Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, the dictator of society in America, declares that “like France, we are on the eve of a great revolution,” “unless some great leader, some powerful mind, can save us from what seems the almost inevitable.” She declared that she did not say this as a Socialist, or as a radical, or as a sensationalist, but having a peculiarly clear outlook, she felt that “if our country continues in the way it is drifting, there is grave, awful danger ahead,” and she questions whether “society — the handful of people like myself who live within a certain restricted environment — is not largely responsible for existing conditions.” Continuing, she said, “The newspapers do not tell the serious doings of society; but let a few women lunch together and bring a dog or two along, and the whole country is ablaze with front-page stories of the event.” The really unselfish acts are not told; consequently the mass of people have strong prejudices against society that they ought not to have, seems to be the sum of her remarks. She believes, however, that classes must exist.
Wholesale tobacco warehouse district, on Front Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, during her recent million dollar flood
One of the serious troubles is that “the whole country is almost without standards and ideals, and our traditions are fast going from us.” But the real point in her remarks is well taken, and it is this: “We have lost the greatest of our ideals — in fact, the one thing that makes ideals possible — we have lost our religious consciousness.” And Mrs. Fish speaks truly; the religious consciousness, and we might say, the religious conscience, is wanting, and “if the foundations be destroyed,” what may we expect of the hollow superstructure?
Oppose the White Slave Trade
Let every patriotic citizen, every father and mother, man and woman, draw together, and unite in most active and earnest work to remove from our fair state and land the stigma and horror of the White Slave Trade.
The Educational Circus
Minnesota's university has a novel way of instructing the people of that great state. President Vincent sent what has been called "The Educational Circus," visiting eighteen small towns last year, and staying a week in each town; and every day and evening having a special program in lectures, demonstrations, and various things which would help to interest and instruct the people in the small towns and the country. The last two days of the week were given over to special topics of interest to farmers. The United States Government has stamped President Vincent's plan with approval. Truly, when the people support the state university, the state university ought to reciprocate.
Feeding the Masses Through Agriculture
More and more, the problem of how to feed the masses is coming before the intelligent men of the nations. The population of the world is increasing, the acreage of the world is the same. How to use it to the best advantage is one of the great questions. The University of California is planning, through its new agricultural director, Thomas F. Hunt, to feed the two million families which he expects California will have within its borders in the very near future; and in addition, to give just as practical an education as it is possible, from the development of better seed to the teaching of farmers, from the prevention of walnut blight to the teaching of the principles of plant and animal breeding. The university is going to ask the state for an appropriation of $814,360 for agriculture for the next two years. Surely it is doing worthy work to help all the agricultural interests of the state.
An Exclusive Wealthy Colony
By Editor
Wealthy men of the East have purchased 6,000 acres near Los Angeles, having an elevation of from 100 to 650 feet above the city, for a select membership residence section. Membership in the colony can be secured only by unanimous vote of all residents. It will be kept rigidly to a certain social standard. As stated in the news item, "It will be a great, private, residential part of the most exclusive character." In the syndicate are said to be Andrew Carnegie, Henry C. Frick, E. H. Geary, Charles M. Schwab, etc. It may be safely said that they will be no happier there than the people who live in an ordinary sort of way in an ordinary part of the city. Such division of class, however, on the pure lines of wealth, will not tend to mollify the socialistic and anarchistic spirit which is arising.
The Balkan War Is On Again
WITHIN an hour or so after the time announced when hostilities would be resumed, the Balkan allies set off their guns on the Turkish forces. A severe bombardment of Adrianople was begun, and a strong attack is being made both by sea and land on Gallipoli, the Greek fleet in the Gulf of Saros helping the land forces.
This strong attack on Gallipoli is said to be for the purpose of opening a way both by sea and land for an attack on Constantinople itself. The Turks have held out strongly against relinquishing Adrianople, because of their religious sentiments concerning their important places of worship there. But it is said now that they are trying to make some kind of arrangement by which they may give up Adrianople to the allies, and still retain their religious interests in the city, something after the way in which the pope holds his position in Rome. If such a plan is made to carry, we will have the spectacle of two "prisoners in the Vatican," one at Rome and the other in Adrianople.
Enver Bey, the new leader of the Young Turks Party
The Young Turks, in overturning things, expected to bring about changes that would confront the allies with some real Turkish strength. But instead of anything of this kind, they have brought upon themselves a lot of discontent that is amounting almost to open revolution. So the problem before the Turkish government at the present time, is that of meeting both the enemy from without, and her discontented, rioting, revolutionary forces at home. It would look at this time as if the Turk would be driven out of Europe altogether within the next few weeks, at most. But it is hard to predict what will be the outcome. There are so many European interests to serve, that the Powers may decide to give the "sick man" a little longer sojourn on European soil. It does seem impossible, however, that the time for definite action could be much longer delayed.
The Cigarette-Making Machine
The "Valve World," of Chicago, expresses it about right when it says that "an American cigarette-making machine has been set going in Switzerland, that rolls out 'coffin nails' at the rate of 150 a minute, and may be speeded up to 600. Now all we need is some kind of suction-pump to enable the slaves of the habit to keep pace with the machine. Never let it be said that our mechanical ingenuity failed to meet any emergency. We must increase our consumption of cigarets, or industry and commerce will languish." That is fine irony. It comes from one of the great industrial concerns of the country. If men of the world, looking at the folly of the thing in the light of good, common sense, can come to such conclusions, with how much stronger feelings of repulsion should the Christian look upon such things! In the light of science and reason and revelation and health, and good, common sense, in this enlightened nineteenth century, the makers of cigars and the distillers of liquors ought to go out of business, or starve. They would not starve; they would find better business.
Society as in Sodom
When the Master was here, He gave as one of the evidences by which we might know when His second coming was approaching, that conditions in society would be as they were in Sodom in the days of Lot. Every one ought to know the story of the shameful vices that corrupted that city and caused its overthrow. And the Lord is authority for the prediction that just before the end society in the world at large will be as it was in Sodom in that time. Is it not significant that a $10,000,000 fund is planned to combat this evil right in this time in which we live? Is it not, furthermore, significant that some of the most influential and widely cultured men of the nation are sounding strong notes of alarm because of the sodomward tendencies of these days? For instance, Ex-president Eliot recently gave expression to these words: "We have got to remove this evil, or this country will not be ruled by the race that is now here. The family life of the white race is at stake in its purity, healthfulness, and fertility. We have tried the policy of silence and the policy of segregation, but there is no cure except the observance by men of the same standards that almost all races demand of the women."
Profits in Goat Raising
By Editor
According to a government document (Goat Bulletin — No. 2) there is money in goat raising, inasmuch as goatskins to the amount of 104,000,000 pounds, valued at $26,000,000, are imported in the United States in one year. The flesh alone makes it profitable to raise goats, we are told. This bulletin tells of experiments in Mexico, and the Mexican government wishes us to say that it has no time to answer letters, but refers all inquirers to the bulletin above noted.
The Concentration of Wealth
By Editor
Mr. Jacob Schiff, capitalist, told the Money Trust Commission of Congress that he believes that the law should not interfere with the activities of the individual, no matter to what extent he might reach out and dominate business. But another capitalist, Mr. George W. Reynolds, president of the second largest bank in the country, declares that the country is menaced by the concentration of the wealth of the nation in the hands of a few men, and that the law must step in and correct the situation before it is too late. And the latter is right.
Santa Clara’s Fruitfulness
According to statistics, Santa Clara County—this county—stands first in number of fruit-trees of the counties in California, and in number of plum- and prune-trees and in apricots and cherries. For the year 1910, according to the United States census reports, supplemented by authentic state reports, the total number of orchard-bearing trees is given as 5,043,766. Besides these there are 18,023 tropical fruit-trees and 48,398 nut-bearing trees. And there are many more items which show the wonderful productivity of the "garden spot of the state."
Lynching and Religion
By Editor
Is it true that lynching is “what we all stand for,” as Albert Jay Nock intimates in the February American, as he recalls the lynching of a Negro in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1911? The Negro had killed a man, he said in self-defense. No one knew. But he was nevertheless taken from a hospital, dragged a half mile along the ground, and burned to death, in a Republican Quaker community. Three different attempts were made to secure conviction of the criminals; but in every case the law proved futile. Mr. Nock lays the brutal deed and the failure to an industrial system which produces “an upper class materialized, a middle class vulgarized, a brutal class brutalized.” But how much has religion without God’s moral standard to do with it?
The Vatican and Spain
UNDER Canalejas' premiership, diplomatic relations were broken between Spain and the Vatican. The successor of the noted premier is Count Romanones, whom the Rome correspondent of the Western Watchman describes as "the darling of masons, antireligious gentry, and other excellent people." He has declared he "is decided to follow out to the letter the program formulated by his ill-fated predecessor." Why he wishes to open negotiations, this Rome correspondent does not know, and suggests: "Perhaps then he hopes to open negotiations by throwing dust in the eyes of the Vatican diplomats." And then this pertinent passage, which the diplomats of all nations may ponder, follows:
"Probably he fancies he is more than a match for the S. Congregation of Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs with its members who have grown gray in diplomacy, who have each conducted delicate missions all over Europe! For this congregation, which the pope employs to study and vote upon such questions and then have referred to himself the result, through the papal secretary of state, is not accustomed to be hoodwinked."
It is not diplomacy which will meet the Papacy, but the principles of the living truth of the gospel.
"CATHOLIC KIDNAPING" and "MENTAL RESERVATION" NUMBER
By Editor
The March, April, and May numbers will contain the startling court records of the kidnaping of a girl. Verdict of $23,000 damages awarded to outraged Catholic mother. Begin your yearly subscriptions with this number.
OTHER MARCH FEATURES
Roman Domination — Views of Prominent Americans; How Catholic Oaths May Be Evaded; Protestantism — What It Means; Romanism in Peru — The Putumayo Atrocities; The Pope's Unlimited Authority; The Catholic Voice; Roman Church in Politics.
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"TEA and COFFEE" and "DEEP BREATHING" NUMBER
By Editor
All should read "Is Consumption Curable?" a message of hope; also, "How to Feed the Sick."
MARCH FEATURES
Are Tea and Coffee Harmful?—Symposium by eminent authorities; Hygiene of Deep Breathing; Is Consumption Curable? Preserve Your Children's Teeth; How to Feed the Sick; The Care of the Baby; Questions and Answers.
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Turkey and Its End
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"STATUE of LIBERTY" and "SUNDAY LABOR" NUMBER
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Frontispiece,—Cartoon "Religious Legislation Darkening the World;" Statue of Liberty—Its Meaning; President Taft on "Religious Garb;" Catholic Church and Sunday Observance; President at "Pan-American Mass;" Menace of a National Religion; Rome Dictates to Catholic Voters; Digest of State Sunday Laws; Religious Liberty in Holland; Cardinal O'Connell on Religious Liberty; Sunday Closing of Post-Offices; Center Photographs,—President and Vice-president Elect and White House.
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Signs of the Times Magazine
By Editor
(Published Monthly)
The Magazine with the Message
DEVOTED to the study of present-day affairs, world-wide. The place of these events in the great plan of God as revealed in His Word. The right setting for each.
The Bible furnishes the only dependable solution of present world problems. You ought to know their meaning. Several evenings of real, uplifting study for thinking people every month. There is a satisfaction in studying these subjects of world-wide import from this standpoint. It is the satisfaction of knowing — knowing something that can be depended upon.
The SIGNS MAGAZINE is $1.00 a year. Ten cents in coin or stamps will bring you a current copy.
Signs of the Times Magazine
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The Message Is in the Contents
Homesickness—No. 4
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
HOW many times we have read the beautiful story of Joseph. We see him as a lad at home, petted and loved by the aged father, and sneered at and criticized by his envious brothers. I suppose, taking it all together, that the home life of Joseph, when a boy, could not have been altogether agreeable. But O, how the very heart-strings of the aged father twined around the lad! And he could not rest until he had prepared for his son the beautiful coat, which was at least partially responsible for so much trouble and heartache.
Finally, the care of their sheep called the brothers to Shechem. After they had been from home for some time, the father sent young Joseph to see how they fared. This was quite a journey for a lad to attempt alone,—something like fifty miles. It was not an easy journey by any means. There was no stage route, no powerful locomotive, no rushing automobile to hurry him to his journey's end. Down through the plains of Hebron and Jordan, straight north until the peaks of Ebal and Gerizim rise before him—fifty long miles alone and on foot.
We are not told who entertained the young stranger overnight, perhaps no one; perhaps he rested at night the same as he journeyed through the day,—alone and unattended. Perhaps, like his father, his young head may have been pillowed upon a comfortless bolster of stone; and it may be too communed with the angels from the glory land. However this may have been, we may be sure that bright anticipation of the loving welcome and the warm greeting of his brothers, from whom he had so long been parted, cheered his lonely hours. At last, arriving at Shechem, the lad became confused and lost his way. Do you not suppose he was homesick as well as bewildered, when the kindly stranger found him wandering about aimlessly in the field searching for his brothers? We almost wonder why the doting father even dared to trust his dearly loved son to take so long and so tedious a journey alone, and through a country infested by wild animals. There is no doubt that many a prayer was offered by the dear ones at home for the safety of the beloved lad.
Finally, the kind stranger told him that his brothers had gone on farther still,—ten weary miles farther still,—on to Dothan. Footsore and lonely, the homesick boy pressed on. He had been sent by his father on an important commission, and he must carry it out. At last, feeding upon the distant hillside, he sees the flocks of his brethren, like white dots on a carpet of green; there are Reuben and Simeon and Judah and all the others—at last!
Well, we know the story; but did we ever stop to consider the awful loneliness which filled the heart of the homesick lad, as he trudged along by the side of the strange Midianitish merchants? Every tearful, backward glance revealed his unfeeling brothers finishing their meal, which they had begun while he lay—frightened and heart-broken—in the pit where he had been cast.
But the record says that the Lord was with him. Yes, and he was not forsaken of Heaven even when the cold walls of an Egyptian dungeon closed about him. I believe the angels are nearer to God's children, if possible, when they are unhappy, forsaken, or alone.
We remember the wonderful deliverance which the Lord wrought by the hand of this deeply afflicted young man. And so let this experience encourage us. God never forsakes His own; no matter how black the sky, the sunshine of His love is bright enough to break through every cloud. No matter how often the homesick heart cries out for appreciation and love and tenderness; tho the milk of human kindness seems to be dried up entirely; no matter if we are maligned and set at naught by a cold and unfeeling world, the eye of the pitying Father is upon us, even as it was upon young Joseph. And out of our deepest sorrows and most hopeless grief, He will bring joy and the consolations of His Spirit.
Then there is the story of Moses. Does it not seem to you that he must have known heartache and homesickness? Bearing responsibilities such as none before him nor after him have ever borne,—the burden of a great and rebellious people,—do you not imagine that, at times, he longed for his peaceful home in Midian, and the restful quiet of the desert, where for forty pleasant and prosperous years he had lived, guiding and tending the innocent flocks of his father-in-law?
We have often read the story of the prodigal son. But I am afraid that many of us have failed to comprehend much of the beautiful lesson the Master meant us to learn; and so we fail to fathom the infinite depth of the Father's love. O, that we might come more and more to imitate the blessed example given us, of forgiveness toward the erring, and generosity and loving-kindness even toward those who may have proved themselves unworthy of our confidence and affection. The prodigal had abused the love of his father, and carelessly and wantonly wasted his goods—goods which had been earned by honest labor. He had been unappreciative and unlovely and selfish. And yet he has but to turn his longing eyes toward home and that love which he has slighted; and at once the father forgets everything save the one fact that his son is needy and suffering and homesick.
Running to meet him is not enough. The warm and loving embrace and words of welcome are not enough. The costly ring must be brought, and the best robe with which to adorn the wanderer, and hide his filthy rags.
O, there is something about this simple story, that can never grow old. It breathes a love that is infinite; an unselfishness which is without parallel; a devotion and affection toward the erring and the outcast, which are wonderful.
I wish we might learn the lesson of patient, self-denying, self-forgetful love in our homes. O, that its blessed fruitage might oftener appear in our lives!
Do you think that the Nazarene Carpenter went about His humble tasks, with a discontented frown upon His face? And yet, He knew from experience, bitter and deep, just how to sympathize with the heart-sick and homesick sons and daughters of earth. And then, as now, His great, loving heart bears all the miseries and sins of the whole world.
Every-Day Boys Follow the Leader
ONE day a poor old woman drove into town in a rickety spring wagon. She tied her horse to a post near the schoolhouse. It was about as bad looking an old horse as you ever saw. The woman hobbled away, with feeble steps, to sell a few eggs which she had in a basket. Just as she was out of sight the bell rang for the noon hour, and a crowd of jolly, noisy boys rushed out of the schoolhouse. The air in a moment was full of their shouts and laughter.
"Halloo! See that horse!"
"Ho! ho! ho! Who ever saw such a looking old thing!"
"As thin as a rail."
"You can count all his ribs."
"He looks as if he hadn't spirit enough to hold his head up."
"Looks half starved. Say, bony, is there enough of you left to scare?"
Two or three boys squealed in the ears of the horse and gave him small pokes; others jumped before him to try to frighten him.
"Let's lead him 'round to the back of the building and tie him there, so that when the folks he belongs to come they'll think he's run away."
"He run away!"
"Say, boys," put in one boy, who loved all animals, "there's no fun in tormenting such a poor fellow. He does look half starved—yes, more than half, I should say. And we all know it isn't good to feel that way, since the day we got lost in the woods nutting."
The boys stopped their teasing and began to look at the horse with different eyes, while one of them brushed the flies off him.
"Let's tie him under that tree," proposed a second; "the sun's too hot here."
"Look here, boys, I wish we could give him something to eat while he's standing."
"Can't we?"
"A real bang-up good dinner, such as he hasn't had for a century, by the looks of him!"
"Let's do it. I've got a nickel."
"I've got two cents."
"I'll give another nickel if you'll come over to my father's feed store."
More cents came in. The man at the feed store contributed a nearly worn-out bag, and in a few moments the poor old horse was enjoying a good meal of oats.15By the time he had finished it the old woman came back, her basket filled with
groceries, for which she had exchanged her eggs. The chord of sympathy and kindness, once touched in the careless yet well-meaning hearts, continued to vibrate. We all know how one taste of a kind act makes us long to taste more. "I'll lift your basket in," said one respectfully.
"See, here's a lot of oats left. We'll put 'em in the wagon."
"She looks pretty nearly as starved as the horse," came in a suggestive whisper.
A few small contributions from lunch baskets were hastily wrapped in a piece of paper and laid on top of the basket.
"Now I'll untie."
The old woman was helped in as if she had been a queen. And every boy's heart glowed while the quavering voice and dim eyes bore a burden of warm thanks as she drove away.
Those were every-day schoolboys. There are millions and millions like them, only they do not quite realize what a spirit of loving-kindness dwells in their hearts. Let it out, boys and girls; for it is you who are to lift this whole world into an atmosphere higher, sweeter, and brighter than it has before known.—Humane Press Bureau.
Work in Answer to Prayer
A MAN, weary and dispirited, entered the office of an employer of labor, in search of work. He told his tale,—how he had been for weeks out of work, how he had spent day after day looking for a job, only to meet with disappointment everywhere. But in this case the result was the same as usual—the employer shook his head, saying that work was slack, and he could not take on more labor. With a great sigh, the poor man was leaving the office, when the other called him back.
"Excuse me," said he, "but it is really no business of mine; but if you have had no work for as long as you say, how is it that the knees of your trousers are so dusty?"
The man, somewhat confused, looked down, and then said, "Ah, had I noticed it, I should not have come to you like this; but just before coming here, being disappointed with the many refusals I had received, I felt on my knees in a quiet spot of the road to ask God's guidance and help in my search for work. When I arose, I felt assured that my prayer would be answered. The dusty road accounts for my dusty knees."
"Then," replied the gentleman, "I will be the answer to that prayer. The man who prays, and who serves God, will serve his earthly master well."
He gave him employment, and was served faithfully and well by the man who had called upon Him who has said, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee." Ps. 50:15.—Anon.
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