p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 25. (6/20/1900)

Earlier text: THE SOUL-STIRRING THING ABOUT INDIA

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TO CONTRIBUTORS.

By Editor

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is a purely missionary enterprise. For this reason it has felt free to ask for contributions from its friends. It pays nothing for contributions, either prose or poetry, unless solicited by the editor, and then the fact is stated when the articles are asked for. This is a plan rarely followed, but sometimes deemed expedient.

Articles Desired.—Those which set forth in the Spirit of Christ the great saving truths of God, short and to the point. It is better to treat one important truth clearly, in a short article, than many points vaguely in a long one. We desire no caustic, critical productions, which might minister to personal pride or pleasure, but can not save souls.

How Prepared.—Write plainly, with typewriter or ink, with wide space between the lines, to freely admit of editing, writing of subheads, etc. Write on one side of the sheet only. Sign the name to the manuscript, as it becomes oftentimes separated from accompanying letter. Anonymous contributions are not used, whatever their merit. If the writer does not wish his name to appear, let him furnish a pseudonym for the public. But we wish the name.

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NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to "explain" a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid," also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.

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Looking unto Jesus

A remarkably impressive little tract translated from the French. It aims to lead souls so to behold Him that they will ask not, "What can I do?" but "What can He not do?" A. G. L. No. 1. 50 cents per 100.

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.

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The Gospel Herald

By Editor

Volume No. 1 of the Gospel Herald, bound in blue manila, comes to our table. This is twelve numbers of a little magazine issued by the Southern Missionary Society in behalf of Gospel work in the South, for all classes, especially among the neglected ones, the poor and needy. The work is put on the true basis, and the help given is, wherever possible, to help the needy to help themselves. For years J. E. White, the president of the society, has run a steamer, Morning Star, on the Mississippi in the interests of practical missionary work, and much good has been done. To all who are interested in this work we would say, send 25 cents to Gospel Herald, College Building, Battle Creek, Mich.; and read the paper. Its perusal will, we know, give you added interest.

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

By Editor

Poetry. Rejoice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Mother's Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Life's Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

General. Worthy of Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 The Right Side and the Wrong Side, MRS. E. G. WHITE . . 2 Have Patience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Remarkable Prophecies, H. C. GILES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 In Point of Faith There Is No Difference, H. F. PHELPS . . 4 The Fundamental Doctrines of Theosophy, J. O. CORLISS . . 5 The Gifts of the Spirit, A. F. BALLENGER . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 What Is War? F. D. STARR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 No "Entangling Alliances" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 At Which Table? WM. WARD SIMPSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Outlook.—No Federal Interference for Religion—Methodist General Conference—Influence of Modern Literature—Disregard of Law—The Constitution, Its Violation—Increase of Drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9

The Home.—God's Law in the Home, RUTH GARDNER—How to Hurry—Mother's Apron Strings . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11

Music.—Longings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Missions.—The Soul-stirring Thing about India, W. A. SPICER—The Colored Race, J. E. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . 12, 13

International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Publishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Cleansing, Self-Emptying, and Power

It is true, as has been said, that the Spirit of Christ "awaits our demand and reception." But this does not mean in words. Jesus was filled with the Spirit, but before that He was emptied of self. Who "emptied Himself," "made Himself of no reputation," in the common version. Let that be a part of the demand, and the other part to use the Spirit to God's glory. There will be no failure then. Cleansing from sin, emptying of self, then power—power over sin, then power to do service.

Prayer for the Filipinos

By Editor

Every Christian ought to pray for the pacification of the Filipinos, and the opening of those lands to the Gospel. Surely there are souls in the moral darkness reigning there who are longing for light. We do not mean to imply that government aid is necessary, but the condition of things now is such that few will pause to listen, and the missionary will find himself hampered at every turn. 1 Tim. 2: 1-3 is a good text for meditation and practise.

THE INDIAN FAMINE FUND.

By Editor

THE article in our Missions department and a note in our Outlook will be of interest to our readers, and will give brief information of the condition of the terribly depressed people of India. Our contributions thus far are as follows:—

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES . . . $50 00 Employees of the Signs office . . 64 30

There is room for others, and India's need is great.

No Federal Interference

By Editor

"No Federal Interference."—We are pleased to lay before our readers the article in our Outlook department, "No Federal Interference for Religion," from the Christian Advocate. Individual rights are infringed by polygamy, but not by the free exercise of religion. There is one sentence which may be misunderstood, namely, "But Federal interference, never, unless the people violate the law." This we understand, in consonance with the rest of the article, to refer solely to civil legislation. The Federal government, or any other government, has no right to make a law guarding, promoting, or protecting religious institutions or dogmas; and the transgression of such a law may be conscientiously, religiously, and Christianly the highest duty. No true Christian will ask the aid of civil power. The Advocate well says, "It is 'pleading the baby act' for any religion in this country to ask for Federal interference in its own behalf or against another." This should be remembered when demands for Sunday laws are made.

Religious Liberty for All

It might be worth while for our Methodist brethren to study the subject of religious liberty a little more deeply. They demand it for themselves in the insular possessions of this country; yet they are among the strongest advocates of Sunday laws, among the very foundation-stones of the union of Church and State in the first centuries. If we truly believe in religious liberty, we will believe in it for the other man, whatever relation we may sustain or attitude we may assume toward his religion.

Matthew 24 and Its Parallel Chapters

By Editor

There is no chapter in all the Word of God of more interest to the student of the future than Matthew 24, together with the parallel chapters of Mark 13 and Luke 21. We shall soon begin a series of articles on these chapters combined, which will be of intense interest. A fuller announcement will be given later.

The Liberty Number

By Editor

Our Liberty number, dated July 4, will have a special cover design, with a panel center of Faneuil Hall, "the Cradle of Liberty." Another feature will be a page of striking poetry, inspired by present conditions in the world. The main articles will be of a character instructive to every soul,—citizen, patriot, or Christian.

Why Do They Not?

By Editor

The Catholic Mirror thinks it a shame that Roman Catholics do not celebrate Calvert's settlement of Maryland and the religious liberty he granted. It thinks that event "should ever bring a thrill of pride and exultation to every Catholic as a sharer in the faith which was professed by the noble Calvert, and which animated and inspired him to the unexampled liberality which he engrafted upon his character." Now if Catholics wish to honor Calvert, let them not set apart a day for that purpose, but emulate his example. He only acted as a Christian should. Was it "unexampled" because it was Christian and not something else? It is all in the Golden Rule.

WHAT LIES BEFORE US?

By Editor

What is the future of this world? Will it be peace, as many are hoping and laboring for? or will it be war, as the actions of nations seem to indicate?

Will the world be converted? or is this present sad condition of things to continue? or may we look for something else?

What is the purpose of God as regards this earth?

All these and other legitimate questions thousands are asking, but receive at the best but equivocal, contradictory replies. They ask of men, and men reply, oftentimes each according to his wish.

The only sure source of information is the Word of God. He has told us what is coming. He has told us what the outcome will be. He has predicted the issue of the struggle of Peace and War, Capital and Labor, Evil and Good. And He has stated it all so plainly in His Word that none need be left in doubt.

Knowing the interest the above and similar questions possess in the minds of men, we have secured for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, from Pastor F. M. Wilcox, Chaplain of the Colorado Sanitarium, at Boulder, Colo., seven papers, as follows:—

Peace versus War, The Oppression of the Poor, The Degeneracy of Society, The Great Stone, The Wheat and the Tares, Apostasy in the Church, God's Great Purpose.

These articles will not be human hypotheses, but the verities of the Word of God. They will present what the Bible has to say. They will view the field from the Mount of God, through the field-glass of the "more sure word of prophecy." You will wish to read them. You will want your friends to read them. Subscribers for the SIGNS will obtain the instruction in these and much more besides. If not a subscriber, you may subscribe now, at $1.00 a year. After October 1, it will be $1.50.

AN INTERESTING OCCASION.

By Editor

THE sixteenth annual commencement exercises of Healdsburg College were held in the S. D. A. Church, adjoining the college campus, at Healdsburg, Cal., Monday evening, May 28. The baccalaureate sermon had been preached the Sabbath previous by Pastor J. O. Corliss, of San Francisco, from Psalm 119: 9: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word."

The members of the graduation class of 1900, as of all graduating classes, were bright, intelligent, interesting. Six courses were included, the graduates of which were as follows: Scientific, Vita E. Mallory (upon whom was conferred the degree of B.S.); Normal, Katherine B. Hale, Luella Reed, Sydney A. Smith; Biblical, Christian G. Marchus; Missionary, Denton Sees, Yoshimasa Noiri (Japanese); Preparatory Medical, Winford L. Fuller; Teachers', Abbie B. Dail, Maggie S. Jorgensen, Ora E. Edward, Cora J. Winning, Agnes H. Bingham, Carl W. Bond, Charles B. Baber.

The program was of interest, but for such a school, especially designed to fit men and women for meeting, in the highest, the truest, and, therefore, the best way, the hard practical problems and duties of life, it seemed to a devotedly friendly observer that there was altogether an undue proportion of instrumental and classic music, and some of the music might better have been omitted altogether. Let us not be misunderstood. We believe in music, in its high, ennobling, and refining influences; but it would seem to us that the commencement exercises of an educational institution ought, in an especial way, to represent the aim, the object, and the work of the institution. The music rendered, some of which was really fine, must have represented a tremendous amount of energy in the closing weeks of the school year, detracting more or less from other studies of more importance.

President M. E. Cady's address was a stirring extempore talk on "The True Higher Education," which not only prepares young men and women for eternal progress in the world to come, but makes them bundles of practical usefulness and blessings here and now, in contrast to what is called "the higher education" in worldly institutions of learning, which, apart from God's creative and regenerating power, "is foolishness."

This note would not be complete without reference to the simple and expressive class motto, "Faith, Not Fame." If that shall truly be the motto of the members of the class, they will find in its following the truest, highest, noblest development. Mere fame is self-centered, and if pre-eminently achieved by ambition, it hardens in selfishness the heart, makes its possessor the mark of envy and detraction, and if he lives long enough, spreads his banquet table with Dead Sea apples. On the other hand, faith leads heart and mind and soul out of self to the Infinite God, develops a character like His, and makes its possessor a constant blessing to all around. The name of such an one may not appear on the human scrolls of fame, but it is written in the great Book of Life.

May God bless the Healdsburg College.