p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 8. (2/22/1905)

Earlier text: THE PARADISE VALLEY SANITARIUM

Standard Dictionary

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WHAT ABOUT THE COMMISSION?

By Editor

SIGNS OF THE TIMES:

I am contemplating work with Bibles, health books, and our denominational books. I would like also to work for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, as it was the instrument God used to bring my wife and myself into the truth. I feel, however, that if the undertaking is to be a success, I must have something for it. So, if my plans meet the approval of the President of the Conference and yourself, what can you do for me in the way of commissions? E. D. SLOSSON.

We have replied to the above letter, stating that a commission of fifty cents on each new yearly subscription will be allowed.

Are there not others who would like to engage in a similar work? PUBLISHERS, SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Gentlemen: By some unknown cause at my home I found a part of one of your papers which interested me very much. I do not know on what terms you send out sample copies, or what the subscription is. Please send me sample and oblige.

THE SIGNS is a great missionary paper. The Lord has greatly blessed me in its circulation. Every one seems to like it. MRS. J. E. WILBUR, Westerly, R. I.

CO-OPERATION CORNER.

ONE of our ministers writes us as follows concerning the needs of an isolated brother in a northern city:

Now about the work at——. There is a brother there who follows nursing for a living, but spends all the time possible doing house-to-house work. He has sent out calls for papers and tracts; has received some, but you know that is not so satisfactory as having them come weekly. We wish to go to that city next summer with a tent and he is trying to prepare the way. He was formerly a Bible worker and then took the nurses' course. He is self-supporting. If you can send him fifty copies of the SIGNS each week I know he can use them to good advantage. (Signed)————

Fifty copies of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for six months will be $22.50. Are there those among our readers who desire to have these papers go to him? If so, send in remittance to SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal.

Exact name and city will be given on application.

The Strength of Loyal Servants

The ability of an apostate adds nothing to his credit. It is rather detrimental to his character. Some very able men have turned against the truth, and have carried multitudes with them; but that did not alter the truth. Alexander the coppersmith was of this class, and was able to so withstand the gifted Paul that he won the mass of the people to his side. Paul says that Alexander did him much evil, and he warned Timothy to beware of him. The apostle says, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me." But Paul was not discouraged; he prayed for the misguided victims of his able opponent. And it appears that the victory was only temporary; for Paul adds: "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom." So the ablest opponents to the Lord's cause can avail nothing against the servant who prays for his enemies, and looks to God for his strength. For God is able to make the wrath of man to praise Him.

A SAD PICTURE.

By Editor

The following is from an editorial in the Springfield Republican, entitled, "Mississippi and Negro Crime."

Governor Vardaman's speech last week at the opening of the Mississippi corn and cotton carnival considered the subject of crime in that state in a way that must interest students of questions relating to the negro race in the South. Answering certain charges as to the number of homicides in Mississippi, the governor gave an account of a personal investigation that he recently made. It had been reported that from January 1 to April 1, of this year, there had been over 200 murders. The governor did not believe the story was true, so he wrote to the sheriff of each county for the actual number of homicides committed from New Year's to November 15.

The result of this inquiry, says Governor Vardaman, showed "that there were 297 homicides committed, and of that number 230 were negroes, and 227 of them were committed by negroes on negroes. In this connection I want to impress upon you this other truth that was revealed by that investigation—that they were all very young negroes, of an average of less than 25 years of age, and while they did not state it in all the letters, a great many of them stated that they occurred around crap games."

Surely this shows the need of Christian education and Christian missions. The South ought to welcome all which are truly Christian, and Christians ought to support them.

SOME IMPORTANT PRACTICAL ARTICLES.

By Editor

WE have just received from Mrs. E. G. White the following excellent articles:

Our Words (Two numbers). Courage in the Lord. The Workers Needed. A Teacher Sent From God (Two numbers). A Contrast (Between the First and Second Adams.)

The first of these articles appears this week.

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

Poetry.

The Shepherd Psalm, (Bible Study Outline) LLEWELLYN A. MORRISON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Jesus Is Coming Again, C. M. SNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Thou Art the Light, THORO HARRIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

At All Times Praise the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Editorial.—A Joy-Giving Possession—To Whom Do Men Belong?—A Valuable Lesson—A Heavy Curse—Our Mission Not Political . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Question Corner.—Nos. 1624, 1625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Outlook.—The General Outlook in Great Britain, M. ELLISWORTH OLSEN—Sunday Legislation in Washington—Sunday Law Notes—Conscienceless Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7

General.

The Assumption of Uniformity, GEO. MCCREADY PRICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Our Words, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Blood of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Proving of Israel, L. A. PHIPPENY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Does Not Count with God, T. E. BOWEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Missions.—The Paradise Valley Sanitarium, E. R. PALMER 12

The Home.—Laundering Laces at Home, A. M. H.—Dates from "the American Desert" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

International Sunday-School Lesson.—Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 15

World Almanac and Encyclopedia

By Editor

A most convenient and helpful annual is the "World Almanac and Encyclopedia." The 1905 edition, the editor tells us, is the best he has ever turned out. It contains a vast amount of information easy of access, well arranged and well indexed. The price is only 25 cents. Address The World, Pulitzer Building, New York.

Against Communication with Departed Spirits

Jesus declared that "no one hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of heaven, even the Son of Man." That statement of our Lord's forever precludes the idea of communication with so-called departed spirits respecting conditions in the heavenly world. All such pretensions are manifestly fraudulent. We can get no information in regard to the heavenly land, excepting that which comes through the Spirit and Word of Him who came down from heaven.

Government by Railroad

Government by railroad seems to be the peril that threatens the political situation in this country, and thereby threatens the liberties of the people. In the organization of the Nebraska Legislature, now in session, the principal struggle for control was between conflicting railroad interests. Of the result the Commoner says: "It seems to be generally agreed that in the Senate the organization is controlled by the Union Pacific and Elkhorn railroads, while the lower house is controlled by the Burlington. The entire contest was won between two rival railroad factions, and no other element seems to be seriously considered." And Nebraska is not the most railroaded State in the Union either. It is probably not more than a fair average in that respect.

There Is a Lesson in It

By Editor

There Is a Lesson in It.—An exchange contains the news that the Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania has divided itself into two parts, those who use tobacco and those who do not. The separation was probably brought about by those who do not indulge in that unpleasant practise. The unclean in this life are not strenuously opposed to mingling with the clean. They rather insist upon doing it, even in the face of the discomfort it may cause the other party. The use of tobacco has always had a defiling effect upon the person of the one who uses it, and the fiat of the King is that nothing that defiles can enter His realms. Heaven's final declaration is, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still;" and that leaves him forever on the outside of the city of God. The Word mentions several classes of those unfit for the companionship of God and angels, and among those classes are idolators. He who bends down his dignity and his purity before the fetish of the noxious weed is certainly not a true, whole-hearted worshiper of the King of kings. Gratifying a depraved appetite is paying homage to the thing we crave, and stands between us and our duty to God. Is not the separation above noted a striking forerunner of the separation that will finally take place between the clean and the unclean? It is an object-lesson worthy of thoughtful consideration. Furnishing such a lesson, it is just as well that the separation has taken place.

Beth-Adriel Rescue Home Work

Mrs. Florence Roberts, Field Secretary of Beth-Adriel, an incorporated society and rescue home for erring women, in San Jose, spoke to our church in the office chapel, Sabbath, February 11. It was an earnest, helpful talk on Jesus' words to Peter in John 21, "Feed My sheep;" "Feed My lambs." She told of the work they were doing, of some of the girls rescued, and how all at present in the home were in the path of life. One of the rules of the home was that no inmate should speak of the past lives of the girls. May God bless Mrs. Roberts and other laborers in this work.

The Best Defense.

By The Commoner

I believe that, when Jefferson assisted in establishing religious freedom, he assisted in giving to our government its strongest support. Chain the conscience, bind the heart, and you can not have for the support of our form of government the strength and enthusiasm it deserves. But let conscience be free to commune with its God, let the heart be free to send forth its love, and the conscience and the heart will be the best defenders of a government resting upon the consent of the governed.—The Commoner.

Prisoners Threatened With Insanity

By Editor

We are informed that the Illinois state prison officials are much concerned over the condition of their prisoners, some of whom have become insane, and many are threatened with dementia, principally from lack of employment. Over six months ago a law was passed by the state legislature, at the request of the labor unions, which prohibited competitive manual labor in penal institutions. The result mentioned followed the enforcement of the law.

Even So, Come, Lord Jesus

"Surely I come quickly." That is our Saviour's last declaration to His waiting church. Those who triumph with Him must be able to say gladly with the apostle John, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Traditions and Religious Legislation

The long code of traditions imposed upon the Jews by the elders and scribes was not all devised or enacted at once. It was an accumulation of years of attempt to improve on the commandments of God. The whole mass of traditions that eventually burdened the people beyond their ability to bear, would have shocked the originators of traditionary, or man-made, moral law. It was perhaps the thought of earnest, well-meaning men to check the inclination of the people toward spiritual slackness and more or less disregard of the law of God. It was deemed wisdom, and, therefore, good policy, to do a little physical coercing, to which end some law had to be devised by those who assumed to be wiser and better than their fellows, because of some official position.

These were at first very mild, and were supposed to be a help to the people in the keeping of the divine law. They were especially applicable to the Sabbath, and were added to, little by little, until they became very burdensome. This principle of moral reform by means of human law—which is often so highly lauded—grew upon Israel until the law of God was made of none effect (Matt. 15:6) by the usurpation. And the like effect must just as surely follow the like cause to-day. But this fact does not deter the Pharisees of our time from advocating religious legislation with ever-increasing zeal. And, as of old, human laws concerning the Sabbath, in all cases averse to the law of God on the subject, are made the most prominent. If the people would not be overwhelmed with the burden of religious tradition, in the form of political law, they would do well to discountenance every form of religious legislation by political bodies, in its very incipency. In this matter, "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."