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Review and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 51.

The Song of the Angels

Review and Herald

Dec 23, 1902

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 23, 1902

The Song of the Angels

It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold; ‘Peace on the earth, good will to men, From heaven’s all gracious King.’ The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.
“Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled; And still their heavenly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing, And ever o’er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing.
“But with the woes of sin and strife The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love song which they bring; O cease, ye mortals, cease your strife, And hear the angels sing.”

Publishers’ Page

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Company.

A Five Years’ Diary in One Book

“A Line a Day”
The pages in the illustration show the arrangement of the days and the years, also the number of lines allowed each daily record in the $1 books. The $1.50 books contain one line more to each daily record.

How to Use It

Begin under the date of Jan. 1, 1903, and write down to the next date. For the next day use the space under January 2 (on opposite page), and so on through the year. The next year begins in the next lower space under January, 1904, etc.
This arrangement places a record of the same day in every month throughout the five years on each page of the diary, thereby focusing on one page five daily records for as many years. When making our record, it is always interesting and profitable to note what we did just one, two, three, or four years before, and this form brings this survey before the mind each day.
Many people do not wish to make extended records. Only important facts in a concise form are desired. This diary has ample space for such a record, yet is just the size to carry in the pocket.
Substantially bound in fine Russia, gilt edges. The price, postpaid, is $1 and $1.50. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

A Fine Bible

Oxford or Nelson Bible, plain type, references in the center, best India paper, maps, bound in genuine sealskin, divinity circuit, calf lined to edges, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges, and only 6⅞ inches long, 4⅜ inches wide, and ⅜ inches thick. Just a good size for ladies’ Bibles, and to fit the coat pockets of the gentlemen. In every way a favorite among Bible students. The regular price of these Bibles is $5. Our price, $4, postpaid. Order of the Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Revised Bible

The American Standard Edition is generally conceded to be the best edition now published. The testimony of Bible students affirms that this translation is nearer the divine thought and spirit than any other version in the English language.
These Bibles are printed in large type, and are substantially bound, at the following prices:—
No. 160. Cloth Bound, red edges, $1. No. 167. Egyptian Seal, limp, round corners, red under gold edges, $1.75. No. 173. Egyptian Seal, divinity circuit, leather lined to edges, round corners, red under gold edges, $2.75.

In Very Large Type, Especially Good For Impaired Vision

No. 260. Cloth Boards, red edges, $1.50. No. 267. Egyptian Seal, limp, round corners, red under gold edges, $2.50. No. 274. Persian Levant, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, round corners, red under gold edges, $3.75.
Order of the Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Words of Truth Series

Excellent message-bearing literature that ought to be in the homes of the people while the long evenings are generally devoted to reading. Note the titles of the tracts and their prices:—
No. Title No. in Package Price
1. The Coming of the Lord 100 .00¼
2. How the Sabbath Came to Me 25 .03
3. Review of W. S. Gamble on the Sabbath Question 50 .01
4. A Challenge to Protestants 50 .00½
5. Fundamental Principles of Seventh-day Adventists 50 .01
6. Candid Admissions 50 .00½
7. Personal Questions and Answers Concerning the Sabbath 25 .03½
8. The Way, the Truth, the Life 25 .04
9. The Reign of Righteousness 25 .02
10. First a Willing Mind—Then All 25 .01¼
11. The Law in Christ, or the Relation Between the Law and the Gospel 25 .02
12. The War between Capital and Labor 25 .02
13. Last-Day Tokens 10 .10
14. Come, Lord Jesus 100 .00¼
15. The Spirit of Burning 25 .02
16. What to Do with Doubt 50 .00¾
17. If’s and Why’s of Baptism 50 .01¼
18. Sanctification, or Bible Conversion 25 .01
19. A Woman-Ministry, or the Gospel in the Home 25 .05
20. Should Not Christians Keep the Sabbath? 25 .02
22. Is the End Near? 50 .00½
23. The Rest Day 25 .02½
24. Ownership and Tithing 100 .00½
26. An Open Letter and Answer 25 .01
27. Important Questions on Great Events 100 .00½
28. Hypnotism: What Is It? 25 .03
29. The Seven Last Plagues 25 .03
30. Bible Readings on Education 25 .03
31. Church Organization 25 .02
32. Can We Know? 50 .00½
34. Present Truth 25 .02

Easy Steps in the Bible Story

This is the only book we have for children that gives the story of the Bible in the order of inspiration. The stories of the Bible from creation to Sinai are given in the same order of the Bible, but told in a simple, interesting way, which impresses the children. As the child grows up, and reads the same scriptures in the Bible, the order is not disturbed, and the facts are not confused. The Biblical association of facts and subjects is of more importance than many appreciate. This is one of the features of Bell’s Series of Sabbath-school Lessons that has rendered it so successful for the past twenty years. “Easy Steps in the Bible Story” is a book on the right line, and one that lays a good foundation for a thorough, connected knowledge of the Scriptures. It is the best Bible book for children—a child’s Bible in simple form. The children themselves like it. This is its best recommendation. It ought to be in every home where there are children. Prices, 25 and 50 cts.
Order of your State Tract Society, or of the Review and Herald Publishing Co.

Sabbath-School Lessons for the First Quarter of 1903

The International Sabbath-school Quarterly, No. 31, containing the Sabbath-school lessons for the first quarter of 1903, is now ready. These lessons will be “Studies in the Psalms,” under the following general topics:—
The Greatness of Jehovah; The Great Provider; God’s Care for His Creatures; An Exhortation to Make Known the Wondrous Works of God; God’s Care for His People; God’s Power Manifested in Deliverance; God’s Purpose in Deliverance; Experiences of Israel for Our Learning; Experiences in the Wilderness; The Result of Disobedience; Deliverance from Sin; A Saviour from Sin and Distress; The Wisdom of the Righteous.
Price, 5 cents per copy, postpaid. Order of your State Tract Society, or of the Review and Herald Publishing Co.

Good Books for Children

Easy Steps in the Bible Story

A child’s Bible in simple form; illustrated; 160 pages; 25 and 50 cents.

Best Stories From the Best Book

Illustrated; 200 pages; 25, 50, and 75 cents.

Making Home Happy

A book with a mission to every home; illustrated; 200 pages; 25 and 50 cents.

Sketches of Bible Child Life

  • A biography of the principal children mentioned in the Bible; illustrated; 144 pages; 40 cents.

The House We Live In

Or “The Making of the Body.” A child’s practical physiology; illustrated; 218 pages; 75 cents.

Things Foretold

Prophetic topics simplified for children; illustrated; 112 pages; 50 cents.

Story of Joseph

Illustrated; 64 pages; 15, 25, and 40 cents.

Cats and Dogs

A favorite among children. Original stories about cats and dogs. Thoroughly illustrated; 128 pages; 40 cents.

All Sorts

A high caste storybook filled with interesting and instructive original sketches and stories in great variety. Thoroughly illustrated; 192 pages. Price, 50 cents.

A Nice Present

“The Master’s Greatest Monosyllables” is a faith-making little volume, and a soul winner, and is a good book to present to a friend or to sell to others for a Christmas present. It will accomplish good wherever it goes. Price, 50 cents.

The Son of Man Cometh

By Editor

Editorial

The Son of Man Cometh

The disciples asked Jesus, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” His reply, which was full and explicit, is found in the twenty-fourth and the twenty-fifth chapters of Matthew. In seven different forms of expression in this reply our Lord refers to his coming, and in every case he speaks of himself as “the Son of man.” What a comforting truth it is to remember that “in Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together,” and that “Christ glorified is our brother.” In looking for the coming of the Son of man we look for the coming of One who is related to us by the closest ties. Although exalted to the highest heaven, he has not forgotten us. Although surrounded by the angelic host, who delight to do him honor, he is not ashamed to mention our names before the Father, and to call us his brethren. And although he is in the courts of glory, “angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him,” yet he will not be satisfied until those who have accepted his redeeming grace are with him where he is, that they may behold his glory, and share it with him. What an overwhelming thought it is that the Son of man longs for the presence and companionship of those who have accepted him as their Saviour, and that to delay his coming is to defer the gratification of this desire. For many years we have longed to see him face to face, and to look upon him who has redeemed us with his own blood, perhaps little realizing that during this same time the Son of man has longed to bring the redeemed to Zion, and to have them sit with him on his throne. O wonderful love! “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” O wonderful Saviour, who loves his own who are in the world, and loves them to the end! O glorious reunion, when Saviour and saved sinners meet “in the air,” to enjoy each other’s companionship forever!
“O how I long to see that day When the redeemed shall come To Zion, clad in white array— Their blissful, happy home.”

The Last Call

Under the first angel’s message a work was done in warning the world of the judgment hour and the coming of the Lord. Under the second angel’s message and the midnight cry the solemn proclamation was made, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.” Under the third angel’s message, and especially under the inspiration of the heaven-sent word that “there shall be delay no longer,” the message of the soon coming of the Saviour, that he is “at the doors,” is now to be given with a loud voice to all who dwell on the earth. This is the third, the last, call to the world to prepare to meet the Lord. Those who profess to believe the third angel’s message should awaken to the tremendous responsibilities of the present hour. Loyalty to the work of God at this time means nothing less than the entire consecration of body, soul, and spirit, the entire consecration of time, talent, and means to this one purpose,—that the warning message of the Lord’s immediate coming and the genuine gospel of full and final salvation from sin shall be sounded throughout the world in the shortest possible time. We appeal to every reader of this paragraph to make this week of prayer the time for just such a consecration. “Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto Jehovah?”

Double It

It is quite likely that many Sabbath keepers have come up to this week of prayer with the general expectation of making about the usual donation for the spread of this message “in the regions beyond.” To all such we wish to say, with the utmost emphasis, DOUBLE IT. The times have changed. We have entered upon a new order of things. God is calling upon his people to co-operate with his purpose to do a quick work. It is our part to pray as though it all hath depended upon him, and then to act as though it all depended upon us. The Lord calls upon his stewards now to use his goods for the hastening of this message. It is time to cut down. It is time to transfer some of the principal, as well as some of the increase, to the bank of heaven. Our faith that this is the last call to a dying world will be shown by our works. Did you give five dollars last year? DOUBLE IT. Did you give ten dollars last year? DOUBLE IT. Did you give twenty-five dollars last year? DOUBLE IT. Did you give fifty dollars last year? DOUBLE IT. Did you give one hundred dollars last year? DOUBLE IT. Whatever amount you gave last year, DOUBLE IT. Answers to the calls for help in the different fields are again and again deferred for lack of means. A double offering is needed this year. If you have made the usual offering before you read this paragraph, DOUBLE IT. A double blessing awaits this people when they will accept their responsibilities as “laborers together with God.” Now is the time to do it.

Marching Orders

By Uriah Smith

CONSIDERING the work laid upon the servants of God, and what they are to accomplish in the world, what must we conclude would be the commands they are to obey, and the orders they are to fulfill? An immense work is laid out before them. Here it is: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. “Teaching them,” says Matthew, “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:20. What will be the result of this instruction? “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
“All the world” takes in the whole superficial area of the earth, and “every creature” takes in every intelligent inhabitant of the world. Thus the work is plainly laid out. And the least moment’s intelligent thought must make it evident to every one that great activity is required, and that earnest and well-laid plans and courageous determination must precede work.
The marching orders to the church have many times been repeated to them, in their history, and recorded in the revelation God has left on record for their guidance. The ever-binding orderlaid upon us is couched in these two living and all-potent words: “Go forward.” This was the word to Israel, as they, in their flight from Egypt, came around up to what was to them an impassable barrier—the Red Sea. The Lord then said unto Moses: “Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” Ex. 14:15. But what a preposterous command! Do you not see that worldly policy might have said, Lord, the sea lies directly in the way? And how are we to go forward with such a barrier across our path? Can we conquer the sea?
But the Lord told Moses to lift up his rod and stretch out his hand over the sea, and divide it; and he gave him the assurance that the children of Israel should go over on dry ground, through the midst of the sea. Verse 16. Moses walked out by faith on the Lord’s command; and when the time came, the people followed his lead.
Men often act in this way toward their fellow men, either through faith in their word or in obedience to their commands.
“Sir,” said the Duke of Wellington, to an officer of engineers, who urged the impossibility of executing the directions he had received, “I did not ask your opinion, I gave you my orders; and I expect them to be obeyed.” So the Lord does not ask the opinion of his followers. He gives his orders, and expects them to be obeyed. What force would the words of Christ have had if expressed in this way: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, if, in your opinion, there is no objection to it; and if you see nothing in the way? If Wellington found it expedient to act so peremptorily as to say, “I gave you my orders; and I expect them to be obeyed,” can our Lord be any less positive in his orders? We read in Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade,”—
“Ours not to reason why, Ours but to do and die.”
Of the Lord’s doings, we cannot say, “Some one has blundered,” for he never calls us into strait places out of which he provides no way of deliverance. So the Christian should act, and at the Master’s word, even through flood and flame, should be on the move, at the thrilling words, “Go forward!”
But this is a hard lesson to learn. “I read some time ago,” says Dr. Richard Newton, “of some volunteers who found this out. The captain was drilling his company of volunteers. The parade ground was a field by the seaside. The men were going through their exercises very nicely; but the captain thought he would give them a lesson about obeying orders. They were marching up and down in a line by the water, at some distance from it. He concluded to give them an order to march directly toward the water, and see how far they would go. The men were marching along. ‘Halt, company,’ said the captain. In a moment they halt. ‘Right face!’ is the next word; and instantly they wheel around. ‘Forward march,’ is the next order. At once they begin to march directly toward the water. On they go, nearer and nearer to it. Soon they reach the edge of the water. Then there is a sudden halt. ‘Vat for you halt?’ cried the captain. ‘Why, captain, here is the water,’ said one of the men. ‘Vell, vot of it?’ said the captain, greatly excited. ‘Vater is nothing; fire is nothing. Ven I say, Forward march! then you must forward march.’”
The captain was right. The first duty of the soldier is to learn to obey.
Dr. Payson says: “What God calls a man to do, he will carry him through. I would undertake,” he says, “to govern half a dozen worlds, if God called me to do it; but if he did not call me to do it, I would not undertake to govern half a dozen sheep.”
In 2 Tim. 2:2-5 the apostle Paul gives some good instruction to those who are willing to become soldiers of Jesus Christ. They are counseled to endure hardness as good soldiers. They must not entangle themselves with the affairs of this life, that they may “please him” who hath chosen them to be soldiers; for no man is crowned except he strive lawfully. Then he must have long patience, even as the husbandman hath long patience till nature perfects the growing crops for the harvest. A missionary returned from India, says that the Hindus do not act on their own convictions; but as showing what the motive is that influences them, he quotes this as one of their phrases: “I do as ten men do;” that is, I will do as ten men do, who will lead the way. The maxim of the Christian should rather be, I will do, not as ten men wish me to do, but I will do as my God wishes me to do.
U. S.

“The Eternal Purpose”

In the eternity of unmeasured time, before the foundations of the earth were laid, it was determined in the divine plan of government that the only begotten Son, the second person of the Godhead, should be Head over all creation. The decision that he should be “Lord of lords, and King of kings,” was not an arbitrary one. The decree that he should be King on the holy hill of Zion was based upon his sonship, as is shown by these words: “I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” And so the Son was “appointed heir of all things,” because “all things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.” And he, the eternal personal Wisdom of God, in the following language sets forth his own relationship to the Father of all, and to the things that are made:—
“The Lord possessed me, the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. I was anointed from everlasting, From the first, from the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, was I brought forth. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the first clods of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there; When he set a canopy over the face of the deep: When he established the skies above: When the fountains of the deep waxed strong: When he gave to the sea its bounds, That the waters should not pass their border; When he appointed the foundations of the earth; Then I was by him, I the Builder; And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delights were with the sons of men.”
This is “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”
It required no change either in the character or in the purpose of God in order to deal successfully with sin after it was introduced into our world. The principles of the gospel are older than sin. The eternal counsel was broad enough to include even rebellious subjects. The law of self-renouncing love asserted itself. The eternal Son, “the firstborn of all creation,” through the mystery of the incarnation became the Head of the new creation, “the last Adam,” the Head of a new humanity. The Son of God became Son of man. “Christ brought human nature into a personal relation with his own divinity,” and as Son of man won back for himself in his humanity all the power and prerogatives which belonged to him as Son of God. Through this most wonderful exhibition of the divine condescension heaven and earth were again united under the headship of the eternal Son, “according to the purpose of the ages which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Of the working of this plan the apostle Paul thus writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: in whomwe have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him unto a dispensation of a fullness of the times, to sum up [to reunite for himself under one head] all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will.”
It thus appears that Christianity is not one of a long catalogue of religions equally good; it is not one of many ways of salvation, all of which are to be accepted as revelations of different but successful plans through which “the divinity within us” may struggle to bring us up to a higher plane of being. Christianity stands alone. It is in its very nature an exclusive religion. It is the one and only divine provision for the restoration and preservation of a lost humanity. In Christ, the eternal Son, the whole family in heaven and earth is reunited. Only the eternal Son could do this. And he could do it only by clothing his divinity with humanity, and thus providing in himself, the God-man, a place of meeting between God and humanity. This is the one only way for an eternal redemption. “In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages he is linked with us. ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.’ He gave him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; he gave him to the fallen race. To assure us of his immutable counsel of peace, God gave his only begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain his human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill his word. ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder.’ God has adopted human nature in the person of his Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. It is the ‘Son of man’ who shares the throne of the universe. It is the ‘Son of man’ whose name shall be called, ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ The I AM is the Daysman between God and humanity, laying his hand upon both. He who is ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,’ is not ashamed to call us brethren. In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love.”
“Thou hast given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy condescension hath made me great.”

Life's Most Precious Privilege

By E. R. Palmer

The call to service of which we have recently been talking so much, is more than an organized movement in order to get the people to work. It is a distinct call from God to his people, and means everything to us.
Salvation is a personal work. You cannot elect officers who will perform the work and secure your salvation, who will be saved for the church, and the church be saved through them. Salvation means the individual taking God and getting right before him.
I was present a few months ago at a large missionary meeting in Melbourne, Australia. Hudson Taylor was present with his wife, his son, and his son's wife, all missionaries from Central China. The son's wife came forward before that great congregation,—a beautiful woman, with her soul in her face. She said that her friends had spoken of her burying herself in Central China. Then stretching out her hands, she said: “Life holds no privilege so precious as to give itself in behalf of the lost.”
I think that is the most wonderful expression of self-sacrifice I ever heard. The words thrilled through me, because it was so evident that it was a complete gift. This is the high privilege of every child of God. Therefore our work, our service, should be as wide as salvation is. Our personal service is surely an index to our salvation and our life; for the soul that has been won, separated from the world, and given itself without reserve to the Master, must express itself in this great gift of itself in service.
I believe God is calling our attention to this great principle in order that he may enlist us all in some department of this great work. There is something for every one to do. There is the book canvassing work, the sale of our periodicals, the tract and missionary work, and various other branches. “Come; for all things are now ready.”
E. R. PALMER.

Hymns of Zion in a Strange Land

By W. A. S.

THEY are singing that good old Sabbath hymn away in the heart of China,—
“The God that made the earth, And all the worlds on high, Who gave all creatures birth, In earth and sea, and sky, After six days in work employed, Upon the seventh a rest enjoyed.”
Father Cottrell’s pen, which gave us some of the choicest hymns of Zion, writes no more. He sleeps, with others of the fathers in Israel, who were laid away in the blessed hope. But his voice still sings among us; and now, from the heart of China, from dark Honan, which so long was the very citadel of heathen opposition to the light of truth, comes the word that from Sabbath to Sabbath the Chinese believers will raise their voices in this hymn of praise to the God that made the earth.
NUMBER 252, “HYMNS AND TUNES,” TRANSLATED INTO THE CHINESE LANGUAGE
NUMBER 252, “HYMNS AND TUNES,” TRANSLATED INTO THE CHINESE LANGUAGE
Here is a letter from Brother Pilquist to the Mission Board:—
I am working with great delight on the preparation of a hymn book for our use. I take from an old hymn book such hymns as speak truth, and also translate from our English hymn book some very good hymns bearing upon subjects of present truth. Herewith I send you a good hymn translated from our book. I am also translating “Bible Readings for the Home Circle.”
I had a cablegram from London the other day, stating that I am free at the end of December this year. I have made up my mind to do all I can to hasten the Lord’s soon coming. The world is corrupt. I long to be with Jesus. I hope Brother Anderson, from Hongkong, will come here this winter.
Bible studies are held at my station every day. I have a teacher here who fully believes the Word of God, and calls the Sabbath his delight. Several others also rejoice in the Bible truth. One young, good-hearted man who is out selling Scriptures for me, said, the other day: “Pastor, this is the best time I have ever had in my life. Now I see the word of God shineth brighter than the sun. The Bible class is a small heaven. I am unwilling to go out from here; but I will go, and let all I meet on the road know what I have seen and heard.”
God is our salvation. His work will prosper if we faithfully do our part. From the first of January, 1903, and until Jesus comes, I am, according to his and your calling, a worker under the direction of the Seventh-day Adventist Mission Board. I am in full harmony with the truth, and love my brethren.
We are all well. My wife sends her best wishes to you. I write the Chinese hymn on the other side of this sheet, in order to save paper and postage. I should be very glad to hear from you soon. I have much to do now at the end of the year, as all the Bible Society’s accounts here in this field lie in my hands, and they must be clear, and ready to pass in to the city of London.
What does it mean that so suddenly God gives us witnesses in the very heart of this long-neglected empire of four hundred millions?—It means that the time has come for a quick work. Just as we have really begun to enter China, and have sent a few workers forth to its people, the Lord shows how easily he can open work away beyond our efforts. He says to us: “Spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations.”
W. A. S.

A Revolution Called For

By L. A. S.

In a speech at Spring Valley, Ill., December 15, John Mitchell, the leader in the recent Pennsylvania coal strike, spoke of the prospect for peace between capitalists and the labor unions. He believed the outlook for peace was hopeful, but there was one condition. On this point he said:—
I do not believe there is an irreconcilable conflict between capital and labor. I believe they are partners, but until there is a complete revolution of our present system of government, capital and labor will be in conflict, as will be the capitalist and the laborer.
So then, there will be no peace between capital and labor, until there is “a complete revolution in our present system of government.” What kind of an outlook is that for peace in this country?
Who wants to see our present system of government revolutionized? Not the plain, law-abiding citizen who believes in government of the people, by the people, for the people. But there are certain classes here who would like to see such a revolution. They are, first, unscrupulous men of wealth, organizers of unlawful combines, who would like to see constitutions, legislatures, and courts bend to the dictates of the money power; men who would like to set up an American oligarchy; second, the labor unions, which aspire to dictate to the employer regarding what men he shall employ, when he shall employ them, and how much he shall pay them, and to dictate to the individual laborer in the matter of securing a job. This class would institute in this country government by labor unions; and third, the class who would like to set up a theocracy, using the civil power to carry out the dictates of the church. If our present system of government is to be revolutionized, the new government must take one of these three forms.
But by the side of this declaration by President Mitchell, that there must be “a complete revolution of our present system of government” before capital and labor can be at peace, put this statement made by Whitelaw Reid, in a recent address at Pittsburg, touching on the great coal strike:—
This year there could be found no power in the State of Pennsylvania or in the United States to stop disorder and riot in the coal mines; and finally that imperative work had to be done by a volunteer from outside the constitutional processes or authority of the high office that intervened.
President Roosevelt intervened, after it had been found that there was no governmental power in the State of Pennsylvania to end the strike. But neither could he as president, making use of any governmental power in the United States, effect this desired result. There was no power in the nation, State or federal, which could in any constitutional way be brought to bear to effect a settlement and restore peace. And resort was made to a process wholly outside the State and national systems of government. A strike commission was appointed to settle the whole difficulty by arbitration.
By this act it was proclaimed that in the matter of settling this great strike, the most important thing before the nation, government in the United States had ceased to exist, and something outside the constitutional processes of republican government had to be substituted in its place. And this was government by arbitration.
Let this precedent be followed up, as there is every reason to believe it will be, and “a complete revolution of our present system of government” will soon be here. L. A. S.
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