p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 32. (8/7/1901)

Earlier text: LESSON VII.—AUGUST 17.—THE MARRIAGE

Ask, and It Shall Be Given You

By Editor

All you who are seeking God, or desirous of seeking Him, read the encouraging, inspiring article on page 2, “Ask, and It Shall Be Given You.” We know it will help you.

From Degeneracy to ‘Religious Despotism’

Be sure to read the article, “From Degeneracy to ‘Religious Despotism.’” It comes under the general heading, “Ancient History Which Is Also Modern.” No reader of the Signs should miss this important series of articles, and its circle of readers should be greatly extended. The very latest developments in the religio-political movements in our country are here given.

Dowie’s Claim to Be Elijah

By Editor

In our editorial department will be found an article on Mr. Dowie's claim to being Elijah, called out by questions from our readers who desire to understand the matter. Let them read in connection with that article the one on a part of the same subject by Mr. Everson, in another column. This latter was written some weeks ago. Bring them to the attention of your neighbors.

Old-Age Pensions in Australasia

New Zealand has for some time been giving a weekly pension of about $1.70 to all needy men and women who are sixty-five years old and over. New South Wales follows with a weekly pension of $2.43. These different amounts are about the same, considering expense of living. This is a little more expensive than the almshouse, but less trouble and less humiliating to the recipient. Hearty support to the measure came from all parties. It was considered but a just debt to the former generation. And why not?

A Growing Institution.

A short time ago we were called to St. Helena on business. We visited the Medical and Surgical Sanitarium, three miles from the town on one of the shelves of Howell Mountain. The Sanitarium overlooks the beautiful little Pratt Valley and a lot of other mountain scenery, making one of the prettiest and most restful pictures on earth. The Sanitarium is well patronized. Since we were there, an electric lighting system has been installed, the bath-rooms are completely refitted, electric-light baths are, we believe, now in, more of the mountain’s pure water has been obtained, and great improvements are constantly being made. It has a good corps of skilled, conscientious Christian physicians and nurses. We longed to take some treatment, to have a good electric bath or salt glow, or cool spray with alcohol-and-oil rub; but we did not get time. So we are not writing this for concessions of any sort. We know that it is a blessed place for the chronic sick, for the weary, worn, weak, nervous, fagged-out people. Worn-down business men, tired teachers, plethoric politicians, despairing, dyspeptic ministers, and weary workers in all brain labor, will find the Sanitarium, for a few months or weeks, a dry dock for repairs, a haven of rest. Address the physician-in-chief, A. J. Sanderson, M. D. We did not get time to see the new food factory. We shall have something to say of that when we get time to visit it.

The Ship Is Safe

The “old ship Zion” may seem to be in peril; the storm may rage around her, the great waves may seem ready to engulf her, Jesus may seem to be asleep; yet notwithstanding all outward appearances, the boat is safe. Cry earnestly in faith, and the Master will rebuke the wind. Only be sure that He is with you, and no storm shall overwhelm.

“No water can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean and earth and skies; They all shall sweetly obey His will, Peace, peace, be still.”

Drought, Sin, and Prayer

Several pastors of Kansas City declare that the drought is upon the land because of sin, and they have good reason to believe it. The whole earth is sick because of sin, and the perfect healing will not come till all sin is forever destroyed. In some places in the East people are praying for rain. It is good if the prayer be that of faith, following true sorrow for sin and forsaking of all iniquity. God has not changed; He is the God to-day that He was in the days of Elijah.

Sunday Liquor Laws and Crime

The Rev. W. F. Richardson, of Kansas City, Mo., scores the police of that city because Sunday laws are not enforced, and expects more crime because of more drinking. One would think that the effect of liquor-drinking was beneficial on all other days, and evil only on Sunday. Why not close the saloons every day?

Ancient Crete and Evolution

Excavations in Crete, we are told, show that “the ‘jewels and linen in particular, made 6,000 (?) years ago, could not be surpassed in our time.” Let them keep on. Our honest evolutionistic-religious skeptic may yet see that man did not evolve from the lower orders of life.

A Better Vacation Text

“Thou God seest me,” an exchange tells us, “is a ‘good vacation text.’” It is, but here is a better one: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Follow Me.—

There is a great difference between the Bible and the teaching of Roman Catholics. Said the Catholic Mirror of Dec. 16, 1899:—

Imitate the saints of God, even at a distance, and you will do all that God requires at your hands.

But no “saint” was ever good enough to meet all God’s requirements. Jesus says, “Follow Me.” Matt. 16:24. Paul said, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.” Eph. 5:1, R.V. Peter says of Christ, “Leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21. He only is the sinless, perfect One. It is only by His life, which He alone can give, that we can follow Him. Following men, imitating men, has ever been the curse of the world.

Trine Immersion

Trine Immersion for baptism is based on a misunderstanding of our Lord’s commission. Baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit does not mean three baptisms, but three phases of Christian experience. The name of the Father implies cleansing from sin, clothed with His righteousness. The name of the Son involves the leaving and giving up of all—self-emptying—that God may fill the believer. The name of the Spirit is the fitting for service, anointed with power. It is one baptism, setting forth the one threefold experience. It is all included in baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ.” Sprinkling and pouring were substituted for baptism for the sake of expediency; trine-immersion came in as a superstition.

Carelessness of Life.

It is painful to observe how reckless so many of the rising generation are getting, and how lightly the risks that involve human life are spoken of. In the report of Harvard’s Class-day exercises there is the following paragraph:—

The rush for the flowers on the John Harvard statue was a little more ferocious than was intended when the old tree rush was given in 1898, but not a gown seemed to be torn, and only one senior bled visibly from his wounds.

Sports and exercises that are more than likely to injure, if not kill, the participants can well afford to be dispensed with.

Christian Imperialism and Barbarism

This is the voice of “Christian” imperialism as uttered by Dr. Lyman Abbott, editor of the Outlook: “I deny the right of a barbaric people to retain possession of any quarter of the globe. What I have already said I reaffirm: Barbarism has no rights which civilization is bound to respect.” With such men in power, how long would it be before the defenders of the equal rights of man, and other classes also, would in this country be deemed barbaric? The “barbarous” Filipino may count Dr. Abbott a barbarian. Has the Golden Rule no place in Dr. Abbott’s standard of conduct?

Abbott's standard of conduct?

Judge Aikman did a very proper, manly, American thing at Eldorado, Kansas, when he excused a juror from duty on June 22 who objected to sitting on that day because he kept it as the Sabbath. It was only conceding a simple right. We are glad some judges see it.

A Pertinent Query

A Pertinent Query.—If the people of Porto Rico and the Philippines can be and should be governed without the constitution, why not the people here in the several States? If expedient in these islands, how long will it be ere it is considered expedient here?

Plutocracy’s Hopeless War Against God

“War against plutocracy is hopeless,” the New York Sun tells us. But plutocracy’s war against God and His blessed ways of justice, truth, mercy, and righteousness is much more hopeless.