The Judgment in Session

[Registered at the G.P.O., Melbourne, for transmission by Post as a Newspaper] Vol. 27, No. 32 Melbourne, Victoria, August 5, 1912 ONE PENNY

The Investigative Judgment By Mrs. E. G. White

"I BEHELD," says the prophet Daniel, close of His work as a mediator. It is " till thrones were placed, and One that this coming, and not His second advent was ancient of days did sit. His raiment to the earth, that was foretold in proph- was white as snow, and the hair of His ecy to take place at the termination of head like pure wool ; His throne was fiery the 2,30o days, in 1844. Attended by flames, and the wheels thereof burning heavenly angels, our great High Priest fu-e. A fiery stream issued and came enters the holy of holies, and there ap- forth from before Him ; pears in the pres- thousand thousands minis- ence of God, to tered un- engage in the last to Him, WAV acts of His minis- and ten tration in behalf thousand „-= of man, — to per- times ten forni the work of thousand stood before investigative judg- Him ; the judgment ment, and was set, and the books DiP,EBOOKS to make were opened." OPEXED" an atone- " And, behold, one ment for like the Son of man all who came with the clouds are shown of heaven, and came to be entitled to its to the Ancient of benefits. The books days, and they brought of record in heaven, in Him near before Him. which the names and And there was given Him dominion, and the deeds of men are registered, are to glory, and a kingdom, that all people, determine the decisions of the judgment. nations, and languages, should serve Says the prophet Daniel, "The judgment Him; His dominion is an everlasting was set, and the books were opened." dominion, which shall not pass away." The Revelator, describing the same scene, The coming of Christ here described is adds, "Another book was opened, which not His to the earth. He is the book of life ; and the dead were comes to the Ancient of days in heaven judged out of those things which were to receive dominion, and glory, and a written in the books, according to their kingdom, which will be given Him at the works." 498 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912 The book of life contains the names of duty, and every secret sin, with every art- all who have ever entered the service of ful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings God. bade His disciples, " Rejoice, or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, because your names are written in unimproved opportunities, the influence heaven." Paul speaks of his faithful exerted for good or for evil, with its far- fellow-workers, "whose names are in the reaching results, all are chronicled by the book of life." Daniel, looking down to recording angel. "a time of trouble, such as never was," The law of God is the standard by declares that God's people shall be de- which the characters and the lives of livered, " everyone that shall be found men will be tested in the judgment. written in the book." And the Revelator Says the wise man : "Fear God, and says that those only shall enter the city keep His commandments; for this is the of God whose names " are written in the whole duty of man. For God shall bring Lamb's book of life." every work into judgment." The Apostle " A book of remembrance " is written James admonishes his brethren, " So before God, in which are recorded the speak ye, and so do, as they that shall good deeds of "them that feared the be judged by the law of liberty." Lord, and that thought upon His name." Those who in the judgment are " ac- Their words of faith, their acts of love, counted worthy," will have a part in the are registered in heaven. Nehemiah resurrection of the just. Jesus said, refers to this when he says, " Remember " They which shall be accounted worthy me, 0 my God, . . . and wipe not out to obtain that world, and the resurrection my good deeds that I have done for the from the dead, . . . are equal unto house of my God." In the book of God's the angels; and are the children of God, remembrance every deed of righteousness being the children of the resurrection." is immortalised. There every temptation And again He declares that " they that resisted, every evil overcome, every word have done good" shall come forth " unto of tender pity expressed, is faithfully the resurrection of life." The righteous chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, dead will not be raised until after the every suffering and sorrow endured for judgment at which they are accounted Christ's sake, is recorded. Says the worthy of " the resurrection of life." psalmist, "Thou tellest my wanderings. Hence they will not be present in person Put Thou my tears into Thy bottle ; are at the tribunal when their records are ex- they not in Thy book ?" amined, and their cases decided. There is a,record also of the sins of Jesus will appear as their advocate, to men. " For God shall bring every work plead in their behalf before God. "If into judgment, with every secret thing, any man sin, we have an Advocate with whether it be good, or whether it be evil." the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." " Every idle word that men shall speak, " For Christ is not entered into the holy they shall give account thereof in the places made with hands, which are the day of judgment." Said the Saviour, figures of the true; but into heaven "By thy words thou shalt be justified, itself, now to appear in the presence of and by thy words thou shalt be con- God for us." " Wherefore He is able demned." The secret purposes and mo- also to save them to the uttermost that tives appear in the unerring register; for come unto God by Him, seeing He ever God " will bring to light the hidden liveth to make intercession for them." things of darkness, and will make The work of the investigative judgment manifest the counsels of the hearts." and the blotting out of sins is to be ac- " Behold, before Me, . . . complished before the second advent of your iniquities, and the iniquities of your the Lord. Since the dead are to be fathers together, saith the Lord." judged out of the things written in the Every man's work passes in review be- books, it is impossible that the sins of fore God, and is registered for faithful- men should be blotted out until after the ness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each judgment at which their cases are to be name in the books of heaven is entered, investigated. But the Apostle Peter with terrible exactness, every wrong distinctly states that the sins of believers word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled will be blotted out, " when the times of August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 499 refreshing shall come from the presence The Voice of Nature of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus By R. Hare Christ." When the investigative judg- 'Tis writ on the cloud-steeps that rise in their ment closes, Christ will come, and His splendour, reward is with Him to give to every man 'Tis seen in the star-lights that sparkle above; as his work shall be. While over each flower-bud that blossoms so tender, Solemn are the scenes connected with Fond nature has pencilled that "Our God is the closing work of the atonement. Mo- love." mentous are the interests involved there- The breezes that whisper at dawning and twilight, Along with the fleet winds that restlessly rove in. The judgment is now passing in the Afar o'er the meadows, in unfettered delight, sanctuary above. For more than sixty Bear ever the message that "Our God is love." years this work has been in progress. Day unto day, with their sunbeams of gladness, Soon—none know how soon—it will pass Lighting the hill-tops or shading the grove, to the cases of the living. In the awful Flash ever, on eyes that are weeping in sadness, presence of God our lives are to come up The blessed assurance that " Our God is love." in review. At this time above all others Murmuring streamlets from valley and mountains, it behooves every soul to heed the Sa- Wandering afar where the forest birds rove, viour's admonition, " Watch and pray ; Falling in cascades or swelling in fountains, for ye know not when the time is." " If Tell out in their singing that "Our God is love." therefore thou shalt not watch, I will Why, then, should the sons of men fear to believe it, come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt Since nature but whispers what wisdom can not know what hour I will come upon prove ? Why should the sons of men fail to receive it— thee." Jehovah has written that " Our God is love ? " When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Pro- bation is ended a short time before the The Brutal Paw of the Russian Bear appearing of the Lord in the clouds of THE Russian Government appears to heaven. Christ in the Revelation, look- do some things vindictively. Its policy ing forward to that time, declares : " He towards Finland is an instance. The that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and cruel news comes from Helsingfors that, he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; from next year's Budget, there will be and he that is righteous, let him be right- struck out the usual generous grants for eous still ; and he that is holy, let him be education, scientific research, art, litera- holy still. And, behold, I come quickly ; ture, consumptive sanatoria, half the cost and My reward is with Me, to give every of the elementary schools, with the whole man according as his work shall be." cost of the Finnish Diet. This is not in the interests of economy, for the Finnish Exchequer is to be charged at the same time with substantial pensions for " THERE is no sin so small that it does Russian favourites. What this must lead not pain the heart of divine love; no sin to, it needs no prophet to foresee. It is, so great that divine love cannot blot it of course, Russia's aim to sink Finland, out." with its nobler faith and its finer civil- isation, to its own semi-barbarian level. "IT is not a hard thing to wander from Few things could be more pathetic and God if the soul so desires, but it is a appalling, remarks a contemporary ; and, more difficult thing to return. The path it adds, Russia ought to know that in this is more rugged, the way seems strange, attempt to extinguish the splendid the soul has lost its bearings. Happy, national life of 3,000,000 of people, who indeed, is the man if he be not shut up are the " salt " of the Empire, she will by Giant Despair in Doubting Castle. incur the condemnation of the Christian Happy, indeed, is he who remembers that world.—Selected. no one waits with such earnest longing to welcome his return as does the One against whom he has sinned, Christ Jesus " WITH a clear eye and an upright our Lord." heart resist every wrong. " 500 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912

The Great Tribunal By 11. F. De'Ath Its Nature judged worthy or unworthy of punish- IF, according to the Word of God, there ment. Indeed, one cannot conceive of a is to be an investigative judgment prior judgment taking place without some to the second advent of our Lord, and standard of righteousness to guide the hence before the close of this world's tribunal in forming its decision. Only history, it is very evident that all cannot as the record of men's lives is tested by appear in person before the "great white a fixed code of right laws can their throne," since many will be living on the characters be justly gauged. In the earth at that time, and the dead of all heavenly courts of justice men will be ages will still be in their graves. And judged through the Son of God and by yet Paul says, "All must appear before the law of God. Christ will be the the judgment seat of Christ." divine channel through whom judgment Now it does not necessarily follow that is pronounced, and the law of His Father men must appear in person in order to be will be the measuring rod of human judged by the heavenly tribunal. In character. Those who, having heard the heaven a faithful record of each indi- message of salvation, pass the test of the vidual life is kept, so that every work is judgment will have been found in har- brought "into judgment, with every mony with " the commandments of God secret thing, whether it be good, or and the faith of Jesus," By the law of whether it be evil." Eccl. 12: 14. That God as handed down amid the thunders this is so is evident from the words of of Sinai and magnified and exemplified Malachi the prophet : " They that feared in the life of Christ will each soul be the Lord spake often one to another, and tested. James 2 : 12. How important, the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a then, in this day of opportunity, that book of remembrance was written before men respond to the exhortation of the Him for them that feared the Lord, and Word : " Fear God, and keep His com- that thought upon His name." Mal. 3: mandments, for this is the whole duty of 16. Hence without the personal attend- man," and to the words of the Master ance in heaven of one soul, the charac- Himself : " If ye love Me, keep My com- ters of all will be laid bare before the mandments." John 14 : 15. Those who Judge of all the earth. Through the have responded to the divine call and many centuries of the dispensation of pass the searching test of the judgment grace angelic scribes have been busy will be acknowledged by Christ as His recording the good and the bad deeds children, and their names will be retained against the name of every human soul. in the Lamb's book of life : " He that It was this solemn fact that led the wise overcometh, the same shall be clothed in man to utter that timely and impressive white raiment : and I will not blot out his warning to mankind : " Suffer not thy name out of the book of life, but I will mouth to cause thy flesh to sin ; neither confess his name before My Father and say thou before the angel, that it was an His angels." Rev. 3 : 5. error : wherefore should God be angry at Its Proclamation to the World. thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands ? " Eccl. 5 : 6 ; see also Matt. 18 : A message proclaiming the hour of 1o. Thus it is that in the day of investi- God's judgment was not proclaimed in gative judgment men are judged, not in the time of Christ and His apostles for person, but "out of those things which the simple reason that such an announce- were written in the books, according to ment was not due to the world at that their works." Rev. 20 : 12. time. When Christ on one occasion entered the synagogue at Nazareth and The Standard of the Judgment read the prophecy of His own work from In an earthly court of justice there is a the sixty-first chapter of Isaiah, He made standard of morality by which men are it very clear that His mission was " to August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 501 preach the acceptable year of the Lord," God." His law is the expression of His and not to proclaim a message of im- glorious character. Hence, as judgment- mediate judgment upon the world. It is bound souls the human family are en- very significant that on that occasion, treated to return to the paths of obedi- when He had finished the first clause of ence to God's commandments, and give the second verse of that chapter, He Him the honour and glory that is due to closed the book and sat down. Luke 4: His name. 17-2o. Why ?—Because to proclaim "the day of vengeance of our God" was not the real burden of His message. Such a The Easy Chair message of coming judgment was to be borne by a future generation, who should A WOMAN in humble circumstances, the be living just before His second advent. mother of four children, was suddenly be- His was the spring-time of the gospel reft of her husband. She took up her dispensation, the time of the seed- sowing; while the proclamation of the judgment mes- sage would mani- festly not be due to the world until immediately prior to the harvest, just before the coming of the Son of man, when the ripened fruits of many centuries of gospel preaching should be gathered. So when we turn to the four- teenth chapter of Revelation we find just such a message outlined and placed exactly in burden with calmness and patience, toil- its right setting ; for following closely ing early and late that her children might upon the proclamation of this message obtain an education. A friend said to the Son of man is seen coming in the her one day, " Do you never get tired or clouds of heaven with a sharp sickle to discouraged ? " "0, yes !" was the reply, reap the harvest of the earth." Rev. "quite often ; but when I think I can go 14 : 14-16. Its proclamation is world-wide, no farther, or do no more, I go and rest in and is symbolised by an angel flying in my easy chair." " Easy chair ?" said the midst of heaven, the burden of whose her friend, looking around the bare room. message is, " Fear God, and give glory " Yes," said the woman, " would you like to Him; for the hour of His judgment is to see it ? Come with me." She led her come : and worship Him that made into a small, scantily furnished bedroom, heaven, and earth, the sea, and the fount- and taking her by the hand, knelt by the ains of waters." Rev. 14:7. In view of bedside, and the toilworn, burdened the judgment men are urged to give glory woman prayed as if she were face to face to God their Creator. Why ?—Because with God. Rising, she said : "Now I feel " all have sinned, and come short of the rested, and am ready for work again. glory of God. What is sin ?—Transgres- Prayer is my easy chair." There is no sion of the law. I John 3: 4. Then it is home so low or humble, no life so bare or the transgression of God's law that has destitute, but can have the easy chair of caused men to fall short of the glory of prayer.— Record of Christian Work. 502 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912: During the several centuries before the An Important Text Considered in the advent of Christ, hundreds of thousands Light of Jewish Customs of Jews flocked to Jerusalem, and the By F. C. Gilbert, a Hebrew Christian holy city contained more Jews than it Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I could support properly. Frequently have given order to the churches of Galatia, even there were insurrections, pillages, and so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every other causes of devastation, until thou- one of you lay by him in store, as God hath pros- sands of the Jews of the land became pered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. I Cor. 16 :I, 2. poor, and were greatly in need of assistance. IT is very clear from the scripture Then, again, many thousands of Jews that the Apostle Paul introduced among would make pilgrimages to the city, and the Gentile Christians a number of cus- not infrequently large numbers of these toms which had been in vogue among would remain in Jerusalem. This, too, the Jews, to illustrate certain truths of naturally added to the poverty of the the gospel of Christ. Some of these people, until there were large numbers customs were introduced for the carrying of the children of Abraham who were forward of the work of God, since they destitute. Several times a year thou- were so strongly established among the sands of Jews from these other lands Jewish people, and since there was much would come to Jerusalem to worship in them which the Spirit of God saw before the Lord. At the festivals and at could be utilised for the advancement of other holidays, a great many of these the work of God. loyal children of Abraham would still For several centuries before the advent come to the temple and to the holy city of Christ, there had arisen a custom to worship before the Lord their God. among the Jews providing for the needy Many of these tourists were wealthy, poor at Jerusalem. It came about some- having established large business inter- thing as follows : It is well known that ests in these eastern lands. When they when the Jews entered the seventy years' came into the holy land, and saw the captivity in Babylon, many of them were poverty of many of their brethren in the scattered in different parts of that great flesh, they realised that something had empire. When the time came that the to be done in order to assist them in Lord desired the children of Jacob to their need. return to their own land, to Palestine, So there was instituted a systematic He had the kings of Media and Persia method of helping these poor Jews in issue a decree to this effect. Cyrus, Jerusalem. These Jewish brethren in Darius, and Artaxerxes accordingly did the foreign lands decided that they declare that the people of God could would set aside a certain amount of return to their own land, and the kings money each week for these poor Jewish did all they could to assist the Jews in brethren, and then when some of the restoring their worship at Jerusalem. merchants would go to Jerusalem on But we know from the records of the business, or when some of the people that all the Jews who went into would go to the city to worship, or when captivity did not go home to their own some of the proper persons would come land. We find thousands returning to from Jerusalem to visit their brethren in Palestine at the time of the command of these different lands, they would send Cyrus, king of Persia, and this was back this money to their poor Jewish equally true when the other kings brethren in Jerusalem. previously mentioned issued their decree. About the time of the advent of Christ,. But there were many tens of thousands this had become an established custom,. of Jews who still remained in the coun- and in this way thousands of the poor tries whither they had been scattered. Jews were greatly helped during their This is evident from reading the books poverty and their distress. The rabbis of Esther, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and Hag- had taken the matter up, and had gai. It is made clearer still that this is systematised it in such a way that the so, by the reading of Acts 2, the first Jews in all the lands well understood the eleven verses. method which had been adopted to August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 503 assist the poor Jewish brethren. During of his labours for that week, he should the year, the rabbis would send duly deal with the poor Jewish brethren as constituted authorities to collect this God dealt with him. If he had been money, and these funds were known prospered much, then he should impart as the money for the poor Jews at much. Jerusalem. I well remember when a boy at home After Christ had come and had de- in the early years of my life, how my clared His gospel to men, a bitter father followed this custom regularly prejudice had arisen amongst many of and methodically, for the same plan is the Jews in Jerusalem, as well as out of still followed by the orthodox Jews the it, against all those who should accept world over, to support the poor Jews at the teachings of the Nazarene. In fact, Jerusalem. Many a time have I seen my the time had come when any person who father early Sunday morning take ac- would accept the Saviour was anathema- count of the amount of business he had tised, and cast out of the synagogue. To done during the previous week, and then the Jew who was wealthy, this meant he would take some of his money and social ostracism; but having means of deposit it in a tin box, which has an his own, such a person did not mind the opening in the top of it, and aroundthe face effect it had upon him from a monetary of it is placed a label written in Hebrew point of view. But to the Jew who was letters, the title of the label bearing this poor, especially to the one who was inscription, " Alms to the Poor Jews at dependent upon the gifts of his Jewish Jerusalem." When friends call at the brethren, this worked a great hardship, house who do not live in thickly settled for we know that the Saviour preached Jewish communities, they are invited to the gospel to the poor, and there were share the blessings of giving to their many of His followers from among this poor brethren. But the regular, pious, class of people. But the Lord Jesus orthodox Jews attend to this matter most never left those who trusted in Him. generally as the first item of business He had made provision for the poor, after they have conducted their worship and told His followers that they had the on the morning of the first day of the: poor with them always, and they could week. help as they desired. But we read there Periodically the Jews send a certain came a famine in Jerusalem, and this delegated individual who bears the famine was predicted by the prophet credentials of the synagogue or council Agabus. The Apostle Paul, knowing having this matter in charge, and the the custom which was in vogue among matter is attended to by him. He takes the Jews to help their poor Jewish this money with him, leaves a receipt for brethren, suggested, through the influence the same, if the person desires it; if not, of the Holy Spirit, that this plan be carried out to help the poor brethren in he goes on his way, and the money is Christ at Jerusalem since it had been so sent to the poor Jews at Jerusalem. well established among the Jews. Being Thus we can see how the Apostle Paul impressed with the utility of this plan, introduced this custom in the early Chris- everywhere he went he taught the Gentile tian church to support the poor brethren Christians that they should adopt this in Christ, and at the same time he taught plan as a method to raise funds to help the early Christian church what should the poor brethren. So it had become be their first item of business on the first part of the gospel plan that every person day of the week. It also illustrated how should lay by himself at home every methodical the work of God should be first-day morning a certain amount of for the carrying forward of the Lord's money, according to- the manner which cause, and how every person may have a God had prospered him during the part in assisting the poor people that previous week. If he had been blessed they may learn about the gospel of the of God abundantly, then when he con- Son of God. sidered his financial standing on the first-day morning, prior to the beginning. Extract from the book "From Judaism to ." 50 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912 unjustified proportions. You worry and " Touched with the Feeling " fret yourself into a fever over the matter, BY Clara Edna Rosencrans until suddenly comes the blessed thought, HOW often we meet with people who, "Jesus had all this to bear, and He though kind and gentle, and filled with knows, and loves me through it all." He sympathy for trials which they can had not only the little slights to bear, understand, yet have never had experi- but the stern sorrow of seeing His most ence of utter or partial helplessness, and cherished friends turn against Him with that weakness and apathy which so often aversion and denial. accompany this condition ! They look We go a step farther in this wonderful at one with a sort of half pity, and say : life story wherewith our Lord has identi- " I don't know how you ever live that fied Himself, making it so much a part way. I never was crippled in my life, of His own that there can never be a and I don't know how you feel." separation. We stand beside the grave Then, again, there are those who never where we have laid our loved ones, and have been sick; and they too pity us, still we see Him, our Brother, flesh of our but they cannot enter into the feelings flesh, weeping with us, in a sympathy so of those who are sick and suffering. human that it is divine. And as we Their buoyant life and high animal realise His oneness with the human race, spirits jar upon every quivering nerve, so more and more shall we become one and we cannot but draw a sigh of relief with His divinity, lifted up to heights when they take themselves off to some to which we might never have climbed more congenial environment. We do not unaided. Knowing that " we have not blame them; for if they never felt as we an High Priest which cannot be touched do, never have known what ,it was to with the feeling of our infirmities," gives have nerves that the slightest sound us an earnest &sire to attain to the thing thrills to agony, how can they be supposed which He would have us to be. His is to understand ? no far-away, impersonal being, but a Sometimes one feels utterly alone. living, breathing, loving Friend that our Then comes the joy of the thought finite minds can lay hold of. that Jesus knows, that He has felt and In giving us Jesus, God gave us heaven; suffered all that we can be called upon for where Jesus is, there is heaven. And to endure; for He is "touched with the when we come to feel that tender sym- feeling" of all our pain, not in some by- pathy for those who are crippled and gone time, outlived and forgotten, but sick with sin, which He feels, heaven now, at the present moment. He suffers will come so near to us that we will with His own as much as when on the breathe its air and speak its language of shores of Galilee, in the temple at Jeru- unselfish love. And not only will our salem, or beside the little demoniac. words and actions proclaim our kinship His loving heart broke at sight of the with that better country, but an impalpa- fearful misery Satan had brought upon ble influence will be shed around us, so those who were blood-bought and blood- that those with whom we come in con- related to the Son of God. When the tact will " perceive that virtue has gone pain is greatest and the weariness hard- out " of us. When shall we attain to est to bear, we can reach out our weak this ideal ? When shall we come to be hands and clasp His, and feel His sym- " touched with the feeling " of the great pathy and love flow into us in a mighty world of sin and sorrow and suffering tide. Ah He is "touched with the feel- about us, and hasten to bring to it the ing," and we love Him all the better so ! balm of a living gospel ? He meets one of the deepest needs of our common humanity, that of a living sympathy and help. " 0 GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for He Then, again, the sufferer is always is good : because His mercy endureth sensitive. Little slights that would not forever. Let Israel now say, that His even be noticed by those in ordinary mercy endureth forever. . . . Let health, are turned over and over in the them now that fear the Lord say, that tired brain, until they assume entirely His mercy endureth forever." Ps. 118 : 1-4. August .5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 505

No. 4.—The Sevenfold Superiority of antiquity that can be compared to those passages of Sacred Writ. As for the Scripture rest of Scripture, every portion of it is THERE are several ways in which the uniform and constant, every part bears Bible stands unique and unrivalled, and the peculiar character that becomes it. from these we will select seven, the In short, there is as much difference be- sacred number. tween the heathen poet and the prophets The Bible's Literary Pre-Eminence as there is between a false enthusiasm and the true." First, the Bible is unsurpassable as a We are very fortunate in having, in literature. " Even in literary form," says our common English version, a noble Professor Moulton of the Chicago Uni- translation of the Scriptures. For purity versity, " the world has produced nothing of English style the Bible furnishes an greater than Isaiah." The same writer incomparable model: here we see the further says : " In the inner circle of the English language displayed in all its world's masterpieces, in which all kinds native power and beauty. Macaulay, the of literary influences meet, the Bible has great historian and essayist, recom- placed Job, the Isaiahan Rhapsody, the mended all who desired to obtain a Apocalypse, unsurpassed and unsurpass- mastery of our grand mother tongue, to able." study the English Bible ; while Ruskin, Archbishop Fenelon states : " The whose "manner," to quote Gosse, "at its Scripture surpasses the most ancient best is incomparable," attributed his ad- Greek authors vastly in native simplicity, mirable diction and command of English loveliness, and grandeur. Homer him- to his early study of this great Book of self never reached the sublimity of books, to the literary beauty of which, as Moses' songs. Never did any ode, either displayed in our common version, the Greek or Latin, come up to the loftiness Revisers of the New Testament bore this of the Psalms. Neither Homer nor any high tribute : " We have had to study other great poet equalled Isaiah, describ- this great version carefully and minutely, ing the majesty of God. What is there line by line; and the longer we have in antiquity that can be compared to the been engaged upon it the more we have Lamentations, of Jeremiah, when he learned to admire its simplicity, its dig- tenderly deplores the misery of his nity, its power, its happy turns of ex- country, or the prophecy of Nahum, when pression, its general accuracy, and, we he foresees in the spirit the proud Nine- must not fail to add, the music of its veh fall under the rage of an invisible cadences and the felicities of its rhythm." army ? Everything is painted in such a One of the finest expressions in the lively manner as strikes the imagination : English language is contained in Gen. I : the prophet far outdoes Homer. Read 3 : " And God said, Let there be light : likewise Daniel denouncing to Belshazzar and there was light "—a sublime thought the divine vengeance ready to over- expressed in language consisting entirely whelm him, and try if you can find any- of monosyllables. Micah 6 :8 is another thing in the most sublime original of of the numerous examples of the Biblical 506 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912 sublimity and ideality of thought united rificing, that it could pour out all heaven to simple and beautiful phraseology : in one rich gift—the Son of the Infinite " He hath showed thee, 0 man, what God. " For God so loved the world, that is good; and what doth the Lord require He gave His only begotten Son, that of thee, but to do justly, and to love whosoever believeth in Him should not mercy, and to walk humbly with thy perish, but have everlasting life." John God ?" 3: 16. The unparalleled loftiness of the Manifests a Divine Saviour themes of the Bible has doubtless led to its Third: No other book, unless founded being the source of many of the greatest on this Book of books, brings to view a masterpieces in literature, in music, and divine plan of salvation and a divine in art. In epic Saviour. The poetry we may writings of other instance Milton's religions than " Paradise Lost;" Christianity make in oratorio music man his own sa- Handel's " Mes- viour. Their plan siah" and "Israel of salvation is in Egypt," Men- salvation by delssohn's " Eli- works. They bid jah" and "St. men become right- Paul," and Hay- eous by doing dn's " Creation ; " right. But for man in painting to become right- Michelangelo's eous in this way is "Last Judgment," T 11 E an impossibility, Raphael's "Trans- I-1 0 L for his nature is figuration," a n d BIBLE, fallen and de- Leonardo da praved, and it is Vinci's "Last Sup- beyond him of per; " in sculpture, himself to change Michelangelo's it. Even educa- " David." tion and culture cannot change the Bible Reveals Character heart of man ; of God they merely lift Second: The him from a baser Bible best reveals plane of thought to us the fulness and action to one of the character more refined and of God. From subtle. But to the nature we may Bible alone are we " Bible in the World." learn of God's The General Title Page to the Authorised indebted for the greatness and Version, 1611. all - important power, for, as the truth that we are Psalmist says, "The heavens declare the "saved by grace." It teaches us how power of God, and the firmament showeth that by a living faith in Christ we may His handiwork." From God's dealings become partakers of the divine nature, with His creatures—from the thousand have our sins forgiven, and through di- common blessings that fall so bountifully vine grace grow up into the stature of from His hand—we may learn of His the fulness of Christ, the Great Exemplar. goodness and love. But we do not realise We shall give the remaining points of the fulness and richness, the height and Biblical superiority in our next article. the breadth and the depth, of the love A. H. and mercy of our Heavenly Father until we come to study the Bible. Then we " MEN who want to be spirit-filled must learn that that love was so vast, so sac- be self-emptied." August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS O THE TIMES 507

The Religious Aspects of Socialism and pressed, the dying, can find " solace and hope " in Socialism only. Is there power Their Significance in Socialism to assuage the conscience Continued smarting under a sense of sin, and to let IN his little book entitled "The Ethical the spiritually oppressed go free ? Is Aspects of Socialism," Mr. John Spargo, there power in Socialism to break the a prolific writer on Socialism, argues in chains of vicious habits, and to set at a vein similar to that of Mr. Kelly, but at liberty those who are thus bound ? These much greater length. A few of his most questions answer themselves. Accord- striking lucubrations follow ing to Mr. Spargo, SOCIALISM IS THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE HUMAN- The man of religious predilection and faith sees ITY UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY that the religious life is impossible under capital- ism. Everywhere and at every turn the spirit of ONE THAT BELIEVES—in Socialism. capitalism kills religion. . . . Brotherhood in a That is certainly preaching " another real sense is impossible under capitalism. . . gospel" with a sweep and swing that To live the Golden Rule is impossible. . . . leaves no room for doubt. There can be no religious life for the individual until it is possible for all. . . . Seeing that A Religion of Humanism under capitalism the ethical heart of religion dies, and faith degenerates into a cold, barren, futile The religion which Mr. Spargo and creed of formulas for vain and fruitless sermons, multitudes of others profess to find in many a religious enthusiast turns to Socialism, and finds in its teachings inspiration, solace, and hope. Socialism, is, according to their own To such a believer, Socialism appears as a great testimony, a distinctively HUMAN re- vital and vitalising religious principle. . . . ligion. It is based upon a complacent The man who, because his soul rebels at the faith in the power of man to compass his bondage of the mind, sees in Socialism mental and intellectual freedom, is right; and the man who, own salvation, socially and spiritually. because his religious faith withers under the blight In short, it is based upon faith in man's of capitalism, sees in Socialism the force which essential divinity. It is a religion that will make the religious life possible, is right. . . . exalts and apotheosizes man. In con- The torch which all the prophets from Moses to Jesus bore aloft is to-day being borne onward by firmation of these statements we cite the Socialist agitators. . . . I know of no satisfy- testimony. ing, inspiring, and ennobling hope for the life that Mr. Spargo : " In an age of unfaith, is, other than that which belongs to Socialism. In these Socialists, despised, reviled, hated an age of unfaith and pessimism, Socialism is the only hope and anchorage for millions of souls. and feared, as they are, HAVE A The spirit of Socialism cries out :— MATCHLESS FAITH IN MANKIND " I am religion ; the church I build AND THE FUTURE OF MANKIND. Stands on the sacred flesh with passion packed ; . . . Where is their faith in mankind, In me the ancient Gospels are fulfilled— In me the symbol rises into fact." faith in the future of the race, IN THE CAPACITY OF MANKIND TO RISE All Socialists bear witness that, eco- HIGHER AND HIGHER, to complete nomically, we are living under capitalism. the chain of evolution from brute to Hence if the astonishing contentions of brother? ONLY IN THE SOCIALIST Mr. Spargo are true, then there is no MOVEMENT DOES THIS FAITH genuine Christian living anywhere in ABOUND, only in the Socialist move- Christendom, for it is there that the cap- ment do we find the stirrings of the heart italistic regime is most pronounced. The CAUSED BY THE DREAM OF A Golden Rule is a beautiful but impossible REVIVIFIED WORLD. . . . We ideal. The sorrowing, the sick, the op- are in the midst of a great SPIRITUAL 508 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912 unmatched in the the religion of humanity. . . . history of the world. FAITH IN MAN, Socialism is the evolution of the human FAITH IN HIS POWER TO RISE, TO race from cannibalism and savagery to REALISE HIS NOBLEST ASPI- fraternity and philanthropy ; from the RATIONS AND DREAMS, IS THE infamy of the swine to the splendour of DOMINANT SPIRITUAL IMPULSE God. . . . Socialism is the trinity of OF THIS WORLD-CIRCLING MOVE- love, justice, and truth. . . . Social- MENT. Labour, like another Prometheus ism is the gospel of the atonement of is bound to the rock of private profit and humanity for `man's inhumanity to man.' greed, and Socialism comes as the mighty . . . Socialism is faith in the mother- Hercules to cut the cords and break the hood of God, hope in the comradehood chains that bind the soul of man, SET- of humanity, and charity for all the TING IT FREE FOR ITS UPWARD world. . . . SOCIALISM IS THE AND GODWARD FLIGHT. . . SECOND COMING OF THE ELDER DEMOCRACY IS THE MOTOR BROTHER." POWER WHICH MAKES FOR Now, in the face of all these well-nigh BROTHERHOOD, the grand passion of blasphemous claims for the religion of all religion. . . . DEMOCRACY IS Socialism, the famous author, H. G. Wells, RELIGION." The Rev. J. Stitt Wilson, himself a Socialist, makes this significant Socialist mayor of Berkeley, California, admission : "With the people JUST AS declares : "Socialism is a deeply religious THEY ARE NOW, with their preju- question—it is divine, and is virtually the dices, their ignorances, their misappre- second coming of Christ. . . . At hensions, their unchecked vanities and this hour of divine vision He [Jesus] per- greeds and jealousies, the crude and ceived that WHAT HE WAS ALL misguided instincts, their irrational tra- MEN WERE. . . . He was divine; ditions, no Socialist state can exist other THEY WERE DIVINE. He was the than the one we now have, with all its Father incarnate ; they were also. . . . squalor and cruelty." He was not concerned about emphasising Mr. Wells sees clearly that no better HIS divinity, but in disclosing to them social state is possible so long as human [men] THEIR divinity. . . . GOD nature remains what it is ; that the one WAS THE FATHER OF JESUS IN NO prerequisite to an ideal society is an ideal SENSE OTHER THAN IN THE humanity. An ideal humanity is unthink- SENSE THAT HE IS YOUR FATHER able apart from ideal individuals; and AND MY FATHER. THE FATHER an individual can be brought to an ideal COULD BE NO MORE TO JESUS state only through the power of God in THAN HE IS FOR YOU." Christ. And this power is the gospel as We see that the basis of the whole enunciated by the Spirit of God in the Socialistic movement is the profound Scriptures. The editor of the San Fran- belief that in man, in society, in corporate cisco Argonaut says truly : "The reform humanity, lies the power to redeem the of human nature is the last task that the race, to bring in the golden age, to lead reformer will ever willingly face, but humanity to the delectable mountains— actually there is nothing that can be re- TO REALISE THE KINGDOM OF GOD formed except human nature. All other ON EARTH. This means virtually that reforms are the result of this. . . . society, or man, is the actual god from So long as there are faults in human whom all benefits flow to the individual, nature there will be faults in human and whom each individual is bound to government. The only way to better serve. It is not the religion of the Bible, things is to reform the faults in human of the Lord Jesus Christ; it is the religion nature — beginning with one's own." of man — of humanism. It is the apothe- Said Mr. George Harvey recently, editor osis of collective humanity. It is the of Harper's Weekly: " It is mainly to worship of the creature rather than of RELIGION that we must look to make the Creator. men friends of peace, respecters of jus- Mr. W. E. P. French, in a booklet tice, upholders of righteousness. . . . entitled "We-ism," says: "We believe in All attempts to Christianise the country the rieligion of humanity. Socialism is by legislation will be futile. . . . You August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 509 cannot make character by passing laws, but religion can make character, and character is what our country needs." It is the RELIGIOUS aspect of Social- ism that makes it one of the manifold perils of these last days. It presumes to usurp the mission of the church of Christ. It looks to humanity instead of to God, as the hope of humanity. It aims to establish the kingdom of God on earth, while the earth is still under the blight of the curse of sin, while the vast majority of mankind are still in a state of con- 37—The Apocrypha scious sin, and victims of its endless Is the Apocrypha inspired ? concomitant evils. The Socialist forgets One can hardly claim for the Apocrypha the same that in the kingdom of God, when object- inspiration that the Bible possesses. The Jews ively realised, there will "BE NO MORE never considered the Apocrypha as having the DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR same authority as the Holy Scripture, and when the CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE canon was closed the Apocrypha was left outside. The Apocrypha came into ex- BE ANY MORE PAIN: for the former istence after the Captivity. It was written in the things are passed away." In that king- age of the scribes, when the age of the prophets had dom, says Isaiah, "Thy people shall be passed away, and the age of the apostles had not all righteous." Again, that kingdom, in yet succeeded. Still, as one writer says, Though the voice of the prophet was silent, the heart of the its outward glory, will not be realised till prophet still throbbed," and as a result the Apoc- the Son of man comes again in all His ryphal books were written by various devout men. glory ; for it is then that He will "sit on The style of the Apocrypha is weak compared with the throne of His glory." It is then that the Holy Scriptures, while it adds essentially noth- ing to the instruction contained in the "law and the Christ will say to those on His right, prophets;" and we notice in it, among other things, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, IN- the disappearance of prophecy as well as the intro- HERIT the kingdom prepared for you duction of fiction resting on a historical basis. from the foundation of the world." While lacking the authority of Sacred Writ, how- ever, the Apocrypha has its uses as literature Christ knows no "class-consciousness." and history, etc. The universal brotherhood is coming-- When Jerome in the fourth century translated coming through Christ. the Latin Vulgate—and it is from the Vulgate, with some modifications, that the modern Douay Ver- sion of the Roman Catholic Church is made—he CHINA now has the Scriptures trans- distinctly denied the canonicity of the Apocrypha, and the Protestant Church generally has confirmed lated into about twenty of her languages his judgment. Wycliffe, the "morning star of the and dialects. Just recently two new Reformation," and one of the noble fathers of versions were brought out, one in Lisu, English Biblical translation, declared the Apocrypha the other in Laka, spoken in Yun-nan, a to be " without authority or belief." And when, in 1534, the complete edition of Luther's German trans- province in southwestern China adjoin- lation appeared, the Apocryphal books were placed ing Tibet and Upper Burma. The Gos- by themselves between the Old Testament and the pels of Matthew and Mark only have as New, under the title of " Apocrypha; that is, books yet been printed. which are not to be considered as equal to Holy Scripture, and yet are useful and good to read." In 1546, at the COiniCir of TrentT die Roman A CHIEF near Lake Tanganyika, Catholic Church declared the Apocrypha to be Africa, in order to vex the missionary, canonical, and pronounced an anathema upon all cut off the ears, nose, and lips of an old who did not receive it entire, with all its parts. Later Protestant Confessions, however—the Hel- woman, and sent them to the station, with vetic Confession (1566), the Confession of the his compliments. Later his headsman, Dutch Churches (1566), and the Westminster Con- with a raiding band, descended upon the fession—declared the Apocrypha, despite the an- mission garden and beheaded three of athema of the Roman Church, to be of no authority the men peacefully working there. This in matters of faith. Since 1825 the British and Foreign Bible Society headsman is now a Christian, and sits at have omitted the Apocrypha from their issues of the Lord's table with those he once per- the Scriptures, a practice that has been followed secuted. by other Bible presses of Great Britain. A. H. 510 [lit: SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912 " Now put that coin in your pocket, and hold your hat again." Then the man played more sweetly than he had before, and the tears ran down the faces of the people who listened. When the hat was filled the second time, the violinist dropped the instrument and passed on. " Who can it be ? " the people ex- claimed. " Why," said a man in the crowd, " it is Bucher, the greatest of violinists." Somebody Cares And so it was. He just took the old SOMEBODY knows when your heart aches, soldier's place, and assumed his poverty, And everything seems to go wrong; and shouldered his burden, and played Somebody knows when the shadows his instrument, and earned for him the Need chasing away with a song ; coin he needed so much. Somebody knows when you're lonely, Tired, discouraged, and blue ; That is precisely what Jesus did for us. Somebody wants you to know Him, He found us in poverty and distress, and And know that He dearly loves you. across the broken strings of His own Somebody cares when you're tempted, broken heart He struck a strain of infinite And the world grows dizzy and dim; music which called forth the plaudits of Somebody cares when you're weakest, earth and heaven. He stood in our place. And farthest away from. Him; He assumed our poverty. He carried our Somebody grieves when you've fallen, Though you are not lost from His sight; burden.—Christian Herald. Somebody waits for your coming, Taking the gloom from your night. Somebody loves you when weary ; The Light on the Wall Somebody loves you when strong; Always is waiting to help you, IN her dainty room, in a luxurious home, Watches you, one of the throng a young girl had slipped away early to Needing His friendship so holy, Needing His watch-care so true. bed one night, weary from the strain of His name ?—We call His name Jesus. the winter's gaiety. She had not yet His people ?—Just I and just you. closed her eyes, when suddenly a light —Fanny Edna Stafford. shone on the opposite wall, revealing a beautiful copy of Plockhorst's "Good Shepherd," so that the picture stood out sharply and clearly from the darkness of His Boundless Love the room. The girl raised herself and looked out through the parted curtains to AN old soldier walked up and down see where the light came from. It was the streets of Vienna playing a violin to just the kitchen lamp in the little cottage earn his daily bread. After a time his of a day labourer across the garden at hand became feeble and tremulous, and the rear. Night after night the light he could no more make music. One day shone, revealing the face of the Saviour the old man sat on the curb weeping. A of men on the wall of that upstairs room man came along and said :— in the luxurious home. But the owner of " My friend, you are too feeble to play ; the lamp never knew it. So do many give me your violin." lives, treading the humble routine every He took the instrument and began to day in the spirit of their Master ; so do discourse most exquisite music. People they often, when they know it not, send who were passing stopped. A crowd a revelation of the Saviour to those who gathered. While the stranger played may have great wealth or high position, the violin, the old man held his hat, and and of whose lives they know nothing. into it fell the coins which the enraptured Many a humble man has unconsciously townspeople willingly gave. When the given a great one an inspiration to better hat was full the stranger said :— living in a moment of temptation.—Sel. August 5, 1912 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 511 Job 28 :28, we shall see why that is so. Rachel, will you please read Job 42 : 5, 6. Now, dearies, you see, no man ever has any cause to be proud of himself, neither can any be proud but those who are ignorant of God. Job had always lived a very upright life, and rather gloried or was proud of his right doing, until God revealed to him His greatness, power, and wisdom, and the contrast made Job abhor himself. He saw himself then as Sabbath Home Chats he really was, very unworthy and very small, and he was then willing to sit very By Florence Harker low at the feet of God and be taught of MOTHER: So you have learned, chil- Him. Only such can God use. James, dren, that most of the men and women please read I Cor. I : 26-29. chosen as prophets, apostles, and reform- James : Ah, mother, now I think I ers, have been of humble births and lowly understand, a man may have been to col- callings; also that priests or their sons lege, may have attained degrees and were by no means always chosen. James honours, and have his head crammed full expressed surprise that God passed by of book lore, and so think himself a very men of high rank and education, and wise man, yet, in God's sight, he is even priests, to choose people of humble really foolish and ignorant, while some rank, even servants and handmaidens. other man with little book learning, but Have any of you thought why He does so ? who knows and obeys God, is accounted Lilian : I think, mother, it must be be- wise and truly great. cause God sees right into the heart and Mother : Just so, James, and the pride knows those who will serve Him most you have described is worldly pride ; but faithfully. there is another kind of pride more hope- Mother : That is correct ; God measures less and incurable. It is worse because men's worth by their character, not by it is found in the church; it is spiritual their wealth, social position, or rank in pride. It is, and always has been, the the church. Rachel, will you read Isa. chief obstacle to the advancement of 66:2. Lilian, Isa. 57 : 15, and James will God's kingdom of grace. It is this ter- you find Ps. 138 : 6 ; then Charles will tell rible thing that leads to the committal of us what we learn from these scriptures. the unpardonable sin. It led the Jewish Charles : They show us that God can rulers and religious leaders to reject their use only humble men. He can dwell rightful King and only Saviour, to crucify right with them, but He cannot get near Him and persecute His followers ; and in the proud. every reform men possessing this sin, Rachel: Are highly educated people yet holding authority in the church, have always proud, mother ? I know most been the bitterest opponents of the lowly rich and worldly people are ? hearted and true ministers of the gospel. Mother : By no means, dear, but some And: so it will be while time shall last. have a knowledge that puffeth up; such Remember, children, all truly great men should remember I Cor. 8 :2. Read it, are very humble. It must be so because to Rachel; and Lilian read I Tim. 6 : 4. So we see some are proud, knowing noth- be truly great is to know God, and to ing ; others are proud because they know know Him is to feel our own littleness, something—but we will ask James to sinfulness, and entire dependence upon read Jer. 9 : 23, 24 and tell us what it Him for everything. I have dwelt fully teaches us. upon this point, because I long that you James : Why, that the only thing shall value as great only that which God really worth glorying in is to understand calls great, and that your greatest ambi- and know the Lord God. tion in life may be to be like John the Mother : That is true ; now if Lilian Baptist, great in the sight of God ; and will read I Cor. 3 : 18, 19, and Charles like Daniel greatly beloved by Heaven. 512 THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES August 5, 1912

THE sun will regulate the lights in the acetylene beacons that are to line the Panama Canal, if a regulating device now under consideration meets the requirements of the canal engineers. Each of the new regulators contains a copper cylinder that expands under the influence of sunlight, and thus closes a valve and shuts off the flow of gas to the burner. A small pilot flame only is left burning. At sunset, or when the sun is obscured, the cylinder contracts, a spring opens the valve, and the gas We send ont no papers that have not been ordered; if persons receive THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES without ordering, flows to the burner. The apparatus is said to It is sent to them by some frie;ad, and they will not be called reduce the consumption of gas materially. upon to pay. PRICE, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. The chug-chug of the 20th-century motor-boat For 12 months, post free in the. Commonwealth and N.Z. - 416 now reverberates from the shores of the Dead Sea. For 6 months, post free in the Commonwealth and N.Z. - 2/6 Members of the American colony in Jerusalem, For 3 months, post free in the Commonwealth and N.Z. 1/6 who recently explored the Dead Sea, were greatly To other countries in the Postal Union 8/6 impressed by a mountain of rock salt 500 feet high, Single copies, postage extra Id. called Jebel. Usdum, in which was found a large All orders sent direct to the publishers or their agents, either for single subscriptions or for clubs, must be accom- cave several hundred yards long, hung with great panied by cash. snow-white stalactites. Cliffs varying in height , LTD., Melbourne and from 300 to 2,900 feet form an almost unbroken Warburton, Victoria, Australia. wall on the west side of the sea. That wall is of When Forwarding Money Orders or Postal Notes, please limestone, but the wall on the east side is of beauti- make same payable to SIGN& PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED, fully coloured sandstone. The members of the V/ARBURTON, and not to individuals. All remittances from party declare that the gorge of the river Arnon New Zealand should be in the form of Money Orders, as Postal contains the finest natural scenery in Palestine. Notes or stamps are not negotiable in the Commonwealth. The richly shaded limestone sides of the canon, which are only twenty feet apart, rise perpendicu- OUR GENERAL AGENTS larly about 300 feet, and the variety and beauty of Victoria and Tasmania Tract Society, Gordon St., Toorak, Melb, their veining and tracery is exhaustless. N.S.W. Tract Society, " Tereora," The Avenue, Strathfield. Queensland Tract Society, 186 Edward Street, Brisbane. South Australian Tract Society, 79 Grote Street, Adelaide. West Australian Tract Society, 103 William Street, Perth. N. Z. Tract Society, Box 6, Post Office, Lower Hutt, N. Z. FOR SALE 133 acres of land, good four-roomed dwelling, PROFESSOR W. H. PERKIN, of Manchester, has outhouses, and fowl runs ; four acres cleared, good announced the discovery of a synthetic rubber dam, rest of land watered by permanent creek; which can be manufactured on a commercial scale only twenty miles from Melbourne, good road. at a cost of half-a-crown a pound, which may be The lot £560, one third cash, balance easy terms : reduced to a shilling. Fuseloil is produced from or can sell in three separate lots. For particulars, the starch in maize, and then converted into apply to M. Wilson, 7 Thompson St., Seddon. isoprene, from which the rubber is extracted by contact with sodium. ONE of the boldest of railway projects is the plan recently formulated by an English engineer to con- struct a 2,200-miles line from Port Said, Egypt, across The Warburton Arabia to Basra at the head of the Persian Gulf, and thence across Persia to join the Indian railways at Sanitarium Quetta. To geographers this plan is most alluring, as its execution would mean an immense addition to Is situated in an ideal locality, 48 miles from Mel• our, at present, very meagre knowledge of the bourne, where the natural advantages, both climatic desert interior of Arabia. and scenic, are all that could be desired. A REMARKABLE story of the reverberation of the Diseases of all kinds (except infectious cases) are Orion's guns is told by Mr. Philip T. Kenway, of treated by methods which have been wonderfully Hambledon, Godalming, in a letter to the Spectator. successful in curing even many so-called incurable " My house is on a high hill near Godalming," he complaints. Persons requiring a rest will derive states : "and as I sat reading the other afternoon, I much benefit from the invigorating mountain air heard, or rather, felt, a long, vibrating boom, and the charming scenery of this popular resort. several times repeated. I thought it must be a motor-van manoeuvring behind the house, but found Dr. W. HOWARD JAMES, Medical Superintendent. nothing there. Then I guessed what it might be, and forthwith wrote to the chief gunnery officer of Terms and particulars may be obtained from Manager, H. M. S Orion to make sure. Through the very kind courtesy of this gentleman, I am able to state The SANITARIUM, Warburton, Victoria. for certain that the discharge of the Orion's guns was distinctly audible ninety-seven statute miles from the ship, the sound taking somewhere abo t Published by the Signs Publishing Co. Ltd., Melbourne, printed eleven minutes to travel the distance." at Warburton, and registered as a newspaper in Victoria.