p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 14. (4/4/1906)

Earlier text: TEMPORAL POWER OF THE PAPACY

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

Reporting to the Visitor, Brother G. Medairy notes the organization of a church of thirteen members at Waynesburg, Ky.

A CONFERENCE district meeting was held recently at Coshocton, Ohio. The city hall, heated, was granted to the brethren for meeting purposes free of charge, through the kindness of the mayor.

WRITING from Grove, Ky., Brother E. L. Sanford reports that a two-weeks' series of meetings, held in a private house, has resulted in six new Sabbath-keepers. These are the husband and wife in three respective families.

FROM a private letter from College View, Neb., we learn of the death of Prof. August Kunze, about March 15. He was instructor in German—including rhetoric, Bible, and history—and New Testament Greek, in Union College. We have not learned particulars.

THE Pasadena (Cal.) Evening Star gives liberal notice of the meetings held in that city by Brother Wm. W. Simpson. On Sunday evening, March 13, the Y. M. C. A. Auditorium was packed, and a thousand people were turned away for want of room.

BOTH the Sentinel and the Democrat, of Sedalia, Mo., give liberal space to the advocacy of religious liberty. The former quotes from our new quarterly, Liberty, published at 222 N. Capitol Street, Washington, D. C., and the latter admits a contribution from Brother W. A. Theo. Miller.

IN the Southwestern Union Record we notice reports that six members were added to the church at Douglas, Texas, in connection with meetings held by Brethren N. V. Willess and W. L. Brandon. Also, that two converts had responded to the labors of Brethren C. W. Miller and H. Schmidt, among the Germans of Henrietta, Texas.

THE South African Missionary gives an encouraging report of Cape Colony Conference, as presented at the late annual session. There were added to the conference the past year four churches. There was also an increase of funds from all departments of the work. Officers were elected as follows: President, W. S. Hyatt; secretary and treasurer, T. J. Gibson; secretary of Sabbath-school Department, Mrs. I. J. Hankins; auditor, A. H. Mason; executive committee--W. S. Hyatt, I. J. Hankins, J. M. Freeman, E. A. Ingle, J. J. Wessels, A. H. Mason, George Thomason, M. D.

THE officers of the new North Pacific Union Conference are as follows: President, W. B. White; vice-president, A. J. Breed; educational secretary, M. E. Cady; religious-liberty secretary, A. J. Breed; auditor, W. C. Railey; executive committee--W. B. White, A. J. Breed, M. E. Cady, and the presidents of the several local conferences in the union. In the distribution of labor it was arranged that Brother E. L. Stewart act as president of British Columbia Conference; Brother F. M. Burg, president of Western Washington Conference, and Brother W. F. Martin, president of Montana Conference.

THE recent session of the Northern Union Conference, held in Minneapolis, is said to have been marked by a spirit of courage and united action. Many citizens attended the meetings, which were marked by deep spirituality. It was decided to publish a union conference paper, to be called the Northern Union Reaper. Officers of the conference were elected as follows: President, R. A. Underwood; vice-president, C. A. Burman; treasurer, C. M. Everest; missionary and recording secretary, G. L. Emerson; educational secretary, which will embrace the work of the young people and general Sabbath-school interests, O. J. Graf, of Union College; field secretary, J. S. James; religious liberty secretary, E. G. Hayes; auditor, L. E. Koon.

Reporting a visit to the Heisterbach church, in the Orange River Colony, South Africa, Brother I. J. Hankins says: "The Heisterbach church numbers thirty-seven, twenty-five having been added the past year. They pay about £50 tithe per quarter. Two were baptized during our meetings. Four Zulus were received into the church. These speak Sesuto and Dutch. They are men of Christian experience, and quite intelligent in the truth. They are working among their fellow natives, and are anxious to fit themselves to be missionaries to their people. I found the brethren very appreciative and very hospitable. The Lord blessed us in our study of His Word and work. Miss Sutherland is having an interesting church school in which I spent a pleasant forenoon."

OUR brethren in Canada have secured over fifteen thousand signatures to a petition against the enactment of a Dominion Sunday bill now being considered by the Dominion Parliament. The petition contains the following proclamation, issued in 1858 by Queen Victoria:

"Firmly relying ourselves on the truths of Christianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the solace of religion, we disclaim alike the right and the desire to impose our convictions on any of our subjects. We declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in any wise favored, none molested or disquieted by reason of their religious faith or observance, but that all shall alike enjoy the equal and impartial protection of the law; and we do strictly charge and enjoin all those who may be in authority under us, that they abstain from all interference with the religious belief or worship of any of our subjects, on pain of our highest displeasure."

WANTED FOR MISSIONARY WORK.

(Always prepay postage.)

Any of our denominational papers and tracts. Address, Mrs. M. M. Cofield, Haleyville, Ala., Box 144.

PERIODICALS in the Danish-Norwegian, German, and English languages. In the English, the SIGNS, Life and Health, Life Boat, and Watchman could be used to best advantage. Address Mrs. Mary L. Carr, Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

OCEAN VIEW SANITARIUM

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The Iowa Sanitarium Bakery

is prepared to fill all orders with first-class goods. Liberal discounts. Write for price-list.

Address Iowa Sanitarium Bakery, Des Moines, Iowa.

Health: How to Find and Keep It

HEALTH; HOW TO FIND IT WHEN IT'S LOST; HOW TO KEEP IT WHEN IT'S FOUND.—Written by B. Franklin Richards, whose long and careful study of the subject of health in its different bearings has well fitted him to answer the questions propounded in the above title.

After showing from reliable statistics the appalling fact that we are fast becoming an eyeless, toothless, and stomachless race, the author considers the details of such practical, everyday questions as good foods, food combinations, influence of stimulants, advantages of vegetarianism, how to avoid consumption, care of the teeth, office of the skin, value and proper use of the bath, home remedies, etc.

To illustrate and make all these points perfectly plain, more than a dozen carefully-prepared tables are introduced. These tables alone are worth more than the price of the entire volume. It contains 222 pages, and is so thoroughly indexed as to enable one to instantly refer to any passage. Well bound in cloth, price ............................................................................ $1.00

Address PUBLISHERS OF THIS PAPER.

HOME.

By Edward Rowland Sill

THERE lies a little city in the hills; White are its roofs, dim is each dwelling's door, And peace with perfect rest its bosom fills. There the pure mist, the pity of the sea, Comes as a white, soft hand, and reaches o'er And touches its soft face most tenderly. Unstirred and calm, amid our shifting years, Lo! there it lies, far from the crash and roar, With quiet distance blurred, as if through tears.

O heart, that prayest so for God to send Some loving messenger to go before And lead the way to where thy longings end; Be sure, be very sure, that soon will come His kindest angel, and through that still door Into the infinite love will lead thee home. —Edward Rowland Sill.

INFLUENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF MOTHERS

By Lillie D. Avery-Stuttle

II. TRAINING TO PURITY.

IF you were to ask me which is the most beautiful and perfect emblem of purity that this sin-cursed planet can produce, I would answer, By all means, an innocent child, a sinless babe. And the problem which is ours to solve is of tremendous import: How shall we keep pure and spotless those sweet buds of promise which Heaven has graciously given? What ought parents to do? and what ought they to refrain from doing, in order to bring about this most desirable result?

"Susie asks me so many questions," says one mother, "that I must confess I don't know how to answer them. Sometimes I just feel obliged to fib a little, you know. Really I can't help it, 'twouldn't do to tell her the truth about some things—now would it?"

Well, my friend, I think the truth is always better than a lie; and if you tell a lie to your innocent child, please don't think he will not find it out. You may deceive him for a time, but he will discover the deception, and then you will stand condemned and guilty in his sight. And how natural it will be to retaliate by deceiving you. O, it is productive of nothing but mischief. On the other hand, a wise mother can cleverly and tactfully turn the susceptible mind of her child into other channels of thought, until he shall be old enough to comprehend the explanations you must make, and the questions which must some day be answered. Let me tell you what I consider the three greatest enemies to the purity of innocent childhood—Bad books, flashy newspapers, and bad companions.

"But what can I do?" some one asks. "I must keep informed of the passing events of the world by reading the newspapers, and, of course, if I have them in the house, the children will get hold of them."

My sister, does it make you a better-informed woman or a more intelligent one, to spend an hour or two every day reading a minute description of some wretched scandal or horrible murder? what if it is a fact?—which thing you can't be at all sure about,—does it make you a better mother, to know all the revolting details? Bad newspapers prepare the way for bad books, and bad books for bad companions, for vile words and vile stories.

It seems almost an unneeded caution to speak of the harmful effect of a single vile story or an obscene word or a questionable joke, upon the mind and heart of a pure child. My sister, your innocent child should be as carefully shielded from such soul poison, as from the deadliest drug, and more so; for it is more terrible to poison the soul than the body.

And, O ye fathers, does it not seem strange and appalling that a description of the latest prize-fight or ball-game appeals to you more than a report of the foreign missions? And still we wonder at the perverseness of the children, and fail to understand why we can not keep them pure and innocent. "Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?"

"But how can we teach purity to our children, when our own hearts are filled with impurity and evil thoughts?"

The question is pertinent. It can not be done. The first thing in order is to cleanse our own soul-temples, and when the fountain becomes pure, the stream will be pure also. "But our thoughts come unbidden; how can we control them?" How? Thank God, it is possible to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of His will.

"But," you say, "I have tried and tried; it is of no use. The evil thoughts will come; I hate them, but they will come."

Well, but there is a remedy. Surely you can never train your children in the paths of purity while your own souls are smirched with sin. My brother, my sister, ye whose hearts cry out for purity, this do: Go to your chamber, and on your bended knees plead for the victory. He who made man's heart has complete power over it when it is surrendered to Him. He knoweth our frame. Tell Him all about your trouble; tell Him you can never do this for yourself. Tell Him of your vain and fruitless efforts. Repeat to Him his promise, and He will respect His own word, that He will "cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Go to the Strong for strength, and to the infinitely Pure for purity. The suggestions of Satan can not stay in your hearts when you have given free entrance to the mighty Spirit of the living God. "Let the wicked

forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Cry mightily unto Him who has said, "Blessed are the pure in heart," and He will surely answer you; He will wipe the evil thoughts from your heart, as a "man wipeth a dish."

Then you are able, in His strength, to teach true purity to your children.

LILLIE D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

THE LITTLE BOY'S QUESTIONS.

THERE were pictures of firemen and fire-engines in the book that the little boy had found, and he carried it directly to his elder sister and began to ask questions about them. She could not tell him all he wished to know—only the chief of a fire department could have done that; but she explained the pictures as well as she could, carefully choosing words that the child would understand, and he went away at length, wiser and happier.

"I thought you were in a hurry to finish that dress," said a girl friend, who had looked and listened with amazement. "Why didn't you tell him you didn't know, or put him off in some way?"

"If I were set down in a strange country, where I wasn't very well acquainted with the language or the customs, I'd expect people to be patient with me," the boy's sister answered. "Harry has been in this world only seven years, you know, and he sees and hears many things he can't comprehend. Isn't it natural that he should ask questions?"

"I am not very wise, but since he pays me the compliment of thinking that I am, I feel as if I ought to be polite at least. If I lied to him in order to get rid of him, his confidence in me wouldn't last very long. If I put him off with an excuse—well, I think it's just as mean to starve a growing mind as it is to starve a growing body."

"Really, the easiest way is to answer him as fully as I can. That gives him something to think about. Then he isn't half so likely to chatter about a dozen different things, and he learns more, too."

"I didn't intend to preach a sermon, Katie," the girl added, smilingly, "but I studied this out for myself when little brother began to find his tongue, and I'm sure I'm right. I asked questions when I was his age, and I still remember

the answers to many of them. Early impressions are lasting, you know, either to help or to hinder. I want Harry to recall me always as a sister who was honest with him and willing to help."—Youth's Companion.

FATHER'S KNEELING-PLACE.

Some children were playing "hide the handkerchief." We sat and watched them a long while, and heard no unkind word, and saw scarcely a rough movement. After a while little Jack, whose turn it was to hide the handkerchief, went to the opposite end of the room, and tried to hide it under a cushion of a big chair. Freddie immediately walked over to him, and said in a low, gentle voice, "Please, Jack, don't hide the handkerchief there; that is father's kneeling-place."

"Father's kneeling-place!" It seemed like sacred ground to me as it did to little Freddie; and by-and-by, when the years roll on, and this place shall see the dear father no more forever, will not the memory of this hallowed spot leave an impression upon these young hearts, that time and change can never efface, and remain as one of the most precious memories of the dear old home?—Selected.

RULES FOR HANDLING BOOKS.

NEVER touch a book with damp or soiled hands. Never pull a book from a shelf by the binding at the top, but by the back.

Never open a book farther than to bring both sides of the cover into the same plane.

Always place a large book upon a table before opening it.

Always open a large book from the middle, never from the ends or cover.

Never hold a small book with the thumb pressed into the binding at the lower back, but hold it with the thumb and little finger upon the leaves and three fingers upon the back.

Never hold a book near a fire.

Never drop a book upon the floor.

Never lean or rest upon an open book.

Always mark your place with a thin book-mark.

Never close a book with a pencil, pad of paper, or anything else between the leaves.

Never rub dust from books, but brush it off with a soft, dry cloth or duster.

Never touch a book with a damp cloth, nor with a sponge in any form.

Never attempt to dry, by a fire, a book accidentally wet, but wipe off the moisture with a soft, dry cloth.

Always keep any neatly-bound, borrowed book covered with paper while in your possession.

Never cut the leaves of a book or a magazine with a sharp knife, as the edge is sure to run into the print, nor with the finger, but with a paper cutter or ordinary table knife.

Never turn leaves with the thumb; always turn leaves from the top with the middle or forefinger. —Selected.

THE HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

A VERY important investigation has just been completed by the health authorities of this city. The information obtained a short time ago, when an inquiry was made regarding the number of children who came breakfastless to school, was so surprising that a more extensive investigation of the general health of children than has hitherto been made, was planned. Four schools of the primary grade were selected from the poorer quarters, but not from the worst sections, in order that fairly representative results might be obtained. One hundred inspectors were detailed to examine the children of these schools, and the results announced show a startling state of affairs. The exact number of school children examined was 13,941, and of this number 6,294 are described as requiring medical attention. Defects of vision and swollen cervical glands were the most prevalent defects, the number affected in this way being in each case over 3,000.

Bad as this showing is, it is more than paralleled by recent studies of a similar nature made in Great Britain. Two years ago a medical census of the school children of Edinburg revealed the fact that 70 per cent. of them were actually diseased, and in London the conditions were found equally deplorable. The question is being taken up in earnest by the New York health department, and far-reaching plans are being made for the extension of the system of examination, and for attempts at improvement of the health of the city's vast child population. The records of the examinations are entered in a card index, and the parents of each child are to be notified of the abnormality noted, and advised to obtain medical advice. At the end of a month the child is to be re-examined, and if it is found that the parents have not consulted a doctor, a health inspector or a nurse will visit the family and find out why not.

This work is one of exceeding importance for the welfare of the coming generation of New Yorkers, and the health department should be seconded in its efforts to ameliorate the existing evils by the financial aid necessary to prosecute so extensive an undertaking. —The (New York) Medical Record.

SUNSET MAGAZINE

By Editor

DESCRIBES

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The Bank of Mountain View

The Bank of Mountain View is the Old Established Bank at Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California.

It would like to furnish information about Mountain View and vicinity to readers of this paper. Write to us for any information that you may need and we will reply. Address

BANK OF MOUNTAIN VIEW Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California

MUSTACHE GUARD

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MILLENNIAL TEXT-BOOK.

Every known reference, over 500 arranged according to events, adapted for instant reference or profound Bible study; result of 12 years' search. Mailed for 10 one-cent stamps, or a dime. Eugene A. Brown, Phoenix, Ariz.

EXCURSIONS

Low Rates to California

On sale every day, from February 15 to April 7, from all eastern points. Following are a few:

Chicago, $33.00 Bloomington, $32.00 Peoria, $31.00 St. Louis, $30.00 Cairo, Memphis, and New Orleans, $31.65 Kansas City and Leavenworth, $25.00 St. Joseph, Atchison, Council Bluffs, $25.00 Omaha, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, $25.00 Nearly all points in Kansas, $25.00 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, $25.00 Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, $20.00 New York, $50.00

Santa Fe Agents will take deposits of money to cover price of tickets, which will be promptly furnished to passengers at any point.

TICKET OFFICES 653 Market St., San Francisco 1112 Broadway, Oakland Also any Santa Fe Agent.

Observing Days.

Paul told the Galatians: “Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.” Gal. 4:10, 11. It is assumed that these were days observed by the Jews; but it is pure assumption, the context does not warrant it. Admitted that certain Judaizing teachers had gone down to Galatia, and taught the new converts that they were saved by their works. These Galatian Christians would naturally endeavor to do works of supererogation, and think that God would be glorified, and they saved more abundantly if they took their own ancient heathen customs and brought them over into Christian practise. And so the teaching, instead of making them Jews, would drive them back to heathenism. And this is just what it did. Listen to the two verses preceding the one quoted above: “Howbeit at that time [when unconverted], ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods; but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again.” Now, one can be in bondage in striving to keep the Decalogue, but that was not what these Galatians did. They went back again to the service of the gods which were no gods; and the evidence of this is, that they began to observe the days and months and seasons of years of Paganism, or heathen worship. Even as early as this the pagan customs, chief among which is “the wild solar holiday” of all pagan times, began to come into the Christian church.

Lessons from Disaster

The uncertainties of life, in a sinful world are daily brought to mind in some unlooked-for disaster. A despatch from Helsingfors, Finland, of the 4th inst. says: “It is feared that eight hundred fishermen, with their families, who are afloat in the ice in the Gulf of Finland, are doomed to perish. A fortnight ago about one thousand persons, who had with them their horses, were fishing off the East Land when the ice parted and was driven by a storm into the Baltic Sea. Later the ice split, the wind changed to east, and yesterday a block on which there were 200 persons came ashore at Frederick-shavn. The fate of the others is unknown.” But this is only an incident in the history of earth’s changing career. Yet men in general refuse to heed the lessons thus brought before them. The fast-approaching culmination of it all is that it will be “burned up.” “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” Wisdom admonishes us to heed the daily, hourly lessons of disaster, and to prepare for a permanent home. The disciples of Christ, the true learners from His Word, can say in faith, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

Poetry.

I Come, MARIANNE HAERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Road Leads Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Editorial.—“The Journey to the Cross”—Boldness in the Faith—Attributes of God’s Remnants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

Question Corner,—Nos. 1794-1798 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Outlook.—Church and State—Sunday Legislation in Massachusetts—Not Precedent, but Justice—“The Low-Water Mark”—Sunday Observance Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7

General.

Fundamental Principles, No. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Our Great Treasure-House, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Gift of Gifts, H. A. ST. JOHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Temporal Power of the Papacy, C. E. MILTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Present Truth and Present Duty, W. S. SADLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Observing Days, A. CARTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Ownership of the Earth (Bible-Reading) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Missions.—China During the Past Year, J. N. ANDERSON 12, 13

The Home.—Influence and Responsibility of Mothers, LILLIE D. AVERY-STUTTLE—The Little Boy’s Questions—The Health of School Children—Rules for Handling Books . . . 14, 15

Publishers

JAPAN FAMINE FUND.

By Editor

THERE have been the following responses to our last-page note of two weeks ago.

M. Elliott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 F. I. Oaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00 T. G. Cady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.82 Friends in Bakersfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

These receipts are up to March 21, 1906. As all the letters do not come to this department, without extra trouble, the editor will receipt them as above.

A word of explanation: The advertising department have, through misunderstanding, accepted a full-page advertisement from the Christian Herald, appealing for funds for relief in north Japan. The advertisers wanted the last-page position, which we could not grant. In fact, our refusal covered the entire paper. The advertisers understood that it referred to last page only, and so forwarded by express their electro. It was our preference to make our appeal free.

Now to the donors: Those who respond to our appeal, apart from the advertisement, please send the amounts direct to us, designated "For Japan Famine Fund." Whoever responds to the advertisement, remit as the advertisement directs.

Japan's need is great. Many have already perished of starvation. Thousands are eating anything which promises to keep soul and body together. A little from the plenty of other nations will help Japan's starving ones to tide over the two months or more before relief can come.

Temporal Power of the Papacy

By Editor

“Temporal Power of the Papacy.”—It is with no feelings of joy that we print the series of articles under the above heading. Roman Catholics are no worse as men and women than other children of men. There are many faithful, loyal souls to Christ in the Catholic Church, not because of the system, but in spite of it. It is not the people we condemn; it is the system; balefully evil it is, and the temporal power régime gave it opportunity to reveal itself. It would make of men of any class or people who adhere to it, just what it has made of its adherents in the past.

Grounds for Envy and Hatred.

By Editor

Of course the only true way for any man who trusts God to feel when others are prospered more than himself is to rejoice in their prosperity and God's blessing to them; but that is not natural to the selfish heart, and most of mankind have a natural heart. It is well, however, on the part of those who flaunt their riches before the world, to consider for their own sakes the effect that their actions are having on the discouraged and unsatisfied elements of society, some of whom are doubtless in real want. Take for instance the coming of a young woman in society in Philadelphia recently. Two balls, according to the North American, were given in her honor, which cost respectively twenty thousand and twenty-four thousand dollars. The decorations in the way of flowers and plants are estimated to have cost ten thousand dollars; the hotel rent for one night, one thousand; cost of supper and wine, twelve thousand. Such lavish display of wealth can but arouse in the hearts of natural man, many of whom are suffering, envy and hatred which may lead to things very much worse. It would be well for the wealthy to take into consideration such prophecies as James 5 and Habakkuk 2.

Waiting for the Water

Waiting for the Water.—We are told that the United States is about to fertilize, through irrigation, something like 250,000 acres in the Klamath Basin, of northern California and southern Oregon. It has splendid soil and climate; it lacks only the irrigation. It will convert the desert to fertile farms, and certainly prove a great blessing. What a likeness this is of God's church at the present time, dry and sterile, wanting only the fertilizing, life-giving power of the Spirit of God. The earth longs for rain. When men will long for it as they should, they may realize the blessed promise, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring." "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."

Healdsburg College

By Editor

Healdsburg College.—At the last meeting of the California Conference it was decided to close the school at Healdsburg at the end of the school year in June. But it is not proposed to drop the school. That will open next autumn as a training college, somewhere near San Francisco Bay, which shall have for its ultimate, permanent scope, grades thirteen to sixteen. It will have a normal department for the training of church school teachers, and will also give a course in ministerial and Bible work training as well as in the sciences. Till permanently established, provision will be made to prepare the higher of the lower grades taught in Healdsburg for the work of the training college.

Terrible Railroad Wreck at Adobe

A most terrible railroad wreck occurred at Adobe, Col., on March 16, in a collision between two trains. Three engines and eight cars were destroyed. In five minutes after the collision the wrecked engines and cars were a seething furnace, in which about fifty persons perished.

All Jews

All Jews have been ordered to leave Vladivostock immediately.

Temptations versus Sin

Temptations versus Sin.—There is many a poor soul who, when tempted, feels as did Christian when passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death; there were dinned into his ears and suggested to his mind so many evil things that he came to think they all welled up from within, when they came from the devil without. “Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed;” but the Enticer is Satan or his agent. It is the cherished thought that is sin. Temptation to the greatest sin in the universe is not sin; it is when we invite the temptation to tarry, when we allow it to fasten upon the hooks of fleshly lust. When we do so parley, compromise, cherish the temptation, we sin. When by God’s grace we put it away for something better—the only better thing which will effectually do it, is the Word of God—then we win. Thus by the sword of the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. Do not be discouraged because assailed by the enemy; cherish no sin, then, upon which he can hook his temptation. Then shall we say with Jesus, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

China

By Editor

China.—We call especial attention to the article on China in our Missions department. Brother Anderson has given us much instruction and a cheering report. He portrays before us a new China, arousing from her lethargy of centuries, fast becoming imbued with the modern spirit of war and commercialism. He also reminds us that behind the scenes is the hand of God opening doors for His missioners and His message. For that, we thank God, and pray that many laborers may go forth. We have much other interesting mission matter on hand.