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Signs of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 23.

THE LESSON OF THE RUINS
Earlier text: APPLES OF GOLD

BAPTISTS IN PUERTO RICO.

By A. B. Rudd

[By Missionary A. B. Rudd, in Baptist Argus.]
BAPTIST mission work in Southern Puerto Rico dates from Jan. 30, 1899. Already, Ponce had been selected as the most suitable place for headquarters. Not until July 15 could a suitable hall for services be secured, and on the following day (July 16) our first public service was held, with an attendance of about 30. The hall is well located, and at the beginning seated about 130. Gradually the attendance grew, and now the hall, tho seating 180 (a partition having been removed), is often filled to overflowing.
On November 21 a church was organized, with 14 members. The present membership is 55, of which 53 have been received by baptism and 2 by experience. For the first few months our Sunday-school was small and gave but little promise of growth; but all of a sudden it ran up to something like 150. Two of the five classes are now taught by native members, who were baptized only a few months ago. In Adjuntas, a town of some 2,500 inhabitants, and center of a large and densely-populated district, about 18 miles inland from Ponce, we have held services at irregular intervals since last August, with encouraging results. During a part of this time a most interesting class of children for Bible study, varying in attendance from 30 to 50, has been kept up by Mrs. Rudd, Mrs. Duggand, and Mrs. Tiller. Within a few weeks we hope to baptize some six or eight of the many candidates who have asked for baptism, and so form there the nucleus for another church.
A few weeks ago a good beginning was made in Yanco, a town of 7,000 inhabitants, 20 miles from Ponce, and connected with it by rail.
For several months we have been holding services in three thickly-settled country places, where the outlook is good.
Early in August Mr. C. A. Tiller, a business man of Brooklyn, and an earnest Christian worker, settled in Ponce, and from the first took a lively interest in the work of our mission. His knowledge of Spanish, and his long experience with the Latin races (he was born in Central America), have enabled him to render most valuable help in the work. Since January 1 he has been associated with us as missionary evangelist.
In November Mrs. J. P. Duggand, of North Carolina, eminently fitted by nature, grace, and experience for missionary work, came to us, and has rendered most efficient service among the women and children, both in Ponce and Adjuntas, dividing the time between the two places.
We are contending against Romanism, Spiritualism, and stolid indifference—three tough antagonists. The first, tho dormant for a while, is now beginning to assert itself; the second holds distinctive sway over thousands on the island; the third meets us at every turn, and presents, perhaps, the greatest obstacle to the progress of the truth.
The outlook for the work is decidedly bright. In spite of contending forces, crowds come to hear the Word. We have gone slowly, to avoid mistakes. Not a third of those who have asked for baptism have been received. We realize that we are doing foundation work, and would be careful how we do it.
Ponce, Puerto Rico, April 11, 1900.

A SMILE.

By Phillips Brooks

ALONG the noisy city ways, And in this rattling city car, On this, the dreariest of days, Perplexed with business, fret, and jar, When suddenly a young, sweet face Looked on my petulance and pain, And lent it something of its grace, And charmed it into peace again.
The day was just as bleak without, My neighbors just as cold within, And truth was just as full of doubt, The world was just as full of sin; But in the light of that young smile The world grew pure, the heart grew warm, And sunshine gleamed a little while Across the darkness of the storm.
I did not care to seek her name; I only said, "God bless thy life, Thy sweet young grace be still the same, Or happy maid or happy wife." —Phillips Brooks.

SOW THE SEED AND WAIT.

By Mrs. Parrie L. H. Roberson

FRIEND, to how many poor souls are you sending the SIGNS OF THE TIMES at your own expense? "None," did you say? Why not? Did you say it costs too much, and you can't afford it? Are you quite sure?
I am very well acquainted with a family dependent on daily labor for bread, who work hard with their hands in the service of others to earn money with which to buy the necessaries of life; yet this family find it possible to send the SIGNS OF THE TIMES as a messenger of truth to several dear souls for whom Jesus died.
The plan is to send the paper for a term of three months, which means an expense of only twenty-five cents for the good of each soul or family of souls to which it is sent. That twenty-five cents might be spent for a piece of ribbon or lace, or it might be used in buying candy, chewing gum, or some other unnecessary or hurtful thing.
While on a visit to relatives in Western Oregon last summer, our family became slightly acquainted with a few people who live out in a picturesque little valley nestled among the dark green mountains of the Coast Range. When they returned home, $2.25 was spent in sending the SIGNS for a term of three months to nine of these families. Letters were sent ahead as an introduction, and, judging from replies received from some of them, the effort in their behalf has not been unappreciated.
One dear old lady writes: "The SIGNS is all the Sunday-school or church I have, and I do enjoy reading it so much, and am so glad to get it."
Another says: "The SIGNS is the best paper we ever read. We like it very much."
One man writes: "Just as soon as I can get the money I am going to subscribe for the SIGNS and Review, and I never will let my subscription expire while I live. I feel lost without them. Surely the publishers of those papers have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in their hearts."
Again he says, "I don't want any more trashy reading in the house." And he goes on to say that he wants the Youth's Instructor and Little Friend for his children.
Dear friends, God loves all these dear people just as much as He loves you or me, and He has graciously given us, through the instrumentality of others, just what He wishes us to pass along to those yet unblessed. There are rich blessings all along the way for those who love to labor for the good of others. Do not say that you can not afford it, for God never asks us to do what we can not afford to do; but He asks us to labor for the good of one another, and in so doing we are co-laborers with Christ. So let us not withhold our hands from sowing the precious seed.
"Sow, tho the rock repel thee, In its cold and sterile pride; Some cleft there may be riven, Where the little seed may hide. Fear not, for some will flourish; And, tho the tares abound, Like the willows by the waters Will the scattered grain be found."
MRS. PARRIE L. H. ROBERSON. St. Helena, Cal.

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

A CHURCH of thirteen members has been organized at Phillipsburg, Pa., by Brother C. Meleen.
THE addition of eight members to the church at Enyart, Mo., is reported to the Record by Brother H. K. Willis.
ON the 6th inst. four persons were baptized at Lake Eunice, Minn. One other candidate was unavoidably absent.
AT a general meeting recently held at Cliff Island, Me., eight persons were baptized, and twelve members were added to the church at that place.
ON the 5th inst. Brother M. H. Gregory baptized seven persons at McLoud, O. T. He also reports the baptism of two candidates at Claremore.
TWO members were added, by baptism, to the Swedish Church at Elm Dale, Minn., at a recent ordinance service conducted by Brother F. Johnson.
AT Shunk, Pa., where Brother Lee S. Wheeler had labored about three weeks, ten persons were recently baptized. A number of others had accepted the message borne, but deferred baptism to a future occasion.
ON the 6th ult. the new educational institution known as Woodland Academy, at Bethel, Wood Co., Wis., was dedicated. There was a very large attendance, some coming in wagons a distance of fifty miles.
BROTHER C. H. JONES, president of the Pacific Press Publishing Co., left Oakland, Cal., on the evening of the 20th inst., for Portland, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Wash., to attend the camp-meetings at those places.
THE Keystone Gleaner says: "During the past six months Brother L. Schmidt, a canvasser, working in this State [Pennsylvania] and Western New York, has taken more than 300 subscriptions for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, besides selling from 200 to 400 each week."
A REPORT from Brother E. A. Merrell, of Philadelphia, notes the baptism of fifteen persons a few weeks ago, and an addition of eighteen to the church. He adds that the work of the Lord is being greatly blessed in that city; that many people are asking for Bible-readings at their homes.
UNDER the head of "Good News," the Oklahoma Gleaner says: "The Lord has worked for His cause in Oklahoma City. The people have shown how much they want the sanitarium by going down into their pockets and raising the money to buy the site. It is a beautiful hill in the north part of the city. The owner made a heavy donation. The site contains sixty lots that are worth at present prices $100 each, but he gets less than half of that in cash. A few men gave $100 each; many gave $50. All of this was made up without our people giving one dollar. The city also gives free water, free sewer, and lights the grounds with electricity." Brother Butler is ready with the means to make things move.
But the way is open for others to have a part in this great and good work. Dr. Kellogg has headed the list, with a donation of $1,000 in health foods, which will sell very fast."
BROTHER D. NETTLETON, who recently went to the Dakota Conference to labor, has been holding meetings near Brown Valley, close to the Minnesota line. He finds that our canvassers have left a good impression, and a good interest to hear the truth. At the time of his report to the Worker, he had baptized four candidates, and some others had decided to obey the Word.
CONCERNING the work in Ontario, Brother F. D. Starr writes: "I have recently held meetings with our churches at St. Thomas, London, Brantford, Hamilton, Hagersville, Toronto, Southwold, and other points. At Hagersville and Southwold we have companies of Indian Sabbath-keepers. Near Shannonville an interest is also being awakened among the Indians. Also at Ingersoll a good work is being done."
THE new board of directors of Healdsburg (Cal.) College have recommended that the educational board of California Conference select a superintendent of church-school work, whose duty it shall be to organize and promote church schools; also to act as field agent to represent the interests of the college. The board also decided to hold a summer institute for the benefit of church-school teachers. A further decision was "that a paper be published by the college, which will serve as a medium to more thoroughly organize and establish the principles of Christian education in the home and in the church schools."
A REPORT in the Indicator, from Brother S. B. Whitney, says that ten are keeping the Sabbath of the Lord as a result of meetings held at Canastota, N. Y. The report further says: "In anticipation of the summer's campaign, as our short-term subscriptions for the SIGNS have expired, long-term subscriptions have been solicited, and in most cases, successfully. Including these, the number of SIGNS in the aggregate which have been circulated by actual subscriptions, amounts to about three thousand. In addition to these, many have been given to the poor, and a large number have been taken from the rack in the depot."
OUR work is essentially an educational work. Being such, the admonition of the apostle to Timothy is recognized as especially applicable to it: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings; for they will increase unto more ungodliness:"
"Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." This is the character and the purpose of the educational work we are aiming to do,—a work that will stand the fire; for "every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1 Cor. 3:13.
ACCORDING to the report of the treasurer of the Foreign Mission Board, the donations to missions from all sources are on the increase, and this is especially so of the first-day offerings. One reason for this is that many of our people have adopted the plan of giving ten cents per week to this fund, and the result has been so gratifying that this systematic plan of making donations is presented to our people as a sure means of relieving the Foreign Mission Board of their financial embarrassment, and giving the laborers the wages due them. It is asserted that the dime-a-week plan, if faithfully lived up to, will do away with the many calls made for special necessities. It is not expected, however, that this will be enough for foreign aggressive work, or that those who are able to do more will be limited by the plan. There is danger that some who ought to make larger donations, will feel that, having given their dime a week, their duty is done. The real value of such a plan is that it encourages the regular donation of a sum within the reach of nearly all, and in the aggregate gives a fund on which the Foreign Mission Board can, at all times, rely.

PERIODICALS WANTED.

CLEAN late copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for missionary work. Address, post-paid, Box 57, Seward, Neb.

NOTICE.

By Editor

JOHN CURTIS requests that no more papers be sent to him at Tallahassee, Fla., as he will soon leave the State.

LESSON IV.—SABBATH, JUNE 16, 1900.

THE CHRISTIAN'S TREASURE-HOUSE AND PROVIDER.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 6:19-34, R.V.

19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through 20 and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves 21 do not break through nor steal; for where thy treasure is, 22 there will thy heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of 23 light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, 24 how great is the darkness! No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God 25 and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the 26 food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather 27 into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not 28 ye of much more value than they? And which of you by 29 being anxious can add one cubit unto his stature? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the 30 field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not 31 arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the 32 oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 33 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, 34 What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these 33 things. But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow; for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
[The best help on this lesson is "Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing."]

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
  1. Where does Jesus warn us not to place our treasures? Verse 19. (1 Tim. 6:17-19.)
  2. Where is a safe place of deposit? Verse 20.
  3. What is the result of the deposit of our treasures in any place? Verse 21.
  4. What is the light of the body? What is the effect of having the attention undividedly and clearly centered upon God? Verse 22. Note 1.
  5. What is the result of an evil or perverted vision? If that which alone can bring us light is perverted, what will follow? Verse 23.
  6. How is this principle further illustrated? How many different masters can we serve? Verse 24. (James 4:4; 1:8; 4:8.)
  7. What practical conclusion does Jesus draw from this? What is the most important? Verse 25. Note 2.
  8. What illustration does He give of trust and confidence? How are we regarded as compared with the fowls? Verse 26. (Job 38:41; Ps. 104:27, 28.)
  9. How much will our thoughts add to our stature or change our age? Verse 27.
  10. For what else are we not to be anxious? What example of trust and beauty is given here? Verses 28, 29. Note 3.
  11. What may we conclude from these lessons of God's care for us? Verse 30.
  12. What, then, should not be anxious questions in our lives? Verse 31.
  13. Of whom are such questions characteristic? What great Provider knows all our temporal needs? Verse 32. Note 4.
  14. What is our first duty? What is our Father's promise? Verse 33. Note 5. (1 Kings 3:11-13.)
  15. What, then, is our duty as regards future evil? What evil is always sufficient? Verse 34. Note 6.

NOTES.

1. The lamp of the body.—The body, with its passions, is naturally dark; its light comes alone through the eye. The single, clear eye gives correct ideas. The perverted eye distorts all outward things to the dark body. So if our spiritual vision is single (seeking only God's glory), clear (trusting Him as He declares Himself to be), His light will flood the soul and enlighten the dark body. But if this vision is perverted by sin and selfishness, it will further pervert the naturally base passions and make blacker the natural darkness within. 2. Therefore.—The word "therefore" shows this verse to be a conclusion from previous verses. Jesus anticipated that souls would be tempted to believe that we can not get clothing or food unless we serve the world or ourselves. His effort in all this instruction is to lead men to the higher service alone, that of God. Whatever we do, do it as unto God, and leave results with Him. "Take no thought," is better expressed in the Revised Version, "Be not anxious." The word means anxious, troubled, worried thought. So also in verses 27, 28, 31, 34. 3. "Consider the lilies;" they teach many lessons. Growing in the soil or decay of earth, they turn their faces to the light, and God through them transmutes the base soil of earth into glorious beauty. So let God's will be the first, and our character will adorn whatever physical clothes God may in His providence give us. 4. After all these things.—It is the Gentiles, nations of the world, who seek such things, whose hopes are only temporal, earthly. The children of God should have higher objects. 5. All these things.—This lesson does not in any way indorse laziness. The Christian will be diligent and industrious. Rom. 12:11; 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:10-12. 6. Be not therefore anxious.—Borrow no evil of the future. God gives us to-day strength for to-day's duties, trials, sorrows, evils. We can borrow no grace for future troubles. How foolish it is, then, to borrow a trouble which we can not meet! The day brings sufficient evil and care, but there is always grace for the day. God is a present help in trouble.

LESSON XII.—SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1900.

THE FEEDING OF FIVE THOUSAND.

Lesson Scripture, John 6:5-14, R.V.
5 Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto Him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not 8 sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto 9 Him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and 10 two fishes; but what are these among so many? Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, He distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the 12 fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled, He saith unto His disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which 13 remain over, that nothing be lost. So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five 14 barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. 14 When therefore the people saw the sign which He did, they said, This is of a truth the Prophet that cometh into the world.
NOTE.—The miracle of the loaves is the one miracle that is recorded by all four evangelists. Parallel accounts are found in Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; and Luke 9:10-17. Similar miracles of Old Testament times are seen in the feeding of Elijah by the ravens (1 Kings 17:6); in the miraculous increase of the widow's meal and oil (1 Kings 17:9-16); in the feeding of one hundred men by Elisha with twenty loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44); and the long-continued miracle of the manna (Ex. 16:14-35).
Golden Text: "Give us this day our daily bread." Matt. 6:11.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) As Jesus was sitting with His disciples upon the mountain, whom did He see? What question did He ask of Philip? V. 5. (2) Why did He ask Philip this question? Why was it not for His own information that He asked it? V. 6. (3) What seemingly insurmountable obstacle did Philip see? V. 7. (4) What information had Andrew to give? What perplexed question did he ask? Vs. 8, 9. (5) What command did Jesus give? What kind of place was this where the people were commanded to sit? What was the number of the multitude? V. 10. (6) What did Jesus first do after taking the loaves which the boy had brought? What did He then do with the bread and fishes? How long did the distribution continue? V. 11. (7) When they had all eaten all they wished, what command did Jesus give? What reason did He give for directing this to be done? V. 12. (8) How much was taken up by the disciples? V. 13. (9) What did this miracle lead the people to say? V. 14.

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ANNUAL MEETING.

The third annual meeting of the California Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association will be held at Crystal Springs, near St. Helena, California, Wednesday, June 20, 1900, at the hour of 12 o'clock M., for the election of members of the board of directors, and the transaction of any other business which may properly come before the meeting. J. A. BURDEN, President.
E. E. PARLIN, Secretary.

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By Editor

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Expiration of Subscription.—All papers are discontinued at the expiration of the time paid for. Notification will be sent several weeks before date of expiration, thus enabling you to renew in ample time to secure unbroken files. Please be prompt, as we can not always furnish back numbers.
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Important.—Use a separate sheet for SIGNS orders, separate for other papers, separate for books, for tracts, etc., and if you address the editor, use a separate sheet. All can be sent in one envelope, and the money all sent in one order, but write each kind of business on a separate sheet. In this way each order can be handed to the proper clerk and filled at once.

TO CONTRIBUTORS.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a purely missionary enterprise. For this reason it has felt free to ask for contributions from its friends. It pays nothing for contributions, either prose or poetry, unless solicited by the editor, and then the fact is stated when the articles are asked for. This is a plan rarely followed, but sometimes deemed expedient.
Articles Desired.—Those which set forth in the Spirit of Christ the great saving truths of God, short and to the point. It is better to treat one important truth clearly, in a short article, than many points vaguely in a long one. We desire no caustic, critical productions, which might minister to personal pride or pleasure, but can not save souls.
How Prepared.—Write plainly, with typewriter or ink, with wide space between the lines, to freely admit of editing, writing of subheads, etc. Write on one side of the sheet only. Sign the name to the manuscript, as it becomes oftentimes separated from accompanying letter. Anonymous contributions are not used, whatever their merit. If the writer does not wish his name to appear, let him furnish a pseudonym for the public. But we wish the name.
Manuscript Returned.—We will return all unused manuscript desired if stamp and directions are inclosed. We are forced sometimes to return good manuscript mainly for three reasons: (a) Sometimes the articles are too long; (b) sometimes we have a number on the same subject; (c) sometimes our plans are such that an article can not be used till it is out of date. We therefore hope that no offense will be taken by those who have freely contributed their best thought if their productions are returned. When we receive so much matter, we can not use all.
NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to "explain" a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid," also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.

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The Sentinel of Liberty

By Editor

That grand pioneer specialist in Religious Liberty lines, the American Sentinel, comes to us under a new name in part, a new dress, and from a new place. Its new name is The Sentinel of Liberty. Its new dress is a neat old-style ten-point type on good paper. Its new place is Chicago, 324 Dearborn Street. Its first issue under the above conditions is dated May 10, 1900. Its editors are L. A. Smith, who has had charge of it for some time in the past, and C. P. Bollman, formerly on its staff. Under these men, by God's blessing, we are sure that the Sentinel will be safely and wisely conducted. The first number under the new name is excellent. Its leading articles are "The Sentinel of Liberty," "Liberty," "Sunday Enforcement in Pennsylvania," "What is Liberty?" "An Erroneous Definition of Religious Liberty," "Power from on High," "A Tale of Two Nations," "A Question of Principle," etc. It is full of good instruction. Its price is only one dollar, and no one can afford to be ignorant of what the Sentinel of Liberty is continually giving to the world. May it ever give its trumpet a certain sound, and abundantly prosper.
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