The homage which the Catholic Church pays to the Virgin Mary is one of the most pernicious phases of the spirit of antichrist. It is true that in their catechisms they disclaim any intention of paying her divine honor, or of worshiping her as God; but those who are familiar with the facts know that the honor and worship which should be given to Christ alone are by them given the Virgin Mary, and Christ is virtually ignored. But this worship of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints and martyrs, which detracts from the honor due to Christ, springs solely from the doctrine of the natural immortality of man; for if they did not hold that human beings are by nature possessed of the immortality which actually belongs to God alone, they could not give to those human beings, after death, the worship which is due to God.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.1

To show the pernicious effects of the Roman Catholic worship of the Virgin Mary and “saints” we shall make a few quotations from a Catholic publication entitled, “The Glories of Mary.” The work was first published in Venice, Italy, in 1784, and we copy from the first American edition of the translation from the Italian, which translation bears the approval of Archbishop John Hughes, of New York, dated Jan. 21, 1872. We quote the following statements concerning the author, Alphonsus Liguori, in order that the reader may know how he and his work are regarded by the Catholic Church:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.2

“Nine years after his death [which occurred Aug. 1, 1787], he was pronounced venerable by Pius VI., was beatified by Pius VII., Sept. 15, 1816; and on May 26, 1839, was canonized by Gregory XVI. Pius IX. added, July 7, 1871, to these honors the dignity of Doctor of the Church; thus placing him beside Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of Clairvaux, etc. The decree was based upon the scholarly and devotional character of his works, and especially the circumstance that they teach in the most excellent manner the truths relating to the immaculate conception of the blessed mother of God, and the infallibility of the Roman bishop speaking from his throne.’ It ordained that ‘his works should be cited as of equal authority with those of the other doctors of the church, and should be used in schools, colleges, controversies, sermons, etc., as well as in private.’”-Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, act Liguori.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.3

The reader will know, therefore, that every quotation made from “The Glories of Mary,” is the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. On page 19 we find the following:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.4

“If the assertion is true and incontrovertible, as I believe it to be, and as I shall prove in the fifth chapter of this book, that all graces are dispensed by the hand of Mary alone, and that all those who are saved, are saved solely by the hand of this divine mother, it may be said as a necessary consequence, that the salvation of all depends upon preaching Mary, and confidence in her intercession.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.5

If this is not antichrist, can anyone tell what would be? When the Catholic Church teaches that “all those who are saved, are saved solely by the hand of this divine mother,” what room is left for Christ? Further quotations will show that the Catholic Church openly gives to Mary a higher place than to Christ. On pages 27, 28 we find:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.6

“The kingdom of God consisting of justice and mercy, the Lord has divided it; he has reserved the kingdom of justice for himself, and he has granted the kingdom of mercy to Mary, ordaining that all the mercies which are dispensed to men should pass through the hands of Mary, and should be bestowed according to her good pleasure.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.7

And on page 29:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.8

“Ernest, Archbishop of Prague, also says that the eternal Father has given to the Son the office of judging and punishing, and to the mother the office of compassionating and relieving the wretched.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.9

Sometimes professed Protestants are guilty of setting the Father and the Son in antagonism with each other, representing the Father as desiring to wreak vengeance upon men, and the Son as restraining him. The natural result of such teaching is to cause men to regard God as unloveable. In like manner the Catholic Church represent Christ as the stern, unyielding judge, and Mary as the only one who can induce him to show mercy. Of course the result must be the neglect of Christ. In the following questions this is made more apparent:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.10

“Every blessing, every help, every grace that men have received or will receive from God, to the end of the world, has come to them, and will come to them, through the intercession and by means of Mary.” P. 119.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.11

Again on page 133 we read:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.12

“St. Bonaventure remarks that Isaias in his day lamented, and said, ‘Behold, thou art angry, and we have sinned.... there is none that riseth up and taketh hold of thee;’ because Mary was not yet born into the world. But now, if God is offended with any sinner, and Mary undertakes to protect him, she restrains the Son from punishing him, and saves him.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.13

But the following caps the climax:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.14

“To increase our confidence, St. Anselm adds that when we have recourse to this divine mother, we may not only be sure of her protection, but that sometimes we shall be sooner heard and saved by invoking her holy name than that of Jesus our Saviour. And he gives this reason: Because it belongs to Christ as our judge to punish, but to Mary, as our advocate, to pity.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.15

These statements are so clear that they need no comment to convince the reader that Christ is practically ignored in the Roman Catholic Church, and that that church is essentially pagan. It teaches men to worship and serve the creature more than the Creator. It matters not how much that church may profess to be Christian, nor how much prominence they may give to the name and image of Christ; the fact remains that it is not a Christian church, but is essentially antichrist. And this, let the reader not forget, is due wholly to its assumption of pagan doctrines, notably that of the inherent immortality of man. But for this, they could not thus exalt a creature to the place of God. W.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.16

“Promises to Israel” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

In the Saviour’s sermon on the mount there is a prophecy which is familiar to everyone who has read the Bible at all, but which is very seldom thought of as a prophecy. It is this: “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5. This prophecy, which is at the same time a blessed promise, is only one link in a chain of promises that will find their fulfillment at the second coming of our Lord. The study of these promises in their connection with one another, serves to throw light on many passages of the Bible that are otherwise obscure, and to bring out in bold relief the Christian’s hope.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.17

It should be evident at first thought, that the promise that the meek shall inherit the earth, does not refer to the earth in its present condition, and under the present order of things. A meek person is one who is “mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; given to forbearance under injuries; soft, gentle, yielding.” By a comparison of this definition with the description of charity, in 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, we must conclude that meekness and charity must exist together, or, rather, that meekness is a part of that charity which is “the bond of perfectness;” for, “charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemingly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” This was the character of Christ. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23. He “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister” (Matthew 20:28), and he said of himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.18

Now a person who possesses these qualities is so rarely found as to be peculiar; and in the struggle for place and power in this world he will invariably be left behind. The man who doesn’t look out for himself will have a very limited amount of this world’s goods; for, as a general thing, he will not find others to look out for him. With rare exceptions, those who have great worldly possessions, have acquired them by aggressively pushing their own claims. The most of the wealth of this world is in the hands of men who do not fear God, and who have but little regard for man. The following description of “the prosperity of the wicked” in ancient times, will apply equally well to-day:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.19

“They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” Psalm 73:5-12.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.20

At one time when there was a strife among the disciples of Jesus, as to “which of them should be accounted the greatest,” Jesus showed them the difference between those who now possess this world, and those to whom it is promised as a future inheritance, by saying:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.21

“The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so; but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve... Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:15-30.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.22

The epistle of James was addressed to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1), and in that we read: “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” James 2:5, 6.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.23

From these texts we must conclude that the earth, which is to be inherited by the meek, is the kingdom of which those who are poor in this world’s goods, but rich in faith, are heirs. Those who learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, and who follow him in his life of self-denial, being sharers in his sufferings, may now be oppressed and derided by the haughty who have more than heart can wish, but a time will come when they who hunger now shall be filled, and those who are full now, shall hunger; when those who weep now shall laugh, and those who laugh now shall mourn and lament. See Luke 6:2-25. The psalmist, in the following words, tells when the meek shall inherit the earth: “For evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:9-11.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.24

Thus the subject is before us in brief outline. We learn that the inheritance is yet future; that the earth is the kingdom which the meek shall inherit, that the saints who inherit the earth will be none other than the twelve tribes of Israel; and that they will not enter into the possession of their inheritance until after the wicked have had their day of prosperity. The details of the promises and their fulfillment will next claim our attention. W.SITI March 23, 1888, page 182.25

(To be continued.)

“The Logical Outcome” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

The Christian Union of March 1 contains the following communication:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.1

“I have in my congregation a number of young people who read your editorial in a recent number of the Christian Union on the subject of a possible probation after death, one of whom has asked me if I would write to you and ask you for the scriptural proof of your position; and I take the liberty of doing so. It will relieve me of a great deal of responsibility which I feel in connection with this subject, as your views are so utterly at variance with my own that I am not able to help her any, and the subject is troubling a good many.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.2

To this perfectly reasonable request, the editor of the Christian Union undertakes to give “a categorical reply,” and does so as follows:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.3

“If our correspondent, or any member of his flock, desires to know what are the intimations of Scripture upon this subject, so far as it makes any intimations, we recommend him to take his Bible and collate all the passages which refer to the final Judgment, beyond which there is no hope of redemption; then let him examine every one of these passages which gives any hint as to the time of such final Judgment. We think he will find that they all connect it with the end of the world; that not one of them connects it with death. He, therefore, who asserts that death is practically the final Judgment, or is coterminous with the final judgment of any soul, in so far makes a statement which, if not anti-scriptural, is at least unwarranted by Scripture. As we believe that all your knowledge respecting the world beyond death is derived from Scripture, we neither propose ourselves to make any statement which Scripture does not explicitly warrant, nor to allow, in so far as our effort can prevent it, any such statement unwarranted by Scripture to be imposed on the faith of the Christian church.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.4

From the popular standpoint, the Christian Union’s position is impregnable. Whoever holds to the commonly-accepted theory of conscious existence in death, must, if consistent, accept the above conclusion. It is a fact that the Scriptures do not place the final Judgment at death. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment.” Hebrews 9:27. How long after the death of any man the Judgment will take place is not stated; but the fact that all are to be judged at one time is evident from the statement that God has “appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world.” Acts 17:31. Paul tells us, also, that the Lord will “judge the quick [living] and the dead at his appearing and is kingdom.” 2 Timothy 4:1. And the coming of Christ is at “the end of the world.” Matthew 24:3. These Scriptures, which are but samples, show that the dead will not be judged before the living are judged, and that the judgment of all takes place at the end of the world.SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.5

Now this being the case, we do not see how anybody who holds to the theory that the dead are as conscious and as active as the living, and even more so, can deny the possibility of a probation after death. The Christian Union is perfectly consistent with itself. It does not say that all men will have a probation after death, for it does not claim that probation continues until death in the case of every man; but it is consistent in advocating that, aside from the cases of those who have willfully rejected the gospel, probation must continue for all living persons until the Judgment, no matter in what state or condition those persons may be living.SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.6

We say that the Christian Union is consistent with itself; but it is most positively out of harmony with the Scriptures, for they assure us that “the dead know not anything,” and that in the very day that a man’s breath goes forth, his thoughts perish. They teach us that we must make the most of present opportunities, because “there is no work, nor device, no knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave,” which waits all men. Therefore there cannot by any possibility be a probation after death. A person’s probation begins with his consciousness of right and wrong, and cannot possibly extend beyond the close of his consciousness, which is at death.SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.7

With one who believes what the Bible says as to the condition of man in death, there cannot be any question as to a probation after death. But, as before stated, everybody who holds the pagan theory that the dead are conscious, must of necessity, if consistent, hold to the theory of probation after death. Therefore the Roman Catholic purgatory is the logical outcome of the popular theory of the state of the dead. If, however, one believes that each individual is amenable to himself alone, then he must hold that after death each one is working out his own destiny, and so he lands in Spiritualism by a short cut. When one throws aside any Bible doctrine, the bars are down, and there is nothing to hinder him from accepting the most absurd and even wicked theories. W.SITI March 23, 1888, page 183.8

“The Test of Faith” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

Lesson 14.—Sabbath, April 7

1. What was the character of Abraham?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.1

“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Genesis 26:5.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.2

2. Were his early associations favorable to the formation of such a character?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.3

“And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor; and they served other gods.” Joshua 24:2.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.4

3. For what reason was Abraham counted righteous?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.5

“For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Romans 4:3.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.6

4. What will true faith do?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.7

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.8

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcomth the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.9

5. What did the Lord do to test Abraham’s faith?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.10

“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Genesis 22:1, 2.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.11

6. How did Abraham obey?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.12

“And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” Verse 3.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.13

7. How long did they travel before they came to the place?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.14

“Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.” Verse 4.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.15

8. What did Isaac say to his father as they were going together to the place of sacrifice?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.16

“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Verse 7.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.17

9. What was Abraham’s reply?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.18

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” Verse 8.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.19

10. When they came to the place what did Abraham do?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.20

“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” Verse 9.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.21

11. How far did he proceed toward slaying Isaac?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.22

“And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” Verse 10.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.23

12. How was he prevented from completing the sacrifice?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.24

“And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” Verses 11, 12.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.25

13. What did the angel of the Lord say was now proved? Verse 12.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.26

14. How were Abraham’s words, that God would provide himself a lamb, fulfilled?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.27

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” Verse 13.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.28

15. What promise did the Lord make because Abraham had done this?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.29

“And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lore, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” Verses 15-18.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.30

16. What made this a peculiarly strong test of Abraham’s faith?-Isaac was Abraham’s only son (Genesis 22:2); there was no earthly hope that he could ever have another; and more than all, God had promised that his numerous seed should come through Isaac. Hebrews 11:17, 18.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.31

17. What did Abraham believe that God was able to do?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.32

“Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Hebrews 11:19.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.33

18. What did this act prove concerning Abraham’s faith?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.34

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” James 2:21, 22.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.35

19. What wonderful title did Abraham thus gain?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.36

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the Friend of God.” Verse 23.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.37

20. Who may share this blessing?SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.38

“So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:9.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.39

NOTES

The relation of faith and works is fully illustrated in the case of Abraham. First came the promise of God that his seed should be as the stars of heaven. Abraham had no children at that time, but “he believed in the Lord; and he counted it [his belief] to him for righteousness.” Thus Abraham professed faith in God. Afterwards came the command: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” This command Abraham obeyed to the letter; he did offer his son upon the altar, believing that God was able to fulfill his promise, by raising him from the dead. Thus his faith was shown to be perfect. So the apostle James, in showing how faith and works go together, says: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:21-23.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.40

The question that troubles many people is, How can it be true that “a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28), and also that “by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James 2:24. This question is answered in the case of Abraham, as cited above. In the first instance he was justified by simple faith, without works. Works could not have entered into that justification. Afterwards when he offered Isaac, he was justified by works, but, let it never be forgotten, that work was the outcome of his faith; it was the evidence of perfected faith. If it had not been for Abraham’s faith, he never would have performed that work. “Faith wrought with his works.” That is, faith made use of works, to show that it was not dead, but was in active existence. So faith is necessarily first. There cannot be works that will justify, without underlying faith. A man is justified by works, and not by faith only, simply because “faith without works is dead;” and so if he has “faith only,” unaccompanied by works, it is not real faith at all. Yet whatever good works are manifested in a man’s life, must be the result of faith; and thus it is true that “the just shall live by faith.” W.SITI March 23, 1888, page 186.41

“Back Page” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

The dedication of the Oakland Seventh-day Adventist house of worship will take place Sunday, April 22. This will be at the time of the annual meeting, and a large attendance from abroad is expected.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.1

The Christian Union having been asked for some work that will refute the Baptist theory of baptism, replies thus: “There used to be such works, but the world has moved, and they are antiquated. If the primitive mode of the sacrament is of unchangeable authority, the Baptist have the best of the argument.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.2

It is said that a certain old colored Minister always introduces his sermons with the following: “Brethren, my sermon is basted on the following text.” That is more than many of his white, educated brethren would truthfully say, for many of their sermons are not even “basted” to the text. Too often there is not the slightest connection between the text and the sermon.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.3

A word of explanation to those who are studying the Sabbath-school lessons. Last week we printed lesson twelve, and this week we print lesson fourteen. We do this because lesson thirteen is a review, and could be omitted as well as not, and we wish to put the lessons one week ahead, so that those in the most remote places may have the benefit of the notes in their preparation for Sabbath-school. We do this in response to requests that have been sent in by several subscribers.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.4

C.C.-The reckoning of the 1260 years, to have ended in 1798, is correct, because the prophecy says that three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots to give place to the Papacy. These three kingdoms which fell before the rise of the Papacy, were the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. The Heruli were uprooted in 493; the Vandals in 534, and the Ostrogothic Kingdom was destroyed in 538. Now as the Papacy was to rise upon the fall of the three, and as the last of the three fell in 538, therefore the establishment of the Papacy must date, and the 1260 years begin, in A.D. 538.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.5

A brother asked if it is safe to apply Job 20:12, 13 to tobacco-using. We say emphatically, No, it is not safe to apply it to tobacco-using, because such an application would be a false one. There are arguments enough against tobacco-using, without straining a point. The Bible has suffered fully as much from forced interpretations, a narrowing of the meaning, and attempts to make a sensation with a text, as it has from the assaults of its avowed enemies. If all who profess reverence for the Bible were consistent in their interpretation of it, and humble followers of its plain teaching, Christianity might laugh to scorn all the efforts of infidels.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.6

During the week passed the papers have given extensive details of the snow-storm which prevailed in the Eastern States, beginning Sunday, March 11, and continuing for nearly three weeks. In the hands of the storm the great centers of business and traffic were utterly powerless. Railway and telegraph lines became inactive. Boston communicated with New York via Liverpool by cable, and Washington with New York via Chicago over two solitary wires remaining. Business men perished in New York City on their way to or from their offices. The price of provisions ran very high, and a temporary famine was threatened. Over 500 corpses in New York awaited burial. The loss of life and property by land and sea is very great. Dakota is foremost with words and gifts of comfort for the suffering.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.7

The Rev. Alexander Jackson has an article in the Independent, on “The Relation of the Classes to the Church.” A census has just been taken of the Protestant Churches of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, Penn., and from that he takes his figures. Part of his conclusions are found in the following paragraph, which needs no comment:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.8

“There are more males than females in Pittsburgh; but there are only 35.15 per cent. of Protestant church-members males, while 72.85 are females. Of the 47,838 members of evangelical churches in the two cities, 17,772 are males and 30,066 females. This unsatisfactory fact is more than offset by another: One Allegheny minister preaches to a congregation in which males are in the majority; he is chaplain of the penitentiary! More than nine-tenths of the prisoners in Pennsylvania are males. It is safe to say that if there were more men in our Protestant churches there would be fewer in our penitentiaries.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.9

While vast sums of money are being expended in punishing crime, would it not be well to expend some of this solicitude and energy in removing the most active sources which produce crime and criminals? Some time since a den of young robbers was accidentally discovered under a sidewalk in Chicago. They were boys, fully organized and bound by terrible oath’s written in blood. They had excavated the cave by night work, and it was adorned with arms, pictures from the Police Gazette, and furnished with cheap novels, which revel in blood and glorify crime. In San Francisco lately a policemen halted a footpad, who answered the challenge with a shot which dangerously wounded the officer. The fire was returned with fatal effect. Upon investigation, the criminal proved to be a man of noble physique, a boarder in a respectable place, who spent his entire days reading such books as have been mentioned. There was no possible necessity for such a course only as his mind, being drawn in that direction so strongly, impelled his hands to do the work of robber and murderer. No words can adequately express the terrible Satanic nature of such reading. And it is everywhere. The minds of the young are becoming imbued with such views of life as render crime and impurity matters of heroic virtue.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.10

Our cities are filling up and our police courts are crowded with young of both sexes, who have left the quiet homes of country or village life for the exciting world of the city, lured away from innocency by these pictures painted by demons, to deeds of crime. The publication of this vile flood might be stopped, and would be were not the moral sense of this generation steeped in these very things. But while the name of Anthony Comstock and the few of his associates are held as a by-word and a hissing, and every impediment is thrown in their way by municipal authorities, public sentiment, and newspapers, and the vilest men are exalted, we but hasten to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.11

“Helps to Bible Study” or “Bible-Readings in Present Truth,” in the German language, a pamphlet of 64 pages, has been issued by the Review and Herald Press. It contains twenty-five readings on important topics connected with our work, which are prefaced with several pages of hints and instruction for Bible-workers. The book will be of great benefit to those were interested in the work among people speaking the German language. Price, 50 cents. Orders will be filled from the office of Pacific Press.SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.12

“The Old Testament” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

Joseph Cook, in a recent Monday lecture in Boston, took as his subject, “Christ’s Testimony to the Inspiration of the Old Testament.” A correspondent of the Congregationalist says of it:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.13

“The lecturer opened with a remark of Columbus on first seeing the Orinoco River. ‘This stream,’ said he, ‘cannot come from an island; it is too large; it must proceed from a continent.’ In like manner the sermon on the mount is a stream from the Old Testament, and the preaching of John a ripple from the stream of Jewish economy. So much has been said lately about the higher criticism, that some timid people are beginning to inquire if the Old Testament has not been overrated, and questioned if it really contains any messianic prophecies. But whatever the higher criticism may say, the fundamental principles of the kingdom of God, and the root idea of monotheism, underlie the Old Testament.The two great commandments, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself,’ are the law of Jehovah.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.14

“A Discussion on Immortality” The Signs of the Times, 14, 12.

E. J. Waggoner

The following taken from the Christian Union is to show that the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul, which the professed Christian class has received from its heathen authors, is not satisfactory to all minds in the church. We gladly see this among other signs of an awakening to a ... the truth in this important matter:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.15

“Considerable excitement has been caused in Neuchatel by the delivery there of a series of lectures ‘Conditional Immortality,’ by Dr. Petavel-Olliff, professor of theology, of Geneva. The course, which consisted of twelve lectures, was largely attended by the audience being composed of the professors and students of the two theological faculties, the ministers of the town, the heads of the numerous educational institutions, as well as by a large number of the general public. The learned doctor traversed the whole ground in an exhaustive manner, discoursing the subject in its relation to biblical exegesis, science, to philosophy, to the doctrines and ... of the primitive church, and to the patristic testimony. He argued that the traditional dogma rests on the platonic notion of the necessary immortality of the soul, which was entirely unscriptural, and unknown to the early Christians, and had been imported into the church by the Alexandrian school of Christian Fathers. He strongly urged that the placing the doctrine of a future life on a basis at once scientific and scriptural, there would be found the means of reconquering the ground lost to Christianity in France, and on the continent generally.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.16

The newest Spiritualist idea is that of “re-incarnation.” That is, it is new in the sense that only recently has it been recognized by any great number of Spiritualists. The theory is based upon that of the pre-existence of souls. It is claimed that men now in the flesh have existed in the flesh in time past, and, having passed into the spirit-land for all time, have once more materialized, and that after their death they may again be born into the world. It is the old Platonic theory revived. According to that theory, the spirit was made to drink of the fleshy form, so that it forgot all that it had previously known. A recent writer in the Golden Gate thus explains how the re-incarnated spirit forgets its previous existence:-SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.17

“It is a well-known fact that spiritual ... fer by contact with earthly elements. Often a materialized spirit will forget its very name, when appearing within the circle of sitters. As regards an ... having no recollection of events, I know of an intelligent child of seven years, who had been separated from its mother for ten years. At the ... that time the two were brought in contact, but the child had totally forgotten her parent and the former home life.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.18

We don’t blame the child for “forgetting” its mother under such circumstances. In spite of the Golden Gate’s claim to the contrary, it will have the stand as the champion “funny paper.”SITI March 23, 1888, page 192.19

March 16, 1888

March 30, 1888