The autumn Council of the General Conference Committee was held at College View, Neb., October 5-13. All the North American union conference presidents and nearly all the members of the Committee in this country were present, with quite a number of conference presidents, physicians, managers of sanitariums and publishing houses, and other workers.
At the same time the annual meeting of the International Publishing Association, the foreign publishing house at College View, was held, which called together representatives of the work among the foreign-speaking peoples. The North American Foreign department of the General Conference held council meetings, and advantage of the occasion was taken for the calling of a meeting of the publishing house managers.
Thus the General Conference Committee had the benefit of the presence of workers representing many departments of activity.
The meetings were held in the College View church. The Central Union and Nebraska conferences, Union College, the Nebraska Sanitarium, and the citizens of College View united in providing for the entertainment of all attending the Council. The kindness and courtesy of all these were appreciated by the visitors.
General Topics for Consideration
At the opening of the Council, the chairman outlined the general topics to be considered:—
1. The plans for raising the $300,000 for institutional work in mission fields.
“While raising this fund for special institutional work in foreign fields,” the chairman stated, “the regular mission funds must be maintained, and increased to keep pace with the missionary advance.” He reviewed the very encouraging increase in laborers and tithes and offerings during the eight years of the present decade. The one item requiring attention is the proportionately small increase in membership in the North American division.
The demands of the general work are about one thousand dollars a day. If the ten-cent-a-week plan could be put fully into execution, it would yield nine hundred dollars a day, and the addition from the tithe would readily make up the balance and allow of new work. In order to bring about the actual achievement of ten cents a week, it is necessary that not alone the General Conference committeemen work to the end in view, but every conference president and every church elder must take the burden of seeing that the thing is done, and every individual believer must likewise put his shoulder to the burden to see that in his church or company the amount is regularly raised, watching the reports month by month to see that the amount is made up by larger and smaller gifts.
2. The study of our sanitarium work, and plans for meeting the financial needs in its development.
The chairman called attention to the remarkable growth of our sanitarium work during the last eight years. The sanitariums have increased from twenty-seven to eighty, the physicians from seventy to one hundred eleven, the nurses from four hundred four to nine hundred sixty-six. This has been a very rapid growth, seemingly in the providence of God to meet the crisis that developed some years ago in this department of the work. This increase has meant a large increase of sanitarium liabilities, as well as of assets. Some years ago our schools received special study and help to put them, and operate them, on a sound financial basis; so that, while they have increased also in the last eight years from fourteen to eighty-three, only one or two have any serious financial difficulties to solve. Our sanitarium work has never received the study and consideration given the school work a few years ago, and now it was desired at this Council to go thoroughly into the work that our sanitariums are doing, and plan for the strengthening of this department which has become so large a factor.
3. General superintendents to be selected for India, China, and Japan (the health of Elder M. N. Campbell’s wife precluding their going forward to India, though they had planned to sail).
4. Plans for the Thanksgiving Ingathering campaign.
5. What can be done to increase the tithe?
6. Work in the great cities.
It was agreed that the Council should meet from 8:30 to 12, 2:30 to 5:30, 7 to 9.
The Harvest Ingathering Campaign
As the campaign will be practically on by the time this paper reaches its readers, we give but a word of the discussion on this topic. It was agreed to push the campaign heartily. Many testimonies were borne as to experiences last year. Elder Wm. Covert, of Illinois, said that in his personal visits to the people with the special REVIEW he had some of the richest experiences he has ever had. Elder R. A. Underwood, of the Northern Union Conference, spoke of the opportunity it gave him to break through the barriers and talk with his own neighbors about our work. Brother Miller, editor of the paper for the blind, reported one family of three baptized as the result of reading a copy of the paper left with them last year. It was urged that copies be not ordered to be left lying about or to scatter promiscuously, as they cost money, but that pains be taken to place every copy carefully, with solicitation of gifts for missions.
Union Conference Sessions
Considerable discussion was given to the coming biennial sessions of the union conferences. It was felt that these should be not only occasions for the transaction of the necessary business and the laying of plans for the work, but occasions of seeking God and study and instruction, in order that the meetings may bring a great spiritual uplift to the laborers and count for the increased power and efficiency required in the finishing of the work. A deeper experience in the things of God is the need. The schedule of the union conference sessions was arranged as follows:—
Atlantic, South Lancaster, Mass., November 14-28.
Columbia, Baltimore, Md., December 2-12.
Southeastern, Atlanta, Ga., January 10-19, 1910.
Southern, Nashville, Tenn., January 20-30.
Southwestern, Keene, Tex., February 2-9.
Central, ——, January 13-23.
Pacific, Mountain View, Cal., January 25-30.
North Pacific, ——, February 3-13.
Northern, Nevada, Iowa, February 22 to March 3.
Western Canadian, ——, March 4-13. Lake, ——, (date not fixed).
Eastern Canadian, ——, (date not fixed).7
North American Negro Department
The secretary of this department, Elder J. W. Christian, presented a report from the council of the department recently held at Huntsville, Ala. The recommendations of the report were adopted as follows:—
1. That the treasurer of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists be the treasurer of the North American Negro Department.
2. That all money raised for the colored work by any union conference mission or local mission within its own territory shall be under the direction of the union conferences or local mission executive committee. All such money raised by tithe, donations, collections, or otherwise shall be reported quarterly to the treasurer of the General Department; but all trust funds shall be dealt with in the usual way.
3. That all money received for the department’s work among the colored people by donations, collections, legacies, or otherwise, and not specified in recommendation 2, shall be reported to the department treasurer.
4. That all books, charts, or other merchantable property other than the equipment of schools and institutions, now owned or controlled by any union conference or union Negro mission or corporation shall be the common property of the North American Negro Department, and all revenues from the sale of the same shall be turned over to the treasurer of the Negro Department and credited to such department.
5. That each union conference Negro mission shall make its call for appropriations through its officers to the General Conference Department.
6. That it is our judgment that the Southern Field Echo be discontinued, and that the Gospel Herald be enlarged to an eight by ten eight-page biweekly, and that it be published at the Oakwood Manual Training School, near Huntsville, Ala., the subscription price to be twenty-five cents; club of ten copies, fifteen cents; twenty or more copies, ten cents.
7. That we ask J. W. Christian to act as editor of the Gospel Herald; that an assistant editor be further selected, and such clerical help appointed as is necessary to carry on the department work.
8. That the field secretaries of the various union conference missions, together with Elder T. B. Buckner, act as editorial contributors.
9. That the headquarters of the North American Negro Department be located at Huntsville, Ala., in connection with the Oakwood Manual Training School.
In further action, two thousand five hundred dollars was appropriated to this department for the remaining months of 1909, and it was agreed that forty thousand dollars should be raised for the work in 1910, to come from the October collection, the receipts through the Gospel Herald appeals, and other forms of solicitation and contribution.
Foreign School Work in America
Elder E. T. Russell, president of the board of Union College, asked counsel regarding the future of their Scandinavian and German departments. The board had found it necessary to plan for further facilities for its normal work. A new building for this was essential if no other changes were to be made in the college departments. But the board had known of the desire felt by the different nationalities that their foreign department schools might be established elsewhere, apart from an English school, so that students would be better instructed in their own languages. If this were to be done, it would make room for the normal work, without further additions to their building equipment. It was therefore desirable that this question of the foreign schools be decided. The matter was referred to the Foreign Department of the General Conference, which later brought in its report.
O. A. Olsen, secretary of the Foreign Department, stated that the representatives of the Scandinavian and German work had for some time been considering the question of establishing separate schools, to be devoted to the special interests of their own work. He called upon L. H. Christian, G. F. Haffner, and S. Mortenson, who spoke with reference to the needs of their respective nationalities, and this was followed by remarks from Elder Olsen himself. The following actions were then taken by the Council:—
Whereas, There is a large and growing need of more German, Swedish, and Danish-Norwegian laborers; and,—
Whereas, The training which students get in the German and Scandinavian departments of Union College is not such as meets the demands of the field; and,—
Whereas, Money to build German and Scandinavian schools can be secured, and there are both teachers and students at hand for such schools; therefore,—
Resolved, 1. That we favor the establishment of a German school, a Swedish school, and a Danish-Norwegian school, as soon as enough money can be secured so that there will be no debt on the schools.
2. That each school be owned by the union conference in which it is located, and that it be managed by said union conference, in connection with the secretary of the North American Foreign Department and the advisory committee of the language to which the school belongs.
3. That it be understood there shall be freedom given to secure from all parts of the country the money necessary for the establishment of these schools.
A committee of ten was appointed to make further study of details, and its report was later discussed and adopted, as follows:—
Resolved 1. That we approve of the recommendation of the foreign school representatives that the Swedish school be located in the Lake Union Conference, the German school in the Central Union Conference or the Southwestern Union Conference, and the Danish-Norwegian school in the Northern Union Conference.
2. That a small committee to make recommendation as to location be selected for each foreign school, each committee to be composed as follows:—
The president of the union conference and the president of the local conference in which the school may be located, and the superintendent of the foreign nationality concerned.
3. That a large committee to make final selection of location of schools be chosen by each union conference, in counsel with the Educational Department of the General Conference.
4. That the money for the three foreign schools be raised according to the following plan:—
(a) That the union conference in which one of these schools is located provide a certain per cent of the cost of the school.
(b) That the leaders of each nationality plan in connection with the union conference committee to raise the remaining part of the fund needed for the school, with the understanding that most of it is to come from their respective nationalities.
(c) That the German and Scandinavian representatives of a school do not go to the English-speaking churches to raise money in any union conference where another foreign school is located.
Further report of the Council must be deferred two weeks, inasmuch as the next REVIEW is the Missions Ingathering special.
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.
The Plan
By I. H. Evans
ALL great undertakings must be carefully planned if the best results are to be obtained. Haphazard work rarely brings satisfaction. No one would expect an army to win a great victory unless there had been careful planning on the part of the generals and captains. However, without the co-operation of all the soldiers who are to engage in the battle, the wisest plans may miscarry. Orders must be obeyed. Every detail assigned must be carried out to a nicety, if victory is to crown the efforts. With clock-like precision all departments of the army must act and work as one man. The combined strength of all is then utilized as if one Titanic hand was doing the whole.
In a great political campaign, when men are contending for the honors of an election, we see results largely according to the organization of the forces of those conducting the campaign. When a thousand, or ten thousand, men are all working to accomplish the same end; when each in his place adds his strength and influence to what all the others are doing, a mighty work is wrought in a short time.
Moses recognized the strength of organization when he said, “How shall one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?”
In any campaign the best results are obtained when all parties adhere to the outlined plan, and do their best to make it succeed. Unless this can be done, each will work in his own way, without co-operation, and instead of having a8well-regulated army of workers, there will be only individual effort.
We are now entering upon one of the greatest attempts in the Ingathering campaign ever undertaken by our people. At this writing about three hundred fifty thousand of the special number of the REVIEW AND HERALD have been ordered, while many conferences are yet to be heard from. There is no question but the number of the periodical ordered will far exceed that of last year. This is most encouraging, but it is only half the battle. Because a large number of papers are ordered, is not a sure sign that the campaign is to be a success. The object of the campaign is not to circulate a large number of the missionary number of the REVIEW, but to gather in a large sum of money for our foreign missionary work. Even should one take a thousand copies of the REVIEW and judiciously distribute them among his neighbors and friends, yet the object of the campaign is largely lost unless there be a correspondingly large ingathering of funds. The missionary distributing the paper must never lose sight of his mission. It must be before him all the time as the object of his endeavor. There must rest on his heart the great need of means with which to send the gospel to all heathen nations of the world. The papers are not for free distribution, but are introductory to the soliciting of funds for mission work. They are a means to be used to attain a definite end, and that end is to interest our acquaintances in our foreign mission work, so that they will give money for its support.
After we have said all we know about campaigning for God, we are still as little children, and can do nothing without his special help. In one hour God can do more for his own work than money can purchase; more than a whole denomination can do without him and his blessing. Upon him depends the success of the wisest plan. As each worker goes out to do service for him, how appropriate to spend some time in talking with the Lord. With his Spirit in our hearts, we can do a great work; without him we can do nothing.
I. H. EVANS.
The Autumn Council
By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells
THE autumn Council of the General Conference Committee was held in College View, Neb., Oct. 5-15, 1909. All the members of the Committee in the United States and Canada were present except Elders S. N. Haskell, G. I. Butler, and H. R. Salisbury. Several conference presidents and heads of our leading institutions met with us by invitation, and rendered much appreciated help in dealing with the various questions that were before us.
During the recent General Conference, when representatives from all parts of the world were together, large plans were laid for the extension of the work. But we could not at that time give the careful consideration to the execution of these plans that was necessary. For this reason it seemed advisable that as many as possible of those upon whom the responsibility rests of putting into operation these aggressive measures should come together to give these great interests careful study.
The principal questions considered were:—
1. The launching of the $300,000 fund, for establishing printing houses and other institutions, and homes for our missionaries in foreign countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, India, and Africa.
2. The Harvest Ingathering campaign, with the special Missions number of the REVIEW AND HERALD.
3. A careful and prayerful study of the true purpose of our medical missionary work, and how we can best help our sanitariums to fill the important place which the Lord designs they shall fill in the closing work of this message.
Many other important matters were dealt with; but these were the leading questions considered. And while the solving of such great and important questions is always attended with some perplexity, we felt that the Lord gave us special help and blessing from above.
It was voted that each union conference undertake the task of raising its pro rata share of the $300,000 fund, being left free to adopt such plans in doing so as may seem wise to those having charge of the work in each union conference. In this matter the union conferences assumed more fully than ever before the strong place in the organized work which they should fill. The cheerful, courageous manner in which these conferences took hold of this great undertaking was most encouraging indeed.
The Harvest Ingathering campaign had already been set on foot in each union and local conference. The presidents reported that their plans were already quite well perfected to push this work. We are encouraged to believe that most excellent results will be seen all over the field, and that a goodly sum will be gathered in by means of this campaign to advance our work in the mission fields.
The careful study given the interests of the medical department we feel sure will result in great profit to this branch of our work. All united in planning to aid and strengthen the sanitariums in the excellent work they are endeavoring to carry forward. Union and local conferences will assist in securing and supporting chaplains to look after the spiritual interests in these institutions, and to conduct Bible studies with the nurses. This co-operation will surely be of great service.
Very serious consideration was given the question of starting new sanitariums without sufficient funds to properly furnish and equip them, and also without prospect of securing efficient workers to take charge of them. The rapid development of our sanitarium work during the last ten years has brought heavy responsibilities and burdens. In view of the help that the institutions already established should receive, it was the unanimous decision of all present that greater caution should now be exercised by all our conferences in launching new enterprises.
Definite plans were laid for a campaign to relieve the indebtedness of some of our sanitariums. This movement will be set on foot early in 1910, and will be under the supervision of the medical department. The plans proposed can easily be carried out, and if they are, they will bring large financial returns to the sanitariums.
One very important decision reached at this Council was to establish training-schools for the education of the young people among our German, Danish-Norwegian, and Swedish Sabbath-keepers. Heretofore there have been maintained in Union College departments for these nationalities; but this does not at present meet their demands. It was, therefore, decided to establish a German school in either the Central or the Southwestern Union Conference, a Danish-Norwegian school in the Northern Union Conference, and a Swedish school in the Lake Union Conference. The definite location and other important interests were left to competent committees, who will announce the results of their work from time to time. One important feature of the decision to establish these new schools was to do so without creating financial obligations. The money will be raised to meet the bills as the work proceeds.
If the plans for the establishment of these new schools are carried out successfully, we shall be in a far better position to develop workers for the foreign people in this country, and in other lands as well. We believe that this step will bring a great blessing to both the parents and the young people of the nationalities most directly interested.
During this Council we were still more deeply impressed with the rapid growth of this work, and we urge that all our people remember, at the throne of grace, the officers of our union and local conferences who are entrusted with the great responsibility of carrying forward the large plans we seem forced to inaugurate. These men are carrying many heavy burdens, and are doing it cheerfully; but they must have the prayers and co-operation of our people. With these the work will surely triumph.
A. G. DANIELLS.
Life Paths
By L. D. Santee
L. D. SANTEE
EACH life and each station has crosses,
And shadows will darken the sun;
We count o'er our gains and our losses
In the brief little day we have won;
We stand in the sunshine of gladness,
And rejoice that our life is not vain,
Then descend to the valleys of sadness,
And drink of the vintage of pain.
O, the stains of the world leave their traces,
We have sins that we can not atone,
There is sadness and pain on all faces,
As each journeys his pathway alone;
But when we are grieving and sobbing,
When tears for our failures will start,
Then, close to our own, there is throbbing,
Christ’s tender, compassionate heart.
He is able to save from all sinning,
He has purchased my life on the tree,
By his love he the weary is winning,
And he died for my brothers and me;
There’s a joy that will come after sorrow,
There are chaplets that wait to be given,
And the pathways on earth that were narrow
Will end in the kingdom of heaven.
Moline, Ill.
A Remarkable Trip
By W. C. White
W. C. WHITE
THURSDAY evening, September 9, Mrs. Ellen G. White returned to her home near St. Helena, Cal., after an absence of five months and four days, during which time she had traveled over eight thousand miles, and spoken to audiences, large and small, seventy-two times, in twenty-seven places, from San Diego, Cal., to Portland, Maine, and from Huntsville, Ala., to Madison, Wis.
The chief purpose of this journey was to attend the quadrennial session of the General Conference in Washington, D. C., which convened May 13 to June 6. Her visits to other places were in response to urgent invitations, and were made possible by the merciful bestowal of strength and courage as she proceeded from place to place.
A few days before starting out on her journey, she remarked that as she was eighty-one years of age and in feeble health, it would doubtless be best for her to take the most direct route to Washington, but that she could not disregard the calls to visit Los Angeles, Loma Linda, and Paradise Valley in Southern California, nor the invitation to stop in College View, Neb., and speak to the five hundred students in Union College. She said: “I must also visit my son, Edson, in Nashville; and if the Lord gives me strength, I would be pleased to visit Brethren Sutherland and Magan at the Madison school.” And she expressed a desire to stop off a day at Asheville, N. C., where Prof. S. Brownsberger lives, and where Sister Rumbaugh has just built and given to the conference a commodious meeting-house and parsonage.
It was agreed that she ought not to exhaust her strength just before the General Conference, and that we would promise only the visits to Southern California, College View, and Nashville, and that we would arrange other features of the trip from time to time as seemed to be advisable.
During the four weeks occupied with the journey to Washington, Mrs. White was able to speak four times at College View; twice each at Loma Linda, Nashville, and Asheville; and once each at Paradise Valley Sanitarium, Madison school, Hillcrest school, Huntsville school, and the Alden school at Hilltop.
At Paradise Valley we found the sanitarium enjoying a good patronage. The building operations which for three years have been an annoyance to patients were completed. The grounds, in the hands of a skilful gardener, were becoming more and more beautiful. And the house was so well filled that the question as to whether we have done wisely in building so largely seemed to be answered in the affirmative. Since our visit we learn that the building has been filled with patients, and that many of the helpers have had to find rooms in rented buildings. The most urgent need of the institution is students for the nurses’ training-school. The physician, the manager, and the head nurse are all experienced teachers, and ready to conduct a strong school if students can be found.
At Loma Linda the work was steadily growing. The patronage at the sanitarium and the attendance at the College of Evangelists were very encouraging. As a result of the faithful work of physicians, nurses, and students, in doing field work in the San Bernardino Valley, many warm friends to the sanitarium and the work it represents are being won in Redlands, Riverside, San Bernardino, and the smaller towns and villages in the valley. It is to be hoped that the spirit of the true evangelist, the willingness to go out among the people, to meet them in their homes, and to adapt the ministry to the needs of the individual will be cherished and developed at Loma Linda, and that eventually workers may go forth from there to be efficient laborers and leaders in this same work in other institutions and in distant fields.
At College View we found a full school and a prosperous sanitarium. The Nebraska Sanitarium has not only cleared itself of debt, but it has also contributed freely to the building up of a healthy branch institution at Hastings. The college has become so popular that it is embarrassed by the large attendance, and plans are being laid to provide accommodations in other places for some of the intermediate students.
In a discourse delivered in the College View church, Sabbath, April 17, Mrs. White said:—
“We should thank God constantly that he has made so plain the work that he would have us do. When we feel like complaining, let us look to ourselves, and see if we are not neglecting some duty. Let us see if we are not leaving undone some work that God requires us to do. We can not afford to misrepresent the truth before the world and before the Lord. Let us remember that we are his workmen,—laborers together with him. It is he who has put this work into the hands of his church on earth.
“We need the inspiration that comes from earnestly seeking God, that he may give us a sense of the greatness of the work, and may open our hearts and minds to understand the responsibilities resting upon the church of God in these last days. We can not afford to neglect any duty that devolves upon those who are preparing for the courts of God.
“I thank God that we have this school. We are not in the school work to make money; we are here to give the youth a well-balanced education. To this end they must educate their muscles as well as their minds for service. The physical powers should be brought into exercise, that the brain powers may not be overtaxed. We want this school to stand forth as an example in every way. You may have a large school; but if you would have its work a success, you must co-operate with the Lord and with one another.”
Regarding their duty to maintain a right influence in the home, and to co-operate with the teachers in the school, the following words were addressed to parents:—
“Fathers and mothers, wake up. You may have in the school those who minister the word of God to the students; but you must co-operate with these teachers by carrying out in the home life the teachings of the Bible. If you will study earnestly to know the will of God, you will find encouragement to do the work that God has laid upon you. If you will do your duty, the God of heaven will act his part. Parents who leave to the school the work of making Christians of their children will meet with terrible loss. The youth need the righteous influence of their parents in every word and action, in all their conversation and habits. As long as they are in the world, they are to be trained to obey the Word of God, and thus prepare for a place in the city of God.
“It is the privilege of parents to take their children with them to the gates of the city of God, saying, I have tried to instruct my children to love the Lord, to do his will, and to glorify him. To10such the gates will be thrown open, and parents and children will enter in. But all can not enter. Some are left outside with their children, whose characters have not been transformed by submission to the will of God. The words are spoken: You have neglected home duties. You have failed to do the work that would have fitted the soul for a home in heaven. You can not enter. The gates are closed to the children because they have not learned to do the will of God, and to parents because they have neglected the responsibilities resting upon them.
“Fathers and mothers, there is a work for you to do. You have a school established here; but you are not to leave the burden of the training of your children with the teachers of the school. It is your privilege and duty to link right up with them by carrying forward this work of Christian education in your homes. Fathers and mothers need to be wide-awake, that their spiritual life may not decline. There is an eternity before us. The youth are to graduate from their schools in this world to the school above. If we are found worthy, Christ will open to us the gates of the city of God, inviting fathers and mothers and children to enter in, so that parents may not be separated from their children, or children from their parents.
“Fathers and mothers are to educate their children to obedience, teaching them to keep the law of the Lord, which is perfect, converting the soul. This is a most important work. If you neglect this work because your time and attention are given to the world, you will defeat the purpose the Lord has for the youth in preparing them for the service of God at home and in foreign fields.
“Every family that finds entrance to the city of God will have been faithful workers in their earthly homes, fulfilling the responsibilities that Christ has laid on them. There Christ, the heavenly Teacher, will lead his people to the tree of life, and he will explain to them the truths they could not in this life understand. In that future life his people will gain the higher education in its completeness. Those who enter the city of God will have the golden crown placed upon their heads. That will be a joyful scene, which none of us can afford to miss. We shall cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus, and again and again we will give him the glory, and praise his holy name. Angels will unite in the songs of triumph. Touching their golden harps, they will fill all heaven with rich music and songs to the Lamb.”
Sanitarium, Cal.
The Outlook and the Call
By E. E. Andross
E. E. ANDROSS
[We take the following pointed paragraphs from the annual address presented at the meeting of the Southern California Conference.—Ed.]
EARLY in June the Imperial Press Conference convened in London, with more than one thousand delegates, representing the press from all parts of the empire, in attendance. Lord Rosebery, ex-premier, was the orator of the evening. In the course of his remarks he gave utterance to the following very significant words:—
“I do not know that in some ways I have ever seen a condition of things in Europe so remarkable, so peaceful, and in some respects so ominous, as the condition which exists at this moment. There is a hush in Europe, a hush in which you may almost hear a leaf fall to the ground. There is absolute absence of any questions which ordinarily lead to war. . . . All forebodes peace; and yet at the same time, combined with this total absence of all questions of friction, there never was in the history of the world so threatening and so overpowering a preparation for war. That is a sign which I confess I regard as most ominous. For forty years it has been a platitude to say that Europe is an armed camp, and for forty years it has been true that all the nations have been facing each other armed to the teeth. . . . They can not arm any more men on land, so they have to seek new armaments upon the sea, piling up these enormous preparations as if for some great Armageddon—and that in the time of profoundest peace.”
“When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape.”
In a recent article on “The Changing Times,” Mr. Justice Brewer, of the United States Supreme Court, speaks in a very forcible way of the present situation, as follows:—
“Wealth is piling up in such enormous sums that Croesus and Lucullus would be unnoticed among the multimillionaires. All these changes are moving with increasing velocity, and that which to-day seems to be the summit of advance is to-morrow almost forgotten in the rapid unfoldings of something new. . . . It must be conceded that theology is at a discount; that creeds and forms of worship are losing their hold. . . . We stand amazed in the midst of these marvelous changes, and wonder if this progress is to continue, and whether in these rapid changes is to be found evidence of a decaying moral sense, and uplifting of the material above the spiritual, and a splendor and luxury which precede national decay and ruin.”
In an article in the Literary Digest of July 17, 1909, entitled “The Modern Passion for Righteousness,” appears the following:—
“Together with this appears a turning away from theology. This is accompanied by a turning away from Christ as a moral fact of the present. He thus comes to be looked upon as a historical figure of the past; they disregard altogether the idea of judgment to come.”
How forcibly this situation reminds us of the words that came to us through the spirit of prophecy some nineteen years ago, as follows:—
“We are standing upon the threshold of great and solemn events. Prophecies are being fulfilled, and stormy times are before us. Old controversies which have apparently been hushed for a long time will be revived, and new controversies will spring up; new and old will commingle, and this will take place right early. The angels are holding the four winds, that they shall not blow until the specified work of warning is given to the world; but the storm is gathering, the clouds are loading ready to burst upon the world, and to many it will be as a thief in the night. All heaven is represented to me as watching the unfolding events. A crisis is to be revealed in the great and prolonged controversy in the government of God on earth. Something great and decisive is to take place, and that right early. If any delay, the character of God and his throne will be compromised.”
While this is a dark picture, and one from which we would fain turn away, we must remember that as the darkest hour of the night is just before dawn, so this darkness is a token of the breaking of eternal day. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
These things have aroused and alarmed the people, and many are inquiring, “What do these things mean?” They are not only ready, but anxious, to listen to or to read anything that explains these things, and now, just now, is our opportunity.