Earlier text: A MESSAGE FROM CHRISTTHE COMING DESPOTISM.
By T.
AS the world swings over into the new century, it is well for us to consider the forces that were dominating the minds of men a hundred years ago, and compare them with the conditions of to-day. And in doing this we speak only of facts, and not of fancies and theories. A hundred years ago the predominating and all-pervading spirit was that of liberty for all mankind. This spirit of liberty sought to gain a foothold in the Old World, and, failing to get what it desired in those countries, it planted itself firmly in America. A nation of men came to these shores whose hearts were panting for liberty, and they formed the great American Republic. This republic was not formed on its broad basis of equality and natural rights without a severe struggle. But when the organization was completed, its corner-stone was equal and exact justice to all, and a clear recognition of the inalienable rights that inhere in every individual, whether the individual be high or low, rich or poor. And not merely did the fathers of the republic consider the rights of each individual to enjoy civil liberty, but his right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience was fully and strongly affirmed. So deeply imbedded were these principles in the minds of those who established this government, that it was sincerely hoped and believed that the righteous foundation they had laid would securely sustain the nation until its light would reach every part of the world, and all mankind would be blessed with freedom’s choicest gifts. And this exalted and worthy hope would be fully realized if the nation would see to it that it always remained on the foundation that the fathers laid. It is only in breaking away from these fundamental principles of equal and inherent rights that the doom of the great republic can ever be sounded. In the centuries of the past the governing class meted out certain “privileges” to the common people as they saw fit. But the sturdy manhood of the beginning of this century was sparing no pains to teach mankind that every individual had “inalienable rights,” and that we inherently possessed these rights as an endowment from our Creator, and therefore no governing class could bestow them upon us as a privilege, or “gift from the throne.” Had these principles of equality and justice remained strongly imbedded in the minds of the majority of those composing the nation, it would be impossible for a despotism to be formed. Freedom would necessarily remain to fill us with joy and strength. The democratic principles of simplicity were also strongly interwoven in the minds of the people a hundred years ago. Not that they were less refined, or less cultured, but they believed in the equality of man, and every man was a friend and neighbor. Titles of nobility were not allowed on the national escutcheon, it being strongly affirmed that uprightness, and honesty, and the cultivated abilities that a man possessed, made him noble, rather than the heritage of a titled ancestry. The foregoing are some of the recognized principles that ruled in this country at the beginning of this century, and that which was started in a comparative perfection in this country was made possible thru the overflow to these shores of the sentiments of liberty in the Old World, that were loosening men from the tethers of nobles and kings. Hence, it would not be true to say that these principles of democracy and liberty were native to this land, for they were agitating the nations in a mighty wave of reform all over the world. The power of this wave of liberty and freedom is spent. And the reason of it does not lie in any thought that freedom and liberty have lost their power. No, by no means. They are just as strong as ever. But men are given to-day to the trivialities of luxury and pleasure, and to the hoarding of wealth, and the principles of right that serve to give a nation power are not regarded as they should be. There is an aristocracy growing up in this country, and every one knows that an aristocracy is the embodiment of selfish rule in behalf of the favored few that compose it. And history speaks to no purpose if it does not teach us that an aristocracy is the foundation of a despotism. And once a despotism is formed, liberty is a thing of the past. We have frequently had occasion to point out the prophecy that foretells all the history of this nation. The nation is symbolized under the head of the beast with two horns in Rev. 13:11-17. The evidence which leads to this conclusion we have shown in these columns again and again, so we will only state the facts here, and refer the reader to other publications for the arguments. But notice the attributes of this power. It is said that he had two horns like a lamb. This shows the most peaceable disposition, and the kindliest principles of government. But immediately the prophecy adds that “he spake as a dragon.” Thus do we see that the prophet long centuries ago foretold the kindly principles that would dominate this country in the beginning, and also that these principles would depart, and the nation would speak as a dragon in its latter history. And he who sees the departure of this country from its original principles, should also in this departure see the fulfilment of this prophecy of Revelation. And it should be known to every one that as soon as this country completes its fulfilment of that prophecy, it will be the last link in the prophetic chain, and then will be the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It may seem almost heart-rending to those of us who were taught in our infancy to revere and love the principles of this republic, to know that it is in its decay, and that soon it will drift back to even a worse despotism than what it left behind in the Old World in the darker centuries of the past. But when we know that the eternal kingdom of Christ is at hand, and that His everlasting government is about to be established, and that it will bring to an end forever all the cruelties of tyranny, the heart is cheered by this glorious hope. But you are possibly about to say that this country is not departing from her principles. Then pray where have you been for the past few years? Any man with half an eye ought to be able to see that this country is already under the control of an oligarchy of wealthy men. But few of these men may hold official positions in the government, yet they rule it none the less surely. Whatever they decide upon must be worked out into law. And if lawmakers will not do their bidding, they see to it at the next election that those are elected who will. This oligarchy of wealth is more naturally interested in commerce than in anything else. Money is their god, and so they are trying to get all of it they can, regardless of what good it will do them, and of what use they can make of it in benefiting their fellow-men. Hence, when commerce suggests the subjugation of other lands, the country, in spite of the heroic and noble efforts of some of its best men, is driven into a course of empire. This empire does not bring the burdens of despotism to the home land just yet, but if we sit still and allow them to be pressed down upon our fellow-men in foreign climes, it will only require a little time till the yoke will be placed upon the necks of men in the home land. You may say that you can not believe this. But you may be assured that wrong principles will as surely produce these results as effect follows cause. Some of the very best minds of the nation see the evils that are coming, and are raising their voices against them, as the following words, taken from Ex-President Harrison’s speech at the University of Michigan, will show:— “The fight against imperialism will not stop. It will go on unconfused hereafter. . . . The Philippines must be as free as Cuba. The eternal vitality of the Declaration of Independence must be acknowledged. The supremacy of the Constitution wherever the flag flies in sovereignty must be admitted.” General Harrison bases his argument upon the rights of man, divinely ordained, and upon the nature and requirements of the Constitution; for he says further:— “Our fathers worshiped very profoundly their beliefs as to the rights of man. . . . It was their faith, based upon a liberty derived from God. It was a divine gift, to be claimed for our people only upon the condition of allowing it to apply to all men.” The foregoing are the words of one whom the nation saw fit to honor with the highest office in its possession. And he clearly sees that the nation is drifting, and that a battle is on that involves the “rights” of men. This battle will be waged warmly, because there are some strong-hearted souls that will not allow their heritage to be taken from them without a contest. But let it be remembered that the principles of freedom that dominated this country in the beginning, are the principles of the Prince of Peace. And let it be known to all men that, as the principles are being banished from the governments of men, He will set up His government; and that happy domain holds forth to you every right, and every liberty and freedom of righteousness. The Father of Mercies is now earnestly entreating you to lay hold of it as your eternal prize. There is in these late years a decided tendency of uniting theological schools with State universities. Religious denominations have made their schools more and more like the secular schools of the world save in the purely theological course, and these schools have been found to be too much of a burden financially, and their diminishing attendance and standing carry little prestige in the degrees conferred. For that reason some of the denominations are locating their theological schools near the State universities, depending upon the university for all save the purely theological course. For instance, the Lutherans in Nebraska set forth their reasons for locating their denominational school building near the State university as follows:— “(1) On the one hand the undisputed and undiminished privileges of the thoroly manned, equipped, and endowed State university; and, on the other, the most undisturbed religious and denominational influences of the Lutheran home; (2) less cost to students; (3) greater opportunities for church work; (4) an increased number of students on whom to operate; (5) greatly reduced cost to the church.” The Baptists are doing this in Seattle, Wash.; the Protestant Episcopals have a school at Laramie, Wyoming; and the Disciples, in Missouri. The Presbyterians are about to follow the Disciples in the latter State. Writing of the movement in this State, President Benjamin Ide Wheeler, of the University of California, Berkeley, says:— “There is a strong sentiment in favor of establishing the theological seminaries in the town of Berkeley, in order that the men who are preparing themselves for the ministry may at the same time pursue work in the University of California. The Christian Church is the only denomination which has as yet taken this step, but the Pacific Theological Seminary of the Congregational Church is about to erect a fine building in Berkeley, close to the university grounds, and to remove to these new quarters from its present home in Oakland.” President Patton, of Princeton University, thus broadly states the proposition in a recent sermon at that institution:— “I sometimes wonder whether more use might not be wisely made of the State universities; whether a wise economy of resources, as in the newer States, might not suggest an affiliation of various educational interests as would serve to throw around young men a distinctly Christian influence, and at the same time open to them the opportunities of a wide range of study, which only a large institution can offer.” All this means a closer union of Church and State. The influence will be to blind and fetter the State in the direction of favoring religion in legislation, and to secularize the Church, and destroy whatever power of Christ remains in her. When the Church unites with the State in organic education or co-operation, it precludes the destruction of both. Boy Excluded from Prussian Schools
A TEN-YEAR-OLD German boy was recently excluded from all the schools of Prussia for speaking disrespectfully of the German emperor THE WIFE AS A HOME-MAKER.
By M. C. DuBois
“HOMES,” says a writer, “are the springs among the hills, whose many streamlets form, like great rivers, society, the community, the nation, the church. If the springs run low, the river wastes; if they pour out bounteous currents, the rivers are full. Homes are divinely ordained.” One person alone can not make a home what it ought to be. Each member of the family, the husband, the wife, the son, the daughter, must have a part in the home-making. As in music when all the parts are combined we have perfect harmony, but if one part fails the harmony is broken and the effect destroyed, so in the home-life. When each is faithful, doing his allotted part lovingly, the harmony is sweet and sacred; but if any member fails in love or duty, the harmony is marred. Having in former articles outlined from a Bible standpoint the duties and obligations of the husband, I will now endeavor, from the same source, to speak of the wife's part in making a happy home. When a good and noble man chooses from among his acquaintances one to be his wife, he raises her to a position of honor, of dignity. She is now a queen, over a small realm to be sure, but a queen, nevertheless. In her hand is placed a scepter of power, which she will wield for good or ill. Destinies most sacred are now trusted to her keeping. Will she prove faithful to the trust reposed in her? Will her realm be a peaceful one, or will anarchy prevail? No woman should marry without asking herself a few heart-searching questions. Does she truly love the one who asks her to go with him to the marriage altar? Can she be a true wife, a real blessing, to him who would lift her to his heart throne? Can and will she be true to him “thru better or worse”? Can she cherish and comfort him till death severs the tie? These are a few of the questions every woman should put to her inmost soul before she consents to become a wife. The relation existing between husband and wife is the most sacred of all earthly relations. Love is the first essential in this relation, and faithfulness is one of the chiefest of wifely duties. By love and faithfulness she may make her husband's life purer, stronger, grander, and she who fails here fails in one of the most important duties of life. Remember, dear reader, I am writing of the home as God would have it be, as He intended it should be, not as it really exists to-day or has existed since the purity of the Eden home was lost. There are but few if any ideal homes in the world at the present time; but few husbands and wives who measure up to the standard of the Word of God. Sad, sad indeed it is that so many homes are darkened by sin that ought to be heavens of peace and joy in this sin-cursed earth. The Bible portrays a model wife. You will find her sketched in Proverbs 31. She is here set before us with all the virtues needful for her exalted station. “The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her. . . . She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” “Her price is far above rubies.” Prov. 31:11, 12, 10. She is “a crown to her husband.” Prov. 12:4. The virtuous woman is set forth as her husband's gem of many virtues. She is the guardian of his interests, her economy his safe steward; for she will make his interests her own, and will exercise economy and carefulness in the family expenditure. From her lips sweet words of counsel and encouragement should fall, and her prayers should daily ascend for heaven's blessings upon him. There is need of a solid foundation upon which to build the home structure; that foundation I will call good housekeeping. The lover may exist upon smiles and caresses; but the husband desires more substantial food, in the shape of good bread and other well-cooked viands. Every girl before she marries ought, as she values the love and respect of her husband, to be able to cook a good plain meal, and to arrange it upon the table in a neat, inviting manner. The art of making good bread, from both bolted and unbolted flour, should be mastered by every woman before she becomes a wife. The husband fed upon griddle-cakes, sour bread, and poorly-cooked, highly-seasoned food, is liable to partake of the nature of the food he eats; and when day after day he goes home to an untidy, disorderly house, where only fretting and complaining greet his ear, is it any wonder that he turns from such a home to seek scenes more cheerful? A woman's best and grandest energies should center in her home. This field should be the first to be cultivated, before going very far to help others. Be faithful in the home duties first; then reach out the helping hand to others. Woman has her divinely-appointed work, her place to fill in God's plan; and one of her divinely-appointed offices is that of motherhood. But motherhood should never be forced upon any woman without her consent. She should have the privilege of deciding for herself. No true husband will go contrary to the mind of the wife in this matter. Many women are not physically able to become mothers, and ought not to be compelled to. In Eph. 5:22–24 we read these words: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. . . . Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” Again: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.” Col. 3:18; I Peter 3:1, 6. Let no husband conclude that in these divine commands there is the least license granted him to be tyrannical or unjust. The wife is only to submit as it is fit in the Lord. The husband who fills his part of the divine command, and loves his wife as his own body, yes, even as Christ loved the church, giving Himself for it, will ask nothing of his wife but what is right, nothing to which she will not be willing to yield cheerful obedience. If the husband first fails in fulfilling his part, ought he to expect more of his wife than of himself? Certainly the marriage relation, when both husband and wife are faithful to all the commands of God, is a most happy state. That much depends upon the wife and mother, I freely admit. I think I may truthfully say she is really the home-maker; for if she is a sweet, patient woman, it is her presence which makes the home. The space within the walls of the dwelling you inhabit, does not of itself make a home. Home, whether the palace of the millionaire or the cottage of the poor man, is made by the sweet spirit of love and contentment that dwells there. Where these elements exist, with the love of God in the heart, there you will find the true home. Let no wife who reads these lines look upon her home duties as of little account, but rather let her look to God for strength to be a more faithful wife, a more patient, tender mother. May no mother belittle the work of homemaking; rather let her realize the greatness of her work, and that from her home is going out an influence far-reaching for good or ill. Satan is seeking in these last days to demoralize the homes, and to make wives and mothers dissatisfied and restless, forgetful of the sacredness of their duties. May God help every wife and mother to seek to do her daily home work as “unto the Lord,” to feel the sacredness of the mother's calling. ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
“The ‘new boy’ is of later origin than the ‘new woman,’” said Mrs. Joseph V. Witherbee, who lectured recently in Brooklyn. “He can make his own bed, sew buttons on his own clothing, cook his own breakfast, and wash the dishes if necessary, and he is no longer considered a ‘sissy’ for so doing. He can carry on successfully a bachelor establishment for his father and himself, make out the menus, hire the domestics, and even do his part socially,11 without losing his place among the first six in school. “The ‘new boy’ is the result of a growing belief among mothers and educators that domestic training is just as good for boys as for girls. They argue that a domestic-trained boy makes the best kind of husband, and that the brother who is obliged occasionally to make his own bed or boil an egg will not look down on his sister for doing the same things. Also that the girl who can use her brother’s kit of tools will no longer consider him a superior being because the tools are his property rather than hers. Again, the advocates of domestic training for boys say that, while there will always be a division of occupations in the family, as in society, there is this difference in the family, that in those occupations which relate to the common life there ought to be a common performance, else the division of labor will result in a division of feeling and of thought.”—N. Y. Tribune. RESIGNATION
By Clyde Scott Chase
“Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.” O SOUL, within thy prison walls,
Seek not to break the iron bars;
But calmly, from thy house of stone,
Look upward at the guiding stars! There is a hope beyond the grave;
There is a morn to follow night,
When sin’s dread arm no more is raised
The children of the earth to smite. Tho’neath that giant arm we fall,
And feel our sentence is but just,
Still shines the light of love divine—
Our Father knoweth we are dust. Let Him unlock the prison gates,
When in His wisdom comes the hour;
And if the waiting heart grows faint,
Seek still the Fount of endless power. There is a King who yet will reign;
There streams a banner from on high;
There bursts a blessed star of hope
Ablaze upon the leaden sky. There is a shore beyond the waves;
There is a morn to follow night,
When sin’s dread arm no more is raised
The children of the earth to smite. Then, soul, within thy prison walls,
Seek not to break the iron bars;
But calmly, from thy house of stone,
Look upward at the guiding stars. MOTHER NATURE'S CHILDREN.
By Mrs. L. Wilcox
MIND always says the trouble we have is his Sister Stomach's fault, but Cousin Ear heard Dr. Rational say it was not really the Stomach that was the root of all the trouble. It was a lack of government in Mother Nature's household. We must work in harmony with her, and she will restore all things in her “house beautiful.” First of all, there must be pure air, pure water, pure food. This does not mean beer or alcohol, does it, dear mother, nor pieces of dead animals? “How my Sister Lungs expanded, and seemed to take in an extra supply of oxygen. Sister Heart bounded for joy; Cousin Pulse tried to thump as loud as Sister Heart, and Cousin Ear felt happy enough to tune his little drum, when they heard of these new things. But we have an innumerable host of poor relations, who hardly responded, they felt so weak. They are our distant cousins, the Nerve family. You know just where they all live. But Dr. Rational says they will all revive under better conditions. “I did not confess to Dr. Rational (he has always been such a stranger to us) that we had so many ‘poor relations,’ but we have known of them. I first found out about them from one of the senses. They sent a message to Cousin Brain that they were actually in a starving condition. I made it known to Mind, who should have consulted you, dear Mother Nature. But he listened to little Palate, as usual, and she called for multitudes of things that were entirely too rich, and would be of no use to these ‘poor relations.’ But I had to take them, look them over, and send what I could to the Nerve family; but they were not half fed even then. “And as for clothes, I heard my life companion, the Body, say his main strength, his Muscular Tissue, was wasting away; and what to do for the Nerves he did not know. Unless he could be supplied with the necessaries of life himself, he could not help any one else. “Mother, dear, I almost tremble to make known my wants to Mind; for I fear he is growing weak. I sometimes wish they would call in Dr. Surgery, and remove me from this place. But I know you need me, or God would not have placed me here; and if Mind would only consult Dr. Reason, I feel certain that you and I would never need to be parted. “Cousin Kidney managed, after that cyclone of beer, to get a message by the Nerve family to Cousin Brain, that unless this order of things stopped, there would be trouble. And my sister, Liver, has quit communicating with me altogether. She is dull and torpid, and my companion, the Body, told Cousin Ear that she was a burden to him. Then Mind said it was my fault again, and he might as well die as have such a Stomach, when all these years I have been so faithful to him, and a perfect slave to both him and little Palate. Now, dear Mother Nature, I appeal to you. I have not told you all, nor half, but enough so that I feel that you will not condemn me entirely.” “No, daughter, I will not condemn you. I regret very much that any of my children should be out of harmony with me. But I have suspected for some time, and have now found it to be true, that your brother Mind is poisoned. “O, dear me!” sighed his sister, “will he die? and how did it happen?” “No, he will not die, I said; that is, not for the present, and it happened in this way: He got Mouth to chewing a poisonous weed called tobacco, and it has dulled his sense of feeling so that he has not heard the sisterly remonstrances you have told me about. It seems to be a slow poison, and it has dulled his sensibilities in a way that he did not realize himself; but he has given me his word of honor that he will put it away and work in harmony with me. We have consulted Dr. Reason and Dr. Common Sense, and they have told us we have other relatives we must cultivate. One is Cousin Taste. Dr. Reason said she was a beautiful child at the beginning, and would never have associated with Mr. Whisky or Tobacco. She had become perverted. But she will obey Mind, she says, and I hope she may again become a pure, sweet child. Dr. Common Sense said that if each of you children would work in harmony with your mother, all things would soon be restored to order again.” “That doesn't mean Dr. Nostrum and Miss Sarsaparilla again, does it, Mother Nature?” sighed poor little Stomach. “No, no, dear child, Dr. Rational Treatment gave me a prescription. It is Nature's own remedies,—pure food and exercise, called physical culture now.” “Not physical torture, such as I have been accustomed to?” sighed poor little Sister Waist. “Stomach gave a sigh, too, and said, ‘What is physical culture, mother? I never heard of it.’ “And yet it is very ancient, my daughter. It was given to Adam. God told him to earn his living by the sweat of his face; but, like other evils, idleness crept in, and exercise, or work, as it was called then, was overlooked, and now we have physical culture in its stead. Though modern, it is an excellent thing, my child, and I hope we may adopt it.” Poor Stomach sighed. She had her suspicions now of everything, and was afraid it was something that had to be swallowed. The pure air her Sister Lungs could attend to. The Nerves gave a little start at the sound of cold water; for they thought it meant a cold bath every morning, and they always felt shocked at that. Mother Nature said: “My children are all awaking to new life. I do hope they will return to work in harmony with me.” Dr. Rational's prescriptions were so very simple that they wondered why they had not tried them before; but all agreed to try them now, when all at once here came Miss Worry and Miss Fret. They were not relatives, and seemed quite foreign at first; but after paying so many visits, they became as one of the family. They first visited Brain, and took permanent rooms in Mind's house. They became acquainted with all his troubles and trials, and fairly dwelt upon them, especially his estrangement with his sister, Stomach. Mother Nature told little Stomach not to be troubled. She said: “We will all do our best to work in harmony, as brothers and sisters should, and your brother, Mind, will soon see that Misses Fret and Worry are coquets anyway. I told him to consult Dr. Reason, and then I would do all I could to help him.” “There is a lovely way,” said Mother Nature; “I heard of it long ago. You see the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, which is my law; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Jesus has said, ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.’ Now if your poor brother, Mind, would accept this spiritual mind instead of this carnal one, what a blessing it would be to us all! Then he would know how to order his house in harmony with my laws, as I have so long hoped he would; and then would my children dwell in peace.” MRS. L. WILCOX. THE ARCH OF CHINESE ORIGIN.
The Chinese structures that impress the engineering observer most strongly are the bridges, the pagodas, the city walls, and certain details of building construction. The arch, that beautiful structure from the scientific as well as the esthetic point of view, is generally believed to be of Roman origin. It was not known to or at least never used by the Greeks, and, altho the shape appears in certain specimens of Hindu architecture, it is of false variety—that is, a succession of protruding corbels. In China, on the other hand, we find it of most widespread and general application, and examination shows that the principles involved are thoroly understood. The universal use of the design in all parts of the country, and the undoubted antiquity of so many of the existing examples, clearly demonstrate that it long antedates any possible foreign suggestions, and go a long way to establish it as of Chinese origin; a department, however, which, like printing and gunpowder, never passed beyond the national borders.—Engineering Magazine. “Sir,” said a lad, coming down to one of the wharves in Boston, and addressing a well-known merchant, “have you any berth on your ship? I want to earn something.” “What can you do?” asked the gentleman. “I can try my best to do whatever I am put to do,” answered the boy. “I have sawed and split all mother’s wood for nigh on two years.” “What have you not done?” asked the gentleman, who was a queer sort of questioner. “Well, sir,” answered the boy, after a moment’s pause, “I have not whispered in school once for a whole year.” “That’s enough,” said the gentleman, “you may ship aboard this vessel; and I hope to see you the master of her some day. A boy who can master a wood-pile and bridle his tongue, must be made out of good stuff.”—Selected. Tact and Courtesy in Friendship
Do NOT flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. On the contrary, the closer are your relations with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become.—Oliver Wendell Holmes.