Earlier text: The Industrial Conflict in the Light of RevelationThe Gifts of the Spirit to the Church
The Church of Christ. No. 4.
The Gifts of the Spirit to the Church.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Cor. 12:1. Nothing in all the earth has Christ honored as He has honored His church—His called-out ones. He has designated them “His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Eph. 1:23. In other words, it is the purpose of Christ that His church shall manifest to the world the fulness of His glory of character, His power, His beauty, His love for the lost. When Christ came, He did not come to reveal Himself. If He had revealed Himself, His mission would have been a failure. He could say with assurance: “No one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal Him.” Matt. 11:27. But when our Lord went away, He left His church to reveal Him; the actions of the body to reveal the Head. He said to His Father, of His children, “As Thou didst send Me into the world, even so sent I them into the world.” John 17:18. The mission of the church is to reveal the character of Christ, even as the mission of Christ was to reveal the character of the Father to the world. That the church might fully represent Him they must possess His Spirit, and be fitted for their work. Therefore He promised: “But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. That promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2. But the promise embraced more than a mere infilling of divine life; it meant fitting for service, bestowal upon each member of Christ’s body just such power, that divine endowment, which would make it a useful necessary member. For thus has the apostle likened the church to “the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.” 1 Cor. 12:27. In five different scriptures is the bestowal of these gifts mentioned, twice in parable, three times literally. The following present them in parable:— “And as they heard these things, He added and spake a parable, because He was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:11–13. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matt. 25:14, 15. All Bible readers are familiar with the remainder of the parables, how the master when he returned called the servants to account for the way they had used the stewardship entrusted. Here are three literal statements of the bestowal of the gifts:— “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. . . . And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. 4:7–13. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Cor. 12:28. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” Rom. 12:3–8. Read these scriptures carefully. Note how explicit and clear they are. All declare the bestowal of gifts; their preciousness, by whom bestowed, when bestowed, the purpose of bestowal, for how long bestowed, etc., etc. What were given?—“Pounds,” “talents,” “gifts,” “spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 12:1). By what is their preciousness indicated?—In the first parable by the “pound,” the highest denomination current in the monetary system of Rome; in the second parable, by the “talent,” the highest denomination of money in the Hebrew system; in the plain statements of Paul, by the “gifts” which could only be bestowed by the Spirit of the Most High. Who bestowed the gifts?—The nobleman, the man, Christ, who went into a far country—heaven; He who died and ascended up on high, and who will come again. When did He bestow these gifts?—When He went into the “far country,” “when He ascended up on high.” What was His purpose in the bestowal?—To occupy till He came, to trade upon His goods, “to profit withal,” to perfect the saints, to do the work of the ministry, to build up the body of Christ. Upon whom were these gifts bestowed?—Upon “His own servants,” to “every man” of faith, “unto every one of us.” For how long are the gifts bestowed?—“Till I come,” “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” What are these talents, these gifts?—“First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,” “evangelists,” “pastors,” “gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues,” “the word of wisdom,” “the word of knowledge,” “faith,” the “working of miracles,” “discerning of spirits,” “ministering,” and every other gift which can be used to build up the church, reveal Christ, and advance His cause. By whose apportionment are they bestowed?—“He,” called and He “delivered,” “according as God hath dealt to each man,” “all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as He will.” In the light of these plain positive answers, how clear it is that the gifts which God “set . . . in the church” (1 Cor. 12:28) were designed to continue to the end. A part of them are generally recognized. It is generally conceded that evangelists, pastors, teachers, governments, helps, wisdom, knowledge, special exercises of faith, are all still in the church, and most of them are necessary. And this is true. But the same wise Master who “set” evangelists and pastors in the church also “set” apostles and prophets there. Sometimes the former have been in the church unrecognized. Judson was truly an apostle to Burmah. Other great pioneer missionaries, such as Carey and Patterson and Taylor, were apostles in the respective fields to which God sent them and which they opened to the light of life. There have been instances of divine foretelling through men all down the centuries since the days of the apostolic church, but they have been few and far between. All of them have become more or less dimmed, or exist only in feeble imitations. All of God’s gifts are vital with spiritual power, but the feeble imitations of men are almost utterly devoid of spiritual uplift. How many evangelists and pastors are such only in name! How many times is church government perverted to a tyranny, or relaxed to a chaos! The great difficulty is that these things are looked upon as mere forms of men rather than as precious gifts of God to be used for the upbuilding of His church. The gift of prophecy among God’s people has invariably been manifest in connection with the keeping of His law, or the recognition of the authority of all His commandments. Truly the wise man spoke: “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov. 29:18. The inference is that the law-keeper is blessed in the instruction of visions of God. So also the promise of the Spirit in its fulness by Christ was based upon the condition of obedience to His commandments. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments; and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:15, 16. Whenever Israel departed from God and set up standards of her own, the prophets were dumb, there “was no open vision.” Even in such conditions God sent His messengers to lead them back to His word, but only as there was obedience to the message, did the gift of prophecy abide. There is another reason why God withdraws the gift of prophecy when His law is not regarded, namely, There is then no standard by which to test the mission and message of the prophet. There must be the divine standard and test, and God’s standard of correct morality is His Ten Words, or the Decalogue. Lame, indeed, is the church deprived of the wonderful powers given her by her adorable Head. Lame, indeed, will she ever be unless these gifts are restored, and the body once more manifests in its functions the wisdom and power of its Head, “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” [The church will be considered in apostasy and restoration in our next.] THE EASTERN QUESTION FROM A CATHOLIC VIEW-POINT.
With the latest massacres of Armenians by Turks as a text, a correspondent of the Catholic Mirror makes some statements of fact, and ventures some suggestions regarding the disposition of Turkey's nominal domain, that show a trend of possibilities in the line of future movements. On the point whether the Christian world will continue to look on and see Armenians treated as they have been by Mohammedan rule, he says: “The church can do nothing except through the governments. Of course, if the two hundred and thirty million Catholics would spring to arms they could stop the outrages to-morrow; but no sane man expects them to do it.” Then he goes on to suggest that selfishness may yet cause the nations to act in the matter, and to consider how they may become sufficiently harmonized to act in a manner satisfactory to all. The first proposition is to get the Alsace-Lorraine controversy settled, so that France and Germany may come to a permanent agreement. The suggestion for this is the autonomy of Alsace-Lorraine under an Austrian prince (Catholic of course), being still a part of Imperial Germany. This, it is contended, would satisfy the people of the long-disputed territory, and pave the way for French and German reconciliation. The Alsatian population is almost entirely Catholic, and strongly attached to Germany because of the Kaiser's friendliness to the Vatican, and because of the French Government's present attitude of hostility to the church. To this proposition is added the following statement of national desire as already indicated by the nations named:— Were France and Germany reconciled and allied, the quintuple concert for the division of Turkey would be almost inevitable, for it so happens that all are hankering after different things. Germany covets Syria and Mesopotamia; England wishes to make sure of the approaches to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; Italy wants Albania, Macedonia, and Tripoli; Austria would like to control Servia; France would no doubt be glad to take care of the Bosphorus, and of Asia Minor. This, the correspondent thinks would settle the Eastern question and “restore the cradle of Christianity [Palestine] to the control of the Christian nations.” It will be noted that Palestine comes in the German share, and that Germany already has a strong influence there—sufficient to give the Vatican considerable concession in Jerusalem. “The Emperor William never misses an opportunity of ingratiating himself with the Catholics.” But our principal point in referring to this correspondence in the Mirror is to give an indication of Catholic thought regarding the land of Palestine. Here is both the dream and the interpretation:— If Germany is to maintain her rank as a high power, she must acquire colonies of settlement, and she must acquire them soon. Her main hope seems to be centered in Syria and Mesopotamia, once rich and populous countries, which, through the restoration of the ancient irrigation systems, could easily be made to support many millions. So long as Russia has the support of France, Germany has no chance of getting a foothold in that coveted territory. Should, however, Germany and France become reconciled, the situation will be completely changed. By recognizing the spheres of England, France, Austria, and Italy, Germany could then obtain their recognition of Mesopotamia and Syria as her sphere of interest. As this is almost the only chance for Germany to assure her future greatness, it seems inconceivable that Emperor William would throw it away. On his former trip to Palestine he seems to have been pleased to assume the garb of a crusader. It seems natural to suppose that he would be still more pleased to become the instigator and leader of the great final crusade. Before the forces of five great powers, the Turkish armies would melt away in a few weeks. Most likely, the Sultan, to save some shadow of sovereignty, would surrender without a shot. The grandeur of the result would not be lessened by the fact that it was brought about by gross material motives. To draw good out of evil is the usual method of divine Providence. The extension of the Western civilization over the nearer East can not fail to promote the union between the eastern and western churches, so ardently9desired both by Pius X. and Leo XIII. All Armenia, as the writer was assured by eye-witnesses, remembers the action of the Catholic missionaries in opening their gates to Armenian fugitives at the time of the last massacres, while the gates of the Protestant mission houses remained barred. If the Armenians owe their final deliverance, even indirectly, to a government made possible by the initiative of German Catholics, their gratitude will aid to smooth the path to reunion. But the most tempting of all the visions remains yet to be told. If German troops occupy Syria, William II. will have it in his power to bestow the Holy Land to whomsoever he listeth. He seems to take no little pleasure in the title of the “Second Charlemagne” lately given him in the press. The support of the Center party having enabled him to assure Germany's future by the acquisition of a great colony, might he not be willing to reward them by offering to the vicar of Christ the sovereignty of the Holy Land? The question of the temporal power would then be solved in the happiest manner possible. The cradle of Christianity would once more become its center. The union between the eastern and western churches would become almost inevitable, and the time might not be far distant when there might not be but one shepherd and one flock. All of which is within the range of possibility; but the spiritual domination of the world by the Papacy is sure to come, for it is foretold by the “more sure word of prophecy.” And as Rome admits that “the church can do nothing except through the governments,” the governments will help her to this position of eminence as well as to whatever of temporal power may attach as an incidental. But, even if the Vatican should be established in Jerusalem, with all Palestine for a temporal dominion, the Papacy (spiritual Babylon) would still have to meet the prophecy of Revelation 17. The very powers that lead out in restoring her to universal spiritual dominion will eventually turn against her, and “make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” THE INTERPRETATION OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM.
Last week we gave the description of the image which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, saw in a dream, as recorded in Dan. 2:31-35. To briefly repeat, the image comprised a head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of mingled iron and clay. Through a vision from God, Daniel had told the dream to the king; and then by way of interpretation, he said:— “Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Dan. 2:38-45. The Lord’s purpose in giving this dream to Nebuchadnezzar was, that the interpretation of it by His prophet should make known to the king what should be the future history of the world. This had been a matter of great anxiety to the king, and the Lord utilized this anxiety for the purpose of showing him that all human government should come to an end, and be permanently succeeded by the kingdom of God. In short, the image and its destruction was an object lesson in the proclamation of the Gospel to the king, and Daniel was the preacher. But the illustration and the sermon had the further purpose of teaching the same truth to all future generations; for the apostle Paul tells us that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4. It will be noted that from head to feet the material of the image degenerated in quality. As the image is illustrative of the world’s political history to the end of time, this degeneracy of the material of the image surely indicates a degeneracy of worldly conditions until the coming kingdom of God shall utterly annihilate human rule forever. Just as corruption so permeated the world before the Flood that its destruction became necessary, so it will be at the coming of the Lord. See Matt. 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-30. There will be this difference in the result, however,—the kingdom of Christ, instead of another fallible human administration, will take the place of the old order. “A King shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.” Isa. 32:1; Matt. 19:28. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17. So far history has verified the assurance of the prophet, that “the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” This “head of fine gold” as compared with all successors, was “the lady of kingdoms” (Isa. 47:5), but it became so corrupt under the kings that succeeded Nebuchadnezzar, that it could no longer stand, and another took its place. The kingdom of the Medes and Persians succeeded Babylon (Dan. 5:25-31), and therefore answered to the breast and arms of silver in the image. This was also a kingdom with universal sway, for King Darius sent decrees to “all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth.” Ch. 6:25, 26. Grecia succeeded Medo-Persia, as shown in the vision of Daniel 8 and its interpretation, and specifically stated in verses 20 and 21. Alexander of Macedon was enabled to utterly overthrow the Medo-Persian rule, and to make himself king. But, notwithstanding this superior physical power, the quality of the Grecian kingdom was as brass compared with silver; perhaps not in the opinion of men, but surely it was so in the judgment of God. That the great universal kingdom of Rome grew up from a germ of revolution in the far western part of the Grecian Empire, and finally became mistress of the world, is so well known that it needs only to be cited as a fact in the application of it to the interpretation of the image under consideration. It was indeed the fourth universal kingdom, and never since has there been any other. That it was universal, the Sacred Record shows; for it tells us that just before the birth of Christ, “there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus [Emperor of Rome], that all the world should be taxed.” Luke 2:1. This kingdom was “strong as iron,” and no power on earth has compared with Rome in the matter of breaking in pieces and subduing other powers and peoples. But the strength of her power eventually became weakness. From the strength of iron, Rome went to pieces, becoming simply a mixture of iron and clay, that could not be welded. She passed into a condition of hopeless division, the parts of which never have been and never can be united. Various attempts have been made to establish universal empire, but all have failed, and all such efforts must inevitably fail; for “the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Therefore the next universal kingdom that will dominate the earth will be that one represented by the stone cut out without hands—a kingdom set up by the God of heaven, which will not only “break in pieces,” but will “consume” all human powers, and “it shall stand forever.” This is also recorded in the second psalm, which should be read in this connection. The Day Christ Was Crucified
There is really no necessity for the quibbling that is done over the day of the week on which Christ was crucified. A few words of inspired record make it very plain. As Jesus hung on the cross, dead, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the custody of the body. “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” See Luke 23:50–56. This shows as plainly as words can show that Jesus died the day before “the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” If, as some claim, He had been put in the tomb on Wednesday or Thursday, those sorrowing women, so anxious to do Him honor, would not have waited till Sunday morning before going to the sepulcher. UNDER the above title American Motherhood sets forth the regrettable conditions of the present day in the matter of current literature. It is worthy of serious thought by every parent who has at heart the interests of his children. We quote the editorial entire. “I have been reading the late magazines with this thought in mind, asking myself if they are calculated to inspire right ideals in the minds of the young and inexperienced; and I have been startled at the thought of the youth of the land being influenced by the suggestions I found therein. It would seem as if invention of reputable situations had exhausted itself, and authors were feeling themselves obliged to resort to the questionable, or even to the criminal, in order to make their writings attractive. Heroines are pictured as doing things which heretofore have been considered of most doubtful propriety, and no question as to the correctness of their conduct is suggested. A young girl consorts with smugglers, aids them in their criminality; and it is all depicted as admirable daring. A trio of girls plot a robbery of one of their nearest friends, and it is supposed to be humorous. A young lady traveling alone, meets a stranger, enters into a flirtation, and the acquaintance thus begun ends in a wedding at the end of three days; and no hint is given of the dangers of such a proceeding. “Nor are the heroes more admirable. A retired train-robber tells in glowing phrase of the ease with which a train may be held up and its passengers fleeced of forty thousand dollars; and, altho the fluent rascal advises his hearers not to undertake the business, one gains the idea that the advice is given more because he doubts their ability to carry it through successfully than because he considers it immoral. “Crooked schemes for defrauding individuals, companies, or even communities, are told with a charm of literary style that doubtless won them their acceptance by editors, who apparently are looking only for skill, and care nothing for morals. Some of the magazine stories are clever lessons in petty thieving, burglary, or even in the art of destroying life, which might easily fire the susceptible imagination of the adolescent, and lead him into most reprehensible conduct. “Lincoln Steffens, in McClure’s for April, tells us of his hunt for the sources of corruption in the city, state, or national politics, and of his finding that it led him every time into the maelstrom of business, and here he found the sources of national corruption. What hope is there for any improvement in the business methods of the future, when our boys are reading, in our daily papers, jokes concerning bribe-taking, and our magazines give prominence to tales of unblushing rascality? “A task of tremendous importance is before the parent who desires that during the approaching vacation only worthy models shall be held up before his children for emulation. His censorship would eliminate many periodicals whose reading matter is worthy, because of the advertisements they carry; the daily papers would be placed under ban because of the prominence given to criminality and scandal; even the monthly periodicals would need close scrutiny, and books could not be purchased merely upon the strength of the reviewer’s testimony. “It would be worth all possible effort to keep in touch with the young people in their reading, to know by actual perusal in advance the character of the books they are conning, or else to read with them; and in either case to discuss the various situations, to put the stamp of parental approval on all that is worthy, and of disapproval on all that would not be desirable if repeated in their own lives. “More and more must parents beware of the demoralizing influence of that which often bears the world’s stamp of respectability. More and more must the line be drawn between the education allowed or approved by the world and that which alone can develop Christian manhood and womanhood in our sons and daughters.” A FEW years ago there was no end of boasting of our progress, and no end of pity for the races that preceded us on the stage of life. But it looks as if Americans are returning to superstition and barbarism. American cities are full of people who will accept from any swarthy man wearing a turban, any maudlin absurdity that he chooses to teach, as containing the wisdom of the occult system of the Orient. A few weeks ago a lady of culture in Chicago, being taught that “soul is everything,” and the body must be subjugated, and all that kind of thing, entered into a fast of forty days, and came out a physical wreck, and a raving maniac. And yet this Persian fakir gathers disciples who talk of hidden mysteries, contact with the unknowable, and the attainment of supernatural powers, by means of this wonderful remnant of a barbaric age. Men seem ready to believe anything but the truth of God. —Watchword and Truth. The contention of Protestants that there is danger in using images in worship because of the tendency, altogether too strong in all of us, but especially strong in the ignorant, to confuse the symbol with the spiritual conception for which it stands, has always been denied by Catholics, but it receives some confirmation from recent scenes in the French courts, from which the crucifixes have been removed. In several places the witnesses have objected that it was impossible for them to take the oath to tell the truth “before God and man,” because there was no pictorial representation of Christ in the room. In some courts the judge has satisfied them by giving a lesson in the elements of faith, explaining that to the good Catholic God was everywhere. In other cases their scruples could not be so removed, and a small crucifix had to be produced, upon which they could take the oath. That this materialistic superstition is not confined to the unlearned is shown by a recent case before the Assize Court, at Versailles, wherein M. J. Bonzon, counsel for the defense, demanded the release of his client on the ground that the oaths taken by jurymen and witnesses were invalid, since no image of the Divinity appeared in the court room. A Catholic, who had sworn before God to tell the truth, was not bound by this oath, unless a crucifix was used, for in the Catholic Church the image of Christ is essential, and “the crucifix is the necessary intermediary between God and the faithful.” The court rejected this ingenious plea.—N. Y. Independent. “A German has invented a new clock system which has some original features worthy of mention,” says The American Inventor. “The system is that of a master clock which controls electrically as many individual clock installations as may be required. The clock, which is installed in the house or place of business of the subscriber to the system, is similar to the ordinary one, inasmuch as it has a face and two hands; but the works are replaced by a couple of magnets and a balance-wheel. The master clock is provided with a transmitting apparatus designed to be operated by the movement of the hands. An impulse is sent from the wires when the hands of the master clock advance one minute on the face of the dial. This impulse affects the magnets in the small clock in such a way that the hands are advanced the same amount as were the hands of the master clock. This operation is kept up indefinitely, and, of course, all of the small clocks keep exactly the same time as the master clock. The small clocks are inexpensive, and comparatively little current is required to operate the system. The invention is in successful operation in several towns in France and Germany, and is at present being introduced into England.” MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MANCHURIA.
Desperate encounters have taken place between the advancing Japanese army and the forces of General Kuropatkin, in which the Russians have been systematically forced back from one position to another. The Japanese General reports that the Russians have been retreating since August 1. The heat is intense, and there is great suffering among the troops on this account, especially among the Russians who are not so well accustomed to the latitude in which they are fighting. Reports from Port Arthur are very conflicting. Those from Russian sources indicate that many thousands of the Japanese have been slain in the various attacks; but these reports are evidently exaggerated. It seems certain that practically all the outer defenses have been taken by the Japanese, who are now pouring shells and shrapnell into the town and fortifications. It is said that there is not a whole pane of glass in the city. The Japanese are daily expecting to hear of the fall of the fortress. The Russian position at Hai Cheng has been captured, and the forces there engaged are retreating upon Liao Yang. Some reports indicate that the whole Russian army is involved in this retrograde movement, and that General Kuropatkin himself has been wounded. There have been no accurate reports given of the losses in the last few days' fighting; but it is evident that the number of the killed and wounded has been very large. About a thousand Russian prisoners were taken at Hai Cheng. The Japanese are now halted, awaiting supplies and ammunition. News from Around the World
The seventh annual session of the American Mining Congress will be held at Portland, Oregon, from August 22 to August 27. It is expected that this will be one of the most representative mining congresses ever held, and will be attended by hundreds of delegates from different parts of this country and from foreign countries as well. The Tibetans are said to be now willing to arrange terms of peace, and to bring this about they have asked the British expedition to return to Gyangtse. Colonel Younghusband replied that he could only make peace at Lhasa, but that he was willing to discuss terms while proceeding there. The French Foreign Minister has notified the papal representative in Paris that in view of the rupture of relations between France and the Vatican, his mission to Paris no longer had any effect. This is a virtual severance of all diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See. Agents of the president of Venezuela have taken forcible possession of the property of the American asphalt company, and the State Department at Washington is preparing its protest against the action. TRUE DISCIPLINE.
By M. C. R.
[M. C. R., in The Household.] When shall I begin to discipline my child? is a question which every mother ought to ask. If I say it is hardly possible to begin too early, many will be surprised, if not incredulous. “I never punished a child before it was two years old,” said a dear old lady to me when my first baby lay in my arms. “I don’t intend to punish at all,” I replied; for, like most inexperienced persons, I had fine theories in regard to bringing up children. “I hope you won’t need to; but ‘In Adam’s fall, we sinned all,’ you know,” she said with a hearty laugh; thinking no doubt that a few years would teach me many things. While my baby was “in arms,” my theories were delightful; but with creeping trouble began. The things that he ought not to touch were the only attractive ones, and most fascinating of all was the bookcase. Nothing delighted him more than to tug away till the books tumbled out on the floor. Persuasion and argument were of no avail. “No, No,” and “Baby naughty,” were greeted with bright smiles or utter indifference. I began to fear that the child knew he was not doing right, and that this knowledge added an element of mischievous pleasure. But what was to be done? I taxed my ingenuity, but I could not keep my child away from the books. Must I give up to a baby of a few months? I asked myself, ashamed that my theories had failed in the crucial test. Suddenly common-sense came to the rescue. A dozen times had I carried the little fellow away from the scene of conflict, only to see him creep back with all speed at the first opportunity. Then, deliberately I threw my theories to the winds, and gave the dear chubby little hand a smart slap. Such a look of surprise and distress! It nearly broke my heart. Then a change came over the face, and with a defiant look that said “I will,” again he attacked the books. Again I slapped the hand; then I took the sobbing baby on my knee, talked with and quieted him. When I put him down this time the books were safe; he would not touch them. The victory is won, I thought, with a sigh, for I was tired out with excitement. It was a relief to conquer, but the method was a trial. Then I remembered that our heavenly Father taught obedience in ways quite as hard to us as this had been to my child, and I was comforted. Whenever after that my baby crept to the books a11decided “No,” or at most “Mama punish,” was sufficient to keep him out of mischief. The battle had to be fought again in regard to other things—the poker and tongs, the album, the piano; but in the course of six weeks I felt safe to take my baby anywhere. In the midst of costly bric-a-brac I had no fear, for my child had learned the grand lesson of obedience. “How do you manage?” a friend asked me as we were preparing to leave her house after a two days’ visit. “Much as I wanted to see you, I will confess that I hesitated when I thought of the child. My cousin’s little boy was here a week, and I couldn’t tell you how many things he ruined!” “Has your cousin ever punished her child?” I asked. “No! Why he isn’t three years old yet.” I smiled and did not wonder at her troubles. There may be some mothers who can spare the rod without spoiling the child; there may be some children more easily influenced than mine; but for the majority, I do believe some punishment is necessary, and the earlier a mother begins the less of it she will have to do. “Wait until the child can understand,” I was told over and over again. Ah! but who can tell how early a child may understand the difference between right and wrong? Experience has taught me that if a baby learns to mind before he learns to walk, by the time he is two years old he will have settled into a habit of minding, then punishment will rarely be necessary. In these days of ungoverned children—dreaded by host and hotel-keeper alike—every mother should insist on obedience at whatever cost to her own feelings. Make no unnecessary prohibitions. Make every effort to prevent disobedience. Divert the attention. Be sometimes deaf and blind to little unintentional misdemeanors. Punish sparingly; but when it is really necessary, never neglect it. How can we expect our children to obey the commands of God if we do not teach them obedience?