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Vol. 23, No. 19 Warburton, Victoria, May 71, 7908. ONE PENNY

EVOLUTION AND THE SABBATH

Css U IF you or I were to go to Africa or India or Europe or America to teach the old-fashioned gospel' China to . preach the gospel, what is probably the story—even to many theological schools—we would first thing that we would have to teach the natives still be confronted with the same problem, and would there before we could get them to receive the gospel have to begin thus at the very fundamentals, and lay; message ? the foundation of all religion.

The Khedive's Palace at Cairo. Doubtless it would be the idea of God as their What is the very first fact revealed in the Bible?` Creator, who has thus the right and the power to —" In the beginning God created the heaven and the command our worship and obedience. We could earth." Gen. 1: 1. do nothing until we had led them to receive this as a Are we definitely informed concerning the order great fundamental fact. But how strange and sad to followed and the time occupied in the formation of think that if we were to go to any university in the earth ? 290 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908

Yes ; the record is very plain that it occupied a principles that are opposed to the evolution doctrine, period of six literal days; and that on each successive I must first state some scientific reasons why I cannot day some additional conditions or beings were brought believe in it. One of the primary reasons is because into existence, first the lower forms of animals and I do not believe in geology as currently taught, and vegetation, then the higher forms, and finally, man. upon the accuracy of which evolution depends for its It was clearly' a regular and beautiful order of very life. I do not for a moment believe in the progress or unfolding ; and it certainly took time, and geological ages of the text-books. And it is not by was not all brought about instantaneously. But any means merely a question of length of time. The instead of taking millions and millions of years, the vital point in geology on which evolution depends for record is very plain that it took only six literal days ; support is that only certain types of life were in while instead of the higher forms growing out of the existence at a certain period, that these types dis- lower forms by a long-drawn-out conflict and struggle appeared and were replaced by certain new types, for survival, man himself being only the outgrowth these in turn being replaced by other forms, and so of bestial and savage types, the record is clear that on until the higher animals appeared, and finally each type was created independently of the others, man. But while the early writers on this science directly called into existence from the inorganic supposed that these different fossil forms represented elements at the word of the Infinite One, and pro- distinct successive ages, it is now clearly seen that nounced " very good." their method of arriving at this conclusion violated At the end of this first week of time, God insti- the essential principles of true scientific research as tuted the Sabbath as a reminder of this fact that He laid down by Bacon and Newton. In addition to had made the world in six days of the same length this, modern discoveries among the rocks have given and character as the seventh, or Sabbath. His us whole hosts of facts that positively contradict this blessing and sanctifying it were for the purpose of hasty, unscientific conclusion of the early geologists, giving it over to man as a memorial, or reminder, of that these fossil forms represent successive ages of this most fundamental fact, and to perpetuate among life that have peopled the world. There is absolutely the human race the constant acknowledgment of no line of scientific reasoning that can Prove one their relationship to Him as His creatures. kind of fossil intrinsically older than another. From the very beginning of the science these A Wall Against Idolatry. successive ages have been only the subjective Had the Sabbath been always thus observed there imaginings of crude speculation, mere shadows of the could never have been a heathen or an idolater. mind's own throwing, put forth by men who thought And even now the observance of the Sabbath, in the they had discovered what they had only invented. spirit of its _original design, is an acknowledgment If any reader still thinks that the current geo- on the part of thoSe who observe it that they believe logical ages have been scientifically established, he in a literal creation during a week of the same kind can very soon settle the matter by asking the next of days as the Sabbath which, they observe—days college professor he meets how to prove that the which consisted of an " evening" and a " morning " Cambrian fossils are essentially older than the like all that have succeeded. For if the first six days Cretaceous. To quote but one example out of many were six immense periods of time, then the seventh, or similar instances : In Alberta, Canada, Cambrian Sabbath, must also be an- immense period of time, (" older ") rocks are on tot, while deep down beneath which would rob the Sabbath of its beauty and make them are the Cretaceous ("younger"), the whole ex- it meaningless. tending over many square miles of territory, and having It has just been said that the observance of the every possible physical appearance of having been Sabbath would have saved the world from heathen- deposited as we find them. Such things are leading ism and idolatry. Not only so, but there could never modern scientific thinkers to examine anew the have arisen any false world-philosophy or cosmogony foundation principles of geology, with the result, as such as the modern doctrine of evolution which is above stated, that no one kind of fossil form can be only the embryonic stage of another great system of proved to be essentially older than another. The false religion, for in a very similar manner did all the fossil world is a unit as far as we know, and we great systems of philosophic religion, such as cannot possibly prove that one type lived before Buddhism, Brahmanism, Parseeism, etc., take their another. rise. We in our day are seeing the birth of a very Built on Assumption. similar system of false religion, the so-called "Theistic Evolution," or " New Theology," a system utterly Hence the scheme of evolution, which has incor- impossible unless the world had forgotten the blessed porated into its system such a mess of nonsense as institution which God gave the race in the beginning the geological succession of life, and without which it to keep them from this very thing. would be meaningless, falls to pieces like a house of cards at the slightest breath of common sense and Uncertain Basis of Evolution. true inductive science. Darwin could never have The modern revival of the observance of God's induced half a dozen schoolboys to listen to him if long-neglected Sabbath dates from about the middle the geologists had not erected a pretentious tower of the nineteenth century. It thus runs parallel with from which he could address the awestruck world, the spread of the doctrine of evolution; and two more and his modern followers are always nonplussed antagonistic ideas it would be difficult to think of. when brought face to face with the childish, un- The nature of this antagonism is the subject before scientific way in which this life-succession doctrine us, and will be presented in later articles. But was first built up from absurd assumptions and besides the very fundamental moral and religious mistakes and then treated as an actual fact. MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 291

Therefore it is easy to see that the enlightened (And by the same token we know that wizen the Sabbath-keeper, the true Biblical Christian, has Master of the house returns to it, as He most assur- absolutely no regard for the evolution doctrine of the edly will, He will find very little faith in the earth origin of things, and with the very good scientific —either in Himself, or God, or anything.) reason that he does not believe in the geological Why, because science is every day winning the theories upon which it depends. The mere question world to the belief that everything had a natural of the length of time involved has little if anything to beginning—this planet, all creatures up to man, will do with the logic of the case. Knowing as we do have a natural end also ; and that God Himself if that the geological scheme of life-succession is a myth there be a God, must likewise have had a beginning, and not a fact, it is useless to talk to us about the and will have an ending. higher forms of life, or man himself having developed Even thus does man judge his Maker. out of the lower ones, for one is found fossil as truly as the other, and nothing can Prove that they were We know that the impelling forces are tremendous. not all living contemfioraneously together in that " Modernism " is a giant of such tremendous power, of older world, and were buried approximately together, such apparently overwhelming intellectual force that as the Bible teaches. The evolution theory is a unless a man lays firm and determined hold on the piece of elaborate nonsense, without a vestige of true in- Rock of Ages, and cries, " Let God be true though ductive science in its support.—G. MCCREADY PRICE. every man a liar ! " he will not stand against the (To be continued.) tempest of infidelity that is sweeping over the world.

"Who Made God ?" No READER of the daily newspapers could fail in By E. Doidge. being stunned by the awful railway tragedy which A FATHER was telling his children of the great cast a gloom over the Easter festivities. As hundreds all-Father who had made the world and all that is. of excursionists from Ballarat were returning to " Who made God ?" queried one of the youngest Melbourne after their holiday, and were nearing the of the group. metropolis, the train which had pulled up at Sunshine, Thus a child can ask a question which the wisest the junction between the Bendigo and Ballarat lines. man cannot answer. was dashed into by another train from Bendigo, Yet it is a problem lying deep in the conscience of Four carriages and the guard's van were completely the age—an age marked by a willingness to believe wrecked, and forty-four people met an instantaneous only in that which it can see, feel, apprehend, and com- death or succumbed later on to their injuries, while prehend. Now seeing that the finite can never com- about 350 other people were more or less seriously prehend the Infinite, it is clear that disbelief in the injured. This sad accident emphasises the fact that Eternal Being will be in the exact proportion to man- we are indeed living in perilous times. Our rapid kind's disinclination to accept what cannot be methods of transit, by road, rail, and sea, enhance explained. the dangers to life and limb, and surely there never No man can explain God. Profoundest amongst was a time when it was more important that men the thoughts possible to the human mind is the con- should be prepared for death than the present. templation of eternity, especially the eternity of On one day (April 28) the cable news told us of God. A blank eternity can perhaps be conceived the capsize of the second class cruiser, Gladiator, of, but not an eternity of being, of unsleeping which, during a blinding snow storm off the Isle of consciousness, of untiring activity, of unbounded Wight, collided with the American liner, St. Paul, by happiness. A million years ago God was—it was His which it is feared about thirty men met their doom, yesterday. Fifty million years ago—God was. A while a number of others were seriously injured. hundred million, a thousand million years ago, He From America, the land of tragedies, there came was—The Ancient of Days. A thousand billion news of a terrible tornado, which caused enormous years ago—but alas, the mind fails to grasp the damage to property in the central States. This meaning of such figures,—" I Am that I Am" visitation caused the death of no less than 500 people, existed : Supreme, Inscrutable, Sovereign, Jehovah, and 1,000 more were seriously injured. In Canada a Almighty. catastrophe occurred about thirty miles from Ottawa, And the little wise ants of the earth who have the village of Notre Dame Sallite being overwhelmed studied for a breath the mysteries of nature, say that by a land slide. Most of the villagers, fortunately, they find no positive evidence of God in the testimony succeeded in making their escape, but twenty-five of the rocks, in the working of the unnumbered people were killed. In an engagement on the Indian spheres of the heavens, nor any proof that anything, frontier between the British forces and Afghan and everything, did not come into place, and into tribesmen, 400 of the latter were killed, while there being, by the unaided direction of chance—the were fifty-eight casualties reported by the British greatest marvel being the result of " a fortuitous forces. In Russia terrible destitution exists in the aggregation of atoms "—man. central provinces. The peasants are so lacking in And once again we are face to face with the necessaries of life that thousands of the children evolution. We have not altered the conviction so are stated to be absolutely naked. fully expressed by us three to five years ago that All these tragic occurrences were reported in one evolution threatened the life of the churches, the very issue of the daily press in addition to the usual existence of Christianity itself. It had to be so since column of local fatalities and accidents. Surely we evolution made God unnecessary to His own universe. are living in a perilous time ! 292 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908

Toleration Granted to Christians. This edict of toleration granted by Galerius in 311 A.D., by which Christians were permitted "freely to profess their private opinions and to assemble in their conventicles without fear or molestation, provided always that they preserve a due respect to A. W. Anderson, Editor. the established laws and government," is described as " the most remarkable document on the relation of the pagan State to Christianity." It was " a mere Warburton, Victoria, May 11, 1908. arbitrary toleration, grounded on special reasons rather than on general principles."—A. Taylor Innes. Continuing, this writer says, " Had the policy established by this edict become permanent, we Origin and History of Sunday should have had paganism remaining the favoured Laws.-No. 2. and established religion of the State, while Christi- anity enjoyed toleration. . . . But greater HAVING briefly noticed some of the salient changes were at hand. Constantine, the brilliant features of the Christianity of the second and third young C2esar who had succeeded Constantius when centuries, let us now examine a few of the most he died in the city of York, now came rapidly to the interesting historical facts which belong to the early front. Like his father, he had been brought up in part of the fourth century. Neo-Platonism, and was disposed not merely to Diocletian was emperor, and associated with him tolerate the two contending faiths, but to combine in the government of the world-empire were Maximian, them. In 312 A.D., after the death of Galerius, Galerius, and Constantius. Diocletian and Con- Constantine crushed the forces of his rival, Maxentius, stantius were both friendly to the Christians, many in a battle at the Milvian Bridge, outside the walls of of whom held positions of trust in the service of the Rome. . . . On becoming master of Rome, State. Maximian and Galerius, however, were Constantine at once accepted the office of Pontifex strongly opposed to the religion of the lowly Maximus, and for many years after retained a great Nazarene, and urged the emperor to banish Christi- attachment to the old worship of the sun. . . . anity from his realm. Yielding to their persuasions, Immediately after he became sole emperor of the an edict was issued in 303 A.D. against the Christians. West, he seems to have combined with Licinius, who Churches in all the provinces of the empire were controlled the East, to issue an intermediate edict of ordered to be demolished, and capital punishment toleration. Its terms are not certain, but it probably was decreed against any who should persist in con- resembled the more celebrated one we are about to ducting Christian worship. notice. Toleration to all Religions. Pagan Persecutions of Christians. " In the year 313 A.D. the two emperors met in As we have already noticed in our previous the north of Italy, and issued for the whole Roman article, the church consisted largely of formal world the Edict of Milan. In this enactment the professors, whose adherence to the forms of religion toleration of the Christian religion is made part of a which then passed for Christianity were based upon universal toleration of all religions, and it establishes policy rather than principle. Fearing to incur the absolute freedom of worship."—Church and State, displeasure of the emperor and bring upon themselves page 23. the hardships which it was decreed should fall upon For two and a half centuries Christianity had all who rejected the religion of Rome, multitudes contended for this privilege, but it was not long of these formal professors of Christianity left the before the church itself denied to others those rights church and returned to the worship of the gods. But for which she had sought so earnestly for herself. there were large numbers who refused to be coerced Never before in the world's history had there been into the idolatrous worship which the government introduced what Neander calls " a universal and decreed should be the established religion of the unconditional religious freedom and liberty of con- empire. " Many were burnt alive, and the tortures science—a thing, in fact, wholly new." But it is by which the persecutors sought to shake their important to notice upon what grounds this enactment resolution were so dreadful that such a death seemed was based. While freedom of worship was granted an act of mercy. . . . It was not till 311 A.D., to the people, yet this new policy was not introduced eight years after the commencement of the general because the emperor recognised "any right on the persecution, ten years after the first measure against part of the people to freedom of conscience or of the Christians, that the Eastern persecution ceased. worship. It proceeds upon the convictions and will Galerius, the arch-enemy of the Christians, was of the emperor, and his motive is that he may be struck down by a fearful disease. . . . He who divinely prospered. It is thus a purely despotic had shed so much innocent blood shrank himself from enactment in its grounds."—Church and State. The a Roman death. In his extreme anguish he appealed government of Rome had drifted from republicanism in turn to physician after physician, and to temple into a monarchical autocracy, therefore the emperor after temple. At last he relented toward the could at any time he pleased withdraw privileges Christians. He issued a proclamation restoring which he had granted to his subjects. This law was them to liberty, permitting them to rebuild their therefore one which the church should have esteemed churches, and asking their prayers for his recovery." very highly, because while it was not the outcome of —History of European Morals. the general recognition of the rights of the people, yet MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 293

Christians enjoyed equal religious privileges with churches which vied with each other in courting pagans. imperial patronage were anything but Christian. Had the church rested content with the wonderful For instance, during the controversy over the privilege which had been granted unto her by the appointment of Ccilianus to the primacy of the Edict of Milan, ecclesiastical history would not have African Church, a number of bishops assembled at been stained with the blood of the martyrs. But it Carthage for the purpose of deposing him. They was the ambition of the bishops to rule in civil summoned him to attend their council, but he refused affairs as well as ecclesiastical. A false theocratical to answer their summons, and it was fortunate for theory was being advocated by those proud, self- him that he did, for Bower tells us in his "History of seeking prelates, by which they not only deceived the Popes," that one of the bishops had said of themselves, but the emperor also, and to their deter- " If he comes among us, instead of laying mination to establish a government upon the lines of our hands on him by way of ordination, we ought to their theocratical ideas we may lay the responsibility knock out his brains by way of penance." for the introduction of religious laws and the substi- Yet it was men of such evil characters—ambitious, tution of the Roman Catholic religion as the established self-seekers, unprincipled, schooled in all the arts of religion of the empire in the place of paganism. This political duplicity, who sought to impose on others change in the religion of the empire was most their ideas of religion, and who succeeded in effecting remarkable ; indeed, it could not have been possible an alliance between the Roman Church and the to effect such a revolution in sentiment in so short a Roman government. Nor will the character of time had not the emperor possessed despotic power. Constantine bear close inspection. A clever Under Galerius Christianity was prohibited, churches politician, trained in the art of diplomacy, he saw were demolished, and their lands confiscated. In clearly that the church party could assist him to 311 A.D. an edict of toleration was granted. Two obtain the highest position which the State could years later unconditional religious freedom was offer,—the sole occupant of the throne. Each party established by law. The following year the bishops was willing, nay, sought, to use the other for selfish succeeded in inducing Constantine to enact a law purposes, and while much of the legislation of that ordering that on Friday and on Sunday "there should time savours of religion, it certainly was not be a suspension of business at the courts and in other Christian, whatever its claims may be. civil offices, so that the day might be devoted with less interruption to the purposes of devotion." — The First Sunday Law. Neander's History of the Christian religion. It is to this religio-political combination of paganism Intolerance of the Roman Bishops. and philosophic Christianity that we must look for the origin of Sunday laws. A controversy arising between the African churches- Says the " Encyclopedia Britannica : " The and the Bishop of Rome concerning the rights of the earliest recognition of the observance of Sunday as a former to properties which were ordered to be legal duty is a constitution of Constantine in 321 A.D." restored to the Christians by the Edict of Milan, on Vol. 22, p. 654. This law runs as follows :— the grounds that the Roman Church was the only " Constantine, Emperor Augustus, to Helpidius : On the true Christian church, while the Arian Christians venerable day of the sun let the magistrates and people residing were heretics, appeal was made to the emperor. in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, Various councils were assembled to discuss this however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and law- question, the result of which was that the claims of fully continue their pursuits ; because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sowing or for vine- the Catholic party were established by decree of the planting ; but by neglecting the proper moment for such opera- emperor, who, in an epistle dated 316 A.D., announced tions, the bounty of heaven should be lost. (Given the 7th day imperial favours to " the legitimate and most holy of March, Crispus and Constantine being consuls each of them Catholic Church." Shortly before this Constantine for the second time.)" had empowered, Ccilianus, the primate of the In the seventh edition of the " Encyclopedia African church, to assist the imperial officers—to Britannica " we are informed that, " It was Constan- use the civil power, in fact,—in preventing any tine the Great who first made a law for the proper diversion from the most holy Catholic Church."— observance of Sunday : and who, according to Great Empires of Prophecy, p. 463. It will thus be Eusebius, appointed it should be regularly celebrated seen how rapidly matters had changed in the religious throughout the Roman Empire. Before him, and world of that time. Within the short space of five even in his time, they observed the Jewish Sabbath, years the Roman Catholic Church had stepped from as well as Sunday." By this celebrated law labour the position of an outlaw to be recognised by the of all kinds on Sunday was interdicted in the cities emperor as " the legitimate and most holy Catholic and towns, but the agricultural and rural population Church." were allowed to proceed with their regular avocations. No one will suppose for one moment that all the This Sunday law was not the result of any desire on opposing religious factions, which hated each other the part of the people for such a piece of religious with a cruel hatred, had become reconciled to each legislation. Indeed, " the question was never even other in that brief period. No ! the change was really an act of despotism, condemned by the raised whether the people of the empire had author- churches outside the pale of the Roman Catholic, and ised, or wished to authorise, their ruler to settle their by paganism as a whole ; and it was not long before religion. Still less, of course, was room made for the the controversies of these opposing factions led to question of modern times, whether the people them- bloodshed. The history of those early years of the selves have the right to settle this question by a fourth century furnish ample evidence that the majority for the minority. The whole matter would 294 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908 be settled by the personal convictions of the ruler." is ‘-- Innes in Church and State, p. 27. .r g Mr°14 That this edict was granted by the emperor in response to strong appeals from the bishops of the General Articles Roman Catholic Church there can be little doubt, but it is evident from the wording of the edict itself that Constantine was careful in drafting the law not to offend the large pagan population of his empire. He Not Gold Nor Years. called the day by its heathen name, " the venerable By M. C. Wilcox. (venerabili die solis), which was day of the sun IT is not gold alone that worths the coin ; only natural seeing that Constantine himself was The rightful, legal stamp the gold must join. practically a heathen. ' Tis not the figured note which is of worth, Which value gives it through the wide, wide earth ; Dr. Hessey in his Bampton Lectures, commenting It is the governmental sign and seal on this first Sunday law, says :— Which makes it potent for the civil weal. " Others have refused to discover in the document, or to It is the silver's trace which tempers steel, suppose in the mind of the enactor, any recognition of the It is the life in blood that makes it heal. Lord's Day as a matter of divine obligation. They remark, So life, dear heart, is not of years alone, and very truly, that Constantine designates it by its astrological Howe'er so many to the past have flown. and insist that the epithet vener- True living is not made of years but deeds ; or heathen title, Dies Solis, Of earnest prayer, not counting of the beads ; abilis with which it is introduced has reference to the rites performed on that day in honour of Hercules, Apollo, and Of humble trust, not flight on fancy's wing ; Of toil and task which burdened years e'er bring ; Mithras. And in support of their assertion they urge that in the Oft wrinkled brows, and weary, lagging brain ; same year Constantine promulgated an edict of an unquestion- ably heathen character, . . . that festivals had become Oft sleepless nights and anxious care and pain : ' Tis these write wrinkles on the fairest brow, multiplied and diversified, according to the diversities of And bring the past and future into now, religions, to a very inconvenient extent, . . . and that And bow the form and silver o'er the hair, therefore he determined to compose these chronological diffi- And strengthen noble hearts, or bring despair. culties, by a weekly holiday, which would be acceptable in the But God, the Life, the Lord, the Hope of all, existing state of public feeling, both to his heathen and to his Shapes up the task, lifts up the ones who fall ; Christian subjects." Remoulds the life ; to character gives form, Continuing, this writer says of Constantine and And writes upon the heart His blessed norm Of life ; and makes the care-worn wrinkled face his Sunday law,— A blest expression of His own love's trace. " He had an empire of strangely jarring elements which And so, dear heart, let courage come with years, required to be consolidated. The best bond of union was And rest in God ; to Him give all thy fears, obviously agreement in religion. Accordingly, he may have And go thy way with blest and sweet content, had in view the formation of a hybrid creed, which should And know in Him are all our years well spent. embrace the common points, and carefully suppress the differ- And as His life ne'er ends, no " finis " page, ences of heathenism and Christianity. Neither his own So shall the years bring youth instead of age. heathenism nor that of his day was of the old-fashioned sensu- Immortal youth true characters contain, ous kind, which would assign the statue of Christ a place in the Victorious over labour, strife, and pain, Pantheon, or receive Christ among the gods. It was of a more Till past the years of earth by mortal trod, abstract character, and an abstract religion was easily con- Our life shall measure with the years of God. founded with a spiritual religion. Besides, his own consistency as a sun-worshipper was to be maintained. . . . He had to deal with an empire in which there was a great mixture of religions, though reducible for practical purposes to two The Sabbath vs. The Sunday denominations, paganism and Christianity. He was more than half convinced of the insufficiency of paganism, and nearly half Institution. convinced of the truth of Chri,stianity. He dared not offend By S. B. Horton. the pagans, much as he wished to encourage the Christians. . . To meet this state of things he selected a day of rest IT is maintained by some who observe Sunday for the whole empire, a day already, as we believe, regarded that the fourth command of the law of God warrants by the Christians as a festival of divine institution ; calling it the keeping of the first day as the Sabbath. An by its civil name, as one which the Christians were well acquainted with and did not scruple to employ, but which investigation of this position will reveal its own weak- could not offend the heathen as having nothing distinctly ness. The language of the fourth commandment is Christian in it [italics ours] . . . . As for the rural dis- very clear and definite. tricts, where paganism especially prevailed, these had an exception made in their favour, which obviated every pretence Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt of hardship. . . . His enactment, then, though a political thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the and a politic one, was not Sabbatarian, or an advance toward Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, Sabbatarianism. . . . Eusebius well describes his policy. thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy It was ' to effect the turning of mankind to God by gentle maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy means,' and any more decided declaration would have defeated gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, that policy.''—pp. 60-64. and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. From these extracts, which could be supplemented The reason for making the claim above referred by numerous others substantiating these interesting to is obvious. The church is compelled to hold to statements, the reader, doubtless, will clearly perceive the truth that the law of ten commandments, of that the first Sunday law was nothing but a heathen which the Sabbath command is one, has been and enactment made by a despotic heathen ruler who, as perforce must continue to be the highest code of an astute politician, adopted this method of pleasing moral requirements. Of course, there are those who, the powerful Roman prelates, and at the same time in order to make void seventh-day observance, will giving no offence to his pagan subjects. find it necessary to allege that the law was abolished MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 295 at the cross. But then this is not in harmony with to this question may be heard in statements after this that which Protestant denominations teach in refer- fashipn : "Christ rose from the grave on the first day ence to the decalogue, as witness:— of the week, and for this reason we honour this day The Baptist Church officially teaches :— above all others ;" or, " Redemption is greater than creation, and so we observe the day of Christ's resur- We believe that the Scriptures teach that the law of God is rection as of greater consequence than creation's the eternal and unchangeable rule of His moral government ; that it is holy, just, and good ; and that the inability which the birthday, the seventh-day Sabbath." Others will Scriptures ascribe to fallen man to fulfil its precepts, arises assert, "The law of ten commandments was abolished entirely from their love of sin, to deliver them from which, and and nailed to the cross." But how anyone can make to restore through a mediator to unfeigned obedience to the such responses in the face of the above-mentioned holy law, is one great end of the gospel.—Article XII, Baptist Church Manual. articles of belief is truly incomprehensible. The articles of religion quoted above being funda- The Methodist Church teaches :— mental so far as the churches are concerned, and, be Although the law given from God to Moses, as touching it said, these are in accord with the truth, let us ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the consider the matter of Sunday sabbatising in the- civil precepts thereof of necessity to be received in any com- monwealth, yet, notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is light of the Sabbath command as found in the deca- free from the obedience of the commandments which are called "logue, which is held by the denominations to be the moral.—M, E. Discipline, Article 6. unchangeable will of God," every jot and tittle. The Presbyterian Church says :— The fourth command not only says, " Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," and " The seventh The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of the holy nature and will of God, and of their duty, binding them to day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," but it also walk accordingly. The moral law is summarily comprehended gives the reason assigned by the Lawgiver therefor, in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of viz.: " For in six days the Lord made heaven and God upon Mount Sinai, and written by Him on two tables of earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the stone.—Presbyterian Confession of Faith. seventh day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath The Episcopalian Church teaches:— day, and hallowed it." These reasons assigned for Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation ; observing the day, in connection with the thought that so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved "the Sabbath was made for man," place the seal of thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be perpetuity upon the seventh-day Sabbath.* believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.—Art. 6, Episcopalian Articles of Moreover, the fourth command is the only divine Religion. or apostolic law for Sabbath observance. And it is . . . Although the law given from God by Moses, as admitted by all parties that the first law, civil or touching ceremonies and rites, does not bind Christian men, ecclesiastical, in behalf of Sunday observance, was nor the civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man the edict of Constantine in 321. The conclusion, whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments therefore, is irresistible that for Sunday observers to which are called moral.—Art. 7, Ibid. teach that the ten-commandment law justifies and The church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and warrants Sunday observance is to do violence to logic authority in controversies of faith ; and yet it is not lawful for and reason. Why? For the reasons assigned for the church to ordain anything that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that Sunday observance and Sabbath observance are at it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the church variance, the Sunday-keepers themselves being the be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to judges. How can there possibly be any consistency decree anything against the same, so besides the same ought it in demanding Sunday observance from the standpoint not to enforce anything to be believed for necessity of salvation. —Art. 20, Ibid. of the fourth commandment ? The truth is, there is only " ecclesiastical" It would seem to any fair-minded observer that to authority for Sunday observance at best, and that be in strict conformity with these declarations con- "ecclesiastical" authority is the Roman Catholic cerning the immutability of the ten-commandment Church. It claims parentage of the institution, and law, the churches above quoted would observe the the religious world obeys the law of Rome and not Sabbath called for in the law regarding the same, the law of Jehovah in its observance. In discussing namely, the seventh day ; for the fourth command the absence of Biblical authority for Sunday keeping, says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord Rev. Isaac Williams, in " The Church Catechism," thy God." And it must be admitted that in observing Sunday, the first day of the week, the practice is not Vol. I, pp. 334, 335, says :— in keeping with the teaching as revealed in the There are some points of great difficulty respecting the fourth commandment. . . In the first place we are com- articles mentioned, and to which may be added manded to keep holy the seventh day ; but yet we do not think candid admissions relative to the non-scripturalness it necessary to keep the seventh day holy; for the seventh day of Sunday observance.* is Saturday. It may be said that we keep the first day instead ; but surely this is not the same thing; the first day cannot be Now, then, why do our Baptist, Methodist, the seventh day; and where are we told in Scripture that we Presbyterian, and Episcopalian friends keep Sunday are to keep the first day at all ? We are commanded to keep in preference to the seventh-day Sabbath ? Answers the seventh ; but we are nowhere commanded to keep the first day. . . Another difficulty on this subject : We Christians, * Bishop Jeremy Taylor said, "The primitive Christians did in considering each of the ten commandments, turn to what our all manner of work upon the Lord's day [meaning Sunday], Lord says in explanation of them. . . . " Not one jot or even in the times of persecution, when they were the strictest observers of all,the divine commands; but in this they knew * Alexander Campbell, on Sabbath question, in Bible there were none. . . . It was not introduced by virtue of Advocate, January, 1848, said, " No, it never was changed, the fourth commandment, because they for almost three nor could it be, unless creation were gone through with again; hundred years together kept that day which was in that for the reason assigned must be changed before the observance, commandment [Saturday]." or respect to the reason, can be changed." 296 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908 tittle " of the law shall fail ; that He has come " not to destroy Christ has given His disciples assurance that but to fulfil" the law ; and then He shows in the instance+of the sixth, seventh, and third commandments, how He will require special seasons for devotion are necessary. Prayer them to be fulfilled by Christians, not in the letter only, but in went before and sanctified every act of His ministry. the spirit, and the heart, and thought. He communed with His Father till the close of His In the face of these admissions, in the face of the life ; and when He hung upon the cross, there arose claim that " Holy Scripture containeth all that is from His lips the bitter cry, " My God, My God, why necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not hast Thou forsaken Me ?" Then, in a voice which read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be reached to the very ends of the earth, He exclaimed, required of any man," the Protestant churches will " Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit." continue to propagate this false sabbath, this unbib- Strength for the performance of daily duties is lical intruder; and contrary to the fundamental plat- derived from worshipping God in the beauty of form of Protestantism. holiness. The night seasons of prayer which the Dear reader, can you not discern the right in this Saviour spent in the mountain or in the desert were controversy between the "thus saith the Lord" and essential to prepare Him for the trials He must meet the teachings of men ? Read the first fourteen verses in the days to follow. He felt the need of the of Matthew 15. refreshing and invigorating of soul and body, that He might meet the temptations of Satan ; and those who "Pray Without Ceasing." are striving to live His life will feel this same need. By Mrs. E. G. White. The Christian is given the invitation to carry his burdens to God in prayer, and to fasten himself PRAYER is the breath of the soul, the channel of closely to Christ by the cords of living faith. The all blessings. As, with a realisation of the needs of Lord authorises us to pray, declaring that He will humanity, with a feeling of self-loathing, the repentant hear the prayers of those who trust in His infinite soul offers its prayer, God sees its struggles, watches power. He will be honoured by those who draw its conflicts, and marks its sincerity. He has His nigh to Him, who faithfully do His service. " Thou finger upon its pulse, and He takes note of every wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed throb. Not a feeling thrills it, not an emotion on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee." The arm of agitates it, not a sin stains it, not a thought or Omnipotence is outstretched to guide us and lead us purpose moves it, of which He is not cognizant. onward and still onward. Go forward, the Lord says, That soul was purchased at an infinite cost, and is I understand the case, and I will send you help. loved with a devotion that is unalterable. Continue to pray. Have faith in Me. It is for My Prayer to the Great Physician for the healing of name's glory that you ask, and you shall receive. I the soul brings the blessing of God. Prayer unites will be honoured before those who are watching us one to another and to God. Prayer brings Jesus critically for your failure. They shall see the truth to our side, and gives new strength and fresh grace triumph gloriously. " All things, whatsoever ye ask to the fainting, perplexed soul. By prayer the sick in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." have been encouraged to believe that God will look with compassion upon them. ,A ray of light pene- God will let His light shine into the chambers of trates to the soul, and becomes a savour of life unto the mind and into the soul-temple if men, when they life. Prayer has " subdued kingdoms, wrought lack wisdom, will go to their closets in prayer and righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths ask wisdom from Him who gives to all men liberally of lions, quenched the violence of fire,"—we shall and upbraids not. The promise is, "It shall be given know what this means when we hear the reports of him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. the martyrs who died for their faith,—" turned to For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven flight the armies of the aliens." with the wind and tossed." We shall hear about these victories when the Christ has pledged Himself to be our substitute Captain of our salvation, the glorious King of heaven, and surety, and He neglects no one. There is an opens the record before those of whom John writes, inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing " These are they which came out of great tribulation, from His obedience. In heaven His merits, His and have washed their robes, and made them white self-denial and self-sacrifice, are treasured up as in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before incense to be offered up with the prayers of His the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in people. As the sinner's sincere, humble prayers His temple : and He that sitteth on the throne shall ascend to the throne of God, Christ mingles with dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, them the merits of His life of perfect obedience. neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. Our prayers are made fragrant by this incense. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne Christ has pledged Himself to intercede in our behalf, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living and the Father always hears His Son. Pray then; fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all pray without ceasing ; an answer is sure to come. tears from their eyes." But let me speak in warning : "If any man Christ our Saviour was tempted in all points like regard iniquity in his heart, the Lord will not as we are, yet He was without sin. He took human hear him." nature, being made in fashion as a man, and His necessities were the necessities of a man. Day by day He followed His round of duty, seeking to save " THE Dowager-Empress of China has given the souls. His heart went out in tender sympathy for servants of the Court three months in which to the weary and heavy-laden. And He spent whole abandon opium smoking. After that, if caught, they nights in prayer in behalf of the tempted ones. will get a hundred strokes with an iron rod." MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 297

Passing- the Waymarks. that my confidence was rewarded, especially as a few moments later I reached my desired haven. By S. M. Cobb, In our journey to the kingdom of God we have I WAS at one time travelling with horse and for many years been passing the waymarks which the - vehicle on important business, and it was positively Lord has so kindly given us in His Word. There -necessary that I should reach the objective point of are thirteen great lines of prophecy in the Bible, and my journey at a given time, which, if I hoped to the objective point of each one is the end of the accomplish successfully, no time could be lost. I world and the second coming of the Son of man. In was therefore very desirous of not mistaking my way, each of these lines of prophecy we cannot fail to see as I was a stranger to that road, never having passed the definiteness with which the Lord has predicted over it before. That I might have a feeling of the events which will take place just before the end. security as to the certainty of being on the right The last waymark to the holy city which has been road, I asked an intelligent-looking gentleman if he so clearly specified in each line above mentioned, has could give me definite directions how to reach my either now been passed or we are just now passing it, destination. With a pleasant smile, he assured me and the end of the journey is very near. of his ability to do so, and then proceeded in a most The last waymark given is the complete dissolution definite manner to point out to me on paper the of Turkey as a nation and the great battle of Arma- waymarks on the journey, and he was especially geddon. The nations of the world are now making careful to describe in a minute manner those way- the necessary preparations for the complete fulfilment marks that would be very prominent as I was of this the last of the specified waymarks, and the nearing the end of the journey. This was essential end will then be at hand. The Turk already sees the because the right road was difficult to follow, owing situation, and has decided to surrender his territory as to the many side tracks and by-roads which became soon as a scramble for it is made by the nations, and more numerous in that part of the country. then he will (as the Sultan has already intimated) Having secured this information, I then journeyed remove his treasures and the capital to Jerusalem. on, and noted with much interest each of the way- Of this movement the prophet says, " And he marks which were shown on the paper, which I [Turkey, the king of the North] shall plant the found of considerable service to me. As I drew tabernacles of his palace between the seas [the nearer my destination, I felt more and more confi- Mediterranean and Dead Seas] , in the glorious holy dence in the one who had given me such explicit mountain [Mount Zion, with Jerusalem at its base] ; directions, and as my eyes lighted upon the last yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help landmark he had described to me, which indicated him." Dan. 11 :45. Continuing the same line of that I would soon reach the end of my journey, I felt thought, the next verse reads thus : " And at that

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Order from our General Agents, or Signs of the Times Publishing Association Ltd. Warburton, Victoria, Australia. 298 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1905 time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince, . . . and that is the blood of Christ. God alone can cure and there shall be a time of trouble such as never the malady ; for the heart is deceitful above all things, was since there was a nation even to that same time : and is known only to God. and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every Covetousness is bad in the church; it is infectious; one that shall be found written in the book." Dan. it is disastrous if in any way connected with God's 12 : 1. The finished work of the investigative judg- work, for it leaves its influence upon others. It is a ment, the dissolution of Turkey, the battle of Arma- popular sin; for a shrewd, covetous man is often geddon, the coming of Christ, and the deliverance of looked upon as a wise manager, a shrewd calculator, the saints, are all crowded into those two verses, and a money-maker. Talent, ability, consecrated to God are events which we shall experience when we pass is a noble gift, and sheds much light, and reflects the the last waymark, which already is in sight. grace of Christ, but covetousness in the soul will defeat the work of righteousness. Satan exults when he sees men who are greedily seeking honour and the things of the world, introduce Covetousness. these principles of covetousness into the work of God. By S. N. Haskell. There is one thing God assures us that it is right to COVETOUSNESS and licentiousness are among the covet, namely, the best gift, and the best gift is the worst sins to blind the mind and pervert the judgment, gift of prophecy ; not that each individual may himself because they are so insidious in their working. possess it, but that he covets it in the church ; this Individuals who are covetous and licentious become will be seen by loving its teaching, and cherishing its wholly unconscious of their real condition, and wrong principles. Such persons will have their conversation is considered right, and darkness light. The Lord without covetousness. abhors a covetous man. Ps. 10 : 3. " Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered Begin Weil. from the power of evil." Hab. 2 : 9. In other words, By Ernest Lloyd. bring about circumstances so that his neighbour will be obliged to sacrifice to his disadvantage. The best FOR people who want to start each day aright of people sometimes watch for the halting of a there is nothing to be compared with the Morning neighbour. Watch. Do not argue against it before you try it. Jesus said, " Take heed, and beware of covetous- The plan is very simple ; and when acted upon, its ness : for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance results will surprise you. Just set apart the first of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12 : 15. A half hour, or even the first ten or fifteen minutes of covetous man cannot enter the kingdom of God, no each day, for Bible study, prayer, and quiet thinking. more than an idolater, or a drunkard, or an adulterer, Before you mingle with men have a talk with God, or a thief, or a reviler, or an extortioner. 1 Cor. 6 : 9, and then go out inspired for a day of victory and 10 ; Eph. 5 : 5. Because one man with his family service. We need this daily vision of His glory. coveted the Babylonian garments, the armies of David felt the need of the morning watch when he Israel were defeated, and disaster came to himself and said : " My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, 0 his family. Lord ; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto The spirit of covetousness so blinded a prophet Thee, and will look up." David must have found that he could not discern a reproof from God, even that when he looked up trustingly in- the morning he when a dumb animal spoke ; and so perverted was his did not have to look down guiltily at evening. We judgment, that he could not discern between God's shall find it so. One author, who believed in the worship and heathen worship. That man died a efficacy of a right start, gives us this message : soothsayer, after counselling a wicked king to entice Five minutes spent in the companionship of Christ Israel to sin by inviting them to an idolatrous feast, every morning—aye, two minutes, if it he face to so that they might be weakened and conquered. 2 face and heart to heart—will change the whole day, Peter 2 : 13-16 ; Num. 31 : 16 ; 25 : 1-5 ; Jude 11, 12. and make every thought and feeling different." And A covetous man is not fit to bear responsibility in the so, brethren and sisters, let us begin each day as He cause of God, and yet there is where Satan often would have us—" in the secret of His presence." makes his strong hold. When Moses was to appoint judges and set them over Israel, hp provided out of all the people, able Just Like God. men such as feared God, "men of truth, hating covetousness." Ex. 18 : 20, 21. These principles are " LITTLE MARY was one morning reading with her essential for the elders of our churches at the present mother in the New Testament, and this was one of time. 1 Tim. 3 : 3. The covetous man is a bad the verses of the chapter : For God so loved the world, ruler, and will deal unjustly not only with his own that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever soul, but with others. They sit and hear the words of believeth on Him should not perish, but have God, " but they will not do them ; for with their mouth eternal life.' Stopping for a moment in the read- they show much love, but their heart goeth after their ing, the mother asked, Don't you think it very covetousness." Eze. 33 : 31. wonderful ? ' The child, looking surprised, replied in, Covetousness becomes deeply embedded in the the negative. The mother, somewhat astonished, very soul. It becomes in the individual like the virus repeated the question, to which the little daughter that poisons the people. It is terrible, it dries up the replied, Why, no, mamma ; it would be wonderful liberality of the soul ; and there is but one remedy, if it were anybody else ; but. it is just like God.' ". MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 299

Education is doing much for the Egyptians. The English are now having a great influence, as in other parts of the world, to open the way for the saving truth. There is good protection to mission- World-Wide Field 1) aries under the " Union Jack" in many of the dark lands of earth. We are endeavouring to work to the best of our ability, and we are getting in contact with many and scattering the seed of truth. There are many obstacles to meet. One of the Seventh-Day Adventist greatest and most often mentioned, is that they would Mission in Egypt. starve if they obeyed the Lord. Many of the am- bitious men are working for a place in the govern- THINKING your readers would perhaps like to ment offices, and while in pursuance of the studies to read something about the peculiar customs of the fit him for such a place, a man has but little time for Egyptians, among whom we are working, I shall try anything else (except coffee-drinking), and when once to describe some of them which we have particularly he is the fortunate man to get the place, the situation noticed. is still more trying for him. So the educated have One strange and inconvenient custom is that of positions to give up, and the uneducated are practi- serving coffee. It is strange to us on account of its cally beyond the reach of the truth. However, there universality. When you enter an Egyptian home, are many here in the land of Ham who are friends of the servant who lets you in takes note of the number the truth, and we are earnestly hoping to see them in the company, and off he goes and soon returns obey before it is too late. with a steaming cup of coffee for each one. The Will the readers of the SIGNS pray that we may coffee is served in tiny cups, from which one sips also be faithful watchmen where God in days past did slowly. It is not coffee-drinking, but coffee-sipping. wonderful things, and that the time will soon come It is almost an insult to refuse, but this we cannot when there will be " five cities in Egypt speaking the refrain from inflicting on the good-natured host or language of Canaan"? JAY J. NETHERY. hostess ; but we do so by saying in our very best Arabic, "Ana ma ashrabsh akzeia abbidin, Khartar kheric ketir" (I never drink coffee, thank you very Burma: the Stronghold much). We then tell them that we have not used coffee for so many years, and then add that we are in of Buddhism. much better health for so doing. Generally when NOMINALLY at least the Burmese are Buddhists. they have this explanation, they congratulate us on From " every high hill" the glittering shrines of this firmly following our strong convictions of right, and philosophy proclaim the land's devotion to Buddhism. confess that they wish they could do likewise. To attempt to even outline this system of phil- Whether they mean altogether what they say or not, osophy would require too much space; yet I shall may have to be determined by further acquaintance. hope to be able to tell some things that are profitable Remember that I am writing about the general rule, for every Christian to know. Buddhism is making and not the exception. There are such, of course. such inroads upon the ranks of professed Christianity After such an experience, candy and nuts are offered in the Western lands that it behooves the real child and accepted, thus an apology on both sides is offered of God to know at least a little concerning it. In and accepted. this country, Englishmen, high in government service, When Egyptians meet, you can always determine have repeatedly and openly avowed their acceptance whether they are fast friends or not by the number of of its tenets, and several Europeans of different times they ask about each other's welfare—from three nationalities have adopted the yellow robes of the to four times. This is done with the accompanying priesthood, and may be seen in the streets of Ran- touch of the hand to the forehead and then to the goon, with shaven crown and bared feet, going from breast. The ladies greet with many kisses, first on place to place in the service of their religion. one cheek and then on the other—three or four times, The action of these men has made the work of the mingled with muffled expressions of good will, both missionary doubly hard. The Burman feels that he talking at once. has perfectly silenced you when he points to the fact The Coptic women who are professed Christians, that many white men have accepted his religion after do not wear the veil and brass nose-piece as do the having been raised in Christian lands. Moslems, but when in the presence of strange men, You and I, dear reader, understand that a man is they hold their cloaks, which are their head covering, not born a Christian. To be a Christian, one "must across their faces. be born again." We only speak of a man's being a It is a strange mixture of the laws of modesty to „Christian after he has been converted and has a see a veiled Mohammedan woman sitting on the side- definite experience in the things of God, but such a walk nursing her child, her feet bare, but scrupulously thought is not conceivable to a Burman. On one shielding her face from view. Many times she is occasion I remarked that my brothers were not Chris- smoking her much cherished cigarette, though at a tians, and at once a man said, " What are they ? disadvantage on account of the veil. It truly seems Buddhists ?" It took me some time to make him that Satan has things reversed in these Eastern lands. understand that a man who comes from a so-called Thus it is difficult in many respects to approach them Christian nation may not be a Christian. with the gospel on account of long-standing habits Again, we know that there is a vast difference which serve as barriers. between real and nominal Christianity. Hundreds of 300 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908

professed Christians are woefully ignorant of the stand the word—is ever offered. When the Buddhist Word of God, and thus are easily ensnared by the kneels before his shrine, it is to repeat the praise of enemy. Never having studied to be able to give a Gautama, the priesthood which he established, and reason for the hope within, scarcely knowing why his law. These are the three most precious things, they call themselves Christians, they are silenced by and to repeat their praises is to gain merit of the the subtle arguments of the Buddhist teacher. highest order. Gautama Buddha, the latest incarnation of the As you have noticed, Buddhism has no place for Buddha, and founder of the system of religion that the giving of a Saviour. It teaches that the highest numbers more devotees than any other in the world, good is to be found within every heart. In the was born in India in the fifth or sixth century before exaltation of the natural man it again directly crosses Christ. He was a prince, born to power and wealth. the teaching of the Word of God ; but it is in exact It is probable that the foulness of Hinduism harmony with much teaching now heard in Europe disgusted him so much that he was led to seek some- and America, which admonishes man " to look thing better. within." H. H. VOTAW. The various scenes—portrayed in all the principal monasteries here,--that led him to stop and wonder concerning life and what follows are about as follows: The Awakening of China. He saw a man with leprosy, terrible in its ravages. He had never seen such a one before, and he was led IT is interesting to note the answers which to inquire what caused such a condition, and if he various men, well-qualified to judge, have made to too might come to such a state. He saw an old man the frequently asked question, " Are not the reports tottering on the edge of the grave. Again he was of the progress of Western influences in China agitated, and inquired whether all men were bound to exaggerated ?" Rev. J. Gregory Mantle, of London, become as this poor old man then was. Other views who recently spent eight months in a tour of the of misery and suffering and sickness came to his mission fields of the world, writes that " it is almost attention, although his father had expressly ordered impossible for a Westerner to understand the awaken- that every unpleasant thing should be kept from his ing that has taken place," while Dr. Arthur Smith gaze, until at last he found no pleasure in life, haunted says that " China has made more progress during the as he was by the thought that he too was sure to be last few years than any other nation on the face of a victim to part at least of these ills. the globe. Her attitude towards modern civilisation At length he left all. Kingdom, wife, child, all has wrought changes more remarkable, even, than his attendants,—everything was left, and in the still- those wrought in Japan during the same period." ness of night he started out to hunt for peace of mind. Sir Robert Hart, one of the most influential English- To learn the cause of the misery of earth and a men in China for over fifty years, upon being asked remedy for it, he sought. After various experiences, of the truth of Dr. Smith's estimate, replied, " During as the story goes, while sitting under a large tree, the first forty-five years of my residence in China the meditating, he arrived at what is called " The En- empire seemed to be, so far as the influence of foreign lightenment." Of a sudden he saw that all the woe nations was concerned, a closed room without a of the world is caused by man's own action, and that breath of air from the outside world reaching us. the only remedy for the same is man's own action. During the last seven years a wonderful change has He declared that whatever we receive in life is but taken place. Every door and window has been the effect of actions of this or previous existences. If opened, and the breezes from all parts of the earth in this life we are guilty of wrong actions, we are have been blowing through China. Nothing is doomed to existence in a lower form of life in our needed so much as such a revival of Christianity next birth unless our misdeeds are more than counter- among Western nations as shall lead them to balanced by meritorious acts. If in this life our evangelise the empire." One of the ablest bishops good deeds outnumber the others, we may next be of the American Methodist Episcopal Church, pre- born into a higher order of beings. siding at five different conferences in various parts of The ultimate goal, the final reward of self-right- the Chinese Empire, asked this question at each eousness, is Nirvana. What this is is hard to say. conference : " Provided the church at home could From all I can understand from the terms used, it is double the number of missionaries and funds we annihilation, but the Buddhist objects to the term, place at your disposal for schools, hospitals, and and says it is rather the entire loss of all conscious- colleges, do you think you could win as many Chinese ness, which is the greatest good. This much is for Christ during the next four years as you have admitted : All individuality is lost, absorbed in done during the last fifty-seven years ?" In every Nirvana ; but what Nirvana is I cannot conceive, nor conference the answer was an emphatic affirmative. can the Buddhist describe it, for he admits of no God. This means a great responsibility upon the churches His end seems to me to be extinction. And all must of England and America, and calls for immediate, ultimately attain to this. In this system sin seems to definite, and united effort.—Record of Christian Work. guarantee life. As long as your deeds are evil, you must be re-born an endless number of times till you have received suffering to pay for all you have " ONE hundred papers are now being printed by caused. By good deeds you attain to extinction— this denomination. It has literature in fifty languages; loss of life. and these are the leading languages of the world, so Buddhism, in common with every false system of that through this literature there can be reached four- teaching, is a religion of SALVATION BY WORKS. teen hundred million out of the fifteen hundred million Faith has no place in it. No prayer—as we under- persons on the earth." MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 301

the dumb pathos of their limitations, have surely a claim to exemption from needless cruelty and from unnecessary death. Have I a right to torture and kill animals for Home and Health food, if health and strength and the enjoyment of life can be obtained without torture, without cruelty, and without the slaughter of living creatures who can feel and suffer ? That is the question which some forty years ago I put to my conscience. Conscience Be Kind to the Loved at Home. answered " No," and I became a vegetarian. I have RESERVE your best smiles deep down in your heart, never regretted the step I then took. It caused some When you with acquaintances roam ; temporary inconveniences, but these were greatly And when you have done with the world's busy mart, outweighed by solid advantages. There is more joy Go lavish them freely at home. in eating an apple than in eating a beefsteak, for the Retain your best looks, whoever you meet, fruit reminds one of the orchard and not of the And however life's billows may foam ; slaughter-house. The beefsteak is part of the 0, cherish sweet love, for life's joys are so fleet, mangled and scorched corpse of a creature bred for For the dear ones toiling at home. slaughter, over-driven by land or sea, often with As actions speak louder than words, anyway, relentless cruelty, and then killed with callous Then scatter sunshine, and not gloom ferocity. There is no help for it ; the man or woman 'Mong the loved ones who study your comfort by day, And at eve make cheery your room. who demands flesh meat as food demands that animals shall lose their lives by a cruel death. If Press gently the hand, or give a soft look, this cruelty and death is not necessary for the full For your favourite tasty repast,— A richer reward than trinket or book, enjoyment of his own life, then man, has no justifica- To keep the heart warm to the last. tion for this treatment of his fellow-creatures. Men do not eat the flesh of carnivorous animals, Your home may be lowly, and you may be poor, And far from the land of your birth ; but only of those which feed upon the products of the But if love's golden star shines in at your door, soil. He thus eats a second-hand product, and 'Tis the brightest abode upon earth. obtains a smaller quantity, and at p. higher price, than —Selected. if he spread his tables with the fruits of the earth. From an acre of land there may be obtained the equivalent of a daily half-pound ration of beef or Why I Am A Vegetarian. mutton. This will give two ounces of dry food. The same land devoted to wheat, oats, peas, or beans, I AM sometimes asked, "Why are you a vege- would yield a daily ration of five pounds. This will tarian ?" and I never hear the question without being tempted to reply in the noble words used by Plutarch give seventy ounces of dry food. When the problems of population are discussed, it twenty centuries ago :— should not be forgotten that the land will support " You ask me upon what grounds Pythagoras more vegetarians than flesh-eaters. And this vege- abstained from feeding on the flesh of animals. I, tarian race, by all the analogies of science, will for my part, wonder what sort of feeling, mind, or possess greater strength and staying power than a. reason that man possessed who was the first to carnivorous race. The strongest animals are certainly pollute his mouth with gore, and to allow his lips to not flesh-eaters. What carnivorous creature is there touch the flesh of a murdered being ; who spread his that possesses the strength of the elephant or the table with the mangled forms of dead bodies, and endurance of the camel ? claimed as delicate food and dainty dishes what but It has been said that " Man is what he eats," and, now were beings endowed with movement, with without pushing that doctrine to any dangerous perception, and with voice." extreme, it is undeniable that food influences char- The marvel is not that men should abstain from acter and conduct. A highly-seasoned, stimulating animal food, but that they should be willing to flesh diet helps to inflame the taste for drink—that partake of food obtained by needless cruelty and fertile source of individual degradation and national slaughter. waste. Our forefathers used to couple together No doubt with many their daily diet is a matter gluttony and drunkenness, and though the former of tradition and custom, but an inquirer would soon vice may have become more refined in its appearance, learn that flesh-eating, with all the inevitable horrors it is by no means extinct. Many men still dig their that attend it, has no defence in science. It would own graves with their teeth. be sad to think that man could only maintain his And how many diseases arise from the free existence by the destruction of creatures possessing indulgence in what are sometimes called the " pleas- the same power of joy and pain as himself, but, if ures of the table." Those who confine themselves to such was the case, necessity would be his justification. plain and simple foods are seldom tempted to Shipwrecked sailors who have cast lots as to which injurious excesses, but the reverse is true of those of them shall be killed in order that his body may whose daily fare is from the slaughter-house. An furnish food for the remainder are not tried for additional danger arises from the fact that in spite of murder. Necessity—the sternest necessity—is their the vigilance of the inspectors, an enormous amount answer. Men have a greater claim on the considera- of diseased flesh meat comes into the market of the, tion of man than any other animals, but " our poor great cities, and is consumed on the tables both of relations," with their narrower lives, and with all rich and poor. The animals, which in a truly natural 302 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 1908

state would be healthy, are reared and prepared for before his eyes a vision of the long procession of slaughter under circumstances that make disease tortured animals whose sufferings are the result of his almost inevitable. It is a curious fact that in those demands for flesh meat, would he persist in it ? countries where there is the largest consumption of There is labour that dignifies, and there is labour flesh meat there is the greatest need for medical men. that degrades. Into which class will you place the Germans are estimated to eat yearly forty-six pounds work which has to be done by the men and women of flesh meat per inhabitant, and Australians 276 who are engaged in the noisome processes of killing pounds, but where the Germans are content with 355 cattle ? " Look upon this picture, and on this,"—the doctors, Australians have 780. And in spite of our husbandman and gardener, whose work, however hard, many advantages, climatic and political, Australians is healthy and inspiring, or the slaughterman, reek- are said to be the greatest patrons of pills and quack ing with blood, and striking to death, with remorseless medicines that the world has seen. blows, a creature that shares with him the gift of life, There are many sides to the vegetarian question. and the capacity of joy and pain. Though the time From the scientific side it may be claimed that the is not yet, I look forward to a better day when flesh- anatomist, the physiologist, and the pathologist are eating shall have gone the way of other customs, more and more acknowledging the truth of the inherited from more barbarous ages than our own. vegetarian contention. That man is not by nature The poets are often true prophets ; they are the intended for a carnivorous animal is now practically heralds of the better days to be. Shelley had a vision admitted by all. That many diseases are incidental of the Festival of the Nations, and it was a vege- to flesh-eating and are best cured or alleviated by a tarian feast. Laone says :— vegetarian diet, is the doctrine taught in an increasing " My brethren, we are free ! The fruits are glowing degree by the medical profession. The experience of Beneath the stars, and the night-winds are flowing athletes shows that strength and endurance can be O'er the ripe corn ; the birds and beasts are dreaming— Never again may blood of bird or beast maintained without what is called " the roast beef of Stain with its venomous stream a human feast, old England." When it is remembered that the To the pure skies in accusation steaming. vegetarians are as yet a small minority of the Avenging poisons shall have ceased To feed disease, and fear, and madness, population, the athletic successes they have scored The dwellers of the earth and air are truly remarkable. And in the intellectual domain Shall throng around our steps in gladness, the experience of Plutarch, of Shelly, and of Tolstoi Seeking their food or refuge there. must count for something. On the asthetic side Our toil from Thought all glorious form shall cull, there can be no doubt that the kindly fruits of the To make this earth, our home, more beautiful ; And Science and her sister Poesy earth are„ pleasanter to the sight than the ghastly Shall clothe in light the fields and cities of the free." fruits of the slaughter-house. Vegetarianism --William E. A. Axon, LL.D., F.R.S.L. would do something to tame the war spirit and to make men aid each other by the mutual exchange of the fruits of their labour. Passions can be inflamed by the unwise use of an abnormal and unhealthy Are Women Stingy? diet, and self-control can be helped by healthy and By Mrs. M. H. Tuxford-Crothers. unstimulating food. Vegetarianism would raise the standard of life by setting free more money and As A rule, if women are less free with their money energy for the conquest of those things that make for than men, it is for the very sufficient reason that they the true charm of daily existence. The real beauty have less money to spend. of a home is not to be measured by its pecuniary Behind the apparent stinginess of many a woman cost. By the rejection of that which is unnecessary, lies a pathetic little story that the world never knows. we should make it easier to have that which would Sometimes she is cloaking her husband's miserliness add to the dignity and pleasure of life. The vege- to her. Sometimes we see her pinching and scrimp- tarian ideal is surely one that appeals to the best ing, and we cannot know that she is heroically stand- instincts of human nature—to the love of the ing like a sentinel, over wretched and ruined fortunes, beautiful, and to the kindly sympathy that would trying to keep up appearances until the girls are save innocent life from torture and death. Let us at married or the boys in business. least try to avoid increasing the misery and sorrow of It is to his mother's so-called stinginess that many the world. Let us try to make existence brighter a poor boy owes his start in life. His father hadn't and better for all living creatures. the courage not to spend money freely. He was From the inevitable dangers incidental to flesh esteemed the soul of generosity, and the neighbour- foods the vegetarian is free. And he is free from hood pitied him for having a stingy wife. " They complicity with the system which degrades the men say she can make five pies out of three blackberries," who are engaged in it. The innocent public shudders they whispered and tittered behind her back. But at the horrors of the sea transit of cattle. But it is she went unmoved on her way. She stinted here, the demands of this same " innocent " public for its and saved there, and practised a thousand heart- daily dole of flesh meat that condemns men—and breaking economies, but she gave her boy an women too—to the horrible business of needless education and a start in life. slaughter and of all the disgusting processes by Stingy ?—No. Most women are careful of which flesh meat is prepared for the table. The man money ; they are just with it; and when there is who sits down to his dinner of beef or mutton does need, they are liberal. not think of that which has had to be done before the food can be placed before him. Alas, what evil is " THE language of heaven is acquired, not by wrought because men do not think! If there rose memorising its vocabulary, but by living its life." MAY 11, 1908 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 303

amused smiles of the onlookers, led her very carefully to a place of safety. After many thanks to " my knight of the rosy countenance," as she called him, he went on his way Children's Corner quite forgetting the little incident. Not so, however, by the little bent figure. In recognition of his thoughtfulness, courtesy, and gentlemanly act that winter day, she left a legacy to " my knight of the rosy countenance," who had by that time grown into A Kind-Hearted Dog. the man of trust of which his youth had shown promise. THE other day we read a true story about a Boys, be kind in words and acts to the hoary- gentleman who had a beautiful big Newfoundland dog. head, to the form bent by the weight of years. Heed Whenever he went out with his dog they had to not the amused smiles of your companions. True pass by a crack or gully in the ground, which was politeness and gentlemanly behaviour call forth no very deep, but not very wide. When they came to jest. Remember, too, the greatness of your life this gully, it was always the custom of the dog to depends upon your small acts of kindness. If you jump over it, and jump back again, and keep on doing are not kind to the aged in your youth, how can you this a number of times. But one morning this expect when the hand of Time has silvered your hair gentleman had a friend with him, and this friend had for youth to be kind to you ? a dog, but it was a very little one, not half as big as One writer says, " Death is the haven of life, and the Newfoundland. When they came to the gully, old age the ship which enters the port." I hope you the gentleman expected his big dog to jump over as will help by your kind words and acts to give that usual, but instead of doing this, it ran along the edge "old age" ship an easy and pleasant journey while of the gully, and got to the other side by going a long it is ploughing the waves of time. way round. The dog evidently did this because it Scatter sunbeams on his path ; respect, reverence, knew that the little dog was loo small to jump over and love him who is in the evening of life, boys. the gully, and if the big dog jumped, the little one " The hoary head is a crown of glory." might try to do the same, and would fall down the gully and be injured. What a kind heart that big dog had ! When the gentleman saw it, he said to himself, " This is a " IN order to convey an adequate idea of the lesson for me. It teaches me to think of my weaker magnitude of the work at Panama, the latest canal brother. There may be many things which I could report says that the amount of concrete to be used in do without getting any harm, but if by my example building the locks would be sufficient for the con- my brother will attempt to do the same things, he struction of more than twenty-two thousand eight- may receive great harm. Therefore in future I will room city houses. This is certainly a case where the think of my brother, and take care as to what concrete is more impressive than the abstract." example I am setting." Paul says, " If eating meat cause my brother to stumble, I will eat no more meat while the world lasts." It is for this reason among others that so many of us are total abstainers. We do it for the Good Health for 1908 sake of the weaker brother, who might be led to take drink by our example, and who might become a drunkard. We trust that all our young readers are DO YOU POSSESS IT ? total abstainers, and that they always will be, if only The up•to-date Health and Temfierance journal called "Good Health" offers to eta readers for 1908 an excel,- for the sake of the weaker brother.—Selected. tionally interesting and important variety of topics. The following we quote from the December issue:— The Good Health Voyage Planned for 1908 promises to prove a very profitable and pleasant one. To Boys. We expect large numbers of new passengers to embark, and have every By P. Brunzen James. reason to believe that all the old ones will go with us on this voyage. None of the favourite old places will be passed by, while new ones are HAVE you ever heard, boys, the story of how being opened up and enjoyed, We will now place before you the chart on which the route for 1908 has been marked out. once, when King Winter had strewn the street cross- "The course comprises twelve lessons on Physiology and Hygiene, ings with his feathery flakes, a boy hastened along twelve lessons on Sanitarium Treatments, twelve lessons on Domestic Nursing, twelve lessons on Hygienic Cookery, twelve Talks with Mothers, the street with the glow of health upon his cheeks ? twelve Chats with the Doctor, besides other interesting illustrated articles, There was something in that boy's mien, his firm original contributions, editorials, and health news." The Goon HEALTH is a twenty-page monthly journal, handsomely printed tread, his comely countenance, and polite manners on highly finished paper, which makes it an ornament to any household. which betokened the coming true man, the man of PRICE : 216 PER ANNUM, POST FREE. grit. Presently a queerly-dressed, decrepit woman Special rates for Signs of the Times and Good Health to one address attempted to cross the hazardous street, and seeing Signs of the Times, ordinary price - - - - 4/6 the danger to the frail form our little hero sprang to Good Health, ordinary price 2/6 If both papers are ordered at the same time, price 5/6 • thus effecting her side, and politely lifting his hat said, "Please a saving of 1/6. Send 2/- extra for postage to New Zealand and South Pacific Islands. allow me to assist you across the street." His young Combination rate to foreign countries, 9/6. arm firmly supported the tottering steps of this eccentric, shabbily-dressed woman, and despite the Address: Good Health Office, Cooranbona, N. S. W. 304 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAY 11, 190&

favour of Mr. Edison, and a combination with a capital of 21,600,000 has been formed to control the entire moving picture business of the world. The business which this com- bination controls is said to represent an investment of over

" THE scheme for a telegraph line across the Sahara is now complete. There is already a line between Algiers and Timmimonu, and this will be extended to Bourren, a distance of 870 miles. The wires will be at a height of fifteen feet, to We send out no papers that have' not been ordered ; if persons receive allow caravans to pass. One would suppose the Sahara a. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES without ordering, it is sent to them by some friend, and they will not be called upon to pay. first-rate field for the exploitation of wireless. In the past the We hear sometimes of subscribers not getting their papers. We shall, heliograph has been much used, and under the blinding and, take pleasure in promptly rectifying all such mistakes if you will call our constant sun of Africa makes a fairly effective telegraph for attention to them. PRICE, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE considerable distances." For twelve months, post free in the Commonwealth ... 4/6 For six months, post free in the Commonwealth ... " A NEW 2/6 invention is reported from Austria which seems For three months, post free in the Commonwealth ... 1/6 likely in time to displace matches as a means of obtaining a Five or more copies to one or,five addresses, post free in the Commonwealth, twelve months ... each light. Auer von Welsbach, the inventor of the celebrated gas- Twelve or more copies to one or twelve addresses. post free mantle, has discovered that certain alloys of iron in combination. in the Commonwealth. twelve months ... ... each 3/4 with rare earths, as cerium and lanthamum, produce showers of PRICES TO NEW ZEALAND. exceedingly bright sparks when scratched with a file or knife. For twelve months, post free ... 6/6 These alloys are now being manufactured in Austria at a price For six months, post free 3/6 of about thirty shillings a pound. A small quantity, however, For three months, post free, 2/- Five or more copies, twelve months ... each 4/6 such as can easily be carried about, will last for a long time." Twelve or more copies, twelve months ... ... each 3/6 All to be sent to one address. " AN interesting instance of an incidental utility of the' To other countries in the Postal Union ... telegraph cable occurred the other day when the little island' Single copies, postage extra Ascension, midway between Africa and Brazil, and containing All orders sent direct to the publishers or their agents, either for single but 35 square miles, was temporarily ' connected up ' with. subscriptions or for clubs, must be accompanied by cash: Greenwich to ascertain its longitude. The 4,000-mile cable All orders for reductions in clubs ratist be received fourteen days previous touches land in Cornwall, and land connections were made so, to date of issue. that the Ascension chronometer and the observatory clock at Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, Warburton. Greenwich were recorded side by side on the tape. When the Victoria. Australia. computations are concluded the longitude of the island will be For brief advertisements in thiselepartment a charge of 2/6 per inch known as accurately as though a great observatory had been or fraction thereof is made for each insertion. We open no accounts set up there." for advertising. Cash must accompany each advertisement.

" AN English contracting firm engaged upon the construction of harbour work in Rotterdam, Holland, has built, for the HEALTH purpose of sharpening the driviog ends of piles, a machine AT THE which resembles a gigantic pencil-sharpener. Piles of up to twenty-eight inches in diameter are sharpened to a 5-inch point SYDNEY in fifteen minutes."

" IN Iceland horses are shod with sheep horns ; in the SANITARIUM Soudan the horses are shod with socks made of camel's skin. A German not long ago invented a horseshoe of paper, prepared The Sydney Sani• by saturating with oil, turpentine, and other ingredients. The Whim makes use of all rational' layers of such paper are glued to the hoof till the required means in aiding thickness is obtained, and the shoe thus made is durable and the restoration if impenetrable to moisture " that priceless tressuteHeatth. Baths of all kinds, " FEW persons would guess that the smallest things visible Massage, Electric- to the eye are the stars. Yet, according to a high authority, ity, Diet, etc., are egpaempsenioyeaci es such is the case. Great as many of the stars are in actual chith magnitude, their distance is so immense that their angular Very few chronic diseases are incurable, at least they should not be pronounced diameter becomes insensible, and they approach to the con- incurable until the Sanitarium methods have been given a trial. dition of geometrical points. The minute discs that they appear to have are spurious, an effect of radiation." The Sydney Sanitarium is located at WAHROONGA, a beau3iful suburb of Sydney, at an elevation of about 700 feet. The winter climate is bracing and delightful. " SCENTED hairpins are the latest •novelties exhibited in the West End hair-dressers' windows. The knob at the top of the hairpin is fitted with a spring, which at the slightest touch Meets SYDNEY SANITARIUM, WAHROONGA, N.S.W, releases a miniature spray of perfume. The idea is always to ensure absolutely fresh perfume. It is quite easy for a For Descriptive Souvenir woman to pat her hair, or to replace a hairpin, and this is all that is necessary to release the perfume.''

"A LOG of mahogany, which has been sawn through at Belfast Our General Agents (Ireland), was found to contain right through a very clearly Victorian Tract Society, Gordon Street, Toorak, Melbourne. defined ' photograph ' of a small deer and a larger animal, New South Wales Tract Society, " Elsnath," Burwood-St., Burwood. running. The ' photograph ' was probably transmitted by Queensland Tract Society, 186 Edward Street, Brisbane. South Australian Tract Society, 93 Franklin Street, Adelaide. lightning during a storm, and the pictures must have been West Australian Tract Society, 826 Hay Street, Perth. ' taken ' a long time ago, as the tree, being 4ft. in diameter, Tasmanian Tract Society, Heathorn's Buildings, Liverpool Street, Hobart. is an exceedingly old one. Every plank of the log right New Zealand Tract Society, corner Bridge St., Lower Hutt, Wellington. International Tract Society, 39/1 Free School St., Calcutta, India. through shows the images clearly." International Tract Society, 56 Roeland St., Cape Town, S. Africa. International Tract Society, Stanborough Park, Watford, Herts. England. FOR the past nine years Thos. A. Edison, the inventor, has Singapore Tract Society, Villa Hatsu, 12 Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore, S.S. been engaged in legal controversy with the makers and dealers Printed and published by the Signs of the Times Publishing Association, Ltd. in moving picture machines. The courts have now decided in Warburton, and registered as a newspaper in Victoria.