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Review and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 18.

A PRAYER OF FAITH

Review and Herald

Apr 30, 1908

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 30, 1908

A PRAYER OF FAITH

By L. D. SANTEE

L. D. SANTEE
“Now the just shall live by faith.” Heb. 10:38
WHEN the dreary mists of doubt prevail, And the clouds of unbelief hang dark; When the winds of trouble press the sail, As we guide our lonely pilgrim bark: When tossed on the restless, threatening sea, Whose waves are crested with angry foam; I ask the Saviour to pilot me, And guide to my home, my heavenly home.
When the waves of sin and temptation come, And the timid heart is faint with fears, Then we look away to our home, sweet home, And the glory and bliss of endless years; Where storms ne’er shadow the crystal sea, And the woes of earth can never come; O, I pray my Saviour to pilot me, And guide to my home, my heavenly home.
Chicago, Ill.

“Behold Him in the Wilderness”

The spotless Son of God took upon himself the burden of sin. He who had been one with God, felt in his soul the awful separation that sin makes between God and man. This wrung from his lips the anguished cry, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' It was the burden of sin, the sense of its terrible enormity, of the separation of the soul from God,—it was this that broke the heart of the Son of God."
The quotation and the accompanying illustration are taken from the

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THE MAY NUMBER

By Editor

This number of Life and Health deals largely with the questions of diet and common-sense hygienic living, such as:—
“Diet and Health,” by Mrs. E. G. White,—laying the foundation principles in the selection of individual diet under varying circumstances and changing climates.
“The Cure of National Intemperance,” by D. H. Kress, M. D. Remove the cause of the craving for stimulants; the source of the craving discovered, and the cure given.
“Digestive Disturbances and Their Remedy,” by J. R. Leadsworth, M. D. Digestive disturbances prevalent; their influence in disease development; how to prevent them.
“Slip-Go-Down,” by Mrs. D. A. Fitch. Imperfectly cooked cereal foods, eaten without proper insalivation, are “slip-go-downs,” easy to eat, but hard to digest.
“Suggestive Bills of Fare,”—with explanations for the preparation of various articles; food combinations; etc.
“The Appetite of Children,”—the child’s appetite not a proper guide.
“Editorials,”—on Diet Delusions; The Nature of Animals,—Their Relation to Man; Cannibalism; Flesh-Eating; Vegetarianism; Vegetarianism in the Cure of Psoriasis.
In addition to the foregoing topics, the May number contains much more valuable instruction from good writers on general health topics.

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Typical and Antitypical Babylon

THE subject of the Sabbath-school lesson for May 9 is “The Restoration from Babylon,” and this suggests a study of the significance of the experience of the people of God in their connection with ancient Babylon.
The real meaning of the record concerning ancient Babylon, as given in the Scriptures, is lost unless we see that it is prophetic history or typical prophecy. Ancient Babylon is a type of modern Babylon. In ancient Babylon as a temporal power is the prophecy of modern Babylon as a spiritual power. The religion of ancient Babylon was paganism, open and unconcealed. The religion of modern Babylon is paganism baptized under Christian forms and names—the most dangerous and most deceptive idolatry. Ancient Babylon was a universal temporal kingdom, and modern Babylon claims universal spiritual jurisdiction. So long as the people of God maintained the spiritual character of their religion in the olden time, and did not adopt the customs and habits of the heathen around them, they were protected against the assaults of their enemies, and the glory of the Shekinah was revealed in the temple service; but when a compromise was made with heathenism, and the temple service became a mere cloak for sin, then “the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God.” A few years later, because of persistent refusal to listen to the counsel of God, “the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, till there was no remedy;” the captivity of Judah became complete; and the temple was utterly destroyed. This experience was repeated in the history of the Christian church. So long as the gospel was maintained in its purity, the church was powerful against all her foes, and prospered under fierce persecutions; but when the standard was lowered, and a compromise with paganism was effected, the church lost her means of defense, and soon became a captive in modern Babylon. This parallel might be extended to many particulars, but this is sufficient to illustrate the typical character of the history of ancient Babylon.
The fundamental principle underlying all false religions is that the worshiper must do something for his own benefit. If there are sacrifices and offerings, they are offered as a means of purchasing the favor of some god or appeasing his wrath, rather than as an expression of faith in an efficacious sacrifice. If there are gifts made, they are regarded as meritorious according to their size, rather than as a manifestation of gratitude to be estimated only by the motive back of the gift. Punishment of the body is substituted for that self-denial which is a crucifixion of the old man of sin, and thus indulgence of the worst passions becomes compatible with a spurious holiness. Such is heathenism, both ancient and modern, although the revelation of it may vary in different ages and in different countries. It is that outworking of the pride of the human heart which will not submit itself to the righteousness of God, but goes about to establish its own righteousness. It is the substitution of righteousness by works for righteousness by faith.
All false religions must necessarily deny the essential doctrine of Christianity—the mystery of godliness—the union of divinity and humanity through the incarnation of the Son of God. The reason of this lies in the fact that “every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God;” and, further, “whosoever believeth that Jesus [the man] is the Christ [the Messiah of prophecy] is begotten of God.” The personal acceptance of the doctrine of the incarnation of the Son of God, not as a theory but as a fact of life, means the indwelling presence of God in our flesh and the manifestation of his righteousness in the place of our righteousness. This is the vital thing in the gospel: “I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; . . . for therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the just shall live by faith.” The denial of the incarnation is therefore a necessary feature of all false religions, whose fundamental principle is self-salvation—righteousness by works.
When the Chaldeans, hard pressed by Nebuchadnezzar to tell him his dream and to make known the interpretation thereof, declared their inability to meet the requirement of the king, and said: “There is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh,” they published the creed of Babylon, and the creed of all false religions, and denied the essential principle of Christianity—the incarnation of the Son of God. This denial of the incarnation is the true explanation of that exhibition of pride in her own achievements which is the characteristic of Babylon, and which was expressed in those significant words of King Nebuchadnezzar: “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” This formal declaration of righteousness by works marked the climax of Nebuchadnezzar’s self-exaltation, and having thus declared himself independent of God, he was left to reveal the consequences, and to show that a man apart from the indwelling of God will be reduced to the same plane as other animals.
When the professed people of God lost the significance of the temple and its services, designed to be a witness to the purpose of God to make humanity his dwelling-place through the incarnation and the priesthood of his Son, and substituted the outward forms of religion for the inward experience, they put righteousness by works in the place of righteousness by faith, and in reality, although not in express terms, adopted the creed of Babylon. When they said, “The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah are these,” and made the glory of the temple and its services an excuse for gross and heaven-defying sins, they denied the true principle of the gospel of salvation by faith just as truly as did Nebuchadnezzar when he said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built?” The consequence of this departure from the truth was that they lost their defense against their old-time enemy, the temple was destroyed, the outward forms of their religion were interrupted, and they themselves were led captives to Babylon. The lesson which they refused to learn and to remember in prosperity, they were compelled to learn in adversity. And before the seventy-years’ experience was accomplished, they saw Babylon humbled by a foreign foe, her pride of independence of any help outside of herself brought into contempt, and her false religion discredited. Individuals were saved out of Babylon through the preaching of the gospel by some of the faithful believers among the captives; but Babylon as Babylon was overthrown, and never recovered her former glory. Righteousness by works may make an outward appearance for a time, an impression upon the senses by great buildings and dazzling ornamentation and an elaborate ritual, but it will not endure the test and trial which will reveal the worth of righteousness by faith. The power of the indwelling Son of God through the Spirit is alone sufficient to save from sin and death.
The call out of Babylon was a call to righteousness by faith, and the restoration from Babylon was the outworking of righteousness by faith. The city and temple which they could not retain against the power of their enemies after they had fallen from righteousness by faith, they were able to rebuild in the face of bitter opposition, after they had once more accepted righteousness by faith. They had learned that “except Jehovah build the house they labor in vain that build it: except Jehovah keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain,” and their trust was placed in God. The result was the restoration of the city and the temple and the service of God.
The application of these lessons to our time is obvious, and hardly needs to be pointed out. The final call out of Babylon is now going forth in the threefold message of Revelation 14; but that message must be proclaimed as the gospel of righteousness by faith, in order that the call may be effective. And it is only through the vital truth of the sanctuary and its services in its present application to the work of our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, that this message can be the genuine message of righteousness by faith to this generation. Let the genuine message be proclaimed in its purity and power.

Editorial

By Editor

A TRUE knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ is in itself a most liberal education. There is in it more incentive to mind growth than is found in the classics or higher mathematics; more incentive to soul growth than is found in all philosophy and worldly science; more incentive to highest manhood than in all the human systems of morals from Confucius and Buddha to the end of time; more ground for hope and cheer and courage than in all else that can be gathered together from the beginning to the close of human history. All that is of true worth is in harmony with it; and nothing that is at variance with it can contribute to the welfare of man. That is why the psalmist could say, “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” The Spirit through Paul, utters the same great truth in these words: “That they may know the mystery of God, even Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.” Col. 2:3. That is why the theme of salvation will be the science and song of the redeemed to all eternity.

In Time of Peace

By C. M. S.

The attention of our national legislative body, and of the American people as well, has been called sharply to the consideration of our nation's great annual military expenditures, by figures given in Congress on April 15 by Chairman Tawney, of the House Appropriations Committee. The House was considering the naval appropriations bill, and the question of the number of new battle-ships to be authorized by the present Congress. Representative Tawney presented the following figures in the course of his remarks upon the bill:—
Expended for army and navy, in preparation for war:—
PER CENT
United States .... $204,122,855 36.5
England .......... 270,596,757 38.4
France ........... 201,439,523 28
Germany .......... 240,007,724 41.4
Japan ............ 97,048,500 ...
Expended on account of past wars:—
United States, 1908 ........ $180,678,204
Percentage of revenue, exclusive of postal receipts . . . .31
England, 1906 .............. $29,329,063
Percentage of revenue ...... 0.41
France, 1906 ............... $30,501,600
Percentage of revenue ...... 0.42
Germany, 1906 .............. $8,725,496
Percentage of revenue ...... 0.015
Total expended in preparation for war and on account of past wars:—
PER CENT
United States .... $384,801,059 67.5
England .......... 299,925,820 42.5
France ........... 231,941,123 32.2
Germany .......... 248,733,220 42.9
These figures show that on account of preparation for war, the United States, with an army of 52,000 men and a navy of 42,000 men, is expending this year only $66,473,902 less than England, with an army of 204,300 men and a navy of 129,000 men.
That the United States is expending for this purpose only $35,884,869 less than Germany, with her army of 600,000 and her navy of 62,000 men.
That the United States is expending for this purpose in excess of the amount expended by France, with her army of 550,000 men and her navy of 56,285 men, $2,683,332.
If we adopt and continue this ambitious competitive naval policy, how long will it be before the American people, in order to meet the increasing expenditures on account of this policy, and the maintenance of our navy, will be compelled to change their system of federal taxation by adding to the indirect system, which has always obtained in time of peace, the system of direct taxation?
These figures are a striking comment on the present condition of this world. When we think of the expenditure of the four nations last named by Mr. Tawney for war alone, and that in a time of peace, it is appalling—more than a billion dollars paid out by these four great nations of the world for that which pertains to war, and that in a time of great international peace congresses! In that year the United States was paying out sixty-seven per cent of its entire revenue for that purpose alone. And yet by judicial dictum “this is a Christian nation,” and religious teachers are predicting an era of “peace and safety,” and the speedy abolition of war! If any evidence were needed to prove the “Christian nation” idea untrue, that evidence is given in Chairman Tawney's table of military expenditures.
C. M. S.

Contrasts and Counterfeits

By C. M. S.

—No. 6

BECAUSE the nation has been declared Christian; because a majority of the House of Representatives has declared for the restoration of the religious motto on our coinage; and because there is a large formal profession of belief in God, many are deluded into the belief that the cause of true religion is making substantial progress in this country; that infidelity is losing ground; that a glorious age is dawning, when truth will, in the natural course of events, supplant and suppress error and falsehood. In a sermon on the resurrection, published in the Christian Herald of April 15, Rev. C. T. Brady says:—
There are very few absolute atheists in the world. They are a negligible quantity, even in this day of skepticism and indifference. Mankind believes and always has believed in God. Also, there has always been some kind of moral law in human hearts, older far than the decalogue, and varying with race, and place, and time.
It is a fact, however, that absolute, out-and-out atheism has never been able to accomplish a tithe of the harm to the church of God that has been accomplished, and is now being accomplished, by theological skeptics, who, under the title of pastors and reverends dispense doubt and darkness from the pulpits of the land. On the plea of bringing God nearer to man, they have peopled the earth with more gods than the Hindu worships. On the plea of making Bible truths more spiritual, they have blunted the edge of every great truth, and cast prophecy to the winds. Avowed atheism has never been able to get at the people, and attack their belief in the verities of the Word to any such extent as the skepticism of the pulpit is doing it now.
The above quotation also has in it the seeds of the now fashionable doctrine that man has within him that which is building him up into divinity. The fact, however, is that the only moral law is God's great “ten words,” and the flood is the best answer to the assertion that human hearts have always been abiding places for moral law. That great punishment came because God saw that the imagination of men's hearts was “only evil continually.” The moral law goes back of its enunciation on Sinai. Death's reign “from Adam to Moses” proves the existence of the law during that period. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” “Sin is the transgression of the law.” The fact of sin itself proves the existence of righteousness, but the only standard of righteousness is the moral law. As long as men have been sinning, they have been breaking God's law, and, incidentally, proving its existence. The law of God was known to, and kept by, Abraham and his house; and his generation long antedated the publication of the law of God on Sinai.
Men have not within them the power of their own salvation; for “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The moral law is not inherent in the human heart; for “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9. “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Ps. 14:3. The world is not advancing in the matter of belief in the true God, or in a belief in the truth of his Word; and the Saviour's question, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” indicates what the true condition of these days will be. Infidelity in the pulpit and a belief in man's ability to save himself, are doing a fearfully destructive work in the world to-day. There is need for the apostle's admonition: “Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. . . . Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Much of the professed belief of to-day is a counterfeit belief, and the god of such a believer is a counterfeit god, created in the imagination of the worshiper. Such belief and such worship are the culminating deception of the wily enemy of souls, and are closing the door of salvation to thousands who have not learned to love the truth for the truth's sake.
C. M. S.

The General Conference Committee Council

By W. A. Spicer

Second Report

Since last week's report, additional members have arrived, as follows: O. A. Olsen, E. T. Russell, M. E. Kern, P. T. Magan, U. Bender.

Third Day, April 16

Our last report closed with the morning session, April 16. In the afternoon, study and discussion were devoted to the subject of camp-meetings, and many suggestions were offered as to making the most of these important gatherings.
In the evening E. E. Andross, president of the British Union, led in a study of this field and its needs. The object of these evening studies by delegates from abroad is to set before the committee information having a bearing upon requests for help. The British Union has shown most encouraging progress since its organization in 1902. The eight hundred members at that time have grown to over eighteen hundred. The brethren are thinking now of organizing Southern Scotland and Wales as conferences. The book and periodical work has prospered, and last year $81,000 worth of publications were sold. The believers are loyally sacrificing in pressing the work, and are now engaged in raising $10,000 for the training-school at the Watford head-quarters. This amount, when raised, with the help they are to receive from the $150,000 fund, will pay for the land and the large residence upon it now used as a school building; but this building is insufficient even for the young women attending the school. Between seventy and eighty students are in training, and nearly every one will go from the school into the field at the close of the term. Great Britain needs help for school equipment, in order to train workers for its own vast population, and for the fields beyond.
The British brethren have four workers on Lake Victoria Nyanza in British East Central Africa. A stone mission house is up, with blacksmith and carpenter shop and a school building. Each week they have a congregation of from two hundred to six hundred, in a region where no mission work has ever been done, and where even the language has never been reduced to writing.
Following Elder Andross, Brother L. R. Conradi described the work in the three stations in German East Africa, to which Germany has sent eight young people. There are two hundred African youth in the schools, and it is likely that in March six converts were baptized, the first-fruits of the mission from heathenism. Now they are planning a new station on the western coast Lake Victoria Nyanza, near the Kongo Free State border.

Fourth Day, April 17

Much business considered is still in the hands of committees for report.
A request from Newfoundland for a visit from some laborer to aid in meeting an approaching Sunday-law crusade, was favorably considered, to be granted if the anticipated movement develops.
Earnest consideration was given to the question of guiding the students from our schools into service in the conferences.
The Friday evening hour was occupied by Elder Daniells in a sermon on the development of our work, and the call of the present time for every resource of means and strength to be devoted to service in finishing the work.

Fifth Day, April 19

The morning session was devoted to business now before the committees. The afternoon was devoted to the publishing work. C. H. Jones, chairman of the General Conference Publishing Department, made a statement as to the development of this branch. In the thirty-five years up to 1882, $330,000 worth of literature was sold. Then an upward movement began, until in 1891, $819,000 worth was sold in one year. Then came a decline, continuing for years; but now for some years a steady growth has been maintained, and last year the figures rose to $1,024,000, according to publishing house records. Men have left their farms and trades, and even their professions, to go out with the publications bearing the message. Another factor in this growth is found in the fact that five publishing houses have, in recent years, moved into the country, and dropped commercial work, according to instruction given through the spirit of prophecy. Hearty co-operation of the schools, and the earnest encouragement of conference officers, have contributed to this splendid development.
The periodical work is coming to be a great factor, publishing-house records showing that periodical sales are rising even now very near to the subscription book sales in value. Action was taken to foster this branch of the work, which is capable of so great development, in harmony with the following recommendations:—
We recommend, That decisive action be taken immediately in manning the publishing department for conducting the church tract and missionary work in a thorough way, in harmony with the plans adopted by the General Conference Committee, the Publishing Department, and by the union conferences.—
(a) By the appointment of a strong man as missionary secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department.
(b) By urging the appointment of a union missionary secretary in each union conference.
(c) By the appointment of a missionary secretary in each local conference.
(d) By making suitable provision, as soon as possible for instructing these workers in order to organize them into a harmonious band of leaders.
L. R. Conradi occupied the evening hour with a study of the Scandinavian, Latin, and Levant fields. There is growth in all. Last year the Scandinavian Union sold $60,000 worth of books. Finland now has one hundred and twenty Sabbath-keepers. The Iceland work grows in influence, and now the temperance societies of that island propose to send Elder Ostlund as their representative to the great temperance gathering to be held in Washington this year. The tithes of the union show healthy growth. The union needs two or three young Scandinavians from America to join its small force of but thirty-five ministerial and Bible workers, and in some way help ought to be given for an educational fund.
The Latin Union is the dark Catholic field, but there is a slow and steady growth. France, with its forty millions, has but twelve workers. In Spain eleven members were added last year. In all the union eighty-four members were added,—a small number, but considering the nature of such fields as Portugal, Italy, and others, these figures are most encouraging. The Latin fields call for an appropriation of $11,000, and beside this there is urgent need of assistance from without to provide an educational fund so that young people from these dark Catholic fields may be trained in the school at Gland, Switzerland.
In the Levant, which means Turkey, Egypt, and Greece, we have three hundred seven Sabbath-keepers. Elders Robert Greaves, of Canada, and W. Ising, of Germany, are just joining the workers in Turkey; and Greece is now entered by Professor W. E. Howell. There are four German nurses in Jaffa, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Our Armenian brethren have endured hardness as good soldiers, in some cases enduring months of imprisonment. Educational facilities are needed to train the native believers in these countries. The speaker recounted the experiences in Europe by which our books have been placed in royal palaces, and the warning message brought before princes as well as peasants.

Sixth Day, April 20

The publishing work was again considered in the morning session, recommendations being passed regarding the division of the initial expense of new books between the different publishing houses, and regarding a very important development proposed by the managers of the Signs of the Times, by which a most effective agency is to be provided for spreading the truth, details of which we must leave for the management to announce as their plans are matured. The council seemed to regard this proposed step as marking a strong advance in periodical work. Decisions were made regarding handling the book “Ministry of Healing.”
Another feature heartily approved by the council was the proposition of the Southern Publishing House to bring out a special temperance number of the Watchman, dealing with temperance and the prohibition of the liquor traffic just at this time, when the great agitation is being made everywhere. The council approved of their earnest request that each State circulate not less than five thousand copies of this temperance number, placing it, if possible, gratuitously in the hands of the W. C. T. U. organizations for use as campaign literature; and in addition our people were urged to give this number a wide circulation generally.
In the afternoon session Mexican matters were considered. Brother J. A. P. Green, of southern California, was invited to act as general canvassing agent for Mexico, and Brethren H. H. Hall, G. W. Reaser, G. W. Caviness, and L. E. Borle were asked to act as a committee to select four colporteurs called for by that field. Recommendations regarding other evangelistic help for Mexico were adopted. L. E. Borle of the Pacific Press, was invited to go to Mexico as manager of the printing-office. It was voted to raise a fund to equip the office, the Pacific Press having donated one of their good cylinder presses, a splendid gift valued at $1500. Brother Julius Paulson, of Guadalajara, was added to the Mexican Advisory Board, and it was voted to pay the transportation of a teacher to join Mrs. Dr. Fattebert in self-supporting teaching work at San Luis Potosi.
The evening session was devoted to the Department of Education, and a most enthusiastic meeting it was. Professor Frederick Griggs, chairman of the department, read a deeply interesting review of the year's work. Forty-two buildings have been added to the school equipment in the denomination, and over fifteen hundred additional students have been enrolled.
Recommendations were adopted approving of a meeting of the heads of leading schools at Cleveland, Ohio, July 3-9, at the close of the annual meeting of the National Educational Association in that place, approving of raising a fund to assist in bringing out text-books, one of the greatest needs in our school work, and other recommendations, as follows:—
Whereas, It is necessary that the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary be filled with the right class of students in order to train workers for the mission fields; therefore,—
Resolved, That we urge each conference in the United States and Canada to send to the school, assisting them financially if necessary, at least two young people who they believe will make valuable workers for the mission fields.
Whereas, The educational work in other lands is in need of an educational fund from which young people of promise may be properly assisted in attending our training-schools; therefore,—
Resolved, That we call upon our young people in America earnestly to consider the need of providing such a fund, and to interest themselves in raising it.
From six o'clock in the morning until the evening the work of the council is busily going forward.
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

Note and Comment

Roman Catholic Protestants
A RECENT editorial in the Christian Advocate (New York) speaks of the attitude of “Protestants that are Protestants, and not Roman Catholics in disguise.” In view of the fact that so many professed Protestants have really adopted Roman Catholic principles, it becomes necessary to make such a distinction as this.

Aroused Rome's Wrath

THERE occurred in the city of Rome, Italy, on April 20, an incident which forcibly illustrates Rome's intolerance of unbelievers in her doctrines and practises. A German professor and his family, visiting Rome, entered the Sistine Chapel, where the pope was administering the sacrament to the communicants. They unexpectedly found themselves among the communicants, and a wafer was placed in the mouth of each by the pope. Not being Catholics, and apparently not understanding the meaning of the rite, they spat out the wafers upon the floor. To the Catholic, believing that the officiating priest or pope has turned the wafer into the very body of Christ, the act of rejecting the wafer was an act of terrible sacrilege upon the person of the Lord. For the act mentioned the German professor and his family were taken into custody by the church officials, and threatened with dire punishment. They were finally released, and the dispatch of the following day, which follows, indicates that they did not consider it safe to linger in Rome:—
LONDON, April 21.—A Rome dispatch to the Telegraph says that Professor Feilbogen and his family, who yesterday in the Sistine Chapel, after the sacrament had been administered to them, spat the wafers on the floor, have left Rome to escape punishment for sacrilege. Professor Feilbogen is a man of high character and he could not have committed the sacrilege voluntarily.
The fact that the so-called sacrilege was committed unintentionally seems to have had no weight with the papal officials, whose spirit convinced the professor that his stay in Rome would put himself and family in great danger. The dispatch is headed “Flee from the Wrath of Rome.” If Rome had the power she once exercised, it would not be so easy to flee from her wrath.

Nature and Religion

MANY are coming to believe in nature as a teacher of religion, as a revelation of God and of his will. True it is that God designed that the perfect work of his hands should teach the perfection of his character and glorify his name. But creation as it is to-day, marred by sin, conceals more than it reveals of God's character, goodness, and glory; and can not be considered an adequate teacher of divine truth. It is frequently appealed to, however, as authority to prove doctrines that are condemned by the written Word. Not long since a lecturer of world-wide reputation, in attempting to prove the immortality of the soul, said:—
All nature proclaims that there is another life, and the belief in that other life lends comfort to us. The belief in immortality gives brightness to the somber character of an occasion like this; for we are assured that the congenial spirits who meet and mingle here will hold communion in the world beyond.
There is nothing gained to the Christian by seeking to prove a doctrine from nature which is plainly at variance with the written Word of Him who created all things. It is certain that the marring of creation by sin made it necessary that mankind should have the written Word if men were ever to understand God and his dealings aright.

Dangerous Ground

IN carrying out its purpose to suppress the dangerous elements to society which are now asserting themselves so vigorously, the government is more than likely to imperil the liberties of other classes of citizens. This possibility was referred to in a recent editorial in this paper. As showing that we are not alone in this view, we quote the following paragraph from an editorial in the Washington Herald under the title, “The Suppression of Anarchy:” —
But President Roosevelt is very much in earnest in his belief that one of the important duties of government is the suppression of anarchy. His power to exclude from the mails any publication advocating murder, arson, or treason, as a remedy for political or social wrongs, he purposes to exercise, on the advice of the attorney general that the exclusion of such publications is justified under existing statutes. But the attorney general, in his opinion, used a rather ominous phrase, “seditious libel,” holding that the publication of a seditious libel warrants exclusion of the seditious print from the mails. Now, if the president indorses the view that seditious writings should be debarred from the mails, he is treading on dangerous ground.
That suppression does not always suppress, is demonstrated in the recent history of Russia; and the outlook for the future of a republic is not flattering when repressive measures become a part of the regular program of the government. But in this time of general and increasing lawlessness, the exercise of arbitrary power by the government seems almost inevitable. We are between the Scylla of anarchy and the Charybdis of absolutism.
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