[From an editorial in the San Jose Mercury, October 26, 1911]
THERE is no tendency in this country to-day which portends greater menace in American institutions than the growing disrespect for authority. President Taft has frequently, on his present tour, referred to it. . . . Among our student bodies, from the lower grades of the grammar schools to the class rooms of the university, the boy or girl chafes under authority. Teachers and principals are openly blamed for imposing discipline, as tho they had no right to do it; and not infrequently a chit of a boy or a girl defies the teacher in the presence of an entire class, and instead of the others disapproving, the guilty one waxes in popularity.
Radical newspapers attack the courts as tho the men on the bench were a set of ignoramuses without authority or responsibility. These press reflections are picked up by cheap demagogs on the rostrum and flourished with abandon almost startling in its baseness. Thus is the security of life and property loosened, if not menaced; for if our courts are not respected, how can their judgments have weight?
Parents no longer control the goings and comings of their children; and as a result, old-fashioned parental respect is almost a lost virtue. No other abuse contributes so largely to the increase of business in our juvenile courts. Little girls and boys rush off alone and unchaperoned to class parties and entertainments, remaining until late in the night, and starting home either alone or in the company, perhaps, of a strange escort.
Superiors, in positions of trust, are treated with familiarity by those under them, destroying all semblance of authority in the conduct of business institutions. All along the line the tendency to disrespect authority is rampant. Frequently the President of the United States is referred to as "Taft," "Judge Taft," or "Billy Taft;" and when Mr. Roosevelt was President, it was "Teddy," "the colonel," or "the strenuous one." Ten or twelve years ago men in high position were not so treated; and if the next ten years show a proportionate semblance of flippancy toward them, the decline will have found a momentum difficult to check. It is a pity that so many misunderstand the true meaning of freedom. They seem to imagine that all are equal in all respects; that Judge Tom Jones, of the Supreme Court, is no better than any one else, and that it is quite as proper to address him as "Tom" as to call him "Judge." Too many forget that the office one holds should be treated with deference for what it represents, rather than because of the one who fills it. We repeat, that the remedy for this change of things lies chiefly in the home, and secondarily in the schoolroom.
Persia yielded to the demands of Russia to dismiss W. Morgan Shuster, but Russia has gone right on with her war on Persia just the same. The despatches say that she is slaughtering men, women, and children in Persia by the thousand. England's agreement with Russia makes it appear that she is a party to the butchery, and there is in consequence great popular indignation over the matter among the English people. Leading Persians have addressed an appeal to the United States for help to stop the Russian depredations. The two most powerful leaders of the Mohammedan faith now residing at Bagdad have issued an appeal to "the faithful" throughout Persia to engage in a holy war against Russia and England.
A despatch dated December 28 says: "Mongolia, which almost equals China in size, will be proclaimed independent to-morrow simultaneously with the cutting off from China of the vast dependency of Turkestan. Both will pass under Russian influence and will practically become Russian protectorates. Russia at any time will be able to annex them." This will permit Russia to come very near to the sphere of Japan's operations in Asia, and will open the way for Russia to move forward with her trans-Mongolian railway. Truly these are days that are big with movements among the nations, and what will be to-morrow only the all-seeing eye can tell.
In his last audience with the pope before leaving Italy, the newly appointed cardinal John M. Farley was granted many requests in behalf of the clergy and laity of New York which he will announce on his return. It is said also that "the pope spoke in appreciative terms of the United States and of its loyal and zealous Catholic population." The Papacy is becoming more and more open in ignoring the Protestant portion of the population of the United States and claiming it for a Catholic country. If ever there was a time when men should study the history of the Papacy and the meaning of these aggressions, that time is now.
A small boy in San Francisco who had witnessed some burnings at the stake of Indians in a moving picture show was talking with excited enthusiasm about it with some of his comrades while at play, when a little four-year-old girl came upon the scene and was seized and thrown into a bonfire that had been started for the purpose of illustrating his story. The incident has given impetus to the movement of some of the good people of the city who are working to suppress the representation of scenes of bloodshed and violence in the moving picture shows.
It is said that England is trembling on the brink of another great labor war. Millions of workers in all lines are expressing their dissatisfaction. The railways, the coal-mines, the spinning mills, and the shipping interests are all involved. The best of England's statesmen had to use all their powers and wisdom to bring to an end the labor war that broke out last summer, and now she is working just as hard to keep the scenes of a few months ago from being repeated.
The United States claims through her naval experts that she is the second naval power of the world, taking into account the ships she has built and in building. While Germany claims to be the second power because she has ten per cent more tonnage than the United States, the experts of this country point out that we have twenty per cent more gun power than the Germans, and that is what counts in war.
Reyes has proclaimed himself president of Mexico, but it looks as if he would have a good chance to lose his life in making his proclamation good. Doubtless there are many Mexicans who are longing for a return of the more tranquil days of Diaz.
Declaring absinth dangerous to health, the Pure Food Board of the Department of Agriculture at Washington has decided that its importation to the United States shall be prohibited after January 1. This is good.
"Our Little Friend" for 1912
By Editor
The Children's Eight-Page Weekly stands for great, sound principles of goodness and truth, and instils them, by simple lessons and stories, into the minds of its little readers. Uplifting and helpful in the home. We unreservedly recommend it to our readers for their children or their little friends and neighbors. A real treat for them.
The following is a partial summary of the contents for 1912:
Little Missionaries. By a great, big, grown-up boy, Mr. Earle A. Rowell, who says he wants the little readers to know what it means to be real missionaries. He is going to write about some little missionaries he knows who went to a foreign land — all about their trip, and what they did there.
The Log Cabin People. Who are they? How do they live? By Mr. A. W. Spaulding, who has lived and worked among them.
Confidential Talks with Boys and Girls About Themselves. By Aunt Ruth, who loves the children and appreciates their needs. At the "Children's Hour" she will give some interesting talks to the children about the care of their bodies and various other things they ought to know.
LITTLE OUR FRIEND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!
Children of the Bible. Stories about the children of the Bible. Have you ever thought about them? How many were there? What did they do? By Mrs. L. E. Leavett, who has recently written the little stories about "The Willing Heart and Hand Society."
The Great Outdoors and Some of Its Delights and Wonders. By Clare M. Hodges. Interesting stories about outdoor life and what it should mean to us.
Our Feathered Friends. Birds of field and forest, wild and domestic, fierce and friendly.
Dumb Creatures of the World. Stories about many of the four-footed animals, their homes and their ways.
What a Boy Can Do. By Kadmiel. Interesting experiments that boys can try, such as, — Fun with Old Batteries, An Electric Magnet, Secret of a Good Kite, Mystery of the Sailboat, A Sundial for Any Place, A Fireless Cooker for Sister, How to Make a Windmill, A Water-wheel, A Fly-trap, A Pitfall for Mice, etc.
What a Girl Can Do. Interesting experiments for girls. Useful things they can make, including some things they can sell for missionary money.
Modern Missionaries. By some of the King's messengers. What is being done in the great field of missionary work.
Happy Sabbath Days and How to Make Them. How to make the Sabbath day, which sometimes seems long and tiresome to the little folks, a day so full of interest that they will look forward to it all through the week.
Editor's Chats on That Long, Beautiful Word En-deav-or. Talks that will help us grow up to be strong, useful men and women.
That Rainy Day and How I Spent It. Ways in which rainy days may be made full of indoor sunshine for the little folks.
Hurrah for Vacation! By a Real Boy. How to really and truly enjoy a vacation.
Our Bulletin Board. Little notes about things going on in the world that will be of interest to our little readers. Published every now and then.
A Few Efforts from the Church School Children. Little stories written by the children themselves and selected by the teacher for publication.
Pictures, Poems, Lessons, Bible Band, S. P. C. A., Mothers' Helpers, Puzzles, etc.
A Missionary Number, in the spring.
A Temperance Number for the children.
A Prep-a-ra-tion for the Harvest In-gath-er-ing Number, sometime after the summer vacation, with a short program for a children's missionary meeting.
60 Cents a Year; 30 Cents for Six Months.
Commence subscription with the large double Holiday Number in colors.
A postal to the publishers will bring you sample copies.
Our Little Friend, Mountain View, Cal.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
By Rufus A. Underwood
Divine Healing is a new chapter added to the booklet "Christian Science"
By RUFUS A. UNDERWOOD
Notice how it opens:
"Is divine healing a Bible doctrine? Is there need for healing? May we experience a miraculous healing of the body? These questions are clearly answered both in the Bible and by human experience.
"While so-called Christian Science claims to heal, and for this reason the doctrine is accepted by thousands of afflicted people as a panacea for all the ills of life, at the same time Christian Science teaches that there is no such thing as disease, sickness, or death, that no one in reality is sick. All pretended Christian Science healers are enjoined never to admit that any one is sick."
This chapter treats upon Divine Healing from a Bible standpoint, also the teachings of Christian Science upon the subject, under the following headings:
"The World Is Sick"
"Gifts of Healing"
"God Heals"
"The Conditions"
"Oppressed by the Devil"
"The Prayer of Faith
Shall Save the Sick"
"The Remnant Church"
"A Counterfeit Is Proof
of a Genuine"
With this added chapter, "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE and Divine Healing in the light of Reason and Revelation" furnishes the most complete brief exposition obtainable with which to meet the claims of Christian Science with the Word of God. It will be even more appreciated than was the first edition, of which over ten thousand copies have been sold. The new edition contains revisions throughout, bringing it up to date, and divides the study into chapters as follows:
Creation, Sin, Atonement | Christian Science's Claim to Heal
Christian Science and Pantheism | Wresting the Scriptures
Spirits, the Holy Spirit, Heaven | Christian Science and Spiritualism
Spirit and Matter | "Ye Shall Be as Gods"
Divine Healing
It contains 112 pages, and is now bound in two styles: a durable cloth for library, 50 cents; and stiff paper binding, 15 cents post-paid.
Send us the names and addresses—with fifteen cents in stamps for each—of your friends to whom you would like to have us send copies direct.
Order of your tract society, or of the
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Mountain View, California
1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. Calgary, Alberta, Canada 61 Park St. N., Portland, Oregon
Proxy Parents
By Clara Edna Rosecrans
By Clara Edna Rosecrans
CAN any one imagine anything more beautiful than the relationship that exists between parent and child? Poets have sung its praises, artists have used this theme to convey to the world their tenderest thoughts and their noblest ideals.
To this holy tie we owe the nativity of a Saviour, with all the blessings of redemption, and the ultimate salvation of our race.
The joys of childhood, the cradle songs with which our mothers laid our weary heads to rest at night, the little pleasures that were so much to us, that looked so large because we were so small,—all came to us because God gave us parents.
Our Father knew that in loving our parents we would learn to love Him, and that we could best learn from a mother’s lips of a Saviour’s love, and of His sacrifice for the children of men.
But I hear some one say, “There are fathers and mothers who never speak to their children about these things.” True, and it is sad that this is so. From the parents’ lips should come the first lessons; and by the time the child is old enough to go to school, he should have learned enough of the great truths of life to hold him firm amid the rude shocks of temptation.
But in case father and mother are silent concerning those things that effect the child’s eternal happiness, God has provided other means of instilling them into its mind, in what I am going to call, for lack of a better name, proxy parents.
We all know those who have never had the joy of children all their own; who have never felt white baby arms about their necks, nor sweet baby lips raised poutingly to theirs for a father’s kiss.
To these lonely ones has been given the joy of proxy parenthood.
In almost every neighborhood are neglected children who, from inability or indifference on the part of their lawful guardians, are left almost wholly to the care of friends and neighbors, their little minds uncultivated, their little hearts hungry for that love and tenderness which is their right, but which, tho they yearn for and miss, they never receive, because the heart from which it should flow has never felt the softening, subduing touch of God’s love.
From some one these children must receive their due; and how nobly these proxy parents respond to the imposed trust, only the All-Father will ever know. They work and pray and trust on, year after year,15wrestling with God for these beloved children in a spiritual soul travail that is as keen and sharp, well-nigh, as birth pangs.
With what earnestness they watch their progress, with what intensity of desire they seek to point them to the Saviour!
As they watch their hard battles with temptation, their frequent falls, and their trials for something better, they yearn to save them from the results of their own folly; and yet they know that only those who have conquered for themselves can gain a home in the kingdom of God.
Patiently, lovingly, they toil on; and when at last they see their young feet turning into the paths of peace, when they see them coming to the Saviour, and accepting Him as their all-sufficient portion, what joy fills their hearts! Then can they say, as did the noble Gentile apostle, “Mine own son in the Gospel.” I love to read that old story of Paul and Timothy, and there is something very touching in the fact that the last tender farewell of the good old warrior was sent from a Roman prison to this same beloved son.
How beautiful is the thought, that in the life beyond, these same proxy children will in very truth be ours, since the new birth will be the one to be taken into account there.
The care and tenderness with which these self-forgetful ones watch the spiritual growth, the slow, steady development from babes in Christ into strong, sturdy burden-bearers for Him, will there have, in its fulness, the reward that is meet.
But now these children go forth from them, and they see their faces, perhaps, no more in this life; but they know that they are workers for Jesus, and their hearts are glad, trusting them wholly to the care of this loving Friend who never fails.
There is a dark side to this picture, of which I do not like to think, where the beloved child of many prayers apostatizes from the truth, and goes back to the beggarly elements of the world. You doubtless remember that Paul had such a trial as this in the case of Demas (colaborer with Luke, “the beloved physician”), who forsook him in his time of greatest need and trial.
Ah, that is sorrow too deep for words; but we can pray, and hope, and wait, and “Jesus answers prayer.” The good Spirit will surely call them back, and there are other children who must be sought and won, other stones that must be polished and made bright, fitting jewels to shine in the diadem of our King.
So the hungry heart goes forth and clasps its bleeding cords about other lives, and finds its greatest reward in service.
Some day in that other life, we shall know what these noble hearts have done for the world; and like their divine Master, they shall see of the travail of their souls, and be satisfied.
Mountain Grove, Missouri.
HOME AND FIRESIDE
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
“All These Things Are Against Me”
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
HERE are too many pessimists both in the world and in the church. Indeed, there are times in the lives of the most optimistic of us when it seems that the clouds will never break nor the sun ever shine again. But if, at such times as this, we might only remember that God lives and reigns, and that His promises never yet failed and never will, methinks it would be a wondrously uplifting power in our lives.
We have all had strange experiences,—experiences which are given us not to harass and perplex, trouble and annoy, but are only meant by the wise Master Workman to teach us patience and to develop character. How often the very trials that have seemed the sorest at the time, have actually turned to be blessings in disguise! O, I tell you, it is not best that we should see and understand every step of the onward way. We are to learn to walk by faith, not by sight.
Jacob lost sight of this truth when he exclaimed pathetically, “All these things are against me.” What things?—Ah, the saddest thing in the world—trouble of a personal nature—family trouble. Rachel, his beloved wife, had died, and while his heart was still sore, their son, young Joseph, had disappeared as completely as if the earth had swallowed him up. The sorely distressed father had never received the faintest clue, and finally the lad was given up as dead. Meanwhile the awful secret had been buried deep in the hearts of the guilty brethren.
And now, as if this sorrow were not enough for the aged man to endure, gaunt famine visits their country. Their scanty store of provisions is now nearly gone. Finally the brethren decide to make a journey into Egypt.
We know the result, and how this brought about the happy reunion between the afflicted father and his lost son.
And so it turned out that instead of “all these things” being against the aged patriarch, they were really most signal and wonderful providences of God, designed to accomplish that which indeed they did accomplish,—the bringing again of his dearly loved Joseph, as well as the saving of the lives of many thousand people.
A dear little woman said to me the other day: “Last winter, my husband and I prayed God very earnestly to grant us something which to us at the time seemed especially desirable. He did not give us our request. And now we both plainly see that had He done so, it would have been the very worst possible thing which could happen; therefore we thank Him for withholding the one-time coveted blessing.”
It is thus many, many times. We are about to make a journey. Everything is in readiness to start the next morning. Days have been spent in preparation for the trip. But in this last night, we are taken very ill. The boat sails without us—only to founder upon the rocks and sink in mid-ocean. When we read of the terrible loss of life and property, we thank God that we were kept at home; tho at the time, it seemed almost a calamity, and we were inclined to declare that “all these things are against me.”
When Elijah fled for his life from the fury of Jezebel, he went and sat down under a juniper-tree, in the dreary wilderness of Paran. Surely, he thought, “all these things are against me;” let me die now, Lord; take away my life.
Well, neither did the Lord allow Elijah his request; but He gave him something better, better far than the cruel knife of the angry queen.—He took him, alive, to dwell forever in His blessed presence.
When the servant of the prophet Elisha saw the armies of the king of Syria, who had come down and compassed the city of Dothan, he also thought, “All these things are against me,” and cried out with trembling voice, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?”
But the Lord was at work; and out of this seeming disaster, He wrought a great victory; for peace was declared between Israel and Syria.
Instances might be multiplied. Paul the apostle, with his companion, had been thrust into prison. Escape seemed impossible. Their clothes had been rudely torn from their bodies, their feet bound in the stocks, and their backs were bare and bleeding.
But I am glad to say that instead of losing faith and hope in God, and declaring that all these things were against them, these two noble soldiers of the cross prayed and sang praises to God. Then came the earthquake and the miraculous opening of the prison doors, resulting in the conversion of the jailer and his entire household.
O, the ways of God are wonderful! All things in heaven and in earth are His instruments. He is not dependent upon feeble man to work His will; angels who excel in strength wait to do His bidding, and He has promised that no good thing will He withhold from His children, and that He will “perfect that which concerneth” them.
Then, since ALL things shall work together for our good, does it become us to be downcast and embittered, when our God is working out all manner of deliverances and all manner of blessings for us? Instead of crying out in despair and bitterness, “All these things are against me,” shall we not declare with smiling face and grateful heart, “All things are working together for my good”?
Musing
By Nellie M. Sibley
By Nellie M. Sibley
The fire burned low, the house was lone;
But lonelier far the heart
Of her who sat within the house,
From all the world apart.
She sat alone, yet not alone;
Her thoughts kept company;
She thought how in the earth renewed
She would so love to be.
She felt so tired of this old world
Of misery and sin;
She wondered if the gates of pearl,
Would ope and let her in.
It seemed the way looked very dark,
Hope lost, love growing cold,
Until a soft voice whispered low,
"Here is My hand; take hold!"
She knew it was the Saviour, who,
In pity at her need,
Extended her His nail-pierced hand,
Her wayward steps to lead.
So, when your path the darkest seems,
And you know not what to do,
Just trust yourself in Jesus' hand;
He'll help you to get through.
O, let Him mold us as He will,
By His own loving hand;
Then let us work, and hope, and pray,
To gain that heavenly land.
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NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
Notice is hereby given, to all whom it may concern, that the Annual Meeting of the members of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, a corporation organized and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the State of California, will be held at the office of the Association on Villa Street, in the Town of Mountain View, County of Santa Clara, State of California, on Monday, the 22d day of January, A.D. 1912, at 10 o'clock A.M.
The election of Directors for the ensuing year, the advisability of amending, repealing, or adopting new by-laws, or such other business as may be necessary or proper to be transacted, will come before the members of the Association.
By order of the Directors.
H. W. COTTRELL, President
H. G. CHILDS, Secretary.
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Notice is hereby given to whom it may concern that the Annual Meeting of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, a corporation organized and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the State of California, will be held at the office of the Company on Villa Street, in the Town of Mountain View, California, on Monday, the 22d day of January, A.D. 1912, at 10 o'clock A.M.
By order of the Directors.
H. W. COTTRELL, President.
H. G. CHILDS, Secretary.
The January Number of Life and Health
By Editor
Send 10 cents for sample copy to-day.
During January, 1912, all subscribers for one year will receive in addition to the 12 numbers for 1912, the beautiful October, November, and December issues free of charge,—15 months for $1.00.
It Will Tell You
How to keep well, how to get well, how to treat diseases at home, and how to sleep, cook, eat, and dress for health.
Questions Answered
Through this new department, just opened, the editor will personally answer all reasonable questions concerning your physical needs and troubles. This department alone will be well worth more than $1.00 a year.
Sample Articles
The Benediction of the Snow.
How Two Mothers Cared for Their Babies.
Significance of Feeble-Mindedness.
Health Work in Milwaukee.
Report of Minneapolis Vice Commission.
What Is True Success?
Paper-Bag Cookery.
Value of Gluten Bread.
Drink and Higher Education.
Other valuable articles on temperance and social problems.
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Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
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