LONDON is rather quiet at present. Society people have gone to the various watering-places, and business is largely at a standstill. Parliament is still at work, however. There is to be no autumn session this year, and the government is trying to get some of the most urgent measures passed into law. There is a Public Health Bill which gives power to the Local Government Board to deal with the proper supervision and inspection of the food supply. Mr. Burns will probably see this bill thru. Then there is the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, which has been reappearing annually at Westminster for some time past, and has hitherto either been talked down or in some way prevented from passing both Houses. The present government has decided to give it facilities, and as it has passed its second reading in the House of Lords, there can be little doubt of its ultimately becoming law.
A Deceased Wife's Sister.
It is a curious fact, bearing powerful witness to the essential conservatism of England, that it has been, and will be till this law is passed, illegal for a man to marry the sister of his deceased wife. She is regarded in the same light as a blood-relative. The notion is based on a wrong, and, in fact, ridiculous interpretation of certain Old Testament scriptures.
The House of Lords, standing as it does for vested rights and privileges, is quite naturally mutilating the Land Bills sent up to it by the Commons, and Lord Rosebery has made a fighting speech against the Scottish Land Bill, and greatly pleased the Conservatives. It is probable that Parliament will bring its present session to a close the latter part of next week.
Mr. Victor Grayson, Socialist.
By far the most sensational event which has happened since the general election was the return to Parliament, recently, of Mr. Victor Grayson as a member for the Colne Valley division of Yorkshire. He is the first out-and-out Socialist to sit in Parliament. He went into the campaign without organized support from any political party, and won by a large majority. It is hard to tell which party is the most surprised, the Liberals or the Conservatives. Certainly the Conservatives are the most alarmed. Mr. Grayson's program is briefly summed up in the following paragraphs:
Mr. Grayson's Socialist Platform.
"I am a Socialist, and believe that there can be no freedom or security for the working classes while the land and means of production are owned and controlled by a small, privileged class."
"The Right to Work.—I deem it a stinging disgrace to a community professing to be civilized and Christian that there is always a great number of men and women unemployed."
Kew Gardens, London.
"Old-Age Pensions.—I can see no difficulty whatever in providing an adequate Old-Age Pension Fund. I am convinced that the wealthy classes, who already draw huge pensions, will never consent to a pension for worn-out workers."
"Votes for Women.—If returned, I am prepared to give the most immediate and enthusiastic support to a measure according to women the vote on the same terms as men."
"Free Maintenance of School Children.—I am in favor of free maintenance of school children, the cost to be charged on the National Exchequer."
"House of Lords.—I am in favor of abolishing rather than admonishing this ancient assembly."
"Now is the time to strike a blow at capitalism and landlordism, and for the down-trodden and oppressed. Workers, Unite! You have a world to win, and only your chains to lose."
Some Facts of Grayson's History.
Mr. Grayson is only twenty-five years of age, but has seen a good deal of the seamy side of life. He ran away to sea when he was fourteen. He has seen the inside of the casual wards, has broken his allowance of stones, often working till his hands bled, and has begged work from house to house. Later he was indentured as an apprentice by a firm of engineers in Liverpool, and served six years with them. After that he studied at the Liverpool University, going from there to Manchester University to qualify for the Unitarian ministry; but he did not enter the church, having decided to transfer his religious enthusiasm to the active propaganda of Socialism. "The Socialist and Labor movement," he says, "has me body and soul."
In appearance Mr. Grayson reminds one of the typical visionary. He has light hair and blue eyes, and an open countenance. He gives one the impression of being thoroly in earnest. Of his election he says: "The very first joy that comes to my mind is this—that this epoch-making victory has been won for pure, revolutionary Socialism. We have not trimmed our sails to get the half-hearted vote. We have proclaimed our Socialism on every platform we have spoken from."
He Represents the Spirit of Revolt.
The appearance of such a man at Westminster is indeed deeply significant. He is the living embodiment of the spirit of revolt which is making itself increasingly felt in Great Britain, and will have to be reckoned with. He calls himself "the member for the starving child." He says he represents "the low-browed, stunted, haggard man," and the others who have wrongs that need to be redressed. He regards it as his duty to remind the House of Commons of "the people outside who are dying of starvation."
Socialism is having a wonderful growth in Great Britain. Says a prominent London daily: "A huge wave of humanism is flowing over the country, and the old political parties must either adapt themselves or be swept away. It is the merest fatuousness to try to injure Socialism by ludicrously misrepresenting it. Over all the land, able, earnest men and women are giving themselves up to the cause. Its intellectual system satisfies the reason, while its burning religion of humanism commands the heart. Night after night, day after day, in season and out of season, in the workshop, in the church and chapel, at the street corner and on the country hillside, thousands of its preachers are explaining and winning converts."
Labor Riots in Belfast.
The labor riots in Belfast point to the same general situation of unrest and dissatisfaction among the working classes. Five thousand soldiers have had to assist the police to keep order.11In the House of Commons only the other day, Mr. Haldane, the War Secretary, was giving the news "from the front." He explained how this regiment had been ordered into action, and how it had behaved, where another had been stationed, and so forth. One might have thought that a civil war was raging in Belfast, and, indeed, the situation was a most serious one. The trouble began the 26th of June, when the dockers employed by four steamship companies went on strike. There was a sympathetic strike of carters, a lock-out by the master carriers, and then a strike of coal porters. Negotiations were of no use, as the masters would not recognize union officials. Finally four hundred constables marched to the police barracks and demanded more pay.
All the rowdyism of Belfast was roused to action, and there was fierce fighting between the mobs and the soldiers and police. One Sunday evening a mob numbering thousands fought stubbornly with a mixed force of cavalry, infantry, and police. Some were killed and many injured. A large mob attacked the police barracks, smashing the windows, throwing stones and bottles at the soldiers. They were finally driven off by a force of riflemen who charged them at the point of the bayonet.
A Mob of Thirty Thousand.
Later the mob recollected to the number of thirty thousand, and made a fresh attack. The situation was so desperate that the soldiers were ordered to load their rifles, and they discharged two volleys into the dense crowd. Some were killed outright, and many were wounded. The hospitals were filled to overflowing, both with soldiers and members of the mob.
The situation has quieted down now, but there is no knowing when the conflict will break out again with new fury. Social conditions are not promising. Society is walking on thin ice in these days, and not much is wanting to reproduce in Britain some of the most terrific scenes of the French Revolution.
International Congresses.
There have been two International Congresses in London in the last few weeks, dealing respectively with Housing and School Hygiene. These international gatherings are increasing in influence and in numbers, and give eloquent witness to the spirit of internationalism which seems to be permeating the world. The members of the Congress on School Hygiene advocated that children in the schools be taught Hygiene and Temperance, and urged the need of medical inspection in all the schools under public control.
Summer School of New Theology.
The promoters of the New Theology have been holding a summer school at Penmaen-Mawr, in Wales. The attendance numbered something like 200, mostly clergymen. Mr. R. J. Campbell naturally was chief teacher; some other leaders in the movement took a fairly prominent part. There was more or less disagreement on various matters, leading one of the chief promoters to tell a newspaper reporter that there was no such thing as an authoritative or official version of the New Theology. But with all their differences, the new theologians are, with possibly a few exceptions, at one in their adoption of the extreme conclusions of higher critics, and this first summer school devoted to the propaganda of the new faith is an event of some significance in the religious world.
M. ELLSWORTH OLSEN.
London, August 21, 1907.
"And the Nations Were Angry."
THE prophecies of the Bible describe definite scenes in a very definite way so that we may understand where and when they apply if we will take the time to read and think about them. One of these clear prophecies is the following:
Old Houses, Staple Inn, Holborn Street, London.
"We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." Rev. 11:17-19.
Satan has usurped a place in this world, and has thereby interrupted the unobstructed flow of God's power in the ways of righteousness. And so the prophet is made to view a time when the Almighty Father has taken to Himself His great power and is reigning. And coming up to that time the vision is directed to the nations, and they are found to be angry, and the judgment scenes pass before his mind, and the saints of God are receiving their eternal reward, and the wicked also are having their destruction meted out to them. Thus is it easy to see and plain to understand that the prophet is viewing the sublime events of the last of the closing days of time and the beginnings of eternity.
And among the things that he is seeing it will be noticed that he found that the "nations were angry."
There are other prophecies that show that the last days will be strongly marked by the mighty waking up of the nations of earth to the terrible struggles of war. The prophecy shows that these threatened wars will be held in check till the Father in heaven sends His Gospel truth to all the nations of the earth, so as to prepare for the second coming of Christ all that may be reached. And when the Lord's work in the earth is done, then the nations will be unleashed and the terrible charge of the angry cohorts will be made. Armageddon's predicted conflict will become a fearful reality.
Any one who is closely and intelligently following the course of events in the world to-day must be impressed with the constant quarreling among the nations. And he must also be impressed with the tension that exists between so many powers. And, looking back for quite a number of years, this has been the case. Some of the nations are in a constant quarrel, and yet they do not break out into any very prolonged and serious wars.
This week China and Japan are in trouble, and their diplomats are exerting themselves to avert a war; riotous demonstrations against the Chinese and Japanese in Canada are calling the statesmen and diplomats of England into vigorous exertion to prevent the arbitraments of the field of blood; agitations are to the front on the Pacific Coast that make it very hard for our government at Washington to prevent a clash with the Japanese; France and Spain are working to subdue the angry and fanatical hordes of Algeria; and so on.
The anger and the uneasiness of the nations, and the suddenness with which small things will come in to estrange them, are most remarkable conditions of this time. In feudal and barbaric days men quarreled and fought over trifles to preserve their "honor." But why should men have so much of the war fever in these days of enlightenment and "humanitarianism"? Men have taught us to expect different things from this. But the God who sees and knows what will take place has told us the facts. And we may look in any direction in the world to-day and we will have no difficulty in seeing the marching columns of fulfilling prophecy. The evidence is insuperable, showing that the Lord's coming is right at hand. T.
Sailor and Shopkeeper Clash in Tokyo
An American sailor belonging to the cruiser Chattanooga struck a Japanese shopkeeper in Tokyo on September 8, and a mob quickly formed and chased him and his companions to their boat. Clubs were quite freely used, but thru the vigorous action of the police no one was seriously hurt.
WORTH REPEATING
By Editor
ONCE more we wish to call the attention of our readers to some of the good things that are to appear in the forth-coming special numbers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It will be impossible for us to give any adequate idea of what these papers will contain. They must be seen to be appreciated. Our motto has always been, "Better than we promise," but in this issue we will again call attention to a few things that we have in store for you.
First will come the great
World's Missions Special
By Editor
This will be a double number (32 pages), finely illustrated and beautifully printed, bearing the date of October 30 and November 6. It will present in a striking manner the great work of missions its accomplishments, its open doors, its needy fields, and its glorious culmination in the harvest home.
The writers for this issue will be men whose hearts are burdened for the salvation of souls, men with hearts fresh and warm from mission fields, and men in those mission fields bearing the burden, seeing the misery, hearing the cry for help, and witnessing the power of the Gospel.
For many months we have been gathering from all parts of the world illustrations and material for this special issue, and we feel safe in saying that this will be the best missions number that was ever published by any journal on earth. Here are a few of the
Good Things It Will Contain
By Editor
A CENTURY OF MISSIONS, or the great work that has been accomplished during the past century by missionary effort. The Bible has been given to the world in all of its various languages; every nook and corner of the earth has been entered by the missionary, all of which has been predicted by the prophets as something that shall take place, "and then shall the end come."
THE OPEN DOORS BEFORE GOD'S PEOPLE, by Dr. A. T. Pierson, editor of the Missionary Review of the World, showing the great opportunities in these times for missionary effort, and how God is going before His workers to lead them in preparing for the world's great harvest.
THE PREPARATION FOR A QUICK WORK, showing how that since the ground has been prepared, as set forth in preceding articles, the closing work can be accomplished in a very short space of time.
PROGRESSIVE WORK OF GOD IN PREPARING FOR CHRIST'S COMING, the majestic workings of God in preparing the way step by step for the grand consummation.
THE POWER OF THE WORD TO SAVE SOULS FROM SIN.
THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD IN THIS GENERATION, or the inscription on the banner of this people, which has become the great war-cry of the present hour.
THERE SHALL BE DELAY NO LONGER, the closing of God's work.
CHRISTIANITY, A LIFE, in contradistinction to other great religions, and to the view of Christianity as a system of ethics.
A PERSONAL SAVIOUR, the salvation and regeneration of the individual, rather than the salvation of the nation by ethics or politics.
THE LATTER RAIN—THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT.
Brief statistical matter in regard to missions, making the paper valuable as a work of reference.
MESSAGES FROM THE NATIONS—Burma, Malacca, the Philippines, China, Japan, Africa,— from Egypt, to the Cape of Good Hope, —Syria, Turkey, Russia, Korea, South America, and Oceanica. Under this head will be published brief statements from missionaries in all parts of the world, together with appeals that they will make for their respective fields. We hope that, in harmony with God's own prophetic word, these appeals will reach and touch hearts so that they will bring abundantly of their means to assist in finishing this great work in this generation.
We have been very successful in securing engravings that are not only attractive but which tell the story most emphatically. We will mention only a few of them:
1. A full-page cover drawing, by Mr. Charles Mente, illustrating Christ sending forth His disciples two by two into the dark world.
2. Illustration, by Mr. Mente, representing Christ standing at the door knocking.
3. A drawing of the heads of various tribes representing the great, needy world.
4. Portraits of the great pioneer missionaries of Christendom, from John Eliot, the apostle among the Indians, to John Paton, of Oceanica.
5. Photographs of various people and scenes from different mission fields of the world.
6. Various other drawings, such as initial letters and typical and symbolical borders.
7. Song and music, "The Bugle Call of Missions."
As before stated, this paper will be beautifully illustrated. On two pages opening opposite each other we shall have portraits of all the great missionaries from Carey and Judson down,—32 in all,—with a brief history of each one, stating when and where they were born, the field they worked in as missionaries, what was accomplished under their labors, and when they died. These portraits will be arranged as a border to each page, and these two pages alone will be worth the price of the paper.
Everybody Interested in Missions
Not only Christians of all denominations, but infidels and atheists, are anxious to know what progress is being made in the matter of carrying out the commission of the great Teacher recorded in Mark1316:15: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." This Special Missions Number of the SIGNS will undertake to tell the story in a brief, pointed, and interesting way, and every person of whatever persuasion should have the privilege of reading it.
Immediately following this great Missions Number there will be
TWENTY-FOUR SPECIAL NUMBERS
By Editor
which will be of peculiar interest to all. One of the most prominent and important features of these numbers is a series of illustrated Bible-readings which will appear under the heading of
Home Bible Studies for Winter Evenings
1. These readings will be in the form of studies, with notes and quotations from history bearing upon the subject. They will be illustrated by diagrams, drawings, and unique little illustrations that will explain the lesson and make it simple and impressive. The topics will include:
(a) The Scriptures.
(b) Prophecy.
(c) The Coming of the Just One.
(d) Signs of the Times.
(e) The Sanctuary.
(f) The Law of God.
(g) The Everlasting Gospel.
(h) The Everlasting Covenant.
(i) Man; His Nature and Destiny.
(j) Spiritual Gifts.
(k) The Great Threefold Message.
(l) The Sabbath in all its Phases.
(m) Religious Liberty.
(n) Man's Eternal Home.
(o) The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, etc., etc.
Articles on the books of Daniel and the Revelation.
Articles on the book of Romans, the "therefores" and the "wherefores," and the reasons for them.
Articles on the miracles, teaching, and life of Jesus Christ as the Great Physician.
A series on the Ten Commandments.
The Kingdom and Priesthood of Christ.
Conditions in the world. Able correspondents in the Old World and the New. Labor and Capital, Wealth and Poverty, Plenty and Famine, Peace and War.
Health and Hygiene.
Home Instruction.
The regular departments of the paper such as, "The Outlook," "Missions," etc., will be maintained the same as usual.
The Outlook Department
In this department special attention will be given to current events that have a bearing upon the fulfilment of prophecy. We shall continue to send representatives to all important gatherings, both political and religious, in order that our readers may be kept informed of the natural trend of events.
Home Department
We can only suggest some of the good things to appear in our Home Department in the year to come. We know that our readers will be greatly helped by them. For instance, here is a list of twenty-one articles on
"The Building of the Home"
by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle, whom our readers know so well.
Home, What It Means.
Honorable Young Manhood.
Beautiful Young Womanhood.
Acquaintance, Friendship, Proprieties
Honorable and Proper Courtship.
Marriage and Its Meaning.
The Husband in the Home.
The Wife in the Home.
The Family Altar.
The Father.
The Mother.
The Son.
The Daughter.
Reading in the Home.
Order in the Home.
Simplicity in the Home.
Economy and Thrift in the Home.
Mutual Helpfulness.
Gatherings in the Home—Associations.
The Master in the Home.
The Outshining of the Home.
Besides this list of helpful articles we have the promise of another series which we may entitle
#### "Observations on Home-Life"
from the pen of one known to some of our SIGNS family, and to many outside our SIGNS family, Mrs. Emma H. Adams, author of several excellent books, a lady of many years' experience, of wide acquaintance, and with a young heart. In a series of short articles she will give our readers the benefit of some of her keen observations.
Besides these there will be talks to the young, talks on health and hygiene, interesting information, and occasional helpful stories and sketches. The Home Department alone will be worth the price of the paper for a year.
With Our Inquirers
This department of the SIGNS seems to be becoming more and more interesting and important as is evidenced by the large number of questions that come to the editor's desk, and our readers will be glad to know that this department will be kept up the same as heretofore, and all are invited to make use of its columns.
Bible-Readers' Band
We hope to enlist many thousands among our readers who will read the Bible thru in one or two years. Of this we shall have more to say later. It will be one of the profitable departments.
These are some of the good things which we expect to lay before our readers in the year to come. We believe that they will appeal to one and all as being well worth the subscription price, and we not only hope to retain every name now on our subscription-list, but to add many more. Renewals should be sent in early so as not to miss the great Missions Number.
