p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 16. (4/16/1902)

FOR FATHERS AND MOTHERS, TEACHERS AND GUARDIANS.

By Editor

ONE of the best and wisest writers in America on matters pertaining to health and training of children is Mrs. Mary Wood-Allen, M.D., the editor of the American Mother. There is wisdom, truth, intelligence, and experience in what she writes. We have secured from her pen for the benefit of our readers the following articles for our Home department under the general heading,

THE CHILD.

What It Is—Its Purpose, Health of the Child, Temperance, Trustworthiness, Justice, Perseverance, Orderliness, Obedience, Purity, The Adolescent.

What can we more desire for our children than health? What more important in its training than temperance, trustworthiness, justice, perseverance, orderliness, obedience, purity? What time of his life should we understand better or take more interest in than that of adolescence? And yet how many parents are ignorant of these very things, or, knowing them, can not teach them to their children. These articles will help them. They will begin in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, the Lord willing, May 7.

A Living Religion.

By Editor

Some of the more intellectual people of Japan are seeking a new religion, "a supreme doctrine," according to an article in Public Opinion. Shintoism and Buddhism are condemned; Protestantism is preferred to Catholicism, altho the former is set aside. The leader in this quest declares that "all religions are superannuated because they are based upon words and external ceremonies." And all religions that have only these for bases are indeed superannuated, or mere form. If the form is not the expression of the life, it is worse than nothing. Let these souls seek their desire in Christianity apart from all professing sects. There are many forms and ceremonies, even in Protestant churches, that are parasitic; they are not the expressions or outgrowth of life. And when these forms and empty words are made pre-eminent, the life has departed. But true Christianity is a life, the life of God, and it is the only religion that is life.

Put Yourself in His Place

By Editor

"Put Yourself in His Place" is the title of a book published some years ago. There is a lesson in the title, whatever the book contained. We would judge our fellow-men less harshly if we could but do this, or would endeavor to do this, whenever misunderstandings arise or he seems to act contrary to good morals. Look at it as far as possible from his view-point. And then "come up" "into the mount" with God, and look upon your fellow as the great compassionate God, who gave His only-begotten Son, looks upon him. If we will do this in the Lord's way, we will incidentally see ourselves in the light of God, and it will take away all spirit of judgment.

Religious Population of New York City

New York City is not a Catholic city quite, but it is not half Protestant. The Catholics number 1,226,561; Hebrews 598,012; Protestants (which may include nearly all not Catholic) 1,733,465.

Celibacy of Clergy.

A movement has been started in Palermo, Italy, it is said, attacking the celibacy of the clergy. Circulars have been sent to nearly all the priests in Italy. Attention is called to the generally considered fact that eleven of the apostles were married men. It will probably have little effect. Yet it may be granted, if it is thought favorable to the advancement of the church.

McClure’s March Contents

By Editor

The March number of McClure's contains several articles of more than ordinary interest. "Bordering the Mysteries of Life and Mind," a sketch of Professor Loeb's researches, in which he is erroneously supposed to have produced life, by Carl Snyder; "The Trial of Aaron Burr," by Ida M. Tarbell; "The Riddle of the Nineteenth Century, Mr. Henry Bergh," by Clara Morris; and Julian Ralph's review of Canon-Doyle's book on Briton versus Boer. Price 10 cents.

Post Check Currency

By Editor

One of the things just now being agitated in Congress and throughout the country by the American Newspaper Publishers' Association is the securing of the Post Check Currency in lieu of the smaller bills now in circulation, and in fractional currency also. The new bills are provided with blank lines for signature, so that they can be easily transformed into a personal check, making it perfectly safe to send through the mails. We have not space for more now, but it is a good thing.

Army Post Exchanges and Temperance

The American Anti-Saloon League is working strenuously and commendably to carry the amendments introduced by Senator Hansbrough, of North Dakota, to the Army Appropriation Bill to improve the post exchange by providing suitable and commodious buildings, in order that libraries, gymnasiums, etc., on a temperance basis, may be provided for the soldier, instead of the old canteen system with all its evils. At the very best an army is a wicked, demoralizing school. Let it be made as elevating as possible.

The Myth of Burglar-Proof Safes

As Satan has perverted every truth of God, his agents pervert to their base uses of sin and crime every discovery and invention of science. Now Public Opinion informs us that expert reports to the government declare that there is no such thing as a burglar-proof safe. Professional safe-crackers are now using a comparatively new chemical compound called thermite in connection with magnesium, which will "destroy the hardness of the metal, and rob it of its temper, enabling a burglar to cut into it as tho it were lead." The government is advised to take other means to protect its treasuries.

An Important Question.

By Editor

Dr. Kneeland, secretary of the New England Sabbath League, is quoted as saying that "the storm-center of modern civilization is the Sabbath question. . . . It is the most vital issue of the twentieth century." But all that makes a "question" of it at all is the effort to force upon the people a sabbath of human origin in lieu of the Sabbath which the Lord blessed and set apart for man in the beginning. See Gen. 2:1-3; Mark 2:27, 28. It is, however, a "vital issue," a "storm-center" question, and has been ever since the fall of Adam, and will be as long as men refuse to obey the law of God. It is a life-or-death issue.

A Reversal.

By Editor

We used to hear the saying, "Stealing the livery of heaven to serve the devil in;" but there are some things that look like the reverse of this proceeding. More and more the professed Christian church is coming to use heathen rites and festivals in the nominal worship of God. It seems to be not enough to take up the heathen festival of Easter and call it Christian, but a well-known and influential Christian journal has the first page of its Easter number adorned with a picture representing a female form very much resembling the form of the goddess Diana. We are not saying that the figure is not appropriate; for, if it is appropriate to adopt the festival, why not also adopt a goddess? The whole principle is a marked divergence from Protestantism, and is but one of the recent innovations in evangelical churches.