p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 19. (5/9/1916)

Unaided Science Cannot Save

THE bill that is before Congress for the study of the criminal, pauper, defective, crippled, and imbecile classes, has received the strongest indorsement from many religious and scientific societies. The “general purpose of the bill is to lessen and prevent crime, pauperism, and defectiveness by the best methods known to science and sociology.” The “Congress of Criminal Anthropology in Europe” has interested itself in the bill by indorsing it. Both Russia and Belgium have already adopted such a measure, and there are many other foreign nations that are “doing scientific work in criminology.”

This work is commendable, and without any question, is a great help by putting barriers in the progress of crime, pauperism, and defectiveness. The agitation upon these subjects is causing many people to think and act; and while a study of these questions from the scientific and sociological viewpoint is interesting and helpful, we must ever keep in mind that unaided science cannot save.

We can ask almost any physician in the country, and he will tell us of things that he as a scientist knows to be detrimental to health; yet he will practice them himself. Scientific tests have shown the baneful effect of tobacco, tea, coffee, alcohol, and other similar narcotics, stimulants, and irritants; but how many are the doctors who nevertheless use these things quite freely!

Scientific knowledge may point out the evil thing, but the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is required to save from it. That is the one great thing the world is lacking at this time. It lacks the personal acquaintance with Christ that enables the individual to be controlled by divine power. To know that a practice or a habit is wrong is one thing; to have power to break away from it is quite another thing. Christ is the one source that brings this power into the life.

Crime, insanity, and pauperism that degrades and leads to still deeper crime and insanity, have appeared in our world in appalling proportions. As indicated by these bills that are now before Congress, thoughtful men throughout the world are giving serious consideration to the problem. God knew that scientific attainments and simple enlightenment would not save the world from this avalanche of evil; for He has told us that “evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

There is something very deceptive about the idea that human ability is capable of coping with the great problem of evil. All through the ages, men have grappled with this problem. They have presented various styles and forms of moral philosophy that they thought would appeal to men and save them; but the world has gone on in its degradation, and society was never in a worse condition than to-day. This was most strikingly and clearly acknowledged by Dr. Wallace, the great naturalist and evolutionist, shortly before he died. The conditions of this time are ominous, and he only is studying them wisely who is studying them through the great “Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

The Coming Shipwreck of Nations

By L. E. F.

REJECTING all amendments tending to reduce the proposed strengthening of the army, the Senate of the United States has just passed a bill providing for a great “peace” army of approximately a million men. The bill provides for a regular standing army of 250,000 men; also for a federal volunteer army reserve force of some 261,000 men, and federalizing the National Guard forces of the states at an estimated strength of 280,000 men.

In addition to this combined regular reserve force of 791,000 men, an amendment was passed to create a school and college youth’s reserve corps in time of war or threatened war, which would recruit a corps of trained young men, schooled by officers of the regular army, the strength of which is estimated anywhere from 200,000 to 400,000.

Another provision of the bill included an appropriation of $15,000,000 for construction of government plants for the production of nitrates to be used in the manufacture of ammunition.

Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. FIELD WIRELESS USED BY UNITED STATES TROOPS

Preparedness! The expression is upon every lip. It is the favorite topic for editorial discussion. It is the theme of the day among statesmen. It is the basis of epoch-making legislation. Impelled by some unseen, sinister influence, the world is piling up her mammoth armies, is building her monster munition factories, is preparing for a terrific clash of arms which will end in the shipwreck of all nations.

It is a dull ear that cannot hear the rumblings of the coming international explosion. It is a nerveless hand that cannot feel the war fever upon the brow of the nations whose foremost thought is preparedness. It is a blind eye that cannot read in the daily press the fulfillment of the words of Scripture prophetic of the days just preceding the coming of Christ. They are recorded in Joel 3: 9-14.

“Prepare war,” cried the prophet.—“We must have preparedness,” declare the modern statesmen.

“Wake up,” says the prophecy.—“Let America awaken and arm herself,” cry the helmsmen of our ship of state.

“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears,” repeats the prophet.—“We must build great arsenals, mammoth munition factories, we will increase our army and navy, we will equip our fighting forces with the mightiest engines of destruction that can be devised,” declare our state officials.

This ancient prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. He is indeed blind who cannot see that the vast resources of civilization are combining to plunge the world into the most appalling struggle of her war-stained history. The nations are signing their own death warrant. Impelled by demons, they are preparing for the final fight. Our only hope lies in living fellowship with the Prince of peace, and such a hope is the Christian’s hope.

L. E. F.

A 75,000 Acre Ranch

WHEN Mexican bandits, a few weeks ago, murdered Enrico Visconti, an Italian subject residing in Mexico, the fact that he had a ranch of 75,000 acres was promulgated extensively through the dispatches.

The large holdings of a few men is one of the great characteristics of this time. The greed of men in all the ages has led them to seek to grasp as much wealth as possible, and these grasping financiers have been a source of danger at many times in limited localities in different nations. Many local revolutions and much bloodshed have resulted.

But never before in the history of the world has the money peril been an international problem, threatening universal revolution, as it does to-day. The storm has been gathering for years. It has been spreading over the entire world. Danger signals have been sent out by wide-awake men of many persuasions and beliefs; but heedlessly and blindly the workings of greed go on, and the crash must come. The effect cannot fail to follow the cause that is unmistakably producing it.

A Convenient Religion

By L. E. F.

FRANK MORAN, the prize fighter recently defeated by the champion, Willard, declares that he is going to become a Roman Catholic Billy Sunday (evangelist) when he gets through fighting.

“My idea,” he says, “is that I could do an awful lot of good just telling young fellows what I have learned about life. I would not try to convert any one. I wouldn’t care what a man believed, but I would try to make everybody live up to the things he believed.”

What a convenient religion these converts without conversion would have! The Son of God has left this record: “Except ye be converted, . . . ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 18: 3. The apostle Peter unequivocally declared that a person must be converted to have his sins blotted out. Acts 3: 19.

Oh, that men might learn the utter futility of Christless morality! The inevitable failure of every such scheme means the eternal loss of every unconverted soul. L. E. F.

Will You Help?

By Editor

ON the last page of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES dated May 2 appeared a list of ministers calling for clubs of the SIGNS to use in connection with their evangelistic efforts. They find this strong missionary paper invaluable in connection with their work. We are pleased to announce that there has been a hearty response to the call previously made. Below we give the names of others who are asking for clubs also:

Club Time M. Mackintosh, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada... 50 4 mos. $20.00 R. I. Keate, Birmingham, Alabama ... 100 3 “ 30.00 C. E. Wood, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada ... 75 2 “ 15.00 E. W. Catlin, Portland, Oregon ... 75 7 “ 52.50

A few days ago, a letter came from a district judge in an Eastern state, in which he speaks of the SIGNS as follows:

“I read it carefully; find much to commend, and am benefited thereby. It makes no compromise with sin. Stands for purity in life. Would have all united in Christian fellowship and love. These are high ideals. We must stand for nothing less.”

This is the testimony of thousands. If these calls which are now coming for clubs can be answered, they will aid in bringing to a knowledge of the Saviour many who are now in darkness and despair.

James Cochran, Circulation Manager.

Yosemite Park Map and Regulations

THE Department of the Interior has issued a new automobile map of the Yosemite National Park, in California. It has also issued a circular giving the automobile regulations to be observed in the park during the season of 1916. The Yosemite National Park is one of the great attractions of the world, and thousands of people go there every year to view the greatness and the grandeur of the works that nature has left in that beautiful spot. Persons interested may secure copies of this map and of these automobile regulations by addressing the Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

Left: Mission printing office, Manila. Center: Printing office force, translators and workmen. Right: Printers' cottage, Manila. Lower: A native Sabbath school teacher and her sisters.

This second class make up the bulk of the mountaineers.