;i1

4,4

111 It GE Li; II 1 "'? • y lif if . / I f Volume 59, Number 40 Price id. Warburton, Victoria, October 2, 1944

Thank God for iatratu, qefrie40,is

`JIILHE news from Europe is last to attribute his success to these breath-taking, exhilarating; The time things alone. toward which the oppressed peoples have For Field Marshal Montgomery is a S Standing on the looked with longing through the years sincere Christian, with a deep faith in it bonnet of a jeep, of their misery and suffering, has come God and a sustained habit of daily Bible General Montgom- ery spoke to Brit- at last. With almost equal eagerness the study and prayer. ish troops after Allied nations have planned and pre- The Christian Digest for June con- inspection. pared, and drilled vast armies, and gath- tained an inspiring article from the pen ered mountains of equipment against the of William Stidger, telling of the char- day when they could go to the rescue acter and influence of this British general of their neighbours, and free them from who is also a Christian gentleman. Mr. the humiliation and agony they have so Stidger tells of overhearing the conversa- long endured. tion of a group of American soldiers and All the vast organization invollng British Tommies, on the merits of their transport, armour, food, medical aid, and generals. [Please turn to page 3. other vital necessities worked like clock- work, and the greatest seaborne invasion of all time was carried out "according to schedule." By early September the armies of deliverance had gained such momentum that they were days ahead of the plan. Newspaper correspondents and report- ers found it almost impossible to keep pace with the speeding armies, .and to supply their papers with news that was not already out of date by the time it was sent. Hearts thrilled in response to the delirious joy of French, Belgian, and Dutch as they showered the dusty men in battle-dented tanks and armoured cars with flowers and gifts. In the midst of all the rejoicing over the mighty deliverance that is being wrought, let us pause for a moment to look at the man God has used, and seek to learn the secret of his power. The name of Field Marshal Sir Ber- nard Montgomery is on every lip. He is acclaimed as a master of strategy, a daring leader, a great military genius. And while credit for his phenomenal success must in part be given to his sound military training, to his tireless study, to his high qualities of leadership, and to his native ability, he would be the Registered at G.P.O., Melbourne, for transmission by post as a newspaper. Tomorrow's News - ONE essential difference between r2 the Word of God and literature produced by human wisdom was given furrent-TopitsReuittued4„,„.,, emphasis by the Rev. Geoffrey Robinson in an open - air Bible Testimony Fel- lowship meeting in Trafalgar Square, the details surrounding the birth of of the Psychological Warfare Branch is London. Christ. running what is probably one of the big- "I read the newspaper to get at yester- In these days the news is eagerly gest newspaper chains in the world. day's news, and I read the Bible to get listened to from the radio, or read from Weekly, pint - sized newspapers are at tomorrow's news. In the Bible we the newspapers. We should have a still turned out in German, French, Dutch. have told us not only a good deal about greater interest in the news as given in and Flemish, and dropped by the mil- the past, but a great deal also about the God's Word, which tells of the approach- lions during regular delivery runs over future. . . . We are told that God is ing end of this world, and the setting up Germany and the occupied countries. working to a definite plan; that the Lord of God's everlasting kingdom of peace. The Germans get bombs with their morn- Jesus Christ, whose first coming was so Let us study closely the conditions of ing newspaper; the occupied countries accurately foretold, is coming back again. entrance into that kingdom, that when don't. The newspapers are straight news That is a factor to be reckoned with." this world of sin and hate and death is sheets, well illustrated. There is no The Bible does what no newspaper or overthrown, we may be ready to enter attempt to propagandize or even answer other book can begin to do—it unveils into eternal habitations. H. German propaganda. 'You don't have the future. Given a set of circumstances to do that when you're winning,' says and a general trend, intelligent men may The Power of Words the head of the publications section. forecast the future with some degree of PSYCHOLOGICAL warfare is gaining 'Straight news, when it's favourable, is accuracy; but some unknown detail, victories for the Allies almost as the most potent weapon we have. It some unguessed event, will throw their spectacular as the victories gained by puts the enemy on the defensive—and calculations hopelessly out of gear. direct action. There is what is called soon you find him trying to answer your When God foretold the future He was tactical psychological warfare, directed truths and getting caught in his own hampered with no human limitations. to specific objectives on the battlefront, lies.' " To Him the future is spread out in full to bring about or to hasten the surren- Words, just words! But when these detail; and this view He gave to chosen der of enemy units already in grave words tell the truth about the progress men, who put into human words the danger. of the war, they become the most potent outline given, often compressing into a Then there is strategic psychological weapon on the Allied side. They lead few verses the history of hundreds, even warfare, consisting of regular and sys- to surrender on a grand scale at the fight- thousands, of years. tematic distribution of leaflets over the ing fronts, and to the spread of doubt Prophecy needs no vindication beyond cities of Germany and occupied coun- and discouragement at home. They are its own fulfilment. Hundreds of detailed tries; it is directed toward weakening surely doing their share in bringing prophecies have been fulfilled to the morale on the enemy's home front. about victory. letter—prophecies telling of the rise and To quote from The Yank, which, we There are other words speeding around fall of nations, the downfall and desola- gather, is an army magazine published the world today, more powerful in their tion of proud cities, the careers of mighty in London:— ability to revolutionize men's habits of men, and above all, the place, time, and "One of the most important functions thought, to change' his very life, than the most carefully planned propaganda. These words are found in the Bible. It claims to be a weapon all-powerful in the spiritual world. After mentioning the defensive armour of the Christian soldier, his weapon is mentioned—"the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Eph. 6: 17. Again its power is stressed in Hebrews: "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, pierc- ing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow. and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4: 12. This weapon has supernatural power. even to the extent of bringing into cap- tivity every sinful and wayward thought to the obedience of Christ. "Though we walk in the flesh," said Paul, "we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; ) casting down imagina- tions, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and In Great Britain there are six hundred girls who work as chemical analysts to test every batch of bringing into captivity every thought to explosive before it is packed into shell casings. The picture shows a general view of the laboratory where these girls are trained. the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor. To: 3-5. Page Two October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES

It is by the agency of the Word of more than a producer and consumer of those who must live and move and have God, however disseminated, that the su- goods. . . . their being in a world all shot to hell, preme miracle of the new birth is brought "And sympathy is demanded, not pity a world starving and ragged and home- about, which leads men voluntarily to but fellow-suffering, which is what the less and tired and shell-shocked and dis- forsake their service to the kingdom of word 'sympathy' by derivation means. illusioned. There are people who think darkness, and transfer their allegiance to The churches are called on to show will- that the wounds of the world can be the kingdom of light. ingness themselves to suffer, and to lead cured when the guns cease firing, that If the servants of God were active in their members gladly to suffer, alongside the hearts of men can be healed, merely spreading the Word, and preaching the by way of a lot of new gad- gospel of the kingdom, it would hasten gets, mechanical and politi- • the end of sin and suffering. Said Jesus: cal. . . . The churches must "This gospel of the kingdom shall be lose their lives for Christ's preached in all the world for a witness sake and that of the breth- unto all nations; and then shall the end ren, become the hidden come." Matt. 24: 14. H. leaven of a selfless love in the lump of misery called A Challenge to the Churches mankind, go out and share the bitter things with not IN a letter to the churches, in one timid shudder, or else Harper's Magazine for January, be trodden under foot by Bernard Iddings Bell sounded a chal- men who have learned what lenge to the churches, urging them to life is all about." reach a higher standard, that when the A return to New Testa- men come home again they may find a ment principles, to apostolic religion that satisfies. simplicity, sincerity, and "There are three things about the power, would work a mar- churches which seem lacking to the men vellous transformation in the who are undergoing the tough discipline church. This would give it of training camps or are stripped to es- a power with men which it sentials on the various fronts or at sea. has long lacked. As we as They deplore the absence of Simplicity, individuals return to these Sincerity, and Sympathy. first principles, then our "Simplicity is lacking because the witness will be a power to blazing centrality of God as He is in all. H. Christ has become vague in churchly Vice Admiral Lord Louis Mount- minds. Fussiness, vague and stereo- batten, supreme Allied Commander of South-east Asia, with Lady typed prayer, choir music, hymn sing- Mountbatten. ing, young people's societies and rallies, no end of trivialities, have been allowed added another Tommy. 'At least, that's to get in the way. Sermons have dealt what I hear!' with derivative matters, not with God. Thank God for Praying Generals (Continued from page 1) `No, and he doesn't drink, either,' A living Christ . . . is what seems put in a third boy. lacking; and without such a Christ a "One British Tommy declared: 'In " 'And what's more, he doesn't even church looks more than a little ridicu- this war the big boys are right down let his officers drink or smoke in his lous, and parsons seem contemptible. . . . there in the midst of things with the men presence; and if you ask me, I think "Sincerity, too, the returning soldier, —and that guy Montgomery prays! My that's getting to be pretty straitlaced,' sailor, or marine most surely will require. captain seen 'im pray. My captain was the comment from another lad. . . . A church which tones down the was going to Monty's tent one morning " 'What could you expect? The guy's reality of judgment and the moral de- in Africa. The tent flap was open and the son of a bishop, and he grew up in a mands of God, in the way the churches the General, we call 'im Monty, was preacher's home, and that accounts for appear to most observers to have toned right down on 'is knees praying. On him bein' so strict about such things!' them down before the war, will be met a table in front of 'im was a Bible— one tall corporal added." with deserved contempt. Shall God ask wide open.' Mr. Stidger speaks of the comforting less of a man individually than his coun- " Tan you beat that?' came the eager assurance it would give loved ones at try has asked, or let a man break the response of an American soldier who was home to know that their boys are under code and deny discipline and yet make sitting with us. the care of two sincerely religious men no demand for punishment? And what `You can't equal it,' added the En- in the persons of General George C. is the church going to insist upon so- glish Tommy." Marshall and Field Marshal Mont- cially? The demand is not for churches The respect and admiration these men gomery. which meddle in politics or go into busi- had for their general was evidenced by "I don't mean religious in a formal, ness. No sane man wants the church their knowledge of his habits. "What opportunist sense. I do not mean that itself to build a righteous social order, those Tommies didn't know about they are religious just because war times or even to try to do it. What is needed Monty, as they affectionately called seem to demand it, religious for the press is a church which is the conscience of him," continues Mr. Stidger, "they had or the publicity. I mean religious in a society, a church which in the name of read; and they gave it forth just as personal, habitual, sincere manner. In- God will condemn selfish, nationalistic, vociferously as they did the first-hand deed, each of these great generals wears imperialistic, compromising social action, information about the leader of the his religion as naturally as he wears his by whomever contemplated or commit- African campaign and the Sicilian in- uniform." ted, and insist upon a society which will vasion. It is a matter of interest to Australians recognize, as Jesus does, that man is " 'Why, Monty doesn't even smoke,' (Concluded on page 12)

SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2. 1944 Page Three ,Towvt in ?J wt .file Depenc16 an AO-Uf Yet /land you Make The BIBLE and SOUL-WINNING WILL H. HOUGHTON

THE Bible is uniquely a per- sonal book. It contains governmental laws and imparts principles which, prop- erly interpreted and applied, would bring right adjustment in every social relation- ship; but it is, after all, a book with a message to individuals. Each individual reading it can say, "This means me.' Thousands in every generation have recognized this fact and have found com- fort in the realization that, not only is the Lord the Shepherd of His people, but "the Lord is my Shepherd." It is appropriation of the personal message of our Bible that this age seems to have lost—even those who are faithful in proclaiming that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The "whosoever," the universal- The Reformers studied the Bible with intense personal appreciation. and gave it to the ity of it, is always before them; but people in their own tongue. when some Philippian gaoler as a lone soul asks, "What must I do to be saved?" students gathered with him for study of In the eighth chapter of Acts, one per- they haven't the answer. the contents of that book, and soon the son, Philip, brought the Bible to bear The revival in the church is always the awakening had come. upon the life of another person, the making personal of the Bible message. John Wesley found the church ignor- Ethiopian, in such a way that, through As long as the Bible is the private pos- ing the Bible, brought its power to bear the Scriptures, the Ethiopian was brought session of the king, of the church, or of on individual lives, and a revival was the to the knowledge of the Divine Person— the scholar, the Book fails of its end and result. Jesus Christ. This is the method and purpose. But, let the releasing of it Every student of missionary history means of revival and of the lesser thing come and let it reach the people, and a knows the story of Madagascar. When we call evangelism. spiritual awakening is on. the missionaries were ordered to leave. That the Word of God is "quick and When Tyndale and his associates gave they hurriedly finished the translation powerful" is the claim of the apostle. the Bible to the people of England in of the Scripture and placed copies of it The word quick is old English for alive. their own tongue, he opened the door to here and there. When the door of Mada- The Apostle Peter says it is the living a spiritual awakening. The nave of St. gascar was opened to the gospel years Word. It possesses life, but it also im- Paul's held the first five or six copies, later, it was found that the Bible had parts its life; for in the same scripture and the multitude turned to this church done its work, and there were many (i Peter 23) he says that we are born to hear the Word of God read. Later the Bible-born Christians awaiting the mis- again by this Word. Bible was reproduced in such fashion sionaries. Church history itself is the corrobora- that it could enter the homes of the We are fortunate in our day that the tion of the fact that men may be born people; and out of an atmosphere of Bible is made available to everyone in from above through the Scriptures. The coldness and corruption a revival was his own tongue. But a Bible distributed useful servants of God in distant and born. and a Bible read may be two different recent generations have been Bible-born The revival of the Puritan period was things. It is the Bible read, released, re- and Bible-bred. It may be a Wesley due to this giving of the Word of God ceived, that operates for the salvation in his day, or a Moody in his; but the to the common people one by one. It is and sanctification of life. operating agency is the same—the Spirit popular today to ridicule the Puritans; The ministers of today might heed the of God through the Word of God. Oh, but, as someone has said, "Better the words of McCheyne: "It is not our com- yes, says James (1: 8): "Of His own will age of the Puritans than the age of the ment on the Word that saves, but the begat He us with the Word of truth." impuritans." Word itself." How frequently in Acts It is said that when Mr. Spurgeon was Geneva has had the fortune to be the we read that the early Christians "spoke enlarging and remodelling his great Tab- centre of the world's interest for many the Word," and that they went every- ernacle, when the work was about done, reasons, but none more significant than where "preaching the Word." Paul ex- he went to the platform to test the its association with the name of John horts young Timothy to "preach the acoustics. Thinking the auditorium was Calvin. He was the man who helped Word," and reminds him of how much empty, he lifted his voice in the recital divinity students realize the power of the this Word has meant in the lives of of John 3: 16. High up on a bit of Bible in personal life. They called Timothy's mother and grandmother, as scaffolding was a workman just finishing Calvin "the man of one book." But well as in his own life. his task. The Word of God found its

Fage Four October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS. OF. THE TIMES place in his heart at that moment, and doubtful guidance of muttering, cheep- so deceive the living who attempt to get he became a born-again Christian. ing witches and wizards who claim to into touch with their departed ones. The blessing of God is on His own have communication with the, world of In this way the evil spirits seek to Word according to His own declaration departed human spirits. And it is be- bolster up the work of wizards and to Isaiah: "For as the rain cometh down, cause the Scriptures condemn all such witches, and so keep up the deception and the snow from heaven, and returneth necromancers, that Spiritualists have no which the author of all evil thrust upon not thither, but watereth the earth, and use for the sacred Word. i Chron. io: our first parents as he led them into maketh it bring forth and bud, that it 13, 14. forbidden paths: "Ye shall not surely may give seed to the sower, and bread The truth is, the whole theory of those die: for God doth know that . . . then to the eater: so shall My Word be that who believe in instant survival of physi- your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall cal death is based upon a fallacy. All be as gods, knowing good and evil." not return unto Me void, but it shall through the Bible it is taken for granted Gen. 3: 4, 5. accomplish that which I please, and it that death is a complete cessation of And so from the beginning it has been shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent life; that no separate conscious entity true that "we wrestle not against flesh it." Isa. 55: 1o, II. survives the death of the body. Ps. 146: and blood, but against principalities, Our age is not new in its needs. What 3, 4; Eccl. 9: 4-6. against powers, against the rulers of the other ages required, we require. What A spirit world there certainly is. But darkness of this world, against wicked has brought blessing to other men, will its inhabitants are not the disembodied spirits [margin] in high places." Eph. bring blessing to us. The Holy Scrip- spirits of the departed. They have al- 6: 12. tures are still "able to make thee wise ways been spirits since their creation at Yet all the forces of evil notwithstand- unto salvation through faith which is in the beginning. Ps. 8: 4-6. Some are ing, the Scriptures clearly portray a Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 3: 15. ministering spirits who are sent forth glorious future for the "saints in light." How can a powerless church find new from the divine presence to guide and First, there is to be a final reckoning, power? How can a scorned church find protect the saints of God. Heb. 1: 14. in which the worthy and unworthy are new victory? How can the indifferent Others are fallen from their allegiance separated. Following this great assize in be aroused, the sceptical be convinced? to their Maker, and seek only to do evil. the heavenly courts will be the general Where is a spiritual awakening to be These impersonate the human dead and resurrection of the dead from their age- found? What will produce the faith long sleep. "Marvel not at this: for the which transforms character and gives life hour is coming, in the which all that are point, purpose, poise, and power? All in the graves shall hear His voice, and the answers are in the one answer: Xaunch Out into the coeep shall come forth; they that have done "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing How deep He does not say. The depth good, unto the resurrection of life; and by the Word of God." Rom. 1o: 17. into which we launch will depend upon they that have done evil, unto the resur- The Bible has always been the instru- how perfectly we have given up the shore, and the greatness of our need, and the apprehen- rection of damnation." John 5: 28, 29. ment for soul-winning, whether in the sion of our possibilities. The fish were to be period of revival or in the gleaning of found in the deep, not in the shallow water. Then the time is ripe for the final ban- quieter periods. God has used His Word. So with us; our needs are to be met in ishment of evil and incorrigible evil- He will use His Word.—From "Moody the deep things of God. We are to launch doers. Evil is too subtly powerful and Monthly." out into the deep of God's Word, which the deep-seated to be eliminated by human Spirit can open up to us in such crystal fathom- effort and at human convenience. The less meaning that the same words we have accepted in times past will have an ocean of very source of evil must be destroyed. meaning in them, which renders their first The everlasting fires of God are alone The meaning to us very shallow. powerful enough to destroy the devil Final Disposal of HATE Into the deep of the atonement, until and his angels along with the wicked H. F. DE'ATH Christ's precious blood is so illuminated human hosts that elect to follow them.. by the Spirit that it becomes an omnipotent balm, and food and medicine for the soul and Rev. 2o: 9, to. 1ENEMIES cannot live to- body. Not until then is the way prepared gether in the spirit world any more than Into the deep of the Father's will, until for that "new order" which men talk so we apprehend it in its infinite minuteness much about today. So complete will be they can do here," says the Psychic and goodness, and its far-sweeping provision News. "Hate persists so long as those and care for us. this glorious revolution, that evil shall who hate wish to remain in that con- Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He not rise again. The new order will be dition." becomes a bright, dazzling, sweet, fathom- everlasting, guaranteed by a risen Christ According to the Spiritualists, who be- less summer sea, in which we bathe and bask and a race of immortal saints, who will and breathe, and lose ourselves and our sor- never again know sickness, sorrow, or lieve that at death so-called disembodied rows in the calmness and peace of His ever- spirits pass immediately into the spirit lasting presence. death. So complete will be the elimina- realm, they may expect to meet the same LK" Into the deep of divine guidance, until we tion of force and hate that the very ani- racial hatreds, the same political ran- find in every need a marvellous answer to mals will be at peace. "The wolf and cour, the same social jealousies, and the prayer, the most careful and tender guidance, the lamb shall feed together, and the the most thoughtful anticipation of our needs, lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and same family feuds as form a large part the most accurate and supernatural shaping of of life on this planet. And it will all go our events. dust shall be the serpent's meat. They on indefinitely until it has worked itself Into the deep of God's purposes and com- shall not hurt nor destroy in all-My holy out of existence. In other words, a world ing kingdom, until the Lord's coming and mountain, saith the Lord." Isa.: 65: 25. where hatred is not, will not come into His reign in glory are opened up to us; and May that day dawn speedily, and beyond these the bright, entrancing ages on being until unregenerate human spirits ages unfold themselves, until the mental eye is meanwhile may many be turned' from reform themselves. A more hopeless dazed with light, and the heart flutters with in- error to truth, from darkness to light, future for the race can hardly be ima- expressible anticipation of its joy with Jesus from the commandments of men to the gined! and the glory to be revealed. commandments of God, from futile hu- Or course, Spiritualists do not be- Into all these things Jesus bids us launch. man effort to the saving and keeping He made us and He made the deep, and lieve the Bible to be the infallible guide to its fathomless depths He has fitted our long- power of God through Jesus Christ His of the Christian. They much prefer the ings and capabilities.—Soul Food. Son. SIGNS 'OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1944 ,Page.Five Reli9autd. in Latin America

Evangelical council of Chile. They say that North American missionaries have ROBERT LEO been efficient builders of goodwill be- ODOM tween their own country and the people of Chile and between these and the peo- ples of the other South American Re- publics. And besides being the real pioneers in good-neighbourliness, they have worked for the redemption and up- lifting of the most abandoned groups of society. Three of the most appreciative testimonies come from former presi- dents of Chile. These expressions of respect and gratitude will be incorpor- ated in a book which is being written by Dr. George P. Howard." * Protestant medical Strange as it may seem, while the missionaries in Latin America have brought papal hierarchy denounces evangelical healing and hope to missionary activities in Latin America, thousands who were stricken with sickness it boasts of its success in winning con- and sunk in the dark- verts to Romanism in the United States, ness of superstition. which country historically has been pre- dominantly Protestant. For example, The Catholic Bulletin (April 8, 1944) carries a lengthy article entitled "Ad- vertising Pays in Rising Tide of Con- FROM time to time the be no motive for alarm on the part of the verts in U.S." The first sentence reads: papal authorities in the United States, papal clergy. "Last year's figure on converts to the in collaboration with those in Latin It is also a confession of the weakness [Roman] Church was up i so per cent America, have demanded that something of the whole papal system of doctrine. over the figure for 1928." should be done to halt Protestant activi- It is as much to say that the Roman In 1928 the number of American con- ties in the countries to the south of the doctrine cannot stand on its own merits verts to Romanism was 35,751. In 1943 States. before Protestant competition in a fair the figure was 86,905. In the same The Catholic Bulletin (April 22, contest, and that it must resort to other article the papists say: "We're not prose- 1944) has published a denunciation of means than argument and persuasion in lyting. We're not stealing members the religious activities of evangelical or- order to hold its own. from other communions." Nevertheless, ganizations in Colombia, South America, "While Protestantism encounters a here is the way The Catholic Bulletin especially condemning the work of Sev- formidable resistance elsewhere in Ibero- says they win a non-Roman Catholic to enth-day Adventists. This weekly news- America, in Colombia it prospers," says the papal fold: "For purposes of con- paper, which is the official organ of the the Revista Javeriana. version, it's important to prove that, for Roman Catholic archdiocese of St. Paul, In the meantime The Christian Cen- instance, our Holy Father is the succes- Minnesota, reports that Eugenio Res- tury (April 26, 1944) has published the sor of St. Peter as head of the church; trepo Uribe and Juan Alvarez, Jesuits, following news report from Chile:— but it's almost of equal importance to have published a lengthy article entitled "The drive which the Roman Catholic convince this particular individual that "Ten Years of Protestantism in Co- hierarchy in the United States started we have something to offer in the place lombia," in the Revista Javeriana, a some months ago to convince the public of his beloved hymns, and that he won't monthly publication of the Pontifical and the government that evangelical be ostracized by his social and business Javeriana University of Bogota, result- missionaries are obstacles to the good- acquaintances." ing "in a warning to authorities and neighbour policy is in many ways turn- We cannot imagine that "beloved people that Protestant growth in Col- ing out to be a blessing to evangelical hymns" would be tenaciously cherished ombia during the last decade has 'broken forces in Chile. It had to be so. by an atheist or a pagan. Thus the all records for Ibero-America.' " "Leading Chileans—officials, states- Romanists unwittingly indicate that This, of course, is a frank admission men, educators, journalists, reformers, proselyting among people of other re- that when the people of Latin America jurists, and business men—have recorded ligious sentiments is done by Roman have freedom of speech and liberty of their frank opinions in personal letters Catholics in this country. worship, and the opportunity of hearing addressed to James H. McLean, minister They also say: "We broadcast the both sides of the question, they often of the Presbyterian Church, professor truth about the [Roman] Catholic prefer the Protestant presentation of the for over 20 years at the University of Church, say our prayers, and then sit gospel. Were this noj so, there would Chile, and present chairman of the back and watch developments." This is

Page Six October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES to say, if Protestants in the United its faith throughout the world, and that spread its wings over all lands, and it States turn to Romanism, it is because full permission (by the issuance of pass- has hushed the joy-songs of all peoples. they like it. ports, etc.) be continued to Protestant It has touched with its trembling fear That is exactly what Protestant or- missions to promote their work in Latin the very heart of humanity, and the ganizations do. They broadcast the America."—The Protestant Voice, April world today is losing confidence and tent- truth about the Lord Jesus Christ, pray 28, 1944. ing on the fields of doubt. There is but for the success of this spiritual seed sow- It certainly would be a violation of one thing that the pilgrim must do— ing, and then watch for the harvest of the American principles of religious free- rest on the promises and power of souls. Nobody in Latin America is com- dom if the State Department of the Jehovah. pelled to attend any Protestant meet- United States Government should deny We have 1,304 promises in the Sacred ings. Of their own volition Latin Ameri- to an American citizen a passport on the Book. One of these tells us that "the cans go to the evangelical services, doing grounds that he is a Protestant and in- angel of the Lord encampeth round about this in spite of the admonitions of the tends to go to a Latin American country. them that fear Him, and delivereth papal priests to the contrary, and this is Surely so great a man as is Mr. Cordell them." Ps. 34: 7. Another whispers, what irks the Roman Catholic hierarchy. Hull, who is noted for his courageous "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, It all shows that the papal priesthood spirit in. championing the cause of free- whose mind is stayed on Thee: because does not have as great a grip on the dom, will see to it that none of his sub- he trusteth in Thee." Isa. 26: 3. minds and hearts of the Latin American ordinates in the Passport Division of There are 973 of these divine promises people as they allege that they have. the State Department resort to any that apply to the present life, and these The Latin Americans are a democratic means (not even to subterfuges) in touch all our needs. Thus it is written: and liberty-loving people. They desire order to deny a Protestant citizen of the "My God shall supply all your need complete religious freedom, in order that United States a passport because of his according to His riches in glory by they may study freely the Holy Scrip- religious belief or church activities. Christ Jesus." Phil. 4: 19. The God tures and worship God according to the who could protect Daniel in the lions' dictates of their own conscience. den and the Hebrew children in the fur- In the preface of his recent book, nace can still watch over and guard His "American Jesuits," James J. Walsh children. (Roman Catholic), who says that he Days of But behind every promise there must was for six years a member of the So- be a believing heart, for unbelief is the ciety of Jesus until he ceased to be such iincettaintg one thing that separates between the on account of his health, declares that human and the Divine. Israel's journey approximately 5,000 of the nearly 25,000 to the Promised Land was studded with Jesuits in the world are in the United ROBERT HARE promises, but there were more than States. Why should one-fifth of all the 600,000 of the people who did not reach Jesuits in the world be concentrated in that country. They failed "because of the United States, which has been pre- unbelief." Heb. 3: 19. dominantly Protestant, instead of in Portents of earth's finality crowd some country that is largely Roman around us today as never before. Their Catholic? voices speak with a deeper emphasis We insist that it is not fair of the pa- than the ears of humanity have ever pists to deny to Protestants religious heard. The thoughtful , heart must see freedom in Latin America while at the that this is the time when refuge is to same time those Romanists demand for be found only under the wings of the Roman Catholics religious liberty in this Almighty. country. What the world needs today is Pointing to the many mansions be- religious freedom everywhere for all peo- NEVER has a divine forecast yond, Christ could say to His disciples, ple, not liberty for one favoured group found a more perfect fulfilment in the "Let not your heart be troubled." John and oppression for the rest. We, there- events of today than the statement made 14: 1. Jerusalem, their beloved city, fore, loyally protest against any effort by the great Master Prophet: "Men's was going down, but the mansions of the to have the civil powers suppress or hin- hearts failing them for fear, and for kingdom would endure. Paul tells of a der the religious activities of Protestant looking after those things which are time when everything that can be shaken groups in any country in order to elim- coming on the earth." Luke 21: 26. will be shaken. But "those things which inate the competition they offer to the Uncertainty, deep world-wide uncer- cannot be shaken" will remain. Heb. Roman Church. tainty, haunts the hearts of men and 12: 27. On April 28 the National Association nations today, and they apply in vain Apart from faith in Jehovah the world of Evangelicals, at the closing session of to the star-gazers and diviners for some has no resting-place. Its daily vision and their second annual convention (with light to illumine the darkness, or hope even its dreams are all crowded with 700 accredited delegates present) in Col- to give the spirit rest. uncertainties. Like the troubled sea, it umbus, Ohio, addressed a petition to The bottom of the great ocean is cannot rest. But the Christian's confi- Secretary of State Hull because "the strewn with broken ships, while over the dence in God must be so strong that it Roman Catholic Church, by public and land wrecked aeroplanes are scattered. will stand with those things which "can- private means of expression, is seeking to Factories have been transformed into not be shaken." create an autocratic religion monopoly national arsenals for the manufacture of Moses longed to see the Invisible, but in Latin America." The petition said:— weapons that kill. Then in it all and his request could not be granted. In- "We respectfully submit to you as the over it all there hangs the uncertainty stead the promise came, "There is a place Secretary of State of these United States that whitens the heads of world states- by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a our most earnest petition to maintain men, giving to them thorny pillows with rock." Ex. 33: 21. It is only in close the historic policy of our nation regard- their sleepless nights. touch with Jehovah that the Christian ing religious liberty, and the right of Where may the child of God now find will find his rock of certainty in this evangelical Christianity to propagate a resting-place? This uncertainty has world of uncertainties. SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1944 Page Sevea C THE world's enigma is the Jew. L He is without a country, yet he inhabits all countries. He mingles with every tribe of earth, yet he is a distinctive people. He has been, and is, ruthlessly persecuted with the object of extermina- tion, but he thrives with a hardihood that has no parallel in history. Though belonging to an ancient ori- entalism, the Jews are among the most modern races. They are the exploiters of other people, yet they themselves have been exploited. Some are the rich- est men in the world, but they have millions of the poorest. They can be extremely generous, and at other times despicably mean. Many are grossly material, yet they have given to the world much of its finest idealism. Statis- tics show that there are more men of genius among a million Jews than there are among a million Gentiles, whilst it is also true that there are more men- tally deficient per million by comparison with other races. The Jew is the world's enigma. It is well to pause a moment and con- sider the colossal influence of the Jews in the world. In Great Britain 6 per cent of those who achieve distinction are * Under kingdoi Jews, although their population is but reached prosperit; one-half per cent. In America, there are ing; but more Jews by far than in Palestine— wrought e which the in fact there are more Jews in New York fully recd alone, than in Jerusalem, Damascus, and the whole of Palestine put together; and from this central hub of commerce Jew- ish influence reaches the world. The average Jew has 4 per cent more ability than the average Englishman, and 2 per cent more than the average Scots- Origin of the Jewish Nation important words of Deut. 28: 1-4. In man. In the realms of medicine, com- The Hebrew people were constituted verse i i is God's promise that they merce, finance, music, poetry, drama, a special nation in Abraham their father. should be "plenteous in goods"; in verse and metaphysics, the Jews have been Gen. 12: 1-5. Notice the statement of 12 that they should "lend unto many noted for their outstanding achieve- verse 2: "And I will make of thee a great nations," but not borrow; in verse 13 ments. nation, . . . and thou shalt be a bless- that they would be "the head and not In a word, the Jew may rightly be ing." Now, a nation must have some- the tail." proud of what he has given to the world, where to live, and so in Genesis 15 we But these rich and amazing promises and the following statement by Mr. read that God made the national cove- are punctuated by conditions, which Madison Peters aptly summarizes this: nant of land with Abram. Verse z8 says: must not be overlooked. For instance, "The Jew has given the only true knowl- "Unto thy seed have I given this land." verse 1: "If thou shalt hearken diligently edge of God. He has given Moses, who It was an unconditional gift, and quite . . ."; verse 2: "If thou shalt hearken gave to the world the first republic, and different from many later covenants unto the voice of the Lord"; verse 9: "If whose laws after 3,300 years still form made with the Jews, which are marked thou 'shalt keep the commandments of the basis of the civilized world's juris- by important conditions. Stephen's the Lord"; and verse 13 likewise. It prudence. Jesus, the ideal of the race apology in Acts 7 commences with the may now be pertinent to ask, Did Israel . . . Jesus was a Jew. . . . Putting call of Abraham, and the national, un- fulfil the conditions that God outlined? aside the Messianic mission this Man is conditional covenant of land, and traces Read Neh. 9: 24-28 for a clear state- ours. He honours our race, and we claim the Jewish history to Christ's death, ment on Israel's desultory, rebellious, Him as we claim the Gospels—flowers of when the Jews angrily rose up and stoned and fatal attitude toward God. Read Jewish iiterature and only Jewish. Our Stephen. Jer. 7: 28 on the perishing of truth from Bible was written by Jews. What would the midst of Israel. And so acute and the world have been without the Bible? Promises and Warning to Jews persistent was the disease of Jewish re- It was the Bible which lifted the people For 3,75o years the chequered history bellion, that God would have cast them of Europe into a civilized condition, and of Abraham's descendants can be traced. off years, yea centuries, before He did for this great Book, on which men found But why chequered? were they not His but for Abraham's. sake (Gen. 26: 24) • their dearest hopes, we are indebted to people, His chosen people through Abra- and Jacob's sake (Isa. 45: 4), and Da- the Jews." ham? Yes, they were—but notice the vid's sake. Isa . 37 : 35.

Page Eight October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIM ES the ancientsCA.11,1V.V.AV Vof A piny mg him both priests and people. He was to rebuke them because of their trans- gressions, prophesy of their terrible fate CONQUERING JEW at the hands of the Romans when Jeru- salem should be destroyed (A.D. 7o), and then "break the bottle in the sight of An Address given by T. J. BRADLEY in the Unity Theatre, Perth, W.A. the men that go with thee." He was then to say, "Even so will I break this And the remarkable part of this Ezra 6: 16, 17. "And the children of people and this city, as one breaketh a strange Jewish attitude was that they did Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and potter's vessel, that cannot be made it with their eyes open, and with the the rest of the children of the captivity whole again." warnings of Moses before them. Just [margin, the sons of the transportation], Here is the prophetic rebuke to those take your Bible and read Deut. 28: 15, kept the dedication of this house of God whose interests are in nationality or the literal restoration of the Jews. 36, 37, 50-57, 64-66. with joy, and offered at the dedication Though they entered into a curse and of this house of God an hundred bul- THE BROKEN VESSEL stands for A an oath (Neh. ro: 29) to serve God, they locks, two hundred rams, four hundred BROKEN ISRAEL. deliberately transgressed every known lambs; and for a sin offering for all A nation that rebelled. divine request. And so they became a Israel, twelve he goats, according to the A rebellious nation that was broken. "proverb, and a byword," and into bond- number of the tribes of Israel." A broken nation that was rejected. age and captivity they went. (Note.—Israel here has twelve tribes, Matt. 21: 33-43 is the New Testament and this offering of twelve he goats was Captivity and Return parable on Israel's rejection. The Jews for the return of all Israel.) had defiantly, through the centuries, In the year 721 B.C. the northern king- Ezra 6: 21, 22. "And the children of dom of Israel was taken captive by the slain.the prophets, and silenced the heav- Israel, which were come again out of enly messengers, and at last they cruci- Assyrians. 2 Kings 17: 6-23. You will captivity, . . . did eat, and kept the fied Christ. John r: II; Matt. 27: 2 I - recall that in the reign of Rehoboam, the feast of unleavened bread seven days." son of Solomon, a division took place 25. Matt. 2 I : 43 says: "Therefore I say And then notice Ezra ro: 1. When unto you, The kingdom of God shall be among the people of Israel. Ten tribes the Jews were in captivity they married seceded from the union, and were reigned taken from you, and given to a nation Babylonish women. This of course con- bringing forth the fruits thereof." over by Jeroboam, a notoriously evil travened the Mosaic restrictions on mar- the And what nation is this? Acts 13: 46 gel king; while the two tribes remained true riage. Ezra called for repentance in this has the only possible answer: "Lo, we of to Rehoboam. 1 Kings 12. It was in matter. "Now when Ezra had prayed, a- turn to the Gentiles." We read in Acts sy the year 6o6 B.C. that the southern king- and when he had confessed, weeping and rn dom of Judah was taken into bondage 22: 20, 21 that Paul was sent to the er casting himself down before the house Gentiles. From the crucifixion and the by Nebuchadnezzar. Both Israel (the of God, there assembled unto him out stoning of Stephen, God finished for all ten tribes) and Judah (the two tribes) of Israel a very great congregation of were then in Babylonish captivity to- time with priorities on blood and nation- men and women and children: for the ality. The New Testament clearly pro- gether. Jer. 5o: 33 says: "The children people wept very sore." of Israel and the children of Judah were nounces that "there is neither Jew nor Now while we know that very many Greek, there is neither bond nor free, oppressed together." But let it also be chose to remain in Babylon, when op- there is neither male nor female: for remembered that though the term "Is- portunity was given for Israel and Judah ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. rael" stood for the ten tribes of the to return, it is a doctrinal fallacy to 3: 28. And today the power of the division, it also stood for all the de- speak of the "ten lost tribes." scendants of Abraham, irrespective of gospel sweeps the world around, saving their tribe. Jer. 5q: 17. Thus we find Jeremiah's Prophecy men for eternity irrespective of class or God saying, "I will punish the king of race. The middle wall of national par- All Israel broke the conditional cove- Babylon and his land, as I have punished tition has been broken down in Christ nants of the Old Testament, and all the king of Assyria. And I will bring (Eph. 2: 14), and the only basis for Israel as a nation has been rejected by Israel again to his habitation." Jer. 5o: favour with God and salvation through God as His people. Read Jer. 19: I-II. r8, 19; also Jer. 25: 12. Christ is FAITH. Says Paul in recall- Jeremiah was told to go to the valley Ezra 6: 14-17 recounts how this hap- ing the rejection of Israel, and the ac- of the son of Hinnom and take with him pened. Three Persian kings made de- ceptance of the Gentiles in their stead: a "potter's earthen bottle." Accom- crees of deliverance for Israel. Cyrus, "Because of unbelief they were broken 536 B.C. (Ezra I: 1-4), Darius, 519 B.C. off, and thou standest by faith." (Ezra 4: 24), and Artaxerxes, 457 B.C. The true Jew is the one whose heart Ezra 7: 11-26. and inner life have been transformed by saving grace. Rom. 2: 28, 29. His blood Ten Tribes of Israel NOT Lost nationality does not matter, for Paul says Under these three decrees members in Gal. 3: 29, "If ye be Christ's, then and citizens of ALL Israel (ten tribes are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs accord- and two tribes) returned to their native ing to the promise." homes in Palestine. Ponder these verses Israel's history, which started so prom- in Ezra, which outline the history of the isingly under the direction of God, ended Restoration period:— in failure because they willingly forgot Ezra 2: 7o. "So the priests, and the God, and rejected His commandments. Levites, and some of the people, and the Let us learn the lesson of their failure singers, and the porters, and the Nethin- ( Job 8: 11-14) and yield our hearts to ims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel Christ, thus becoming seed of Abraham in their cities." and sons of God. SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1944 Page Nine Al diim We 2414"

GEORGE THOMASON, M.D.

and one is conscious of failing power in satisfying is a cooling draught of spark- the heart, he may well remember the ling water to the thirsty one! So is a spiritual significance of the great and draught of the Spirit to a thirsty soul. satisfying promise, "A new heart also How gracious is the invitation given that will I give you." And again the beau- last great day of the feast, "If any man tiful thought, "Behold, I stand at the thirst, let him come unto Me, and door [of the heart], and knock: if any drink"! and also the words to the woman man . . . open the door, I will come of Samaria, "Whosoever drinketh of the in." And thus will be brought to any water that I shall give him shall never sin-darkened heart the satisfying re- thirst"! David in his thirst for God sponse to the plea, "Create in me a clean cried out, "As the hart panteth after the, Ik EMEMBER now thy Creator" heart." water brooks, so panteth my soul after is the injunction in Holy Writ, and it Hunger is the voice of God saying to Thee, 0 God." is easily possible to remember Him be- every human soul, "Arise and eat," just So with every sensation of thirst every cause of the infinite number of reminders as literally and just as truly as when soul may be reminded of that marvel- of Him on every side: "That which may the angel said these words in the days lous and beneficent message that rings be known of God is manifest. . . . For of old to the prophet Elijah. And this out over the great universe of God, "I the invisible things of Him from the voice is not to mock us, but means that will give unto him that is athirst of the creation of the world are clearly seen, God has provided food for us just as fountain of the water of life freely." being understood by the things that are truly as He did for the prophet of old. We must sleep so that the excess of made." As one hungers for physical bread, it fatigue poisons accumulated within the Of all the created things that remind should be a constant reminder of the body during the hours of daily activity one of God, man is the masterpiece. necessity of hungering for spiritual may be eliminated; and just as God Man was made in the image of God and bread, for that Bread which came down caused deep sleep to come upon Adam of His Son, for He said, "Let Us make from heaven, which the Master said that in the dawn of human history, and as man in Our image, after Our likeness. He Himself was, and of which if a man Saul at a later day enjoyed "a deep . . . So God created man in His own should eat, he would never hunger. And sleep from Jehovah," so every night as image, in the image of God created He again, "Blessed are they which do hun- one lies down to his rest he. is lulled him." ger . . . after righteousness"; that just into sleep by the divine Presence. The God's grief in the marring of this as one must satisfy his hunger with his Scriptures say, "He giveth His beloved image of the divine is measured in the daily bread to maintain terms of His marvellous gift of the great- his physical being, just est treasure in heaven—His own Son— so necessary is it that that this true image might be restored. he should feed upon the It is evident that God would have His spiritual bread in order children ever keep in mind His marvel- that he may maintain lous creative and re-creative power in his spiritual being. Fur- that He has placed on every hand con- ther, it should remind stant reminders of Himself. one of the utter folly of Take as the first example the simple spending ,one's "money act of breathing. It is said that in the for that which is not creation of man "God . . . breathed bread," and his "labour into his nostrils the breath of life; and for that which satisfieth man became a living soul." There never not." has been a breath drawn by any living Every one of the bil- man that God has not just as literally lions of cells composing and just as truly breathed into his nos- the body requires water, trils; for the Scripture says, "He giveth and is of itself largely to all life, and breath, and all things." made up of water. As The Apostle Paul recognized this great the fluid content of the physical-spiritual truth when in his fa- body is diminished mous discourse on Mars' Hill in Athens through various forms he said, "In Him we live, and move, and of elimination, the de- have our being." mand for more fluid is The heart beats normally about sev- expressed in the sen- enty-two times a minute. Every beat of sation of thirst. How the heart is in response to a nerve im- pulse from the great central nervous Not only the beautiful coun- system; and every nerve message origi- try landscapes, but our sen- sations of hunger and thirst, nates from the source of all life, and is and our bodily functions of a constant reminder of the source from breathing and resting, remind us of our Creator's power which all power flows. As age advances and love.

Page Ten October 2. 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES sleep." To limit this as a text appro- again be felt, and the dead in Christ heart, so is he." It also suggests David's priate only for a funeral sermon is to shall awaken from sleep. keen appreciation of this feature when rob it of its larger meaning. And if at Physical exercise, so necessary to he so earnestly pleaded, "Let the words times the heart and mind are troubled maintain bodily health and vigour, may of my mouth, and the meditation of my and the eyes are sleepless, the restless be a constant reminder of spiritual heart [my thoughts], be acceptable in one may be reminded and richly re- things. The great Apostle Paul, in his Thy sight, 0 Lord, my strength, and my warded in the always comforting assur- wonderful instruction to young Timothy, Redeemer." ance, "Let not your heart be troubled." said: "Bodily exercise profiteth little: How beautiful it is to have the con- When once asleep, why does one but godliness is profitable unto all things, ception of the tracing of God's hand waken again? There has never been a having promise of the life that now is, in every detail of bodily construction satisfactory human explanation of this and of that which is to come." And as and function that may so constantly re- phenomenon. But it is indeed blessed lack of physical exercise leads to weak- mind one of great spiritual lessons! ness and wasting of the muscles, so does to have as the last thought of the eve- Viewed by the natural eye, it all suggests lack of exercise in spiritual things lead the marvellous beauty of God's handi- ning that the beneficent God gives peace- to weakness and leanness of soul. . work in His great masterpiece of crea- ful sleep, and as the first thought of the The mind is God's avenue of appeal tion; and when, in addition, the facili- morning that an ever - present God to the soul of man. It is this feature ties of the laboratory, with microscopic touches one and lovingly wakens him out that makes one of the great differences eyes, are turned upon its wonders, its of sleep. And then there is the most between man and beast. And so the beauties, and its harmonies, these are comforting reminder that when the last Master wishes us to be constantly re- even more wonderfully displayed, and long night has come, in God's own time minded that as a man "thinketh in his we are led to say of this marvellous body the touch of the great Life-giver will temple, its "builder and maker is God."

"•11"111"11."111^11."..,"011.".."..."".•.*".111 "Ier,lermer•Ill.",ler".111.".1P"

REMEMBER leaving home His followers spread it abroad. Be sent one Sabbath afternoon to hold a Bible His Spirit to convince of sin, of right- study in a near-by village. On my way eousness, and of judgment. The Bride, I met a woman who was crying out or the church, has taken it up as com- loudly as she came along the road, "I manded, "Let him that heareth say. can't rest! I can't rest! I can't rest!" Come." Everyone who has come wants I spoke to her and she told me the doctor others to come as well. could do her no good. I tried to get Have you been drinking at the cisterns her to think about Christ and to pray that do not satisfy? Broken cisterns to Him. that can hold no water. The world As I passed on my way I could hear offers you pleasure but only for a season. her, as she climbed the hill, repeating gods Rest-Centre Christ offers lasting joy. her cry: "I can't rest! I can't rest! I can't rest!" For days that cry rang in A. CHEESBROUGH The Rest of Resignation my ears. When I inquired about her To rest in the divine will, to know that the following week, I learned that she for the Christian believer there is a rest all things are working for our good be- had been taken away. that only he can know. cause we have surrendered all to Him, We have heard of the establishment Jesus Christ is the world's spiritual brings fullness of joy. of "rest homes" where people who are "rest-centre." He bids us "Come" and "Jesus! I am resting, resting certified as needing recuperative rest can find rest in Him. He says: "Learn of In the joy of what Thou art: receive treatment that is described as Me; . . . and ye shall find rest unto I am finding out the greatness "diversional therapy." your souls." Of Thy loving heart." When Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all The decision to come to Christ, to We can only work out our own salva- ye that labour and are heavy laden, and listen to His call, to accept His offer, tion in so far as we allow God to work I will give you rest," He put His finger to take His yoke, brings a peace that in us. "For it is God which worketh in on the world's greatest need. Christ was passeth all understanding. you both to will and to do of His good not speaking, however, of physical rest Through the Word of God, through pleasure." The attitude of whole-hearted but of spiritual. the preacher in the church, over the surrender to Christ gives the power of For eight hours out of twenty-four we radio, or through the prayers of parents God full play in our lives, and we may need physical sleep. "Nature's sweet and friends you may hear the call of the then confidently rest in Him. restorer," we call it. It is a divine pro- Spirit of God. As you look into your "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently vision for the restoration of our used-up own heart and feel the unrest of a con- for Him." This rest is not the rest of physical energies. "He giveth His be- science that is not in tune with God you inactivity. It is the rest that energizes loved sleep." Ps. 127: 2. "When thou are invited to make a decision which will and brings power to face life's problems. liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, change the whole course of your life. It is the rest that comes from taking thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall Why not make it now? everything to the Lord in prayer. be sweet." Prov. 3: 24. "I will both "Jesus is calling the weary to rest, "In the shadow of His wings lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Calling today, calling today ; There is rest, sweet rest. Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in Bring Him thy burden and thou shalt There is rest from care and labour, safety." Ps. 4: 8. "The sleep of a la- be blessed. There is rest for friend and neighbour, He will not turn thee away." bouring man is sweet." Eccl. 5: 12. In the shadow of His wings The rest that comes from an honest Christ invites, He does not compel. There is rest, sweet rest." day's work is God's provision for every- The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let us not forget, there is also one, whether he be Christian or not; but Christ issued the invitation. He bade the rest of the Sabbath.

SIGNS OF THE TIKES :: October 2, 1944 Page Eleven Rest of the Sabbath back of the lines where a church is avail- Mr. Stidger's comment is: "The power The gospel of rest was preached unto able, he always attends divine services. of prayer cannot be denied, and we God's ancient people, but was not mixed He recognizes the absolute necessity of honour this 'praying' general who relies with faith in them that heard it. Heb. spiritual strength both for himself, for not on the frailty of human strength for 4: a. God rested on the seventh day his men, and for his army in general. victory—but upon God!" from all His works (verse 4), and the in- He does not apologize for his interest in It is not presumption to believe that vitation is, "If they shall enter into My religion, and frankly suggests that his the success of the Allied armies and the rest." "Today, if ye will hear His voice, men and officers, as well as himself, pray liberation of the oppressed, are due to harden not your hearts." So, "there and read the Bible, which, he says, is the prayers of our Christian leaders as remaineth therefore a rest to the people 'the source of all divine and human wis- well as to their masterly planning. Nor of God. For he that is entered into His dom.' He is fighting this war with the must we forget the prayers of countless rest, he also hath ceased from his own conviction that he is not only a British thousands of God's dear children who works, as God did from His." The Sab- general but also a Christian gentleman have prayed that God's name would be bath as ordained by God is a sign be- and soldier; that he is a churchman as vindicated, and that those who have set tween Him and His people that their well as a patriot; that God is literally Him at naught, and boasted that ruth- rest is founded upon the finished work concerned with the events of this war less might would conquer, would be pun- of Christ. because the things for which Christianity ished for their wickedness. stands are in imminent peril." Prayer, Bible study, unwavering faith "None of us will ever feel more deeply in God—these are the solid foundations anything that has happened in this war, upon which we may all build our char- THANK GOD than we felt the significance of the words acters. God is no respecter of persons. of General Montgomery spoken just be- and the most humble and obscure indi- for Praying Generals fore the Battle of El Alamein, when he vidual who takes God at His word may said to his men: 'Let every officer and (Concluded from page 3) experience the strength and joy that man enter the battle with a stout heart come with continual victory over sin, and to know that at one time Field Marshal and the determination to do his duty as with the assurance of Christ's indwelling Montgomery's father was Bishop of Tas- long as breath is in his body. Let us presence. mania. To his home background he all pray that the Lord God, mighty in owes his Christian outlook, his devotion battle, will give us the victory!' Thank God for the amazing victories to the Bible, and his abstinence from won by our praying generals. Thank liquor and tobacco. "That to me is one of the most rational God, too, for the amazing victories pos- and at the same time reasonable and sible to every child of God—victories Mr. Stidger then quotes from Mr. spiritual utterances of this war to date. over the enemy of God and man, over Justice Murphy of the American Su- I feel a certain sense of confidence when perils without and evils within. preme Court:— I know that we have such men as that "I understand from reliable sources of at the head of our American and English "Thanks be unto God, which giveth information available to me that General armies. Any general who frankly, natu- us the victory through our Lord Jesus Montgomery actually reads a chapter in rally, and sincerely can and does say as Christ." i Cor. 15: 57. his Bible every day of his life, even in he enters into a great battle, 'Let us all "Thanks be unto God, which always the battle zones. He also prays morning pray!' gives me a new feeling of reas- causeth us to triumph in Christ." 2 Cor. and evening. When he is in some city surance!" 2: 14. H. FREE if ! BIBLE COURSE Bible Lessons for "Signs" Readers 30 Simply Prepared for Busy People * ONLY FIFTEEN MINUTES A DAY will do one or two lessons a week. People No Tuition Charge . . . everywhere say: "We never knew the Bible could be so fully comprehended with . . . Nothing to Buy such a minimum of time and effort.,, THE BIBLE IS YOUR ONLY TEXT-BOOK * Beautiful in its simplicity, comprehensive in its scope, Things You Have Wondered ENROL NOW and compact in design, the 20TH CENTURY BIBLE About:— Fill in this coupon, or write mentioning the COURSE presents the great doctrines and prophecies "Signs of the Times," and forward it to of the Bible in a manner appealing to both the head "Where Do We Go at Death?" and the heart. This jour- "What and Where Is Heaven?" THE 20TH CENTURY BIBLE COURSE r ney through the beauty and "Can a Man Be Saved Who Feels INSTRUCTOR, f. grandeur of the Book of He Is Lost?" at our Agency in your State (see page 15). "Is World Dictatorship Coming?" 44° books you can never forget. Please enrol me in the 20th Century "God's True Church of Today." Bible Course, and forward me, without * The test papers are simple "The Unpardonable Sin." present or future obligation on my part, and easy to fill out. "Will Christ Come in Our Day?" the first lesson and instructions. "Does Prayer Really Work?" * Very little writing is re- "Will God Burn Wicked People Name quired. For Ever?" Address *NO FINAL EXAMINA- OTHER VITAL and STIRRING TION. SUBJECTS '"Page Twelve October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES AmixesA Let me illustrate with a very sad, and *ket-4k perhaps extreme, case. Many years ago when I was a young missionary in the South Pacific, the governor of Fiji sent of .r word to me that a man in the Suva gaol, Days gout condemned to die on the gallows, wanted to see me. This man was not a Fijian, or a native, but from a distant island, and he had reported to the authorities that his people were Seventh-day Ad- " Be/st We liatget" ventists. This accounted for the fact that I was brought into the picture. J. E. FULTON The criminal, for that was what he was judged to be, was brought to Fiji IPLING'S hymn, the the flesh.- Next it was "pleasant to the to die, and that on circumstantial evi- -Recessional, ' so deservedly popular, eyes," the "lust of the eyes." How many dence, for he had never admitted his written around that oft-repeated phrase, follow Eve, looking at forbidden things guilt. The governor was very desirous "lest we forget," has for all of us a that are pleasant to the eyes! Also she that I should talk with this man, hoping timely message. Especially is this so in thought that she had found the way of he might confess to me the crime, and these busy, tragic, and bewildering times, wisdom. Ambition hath slain its mil- accordingly placed in my hands the rec- when we so easily forget the good coun- lions. She was walking, standing, sitting ord of the case. As I read it, I became sels of our parents and pastors. We are with the chief of scorners, and that, as fully convinced that the man was guilty likely to forget our vows, even forget Milton puts it in his "Paradise Lost," of the terrible crime of a double murder. our Bibles. We are in danger of drift- is the story— So early every morning for a week I ing away from the strait and narrow "Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit was admitted to his cell, where .we talked path and forgetting our God. Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste together, and I read the Bible with him Sometimes when reminded of an im- Brought death into the world, and all our woe, and prayed with him. After a few days portant unperformed duty, we. answer, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man he seemed softened in heart, and he one Restore us, and regain our blissful seat." "Oh, I forgot," as though this were a day sobbed out a prayer. legitimate excuse for -neglect. We hear Man has departed from the right way. I asked for a full confession of his parents admonish children for neglecting Man has forgotten God. And this is the awful crime, and he told me in detail duty under cover of the excuse of forget- constant danger which confronts us one his story in that dark cell. I sent the fulness. Is there not a danger that we word to the governor, which greatly re- older ones may awake to realities too ...11.11111.11M...11111.1•.•••••••••••••••••FIMMI. 41111.• lieved his state of mind, for he told me late and vainly offer the excuse, "I for- he very much disliked to see the man die got"? Now to forget what is important "Blessed Are They That Do " on circumstantial evidence alone. Then is no small or excusable matter. God says in His Book, "The wicked shall be ROBERT HARE I secured some details of his life history. He had a praying mother and father. turned into hell, and all the nations that JUST planning kind deeds and planning kind forget God." And speaking of His an- ways, He himself knew God in his childhood cient people, the io6th psalm enumerates Is easy enough as you go, and young manhood, but he neglected But it never can meet the needs of the case, these fatal downward steps: "They re- prayer, became careless, allowed his mind Or brighten the smile on another face, to drift to forbidden things. He forgot membered not the multitude of Thy Down in this world of woe ! mercies." "They soon forgat His works." God and his early teachings, and he We may plan by the yard, with righteous intent, -They forgat God their Saviour." "They strayed far from the path of right and But planning is simple and cheap. purity. He was lost in sin, became a believed not." "They . . . were min- It is doing that makes the life worth while, gled among the heathen." That lightens the gloom with many a smile slave to Satan, and was led from bad Oh, fateful hour when we break con- Down where the sad eyes weep! to worse till he committed a terrible crime, for which he must die. nection with our God, and the sweetness Plan on as you will, but see that yoti do of communion is no longer relished! We Make real your visions of mind, I was with the condemned man that And ever, for ever along life's way last morning at .four o'clock, for the forget God, and downward is the path to Just as you are passing day by day, the broad way—just three steps some- Take time to be helpful and kind! execution was to be at five. As usual I times. David knew all about that when was locked in the cell with him. Here Think not that feelings and wordy compounds again we read the Bible and prayed. He he wrote the first psalm. Step one: Can meet the needs of the hour; Walking "in the counsel of the ungodly." Remember that doing, by Heaven's decree, was reasonably calm in mind, but oh, It is a danger to be gazing about where Is the plan arranged for you and for me, what regrets—so many regrets! The sinners are. Step two: Standing "in the When placed within our power— hour passed quickly, for promptly the That sweetness flows from the kindly life prison executives and the doctor came. way of sinners." It is the wrong way, Like perfume from the flower! and to stand may denote some attrac- The poor prisoner was placed in a sort tion. Step three: Sitting "in the seat of of harness to bind about him, but it was the scornful." Sitting may denote com- left unsecured until he reached the scaf- fort and enjoyment. These three steps and all. Solomon, with a wonderful ex- fold, a short distance away. I walked are downward, away from God, and are perience to begin with, became careless along beside the poor fellow and tried to so easy to take. We recall also .that Eve and worldly, forgot God, and even went comfort him with God's promises which took just three steps—the "lust of the so far as tobecome an idolater. David I repeated as we mounted the platform flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride also, after aA early nearness to God, de- of the gallows. This I continued to do of life"—when she turned away from parted sadly from the right paths. So during those few minutes of awful sus- God in Eden. She found, she thought, many lose their way in youth, forget the pense while the executioner was strap- the fruit that was better for food than God of their parents, and often make ping him into his bonds, preparatory to that allowed. Fatal taste, the "lust of shipwreck of their lives. the fateful last moment. SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1944 Page Thirteen After he was bound and a black cap doctor inspected the body while 'I pon- couraged him to be true and faithful slipped over his head and face, covering dered the results of forgetting God. to God. his eyes, he stood on a portion of the Ah, sin, thou art an awful master! The boy told the missionary about his platform arranged so that it would spring But you do not seem so at first. You troubles. At first his people tried to from under him by the pressing of a may appear to be some little half-inno- persuade him to give up Jesus. When lever. The cap was removed for his last cent joy. It is like one slender thread he refused, they put his Bible and all word. He confessed Christ, acknowl- bound about one, easy to break, but his other things in a box. Then they edged that he was worthy of death, and when thread after thread of sin is added, sank the box in a well. even asked the gaoler to forgive him for the one so bound becomes a helpless some little misdemeanours while under slave, led captive at Satan's will. "His After a while Diamond found it and his care. A new rope was fastened about own iniquities shall take the wicked him- pulled it out. First of all, he took from his neck, the cap was pulled down over self, and he shall be holden with the it his Bible. He carefully turned the his eyes, and as I was repeating a promise cords of his sins." pages in the heat of the sun, and dried from Isaiah, he suddenly shot down to And let us remember that any sin, them so that he might again read God's the end of the rope. What a terrible however trivial it may appear, if cher- Word. He had learned to love the great experience! I pray God I may never ished in the heart, "will eventually neu- and precious promises that God had witness another such scene. tralize all the power of the gospel." And given him. The doctor seemed unnerved, and sin, whether great or small, leads away Diamond took the missionary into the asked me to accompany him down off from innocence and into forgetfulness of village. He showed him a little shack— God. just a simple little mud building with a the gallows while he made the routine "Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, thatched roof. examination. In the chamber below the Lest we forget—lest we forget." "What is that, Diamond?" the mis- sionary asked. What do you suppose that little shack was? It was Diamond's schoolhouse! When he had to leave the mission school. fitoetes'L fitildrert he decided to have a little mission school of his own. So he talked to the boys of the village about it. They became in- terested, and together they had built the A few weeks later, the missionary re- little school. There, day by day, forty ceived a letter from Diamond. The boy boys and girls of the village came to be Diarnand begged him to come down and visit him taught about Jesus, the children's Friend. at his home. He said that he had been And Diamond was the teacher! suffering for the sake of the gospel. He Diamond had studied the Bible only a longed to have the missionary pray with few weeks in the mission school. He was DIAMOND is a boy who him and encourage him. a poor, ignorant boy, but he was a real lives in far-away India. Like millions The missionary was very busy, and it diamond in the rough. The Lord took of others in India, his people are hea- was difficult for him to leave. But he him, and made him a true missionary. then. They do not know the true God. wanted to help Diamond, so he went. They do not know that Jesus loves them. Boys and girls in our church schools. He travelled three hundred miles by They worship idols. you have the privilege of studying the train, and crossed eleven rivers, some of Bible year after year. What are you One day, Diamond heard about our which were very deep. mission school. He heard that at the planning to do with the wonderful Bible When he found Diamond, he talked school he could learn of Jesus. But the knowledge that you are storing in your with him and prayed with him. He en- minds?—Author Unknown. school was hundreds of miles away. He made up his mind to go to the mission school. Day after day he thought about it. In a wee little house on a wee little farm Lived a wee little lad, long ago; At last he left his home, and made c/I Wee Little Story In summer he played in the clover fields green, his way to the school. After he had And in winter he played in the snow. been at the school for a few weeks, his He went every day to a wee little school parents tried to compel him to return His wee little lessons to learn; home. He held up his hand when he wanted to speak. Those at the school feared that if he And spelled when it came to his turn. went home he would go back to his old In the wee little creek that ran under the bridge heathen ways. They loved Diamond, The wee little minnows swam by; And the wee little hill across the green vale and wanted him to be a true child of Seemed a mountain whose top reached the God. They hoped he would stay at the sky. school. Diamond stayed a few days To a wee little church with a wee little bell longer. Then he felt that he ought to He went every blest Sabbath day, return home. His wee little songs of rejoicing to sing, "Sahib, I must go," he said to the one And his memory verses to say. in charge of the mission. I think of those days in the long, long ago, And he went. The missionaries And I sigh just a wee little sigh; For that wee little house was the home where I thought that, as he had been with them lived; only a few weeks, he would now give And that wee little laddie was I. up all thought of being a Christian. —Elizabeth Rosser.

Page Fourteea October 2, 1944 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES • LIEUT. GEN. JOSEPH W. STILWELL, comman- f „ der of Allied armies on the Burma front, heart- 1101.1 ily dislikes ceremonials, such as dress-up dis- Signs of the limes plays and social events. Even when he awards PRICE PAYABLE IN ADVANCE 1/Land a medal to one of his men the ritual is reduced tells 12 months, 5/-; 6 months. All other countries, 10/6 to the minimum. The New York Times 2/6; post free in the Com- Single copies (postage • THE whole Bible has been translated into how, not long ago, the General entered a base monwealth and N.Z. extra). Id. English or revised fifty times. hospital in Assam to look up a wounded All orders sent direct to the Publishers or American tank man who had won the Silver their agents, either for single subscriptions • MARTIN LUTHER is buried in Wittenberg, Star in a battle a few days previously. He or for clubs, must be accompanied by cash. Germany, in the castle church to whose door found the man lying nude, except for his SIGNS PUBLISHING COMPANY he nailed his ninety-five theses. bandages and a sheet that covered him to his (A.C.A. Ltd. Props.) • THE first authentic record of pigeons' being hips. Introducing himself to the surprised Warburton :: Victoria :: Australia used to carry messages in time of war is the soldier, he smiled and said, "I'm going to • When forwarding Money Orders or Postal Notes, statement by Prontius that Julius Cmsar used embarrass you a little." Then after his aide please make same payable to SIGNS PUBLISH- had read the citation, General Stilwell took out ING COMPANY, WA RBU RT ON, and not to them to carry messages during his Gallic wars. individuals. All New Zealand remittances should Pliny records the use of pigeons by the Romans the decoration, pulled the sheet up over the be in the form of Money Orders, as Postal Notes at the siege of Mutina in 43 B.C. man's chest, and pinned the medal on the sheet. or Stamps are not negotiable in the Commonwealth. OUR GENERAL AGENTS • JAPAN'S famous Kyoto temple bells and the • AT the age of four days, Robert P. La Bouy, Jr., was called to the telephone by his anxious Vic. Tract Society: 8 Yarra Street, Hawthorn, E.2. Tokyo equivalent of Philadelphia's statue of Tas. Tract Society : 361 Argyle St., Nth. Hobart. William Penn have been melted for scrap. father 4,000 miles away in the South Pacific South N.S.W. Tract Society: 84 The Boulevarde. Also fancy iron gates, decorative chandeliers, theatre of war, who wanted to hear the voice Strathfield. foreign stoves and radiators, surplus elevators, of his first-born. "Make him cry," he in- N. N.S.W. Tract Soc.: 21 Gordon Ave., Hamilton. Qld. Tract Society: 37 O'Connell Terrace, Bowen kitchenware, rainspouts, and every other con- structed his wife. But the good-natured baby Hills, Brisbane. ceivable source of metal have disappeared. would only smile. "Do something!" urged N. Qld. Tract Soc.: 106 Sturt St., Townsville (W.). Father La Bouy, waiting impatiently. "Shake Sth. Aust. Tract Society : 82 Angas St., Adelaide. • ACCORDING to reports the manuscript of the him," Mrs. La Bouy instructed the nurse. West Aust. Tract Society: 47 Hay Street, Subiaco. N. N.Z. Tract Soc.: 27 Esplanade Rd., Mt. Eden. Revised American Standard Version of the That did no good, so the nurse gave him a Auckland, C.3. New Testament will be ready for the printers little wallop. Robert howled in most ap- S. N.Z. Tract Soc.: 40 Bealey Ave., Christchurch. by the autumn of this present year. Work on proved style, and his father exclaimed, "Good !" .11111. .1.11.•••••••••• the Old Testament is about half completed. as the connection was cut. This new version is to be "as modern as Mof- fatt's and Goodspeed's, but it will still retain • THE oppressed youth of Poland have suc- • A NEW arrival in the Washington, D.C., zoo the essential characteristics of the King James ceeded in issuing the first underground chil- is a three-month-old brown bear cub, woolly Version." There will be no use of the words dren's newspaper ever published. It is called and roly-poly, sent from Teheran, Iran, as a "thee" and "thou," except in prayer. "Saith" the Ladybird, and is a supplement to Zywia, gift of good will from the Red army to the and "verily" have been cast out. Verse num- the organ of the Polish Women's Peasant Party. American Army. Maliutka, or Little One, as it bers remain, but they are made as inconspic- Copies of the paper, which is issued and dis- is translated from the Russian, made the seven- uous as possible. tributed mainly by girls under eighteen, have thousand-mile flight in a commando transport, recently reached Britain. Not long ago the with the kind of priority that even a high • A REUTER'S dispatch from London brings the organizers of the paper made a daring raid on Government official might envy. His diet on news that Lieut. Comdr. J. W. S. Marr, of the a German depot, and succeeded in comman- the trip was evaporated milk and water, which Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who as a deering a good supply of newsprint. he licked from his paws. Boy Scout accompanied Sir Ernest Shackleton's last voyage in the Quest, is back in the ant- • NEws of a "rich fish" came recently from If the "SIGNS" arctic, leading the most secret expedition of South Africa. It is commonly called the blou- discovery ever to leave Britian. He has with Should biskop and averages 6o pounds in weight. It Come to You • We never send out papers him an exploration party of fourteen British is found to be the source of an extract Boo that have not been ordered. scientific and research workers, all volunteers, Unexpectedly— Should you therefore be re- times richer in vitamin A than the best cod- ceiving the "SIGNS OF THE who have now established a base camp of huts liver oil. Indeed, "a thimbleful of its liver oil TIMES" without ordering it and tents amid the snow and ice near Hope has enough vitamin A to supply a whole family yourself, it is being sent by a friend with the hope Bay, Graham Land, the nearest land mass to that you will enjoy it. •If for any reason you for eight months." should prefer not to accept, would you kindly ad- the South Pole. The explorers will remain in vise the Publishers by letter. The wishes of all the antarctic two years, carrying out intense are respected. research into polar meteorology and radio ACKNOWLEDGMENTS conditions, the mineral wealth of Graham The Advent Radio Church, Sydney. acknowl- edges with thanks the kind donations, received Printed and published by Signs Publishing Com- Land, biological and botanical facts, bird regularly of 10s. weekly from A. B., and 10s. pany (A.C.A. Ltd., Props.), Warburton, Victoria, movements, and the habits of whales and fish. weekly from Anonymous Donor. Aust., and registered as a newspaper in Victoria.

.---._ ACTIVE MINDS AND HEALTHY BODIES NEED N---,77------__ ,-..-----_, THESE P/ ,100 4, Eli oBO * The active minds and restless energy of youth make terrific It demands on the growing child. That's why every mother must see that her children's diet contains all those vital, body-building elements doctors say are so essential to health and growth. . . . *P u r e, whole - wheat foods such as WEET-BIX, GRANOSE, and BIxIEs provide these elements in abundance, and for this reason should be on every breakfast table. Specially flavoured to appeal to young appe- HER ser„, VP.4 1}1 )50 tites. Start serving one 111 01 .011- of them tomorrow. All ;) OS' • grocers. THE SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD COMPANY

SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1944 Page Fifteen To the station owner who lived on the main ridge of the western foothills, the for the coming of day never ceased to be a miracle. For half a century he had watched the Watching unbroken succession of days break over the night world, and each succeeding day found his interest and enthusiasm expanding to new and larger dimensions. And as long as the cars had been roaring up and down the new highway that curved past his home, he had marvelled that men could pass such beauty with only a turn of the head. A morning came when the new day breaking over the mountains gave more than 21k-TVils} the usual promise of beauty. The atmosphere was brilliantly clear; there was not the suggestion of a breeze. As he went about his duties, the man on the ridge paused SANFORD T. WHITMAN often to watch the light as it spread higher into the heavens and reached ever farther beyond the landmarks to south and north. Suddenly an illusion took hold of him: When he looked at the peaks, with the _`it- Far in the south loomed the rugged sky above, they seemed not high but far away. And when he looked at the outspread cone of a volcanic peak. To the north, valley with the mountains beyond, they seemed near and very high. And whether they seemingly higher because it was nearer, were near and high or distant and alluring, their beauty was that of another world. rose another, a rocky, ice-girt pinnacle At dawn the mountains were that way. The old man had observed it many times. silhouetted against the pale light of early Now a line of clouds appeared above the skyline. Not storm-clouds. Not one dawn. Betumn, and somewhat lower, large cloud, or several smaller ones. Rather, a shoal of tiny risings of vapour, was the irregular skyline of the main delicate, ornate, tenuous. range. The snow fields on the upper They did not rise high above the mountains. And they seemed not to move. levels were a vague and ghostly white; Appearing as at a signal, begotten by the action of some minor air current, they the timbered slopes below ?ogre a frosty, lingered over the divide, motionless and unbelievably fragile, an exquisite pattern shadowy blue, deepening into black as of lace etched on the glory beyond. they descended into the night gloom of Watching, the man muttered to himself : "If only they hold until the sun comes the valley. And over the central skyline, up." It was both a wish and an expectation. at first held tightly between the land- And it was fulfilled. When the moment came, and the solar fires touched the mark peaks, bloomed the rich light of clouds, they were transmuted at once from clay to rubies. Their filmy forms, at the new day coming to the world. first grey and white, were now bright scarlet with here and there a touch of molten gold. They seemed to have caught fire. They glowed as with crucible heat. When it happened, words ceased to be useful. Exclamation became futile. Only silence and awe were reverent. On the highway the cars continued Lo race past, speeding this way, that way. No one had seen or cared. This was what stirred the man's heart. This deadly, plaguing haste. This tragic loss of reality. This ruinous insensibility to the eternal values. It was too true in the physical, material world. Unnumbered by the hand of mortal man is the multitude that today hurries along the broad way of life, not seeing and not caring that above the mountain skyline the dawn is breaking. So many things hold their attention. So many cares occupy, so many perplexities harass. There is no time for anything above the material. No thought, apparently, that aught else could be. The night is so black, the cold so bitter, the hours so endless. Eyes are downcast. Spirits are bowed. Hearts are feeble with dismay. Despair threatens to overwhelm. The morning has been so long delayed. Surely the hope for it was vain. No dawn? Already its golden light gilds the eastern skies! The glory and assurance of the fact! Dawn! Dawn is upon us! Coming up from far beyond, flooding upward ever higher and stronger until. it spans the heavens, overflowing the landmark peaks, everywhere diminishing and dispelling the night I'darkness—such is the way of daybreak. And such is the miracle about to be wrought. There can be no doubt of it. There can be no going back from the ominous events of the present. Significant landmarks, so long ahead, now are passing by. We look now at the borderline peaks. Beyond is the day. To this generation more than to any other in history were the following words addressed: "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching." Luke i2 : 37. Friend, are you ready? Are you watching? No better words of advice have been given for this time than the exhortation of the Apostle Paul:— "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Rom. 13: 12. On the broad highway of life today an uncounted host rushes east and west, north and south, not seeing, not feeling, not caring. Were they thus passing only the beauty of a single sunrise, their loss would be great. So to pass by the dawn of eternal day is catastrophic. Are you in that hastening throng? Or are you standing aside, like the venerable man of the foothills, rapt and silent while the light grows in the east?

Page Sixteen October 2, 1944 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES