p. 336 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 21. (6/2/1914)

Earlier text: Advancement and Success in Japan

Church of Social Revolution

By Editor

A MAN by the name of White claims to be a minister regularly graduated from one of the big theological schools, and also to be organizing a church called "The Church of the Social Revolution." On Sunday, May 10, he entered the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City, known as the "Rockefeller church," for the purpose of promulgating his doctrines. During the excitement caused by the interruption of the services, one of Mr. White's associates read the verse from the Gospel of Matthew which states that it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter heaven. The officer got to him and arrested him just as he had finished reading the verse. Mr. White attempts to make a point on the man's "having been arrested for quoting from the Bible in a Christian church."

Sensible, law-abiding citizens will recognize that the principles of freedom of speech require that we should make lawful arrangements for our place of speaking, and collect our own congregations, who will come to us for the purpose of hearing what we say.

The United States has certainly been very free in allowing liberty of speech. But when persons are convened in a lawful assembly, and men enter the place and clamorously insist upon being heard, these latter are violating the very principles of freedom of speech for which they are contending. No matter how important or essential we may regard our cause, we must understand that liberty of speech also involves the liberty of the individual who listens. If we have freedom of speech, we must not at the same time have freedom to compel the other man to sit still and hear us.

The world is deeply saturated with the idea that terrible wrongs are committed by the rich. We have had a generation of declaiming against it, and we may be prepared for all forms of fanaticisms and violence to break out.

There is no denying the fact that the rich men have not pursued a wise course. They have been wanton and extravagant in their luxuriant expenditures. There is too much of fact in what is taught concerning them. We have had a generation of seed sowing. The harvest is about to be reaped. Such conditions of unrest and excitement as are now prevalent throughout the world can not fail to break out in a wide-spread revolution. The fanaticisms of Mr. White in New York may soon subside; but the spirit of the times that has stirred him up will still continue, and we will see more and more of this sort of thing, and it will grow worse and worse as the days go by.

THE judiciary committee has reported to the House of Representatives, without recommendation, the Hobson resolution, offering a constitutional amendment for nation-wide prohibition. This means that since this resolution has not been smothered or held up by the committee, it will come directly before each member of the House, and its passage is assured with almost mathematical certainty. For it is not at all probable that a majority of congressmen could be found who would be willing to go back home to their constituency with a record of having voted against such a measure. And what is better still than that, there are a large number of congressmen who stand squarely and firmly with men like Mr. Hobson in favor of the suppression of the nation's great curse, the liquor traffic. No stone should be left unturned to make this worthy undertaking an assured success.

PRESS despatches from Chicago say that the official figures for the four months ending April 30, show an increase in crime in that city over any similar period in the history of its police department. During that time, five hundred "hold-up" robberies were reported, and about ten thousand dollars taken from the victims. There were two thousand burglaries of flats, residences, and stores. The thefts from this source amounted to about $250,000. In addition to all this, horses and wagons and other property were stolen, amounting to some ten thousand dollars, and some four hundred automobiles were taken. The automobiles, however, in most cases were found after having been stripped of valuable materials and furnishings.

IN a fight on May 11 between the French troops and the Moorish forces in Morocco, a French military aviator directed the movements of his country's army. Hovering over the positions of the Moorish forces, he directed the artillery fire, and at times dropped bombs among them. The military air-ship is an established success, in so far as its efficiency in aiding the work of destruction is concerned.

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY DANIELS has announced that President Wilson will sign his order forbidding the use of liquor on the ships of the navy. It will become effective July 1. If we had more public men who would exercise their strong influence against intoxicants and the evils that they breed, how much better our world would be!

A WOMAN recently attended a court function in Brussels, Belgium, attired in one of the modern disgusting skirts. The queen of the Belgians, be it said to her honor, promptly gave orders that the woman should be taken out of the room, as she did not consider her sufficiently dressed to appear in public.

ON May 7, the House passed the annual naval appropriation bill, carrying $139,560,334. The bill provides for the building of two battle-ships, six torpedo-boat destroyers, one sea-going torpedo-boat, and three coast defense submarine torpedo-boats.

EARTHQUAKE shocks are very frequent in Catania, and both Mt. Etna and Mt. Vesuvius are more than usually active.

Socialist Gains in France

IN the French elections held on May 10, the Socialists won twenty-nine new seats in the legislature. This will give them in all ninety-seven representatives in the Chamber of Deputies. The Socialists are the intelligent leaders in the discontentment of these times. And if we are political partizans of any kind, we are perhaps spending our time in studying the arguments for and against these movements. But if we are students of the prophetic Word, we can see in all of these agitations the gathering storm which definitely shows that this world will soon be swept by revolutionary forces that will spread anarchy and violence everywhere.

These are not mere theories, but they are questions of fact; and the strongest part of it all is that these facts are literally fulfilling prophecy. The leaders in these great movements hopefully expect to reform the world, but the conditions are rapidly getting beyond their control. They may for a time keep ahead of the elements of discontent, and even seem to be guiding them, but the day can not be very far distant when the onrushing flood will sweep everything before it in the wildest kind of disorder and disaster. These things may seem alarming; but it is better to be alarmed now, and enter the only shelter that is provided against this great storm, than to shut our eyes to conditions until the social tempest breaks upon us with its indescribable furies.

The Tax-Loaded Britons

LLOYD-GEORGE'S new budget increases the tax nearly thirteen per cent upon the largest incomes. All persons with an income of eight hundred dollars or over a year are subject to this tax. Inheritance tax on estates begins at one per cent upon those amounting to five hundred dollars; and the rate continually rises, under the new law, until twenty per cent is charged against the largest estates.

It is said that this new budget is very popular because of the extra heavy tax on the wealthier people. $21,000,000 is provided to help some of the smaller towns and villages that are in distress, so that they may, as is asserted, "avoid bankruptcy."

The wastes of war, old age pensions, and the helping of the poor are among the things calling for this increased taxation. England is struggling in the face of superhuman problems.

The Spectacle of Decay

IN a recent little book entitled "The World," Canon Newbolt says: "There are not wanting indications that the heart of England is being aroused at the spectacle of the decay of law and order, of decency and reverence, which is so painful a sign of the times. It is for good people to realize and fall back on the old principles of religion and virtue, which may yet save England from decay and secure society from the imminent peril which awaits those who forget God."

Canon Newbolt is the chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral. He recognizes that the decay of law and order has reached the point that they are a "spectacle" in his country. Leading men everywhere are recognizing the fact, as Ex-President Eliot expressed it a few years ago, that the "defenses of society are broken down."

Our greatest danger lies in not recognizing this and seeing its significance. These times are ominous, and the divine Word itself foretells what lies just beyond.

He Will Save Us

"AND it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation," Isa. 25:9.

These words are a prophetic declaration of the fact that there will come a time when an exultant people will look up, and with a joyous exclamation proclaim that "this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: . . . we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

There are many man-made theories of salvation. There are many persons who expect to save the race by their proposed reforms. These enthusiastic reformers and their proposed remedies for the ills of society are becoming more and more numerous, but the people brought to view in this text had no confidence in any of them. Their faith has rested in the Lord Himself. To Him alone they have looked, and the day comes when their fondest hopes are realized. The Lord does not leave them to disappointment. They are made glad in His salvation.

Is your heart thrilled with this glorious hope? Is it resting in the contentment of its indescribable joys?

MEDICAL MISSIONARY W. O. CLUFF ON TRIP AMONG THE INDIANS ON THE HIGHLANDS OF BOLIVIA