown of poverty upon the aching brow of American labor, and literally squanders or diverts from the wholesome channels of trade millions of dollars that go into saloon tills to pay for snake-juice which poisons the body and damns the soul.
Americans are a most inconsistent people. They strain out gnats and swallow camels—hair, hoofs, and all. They tithe the mint and anise, and neglect the weightier matters of the moral law. They deplore the results of an earthquake, and with their own hands, by whisky-soaked ballots in behalf of rum-ruled politicians, inflict upon themselves and the republic, through the licensed saloon policy, far more financial, physical, mental, and moral injury and desolation than have been caused by all the earthquakes and physical calamities that have destroyed property and human life since the foundation of the world. For the licensed saloon and its attendant evils is the darkest blot upon the escutcheon of Christian civilization; a sin that turns the joyous prattle of children into piteous wails; stifles the music of home, and fills it with desolation; a crime against humanity that has dug more graves and sent more souls unprepared to death and the judgment than all the pestilence that has wasted life since God sent the plagues to Egypt, and all the wars that have stained the earth with blood since Joshua stood before Jericho.
