[Believing it would be of interest to our readers, the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES has asked Sabbath-keeping ministers and evangelical workers to tell in a few words the scripture or scriptures, the truths and principles, which constrained them to accept the unpopular truth of the seventh-day Sabbath. These testimonies must not exceed 500 words. Let us hear from all.]
XXX.
About twenty-three years ago I attended meetings held by Eld. H. W. Decker in New London, Wis., where I found that the plain truth was being preached. As it was made plain to me that the Lord had predicted the rise and fall of nations, mentioning them by name, it strengthened my faith in the Word of God. The new heaven and the new earth were of special interest to me. Heaven had always been presented to me as a mystical place, but when I found that there would be beautiful flowers, lakes, flowing streams, stately trees, delicious fruits, and everything that is desirable, a longing desire was created in my heart to have a home in heaven. Rev. 21:1-6; 2 Peter 3:13; Isa. 65:17, 18; 35:1-10.
My mind was aroused to know more of that beautiful place, and when I learned that there would be appointed times for worship, and that the Sabbath is one of the principal days set apart to worship before God on the new earth, during eternity, as found in Isa. 66:22, 23, I learned to love the Sabbath, and studied concerning it more diligently. God had made a memorial of all His wonderful works. Ps. 111:4. That memorial is the Sabbath. Ex. 20:8-11; Heb. 4:4. It being a memorial of such glorious things as Paradise and the New Jerusalem, it became more attractive to me, and the violation of it more sinful. What always appealed to me with special force was Isa. 58:1, 2, 12-14, where God calls for a Sabbath reformation, and for the transgressor to take his foot from the Sabbath, to cease to violate His holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight. It appealed to me, and I decided to keep the Sabbath. In Mark 16:1, 2 I found that the women got up very early, the first day of the week, but the Sabbath was passed when that morning came. I saw that the Christian women kept it according to the commandments after Christ had been crucified, and they kept it the day following the crucifixion which was on Friday—the day between Friday and the First Day of the week. These are some of the principal reasons why I commenced to keep the Sabbath and am keeping it to-day.
F. H. WESTPHAL.
XXXI.
I was born in the Methodist Church. At the age of nineteen I attended a series of First-day Adventist meetings in a town where I was working, and during those meetings was converted to God.
After my marriage, I went to my old home to live. One of our neighbors was a Seventh-day Adventist. Soon he began to talk with me about the Sabbath. I was much prejudiced, and did not care to investigate; but my neighbor persevered until I became aroused, and thinking to defend myself, took down my Bible to find evidence for Sunday-keeping. To my great surprise the evidence was not to be found. I did not know what to think, say, or do. The question came, Is it possible that I, a Christian, week by week, break one of God’s commandments? In a few days I again met my neighbor, and his zeal prompted him again to bring up the Sabbath question. He was soon aware of the fact that a change had come over me, and that I was now ready to study the question. He gave me reading matter, and for four or five months I read and prayed daily. I had learned to take everything to God in prayer. I felt that this Sabbath question was very important and that light upon it must come from God. The next spring (1874) I came to the place where I must either keep the seventh-day Sabbath or give up all pretence to Christianity. I could no longer resist the light God had given in answer to prayer, and profess to be a servant of His. My father was very much opposed to such a step, and nearly all the relatives of both myself and wife were against us. Should we obey God, or yield to relatives and friends? We decided to obey God, and the question was forever settled. No doubts have ever come since that time with reference to the Sabbath question. These scriptures were convincing to me: Mark 2:27, 28; Matt. 24:20; Luke 23:54-56; 24:1-23. Acts 17:1-3; 18:4-11; 28:17; and I have always been very thankful to God for the light given, as well as for the privilege of presenting this light to hundreds of my fellow-men during the twenty-five years of my ministry, and seeing a goodly number accepting it and rejoicing in it. Praise ye the Lord.
J. W. WATT.
A CHILD’S VOCABULARY.
It has been shown by actual count, by a professor at the University of Minnesota, says Success, that a two-year-old child may use in a day more than two thousand different words, repeating each of them, of course, from two or three times up to three hundred and fifty times, so that the total number spoken may reach ten thousand. The experimenter believes that a child’s acquisition of words is governed partly by the law that the beneficial is generally pleasurable and partly by habit. To a child, words are the means of obtaining pleasure and avoiding pain. The number of words in a child’s vocabulary seems to have been greatly underestimated by previous observers.
A DEER STORY.
BRUTE instinct has formed the theme of many an article, and wonderful instances have been given of the exercise of almost human judgment by animals, but the following which came under our own observation, lays just a shade over anything we ever read: Last Sunday C. Sweeters and the writer were driving up the water cañon, and as we turned a bend we saw a doe and a young fawn drinking from the stone ditch. At our approach the animals were startled, and in attempting to turn and run the fawn lost its balance and fell into the ditch. As many of our readers know, the water runs very swiftly and in great volume up there, and of course the fawn was carried down the stream. The mother deer seemed to lose all fear of us, and ran along the edge of the ditch trying to reach her offspring with her head.
Suddenly she ran ahead of the floating fawn for some little distance. She plunged into the ditch with her head down stream and her hindquarters toward the fawn, and braced her forefeet firmly in the crevices of the rocks to resist the rush of water. In a second the fawn was washed up on its mother's back and it instinctively clasped her neck with its forelegs. The doe then sprang from the ditch with the fawn on her back. She lay down and the baby deer rolled to the ground in an utterly exhausted condition. Mr. Sweeters and I were now not more than thirty feet from the actors in this animal tragedy, but the mother, seemingly unconscious of our presence, licked and fondled her offspring for a few minutes until it rose to its feet, and the doe and fawn trotted off up the mountainside.
If there is anybody that doesn’t believe Mr. Sweeters when he tells this story, let him come to us and we will vouch for it.—Banning Herald.
“And this is the creature,” says Our Dumb Animals, “that some folks shoot for fun.”
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EXAMINATIONS IN CHINA.
If the American student has cause for dread when the time for examinations is drawing nigh, much more has the youth in China. To be sure, he spends more hours a day in school than the American does, but he has a relatively much harder task than the American, the Briton, the Frank, or the German. He is many years in school before he is even a good reader of his own language, and the task set before him in the examination he must pass before he can enter the public service is very nearly an impossible one. The successful passing of these competitive examinations is the gateway to honor and respect as well as to the civil service. While about 2,000,000 take these examinations annually, only about one per cent. are said to pass. This examination is probably the most nearly prohibitive of any examination held in any country. The strange part of it is that this rigid examination is principally in the Confucian classics. The student must have a thorough understanding of the writings of Confucius. It is as if the United States should require of all its public servants a perfect knowledge of all parts of the Bible, so as to be able to pass a faultless examination in it. But it is that drilling of the teachings and writings of Confucius into the minds of the leading men of China, and in turn their influence upon the uneducated, that makes China the difficult field it is for the Christian missionary.
Dragon Picture over Chinese Gateway. Supposed to Frighten away Demons.
Not all Chinese youths are eligible to taking these examinations. Such are the children of the boat people, who practically live and die in their boats.
Almost every river boat has a baby toddling about upon it with a cord tied around its waist with which it can be pulled back if it should chance to fall overboard. The only way open to the children of the boatman to take the competitive examinations is for the father to acquire a residence on land. The children of actors also are subject to the same disadvantage.
In each provincial capital is an examination hall which consists of long rows of cells open at one end, and just large enough to hold one scholar with his bedding, teapot, and food. There are 12,000 cells in the Canton hall. The candidates are all admitted at the same time, assigned to their cells, and the gates are sealed. If a student dies, as often happens, his body is put out through a small hole in the wall. Each examination lasts for twenty-four hours. Then the students are released for two days, only to return for two more sieges. A paper that has been blotted or defaced in any way is thrown out. Here is one of the questions asked the student, and from which it may be gathered that he must be able to do some work outside of Confucius: “The art of war arose under Hwang-ti, forty-four hundred years ago. Different dynasties have since that time adopted different regulations in regard to the use of militia or standing armies, the mode of raising supplies for the army, etc. Can you state these briefly?”
The men who pass these examinations naturally regard their learning as the greatest education in the world; and it is this class that is the most self-satisfied both with their educational attainments and the religion which they have been taught from their youth up. This accounts for the difficulty of reaching the literary men of China as a class with the Gospel message, and their influence in turn upon the less learned and the ignorant becomes an important factor in religious work there.
HEATHENISM AND CHARITY.
By Robert E. Speer
It is not possible to walk through Chinese streets without making the acquaintance of their gods. By the front door, in a little shrine, sits the door god, with a legend over him, “The god of the doorway requests the god of good luck to enter this shop;” and on the walls of the shops are images of the great character for God, with incense burning beneath. In 1884 this proclamation was issued by some of the Cantonese: “All dealings with foreigners are detestable. These men have no father or mother. Our country has a sound religion; our country has powerful gods. Why should we imitate foreign devils?”
The charities of Canton are characteristic of all China. There is a society which provides coffins for the indigent dead. The sick suffer unrelieved. There is a foundling asylum where I wandered about in damp, dark rooms, on green, foul courts, and found dead bodies lying under palm leaf fans, poor, tiny, black-eyed things. The asylum in the daytime is almost deserted, save for the dead babies. At night it is not so empty. Some of the “farmed out” babies come back then. Of the 1,500 received in a year, one-half die soon. Of the rest, about four-fifths are sold to the “devil grannies,” as they are called, for immoral purposes. Babies can be bought here for twenty cents. But everywhere in China one sees the proof of the pitilessness of the people, in the turning out of old people to die in the streets, in the neglect of suffering, in the torture of their punishment, in infanticide. In Central China the baby towers give splendid opportunities for the last. There is one not far from the South Gate of the native city of Shanghai. It is a small, hexagonal building, with an opening high up on the side for the admission of dead babies. When the tower is full, the bones are taken out and buried in rows. It is the easiest thing in the world to wrap a girl baby up in a wisp of straw and drop her in the tower at night. But drowning is a commoner method.—Robert E. Speer.
Rows of Cells Occupied by Chinese Students During Examination.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
By H. J. Jewell
In Matthew 24 and elsewhere in God’s Word we are told of the condition of things in the last days, and in such plain words that we can not be mistaken. Now if we will study the Word as we should, looking to God for wisdom and understanding, and comparing the Word of God with the world as it is to-day, we can not fail to see that the time is at hand when our Saviour will come again and take His waiting people home, when this old earth of sin and darkness will be made new and all sin forever destroyed.
Look about us to-day and see the awful calamities on land and sea,—fires, train wrecks, riots, wars, and bloodshed everywhere; volcanoes bursting forth in all parts of the world, destroying thousands of lives, people trembling with fear not knowing what will come next.
Think of these things and ask yourself if you are prepared for Christ’s coming and what you are doing to warn the world of that great event.
Chinese River Boat Propelled by Foot-power.
Can not the people of God do more to save the dying millions who know not God? Why are so many idle? Every day is precious. Inactivity is a sure sign that we are losing ground to the enemy. Our motto should be, Work and pray. We can not compromise with sin. We are either in the light or in the darkness. Let us put forth our mightiest efforts to bring the precious truth God has given before all the world, and thus be channels through which God can pour forth His blessings. God has told us that in the last days He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:17. Our Saviour told us to preach the Gospel to all the world, and promised that all things that were done by Him we could do if we only believed. Mark 16:15-18. The Holy Spirit is now hovering over this sinful earth, moving upon men, waiting to be received by them for service. Why can we not open our hearts and receive it in such a measure that our work will be blessed of God as was the work of our Saviour?
If God’s people would only awake and shake themselves free from the dust and sins of this world and do as God commands, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isa. 58:1), God would work mightily.
If we feel that we lack wisdom, let us ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; but let us ask in faith, nothing wavering. Believing, we shall receive. James 1:5-7.
Let us be faithfully obedient. If we turn away our ears from His instructions, from hearing His law, even our prayers are an abomination to Him. Prov. 28:9.
Let us not become entangled with the sinfulness of this world. When we are tried, let us lean upon the mighty arm of God; for He can and will uphold us at all times. Isa. 41:10. If we can not go to the uttermost parts of the earth to carry the light God in His great love has given, we can comfort sorrowing13hearts all around us, we can pray for those who are in darkness, and we can live such lives of faith and nearness to our Master that we will carry power in our face, word, and actions, and thus many opportunities will come to us of telling others of the One who has done so much for us.
Sanitarium, Cal. H. J. JEWELL,
NOT LOST.
Ye who think the truth ye sow,
Lost beneath the winter's snow,
Doubt not, Time's unerring law
Yet shall bring the genial thaw.
God of nature ye can trust;
Is the God of mind less just?
Workers on the barren soil,
Yours may seem a thankless toil;
Sick at heart with hope deferred,
Listen to the cheering word—
Now the faithful sower grieves,
Soon he'll bind his golden sheaves.
Reap we not the mighty thought,
Once by ancient sages taught,
Tho it withered in the light,
Of the long medieval night?
Now the harvest we behold,
Lo! it bears a thousandfold.
—From the German.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
At Arcadia, Neb., a new church building is being erected and will soon be ready to be occupied.
Brother R. C. Porter reports the addition of two members to the colored church in St. Louis, Mo.
While on the way from the Black Hills to Sheridan county, Neb., Brother L. E. Johnson baptized three candidates at Olerichs and celebrated the ordinances.
Within a few weeks twenty-four persons have united with the church at Omaha, Neb. The Reporter states that a number of others are keeping the Sabbath and awaiting baptism.
On the 29th ult. the Oakland Sabbath-school held an “Ingathering Service,” and a very interesting program was rendered. The offering amounted to $110.17, in addition to various articles of food.
Nine candidates were baptized recently at Tarsney, Mo., by Brother L. W. Terry. This church is reported of good courage. There is always courage where there is energy and progress in the work.
From Tallula, Ill., Brother M. G. Huffman writes to the Review that the Baptists have kindly offered the use of their beautiful church in which to hold meetings. He adds that “heretofore all efforts to secure a church in Tallula have been fruitless.”
Brother George M. Brown, Educational Secretary of Nebraska Conference, says he has more calls for church-school teachers than he can supply at present. But he adds, “There are some devoted students now at Union College preparing for school work.”
The new church edifice at Kansas City, Mo., which was dedicated November 23, is a fine brick structure, 46 by 60 feet, and covered with a slate roof. The building also includes conference and tract society offices. The auditorium is 43 by 43 feet, with seating room for 400 persons.
The church at North Creek, N. Y., has a new school building in a country place, near a “bubbling spring.” Brother G. B. Thompson, president of the conference, says: “The brethren and sisters are all loyal to the school, standing by it in times of difficulty, and some at a distance send financial support.”
Dr. Paulson writes that “the December Life Boat is ready, and is the best ever issued. We are getting it into the army and navy all over the country. We expect to use 10,000 copies for this purpose monthly. It is developing many missionary opportunities. Price, two cents a copy.” Address 28 Thirty-third Place, Chicago, Ill.
Writing to the Southwestern Union Conference Record from Oklahoma, Brother G. F. Haffner says: “I find that our German brethren are getting stirred up on the church-school question. I find almost every church planning for a school, and one church has two schools already in operation. One school has about forty scholars. I am glad to see such an interest manifested; this is what we need, and, after we get all these church-schools started, it will not be long before our higher schools will be filled to overflowing.”
In the harbor of Hamburg, a little missionary steamer, with Brother Christensen in charge, plies amongst the thousands of ships that come and go and await cargo. Hamburg is said to have the largest harbor in the world. Another boat, to cost $3,500, is being fitted up for operations in the waters between Copenhagen and Oresunde, Sweden.
At Salamanca, N. Y., Brother Homer W. Carr and wife began a school a year ago with seventeen pupils, and now have thirty-nine. He says: “We invite the people in Sunday evenings, and talk to them of the principles of Christian education. There seems to be a good interest in the village, and our work is spoken of very favorably.”
Brother O. E. Davis, a laborer in the new British Columbia Conference, is located at Port Simpson, an Indian town nearly seven hundred miles north of Vancouver. Speaking of the Indians he says that many of them are quite clever and industrious, and adds that “the work for the Indian and the Eskimo has scarcely been touched.”
Our corresponding secretary of Sabbath-school work, Sister L. Flora Plummer, says: “It has been proven that the Sabbath-school work need not be confined to the members of our own church. Branch Sabbath-school work is ideal work for young people. These schools are held for the children of those not of our faith, and can be conducted wherever a few children can be brought together. In one city one hundred and forty children were brought into various branch schools which were conducted almost wholly by young people of our church. The results of this work were most satisfactory.”
The Review notes that on the 22d ult. nineteen California missionaries, bound for other lands, met in the Tabernacle at Battle Creek, Mich., for a farewell service. There was a large audience present, which was addressed by the missionaries and by Brethren A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference, and A. T. Jones, president of California Conference.
An eight weeks' special for persons who can not take a needed regular course has been provided by the managers of Union College, College View, Neb. The course will begin January 5, and will include Bible Doctrine, Prophecy and History, Language, Arithmetic, Spelling, Reading, Public Speaking, Singing, Writing, Drawing, Hydrotherapy, and lectures on various topics.
A Wealth of Beauty for 8 Cents
By James Vick
WHITE STAR CLIMBER
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Landreths’ Elegantly Illustrated Catalogue for 1903 will be especially attractive. All varieties proving worthless have been cut out and new Novelties of Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, Shrubs, and Trees added. Mailed free on application.
I should like to mail each of my old customers and friends a Catalogue, as I am prepared to fill orders promptly and satisfactorily.
JAMES VICK
Manager Mail Order Department
D. Landreth & Sons
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
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DONATIONS TO BARBADOS.
Amount previously reported, $170 18
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