p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 40. (10/6/1898)

Earlier text: NUT BUTTER NUT MILLS AND NUTS

The Catholic Summer School

“The Catholic Summer School” at Plattsburg, N. Y., we are told by the Mirror, was a great success; among the items which make it so are the following: “The outing and sports have been put upon a secure footing, and the framing of a complete schedule of weekly events for the sessions to come have of the most thorough sportsman in the country.” “The theatrical feature, which was an innovation this year, promises to outstrip itself next, and thereby enhance the amusements triple-fold, as it did so this year. The most conclusive proof of the theatricals being a success was the fact that they made money for the general coffers of the school, and were an artistic surprise upon the super-critical audiences who witnessed them. Rev. Dr. Talbot Smith, who initiated the theatricals, aided by Arthur R. Ryan, knew full well the summer school contingent, and supplied the right thing at the right time.” This, of course, may be a “Catholic Summer School,” but it could hardly be called Christian, that is, Biblically Christian. The only other point of special interest named was a pilgrimage to a noted shrine in Canada.

The Sabbath and Conscience

The “Gospel Trumpet” says: “The Sabbath is not a moral precept, as stated by many; for vast numbers have lived and died Christians who never kept the seventh-day Sabbath. Were it like the nine precepts, it could not have been trampled underfoot without creating compunctions of conscience.” But this is no evidence. Many have transgressed the seventh commandment in multiplying wives and concubines to themselves, evidently without compunctions of conscience. It was in a time of ignorance and darkness, which “God winked at,” because of the lack of enlightenment. But when light shines, God commands “men everywhere to repent.” So it is now with the Sabbath of the Lord; and there are thousands who are conscience-smitten to-day because of transgression of the fourth commandment. Light has come. If men love light, they will do the will of Him who is light. If they love darkness, conscience will be hardened, and the blackness of darkness, which they thus choose, abides there. Walk while ye have light.

Unordered Copies of the Signs

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.

When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the “Signs” are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.

Gifts of the Spirit

An article on the “Gifts of the Spirit” is laid over until next week.

Our Outlook Department

By Editor

Our Outlook department will be of special interest this week. Read it. There is even more suggested to the live student than is told.

Question Corner Delayed

By Editor

It will be seen that our Question Corner department was crowded out this issue. There are a number of questions awaiting reply.

An Astronomer’s View of Our Father’s House

“An Astronomer’s View of Our Father’s House,” by a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, will be published in part next week. It will be illustrated.

The Plagues of Palestine

By Editor

In our next issue will appear an interesting article on “The Plagues of Palestine,” by a physician who has been there, illustrated by a drawing from a photograph of lepers taken by him:

Sir William Crookes

Sir William Crookes, a noted scientist, states that the world will be on the verge of starvation in 1931, as the power of producing wheat will be exhausted, unless food can be provided for the people artificially, or for the soil from the air by some chemical apparatus. Other scientists accept his conclusions. This is in harmony with the Word, which declares that the earth is waxing old as doth a garment.

The Zionist Congress

The Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, has become a noted movement among the Jews. A report of the recent congress will be found in our Outlook department; it may be considered in every respect reliable. The movement is largely social and political, and finds little if any support among the leading Jews of America. The American Jewish press considers the scheme of populating Palestine fanciful, dreamy, mistaken, inexpedient. And yet it will deceive many.

Three Noted Americans

Three noted Americans recently passed from the stage of action, Judge Thomas M. Cooley, a jurist and author of various works on constitutional law, by the latter of which he established his reputation. He died at Ann Arbor, Mich., September 12. Dr. John Hall, the eminent New York minister, died September 17. He was a Presbyterian pastor, greatly loved by his flock, and all who knew him. Every-day practical Christianity seems to have been the burden of his ever kindly, helpful message. Dr. Albert Sanford Hunt, corresponding secretary of the American Bible Society, died September 10, a most devoted, earnest, scholarly man, a member of the M. E. Church.

Strikes and the Coming Universal Crash

Germany during 1897 had 578 strikes, in which 63,119 men were involved. This shows something of the marked discontent there is in that country. And the same discontented elements that keep Germany in a continual state of ferment are fully as active in all parts of the world. Who can predict the time when the universal crash will come? It is surely approaching very rapidly.

OUR QUARTER-CENTENNIAL NUMBER WILL CONTAIN

By Editor

1. An article by the world-famed oriental scholar and archæologist, the Rev. A. H. Sayce, LL.D., of Oxford, England, on God’s witnesses in stone, or the testimony of the monuments, as revealed during the last quarter century, to the truthfulness of God’s Word. This is written specially for this paper.

2. An article from the pen of Alonzo T. Jones, author of “The Two Republics,” “Rights of the People,” etc., on the progress which has been made toward State-and-Church union in this country during the last quarter century.

3. “Important Inventions for Twenty-five Years,” by Uriah Smith, author of “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Here and Hereafter,” etc., and for many years editor of the Review and Herald. Elder Smith is himself an inventor, and his article will be of interest.

4. “Developments in Astronomy, Methods, Apparatus, and Discoveries,” by Prof. Charles Burckhalter, F.R.S.A., an article of interest to every student of astronomy.

5. “The Rise and Development of False Religions and Isms” during the last quarter century, by L. A. Phippeny, an article of special interest.

6. A story for our Home department, by Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, for many years at the head of evangelical work among the W. C. T. U.

7. A striking article entitled “Significant Items from European History of the Closing Quarter Century,” by Pastor H. P. Holser, of Basel, Switzerland. This will be a striking review of the European field politically and religiously.

8. “Military and Naval Development of the Last Quarter-Century,” by A. O. Tait, illustrated.

9. “The Development of the Money Power for the Last Twenty-five Years,” by Prof. P. T. Magan, vice-president of Battle Creek College, and dean of faculty.

10. “Progress in Medical Science for the Quarter Century,” by J. H. Kellogg, M.D. This will be illustrated, and the name and well-known ability of Dr. Kellogg as a practitioner and writer are sufficient guarantee of its interest and importance.

11. “The Demand for a Definite Message,” by F. M. Wilcox, till recently editor of the Home Missionary and secretary of our Foreign Mission Board.

Here are about one-fourth of the number of the articles which this unexcelled number of Jan. 5, 1899, will contain. There will be in it that which every one will wish to know. It will have thirty-two pages of reading matter, with tinted cover, printed in colors. Are you preparing to help circulate it? Names of other writers will be given next week.

GERMAN WORKINGMEN.

DR. RADE, an evangelical socialist of Germany, has been investigating the social condition of the German workingmen, and their attitude toward the church and religion, and his report is anything but assuring. Many of the social, democratic workingmen consider the work a hindrance to true culture and progress, and a means in the hand of priest and pastor for the benefit of the privileged classes; that church rites or ceremonies are “perfectly useless,” and are only “dead ceremonies;” that the Christ of history is not the Christ of the church, and that “if He were living to-day He would belong to their party; that many of the German workingmen know nothing about Luther; that by many God is regarded as an impossibility; nature is god.” Many seem to be infidel, all skeptical, and the most religious at sea. And that is about the case with workingmen in England and America. Having no knowledge of Luther shows clearly that the Reformation is indeed a thing of the past.

Small Facts, Astonishing Conclusions.

Not long ago a scientific professor found in a Javan river bed a decayed skeleton of some human monstrosity or degenerate man. Whereupon some of these same scientists who have been longing to demonstrate the theory of the ascent of man from the polywog have accepted the decayed skeleton as “the missing link;” and now sensational newspapers picture that “missing link’s” decayed skeleton in full flesh and blood, clothed in a hairy garment of nature from head to foot. The scientific name of this new find is pithecanthropus erectus. Such a study is fascinating. It gets such astonishing conclusions from such small facts! And yet, those who wish to count Mr. Pithecanthropus Erectus as one of their ancestors have the privilege. As for ourselves, we prefer the ancient record, “which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”

In the Law Itself

In the Law Itself.—It is said that a law without a penalty has no force, and that the Decalog has no penalty attached to it, and is therefore without force in this dispensation. This might be true if God was man, and the royal law of heaven was man’s law. But God is the living God, and His law is a living law; for “the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” It was ordained to life (Rom. 7 : 10), and if observed perfectly would have given life (Prov. 12 : 28); but transgressed or perverted, it becomes death (Rom. 7 : 10). Not simply is its penalty of transgression death, but its transgression is itself death; for “sin is the transgression of the law,” “and sin, when it is finished [full-grown], bringeth forth death.” 1 John 3 : 4; James 1 : 15. Be not deceived; sin, however beautiful it may appear, is death.

Catholic Converts and Religious Imprisonment

The “Catholic Mirror” says that “the convert to Catholicity, as a rule, is glad to know that he has found the truth, and is only anxious to impart it to others. He has never ‘escaped’ from a Protestant dungeon.” No, sir, he has not, and hence can not boast of it; for no true Protestant ever imprisoned a man for religion’s sake, or for religion’s sake under the subterfuge of a political offense. But can Catholics say as much?

A Big Hotel.

The manager of the great Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, New York City, proposes to build a $60,000,000 hotel, for the accommodation of 10,000 persons. It will be eighteen stories high, and three floors will be composed almost wholly of plate glass, with decorations of living verdure.

The Cost of Grand Opera

Let not the world talk about extravagance in religious matters; $650,000 is paid every year for admissions to the Grand Opera, Paris.