A TRADER of Mukden, Manchuria, is credited with the following statement concerning the Russian retreat from that place:
Officers came in from the front, went to the restaurants and drank themselves stupid. Officers and men senseless with vodka were piled in the waiting trains. Chinese servants threw their drunken masters in carts like so much wood and started them north. We finally reached Tie Pass, but still there was no rest. Tie Pass had been a great place before—music, lots to drink, many traders, many women. Now it was all upside down. The retreating soldiers looted all the shops and sold the stuff to their comrades. Champagne at a ruble a bottle, brandy, gin, rum, everything as cheap as water.
Another statement of the Russian Government's general disregard of the welfare of her soldiers, as given in the Philadelphia Ledger, is as follows:
The Russians left their wounded to die and their well men to suffer, because the hospital and medical services were insufferably equipped and handled, and because the hospital and other looters had stolen or sequestered the supplies.
With this let us compare a paragraph from the Christian Statesman, referring to the Japanese:
The Japanese military ministration has been a model of efficiency and economy. One of their leaders said at the outbreak of the war: "We propose largely to eliminate disease as a factor in this contest." And they have done so. A very small fraction of the Japanese soldiers have died of preventive diseases, while the percentage of the wounded who have failed to recover has been wonderfully small. This has been due, as competent observers declare, not only to scientific methods of treatment, but to the integrity with which the service has been administered.
Here we have a marked contrast between the humanity manifested by a country in which a heathen religion prevails and the moral degeneracy of a nominal Christian church-and-state government. From this, as Emperor William of Germany says, "we must not draw the conclusion that Buddha is stronger than our Lord Christ." The Russian Government and the Russian army and navy do not in any true sense represent Christianity. That government is an illustration of a government largely influenced by a church called Christian, yet whose worship is as idolatrous as that of Buddhism.
The ancient government of Papal Rome and that of Russia are two gigantic monuments of the folly and wickedness, the terribly degenerating influence, of any attempt to make any kind of religion a controlling element in secular government. These two governments demonstrate to what extent even the Christian religion—the best the world ever has known—may be prostituted by endeavoring to make it a dictator or arbiter in the affairs of civil government.
Yet with these extreme examples before us, there is a large and growing class of churchmen in our own country persistently pushing to the front the alleged need of a national Christianity. This is called "national reform." Did it reform Rome? Has it reformed Russia?—No; nor will it any more reform the United States. No religion in the world, that is or ever has been, is so poorly calculated to yoke up with a worldly government as the Christian religion. It can not do so without first departing so far from the Standard of faith as to be unchristian, and then it must inevitably corrupt whatever it touches. A majority of the great government corruptors of this country are professors of the Christian religion, and the proposed national religion would class them all as such. Could there be a greater travesty on Christianity?
Shall we not learn by the experience of others? Christ has left it on record that He is not of the world, His followers are not of the world (John 17:16), and His kingdom is not of this world (chapter 18:36). Pilate found no fault with this last statement; for he understood, as any one else might understand, that Jesus did not purpose to interfere in any way with the civil government. And His apostles all maintained that idea throughout their lives. When Christ does interfere with the governments of earth, it will be to break them in pieces, and in person to set up His own glorious kingdom, which will fill the whole earth. See Ps. 2:7-12; Dan. 2:31-45; 2 Tim. 2:4.
RELIGION AND THE STATE.
By W. A. Colcord
[Extract from an address by Prof. W. A. Colcord, at Lewiston, Me.]
THE state has no more right to say which day is the Sabbath than it has to say which church is the church, or which mode of baptism is baptism. It has no more right to compel men to keep a Sabbath than it has to compel them to join a church and attend church services. In the past Sunday laws have frequently required church attendance. They are religious, and their object is to compel men to worship on a particular day and in a particular way, or to suffer the pains and penalties of law.
But all this is anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, and un-American. Christ compelled no one to accept Him or His teachings, and rebuked His disciples for desiring to wreak vengeance upon those who followed not them. The Protestants declared that 'in matters of conscience the majority has no power.' And George Washington, the 'Father of Our Country,' said that 'every man who conducts himself as a good citizen is accountable alone to God for his religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of his
THE SUNDAY ISSUE AT MANSFIELD, OHIO.
A lively discussion is now on between the citizens of Mansfield over the question of Sunday desecration. The Ministerial Association of the city have taken it upon themselves to see that the good people of Mansfield show more respect for Sunday in the future.
The thing most desired at present by these reverend gentlemen is, that the running of the "merry-go-round," the open swimming-pool, and the prospect of the roller-coaster, which is now in process of construction at Luna Park, be closed to the public on Sunday.
A divided sentiment exists among the citizens over this question. When the matter was laid before the mayor by a committee of clergymen asking for his approval and co-operation in their work, he stated that there was no city ordinance bearing upon the matter. One of the ministers said they were aware that there was no city ordinance, but there was a statute bearing upon the subject.
The mayor, who is a broad-minded, level-headed man, put the question to the committee as to whether they thought it would be better for the morals of the working men and children of Mansfield to go to Cedar Point, Put-in Bay, Toledo, or Sandusky on Sunday, where the saloons and drinking places are all running full blast, or to allow them to go to the park here on Sunday where they could get nothing but well water. The mayor seemed to think that it was no worse to ride on a merry-go-round than on the street-car on Sunday, or hire a horse and buggy, or automobile, and go dashing through the streets and parks.—Welcome Visitor.
Fraud, Fraud, Fraud!
By Editor
Fraud, Fraud, Fraud!—It seems to be in the very air in these days of corruption—these "last days." And one peculiarity of it is, that it depends so much on the principle of confederacy, or unionism—trustism—for its success. Now it crops out in the matter of naturalization of foreigners. It is said that a quarter million of fraudulently-naturalized voters are in the United States, and investigation has discovered that fraudulent citizenship is offered as a premium to immigrants from Southern Europe. This is for the double purpose of getting laborers and voters that can be easily manipulated. But other evils grow out of such conditions. These men are quick to learn and to take advantage of the confederation schemes now so prevalent in this country. One result of this evil is noted in the San Francisco Call of the 7th inst.:
San Francisco is not the only American seaport in which Americans have been crowded out of seagoing by the fraudulent naturalization of foreigners. There has been much discussion of the scarcity of Americans in the responsible and licensed positions in our merchant marine. Ship masters and mates, engineers and other officers on ships must have the license of the Federal Government in order to follow their calling. By a system of fraudulent naturalization these licenses have been obtained. Those who hold them are quick to join certain affiliated organizations where they have the power to outlaw non-members, Americans who are rightfully licensed, by preventing their employment. The system is worked for all that it is worth, and it is worth, to those who work it, every licensed place in the merchant marine. No wonder Americans are not found in responsible places on American ships. The matter is of more than usual interest because one of these aliens, caught red-handed holding a position with fraudulent papers, now presents himself to the court as an applicant for legal naturalization.
Yet the offense is a felony, and a United States official having discovered the extensive working of the system, it remains to be seen what will become of it. Will it be deemed only a part of the "system," and the individuals irresponsible?
Sunday Laws Oppose God’s Law
By Editor
own conscience." The Sabbath belongs to God, and its observance should be rendered to God, and not to civil government.
Enforced Sunday rest means enforced Sunday idleness, and idleness is still the devil's workshop. Sunday laws are responsible for much of the Sunday dissipation. God commands men to keep the Sabbath "holy," and unless it is kept thus it is better not kept at all. And as the state can not of right command men to keep a day holy, it has no right to command them to keep it at all.
Moreover, Sunday laws are in direct conflict with the law of God, which says that "the seventh day is the Sabbath." In this issue, as in days of old, men will have to decide whom they will obey, God or men. The apostle said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." In all ages God has vindicated and approved those who stood for this principle even against the largest majorities and the strongest earthly kingdoms. The deliverance of Peter from prison, of Daniel from the lion's den, and of the three Hebrew captives from the fiery furnace is sufficient proof of this.
Divine religious institutions do not require the aid of civil law. No believer in Christian baptism, the Lord's Supper, or the seventh day Sabbath ever asks or seeks for laws from the state compelling their observance. The Bible enjoins their observance, and that is sufficient. But not so with the Sunday.
For this sabbatical observance there is no divine command. To make up for this lack of divine authority men are seeking the strong arm of the state. If they would walk in the light as it is now shining, and return to the observance of the Bible Sabbath, no such course would be thought necessary. Refusing the true reform, they inaugurate a false one.
We have entered upon stirring times. Evidently the days of persecution for conscience' sake are not all past. Through Sunday legislation church and state are being united in the United States, and the glorious principles of civil and religious liberty which have made this nation great, and its name a praise throughout the earth, are being forgotten, ignored, and trampled in the dust. It is time every lover of liberty sounded a note of warning, and took his stand against this thing.
More Prospective Trouble
By Editor
More Prospective Trouble.—It hardly needs the gift of prophecy safely to predict another anthracite coal strike next year. It is often true that "coming events cast their shadows before." A press despatch says:
The coal combine, under the direction of President Baer of the Reading railroad, is said to have been gathering together for two years a vast reserve stock of anthracite in preparation for a fight with the United Mine Workers of America, who are expected to demand an increase in wages next year. The coal roads are said to have massed in the immediate vicinity of New York City 15,000,000 tons of hard coal, or nearly a year's supply, and by scattering the storage yards as much as possible have been able to accumulate this reserve without exciting suspicion. This reserve supply, with the vast stores of the roads elsewhere, will give the combine an important advantage in case of a strike in the spring.
When we remember the exorbitant prices to which anthracite coal was raised during the last strike in the Pennsylvania mines, we can form some idea of the enormous profit it would be possible to make off such a store of coal in case of a strike. Such a prospect is almost sure to provoke a strike in some way; and one is inclined to wonder how much some "labor leader" will be paid to work it up, or what oppression will be brought to bear on miners in order to provoke it.
SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT NOTES AND COMMENT.
By Editor
At Chester, Pa., August 14, a man was fined $25 and costs for fishing on Sunday. The official who caused the arrest declares a determination to break up the practise of Sunday fishing. But the real motive may lie in the fact that half of the fines imposed go to the prosecutor.
A committee to investigate and report on the violation of the Sunday and moral laws has been commissioned by the ministerial association of Augusta, Ga., where there has been some agitation over the Sunday question this summer. The report of this committee was to have been the feature of the August meeting of the organization, but it was postponed until the September meeting, when a larger attendance of ministers can be had. It is said that the committee have gotten up quite a strong report on the matter, and that it is "very plain spoken about the violations." The report is awaited with interest by the public generally.
At a special meeting of the city council called for the purpose, the Sunday-closing ordinance of Pendleton, Ore., was repealed by unanimous vote of the members present on August 11. The ordinance had been made obnoxious by its rigid enforcement on the preceding Sunday, and the action of the council was in response to a petition asking for the repeal of the ordinance signed by several hundred tax-payers and business men. It is said that the repeal of the ordinance meets with general approval.
All over the country, as will be seen by our Sunday enforcement items, the church having lost the power of moral suasion, is endeavoring to compel people by law to act as tho they were religious. Our Canadian neighbors are joining in the same work. In Nova Scotia the Lord's Day Alliance is determined to enforce Sunday laws, but instead of having its designed effect it aroused the spirit of defiance; and the news item in the Patriot, from Glace Bay, June 11, said that all drug stores, restaurants, and candy stores were open to-day as an expression of defiance against the Lord's Day Alliance.
In response to complaints of ministers the police authorities of Lincoln, Neb., began a strict enforcement of the Sunday-closing ordinance of that city on July 30. Under the heading, "Lincoln stores Must Be Closed on Sunday," the Lincoln Star reported on the previous day: "Merchants who keep their stores open to-morrow may be arrested. So declare the police. The complaints of ministers have caused the officers to watch for offenders. It is claimed that the storekeepers in many sections of the city do not observe the Sunday-closing ordinance, and the shops remain open almost the entire day. Fruit stands, hotels, restaurants, cigar stores, news stands, drug stores, and dealers in goods of a perishable nature may keep open on Sunday. Butcher shops have a right to make deliveries up to eight o-clock from May until November. All other business houses must be kept closed."
Rebellion is still rife in the region of the Caucasus, and Russian troops sent to the scene of the conflict seem unable to control the situation. The Tartars in that section are said to have declared a "holy war" against the Christians. The reports state that they are massacring the Armenians without distinction of age or sex. Many thousands of these roving bands of marauders have crossed the frontier from Persia, and are assisting in the terrible work. At the village of Minkend, 300 Armenians were slaughtered, and acts of terrible atrocity were committed. Rioting and incendiarism in the Baku oil regions continue. At Tiflis, also, there is much disorder. Twenty-three persons were killed and fifty wounded in an encounter between Social Democrats and the police.
China's special treaty commissioner to this country, Dr. F. F. Tong, in a speech at San Francisco on September 10, said: "China is thoroughly awakened to her needs, and she is doing everything in her power to safeguard her interests. The time for bulldozing China is rapidly passing away. Big changes are taking place in the empire. The army is being re-organized, and a new plan is being put into effect that will give China a standing army of 800,000 men."
The yellow fever scourge continues practically unabated in southern Louisiana. At the village of Leeville near New Orleans the disease has broken out with virulence, and the people are said to be dying faster than coffins can be provided for them. There has been an increase of cases in New Orleans, the total number of those who have died there since the beginning of the plague is now 329.
Japan has, through her ambassador to this country, signed a permit for the landing of the Pacific cable at the port of Yokohama. China has already given permission for the landing of the cable at Shanghai, and the work of laying the cable will be undertaken without delay. Part of the route has already been covered by the cable which connects San Francisco with Honolulu and Manila.
News of the contents of the peace treaty has at last reached the Japanese soldiers in the field, and there is said to be much indignation among officers and men over the conditions of the treaty. The dissatisfaction in Japan seems not to have subsided, and it is openly declared that Baron Komura will be killed on his return to Japan.
The Japanese battle-ship Mikasa, flagship of Admiral Togo, was destroyed at Sasebo, Japan, on September 11, by fire and the explosion of at least one of her magazines. The first reports indicated that a great many lives had been lost, but later reports seem to minimize the extent of the disaster in this regard.
In Canada hereafter no clergyman of the Church of England will be allowed to celebrate the marriage of persons who have been divorced, so long as the other party to the divorce is living. This was the decision reached by the General Synod of the Dominion of Canada, sitting at Quebec on September 11.
As a mark of appreciation of the efforts made by President Roosevelt in bringing about peace between Japan and Russia, the Russian Government has ordered the discontinuance of the discriminating duties which some years ago it placed on certain American importations.
The great bridge over the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls in South Central Africa has now been completed. This is the completion of one of the links in the Cape-to-Cairo Railway. This bridge is the highest in the world, and crosses the river at the greatest falls in the world.
Greece and Rumania have recalled their ministers, owing to the state of feeling between the two countries over the question of indemnity for outrages committed on Greeks in Rumania and the desecration of the Greek flag.
An armistice is now in effect between the two armies now camped in Manchuria. The proposal was forwarded by the Japanese commander on September 9, and signed by the Russian commander.
Emperor Francis Joseph has finally decided to refuse the demand of the Hungarians for universal suffrage. It is expected that the cabinet will resign as a protest against the emperor's decision.
A car of the elevated railroad in New York City was hurled from the track to the street below, on September 11. Twelve persons were killed and more than forty were injured.
The existence of the Samoan Island of Savii is said to be threatened by the simultaneous activity of three volcanoes. Great boulders and much lava are being thrown out of the craters.
Reports from Norway and Sweden indicate that there is still danger of war. England is using her influence to avert such a turn in the Norwegian controversy.
Powerful tribes in Morocco are at war, and the country is now declared unsafe for foreigners.
Exemption a Farce
By Editor
Exemption a Farce.—As was pointed out in this journal years ago, exemption clauses in Sunday laws are designed only to ward off opposition to their enactment. In several states they are being ignored by the lower courts, and the time will come when they will be set aside altogether. A press correspondent says:
The case to test the legality of the enforcement of the Sunday law upon an observer of the seventh day of the week, that is being carried through the courts by J. D. Levine, a Hebrew storekeeper of Lynchburg, Va., was passed upon by Judge Christian, of the corporation court, on August 4. Judge Christian's opinion upheld the action of the mayor's court in fining Mr. Levine $5.00 and costs for keeping his confectionery store open on Sunday. Mr. Levine claims that he closed his store on the day previous in accordance with the religious belief, and is determined to test the legality of the enforcement of the Sunday law in such a case, since the state Sunday law makes an exemption for seventh-day observers. An appeal has been taken by his counsel from the judgment of the corporation court to the court of appeals, and it is said that the case will be watched with great interest, as it is the first of its kind which has ever come up in the city, possibly in the state, and affects a large number of people.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FEDERATION.
By S.
MANY are wondering what is the purpose of the federation of the Catholic societies of America, what they expect to accomplish by welding themselves into one compact whole. In the light of a remark made not long ago by Archbishop Ireland, it is not difficult to see what the purpose is. He said: "Throughout all the great public life [of this country] our Catholics are represented. It remains with themselves, I say that of my country, it remains with the Catholics themselves to conquer position and honor."
There is nothing that that body desires so much as position and honor. It was true of Babylon of old; it is equally true of spiritual Babylon. Position and honor, authority even over the kings of the earth—that is what is desired by the hierarchy of Rome.
Every day brings new evidence that what the archbishop spoke concerning Catholics in public life is true. What more, then, does the federation expect to accomplish? Already, the archbishop declared in the same article, the rights of Catholics are respected, and they are receiving their share of the public patronage. Evidently, then, the purpose of the federation of the Catholic societies is to carry through some great scheme when the time shall be ripe. Protestantism and republicanism are forsaking their fundamental principles; there is among them a weakening in the opposition to the papal principles; and the opportunities of an age lie before the forces of that power. Rome's leaders see the drift, and are preparing to make the most of it. The purpose of the federation is deeper and broader than merely to secure equality of rights and a just share of the public patronage; it may be more far-reaching in its results than even the leaders in that movement now anticipate. By its influence and through its efforts the remaining republican and protestant principles of this government are to be eliminated until the way is open for the work which this nation is to do in helping to heal that deadly wound which the Papacy received more than a century ago. The bugles of religious and political apostasy have sounded a retreat, and the heavy tread of the backward march is heard from shore to shore. To hasten that retreat, and to reap the harvest of spoils which that retreat makes possible, is the purpose of the federation of the Catholic societies. The time is coming when "all the world" will do homage to that power, worship at its feet (Rev. 13:8-18), except those only whose names are "written in the book of life." This federation is one of the great forces that will bring that about; but it is not the only force, the only power, that is working to that end. Apostate Protestantism is one of its stanchest allies.
FORETOKENS OF OUR LORD'S RETURN
By Prof. George W. Rine
SPIRITUAL DECADENCE IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.
The Church and Tainted Money.
HAS the church, in the main, become commercialized? Unprejudiced thinkers everywhere answer with a ringing "Yes." It is a fact notoriously in evidence that the churches generally are counting the friendship and patronage of the unscrupulous and even rapacious "trust barons." A very large majority of these devourers "of widows' houses" are members of popular churches, in "good and regular standing." The recent controversy over the Rockefeller gift of $100,000 to the American Board of Foreign Missions (Congregational) has demonstrated the fact that an overwhelming majority of the clergy of the numerically stronger denominations favor the acceptance by the church of all moneys proffered, without reference to the moral or immoral methods by which the money was earned. In spite of the vehement protests of Dr. Washington Gladden, the aforesaid gift has been accepted by the said Board. It can not be denied that this Board, representing one of the most influential Protestant denominations, tacitly approved the devious methods by which the Standard Oil Company has become the most opulent corporation in the world. Regarding the acceptance of this now famous gift, Rev. R. Thomas writes:
Mr. Rockefeller stands before the whole country as the representative of un-Christian, oppressive, and cruel business methods. Clergymen can not consistently endorse monopoly, tyranny, heartlessness. The effect of applauding success of this kind before young men everywhere is morally disastrous.
Commenting on the action of the Board, Dr. Gladden makes the following drastic remarks:
The Prudential Committee has placed itself on the broad and intelligible position that all gifts must be received, no matter what may be the character of the giver nor by what immoralities or crimes his gains may have been gathered.
No discrimination is henceforth to be made. The pirate or the train-robber may bring his booty to the treasury of the American Board, and it will be thankfully received, and if sufficiently large will be described as a "magnificent gift."
By the decision the Prudential Committee rejects the word of Him who said, "I hate robbery for burnt-offerings," and reverses the ethical judgment respecting the rewards of iniquity which has guided Christendom hitherto. It openly proclaims that money to which the giver has no moral right may be rightfully given to a missionary society if only his motive is to do good with it; and it assumes the power of judging the motive of the giver.
The Rev. Josiah Strong adds these suggestive reflections: "Modern civilization, and especially American civilization, is beset by no greater peril than the worship of wealth. It is corrupting both business and politics; it is commercializing the very atmosphere we breathe; it is 'Drowning men in destruction and perdition.' This peril is growing with the enormous increase of wealth. . . . This god, Mammon, is become only less than omnipotent, and his glory is dazzling and blinding even the church. The conscience of the church touching wealth profoundly needs quickening."
What is sincerely to be deplored in connection with this controversy is, first, that it is typical of the general attitude of the great denominations toward the acceptance by the church of what may be designated as "tainted" money; and, secondly, that the spokesmen of the various religious bodies, ten to one applaud the action of the American Board in its accepting Mr. Rockefeller's donation. Mr. Robert Hunter says: "In my opinion corruption took root in the church at the moment it began to accept tainted money. Corruption will not be rooted out of the church until the church prefers poverty and godliness to wealth and insincerity. Good can not come out of a church which subsists on the patronage of the rapacious."
Why So Few Able Men Prepare for the Ministry.
An interdenominational conference was recently held in New York for the express purpose of determining the reasons why so few gifted young men enter the Christian ministry. Some of the causes set forth by the conferees are—
(1) The Decay of Home Religion.
This was declared to be the most potent cause. How true. No one would expect to grow bananas in Labrador. No more can one expect to develop Christian workers in the atmosphere of a worldly home. Godless churches make godless homes, and such homes produce few real Christian ministers.
(2) The Opposition of Parents.
"Christian" parents are here meant. Of course parents imbued with the spirit of the world would be ambitious to have their sons prepare for the lucrative careers of secular life.
(3) An Unspiritual Environment Which Prevents Discerning the Call of the Spirit of God.
This third cause is merely a strikingly-apt comment on the first, given above.
(4) The Great Openings in Other Lines of Activity, especially Business.
Ah, there you have it. Business, money-getting, gaining the world at the expense of the soul—all this expresses the very genius, the essential passion, aye, the madness, of these closing years of history!
One of the speakers discerned wisely when, among other remedies, he emphasized the following: "A revival of spiritual religion will produce more candidates for the ministry." This undoubtedly expresses the one great crying need of the hour. Such a "revival" will revolutionize society.
The Crisis of the Hour.
When John the Baptist declared that the ax was laid to the root of the tree, the Jewish religion was passing through a serious crisis. The spiritual apostasy of the Jewish world was well-nigh universal. The Hebrew Church—because of her obstinate blindness—knew not the day of her visitation. She was saturated to the core with the spirit of national pride and of arrogant self-righteousness; hence she was incapable of discerning and appreciating the things that belonged to her peace, and accordingly her house was left unto her desolate.
So now, nominal Christianity is experiencing a crisis equally momentous, equally grave. About two years ago Dr. Lorimer declared that "the most superficial acquaintance with current literature will convince the extremist optimist that in the estimate of the public, religion, particularly of the evangelical type, is contending against fierce odds and does not seem to have vitality enough [in the hearts of its professed devotees] to maintain its authority and influence."
It must be apparent to all candid observers that in the churches generally there are ominous signs of disintegration and final collapse; that they are full of half-hearted members who habitually subordinate their religion to business and pleasure; that popular lectures and essays are superseding the Gospel sermon; that many ministers avoid discussing doctrines except for the purpose of explaining them away; that the laity do not give to the cause of Christ in proportion to their expenditures in other directions; and there prevails an air of apathy, of skepticism and agnosticism.
Did not the terrible apostasy in the Jewish church in the time of the preaching of the Baptist betoken the imminent appearing of her long-heralded Messiah? Exactly as foretold by Malachi, the Christ came suddenly "to His temple," and found it a "house of merchandise." "He came to His own," but they were spiritually unprepared to receive Him. So likewise the present awful spiritual barrenness of the nominal Christian church betokens the imminence of His appearing in glory to set up His timeless kingdom and gather His subjects. Is not the evidence overwhelming that He will again find many of the sacred edifices desecrated with the spirit of commercialism, with the service of Mammon? How painful to contemplate that He may again come "to His own" and they receive Him not.
"Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" But some are discerning the signs of the times, and, accordingly, they "look for Him," just as Simeon and Anna and the "wise men from the East" discerned the omens of His first advent and joyfully received Him. To the few who watch, and pray, and look for Him, He even now says, "Fear not, LITTLE flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
And may the Father graciously grant that every reader may be one of the number who shall comprise that happy "little flock."
Beginning the Day With God
By Philadelphia Methodist
A QUIET hour spent with God at the beginning of the day is the best beginning for the toils and cares of active business. A brief season of prayer, looking above for wisdom and grace and strength, and seeking for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, helps us to carry our religion into the business of the day. It brings joy and peace within the heart. And as we place all our concerns in the care and keeping of the Lord, faithfully striving to do His will, we have a joyful trust that, however dark or discouraging events appear, our Father's hand is guiding everything, and will give the wisest direction to all our toils.—Philadelphia Methodist.
