Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Aug 27, 1903
Publishers’ Page
By Editor
Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Company
Small Prophetic Chart
THE Review and Herald has just printed some small prophetic charts on thin enamel paper, 3¼x5 inches, suitable to paste in Bibles. They are made plain and cheap, so that all can have them. Price, three cents. Order of the Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
Our Paradise Home
BY S. H. LANE
THE Review and Herald Publishing Company has just issued a new book entitled “Our Paradise Home,” written by Elder S. H. Lane. It is a treatise on the subjects of the coming kingdom, and the saints’ inheritance. The important subjects are presented in an attractive and interesting manner. Those who have read it say they did not want to lay it down until it was finished. It contains an introduction and sixteen chapters upon the many phases of the following subjects:—
Sin Permitted; The Fall of Satan, The Purchased Kingdom; The Three Worlds; The Redemption of the World Promised; The Two Kingdoms; The Two Jerusalems; The Three Heavens; The Earnest of the Holy Spirit; A Glimpse of the Future Kingdom; The Rest that Remaineth; The Events of the Millennium; The Judgment; The Two Resurrections; A Description of the Kingdom of Glory; The New Jerusalem.
In all of these subjects the plain Gospel facts are forcibly given by the author, who has had many years’ experience in the ministry.
It is a small book, full of the message, just the kind for a canvasser to use as a help, or for church members to place in the homes of their neighbors and friends. The title, “Our Paradise Home,” attracts the attention of the people, and a brief explanation of its contents sells it. Our first agent took some sample copies out to try it, and in a few hours returned all sold out and full of courage. He said, “It sells at sight.”
It contains 128 pages, printed on good stock, is nicely illustrated with new designs made especially for the book. Bound in a neat board cover for 25 cents, and in cloth, with similar design for 50 cents. It is a regular subscription book, and will be sold to agents at fifty per cent. discount.
It will be kept in stock by all State tract societies.
The Place of the Bible in Education
BY A. T. JONES
248 pages, in paper and cloth bindings, 25 and 75 cents, postpaid.
ONE of the new books just out. An excellent volume to study in connection with “Education.” Its chapter divisions are as follows:—
Christian Education; The World’s Education; The Essentials of Knowledge; The Secret of the Great Apostasy; The Greek or “Scientific Method” To-day; The Separation of Christianity and the State; The Bible’s Right to Supreme Place in Christian Education; The Education of Daniel; What Was Taught in the Schools of the Prophets; The Study of Wisdom; The Study of Knowledge; The Study of Science; The Study of Mental Science; The Study of Moral Science; The Study of Physical Science—Anatomy; The Study of Physical Science—Healing; The Study of Physical Science—Physical Culture; Literature, History, Law, Logic; The Failures of Popular Education.
Order of the State Tract Societies.
Special Offer on Mental Arithmetic Withdrawn
OUR special offer on this book, made for “a short time” on July 21, is withdrawn. Having a large stock on hand and desiring to reduce it, and desiring to give the book a special advertising, we made the price for a few weeks 25 cents per copy. The book hereafter will be sold at the regular price, 65 cents per copy, postpaid.
Education
A NEW BOOK BY MRS. E. G. WHITE
A VALUABLE volume on education in its entirety, covering all its phases, especially prepared for parents, teachers, and students; excellent for all classes. The great principles of Christian education are clearly set forth, and invaluable counsel for the education of the youth is placed within the reach of all.
Order of the State Tract Societies, or of the Review and Herald Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich.
Patriarchs and Prophets
As the International Sunday-school Lessons for the last half of 1903 will be upon Old Testament subjects specially treated in “Patriarchs and Prophets,” the present time is very favorable for the sale of this book to thousands of Sunday-school attendants, teachers and workers.
“Patriarchs and Prophets” contains the foundation principles of the message, and interweaves them in the biographies of the leaders of Israel mentioned in the coming Sunday-school lessons, in a manner that will guide those studying these lessons into the full gospel for this time. While the circumstances are favorable, a special effort should be made to give the people this “meat in due season.”
Send to the Review and Herald for free copies of “Helpful Hints,” which contains the topics of the International Sunday-school lessons, and the pages in “Patriarchs and Prophets” where these lesson topics are mentioned.
“Patriarchs and Prophets” is an elegant book in every particular. It is published in the English, Danish-Norwegian, Swedish, German, and Holland languages, and substantially bound in all the popular styles of binding. It contains 760 large pages; prices, $2.25 to $4.50.
Order of the State Tract Societies, or of the Review and Herald Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich.
Hypnotism: What Is It?
IN many papers and magazines the subject of Hypnotism is being discussed, and the public mind is well prepared for the reception of the valuable instruction on this subject contained in a booklet of 48 pages, entitled, “Hypnotism: What Is It?” by Augustin J. Bourdeau.
Of the merits of this little work we will let others who have read it testify.
The Christain Herald, of Detroit, says:—
“The most informing discussion of this subject that has come to our knowledge is a booklet of 48 pages by Augustin J. Bourdeau, number 28 of the “Words of Truth” Series, published by the Review and Herald Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich. Single copy 3 cents. For this pittance one may easily become informed on this subject.”
The Church Herald, of Fort Scott, Kans., in commending this tract, says:—
“An excellent and timely brief treatise in very neat pamphlet form on Hypnotism, issues from the press of the Review and Herald Publishing Company, of Battle Creek, Mich. The writer of the treatise evinces a very thorough insight into this modern and widely prevailing form of diabolism, and exposes it unsparingly. A wide circulation of this timely treatise would be of much avail in helping to stay the plague of monstrous iniquities that is exposed in its pages.”
Our local tract societies should be circulating this inexpensive, timely little booklet, while the people are interested, and while they are hunting for the light contained in its pages.
Kept by all tract societies. Three cents single copy; liberal discounts on all large orders.
Mothers’ and Teachers’ Manual
BY PROF. C. C. LEWIS
THIS book is especially designed to assist in the home and the church-school work. It contains suggestions from our best educators for mothers and teachers. To all those interested in the education of the youth, and to mothers, this is indispensable. We have a few copies remaining, which we will sell at the following reduced prices: Paper covers, 25 cents; cloth, 35 cents.
Order of the Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
No Precedent
By Editor
Editorial
No Precedent
WE can follow no precedent in the work which is now to be done. There is to be a new experience altogether. We must forget the past, and believe that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” “Heavenly intelligences are waiting and longing to co-operate with human instrumentalities. God would reveal to the world what his people may become through the working of the Holy Spirit. Let us do all we can, and then wait patiently for him. Through union with divine agencies, we may accomplish much in saving souls ready to perish. Faithful efforts on our part will result in winning to Christ those whom God will make bright and shining lights in the world.” In these closing days of the great controversy heaven is drawing near to earth with abundant supplies of power that unprecedented victories may be gained for the truth.
“’Mid the darts of angry foe,
The good soldier’s courage show,
On to victory.”
Implicit Obedience
THE one thing which the Lord asks of his people is implicit obedience. He does not ask them to lead, but to obey. He takes upon himself all responsibility for results when they are ready to accept his plans for action. It happens, however, in many instances that assent is given to the instruction which the Lord sends, but it is not put into practice. Many are like the son to whom the command came, “Go work to-day in the vineyard,” and who replied, “I go, sir,” and went not. It sometimes seems so easy to show that our way is better than the Lord’s way, and to convince ourselves that under the special circumstances it will not be quite possible to follow exactly the command of the Lord. Over and over again is this experience repeated in human history, and always with the same result; and yet men refuse to learn wisdom. If we would see success in the hastening of the coming of the Redeemer’s kingdom, we must cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord, and learn the lesson of complete submission to the will of the Master.
The Old Truths
WE hope that the instruction which has been given in the recent articles by Sister Waite has received more than the usual attention. It has dealt fully and plainly with our present experiences, and has given us clear leading in a time of perplexity. There have also been paragraphs which call us to the definite work of proclaiming to all the world the specific truths which have been the basis of this advent movement for over half a century. Two of these paragraphs are found in the article which was published last week, and read as follows: “The old truths, given us at the beginning, are to be heralded far and near. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perceptions, who with clear vision will discern the intrigues of Satan, and will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God.” “At this time there is need of men of sharp spiritual insight, who can discern truth from error. The first, second, and third angels’ messages are to be proclaimed with no faltering hesitancy. We know in whom we have believed. We know that as we obey his word to us, he will give to our words power that will convict and convert souls.” These statements are worthy of the most serious consideration. They point out a danger which threatens us at this very time, and ought to be as a trumpet call to those who have accepted the responsibility of being the heralds of this message. O that the Lord would give to all his servants a spirit of discernment that they may be quick to recognize every effort of the enemy to hide or to pervert this heaven-sent message, and a zeal according to knowledge that they may labor unceasingly for its advancement! “Ye that are men now serve him.”
The Promised Blessing
WHEN Jesus was about to leave his disciples to go to the Father, he sustained them with the assurance, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever.” The ascended Lord did not forget his promise, as the experience of Pentecost clearly showed; and filled with his living presence, the disciples went forth to bear their testimony in behalf of the crucified and risen Saviour. There was a power in their testimony which took hold upon the hearts of the people, “God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers,” and men “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Thousands were converted in a day, and “mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Although absent in the flesh, Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit was recognized as the Head of the church, and in the power of his presence with them his ministers preached a world-wide message in their own generation. Such was the influence of the early rain. Without any of the facilities which we regard as indispensable in these days, but under divine leadership and in co-operation with the heavenly agencies, a few men reached and stirred the world with the gospel of the kingdom. We are now in the time of the latter rain, the time for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in order that the last message of warning and salvation may go forth quickly to the ends of the earth and prepare the way for the coming of the Master. In looking back over the experiences of the last few years, we can4see that on several occasions this promised blessing has been almost realized, but there was a failure to recognize the time of our visitation, and the heavenly guest was not received. But we are encouraged to believe that the opportunity will again be presented to us to enjoy the refreshing from on high in our co-operation with the divine purpose to do a quick work in the earth, and that the movement to establish our headquarters at the nation’s capital is the signal of God’s providence indicating that the time is at hand. There must be no failure this time. We must receive the promised blessing.
The Reopening of Battle Creek College
By Editor
THERE will be found in another part of this paper an article signed by Brethren A. T. Jones, E. A. Sutherland, P. T. Magan, E. D. Kirby, and J. H. Kellogg which presents the views of these brethren concerning the reopening of Battle Creek College. This is the article which was mentioned in our note two weeks ago, and which has been delayed through no fault of the editor.
We deem it proper to give some space to a consideration of the explanation offered for the action taken, and to lay before the readers of the REVIEW some further instruction from Sister White bearing upon this whole matter.
In order to have a clear understanding of the real questions at issue it will be necessary to review briefly some of the experiences of the recent past. Much instruction has been given concerning the work in Battle Creek, and those in responsible positions have been repeatedly warned against the policy of centering so many interests there. About ten years ago these words were written by Sister White:—
God expects practical work in getting out of Battle Creek. Too many are there now, and too many interests are being piled up in Battle Creek. Were these interests divided and located in other cities, where the light and knowledge might bless other localities, it would be in God's order. The Lord does not want a second Jerusalem in Battle Creek. There will have to be strong reformations and transformations and transferring of facilities and institutions if the will of God is done.
At the last General Conference, in an address on “Our Duty to Leave Battle Creek,” General Conference Bulletin, pages 84-88, Sister White spoke thus:—
For years the warning has been given to our people, Get out of Battle Creek. But because of the many interests established there, it was convenient to remain, and men could not see why they should move. . . . Will those who have collected in Battle Creek hear the voice speaking to them, and understand that they are to scatter out into different places, where they can spread abroad a knowledge of the truth, and where they can gain an experience different from the experience that they have been gaining? . . . God would not have let the fire go through our institutions in Battle Creek without a reason. Are you going to pass by the providence of God, without finding out what it means? God wants us to study into this matter, and to build upon a foundation in which all can have the utmost confidence.
Under date of April 16, 1903, Sister White addressed the following instruction “To those in council at Battle Creek”:—
Many plans have been devised that God has not ordained. The root from which these plans have sprung is the mind of finite man. God's watchmen have been blind. They should have been wide awake to see that one man's mind, one man's judgment, was becoming a power that God could not, and would not, indorse. To invest one man or a few men with so much power and responsibility is not in accordance with God's way of working.
There must be a reorganization. Supreme power must not be vested in a group of men connected with a few large institutions. At the General Conference of 1901 the light was given, Divide the General Conference into union conferences. Let there be fewer responsibilities centered in one place. Let the work of printing our publications be divided.
The principles that apply to the publishing work apply also to the sanitarium work. Students should not be crowded into Battle Creek to receive an education in medical missionary lines. It is not best to gather together in one institution so large a company of people as have been gathered together in the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Let medical missionary plants be made in many places.
The youth who desire to become medical missionaries should not be brought in large numbers to Battle Creek. Provision should be made that they may receive an education out of and away from Battle Creek, in places where there is a different religious atmosphere. By fire the Lord removed the great argument in favor of gathering many students to Battle Creek. He swept away the Sanitarium to prevent the carrying out of the idea that Battle Creek was to be the great center for the training of medical students. To carry out this idea would be out of harmony with the work for these last days and with the plans of the Lord.
God works by means of instruments, or second causes. He uses the gospel ministry, medical missionary work, and the publications containing present truth to impress hearts. All are made effectual by means of faith. As the truth is heard or read, the Holy Spirit sends it home to those who hear and read with an earnest desire to know what is right. The gospel ministry, medical missionary work, and our publications are God's agencies. One is not to supersede the other. But you have sought to make the medical missionary work the whole body, instead of the arm and hand.
Let the living gospel be taught in our schools. Let students be educated in its principles, that they may be prepared to impart the truth to others. Let them learn to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those whom they will meet in their work. By the ministry of the word the gospel is preached: by medical missionary work the gospel is practiced. The gospel is bound up with medical missionary work. Neither is to stand alone, bound up in itself. The workers in each are to labor unselfishly and unitedly, striving to save sinners.
It was in order to carry out the principles involved in such Testimonies as these, many of which were written, that the Battle Creek College was removed from Battle Creek to Berrien Springs in 1901, and just recently the offices of the General Conference and Mission Board have been removed to Washington, and a new corporation has been formed to carry on the publishing work here which was formerly carried on in Battle Creek.
Now just as this “practical work in getting out of Battle Creek” is being done, in harmony with the whole trend of these warnings and entreaties to scatter out and establish centers in other places, there comes the announcement of the reopening of Battle Creek College. And if the reasons given in the article printed elsewhere are really sound and justify this action, then it is evident that it was a mistake to close the College at all, inasmuch as the Sanitarium and its allied institutions were in Battle Creek in 1901 as well as in 1903. And if the counsel to remove the College in 1901 was of the Lord, then surely there must be some other way of meeting conditions which have arisen since than by reopening the same institution in the same buildings and under the direction of the same Board of Trustees.
It is stated by these brethren that at a conference which they held in the summer of 1901, soon after the closing of Battle Creek College, the possibility of being compelled “to provide a legal educational body which could be recognized by the authorities” was fully discussed, and “it was agreed that this should be done. In fact, it was expected at the time that it would be done.” And from this the conclusion is drawn that “there is no occasion that anyone should take alarm, or to suppose that there is any lack of faith on the part of anybody, or that any new or unexpected thing is being done.” But in the article printed in the REVIEW of May 26, signed by three of these same brethren, from which we quoted in our5issue of August 4, it was especially emphasized that Battle Creek College was removed from Battle Creek by the unanimous vote of the Trustees, which vote was indorsed by many stockholders, the whole General Conference delegation in General Conference assembled, and the large number of representative people present at the General Conference of 1901, “so that neither by the Board, nor by the stockholders, nor by the General Conference delegation, nor by the whole congregation, which was largely representative of the whole denomination, was there a single opposing vote, nor dissenting voice.” It therefore seems to us that it was not in the province of four or five persons in a private conference to agree to a course of action which would seem in so large a degree to nullify the former action at the General Conference. It is certain that neither the former stockholders, nor the General Conference delegation, nor the people at large have been consulted in this matter, and it has come to them all as an unpleasant surprise, so far as we hear any expression of feeling concerning it.
Furthermore, we call attention to the significant fact that “by fire the Lord removed the great argument in favor of gathering many students to Battle Creek. He swept away the Sanitarium to prevent the carrying out of the idea that Battle Creek was to be the great center for the training of medical students.” If in the rebuilding of the Sanitarium a situation has been created which seems to call for a large number of young people to come to Battle Creek to act as nurses and helpers, and to be trained as medical missionaries, this constitutes no good reason for going still further in the same direction by providing special educational facilities for them. The course of reasoning followed in the article seems plausible, but to us it is not convincing. By the same kind of reasoning we could make of none effect the plainest instruction, when it interferes with plans which we desire to carry out. We do not regard it as safe ground upon which to stand. There is no need of so much explanation to justify our course when we follow the plain counsel of the Lord.
As a fitting conclusion to this article we will quote the following paragraphs from two recent communications from Sister White, one of which is dated August 3 and the other August 4:—
I am very sorry to hear that there is a plan to reopen Battle Creek College. To establish a college in Battle Creek, after such plain warnings have been given against doing this would be to make a great mistake. There are many young men and young women among us who, if inducements are held out, would naturally be inclined to take several years' course of study at Battle Creek. But will it pay? Has not the Lord some practical work to do in missionary lines? Manly young men will be needed to enter the printing office when it is established in Washington, to learn the printer's trade. Our publications are to be prepared to go forth to the world. Canvassers are to be educated to take up the work of circulating these publications. Our books and papers are to go to places that are still in the darkness of error.
The Lord calls upon young men to enter our schools. Schools are to be established in which our youth can receive an education that will prepare them to go forth to do evangelical and medical missionary work. Let these schools be established out of the cities. . . . A school such as has been planned for should be in some place where the students would not be closely associated with the large numbers who are expected to patronize the Sanitarium at Battle Creek. It is not wise to plan to maintain such a school in a place where a worldly element prevails to so great an extent as to counterwork that which the Lord has outlined should be done for our youth in our educational institutions. So many youth should not be brought together in Battle Creek.
The Lord presented to us the reasons for removing the College from Battle Creek. This instruction should now be searched out and studied by those who are planning to organize another educational institution there. Let the light already given shine forth in its purity and beauty, that God's name may be glorified.
After giving the matter the most careful consideration we see no reason for changing our original conclusion, and we still regard the reopening of Battle Creek College as an ill-advised move, which will tend to confuse the minds of this people concerning the steps which have been taken under the counsel of the spirit of prophecy, and which will be likely to lead to many misunderstandings in the future.
The New Testament Sabbath
By L. A. S.
Is the New Testament Sabbath a different institution, either in letter or spirit, from the Old Testament Sabbath? The Outlook, Dr. Lyman Abbot’s paper, answers this question in the affirmative, and makes this supposed difference the basis of a different observance, which it says is appropriate to the “Lord’s day.”
The difference between the two, it says, is this: “The Old Testament Sabbath was consecrated by a prohibitive precept,—“Thou shalt not work.” The New Testament Lord’s day is consecrated by a positive purpose,—“Lay hold on the life eternal.””
In explanation of this it says further: “The wise conservative will follow the New Testament in its substitution of the positive purpose for the prohibitive precept. The precept reiterated in the Old Testament is wholly absent from the New. In its stead is put a purpose, with incentives to strive for it.” “The fact that needs all emphasis is that the external regulative given by Moses is superseded by the inward regulative given by Christ.”
But what of the other commandments—“Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain,” etc.? Do they need changing because they are prohibitive precepts? Is the fourth commandment different in this respect from all the rest? Surely not.
The Outlook seems to have overlooked some words touching this subject in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. In this chapter the Sabbath commandment is set forth as being something more than a mere prohibitive precept. For it says: “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord,” etc. Isa. 58:13, 14. Here is a positive purpose—that of delighting in the Sabbath and delighting in the Lord; yet there is no change in the commandment, nor in the day; for it is the Old Testament Sabbath of which the prophet is speaking. Men are to delight themselves in keeping the Sabbath, as they are to delight themselves in doing all the will of God. They are to delight in it because it is the sign of their allegiance to the true God that made heaven and earth, and because they love him. They are to delight in the Sabbath because it is the one thing that comes to them unchanged from man’s lost Eden home, unmarred by sin and the curse, bringing the blessing of rest from labor and the promise of rest and peace in the kingdom of God. This is the positive purpose which the Old Testament Sabbath contains, and it is the loftiest purpose by which human endeavor could be inspired.
To the man of faith, all the commandments of God are a delight. They are mere negative prohibitions only to him who has no faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. There is no need of any change in the law of God, to put into the heart of man a positive purpose by which he might carry out God’s will. There was never any need nor any6possibility of such a change. What was needed and is needed to-day is a change in the heart of man—a change from unbelief to faith. God could not save man by changing the divine law, but man could be saved by being himself transformed to meet the divine requirements, and only so. And this is the change that is made in the heart and character by faith.
The Old Testament Sabbath and the New Testament Sabbath are one and the same. There has been no change either in letter or spirit. The law of God stands to-day the same that it was when spoken from Sinai. Men may invent plausible theories, but God’s word, not man’s, is always the test of truth. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” L. A. S.
“Escape for Thy Life”
By W. A. S.
SODOM
The angels hastened the lingering Lot out of Sodom with the warning:—
“Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”
ANCIENT BABYLON
When the wrath of God was about to fall upon Babylon, those who had ears to hear heard the warning of the prophet:—
“My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord. And let your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land; a rumor shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumor, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.” Jer. 51:45, 46.
JERUSALEM
When Jerusalem had filled its cup by crucifying the Lord and finally rejecting the message of the gospel preached by the disciples, and was about to fall, all believers had this warning message from the lips of the Master:—
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out.” “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house; neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.”
MODERN BABYLON
And now the great world-Babylon is to go down in a ruin that will sweep all the earth into eternity. The day is even at hand, and God sends the message:—
“Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
Not in the day of Sodom, nor of ancient Babylon, nor of Jerusalem, was the message more urgent. Then life and eternal salvation depended upon heeding the warning and making quick moves. Now life and salvation are dependent upon settling this question of forsaking sin and all earth’s Babylons of pride, and making quick moves in God’s work. There can be no loitering in the way, save at the peril of the soul. We who talk of it must challenge ourselves continually with the fact that the hour is at hand when great Babylon is to come in remembrance before God just as surely as the doom fell upon those cities in ancient time. And what of the responsibility of a people sent as heralds to carry the warning quickly unto all the earth? W. A. S.
Note and Comment
Signs of a demand on the part of large property owners for a large standing army in the United States are beginning to appear in various quarters. J. J. Hill, the railway magnate, is quoted as saying:—
I am not overrating the demand when I say that it is imperative that the United States maintain the nucleus always and the organization and the officers for an army of two hundred thousand men. With our varied interests, with our expanding commerce, and with our crowning and ever-increasing power, this strength is not more than sufficient for our uses in times of stress and danger.
However that may be, I am thoroughly convinced that the United States should maintain at all times an army of one hundred thousand thoroughly drilled, thoroughly trained, thoroughly disciplined, and thoroughly officered men. This, in my opinion, should be the strength in times of peace of the regular establishment.
The inefficiency of the State militia as a protection to life and property during labor riots, which has of late been so often demonstrated, has no doubt strongly suggested to the minds of leading employers of labor the necessity of a standing army which can be called upon in such emergencies, and which, being independent of labor unions and of home influences to which members of the militia are subject, can be relied on to oppose the mob to the full extent of its power. The present attitude of labor unions toward the national guard is doing much to create a demand for a large standing army, and the industrial strife of these times can not proceed much further before such a safeguard will be deemed a logical necessity of the situation.
Gambling in Polite Society
The extent to which the vice of gambling has invaded polite society at this time is the subject of some comments by the “Spectator” in a recent issue of The Outlook. Having overheard on a street car two “well-dressed and apparently refined” ladies telling each other how they had used their recent winnings at “bridge whist,” he was the same day informed by a wealthy friend that it was common for ladies and gentlemen who were entire strangers to each other to gamble over this game, he himself having not long before paid over money on such an occasion to a lady he had never met before, who took it without the least hesitation.
Continuing his investigations into the matter, the “Spectator” noted that “a London periodical of high standing asserted that very week that the decline of book selling was due to the fact that five hundred packs of cards were sold this season to every book purchased. The Englishwoman, instead of reading, plays bridge whist nowadays. In both England and America, it was also asserted, young men who are wise refuse invitations to houses where bridge is played by the hostesses and feminine guests, because of the impossibility of getting out of playing for high stakes, with consequent losses, which they can not afford.”
This is but one of many things which make the social degeneracy of these times comparable with that of the days of Noah, or of the last days of the Roman republic. The end of the age, and the end of all ages, is at hand.
The Papacy’s Claim to Universal Sovereignty
AT the coronation of Pope Pius X., immediately after the triple crown had been placed on the pontiff's head, these words were addressed to him by Cardinal Macchi:—
Receive the tiara ornamented with three crowns. Remember thou art the father of princes and kings, the rector of the world, the vicar on earth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the honor and glory of all centuries.
This is a claim to universal sovereignty. It affirms that all the world is bound to look up to the Roman pontiff, to be guided in all things by his words, and that he has the right, though he has not the power, to give commands to all mankind. It is a declaration that the papacy has not abated any of its former claims, nor in any wise swerved from its old-time purpose of universal dominion.
Tell Me About the Master
TELL me about the Master.
I am weary and worn to-night;
The day lies behind me in shadow,
And only the evening is light—
Light with a radiant glory
That lingers about the west;
My poor heart is a-weary, a-weary,
And longs, like a child, for rest.
Tell me about the Master,
Of the hills he in loneliness trod,
When the tears and the blood of his anguish
Dropped down on Judea’s sod;
For to me life’s numerous milestones
But a sorrowful journey mark;
Rough lies the hill country before me;
The mountains behind me are dark.
Tell me about the Master,
Of the wrongs he freely forgave,
Of his love and tender compassion,
Of his love that is mighty to save;
For my heart is a-weary, a-weary
Of the woes and temptations of life,
Of the error that stalks in the noonday,
Of falsehood, and malice, and strife.
Yet I know that whatever of sorrow
Or pain or temptation befell,
The infinite Master has suffered,
And knoweth and pitieth all.
So tell me the sweet old story,
That falls on each wound like a balm,
And my heart that was bruised and broken,
Shall grow patient, and strong, and calm.