p. 13 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 1. (1/2/1912)

Earlier text: PRESENT WORLD MOVEMENTS IN PROPHECY

HOME AND FIRESIDE

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

We have been accustomed to hearing and to repeating these words since our childhood. There is nothing new about them. For nineteen hundred years they have formed a part of the petition of hundreds of thousands of people, since the divine Nazarene incorporated them into that wonderful prayer which has served as a pattern for the rich and the poor, the peasant and the king, through the long ages.

But for this very reason, I suspect, we may have failed to comprehend the depth of meaning and significance which is hidden in the simple words.

Do you think it strange that our blessed Master taught us to pray for so commonplace a thing as this? That we should ask our God for patience or for grace; for courage to endure temptation, and for strength to resist it; for help to conquer a quick temper and a hasty spirit; or even ask Him for worldly prosperity, as Jabez did,—all these things seem reasonable enough. But for bread—just common bread enough to supply the needs of the day,—this seems almost childish, you say.

“Yes,” replies Mr. Richman, while a self-confident smile curls his lip, “yes, I have always thought that part of the Lord’s Prayer a superfluity—at least it is such to me. Why, I have hundreds of acres of golden grain waving in the sunlight, only waiting for the reaper; and there are thousands of bushels of wheat and corn stored in my spacious granaries. Can you tell me why I should make use of such a prayer as this?”

Ah, my friend, you can not tell what the morrow may bring forth; and until you can, you ought to accept this prayer with as much humility of spirit as does your poor brother. Before the rising of another sun, the breath of the Lord may have scattered your hoards of golden grain, or the moth and worm may have eaten holes in your money-bags. The savings of a lifetime may be turned into smoke in a single hour. O, yes, yes, Mr. Richman, I am sure it may be well even for you to repeat this homely phrase. It is for you as well as for others.

I think it was given us that we might keep constantly in mind our entire dependence upon Him who gives the rain and the sunshine, the reaping time and the rich harvest. And therefore, altho our Father knows that we “have need of all these things before we ask Him,” and neither are we obliged to remind Him of our constantly recurring wants, yet the beautiful, childlike prayer teaches us a lesson in humility and complete trust in Him who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Strange indeed it seems that the all-wise Framer of the universe should concern Himself about so small a matter as the daily bread of His humble creatures. But who that has ever thought upon the subject, has not been amazed at the fact that this request for daily bread precedes every other request for ourselves in the entire prayer?

We might naturally think that the petition for forgiveness of sin and deliverance from evil, would take the precedence. No; the sublime prayer is as perfect as is the wonderful Teacher from whose divine lips it first fell. And this simple prayer for daily bread embraces all the other temporal needs of humanity. It encourages us to believe that He hears our humblest request.

The first miracle ever performed by the divine Nazarene, conveys a most beautiful lesson. Ordinarily the miracles of the Master were performed to relieve cases of intense suffering or direful want or deepest distress. But as if to encourage us to come to Him in every emergency, He has recorded for our benefit an account of this miracle, wrought primarily only to increase the happiness of His friends and save them from embarrassment.

No other miracle so appeals to us, from the standpoint of the Master’s having a real, genuine care for our every desire, as does this one. It gives me courage to believe that He wishes me to enjoy all the lawful comforts of this life, as well as the life to come. He would give me, instead of water, the rich, new wine of His love. And of the temporal blessings, He pours all into my cup which it is possible for Him to give me without positive injury to me, either spiritual or temporal. He does not love to torture us with poverty or with embarrassments of any kind. He plans my pleasure trips for me; He lays out even my day’s work in its minutest detail.

Does He? Is it possible that He cares so much?

“In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” If He counts the hairs of our heads, and cares for the twittering sparrow, and says over and over again, “Fear not,” and loves to hear us ask Him even for “daily bread,” why should we be called presumptuous because we take Him at His word?

“But,” says one, “I get so tired living in suspense all the time. For years I have not known where the next day would find me, or where the next cord of wood or sack of flour was to come from. I seem always to be waiting for something.”

But believe me,—there is no such thing as “living in suspense” if we are constantly leaning hard on the mighty Arm that never wearies. Suspense?—Never! Every step of the journey has been carefully mapped out for you and me by a wisdom which never made a mistake.

O blessed Christ, how sweet to trust Thy wondrous wisdom and Thy care! And tho Thy child is naught but dust, Fresh mercies Thou dost still prepare. I do not ask my way to see; Master, I leave it all with Thee.

Keep Shining

By Clara Edna Rosencrans

When the first keen breath of autumn Blows damp and chill and cold, The trees are changing russet brown Their robes of burning gold; A tiny lamp shines brightly By the margin of the brook, Along the meadow pathways, In many a quiet nook.

Like the twinkling stars of heaven, Or light from some wayside shrine, The little fallen fireflies In their dying hour shine, As bright as in the May-time, When he kindles lamps of gold, When the joy of youth is with him, And his little heart is bold.

He shines in chill surroundings, However dark the night, Giving, until his dying, That calm and steady light. How beautiful the lesson That comes to my heart to-day, Taught by these tiny vagrants Who brighten our summer way!

His little wings are helpless, No longer can he fly, To brighten with his fairy lamp The chill, gray autumn sky.

And yet he shines, and shining He seems to my heart to say: “Tho the night be all around thee, And never again comes day, Yet shine, give out thy brightness, As the Lord hath given thee. Tho wings no longer bear thee, Thou a little light canst be.

“Thy lamp was made for shining, As was my tiny spark. Shine on, and light the shadows; Shine on, for the world is dark. Keep shining, shining ever, For the world is chill and cold — Like me, till death shall tarnish Thy lamp of glowing gold.

“Thy light shines on forever; Mine wanes with the coming blast, For me rekindled never; Eternally thine shall last.” Thanks, then, thou little firefly, For the lesson thou dost teach, Tho thy little life is waning, And thou hast not human speech. In love the Hand that made thee Has fashioned thee to shine, Giving to thee thy mission, Even as He gave mine.

Mountain Grove, Missouri.

Happiness

THINKING about happiness, longing for happiness, never yet brought a young seeker anywhere near the coveted possession. The true way to find joy is by seeking something else. As Richard Watson Gilder puts it:

Give thy day to duty! To that high thought be given Thine every hour. So shall the bending heaven, As from the root the flower, Bring to thy glad soul beauty.

"Our Little Friend" for 1912

By Editor

The Children's Eight-Page Weekly stands for great, sound principles of goodness and truth, and instils them, by simple lessons and stories, into the minds of its little readers. Uplifting and helpful in the home. We unreservedly recommend it to our readers for their children or their little friends and neighbors. A real treat for them.

The following is a partial summary of the contents for 1912:

Little Missionaries. By a great, big, grown-up boy, Mr. Earle A. Rowell, who says he wants the little readers to know what it means to be real missionaries. He is going to write about some little missionaries he knows who went to a foreign land—all about their trip, and what they did there.

The Log Cabin People. Who are they? How do they live? By Mr. A. W. Spaulding, who has lived and worked among them.

Confidential Talks with Boys and Girls About Themselves. By Aunt Ruth, who loves the children and appreciates their needs. At the "Children's Hour" she will give some interesting talks to the children about the care of their bodies and various other things they ought to know.

OUR LITTLE FRIEND. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

Children of the Bible. Stories about the children of the Bible. Have you ever thought about them? How many were there? What did they do? By Mrs. L. E. Leavett, who has recently written the little stories about "The Willing Heart and Hand Society."

The Great Outdoors and Some of Its Delights and Wonders. By Clare M. Hodges. Interesting stories about outdoor life and what it should mean to us.

Our Feathered Friends. Birds of field and forest, wild and domestic, fierce and friendly.

Dumb Creatures of the World. Stories about many of the four-footed animals, their homes and their ways.

What a Boy Can Do. By Kadmiel. Interesting experiments that boys can try, such as,—Fun with Old Batteries, An Electric Magnet, Secret of a Good Kite, Mystery of the Sailboat, A Sun-dial for Any Place, A Fireless Cooker for Sister, How to Make a Windmill, A Water-wheel, A Fly-trap, A Pitfall for Mice, etc.

What a Girl Can Do. Interesting experiments for girls. Useful things they can make, including some things they can sell for missionary money.

Modern Missionaries. By some of the King's messengers. What is being done in the great field of missionary work.

Happy Sabbath Days and How to Make Them. How to make the Sabbath day, which sometimes seems long and tiresome to the little folks, a day so full of interest that they will look forward to it all through the week.

Editor's Chats on That Long, Beautiful Word En-deav-or. Talks that will help us grow up to be strong, useful men and women.

That Rainy Day and How I Spent It. Ways in which rainy days may be made full of indoor sunshine for the little folks.

Hurrah for Vacation! By a Real Boy. How to really and truly enjoy a vacation.

Our Bulletin Board. Little notes about things going on in the world that will be of interest to our little readers. Published every now and then.

A Few Efforts from the Church School Children. Little stories written by the children themselves and selected by the teacher for publication. Pictures, Poems, Lessons, Bible Band, S. P. C. A., Mothers' Helpers, Puzzles, etc.

A Missionary Number, in the spring.

A Temperance Number for the children.

A Prep-a-ra-tion for the Harvest In-gath-ering Number, sometime after the summer vacation, with a short program for a children's missionary meeting.

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The January Number of Life and Health

By Editor

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Sample Articles

The Benediction of the Snow. How Two Mothers Cared for Their Babies. Significance of Feeble-Mindedness. Health Work in Milwaukee. Report of Minneapolis Vice Commission. What Is True Success? Paper-Bag Cookery. Value of Gluten Bread. Drink and Higher Education. Other valuable articles on temperance and social problems.

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LIFE AND HEALTH

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Protestant Magazine

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Will Tell You

Of Rome's plan to exclude anti-Catholic publications from the mails. The difference between genuine and so-called Protestantism. The meaning of Rome's control of political parties, of the great cities of America, of the public press, public school text-books, etc. Why and when Rome will again rule the world; also to what extent she is already ruling. Which of the contending forces will be finally victorious—Roman Catholicism or Bible Protestantism; also how and when the victory will be won. 25 cents a year, 10 cents a copy.

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THE PROTESTANT MAGAZINE

Washington, D. C.

Liberty Magazine

Every Citizen

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Some Features

Two-Color Cover-Picture of Jefferson's Home. Interior View of Jefferson's Home. Spain and Religious Liberty. America a Beacon Light to the Nations. Should the State Teach Religion? Civil Sunday Laws. The Menace of a National Religion. Religious Intolerance of the Federated Churches. The World's Christian Citizenship Congress. Inquisition Days in Holland. Sunday Laws and Citizenship. The Liquor Traffic and the Home. History Confirming the Book of God. Also many other articles and timely illustrations.

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LIBERTY MAGAZINE

Washington, D. C.

The Other Fellow's Point of View

By Humane Press Bureau

WHEN Chinese New Year's came along, a teacher spoke to her pupils as follows:

You are just now treating the Chinese people with respect because they are giving candy, nuts, fireworks, and other treasures away, and you want a share. This is a good time to remind you that it would be more honest to be polite to them all the year round. I have heard children call them "chinks," a name that is very offensive to them. Even editors of newspapers use the term in print and in head-lines.

Nicknames may be used among friends who like them. They are very rude when used by strangers, even if they are pleasant nicknames. They are seldom allowable when applied by children to grown people, and never when used by children in speaking of foreigners.

The Japanese object to the shortening of their name to "Jap," Americans would not like to be called "Ame." "Ame" is an absurd name. So is "Jap" to the Japanese. The Japanese are an extremely polite people themselves, even when treated rudely. They set an example of courtesy well worth observing and following.

There are a number of other nicknames to be avoided entirely; for instance, "nigger," "sheeny," and "dago."

Politeness is an outward form, and more. It is an exhibition of inward kindness of feeling. Even surface politeness helps us to learn the real courtesy that should underlie all our conduct.

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Scientific American

By Editor

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Scientific American.

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(Entered Sept. 15, 1904, as second-class matter at the Mountain View, Cal., post-office, under Act of Congress of March 3, 1879.)

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The Chinese Admiral and the English Language

It is an item worthy of note that when the Hai Chi, the first Chinese ship of war, under Admiral Ching Peh Qwong, cast anchor in American waters, the admiral purchased three copies of Funk and Wagnalls's Standard Dictionary for use on his flag-ship. It is evident that he wishes his men to become acquainted with the English language, and he could get no better authority.

A Heathen Invasion

ONE of the outgrowths of the famed World's Fair Congress of Religion is the heathen invasion of America, and Mabel Potter Daggett, writing at length in the Hampton-Columbian Magazine, tells us that women are its chief victims. "Eve," she declares, "is eating the apple again,"—an apt putting of the situation. "Yoga," she says, "that Eastern philosophy the emblem of which is the coiled serpent, is being widely disseminated here, and before a charm that seemingly they can not resist thousands of converts are yielding to the temptation to embrace its teachings of strange mysteries." The Vedanta Society claims more than five thousand women sympathizers in New York alone. San Francisco has its Hindu temple, Los Angeles its Krishna temple, Chicago and Massachusetts their Zoroastrian; and in Chicago also are the disciples of Abdul Baha, the Mohammedan cult which are building a place of worship.

It is not only the Vedanta Society which is weaving its spell over thousands, but the sun-worship, under the name of Zoroastrianism, is exerting the same sort of influence. But the simple fact is that all these so-called Christian people who are deceived by the Eastern philosophies, have never known Christianity.

The Danger of Rag-Time

By Editor

One of our correspondents, referring to question No. 3621, in which we said that it would seem as if one could spend God-given time to better advantage than playing rag-time music, quotes from an editorial in the San Francisco Examiner of December 11, on "The Danger of Rag-Time,"—"Rag-Time versus Idiocy:" "In other words, according to Dr. Ludwig Gruener, celebrated alienist of Berlin, rag-time is making idiots of us all. He bases his assertions on investigations made at the principal asylums in the United States. Ninety per cent of the inmates were abnormally developed in their love for rag-time, and failed to respond to classical music. Says Dr. Gruener: 'Hysteria is the form of insanity that the abnormal love for rag-time seems to produce. The peculiar noises of rag-time cause a nervous tension spasmodically, as the sounds rise and fall. Persons who continually listen to this sort of music put their entire nervous system under a strain, especially the nerves that affect the brain. Classical music soothes, pacifies, and elevates, while rag-time does just the opposite.'" Therefore, both physically and spiritually, one ought to have nothing to do with it.

Miscellaneous Notes

By Editor

One of the most depleting, disintegrating, disease-making things which humanity cherishes is selfishness. Withholding from others what we might render to them comes back upon our own hearts to curse. What we give unselfishly for others returns to bless. It is the bread cast upon the waters. What if God were selfish? Elihu tells us what the consequences would be. In his argument to Job he declares, "God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice." And then he asks, "Who gave Him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?" God is not caring for the earth—He is not looking after the whole world—because it is a duty which some one has laid upon Him, and which He must discharge if He is to receive His wages. It is God's love which leads Him to care for the world. It is His compassion and mercy which lead Him to give life to the sinner, and it is only because of that goodness and unselfishness that men live. For, as Elihu continues, "If He set His heart upon Himself, if He gather unto Himself His Spirit and His breath; all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust." Our life depends wholly upon God's unselfishness. May we not take the lesson home to our own heart, and let it mold our own conduct in the year to come?

Butter Fraud

Butter Fraud.—William L. Waldron, State superintendent of weights and measures, declares that the housewives of New Jersey are defrauded annually of upward of one million dollars in butter alone; that the short weights of butter amount to from 4½ per cent to 9 per cent. From February 1 next, full weight must be given and marked on the wrapper. It is very probable that New Jersey is not alone in this.

A Suit Case — Whose Is It?

By Editor

Sometime, probably within the last six months, some person or persons left in the office of this paper a suit case filled with clothing, lingerie, etc., of a young lady. There was also a box of candy filled at San Francisco. We do not wish it; we desire to connect it and its contents with the owner. Not an article is marked. The suit case contains no writing or printed matter, save the labels on the toilet articles. We wait for owner to prove property.

An Eighteen-Signature Device

The Standard Oil Company found itself coming up to the time limit prescribed by the court for its dissolution, and a careful estimate showed that it would have between 200,000 and 300,000 stock certificates to sign in making the transfers required. It was a physical impossibility to get the work done in the time allowed, but a genius came forward in the nick of time with an invention that made possible eighteen signatures at one time. It is a device operated by electricity, and so constructed that when the operator moves a fountain pen seventeen other fountain pens move with the one he is operating, and each signature is identical with all the others. When Mr. Chittenden was register of the treasury, during the Civil War, a condition arose that made it necessary for him to sit continuously for forty-eight hours to sign Government bonds in order to meet an emergency with English bankers. When he was through his arm became paralyzed, and it was practically useless ever after. Such a device as this modern invention would have saved him.

The Medical Evangelist

By Editor

"The Medical Evangelist," the only periodical among Seventh-day Adventists devoted to medical evangelistic work, a work which the great sin-sick, soul-sick, and body-sick world demands. It is connected with their only medical school, in Loma Linda, California, and it will keep you informed regarding the progress made there.

It will keep you in touch with the progress made in working the large cities, especially along medical evangelistic lines, and will also contain reports of missionaries in foreign lands. The September number contains many papers presented at a recent medical council held at Loma Linda regarding osteopathy, chiropractic, Christian Science, and other lines of healing. The previous number contained a report of the medical council, and these numbers will be included in a yearly subscription as long as they last. Price 50 cents a year, 5 cents a copy.

Continue reading: A Happy New Year to All Our Readers