145,000 March in Monster Parade—The Deeper Significance of This Mighty Movement
THE most absorbing topic of this time is preparedness for war. Dr. Jordan, in a recent article in the Sunset Magazine, speaks of it as "the impulse of the wave of preparedness set in motion by the fear of the greed of the men about New York."
Without question, the demonstrations in New York City on May 13 were a mighty expression of the strong, impulsive "wave" that has begun to spread over this nation in favor of preparing for war.
The New York World speaks of that great demonstration as "a spontaneous exhibition of true Americanism in the first city of the United States."
Mayor Mitchell spoke of the parade as "enough to wake up the dead."
Col. Charles H. Sherrill was the grand marshal of that preparedness parade. He gave six weeks, with "hundreds of men" acting as his assistants, "to produce this great demonstration."
"Mr. Sherrill said that an army officer whose specialty is counting marching troops," gave the "total number of marchers at 145,000." The New York Times made a careful count of the paraders, and gives the number as 125,683. These Times figures are the lowest of any, but certainly are quite sufficient to be very impressive.
The Independent says, "It was probably the greatest procession of civilians that the world has ever seen."
60,000 Applications Rejected
WHILE preparations for the parade were under way, many applications were received from different parts of the country for the privilege of taking part in the demonstration by joining the marching columns. But all these out-of-town applications had to be rejected, for the reason that the applicants from New York City alone were so numerous they could not all be received to take a part in the parade. The Wall Street Journal said that half as many were rejected as had a place in the procession.
All the various trades of the laboring people were strongly represented, and conspicuous in the marching columns were platoons of women who favored preparedness. It took more than twelve hours for the parade to pass the reviewing stand. The procession started before ten in the morning, and not until 9:40 in the evening did the last of the marching host pass the reviewing stand.
It is believed that fully a million men and women from various positions along the sidewalk, and from windows and other points of vantage, viewed the procession. Even the quarters of some of the peace organizations were usurped by the great crowd, so that it might view the spectacle.
The crowd upon the streets was so great that it did not entirely dissolve until the next morning. After the parade was over, the street cars and other means of transportation were "a perfect jam," as all through the rest of the night they sought to carry the masses of people to their homes.
The parade was designed to give an expression of the country on the subject of preparing for war. It was evidently designed also to impress the pacifists with the thought that their efforts are both futile and absurd. Catching the contagion started in New York, many other leading cities have had such demonstrations, or are planning to have them in the very near future. Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, and Rochester are in the list, while Milwaukee and St. Louis are discussing a plan to join Chicago in a great preparedness demonstration. If this Chicago affair is successful, it will probably equal if not outdo the demonstration in New York. Even Porto Rico has asked for a "preparedness" army camp, and "a colonel has been sent there to attend to it."
The "Advisory Committee of Railway Executives," which has been in existence for about a year, and is composed of some of the greatest leaders in the transportation world, affirms, "The keystone of the arch must be transportation preparedness." These men recommend "that a billion dollars a year for the next five years should be expected in railway improvements," in order that the transportation facilities may be brought up to that state of preparedness that would be equal to the mighty strain if the nation were suddenly plunged into war.
"Holland's Letter," in a recent Wall Street Journal, says, "The agitations in favor of preparedness are now nation wide, and the overwhelming public interest in this subject is regarded as having been well demonstrated by the unparalleled parade in New York City on Saturday of last week." In the same letter, Holland also says, "The relation of the railway systems of the United States to preparedness, in the opinion of men competent to pass an opinion, is the most important factor in that work."
Is the Peace Movement a Failure?
IT is now quite generally conceded that military preparedness will be the overtowering issue in the presidential campaign this summer and fall. The men who have been making strong statements, through the press and on the platform, against military preparedness and in favor of disarmament, are now asked to take a back seat, while those who are in favor of military training of the most strenuous type are absorbing the attention of the nation.
In a demonstration in Detroit, Michigan, a few days since, in favor of military preparedness, while Mr. Roosevelt was speaking, a woman who had become wrought up by the occasion cried out, "I have two sons whom I offer." To the offer of this sacrifice to the war gods, Mr. Roosevelt replied, "If every mother would make the same offer, there would be no need for any mother to send her sons to the front."
One of the leading theories of the times is suggested in this379statement of Mr. Roosevelt's. It is affirmed that in a nation where every man is drilled to fight, there is the best insurance against war. The theory is a very taking one. It seems quite plausible on the face of it; and the great masses agree to it, as is shown by the demonstrations that are now so strongly in progress.
A few years ago, everybody was telling us that we never could have another war, that peace was assured forever to this world. Then why these explosive feelings in favor of war, in this country that is isolated from every other part of the world? What has brought about this great change? A recent editorial in the New York World speaks of the peace movement as "a monumental failure." This editorial says:
"Nowhere in the world has the theory that a just and lasting peace might be secured by moral suasion been more generally accepted than in this city and country. There has been a rude awakening; and Saturday's procession, moving from morning until night, expressed the conviction that this hope must be abandoned.
The Shipwreck of Pacifism
"If pacifism as at present formulated had not fallen short in all respects, Europe would not now be reeking with blood. Those who trusted most to pacifism have most to regret. It is not the Peace Palace at the Hague, but its valiant army, that safeguards Holland. Treaties, laws, and promises which pacifists regard as ample security, went down like stubble in the path of the invaders of Belgium and Serbia.
"Religion was as helpless to prevent this war as it is to end it. International socialism, long boastful of brotherhood, fell into hostile ranks almost without a protest. Nonresistants, peace-at-any-price men, emotionalists, and sentimentalists could not stay the sword for an hour, when the day long fixed by the war lords for its use finally appeared.
"In all history, there has been no such utter shipwreck of a worthy cause as that which has overwhelmed pacifism. It has been generously supported, but only hypocritically accepted. Good men have been lulled by it into deadly delusions. Bad men have taken advantage of it to destroy their neighbors. It is the colossal failure of the age, and yet its dupes in this country do not hesitate to malign those who have had enough of the pretense and would put their house in order.
"What the pacifist cannot see is that a nation armed for defense is a better peacemaker than a nation whose life and property are exposed to the raid of nations armed for offense. With the world full of desperado war makers, the country that depends for security upon correct principles only is as much of a strife breeder as a sheep in a cage of wildcats.
"A Rude Awakening"
"WHEN New York marched for preparedness, it marched also for peace. When New York pronounced pacifism a failure, it condemned not the purpose but the method. When New York demanded weapons, and men trained in the use of them, it did not commit itself to militarism. It indicated its refusal to rely henceforth upon a pacifism known to be worthless. In this we believe that the metropolis spoke also for the United States.
"Until a change comes over the earth of which there are no signs at present, every true aspiration of pacifism, like every right cherished by freemen, can have no adequate defense that does not rest upon force."
These editorial statements from the New York Daily World are significant, and worthy of more than passing consideration. The editor says "there has been a rude awakening" from "the theory that a just and lasting peace might be secured by moral suasion." Peace palaces, treaties, laws, and promises, according to the World, are not the safeguards of a nation, but its army and its navy. The peace cause, declares that journal, has suffered utter shipwreck, and "is the colossal failure of the age." The editor even thinks that "with the world full of desperado war makers," the "correct principles" set forth by the peace societies, if wholly depended upon, would be about "as much of a strife breeder as a sheep in a cage of wildcats." And furthermore, "until a change comes over the earth of which there are no signs at present," force is the only thing to be depended upon in seeking for peace.
The Wall Street Journal recognizes two great successes shown by the present war. One of them was the highly trained army of Germany, and the other was the efficient navy of England. The Journal thinks that both of these organizations should be developed in this nation, in order that we may be, made so strong that no power on earth would attempt to invade us.
In the Delirium of War Fever
THE men of this world will range themselves on many different sides of these various questions. They will discuss them very heatedly. They will have their theories, and each one will be sure that his theory is the correct one. The peace society men are sure that if they could have their way, they would end all war. The military men think that if they could have their way, they would make war so terrible that no man would dare fight.
But setting all of these theories to one side, we desire to emphasize the great fact that the world is in the delirium of a war fever. A war plague has burst upon it. Two thirds of the civilized nations of the earth are engaged in a death struggle; and those who are not actually engaged in the conflict, are strenuously exerting themselves to prepare for that which they fear is coming.
When Rome held all the world in her grip of peace, she banished John to the isle of Patmos. While he was on that isle, he had a view of these very times in which we are living, and he described the nations in these days as being "angry," and said that "the spirits of demons" would be provoking them to war.
And the Master, who inspired John, Himself said, when He was here in person: "There shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21: 25-27, A. R. V.
Thus does the Master affirm that the days just preceding His coming will be days that will cause men to faint for fear while they are looking at what is coming upon the world.
Predicted 2,700 Years Ago
MOST minutely and graphically does the prophet Joel describe these signs. He says:
"Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah. Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the wine press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision." Joel 3: 9-14, A. R. V.
How intensely does this prophecy tell that when "the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision," the nations will be called upon to "bestir themselves" as they beat their plowshares into swords and their pruning hooks into spears, in their terrible preparations for the war of the great day! Even the "weak" among them are to say they are "strong," and they are to hasten their great preparations.
The great mass of humanity will not regard these prophecies seriously. But like the generations of the past, they will nevertheless go forward in fulfilling them.
Wise men and women will think seriously of these conditions in the world to-day, and will view them in the light of the clear shining of the predictions of God's word. The war craze that is gripping the world in this our time, is the prelude and the preparation for the great Armageddon of the Apocalypse.
A WORD TO OUR READERS
By Editor
We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.
DATE OF EXPIRATION
By Editor
The SIGNS wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date.
If herewith is an order blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often cannot be furnished.
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
By Editor
Our authority for the doctrines we teach is the Bible. Quotations are usually from the King James Version or the American Standard Revised.
AT THE SINGAPORE MISSION SCHOOL
Notes from Malaysia
By F. A. Detamore
By F. A. DETAMORE
Our mission school has grown wonderfully since it was started, less than a year ago, and we have students from all parts of Malaysia who wish to prepare for the work. Some who have recently accepted Christ came from Borneo, and they are doing well in the school. Others came from Battakland, in Sumatra. We have thirteen from there, all of whom seem likely to become workers in time. Some of these boys walked four days, and others six, in coming to Singapore. They sold what land they had, and left their loved ones, that they might secure an education. Many in that land are calling earnestly for us to come there and teach them the truth.
The latest student to arrive was a young man from Timor, a long distance east of Java. He accepted Christ as a result of reading some of our literature, and then went all the way to Java to see one of our missionaries and learn more about the gospel. God is sending these young people from various parts of the field, so that they may get a preparation, and then return to their own people to tell them of the soon-coming Saviour.
LEARNING TO DO BY DOING
The English department in our school gives work through the tenth grade; and besides this, we have a Chinese and a Malay department. Our teachers in these departments are doing excellent work. They go out to sell gospel literature, and have their students go with them. They give Bible studies, and teach their pupils to do the same. Thus the pupils are getting a practical experience while attending school. Several heathen have been found who are now about to accept Christianity through their efforts.
A brother from Australia has come to take up the colporteur work here. He is now studying the language, and at the same time is getting experience in Singapore. He will take the general oversight of the colporteur work.
We are hoping for some one to come soon and take charge of our editorial work. There is a large work before us in this field in developing literature in the vernacular of the people. Where our Malay missionary paper has gone, we have found that interest has been aroused, and some have accepted Christ from reading the paper and then coming into touch with our workers. Small subscription books are needed, that will sell at a price so low that the natives can purchase them. This will call for a printing plant in the near future. As there are native printers in our church, these books could be produced at moderate cost, and thus our colporteur work may become established.
At Padang, Sumatra, we have an English school. The students are all natives, and this brings our missionaries in contact with them.
ONE OF THE MISSION CLASSES
Avoiding Food Waste
By Frederick Bulpitt
ONE of the commonest of wastes is in preparing too much food, and when the meal is over, throwing out the "scraps." It is said that a French family could live well on what an American family wastes. Foresight should be used in preparing the proper amount of food for the meal. By skillful cooking, whatever food may be in excess can be incorporated into tasty dishes for subsequent meals. FREDERICK BULPITT.
House for Sale
ON account of constantly traveling, and desiring to leave Mountain View, will sell house with half acre, six rooms, bath, pantry, and all modern improvements. Thirty-two assorted fruit trees suitable for family use, also walnut and almond trees, grapes, and blackberries. All young and bearing.
House in excellent condition. Good lawn. Good church and church school privileges, also public and high schools.
Price, $2,850. For terms, address Frank Dickson, Mariposa Avenue, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California.
Like the Light of Lightning
By L. A. Reed
"I BEHELD Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Luke 10: 18. In anticipation of His death upon the cross, Christ uttered these trenchant words. They are deep with a significance one cannot grasp without prayerful thought.
Lucifer — such is one of Satan's names. It signifies "the lightbearer." But ever since he fell from his place of honor and service in heaven, he has been like the light of the lightning — baleful, destructive. The lightning sheds light in the dark storm, but its light is an omen of destruction. True, it falls from heaven; but it strikes the earth only to blister and burn. So Lucifer fell from heaven, and upon the earth he strikes in a fury that rivals the unleashed lightning.
These words of Christ, indicative of the work of Satan, are voiced again in the twelfth chapter of Revelation, where it is said that the dragon, Satan, when he fails in his work against Christ, turns in fury against the church; and the voice of warning sounds from the courts of glory, "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." Rev. 12: 12.
Satan, like the devastating lightning, has fallen from heaven. L. A. REED.
"The Other Side of Death"
By Editor
WE have just received a copy of "The Other Side of Death," by Carlyle B. Haynes. This is one of the most attractive little booklets we have seen on this intensely interesting topic. Mr. Haynes is a successful evangelist. The subject is presented in his pamphlet from the standpoint of an active, useful experience in soul-winning work.
He introduces the subject in a short, terse chapter in which he states the positions that are usually held in regard to what becomes of man after death. The next chapter, on absolute and conditional life, prepares the reader to enter with intense interest into chapter 3, devoted to the subject of immortality and its source.
The subjects of man's creation and his condition in death are also treated in two brief chapters. Then comes the presentation of "The Wages of Sin" and "The Punishment of the Wicked." Is this punishment eternal misery in a lake of fire, or is it everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord?
As suggested by the author, the discussion of the topic would not be complete without considering the subject of spiritualism; hence there is a chapter on that very interesting topic, showing the true source of spiritualism, and the part it acts in deceiving mankind.
Very fittingly does the pamphlet conclude with chapters on the second coming of Christ, the millennium, the destruction of sin and death, and the eternal home that is given as a reward to the righteous.
The pamphlet is well printed, in large type, and interestingly and helpfully illustrated. It may be had from any of our representatives listed on page 15. Price, 25 cents.
WANTED FOR MISSIONARY WORK
Mrs. Louisa Hedrick, Box 3, Smithville, Arkansas, desires a continuous supply of Signs weekly, Signs Magazine, Liberty, Life and Health, Watchman, Youth's Instructor, and Little Friend, for missionary work.
Mr. C. A. Van Cleve, 1560 N. Grant Street, Salem, Oregon, desires a continuous supply of clean copies of the Signs and Youth's Instructor, for missionary work.
Mrs. Ida North, Baum, Carter County, Oklahoma, desires a continuous supply of denominational literature for home missionary work.
A continuous supply of papers and magazines suitable for use in reading racks is desired by S. L. Stafford, Statesville, North Carolina.
Mr. G. H. A. Beerman, Astoria, Oregon, desires a continuous supply of all denominational literature for free distribution.
Mrs. Henry Malone, Hagerman, New Mexico, desires a continuous supply of magazines, tracts, etc., for missionary work.
Miss Bertha Hamilton, Burke, South Dakota, desires late, clean copies of magazines, tracts, etc., for free distribution.
Mrs. Carrie S. Hammond, 208 Red Rock Avenue, Colorado City, Colorado, desires a continuous supply of denominational papers to use in her work in the jails.
Fireside Correspondence School
By Editor
THE report of our good Fireside Correspondence School for 1915 is at hand, and shows that it is making commendable and continuous growth. It was started in the year 1910, under the direction of Prof. C. C. Lewis, one of our ablest and most experienced educators. The school affords an opportunity to many young men and women, as well as the older ones, who have not had the advantages of a regular schooling, to obtain nevertheless a liberal education. The prospects for a heavy enrollment in 1916 are of the brightest. The enrollment of new scholars during the first two months of this year was as great as it was up to May 15 of last year. These figures indicate more than a doubling of what was done in 1915. Those who may be interested should address Prof. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., who will be glad to furnish literature giving courses of study, expenses, and any other information that may be desired.
