Earlier text: GOD'S WAY IS A GOOD WAYSigns on the Earth
By L. L. C.
Signs of Christ’s Coming—No. 4
OUR Saviour spoke not only of signs in the heavens, but also of signs that would appear on the earth, saying, “There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matt. 24:7. Space would fail us to describe all the great famines which have come upon the earth. The Encyclopedia Britannica, in its list of the great famines, gives one in the seventh century, one in the ninth, one in the tenth, five in the eleventh, two in the twelfth (one universal famine in 1162), two in the fourteenth, one in the sixteenth, one in the seventeenth, three in the eighteenth (the last of the three, which was in 1790-92, is said to have been one of the severest ever known), and twelve in the nineteenth century. We quote the full list of these last twelve:— A. D.
1838. Intense famine in Northwest Provinces (United Provinces) of India; 800,000 perished.
1846-47. Famine in Ireland, due to the failure of the potato crop. Grants were made by Parliament amounting to £10,000,000.
1861. Famine in northwest India.
1866. Famine in Bengal and Orissa; 1,000,000 perished.
1869. Intense famine in Rajputana; 1,500,000 perished. The government initiated the policy of saving life.
1874. Famine in Behar, India. Government relief in excess of the needs of the people.
1876-78. Famine in Bombay, Madras, and Mysore; 5,000,000 perished. Relief insufficient.
1877-78. Severe famine in North China; 9,500,000 said to have perished.
1887-89. Famine in China.
1891-92. Famine in Russia.
1897. Famine in India. Government policy of saving life successful. Mansion House Fund, £550,000.
1899-1901. Famine in India; 1,000,000 people perished. Estimated loss to India, £50,000,000. The government spent £10,000,000 on relief, and at one time there were 4,500,000 people on the relief works. The plague has brought death to untold thousands, and it would be too long a list even to enumerate the occurrences of the disease in the years since Christ spoke his prophetic words. We can only quote a paragraph from the Encyclopedia Britannica concerning the recent spread of the disease to “divers places:” “Taking up the story at the point where the earlier historical summary leaves off, we get the following list of countries in which plague is known to have been present in each year (see Local Government Board’s Reports): 1880, Mesopotamia; 1881, Mesopotamia, Persia, and China; 1882, Persia and China; 1883, China; 1884, China and India (as mahamari); 1885, Persia; 1886, 1887, 1888, India (as mahamari); 1889, Arabia, Persia, and China; 1890, Arabia, Persia, and China; 1891, Arabia, China, and India (as mahamari); 1892, Mesopotamia, Persia, China, Russia (in Central Asia); 1893, Arabia, China, Russia, and India (as mahamari); 1894, Arabia, China, and India (as mahamari); 1895, Arabia and China; 1896, Arabia, Asia Minor, China, Japan, Russia, and India (Bombay); 1897, Arabia, China, Japan, India, Russia, and East Africa; 1898, Arabia, Persia, China, Japan, Russia, East Africa, Madagascar, and Vienna; 1899, Arabia, Persia, China, Japan, Mesopotamia, East Africa, West Africa, Philippine Islands, Straits Settlements, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Egypt, European Russia, Portugal, Sandwich Islands, New Caledonia, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil; 1900, to the foregoing should be added Turkey, Australia, California, Mexico, and Glasgow; in 1901, South Africa; and in 1902, Russia, chiefly at Odessa. This list is probably by no means exhaustive, but it sufficiently indicates in a summary fashion the extent of that wave of diffusion which set in during the closing years of the nineteenth century.” The table given by the same encyclopedia concerning recent deaths by plague in India is significant:—| Year |
Bengal Presidency |
Bombay Presidency |
All India |
|---|
| 1896 |
...... |
2,219 |
2,219 |
| 1897 |
...... |
47,710 |
47,974 |
| 1898 |
219 |
86,191 |
89,265 |
| 1899 |
3,264 |
96,592 |
102,369 |
| 1900 |
38,412 |
33,196 |
73,576 |
| 1901 |
78,629 |
128,259 |
236,433 |
| 1902 |
32,967 |
184,752 |
452,655 |
| 1903 |
65,680 |
281,269 |
684,445 |
| 1904 |
75,438 |
223,957 |
938,010 |
| 1905 |
126,084 |
71,363 |
940,821 |
| 1906 |
59,619 |
51,525 |
300,355 |
The property loss through earthquakes runs into untold millions of dollars. Some conception of the loss of life may be gained from the following table of the “Great Earthquakes of History,” given in Nelson’s Encyclopedia:—| Year |
Place |
Lives lost |
|---|
| 1038 |
China |
25,000 |
| 1057 |
China |
25,000 |
| 1169 |
Sicily |
15,000 |
| 1268 |
Cilicia |
60,000 |
| 1290 (?) |
Peking |
100,000 |
| 1293 |
Japan |
30,000 |
| 1531 |
Lisbon |
30,000 |
| 1556 |
China |
500,000 |
| 1622 |
China |
20,000 |
| 1692 |
Jamaica |
3,000 |
| 1693 |
Sicily |
60,000 |
| 1703 |
Yeddo (Japan) |
200,000 |
| 1724 |
Lima |
18,000 |
| 1731 |
Peking |
100,000 |
| 1737 |
India |
150,000 |
| 1755 |
Lisbon |
50,000 |
| Year |
Place |
Lives lost |
|---|
| 1755 |
Northern Persia |
40,000 |
| 1783 |
Messina, Calabria |
60,000 |
| 1797 |
Quito |
41,000 |
| 1812 |
Caracas |
12,000 |
| 1822 |
Aleppo |
22,000 |
| 1828 |
Japan |
30,000 |
| 1851 |
Italy |
19,000 |
| 1857 |
Calabria |
12,000 |
| 1860 |
Mendoza |
12,000 |
| 1868 |
Peru-Ecuador |
25,000 |
| 1875 |
Colombia-Venezuela |
5,000 |
| 1880 |
Manila |
3,000 |
| 1883 |
Krakatoa |
35,000 |
| 1886 |
Charleston |
27 |
| 1888 |
China |
5,000 |
| 1891 |
Japan |
7,000 |
| 1892 |
Peru |
25,000 |
| 1896 |
Japan |
26,000 |
| 1897 |
Assam |
1,500 |
| 1905 |
Kangra |
15,000 |
| 1906 |
San Francisco |
500 |
| 1906 |
Valparaiso |
1,000 |
| 1907 |
Jamaica |
1,000 |
| 1907 |
Turkestan |
14,000 |
| 1908 |
Messina-Reggio (?) |
150,000 |
| 1910 |
Costa Rica |
1,500 |
| 1911 |
Turkestan |
200 |
| 1911 |
Luzon |
1,500 |
| 1912 |
Turkey |
3,000 |
| 1912 |
Mexico |
1,300 |
| 1915 |
Italy |
30,000 |
As we notice the many places affected, we cannot but be struck with the exact fulfilment of the Saviour’s words, ‘There shall be . . . earthquakes, in divers places.’ These calamities, which seem to be increasing in frequency, should serve to turn our minds with greater longing to the time of our Saviour’s return, which is now near, even at the doors. While, as foretold in the Scriptures, men’s hearts are ‘failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth,’ we may renew our courage and trust in the speedy fulfilment of Christ’s promise, ‘I will come again.’ Developments of Our Work in the Eastern States
By Arthur G. Daniells
Of late our brethren in the eastern part of the United States have been meeting with great encouragement in their efforts to advance the cause of God. Never in my experience had I witnessed such a desire on the part of the public to hear the message we are proclaiming to the world. We are deeply impressed that we are entering upon a new experience in our work in behalf of the masses in the cities.
As inquiries are coming to me from many of our people who are deeply interested in these developments, and as I believe they have a meaning of great importance to our cause at this time, I have decided to make a rather extended statement regarding the situation.
Our people will recall the many very earnest messages in behalf of the cities that came to us through the Spirit of prophecy during the last years of Sister White's active life. These messages call special attention to the masses in the Atlantic coast States. A number of cities were mentioned—New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Portland, and others. We were urged most earnestly to make special efforts to proclaim our message to the people of these cities, and were encouraged to look for results. A special appeal was made in behalf of the people in the State of Maine. Portland, Maine, as we all know, held a prominent place in the beginning of the great advent movement. Bedford, Mass., where Joseph Bates first saw the Sabbath truth and gave it to James White and his wife, is the other starting point of our work. William Miller, Josiah Litch, Joshua V. Himes, and others preached the first angel's message in Portland, and met with strong opposition. It was here that God chose individuals who were to be leaders in the great movement he was setting on foot. James White was called to the work while here. It was here that Sister Ellen G. White was chosen and ordained of God for a great work. J. N. Andrews, another strong leader, received his call at Paris, near the city of Portland. With the disappointment that attended the first angel's message, there came increased opposition. This was strong at Portland, and was accompanied by great prejudice. The people of Maine are of the conservative New England type. They are a good class of solid, substantial people, but are not easily moved from their old ground. Our cause has made but little headway in that field since the early days of its beginning. While large, prosperous conferences have been raised up in the Western States, the work has almost stood still in Maine. Owing to the natural conservatism and the deep prejudice of the people in Maine and the other Eastern States, the pioneers in our cause were led, through the Spirit of prophecy, toward the Western States. In 1855 what then represented our printing work and headquarters were moved to Battle Creek, Mich. This was a great trial to our brethren in the East. There were but few believers west of the Ohio River, and to those who were left in the East it seemed a long distance to the new headquarters. It appeared to these brethren as if the leaders were deserting them. There was not much to the work by way of material evidence, and as the little printing plant was taken away and those who were strong in leadership moved West, discouragement came to those who remained.
It was in this time of trial that the Lord gave Sister White a message for these people, to cheer their hearts. This message was printed in No. 3 of the Testimonies, issued in 1856, one year after the removal to Battle Creek, Mich. It is entitled “The East and the West,” and it may be read now with deep interest. I quote a portion:— “DEAR BRETHREN: The Lord has shown me in vision some things in regard to the East and the West, which I feel it my duty to set before you. I saw that God has been opening the way for the spread of present truth in the West. It requires much more power to move the people in the East than in the West, and at present but very little can be accomplished in the East. Special efforts should be made at the present time where most good will result. The people in the East have heard the proclamation of the second coming of Christ, and have seen much of the display of the power of God, and have fallen back into a state of indifference and security, where it is almost impossible to reach them at present. After uncommon efforts are made in the East, with the best gifts, but very little is accomplished. . . . I saw that tenfold more has been accomplished in the West than in the East with the same effort, and that the way is opening for still greater success. I have seen that much can be done at present in Wisconsin, and still more in Illinois, and that efforts to spread the truth must be made in Minnesota and Iowa. [We had not gone out that far then.] It will take effect in many hearts there. There was a large, very large, field of labor spread out before me in vision which has not yet been entered; but there is not self-sacrificing help enough to fill half the places where the people are all ready to hear the truth, and many to receive it. . . .” “I saw that special efforts should be made in the West with tents [we had not started tent meetings in those days]; for the angels of God are preparing minds there to receive the truth. This is why God has moved on some in the East to move to the West. Their gifts can accomplish more in the West than in the East. The burden of the work is in the West, and it is of the greatest importance that the servants of God should move in his opening providences. “I saw that when the message shall increase greatly in power, then the providence of God will open and prepare the way in the East for much more to be accomplished than can be at the present time. God will then send some of his servants in power to visit places where little or nothing can now be done; and some who are now indifferent, will be aroused, and will take hold of the truth.” There is significant meaning in these statements, and in view of what we can now see being accomplished we are better able to understand the promise of the Lord. Sixty years ago it was stated that God would in his providence open and prepare the way for the preaching of the message in the East, and that people would be aroused to accept the truth, where, in the early days, it was almost impossible to arrest their attention or get them to listen to the message. In the meantime the work was to be rapidly developed in the West. Tent8 meetings were to be held, and strong constituencies built up. This has been fulfilled. Our work has extended over all the United States and into western Canada. It has become strong on the Pacific Coast. How wonderfully the Lord has fulfilled the message foretelling all this! And now he is adding further witness to the truth of that early message by greatly blessing the labors of his messengers and people in the Eastern States. Of this we shall speak more fully next week. Vesper Hour
By Worthie Harris Holden
'Tis vesper hour. The day is almost done;
Though dark and threatening clouds obscure the sun,
The chimes ring out,—events both far and near,—
Entreating us to pause and worship here.
But see the grain still standing! Can it wait?
It must be garnered, and the hour is late! O soul, forget not that thy Lord and thee
Can vanquish thousands where but one would flee.
Too few the workers and too great the need
To gather those for whom the Christ did bleed.
Claim thou thy unction from the throne on high!
And Man hath wrought marvels when his God was nigh. Effects of Present Fashions on the Morals
By E. HILLIARD
The morals of society are being undermined by the shameful fashions that prevail at the present time. Thousands of women attire themselves in these immodest garments without the slightest idea that they are sowing seed that will produce a harvest of pain and unspeakable regret. Indecent fashions allure millions to irretrievable ruin. In our cities, mothers and daughters, shamefully attired, walk the streets side by side; while evil-minded men, “with eyes full of adultery,” feast upon their immodestly clad forms. Temptation openly flaunted in the face of such will eventually lead to open assault. The evil desires of base men, inflamed by these needless temptations, increase more and more, until finally the brute nature seizes control of the man, and the fashionably dressed woman becomes the victim of the criminal. The influence for evil would not be so great were these fashions confined to the world, but they have entered the church. At the present time some who participate in the worship of God dress little differently than unbelievers. Often the one who presides at the organ, the members of the choir, and those in the pews are attired in almost full harmony with worldlings. It is difficult to see how the worship offered under these conditions can arise as sweet incense to God. Is not a baleful influence often exercised upon the youth, even in the house of worship? Parents, you have occasion for serious alarm. You should surround every member of your family with as pure an atmosphere as possible. Choose pure-minded companions for your children. Guard their dress as well as every other avenue by which temptation may reach them. Remember that it is usually in early youth that the seeds of impurity are sown, and when once they find root in the young heart, a rapid growth ensues. The family and the church should unite in combating every evil, impure influence. “Hold to the Affirmative”
By Mary Stuart
WHAT does it mean to hold to the affirmative? How can one do it when opponents are to be met? Does it mean that one should never state errors, not even in order to refute them? These are some of the queries that may arise in the mind when one reads a statement like this: “Hold to the affirmative. . . . Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds affirmative truths, and fasten them there by much study and earnest prayer and heart consecration.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pp. 147, 148. I have heard ministers of the gospel, even our own ministers, in the pulpit tell the most ridiculous stories,—the deductions of evolution; the vagaries of Theosophy, Christian Science, or New Thought; the theories of geology and higher criticism,—stories that many in the audience would never otherwise have heard, stories that were so absurd that they could not help but create a laugh, their very absurdity helping to fix them in the memory. And it is not only persons of mature mind and judgment who listen to these tales, but youth with plastic minds and immature judgment, who find it difficult to understand even the simpler principles of Christian living. This is where one of the greatest evils of restating errors comes in—their influence on the young. Such stories stick in the memory, even against the will, and sometime in the future they may be used by the enemy as a net to catch the souls of our youth, and drag them down to ruin. Stories that seem to us so ridiculous that no one could believe them, may strike the fancy of some one in the audience, even as they have seemed true to those who seriously promulgated them, and that person may be lost in consequence. Another may be led to doubt the truth of the Bible, should temptation come in some subtle form, such as Satan knows so well how to use.9 “If Christ had not held to the affirmative in the wilderness of temptation, he would have lost all that he desired to gain. Christ’s way is the best way to meet our opponents. We strengthen their arguments when we repeat what they say. Keep always to the affirmative.”—Id., p. 148. “It has been a great error to publish to all the arguments wherewith opponents battle against the truth of God; for in so doing minds of every class are furnished with arguments which many of them had never thought of. Some one must render an account for this unwise generalship. “Arguments against the sacred truth, subtle in their influence, affect minds that are not well informed in regard to the strength of the truth. The moral sensibilities of the community at large are blunted by familiarity with sin, . . . so that God’s truth is not discerned. “In giving publicity to the erroneous arguments of our opponents, truth and error are placed upon a level in the minds of the people, when, if they could have the truth before them in its clearness long enough to see and realize its sacredness and importance, they would be convinced of the strong arguments in its favor, and would then be prepared to meet the arguments urged by opposers.”—“Gospel Workers,” pp. 379, 380. No, it is not always necessary to state a false position in order to refute it. Keep stating the truth, and the truth will expose the error every time. Do not put into the minds of our youth deadly weapons which may be turned to pierce their own hearts and yours. In a powerful sermon on the Bible, the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, London’s noted divine, sounds a strong note of warning on this point:— “There is never any necessity for Christian ministers to make a point of bringing forward infidel arguments in order to answer them. It is the greatest folly in the world. Infidels, poor creatures, do not know their own arguments till we tell them, and then they glean their blunted shafts to shoot them at the shield of truth again. It is folly to bring forward these firebrands of hell, even if we are well prepared to quench them. Let men of the world learn error of themselves; do not let us be propagators of their falsehoods. True, there are some preachers who are short of stock, and want them to fill up; but God’s own chosen men need not do that; they are taught of God, and God supplies them with matter, with language, with power.”—Sermons, First Series, 1858, pp. 27, 28. One more quotation from the pen of the servant of the Lord:— “Christ imparted only that knowledge which could be utilized. His instruction of the people was confined to the needs of their own condition in practical life. The curiosity that led them to come to him with prying questions, he did not gratify. All such questionings he made the occasion for solemn, earnest, vital appeals. To those who were so eager to pluck from the tree of knowledge, he offered the fruit of the tree of life. They found every avenue closed, except the narrow way that leads to God. Every fountain was sealed, save the fountain of eternal life.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, p. 310. Growing Prohibition Sentiment
It is claimed that there are 840 newspapers in the United States, published in the English language, which decline to accept the advertising of alcoholic liquors. This is an increase from 520 newspapers which abstained from liquor advertising in 1915. In several States, namely, Washington, Oklahoma, Oregon, West Virginia, North Dakota, Colorado, and Maine, laws are in operation which prohibit liquor advertising, and similar laws will soon go into effect in the States of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Mississippi. There are between sixty and seventy current magazines, weekly and monthly, which refuse to admit liquor advertisements into their columns, and it is claimed that every woman’s magazine published in this country takes this stand. In Canada the question of prohibition is attracting much attention. Recently 20,000 men and women with banners, brass bands, etc., marched to the parliament buildings in Toronto, carrying a petition with 800,000 names requesting legislation which will make Ontario dry. In British Columbia the premier has agreed to submit a referendum on the liquor question to the people before June 1. In other parts of the Dominion the question of prohibition is making steady progress, although in some provinces, like Saskatchewan, it has received the organized opposition of the liquor interests. Let the good work go on until every country shall be free from the curse of this body- and soul-destroying enemy of mankind. Seeing Christ Through Tears
“Ofttimes our rarest visions of Him come in hours of deep trial and sorrow. He answers our great needs in a great and adequate way. The rainbows play on falling rain, and our brightest halos glow about the Master as we see him through falling tears. There’s many another garden besides that of Bethany, where he has wept in sympathy with his friends.” A. T. ROBINSON
By A. T. Robinson
The Light of the World — No. 4
The world is once more in perishing need of a rekindling of the light of life. In these days, when this old world is groping upon the very border of the land of the shadow of death and destruction, the prophet declares, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Isa. 9:2. Once more is there a voice to be heard, not in Judea, nor in Germany alone, but sounded forth to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, summoning the people to a part in the closing conflict between the powers of light and darkness,—a conflict to end, not in the triumph of an Edict of Milan or a Declaration of Independence, but in eternal and everlasting victory. In the great threefold message of the everlasting gospel, of Revelation 14, God is shedding the last beams of gospel light that are ever to illumine this old sin-cursed earth. The apostle Paul, identifying himself with the people concerning whom he writes, says of the remnant church, “I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a theater unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Cor. 4:9, margin. The closing act in the great drama of human redemption is now being enacted. The last actors are upon the stage. God has been sending the light of this glorious message of salvation into the hearts of men and women because he wants to make them channels through which that light, undimmed, may be shed upon a lost world in full and final display. “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6. God has set his remnant church as his lighthouse upon the shore of time, to warn the storm-tossed mariner who is trying to make the harbor of eternal rest and safety, of the dangerous rocks and reefs of sin and destruction. How useless the lighthouse, even though costing many thousands of dollars, unless the light is kept burning to warn the mariner of dangers as he nears port. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.” Phil. 2:15, 16. The prophet, looking forward to the time when “the sinners in Zion are afraid,” and “fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites,” asks this solemn question, “Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” Then he answers the question in these words: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty.” Isa. 33:14-17. This closing message of the gospel is destined to prepare a people to live and rejoice amid the glories of the second advent, when all the wicked will “be destroyed by the brightness of his coming.” Jesus, when he comes, will present to himself “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but . . . holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27. The blessed Lord is waiting for such a church, through which his glory can shine undimmed; and just as soon as such a church is developed, he will come. This truth is expressed by the psalmist: “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come.” Ps. 50:2, 3. Speed on, O glorious message! Send thy blessed light into our hearts, until all sin and selfishness shall be consumed. Make us channels through which thy glorious light can shine into hearts darkened by sin. Hasten on to the dark corners of the earth, that every honest soul may quickly see thy light and the work be speedily finished. The Fifth Commandment
By Milton C. Wilcox
THE first commandment on the second table of stone reads: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.” Ex. 20: 12.10 The first four commandments pertain all to our duty to God, the last six to duty with our fellow men, and the first of these six to the highest and holiest relationship of earth. From duty to God, our heavenly Father, we are brought to our duty to our earthly parents. It has been aptly said that to do the fifth commandment is the religion of children. This presupposes godly parents who appreciate their responsibility in bringing children into the world, and standing in the place of God to those children till the young minds can grasp their duty to God. The parents’ duty to the child begins before the child is begotten. Oftentimes the parents are one or both unfitted to bear or rear children, and the child comes into the world fearfully handicapped. He often inherits from one or both parents very unamiable, unholy tendencies of disposition or desires. This often is gathered from a generation or two or three back, the result of sins of former generations. Traits in both parents are often intensified in the child. Are the parents nervous, irritable, and impatient; these traits may be manifest in the child in almost insane bursts of passion. All these things, and more, should be taken into account by the Christian father and mother; and if they have not planned before the child is born to give him a good inheritance, they should plan afterward to correct the evil and conserve and strengthen the good. First, then, let them look after the physical child. Let the formation of regular habits begin with a regular, generous, nourishing, body-building diet. Eliminate from that diet the stimulants, the sweets, the things that build unsatisfied appetites but do not furnish proper food. Let the feeding be regular, its frequency determined by the age of the child. There is a moral education in the formation of right habits, and it is the moral side of the child with, which this article deals. But the strong moral side must regard the physical basis. It is impossible to train the child right and neglect the body. The clean, strong body means a more easily obtained clean, strong mind. Teach the child to love the truly good things to eat and drink; to love the pure air, and the washing with water without and within. Help him to know that all these things are necessary to physical strength and health. This is not a paper on child care and diet; it merely notes the importance of these things, and every Christian parent should become intelligent regarding them. Books containing good instruction and advice abound. God’s Word and the Testimonies have abundance of instruction. Let the parents saturate themselves with the instruction that makes for better humanity. Begin early with the moral instruction of the child. He has a conscience; educate early and rightly according to the Word of God. For thus saith Jehovah, the covenant God, to thee, O parent: “Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words . . . shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” See Deut. 6: 5-9. Let the loving, living principle of God’s Word be a joy in your life that shall beget a joy in the lives of your children. Fill the child with this living truth, and it will suppress and eliminate the inherited evil traits and develop the physical and moral powers for good. The child Jesus was trained in the truths of the Scriptures, and it is a noteworthy fact that it was from the armory of Deuteronomy that he drew his effective defense against Satan’s assaults in the desert of temptation. See Matt. 4: 1-10. Above all things, live what you teach. Be a companion to your children. Play with them; talk with them; go with them; live the religion of Christ before them; be true to them. If you have lied before, never do it again. If you have sinned against them, be strong and brave and true to confess your sins. Make no rash promises; keep those you do make, if possible. Teach your children to trust you and confide in you. Provoke them not to wrath. Chastise if necessary, but in love and after prayer to God, considering your own infirmities and the inheritance you have given them. But do not neglect their training and discipline. See Eph. 6: 4; Col. 3: 21. “But,” you say, “this article is not on the fifth commandment; it does not tell the children their duty.” Yet, it is needed; for it is easier for the child to “honor” the father and the mother who are worthy of honor. If the parents live the right life, they will not need in severity to exact honor. God has honored the children by giving one commandment especially for them. Of course it is the duty of children to obey every commandment of the law. But when our promise-keeping heavenly Father preached that holy sermon from Mt. Sinai, he did not forget the children. He gave one commandment especially to them, and gave with it what he did not give with the others,—a promise. Children—little boys and girls, big boys and girls, young and old boys and girls—ought to listen when God speaks, and ought to obey what he commands. “Honor” your parents. You ought to respect them, but honor is more than respect. To be respectful is to listen attentively to what they say. When reproved, you should not “answer back.” When told of your faults by your parents, instead of rebelling, confess your faults. Your parents are your friends; your faults are your greatest enemies. Whether you call them father and mother, papa and mamma, or the old-fashioned “pa” and “ma,” let every one know that you honor your parents above all earthly friends. Honor them by being obedient. When either tells you to do something, do it promptly. Do not wait and wait and wait. Sending a sluggard, the wise man says, is like smoke to the eyes or strong acid to the teeth—it hurts; so does the slow, careless child hurt the one who depends upon him. Obey promptly, cheerfully, willingly. Listen to what the Bible says of those who broke this commandment in ancient times:— “He that revileth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” Ex. 21: 17. “Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.” Deut. 27: 16. Honor your parents by being kind to them. Father comes in weary from his work. Get him his easy-chair and slippers. Wait on him. Help mother to do the many little things. Do not wait to be told. Think of the things to be done before mother tells you. Surprise her by being thoughtful, loving, helpful. So also relieve father of little things. Let him see you can be trusted. Sometime the weary step of a tired father or mother will be heard no more. The heart which has been faithful to you all the years will cease to beat, and the hands will be clasped over the once-troubled heart, now still. The loved one cannot hear you speak, cannot help you any more in this life, can no longer be comforted by the kind, loving words you speak. Oh, say the kind words now! Say the loving words now. Do the kindly deed now. “Honor thy father and thy mother” now. Do not try to escape it by saying, “I must look after my own.” Your parents are your own; look after them. The Jews would give all their property to God in name, yet use it for themselves freely. But when asked to do for father or mother, they would say, “Corban” (given to God). It was not an excuse; it was a subterfuge. Be kind today, especially to father and mother, that the promise may be fulfilled to you: “That thy days may be long upon the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.” A Song of Cheer
By Elizabeth Wheeler
Hope on! though clouds hang darkly,
With silver they are lined;
Though lightnings flash and thunders
crash,
God’s voice is in the wind. Trust on! though danger threaten
Around, on every side,
Though tempest-tossed, and all seems
lost,
His hand will stay the tide. Pray on! the cross is heavy;
We fain would lay it down;
But He who led the path we tread,
Has said, “No cross, no crown.” Love on! the morn is breaking;
The long, dark night is o’er;
Heaven’s gate thrown wide, there’s joy
inside,
And peace forevermore.