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TO CONTRIBUTORS.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a purely missionary enterprise. For this reason it has felt free to ask for contributions from its friends. It pays nothing for contributions, either prose or poetry, unless solicited by the editor, and then the fact is stated when the articles are asked for. This is a plan rarely followed, but sometimes deemed expedient.
Articles Desired.—Those which set forth in the Spirit of Christ the great saving truths of God, short and to the point. It is better to treat one important truth clearly, in a short article, than many points vaguely in a long one. We desire no caustic, critical productions, which might minister to personal pride or pleasure, but can not save souls.
How Prepared.—Write plainly, with typewriter or ink, with wide space between the lines, to freely admit of editing, writing of subheads, etc. Write on one side of the sheet only. Sign the name to the manuscript, as it becomes oftentimes separated from accompanying letter. Anonymous contributions are not used, whatever their merit. If the writer does not wish his name to appear, let him furnish a pseudonym for the public. But we wish the name.
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NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to "explain" a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid," also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.
Hymns and Instruments in Worship
The Reformed Presbyterian Synod which was recently held at Cedarville, O., heard a peculiar report from Rev. F. M. Foster, who had been appointed a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference of Missions. It was to the effect that he had not been able to attend, because hymns were sung and instrumental music was used at the meetings. The delegate who had been appointed to the Presbyterian Council reported that that body, in deference to the scruples of his church, had foreborne to sing hymns and use instruments. As to the use of instruments in God's service, the psalmist (whose psalms are used exclusively by the Reformed Presbyterians) also says: "Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance [margin, "pipe"]; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs; praise Him upon the loud cymbals." Ps. 150: 3-5. As to the use of hymns in worship, part of the exhortation in Paul's letter to the Ephesians is to "be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Eph. 5: 18, 19. Also, in Col. 3: 16, he expresses a like sentiment: "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." We have no evidence that the inspiration to sacred song writing expired with David.
Outlook.—Does It Represent Christ?—Plague Riots at Cawnpore—Protestantism in France—Hard Lot of the Doukhobors—Exploring the Antarctic—Allies in China but Enemies in America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9
Missions.—How the Greeks Observe Easter, HERVY A. HENDERSON—Our Gospel Service at San Quentin Penitentiary, CHAS. T. EVERSON—Variations in Mission Life in China. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11
The Home.—Demoralization of the Young Man, W. S. SADLER—Natural Rights, F. SMITH—How a Boy Succeeded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13
International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons.
Errata.—In the report of donations to the India Famine Fund, in the SIGNS of August 1, Mrs. E. P. Naylor should have been credited with $1.00 instead of 50 cents, and H. J. Taber with 50 cents instead of $1.00. There was also a failure to credit Mrs. Julia Field with a donation of $5.00.
The Seventh-Day Sabbath and Creation
A Jewish lady essayist well observes: "If the Jews are simply a human society for the purpose of keeping one day in seven as a day of rest, then any day we choose to select will answer the purpose; but if we are a divinely-inspired people, with the sacred mission of preserving the knowledge of the true God and proclaiming His unity, then no day will serve but the seventh, which He appointed as a 'memorial of the work of creation,' that one sentence being a complete declaration of faith in the power and goodness of the one God." And that is just as true of every worshiper of the Creator of the heaven and earth.
A Good Sentiment
A Good Sentiment.—While advocating "The Twentieth Century Forward Movement" in mission work, organized by the last Methodist Episcopal General Conference, Dr. E. R. Dille, of this city, said:—
"We want something in our religious world which shall not be made and operated by machinery. Whenever the power of the church begins to decline, its machinery becomes stronger, until finally its whole moral sentiment is swallowed up by the very oppression which it has created. How much machinery did they have in early days? Jesus did not order His disciples to manufacture a religious machine, but He ordered them to go up into the upper room, and there gain personal power and the Spirit of the Lord. We do not want machinery in the church, for there is nothing more appreciated by the devil than that. We will not go at this work with a big parade and celebration. We shall go about it quietly and like a soldier who is on duty and who is always ready for orders. We shall do personal work for it; it is that which counts. We are pledged for the saving of souls, and it is by personal work that we are to accomplish our aim."
When the regular biennial Sunday-law agitation in California comes on next winter, we hope the doctor and his clerical co-laborers, in urging such "machinery," will remember what he has said here about the evidence of the decline of church power.
MAN AND HIS DESTINY.
By Editor
A SERIES of articles on Life and Immortality will soon be published in the SIGNS. In fact, the first is now in type. These articles will consider the question from a somewhat different point of view than any hitherto published, and we believe will commend themselves to those who may be prejudiced against what is sometimes called "soul-sleeping." The Purpose of Life, Its Conditions of Continuance, the Reasonableness of God's Plans Concerning Man's Existence, and Life or Death of Man's Choosing, will be various phases of the subject as presented. These articles will also answer many questions pertaining to man's nature and destiny, which we are continually receiving.
Christian Nations and Heathen Barbarity
"Household words" of the present day include such expressions as these: "Christian nations," "Christian civilization," "civilized nations," etc. Here is what the head of one of the "Christian nations" has to say to his soldiers on the eve of their departure to China:—
"If you meet the enemy and you defeat him, give no quarter, make no prisoners. Whoever falls into your hands will be doomed. Just as a thousand years ago the Huns, under their King Etzel, made for themselves a name, which to this day is a mighty one in tradition, so may your appearance make the name Germany be feared for a thousand years in China, so that never again a Chinaman may dare look askance at any German."
If such an edict were to go forth from the emperor of China, or the sultan of Turkey, or the shah of Persia, or the ameer of Afghanistan, or the chief of some African tribe, words could hardly be found in the "civilized" vocabulary to express the terrible barbarity of the heathen.
The United States in Prophecy
In prophecy the United States is represented by a "beast coming up out of the earth" with "two horns like a lamb." Other great nations in prophecy are represented by beasts coming up out of the sea. The sea, or waters, are prophetically explained to mean people, or multitudes. So, while other nations have gained ascendancy by conquest, the United States just grew into a great power worthy of special notice in prophecy because of its peculiar origin and characteristics. It can still be said of its material resources that they come up out of the earth. "In one year," says a statistical authority, "this country raised over 2,000,000,000 bushels of corn; in one year it raised more than 612,000,000 bushels of wheat, 809,000,000 bushels of oats, 27,000,000 bushels of rye, 16,000,000 bushels of barley, and 13,000,000 bushels of buckwheat, and on the farms to-day are over $2,000,000,000 worth of live stock. With all these totals, which no country has ever equaled, and which none can approach to-day, we have fully one-third of our area still uncultivated, with great deserts in the far West that are to be made green pastures and fertile farms by irrigation."
American Homage to Rome
American homage to Rome is not all such a new thing as is sometimes supposed, altho its more recent growth is so strikingly conspicuous. The Santa Fe, N. M., Gazette of Nov. 25, 1854, contains this bit of news:—
“About 11 o’clock Saturday morning Company H, United States Dragoons, in full uniform, paraded the plaza preparatory to marching out to meet the bishop and escort him into town. They left town about noon, accompanied by a numerous cavalcade of gentlemen, composed of officers, military and civil, citizens, etc. At the Arroyo Hondo they met the bishop, whom they received in due form. The procession entered the plaza at about 3 o’clock, at which time a salute of artillery was fired by the military in the barrack yard. Arrived in front of the church, the dragoons formed into line and saluted the bishop as he passed in, when ‘Te Deum’ was offered up, which occupied half an hour, after which he remounted, and, in the same manner as he entered, was escorted to his place of residence. . . . In the evening a banquet was given to his eminence, at which the officers, civil and military, were present.”
Slightly Misinformed
Slightly Misinformed.—The Catholic Mirror, under the heading "Horrible Depravity of a Minister," says:—
"The death-bed confession of Rev. Mr. Gibson, pastor of the Baptist Church of San Francisco, in which a few years ago two young ladies were killed, a crime for which Theodore Durrant was hanged, reveals a frightful state of moral depravity on the part of a minister of the Gospel."
Now all of that would be very appropriate were it not for three things: (1) Most people thought that it was quite clearly proved that Durrant committed the crime. At least so decided the jury and judge. (2) Mr. Gibson is not dead. He still preaches in the same church. (3) He has made no confession of the murder, "death-bed" or otherwise. It may not be known to many of our readers that Theodore Durrant became a Catholic just before his execution.
The Worst Enemies
The Worst Enemies.—Dr. Hermann Adler tells the Jews some forcible truths, the principles of which are just as applicable to Christianity. He said to some clerical students:—
"The question is sometimes asked, 'Who is the most dangerous foe to Judaism?' The answer is readily given; why, of course, anti-Semites. No! They are not our worst enemies. Bad Jews! Here we come nearer the truth. But the worst enemies, undoubtedly, are bad ministers, who have no real love for their calling, who enter upon it from low and unworthy motives, for the stipend they may earn and the living they obtain, who, in the trenchant words of Scripture, 'Crouch for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread,' saying, 'Put me, I pray thee, in one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.'"
Railway Development in China
"Railway Development in China," by Mr. William Barclay Parsons, chief engineer of the American-China Development Company, in McClure's for July, is of especial interest at this time because of the light thrown on the rivalry of the European powers, and on the political as opposed to the purely commercial aspects of China's railway development.
