p. 13 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 8. (2/20/1912)

Earlier text: The Enormity of the Evils from the Drink Traffic—1

One of the 26 Kinds of Tracts in the DOLLAR ASSORTMENT

PICTURE, if you will, a swollen river in the marshy district of Africa, with scores of travelers drawn up in camp along its banks, waiting for the torrent to assuage. To the terrible discomfort due to the wet weather, lack of cooking facilities, and mosquitoes, is added the presence of an open canteen (saloon) near-by, from which issue misery, poverty, and disease to the surrounding native community. This is where the missionary who wrote "The Name" met the old Mochuana heathen who had literally sold himself, his farm, his goats, and all, and brought suffering to his wife and family, and wretchedness and disease to himself. He listened with eagerness to the story given in the third chapter of Acts, of how the great Doctor had healed the lame man. Then in faith they knelt there in the wet on the ground and prayed for help. "Make me well," implored the drunken heathen. He arose and asked, "What is the name?" "Jesus," was the reply. "Jesus, Jesus," he went away murmuring to himself. "After some days," the account continues, "we returned to that crossing, to find the river had subsided sufficiently to allow wagons' getting over. As we approached one of the wagons, a woman came toward me. 'Missis,' she said, 'is it you that spoke to my husband last week? O, what did you do that he is healed from that drink?' . . . 'It is all true, missis, all true, what you told me. My wife wants to know, but I did not know if I might tell her.' 'O, yes,' I said, 'you may tell her all.' 'Then, wife,' he said, lowering his voice to an odd whisper, 'it is a name, just a name.' . . . 'May I tell the name?' On my assenting, he breathed, rather than uttered, the word 'Jesus.' Of how that name had kept him from yielding to temptation, he then tells. In closing this beautiful and touching story, the writer brings hope to all those who would be delivered from any evil habit.

This is a tract that every Christian worker should circulate, together with those in the excellent assortment specially selected and wrapped and furnished at reduced rate in the dollar package.

This package is the outgrowth of a growing demand for assorted tracts. "Enclosed find ——, for which please select and send to me the very best tracts you have on different subjects," is a request which has multiplied as the influence of these silent messengers has become more generally recognized. The dollar assortment meets that demand, as it furnishes 117 of the very best tracts published, on TEN different subjects—1,880 pages in all. With your own opportunities for doing good with tracts, in mind, look carefully over the list. Notice the scope and number of tracts.

Gospel Stories

5 How Esther Read Her Bible 5 Back to the "Old Paths"

Bible Study

2 Topical Bible Studies

Temperance

5 The Name 5 It Doesn't Pay

Spiritualism

5 Spiritualism: Its Source and Character

Millennium

2 The Temporal Millennium

Prophecy

5 Heralds of His Coming 5 Waymarks to the Holy City

The Law

2 What Is "Done Away" in Christ? 2 Relation of the Law to the Gospel 2 The Perpetuity of the Law 2 Ceremonial and Moral Law Distinguished

Second Coming of Christ

5 We Would See Jesus 5 Signs of the End

Immortality Question

5 Is Man Immortal? 5 Tormented Forever and Ever 5 Rich Man and Lazarus

Sabbath Question

5 From Sabbath to Sunday 5 Seal of God and Mark of the Beast 5 New Testament Sabbath 5 Who Changed the Sabbath? 5 Elihu on the Sabbath 5 Day of the Sabbath 10 Which Day Do You Keep? and Why? 5 Sunday in a Nutshell

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The Art of Housekeeping

By Birdie Bohna

THE question may arise, "Is housekeeping an art?" And I answer, Yes; I verily believe that any one who can really keep a house, and keep it as it should be, so that it may be a fit place for our loved ones to dwell, and proudly call "home," has achieved an accomplishment that is worthy to be called "art." But how many look at it in this light? Instead of thinking of it as an "art," how many think of it as a duty to be daily gone through with week after week, month after month, year after year, a monotonous routine, with but few variations!

It is because we look at it from this standpoint, that it is or becomes a monotony. Now the question is, how to avoid this, and make housekeeping a real pleasure, something to afford us a satisfaction not always attained in other occupations.

We will commence at the culinary department. If the one who has charge of the cooking would plan ahead at least a day, and even better, prepare a menu for a week, she will find the work of getting the meals lessened to no small extent. I think every mother who does her own work will agree with me, that the planning of a meal is a harder task than the work of getting it after it has been planned.

Breakfast is, or should be, a simple meal, and yet it should consist of such food as shall be wholesome, and of a nature to give each member of the family the requisite amount of nourishment for the day's duties. Imagine, if you can, one having a clear brain, steady hand, and sweet disposition, after partaking of a hurried breakfast of greasy hot cakes, hard fried eggs, strong coffee, hot biscuits, soggy mush, or any of like dishes that so often go to make up the breakfasts of our American children, who are expected to do good work at school, and be sweet-tempered through the day. How much better to sit down to a table whereon is a plate of nicely browned and slightly buttered or creamed toast, a poached egg perhaps, a bowl of breakfast flakes, and some fresh fruit — something each member of the family, including the invalid or the very small child, can eat without any bad results.

For dinner, which should be served in the old-fashioned way, at the noon hour, a bowl of soup, or a plain salad, one or two vegetables, and a simple dessert, is quite enough for any one. This, of course, can be varied by a vegetarian roast, beans, or lentils, in place of the vegetables, and in other ways. But to spend one's whole forenoon in making pies, cakes, or cookies, and seven or eight dishes besides, for our loved ones to partake of, and then wonder why Mary has such headaches, and why Johnnie is so cross, and why husband is so worried over business matters, and does not seem to be so successful as once, is a folly we should avoid being guilty of.

Instead, let us sit down, take our Bible, and read and ponder well 1 Cor. 10:31; then, asking God to direct us, prepare a menu that shall be simple, wholesome, nutritious, and worthy of the blessing we ask upon it.

As to the third meal of the day, that is a matter that circumstances and dispositions must govern. However, if one feels the need of refreshment, let it be eaten at least three hours before retiring, and consist of a bowl of good milk and a slice of graham bread, an apple, a bowl of rice, a dish of fruit, or something equally simple, and not a piece of mince pie or rich fruit-cake, or a hearty meal of vegetables.

For fear some may think this a starvation diet, let him or her try it, and see if the brain is not clearer, the disposition sweeter, and an extra amount of time given in which to follow out the instructions and receive the blessings found in Isa. 58:6-11.

As to the housework, let it not be neglected. God is a God of order, and is not well pleased with a home where dirt and untidiness abound. Can one ask or expect the presence of the holy angels of God where confusion and slovenliness are? Nor is it wise or profitable or well-pleasing to God to spend one's whole time in cleaning and working to keep things tidy. So now for a plan whereby one may keep things neat and attractive, and still have time left for missionary work, at home or abroad.

To begin with, let us go through the house and see how many things we can find that are wholly unnecessary, that are just "dirt-catchers," or have lost their beauty or appropriateness, and therefore ceased to be attractive — old pictures, out-of-date calendars, worn-out sofa pillow tops, bric-a-brac of every description, broken toys, etc. Why not have a bonfire now, and not keep them for the fires of the last day? Let us confine our furnishings to the wholly necessary things to make home comfortable, pleasant, and neat.

"A place for everything, and everything in its place," is a motto which, if put into daily practise, will save an endless amount of worry, searching for misplaced articles, confusion, and fatigue; for nothing is so tiresome, or wastes so much time, as to need an article, and even tho in a hurry, be obliged to search for it for perhaps hours.

Habit is our master; and we will find that it is an easy matter, if habitually resorted to, to put each article in its place when we have finished with it. And there is a great amount of satisfaction in being able to find the article there when it is next needed. Teach the children this, and thus save yourself many steps.

And now, to go back to the kitchen — and dishwashing. There was a splendid article in the Review and Herald on this subject recently. I wish every one could have read it. How few there are who like to wash dishes! It is the bugbear of the kitchen — and no wonder! A pan of greasy water, foul smelling dish-cloth, black, stiff drying towel, and a sink full of a conglomeration of dirty pots, pans, glassware, tinware, china, silver, scraps from table, etc.—this is the sight that so often meets our eyes as we arise from a well-cooked and much appreciated meal. It is no wonder the sight nauseates, and brings forth the oft repeated expression: "O, these horrid dishes! I just hate to wash them." Let us visit another kitchen, where the dishes have been carefully cleared of scraps, and neatly piled in a clean sink, where a pan of hot suds, and a clean white cloth, await them. A kettle of boiling water stands on the stove, ready to pour over them when taken from the suds bath. See how they shine! Isn't it a real pleasure to make them shine, and then set them neatly away, with the satisfaction that they are really ready for the next meal, and clean enough for any one to eat from?

By the time the dishes are all put away, the beds have sufficiently aired to be made up, if the covers were thrown back, and the windows left wide open, on leaving the bedroom. Then with a dampened broom, each room may be swept with comparatively no dust. Very few know how to sweep properly, but will, with dry broom, go about it as if their life depended on getting it done quickly, and throw the dirt to right and left, while clouds of dust fill the room as well as the lungs. And so sweeping becomes a burden, while if done properly, it is not tiresome or unpleasant. To keep house does not mean spasmodic cleaning, but to keep clean; and one will find it much easier and far more satisfactory to do this.

If one does her own laundry work, she should have a special day for it. If done on Monday, the week is left free for ironing, mending, baking, etc.

In short, be systematic and thoro in all your work, and it not only pays in the results shown, but is more satisfactory in every way, and housekeeping becomes a pleasure instead of a task.

A Little Talk with Jesus

A little talk with Jesus—how it smooths the rugged road! How it seems to help me onward when I faint beneath the load! When my heart is crushed with sorrow, and my eyes with tears are dim, There is naught that can give comfort like a little talk with Him.

I tell Him I am weary, and I fain would be at rest; That I'm daily, hourly longing for a home upon His breast. And He answers me so sweetly, in such tones of tenderest love, "I am coming soon to take thee to thy happy home above."

And this is what I am wanting—His lovely face to see; And—I'm not afraid to say it—I know He's wanting me. He gave His life a ransom to make me all His own, And He can't forget His promise to me, His purchased one.

I know the way is dreary to yonder far-off clime, But a little talk with Jesus will while away the time, And yet, the more I know Him, and all His grace explore, It only sets me longing to know Him more and more.

So I'll wait a little longer, till His appointed time, And glory in the knowledge that such a hope is mine; Then in my Father's dwelling, where "many mansions" be, I'll sweetly talk with Jesus, and He shall talk with me.

— Anon.

Toiling Upward in the Night

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night. —Longfellow.

The Magazine with the Message

By Editor

For March

The cover design of the March Monthly, in three colors, depicts a mighty ship in flames. Two life-boats are putting out from the shore. The entire design typifies the dangers of the world to-day, and suggests a way of escape.

Saving Life — An article on this subject by the veteran editor of the SIGNS weekly, illustrated by the cover design and other graphic illustrations. The conclusions of this article are perfectly logical and more than appealing. Worthy of careful study.

Intensification — Our well-known writer, Mr. Frank S. Weston, writes an illuminating article under the above title. He shows how intensity is taking hold of every movement in the earth; that while evil and evil workers become more intense, righteousness and adherence to righteousness also become more intense; that the picture of a reign of peace on earth previous to Christ's coming is a fallacious doctrine is shown by this very fact; that the world will not change except in intensity; that the powers that have operated, will continue to operate, only with increased power. We hope the article will have a wide reading.

Intensity of War Training — by A. O. Tait. Some forceful facts, figures, and pictures present this subject in a most telling manner.

Sabbath Queries — Under this heading, T. E. Bowen continues his articles, considering questions and answers on the all-important subject of the Sabbath.

The Threatening Future in This Country — Another almost startling article on conditions that threaten the peace and progress of the United States.

Glimpses of China — by F. E. Stafford, continued in this issue. The present world-wide interest in China and Chinese affairs makes these notes of thrilling import.

The Word Made Flesh — by Mrs. E. G. White. By special request we republish this contribution upon the divinity of Christ, instead of the regular serial from the pen of this same writer.

Other contributions of equal interest and value. Also Current Topics, Illustrations, Poetry, and our regular Bible Reading.

Your neighbors and friends need this issue of The Magazine with the Message.

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A New Book on Missions

Two Farms for Sale

Two Farms for Sale, one thirty, one forty acres. Buildings on each, wood, pure soft water, mild climate, choice fruit, well-distributed rainfall, near railroad, good markets. Will sell separately or together. Reason for selling—called to Cuba. Address George M. Brown, R.F.D. No. 1, Greensboro, North Carolina.

For Sale

Modern residence, 8 large rooms, large pantry, plenty of extra large closets. Two screen porches, one for outside bedroom. Front porch 9 x 32 feet. Two stories; built for two families. Good, large, dry basement. Cement sidewalk from front to back. One acre of ground, abundance of blackberries and raspberries. Plenty of alfalfa for cow or horse and chickens. Chicken yard and house. Ideal climate.

House practically as good as new. Cost $3,000 to build. Lot on each side valued at $1,000.

Will sell for $2,750 on account of sickness. $1,500 cash, balance on easy terms.

Address J. M. Benedict, Mountain View, California.

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By Editor

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The Advance Guard of Missions

To read the new book "The Advance Guard of Missions," just off the press, is to gain fresh inspiration from the lives of more than fifty brave Christian men and women, pioneers with the Gospel during the past century.

The biographical sketches are intensely interesting. You are taken into the most important incidents of the life and work, and made to feel the real spirit behind the self-sacrifice and unceasing efforts, of such "Advance Guards" as—

Marcus Whitman, Missionary Physician to the Indians; John Eliot, Puritan Apostle to American Indians; Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, First Protestant Missionary to India; Hans Egede, Pioneer Lutheran Missionary to Greenland; Robert Morrison; The Judsons; The Wesleys; Dr. John Scudder; Alexander Duff; David Livingstone; John G. Paton; J. Hudson Taylor; William Miller; and many others.

The book is especially designed for the entertainment and education of the young people. It contains 27 chapters, with portraits of missionaries, and gives the most interesting and thrilling incidents in connection with the life work of each. The sketches average from three to thirty pages, the book containing 347 pages.

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Millennial Dawnism

By Editor

"Millennial Dawnism; the Blasphemous Religion which Teaches the Annihilation of Jesus Christ. By I. M. Haldeman, D.D., Pastor First Baptist Church, New York City," is before us. We had read some of Dr. Haldeman's writings, had been glad to see his stalwart stand for what he believed to be truth. When we learned that he had written on "Millennial Dawnism," we expected to see something strong, clear, and good. We frankly confess that we are disappointed. He charges Millennial Dawnism with the following awful crimes: It blasphemes the person of Christ; it blasphemes the cross of Christ; it teaches that the Man Christ Jesus does not now exist; it denies the resurrection of Christ's body; it teaches the doctrine of a "second chance;" it teaches that sin is a blessing; and a score of other things. Now all these things charged may be true; but Dr. Haldeman ought to have given proof of his charges apart from his naked vitriolic assertions. He makes charge after charge without a substantiation. He goes half way through his pamphlet before he makes a direct quotation, and that on the charge that Christ's body was not raised from the dead. This is clear; but the fact that he proves this and not that which comes before, opens his charges to suspicion. Then, too, we do not see how Dr. Haldeman has helped God's cause by making man's eternity of being inherent instead of its depending upon Christ, or by defending an eternal, never-ending, ever-persisting place of torment for the souls of the wicked. In his defense of this awful doctrine he has conveniently avoided a multitude of scriptures which teach finality of punishment. Instead of treating Hades as expressive of a state of death in which are both righteous and wicked, Dr. Haldeman makes it "the lower parts of the earth," "the heart of the earth," "the underworld," and at the same time "the third heaven, and Paradise," whence Samuel came "up," and between which Lazarus and Dives converse! And a further horrible doctrine he teaches is that the "demons (devils) are disembodied spirits of human beings in Hades," a splendid working basis for spiritism.

Now we do not believe in the awful, perversive errors of Millennial Dawnism concerning our blessed Lord, His personality, His work, His divine-human nature, the second chance, etc., etc. We believe them destructive of truth in the hearts of men; but we also believe that it will require more than Dr. Haldeman's strong, bitter, burning charges and perfervid rhetoric to meet it. In fact his very charges and strong passion will arouse the sympathies of the reader for the object of attack. We are sorry; we are disappointed. The pamphlet may be obtained from the publisher, Charles C. Cook, 150 Nassau Street, New York.

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Contained in This Issue

By Editor

Question Corner

3667 — What Is the Use? 3668 — Weak and Beggarly Elements; 3669 — One's Talents; 3670 — Under the Law; 3671 — Why the North? 3672 — The Law of Gravitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Our Bible Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

General

Jesus at the Well of Sychar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 What Shall We Do with the Fourth Commandment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Zaccheus, Come Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Studies in Daniel — A Vision of Empires; Three Historic Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Prediction Fulfilled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Testimony of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Our Bible Reading

What Christ's Coming Means to the Righteous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

The Outlook

The Enormity of the Evils from the Drink Traffic — 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Spirit of War in the Field of Prophecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13, 16

Home and Fireside

The Art of Housekeeping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Poetry

Absalom's Oak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lilies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 As God Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Smoking Flax and Bruised Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Be Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A Little Talk with Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

New Marriage Laws in New England

Massachusetts, it is reported, has passed a law regulating marriage, which went into force January 1, 1912, to the effect that he who wishes to marry must file public notice of his intention at least five days previous to obtaining his license. This gives five days for objectors and protesters and questioners, and if there are valid objections offered, the license will not be issued. It is also reported that Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island have passed similar laws.

The Blasphemous Charge Against God

It is an awful charge to bring against God that He devised a plan that would bring millions of souls into this world, with no choice of their own, and then consign a large part of them—the failures—to an eternity of torture, to misery without end. It is equivalent to saying that God has permitted an unholy condition of things that He can not change, or else that He does not wish to change; that He is limited in power or is a tyrant. The whole blasphemous charge is based on man's supposedly inherent immortality or persistency of being, for which there is not the slightest warrant in Holy Scripture or reason.

The Unreasonableness of Eternal Torment

It is not reasonable to believe that God would bring into existence a race of beings many of whom He knew would prove unworthy to exist, and in the face of this so constitute them that they were bound to live, that even Deity could not destroy them or take from them the boon of life. It is unreasonable to believe that God would say, as He does, that the wicked should be punished for the deeds done in the body (2 Cor. 5:10) in this life's brief span, and then inflict upon them misery to all eternity. It is not just; but God is just. It is not reasonable to believe that an all-wise, all-powerful, all-loving God would create a universe and then create conditions which would result in its forever being marred, stained, blighted, in any part by the curse of sin and the blasphemies of an ever-persistent hell.

The Inheritance Eternal.

By Editor

We begin next week a clear, instructive, inspiring series of articles from the pen of Mr. Eugene W. Farnsworth on the above topic. These articles, five in number, are titled as follows:

The Promises to Abraham;

The Promised Seed;

The Family Inheritance;

The Earth Renewed;

Paradise Restored.

They solve in a simple, clear way some of the puzzling questions which arise over the “Return of the Jews,” and clearly portray the glorious home which God has for His faithful children of earth. After you read them you will wish others to read them also.

A Clean Universe

God will sometime have a clean universe. Earth's travails will sometime be over. The wicked "shall be recompensed in the earth," where their deeds have been wrought. But regarding this earth, where the curse of sin has rested so heavily, God's Word declares, "There shall be no more curse;" and His prophet, permitted to look forward to that time, and hear its voice, thus describes it: "And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying,

"Unto Him that sitteth on the throne, And unto the Lamb, Be the blessing, and the honor, And the glory, and the dominion, Forever and ever."

There is no room in that universe for the hell of tradition. God is just; God is love.

The Gift and Loss of Life

Thank God, all the above charges against God are untrue. God created man, and gave him his choice of life or death. "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death;" but "the soul that sinneth, it shall die;" "sin, when it is finished [full-grown], bringeth forth death." God gave man the boon of life to use for His glory, which is ever for man's highest good. If man refuses thus to use that gift, God removes it. His creature can not reasonably complain; and God is just. And this is the teaching of the Word of God. It is taught so strongly, clearly, that there can be no question, and every passage which seems to teach the contrary can be clearly explained in harmony therewith.

Peace from the Offended.

By Editor

A writer in the Social Democratic Herald, referring to the common rendering of Luke 2:14, "On earth peace, good will toward men," says: "Such is NOT the language as recorded by the evangelist, as any tyro in Greek can see for himself by turning to the original. It is one of the changes made by the King James translators. The true rendering is: 'On earth peace TO MEN OF GOOD WILL.' For, 'There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.' Nor did Jesus proclaim peace to them in His fierce denunciation of the 'generation of vipers.'"

Not to defend the Common Version, or discuss that phase of it at all, we note this: It is a perversion of Gospel teaching to say that Jesus did not proclaim peace to all. He came for that very purpose—to bring fulness of peace to a rebellious world. The other passage, quoted from Isaiah 57, shows this: "Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can not rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:19-21. The only reason why the wicked do not have peace is that they do not accept it. Jesus said to the troubled sea, "Peace, be still," and the mighty waves were stilled. The same word will bring peace to the heart of the wicked if he will turn to God. To Israel, that had sinned above all the nations, God said, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil." Jer. 29:11. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7. God's blessed Gospel proclaims peace to all who will receive it, who will surrender to God.

Capital and Labor

By Editor

The "Signs of the Times" takes no sides in the political struggle between capital and labor. It has no defense to make for the wrong-doing on either side. It deplores the purchase and debauchment of legislators by capital to serve its ends; and there have been many instances. It deplores the prostitution of the high and dignified calling of judge at the behest of great wealth. We do not believe that such cases are as frequent as has been claimed. We still believe that judges generally endeavor to decide in accordance with the law and justice. Where many men in high position fail morally and still hold their position, the influence for evil becomes wide-spread and fearfully demoralizing. The retaining of such men in office arouses strong antagonism among the working classes and the less favored in this world's goods.

Continue reading: Warning Against White Slavery