Review and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 34. (8/22/1907)

Review and Herald

Aug 22, 1907

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 22, 1907

“I Say unto All, Watch”

And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.

And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Publishers’ Page

By Editor

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Association.

The Special Temperance Number of Life and Health

The September number of Life and Health has been enlarged to 40 pages, and filled with the best matter that could be secured on temperance.

It will be a good selling number.

It will be heartily received by the best classes of people in every community.

It will break down prejudice.

It will convince thousands of their personal responsibility in suppressing the liquor traffic.

It will reveal the many unsuspected avenues through which the liquor habit is acquired.

It will condemn many of the evils of the various intemperate practises.

It will expose the inconsistency of the government in licensing the liquor traffic, and then providing instruction in the public schools against the use of intoxicants.

It will demonstrate the baleful effects of liquor upon the morals of men and women.

It will impress the importance of home temperance.

It will help the public in discovering the causes of alcoholism.

It will bring the worker a liberal remuneration for his services.

Prices

The retail price of this special Temperance number will be ten cents a copy. Agents may secure copies at the following rates: 2 to 10 copies to one address, one order, 5 cents a copy; 10 to 24 copies, 4 cents; 25 or more copies, 3 cents, all post-paid.

Home and Health

From every quarter come the questions, “What about ‘Home and Health’?” “What does it teach?” We are glad to explain that “Home and Health” is a large health subscription book of 592 pages, thoroughly illustrated, and designed especially for home reference in the treating of the many details pertaining to the home and the care of the body.

It reveals some of the most practical means by which we may make our homes visible types of the invisible home above.

It gives God’s message of health, which is due just now in all the world.

It tells us how to live a plain, simple life.

It imparts information that will prove to be practical in the mechanical construction of homes.

It enables the reader to apply many of the remedies of nature in the treatment of common diseases.

It will lighten the labors of many an overburdened housekeeper, through helpful suggestions on the practical features of housekeeping.

It will prove to be an all-round, valuable counselor in every feature of home life.

In truth, it is a book of real merit and practical value.

It is a book that appeals to the people— a book that they will buy and never regret.

The Review and Herald Publishing Association has just completed its first edition of this new book, and is now prepared to fill orders for the different bindings without delay. Agents are wanted to sell this valuable work. Any one with a little preparation can sell it. Write to State tract societies or the Review and Herald for further information.

The book, bound in cloth, marbled edges, is $2.50; full law sheep, $3.50; full leather, $4.50.

Foreign Publications

The New York Office of the Review and Herald Publishing Association has in stock at the present time books and tracts in the following languages: German, Danish, Holland, Swedish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Below is given the list of Italian works with prices:—

Italian Literature

“Steps to Christ,” cloth, 50 cents; “Steps to Christ,” paper, 25 cents; “His Glorious Appearing,” 25 cents; “Sufferings of Christ,” 6 cents; “Sabbath of the Bible,” 4 cents; “Day after Death,” 2 cents; “Signs of the Times,” 2 cents; “Catholic Doctrine,” 2 cents.

Future Supplies

In addition to the above stock, the New York Branch will soon be supplied with such literature as is issued in the Russian, Slavonic, Polish, Bohemian, Servian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Rumanian, and Chinese languages. All orders for the above-mentioned publications should be sent to the Review and Herald Publishing Assn., 32 Union Square E., New York, N. Y.

Report of the Sabbath-School and Young People’s Convention

Orders are beginning to come in for the “Report of the Sabbath-school and Young People’s Convention,” recently held at Mount Vernon, Ohio. This Report will prove to be very valuable to all who are interested in Sabbath-school and young people’s work.

This meeting of which full report is given, was attended by over 200 delegates from all parts of the United States, who spent the entire time upon the definite work of the Sabbath-school and young people’s organizations. The meeting has been considered, by all who attended, one of the best that has ever been held. It was, in fact, the first general meeting ever called to consider the special work of these two departments. The result of the convention will surely be to give a new impetus to the work, for the note that rang through all the meeting and was echoed by all the papers and discussions was the finishing of this work.

The Report will contain the convention sermon by C. C. Lewis, and also the morning lessons on biographical sketches of Bible characters, which are in themselves worth more than the price of the pamphlet.

The report is one that can be used for reference for a long time by those engaged in Sabbath-school and young people’s work, and for this reason a thorough index has been added for convenience. Those who secure this report will doubtless find it better than any other report ever issued at the price named. It will be much appreciated, and those who desire it should order early while it can be supplied. The pamphlet that contains this report ought by rights to sell for 25 cents, but in order that our people may have the benefits of the proceedings, the very low price of 10 cents has been made.

The Spirit of Prophecy

The new pamphlet entitled “The Spirit of Prophecy,” by G. A. Irwin, is being very much appreciated throughout the field. The first large binding order has now been ordered out, and a new order has been placed for another supply.

This new and important work on the subject of the spirit of prophecy, its relation to the law of God, and its place in the plan of salvation, contains 56 pages of important matter that has been prepared from a series of studies upon the spirit of prophecy in the remnant church, and the relation it sustains to the law of God, and his people and work in all ages.

It has been the aim of the writer to treat the subject from a standpoint somewhat different from that in which it has heretofore been treated, and to enter a field not yet covered by any other writer, so that this treatise will be a benefit and aid to other writers upon this subject, rather than a rival to them. Its mission is more fully to establish believers upon the law of God and the testimonies of his Spirit.

All who have examined the pamphlet are highly pleased with it, and give it their hearty recommendation. We commend it to all the REVIEW readers, and every member who desires to know more of the place of the spirit of prophecy in connection with the giving of the third angel’s message. Price, 5 cents, post-paid.

The Seer of Patmos

This thrilling book contains a story on the prophecies of Revelation, written in simple narrative form, and contains a new setting of the important messages recorded in John’s prophecy in the book of Revelation. It will be found to be interesting, instructive, and essential to all Bible students. It is illustrated with original engravings especially prepared for the book. Being written in story form, it is especially attractive to the young; no better book could be placed in the hands of a young man or young woman than the story of “The Seer of Patmos.” Price, $1, post-paid.

Orders for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society, or to Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., or Battle Creek, Mich.

Also Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.; Portland, Ore.; Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Forth Worth, Tex.

Belief of the Truth

Editorial

Belief of the Truth

THERE is a great difference between assenting to a creed and believing the truth as it is in Jesus. We may acknowledge that a certain statement of doctrine is in harmony with the teaching of the Scriptures, but it may exert no more influence to change our manner of life than to acknowledge the conclusion of a demonstration in geometry or to sign the constitution of a debating society. To believe the truth as it is in Jesus means to submit to the righteousness of God, an experience which will be manifested in bringing forth the fruits of righteousness. To teach this message as a creed will result in establishing churches composed of those who profess the truth with their lips, but deny it in their lives, and thus false witness is borne concerning the vital worth of the message. All gospel truth centers in Jesus, and is revealed in him. To believe the truth and to believe on Jesus ought to be simply different forms of expression for the same experience. Let this be manifest in our teaching and in our living.

All in Christ

THE apostle Paul went among those who were in the darkness of heathenism, and raised up churches of believers who had accepted the whole truth. Those who had formerly worshiped idols became worshipers of the living and true God, made known to them as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It must be that, they held correct views upon all the essential doctrines of Christianity; they learned to observe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; they understood concerning the priesthood of Christ and the services of the heavenly sanctuary; they became acquainted with the truth concerning the nature of man and the gift of life and immortality; they became established in present truth. But all this was accomplished simply by preaching Christ to them. Thus Paul writes to the Corinthian church: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” There is in this experience a lesson for us. We can establish churches which will be sound in the present truth by preaching Christ only and him crucified. If we have not yet learned how to do this, we need to learn the message as it is in Jesus. This threefold message is the everlasting gospel.

The Message Which Will Deliver from Babylon

(Concluded)

The fall of Babylon and the cause of its fall were foretold by the prophets. Thus said Isaiah: “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. . . . Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.” “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.”

And so Jeremiah said: “Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness. . . . Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the Lord.” “I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord. . . . Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up.”

Although the fall of Babylon as a kingdom had been thus definitely foretold, yet the gospel of the kingdom of God—righteousness by faith—was preached in Babylon so that all who would accept it might be saved from the impending destruction. Daniel and his companions were chosen to proclaim this saving truth in that proud city, and through their threefold message (Dan. 2, 3, and 4) Nebuchadnezzar the king was converted and bore this testimony: “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” That the genuine message of justification by faith had been proclaimed in Babylon, and that it had had its designed effect upon the heart of Nebuchadnezzar, is made clear by comparing his testimony with the definition of justification by faith as given through the spirit of prophecy, as follows: “What is justification by faith?—It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself.” This is not the theological definition, but it sets forth the actual experience. Pride, the glorification of man, is the very essence of righteousness by works, but no one can in this way make himself acceptable to God. “His soul which is lifted up is not upright in him.” Justification by faith is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust; “those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” The true gospel of the kingdom is the gospel of righteousness by faith, and this gospel was preached in Babylon.

There was sufficient power in the threefold message proclaimed by Daniel and his companions to save Babylon. “We would have healed Babylon, but

she is not healed.” It was the failure to give heed to this message which was the direct cause of the fall of Babylon. This is shown by what Daniel said to Belshazzar on that memorable night when he interpreted the handwriting on the wall: “O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor: and for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.”

Such a message was sent to Nebuchadnezzar that he was led to humble himself before the God of heaven, although “his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride,” and the knowledge of his experience placed Belshazzar under the same obligation to humble his own heart, but he rejected the gospel message and lifted up himself against the Lord of heaven, and used the vessels from the Lord’s house in which to drink the wine of Babylon, and gave praise to the gods of Babylon instead of glorifying the God who gave him life. In doing this Belshazzar filled to the full the cup of Babylon’s iniquity, and there was no longer any hope, and so he lost that very night both his life and his kingdom. He who would not humble his heart was humbled by the judgment of God; but Daniel, the preacher and the type of righteousness by faith, survived the destruction of Babylon. Thus the answer given to the prophet Habakkuk was wrought into history: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.”

We have now found the essence of the sin of ancient Babylon, and the nature of the message which was proclaimed in Babylon to save from her destruction all who would give heed to it. The only effective antidote for the pride of the human heart is the message of righteousness by faith—that message whose result is seen in laying the glory of man in the dust, and in doing for him a work which he can not do for himself; and this was the message which the Lord sent to Babylon before he gave it over to destruction. This prophetic history is now being fulfilled. In modern Babylon the word of God is being set aside, and the pride of human opinion is being substituted for a “Thus saith the Lord.” The conclusions of a false science are accepted in place of the divine revelation, while the terms and forms and ceremonies of Christianity are made the channels for expressing the false gospel, just as in Babylon of Chaldea they used the vessels from the Lord’s temple in which to drink the wine of Babylon. To meet this situation and to gather a people out of Babylon who shall acknowledge the true God by keeping his commandments, the God of heaven has sent a threefold message, saying, “All flesh is grass . . . behold your God!” “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” In the closing days of this message there is joined with it the call to come out of Babylon, and the same gospel truth must therefore be emphasized which was announced to the prophet Habakkuk and was proclaimed in Babylon: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” The message of justification by faith must now be preached in all the world, inasmuch as the teaching of Babylon has spread to all the world, and the call to come out of Babylon will prepare a people to hear the call, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

This outline study of the historical setting of the message of justification by faith as the message of deliverance from Babylon may help some to see that the everlasting gospel which is to be preached to this generation is the very message which was preached by Daniel and his companions, adapted to the special conditions of this time, and may therefore emphasize the need of studying the book of Daniel as containing the very essence of the third angel’s message, not set forth as a theological dogma, but revealed in actual experience. It is by no mere chance that the books of Daniel and the Revelation have shaped the teaching in this advent movement and more and more will they be a treasure-house of truth to those who are giving the genuine message for this time.

The “Christian Nation” Again

By C. M. S.

THE Home Herald (Ram’s Horn) of Chicago gives a page and a half of a recent issue to the arguments of Justice David J. Brewer and to its own arguments to prove that this is a Christian nation. The whole reasoning is based upon the false premise that because rulers professing to be Christian sent out expeditions to America and granted charters for the ownership of lands they had never seen and did not own, therefore all that was done must be Christian, and the nation finally formed must be a Christian nation; that because the founders of this nation had respect for the name of God and religion, therefore the nation they established must be a Christian nation; that because in the early charters and constitutions of the colonies there was “abundant recognitions of Christianity as a controlling factor in the lives of the people,” and in one such document Christianity was “declared the established religion,” therefore this must be a Christian nation; that because some of the courts have declared Christianity to be “the religion of the people,” therefore this nation must be a Christian nation; and all this in spite of the fact that the highest voice in the nation—its Constitution—purposely declared and still does declare that even the supreme legislative body of the nation “shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

As truly might some individual claim to be a clergyman of the Methodist Church when the highest authority in that church had forbidden him to open his mouth in a Methodist pulpit. He might still be a religious man, but his claim to being a Methodist clergyman would be a false one. As truly might an alien declare himself to be a full-fledged American citizen when the courts of the country had refused him naturalization papers. He could still live in the country and enjoy the protection of its power, but his claim to citizenship would be a false one, and his attempt to exercise the right of suffrage would get him into trouble. This is no more a Christian nation than the unfrocked or unlicensed professor of religion is a clergyman, or the unnaturalized alien is a citizen. The nation is forbidden to do the very thing that it would be doing if it were in reality a Christian nation.

Justice Brewer is a member of the Supreme Court of this nation; but he could have no right to act in that capacity had he not been clothed with that

right by one having the authority. He might claim the right without the appointment, but he would not be permitted to exercise it. But he would have just as much right, unappointed, to sit upon that bench as this nation has to the title “Christian nation.” It has not received the appointment; it can not appropriate the office—it is, in fact, estopped from doing so.

There is still another reason why this nation is not a Christian nation—because it is not Christian. Several million people in this country profess Christianity. Other millions profess infidelity. Other millions profess Judaism. Still other millions profess nothing; while there are thousands upon thousands of Mohammedans, Confucianists, Buddhists, and Shintoists. Is it supposable that a piece of ore with as many component parts as the above, could justly be designated by the name of any one metal? Take a piece of metal to the mint and offer it to the one in charge as gold, for which you wish its value in gold coin. He assays it, and finds twenty per cent of pure gold, the remainder of the weight being made up by baser metals. He would denounce you as a fraud, and your scheme a “gold brick” swindle. Why?—Because you were claiming for your metal what was not true of its character.

The claim that this is a Christian nation is not true either in the sense of its real character and constituency or in the sense of its functions as a government. C. M. S.

Which Is the Better Way?

By I. H. Evans

The support of our denominational evangelical work in foreign fields is a question of no small magnitude. It is rapidly forging to the front, and is already becoming one of the greatest responsibilities resting upon those who believe in the third angel’s message.

It is indeed encouraging to know that in some of the countries outside of the United States, our work is already becoming self-supporting. This is true in some of the countries of Europe. The Scandinavian Union Conference receives no remittances from the United States, while it is also supporting the work in Iceland, Finland, and opening up the work in Abyssinia. The German Union Conference is already more than self-supporting, and is contributing a large amount of money each year for the work in Holland, Belgium, Hungaria, Bulgaria, Rumania, Russia, and other places, to say nothing of the mission that they have opened up and are sustaining from their funds in German East Africa.

Great Britain, too, while not entirely self-supporting, has ventured upon the support of a mission in the Uganda regions, and our British brethren are greatly encouraged by the privilege of helping outside their own territory.

The Australasian Union Conference does not ask for remittances from the United States for the support of its work in its own territory, and the remittances which we send to this field are for the support of the work in the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

There are several conferences in South America that are now entirely self-supporting, while others are rapidly approaching that point. As the work develops, more fields will pass from the line of receiving support from the General Conference to the ranks of those who are contributors to the general fund for work in other lands.

The policy of the General Conference is to organize all territory which it enters at the earliest possible moment, giving it autonomy in its administration, and encouraging it by appropriations of means, and the securing of help to build up the work in the field. Thus the General Conference is the active agency through which most fields secure both financial aid, when in need, and men to open up new stations. The attitude of the General Conference toward the work in all lands is that of fostering and expediting the work by securing workers to enter the fields, and by the raising of means with which to support these workers. The General Conference has an equal interest in the work in every field in the wide world, and does not aim to control nor direct, but rather to extend to each field autonomy and self-direction. The General Conference knows no preferred field, and is as much interested in one part of the wide harvest-field as another. It endeavors to treat the workers in all parts of the world on an equal footing, giving consideration to every petition that is sent in, taking into account in its appropriations the climatic conditions, the cost of living, rental, etc., and endeavoring to pass to each field an equitable proportion of the money that is raised for work in other lands.

The Organization of the Field

Each mission field is organized with a suitable head who acts as executive in the ministration of affairs, also a treasurer; and these brethren are generally supported by a committee of advisers. When there are many mission stations in one field, these are grouped together with one supervising committee for the whole field. This is true in China, India, South Africa, and many other places.

All money sent to the field from the treasury of the General Conference for the support of the work, is sent to the treasurer of the field, and the money is disbursed by the local committee on the ground. Each organized field audits the accounts of its own workers, submitting a copy of the audit to the General Conference Auditing Committee for its approval or suggestions of changes. All workers in a field receive their wages weekly or monthly, as the case may be, through the local treasurer, and not from the General Conference direct. The General Conference aims to send all remittances in lump sums, and pay no attention to the details of the distribution of the money, but receives from each mission field a monthly statement of receipts and disbursements.

The Mission Budget

Annually, each field not self-supporting makes out an itemized statement for its anticipated needs for the ensuing calendar year. This budget is to contain the name of each worker on the pay-roll, his probable expense, rate of wage, etc. Besides this, the anticipated expense in the publishing and circulation of literature, sanitarium work, and school work, is placed in the budget. This is sent to the General Conference Committee for its approval. When these budgets are all in from the various fields, the General Conference Committee meets and makes appropriations to each field according to the requests from the field and the prospects of securing the funds with which to meet these appropriations. The General Conference anticipates each year about what it will be able to receive, taking the previous year as a basis for its computation.

As an illustration of the appropriations of the General Conference Committee, our people will be interested to read the appropriation for 1907:—

European (including Levant) .. $ 18,000 Canadian Union Conference ........ 6,852 Australasian Union Conference ... 8,500 China:— General work $15,000 Publishing work 2,000 Total ....................... 17,000 India Mission field ................ 16,000 Japan and Korea:— General $7,239 Korean school 100 Japanese school 500 Total ......................... 7,839 Mexican Mission .................... 3,631 South African Union Conf. .......... 15,000 Southern Union Conference .......... 10,386 West Indian Union Conf. ............ 14,572 South American Union Conf. ........ 12,321 Southwestern Union, miss. work ..... 1,200 West African Mission ............... 1,700 Total .......................... $133,001

The funds upon which the General Conference relies are (1) annual offerings; (2) Sabbath-school offerings; (3) midsummer offerings; (4) the weekly donations given by our people for mission work; (5) special donations by individuals; (6) special donations by union and local conferences.

Some are inclined to make specific donations to individuals in a mission field. Is this the better way? Of course

any individual has a right to make a donation to any worker in any field that he may choose. No one can deny his right. However, we believe that the donations to mission work are usually made with a desire to help the cause and to facilitate the work. Now if individuals in a field receive specific donations which can not be charged by the Mission Board, then those individuals receive benefits and favors above others that do not receive these specific gifts. If several men are working in the same field, under similar conditions, and one man receives specific gifts to the amount of a few hundred dollars, it is plain that if he receives his full salary from the General Conference, he is receiving benefits and favors which the other workers can not receive. In the past this kind of giving, that is, churches or individuals giving specific donations to individuals instead of to the field as a whole, has brought embarrassment upon those who were conscientiously working, and the gifts did not prove a spiritual blessing to those to whom they were made. It tends to bring in independence of action, and an extravagance which is not helpful to the upbuilding of the work.

Most of our people, however, send what money they give to foreign fields through the regular channels of their conferences, and have the same applied to the support of the work as a whole. This helps all the workers in a field equally, is credited to the conference or individual who sends the donation, and is charged to the field to which the money is sent. In this way all remittances to foreign fields are entered upon the books of the General Conference, also upon the books of the mission field where the money is sent, so that any money can be traced from the donor to the field in this way.

Some have suggested that the regular channels are too slow and consume too much time in the transmitting of funds. When one stops to consider the actual situation,—that there are numerous fields that must have continual support throughout the year,—it does not matter much whether a specific donation takes one month or three months in getting from the giver to the fields, if the stream is kept flowing, so that there are funds on hand with which to supply the workers month by month.

Our people have given most liberally in the past for the development of our foreign mission work. This support has been much appreciated by those who have been responsible for securing funds with which to support the fields. We trust our brethren will continue their liberalities, and hope that all can see “which is the better way” in sending money, whether through the regular channels, or by making personal donations to individuals in a field. We believe that most people will prefer to send all donations for the work in other lands through the regular channels.

The General Conference treasury is in great need of funds. We hope our people will not forget their weekly offerings, but conscientiously bring an offering week by week to the Lord with which to sustain his work.

I. H. EVANS.

Note and Comment

By Editor

An inconsistent or untrue position necessarily involves the development of peculiar arguments to sustain it. We see this illustrated continually in the arguments put forward in the attempt to prove this to be a Christian nation. In one of these “proofs” put forward by the editor of the Home Herald occurs the following:—

Not only is Christianity recognized as our national religion, but Christian institutions are recognized and defended.

In Turkey there are certain Christian institutions that are recognized as such by the Turkish government, and are defended as well as that government has power to defend them. Therefore Turkey also must be a Christian nation. There are certain Christian institutions in Persia, recognized as such by the Persian government, and defended by the organized power of the realm. Therefore Persia also has joined the list of Christian nations—if the argument holds, Japan is now a model defender of the Christian institutions established within her jurisdiction. The Israelites of old asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” So might we ask, Is Japan also among the Christian nations?

This argument is no more peculiar, however, than another used with the same end in view in the same article. We read:—

The verdict of the Supreme Court of Arkansas, in Shover versus the State, 10 English, 263, may be found duplicated in court decisions of nearly all the States. In that case the court said: “Sunday, or the sabbath, is properly and emphatically the Lord’s day, and is one among the first and most sacred institutions of the Christian religion. This system of religion is recognized as constituting a part and parcel of the common law, and as such, all the institutions growing out of it, or in any way connected with it, are entitled to the most profound respect, and can rightfully claim the protection of the lawmaking power of the State.”

Now the Supreme Court of Arkansas has no right to set apart a sabbath to Jehovah. Neither has the Supreme Court of any other State or of the United States. To do so is to dictate to the Almighty. But because the Supreme Court of that State has done so—has put itself in the place of God, telling him what he must receive in the nature of a Sabbath, and telling the people what they must render to him in the way of Sabbatic observance—that presumptuous act is put forth as an argument to prove that this is a Christian nation. It would have been an act of modesty as well as of judicial wisdom for even so august a body as the Supreme Court of Arkansas to let the Lord select the day which he would designate as his, and to let him tell us what day that is. In defiance of these principles, however, the court names the day, and because it does so, its action proves this nation to be what its Constitution shows it can not be—a Christian nation.

Anonymous Priests and Catholic Reform

BECAUSE five priests in Rome recently wrote an anonymous letter to the pope, telling him that he was wrong in his program, the Christian Register of Boston professes to “see the beginning of a stream which will one day swell to a flood.” This, like the oracles of old, may be true whichever way the matter turns. The Register, however, is expecting to see grow out of this a movement which “will in some way reconcile the spiritual elements in that church with perfect civil and religious liberty,” and the Register expects to see this accomplished in a hundred years—expects that within that length of time “the devout souls will have seceded from the Catholic Church.” It might be well to remark that no great movement was ever started by anonymous letters. The “theses” of Martin Luther were not anonymous, neither did he burn the pope’s bull secretly. The Declaration of Independence was “signed, sealed, and delivered,” and one of the signers wrote his address upon it, that the king might have no trouble in finding him. The great speeches made for the liberation of the slaves were made openly, and the articles written in their behalf were signed, and the world knows who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. There is no great movement toward the conversion of the Catholic Church and its adoption of “perfect civil and religious liberty” wrapped up in the protest of five priests who dared not sign their names to their protest. The resolutions passed at the convention of the American Federation of Catholic Societies, the rapid growth of this militant Catholic body, their fervent expressions of loyalty to “the holy father,” and their reports of what they have been able to accomplish in securing and in preventing legislation in this country, ought to preclude the possibility of any one’s making the mistake of thinking that a great movement has begun that is to result in the evangelical metamorphosis of the Catholic Church.

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