HAVING been requested by the General Conference Committee to attend camp-meetings in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, I will say, first of all, that Elder Haskell and myself desire a large attendance. We can not do the people good that remain at home, at least by any direct action of our own. Some good, indeed, may result from the presence at the camp-meeting of a number of fellow church-members whose opinions, reflected from the camp-meeting, may affect others in their society, but the direct action on souls by laborers of the camp-meeting will reach only those who attend.
Our people in all parts of the field, as a general rule, are but little in contact with one another. They are usually scattered in small churches over a large area, and are not often visited. Some large central churches are an exception. With the great amount of work before us as a people, our ministers must be largely evangelists, reaching out to give the message to the world in general. Our camp-meetings are designed to be convocations. The most experienced laborers are usually selected to give instruction at camp-meeting, men who are familiar with the needs of the cause and the best methods of advancing it. They are supposed to be men of God, whom God is guiding by his Spirit, who are able to impress the truth earnestly upon the hearts of their7hearers. They have information that will greatly benefit our people, leading them to take a proper view of the work, and to realize the vast importance of the message God has given us for the last days. Surely if it is worth while to be a Seventh-day Adventist at all, it is worth while to listen to men of this description a few days, whose whole hearts are supposed to be impressed with the importance of the message God has given us, and whose hearts are hungering to do the people good. It is to be hoped that our people will never get so taken up with worldly things that they will feel that it is a matter of indifference whether they have the benefit of such labor or not. If some do reach such a sad condition, they, more than all others, ought to be present to hear the inspiring words relative to the advancement of the work and the necessity of being wide-awake, earnest, and zealous in the great truths committed to our hands.
These thoughts should be considered by our people thoroughly the present season. The writer greatly desires and expects that our camp-meetings will be more largely attended this year than ever before. Our numbers are rapidly increasing, and we are nearing the end. Why should we not, therefore, feel the importance of using the means which the grace of God brings within our reach to help forward the last message to a fallen world?
While these things are so in a general sense, may it not be true that there are special reasons why our people should attend the camp-meetings in these four Western States of which we have spoken? The laborers sent to these four meetings will be a little out of the common order—old, gray-headed pilgrims who have long been in the way, who have met the brethren and sisters of these conferences many times in various meetings long ago. Elder Haskell has been laboring in various fields far removed from this country, in parts of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. His arduous labors are well known to our people. The writer has been absent from these States for fifteen years. Many of the rising generation he will not know personally, many of those who are now active in the work may not be personally known, but there must be many old friends whom he greatly longs to see. Shall these two aged laborers in this work have the privilege of speaking to large congregations at these meetings?—We truly hope so. We shall come from our fields of labor filled with the love of the cause and the love of God, and longing to be a help to all who will attend. For one, the writer looks forward to these meetings with great anticipation and bright hope that they will be seasons of deepest interest. God is working in our great Southern field. Our recent meetings at Graysville and Nashville have been seasons of deepest interest. The election of officers for our publishing association, and the many meetings of the executive committee for the transaction of important business, have been blessed of God. Many of the leading brethren have said this was the best meeting ever held in the Southern Union Conference. A spirit of love and union not hitherto seen, was present, and important steps for the furtherance of the cause were taken. The General Conference gave our Southern field greater attention, and voted means more liberally to help forward this work, than in any year past. We are all hopeful that light will spring forth.
Personally, the writer can say that never has the Lord seemed nearer, or hope more buoyant that we shall see the mighty work of God manifest in the near future. We long to talk to our brethren of these precious hopes, and to stir up their minds by way of remembrance, to increase faith in the work of God for this time, to impress upon the people the certainty of the soon coming of Christ and the great preparation necessary for it. Do you wish such help, dear brethren? or do you feel satisfied to make a little money and to spend your time in worldly matters? Are you not willing to come out and give us the privilege of seeing your faces, and shaking you by the hand, and imparting to you all the spiritual strength God has given us, that we may all be sharers together of his blessing, with the living hope of soon meeting him and dwelling forever with him?
We look forward to the first meeting in Iowa with deepest interest. Here were our early labors, and God brought us out of a period of great depression, and established the cause on a new basis, and many new churches were added. Now let us call up these memories, and thank God, take courage, and go forward. We will venture to call for the greatest attendance that has been seen for old Iowa. We shall surely look for it, and hope it will not be in vain. In the other conferences we shall also expect to meet many old friends, and renew our acquaintances, and share in the blessings of God.
Bring the children. Bring old neighbors and friends with you. Many in past years were converted to God on such occasions. Many now stand in high places whom God has made use of in many important responsibilities. As he is soon to come, and the loud cry to go forth with mighty power, may we not anticipate the blessing of heaven. So we may fully believe that all who come will be sure of the blessing of God.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
A Sign of the Times
By L. A. S.
AMONG occurrences which now so frequently remind us of the ominous nature of the times in which we are living, one of the most startling was the recent narrow escape of one of the great ocean liners from destruction at sea by dynamite placed on board with intent to blow up the ship.
A box containing the dynamite, to the amount of one hundred pounds, with a time-fuse attachment regulated by clockwork, was found in the baggage for the steamship “Umbria,” at the Cunard line pier, and was promptly lowered into the water to prevent a possible explosion, which would have wrecked the pier. The first notice of the nature of the contents of the box was received by a special delivery letter addressed to police headquarters, and bearing the title, “Warning from the Mafia,” reading as follows:—
DEAR SIR: The Mafia greets you, and wishes you well. At the Cunard dock is a box containing one hundred pounds of dynamite. Inside of that is a machine that, properly set, can explode the stuff at any time within thirty-six hours. The society has declared war against England, and has ordered the destruction of every steamer flying the British flag that sails out of New York harbor. The undersigned has received orders to begin operations by sinking the “Oceanic,” but so many women and children took passage on that boat that the society’s plans were changed at the last minute. The machine in the box is the first made, and is a crude affair, and is inclosed simply to show how easy it is to sink a steamer, and convince those interested that the society is not making idle threats.
The society has undertaken to clear New York harbor of British ships, and will succeed. The reason for this movement the society does not wish to disclose; suffice it to say that the society, in order to protect itself, must carry war into the enemy’s country. It goes without saying that it proposes to wage it as fiercely as it knows how. This is the society’s first and last warning. Those who purpose to patronize British steamers must take their chances. In the future the society asks and will give no quarter.
PIETRO DEMARTIN.
P. S.—The battery is not attached, and the fuses are without caps, or lighter, and is not set, consequently there is no danger in handling the box.
No clue to the identity of the letter writer or of any others concerned in the plot, has been obtained, and this question, together with that of the real intent of the act, have been a subject of much speculation. By some it is viewed as a mere practical joke, perpetrated for the sake of the resulting scare and excitement. This is a possible explanation of the occurrence, but under the circumstances, not a probable one. And whether a joke or not, society does not contemplate with composure the demonstrated possibility of the perpetration of such horrors as this occurrence suggests. It can hardly be doubted that such deeds would not lie beyond what secret organizations at war with governments or with the present structure of society would be willing to attempt if moved by the idea that such things were necessary to the accomplishment of their ends. It remains for future events to indicate whether any of these organizations are actuated by such an idea at the present time.
L. A. S.
Instruction and Response
A Special Service at the Battle Creek (Mich.) Tabernacle
[Soon after the burning of the Review and Herald Office an article by Mrs. E. G. White was printed in this paper, in which it was plainly stated that the destruction of the Sanitarium and the Review Office by fire was a visitation from God on account of the persistent departure from his ways, and the failure to act upon the warning and instruction which had been given for many years through the spirit of prophecy. This instruction was read to the Battle Creek church. At the recent meeting of the stockholders of the Review and Herald the statement was reiterated before a public audience that these fires were not the judgments of God. A further communication bearing upon this matter was recently received from Sister White, and it was thought proper, under all the circumstances, to read this to the church, and to give the church an opportunity to take its position concerning the question involved. The following is a report of the service on Sabbath, May 9, at which the last communication was read. — ED.]
REMARKS BY W. W. PRESCOTT
“Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope;” and it will certainly be helpful to recall the lessons of the past in God’s dealing with his people, and to know the interpretations that he himself gives to these experiences, and then to see how they apply to our own times and to our own experience. Although God’s people had departed from him, and had done those things that dishonored him, yet there was provision so that it was not necessary that Jerusalem should be overthrown, or that they should go into captivity . God makes abundant provision for sins of ignorance, but he makes no provision for willful sins. The unpardonable sin is the sin that refuses to be pardoned; it is the refusal to hear him concerning a sin, and to turn from that sin; it is the sin of refusing his instruction; it is the sin of unbelief concerning his warnings; it is the stubbornness of the heart that will not turn from sin, which seals the fate of any people or any individual.
I will direct your attention especially to the lessons given in the book of the prophecy of Jeremiah, dealing with the experience connected with the destruction and overthrow of Jerusalem, with the hope that we may mark well the real cause of its overthrow and the captivity of the people.
The prophet Jeremiah continues his prophesying to that people, even saying, after all these words of warning and reproof, that if they would turn to the Lord, and especially if they would regard his law and keep his Sabbath, Jerusalem would stand forever; but they refused the words of the prophet, they persisted in building themselves up in their own pride, and so the Lord through Jeremiah named Nebuchadnezzar as the one who would come against them, destroy their city, and take them into captivity to serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
Those who are familiar with the circumstances of our work and our institutions here, especially for the last ten or fifteen years, need not be reminded of the many words of warning and instruction which the Lord has sent to us through his chosen mouthpiece, until the judgment of God has fallen upon us for our failure to obey, and it is utterly useless, and worse than useless, to attempt to hide this from our own eyes or from the eyes of the world. What we might have saved by heeding the words of instruction and warning has now become a public calamity upon us, but in spite of all this there are still voices raised which say this is no judgment upon us. Now it is time for those who fear God to respond to his instruction, and warning, and counsel. [Voices, “Amen.”] I believe it is time for God’s people to rise up in response, and make answer that they believe in the Lord their God, even when he visits them with judgments. I believe it is time that this people and this church openly and publicly should take their stand in response to these words of instruction and warning, and acknowledge before God and the world that the Lord has visited us in judgment, and that we do repent and turn to him.
As setting this forth further I wish to read a communication which was received since our last gathering in this Tabernacle, dated May 1, 1903, written by Sister White, and addressed “To My Brethren in Battle Creek.” Many words of counsel have come to private individuals, and to those holding responsible places in connection with the work here in Battle Creek, but this one comes to us addressed “To My Brethren in Battle Creek.” We therefore understand that this belongs to the brethren and sisters in Battle Creek, and that it should be read to the church; and we take this first opportunity after receiving it to read it to the church.
“SANITARIUM, CAL., May 1, 1903.
“To My BRETHREN IN BATTLE CREEK: I am bowed down and greatly troubled. I am in sore distress. My whole being is full of pain. At times it seems to me that I can not live. The thought of the terrible spiritual destitution among our people presses heavily upon me. God’s judgments have fallen upon our institutions in Battle Creek; but how little has this done to move hearts to repentance! Must the rebuke of God still continue to be felt? and will it still continue to be without effect? I am amazed at the apparent indifference of many who should see and understand. I know not what to say or do. Seeing that the judgments of God have made so light an impression on the minds of those occupying important positions, fear and trembling take hold of me as to what will be the next revelation of God’s displeasure.”
“Men have dishonored God by choosing their own way. They have brought into his institutions principles that he has condemned. They would not change the ways and works that displeased him and belittled the testing truth for these last days.”
“Those who have disregarded the messages of warning have lost their bearings. Some, in their self-confidence, have dared to turn from that which they knew to be truth, with the words, ‘Who has told Sister White?’ These words show the measure of their faith and confidence in the work that the Lord has given me to do. They have before them the result of the work that the Lord has laid upon me, and if this does not convince them, no arguments, no future revelations, would affect them. The result will be that God will speak again in judgment as he has spoken heretofore. When for years his messages of warnings have come to institutions and individuals, and no special heed is taken, what power will convince them? — Only the power of God revealed in judgment. Yet his hand is stretched out still to save, if thorough repentance is shown.”
“We need to watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation. On one occasion, as Christ was returning to Jerusalem from a missionary tour, he was speaking to those with him about the personal salvation that all must have who enter the kingdom of heaven. His words were becoming decidedly personal and very pointed, and one present, wishing to change the subject, said, ‘Lord, are there few that be saved?’ Then he said, ‘Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are: then9shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.’”
“In the great day of God, to many who make the entreaty, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us,’ the answer will come, ‘I know you not whence ye are; depart from me.’”
“There is a right way and a wrong way, and in one or the other each human being is following. Those who truly believe in Christ live a life of holy obedience. They are sanctified through the truth. Their piety is not a pretense, but a reality. They have a sanctified Christian experience in holy living.”
“Let us make sure that we are perfecting Christian characters through belief of the truth. We can not be too particular in regard to this. If we fail here, our life work will bring us no reward. Those who believe in Christ, and give up their will and their plans for God’s will and God’s plans enter upon a life of Christlikeness. This is the only way to gain salvation. ELLEN G. WHITE.”
I propose to make a personal statement of my attitude toward this instruction, and toward these judgments that have come to us, and I want to give opportunity to every one in this place who agrees with the statement, and who wishes to take the same position, and to stand upon the same platform, to rise up. I believe that these Testimonies have come from God; that these words of instruction have been God’s counsel to this people directly, and that these counsels have not been heeded. I wish to take my own personal share of responsibility in this matter, connected as I have been with the work in the General Conference as a member of the Review and Herald Board. I do before God accept this as a rebuke to me in my connection with it. I have asked God’s forgiveness in this matter. I accept these words of counsel here to-day, and acknowledge that these calamities that have befallen us are God’s judgments upon this people, regardless of what interpretation may be placed upon them; and for my own part I desire to accept this instruction, to turn to God with true repentance. It seems as if these words this morning were in the nature of a last call to this people to ward off what finally came to Jerusalem — not because they had sinned, although that was the foundation of it, but because they refused to accept the words of warning and counsel; they refused to repent and turn to God that they might be saved from the overwhelming destruction that came to them. It is im- pressed upon my heart and mind that we are coming very close to the last days, and God is dealing with us in a very plain way, and it behooves every one of us to take a stand very decidedly for God and his truth, and on the side of his warnings through the mouthpiece he has chosen to guide and correct this people.
[Nearly all the members of the large congregation signified, by rising to their feet, that they desired to join in this statement, as expressing their own attitude concerning this matter. The service closed with an earnest prayer of confession and consecration, in which the congregation was led by Elder A. G. Daniells.]
Gratitude
By Mary D. Brine
DEAR LORD, we thank thee for the joy of living day by day, That we may see thy glorious works which lie along our way — The flowers blooming sweet and fair, the fields and meadows green, The fruitful hills, the mountains clothed in distant silvery sheen. We wake each morn refreshed, and glad that we are safe and well! What wonder that our hearts with love and grateful praises swell? We thank thee for the air we breathe, the things we see, the sounds Of nature’s sweetest harmonies, the beauty which surrounds Our earthly scenes; the sunshine bright, the blue of thy fair skies; And for the glad, contented thoughts which in our hearts arise. We joy in living! may it be that while we live, we live to thee!
— Mary D. Brine.
The Lord Instructs His People
By John Norton Loughborough
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
“AND when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 19, 20.
There is in the heart of all men a desire to receive instruction from the “unseen world.” The language of the text just quoted implies this, and it also implies the Lord’s willingness to impart information to those who seek him for light and divine guidance. The inquiry is, Why not seek him instead of going to sources from which no knowledge can be derived — sources to which the Lord has positively forbidden his people to go?
The Lord has his ways of imparting special instruction to those who seek him. He says, “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.” Job 33: 14-17.
Although the Lord has said, “The way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10: 23), he has also said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3: 5, 6. Again, “The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.” 1 Chron. 28: 9.
Not only was this true in the time which has been denominated the “prophetic age,” but it is just as true in the “gospel age.” Our Saviour in his promise of the “Comforter” made provision for divine guidance to those who should fully commit their way to him. He said: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14: 26. “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” John 16: 13.
When, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out, Peter said to the inquirers, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2: 38, 39. From this we see that as long as the Lord calls people to his service, so long it is the privilege of that people to receive his Spirit to guide them in ways of truth and righteousness. Sad it is that so many are content to go on in a formal service without entire consecration, and the reception and guidance of his Holy Spirit.
While every true believer is entitled to the guidance of that Spirit, all of its gifts may not be manifest in each individual. The apostle said of their manifestation, “To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he [the Spirit] will.” 1 Cor. 12: 8-11.
In this same chapter, verse 28, we learn that God set these gifts “in the church.” As they are the ways of the working of his Spirit, and that Spirit was to abide in the church “forever” (John 14: 16), we might expect their manifestation according to the needs of the church when fully consecrated to the Lord.
When Paul wrote the Ephesian letter, he stated the work to be accomplished by such gifts: “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ: till we all come in [into] the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4: 11-13. There is surely a necessity for such work to be accomplished now for the Lord’s people, and therefore a demand for the manifestation of such gifts.
The apostle said of the gift of prophecy, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” 1 Cor. 13: 9, 10. Thus there is shown a need of the manifestation of that gift until the perfect state shall come.
It may be said, “We have the whole Bible now, and do not need special manifestations to instruct us.” The Jews could have said, in the days of the an- cient10prophets, We do not need your instructions. Have we not the law of God just as spoken by God himself, and we have statutes and judgments telling us just how to deal with one another, and instructions for the care of our health, and our bodies, and our homes, so what need have we of prophets?
In ancient times there were peculiar circumstances surrounding the people of God, and the instruction imparted through the prophets warned them of their danger, and of the liability of their being drawn away from God and his law by the forms of evil with which they were surrounded; and at the same time these prophets told them of the coming Messiah. They also testified of “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”
Of the position of the gift of prophecy as manifest in this time, we read from the “Testimony” itself: “You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God’s Word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies.
“The Lord designs to warn you, to reprove, to counsel, through the Testimonies given, and to impress your minds with the importance of the truth of his Word. The written Testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed. . . . Additional truth is not brought out, but God has through the Testimonies simplified the great truths already given, and in his own chosen way brought them before the people, to awaken and impress the mind with them, that all may be left without excuse.
“The Testimonies are not to belittle the Word of God, but to exalt it, to attract minds to it, that the beautiful simplicity of truth may impress all. . . . If the people who now profess to be God’s peculiar treasure would obey his requirements, as specified in his Word, special Testimonies would not be given to awaken them to their duty, and impress upon them their sinfulness and their fearful danger in neglecting to obey the Word of God.”—“Testimony for the Church,” No. 33, pages 193-195.
When the Lord ascended up on high, he placed the gifts of his Spirit in the church. It was the departure of men from the simplicity of the gospel that put the gifts out of the church. The Lord placed those gifts in the church for its perfection. When he comes again, he is to present “to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Eph. 5: 27. The gifts of the Spirit, his appointed means for perfecting the church, will be manifest to prepare that people for presentation, in perfection, to himself.
It has been said, “It was needful to have the gifts in the early church to enable the true followers of Christ to stand amid the conflicting theories of scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees.” If it was then needful among three or four discordant sects, what about such a time as the present, when scores of conflicting and discordant theories are extant, and when Satan himself has come down with great wrath “because he knoweth that he hath but a short time”? In this period when he is to work with “all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2: 9), and men resist the truth “as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses,” it is good to know that “their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their also was” (2 Tim. 3: 8, 9), by the Lord’s greater working. He has said, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion.” Isa. 59: 19, 20.
The World's Crisis Imminent
By Wm. Penniman
WM. PENNIMAN
We like to look on the bright side, but it is the Christian's duty to look on both sides; for it is true that “to be forewarned is to be forearmed;” and how can one resist the evil unless he sees it coming?
In an editorial in The Christian Standard of May 24, 1902, the editor, referring to the “Burden of Martinique,” and the generous contributions of the nations for the relief of the sufferers, says: “One fact like this concerted relief answers all the gloomy prophecies and pretentious statistics of pessimists who declare that the world is growing worse, and is going to the devil without hope of reform. The Messianic prophecies are being fulfilled. The nations are gradually beating their swords into plowshares, and in time will learn war no more.”
The nations are kind in doing what they have to relieve the sufferers in those districts that have been visited with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones, floods, plagues, and famine; but does this prove that the world is growing better? Has not this been done more or less in all ages? and is there not more money in the world now, and are not the nations more able to help the needy?
A word in regard to the “pretentious statistics of pessimists.” It is true that the world is growing better in some respects, but is it on the whole? We think it can be proved by facts, and statistics not “pretentious,” that where in one respect it is growing better, it is in ten or a hundred getting worse. The writer of this editorial certainly must look upon the subject in a highly spiritual sense in saying that “the nations are gradually beating their swords into plowshares,” when the Herr Krupp’s gun factory in Europe has now forty thousand men making guns and warlike implements, and there are other factories about as large. We have read of plowshares being beaten into swords, but never of swords beaten into plowshares. The truth of the matter is, all of the great and warlike nations of the world are increasing their armies and navies as never before in its history, and many of them are bankrupt through war expenses.
As it is to the point, we will quote briefly from an article in the New York Independent of Feb. 6, 1896. The writer says: “I like to find out the good rather than the evil in men and nations, but a man must either shut his eyes, or fall back upon an unwarranted faith in God, to be an optimist in Europe to-day, so far as the immediate position is concerned. . . . It is perfectly plain that the civilization of Europe is rotten to the core. If it were only the governments which were corrupt, the people might rise in their strength, and overthrow them, but with a degenerate people, there is no hope.”
Not only the civilization of Europe, but that of the world is rotten to the core. There is no hope of a world-wide reformation. Individual and national covetousness is cursing the world, and is on the increase. Treasures are “heaped together” (James 5:3) “in the last days.” Revised Version.
We quote briefly from The Signs of the Times of March 18: “Rome went down when eighteen hundred persons owned the civilized world. In 1835 there were but six millionaires in the United States, while in 1902, there were nine thousand six hundred. The national wealth is seventy billion dollars, and one half of it is owned by twenty-five thousand persons. In 1850 capitalists owned thirty-seven and one-half per cent of the nation's wealth. In 1870 they controlled sixty-three per cent, while in 1902 two per cent of the population owned seven tenths of the entire wealth. These are stupendous facts for sober thinkers.” Thus it is plain that the trust power, monopolists, and the money power are increasing. Therefore we may look for the conflict between labor and capital and for strikes to increase.
The psalmist says: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” Many seek wealth to get power. J. Pierpont Morgan, who is said to be a billionaire, has more power than any king or emperor on his throne; for he can lend them money, and take a mortgage on their dominions if he wishes; and it is said that he pays his clerks from five hundred thousand to one million five hundred thousand dollars’ salary each year, and makes money in doing it.
(To be concluded)
Significant Items
By R. C. Porter
R. C. PORTER
Two things have recently attracted my attention to which I wish to refer briefly in this article: first, the calls from all parts of the world, during the recent General Conference, for laborers speedily to enter new fields where open doors await their coming with the message which is to close the gospel commission and usher in the reign of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Calls from China, India, Africa, Mexico, the European field, Australasia, and many of the islands of the sea strongly suggest the fact that God’s providence has opened the world for the message. Even iron-clad11Russia has proclaimed liberty for all classes of Christians to declare the gospel. In view of these facts, we are deeply stirred with a sense of the increased responsibility of this people. Why has God opened the doors of every nation at this time to the gospel? Every intelligent Seventh-day Adventist can readily answer. A commission was given long ago that at the close of the gospel day “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
All signs indicate that we are in the evening shades of the gospel age. The Lord’s commission to any work always includes the possibility of the accomplishment of that work. So now as we stand on the threshold of the close of time and the finishing of the mission of the gospel, the nations of the world throw open the doors to the message. God by his providence now appeals to this people to enter the fields at once for the closing work. The Lord never opens the field too soon. If we could but view with eyes of faith the possibilities of the present, we would not hesitate on the threshold of these open doors of the nations, but enter them at once, and the Master, who is the author of the commission, would move upon the hearts of those who have means, to sustain the workers in these distant lands. If our hearts have a tendency to shrink from the undertaking on account of the expense, let us pray as did the disciples of old, “Lord, increase our faith.”
The other item is the recent visit of King Edward and Emperor William to the city of Rome, the seat of the papacy. And at about the same time, the president of the United States witnessed the “Grand Act” in a Catholic university, seated by the side of Cardinal Gibbons, of Baltimore. The “Grand Act” is a defense of the Catholic faith by a father of the Catholic Church against all the objections that can be raised against it by leading priests and professors of the same faith. This was the third occasion where it had been successfully accomplished. The next day the same cardinal who sat with the president witnessing this act, sat with the president at the opening of the dedicatory services of the World’s Fair in St. Louis, and offered the opening invocation upon that occasion.
Thus the Catholic Church and the state, the world over, are becoming more closely allied in their relations; and who that reads Revelation 13 in the light of present-day history, can fail to see the significance of all these movements?
If there ever was a people who should be awake to their opportunities, it is this people at the present time. Who will see these things in their true significance?—They who have their eyes anointed with the eyesalve of spiritual discernment. The world is blinded by the love of money, love of official station, fame, or social position. The church of Christ has but one ambition; that ambition is the saving of lost men at the sacrifice of all earthly gains. While men of the world are striving for worldly renown, the true Christian is seeking to make known Christ and him crucified as the only hope of the world’s escape from the impending ruin that is to devastate the earth and spoil all it now holds dear when the Saviour comes to take his people home.
Soon the times of peace in which to do this work will be past. Are we doing our utmost now? May the Lord enlighten our eyes that we may see our day of opportunity, and so awaken us that we shall be actively engaged in our work, and be true to our trusts until the Master comes. “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”