Golden Age

r Volume V                          Brooklyn, N.Y._t Wednesday, July 30, 1924

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Digest of World News

a wave length of 273 meters, by the Editor)’

Governmental Items

EFFORTS continue to be made to stop the smuggling of liquor into this country from Canada. A conyention(an agreement less important than a treaty) has been signed by representatives of the two governments which provides not only for the suppression of the smuggling operations, but also for the prosecution of persons who violate the narcotic laws of either country.

The Supreme Court has handed down a decision which gives tenants certain rights over landlords. Tenants have often been ousted to, pave the way for the landlord to demand higher rentals or to get more desirable tenants. It was supposed that the landlord had a right to dispossess any of his renters at any time by merely saying that he wanted the apartment for his own use. The court has decided that if any one is ousted the landlord must pay the cost of moving and also the differential in a higher rent cost for the first thirty days.

While the Bonus Law was passed by Congress over the President's veto there are agencies at work to cause it to be inoperative. The first effort in the courts to invalidate the law was begun recently in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, when Benjamin Catchings, a lawyer of New York filed a suit to prevent the expenditure of the money needed to pay the bonus. Mr. Catchings’ contention is that the law is unconstitutional; so we may expect a long legal fight before it is finally disposed of. There is also an Ex-service Men’s Anti-Bonus League that, aS*its name implies, is against the payment of the bonus. It is argued that the Adjusted Compensation Act is in fact a mere bonus or gift^ and not a provision for the payment of any debt or compensation owing in money by the United States; and because of this it is assumed

that the law should be declared unconstitutional.

Political Notes

AS WAS expected, President Coolidge was ,    • nominated for the presidency of the United

States on the Republican ticket. Gen. Charles G- Dawes of Illinois, author; of the Dawes Reparation Plan, was chosen for his running mate. The old tactics of stampeding a convention were indulged in when ex-Governor Lowden was chosen for second place on the ticket. But Mr. Lowden refused the nomination. He had dedared repeatedly that he would not accept the nomination for the vice-presidency. The Republican politicians wfere bent on drafting him and forcing the nomination upon him; but he remained firm to his pre-convention declaration.

The Cleveland Press, after watching the maneuverings of the bigRepublican convention, significantly asks: “Will 1924 see the last of the conventional conventions of the political parties This is not because it sees the fulfilment of prophecy, but because the tactics and demonstrations pulled off for "favorites” are decidedly out of date; for they fool nobody and are meaningless to thinking people. The Press concludes by saying, "The show is growing stale. Something new is needed to fool the multitude.”

The Republicans failed on four planes, according to W.J.Bryan. These four planes are as follows: The Religious plane; the Intellectual plane; the Financial plane; the Reform plane. Besides this terrible failure, according to Mr. Bryan, they fell down on making a platform; for it is not concrete and specific but deals with generalities and dodges the acute problems.

Agricultural Notes

Fbajtk W. Mukphy, head of the Minnesota

Farm Bureau, in a talk at a luncheon of the Music Industries Convention at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York city, made the statement that th© farmers of the United States have been waging a great contest for equality under the protective system of the Government for nearly, four months; and he admitted that when Congress adjourned the farmers had lost the fight. He said;                                        .

"The outlook of agriculture is as dismal as it has ever been in my lifetime, notwithstanding what those outside the industry say about it. The people hack in’the rural districts are a little bit inclined to be resentful—altogether an undesirable and undefensible situation to have under the flag of our common country."

Mr. Murphy called attention to some legislative acts which are against the farming inter- I ests, and named some of them, as follows: The eight-hour-day law; the Adamson law; the : transportation act; the tarrifE law, the Federal : Reserve act; and ho stated that these, together ? with the Labor Board and the Coal Board, are all interferences on the part of the Government that have riveted chains upon agricultural ~ America. No doubt the sentiment of the farmer will be reflected in the November election. ,

The farmer's plight is shown in a recent survey, which extends over a period of five years, ' j and takes in the price trend of ten crops and 3 five classes of livestock and livestock products. It shows that the cost of what the farmer has had to buy has increased one hundred percent; ■ what he has to sell has increased but thirty-one ■ percent; and the purchasing value of the dolldr as compared with 1914 is only seventy-One per- , cent.

The greatest cloudburst in the memory of the i inhabitants visited Johnson City, Tenessee, | last Saturday, in which seventeen persons are known to be dead and many others are missing. % The cloudburst came at the dose of h heavy downpour, swelling the streams into raging tof-rents. The Southern railway was washed out in places, and many concrete bridges were washed from their foundations.               '           j

Alaska                                  ~

THE earth’s crust in the volcanic region at the base of the Alaskan peninsula is undergoing marked changes. The mysterious island of Bogolov, which once disappeared and which reappeared in 1906 about the time of the San Francisco earthquake, gives evidence of receding again. It is also noted that the Valley ofl Ten Thousand Smokes is cooling off rapidly, filled with steaming hot water are now icy cold.

’A grove of willow trees thick as a man's wrist, * suitable for use as fuel, has just beenxliscovered in Alaska in latitude 67° 45' and at an altitude of 2,200 feet. This discovery confirms the rumor that Alaska is warming up.

Canada                                   2

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MERCHANTS of British Columbia have petitioned the Canadian Government at Ottawa to put into effect the same rules against 1 Japanese immigrants as are enforced against¹ » 1

w»"“             n. GOLDEN AGE                 "*

Chinese immigrants. Canada has a form of '‘Gentlemen’s Agreement" with Japan similar to that hitherto in effect between the United States ,and Japan.

Mexico

WHAT may prove to be a valuable discovery throwing much light upon the early history of humankind in America, has come to light near Mexico City. A Mongolian library has _ been uncovered, which has lain for centuries beneath a thick layer of volcanic ashes. About 200 of the signs and figures have been identified. These discoveries prove anew that the earliest settlers of the Western world were Mongolians.

Panama

AFTER ten years’ operation the Panama Canal is at last carrying more traffic than the Suez Canal. The traffic has gradually increased from 4,000,000 tons in 1915 to 25,000, 000 tons in 1923, the latter figure being nbout ten percent more than the traffic through the Suez Canal for the same period. The canal has led to a great increase in business between the ports of the eastern part of the United States and all the ports bordering upon the shores of the Pacific ocean. Students of the traffic which passes through the canal say that the temporary stimulation of Far Eastern trade caused by the Japanese earthquake is no longer in evidence.

Colombia                                   <

AT PRESENT the Republic of Colombia depends for its transportation upon the Magdalena River, but in the dry season mails to and from the capital are delayed for weeks and freight is delayed for months. The Republic is now seeking the construction of standard gauge rail lines from the capital to the Atlantic coast. An American syndicate has proposed to build such a line if the Colombian Government will turn over to them an issue of government bonds at a discount of twelve and one-half percent, plus two percent commission, plus hundreds of square miles of agricultural, petroleum, coal and ore lands. In other words, the American financiers are willing to build the road if the Colombian people will virtually give their country away into the hands of strangers, and relinquish all hope that themselves and their children profit by the treasures which nature has placed in their land. Naturally the Colombian people are , not very enthusiastic about the American offer.

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Argentina and Other Southern Countries *

Buenos Aires is to have a White Way patterned after the famous New York.section of Broadway which goes by that name. The dif- . ference is that in Buenos Aires the White Way will be a new street consisting of ten-story conCrete buildings with stores on the ground floor and offices and apartments above. This new White Way, which is to cost $50,000,000 for the first section, is already under construction.

Despatches indicate a growing desire on the part of the unfortunates of Europe to find a home in Central or South America. The Germans are being invited into Guatemala. The Russian refugees who, until recently have been overcrowding Greece, are being invited into Uraguay. It seems to us that these migrations of Europe into South America are a most excellent thing. They can hardly fail to have the effect of lifting the standards of education, enlightenment, religious liberty and progress ^; along all desirable lines.                     ■

Great Britain                 '          \

James Brown, working miner, whose regular home is a tiny miner’s cottage in Ayrshire, having been appointed by the British Government as Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, entered Holyrood Palace on May 19 at Edinburgh, there to reside for ten days as the personal representative of the King. Reports are that he and his wife were faultlessly dressed, and conducted themselves in a manner that would have done credit to people who had spent their entire lives at court. Does not this show how hollow are the claims of royalty 1 Mr. Brown and his wife were met at the door of the palace by members of the British nobility and were subsequently presented with the keys of Edinburgh by the Lord?ro-vost of the city. While in Edinburgh, Ml Brown was given a royal salute of twenty-one guns. .

Despatches from London indicate the expeo-tation of the British postmaster general that during favorable atmospheric conditions, particularly during the winter months, two-way telephone conversations between Britain and America may soon be possible. Meantime^

Signor Marconi has succeeded in sending wireless messages from Britain to Australia by the use of his new electric beam, a device which enables him to throw the current of wireless waves in any desired direction instead of dispersing them in every direction widely, as is done by the radio-casting methods.

Spain

HE New York Times contains an interesting story of a tribe of savages numbering about

4,000 discovered in the interior of Spain. These people, recently visited by King Alfonso, have no roads, no schools, no religion, and no clothes . worthy of the name. They live in dugouts, in which the only furniture consists of the hollowed trunks of trees. AU of these people go barefooted the year round, and never wash nor comb their hair; nor do the men shave. They have only the most primitive ideas of cooking; and bread is unknown. The women have no needles. They ate small and repugnant in appearance, but very athletic.

' France

MARSEILLES reports the receipt of forty head of camels from Africa, which will be slaughtered and sold as butcher’s meat.

It really looks as if Germany on the one side, and aU the Allied countries on the other, would come to a settlement of their differences on the basis of the Dawes Plan. Efforts have been made to defeat the new liberal government of France, before it was really started, by financiers in France who sold French francs outside , of France below the market, thus creating distrust in the government before it could function at aU.

The president of France occupies a different position from that of the president of the United States. After he is elected to office, he is supposed to keep entirely out of politics; and it- seems to us that this method has decided advantages. However, the late president of France, M. Millerand, violated the French custom in the last election by taking a stand in behalf of M. Poincare’s policies as Premier. M. Poincar^ having been defeated, the united Socialists, 128 strong, demanded that Millerand himself should resign, and eventually brought about his downfall.

Under the law by which it expels undesirables,

the French Government expelled from Franch ■ six or more American jazz bands that have been furnishing music in Paris restaurants and    '

dance halls. If this expulsion had been based    -

upon the armless, legless and headless form of music, no one could object seriously. But the ■ explanation offered is that the French musi- I cians were jealous, complaining that the AmWk j can bands were getting practically all the work, | and that they had been virtually put out of . : business. The order for the expulsion was-sub* y sequently withdrawn as a result of intervention 5 by a committee of Americans who claimed that if the bands were sent away they would have to < leave Paris, as none of the French musicians know how to play any of the atrocious produc- ? tions played by the American orchestras.         ;

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., has given $1,000,000 for the repair of the Rheims Cathedral and the J palace at Versailles. This seems a strange 'way ' for an American to spend a million dollars, but   S

Mr. Rockefeller may do as he likes.            ⁴   /

France has been having a contest between the ' scientific animal torturers and the anti-viviseo-* tionists. At one of the experimental stations/ g ten tons of dynamite were exploded near a eager \ containing dogs and guinea pigs to see what .. effect the explosion would have upon them. Ap-- . parently it had none; and the experimenters were figuring on putting the cages so close that¹ J some of the animals would actually be-killed, ; when the protests of some of the anti-vivisee- -tionists caused the Government to intervene and ” prevent the further exhibition df the scientific U nonsense which the experimenters had in view.

France and the German Children           •

RANCE has been stirred from end to end t by contributions of the poor people of

France toward the support bf orphan children j in Germany. Two professors of prominence ob- ’ i jected to these contributions by the French p£o-pie, whereupon remittances were received from ' ~ } all parts of the country on the children’s behalf. 4^ In numerous instances these remittances earner from wounded French soldiers or from parents -who had lost their sons in the World War. This £ nobility of spirit on the part of the French' < people ought to be made widely known, and • ought forever to hold back the German people-¹ from taking part in another war for the subjugation of France.                          .

On the other side of the question, one is filled with deepest disgust at learning that when a trainload of German children was returning from Denmark, ‘where they had been royally entertained for three months without expense, as soon as they got inside the German border they were told by German junkers and railroad employes that they ought not to wear in their hats the Danish colors, which had been pinned there as an ornament by their Danish friends. Of course all the people of Germany cannot be blamed that a few narrow-minded pinheads still ' exhibit the same disposition that led to the slaughter of mil lion a during the World War.

Poland

RELATIONS between Poland and Russia are strained. The Russians have accujsed the Poles of not living up to the treaty guaranteeing religious freedom to Russian minorities Uv-ing in Poland. The Poles have replied that the shoe is on the other foot; but Russia insists that full rehgious Hberty is granted to all.

as follows: A wave of terror is passing over Poland; the press is throttled; young people’s clubs are dissolved; labor unions are deprived of their halls; apd there are three thousand political prisoners in the prisons. These prisoners are maltreated by the jailers—insulted, beaten, nearly starved and confined in ice-cold cells without soap, linen, reading matter, visitors or sanitation, and in the midst of vermin indescribable. Within two months, hundreds of prisoners in Poland have declared hunger strikes in order to rid themselves of vermin, and to obtain changes of linen, baths, suitable food, decent care when sick, exercise, and the right to have visitors, pencils and paper, as well as the privilege of reading.

Czechoslovakia

IN THE latter part of the month of July there will be held in the city of Prague the world’s first international conference on scientific management The subjects discussed will include personnel, industrial relations, budget control, production, sales, mining, transportation, city, state and federal government. The Republic of Czecho-Slovakia is one of the most progressive countries of the world.

Austria

DR. SEIPEL, the Austrian Chancellor, who i$ . believed to have done more than any other one man toward preserving Central Europe from chaos, has been shot by an assassin, but* is recovering. Dr. Seipel was trained for the Roman Catholic priesthood, but has now been engaged in political life for many years. He is ' admitted to have accomplished gteat results in the rehabilitation of Austria, and the attack; upon him is deplored everywhere.

In Vienna on June first, one thousand children were given what the newspapers call "a civil confirmation”; that is, they were enrolled as members of the Austrian Social-Democratic Party—in other words, as Socialists. On June 5th, 400,000 members of the Vienna Social-Democratic Party marched through the streets in the most perfect order. The object of the demonstration was to show foreigners how perfeet is the discipline of the Socialist Party.

Musicians, and lovers of music generally, will < be interested to know that in a Benedictine con-hitherto unknown Mozart symphony described as No. 221 in C major. This is a find in which the musical world will rejoice,

Roumania -                          - f

POGROMS against the Jews are taking place throughout Roumania. Synagogues are , demoEshed, merchants are attacked and beaten, stores are set afire, and Jews who organize for self-defense are arrested and tried by court _; martial. It is regarded as significant that just at the time when these pogroms were at their height, and when the Government was doing, Ettle or nothing to prevent them, the Government arsenal was blown up, causing the loss of forty lives and a material loss of over two and one-half million dollars. The cause of the explosions is not known, but it would not be strange _; if in some way they were related to the pogroms.

Albania             -

ALBANIA is the new power that was created in the Balkans after the dose of the World War. It Ees opposite the heel of Italy, on the shore of the Adriatic between Greece and Jugoslavia. A civil war is now raging in this little country, the insurgents being dissatisfied because the Prime Minister has been too auto-

080

cratic. Albania is considered one of the danger spots of the world. It has a commanding position upon the Adriatic Sea; a position naturally coveted fey the three nations that surround it

—Italy, Greece, and Jugoslavia.

Russia

RUSSIA is reported as reengaging in the egg business. Before the war, it exported sixty-four percent of the eggs disposed of by export. It is planning to export 400 carloads this year, with yearly increases of 200 carloads each.

In a recent speech in Moscow, M. Zinovieff, chairman of the executive committee of the Third International, made the statement in the matter of Russia's trade investment that the state and cooperative organizations control only thirty-six percent. He further stated that Russia has under consideration nearly 1,000 projects which are to be exploited by foreign firms. Fifty-five concessions, including six and one-half million acres of forest, have already been granted to Russian, German, Dutch, Norwegian, and British companies. The Soviet authorities claim that there are now 3,200 savings banks . in. Russia, and that the agricultural production has been restored to seventy-five percent of the prewar average.

The representatives of the Soviet Government and of the British Government cpntinue their discussions; but in the demand that the Soviet Government should return, to its British owners the private British property which was , seized by the Soviet Government at-the begin* ning of the revolution, both countries seem to have struck a snag. All of the largest industries in Russia—oil, coal, metallurgy, textiles—

belong to British- owners, and these industries constitute the backbone of the Soviet Government.

A British engineer at one of the Russian copper mines has been sentenced to death by the Soviet for giving information to the sup-pofiedly rightful owners of the property, residing in England.

It does not take some ecclesiastics long to see on which side their bread is buttered. A year ago the papers were filled with stories of the martyrdom of the patriarch Tikhon, who went to prison because he objected to the. seizure of z the golden treasure of the orthodox Russian

Bbookmw, n. x.

church by the Soviet Government in its campaign for the relief of famine sufferers. When he went to prison, he was hailed as a martyr. A short term in prison evidently gave him a

Several petroleum wells are yielding considerable oil. Coal fields have also been discovered* although as yet no coal has been mined. Tha cities of Jaffa and Talvania are now using electric light and power generated by the waters of the Jordan. Mosquitos have practically disap* peared, owing to the filling and drainage of swamps. Theaters have made their appearance* and are well patronized. Music is flourishing. Medicine, law and philosophy are being taught in the university. The tourist business is good.

It is estimated that in the Dead Sea there iar potash' in solution worth $40,000,000,000 at present prices. It is believed that a way trill be found to extract this rich deposit. Among other treasures, Palestine hast limestone, iron ore asphalt, phosphates, a generous supply of beau-; tiful pink marble, and a mountain of rock salt . containing ninety-nine percent pure salt

Transportation in Palestine is constantlyJm« proving. There is now a regular night service by rail between Cairo and Jerusalem, the trip requiring fifteen hours.                        J

THE Prince Regent of Abyssinia is in Paris, studying the ways of Western civilization. «

He was an interested spectator of airplane feats, '* and will probably buy a fleet of airplanes for the protection of his country. It is possible that he d may come to America, where three of his sone ' are being educated at Muskingum College, New -Concord, Ohio.                               - ~

India

THE party that started out early in the spring ;

in the attempt to scale Mt. Everest, after *    *

about two months is still no nearer gaining the. " i s summit than on previous occasions. It has sev-I . era! times had men in Camp No. 4, which is 23,-E ' 000 feet above sea level; but there are still 6,000 feet to climb before the summit is reached. The S' climbing is extremely difficult; and the weather F. bitterly cold. To reach Camp No. 4 seems to be S’ about the limit of human endurance. On one oc-[F casion four men remained in the camp overnight

To every appearance the climbing of Mount —^Everest will never be accomplished. Sometime fSjJabout June 1, the two brave athletic men, Mallory and Irvine, who had been selected for the > final attempt to reach the summit, were killed I- after having reached what is most certainly be-I; lieved to be the highest elevation ever attained r , in mountain climbing. Mr. Mallory, in 1922, reached the height of 26,800 feet, the highest t elevation ever obtained with oxygen; and only r 435 feet less than the oxygen record.

t The round-the-world fliers are now in India;

• and before we know it, at the present rate of t progress, they will be in eastern Europe.

k Ceylon

TN A small field only about two acres in exSr A tent, situated some fifty miles from Colombo, £ has been discovered the largest find of sapphires * ever made in Ceylon. The sapphires are yellow, ? gold, purple, and blue in color, and range in size | from twenty to seven hundred karats.

Philippine Islands

TXT BITING in the New York Times of his W experiences as a teacher in the Philippine Islands, Bobert J. MacLaughlin seems to f think that the Philippines are not yet a para:    dise. In his letter he says that on one occasion

he traveled twenty miles to a railroad station, through soft mud which was almost two feet St?* deep; has lived in Luzon, when every cubic inch f^£of water in the Pasig Biver showed millions of J ^*germs of cholera; and has passed through a

smallpox epidemic in which the deaths in his own little town were as" high as twenty a day among the children alone. To these interesting bits of information, he adds the following:

“I was one of the teachers sent out to the islands in 1903 by the Enights of Columbus; and I was appointed without meeting a single Government official, although civil service on merit had been introduced into the islands in 1900.

. “I was told that the Philippines were healthy, and that excellent board with native families could be secured^

“I lived in a native bungalow thatched with mp* leaves, and made partly of bamboo. There were millions of ants, and the walls and ceiling were fairly crawling with small lizards. After an illness my companion returned to Manila; and I was taken down with bone-,, breaking fever, living for days with nothing to eat o® to drink but the syrup from canned peaches.”         \ .

China                                    i

AMERICAN round-the-world fliers are med^ ** ing good progress, having finished their . flight down the Chinese coast, being now about to enter India. Up to the time they arrivedat Hong Kong they are reported as having had only two'days of excellent flying weather sineeG they left America.                                 .

Japan

aS INDICATING the deep-seated resentment xx of the Japanese people against the exclusion act, an unknown Japanese warrior commits ted suicide in front of the ruins of the Americair Embassy in Tokio. This has had the effect ot greatly inflaming the Japanese displeasure. Th# suicide left two letters: One* addressed to that American people, urging them to withdraw thflk Exclusion Act; and the other addressed to the < Japanese people, urging them to arise and avenge the deed. As many as fifty to seventy thousand persons daily pass the grave of the w _K known warrior. Among those who sent wreaths to his grave was Viscount Kato, the newj -Premier.                                      . ••

The center of the American colony in Japaw is the Imperial Hotel in Tokio where, every -Saturday evening, it is the custom of the Ameri* ; cans to gather for a dance. A week ago this dance was broken up by the Japanese, who invaded the dance floor, armed with swords* and who in the most vulgar and insulting language demanded the deportation of all Americans, the boycott of all American goods, and the abrogation of all Japanese-American treat-' ies. The police of Tokio did not interfere. Mo-_t tion picture houses showing American moving. ' pictures have been temporarily closed in Japan.

Two days after the breaking up of the ball > in the Imperial Hotel, a Japanese visited the office of the American Consul at Yokohama, and*..' ^: stated his intention to kill the American Consul unless the latter would agree to intercede with the American Government regarding the exclusion bill. Guards have now been placed about the Embassy and the Consulate, and also about the Imperial Hotel, in the effort to prevent further outbreaks.

What may constitute the entering wedge that will lead the United States into war with Japan, is the claim upon the United States Government njade by Japan immediately after the Exclusion 'Act, that thereby the United States Government has violated the treaty of 1911, which gives "liberty of entry, travel and residence” to both peoples.* Secretary Hughes denies that the treaty of 1911 in any way limits the United States from dealing with the immigration question as it sees fit. Every war must have a pretext, and it seems quite possible that Japan is seeking a pretext.

Japanese Politics            _

JAPAN has been engaged in an exciting poEtical campaign, as a result of which the "ins” will be ousted from power, and the "outs” will be put into power. While the election was * in progress, street fights were common; and : in one city the "ins” having learned that in a ‘ certain building the "outs” were having an | important meeting of election workers, called i out the fire company, who deluged the building I with water, only "discovering” after everybody J was soaked, that there had been no fire. All • this reads like something that might have hap-j pened in America instead of Japan.

j The leader of the new government, Viscount Kato, is perhaps the most hostile to the United ’ States of any of the great statesmen of Japan. ’ It is he who drew up the notorious twenty-one ; demands on China in 1915; and it is likely \ that his advent to power may result in war between Japan and the United States.

In Japan there has been until now some sort of restricted ballot; but the Japanese are now demanding immediate and universal suffrage for the men. They might as well grant it to the women, too; for it may be set down as certain that the women will be only a year or two behind in making the same demand.

The new cabinet is believed to be the strongest Japan has had in years; for it represents a ' coalition of three parties. '

At the present time Japan is engaged in electrifying the 6,000 miles of state-owned railways. Practically all of the electrical equipment fot, this work is being bought from the United States. Japan is now buying American elefttri-■ cal equipment at the rate of $10,000,000 a year; The hydro-electric power systems of Japan aiW-being developed rapidly, as is natural, due the fact that there is no coal on the island. ,

It is reported that practically all the JapsK nese Christian leaders are demanding the sever-? ance of their church relations with the parent' bodies in the United States. However, while this$ is put forward in the news despatches as some^ thing of recent occurrence, yet the Japanese-’ have never taken kindly to the idea of splitting Christ’s church up into the "57 varieties,” com- • mon in the United States.             -       -

Hawaii                              _r

VOLCANOLOGISTS are quite sure that the great Kilauea Volcano, frequently referred to as the world’s safest volcano, is now about to become violently active. Earthquakes/ explosions, and landslides in the vicinity are . frequent; and roars like dashing waves arise from the pit. The steam which rises is blue in color, showing the presence of gas; cracks in the floor of the pit are widening; and sections -which until very recently have been considered,, safe for visitors to stand upon, have caved in and been swallowed up in the foaming lava* Two visitors narrowly escaped death when the section on which they had been standing caved' in only a few seconds after they had left it. \

Dutch New Guinea .

UBLIC discussion by the peoples of Holland* and Germany has killed the plan which had 1

been almost accepted by the Dutch Government for the establishment of a German dukedom in j Dutch New Guinea. A group of monarchists*? has proposed to the Dutch Government to take ' over a large district with a native population i of 200,000. All laws governing the district were to be set aside. New laws were to be made by the operating company, and the district was to be left in sole charge of the company for seventy-five years. The Dutch Government was , reported as friendly to this idea; but neither ,₄ the Dutch nor the German people would have \ it; and it has been abandoned,           \ H

Personal Responsibility as to Taxes

PEKCHANCE the inspector has a business which depends largely upon the good will of the public. So rather than to offend these patriotic (T) road workers and their friends, 'the bill¹ is allowed. Thus an extra burden of additional and unnecessary taxes is laid upon - the tax-payer.

Here we have a clear illustration of how in-Gdividual righteousness might lessen the cost of ^frovernment. Let those who are clamoring for ®<ax reduction take notice. Tax reduction, like charity, should begin at home.

“We love your children better than you do,” was a slogan used by some childless promoters ?Lof a rural high school proposition in one com-¹ munity. This was absolutely false. In the old days, under the management of teachers who * had to stand rigid examinations in the common branches and in school government, and who were willing to work for somewhere near the income their patrons were getting, we had better schools than we have now, under the super; vision of our high-priced, high-school graduate faddists; and we turned' out stronger students.

Nearly uvery little hamelet now has its $60, 000 to $225,000 school buildings; and the money these schools have brought into the towns, together with the other money the farmer has put into circulation, has combined to make the in- habitants more prosperous than they have ever been before. Naturally, they are strong for progress (?) and the present order of things.

>■ When all this money began to roll in, a big “merry - go - round” was started, upon which >■ every one but the farmer can ride. Because he ■ is the only person who cannot fix the price on / what he has to sell he can not get on.

;, The riders are having the time of their lives, ^their only fear being that the farmer will quit ^fis very useful occupation and hop upon the wheel. The extra weight might break the ma; chinery; and all would then be forced to climb off and get down to real work and plain living.

* To the thinking person, it is no mystery why : freight rates are so high. The railroad companies have their proportion of these high taxes ___ to pay; and, in addition, they have thousands of employes who must have wages sufficient to enable them to maintain the “American high standard of living.”

Of course, it would never do for these companies to feel the weight of the increased expenses ; so the bill is passed on to the shipper. The farmer has virtually voted high transportation charges upon himself.

It is not more credit that the farmer needs. It would have been a blessing if he never could have borrowed a dollar. He would then, at least, have been his own “boss” with no one to say to him, "Sign this,” or, “Vote thus and so.” If the farmer would get his business on a cash basis as quickly as possible, and keep it there, instituting a “pay as you go” system to govern all his affairs, both public and private, we sincerely believe that he would soon force all other businesses into their proper sphere and thus accomplish much towards establishing the just balance so necessary to the satisfactory adjustment of this world’s affairs.                ;

Drastic Remedy Suggested

MANY farmers should take advantage of’ the bankruptcy law, and start life afresh.

There is absolutely no use in their floundering * about in the quicksands of debt when every struggle puts them in deeper.

Then, instead, of sending their children to high school to be polished and entertained, let them put them, as well as themselves and their wives/' to work, thus giving them a practical education" , and a taste of the joy of useful accomplishment. The higher education is a luxury, not a necessity. ■

Young people everywhere should be encbur-aged to obtain knowledge; but all institutions of higher learning should be self-supporting.

For their own good, able-bodied children who have finished the grades should not continue -to be objects of charity.

Children must be taught early to feel some responsibility for their own maintenance, if we are to reduce the present output of egotists and youthful criminals. Work under proper conditions and fox reasonable hours will not injure any normal child. In times past, we have overdone child labor; but now, in many sections of the country, we are going to the other extreme of no work at all, much to the moral detriment of the on-coming generation. After these bankrupt families, by their united efforts, have at- ' tained comfortable, not luxurious homes, let _; them do the honest thing, and lay aside, funds ’ with which to requite to past creditors what was lacking in the amount due them.

We are well aware that we are advocating a stern remedy. But we believe that the farmer's case is serious; that his troubles have their source in the usury (interest) system, which was forbidden by Jehovah in the early days of the Jewish nation, and which later became established in this world's affairs; and that the sooner he realizes his condition, quits taking the nostrums and optimistic soothing syrups

administered to him from the newspapers, the ' pulpit, the platform, and the entertainment 2 halls, and faces the situation squarely, the better-for himself and all concerned.                 rg

Cooperations and federations are only at- / tempts to shirk individual responsibility. God. J has spoken the doom of such in Isaiah 8:9,10.

The lesson may be bitter; but it is needed to ? teach men to use their God-given powei$ to think, not suffering themselves to be driven hither and thither like ships without rudders^J^

Little Common Sense in Radio Buying By Frederic Timmerman

THE prospective purchaser of a radio receiving set today has small chance of making an intelligent selection, for the reason that he is confined almost exclusively to advertisements or "inspired” reading notices for his information. Occasionally he can listen in on a neighbor’s set to help make a choice; but even then he is Hable to make a mistake, as so many conditions affect the operation of a receiver. The only real test, obviously, is direct comparison; i. e._t with the various receivers attached to the same aerial and ground and using the same tubes, batteries and headsets. By changing from ’ one instrument to another periodically during an evening one could notice the difference in quality, volume and range as well as selectivity. Of course, this is impractical usually; so one is confined to buying on faith, and unfortunately often is disappointed. The reason is not hard to find. The persistent and ’ almost exclusive but unwarranted use of superlatives to describe radio products, and nonchalant announcements of transcontinental and transoceanic reception lead the uninitiated to expect more from a moderate-priced receiver in the home than is possible today in the well-equipped laboratory.

From time to time accounts are read of extraordinary performance, and one is led to infer that it is commonplace. Adding to this the tendency of the average owner of a radio receiver to exaggerate and herald to his neighbors a record performance as an everyday occurrence, it is easy to see why buyers are frequently disappointed when they have bought a really good product worth all they pay for it.

The virtues of receiving apparatus most stressed in advertising are selectivity, sensitivity, clarity and volume; and each and every instrument from $10 to $500 claims exactly the same results. No other term but "maximum*' will do; maximum range, maximum volume, maximum selectivity; etc. Obviously this cannot be true. Whom are we to believe 7 The answer usually is the "Big Name"; but unfortunately the buyer frequently goes wrong in this. Sometimes "Big Advertising” creates "Big Name”; and as usual the consumer pays the bilL

Points to Bear in Mind

HERE is an unbiased statement of what may be expected of a good radio broadcast receiver:                                               .

Sensitivity (range): Consistent reception, the ability to duplicate at will on any normal night in winter is limited to approximately 1,000 miles, assuming a 500-watt transmitting station. When conditions are unfavorable, this distance is greatly lessened; while under extraordinarily favorable conditions it is not uncommon to reach out 2,500 miles.

Selectivity : The limiting factor is simplicity^® of control. A highly sensitive receiver with not too highly complicated control can select stations within a range of three miles.

Volume and Clarity: For really great volume without distortion we are still looking. Volume too great for headsets up to 500 miles is common.

Stability: Little is said about one of the most important points of any radio receiver— stability. One should, after properly tuning in a station, be able to enjoy it indefinitely without

fl ■       - ■                   -                                                                   ' _t

■ further adjustment. But this is rather uncommon. The craze today is for what are known as "trick” circuits—make one do the work of two, etc., which really means something for nothing. These generally carry names made up of syllables from names of some of the "world beaters” designed to push sales. Most of these circuits < * give Wonderful results when they function prop-7 erly, which is seldom.

Use the same reason in buying and operating a radio receiver as you would a motor car. In motor cars maximum speed means a high-

powered racer, while maximum comfort and pleasure require the moderate-powered family car. You cannot get both in one type of Vehicle; neither can you get the maximum of all the good points of a radio receiver in a single type of instrument. By the same token do not condemn your set when atmospheric conditions ate unfavorable, any more than you would condemn your motor when the elements force you to leave the car in the garage.

Civilization in South Carolina in 1924

(From the Greenville Netos of April 30, 1924)

BECAUSE they took exception to his views that the common conception of hell as a place of torture is in error, A. L. Paschall, who lectured at the Casino theater in Greenville Sunday afternoon in the interest of the movement that teaches that "millions now living will never die,” was overtaken by a mob of about twenty men soon after he departed from Easley last Saturday afternoon and beaten, he declared yesterday. Mr. Paschall is a native of North Carolina, but is more recently from California. _t . Mr. Paschall, who has been making Green. ville his headquarters for some time, mentioned (the Easley incident in a report on his Sunday lecture and work made to the Greenville News.

Some people in Easley, Mr. Paschall said, wanted a lecture there; so it was arranged for the local theater for Sunday forenoon. The ministers of the various denominations of the community petitioned the theater owner not to permit use of his property for the lecture, he said, and the posters which had advertised it were torn down and the lecture plans abandoned. Mr. Paschall said that he had distributed Bible literature in the town.

As he was leaving Easley, Mr. Paschall said, he was overtaken by about twenty men arid beaten-; and the men also threatened to burn the Bible literature which he had in his automobile.                                           ~

"Some of the mob,” said the worker, "sQpmed to have become enraged over some statements in a booklet which I was distributing. This booklet is entitled ^rWhat the Bible Says About in which it is stated that hell (shed, hades_rth&t is, the grave) is a place of darkness (Job 10:21^ —not a place of torture but of silence.—Psaltn 115:17.

"They seem to want to believe,” the colporteur said, "what many preachers have scared many people into insanity with—that most people go to an eternal existence of torture when they die, thus denying the resurrection of the dead arid the Lord that bought us.”—2 Peter 2:1.     ■ ;

Mr. Paschall said that he had made no report of the matter to officers of the law and intended: to make none, inasmuch as he did not care 1b see the men involved punished and inasmuch as . he hoped that most if not all of them regretted the step they had taken.

' E. L. Barbour, a man representing himself as a minister of the gospel, was in town the first of the week distributing a book entitled "Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” Barbour’s teachings are said by other ministers to be of very luestionable character; and after he had made complete canvass of the town he was invited by he police to discontinue work in Seneca and leave town. Adding their weight to the warri- . ing given by city officials, the Seneca Ku Klux Klan also notified Barbour to leave town. A\^; Klan official says that this is one warning they, do not deny giving, and if the "preacher” had . not complied with the request to leave towri, more direct and effective means would have been employed.

WE HAVE the following classes of therapies: (1) Allotherapy; (2) biochemico-therapy; (3) botaniotherapy; (4) chiropracto-therapy; (5) dietotherapy; (6) electrotherapy; (7) electriono therapy; (8) hemeotherapy; (9) homeotherapy; (10) hydrotherapy; (11) limotherapy; (12) massagetherapy; (13) organotherapy; (14) opsonotherapy; (15) osteother-apy; (1$) pistiotherapy; (17) psychotherapy; (18) radiotherapy;. (19) theotherapy; (20) thermo therapy; (21) viaviotherapy. All these therapies have cured patients or they never would have existed.                         '

I have cured patients allop athically, biochemically, chiropractically, dietotherapically, homeopathically, hydropathicaliy, limotherapically, osteopathically, pisteotherapically, psychother-apically and theotherapically, even when our health board crowd failed to cure. Therefore I am opposed to one school of healers being empowered by our government to boss and rule out all other schools of healers, as the allopathic school of which the Board of Health now consists, is being allowed to do; for all other schools heal often when its healers fail. Moreover, I am most heartily opposed to the allopathic or any other school of healers having unlimited and unregulated control of the health and people of our government, for the reason that each school is too ignorant at its best. Therefore, since the allopathic school is now already empowered unduly, and¹ also is seeking absolute control of every one and everything, I shall dearly show that its ignorance is too great to be allowed even what it has already Mecured of power and control.

The cells of the human body are now supposed to be the basis, or units, of its life; and hence any upsetment of their natural workings causes an irregularity in their normal life that may end in a permanent disease, or diseases, or death, or both. The full chemical structure and balance of the cells and their vibratory value, and also their true differentiation and individual power to receive and to resist, are all unknown; even that mysterious something that makes it possible to see what is within the range of vision through the best microscopes. No one therefore can know what a drug, vaccine, or serum may do towards unbalancing, disorganiz-

By Isaac L. Peebles, M. D.

ing and destroying normal cells. Dr. Broadhurst, a professor in biology in the Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, declared : ^,fWe are still very far from an adequate comprehension of the activities of bacteria."— “How We Resist Diseases,” page 19, for 1923.

All will admit that nothing will excel or even equal normal cells; and therefore, what a tremendous risk to impose upon them drugs, vaccines or serums to better what is already normal and perfect! Cells are not alike in size, power to receive, to resist, endure, or to do; and therefore what some may be equal to, others may not be equal to the same.' This is why drugs, vaccines, serums, etc., disease people and kill them. This is why people die so immediately with croup, diphtheria, heart failure, pneumonia, influenza, paralysis, etc., when drugs, vaccines, serums, etc., are administered. The first time I witnessed the administration of a serum for croup, it killed the child in about fifteen minutes after given. The child was not suffocating from the false membrane forming, neither did it die from suffocation.

This is why some die quickly when pneumonia serum, diphtheria and other serums are given. That is why Karnsner, professor in pathology, and Ecker, professor of immunology, of the Reserve University, of Cleveland, Ohio, declared in their book, “Principles of Immunology,” pages 282, 283, that a serum that may immunize a dog will not succeed in human beings; and, too, declared that it has been estimated that only six to ten percent of untreated persons bitten by rabid animals, die. In Europe seven of 169 bitten by rabid animals were treated with the serum, and three died; tad of 162 untreated, not one died. In Baltimore, Md., eight persons were treated; and the three that were not bitten through their clothes died, while the five bitten through their clothes did not die.

Despite the boast of stamping out yellow fever, no one knows its cause. All that is kjiown as to its cause is simply its transmission by the mosquito called Stegomyia, which has to bite a yellow fever patient before it can give yellow fever to a person. Hence the medical world is still ignorant as to how the first patient must get it so that mosquitos can carry it to others. Its origin is still in ignorance; and there is no great

science displayed in isolating yellow fever patients and the killing of mosquitos. There was no forced diseasing and murdering of the people to stop yellow fever.

In vaccination for smallpox, Jenner, the accredited beginner of vaccination, vaccinated his own son at eighteen months with hogpox in November, 1789, and declared it to be a preven. tative of smallpox. Afterwards he declared that the virus of grease, a disease of the heels of horses, whether taken directly from the heels of . horses or from a cow infected with the same disease/ would protect the rest of our lives. , Hence he was believed, and his vaccination con-tinned until 1898, when spontaneous cowpox * virus was used. Now both spontaneous cowpox virus and smallpox virus are used; and besides we now have as many as fourteen vaccines. Where vaccination has been made compulsory the death rate from smallpox has gone from 10,14 and 18 percent to 65 and 85 percent.

The most rigidly vaccinated countries without regard to sanitation, have the most small-• pox; but those countries that have given proper attention to sanitation and less attention to vaccination have had fewer deaths from smallpox. . Hence Dr. C. K. Millard, health officer of Leicester, England, could wisely declare that smallpox - lessened or declined in proportion to the neglect of vaccination, and in proportion to proper attention given to isolation and sanitation. (See Journal of American Med. Assn., Sept., 1923, page 1125.) In his book, "The Vaccination Question,” page 150, he admits comparative "immunity” to smallpox of unvaccinated infants.

On page 105 of his book on "Drug Action,” ' Dr. Sallmann, in the University of Cleveland, Ohio, declares that Ehrlich’s Side Chain Theory had not been proven to be true. He also said that vaccines or toxins might destroy cells. Dr. Millard, a vaccinationist, in his book, "The Vaccination Question,” page 52, published in 1914, said of Japan : 'Tn spite of vaccination, revaccination and extraordinary vaccination, in spite of this great vaccination, 80,000 took smallpox and 23,000 died from 1896 to 1910.” After vaccination and revaccination in the Philippines from 1898 to 1919, smallpox seized 107,981, and 59,741 died just in 1918 and 1919.

"The Hygeia,” a health journal of the American Medical Association, in its November, 1923, issue, declared of Japan, a well vaccinated and / revaccinated country: "There have been epidemies since vaccination began.” But it failed ' to publish that from 1889 to 1908 Japan had 28,280 deaths, and from 1917 to 1920 it had 3,397 deaths, despite its rigid vaccination and even its sanitation. If rigid isolation and sanitation had been practised, and vaccination let -alone, it could have said what Meridian, Misst, has been able to say for seventeen or more years, that since it has stopped compulsory vaccination and given attention to sanitation, ijt has not had a smallpox epidemic during that ; time; and also ns Leicester, England, with its 250,000 people, without compulsory vaccination for more than thirty years, having given attention to sanitation.

Last November in Gloucester, England, within fifteen miles of where Jenner was born, reared, and began his vaccination curse, officers were elected who did not believe in compulsory; vaccination nor in vaccination.

Let the diseasing, murderous practice end forever, and especially compulsory vaccination.

Of antitoxin, Dr. Karnsner and Dr. Ecker in their book, "Principles of Immunology,” page 42, declare: "The exact nature of antitoxin is unknown”; and Dr. Leathers, in a letter to me on September 28, 1923, said: "It is well to emphasize that ten percent of the children who take three required inoculations, at least one week apart, of toxin-antitoxin, are not immunized. Antitoxin once was declared to immune, . but now it is declared that it is effective only after diphtheria develops.”

The best institutional doctors make more than seventy-two percent of errors in diagnosis o£ diseases, and in general practice more than seventy-seven percent. (See Journal of the American Medical Association, October 8,1921, page 1209.)

Doctors do not know the origin of eight different skin diseases, much less the character of smallpox, vaccines, scarlet fever, cancer, etc. Therefore can one not see how unwise it is to put our children, ourselves and all others into the hands of boards of health to carry out their ignorant experiments with diseases and deadly -vaccines on us, with state authority? Surely we. shall not be so lacking in wisdom. Surely we ‘ shall stop such casualty and injustice!

The Purpose of the Animal Creation By l. c. Parrott

0 DOUBT all people of questioning minds, ’ especially those who have reached years of maturity, have often wondered what useful purpose has been served by such an infinite variety of living creatures as we see on the earth. In the case of many of these it is hard to see what benefit they have been to the earth or to man.

Reasoning from the Scriptural statement that the earth was not created in vain, but formed to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18) and intended to remain forever (Psa. 104:5; Eccl. 1:4), and that man was created to have dominion over it and everything upon it, and was given the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen. 1:26-28), we get the thought that man is designed to be its permanent inhabitant. Other living creatures have served a temporary purpose, to fill in a gap, as it were, until the time when the earth as a whole will be in a suitable condition to be a permanent home for man.

Evil Beasts to Become Extinct

WE UNDERSTAND also that all these various living creatures have each had a part in helping to bring the earth into a suitable cpndition to be man’s everlasting’ home; and when they have served their purpose they will pass away except such of them as shall be found not to interfere with man but to minister to his use and pleasure. As a proof of the last statesmen! note the prophetic words of the Almighty in Ezekiel 34:25, that He “will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they [men] shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.”

In order to get a full grasp of the situation it seems necessary to carry our minds back to the Azoic age, to the time (approximately 48,000 years ago) when the first work began with this earth to prepare it as a habitation for man. Without going into all the evidence we will merely say here that we think it a reasonable presumption that the earth was at that time in a partly molten and partly gaseous condition. At that time all the various metals—gold, silver, copper, iron, etc.—were in a gaseous condition, along With all the elements that now compose our oceans, seas and lakes, in dense masses of cloudy vapor, surrounding the central molten nucleus, aiid possibly extending out from the center as far as the moon is now.

Plant Life as a Purifying Agency

THE cooling process went gradually on until, on the third “day,” or epoch (over 14,000 years from the start; for apparently each “day” .i was 7,000 years in length), a crust had formed and solid land began to take shape apart from the waters on the surface of the earth; and gradually, as soon as conditions became favor- * able for their growth and development, certain -■> of the lowest forms of plant life began to appear, such as were suited to the prevailing e atmospheric conditions. Gradually, as condi-tions became more favorable, other forms of plant life made their appearance.                 <3

As climatic and atmospheric conditions pro- q gressed, earlier forms of plant life passed away, . ;5 because not adapted to the changed conditions, while other and more varied forms appeared, as. \ conditions became more favorable for each kind. <

At that time it is evident that no breathing creature, such as we know, could have existed; for alj such require a large amount of oxygen in the air they breathe, and this element was lacking in the atmosphere at that time. Not only so, but the atmosphere was so heavily laden with carbon in its various forms as of itself to prohibit the existence of any animal life.

It is known that oxygen has a great affinity for other elements, and probably did not exist in a free state in the atmosphere originally, but only in combination with other earthy elements. It is understood, therefore, that the purpose served by the various forms of plant life is. to absorb oxygen, along with other elements, from the earth; and that in the absorption processes ■ of the plant the oxygen is freed from the other elements, and given off into the air through its leaves. It is also known that all forms of plant life absorb free carbon from the air.

Animal Life Serves Its Purpose —

THIS process, then, of absorbing the excessive carbon from the atmosphere and freeing sufficient oxygen to support even the lowest forms of animal life, must have required a long time. Vegetation must have been very rank when all the great coal and oil deposits wore laid. So we read that it was not until the fifth “day” (over 28,000 years from the start) that there began to appear some of the lowest forms of animal-life.

Gradually, as climatic and atmospheric conditions became more favorable, other and more varied forms of life came on the scene, while earlier forms passed away, each suited to certain conditions, and gradually passing away as those conditions changed, giving place to others more suited to the newer conditions. It is even conceivable that some of these may have been so constituted as to be able to adapt themselves more or less to the changing conditions; and. that such changing conditions of food, cli? mate, etc., might require slight changes in struc-' ture, thus giving a seeming corroboration to the theory of evolution.

Man Brought on the Scene

OWE VER, it is quite evident that all climatic changes were not gradual by any

means. Some of these changes were very sudden and radical. But gradual or sudden, the process went on, until at last at the end of the sixth "day” (approximately 42,000 years from the start) conditions became sufficiently favorable ... (although still 7,000 years from the permanent perfect condition to be reached finally) that man was brought on the scene, as the crowning fea_> ture of the earthly creation, and was made king of earth, as described in Psalm 8:4-8.

Thus all the varied forms of plant and ani-' mal life, from the lowest to the highest, have each had a part in the process of preparing the earth to be man’s permanent habitation. Even the lowly earth-worm and the ant, as well as other creatures that burrow in the earth, have each assisted in bringing up portions of earth

from beneath and depositing them on the sur- i face; thus eventually, through many thousands of years, bringing about a loamy, friable condi- J tion of the surface soil, making it more favorable for cultivation and the growing of- crops useful to man.                                  ' _ _

Man’s Ingenuity Used of God

VEN man himself, during the time he is getting an educative experience with evil, < and fighting the thorns and thistles of the still imperfect earth, is helping to bring it to the promised Edenic condition. By building great irrigation and great drainage works, by harnessing rivers for the generation of power, and in various other ways he is assisting in bringing about the desired result.

Thus, in about 1,000 years hence, and 49,000 years from the time work started, the earth by '■ all these means will have been brought to its settled permanent condition, and will be perfectly adapted to be man’s everlasting home.

Thus we see that each age or epoch works out the sovereign will of the great Creator. Each creative "day" serves its purpose towards the final grandeur and beauty which God has designed. Changed climatic conditions will undoubtedly come within the next thousand years, taking away all the ice from the polar regions, and causing even those barren lands to spring forth with verdure. Unquestionably, many of the animals familiar to us now shall become extinct, ⁱ while those which are to be man’s companions and for his pleasure will be conserved and thus multiply and become plentiful.

Chimney Swallows By J. a. Bohnet

OVER the city of Natchez, Miss., architec. turally fully fifty years behind the times, ^*on any fair evening of early October one can witness thousands of chimney swallows flying to and fro from, one hundred to five hundred z feet above the buildings, circling seemingly ■ hither and thither aimlessly in the twilight, and chirping as they go.

After about an hour’s flight they gradually assemble themselves in the vicinity of the Edu-< cation Institute, estimatively 30,000 of them, - until the air is darkened by their numbers.

For an hour the writer has stood and watched the wonderful maneuvering of these birds, anticipating that some of them will surely bump into others in their swift flight. But although the sky was black with swallows, in not a single instance was one seen to touch another.

Finally the maneuvering resolves itself into a vast milling of the entire flock around and about one of the big chimneys of the Institute; and as the milling continues a solid stream of birds is seen entering the chimney until practically the entire flock has disappeared within the big flue. Presumably the first ones to enter go to the bottom, where they cling to the inner walls and build themselves upward to the top, literally lining the flue with a living lining. The last several dozen apparently could not secure a footing; for they continued milling about the chimney top until darkness obscured the sight. * Evidently no standing room was left.

Hundreds of pedestrians stop on the streets to watch the imposing sight and to talk about ’ it. One old lady remarked; “Oh, just look at z the sparrows!”

Linings (Contributed)

WHEN I was a little girl I once read a story about a saloon-keeper's wife whose husband bought her a beautiful fur coat. The lady was so pleased with it that she dreamed about it. She dreamed that some one held up the eoat before her admiring eyes; and then, as she looked, the garment was slowly turned around until sho could see the inside. The lining was made up of the gaunt, hungry faces of the wives and children of the drunkards whose money had paid for the coat.

There are linings and linings. Everybody and everything has a lining of some sort. The Bible speaks of people's linings as “the inner man” or "the heart.” A society's lining is the spirit of the organization. A company operating commercially calls its lining “policies”; and frequently it has two such, an outer one more or less for the public eye, and an inner one, known only to those who put it there.

Strikingly true, as usual, are the words of the Bible: "Man looketh upon the outward appearance.” Only a few have acquired the understanding heart that looks below the surface and sees the lining. As a result there is much injustice in the world. Praise is often given when censure would be more in order, and vice versa.

As to the inner man: I knew a little girl now grown to womanhood. She has always dressed so. simply as to cause comment. She cannot skate; she cannot dance nor play tennis nor golf. To use the language of those who see only the outside, “She cannot do anything.”

When she was a child she loyally helped a peevish, complaining mother to bring up the younger members of the family; and now she spends her all taking care of her aging parents. No; she cannot do anything, except reverse the rule to which we are accustomed and to put that which is unlovely on the outside and the beautiful on the inside, whence in time it must shine out, as indeed it is already doing.

Excessive daintiness or expense in dress, much handiwork, undurable or unnecessary accessories, overfurnished homes, overloaded * tables—what sort of linings do these indicate for their possessors? Stop, look, listen; and J you will find that in every case the lining is \ the same: Selfishness and thievery, conscious ' or unconscious. •                               ~

Indulgence in extravagant or useless practices   ^r

or things is just so much harm done to the com- ' munity as a whole. If in a family one member is lazy and shirks his tasks, all the others must £ work harder to make up for the one's delin-queney.                                       - ; 5

No doubt the delinquent one has time to grow plump and beautiful; no doubt he ha^ time to be leisurely and good-natured. No doubt too, and what is the greatest injustice, he will be praised for his beauty, his immaculate grooming, his up-to-dateness; while the onesr whose labor made it possible will be deprecated because they are haggard and overworked and not so good to look upon. Even under present " imperfect conditions all could be moderately * beautiful and comfortable if all did their share.' /

I know a man, a big, wide man, whose grand- ' father and father were in the liquor business. s’ Feeding upon the blood of others, they were rich; and the big, wide man received a liberal > education, wore fine clothes, got a good job, patted himself upon his capacious stomach, bought an expensive car, and smiles good-humoredly upon everybody. Oh, he is a lovely man! So refined, so educated, so prominent, so well- : dressed, so distingue, so exclusive! Could peo-< \ pie but bring themselves to recognize the lining! ^J Do we admire vermin or any other parasite because it is fat and shiny?                     *«

The Psalmist says: “Men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself.”—Psalm 49: 18.   '

As to organizations: Just now there are only \ two that come forcefully to my mind, religious ' denominations and political parties; and they, alas t can be classed only under the next heading, which is

Companies Operating Commercially

OF ALL the wicked and sinful things, of all the evils that make for cynicism and sor-- didness, the commercialization of our highest -ideals stands first. Love, honesty, and fidelity i are discouraged and oppressed in this world of selfishness. How welcome to every honest heart will be that kingdom which will soon reverse the old order!

’ Today the churches are empty, and newspapers are obliged to urge people to use their right to vote. Why? The people are discouraged. Their going to church shows no good resuit; their balloting accomplishes nothing. When we go through a certain succession of . movements, we want the expected effect to follow; or we quit. The general belief is that neither the teachings of Christ nor the ideals of the prophets are possible of fulfilment. Consequently it is "each man for himself”; and , with the balancing ideals gone, "the world reels l. to and fro like a drunken man."

⁷ If the world could realize that it is not the . fabric (the Bible), but the lining (the selfish clergy and their false doctrines), that is at fault

i they would take heart and try again. The spirit ? of the organization is wrong. The leaders are in it for money, personal honor, influence, and not because they love the cause.

[' I entered one of the city's large churches, and ; the first thing that met my anticipatory gaze * was a bulletin reading:

"The cost per week of maintaining this church is $----

. Last Sunday's collections were---------------$——

Deficit -------------:___________________ $-----

“ DO YOUR SHARE!”

The Bible says: "Enter into his gates with : thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”

Politics

IT SEEMS to me that this is the laboratory of human mischief. Presidents and senators, . and governors and mayors—how great they are, how much honor they receive; for all the world likes the man whose father and grandfather were in the liquor business. Public benefactors ? Of courseI

I am only a woman, and not supposed to ba able to understand politics; just like a' man I know who says that his business is so complicated that only he can run it. I have watched him and his business carefully, and have concluded that he is right. He has "engaged in so many dishonest transactions, and told so many lies, that everything requires his personal attention in order to keep up the artificial conditions he has created; and the effort has made him tired and old before his time.

There are other businesses more legitimate and less flamboyantly and outrageously commercial; selling soap, for instance, through the -use of a lot of "soft soap” showing how beautiful you will become if you use so-and-so’s soap. Does the manufacturer earnestly desire to see you beautiful? Oh, no! he wants the profit he gets from selling soap.

"Honesty is the best policy,” say some business men. They are honest, not for the love of honesty, but because they believe that people ’ will buy from a person whom they trust. After all, when honesty is a policy instead of a prin- ^v ciple, it merely veils the lining, which is a selfish love of money, the root of all evil.

Many regard the success of the united charity "drives” as a proof that the world is getting better. A business man explained his liking for them thus: “ It is a lot easier to be solicited to give once a year, to write out one cheek and be done with it, than it is to be bothered one hundred times a year. It doesn’t cost sq much, either.”

Similar to this is the spirit that often underlies the much-vaunted welfare work among employes. The inter-organization clubs that nobody wants to join, the picnics and dances attended by the workers only for fear of offending the employer—why does the latter like them? It makes good subject matter for an occasional write-up in the paper; it is good advertising to have his company’s athletic teams frequently mentioned as competing with others. And the corporation is patted on the back for its nobility, and gains customers on the strength of it.

My experience with so-called welfare work ¹ and social work among the workers has led me . to the conclusion that-it is often little short of a tyrannous, unwarranted intrusion upon the. spare-time hours of the employ^ for the com-pan/s financial benefit.

692

It is my earnest hope (and I believe the Scriptures back it up) that some day soon the inside of the cup will be as clean as the outside. When “the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place”; when our “turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay”; when God “brings to Hght the hidden things of darkness” (the linings) and shows us how ugly they are, then, thank God! we shall value things for their goodness rather thari for their show.

• ?

BBOOKLTW_r N. Y. .

Until then I believe it is safe to say that in many cases that which seems great and prosper- * ous and good is parasitically drawing its life from a dishonest source. From the girl whose beauty and surface attractiveness are possible- 'J because of neglected duties at home, to the king upon his throne and the prelate in his office, the i > words spoken by Paul the Apostle Seem id apply: “Now ye rich, now ye are great; ye have* * reigned as kings without us” (1 Corinthians 40 4:8) Yea, and without God.                ™

Why the Farmer Does Not Come Back By a Farmer’s Wife

THE truth is that the farmer is taxed and “interested” to death. I use this term advisedly; for surely the existing conditions mean the end of prosperous agricultural business for very many farmers. ’

From time immemorial, the farmer's work has occupied so much of his time that little was left for the study of any subject not directly concerned with his particular occupation.

Generally, he considered the political and civic machinery as beyond his powers of comprehension, and did not worry his head much over them. He usually embraced the political and religious faiths of his father, although, if particularly hard times prevailed through one administration, he might be caught voting for the other side at the next election.

Any farmer who did have a studious turn soon found his fences down and the cows helping themselves to his corn. The result was that he depended upon his banker, his lawyer, or his preacher for advice on subjects not directly concerned with agriculture.

All went fairly well, however, until the World War brought a little wave of prosperity to these sons of the soil. Soon a luxurious crop of farm advisers sprang into existence. The farmer was advised, educated, and entertained to the limit; and the end is not yet. Even his old standbys proved false and joined with the others in urging upon him moves which, it seems very likely, will prove to be his ultimate undoing.

“Build modern homes, buy tractors, trucks, cars, and other conveniences, build big barns and sheds, and go into business right, even if

you have to go into debt to do so. We never < made money until we got into debt. With better 7 farming and a larger acreage the debt will be ■7 inconsequential,” said these self-appointed -guardians of the farmer’s welfare.          ^s 7

To the joy of the lumber and cement companies, the automobile, tractor, and other mft? ? chinery companies, the furniture and musical ■ instrument companies, and so on down the lin% ) the advice was taken. A boom in farm lands wan' precipitated; and many.farms were purchased at exorbitant prices, often with but little cash ; paid down.                                     **

Prosperity seemed to be smiling on every side; but the final results were not so satisfac- > , tory. With over-production, and consequent low prices, compared with expenses, the interest money comes in slowly, indeed.                 '"

To make matters worse, when the furore for 7 non-taxable securities came, the farmer was persuaded, coaxed, and even driven to vote his community into huge bonded indebtedness, both " for roads and for schools.                  -   -

In a vast section of the country paved roads are absolutely unnecessary. A few days of con-^tf scientious labor yearly would keep each mile in good passable condition for very nearly, if not * altogether, as many days as paved roads can boast.                                                   :

But the bad examples set at Washington m recent years have had their effect even upon < the “honest” farmer; and our roadwork is often j done with a view to getting another job soon, on " the same tract, in order to coax out as many -shekels as possible from the township and county treasuries.                               '        :

A Lost Paradise

MILTON'S “Paradise Lost” has been called “the epic of mankind.” Webster defines the word epic as follows: “Narrative poetry treating a theme of action in heroic style." We would naturally expect, therefore, “Paradise Lost” to be a wonderful exposition of paradise, pointing to the true hero, Christ, who is ultimately to restore paradise to the world.

But in reading “Paradise Lost,” we find some queer things. Satan, the adversary of God and man, is the hero! His strong characteristics stand preeminent over all the other characters. Evidently, as a character study, “Paradise Lost” is a miserable failure. We are not here attempting to criticize it as a literary work of art; for its literary supremacy is unquestioned. However, we purpose to take up the facts of the case, believing that fact is far more important than fiction or “literary value”. If we find that the poem is at variance with the facts of the case, then it is time to change our minds regarding “the epic of mankind”.

But where shall we go for the facts regarding the beginning of our race? There are various idfeas and theories too numerous to mention. Heathen religions present the most weird and unreasonable views imaginable. Nor can Greek or Roman mythology offer any better solution of the mystery.

Turning to history, what do we find? The history of the oldest Gentile nations can be traced back clearly and distinctly less than three thousand years. Farther than that, all is dark, uncertain, mythical, fabulous, and untrustworthy tradition. Professor Fisher, of Yale University, said:

“An exact method of establishing dates was slowly reached. The invention of eras was indispensable to this end. The earliest definite time for the dating of events was established in Babylon—the era of Nabonassar, 747 B. CJ The Greeks (from about 300 B. C.) dated events from the first recorded victory at the Olympic games, 776 B. C. The Romans, though not for some centuries after the founding of Rome, dated from that event, or 753 B. C ”

We learn from the “American Cyclopaedia” that histories of ancient nations, except that of the Hebrews, go ,back into mythical periods of thousands or millions of years; and that even after the records begin to assume an historical aspect, the discrepancies are very great. The

divine inspiration in recording facts upon which as mere human witnesses, their evidence would t>e valid”

The Bible is, therefore, the only book in the world which furnishes a view of human history as a whole. It carries us from the lost paradise of Genesis to the restored paradise of Revelation. The Bible, alone, is the chart of all history. Without it, as has been truly said, history would be 'Tike rivers flowing from unknown sources to unknown seas”.

Turning to the Bible, we find in the first three chapters the story of the creation of the earth and the vegetation upon it, of the creation of the animals, birds, fish and, finally, of man. Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, a perfect home, with perfect food and surroundings. He was given dominion over the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea. He was given a helpmate, who was called Eve. There was but one restriction placed upon them. They were forbidden to eat the fruit of one tree, not because there was anything wrong with the fruit, butmerely as a test of obedience; for God has the right to demand obedience of all His creatures. But having had no experience, they fell under the temptation, and were driven out of the garden. Before we proceed, however, we must consider a few¹ points that are not entirely clear to some.

Chronology Aids in Understanding Bible

MANY do not accept theBible account because it states that the creative work lasted only seven days. Scientists claim that the formation of the strata of the rocks and other parts of the earth consumed a period of thousands of years.

The word "day"’ is not limited in its meaning to a twenty-four-hour day; we speak of Chaucer’s day, Shakespeare’s day, Milton’s day, Washington’s day, etc. In the Bible, we read of "the day of temptation in the wilderness”—forty years (Hebrews 3:8,9), and of the "day of judgment”—one thousand years. Thus a "day” may be a fixed period of time of any length. Although we do not have a direct statement as to the length of these "creative days,” we are safe in assuming that they were uniform periods; that is, each one was of the same length as any other of the creative days.

The "seventh day” began with the expulsion of man from paradise, and is to end when paradise is fully restored to the world. The Bible chronology shows this to be a period of seven

thousand years. Over six thousand years of this day are gone, with the final thousand in the? future, in which will take place the work of re^ storing paradise. Even today we see evidences;-of the beginning of this work.                  ■

Chronology thus helps us in establishing the; length of these days. Seven days of seven thou* sand years each make a period of forty-niner thousand years, the "creative week.” Only six days, however, elapse from the time the stafp^ ment is made that "the earth was without forth,⁴, and void,” to the time when paradise was lost,' or a period of forty-two thousand years. ;

The fact that the sun, moon, and stars were, not visible until the fourth day was probably due to the fact that the earth, in its formation, had "rings” around it, much the same as Saturn; has today, obscuring the views of all, heavenly bodies from the earth. It does not mean that they were not created, but that they were not¹ yet visible to the earth. This fact that the sun_Y was not visible until the fourth "day” should be proof enough to anyone that the "days” were not. twenty-four-hour periods of time.             /

So, after all, the Bible is in full harmony with science on the subject. The preparation of the? earth for man’s habitation has -actually taken thousands of years, and still goes on.

Many believe that man was made merely to’ go to heaven, and that the earth will be burned, up. Such is not the Biblical testimony, how*-ever; for we read, "The earth abideth forever”; (Ecclesiastes 1: 4) God formed the earth tb be -inhabited, and not in vain. (Isaiah 45:18) If : the earth was formed to be inhabited, it must be* man that is to inhabit it. "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”—Psalm 115:16.¹

When the Bible speaks of “the end of the ^! world,” it means plainly the end of the order of: things now existing or the end of the present unrighteous systems. Thus a new "world” began . in France at the end of the French Revolution^ This is the correct thought with reference to f the "worlds” of the Bible.

It is well to bear in mind that the earth was made for man, and that man was made for the -earth. Sin, sorrow, sickness,' pain, and death; are all unnatural; remove the unnatural, and earthly life will be perfectly happy. That these -unnatural things are to be removed eventually is shown very clearly in Revelation 21:3,4.

THEN we say that paradise was lost, it does not mean that heaven was lost. The word ■ "paradise” means a garden, or state of happi-; ness, and has no specific reference to heaven X whatever. The Garden of Eden was on earth. _€ . When paradise is restored, the whole earth, instead of one little spot, will be a beautiful garden. (Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 36:35) Only Chris. tians have a heavenly hope; and they will share ’ with Christ in blessing the world during the judgment day.—Revelation 20: 6.

c' Adam was created perfect, “very good,” with * full access to the trees of life, thus signifying that if he had never sinned, he would have been f living today; nor would any of his children have died or had trouble of any kind. This is man’s , natural state—a state of which we know nothing by experience. The only other perfect man ' that ever existed on earth was Jesus, who died for Adam to redeem him and his race.

■ But, as we have said, Adam’s continued existence was dependent upon his obedience. He was explicitly told: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,.thou shalt not eat r of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, -    dying thou shalt die.”—Genesis 2:16,17 margin.

^:      The language here used does not imply that

man had an immortal soul, or that he would suffer eternally after death. The only place where there is a hint of continued existence regardless of physical death is found in Satan’s r    lie—the first lie ever told—recorded in Genesis

v   3:4, where we read:, “And the serpent said

_;    unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” Com

pare John 8:44.

- This directly contradicted God’s word. Whom 7 was Mother Eve to believe? She had no experience, and so was deceived by the tempter. ’Adam, however, was not deceived, but sinned

* wilfully.—1 Timothy 2:14.

Following Eve’s example, thousands of wellmeaning people have been deceived into thinking that, after all, man does not really die when "    physical death ensues, but that his soul lives on

;    somewhere, eternally. There being no real ex

tinction of being, God in order to punish sin-■    ners, had to create a place of suffering and tor?    ment called “hell.” There are various ideas and

.theories regarding hell, a prominent one being K portrayed vividly in Milton’s “Paradise Lost”.

for the recovery of heaven.                .

The creeds present to us a hell filled with millions of sinners, suffering horrible agony. ' In heaven there are a few saints playing upon their golden harps, and singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” while they are looking down into hell, enjoying the plight of their brothers and sisters. '

No person of intelligence today can approve of such a God or of such a. plan. This doctrine of eternal torment has caused more infidelity than any other doctrine. Even heathen religions have a better outlook for thhe future than this 1

Come, Let Us Reason Together

A PERSON of authority has said that Milton’s "Paradise Lost” has led more people into a belief in a hell of torment than the Bible itself. Then where does the blame for the inii-delity and confusion of today rest? What a narrow theology prevailed in Milton’s day, that led to the writing of such God-dishonoring ideas! The less said about it, the better.

The reason that the, poem deceives anyone is that Milton apparently gets his ideas from the Bible. But in this enlightened day, it is time for us to prove our beliefs and, above all things, to use reason. This is in harmony with the Bible teaching, "Come, let us reason together, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 1:18) “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”—1 Thessalonians 5:21.

First of all: Is it reasonable that God wotild create man immortal, death-proof, permit him to fall into sin, and then torment him forever, knowing in advance that man would sin? What could be the purpose of such torment? Could it accomplish any good? Would it result to the glory of God? A man or a child would not even torture his horse, his dog, or his cat. It seems strange that men with reasoning faculties should ever reach the conclusion that the allwise Creator would eternally torment any of His creatures.

In the second place: Are the doctrines of the immortality of the soul and eternal torment Scriptural? We answer: Nothing unreasonable is Scriptural.

Was Adam created mortal or immortal? Before we can answer this question, we must know what ismeant by “mortal” and “immortaL” The following definitions are taken from good authority :

' "Immortal—the state or condition in which death is Impossible—a death-proof condition.

"Mortal—a state or condition in which death is possible; a condition of liability to death, bnt not necessarily a dying condition unless a death sentence has been incurred.”

Now if we say that man was created immortal, or with an immortal soul, we are immediately in difficulties. For instance: How was he threatened with death, and afterwards sentenced thereto, and how could he die, if he were deathproof? And why did God, in punishing him, drive him out of the garden of Eden, away from the life-sustaining grove or trees of life, lest he, by eating, would live forever?—Genesis 3:22, 23.

Therefore if these questions cannot be satisfactorily answered, we must conclude that Adam was created mortal. In fact, he was plainly told that his everlasting life was conditional upon his obedience.

Some, however, have the idea that the word "mortal” signifies dying; in other words, that anything “mortal” must die sometime. If this definition be true, we are again in difficulties. How could God sentence man to death after his disobedience if he were already a dying creature and never had been otherwise? And if Adam was created dying, how could God declare that his death came by his sin?

Adam Created Mortal Being

CONFUSION is unavoidable unless the proper definition of the word “mortal” is clearly recognized—i. e., able to die, but not necessarily dying, unless a death sentence has been incurred.

It is evident, then, that Adam was created mortal, yet he could have continued obedient and lived forever in perfect happiness. Even the angels are mortal; for do we not read that Satan is to be destroyed? (Hebrews 2:14) How can, anything be destroyed that is indestructible? Evil angels will eventually be destroyed; but the angels which remain loyal to God will live forever in their heavenly home, and still be mortal. "God only [originally] hath immortality.”—1 Timothy 6:16.

Christ received immortality as His reward in His resurrection, and this condition is also the

reward promised to faithful Christians. It is nowhere hinted in the Bible that human beings are immortal.                                \

The matter is very clearly stated in the creation of Adam: "God formed man of the dust 61 the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”—* Genesis 2:7.

The body was created, then animated with the breath of life, or air; and, as a result, man became a living, moving, thinking, breathing crea-., ture—a soul. Therefore we cannot correctly say: "Man has a soul” but rather, **Man ts a soul.” When God pronounced the penalty upon Adam, He was talking to Adam, the moving, thinking soul, the being who sinned. Therefore r it was the soul which received the death penalty.. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18 : 4, 20) “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Bomans 6:23) “Fox. evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Fer yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his plaqe_f and it shall not be” (Psalm 37:9,10) “The Lord preserveth all them that love him,- but all the wicked will he destroy.”—Psalm 145:20.

This should be proof enough to any reason- . able mind that death, not eternal torment, is the wages of sin.                            ■

Hell Shorn of its Horns                    ,

WE MUST remember that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and the New Teatament was written in Greek. The word “hell” is an English word sometimes selected by the translators of the English Bible to express the sense of the Hebrew word sheol and the Greek word hades. The same words are also sometimes translated “grave” and “pit”. The word “hell” in an old English usage, before it received its special meaning from a twisted theology, ' simply meant “to conceal, to hide, to cover; hence the concealed, hidden, or covered place.” The word “help was, therefore, properly used synonymously with the words "grave” and "pit”, as signifying the death or hidden condition of

These words, sheol and hades, mean the grave —the condition of death, or oblivion.

Instead of a place of blazing fire, *it is described as a state of “darkness” (Job 10:21); _ instead of a place where shrieks and groans ara heard, it is described in the context as a place of “silence” (Psalm 115:17); instead of representing in any sense pain, suffering, or remorse, the context describes it as the place of forgetfulness. (Psalm 88:11, 12) “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave [sheol], whither thou goest.”—Ecclesiastes 9:5,10.

The Bible hell, then, is the grave, where the world quietly sleeps until the resurrection blessings come. (John 5:28; Acts 24:15) What a different picture from that presented in “Paradise Lost” I

If there is, indeed, '"no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in sheol” (hades), then it is a very deluding picture which we have in Book Two of ‘"Paradise Lost.” Here Satan and all his fallen, angels are pictured in “Hades," hatching devices galore! Some advise another hattie for the recovery of heaven; others advise stealth. Finally a plan of Satan's is brought forward, suggesting that they regain their lost possessions by first deceiving man, “soon to be created.”

Satan Not in Hell

EVIDENTLY there is something wrong. Why does Milton make the mistake of thinking that, when Satan and his angels fell, they were cast into shades? He probably did not understand the correct meaning of the word. Since it means the condition of oblivion or death, the opposite of life, we know at once that, when Satan and his angels fell, they were not cast into hades; for Satan has been anywhere except in a condition of oblivion during the past six thousand years.

Theologians of Milton’s day misunderstood the meaning of the following scripture, found in 2 Peter 2:4: “God spared not the angels that ' sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered ^;hem into chains of darkness, to be reserved Kttnto judgment.”

The word here translated “hell” is not sheol or hades, but another word entirely foreign in meaning. It is tartaroo. This is the only text where this word occurs in the Bible. It means a condition of restraint, and carries with it the thought of falling from the favor of God. The thought in this text is that Satan and his angels fell from the favor of God, and were placed in comparative bondage, “chains of darkness,” or bondage of wickedness; that is, their

activities were confined exclusively to this earth. And so we find it: Satan, instead of being ofE somewhere “stoking fires,” is right here among us, deceiving the unwary into believing his lie to mother Eve, and into believing such doctrines as eternal torment.                           .

Milton presents also a queer account of Satan’s entrance into Eden to tempt Eve. Why the “guardian angel” permitted him to go ahead after stopping him cannot be explained.

Turning to the Scriptural testimony on the subject, we find that Satan, before his fall, was a wonderful, beautiful being, called Lucifer. “Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou -art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty.”—Ezekiel 28:13-17.

These verses show that Lucifer himself was the guardian angel of Adam and Eve and was, indeed, a good and beautiful heavenly creature. He was “in Eden,” “the anointed cherub that covereth,” perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him. Isaiah 14:12-14 shows that it was pride and ambition which led to his downfall. He betrayed the trust which was given him. His fall, therefore, came after the creation of man, instead of before, as presented by MiL ton. There was no “battle”; God simply pronounced the sentence, and Satan’s activities were confined to this earth. We will see later why he was permitted to tempt mankind.

Symbols Have Symbolic Interpretations "

MUCH confusion has resulted from a literal interpretation of the symbols of Revelation and of some of Jesus’ parables. The Bible

uses "fire and brimstone” as.a symbol for complete destruction. We bum things to destroy them. We would not think of burning anything . alive. The Scriptures explain themselves on this point: “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” (Revelation 20:14) This symbolical "fire” must be understood in the study of Jesus’ parable also; for if we are to apply the language of the parable of the sheep and .the goats literally, we must be consistent and say that it applies to literal sheep and literal goats—a position which no one would accept. If "sheep” and "goats” are symbols referring to certain classes of people, then the "fire” is a symbol of complete destruction. The principle of consistency is a safe one to follow in the study of the Bible.

The Orientals speak in symbols much more than we do. The Bible is a book of symbols. Often more truth can be embraced in a simple allegory than in volumes of technical, theological works.

Some insist that the story of the creation of the earth and man, as recorded in Genesis, is an allegory. There might be grounds for this belief, if it were not for the fact that in the New Testament Jesus’ genealogy is traced back directly to Adam (Luke 3:23-38); and real, live human beings do not spring from allegories! St. Paul says plainly: "Wherefore, as by owe man [Adam], sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—1 Corinthians 15: 22.

This shows that death and all its accompanying ills, sorrows, pains, and tears have come about because of Adam’s sin, and that their removal is entirely dependent upon the work of Christ. This is directly antagonistic to the evolution theory, which claims that by his own efforts'man is getting better all the time. By thus ignoring the, necessity of Christ’s work, the advocates of this theory "deny the Lord that bought them” (2 Peter 2:1) If we accept the Bible as God’s Word, we must accept the Scriptural testimony, believing that God knows more about His creation than we do.

Furthermore, the Bible shows that in the future there is to be a restitution of all things which were originally lost. (Acts 3:19-23) Now, if man were originally a monkey, a restoration to the former state would be anything but desirable.

Object of Jesus’ Coming ^r                    , • g

THE correct thought is that Jesus came to

earth to redeem Adam and his race (Luko | 19:10; 1 Timothy 2:5,6), and to give all an $ opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A clear understanding of man’s be- ? ginning is, therefore, important, in order to understand what is to be restored. Perfect lifottfe^ health, freedom from sin will be man’s happ^^ lot in the future, when God’s work is done. ? Labor-saving machinery, invented within the : last fifty years, is evidence that the curse which was placed upon our race will soon be removed: * "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” j —Genesis 3:19.       .

Not only the living, but all who have died will \ come back to these blessings. "There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and' unjust.” (Acts 24:15) Thus, all that die or ¹ suffer because of Adam’s sin will have an opportunity for life. Then will be fulfilled the prayer of the Christian, "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

In restored paradise "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no | more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither -• shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”—Revelation 21:4.     |

In conclusion, we will say that we are not trying to impugn Milton’s motives in thus criti- ; cizing "Paradise Lost” as we have done. Possi- d bly he did not intend his words to be taken 'r seriously, but was merely creating a "literary ; work of art.” Nevertheless the fact remains that the poem has been taken seriously by some j who are not so familiar with the Bible as they ;■ ought to be. By claiming to get his ideas Out J of the Bible, Milton has led many people astrav^p on the points we have enumerated, especially^ confirming their belief in the blasphemous doo-trine of eternal torment. From this standpoint, ‘ the poem has done far more harm than good. ₂

When Milton comes back in the resurrection, when “the earth shall be filled with the knowl- > edge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters ³ cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14), then,will he know that the great Creator of the universe is indeed ■ a God of wisdom, justice, power, and " love.

b "                      The Distress of Europe

S (Radio-cast from WATCHTOWER WBBR on a wave length of 273 meters, by Judge J. F. Rutherford)]

। banks are forcing the business men to be prof-¹ iteers, and the rank and file of the common people are the victims. All this has no tendency to sweeten the disposition of the people. Socialism, Communism, and other forms of radicalism । are ever on the increase. The tide of discontent rises higher and higher.                      ‘

The press was recently filled with statement's r concerning the Dawes Plan of reconstruction. The banks have adopted the gold mark at a fixed price. It is purely fictitious. It is purely a fiat money. There is nothing back of it. The gold mark is bound to fail, and the Dawes Plan will be a complete failure.

These conditions are of course alarming to the financiers and to the statesmen. These are . rushing into the arms of the ecclesiastics, par: ticularly into the Papal church, hoping there to find some means of appeasing the wrath that is falling upon them, or to find some shelter from the impending storm. Their hearts are failing them for fear, because of what they see coining. , There is but one class in all Germany that is . content. This class ’ is composed of the few people who h^ve turned their hearts fully to the ■ Lord, and are patiently waiting for the estab! lishment of His kingdom of righteousness.

Practically All Classes in Despair

WHAT is said of Germany particularly applies to Roumania, Hungary, Czecho-Slo-vakia, Austria, and other countries of Southeastern and Southern Europe.                -

Italy is ruled by a fanatic who plays one day . into the hands of the Papacy and against that . system the next. Mussolini and his followers have no real confidence in or love for the Papa, cy. He is mad for power and glory, and throws > some sop to the ecclesiastics for a sinister pur: pose. Some day this radical element will turn ; and rend the ecclesiastics.

. Spain it, undoubtedly the most flagrantly wicked government on earth. She is ruled by a dictator who is supported by a police force ofl criminals who are without conscience or sense of justice. If a citizen is suspected of a crime, he is arrested; and if he fails to confess all the wicked practices of the ancient inquisition are resorted to by these criminal officials to obtain the desired information, which is more often 699

misinformation wrung from the victims to save their lives. Heavy guns are dropped upon their toes; their finger nails and toe nails are pulled out with pincers; their flesh pinched with pincers ; they are hung up by the neck until almost 'dead; they are let down only to be hung up again and tortured until a confession is wrung from them. Because of fear of losing their power and

control over the nation the profiteers, and the politicians, and the clergy have joined hands together to keep' this wicked practice in vogue.

Freedom of spech is unknown in this land oP darkness, and he who dares raise his voice in protest is quickly disposed of. Recently one of Spain's greatest educators and a professor of her University, moved with righteous indignation because of the wicked practices of the present ruling powers, called attention to this in a public address. The result was that he was arrested and taken away, and is supposed to be languishing in prison; but many believe that his body is mouldering in the dust.

. The people are chafing under this great oppression, and are biding the time when a bold . leader will strike for their liberty.

\ - France won the war; but she is threatened ¹ with a greater danger. Her experiences in the Ruhr have proven unprofitable. Her statemen and rulers, who guided the ship of state during the war, have been ordered to stand aside, and the radical element is now in charge. The finan’ tiers are fearful, and the value of her currency continues to fall.

' The British Empire, without doubt the greatest world power under the sun, is putting on a bold front while shaking in her boots. Her politicians and financiers have builded a great exposition at Wembley, a suburb of London. It is the most imposing thing of its kind yet built. All of her Colonies are represented there, magnifying her wealth, her political ^and ecclesiastical organizations. It is truly a desperate attempt to impress the people with the greatness of the power and prestige of the Empire. Fear and perplexity have driven the rulers to take this step. The casual observer might say: Surely an empire of this greatness must stand forever.

No Confidence Between Nations

CONFIDENCE between the nations of Europe no more exists. The nations, though practically bankrupt, are feverishly preparing for more war. In recent weeks an English in* 5 ventor brought forth what is designated“the 4 death ray”, a terrible instrument of destruction 1 which promises to destroy a city like London or Paris in one night, killing every person in it* । He employed an airplane to fly between London -J and Paris, negotiating with the two governments as to who should have control of this in- J vention. Even America made a bid for it; but the British Empire, by spending millions, secured it. Fear was the moving cause. .

During the World War some things were kejW^ ?

secret which are now coming to light. For instance, during the war, the clergy of the various churches, acting as recruiting officers, turning their church buildings into recruiting stations, induced the young men to go to war. For this service these clergymen received from the government a fixed money consideration, which was paid to them through the war office.

The men who yielded to the harangues of the clergy and joined the army and marched to the front, leaving their families and loved ones behind, ■Who carried their guns and knapsacks, slept in the muddy trenches, and endured all the hardships of war, were the ones who received a daily allowance approximating twenty-one cents, while those clergymen who had recruited these men and who joined the armyas chaplains received about $5.00 per day, their chief duty being to dispense cigarettes to the. men and occasionally go through a formalism called a religious ceremony. These truths coming to light are not pleasing to those who have borne the burdens of the aftermath of war.

The discontent of the people is rapidly grow- | ing. The unemployed are numbered by the mil- J lions. The great army of idle men receive a weekly allowance from the government, which I is called a dole; and a bill has recently been put through to increase the the dole and extend iU^_ 3 to boys of fourteen years of age out of employ^* 1 ment. But this dole does not satisfy the people. . Cf They say: “We do not want to be the objects of J charity. We want work and a chance to earn an honest living."                                '

Impressed with the grave situation Britain’s _v 1 greatest statesman has said: “Civilization is doomed unless something is done.” The powers g that be are unable to offer any adequate solution 3 of the difficulties. Statesmen are in perplexity ’“J and distress because of what they see coming.

J ’ J

Ten years after the beginning of the World _; War Europe is in a worse condition than prior to the war.

Reason for Menacing Situation

THERE must be some good and adequate reason why Europe is in such distress and perplexity, and why this condition increases rather than decreases. The people are enjoying greater light on inventions and methods of pro'll- gress than ever before; yet they are unable to solve the perplexing problems. There is a reason for this condition, and there is but one reason. That reason was mentioned by the Lord in Hitf Word.

For many centuries past the nations of the earth have been under the domination of an invisible ruling power, Satan, who has opposed God and opposed righteousness, and has resorted to* oppressive methods in controlling the peoples and nations of earth. The world powers, under the domination of this invisible ruler, the Scripture designates under the title of "wild beast." The words well symbolize the disposition of the ruling factors.

The men who have attempted to rule the earth have been overreached by the Adversary. The financial element, the real strength of the nations, have been wickedly selfish. The politicians have done the bidding of the commercial power. Ecclesiasticism for a time enjoyed the high privilege of representing the Lord and declaring His kingdom; but these have yielded to the baneful influence of the Wicked One, and ' joined hands with the commercial and political powers of the earth. Thus the three elements f form what the Scripture defines as "the beast.”

The Lord declared ihat this order of things should end at some time certain; and the Scrip-ture shows that the beginning of that end would be in the autumn season of 1914, and that it f would be marked by a World War, followed by L - famine and pestilence. Jesus, then speaking £ specifically of conditions which would exist in £ the earth following the World War, and which would be proof conclusive of the end of the old world, said: "Upon the garth distress of ? nations with perplexity: the sea and the waves £ ‘ [restless people] roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things * which are coming on the earth.”' Thus we see a [ complete fulfilment of our Lord’s word.

Again the prophet of the Lord, looking to this time, said: "This is the day of God’s vengeance.” And then to the people the prophet says: "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, y& people; let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations.”—Isaiah 34:1, 2.

Will Result In More Trouble

IT IS apparent to all thoughtful men that the present conditions of the world point to a great time of trouble not far distant The statesmen of the world recognize this and free*-ly say so.

Jehovah foreknew exactly what would transpire at this time and, speaking through Hia prophet and referring to this day, said: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”—Daniel 12:1.

Again-the Lord, through His prophet, said: "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”—Zephaniah 3:8.

Referring to the same time Jesus said that the distress of nations and perplexity would be followed by a time of trouble such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, and that there should never be another.—Matthew 24: 21, 22.

Again, God’s prophet, describing the selfishness of men, gone to seed, says: "They go down to the sea [to the restless, disordered condition of humanity] in ships [great corporate powers and organizations] and do business in great waters [indulge in great commercial transactions amongst the people.] These see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.” (Psalm 107:23, 24) Then the Lord describes the great trouble that follows and the result in these words: "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He . maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.”—Psalm 107: 27-30.

Remedy for Earth’s Turmoil

THERE is but one remedy for this distressing condition of humanity, and that remedy is the kingdom of the Lord. God, through His prophet, said that he would shake all nations and then the desire of all nations would come. ’Again, through the prophet Zephaniah He said:

^(<For then will I turn to the people a pure lan- -guage, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.”—- ' Zephaniah 3:9.                                 Z

When the peoples of earth turn their hearts and minds to the Lord He will bring them out . of their distressed condition and will establish J amongst them a government of righteousness that shall fulfil the desire of every honest heart

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. The ev- £ idence of this fact is conclusive. Soon the earth shall have established in it a righteous govern- ' ment.

WE ARE pleased to announce that Mr. W. A.

Russell is exhibiting some motion pictures of Palestine, made when Judge Rutherford was there; and that he has had successful meetings in the vincinity of Philadelphia. He will be glad to serve any one within a radius of twenty miles of Philadelphia. Address him at 1410 Mayfield Street, Philadelphia.

An Aid to the Blind

A BLIND friend at Lowell, Mass., Mr. H. G.

Burke, writes us that he earns his living by making certain articles in a workshop for the blind at 159 Moody St., in that city. Among other things he has to sell are self-threading needles, ' brooms and whiskbrooms. The Golden Age calls attention to this matter not as amadvertisement, but for the purpose of helping this blind man. We quote one paragraph from his letter:

“Many do not know that there is such a thing as a self-threading needle. You will be surprised how easy it is to thread these needles. They are made especially for the blind and for people with imperfect sight. Ten cents a package, postpaid to any address.”

Review of Book

« ANGELS AND WOMEN” is the title of a book just off the press. It is a reproduction and revision off the novel, “Seola” which was written in 1878, and which deals^with conditions prior to the flood.

Pastor Russell read this book with keen interest, and requested some of his friends to read it because of its striking ha,rmony with the Scriptural account of the sons of God described in the sixth chapter of Genesis. Those sons of God became evil, and debauched the human family prior to, and up to, the time of the great deluge. We call attention to this book because we believe it will be of interest to Bible Students, who are familiar with the machinations of the devil and the demons and with the influence exercised by them prior to the flood and also now in this evil day. The book throws light on the subject and it is believed, will aid those who carefully consider it to avoid the baneful effects of spiritism, now so prevalent in the world.

The book is revised and published by a personal friend of Pastor Russell, and one who was close to him in his work. It is published by the A. B. Abac Company, New York city.

The publishers advise that the regular price of this book is $2:00; but to all subscribers of The Golden Age, it will be furnished at $1.00 per volume, when ordered in lots of ten or more. This is not an advertisement, but a voluntary comment.

STUDIES IN THE “HARP OF GOD” (   ^BRFOR^ )

With issue Number 60 we began running Judge Rutherford’s new booh, “The Harp of God”, with accompanying questions, taking the place of both Advanced and Juvenile Bible Studies which have been hitherto published.

¹¹⁷ Again the Apostle likens the ’whole of the -Christ to a living stone, saying, “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. . . . Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” (1 Peter 2:5-7) In earthly buildings there is no chief cornerstone; but in this building of God there is a chief cornerstone, which is Christ Jesus. The topstone or chief cornerstone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid. The other members of the body, then, must be built up into Christ to conform to that chief cornerstone, which is illustrated by the Great Pyramid in Egypt.—See Isaiah 19:19.

⁸¹⁸Again this anointed class, Jesus the Head and the Church His body, is spoken of as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. This was foreshadowed by the nation of Israel, particularly by the priesthood in connection with the house of Israel. The apostle Peter ■speaking of this class says: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”—1 Peter 2: 9,10.

^81BThe members of the body of Christ, the Church, are also designated as His footstep followers; and as such they are called to suffer with Him that they might also reign with Him. /Tor even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)- These are also designated as Christians. It does not mean that because one is a member of some earthly organization called a church he is a Christian or a member of the true Church.' The true Church is the body of Christ; and any one to be of the true Church must be a follower of Christ in the truest sense of the word. To this class are given the exceeding great and precious promises recorded in the Bible, the promises of being associated with Christ Jesus in His kingdom; (2 Peter 1:4)] Not to the world, but to His followers Jesus said: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10.

⁵²⁰No one has been able to understand these things and appreciate them except 'those who have given their hearts to the Lord. The apostle Paul says: “The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, be* cause they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14) Jehovah has so arranged that only those who have their minds illuminated by the holy spirit, which follows their consecration, justification, and acceptance by the Lord, can understand and appreciate the mystery of God. These are the ones designated by ~th£ prophet Joel as the servants and handmaidens of God; and in the Gospel age God pours out His spirit upon them, which means to give then! His spirit. But in God’s due time He will pour out His spirit upon all mankind, so that all can understand His wonderful plan.—Joel 2: 28,

QUESTIONS ON “THE HARP OF GOD”

Give Scriptural proof that the members of the Christ are called “living stones.” fl 317.           .

Who is the chief cornerstone in the building of God? n 317.

What great building on earth pictures this building at God? fl 317.

Who constitute the royal priesthood? Give Scriptural proof, fl 318.

Why are the members of the Church called footstep followers of Jesus? fl 319.

What are these followers called upon to do? fl 319.

Define the term “Christian.” fl 319.

Is every church member a Christian? and if not, why not? fl 319.

What promises are given to the Christian? Give Scriptural proof, fl 319.

What particular reward is promised to the ones whol are faithful unto death? fl 319.

What is essential in order to understand the mystery of God? fl 320.

Can everybody understand these great truths? and if not, why not? fl 320.

)T, oppressive weather is not conducive to deep thinking. In fact almost any suggestion of effort is repulsive; and yet sitting and enduring does not make it cooler.

A light occupation of mind, thinking more like flights of the imagination, makes balmy an oppressive evening.

The mind is carried.away with a lightness as refreshing as a cool breeze.

Reading, to be such, should be more of a solace, that which contents rather than that which stirs up our feelings, a peaceful outlook creating a vista very desirable.

Preferably a view that provides for the reader his place therein, a glimpse of how desirable life on earth will shortly be, and to escape the illusiveness of dreams should add just that assurance which would be satisfying.

The Harp Bible Study Course deals with man’s future, avoiding such application to text as hot weather makes tedious. It leaves with the reader a freedom that comes from a larger view. Its concern is with unending life on earth under perfect conditions. .

For more specific and direct study of particular texts and prophecies, the Seven Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures are supplied as a library for later use.

The Harp Bible Study Course and the set of Seven Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures, cloth bound, gold stamped, $2.85 delivered.

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International Bible Students Association, Brooklyn, New York

Gentlemen: Please forward the Hasp Bible Study Course and the Seven Volumes of Studies in the Scbiptubes. Enclosed find $2.85.