Earlier text: THE LAND OF THE PYRAMIDSIS PHYSICAL RESTORATION ALWAYS A MIRACLE?
By David Paulson, M.D.
THERE is no remedy which in itself possesses healing power. It is the power of God alone that heals, that power which takes a child and develops him into a full-grown man; but the child must co-operate at every step in order to secure this transformation. Likewise there is something for the chronic invalid to do if he wishes to have the miracle of health wrought in him. Frequently the boy wishes that he did not have to pass through the long, tiresome process of growing into manhood. That God could save him this period of growth is evident from Adam's case and the raising of Lazarus; yet under ordinary circumstances God recognizes that it is best for the boy to grow up instead of reaching manhood by some shorter process. So invalids, knowing what God could do, and refusing to recognize that God will do what is the best for them, frequently clamor for immediate recovery. They do not consider the good that will come to them in being compelled to co-operate with God in order to secure health, thereby learning something that will enable them to go out and warn others how to "cease to do evil" and "learn to do well." A boy goes out in the cold, frosty air of a winter morning, and after taking vigorous exercise comes in with a famishing appetite; for the cold atmosphere, coming in contact with his entire body, has whispered something to a thousand nerve-endings. Every cell and nerve-center is aroused, and the blood comes surging to the surface, as is shown by the bright red glow of his skin. The boy has unconsciously co-operated with God, and has gained a certain amount of transformation as the result. When the chronic invalid takes a cold hand rub, or a cold mitten friction, or perchance a cold towel rub, or possibly a cold spray, followed in either case by such vigorous rubbing that the surface fairly glows, then he has secured the best possible physiological substitute for the boy's morning exercise in the cold air, and the result is an onward step in the march toward health. But nowadays it is becoming fashionable for boys to ruin their healthy appetites, from the inside by the use of cigarets, and from the outside by lying in bed until breakfast is ready in the morning, and loafing around during the daytime. As a consequence, there is coming onto the stage of action a generation of dwarfed, puny, miserable examples of manhood, simply from the failure of the boy properly to co-operate with God, so that he could reasonably expect to have the miracle of growth performed for him. So thousands of invalids persistently refuse to deny a perverted appetite; and they have more confidence in some artificial tonic or stimulant which has been purchased at the corner drug-store than they have in a vigorous application of cold water from the well in the door-yard, which, when properly adapted to their case, physiologically, arouse the healing forces which reside within the body. Often the patient spends more time worrying because God does not heal him instantly, than he spends in finding out how to "cease to do evil" and "learn to do well." It is always God that does the healing. Ps. 103:3. No so-called "healing agent" possesses any virtue only just to the extent that it co-operates with, or clears away the obstructions in the way of, the healing power that God placed in every man when He breathed into him the breath of life. Just to the extent that man succeeds in cooperating with that power, the process of restoration is shortened. God does not delight in the suffering of any of His creatures, and we may be sure He does not permit one moment of suffering that either is not tending to correct us, to bring some dross to the surface, or to teach us some valuable lesson whereby we may help others out of their difficulties. Sometimes a prayer is more beneficial than all other treatment; it will bring the invalid into harmony with the Infinite, and will clear out of his mind some rebellious thought or feeling that is lurking there. In other cases the only answer God could consistently give to the prayer would be to correct some physical rebellion in the patient's habits of life, and make him willing to take such steps as would place him in harmony with the healing power within him. Earnest prayers should always be mingled with whatever is done for the patient's recovery, and then we may absolutely leave the results in God's hands; for even in physical matters the human agent can only sow; God must bring the harvest. Tell me about the Master!
I am weary and worn to-night;
The day lies behind me in shadow,
And only the evening is light,
Light with a radiant glory
That lingers about the west;
My poor heart is aweary, aweary,
And longs, like a child, for rest. Tell me about the Master!
Of the hills He in loneliness trod,
When the tears and the blood of His anguish,
Dropped down on Judea's sod;
For to me life's seventy mile-stones
But a sorrowful journey mark;
Rough lies the hill country before me;
The mountains behind me are dark. Tell me about the Master!
Of the wrongs He freely forgave;
Of His love and tender compassion,
Of His love that is mighty to save;
For my heart is aweary, aweary,
Of the woes and temptations of life,
Of the error that stalks in the noonday,
Of falsehood and malice and strife. Yet I know that, whatever of sorrow
Or pain or temptation befall,
The infinite Master has suffered,
And knoweth and pitieth all.
So tell me the "old, old story,"
That falls on each wound like a balm,
And my heart, that was bruised and broken,
Shall grow patient and strong and calm.
—Selected. NOTES BY THE WAY.
By Editor
IT was a fresh, sweet morning when the Santa Fe Overland steamed out of Point Richmond for Chicago, July 27, 1900. We were to journey over its new route, opened July 1, from Point Richmond, across the bay from San Francisco, through the green hills and valleys of the bay slope, joining the Valley Road at Stockton, the Southern Pacific over the Tehachepi Range to Mohave. All these lines, the new Point Richmond branch to Stockton, the Valley Road down the San Joaquin Valley, the Southern Pacific line through the Tehachepi range to Mohave, are all now a part of the Santa Fe, Atlantic, and Pacific system. By this great artery of commerce and travel, through vestibule trains, with tourist and standard sleepers, run from the great city of the Pacific, San Francisco, to the great city by the lake, Chicago. It is an excellent road, its equipment is good and constantly being improved, and its employees are courteous and accommodating. Such ought to be the case in every avenue of travel, and we have noted but few exceptions to it on the Santa Fe system. The journey across was quite trying, the heat while crossing the desert being intense; yet, apart from the dry, dusty outside, it was not much greater than during the days following in the great Middle West, when the sun constantly ranged among the nineties, well up to the century mark, in the shade. But the contrast was great between the arid deserts of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the great, green fields of irrigated Colorado, and the heaven-watered prairies of fertile Kansas and States farther east. It was a grand, glorious picture of Heaven's benefits to humanity. All through Kansas, from west to east, there stretched north and south as far as the eye could reach, great fields of wheat, now in numerous stacks or in process of threshing, hundreds of acres of potatoes, and great expanses of beautiful, fragrant, waving maize. One Kansas gentleman told the writer that Barton County alone would yield more than five million bushels of wheat, and one other county, somewhat larger, would probably exceed that. The maize crop is hardly up to the average. The potato crop is abundant, running from 225 to 300 bushels to the acre. Other Middle Western States, as Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan, we passed through largely in the night. But in a general way, while some of the crops are failures, others are abundant. For instance, we do not know when we ever saw such fields of maize (Indian corn) as are growing in Ohio. One man jocularly remarked that some people would credit the good crops to the "administration," but we felt that many more would give the credit to "Nature," with a capital initial, apart from God. Others will take all God's blessings as a matter of course, thinking not of the Giver. But all are from God. "The sea is His, and He made it; His hand formed the dry land." It is His sun that shines upon the earth; it is His rain, even from the "river of God," that refreshes all. There are blessed spiritual lessons and life in all God's gifts and bounties. There are also instructive and solemn lessons in their withholding. ON our way East we stopped off one day at Denver, and ran up to Boulder, about thirty miles distant. Here we met a dear brother. Here, also, in this beautiful city, is located Colorado Sanitarium, under the charge of W. H. Riley, M.D., and able assistants. The sanitarium is full of patients and guests, and cottages are also generally filled. It was in marked contrast to our visit of several years ago. Then but a few patients were present, and these mostly tuberculous. These patients are not now the most numerous, and are generally isolated from the others: This is a good change, because it means, to our mind, better success for the institution, and not the less help for those suffering from the great white scourge—tuberculosis. Colorado Sanitarium should have the earnest, hearty, enthusiastic support of all true health reformers in the whole Rocky Mountain region. It certainly will be appreciated by those from abroad who seek its benefits. IN Chicago we had the pleasure of meeting President Allen Moon, of the International Religious Liberty Association, and C. P. Bollman, one of the editors of the Sentinel of Liberty. This paper, which has stood for the equal rights of all men, of its enemies even as its friends, is now located at 324 Dearborn Street, Chicago. It has been a faithful sentinel under its name American Sentinel, and it will not be less so, we believe, under its new name. It should have a greatly increased circulation. The people, one and all, need the warnings it is faithfully giving, the great principles of truth and liberty it is enunciating. It is published weekly, at only $1.00 per year. A FEW hours' trip to Grand Rapids, Mich., a great furniture center, to visit relatives near and dear, and then on to Battle Creek, Mich. Here we stopped over the Sabbath, speaking a short time in the Tabernacle Sabbath morning, from Rev. 14:6, 7, on the necessity of knowing the positive truths of the great, last, threefold message. A baptism of several followed, adding a few more units to this great church of 2,000 or more members. The present pastor is A. J. Breed, who has as assistants W. H. Saxby and I. D. Van Horn. The Sanitarium is full to overflowing, in main building and auxiliaries. It has recently met with loss in two fires, its nut-food plant and the old bakery. The latter was quite fully insured. FROM Battle Creek, to save time and expense, we wheeled away Sunday morning on an excursion train to Toledo, $1.00 for the round trip, the latter part of which we did not take. Monday we reached Mt. Vernon, O., where, at the academy, were assembled the heads of our various colleges and academies, to confer over the exceedingly important educational work among us. These are Professors E. A. Sutherland (Battle Creek College, Michigan), W. T. Bland (Union College, Lincoln, Neb.), M. E. Cady (Healdsburg College, Cal.), E. L. Stewart (Walla Walla College, College Place, Wash.), J. W. Loughhead (Mt. Vernon Academy, O.), Frederick Griggs (South Lancaster Academy, Mass.), C. C. Lewis (Industrial Training Academy, Keene, Texas), C. W. Irwin (Graysville Industrial Academy, Tenn.), B. E. Nicola (Oakwood Industrial School, Ala.). The one who had charge was Pastor Geo. A. Irwin, president of the General Conference, and with him Pastor L. A. Hoopes, secretary, and Pastor S. N. Haskell, whose instruction in the Word has been greatly appreciated. There were also present Professors Clymer, Welch, Crisler, and others of Mt. Vernon. THE principal topics of discussion have been Text-books for Schools, Courses of Study, Methods of Teaching, School Government and Discipline, Industrial Work, Relation to Public Schools, Home and Church Schools, and Financial Management. As these topics were freely discussed, as opinions were compared, as principles were made plain in reviewing the education of the past, hearts were brought together, differences were minimized or abolished, and men saw eye to eye as they had never seen in the past. In the matter of public schools there was no denunciation. They are what they are, ranging through all grades in both method and efficiency. But they are schools of the world. In the nature of the case they must be. It is not their province to teach religion, or to build character, save only as the intellect contributes to that end. But it was felt that Christians, those who are looking for the soon second coming of Christ, must have a higher aim in education—an aim not one whit short of the eternal salvation of the child. For that they must labor; for that they must build; for that they must educate. The important thing is character. To build character in God's way of righteousness, by God's means, in which the Bible and nature are pre-eminent factors, by the power of God's life, the Holy Spirit, must be the aim of truly Christian schools. To that they are consecrated, and we look for glorious results in the year to come. Let all labor to that end, and the year 1900-01 will mark the beginning of a short but glorious era in the preparation of a people for Christ's closing work and glorious appearing. WHAT there was in the beginning of this conference we do not know; but at its close there was present no popish desire to make universal any one man's idea or method. No uniform course of study was adopted. It was generally agreed as natural and logical what subjects should be studied in the schools; but the particular arrangement was left to each school faculty, to adapt their own surroundings and material to their own field and fiber. Some of the younger schools at first desired that the conference should mark out a general course, but it was not thought wise to in any way restrict the working of the Holy Spirit upon each faculty. No one man or faculty can comprehend all of God, or all that God wishes to reveal. If they could, it would not7 be divine wisdom; for God scatters abroad His gifts. He delights to distribute them among His followers, so that men may not take His glory to themselves. Our schools have been good in the past, but this meeting bodes a much more blessed future. MT. VERNON ACADEMY is in a beautiful spot, two and one-half miles from the city. On the north and west is a strip of beautiful woods, within which well up three cool, clear, soft-water springs, the water of which is properly piped and sufficiently preserved. This wood in part is a portion of the campus. The remainder is composed of tilled lands, on which are growing corn, vegetables, and fruit, and a green, grassy hill, on which stand the academy buildings. It is an ideal place for a school, quiet and beautiful, and far from the "madding crowd." We were made welcome both by Professor Loughhead, the principal, and by Mrs. Maxson, the efficient matron. May God bless the Mt. Vernon Academy. M. C. W. THE Lord gives us a plain, straightforward promise in regard to supplying our needs. He says, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Then He emphasizes it, saying, "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matt. 7:7, 8. As compared with the willingness of earthly parents to give good gifts to their children, He is much more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Luke 11:13. In view of these plain, positive promises, why is it that we hear so much complaint of unanswered prayers, of petitions apparently unnoticed? The answer is found in the failure to appreciate what it means to ask of the Lord. Asking of God means more than the mere childish whims of, Give me this, or, Give me that, just for temporary gratification. When the ordinary beggar goes from door to door with his stereotyped plea for aid, his sole purpose is to supply personal temporal wants. He has no thought of first honoring the householder with the donation he may receive. Now James tells us that this is why we fail in receiving the things for which we ask of the Lord: "Ye ask, and receive not; because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" ("spend it in your pleasures," R. V.). The poor man wants more means, that he may be in easier circumstances; the sick man wants relief, that he may feel better; the one about to die wants restoration, because he fears to die, or because there is something of a temporal nature that he wishes to accomplish; or perhaps there has been some well-known duty neglected, and he imagines he would be more faithful if spared a little longer. Another wants mental qualifications, or even spiritual gifts, that he may be able to hold desired position or compete with others. Simon Magus offered money that he might be able to lay his hands on people and cause them to receive the Holy Ghost. Apparently this would be for the good of the people, but Simon's real purpose was selfish—he wanted to increase his own power and influence. The promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you," is no more positive than are the conditions. The Lord said to His disciples, "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7. It ought not to be deemed necessary to fortify such a plain declaration of the Lord, or any other declaration of His, for that matter; but that there may be no mistake, and to give the word "if" in this promise its full force, we add the alternative assurance, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 28:9. Another condition of asking—which is practically the same, tho differently expressed—is the possession of the abiding Spirit. God knows what is best, and answers accordingly. So His apostle tells us that "the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Rom. 8:26, 27. Then the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you," depends upon the petitions being according to the will of God; and the petitioner must have the Spirit abiding in him in order that his prayer may be the mind of the Spirit, which alone can know the will of God. Mark, the Spirit must abide, else there is no assurance of always asking what you will "and having it done unto you;" for what you will must be also the mind of the Spirit and the will of God. It is not enough that it be something that will add to your personal comfort or gratify some personal desire. Even the apostle Paul was denied freedom from personal suffering (2 Cor. 12:7-10), and on another occasion he was obliged to leave Trophimus, a fellow-laborer, at Miletum, sick (2 Tim. 4:20). A further condition, pertaining directly to the home life, is implied in the counsel given by Peter to husbands: "Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered." 1 Peter 3:7, R. V. Not the least important condition, however, of asking of the Lord, is absolute faith. "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24. When the disciples expressed surprise because a fig tree was withered at the word of Christ, He said, "If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." Matt. 21:21. The apostle James reiterates this promise in these words: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Unless the Spirit of God abide in the heart, as it did upon Jesus (John 3:32), the individual will surely be wavering; for it is impossible to serve God without the guidance of the Spirit. Now James adds, concerning the wavering one, "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Then let no one be deceived in the matter of asking of the Lord, nor blame Him if prayers are not answered as desired. "God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7. The wavering man who deliberately sows some of the time to the flesh, "turning away his ear from hearing the law," and tries to sow part of the time to the Spirit by a formal profession, has no promise that his prayers will receive any attention whatever. Those who have requests to make of God, on the strength of the promise, "Ask, and it shall be given you," should take heed to the conditions. We are not to live on part of the Word of God, but "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Overreaching.—When Satan undertakes desperate measures, he always overreaches. "The Word of God endureth forever," and it "will not return unto Him void." Whatever the errors of foreigners in China, whatever the errors of missionaries, the desperate cruelty of native "uprisings" is always satanic, and they are designed by the enemy of souls to shut off the last message of mercy to a dying world from entering and doing its work in that ancient kingdom. Whatever the errors of the "allied powers," whatever their real purpose in forcing open doors to China's resources, there is no doubt that God will overrule in such a way that the "everlasting Gospel" ("the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus") will reach every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. See Rev. 14:6-12. The desperate attempt of the enemy, through the spirit of "patriotism," to entirely shut out the Gospel of Christ will no doubt be the means of opening the door more effectually for the truth as it is in Jesus. "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will," in order to carry out His work. It is when there is something decisive being done, or about to be done, in the cause of salvation, that Satan tries to thwart it by some great demonstration to divert the attention of the people, and to make the Lord's work impossible. He stirred up even the church to put Christ to death; but that only paved the way for the triumph of the resurrection. So his desperate effort to keep the true Gospel out of China will surely end in a triumph for the truth. Will those to whom the Gospel message for the last days is intrusted be awake and ready as opportunity is presented? While "the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time," know also that "a short work will the Lord make upon the earth," and He will "cut it short in righteousness." The "distress of nations, with perplexity," is one of the prominent signs of the Lord's soon coming. Luke 21:25-28. G. God Our Refuge and Strength
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; tho the waters thereof roar and be troubled, tho the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, and that right early." POLITICAL RELIGION.
By Alonzo Trevier Jones
It is rather astonishing to hear from one as well informed as the Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, who has recently been traveling in Russia, that he "found as much religious liberty in Russia as there is in New York or Washington." There may be as much religious liberty in Russia as some professed Christians would like to see in New York and Washington and all other parts of the United States. In fact, certain States of these United States have shown about the same regard for the religious liberty of certain Christians as we know exists in Russia; and many conscientious Christians are now under the condemnation of the laws of this country for daring to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. But this is not in accordance with the principles which the founders of this government intended to establish in America. Mr. Talmage was not arrested for worshiping God as his conscience dictated while he was in Russia; but, nevertheless, it is a fact that had he attempted to get a congregation around him and teach to them the tenets of the faith he professes, he would have been sent out of the country or transported to Siberia, as many another has been treated. The testimony is overwhelming in support of the charge of Russia's religious intolerance. All faiths, except that of the national established Greek Church, are practically under the ban in that country. Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Jews have suffered at the hands of the government because of infringement upon the patent rights of the national church in Russia. Within the past three years 10,000 persecuted Christians of Russia have sought asylum in America, and thousands of others, too poor to emigrate, suffer mutely in their home country. The world knows this, and the victims of the intolerance feel it. We have heard ministers of the Gospel in a kindly, persuasive way state that there was no religious intolerance in America—"that is, none to amount to anything; very few States where there had been any persecution, and was doubtless none now." But some who have been members of chain-gangs, and those who have been inmates of prisons, could give strong evidence to the contrary. The Greek Church is intensely jealous of other faiths. So was the Roman Church jealous of other faiths, and made her jealousy manifest in the same way. So is every State church a jealous church, and so will it always be, and America has only to consult her own history to find an unenviable record in this particular; and still the clamor for religion and government grows louder with each succeeding year. The intolerance we condemn in Russia is the direct product of political religion, and a political religion is what thousands of Americans are laboring for at the present time, through various organizations. It is a national religion, or political religion, that teaches the Mohammedan to regard the blood of a murdered Christian on his hands as a passport to heaven. It was to set an example for the world that America flung such teachings to the winds, and established a government upon the equality of man and the rights of conscience. It is a sad spectacle to see the sons and daughters of such fathers going back to the pagan principle of a national religion, and extinguishing the light which this nation was commissioned to hold up to the world. "Keep the Church and State forever separate," is the wisest admonition a statesman ever gave to the children of the founders of this republic. That there is less religious liberty in this nation now than its founders designed, is true; that it will continue to grow less with the increased mingling of politics and religion, is also true. C. M. S. IN THE REALM OF THE TRUST.
By C. M. S.
THE trust spirit has taken hold of the times with a grip of iron, and no large industry is free from it. Confederacy for self-protection in the accumulation of wealth, inspired by an abnormal craving for money, is the actuating principle in all trust organization. Greed has run wild, and sees in every human being a rival, a competitor, from whom it must be protected. That this craving is abnormal is shown in the fact that it is utterly impossible for thousands to-day to use legitimately, or for their own requirements, their massive incomes. The income of one individual, for instance, is $164,383 for every day in the year; and this man is said to be a confirmed dyspeptic, living mostly on crackers and milk. In spite of nature's object lesson to him of his inability to use his income for himself, the price of the commodity handled is forced higher in the market, and the income of the poor drawn upon to pay it. The trust spirit is not confined to the manufacturing industries, but the increased price of trust-produced articles has inspired the agricultural interests with the thought that they must form trusts or be forced to the wall and driven to penury. Accordingly, the farmers' trusts are forming to keep up the price of farm produce; fruit-growers are forming trusts to keep up the price of their products. Labor unions are moved by the same spirit,—a confederacy for self-protection in the acquirement of money. To the man of the world it seems necessary. He sees an approaching fire, and he will fight it with fire. He sees a menace in the attempt of a greedy man to gain wealth more rapidly than he ought by reducing the wage of those who labor for him. He will form a confederacy to protect the laborer, by keeping up the price of the laborers' work. But this is meeting the world with the weapons of the world; and there never was a time in the history of this world when that spirit prevailed as it does to-day. It is the age of confederacies in every walk of life. But God says, "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid." But what should the people do at such a time as this?—"Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Isa. 8:12, 13. The location of this is shown by the fact that at that time Spiritualism would be a menace to the church, and the law of God would be proclaimed anew among the disciples. That time is now. And the Word is warning the people of this time against the spirit of worldly confederacy. The spirit of the trust and the union is not the Spirit of Christ. It is not the spirit of turning the other cheek to the smiter, but of smiting him who has smitten you. It is not the spirit of willingly going twice the distance you were compelled to go, but of compelling the other man to go with you twice the distance you went with him,—the spirit of compelling an adequate return for the coat demanded and a liberal rental for the cloak if he required them both. This spirit is the spirit of modern "business;" but it is not the Spirit of Christ. It is the spirit against which Christ is now warning you and me; but it is the spirit, nevertheless, which rules the world to-day. Let us heed the warning, and beware of the confederacy of sin. STRONG DRINK AMONG WOMEN.
By C. M. S.
THE Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America held its annual convention at Philadelphia on August 9. From the report of the third vice-president we quote the following startling statements:— “With the virtues, purity, patience, and endurance of local women drowned in the punch bowl and wine glass of wealth, and the beer can of poverty, God pity our children, our homes, and our country! At many afternoon teas, intoxicating liquor has taken the place of tea to a noticeable extent. There is where the young debutantes acquire the taste for stimulants. It is added to by the wines served at their dinners. Soon they do not care to eat unless they have their cocktails first. The rest follows as a matter of course. “There are many women from the higher classes of society going to the House of the Good Shepherd voluntarily to get away from liquor. The number is increasing all the time, the ratio having gone up frightfully in the past few years. Treatment for the drink habit among the ‘Four Hundred’ is now almost as common as treatment for coughs and colds. “Many women acquire the taste for alcohol from9 cologne, which they drink constantly, and which contains 96 per cent. of alcohol. They drink all the essences which are for toilet use—compound tincture of lavender, for one thing. They also drink the essence of cinnamon and cloves. A well-known physician has written us that this habit is growing to an alarming extent among women. “Peppermint drunkards are usually women. They are very difficult to cure. When drunk to excess, the peppermint preparations have the same effect upon the system as has absinthe. The habit of drinking light wines among the women of the upper class and of beer among those of the lower classes is growing. They all meet on the common level of whisky, however. Radical measures are needed to check it. “Who can contemplate the future without a shudder if this and other vices which undermine and destroy the life-bearing force of the world are permitted, not only to exist, but every opportunity and means for developing them receive the sanction of society and the protection of law?” After reading her report, the lady stated that the picture was not overdrawn, but that the conditions were worse than painted, if possible. Certainly the picture is dark enough. With the source sapped, weakened, and polluted, the stream of life can hardly be expected to be clear, healthy, and robust. With the vital forces of the system drained, what strength of body can the mother expect to impart to her child? With all the better feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of the mother drowned in beer and wine, what kind of moral force can the child expect to exert in the world? And perhaps the most alarming fact in connection with this matter is that the conditions are growing worse instead of better. We are in the days that were to be “as the days of Noah,” when the people of this world would be given up to “eating and drinking.” And that condition of things, according to the words of the Saviour Himself, was to be a sign by which His followers might know that His coming was right at hand. Matt. 24:37-39. This sign is not a local one. It is seen all over the world. There is more liquor of all kinds drunk now than ever before in the history of the world, more gluttony, more heaping together of treasure, more vice and sin of all kinds. We are in the time of the end. C. M. S. THE ENTANGLEMENTS ABOUT CHINA.
By T.
UNDER date of August 13 the New York World, speaking of the effort that the czar has made for the solution of the Chinese situation, said, "He has seen the obvious,—once a foreign force is seated there, dangerous complications and attempts at partition are all but inevitable." And then, making some further comments upon the situation, the editor of the World further asks, "Had we not better act on Russia's sensible and timely hint and begin to disentangle ourselves?" For the last day or two the despatches indicate that this country is about to combine with England in landing troops at Shanghai, in order, as stated, to protect commercial interests. The great slogan of the present time among the nations is "protecting commercial interests." In the interest of commerce how many millions of dollars are being used up in war, and how many thousands of lives are being destroyed! Is commerce worthy of so vast an expenditure of men and money? And would it not be better to get along without amassing such vast fortunes, thus saving the lives of the people and preventing these terrible entanglements into which the nations are so rapidly going? But we fear that no suggestions that can be offered will be of any benefit in the way of abating the great military fever that is raging in the world. Our only hope is in pointing men to the great and unmistakably clear prophecies that tell the meaning of these things. In thus doing we may be able to attract the attention of those who still have faith in the good old Book, and lead them to the refuge the Lord has prepared against the storm that Satan is bringing upon the world. The rescue of the ministers from Peking is only the beginning of this Chinese difficulty. Already complications are arising among the powers, and there is no forecasting what the end may be, except that we know this one thing, that these are the preliminary steps that are preparing the nations for the "battle of that great day." The shadow of Armageddon's great battle can already be seen coming over the world. Do not make the mistake that so many are making in these times, but understand the situation definitely, and prepare for the great issue. A NEW THING IN HISTORY.
By Uriah Smith
FROM the preparations that Germany is making in reference to the affair in China, it is quite evident that she is preparing to demand a satisfaction that China can never give in money. Every expression of the German emperor and of the German general who has been chosen to direct the operations of the allies in China, makes this apparent. Germany has never been modest in her previous demands for indemnity in any part of the world, as witness the indemnity exacted from France in 1871, and her acquisition of Kaiou-chau as indemnity for the murder of a German missionary in China. Now, with her minister murdered, her flag insulted, her legation destroyed, and her subjects virtual prisoners for several weeks in the legation of another friendly power, and with her missionary subjects murdered in many parts of China, it may be readily understood that she will ask for nothing small. With England's determination to control the Yang-tse district, and with Russia now pushing her southern boundary far below the Amur River, and with the French people and press demanding substantial value in Southern China, and with Italy, Austria, and even Portugal and Belgium preparing to make energetic demands, a peaceful settlement of the present difficulty is hard to foresee. Nevertheless, a peaceful settlement may be reached, for the angels continue to hold the winds of strife. But even so, it brings us one step nearer that great battle, for China is now the nations' drill ground. Such a spectacle was never seen before in the history of the world, armies of all nations concentrated for the punishment of one nation. It is an experience that is unique in the world, and it is making possible the final alignment of nations for that conflict which will consummate the warrings of earth. When the ripening season comes, the green fruit ripens rapidly. The ripening season for this world is upon us now. It is a time also of rapid ripening of Christian character. Events move rapidly. "Behold, the Judge standeth at the door."