Christian Science and Its Private Interpretation of the Word
THE apostle Peter, in admonishing the believers in Christ to take heed to the word of prophecy, gives them a principle with reference to the interpretation of that word. It is one of the very first things that they are to know in interpreting the Scripture. He says, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.” In this statement he at once precludes individuals’ speaking by authority of themselves. No one is to set himself up as an interpreter of the Bible, and give it private, or special (as the margin reads) interpretation.
The reason is given for this in the verse following the one already quoted. He says, “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” The prophecy, not having been given by the will of man, is not to be subjected to the will of man. “Men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” This gives us the Scriptures as a direct Word of God.
In this strange anomaly called Christian Science, we have a body of doctrine in which no believer attempts to interpret the Bible for Himself. Neither is he free to take the Bible’s interpretation of itself. There is only one authority in Christian Science, and that is the statements of Mrs. Eddy. If she says that a certain text, or a certain word in a certain text, has a certain meaning, her word, her interpretation, is law.
According to her interpretation, there is no literal meaning to the Bible. All its meanings are figurative; she says, spiritual. But as one studies her interpretations, he sees that these interpretations are really figurative, and Christian Scientists may think that they are the spiritual explanations of the text.
In some cases, however,—in fact in many cases,—this spiritual explanation is really a denial of the plain statement of the text. In other words, Mrs. Eddy’s spiritual explanation makes the text precisely the opposite of what the literal reading of it gives.
Thus she makes the text in Gen. 6:3 contradict itself. According to the literal writing, the first clause of the passage reads thus: “My Spirit shall not rule in man forever.” She makes the word “rule” “be humbled.” Now to be humbled means just the opposite of rule. The second clause of the text says, “for that he also is flesh.” This one scripture is enough to annihilate Christian Science, if allowed to stand just as it reads, the very thing we would allow everywhere else, at10least. But as it denies Christian Science, and as Christian Science is not to be denied by the Bible, because, in pretension at least, Christian Science is to be Biblical, therefore she explains “for that he also is flesh” so that it should read, “In their error they are but dust.” Now everybody knows, who knows anything at all about the matter, that “in their error” is not in that scripture. There is nothing in the scripture to hint any such thing. “In their error” is an explanation that comes direct from Mrs. Eddy; and although it is not by the will of man, it is by the will of woman, which amounts to the same thing. Now we reject any scripture that has to come in part from any human being. The Scripture is not brought, does not come, by the will of men. It comes from God, through men that are moved, or that speak it, by the Spirit of God.
What is more, the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets. That is to say, he who would be one of God’s teachers, will not teach in denial and rebellion of the great teachers from whom has come the Word of God. If the statement of God that man “is flesh” is displeasing to Mrs Eddy, what will she do with that word in Psalms, which tells us that the Lord knows our frame, and remembers that we are dust? Dust seems more materialistic than flesh; but why should it not be dust, since we read that on the last day of creative work God formed man of the dust of the ground?
With this last scripture, that man was formed of the dust, Mrs. Eddy boldly takes issue, it being so utterly contrary to Christian Science. She tells us that here error has done its work. An enemy has written these things. This part of Genesis is not from God. It has been put in by some false teacher. And so Christian Science does not agree with this part of the Bible as it stands. Of course any doctrine can be supported by the Bible, if this is supporting it by the Bible. To reject all parts that disagree with one’s teaching, and accept only some which seem to agree with it, is certainly blowing hot and cold alternately, so far as following the Bible is concerned. And if it is not private interpretation, then we fail to know what private interpretation is.
Concluded next week.
The Great Final, Fiery Test
God’s Touchstone
We prize most those things which will endure test, which are proved to be genuine. So God’s people are a tried people, those who endure. In His plan, life and immortality are dependent upon righteousness, and righteousness upon faith. By choosing, believing, receiving, and submitting to God, we have life. By rejecting Him, we choose sin; and choosing sin, we choose death.
But the great deceiver has persuaded man to believe that he is immortal and will live forever, whether a sinner or a saint; that a something conscious survives all material death and destructive agencies; that to all eternity the pains of hell or the torments of the damned will not shorten or curtail the existence of one miserable sinner.
And yet man is a material being, of the earth, earthy; and, being sinful, he is subject to death. Here are the two—character and claim. God declares that only in righteousness is life; only in living connection with God is continued existence possible. On the other hand, a false theology and a false science, inspired and fostered by the father of lies, claim that man lives in and of himself. Out of this, blossom other errors, as, for instance, Universalism, Spiritualism, eternal misery, etc. The test now between the two, character and claim, is not multitudes, but God’s Word. The final test will be by fire.
In speaking of the work of the Christian ministry and its results in the souls affected by it for good or ill, the apostle says:
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Cor. 3:13.
The same fact is set forth in Rev. 14:10, 11, where it is said of those who reject the Gospel:
“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
The word “torment,” noun and verb, comes from the Greek words basanos and basanizo, and are defined by the standard Greek lexicon of Liddell and Scott as follows:
“Basanos, the touchstone. [Latin, lapis Lydius] a dark-colored stone on which pure gold, when rubbed, leaves a peculiar mark. 2. The use of this as a test; generally, a test, trial whether a thing be genuine, solid, or real. 3. Inquiry by torture; tormenting labor, torture of disease. Matt. 4:24.
“Basanizo, to rub upon the touchstone; hence, of things, to put to the test, prove, to investigate scientifically. 2. Of persons, to examine closely, cross-question, to question by applying torture, to torture, rack.”
From the above definitions it will be seen that the root meaning of the term is to test or try. The idea of torment, or of causing pain, is not a necessary element in the original meaning of the word, but is wholly a derived one. Test or trial is the primary meaning; and the use of the word in the Scriptures must have correspondence to the original and proper use of the word.
God’s great touchstone by which the final test between the false and the true is to be made is fire, the burning glory of His presence, that shall set on fire the very earth. “The FIRE shall TRY.” “Our God is a consuming fire.” “Whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the forthshining of His presence” (literal meaning). “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” “She [great Babylon] shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” “And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” These are a few of the utterances which speak of God’s last great test of claim and character. To this the prophet also refers:
“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” Isa. 33:14.
And he answers: “He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly.” The claim to inherent life apart from character, withers and is consumed by devouring fire, carrying with it all who have trusted in it. The character endures the flame, even as the three Hebrew children endured the fiery furnace, because Christ was with them.
The “torment” (testing) is forever; the test is final, and the smoke of the testing ascends forever from sight, and the incorrigibly wicked are no more. Ps. 37:20. Sin and all identified with sin are forever destroyed, and the tested jewels of God’s casket abide forever in the presence of His joy.
Reader, God in mercy, veiling His glory, desires to come into your heart now, that He may purge you of sin. Will you let Him in? He would have you choose His presence now, that you may endure the presence of His unveiled glory when He comes. Let us entreat you, choose Him now; choose Him forevermore. Let the sin be put away and destroyed, that you may not be destroyed with it in His glorified presence.
Thanksgiving Time
By Editor
THIS journal will reach its readers when all this nation will be, presumably, giving thanks. The President will have issued his thanksgiving proclamation, and this will be repeated by the various governors in all the states; for it is Thanksgiving time, the last Thursday in November.
“It is a good thing to give thanks.” One apostle tells us, “Rejoice always.” We read again in the Word of God, “Giving thanks always for all things.” But what is thanksgiving time? Is it simply for a day? Recipients of God’s mercy and goodness and bounties for 365 days in the year, are we to use but one day for giving thanks to Him? It is good to do it for a day. We have nothing against the thanksgiving, public or private, on November 25; yet it ought to take on broader scope, oughtn’t it? The soul ought to get such a view of the great Father’s blessings, and of the marvelous ways by which He can turn seeming curses into blessings, that he would thank Him all the time; for it matters not tho the worst of all things comes to us in this world, even death. Christ has broken the power of the grave; and tho sin may have enthralled us for years, He is able still to break its power and make us free. So notwithstanding our condition, whatever it may be, we have cause to be thankful to Him. We may think in our selfish hearts as did Jacob, “All these things are against me;” but if we by steadfast faith look to the Giver, He will make all these things WORK TOGETHER for good to them that love Him. Therefore, let us be truly thankful, not only in this season of the year when the earth is pouring out into our hands its fruits and harvests, but let us be thankful in the seed-time as well; and if some one else gets more of earth’s harvests than it seems to us they are entitled to, still let us be thankful.
Christianity gives promise not only of the life that now is, but of that which is to come. Let us show our gratitude by helping others. There may be the poor and the sick around us, those whom God has permitted to suffer for the necessities of life; let us minister to them of our blessings, show that we are thankful to Him by identifying ourselves with Him in the bestowing of blessings upon others. He tests our thanksgiving in this way. Let us meet the test, and like Abraham of old, while we receive of God’s blessings, be blessings to others. Let Christian hearts remember those without the Gospel in the great heathen lands of earth, and let us send our blessings on to them.
Breaking Down Caste in India
At the last national congress held at Madras, delegates of every class, caste, and creed sat down, side by side, at a common meal. Of course, this was a violation of all the laws of caste; and were caste customs rigidly enforced, every delegate—even tho a high-caste leader—who attended the banquet could only escape exclusion from his caste by undergoing ignominious and degrading penance. But not one of these delegates appears to have made himself liable to any such forfeitures or penalties. A few years ago, some of the most influential leaders in Poona had to submit to the most humiliating treatment because they had simply taken tea with missionaries. We regard this as among the most significant movements of the day, that this impenetrable and incommunicable system is giving way, and that leaders of Indian society openly and with impunity violate restrictions that have the sanction of remote antiquity and universal usage.—Missionary Review of the World.
Halley’s Comet
HERE is very much said in the newspapers regarding Halley’s comet, and a great many sensational things are said also. This comet has made visits to the solar system fourteen times since 240 B.C. In this present visit, according to astronomical reckoning, it will pass between the earth and the sun, 54,740,000 miles from the sun. At one point the nucleus of the comet will be at a distance of 13,020,000 miles from the earth. That will be May 18 of next year. On that day the earth, comet, and sun will approach as nearly as possible, Astronomer Larkin tells us, the same straight line; the comet in between the earth and the sun. Should the nucleus reach the exact straight line, it would pass between the earth and the sun, and be seen in transit across the sun’s disc; but it might not be visible at the time of transit, however, as that lasts but a few seconds.
The same astronomer also says the gigantic comet of 1882 actually made transit across the sun’s disc; but the nucleus was so nearly transparent that it could not be observed. He also tells us that if the tail of the comet is as long as it seems to be, pointing away from the sun, on May 18 of next year the earth will dash through it, or rather the tail will sweep over the earth. These comets’ tails are supposed to be made of fine illuminated dust; and there may also be more or less gas connected with them. But these are still questions.
The comet of 1858 had a tail length of 42,000,000 miles; the comet of 1843, 200,000,000 miles. No one is able to predict the length of these streamers, because the quantity of comet dust and the rate of activity of nuclei are not known.
So all this question regarding the tail of the comet is yet problematical. It has been predicted that when the earth passes through the tail of this comet there will be a shower of meteors; but that too is questionable.
The orbit of this comet was calculated first about 1705 by Halley. He declared that it would come to perihelion—that is, nearest the sun—in 1758 or early in 1759. It reached that position on March 13, 1759. This achievement was considered so great by his brother astronomers that the comet was named after him. This is the first comet whose orbit was located in space; and the computation was made possible only a short time before by the discovery of the law of gravitation by Newton.
The diagram we take from Professor Larkin’s article in the San Francisco “Examiner.” Figure 1 is the relative dimensions of the orbit of the comet and planets. The small circle with the sun (s) in its center is the orbit of the earth. The body with the tail, below the sun, is the comet at perihelion; the opposite end of the great ellipse is aphelion. The greatest distance across the ellipse is 3,348,000,000 miles. Figure 2 presents the orbits of the earth and the comet, an enlarged view of the orbit of the earth and a part of the orbit of the comet. The comet is in perihelion April 18, 1910. The earth’s position at that time is shown. May 18, 1910, the comet is nearest the earth. The comet’s distance from the sun at perihelion is 54,700,000 miles. The comet’s distance from the earth May 18, is 13,020,000 miles. The arrows show directions.
The comet has not always shown the same characteristics. In 1456 it filled all Europe with terror; its tail was enormously large. In 1607 its tail was small. In 1759 it was not easily seen north of the equator. Its motion is retrograde, opposite to that of all the planets and nearly all comets.
Mr. Larkin concludes his article by asking, “And now will professional scientists stop spreading unrest and distress among the people?”
“White Slaves”
A few days since, this term was applied to the case of two sisters who were found in evil resorts in Chicago. Arrests and investigation had disclosed the fact that the young women came from one of the smaller cities of Illinois. The older sister left home because she was dissatisfied. After some experience in Chicago she influenced her sixteen-year-old sister to join her, who claimed that she left home because her mother “did not treat her right.” Both were called “white slaves” in the newspaper account of the incident. But the judge before whom the girls were brought was of the opinion that this kind of slavery called for punishment of the victims as well as of the young men involved in the case, and he sent the younger to a reform school, which has locked doors and barred windows.
And the judge was right. These girls were “white slaves” simply and solely because they volunteered to become such. They lived in a college town, full of churches, Sabbath-schools, and wholesome influences. The mother who “did not treat them right” probably objected to their loitering around the railroad stations or staying out until midnight. She also, no doubt, thought it better for them to keep in good company. The daughters resented such restraint, and it was not difficult to slip into a train and land in Chicago. Once in the great city, it was easier to fall into evil surroundings than to do honest work. To call these girls white slaves is to wrest language from its ordinary and reliable use.
But it is to be feared that this is the beginning or history of the greater part of the “white slavery” of which we now hear so much. Recruits for this kind of slavery land in Chicago every day. Evil resorts are continually supplied with them. They come of their own free will, and they come because they have been lurking in the shadows of the streets of their home towns when they ought to have been at home in bed. Hence, the “white slave” evil will not be cured simply by arresting the keepers of evil resorts, altho the more such offenders are arrested the better. The remedy must begin further back. It must be applied to the moral life of the smaller cities and towns which furnish so much of the population of the larger cities. There must be less scouting at Puritan morals, less rose-water treatment of sin in the pulpits, less criticism of parents who endeavor to be firm with their children, less punishing of teachers who try to restrain their pupils, less making the child “it” and the parent an old fogy, less of the idea that young America is bound to come out all right anyhow. For young America can get into the wrong place as easily as other flesh and blood.—Advance, Congregationalist.
Meetings in Australia.
Mr. W. A. Somerset Shum, on the editorial staff of the Southern Cross, attributes the success of the Chapman-Alexander meetings in Australia to system and organization, simplicity and directness, the preaching of the plain Gospel, and the singing of soul-saving songs.
Death of Prince Ito
The assassination of Prince Ito can not be said to come as a surprise. When he overthrew the Korean kingdom, that it might be absorbed by Japan, his life was threatened by Koreans who stood well up in Korean national affairs, especially in the army. The hatred of Japan and Japanese by all Koreans is and has been well known the world over ever since the powers refused to make good the conditions of the Portsmouth treaty that the integrity of the hermit kingdom should be protected, which they agreed to do, the United States leading in promising such protection. For not standing to that promise, Special Ambassador Stevens was assassinated in the Ferry Building in San Francisco, because, as the representative of the United States, he aided Japan, so it was charged by the Korean government, in wrecking it.
But as to Prince Ito personally and as a statesman, without a doubt he was Japan’s greatest man. It was he who suggested that the empire become a constitutional monarchy and adopt occidental and European social customs and codes of laws, especially the Common Law of England, he himself writing a constitution and outlining a basis for his country’s jurisprudence. It was he who inspired building up a great navy and a great army; it was he who induced the new government to go to Europe for professional soldiers to drill the army; it was he who started a current of Japanese youth to America and Europe to attend the universities; it was he who changed the Japanese government and people from their ancient civilization to a higher and better one. Prince Ito was big enough and broad enough to see that to hope for a place in the family of nations, Japan must be modern in all things. Japan heard and heeded Ito, and as a consequence Japan a third of a century later was recognized as the greatest nation in all Asia from every view-point. Prince Ito was a giant statesman, a giant diplomat, and an accomplished scholar. His death was untimely, and a dreadful blow to the budding civilization of the Far East, and all the more is his death to be lamented because he was stricken down by the hand of an assassin. But back of it all lies the faithlessness of the nations of Europe and America to their pledge to Korea.—San Francisco News-Letter.
Polygamy Increasing in Utah
A little while ago, says the Salt Lake “Tribune,” we printed a roster of men who are actually reputed, and doubtless correctly so, to have entered into new polygamous relations within recent years, very recent years indeed as compared with the date of the manifesto of 1890. The “Deseret News,” referring to that list, apparently accepted it as correct and undertook to belittle “the polygamy scare” by saying that if these were all who had gone into polygamy since 1890 the list was a matter of no great concern.
This admission, however, on the part of the church organ, serves not to limit the number of new cases of polygamy, but as a foundation upon which reasonably to assume that polygamy is alarmingly prevalent; for to every new polygamous case that comes to the notice of the non-Mormons there are doubtless 100 that the non-Mormons never hear anything about.
It is entirely safe, therefore, to say that the new cases of polygamy are numbered by the hundred; perhaps it would be no great exaggeration to say, by the thousand.
At all events it is a sure thing that there has been such a recrudescence of polygamy within recent years as could not have been dreamed of at any time between the outgiving of the manifesto and the conferring of statehood upon Utah.
Ship Subsidies
By Editor
Ship Subsidies.— President Taft is greatly stirred over the matter of ship subsidies. He believes that there ought to be a certain number of American merchant ships subsidized by the Government; in other words, made secure against losses, so that in case of need the Government could use them. He declares:
“So inadequate is the American merchant marine to-day that in selecting auxiliary ships with which to make our navy an instrument of offense or defense, or, indeed, in sending it around the world as a fleet, we have to call on vessels sailing under a foreign flag to carry the coal and to supply the other needs of such a journey. Were we compelled to go into a war to-day, our merchant marine lacks altogether a sufficient tonnage of auxiliary unarmed ships absolutely necessary to the proper operation of the navy; and were war to come on, we should have to purchase such vessels from foreign countries, and this might under the laws governing neutrals be most difficult.”
While Ex-Congressman Landis declares that without soldiers which would be available in time of war, our navy is “a bluff,” “much like an automobile without gasoline.”
We do not wish our readers to get the idea that we are particularly interested in war or politics. We believe in peace. The Gospel is the Gospel of peace. We are pointing out, however, just what God has pointed out in the sure word of prophecy, what is likely soon to come. The call is for war preparations.
Mortality of Children.
A recent bulletin issued by the Government, called “Census Mortality Bulletin No. 104,” compiled by Dr. Cressy L. Wilbur, Chief Statistician for Vital Statistics, declares that according to the returns for 1908 from the entire registration area, which covers about one half of the United States, one fifth of the total number of deaths were of infants under one year of age; and over one fourth, of children less than five years of age. This is simply awful. More than one eighth of a million babies under one year of age, and fully 200,000 children under five years of age, died among one half of the population of the United States in the year 1908; and it is considered that at least 47 per cent of the deaths of the children under one year of age were preventable; and 67 per cent from ages two to eight. Certainly this is a horrible condition, and speaks loudly regarding the ignorance of parents and those who have the care of children.
A Right Decision.
The Denver Retail Grocers' Association some time ago set out to force all non-union grocers to close their doors on Sunday. About 500 of these smaller shops in the city opposed this action and maintained that they were being deprived of their rights as citizens. The Denver County Court decided for the Grocers' Association. It was carried to the Supreme Court, and the judgment was reversed, and the case remanded, with instructions to dismiss the complaint. The opinion declares that “a business or occupation that is not liable to interfere with public morality or tend to create disorder, and over which the city has no special control, can not be singled out and made the subject of prohibition on Sunday.” This is good sound sense as far as it goes.
Converted (?) to Catholicism.
The Marquis de Castellane reports to a paper in this country that the French premier, M. Briand, has become converted, through a fascinating woman, to Roman Catholicism; that the actress who has entangled him in her toils goes from the theater every night to confession, therefore the French prime minister follows. It would seem possible that the conversion, however, was somewhat questionable.
Japanese Spies.
Three former officers of the Japanese army were caught making plans of a military reservation at Honolulu. They evaded the sentries by the circuitous climb of an extinct crater, carrying kodaks; and the films taken from them showed pictures revealing the positions of eight 12-inch guns. Drawings also, and calculations, were found in their possession.
What Will the Future Be?
By Editor
CERTAINLY no one who has known San Francisco has ever called it a “strait-laced,” a “puritanical” city. In her most conservative moods in the past she has been what moral men would call decidedly liberal. There have been times when she was as open and immoral as it would seem any lover of pleasure could ask; and yet the mayor-elect tells us that his aim “as mayor will be to let San Francisco have what it wants to have; and to be guided by the popular desire in all matters relating to those wants. The government will be a government of San Francisco by San Franciscans; not a government founded on ideals imported from New England, the Middle West, the South, or any other section of the country.” He says: “I do not see why I should strive as mayor to erect barriers in the path of people who are old enough to know what they want, and are gifted with the speech and unity to demand it at the public election.” “How long lights shall be lit, pianos shall play, and glasses shall clink, are questions which shall be solved as soon as the new administration gets down to active work.” Hopes are faint in the hearts of the better class as to anything like reform. If the San Francisco council, which is largely composed of the mayor’s friends, all share his sentiments, we can only imagine what the result will be. How sad it is that the lesson has not been learned!
China Awake.
Mr. William T. Ellis, on the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Press, in an article printed in a recent Independent speaks thus of China: “When it comes to China, with her four hundred millions of people, one is tempted to abandon any attempt to convey even the most superficial impression of the seriousness of her present crisis. China’s awakening is portentous. It is marvelous. It is indescribable. It is incredible. It is limitless in its influence. For the sake of the world to-day—for the sake of the next generation—for the sake of China herself, some new prophet watchman should ascend the housetops of civilization and cry aloud with megaphonic voice: ‘China is awake! China is awake!’ CHINA IS AWAKE!!! The biggest of all nations—the people with the greatest latent powers—the heirs of to-morrow—have started to school to learn all the ways and weapons and wisdom of the West. This is the news of the day that most deserves ‘scare heads’ in the newspapers. Here is the subject upon which every wise man will inform himself and instruct his children. Let a man wear his last year’s coat, if need be, so that he may buy the latest and best books about China.”
Gift to Charities.—
John Stewart Kennedy, who started as an errand boy in Glasgow, Scotland, died in New York, October 31, worth $60,000,000. He divides this into halves, giving one half to charities and universities and the other to his relatives. The American Bible Society receives $750,000; the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, $2,250,000; the Board of Church Erection fund of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in this country, $2,250,000; and also the same for the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. A number of other religious organizations received large sums.
Poorly Paid.
Bishop Anderson of the M. E. Church writes to the Christian Advocate that the average annual salary paid to preachers in the Blue Ridge Conference, including probationers, is $238. This is very small, isn’t it? Less than $4.60 a week!
Rockefeller and the Hook Worm.
Mr. Rockefeller is doing a good thing in giving one million dollars to the fighting of the hook worm among the poor whites of the South. We hope that every dollar of it will be a blessing.
Bubonic Plague
Bubonic Plague.— An Oakland (Cal.) butcher has the third case of bubonic plague contracted in the last three months. He became infected through eating squirrels shot in Contra Costa County.
