p. 32 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 48. (11/28/1900)

Read This Issue.

By Editor

We do not ask the public to read any one of the articles in this issue because of the greatness or prominence of the author. We know the writers as able servants of God, who believe in the mission of Christ, and are anxious to see it accomplished. But each and all, even as the writer of this note, ask for no recognition because of name or position. This number of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES deals with great, vital, and important questions, questions which are made prominent in the Word of God. And our readers are earnestly entreated to weigh these matters, as they are herein set forth, in the balances of God's truth. Read them in the light of His Word. Consider them as we would wish to do if we stood literally and visibly at the bar of God. Men should be nothing now, only as they are used of God. God and His truth are everything.

Not Men but Principles.

In presenting some of the plain truths in this number, our hearts are sad. God is our witness that we hold naught against Papists or Protestants as such or against any Roman Catholic or Protestant. We desire the salvation of them all. But, to be true to God and our own conscience, it is duty to say that there is no salvation in the papal system. Those in it who find salvation, and we believe there are many, are saved not because of it, but in spite of it. The system is evil, because subversive of the Word of God, deluding poor souls to hope in humanity, which is exalted to the place of God. Professed Protestantism is leaving the Rock of the Word and wandering in darkness. Would God that these things were not so. But we do feel glad that we are able to point all to Jesus Christ and the everlasting Word, in which is sure salvation for every soul through personal faith in Him. We entreat all to read and listen to what God says in His Holy Word. His warfare is against principles of evil, not against man. But He saves man from sin and error, but not by them, or in them, or through them.

Modern Spiritualism

One of the striking signs of the times is that movement known as "Modern Spiritualism," more properly called Spiritism. It is based on the belief of man's inherent immortality and the conscious state of the dead. We need not say to our general readers that both of these ideas are in direct contradiction to the Word of God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die;" "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish;" "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything. . . . Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished," are all expressions of Holy Writ. In God's plan righteousness is life, and sin is death. Continuance of life means continuance in righteousness. "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." This righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone. "Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord," "even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." Those who go down in death having this righteousness will receive immortality at Christ's coming. Those who possess it when He comes, will be changed "in a moment" to immortality at the sound of the last trump. "But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen. . . . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Spiritism bases its superstitions on the old falsehood, spoken by the serpent in Eden, "Ye shall not surely die; . . . ye shall be as God."

It would make of none effect God's righteousness through Christ, and lead men to depend upon themselves for salvation, an utterly baseless hope. It opens the way for Satan and his angels to come in the guise of the spirits of the dead, and delude many, as they are now doing. It takes from the glory of Christ and bestows it upon the subjects of sin, whose only hope is in Christ Jesus. Beware of its delusive teachings. Trust only in the Word.

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER

By Editor

General.

The Gospel Outlook, W. W. PRESCOTT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A Nineteenth Century Review, A. O. TAIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 A Fruitful Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The American Outlook, C. P. BOLLMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 "The Wisdom of the Wise Shall Perish" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Church and State Outlook, L. A. SMITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Papal Outlook, PERCY T. MAGAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Present Crisis, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Outpouring of the Spirit, L. A. PHIPPENY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Outlook in Europe, W. T. BARTLETT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 A Lesson for the Church To-day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Protestant Outlook, MILTON C. WILCOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 The Missions Outlook, W. N. GLENN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 A Token of Cheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Christian's Outlook, E. J. WAGGONER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 How May We Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Editorial.

Is It Comfort to You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 "Watchman, What of the Night?" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 A Vitally Important Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Meaning of Millionaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Tendencies to Imperialism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The Work of the Destroyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Editorial Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 32

Poetry.

The Importance of the Living Present (from Lowell) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Columbia, Where Leadest Thou? C. M. SNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 "Call Them In," Anna Shipton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 The Bridegroom Cometh (Song and Music), by H. H. WINSLOW . . . . . . . . . . . 21 True Love Begins at Home, T. R. WILLIAMSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

The Home.

Suffering and Triumphing, MRS. FLORENCE BOOTH MILLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The Creation of the Home, MRS. M. C. DU BOIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Publishers.

Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Appeal for Wider Circulation

By Editor

We appeal to our friends and readers to assist us in giving this paper the widest circulation possible. Does it not deserve it? Should it have less than one million?

Important Editorial Articles

By Editor

We desire you to read all the articles in our editorial columns, but there are two to which we call special attention, because of their importance, namely, "A Vitally Important Question," and "Tendencies to Imperialism."

Issue Prices and Subscriptions

By Editor

The prices of this issue, post-paid, are as follows: Single copy, 10 cents; 5 to 20 copies, 5 cents each; 25 or more copies, 4 cents each. Sent singly to lists of not less than 5 names at 5 cents each. Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.

Illustrations in This Issue

By Editor

The illustrations in this issue of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES were prepared especially for this number by talented New York artists, under the supervision of Mr. W. A. Reaser. Each tells a story in itself. A few words of description, however, may assist the readers in their study. These will be found on page 30.

AN INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY CONGRESS

By Editor

SINCE the article on page 13 was written, an International Sunday Rest Congress has been held under the auspices of the French Government, in connection with the Paris Exposition. Other congresses of this kind have been held before, but no congress of this kind has received the official recognition of great governments as has this present one. It was held under the direct auspices of the French Government, the great republic of Europe, the motto of which is "Liberty, equality, and fraternity." But a Sunday-rest law is against all of these. Another chief actor in this drama is the great republic of the West, America, the Constitution of which, and her early traditions, are against any act of this kind, and any principle involved in such legislation as Sunday rest by law.

Yet the United States Government, through its representative, Commissioner-General Peck, appoints Rev. W. W. Attebury, D.D., and Rev. E. G. Thurber, D.D., as delegates to this congress. We believe there is also a third minister-delegate.

It may be said that this is not in the interests of religion, but in the interests of labor. But Sunday is a religious institution, and it is only because of this that the question is agitated. Dr. Attebury is himself the secretary of the "New York Sabbath Committee," the oldest institution in this country we believe working for Sunday laws; and both of these United States delegates to the International Rest Congress are also authorized to act for the New York Sabbath Committee. So says the Baptist Examiner, without a word of protest, which only shows how far along we are on the road to the union of Church and State. Study the question.

The Earth Is Getting Old

The Earth Is Getting Old.—The Word declares that it shall "wax old like a garment." We know how that is, threadbare and frayed in spots, giving way in places, ripping at the seams, easily torn, yet in parts looking as good as new. So it is with the old earth. It has in it and upon it the evidences of age. Drought, famine, pestilence, malaria, under the most improved conditions, mark its yearly course. And all this is the result of sin, which will eventually culminate in destruction. God keeps it back from that destruction now by the outpouring of His Spirit, with its restraining power. But when His Spirit is withdrawn from a people who have rejected utterly His ways, that withdrawal will be manifest in the physical earth. The scenes already witnessed will be almost insignificant compared with those yet to come. Now Satan's wrath is held in check; the effects of evil are modified by the restraining power of God's Spirit and truth; but when man, to whom the earth was committed as a blessed trust, turns that trust to wholly selfish uses, perverting and rejecting the ways of God, the great Master lets men have their own way; He withdraws His rejected Spirit, and men reap the fruit of their own selfish sowing. To be kept in that day we must know the power of God over sin now. Then God says to the righteous, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." See Psalms 91.

Watchman, What of the Night?

By Editor

Our first-page cover scene is a parable from ancient history. The people of the land have taken a watchman and set him upon the watch-tower to note the approach of danger and to answer the earnest inquiries of those below. Ezekiel 33. Judging from the intent strong face and figure, he is a worthy man. He looks out upon a world filled with turmoil, bloodshed, and battle. There are occasional spots of quiet, far from the great centers of strife, but over all rises the smoke of universal war. By the side of the old watchman, invisible perhaps to him, is a messenger from God, clothed in white, directing the watchman's attention to the gray dawn breaking beyond earth's tumult and darkness. It lights up the face of the old watchman; and in response to the anxious cry from the inhabitant below, "Watchman, what of the night?" he responds with gladness, "The morning cometh." The scene before the watchman fitly represents this dark world at the close of the nineteenth century, with here and there gleams of the white light of truth, but over which in general hangs the heavy smoke from the pits of error and war. Yet over and beyond all the scene, God's watchman, directed by His messenger, illuminated by His Spirit through His Word, can see the morning breaking, the morning of the everlasting day, which shall know no strife or war or death or night.

The King Is Coming Soon

The earthly outlook of the closing century is not auspicious; but the heavenly—the outlook of faith—was never more glorious. The great King, the true King, the loving King, the everlasting King, is coming soon. If He reigns in your heart now, you will want Him to reign over all the earth. If He has banished sin from your heart, you will want Him to banish sin from the earth.

The Sentinel of Liberty

By Editor

Do you wish a paper that deals clearly and fully with the questions and dangers affecting Church-and-State union?—We commend to you the Sentinel of Liberty, published at 324 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. It is only $1.00 a year. Send for a sample copy.

Notices of Publications

By Editor

In other columns will be found notices of publications dealing with Bible truth. We are sure these are books and pamphlets which will help our readers. Look these notices and advertisements over carefully. Read also our prospectus on second page of cover.

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The personal history of a life made beautiful through motherhood. The story of a woman who was transformed by her love for her children from a timid, shrinking girl to a speaker and evangelist, known and loved by thousands of those who have felt the bondage of sin and sorrow.

Written and edited by her daughter, with an introduction by Bishop John H. Vincent. He gives his opinion of its merits in the following language:—

Mrs. Rossiter's story of her gifted mother's life is full of light and sweetness and strength. Mrs. Henry was a remarkable woman. A manuscript full of autobiographical incidents and reflections was found by her daughter soon after the mother's death. With this record as a beginning and a basis, Mrs. Rossiter was able to produce this charming volume. It is altogether a most pathetic and inspiring biography. It reveals the innocent girl, the charm of unselfish devotion, a brave struggle against poverty, a complete consecration of every power to God in the service of humanity, and a faith that never yielded to discouragement. The book should go into every Sunday-school library and into every home.

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HERALDS

OF THE

MORNING

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