Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 41. (10/28/1889)

Signs of the Times

Oct 28, 1889

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1889

Mortifying Abnormal Traits

Covetousness springs from acquisitiveness abnormally developed. Strife comes from abnormal combativeness. Jealousy arises from an abnormal love of approbation. Now if these things exist in the individual, what is his duty?—“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” “If ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” All such abnormal tendencies and traits should be repressed, crucified, slain. It is the abnormal traits of a man's character which unbalance him and lead him to sin, or “miss the mark.” The Spirit of God is given to every child of God, that these traits may all be brought into harmony, that the weaker may be cultivated, the stronger repressed, and that the individual may become a perfect, well-balanced man in Christ Jesus, “of sound mind.”

A PECULIAR PEOPLE.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

In these words is presented before us the work that is required of every follower of Christ. Through the grace of Christ we are to perfect a Christian character. We must not think that we can wait until Christ comes, and that he will then give us the necessary virtue and grace. It is in this life that we are to represent Christ. He gave himself for us that he might cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We are not to continue in sin that grace may abound; we are to cease from transgression. The love of Christ manifested in the infinite sacrifice which he has made on Calvary, is without a parallel. It is sincere, devoted, measureless, and meets the emergency of the sinner’s case, awakening in the heart of those who receive it, respect and reverence for the holy law of God. In the light reflected from Calvary, the law is seen to be holy, just, and good. It cost the life of the Son of God to pay the debt of transgression which the sinner had incurred. It is when the sinner has a realization of the offensive character of sin, a realization to some extent of what it cost the Son of God to redeem him, to give

him another trial and probation, that his heart is filled with love and gratitude, and an earnest faith awakens that works by love and purifies the soul. This faith and love will be seen in the soul of him who is truly converted to God; and he who experiences the love of God, will ever feel humiliation and repentance for past transgression. If Christ had to make so great a sacrifice, if he had to endure such sufferings because of my sin, shall I not bow in humility, and regret that I have inflicted such grief upon his divine soul? Shall I not fear lest I shall crucify the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame? The soul who appreciates the precious gift of salvation will ever behold Christ dying upon the cross, and the language of that soul will be the language of unselfish sorrow that he has ever committed sin to so wound the Son of God. I shall always grieve that I have sinned, and have cost the Man of Calvary so great anguish. I look upon him whom I have pierced, and I mourn that I have transgressed the law of God. When we have a proper appreciation of the sacrifice that has been made in our behalf, we shall not plead for the privilege of continuing in transgression. We shall put away sin, and our hard hearts will melt under the amazing love of Christ for our souls.

With correct views of Jesus, we cannot allow our affections to be placed upon earth and earthly things, but we shall center them upon heaven and heavenly things. The hours of probation that are granted us here, are very precious hours; and we are to take heed unto ourselves, lest at any time our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and the day of God come upon us unawares. If Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall ever keep in view the fact that he is soon coming; and when we consider the infinite sacrifice that has been made in our behalf, we shall have respect unto the recompense of reward.

If we are thinking soberly, if we are living righteously, we shall have a good influence over those that are associated with us; for we shall be breathing in the atmosphere of heaven. And we should think soberly; for we are not here to bless ourselves only, but as sinners and debtors to God, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and help others that they, too, may be saved. If we would have the Lord purify us unto himself, we must do on our part all that we can that iniquity may be removed from us. We must have a living experience with Christ; and if we love God, we shall want to talk of him to others, and lead them to the fountain of life.

It may look like a discouraging task to seek to present the truth in a large city like this, when there are so few to engage in the work. But if there is only one to lift up the banner of truth, a great work may be done. Isn't it something that there is one scattering the divine rays of truth? If there is only one to go to work, let him begin, and let his light shine; and if he walks in the light, he will leave a bright track heavenward. God has given us our intellect that we may use it for him. With all our powers of mind, we should exalt the standard of holiness, exemplifying the truth by our own piety and integrity; and thus we shall teach others how to glorify God.

There are many who desire to forget God; but these will not inherit eternal life. It will be those who walk in harmony with his divine precepts, that God will save in his kingdom. They will often have to endure trial and suffer affliction, but they must remember Jesus, the Lord of glory, who was supreme over all. He was self-sacrificing. He suffered the loss of all things, that he might bring eternal life within our reach. And he has said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

The lawyer who came to Jesus, asked: "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live." Here are stated the conditions of eternal life; but if you are setting your affections on the things of this life, if you are not loving God with all the heart and your neighbor as yourself, you are not fulfilling these conditions, and cannot expect that you will be saved unless you repent and turn to God with all the soul.

I have spent the last forty years of my life in the service of God, and my only regret is that I have not given every hour of my life to his work. I feel that it is my duty to have every power of my being devoted to him. I often wish that the curtain which separates heaven from earth could be swept back, and that we might behold the glories of the eternal world, and have a more vivid sense of the great sacrifice made for man; that we might understand more fully what high claims heaven has upon us. Says the apostle, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

(Concluded next week.)

What You Are

WHAT you are thunders so loud that people cannot hear what you say.

Finding Fault

Finding fault is done on a smaller capital than almost any other kind of business.

Opposition to Ireland’s Proposed University

FROM the Christian Commonwealth, of September 26, it appears that the English do not take kindly to Mr. Balfour’s proposed university for Ireland. They do not fancy an organization composed of four Catholic archbishops, twenty-three bishops, and a certain number of learned members of the professions from various parts of Ireland. It is dangerous. Maynooth is sufficient.

Roman Catholic Growth in Missionary Fields

ROMANISTS were never more alive than now; their priests never labored with greater zeal; they were never more successful in perverting souls. According to the Missionary Annual of 1889, recently published, Rome’s increase in the missionary fields has been great. Since 1886 the increase of Roman Catholic church members in Europe has numbered 118,553 souls; in Asia, 87,113; in America, 486,861; and in Oceanica, 142,807.

Sunday Observance and Human Law

The French Government has recently held a congress, one of the prominent objects of which has been to consider the observance of Sunday in its relation to the social welfare of the people. M. Leon Say, a prominent man and probable future president of the Chamber of Deputies, presided. Delegates were present from other governments. Gladstone and our own President Harrison wrote letters, the latter of whom “took strong grounds in favor of observing the day as one of sacred rest.” So says the Advance. All these are indications of the near fulfillment of the predictions of the word of God. Great is Sunday, and, sad to say, great is human law, and little is divine law, in the eyes of the multitude of them who profess to be followers of Him who said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

Suppressing Abnormal Traits of Character

IT is an evil teaching, however plausible it may seem, that these overweening, irregular tendencies are not to be suppressed. It is true that Bro. A is not to repress, or beat out of existence, Bro. B’s failings. It is true that his efforts to do so would result in stimulating and increasing them. But it is also true that Bro. B ought by the help of the Spirit of God to repress his own abnormal traits of character. And this kind of repressing and crushing out does not increase the trait, but destroys its abnormality, and makes the individual of a sound mind. To adorn such traits is to make sin attractive, or, in the words of Holy Writ, is to “glory in shame.” “But God forbid,” says the apostle, “that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14, margin.

Politicians and Religious Legislation

By Editor

It is doubtless true that but few politicians care anything about a Sunday law, and many have no regard for Sunday. They do not believe in religious legislation. Because of this many secular newspapers argue that there is no danger of religious legislation or religious persecution in this country. But this is not by any means a legitimate conclusion. If politicians were all honest and would declare their principles and vote for them, the conclusion would be correct. But, unfortunately, the average politician has but little or no principles to which to stand. He is moved by policy. He is a time-server. If religionists wish to crystallize into cold law some scheme, and he thinks that its advocacy, even though he knows it to be based on a false principle, will insure his election or increase his popularity, he will enthusiastically champion its cause. This is what Dr. Henson said at the recent Sunday Association meeting in Chicago, reported in the Advance of the 26th ult.:—

“The politicians are beginning to feel a sort of ground swell from below; it makes them shake in their boots, and they will begin to cry presently, ‘Earthquake, earthquake!’ and they will swear by all that is sacred that they always were in favor of the Sabbath. I should not wonder if a certain paper in this city should burn its back numbers and insist that it was always a Sabbatarian.”

Now is the time for those who are true to show their colors, and now is the time for the friends of religious liberty to do earnest and energetic work.

MY PAST.

By William P. McKenzie

I stood before a portal vast, Wherein I knew there lay my past, And memory swung it wide aghast, When, as I bade her let me to my palace room, I thought of robes of honor fair, Garments of praise and jewels rare Worn by my good deeds living there; But lo! I shuddered, for I stood as in a tomb.

The robes, decayed with wet and mold, Like cerements did my deeds enfold, And tarnish lay upon the gold. Within the void I was the only living thing! With new-born shame my face was flushed, Forth to life's day again I rushed, My loud-voiced pride forever hushed; And from my boasted past, myself is all I bring. —William P. McKenzie.

LIVING FOR CHRIST.

By W. S. Danley

"Whose we are, and whom we serve," is one of Paul's pregnant expressions. This apostle never seemed to lose sight of the fact that he belonged to Christ, and ought to serve him with all his powers, even eating and sleeping to his glory. It has not entered equally into the minds of all men that our bodies as well as our souls are the Lord's, and that all our energies and time should be devoted to his service. Very admirable appears the Christian character of Edward Payson, whose life every minister ought to read, who considered himself so much devoted to the Lord that he ceased to deliver any addresses except those in which it would be appropriate for him to honor his Master.

The first item in a consecrated life is holiness. No other sort of life is acceptable to Christ. He wants clean hands and pure hearts; not as Pilate, who washed his hands of the blood of Christ, but had a hand in the shedding of his blood; not a life like Judas, so fairly beautiful outside that the other apostles never guessed he was the betrayer. Veneering may be proper in the furniture business, but will not answer in morals and character. It is not enough to be free from the grosser sins that constitute a bad life in the eyes of the world, but a devoted Christian renounces the more refined sins, if you can so call them, of envy, ambition, pride, self-seeking, advantage-taking, some shades removed from open dishonesty. It is the hardest thing and the easiest to be a Christian. Set this statement in the white light of the sermon on the mount, in which the thought and motive are forever linked with the action, and say whether it is very easy or not to be a Christian according to Christ's idea. We make the terms of discipleship very easy, and herd people into the church. Christ held out no shallow inducement to secure precipitate adherence to himself. He said, "Count the cost; the cross lies on the way to the crown; my followers must put up with a stone for a pillow; follow me if you can live as I live."—Rev. W. S. Danley, in Christian at Work.

MATTHEW TWENTY-FOUR.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

BY THE LATE ELDER J. H. WAGGONER.

(Continued.)

8. THEIR FULFILLMENT.

1. "The sun shall be darkened." We have but little to say on this point—not that there is not much to say, but that so much has already been said. "The dark day" is a common phrase to denote the 19th of May, 1780. A few are yet living who witnessed it. The writer well remembers that, in his boyhood, aged people made frequent mention of it in relating notable points in their experience. One testimony only we here give, from an authority of undisputable reliability. It is a publication of the American Tract Society, entitled, "Life of Edward Lee:"—

"In the month of May, 1780, there was a very terrific dark day in New England, when 'all faces seemed to gather blackness,' and the people were filled with fear. There was great distress in the village where Edward Lee lived, 'men's hearts failing them for fear' that the judgment-day was at hand; and the neighbors all flocked around the holy man, for his lamp was trimmed, and shining brighter than ever, amidst the unnatural darkness. Happy and joyful in God, he pointed them to their only refuge from the wrath to come, and spent the gloomy hours in earnest prayer for the distressed multitude."

Had the author and publishers of this work intended to give a forcible illustration of the fulfillment of this prophecy, they could not better have chosen their language for that purpose. But they had no such intention—they had not this prophecy in view at all, which makes their testimony all the more emphatic as evidence on the question.

Some have questioned whether this was sufficient to fulfill the prophecy, admitting that it must be so fulfilled. Dr. Noah Webster, who was an eye-witness of it, says the sun was darkened fourteen hours. Then it was darkened over fourteen twenty-fourths of the earth's surface, and particularly over that part where we believe the most important scenes of last-day prophecy are laid,—the continent of America.

2. "The moon shall not give her light." It was well suggested by Dr. Henry, the commentator, that the moon would fail because the sun would shed no light on her, in the fulfillment of this prophecy. In New England, where the sun's darkening was most noted, the moon, though full, was totally obscured till midnight, when it came out with brilliancy. Here is the evidence that the sun was darkened fourteen hours—from 10 A. M. of the 19th till the midnight following. Many descriptions have been given of the intense darkness of that night. One said that if every luminous body had been struck out of existence, he could not imagine that the darkness could have been more intense. It was startling, and overpowering, and even painful to the senses, because of its intensity. And learned men say it cannot be explained or accounted for. We think it admits of just one explanation,—the God of heaven—the Ruler of nature—hung out these signs in the heavens, to teach the student of his word that the Son of God would soon make his second advent to this world. And we are thankful that the warning has not been in vain. The marked fulfillment of the prophecies has led thousands to look, to hope for, and to rejoice in, the "blessed hope" of the coming of the dear Redeemer.

3. "And the stars shall fall from Heaven." We may be permitted to notice this more particularly, as efforts have been made to show that no past fulfillment can meet the requirements of this part of the prophecy. We believe that it was fulfilled in the fall of 1833.

Professor Olmstead, of Yale College, said that they who were so fortunate as to witness the falling stars on November 13, 1833, probably beheld the greatest display of celestial fire-works that has ever been seen since the creation of the world—certainly the greatest that has ever occurred within the time covered by the annals of history. It was more than a "shower," as it has been called. They began to fall as early as 11 o'clock, and increased until they truly resembled a shower, but of many hours' continuance. We witnessed them in all their glory, for nearly three hours, till they were obscured by the light of dawning day. And when the day dispelled the appearance, they were still falling as numerous as ever, as was proved by their being visible in the west when the advancing light of the sun rendered them invisible in the east. During their fall, the largest and brightest would leave a mark of light down the heavens like a mark of phosphorus on a wall in a dark room. When it became so light that the mass of them could no longer be seen, one would occasionally make its presence known by such a penciling of the sky. No description can give one any conception of the grandeur and glory of the scene. As our memory recalls it, we feel that the power of God was manifest to make known to the student of prophecy that the coming of the Son of man is near.

By comparing the testimony of the evangelists we find these signs still more definitely located. We have noticed that the greatest tribulation, or affliction, which ever befell the church of Christ was under the papal Roman power. This power was symbolized by the "little horn" of Daniel 7, into whose hands the saints of the Most High were given for a thousand two hundred and threescore prophetic days—1,260 years. This period commenced A. D. 538, and ended when the civil power fell from the hands of the papacy by the imprisonment and exile of Pius VI., in 1798. For extended evidence on this point the reader is referred to "Thoughts on the Revelation." The persecution began to wane under the German Reformation, and ended in the first half of the eighteenth century. To this the Saviour doubtless referred when he spoke of shortening the days of the affliction for the elect's sake. The affliction ceased before the expiration of the days spoken of by the prophet. And Mark says, "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened." Mark 13:24. This was actually fulfilled, in that order. The days of the prophecy closed at the very close of the eighteenth century. The power was still in the hands of the papacy, but unused; the affliction was passed; the long, dark night of persecution upon the church of Christ had come to an end; there was a respite "for the elect's sake," lest no flesh should be saved—lest the faithful witnesses for Jesus should be exterminated by the power and malice of the Inquisition. And in this time of respite, while yet the power lingered in the hands of the man of sin, the sun was darkened—God's signs "in the heavens above" commenced their fulfillment. The darkening of the sun in 1780 was the greatest that ever was known, and it took place at the very time specified in the "sure word of prophecy."

We have now considered the signs of Matthew 24 in connection with a class of evidences which we consider fully sufficient to disprove the current idea that the coming of the Lord referred to the destruction of Jerusalem. We will answer a few objections, and make the application of the prophecy.

(To be continued.)

THE LAST APOSTASY.

THE WEDDING OF CHURCH AND STATE.—AN ALLEGORY.

(Concluded.)

ALL throughout the realm the Princess made a stir. Men wept, and loved her Prince for all his love. With lowly looks they passed among the proud, bearing the word of life, teaching the laws of God, till Church and State were roused to jealous hate, and took cruel measures to restrict their power.

They brought the Prince's maiden to their palace, and flattered her; but she stood firm. They punished, persecuted, tortured her; she would not yield. Her face grew sweeter, her spirit more like his she loved, her beauty rarer and more heavenly.

Then there was born one night within the hall the first-born child of Church and State. His eyes were wild and dark, his brow was old. They named him, with great christening ceremony, "Theocracy." But he was but of man, and not of God, a false theocracy of ignoble mind and perverse will. He thought of nought but his own exaltation. A petty tyrant in the halls of State, his stubborn will bent all the subjects to a vassal cringe, and made them slaves to his desire and whim. But men, long free, could not so soon submit to tyranny without rebellion. Strife tore the nation, and debate was rife, whether they would obey the will of this strange tyrant son, or no.

But while the strife still waged, another son was born, and with still greater pomp they christened him "Infallibility." His face was sharper yet. His piercing eye read men as books, and searched with devilish wisdom all their plans. No man was free to think his thoughts again. He ruled all thought, prescribing the very limits men might, or might not, swing to from his tether. His eagle eye swept soul and body of that organic thing called National Government. He marked its heart, its pulse beat, saw its veins, and pricked them at his will to thin the blood, lest it might rise against his ordained rule, and shake off his iron chains. Sometimes it throbbed, and dealt a heavy blow against his power, and gave him yet uneasiness and trouble.

But while he struggled, came another son—a little, wiry, weason-faced imp called "Inquisition." He was more pious than his brothers even, and with scrupulous care gave heed to all religious doings in the land. The Church herself, now matronly and burdened, found much relief since this last son was born to take her work, and she was left more free for banqueting and pleasure.

The parents took great joy in this last pet, and smiled at his wise ways and cunning wit. "Ah!" said his mother, "if we have not true Christian subjects now, 'twill be because our son cannot find means with all his wondrous genius to invent measures to wring men's hearts dry of all heresy and atheism. Bless his pure papal heart! Do see him! He has a moment from his duties, and is pulling the wings from all the flies in the palace. His destiny is in him."

Theocracy, Infallibility, Inquisition, made a triumvirate more absolute than did Caesar, Crassus, and Pompey in their day. Then every day long trains of dissenters came, handcuffed with irons. Then might be heard, from darkened cells, the moanings of the prisoners. When once these tyrants were accused of persecuting, they rose in righteous wrath to deny the charge. They cried: "He alone persecutes who forces to evil. But to restrain men from doing evil, or to punish those who have done it, is not persecution or cruelty, but love of mankind. These men are law breakers, church despisers. They will not submit to the powers that be, that are ordained of God."

It was a court-day, and, among the rest, the Prince's maiden was brought forth for trial. Her face was pale, but calm. It showed the traces of her tears and sufferings, but lit with holy light as she looked up, and took her place upon the criminal stand.

Both Church and State were there on royal thrones. Both had grown old and coarse. Their forms were gross with great obesity. The Church was decked with gold and precious gems, in purple and in scarlet. The State was arrayed in velvet and gold, his sword in glittering scabbard at his side. Theocracy, Infallibility, and Inquisition each had seat of power, and the great hall was filled with hypocrites, knaves, and fools, with every foul and unclean bird of prey. Alas! alas! how is the fine gold changed! How is the gold grown dim! Those who had once been manly citizens were cowards now, and tools. Like a great leach, the Church-State government had absorbed the vital tides of all the world. The

law had not reformed society. The system had worked out its abominable sequel to the past. The image of the past was about to speak, and cause that as many as would not worship it, should be destroyed forever.

The Prince's espoused one would not consent to the iniquity of the land, nor break God's law to keep the human code. In vain they made their arguments, adjuring her by all solemnities to cease her course, and submit to the powers that be, that are ordained of God.

She calmly held their power was not of God, but was a perversion of his good, and therefore evil. She claimed 'twas only hers to do as the three Hebrews did in Babylon, when called to bow before a golden image at a great king's decree. They would not worship though the furnace smoked. She spoke of Daniel, who trembled not to bow three times a day to pray to Heaven for help, although a royal mandate bade all men ask favor of no man or God, save of the king, for thirty desolate days. She cited the apostles when arraigned before authorities for preaching Christ, and gave as hers their answer: "Ye ought to obey God rather than men." Since they had chosen to force a law contrary to his, she trembled not to answer that she'd not obey it.

The assembly were enraged at her calm speech. They spit upon her, beat her with their thongs. The three sons took their turns in arguments, according to their power to make her yield, but she stood firm. She remembered how her Lord had suffered for her, how his life-blood had flowed, how his heart had been broken with reproach. And in her hour of trial he did not leave her helpless, comfortless. Around her, though unseen, walked his ambassadors, and noted her faithfulness. Her Prince's heart thrilled with overflowing love, and yearned for her release; and when the King, his Father, satisfied as to her truth, gave the command, the royal train went forth from the imperial palace.

Down the long fields of azure, where stars bloomed on every side, came the resplendent pageant. Most rapturous music burst from heavenly harps, and awful glory swept the sky and earth. In the midst of the work of death the fearful glory swept, and struck men down with horror. Only she, who was so lately pale, looked up with rapturous joy. Her beloved came. Her face was flushed with joy and immortal beauty. And her enemies fell, consumed by the glory of her Prince.

She was borne up in angels' arms to meet her Prince, and with her came her friends and kin, the dissenting sons of earth, who were ripe for heaven. She saw her Prince, for whom she had lived and suffered, and in a moment all was cloudless light. He bore her to his palace, clothed her with light and glory, set her as his fair consort for all years, his church redeemed, whom he had loved, and washed in his own precious blood.

But Babylon was lost, consumed, destroyed, made ashes under the soles of the feet of those she strove to humble in her pride; and all the universe gave glory unto God, and to his Prince, and saw his church with wonder and with love.

THE ROMISH PRIESTS AMONG THE LEPERS IN HAWAII.

By H. B. Gage

[The following article, which we take from the Occident of August 28, the leading Presbyterian paper of this coast, explains itself, and should, in the interests of truth and justice, have a wide circulation.]

THE following paper was read a few days ago before the Ministerial Association of Riverside, and is published at their request. The article was written in February and printed in the Herald and Presbyter, Cincinnati, Ohio, before the death of Priest Damien, over whom the papers, particularly the Catholic papers, have pronounced such eulogies. This priest died of leprosy April 10, 1889, and many secular papers indulged in exceedingly laudatory accounts of him, drawing their information evidently from Roman Catholic sources, which have made much of him as a martyr, both in Europe and the United States.

I would have only words of praise for any person, priest or nun, who labored to alleviate sorrow and suffering, or who braved danger and disease for their fellow-men. But there are some things to be said about the Romish priest at Molokai which are not generally known.

It is generally known that a Romish priest is a Romish priest, and does what he does for Rome. If anyone doubt this, let him learn a little of history, or read the books and writings of the "Nun of Kenmare," or let him post himself concerning the working of the priests now in Boston and New York City, in the city government and the public schools.

The priest at Molokai is no exception to the rule. While in the Hawaiian Islands last summer I met many who knew Father Damien personally, and have observed his workings, and Romanism as developed under his teachings among the lepers. There are less than one thousand lepers on the island, and not one in ten is a Romanist before he goes there. About four-fifths of them are nominally Protestants.

The lepers are under the care of a government superintendent and his helpers, who are not lepers. Also a government physician and his assistants. So there is no use of a priest to look after the lepers so far as bodily care and nursing are concerned. The priest is not there as a nurse, nor is he there as a teacher, nor is he there as an instructor in civilization. The priests in the islands give the natives no more religion, education, and civilization than the old padres gave the Mission Indians in California.

Again, there are two Protestant churches among the lepers,—one in each valley, about five miles apart,—so the lepers are not destitute of the means of grace, the Bible and the ordinances of the church. These two churches are supplied by native pastors who have become lepers. They have regular preaching on Sunday, Sunday-schools, prayer-meetings, day-schools, books, papers, as well or better supplied than any other community of natives in the islands. There are plenty of places larger in population, and more destitute in every way, to whom no priest is ever sent.

I became personally acquainted with the government physician to Molokai, and had several long conversations with him, in the course of which I learned the following: This doctor is not a missionary, nor is he in any way connected with the Protestant missions. He was surgeon on one of the steamers plying between San Francisco and Honolulu before he received this government appointment.

(a) He had no hesitation in saying he believed the priest was among the lepers "for the money there is in it." "When you remember the lepers are the pets of the kingdom, and more money is expended on them than is spent on the same number of natives who are not lepers themselves, you can see the priest's chance. The lepers have more money than those who are non-lepers, and with fewer opportunities of using it, and their slow disease and death is a priest's opportunity to secure "so much paying for so much praying." Penance, masses, and extreme unction are paying and preying.

(b) A priest has very little to sacrifice in going to the lepers, as compared with a Protestant. He has no wife, no children, no home, and he lives at Molokai with every comfort and luxury supplied. He has little to leave, and every motive urged by Romanism to live a martyr and die a saint. It is well to remember too that Protestant missionaries have gone to the Lazarettos in Palestine and in India, where they could not have the comforts, much less the luxuries, of common living.

(c) He had reason to believe that the priest was making large money for Rome, as we all know the priests do in poverty-stricken Ireland and Mexico. It is no slander to say that disease and death are the Romish priests' harvest season.

(d) The physician said there was no reason for Damien's becoming a leper, "except his own dirty habits. He lives, sleeps, and eats with the lepers. His housekeeper and cook are lepers, and he himself is uncleanly." There is no more use of his living so than for a surgeon or a chaplain of a hospital living with the worst cases of disease. The lepers have two farming settlements, and live in homes and families just as they do in any thickly settled country neighborhood. The surgeon said he visited each settlement daily, but he neither eats nor sleeps in their homes, and he uses all the same, or similar, precautions against contracting the disease that surgeons do in fever or small-pox hospitals. The priest becomes a leper (so the doctor thinks) of his own neglect of common sanitary precautions. The new priest, who had just recently come, confessed that it was more than he had bargained for, when he found how Damien had contracted the disease, and expected him to dip his hand in the same dish into which he (Damien) was putting his leprous hands.

(e) The physician assured me again that the priests favored those lepers who were Romanists, in the distribution of government supplies, and used this same power to influence people to become papists, and those who remained firm Protestants were often made to suffer for it. To such an extent was this true, he said he was using, and should continue to use, his official position to protect Protestant lepers against imposition from the priests. Rev. Dr. C. M. Hyde, who has charge of the native theological training school in Honolulu, gave me substantially the same facts, as he had gathered them during eleven years' residence in the islands, knowing Damien personally, knowing the native pastors who had become lepers, and in visiting the leper settlement as he had done, and in preaching and visiting among them. Every one of the missionaries told me the same story in substance. Romanism is Romanism, whether in Italy, poor Ireland, Quebec, America, or the islands of the sea. H. B. GAGE.

Riverside, Feb. 20, 1889.

P. S.—Since the above article was printed in our local paper, I have received a letter from Dr. C. M. Hyde, which I will copy in full.

HONOLULU, August 2, 1889. REV. H. B. GAGE—Dear Brother: In answer to your inquiries about Father Damien, I can only reply that we who knew the man are surprised at the extravagant newspaper laudations, as if he was a most saintly philanthropist.

The simple truth is, he was a coarse, dirty man, headstrong and bigoted. He was not sent to Molokai, but went there without orders, did not stay at the leper settlement (before he became one himself), but circulated freely over the whole island (less than half the island is devoted to the lepers), and he came often to Honolulu. He had no hand in the reforms and improvements inaugurated, which were the work of our Board of Health, as occasion required and means were provided.

He was not a pure man in his relations with women, and the leprosy, of which he died, should be attributed to his vices and carelessness. Others have done much for the lepers, our own ministers, the government physicians, etc., but never with the Catholic idea of meriting eternal life. Yours, etc., C. M. HYDE.

Certainly such testimony is greatly damaging to the cause which the Romanists are trying to foist upon both our country and England. Yours, H. B. GAGE. Riverside, August 12, 1889.

Peace for Those Who Love God’s Law

"GREAT peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them." Ps. 119:165.

THE SECRET OF VICTORY OVER SIN.

THE mistake is often made, that the actings of the flesh are the cause of the low spiritual life of believers. The truth is that the low spiritual life of believers is the cause of the actings of the flesh. Let the soul come into a higher spiritual atmosphere, by being "married to another;" let Christ be trusted, and enjoyed, and fed upon through his word, and the flesh is kept subdued. Engaged with Christ, the mind makes "no provision for the flesh," and it is kept under. So that it is not by fighting our sins in detail that we get the victory—indeed, in this way, we find that the sins get the victory—but in coming into closer fellowship with Christ. Treat and trust him as a loving wife would treat her husband; as Ruth, the Moabitess—who found grace in the eyes of Boaz, who became her redeemer and husband—trusted him to pay all her debts, and provide for all her needs. It would have grieved him, a mighty man of wealth, to have had her worried in the slightest degree about either.

Alas, how often we have grieved our blessed Lord by our doubts and suspicions as to whether he has really redeemed us from all our sins, or by unbelief as to the grace he has promised for all our needs!

The exhortation of Rom. 6:13, to yield ourselves unto God, is very simple. Rebecca, the bride of Isaac, was asked the simple question, "Wilt thou go with this man?" and she said, "I will go."

Made alive in Jesus Christ, our risen Head, shall we not yield ourselves up to him? The exhortation is based upon the truth of the fourteenth verse, "For sin shall not have dominion over you; for [or because] ye are not under the law, but under grace." You are free from the dominion of the law of sin in your members, though not free from its existence.

The old slave-master, sin, that has ruled you so long, has no right to claim your service further. Jesus Christ has purchased you. He—not sin—is your Master. Yield yourself to him. Assert your liberty; claim his protection. He will give it to you. He will sustain you, as you say, "In the name of the Lord Jesus, I am free. I will no longer yield in this or that, wherein I have been in bondage. Lord Jesus, I yield to thee."—Life, Welfare, and Victory.

Continue reading: VISIBLENESS OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE