Exercise comes from the Latin exerceo, ex, out, and arceo to “keep off” or “drive forth.” It is “the easy, natural action of any power,” taken at any time with a view to increase or maintain that power, or because such action is enjoyable.
It has many synonyms, such as action, application, drill, employment, exertion, occupation, operation, performance, practise, use. Exertion is a stronger word, and each synonym has its particular meaning. There are persons who take too much exercise, and shorten their lives in consequence. There are others who take too little, and so shorten life. Yet “it is better to wear out, than rust out,” isn’t it?
In the early days of humanity, outside of cities, exercise was more normal, bringing every organ into balanced action. Nowadays the inventions of men have developed machinery to that extent that much of man’s work is done indoors, but few muscles and parts of his anatomy get exercise, and he becomes a part of the machine he uses. When the machine stops, it rests; when the man stops, a portion of himself longs to work, and other portions are too weary.
To help this condition of affairs gymnasiums are devised and all sorts of devices and apparatuses and systems are planned to help out the lack of normal exercise.
But the best exercise for health, after all, is not gymnasium exercise. It may make athletes, but athletes are not by any means noted for health or longevity. Usually, they are short-lived, and soon age. This is pre-eminently true of professional pugilists.
No exercise, taken for the purpose of exercise alone, is greatly beneficial, and this is mostly the case with gymnasium exercise. The exercise is taken with constant effort to be benefited by it. More than half its virtue is lost in the effort.
Not so when the exercise comes in the pursuit of some object, and the mind is on the object rather than the exercise. Mark the little child playing horse astride a stick. Muscles, limbs, trunk, and lungs find united, healthful, harmonious exercise. The eye sparkles, the cheeks glow, the lungs expand, and the boy beams with health and life. He is not thinking of the exercise, but of what the exercise brings.
Good manly sport among young men is beneficial if not indulged in to excess. Let it be in the open air and the sunshine, and let it be honest, generous, soul-opening, heart-quickening.
There is no better exercise than sawing, chopping, and splitting wood. This is especially true of the use of the ax. The whole man is in action from head to foot, and the lungs are open and free. The writer attended a seminary once where the leading professor, not the best type of health, by the way, boasted of his dumb-bells, and their virtue. He had two pairs, one of forty pounds, one of sixteen. And he really did very creditable work with them, and developed good bunches of muscle. But one day while expatiating upon their benefit, his younger brother, a picture of health and activity, remarked to the professor, calling him by name, “I have two splendid dumb-bells in the basement.” “What are they?” said the professor. “The buck saw and the ax,” was replied. The professor was embarrassed and blushed, but he had little more to say. The careless boy’s argument had struck home.
Get you a wood-pile, and take a few minutes vigorous exercise with the ax; you will find that it will pay far better than any gymnastic exercise, and you will have the consciousness that it is doing somebody some good.
Plenty of Sunshine.
We will not take space to consider this topic in this number; but let us not put off the sunshine till next week. ARDIEL.
QUESTIONS FOR IDLE MOMENTS.
"To understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their riddles."
Prov. 1: 6, A. R. V., margin.
ANSWERS FOR LAST MONTH.
Correct answers to Bible Questions, Bible Enigma, and Word Square were sent in by Florence Livingston, Errole McChesney, C. A. Van Cleve, Rutland Bowen.
There were quite a number who had all right but one. Four substituted the children of Israel for Hagar. Several missed on the length of time Noah stayed in the ark, and one had Noah's age wrong. Let those who missed study the correct answers, that they may be impressed upon their minds.
Some erred in giving merely the sentence in the enigma without giving the words made out of it. We did not call this a mistake this time, as all did not know what was required.
Some think they must wait till they see the answers in the paper before sending theirs in. These will be too late.
My first was the last to see Jesus' face,
My second's a breeze, just a gentle one,
My third on the high priest's breast found place,
My fourth was a type of God's only Son.
BIBLE ENIGMA.
I am composed of forty-eight letters. I tell why Jesus came to this world.
My 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 13 is the name of one who was not with the disciples when Jesus first met with them after His resurrection.
My 4, 46, 45, 15, 16, 7, 11 is the name of a Jewish king who was set to do a work his father was not permitted to do.
My 29, 34, 30, 31, 32 is what a leper must do before he could be declared clean from his leprosy.
My 8, 3, 17, 18 tells where one who ate at David's table was lame.
My 20, 21, 22, 33, 38, 32 is a process of cooking prevalent in Moses' time.
My 41, 39, 6, 26 is the name of a female deer mentioned in the Bible.
My 47, 48, 24, 12, 25 is what sin leaves upon the character.
My 27, 37, 19 tells the number of times Jesus cleansed the temple.
My 44, 43, 42, is a tool which Jesus used in His work as a carpenter.
My 40, 28, 35, 36 is what Samuel received each year from his mother.
My 23 is found in seek but not in serve, in king but not in country.
GRAND CANYON OF ARIZONA
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The great round world has nothing like it. A railroad to the rim. Excellent hotels: El Tovar, Bright Angel, and Grand View. Passengers going via Santa Fe may stop over at Williams for side trip to the Canyon. Round trip fare $6.50. Ask for pamphlet, “Titan of Chasms.”
FRED W. PRINCE, city ticket agent,
649 MARKET ST.SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
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There are 52 Weeks in the Year
THE BANK OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
Intends to give you fifty-two reasons why you should write them for information about Mountain View. When you finally get here we can give you fifty-two reasons why we should be your Bankers. Don’t you think that an excellent idea? We want Mountain View to grow so that we may increase our business, and we want you for a customer.
Address
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Mountain View, California
WANTED, A BOY.
A happy boy.
A boy full of vim.
A boy who is square.
A boy who can say, “No,” to wrong.
A boy who scorns a lie.
A boy who hates deceit.
A boy who despises slang.
A boy who is aboveboard.
A boy who will never smoke.
A boy who saves his pennies.
A boy with some “stick to it.”
A boy who takes to the bath-tub.
A boy who is proud of his big sister.
A boy who has forgotten how to whine.
A boy who thinks hard work no disgrace.
A boy who stands at the head of his class.
A boy who does chores without grumbling.
A boy who believes that education is worth while.
A boy who is a stranger to the street corners at night.
A boy who plays with all his might—during play hours.
A boy who listens not to unclean stories from any one.
A boy who thinks his mother, above all mothers, is the model.
A boy who does not know more than the rest of the house.
A boy who does not think it inconsistent to mix playing and praying.
A boy who does not wait to be called a second time in the morning.
A boy whose absence from Sabbath-school sets everybody wondering what has happened.—Christian Guardian.
AN APPEAL FOR A MISSION IN THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA.
By J. L. Shaw
SEVERAL years ago the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES manifested their substantial interest in the people of India. It was in the year 1898, when India was severely stricken with famine, and the large family of readers responded in a generous way, and a goodly sum of money was raised. By this money, food and clothing were brought to starving boys and girls. Comfortable Christian homes were found for destitute orphans, where since they have been taught the Word of God. Some of them are now reaching manhood and womanhood, and can now tell others of the love of Jesus that brought to them salvation of body and soul. Eternity only can reveal the far-reaching results of the gifts of the SIGNS family at that time.
The publishers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES have now listened to another call from the “Land of the Indus,” and again they throw open the columns of their valuable paper and make another appeal to its large circle of readers; and they make it believing that there will be a generous response. The plea this time is for money to establish a mission in the mountains of India, that the sons and daughters of India, who are hid away in the secluded recesses of mountains may have the Gospel.
For years our Mission Board and band of workers in India have heard the cry of need in the mountains, and again and again to this appeal for means a deaf ear has been turned. There are the 87,000,000 Hindu people, for whom we have scarcely raised our hand, more people than in the whole United States, and many of these people dwell upon the slopes, and in the valleys of the Himalaya Mountains, which form the northern boundary of India.
Among the strongest and most sturdy people of all India are there. As a rule the morals of people are higher in the mountains where the climate is cool and bracing, than in the plains. Among the strongest and most sturdy people of all India are the mountain dwellers. The Sikhs, physically the most manly men of the British Empire, and from whom England gets her best Indian soldiers, live in the foot-hills and adjacent plains.
The plan of establishing a mission is to procure land in a thickly settled community in the mountains and open a school. We have found from experience in India that a Bible school for young men is one of the best means of getting our work started in new places. At Simultala among the Santhals we have such a school. For several years our workers at this mission worked without seemingly very much progress until a school was started. This school has now been running three years, and good results are following. Last year there were more applicants than could be accommodated. Young men from the surrounding country attend the school, and work three or four hours a day in the garden for their board, and during that time the Bible is made the basis of study. In this way they get a knowledge of God’s Word and can return to their friends and relatives and tell what they have learned. By establishing a Bible school in the mountains where young men can come and board, and learn to read and study the Bible, a beginning can be made. The purpose in making it a boarding school will be to take away, so far as possible, heathen surroundings and substitute Christian influences. There should be enough ground in connection with the mission so that pupils may be given work to do to help earn their food while attending school. An orchard would do well in the mountains. Fruit growing, when superintended by Europeans or Americans is profitable. Apples, oranges, peaches, pears, and strawberries do well, and there is a good market for them.
A VIEW OF THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS, NORTHERN INDIA.
Work should be started for women as soon as possible. They are in a pitiable condition. Of the 145,000,000 women, but very few know even how to read, and fewer still know anything about the Gospel of Christ. They are kept in ignorance, and, knowing no better, hold tenaciously to a religion which makes them little more than prison-slaves. A son of India has said: “If you want to win India, win the women of India, and all India will be Christians.” It may not be possible to open a school for them at first. They are timid and secluded. Lady workers having learned the language can press their way into the homes and teach them there. Here, too, they can reach the widows whose condition is even more pitiable than ordinary women. Many of them become widows when they are only children. The death of their husband, who is often a man of forty or fifty, is laid to their charge, and as a penalty for their sin, they are made household drudges the rest of their lives. With shaved heads and coarse garments, often half-starved they must endure the taunts and abuse of those who should be their bosom friends. Their condition is a loud appeal for help.
At a mission in the mountains where the climate is cool and refreshing, our missionaries of northern birth can work with little difficulty and keep their health from year to year. During the ten years that we have been carrying on mission work in the plains, several have lost their health and some have died. Together the number reaches a full score. This has been a great hindrance to the work, and the situation calls for assistance. It costs a large sum of money to transport so many workers to and from India, and a mission in the mountains, so planned that workers in the plains could go and revive their exhausted energies would do much in lessening traveling expenses of so many workers to and from India, and would promote the health of workers as well.
A mission in the mountains would then serve a twofold purpose. Educational work could be carried on in the immediate community for men and women, and at the same time such a place would serve as a retreat for workers from different parts of India, who need rest.
As people in the mountains hear and heed the Gospel, they can be trained as workers and go with less susceptibility of disease to the hot and more trying climates of India—a suggestion worthy of consideration in mission movements in India.
At least $5,000 is needed for such an enterprise. Aside from purchasing the land, a substantial house will need to be built for workers; a schoolhouse for the school, and a small dispensary for treating the sick. Could the readers of the SIGNS but see the missionaries in the plains of India during the heated season which lasts for nearly eight months, from the middle of March until the first of November, and see how weary, worn, and washed-out they become from months and months of heat, incessant day and night, they would clearly see the wisdom of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and Mission Board in establishing a mission in the mountains. Such a move spells progress to13the cause in India, and will go a long way in solving some of the knotty problems we have been called to meet in that field.
Five thousand dollars is a small amount for so great and imperative a need. Only a bare statement is placed before you at this time. The need, the dire need of consecrated men and means in India is greater than we can tell, and now, just now, is the time to carry the Gospel to her people. For a hundred years and more the hand of Providence has been going on before, preparing the way for this very time. Before British rule prevailed, scarcely a year passed by without thousands of India’s sons shedding their blood in war. Now all is peace from one end of India to the other. When Queen Victoria took the throne there was not a mile of railway in India. Now there are 26,000 miles of railway extending to all parts of the country. The means of communication, both by the postal and telegraph system, is no less remarkable, and education is making marvelous strides. There were, in 1901, 147,344 schools and colleges. The people are willing to study and anxious to learn.
The people are looking westward for help, and while doing so, infidel literature from the West is being scattered broadcast everywhere. The enemy of truth is determined to keep that sea of people in darkness and doubt. While they are looking, anxiously looking, westward, shall we not send them the Gospel? We come to you, dear friends, with this appeal, and we have faith to believe that you will make a liberal gift for this worthy purpose. What will you do? What can you give? Remember, friends, that one-fifth of the population of the globe is in India, and few of them know of God’s love. Remember, too, that fully half of these are women, held in ignorance and superstition, of whom twenty-five million have come to the deplorable condition of widowhood. Let us make a real sacrifice and raise the money at once for a mission in the mountains of India. What will you do? What can you give?
Boulder, Col. J. L. SHAW.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
Nine new Sabbath-keepers at Olin, Iowa, is included in a report to the Bulletin by Brother E. G. Olsen.
Four young converts at Liberty Center, Ohio, and one adult at Defiance, are reported by Brethren W. E. Bidwell and John P. Gaede.
The address of C. H. Jones, Western Transportation Agent, is changed from Pacific Press to R. F. D. No. 18, Mountain View, Cal.
Twelve converts to the faith are reported in the Southwestern Union Record, by Brother M. H. Gregory, who has been laboring at Alpena Pass, Texas.
At Lorimor, Iowa, two sisters have responded to the call of the Spirit through the ministry of Brother E. W. Wolfe. Others are also much interested in the truths presented.
A general camp-meeting for Upper Columbia Conference will be held at Milton, Oregon, May 17–27. The president and vice-president of the General Conference are expected to be present.
In an article concerning our sanitarium at Madison, Wis., the Appleton Journal says: “Upwards of two thousand patients have received treatment in this institution, within the last two and one-half years, and a very large percentage have been permanently cured, and all have found relief who have gone there before it was too late.”
A letter from Brother W. J. Tanner, of Hayti, W. I., to friends in New Jersey, reports that his work is encouraging. He is making progress in the study of French. There are about fifty Sabbath-keepers there, all but three being natives of the island. Of fourteen he has baptized, twelve were from the Roman Catholic Church.
The employees of the Ingison Coal Mine, in North Dakota, have organized themselves into a tract and missionary society, with seventeen members. They also hold a Sabbath-school, and some other meetings that are attended by others than the members. They canvass some other towns in the vicinity, and have distributed thousands of “Signs of the Times Leaflets” the past winter.
The Nebraska Reporter gives some extracts of a letter from Brother J. H. Evans, treasurer of the General Conference, from which we take the following: “Our missionaries from all the distant lands report souls continually coming into the truth. In Mexico, where we have labored for so many years with apparently but meager returns in the souls of men, God has greatly blessed the efforts of our brethren the past year, and given us quite a goodly number of sincere, earnest people, who have given themselves to the message. In China, Japan, and Africa, in fact all over the wide harvest field, there seems to be no limit to the number of souls that could be brought into the truth had we only the men to place in these respective fields.”
The happy faculty of saying just enough was recently illustrated in Canton, China. Writing to the students of Elk Point, S. D., Industrial School, Brother E. H. Wilbur says: “I wish some of you young men could have been here the past two weeks to help us sell our new Sabbath calendars in Chinese. Yes, you could really have helped to sell calendars without knowing how to talk Chinese. Brother R. A. Caldwell, a canvasser from Singapore, was out with us two days and sold as many as any of us, tho all the Chinese he knew was what we taught him to say, ‘Yeet fun pie yat ko seen yat cheung’ (Monthly calendar, one cent for one piece). In the past ten days, by the Lord’s help, I have sold over 1,100 copies in the streets of Canton. Our streets don’t look like the streets of Elk Point, nor like the streets of Sioux City. Here the streets are not usually more than four to six feet wide.” This letter was dated January 25, and says: “About two months ago we organized our Chinese Sabbath-school with Dr. Law Keem as superintendent. We had seven classes and about forty members. . . . Mrs. Wilbur and I have now been in China a little over three years, and I should be very sorry if for any reason we should be obliged to leave this needy field.”
TWO OFFERINGS.
ONE
Was from a well-to-do family,
Who were accounted generous,
Were reputed to be liberal.
Made much of what they gave.
Owned much real estate.
Professed to be Christians.
Solicitor expected much.
Their contribution amounted to $20.
MORAL.
“How hardly shall they
that have riches enter
into the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:24.
THE OTHER
From a servant of the same family,
Had no account taken of her.
Had no such reputation.
Gave in the spirit of humility.
Owned but the clothes she had.
She was a Christian.
Solicitor expected little.
Her contribution amounted to $20.
MORAL.
“Hath not God chosen
the poor of this world
rich in faith, and heirs
of the kingdom?” James 2:5.—Selected.
ONE night a young English sailor stepped into a mission in New York City. At the close of the meeting when he was leaving, some one put into his hand a little card, on which was printed the following: “If I should die to-night I would go to ——. Please fill out and sign.” The sailor put it in his pocket, went back to his steamer, and stuck it up in his bunk, without thinking much about the words. Crossing the Atlantic, he was thrown from the rigging in a storm, and, falling to the deck, broke an arm. He was carried to his bunk, and as he lay there alone his eye fell on the little card, and the message went home to his heart. He thought, “If I should fill that card out honestly now I should have to write in the word hell. But I’ll not fill it out in that way.” And lying there in his bunk he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour, and surrendered his whole being to Him. He filled in the card with the word heaven, and signed his name. Returning to England, he soon got another ship for New York, and on arriving there he walked to the mission and handed in his card. Suppose you had a card like that to sign to-day. Which would it be, heaven, or hell?—Selected.
NORTHFIELD HYMNAL
BY GEO. C. STEBBINS
ITS SALE DOES GOOD
ITS USE DOES GOOD
5 Cents ROYALTY Is Paid
“The Northfield Schools” on every copy sold. Cloth Bound, $25 per 100; 30 cents post-paid. Returnable Samples mailed to “earnest inquirers.” Published by the publishers of the famous “Gospel Hymns.” THE BIGLOW & MAIN CO., New York or Chicago.
MUSTACHE GUARD
Fits any drinking vessel and converts it into a mustache cup. Made of Wessel silver. Guaranteed not to change color. Sent to any address for inspection. If it suits you, send 30 cents. If you don’t want it, return it. The retail price is 50 cents. The reduced price is just to introduce it. Order quickly. Alfred Mallet, Elkbridge Sta., Baltimore, Md.
IMPORTANT TO TRAVELERS
The WASHINGTON-SUNSET ROUTE announce the opening of their through line via New Orleans. Personally conducted cars, San Francisco to Washington, D. C., via Coast Line and Los Angeles, tri-weekly. Tickets at lowest rates to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, New England, and all Eastern points. Through the Old South. Quick time. Best service. Write Phil K. Gordon, 633 Market St., San Francisco, for full information.
MILLENNIAL TEXT-BOOK.—Every known reference, over 500 arranged according to events, adapted for instant reference or profound Bible study; result of 12 years’ search. Mailed for 10 one-cent stamps, or a dime. Eugene A. Brown, Phoenix, Ariz.
THE NORTHWESTERN LINE
RUSSIA-JAPAN ATLAS.
Send ten cents in stamps to R. R. Ritchie, No. 617 Market Street, San Francisco, for Russo-Japanese War Atlas, issued by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, three fine colored maps each 14x20, bound in convenient form for reference. The Eastern Situation shown in detail with tables showing relative military and naval strength and financial resources of Russia and Japan.
Patent Dyspepsia Cures Exposed as Nonsense
Yet thousands will swallow the lie and then swallow the stuff, which is called the “only dyspepsia cure,” and advertises to cure “headache, nervousness, bowel troubles,” or “anything arising from indigestion.” More than this, the day you begin using this “cure,” “you can eat anything you like and all you like,” and the “cure” gives immediate and permanent relief, etc., etc., ad nauseam. To the one who knows anything at all of the general causes of dyspepsia, these claims are nonsense. It will doubtless stimulate and stupefy the stomach for a while, but the chances are that, in nine cases out of ten it will leave the system worse than before. There is one permanent cure in many cases: remove the cause or causes, and nature will do the rest.
