The Bible plainly predicts that there is to be a universal war. The inspired statement reads as follows:—
“And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:12–14.
Here is a very definite statement,—“The kings of the earth and of the whole world” are to be gathered “to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Then there is to be a battle at the time of “that great day,” and the “whole world” will be gathered to engage in it. Such is the plain language of the Word of God. And when the time of that “great day” is approaching, the most marked evidence of this universal battle must of necessity begin to appear. Indeed, one of the signs by which we may tell that the end is at hand, will be movements among all the nations that will show that they are marshaling for this last great strife. And as the work is going on, a conviction sent home to every heart by God’s Spirit will make the deep and solemn impression that something dreadful is hovering over5the world. Men will laugh at it, and mockingly say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” but nevertheless there the deep conviction remains. It is the voice of God speaking through His fulfilling Word, calling men to the shelter from the impending ruin.
And to show completely that God has nothing whatever to do with this gathering of earth in angry battle array, the Word states that it is “the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Then do not lose the force of this scripture. It is “the spirits of devils” and not the Prince of Peace, as some would have us believe, that are stirring up the passions for that universal war against the “great day.” Then, just as we would avoid any other evil or great calamity, we should keep ourselves out of this terrible vortex of strife. For we know full well that “the spirits of devils” can lead men to nothing else but destruction.
“Gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:14.
Observe also the quarter from which this strife is coming: “The sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared.” Verse 12. Then there is to be some marked movement among the “kings of the East” in the preparation for this final and universal war. Some of the “kings of the East” for hundreds of years have swayed their scepters over vast nations, and yet those nations have been largely shut away from the rest of the world. They have had insurrections and barbarous wars among themselves, but have been locked away from international strife. But when “the battle of that great day” is fought, “the whole world” is to engage in it. And so the way of “the kings of the East” must be “prepared.”
Any one who has followed the marching of events for the last half century has noted with interest how the “Eastern Question” has been gradually extending, until we now have fully before us the “Far Eastern Question.”
And especially during the last seven or eight months how suddenly has this “Far Eastern Question” been forced into absorbing prominence! China, with her four hundred millions of people, who have been so long shut up from the rest of the world, becomes the bone of contention. And she must either train herself to the modern methods of fighting, and overthrow her enemies, or else allow her heathen dominions to be divided among the “great Christian powers” of the West.
The United States has been the only great nation of the whole earth that has not been involved in this “Far Eastern Question.” And statesmen here have been congratulating themselves over the thought that this country would not have to be mixed up in the general quarrel. But how suddenly do things shift in these days! War starts up with Spain, and almost immediately does the United States find herself, at least temporarily, in possession of the Philippine Islands, and she becomes therefore involved, along with the rest, in the Eastern difficulties.
There are none to-day who can be indifferent to these great questions that are pressing in upon the world. And from myriads of lips do we hear the anxious inquiries: “Is all the world going to war? Is the whole face of the earth to be a camp? And are all nations to rush into one great battle-field to try the chances of war? And if so, what will be the awful results?”
These are momentous questions. And each one should answer them for himself, and be sure that his answer is right. And since we have a Guide-book among us that has told the world hundreds of years in advance just what these things mean, may we not safely trust in that inspired volume?
This world has over 26,000,000 men in her armies and navies to-day, all drilled and ready for the onset. And every man is subject to being drafted at a moment’s notice. Military men whose lives have been devoted to arms are growing pale before the situation. They say that such immense and also terrible preparations for war are not to be found in all the pages of history. And, notwithstanding the boasts of the nineteenth-century enlightenment, among all the barbarous nations of the past there is not to be found such awful preparations for the wholesale slaughtering of mankind. Who can doubt that even now this wonderful prophecy of Revelation is being fulfilled? And whose eyes are so dim that they do not behold the gathering of the nations for the last great conflict?
But while the “spirits of devils” are gathering all the world for this final battle, it must not be overlooked that our God has a work in the earth at the same time; for the prophet who foretells this working of the evil spirits at the time of “that great day,” also tells of the special message of salvation that is given to the world when the “hour of judgment” is come. He says, “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” Rev. 14:6, 7.
Then when “that great day” is imminent, God is doing a work to save men, while evil spirits are working for their destruction. Which side will you be on? The “battle of that great day” is not quite here. God will hold it in check until His message of mercy has an opportunity of reaching every soul that can possibly be induced to receive a Father’s love. Now is our time to take our stand with God. Every indication shows that it will soon be forever too late. Jesus has provided you a shelter; will you accept His love and mercy?
T.
The Faith of Adherence
By Anon.
If you have not the faith of assurance, practise at least the faith of adherence. That, surely, is in your power. Cleave to God exactly as if you were certain of being accepted of Him at last; and thus fulfilling His own conditions, you will be accepted of Him, whether you are assured of it beforehand or not.—Anon.
The Value of a Worthy Model
“PEOPLE seldom improve when they have no other model than themselves to copy after.”
THE ONE LIFE.
It was shown in our last week's issue that all life in animate and inanimate living nature comes from God. “He is thy life.” “With Him is the Fountain of life.” “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.”
All the life we see manifest—all the life in the universe—is the one life from the great Fountain.
The operation and manifestation of that life in its normal condition is according to the law of the being or thing into which it flows. In the living rock it is manifest in characteristic formation, in particular forms of structure, in crystallization, etc. In plants it is manifest in each according to the law of its kind, perpetuating the plant through the vegetable organism by seed or slip or root. Like produces like. The wheat produces wheat, the potato produces potatoes, the apple seed an apple tree. In the brute creation we see a still higher manifestation of law, ranging through all degrees and species and kinds, from the borderland of the vegetable kingdom near to, in this sinful world, the boundary of the human race. The law of each brute's being and existence modifies and molds and in various ways affects life's manifestations and results.
In man we have a higher manifestation of the one life than is seen in any other creature on earth; and sometimes, sad to say, the lowest, morally.
But the life is one, whether manifest in rock or tree or fish or bird or beast or man. All live by the life of God, and when that life is withdrawn or crushed out, all die. The rock becomes inorganic dust, and plant and bird and beast and man molder back to insensate clod.
When man was made of the dust of the ground, it is said that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen. 2:7. In the beast and fowl and creeping thing was also life, or, as the margin reads, “living soul.” Gen. 1:30. In referring to those animals which went into the ark with Noah, it is said, “And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.” Gen. 7:15. And of those that did not enter the ark, it is declared, “All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.” Verse 22. And so “the preacher” avers, “They have all one breath.” Eccl. 3:19.
These scriptures are sufficient to show that the life is one in man and beast. The same thing is evident from another consideration, namely, that under perverted law the life of one species or kingdom may be maintained or perpetuated for a limited time by feeding upon the flesh of another; or one may be transmuted or changed into another. For instance, the vegetable feeds upon the mineral, the animal upon the vegetable, man upon the animal and vegetable and mineral, the vegetable upon the animal, and the animal and vegetable turn to stone.
God is eternal. His life is therefore eternal, or everlasting. In Him, or as it comes from Him, it is essentially everlasting life, knowing no diminution, cessation, or death. Yet His creatures upon earth know death. All die—from man down through the brute creation to the living rock—all die and decay. If the life of each and all comes from God, why do they not live forever? This is an important question. Its study will be left for the future. But in reading the above, do not jump at conclusions. Study, and wait the future development from the Word of God of this great and important subject.
A WAR OF PRAYERS.
Is Roman Catholicism Christian or Pagan?
We are not condemning Roman Catholics. We believe there are many persons in the communion of that body who are earnest Christians, not because of the church or its theology or its connection with unseen powers, but in spite of all this. They have come to know God, and are true worshipers of Jesus Christ, albeit they see through a distorted medium. But the church, the doctrine, the teaching, we have the right to examine, and we do it in the light which Scripture and facts are throwing upon that church just now. In this present war between the United States and Spain the Roman Catholic religion is necessarily brought into strong relief.
As to the right and necessity of civil governments using force and waging war, we have naught to say. It is sometimes essential to their very existence. It is sometimes the only means by which order can be maintained among the unregenerate of earth. It is not for us to condemn the United States or Spain. For neither government is there hope beyond this life; their hope is in force; and the Most High, who “ruleth in the kingdoms of men,” will overrule this clash of arms to His glory and the advancement of His truth, and will give the government “to whomsoever He will.”
What Is the Attitude of the Christian?
It is only necessary to quote a few utterances from the Word of God to show the position which the Christian should occupy in a time like this (we quote from the Revised Version):
“I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:1–4.
“Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:44, 45.
“And behold, one of them [Peter (John 18:10), the alleged head of the Catholic Church] that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:51, 52.
“And they [the Samaritans] did not receive Him [Jesus]. . . . And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elijah did? But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; for the Son of man came not to destroy men's lives but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:53–56.
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence. . . . To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.” John 18:36, 37.
“Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God; for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto Me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.” Rom. 12:19, margin.
“For tho we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds); casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4, 5.
“Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:21–23.
Not the destruction of all men, but the salvation of all who will hear, is the work of the Christian. It is clearly evident, therefore, that the religion of Christ can never be localized or nationalized. It is as broad as the world. Its mission is to save the lost of all nations. In its pure state it was never found warring in hostile camps. We never read of Christians of Corinth warring with Christians at Jerusalem. We never read of Christians at Jerusalem warring on those at Alexandria or Rome. Such a thought would have been most abhorrent.
How Is It with Catholicism?
What has this present war developed? The “Supreme Pontiff” has blessed Spain and the Spanish armies. The Catholic archbishops and bishops and priests of Spain pray that success may attend the Spanish armies against America. And why not? Spain is a nation of Catholics, and a Catholic nation.
In this country an opposite history is recorded. Catholic prelates and papers are praying for and wishing success to the American forces. Thomas S. Byrnes, Bishop of Nashville, tells his priests that it is laudable “to beg the God of battles to crown their arms on land and sea with victory and triumph,” and he closes by “praying that God may bless and preserve our country in this crisis, and speedily bring victory, honor, and peace to all our people.” Mr. McNally, a priest in Oakland, it is reported offers to lead a company against Spain. In a note on “war news” the Mirror has this question and answer:—
“Where do the Catholics stand in this war against Spain?”—At the guns on the deck of every battle-ship in our navy. That navy, composed nearly one-half of Catholics, can be relied upon to give Spain her most effectual answer.
Catholics happen, however, to be at both ends of the guns, as all of Spain’s troops are Catholic. The Freeman’s Journal (Catholic) says:—
They do not know, or forget, that the Cuban patriots are Catholics, as were also the three or four hundred thousand starved or murdered non-combatants, old men, women, and children. . . . Our soldiers, when they go to Cuba, will fight side by side with the Catholic insurgents for Cuban independence.
But the Spaniards whom the Cuban Catholic patriots and the Catholic soldiers from this country will kill, are also Catholics, for whom7Catholic prelates are praying, and whom the pope has blessed.
The St. Louis Church Progress says that “in all lands and times, the best Catholics have always been the best patriots.” All these quotations from Roman Catholic papers we clip from the Catholic Mirror of May 7. We set these things before our readers,—Catholic Spain with her Catholic prelates warring against Catholics in America with their Catholic prelates,—that it may be seen that the Catholic religion is neither Catholic nor Christian, but partisan and national.
Other Religions.
The heathen of old had their national tutelar deities, each nation its god of battles and of war, that was invoked for success.
Christianity is as far above patriotism as heaven is above one nation of earth. It is all-embracing. Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost of every nation. He gave Himself for all, a ransom to be testified of in due time. His servants are debtors, both to Jew and Greek, to barbarian and civilized, to bond and free, to the wise and the unwise. Christianity will build up everything that is of God in the nation where it is; but, like its Founder, it will not seek to destroy men’s lives, but to save them, not to be ministered unto, but to minister.
Heathenism had its gods patterned in thought and form after the ideas, ambitions, and desires of the peoples of the various countries. Roman Catholics profess to worship Jehovah and His Son Jesus. In Spain they believe Him to be the God of Spain, and so seek Him to give success to their arms against their brethren. In America and Cuba, Catholics believe Him to be the God of battles for them, to give success to American arms against their Spanish brethren. “Is Christ divided?” “Is He the God of the Jews [of Spain? of America?] only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,” to receive all who will come to Him through faith. Rom. 3:29, 30.
That we have not unjustly drawn the conclusion that the religion of Roman Catholics is not Catholic (universal), nor Christian, but partisan, national, and therefore heathen, note the following from Catholic papers:—
What views Catholic subjects of foreign countries entertain of this war is a matter of little moment to us. They will observe it from the standpoint of an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, or of whatever country he may be a subject.—Catholic Mirror.
This is a time for action, not words, but we will add a few words to close this subject. We are Catholic from the core, not from accident, but from conviction—hence no one will doubt our Catholicity, excepting skulking hypocrites, and those we brush out of our way as we would dead flies. But, Catholic as we are, we would fight Catholic Spain with all the energy and ability we possess.—Western Catholic News.
Would to God that they would look beyond the earthly, the fading, the sensual, the devilish, to the grand, expanding, life-giving religion of Jesus Christ.
THE DAY OF THE SABBATH.
May We Know Which the True Sabbath Day Is?
INQUIRIES frequently come to us like the above. They are put into the minds of the honest-hearted by the suggester of doubts, often through learned men who know differently. It is said (1) that the Sabbath can not be kept at the north pole; (2) that we can not tell which is the original seventh day; (3) that the same day can not be kept on the round world.
Let us consider these objections in the light of the Word and of facts.
1. It is said that the Sabbath of the Lord can not be kept at the north pole, where there are six months’ day and six months’ night. But who was ever at the north pole and found this out? Certain it is that as far north as men can live they can keep account of the days; and if they can keep account of the days, they can keep the day. The day is clearly marked in its beginning and ending in the habitable regions of earth, and is kept far north to-day.
Moreover, the charge, the doubt, is against the wisdom of God, not against a theory of man. It was God who created man; it was God who made for man the Sabbath, and gave it to him, and commanded him to keep it. Gen. 2:2, 3; Mark 2:27; Ex. 20:8–10. It is possible through Jesus Christ to obey God, and witnesses in every generation and in every land of the world have proved it.
2. It is said that we can not tell which the original seventh day is. But why? We do not have to go back to creation to learn this. We do not need to trace the day through the Deluge, or the Egyptian period of slavery, or the overthrow of Jerusalem. The Lord gave the day in the beginning, and marked it by His rest, blessing, and sanctification. He knew the day; and man, for whom the Sabbath was made, and to whom it was given, also knew it. Two thousand five hundred years this side of creation, as runs the general Biblical chronology, was the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. God again commanded His day, for the very reasons He gave in the beginning. Compare Ex. 20:8–11 with Gen. 2:2, 3. God knew the day at creation; He knew it at the Exodus. For forty years He pointed out that day by the threefold weekly miracle of the manna, so that none could mistake it. Fifteen hundred years this side of the Exodus came the divine Teacher. He knew the Sabbath, and kept the Sabbath. And after His death the women who accompanied Him during His life “rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56. That day was the seventh day; it was the day just before “the first day of the week” (Matt. 28:1; Luke 24:1), and hence was the seventh day of the week. Since that time—A.D. 31—there has been no dispute of account with reference to the day. The Jews have been scattered into every habitable land, but they have carried with them the seventh-day Sabbath, whether they have always kept it or not. They are everywhere agreed as touching the day. The facts are that the day is known; that it has ever been known and admitted even by those who despised it; that it has ever been kept by some of God’s faithful children.
3. But it is said that it can not be kept on a round world. Why? Did not God know the shape of the earth? Did He not make the Sabbath in the beginning to be kept on this earth? Nowhere does He command that man shall keep the identical twenty-four hours as measured by the astronomical clock at Greenwich. God made the sun “to rule the day.” Gen. 1:16. Man has naught to do with the day till it comes to him, or till the earth rolling on comes to the day. If it comes to the American twelve hours later than it comes to the Chinese, it matters not. He does not need to keep it till he meets it. If it were true that man could occupy two different places at the same time, the doctrine of the “round world” would be a difficult one; but as man can be in only one place at one time, he need only to keep the day as it comes. There never has been trouble with the devoted Christian follower in past generations; there is now no trouble among Sunday people over “the first day of the week,” enforced oftentimes by civil law from Hongkong to San Francisco. There need be no more trouble over the seventh day. He who wishes may know with absolute certainty that he is keeping the Lord’s rest if he keep it from sunset Friday night to the sunset following.
Once more, dear reader; here are two texts from the Word of God. How will you harmonize your flimsy objections with them? “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27. “God that made the world . . . hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” Acts 17:24–26.
‘Listen again: Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath; and He says, “Follow Me.” “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6.
To what law does Paul have reference? Light is especially wanted on first clause of verse 9. C. D. M.
The law referred to is the written law of God. God would never have given it in that form if man had not sinned; it would have remained written in man’s heart. But man sinned, corrupted his heart, and defaced the holy law, till in himself he did not know what sin was or what was righteousness. Had he remained righteous, with the law in his heart, he would not have needed the written law. “And the law came in beside, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly.” Rom. 5:20, R.V. “It [the law] was added [in its written form] because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise hath been made.” Gal. 3:19, R.V. God gave the law to convince sinful man that he was a sinner (Rom. 7:7), and to so shut him up to all avenues of escape that he would be directed to Jesus Christ (verses 22-25). The object of the law, then, is to convince of sin and so show men the need of Jesus Christ to deliver them from sin, and to write that law in their hearts, that the law may be kept and never more condemn. See Rom. 8:1-4. It will fill this office of pointing out sin till Christ’s work as priest is over; then the Seed will take possession of the promised inheritance.
783. The Word “Reverence.”
WHAT is the meaning of the word “reverence” in Eph. 5:33?
A.
The word in Eph. 5:33 comes from the Greek word, phobeō, meaning to fear. It is used in the sense of being in subjection to, to consider her husband as the head, “as it is fit in the Lord.” Col. 3:18. Duty to God is first; but duty to God is not a stirrer up of strife at home. It is well in studying this question to read not only Eph. 5:22-33, but 1 Cor. 7:1-17; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Tim. 2:8-14; 1 Peter 3:1-7. Ask God for wisdom, and seek it in His Word.
THAT ORDER OF SACRED BREWERS.
A Well-Known Catholic Editor Scores the “Holy Brewery” Run by the Benedictine Monks at Beatty, Pa.
LAST week we published some clippings from the Voice relative to the brewery owned, controlled, and operated by the Benedictine monks near Pittsburg, Pa. There are noble men in the Catholic Church, who war against such evils, but their battle seems in vain, and yet they are hopeful, hoping against hope. The following is a letter from Martin I. J. Griffin, editor of Griffin’s Journal, Catholic, to the editor of the Voice, printed with the above headings, in that paper of May 5:—
“EDITOR OF THE ‘VOICE:’ Catholic lay sentiment, both of abstainers and of ‘drinking men,’ is strongly averse to the existence of a brewery under the control of a religious order. The O. S. B. (Order of Sacred Brewers) may do so in Europe without scandalizing the people, but in this country this can not be. It has been opposed from the beginning, even when public sentiment was not as pronounced and as aggressive against the liquor traffic as it is to-day among Catholics. Your account so testifies. There has been needed, I believe, an exposure from ‘the outside’—from beyond Catholic endeavors. This has, I am glad to know, come from the Voice. It will be a powerful force, I believe, against the continuance of this public scandal. Its defenders, in their insolence, have placed us Catholic hostiles among the contemners of church and of religion because we would not tolerate or be silent about the alliance of religion and rum. Instead of support coming to us to remove this stain from our dear mother, the church, we have met with little but rebuff, censure, and condemnation, as giving scandal, in exposing the existence of this ‘holy’ brewery.
“We laity believe a bishop is the authority in his diocese, that he is responsible to God for all the souls within his jurisdiction, that nothing tending to lessening in public estimation the cause of religion or the welfare of the church is beyond his power to remove. Yet here we find the Pittsburg diocese having a public scandal maintained by a religious order; and the bishops, whether they drank the beer or not, have recognized the impropriety, to say the least, of this union of beer and religion, and so have made some endeavors to remove the scandal, yet are helpless because the reform must come from those who haven’t the least idea of the incongruity of the alliance of abbey and brewery, and are actually bewildered at the thought that these people are so fanatical, so irreligious, as to object to the continuance of the partnership.
“It is a matter we do not comprehend, how it can be so or why the removal of this public scandal at Beatty can not be within the authority of the bishop of the diocese or a council of the church in this country to deal with. Well, it must be dealt with somewhere or somehow. We Catholic abstainers, blessed by pope, commended by council, and with a union 80,000 strong, must not be bound by this alliance of rum and religion. And we have the council’s advice to pastors to try and get Catholics out of the traffic—and then see a religious order making beer and selling it right in a diocese where there is a Total Abstinence Union battling bravely and more resolutely against intemperance and the saloon than any other in our land, right where this ‘holy’ beer is poured out in a stream devastating the fields they try to labor in. They have protested against this brewery, but our religious powers have not granted relief. It must come. That brewery must close. Our bishops must find a way, or rescind the action of the last council. The Voice is a powerful exponent of the views of Catholics, non-abstainers as well as those who are abstainers and prohibitionists.
“Philadelphia, April 27.”
Note the admission that these same monks may brew and sell beer in Europe, but not in this country. Then the country is better than the religion which they possess. Mr. Griffin admits that to overthrow the evil, help must come from the outside; then why not get outside, where the help is? If a mother will not intervene, when she may, to save her children from disgrace and death, can she be a “dear mother”? David said, “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Ps. 27:10. Is it not about time for Catholics who believe in temperance to look to the Lord, to seek Him?
DESTROYERS OF DESTROYERS.
By T.
AMONG the modern war ships the torpedo-boat is prominent. It is built so as to attain a speed almost equal to a passenger train on land. The design is for this fleet little craft to dash near a big man-of-war, usually under cover of the night, hurl against the big craft a torpedo that will sink it, and by her swiftness avoid destruction from the fire of her big enemy’s guns.
This torpedo-boat was considered so dangerous that a still more powerful vessel, with the same high speed, was devised to destroy the torpedo-boat. This is called the “torpedo-boat destroyer.” But a third vessel of this class is now under consideration by the United States. The reports of it say that it should be called the “destroyer of torpedo-boat destroyers.”
This picture of a succession of torpedo-boat destroyers, each one still more powerful than the one preceding, was prepared by the artist of the “St. Louis Republic” as a kind of burlesque. But still there is a very serious side to it. The cut most graphically—even tho ludicrously—brings before the mind the spirit of this age. A great part of the intellect of the world is expended in devising engines of war that will outstrip everything that has ever been planned or thought of. And as soon as one terrible death-dealing instrument is perfected, and set in motion, renewed efforts are put forth to make still others that will overpower and defeat it. And so the strife goes on. The Satanic host is inciting men to do this awful work, preparatory to the battle of “that great day.”
The government has just authorized the construction of sixteen of these new boats. And while they will be technically called “torpedo-boat destroyers,” yet it is claimed that they will be the most powerful and swift boats of this class that have ever been built, and will therefore be entitled to the name of “destroyers of torpedo-boat destroyers.”
Who that is viewing the wild rush in preparing for war all over the world to-day can fail to see that there is something decidedly unusual in it? The Word plainly tells us that “the spirits of devils, working miracles, . . . go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:14. Can there be any doubt that the “great day of God Almighty” is near? For surely the “whole world” is now being gathered in battle array. T.
The Church and Press Promote Gambling
Many of the newspapers and some of the pastors of churches are giving a commendable warning against the evils of the race-track and its attendant gambling. But it is to be noticed that all of these same newspapers continue to publish their columns of race-track news. And the pastors of the churches still have their “church fairs,” “raffles,” “grab-bags,” etc. There are some “simple-minded folk” who can not see things in any other light than that the professed church, by her so-called “more respectable” methods, is assisting the race-track very materially in giving young men a taste for gambling. And where is the consistency of a newspaper condemning race-track gambling in its editorials, while its news columns present in fascinating features the honors and emoluments attending the ownership of the winning horse? No matter what may be said to the contrary, both the press and the church are doing much to popularize and increase gambling. And this is another of the many evidences that the sense of morality is being keenly blunted in these times. Where will it all end? Have you thought about it?
