Earlier text: The Power of Little ThingsGrowing Better
By C. M. S.
WHILE the Scriptures faithfully warn us that until the end of the world comes, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse, and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” and plainly foretell the times of strife and perplexity that will characterize the epoch which closes earth’s history, many self-styled optimists are declaring that the world is growing better, and that the golden age of peace and plenty is then yet before us. And yet the newspapers of the world, recording the happenings of the world, are denouncing that doctrine and disputing that declaration every day in the very news items which they print. Here is a summary of a portion of the striking items of news printed in one morning’s issue of the Washington Post, the date being Feb. 11, 1913. This is given just as it appeared in the news summary:— World Tragedies in the Day’s News
Turkey.—Six thousand five hundred killed and wounded in battles about Scutari. Mexico.—Diaz and Madero fighting for control of the government. Hundreds have been killed in battle. United States will send two cruisers and two battle-ships to afford refuge for foreigners. Japan.—Six killed and sixty-five wounded in political riots in Tokio. Mobs stone the premier, burn and wreck buildings. England.—Capt. Robert F. Scott and four of his party of sixty-six explorers perished in a blizzard on their return journey from the south pole. West Virginia, U. S. A.—Sixteen killed and twenty wounded in fierce battle between striking miners and a posse of mine guards. The governor has sent troops to the scene. But this is not confined to one day or one issue of a journal. It is going on from day to day, the conditions becoming more desperate with each new day, the coloring growing more ominous with each new turn of the kaleidoscope. The “optimists” professed to believe that the exposures of corruption in municipal politics, which have been coming so frequently during the last few years, were an indication that the people were cleaning up and that those things were going to be wiped out. But the truth is that the more those things are opened up, the more there seem to be that needs to be opened up. One exposure blasts a way into another chamber of horrors, and that leads to another, and so on ad infinitum. But a few months ago a noted gambler was shot to death in New York City, because, having grown tired of contributing to the police large sums of money to purchase protection from the enforcement of the law, he decided to expose the ring of grafters that was fattening off the vices and crimes of the city. That crime opened a new lane into that dark abode of iniquity, and permitted the world to catch a faint glimpse of the wicked practises going on there. One of the men on whose testimony the chief conspirators in that crime were convicted was himself shot to death on October 5. Another informer, who had been taunted by his former associates and his wife for testifying against the conspirators, fired a bullet into his wife’s body, and then shot to death his own little twelve-year-old girl. He is now awaiting trial for murder. Philip Davidson is awaiting trial for the confessed murder of Jack Selig, the informer. Police Lieut. Charles Becker is in Sing Sing awaiting his execution for the part he played in the gambler’s death. Harry Horowitz is in Sing Sing prison awaiting execution for the same cause, as are also Frank Muller and Frank Cirofici. This crime and these trials opened the way for further revelations, and now a police inspector has been indicted for accepting graft; and three police captains have been indicted for the same crime, and one of them confesses. In addition to these, there have been eighty-two indictments against patrolmen, sergeants, and minor police officials for graft and perjury, while many murders in East Side and the Bowery are attributed to trouble growing out of the murder of the gambler Rosenthal. Thus does the world grow better in its municipal affairs! While these conditions continue, and the terrible revelations go on, the people continue to migrate to the cities; and this migration cityward helps to make the conditions more hopeless. If the movement of the people were outward, away from the congestion and the contamination of the striving thousands, there might be hope; but in no country is such a movement recorded. They are following the example of Lot of old, and they are finding modern Sodoms containing every element of corruption that Lot and his children found in Sodom of old; and over these Sodoms, too, hang the terrible and imminent judgments of God. No; the world is not growing better. What is going on in New York is going on elsewhere in the great cities of the whole world. Iniquity does abound, and the love of the many is waxing cold. On every hand there is strife and contention. Laborers are banding themselves together to resist the demands of capital, and capital is doing the same to resist the demands of labor. Great Catholic organizations are banding themselves together to advance the interests and support the demands of their church; and Protestant denominations have bound themselves together to enforce their demands upon legislators and to work for and insist upon legislation of a character that will mean persecution for conscientious Christians. And it does not help the cause of the world’s peace that strong-minded and purposeful women have adopted the arguments of force and destruction to win the ballot for women. This age of confederacy is focusing the strong rays of its mighty forces upon this point in earth’s history, and sooner200 or later we shall see the burst of flame that starts the final conflagration. It is bound to come. The Scriptures have foretold it; and every element is working to that end. We can not prepare ourselves for what is coming by shutting our eyes and stopping our ears. He who is walking in the ways of God will want to know, and, knowing, will want to do, that the approbation of God may rest upon him when the great day of God comes. Fugitive Huguenots Delivered
By W. A. S.
The leaders of the French Huguenots, the Prince of Conde and the famous Admiral Coligny, had been warned of a plot of the Catholics to seize them. Hastily preparing for flight, they set out from Paris with their families and a band of friends, making for La Rochelle, three hundred miles distant. Soon their enemies were pressing upon them, and dangers were on every side. Wylie says:— An incident which befell them by the way touched their hearts deeply, as showing the hand of God. Before them was the Loire, a broad and rapid river. The bridges were watched. How were they to cross? A friendly guide, to whom the by-paths and fords were known, conducted them to the river’s banks opposite Sancerre, and at that point the company, amounting to nearly two hundred persons, crossed without inconvenience or risk. They all went over singing the psalm, “When Israel went out of Egypt.” Two hours after, the heavens blackened, and the rain falling in torrents, the waters of the Loire, which a little before had risen only to their horses’ knees, were now swollen, and had become impassable. In a little while they saw their pursuers arrive on the farther side of the river; but their progress was stayed by the deep and angry flood, to which they dared not commit themselves. “Escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers,” the company of Coligny exchanged looks of silent gratitude with one another. What remained of their causeway was gone with lighter heart and nimbler foot; they felt, although they could not see, the Almighty escort that covered them; and so, journeying on, they came at last safely to La Rochelle. The Work of Mrs. E. G. White
By F. M. W.
A FEW weeks ago while on the Pacific Coast, it was our privilege, in company with several of our ministers, to call at the home of Sister E. G. White, and spend a short time in conversation with this aged servant of the Lord. We found her busily engaged in the preparation of manuscript for her forthcoming book, which will complete the interim between “Patriarchs and Prophets” and “The Desire of Ages.” She spoke of the great burden that the Lord had placed upon her of giving to the people the light of which she had been made the messenger. She told how signally God had assisted her in the preparation of manuscript, and the great satisfaction she felt that so much had been accomplished in the publication of her books for the public. Her faith in God was undimmed, and her courage and hope were strong and bright. She looked forward with joy to the ultimate triumph of this movement, and to the fruition of her long-cherished hope in the coming of the Lord. The Lord has wonderfully sustained his servant for many years. The story of her life is the story of this movement. The two are identified in experience. God has wonderfully used her in the promotion of his cause of truth in the earth through the many trying years since she has been made his special messenger to this people. As we review her experiences, the evidence of her call of God to the position which she has so long occupied in this church does not rest alone upon the logic of reasoning or the enumeration of providential happenings in her work and labors. The evidence which makes the most sensible appeal to us is the general character and influence of her work and teaching. 1. Her message has never been self-centered nor self-directed. It has always pointed to Christ as man’s personal Saviour, to the Scriptures of Truth as the source of wisdom and the rule and test of Christian experience. 2. The spirit of prophecy as manifested through Sister White has been in full harmony with the manifestation of this same spirit in ages of the past. The Testimonies proclaim no new gospel. They call the people to no lowered standard. Truth and righteousness, purity and holiness, have ever been held up as the standard of attainment of the people of God. 3. This agency has been used of God in the preservation of the integrity of this movement and in the promotion of its united and harmonious operation. How many instances might be cited where the cause of truth has been saved from serious division and perhaps utter shipwreck by the clear testimony that has been borne relative to questions affecting the church. We have no Church South nor Church North, no American Church nor European Church; but our work stands as one united whole. The influence of the spirit of prophecy has had much to do in the maintenance of this desirable condition. 4. God has used this humble instrumentality to lead his people out of themselves, out of and beyond their own natural conceptions and plans. Repeatedly in response to the instruction which has come, important movements have been inaugurated, appearing to human reasoning most unwise at the time, but the ample justification of which was found in later years. Through it the church of God has been led on by his providence to build better than it realized; and perhaps to this one instrument, above all other agencies, is due the breadth and scope which this movement has taken on during the last few decades. 5. The spirit of prophecy as manifested among us has saved the church from falling into many sophistries and delusions. Repeatedly fanaticism has been rebuked. Again and again the specious deceptions of error have been uncovered. The truth of God has been caused to shine in its brightness and clearness, and the people of God saved from making moves that would bring confusion and disaster. These are some of the great general reasons that appeal to us and lead us to believe that God has especially wrought through his servant in connection with the work of this church. We recognize that this gift which he has placed among us sustains the same relationship to this people and this work to-day that it has sustained through all the years of the past. We believe confidently that as light and blessing and power have come to this church by heeding the counsel of the Lord’s messenger in years gone by, so light and blessing and power will come to the church to-day if it still heeds the messages that God has been pleased to send through his aged servant. We also recognize that while God spoke through her as a young girl, in her weakness and inexperience, so he is abundantly able to speak through her in her declining years, even as he did through Simeon and Anna in the days of Christ. We have not by any means outgrown in our experience as a people this precious gift which has been set in the church of God. We have not yet reached the place where we can dispense with the warning voice that God has been pleased to let sound these many years. We thank him to-day for all the light contained in the excellent books and publications that have been issued. We believe that these books should be found to-day in every Seventh-day Adventist home. Next to the Scriptures of Truth the “Testimonies for the Church” should have a place in our daily reading. We can testify personally, as can scores of our brethren and sisters, that their reading incites to deeper consecration, to higher ideals, to greater earnestness. The instruction and exhortation they contain appeal to our hearts. They drive us to the Scriptures of Truth for light and leading. They lead us to feel like humbling ourselves before God and putting away our sins, like throwing ourselves with renewed consecration into his work and service. Their power does not consist in the phrasing of a sentence or in the turn of a word, but in the spirit which accompanies them. This influence will be felt in the life of every one who will give to these volumes faithful study. God is still going before his people. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night still lead us on. May God help us to be faithful to him and to all his leadings. We have arranged to publish in the REVIEW in the near future some of the striking experiences that have particularly marked the relation of the spirit of prophecy to our denominational work. These will be furnished by some of our ministers who were actual participants in the incidents cited and know whereof they speak.
F. M. W. Meeting the Call at the Clinton German Seminary
By William A. Spicer
It is a sign of the times that the believers so love to give for the missionary advance, as the financial reports show from year to year, and that the youth in training are so ardently answering in their hearts the call of the regions beyond. That way lies the finishing of the work,—the witness carried into all the world, then the end,—and the Lord has made his people willing. Our training-schools are so many doors opening outward into the fields of service. I saw it anew the other day in a first visit to the German Seminary, at Clinton, Mo. There is a hard-at-work201 student body of about one hundred twenty at Clinton, pushing their studies in both German and English. The buildings and industrial equipment afford facilities for giving a practical training to fit the youth to be direct factors in the work, whether Providence calls to business life—that business to be run for God and the hastening on of his work—or to direct service in the missionary field. It is a good place for our German young people. The call of the unworked fields sounds continually in the hearts of teachers and students. Already this new school has supplied workers for Central America and South America, as well as for the home fields, and others are ready to follow on. One recognizes at once that the missionary spirit is the dominant feature in the seminary. The seminary board was in session at the time of my visit, planning the work for the coming year. The report of Elders Haffner and Grauer, who have been soliciting gifts for the school, was a most cheering one. Well may our German brethren take special pleasure in keeping this school in the front rank of agencies for the hastening on of the last message. W. A. S. Fighting Principles; Loving Men
By F. M. W.
ONE of the most difficult things in Christian experience is to differ from our fellows and continue to love them as before. It was a new doctrine to many which Christ proclaimed when he said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5: 44, 45. This principle of love has always been manifested on the part of the great Father above. He sends his rain upon the just and upon the unjust. Men may blaspheme his name, do despite to his Holy Spirit, and persecute his children, but he loves them still. Christ in his earthly ministry exemplified this divine principle. His life was one of trying conflict from its beginning to its close. In his own home he was misunderstood and misjudged. Throughout his earthly ministry enemies dogged his footsteps, seeking by every means in their power to entrap him into some unguarded expression whereby they could bring his work into disrepute. Christ opposed the wrong teachings of his day. He not only stood as a living witness of the great positive truths of divine grace, but his life and his words were a continual rebuke to evil-doers. He exposed the hypocrisy of the ruling classes in the Jewish church; he rebuked the prevailing iniquity abounding on every side; he corrected faults in his kindred disciples; he labored for impetuous Peter; he sought with tender earnestness to hold back the one who betrayed him from acting this fearful part; but in all his contention he distinguished between men and principles. He reproved the sin, but loved the sinner. This is the spirit which should actuate the followers of the Lord Jesus. There are arrayed against the church of God to-day, as in every age, unreasonable men. By their teaching and course the truth of God is changed into a lie. We have literally reached the time when truth is fallen in the street. The purpose of this movement is to sound a rallying cry. It is to lift up a standard around which shall be gathered the outcasts of Israel, those from every nation and people who fear God and love his Word above the opinions of men. But while we stand for the right courageously and fearlessly, let us do so humbly and meekly. It is only as divine love enters into our hearts and burns into our souls that we shall be able to love those who radically differ from us, those who are fighting that which we know to be the vital truth of God. We can not save men until we love men. We can not bring our enemies to God until the same love that actuated Christ in his relationship to his enemies fills our hearts. Some of us may have personal enemies. We may feel at times that those who have been our closest friends have turned against us. Alienations of this character make the deepest wounds. We expect rebuffs from those who are opposed to us, who are out-and-out adversaries; but when rebuffs come from those who have been our close friends, when bitter, stinging words are uttered by those with whom we have taken sweet counsel, O, these cause wounds that are hardest to heal! And yet it is possible for divine grace so to permeate the life that we shall be able to love even these enemies. Their course will cause sorrow, but need not produce bitterness; and even though they may turn against us, if our hearts are filled with heavenly love we shall not turn against them. In dealing with what might be termed personal enemies, as far as possible every misunderstanding should be cleared away. Possibly something in our words or conduct has caused a misapprehension, and if this were explained it might enable them to see things from an entirely different viewpoint. Perhaps we ourselves have done wrong and given occasion for hard feelings. This wrong should be humbly confessed. And after we have done all on our part, it is our privilege to take the matter to God and to pray faithfully and earnestly that he will turn the hearts of our enemies, even as he turns the rivers of water; that he will change the conceptions; that he will heal the wounds. Earnest, persevering prayer of this character, with a kindly, receptive attitude on our part, will seldom fail to bring the desired results. Surely in the church of God all bitterness, enmity, and animosity should be banished from every heart. Let us love as brethren, being pitiful and charitable. It is enough that we have opposed to us the unbelieving elements of the world. Surely in the common danger which threatens us and in the cherishing of the great hope which unites our hearts, the members of the church of Christ should work together in love and harmony. In the wear and tear of human experience, when with overwrought nerves and under great pressure of circumstances we are driven on from day to day, little differences are prone to appeal to our abnormal natures as questions of great moment. But how trivial do questions of personal interest and difference appear in the light of eternity! When, perchance, we look at the whitened face of a brother or sister who is about to be laid to rest, how childish and insignificant appear the little differences of feeling engendered in life's conflict! And what account shall we be able to render for cherishing such feelings and permitting such principles to control our lives, when we are summoned before the great tribunal and our lives are placed in contrast with the life of him who was hated as no other man was ever hated,—who was maligned, criticized, and finally crucified to satisfy the implacable hatred of his adversaries; and yet as he hung upon the cruel cross, he could say, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do; who came to his own, and although rejected by them, yet he gave his life a glad sacrifice for their salvation. As we view Calvary, we shall see things as they will appear in the light of eternity. We need to cherish toward one another a generous spirit. We should aim to grow into great-hearted, noble-natured, broad-minded Christians. Standing for the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, opposing evil for the vindication of right, let us learn to love men and to labor for them in the spirit of the Master. Economy in Operating Institutions
By W. T. Knox
The nature of our evangelical work calls for frequent change of our ministers from field to field, but it will be well for us always to recognize that this is not so in our institutional management. The fewer changes made in our managers, medical superintendents, and educational leaders, the better it will be for202 the institutions concerned. These men should be given opportunity to work out policies and methods that conditions demand. One great trouble continually confronting us is the scarcity of capable talent to man our many institutions, resulting in the almost constant temptation to move men who are making a success in one institution to help in another that is not so fortunate. This is not only apt to give the institution an unenviable reputation in the business community in which it is located, but it militates greatly against economical management, the development of correct policies, and an efficient corps of helpers. Too much emphasis can not be placed upon the urgency of developing a much higher standard of efficiency in the helpers of our institutions. There is that about a denominational institution that with many apparently leads to careless and indifferent service. A comparison with privately owned institutions does not furnish a very satisfactory showing. For instance, in our sanitariums, the average number of patients treated per physician during 1909 was 195, as compared with 248 in privately owned sanitariums. At the same time, the number of patients treated per nurse in denominational sanitariums was 19.49, as compared with 46.27 in privately owned sanitariums. Taking all classes of employees into consideration, the average number of patients cared for to each employee for the year in our own institutions was 9.80, as against 21.40 in private institutions. These figures certainly indicate that there is a call for a better and more economical organization of the helpers in our sanitariums. Careful economy in the expenditure of time and means, proper care of facilities and supplies, are all certainly called for in the Lord’s work, and would bring the needed relief to many of our institutions that are now making an unsatisfactory showing, and would place them on a safe basis. A system of accounting should be adopted that will readily reveal the loss or gain of any department, and thus eliminate as far as possible every element of uncertainty. It is a great and inexcusable mistake so to conduct the affairs of our institutions that the boards and managers are ignorant of the real standing of the business and the progress being made in any of its departments until the close of the year, when perhaps all are surprised to find a heavy deficit where they had hoped to find a handsome gain. It would hardly seem necessary to state that, being parts of the Lord’s organization to give his gospel to the world, the denomination’s institutions should be operated from the standpoint of salaries and wages on the same basis as the gospel ministry. The work of God, and the need of a dying world, call for service based on a missionary wage, and no line of argument can establish a justification for class distinction among the servants of God in this regard. The fact that physicians, managers, or other workers can, without doubt, command far better remuneration from service in the world, is no reason for our placing our service to God upon that basis. To do so destroys the very foundation upon which our work is built. Neither can a satisfactory reason for inflation of wages above the scale ordinarily prevailing in the denominational work be found in the fact that this or that particular institution is in a prosperous condition and can afford it. Before we can do this, we must lose sight of or ignore the toil and sweat, the self-sacrifice and hardship endured by hundreds of our people that have made this final prosperity possible. It has been the willing sacrifice of our brethren, their self-denial for the cause, and their great liberality because of their love of the truth, coupled with the blessing of God, that has made our progress and present development possible. We as workers must always honor this their missionary spirit, by a similar spirit on our part. In looking over some of our institutions, we find that some of our most perplexing problems arise from too large an investment. Buildings and equipments are so large that apparently we are unable to manage them successfully. In ‘Testimonies for the Church,’ Vol. VI, page 293, we are told: “It is not numerous institutions, large buildings, or great display that God requires, but the harmonious action of a peculiar people.” Serious mistakes in our institutional work have been made in providing institutions in size too large for our successful management. Too many times in studying those institutions that are now struggling for an existence, we find that in the beginning wrong counsel prevailed, and heavier investments were made than conditions warranted. On this point we are counseled: “Make small beginnings, and enlarge as circumstances may demand. Count the cost of every undertaking, that you may be sure of being able to finish. Draw as little as possible from the treasury. Men of faith and financial ability are needed to plan economically. Our sanitariums must be erected with a limited outlay of means.”—Id., page 113. It would be well for us to remember that men of large managing ability are not common among us. Where we may be able to find men who can manage small institutions successfully, we shall find great difficulty in securing the necessary talent for the successful management of large ones. The failure of those leading out in the establishment of our institutions to heed the above-quoted instruction from the spirit of prophecy, has too many times been due to the desire to make a good impression on the community, really the result of our poor pride. How much better it would be to build small and within our means, and add to our equipment only as the increasing work demands, and our finances warrant. As work from a small beginning develops, we shall almost invariably find that there has developed with it a corps of workers and managers capable of successfully managing it in its enlarged condition, and that the heavy expense and loss that almost invariably attend the first five or six years’ history of our larger institutions have been avoided. While the din of war seems to have quieted down to some extent in the Balkans, there are increasing indications of a still more fearful struggle impending, incident to the present war. The allies have not taken Adrianople at this date, nor the Constantinople defenses of Chataldja. The Greeks have not taken Janina, nor the Montenegrins Scutari. Turkish transports carrying troops have been sunk with their living freight, and a number of sanguinary engagements have occurred during the week. The greater danger in the situation lies in the refusal of Austria to agree to Montenegro’s taking possession of Scutari. The Montenegrins are determined to annex that portion of Albania, and have appealed to Russia for support, and Russia, in replying to a note from the Austrian emperor, informs him that Austria’s attitude in recent years compels Russia to support the interests of her Slav brothers. This really gives Austria the choice of yielding to Montenegro’s desires or of going to war with Russia. This is significant and ominous when it is remembered that it is done in spite of Germany’s warning to Russia to keep her hands off Turkey. The committee of ambassadors is making no progress in its efforts to reach an amicable understanding among the powers. Diplomats are declaring the situation “difficult and dangerous.” An editorial published in the journal which is the organ of the Austrian heir apparent declares that “the differences existing between Russia and Austria-Hungary on Albanian questions are far too great to be bridged over by such means” as the conference of ambassadors. Appearances indicate that the great nations of Europe are drifting toward war. Early History
By L. V. Finster
The Philippine Islands—No. 1
[On the last Sabbath in March, our Sabbath-schools direct their special offerings to establish suitable headquarters for the Philippine Islands and to provide better hospital and school facilities for Korea. Four articles on the Philippines by Brother Finster, the first of which we present herewith, will be read with growing interest.—Ed.] In the year 1519 began a voyage which was destined to prove of great historic importance. The discovery of the Pacific Ocean by Balboa had stimulated numerous adventurers to search for the passage which was believed to connect it with the Atlantic, but their efforts had ended in failure, and it was reserved for Fernando Magallanes, or Magellan, as he is called, to win enduring fame by overcoming all obstacles, and pushing on to success. On the tenth day of August, 1519, the little fleet set sail from Spain, and on the thirteenth day of the following December it arrived safely at Rio de Janeiro, South America. Its course was then turned southward; and after overcoming the many obstacles that met him,—a mutiny, and determined effort of some of his officers to return home,—Magellan reached the southern part of South America and discovered the strait that bears his name. By this time his five ships were reduced to three, one being wrecked and another having deserted. Magellan now sailed to the west, and on the sixteenth day of March, 1521, discovered the Ladrone Islands. The next land reached was Mindanao, one of the southern islands of the Philippine group. He soon sailed north to the island of Cebu. Here he landed and built a hut on the shore and celebrated mass, to the great awe of the simple natives. Members of the royal family, chiefs and other influential men of the island, after only a few days, received baptism. One can quite understand the extent of their conversion. Soon after, Magellan perished in a tribal war, in which he had taken part, on the little island of Mactan. Trouble soon arose between his followers and the natives, and twenty-seven of the Spaniards were slain at a banquet to which they had been invited. Only one hundred men were now left to man the three ships, so they destroyed one of the vessels and started homeward with the two remaining ships. One of these soon sprang a leak and had to be forsaken. The other continued its journey, and after adventures and fearful hardships finally reached home, being the first to circumnavigate the globe. The next attempt to take possession of the Philippine Islands was by Philip II, in whose honor they have been named. He was inspired by religious zeal in his efforts to conquer and Christianize the islands. The army of invasion consisted of four hundred soldiers and six monks, under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legazpe. In due time he reached the islands and decided to land on the island of Cebu. The ruling prince was much surprised at so many formidable ships, and sent one of his bravest subjects to spy on the Spaniards and report. His report was: “The ships are manned with giants with long, pointed noses, dressed in magnificent robes. They eat stones [hard biscuit], drink fire and blow the smoke out of their mouths.” The prince thought it best to make friends with such powerful strangers. This was in 1565. In 1570 Legazpe’s grandson, Salcedo, subdued Luzon, the largest island. Manila was chosen as the capital of the archipelago, and within a very few years all the islands submitted to the yoke of Spain. No attempt was made to explore the natural resources of the country or improve the condition of the people. Mere greed of conquest was apparently the chief motive of the invaders. But the Spaniards were not long to remain undisturbed in their new, easily acquired territory. Limahong, a Chinese pirate, soon appeared with sixty-seven armed boats, and four thousand men and fifteen hundred women, to take possession of the country. He made two determined attacks on Manila, but was finally forced to abandon his design. About this time began the long series of dissensions between the church and the state, as supremacy was claimed by each. From that time till the American occupation, these bitter dissensions disturbed the tranquillity by turmoil after turmoil. In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Dutch made an attack on Manila, but were repulsed with heavy loss. The year 1662 records the first of the terrible massacres of the Chinese. The governor, without any just cause, gave out that they were forming a conspiracy, and a general massacre followed. The war of 1761 between England and Spain, invaded the Philippine Islands also. On the twenty-second of September, 1762, the British fleet reached Manila. The city was bombarded, and after stout resistance, it was forced to surrender. Terms of peace were signed in Paris, one of the conditions being that the British should leave the islands. Now follows a long list of revolts of the natives against the Spanish rule; they had learned to hate it. Some of the most important are: The revolt on Bohol in 1622, the cause which led to it being the tyranny of the church; the revolt in Mindanao in 1629; the revolt in Samar in 1649. In 1660 the natives of Pampanga revolted. In 1744 the despotism of a Jesuit priest caused a revolt in Bohol. The priest ordered his parishioners arrested when they failed to attend mass, and in some cases he refused burial and caused the bodies to be left to rot in the sun, if the people were not there in time for mass. In 1823 a body of native troops revolted in Manila. Cebu revolted in 1827, and Negros in 1844. The most formidable revolt before that of 1896 was in Cavite in 1872. Hostility to the Spanish friars was at the bottom of this uprising. The revolt of 1896 was cut short by the sudden arrival of Admiral Dewey, and his victory over the Spanish fleet. In the terms of peace, the islands passed over to the control of the United States. Inland China
By Percival J. Laird
Many years ago a sacred writer asked the question: “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me.” Lam. 1: 12. To-day, even a casual observer must acknowledge that recent published reports from the United States and Great Britain show an almost unprecedented year of prosperity along most agricultural and commercial lines. This should be a cause of deep thankfulness and heartfelt gratitude to God, who has vouchsafed such great blessings to these two nations. Unfortunately, all nations are not so well situated as are we. We think our readers will agree with this statement after they have read a few extracts from correspondence recently received. The contingencies that brought into existence the Chinese Republic seem to have affected the customs and characteristics of the people in some of the remote inland districts of China but very little beyond the abolishing of the queue. That this can not be said of all parts the following will demonstrate:— “Even Nanning (Kwang-si) is stirred! The other day was the birthday of the ‘city god,’ when he was to have been taken for a walk with a great procession through the city; but the prefect, under pressure from the colleges and the municipal council, forbade this superstition. There was a great outcry from the old-fashioned leaders and from the men who grow fat on idolatry: but the officials were firm, and military police held up the mob and fired blank cartridges12 to overawe them. These measures were not very successful, but eventually matters quieted down, after thirteen arrests were made.”
“Orders were then given to smash up the idols throughout the whole city, except in one or two temples. For days the work of destruction went on, bands of soldiers visiting one shrine after another. Headless images were thrown aside onto dust heaps, unloved and unmourned, except in the women’s quarters of many homes, where there is terror and dismay. No power higher than their own to appeal to!”
“Nanning has at last been officially proclaimed as the new provincial capital. It is now the heart of Kwang-si. Crowds of passengers have been pouring in from all parts, the hotels are crowded, and dwellings are taxed to their fullest extent to accommodate the influx until new houses are built.”
That drastic measures are not confined to the destruction of idols may be inferred from an excerpt from the Atlanta Constitution, Jan. 11, 1913, which reads:— “Thirty-nine lepers recently were put to death in an atrocious manner by order of the provincial authorities of Nanning, Kwang-si. The sufferers were shot and their bodies burned in a huge trench. These advices were received here to-day from the —— Mission, at Nanning, dated December 14. They said the lepers lived in the woods a few miles outside of Nanning. The mission sought permission to build at its own expense a lazaretto for them, and the provincial authorities, pretending to consent, dug a pit in which was placed wood soaked with kerosene. At the point of the bayonet the lepers were driven into the pit and shot, and the pyre was lighted and their bodies burned in the presence of a large crowd. The authorities offered rewards for the discovery of other lepers, and this resulted in the shooting of one man afflicted with the disease. The governor, after the massacre, issued a proclamation in which he accused the lepers of having committed outrages. The letters from the mission say there is no foundation for this charge.”