Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 25. (6/21/1906)

Review and Herald

Jun 21, 1906

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 21, 1906

The Millennium

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE

“And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20:4.

There are fadeless flowers in the Eden bowers, In that far-off home of the soul, And the joys of the blest can not be expressed While the years of God shall roll; The ransomed shall stand in the summer land, And rejoice in their sins forgiven; They shall bask in the light that is shining bright, For a “thousand years” in heaven.

In the breath, the balm, of a shadowless calm, Shall the pilgrims enter their rest, And beauty untold, and streets of gold, Are the portion of the blest; The pure in heart, who have borne their part, And long against sin have striven, With Christ shall rise above the skies, For a “thousand years” in heaven.

I long more and more for the shining shore, Where the loved and lost I shall meet; I shall clasp the hand, I shall see them stand, In that kingdom pure and sweet; The empty home, and the churchyard lone, The chords that on earth are riven, Are golden clasps that bind me fast To the “thousand years” in heaven.

Dixon, Ill.

Our Publishing Work

By Editor

*The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11.*

See last paragraph on this page for instructions where to order.

WHEN this issue of the REVIEW reaches our readers, the July number of Life and Health will be ready to mail.

THOSE who do not have the REVIEW during the present summer will miss much. Never in the history of the denomination were its contents so much needed in order to keep in vital touch with the good news of the rapid progress of the message, and to imbibe its spirit of deep consecration to the tried principles of the gospel committed to the commandment-keepers for this day and age.

“DANIEL AND THE REVELATION,” by Elder Uriah Smith, can be placed in the homes of the people better to-day than at any previous time, because the public mind is constantly having brought before it facts that impress the solemnity of the predictions made in the prophecies of the books of Daniel and the Revelation. The people will be interested in its prophetical teachings. Its verse-by-verse study of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation will reveal many of these prophecies fulfilled, and discover to the reader others still in the future. It is a large, handsome book of 557 pages, attractively illustrated, and substantially bound in cloth, library, and morocco, ranging in price from $2.25 to $4.50, post-paid. It is also printed on thin paper, without illustrations, for $1; in paper covers, two volumes, 25 cents each.

ANY one in need of a Bible, or who may be situated so he could sell a few copies, will do well to examine the new line of Bibles handled by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C. We feel confident that these Bibles will meet all requirements. They are of convenient size, and have the large “quart-in-a-pint” type, also the old-fashioned plain numbers that the old folks like; are made with or without concordance, and can be furnished with thumb index if desired. They have everything needed in the Bible line to make them desirable. Note the styles and prices (order by number):— No. 2990X Alsatian morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges, silk head band and marker, linen lined....$3.50 No. 2992X Egyptian morocco (same style as above), grained leather, silk sewed....$4.00 No. 2996X Alaska seal (same style as above) calf lined to edge, silk sewed....$5.50 If concordance is desired, extra, $.50 If thumb index is desired, extra, $.50

FREE.—By a little effort you can sell five of these Bibles to your friends. Do so; send in the orders as you take them; and when five shall have been received, we will send you a copy of No. 2996X free.

Agents are wanted everywhere to sell these Bibles. They are thoroughly well-made books, printed in the old country. Regular subscription-book discounts. Order from your tract society or from us direct.

WHILE the whole nation is contemplating the great earthquake of California, those who know the meaning of such calamities can not be free from responsibility until they have used their influence and their knowledge of the truth for this generation in calling the people’s attention to the special meaning of such occasions as explained in some of our publications. “Heralds of the Morning” and “Coming King,” or even the small and inexpensive book, “His Glorious Appearing,” are good books to set before the people truths that the recent earthquake will emphasize and indelibly impress upon the mind. “Coming King” and “Heralds of the Morning” are only $1 a copy in cloth binding. “His Glorious Appearing,” in cloth, is only 40 cents.

MANY who wish to understand the Bible and become acquainted with its teachings, have found it difficult to follow to a satisfactory conclusion lines of study on definite subjects. To aid such persons, and for general topical study of the Bible, we would recommend the little volume “Helps to Bible Study.” This book contains a series of questions and answers on important Bible subjects, such as, The Second Coming of Christ; The Signs of the Times; The Home of the Saved, including the state of the dead and the end of the wicked; The Law of God—God’s Seal; The Sabbath, and kindred subjects; The Sanctuary; The Judgment; Baptism; Ministration of Angels, Tithe, etc. This book appeals to us as one suited to the needs of the average lay member. While it is sufficiently elaborate to prove the question treated, the thoughts are not so deep as to reach beyond the reasoning faculties of any truth seeker.

THAT the storm-clouds of capital and labor are fast gathering, and that they, with other kindred clashing elements, will soon meet, the final outcome of which is conjectured on both sides, prominent men in all walks of life agree. The perusal of this subject with the interesting facts and figures at hand, is offered in the new book entitled “The Conflict between Capital and Labor.” While Elder Russell’s conclusions may be regarded as of no more assurance of fulfilment than those of others who have written on this subject, the rapidity with which current events are fulfilling prophecies of the inspired Word, must prove to the candid mind that a power higher than any human instrumentality is guiding the affairs of men, and that where human conclusions agree with divine revelations, man must lay his plans and predictions aside, and exclaim, “Thy will be done.” “There is a divinity that shapes our ends.” The price of “Capital and Labor,” in heavy board covers, is 50 cents, post-paid.

Orders for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society or to Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., or Battle Creek, Mich.

Also Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.; Portland, Ore.; Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Tex.

Self-sufficient Humility

THERE is no more offensive way of proclaiming one's self “rich, and increased with goods” than by those loud professions of humility under cover of which one may climb upon the judgment-seat and pronounce sentence upon all others, or may set himself above all others and assume to dictate their course. Genuine humility does not advertise itself upon the housetops. There is in it too much of that love which “vaunteth not itself” to permit it to make a vain show of itself. True humility is revealed in conduct rather than in profession. Those who really esteem others better than themselves do not make an ostentatious display of the fact. “Truly great men are invariably modest. Humility is a grace which sits naturally upon them as a garment.” “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

The Old and the New Theology

By Editor

WE do not often see a simple statement of the conclusions reached by liberal theologians in contrast with the beliefs of a quarter of a century or more ago. We were therefore interested in an editorial in the Congregationalist (Boston) of recent date which deals with this subject in a straight-forward manner. Of the changes which have come in the theology of Congregationalists this paper says:—

As to our belief in God—our fathers looked up to him as enthroned above all things, directing and guiding to a predetermined end the universe he had created. We realize him as the supreme pervading personality in all things, revealing himself in the universe evolving through him into perfection in which man, created in his image, shall perfectly reflect his righteousness, truth, and love. We use the phrases, the divine immanence, to express his relation to the universe, and the divine fatherhood, to express his relation to mankind.

As to our belief in Christ—our fathers looked up to him as the second person in the Trinity, seated at the right hand of the throne of God the Father, after having purchased the forgiveness of our sins and the remission of sentence of eternal death by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the tomb. We see in him who is the ideal man, the Father manifested to human apprehension, the unique revelation of God to man. . . .

Our fathers regarded man as created perfect in one human pair, who by wilful disobedience to a divine command corrupted and brought sentence of eternal death on the whole human race descended from them. Our fathers believed that Jesus Christ, coming as God in a human form begotten through the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, by his sufferings and physical death inflicted on him by men, endured the equivalent of the punishment of sinners sentenced to eternal death, and delivered from it certain members of the human race foreordained to be saved.

We believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God, living, suffering, and dying as a man among men, revealed the self-sacrificing love of God for his children, who include all mankind, and that this manifestation, continued through the Spirit of God in and among men, is teaching sinners the nature of sin and the character of God, and is drawing all men unto him.

Our fathers believed that the Bible was the only written revelation by God, that all its words were dictated or inspired by him, and therefore to be received as absolute truth without admixture of error. We believe that the books of the Bible are the record of the revelation of God by writers under his guidance who sought faithfully to make known his will. The convincing evidence of its divine authority is in the response of our spiritual nature to its counsels, consolations, and commands. . . .

Our fathers believed that men could be saved only by believing on Jesus Christ before they died. The theological controversies of the last twenty-five years have resulted at least in toleration for Christians who express a reasonable hope that those who die without knowledge of Christ may not have closed their probation in this life. The tendency thus indicated has gone so far that some Congregationalists who believe, as all Christians do, in the final triumph of righteousness over sin, hold also that it is not an unwarrantable hope that this triumph may include the final redemption from sin of all the children of God. . . . These differences of view provoke less discussion than they would have done a generation ago, because attention is now directed not so much to the future life as to delivering mankind from present evils and the establishment of the kingdom of God in this present world.

These few short paragraphs declare how far the sons have departed from the doctrines believed and taught by their fathers. It is a great change to come in a brief quarter of a century. Instead of a personal God whose dwelling-place is in heaven, but who is everywhere present by his Spirit, the new theology has a "supreme pervading personality," an essence which is a personality in a scientific sense only. That recently invented phrase, "the divine immanence," designates that conception of God which is based upon scientific investigation rather than upon the revelation of God which is given in his Word. It is the trade-mark which science has selected for the god which it has given to the world. Those who use

it are the expounders and defenders of this religio-scientific cult—a system quite distinct from the primitive gospel.

Instead of Christ the divine Saviour, seated “on the right hand of the Majesty on high,” the new theology has an “ideal man, . . . the unique revelation of God to man.” Instead of the incarnate Son of God, “who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,” the new theology has a revelation of self-sacrificing love as the means of dealing with sin and sinners.

Instead of an infallible Bible as “a sufficient rule of faith and practise,” the new theology has the writings of those who “sought faithfully to make known his [God’s] will,” and each one must decide for himself how far the writers succeeded in their efforts.

When King Hezekiah was brought face to face with death, he declared: “The grave can not praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth;” but such theology is out of date now, and there is toleration for the belief in a future probation, and for that Universalism which looks for “the final redemption from sin of all the children of God,” “who include all mankind.”

And finally, instead of proclaiming the near second coming of our Lord as the central theme in the gospel of the kingdom, these advocates of the new theology are seeking through social settlements and various reform movements to establish the kingdom of God by changing the environment of men instead of changing their hearts. They make much of physical righteousness, and lay stress upon human methods for bettering mankind. When this kind of gospel is carried to its logical result, it makes each man his own savior, and dispenses with the one only divine Saviour.

There is one simple explanation for this complete departure from the original platform of gospel truth—evolution. During the present generation the evolutionary conception of Christianity has very largely superseded the Biblical revelation, and a system of human philosophy has been substituted for the saving gospel of Christ. Very few are the ministers of the orthodox churches who openly attempt to stem the tide of scientific infidelity which is sweeping over the world, and Satan’s gospel of making one’s self like the Most High by believing in the divinity of humanity is the theme in many pulpits.

There is surely need of a movement in the earth to maintain a pure gospel, a Biblical Christianity as opposed to that false science which really puts man in the place of God. There is need of a message to be proclaimed which shall say to all the people, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” There is need of a mighty voice which shall cry, “All flesh is grass. . . . Behold, your God! Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come. . . . Behold, his reward is with him.” The message of “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” is the heaven-sent answer to all this modern perversion of the gospel. O that this message might be speedily given “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”!

Editorial

By Editor

A UNITED and loyal people inspired by a spirit of devotion to a glorious truth can accomplish great things under God. The Lord can make the wrath of man to praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain. This is the time for all true Seventh-day Adventists to press together, and to take advantage of the present providential opportunity to reach the people with this message. The outlook is encouraging.

THE spirit of the time tends to deaden every spiritual impulse. We must resist this tendency and cultivate the spirit of consecration and earnestness in service. We have been warned concerning this enchanted ground, and we must not permit the enemy to gain any advantage over us. While the perils thicken about us, we know that we are nearing the end of our journey. Soon conflict will give place to final victory and peace and rest. Blessed assurance!

Eminent Testimony Concerning Spiritualism

By L. A. S.

THE late Carl Schurz, in his reminiscences now being published in McClure’s Magazine, relates an incident in which he came in contact with spiritualism, which furnishes trustworthy evidence that revelations of a supernatural character do proceed from that source. Mr. Schurz’s reputation for veracity, accuracy, and sober-mindedness is a guaranty that his statements on the subject are strictly true.

Mr. Schurz had been invited while in Paris, to attend a séance, but was prevented from doing so by a sudden trip to London. It occurred to him before leaving, however, to provide a test of the powers of the clairvoyant by whom the séance was to be given. He says:—

I cut off some of my hair, wrapped it in a piece of paper, and put this into a letter envelope which I closed with sealing wax. Then I tore a little strip from a letter I had received that morning from the Hungarian general, Klapka, the celebrated defender of the fortress Komorn, and put this strip containing the date of the letter also into a folded paper, and enclosed it likewise in an envelope sealed with wax. When Strodtmann had returned to me, I gave him the two envelopes without informing him of their contents, and instructed him to place them in the hands of the clairvoyant with the request that she give a description of the looks, the character, the past career, and the temporary sojourn of the person from whom the objects concealed in the envelopes were coming. Then I left for London.

A few days later I received a letter from Strodtmann in which he narrated the results of the séance as follows: The clairvoyant took one of my envelopes into her hand, and said it contained the hair of a young man who looked thus and so. She then described my appearance in the most accurate way, and added that this young man had won notoriety by his connection with a bold enterprise, and that at the present time he was on the other side of a deep water in a large city, and in the circle of a happy family. Then she gave a description of my character, my inclinations, and my mental faculties, which, as I saw them in black on white, surprised me greatly. Not only did I recognize myself in the main features of this description, but I found in it also certain statements which seemed to give me new disclosures about myself. . . . I received, so to speak, a revelation about my own inner self, a psychological analysis which I had to recognize as just, as soon as I perceived it.

What the clairvoyant said about the other envelope which contained Klapka’s writing was hardly less astonishing. She described the writer of the letters and figures contained in that envelope as a handsome, dark-bearded man with sparkling eyes, who once had governed a city full of armed men and besieged by enemies. The description of his person, of his past, and also of his character so far as I knew it, was throughout correct; but when the clairvoyant added that this man was at the time not in Paris, but in another city where he had gone to meet a person very dear to him, I thought we had caught her in a mistake. A few days later I returned to Paris, and had hardly arrived there when I met General Klapka on the street. I asked him at once whether since he had written his last letter to me he had been constantly in Paris, and I was not a little amazed when he told me that he had a few days ago made an excursion to Brussels, where he had stopped not quite a week, and the “dear person” whom he was to have seen there, I learned from an intimate friend of Klapka, was a lady whom, it was said, he would marry. The clairvoyant was therefore right in every point.

This occurrence mystified me very much. The more I considered the question whether the clairvoyant could possibly have received knowledge of the contents of my envelopes, or whether she could have had any cue for guessing at them, the more certain I became that this could not be. Strodtmann himself did not know what I had put into the envelopes. Of Klapka’s letter to me he had not the slightest information. He also assured me that he had put the envelopes into the hands of the clairvoyant, one after the other in exactly the same condition in which he had received them without for a moment confiding them to anybody else, and without telling to any one from whom they came; and I could absolutely depend upon the word of my thoroughly honest friend. But even if—which was quite unthinkable to me—there had been some collusion between him and the clairvoyant, or if he had without knowing it, betrayed from whom the envelope had come, it would not have solved the riddle of how the clairvoyant could have described my character, my inclinations, my impulses, my mental qualities, much more clearly and truthfully and sagaciously than Strodtmann or Melbye [another friend] ever could have done. . . . In short, I could not in the whole incident find the slightest reason for the suspicion that here we had to do with a merely clever juggler. . . . In later years I have had similar experiences.

The only reasonable explanation of this occult revelation which puzzled Mr. Schurz, is that it proceeded from a spiritual intelligence speaking through the human subject. It could have been nothing else than the agency of what was known anciently as a “familiar spirit,” intercourse with which was strictly forbidden by Jehovah.

L. A. S.

Reorganization in Brazil

By W. A. S.

THE Brazilian general meeting has just closed in Taquary, in the southernmost State of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul. It was a good meeting. The Lord blessed the believers, both in winning personal victories and in planning for the work. The languages spoken here were German and Portuguese. But whatever the tongue, the rich blessings of the grace of God are visited upon the people. And the people feel that the reorganization of the work in Brazil means the more rapid progress of the truth.

The Brazil of our present planning is the coast line. Back from the States along the eastern coast stretch league after league of almost unknown country. But the population is mainly in the coast States. And by the medium of the German colonists the truth has gained a foothold pretty well along this territory. This widely distributed work is much in favor of the advancement of the truth; but at the same time it strongly indicated a division of the field and a localizing of responsibility.

THE TAQUARY SCHOOL AND PUBLISHING OFFICE

The first of the new fields to be organized was this State of Rio Grande do Sul. It has a population of 1,370,000, and a conference membership of over three hundred. Most of these are German colonists, but there is an encouraging intermixture of Brazilians, and the keynote of the conference meeting was the carrying of the truth to these Portuguese-speaking peoples. There were those with us in the meeting whom the Lord had called from Catholicism into this message; and thankful indeed were they for the light.

The evening meetings were in Portuguese, the town theater being occupied four nights. Our brethren hired the theater for three nights only, but the chief magistrate of the town invited them to continue another night free of charge. Good audiences came out and listened attentively to the truths presented, both at the theater and in the schoolroom where our conference was held. Elders Spies, Schwantes, and Hoelzle did most of the Portuguese speaking and translating.

With over twenty millions of Portuguese-speaking people in the land, our work must now turn strongly in this direction. The conference voted to put this tongue in the foreground in their school work, which heretofore has been mainly German. The people have their eyes upon the field committed to them, and we may look for an increasingly vigorous work for the State of Rio Grande. Elder H. F. Graf is president of the conference. He has had almost twelve years of service in Brazil, and that, too, of the old Methodist circuit-riding order of the early days in our own West. It means week after week in the saddle, fording rivers, eating poor food, and having rude accommodations. All the Brazilian field laborers have had their share of these experiences. But their hearts are full of courage as they see the truth making headway.

The plan is that these southern States of Brazil shall make their own work self-supporting, so that henceforward all the Mission Board appropriations may be devoted to work in the more populous States to the northward, in which little has been done as yet. The Rio Grande Conference and the Santa Catharina and Parana Conference (these two States are to be organized as one) must help to supply laborers for the fields northward, and one by one it is planned as soon as possible to plant a work in every State along the coast.

Brazil now supplies a laborer to Portugal, also, in Elder E. Schwantes, who expects to sail for Lisbon within a few weeks.

The publishing and tract society work for all Brazil is to be handled from the publishing office in Taquary. Brother Pages, of Germany, has charge of this department. The little printing-office issues the Portuguese paper and other literature in both Portuguese and German. They expect to issue “Glorious Appearing” in Portuguese at once. Thus far Brazil has been without salable literature for the Portuguese. The brethren are determined to change all this, and to push the work with vigor. The outlook in Brazil is encouraging.

Taquary, our place of meeting, is a town of less than a thousand inhabitants. The school and publishing office are on the edge of town, with open country beyond. Brother J. Lipke has charge of the school. Just across the road from the school Dr. Gregory has a pleasant home and garden, and is doing self-supporting medical work. Elders Westphal, Spies, and Ehlers, and myself are now on the way to Santa Catharina.

W. A. S.

Porto Alegre.

The Iowa Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

THE annual conference and camp-meeting of the Iowa Conference was held at Boone, May 31 to June 10. The meeting was held in a grove about three miles from the city, reached by electric cars. The attendance of our own people from the different parts of the State was fair, and, notwithstanding the distance from the city, quite a number of the citizens attended the meetings, and gave earnest attention to the truths of the message presented. The weather was fine throughout the meeting, which added greatly to the comfort of the camp.

Besides the conference laborers, Elders A. G. Daniells, E. T. Russell, L. H. Christian, H. R. Johnson, Jacob Riffel, Professors Lewis, Kern, and Magan, and the writer, from outside the State, were present during some portion of the meeting. Professor Shryock, of Union College, was present, and had charge of the music. Professor Kern and others labored earnestly in behalf of the large number of young people who were present, with excellent results. Elders Christian and Johnson held meetings daily with the Scandinavians, and the Lord blessed in the salvation of souls. Sister Bessie Shaw was present a few days, and gave a stirring talk on the needs of India, and related many interesting experiences while laboring in that country. A collection was taken for the work in that field, and considerably over one hundred dollars was donated. The labors of Elder A. G. Daniells were greatly appreciated by all during the few days he was present. The Lord especially helped him in the presentation of the progress and needs of

the work in both home and foreign fields, and also in giving counsel and admonition regarding the dangers which threaten our people.

An excellent workers’ meeting preceded the regular camp-meeting, and this same good spirit continued throughout the meeting. The spirit of unity which characterized all the business transactions of the conference was very refreshing. Elder L. F. Starr was unanimously re-elected president of the conference, and the other conference officers remained practically the same as for the past year. The reports rendered during the meeting indicated an encouraging growth in the various departments of the work. Five churches were admitted to the conference. The president in his address reported four hundred and forty-eight additions to the membership during the past year. Most of the workers have been laboring in new fields during the year, and have been quite fruitful in gathering souls into the truth.

The treasurer’s report showed a total tithe for the year of $30,699.06, which is an increase of $6,273.98 over that of the previous year. This substantial increase of the tithe was a source of encouragement to all, and the conference desired to share this blessing with others by rendering further help to extend the message in the regions beyond. The committee on plans presented the following resolution, which was adopted by the unanimous vote of all present:—

Whereas, God has greatly blessed us the past year, giving us substantial increase of the tithe, therefore,—

Resolved, That we appropriate from the tithe fund the sum of five thousand dollars for the mission field, and we suggest that this donation be used to open a mission in Uganda, Africa.

The recent leaflet written by Elder A. T. Jones has been scattered all over the conference. That the conference, however, is in no way disposed to be confused or misled by the statements made in this leaflet was clearly manifest, and without a dissenting vote the conference adopted resolutions, presented by the committee on plans, expressing “confidence in the integrity of this gift [the spirit of prophecy] which God has placed” in this message, and expressing to the General Conference “loyal support and most earnest co-operation” in its work.

Other important resolutions were passed regarding the work of our young people, the educational work, and that of our Sabbath-schools. A recommendation was passed, advising that the Sabbath-schools throughout the conference give their entire donations to the work of foreign missions. We believe this is a step in the right direction.

It was also voted to dispose of the sanitarium in Des Moines as soon as possible, and move to a more rural location in the suburbs of the city. The brethren are hopeful that this change can be made, and a more favorable location thus be secured for their medical work.

On the last Sabbath Brethren F. M. Corbaley and J. C. Clemens were ordained to the sacred work of the gospel ministry. Thirty-six were baptized in the Des Moines River. Special revival services were held during the meeting, and many gave themselves anew to the work of God. Some who had backslidden from the truth and had lost their hold on God, were reclaimed. All felt deeply grateful to the Lord for his blessings; yet no doubt much greater blessings and more complete victories might have been obtained had all sought God as was their privilege.

We are in the time when the Lord is finishing his work, and we should expect that great manifestations of the Holy Spirit should be seen among his people. Our earnest prayer is that the coming year may be marked by the most signal blessings of the Spirit of God, and that this great conference, with its large corps of earnest laborers, and great resources, may increase in strength and be a stronger factor than ever in the past for the advancement of the third angel’s message. Many hard battles have been fought for the truth in Iowa. Apostasy has made its inroads upon the membership, but, notwithstanding all these things, the truth has gone steadily on, and nowhere do we find a more loyal and consecrated people than in this conference. G. B. THOMPSON.

Note and Comment

It is an unpleasant reflection upon the standard of morality among professed Christian ministers when the secular papers deem it necessary to reprove and instruct them. The course of Dr. A. S. Crapsey, a rector of the Episcopal Church who has recently been tried for heresy before an ecclesiastical court, has called out well-deserved rebukes from some daily papers which recognize the common principles of honest conduct. One of these is the Washington Post, which says:—

Mr. Crapsey or any other man has a right to hold and to utter views that the Episcopal Church abhors. But no man has a moral right to use the prestige of the position of a minister of that or any other religious body to scatter seeds of unbelief in the creed of such church. It is passing strange that a minister who attained his commission by professing belief in a creed and by vowing to be a faithful defender of that creed can get the sympathy and support of other ministers and influential laymen when he flouts his creed and his vow. It astounds plain, practical business men, unfamiliar with theological finessing, to see scores of religious teachers rallying to uphold a preacher who has abandoned the creed that he still continues to recite during every service at which he ministers. That line of conduct finds no toleration in honest business or social organizations.

The Post is right. But it is passing strange that any man should deem it proper to insist upon remaining as a teacher of divine truth within the pale of a denomination when he finds himself at variance with the denomination. It is plain that some will strain out the gnat of inconsistency in the lives of others, but will swallow the camel in their own cases.

San Francisco’s Lost Rendezvous

A HINT of the manner of life in a great city is given by a writer in a recent issue of the San Francisco Chronicle. In the course of his description of the high-class restaurants of that ruined metropolis, where wealth and beauty congregated, and epicures feasted upon costly viands and clinked their glasses, this writer says:—

There were, too, those places known to every theater-goer, Zinkand’s, the Louvre, Techau Tavern, all famous for the cheer they spread at midnight, when the homeward-bound stopped in for a chat, a salad, a rarebit, and a friendly glass. Here, in a way, was the center of San Francisco’s social life. Here the wealthy of the avenues and the respectable, with fun-loving hearts, and the gayer folk who frolicked amid the wine glasses, met together and listened to the music of the orchestra and saw the day pass into the morrow. Happy rendezvous of all classes now fallen.

They are all gone. There are no automobiles in front of the Poodle Dog. The lights are out in Marchand’s, and the discreet waiters have vanished. Zinkand’s is gone, too, with the Louvre and the Tavern, and the theater crowds that thronged them. The steps into the Café Fiesta are dusty, and its fountains no longer play. Matias, in the other end of town, no longer serves tamales and thick wine, graced with Latin proverbs. The crowd in Coppa’s is dispersed, and those late revelers who discoursed over their wine in the Buon Gusto until the first morning car rounded Telegraph Hill are somewhere in a dryer land, saladless and wineless.

This sounds like a description of social life in old Rome in the days of the decline. But all this whirl of gaiety was brought to a sudden stop by twenty-eight seconds of shaking and its attendant results. The haunts of pleasure are now in ruins, and the frequenters of these places have been driven by waves of flame to other shores. Life in San Francisco is typical of life in other cities. The warning to keep out of the cities has come none too soon. Like the cities of the plain in the olden time, our modern cities are doomed.

His Presence

By Rev. B. F. Kidder, Ph. D.

THE Master walked with me. I knew his presence, though I could not see His face, as when he walked in Galilee. The inner eye beheld him; and the sight Filled all the earth and sky and mind with light.

There is no path so drear, In trackless sea, or desert, far or near, But soul with soul of him we hold so dear May have companionship, and inly feel The grasp of hand unseen, the pledge of weal.

The Master spake to me. I knew his voice. No personality Of human friend, by word or act, could be More surely known, as to the mind he gave Assurance of his love and power to save.

“Yet not for self alone,” He gently whispered, “are these mercies shown; But for the desolate who have not known The love I bear them, and who would not see Or know me near, were I not seen in thee.”

That he may live in me, Henceforth, his life of blessed ministry Is all my prayer for self; that men may see The Christ of God once more in haunts of pain, And know that God is love, and trust again.

— Rev. B. F. Kidder, Ph. D.

Continue reading: Dedication of the Loma Linda Sanitarium