OSHAWA, 0 TA 10 EPT MBE I "N .0093111,6, ALL NEWS IS GOOD THAT REVEALS THE HAND OF GOD riw GOOD AILEY0 The life boat in the foreground has been dropped from the airplane, and has every- thing needed by the men on the rubber raft. it, have inquired, 'Do you think Jesus will come again?' " This is an excellent testimony to the exactness of Christ's prophecy of Matthew 24, when He drew a parallel between His times and ours, and predicted that these times were signs of His imminent return. "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matthew 24:33. Returned service men from overseas re- port that there was one article of food they craved more than any other—fresh, cold milk. Authorities on food tell us: "Drink three glasses of milk a day if you are a grownup. Drink a quart if you are a growing child. It does not need to be taken as plain milk, for it can be used in cooking. But in these days it is vitally necessary to have milk in some form, when so many persons are finding it difficult to obtain a balanced diet. Milk helps supply the much-needed ribo- flavin." Russians have made progress in bringing the dead back to life, says a contempor- ary magazine article. They inject blood enriched with glucose and having a cal- culated amount of adrenalin in it. But the report hastens to say that these "dead" are only "clinically dead," in the accepted sense of the word. If they are beyond the help of medicine or surgery more than five minutes they cannot be brought back to life. However we may question whether they are actually dead or not, it is a gratifying advance in medical techni- que to be able to save the lives of victims who are within the limits of a five-minute margin. But we are made to marvel anew at the power of Christ to resurrect the dead just before and after the fu- neral, and His promise of resurrection after thousands of years. Lloyd C. Douglas, author of the popular novel on the life of Christ, "The Robe," says of his writing the book, "As I pro- ceeded with my task, it became increas- ingly apparent that the First Century was menaced by much the same problems as have set our whole world on fire to- day! We drew a map of the Roman Em- pire under old Tiberius and found that we had also drawn a map of Hitler's Europe! You couldn't dodge the facts that the world into which Jesus came was enduring the same slaveries, brutalities, aggressions that have made our hearts sick in our own time. We pasted the map in 'The Robe.' Many people, pondering Pessimistic and sober notes are being sounded by military and industrial lead- ers with regard to the security afforded by the San Francisco agreement. And many more groups will agree with their doubts about future peace, if they ex- pected great results from the conference in the first place. We didn't; and will therefore not be disappointed if there is a breakdown in the plans. The confer- ence revealed that nationalism is more pronounced than ever; and when not a single nation is willing to sacrifice any of its "sovereignty' for the sake of peace, and defines that sovereignty as the right to hold all it had before the war regard- less of the promises of the Atlantic Char- ter, nationalism becomes the rock that will wreck the security ship. We are happy that so far the United Na- tions have done better than we had ex- pected. A shrunken world is ours. Army planes are flying from New York to India and China in three days. Planes can fly to Moscow in the same time that trains can run from Winnipeg to Vancouver. No place on earth is more than sixty flying hours from any airport on earth. And of course communication anywhere is al- most instantaneous. God is using men to get ready for something. We venture that it is the heralding the good-will news of Christ's return to earth, to provide es- cape for the saved-by-grace, and to de- stroy those who fanatically refuse un- conditional surrender to His good-will. The Youth for Christ movement is sweep- ing the country. Surprising results are being obtained in rallying thousands of youth, on Saturday night of all nights, in large halls in the great cities, to give their hearts to Christ. Fifty thousand young people gathered in Soldier's Field, Chicago. Twenty thousand crowded Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. "Stream- lined religion" is presented to the masses of youth, and they respond amazingly, say reporters. The movement has been char- acterized by observers all the way from a genuine revival of religion to the latest racket in religious hysteria. We withhold comment till the agitation shows perman- ent results. But any movement that takes youth off the streets and away from questionable amusements on Saturday nights is to be commended, that far. • P,R.0:3c-O'nOn.0.G-n.0,t4n-O'n~n-O'R-Ont~11-~It..0•K-6m~n~,4m .6. -~a.G.60 .9w4n Vol. XXV � Editor, ROBERT BRUCE THURBER �Circulation Manager, C. M. CRAWFORD � SEPTEMBER, 1945 � No. 9 • Published monthly, except in the month of May, when two numbers are issued, by the Signs of the Times Publishing Association, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, Oshawa, Ontario, January, 1921. Subscription Rates: Single yearly subscription, $1.00; six months' trial sub- scription, 60 cents; single copy, 10 cents. • Change of Address: Please give both old and new addresses. Expiration: Unless renewed in advance, the magazine stops at the expiration date given on the wrapper. No magazines are sent except on paid subscriptions, so persons receiving the SIGNS OF THE TIMES without having subscribed may feel perfectly free to accept it. 2 � SIGNS OF THE TIMES A LEAF OF FULFILLED PROPHECY "THIS IS THAT WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET" Much of Europe is now a vast area of ruin and devastation, broken homes and broken lives. PEACE IN IT was a dramatic scene when the rep- resentatil, es of fifty nations affixed their signatures at San Franscisco to the new peace charter of a world weary of war. Although it was in a "Hollywood set- ting," the men who had spent many weeks carving out a unanimous declaration of universal concord were in deadly earn- est. The chief incentive was no doubt the disgust engendered by the glaring fact that war does not settle anything. Never before in history have so many nations, among them the strongest, agreed so completely to abandon war as a re- course for the settling of international disputes. If ever peace by agreement succeeds it must succeed from this time on. For the supreme effort has been crowned with super-success. Statesmen agree that if this grand scheme fails, civilization is doomed. Means of de- struction of life and property have been discovered and invented, and to some extent used, in this war which will wipe mankind off the globe if they are ever again let loose. Its makers have been the first to ad- mit that the security pact they have set up is far from perfect and war-proof. No signer got all he thought his nation ought to have to insure a feeling of safety from future war. Small nations SEPTEMBER, 1945 OUR TIME" were still left at the mercy of large na- tions. There is too much centralization of power. Many flaws may be pointed out. But it is the "best that can be done." The Big Three or the Big Five may qualify and modify and even eliminate some of the charter's provisions when they sit around the final peace table. Actual experience in carrying out its strictures may prove it impracticable or impossible of execution. And we might go on naming the dangers and pitfalls to which it will be subject. But withal it is a noble document, and worthy of all praise for the effort put forth in produc- ing it. Prime Minister Mackenzie King said of it as he signed his name, "To-day the nations represented here are united in the defense of freedom. The signatures their representatives have affixed to the charter is a pledge to the world that from now on they will remain united in the service of mankind. The Magna Carta of 1215 has been termed the keystone of English liberty. May the keystone of world liberty be found in the United Nations Charter of 1945." We add our acclaim to this achieve- ment of modern man to live in peace. Every peace movement has our whole- hearted support. We earnestly wish we could make our confidence equal our support. We cannot, however, believe that this pan-treaty will accomplish any- where near all its sponsors hope for it. For one thing, it makes an approach to a world state. President Truman, on his way home from the conference, stopped over in his native state, and is reported to have said in a speech that there was no reason why the nations of the world could not unite even as the states of the United States are united. But the states of the American Union are one integrated nation and govern- ment, with one head. Can fifty or more distinct and exceedingly varied nations cement such a union? 'There is no question but what a world state will be more and more idealized from now on, and realized if possible. For it promises a way to prevent war, and that is the dearest goal of the great- est and strongest nations, as well as of the weaker ones. But the prophetic Word of God says that any effort now to create a world state, even though the parts should be loosely united, is certain to be a failure. In the forecast found in the second chaper of Daniel, the prophet writes con- cerning the nations of our time, that some of them will be strong and some "broken." How vividly this has been fulfilled at San Francisco! A very defin- ite cleavage was there made between the stronger and weaker powers. And the seer likens the two classes to iron arid clay. He predicted that they would "mingle themselves with the seed of men" and try to "cleave one to another." How desperately they are trying to "cleave," the story of the San Francisco security conference tells. However, the dictum of Him who rules in the realms of men is that "they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay." We may take it that they will not come very near suc- ceeding in their efforts to unite, since clay is used in making moulds for shap- ing iron, for the simple reason that the two will not mix to the least degree. We are certain that the inspired seer conveys the thought that world union is doomed to failure as a means to world peace. Read Daniel 2: 36-45. Then God, true to His character as the Father of comfort and hope, makes a posi- tive declaration on what will bring peace in our time. For the prophet continues: "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for- 3 ever." This kingdom will be just as real and material as the nations which rule now and which it will displace. This is the way, God's way, that peace will come, not by nations uniting to make it, but by their being destroyed, as na- tions, because they cannot make it. And it is God's will that peace must be made, and that in the very near future. This is not complimentary to the strenuous efforts of world leaders to get together by compromise and sacrifice to force peace on the world. But it is definitely the divine method. And as we observe what will happen in the next few years, we will be more thoroughly convinced that God's way is the best and only way. The Toll of Suffering "THE most reliable estimates of battle casualties indicate a death toll of between nine and ten million men in the Euro- pean war. To these are added another nine or ten million men permanently dis- abled, besides millions more who suffered slighter wounds. . . . The civilian casu- alties include the millions who have suc- cumbed to disease and starvation or have been murdered in prison camps. They include, too, other millions who have survived but whose minds and bodies will continue to bear the marks of their long ordeal. . . . Britain's civilian casual- ties from enemy bombings and the robot and V-2 weapons number about 145,000. Of Poland's prewar population of 35,000,000, it is believed that nearly io,000,000 have perished." New York Times, May 6, 1945. To this add all the losses by death and wounds in the Asiatic wars; deaths by accident directly attributable to the war; deaths by the millions from epidemics brought on by the hardships caused by the war; and, not the least, the untold multitudes of grieving hearts over loved 4 ones lost. The size of the total is stagger- ing. And shall we not add the great grief in the heart of God and Christ and the Holy Spirit and the angels. The heavenly beings are capable of feeling much more deeply abolut all this than we are. Then why didn't God prevent it? He could have, but not without taking away man's freedom. And who wants Him to do that? Rather, let us ask, Why didn't men prevent it? They could have, if they had taken it in hand in time. God will second every endeavour of man to maintain peace. But even He cannot force peace; for peace is the antithesis of force. And if He cannot force peace, how can man do it? "0 that thou hadst hearkened to My command- ments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:18. It is the sin of every nation, not alone that of the "enemy" and the "aggressor," that makes war. Men are to blame; but, instead of blaming them, as men do God, the God of all comfort saves many from death, does eighty-five per cent of the healing of their wounds, and consoles the broken-hearted. What Knowledge Science WE take off our hats to the startling discoveries and accomplishments of scien- tists, especially as growing out of the necessities of war. But when we do we seem to expose our minds to confusion resulting from the inconsistencies of these same scientists. They stoutly maintain that they still believe in the theory of evolution, which is an explanation of the phenomenon of nature by infinitesmal changes and slow moves, so slow that millions of years are required to change a fin to a wing. Evolu- tion provides for no major catastrophes, no sudden developments. Hence there could not have been a world creation in six literal days, no universal deluge com- pleted in a year's time. Now our profound experts with the test-tube reveal that they are quite sure that they can "split the atom," whatever that may mean; and when they do so they will thereby destroy the world com- pletely and instantly. We are told that, given another six months, German sav- ants would have made this planet cease to exist. The Allies defeated Germany just in time to save the human race from extinction, for the scientists might have split the atom before they discovered how to control a split atom. The whole procedure gives us a split- ting headache when we allow ourselves to try thinking it through. We are ready to agree that this old world can and will be destroyed in a very short space of time, when God gets ready to destroy it as He says He will. But how does that accord with the evolution theory? For, according to that, the world has an excellent prob- ability of rocking on, much as it is now doing, for some millions of years vet. This must be the "oppositions of science falsely so called," against which the Word warns us. The word science derives from an or- iginal root meaning to know. Apart from the revelations of the Word, how much do scientists know? Public School Religion ACCORDING to which newspapers and magazines you read, religion is or is not a safe subject to be taught in the public schools. Public school officials in the Province of Ontario are firm in their decision that the Christian religion should be inculcated in the minds of provin- cially supported schools. And many well- meaning tax-payers are with them in this. In fact, the great majority seem to be highly in favour. So the text-books have been printed, the teachers trained, and the programme launched. We have examined some of the text- books for the primary grades, and find them quite innocuous as far as the aver- age child of Christian parents is con- cerned. But teachers cannot be controlled as can a printed text; and they are sure to add ideas of their own with doctrinal bent, and therefore objectionable to parents with opposite views. Whether they do or not, the chief objection to the teaching of religion in public schools is that there are many positively non-Chris- tian tax payers who are compelled to support the public schools; and they, a very large minority, should have some- thing to say as to how their money is anent and how their children are taught when it comes to such a delicate and criti- cal matter as religion. To say that this is a predominantly Christian nation, and that the majority rules, does not dispose of the problem at all. In religion, the majority should not rule to the flouting of the religious rights of the minority, however small. To do so is to cast to the winds all that history has learned at the cost of millions of martyred lives. SIGNS OF THE TIMES The housing shortage will be remedied. This prefabricated house was built in one day near Vancouver, B. C. Started at 9 a.m., and here shown after six hours work, it was finished at 6:30 p.m. The family moved in immediately. So, cheer up. OPTIMISM NOW By R. A. Hubley S IX years ago Canadians from the At- lantic to the Pacific were thrilled by the visit of their Majesties, our beloved King and Queen. That joyous event which filled the hearts of millions of loyal subjects with ecstasy took place on the verge of a series of calamities, horrors, and tragedies that have made those six years unparalleled in history—years in which this world has been mauled and torn by the wolves of war, which, with an insatiable thirst for blood and in fiendish fury, have sunk their fangs into the quiv ering flesh of stricken humanity. Under such conditions as these, is there any reason for optimism other than that of wishful thinking? Soap box orators are talking in glittering generalities, but Mars still plots to unleash his war-dogs in fresh attacks upon a world now well nigh bitten to death. Looking these facts squarely in the face, is there any justifi- able ground for true optimism? An affirm- ative answer is not ridiculous or out of place, for through the gloom of these days of "distress and perplexity" swiftly rushing us on to a mighty climax, shines the glory of the "blessed hope" when the "King of kings and Lord of lords" shall come in the most thrilling pageant ever witnessed. Following that divine event there will be no turning back to the gloomy regime of the grim war-god. His ▪ mailed fists will never again drip with the blood of the innocent, for the "Prince of Peace" will unseat the monster and dis- arm him forever. ▪ However black and unpromising the present, the optimist sees with the eye of faith beyond the most discouraging as- pect. When the bed of the river is bone- dry, and the entire landscape is seared until not a green sprout is visible, the roots of faith by which his soul is sus- tained, tap the hidden springs that flow from the hills of God, and under the most forbidding circumstances, "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Leban- on." Such is the status of the last Legion SEPTEMBER, 1945 of the Cross, which, with an all-conquer- ing faith will survive the fiercest blasts of these dark days, and emerge, triumph- ant, to behold the coming of the King in all His glory. Only he who is cleansed from sin "through the blood of the everlasting covenant", and is "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" according to the pledge of the Eternal in "the more sure word of propli- ecy,"can be a confirmed optimist in these days of peril when men's hearts are "fail- ing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." Sustained by faith in the immut- able Word of God, he knows that violence will continue until the appearing of Jesus, Who Himself said: "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man." Luke 17:26. Let us take a view of the days of Noah as divinely portrayed: "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil con- tinually." "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way." "The earth was filled with violence." Genesis 6:5, 12, 11. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false ac- cusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high- minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness. but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. In all sincerity we may ask that if such malignant sins prevail among those of this generation "having a form of godli- ness," to what source may we look for the prospects of a "New World Order" among the children of men? Professing godliness merely is in complete antithesis to pos- But there is a better reason for optimism than our victory in the European war. sessing godliness. Knowing about Christ may be very remote from actually know- ing Christ. History testifies that professed Christianity plunged this world into the "Dark Ages." Man has shown brutal ten- dencies under the guise of Christianity. • He who is not truly washed from his sins through the blood of Christ, will sooner or later reveal that under provocation he has blood in his eye. It is because of this that the "faithful and true Witness" has in love warned of the universal peril that would involve this world in global strife preceding His second coming. All the signs given by the pen of di- vine inspiration as evidence of the com- ing of our precious' Redeemer, have al- ready been fulfilled, or are in process of rapid fulfilment as this world reels and staggers under the impact of sin, just before its emancipation by the coming of the great Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Living in the fulfilment of these signs, the child of God echoes the prayer of the fisherman Seer of Patmos, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." We have all had thrilling experiences when the heart beat fast and the pulse throbbed more rapidly. But who can measure the ecstasy when God's children of all ages shall join in the heavenward trip in the mighty carrier plane of angels? Such huge proportions as that angelic plane will have, no human mind can conceive. Every legion of Immanuel from the dawn of history to the present day will share in that thrilling journey through the starry heavens to the throne of God. With unlimited power pulsing in every part, that mighty plane of angels will swiftly and silently effect the most stupendous emigration ever conceived. Then pain and parting will be no more. Under the illumination of God and of Christ and of all the holy angels, the glorified children of God shall bid farewell to trial and affliction. Then gloom will be exchanged for glory and immortal gladness. Death shall then have been swallowed up in victory. With radiant faces the children of God, so long buffeted by sin, will beam with the glory of immortality. Eyes so often bathed in tears shall then gaze upon the King in His beauty, as patriarchs, pro- phets, apostles, saints and martyrs shall unite with angels to ascribe "blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might. un- to our God for ever and ever." Such a faith will make you immune to pessimism, and make you adamant in your refusal to be a calamity howler. Buoyed by the blessed hope, sustained by faith in the "more sure word of pro- phecy," and resting implicitly in the un- failing promises of God, you will share with those of whom God speaks in Rev- elation 14:12: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Until that soon-coming day when hope shall change to glad fruition, every child of God will remain a confirmed optimist. 5 Who Made THE DEVIL? And if God Did, WHY? A Satisfactory Answer to an Age-Old Question V IEWING the destruction, devasta- tion and sacrifice of unnumbered in- nocent lives in this war, a mother poured forth from her grief-stricken heart, "Why did God make Satan? Why doesn't He destroy him?" The morning paper carried this head- line, "Youth Convicted on Murder Charge." Turning to the questioning mother I asked, "Why did this mother bring a murderer into the world?" Quick- ly she responded, "She didn't, she brought into the world a sweet, innocent child, and by his own choice he has become a murderer." To the many pondering this great quandary, "Why did God make Satan, and why doesn't He destroy him?" the little mother's reply gives a clue to the mystery. The being now known as "the dragon. that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan," was not always an adversary. Like man he was made upright. He was created a mighty angel, but, like man, he fell. And in his fall he dragged down a multitude of the heavenly host, referred to in Revelation 12:4 as "the third part of the stars of heaven." The immediate Creator of all things was the Son of God, called in John 1:1-3, 14 "the Word." "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made . . . And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." We also read in Hebrews 1:1, 2, "God. who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." These texts point out clearly that the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, were united in purpose in creating the world, and it was over this fact that the one who is now called Satan fell. Before he fell he was Lucifer, "son of the morn- ing", "day-star," or "light bearer." Under the figure of the wicked king of Tyrus, we have a vivid description of 6 By L. Warren Taylor this mighty angel described in Ezekiel 28:12-19. "Son of man, take up a lamen- tation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every pre- cious 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 in- iquity was found in thee. By the multi- tude 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, 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall de- vour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be aston- ished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." Similarly the prophet Isaiah depicts Satan as personified by the sinful mon- arch of Babylon. "How art thou fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morn- ing! how art thou cut down •to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also up- on the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." Isaiah 14:12-14. As a crowning act of creation God created Lucifer as a covering cherub, a choir master of the hosts of heaven. Be- cause of his great beauty, wisdom, and strength, his heart was lifted up in pride and he sought to establish himself above God. God bore long and patiently with Luci- fer, trying to show him the folly of re- bellion, but his revolt had separated him so far from the love of God that he re- fused to repent and return. The only course left for God was to cast Lucifer out of heaven. "And there was war in heaven: Michael (Christ) and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into 'the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:71. Thus the controversy that started in heaven was transferred to this earth, and here it is being waged with growing in- tensity, and will continue until the end, now not far distant. Fallen Lucifer's plan of self exalta- tion and dictatorial rule in heaven was frustrated, and, having been cast to this earth, there has been no retraction of his unholy desires. God had a definite purpose in making this world. Isaiah declares in chapter forty-five and verse eighteen, "Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it: He hath established it. He created it not in vain, He formed it to be in- habited: I am the Lord; and there is none else." Adam was given dominion over the earth, he was to be a king to rule the earth in righteousness. Into his peace- ful abode stalked Satan, bent on usurp- ing the authority given Adam, either attaching the first parents to himself or utterly destroying them. Since the fall of Adam and Eve under the deception of Satan, it has been his studied plan to subjugate the human race to his tyranni- cal despotism or to inhumanly destroy all who oppose his rule. SIGNS OF THE TIMES • Divine Inspiration pictures the devil as an angel of light, not as a hoofed, horned, and tailed imp of darkness. Thus he can better deceive the unwary. With artful subtlety Satan seeks to un- dermine man's faith in God. His crafty mind was seen at work in the first home in Eden. Clothed in the garb of a beautiful creature of God's creation, he sought to plant seeds of doubt in the minds of our first parents concerning God's truthfulness and love for them. When Adam and Eve "sold out" to Satan they were driven from the garden to en- dure hardship, suffering and death—the sure wages of servitude to Satan. Satan's enmity and evil designs against God's people are seen in his efforts to destroy Abel and Job because of their faithfulness to God. Under his tyrannical rule every evil is countenanced and every vestige of good must be erased. Christ came into this world to redeem man from this Satanic slavery, to break the bonds of sin and death. If Christ could only be overcome and tempted to sin, reasoned Satan, then the whole hu- man family will be lost to God. Arrayed as an angel of light, the Adversary met the Lord Jesus in open conflict. "And the devil, taking Him up into an high SEPTEMBER, 1945 mountain, shewed unto Him all the king- doms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee and the glory of them: . . . If Thou therefore wilt wor- ship me, all shall be Thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:5-8. In this striking experience there are two mighty truths revealed: 1. The Devil is not merely an impulse or an evil in- fluence, but is a real tangible personality, armed with superior intelligence and mil- lenniums of experience. 2. His studied effort is to deceive man into showing disrespect for and disobedience to the standard of Christ's righteousness. Artfully Satan plans deception so that the human race may be unmindful of his true character and purpose, and thus causes them to fall helplessly into his deadly snares. Let us consider some of his subtle machinations. God has established in His kingdom of love a standard of character. The life of Christ is the standard, and His char- acter is revealed in His law. In order that the human race might be happy and eventually enjoy the abiding presence of Christ, they must live in obedience to this standard. Death is the reward of dis- obedience. "The wages of sin is death." In the garden of Eden Satan said, "Thou shalt not surely die, for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof . . . ye shall be as gods." SStan testifies that there is no death, and that upon cast- ing off the yoke of obedience to God one reaches a higher plain of living and becomes happy and holy. To break this yoke of deception Christ came to this world. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might de- stroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8. Envy, strife, and hatred are the pro- ducts of the Satanic kingdom. When hatred filled the hearts of the Pharisees Christ said: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the be- ginning, and abode not in the truth, be- cause there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44. If man can be convinced there are no dangers nor pitfalls he then becomes an easy prey. The most deceived person in this world is the one that does not be- lieve there is a personal devil. That soul then becomes a helpless victim in the lair of that mighty foe. Artfully he hides away in the soul of man that unholy lust for power, au- thority, fame, and wealth, and when it breaks forth it reveals itself in tyrannical oppression of his fellow men, a subjuga- tion of all that is holy, just and good, and an exaltation of all that is debasing and soul destroying. Tactfully Satan seeks to stir up the unholy desires and leads one to commit some heinous crime, then he magnifies this sin as being so great that God can- not forgive. Then triumphantly he claims before God that this is one of his serv- ants and cannot be forgiven. This is revealed in the picture of Joshua ap- pearing before the Lord in filthy gar- ments as portrayed in Zechariah 3:1-5. The cross of Calvary spells the doom of Satan, for it was there that Christ wrested from his greedy grasp the world captivated by his deceptions. By living a life free from sin and becoming man's substitute, Christ has won back that which was rightfully His, and will de- stroy the great deceiver when he has finally revealed himself. The time has been set for his destruction; and, know- ing this, Satan is working with feverish haste to devour whom he may. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, be- cause he knoweth that he hath but a short time." "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Revelation 12:12; 1 Peter 5:8. In his final struggle against all that is good, every conceivable deception and cunningly devised snare will be used to lead men captive. It is not below his dignity to again appear as an ang2I of light or a champion of truth, if thus his ends may be accomplished. In the face of this constant counterattack Peter tells us to "be sober" and "be vigilant." We can keep in mind that he is a de- feated foe. The Champion of Truth is more mighty than the prince of darkness. "I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee. 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." Ezekiel 28:16. Here is depicted the final overthrow of Satan. He shall be burned and destroyed with fire. "When the thousand years are ex- pired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them." Revelation 2o:7-9. A last effort is made to overthrow the kingdom of God after it is established here on the earth. Like a maniac he rallies his mighty forces to the last battle. but falls a helpless victim to the con- suming• fire of God. The struggle is ended, the tyranny is broken. Peace and prosperity is the lot of those that have come through victoriously. The universe of God has learned its lesson. Never again will rebellion raise its ugly head to mar the tranquillity of God's universe. "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." Revela- tion 2 1 :4 Our attitude toward this mighty strug- gle between truth and error, the cham- pion we rally to, our faithfulness to God to-day, determine our eternal destiny, whether we fall with the foe or triumph with the victor. 7 The Part the Angels Have Played in the Crises of World History The angel of death passed over the homes with the blood on the doorposts. T HE Bible is a book of angels. From beginning to end, the sacred volume is radiant with the beneficient ministry of these white-clad beings from beyond the sky. As inspired penmen traced the truth on parchment or scroll, angels looked over their shoulders and viewed with delight the messages written. From the time of the burning bush, where Moses wrote Genesis, to rock-ribbed Pat- mos, where John wrote Revelation, they have guided the pen of the authors of Holy Writ. They are better acquainted with sacred history than are the most learned savants of earth, for with un- dimmed eyes they behold events and wonders entirely unseen and unknown to men. Unwearied as the swift-moving stars, pure as the wayside lily, and fresh as the morning dew, they visit the utmost bounds of God's universe. From the be- ginning of creation to the ending of re- demption, they are continually rolling back the mystic curtains of the sky, and coming and going on the shimmering wings of light. From their far distant home they come to lift the fallen, comfort the sorrowing, and to cheer the lonely and distressed. These clergymen of heaven, radiant with majestic beauty, caught from constant communion with God, are tire- less in their ministry of love. They bring pitchers of refreshments, drawn from the flowing rivers of Paradise, and pour life into countless wounded bosoms. The number of the bright spangled host is so great that earthly arithmetic is wholly lost in counting. The "angels round about the throne" are "ten thous- and, and thousands of thousands," "an innumerable company." A discouraged and frightened lad, in the days of Elisha, had his eyes divinely opened, and saw a lofty mountain full of angels and char- iots of fire, and was consoled. A word from the Master of men would bring "more than twelve legions" of these armed squadrons from the strongholds of the 8 sky, to the defense of their loved Come mander. When the earth came fresh and new from the hands of its Creator, it was beautiful beyond description. Angels, as well as the unfallen inhabitants of other worlds, viewed it with delight, and re- joiced at the wonderful works of God. Above the newly created world, as it lay like a lovely gem on the bosom of the universe, fair and unblemished by sin, under the smile of God, and bathed in the light of heaven, "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job 38:7. Angels sometimes war as well as woo, and blight as well as bless. In the far- away mystic battle of the sky, when Michael fought the dragon, angel fought angel, the good against the bad. It was the battle of .light against darkness, and the fate of God's great plan was at stake. With glittering swords bathed in the splendour of heaven, pointed with power, and keener than any Da- mascus steel or Toledo blade, Lucifer and his followers were utterly defeated, and driven forever over the towering battlements of heaven. When Adam and Eve fell in Eden, all heaven was filled with sorrow. There was no human way of escape for the un- happy pair, and they were doomed to misery and death. Angels ceased their songs, and laid aside their golden harps. There was bitter mourning at man's un- happy fate. But the angels were to be ministering spirits, sent from the silvery bowers above, down to this dark world, Angels announced the birth of Christ in bursts of song. to guard the subjects of God's grace from the power of the evil angels. When sin's door was opened, Eden's gate was closed. And sin could not be put out of Paradise without putting man out. Therefore Adam and Eve were banished from their fair Elysian home, never again to enter it in this life. Radiant cherubim, with flaming sword which turned every way, stood at the eastern gate of the lovely Paradise of God. Angels guarded the gate to keep sinful men out, but the pearly gates of heaven are guarded by angels to let sinless men in. With undimmed eyes and holy inter- est, these inmates of the skies watched the unfolding of events in the new-formed world. This "lesson book of the universe" was diligently studied. They saw the first infant ever born in the world, and watched the fond mother as she lovingly pressed him to her bosom, hoping that he might be the promised Seed. With unutterable grief they also saw this very child, Cain, now grown to manhood, slay his innocent brother one day while they two were alone in the open field. These heavenly messengers bear the saints up in their hands, lest they dash their feet against a stone. They watched over the babe in the basket among the bulrushes on the Nile, and guided Phar- aoh's daughter to the river's brink. They cursed Meroz for not helping against the mighty. The passover angel slew the first- born in every Egyptian home, upon whose doorposts the red streak was not seen. With drawn sword an angel halted Ba- lsam, the mad prophet, on his way to curse Israel. A single celestial being slew one hundred and eighty-five thousand of Sennacherib's men, thus bringing de- feat to a proud and mighty empire. Heavenly beings witnessed the un- wavering faith of Abraham, and the com- plete submission of Isaac on Mount Mor- iah. The sacrifice to be made there was not for the patriarch alone, nor was it solely for succeeding generations. It was for the instruction of all the sinless beings of heaven. Angels hovered over the lonely mount, with more than human interest. After witnessing the patriarch's supreme sacrifice, it was not so difficult for them to grasp the mystery of redeem- ing love, when God should give His only Son for a lost world. Angels can be as gentle as a summer breeze, or as severe as the wintry blast. They can hold the four winds back from blowing on the earth, and cast Satan into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. They can drive the untrained kine SIGNS OF THE TIMES El• of the Philistines over hill and vale, and bring the cart bearing the sacred ark safely back to Israel in the harvest fields of Beth-shemesh; and pull the linchpins of Pharaoh's chariots, and drown his mighty men in the Red Sea. They can roll back the heavy stone from the mouth of the sepulchre, and free the entombed Saviour; and cast wicked Babylon, like a mighty millstone, into the depths of the sea. They can fling around men a wall of fire that no devil can penetrate, and break the heavy shackles off imprisoned Peter. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that re- penteth," for they helped to bring him to repentance. To the angels a soul is priceless, because by and by he may wear a starry crown, wave a palm branch of victory, and sing a song of experience that even the angels can never learn. These etheral messengers, girt with gold- en wings, will winnow the air in every path where God bids us walk, and radiant ladders will rise above the pillows of every trusting saint. They are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." They speed on rapid wings to do God's will, and may be en- tertained unawares. They wrestled with Jacob on the banks of the far-away Jab- bok river, came to Joshua on the battle- field, ascended in flames from Gideon's sacrifice, found Elijah while he was asleep, and came to Cornelius while he was at prayer. A star of shining angels guided the wise men to the Babe in the lowly manger at Bethlehem. They took away a dream from Baby- lon's haughty king, and caused Pilate's wife to suffer "many things . . . in a dream because of" the Christ, whom her husband had unjustly failed to acquit. They have spoken aloud in the language of earth, and also whispered to a Jew- ish maiden of the promised Holy Child. They have trodden the dusty ways of men, and caused strains of heavenly melody to fill the air. They are mighty in power, rich in knowledge, countless in number, are nearest when most needed, and diffuse a holy calm into many troub- led hearts. They have talked with men in the temple, in dungeons, by the wayside, and in the open fields. They excel in strength, for manna is angels' food. (Psalm 78:25.) They have eaten of the humble fare of the poor, and scorned the banquets of sin. They have appeared on the lonely mounatin top, and on the SEPTEMBER, 1945 wet deck of the storm-beaten ship at sea. They have been with men in the crowded streets, in the highways, and by the threshing-floor of the Jebusite. They come with messages as pure as the dewdrop on the lily, or smite Herod with a terrible punishment from the Al- mighty. They bring health to God's men, or lay wasting pestilence upon the diso- bedient. They were sent to destroy impen- itent Sodom, and to rescue wavering Lot from the burning flames. They led wild beasts of the jungle into Noah's ark, and stopped the mouths of lions in Persia's royal cave. They whisper words of peace and pardon to the penitent, and caused the Roman guards to fall as dead men before the rent tomb of the Saviour. Angels were with Christ throughout His entire ministry on earth. At the begin- ning, an angel told the wondering J9- seph, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus." Over His birth in the manger the cel- estial choir sang a glory song out of the hymn books of the sky, bound in the black covers of the night. They minister- ed to Him in the wilderness of tempta- tion, and sustained His fainting form in lonely Gethsemane, while the bloody sweat stained His holy brow. Clothed in garments of light, they guarded His grave in the beautiful garden, were in the empty tomb, and when He departed from Olivet they told His disciples to watch for His return. When Jesus comes the second time in majesty, all heaven will be emptied of angels. All the radiant squadrons of the Almighty wing out from beyond the cur- tains of the unseen, and form a snow- A mighty angel called forth Jesus from the tomb. white cloud above their beloved Com- mander. For "the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him." Then "He shall send His angels An angel revealed future events to the prophets. with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." When the last trumpet sounds, and the voice of the Almighty cries, "Awake!" waiting angels make straight for the abode of the righteous and to the rent tombs of God's sleeping children. As the graves burst asunder, the guardian angels that have camped about the saints will be the first to grasp their hands and greet them in that glorious day. Then, with the living righteous, these holy ones are caught up, and wafted on feathery pin- ions to meet the Lord in the air. God grant that we may let angel hands lead us in God's path now, and their words explain life's mysteries by and by. The angels are swifter than the beams of the morning light; and may come clothed in vesture of lightning, or in the humble garb of the lowly. The prophet of Che- bar said that these "living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning." Gabriel came all the way from the glory land to old Babylon while Daniel offered a short prayer. An- gels can ride on the wings of the storm, and keep pace with the swiftest train or airplane. They have a key that fits every dungeon and dark- cell on earth. Their presence will strengthen us, their power protect us, and their influence lead us to the Saviour. These secret service mes- sengers who hover about us now, are as youthful as when they first conversed with Adam and Eve in the far-away garden of the Lord. The passing of untold ages of time brings no age to them. No waste destroys their strength, no effort saps their forces, and they are no nearer death than when created. Time leaves no ugly hoof-marks on the fair brow, nor gives stoop to the celestial body of the angels; and the oldest are as unimpaired as the youngest. They walk without tiring, run without fainting, and speed on tireless wings to divide man's cares and double his pleasures. Their presence makes the home brighter, the life sweeter, and brings our steps nearer the over yonder. So let us, like Jacob, hold fast the angel until he blesses us. 9 VICE MESSENAFRS By Charles G. Bellah T HE growing agitation in favour of some form of religious education in public schools, while indicative of a worthy interest in meeting the spiritual necessi- ties so appallingly absent in this too ma- terialistic age. is, nevertheless, a threat to religious liberty in the field of Chris- tian education. The fifth freedom of re- ligious liberty is freedom of education. All Christian parents should have the right to give their children a religious education conformable to their concept of truth, without any interference on the part of the state and without any sug- gestion that they subject their children to a synthetic religion which conforms Complications vital to the free way of life are involved and need to be clearly faced. Since all public school children are not of the same religious persuasion any system of compulsory religious edu- cation would not only prove inadequate to meet the needs of all concerned but would in effect nullify the basic principle of the public school system "whereby children of any faith may receive regu- lar in.truction" without being subjected to denominational discrimination. The tragic tell-tale spiritual anemia of the rising generation must of necessity be met by careful Christian education in the proper manner, under the proper cir- ported, supervised and administered pro- selytizing propaganda in favour of the majority group or federation? How could an instructor of religious educa- tion remain absolutely neutral amidst the maze of religious differences that gather together in a classroom? What would be the effect of the instructor's religious training upon immature minds? To ask these questions is to answer them. And the answers should provoke serious thought. (1) The problems of administration, in giving religious instruction in the pub- lic schools, would involve unfavourable pressure upon minority groups thereby FREEDOM EDUCATION use gee edae axe ,diary Ot eft de Pule & Seitade d By J. A. Buckwalter (Fourth in a Series on "The Five Freedoms of Religious Liberty") to church-state ideas of what should be taught their children. Proscribed re- ligious instruction not only presents tre- mendous difficulties but makes possible as an ultimate outcome certain terrifying possibilities of spiritual regimentation. Synthetic uniformity in religion has al- ways been a menace to spiritual progress. We are fully aware of the growing ur- gency of the need to nourish the spiritu- ally-dwarfed children of to-day, and are fully in harmony with all commendable and worthy motives of educators and others who realize that without the needed spiritual development our youth of to-day will be ill-prepared to become the leaders of to-morrow. But can the public school system impart for the good of all concerned this needed spirit- ual instruction and inspiration? Will the plan of proscribed religious educa- tion in public schools achieve these worthy ends? We' think not. All attempts and experiments of the past in this di- rection have been found wanting. In harmony with the admonition of the sacred word to "prove all things and hold fast that which is good" let us ex- amine some of the issues involved which are far-reaching and will greatly affect the future of our youth and our nation. It is abundantly clear that religious in- struction in the public schools cannot ac- commodate all religions on an equal basis. And any friction that would arise from the exercise of even a measure of com- pulsion through the medium of our edu- cational institutions would greatly dis- rupt the student's school life and social standing and would, as a consequence thereof, bring division and discrimination into both urban and rural community life. Free choice is an inevitable essen- tial to true Christian faith, and religious instruction to be effective and productive must be voluntary and not coercive. 10 cumstances and by the proper authorities in each instance. True Christian edu- cation is the highest possible training for life and its problems and therefore is the most important work of the home, the church and the church school. It does not, hOwever, follow that it is the re- sponsibility of the public school. While it is true that religious educa- tion in the public schools � an easy way to reach the children of our nation. churched and unchurched, Christian and unchristian, orthodox and unorthodox; we must not assume that the easy way is the best way or even a good way to at- tempt the solution of the problem. It is hard to understand the reasoning of a Provincial legislature that will pass an anti-discrimination measure at one sitting and provide a basis for religious discrimination in education at another. Where there are two or more divergent faiths represented by the children in at- tendance at a given school, by what au- thority does the public school's system become a judge of what is to be religious orthodoxy for the different faiths there represented? Has the teacher a right to discriminate between these beliefs or to belittle them in favour of a state-sup- ported synthetic religion? Has the state a right to provide a syllabus of religious instruction designed for all citizens ir- respective of their beliefs, and to alter that text-book of religion as the oc- casion may arise, or as increased pres- sure from majority groups may demand? Is the state to become the agent for the settlement of differences in religion? Can such a procedure result in anything else but the establishment of a form of state theology? Is such discrimination un- fair competition in the field of religious evangelism? Does it circumscribe indi- vidual faith? Is it wise to inaugurate what might well become a government sup- augmenting rather than bridging the di- visions and disunities of peoples of var- ious creeds. To instruct all children in the principles of any particular religious phil- osophy is to obstruct or check the teach- ings of other religious philosophies, which may be better or worse, but none the less conscientiously adhered to. The problem increases in proportion to the number of faiths represented. In such circumstances children of adherents to the minority philosophy would be to a greater or lesser extent subjected to os- tracism and ridicule. (2) Religious legislation in field of Education. The growing intolerance to- ward minorities is already so widespread that it would be exceedingly unfortun- ate should religious legislation in the field of education make of our public school system an instrument for the edu- cational ostracism of the unorthodox. Even though the Department of Educa- tion continues to grant freedom of ab- senteeism to those who do not conscien- tiously conform, how can it guarantee that no pressure whatsoever will be brought to bear upon the children to make them feel that they must be like the rest? Will not those who fail to con- form be exposed to social persecution as despised dissenters both unpopular and shunned, deserving, in the minds of their playmates and adults too, the epitaphs of "Queer," "peculiar," "fussy," "fool", "heretic," and whatever adjective may spring to the lips of their tormentors? The psychological, social, educational and religious reaction to such a system of religious conformity in the public school system of our land challenges the prin- ciples of our democracy and calls for serious thought. Legislation on the sub- ject of religious education is legislation in the field of religion. And all religious legislation is dangerous. SIGNS OF THE TIMES The responsibility for'the kind of education they receive lies primarily with the home and the church. (3) Explaining the Bible. Further to our problem. Very few children are suffi- ciently matured to understand without some guidance and explanation the main portions of the Bible. What explanation shall be given to the children of various faiths? Would the instructors adhere to a literal interpretation of the Bible or teach a modern form of gnosticism? Will the modernists or the fundamentalists profit from the instruction given? The Protestants or the Catholics? Just how much doctrine about the Bible and its truths is compatible with all faiths? Con- fronted with the differing teachings of various groups how could a public school teacher successfully weed out error from truth, speculation from revelation and traditions of men from the teachings of Christ? Would not the teacher in ques- tion be placed in a very "uncomfortable position?" The consensus of opinion at the On- tario Educational Association convention held in April of last year was that the proposed programme of religious educa- tion in the public schools would be im- practical in schools where classes con- tained pupils of many divergent religious views and convictions. . � � (4) Who's religion will be taught? It is foolish to answer either "nobody's" SEPTEMBER, 1945 or "everybody's" since neither answer would be true, for it is self-evident ,that if religion is to be taught some individuals or organizations are responsible for the outline of the instruction to be given. We, therefore, ask respectfully what re- ligion?—who's religion? The State's re- ligion? Or the Church's religion? Which Church? Obviously a state theology must be established through the co-operation of religious and secular authorities which constitutes an affiliation of church and state in an experiment in spiritual regi- mentation. Of necessity a synthetic re- ligion will develop to which all, it is doubtless expected, will in the end, more or less conform. This synthesis will na- turally be made up of certain cardinal spiritual teachings of the more power- ful and influential religious bodies. What churches or church federation would dominate this religious training? Certain- ly, to use an extreme illustration, it would not be fair to have the Seventh-day Ad- ventist religion taught there when many who are not in accord with their Bible tenets would have their children at- tending. Neither would it be fair to have purely Anglican, United Church or Ro- man Catholic views given the ascend- ency, nor even a combination of two of them, or three. Just what type of a syn- thetic religion would they teach? Bap- tists should not be taught sprinkling, nor Seventh-day Adventists Sunday ob- servance, nor Christadelphians the doc- trine of the inherent immortality of the soul. And what would the school do with the ten commandments when even some clergymen contend that they have been abrogated? If they are taught, will they be merely grouped with the laws of the nations of antiquity, or be given out as the will of the Eternal? Will they be taught as they are found in the Bible or as they are found in the Catholic cate- chism? But, it is argued by some, no doc- trine will be taught. Well, then, if there is to be no instruction in doctrine or truth to be learned, and only a code of ethics to be analyzed as a lesson in lit- erature, how then can it be religious education? Then let it be called a course in ethics and cease the attempt to make religious instruction a part of the public school system. (5) Religious instruction nullifies • the religious neutrality and purpose of the public schools. Public schools exist for the equal welfare and educational advan- tages of all students regardless of race or creed. Religious instruction has no place in the public school's system of a democracy regardless of whether it har- monizes, minimizes, accentuates or ob- literates much of the divergent views of the constituency which it serves. (6) Secularization of religion. Relig- ious instruction in public schools would further endanger a secularization of re- ligion, as a common subject of the secu- lar curriculum. Just another "R" added to the three of age-old standing which were discovered to be insufficient. For the religiously illiterate it is therefore proposed to add another "R" for Re- ligion. Any disagreement between the secular interpretation of religion and the concept of faith as propounded by parental direction would lead to added confusion and consequent contempt of religion. (7) Contrary to the Christian principle of the separation of church and state. The only safety for a democracy is to in- sist upon the separation of church and state. Every sincere Christian claims the divine right for himself and his children to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience. This right which they claim for themselves is a duty they owe to al lothers! You. dear reader, claim that right. I claim it. It thereby be- comes the duty of both of us to grant it to all others whatever our differences of opinion might be. Our fair land can enjoy the freedom of its soul just so long as it is united and agreed on this com- mon heritage of man. The only true basis for the mutual harmony and happi- ness in social life and relationships of those of divergent views is that of reli- gious liberty and separation of church and state. Religious education in pub- lic schools ignores the dictum of Christ relative to the separation of church and state. The laws of the land must pre- serve freedom of conscience to all and in a free country this freedom must continue to provide an educational system that maintains that freedom to all and grants 11 pf INTER-CHURCH ATTITUDES equal opportunities to all. This religious education cannot dol Because religious instruction in public schools necessarily establishes a state theology and in addi- tion requires the compulsory support of that state theology by taxing all classes of citizens. If the Protestant culture is dominant in the educational system can we wonder if the Roman Catholic com- munion should demand that her separate schools be maintained by state grants on the grounds that Protestantism is being inculcated in the state's public school system? Should the instruction given mer- it the blessings of the Roman Catholic Church, then what would be the reaction of Protestants to the inculcating of Ro- man Catholic philosophy of religion in our public schools? Surely it must be clear that the only safe position for the state to take toward Proposition: For one religious body to attack the beliefs of another is unfair, intolerant, and bigoted. Positive: Anything that would en- gender strife between or among religions is a shame to the name of religion. Re- ligion is supposed to hold up the very highest ideals of goodness in man, and surely the belittling of the most sacred beliefs of another is not one of them. Every religion has some good in it; so if a man lives up to his religion he will be safe for this world and the next. Every religion has some weaknesses, we will grant; but it is better for the denom- inations harbouring them to deal with them from the inside, and be free from outside criticism. The chief consideration is that each religious body, and each individual with- in that body, be sincere in belief ; and the great Judge will pardon all shortcomings as to doctrine. Doctrine and ritual mean very little anyway. The main thing is to be honest, give your neighbour a "square deal," and let him alone in his religious belief. Proselyting is out of place. "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." If a man wants to change his re- ligious belief of his own free will, well and good; but he should not be urged or influenced. His religion is best for him in his situation, even as mine is the best for me in my situation. Negative: It is wise to bring the broad, world-wide view, and the long, histori- cal perspective, to bear upon every prob- (BIBLE AUTHORITY IS TAKEN FOR all religious bodies is that of equal pro- tection for all, benevolent neutrality to- wards all, special favours toward none. Sectarian instruction or anti-sectarian instruction would involve the regimenta- tion of religious sentiment and jeopardize our democratic foundation of govern- ment. If religious instruction in the public schools is to result in a long-drawn-out controversy between conflicting factions; or the regimentation of religious thought under the control of an educational coal- ition of several religious bodies; or a compulsory, state-imposed synthetic re- ligion; it cannot but call forth the pro- test of all freedom-loving peoples who believe in and support an all-out freedom for all peoples everywhere, and particu- larly those within the confines of our own beloved land of liberty. lem of life. Doing that, we discover that these are the very arguments used by the heathen world against Christian missions. And to follow this reasoning is to do away with Christian missions al- together. Are its proponents ready for that? And if some are, what about the Master's commission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?" Mahatma Gandhi proposes, if the Hindus of India ever get political power, to expel every Christian missionary from the country, unless he agrees not to do anything to win Indians to Christ. Give us schools, hospitals, and industries, he says, but let us alone in our religion. True, no vitriolic and malicious attack should be made upon individuals of other religions or denominations, in the spirit of destructive criticism. But, if it is done with the object of search for truth and for the imparting of information, in the spirit of love, then the pointing out of error is quite another thing. A legitimate and universally recognized method of es- tablishing truth in the minds of men is to score untruth. The person who holds error is to be accorded the right to be- lieve as he chooses; but there is a solemn obligation on the part of those who are sure he is in error, to point out his error. Christ roundly denounced the evils and errors of the Jews and Gentiles of His time; and his apostles followed Him in this. It was a part of the build-up of Christianity. Good, in its very essence, attacks bad. This procedure may bring about strife, but it is not so intended by GRANTED IN THESE DEBATES.) the broad-minded attacker. Jesus recog- nized that it might cause contention, or worse, but this did not deter Him. And, recognizing the danger and inevitability of His message to men causing opposi- tion and discord, He said, "I came not to bring peace, but a sword." In a world of sin there was no other way. Every religious body has sprung from some other religious body; and it got its start, not alone by espousing and pro- claiming what it believed to be a new system of truth, but also by attacking the old system as unworthy of its ad- herence; and thus giving a valid reason for the desertion from the former, as well as for adhesion to the latter. To let a man alone in his erroneous belief is to go contrary to the principles of both Christianity and ethics. He should not be forced, but he should be informed and strongly urged to forsake his way. To say that there is some good in all religions, which is true, is not to imply that that which is not good in them should be believed in for the sake of the system. Correct the errors if possible; and if that cannot be done, then reject the system and join one that is more nearly right. Denominations in need of reform should reform; but if they will not, their adherents are duty bound before God to turn away from a semi-false system of belief. It was not the tree of the knowledge of evil that lead our forebears astray, but that of good and evil mixed. Are all religions equally good? We do not so read Christ and the apostles. There is only one door to the sheepfold. The path to the kingdom is narrow, and the gate is strait. There is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," and only one. There can be only one right way to heaven and the next world. It is everybody's busi- ness to find it; and the business of those who have found it is to tell others of the right road, and warn them against the wrong roads which lead away from it. To do this means to attack the evil with all the power at command. Ritual may mean little, but doctrine, belief, means everything. The way of salvation through Jesus Christ is a doctrine, and if one does not have it as his belief, he is lost. Also there are other essential doctrines, among them obe- dience to the Ten Commandments, faith in the second advent of Christ, assurance of a created and not an evolutionized world, hope in a resurrection yet future. It is not enough for a man to be sin- cere. Sincerity in believing a lie does not excuse one from the consequences. Every man is responsible before God for know- ing the truth as well as for believing it. And it takes asking, seeking, knocking, to know the truth. How glad is the one who has been in error, and now is in the truth, that he was "plucked as a brand from the burning" by someone who at- tacked his error in no uncertain terms! He is not intolerant and bigoted who is sure he is right. He is the intolerant bigot who refuses to consider and weigh other doctrines than his own, and who insists that all men should conform to his belief, regardless of their own hon- est convictions. 12 � SIGNS OF THE TIMES &xat TROUBLESOME FOURTH COMMANDMENT By H. F. De'ATH Troubled, shall we chisel the Fourth Commandment out of the Tables of God's Law? cc TT IS a good thing that the imperative I note in the Ten Commandments should be heard by communicants. I myself for that reason read the Decalogue at any rate once on Sunday." So writes an Anglican clergyman. Yet he complains that the wording of the fourth commandment spoils the effect. His first point is that the words, "Sab- bath Day," do not refer to Sunday. The very reason given for the observance of the Sabbath, viz., that the Lord made heaven and earth and everything else in six days and stopped working, on the seventh, he says, brings about "mental confusion." Of course it does. There is no consist- ency at all in trying to make the fourth commandment apply to the first day of the week. The seventh day is the Sab- bath of the Lord, and no amount of discussion can make the commandment apply to Sunday observance. The two have no connection whatever. "When is the church going to face the question," he asks, "and authorize some form of words which shall make it clear that the Lord's Day is to be consecrated, not by not doing something, but by doing something and that thing worship?" Now whatever "form of words" the church may authorize to urge Sunday observance upon the people, that will not make it the "Lord's Day." The Sab- bath of the Lord is the seventh day, ac- cording to the unalterable law of God. Nowhere in Scripture is the first day of the week called the "Lord's Day." This is purely an invention of the church, with no Scripture authority behind it. Another clerical correspondent points out that the 1928 Prayer-book gives a shortened form of the Commandments, which leaves out "the reference to the creation." It appears, therefore, that the church no longer endorses the reason given in the fourth commandment for the ob- servance of the Sabbath. "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Clearly, no church and no individual can sense the importance of the Sabbath who does not believe in the Scriptural reason for its observance. Sadly enough, SEPTEMBER. 1945 the church has elected to follow the so- called scientific theory of evolution, which holds that the world could not have been made in six twenty-four-hour days,. but has evolved through millions of years into what it is to-day. In other words, the church rejects the Bible account of a spontaneous creation of the universe by a divine fiat, in favour of a purely speculative theory of the or- igin of things; a theory that involves men in all sorts of irreconcilable com- plications, and therefore makes far greater demands on faith than the simple com- prehensive statement of Holy Writ. So we are told that "young communi- cants ought to have learned in their con- firmation classes that the Lord's Day has replaced the Sabbath; that works of necessity and mercy may be done on it, as our Saviour taught us; and that we are bohnd to 'keep it holy' by taking part in the Holy Eucharist, and the other services of the church, because it is prim- arily a day, not of rest, but of worship." Now these "young communicants" may be told that Sunday is the Lord's Day, and "has replaced the Sabbath," but they cannot consistently be taught that the change from Sabbath to Sunday ob- servance has behind it any other author- ity than that of the Roman Church. The Lord's Day and the Sabbath are identical terms, and apply to one day of the week One bright sunny day, I called on my neighbour and found her all upset be- cause of "the goings on in the school." She opined I had heard about it, but as a matter of fact, since I had no chil- dren of school age, and had been away for some time, I had heard nothing. So after we were settled in the porch swing, she told me about it. It seemed, some weeks ago as she was putting her little Mary to bed, the child said, "Mommie, I learned a little prayer at school to-day; may I say it to you?" Permission was given and the prayer re- peated. only—the seventh day—on which God Himself rested when His creative work was finished, and then blessed and hal- lowed that day for all time. (Genesis 2:1-3.) And as for the Saviour's teaching that works of necessity and mercy may be done on the so-called "Lord's Day," our correspondent completely overlooks the fact that Christ's teaching and example on this point were with reference not to the first day of the week, but to the ancient Sabbath, which is supposed to have been superseded by that day. In this Jesus was only confirming what had al- ways been recognized by God's ancient people in connection with Sabbath ob- servance. (Matthew 2: 1-13) So, however the church may regard Sunday, it is not the Sabbath of the Lord, and can never take the place of God's holy day of rest and worship en- joined by the fourth commandment In view of the "mental confusion" caused by the conflict between the church's teaching and practice and the clear statements of Holy Writ, the only consistent and right thing for men to do is to go back to the ancient Sabbath of the law, which has never been abrogated by any divine authority but is still God's everlasting memorial to the fact that all mankind belong to Him by right of creation and by right of redemption. "Really," my neighbour said, "it was a nice prayer, and I felt glad that we had a teacher religiously inclined who would teach the children to pray." "This was kept up for some weeks, with Mary repeating new prayers. Sometimes I wondered about it, but as I was busy, and my mind so full of other things, I gave little thought to the matter, until the night Mary rattled off a prayer to the virgin Mary, and said she knew "lots of them." "I could hardly believe my ears, I was so shocked; and when I questioned Mary as to where she learned that prayer, she 13 A CHALLENGE TO PARENTS By Martha E. Warner Pe*creoft We all admire perfection, but we seldom see it. We would like to see perfection in automobiles, in houses, in our pets, in music, and every field of endeavour. Did you ever see anyone striving for perfection of body? Very few people are willing to pay the price of perfect health. It is so easy to over-work, to neglect rest, to eat incorrectly, to continue bad habits of living. Then when health is gone we wish for perfect health. Rest Haven is operated to help you attain perfection in health. Here a combination of rest, diet, treatment, light exercise, right mental attitude and entertainment are used. Here many, under medical super- vision, strive for perfection in health. At your request complete literature of Rest Haven will be sent, and questions concerning your health answered. REST HAVEN HOSPITAL & SANITARIUM REST HAVEN DRIVE, SIDNEY, B.C. told me, 'In school.' She said the teaches wrote the prayers on the board, and the children learned them and then when Father X visited the school, which he did one day each week, they repeated the prayers to the Father." "Father X," I exclaimed, "why, he is the Catholic priest. You don't mean to tell me that he visits our public school." "Indeed, I do mean just that," my neighbour said, "but I doubt if he keeps it up, for I took the matter up with the other parents, and when they questioned their children, and learned their story was the same as my Mary's, we held an indignation meeting, and in a body de- scended upon the supervisor and laid the matter before him, demanding a new teacher. "It was hard for the supervisor to credit our story, but upon investigation he found it was true; and, to make a long story short, the old teacher has been replaced with a new one who is a Protest- tant. She takes over next week, and I can assure you that Father X will hereafter attend to his own schools and we will attend to ours." After the story was ended, I thought my neighbour had good reason to be up; set, even though the matter now seemed to be under control. But, on my way home, I kept thinking about the seeds which had been planted in the hearts of the children. I wondered if already they had started to grow, or would they lie dormant for years, perhaps, and then spring up and bear fruit. Time alone will tell, but it certainly is a challenge to parents to see that nothing like this ever happens again. A Happy Balance Recently I read of an incident relative to a two-and-one-half-year-old child who was eating his noon meal with his mother, and two guests who were strangers to him. The mother and her friends became engrossed in conversation, and no at- tention was paid to Bobby. Finally they heard a lusty cough. Looking up they saw Bobby pick up the pitcher of milk and carefully fill his glass without spill- ing a drop. This naturally brought smiles and words of admiration from the guests. Apparently his desire to be noticed was then satisfied; he ate the rest of his dinner contentedly. Children often develop a hunger for attention. I have a friend who, although she was managing a house as well as taking care of three daughters and a husband, decided she wanted to make a full-time contribution to the war effort. She reviewed her business training, and when the course was finished she ac- cepted a position with the government. Her youngest daughter, seven-year-old Marguerite, missed her very much. One evening as the family was sitting at the table and the conversation was proceeding along lines that challenged mature minds, Marguerite suddenly held up her hand, as the children do in school when they want attention, and said, "Daddy, let's talk about me!" ' This passed as an amusing childish de- sire to be in the limelight, but in a day or two Marguerite said confidentially to her mother, "Mommie, when you get home to-night, will you talk with me first, before you talk with anyone else?" And later, "Mommie, when you come home to-night will you ask me what I did all day at camp like you did last night?" "So then," the mother told me, "I understood. 'There is a hunger there,' I told my husband, as we discussed the problem. Because Virginia and Connie have more mature minds and are honour students at school, it's only natural to bring them to the front in our conversa- tions. And Marguerite has been feeling overlooked." "You're always so analytical. You look behind your children's actions," I told her. "Well, I think that's important!" she answered. "Ray and I decided to talk this thing over with the older girls. With their co-operation we're going to fill that need of our seven-year-old." 14 � SIGNS OF THE TIMES This is a need so elemental that all parents should watch for it and never permit it to get out of bounds. Chil- dren should be in charge of adults who like them, who devote time to listening to them, who help make a pretty definite routine for them. I am a volunteer assistant in a nursery school where there are a number whom the uninitiated might call problem chil- dren. Particularly difficult when I first entered the school were two boys who were almost continually doing something to attract attention. They were lads no- body seemed to want, the head of the school explained. The showing off, he told me, was caused by a desire to be noticed. After hearing this, I made it a point to discover something for which I could praise them, so as to bolster their de- flated egos and to help satisfy that hunger and need of being wanted and loved. Of course, we have to be careful not to overdo attention. One of the most important balances to be maintained is the balance between too much attention and too little. Each child requires in- dividual study, for each has lived in a different environment and developed different tendencies. Before we can safely attempt to help we must know not only the need but also the wisest way of filling it. National Kindergarten As- sociation, New York. T HE liver is the largest organ in the human body. The portal vein carries to it partially digested proteins, fats, and carbohydrates for their final disposal and assimilation. Proteins are broken down to their constituent amino acids, fats are metabolized, and carbohydrates (sugars) are stored for the purpose of maintaining a fairly constant blood level. Waste products are excreted in the urine. One of the by-products of this com- plex process is the bile, which is essen- tial for life, and is an important aid in • digestion itself (particularly in the pre- liminary digestive processes of fats). This bile is emptied by way of the common bile duct into the duodenum (the first • part of the small intestine). Part of the bile is concentrated and stored in the gall bladder. Should a person have gall storm (more likely to occur in one who is overweight) there is a distinct possibility of a small stone blocking the bile duct (temporar- ily at least) and causing a backing up in the blood of the bile pigment (Biliru- bin). In addition to the localized, excru- ciating pain, there are other disagreeable associated symptoms, including jaundice, itchiness of the skin, and mental dullness. There are occasional individuals who normally have a high blood level of bili- rubin. They suffer from intermittent or chronic jaundice. It has been through a study of these individuals that new light has been obtained on the function of the liver. These studies have only con• firmed what many have long suspected. In these individuals the jaundice was characteristically brought on or aggra- vated by fatigue, . nervousness, worry, premenstrual tension, migraine, dizziness and intoxication. It was also much worse after a bout with constipation or indiges- tion. Interestingly, anger made it more pronounced. This was reported by Drs. Comfort and Hoyne of Rochester in the Digest of Treatment, February, 1945. SEPTEMBER, 1945 Moderation in diet is one of the safeguards of a good liver. Dr. Paul Gyorky, of Cleveland, in the same publication, stressed the inclusion of an adequate amount of protein in the diet, and of the vitamin B complex group. He noted that alcoholics, who as a rule do not eat properly, are particu- larly susceptible to such severe liver dis- ease as cirrhosis, which in some cases rep- resents a more or less permanent damage. The liver is the great detoxifier of the body. In health, for instance, the liver is perfectly capable of handling fatigue poisons. However, should a person get exhausted, eat too large a quantity of an unaccustomed food, or too large a variety at one meal, or partake of such notoriously indigestible foods as pork, 'goose, shellfish and crab, then a protein incompletely digested likely gets into the circulation and causes such allergic dis- orders as hives and swelling of the lips and hands. Shapiro of New York University, re- porting in the Year Book of Medicine for 1944, states that salicylates (includ- ing aspirin) delay clotting time, an in- dication of liver damage. In this con- nection it is interesting to note that Dr. Davies, reporting in the British Medical Journal, stated that in England it was found upon investigation that 78% of the women and 72% of the men were tak- ing some self-prescribed patent medicine. Aspirin was used by 44.5% of the females and 21.5% of the males. Most persons taking aspirin frequently did so to ward off headaches rather than because of pres- ent symptoms. Dr. Sam Roberts of Kansas City was astonished to find among the patients coming to him for "sinus trouble" that fatigue was present to some degree in 87% and complete exhaustion in 50% of the cases. Most of his patients got less than seven hours sleep, many only four or five. Thirty-one percent took cathar- tics regularly, which he considered inter- fered with the assimilation of food. He particularly objected to the use of min- eral oil, which by the way is absorbed, contrary to former opinion. It winds up in the liver. where it remains to act as a foreign body. The body does not seem capable of transporting it further. Accordingly when the invalid with the slightly yellowish skin is accused of be- ing "liverish", and the person with the headache and associated nausea com- plains of being "billious"; both diagnoses are reasonably accurate, notwithstanding that some of the symptoms can be ex- plained on the basis of associated, de- ranged physiological processes. Adequate rest, freedom from worry and anxiety, moderation in diet, avoid- ance of drugs, even the mild stimulants (tea, coffee, spices, tobacco, alcohol), are essential for the best of health. You say, "How can one be free from worry and anxiety under present circumstances?" The answer is, "Trust in divine power." Picture Credits Cover, 11, Harold M. Lambert. Pages 2, 3 4, 5 Miller Services. Pages 15, 16, Public Information. 15 What to do when you are Veeeeacta19 By W. H. Roberts, M.D. *" " � It • sa °ft', 44-** The GOOD NEWS of HEALTH BY ELLEN GOULD WHITE When the gospel is received in its purity and power, it is a cure for the maladies that originated in sin. The Sun of Righteousness arises, "with healing in His wings." Not all that this world bestows can heal a broken heart, or implant peace of mind, or remove care, or banish disease. Fame, genius, talent, —all are powerless to gladden the sorrowful heart or to restore the wasted life. The life of God in the soul is man's only hope. The love which Christ diffuses through the whole being is a vitalizing power. Every vital part—the brain, the heart, the nerves— it touches with healing. By it the highest energies of the being are roused to activity. It frees the soul from the guilt and sorrow, the anxiety and care, that crush the life forces. With it come serenity and composure. It implants in the soul joy that nothing earthly can destroy,—joy in the Holy Spirit, —health-giving, life-giving joy. Our Saviour's words, "Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest," are a prescription for the healing of physical, mental, and spir- itual ills. Though many have brought suffering upon themselves by their own wrong-doing, He regards them with pity. In Him they may find help. He will do great things for those who trust in Him. Zr...d. h. -dlii.-AMIgna � Aft. ..1•1. � ANL ANL � -------------