p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 42. (10/27/1909)

Man, as Created of God;

By Editor

Man

It is Pope, we believe, who said, “The proper study of mankind is man.” “Know thyself” was an ancient heathen maxim, which Juvenal declares descended from heaven. This in heathendom is the basic remains of a primitive, fundamental truth. It needs no argument to enforce the fact that no one knows man as does His Maker; and it follows logically to the believer that from no other source can we truly learn man save from the Creator’s revelation.

Both science and philosophy have speculated and guessed during the centuries of earth, but the many schools and contradictory theories and hypotheses reveal that man is still a riddle to himself. This need not be; for God has revealed humanity.

Our special study for the next week will be upon

Man, as Created of God;

Man, a Candidate for Immortality;

Man, His Fall and What It Involved;

Man’s Saviour.

This is a study of the Bible. What does God say in His Word regarding man?

Many of those to whom this paper will come are studying many things of temporal importance. The study of Man and his destiny is of eternal import.

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Significant to the Man Who Sees.

It is mightily significant, the part that Roman Catholicism is now acting in events of almost national importance. St. Louis recently celebrated her founding as a city, and the great day of the celebration was church day, in which the Protestant churches offered to take part with the Catholic in honoring the “patron saint” of the city, but they were distinctly told that religiously this could not be. In other words, Rome would not even seem to compromise, but the Protestants yielded all in principle. Now the Portola festival of San Francisco, which is almost a national affair, is opened with a solemn high mass, held under the direction of the Knights of Columbus (Catholic), at which Archbishop Riordan presides and Bishop Dennis O’Connell is celebrant of the mass, the sermon to be delivered by a Catholic priest. These services will be attended by Governor Gillett, Mayor Taylor, and other state and municipal officers. A daily paper remarks that this service so attended “will invest the celebration with a significance to San Francisco similar to the big festivals held in many of the continental cities.” Exactly, but these continental cities are Catholic by law. American cities are supposed to be free. We are not blaming Roman Catholics. From their policy they could do no different; but where is the Americanism of our civil authorities?

Saint Elijah

A despatch from Rome declares that the prophet Elijah has been chosen the patron saint of the aviators or flying-machine men. There will be one satisfaction in this; he is a living saint, whereas the great mass of others are dead ones. There is faint likeness between modern aeroplanes and Elijah’s fiery chariot; about as much, say, as between Dr. Eliot’s new religion and Christianity.

There Are Still Protestants.—

By Editor

A Roman Catholic paper (the Western Watchman of Oct. 7, 1909) says editorially:

“The Protestant papers are thoroly alarmed at the evidences multiplying daily that worship is dying out among Protestants of all creeds. Protestantism has left them nothing to worship. Who is God? and who is Christ? are questions still unanswered among them.”

Thank God, there are Protestants still; not uncertain Protestants; Protestants who know the eternal Jehovah, a personal heavenly Father; who know Jesus Christ, a personal, living Saviour; who are in no manner of doubt respecting the Bible as His Word, despite the august decisions of Higher Critics; who know the creative and regenerating power of the Gospel, despite the doctrine of evolution; who believe the Master is coming again. These Protestants are in all churches. They see the infidelity and they weep and pray and hope for reformation and for clearer light. We bid them stand fast in the faith of the Gospel. God has light for the waiting, praying soul, shining clearer and brighter to the end, but always from His Word. Let them hold to the Bible. That is the ground of all hope.

Teaching Chinese.

By Editor

An appeal comes to us from the Helen F. Clark Mission, of New York City, of which the Rev. David James Burrell is president, pleading that in the teaching of Chinese, women, and especially young women, should not be employed; and we agree with her. She says:

“I have seen lives wrecked both of the Chinese and American women teachers, homes broken, and have heard the piteous cries of nameless, deserted babes—the results, the direct results of unholy alliances between teachers and pupils of the Chinese Sunday-schools. Believe me, Christian men and women; I am telling you the naked truth. I know personally of what I speak.”

I would say that in our own Chinese missions we have not and do not follow the method of using young girls for the teaching of the Chinese. Where women are engaged in it at all they are married and older women who are wise and trusted teachers. Foreigners are prone to regard American women as they do their own. We sincerely hope that the great public example which was before the country a few months ago, and the appeal of Mrs. Clark and others, will have a permanent effect.

Progress in Improvement

Progress in Improvement.—It is a far cry in steamships from Hudson’s Clermont to the Mauretania, but the beginning of it all was in the first, and the conception of the first was the greatest thing after all. It is a still farther cry from the swift horse messenger to wireless telegraphy and telephony. Well did the prophet say of this “time of the end,” that “knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4. The Scientific American of September 25 is an illuminating and instructive number on progress in boats from the Half Moon to the Mauretania. Every issue of the Scientific American is good, but this is especially good.

Life’s Tempest

“Life’s Tempest.”—This is the title of a song sent to us by Mr. Clifford G. Howell, author of “Howell’s Comprehensive Music Charts.” The song was written for the comfort of one who felt that life was such a failure that she was tempted to put an end to it. The words of the song brought her comfort and hope. The song is sent forth set to music, with the hope that it may inspire in others confidence in the One who is ever near and able to help. It may be obtained for twenty-five cents by addressing the author, Daylight, Tennessee.

Saturday Is Not the Sabbath

The “Saturday” of the world is not the Sabbath of the Lord. Saturday begins at midnight and ends at midnight, even as does Sunday—a wholly unnatural, artificial beginning. But the Sabbath of the Lord begins at sunset and closes at sunset, regulated by God’s great time-clock, the sun—a beginning wholly natural, coming at a time when God’s people can welcome the Sabbath with praise and prayer, and receive its parting blessing at its close. No true Sabbath-keeper should ever say, “I keep Saturday.”