p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 19. (5/13/1897)

Pacific Press Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Company was held on the 4th inst., in the chapel of the publishing house. The following named persons were elected as directors for the ensuing year: C. H. Jones, A. J. Breed, M. C. Wilcox, M. H. Brown, E. A. Chapman, Wm. Saunders, S. C. Stickney. On the following day the new board met and organized, choosing officers as follows: President and manager, C. H. Jones; vice-president, A. J. Breed; secretary and assistant manager, S. C. Stickney; treasurer, E. A. Chapman.

An Utter Inconsistency.

By Editor

In the quarrel between Dr. Mains, of the Methodist Book Concern, and the American Citizen, of Boston, we have no special interest. It is over the matter of the employment of Roman Catholics in the Concern, while Methodists go unemployed. But here is a matter of interest; it is stated that "their establishment is under the control of labor unions, and that in New York City union help is Roman Catholic help." But what could be more inconsistent than for a great religious and denominational publishing house to place the control of its printing in the hands of a secular union? It is the church putting its organic work under the control of the world. We have no objection to religious institutions giving employment to worldlings and aiding worldlings if it can consistently, but to place itself or any part of its work under the control of worldlings is utterly foreign to the mission of the church. What if the union refused to print a document which the religious corporation believed to be the Gospel? Who would be responsible? Of course the world, the worldly unions, do not see the incongruity of such a course. They do not know the true nature of religious work, and are blinded by self-interest. But what shall we say of a religious body which will willingly place itself under such control? But it is this same tendency which is actuating the churches to ask Congress and State Legislatures to enforce religious dogmas, and so fix or make creeds by statute law. It is the church trusting in the arm of flesh and being controlled by it.

Edhem Pasha

EDHEM PASHA, the commander of the Turkish army in the present war with Greece, is of Greek origin and of Christian parentage. He was born on the island of Chio, in the Ægean Sea. His parents were killed by the Turks when he was young, and Edhem was sold to a Turkish general named Khosseo Pasha, who took him to Constantinople. He was sent to Paris to be educated, and took a course of four years in the Institute Barbet, and four more in the school of mines. He has been advanced from step to step to his present position. It is stated that he has a hatred of everything Christian.

A Special Issue of the American Sentinel

By Editor

WE are loath to mention any particular number of our colaborer, the American Sentinel, as a "special," if that term is to mean special value; for in that case we would have to designate every issue as a "special." But the publishers themselves so designate the issue of April 29, and we agree that it contains matter of special value to all who would carefully note the trend of the times. It shows up the evil of political religion, both in retrospect and prospect, in a manner that can not fail to make a deep impression on the mind of the candid reader. It should be widely circulated.

Catholic Criticism of Protestantism

By Editor

It Seems to Depend on Whose Ox.—The Catholic Mirror of April 17, in criticising a noted Protestant lecturer for making certain strictures before a public audience concerning Roman Catholic countries, says:—

"One never yet hears of a Catholic lecturer insulting Protestants. A man like Mr. Smith, who depends a good deal upon personal popularity for the sale of his writings, makes a bad business blunder in descending to this low device of assailing Catholics."

We will leave the statement regarding Catholic lecturers to those who have listened. Mr Smith seems to have found out that his criticism was "a bad business blunder," and so apologized. But with the above we wished to publish a little item from the same Mirror, concerning Protestantism, primarily addressed to a Protestant:—

"The most corrupt men of the time, Henry VIII., a bigamist, king of England; William the Silent, a bigamist, king of Holland; Philip of Hesse, a bigamist, and Luther, who broke his priestly vows of chastity, and violated, while she was in the Convent of Nimpchen, a nun of ill fame named Catharine Bora, these declared that the church had grown corrupt. These shouted reform. These became the apostles of reform."

There is more in the same line. This we suppose would be called teaching the "truth" to save. What Protestants might say of the Papacy would be falsehood and insult. What Protestants ought to say to the above is, Our faith is founded, not on man, but on Jesus Christ and his Word.

Miracles and Modern Criticism

THOMAS B. HUGHES, rector of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, New York, said in a sermon February 21:—

"No naturalist has ever doubted the possibility of the swallowing of Jonah by a sea monster. The question has been, Could Jonah live through the ordeal? Not without a miracle. But there is nothing more improbable about this miracle than of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. It is not as wonderful a thing as the Virgin birth of Christ. Christianity is founded upon the possibility of miracles, and when you begin to deny a Bible statement because it is contrary to nature, you might as well close up your churches and give up Christianity altogether."

The italicized portion above is strictly logical. The tendency of all this modern criticism is to drag God and his Book down in order to exalt man.

Help One Another

By Editor

Help One Another.—The apostle's exhortation to his brethren is, "Edify one another, even as also ye do." The better English of the first phrase is, "Build up one another," or, "Build one another up." It is sad, but human beings many times are engaged, and often professed Christians, in tearing one another down. The Christian way is to build one another up. Here is unbounded room for holy temples in God's kingdom. There is no need of strife or emulation among his children. If he in his wisdom does not want us in one place, if we are truly his, he has a better place for us. But wherever we are placed, let us "edify one another." Thus only can we be truly built into that temple of which Jesus Christ is the corner-stone.

Religion and the University

To THE charge that the University of California is an ungodly institution, Professor Hilgard replies: "The university is not intended for religious instruction. If there is any fault to be found with the graduates on account of their religious beliefs, it must not be charged to the university, but to the homes from which the students come, all unprepared in religious knowledge. The place for religion is in the homes and in the lower schools. There is where the error lies. Parents pay their $16 school tax and then turn their children loose, at an immature age, without any religious training. There is the whole trouble, and not with the university."