p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 46. (11/26/1912)

Abyssinia

By Anol Grundset

ANOTHER school year has just passed, and the boys have now departed to their homes and villages. This school year indeed has been intermingled with trials, but this as coworkers with Christ we must only expect, and we are very glad for the part we have had in giving the natives God's Word, and pointing them to Jesus, who longs to save them from their sins and superstitions, to prepare them for His coming and the home beyond.

The boys' last Sunday was spent as follows: While in the forenoon a special dinner was being prepared for them, they washed their clothing, and prepared themselves for their departure the following morning. After partaking of a hearty dinner prepared according to Abyssinian taste and manner, they were entertained at our home in the afternoon, shown many things of peculiar interest to them. Maps and pictures from America, Europe, other parts of Africa, etc., opened before them a view of the wide world, of which their land Abyssinia is one country. They were shown that the gospel and message of Jesus' soon coming is being preached in these various countries.

Groups of colored Sabbath-keepers in the United States, Oakwood School, etc., interested them very much. Later they were served with light refreshments, among them pop-corn, which to them was a real wonder; the lesson drawn, that if we allow Jesus to throne within us, our lives and characters will unfold in similar whiteness.

In the evening, the writer gave them a stereopticon talk, first showing them selected scenes of their own country and people, closing with a series of colored slides on the life of Christ, intermingled with appropriate songs thrown on the screen in the native tongue and sung between the scenes. Dwelling on the sufferings of Christ, His agonies in Gethsemane, all in our behalf, to gain for us eternal life, touched their hearts very closely. Eyes were moistened, and expressions of sympathy heard. We can only pray that it be long remembered, and that the vivid colored views may have helped to make lasting impressions of God's great gift to us all. After singing the native song, "Shall we meet beyond the river, where the surges cease to roll?" and benediction, we separated for the night, feeling it had been a well-spent evening.

On Monday morning, we again met, for our farewell worship. After singing "There is a fountain," John 17 was read. Among other remarks, the boys were especially requested to remember the third verse, "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." We then had a season of prayer, in which several took part, the prayers of the older boys being very impressive as they asked: "Jesus be with us all now as we separate. Send us Thy Holy Spirit. Help us that we so live that we meet in the New Jerusalem," etc.

As the boys had been presented with copies of the New Testament in Tigrinja and Amharic, they were in parting admonished to read daily in these, and daily pray during the vacation months, and to try to be back for the next school year, and bring others with them.

Now we can only leave these with God, believing His promise that "as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Yours to win and rescue,

ANOL GRUNDSET.

Asmara, East Africa,

September 18, 1912.

The Uplift

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

A hymn suggested by a sentence in one of Gypsy Smith's sermons. Music, "Onward, Christian Soldiers."

Came disciples straightway, At the hour of prayer, To the temple gateway; Cried a cripple there, All his weakness pleading, "Alms!" With face aflame, God's true servants, heeding, "Walk, in Jesus' name!"

Chorus

Then with hand down-reaching From a heart above, To the one beseeching, Came a lift of love.

When by sin sore smitten, Man, far out and lost, Then the Word was written, "To the uttermost I will seek and save him For My very own, By the Word I gave him To be Mine alone."

Chorus

Then for sin's dark burden Our Redeemer died; For our peace and pardon He was crucified; For our strength and healing In the earthly ways, Lo! He came, revealing Everlasting praise.

Chorus

There was none besides Him Who could pay the price. Nothing was denied Him, For the sacrifice. Thorn-marred brow hath shown Him In the heavens above, Where the saints enthrone Him As the King of Love.

Chorus for the last stanza

Nail-pierced hand, down-reaching, Lifteth from the strife! Every one beseeching, Finds eternal life.

The Real Missionary Spirit.

By Editor

A private letter to the editor of Our Little Friend breathes the real missionary spirit, which will not be downed at any obstacle. The writer says:

"I have been burdened for more than a year that I must do some special missionary work, and it has seemed impossible to do it living on the farm, with so many things to do and pay. But I have made a promise that if the dear Lord is willing, with His help I shall raise one thousand dollars before my birthday next year, to build a mission home in China. My boy nearly ten years old promises one bushel of potatoes planted, and I will set my incubator with sixty eggs and give all the chickens. One has promised a strawberry patch, and others say they will help. I have several ideas as to how to raise it; but tho it may be hard, I will not give up until the last minute. I ask your prayers that it may be done long before that time."

Then speaking of missionary work which she had already done, she says:

"I would have done more if I had not been thrown from my milk-wagon and run over, having two ribs dislocated, and one cracked. But I am better now."

Such a spirit as that deserves to succeed, and it will succeed, whether it raises the one thousand dollars or not. There is success in the very attempt, in the elements that go into character building. May the dear Lord give her the success that she longs for.

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Co-operation Corner

By Editor

Helping Together

THERE are constantly coming to this office requests for this paper for (1) those who are poor and unable to take the paper; (2) for mission work among prisoners and others otherwise confined or secluded; (3) for public reading-rooms; (4) for general missionary work in foreign fields by our missionaries; (5) for general missionary work in various phases. Sometimes there are calls for tracts in foreign languages as well as English. It is not possible for the publishing house to meet all these requests. Publications are sometimes published at a loss to the house. We felt sure that many more of our readers would be glad to help us in this work. Thus may we bring together those who have no time or opportunity to do missionary work, but who are able to help others who have the time and opportunity, but not the means. Who will contribute to our Coöperation Fund?

Immortality

By Editor

We would recommend as a brief help in study of the immortality question, "Is Man Immortal?" Apples of Gold Library, No. 86. Single copy, 2 cents, post-paid; $1.00 a hundred. This office.

Those who are making an investigation of the Bible teaching on immortality should secure the tract "Thoughts for the Candid," Bible Students' Library, 47. Single copy, post-paid, 2 cents; 50 cents a hundred. This office.

Second Coming

By Editor

"Heralds of His Coming," Apples of Gold Library, No. 85, gives an outline of the unmistakable signs of the nearness of Christ's coming. Increase of riches, of crime, of knowledge; last-day scoffers; signs in sun, moon, and stars; peace and safety cry; preparation for war; great spiritual declension,—are some of these evidences. This popular tract, a copy, 3 cents, post-paid; a hundred, $1.50. This office.

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The Law

By Editor

An excellent tract to study in connection with the law of God is Bible Students' Library, No. 178, "The Perpetuity of the Law of God." Single copy, post-paid, 2 cents; $1.00 a hundred. This office.

BOUND VOLUMES

By Editor

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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By Editor

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Loyalty to the Word.

By Editor

It is good to find, in these days of lawlessness, that there are religious teachers who are loyal to the Word. For instance, the teachers' edition of 'Illustrated Studies on the International Lessons,' in the lesson for May 19, on the text Matt. 5:17-26. The story says: 'Many feared, and perhaps some hoped, that Jesus would do away with the old law altogether. Knowing this thought, Jesus took this occasion to say plainly that He by no means wanted to destroy the law of God. It is based on eternal principles of right, and can never be destroyed, but He would Himself fulfil the law perfectly, and help people to fulfil it as He did. He strongly condemns any who break or teach others to break God's law, and commends those who keep it. Jesus' disciples must be even better than the Pharisees, for they must keep God's law from the heart. And then He took up some of the laws, one by one, and showed how by this new law sin is to be killed at its very root. Speaking of the law 'Thou shalt not kill,' Jesus told His hearers that this forbids not only actual murder, but also anger, which leads to murder.' And this is the literal, simple truth of the Bible.

Comparisons of Balkan Nations

It is well for us to make some comparisons, in order that we may better understand the war in Southeastern Europe. Bulgaria is about the size of Ohio, and has about the same population. Vermont and New Hampshire put together would be about as large as Servia, but Servia has three times the population of these two states. Montenegro is smaller than Connecticut, with about one fourth of its population. Greece has about twice the population of West Virginia, and is about the same size. Turkey in Europe would compare favorably with Missouri as to territory, but twice its population. From the capital of Montenegro, Cettinjé, on the west, to Constantinople on the east, is about as far as it is from Chicago to Washington. Adrianople is about as far away from Constantinople as New York is from Albany. The territory is not large.

The German Kaiser’s Troubles

Family troubles and conditions in Europe, it is said, have made the German kaiser look ten years older than he seemed a few months ago. His high ideals that he has longed for have proved unrealized dreams. He also sees degeneracy in the army, especially in the way of gambling, and in portions of the German town population.

The Dynamiting of the Times Building

By Editor

We are glad to get the Los Angeles "Times" of October 1, which gives us historical matter concerning the so-designated "crime of the century,"—the dynamiting of the Times building. It is worth keeping for the historical matter which it gives, and it shows also the strong recovery which the Times company has made from the dastardly crime which sought to destroy it.

There Are Better Things

By Editor

There Are Better Things.—A correspondent sends us the following, and vouches for its accuracy. We omit the name of the church, however, which publishes the advertisement:

"Hallowe'en Social "Friday evening, November 1, in the — church basement. "The witches and hobgoblins will all be there, riding on broomsticks. Lunch served for 1c a snatch. "By order of Chief Spook."

Deplorable, isn't it, that any Christian church should be used for any such purposes! The whole Hallowe'en business has come down to us from the traditions of the past. It is purely pagan in its origin, and is nearly always celebrated in pagan ways. Christians should be above such things.

Degrading Music.

Margaret Hubbard-Ayer not long ago, in a New York paper, said some most excellent things regarding the deterioration of music, of the rag-time songs, and the degrading popular airs which are sung by the boys and girls of the generation. She quotes a noted musician as saying, "The composer of a song hit makes a fortune, while he can barely make a living if he goes on writing really good music set to poetic words."

This musician, Mrs. Coffman, says, "I like light music, but I believe we are going too far when we allow vulgar parodies of sacred things."

She says: "The worst thing I have come across is the dance tune which is 'Nearer, My God, to Thee' set to rag-time. To me that is absolutely irreverent, but the young people think it is funny, and this dance is quite popular and treated as a good joke, tho all the dancers recognize the tune at once. A thing like this undermines reverence and respect for sacred things. We can have no traditions if everything is ridiculed and burlesqued, and a stern halt should be called before our young people go any further."

Another teaching in these songs is that marriage is held up to ridicule. That is one of the tendencies of the pleasures of the age,—to give an utterly false impression of true love and romance, and of morals and religion.

War in Europe and Armageddon

By Editor

Recently in Kansas City Dr. Jordan told the "Fork and Knife Club" that "there will never be another great war in Europe. The game is played out." But in the light of developments since that time, there has been a very decided war in Europe. The war spirit is on, and according to divine prediction, which is certainly preferable to that of any professor in any university in the land, war will continue until earth's history shall close with the great Armageddon, and Christ, the Prince of Peace, shall come. Dr. Jordan's lectures contain some very excellent things, but the very facts he gives are not the logical premises of his conclusion.

Contained in This Issue

| Question Corner | PAGE |

| --- | --- |

| 3918 — Backsliding; 3919 — Who Gave the Law? 3920 — The Falling Away; 3921 — Redeemed from the Curse; 3922 — Within Thy Gates; 3923 — The Seven Last Plagues; 3924 — The Drying Up of the Great River Euphrates | 2 |

| Our Bible Band | 2 |

| Editorial | |

| Let Us Give Thanks | 3 |

| Sabbath Day Miracles | 3 |

| Peace and Peace — Which? | 4 |

| The Blessing of Breaking | 5 |

| Sanctification | 5 |

| A Catholic Paper on the Peace Congress | 5 |

| Our Bible Reading | |

| Life Only in Christ | 5 |

| General | |

| God's Message for To-Day | 6 |

| The Altar of Incense and Its Service | 7 |

| A Perpetual Memorial — II | 8 |

| The Outlook | |

| The Balkan Situation | 10 |

| War Talk | 11 |

| A New Secretary in the Federal Cabinet | 11 |

| Notes | 11, 16 |

| Home and Fireside | |

| The Importance of Family Prayer | 12 |

| True Courtesy | 12 |

| Would Hold Fathers' Meetings | 13 |

| Missions | |

| Abyssinia | 14 |

| Poetry | |

| Thanksgiving | 9 |

| Thankfulness | 9 |

| Cry of the Poor | 9 |

| Our Bountiful Giver | 9 |

| Leverage | 12 |

| The Uplift | 14 |

A First Train Ride at 113

It is of interest to note that Mrs. H. Keith, a Missouri woman, took her first ride on a train at 113, accompanied by her youngest son of 89.

Fifteen Killed in Train Wreck

A terrible train wreck occurred on the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railway in Indiana, November 13. Fifteen were killed and seventeen injured.

A New Design for the Flag

The United States flag is to come out in a new dress, with a center star on the field composed of thirteen smaller stars, the thirteen representing the first thirteen states, surrounded by a circle of twenty-five stars, representing the additional states for the first hundred years, and an outer circle of ten for states admitted since, with plenty of room for any new states. It is certainly a very beautiful design.

British Government Defeated on Home Rule

By Editor

November 11 the British government was defeated by a parliamentary vote of 228 to 206 over an amendment to the Irish “home rule” bill. It does not, however, mean that there will be an appeal to the voters of the kingdom, or that the present cabinet will resign under present conditions in Europe. The Unionists took advantage of a light attendance on the part of the Liberals, and forced the matter through at a time when the government was not prepared for it. It will, however, put off the settlement of the home rule question.

Drug-Taking Physicians.

By Editor

The Century Magazine for October thinks that the percentage of physicians who are addicted to drugs is placed too high at fifteen per cent, and the writer thinks that not more than five per cent of the doctors are drug-taking doctors. But it even then declares that they are very dangerous, because the drug-taking doctor is always very sympathetic with the suffering, and is very likely to urge upon the patient the same drug that he himself uses to relieve his suffering. We suppose that in this drug-taking, however, alcohol and tobacco are not regarded—two of the most powerful drugs known.

New Discoveries

New Discoveries.— A San Francisco doctor, Albert Abrams, declared before the annual convention of the American Association for the Study of Spondylotherapy, that he had made two important discoveries; one, the function of the spleen, which is to regulate the number of leucocytes, or white corpuscles, in the blood, nature's great destroyer of disease germs; and also the cure of appendicitis. Concussion on the spleen is used for both. The concussion stimulates the nerve which controls the movement of the organs. Such announcement as this by regular physicians will lead people to believe that there may be something in the chiropractic theory, after all.

Farm Mortgages and Tenancy

The Census Bureau Bulletin does not indicate such a great year of prosperity for the farmers as it does for the trusts. There are 6,361,502 farms of all kinds in the United States. Of 3,948,722 of them, 1,327,439 are mortgaged, an increase in 1910 of nearly 18 per cent over 1900. And 2,621,283 are not mortgaged, an increase of only 4½ per cent. Of the remaining 2,412,780 farms, the bureau discreetly makes no report on the subject of mortgages. Of these, something over 58,104 are operated by managers, and 2,354,676 are occupied by tenants. There has seemingly been a tremendous growth in tenantry instead of ownership. One third of those who pursue agriculture do not own the soil they till. It is a question as to who owns the millions of rented farms.

Memory Text for the Week

John 14:6

"JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: NO ONE COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME."

Bible Version Policy

By Editor

Our authority is the Bible, the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. When the Common ("King James" or "Authorized") Version or the American Standard Re-vised Version is used, the version will not generally be designated in reference. Any Bible quotation in this paper, therefore, differing from the Common Version, unless otherwise indicated, will be almost invariably from the American standard edition of the Revised Bible, copyright 1910, by Thomas Nelson & Sons.

For further particulars, subscription rates, etc., see page 15.