Earlier text: Increase of Heart-DiseaseThe World's Christian Citizenship Conference
By C. M. S.
In view of the prophetic utterances of the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Revelation, the conference on Christian citizenship in Philadelphia was one of the most important gatherings ever held in this country. It is the beginning of that work of whipping into line all the religious forces of the world, so that they shall act conjointly in forcing the people of all the world to perform a certain prescribed act of religion, or suffer the severest penalty of the law for noncompliance. Says the prophet: “All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” “And he had power to . . . cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Rev. 13:8, 15.12 Said Dr. S. F. Scovel, president of the National Reform Association, at the opening of this conference: “Every nation must declare whether it is for or against Christ.” When it is understood that this organization proposes to bring about all its projects through force of law and penalty, and that the recognition it seeks for Christ is to be secured by compulsion, it is not difficult to identify that organization as one of the chief influences in the making of that persecuting power of Revelation 13, and the work which it has cut out for itself as the work specified in that prophecy. The work against which the revelator warns the world is a work of compulsion in religion. The work for which the National Reform Association stands primarily is compulsion in religion; and the World's Christian Citizenship Conference, which is simply the National Reform Association enlarged into a World Reform Association, stands for the same work in all the world that has so long been fostered by the parent organization in the United States. The prophet warns against a work of compulsion in religion that was to affect “all that dwell upon the earth.” The World's Christian Citizenship Conference proposes to do a work that will affect every nation in the world, and it is a work of compulsion in religion. It is a religious federation, consecrated to political methods, to bring about certain results in the realm of religion. Said the president of the organization, Dr. Scovel: “It is not possible to bring warring nations together except at the foot of the cross. The gospel must be so operated that in the end we will find all nations of the world fused in universal peace.” How that universal peace is to be secured was plainly pointed out by Dr. Scovel in an address at Winona Lake, Ind., in August last. He said:— Uniformity is essential both to peace and progress. The opinion of the majority must be decisive. Even in the matter of men's consciences a degree of uniformity is necessary. By the principles enunciated at the opening session of the World's Christian Citizenship Conference, and so vigorously advocated by the National Reform Association, which created the conference, it is perfectly apparent that in that organization we have the prophetic anti-type meeting its type. The opening session of the conference was held Wednesday morning, November 16, and the president of the National Reform Association was elected permanent chairman of the conference. The perversion of the gospel commission was plainly shown in the opening address of the chairman, when he said:— The election of good officers of the government and pure administration is as sacred a duty as that of the ministry. The pulpit is no more sacred than the desk of the mayor or magistrate. This commingling and confusion of the sacred and the secular was one of the most striking characteristics of the conference. The declaration of its permanent chairman brings strikingly to mind the Lord's accusation against his disloyal priests:— “Her priests have done violence to my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Eze. 22: 26. This accusation of the prophet was in all particulars applicable to this conference. Violence was done to His law by using it to bolster up a counterfeit sabbatic institution. The holy Sabbath was profaned by making it as one of the common days. By declaring that the pulpit was no more sacred than the desk of the mayor or magistrate, the president of the association, under whose auspices the conference was held, “made no distinction between the holy and the common.” By putting politics on a par with religion, the conference failed to cause men “to discern between the unclean and the clean.” And it was pre-eminently apparent that the members of the conference had “hid their eyes from” the only Sabbath the Bible recognizes, or God ever established as a period of weekly rest and worship. Not only has that association hid its eyes from the Sabbath of Jehovah, and put a counterfeit in its place; but it proposes to make the counterfeit institution the sabbath of the whole world, and that by force of law. This was made plain by the chairman in his opening address, when he declared one of the purposes of the conference to be the securing of “a uniform rest day for all nations.” The weekly rest day being a religious institution, the enforcement of it in all the world means the enforcement of an act of religion upon all the people of the world; and that again shows the unmistakable connection between that organization and the power mentioned in Revelation 13, which was to enforce a religious act upon the people of the whole world, under the severest penalty of law. To some the connection may not be clear between the enforcement of an institution and the worship of a power. But he who truly keeps the Sabbath of Jehovah worships Jehovah, the One who established the institution. Likewise he who observes a counterfeit sabbath, worships the power which established the counterfeit. Obedience is worship. In enforcing a false sabbath, then, the law compels the worship of the power which established that false sabbath. The power which established the false sabbath—and admits it—is that power which the revelator designates as “the beast.” The false sabbath is the chief mark of its power. To enforce that “sabbath” is to enforce the mark of that power upon the people; and that means worship of the power whose insignia they bear. Truly, in the unfolding of the work of this organization, we see a most striking fulfilment of a most wonderful prophecy. The afternoon session of the conference opened at 2:30. A letter was read from Governor Stuart, of Pennsylvania, expressing his deep regret at his inability to participate in the conference, and wishing the organization Godspeed in its purpose. The mayor also was unable to attend, being out of the State with the governor, but was represented by his secretary. Dr. Martin G. Brumbaugh, superintendent of the public schools of the city, had the next place on the program, and was present. In a short address he declared himself in hearty accord with the purposes of the conference. He wanted to see everything in the public schools which we would like to see later in the life of the nation, and of course religion is one of those things. He wanted such a condition of things as would make it easy for the young to do right and hard for them to do wrong—a condition which never has obtained in this world, and never will this side the day of earth's dissolution. Occasionally a speaker would seemingly forget the political purpose of the conference, and speak in a real missionary strain, like one who felt the necessity of individual work in the gospel ministry, and personal, individual salvation for the men and women of heathen lands. In such a strain spoke Rev. J. H. Haslam, of Philadelphia:— The time has come for the whole church of God to move forward. Vast empires are awakened, spontaneous changes are taking place in all the world, making a supreme opportunity for the Christian religion. The rising spiritual tide, if taken at its flood, will carry whole peoples out of the stagnation of heathenism. The present state of things is drawing to a close in many lands. Out of the shadow of the night the world seems just now to be moving into the light. It is daybreak everywhere. These are true words. It is indeed the day of the church's opportunity. But how sad the reflection that at such a moment an organization is formed to carry to the world—not the personal gospel of individual redemption, but that politico-religious counterfeit, a national13 religion, and the doctrine of the salvation of nations! Such a movement builds a Babel of its own whereon to mount to the skies over the outraged consciences of the people. A few moments at the opening of this session were devoted to reports from various quarters of the earth. Said Dr. Gordon, Methodist Episcopal missionary from India:— What impresses me most is the assertiveness of Christianity. Christian citizenship seems to be exerting a great influence. Christian citizenship and the federation of the world in the interests of Christ's kingdom are strongly marked. The Christian citizenship idea seems to blind the eyes to the most simple and vital principles and characteristics of the Christian religion. Christianity is not assertive. It does not even assert its plainest rights. When smitten, the Christian does not smite. When his cloak is demanded, he gives his coat also. When a portion of his time is demanded, he gives a double portion. But this discrepancy is not so astonishing when we reflect that the whole idea of citizenship in this world is out of joint with the real Christian program. Says the great apostle:— “Our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3: 20. The professed Christian who lays such strong emphasis upon his citizenship in this world that he forgets where his real citizenship is, and makes it his chief business to “save nations” whom God has plainly declared it his purpose to smite, seems to have forgotten “the pit whence he was digged,” and to have set himself squarely against the purpose of his Maker. True it is that “Christian citizenship” and world federation are now strongly marked; but it does not necessarily follow that either of them is of God. The first regular address of the conference was by Dr. T. P. Stevenson, editor of the Christian Statesman, and corresponding secretary of the National Reform Association. The theme of the address was, “The Moral Accountability of Nations.” His postulate was that nations are moral beings. From this unproved and unprovable basis, he went on to make what would be a sound argument if his postulate were true. A moral being is capable of choosing between right and wrong, is possessed of a conscience and a sense of duty, is accountable to the moral law, and is to be rewarded or punished according to its attitude toward that law. A moral being must have a moral character. To have such a character, it must obey the moral law, must compel itself to keep the moral law. But a nation operates only through its subjects. So, for a nation to enforce the moral law upon itself, it must enforce it upon its citizens. And that means the enforcement of religion by law under penalties. The next step is to take the nation out from under any human control; for, being a moral being, its first allegiance is to its Creator. Said Dr. Stevenson:— The nation has no earthly superior. The smallest independent state, by virtue of its independence, is free from human authority. No earthly legislator can lay down laws for it. . . . Nations are moral beings, bound by the moral laws of God. The National Reform idea of government is still the theocratic one, and it proposes to have, not a single nation only, but all the nations of the world, under theocratic rule. This will necessarily bring them all under one ruler, and he, of course, the alleged representative of the Most High. There is no escaping the conclusion, once the premise is admitted. Must we admit it?—No; the moral beings of this world are human beings. For these Christ died, but not for governments. Christ commissioned his apostles to teach and baptize individuals, not governments. There is a heaven for saved individuals, but none for saved governments. In another article, further consideration will be given the conference and its program of action. C. M. S. SYRIA.— All our members in Syria join in sending heartiest greetings to our people scattered abroad in all parts of the earth. Nine persons have been received into the Syrian-Egyptian Mission during the last nine months, and we are praying that the first public effort to be held in Beirut this winter may yield a harvest. The city has been canvassed this year. We are of good courage. W. C. ISING. Missionary Work in Argentina
By C. E. Knight
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.— As a great number of seeding and harvesting machines are imported into this part of South America from the United States for agricultural work, so likewise are we dependent upon the home lands to supply ten sowers and reapers where we now have one for the Lord’s harvest-field. I have just returned from the pampas, near Patagonia. The church at our southern outpost manifests a live missionary spirit, the brethren gladly conveying me from place to place, to hold meetings with families that are interested. C. E. KNIGHT. General Conference Committee Council
By W. A. Spicer
Autumn Session, Beginning Nov. 23, 1910
This first report of the autumn council is written while as yet the council is only fairly getting into its routine work. In our next report we shall be able to present more actions and recommendations. Inasmuch as there will not be the usual spring council next year, the autumn meeting has been a full one, and the members present have been busy from early morning till night. One thing impresses every participant and onlooker in these councils, and that is the tremendous spread of this work from year to year, and even from season to season. The consideration of the call to turn a stronger measure of resources of means and laborers into the populous city centers has led to the gathering of quite a number of conference presidents, as well as members of the General Conference Committee. The following is the list of the members who have been in attendance:— MEMBERS OF GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: A. G. Daniells, G. A. Irwin, O. A. Olsen, W. T. Knox, Allen Moon, R. A. Underwood, W. B. White, E. T. Russell, B. G. Wilkinson, C. W. Flaiz, Chas. Thompson, C. F. McVagh, Wm. Guthrie, W. C. White, C. H. Jones, A. J. Haysmer, H. R. Salisbury, M. E. Kern, K. C. Russell, E. R. Palmer, G. F. Watson, H. S. Shaw, and W. A. Spicer. CONFERENCE WORKERS FROM ATLANTIC UNION: O. Montgomery, W. H. Holden, H. C. Hartwell, C. H. Edwards, J. W. Lair, R. D. Quinn, S. B. Horton, G. B. Starr, O. O. Bernstein, J. F. Piper, F. M. Dana, H. W. Carr, T. B. Westbrook, C. S. Longacre, F. E. Painter, J. K. Humphrey, F. C. Gilbert. COLUMBIA UNION: B. F. Kneeland, W. H. Heckman, I. N. Williams, R. T. Baer, F. H. Robbins, S. Kime, C. F. Wiest, R. E. Harter, W. G. Kneeland, C. B. Haynes, E. R. Brown, G. W. Spies, W. H. Smith, J. L. McElhaney, A. R. Bell, W. A. Hennig, R. D. Hottel, H. H. Burkholder, James Shultz. CANADIAN UNION: B. B. Noftsger, M. C. Kirkendall. LAKE UNION: M. Lukens, S. E. Wight, E. K. Slade. NORTHERN UNION: S. E. Jackson, M. N. Campbell, C. M. Babcock, C. J. Buhalts, W. D. Parkhurst. SOUTHERN UNION: E. L. Maxwell, E. G. Hayes, A. F. Harrison. CENTRAL UNION: A. R. Ogden, C. R. Kite, L. W. Terry. SOUTHWESTERN UNION: C. N. Woodward, J. W. Norwood, D. Voth, W. A. McCutchen. PACIFIC UNION: E. E. Andross, J. O. Corliss.14 NORTH PACIFIC UNION: G. E. Langdon. GENERAL: N. Z. Town, C. M. Snow, Dr. D. H. Kress, A. J. S. Bourdeau, L. A. Hansen, F. M. Wilcox, I. A. Ford, J. N. Anderson, H. E. Rogers, T. E. Bowen, L. H. Christian, S. N. Curtiss. A large proportion of the time in the earlier days of the council has been given to the topic of work for the populous centers, in order that conference presidents and city workers might be released to return to their work, while the General Committee continues with routine business. It is impossible to give here even a summary of the papers presented, or of the earnest discussions of the various questions involved. It was voted to print the papers in a pamphlet later for the study of those interested. The following outline will, however, show the scope of the matters discussed:— 1. “The Meaning of the Call to Work the Cities; the Field Embraced in This Call.” By A. G. Daniells. 2. “The Magnitude of the Work to Be Done.” By C. H. Edwards. 3. “Upon Whom Should Rest the Responsibility of This Work?” By W. B. White. 4. “Agencies, Methods, and Plans in City Work.” By R. D. Quinn, C. B. Haynes, O. O. Bernstein. 5. “The Relation of This City Work to Our Foreign Work.” By W. A. Spicer. 6. “What Steps Should Be Taken to Secure Able Speakers and Efficient Bible Workers for City Work?” By K. C. Russell. 7. “How Shall the Necessary Funds Be Raised to Carry on This Work?” By G. A. Irwin, E. T. Russell, Allen Moon. 8. “The Use That Can Be Made of the Public Press.” General topic. 9. “The City Mission, and How to Conduct It.” By G. B. Starr, W. H. Saxby, Mrs. S. N. Haskell. 10. “The Part Our Literature Is to Act in Working the Cities.” By N. Z. Town. 11. “How to Carry on Medical Missionary Work Efficiently in This Movement.” By Drs. D. H. Kress and David Paulson. We may add, in a few words, that there was hearty agreement that the stronger and less populous fields must help the weaker and the more populous in this work of evangelizing the unwarned millions still beyond the reach of our efforts. The spirit of brotherhood ran strong and true through all hearts in the council, and by a united effort the work is to be done. As the chairman expressed it in the opening of the discussion on city work, this call that has come sounds like the last call to arms for the attack upon the great centers of population in all the world, that is to bring the finishing of the work. All were agreed also that there could be no thought of drawing back and doing less abroad, in order to do more in the home land. The far greater efforts called for in the city centers in America must be made by redistribution of resources in this land, and the increase of resources. Workers who have been engaged in the city efforts have again and again expressed gratitude for the privilege of meeting others engaged in the same work, and interchanging experiences and ideas; and all in the council have been helped and inspired by the discussion of this great question. One of the most important questions before the council was that of mission finance,—the supplies for the needy fields abroad and for the city work and other needy fields in this country. The hearts of the brethren were mightily stirred as they reviewed in detail the lack of support in mission fields. The General Conference of 1909 had enthusiastically declared for bringing up gifts, and for sharing a definite proportion of tithe with mission fields. In harmony with this policy, the following plan of mission finance was adopted by the council:— Whereas, The prosperity and permanence of this work are in a large measure dependent upon an adequate and regularly supplied amount of funds; and,— Whereas, We have been instructed through the spirit of prophecy that a full tithe and liberal offerings paid into the treasury would provide ample funds for the support of all the world-wide evangelistic work which God has committed to this people; and,— Whereas, There is a shortage of funds necessary to prosecute our foreign enterprises, making it apparent that there has not been that faithfulness in the matter of tithes and offerings that there should be; and— Whereas, In these matters the people are largely dependent upon the teaching and example of the ministry, making it apparent that we have failed in properly keeping the financial obligations of our people before them; therefore— We recommend: 1. That the General Conference acquaint our people with the present financial situation. 2. That urgent and very active effort in all conferences be made to bring up mission offerings for this and every succeeding year to an average of at least ten cents a week a member. 3. That conference forces be organized for work among the churches during the week of prayer, at which time our present financial condition be placed before the people, with strong appeals for large donations. 4. That an extra effort be made by conference officers and laborers in closing up the Harvest Ingathering campaign, in order that the fullest returns may be realized. 5. That we request all conferences in North America receiving a tithe of less than ten thousand dollars, to pay, beginning Jan. 1, 1911, from five per cent to ten per cent of their tithe, according to their ability, to the General Conference for mission fields; and all conferences receiving ten thousand dollars and more, to pay from ten per cent to twenty-five per cent, according to their ability; and that this plan be regarded as a permanent arrangement, upon which the General Conference may depend for the prosecution of its work. 6. That we emphasize the importance of promptly forwarding all trust funds from each local conference to its union conference, and that these in turn be transmitted without delay to the General Conference. 7. That all conferences, either local or union, having money that can be spared from their operating expenses, be requested to make such donations as the present situation demands. 8. That request be made to the union conferences to devote to the General Conference such portion of their income as can be saved by careful and frugal management. 9. That we recommend that all conference committees carefully consider the work of their laborers; and that where any are found to have failed to give evidence of their call to the work of the ministry by fruit-bearing, or if in their lives they have failed to adorn this sacred office, earnest effort be put forth to remedy this situation; and if this can not be accomplished, that such laborers be advised to engage in other lines of work. 10. That the General Conference Committee be requested to assist such conferences as may require their aid in making a satisfactory disposition of their force of workers, so as to enable them to participate in the suggested plan of the division of their income. 11. That we advise the Mission Board to proceed as rapidly in the expansion of its missionary operations as the funds in its treasury will warrant; and further, considering the great need of efficient laborers, and especially of able ministers of the Word, to enter the cities, we suggest that the General Conference Committee set apart a day for earnest prayer and fasting, to the end that the Lord of the harvest may send forth his Spirit and qualify laborers to meet the urgent demands of the hour, and that he may also so move upon the hearts of the people that sufficient means may be quickly supplied to enable us to greatly enlarge our mission work, both at home and abroad. We suggest that Sabbath, Jan. 21, 1911, be the day thus set apart for prayer and fasting. 12. That the General Conference furnish the union conference presidents a monthly statement showing the condition of the treasury, also the standing of each union and local conference in the matter of the ten-cent-a-week fund; that this information be passed on to the local conference presidents; and that each local conference president be requested to place in the hands of the elder of each church in his conference a statement showing the actual standing of the church regarding this fund. 13. That in view of the great need of the foreign fields, we urge those conferences in America which are receiving financial assistance from the General Conference, to develop their work as rapidly as may be, so that they may fully care for their own needs at as early a date as possible.15 The discussion of this report was very thorough. It was more than a discussion. Again and again the council knelt in prayer, to ask for God's special help in shaping the plans and the work, so that the stronger should help to bear the burdens of the weaker, and all be given a direct and constant part in lifting the cry of this message to the loud note that shall carry the voice of the third angel to every unwarned field. All in the council felt that the Lord had guided to a plan which the conferences and believers will carry through from this day till the work is done, with an ever-increasing flow of consecrated means. The council earnestly asked that, during December, specially large gifts shall be kept flowing into the treasuries for the mission fields, so that our workers who are suffering for lack of means, and whose hands are tied, may again be supplied. It is a situation that touches every Seventh-day Adventist heart. This report will reach most of the churches at the beginning of the week of prayer. The brethren representing the various fields in this country believe that the call of the week-of-prayer offering will meet a response this year which will give assurance to our brethren on every mission station in the world that the believers in the home lands will truly stand by the missionary advance. Further report of the council will be given next week. How to Make Christians
By Editor
DISCUSSING the question as to the United States being a Christian nation, a writer in the Christian Statesman for November says:— It follows that much remains to be done before it can be said we have a nation that is Christian in the truest sense. It remains for us to labor for the regeneration of thousands of individuals; for without individual Christians, there can be no Christian nation. We agree with this writer that the chief object of our labor should be the Christianizing of the individual units of society. But in doing this we must follow the methods of our blessed Lord, and labor in harmony with the principles he has enjoined. We can not make men Christian by law. Forcing them into outward acquiescence with so-called Christian laws and usages, will not change their hearts. The effect would be to lead them to hypocritical pretension. There will come a time in the history of God’s dealings with the human family when he will call to account every misused privilege. Those who have done despite to his Word of truth, and rejected his proffers of salvation, must suffer the results of their transgression. But God has not committed to us the keeping of this account. We are to labor to lead men to God, leaving to them the consequence of their acts and to God the adjustment of their accounts. Modern Evangelism
By F. M. W.
MUCH has been said of late regarding the success of so-called great evangelistic efforts which have been carried on in different parts of the world. Judging from reports, it must be confessed that so far as sensation is concerned, they have achieved results. It is to be questioned, however, how much real, lasting good is accomplished by some of these spectacular methods of winning men to God. Commenting upon a recent revival, in which some seven thousand converts were reported, and a collection secured of twelve thousand dollars, the Washington Herald of November 12 says:— And yet we mistrust the value of this sort of evangelistic work. We see the churches with able and efficient pastors going about their work steadily, appealing to reason, and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, without any such astonishing results. Conversions are made in the established churches, and there the converted usually become steady church-members, and, by so much, better and more useful citizens. But this brand of evangelical conversion has little that is solid about it; nothing at all to appeal to the thoughtful man. It is based primarily on emotionalism, hysteria, and a sort of religious hypnotism, that leads men and women who take part in it, and who listen to it long enough, to be moved by strange impulses, to come forward when called upon, and sit upon the mourner’s bench. . . . At these evangelical meetings people say they are converted, and want to be better, but it is through no process of sober reasoning that they arrive at such a conclusion; it is rather that they are carried on a wave of excitement, in which the whole community shares for a time, and, when the evangelist departs, with the congratulations of the preachers for the good work he has done, a reaction sets in, and the alleged conversions do not amount to so much after all. We doubt very much whether successful religious work is to be measured by the number of ‘conversions’ or the amount of money collected. It is the patient toiler in the vineyard of the Master who reaps the real harvest. It is not for us to judge of the motives or purposes of the men engaged in this work. Their motives may be of the very best; but it must be admitted that the methods which they employ are exceedingly questionable. Revivals have their use, but after all it is the earnest, daily Christian living which tells most for God; and, as the Herald justly remarks, it is ‘the patient toiler in the vineyard of the Master who reaps the real harvest.’ THIS is a question causing much concern to many denominations at the present time. Spiritual apathy and indifference exist everywhere. Some churches, instead of recording a yearly increase, are obliged to confess a falling off in membership and church attendance. Speaking of this experience in the United States, the New York Weekly Witness of November 2 says:— The churches in this country, taken generally, are not making anything like the progress they should be making; but their lack of progress is largely due to the fact that there are so many preachers in the pulpits who have no definite personal experience of the power of the religion which they are trying to preach, and so many others who pride themselves on their disbeliefs, and therefore do not and can not offer a full and free salvation through faith in Christ. They can not convict their hearers of sin, and of their need of the salvation wrought out for them by Christ, because they have never felt the need of regeneration themselves, and have had no experience of the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit. Doubtless the chief lack in the Christian church to-day is that of a Spirit-filled ministry. In too many instances, school men and theologians are in evidence, rather than Spirit-called men. The gospel ministry is not a trade, which can be learned in a mechanical way; it is not an intellectual attainment, to be achieved by the taking of a college course, or through the conferring of a degree; it is a divine call. The Christian pulpit should be filled only by men whose hearts God has touched, and who can speak out of a full personal experience of the power of his Word in their own lives. Such men will carry conviction to those blessed by their labors. The Effects of Evil Literature
THE enemy of all righteousness has no more effective agency in the accomplishment of his purposes than the cheap, sensational literature with which the world is flooded, as found in many popular magazines, novels, and cheap storybooks. No one can devote time to the perusal of such literature without feeling, in a greater or less degree, the effects of its demoralizing influence. It gives to the young unreal notions of life. It surrounds crime and criminals with a halo of glory. By suggestion and implication, and sometimes openly, it teaches crime and immorality. The Boston Pilot expresses these sensible comments with reference to this question:— Every one knows the effect of the excitement and suggestion aroused when children, especially boys, devoured with avidity the lurid tales of Indian adventure, and were led to fly from their homes. To-day suggestion comes to the young from the reading of novels whose argument is criminality and gilded indecency. The result of such reading is an epidemic, more or less extensive, of like flagrant transgressions against the moral law. . . . Moreover, these cheap novels, low in thought and slangy in diction, are found in the newspapers which are read day by day. It is hardly to be wondered at that the taste for decent reading grows less as this literature increases in circulation. An evil mind can not appreciate the pure, the correct, and the wholesome. . . . Men and women who are otherwise intelligent fail to see this point. They see children ruined; they see young men abandoning their faith; they see young women entering into unions full of unhappiness. They never seem to see that the cause of it all lies in the literature they read, and the companionship they keep. The record of crimes emanating from such sources speaks for itself, and will be listened to by all whose perspective reaches beyond selfishness and unholy pride. How much better to store the mind with the true and the beautiful. Within reach of every one are books of religious instruction, history, travel, and science, books of real value, which will materially aid in the formation of solid character. No believer who desires a growing, living experience in God can afford to permit his mind to be diverted by reading the light, trashy literature so current at the present time. Uprisings in Mexico
By A. L. Gregory
The two principal cities of this republic, Mexico City and Guadalajara, have recently been the theaters of dramas which we hope will not soon be repeated. Here in Guadalajara, so far, there has been only one death; but the property loss has been considerable. On the evening of Thursday, November 10, a large crowd came together to demonstrate regarding the alleged lynching of a Mexican in the United States. Soon shouts were not enough, but stones began to fly, and many windows were broken. The crowd began to march toward the American colony, attacking on the way the home of the Methodist minister, and breaking his windows. Then they remembered the old Adventist sanitarium, which is now a Methodist school; here they halted to stone the windows and pull down the iron fence in front of the property. From here they continued the march to the American colony, stoning most of the houses on the way, until they came to the home of Brother W. S. Swayze, M. D., with whom we live. We had been warned not to go on the streets that evening, so were all at home. We heard the mob coming, and soon the stones began to come into the front rooms, crashing through the glass. We all vacated the house, and gathered in the yard to see what would result. Soon the mob passed on to another American house, but the owner and his nephew met them in front, and told them they were ready for them, and fired four shots into the air. The police persuaded the mob not to attack this house, so the “demonstration” in the colony ended for that night, the mob returning to the city, where they continued stoning houses and breaking windows. Friday we were warned to take precautions, as the same “demonstrations” were to be repeated. The mob did not come to the chief American settlement, having been turned back by the police after an attack on one foreign house on their way out. In this attack the defenders fired a shot which killed one man. The city is now under martial law, and no crowds are allowed on the streets. Many threats are made, and danger to life is not over; but in it all we are calm, trusting in God, who can deliver even in the troublous times. As we left our home to go to hide in a more secluded house, where we would not be suspected, we were reminded of the time to come, when we must leave our homes and go out to the mountains and woods, to be away from the infuriated mobs. The women got together a few of their most valuable things, which they could carry, and we men dug holes in the ground, and hid our money and what valuable papers we had, and in less than one hour we were fleeing from our home, going away to sleep on a pile of weeds and grass, not knowing what hour we might be awakened to end our existence at the hand of infuriated men. May we all be active while the way is still half open to preach the gospel in this Catholic country.