The Beauties and Blessings of the Cloudy Day—A Life That Was Filled with Sadness, yet the Sun Shone Through
By CLARA EDNA ROSENCRANS
THERE is something very beautiful to me about a cloudy day in early summer. The softened gray light falling through the pale green leaves, and the cool, often chilly breeze that turns up their white undersides till the trees look as if they were wearing their dresses wrong side out, make a picture that is very pleasing to the eye.
There are no extremes of light and shadow, as on a sun-lighted day; and the whole landscape lies wrapped in mystery, through which one seems to walk as in a pleasant dream. There are no jubilant outbursts of bird music. All the feathered songsters seem hushed and quieted by a presence that makes their music soft and low, just as in the shadowy aisles of some vast cathedral the voice sinks to a whisper, awed by the dim, unguessed beauty of the place.
SOME FLOWERS AT THEIR BEST UNDER CLOUDS
Flowers that close up when the sun shines brightly, now stay open all day; and the lover of botany may find many specimens that he would never come upon at any other time—delicate, tiny, fragile things, that dread the intense light seemingly, as a quiet, retiring nature dreads the limelight of notoriety.
The farmer and the gardener love these cloudy days, for experience has taught them that frost never falls when the earth is wrapped in a thick gray mantle of clouds; and when the wind blows cool from the north or the west, the tender green things will suffer no harm. Then, too, much sunlight is not good for plants, any more than it is for human beings.
I often think that if it were not for these cloudy days, we would not appreciate the sunlight as much as we do. When clouds hang low, we should gather up all the sunny memories of the bright days, the way the flowers do, so that we may have a store of sunshine that will carry us through the cloudy, sorrowful times.
SHE HAD A SPEAKING FACE
She was a tall, fine-looking woman, with what one writer calls “a speaking face.” In her brown eyes there dwelt a deep, tender light of resignation that was far more beautiful, to me at least, than the golden radiance of girlhood’s sunny smiles.
She had had, and still continued to have, a bitterly hard life, as I learned after I had known her for several years—learned it from others, not from her, for she never mentioned the matter, even to her own people.
The way nature adjusts itself to one of these cloudy, gloomy days about which I have been writing, makes me think of her. Sickness, death, the ruin of a noble husband through the drug habit—all these she had borne. The chill of poverty, averted faces, hard, unremitting toil, and absence of everything that makes a woman’s life pleasant,—all these things brought the clouds so low, made the wind so bleak and chilly, that sometimes I have wondered at her sunny disposition and the happy heart she carried.
HER DISAPPOINTMENTS AND HER SUNSHINE
Her children were a bitter disappointment to her, none of them turning out as she had hoped; and toward the end of her life, intense physical suffering was added to her other trials. Yet how patient she was through it all! How hopefully she continued to pray for her loved ones, till the bright, cheery spirit sank in death, and she attained to the rest she never had known here!
And how many such lives there are, if we could but know of them, that seem to be set apart from birth to bear the burdens, and to drink the bitter cups of life, cheered only by a hope beyond and above this fleeting earth scene! When I think of the barrenness, the utter lack of all beauty and joy, and then compare it with the eternal weight of glory, my mind staggers and is faint at the vastness of the reward that will be theirs.
And so, when the dark clouds gather, and the winds blow chill and bleak, let us think of the good days that are coming, and of the good days that have been for us, and take close home to our hearts the words of that dear old song,
“Somewhere the sun is shining,
Somewhere the song birds dwell.”
Let us try to lift the burden from some other heart, and “just be glad.” I think that when we come to the end of the journey, the one thing which gives the greatest comfort will be the thought that we tried to put a little brightness into the lives of others, and that when clouds hung low, we tried to drive away the shadows with the bright smiles which find their inspiration in a happy heart.
Pure Christianity and Civilization
By Eliza H. Morton
By ELIZA H. MORTON
PURE Christianity is vastly different from the civilization of the masses in so-called enlightened lands. Civilization has been well called a veneer, or polish, which tends to cover the natural depravity of human hearts. That civilization is not true Christianity is well illustrated by the events of the present world-wide war. The faith of many converts to Christianity in heathen lands has been shaken and confused by the awful struggle now in progress, involving as it does a large portion of the civilized world. The following letter, signed by six educated Japanese students, and forwarded to a leading missionary society in America, is typical of this feeling:
TOUCHING PLEA FROM JAPANESE CHRISTIANS
“Japanese Christians are very sorry to see such a war among European countries which we are accustomed to think of as Christian nations. Does Christianity have no power to control the nations that are known as Christians? Is it possible to make peace by uniting Christian hearts throughout the world? Is it not a reproach to Christianity that it has no power to avoid the present war? Under present conditions, there seems to be no one to say, ‘Put up thy sword into thy sheath, for they that take the sword shall perish by the sword.’ We are eagerly hoping that some demonstration or some movement may be started in Europe or America on the part of Christians to remove this condition of international war. We Christians cannot stand still and see such barbarous murder of other Christians in this Christian country. We ask your consideration of this with earnest prayers.”
ALWAYS A “LITTLE FLOCK”
This war demonstrates that true Christianity deals with individual hearts, and that nations, as such, are never converted. God’s true people are always designated as a “little flock.” Their kingdom is not of this world.
The devil works through the nations, and is drawing the whole world into his crucible; but his career will be interrupted. Everything indicates that there is soon to be a new order of things,—not a second probation during a thousand years, but the utter extinction of sin and sinners after the second resurrection, at the end of the thousand years. Rev. 20: 5, 9.
The beginning of the thousand years is marked by the second appearing of Christ, not “in the secret chambers,” nor “in the desert,” but in the clouds of heaven, with all the holy angels. Matt. 24: 26, 30. This coming is to be preceded by a time of trouble upon the world at large, such as has never been known in past ages. Dan. 12: 1. God’s people will be tried and tempted and tested and persecuted just before this great time of trouble, but during it they will be shielded or covered by God’s Spirit. No evil shall befall them. Psalm 91. They will reign with Christ during the thousand years, and at its close find everlasting habitations in the new earth. Rev. 20: 6; 21: 1-5. The veneer of civilization will soon be swept away, and true Christianity will shine forth from those who are “all glorious within.”
Earthquake Phenomena
SOME writers attempt to account for earthquake phenomena on the hypothesis of the axial wabbling of the earth, the slipping of the deep rock strata of the earth’s foundation, and volcanic or other causes unknown to science.
Close investigation of the definitely proposed phenomena proves them to be altogether untenable. God has spoken, however, upon this subject; and with Him “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Every motion of the earth is subject to His omnipotent and unerring supervision. Every seeming irregularity is provided for, and will return to its appointed normal condition with unfailing accuracy.735
The sin of man and Satan is responsible for abnormal conditions in the structure of the earth, and God makes use of these phenomena to give expression to His indignation against those who transgress His law.
Before Israel had entered the promised land, He said, “A fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell (the grave, or the lowest point in the earth polluted by sin and death), and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” Deut. 32: 22. God created coal, oil, and gas strata deep in the earth by the work of the Flood, four thousand years ago; and He has set many of them afire; and were it not for the volcanic chimneys He provided to the eternal fire, the whole earth would long ago have been wrecked into utter chaos by earthquake upheavals, as it will yet be in the near future. See Isa. 24: 1-6, 16-22; Jer. 4: 23-27.
Churches of To-Day
By Editor
are losing their hold on the people, declares the Ladies' Home Journal. Another well-known, reliable journal records the lamentable fact that 3,737 churches of a certain denomination failed to receive a solitary member during the past year. The combined evangelical churches of the United States made a net gain of a little less than 1½ per cent during 1912.
Why such a poor showing?
In a most interesting and illuminating way, the whole matter is discussed in a six-page article in the December Signs Magazine.
For we have seen His star.
OTHER ARTICLES
War, Peace, and Prophecy.
Perilous Times Predicted.
Prophecy and Progress.
The Star in the East.
Strange Gods in Christendom.
Sunday Observance.
A Call to Consecration.
The Curse of the Common Cold.
A Religious Despotism.
The Sabbath of the New Testament.
Current Events.
A dime for a copy. To your address for one year, $1.00. Send five subscriptions to different names and addresses, and remit $3.00 (60c each). Special low prices on quantities for selling or giving away, as follows: 5 to 40 copies, 5c each; 50 or more, 4c each.
Our representative in your state (see list on this page) will fill your order.
Signs of the Times Magazine
Mountain View, Cal.
Our Representatives
UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Alabama Tract Society, Room 316, Lyric Building, Birmingham, Ala.
Alberta Tract Society, 502 17th Ave. West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Arizona Tract Society, 417 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, Cal.
Arkansas Tract Society, Box 14, Little Rock, Ark.
British Columbia Tract Society, 1708 Maple St., Vancouver, B. C., Canada.
California Bible House, 537 25th St., Oakland, Cal.
California-Nevada Missionary Society, 341 E. Lodi Ave., Lodi, Cal.
California Tract Society, Northwestern, 537 25th St., Oakland, Cal.
California Tract Society, Southeastern, 417 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, Cal.
California Tract Society, Southern, 417 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, Cal.
Central California Bible House, Box 1304, Fresno, Cal.
South Carolina Tract Society, 1208 Calhoun St., Columbia, S. C.
South Dakota Tract Society, Drawer 586, Watertown, S. Dak.
Tennessee, Eastern (See Cumberland Tract Society).
Tennessee River Tract Society (Western Tennessee), 509 Cole Bldg., Nashville, Tenn.
Texas Tract Society, North, Box 15, Keene, Texas.
Texas Tract Society, South, Box 755, San Antonio, Texas.
Texas Tract Society, West, Amarillo, Texas.
Upper Columbia Tract Society, College Place, Wash.
Utah Tract and Bible Society, 776 E. 6th South, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vermont (See Northern New England).
Virginia Tract Society, 2705 W. Main St., Richmond, Va.
Washington Missionary Society, Western, 228 S. Brannan St., Auburn, Wash.
West Virginia Tract Society, 124 Marion St., Fairmont, W. Va.
Wisconsin Tract Society, 305 Ruh Bldg., Fond du Lac, Wis.
Wyoming Tract Society, Crawford, Neb.
Above is a list of our authorized agencies and depositories, and we invite you to communicate with them if you wish to secure any books or periodicals advertised in this journal.
Our foreign tracts are put up in envelopes, price 25c each. They are obtainable in Arabic, Armenian, Bohemian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Danish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and many other languages. Address your Tract Society.
It Still Holds Good
By Editor
READ THIS LETTER
Bell Plain, Iowa. October 16, 1915.
Gentlemen:
A friend of mine handed me a copy of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAGAZINE. Now I want you to send this magazine to me for one year, and also to my four friends listed below, if your clubbing offer still holds good. I am inclosing check for $3.00.
Yours very truly,
Consider this: The publishers will accept five or more subscriptions for the monthly Signs Magazine, to be sent to different addresses, at the price noted in the letter, provided all are received from one person and at one time. If requested, the publishers will send nicely printed cards to your friends, notifying them of the fact that the subscription is a remembrance from you, and that acceptance of the subscription entails no obligation upon them.
Orders sent through our representative in your state (see list on this page), or to us direct, will receive prompt attention.
Signs of the Times Magazine
Mountain View, Cal.
A Big Help
In solving “hard” Bible texts and harmonizing seeming discrepancies.
That is what “Questions and Answers” is.
It will help you to meet the skepticism and infidelism of your business associates and acquaintances.
Don’t spend days, weeks, and even months, as some do, worrying over an obscure passage. “Questions and Answers” will supply the need.
HOW TO GET ONE
About 100 a week are going out as premiums to this journal — SIGNS OF THE TIMES. New or old subscribers can obtain a copy of this cloth-bound book with the SIGNS for one year at $2.00. Regular price of the SIGNS alone, $1.75. The 25c extra merely covers cost of postage, wrapping, etc.
Order of our representative in your state (see list on this page), or direct from
Signs of the Times
Mountain View, Cal.
The President’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
By Woodrow Wilson
It has long been the honored custom of our people to turn in the fruitful autumn of the year in praise and thanksgiving to almighty God for His many blessings and mercies to us as a nation. The year that is now drawing to a close since we last observed our day of national thanksgiving has been, while a year of discipline because of the mighty forces of war, and of changes which have disturbed the world, also a year of special blessing for us.
ANOTHER year of peace has been vouchsafed us; another year in which not only to take thought of our duty to ourselves and to mankind, but also to adjust ourselves to the many responsibilities thrust upon us by a war which has involved almost the whole of Europe. We have been able to assert our rights and the rights of mankind without breach of friendship with the great nations with whom we have had to deal; and while we have asserted rights, we have been able also to perform duties and exercise privileges of succor and helpfulness which should serve to demonstrate our desire to make the offices of friendship the means of truly disinterested and unselfish service.
OUR ability to serve all who could avail themselves of our services in the midst of crisis has been increased, by a gracious providence, by more and more abundant crops; our ample financial resources have enabled us to steady the markets of the world and facilitate necessary movement of commerce which the war might otherwise have rendered impossible; and our people have come more and more to a sober realization of the part they have been called upon to play in a time when all the world is shaken by unparalleled distresses and disasters.
THE extraordinary circumstances of such a time have done much to quicken our national consciousness and deepen and confirm our confidence in the principles of peace and freedom by which we have always sought to be guided. Out of darkness and perplexities have come firmer counsels of policy and clearer perceptions of the essential welfare of the nation. We have prospered while other peoples were at war; but our prosperity has been vouchsafed us, we believe, only that we might the better perform the functions which war rendered it impossible for them to perform.
NOW, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States of America, do hereby designate Thursday, the twenty-fifth of November next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, and invite the people throughout the land to cease from their wonted occupations and in their several homes and places of worship render thanks to almighty God.
IN witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, nine hundred, and fifteen, and of the independence of the United States of America one hundred and fortieth. WOODROW WILSON.
By the President: ROBERT LANSING, Secretary of State.
