p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 32. (8/20/1912)

A Weekly Rest Day Demanded

By Editor

THE despatches announced a few days ago that when the new Progressive Party would meet in its first convention in Chicago it would declare itself in favor of a weekly rest day, and so we find among the utterances of the leading spokesmen of that convention this statement: "We hold that the seven-day working week is abnormal, and we hold that one day of rest in seven should be provided by law."

This statement commits the new party to this doctrine. For half a century and more the people that this paper represents have been teaching the world that we would yet come to a time when there would be a universal demand, not merely nationwide, but world-wide, for a Sunday law. We have based our prediction upon the prophecy that is found in the last part of the thirteenth chapter of Revelation. We have frequently given expositions of that prophecy through the columns of this paper. We have given it through our books, tracts, and pamphlets, and have circulated the matter as widely as we could all through the world. We firmly believe in the prophecy, and we firmly believe that it will be fulfilled in a short time.

A few days ago one of the editors of this paper was asked to meet a number of gentlemen in San Francisco who are working for a Sunday law here in California. The meeting was a very friendly one, and those who are working for the law desired to reach some basis of compromise by which our opposition to Sunday laws in general could be withdrawn; but when we stated to them our convictions, and told them where we stood on this prophecy, they saw at once that we could not withdraw our opposition to such laws and still remain true to the principles upon which we base our convictions. To yield on this point would be equivalent to committing the crime of high treason against the Almighty Himself. We believe that He has uttered the prophecy, and we believe that the agitation which is becoming more and more general for a weekly rest-day law is in direct fulfilment of that prophecy.

Now in making this statement, we wish to affirm that we are strongly in favor of a weekly rest day, but we believe that the only one who can properly promulgate a weekly rest day is the Jehovah of the Bible, the mighty Creator of the universe, and He has proclaimed a weekly rest-day law. That law provides that the seventh day, commonly called Saturday, shall be observed in commemoration of His great creative power. We observe that day, we seek to show its binding obligation, proving it clearly from Scripture, but we do not want a civil or human law compelling us or any one else to observe that day.

We deny that it is right for any nation to take under its supervision one whole seventh part of the time of its citizens. The Declaration of Independence affirmed, at the laying of the corner-stone of this republic, that we hold it to be self-evident that men are possessed of certain inalienable rights, and among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A man can not possess his life if he is not at liberty to spend his time in any lawful manner that he may choose, and no nation has a right to make a law to compel a man to spend one whole seventh part of his time in idleness.

This affirmation of the new political party is ominous and significant. We are perfectly aware of the fact that some people will call us narrow, that some will say that we are bigoted, and that some people will say that we are cranks in affirming such things as this, but we have been affirming it for fifty years. The events of the times are marching rapidly toward the fulfilment of the prophecy. We believe it with all our hearts, and we are desirous of letting the world know that we believe it, and why we believe it. We are desirous of letting the world know the ground upon which we base our opposition to every movement that will exalt the Sunday institution. T.

The Great Turkish Earthquake

By T.

One of the greatest earthquakes of modern times has just occurred in Turkey. It covered a vast area, and hundreds are said to be killed, and thousands are rendered homeless. Ganos-Hora was wiped out entirely, eighty persons being killed and thirty or more wounded. Immediately after the quake the debris took fire, and most of the wrecked buildings were burned. Shar-Koi was destroyed and two villages near were swallowed up. Tchorlu was only partially destroyed by the earthquake and the fire that followed. Eye-witnesses in the vicinity of the Dardanelles give harrowing descriptions of what they saw.

The majority of the houses in the Gallipoli are in ruins, and the people are camping in the fields. Tchanak-Kalessi is in an equally bad plight, but the loss of life in the two latter places is slight, altho the injured are many. War-ships anchored in the Dardanelles were shaken like the leaves on the trees. It was thought at first that the tremor was due to the action of the Italian torpedo-boats, but the true cause was soon learned. The captain of the American steamer Virginia reports that the lighthouse at Ganos-Hora, in the Sea of Marmora, has disappeared, and that the villages in the surrounding country are in flames. He was unable to anchor and render assistance, because of the "violent movement of the sea." The inspired Book pictures the earth as reeling to and fro in violent commotion just like a drunk man immediately before the end of time. Keep these Scripture statements in mind as you note the increasing frequency and violence of earthquake and storm. T.

"They Pray to Strike Him Dead"

By Editor

A VERY unusual scene was witnessed on Tower Hill a few days ago, where 20,000 London dockers that were out on a strike assembled for the purpose of unitedly repeating a prayer against Lord Devonport. The leader of the strikers, Ben Tillett, is said to have solemnly repeated the prayer, and those assembled followed him in unison. They prayed, "O God, strike Lord Devonport dead."

Lord Devonport is chairman of the "Port of London authority," a branch of the government which has control of the docks, and everything else related to that port. He has insisted that the strikers surrender unconditionally, and the bulk of the men have refused to do this.

Devonport made a fortune as a grocer, and subscribed large sums to the Liberal party funds, and in due season he was made a peer. He at one time held a minor post in the Cabinet, when Campbell-Bannerman was prime minister. He is said to be obstinately determined to crush the men, and they are just as determined that they will not be crushed. And the untold distress which the strike has brought upon the strikers and their families is causing much desperate feeling, as can readily be seen by the prayer offered. There is talk now that a general strike of transport workers will be declared as the result.

The intensity of these strikes, and the spirit of violence that is becoming more and more apparent, make it clearer every day that we are in the time just preceding the second coming of Christ, so literally and so definitely foretold by prophecy. These conditions, which have been growing worse and worse during the last three or four decades, will continue to grow in intensity until there will be the most awful scenes of violence. The Lord will come in the midst of it, to save those who are ready to meet Him. We have set this matter forth over and over again in these columns. The sure word of prophecy is our guide in making these positive statements.

Bible Version Notice

By Editor

Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Revised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American Standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.

For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

Question Corner	PAGE
3829—The Holy Spirit a Personality; 3830 —How Many Books? Rev. 20:12; 3831— Burned and Saved, 1 Cor. 3:15; 3832— Abode of the Fallen Angels; 3833—"I Am a Worm;" 3834—Moses and Paul; 3835 —Destroyed Without Judgment	2

| Our Bible Band | 2 |

Editorial	PAGE
Up to Jerusalem	3
Proselyting	4
"A Name to Live"	4
Counterfeit and Genuine	4
Notes	11, 16

General	PAGE
Harmony with Apostate Powers a Sign of Enmity to God	5
A Spiritual Autobiography — I	6
Our Saviour and Lord	7
"That They Might Understand"	8
Union of Church and State	9

Our Bible Reading	PAGE
The Law of God	9

The Outlook	PAGE
Definite and Accurate Fulfilment of Prophecy	10
Appealing to the People	10

Home and Fireside	PAGE
Habits That Cause Homeliness	12
The Lady and the Little Dog	12
The Change	12
Dedication of Portland Branch, Pacific Press Publishing Assn.	13
Book Notices	13

Poetry	PAGE
The Sabbath	5
"Not All Sleep"	6
Give Him Thy Heart	7

F. M. Burg Elected Conference President

Pastor F. M. Burg, who has served as Bible teacher for a number of years in Union College, has just been elected at the Glendale conference and camp-meeting for president of the Southern California Conference.

Suit Against the Billboard Trust

Attorney-General Wickersham has filed a suit in Chicago to dissolve the Post Advertising Association, which is the name under which the Bill Board Trust operates. It has agencies in all the large cities of the nation, and practically controls that class of advertising.

Wealthy Men in White Slavery

It seems incredible that wealthy business men should be found in the "white slave" traffic. But the arrest of a wealthy jeweler in San Francisco a few days ago on the charge of this infamous crime shows the inroads that it is making in the so-called "best society."

Memory Text for the Week

John 6:35

"Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."

Mexican Rebels Raid Texas Ranches

Mexican rebels raided some of the ranches in Texas on August 9. There has been much heated urging of the State Department to take a hand in the Mexican broil that has been in progress now for more than a year. Things of this kind will add fuel to the flame.

Trials of Fifty-Four Labor Leaders

The trials of the fifty-four labor leaders that were arrested about the time of the McNamara confessions have been set for the first of October in the Federal Court at Indianapolis, Indiana.