THIS is not a new question. It was asked over eighteen hundred years ago. We can not answer in the affirmative, reader; can you? We are satisfied with the apostle’s answer: “God forbid.” Nay, Christ can not be a minister of sin. If anything is made plain in the Scriptures of truth, these facts are:
1. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. There is therefore no hope for the sinner in himself. He is literally “without strength,” and being “without God,” is “without hope.”
2. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. That law is the Decalogue; “for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7:7. It was the law in which, possessing it outwardly only, the Jews had “the form of knowledge and of the truth,” which declares, “Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal.” Rom. 2:17-23. The same thing is taught by James, in his second chapter, verses 8-12.
3. That law is the expression in words of the character of God. “All Thy commandments are righteousness.” Ps. 119:172. He demands that His children shall be of the same character as Himself: “Ye shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.” Lev. 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16. The requirement is the same in all dispensations and ages. The God who is “righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works” (Ps. 145:17), could not give for the conduct of His children an imperfect or unholy or unrighteous law.
4. God is unchangeable: “I am the Lord, I change not.” Mal. 3:6. “With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. God’s law is, therefore, as unchangeable as Himself. It reflects the character of His unchangeable government. It can not pass or change without a reflection upon His government; more, without the destruction of His government. Therefore it is divinely declared: “All His commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111:7, 8. God through His prophet calls our attention to the most constant and stable things we know,—the bending, star-gemmed, or sun-burnished heavens, and the solid earth, and declares His righteousness to be His law, and that it “shall not be abolished,” that it “shall be forever.” Verse 8. And Jesus but condenses all this in Matt. 5:17-20 and Luke 16:17, in which He declares: “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”
5. Jesus Christ came to this earth, lived the life God requires of man,—the life of obedient faith to all the commandments of God,—and died upon the cross to save man, not in sin, but from his sins. “Thou shalt call His name Jesus,” said the angel, “for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21. “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from ALL INIQUITY [lawlessness, law-breaking], and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak . . . with all authority.” Titus 2:14, 15. He Himself declares: “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. “I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15:10. “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps, who did no sin [“sin is the transgression of the law”], neither was guile found in His mouth.” 1 Peter 2:21, 22.
These are plain, simple, great Gospel truths. And yet when we try to tell this blessed Gospel to the sin-sick, wandering, discouraged souls, hopelessly stranded on the rocks, or helplessly drifting on the great, restless sea of iniquity, doubt, and despair, there are those professing to be followers of Christ who tell us that we are not preaching Christ but the law; that the law is abolished; that it is Jewish; that we are proclaiming Judaism; that we ought to leave the law and preach Christ. Some of these erroneously earnest souls, in their anxiety to get rid of the law, tell us that it was abolished at the cross, and a few sentences further on declare that the law and the prophets were only till John the Baptist. That is, the law passed away when John began his ministry, and two or three years later was abolished at the cross!
And we wonder, in sad, amazed wonder, at the kind of mind which could take such conceptions of God—at the kind of Redeemer they lift up before mankind! They represent the great, immutable God to be as changeable as the fashions in man’s religions; His righteousness, like that of many, as accommodating as a jellyfish, shaping itself to rebellious man’s desires, paining the righteous and justifying the wicked. They tell us that Christ came to save the sinner, and that He does this by abolishing the law, which defines the sin! that He honors (?) the unchangeable Father who sent Him by making of no effect the law of God’s government! Instead of making Christ the minister of righteousness, delivering souls from sin that they may, by the endless life of His Spirit, live above sin, be righteous, and do righteousness, Christ forgives that men may continue in sin; He redeems that man may transgress; and like Israel of old, they say: “We are delivered to do all these abominations;” that is, transgress God’s law. Jer. 7:8-10.
Why will men so deceive themselves, or permit themselves to be so deceived? Why will they so dishonor the Father and Son, who are one? Why will they so pervert Christ’s teaching? Why will they so disgrace His name? Why so utterly ignore the example of the only Perfect Man, of whom it is said: “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” 1 John 2:6. Why come up to the great day of God with the deceived plea, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works!” and hear the dread words from the lips of Him who died to save from iniquity, “I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity”! Why not now be undeceived by His words, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46.
Dear soul, astray in sin, come to Jesus, and find One mighty to save from sin and sinning; from transgression and transgressing. He is able to save to the uttermost. He will give to the adulterer a clean heart. He will give to the disobedient child a heart to honor his parents. He will give to the covetous a generous heart. He will make the Sabbath-breaker to know God’s rest from sin. And to Him be all the glory.
Born Again
By H
It is said that George Whitfield preached over three hundred sermons from the text, “Ye must be born again.” When asked why he preached so often from the same text, he replied, “Because ye must be born again.”
He recognized the need, and presented a message to meet the need. As he studied the subject, the great need appealed to him more and more strongly, until it became the theme of his discourses. With him it was not striking three times and stopping, as did King Joash of Israel when commanded by the dying prophet to smite the ground with the bundle of arrows. Time after time, with increasing power and clearness, the message of the Saviour to Nicodemus, and to the world, was repeated; a host of reclaimed sinners was the result.
“Ye must be born again.” It was true that night when the ruler of the Jews sought a private interview with the Saviour of the world; it is true to-day. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, was born again—from above—and became the “great apostle.” Of course so misguided and cruel a person must be born again. But any form of disobedience, however slight, is disapproved by God; it is sin, and God’s plan excludes every form of sin. Then the sinner, of whatever degree, must be changed, born again, before he can stand in the presence of God.
Being born again means a positive and evident change of life. When the black Hottentot outlaw of Africa, Africaner, was born again through the faithful ministry of Moffat, he was a changed man. He went with Moffat to the very officials who offered a large reward for his capture, living or dead, thus proving to them the change which had been wrought. The only newly born into the kingdom of God knows of the change; those about him know of it; the world knows it and justly expects it; it is the test of conversion. The fruits of the life give sure evidence of the character of the life within. H.
Peace
PEACE is a condition, not a feeling. The peace of the Christian is assured in Jesus Christ, who is our peace. When we lay down our arms of rebellion against God, and accept of Christ, we have peace. It matters not what we may feel, or what the devil may say, there is peace between us and God. Let us therefore enjoy the rest which peace brings.
We may know that we have peace with God as surely as we know that our heart is surrendered to God’s will as given in His word. If we are disposed to ignore that word, to slight its requirements, to belittle its commands, we are still at war with God. The carnal mind is still dominant. Rom. 8:7. Peace comes with absolute surrender.
“Come Up”
God calls us up unto Him that we may go down unto the people. His call to His servants is, “Come up to Me into the mount, and be there; and I will givethee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thoumayestteach them.” Ex. 24:12. It is not for our own selfish enlightenment or blessing that God calls us to Him. He lights our lamp that we may light other lamps. He reveals Himself unto us that we may reveal Him to others. Keep the heart with God, let the strong hand of faith grasp His throne, but go down and lead others to the same gracious source of all good.
The Earthquake in Portugal
By C. E. Renfro
By C. E. Renfro
All safe, but with no home.
ABOUT five o’clock p. m., on the twenty-third of April, the inhabitants of Lisbon were very much frightened by quite a severe earthquake. The writer was in Lisbon preparing for the Friday evening meeting. Altho he had never before felt such, yet by the peculiar sensation produced, a definite decision was made: “It is an earthquake.” Hearing the noise made by many excited voices in the street, our natural desire was to see the effect upon the people. They were looking up to the sky—toward the buildings—as if it were a cyclone on the way.
Extent of the Destruction
Soon we saw firemen on the run to their stations, and soon we heard that a fire had broken out in another part of the city, caused by lighted candles, set by an oratory of images, which were overturned, setting fire to the wardrobe of the saints. Many chimneys came down, and buildings were badly rocked.
The king viewing the ruins of the Municipal Building in Coruche, Portugal.
The building opposite our hall shows signs of the earth’s “tremor.” It is a building probably built about the time of the 1755 earthquake.
Outside of a few losses and more fright, Lisbon’s inhabitants did not suffer. But not so with several towns a few miles out. These were completely destroyed. The quakes, by continuing for a couple of weeks, kept the survivors in a state of commotion and excitement, and finished the work of destruction not done by the first hard shake.
Relief for the Sufferers
Forty-eight persons were killed, and some seventy to eighty wounded. Thousands, of course, are without homes. The king was very soon on the scene, comforting the people, and promising aid and protection. The parliament being in session at the time, altho badly frightened, soon after voted aid up to $100,000. The Red Cross Society immediately began working, doing nobly to relieve the unfortunates. A custom among the Portuguese is to form a procession for taking up collections. Marching through the streets with a band playing dirges, they catch in a sheet, or a banner, cloth buckets, etc., the donations of money, clothing, jewelry, old coins, etc. For giving alms to help the unfortunate the Portuguese are among the first.
Explanations of Its Cause
We do not desire to enter into details of the effect of the earthquake, because what we have already read from various writers about the different earthquakes gives the experiences in about the same manner, according to the severity of the earthquakes. On the causes, there has been no lack of scientists who have aired their opinions, each one finding certain elements on which to base his ideas.
A few days before the “tremor,” a book came out to the public, being a translation from another language, with the title, “Jesus Christ Never Existed.” This work is a tirade against the Bible, particularly the New Testament, showing that the falsities of the Catholic Church were adopted from the pagan worship, therefore Christ never existed. Pagan writers ignored and were silent about the life of Jesus; therefore He did not exist. Of course the Catholics immediately circulated the opinion that the earthquake was the punishment of God on account of this book. The reply was a question: “Why was it that the churches suffered the most?”
The church of the Benevento reduced to a pile of ruins.
However, when we presented these catastrophes from a Bible standpoint, opposers became silenced and the believers remained more fortified in the faith. When the signs multiply more and more, our desire to warn the people increases in like manner. We have decided to publish a special earthquake number of the “Signs of the Times,” “Os Signaes dos Tempos.” We believe many thousands will be warned in this manner. Perhaps some one who knows of Portuguese in California, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Eastern states will desire to order copies for missionary work among this people at three cents a copy, post-paid. We ask the prayers of the “Signs” readers for us and our nation.
Our Restless Earth
It is not in Portugal alone that the old earth has been heaving. June 9 the Island of Sumatra was tremendously shaken. The temblor rent the village of Korinchi, 180 miles southeast of Padang, on the night of June 3, and 200 persons were killed and many hundreds were injured. The town, which had a population of five thousand, was practically destroyed. Between June 9 and 11 the Riviera district in France was decidedly shaken, practically the whole south of France. Seven villages were reported destroyed, a number of persons killed, and millions of dollars of loss entailed.
The latter part of the month of May, Chicago, which felt herself immune from almost everything but Lake Michigan breezes, was shaken, and from Chicago westward. Chimneys were toppled over, dishes were broken, and clocks stopped. No serious damage was done, but just enough of the earth's ague was manifested to show to the people of that section that they are not immune.
More and more, it is hoped, the world will come to believe what God has said in His word, that the earth has waxed old like a garment; an old garment is subject to outbreakings in unexpected places. Never will the old earth become stable again until sin shall have been swept away from it forever, and God's laws both moral and physical are absolutely operative throughout His whole creation.
More England-Germany War Talk
By R.
A PAMPHLET is being circulated in Germany that pictures the downfall of the British Empire and the rise of a new universal German sovereignty.
The title of this pamphlet is “After the Storm,” the storm being understood as a great European war. England’s world-wide empire is pictured as collapsing like a house of cards as a result of the destruction of her fleet. Previous to this time England is pictured as having “dared to humiliate every great empire in turn.”
“Victorious Russia was forced at the command of England to turn back before the gates of Constantinople; France met the same fate at Fashoda where she was compelled to strike her colors; and Germany was obliged during the Boer War to submit to the holding up and searching of her proud merchantmen by British cruisers, like the ship of any little piratical state.”11
The British fleet of England is imagined to be destroyed off Helgoland by air-ships dropping dynamite bombs which blow the ships to atoms. Following this the German navy comes in with her ironclads and finishes up the destruction. The news of this German victory is carried to England by a German army corps. France is also taught a lesson by being invaded and occupied by a vast German army. Japan, which would be supposed to send help to England, seizes Hongkong instead. Russia also holds back from assisting England, and sends her Cossacks into India, while Italy looks after Egypt.
Following this bloody program, South Africa publishes a declaration of independence, and hoists the flag of the United Free States of Africa. At this point the United States Government gets interested, and Congress passes a resolution that American troops are to march into Canada “for the preservation of law and order.” Ireland, to make the failure still more complete, becomes an independent republic. As German ships sweep the ocean, the commerce of England is paralyzed, all her provision ships are seized, and with famine staring the country in the face, the government submits to a humiliating peace.
All of this, of course, is purely imaginary, and yet those who are acquainted with the ambitions of Germany, and especially the German Emperor, know that it is a picture that they would willingly have real. A certain writer stated years ago that “when England does declare war, all nations will have an interest of their own to serve, and there will be general war, general confusion.”
Pacific Liner "Minnesota," injured June 20 by fire.
An English Writer’s View
There is plenty of war talk both in England and in Germany. Mr. H. W. Wilson in “The National Review” (London), supposed to be the organ of King Edward, has this to say:
“The nation which in 1864 attacked and despoiled Denmark; which in 1866 attacked and defeated Austria; which in 1870-71 picked a quarrel with France, levied an indemnity of £200,000,000 upon her, and annexed two French provinces; which in 1905 suddenly threatened France with war unless she dismissed her Foreign Minister; and which in 1909 menaced Russia with invasion unless Russia surrendered to Austria, is not likely to spare England if given a chance of effecting that ‘settlement’ which Treitschke a generation ago foretold would be the ‘last and the most difficult’ for the German people. An indemnity of a thousand millions, an expenditure of five hundred millions on our own army and navy too late to secure success, and the destruction of British credit, trade, and industry, will be the penalties of any weakness on our part. There is only one way in which such a calamity can be averted—by developing our armed strength to the utmost without delay, and by concentrating our whole attention upon survival in the struggle for existence which has been forced upon us.”
The View of a Frenchman
Another writer, Mr. Gaston Dru, in the “Echo de Paris,” places the greater responsibility for this war talk upon the Germans as follows:
“The German attempt after universal monarchy is destined to make shipwreck as did that of Philip II, Louis XIV, and Napoleon I. Germany is now a prey to the demon of that national character by which her destiny is controlled. It would be impossible for her to avoid, even if she wished it, the struggle toward which she is rushing with such precipitancy. She is inevitably bound by the law of competition to the death, and in the European drama she is playing the role exemplified by the fate-driven hero in a Greek drama. Like Siegfried, Germany’s favorite hero, her fatal genius has forged the unbreakable sword, and she rushes headlong to the capture of the golden ring which shall give her all power, and, recklessly blind, is destined to kindle the frightful conflagration of the political Walhalla, amid the twilight and eclipse of independent nationalities. At this present moment, however, the tri-entente, England, France, and Russia, represents the anti-Germanic sentiment of the entire world and is quite capable of winning the cause of civilization against Germanism. This is what will force Germany to halt, and will avert that hideous abomination, a European war. This is what will prevent such a retrograde movement of humanity as would result from the hegemony of a single race, through which international competitions, the most potent elements of progress, would totally disappear.”
Sensational Rumors
Just to see how firmly the English nation is being imbued with the belief in a German invasion, we have but to note some of the stories that are credited by the English people. A short time ago a policeman reports having seen a powerful air-ship passing over Peterboro in the early morning. A countryman described a squadron of aeroplanes flying the German flag which he saw, or imagined he saw, moving silently but irresistibly under the low English sky. Another saw the whole countryside lit up by the searchlights of a German air-ship traveling so fast against the wind that it vanished almost as soon as it was seen. Even in Ireland such reports are being heard. For example, the Belfast newspaper recently reported the appearance of an air-ship passing over at a great altitude, its light being visible for about twelve minutes. Another rumor has it that the German navy has been experimenting at sea with small air-ships and has made it quite clear that these air-ships can ascend from the vessels and land upon them. Then there is a rumor that dirigible balloons manned by Germans are making a very careful study of the English coast defenses. The question was put to the Secretary of War not long ago as to the truth of the report that there are 60,000 foreign soldiers in England and that there are in a cellar not far from Charing Cross 5,000 stands of rifles and 7,500,000 cartridges. On top of all this is the further statement that over 5,000 secret German agents are working in England, making a minute study, after the thoro German fashion, of all the details that may be of advantage to an invader. These spies it is said are often Belgian, Swiss, or French, and are inspected every six months, the whole brigade being controlled by a well-known member of the German secret police.
This batch of scare stories will hardly be believed by people who are not personally affected but there is no question but that the continuance of such reports, and the resulting talk that will come from it, will go a long way toward fomenting trouble between these two great nations. How far the sober English mind is affected by these things we can not tell, but the constant repetition of these things emphasizes them and finally brings about some sort of conviction. If talk of war is to continue uninterruptedly between England and Germany, and the two nations are constantly to eye one another with suspicion and enmity, the fact itself will go a long way toward bringing about serious trouble.
The Outlook
We know that in a little while from now, whatever the conditions at present may be, the nations will be plunged into one great, final war. The word of God prophesies it, and the word of God can not be broken. Sometime that terrible storm will break, and the longer it is postponed, the more fearful will be the results. The angels of God, heavenly influences, are restraining the nations of the world. But when God’s work in the earth is done this restraining influence will be withdrawn and men will follow out all the promptings of the powers of evil. Then we will have universal war, universal conflict. Only God then can be our haven of refuge. He has promised to care for all those who put their trust in Him. R.
Fire in the Minnesota’s Coal Bunker
A fire in the coal bunker of the steamer “Minnesota,” a Pacific liner, in which were stored six hundred tons of coal, burned for six hours June 20 before it could be put out. The fire and heat generated, it is reported, did great damage to the steamer.
Pleasure Turned to Sorrow.
June 6, a wharf at Mandeville, La., on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, gave way when a great company of people made a rush to board the lake steamer “Margaret” for a pleasure excursion. Many of the crew and others did gallant work in rescuing the victims, but eleven were lost in spite of all their efforts. Those who were lost were all women and children.
Talking with Mars.
A newspaper editorial drops a little sarcasm on the heads of the persons who seem to be attracting a little attention to themselves with proposals on how to communicate with Mars. It reads: “A man who wanted to run airships to Mars has been declared insane, altho nothing has been done about those who want to talk to Mars with a bit of looking-glass.”
Wright Brothers Receive Aero Club Medals
In the East Room of the White House, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of public men, scientists, army and navy officers, diplomats and others, the President presented the two $2,000 gold medals of the Aero Club of America to the Wright Brothers.
Boston Officials Sentenced for Fraud
Leo F. McCullough, president of the Boston Common Council last year, has been sentenced to serve two years at hard labor in prison for the conspiracy to defraud the city by the use of false orders for the purchase of books. James T. Cassidy, a lawyer, who conspired with him, was sent to prison for one year. The sum involved was $200.
Harvester Company Violates Kansas Anti-Trust Law
The special commissioner of the Kansas Supreme Court reports regarding the suits against the International Harvester Company, that the company has violated the state's anti-trust law, and failed to pay its charter fee. This means that the company must change its methods and pay $60,000, or go out of business.
Glimpses of Korea
By C. L. Butterfield
It has always been with interest that I have followed the work in foreign fields through the Mission Department of the SIGNS, and now as I find myself located in a foreign field, my interest in this department is as great as before.
Nearly two months have passed since our arrival in this interesting field. This time has been fully occupied, as winter is now on us and we had to build a little house to live in. Some time has also been spent in looking for a suitable location for the headquarters of our work and another mission station. It has been decided to move our headquarters to Seoul, the capital of Korea, and a place of about 200,000 inhabitants, as soon as possible.
Elder I. H. Evans spent about ten days with us in organizing Korea into a separate mission field. We very much appreciated his counsel and timely suggestions.
Korea is densely populated, especially the southern and western parts. The people are very interesting and have many peculiar ways and customs. Both men and women dress in white. As two or three hundred of them gather together in a little village on market days, it makes a very interesting sight. Early in the morning one will see them coming from all directions to market, bringing bundles of grain, straw sandals, crockery, cloth, dried fish, and many other small things. There is a market in our village every five days.
The Koreans accept the teachings of the Gospel very readily and one can get a hearing at most any place at almost any time. They are never too busy to stop and listen. One morning I went with Dr. Russell to see a man who had been kicked on the knee by a policeman. As we entered the house, we were surrounded by about twenty people who wanted to see what was going to be done and to say something about the injury. The man, who was lying on a mat, raised himself and spit on his knee and then wiped it with his hand so that the doctor could better see what was the matter. They know nothing of quarantine laws in this country. It is not uncommon for one to come to see the doctor and, after being in the house a few minutes, say that some of his folks have the smallpox or some disease just as bad.
Korean Boys
At church or school the men and women are separated by a curtain or partition, as a man is not supposed to look on the face of any woman but his own wife.
We have a training-school here at Soonan that is doing good work in fitting young people to go out and give the message of a soon-coming Saviour to these people in heathen darkness. About twenty students are attending at present.
We are now at the difficult task of learning the Korean language. This calls for much hard study and patience. Pray for us that we may be successful in mastering the language, and be able to bring many of these people to a saving knowledge of the truth.
C. L. BUTTERFIELD.
My Word Shall Not Return unto Me Void
WHERE did you get that page?” asked a missionary of a fakir, who came to him for instruction with a fragment of Saint John, containing that wonderful chapter 3.
“I found it by the wayside under the snows of Badrinath.”
“Where did you find that New Testament, which seems to have been badly used?”
“One morning, as I went to the Ganges with my net, I found it lying water-soaked at the river’s edge.”
We speak and pass on. Our hearers hear in fragments and do not understand. But the printed book remains. It may be read and reread until the mystery of God is unfolded by His Holy Spirit to the dull heart of man. It may be hidden for years, like corn in the encasements of the Egyptian dead, and then in some strange way come forth into other hands to be the seed of life.
Apropos of the above, taken from the Bible Society Record for March, is the following little story contributed by Miss Alice Terrell, of Peking, North China.
From beyond the Great Wall, across the plain in Yengchou, comes this tale of 1900. That year, with its terrible storm of blood and fire, nearly swept the little church in Yengchou from existence. Before the burning of the buildings the church property was looted of all considered valuable, but large bundles of Scripture and sacred books were thrown out in the street, where they were trodden under foot or blown hither and thither by the wind. Near the city lived a farmer who had a faithful Christian friend, a carpenter, who was killed at the time of the general massacre. Often during his lifetime he had presented the truth to the farmer, only to have it rejected. Nevertheless the seed had fallen, and one day when the storm was over and the silence of death rested where the church had been, the farmer, crossing the field, picked up a wind-carried leaf from the Gospel of Luke, the story of the prodigal son. As he read he said to himself, “And is this the God whose followers we have slain, and is this the religion we reject?” With bowed head he retraced his steps, and after the troubles were over and the church was rebuilt, he was one of the first to ask admission; another son had returned to his Father’s house, and the fluttering leaf of God’s word had not returned unto Him void, for through this one a whole patriarchal family had found Christ and the younger generation of boys and girls is growing up in Christian schools.— World-Wide Missions.
The Stained, Yet Cleansed
By Delwin Rees Buckner
SOME beads, like amethysts, lay on the snow,
The drops of life-blood, drained from crippled hare,
Or bird, sore wounded in the wintry air
By arrow shot from cruel hunter’s bow.
The vivid story of its throbbing pain
Upon the pure white ice was plainly traced;
Yet snowflakes of the roseate dawn effaced
With spotless robe the scarlet-colored stain.
So we ourselves are sometimes wounded, too,
And sadly blemished by some evil dart
Until our life seems ruined in our view,
Yet God can change sin’s awful purple hue,
Can cleanse again the spotted, blotted heart,
And change the old life to the ransomed new.
DELWIN REES BUCKNER.
Bible Society Ships Scriptures Abroad
“During the eight months from April to November inclusive, 1908, 1,826 cases packed with Scriptures, weighing altogether 178 tons, were sent out from the London headquarters of the Bible Society for shipment abroad. The books included versions in about 130 different languages. These shipments, however, represent only a fraction of the Society’s output, as two thirds of its editions are printed in the foreign countries where they are circulated.”
