p. 12 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 31. (8/12/1913)

Earlier text: Recognition—History Making in China

Christian Parents and the Word

By Ellen G. White

By Mrs. E. G. White

THE Lord, through an apostle, admonishes parents, "Provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." The word of God is your guide, Christian parents. Depart not from it to gratify any impulse of passion or of affection.

If parents desire to teach their children self-control, they must first form the habit themselves. The scolding and fault-finding of parents encourages a hasty, passionate temper in their children. Love and justice should stand side by side in the government of the household. Let prompt obedience to parental authority be invariably enforced. God has given parents their work, to form the characters of their children after the divine Pattern. By His grace, they can accomplish the task; but it will require patient, painstaking effort, no less than firmness and decision, to guide the will and restrain the passions. A field left to itself produces only thorns and briers. He who would secure a harvest for usefulness or beauty must first prepare the soil and sow the seed, then dig about the young shoots, removing the weeds and softening the earth, and the precious plants will flourish and richly repay his care and labor.

The work of parents is continuous. It should not be laid hold of vigorously for one day, and neglected the next. Many are ready to begin the work, but are not willing to persevere in it. They are eager to do some great thing, to make some great sacrifice; but they shrink from the unceasing care and effort in the little things of everyday life,—the hourly pruning and training of the wayward tendencies, the work of giving instruction, reproof, or encouragement, little by little, as it is needed. They wish to see children correct their faults and form right characters at once, reaching the mountain top at a bound, and not by successive steps; and because their hopes are not immediately realized, they become disheartened. Let all such persons take courage as they remember the words of the apostle, "Let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Satan has prepared his snares for parents, tempting them to extravagance in dress, to an unnecessary outlay of time and money in the preparation of food, and to needless indulgence in many other forms. The demands of fashion so fully engross the time and attention that little room is left for communion with God, self-discipline, or the training of children. Thus too many parents let slip from their shoulders the responsibility of family government. It requires earnest heart work to repress evil tendencies, strengthen weak principles, develop good and lovely traits of character, and direct all the powers of mind and body in the right channel. Fathers and mothers, will you not lay hold of your work with energy, perseverance, and love? Sow the precious seed daily, with earnest prayer that God will water it with the dews of grace, and grant you an abundant harvest. The Son of God died to redeem a sinful, rebellious race. Shall we shrink from any toil or sacrifice to save our own dear children?

By precept and example, let the young be taught reverence for God and for His word. Many of our youth are becoming infidels at heart, because of the lack of devotion in their parents. The law of God should be the law of the household. Let fathers and mothers kindly and patiently instruct their children, both from the inspired word and from the book of nature, leading them to understand the character of God. Let them show in their own lives that they are continually seeking to know and to do His will. To secure the approval of their heavenly Father is the great motive to be ever kept before the minds of children. The service of God should be presented, not as an irksome task, but as a precious privilege, by which they may enjoy an honored, useful, and happy life here, and infinitely greater honor, usefulness, and joy in the life hereafter.

God has permitted light from His throne to shine all along the path of life. A pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night, is moving before us as before ancient Israel. It is the privilege of Christian parents today, as it was the privilege of God's people of old, to bring their children with them to the promised land.

Things, Not Persons

By John Hall

KEEP clear of personalities in conversation. Talk of things, objects, thoughts. The smallest minds occupy themselves with persons. Do not needlessly report ill of others. As far as possible, dwell on the good side of human beings. There are family boards where a constant process of depreciating, assigning motives, and cutting up character goes forward. They are not pleasant places.

One who is healthy does not wish to dine at a dissecting table. There is evil enough in man, God knows. But it is not the mission of every young man and woman to detail and report it all. Keep the atmosphere as pure as possible, and fraught with gentleness and charity.

He Doeth All Things Well

By Lorelle Damon

She sang it o'er and o'er again: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!" With spirits light, and heart aglow, She raised on high the one sweet strain. And when that heart was crushed with pain, She sang it, spite of heavy blow, Tho silver voice was faint and low — For love had fled, and hope was slain.

And still she sings it to her God, As quietly, from day to day, She follows where the Master trod, Tho cruel thorns strew all the way. And when she joins the blood-washed throng, I know she'll chant the old, sweet song. — Lorelle Damon.

Children

By John Adams

TRAIN them to virtue; habituate them to industry, activity, and spirit. Make them consider every vice as shameful and unmanly. Fire them with ambition to be useful. Make them disdain to be destitute of any useful knowledge. Fix their ambition upon great and solid objects, and their contempt upon little, frivolous, and useless ones.—John Adams.

Bread as a Vehicle for Conveying Diphtheria

At a recent meeting of the Académie de Médecine of Paris, Dr. René Moreau, health physician at Sens, reported a small epidemic of diphtheria traced to a common source, a baker who transmitted the infection along with his bread sometimes to persons whom he did not see. This epidemic attacked eleven persons and caused four deaths. It was not restricted to a single commune, but extended to three at a distance of from two and two fifths to three and three fourths miles. This spread was all the more surprising since diphtheria is not frequent in either of the three communes, and has not been mentioned since 1905. Altho several bakers furnished bread throughout the affected districts, all the patients, without exception, were patrons of the same baker, whose wife and son were the first attacked. The woman had contracted diphtheria when on a trip to a district where there were at the time several cases of the disease. After the bread was taken from the oven, it was placed for a time in the bakery, which connected with the sleeping-room of the baker's wife and son. Disinfection of the bakehouse and the houses of the patients put a stop to the epidemic. Altho this manner of spreading disease may be rare, says the Journal of the American Medical Association, it is worthy of consideration when an epidemic springs up among persons who have no apparent mutual relations, and when no other cause can be discovered.

Every Drop in the Cup of Happiness

A YOUNG man in New York has recently inherited $30,000,000. He says: "I am going to drink every drop in the cup of happiness that life can offer me, but no one is going to be shocked by what I do, or how I do it." The young man will find that $30,000,000, or any sum, for that matter, is not sufficient to buy happiness. Happiness may not be purchased. The individual who has not found the Christ of the Bible, knows nothing of real joy. True happiness may only be found with those who know they have laid hold on eternal life, and eternal life comes only through the Christ of God.

How vain are the pursuits of those pleasures that money can buy! A little floating germ that may only be seen through the microscope might meet this young man and make him a life-long invalid, or possibly bring him to a very early grave, and his money could not prevent it. But there is happiness that may be had without money and without price. Hear this divine call:

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? harken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isa. 55:1-3.

Being and Doing

By Alice Cary

True worth is in being, not seeming: In doing, each day that goes by, Some little good,—not in dreaming Of great things to do by and by. — Alice Cary.

—— ★★ ——

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FIRESIDE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

By C. C. Lewis

Twenty-four courses are prepared, in which three hundred and ten pupils took work last year. Courses in public speaking, Latin, and Hebrew will be added in September. The "Mothers' Normal Department," long contemplated, will then begin its work under the direction of Mrs. C. C. Lewis. Two courses will be offered at first — one for young mothers, covering the care and training of the child until five years of age; the other giving specific directions to mothers for conducting kindergarten and first grade work during the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. If other grades are now needed, write us about it.

The new descriptive catalog, giving full information about courses, method, terms, etc., will be ready in July. All who are interested should write for a copy at once, addressing, The Fireside Correspondence School, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

C. C. Lewis, Principal.

Questions and Answers

By Editor

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Sabbath

By Editor

The Apples of Gold Library tract No. 45, "Historical Facts and Incidents Relative to the Sabbath and the Sunday," presents the most vital points from history in chronological order. They are the facts that one longs for in his study of the Sabbath. Single copy, post-paid, 3 cents; $2.00 a hundred. This office.

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By Editor

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Temperance and True Happiness

By Editor

The Lincoln-Lee Legion (a department of the Anti-saloon League, the Rev. Howard Russell, Westerville, Ohio, general secretary) is pushing a total abstinence pledge as follows: "I hereby enroll with the Lincoln-Lee Legion, and promise with God's help to keep the following pledge: Whereas the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is productive of pauperism, degradation, and crime, and believing it is our duty to discourage that which produces more evil than good, we therefore pledge ourselves to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage." It is a good thing. Pass it on.

He who tries to be happy will fail. Happiness does not come in that way. He who forgets himself in doing good and in making others happy will find happiness himself. There is no other way. To seek for happiness for ourselves alone is selfish, and the selfish can not be happy.

Honor to the Dog.

A despatch comes from Paris, that an American woman, formerly of New York, is in mourning for her favorite dog, which, when it died, was placed in a temporary grave, but is to be transferred to a private tomb, and a sculptor has been engaged to design a monument for the "dear departed." The other item is from Bridgeport, Connecticut, where another wealthy woman is in mourning for the death of her pet Japanese toy poodle. The body of the animal was embalmed, and with the ceremonies usually attending the burial of the dead, a handsome silver coffin was lowered into the grave beneath the castle walls. How much better it would have been if this money could have been expended for the children that are poor and needy! We need not wonder that souls with children starving for food, or dying of heat, are affected when they read such items as the above.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 12, 1913

Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Revised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American Standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.

For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.

Missions Department Omitted

By Editor

Inasmuch as our chief Outlook article is on the great mission field of China, we omit our missions department again this week.

Physiologic Signs of the Times

By Editor

We present next week the first part of Dr. Thomason's article on “Physiologic Signs of the Times.” This article is replete with important and vital facts, alarming facts, seen from the outlook of an observing Christian physician. It is worth reading and preservation.

Foreign Mission Seminary Record

"The Foreign Mission Seminary Record on Missionary Preparation" is a document to be studied by Christian young men and women. Especial help is given in the training of young ministers. Are you interested? Write Prof. M. E. Kern, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.

A Distinctive Auto Danger Signal

J. C. Runkel, of Newark, New Jersey, is endeavoring to lessen the number of auto victims by a proper, distinctive warning signal. Connecticut has recently passed a law providing that the auto danger signal "shall produce an abrupt sound sufficiently loud to serve as an adequate warning of danger," and the signal shall be used for this purpose alone.

China’s Provincial Revolt

It is said that the revolt of some provinces in China is near collapse, and that the central government has the situation well in hand. A despatch to the London Daily Telegraph says: "The Chinese are loud in their denunciations of the Japanese, whose assistance is held to have been mainly responsible for the success of the revolt." But the Japanese government insists that it has acted with honor. It is a bad mix up.

In the Balkans

By Editor

In the Balkans.—It is hoped that the Balkan peace conference which at this writing is expected to meet in Bucharest July 29 will settle things. In the meantime, war goes savagely on. The Greeks refuse an armistice or truce to Bulgaria, and are pressing on, driving the Bulgarians back. The powers seem to come to no agreement in checking Turkey. The Turkish government disavows the action of its army in entering old Bulgaria, and will rest upon Adrianople. Massacres and atrocities are reported from both Bulgarians and Turks. This old earth is far from peaceful.

Bible Circulation

By Editor

Bible Circulation.—It is good to know, in the midst of the infidelity of the world, that the British and Foreign Bible Society for the last year circulated the astonishing number of 7,899,000 volumes of the Scriptures. The Bible Society of Scotland for its last year records a circulation of 2,359,985 volumes, and the American Bible Society 4,049,610 volumes, a total of 14,308,595 volumes circulated by the English-speaking people all over the world. Besides this, there is the commercial circulation of the Scriptures by the great Bible presses, Oxford, Nelson & Sons, the International, and others, and the continental Bible societies. Thank God that the Bible goes, notwithstanding all that men may seek to do against it. A little note from the American Bible Society tells of the circulation of the Bible in Bulgaria. One of the great factors, it tells us, in the awakening and progress of the Bulgarian nation, has been the circulation of the Bible.

"The last fifty to sixty years this wonderful book," says a native Bulgarian teacher, "given us in our native tongue by the British and Foreign Bible Society and the American Bible Society, has been freely distributed among our people by thousands, and has been read with eagerness by thousands."

Bulgaria needs the prayers of God's people at the present time. Humbled, broken, and dejected, with worldly ambitions thwarted, now is a good time to bring before them the hopes of the ages, that never can be thwarted.

San Jose Camp-Meeting

By Editor

The camp-meeting in session at San Jose is indeed a great meeting and a feast of fat things. The foreign missionaries present—Pastors W. A. Spicer, R. C. Porter, R. W. Munson, C. L. Butterfield—and strong men from various parts of California are feeding the people. The conference sessions have been instructive, harmonious, and progressive. Pastor E. W. Farnsworth was reelected president of the conference, and Claude Conard was chosen to succeed himself as secretary and treasurer. Associated with the president are the following committeemen: J. W. McCord, B. E. Beddoe, E. W. Parlin, S. T. Hare, H. H. Hall, C. W. Irwin, E. J. Hibbard, and H. G. Childs. The first Sabbath was a great spiritual meeting, and many souls yielded themselves to Christ. But more next week.

Help Out of Darkness

Help Out of Darkness.—Reader, there come to you sometimes dark hours, dark days, dark nights of sorrow, and trouble, and perplexity. Do not doubt God, tho the darkness comes. Some of the beautiful things of this world are wrought in darkness. The photographer gets his first impression on the plate by light, but he immediately closes the shutter, and the picture is developed in a dark place. Sunlight would destroy it. So God frequently shuts us up in a dark room in order that the solitude may develop new phases of beauty in our own life and character, in order that there may be impressed upon us some one or more of His graces of spirit. Only let us submit ourselves to the Master Artist.

It Is Not Death.

Christ's coming is not death, tho so often referred to as such. Christ is the Life-giver, not the death-bringer. That belongs to the devil. Jesus came that "He might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. 2:14. His absence meant death to Lazarus. "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died," sobbed one of the sisters after the other as they met Jesus. John 11:21, 32. Did our Lord comfort them in the thought that death was His coming?—Nay; He wept with them, but also declared for their comfort, and for the comfort of all mourning friends thereafter, "I am the resurrection, and the life." Verse 25. Death came because of sin; but Christ has conquered sin, and in that conquered death, and at His coming all who are His shall live. John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

Connection With God

It is not man's connection with the people which makes him a soul winner, but his connection with God. It is not living constantly in the limelight of the public which keeps a man strong and growing in God, but it is his constant intercourse with Heaven, and his willingness to be used in whatever way God designs. Some evangelists of not a little note have been the most unspiritual of men, while other men whose lives have been passed in obscurity have won many souls to Christ and helped many others by their pen.

Stand With God

There is no guess so in God's word and work. Tenon fits mortise, the dovetail fits the groove. Men may fail and prove false, but God does not fail. If men fail, their failure will demonstrate His truth tho the men may be lost. If men prove true, they become not only elements in the fulfilment, but partakers of the grace and power of His promise. Stand with God in the fulfilment of His word.

The Binghampton Fire

It is said that the awful fire in Binghampton, New York, which cost from fifty to seventy-five lives, was of incendiary origin. Who but a fiend could do such a deed!

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

Our Bible Band ............................ Page 2

Question Corner ............................ Page 2 4147—The 400 and 430 Years; 4148—Swine's Flesh and the Mouse; 4149—Covering for the Head; 4150—The Oil Used; 4151—The Treading of the Wine-Press

General ..................................... Pages 3-7 Primitive Man .......................... George McCready Price Theosophy—Its Teaching ..................... J. A. L. Derby The Witnessing of God in His Church ............. The Editor

Poetry ...................................... Pages 7, 14 The Way Is So Delightful! .............. Llewellyn A. Morrison The Glory That Awaits .................... Worthie Harris Holden The Son of Righteousness ................. Mrs. Lillie Richardson Pharaoh's First-Born .................... Delwin Rees Buckner The Latter Rain of Righteousness ........ Pauline Alway-Anderson Thoughts of Home ............................. Mrs. M. C. Sollars Reformers ......................................... E. C. Silsbee He Doeth All Things Well

Bible Studies of Vital Import ............... Pages 8, 9 Present-Day Conditions Minutely Foretold Why We Believe the Bible His Coming and Results—Joyful Tidings— The Power of God—Nearing the Station

The Outlook ................................. Pages 10-12 Recognition—History Making in China A Statesman's View of the World's Progress A Murder Syndicate to Abolish War Notes

The Home .......................................... Page 14 Christian Parents and the Word ............ Mrs. E. G. White Children—Things, Not Persons—Bread as a Vehicle for Conveying Diphtheria—Every Drop in the Cup of Happiness