WE are now up in the Himalaya Mountains, where a new station is being opened for work among the Hindus of this district. School was begun on the first of June; and altho it was at the beginning of the rains, yet about fifty boys have been in attendance.
The Well of Knowledge, Benares
We were ill prepared to accommodate so many students, as most of them remain here for two weeks at a time, only returning home to secure a fresh supply of flour and rice. They have been living in rude huts, thatched with grass, which leak when it rains hard. But we have heard few complaints. We trust, however, that before the next rains we may have more comfortable and healthful accommodations.
The climate of this place is as good as one could wish, throughout the entire year. The scenery is equal to any in the world. We have a view of the heated plains fifteen or twenty miles to the south, and the perpetual snows rise far above us about two hundred miles to the north, where the much adored river Ganges has its source.
Altho the location of this school is out in the jungle, far from centers of civilization, yet it will doubtless prove a healthful retreat from the burning plains, where work can be carried on throughout the year without danger to health. We are frequently reminded of our jungle surroundings by the roaring of a tiger that has paid us several visits.
Trusting that your past interest in the Hindustani work may continue, I remain,
Your brother in the Master's service,
L. J. BURGESS.
19 Banks Road,
Lucknow, India.
Our Work and Workers
Four more have been added to the church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, uniting by baptism.
Seven have accepted the threefold message at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, since the work was begun there.
Five persons have united with the church in Spokane, Washington, and the note says several others will be baptized soon.
As the result of tent meetings in Alabama City, Alabama, twenty-two have decided to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."
At the close of a camp-meeting of colored believers at Sanford, Florida, four persons were baptized, and seven are obeying the truth for this time.
An interest begun in Porto Rico by a native preacher has resulted in ten taking their stand with the remnant people. Seven were baptized, and others will take the step later.
Brother W. R. Smith writes from Wonsan, Korea: "A Sabbath-school of twenty-four members was organized, and we hope soon to be able to organize a small company into a church."
One hundred forty-two persons were baptized and received into the various churches in the Colorado Conference during the last year. Twenty-five more were baptized at the recent camp-meeting held in Denver.
The Life Boat for December has just reached us. As usual it is filled with tender words of comfort and sympathy for the discouraged, and cheering messages of hope for the fallen. Price 10 cents. Address the Life Boat, Hinsdale, Illinois.
Brother D. T. Shireman, Hickory, N. C., writes that if there are any among our readers — perhaps a father or mother who may be left with two or13sad eyes and a timid manner, whom they called Rachel, "verily, I have come from afar, even from Damascus, to Bethany, that I might learn of the truth of those things which were told me. And now have mine eyes seen and mine ears heard truly; and I do believe that this Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah; for not only hath He healed the sick, but He hath given life to this man Lazarus. And now, to-morrow do I hasten back to Damascus, that I may bring word to my father,—for he, he set forth with palsy,—that he may come and be healed. Only my heart faileth me, for the distance is long, and I fear lest my father be not able to make this journey, and I fear also lest this Miracle-Worker pay small heed to our sorrow." And the woman glanced timidly around the room.
"Have no fear, Rachel," chimed in another, a poor woman who had aided in the preparation of the feast; "thou knowest me,—I have a daughter who is maid servant of Claudia Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate, and she is now in Jerusalem. Have no fear, Rachel; for I tell thee, the heart of this Jesus of Nazareth is gentle and kind, and filled with love and sympathy for those who suffer. Ask my brother Bartimeus if this be not true; he will tell thee how on a certain day while he was in Jericho, not long ago, as he sat by the wayside asking alms of the people,—for he was blind,—they told him that this Miracle-Worker was passing by. Now as soon as my brother understood this, at once he began crying to Him earnestly, for our poor Bartimeus was in a sad way. But the people who heard him cry, bade him hold his peace, for they cared not for his misery and his helplessness. But he cried so much the more, ‘Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!’"
"Did the Prophet at all heed him?" interrupted the timid woman Rachel.
"Of a truth He did, and commanded that they call my brother. Then one came running, and delivered the message from the Man, saying, ‘Rise and be of good cheer; for behold, He calleth thee!’ And he rose quickly at these words from the messenger, and cast away his garment, lest it hinder him in running. ‘What shall I do for thee?’ asked the Prophet. ‘O Rabboni! that I might receive my sight!’ exclaimed my brother."
The woman Rachel had been intently listening from the beginning of the recital; but now her eyes were filled with a new light—the light of a wonderful hope.
"What did the Prophet unto thy brother? Tell me, woman! Gave He sight unto him?"
"Of a truth; and He said unto him, ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.’”
The listening woman waited to hear no more. She cast one searching, longing look at the quiet Figure clad in plain garments, sitting by the side of Simon the host, and Lazarus, the resurrected one. Then she turned to the narrator hastily.
"Why now should I linger till the morning? Behold, I will return to Damascus, that my father may come and be healed,—for why should he tarry longer?"
In another hour the woman Rachel had started on her return journey.
Meanwhile, close to the feet of the Man of Nazareth had crept a beautiful woman. Her soft hair fell in shining tresses about her shoulders, and in her dark, earnest eyes beamed the light of a worshipful love. With nervous haste she broke the seal of a box of whitest alabaster of exquisite workmanship, and poured the costly ointment which it contained, upon the head and then upon the feet of Him she loved, while with her silken tresses she wiped away the tears which fell upon His sacred feet.
It was Mary Magdalene, she from whose beautiful eyes once flashed the madness of the pit, and from whose lips once dropped the curses and the blasphemies of seven demons. She had hoped to perform her deed of love unnoticed by the criticizing throng; but the odor of the costly ointment had made known her act of devotion.
"Wherefore is this wasteful extravagance?" cried a tall, dark man at the right, whom we remember to have last seen in his own home in Kerioth of Judea. Nor can we forget the awful errand which carried his covetous feet thither, nor the dark and terrible deed which even then he meditated.
Influenced by the example of the man of Kerioth, Simon the host exclaimed, "Behold the woman!" while he bent his haughty head and whispered in the ear of Bar-jona:
"Knoweth not thy Master, if He is a prophet, that this woman is a sinner?"
For answer, Bar-jona only turned his astonished eyes questioningly upon the calm face of his Master; but the usually glib tongue of the fisherman of Galilee was silent.
But the dark eyes of Judas of Kerioth were filled with a greedy light, as he turned them full upon the shrinking woman.
"Wherefore is this waste?" he again sternly demanded. "Dost thou forget, O woman, that there are many poor who perchance are hungry and naked even in Bethany and Jerusalem? Why then gavest thou not this ointment to the apothecary? for he would have given three hundred shilling [a coin worth 17 cents] for this spikenard, and behold, it is now wasted. Verily this thing ought not to have been done!"
The woman dried her hot tears for a moment, but her cheek was flushed with embarrassment, and she glanced uneasily and timidly toward her older sister Martha, as if fearing a rebuke from her lips also. Then she fixed her dark eyes, again swimming with tears, in piteous appeal upon the face of her Master.
Will He rebuke her also? Will He misunderstand her act of love, and think it at best a deed of childish folly? Will He?
By this time the attention of the entire company was fixed upon her, as with streaming, downcast eyes and hot cheeks she made haste to hide herself from the indignant glances of the guests.
Suddenly a stern voice broke the momentary hush which had fallen over the company:
"Let her alone!"
The quick command of the Man of Nazareth sounded loud and clear and full of Godlike authority, as He slowly rose from the triclinium, while His eye swept the assembled guests with an expression of mingled scorn and pity: "Let her alone!"
The man Judas of Kerioth, even as he was first to criticize and condemn, was first to recover himself.
Glancing up into the stern face of the Master, with some degree of confusion—for he was a proud man—he stammered, "But, Master, the poor—"
"The poor ye have always with you, and whenever ye will, ye may do them good; but," and the voice rang with mournful pathos, "but Me ye have not always!"
Then resting His eyes upon the woman, with an expression of infinite love and sympathy, He continued:
"She hath done what she could; she hath come beforehand to anoint My body for the burial. And wherever this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, this also that she hath done shall be told as a memorial of her."
A few moments thereafter, the man Judas Iscariot was missed from the assembly.
"Where hath he gone, thinkest thou, Bar-jona?" queried Matthias. "He is a strange man, and verily I liked not the look in the man’s dark face, when he rose and went out."
Bar-jona said nothing, but he stepped to the outer porch, where, leaning against a marble column, stood John, the son of Zebedee, watching the dark figure of a man walking rapidly toward the west on his way to Jerusalem.
But the eyes of Simon the host followed the woman, and in his heart he hated her. Had she not kissed the travel-stained feet of the Nazarene, and moistened them with foolish tears, in very presence of his guests?
"Almost do I regret having made this feast for thy Master," he whispered to Matthias, who constantly followed the company of the Miracle-Worker, and sat near the host; "almost; for hath not this woman humbled me before these my guests?" And in his secret heart he said that the Nazarene was no prophet, even tho He had healed him, and given him back his manhood, and rescued him from the horrible home of the leper.
Ingratitude, thou basest foe
That ever breathed thy cruel breath
From craven lips, full well we know
Thy birthplace is the pit of wo;
Thine end, the fiery lake of death!
The Nazarene fixed His sad eyes upon His ungrateful host; and in that moment Simon of Bethany was conscious that the ugly secrets of his past life were read like an open book!
What if the Master should expose the dark secrets of his life now, in presence of his guests?
A few hours later, Simon of Bethany was alone with his wife Prisca. But the look of haughty arrogance and unbending pride in the dark eyes, had given place to an expression of deep humility and contrition.
"Surely this Man by His love hath broken and subdued my rebellious heart, until, O my Prisca, I am filled with shame and confusion; for behold, tho He hath healed me, yet have I done Him scant honor even to-day. And in mine ungrateful heart I have even doubted and misjudged Him! But lo, He hath read mine heart, and understandeth my sins—and behold they be black; yet He smote me not in the presence of my guests. But as the Lord liveth, when the Man said, ‘I have somewhat to say unto thee, O Simon,’ I said in my heart, This Man who, I perceive, knoweth the secrets of my life, will humble me now in very presence of these people.
"But now, behold, He hath shown me mine own heart, till I abhor myself. And how shall I be forgiven for this mine ingratitude?
"Surely this is none other than the Shiloh of the prophets,—for we know the time is fulfilled."
(To be continued)
Why Dost Thou Slight Me So?
By Mrs. E. J. S. Keen
By Mrs. E. J. S. Keen
My loving Saviour spoke to me
In accents soft and low:
"O one beloved, O one redeemed,
Why dost thou slight Me so?"
CHORUS:
"Why dost thou slight Me so?
I gave My life for thee.
Why dost thou slight Me so?
I died to set thee free."
"Life's pearly gates are open wide;
Within, the mansions shine.
Stay not to seek for righteousness.
I died to give thee Mine."
"Why captured by earth's glittering snares,
In sin and error stray?
I died from sin to set thee free.
Then come without delay."
Missoula, Montana.
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Ladies’ Reading-room
Gentlemen’s Smoking-room
Daily News Bulletins
Latest Papers and Magazines
Southern Pacific
What Are Your Children Reading?
By Editor
Scene: An animated crowd of Christmas shoppers at a juvenile book stand in one of San Francisco's large department stores. A tired looking young lady clerk, scarcely out of her teens, is behind the counter.
Attracted by a highly colored book, yellow predominating, one of the prospective customers asked, “Is this a good book for children?” Selling books was the girl’s business. You can guess her reply. That book consisted entirely of hunting, killing, and other such stories. Candidly now, does the reading of such books inspire kind thoughts, good impulses, high ideals?
OUR LITTLE FRIEND is an illustrated weekly paper. Every line of its eight pages is interesting, instructive, helpful. Its Bible lessons and moral stories, accounts of noble men and women and their good deeds, thrilling experiences of missionaries, stories of birds and animals, all combine to make this paper one of the very best to place in the hands of your children.
It will cost you but one cent, the price of a postal card, to secure a sample copy of the double holiday number with beautiful colored cover. The yearly subscription price is 60 cents—less than one and one tenth cents a week.
Order through your State tract society; or OUR LITTLE FRIEND, Mountain View, Cal.
Miniature print of holiday cover
Publications Wanted
By Editor
THE following persons desire late, clean copies of our denominational periodicals for use in missionary work:
C. F. Campbell, 4 Ellis Street, Lynn, Massachusetts.
R. T. Nash, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Farm for Sale
109 acre farm — Northeastern Texas. Five-room house. 45 acres in cultivation, 2-acre orchard, peaches, pears, plums. Good water, plenty timber, sandy loam. Healthy. Fruit, farm, and garden land, near Adventist school and church, seven miles from railroad town. Price $15.00 an acre. $1,000.00 cash, $635.00 to suit. D. Jones, Jefferson, Texas.
The Desire of Ages
By Editor
We have in our possession a few copies of the original wide-margin edition of that grand book by Mrs. E. G. White, "The Desire of Ages," which we offer while they last, as follows:
These prices are post-paid. A better book gift could not be made than one of these "Desire of Ages." Address, Pacific Press Publishing Assn., 1109 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri.
Life and Health
By Editor
A PRACTICAL health journal, published with a view of meeting hygienic needs in every home; teaching how to care for the health and how to preserve life; prescribing simple home treatments to assist nature in throwing off diseases rather than adding more poison by using drugs or unnatural stimulants as remedies: teaching how to avoid disease as far as possible, how to manage in the home when sickness does come, and how to combat the disease by simple remedies which nature provides.
Send for sample copy and special rates to agents. Price 10 cents per copy or $1.00 per year.
Address, LIFE & HEALTH, Takoma Park, D.C.
Bibles
Bibles.—Remember that we are headquarters for anything in the Bible line. We shall be pleased to send you our catalog of Bible selections on application. Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal.
Pianos
Any of our people wishing a good piano for church, school, or home, direct from factory at a saving of nearly one third, freight prepaid, can address for particulars, J. W. Donaldson, 197 Central Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. Best conference references.
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Write for particulars and Handsome Art Book.
SCHOOL of APPLIED ART
E 300 FINE ARTS BLDG.
Battle Creek, Mich.
Not Only Because
By Editor
The writer instructs us to “Find enclosed $4.00,” nor because he ordered “100 of the Christmas number,” but chiefly because “50 were sold in less than three hours,” thus demonstrating the fact that the SIGNS MONTHLY magazine sells easily.
The January number is now ready. 5 to 40 copies 5 cents each; 50 or more 4 cents each.
Signs of the Times
Mountain View, Cal.
It Makes Us Feel Pretty Good
By Editor
When a person writes: “Enclosed find check for $4.00 for which send me 100 of the Christmas number of the SIGNS MONTHLY. Our last order for fifty copies came yesterday and was sold this morning in less than three hours.”
Taft’s Supreme Court Appointments
President Taft has appointed four Justices of the Federal Supreme Court, and elevated Associate Justice White to Chief Justice. Those appointed are Justice H. H. Lurton, in 1909; and Justice Charles E. Hughes, Justice Joseph R. Lamar (of Georgia), and Justice Willis Van Devanter (of Wyoming) in 1910. White, Lurton, and Lamar are Democrats; Harlan, McKenna, Holmes, Day, Hughes, Van Devanter, are Republicans. The last two appointments have not yet been confirmed by the Senate. Mr. White is the first Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who ever became Chief Justice.
Do you wish a happy year?—Then forget yourself in the service of Christ and humanity.
A Logical Conclusion.
By Editor
Mr. Frank W. Gale, Christian Science Doctor, of San Francisco, whom we quoted in our last, objects to our conclusion that Christian Scientists will become Spiritualists, or will expect to be influenced by Mrs. Eddy's spirit. He declares that "Science and Health" (p. 74: 29-32) teaches otherwise, that "the so-called dead and living can not commune together, for they are in separate states of existence, or consciousness." "So," Mr. Gale declares, "no Christian Scientist believes that such a thing is possible, or expects it." Granted. But they hold first the basis of Spiritualism, the immortality and continued consciousness of the soul or spirit in another sphere. It is an easy step to believe that the gulf may be bridged. Angels of God minister to men and women, and angels are in another sphere. And the devil, whose existence as a personality Mr. Gale does not believe, has deceived millions who neither believed nor expected to be, nor did they believe it to be a deception after they were deceived. To us it is, in the light of Scripture, a logical conclusion that Christian Scientists will be deceived.
"Questions and Answers"
By Editor
"On Bible and historical themes and topics," is the title of a book now in preparation in this office. It is a collection of hundreds of the questions which have been answered in this paper during the last twenty years. Many of the answers have involved much study and research. All are helpful and profitable.
If the book were placed on sale, it would, compared with many other books, be priced at $1.25.
But the book belongs to the Signs of the Times, and our subscribers have the first and only opportunity to obtain it, and at a very low price.
The Signs of the Times, containing the matter that it does, compared with other religious papers, is worth from two to three dollars. Many of the weeklies are published at $2.50 and $3.00. Those published for less depend upon all sorts of advertising to keep afloat. But we publish the paper at $1.75. We propose, however, to send the Signs of the Times one year (worth $1.75), and "Questions and Answers" (worth $1.25), for only $2.00. This is for old or new subscribers. If you desire the book, you can send a subscription in advance, or to some one else, and have the book sent to you. You can get the book in no other way. See notice in our last issue. Fuller notice next week.
Our Bible Band Booklet
By Editor
Is almost ready, and, we hope, will reach all who order it, by January 1. If it does not, follow the schedule of last year, or as given in the December 20 issue of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
The booklet treats nearly twenty-five topics, many of which include several subdivisions. It gives information you would like to have, much of which is not easily accessible.
The compiler would many times have given the price of the booklet for some one item of information it contains. It contains the books of the Bible, with their probable date and authorship, and a schedule and calendar for 1911. It has a neat cover. Price, post free, 10 cents.
A Winter Cover and Its Message
By Editor
Our new first page cover drawing, by Mr. Pedro Lemos, speaks of winter, and such it is throughout most of the country. But from the snow come warmth and abundant fountains which water the earth. The old earth needs the season. The excellent drawing incloses a sweet, helpful message for the year.
England's Election Results
The election in England with few exceptions leaves the two great political parties just about the same. The Liberals perhaps have one less member than the Unionists, but a coalition majority of 126 instead of 124 as before the election. There are 73 Nationalists, 11 Independent Nationalists, 43 Laborites. What reform will take place in the House of Lords is not yet determined.
The Folly of Superstition
By Editor
It is astonishing to learn of the vast number of people who seem to like to be humbugged, gulled, swindled. But an article in Hampton's January issue by Roy L. McCardell clearly shows that the number of those who seek to seers, soothsayers, mediums, palmists, fortune-tellers, and fakirs of various sorts are legions. Just as one fortune-teller was arrested for fraud there were sixty waiting to see him. Yet we are told that this is not a superstitious age! The only sure thing to save us from superstition is the genuine religion of Jesus Christ.
Press Censorship and Advertising Postage
By Editor
The President suggests in his message a fine entering wedge for press censorship, in advocating a higher postage rate on advertising matter in magazines. We are not pleading for the advertising. It is sometimes the greater part of the magazine, sometimes the most interesting part, but we do not believe in so much of it. We do believe, however, that the liberties of the press should be guarded, and that the people should watch with critical eye, and oppose every step which looks toward the infringement of these liberties. We can not believe that press censorship is the object of the President's recommendations; but it could be so used, and would be.
Just Got Sick and Died
"Just Got Sick and Died."—A New York World reporter asked Mr. Alfred Farlow, chief Christian Science publicist, regarding Mrs. Eddy's death, "She just got sick and died then?" and Mr. Farlow replied, "That expresses it thoroly; she just got sick and died." Mrs. Eddy "was in error—ill, that is—for eight or nine days." She died of pneumonia. That is about the way many common people die, altho Mrs. Eddy's death is not generally called death. Of course, in this it is not Christian, for Jesus said plainly of a beloved disciple, "Lazarus is dead."
Not Encouraging
By Editor
Not Encouraging.—Brazil in 1890 changed from an empire to a republic without bloodshed. A mutiny or strike in her own navy has cost about 200 or more lives to suppress and the city of Rio Janeiro is declared in a state of siege. A fortress has been demolished and the city shelled. Most of the war-ships have been sent to sea commanded by government officers under sealed orders, and the two great new Dreadnoughts are lying in the harbor with the breech-blocks removed from their guns, and placed at a safe distance under government control. Loyalty seems a scarce article.
The Cost of French Administration
A statistician who has been examining the public records of France from 1800 to 1900 gives the following figures as the approximate cost of the French administration during the last century: "Under the consulate and the first empire the State coach was run at a cost of $23,000 an hour. Under the restoration the cost was $23,800. In the time of Louis Philippe it was $30,000. Under the republic of 1848 the cost had risen to $34,400. In the second empire the rate was $49,800. In the third republic — the last years of the nineteenth century — the hourly sum was $92,600."
The Chief Justice
The Chief Justice.—Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Edward D. White of Louisiana, recently advanced to the chief-justiceship by President Taft, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate, is a Roman Catholic. John Temple Graves, Washington correspondent of the Hearst papers, says that Justice White “was highly indorsed by the leading dignitaries of this great religious body.”
