p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 44. (11/11/1897)

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Abiding Sabbath and Lord's Day

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A pointed review of two prize essays which are, without doubt, the best contributions to the defense of Sunday as the Sabbath. Those desiring to find some $1,000 reasons for keeping the first day of the week will find them in this work. Bible Students' Library No. 2. 173 pages. Paper covers. Price, 20 cents. Address

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Recent and Forthcoming Numbers.

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No. 44. Back to the Old Paths. An experience. We quote: "And I ain't here if he didn't have pictures of some of the outlandishest-lookin' brutes you ever see in your life; and when he began to talk, thinks I, Young man, you're getting into deep water, an' if you can't swim you'll drown shore, but, sir, he could swim." A simple yet convincing story of sixteen pages. Price, 1 cent.

No. 45. Historical Facts and Incidents Relative to the Sunday and the Sabbath. This is a very valuable number for workers generally. The quotations made are all numbered and arranged in chronological order, and are strictly reliable. It also contains a photo-reproduction of two pages, from which quotations are made, from books published in 1635 and 1636. Price, 2 cents.

No. 46. True "Christian Citizenship." By Elder M. C. Wilcox. (Ready November 5.) Over three millions of Christian Endeavorers stand committed to the principles of "Christian Citizenship" as it is now known. This means much, but in addition to this, these same principles are being espoused and heralded to the world by ministers, editors, and scholars. If they are right; if they advance the cause of Christ; if it is the duty of the Christian to "pull wires for the kingdom of God at the primaries," as has been advised, well and good. But if this conception of "Christian Citizenship" is wrong; if these principles lead to eternal death instead of eternal life, into what is the church rushing? Who will warn it? Such questions as these are taken up in this tract. Earnestly and carefully are they considered. Logically and plainly are they answered. Price, ½ cent.

The Baptist Argus

By Editor

A new candidate for public favor comes to our table in the form of a 16-page journal, entitled, The Baptist Argus, published at 314 Jefferson Street, Louisville, Ky. Terms, $2.00 a year. The Argus presents a neat appearance, and this initial number gives promise of a weekly visitor that southern Baptists will be pleased to patronize. It is edited by J. N. Prestridge. Here is an editorial note that is worth passing along: "It makes no difference how big a Christian experience a man can relate unless that experience has led him into a Christlike life. The proofs of a converted life are not past agonies and ecstasies, but the to-day abiding of the Holy Spirit, cleansing and beautifying the character."

A SUGGESTION TO RURAL CHRISTIANS.

By Editor

"GIVING for God's cause," repeats the earnest Christian farmer; "how shall I give?" Truly, it is a perplexing question with many in the country, a question about which those who receive a definite income in interest or wages, from week to week, or month to month, do not need to perplex themselves.

But frequently the farmer receives very little money, and oftentimes that is "spoken for" long before he receives it. Interest and taxes and "necessities" eat up his cash before he gets to local mission funds, support of the poor, or donations to foreign missions, or missionary enterprises.

Let us suggest a plan by which all in the country who own land which can be tilled, or who can hire land, or "take it on shares," can obtain means to bestow upon different branches of the cause precious to their hearts. The plan is not new, but we call attention to it again. It is this: Set apart a piece of land and devote it to the Lord. If you feel that it ought to be devoted to a certain branch of his work, well; it is your privilege to so devote it. If you think that you should wait for the harvest before deciding, do that. Do in this respect as you believe God would have you do.

In this we are not speaking of the tithe; that is the Lord's, and should go for the support of the ministry and the regular work. We refer to free-will offerings, thank-offerings, etc. Those are for you, personally, to bestow where you will, only so it is devoted to God. It must go to some cause identified with him. We offer these suggestions in the autumn that you may plan to do it in the spring. And then you may wish to sow a crop of winter wheat. Keep in mind, among other things worthy of remembrance, these points:—

1. Devote a certain portion of ground to the Lord, and be as liberal as possible. Do it gladly and bountifully. The Lord loveth a cheerful and bountiful giver. 2 Cor. 9: 6-11. "The liberal soul shall be made fat." Prov. 11: 25.

2. Let it be of your best ground. Make God first. He gives you everything you have. Your first love and duty is to him. Make God's interests first. "Honor the Lord" "with the first-fruits." Prov. 3: 9, 10.

3. Be diligent in its sowing, its cultivation, its harvesting. Make it first; it is for God. Pray over it; ask God's blessing upon it; labor whole-heartedly. So God will prosper you. See above texts.

4. Encourage your children to do the same thing, and by thrift, economy, and diligence, lay up treasure in heaven.

5. And when your crops are raised, take them to market. Ask God to open the way for the best price consistent with justice to the purchaser; and then bestow the money as the Lord guides you, to his glory.

O, what precious blessings would come to many of the people of God if they would do this!

Proper Sabbath Observance

By Editor

Do not miss the article beginning on the first page—"Proper Sabbath Observance." It opens a flood of light in a simple way on the subject.

Punctuality

By Editor

There are lessons which all may learn in the article found elsewhere on "Punctuality." The lesson of punctuality is one that is applicable to all the affairs of life.

Catholic Army Chaplains

A PRESS item states that the President has appointed Rev. Father Fitzgerald, of St. Joseph, Mo., to a chaplaincy in the army. There are now three Catholic priests holding chaplaincies. The rest of the corps comprises eight Episcopalians, nine Methodists, four Presbyterians, three Baptists, three Colored Methodists, one Congregationalist, one Colored Baptist, and one Christian.

The Cost of Church Vestments

It would be interesting to know the cost of the "vestments" worn by the apostles, or by Bishop Timothy of Ephesus, or Bishop Titus of Crete. Such curiosity is awakened by such items as this from the Catholic Mirror. "Seven sets of church vestments presented to the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Williamsburg, L. I., by Theodore A. Havemeyer, in memory of his father, the late Theodore A. Havemeyer, were consecrated in the church last Sunday by Rev. Sylvester Malone, the pastor. The vestments were imported from Paris and cost $7,000."

ARE YOU WITH US?

By Editor

WE print nearly 40,000 SIGNS each week to supply our readers. We hope these papers are read by several times that number. But with its important message for these significant times, this paper should reach thousands where now it reaches hundreds. Our friends have helped in the past to give the SIGNS a wide circulation, for which we thank them heartily, and would reward them more if we could. But the first steps only have been taken thus far. The winter and the time to work is right upon us, and we long to see a splendid work accomplished in extending the field of usefulness of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and we are sure our friends wish the same. Now are you ready to help? Will you help? We want agents by the score, but more than agents, we want readers. Therefore, note this proposition: We will send the SIGNS OF THE TIMES until January 1, 1899, from the time orders are mailed to us, to all new subscribers who send us a year's subscription between Nov. 15 and Jan. 1, 1898. The sooner the orders are sent, the more papers free will be given. This offer also applies to those who formerly took the SIGNS, but have not been taking it lately.

Now, dear friends, do not miss this opportunity of doing real service for the Master. Do you appreciate the SIGNS? Then place it in the hands of others—your friends and neighbors. If you are not a subscriber, is this not worth your attention? We wish agents at all times, but this time is short, and shall we not receive thousands of orders during the next six weeks?

This does not exclude our splendid Bible offer on page 14, nor any other offer where the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is concerned. There ought to be hundreds and thousands who want an excellent Bible besides the paper. Read also our standing Special Offer in the Publishers' Column, page 15.

Friends, we, and you, have talked—and looked for—the 100,000 mark. Is it not worth working for? And, in the meantime, we shall endeavor, with our Master's help, to make the SIGNS a growingly better paper. Send in the orders, and delay not.

A New League

A New League.—On Sunday, the 31st ult., Rev. W. D. P. Bliss, of Boston, delivered a lecture in the Y. M. C. A. Building, this city, on the subject of "Christian Socialism," claiming that economic questions are moral questions. The purpose of the lecture was shown specifically when he asked all who were interested to hand in their names for membership in the Union Reform League, a new national Socialist movement on the lines of applied Christianity. The Tribune's report says that "at the close of the address a large number promised their moral support to the league, and several joined the society."

Healed in Answer to Prayer

By Editor

Some months ago a letter came from a valued occasional correspondent expressing with Christian resignation the thought that that would be her last letter; that she was rapidly nearing the end of her life, owing to the culmination of a lingering disease. But we were made to rejoice by receiving a letter the other day which brought us this word: "I was very near the grave, but on the 1st of August was healed, and now am as well as I ever was in all my life." This restoration was "in answer to the prayer of faith." Praise the Lord; this is just like him to do such things for his children. The above referred-to letter contained an article, found in our Fireside department of this week.

How Long Will We Wait?

The Lord ever pleads with us to come to him, the Author and Preserver of life, the Giver of all good, the eternal Saviour and King. By his kind providences, his created works, his holy Word, his ministers of grace, and by his Holy Spirit—through all he pleads with every heart, "Come unto me, and live;" "Turn ye, O turn ye, for why will ye die?" How long will you wait, dear soul? The danger is not in God's goodness, but persistent refusals of his offered love will at last harden your own heart and benumb your own sensibilities till you will no longer recognize his voice nor care to hear. There is only the hope that perisheth elsewhere. Why hesitate about accepting God?

Correction

By W. N. G.

Correction.—In last week's issue (article "The Most High Ruleth," No. 2) it is inadvertently inferred that Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim, king of Judah, a captive to Babylon. The record says, "Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon." 2 Chron. 36:6. But he did not take him. Jehoiakim reigned eleven years, and died in Jerusalem. See verse 5 and 2 Kings 23:36 to 24:6. Nebuchadnezzar came against him twice,—first in the third year of his reign (Dan. 1:1), and secondly three years later, when he had rebelled (2 Kings 24:1); so that Jehoiakim still reigned five years afterward in Jerusalem before his death. Why Nebuchadnezzar did not take him to Babylon after binding him in fetters to do so, we are not told. W. N. G.

Policy on Unordered Papers

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.

When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the "Signs" are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

Editorial.

Proper Observance of the Sabbath (notes) E. J. W. . . . . . . . . . 1, 2

Force of a Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Poetry.

The Bread of Life, MRS. E. R. LEWIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Public Opinion, J. MORGENSEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Bible, MRS. MARTHA J. GATES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

General Articles.

Peter's Fall, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

"The Most High Ruleth," No. 3, W. N. G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Punct-uality, EMMA H. ADAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Two Ways, but One Right, E. L. KRUMREIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

True Personal Liberty, J. EDWIN COLLINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Two Governments and the Law of God, W. L. ILES . . . . . . . 6

Christ's Humanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Question Corner.

—No. 656, Law and the Prophets—No. 657, The New and Living Way, Heb. 10: 20—No. 658, The Words of the Covenant—No. 659, Infant Baptism—No. 660, Born of Water and of the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

The Outlook.

—Mob Law and Decadence of Faith—Prohibition in Maine—War and Rumors of War—"The Rising Generation"—The Press in London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9

The Fireside.

—Who Was the Sinner?—The Debt to Mother—Spare the Sweet Songsters and Living Flowers—Help Them to Persevere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10

Missions.

—West Central African Mission—Choosing Deacons in Cuba—A New Chinese Alphabet—Our Work and Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

International Sabbath-School Lesson.

—Peter's Deliverance from Prison (Sabbath, Lesson IX, November 27, 1897) 12

International Sunday-School Lesson.

—Salutary Warnings (Sunday, Lesson IX, November 28, 1897) . . . . 12, 13

News and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 15

Read our proposition, "Are You with Us?" in another column on this page.