Your ShelfYour Projects

Signs of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 11.

Significance of Social Corruptions
Earlier text: THE ORIGINAL SABBATH

EASTER AT JERUSALEM

By Ludwig Krug

Thousands of Pilgrims Assemble There from All Parts of the World—The Russians Predominate—Holding to Formalities—No Spiritual Help
By Ludwig Krug
It is a well-known proverb that Jerusalem is a city where people from all parts of the world meet. This was true even in the time of Christ; and it is true to-day, although the picture it presents is essentially different.
Easter is at present, as it was then, the climax of activity at Jerusalem. During the months shortly before Easter, large groups of pilgrims come streaming up to the ancient stronghold of Israel. The beginning of this pilgrim movement is a cause of rejoicing to the tradesmen and priests in Jerusalem, as they depend on these throngs of transients to replenish their money chests, which become empty during the slack times in the summer. It may be said with perfect propriety that the people of Jerusalem live upon that which they derive from the pilgrim strangers, and the money that is begged from all parts of the world.
The Russian pilgrims are the first to arrive. Small companies of them begin to come as early as the first part of November. From that time, every Russian steamer lands large numbers of pilgrims, some ships bringing as many as five hundred at one time.
About fifty per cent of all the visiting pilgrims are Russians. The remainder are made up of Greeks, Armenians, Coptics, Syrians, and Abyssinians. Besides these, there are many who come from America, Australia, South Africa, England, and the rest of Europe.
This last year, the authorities estimated that 22,000 pilgrims came in caravans, and 10,000 came singly. The different churches maintain large pilgrim houses for the accommodation of the great influx of strangers at this season. Before the last of the pilgrims reach Jerusalem, these are filled to the limit.
The better class of these travelers find entertainment at the numerous hotels, for which they pay handsomely. Guides, coachmen, and all other persons engaged actively in the traffic life of the city, advance their prices sharply. Everything in business life goes according to established custom.
To facilitate the handling of the pilgrim traffic, travelers’ bureaus have been established at various places.
The majority of these visitors bring their own bedding, and certain kinds of food. For example, the Armenians bring with them dried meat and grape honey, which is a sort of sirup made from grapes. The Russians bring little bags of ground grain, potatoes, and a quantity of old dry bread, which will be used at daily meals during the fast period.
On these occasions, the place that holds the greatest interest for the pilgrims is the “Church of the Holy Sepulcher,” which was built in the third century. It contains numerous chapels, and so many dark, partly subterranean passages, that unless one is familiar with them, he can hardly find his way through the structure.
On a raised platform the Greek patriarch washes the feet of twelve priests.
On a raised platform the Greek patriarch washes the feet of twelve priests.
The objects of greatest honor shown in this building are Golgotha, “the stone of the anointing,” and “the grave of Christ.” This great building, inclosing so many places of honor in the interior, is without ornamentation; but within it is richly appointed, having numerous fine paintings of saints. The lamps and other vessels used in the services are made of pure gold and silver.
A large company of well-kept priests are in the employ of this institution. Several confessionals are found in the church. The “Lowenanteil,” “the grave of Christ,” “Golgotha,” and “the stone of anointing” belong to the Greek Catholics. The Roman Catholics also have a part. The Armenians, the Syrians, the Coptics, and even the Abyssinians, have fixed themselves shrines outside the building.
With such a variety of races, holding different beliefs and traditions, it is impossible that these celebrations of Easter week should be conducted without strife or wrangling, unless extra police measures are taken. Accordingly, besides the regular police force, the Turkish government on these occasions keeps two companies of infantry to maintain order and peace in this assembly of worshipers.
Eastertide for the Roman Catholics and the Jews is a very peaceful occasion; but among the Greek Catholics there is excitement enough, and in part it is interesting to the observer.
There seems to be almost no end to “divine services.” On the so-called Palm Sunday, the Greek Catholics march with palm and olive branches in their hands to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. On Thursday the ceremony of feet washing takes place. On a raised platform the Greek patriarch washes the feet of twelve priests. Thousands of people press around this platform, eager to witness the performance of the ceremony. Even the neighboring roofs are covered with spectators.
Everything is quiet on Good Friday; but on Easter Sabbath occurs the wonder of the holy fire, the origin of which dates back to apostolic times, according to church tradition. At noon the priest passes out the holy fire through a little window of the chapel to the waiting crowd outside. Hastily lighting their candles from this fire, they hurry away through the streets to their church, where another “divine service” begins.
During the night from Sabbath to Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection takes place in the church. As soon as the clock announces the midnight hour, the tumult begins. The Russians kiss each other, and cry “Cristos Uashres”—Christ is risen.
Eastertide is at an end; but how many thousands have been deceived! And in their blindness many do not realize it.
Among these crowds of spectators is always a skeptic element. These are present for a purpose that is anything but to worship.
Heartfelt sympathy is called forth in every true man when he sees Russian women from sixty to seventy years old, laden with bags and the ever present teapot, starting out on foot for the various holy places, such as the Jordan River, Nazareth, Hebron, and others. Poor people, deceived by their priests!
It should be mentioned that the Mohammedans have instituted an opposition feature to these Easter services of the Christian churches, which occurs at the same time, and lasts eight days.
The Mohammedans from the villages far and near around Jerusalem assemble there, and march, led by dervishes, from the Mosque of Omar to “the grave of Moses,” which, according to their belief, is situated about half way between Jerusalem and Jericho. Here they remain for eight days, and on the last day the return march to Jerusalem is made. Both of these marches are attended with considerable excitement.
These services are all a series of formalities, and he who seeks for the inner spiritual life will be disappointed. But whoever would gain impressions he will never forget, let him ascend Mount Olivet either at sunrise or sunset, and there in deep contemplation call to mind the scenes of the life of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, and the story of His sufferings.

The Home Literary Garden

By Mary Alice Hare Loper

The Danger from Noxious Weeds—The Care That Should Be Taken of the Mind—The One Greatest Book of All
By Mary Alice Hare Loper, M. S.
It is a matter of wonder to some, that certain people, otherwise considered up-to-date, cling to the old-fashioned petunias, marigolds, etc., instead of supplanting them by later, more popular varieties, such as generally hold a conspicuous place in flower gardens of fashionable people.
It is a matter of mystery to many seemingly intelligent minds, why some very intellectual people cling to the old-fashioned Bible, and to literary productions that harmonize with its blessed principles, instead of exchanging them for the latest productions of pretentious authors.

WEEDS OF “NEW THOUGHT” AND “HIGHER CRITICISM”

So-called new thought and higher criticism are seeking to perfect some improvement(?) upon the Word of inspiration, by eliminating the spines from the thistle of unbelief, and the prickles from the cocklebur of infidelity. But the thistle and the cocklebur are there just the same, and are even more dangerous because of their more innocent appearance. The good old orthodox doctrine that every soul will be saved who chooses to accept salvation, is now made to read that every soul will be saved anyway, even though the broad road to destruction be traveled from life’s dawn till its close. This sounds sweet to the unbelieving ear, but it is a deception and a snare which one day will be revealed in all its disappointing forcefulness.
Thorns and thistles in the vegetable world are the result of the curse of sin; and it is the same in the literary world. It is blessed to know that some day these enemies of all good will cease to be; but the sad part of it is, that persons who cherish and feed upon the poison of sin, will also cease to be, instead of enjoying an eternity of happiness.

PLUCKING NETTLES

If a child should say, “Mother, may I pick a bunch of nettles?” the reply would surely be negative: “Why, no, my child; they would sting you.” But many children are plucking literary nettles, while their fond parents seem oblivious to the fact that the children are mentally stung. Yet a mental sting may be far more deadly than a physical sting. The latter affects only this life, while the former may be so severe as to rob its victim of that life which measures with eternity.
Bad reading is one of the most productive sources of evil in all the world. There is nothing harmful that it may not accomplish, even to converting to heathenism those who have experienced the blessedness of Christian influences. “Higher criticism” and “new thought” are as powerless to save souls as are the Christless religions of heathen lands. And parents who set the example of sanctioning such productions, need not be surprised when they see their children leading godless lives.

THE CAREFUL LITERARY GARDENERS

Parents who are careful literary gardeners, cherish the historical century plants, the biographical forget-me-nots, the oratorical jack-in-the-pulpits, the thoughtful pansies, the laughing baby blue-eyes, the meditative asters, chrysanthemums, etc. But, alas, how many a twentieth century literary garden is grown up to weeds—nux vomica of harmful fiction, deadly nightshade of crime and debauchery, smartweed of sickening youthful romance. There is the persistent Bermuda grass of atheism and infidelity, sown broadcast years ago by such pitiable characters as Voltaire, Paine, and Ingersoll. It propagates from every joint, and is a plague to all literary gardeners. If left to flourish, it will choke out the fragrant flowers; and without vigilance and earnest effort after it has taken root, it may never be eradicated. In seeking to get rid of Bermuda grass, it is not a matter of plowing it under once, as with many less tenacious weeds, but of plowing it many times, exposing it to a frigid atmosphere, or to the annihilating rays of the hot sun. It does not die easily. Vigilant care is required to keep the home literary garden free from harmful intruders, which are found in every locality.

MAY FEED ON LITERARY WEEDS

Children should be taught to distinguish between the profitable and the unprofitable plants in the literary field. No child is capable of choosing reading from the public library until he has learned this. A child may easily form the habit of satisfying his mental appetite upon noxious weeds. Slow poisoning is as possible in the intellectual as in the physical being. Literary narcotics cause a craving appetite, which is as hard to overcome as the narcotic drug habit; and they are as deadly to the spiritual welfare as drug narcotics are to the physical welfare. Little by little a child may become accustomed to literary poison; and if allowed to continue the practice, he may become a veritable mental inebriate.
Beware of the literary toadstool, so fatal to children—the comic Sunday supplement. Beware of all the annual weeds—light trash, written by numerous inconspicuous authors, whose shallow thoughts may well be compared to the roving tumbleweeds of the rolling prairies. All these soon disappear, but their evil effects remain, and the time spent in reading them is worse than wasted.

THE ENEMY SOWED TARES

When the sower went forth to sow good seed, the divine parable tells us that an enemy sowed tares. There is never a literary field of promise in this world where the same old enemy does not seek to choke out the good seed in the same manner.
In all the realm of vegetation, there is nothing, perhaps, that more fitly represents the blessed Bible than does the banyan tree of India. From its branches roots grow, and reach downward to the ground, forming a series of smaller trunks, one tree thus covering a wide area, and forming a shade sufficiently extensive to cover perhaps thousands of people. Wherever the Bible is established, it reaches down into the hearts of men, taking root, and springing up into new life. Its blessed influence spreads as perceptibly as do the branches of the banyan tree; and to the pilgrim on the way to the celestial city, it is “as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”

GREEN IN SNOW AND SUNSHINE

Specimens of the sequoia gigantea, found only in California, are considered the oldest living vegetation on the earth. These famous big trees remain green alike when mantled with the snows of winter, or bathed in rain or golden sunshine. The Bible is the oldest book in circulation, and it remains unchanged through all the ages. No enemy can annihilate it, for it is of heavenly authorship. The same One who created the vegetation of the earth, created the living thoughts of the Bible; and these will still live when the libraries of the world, and all vegetation as we see it, have been reduced to ashes. The banyan tree and the sequoia gigantea are found on but a small portion of the earth’s surface; but the Book of all books is found in nearly all parts of the world, and may be had “without money and without price.”
The Bible is the most precious plant in the literary garden. There is nothing that fitly represents it, because it is capable of imparting immortality. Cherish it, prize it, feed upon it. And may its living principles be so inculcated into your everyday life that you, too, may live when this old earth has passed away.

United States in Prophecy

By Editor

Is this nation's future predicted in the Bible? Will its flag always be an emblem of freedom to the oppressed?
“Yes” and “No” will answer these questions, but you should read the Scriptural quotations and explanations given in the Signs Magazine for April for more satisfactory answers.
There are nine other good reasons why you should read this April number:
  1. Dream of a New World Empire
  2. The Coming Church-Established Empire
  3. The Eastern War Storm
  4. The Downfall of Civilization
  5. The Final End of Sin
  6. Healing the Deadly Wound
  7. Enmity Between Man and Satan
  8. The cover—A beauty in three colors
  9. Current topics—always good, seem even better this month
Are you a subscriber?
Timely, interesting features like these are in every number, and are a reason why you should get the magazine regularly. Only $1.00 a year.
Do you circulate the magazine, give it away, or sell it?
Many do. It sells easily, at 10c a copy. Some do well. Don't you want to try 25 or 50 copies this month? 25 cost $1.25; 50 cost $2.00. On the 50 you earn $3.00, you see.
Order through our depository in your state
Signs of the Times Magazine
Mountain View, California

FOR THE NEXT TEN WEEKS

By Editor

A series of articles on the Sabbath Question will be run in this journal, the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. The first appears in this issue.
Every phase of this important subject will be presented in these ten articles.
The writer, R. C. Porter, president of the Asiatic Division of the General Conference of S. D. A., is well known to our readers as one of our ablest contributors.
Do you understand this much discussed question? Are your friends thoroughly informed?
Six-month subscription, 90c; five or more to one address, 60c each; 5 or more to separate addresses, 65c each.
Order through our depository in your state or from the publishers.

SUPPLYING A NEED

By Editor

There is a growing demand for a small periodical similar in contents to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
“It must be low priced, so we can order in large quantities for free general distribution,” they say.
To supply this need, the publishers of this journal have launched a new four-page monthly paper to be known as Signs of the Times Supplement.
The March number, now in press, is a prophecy number.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Single copy, one year .......... $ .25 15 copies, one issue .......... .10 25 copies, one issue .......... .15 50 copies, one issue .......... .30 100 copies, one issue .......... .50 1,000 copies, one issue .......... 4.00
The following club rates are to one name and address:
15 copies, $1.80; 25 copies, $3.00; 50 copies, $6.00; 100 copies, $12.00.
Order through our depository or from us.

For Sale

For Sale: 8½ acres of land, at Colby, Washington, across Puget Sound from Seattle, ½ mile from the sound, ¾ mile from boat landing. Good church and church school. 4½ acres cleared, 6½ acres under fence, 3 acres in meadow, garden, orchard, small fruit. House 16 x 38, cement cellar. Barn 30 x 32. Brooder, hen house, etc., tools, and some stock, go with place. Price $3,000. Address Carey S. Smith, Colby, Washington.

FOR SALE

At Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California, a large, modern, five-roomed cottage in good condition. Well lighted and with all modern conveniences. Three and one half blocks from railroad station, and ten minutes' walk from Seventh-day Adventist church and church school. Lot 75 x 150 feet. Inclosed on three sides by high board fence. Cement walks to all parts of town. Over twenty citrus and deciduous fruit trees in bearing. Address Box 346, Mountain View, California.

SANITARIUM COOKING OIL

“The Oil of Quality”
Pure Cotton Seed Oil direct from refinery. Sweet, Wholesome, and Delicious.
4 1-gallon cans, $3.40; 5-gallon can, $3.75; 2 5-gallon cans, $7.40; 30-gallon barrel, $18.35; 50-gallon barrel, $30.75. Cash with order.
Sanitarium Cooking Oil Co., Louisville, Kentucky.

The Best Route to and from California

Two Great 1915 Expositions

At San Francisco, February 20 to December 4, 1915
At San Diego, January 1 to December 31, 1915
There will be no postponement for any reason
INQUIRE OF ANY AGENT, OR MR. C. S. FEE, Passenger Traffic Manager, Flood Building, San Francisco, California
SOUTHERN PACIFIC

FOR SALE

Alfalfa honey in five-gallon cans, $4.00 per can. It is light colored and fine flavored. Sample free. Satisfaction guaranteed. Correspondence solicited.
M. S. Dickinson, Los Banos, California.

WANTED — A POSITION

A thoroughly competent electrical engineer desires a position in any S. D. A. institution. References given. Address the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for address of the above.

“Shiloh, the Man of Sorrows”

Many who have read this story, or parts of it, as it appeared in serial form in the Signs, will be glad to order a copy for their own library, or for a beautiful and useful present to a friend.
The volume should stimulate a desire for Bible study, and is just the book for aggressive missionary work among the Jews and the unconverted. It is beautifully bound in cloth, gold stamped, 377 pages. Eight full page illustrations. $1.50 net. Agents wanted. Author's portrait suitable for framing. Let the orders come in.
Fourteen cents postage extra.
Address the author, Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle, 1215 Vermont Avenue, Lansing, Michigan.

A Bible Argument Against Christian Science

THOUSANDS have been attracted to Christian Science. Is it all that its name implies? This 112-page pamphlet is one of the strongest Bible arguments against it to be found. 15c, postpaid. Order from our depository in your state or
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSN Mountain View, California

Save 50 Cents

by accepting our combination offer of $2.25 for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES (weekly) and the Signs of the Times Magazine (monthly). May be sent to one or separate names and addresses. Address our depository in your state or SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, California.

Warnings of Deceptions

“TAKE heed that no man deceive you.” The Lord repeatedly warned those who would be living in the last days, that they must beware of deceptions. He has told us that there would arise false christs and false teachers, and that they will be so cunning in their work that “if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” The Master has given us an infallible guide, and that guide is His word. He says: “He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:2-5. And again He says: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.” John 10:16.
Christ’s sheep do not know the voice of the stranger, but they do know the voice of the true Shepherd. Therefore, we should not be so much interested in the study of the various false religions, but should devote our time to the study of the true. What we need is to know the voice of the true Shepherd. All other voices will sound strange, and we will disregard them. The Master tells us the plan by which He guides us. He says: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 16:13, 14.
This Spirit of truth, which is called the Comforter in this same connection, came in a mighty manner on the day of Pentecost. He has been with the church all through its history, and the Master has told us that He will guide us into all truth. He does not speak of Himself, but He guides us by the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:17. Then God’s Spirit has a sword, and that sword is His word. God’s Spirit guides into all truth, and He guides through the teaching of the Word itself. Therefore we do not need any key to the Scriptures, because God has given us a key to the person of His Holy Spirit, and each individual may have this personal Guide to the definite knowledge of truth. But the deceptions that are prepared are designed to be close imitators of the genuine, hence we need to be on our guard. We are to learn to know the voice of the true Shepherd, and we are to know that this voice is in His own word.
Each individual may know this Word for himself. Christ becomes a personal acquaintance and a personal friend, and we learn to depend upon Him. The infinite power of the great God, our heavenly Father, has made definite arrangement that we through His word, and by the agency of His Spirit, may become personally acquainted with His Son, our Saviour. And He desires that we shall not become deceived, nor trust in any other key for the unlocking of His word than the one that He has given us in the person of His Spirit. And we should not forget that the Spirit He has promised to send will not speak of Himself. Any key that makes itself prominent, is not working under the direction of the Spirit of God. The text quoted plainly shows that.

Portentous Developments in the War

By J. G. C.

A CABLE message from London of February 25 announces that Sir Edward Grey, in reply to a question from the floor of Parliament, stated that England is now willing to abandon her traditional opposition toward Russia's acquisition of a “warm water port,” and will support the recently avowed purpose expressed by M. Sassonoff, the Russian foreign secretary, that “Russia intends permanently to occupy Constantinople.”
It is reported that these apparently conjunctive statements have so alarmed the Ottoman government as to cause the crown jewels and official records to be sent from Constantinople to the interior for safe keeping. A dispatch three days later says: “There is a panic in Constantinople, and many inhabitants are leaving. Internal troubles are imminent. The cabinet has decided to transfer the seat of government to Brusa, in Asia Minor.” Paris intelligence of February 27 repeats the assertion of an Athens correspondent that the sultan of Turkey is preparing to leave Constantinople, and that to this end imperial trains are held in the railroad station, constantly under steam. From the same source it is learned that the inhabitants of the Princes Islands, in the Sea of Marmora, adjacent to Constantinople, have been instructed to hold themselves in readiness to leave.
This looks as though the final evacuation of Constantinople by the Turks were within a brief period of consummation. But in addition to this, and as though to remove the last doubt of such an accomplishment, the news dispatches declare that a large allied fleet of British and French warships under positive orders to “take Constantinople,” have already destroyed the outer forts intended to guard the approaches to that city, and having swept the straits of mines, are reducing the line of forts which form the inner circle of fortifications.
In the meantime Germany has declared the entire coast of Great Britain a war zone, and has planted mines by which to blow up and destroy any ship approaching its shores with food supplies. In retaliation, England has declared all cargoes bound for Germany as contraband, and will seize all vessels steering that way, regardless of the neutral flag they may carry at the masthead. This means that both belligerents in the strife are not only desirous of killing all they can with shot and shell, on the battle field, but are determined to add a campaign of starvation which will bring to a horrible death innocent women and children in their home lands.
With the supply bases crippled, and every available man of proper age called to the war trenches, the frenzy of desperation must surely inflame the animosity of the antagonists. One correspondent, in viewing the situation, closed his remarks with these significant words: “We must prepare our minds for an appalling butchery.”
One may well inquire what such unheard of warfare means. The question has been repeated many times within recent months, but without receiving a satisfactory answer except when given from an inspired prophetic standpoint. Since the days of Peter the Great, Russia has looked with longing eyes toward Constantinople, desiring to make it the southern capital of that empire. She has from time to time fought her way toward that strategical point, and annexed much intervening territory. As late as 1877 she declared war against Turkey, and forged her way to the local mountains just north and west of the coveted prize, from which point she could look down upon her intended victim. Then, lo, the Western powers, notably England, forbade a further advance. Now, according to the dispatches, England is not only willing for Russia to put her hand on Constantinople, but in conjunction with France, she sends a strong fleet to hasten that event.
—If it be true, as some able expositors of prophecy affirm, that the prediction of Dan. 11:45 to 12:2 looks to the Turk's being driven out of Europe and into Asia; and that he will “plant the tabernacles of his palace” “in the glorious holy mountain”; and that, in connection with such evacuation, there will “be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation”; and that these two events will usher in the standing up of Michael—Christ—to redeem all whose names are in the book of life,— then we may well believe that the age of carnal strife must soon give way to the mild reign of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that it may be so indeed. His coming is even at the doors.
J. G. C.

Why So Active Against Prohibition?

By G. B. T.

THE manufacturers of strong drink, and those who stand on the brink of the pit and deal out damnation by the dram, claim that prohibition does not prohibit. If not, why are they so active in opposition to prohibition measures when they are proposed? Their actions give the lie to their words. They know better.
Laws against murder, theft, and adultery do not entirely suppress the commission of these atrocious crimes; but is this an argument that we shall have no laws against these things?—Hardly. Though prohibitory laws may not completely suppress the rum traffic, they reduce it to a minimum, and crime and deeds of outlawry correspondingly decrease.
For Smith, Arkansas, has been “dry” for some months. Collier, in a recent issue, quotes the following details furnished by the editor of Arkansas Fruit and Farm, which shows the results of prohibition:
“The liquor interests advocate that prohibition does not prohibit, but the record here in Fort Smith shows that the curse has been eliminated to a point where our jails are empty, our police half of what it was when we had saloons, the cost of feeding prisoners is less than fifty dollars per month as compared to nearly a thousand a month under wet conditions, and our city jail is now used as a lodging house for the transient poor. No arrests occurred in Fort Smith from Thursday morning to Saturday morning, which included New Year’s day.”
The same excellent results will be experienced elsewhere by abolishing the saloon. Both the manufacture and the sale of intoxicating beverages should be prohibited in all parts of this great republic. Let us all be sober. G. B. T.

Prospects for the War

A FEW weeks ago, it was reported that Lord Kitchener was asked when the European war would close. His remark was that he did not know when it would close, but that it would begin next May. Evidently England is preparing in a very strong way to carry out Lord Kitchener's plan; for Parliament on February 10 issued a blank check in favor of the War Department, providing for the placing of three million men on the battle line as soon as spring opens.
It has been estimated that over three million men have already been killed by the various contending armies in this European conflict. It would seem that the horrors of such slaughter ought to cause a halt, but the indications are at the present time that the war will rapidly spread rather than diminish. However, we believe that this war will more than likely come to an end as suddenly as it broke out; and when it ends, there will be, without much question, a brief period of profound peace, and the nations that have remained neutral will probably enjoy the greatest prosperity that has ever been known. Again the people will be led to believe that peace is assured, and that we will never have any more war. But this wicked old world is not changing in that direction. We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by superficial appearances. God's word has made very plain what we may expect.

Xerxes and Ahasuerus

Speaking of a relic of the time of Persian world supremacy, recently presented to the New York public library, a writer in the Scientific American says: “The name of Xerxes on the vase is of scarcely less interest, for Xerxes is no other than Ahasuerus, the husband of Queen Esther of the beautiful Bible story. . . . Many a scholar has claimed that of all the Persian kings, none bore the name of Ahasuerus. Xerxes was the Greek pronunciation of the name, with which we are familiar, but the pronunciation of the name as it was written in Babylonian characters upon the vase is Hi-shi-i-ar-sh-a. The apparent differences in the ancient names may be easily accounted for by a simple law of phonetics. Ahasuerus and Xerxes are the same, so scholars are now agreed.”

National Conference of Charities and Correction

The National Conference of Charities and Correction will hold its forty-second annual meeting at Baltimore, Maryland, May 12-19. Some very influential men and women are connected with this movement. It is interesting to observe the extent to which our social problems are calling together many influential people in many different kinds of conventions.

Insect Pests and Joel’s Prophecy

COMPETENT estimators give us the statement that there is a loss of four hundred million dollars a year due to the ravages of such insect pests as the chinch bug, the grasshopper, the army worm, etc. In connection with figures of this character, have you ever studied the prophecy of the book of Joel?

Panama-Pacific Exposition Opens

The great Panama-Pacific International Exposition opened its doors to the public on schedule time February 20. The various exhibits represent the great progress of this age. Those who may enjoy the privilege of attending this exposition will find in it a great source of education.

You have reached the end of this edition.

Signs of the Times · Mar 16, 1915