p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 8. (2/22/1910)

Extra Copies of This Issue

By Editor

For those who may desire extra copies of this issue, the price will be single copies 5 cents; 5 or more copies to one address, 3 cents each. They will be wrapped and mailed to any address for 5 cents each.

Johnston Sunday Bill Advances

By Editor

The Johnston District of Columbia Sunday Bill (S. 404) defeated two years ago, passed its third reading in the Senate January 27, and was reported to the House the next day. Read the article on page 10, entitled "Then and Now." It does not present a cheering picture, but it does bring kindly, noble memory of the fathers.

Ministers Seek Sunday Theater Openings

A number of ministers in New York City have evolved a plan by which they hope to keep the theaters open on Sunday. A class of plays will be selected, passed upon by a committee of censors, and these plays will be produced. These ministers hope that Governor Hughes will give his approval of the thing. It is a mighty sad thing that ministers who have pledged themselves to preach the Gospel of Christ, should stoop to such work as that.

Aspiration without God.

It is said that "Longfellow was ashamed that he wrote 'Excelsior.' He tells of a young man toiling up and up, ever with the desire to gain greater heights. And the higher you get the colder it is. At least he got higher, and met—death." And this is about the result of men's aspirations without God. The heights of fame and wealth and power and knowledge are cold and lifeless without divine love. Divine love walks in the lowliest places of earth, yet it has Christ the Lord for company. Then are the lowly places lifted up and the humble exalted.

Our Next Issue—The Church

By Editor

There probably is no question which oftener comes to the heart of sincere religious seekers than, Where is the true church? Where is she to be found? What are her characteristics? Where that church is, what she is, what distinguishing marks she bears, will be told in our next number. It will, we are sure, be of special interest.

"Dog Crazy"

A SPECIAL cable from London declares that the smart set in London has gone "dog crazy." Women are not content with keeping one dog, but maintain several dogs of varying colors, taking out that dog which harmonizes with the furs and fabrics which the lady happens to be wearing. This has resulted in the institution of a dog tailor who offers a selection of dog clothing to the dog crazed mistresses or masters. There are dog fashions in dog jackets, made in loud Donegal tweeds, in Norfolk patterns, with dog pockets and dog handkerchiefs, and dog wallets, containing dog candy, hanging from dog belts, with dog patent leather boots, and dog collars and dog goggles, and dog ties. The personal needs of these dogs are attended to by special maids, who are required to select the right dog, with the right dog clothes, of the right shades to approximate at least their mistress's gown plans. These pet dogs are usually carried, society refusing to permit the doggie to walk. It is just simply pitiful, isn't it?

Japan Prepares for War with Russia

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Vossische Zeitung declares that a member of the council of the empire who recently returned from a journey through China and Japan, reports that Japan was preparing to face the possibility of war with Russia next year, and would probably then declare it; and also says that in case of war, Japan, failing the help of England, would be likely to find allies in Germany and Austria. This would be a different lining up of the powers.

An Equal (?) Law.

According to the Johnston Sunday Bill for the District of Columbia, the poor nobody who habitually rested in his laziness one or more days in seven, say Monday after a Sunday spree, would, if he worked on Sunday, be exempt from fine or imprisonment; while the poor Government clerk who had spent the whole week in the gloom of great stone buildings, would be compelled to pay a fine of thirty dollars or lie in jail for thirty days if he took rest and recreation on Sunday by hoeing in his garden. If men would but use their common sense, there would never be a Sunday law.

Cigarettes and Declining Morality

The "Western Watchman" says that Catholic girls hold the honor of being "the best and the purest girls in the land; and our boys the bad pre-eminence of the worst criminals in the land." One of the causes he rightly names the cigaret, and with that "this devilish American world," which "has no religion; has no morality; has no God; no church."

A Short Bible Reading on Religious Liberty

1. What rule did Jesus give by which means conduct toward each other should be measured?

"All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Matt. 7:12.

NOTE.—If Christians really believed and practised the Golden Rule, they never would in the nature of the case ask for religious legislation; for no Christian could believe that it would be right for the Chinese idolater to demand of the Christian that he, the Christian, should reverence his joss. The Christian may be right; but being right, he has no authority to demand that men shall worship as does he.

2. What did Jesus say of Himself in this respect?

"If any man hear My words, and believe not, I JUDGE HIM NOT: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." John 12:47.

3. What rule ought to guide us in the service that we should render?

"Whose image and superscription hath it? . . . Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God the things which be God's." Luke 20:24, 25.

4. Why did our Lord not use force while here upon the earth?

"My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence." John 18:36.

5. What means only may the Christian use?

"Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." 2 Cor. 5:11.

6. What are even the highest in God's church forbidden to be?

"Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:3.

7. In what alone may the Christian stand?

"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for BY FAITH YE STAND." 2 Cor. 1:24.