p. 5 | Review and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 28. (7/15/1902)

Review and Herald

Jul 15, 1902

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1902

A NEW REVISED BIBLE

The American Standard Edition of the Revised Bible.

Published in August, 1901,

BY THE

AMERICAN BIBLE REVISION COMMITTEE

This new edition of the American Standard Bible embodies a considerable part of the emendations which represent the deliberate preferences of the whole American Committee, which were not put into the old 1885 revision.

In addition to incorporating in the text the readings preferred by the American Committee, but hitherto printed only in the Appendix to the old revision, this new edition contains rectified errors, inconsistencies, oversights, and infelicities which are always incidental to the first edition of a book like this, also important suggestions made by the American revisers in the progress of their work, but waived in drawing up their Appendix to the old revision of 1885; also carefully selected references and topical headings.

Printed in long primer quarto, a very large, plain print, especially desirable for impaired vision or for reading by gaslight. Bound in one size only,— 8¾ x 6¾ inches,— just the size of the border inclosing this advertisement.

IN THREE SPECIAL BINDINGS.

Cloth boards, red edges : : : : : : $1.50

Egyptian seal, limp, round corners, red under gold edges : : 2.50

Persian levant, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges : : : : : 4.50

What Others Say of this Translation.

By remarkably unanimous consent, America now possesses the most excellent translation of the Holy Scriptures ever published in the English tongue. There has been neither party nor faction discernible in the welcome paid by public scholarship to the American Revision of the Bible.— The Interior.

The most important volume that American scholarship has ever produced.— Church Economist.

The best entire version of the Bible now before the public. Why should it not be generally adopted?— The Examiner.

There can be no doubt that in this version we are nearer the thought, and therefore the spirit, of the Master, than in any other version existing in English.— Northwestern Christian Advocate.

ORDER OF REVIEW AND HERALD PUB CO.,

BATTLE CREEK, : : : : : MICHIGAN.

The Cleansing of Godliness

By Uriah Smith

“HAVING therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 7:1.

Analyzing this text, the first query that claims our attention is, What are these promises which the apostle says we already have in possession? They are referred to in the preceding chapter, and may be enumerated thus:—

Divine indwelling: “I will dwell in them.” 2 Cor. 6:16.
Divine intercourse: “and walk in them.” Id.
A divine covenant between man and the Lord: “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Id., last part.
Divine acceptance: “I will receive you.” 2 Cor. 6:17.
Divine adoption: “I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:18.

Like other precious promises, these are all suspended upon conditions. These conditions are, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” Then follow the promised reception and adoption. Who would reject the conditions, in view of the magnitude of the prize? When we comply with the conditions, and secure the prize, what more can we have? The text aims at the destruction of evil. From the standpoint of God and the Christian, “filthiness” is a terrible word. It includes moral pollution of any kind, not, perhaps, the specific sin spoken of in Heb. 12:1 as “the

sin which doth so easily beset us,” but sin in a general sense, or everything that renders the character loathsome in God’s sight. From this, says the apostle, “let us cleanse ourselves.” How extensive is this work to be? This is shown by the word “all,” and it includes the “flesh” as well as the “spirit.” By “flesh” we understand sin in all its outward manifestations, and by “spirit,” all its internal emotions. But will it not be a difficult matter, and require constant watchfulness and care, to maintain the freedom from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit necessary to secure the overcomer’s reward in the end?—Undoubtedly. The old-time adage, so often heard years ago, that “it is no small thing to be a Christian,” is undoubtedly true. But consider the help with which we have been provided. What does John promise on the confession of our sins?—That God is “faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then certainly we are cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Can any one expect to take any of the works of the flesh with him into the kingdom? “There shall in no wise,” says the record, “enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

“Those holy gates forever bar Pollution, sin, and shame; None shall obtain admittance there But followers of the Lamb.”

What is the exalted position aimed at?—The perfection of holiness in the fear of the Lord. Thus we are prompted by the most sacred of motives. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. But “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. “Let us cleanse ourselves.” It is the Lord that sanctifies his people; he puts new life within us. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do.” Phil. 2:13. So while God does the work, we are to be co-workers with him in the matter of our soul’s salvation.

U. S.

As a Snare

By Editor

Editorial

Suddenly

THE warnings in the Word of God indicate that to many the coming of the Lord will be a terrible surprise. “Watch ye therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” Having refused the message of preparation, and having raised the cry of the scoffers, “Where is the promise of his coming?” they have become so completely absorbed in the things of this world that the revelation of the Lord from heaven is wholly unexpected by them. And so he comes suddenly.

As a Snare

IT is the purpose of Satan to occupy men’s minds so fully with the cares and pleasures of this life that there shall be neither room nor inclination for the affairs of the heavenly kingdom. And so the Lord has given us this warning: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” “The solemn fact is to be kept not only before the people of the world, but before our own churches also, that the day of the Lord will come suddenly, unexpectedly. The fearful warning of the prophecy is addressed to every soul. Let no one feel that he is secure from the danger of being surprised. Let no one’s interpretation of prophecy rob you of the conviction of the knowledge of events which show that this great event is near at hand.”

As a Thief

THOSE who have given heed to the instruction in the Word of God know perfectly, as did the believers at Thessalonica, “that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” If the lights in the house were burning, and the people were all on the watch, the thief would make no effort to enter. It is only when the lights are extinguished, and all the members of the family are locked in slumber, that the thief has confidence that he will be able to accomplish his purpose. “If the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” Those who have responded to the message, “Behold your God,” will not be overwhelmed in this fatal surprise. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Watchfulness and sobriety should be the constant experience of the people of God in these last days. “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” “And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

A World-Wide Message

WE must never lose sight of the fact that this message is to go to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” The whole world is to be warned of the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. To us is given the inestimable privilege of being used as the Lord’s helping hand to minister his salvation to the ends of the earth. The command comes now with renewed force, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The spirit of colonizing is a hindrance to this work. The spirit of settling down and taking things easy is a snare of the devil. Those who preach that increasing wealth is now a sign of the Lord’s favor are sounding the wrong note. Can those who really believe that the Lord is coming in this generation, and that the message of the third angel is to be carried to all the world by those now living, meet the demands of the hour by increasing their bank accounts and their investments in worldly enterprises? A new spirit of consecration to the work needs to come upon us all. There is no time now for a compromise. It is no time to preach one thing and to practice another. The world estimates our faith in the reality of the message which we bear by the spirit of sacrifice which is shown in the effort to make it known to all men. Is our watchword, “The advent message to all the world in this generation,” a mere rallying cry? Or does it express our sincere conviction of a great truth? Doors are open everywhere. Means and workers are needed. Who will help to send this message quickly throughout the countries of the earth? It is no time now to slacken our hands. The work is great, and the time is short. Let all come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. So shall the way of the Lord be prepared, and we shall see the King in his beauty.

The Sabbath a Test

By L. A. S.

THE Sabbath of the Lord is a test of man’s allegiance to his Creator. It was given to the people of God to be a sign between them and him, pointing out the true God, and distinguishing between his worshipers and those who served other gods. While God’s people observed his Sabbath, they necessarily remained true to him; but when they began to slight his memorial, they began in the same degree to transfer their allegiance to another, and to depart from the commandments of Jehovah. As the Sabbath was fundamental in the true worship, so another day was fundamental in the false religions into which God’s people were often led, and that day was the most prominent one in the pagan system—the day of the sun. It was the constant effort of the great adversary of Jehovah’s law, the father of paganism, to obliterate from the earth the observance of the true rest day, the memorial of creation, and substitute in its place the observance of the day which was the sign of a false worship.

The time came finally when the plottings of the evil one against God’s memorial appeared to be crowned with success. There came a falling away from the truth of God, culminating in complete apostasy and the setting up of the “man of sin . . . the son of perdition,” who usurped the place of God as the head of the church and the guide of conscience, and pointed to the day of the sun as having been set up in the church as the sign of his religious authority. A religion of works, pointing only to some human means of salvation, was substituted for a religion of faith in the

works and merits of Christ. Through the darkness of this spiritual night there broke at last the light of the Reformation, and again was proclaimed the Christian doctrine of justification by faith, which pointed men to God alone as the only Saviour. Against the spread of this light and truth Rome employed all her resources, calling upon the civil powers allied with her to put down heresy by legal pains and penalties. Men were not then tested by the proclamation of the Sabbath, but by their adherence to the truth of salvation by faith, contrary to the papal system of salvation by works, in the face of the most cruel punishments inflicted by the civil powers, which were drunken with the wine of Rome’s doctrines.

Again, after the Reformation had done its work, and the long period of papal supremacy had reached its end, the world was tested by the proclamation of another message, declaring to men that the hour of God’s judgment was come. The people were told to prepare to meet their Saviour, who was to come visibly in the clouds of heaven to gather his elect and set up his everlasting kingdom. Those who truly loved the Lord received the message with joy, gladly enduring persecution and reproach for the sake of the blessed hope. They passed through a severe trial, and very many of them failed to endure the test. Their test was not that of Sabbath observance, because the time for that test had not yet come.

But to-day, when the last work for man’s salvation is being accomplished, the world is brought again to the test of adherence to the day which is the sign of the true God, and of true worship. Under the proclamation of the third angel’s message the mystery of godliness is to be finished, the work of Christ as mediator between God and sinners is to reach its end. The world must be prepared for this most solemn culmination. When the mediatorial work of Christ shall end, all who are to be saved must stand complete in him. No more can there be an atonement for sin or error, willful or committed in ignorance. Therefore the full light of God’s truth must shine out, and men must be brought to take their stand upon one side or the other, for the truth or against it. The message of to-day is a compelling message; men are compelled to take a decided stand, and thus to prepare themselves for the issue that awaits them. For Christ is not arbitrarily to close the probation of any by the mere act of finishing his mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary, but men are to be brought to decide their own destiny by their attitude toward God, before that work shall end; and thus God is to be cleared of all responsibility for the state in which men find themselves when probation ends. And that which brings men to the test to-day is the truth which points out God’s memorial day, the sign given by him to those who would know him as he is, and would worship him in spirit and in truth. By this men are being tested, and will be tested until the light of God’s truth shall fill the earth, and all people shall have accepted it or turned from it. The Sabbath is to become a sign throughout the world, as it already is in many places, distinguishing between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not; not the mere formal observance of the seventh day, however, but that Sabbath keeping which hails the coming of the sacred day with delight. Never before was the world brought to the issue which confronts it to-day. This is why the Sabbath must necessarily be proclaimed openly, and everywhere to-day, as it was not done in the reformations of former times.

L. A. S.

The Name of Jesus

By W. A. S.

PREPARATORY to the last great Pentecost, when all the nations and tribes of earth are to hear the wonderful works of God set forth again, each in their own tongue, God has had an army of workmen busy setting the Scriptures into the various languages of earth. The Word of God speaks in over four hundred tongues now, and new conquests are continually being made.

We, who work in our expressive English speech, itself having been so largely shaped and molded by early Bible translations, can appreciate but partially the difficulties of the translators working in some of the non-Christian tongues. Christian ideas are so totally different from the heathen conceptions that many thoughts are put into language only with the greatest difficulty.

The noble army of God’s workmen have labored and toiled, especially during the last century, to search out right words in which to set forth Christ crucified, in the language of Holy Writ. Now, to-day, in the border lands of missionary enterprise, these workmen are still toiling away with a devotion that may well be an inspiration to us. In the Missionary Review of the World, a missionary of the Society of Friends, working in West Central Africa, gives this account of his search for words with which to clothe the thoughts of God:—

The first word I secured was “Nichau,” meaning “What is it?” Day and night I pestered every man I met with that question. In the brickyard muddy hands and pencil added to muddy paper the swelling list of words. In the garden, hoe and spade were dropped for pencil and notebook, as some new word dropped from the lips of the black men at my side. So it went through the day with its varied duties, and then at night, by candle light, the day’s treasures were gathered up, classified, and made ready for their blessed service.

For two years and a half I searched for the word “Saviour.” As each day and week and month passed by, it grew bigger with meaning in the light of the frightful need which faced me—a need which I knew I could meet if I could bring that word to bear upon it, but before which I was powerless until that golden key was discovered.

But it finally came, and the toil of years was recompensed. Around the evening camp fire I sat with my men, listening to their stories, and watching eagerly for the coveted word. Finally my head man, Kikuvi, launched upon a tale which I hoped would bring it. He told how Mr. Krieger had some months before been attacked by a lion and badly wounded, and how he had been rescued. But to my great disappointment he did not drop the concrete word for which I was looking. Sick at heart, I was about to turn away, when in a modest way he turned to me, saying, “Bwana nukuthaniwa na Kikuvi” (The master was saved by Kikuvi). I could have shouted for joy, for having the verb I could easily make the noun; but to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt, I said, “Ukuthanie Bwana?” (You saved the master?), and he replied, “Yes.” “Why, Kikuvi,” I said, “this is the word I have been wanting you to give me all these ‘moons,’ because I wanted to tell you that Yesu died to Ku——.” I got no further. The black face lit up, as in the lurid light of the camp fire he turned upon me, exclaiming, “Master! I see it now! I understand! This is what you have been trying to tell us all these moons, that Yesu died to save us from the power of sin!” Never did sweeter word fall from mortal lips than that word “Saviour” as it fell from the lips of that black savage in Central Africa.

For four years I dwelt alone, seeing three of my co-workers stricken down by fever; had over thirty attacks of fever myself; was three times attacked by lions, several times by rhinoceroses; ambushed by hostile natives; fourteen months without bread; for two months subsisted on beans and sour milk; have had to eat everything from ants to rhinoceroses; but I rejoice to say that I would be glad to go through the whole program again with my eyes wide open if I could have the joy of flashing that word “Saviour” into the darkness of another tribe in Central Africa.

Rejoicing with this worker in his joy at finding the long-sought word, do we not see, more plainly than ever, the fullness of the gospel in that one blessed word, that dearest name in earth or heaven, brought by angels to men—the name of Jesus? Strike what we know of the meaning of that name Jesus—Saviour—out of our lives, and how all the lights of heaven would go out in darkness in our souls. Yet the greater part of the peoples of this earth to-day do not know the name and the glorious message to men that God has infolded within it.

W. A. S.

Studies in the Gospel Message

The first seven verses of the first chapter of Daniel are the basis of the Sabbath-school lesson for July 26.

In taking up the study of a portion of the book of Daniel, it may be profitable to consider the principles involved in the experiences of the captivity, and the personal lesson which we are to learn from the study of this book.

A connected reading of the first nine chapters of Daniel, and a brief consideration of their contents as a whole, will make it clear that the temple, or sanctuary, and its significance in the worship of God constitute the real theme which is dealt with. This may not seem so apparent in some chapters as in others, especially if we deal merely with names rather than with principles; but our studies from week to week will help us follow the theme both in the historic and in the prophetic portions of the book. But first we ought to see clearly what is the real principle involved in this question of the sanctuary. Evidently the sanctuary and its service proclaim the provision which God has made to cleanse our conscience “from dead works to serve the living God.” This is set forth with clearness in that divine commentary on the sanctuary question, the epistle to the Hebrews. A few verses in the ninth chapter will emphasize this fact. After a brief description of the tabernacle, its furniture and its services, has been given, we read as follows: “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while as the first tabernacle is yet standing; which is a parable for the time now present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshiper perfect, being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. But Christ [the Messiah] having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanliness of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ [the Messiah], who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Heb. 9:8-14, R. V.

The tabernacle, and the temple as well, with its furniture and its services, was a parable. It was constantly setting forth the coming of the Messiah, the gift of himself in behalf of man, the shedding of his blood for the remission of sin. Its message was, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” “The whole worship of ancient Israel was a promise, in figures and symbols, of Christ [the Messiah]; and it was not merely a promise, but an actual provision, designed by God to aid millions of people by lifting their thoughts to him who was to manifest himself to our world.”

“That temple, erected for the abode of the divine presence, was designed to be an object lesson for Israel and for the world. From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the divine One. But by the incarnation of the Son of God, the purpose of heaven is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again his temple. God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul.”

Thus the heart of the sanctuary question is found in the great truth that it is God’s purpose to dwell with flesh, and that this is accomplished through the incarnation of the Son of God. The fulfillment of this purpose is recorded in these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us.” This is that union of divinity and humanity which constitutes the mystery of the gospel, the mystery of godliness. It is described in such expressions as these: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts

by faith;” “Christ liveth in me;” “Christ in you, the hope of glory;” “Ye are the temple of God;” “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.”

It is plain enough that when Christ our righteousness dwells in the heart by faith, making the flesh his temple, we have the actual experience of righteousness by faith. It follows then that the central thought in the sanctuary question is righteousness by faith, or justification by faith. This is the real meaning of the temple and its services. When this meaning was lost sight of, the appointed services became a mere round of ceremonies without power or efficacy for anybody. It was because of their failure to apprehend this truth, and the consequent fact that they lost the indwelling presence of God from their own hearts, that the Jews were taken to Babylon as captives. Their temple service had degenerated into ceremonialism. They had ceased to reveal to the world the gospel truth that God dwells with flesh. They had changed the law of faith into the law of works. They could no longer proclaim to the world the fundamental doctrine of the gospel,—justification by faith. Under these circumstances they went down to Babylon as captives.

But Daniel and his companions had retained the purity of their religious experience. They had apprehended the real truth of the sanctuary question, and were prepared to reveal it to others, and God used them in Babylon for this very purpose. The record of their experiences in Babylon teaches the same truth to us as was taught in Babylon by the experiences themselves, and this truth is justification by faith. And the prophetic portions of the book reveal the triumph of this great truth in the setting up of the kingdom of God in the earth.

Thus it is that the real theme of the book of Daniel is the temple and its significance in the worship of God, which is simply the concrete form of the truth of justification by faith. And this is why the book of Daniel should be earnestly studied in these last days; for the fundamental gospel doctrine, justification by faith, has been lost from our experience to such an extent that there needs to be a new reformation through which the real gospel of faith instead of works, of grace instead of ceremonialism, may be restored to God’s professed people.

Our future studies will bring out with greater fullness what has here been presented in outline.

The Coming Reformation: Professor Pearson on Social Change

The following extract from a recent discourse given by Professor Charles Pearson, of Chicago, shows how existing conditions in the world are impressing thoughtful observers with a sense of the imminence of a mighty change in the present order of human affairs, even without the assurance of the fact which we have from the word of prophecy. The professor’s subject was “The Coming Reformation:” —

Ours is a mechanical age. It produces wealth so rapidly that all previous ages seem poor. We have grown rich faster than we have learned the proper use of our riches. We are making money, but we do not know yet how to distribute it. Many men are too rich for their own good. Many are too poor for comfort, for health, for nobility, for decent, progressive, civilized life. Everything is subordinated to the desire to make money.

A moneyed aristocracy—an aristocracy of financiers, of manufacturers and merchants, and railway and steamship kings—now rules the civilized world. The working classes are discontented and threatening. . . Men and women are underfed, and children die of inanition because food is rendered artificially dear.

Men, women, and children sit in darkness because kerosene oil, stored in the earth by God for the use of all his children, is made under inequitable laws to yield fabulous wealth to a few persons.

Men, women, and children are crowded into small, dark, comfortless, unsanitary tenements, and puny, diseased children are born and die there, because lumber, brick, glass, iron, and lead are made artificially dear in the present cruel eagerness for wealth.

I do not see how any intelligent man can expect the existing order of things to continue much longer, or how any humane man can desire that it should. Nor does it require very much prophetic foresight to see that it will not.

Note and Comment

The Christian’s work is to minister the grace of God. And he should remember that the grace of God is continually poured out from the throne of grace in the fullest measure, so that at no time or place need he be without a full supply for souls with whom he is brought in contact. It is no stinted or intermittent flow that comes from the fountain head of grace. The tide is always full, and the Christian is to be a channel through which it may flow continually. He is to be constantly passing on to every one whom he meets the blessings of this divine current—constantly imparting life to every soul with whom he comes in touch. The idea that only at special times or on special occasions is a Christian to impart to others that which he receives from God is one which wholly misrepresents the Christian life.

Growth of Christian Science in America, 1901

SPEAKING of the rapid growth of Christian Science in this country, Mr. Joseph Dana Miller says in The Era that there were in 1901 four hundred and forty-three Christian Science churches and one hundred and sixty-seven societies not formally organized as churches. The denomination also maintains more than one hundred free reading rooms. The first church of Boston had in 1901 about twenty-two thousand members, over three thousand of whom had been added during the year. Six Christian Science churches recently built or now building, in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Denver, involve an expenditure of two million dollars. “It is a notable fact,” says Mr. Miller, “that the adherents of Christian Science are, as a rule, from the well-to-do part of the community. Most members of its churches have had large advantages of education, and have been fortunate in their worldly affairs. They come from what is commonly called the cultured portion of American society.”

L. A. S

By L. A. S.

WHILE Rome is intriguing for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the United States, she has, according to the following report, achieved a great victory in another part of the North American continent, which must give her great encouragement to continue her efforts for the conquest of the American republic. We clip the report from the New York Times of July 1:—

A dispatch from Queretaro, Mexico, says: “Mgr. R. Canz de Samper, the papal delegate to Mexico, who was taken sick here a few days ago, is improved. He confirms the published dispatch from Rome stating that he has been successful in his mission to re-establish direct official relations between the republic of Mexico and the Vatican.

“It is reported that the laws of reform which were so obnoxious to the Catholic authorities in Mexico will be repealed, and that permission will be granted for the establishment of convents in this country.

“All relations between the government of Mexico and the Church of Rome were broken off at the opening of the reform government under Juarez, and although they were renewed during the brief reign of Maximilian, they were again interrupted on the return of Juarez to power.

“Bitter feeling was caused by the action of the Mexican government in confiscating church property and forbidding religious orders, but a better sentiment has since grown up between the civil and religious authorities.”

It was a half century ago that Mexico confiscated the convents and other surplus property of the Catholic Church, and broke off diplomatic relations with the Vatican. Now these relations have, it seems, been re-established, and Rome is in a fair way to return to her former position of dominance in Mexican affairs.

L. A. S

Pentecost: A Living Witness to the Resurrection

“On the day of Pentecost the Jews saw before them a hundred and twenty proofs of the resurrection of Christ. Each believer was seen to be clothed with a life such as had never before been beheld, and each believer was to the astonished multitude as a risen Christ.”

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