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Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 43.

In This Issue
Earlier text: In This Issue

The Master's Coming

By Charles L. Taylor

I. His First Advent Literal

Foretold by Prophecy, Fulfilled in Fact
"The Desire of all nations shall come." Hag. 2:7. How beautifully, how wonderfully, how completely do these prophetic words sum up the longings, the prayers, the expectations, the hopes and ambitions of centuries! From that fatal day when man so foolishly surrendered his dominion, and allowed himself to be brought under the tyranny and servitude of evil, there has gone up to heaven an unceasing cry for the coming of Him who should break the yoke and reestablish the reign of right.
The hope of a Deliverer was first implanted in the breasts of our first parents. To them a "Seed" should be born. Gen. 3:15. The coming of that "Seed" comprehended the restoration of the Paradise home, the Paradise associations, the Paradise life, the Paradise rule. Across the gulf of sin, lighting up all its dark waves and yawning chasms, and shining athwart the path of every son and daughter of Adam, who should be compelled to travel the paths of time, the bright rays of the glory world, of the kingdom restored, began to shine. By faith the fallen children of men were brought to view the ultimate achievements of grace, the perfected work of redemption, wrought out through Him who was to come.

What the Bruising Means

That the promise of the Messiah included a second coming as well as a first, or, better stated, a twofold advent, is clearly seen by a close reading of the text. To the tempter it was said, "It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." The bruising of the "heel" of the "Seed" contemplated the persecution and death of the Son of God on Calvary; the bruising of the "head" of the serpent, or Satan, pointed forward to the overthrow of the arch-rebel, and his final and eternal extinction. The bruising of the heel sets forth the humiliation of God's dear Son; His bruising of the serpent's head, His exaltation. The bruising of the heel points out the Messiah of sacrifice, "the Lamb slain;" the bruising of Satan's head the Messiah of kingly power and rule.
Without doubt the Scriptures teach that these two comings are literal and personal. The doctrine that either the first or the second advent would be in any sense a spiritual, invisible affair, was unknown in those days when men of faith were wont to receive the Word of God at its face value. Hence the hope of righteous women, from Eve's day forward, to give birth to that One who should break the yoke and set the world free.
So deeply was this thought imbedded in the minds of God's children in early days, that when apostasy crept in in the days of Babel, and men in their wickedness were scattered to the utmost bounds of earth, they carried with them (tho in a more or less distorted form) the thought of a coming Redeemer. The impress of that Eden promise is therefore to be found in the myths and fables of nearly all the nations of olden time, a fact which bears eloquent witness to the truth of the Inspired Record.
It was indeed true that the Seed of the woman was "the Desire of all nations." Not that all nations had an intelligent hope, for they had not; but in Him was to be found that which answered to the calls of all men, of all ages, of all climes. And had those to whom God revealed Himself been faithful to their trust, His message of salvation would have been given centuries ago to the nations of earth, and out of those nations would have been gathered "a people for His name." Acts 15:14.

Faithful Witnesses

But while mankind as a whole proved recreant to the divine call, there were always those whose hearts found their equilibrium of happiness and hope in the promise of the Coming One. The cherished faith of those bygone ages is beautifully set forth by one under inspiration, who said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began." Luke 1:68-70.
Yes, from the very "foundation of the world" men were taught the truth that in God's own good time a divine-human Son would appear, through whom salvation would come to the world. This great truth was taught, and certainly was lived, from the day that man was driven forth from the garden; for by Adam, by Abel, by patriarch, prophet, and saint, there were offered up those multitudes of sacrifices, all of which expressed faith in One who should live a life in the flesh, and whose shed blood would atone for man's sin.

Abundant Promises

The Scriptures abound with inspired utterances regarding the coming of the Messiah,—a coming in the flesh, a coming both literal and personal.
Note the promise to Abraham. First, the Lord said to him, "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Gen. 12:3. Later, the word was, "In thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. 22:18. That is, the "Seed" should be one of Abraham's descendants, one of his own flesh and blood kin. And while it was undoubtedly true, in a sense, that Isaac was specifically referred to in these divine assurances, yet primarily the promise referred to Christ. For the apostle, speaking of this same matter, said, "To Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ." Gal. 3:16.
And all this was exactly true. Christ descended through the line of Abraham's earthly family. He was of the tribe of Judah (Heb. 7:14), who was a son of Jacob, a son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.
To Moses it was revealed that the Messiah would come as "a Prophet." He said to Israel, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren." Deut. 18:15. He would be a simple Man among men, a Brother in Israel. And a reading of Ps. 22:22 reveals the fact that, prophetically, Jesus announced the brother relationship: "I will declare Thy name unto My brethren." And to understand the matter of Jesus' coming—either His first coming or His second—it is important to remember that He must appear as the Son of Man, the Seed of the woman, the near Kinsman of mankind.

The Right to Redeem

The true position of our Redeemer is beautifully foreshadowed in the story of the Book of Ruth. According to the law given to Israel, the right to redeem lay with him who was nearest of kin. See Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 25; Jer. 32:7. Thus when Boaz would assist the family of Naomi, he said, "It is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I." Ruth 3:12. The Hebrew word here translated "kinsman," is frequently rendered "redeemer," as in Isa. 49:26 and kindred passages. See Ruth 4:14, margin. To be our Redeemer, the Son of God became Son of Man, taking man's flesh and blood, meeting man's trials and temptations.
But this was not all. Adam, the first man, had lost the earthly inheritance, that which had been given to man. Ps. 115:16. And as God's original plan must be carried out, only a second Adam, one of like nature, could be the medium of redemption, the agent through whom the earth would be restored. So Christ Jesus, from the very beginning, was set forth as a Man in man's place, to accomplish man's work, and to rule in man's behalf. Therefore the Son of God introduced Himself to the world as the Son of Man (Luke 19:10; Mark 2:10), and as the Son of Man He will come in glory by and by. Matt. 25:31.
David foresaw Christ as one of his own seed. 2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 132:11. Isaiah knew Him as a Son to be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14), and yet, tho a child, as one who one day would bear the government upon His shoulder, and be known as "The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," whose kingdom should have no end. Isa. 9:6, 7. The Gospel prophet also saw Him as "a Man of sorrows," as One upon whom was laid "the iniquity of us all," and who would die in man's stead. Isa. 53:3, 6, 8.

Wonderful Details of Prediction

It were impossible to include in this short article the many details of the life of the God-Man which prophets foretold. Suffice it to say that the exact time and place of birth, the length and character of His ministry, the circumstances connected with His betrayal and death, His resurrection and ascension,—all this and much more were clearly portrayed.
And when, finally, the story of seers was ended, and the fulness of time had come (Gal. 4:4), God sent His Son into the world. Like every other child of flesh, He was made subject to the laws of heredity. Born "under the law" (Gal. 4:4) as one of David's seed (Rom. 1:3); wearing the garb of sinful flesh (Rom. 8:3); meeting life's woes and temptations in common with His fellow men (Heb. 4:15); bearing the burdens and infirmities of a sin-filled, perishing world (Matt. 8:17); counted as a sinner in man's stead (2 Cor. 5:21); living by faith in His Father's Word, and overcoming by its power (Matt. 4:1-11); maintaining a life of constant sacrifice (Luke 9:58); and continually going about doing good (Acts 10:38); choosing the cross and its agonies in order to bring salvation to men (Luke 12:50; Matt. 26:39); such was He who, true to every exaction of the divine law, fulfilled all prophetic forewords.
Yes, He came! "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14. "God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3:16. He, was truly Emmanuel,—"God with us." Matt. 1:23. "The Desire of all nations" did come, and during the few short years in which He tabernacled among men, He did the work God had assigned Him, the work that made it possible for Him to come again. Those days of humiliation were necessary to prepare the way for the days of exaltation. And just so certainly as He came once to offer Himself as man's Example and Sacrifice, so certainly will He come again to reap the fruits growing out of His divine accomplishments.
"The Desire of all nations shall come," said the prophet. He came. He came personally, literally, visibly, truly. And He said, "I will come again." John 14:3. The same Jesus, the Son of Man, personally, literally, visibly, truly, will come again. Thank God for the hope!

When God Dwelt Among Us

By Delwin Rees Buckner

By Delwin Rees Buckner
CHRIST wore not purple robes, yet virtue He Had in His dress which healed long years of loss Of health; His sandaled feet trod not across Rich velvet carpets, woven gorgeously, But rather on the billows of the sea, That, storm-tossed, writhe in torment, heave and toss; That same sad voice that cried upon the cross, Had formerly caused demon hosts to flee; His food was frugal, yet at His command A multitude were fed in desert soil, And water once was turned to pure sweet wine. A touch, and life-long blindness fled; His hand, Tho roughened by long years of wearing toil, Within it held God-giv'n power divine.
Esmeraldas, Ecuador.

Is There No Death?

By George E. Tack

By George E. Tack
Is THERE no death, then why should tears Stream down the cheeks when those we love Pass from our lives, and, free from fears, Rest in some hallowed grove?
And if the soul immortal is, And loosed from clay dwells ever free 'Mid scenes of endless joy and bliss, Round life's strange, fruitful tree,
Why should we grieve and vainly sigh For those whose eyes behold the light Without a dimming veil, and by The great white throne, delight
Their raptured souls with visions bright Of Christ, and the Ancient of Days, And seraphim, with robes of light, And throngs that ceaseless praise?
Is there no death, then why did One Who dwelt in realms of matchless joy, And shone the universal Sun, Where pleasures never cloy,
Leave all His glory, and descend To this vast tomb, where all mankind, Because of sin, to fear condemned, Groped on in darkness blind?
The King of Glory left His throne To break Death's cruel reign of power, And from each tomb to roll the stone In resurrection's hour.
The senseless rocks disorganize At God's command, and cease to be. Before Death's chilling breath, low lies The tow'ring monarch tree.
The glittering stars that deathless swing To love's sweet voice, with love imbued, Know not the curse that swift must bring Death's awesome interlude.
These little lives of mortal breath As vapors pass, and, lo, we sleep 'Neath banners white in camps of Death, Like stricken, helpless sheep.
Yet soon the Archangel's voice of love Shall shatter all the grave's vast bound, And angels bear God's own above, While triumph songs resound;
And Death, the strong usurper, flee Before the King of love and life, Whose power sets the captives free And ends the reign of strife.
Baltimore, Maryland.

Ancient and Worthy Questions

By Editor

WE commend the following questions and answers to various missionary boards who are sending out, to save the heathen, young men educated by Higher Critics:
"Prudence.—What do you think of the Bible?"
"Matthew.—It is the holy Word of God.
"Prud.—Is there nothing written therein but what you understand?"
"Matt.—Yes, a great deal.
"Prud.—What do you do when you meet with such places therein that you do not understand?"
"Matt.—I think that God is wiser than I. I pray also that He will please to let me know all therein that He knows will be for my good.
"Prud.—How believe you as touching the resurrection of the dead?"
"Matt.—I believe they shall rise the same that was buried; the same in nature tho not in corruption. And I believe this upon a double account: first, because God has promised it; secondly, because He is able to perform it."—Bunyan.
Jesus said to the Higher Critics of His day over the very question of the resurrection, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scripture, nor the power of God."

The Second Advent of the Messiah

By G. W. Bosworth

I WOULD as soon relinquish all hope of salvation and of heaven and immortality, as give up the expectation of seeing the Saviour in person on earth, just as His disciples last saw Him near Bethany. Surrender the second advent of the Messiah!—Never! It is THE one sublime event.

The Wrong Man

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

It will be worth all the world to me if when the time of reckoning comes the avenger can not find me. The accuser of the brethren comes every day, and here we are before the Judge. "We have come," says the apostle, "to God, the Judge of all." The accuser says I am a liar and deceitful, have borne false witness, and have done everything that is evil. This is what you are, he says.
Now it would be worth more to me than all the gold that could be piled in the Bank of England, and ten thousand times that, if I could say: "You are mistaken. The one who did all those things is dead, and you are too late. Another Man lives here now. Christ lives in this house. You may bring against Him all the charges you please, for He is able to settle with you for them; but the one you are charging is dead, and you have no case at all." In order to be able to say that, I must be willing that the Lord should take my life, and all that pertains to it. It will be like taking my life, for my life has been made up of sin. So in the midst of sin and temptation I say, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." — E. J. W.

Prophecy: Its Object and Importance

1. What is one of the prime objects of prophecy?
To reveal God. "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I AM GOD, and there is none like Me, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." Isa. 46: 9, 10.
2. What other important object has prophecy?
To warn His people. "Surely the LORD GOD WILL DO NOTHING, but He REVEALETH HIS SECRET unto His servants the prophets." Amos 3: 7.
3. What is the condition of this world in the last days?
"For, behold, the DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, and GROSS DARKNESS THE PEOPLE: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee." Isa. 60: 2.
4. What has God given to His people in this time of darkness?
"We have also a more SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a LIGHT THAT SHINETH IN A DARK PLACE, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1: 19.
5. What warning did God give to the antediluvian world?
The warning of Noah of a coming deluge: "And spared not the old world, but saved NOAH the eighth person, A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, bringing in the Flood upon the world of the ungodly." 2 Peter 2: 5. See also Heb. 11: 7.
“WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; WHEREUNTO YE DO WELL THAT YE TAKE HEED, AS UNTO A LIGHT THAT SHINETH IN A DARK PLACE, UNTIL THE DAY DAWN, AND THE DAY-STAR ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS.” 2 Peter 1: 19.
“WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; WHEREUNTO YE DO WELL THAT YE TAKE HEED, AS UNTO A LIGHT THAT SHINETH IN A DARK PLACE, UNTIL THE DAY DAWN, AND THE DAY-STAR ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS.” 2 Peter 1: 19.
6. Why was the kingdom of Judah overthrown?
"And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling-place: but they MOCKED the MESSENGERS OF GOD, and DESPISED HIS WORDS, and MISUSED HIS PROPHETS, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy." 2 Chron. 36: 15, 16.
7. Why was Babylon destroyed?
"And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not HUMBLED THINE HEART, tho thou KNEWEST ALL THIS." Dan. 5: 22.
"We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies." Jer. 51: 9.
8. Why did destruction come upon Jerusalem?
"And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because THOU KNEWEST NOT the time of thy visitation." Luke 19: 44.
9. What blessing is promised upon those who will search and study the prophecies?
"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." Rev. 1: 3.
10. How much of prophecy has God given us concerning the future, its calamities, its lessons?
Answer: More than one dozen different lines of prophecy are given in God's Word, beginning at different times in the centuries of the past, and culminating in these very days in which we live. These are found in the second, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh chapters of Daniel; in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, the thirteenth chapter of Mark, the twenty-first chapter of Luke; in the prophecies of the seven churches, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven-headed dragon, the seven-headed beast, and the seven-headed scarlet-colored beast of Revelation. Besides these lines of prophecy, God has given us more than a score of special signs which are to occur in the last generation. A great part of His Word is filled with prophetic warnings of coming judgments and of dangers which menace the people of God. If in all the instances recorded in God's Word the great nations of the past met their doom because they failed to heed the warning, what will it be of the people of this generation?

THE GREAT DRAMA OF THE AGES

The Seven-Fold CHURCH Seven-Fold MYSTERY Seven-Fold CALL TO BATTLE Seven-Fold SPIRITUAL CONTROVERSY Seven-Fold PERSECUTOR Seven-Fold FORNICATOR Seven-Fold DÉNOUEMENT
ACT ONE EPHESUS White-Horse RIDER BURNING DEVASTATION on the EARTH BABYLONIAN SUN-NATURE WORSHIP STATE AND Ruler Deified BABYLON OF OLD Gathering Forces THE Regnant One
ACT TWO SMYRNA Red-Horse RIDER WAILING on the SEA SUN- and FIRE- WORSHIP MAN set against GOD Sun-Worship MITHRAS Utter Defeat OF APOSTASY
ACT THREE PERGAMOS Black-Horse RIDER BITTERNESS AND DEATH GRECIAN Pantheon and CULTURE SELF- Assumption EXALTATION Pagan Priest Nature-Worship RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED IN HIS PRESENCE
ACT FOUR THYATIRA Pale-Horse RIDER DARKENING OF THE Political Heavens Iron Monarchy A Deified State PAGAN THEOCRATIC PANTHEON PONTIFEX MAXIMUS Gods Many Desolated Earth
ACT FIVE SARDIS CRY OF JUSTICE BOTTOMLESS PIT OPENED MAN in GODS STEAD Deified Church Law-Invested PERSECUTION MYSTICAL BABYLON DOMINANT FINAL Deception
ACT SIX PHILADELPHIA RESPONSE of Physical Nature Angels of VENGEANCE LOOSENED BACK TO TRADITION Milder Forms Similar Results FALSE TO HER TRUST The LAST TRAGEDY
ACT SEVEN LAODICEA SILENCE SONG World-wide WRATH and STRIFE Full Ripeness or APOSTASY DEMANDING WORLD- WORSHIP TRIUMPH AND DESTRUCTION Righteousness REGNANT FOREVER
A Diagram Indicating in Part the Studies in the Revelation

Jesus Saves

BELIEVE it, tempted, sinful, sinning soul. You long to be free from the shackles, the gyves of sin. You long to burst the walls of sin's prison-house, and walk at liberty. You long to break the power of the devilish sentinel habits which keep watch and ward over you to recall and enchain you when you think you are free.
You can not save yourself. You have tried too many times, and failed in the trying. You have found true Holland's verse, > "We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust, > When the morning calls us to life and light, > But our hearts grow weary, and ere the night > Our lives are trailing the sordid dust."
Do not despair. God has laid help upon One who is "mighty to save." God gave His Son that you might live. He loves you, all unlovable as you are. He saw you when that Son was given, and revealed His infinite love in that giving, that such love might win your heart, and lead you to cast your utterly helpless, sinful soul upon Him.
That is all He asks. Your sins may be deep-dyed crimson, He will make them like clean washed wool; tho your iniquities be thrice dyed scarlet, He will wash them "white as snow."
Never mind how He does it. Never mind the divine chemical process by which the marvelous change takes place. You can not even understand your own heart. How could you understand the deep science of God? You do not know how earth and air and sun under God can be transmuted into trunk and stem and leaf and flower and fruit. How could you hope to understand the means by which God can take your wretched sinful soul and make it so that the white light of God can see no stain upon it? How could you comprehend the process by which your heart, that hated good, that loved and delighted in sin, could be so remade that sin would be repulsive in its fairest form, and good and right and truth would be loved?
You could understand none of these things, because you can not comprehend the infinite power of creation; for it is by creative energy that God changes the heart committed to Him. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature," or as the margin of the Revised Version reads, "there is a new creation." The old things are passed away. The new has come from the hand of God. Believe it for yourself; grasp it by faith; count it yours forever.
The Lord Jesus is able to do for you today; just as able as when He spoke to the impotent man at the Pool of Bethesda, and gave him power; as when He spoke to the wretched leper, and cleansed him instantly; as when He cast the demons out of the fierce madman, and clothed him in his right mind; as when He spoke to the sheeted, decaying dead, and the dead came forth and lived. So, sinful, tempted soul, He would speak to you to-day. So He is doing it in His Word. Abjure the sin, make the promise, the power, yours by believing.
"Sing above the battle strife, Jesus saves, Jesus saves; By His death and endless life, Jesus saves, Jesus saves."

Two Classes of Servants

THERE are two classes of servants in the church before Christ's second coming. One class will be waiting and watching, working and praying. Looking with expectation, they will discern the signs of His coming.
The other class have grown careless. They may not say it openly, but they say in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth His coming," and the life is the index of the heart. Their lives are given to selfishness and self-serving.
When Christ comes, the former class will be expecting Him; the latter will be surprised, and unprepared. Jesus says, "Watch."

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., NOVEMBER 1, 1910
Manuscripts should be addressed to the Editor

Studies in the Revelation

By Editor

WE begin this week a series of studies in the Revelation, that wonderful closing book of the Bible. In these studies the writer has no old theories to combat, no pet theories to follow. His motto is taken from one who has never written upon the book as a whole; but we know of no better: "Let the Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. . . . Uplift Jesus as the Center of all hope." As the writer has no old theories to combat, he has none to follow, save those of the book. He hopes that in its study the Spirit which inspired it will illuminate both writer and reader, not alone with new views of old truths, but with new light, deeper insight into the great mysteries of God, open always to them who trust Him. Let us pray that the Spirit of truth may lead.
The studies can not in the nature of the case always be uniform in length or form or method. The book itself is not given in that way. It has its remarkable seven times sevenfold unity, yet it is full of diversity. It has no fixed formulas for solving its various problems. The Spirit in its teaching is free; it would make men free; and freely God would have us drink of its great crystal depths.
For fifty times or more the writer has been over the book. He has within his reach twenty commentaries upon the Revelation. He has ever laid them down with disappointment. Even so the reader may lay down these studies. We hope not. Many commentaries have been written too early in earth's history; many have been localized to the one book, not taking into consideration, as every true student of the Word must, whether he writes of a part or a whole, the great eternal verities of God. Within these eternal truths falls the Revelation. They shed light upon the book, and the book glorifies and beautifies them. Therefore we appeal to our friends to go with us in the study. It will lead to the city of light, to the Tree of Life.

True Righteousness

TRUE righteousness (there is none other) embraces true and good motives. If the act is to be worthy, the motive, and the heart which prompts the motive, must be pure and right and good. But man's heart by nature is dominated by selfishness and evil; it is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Jer. 17: 9. From it proceeds all evil. Mark 7: 21-23. As the fountain is corrupt, the deed must also be corrupt; and therefore in order that man may do righteous acts, the heart must be made righteous. This can be done only by the wondrous grace and mighty power of God, through faith in Christ. To him who complies with His terms, God gives a new heart. He imparts to the believer His own righteousness; He imparts to him the Spirit of righteousness; and this righteousness covers all past sins, and issues through the daily life in present good works.

Dishonesty in High Life

A RECENT article in a Sunday magazine declares, and it gives evidence in support of its averment, that a regular school exists in Paris to teach American women how to smuggle goods into America. Jewels, diamonds, gems of various sorts, costly laces and silks, are concealed everywhere — under plumes in hats, in hollow hat pins, in hair puffs, in lining of collar, in hat lining, in arm-pit pockets, in hollow corset steels, in hip pad pockets, in fluffy cuff masks, in scarf linings, in hollow parasol handles, hung in the parasol, swathed around the body, hung around the legs, in hollow heels of shoes, in hollow false teeth, everywhere.
It means perjury, for the customs present a list of dutiable articles, and demand sworn declarations. Sometimes American labels are taken abroad and placed upon the goods, and then it becomes difficult for the customs detective. Sometimes the merchant furnishes a "fake" invoice for the goods, and the tourist expects to obtain a great reduction in regular duties. The Government has spies everywhere in the large emporiums of Europe, but they miss millions for all of that. It is very seldom, however, that any of these wealthy criminals are prosecuted or punished when guilty save by fine.

National Suicide

LLOYD-GEORGE, chancellor of Great Britain, feels deeply over the war-mad race in which all nations are involved. In a recent interview, reported by Mr. Stead, in speaking of the awful burdens thrown upon the poor, when asked to what he alluded, he replied:
"To the wasteful, ruinous, suicidal competition in armaments. In the grammar of ruin there are three degrees — positive, protection; comparative, armaments; superlative, war. Why are armaments excused? Because tariff war, which is almost universal outside Britain, may lead to war of the other kind. Nations made war for markets, desiring to close those markets to their rivals. Every protectionist in our country assumes that every foreigner is in trade not a customer to be sought, but an enemy to be fenced off. Hence a mood of mind is produced in which war seems natural and inevitable, and hence, also, come those bloated armaments which are the curse and the disgrace of our civilization. I feel bitterly. As chancellor of the exchequer I have had to raise £25,000,000 extra taxation, and I have been more vehemently abused for performing that duty than any chancellor in history for every penny of the expenditure which I had to meet."
"But out of every penny social reform can only get a halfpenny; the other penny goes in armaments."
Continue reading: The Papal Outlook