Signs of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 21.

Our Letter from Athens
Earlier text: Our Letter from Athens

Our Bible Band

Schedule for Days Ending Dec. 31, 1908.

Sunday Dec. 27 Revelation 9 to 11 Monday " 28 " 12 to 14 Tuesday " 29 " 15 to 17 Wednesday " 30 " 18 to 20 Thursday " 31 " 21 and 22

Suggestive Notes.

In our last few days' reading it may help us to remember that chapters 12, 13, and 17 cover the same ground, the first representing the real persecutor of the church, Satan; the church represented by a woman; chapter 13 representing the agency which Satan used in the actual persecuting powers of earth; chapter 17 showing that the powers of earth were guided by the apostate church. All the other scriptures to chapter 19 are connected with this great line of prophecy. Chapters 20, 21, 22 present before us the great, glorious triumph of the power of God over all earthly opposition.
Our Bible Band
Our Bible Band
Our next year's Bible-readings will present a different schedule. There will be suggested readings for the morning from the Old Testament, and for the evening from the New.

WITH OUR INQUIRERS

[All questions to this department will be answered which to the editors will seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. The same question can not be answered repeatedly in the same volume. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. It is well always to enclose a stamp for reply.]

2680.—The Creation of Angels.

Is there any place in the Bible where it tells of God creating angels? Or does it tell of God making a beautiful angel called Lucifer?
The Bible plainly declares that God created all things. 1 Cor. 8:6. "Yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him." Again, Col. 1:16, "For in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible, and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him."
Certainly, this is very explicit and must include angels, creatures of God. And among these angels was Lucifer. We can come to no other conclusion than this. Isa. 14:12-14. The name has come to have an evil significance now, but this is not true of the name itself. It means "Light-bringer," or "Light-bearer," "Morning Star." Such Lucifer was until he sinned. The same is taught in Revelation 12 where Satan in his worldly influence is represented as a great red dragon. "He was cast out of heaven, and his angels were cast out with him." Of course when they were cast out they were sinners, but from Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4 we gather that these angels were not always sinners. They once had an estate which they kept not, "but left their proper habitation." It was not until they sinned that they were cast down.

2681.—The Revolving Earth, and the Command of Joshua.

If the earth revolves, why did Joshua say, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon." I do not understand how the earth goes, and the sun and moon also. The word tells us the sun goes down and rises. If the earth revolves, then where are we at times? The word does not say the earth revolves around, does it? If so please tell me where.
The language of the Bible is, in matters of astronomy, the language of appearance. We read of the "circle of the earth," which evidently refers to the great horizon which appears to us round. We read of the four corners or quarters of the earth which have evident direction to the north and south, east and west. These two expressions are themselves contradictory, and yet not so when we take them in their proper connection. The Bible speaks of the rising of the sun, and the going down of the same; so do astronomers—astronomers who do not believe that the sun rises and sets at all, but that it is the revolution of the earth which causes it. It is the language of appearance. Nobody misunderstands them, and nobody misunderstood the language of scripture at the time that it was written. There may have been those, and evidently there were those, who believed that the sun moved. But the language of appearance would be perfectly intelligible to each and every one. The sun seems to move. Everything is stationary as regards ourselves, to all appearance. The earth seems to be still. There is no body of great size near us which would make it seem to be otherwise, and God moved men to use such language as would be understood without any question or perplexity by His children.
Job tells us that "He hangeth the earth upon nothing." Job 26:7. That is scientifically true so far as any appearance is concerned. At the same time the Bible speaks of the foundations of the earth; that is, of course, the foundation of the earth upon which we ourselves live, that which is underneath us, or in a far larger sense, the foundations of the very word of God and His commandments. We will have no trouble with any of these expressions whatever, if we will simply allow the same liberty in language to the word of God which we hold for ourselves, and which will never be misunderstood if we will take its ordinary meaning.

2682.—Riding on the Sabbath Day.

Is it a sin to ride on the street-cars or steam-cars on the Sabbath; not in the standpoint of civilization, but in the standpoint of a right example toward those who do not keep the Sabbath?
Yes and no. It is utterly impossible to answer such questions as that with a categorical answer. It depends altogether on what our object is in riding. If a person is sick unto death, and news is sent to a physician in the next town, six or eight miles away, it is his duty to get there at the earliest possible time, and if the train is going so as to accommodate him, it is his duty to take the train. Would you condemn him for doing this?
Here is a minister who has two appointments; one of them may come the evening of the Sabbath, the next one on the Sabbath day; one of them is ten miles from the other, perhaps thirty miles from the other. He can only reach them by train. He takes a conveyance that is going in the regular way. He does nothing whatever that would be inconsistent with the keeping of the Sabbath in all his conversation and in his going. Would you condemn him for doing this?
On the other hand, if one is simply following his own pleasure in riding on that day, it would be well for him to consider Isa. 58:13. The whole crux of the matter lies over that text. "Not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words." These are the things which ought to guide Christians in their conduct on the Sabbath.

2683.—Satan a Person.

Where is the scripture that represents Satan as a person, either angel or any other personal devil? If he is represented as a person, I fail to discover it.
Our correspondent has not evidently read the Bible very faithfully. The simplest analogical reasoning could not conclude otherwise, it seems to us, than that Satan, or the Devil, known in the Greek as "Ho Diabolos," the devil, is a personal being.
Take, for instance, the temptation of our Lord. We have no question as to the personality of Jesus, but the personality of the devil who took Him to different places, who conversed with Him, is just as clearly evident as the personality of Christ. See Matt. 4:1-10. The apostle Paul assures us that Satan himself appears as an angel of light. Zechariah represents God's High Priest as standing before Him, and Satan at His right hand to resist Him. The apostle Peter tells us that "your adversary, the devil, walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Jesus calls him "the prince of this world." On another occasion He said to His disciples, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." We also read of the devil and his angels. How impersonality can be attributed to all these and many more expressions, is beyond our power to conceive. Such reasoning would make the word of God of none effect, and destroy the worth of the clearest language as a medium to convey thought.

The First American Catholic Missionary Congress

From Our Own Correspondent
AMERICA is destined henceforth to be a vast Catholic mission field. The first American Catholic missionary congress recently held in the city of Chicago, composed of seventy-five bishops and archbishops, and fifteen hundred or more other delegates, was indeed a notable gathering. The work outlined for the church in America is designed to be far-reaching in its results. An organization was effected, to be known as the Catholic Extension Society of the United States of America. This society embraces in its membership the clergy and laity of the church in America, and has the indorsement of the pope and leading Catholics of the world. The society is to be provided with ample means for the prosecution of its work.
His Eminence Cardinal Merry Raphael del Val, the Papal Secretary of State.
His Eminence Cardinal Merry Raphael del Val, the Papal Secretary of State.

The Scope of the Work

outlined embraces the following: The establishment of a missionary college for the training of missionary priests was the subject of resolution; the establishment of several missionary homes for the training of missionary workers was recommended; the erection of missionary chapels dedicated to the saints in localities where there is at present no membership, in charge of mission priests, to raise up congregations from non-Catholic residents, was indorsed. Many of the latter are already projected in the states of the South and West. Considerable attention was given to the subject of the colonization of Catholic emigrants in non-Catholic districts, for the purpose of extending the influence of the church. Much was said concerning the uplifting influence of Roman Catholics among the Indians and colored people of this country.

Use of the Public Press.

Another means of church extension receiving indorsement was the establishment of city missions among the poorer classes of all nationalities; and also schools for the education of non-Catholic children; hospitals for the care of the sick of all classes and religions; and last, but not least, the society proposes to utilize the public press to a far greater extent than heretofore. Great confidence was expressed in the efficiency of the latter scheme.
James (Cardinal) Gibbons, of Baltimore, the leading prelate and only Cardinal of America, to whom the Pope sent his special letter
James (Cardinal) Gibbons, of Baltimore, the leading prelate and only Cardinal of America, to whom the Pope sent his special letter

What Leading Speakers Said.

Some expressions of leading speakers may be of interest to the reader. One speaker stated that such a congress of Catholics as was being held was undreamed of two years ago. But church extension means a good deal more now than it has ever meant before.
St. Michael's Church, Chicago, Ill., where some of the meetings were held.
St. Michael's Church, Chicago, Ill., where some of the meetings were held.
Heretofore, caution has urged silence on the part of Catholics, but caution no longer is wise. Never before have we been so urged by the holy father to missionize America.
On learning of the intention of Catholics of America to hold a national missionary congress, the pope sent the papal delegate at Washington, with his SPECIAL BENEDICTION upon the congress, in which he conferred special plenary indulgences upon the faithful of the society. He also wrote to Cardinal Gibbons a highly commendatory letter, which was presented to the congress in the following language:
"The following apostolic letter has been received by Cardinal Gibbons, from his holiness Pius X, and it carries more than ordinary interest because it is the seal of Rome's approbation on a new and specially vigorous work that is reaping great results for the church in the United States." [The letter is too lengthy for this article.]

"On the Ruins of Decaying Protestantism."

A strong appeal was presented by a leading speaker for a priesthood to labor for the conversion of America, and to build a strong church on the ruins of decaying Protestantism. The speaker said in effect, Protestantism never did and never can convert a nation. This remains for the Catholic Church. Catholic societies are bound together for Catholic purposes, and the question of the day is, Shall the Catholic cause live in America?
The term "Catholic America" was frequently used in referring to future America. Said one, THE PROTEST OF THE REFORMER OF THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO IS FAST DYING OUT. Let us become nationalized, and let us support the priesthood in the work of missionizing the nation. The church is the great uplifter of the races and languages of the world. THE CHURCH ONCE BROUGHT ALL NATIONS OF EUROPE INTO ONE BODY. So again, the mission of the church is to UNITE ALL NATIONS OF MANKIND IN ONE. Our organization is the chief factor in uniting the world. The speaker used the words of the Saviour when He said, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." The speaker further said, THE VICTORY IS ALREADY WON IN THE LAND OF THE REFORMER, and the missionary movement of to-day will result in unifying THIS great nation. The church is especially qualified to establish a liberty-loving and Christian nation. The church is the kingdom of Christ on earth; and in the end there will be only one shepherd.
Very Rev. Francis C. Kelley, D.D., L.L.D., President of the Church Extension Society.
Very Rev. Francis C. Kelley, D.D., L.L.D., President of the Church Extension Society.
WHAT THE CHURCH HAS DONE FOR EUROPE SHE WILL DO FOR AMERICA. It is admitted that for a century or two very little has been accomplished in the missionary field; but now she goes forth with renewed zeal and power. The command now is not, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel," but teach all nations as they come to you in America. So we go forth from Chicago, not twelve apostles, but more than twelve hundred apostles. The world is our kingdom; and we go forth to take possession.
Again "Thousands have come to us from the Old World, speaking the languages of all nations, to aid in the spread of Catholicism among these nationalities. But the remainder of these emigrants must be saved to the church. We must persuade them that Jesus is yet to be the great ruler of America. Already the church in America has more than thirteen thousand of the priesthood, and MORE THAN FIFTEEN MILLION COMMUNICANTS. The greatest, the noblest church on earth has a great mission before it to direct its agencies in this country. The future of the work in America depends upon the gathering together of all Catholics in America, and organizing them for the last great effort."

An Emigration Bureau.

Among other things it was declared that "the colonization of the peasant element from the Old World was for civic as well as religious purposes; and to carry this into effect, a bureau of emigration must be organized." A paper read by a layman outlined the work of men of wealth in the church. "These," he said, "may use their means to build memorial churches to be dedicated to the memory of dead saints. Our missionaries should be on the ground first in localities where there is virgin soil."

Church and State.

In harmony with the prelates, appearing on the street on Sundays, accompanied by a guard of five hundred armed with swords, a priest said, "I love to think of the Catholic Church as an army of soldiers with generals and commanders, and the pope as commander-in-chief."
It remained for the last speaker of the last evening of the congress to fully develop the plans of the society. He said, "The church is the true ally of the state; they can not be separated — never so long as democratic governments are relied upon to rule men. It is true that their organizations may be separate, but they are inherently inseparable and interdependent. It is true that the state needs no longer the support of the church. But under democratic government, the church must ever be the mainstay of the state. It is time that there should be a plain, clear, unmistakable, unanswerable definition of the Catholic position on this important point." Much more was said of like import.
The above are substantially the statements of the various speakers at the congress; and in most part, their exact words. If anything is lacking to convince the true believer that the last-day prophecies of the word of God are in course of fulfilment, it will no doubt be furnished by like gatherings soon to follow.

The name "Christmas."

The very term "Christmas" is, in its origin, idolatrous. It comes from the words "Christ" and "mass," the latter signifying not a commemorative act, but a sacrament, an ordinance in which the bread and wine are transmuted into the very body and blood of Christ, and again offered, immolated as a sacrifice. This is directly contrary to the teaching of Holy Writ, which declares that the "offering of the body of Jesus Christ" was made "once for all"; and that He offered "one sacrifice for sins forever." Heb. 10:10, 12. That sacrifice holds to the end, and its merits are continually presented before God in the person of our Advocate, Jesus Christ. The outward, visible, pseudo sacrifice of the mass is one of the strongest supports to an exclusive pseudo priesthood. All of God's people are priests; nay, more, "kings and priests," "a royal priesthood." Rev. 1:5; 1 Peter 2:9. They offer up "spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving, or service, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Heb. 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5; Rom. 12:1. Whenever men substitute the physical for the spiritual, the earthly for the heavenly, they shut away Christ Jesus, and put in His place a fear-breeding theology, a god that can not save. The very name "Christmas" is but one evidence of the idolatry which entered the early church, and has been perpetuated ever since.

A Good Work.

The Delineator magazine is doing a noble work in connection with orphan children. It is endeavoring not to find institutional homes for the children, but to find real homes. It has learned that there are one hundred thousand children waiting in asylums of all kinds for some one to take them and make homes for them; and it logically pleads that it is not the machine home where the children are taught to do so many things so well, as parts of a great machine, and yet not really developing individual character. It is by a long way not the best method of caring for the poor little waifs. The best thing of all is to find good homes where the child will feel that he is a part of it, and will be loved and nourished. The institutional cottage home is the next best thing, but the great institutional home is the saddest of all. A writer in The Delineator well expresses the thought that upon the children's faces is "a look that can only be loved away." May the Lord bless the Delineator for its good work for the children and may it find many happy homes that will lead them on to the free, eternal home.
"The Outlook magazine of New York City has widely advertised that Mr. Roosevelt, when he is through his presidential term, will take position on that journal as editor. Since that, it has developed that The Outlook is largely owned by one of the directors of the Standard Oil Company, Mr. James Stillman, the president of the National City Bank, known as the Standard Oil Bank. Mr. Stillman's daughter Elsie is the wife of Wm. G. Rockefeller, and his daughter Isabel is the wife of Percy A. Rockefeller, both of whom are nephews of John D. Rockefeller. It is suggested by the press that it has been a shrewd trap laid by Standard Oil to obtain the President's influence in its favor, or at least, to nullify his influence against it."
There are several articles well worth the reading, and stimulative of thought, tho one may not agree with the writers in all things, in the October number of The International Journal of Ethics, published by Sherman, French & Company, Boston. These are "Ethics and Law," by Prof. Charles W. Super; "The Modern Conception of Justice," by F. Milian Stawell; "Liberty and the Early Church," by Thomas Davidson. A thoughtful and earnest article on "Pain," by Miss Caroline E. Stephen, will be found in the Hibbart Journal by the same publishers; also an article on "The Moslem Tradition of Jesus' Second Coming."
The California Promotion Committee has just issued a helpful little booklet entitled "Tips for Tourists in California." It furnishes a vast amount of information which the tourist wants to know. The address of the committee is San Francisco.
Spain's budget shows a deficit of 20,000,000 pesetas — $4,000,000.
November 15 in Okmulgee, Okla., five negroes, at least, the chief of police of Okmulgee, and the sheriff were killed, and a number of other people wounded in a riot which rose over a fight between an Indian and a negro. More than one thousand shots were fired in the battle, and the negro who started the trouble was literally riddled with bullets. It is said that a race war is feared. We do not know why this should be the case inasmuch as the negroes were all killed by a negro whom they were with the whites trying to arrest.

Fruit Desired.

To our friends on the Pacific Coast. Elder C. L. Taylor, of the St. Helena Sanitarium, Sanitarium, Cal., is packing shipments of fruit to send to missionaries in India. If there are any who have dried apricots, peaches, prunes, raisins, apples, in fact, any good dried fruit, he would be glad to receive it, as a ton-shipment can be sent almost as cheap as a few hundred pounds. He would like very much an early response to this call. If there are any that have fruit, please write him at once, St. Helena Sanitarium, Sanitarium, Cal., before shipping to him, telling him how much you have and how soon you can ship it.

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BIBLE MAKING IN AMERICA BEGAN WITH THE

Holman Bibles

The famous self-pronouncing text originated in the Holman Bible. The latest editions are the HOLMAN BIBLES. They are made in every desirable style and size.

In Our Next Issue

Our next issue will bear date of January 6. It will be a sixteen-page issue, a sample of others to follow throughout the year.
There will be no paper next week. We promised but fifty numbers; this is fifty-two. There are fifty-three Wednesdays in 1908.

In Our Next Issue.

In our January 6 number will be a report direct from the great church federation meeting held this month in Philadelphia. There will be many other good things.
December 3, the news came that President Nord Alexis, of Hayti, had taken refuge on a German ship, and that General Simon was in command of the city, everywhere received with the greatest enthusiasm and welcomed as a deliverer.
The monthly "Signs of the Times" is an entirely separate periodical from this journal, which is weekly. We say this not because there is not the greatest harmony between them, but for the benefit of our correspondents. The editor of the monthly is Asa Oscar Tait. Articles and communications to the editor should be sent to him. The weekly is under the same editorial management it has been for some years.
Do you wish to make your friend a New Year's present, a gift which will stay with him? There is nothing more appropriate than a good, weekly paper. And where can you find one which will teach more Bible up-to-date truth than the SIGNS will for 1909? He or she may not agree with it altogether, but the candid reader will find more and more to agree with as the days go by. And then is it not worth while to have a paper which stands for something? that has convictions? that holds to the Bible? These are days of shifting sands; is it not time to stand on the Rock?
The Bible has been well likened to a solid rock cube. Men overturn it, but it is just as broad-based, just as solid, just as firm and secure as ever. Man may remove it a little farther away; he alone is the loser. Next time the Bible meets him it is just as strong, just as square, just as settled as ever. There is no overthrowing of the Bible. Man may be rebellious and lose his hold on God, but the word abides steadfast forever—a rock of refuge for all who flee to it in faith.
The "Signs of the Times" is glad to commend the courage and decision of The Boston Herald to abandon the publication of the comic supplement in connection with its Sunday issues. What a blessed thing it would be if the whole daily press in the United States would follow suit. Even the little humor, a thing which was manifested in the comic supplement when it first started, has been worn out, and of all the inane, senseless, mischievous, inartistic things for a long time, the colored comic section of the Sunday paper bears off the palm. The Boston Herald should be repaid by increased circulation.

For the Year 1909.

IN THE nature of the case we can not tell all the good things the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have in the year to come. History is making rapidly. New and unexpected events, undreamed of the day before, meet us frequently in the morning. Only in the light of God's truth for these times can many of these developments be rightly interpreted. These will be recorded and explained so far as God gives us light, for the benefit of our readers.
On the great work of the Gospel message, of vital, Bible truth, we shall present the following:
"Man's Sin and Saviour," by E. J. Hibbard, Bible teacher in Fernando Academy and Training-School, Fernando, Cal. Twenty Articles.
"Character and Life," a study of man's nature and destiny, by L. A. Phippeny, of Battle Creek, Mich. Ten articles.
"The Holy Spirit, in Creation, in Regeneration, in Service." By Asa T. Robinson, of Lincoln, Neb. Ten articles.
"Spiritism in Its Most Modern Forms." By Prof. Geo. W. Rine, of San Francisco. Six to eight articles.
"The Great Sabbath Question." By C. L. Taylor, Bible teacher and chaplain at St. Helena (Cal.) Sanitarium. Seventeen articles.
"Bible Election." By Francis McLellan Wilcox, of Boulder, Colo. Five articles.
"The Coming of the Lord," in its various phases. By Geo. A. Snyder, of Oakland, Cal. Eight articles.
"The Church Militant and Triumphant." By C. S. Longacre, Bible teacher in South Lancaster Academy and Training-School, Mass. Seven articles.
"The Great Lines of Prophecy of Daniel 2 and 7." By Prof. B. G. Wilkinson, Instructor in Bible and history in Foreign Mission Seminary, Washington, D. C. Six articles, and the promise of more on other important subjects.
"Union versus Confederation," God's plan of union among His people, and men's plans, and the effects of both. By John S. Wightman. Six articles.
"The Great Threefold Message of Revelation 14." By Roderick S. Owen, Bible teacher in College of Evangelists, Loma Linda, Cal. Eight articles.
"The World's Ills and Remedies." By Geo. B. Thompson, of Washington, D. C. Eleven articles.
"The Great Day of the Lord." By Marvin H. Brown, of Greensboro, N. C. Five articles.
Fifty intensely practical articles on vital Christianity by Mrs. E. G. White.
"A Study of the Book of the Revelation," as a whole and in particular, will begin during the year. Of vital and intense interest.
Special home articles and poems by Mrs. L. D. A. Stuttle.
A series of homely (not ugly) health talks on the things we ought to know to keep well. By Maria L. Edwards, M.D., of St. Helena (Cal.) Sanitarium.
Home and practical articles by Dr. D. H. Kress, of Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium, Emma H. Adams, and other experienced writers.
Special Correspondence from the world's great centers—England, Switzerland, Athens, Rome, Japan, India—by keen, observant, experienced men in the field.
Mission articles from the great, needy, and dark fields of the world, from the men and women who are fighting the battles.
Our Bible Band will be encouraged and helped. We hope it will number 10,000.
Our Question Corner will be always open for all reasonable and proper Bible and historical questions.
Fifty Bible-readings on important Bible themes.
Think of this vast amount of information. Eight hundred large pages, equal to about six large octavo volumes, for only $1.50! And it comes fresh and new, week by week. May we not appeal to our friends to quadruple our list during 1909?
Abraham Ruef was found guilty of bribery, Dec. 10, 1908.
The new Chinese Emperor, a baby three years old, climbed to the throne on December 2, dressed in his royal robes. While there, he received the homage of the various officials.
That Is So.—The Western Watchman (Roman Catholic) of November 19 says: "You can not please God and break the commandments." Then Brother Phelan, why do it? The fourth precept of the great eternal law reads: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. . . . The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Why not please God?

News of the World

Seventy lives were lost in the wreck of the steamship "Ginseii Maru" which foundered off Wei Hai Wei, November 30. November 24, sixteen Chinese were killed in a railway wreck, and thirty as the result of an accident in a German mine near Hungshan. On November 25, more than one hundred persons perished at the entrance of the Port of Valetta, Island of Malta, by the burning of the British steamship "Sardinia." When the boilers became useless, the captain literally took the helm and steered toward the shore as long as the ship could be navigated, and perished at his post.
After several years of tutorship by the United States, Cuba becomes an independent state, and has elected her first president and vice-president and members of congress. General Jose Miguel Gomez was elected president, and Alfred Zayas, vice-president. General Gomez sends a cordial and grateful letter to the people of the United States for their friendliness and help. American troops were withdrawn from the island, November 26.
The all-world records have been broken by the Japanese in sending wireless telegraph messages; a 4,700-mile message has been received at Russian Hill, San Francisco, from Japan. Japan has a very powerful sending apparatus, but her receiving apparatus is not equal to it. She sent the message; the United States received it, but could not reply.
One hundred robberies in three days less than one month were recorded in the city of Oakland, Cal., in November. Burglaries and minor thefts total, according to the same report, 223, and the statement is repeatedly made that Oakland is overrun with crime.

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