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Beer’s Threat to American Soldiers
The worst enemy the United States soldiers have had to contend with in the present war is not the Spanish foe, nor the Cuban fevers, but beer. And the strange part of the story is that they are ambushed by this subtle enemy through the connivance of the government which they serve. It is said by those on the ground that the first blood of the war was not shed by contact with the Spanish army or navy, but in a drunken riot in one of the southern camps. Perhaps it is no worse in the sight of God to spill the blood of an American brother than that of a Spanish brother, but it seems strangely inconsistent that the government (assuming the role of a "Christian nation") should handicap its own soldiers with the beer pit before they have fairly learned to "keep step." While charitable ladies are soliciting means to procure articles which the government does not supply, for the comfort of the soldiers in camp, the "boys in blue" are spending many times as much for beer and the other evils to which the beer leads. If it were not for the "canteen" evil, and the camp-following venders of a similar nature, and the disposition of the soldiers to patronize them, the "patriots" could buy all their own necessaries and have money to spare. The writer of this note knows by experience that this is true. W. N. G.
The Admiral at Mass
The Admiral at Mass.—The Catholic Mirror informs the public that "Admiral Cervera and fifty of his officers attended a solemn requiem mass on Wednesday morning for the repose of the souls of the Spanish officers and sailors who lost their lives at Santiago in the battle of July 3. The Ilchester choir, thirty in number, under Father Diedrich, furnished beautiful music. Admiral Cervera, who was all reverence and worship, occupied a place near the chancel."
Elisha Prayed in Faith
“Elisha prayed.”—That would be instinctively just what any “man of God” would do. A man of the world would have called upon the civil authorities, and would have tried to get word to the capital, so that help might be sent to relieve the besieged city. But Elisha just prayed to God. For what did he pray? for deliverance?—No; he had no fears about that; he knew that he was already safe. But he prayed that his servant might be shown the willingness and ability of God to protect those who trust in Him. And that is just what God wants us all to know. We may know it by believing His Word; in other words, by faith. That is the way Elisha knew it when he asked that the young man’s eyes might be opened. Read 2 Kings 6: 13–18
Prepare for the Saviour's Coming
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21: 25–27. Carefully study the foregoing scripture, and compare its statements with the stormy and unsettled condition of the whole world to-day. Do you not hear the voice of God telling you in these clear sentences of His Word, “Prepare to meet the Saviour; for His coming draweth nigh”?
Concentration Prevents Mistakes
In the United States Treasury at Washington a great many persons are employed to do nothing else but count money. Each person's work is carefully watched, and any mistakes made are charged up to the individuals who make them. It is stated that there is one lady in the department who has been thus engaged in counting money for twenty-five years, and she has not made a single mistake in all that long time. This is an excellent object lesson. Making mistakes is generally the result of wrong habits that grow out of a lack of concentrating the mind on what one is doing. The failures and mistakes of Christians come from the want of concentrating the mind upon the study of Christ and His Word.
American Bible Society Work
American Bible Society Work.—At the stated meeting of the American Bible Society two weeks ago an advance step was taken in respect to Bible distribution in the Philippine Islands. In view of the prospect that in the near future these islands may be open for greater liberty in Christian work, the secretaries were authorized to request the Rev. John R. Hykes, D.D., the society's agent for China, to visit Manila for the purpose of inquiring into existing facts and conditions, as a help to prompt and vigorous action in case there should be fit opportunities for circulating the Scriptures. One thousand dollars was appropriated for the beginning of this work. It was also decided to inaugurate Bible work in Porto Rico at the earliest practicable moment, and to resume the operations in Cuba which were suspended two years ago on account of the disturbed condition of the island. And this is good. Circulate the Scriptures.
The Fourth Commandment
The Fourth Commandment.—"The Herald and Presbyter says that 'the law of the Sabbath is unchanged from age to age; if we keep the letter and abide in the spirit of the commandment, we will do no work on that day that is not necessary or called for in the way of mercy.' That is the view of the Sabbatarians who observe in 'the letter' of the fourth commandment Saturday as the Sabbath. But The Herald and Presbyter is a Presbyterian paper, and observes Sunday as the Sabbath."—Christian Work. But in what other way should God's law be observed? If God does not say what He means, who has the right to say what He means? If the fourth commandment means anything (and it means as much as the first or sixth), it means that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Truly, according to the teaching of The Herald and Presbyter, interpreted by the Christian Work, seventh-day people are right, and according to the Word of God and the life of Jesus Christ, they know they are.
What Is the Lord's Day?
What Is the Lord's Day?—What should settle the question of the Lord's day but the Lord's Word? Should we go to the word of fallible man to learn what the Lord's day is when the Lord has told us in His own Word? Well, reader, do you wish to know? Here is the answer, from three different witnesses; the Spirit of Christ, speaking through Isaiah (1 Peter 1:11) says: "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; . . . then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord." Isa. 58:13, 14. The Lord's holy day is therefore the Sabbath. But what day is the Sabbath?—"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:8–10. Thus speaks the Lord's holy law. But one testimony more, the words of Jesus: "For the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." Mark 2:28. Therefore, according to the Word of the Lord, the seventh-day Sabbath is the Lord's day. "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." Jesus Christ, who lived God's life in the flesh, says, "Follow Me." Surely there is no mistake in walking as He walked, in living His life.
The Scientific American
The Scientific American as it comes to us each week is filled with most useful and practical matter. It keeps close watch of every field of science and industry, and is a faithful recorder of the progress that is being made. It employs none but the most thoroughly competent writers, and consequently its information is always reliable.
It is a paper for men, and at the same time it is pre-eminently the paper for boys. Its matter has the advantage of being solid and substantial, while it is also most interesting as well. Boys will pore over its pages by the hour. And when they turn away from its study, their minds are filled with useful facts about farming, fruit-raising, carpentering, machinery, etc., etc. For there is no field of the useful vocations of life from which this valuable paper does not bring you interesting sheaves of desirable knowledge.
If parents will furnish themselves and their children with such papers as the Scientific American, instead of those that are more or less filled with stories of highway robberies, conflicts with policemen, hair-breadth escapes from bears and the like, they will see their sons grow into useful men rather than “border ruffians.”
Munn & Co., 361 Broadway, New York City, are the publishers of the Scientific American, and they are always glad to send sample copies, and answer the inquiries of those who may become interested in the paper.
Reaping the Benefit
Reaping the Benefit.—However the Philippines may go, the Roman Catholic Church is enough to guard her interests. A despatch from Rome, printed in the Examiner of August 8, has this to say:—
“ROME, August 7.—The pope has sent instructions to Mgr. Martinelli, representative of the Holy See in the United States, and to Archbishop Ireland, concerning representations to the American Government, with a view to obtaining respect for existing privileges of the Roman Catholic Church and clergy in Cuba and Porto Rico. The pope will personally address a letter to President McKinley. He has already congratulated the queen regent of Spain upon having followed pacific counsels. The encyclical of the Vatican to the Spanish bishops will soon be published. It will be followed by another to the hierarchy of the United States.”
When it is remembered that nearly all the trouble in the Philippines has been caused by the overreaching, grasping, tyrannical rule of the priests, it would seem that if the United States accedes to the wishes of the pope, the guilty will escape, while the civil government of Spain will suffer. But there is coming a time when justice will be done, not by nations of earth, but by the Judge of all. For that time we wait.
Lawlessness Before Christ’s Coming
While New York is discussing the question as to whether or not they will execute the death sentence under which a woman is condemned for murder, Arkansas steps in and lynches two women and two men all at once and in the same town. The murdering and lynching, and general record of crime, is becoming more and more appalling every day. The papers are filled with the records of every variety of the most shocking lawlessness and violence. But the Word of God tells us that thus it shall be in the days just preceding the second coming of Christ. This great prevalence of sin and crime is the working of Satan in his last, desperate, malignant effort to drive men into destruction. Christians should work now as never before to rescue the perishing before they are driven into this awful maelstrom of evil, that will grow worse and worse as the end draws on.
The Coming Epidemic.—The threatening avalanche of war fiction is thus foreshadowed by the Tribune of this city:—
"Hobson is said to be writing a novel, and that brings to mind the flood of literature that will be turned loose on the country as soon as the volunteer army lays down the sword. Fully fifty per cent. seem desirous of seeing in print their own particular accounts of the exploits of their regiments, and the result will be magazine stories and novels galore. The deeds of the Rough Riders, for instance, will be enough to furnish romantic literature to the small boy for many years to come."
It is by such means that the war spirit will be kept up in the United States, and the rising generation will be taught that the most glorious calling is military or naval service. And the worst part of it is, they are being taught that it is a Christian calling.
