Gives the Bible evidence upon the interesting topic of the earth made new, as the inheritance of the saints. 82 pp. Price, 10 cents.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
"A New Peril in Japan."
By Editor
IN the Missionary Herald for May there is an interesting article, under the above heading, by Rev. J. H. Pettee, of Okayama, Japan. He asserts that Japan is so eager to be called a Christian nation that there is danger of her adopting some "low, loose species of nominal Christianity," even the Catholic or the Russo-Greek, if she cannot find any other that will receive her readily enough. He says that a private letter received "speaks of a movement among the local officials favoring a nominal acceptance of the least exacting form of Christianity, the Roman Catholic." He says a "mere assent to the name of Christian is regarded as sufficient evidence of a change of heart and life," and that "the most progressive, secular paper in the Sunrise Kingdom has openly advocated baptizing the Emperor and a few of the nobles, that Japan may be considered a Christian nation." It is said, "Christian blue is the fashionable color and not Buddhist brown; therefore let us put on a blue coat." And in closing, Mr. Pettee adds this weighty sentence: "The last thing a true Christian desires to see in Japan is, Christianity proclaimed the State religion." True, or in any other country, but that is just what the National Reform Party proposes to establish in this country, and to create here the identical condition of affairs as that into which Japan is about to plunge. And when it shall be done, that will be the darkest day that Christianity has ever seen in America.
"Falsifying the Balances by Deceit."
By Editor
THE following extract from an editorial in the Christian Union, entitled, "A General Indictment," should be read in connection with the article on page 343 of this paper, entitled, "Why Look for Honesty?" As the Union justly says, this tacit recognition of corruption is far more alarming than are the open defalcations. It indicates an undermining of all moral restraint. When there is so general a yielding to dishonest methods, it is no wonder that people are not more ready to accept the great truths of the Bible:—
"Corrupt methods have become so common that many men, otherwise honorable, have ceased to feel any repugnance to them, and even go so far as to employ them when other means fail. The president of a great corporation said not long ago that nothing discouraged him so much as the ready acquiescence of men of high business standing in the use of corrupt methods. In dealing with corrupt men, he said, it is coming to be generally understood that corrupt methods are justifiable. This gentleman described a meeting of a large corporation, at which one of the directors called attention to the fact that the property of the corporation was seriously threatened by the action of the common council of a certain large city. There was some discussion as to the means by which the threatened danger could be averted. After some debate one outspoken director said, in effect, that it was useless to waste words; that, as they all knew, there was only one way of meeting such cases, and that he proposed the appropriation of a certain sum of money to be used at the discretion of the attorneys of the company. Everybody present understood what this meant; it meant bribery, and nothing else. Two or three of the leading directors present were also leading men in business circles, in society, and in church life. They arose, put on their overcoats, and were about to withdraw. The presiding officer called them back for a moment, with the question, "What shall we do with this?" "Well," said one of them, "I suppose our property must be protected." And with this remark they went out of the door. It is this tacit recognition of corruption which is far more dangerous than the purchase of boards of aldermen and the passage of bills through legislatures by the use of large sums of money."
Camp-Meetings for 1886.
By Editor
IOWA, Des Moines, ....................... June 9-15
NEW YORK, Batavia, ...................... " 9-15
WISCONSIN, Madison, ..................... " 16-22
MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, ................. " 23-29
MAINE, Houlton, ......................... " 22-29
DAKOTA, Huron, .......................... June 30 to July 6
CANADA, P. Q. ........................... July 1-6
TEXAS, Cedar Hill, ...................... Aug. 10-17
"Fierce."
By Editor
A FEW days ago the Chronicle closed an account of a brutal prize-fight in a neighboring city, which was witnessed by a large crowd of people, by saying that a force of police, under the direction of the chief, "kept good order," and that the whole affair was "decidedly satisfactory," "with the exception of the shortness of the time which the contest lasted." In this fight one of the brutes beat the other almost insensible, and then, after knocking him into his chair, "pummeled him, apparently without any resistance." And the only unsatisfactory thing about the whole affair was that it did not last long enough. Meanwhile the "guardians of the peace" kept "good order."
Take another case: There has just been a six-day race in New York between a horseman and two bicyclists. There was not much enthusiasm over the contest until the horse caught his foot in an obstruction, and turned completely over, throwing the rider headlong, and severely injuring him. An account of this matter was given under the heading, "An accident adds interest to the race in New York."
The apostle says that one of the features of "the last days" is that men will be "fierce." And then he immediately adds, "despisers of those that are good." The two are inseparable. Does anybody say that religious persecution would be an impossibility in this country? When men are becoming so brutalized as to find delight in scenes of cruelty and bloodshed, persecution of those who are good is the most natural thing in the world. It is not simply that a few alleged men pound each other nearly to death, but that "respectable" business men crowd to witness the affair, and newspaper men find it to their pecuniary interest to give them the most prominent place in their columns. The land is being filled with violence, a sign that the end is not far off.
Tobacco and Prohibition.
By Editor
A SHORT time ago we referred to the practice of saturating tobacco with alcoholic liquors, and now comes the strongest possible confirmation of our statements. There was a local option campaign made lately in Richmond, Va. In opposition to it and in favor of the whisky interest, the State, a Richmond journal, made the following argument:—
"If Prohibitionism, imported from New England, triumphs at the polls next Monday, the liquor traffic in this city closes for two years at least.
"Alcoholic liquor is used in the manufacture of tobacco. The manufacture of tobacco is the most important industry in Richmond. Rum and brandy are the liquors used by tobacconists in mixing their flavorings. The rum not only separates the particles of flavoring matter proper, but rum itself also imparts a nice flavor to the tobacco. No substitute can be used for alcohol. Take away rum from the tobacco trade and every tobacco factory would be closed.
"Now, should the Prohibitionists carry the election, our tobacconists would have to send North for their rum and brandy. This tobacco-liquor is a large item in the wholesale trade. It would be unlawful for a man in Richmond to sell liquor to a tobacconist; therefore he must slip away to Baltimore, New York, or Boston for it."
If any fact were needed to justify the unqualified condemnation of the use of tobacco, this argument has certainly furnished it. And it also shows that no man can be a consistent Prohibitionist and use tobacco. We say, let genuine, consistent prohibition prevail throughout all the land and all the inhabitants thereof.
Ministers Who Return to Tobacco
By Editor
The "two Sams," Jones and Small, did one good thing in Chicago, for which we gave them credit. They quit using tobacco, and said they would never again let that practice stand in the way of any man. "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb," etc. See 2 Peter 2:22. We learn that they have both gone back to the filthy habit. We wait to hear what effect this will have on their work. If their congregations do not say to them; "Physician, heal thyself," we take it that they like to be amused more than anything else. For our part, we have no use for a smoking or chewing minister. We cannot believe that a man who is "pure in heart" can be filthy in body.
National Reform and the Third Angel’s Message
By Editor
The latest Christian Statesman reports that the Church of the United Brethren has put a National Reform preacher into the field, and will support him; and that it is expected that one from the Methodist Episcopal Church will enter upon the National Reform work, on the same terms, about September 1, 1886. Thus the event is rapidly shaping which is to lift the Third Angel's Message to its place of mightiest power. Who is ready?
The Poem of Belteshazzar’s Feast
By Editor
THE Christian at Work asks some of its “better informed” readers to give to a correspondent the authorship of the poem on “Belteshazzar’s Feast.” With much interest we await the answer. For our part we are free to confess that we never knew that Belteshazzar ever had a feast of anything but pulse and water. And much less did we suppose that that feast had ever been celebrated by the poetic muse.
Elder Waggoner Leaves Oakland
By Editor
THURSDAY, June 3, Elder J. H. Waggoner left Oakland for the East. We are glad indeed that he has so far recovered from his late prostration, as to be able to travel, yet almost sorry that it is so, for we knew that as soon as he had gained sufficient strength it would take him from us, perhaps permanently. For nearly eight years, since Nov. 21, 1878, Elder Waggoner has been the editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. We are sorry that now we must suffer the loss of his present counsel and management. But we know that his thought, his sympathy, and his prayers, will ever be with us and for the prosperity of this mighty agent in the cause in which he has labored so long. We are thankful for this, and also that we shall have the benefit of his correspondence. We devoutly hope that God may graciously add unto him strength and years to devote to the work in which so much of his life has been spent, and crown him at the last with everlasting life and eternal glory.
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By Editor
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