Earlier text: Our London LetterDaniel and the Revelation
Daniel and the Revelation. By U. Smith. Revised edition. A history of the rise and fall of nations, being an exposition, verse by verse, of the important prophecies of Daniel and John, comparing Scripture predictions with historical facts. It follows in the track of no other commentary; but, guided by the obvious rule that the Bible should be its own interpreter, it aims to arrive at the exact meaning of the sacred writers in harmony with the great plan of redemption as presented thrount the Scriptures. The author has devoted over thirty years to the study of the Bible, and believes that the prophecies of Daniel and John were written for our admonition, and that the subjects they unfold are the coming themes for the religious world, destined to engage the attention of all thoughtful minds. Over 900 pages, with illustrations, beautifully bound. Cloth, marbled edges, $2.75. Address this office. Our Little Folks' Bible Nature. By Ella King Sanders. This book contains simple lessons on nature, taking up the subjects in the order of creation. It is designed as a beginner's book in reading, and at the same time to teach beautiful lessons from nature, based on the Bible. 128 pages. Board, 25 cents; cloth, 50 cents. Address this office. CHURCH-SCHOOL MANUAL FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
By Editor
Contains 378 pages; attractive and durable cloth binding, price, 50 cents. Every teacher and parent, having a sincere desire to give the children under their care a well-balanced Christian education, will hail with joy the splendid instruction afforded them by this new school manual. The table of contents of itself is an inspiration, and we give it in full below: Introduction.
Principles of Christian Education.
Proceedings of the General Conference Educational Convention.
School Organization and Management.
The Home School.
Courses of Study.
Text-Books.
The Bible.
History.
Nature Study.
Geography.
Physiology and Hygiene.
Manual or Industrial Training.
Arithmetic and Keeping Accounts.
English—Reading, Spelling, Language, and Composition.
Drills—Penmanship, Drawing, and Music.
Daily Program.
Books and School Library. The chapter on Geography contains one section, "Mission Outlines of the World," which gives most valuable information regarding the work "in the regions beyond." The chapters on "Physiology and Hygiene" and "Manual or Industrial Training" are alone worth the price of the book. You should have this Manual to study during the vacation, so as to be ready to take up your work more intelligently and successfully at the beginning of the new school year. Order now of your state tract society, or Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Cal.; 285 Salmon St., Portland, Ore.; 1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; Box 666, Regina, Sask., Canada. New edition, entirely reset, with general and scriptural indexes, printed from new plates on thin paper, bound in limp leather; 316 pages, price, $1.25. "Early Writings," by Mrs. E. G. White, is made up of two small books, viz., "Spiritual Experiences," which was first published in 1851, and "Spiritual Gifts," published in 1858. Part I contains Mrs. White's first vision, several subsequent visions, including the one on Spiritualism, also Elder Wm. Miller's dream. Part II gives a "brief but vivid sketch of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, tracing the contest from the rebellion in heaven, describing the temptation and fall of man, the institution of the plan of salvation, the life and death of Christ, and the final establishment of Christ's kingdom." Thus it will be seen that "Early Writings" gives a comprehensive view of the great subjects treated more in detail in the author's later books, "Patriarchs and Prophets," or the conflict between good and evil as illustrated in the lives of holy men of old; "Desire of Ages," or the "Life of our Saviour;" and the "Great Controversy between Christ and Satan" during the Christian dispensation. The regular cloth-bound book at 75 cents is still obtainable. Order now of your state tract society, or Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Cal.; 285 Salmon St., Portland, Ore.; 1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; Box 666, Regina, Sask., Canada. WHO is that young chap I passed at your door just now?" asked Mr. Hyde as he entered the office of his friend, Mr. Green. "He is Harold Paine, the son of J. B. Paine who used to own the Paine Block. Poor boy, his father was unfortunate in his business dealings before his death, and now the boy is shifting for himself, with an ambition for school and an invalid mother to support, a rather unpromising combination." "What is he doing?" asked the visitor, seating himself. "He is introducing a patent device for handy card-systems. It seems to be a fine thing, too. The boy was a little flustered when he came in; I gathered some one had not received him very kindly." Mr. Hyde colored. "I guess that some one was yours truly," he confessed. "I suppose I did give him the 'short form,' tho I had no thought of hurting him." "He was not hurt. But he is so much in earnest, and so sure that he has an honest appliance, that it bothers him a little to be refused an audience. He soon rallied from your 'short form' reception. By the way, Mr. Hyde, do you like the 'short form' as a business principle?" The two men had occupied adjoining offices for years, and were close friends, and therefore frank with each other. Mr. Hyde took a minute to think of his friend's question. He had never thought of the matter before. "How do you mean?" he asked, needing more time to frame a reply. "Why, just now you gave that boy a short answer that really was uncalled for. I dare say you were not so busy that you could not take a minute to see his wares. That was the 'short form.' A minute more would have been sufficient to send him away contented, whether you purchased or not." "Right you are, Mr. Green," interrupted Mr. Hyde, "I might have taken the time, to be sure. In fact, I was not doing a thing when he came in. Of course you gave him an hour or so of your time." To this friendly thrust Mr. Green replied, "I gave him a little time—about ten minutes. He knew his appliance, and could tell about it. I like it, too, and took one of him. Then I took a little of his time to find out how business goes with him. Do you know I like these young fellows who will make their way in spite of discouragements." "Well, so do I, but I suppose I never analyze my likes and dislikes as you do, tho you don't seem to have many very pronounced dislikes. I might have examined the thing," repeated Mr. Hyde as he started for his own office. "Thanks for your little sermonette." An hour later an errand took Mr. Hyde to another street. As he was transacting his business, Harold Paine came into the office. Mr. Hyde felt that he could note an almost imperceptible shade of disappointment on the boy's face when Harold's eyes met his. Their business completed, the merchant looked to his young caller with a pleasant "What can I do for you?" Mr. Hyde had no excuse for remaining, but he lingered until the boy had presented his errand, and then volunteered a recommendation, "Friends of mine say it is splendid. I want one myself." "And I will take one, too," the merchant rejoined, "it looks good to me. How do they sell?" he continued to the enterprising agent. "Quite readily, thank you," the happy boy replied, glad to tell of his work. "Success to you," said the genial merchant, with a kind hand on the boy's shoulder, as he saw him out. Mr. Hyde followed, to complete a bargain, for very naturally he would not care to speak of it there. "My lad," he called to Harold on leaving the store, "can you bring me one of those files when you deliver Mr. Green's?" The bargain was speedily arranged, and both went on their ways. But before Mr. Hyde entered his own office, he called for a minute at his friend's door. "Do you want to know about my 'short form'?" he asked smilingly. "I have just seen my early caller, and have given him my order, thanks to your good suggestions and a few things I have observed." "What have you observed?" "Well, I have noticed a few little habits of my friend, Mr. Green. One of these habits is consideration for others. I saw that today in another man, too. He had time to give your friend, the agent for office fixtures, a hearing, to examine the device, and buy one, and to cheer him up with a good word and a friendly touch. So I followed the boy out and gave him my order, too. Bright chap that! I would not mind taking in a boy like that, if I thought he would endure me." So it was that Mr. Hyde learned that his "short form," often so easy to use, won more dislike than affection. Almost impatiently, that busy, brusk man of business waited to try his newly-found power of consideration for the feelings of others on the unconscious cause of a real change of heart. Harold met an unexpected welcome when he delivered his file, and his open face indicated it, much to Mr. Hyde's pleasure. Thus human hearts are often touched by such little things as a word in season. Labor: Its Blessings.
By Miss May Bessette
[Prepared for and Read at the Mutual Edification Club by Miss May Bessette.] WHEN Christ was fulfilling His ministry upon earth, He loved to teach from the works of nature; and so let us turn to the things around us and see if we can not learn some lesson on the question of labor. After the garden has been plowed in the spring, the ground looks fresh and clean; but wait a few days, and you will see thousands of little green plants coming up. O, they are nothing but weeds, you say; but let us study them a little. Each one of those weeds came from a tiny seed that found a home in the earth. Softened by the moisture and warmed by the sun, it sprang into life, and ever since has been pushing its stalk upward into the air, and its roots downward into the ground, expanding its trunk and spreading its branches, that it may become a full-grown plant. The gardener cuts it down, but inherent in its very existence there seems to be a determination to do something; so in the place of one stalk there grow three or four from the stump, and they blossom, and the blossoms mature into seeds. Look at the bed of pansies. The snow came in the fall and covered them up, but it had hardly melted away before their bright faces were seen again. The more you pick them, the more they blossom, and they seem to vie with each other as to which plant shall produce the most flowers. The Saviour recognized this principle of plant life when He saw the fig-tree in the middle of summer without fruit, and pronounced the curse upon it. Look in the animal world. See the bee as he goes from flower to flower, humming his busy, cheerful song, ever industrious. Did you ever see a more definite purpose than seems to possess this little creature? If you doubt his determination, just get in his way and see how quickly he will let you know about it. He seems to know just which flowers have the honey, and whether they be thistles or clover, nettles or morning-glories, they are all the same to him. This is his means of getting a living, and he pursues it assiduously, gathering a store for winter. Notice those troublesome ants that have such a habit of foraging your mother's pantry. If you follow them, you will find that15 they have a house in the sand, and are doing their best to lay in a supply of food. Every living thing in God's great universe, from the moss that grows on the rocks to the sturdy oak in the forest; from the smallest insect to man, the crowning work of creation, has a definite place and a work to perform. Some day the pebble which is lying useless on the roadside will be made into mortar and form a place in the wall of a building. Sometime the water that is quietly rippling in the brook will be taken up by the sun into the clouds and be made to water the trees. One of the greatest blessings that have been bestowed upon man is the blessing of labor. Without it his life would be purposeless and meaningless. There is something elevating and ennobling in true, honest labor. It has lifted men from the lowest walks of life to the highest. Without exercise the muscles grow thin and flabby. Without light the eye loses its power of sight. Fishes in caverns where the light can not penetrate have no eyes at all. From a lack of practise the fingers that were once nimble and quick become clumsy and awkward. The more you study over a problem in mathematics, the better calculator you become. The Bible says, "He that hath, to him shall be given; but he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." This seems almost like a paradox, but in the law of labor it is true nevertheless. It is the work that men perform that gives them a place in the world. What would we know about Columbus if he had not discovered the new world? Would we ever have heard of Lincoln if he had not worked out the problem of slavery? Would the American people love the name of Washington as they do, if it were not for the work he performed as a soldier and a statesman? And, friends, would we ever have known the embodiment of the divine law if our Saviour, Jesus Christ, had not come to this world and lived for us? Jesus says, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work," and indeed we realize this more and more. If you study astronomy, you will learn of the millions of planets, each circling in its own course, and so exact are their movements that their orbits can be clearly defined. Think of the great God whose work it is to hold these worlds in their places. If you study botany, your mind will be directed to the thousands of different species of vegetable life, of all shapes and kinds, the work of the Creator on this earth. If you study chemistry, you will see the wonderful phenomena that are being performed by the action of the different elements on each other. These are all works of God, but His greatest work is man. And to man He has given a work which is above every other pursuit in the world,—work for his fellow man. We may work upon marble, some day it will crumble; we may build cities, some day they will fall; we may found great nations, they will have their day; but the work we do on human character is a lasting one. If we are instrumental in winning a soul to Christ, that soul will live thru all eternity. The Mother.
By Edith M. Walker
I KNOW that he is a man now, great and wise,
Wiser than I, his mother, worn and old.
He sees with wide, clear vision earth and skies,
And hath for right a knowledge firm and bold.
I love to think it is so, and that I
Have given of my best to form him so,
That he might have the strength to pass me by,
Did I obstruct the path his soul must go.
Yet, looking at him, oft I see again
The little child, with stumbling footsteps, try
To reach me with his childish joy or pain,
Loving me over all things far or nigh:
He seems my baby still, and only mine,
Tho far beyond me doth his being shine.
—Edith M. Walker. TRUE EDUCATION READER SERIES BOOK NO. 7.
By Prof. M. E. Cady, president of Walla Walla College. 392 pages, cloth bound, $1.00. The "True Education Reader Series" is to consist of seven books designed for use in the first seven grades, or years, of school work. These books have been prepared in response to an earnest request of many teachers for a complete series of school readers entirely free from myths, fairy tales, and all that tends to undermine faith in the sacred word, and to unfit the pupil for the highest service. Educators and thinking people generally recognize the alarming tendency in the world to-day toward a lack of faith in God and His word. This is but the natural result of much of the teaching of the present age. Many school readers abound with that which is false and unreal, and this can not but unfit the mind to meet the realities of life or to appreciate sober truth. To help stem this tide toward the artificial and the skeptical, the subject-matter in the "True Education Readers" is drawn entirely from the true and beautiful in life, in nature, and in revelation. The authors have recognized that "truth is stranger than fiction," fact more wonderful than fancy, and that the imagination of the child can therefore be best aroused, interested, and developed in the realm of truth and fact. This entire series has now been published, with the exception of Nos. 4 and 6. It has given the best of satisfaction everywhere, as is shown by numerous letters from our leading educators. Notice the following from a letter just received from Prof. C. W. Irwin, president of Avondale School, Cooran-bong, New South Wales, Australia: "This reader seems to be giving good satisfaction here, and there are not enough Americanisms in it to hinder its usefulness in British-speaking territory. It is true that now and again a word is spelled differently, or reference is made to something local, but this is certainly nothing as compared with the fairy tales and error that are taught in most school readers of the present day." Book 7 of this series contains a wide selection of matter, which makes it suitable for advanced reading in intermediate and higher schools. Concerning it, Prof. L. A. Reed, president of the Pacific Union College, says: "I am very much pleased with Reader No. 7. It contains some of the best selections, I think, that were ever gathered under one cover. I have been thinking seriously of making some use of it in our ninth grade literature class. It is a book that should receive the hearty support of all our teachers." The prices of the preceding numbers are:
Book No. 1, cloth bound, 204 pages $0.75
Book No. 2, " " 256 " .75
Book No. 3, " " 304 " .90
Book No. 5, " " 352 " 1.00 This series is fully illustrated. Sample pages from the first three books will be sent on request. Order now of your state tract society, or Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Cal.; 285 Salmon St., Portland, Ore.; 1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; Box 666, Regina, Sask., Canada. TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH.
By Editor
Volumes 1 to 8, printed on thin paper and bound in limp leather. Volumes 1 to 6, $1.50 each; volumes 7 and 8, $1.25 each. As an experiment we printed a few hundred Testimonies No. 6 on thin paper and bound them in limp leather for workers. These so pleased our people generally that 2,000 each of volumes 7 and 8 were printed and bound in this style. These gave such general satisfaction that we have decided to print thin editions of the first five volumes as well. We are now able to supply complete sets of Testimonies 1 to 8 in limp leather at the prices quoted above. The library style has been discontinued. The cloth volumes, 1 to 6 at $1.00, and 7 and 8 at 75 cents, are still obtainable. Order now of your state tract society, or Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Cal.; 285 Salmon St., Portland, Ore.; 1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; Box 666, Regina, Sask., Canada. Christian Science in the Light of Reason and Revelation. By R. A. Underwood.
By R. A. Underwood
"If the claims of Christian Science are founded on the doctrines of Christianity and the facts of science, then every lover of Christianity and science should hail the teachings of Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy with delight, and accept the claims of Christian Science. If it is not founded upon the word of truth, it should be rejected and exposed." With this fair and impartial statement the writer of the pamphlet named above opens a very interesting and instructive discussion of the doctrines set forth in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the text-book for all true believers in Christian Science. In parallel columns many full and complete quotations from this book are compared with quotations from God's holy word, the only rule of faith for the followers of Jesus Christ. Such fundamental truths as "The Creation of Man and the Universe," "The Existence of Sin," "The Atonement for Sin," "The Gospel of Salvation," "The Miracles of Jesus," "The Existence of Material Matter," "Sickness and Suffering," "Death and the Judgment," are candidly considered in a way that will please every lover of truth and fair play. Every one who has any question as to the truth or falsity of the doctrines of Christian Science, in fact, every seeker after truth and light, should give this pamphlet a careful reading. Fifty pages, printed on fine eggshell paper, with attractive colored cover. Issued as No. 197, Bible Students' Library. Price, ten cents. Order now of your state tract society, or Pacific Press Publishing Co., Mountain View, Cal.; 285 Salmon St., Portland, Ore.; 1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.; Box 666, Regina, Sask., Canada. Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book. The best selected and arranged hymn and tune book ever issued. Contains 1,413 hymns and 568 of the choicest tunes and sacred songs ever written. 640 large pages. Cloth, plain edges, 75 cents; half leather, marbled edges, $1.50; Russia, marbled edges, $2.00; Turkey morocco, gilt edges, $2.25; Levant, round corners, gilt edges, leather lined, $3.25. Address this office. Our Correspondents
By Editor
We have an index for volume 33 of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for 1907. It is very full and complete. To those who desire to bind the numbers for last year we will send an index if they will enclose postage stamp and give their address. Several volumes bound, containing the index, will be sold on application. We call the attention of our readers to the London Letter, giving a complete review of the doings of note in the United Kingdom. We are sure that there is no weekly newspaper in the country which gives a better review from month to month of the great, important affairs of the British empire than does the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We call the attention of our readers to a notice in our Missions Department of the California camp-meeting to be held in Oakland. That will be an excellent meeting; good help will be furnished and the blessing of the Lord will no doubt attend it in great measure. It will be a splendid opportunity for our brethren and friends in the central and northern part of the state to come together and get better acquainted with each other and with God. One of the cruel things connected with medical studies is vivisection, in other words the cutting up of living animals to see what the effect is upon them. Mr. Stephen Coleridge in a paper in The Contemporary Review goes on to show in statistics which cover twenty years that among those diseases where vivisection is said to be an aid in their treatment, the death-rate has greatly advanced. While, on the other hand, the death-rate has diminished among the diseases where vivisection is supposed to furnish no aid. He certainly demonstrates, if his statistics are correct, that the benefit to be derived from vivisection is nothing. And the cruelty which it fosters is fearful. The editors of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES write many letters in response to questions. Some of these must be done hurriedly or not at all, because there are so many; but they always endeavor, if possible, to help their correspondents. We do not know whether this is done many times or not; it is sowing beside all waters. Once in a while, however, we get a letter like this: "Dear Brother: Many thanks for the kindness of your criticism. A candid and experienced judgment was just what I needed and appreciated. Faithfully." There may be others who feel just as appreciative as does this good Christian. There have been times when we have wondered whether it paid at all to answer questions in the way we have endeavored to do, but a few letters of this kind make us hope that there are still others who are helped by the feeble efforts that are put forth to aid them. It is thus, another speaks; and we have many letters like this: "I am so delighted with the paper; have taken it for four years, and could not get along without it very well. It gets better all the time, and seems to entirely fit our spiritual needs. Shall continue and try to get new subscribers, for I would like to see it in every home." Three new names are sent in with this. Another who is not a Christian writes that he has read the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for over two years and has found only one thing during that time that he questions seriously, and then, rather than misjudge us over that, writes to know what we mean by it. We wish it were possible to publish all the good letters which come to us in this way, but we thank our readers and correspondents, and ask their co-operation and prayers that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES may be made still better thru all the years to come, till its work shall be finished. Is Your Foot on the Sabbath?
By Editor
Another Testimony to Vegetarianism.—A daily paper comes to us with a column-long, two column wide article against vegetarianism. Of course the editorial writer knows nothing about it, and shows that he knows nothing about it. One of the apparent testimonies against vegetarianism is that many of its devotees are not in the best of health. Most of them were brought there by a life of flesh-eating. They followed that until they were brought about as near to their graves as humanity could be, before deciding to adopt vegetarianism. They are not yet good vegetarian specimens; they have had too many years of flesh-eating behind it. If one wants to find good vegetarian specimens he wants to go among vegetarian children, those who have lived the vegetarian life, and who have during their young years of existence built up a constitution without eating flesh. Just recently Mr. Eugene Christian gave a vegetarian dinner in his emporium in New York. Among his guests was his excellency, Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese ambassador. Mr. Wu Ting Fang declared that for the past two years he had been on a non-flesh diet and during this time had used neither tea, coffee, nor liquors. He also thinks that if he had begun this ten years ago, he would have had no gray hairs in his head at the present time. Just recently we stated in a note on the testimony of Admiral Evans' daughter that the admiral was always benefited by a vegetarian diet, and the cutting off of flesh meats. And now the Chinese ambassador tells us that he cured himself of sciatica by the same means. These are facts that are worthy of note. From the Passenger Department of the Southern Pacific Railway, a very neat booklet has come to us, entitled "The Sacramento Valley of California," by A. J. Wells. Some of the very best fruit lands of the state are found in the mountain countries which belong to the Sacramento basin. The productiveness of the valley is described, with a good map of the territory, and many illustrations of the places of interest, and the fruitfulness of the soil. A good outline map is also given of the Western States. This little booklet of nearly a hundred pages can be obtained by addressing Mr. Chas. S. Fee, Passenger Traffic Manager, Southern Pacific, San Francisco, Cal. We have received a little booklet of poems by one of our esteemed subscribers, now a very aged lady, Mrs. Susan Birdsall Roberts, of Elmira, N. Y. Mrs. Roberts was for many years a contributor to The Evangelist, the great Presbyterian paper, formerly published in New York. Of later years she has learned to love the coming of the Lord, and His Sabbath. Now in her old age, with all her relatives gone before, she still retains her sweet Christian spirit, uncomplaining, rejoicing in the blessed hope. There is no price placed upon the little volume. One can learn of this by addressing Mrs. Roberts at Elmira, N. Y. Is Your Foot on the Sabbath?
In Isa. 58: 13 the Lord thus speaks to His people: "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words"—and then follow God's promises of rich inheritance to His returning people. Verse 14. Do you not wish to inherit these promises? Is your foot on the Sabbath of the Lord? Would it not be well to honor the Lord by doing as He says? THE Word and Works, a religio-astronomical journal of St. Louis, is publishing a series of articles by Mr. C. T. Kenney, entitled, "Astronomy You Can Understand." Referring to them, the editor, Mr. Irl R. Hicks, says: "A critical reading of these chapters will indicate what a Herculean task is assumed by those who attempt to give us the exact original Sabbath day. We know how easy it is to raise an issue on this subject, as well how hard it is to prove any one day, 'the certain day from Creation.'" Mr. Kenney's article in the May issue is on the calendars, and Mr. Hicks ought to know, as every unprejudiced scholar does know, that the calendars have nothing to do with the days of the week. It matters not whether we reckon time by the Julian calendar or the Gregorian calendar, the days of the week are identical, for the simple reason that the calendars do not give the day of the week, but the day of the month and the day of the year. All changes in calendars were not made to adjust the weekly cycle, but the yearly cycle. This ought to be plain to every one. The weekly cycle goes as far back as history gives us written record of man. The Bible places it at Creation; ordained by Jehovah Himself, and given to man to keep. To say that we know nothing about that is to impugn God's wisdom, not alone in the record of Creation, but in the fourth commandment of the Decalogue. Neither does he who believes in the inspiration of the Bible need to go back to Creation and reckon from there as to whether the days of the week then coincide with the days of the week now. God has mightily helped in this respect. However the world may have gone astray in the early ages regarding the identical Creation week, the forty-year tri-weekly miracle of the manna set man right at the time of the Exodus. See Exodus 16. The record of the four evangelists at the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ again informs us that the Sabbath "according to the commandment" was the day just before the first day of the week; and no one acquainted with history will contend that the account of the days of the week has been lost since that time. It is hard indeed to understand how one who professedly makes the teaching of the truth so very important as does Mr. Hicks, should endeavor to cloud wisdom by such a reference as this to the calendar and week. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure."