“ABIDE IN THE SHIP.” Acts 27:31 Is it safe to leave the old ship Zion which has withstood the storms of six millenniums, and plunge into the breakers of skepticism, infidelity, and doubt?
In our last issue it was shown that the basis of primitive Christianity was the Gospel, “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16, 17); that the standard was the all-sufficient Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16, 17); and that genuine Protestantism was built on the same principles, tho not possessing the clear knowledge of the truth. When Protestantism failed to meet the problems thrust upon her, divisions came; failing to follow the word, creeds multiplied; freedom was circumscribed, causing still other divisions, and then more creeds.
Yet God used these branches of His church despite the divisions and differences. Sometimes they were decidedly aggressive and belligerent and contentious; yet were their labors blessed of God. Sometimes they emphasized error; God blessed them despite the error because of the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ, which they heralded because in principle if not in practise they were loyal to His word. We gladly, gratefully acknowledge the mighty uplifting, elevating influence they have been in the world.
Various of these great denominations grew strong and wealthy and proud. Selfish men sought membership. Politicians sought their favor. Unconverted church-members multiplied. Worldliness was fostered. Standards were lowered. Even the forms of creed lost their power. Backsliding grew apace.
The world outside the church can not injure her whatever it may do. The evil, the danger, comes only when the world is inside, when its aid is thought necessary, when aid wins voice or control in management, when worldly policies take the place of Christian principles of faith and righteousness. From devoted men in all these denominations have come messages as from the prophets of old, jeremiads, denunciations, warnings, exhortations, against the incoming flood of worldliness. Take the following, for instance, from the Cincinnati “Western Christian Advocate,” of July 19, 1893. It was written by the editor, Rev. David H. Moore, now Bishop Moore:
“TO THE CHURCH OF METHODISTS, WRITE:
“The great trouble with us to-day is that the rescue of imperiled souls is our last and least consideration. Many of our congregations are conducted on the basis of social clubs. They are made centers of social influence. Membership is sought in order to advance one’s prospects in society, business, or politics. Preachers are called who know how to ‘smooth down the rugged text to ears polite, and snugly keep damnation out of sight.’ The Sunday services are made the occasion of displaying the elegancies of apparel in the latest fashions. Even the little ones are tricked out as tho they were the acolytes of pride. If the ‘Rules’ are read, it is to comply with the letter of a law whose spirit has long since fled. The class-books are filled with names of unconverted men and women. Official members may be found in box, dress-circle, and parquet of opera and theater. Communicants take in the races, and give and attend card parties and dances. The distinction between inside and outside is so obscure that men smile when asked to unite with the church, and sometimes tell us that they find the best men outside.”
“When we go to the masses, it is too often with such ostentatious condescension that self-respect drives them from us.”
“And yet we have so spread out under the inflation of the rich and ungodly, that they are a necessity to us. The enforcement of the unmistakable letter of the discipline for a single year would cut our membership in half, bankrupt our missionary society, close our fashionable churches, paralyze our connectional interests, and leave our pastors and bishops unpaid and in distress. But the fact remains that one of two things must happen,—the discipline must purge the church, or God’s Holy Spirit will seek other organized agencies. The ax is laid at the root of the tree. The call is to repentance. God’s work must be done. If we are in the way, He will remove us.”
What a confession! What a prophecy! We know that Bishop Moore’s people are not worse than others, and spiritual men in other denominations will so acknowledge, and have so testified.
It was only sixteen years ago that this was written. The creed was then professedly held. The Bible was then the professed standard of truth. We have drifted far and fast since then. Listen to another David, the Rev. David James Burrell, D.D., L.L.D., of New York, author of several books, pastor of a Presbyterian church. The excerpts are from an article in the “Homiletic Review” of July 1907:
“The examination for church-membership is, as a rule, far less searching in these times than that to which candidates for freemasonry are subjected. The ‘fencing of the tables’ is quite out of fashion; and there is practically no such thing as church discipline.
“And men are received into the ministry in the same loose way. No matter what they believe, gather them in. The process known as ‘The Examination of Candidates for the Ministry,’ in ecclesiastical courts is usually a diaphanous farce. A theologue who is prepared to say that he is more than half inclined to believe that two and two make four, or that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points, is morally certain to get in. . . .
“What is the result? The Trojan horse is lodged within the gates. There are no notable open and avowed infidels in the outside world to-day. The last of the old guard were Bradlaugh and Ingersoll. Brave men they! On the heights above Elah they took their stand, brandishing spears like weavers’ beams, and shouting, ‘We defy the armies of the living God.’ To-day the only infidelity worth reckoning is that which masquerades in the livery of heaven. Out of the belly of the Trojan horse come men in canonicals, regardless of oaths, laughing at creeds, explaining away the supernatural, flouting the ordinances of Zion, and demanding the right to be left alone while they unbolt the gates. . . .”
The course of liberal thought is in evidence. It seems but yesterday when the boldest of free-thinking clergymen in evangelical pulpits could scarcely summon courage to deny the entire truth of any portion whatsoever of the Scriptures; to-day there are many who flout in toto the three miracles on which Christianity rests; to wit, the Incarnation, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Christ. There is nothing strange in the11denial; the strange thing is that the deniers are ministers of Christ, under oath to preach and maintain the very doctrines which they deny. This is not ‘liberalism’; it is infidelity. It is not merely infidelity; it is mendacity. It is not merely mendacity; it is a flagrant violation of common honesty, and would be instantly branded as such in any of the common walks of life.”
“It is a matter of common fame among ministers that some are accustomed to make statements sub rosa which they never make and probably never would dare to make in the presence of those who furnish the loaves and fishes. Is it possible to imagine a blacker form of turpitude than this? Welcome the day when the drawing of the lines shall force all such from cover! For there is really no neutral ground in the territory of truth and righteousness.”
And during the last two years the drift outward to the regions of infidelity has been more pronounced, decided, rapid. The very church in which Dr. Burrell is a devoted minister ordained recently three men to the ministry who could not say that they believed in the great miracles of the atonement. A few years before, Professor Briggs was forced out of the denomination for holding far less objectionable heresies. He would be considered almost a conservative now.
Now? Now advanced Protestantism has no standards. As the “Independent,” of June 24, 1909, (quoted last week), declares, this drift: “SENDS US BACK TO HUMAN REASON with such divine guidance as may be allowed; the AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE and the AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH BOTH to be validated ONLY by HUMAN REASON.”
Is there any wonder that “Christian Science,” “New Thought,” “Spiritualism,” “Theosophy,” “Theistic Evolution,” and Oriental philosophies and cults are making the inroads upon the churches they are? What else could be expected? When we have no standard outside of man, when the Bible is no longer a guide to “human reason,” but “human reason” is the critic, the censor of the Bible, what else could we expect than just what we see? When the professed friends of the Bible, when those who are sworn to declare its sacred truths as a message of life from God to a dying world, are rejecting its fundamentals, or apologizing for its “errancies,” when uncertain evolution and infidel science make loud, strong, positive, braggart assertions, what wonder that the flocks are doubtful, dismayed and scattered.
What divine guidance could “human reason” ask when it rejects the divine revelations of the ages? If human reason is the court of last resort, of what use is any divine guidance? Its divinity and superiority must be judged by “human reason.” In other words, the logic of the situation is that each man is his own deity. Roman Catholicism has but one vicar of Christ; liberal Protestantism has a multitude, and all contradictory. To this the drift has brought us.
[We shall present other articles in this department showing the drift of Protestantism and the result of higher criticism by other writers. We shall discuss further results and the remedy editorially.]
Earthquake Experience in Mexico
By G. W. Reaser
(From Our Own Correspondent)
DURING a period of thirty-six hours covering a portion of July 30 and 31, the southern part of the Republic of Mexico has been “reeling to and fro as a drunkard,” in consequence of earthquakes which have shaken this section of the continent, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Seven of these writhings of mother earth have been recorded in Mexico City and seventy-two of them at Acapulco, the latter place being apparently near the center of seismic disturbance. Three of the shocks which visited the capital are said to have been as severe as any heretofore experienced, at least since the year 1845. Comparatively little damage resulted in the Federal District, only a few buildings of weak construction having collapsed, with a total loss of eleven lives.
Acapulco Ruined
All one night earthquakes rocked the city of Acapulco; not a family remained in its house. The ruin is general; it is said the houses are on the verge of falling, and the rains menace the city. In their appeal for help the city authorities said in their message: “The town is destroyed; families are in camp in public roads, and federal officers transact their business in the public garden. There is an absolute scarcity of eatables.”
The American consul said in his report to the Associated Press: “Two more heavy shocks this afternoon. Church gone, custom-house and hotels ruined, and not a single safe building left in the place. Populace living in the open. Slight shocks continue at the time of filing this telegram. Movements generally north and south.”
Having felt numerous seismic disturbances in California, the writer was prepared to contrast the difference in sensation between earthquakes in the state named and in Mexico. The capital of this republic is built in an extensive valley at an elevation of about a mile and a half above sea-level, which is surrounded by a lofty mountain wall, giving the valley the exact appearance of a great volcanic crater. In fact it is claimed by the press here that we are living in the very center of a vast crater. However this may be, it is certain that there are numerous smaller craters in full view of Mexico City.
Mexico City over a Crater
The “Mexican Herald” gives us the not altogether comfortable assurance that the lid of the crater which forms the capital “may at any time blow off.”
Leaving this thought for future developments, I will say that there is one condition of safety from ordinary tremblores in the fact that the so-called crater in which we are living, has for ages received the floods and silt from the surrounding mountains; and, there being no outlet for this vast accumulation of debris until the government, in the past few years, cut a tunnel to drain it, the City of Mexico has become to a large extent a great bog, or marsh, thus supplying a cushion of great depth to modify the force of the direct shocks produced by the subterranean disturbances. I was therefore surprised to note that instead of direct jars or shocks, the tremblores gave one the feeling of being in a house perched upon poles, with a giant hand swinging the structure around and around and back and forth. Thanks to this condition, the City of Mexico was saved from terrible destruction.
Length of the Shocks
Segregating the three severe shocks of the past few hours from the four lighter ones, I will say that the first lasted 55 seconds, the second, 100; and the third, 64 seconds; the shortest continuing about twice as long as the notable one in California of April 18, 1906.
A condition which the writer never experienced before was the fact that the southern heavens were illuminated with vivid flashes of light during the shaking of the earth, and for some minutes thereafter.
Two of the shocks came during the night, causing almost the entire population to flee to the streets and parks, where they remained till daylight. The last of the three came just at the moment when we had stepped out into the street, after having finished our Sabbath meeting. The sight in the street was one never to be forgotten. All traffic, including the running of the street-cars, instantly stopped; and breathless silence reigned, except for the muttered prayers of the Catholic population, who suddenly dropped to their knees, removed their hats, and invoked their patron saints for protection.
The writer had spoken to some extent on the event of our Saviour’s advent, and the great earthquakes that would precede it. It seemed almost providential that the reeling of the earth did not take place during the meeting and perhaps cause consternation; but following immediately at the close, it certainly helped to deepen the impression made.
In all calamities that come, how important to have in our hearts the peace of God that passeth all understanding!
G. W. REASER.
Tacubaya, D. F., Mexico City, Aug. 1, 1909.
Not a National Revelation
Not a National Revelation.— The California Christian Advocate, of August 5, truly says: “It must be admitted that the most important thing is the revelation of the will of God. . . . There can not be such a thing as a national revelation.” If our neighbor would carry this principle, this thought, to its logical conclusion, it would never again demand that a state should enforce a religious, weekly, worship day. It is too much to ask that our neighbor should see this, for consistency was never a factor in religious legislation. But O, what a relief it would be if Sunday-law advocates could find ground for their work in Divine Revelation.
Crowding Out the Bible
“Crowding Out the Bible.”—That is what a writer in the California Christian Advocate declares is being done. First, out of the Sunday-school by taking up time in singing, in talks by pastor or superintendent foreign to the lesson, for a mass of details (altho sometimes the prayer is forgotten or omitted), and only a little time for a careless, slipshod study of the lesson. Second, out of the church, by so much time given to the music and the advertising of socials, books, etc., that the sermon must be short, and sometimes as much of the sermon given to quotations from works of fiction as to quotations from the Bible. Third, out of the home in neglect of reading, family prayer, etc. And the pertinent question is asked, “If we crowd the Bible out, how long will Christ stay in?”
England and Sensational War Reports
By Editor
We suggest to our readers that they take with several grains of salt what sensational American papers are saying about England’s “alarm” and “hysteria” over German war preparations, over the unrest in India, over the French air-ship which sailed over the Straits of Dover. Of the last mentioned, a sensational San Francisco morning paper has a great scare head, “England Gasps in New Alarm at French Aerial Invasion.” Nonsense. England has not been nearly so much disturbed or perturbed as some of our yellow journals have, and not nearly so much as they would have us believe.
A Record Grain Crop
In 1906 there were produced in this country of wheat, corn, rye, oats, and barley the total of 4,839,000,000 bushels; 1908 fell off from this record, producing 4,340,000,000 bushels. The 1909 crop is estimated at 5,062,000,000 bushels. Think of it—five billion bushels, over fifty bushels for every man, woman, and child in the United States! Counting the world's population at a billion and a half, it is more than three bushels per capita. America is a great country, but there are many other great producers. The world ought not to starve.
The Risks of Beauty Treatments
“The San Francisco News Letter” well says: “When women patronize a ‘beauty doctor’ and leave his parlors with characters a little spotted, they should make no fuss about it. It belongs to the job.”
The Levant Mission
By W. C. Ising
Reported at the Recent S. D. A. World Conference, by W. C. Ising
RECENT events in the Ottoman Empire have again forced the attention of all nations to this part of the world.
Some Causes of Changes
Seventh-Day Adventist Sanitarium, near Jaffa Gate
As the Syrian Mission comprises a very large portion of the Ottoman Empire and is seriously affected by the general conditions of the country, it will not be out of place to mention the fact that the Protestant missionary enterprise is considered one of the chief influences contributing to the awakening of the present strong constitutional movement. This is particularly due to the strong educational influence exerted by them during the past century. Said a prominent Turk recently: “It was you Americans who, coming here to Turkey, found us in darkness, and showed us the way to the light.” The power of Protestant influence can better be appreciated when we consider that the latest statistics set forth the fact that not fewer than 700 American, English, and other European missionaries, with a staff of over 2,000 native workers, are spread over all parts of the Turkish Empire, while some 20,000 communicants and 80,000 adherents are reported as supporting Protestant principles. This is the result of the influence of over a dozen first-class colleges, in connection with a large number of high schools, theological seminaries, and over 500 common schools, with a total enrolment of over 35,000 students, not to speak of the many other educational institutions of Roman Catholics, Greeks, Turks, Armenians, and others which have sprung up partly as a result and consequence of Protestant effort. Syria is an important educational center. In Beirut we have one of the largest Protestant colleges, with an enrolment of about 900 students; while at Cairo the Mohammedan university is the largest in the world, having an enrolment of 10,000 students. I am sorry to say that Seventh-day Adventist influence, however, has been little felt up to the present time.
Races, Languages, Religions, Commerce
With few exceptions the population of this field is considered of Semitic descent, Mohammedans and Christians. Turkomans and especially Kurds have settled in the northern part of Syria, while east of the Jordan we find some settlements of Circassians among the Bedouin Arabs. German immigrants have founded some prosperous colonies in Palestine. The Jews number about 200,000 in Syria, 100,000 of whom are believed to have immigrated into Palestine during the last few years. These Jews are engaged in commerce, and in colonizing in various parts of the country. In fact, a number of colonies have sprung up during the Zionist movement. In Egypt there are some 600,000 Copts, who are believed to be the descendants of the ruling class of ancient Egypt; while the Fellahs, who compose about two thirds of the entire population, are the descendants of the ancient farmers, and are also to-day, as in olden ages, cultivating the land.
As to the languages, Arabic is the leading tongue in all parts of Syria and Egypt. It will be of interest to refer to the fact that during the eighth to the twelfth centuries, science was introduced into Europe by the Arabs, and that they have contributed considerably to Western education, particularly in cultivating and developing the sciences. This is one of the reasons the Arabic language has such a large vocabulary. Owing to its considerable variety of expression, its exceptional irregularity of forms, and many other grammatical difficulties, the Arabic is considered the hardest of the Semitic, and even one of the most difficult of all languages. Its importance will be realized from the fact that the Koran, the religious standard of some 230,000,000 Mohammedans, is written in this language, and is more or less understood by them. Besides the Arabic, English and French are generally spoken, the former dominating in Egypt, owing to the English occupation, and the latter in Syria, on account of commercial influence and the Catholic propaganda. The English is also spoken to a considerable extent as a result of Protestant education.13
Concerning religions, Mohammedanism has maintained its position since that star having the key to the bottomless pit, by means of which it was to bring forth a terrible smoke that would darken sun and air, had origin in the Arabian desert. The greater majority of the population in this mission field are faithful adherents of Islam. In fact, the cities of Mecca and Medina, so sacred to the Mohammedan world, are located here; and thousands of Moslems of other nationalities resort to these places every year. Besides there are a number of other religions that nominally are very similar to Mohammedanism, and which have a more or less secret character.
The Druses number about 200,000; the Nusarijes, numbering 130,000, are specially notable. The Druses are known in history from their slaughter of the Christians on Mount Lebanon and in Damascus and other places on several occasions; while another sect, the Ismaelites, numbering some 10,000, have become notorious by their assassinations during the Crusades. Of so-called Christians the Maronites, who adhere to Rome, are the most numerous, with 320,000 souls; next to them are the adherents of the Greek Orthodox Church, numbering 300,000; the United Greeks, or Melchites, having 145,000; the Syrian Jacobites, with 59,000; the United Syrians, with 45,000; the United Armenians and Chaldeans, inhabiting the district of Aleppo, and numbering about 20,000 each. Besides these, there are about 30,000 of the Armenian Church reckoned among the Arabs of Syria, the majority of whom reside in the districts of Damascus and Aleppo. In addition to these various religions, Protestants have gained a good foothold, having, it is estimated, about 6,000 believers in Syria. The existing diversity of creeds, and the fanaticism of the various sects, will sufficiently illustrate the difficulty of work among them. Jews, Catholics, and Mohammedans have their strongholds here, and all claim their rights. It will be of interest to call attention to the fact that here in Syria, this southwestern corner of Asia, the world’s three great monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Mohammedanism—have originated; and it is here that the adherents of these religions will again meet in the great battle of all nations in the near future.
The produce of these countries may be estimated from the value of their exports. The value of the annual exports for Syria, consisting of lemons, oranges, soap, sponges, wool, olive-oil, sesame-seed, cotton, tobacco, cereals, and silk (the latter being one of the main products), amounts to about $7,500,000; that for Egypt, including the Sudan, of cotton, cotton-seed, beans, sugar, grain, rice, hides, and tobacco, is, of course, considerably larger, estimated at $25,000,000.
“He Careth”
By Florence Booth Miller
_By Florence Booth Miller_
*(
Our Work and Workers
THREE persons were recently baptized at the Sanitarium, St. Helena, Cal.
FORTY-TWO persons were baptized at the recent Central New England camp-meeting.
At the Santa Cruz (Cal.) camp-meeting, August 1 to 9, there were seventeen persons to whom the ordinance of baptism was administered.
TWO men have begun to keep the Sabbath as a result of the camp-meeting held recently at Nashua, N. H. Others are interested and the work will be followed up by systematic labor.
FOUR have recently accepted the truth at Milwaukee, near Portland, Ore., as a result of Bible-readings and tent-meetings held by Brother W. H. Martin.
BROTHER MORRIS LUKENS reports from Southern Indiana the following interesting bits of news: Two were baptized at Waldron, Sabbath, July 17; Sunday following, five were baptized at Boggstown, having accepted the truth through the labors of Brother Hubbard. Six or seven have already begun to keep all of God's commandments, and others are interested as a result of meetings by Brethren Ellis and Chas. Allen at Marengo.
Mrs. Stuttle's HOME SERIES
These three books by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle furnish to the parent a much-needed help in the instruction and entertainment of their children
Making Home Happy
Pictures before the reader in interesting story form the relations that should exist and the lines of influence that should be guarded and cultivated in every home. (200 pp.)
Making Home Peaceful
Is the sequel to the above, and every one reading the first book will want to learn more about “Deacon Beardsley's” family, and how an unhappy home was made peaceful. (227 pp.)
Those Bible Readings
While especially suited to the needs of the young, there is an attractiveness in the arrangement and presentation of these readings that will hold the interest of all, old and young. (206 pp.)
These books are beautifully bound and may be obtained singly at 75 cents each, or the entire set of three for $2.00.
Pacific Press Publishing Assn.
Mountain View, California
Portland, Ore. Regina, Sask., Can. Kansas City, Mo.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing.
An exposition of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. It has 218 pages and six chapters: On the Mountainside, The Beatitudes, The Spirituality of the Law, The True Motive in Service, The Lord’s Prayer, Not Judging but Doing. A new edition just printed on fine enameled paper, new type, and reillustrated with 27 beautiful half-tone engravings specially prepared for the book by eminent New York artists. It will be found full of comfort and blessing by all fortunate enough to obtain and read it. A beautiful gift book. In paper covers, 35 cents. Address this office.
Ready for you
September Signs Monthly
YOU will be delighted with the SIGNS MONTHLY for September. The cover page, a two-color photograph of Yosemite Falls, is simply refreshing. You can almost smell the pines, and hear the roar of the falls. This beautiful reproduction, in natural colors, most appropriately introduces the subject of true temperance in its relation to the present and the future, which is given special prominence in this issue. Over 13,000 copies were ordered before the magazine appeared in print.
Partial Table of Contents
General Under the heading, “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” appears a Wall Street Journal Editorial which is a splendid selling feature with business and thinking people.
Bible “Our Reasonable Service,” by Mrs. E. G. White, setting forth the reasonableness of a well-ordered and temperate life; “The Sabbath to Be Restored,” by Eld. C. L. Taylor.
Temperance and Health “Tendency of Highly Seasoned and Other Improper Foods to Produce Intemperance,” by D. H. Kress, M.D.; “The Effects of Alcohol on the System from the Standpoint of the Scientist,” by H. F. Rand, M.D.; “Effects of Tobacco on the System, and How It Strengthens the Drink Habit,” by A. J. Sanderson, M.D.; “The Heritage of Intemperance,” by L. A. Reed; “How May We Gain the Victory?” by the Editor.
Home Story, and illustrations in harmony.
Twenty-five copies cost $1.00; they sell for $2.50. 100 cost $4.00. You sell them for $10.00. Order of your Tract Society. Ask for the SIGNS WORKER which contains selling points and suggestive canvasses.
