p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 48. (11/29/1905)

Earlier text: THE LAW IN THE GOSPEL PLAN

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 26.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

"SPIRITUALISM!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilber. "I'd no idea the word was in the Bible. I'm sure I'd like to know what is written on that subject, of all others."

"I don't think that the identical word is in the Bible," replied Brother Hartman. "Still, I am persuaded that God's Book is full of warnings against the subtle snares of this latter-day delusion."

"Well, now," objected Mrs. Gray, "I see nothing so very bad about the doctrine,—in fact, I know several really good, well-meaning people who belong to this cult."

"O, certainly," replied grandma. "I, myself, have a few dear friends among them, and I can not wonder, for it is but the logical outcome of a belief in the natural immortality of the soul."

"John, will you please tell us what you consider to be the particular stronghold, and consequently the most dangerous error, in that mighty stronghold of deception—Spiritualism?"

"I consider it to be the belief in the immortal, conscious state of the dead, and their frequent return to this earth."

"Elsie, have you any Scripture proof of the inconsistency of this belief?"

"God does not desire the living to seek knowledge from the dead," replied Elsie. "Indeed, He has often told us the utter folly of it by assuring us many times in His Word that the dead are unconscious. I think, father, that we will find a text referring directly to Spiritualism in Isaiah 8:19, 20, R.V.;" and Elsie read slowly and impressively: "'And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead? To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this Word, surely there is no morning for them,' or, old version, 'it is because there is no light in them.'"

"Very good. We see that God has warned us against going for knowledge to the dead, because He says also, in Eccl. 9:10, that there is no 'device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave.' Mrs. Wilber, can you tell us something about the origin of Spiritualism? Where and when do you think the doctrine was first preached, and by whom?"

"Really, Mr. Hartman, I don't think it was very long ago. When did you first hear of it, Mr. Gray?"

"I believe the city of Rochester, New York, is conceded to be its birthplace, and that it was first known as the Rochester knockings; but it has certainly made great headway since then," replied Mr. Gray.

"Do you agree with him, grandma?"

"Mr. Gray refers to modern Spiritualism, I think," grandmother replied, "but ancient Spiritualism is hoary with age. It was born in Eden, and was introduced to our first parents by the wily serpent, who took for his text the familiar words, 'Ye shall not surely die,' and he has been repeating it ever since, with pretty good success."

"That is not a flattering origin, to be sure," said Walter Gray, smiling.

"No, my boy," replied Brother Hartman, "and those words, among the first Satan ever addressed to mankind, 'Ye shall not surely die,' are the foundation stone of almost every false system of worship in the world."

"I can't see how you make that out!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilber. "It just seems to me you are trying to prove too much, aren't you?"

"Well, my friend," replied Brother Hartman, smiling, "how much would there be left of Catholicism if you take from it the belief in the natural immortality of the soul? Surely, the virgin Mary and all the canonized saints of the Catholic calendar are dead. But, says Satan, 'Ye shall not surely die,' and they believe him, and fondly imagine that these dead people are conscious and in heaven, and pray to them accordingly."

"A new idea, surely! I never thought of that!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilber.

"And then," continued Brother Hartman, "that heathen belief in the transmigration of souls rests upon this very foundation. Indeed, the savage Indian, who fondly hopes that at death his conscious spirit departs to the happy hunting ground; the modern Spiritualist, who converses with what purports to be the spirit of his dead friend; and that large class of people of whom the Japanese are representatives, who fight bloody battles under the supposed direction of their dead ancestors, all build their faith upon this first deception of the devil, Satan's first lie. Mattie, can you give us any instance of men making use, anciently, of Spiritualism, or witchcraft, as the Bible terms it?"

"O, yes, father, there are many instances. Jannes and Jambres must have been mediums, I think. Anyway, they tried to perform some of the miracles which Moses did before Pharaoh, and they succeeded well enough to deceive the foolish king."

"Yes," interrupted John, "and in 2 Timothy 3, Paul warns Timothy against this class of persons."

"Grandma, do you think there is as much danger of being deceived by Satan to-day as anciently?" asked Elsie.

"Certainly, my dear child; the danger is much greater, for we read that Satan is come down with great wrath, knowing 'that he hath but a short time.'"

"What, Mr. Hartman!" exclaimed Mrs. Gray nervously, "you don't think, do you, that Satan can perform actual miracles?"

"I will answer your question by asking another. It is written, you remember, that Satan carried our Saviour to a great and high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of earth in a moment of time, and that he took Christ bodily and sat Him upon a pinnacle of the temple. Was not this a miracle?"

"Yes," added Elsie, "and in the case of the death of the sons of Job, Satan must have had power over the very winds."

"Walter," said John, "I would like you to read Rev. 13:13, 14, for this proves that Satan not only has power, but that he will use it to the very last in deceiving mankind."

" 'And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.'"

"Well, mother," continued Walter, "you see Satan does have power to perform miracles."

"Yes, yes; I see; I had never thought of it in this light before. I fear I have underestimated very much, the wonderful power of the archdeceiver," replied his mother.

"Now, little Beth, I will ask you to read a passage that sets the matter in a very strong light. Grandma will help you find the place."

Very slowly and deliberately, Beth read Rev. 16:13, 14.

WATCH, WAIT, WORK, PRAY.

By Ella Cornish

BY ELLA CORNISH.

WATCH! the signs are fast fulfilling— Omens that the day is near; Watch and be ye also ready; Soon the Saviour shall appear.

WAIT! with patience wait his coming, Tho He seem to tarry long; In a little while in triumph, We shall sing the victor's song.

WORK! the time is short, O hasten; Sound the message loud and clear, Preach the "Gospel of the kingdom," That the nations all may hear.

PRAY! let prayers be oft ascending Lest your labor be in vain; In your closet lowly bending, Seek and find eternal gain.

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

"The Blue Book of Missions." Compiled by Henry Otis Dwight, D.D., LL.D. 200 pages. Cloth, $1.00 net; by mail, $1.10. Published by Funk & Wagnalls, New York and London.

The book contains the gist of the annual reports of a hundred or more missionary societies for 1904, together with the latest data concerning area, population, religions, and missions in the non-Christian countries of the world. The information it contains is carefully indexed for ready reference, making it a valuable help to all who are interested in practical missionary work in foreign fields.

"Songs for Service in Church and Home." By Charles P. Whitford, the singing evangelist. Published by the Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Texas. Bound in boards with cloth back; 252 pages; price, 50 cents; per dozen copies, $5.60.

We have no hesitancy in recommending this song book to our readers. It is filled with good, stirring hymns. Sense is not sacrificed to music—the words of the hymns are good, as well as the melodies to which they are set. The author and compiler has shown the good taste, in whatever old melodies he has used, to use them as they are, to leave them in just the way that they sung themselves into our souls. He has dropped no offensive pebbles into the wheels of their mechanism to grate upon the sensibilities of singers and hearers. We feel certain that those who purchase this little book will not regret the expenditure.

"The Traveler's Handbook for Transatlantic Tourists." By Josephine Tozier. Published by Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York City. Small 12mo, cloth, 211 pages; illustrated with photos of tickets, time tables, telegraph forms, etc. Price, $1.00 net.

This little book will be found almost invaluable by persons going abroad, especially those who have never traveled in foreign countries. The little knotty problems, the perplexing questions, that are bound to arise, are all answered before hand in this little handbook. It is not designed as a guide book through the different countries—there are plenty of these already; but to instruct the traveler how to travel without inconvenience in countries whose customs are very different from our own, whose language we do not know, and whose denominations of money are a problem. It goes into the details of railway and steamship travel, letters of credit, express and mail, and foreign etiquette—a valuable book for travelers.

"The Ideal Church." By Rev. William H. Zweizig, Tobyhanna, Pa. Cloth, 113 pages; price, 75 cents; in paper cover, 50 cents.

By "Ideal Church" the author does not mean the ideal denomination, sect, or form of belief; but the individual company in any place organized into church membership. We find in this book very much to commend. The work is the outgrowth of pastoral experience. The writer has been in close contact with the problems that confront every church, and the working plans which he sets before the church are in nearly all respects ideal. He would have a prayer-meeting church, a tithe-paying church, a church which gives more attention to the meat of the Word than to a criticism of its contents, the Bible to be above all creeds as the ultimate authority, a church believing in the fall of man and redemption and regeneration through Christ only, a church which believes in and teaches the second coming of Christ, a spiritual church, a church discountenancing theaters, card parties, and all questionable amusements. In the matter of what the ideal church will be teaching, we are glad to see that the author recognizes the instability of the doctrine of eternal torment and the unreliable nature of the doctrine of inherent immortality. We can not agree with the author's position in the matter of Christian citizenship, but would highly commend the Christian spirit manifested throughout the work. The needs of the church are real, and the author has set them forth in a commendable manner.

"Balance: The Fundamental Verity." By Orlando J. Smith. Published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston and New York. Cloth, 279 pages. Price, $1.25 net.

The book is written for the purpose of proving the immortality of the soul. It attempts to do this entirely apart from Biblical authority,—proving by this the author's recognition of the fact that the Bible gives man no authority for such a hypothesis. The author reasons that as all actions have their equivalent reactions, all causes their resultant effects, the soul must pass into another existence to receive the just awards denied it in this. The fact that in all ages men have believed in spirits and in the continued existence of their dead friends is made to do duty as a proof of the soul's immortality. His abandonment of the Bible in this argument is perfectly in harmony with his espousal of that other unscriptural belief, the theory of Evolution. The author would make the consequences which follow our acts the law by which to square our lives, and declares that our common conceptions of morality are the results of the observation of human actions and their consequences. Religion he considers an evolution through fetishism to idolatry, idolatry to polytheism, polytheism to monism; and the Decalogue an effective agent for good only so far as nature corroborates it. It is simply another statement of that doctrine so popular to-day, that man is able to construct his own moral code and act in the capacity of saviour for himself.

"The Way to Jesus," by E. Payson Hammond, M.A., the noted evangelist; and "The Blood of Jesus," by William Reid, M.A., Two pamphlets, each 108 pages, combined in one. Price, 15 cents. Published by J. S. Ogilvie Pub. Co., 57 Rose Street, New York.

Mr. Hammond's part of the work is written for children, and tells of experiences in Syria and Palestine, together with numerous letters from young folks. It is written and compiled in Mr. Hammond's well-known attractive style, and is fraught with interesting information and good instruction.

Mr. Reid's section of the pamphlet is a special effort to assist the inquirer who is troubled with the idea that there is some hard work for him to do before he can be accepted of Christ. The author disclaims any design to give a theological treatise. His work is an effort to induce anxious inquirers to accept without question the sacrifice of Christ for their sins.

"The Church of Christ," by a layman. 346 pages. Cloth, $1.00 net. Published by Funk & Wagnalls, New York and London.

This book sets forth the doctrines and ordinances of the church, as viewed generally by the Disciples, or "Campbellite" body. It is well written, and in so far as it adheres to Scripture is a plain presentation of various subjects; but must necessarily depart from and pervert the Word, when sustaining the popular traditions of antinomianism, immortal-soulism, and Sunday observance as a substitute for the Sabbath of the Lord.

"Beautiful Stories from the Good Old Book." By Isabel C. Byrum. 311 pages; liberally illustrated; handsomely bound in cloth. Published by Gospel Trumpet Company, Moundsville, W. Va.

This is a book for children, comprising short Bible stories. The period covered is from Creation to the time of Esther. The attractive style of the work will serve to please the children, as well as to impress the lessons upon the minds of young readers.

UNCONSCIOUS ADDITIONS TO THE BIBLE.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Sun writes, "Our Bible says 'Charity should begin at home.'" The chapter and verse are not given. It is astonishing how many passages of Scripture that do not exist are quoted. One would suppose that "Honesty is the best policy" had been ridiculed often enough to prevent any one from believing that the passage is in the Bible, but it reappeared a short time ago in quite a dignified article. "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb" is sometimes attributed to St. Paul, and on one occasion we heard it quoted, "God tempers the shorn lamb to the wind."

Years ago a converted sailor astonished a congregation in London by stating that often in the wildest storms at midnight, when he thought all was lost, he had been strengthened and encouraged by remembering the passage of Scripture, "Faint heart never won fair lady." "Cleanliness is next to godliness" is supposed by many to be in the Bible, but it is not. None can give its origin. Wesley quoted it in 1772, but does not give its source.

A friend of ours was summoned in haste to preach a funeral sermon. His carriage being ready he started at once, and prepared an admirable discourse during the twenty miles or more traveled. The text was highly appropriate, and the sermon fitted to it with the precision characteristic of the man. To his dismay on arriving he could not find the passage in the Bible. It was, "In the midst of life we are in death." It is in the Prayer Book of the Church of England and the other denominations that use that part of the funeral service. To avoid embarrassment he announced the passage, without stating where it could be found—and probably spread the idea that it is in the Scriptures.—Christian Advocate.

Question Corner

By Editor

1736.—Not a Question of Eating. Matt. 15:17, 18.

What is the meaning of Matt. 15:17, 18? Does it mean we may eat anything we want? F.

God gives man the privilege of choosing to do evil if man wishes. If he wants to sin and commit self-murder, he may; but he will reap the harvest of his own sowing. If he wants to eat unwholesome food, clog his liver, and ruin his digestion and nerves with tea and coffee and beer and tobacco, God will not hinder him; but as he sows so shall he reap. Gal. 6:6, 7. But Matt. 15:1-20 does not give permission to eat and drink everything. That was not the question between the Pharisees and Jesus. They were careful to keep the ceremonial law and much more. Jesus also kept it, and they knew that he kept it. But He did not observe "the tradition of the elders." His disciples did not wash their hands to suit the Pharisees, tho their hands may have been clean. To the Pharisees they might possibly have touched something that defiled; therefore must they wash, whether the need could be seen or not. That was the only question. Jesus said that eating as His disciples were eating, did not defile. The real root of all defilement grows in the soil of the heart. The evil thought, the lustful thought, gives birth to the lustful desire, the unlawful appetite, and develops both the glutton and drunkard, and all other evils as well. The duty of the Christian is set forth in 1 Cor. 10:31: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." It is not to God's glory to destroy health or corrupt our blood or benumb our moral sensibilities.

1737.—The Sabbath and the Pope.

Mr. Gamble says in his book, "True Sabbath of God," page 147, "If the pope, centuries after the apostolic times, changed the Sabbath, there would be no trouble to locate the time and the pope who did it. Such person has never been found." He further says, "The papacy did not begin till 1073 A. D."; but I understand that you people teach that the pope changed the Sabbath long before 1073. If there were no pope, how could he change the Sabbath? H. S. R.

In the first place we do not teach that the pope as an individual changed the Sabbath. The change of the Sabbath came about through the great apostasy, of which the pope was the head. Roman Catholics themselves make Peter their first pope, and so continue down through a line of bishops to the present. Of course, I do not hold to that. We would naturally date the papacy from the time that the bishop of Rome came to supremacy, which was practically in Constantine's day. Constantine decided that the church of Rome was the true Christian Catholic Church. "The earliest instance of assumption," as Dowling states (History of Romanism, page 32), was in the second century, by Victor, bishop of Rome, who attempted to force his brethren of the East to fix the paschal feast, or Easter, on Sunday. The various steps by which the thing was carried out are well told in the "History of the Sabbath" by Andrews. Mr. Gamble is speaking of that of which he knows nothing when he says that there was no pope till 1073; the very essence of the Papacy was all developed seven centuries before that time.

Be Glad and Give Thanks

By Editor

Be Glad and Give Thanks.—It is Thanksgiving Day to-morrow, according to the date of this paper. It is a stated time for giving thanks, and that is good. It is good for people to join in thanksgiving to God, the Giver of all good. Following this custom of long standing, based in the beginning, no doubt, upon the ancient harvest festivals, the presidents and governors in these United States have for many years suggested that the last Thursday in November be made a general day of thanksgiving throughout the United States and the respective states. President Roosevelt has thus appointed the last day of November for this purpose. He has also given faithful warning, which will be noticed next week. His proclamation will be found in our Outlook department.

It is quite common to hear Christians sing,— "O, where are the reapers that garner in The sheaves of good from the fields of sin?" Just now a more appropriate query would be, Where are the sowers? People are generally more anxious to reap than to sow. Now is especially a sowing time. If we will be faithful in this respect, God will provide the reapers. "The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." Matt. 13:39.

The only true thanksgiving is that which responds to God's goodness every day. But many who profess Christianity do not do this because they do not feel like it. That is, their feelings are made the reason or non-reason for thankfulness instead of God's goodness. They would think themselves cruelly treated if some one whom they had loaded with benefits would offer no grateful response on the ground that he did not feel like it. Why not thank God despite our feeling, whether we feel like it or not. Make it a principle in the life—feeling or no feeling, dyspepsia, ill-treatment by friends, bad investments or any trouble—that you will thank God daily for His continued and abundant mercies, and that you will show your gratitude by being kind and helpful to others and faithful in responding to the calls of God. It is your life to do this.

"That man may last, but never lives, Who much receives, but nothing gives, Whom none can love, whom none can thank, Creation's blot, creation's blank."

"Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth Me," declares the great God. It opens the heart and mind Godward, and lifts above the petty cares and troubles. Then "in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

By Editor

The Christian Worker and Evangelist, referring to the Inter-church Conference on Federation, says, "From the fifteenth to the twenty-first of November there will be held in Carnegie Hall, New York, a conference, which, if the plans now made prove successful, will represent the most advanced stage that Protestant denominations have reached in their progress toward co-operation." It will be a very important conference, and the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will give that conference the attention which it demands. It has one or more of the very best of its contributors at that meeting, and well-illustrated articles will be published on its meaning. You can not afford to miss the reports from this conference.

A Note of Explanation.

Some months ago there was a special issue of Save the Boys, published in Minneapolis, on the cigaret evil. A note was written on it in the SIGNS at the time, with the suggestion that some of those papers be used in Calcutta, where the cigaret evil seemed to be dominant. We stated that it was twenty cents a year, as it then was. Since then the price has been increased, as the little journal has been enlarged. By some mistake the note was set in wrong type, and it has been held in that way for months. It ought not to have been used at all so much out of date. We regret that it was used, and a money price given. We know of no one in Calcutta to use the paper. Inquiry as to prices, etc., should be addressed to Save the Boys, Minneapolis, Minn.

Poor Russia.

It is impossible to give our readers in a note any adequate idea of the particulars or details of the awful revolution which is sweeping over the Russian Empire. The Russian government had hardly congratulated itself over the so-called diplomatic victory won over Japan, when the pent up fires of revolution and revolt broke out and have extended from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. A professed Christian state is a theater of wild barbaric savagery. In a score of cities mad, drunken, superstitious mobs, egged on by police and government officers in cases not a few, have burned and pillaged and killed like wild, mad brutes. Thousands upon thousands of Jews have been wounded, maltreated, and robbed of every earthly possession. Thousands have been killed. Some women and maidens have suffered that which is worse than death. One paper remarks: "Even the hands of the Russian clergy are not clear of blood." Troops have actually been withdrawn to allow the mad mobs to work their own wicked will. Under pressure, the Czar has made great concessions, to be carried out under the present autocratic regime. The whole world hailed his liberal program, but disaffection is in army and navy, and present indications are that the mad populace, which know nothing of self-government, will not stop till the revolution in the government is complete. Russia is now reaping her sowing of tyranny, oppression, and ignorance, a double tyranny of state and church.

"Hallowe'en."

Some one wishes to know the origin of "Hallowe'en." In few words: The night with its customs comes down to us from pagan origin, when the "fairies," or imaginary spirits, were propitiated, and their aid sought. All sorts of spirits were supposed to be abroad on that night. It is in the Catholic Church the eve of "all-saint's day." It was impossible for the heathen to build a temple to each god, so they built the pantheon to all the gods. It was impossible for the apostate church to devote a separate day for each saint, so they fixed upon November 1 as "All Saint's Day," the eve of which they called "Hallow Eve," or "Hallow Even," or "Hallowmas." It is no more nor less than a continuation of the old heathen custom. There is this difference between its ancient observance and its modern: the ancients believed in the day and the efficacy of their rites and revels, many of our modern observers make sport and mock of the same customs for the sensuous pleasure they get out of them. Which are the more guilty, the honest "heathen" or the "Christians" who imitate them?

When we fear to displease men more than to displease God, it is evident that we do not know God, and that we love the ways of men more than we love the ways of God. If God calls us to simple duty, and man calls us to pleasure, and we yield to the latter, the simple reason is that we love the pleasure of selfishness more than the pleasure of duty. Let us not be deceived. Let us face the foes in our own hearts resolutely. The principle over which we will make or destroy character, by which we will be saved or lost, is that of service. It is ever for us to say whether it shall be the service of self or the service of Infinite Love. He who has the unswerving purpose to serve Infinite Love, will find in that service the highest, purest pleasure.

The tainted money question is still holding its place in religious papers, and there are some very pointed questions asked; for instance, one paper asks if we are to go always behind the hand that offers money to investigate motives and heart-probity and honor. The question has been asked, If Mr. Rockefeller's millions are tainted, what about the little Rockefellers in every congregation? What about the character of many of the donors and supporters of the churches? And what about many who connect with the great insurance companies, municipal councils, and other organizations guilty of grafting? Of course this is true, that no money ought to be accepted when it is known that it was gotten dishonestly, illegally, but it is quite a serious question whether God asks the one who receives money for good purposes to constitute himself an investigative committee to determine the character of the donor. A man may be tainted, but the money really belongs to God.

Still Holding On.

We are glad that some of our Jewish friends are still nominally true to one of the great truths they hold, the Sabbath. In this summer's general conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, was considered the matter of abolishing in Jewish circles, the Sabbath, so far as the influence of the conference could go, and adopt in its place the first day of the week. The principle argument for making the change was economic conditions; or, in other words, it did not pay to close places of business on that day. The motion to make the change was lost. That is good, but it is sad to think that such a motion could even be entertained.