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Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 16.

GOD'S WAY IS A GOOD WAY
Earlier text: Signs on the Earth

Secret Societies

By Ellen G. White

Their Influence Not Conducive to Spiritual Growth

MRS. E. G. WHITE
The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Cor. 6: 14), refers not only to the marriage of Christians with the ungodly, but to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from idolaters. They were not to intermarry with the heathen nor form any confederacy with them. “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Ex. 34: 12-14. “For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, . . . Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Deut. 7: 6-9.
Again the Lord declares through the prophet Isaiah:—
“Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Isa. 8: 9-13.
There are those who question whether it is right for Christians to belong to the Free Masons and other secret societies. Let all such consider the scriptures just quoted. If we are Christians at all, we must be Christians everywhere, and must consider and heed the counsel given to make us Christians according to the standard of God’s Word.
The people of God on earth are the human agents that are to cooperate with divine agencies for the salvation of men. To the souls that have joined themselves to him, Christ says, “You are one with me, laborers together with God.” God is the great and unperceived actor; man is the humble and seen agent, and it is only in cooperation with the heavenly agencies that he can do anything good. It is only as the mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit that men discern the divine agency. Hence Satan is constantly seeking to divert minds from the divine to the human, that man may not cooperate with heaven. He directs the attention to human inventions, leading men to trust in man, to make flesh their arm, so that their faith does not take hold upon God. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt. 6: 22, 23. And when our light becomes darkness, how shall we be a light to the world?
The work of our personal salvation also depends upon our cooperation with the divine agencies. God has imparted to us moral powers and religious susceptibilities. He has given his Son as a propitiation for our sins, that we might be reconciled to God. Jesus lived a life of self-denial and sacrifice, that we might follow his example. He has given the Holy Spirit to be in Christ’s stead in every place where help is needed. He employs the heavenly intelligences to bring divine power to combine with our human efforts. But we must accept the gift of God, we must repent, and believe in Christ. We must watch, we must pray, we must obey the requirements of God. We must practice self-denial and self-sacrifice for Christ’s sake. We must grow up into Christ by constant connection with him.
Whatever turns the mind away from God to trust in man, or conform to a human standard, will prevent us from cooperating with God in the work of our own salvation. This is why the Lord forbade his people to form any alliance with the heathen, “lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.” He said, “They will turn away thy son from following me.” And the same principle applies to the association of Christians with the ungodly.
When we accepted Christ as our Redeemer, we accepted the condition of becoming laborers together with God. We made a covenant with him to be wholly for the Lord; as faithful stewards of the grace of Christ, to labor for the upbuilding of his kingdom in the world. Every follower of Christ stands pledged to dedicate all his powers, of mind and soul and body, to him who has paid the ransom money for our souls. We engaged to be soldiers, to enter into active service, to endure trials, shame, reproach, to fight the fight of faith, following the Captain of our salvation.
In your connection with worldly societies are you keeping your covenant with God? Do these associations tend to direct your own mind or that of others to God, or are they diverting the interest and attention from him? Do they strengthen your connection with the divine agencies, or turn your mind to the human in place of the divine?
Are you serving, honoring, and magnifying God, or are you dishonoring him and sinning against him? Are you gathering with Christ, or scattering abroad? All the thought and plan and earnest interest devoted to these organizations have been purchased by the precious blood of Christ; but are you doing service for him when uniting yourselves with atheists and infidels, men who profane the name of God, tipplers, drunkards, tobacco devotees?
While there may be in these societies much that appears to be good, there is, mingled with this, very much that makes the good of no effect, and renders these associations detrimental to the interests of the soul. We have another life than that which is sustained by temporal food. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” Jesus said, “Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.”
Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink. And as in the natural, so in the spiritual economy; it is that which our minds dwell upon which sustains the spiritual nature. Our Saviour said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6: 23. Spiritual life must be sustained by communion with Christ through his Word. The mind must dwell upon it, the heart must be filled with it.
The word of God laid up in the heart and sacredly cherished and obeyed, through the power of the grace of Christ, can make man right and keep him right; but every human influence, every earthly invention, is powerless to give strength and wisdom to man. It cannot restrain passion, or correct deformity of character. Unless the truth of God controls the heart, the conscience will be warped. But in these worldly societies the mind is turned away from the Word of God. Men are not led to make it the study and the guide of life.—Bible Students’ Library.
(To be continued)

The Harm of Nagging

“To correct the bad habits of others, is often to form a bad habit yourself. A nagging disposition is natural to few; it comes from tired nerves, or from supersensitiveness, or from a too free indulgence in sharp criticism—which is likely to lead a person into a minute and harassing scrutiny of the life about him. So long as criticism does not react unfavorably either on the critic or on the criticized, it is beneficial; but when it is accompanied by a sense of impatience in the one and of resentment in the other, it becomes nagging, and should be dropped.”

The Value of Kindness

I WONDER why it is that we are not all kinder than we are. How much the world needs it! How easily it is done! How infallibly it is remembered! How superabundantly it pays itself back! For there is no debtor in the world so honorable, so superbly honorable, as love. “Love never faileth.”—Professor Drummond.

The Infinite Purity and Loveliness of Our Saviour

THE less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour.—“Steps to Christ.”

The Kingdom of God and Individual Members

“THE kingdom of God comes to a community only so far as it comes to the individual members of the community.”

Progress in South India

By J. S. James

J. S. JAMES
The year 1915 has been one of blessing and progress for our work, and for the workers laboring in this part of the vineyard. One or more baptisms have been held at every station where the work has been established any length of time. At Nazareth, our oldest station, three baptismal services have been held, adding fourteen to the membership. Brother E. D. Thomas, our Indian evangelist in charge, has worked faithfully and hard, and the Spirit of God has witnessed liberally to his efforts. He writes that others are interested in the truth, and another baptism is contemplated in the near future. Mrs. Thomas, aside from her duties as mother and housekeeper, has engaged in Bible work among the women in the village, carried regular teaching work in the school, and conducted a special class for wives and mothers who wish to learn to read and write.
Two baptismal services have been held at Pondicherry, where we have a Tamil church established in a French colony. Ten have been added to their number, and Brother Devasayaham, our Indian evangelist in charge, writes that others who are studying with him will soon be ready to go forward. Here, too, Mrs. Devasayaham has joined her husband, laboring in the interests of the women and children in their homes. This is a very important work, contributing largely to the success and healthy growth of every company or church. What a blessing it is that the wives of these workers can thus join their husbands in uplifting and advancing the spiritual and moral conditions of their respective communities.
From Coimbatore, Pastor G. G. Lowry sends word of the baptism of five candidates during the Christmas holidays. One of these, Mrs. Sighamoni, is the wife of the preceptor of the training school, who has been a faithful worker with us the past three years. After a severe struggle with an enlightened conscience and a keen sense of duty, she at last yielded willing obedience to the Lord, put off her jewels, which were an idol and a stumblingblock to her, as to every Indian woman, and is now taking a genuine heart interest in the work to which her husband has given his life. The other four candidates were advanced students in training in the school.
Last October I baptized a Brother Jacob, at Ongole, in the Telugu field. Our work is just beginning in that great language area, Brother Jacob being the first Telugu to receive baptism in his home country.
MALAYALIM BELIEVERS AND INQUIRERS, TRAVANCORE, SOUTH INDIA
MALAYALIM BELIEVERS AND INQUIRERS, TRAVANCORE, SOUTH INDIA
Nothing else does our hearts so much good as to see the gospel soldiers laying siege to new strongholds, and claiming friends and adherents for Christ in the untouched fields. Two large language areas have opened to us in this mission the past year, of which I must write briefly.
Every year many Indians of southern India seek employment outside their native country, traveling as far as south Africa, Burma, Singapore, Java, and Sumatra. Two Telugu men, named Solomon and Benjamin, while working in Burma, heard the present truth, accepted it fully, and were baptized. Later the Spirit turned them back to their homes here in India, where they began working for their friends and the people in the surrounding villages. They were then joined by Brother Jacob, mentioned above, who had heard of the truth before, but had not yielded himself to it.
These brethren succeeded in arousing considerable interest by their work; but owing to a lack of systematic training and deeper study of the truth, it was thought their value to the cause would be greatly enhanced by some training in the school for Indian workers, just started in Lucknow. As all three men have a good grasp of the English language, they could be sent for training to the school at Lucknow, which is conducted entirely in English. At the same time a nephew of Brother Solomon's, and another young man of the same neighborhood, entered the school at Coimbatore, in this field. Upon the return of these workers to the Telugu field, providence permitting, we shall resume an aggressive campaign in the largest language area in our mission. Twenty million Telugus are waiting to hear this message. We are thankful that we have forces in training, and a literature in preparation, that will not keep them waiting long.
The second field to be entered this year lies in the southwestern part of our territory, and includes the native states of Travancore and Cochin. Malayalam is the language spoken by six million people in this section. There is a very close resemblance in many respects between Tamil and Malayalam, although they are two very distinct languages. About four years ago one of our first colporteurs began circulating Tamil tracts and giving Bible readings among some Malayalam people who understood Tamil. As a result, a number became interested in the truths we teach, and two men went to Nazareth to attend a series of meetings held by Brother Thomas. Later these men were baptized, and returned to their native country to teach the truth to others. God has blessed their labors, and they now send me the accompanying picture of those who have covenanted together to walk in all the truth taught them. They ask for an experienced worker to come and give them further instruction and organize a church. The man sitting in front is Brother Abel, the leader. His wife sits by his side. The second man from the left in the row seated is Brother Daniel. Both these men have been baptized, and Brother Abel attended our colporteurs' institute held in Trichinopoli last July. He is anxious to train some of these men to sell our literature.
We have been able to reopen the outstation about eight miles east of Nazareth, which we had to abandon five years ago on account of the leader's death. Brother Santhanam, who was then acting as the assistant, is now in charge. Recently his little daughter was taken away by death, which has been a severe blow to the family. He writes that a number are earnestly studying the truth, and some are ready for baptism.
From all the field comes news of progress and good courage, and the Lord is going before the workers day by day to help them. There is greater earnestness on the part of all the believers to do something in the work. Home missionary work is proving a blessing to every individual. There is a greater faithfulness in tithe paying, and not a few distinct personal sacrifices have been made in contributing to various funds. Truly we have entered into the loud cry of the message, and the Spirit of the Lord is being poured out in large measure into the hearts of those who are now being called at the eleventh hour.

East China Mission

By O. A. Hall

O. A. HALL
Another year has just passed, and with it another biennial period of work for the East China Mission. We are led to praise God for his goodness, and for the measure of success which has attended the work during this period.
The second biennial council of this mission was held at Nanking, the headquarters of the East China Mission, January 8-15. There were present at this meeting all but two of the evangelistic workers of east China, together with about twenty of our faithful colporteurs who had been gathered in for institute work previously to the opening of the council. This was the first union meeting held for the workers of the three provinces, and it was a pleasant and profitable occasion. The feeling was expressed by the Chinese workers that it was the best meeting they had attended, as it gave them a broader view of the work, and better ideas of how it should be done.
Reports from all parts of the field showed progress. The membership has more than doubled during the biennial period. A number of new stations have been opened. Work was begun in the province of Shantung the past year, and there is now a good company of commandment keepers in Chifu, where Brother Lillie is laboring. Other interests have sprung up in different places, which will be developed during the coming year. Five promising young men, some of the first converts to the message in Shantung, are now in the training school, preparing to go back to their native province to help in carrying the truth to the thirty-eight million who have not yet had opportunity to hear.
It was encouraging to note that at this biennial meeting about three times as many delegates were seated as in the previous meeting, the workers then numbering nineteen, and now fifty-five.
As the needs of the work were considered, all felt that the subject of tithes and offerings should be constantly kept before the churches and companies this year, with the aim of raising a definite portion of our expenditures. The Sabbath school department also set a definite amount to be raised this year toward the support of the mission work, which, if realized, will bring in a much larger sum than has been received in any one year.
But best of all, it was the earnest desire of each worker that this year more precious souls might be brought to the saving knowledge of the truth than ever before, and with this aim they went from the meeting, praying that they might have power to lead many to the Saviour.
Nanking.

North Central China — An Outlook

By Frederick Lee

FREDERICK LEE
“Go work today in my vineyard.” This command was given by Christ nineteen hundred years ago, but many who have heard the call have felt that he did not mean them. Now in the eleventh hour of the world’s history, in the time of the ripening grain of the last great harvest, Christ again bids his church, “Go,” and gently rebukes them for standing idle. Who then can say, I have no call to go to a foreign field? It is rather the call to stay that one should listen for, and if he hears it not, Christ’s call should still ring in his ears, “Go!”
Perhaps some do not know of the great and needy fields of the world, so do not know where to go. If one should see a field, large and fertile, with full, waving grain ready and waiting for the harvest, and as he looked upon it should see no laborers, I am sure he could not but be impressed that that was the place to which he was called to go. Did not Christ say that where the harvest was great, and the laborers were few, we should pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers? And should we not pray, “Here am I; send me”?
Near the close of another year I send greetings from just such a field as is pictured above. It is a field which covers the north central portion of China, including four provinces. It is one which is already white for the harvest. And yet in this vast field of seventy-seven million there are but two foreign families to hold up the standard of present truth.
There is now active work in only one of these four provinces, that is in Honan. The work was started in this province about two years ago. Six years ago, when there were about thirty church members and the workers were few, there were seven foreign adults here. But since then the number of foreigners has been gradually decreased to four, while the membership has increased to three hundred and forty, and the native workers to seventy. Surely more help should be sent to this province as soon as possible.
Calls are now coming in from the three provinces, Shan-si, Shen-si, and Chi-li. In these provinces no work has been done, except that done by our canvassers; yet there are already small companies keeping the Sabbath, and in many places there are persons who are most favorable to this message. These are the provinces which suffered most during the Boxer trouble. In them are hundreds of Christian Chinese who, though once earnest, have become lukewarm in their religion. They are dissatisfied with the man-made doctrines of professed Christianity, and are looking for a new and living doctrine, one which has power and is in harmony with the Scriptures.
In Shan-si, around Pastor Hsi’s places of labor, are a score of little companies without a spiritual leader. This summer one of our evangelists traveled among these people, and there was not one place that did not greet him and gladly hear the truths of this message. In some places he left companies who promised to keep the Sabbath. In south Chi-li there are already two companies keeping the Sabbath.
From a place five hundred miles to the east of us, in Shen-si, comes the most urgent call. Last year one of our canvassers went there to sell papers. The interest was so great that he stayed nearly a year. The result was that many heard the truth with great joy. At one place, called Gospel Village, which consists of two hundred Christians, there is a special interest. Three men from this place traveled the five hundred miles in order to attend our Honan general meeting. Of the two hundred and fifty present at that gathering, none were more earnest listeners than these three men. One of them is an ordained minister, another is a local elder, and the other is a man who has donated a large plot of land to the mission, upon which to build a church. These men, now church members, have returned to witness to the saving power of this truth. Soon I believe there will be scores of believers in these provinces; but they are without a shepherd, without one to keep their lights trimmed and burning.
If we are to reap this great harvest in north central China, we must go soon. Now is the opportune time. We are asking for one more family to help us with the ever-increasing work in Honan. Is it too much to expect help soon? And in view of the existing needs, is it too early to be planning to enter these provinces immediately surrounding us? To us who are in China, and to any who can comprehend the picture of this land waiting for the soul-stirring truths of this message, it is not too much to expect that in the next year or two those coming to China will not be counted by the tens, but by the scores.

Divine Providence in Punishment and Reward

“THE providence which punishes is just as divine as the providence which rewards.”

Self-Control Is Greater Than Kingship

HE who reigns within himself, and rules passions, desires, and fears, is more than a king.—Milton.

Soul-Winning in Najibabad

PAUL plants, Apollos waters, but God gives the increase. This is the science of soul-winning. In Najibabad, north India, the workers set their goal the first of last year to win at least ten souls to the message in that part of India. Their faith and labors and prayers are answered, as five were baptized early in the year, while five others were expecting to receive this ordinance in December. We work according to our faith, and God’s rule of answering seems to be, “According to your faith be it unto you.”

Home Ministry

By Mrs. W. W. Fletcher

MRS. W. W. FLETCHER
No more important work is ever given to mankind than that committed to fathers and mothers. Do we realize the truth of this statement? or do we admit it, and then place almost everything else really first?
One mother understood something of the sacredness of her work, and how ready children are to receive and apply religious instruction. When her six-year-old girl came with a picture, asking, “Why is Jesus standing there, mamma? What is he doing?” she took time, while the child was interested, to answer her questions. Very simply the story was told, how Jesus stands at the door of the heart, and knocks for admission. “Can’t Jesus open the door?” asked the child.
“There is no latch on the outside,” was the reply; “it must be opened by the owner of the house. It is just the same with our hearts—he will never come in if we do not want him to come. We must invite him in, and open the door to receive him.”
Then, to impress the lesson, the mother sang, “Knocking, knocking, who is there?” and when the lines came,— “ Yes, the wounded hand still knocketh, And beneath the thorn-wreathed hair Beam the patient eyes so tender Of thy Saviour waiting there; Wilt thou keep him waiting there?” the child’s eyes filled with tears, and she exclaimed, “Mother, I don’t want to keep him out. I want him to come in now. How can I undo the door?”
Drawing the child gently to her, the mother said, “Jesus wants to come in, and you want him. Let us tell him so.” Then together they knelt, and in a broken voice a childish prayer was uttered, asking Jesus to come in.
Was it worth while to take time right then to tell the story? Will that child ever forget the impression made on her heart in that hour?
“No other work can equal the mother’s in importance. She has not, like the artist, to paint a form of beauty on canvas, nor like the sculptor to chisel it from marble. She has not, like the author, to embody a noble thought in words of his power, nor like the musician to express a beautiful sentiment in melody. It is granted to her, with the help of God, to develop in a human soul the likeness of the divine.”

CARRIE KNIGHT

By Carrie Knight

Home

CARRIE KNIGHT

WHAT restful memories cluster around this word! We measure distance by its hearthstone; for—
“Home is where the heart is, Lie it east, or lie it west; And the heart is with the loved ones In the old home nest.”
Home has been defined as a mirror which shows both sides of its occupants; but there we find true friends, for they “know all about us, and love us just the same.”
In the State of California stands a magnificently furnished mansion. Many servants and much money were required to keep the house and grounds in order when the lady who built it was alive. The man who fell heir to the property, failing to dispose of it, at last opened it to the public as a show place, and among the many visitors who came to admire it was a mother with her little boy. As they were leaving, she said, “Well, son, what do you think of this for a home?” “Oh, it’s grand!” he replied; “but, mother, where is the home?” He realized that—
“Home’s not merely four square walls, Though with pictures hung and gilded; Home is where affection calls, Filled with shrines the heart hath builded. Home! go watch the faithful dove Darting ’neath the heavens above us: Home is where there’s one to love, Home is where there’s one to love us.”
“Home’s not merely root and room, Needs it something to endear it; Home is where the heart can bloom, Where there’s some kind lip to cheer it. What is home with none to meet, None to welcome, none to cheer us? Home is sweet and only sweet Where there’s one to love and meet us.”
God established the first home, and although the branches of the trees were its walls, and the blue sky its roof, it was home in the truest sense, for love was there. Its inmates were supremely happy until sin separated them from the love of God; and today we can still trace the results of sin in the severed home ties, the broken hearts, the worry, discontent, and selfishness to be found on every side.
While waiting for a train recently, I noticed a lady sitting at the other side of the station. There were plenty of rockers in the rest room, and in a secluded corner a sofa invited the tired traveler. But she sat bolt upright in a straight-backed chair, her arms filled with bundles, and a hard, uncompromising expression on her face. I thought, How often home is robbed of its peace, and jarring notes come in, because we choose to hug our perplexities in place of heeding the admonition, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord,” and knowing for ourselves the blessedness of the promise, “He shall sustain thee.” Let us be brave enough to say with Paul, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content,” and do our part to make home the happiest, sweetest, most pleasant and restful place in the world for those who share it with us.
Harrisburg, Oregon.

Training Children

By Mrs. J. J. Watts

MRS. J. J. WATTS
WHAT you want your children to be you must be yourself. This truth has passed into a proverb: “Like father, like son; like mother, like daughter.” Do not fear to show your love and appreciation; be as ready to say “If you please” and “Thank you” to your children as to older persons or to strangers. By a spirit of courage and good cheer show them the joys of service. Be firm in exacting obedience. No one likes children who do not know how to mind promptly. Do not nag. Many little faults and failings should be apparently overlooked, yet they must be corrected in a tactful way. This will require much prayer and study. Guide your children in selecting the proper associates, and make home and home pleasures so attractive that they will not care to “run the streets” or visit amusement places of questionable character.
God alone can help you as mothers to be patient and faithful; God alone can give you wisdom to meet the many perplexities which are your daily lot. But he has promised never to leave nor forsake, and we may call on him in every hour of need. If the parents work harmoniously in the training of their children, the work will be much easier. May God help us to live consistent lives, that we may successfully lead the lambs of the flock into his service.

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

By Worthie Harris Holden

Trust

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

The world is cold, and the world is wide; But with my Friend ever by my side, I can smile at the winds that fiercely blow, With their icy breath and the driven snow, Or the tempest’s heaving tide.
The world is fickle, and brief is fame; But Faithful and True my Beloved’s name, And close in his arms I can safely rest, Though amid earth’s woe and the fear-distressed; For he ever loves the same.
The world is sick, and the world is old; But youth of the ages will e’er unfold, To sustain in the glorious courts above, Where abide forever rest, home, and love, Such as mortals ne’er behold.

Home Life Department

By Mrs. I. H. Evans; Miss Lora E. Clement

Conducted by Mrs. I. H. Evans, Takoma Park, Washington D. C.
Assisted by Miss Lora E. Clement
Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.

Do You “Overwork” Your Baby?

By A. M. Hughes, M. D.

If your baby is fretful, cries too much, does not keep down his milk as he should, and is becoming thin and pale, the chances are very great that you are overworking him.
“Overworking” is a phrase of my own, and needs a little explanation. By it I mean that you try to amuse the baby too much, or perhaps you are amusing yourself under the guise of amusing him. The best way to make clear just what I mean is to relate an actual experience (and there are altogether too many of such experiences) which I saw in a home whose pride and joy was a chubby little chap fast being made a nervous wreck.
I had called at the noon hour to attend another member of the family. The father came in from work, and straightway made for baby’s crib, where the youngster sat quietly playing with his toes.
“Chick-a-choo, chick-a-choo! How’s daddy’s big man today?” inquired the father, and with every “chick” and every “choo” he jabbed his finger into baby’s ribs. Then he picked him up, and tossed him high. Then he hung the poor little thing in the crook of his arm, and bored into him with his nose and bristly mustache.
The baby puckered his little face, squirmed, gasped, and began to cry.
Later big sister came in from school, and proceeded to trot baby on her none-too-plump knee. Up and down she trotted him, and chanted something about “Ride a gray horse to Danbury Cross.” Baby stopped smiling. His breath began to come “ug-ug-ug” with every jounce. The knee hurt him, and he proceeded to cry again.
And then an aunt played with him for a while, and the hired man came in and tickled baby’s feet, and brother danced a paper so close to baby’s eyes that he almost looked cross-eyed at it. Mother took him up when the others had got well into their meal and she had a free moment. Baby was fretful and hungry, especially hungry, but before feeding him she jounced him up and down, dandled him on her knee, made him “shake a da-da” to every one at the table, shaking his tender little arm until his tiny wrist must have ached. By the time she got him well jounced up and thoroughly upset, she proceeded to feed him. It took him five minutes to become quiet; and the milk he took during that five minutes did not digest at all. It never does under such circumstances. Father tossed him up again before he left, and chucked him in his tiny ribs until he was crying lustily. Grandma came out. She hobbled over to her son, and took the baby away from him.
“You won’t have any baby if you jounce him all the time!” she exclaimed.
“But he won’t keep quiet,” protested his mother.
“Just you give him a chance!” said grandma, and she put baby down on the floor on a quilt, up against a pillow. In about ten minutes baby was cooing, and looking about and playing with his toes. He was just beginning to get comfortable.
Then I chipped in with this dear, old-fashioned grandmother, and told them all, from little brother up through the list, that they were overworking this baby—they were shaking him up inside, actually hurting his little legs and arms and ribs, and especially the end of his tiny, weak spine, by jouncing him.
“You call it amusing this baby,” I said, “but you are really amusing yourselves by handling him so much and so roughly. If you really love him, give him a chance to grow. If you have any imagination, sit down for a moment, and imagine that a great big giant three or four times as tall as any of you, came along and tossed you up in the air, and jounced you on his knee, and poked you in the ribs, and snuggled his great hairy face down into your neck, and repeated this about twenty times a day. Just picture this to yourself. That’s what is happening to your baby. Give him a chance!” I know they call me a “grouchy old doctor,” but the talk had a good effect. I have told hundreds of other parents the same thing.
You can love your baby without hurting him. Remember, he is very tender; all his bones are mostly gristle, all his internal organs are only partly developed. When you toss him around and shake him up, you are doing him a great injury.
Given plenty of food, dry clothes, and a clean, cheerful, well-ventilated room, baby will sit down on a blanket, braced up against a pillow, or remain in a baby pen, and amuse himself an hour at a time by the very simple means of plucking at his toes and pounding on the blanket with his chubby fist.
Babies keep extremely busy naturally. They have many muscles to exercise, many joints to strengthen, and a great amount of growing to do. Good old Mother Nature tells them how to do this in the best way. Now when it comes to “coochy-cooing” baby by poking him in the ribs with a finger, or tossing him up in the air, or grabbing hold of his dress at his stomach and playfully shaking him as you would a puppy, you are not amusing him in the least. You are abusing him, overworking him, and getting him so that he cannot be left alone a moment.
I do not mean to let the baby entirely alone. It is natural to want to hold the baby, to pat his little hand, to play with his pink little toes, to take him out in your arms for a “walk” in the garden; and these things are all right in their way. It is the overdoing it that makes the trouble. If the right sort of start is made, if baby is not tossed and mauled about all the time at the beginning, he will amuse himself far better than an adult can amuse him, and he will not cry so long as he is perfectly healthy, has dry clothes, and is not hungry.—A. M. Hughes, M. D.

The Left-Handed Child

A MOTHER having a boy eleven years of age who is left-handed, inquires whether he ought to be trained to use his right hand. Probably not. Nature apparently intended that left-handed children should continue to use the left hand. Ambidextrous children do not, speaking generally, develop so satisfactorily or reach so high a standard mentally as children who use principally one hand, either right or left.
A right-handed child has the left hemisphere of the brain developed better than the right hemisphere. Just the reverse is true with the left-handed child. Now, it appears that it is better for an individual to have one hemisphere of the brain very well developed than to have both hemispheres only moderately developed. That is to say, a right-handed individual will accomplish more if he continues to be right-handed than if he cultivates ambidexterity. The same is true of the left-handed child.
Of course, left-handed children are handicapped in some of the situations of daily life. Tools are generally made to be used with the right hand. The dining table is laid on the supposition that diners will use the right hand. Our system of writing is based on right-handedness, and the left-hander is at some disadvantage in this respect. But a boy who has reached the age of eleven, and who is markedly left-handed, probably never could gain such a mastery of the right hand as would enable him to be at ease or be efficient in its use. The attempt to teach him to write with his right hand, would probably cause degeneration of his handwriting. He never could develop a high degree of skill with his right hand, and his left hand would actually lose its skill.—Selected.
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