THE Watchman-Examiner tells of a prominent Protestant church in New York City which "has a quartet choir in which the soprano is a Roman Catholic, the alto a theosophist, the bass an agnostic, and the tenor not a Christian believer." The editor inquires: "How can any minister conduct a Christian service with such a choir as his assistants? Be sure the music committee of your church is composed of spiritually minded men. This is more important than that they shall have a technical knowledge of music, important as such knowledge is."
Surely those who are chosen to occupy official positions in the church and in the Sabbath school should be men and women of God. We should not think of placing as a teacher of our children in the Sabbath school one who himself has not experienced in his own life the power of the truth he is trying to teach. It is none the less important that those men and women who are asked to face the congregation and lead in God's spiritual worship should be those who sing not only with the understanding, but also with the Spirit of God inspiring their hearts and prompting their utterance.
Protestantism and Catholicism in Germany
There have just been given out through a circular report some very interesting figures showing the relative strength of Protestantism and Roman Catholicism in Germany. Of the total population of 61,720,529, 38,374,648 professed adherence to the Evangelical Church, 22,540,485 to the Catholic Church, and 566,999 to the Jewish Church. In the eastern section of the empire 12,681,192 of the 18,747,937 making up the total population of that region were Evangelical, 5,758,072 were Catholic, and 232,377 were Jewish; in western Germany 20,213,335 of the total population of 28,854,132 were Evangelical, 8,330,729 Catholic, and 188,918 Jewish; and in southern Germany 5,480,121 of the total population of 14,118,460 were Evangelical, 8,451,684 Catholic, and 145,704 Jewish. The 37,989,893 persons in Prussia were divided as follows: Evangelical, 23,847,337; Catholic, 13,608,183; Jewish, 374,353. The 6,598,163 people in Bavaria as follows: Evangelical, 1,861,079; Catholic, 4,668,108; Jewish, 53,723.
The Fall of Nanking
By JAMES E. SHULTZ
(Concluded)
JAMES E. SHULTZ
Having satisfied ourselves as to the condition of our own interests, we turned our attention to viewing the effects of the siege upon the Chinese. On our way to the Red Cross Hospital, which was being used as the field hospital for the wounded of both armies, we passed through some of the principal business streets of the city, but nowhere did we see one store that had not been looted. The condition of the people was that of complete destitution. What will become of these, when winter comes, who yesterday were opulent, but today are penniless, is problematical. As we proceeded, we saw a man deliberately breaking the spring of his jinrikisha, while numerous other jinrikishas which had been broken were passing us. On inquiring the reason, we were told that their owners had been so overworked since the surrender as to be unable to find time to eat, much less to rest. Driven to desperation, they had done the one thing possible to obtain relief—broken their own jinrikishas, thus depriving themselves of their only means of sustenance.
Arriving at the hospital, the sights we witnessed were sad indeed. It was under the charge of Dr. Macklin, an American missionary, whose only assistants were Chinese. Naturally, their quarters were sadly overcrowded, and sanitation, as we have been taught to regard it at home, was impossible. Only those who have seen field hospitals during war times can have an adequate conception of the conditions we witnessed. Passing numberless unhappy victims of the recent struggle, some of whom were lying on cots, some on crude mattresses, some on strips of filthy matting, and all unprotected from swarms of flies, we entered the operating rooms. Here two Chinese doctors and several nurses were wearily working almost night and day, with meager facilities, to care for the wounded. They were so short of supplies that it was necessary to use the same bandages repeatedly, which must have occasioned not a little infection. The tables on which they worked were crude, being made of wood, the tops of which were slightly concave to facilitate drainage into large galvanized iron pails which were set at the foot of each. Water was sterilized on stoves so inconveniently near these tables as to make it oppressively warm for both patient and physician.
Into these rooms were brought the wounded, some on stretchers, some on the backs of friends, some trying to walk, and all suffering the horrors of war. The first to be treated after our arrival were two women who had been shot. Although noncombatants, one had lost a foot and the other the most of her right leg. These wounds were in a terrible condition, and as I saw them being cleansed, I longed to speak to those women of the Great Physician, to point them to One who can heal from sin, but being a recruit, I was unable to speak one word of helpfulness. A father came carrying his little ten-year-old son on his back, who had been wounded by a stray shell. He and his older brother were playing together when the shell, bursting, blew off his brother's head and wounded him. He had an ugly wound in his chest and another in his side, but was improving, to the great delight of his affectionate old father. From a man who was next treated had been taken a piece of shell three inches long. It had entered the lower left abdominal region and torn its way through into the left thigh, from which it was extracted. The wound was twenty days old, but had not been closed, and the poor fellow had eaten nothing during this time, as the intestines had been lacerated. His appeals for water were most affecting.
Another man had been stabbed by a bayonet which penetrated his pancreas, yet he was improving. The vitality of this people is such as to elicit surprise on the part of a foreigner.
One young man sat quietly while the doctor with his fingers traced the course of a ball that had shattered two inches of the bone in his arm, necessitating its removal. A case which especially interested me was that of a boy soldier, who had enlisted either for a few paltry dollars or for the honor that youth vainly imagines invests the field of battle. He had a very dangerous wound in his side, from which pus freely flowed when the bandage was removed, yet he had mounted the table unassisted, and bore with stoicism the suffering incident to the dressing of the wound. Only a mere boy, but if he recovers, he will be abandoned by the government, to go home and be a charge upon his relatives. As I stood gazing into his fine dark eyes and reflecting that if he recovers he must return to some obscure province and fill a Christless grave unless some one sacrifices home and friends to carry to him the gospel, I felt as never before to dedicate my life to the cause of foreign missions. Here was evidence of a need, constituting a more eloquent appeal than the stammering tongue of man is capable of framing.
But why should I multiply these harrowing scenes, since days spent in beholding such teach but one lesson,—even "the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel"? They only emphasize the fact that "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now," and that men in heathen darkness are grasping in desperation for the hand wounded on Calvary.
As in weariness we turned from these sad scenes, I could but feel that now is the time to warn the millions of the East. China lies prostrate and bleeding today. Copying the government and customs of the West has not brought her that for which she sought. Today she feels her need. The nations have sought to assist her by lending her the hoarded treasures of earth, but she yet awaits the coming of those who, saying, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee," will extend the triumphs of the cross.
Shanghai.
Porto Rico
By Mrs. Wm. Steele
MRS. WM. STEELE
Four years in Porto Rico! Four years of arduous labor, yet during these four years the Lord has not left us alone; we have enjoyed a multitude of blessings. He has certainly given us many victories, as well as excellent success, in the paper and book work; and while we have not gained as many converts as we could wish, we have found some real jewels, and it is evident that there are those here on this little island, as well as in all other lands, who will sign the song of the redeemed in the kingdom of God.12
We have every reason to feel encouraged because he who always goes before his people is leading. We look with longing eyes toward the Promised Land, and rejoice that the promise is so soon to be fulfilled. All praise and honor to his holy name.
The week of prayer was a source of great blessing and help to all who had the privilege of attending the meetings. The readings were given in both Spanish and English, the Spanish part of the congregation being seated in one part of the room and the English in another, in order that both readings might be given at the same time. It was at first suggested that two separate meetings be held, but the Spanish element demurred, saying that, as both congregations were small, it would be better to meet at the same time, and even though the same language might not be understood by all, the same Spirit would pervade all, and we could be a source of encouragement to each other by our united testimonies.
One thing made it inconvenient for some of us, in that we were obliged to leave the meeting about as soon as the reading had terminated, in order to get the last train, thus being deprived of nearly all the social part. However, I thank God for the privilege of being able to attend at all. We live in Bayamon, and the meetings were held on the other side of the bay, in Santurce; so we had to make the trip nightly. A good spirit prevailed throughout the meetings, and all felt that we should increase our efforts during the present year, for we are one year nearer the goal than before.
Brother F. W. Morse came over from Ensenada to attend the meetings, and has continued with us until now, having taken up the canvassing work; and although he does not speak the language nor understand it, he is meeting with fairly good success. He is seventy-five years old, and he certainly deserves much credit for his strong determination to do something to advance the message. His course ought to appeal strongly to younger men. In our Sabbath schools there is a very good-natured rivalry in regard to the collection; each one is striving to excel, thereby provoking one another to "good works." We need the prayers of the brethren in the homeland; for "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
The World-Wide Field
Petition and Answer
By MRS. MARY H. WILLIAMS
MRS. MARY H. WILLIAMS
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding."
I fail so oft to choose the best!
Lord, help thou me
To follow on at thy behest,
And trust in thee.
Thy former guidance I have known;
But present need
Brings me a suppliant to thy throne.
Where dost thou lead?
Close up the path I may not tread,
Make clear my sight.
By thine own hand would I be led
Into thy light.
"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he
shall direct thy paths."
I thank thee, Lord, that thou hast heard
My humble plea,
That thou hast verified thy word
In guiding me.
The pleasant path I fain would choose
Thy love hast barred;
Yet joyless 'twould be were I to lose
My guide and guard.
The rugged path thy peace can make
Free from alarms,
For in its dangers thou dost bear
Me in thine arms.
Charles City, Iowa.
Mexico
By G. W. Caviness
G. W. CAVINESS
It is a great pleasure to report that the work is onward in this country in spite of the difficulties and dangers accompanying the revolution. In the city of Mexico we have had three baptisms, with eleven candidates in all, since the first of last July; and others are expecting to be baptized soon. From seven of our churches and companies come calls for baptism, there being from three to ten in each place, or thirty-three in all; and there are other churches from which we have not heard.
Our colporteurs continue to have success with both books and papers. Brother Martin, with two Mexican colporteurs, was in Tampico when that place was attacked by the revolutionists. One young man went to San Luis Potosi for a few days, while Brother Martin and the other man went aboard the American warship "Rhode Island" and spent four days. They then disembarked, and continued their work with success. The city of Vera Cruz is now quite lively, a number of war vessels of various nations being in the bay. These have to buy provisions, so money is more plentiful than in other places. And, too, it gets quite hot there in the summer, so that now is the best time to work the place. In case of difficulty, boats are on hand to give refuge to the colporteurs. For these reasons the canvassers will probably go next to this port.
Brother Green is on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, working with books. His success is simply wonderful. He has taken over two hundred pesos' worth in one day. He writes that the country there is ripe for the evangelical worker. We ought to have a worker or two for that part of the field soon.
Our brethren are poor and conditions are bad, yet the tithe of last year was one fourth more than for the year before. The Sabbath school donations were nearly doubled, and the offerings were considerably increased. Our brethren have been protected so far, even in those places that have been attacked. We have not heard from Monterey for about six weeks, and from Torreon word has reached us but once in about a year. When last heard from, our brethren were all safe in these places. We trust that the same providence is still with them.
The financial condition of the government is getting worse and worse. Payment of interest on the national debt has been suspended, three months' vacation for the banks has been decreed,—that is, they cannot be compelled to pay large sums during this time, just small sums as they see fit to keep business going,—and even the post office pays only a small part of post-office orders, offering stamps for the remainder. It looks as if conditions would soon be impossible.
We still believe that there is a Power which can and will arrange matters so that the Lord's work shall not be hindered nor stopped entirely, and we earnestly ask that our brethren everywhere remember the work and workers in this country in their prayers.
Mexico City.
In Troubled Mexico
By H. E. Meyer
H. E. MEYER
It will be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW to learn something of the progress of the publishing work in perplexed Mexico. During the months of October, November, and December, 1913, the sales of our books and periodicals amounted to over $6,000. This we consider exceptionally good for the length of time, the circumstances under which we had to work, and the small number of canvassers in the field—only six. Just now we find it somewhat difficult to send money to the office in large sums. The only safe way seems to be by postal orders, but these of late have also become somewhat unsafe, as the government offers only a small per cent on orders of any size at one time. So far we have been able to receive the whole amount on orders from our workers in the field.
Elder Caviness is now in the southern part of the republic, visiting different companies. In seven places in the republic there are over thirty persons awaiting baptism; these have accepted the truth as a result of reading the papers. When we see the almost visible results of the little efforts that we are able to put forth under the present conditions, we can only give God the glory, for we know that he is giving us souls for our hire.
The work goes on day by day, and the truth is being printed and sent forth on its mission. The work is growing, and we have increased the number of each issue of the paper from month to month, until now we print eight thousand to ten thousand of each issue. Our Spanish monthly missionary paper is taking permanent hold in the Latin American fields, and as a result people are coming into the truth. The churches in the homeland could do a good work by placing this magazine in the hands of the Spanish-speaking people scattered in nearly every part of the United States. The church members could, at practically no expense and with but little effort, circulate a large number of the Spanish missionary paper, thus bringing the light of truth to these people near their homes. We also publish in Spanish a sixteen-page children's monthly, and Sabbath School Quarterlies for adults and children. For prices and special agents' rates on our publications, address your local tract society.
It is just a year now since the call came to us from the Mission Board to come to Mexico. At the time the conditions were not very inviting, but we firmly believed that God was abundantly able to care for us, and we came in spite of the unfavorable reports that were circulated on every hand. Just six months ago we reached Mexico City, and we have never felt that our coming into this troubled country was a mistake. Though at times it has almost seemed that the workers here would have to leave, in a short time the storm would be over and all would be clear again. We earnestly look for the time when conditions here will improve, and when more laborers can be sent to help hasten the message.
Bearing Intellectual and Moral Trials
By Froude
TRIALS there have always been, and always will be, intellectual as well as moral. Our business, when they overtake us, is to bear them. We may not immediately see our way out of a difficulty; but we may still keep our conviction unshaken that there are explanations which we ourselves do not see.—Froude.
A Lesson to Parents
By Phena Morey
If it is our children who must carry the third angel's message in the last days, what are we as parents doing to help them prepare for their work? What kind of character are we helping them to form? Surely the present Sabbath school lessons from the Old Testament, as found in Our Little Friend and the Youth's Instructor, with "Patriarchs and Prophets" as a help, should show us our duty toward our children.
Joseph was only a boy when taken to Egypt, a wicked, idolatrous country. Under the severest trial and insult, he stood firm for principle. The training of his early years had been pure and simple. He had been taught to be faithful in every duty of life, whether high or low. He let duty rather than inclination control him. God gives opportunities for developing character, and it depends upon the use made of them whether or not we succeed.
The training of Moses is a very striking and stirring example for mothers. When the decree to kill all the male babies born to the Hebrews was being most rigidly enforced, Moses was born. Jochebed, his mother, believing that Israel was soon to be delivered, could not allow her son to be slain. Instead of complaining or finding fault when she could no longer conceal him at home, she studied to know what to do. The plan at last was completed. Miriam was but a girl, but notice her shrewdness in caring for her brother. Ex. 2:4. She had no doubt been taught the danger and evil of the dreaded decree, and how tactfully she asked, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?"
The happy work begun by the mother was not neglected, and she daily taught Moses of the true God and the sin of worshiping idols. She had only twelve years in which to train her son in the true faith. Her family and housework required time, and I think I can see Jochebed laying aside all fancy work, all unnecessary cooking, all gossiping, and attendance at places of amusement, giving her entire time and strength to the training of her children, especially Moses, for God. I can almost see her lying awake at night pleading for divine aid in her work. Her labors were not in vain. Although Moses made mistakes, still he kept close to God, participating not in the worship of idols, nor even allowing himself to become attached to his foster mother, even though she educated him in all the learning of the Egyptians, and expected him some day to occupy the throne. The honor was great, the wages high, but his dear mother's training held him true to God. He was determined to let the Heavenly Father lead him, and chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God" than to receive the honor of being king.
Miriam was a prophetess, and led the women in singing praises to God for their deliverance. Aaron was a close companion to Moses, and held the position of high priest. The three children had different dispositions, but the wise mother was used of God to train each of them for his or her special place in the Lord's work.
"Let every mother feel that her moments are priceless; her work will be tested in the solemn day of accounts. Then will it be found that many of the failures and crimes of men and women have resulted from the ignorance and neglect of those whose duty it was to guide their childish feet in the right way."—Patriarchs and Prophets, page 244.
Wichita, Kans.
Food Should Be Relished
By G. H. Heald, M. D.
G. H. HEALD, M. D.
(Editor "Life and Health")
Not infrequently letters come to the Questions and Answers department of Life and Health in which the writers complain of indigestion, constipation, coated tongue, and the whole gamut of symptoms which indicate poisoning from the food. In nearly all these cases the correspondent is careful to give the information that he does not use meat, tea, or coffee, and that he has been trying for some time to live up to all the light of health reform.
Such letters are always a perplexity. In a way they are like the young man who came saying, "All these things have I done from my youth up; what lack I yet?" And the answer that I am prepared to give may be received with as little grace as the young man manifested. The fact is, in doing "all these things" they have failed in the very essential of health reform; for of course it is obvious, or ought to be obvious, to any who are not completely obsessed with a theory, that one who has a coated tongue, with indigestion, constipation, and a host of other disagreeable and life-shortening symptoms, is not living health reform in the spirit, though he may be following it in the letter. He may be conscientious; he may be careful to regulate his conduct according to the best light he has; but it is just as certain that he is violating some physiological law as it is that water will not run uphill. The proper adjustment of our bodies to our surroundings tends healthward; and when the tendency is the other way, there is a reason for it.
One physiological law, which we have been very slow to learn, is that good digestion depends upon relish. This has been proved by careful experiment on dogs and other animals, and also on human beings. It has been shown that the use of monotonous foods, foods that do not give pleasure in the eating of them, foods that are swallowed simply because they contain the required amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and salts, do not stimulate an adequate flow of digestive juice, and the digestion is therefore slower and more imperfect. Moreover, the saliva is thick and ropy and deposits the substance which becomes tartar on the teeth and fur on the tongue. The tartar in the course of time causes the teeth to loosen, and the septic mouth poisons all the food that enters it. The coated tongue being unable to taste food, the condition goes from bad to worse, for even savory foods can no longer adequately stimulate the salivary and other digestive glands.
A prominent dentist who is also a physician and surgeon has made an extended study of this subject. He first learned that the quality and quantity of the salivary secretion depend on the kind of food eaten. Certain of the foods, as the acid fruits and foods generally that have a distinct taste, increase the secretion of saliva. Later he learned that the secretions of the stomach, pancreas, and liver were similarly affected,—in other words, that "what is best for the mouth is best for the remainder of the alimentary tract,"—and concluded that "the mouth is the most important part of the whole canal." If digestion is right in that part of the canal over which we have control, it will be right the remainder of the way. If digestion is wrong, the cause is largely in the mouth. This simplifies14the problem and makes it more hopeful.
It is generally known that digestion is largely controlled by a "reflex arc," consisting of nerves carrying sensations of taste, etc., to the brain, and other nerves carrying secretory and other impulses from the brain to the glands and other structures of the alimentary tract. This doctor found that by severing one part of this arc,—the pneumogastric nerve below the heart,—so as to prevent the messages from the brain reaching the stomach and other abdominal organs, the stomach dilated, the food remained in it undigested, fermenting and decomposing, and finally caused the death of the animal through blood poisoning. He believes that a milder but more prolonged effect of a similar nature is produced in the human subject by blocking up the other end of the arc; that is, by diminishing the taste perception, first, by an habitual diet of a nonstimulating character (that is, not stimulating to the salivary glands), and, secondly, by the formation of a coating on the tongue which prevents the tasting of even foods with marked flavors.
In order to test this, he fed animals on boiled and neutralized food (neutralized with carbonate of soda). If the experiments were begun early enough, the animals all died before they were six months old. Development was retarded in a marked degree in all cases. Starch and lime in excess were extracted from the bowels. The salivary glands did not develop properly. After death, the animals nearly all showed a markedly diseased condition of the stomach. Mind you, practically all that had been done in this case was to take the normal taste out of the food.
In another series of experiments, the doctor showed that the poisons from the germs of the human mouth, if injected into animals, will cause a rise in blood pressure, and he thinks this may account for a large proportion of the high-pressure symptoms—cold feet, pale complexions, headache, and constipation—in human beings with bad teeth. By feeding rabbits with a culture from the germs of decayed teeth, he caused illness, with loss of appetite and constipation. Whether or not we grant that these experiments are conclusive, we must admit that bad mouth conditions in the human are nearly always accompanied with bad conditions elsewhere. A normal saliva is one of the best preventives of bad mouth conditions, and a proper dietary is the best assurance of a normal salivary secretion; and a dietary that is insipid, tasteless, unappetizing, is not a proper dietary.
Fletcher was not so far off when he taught that the function of the mouth is to taste and enjoy food, not to bolt food. If you will observe carefully, you will perceive that there is a much larger proportion of dyspeptics among those who do not care what their food tastes like than there is among those who are particular as to the taste of their food.
This article must not be taken as a defense for the position that we live to eat, or that the principal use of the table is to furnish us with certain animal pleasures. Like fire, our senses may be excellent servants or hard masters. Temperance lies between the extremes of indulgence of the sense of taste for the mere pleasure of it and the asceticism which makes a virtue of cutting off all the pleasures of taste. Either extreme fails of securing the greatest measure of health for the body. The nerves of taste have been given us for a purpose, and the fulfillment of that purpose is to enable us to distinguish between the good and the bad. It should be remembered, however, that the nerves of taste can be, and often are, so trained that they give pleasure only with foods that are not the best for the body as a whole. For this reason they cannot be relied upon as an infallible guide.
Strength Divine
By C. P. Bollman
C. P. BOLLMAN
I AM weakness, only weakness;
All my strength like ropes of sand;
And I wander in a desert,
Seeking for a better land.
But my steps, how oft they falter!
And I stumble in my walk;
Take my hand, O Lord, and hold me;
Plant my feet upon the Rock.
Give me of thy gracious Spirit,
Put within me strength divine;
Take me, take me, Lord, and keep me;
I henceforth am wholly thine.
CHORUS:
Strength divine, strength divine,
Put within me strength divine;
Let thy gracious presence keep me,
Keep me, Saviour, wholly thine.
Nashville, Tenn.
Education — True and False
By MRS. F. S. JENKS
MRS. F. S. JENKS
Recently in my reading, both in books and in the daily papers, I have come across articles deploring the present trend of education in the public schools, and more and more have been impressed with the goodness of God in establishing in our denomination a school system which leads to a higher and better life.
Our Seventh-day Adventist schools appeal to our children and youth to live up to the highest ideal of character,—that of Christ,—so earnest, so gentle, so cultivated, so friendly, so ideal, so filled with all that elevates humanity, that Christianity to the public eye shall mean a combining of all virtues and a superior quality of manhood and womanhood.
Dr. C. O. Judkins, my former pastor in the Methodist Church, was one of the speakers at the interchurch banquet, given in the First Methodist Episcopal church at Saratoga, N. Y., some time ago. Speaking of the popular and prominent churches of today, he said, in part:—
"We are in a hard plight religiously at this time. It is the same with all the churches. If there are any Catholics or Hebrews here, they are no exception. There is a different spirit from that of the early days. Go to any Jewish rabbi, and he will tell you of the falling away of the young men of that old faith. Go to the Catholic priest, and he will tell you that the young Catholic men have changed their attitude toward their church, that many rarely come to confession, and that their faith is much more shaky than it was a few years ago.
"The Congregationalists are going backward. In the Methodist Church our progress has come almost to a standstill. The Baptists are no better. All religious teachers in all the churches realize that religious life has become a secondary matter."
And we hear the echo of prophecy, uttered unconsciously by this D. D., "Babylon has fallen." Dr. Judkins then went on to say:—
"We have different boys and girls to do with today. They come out of the high school with the evolution idea of creation, and this idea has spread through the masses. We have come to a critical time."
This, then, is one of the greatest factors in the undoing of the orthodox churches today. The evolution idea, higher criticism, etc., in our public schools and institutions, are bearing fruit.
Mr. Mauro, in his book "The Number of Man," has much to say of the system of education in our great American colleges and universities. He says:—
"There is probably no institution in the United States that exerts a greater influence upon the formation of ideas than Harvard University. Some of the greatest men of our country have had their minds formed and their ideas shaped by this ancient and respectable institution of learning. And, after leaving it, they became the propagators of its ideas and ideals. Of the complete departure of the great university from the teaching, encouragement, or recognition of anything partaking, even remotely, of evangelical truth, it is needless to speak, for the facts in this regard are well known."
The idea of the supremacy of man instead of the supremacy of God, pervades the atmosphere, as is illustrated in a poem by the class poet of 1908:—
"O holy spirit — O heart of man!
Will you not listen, turn, and bow
To the clear voice, since time began,
Loud in your ears, and louder now?
Mankind the Christ, retried,
Recrowned, recrucified.
No god for a gift God gave us;
Mankind alone can save us."
The essence of this poem is contained in this one stanza — that the Holy Spirit is the heart of man, and that mankind is the Christ. How different the teachings of the Bible, which declares, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Harvard class poet declares a flat contradiction in the statement, "No god for a gift God gave us." One was written by inspiration of God and the other by inspiration of Satan. It is easy to see that one statement is true and one false, and to discover the respective sources from which they came. Therefore Sister E. G. White's instruction, which applies to schools and sanitariums alike, that our young people should not go to worldly institutions even to finish their education, is both reasonable and timely.
Let us thank God that he has a church on earth that is not going backward, nor standing still, as Dr. Judkins says the other churches are doing, but that our world-wide progress is ever increasing. May the Lord help us to heed the instruction so graciously given us through the spirit of prophecy concerning our children, that they may be saved.
