AMONG the last-day evils, concerning which God warns His people, is what He calls "the northern army." Thus the prophecy opens:—
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth; the land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." Joel 2: 1-3.
Later in the chapter the Lord tells us that this great northern army is composed of the "locust, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm," evidently four types of destructive insects. The ravages of the locust in the eastern hemisphere, and in our great western prairies is familiar to many. Not many years ago whole counties were laid waste and stripped of every green thing. At times the air was darkened by their approach. The palmer-worm, literally "feeder," is thought by some to be the larva of the locust, by some the cockchafer, by others the larva of some moth or butterfly.
The caterpillar, literally "devourer," is probably, says Smith's Bible Dictionary, a locust in larva state. The palmer-worm, the "pilgrim worm, a voracious, hairy caterpillar, the larva of some butterfly or moth" (Smith). This last is a good description of the gypsy moth, which has cost the commonwealth of Massachusetts, in direct appropriation, more than three-fourths of a million dollars to subdue, and private citizens even more, besides all the damage caused by its devastating raids. A brief account of its history in America is of interest.
A little more than a quarter of a century ago a professor in Boston thought that he could cross the gypsy moth (so called from its wandering) with the Chinese silkworm moth, and so obtain a hardier silkworm. One of these moths escaped. The professor did all he could to secure it, notified others of its escape, but all failed.
Ten years ago that one moth had so increased that $25,000 was appropriated by the Legislature of Massachusetts for its extermination.
Men were employed to destroy the eggs. The next spring machines were invented for spraying the trees and destroying the caterpillars. But all this availed little. The sum of $50,000 was appropriated in 1890; the next year $100,000; the next $165,000, and so on and so on. Laws were passed; new devices used; Old World remedies were put in operation; lines were drawn around the district of the worm; parasites which fed upon the gypsy moth were imported from Japan, but all of little worth. In one town 75 children collected in 1893 68,000 egg masses, which, it is estimated, would have turned out at least 15,000,000 caterpillars. Millions of dollars have been spent in Massachusetts alone, and it was thought that the wandering moth had at least been confined to that State. But how vain are human devices even against little things!
Only a short time ago, near Newport, Vt., a passenger train was actually held up by gypsy moths, a place where it was supposed they did not exist. Four times the train essayed, on a level track, to pass through the stream of caterpillars, said to be 200 feet wide and in places 8 inches deep, crossing the railway from one piece of woods to another. They covered the cowcatcher and lower parts of the engine. Their crushed masses of green and yellow gave forth a sickening odor, and the enormous quantity showed how utterly powerless it is for man to check the ravages of billions of little insects.
The Gypsy Moth.
A Picture of the Train, of the Larva of the Gypsy Moth, and of a Locust.
Locusts were one of the plagues upon Egypt. Lice was another. The Lord declares in vivid language in the second chapter of Joel that the cankerworm, the caterpillar, the locust, and the palmer-worm are a great devouring army which shall ravage parts of the earth in the last days, and constitute one of the terrors of the time. Truly it is so, and man, with all his inventions and devices, is as powerless to prevent it as he is the tornado or the earthquake.
What shall be done? The Lord tells His people in this same prophecy; and that is to turn to Him with all the heart:—
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?" Joel 2: 12-14.
Read the entire book of Joel; it is a prophecy of the last days more emphatically than it was of the days in which the prophet lived.
MYSTERIOUS MANIFESTATIONS.
By T.
ONE of the most noted topics of discussion at this time is that of spirit phenomena. Within the past few months there has been a veritable outbreak of it. All the papers are discussing it, and every one is talking about it.
A quarter of a century ago the men classed as scientists, as well as the generally educated, with but few exceptions, pooh-poohed at Spiritualism, and said that it was nothing more than trickery palmed off on the superstition and credulity of the ignorant. But to-day this is all changed. The most influential professors in the leading colleges and universities are diligently studying it. The most prominent editors, and even many of the most well-known ministers, speak of it in the highest terms of respect.
There is a significance in all this that but very few realize. The Bible plainly tells us that the coming of Christ is "after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness9of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2 Thess. 2:9, 10.
The manifestations of Spiritualism in all of its various phases and under its numerous disguises is not a proof of immortality, as many argue, neither is it a proof that the dead have disembodied spirits, that are continually floating about us. These wonders of Spiritualism are one of the strong evidences that we have reached the time of the masterful workings of Satan, and every one who has other foundation than the Word of God will surely be taken by his snares. Pass the warning message along rapidly. All should be made familiar with the truth of God's Word upon this important subject just as quickly as possible. T.
Worse Than Tariff or Trust
Worse than Tariff or Trust is drunkenness. Not long ago the leading newspaper of France bore this testimony: 'People are ready to talk of 'alcoholism' for a day or two, and then think no more of it, but its terrible flood does not pursue its ravages only in a hidden and silent way; from time to time some statistical report surprises us, and we are obliged to face the evil which it is accomplishing. According to the official figures, the Department of the Seine contained in 1867, 7,805 lunatics; in 1896 there were 21,700; in 30 years the number of insane persons in Paris and its suburbs had tripled. To what must we attribute this terrible increase? No doubt there are several causes, but the medical men say that the steadily-increasing habit of alcoholism is the most fruitful one. . . . Last year at Ville Evrard, out of 100 new patients, 22 were there through alcoholism, that is to say, nearly 25 per cent. We must not imagine that this increase of lunatics is peculiar to the neighborhood of Paris; it is the same in Picardy, in Normandy, in Bretagne, and in the center of France; even in the south, which seemed to have escaped until recently, the same phenomenon is recorded. Almost all the departments are complaining of the insufficiency of the asylums. Alcoholism—this is the enemy. It is the scourge of destruction par excellence, which sweeps away those races who do not know how to defend themselves against it.' And the feeders to the great deadly lagoon of alcoholism are stimulating foods, condiments, tea, coffee, absinthe, tobacco, and other evil drugs and brews.
The only sure way of escape is temperance in all things. Only those whose minds are clear and sensitive will be able to discern the moral principles involved in the great and momentous crises through which we are passing. The load of intemperance is the heaviest the nations of earth are bearing.
Peace Prospects
By S.
Peace Prospects.—Germany is one of the strongest powers in the world; and Dr. Zorn, one of the German delegation to the Peace Conference, recently remarked, according to Mr. W. T. Stead, "Peace is a thing for heaven; for earth perpetual struggle is the law of existence." And an American delegate remarked to Mr. Stead, "If you have to make headway for this conference in Germany, you must never mention the word 'peace.'" The German emperor has a spirit of bitter hostility to the Peace Conference. Mr. Stead thus reports a recent utterance of the kaiser respecting "peace": "What is the use of talking nonsense . . . when love of militarism is so universal among the women, do you think that any conference at The Hague will banish it from the world?" Truly spake the ancient prophet, "They cry, Peace, peace; when there is no peace," and the apostle declares, "When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them."
Evidences of the proximity of the last days are thickening with the rapidity of thought. "As he thinketh in his heart so is he;" and the thoughts of the worldling are running swiftly and continually to the gratification of self and the sin of covetousness. This tendency of the present times is predicted in 2 Tim. 3: 1, 2: "In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters," etc. Covetousness is the offspring of selfish thought; and theft, whether petty larceny, grand larceny, or embezzlement, is the child of covetousness. The weeks are few indeed when we do not read of some such bank theft as reported on July 14, from New Jersey, in which the cashier of the bank was found to have embezzled over $100,000. But this is simply an illustration of what is continually taking place, and on the increase. The earthly traveler watches the guide-posts, if he has not been that way before. Are you watching those God has designated for your guidance? S.
IN THE TWO CAMPS.
THE rioting in London, Ontario, is but another of the world-wide evidences that there are two hostile camps spread all over the earth. The capitalists are already organized thoroughly, and are rapidly combining into trusts to control everything. The laborers are organized into unions and are seeking to compel the capitalists to recognize them. And so the strife is on, and it will become more and more bitter and violent.
This will not only be a world-wide strife, but it will be the very worst kind of strife that could be imagined. When one nation is at war with another there are always places of comparative safety. When revolution breaks out in only one or two countries, there are other countries in which one may reside in security. But that which confronts us now is not a local or even a national commotion; it is a revolution that is to be absolutely world-wide.
God is the only one who has provided a shelter against that awful time, the threshold of which we are now passing. Into His shelter He is entreating us to take refuge. We should hear and heed His voice.
Important, Felicitous and Deplorable
"Important," "Felicitous" and "Deplorable."—Francesco Crispi, Italy's great statesman, has this to say in the San Francisco Examiner of June 18:—
"The participation of the United States in the disarmament conference at The Hague, a gathering planned by the powers of Europe, is a most important phenomenon in modern history. That the grand union of North America was among the principle nations asked to help bring about an era of peace is, on the one hand, felicitous, on the other, deplorable. For until now the United States fostered no imperialistic ambitions, sought no conquests, and not having instigated international wars, did not feel called upon to make any restitution."
To state it briefly, Mr. Crispi thinks "felicitous" the presence of United States at the Peace Conference, and "propitious," because on friendly terms with nearly all European powers, but "important" and "deplorable," because it means that the only power which stood aloof from the war and strife of the world, is now to be reckoned "in nearly all future international questions." The recent conquests of this country "inspire the fear that all European nations will finally be driven from their transatlantic colonies." And, of course, this arouses an animosity toward America.
Once this government stood as a beacon light to the world, guiding the nations from the wilderness of medieval darkness and tyranny—religious and civil—to the "new order of ages," inaugurated by Roger Williams, and carried grandly forward by Jefferson, Adams, Washington, Lincoln, and their compatriots. Now the glorious republic is turning back to the old order of ages, to medieval principles and methods, and is arousing the jealousy and hatred of the nations. She can win them no longer by her noble principles of equality and liberty; she must cajole and deceive and purchase by diplomacy or terrify by force. It is "deplorable" to this nation and to the world. But it is only fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation.
UNDER BONDS FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE.
By Editor
At the present time there are at least five persons in these United States who are under arrest because of their religious convictions. Three of these will soon be placed in the chain-gang, unless God specially interposes in their behalf. Now this is in free and liberty-loving America, in this year of our Lord 1899. This battle for religious freedom was fought once in the United States, and liberty of conscience was declared to be the religious right of every individual. But we are in a time of backward tendencies, and when this country fully renounces her upright principles of republicanism it is only another little step to cast off her principles of religious liberty. Keep your eyes open wide, mark well every passing event. These times are loaded with significant omens.
The Dangers of Treating Crisis Lightly
It is admitted freely by the most thoughtful that there has not been a time known to history when so many serious problems confronted the world as today. Every one recognizes that the social and political condition in every nation on earth is such that no one can predict the disasters that a single day may bring forth. And yet, in the very face of all this, there is a marked disposition to treat the whole subject with lightness. Many persons give one the impression that they regard the whole affair as a huge joke. And right here lies one of the gravest dangers of the age. If one looks seriously upon a threatened danger, he is very likely to seek some way of escape. But when he makes the danger nothing more than the occasion for jokes and ridicule, he can not avoid being plunged into it, wholly unprepared to meet it.
The Costs of Colonial Policy
ENGLAND has begun to keenly feel the effects of her colonial policy. It means a strong navy and a big standing army. And now that other European nations are entering more actively into the colonial business, and also since the United States has entered the same field, Great Britain sees that she must still lay greater tax burdens upon her people to provide for a still greater navy and a much greater army. Hence, in the House of Commons a few nights ago, the members of both sides cheered the assertion made more than once, and by both Conservatives and Liberals, that no one wished to add another square mile of territory to the British Empire. This is a little bit of current history based upon an extended experience, and is worthy of careful thought.
Spiritualism’s Great Deception
M. Tissot, the noted painter of scenes in the Holy Land, is a believer in Spiritualism. While he believes that most of the public mediums are frauds and deceivers, he declares that there are genuine "interesting cases, concealed in solitary homes and in convents, the hidden mysteries of which I am happy to have learned. Silence about them is a duty imposed upon me." And so one after another of men of influence in the world are yielding to the great deception, deceived into believing that men converse with the spirits of the dead when they are conversing with a lying demon.
Serious Railway Strikes
Serious railway strikes are reported from Cleveland, where three weeks ago it was thought the trouble was settled, and from Brooklyn, N. Y. In other parts of the country like troubles are brewing.
Crime Open
By Editor
"Crime Open" is the significant heading to a recent New York World editorial. The opening sentences of the editorial read: "In several quarters of the city, life is no longer safe. The night streets of the district lying between Union Square and Long Acre and Seventh and Third Avenues are in possession of the disorderly elements. The police force is already demoralized, and the demoralization is progressing rapidly toward chaos." This condition in New York is nothing new. It is a condition against which the city has been contending for years, and matters are growing worse very fast. It is simply an outgrowth of the corrupt politics that shelter the police and other officers of the law while they form partnerships with the criminals and receive their regular share of the revenue of crime. And this evil is not alone in New York. It is sapping the virtue and uprightness from society everywhere.
The Pope’s Growing American Influence
The pope understands how to adjust his sails to all winds of earth. The Kansas City Star of June 14 notes the following:—"A brief despatch announces that the pope, through Cardinal Rampolla, has authorized Archbishop Chappelle, of New Orleans, to consecrate the Rev. Francis de Paula Barnada archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, and Bishop Blenk of San Juan de Porto Rico. The incident is of the greatest importance, as meaning the ecclesiastical severance of Cuba and Porto Rico from Spain. With an American as papal ablegate—to whom the pope looks for information and advice—and the prelates and the first see in importance in Porto Rico and the second in Cuba in the hands of Americans in sentiment, the end of Spanish influence in the church has begun as a natural consequence of the end of Spanish rule in the State." But it means more and more the influence of the pope in America. Neither would the pope have taken this step had he not been morally sure of the friendliness of the American Government. The incident is of importance, and with many others is highly significant.
AN INSTANCE OF FAITH IN HAWAII.
By O. F. Sampson
WITH the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States will come many pretty bits of their history. Among the best of such is one told me by a native "kanaka" while I was in the city of Honolulu.
In 1828 came the first American missionaries to the island of Oahu, H. I. Among the first converts was a young woman of the royal family, Kapiolani—then only eighteen years of age. The transformation of a native from barbarity and idolatry to Christianity and civilization is a wonderful transformation. It means more than we who have been brought up among Christian influences can easily understand. It means the breaking of home-ties; the loss of dear friends; the leaving behind many that will not come with us, and whom we long to have with us. Such was the case with this young woman. Her people and relatives were idolaters, and in order for her to serve Almighty God she must bid adieu to Pélé and the worshipers of Pélé. Yet, so strong was her faith in God that she willingly gave up her friends, relatives and home to be an outcast for the sake of her Master.
As she came to better learn of the love of Christ, she was not content with this; she must find some way to lead her people to this God who was so much stronger, purer and more merciful than Pélé. In doing this, she became one of the noblest heroines I have ever known. As is the habit of all idolaters to serve the largest or greatest thing the eyes of such people can find, so these people worshiped Volcano Kilauea, on the island of Hawaii. During the action of this volcano, small hairlike filaments are blown from its crater which resemble a woman’s hair—and from this the goddess is named "Pélé." So powerful was her wrath supposed to be, that no one was ever known to have looked into the crater where Pélé was enthroned. Such an action, it was declared, would cause the awful anger of Pélé, and the subject would at once be struck dead for such an attempt to see the throne of the goddess.
Royal Family Monument, Honolulu.
Yet this was just the means used by Kapiolani to prove the uselessness and depravity of idolatry and superstition. Coming to the foot of the great volcano, where a number of her people and relatives were gathered to see her test the power of Pélé, and among these King Kamehameha III., she spoke as follows: "I am now going to test the power of Pélé and Almighty God." Then she held in view a bunch of the berries held sacred to the goddess, and continued: "I shall go to the crater where you worship, I shall ascend to the top and challenge the wrath of Pélé; then if I am killed you will know Pélé was stronger than my God, and you shall serve your god, but if I am not killed, then your religion is a lie and you should serve my God." This was her farewell speech to her people, and she began her awful journey.
When near the crater she met one of the prophetesses of Pélé, who asked her if she was going to the crater to worship. "No," said Kapiolani, "I am going to test." She then began to ask her questions concerning the Scriptures, of which the prophetess had no knowledge, and finally asked her to come to the crater with her to see the test, which the prophetess, after some hesitation, agreed to do.
Arriving at the crater, Kapiolani at once climbed to its summit and challenged the wrath of the goddess. Waiting a moment for the wrath of the goddess, she held out the bunch of berries and began to eat the sacred fruit, at the center of their worship. Then she faced the assembly below and with clasped hands she raised her face toward heaven and thanked her Father for her deliverance from the awful superstition and wickedness of idolatry.
Queen's Palace, Honolulu.
No one who has never known the awful superstition and ignorance of a nation in such circumstances can imagine the courage required by this young girl to accomplish her mission of faith. She had been an outcast from home and friends, now her people could see the fruits of their superstition arrayed against that of the Almighty. If Pélé could not fulfil her power and uphold her rights as taught by her priests and prophets, certainly something must be radically wrong; and their religion after all must be a lie.
This act done by young Kapiolani was the means of the banishment of the service of idols on the islands. Altho the people were not ready to receive Christianity just then, the king commanded all idols to be destroyed, and himself helped to burn them. A few years later the fruit of this young girl’s faith was made public, when in 1839 one of the greatest revivals on the islands took place, and Christianity found a home there.
"She hath done what she could." She, alone in faith, rolled away the stone of superstition before the eyes of her people; she bathed their hearts in the Word of Truth, and she had shown them the way to everlasting Life. And, with all this, she had not asked "What reward am I to have?"
O. F. SAMPSON, M.S.L.
Leonta, N. Y.
Progressive Korea
Progressive Korea.—There is no more beautiful sight in any land than that of a Christian home. In Korea there are twice as many as there were last year; homes where morning and evening father and mother gather children and servants about the family altar to offer to the God of nations homage and prayer in the name of His Son; homes where the dread demons of the heathen abodes have been cast to the moles and the bats, and Christ, and the Bible, and song, and love, and hope, and better things have taken their place. We have been in and out of these homes and have found them clean and neat and tidy. Wife-beating, a universal practise in Korean homes, has been banished. One wife told in a prayer-meeting of the changed behavior of her husband toward her. “No more drunkenness and hard, unkind words and low, vile talk. We eat at the same table, at the same time, and out of the same dishes.”—Missionary Review.
“Mem-Sahib, Mem-Sahib!” It was the voice of little Abdul calling to me from his cot. I had just tucked him away into his little bed; tucked, not only the blankets, but the mosquito netting, all down in tightly around him; for here in Calcutta, even in midwinter, the mosquitoes are very troublesome; and I had just stepped back into the bath-room for a moment. As I went to him, he pulled the netting and reached up his little brown arms to draw me close down to him, and whispered:—
THE INVITATION.
Come ye to the marriage supper;
Come, O come, the feast is spread!
Come ye to the living Water;
Come, and taste the living Bread.
But those bidden to the supper
One and all made quick excuse;
Houses, lands, and lowing cattle
Seemed to them of greater use.
Then the Master, filled with anguish,
Lest the feast untasted go,
Quickly through the lanes and byways
Sent His servants to and fro,
Searching out the poor and needy,
Faint and weary, lone and lost,
Bidding to His waiting supper,
Without money, without cost.
—Anon.
GOD UNDERSTANDS HINDI.
By Mrs. O. G. Place
“Mem-Sahib, Mem-Sahib!” It was the voice of little Abdul calling to me from his cot. I had just tucked him away into his little bed; tucked, not only the blankets, but the mosquito netting, all down in tightly around him; for here in Calcutta, even in midwinter, the mosquitoes are very troublesome; and I had just stepped back into the bath-room for a moment. As I went to him, he pulled the netting and reached up his little brown arms to draw me close down to him, and whispered:—
“Mem-Sahib, please ask God to make me good little boy, me good heart give.”
I said, “Yes, indeed, Abdul, I will, and you ask Him too.”
“O Mem-Sahib,” he replied, “I English word not speak; God Hindi not know.”
Then I told him, “O, yes, Abdul, God knows Hindi.”
“And Bengali too, Mem-Sahib?”
“Yes, and Bengali too. God understands English, and Hindi, and Bengali and all the many ways in which people talk. So you just ask Him yourself in Hindi to give you a good heart, and He will know what you say, and He will give it to you.”
The little brown face looked very thoughtful, and the bright black eyes opened wide with wonder, as I kissed him good-night and turned away, thanking God that His Spirit had been speaking to this dear little Indian boy, and that his heart had heard and wanted to answer. Since that night Abdul has knelt every evening before getting into his bed and talked with God in Hindi.—Mrs. O. G. Place, in Our Little Friend.
A Life Consecrated to God
“THERE is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God.”
Do You Want to Help Our Work?
By J. A. Dolson
1. You can send donations of money, food, etc., which will be used to the best advantage.
2. You can send beans, onions, potatoes, squashes, and other vegetables of the season.
3. You can send dried, canned or fresh fruit.
In sending donations please be careful to comply with suggestions which appear below.
Do not fail to mark each box or package with the full name and address of the donor. Compliance with these suggestions will save much delay in acknowledging receipt of your donations.
Those sending donations will please forward the same by freight, pre-paid, to the Helping Hand and Medical Mission, 641 Commercial St., San Francisco, Cal.
Cash donations should be sent to the secretary and treasurer, H. H. Winslow, Pacific Press, Oakland. Remit by P. O. money order, express order, or draft.
J. A. DOLSON,
Superintendent.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
By Editor
THREE converts are reported by Brother W. H. Steward in meetings held at Ymir, B. C.
A CAMP-MEETING is now in progress at Basin, Mont., thirty miles northeast of Butte, on the Great Northern Railroad.
AT the quarterly meeting of the church at St. Paul, Minn., seven members were added, six by baptism. Brother H. F. Phelps officiated.
AT the recent camp-meeting held in the Red Butte Settlement, twelve miles south of Great Falls, Mont., ten persons were baptized, and there was a marked revival of interest on the part of those who had formerly professed Christ.
AT the recent camp-meeting held in Spokane, Wash., twenty-nine candidates followed their Lord in baptism. Thus in the three camp-meetings held in Upper Columbia Conference this season, nearly one hundred persons have been baptized.
WE find this item in the Reaper: "It has been decided to establish a health-food store and a sanitarium in the city of Spokane, Wash., and an orphans' home at Boise, Idaho. The first of the above enterprises is pending the starting of the bakery at Walla Walla College; the second, the arrival of a physician from the sanitarium at Battle Creek, Mich., and the third the securing of a suitable home near Boise."
THE Apostle Paul did much of his best work while in prison. So did John Bunyan, and it has occurred quite frequently that marked attention has been drawn to our work through the arrest of some of our brethren on account of their faith. This is especially so in the case of Brother Rodney S. Owen, who was arrested recently in Mississippi for doing a little hoeing in his garden on Sunday morning. The Argus, published at Amory, has given Brother Owen large space in its columns for the presentation of the truth which he has been advancing, and which was the real cause of his persecution. This paper also gives editorial attention to Brother Owen's position and the principles involved. Thus the truth is more widely proclaimed through his arrest than by his ordinary ministry. He closes his article in the Argus of the 7th ult. with these words:
"The battle for religious liberty will be fought with pen and voice, inspired by the principles of truth and justice. We believe there are many noble men in all the Christian churches, as well as those outside the church, who will stand in defense of religious liberty."
AFTER several arrests in different parts of Turkey, and other petty annoyances and prohibitions (principally because others professing to be Protestants would not acknowledge the "Sabbatarians" as Protestants) Brother Z. G. Baharian has obtained two important concessions. One is from the director of religions to the minister of the interior, as follows:—
"I have talked with Zadour Baharian, the preacher of Sabbath-keepers, who says that there are many denominations in Protestantism; that theirs, also, is Protestantism, and that he preaches nothing but the Bible. Then you may let him free to preach the Gospel as long as he shall not act contrary to the Bible."
The other document is an order from the minister of the interior to the minister of the police, and reads as follows:—
"Seeing that Zadour Baharian, the preacher of the Sabbatarian churches, has positively decided to preach his religion; that, according to his confession, their religion, also, is Protestantism, and he preaches nothing but the Gospel; then we command you to let him free to preach his religion, with the condition that he shall not act contrary to the laws of the Gospel."
It is worthy of note that the annoyances to our laborers in Turkey do not come from the Moslems, as such, nor from the Catholics. The Catholics and Protestants have nominal authority to carry on their work; but as the Sabbatarians, by which appellation our people are known, are not Catholic, and the Protestant churches have refused to recognize them as Protestants, they have been subjected to annoyance on various occasions by officers of the police, through complaint of ministers and others professing to be Protestants. Yet such a spirit is just that against which the original Protestants protested.
