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Signs of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 34.

AFTER THE FIRE
Earlier text: AFTER THE FIRE

II. THE MANNER OF HIS COMING.

By Max Hill

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.” Rev. 1:7.
“And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30.
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.” 2 Thess. 1:7.
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” 1 Thess. 4:16.
“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11.
WITH these texts before us one would think there is no chance for doubt or confusion in any way; yet the Saviour, looking down to the last days of earth’s history, saw that the simple Word of God would be doubted, and wrested to excuse error and support the positions of false teachers and prophets. Every evil that has ever come into the world is met by the Scriptures, and this specious error is clearly met in the Saviour’s own words: “If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show signs and great wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chamber; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24: 23-27.
His coming is to be literal, personal, “this same Jesus,” “the Lord Himself,” shall so come “in like manner,” attended by every loyal angel of the heavenly courts, “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,” with a shout that shall call from their graves the sleeping saints and those that pierced Him, with a lightning-like splendor that shall destroy the living wicked. Think you that such a shout, such splendor, will not be seen and heard by every inhabitant of this sin-cursed earth?
This is not the “rapping” of a spirit in a “secret chamber,” a spiritualistic seance, a fanciful falsehood of New Thought, a delusive deception of Christian Science, nor is it a Christ revealed only to the elders in the Mormon temple “in a desert place.” It is a triumphant and joyful shout, a lightning flash; the trembling earth, the troubled sea, giving up their dead; the saints of God being caught up together to the sea of glass with shout of praise and song of joy,—“and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not to a few only will the Saviour come, a favored few, not in a secret or a desert place, but, “as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” MAX HILL.

OUR GREAT TREASURE-HOUSE

By Mrs. E. G. White

By MRS. E. G. WHITE

XIV. HIDDEN TREASURE.

A GAIN the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” In ancient times it was customary for men to hide their treasures in the earth. Thefts and robberies were frequent. And whenever there was a change in the ruling power, those who had large possessions were liable to be put under heavy tribute. Moreover, the country was in constant danger of invasion by maurauding armies. As a consequence, the rich endeavored to preserve their wealth by concealing it, and the earth was looked upon as a safe hiding place. But often the place of concealment was forgotten; death might claim the owner, imprisonment or exile might separate him from his treasure, and the wealth that he had taken such pains to preserve was left for the fortunate finder. In Christ’s day it was not uncommon to discover in neglected land old coins and ornaments of gold and silver.
A man hires land to cultivate, and as the oxen plow the soil, buried treasure is unearthed. As the man discovers this treasure, he sees that a fortune is within his reach. Restoring the gold to its hiding place, he returns to his home, and sells all that he has in order to purchase the field containing the treasure. His family and the neighbors think that he is acting like a madman. Looking on the field, they see no value in the neglected soil. But the man knows what he is doing, and when he has a title to the field, he searches every part of it to find the treasure that he has secured.

Efforts in Searching.

This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, and the effort that should be made to secure it. The finder of the treasure in the field was ready to part with all that he had, ready to put forth untiring effort, in order to secure the hidden riches. So the finder of heavenly treasure will count no labor too great and no sacrifice too dear in order to gain the treasures of truth.
In the parable, the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures. And the Gospel is the treasure. The man who bought the field searched every part of it to find the treasure he had secured. So we are to take the Word of God and search its pages, that we may find the treasures of truth. It is the Holy Spirit’s office to direct and reward this labor. The searcher finds lodes of precious ore, and he sinks the shaft still deeper for still more valuable treasure. The gold fields of earth are not more closely interlaced with veins of precious ore than are the fields of revelation with veins of truth that bring to view the unsearchable riches of God.
Many are too well satisfied with the surface truths of revelation. Precious gems are passed by because their value is not seen. Let the Bible student put his mind to the tax as he studies God’s Word; for the meaning often lies hidden beneath the surface. The knowledge thus gained will be like heavenly seed planted by the divine Sower.

Faithfulness Rewarded.

The mine of truth is never exhausted. The more you search the Scriptures with humble hearts, the greater will be your knowledge, and the more you will feel like exclaiming with Paul, “O, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Every day you should learn something new from the Scriptures. Search them as for hid treasure, for they contain the words of eternal life. Pray for wisdom to comprehend these holy writings. If you would do this, you would find new glories in the Word of God; you would feel that you had received new and precious light on subjects connected with truth, and the Scriptures would gain constantly a new value in your estimation.

Knowledge of His Will All-Important.

Salvation depends upon our knowledge of God’s will as contained in His Word. Never cease asking and searching for truth. It is God’s will that you shall know what He has said to you. But you must exercise faith. As you search the Scriptures, you must believe that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Search, O search the Bible with a heart hungry for spiritual food. Dig into the Word as the miner digs into the earth to find the veins of gold. Do not give up your search till you have ascertained your relation to God and His will concerning you.
“Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” To search means to look diligently for something. Search for the hidden treasures in God’s Word. You can not afford to be without them. Study the difficult passages, comparing verse with verse, and you will find that scripture is the key which unlocks scripture. Those who prayerfully study the Bible go from each search wiser than they were before.
That which is worth having is not obtained without earnest, persevering effort. In business life, those only who are willing to put forth determined effort see successful results. Without earnest toil we can not expect to obtain a knowledge of spiritual things. Those who find the jewels of truth must dig for them as the miner digs for the precious ore hidden in the earth.

Faith Beyond the Bible

"THE infidel man who boasts that he is not confined to the narrow faith of the Bible is like the man on the bleak wintry moor, who boasts that he is not hampered by the petty limitations of a house to shelter him."

THE LAST REFUGEES.

By H. A. St. John

WHEN any great calamity, such as an earthquake, tidal wave, or a fire, befalls a locality, a country town, or city, some, and oftentimes many, lose not only their earthly all, but also their lives. But there is another class, often very numerous, who escape with their lives, and these are called refugees. They are homeless, and destitute, and wholly dependent upon those not involved in the same catastrophe, for food and shelter.
Would it not be fearful to contemplate an earthquake and a fire that should envelop the whole world. All cities, towns, and villages broken down, all farms, all homes, great or small, magnificent or humble, shaken to pieces, all mountains moved out of their places, all islands disappearing, indeed, the whole world involved in one and the same awful holocaust. As destruction and ruin would be everywhere, there would be no place of safety on earth for refugees to flee.
Well, we can inform the reader on the authority of Him who said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35), that just such a desolation is coming, and according to all the signs, is coming fast. These local disasters in different parts of the world are only precursors of the great earthquake, so mighty and so great that none like it was ever known since man was upon the earth. It is predicted, and quite fully described, in the Word of God. Some of the statements of that Word relating to that day are as follows:
“Behold the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and perverteth the face thereof. . . . The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled. . . . The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard.” “The earth is moved exceedingly,” “when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” “I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; the cities of the nations fell.” “And every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”
It will be the beginning of the day of the Lord. Man’s day of probation and grace is forever ended. It will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation on the earth. Riches, rich men, mighty men, learned men, men of all classes, will cry then bitterly. They will weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon them. Refugees by the million, with no place of refuge on earth to which they may flee! They might have prepared for that day, and were exhorted to do so, but they would not, and did not, hence it comes upon the great majority unexpectedly, and they are utterly unprepared.
When that great day comes, Jesus comes to reap the harvest of the earth. His own will be gathered into the heavenly garner. That will be their secure and eternal refuge. They have fought the good fight of faith by so doing, and laid up for themselves a good foundation against that time to come. Then they will lay hold of eternal life, on a foundation that will never be moved. They will lose all things earthly in that day, but what care they, for they have laid up their treasure above, and will then find refuge in their own eternal home. All the sleeping saints will be raised to life, and then, together with the living saints, will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, from mortals to immortals, their vile bodies changed and fashioned like unto Christ’s glorious body—all caught up in the air to meet Christ, a mighty host of glorified refugees from an utterly desolate earth. Jesus will then lead them, not to some spot on earth, but to His Father’s house of many mansions, where He now is preparing a place for them.
They had repented and obeyed the Gospel; they had kept the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; their names were in the Lamb’s book of life; and, therefore, they were delivered from a sinking, perishing world, and given an abundant entrance through the gates into the holy and heavenly city. And never again will they come in contact with sin or any of its consequences.
Reader, is your name written there, in the book of His kingdom? If not, make no delay to enroll your name with the rapidly gathering host of refugees, to be glorified by the Rock of Ages. H. A. ST. JOHN.

EASTERN CUSTOMS.

By Mrs. Ghosn-el-Howie

[Mrs. Ghosn-el-Howie, in S. S. Times.]
"I Fast Twice in the Week."—Orientals, and oriental Christians especially, perpetuate the principle that fasting is a means of grace or an instrument of merit-making. Eastern Christians fast twice a week, Wednesday and Friday; some of them add a third, Saturday. The ritual pronounces a curse on whomsoever fails in this duty.
"I Give Tithes of All that I Get."—The non-Moslem population of Syria and other parts of the Ottoman Empire are twice taxed. (1) The tax which they levy on themselves, or which is required of them by the regulations of their respective churches, and which they pay willingly for the services of their own religion, and which, let me add, corresponds with the tax of "a tenth of all I get," which this Pharisee paid, and evidently was proud and glad to pay. This taxing is, moreover, referred to in Matthew 23 : 23. (2) "Il Aashur" ("the tenths"), which are collected for purely government purposes. This part of the taxes is paid unwillingly, and fault-finding with tenth-farming and tenth-collectors is common everywhere. It is this taxing and manner of collecting it which forcibly reminds us every day of the dislike which the Jews felt toward publicans, who were the tax-collectors in the interest of the officials of Rome, whom the Jews regarded as intruders and usurpers.
Sidon, Syria.

FROM THE LAPIDARY'S TABLE.

By Gualterio

"The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27.
In olden days God opened a way of communion with man by establishing the sanctuary service, with all its typical lessons and parables. In that inspired record there is no respect of persons. God's marvelous doings were indited in enduring history, indited by His Holy Spirit, and preserved to us in the Bible, that we might profit by them. 1 Cor. 10:11.
One of the most interesting lessons of that service was connected with the personal work of the high priest (the type of Christ), in which the tender love of God the Father is most touchingly revealed.
When our heavenly Father was about to establish the service of the sanctuary, for the better training of those ransomed Hebrew captives, He found that its very foundation—His law—had so far been obliterated from their minds by long association with the heathen customs of the sun-worshipping Egyptians that it would have to be proclaimed to them in such a manner that it would convey to their darkened minds a becoming sense of its sacredness and its lasting claim upon them.
God did not proclaim that law alone, but associated with Himself the Mediator, who gave His life to redeem man from the curse of the broken law, and the ministry of His holy angels. The inspired record says: “What then is the law? It was added because of transgression till the Seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a Mediator.” Gal. 3:19.
After the law had thus been proclaimed by the voice of the promised Saviour, it was inscribed in stone and placed in the ark of the covenant standing in the most holy place of the sanctuary. Just above the receptacle containing the tables of the law was the mercy-seat overshadowed by the cherubim. It was from this sacred place that the shekinah of God's presence shone forth in answer to the earnest plea of the high priest that God would cleanse the sanctuary from all the sins of Israel—confessed and placed before the veil in the blood of sacrifice during the year ending with this ceremony. The glory of God would shine upon the face of the high priest and gladness would fill his heart. And this glory would in part be reflected to the people as he appeared before them with the gracious tidings that all was forgiven.
Now, concerning that Mediator whom God appointed to declare His law, the Scripture speaks on this wise: “The Lord swear and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek; by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. . . . Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, A MINISTER OF THE SANCTUARY, AND OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 7:21-25; 8:1, 2; 9:24. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Tim. 2:5, 6.
As He ministers in the most holy place of the tabernacle in heaven, and as our advocate presents our plea for pardon before His Father, the bright radiance from that presence encircles Him. O, that we might behold His joy as He receives the word of pardon: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, TO GIVE THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST” for “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Cor. 4:6; 5:19. And the knowledge of this glory should, and will, cause the faces of the forgiven ones to shine with the love of God thus shed abroad in their hearts, and the world will know that Jesus is the Sent of God, and that God loves these humble, believing ones even as He does His own Son.
Reader, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9. And when we take time to consider these deep things of the Spirit, the heart thrills with the possibilities that open before the souls who “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14.
GUALTERIO. Mountain View, Cal.

LOVE IN ALL THINGS.

[James Buckham, in Christian Advocate.]
The love of God is manifold, And malleable as beaten gold. The varied are the forms it takes, Like gold, it bends but never breaks.
We tremble at the frown divine, Forgetting it is love's sure sign. God's punishment ne'er worketh ill; His wrath doth but His love fulfil.
Whate'er affliction we deplore, Whatever trial irks us sore, If we but deeper trace, we'll find Hath roots of love about it twined.
God's love is faithful first and last; No arms but love's are 'round us cast Yea, we shall know before the Throne That love rules life, and love alone.

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

By F. D. Starr

Second Thessalonians.

Not long after writing the first letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul found it necessary to send them another epistle. These letters seem to have been written about A. D. 54. To give correct information concerning the second coming of our Lord seems to have been one great object of this letter. “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,” is the time to which the saints are pointed, as the termination of all their persecutions, and the beginning of their eternal reward.
Chapter two gives us very definite instruction concerning the events that occur in immediate connection with the second advent of Christ in power and great glory. The idea that nothing can be known concerning the time of this stupendous event, is refuted by the statement of the apostle that a certain event would necessarily take place before the final close of this earth’s history. That event is called a “falling away.” The term in the original, the Greek, is “the apostasy.” “That day shall not come except there come the apostasy first.”
That apostasy has surely come and been developed; so the next thing in order is unmistakably the advent of the King of glory. That apostasy had its definite development in what is here termed the “man of sin,” the son of perdition, “who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” This power is brought to view in Dan. 7:24, 25, and in Rev. 13:5-8.
It is quite generally acknowledged by Protestants that reference is made in these scriptures to the papal power. What other institution has there been upon earth that has posed before men as having an infallible human head, a man that could take the place of God as far as matters of religious duty and forgiveness of sins are concerned? This waymark is then already in the past. We are surely near the great event of all events, the bright appearing of the Lord.
Also in close connection with the coming of our Lord was to be “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thess. 2:9. This is fulfilling in the manifestations of modern Spiritualism in its various forms. That miracles are wrought by this agency can not be denied; but, according to Rev. 13:13, 14; 16:13, 14; 19:20, these wonders are wrought for the purpose of deceiving the people and leading them into error. This will be the period concerning which our Saviour forewarned us when He said, “There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:24.
The career of the Papacy, then, and the reappearance of ancient necromancy in the form of modern Spiritualism have marked our age as the one that is to witness the appearance of the Son of Man on the white cloud. Let us all make ready for that grand event. What a magnificent treasure is this Second Epistle to the Thessalonians for the priceless information it gives concerning that grand climax of all earthly events.

Confidence.

What a splendid thing it is to express confidence to our fellow helpers in the truth. Notice the occurrence of this in this epistle: “We have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.” Chapter 3:4. Similar utterances are found elsewhere. “I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.” 2 Cor. 7:16. “Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.” Philemon 21. It is not unbecoming to let our brethren know upon suitable occasions that we do have confidence in them. And wo be to the church if that confidence does not exist. Distrust, lack of confidence, not only in God, but also in His people, has wrought great havoc in the church.

Disorderly Conduct.

The church was admonished that there were some among them who were walking disorderly. This consisted in their trying to live without work, “working not at all.” The apostolic decision upon this matter is rendered in the following well-known words: “We commanded you that, if any would not work neither should he eat,”—a Christian rule that has not yet become obsolete.
It seems from 2 Thess. 3:17, taken in connection with chapter 2:2, that there were individuals who palmed off some of their own productions as the genuine letters of the apostle Paul. The expression, “nor by letter as from us,” is rendered by some, “as tho it were a letter that we had written.” Chapter 3:17 is also translated: “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle, because it is my style of writing.” That is, they might know that the epistle was genuine by the unique signature.
It seems that since he had been afflicted with defective eyesight, Paul had not himself written many of his epistles. The writing of a letter with his own hand was an act deserving special notice. Gal. 6:11. But to the letters, usually written by Timothy or some other assistant, he affixed his signature with his own hand that they might know it was dictated by him. The ignoring of this epistle was a serious matter. Chapter 3:14. Let us not ignore or neglect it.
F. D. STARR.

STRENGTH.

By Ethelwyn Wetherald

For strength we ask For the ten thousand times repeated task, The endless smallnesses of every day. No, not to lay My life down in the cause I cherish most, That were too easy. But whate'er it cost, To fall no more In gentleness toward the ungentle, nor In love toward the unlovely, and to give Each day I live, To every hour with outstretched hand its meed Of not-to-be-regretted thought or deed. —Ethelwyn Wetherald.

Ambition

AMBITION has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us; its appetite grows keener by indulgence, and all we can gratify it at present serves but the more to inflame its insatiable desires. —Benjamin Franklin.

Amiableness

AMIABLENESS is the object of love, the scope and end is to obtain it, for whose sake we love, and which our mind covets to enjoy.—Burton.

Peace and Hospitality

With him who knocks at the door of peace, seek not hospitality.—Saadi

TRAINING TO HABITS OF PROMPTNESS.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
“NO!” exclaimed Mrs. Harris, with a frown upon her usually smooth brow, “no, Marion did not secure the position.”
“What can have hindered her?” The speaker seemed troubled and surprised, and tapped the carpet impatiently with her foot as she continued: “Really, Mrs. Harris, you can not blame me for her failure, for you know how hard I tried to keep your niece,—and, as her teacher, I think I can truthfully say she was fully prepared for the position, and not every young stenographer has so lucrative a situation awaiting her acceptance. I am quite puzzled.”
“O, she was perfectly competent—thanks to your thorough teaching—she was competent and willing, and she needed the work so badly, but Marion has one sad fault to overcome: she is always behindhand. Punctuality is not one of her virtues.”
“But how did it happen? I wrote her to go immediately to see Mr. B—— for he had written me that he must engage a capable person at once.”
“O yes, at once; that’s just the trouble. Marion never could do anything at once, you know. I urged her to go as soon as she received your letter, but she wanted to finish a bit of embroidery she was doing—in fact she said she didn’t feel like going just then—guessed the position would keep, and so she kept putting it off, until finally when she did go, the position had been filled. She came back feeling so badly that she cried.”
“Well, I tell you the poor girl needs the lesson, and I hope she will profit by it. Because she can never be really fitted to occupy any position of trust until she has learned to be prompt and punctual.”
Poor Marion is not the only one who needs to learn the lesson which the wise man sought to inculcate when he said: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;” and “There is a time for everything under the sun.” Habits of punctuality and promptness are as necessary to the Christian as to the man or woman of the world.
“But there are the children; how are parents to teach this virtue—for virtue is—is—to the little ones?”
How? Well I know of no better way than by example. I tell you, we must act in all the affairs of life as we would like our children to act. They are reasonably sure to imitate us.
There is an old story, but it will perhaps bear repeating, about a mountaineer having occasion to take his journey over a dangerous pathway in the mountains. The rocks were steep and precipitous, and many dark chasms yawned at his feet. Still he hurried on, for he knew no fear, and he was accustomed to picking his way over the mountains. The deep snow, treacherous and unstable, lay white and glistening in his path. Suddenly he heard a cry behind him. His little boy—the darling of his heart—was hurrying along after him as fast as the tiny feet could fly. The father’s heart stood still. If he had known the child was coming he would have chosen a safer route.
“Look out, father, I’m coming, and I’m stepping in your tracks!” and sure enough the little feet were jumping nimbly along over the dangerous way, with no thought of fear;—had not his father gone on before him? Now, with his boy in his arms, how carefully that father finished his journey. Ah, how much more careful would we be as we pass over life’s rough highway, a way beset with dangers and difficulties, could we but realize that our little ones are following on after us—in our very tracks.
“Mama,” said little Ella, “papa said I must bring him those papers to-day at just ten o’clock, there will be a gentleman at the office who wants to see them.”
Ten o’clock came and found Ella busy with her sewing. “It is time for me to go, mama, see, it’s just ten o’clock; will you get the papers for me?” “O child, I’m busy; I can’t get the papers now,—papa will have to wait.
“But, mama, he told me to be sure and be on time.”
“Well, I guess half an hour won’t matter much.” The half hour passed. “Mama, can you get the papers now?”
“O yes, yes, in a minute; I forgot all about it. I guess you’ll have to run or you’ll be late.”
The panting child arrived at the office twenty minutes later,—but the gentleman had gone.
The disappointed father severely reprimanded the child, for her tardiness had occasioned a considerable loss to him—but who was to blame? and who can wonder if, under such discipline, the child grows up to be unreliable and irresponsible?

WHY I AM A TOTAL ABSTAINER.

By Fred. D. Grant

[General Fred. D. Grant, in The Defender.]
WHEN I was a boy, at school, and at West Point, I was made a pet because of the greatness of my father. I was given every opportunity to drink, and I did drink—some. As I got older and mixed with men, war-scarred veterans who fought with my father would come up, and, for the sake of old times, ask me to celebrate with them the glory of past events, and I did—some.
Then when I was made Minister to Austria, the customs of the country and my official position almost compelled me to drink, always. I tried to drink with extreme moderation, because I knew that alcohol is the worst poison a man could take into his system, but I found out it was an impossibility to drink moderately.
I could not say, when drink was placed before me: “No, I only drink in the morning,” or at certain hours. The fact that I indulged at all compelled me to drink every occasion, or be absurd.
For that reason, because moderate drinking is a practical impossibility, I became an absolute teetotaler—a crank, if you please. I will not allow it even in my house. When a man can say, “I never drink,” he never has to drink, is never urged to drink, never offends by not drinking. At least that is my experience.
Remember, I do not say, “Moderate drinking is harmful.” The fact is, maybe, it isn’t so harmful, but this fact is indisputable—the hard drinker was once a moderate drinker, and the chances are all against a moderate drinker remaining such, and I—well, I, for one, don’t propose to take such chances.
I know a man—maybe two or three—who died a moderate drinker. The stuff didn’t seem to hurt him much. But the poor devils that I know, scores and scores of them, intelligent men, talented and all that, who have been ruined, disgraced, by the greatest curse of Christendom—drink! Ah, the picture is a sad one.
In many respects a hard drinker is a safer man in the army—and elsewhere, too—than a moderate drinker; that is, one who gets drunk once a year or so. You see, a hard drinker is known. No important commission is ever his to execute. But your moderate drinker, why, he’s apparently capable. On the surface he’s all right. Consequently he’s given an important duty to perform. Then he drinks. He’s sure to just at that critical time, to steady his nerves—infernal idiocy—and fails ignominiously to himself and his family, and disastrously to others.
Give me the sober man, the absolute teetotaler, every time. He’s dependable. If I had the greatest appointive powers in the country, no man would get even the smallest appointment from me unless he showed proof of his absolute teetotalism.

THE ORACLE.

By Arthur Davison Ficke

I LAY upon the summer grass, A gold-haired, sunny child came by, And looked at me as loath to pass, With questions in her lingering eye.
She stopped and wavered, then drew near; (Ah, the pale gold around her head!) And o'er my shoulder stooped to peer— "Why do you read?" she said.
"I read a poet of old time Who sang through all his living hours The stars more lovely than the rhyme. Beauty of earth—the streams, the flowers,
"And now I read him since men go Forgetful of these sweetest things; Since he and I love brooks that flow, And dawns, and bees, and flash of wings."
She stared at me with laughing look, Then clasped her hands upon my knees— "How strange to read them in a book! I could have told you all of these!" —Arthur Davison Ficke.

CHILDREN'S WORK.

By Mrs. D. A. Fitch

Not long ago I spent a few weeks in a home where family worship is never omitted, and in which every child takes part. The Sabbath-school lesson is the basis of Bible study. The father takes the lead, and the answers are read or given in the words of scripture. One of the children being too young to read, an older one reads the verse, and he repeats it after her. Comments are made and practical points are emphasized. Those of tender years are often called on to lead in prayer and all join in repeating the 'Our Father.'
At the table it is quite customary for one of the children to return thanks. All who are more than eight years are church members, and are good children. There is very little disposition to tease each other, and disobedience is rare indeed.
The church to which this family belong is a rapidly growing one, and there can be no doubt that its growth is largely attributable to the conduct of its young people and children. We are told that a well-regulated family has very much to do with helping their neighbors to be converted. All can help by good examples. In 1 Tim. 4:12 the apostle asks the young to be an example of the believers. Therefore by good conduct and right life even children may be helpful in teaching others of Jesus.
Mrs. D. A. FITCH.

Personally Conducted

Tourist Cars ON THE ## UNION PACIFIC
Operate daily between principal Eastern points and California. The route of the Overland Limited.
S. F. BOOTH, General Agent, San Francisco, Cal. E. L. LOMAX, G. P. A. Omaha, Neb.

Eastern Excursions.

The Chicago and Northwestern Railway's daily and personally conducted excursions to the East afford the greatest amount of comfort at the least cost. The cars are of the very latest pattern and are provided with every convenience. Daily cars leave San Francisco at 6:00 P. M. and personally conducted every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 9:00 A. M. Ask Southern Pacific Agents or R. R. Ritchie, 435 14th Street, Oakland, Cal.

NOTICE.

The Santa Barbara Sanitarium, a corporation existing under the laws of California, for the purpose of caring for the sick and education of humanity along hygienic and temperance lines, offers for sale 100 shares of stock at $100 per share, non-assessable, and paying a guaranteed dividend of 6 per cent. per annum. Stock may be secured through the President of the corporation.
Dr. M. E. Eastman, Santa Barbara, Route 2. Cal.

Bank of Mountain View

If you haven't already done so, why don't you drop us a postal asking us to send you a copy of our monthly paper, "The Bank of Mountain View Journal." It is very interesting. It is full of good ideas, and it is free to you for the asking. If you live in the East, send for a copy and see how we do it in California. We still hold ourselves ready to furnish you with information about Mountain View. Write us.
—Address—

Bank of Mountain View

Mountain View, Santa Clara County, California

Southern Pacific

Whether going East or coming West, do not fail to take advantage of the most essential features of traveling
Speed, Comfort, Safety
Which are given the greatest attention in the equipment of the

Overland Limited

Running over the Southern and Union Pacific. Secure tickets and make reservations for berths from any
Local Agent Southern Pacific Company
—OR—
City Ticket Office, Ferry Bldg., San Francisco, Cal.

IMPORTANT TO TRAVELERS

The WASHINGTON-SUNSET ROUTE announce the opening of their through line via New Orleans. Personally conducted cars, San Francisco to Washington, D. C., via Coast Line and Los Angeles, tri-weekly. Tickets at lowest rates to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, New England, and all Eastern points. Through the Old South. Quick time. Best service. Write Phil K. Gordon, 1708 Fillmore St., San Francisco, for full information.

GRAND CANYON

OF ARIZONA
"A whole chaotic underworld. Most sublime scene on earth. A mile deep, 13 miles wide, 217 miles long, and painted like a flower."
TICKET OFFICES: Ferry Building, San Francisco 1112 Broadway, Oakland 40th St. and San Pablo Ave., Oakland University and West Sts., Berkeley 2d and J Streets, Sacramento 21 So: 1st Street, San Jose, Cal.
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