p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 2. (1/9/1896)

Earlier text: THE FEAR, GLORY, AND WORSHIP OF GOD

Publications on the Sabbath

THE LORD'S DAY, THE TEST OF THE AGES

Presents in the briefest, simplest manner a part of the Bible evidence concerning both sides of the Sabbath question. The subject is treated in a new and interesting way. Fully illustrated with diagrams and original illustrations. 128 pages, paper covers, just out, price 15 cents.

ABIDING SABBATH AND LORD'S DAY

A pointed review of two of the best recent productions for the defense of the Sunday sabbath. The best arguments in support of Sunday are undoubtedly presented in this book. 173 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

CHANGE OF THE SABBATH

A brief treatise answering the question so often asked, “Who Changed the Sabbath?” 218 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

A candid and thoroughly scriptural treatise on this important question. 96 pages, paper covers. Price 10 cents.

THE SABBATH AND THE LAW

This work covers the Sabbath institution from Eden created to Eden restored, and its arguments are clear and forcible and convincing. 192 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

THE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH

An exhaustive treatise on the Sabbath question, in which every passage in the Bible which has any connection with the Sabbath, either in the Old or New Testament, is examined at length. It is a veritable mine of information, both Biblical and Historical, on this subject. Three volumes, paper covers. Price $1.00 per set.

… Send for Catalogue containing Price List of other … Publications on this Subject.

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THE STORY OF THE MUTINEERS OF THE BOUNTY

has often been told before; sometimes fairly well, at other times incorrectly, or in an exaggerated way. But it is truthfully told in “Story of Pitcairn Island,” written by a native of Pitcairn, and one who has practically spent her whole life on the island. While her whole lifetime does not cover quite one-half the time covered by the history of the island, she had access for many years to one, at least, who remembered events that occurred before the beginning of the present century. The father of Miss Rosalind A. Young was the second oldest man of the community at the time of his death, and was a grandson of JOHN ADAMS, one of the Mutineers.

Miss Young is the author of the book, and she relates in a graphic way the history of Pitcairn Island from the mutiny on board the ship Bounty to the present time.

No better book than this one can be procured to place before the young people.

“Story of Pitcairn Island” is bound in vellum cloth, contains 256 pages, including more than 20 illustrations taken from recent photographs, and each of its 26 chapters have an appropriately engraved heading. Price $1.00, Postpaid.

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NEWS AND NOTES

FOREIGN.

—Alfred Austin is the name of England’s new poet laureate, just appointed. The place has been vacant since the death of Lord Tennyson, on October 6, 1892.

—It is announced that the Cheng-tu Commission has finished its work in the Orient, with very satisfactory results. All claims for damages have been settled, and the missionaries are now recognized by all officials, from viceroy down.

—Judge Rose, of Toronto, has decided that street cars may run on Sunday without violating the “Lord’s day” act. Some time ago the street car companies were proceeded against by the Ministerial Association, and this judgment is the result of the action.

—The Azhar at Cairo is the great university of the Mohammedan faith. It was founded in A.D. 1000, and from 10,000 to 12,000 persons are always in attendance, gathered from all parts of Africa. There are 321 sheiks, or instructors. The instruction largely consists of committing to memory and reciting, the subject being the Koran and the traditions founded on it.

—It is stated that General Dryenfurth, the so-called rain maker, whose experiments in Texas will be remembered, is to make an attempt to dispel the fogs of London. A sum of $50,000 is to be raised for the experiments, which will be bombardment of the skies in the hope of causing rain, which would dispel the fog as it rolls in from the sea. It is said the fogs of London cause hundreds of thousands of dollars damage to business each day.

—Under date of December 30, the press announced that our Minister to Turkey, Mr. Terrell, has been instructed by Secretary Olney to make claim of $100,000 on the Turkish Government for the benefit of American missionaries who suffered loss of property in the Kharpoot outbreaks in November. It is stated also that a demand for losses sustained at Marash will also be made as soon as the extent of the damages can be ascertained.

—Armenia and her troubles continue to be subjects of interest throughout the civilized world, and two societies besides the Red Cross Society are working for the relief of sufferers in that country. These are the Armenian Relief Association, of London, and the National Armenian Relief Committee in this country, the chairman of which is Justice Brewer, of the Supreme Court. The committee asks for money, grain, coarse cotton and woolen goods, intending donors to correspond with the committee. There is already in the hands of the Duke of Westminster $5,000 for this purpose, the relief of whatever nature to be administered through the Red Cross Society if that society can gain access to the sufferers.

—A week ago the Cuban reports were outlining a retreat for the insurgents from Havana. To-day advices state that the rebels, in three columns, are advancing upon the capital. The situation of the Spanish forces seems to be critical, and martial law has been proclaimed by Campos in the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Rio. The rebels, as they are still called, are said to be well mounted, and experience no great difficulty in evading the Spanish troops, in burning plantations, and spreading terror generally. Thus far the tactics of Campos have shown only in retreats, and great promises. Besides the edict of martial law in the provinces named, a proclamation has been made by the Spanish commander appropriating all the horses to the use of his army in the same districts, and establishing a strict censorship on all papers and upon all news leaving the island. It now looks as though the end of the struggle will not be far distant.

—The Venezuela incident has for the time being assumed an aspect of secondary importance in Great Britain, owing to complications in South Africa. With practically no warning, a battle has been fought in the Transvaal between the Boers and a force of British invaders under Dr. Jameson, with the result that the Boers were victorious, a large number of the British slain, several hundred taken prisoners, and Dr. Jameson and his principal officers are in jail at Pretoria. While this engagement is sudden, the trouble has been brewing for years, and can in its incipiency be laid only to the grasping policy of Great Britain. The Boers are descendants of the original Dutch settlers in South Africa, and, being an independent people, and refusing to submit to English rule, which was forced upon them in Cape Colony, retreated to Natal. Here the English followed, and the Boers continued to retreat, finally taking a stand across the Vaal. In 1867 the great diamond discoveries drew thousands of foreigners into their territory, and the increased gold finds of 1877 led England to make a bold attempt was unsuccessful, for their forces were defeated on every hand by the Boers in 1880, and matters were patched up by England establishing a suzerainty over the Transvaal, or South African Republic. In 1883 S. J. Paul Krueger was elected president, and his marked ability has caused his continued reelection ever since. Notwithstanding the great influx of foreigners, mostly English, which has made the population more foreign than native, the Boers have held the reins of government, as was their right. But the better part of the foreign element has represented the most modern progression, and has sought to introduce railroads, modern machinery, electric plants, etc., which the slow-going Boers have characteristically been slow to accept, and it is claimed the government has thrown many obstacles in the way of their introduction. This naturally created bad feeling, which has all along been augmented by the fact that foreigners pay the major part of the taxes, and are allowed no voice in the government. Citizenship and right to vote are granted only after fourteen years’ residence, and perhaps there is wisdom in the law, as the Boers say they wish only as citizens those who show by their deeds that they intend to cast in their lot with them, and remain in the country permanently. The majority, it is claimed, come only to make a fortune, and leave. Be all this as it may, the feeling has culminated in this move of Jameson to the relief of the foreign party, and his defeat. Jameson is the right-hand man of Sir Cecil Rhodes, the premier of Cape Colony, who it is rumored aspires to effect an independent republic of all the South African Colonies. The affair has caused a profound sensation in England. That government of course deprecates the action of Jameson, but it is an open question if the move was not connived at by the colonial secretary, Lord Chamberlain, whose telegrams of recall were sent just in time to fail of reaching their man. Added to the general interest is the telegram of Emperor William, of Germany, congratulating President Krueger upon his victory. In a day all Europe, which before had upheld England in its controversy with the United States in the Venezuelan matter, has united in a note of gladness that the British lion has received a drubbing in South Africa. The general effect, although the end is not known as we go to press, is to arouse war talk, and again weigh up the forces here and there in the various possessions of the great nations.

DOMESTIC.

—The order of King’s Daughters has a membership of 400,000. The organization is nine years old.

—The contract for building the two new war ships has been let to the Newport News Company, of Virginia.

—During 1895 there were 103 deaths by accident in Montana, 22 suicides, and 21 murders, in a population of 150,000.

—Six persons lost their lives in a fire in the private residence of J. H. Hibbard, in Columbus, O., on January 2. Four escaped by jumping from a second-story window.

—By the explosion of a quantity of fireworks in St. Louis, Mo., January 2, the building in which they were stored was wrecked, and, so far as known, six persons lost their lives.

—In 1859 David Boggs, tax collector at Wyandotte, Kan., defaulted with $5,000. On December 31 he returned, an old man, and tendered $10,000 to Governor Shelby in restitution. His conscience troubled him.

—The limits of Brooklyn, N. Y., have been extended, taking in Kings County, which has been in existence 212 years, but which now passes away. The new corporation bears the name of “The County of Brooklyn.”

—The Bible Institute Colportage Association, organized last summer by Mr. Moody for the free distribution of religious reading matter among prisoners in jails, has during its short existence distributed 12,619 volumes in 23 states.

—The committee organized in 1885 in Tacoma for the purpose of excluding Chinese, and which has been endeavoring to force out a few Chinese servants, has won the day, the employer of the objectionable foreigners dismissing them January 2.

—An investigation of municipal affairs in Philadelphia has revealed fully as foul a state of corruption as that found in New York City some time ago. Much ado was made that New York was controlled by the Democratic party. But the party has little to do in the matter, for Philadelphia has always been Republican. The evil lies in the men in power, who use their offices for purposes of extortion.

—In their annual report for the year ending December 1, the trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge state that the amount received for tolls during that time was $1,224,272.86, of which $1,130,608.84 was from the railroad, an increase of $18,792.96 over the preceding year, and $93,664.02 from the carriageway, an increase of $6,395.76. The total number of passengers carried was 44,564,329. The rentals from real estate were $83,628.58, and from the telegraph and telephone companies, $21,395.

—An exhibition of savagery occurred at Lebanon, Ky., on December 29, when a mob surrounded and set fire to a house occupied by William Deveres and Mrs. West, who lived together as man and wife. The little daughter of Deveres went out to plead for their lives, but she was ordered to leave, and escaped to a nearby house. The crowd held their ground while the house burned. The woman burned to death, and Deveres was shot when he made a dash to escape the flames. The parties to the deed were not disguised, and it is believed efforts will be made to bring the leaders to justice.

—It now appears that the press reports of the Venezuelan Commission announced a few days since were somewhat premature. The president has appointed five on the commission, Justice David J. Brewer, of the U. S. Supreme Court, Richard H. Alvey, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, Andrew D. White, formerly president of Cornell University, Frederick R. Coudert, who was one of the counsel for the United States in the Bering Sea Commission, and Daniel G. Gilman, president of Johns Hopkins University, all well-known men. The commission has met and organized, with Justice Brewer chairman.

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Divorces Increasing Faster Than Population

Divorces.— According to the Boston Herald, divorce statistics do not seem to foreshadow the coming temporal millennium. In some states the increase of population has kept pace with the increase of divorces, but on the whole divorce is increasing. In Ohio, while the increase of population is 20 per cent., the gain of divorces is 56 per cent. In Michigan the increase of population has been 38 per cent., the increase in the number of divorces 108 per cent. In Arizona the increase of population is 318 per cent., while that of divorces is 2,200 per cent. And yet, with the increase of suicides, homicides, divorces, and crimes of all sorts and kinds against written and social law, we are gravely told that the nation is Christian. There are Christians here, but while in this world they are not of it.

The Sabbath and the Truthfulness of Scripture

THERE is a reason for denying the truthfulness of the scripture which says that the world was made in six days, although many do not know what it is. It is that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment rests upon that fact. The Sabbath is the memorial of God’s creative power—of his divinity and his power to save. It is given that men may know that he is the God that sanctifies. Eze. 20:12. It is for this reason that Satan has directed his subtle artists against the first chapters of Genesis. Let it be clearly understood that the Sabbath question is simply the question of the truthfulness of the Bible. It is the question of whether men shall follow the word of God or their own inventions. Which do you choose?—Present Truth.

He Who Knows God Fears No Man

He who knows God will not fear the face of men. He will regard men, he will love men, he will desire to save men, he will for the Lord’s sake count them his brothers, but he will not fear them. Like the psalmist he will say, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?”

Christian Citizenship and the Threat of Theocracy

A RECENT editorial in a religious paper on “Christian Citizenship” closes thus:—

“It is enough to say that the politician who fails to count him [the Christian citizen] in his political reckoning will make a serious mistake in his political arithmetic.”

This shows the trend of the whole article, and of a great deal of professed Christianity in these days. Its aim is a theocracy. Its result will be persecution and ruin to both church and state.

Honor and Honor: A Missionary's Interview in China

Honor and Honor.—It is thus that a missionary reports an interview with a tutor of the young Chinese emperor:—

“Three days after this first interview he returned my call—an imperial tutor of China paying his respects to a plain missionary.”

But, after all, if the missionary were truly an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, the imperial tutor was the more highly honored. A representative of the Lord of heaven met him. “Let no man glory in men.” “Fear God, and give glory to him.”

The New York World's Remarkable Circulation Growth

As showing the fruits of push and enterprise in newspaper work, the New York World stands as a shining example. It began its career in 1882, we believe with about 8,000; it has gradually increased, till its aggregate circulation of morning and evening editions in the month of November, 1895, reached the enormous total of 581,937. The circulation of the Sunday World, of which there is no evening edition, of December 1, 1895, was 447,161. Behind this colossal enterprise is Joseph Pulitzer, who began life penniless. It is said that he was once turned from French’s Hotel, a fine structure of itself, because he could not pay for his lodging. Afterward he purchased the hotel and removed it to obtain a site on which to erect the present magnificent World Building. Such a newspaper, with such a circulation, throws upon its conductor a wonderful responsibility before God.

Increase of Sunday-Law Sentiment.

One of the largest meetings in the interests of Sunday laws held in this country was held in Carnegie Music Hall, New York City, December 16. Among the speakers were Judge Arnoux; Bishops Potter and Doane, of the Episcopal Church; Father A. P. Doyle, of the Catholic Church, who spoke with the approval of Archbishop Corrigan; Dr. Buckley, editor of the Methodist Christian Advocate; Dr. W. H. P. Faunce, Baptist; Hon. Warner Miller; Dr. C. L. Thompson, Presbyterian; Hon. Frederick E. Coudert, the famous lawyer. The New York Tribune gave six columns to the report of the meeting. The Christian Advocate says that it “was the largest and most representative meeting ever assembled in the city of New York. Every seat in the large hall was occupied; the topmost gallery was crowded, and many persons were standing in the lobbies, while many hundreds—some say thousands—were unable to secure admission. More than two hundred ministers of different denominations were present. The list of vice presidents included many prominent men in every walk of life in this city. Every denomination of Protestants and the Catholic Church were represented in the audience. Two-thirds of the assembly were men, and, as the Tribune justly says: ‘Men of opposing political belief sat shoulder to shoulder and applauded the speakers who denounced the power of the rumsellers, and declared in favor of maintaining the American sabbath.’ The New York Times says: ‘The audience seemed to include the leading members of the regular congregation of every prominent church in the city. The demonstration was imposing by its great size and eminent respectability.’” Mixed with the Sunday-law sentiment was much that was good in the way of temperance. But the temperance question and other proper issues are used by Satan to take the curse off the Sunday laws. A Sunday law, a bald out and out religious law, would be rejected by every intelligent American, but coming before them as a temperance measure, as a sort of beast of burden necessary to bring the temperance measure in, it deceives men in all walks of life. But once place the Sunday temperance law on our statute books, and it will not be the rumsellers who will suffer most, but conscientious followers of Christ. A few years ago such a meeting as the above, sandwiched with temperance though it were, would not have been possible. Public sentiment is now, however, crystallizing rapidly. The reason for this we will, the Lord willing, give next week. The times are ominous. History is making rapidly.

Individualism and the Rights of the Soul

Individualism.—There is much talk nowadays about Socialism, applied Christianity, the authority and selfhood of the state, its personality, etc. Do not be deceived. The only just government or system of government, the only true religion, is that which recognizes the rights of the individual, be that individual who he may. Among these rights, as our forefathers declared, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These include the worship or non-worship of God, the profession or non-profession of religion. Man can not of right deprive himself of this right, nor has any man or combination of men the right to deprive him of his right to freely choose. This right is God given. God does not compel choice. He sets before man the two ways, and says, “Choose ye.”

And the only just human government there can be must be on the plan of individualism. For when the rights of each one is conserved, the rights of all are conserved. But if any system deprives a single soul of his equal rights with all men, the system is false, and will, if operative and dominant, extend to others, and eventually work ruin. The only true-ism of government is individualism.

Not Christian or Christianity.

—The Christian Advocate says:—

“To-day Massachusetts is pouring liquor so fast into Africa as to cause the missionaries to feel as though their greatest foe is not the ignorant, besotted, fanatical heathen, but the covetous and unscrupulous Christian. The Mohammedans there, as elsewhere, with much prima-facie evidence, are charging up the evils of rum to Christianity.”

This is true with one exception: the men who do it are not “Christian,” nor are the evils due to “Christianity.” Christianity does not exist in name or in profession, but in a life principle which transforms men; and a Christian is one who has received this life by faith. Those who thus despoil or ruin the heathen are themselves the worshipers of self, covetous, idolaters. Col. 3:5.

Truly Living.

—As we live by him, the Lord wishes us to know him; for to know him is life eternal. The Lord wishes us to realize that he is not far from every one of us. And when we recognize this closeness of God to us, and the fact that he is the fountain of life, when, instead of using his marvelous gifts as though they belonged to us by our own right, to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind, we allow him to use them to his own glory, then we begin to live indeed; for his life is allowed free course in us. It is not held down with our unrighteousness, but, with our wills yielded to him, it flows up from the fountain of life, as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. This is what it is to know him indeed.

TO OUR SEVENTH-DAY READERS.

By Editor

A GREAT many of those who read the SIGNS OF THE TIMES have, no doubt, been led to accept the faith represented in this paper by means of reading matter. We would be glad to have all those who have accepted the faith taught in the columns of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES through reading matter, whether by this paper, tracts, pamphlets, or books published by us, drop a card to A. O. Tait, Battle Creek, Mich., stating what publication they first read to attract their attention to this work.

If you have not seen the two new tracts, “America’s Crisis,” and the “New Testament Sabbath,” if you will state so in dropping your card to Mr. Tait, he will take pleasure in sending you sample copies of these two new publications. Only those who have accepted the views represented by this paper through some class of reading matter, should reply to this note.