"Why Is Christianity True? Christian Evidences," by E. Y. Mullins, D.D., LL.D., President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. Christian Culture Press, Chicago, Ill. Cloth. Price $1.50.
This is a volume that can not be too highly commended. It meets the modern skeptic's objections to Christianity at every step, and meets them in a kind yet masterly and helpful way. It is one of the few books that makes you desire to read carefully every word of it, and not merely to glance it through to get the idea of the author. The author understands his subject, and goes to the very core of it, and causes you to feel, after you have read it, that you have got hold of something that you can depend upon. The great adversary has tried to swamp the world with infidelity; he has tried to make men think that it was belittling to the intellect to believe in the simple plan of salvation as told in the gospel; to borrow the language of Dr. Mullins, there has been a "scientific eclipse of faith" in the minds of a vast multitude.
"Some writers on the evidences of Christianity," says the doctor, "surrender so much that their productions seem to be books on Christian evidences with Christianity left out." And again he says: "The writer believes strongly that it is a mistake to exclude any of the essential elements from the defense of Christianity in the interest of some alleged intellectual necessity of the times. Frankness is better than reserve, for example, in dealing with miracles. The parts of revelation are joined together not mechanically but organically. One piece can not be taken away as a sample, like an ornament from a cabinet, without injury to the whole. Emphasis and proportion, of course, are always in order. There is no need to tear miracles out of their place and hurl them into the teeth of the modern scientific man. The need is rather to assert clearly and restore the issue as to miracles. The disbeliever in Christianity, when attacking miracles, as a rule, never recognizes the real point."
Taken as a whole, in meeting modern scientific skepticism, the volume is one of the best that we have seen. We commend it to pastors and Bible teachers. It has already passed into its fourth edition.
The Heart of the Bible
"The Heart of the Bible for Young People, Parents, and Teachers," edited by Ella Broadus Robertson. Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York. Price, cloth, $1.00; limp leather, $1.50.
The volume gives "connected readings, following the thread of providence and purpose, with illuminative headings." The text of the American Standard Version of the Bible is used. It contains all the principal stories and events of the Bible in chronological order, and the words of the Bible itself are used. The volume is in clear, large type, and the headings are such that one can follow them and get a splendid outline of the leading events and characters of the blessed Book of God. The editor of the book is the wife of Dr. Robertson, professor in the Louisville Theological Seminary, and is a daughter of Dr. Broadus, whose writings are familiar to many, particularly among ministers and other Bible students. Hence there is a good foundation of training on the part of the one who prepared the book. It will be found a splendid help to any one in Bible study, and will be especially helpful to teachers and ministers.
Out of Doors
A copy of OUT OF DOORS will add immensely to the enjoyment of your vacation. This little work of 97 pages is filled with a spirit of outdoor life.
It is a real tonic, and will help you gain blessings under the open sky, in field and wood, and 'mid nature's charms, that you have never appreciated before. Here are some of the chapter headings:
Beauty Culture Out-of-Doors
More Fresh Air and Less Furniture
The Higher Ministry of Field and Wood
Around the Camp-Fire
"The Long Brown Path"
Back to Nature and the Soil
Bound in attractive cloth with photographic camp scene on cover, 60 cents.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Mountain View, Cal.
Portland, Ore. Calgary, Alberta, Canada Kansas City, Mo.
AGAIN AND AGAIN
Typewriting Contests for Speed, Accuracy, and Endurance have been won on the U N D E R W O O D. Results of the National Contests held under the auspices of the National Federation of Commercial Teachers at their Annual Convention in Spokane, July 18, 1912:
U N D E R W O O D won first four places in Professional Contest.
U N D E R W O O D won first five places in Amateur Contest.
U N D E R W O O D won first six places in School Contest.
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Books for the Children
By Editor
The very best children's books published are here listed and briefly described. As you will doubtless be seeking suitable gifts for boys and girls in the near future, we would suggest that you keep this page for reference. Remember that you can not bestow a greater or more lasting benefit on a child than to provide him with books that will feed the mind and cultivate a desire for that which is good.
For the little people from six to eight years of age:
SPRING BLOSSOMS
A large, beautifully colored picture and story book. The alphabet in verse tells of Absalom, Benjamin, Cain, and many other Bible characters. Then follow stories of Jesus, Daniel, and Elijah, and general stories easy to understand. There are large colored pictures all the way through. 64 pages, board cover. Price 30 cents.
NEW TESTAMENT PRIMER
Arranged with ornamental alphabet at the beginning, this beautiful little book leads into simple nature lessons and readings based on New Testament stories. Colored pictures illustrate the stories of the childhood and life of Jesus. It closes with a description of New Jerusalem, and a scene of a little child leading a wolf and a lion, as described in the Bible. In cloth binding, price 50 cents; board binding, 25 cents, post-paid.
OUR LITTLE FOLKS' BIBLE NATURE
Simple little reading and writing exercises about what God made at creation, such as light, air, animals, etc., arranged in the order mentioned in the story of creation. From these are developed all kinds of simple nature studies on subjects like "The Bee," "The Spider," "The Ostrich," "The Squirrel," and many others. There are drawings and colored pictures all the way through, also sentence and word drills, so that this is a most attractive, interesting, and educational book for the little people. 157 pages. Cloth binding, 50 cents; board, 25 cents.
STORY OF JOSEPH
The story of Joseph's life, told for children. Of his childhood, his sale into Egypt, and his experiences there. Board cover, 25 cents.
GOSPEL PRIMER
In this beautiful book the gospel stories are told so as to be enjoyed by the little ones. Old and New Testament stories are given. They are arranged in primer form, following an attractive Bible alphabet, and little word and sentence drills. This is truly a "gospel" primer, something that any child will enjoy. Published also in the German, Danish, and Swedish languages. Bound in cloth, price 50 cents; board 25 cents, post-paid.
Books for children from nine to fifteen years of age:
BEST STORIES FROM THE BEST BOOK
While the very first part of "Best Stories" is prepared for the younger children, the larger part of its stories of Bible characters and history is given so as to be of intense interest and profit to children of from ten to twelve, and even older. The book is well illustrated, and the stories are written in a way to make deep and lasting impressions upon the young minds. Board binding, 50 cents; presentation edition, cloth, 75 cents, post-paid.
BIBLE CHILD LIFE
Is a beautiful book for children, made up of simple and interesting biographies of the children especially mentioned in the Bible. The book is printed in large type and is well illustrated. 144 pages, cloth binding. Price 50 cents.
HOUSE WE LIVE IN
In this book a tactful mother carries on a series of talks with her children, in which she compares the body and its parts to a house, its parts and furnishings. The body's framework corresponds interestingly to the framework of the house; the eyes to the windows; the heart to a pumping plant; the nervous system to a telephone system. With the interest thus aroused and held, the children are taught the hygiene and proper care of the body. An excellent book for parents to use in teaching this important subject to the children. Fully illustrated. Price $1.00.
UNCLE BEN'S COBBLESTONES
Is a book that delights both boys and girls, because in it they are learning something new on every page. Uncle Ben talks with his nephew Tom, from the city, about the every-day things as "common as the old cobblestone fence." Tom learns where common salt comes from, how pins and needles are made, where and how coal is obtained, how glass is made, and of scores of other things used every day, of which little really is generally known. Boys and girls love Uncle Ben and his stories. All the way through them they learn beautiful lessons of trust in Him who has provided the many blessings of life. 221 pages. $1.00, post-paid.
TIGER AND TOM AND OTHER STORIES
Is a book for boys primarily. It has thirty-four stories of thrilling interest and moral worth, such as:
Tiger and Tom,
Bert's Thanksgiving,
The Boy and His Spare Moments,
The Way to Safety,
The Two Clerks,
A Boy's Lesson in Dishonesty.
Every one of the stories is taken from real life, and teaches lessons of special value in the building of character. Attractively printed and illustrated with interesting colored drawings. 224 pages. Price 75 cents, post-paid.
MY GARDEN NEIGHBORS
True stories of "garden" neighbors—the sparrows who learned to imitate the bluebirds, the cat that went wild, and the cowbird that imposed on a sparrow, and many others that entertain and instruct the children. One hundred illustrations, some of them colored. Price $1.00.
"EASY STEPS IN THE BIBLE STORY"
Is a new book for the children which gives a story of the Bible systematically in "easy steps" for the children. It begins with creation, and goes through in a systematic way with stories of the prominent characters to the close of Christ's life on earth. The child can not fail, in reading these, to get an excellent grasp of Bible study. There are more than 600 pages in this book, and it is profusely illustrated with full-page drawings, colored plates, and marginal pictures, all of which help to illustrate and impress the lessons given. Cloth, $3.00; half leather, $4.00; full leather, $5.00.
THE KING'S DAUGHTER, AND OTHER STORIES FOR GIRLS
Has forty-six stories to interest and benefit girls especially. Some of these are:
The King's Daughter,
A Story for Schoolgirls.
What One Lie Did,
Courtesy to Strangers,
Careless Gracie's Lesson
Susie's Prayer.
This beautiful book has 224 pages, and is nicely illustrated. Price 75 cents, post-paid.
Prices ten per cent higher in Canada.
Watch for announcement of books for young people next week.
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA
Kansas City, Mo. Calgary, Alberta, Canada Portland, Oregon
Religious Liberty
By Editor
Series of the "Signs of the Times" can now be secured in bound form. : : : :
THESE six special numbers are stitched and bound in substantial manila. Striking front cover with statements of Religious Liberty in principle and in history. Second and third pages of cover contain analysis of the proposed Sunday Law for California, claimed by its proponents to be the "model Sunday law," and the basis for future Sunday legislation; also strong, pointed utterances of the secular press. Fourth page of cover contains the text of this proposed law.
This cover added to the six special numbers, bound and trimmed, makes it an important volume, and one that is highly prized by those who have secured copies. A complete volume of Religious Liberty matter that would be difficult to equal.
The subject-matter is such as is well worth preserving by every American citizen, and is especially valuable to lend to friends and neighbors.
They are being presented to editors, attorneys, educational and legislative men, reading-rooms and libraries. There should be a number of copies placed in your city. Why not accept the responsibility?
This volume is equal to a book of about 600 pages, and the price is unreasonably low.
Only 25 cents each, post-paid. We want several thousand orders quick, and it will be to your interest to order right away.
Signs of the Times
Mountain View, California
Prophecy
By Editor
A small work which you will appreciate as a help in the study of the prophetic Word is “The Sure Word of Prophecy,” by Pastor M. H. Brown. Primarily it deals with the prophecies of the book of Daniel and their fulfilment, shedding forth the light that this book contains upon present-day movements and conditions. Price, 10 cents. This office.
A GIFT
When you present "Advance Guard" to a young friend, you practically insure his acquaintance with the lives and purposes of more than fifty of as noble men and women as the world ever knew. These were those who under God went out to foreign fields to open the way for modern missions. The most interesting facts are given, and put in such a thrilling way as to be eagerly read and thoroly enjoyed.
Chapter 8, for example, tells of the Wesley family. John was the fifteenth of nineteen children, and reared in poverty. But his godly mother held devotional exercises with the children, and had her quiet hour each day. The real secrets of John's success, and many experiences in his career, are told in a way to thrill and fire with enthusiasm all who read it.
Morrison's systematic Bible study, mentioned in chapter 12, is full of suggestion. His struggle for an education, his decision to go to China, his study there, and the publication of his first literature, all in the face of the most trying difficulties, is an inspiration.
"Advance Guard" tells of Whitman, Eliot, the Mayhews, David Brainerd, Ziegenbalg, Schwartz, Carey, Martyn, the Judsons, Gordon Hall, Scudder, Duff, Moffat, Livingstone, Taylor, Williams, Paton, Gardiner, and others.
Young people are delighted with it. It is bound to influence them to deeper consecration for God's service. It has 347 pages. Plain cloth edition, $1.00; marbled edges, $1.50. Prices 10% higher in Canada. Order of your tract society or
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SUBSCRIPTION RATES
By Editor
Manuscripts should be addressed to the editor. Address all business and make all money-orders, etc., payable to the Signs of the Times, Mountain View, Cal.
N. B. We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Three months ....................................................$0.50
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One new yearly subscription and one renewal, or two new yearly subscriptions, sent at one time, $3.00.
Two new yearly subscriptions and one renewal, or three new yearly subscriptions, sent at one time, $4.00.
Three new yearly subscriptions and one renewal, or four new yearly subscriptions, sent at one time, $5.00.
Sample copies sent on application.
Weekly and Monthly SIGNS one year, combined, $2.25.
DATE OF EXPIRATION
The SIGNS, wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date.
If herewith is an order-blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often can not be furnished.
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God’s Perfect Law and the Sabbath
God does not need to experiment. He knows in the beginning what is the infinitely right thing. Therefore whatever He does is perfect from the start. If nothing more were stated than this, perhaps every professing Christian in the land would agree to it. And if we can agree to this, let us proceed to the fact that since God can do everything just right the first time, His moral law must therefore be perfect. And being perfect, it would be fatal to think of making any changes in it. For if it has to be changed, that would argue that God was not infinite; that He could not see the end from the beginning; and that He had to try, and try again, just like mortals. But such ideas would belittle any man who could have such a conception of God. "Very well," you say. Then let us proceed another step: Since we must expect that God would make an absolutely perfect law, how about this talk we hear of the change of the Sabbath? A change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week would involve a change in God's law, and would involve the idea, further, that God could not make an institution to point out His creative power that would be applicable to all ages. A Bible text reads, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him." Eccl. 3:14. Another text says, "For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." Mal. 3:6. It would be well to keep some of these principles in mind when talking about any change of the Sabbath.
Sunday Mail and Religious Liberty
By Editor
Sunday Mail Blue Law.—Concerning the recent law of Congress relative to Sunday mail service, the San Francisco Examiner has the following to say under the heading "Sunday Mail Blue Law":
"The stoppage of mail delivery on Sundays is a legislative fanaticism. It will reveal its exasperating folly as time goes on. The new rule can not possibly stand. It flies in the face of social progress.
"It is mere hypocrisy to talk about the added hours of Sunday rest that will be given to a few mail clerks. The mail clerks, to a man, would rather have the extra pay that they have been getting for this work.
"It is difficult to conceive of any Sunday work of so unlaborious a character that is so nearly indispensable to local communities. Millions of social strands will be broken every Sunday, millions of anxieties will go unallayed so long as this stupid and reactionary order shall continue in force."
There will always be those who will object to Sunday laws because they interfere with freedom for their pleasures, their business, or something of that sort. But our principal objection to any Sunday law is because such a law is in fact, even tho it may not be intentionally, a direct rival of the law of the great Jehovah which requires the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath. It is a much bigger question than making an inconvenience for either our pleasure or our business; it is a question of loyalty or disloyalty to the divine Father Himself. Search the Bible from beginning to end and you will not find even a suggested hint that the Lord ever changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. Men have been led to believe that such a change was divinely made, but they have been led into that belief without any Scripture foundation whatever. It is well to keep prominent the real issue in this Sabbath controversy.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
By Editor
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., OCTOBER 1, 1912
Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Revised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American Standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.
For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.
Contained in This Issue
By Editor
Question Corner
PAGE
3867 — Where Will We Meet the Lord? 3868 — The 144,000; 3869 — The Case of Esther; 3870 — Sunday Laws and Prohibition; 3871 — Sodom and Gomorrah; 3872 — Underneath the Waters; 3873 — Shall We Know Each Other? 3874 — Chiropractic; 3875 — The Sabbath of the Land - - - - -
2
Our Bible Band - - - - - 2
Editorial
The Sabbath and the Creator - - - - - 3
Science and the Sabbath - - - - - 4
The Increasing Vices of Sodom - - - - - 5
General
Try the Spirits - - - - - 6
Man's Condition in Death - - - - - 7
Departing and Being with Christ - - - - - 8
The Bible or Roman Day - - - - - 9
Our Bible Reading
The First Day of the Week - - - - - 9
The Outlook
For Peace and for War - - - - - 10
A Christian Service or a Show — Which? - - - - - 11
Home and Fireside
Silent Martyrs of Civilization - - - - - 12
Need for Religion - - - - - 12
The Boy That Did Not Care - - - - - 12
Bad Habits - - - - - 12
Book Notices - - - - - 13
Poetry
The King's Workmen - - - - - 6
If His Majesty, Our Sovereign Lord - - - - - 7
God's Surprises - - - - - 8
A Prayer - - - - - 9
Be Happy Every Day - - - - - 12
Special Numbers on Religious Liberty
By Editor
Because of their intrinsic value, we would continue to direct attention to the advertisement, on page 15, of the issue of six special numbers of this paper on the subject of religious liberty. If you have not supplied yourself with one or more of these sets, you will make a mistake not to do so. No better document on the subject of religious liberty can be found, and the price is very small. You should not fail to supply yourself before they are all gone. We are not planning to reprint the matter when these are all sold out.
Tornadoes and Coming Storms
By Editor
A despatch from Syracuse, New York, dated September 15, states that three persons were killed and fifty injured by a tornado which worked a ten-mile trail of destruction across the northern part of Onondaga County that day. Racing across the country, the tornado leveled everything in its path. Barns, schoolhouses, and homes were completely demolished. They used to tell us that these tornadoes were confined to the western plains, where they had manifested themselves for untold ages, but that there was no one there to take observation. We were sure that they would never come into the territory of the East, because they were not indigenous to that climate and locality. But these theories will have to be changed; for just as surely as the Bible is true, we may know that storm and tempest and earthquake and other violent commotions in nature will become more and more general throughout the world. Sometimes people say that they do not like to hear of these things, because they terrify them; but our attempt at refusing to hear about them will not stop their progress, and sometime they may come our way, and if they do, it is well for us to know that there is a divine shelter that will protect us from any semblance of fear at the thought of these things that are coming, because we definitely know from God's prophetic Word just what they mean.
Universal Peace Congress
The Universal Peace Congress is holding its session for this year in Geneva, Switzerland, September 23 to 28. This is the nineteenth session of the conference. Mr. Benjamin F. Trueblood, of Washington, D. C., is the president of the American Peace Association, and is representing that association in the congress. An invitation is to be urged upon the congress to hold its next session in San Francisco in connection with the International Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915.
General Nogi’s Strange Will
General Nogi, the leading military genius of Japan, who committed suicide just as the funeral of the late emperor of Japan was in full progress, suggests in his will that his body be given to the medical profession to use for the advancement of science. His request was that only his teeth, his hair, and his nails be buried in the grave.
Monument to Wilbur Wright
The people of France are raising a fund with which to build a monument to the late Wilbur Wright in order to memorialize his achievements in aviation.
Christian Education
All over this land at the present time young people are turning their feet toward various institutions of learning. It is well for all Christian young men and women to look upon education as a paramount means of grace, as a part of their religious duties and privileges. And hence they should decide in favor of schools where the true principles of Christianity are paramount, so that they may truly get a proper Christian education.
High Cost of Living and Unrest
By Editor
An editorial in the "Wall Street Journal" not long ago discussed the large annual governmental expenditure in France, giving the figures of the constantly increasing national debt. A concluding sentence of the article says, "It is difficult to believe that these large expenditures have nothing to do with the increased cost of living, felt in France with scarcely less severity than in this country, and already the underlying cause of lawless demonstrations." The "high cost of living" and "lawless demonstrations" are things that have to be met in all parts of the world. They are the outgrowth of the workings of the power that a very few men hold in the financial world. And we have not seen the end of it yet. The worst of the conflict lies on before. It is well to keep these conditions and their rapid development in mind, and at the same time we should keep in mind what they signify.
