p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 4. (1/23/1912)

Crime and Sin.

A San Francisco daily quotes a clergyman as saying, "Crime is the violation of any law either divine or human." Not so. Crime is the violation of human statute law. Sin is the violation of divine law. It ranges from "missing the mark," coming short of God's requirements, to bold rebellion and unrepented wickedness. Crime and sin may be in a general way synonymous. That is, stealing is a sin against God, an infraction of divine law. It is also a crime, a violation of statute law; but there is this difference: the crime pertains only to the overt act; the sin involves thought and motive. To covet that which belongs to another is sin; but it is not a crime.

America’s Liquor Consumption

The great "Christian" country of the United States drank, in 1910, the enormous total of 2,045,300,000 gallons of liquor, according to Government statistics. There is no people on earth that "guzzles"—the word is needed—so much.

Socialism and Religion

"The Appeal to Reason" (Socialist) is authority for the statement that "when the great struggle came between the Republican Party standing for capital and property and the Socialist Party standing for labor the capitalist system would find its most powerful ally in the Catholic Church." And now the struggle is strong between them, and somewhat acrid. The Appeal declares that "the priests who in the name of religion attack us for attempting to destroy religion are the aggressors, and that whenever we have discussed the subject at all it has been when we have been forced to do in self-defense. The Socialist Party explicitly declares that it is a political movement, and that religion is a private matter with which Socialism has nothing to do." But it is nevertheless true that many advanced Socialists make their religion their politics and their politics their religion, and so are antagonistic to all religion which does not approve of the religion of Socialism. Isn't this about the facts of it?

Justice and Legal Technicalities

A dairyman in Indiana was believed to be selling dirty milk and thus violating the pure food law. Some officers purchased some of his milk for purposes of analysis in order to determine the facts. They found the milk to be filthy, and suit was brought against the offending dairyman. When the case came into court the attorneys for the defense claimed that the dairyman had not violated the law, for the reason that it must be shown that the milk was purchased for food, whereas in this case the milk had been purchased for purposes of analysis. On such an absurd technicality the judge acquitted the milkman and allowed him to go on selling his filthy product. Submitting to such decisions is rapidly destroying the sense of justice among the people. It is not the question of what is right, but, How may I win out, right or wrong?

A New Sunday Law Campaign

By Editor

The first gun of a new Sunday law campaign was fired the closing day of the old year at Woodland, in this State, by Dr. G. L. Tufts of Berkeley. No longer do the Sunday law people propose to go to the Legislature, but have decided to petition for an initiative ballot in the fall election of 1912. The first agitation for a Sunday law was begun in Woodland by E. D. McCreary, and therefore the initial meeting for the new plan starts there. Let the issue come before the people. It is well.

The Sabbath of the Bible

By Editor

Read the article on "The Sabbath of the Bible" on page 4. Men talk of the "continental sabbath," the "American sabbath," of "our sabbath" and "your sabbath;" is it not well to inquire about the original Sabbath, the Sabbath of the Bible? And right in connection with this comes the law of God. Read the article, "The Object of God's Law," page 5. Dwell on the character of the God who gave it; think of what it means, and then read the First Psalm.

Interpreting Bible Prophecy

How would you interpret a prophecy of the Bible? Would you fix up a historic hypothesis which might fit a line or so of the prophecy, and endeavor to bend the prophecy to the hypothesis? or would you learn what the prophecy demands in all particulars, and wait a knowledge of its fulfilment consistent with the entire prophecy? Much is dependent upon the message.

Selfishness, Humanity’s Worst Enemy

God is not at enmity to us. He loves us, and longs to save us from the enmity which we have to Him, but which is bound to destroy us. He would save us from ourselves, our worst enemy. The worst destroyer which the world knows is selfishness.

China’s Prospects for a Republic

Mr. Edison thinks that China will be successful in establishing a republic, for the reason that the newspapers will keep up their struggles for liberty until all kings are either driven out altogether or else made mere figure-heads.

Bible Band Readings Appreciated

By Editor

One of our Bible Band members writes: "Have received so much benefit from the readings of the past two years, do not feel that I can afford to give them up."

His Appeal—Our Privilege
Isa. 1: 18, 19
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. — His Appeal—Our Privilege Isa. 1: 18, 19 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.