p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 31. (8/11/1909)

Earlier text: New Treasures to Be Opened

Orders for August

By Editor

Up to July 21 — 18,400 copies On July 22 — 725 " " 23 — 350 " " 25 — 3,690 " " 26 — 1,358 " " 27 — 875 " " 28 — 2,993 " Total July 28 — 28,371 "

By faithful effort on the part of our workers, this number with its message, is going into at least 50,000 homes. Is your work represented in the above figures? If not, do not delay placing order for at least some copies. This number will sell all through August.

Note how it gives the Message for to-day

General Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition; Current Topics.

Prophetic “Westward the Course of Empire”—A review of the rise and development of nations, showing the historical and prophetic setting of the last (The United States) with its attending progress and prosperity. By Eld. M. C. Wilcox.

Bible “Needs of the Soul, and How Supplied,” by Eld. Wm. Covert; “I Am the Resurrection and the Life,” by Mrs. E. G. White; “The Law of Faith,” by Eld. S. W. Nellis; “Man’s Station Between the Present and the Future Life,”—Bible Reading—by Eld. J. O. Corliss; “Shall We Recognize Matter, or Spirit Only?”—Dealing with principles of Christian Science—by Eld. R. A. Underwood.

Religious Liberty “Fundamental Principles of Religious Liberty,” by Eld. W. A. Colcord.

Health and Temperance “Dangers in Use of Milk,” by Dr. H. F. Rand; “Prohibition Progress in Canada.”

Twenty-five copies cost $1.00; they sell for $2.50. 100 cost $4.00. You sell them for $10.00. Order of your Tract Society. Ask for the SIGNS WORKER which contains selling points and suggestive canvasses.

Signs of the Times

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA

Small Attentions

By Margaret Sangster

COUSIN BETTY came home from her visit to the Landers, simply brimming over with new ideas. It was a way she had, this of gathering up hints and suggestions from people she met, and harvesting them for future use. The day after her return she glanced over the garden brilliant with autumnal bloom, and over the grape arbor fragrant with its burden of purple fruit. “We never in the world can use all these grapes,” she said to Marie, who was the lady of the manor, “and don’t you think it would be a good plan to let Harold carry some of them to old Mrs. Minturn? She has been an invalid so long that she doesn’t have little attentions paid to her of the kind that invalids enjoy. While Harold is on the road he may as well take a bunch of sweet peas to Margaret Archer.” “Of course,” replied Marie. “But Betty, what has put it in your mind to send flowers and fruit to those good neighbors?”

“Don’t give me the credit,” answered Cousin Betty. “I have been spending a fortnight with the Landers. I was never more impressed anywhere than while in that lovely home with the persistent stream of good-will that flows from it in every direction. Marion must keep a list, I fancy, of friends who are ill or a bit under the weather, for jellies and delicacies, broth, salad, preserves, anything that will tempt a fastidious appetite, are unobtrusively sent to somebody nearly every day. As for flowers, the Landers’ garden is as much for the pleasure of their friends as for their own gratification. They furnish the flowers

for the pulpit every Sunday, and when the children are going to school, it is no uncommon thing to see them stop and ask for a rose or a pink with a geranium leaf to carry to their teachers.” “What a lot of trouble the Landers must take,” said Marie. “Not so much trouble as thought,” was Betty’s answer.

These small attentions cost little, but they give no end of delight. They are like the cup of cold water to which is promised the blessing of the Saviour’s, “Inasmuch as ye did it to one of these little ones, ye did it unto Me.” There is a whole volume of meaning in that word cold, when one remembers that in Eastern lands, with the tropic warmth and torrid sunshine, it is not easy for any one to give a cup of ice-cold water. It would have to be drawn from the depth of the well. The small attentions that tax no one’s mind, that make no show, that call for no overpowering gratitude, seem to me to belong in the catalog of our Christian duties.—Margaret Sangster.

Doctor Judson on Dress

[We present the following letter to Christian sisters in America from the great missionary, Dr. Adoniram Judson. Its appeal is equally as appropriate now as when written.]

To the Female Members of the Christian Churches in United States of America.

DEAR SISTERS IN CHRIST:

Excuse my publicly addressing you. The necessity of the case is my only apology. Whether you will consider it a sufficient apology for the sentiments of this letter, unfashionable, I confess, and perhaps unpalatable, I know not. We are sometimes obliged to encounter the hazard of offending those whom, of all others, we desire to please. Let me throw myself at once on your mercy, dear sisters, allied by national consanguinity, professors of the same holy religion, fellow pilgrims to the same happy world. Pleading these endearing ties, let me beg you to regard me as a brother, and to listen with candor and forbearance to my honest tale.

In raising up a church of Christ in this heathen land, and in laboring to elevate the mind of the heathen converts to the standard of the Gospel, we have always found one chief obstacle in that principle of vanity, that love of dress and display (I beg you will bear with me) which has in every age and in all countries been a ruling passion of the fair sex, as the love of riches, power, and fame has characterized the other. That obstacle lately became more formidable, through the admission of two or three fashionable females into the church; and the arrival of several missionary sisters, dressed and adorned in that manner which is too prevalent in our beloved native land. On my meeting the church after a year's absence, I beheld an appalling profusion of ornaments, and saw that the demon of vanity was laying waste the female department. At that time I had not maturely considered the subject, and did not feel sure what ground I ought to take. I apprehended also, that I should be unsupported and perhaps opposed by some of my coadjutors. I confined my efforts therefore to private exhortation, and with but little effect. Some of the ladies, out of regard to their pastor's feelings, took off their necklaces and ear ornaments, before they entered the chapel, and tied them up in a corner of their handkerchiefs, and on returning, as soon as they were out of the mission house, stopped in the middle of the street to array themselves anew.

In the meantime, I was called to visit the Karens, a wild people, several days' journey to the north of Maulmein. Little did I expect there to encounter the same enemy, in those “wilds, horrid and dark with o'er-shadowing trees.” But I found that he had been there before me, and reigned with a peculiar sway, from time immemorial. On one Karen woman I counted between twelve and fifteen necklaces, of all colors, sizes, and materials. Three was the average. Brass belts above the ankles, neat braids of black hair tied below the knees, rings of all sorts on the fingers, bracelets on the wrists and arms, long instruments of some metal perforating the lower part of the ear by an immense aperture, and reaching nearly to the shoulders, fancifully constructed bags, enclosing the hair, and suspended from the back part of the head, not to speak of the ornamental parts of their clothing, consisting of the fashion and the ton of the fair Karenesses. The dress of the female converts was not essentially different from that of their countrywomen. I saw that I was brought into a situation that precluded all retreat—that I must fight or die.

For a few nights I spent some sleepless hours, distressed by this and other subjects, which will always press upon the heart of a missionary in a new place. I considered the spirit of the religion of Jesus Christ. I opened to 1 Tim. 2:9, and read these words of the inspired apostle: “I will . . . also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” I asked myself, Can I baptize a Karen woman in her present attire?—No. Can I administer the Lord's Supper to one of the baptized in that attire?—No. Can I refrain from enforcing the prohibition of the apostle?—Not without betraying the trust I have received from him. Again I considered that the question concerned not the Karens only, but the whole Christian world; that its decision would involve a train of unknown consequences; that a single step would lead me into a long and perilous way.

I considered Maulmein and the other stations; I considered the state of the public at home. But, “What is that to thee? follow thou Me,” was the continual response, and weighed more than all. I renewedly offered myself to Christ, and prayed for strength to go forward in the path of duty, supported or deserted, successful or defeated, in the ultimate issue.

Soon after coming to this conclusion, a Karen woman offered herself for baptism. After the usual examination, I inquired whether she could give up her ornaments for Christ. It was an unexpected blow! I explained the spirit of the Gospel. I appealed to her own consciousness of vanity. I read the apostle's prohibition. She looked again and again at her handsome necklace (she wore but one), and then with an air of modest decision that would adorn beyond all outward ornaments any of my sisters whom I have the honor of addressing, she took it off, saying, I love Christ more than this. The news began to spread. The Christian women made but little hesitation. A few others opposed, but the work went on.

(To be continued.)

My Guide

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

“He will guide you into all truth. He will glorify Me.”

SPEAK to me, Holy Spirit, speak! The cold, gray mist my vision seals; The winds of love are on my cheek, Yet doubt is strong and faith is weak, Unless Thy light the Lord reveals.

Come closer to me for I need The comfort Thou dost come to bring; For Thy dear help I intercede; Thou ownest all, and so I plead: Give me the peace of Christ, my King.

He left it in His will for me, And sealed it safe by His own blood— A wondrous wealth of calm in fee That prophets praise, while saints agree— For every first-born Son of God.

I need the faith to claim it mine, I need the power to grasp the faith; These are in Thee: Thou art divine And all things at Thy will combine To yield me what Thy promise saith.

No gloom of soul can be so great But Thou canst set it all aflame; Thou canst all sorrow consecrate, And pain and poverty translate To golden joy by His dear name.

I read and Thou who gavest the word Dost speak in tenderness to me: “Thy sweetness hath been all restored; God is thy refuge and reward, His fulness all belongs to thee.”

New York City.

A Truthful Business Motto

ONE of the most striking and truthful of business mottoes is the following:

“The world reserves all its big prizes for but one thing, and that is initiative. Initiative is doing the right thing without being told. Next to doing the thing without being told, is to do it when you are told once.”

Heaven, too, reserves its prizes for initiative. It is the unprofitable servant that does nothing more than his duty. If business men would take the same initiative in heavenly things that they do in earthly things, their profits would be more than all the gold and silver that they can ever hope to accumulate. God holds out the great reward to the men with the initiative to carry or send the Gospel to those who do not know it.

Love-Making

COURTESY can exist without love, but love without courtesy quickly gets bedraggled and haggard. For the maintenance of love, few notions would be more favorable than this, that home is a good practising-ground for habitual courtesy, neglecting which we shall make a poor show on field days. . . .

“Love-making” is a poor, wilted term which generally provokes a smile. I would raise love-making to a fine, weaving art, at which none could laugh, and I would employ all hands in the home at this busy loom. Love-making is not only the finest of the fine arts, but it is the sweetest of good employments. Thoughtfulness is the warp, and activity the woof; the design which grows on the piece is very beautiful to see. . . .

In the torn garment of the home life, hard hearts and unloving natures tear rent after rent until it is all in tatters, but love never lets the rents grow large; its busy needle patches them up; and by an art it must have learned in heaven, scatters the loveliest sprays of embroidery and silver work about the darn, so that what threatened destruction has proved to be a strength and a beauty, and the garment has become a symbol of love’s power instead of the jagged rags which witness to love’s defeat. —The Four Pillars of the Home.

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THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY BUREAU

An illustrated, 48-page, quarterly magazine, published as an exponent and advocate of true religious liberty; defending Christianity and the rights of conscience; upholding the Bible as the infallible word of God; recognizing the church and state as ordained of Heaven for specific and distinct purposes, but vigorously protesting against the alliance of the church with the state in the attempt to advance religion and to promote the state. Price 25 cents per year. Liberal terms to agents.

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Testimonies for the Church.

By Mrs. E. G. White.

Bound in eight volumes, of from 300 to 770 pages each, each volume containing a complete index of subjects. Volume 1 contains a brief sketch of the early life and Christian experience of the writer of the Testimonies, together with Testimonies Nos. 1 to 14. Volume 2 contains Testimonies Nos. 15 to 20. Volume 3 contains Testimonies Nos. 21 to 25. Volume 4 contains Testimonies Nos. 26 to 30. Volume 5 contains Testimonies Nos. 31 to 33. Volume 6 contains Testimony No. 34. Volume 7 contains Testimony No. 35, price, 75 cents. Volume 8 contains Testimony No. 36, price, 75 cents. Bound in cloth, per volume, $1.00; Full set, eight volumes, cloth, $7.50. Volumes 1 to 6 are obtainable in limp leather, with round corners, per volume, $1.50. Volumes 7 and 8 are also bound in limp leather, price each, $1.25.

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Poor, Shaken Mexico.

From the early morning of July 30 till noon of the next day, that portion of Mexico on its southwestern coast from Acapulco to Oaxaca and northward to the Gulf of Mexico, including the city of Mexico, was fearfully shaken by repeated shocks of earthquake. The result at this writing seems to indicate that the cities of Chilpancingo, Acapulco, Chilapa, and Iguala are destroyed, and also many smaller towns. The great cathedral in Mexico City is demolished. The harbor of Acapulco, one of the finest on the Pacific Coast, is reported ruined. Fires are breaking out, and thousands of homes will probably be burned. It is difficult to get definite news, as the worst of the shaken district is cut off by the breaking of telegraph and telephone wires. But it is conservative to say that hundreds of lives are lost, and millions of property destroyed. More definite news next week.

Spiritualism and Romanism.

The Literary Digest of Dec. 15, 1906, quoted a Jesuit father, G. G. Franco, as a believer in the facts of Spiritualism, and he states that this is in harmony with the church. He says: “In our time (1906) no one denies the real existence of spiritualistic occurrences, excepting certain men whose feet are on the earth, but whose wits go wool-gathering in the moon. To become actively engaged in it is forbidden for the present. The Sacred Roman Congregation decides: ‘As matters stand, it is not allowable.’” Sometime it will be in full harmony with the church. Spiritualism is in the Roman Church to-day in its adoration of saints.

The Present Religious Trend

By Editor

In our next two issues, we shall present to our readers two articles on “The Present Religious Trend.” These articles will show what the Gospel is, what the principles of original Protestantism were, and where present Protestantism stands. They will offer the testimony of men qualified to speak. The result of this trend, and the only true remedy, will be set forth in the second paper. These conditions, as shown in these articles, ought to stir honest Christian souls to their very depths.

Austria and Turkey

Austria and Turkey.—For years there has been a constantly fostered sentiment that Russia would drive Turkey out of Constantinople. It now begins to look as tho Russia would not be able to drive anything anywhere, for it is in an actual struggle for existence. Of late, Germany and Austria have had the power to advantage themselves in the matter of territory within Turkish domains. Why have we assigned all the ambition of acquiring Turkish territory to Russia alone? Other powers now loom high in the Eastern sky, Russia sinks low. What is to hinder a confederacy of European powers, or of a number of European powers, at least, from appropriating Turkish territory?

War in Spain

MENTION was made last week of difficulty to keep order on the Riff Coast of the Mediterranean, west of Gibraltar. The reigning sultan of Morocco has been too weak to keep order, and Spain took it in hand. As a result there has been bloody war between the Moors and the Spaniards. The fighting has been mainly in Melilla and vicinity. The Moors have shown themselves desperate fighters. It was supposed that Spain had the advantage in numbers and efficiency of artillery, but the latest reports show that the Moors have had decidedly the best of the situation. They are entrenched on the heights of Mount Guruga, at Melilla, and their position is said to be impregnable. The latest battle reported up to the time this note is written, that of July 27, gives the Spanish losses in the battle to be 3,000 killed and wounded. Spanish troops are being rushed to the scene of activity. All reservists are being called into service.

At the same time Spain is being torn internally by rebellion. At Barcelona there was a terrible uprising of the people. The revolutionists are using bombs, and havoc is being waged. Insurrectionary outbreaks are reported from many points in Spain. There are reports that the Cabinet will resign to be succeeded by a military dictator, and in this connection General Weyler’s name is prominently mentioned. Thursday and Friday court martials condemned and shot 120 revolutionists. About 3,000 more were killed or wounded by machine gun or rifle fire. The revolutionary movement is taking advantage of the situation to foment trouble, and only strong measures will be able to bring order to the nation. How quickly is the world these days called upon to note serious trouble. It rises as in a day.

What Justice Brewer Says.—

In an interview in Milwaukee, Wis., July 22, Justice David J. Brewer, of the Supreme Court of the United States, said, “The building up of great fortunes is not strange.” Conditions favor it as never before. He tells us that great “wealth if honestly made ought to create no prejudice.” But he believes that the men who have thus acquired wealth “owe to the public the moral duty of using some portion of their wealth for the public good.” He also spoke of the social unrest, and of the men in the slums, but he offers no remedy. He does not believe that any “judge ought to object to any honest and fair criticism.” Justice Brewer thinks there is too much cumbersomeness, too many delays over technicalities. He regards as an “outrage” the reversing of Appellate Courts of just judgments over mere technicalities. The question of woman suffrage, he declares, will have to be met by every state and by the nation. These are live questions.

Pear Blight Threatens California Orchards

California fruit-trees, which have enjoyed considerable immunity from pests as compared with trees in Eastern States, are now beginning to suffer to such an extent as to threaten whole orchards in some localities. The pear blight has ruined thousands of acres of pear orchards in the past in many localities. Now word comes that Nevada County, which holds the record as producing the finest Bartlett pears in the world, is threatened with the pear blight, and that if orchardists do not make vigorous efforts to prevent its spread, the pear orchards of the county will be wiped out inside of five years. The earth is waxing old like a garment. Seed-time and harvest are to continue to the end, but each year the battle of the agriculturist is a little harder.

Lynching and Capital Punishment

The Prison Reform League contends in the words of Doctor Lydston, that “lynching will never be done away with until its parent, capital punishment, has been abolished.” They quote the late Gen. N. M. Curtiss as saying: “A comparison of the criminal laws of foreign countries with those of the United States shows that we undoubtedly have the bloodiest code in the world, and it is confidently stated that we have also the greatest number of homicidal crimes in proportion to population.”

A Grave Instead of a Home

An overloaded train speeding to the public government drawing of land in Idaho, July 31, met another train near Caldwell in a head-on collision, killing thirteen people and injuring a hundred more. The cars were a mass of kindling-wood, and the scenes at the wreck were indescribable. Many of the injured will die. The trains were electric, each of them running about fifteen miles an hour. Many found a grave instead of a home.

Aeroplane Destroyer.

It is reported that an officer in the United States army has invented a machine which will direct a powerful current of electricity for several hundred yards with sufficient force to utterly destroy—disintegrate—an airship.

Only a Spark.

Santa Rosa, Cal., had a $225,000 fire July 31, burning the well-known Woolen Mills. A spark from the chimney falling through a ventilator on a pile of blankets was the beginning. Just a spark, and the result a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars. So little sins result in utter destruction of character.

Support for the Sixteenth Amendment

It is said that the proposed Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, giving the government power to tax incomes, is favorably received throughout the country, and some Congressmen believe that every state will approve of it.

Fire in Japan.

News comes to us that in the imperial city of Osaka, in Japan, 13,000 buildings burned July 31. An area of four square miles was burned over. The world-famous Buddhist temple was consumed.

Reverent

“Reverent.”—Mr. Bolce tells us in his articles in the Cosmopolitan that notwithstanding their destructive criticisms, the professors in our universities are very reverent men. They are, indeed, — of their own opinions.

San Francisco Criminal Cases Increase

The criminal cases in San Francisco before the Superior Court for the first six months of 1909 were 964 against 895 for the same period in 1908.

Taft's Stand on the Tariff

President Taft is proving himself to be a strong man in bringing the Senate to his views on the tariff question.

Wright Brothers’ Aeroplane Sold to Government

The Wright Brothers' aeroplane has met all tests, and has been sold to the government for $30,000.