p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 22. (6/3/1913)

World’s Sunday-School Convention in Zurich

From the 8th to the 15th of July, the world's Sunday-school convention will assemble in Zurich, Switzerland. 221 countries are to be represented. About a hundred of these countries will send personal delegates; the others will send their flags. It will be one of the largest conventions of Christian people ever held.

Balkan Peace Delegates Arrive in London

On May 19 the peace delegates from the various nations, who are to settle the difficulties in the Balkans, were welcomed to London by Sir Edward Grey. They have a big task before them. The Balkan allies are manifesting a disposition not to be satisfied with what is offered them by the diplomats, and it is feared that there is still further trouble ahead.

California Legislature Adjourns Without Sunday Law

By Editor

The California Legislature has finally adjourned without passing any Sunday legislation. Strong attempts were made, however, to secure laws of this character; and in our next issue J. F. Blunt, the secretary of the Religious Liberty Association, who spent considerable time in the state capital while the lawmakers were in session, will give us quite a full account of what was attempted.

Sunday Work and Divine Law

The last Sunday of the session of the California Legislature was spent by the lawmakers in very strenuous work. They were seeking to pass the large number of bills that were still pending, and otherwise dispose of the business of the session by the time appointed for their closing. One of the ministers in Sacramento is reported to have preached a vigorous sermon against this "Sabbath desecration." In announcing his sermon, he said it would "not be exciting, but there will be some roasting. I intend to show up the disregard for divine law." It would be interesting to see how this gentleman could show any disregard for divine law in working on Sunday. The first day of God's creative work was, of course, the first day of the week, now known as Sunday. He rested on the seventh day of the week, now called Saturday. He gave also a divine law—the only document, by the way, that was ever written upon this earth by the hand of the Creator Himself. That law specifically says that "the seventh day is the Sabbath." There is no divine law for any change, or for any other weekly rest day than the seventh day of the week. If we would cling more closely, in our Christian teaching, to what the Bible says, and not follow so much after the traditions and sentiments of men, there would be far more power in our work. With the large number of Bibles that there are in the world, and with the great opportunity for reading the Sacred Book, any one ought to know that there is no divine law against working on Sunday. Sunday observance is a counterfeit of the true observance of the Sabbath of Jehovah. A great many people do not know this, but they might know it if they would read their Bibles.

California’s Anti-Alien Bill

Governor Johnson of California has finally signed the anti-alien bill which has created so much discussion between this country and the Japanese during recent weeks. All sorts of rumors are in the air, but those who reside here in California do not find any special uneasiness or particular concern over the measure. All are confident that the good sense of the American people, as well as the leaders in Japan, will enable them to avert any clash at arms. Plans are on foot by one class of men to use the referendum to nullify the bill by rescinding it, and another class will circulate a petition to use the referendum to nullify the bill by substituting another that will be much more drastic. Japan and China both, during recent years, have been turning their eyes very strongly toward the civilization and higher ideals of the West, and particularly to the United States. It is to be hoped that such a wise course will be pursued as will not create ill feelings that will retard this progress among these Oriental nations. There is one thing that should be considered very carefully in connection with the whole discussion, and that is the missionaries that are in these fields from the various church organizations of this country, as well as those that are operating there from other nations. Our missionary interests should not be lost sight of in the work of straightening out differences that pertain only to the occupancy of land. If we are enlisted for the progress of this world, there are duties in this sphere of missionary operation that must not be overlooked.

Divorce Cases in Open Court

The lord chancellor of England has decreed that there shall be no more secret divorce cases under his jurisdiction. His affirmation is that “every court of justice in the land is open to every subject of the king, and the court has no power to sit otherwise than with open doors.” There is some expression of the sentiment that it would be well to have such a ruling in this country; for if many of the divorce cases that are held behind closed doors had to be brought out into the open, the individuals would be restrained from entering their suits for divorce. The securing of divorces should not be made easier, but more difficult, and that seems to be the plan upon which the lord chancellor of England is working.

Observing Flag Day

Saturday, the 14th of June, will be the 136th anniversary of the adoption of the flag that has become the emblem of this nation. That day will be observed as Flag Day throughout the country. Schools and public places, as well as private individuals, will be called upon to display the great ensign of America which has filled so many hearts with hope and joy through the freedom for which it stands. No nation in all the history of the world has adopted and stood for such principles as are represented by "Old Glory," the "stars and stripes" of the great American nation. It is never a task for any true American citizen to show his appreciation and respect for this great emblem of liberty.

Illinois Minimum Wage Bill

The Illinois Senate has a vice commission which has introduced a bill in both houses of the legislature, which creates a permanent commission of three members that is to study into the question of wages and arrange for a definite minimum wage that shall be paid to persons employed in factories, stores, etc. Until this commission shall have begun its work, the bill provides for a minimum of $7.50 a week, and any violation of the law will lay the offending individual or firm liable to a fine of $25.

Transforming Washington Slums into Parks

By Editor

Mrs. Woodrow Wilson has recently made a tour through the slums of the capital of our nation. She has, through competent counsel, prepared bills to be introduced into Congress that will transform two of the worst slums in the capital into parks. This is certainly a worthy enterprise, and we would that the slums in all our cities could be transformed into such beauty-spots as are proposed for these sink-holes of iniquity that infest Washington.

Dynamite Opens Panama Canal to Pacific Waters

On May 18, by the explosion of 32,750 sticks of dynamite, a lot of earth was cleared away that permitted the waters of the Pacific to flow into the Panama Canal. This does not mean, however, that the canal will be ready for ships right away; but it was an important stroke in the work, for it will enable certain waters from the rivers adjacent to be disposed of so that the work can be greatly facilitated.

Correction to Conference Delegate Allocation

The secretary of the Western Oregon Conference, Brother C. E. Olcott, writes us that a mistake was made in the copy sent us announcing their annual meeting. The announcement said that each church was entitled to a delegate for the organization and an additional one for every ten members. It should have read "for every fifteen members" instead of ten.

Air-Ship Collision in Germany

On May 14, in some air-ship maneuvers in Germany, two of the craft collided when about sixty feet in the air, and several of the occupants were killed.

Typhoon Strikes Philippine Islands

One of the worst typhoons in years struck the Philippine Islands on May 12, causing numerous deaths, and wrecking a great many small steamers.

Photo from the Yerkes Observatory. The Nebula in Orion. This great opening shown as light in the photograph is many millions of miles across. Many of the stars that appear are larger than our own sun. It is one of the beautiful jewel caskets of the heavens.