p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 47. (12/3/1912)

Free Speech

By Editor

THE Springfield Republican remarks that "it is curious that in a country setting so much store for free speech, no clear definition of it is yet extant." Governor Dix, of New York, has been trying to clear it up, and holds that the constitution of New York grants the right of free speech, but "includes no right whatever that one shall speak in any particular place." But the Republican very pertinently remarks that the difficulty with this theory is that some other place is no place at all, because wherever the speaker begins his oration, he may be ordered to stop, on the ground that he may have constitutional right to speak, but not to speak there.

It is sometimes argued that the right to free speech is confined to private domain, which means that one shall hire a hall. But this is not always possible. Governor Dix holds that the constitution grants absolute right as to the matter of the speech, provided it is not libelous, indecent, or manifestly criminal.

Then, too, no one can quarrel with the use of police powers to prevent blocking of an important thorofare in a city; but if the local government exercises that right, the Republican remarks, "it is bound to provide a forum elsewhere. There is no more virulent poison than a corked up speech." It would seem as tho there must be a public place to speak, as well as the right to speak, in a country where free speech is granted.

Fraudulent Tuberculosis Cures

The "Pacific Medical Journal" says, editorially: "From actual records on file in the office of the National Association, it is estimated that the volume of business done annually by the various concerns who sell fake remedies for tuberculosis amounts to well over $15,000,000, and these fake cures number more than five hundred." Of one class of these cures the drugs can be bought for any sum, ranging from ten cents to five dollars, from a drug store. The second class of cures include the institutes, professors, or companies of doctors who guarantee to cure consumption by a secret method. There are nearly 150 of these institute frauds in the United States. And the third class are those who have home remedies, such as onions, and lemons, and rattlesnake poison, and coal dust, and lime dust, and pig's blood, and dog oil, and even alcohol. As the editorial states, the only real cure for tuberculosis is fresh air, good food, and rest, taken under competent advice.

The Christian Life and Hope

Thomas J. Ryan, at one time one of the well-known political bosses of Philadelphia, having lost his fortune as well as his position, has committed suicide. A life spent in such a way must be very disappointing even when it is regarded as successful. It is not to be wondered at that he was overcome by despair. How much better than such a life is the Christian's life and the Christian's hope!

Family Worship — An Incident

TEN years ago I boarded in the family of a pious woman whose husband was not a Christian. There was a daughter of nineteen, another of fourteen, and a son of ten. Every morning I heard that humble woman gather

her family in the kitchen, and read with them a chapter, verse about, in the Bible. Then, as I could not help listening, there was a peculiarity of service that mystified me.

At last I asked one day if I might remain. She hesitated; her daughter blushed, but she said I could do so if I really desired it. So I sat down with the rest. They gave me a Testament, and we read a verse in turn. Then kneeling on the floor, that mother began her prayer audibly, for her dear ones there, her husband, and herself; and then pausing a moment, as if to gather energy or wing her faith, uttered a tender, affectionate supplication for me.

She closed, and her daughter began to pray. Poor girl; she was afraid of me. I was from college; I was her teacher; but she tremulously asked for a blessing as usual. Then came the other daughter, and at last the son, the youngest of that circle, who only repeated the Lord's Prayer, with one petition of his own.

His "Amen" was said, but no one arose. I knew on the instant they were waiting for me. And I, poor prayerless I, had no word to say. It almost broke my heart. I hurried from the room, desolate and guilty.

A few weeks only passed, when I asked their permission to come in once more; and then I prayed, too, and thanked my dear, patient Saviour for the hope in my heart and the new song on my lips.—Selected.

Importance of Secret Prayer

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BUT there come moments in the lives of all when we would speak into the ear of our God alone. We are world-weary and sin-sick. Our best and dearest—those who have known and loved us all our lives—somehow seem to fail us. Our souls are unsatisfied and hungry. Or some overwhelming and overmastering grief grips our heart like a vise. Our eyes are burning and dry with watching for the realization of some hope long deferred, and our heart is like lead in our bosom.

Then we crave solitude—an hour all alone with our God. He can understand. And tho we can scarcely see His blessed face through our tear-dimmed eyes, we can hear His gentle, soothing voice, soft as a mother's tender lullaby, speaking to our heart, tried and tempest-tossed, "Peace; be still."

These experiences come to us often—to some of us daily. Then as we shut ourselves in "alone with Him," we feel in an especial manner the blessedness of secret prayer.

And what a privilege!

My heart burns as I think of it, and my brain almost reels as I attempt to comprehend how the eternal God will pause in the guidance of the vast universe, at any moment, at any time, in any place, to listen to me—a feeble, murmuring, helpless worm—to listen to my sorrows and my petty griefs. I can not come upon Him so suddenly as to surprise Him. He is always ready to listen, and—blessed assurance!—He never grows weary of listening to my humble cries.

The prophet Elijah said that the god of the idolatrous Baal-worshipers was perhaps gone on a journey, and hence could not hear, tho they storm the battlements of their imaginary heaven with cries and shrieks.

But not so our God.

Earthly kings and potentates must be approached only with great ceremony. Their pitiful dignity and grandeur must not be imposed upon. Guards must stand before the massive gateway; soldiers must guard the palace doors.

Even the great Luther excused himself when in the presence of the young emperor, Charles the Fifth, and all his dignitaries, lest he offend court etiquette in some manner.

But the Most High requires no introduction to any of His subjects, however humble. He knows them all. He insists upon no parade or trumpet blare to prepare us to be ushered into His audience-chamber. He is always ready. His great heart feels the first faint throb of our own, and He takes loving cognizance of all our tears. The poorest of us may come as unannounced and unheralded as the richest prince. Like David we may say with deepest gratitude, "I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me."

Then there are dark days of bereavement and affliction. The longing to see once again the loved forms that have gone from us, becomes unutterable. The eyes have spent their tears, and the eyelids are hot and dry. A sense of utter loneliness steals over us, until we cry out in anguish of soul. The last sad scene of parting is reviewed again and again. There is the same familiar rocker; there on the center-table lies the well-marked Bible.

Then we try to think of the resurrection morning. There is comfort in that—only it seems so far away! But we drop upon our knees, and pour out all our grief and sorrow in the sympathizing ear of Him who wept at the grave of Lazarus, and we are comforted. "A little talk with Jesus" is the one panacea in hours like this.

But all our days are not spent in grief, thank God. There are more days of sun than of shadow—more hours of gladness than of grief. Shall we forget to thank Him?

Some great and unexpected joy comes to us. O, how our hearts swell with gratitude! We are sure that we shall never complain or murmur again. Then because we are so happy, we hurry out to find some friend, so that he may share our joy with us. We confide to him our newly found happiness; but we are astonished at the cold and averted looks and unsympathizing words and manner, and we do not care to finish our recital. We are grieved and sad, and half the joy is gone already.

And this was the friend whose sympathy was so sincere when we were in trouble. But he has evidently not learned to "rejoice with them that do rejoice," because this part of the injunction is very much harder to practise than that which commands us to "weep with them that weep." Can it be possible that there is a tinge of envy in the bosom of this our friend? Let us hope not; he simply can not understand.

We turn away a little sadly, and walk home, while the words of the wise man ring in our ears, about a stranger not intermeddling with our joy.

And then we remember, with a sense of shame, that we have actually forgotten to pour out our offering of thanks to the One who is never a stranger. He has been so good to us! In joy or in sorrow He is always the same. He knows—yes, and He loves to see His children happy. I believe He always grants our every desire, just as far as He can without injury to us—or to some other.

But did you know that it is quite possible to have the path of life made too smooth for us—for our best good?

"Too smooth?"—Yes.

Do you remember that large, hollow, tube-like affair on the top of our mighty engines which do duty on all our railroads? Do you know what that hollow cylinder contains?—Nothing but dry, hot sand. But that sand is very useful. Why?

Sometimes the track is too smooth, and the massive wheels slide, and turn over and over, without going forward or drawing a pound. But when the dry sand is showered on the track, the monstrous wheels respond at once—they take hold, and the work is done.

Well, I think it is quite as necessary, sometimes, for the great Engineer to sand our track. We are not making any progress. The wheels go around in vain. Everything is altogether too smooth. We are not drawing a pound. There is dust on the lid of our Bible, and on the floor of our closet.

Then of a sudden, there comes a change. Our business is not so prosperous. Some mischievous tongue has been wagging, and we are aggrieved, and our vanity is wounded. We meet with loss on every hand. Perhaps we are stricken with sudden sickness. The grim messenger calls at our door. Ah, how earnestly, how sincerely, we pray! The sand is being used, and how quickly it is effective!

O, it is better to ask God to walk with us, however rough the way, than to ask Him to smooth the difficulties all out of our path.

O, how thankful I am that He forgives and loves us freely, in spite of mistakes and selfishness and folly! Shall we not thank Him hourly for His mercies?

We need not always kneel. He accepts our gratitude before we speak the words. But O, the privilege, the unspeakable blessedness, of communion with our God, where no eye but His can see us, and when no heart but His can understand!

Ah, prayer—secret prayer—it is the life of the soul!

HOME AND FIRESIDE

I'll Try

You will? Well, that's a good resolve. Now keep it, little man; In everything you undertake, Just do the best you can. One never knows what he can do, Until he sets to work. If you should try and sometimes fail, 'Tis better than to shirk.

All honor to the earnest boy Who tries to do his best. A heart of principle may beat Beneath a time-worn vest. Not always does the outward man Reveal the hidden worth That goes to make up character, And forms the brave of earth.

The world has need of heroes who Will struggle for the truth; And you, my boy, may find a place; There's room for age and youth— Yes, always room for those who try To speed the glorious day When evil, overcome by good, Shall yield to right the sway.

"I'll try" has conquered many a time, And conquer yet it will; Tho hard the task and slow the work, The brave will struggle still. For God, whose word is ever sure, Directs the power of right; And those who look to Him for aid, Shall conquer through His might. —Selected.

STANDARD HOUSEHOLD LUBRICANT

Don't let your tools get rusty.

Standard Household Lubricant

In the Handy Oiling Can

Preserves tools from rust; keeps them sharp and clean.

Standard Household Lubricant never corrodes, gums or turns rancid. The best oil in the world for a sewing machine or a lawn mower, a go-cart or a gun—anything about the house that needs oiling.

Get the can with the patented nozzle attached. No risk of breaking. No dripping to soil the fingers.

Dealers Everywhere

STANDARD OIL COMPANY (Incorporated) 461 Market Street San Francisco

Success with the Small Books

By Editor

SEVERAL hundred copies of the new prospectus, containing samples of a list of beautiful character-building books for the home, are now in use, and the reports indicate excellent success on the part of those who are thus introducing these books to the people at this book-buying season of the year.

"Satan has two plans with reference to the rising generation," writes one of our general agents. "The first is to prohibit them from reading anything; and if that does not succeed, to fill their minds and hearts with impure literature. We can not prevent such literature from being written or circulated or read, but we may counteract its influence by placing good literature in the homes of the people." This is what an army of workers are now doing with the handy new prospectus. Some recent reports are as follows:

7 days, 83 orders, value $55.75. 7 hours, 18 orders, value $8.00—"I like my prospectus very much." 4 days, 49 orders, value $38.75—"I took an order in every home I visited except three." 12 hours, 21 orders—"The Lord has blessed me in my work."

This last report is for the following books: 3 "New Testament Primer," cloth; 2 "New Testament Primer," board; 1 "Best Stories," board; 1 "Bible Child Life;" 1 "Making Home Happy;" 3 "His Glorious Appearing," cloth; 2 "Paradise Home," cloth; 5 "Paradise Home," board; 3 "Steps to Christ," cloth. — 21

In addition to the books here listed, the prospectus has samples for— House We Live In Uncle Ben's Cobblestones Elo the Eagle Story of Pitcairn Advance Guard of Missions Making Home Peaceful Mount of Blessing Christ Our Saviour

The prospectus is so arranged that you can select samples for the books you wish to handle, taking out the others.

A new home workers' booklet describing this handy prospectus (the price of which is $1.00), and explaining in detail just how to sell these books successfully, will gladly be sent you by your tract society. It gives full list, prices, discounts, suggestive introduction, and just the help you will need to have a part in placing these books in the homes of your neighbors. Write for a copy.

Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, Cal. Kansas City, Missouri Portland, Oregon Calgary, Alberta, Canada

A New Bible

By Editor

YOU may be planning to have a new Bible for yourself, or to make a present of one to a member of your family, or to a friend. Our carefully selected stock of Bibles, the result of more than twenty-five years of supplying good Bibles by wholesale and retail, is almost ideally described in our “Good Service Bibles” catalog. It so clearly explains the bindings, illustrates the types, and groups the classes of Bibles, that you can feel safe in making selection without seeing the Bible itself. It describes that most popular Bible, “The Sealskin,” No. 03248x. You will want to see this, and also descriptions of its many others. Send card for Bible catalog, and if you are unable to make selection from it, write description to us, and we will gladly assist you.

Pacific Press Publishing Association

Mountain View, California

Kansas City, Mo. Calgary, Alberta, Canada Portland, Ore.

Blameless Rebuke

“Be thou blameless of what thou rebukest. He that cleanseth a blot with blotted fingers maketh a greater blot.”

A Bee in His Bonnet

“The man with a bee in his bonnet is a more useful citizen than one with a wasp in his tongue.”

Abyssinian New Year

By Anol Grundset

THE Abyssinian new year has recently begun, their new year beginning the 11th of September, except when leap-year occurs, when it begins the 12th of September. They count thirty days to the month, and this making only 360 days in twelve months, they have an extra month, the thirteenth month, which is called “Pagumien,” and generally has five days, but in leap-year has six days. They also have a difference of several years in the reckoning. While we say September 11, 1912, it is to them New Year’s of 1905, or “Mescherem;” that is, January 1, 1905. Most of the people, however, know little about what year or time we have, neither do they care to trouble about that, as all such things, which they term wisdom, belong to the priests, and the people await their news and orders from them. Few of the common people, when asked, can give their age, showing the ignorance of the people in general, all knowledge being supposed to be centered in the hands of the priests and teachers of the church.

The new year is opened with St. Bartholomew’s and John the Baptist’s feasts. For nearly a month previous, the boys of the villages have been gathering dried shrubbery and sticks, which they tie up in a long oblong form; and on this mentioned evening, in every village can be seen a long marching trail of boys and older ones carrying these lighted fire bundles, and yelling “Hoi! Hoi!” They march around the village, to the village church. When through marching about here and there, they all gather at one place, all throw down the remains of their burning brush, and then start to jump over the burning fire. It is a spectacle to see these half naked people, in their feasting and excitement, jump through the flames; and it reminds one that we are not wholly separated from the jungle and wilds, tho it is all done in the name of Christianity.

The next morning, the people arise very early, and all are supposed to go through a sort of purification; all who can do so, at some place of water, others in their homes. All are expected to wash from head to foot. Later the people all gather at the village church, where the priests then announce the coming feast-days. For the whole year they are too numerous to mention at one time. I might remark that the Abyssinians fast about half of the year, and feast the other half. The longest fasts are a forty-day fast before Easter, a forty-day fast before Peter and Paul feast, fifteen days for the Mary feast, etc. There are fasts of shorter durations too many to name. Feasts also are plentiful. There is a feast to Mary about every month, to Michael, St. Gabriel, St. George, Tecle Haimanote, Ball Gebre Munfus Kudos, etc., until it does seem that the people are overburdened with feasts as well as fasts, feasts being also reminders that priests await their share in the holiday celebrations.

Another very interesting thing is to see, in the early morning hour, all the people bringing their live stock, as oxen, sheep, goats, donkeys, etc., to the churchyard, to march around the church a certain number of times. Thus even the beasts begin the new year with the mass of the village priests.

Thousands of the native people here can not read, which is the prime cause of their ignorance. Dear reader, thank God for the open Book, the Bible, and pray that the truth-laden Word, earth’s greatest and most effective disseminator of truth and remover of darkness, may find its way to Abyssinia’s millions. More and more every year are learning to read.

I am glad to be able to tell you that already three camel loads of Bibles and Protestant literature have crossed the borders into Abyssinia, and two mules loaded with Galla literature have left Asmara for Galla land. Thus a beginning has been made, which we hope shall spread mightily, that the inhabitants of this benighted land also may be numbered among “all the ends of the earth,” that “shall see the salvation of our God.”

With greetings to coworkers in home and foreign lands, ANOL GRUNDSET. Asmara, East Africa, September 20, 1912.

Our Work and Workers

By Editor

(Summarized from our exchanges)

Foreign

SIX in Padang, Sumatra, have received baptism.

ONE church in West Africa has been dedicated.

FORTY-TWO in North Central China have been baptized.

FOUR more conversions are reported in the Armenian Mission Field.

A CHURCH of sixteen members has been organized in Panama City, Canal Zone.

SIXTY-NINE persons have been added to our church-membership in Chile during the past year.

PASTOR G. W. CAVINESS tells of the baptism of seventeen individuals at Monterey, Mexico.

IN Queensland, Australia, twenty-four have been baptized, and thirty-one have yielded to the message.

IN Barcelona, Spain, ten have taken their stand on the side of truth, and in Cartagena three have been baptized.

WE learn of the organization of the first church in Ecuador, in Quito, its capital, with a membership of twelve.

THE rite of baptism has been administered to ten converts in Southern Italy, and a church organization effected.

A NEW sanitarium at Stanborough Park, Watford, England, has been erected, and was recently opened and dedicated.

A REPORT from Finland states that about seventy have been added to our church there as the result of the last season’s work.

A REPORT from New Zealand states that eleven have been baptized, and thirty others have identified themselves with the message.

IN South Australia sixteen persons have received baptism, and thirty-six other converts are reported. One church has been organized and one Sabbath-school.

DURING the first eight months of the year, fifty-three persons united with our churches in the vicinity of London, England, and about fifty others have begun to walk in the light of the message. The net gain in the British Union for the last quarter was 95.

TWO churches in Java have been dedicated, and baptism has been administered to twelve persons. Ten at Singapore, Straits Settlements, have received baptism; and a third of the population of Lord Howe Island have yielded allegiance to the truth.

WE note that twenty-eight individuals in South Africa have recently been baptized, and there are ninety-eight candidates for baptism in the various mission schools. One Sabbath-school has been organized, and at King William’s Town six more have decided to cast in their lot with God’s remnant people.

IN Korea, during the last year, over one hundred persons have received this rite. A report from Keizan, Korea, states that since the inception of the truth there about a year ago, a church of thirty-seven baptized members has been raised up, and a Sabbath-school of over fifty, besides quite a number who are studying.

To Mission Fields

BROTHER FRANK F. MILLS recently sailed from San Francisco for Korea, where he will act as superintendent for the new Korean printing-office, in Seoul. Brother Frank Raley sailed the first week in August for Jamaica, where he will work in the West Indian Union Conference office at Riversdale. On August

27, Brother S. G. White and wife, of California, sailed from Seattle, Washington, for Shanghai, to join the missionary staff in China. W. Seiler and wife and Brother H. Palm sailed from Hamburg, August 29, for the Victoria Nyanza Mission, Africa; and Brother E. B. Phillips joined the same boat at Southampton, en route to the British East African Mission Field.

Mission Donations

By Editor

THE donations to missions reported through this paper are a very small part of what are sent directly to the Mission Board at headquarters, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. For these general funds the SIGNS OF THE TIMES simply offers itself as a channel for the accommodation of its readers.

Sometimes we have special things to lay before our readers, directly connected with this paper. Some of the famine calls have been such and special objects in India and China. So also is Our Coöperation Fund. Since our last report we have received the following for some parts of the great needy field. May the donors find fruit in the kingdom of God.

India Mission


Previously Reported	$295.35
Mrs. B. C. S.	2.00
Through “Our Little Friend”	14.68
Total	$312.03

Japan


Previously Reported	$23.80
Mrs. B. C. S.	1.00
O. Johnson	2.05
Total	$26.85

Burma


K. V. W., a friend	$5.00

Africa


Previously Reported	$1.00
W. Butler	1.00
G. B. S. (for our Moko minister)	4.00
Total	$6.00

Dried Fruit Fund for India


W. W. Murray	$.50
Lydia Larson	1.00
D. W. Witter	2.00
W. F. White	.50
Lee Hartman	1.00
Total	$5.00

China Mission and Press


Previously Reported	$317.42
Through “Our Little Friend”	3.85
Indiana, Z. Topping	10.00
F. A. Allen	10.05
Carrie Allen	1.00
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Doty	1.00
Mrs. A. E. Slater	.25
James B. Donald	.50
Mrs. B. C. S.	2.00
Total to November 1	$346.07

Parowax

(Pure Refined Paraffine)

Washes clothes cleaner and whiter. Cannot possibly hurt the daintiest fabric.

Parowax has the cleansing power of naphtha and benzine. It is nature's concentrated cleansing force refined into pure white wax.

Just add a little shaved Parowax to the soap in the wash-boiler. It does away with all the hard, destructive rubbing on the washboard.

Parowax is also invaluable for sealing jellies and preserves.

STANDARD OIL COMPANY

(California) 461 Market St. San Francisco

Just try Parowax. Pound and half-pound cartons. Grocers and department stores everywhere.

Conversions

Conversions are reported in the home country as follows: Massachusetts, 8; New York, 19; Rhode Island, 20; Arizona, 6; Nebraska, 17; Missouri, 50; Kansas, 4; Delaware, 23; New Jersey, about 20; Pennsylvania, 38; Virginia, 4; Minnesota, 33; South Dakota, 6; Iowa, 9; Illinois, 9; Michigan, 11; Indiana, 7; Washington, 84; Oregon, 34; Montana, 12; Idaho, 16; Canada, 11; Georgia, 130; Louisiana, 42; Kentucky, 11; Tennessee, 62; Arkansas, 27; Texas, 7; New Mexico, 5; Oklahoma, 4; Colorado, 43.

Baptisms: Texas, 5; Oklahoma, 35; Louisiana, 18; Tennessee, 41; Kentucky, 5; Alabama, 12; Georgia, 121; North Carolina, 10; Florida, 8; South Carolina, 10; Canada, 10; Washington, 23; Oregon, 9; Idaho, 14; Indiana, 14; Michigan, 58; Wisconsin, 26; Illinois, 15; Iowa, 11; Minnesota, 35; South Dakota, 4; Pennsylvania, 10; Virginia, 24; Maryland, 10; West Virginia, 13; Ohio, 3; New Jersey, 4; Delaware, 10; Missouri, 83; Nebraska, 8; Wyoming, 7; Kansas, 59; Rhode Island, 5; New York, 65; Maine, 12; Colorado, 30; California, 18; Arizona, 41. Several among the Jewish people of the East have accepted Christ.

Additions to Church-Membership: Colorado, 8; Arizona, 10; Rhode Island, 45; Connecticut, 20; Nebraska, 6; Pennsylvania, 7; Oregon, 26; Washington, 8.—(The baptisms above are also to be counted as additions to church-membership.)

Churches and Companies Organized: Louisiana, 1; Kentucky, 1; Saskatchewan, Canada, 1; Washington, 2; Indiana, 1; Wisconsin, 1; Georgia, 1; Missouri, 1; Massachusetts, 2; Colorado, 1.

Sabbath-Schools Organized: Wyoming, 2; Kansas, 1; Missouri, 1; Pennsylvania, 2; Iowa, 1; Michigan, 2; Manitoba, Canada, 1.

Churches Dedicated: Michigan, 1; Indiana, 1; Rhode Island, 1.

Continue reading: IN THREE DAYS