If we would have the whole rule of Christian faith and practise, we must not be content with those scriptures which Timothy knew from his infancy, that is, with the Old Testament alone; nor yet with the New Testament, without taking along with it the TRADITIONS OF THE APOSTLES, and the INTERPRETATION OF THE CHURCH, to which the apostles delivered both the book and the true meaning of it.—Note of the Douay Bible in 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
It will not suffice to tell me: "We have an infallible Scripture as a substitute for an infallible apostolate of the first century," for an infallible book is of no use to me without an infallible INTERPRETER.—"The Faith of Our Fathers," by James Cardinal Gibbons, 76th carefully revised edition, page 64.
The CHURCH is the divinely appointed custodian and INTERPRETER OF THE BIBLE.—Id., page 74.
The Early Fathers
BUT of these we may safely say that there is not a truth in the most orthodox creed that can not be proved by their authority, nor a heresy that has disgraced the Romish Church that may not challenge them as its abettors. In points of doctrine, their authority with me is nothing. The word of God alone contains my creed. On a number of points I can go to the Greek and Latin fathers of the church to know what they believed and what the people of their respective communions believed, but, after all this, I must return to God's word to know what He would have me to believe.—Dr. A. Clarke.
When God's word is by the fathers expounded, construed, and glossed, then, in my judgment, it is even as when one strains milk through a coal-sack, which must needs spoil and make the milk black. God's word of itself is pure, clean, bright, and clear; but through the doctrines, books, and writings of the fathers, it is darkened, falsified, and spoiled.—Martin Luther, "Table Talk," page 228.
Treasures of the Scriptures
By Caughey
Pebbles in great abundance may be found along the highway, or on the shores of the ocean; but diamonds and pearls are a rarity. They are only reached by skilful and determined divers, who, at the hazard of their lives, struggle to the bottom of the deep sea, and grasp for the shells in which the beautiful gems are deposited.—Caughey.
The Rule of the Man of God
The Bible Alone
"ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
What the Creeds Say
From the Protestant Episcopal Church, Thirty-Nine Articles
"Art. VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.—Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the church."
As Expressed by the Baptist Convention of New Hampshire
From the Regular Baptists
As Expressed by the Baptist Convention of New Hampshire
"1. Of the Scriptures.—We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions, should be tried."
From the Articles of the Methodist Episcopal Church
"Art. V. The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. By the name of the Holy Scriptures, we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church."
"The Bible contains the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, or man's salvation, faith, and life."
The Belief of Congregationalists
From the Andover Orthodox Creed
The Belief of Congregationalists
"The word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only perfect rule of faith and practise."
Wesley on the Scriptures
From his notes on 2 Tim. 3:16. The text is in italics:
"From an infant thou hast known the Holy Scriptures—of the Old Testament. These only were extant when Timothy was an infant. Which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith—in the Messiah that was to come. How much more are the Old and New Testaments together able, in God's hand, to make us more abundantly wise unto salvation, even such a measure of present salvation as was not known before Jesus was glorified."
The Invisible Empire
By Editor
A FAVORITE theme of the late historian John Clark Ridpath was the invisible empire of wealth. His trenchant pen could describe most graphically and vividly the power that money sways. This invisible empire applies to no particular country, it carries no particular responsibilities, but simply holds the world in its grasp. Kings and emperors make war or refrain from making war at its decree. Business is made prosperous or we have hard times according as this invisible empire may elect.
The tariff battle, which is the principal item in our present congress, is a striking illustration of what this empire is doing. It maintains a very expensive lobby at Washington. It is seeking to intimidate the lawmakers and create sentiment by corrupting the public press. This condition of things has become so pronounced that President Wilson has felt it necessary to issue a public statement upon the subject, which is as follows:
"I think that the public ought to know the extraordinary exertions being made by the lobby in Washington to gain recognition for certain alterations of the tariff bill. Washington has seldom seen so numerous, so industrious, or so insidious a lobby. The newspapers are being filled with paid advertisements calculated to mislead the judgment of public men not only, but also the public opinion of the country itself. There is every evidence that money without limit is being spent to sustain this lobby, and to create an appearance of a pressure of public opinion antagonistic to some of the chief items of the tariff bill.
"It is of serious interest to the country that the people at large should have no lobby and be voiceless in these matters, while great bodies of astute men seek to create an artificial opinion and to overcome the interests of the public for their private profit. It is thoroly worth the while of the people of this country to take knowledge of this matter. Only public opinion can check and destroy it.
"The government in all its branches ought to be relieved from this intolerable burden and this constant interruption to the calm progress of debate. I know that in this I am speaking for the members of the two houses, who would rejoice as much as I would to be released from this unbearable situation."
This paper takes no sides whatever in politics because our work is along an altogether different line, but we have heard of no one, no matter how different his political views may be from that of Mr. Wilson's, who has ever arisen to say anything against his integrity and strict uprightness. All believe that Mr. Wilson is honest in what he is doing, and therefore in making the foregoing utterances we must allow that President Wilson honestly believes that he has ground for making such statements. Recent investigations in Congress seem clearly to demonstrate their truth. We should give due weight to his utterances when he says that "the newspapers are being filled with paid advertisements calculated to mislead the judgment of public men" and that "great bodies of astute men seek to create an artificial opinion and to overcome the interests of the public for their private profit."
Things of this character show the determined battle that concentrated wealth is waging. It is entrenched in the very vitals of our nation; it holds the great arteries of transportation, of commerce, of manufacture, of agriculture, and all our industries in general. It scruples at nothing. It pays able writers to give forth editorials as well as news items to create false impressions and to intimidate. It does not stop to consider the storm that it is creating, for it is a knowledge of what this great money power is doing that gives the semblance of justice to the work of the agitators in socialistic and labor circles, who are working to create sentiment that will overthrow the powerful plutocrats.
The voice of socialism is growing stronger and stronger and it is heard with a constantly deepening interest. The voice of the labor agitator in like manner is being heard, and when the bare facts in regard to what is being done by men of wealth are laid before the people it is not surprising that they should be stirred. And we can not fail to see that a storm is approaching over this issue. Some of the most striking warnings regarding the matter have been heralded by the great men of wealth themselves. For instance, Judge Gary, at the head of the steel trust, has said on more than one occasion to his fellow plutocrats that if they were not careful to do differently they would raise a storm that would make great social havoc.
The actors in this invisible empire of wealth are loyal to no political party. Their loyalty is to the one thing of grasping everything within their reach. The one patriotism they know is the patriotism of dollars, and the only wisdom that they seem to be able to manifest is the wisdom of greedily seizing wealth. They seem to be totally blind to the storm that they are stirring up.
Now in view of the fact that the clear lines of prophecy in the books of Daniel and Revelation show without mistake that we are living in the end of this world's history, there is a striking significance to the warning of the apostle Paul in which he says: "Know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money." 2 Tim. 3:1, 2. With our eyes on the conditions in the world and with the prophecies of the Bible in our minds we should know without any mistake whatever the meaning of the conditions of to-day. T.
THE GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Financial Relief
By Editor
THE President, in a terse, clear message which he read himself, urges Congress to early action at this session on currency reform. He says:
"Do we not know how to act upon it?
"If a man can not make his assets available at pleasure, his assets of capacity and character and of resource, what satisfaction is it to him to see opportunity beckoning to him on every hand, when others have the keys of credit in their pockets and treat them as all but their own private possession?
"It is perfectly clear that it is our duty to supply the new banking and currency system the country needs, and that it will immediately need it more than ever."
"We must have a currency, not rigid as now, but readily, elastically responsive to sound credit, the expanding and contracting credits of every-day transactions, the normal ebb and flow of personal and corporate dealings.
"Our banking laws must mobilize reserves; must not permit the concentration anywhere in a few hands of the monetary resources of the country11or their use for speculative purposes in such volume as to hinder or impede or stand in the way of other more legitimate, more fruitful uses.
"And the control of the system of banking and of issue which our new laws are to set up must be public, not private, must be vested in the government itself, so that the banks may be the instruments, not the masters, of business and of individual enterprise and initiative."
News Notes on Age and Disaster
By Editor
Miss Emma Graves, eighty-four years of age, has been one of the expert counters of Uncle Sam's money in the Treasury Department at Washington for the last fifty years. She is still working away as nimbly as ever. She is said to have the record of never having made a mistake in the count. We are glad of some of these splendid examples which serve to overthrow the notion so many people have, that when an individual reaches fifty or sixty years of age he should be retired.
The delegation appointed by the General Conference to present the address to the President. Photograph taken by government photographer on the porch in front of the White House. The address was presented by the senior member of the delegation, Mr. J. O. Corliss, of Mountain View.
Some 34 persons were killed and 117 injured through the collapse of a double-decked board walk which was some 25 feet above the ground and which led out to a large auditorium on the seashore at Long Beach, California. They were celebrating British Empire Day, and there were about 10,000 people in the crowd. The custodians were a little tardy in opening the auditorium doors, and this great mass of people kept crowding the sidewalk until finally the upper deck gave way and crushed down upon the lower one, when they both broke, and the mass of people went down together. It is feared that a number of those who were seriously injured will yet die.
California Cement Contract Saves Money
The state of California has recently placed a contract with an independent manufacturer for 1,500,000 barrels of cement. This contract is believed to be a great victory over the cement combine that has been holding this valuable material in its grip on this coast. The contract placed with this independent firm saves the state $400,000.
Princess Augusta Victoria Engaged
The engagement of Princess Augusta Victoria of Hohenzollern to Ex-King Manuel of Portugal is announced. The bride-elect is the only daughter of Prince William, head of the non-reigning line of Hohenzollern, and the consent of the kaiser was necessary. Not only did the German emperor assent readily, but he forwarded a message of congratulation to Queen Amelie, the mother of Manuel. The princess is related to King Charles of Rumania, and her uncle is Prince Ferdinand, heir-presumptive to the Rumanian throne. Don Manuel and his fiancee are second cousins, being related through the princess's grandmother, who is a Portuguese princess.
The Dawning Millennium
IN an editorial recently in the New York World, the conditions of this time were brought under review, and the following splendid example of irony was delivered:
"There are no gunmen, no police grafters, no purveyors of vice. There are no commercial frauds, no poisoners of the people's food, no lying trade-marks. There are no tyrannous employers, no striking employees with murder in their hearts and on their lips, no industrial riots, no sin, no crime. Peace is universal, plenty is for all, justice and righteousness reign triumphant.
"There are no empty churches or empty pews. Moving-picture houses are being converted into temples of religion. 'Down-town' is spiny with spires. Where once stood the slums a place of worship smiles its welcome on every block of model tenements. Young men of the highest type are rushing to the ministry in such numbers that civil life must suffer unless some of them are forced back upon it."
Inflammatory Speech and Fanaticism
A man was arrested in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 7 for sending threatening letters to President Wilson, and on the same date another man was arrested in Philadelphia by a postal inspector for sending threatening postals and letters to Ex-President Roosevelt. Such insane fanatics as these are stirred to do their infamous deeds in most instances by the inflammatory speeches that they hear and the inflammatory literature that they read. There is a certain class of minds who, when they read the severe denunciations that are made against public men, are soon led to believe that they have a great duty either to purloin money out of them or to destroy their lives. But inflammatory speeches and writings have got to be such a large part of the workings of this time that it may be impossible to stop such agitation until the full harvest is reaped. Nevertheless good men and true should do everything within their power to suppress such things and confine them within the closest bounds possible.
Dynamite Threats and Social Dangers
Recently a track-walker found under the rails of the Monongahela Railroad at Leekrone, nine sticks of dynamite. If they had not been found by the track-walker, the jar of the train would have exploded them. They were opposite a magazine of a powder company, in which was stored 20,000 pounds of powder and 500 pounds of dynamite. In all probability this whole magazine of explosives would have been set off, and there is no knowing the loss of life and other damage that would have resulted. This is only one of the many instances of similar attempts at dynamiting that have occurred recently in various parts of the country, and it shows the desperate characters that we have in these times, and the dangers that are threatening us because of the grafting, the political intrigues, and the general lowering of the moral tone. There seems to be an absolute inability to get hold of these desperadoes and correct these evils. Conditions as they actually exist in society everywhere should cause very earnest thinking on the part of all sane and sensible people.
The Foundation of True Reform
By Editor
The New York "World" says, "Political parties are not reformed by resolution." The principle is just as true when applied to any other kind of reforms. Reforms are not accomplished by resolving merely that certain things must be done. All true reform must have the foundation of a definite purpose, and this definite purpose must be built upon the power of the infinite God Himself. All other reforms, or attempted reforms, are only partial and incomplete, and amount in reality to very little.
Alaska Volcanoes Smoking
Mail advices reaching us from Alaska say that four of the great volcanoes of the Alaska peninsula are smoking.
A Microscopic Being
By Anon.
MAN is but a microscopic being relative to astronomical space, and he lives on a puny planet circling round a star of inferior rank. Does it not, then, seem as futile to imagine that he can discover the origin and tendency of the universe as to expect a house-fly to instruct us as to the theory of the motions of the planets? And13yet, so long as he shall last, he will pursue his search, and will no doubt discover many wonderful things which are still hidden. We may indeed be amazed at all that man has been able to find out, but the immeasurable magnitude of the undiscovered will throughout all time remain to humble his pride.—Anon.
Legalized Wickedness
By Lyman Beecher
THE dealers in ardent spirits may be compared to men who should advertise for sale consumptions, fevers, rheumatisms, palsies, and apoplexies. Would our public authorities permit such a traffic?—No; the public voice would be heard at once demanding the punishment of such enemies of our race; and the rulers that would not take speedy vengeance would be execrated and removed. But now the men who deal out this slow poison are licensed by law; and they talk about their constitutional rights, and plead that they are pursuing their lawful callings. These traffickers in the blood of men tell us that this work of death is their living—their means of supporting their families. But where lies the difference in criminality between the dram-seller, who for gain administers slow but certain death, and public murderers? The former is licensed in his wickedness by law; the latter must be hanged.—Lyman Beecher.
The Buzzard
By T. H. Jeys
THE turkey-buzzard is a bird of wide range and habitat. From the far North to the extreme South he is to be found. He flies high, describing great circles in the air. This is not, as some might suppose, to behold the beauties of nature, but to find the decomposing bodies of dead animals upon which he feeds.
How like the buzzard is the gossip! He, too, flies high, and at a distance may be mistaken for some lovely one. He is found in all lands and at all seasons. In some of his lofty flights one might imagine he is thinking great and noble thoughts, but not so. He is seeking something putrefied, rotten, decomposing. Whatsoever things are unholy, or of evil report, if there be any evil or any unpleasantness, he thinks and speaks on these things. Beholding, he becomes changed into the image of what he sees. Coming near him, we can notice that he savors of the material on which he feeds.
The buzzard is a great coward. He does not capture his prey. He waits till it dies. Then he is on hand to feast on the carcass.
So, too, the gossip does his mischief in ambush. No open battle for him! To the face he is fair and open. Behind the back he is venom and evil. Don't be a buzzard.
— T. H. Jeys.
An Early Reference to Infection Carriers
THAT healthy persons may be carriers of infection by the persistence of disease germs in the healthy human body has been known for fifteen or twenty years. The possibility of this kind of carrier of infection does not seem to have been at all familiar to our forefathers, and yet the conception seems to be expressed quite clearly by Richard Mead, the father of quarantine, when he said, in 1721: "If there be any Contagious Distemper in the Ship: the Sound men should leave their cloaths, which should be burnt; the men washed and shaved; and having fresh Cloaths, should stay in Lazaretto thirty to forty days. The reason for this is, because Persons may be recovered from a Disease themselves and yet retain matter of Infection about them a considerable time." In these words are expressed a truth the significance of which was not clearly grasped until nearly two hundred years after they were written. Richard Mead is the author also of the following dictum which, besides its general application, has a very special meaning for the typhoid carrier: "As nastiness is a great source of infection, so cleanliness is the greatest preventative."—Journal of the American Medical Association.
All for the Cause
"So Abram went, as Jehovah had spoken unto him." Gen. 12:4. Abram obeyed. Pierre Barlot was a gunner in the fort of Mont Valerin during the Prussian siege of Paris. One day he was standing by his gun when General Noel, the commander, came up and leveled his glass at the Sevres bridge. "Gunner," he said, "do you see the Sevres bridge over there?" "Yes, sir." "And that little shanty in a thicket of shrubs to the left?" "I see it, sir," said Pierre, turning pale. "It's a nest of Prussians; try it with a shell, my man."
Pierre turned paler still. He sighted his piece deliberately, carefully, then fired it. "Well hit, my man, well hit!" exclaimed the general. But as he looked at Pierre he was surprised to see a great tear running down the gunner's cheek. "What's the matter, man?" "Pardon me, general," said Pierre, "it was my house,—everything I had in the world."—The Sunday School Chronicle.
Obstructions and Opportunities
By Horace Bushnell
You are never to complain of your birth, your training, your employment, your hardships; never to fancy that you could be something if you only had a different lot and sphere assigned you. God understands His own plans, and He knows what you want a great deal better than you do. The very things that you most deprecate as fatal limitations or obstructions, are probably what you most need. What you call hindrances, obstacles, discouragements, are probably God's opportunities. Bring down your soul, or, rather, bring it up to receive God's will and do His work, in your lot, in your sphere, under your cloud of obscurity, against your temptations; and then you shall find that your condition is never opposed to your good, but really consistent with it.—H. Bushnell.
The Company We Keep
“THE rapidity with which the human mind levels itself to the standard around it, gives us the pertinent warning as to the company we keep.”
Living to Bless
By Jessie M. Plumb
By Jessie M. Plumb
WHILE watching a canary one day and listening to its trills, the thought came to me, If so tiny a creature could make such sweet music, how much more beautiful music ought a human being to make! Not only the music, but also what pleasure we could give to all in thoughts, words, and deeds!
Some of us can not sing; but even as the birds make people happy by their singing, so can we make others happy by kind and loving words and deeds. A smile and a friendly word as we pass along our way lightens many a heavy load and also makes us happier.
But often, ah, how often, we omit these little acts of kindness when we are oppressed by our own cares and sorrows! Mayhap instead of a smile we give a frown, and in place of a kind word a sharp, angry reply which, afterward, hurts us far more than the person to whom it was addressed.
There is one stanza which, tho written for children, we would do well to remember:
"Little children, you should seek
Rather to be good than wise,
For the thoughts you do not speak
Shine out in your cheeks and eyes."
Very often our "cheeks and eyes" tell only too plainly our thoughts. Therefore let us keep a watch on our thoughts and looks, as well as on our words.
When we are inclined to lament over some lost pleasure or weep over some sorrow, we should try to remember that—
"Laugh, and the world laughs with you,
Weep, and you weep alone;
For this sad old earth
Must borrow its mirth
But has troubles enough of its own!"
Oftentimes this is hard to do, for we are but human and therefore prone to sorrow and pain; but if we look to One above who knows all about it, we will find the burden less hard to bear.
Love, faith, hope, and charity are the key-notes of Christianity and also of great earthly happiness. Without love life is at best a dreary, empty dream; and without faith in God and each other we would soon forget how to love. Without hope of future happiness in heaven or here on earth, many a life weighed down by care and sorrow would become unbearable and the weary mortal would seek oblivion in death. Without charity this earth would be a hard place to live in, for we would judge each other harshly and cause great strife and sorrow by so doing. Every person has his or her faults, and whereas we now try to help uproot them or excuse them, without the kindly influence of charity we would drag them into view and condemn them.
We have, indeed, much to be thankful for if we would only "count our blessings."
FOR SALE
I will sell about 100 colonies of fine bees, and two acres of good land suitable for berries and garden in a good alfalfa belt in Honey Lake Valley. Delightful summer climate, pure water. Elevation about 4,000 feet. If interested write. Hayden Gilstrap, Janesville, Lassen County, California.
BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTURE POST-CARDS
Put up in packages. 60 cents clear profit on every 90 cents invested. Send in your order at once while we make this great offer. Handsome Bible Text Mottos, $3.65 per 100 prepaid. Waterbury Specialty Co., Pomona, California.
FOR SALE
A six-room cottage in Mountain View, with modern conveniences. Half acre, with assorted fruit and nut trees, also several varieties of table grapes, all bearing. Terms easy. Address Advertising Department, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, California.
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PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS
In this style “Patriarchs” weighs just 24 ounces. It is 8 1-16 inches long by 5 3-4 inches wide and 1 inch thick. Every family should have this work for constant use in the study of the Old Testament. You will find this light edition easy to carry with you. Price in the limp leather binding, post-paid, $2.00; same size in durable cloth, $1.50.
THE DESIRE OF AGES
This masterpiece on the life of our Saviour, published in several large forms and circulated widely, in the limp leather style weighs 26 ounces, and is 8 3-4 inches long, 5 3-4 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.
Altho it was issued in response to an urgent call from ministers and workers, all classes of people are appreciating this edition of “Desire of Ages.” It is furnished at the same price; namely, in the limp leather binding, $2.00; in durable cloth, $1.50.
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY
This volume presents in a most wonderful and interesting way the great struggle in which we are all engaged. It brings out the principles involved, and makes clear to the reader the path which leads to Him who is able to conquer in every conflict.
“Great Controversy” in limp is 8 1-16 inches long by 5 3-4 inches wide and less than one inch thick. Price in limp leather binding, post-paid, $2.00; cloth, same size, $1.50.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
In recommending this work, Elder G. A. Irwin felt impressed to write:
“The historic and prophetic features of the book of Acts are so vividly brought out in ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ that in perusing the book one can not help catching the spirit of those faithful men who stood so nobly in defense of the truth in their day. The book in its every detail brings out the parallel between their time and ours so clearly that one’s confidence in the third angel’s message and the foundation upon which it is based is greatly strengthened.
“I would say, Purchase this book at your earliest opportunity, and read it carefully. And while the early influence produced by the book is upon you, speak of it to your friends and neighbors, and induce them to buy a copy, and thus increase its circulation, influence, and usefulness.”
“The Acts of the Apostles” in the limp leather style is 8 1-16 inches long by 5 3-4 inches wide and 3-4 of an inch thick. It contains 630 pages. Weight, 20 ounces.
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The Folly of Self-Praise
By Ellen G. White
EVERY man who praises himself, brushes the luster from his best efforts.—E. G. W.
Abiding in Christ
“If there were more abiding in Christ there would be less abiding in America.”
Pentecost and Missionary Power
“It was Pentecost that made the apostolic church the greatest missionary force since Christ.”
