Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 62. (12/14/1916)

Review and Herald

Dec 14, 1916

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1916

Note and Comment

By William Warren Prescott

The Church Question in Politics

“Mr. Wilson and the Catholic Church”

In its issue of October 28, under the heading quoted above, the Morning Star (Roman Catholic) of New Orleans printed a long editorial in which the President is severely taken to task for his treatment of Roman Catholics. Here is the gist of the whole matter:—

“Against the protests of the Catholic Federation, representing the 16,000,000 Catholics of the United States, beseeching the President not to recognize any government that would not guarantee religious liberty and freedom of worship in Mexico as they exist in the United States, Mr. Wilson recognized Carranza. . . . Mr. Wilson, true to his policy, as usual, paid scant courtesy, with no thought of regard to the demands of 16,000,000 Catholics in this country for justice to their suffering, persecuted brethren in Mexico. . . . Have Catholics a grievance? They have.”

In closing, the Morning Star called upon “every Catholic and every earnest-thinking, true American non-Catholic” to consider this matter and to give his answer “in the only way in which an American can—at the polls on election day.” It further added that “with one or two exceptions” its position is sustained “by every one of the two hundred and fifty and more Catholic newspapers in the United States.”

Of course the purpose of the Morning Star and the other Roman Catholic papers has been to influence the Roman Catholic vote, and it is quite possible that many Roman Catholic voters were influenced by the appeals of their church papers.

What we wish to emphasize is this: Having been chosen to his high office in the face of the organized opposition of the Roman Catholic press, and its fervid appeals for his defeat, Mr. Wilson may certainly feel that he is not under the slightest obligation to pay any political debts to Roman Catholic office seekers, and he is in a good position to leave the church question entirely out of politics. We hope he will do this.

Praying for Soldiers and Sailors

A somewhat significant side light upon the present view of the relation between Christianity and war is cast by the discussion in the recent convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church upon the introduction into the prayer book of a prayer for soldiers and sailors. A brief reference to this matter in the Christian Herald of November 1 runs thus:—

“The proposed prayers for the army and navy were adopted only after momentous discussion in which the advocates of peace registered both a protest and a prophecy. The proposed prayer for the army asks the ‘God of hosts’ to stretch forth his almighty arm ‘to strengthen and protect the soldiers of our country, to support them in the day of battle, and in time of peace to keep them safe from all evil,’ and closes with the petition that ‘they may serve without reproach as having before them the vision of the risen Lord.’ Dr. John Howard Melish, as spokesman of the opponents of the prayer, declared, according to the press, that its adoption would be an irreparable injury to the youth of the nation: He said he opposed the prayer on two grounds: first, that it had no vision, and second, that it was without sense because it asked for things that could not possibly be granted. He said it was impossible for soldiers to serve without reproach, and that we were asking God to grant something entirely without meaning, for war cannot be waged without reproach. . . . Dr. Melish proposed the following prayer for the army:—

“‘O God, who hast taught us to love our enemies and to do good unto them that hate us, bless our soldiers and sailors for their swift obedience and their willingness to answer the call of duty, but inspire them none the less with a hatred of war, and may they never for love of private glory or advancement provoke its coming. May our young men still rejoice to die for their country, with the valor of their fathers, but teach our age nobler methods of matching our strength and more effective ways of giving our life for the flag.’”

When put to a vote, however, the prayer proposed by the Revision Committee was carried.

The Papacy and the War

Every student of current history, especially if he views events in the light of prophecy, must have observed what appears like a concerted plan on the part of the representatives of Rome to secure fresh prestige for the Papacy as a direct result of the present distress of nations. Again and again has it been asserted that Benedict XV is of right the mediator between the warring powers, and that he must sit at the head of the table in the inevitable peace conference. Again and again has it been declared that this unprecedented world-trouble is a direct judgment of God upon the nations which either actively accomplished or passively cooperated in the spoliation of the Papacy in 1870, and that the demands of Heaven can be satisfied only by the restoration of the temporal power. Again and again has it been proclaimed through the world press that some great peace movement was about to be launched from the Vatican. Other equally important features of the campaign are not neglected. As the Papacy profited by the wreck of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, so it evidently hopes to profit by the wreck of nations in the twentieth century.

Among the indications of the Romeward trend of the Protestant nations is the appointment of representatives at the Vatican by some which had no diplomatic relations with the Papacy. Early in the war the English government appointed Sir Henry Howard as a special envoy to the Vatican, and now that he has resigned, Count de Salis has been selected for this post. This action moves the Evangelical Christendom of London, the organ of the Evangelical Alliance, to a mild protest in the issue for September-October:—

“We were informed that Sir Henry Howard was appointed to congratulate the Pope on his election, and to act temporarily as minister. On his retirement another diplomatist takes his place, and the nation wonders what is the meaning of it all.”

Another development in England is of interest. A new sort of religious spirit, engendered by the war, and especially by contact with Roman Catholics on the Continent, has found expression in the erection of wayside shrines, which, as viewed by a Roman Catholic writer, “smack marvelously of downright ‘popery.’” This step toward Rome is countenanced by the Protestant Bishop of London, “notwithstanding murmurs of ‘idolatry’ from Low Church clergymen.” In commenting with evident satisfaction upon this new evidence of a revival of Rome’s influence, America (Roman Catholic) in its issue of November 18 significantly says:—

“To behold the Protestants of England spontaneously adopting religious practices which were holy commonplaces with their Catholic forefathers, but which the dour and heartless ‘Reformers’ cast out as evil, is certainly full of significance. If one result of the present war is to prepare England to return to Catholic unity, it will be only another instance of the way God works out his high purposes through human suffering, and brings good out of evil.”

History is the best interpreter of prophecy, but those who are looking for the healing of the deadly wound inflicted upon the Papacy in modern times, will have good reason to believe that the healing process is going on before their own eyes. W. W. Prescott.

The Review and Herald in Our Family

By F. D. Starr

The Review and Herald has been a regular visitor to our family for over fifty-seven years, and I have been a constant reader of this unequaled paper for forty-eight years. After Elder Joseph Bates brought the present truth to our family in 1859, I did not again see a Seventh-day Adventist minister for more than seven years; but the ministrations of this silent messenger kept the light of the Heaven-sent message blazing in our home; and listening to a short article (I think it was from the pen of Elder R. F. Cottrell) read to me by my mother, brought conviction to my heart, which led to my conversion. A kind sister in Christ paid for the Review that came to our house for several years, as my mother did not have the money to pay for it. F. D. Starr.

Opening Doors

By William A. Spicer

While the war that convulses half of the world closes many fields to missionary operations for the time being, we can plainly see the hand of Providence swinging more widely open the doors of access in other parts of the world. A dispatch from Peking, China, some time ago, brought the following news paragraphs:—

“The Chinese government has concluded an agreement with the Siemens-Carey Company, of St. Paul, Minn., financed by the American International Corporation, for the construction of more than two thousand miles of railways. The probable cost of this work will be more than $100,000,000, and construction will begin immediately. The engineers are already at work. This is the largest single railway contract ever signed by China. The lines specified will traverse the most productive parts of Shen-si, Kan-su, Hunan, Kwang-si, Kwang-tung, and Che-kiang, densely populated and rich mining and agricultural provinces.”

Although these plans for opening up populous territories are the direct fruitage of commercial enterprise, we nevertheless see in them the working of Providence to provide means of quick access to all peoples in these days, that all may receive the closing gospel witness.

Further news from China, of deepest interest, comes in the report of the American Bible Society for 1915, which says:—

“In addition to the society’s circulation in China (1,973,453) last year, the British and Foreign Bible Society circulated 2,660,000 copies,—more than one quarter of its entire output,—and the National Bible Society of Scotland 1,578,000, making a grand total of 6,211,453 volumes distributed by the three Bible societies in China during 1914. Great indeed must be the influence of these more than six million copies of God’s living Word distributed during a single year in awakened China!”

Thus by commerce and by all the direct gospel agencies, the way is continually preparing for the heralding of the message to all China, where live the largest number of the peoples who have not yet heard the gospel.

It is good to know how great a work has been done by those blessed agencies, the Bible societies, in this time of war.

The number of languages in which the Scriptures have been issued by the two leading societies during 1916 is given as follows:— British and Foreign Bible Soc’y 497 American Bible Society . . . . . . 164

As these two societies publish in many of the same languages, we cannot give the total number of languages for the year; but it is probably somewhat more than five hundred.

The copies issued, whole Bibles or Scripture portions, during 1915, were as follows:— British . . . . . . . . . . . 11,059,617 American . . . . . . . . . . 7,150,911 Total copies . . . . . . . . 18,210,528

To this total should be added the many copies which were purchased by religious people directly from the printers of Bibles. Truly it may be said in a special sense of these last days: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps. 68: 11.

In every quarter of the earth, and among nearly every tongue and tribe, these volumes of the living Word have been passing this very year. And wherever they are read, the Holy Scriptures are preaching the way of salvation in the Lord’s own voice, and telling men of the soon-coming Saviour.

In this year, 1916, ten new tongues were added to the list of the Bible society. Six of these were dialects of Nigeria, in West Africa, in which the Gospel of Mark is telling the story of Jesus for the first time. And we remember that our own work is just planted in Nigeria, as Elder D. C. Babcock has been telling us in recent reports of wonderful blessings outpoured. Clearly God’s providence is preparing the way for the “everlasting gospel” to reach every tribe and tongue in this closing judgment hour, as described in Rev. 14: 6, 7. Though the world resounds with the clash of arms, not for a moment are we to forget that God rules above all; and his purposes shall be fulfilled exactly according to the sure word of prophecy.

“God is working his purpose out, As year succeeds to year. God is working his purpose out, And the time is drawing near— Nearer and nearer comes the time, The time that shall surely be, When the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God As the waters cover the sea.” W. A. S.

The Needs of Special Classes

By F. M. W.

WHAT a medley of needs is presented by the church of God! What varied conditions are found among the believers! As our thoughts go out over the great world-wide field, we think of several special classes who need special help, and whom it is our privilege to hold up in prayer from day to day before the Father of all mercies.

The Shut-ins

First of all we think of the shut-ins, those who through physical disability are shut up in their homes, deprived of the benefits of public service and largely shut off from association with their fellow men. There are many such. Surely these should learn to find communion with the Master so sweet and satisfying that it shall make up for the loss of human association. It is their privilege to realize that God can sanctify their suffering and loneliness to their good, and through their ministry to the good of many others.

We have in mind, as we write, a sister who has been a shut-in for many years. But even though she is confined to her bed, there goes out from her life and room an influence which gathers with Christ, and many a weary heart has been lightened and cheered by her messages of love and by visits to her sickroom. And if all those similarly situated could realize that they still have a mission in the world, and that God is anxious to use them in their weakness in laboring for others, they would find joy and satisfaction even in their loneliness.

The Aged Ones

We think also of the aged and infirm; of those who have grown weary with life's burdens and have been compelled to step aside and watch life's busy activities pass by while they feel that their work is at an end. Particularly do we think of some of our aged ministers who are passing through this experience. Satan would tempt them with the thought that they have outlived their usefulness. But this is not true. God still has a work

for these aged ones to do. The cause of God and the younger members of the church still need their counsel and their prayers.

While they may not go out and labor in the heat of the day, it is still their privilege to speak brave, hopeful words to those who are in the forefront of the battle. They may hold up before God in prayer those who are doing work that they cannot do. By God's grace it is possible that they may accomplish more by their prayers than others do by their labors. And if, in the providence of God, they must abide by the stuff while others go forth to war, it is for them to learn that if they are faithful in their abiding, as others are in their warfare, they will share equally with their brethren. The men of David's company who in their faintness and weariness were obliged to stay by the stuff while the others went on in pursuit of the Amalekites, shared equally with their brethren. This was a law in Israel, a divine principle, we believe, which will be recognized in eternity.

The Scattered Sheep

And then we think of the isolated ones, those who by circumstances or environment are cut off from communion with their brethren and sisters. Many of these live in communities where deep prejudice exists. Their hearts long for association with those of like precious faith. They are denied the privilege of church worship. And yet, after all, these conditions need not discourage nor dishearten if they are rightly regarded.

The editor feels that it proved one of the great blessings of his boyhood days that he lived in such an environment; in a neighborhood where his mother and her children were the only Sabbath keepers; where he was the only Sabbath-keeping boy attending the district school. The very lack of social communion made communion with the Master more precious, and this may be the experience of every isolated believer today. It is not in the purpose of God that his children should gather around a few large centers.

In every age the believers have been dispersed abroad in order that they might stand in their several communities as light bearers. Thus it is that the message of God today gathers here and there. It sets men and women in solitary places, in remote regions, with the design that they shall erect the banner of truth and prove a savor of life to those in darkness. If the lonely ones can but recognize this high calling which the providence of God extends to them, and improve the opportunities which their isolation affords in rightly representing to those around them the truth, their experience will be made a blessing and a help, in place of a hindrance.

Believers in Divided Homes

And then there are those living in divided homes. To this class particularly should our hearts go out in sympathy. We who have lived in divided homes, where only father or mother or wife or husband, or perhaps one or more of the children, were believers, and the rest maintained a spirit of opposition to Christianity, know something of the heartaches and feelings of utter loneliness which sometimes come into the life; of the longing for kind words and tender greetings and fellowship of soul which may be found in a united family. These tempted ones need our prayers.

We know of one sister living in isolation so far as other believers are concerned, whose husband knows not God. He is a slave to strong drink. Added to the trial of isolation in her neighborhood and in her home, is the abuse which she suffers from him; but she is suffering in the spirit of the Master, lovingly, patiently, and considerately. She is endeavoring to act the part of a true wife, of a faithful mother, hoping by the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit to commend to her unbelieving husband the gospel of salvation; so that by seeing Christ in her, he may be led to accept the Saviour.

We know of a young man who, in spite of the opposition of his parents, the ridicule and scoffing of his brothers and sisters, the persecution of his old-time associates, has taken his stand for God, and is endeavoring by a godly life to stand alone in the family circle, representing Christ to his loved ones, hoping thereby to win them to the Master. He knows that argument in behalf of the truth will prove of no avail. He knows it would be futile for him to attempt to urge the truth upon his parents or his brothers and sisters. The only thing left for him to do is to represent the truth in his life.

These two cases are illustrative of many to be found throughout our ranks, and this class as well as the others may find, through the grace of Christ, great blessing in their environment. Perhaps the Lord in his wisdom sees that it is necessary for them to meet this opposition in their homes in order to develop strength of character. It is possible that this opposition in some cases arises from failure on their part to use good judgment. It may be that they have not acted wisely; that they have taken a course to unduly prejudice those who know not the Lord. Such should carefully review their experience and seek for divine wisdom that they may know when to speak and when to keep silent. They should seek with their loved ones as close a union as possible in every relationship of life, without sacrificing principle. They should be careful not to make their religion offensive. They should be wise in urging upon others the claims of the Lord Jesus. Let their preaching be done in living rather than in talking.

Anxious Fathers and Mothers

And there are many other classes in the church who need special help. The anxious fathers and mothers who are earnestly praying for the conversion of children outside of Christ, the heavy burden bearers in this work,—our conference presidents, ministers, and Bible workers, the men and women who are going from door to door selling our publications, the managers of our institutions, the teachers in our schools, the physicians and nurses in our sanitariums,—these all need our prayers and special help from God for their particular duties.

Let us remember the great and varied needs of our brethren and sisters. Let us hold up in prayer the tempted ones, those who are suffering trial and affliction. And as we pray for them, the Lord will graciously respond, ministering to them his blessing, and in return blessing us even as he blessed Job when he prayed for his associates. We must not live unto ourselves, but seek to bear one another's burdens. In doing this we shall fulfil the law of Christ. F. M. W.

Christmas

By G. B. T.

THE annual holiday festival of December 25 is almost here, when many millions of dollars will be expended in the various festivities,—in gormandizing and in making presents to friends and relatives. Many children will be deceived, as usual, with the falsehood concerning Santa Claus.

It seems proper to inquire into the origin of a festival which has such a prominent place among the holidays of the world. Is it really a memorial of the birth of Christ, or is it of heathen origin?

While carols will be sung and sermons preached concerning the nativity of Christ, we find, on investigation, that the festival comes from heathenism rather than from Christianity. That the day is not of divine appointment is very evident. The Scriptures nowhere intimate that the birth of Jesus is to be commemorated by the observance of a day. McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia says:—

“The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of New Testament origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, or, indeed, from any other source.”

The Popular and Critical Encyclopedia says:—

“The first records we find of the observance of this day are in the second century, about the time of the emperor Commodus.”

The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, while approving the custom of celebrating the birth of Christ, admits the heathen origin of the day, as follows:—

“How much the calculation of Hippolytus had to do with the fixing of the festival on December 25, and how much the date of the festival depended upon the pagan Brumalia (December 25), following the Saturnalia (December 17-24) and celebrating the shortest day in the year and the ‘new sun,’ or the beginning of the lengthening of days, cannot be accurately determined. The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence. The recognition of Sunday (the day of Phoebus and Mithras as well as the Lord’s day) by the emperor Constantine as a legal holiday, along with the influence of Manicheism, which identified the Son of God with the physical sun, may have led Christians of the fourth century to feel the appropriateness of making the birthday of the sun of God coincide with that of the physical sun. The pagan festival, with its riot and merrymaking, was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit or in manner.”

This same authority, writing concerning the pagan cult “Mithraism,” says:—

“The diffusion of Mithraism and of Christianity in the Roman world was from the same direction, at about the same time, and its propaganda, popular rather than philosophic, was carried to the same class of people. In theory, ritual, and practice, Mithraism parodied or duplicated, after a fashion, the central ideas of Christianity. The birth of Mithra and of Christ were celebrated on the same day; tradition placed the birth of both in a cave; both regarded Sunday as sacred.”

Other authorities substantially agree with the above. A reason why December 25 is not the probable time of Christ’s birth is indicated by the Encyclopedia Britannica, ninth edition, in the article on Christmas day. It says:—

“A festival of the Christian church, observed on the twenty-fifth of December, in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ. There is, however, a difficulty in accepting this as the date of the nativity, December being the height of the rainy season in Judea, when neither flocks nor shepherds could have been at night in the fields of Bethlehem.”

The International Cyclopedia (old edition) agrees with this, and says:—

“Christmas not only became the parent of many later festivals, such as those of the Virgin, but especially from the fifth to the eighth century, gathered round it, as it were, several other festivals, partly old and partly new, so that what may be termed a Christmas cycle sprang up, which surpassed all other groups of Christian holidays in the manifold richness of its festal usages, and furthered, more than any other, the completion of the orderly and systematic distribution of church festivals over the whole year. Not casually or arbitrarily was the festival of the nativity celebrated on the twenty-fifth of December. Among the causes that coöperated in fixing this period as the proper one, perhaps the most powerful was that almost all of the heathen nations regarded the winter solstice as the most important point of the year, as the beginning of the renewed life and activity of the powers of nature, and of the gods, who were originally merely the symbolical personifications of these.”

It is clear from the historical authority cited that Christmas, like Sunday, is among the heathen relics which are found in the church, and are observed and reverenced by professed Christians as well as by the world. At the annual return of this pagan festival, now just upon us, millions of dollars will be wasted which should be devoted to a better and more helpful purpose. Certainly we should not take that which we ought to give to the cause of God, and use it upon ourselves. We have no disposition to outline duty for others, but in this time of festivity, when the whole world is given over to feasting and pleasure, we should act in harmony with the great principles of light and truth which God has committed to our trust.

G. B. T.

The Way to Knowledge

By L. L. C.

Do you wish to know the truth of any doctrine? Though Christ taught as none other has ever taught, he gave us the real key to all knowledge of divine truth when he said of his teaching, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Now this may seem to involve a difficulty, but the solution is not far to seek. As J. H. Jowett says in a sermon printed in the Christian Herald:—

“Here is an apparent paradox. ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know.’ Yes, but our ignorance may center upon the very will we have to do. The will of God itself may be the unknown quantity, and how can we walk the hidden and unknown way? ‘If any man will do his will, he shall know.’ But I must know the will before I can do it; and how if it is just here that the darkness gathers? Surely light must come before achievement, or achievement itself can never be born. And it is just in this difficulty that the Revised Version comes with its gracious aid. In the old version the difficulty is presented with very obtrusive baldness: ‘If any man will do . . . he shall know.’ The Revised Version lays the difficulty to rest. It takes us a step farther back, away to the preparatory conditions before any deed is yet accomplished. ‘If any man willeth to do . . . he shall know.’ Back from doing to willingness to do! We are led from the realm of conduct to the region of character, from finished deed to primary aspirations. ‘If any man willeth to do his will.’ I do not know his will as yet; my feet are stayed; I see no track across the moor. But am I willing to follow the light when the light appears? Are my feet ready to tread the way whenever it emerges clear from the surrounding waste? How sets my will? ‘If any man willeth to do . . .

he shall know.’ And so the primary condition is not a moral act but a moral attitude; it is not initially a finished product but a preparatory mold; not an achievement, but a ‘frame’ of mind by which all achievements are determined. It is not something done, but a readiness to do. ‘If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know.’”

So many times we hear persons say, when urged to accept some point of doctrine taught in the Bible, “I do not see that the matter is important,” or, “The reason is not entirely clear to me.” Without in any way questioning the honesty of the doubt which may be in the mind of some as to the claims of the seventh-day Sabbath, we wonder if sometimes an unwillingness to live up to the light which has shone on their path in reference to this and other matters, may not explain the dearth of divine blessing which they may be experiencing in their souls.

Every ray of light must be followed if greater light is to come. In the words of Dr. Jowett:—

“Our text makes one thing plain, and we shall do infinitely well to hear it; that sunrises are not for those who neglect candles, and that we need never expect to enter into the illumined recesses of sacred truth if the condemnatory light of despised lamps is shining in our rear. ‘If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know,’ and we are pathetically and tragically foolish if we are seeking the knowledge by any other road. The way to firm, fine perception, and therefore to the rich unfolding of truth and glory, is not through metaphysics, or by the towering aspirations of philosophic Babels, but by the humble commonplace road of reverent moral obedience. . . .”

“In our quest for God and truth we must therefore see to it that there are no smoking lamps, and we do this when we firmly set ourselves to do the will we know. There are whole continents of spiritual truth lying back in twilight and night, but there is a fringe of revelation in the foreground, glimpses of our Lord’s will which leave us in no manner of doubt. Let us begin with the will we know, and through it move on to the unknown. But when I say ‘the will we know,’ I mean all the will we know. We are not to choose a candle here and a candle there, and reject and ignore the rest.”

Shall we not resolve to neglect in the days to come no ray of light which God may have caused to shine across our pathway, and in this obedience to study God’s holy Word daily for a greater and still fuller revelation of his will for us personally? Only thus can new spiritual truth be discovered. “This willingness to do his will, whether I find the clear revelation in the sacred Word or in the private oratory of my own conscience, gives to my life the requisite atmosphere in which all sacred truth is to be discerned. To be willing to do his will, and to do it, gathers into the life a certain air of refinement which is the only congenial medium for the discovery of spiritual truth.”

L. L. C.

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