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Views From The Watch Tower.
WELL has the
Prophet described our times, saying, "The great day of the Lord is near,
it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice [sound] of the day of the
Lord." (Zeph. 1:14.) He who cannot hear the
"voice" to-day is deaf indeed: "He that hath an ear let him
hear," saith the Lord. The "voice" of complaint for some time
back has been from the farmers, "the reapers," who just now are
temporarily pacified by large crops and good prices,--brought to them through
the adversity of their fellow creatures in famine-stricken India, and a shortage
elsewhere--a pacification which will probably not last more than another year
or two, except as war or famine or other calamities may be permitted of the
Lord to grant temporary respite.
But now the
"voice" of woe comes from another quarter: from the miners of
bituminous coal, who claim that they cannot possibly endure longer the strain
of competition, which, through idleness and in other ways, reduces their wages
sometimes as low as $3.00 per week. They have "struck," demanding
reform measures and better pay. To make their "strike" successful,
they claim it is necessary to induce all, or nearly all, miners to join them;
and to this end they have formed "marching bands" to endeavor
peaceably to induce miners still at work to join in the strike.
The coal-mine
owners have ordered the marchers off their property, as they of course have a
right to do; but in addition, by going before the courts and swearing that they
believe these "marching bands" intend injury to their property and to
the persons of their miners now employed they have induced the courts to issue Injunctions,
commanding the "marching bands" to disperse and not to march on the
roads within a certain radius of the mines. The strikers obeyed as respects
"bands," but in groups of two or three and singly they walked along
the highways and shouted to the miners at work to come out and join in the
strike for living wages. But the law of injunction seems to have deprived the
strikers from using even that liberty. It is not to be wondered at, that this
feature of Injunction is criticized as contrary to the spirit of liberty and
the Constitutional rights of the American people.
Nevertheless
the majority of the well-to-do and wealthy seem to view the matter in the same
light as do the courts, and to be willing to infringe the Constitutional rights
of the laborer for the preservation of peace. But it will be found that such a
peace is purchased at too high a cost. That the strikers have just cause for
striking is generally admitted and even by some of the operators; and that
generally they have conducted themselves with great moderation and patience is
also conceded.
The
groundwork for this moderation lay in the fact that they hoped to succeed by
virtue of the justice of their cause: but now when they find that the Courts of
Justice are prejudiced against them so as to deprive them, as criminals, of the
liberty of their own highways, in anticipation that they may become criminals,
can we wonder that their faith and hope for peaceable methods of redressing
their grievances are blighted? No indeed. Do they not claim with justice that
they have the right as freemen to assemble unarmed for the discussion of their
welfare, as truly as the mine-owners may meet at hotels or other rendezvous for
the discussion of their interests and to persuade each other pro or con?
Of course
there are occasions when Court injunctions are both proper and necessary, and
it may be difficult at times to decide where the line should be drawn; but
surely the wealthy and the Courts, if not blind to [R2216
: page 272] the true situation and deaf to "the voice of the day of
the Lord," would avoid utterly discouraging the lower classes by
destroying their confidence in the administration of justice: nothing else so
quickly breeds the spirit of anarchy.
Hearken to
the "Voice of the Day of the Lord" from St. Louis, sounding into the
ears of the civilized world through the daily Press:--
"St.
Louis, Aug. 31.--The conference of labor leaders of the country, which has been
in session here two days, finished its work this evening. The meeting was
productive of several sensational speeches and many resolutions. The platform
as presented by the committee reads in part as follows:--
"The fear
of the more watchful fathers of the republic has been justified. The judiciary
has become supreme. We witness a political phenomenon absolutely new in the
history of the world; a republic prostrate at the feet of judges appointed to
administer its laws. They acknowledge no superior on earth, and their despotic
deeds recall Milton's warning to his countrymen: 'Who bids a man rule over him
above law, may bid as well a savage beast.'
"Under
the cunning form of injunctions, courts have assumed to enact criminal laws,
and, after thus drawing to themselves the power of legislation, have repealed
the bill of rights, and for violation of those court made laws have denied the
accused the right of trial by jury.
"The
exercise of the commonest rights of freemen --the right of assembly, the right
of free speech, the right of traveling the public highway--have by legislation,
under the form of injunctions, been made a crime, and armed forces disperse as
mobs people daring in company to exercise these rights.
Having drawn
to themselves all the powers of the Federal Government until Congress and
Presidents may act only by judicial permission, the Federal Judges have begun
the subjugation of sovereign states, so that, unless a check is soon put upon
the progress of usurpation, in a short time no government but the absolute
despotism of federal judges will exist anywhere over any portion of American
soil.
"Whereas,
appeals to Congress and to the courts for relief are fruitless, since the
legislative, as well as the executive and judicial powers are under the control
of the capitalistic class, so that it has come to pass in this 'free country,'
that while cattle and swine have a right to the public highways, Americans, so
called freemen, have not.
"Whereas,
our capitalistic class, as is again shown in the present strike, is armed, and
has not only policemen, marshals, sheriffs and deputies, but also a regular
army and militia, in order to enforce government by injunction, suppressing
lawful assemblage, free speech and the right to the public highway; while, on
the other hand, the laboring men of the country are unarmed and defenceless,
contrary to the words and spirit of the Constitution of the United States;
therefore, be it
"Resolved,
That we hereby set apart Friday, the third day of September, 1897, as a 'Good
Friday' for the cause of suffering labor in America and contribute the earnings
of that day to the support of our struggling brothers, the miners, and appeal
to every union man and every friend of labor throughout the country;"
etc., etc., etc.
"Mr.
Debs was then called for and said:
"I
believe the gravity of the industrial situation in this country is well
understood. It is quite evident the delegates to this convention are cognizant
of the fact that civil liberty is dead in America. I have said and say
again,--For the last time, I have appealed to the courts for justice, and shall
appeal to them no more. The American Railway Union expended $45,000 to have the
question of civil rights tested in the supreme courts of the United States,
only to be told that we have no rights that capital is bound to respect. Shall
we appeal to the supreme courts again? No. We appeal to this convention and to
the country for an uprising of all the common people in every walk of life to
beat back the courts and reenthrone the rights of the American people.
"From
justice of the peace to justice of the supreme court of the United States, all
the judicial powers of the United States are directed against labor. All the
organized forces of society are against labor, and if labor expects to
emancipate itself, labor itself must do it.
"The
time has not quite come to incite the populace,' said Mr. Debs, shaking his
fist vehemently."
* * *
But will
"the voice of the day of the Lord," as it comes from various quarters
and swells into a mighty roar of the sea class (Luke 21:25)
be heard, and will it be heeded, and will relief be granted, and will the
threatened crash and the wreck of present institutions be avoided? No; God's
Word shows us that it will not be averted;--so strong is the power of
selfishness in the world that it blinds those who should see, if only in
self-interest. But we leave this subject for
MILLENNIAL
DAWN, VOL. IV.--"THE DAY OF VENGEANCE,"
which we
expect to commence mailing Oct. 1, next,-- as and for the October and November
issues of this journal.
INTERDENOMINATIONALISM VS. UNDENOMINATIONALISM.
----------
We have
pointed out from time to time that the Christian Endeavor movement is too
liberal to be tolerated by sectarians; and that having no common basis of faith,
and proposing to ignore doctrines, the Society would be at a loss as to any
definite object and be apt to drift into Moralism, Christian-politics, etc. The
following quotations show that three Presbyterian journals are waking up to the
fact that Christian Endeavorers will soon reach the place where they cannot be [R2217 : page 272] depended upon as sectarians,
whatever they may gain or lose as Christians.
The Editor of
the Michigan Presbyterian says:--
"For two
weeks we have been hesitating to say just what we felt, because of love for the
Christian Endeavor work and for our brethren: but we are ready now to confess
what has been for years slowly taking shape in our mind, that we honestly
believe that it would have been far better for the Presbyterian Church, [R2217 : page 273] and especially for our young
people, if twelve years ago we had put the same amount of energy into
organizing Westminster Leagues as we did into organizing the Young People's
Society of Christian Endeavor. In short, we believe that our Westminster League
brethren have been right during all these years of controversy. The reasons for
this opinion are so many and so fundamental that it would take half a dozen
articles even to state them, and half a dozen more to meet the arguments on the
other side, many of them being arguments which we have honestly made ourselves,
in synods and presbyteries. Nor is there any practical use in dwelling upon
them, for it is now too late to make the radical change that could have been
made successfully ten years ago."
The Editor of
The Presbyterian, commenting on the foregoing, adds:--
"But
whatever opinion one has upon the points raised, there is a fact brought out by
our Michigan contemporary which is worthy of special consideration, and which
shows the existence of elements of conflict and disintegration, which will
sooner or later assert themselves. Dr. Clark has insisted upon its being
interdenominational, and he has done his best to make it so. But look at the
facts: What denominations come next in numbers to our own in Christian Endeavor
work? The Congregationalist and the Campbellist. Congregationalism is more and
more standing for union work, making its plea on that basis, and making its
doors wide to all kinds of religious ideas, in a loosely confederated sort of
way. Campbellism, through its leading organ, the Christian Standard, declares
that as far as that body of believers is concerned, they reject utterly Dr.
Clark's interdenominational ideas, and they are in the Christian Endeavor work
to abolish denominationalism altogether. They make no secret of their mission
to substitute for interdenominationalism undenominationalism."
The
Presbyterian Banner prints a comment on the matter, saying:--
"We do
not forget that Dr. Clark and Mr. Baer, editors of the Golden Rule, who hold
the reins of control [over Christian Endeavorers], have made much show of
denominational loyalty on the part of church societies, subordinate, however,
to supreme loyalty to the organization. This strategic movement was made by
them after charges had been brought, that the whole tendency of Christian
Endeavor was in the direction of church union, or more properly, independent
churches."
The Editor of
the Banner assents, saying:--
"That
there has been a marked change in the views of many ministers and elders and a
large number of members of the Presbyterian denomination since the last meeting
of the General Assembly at Saratoga cannot be doubted by any one familiar with
the trend of opinion in the church. What ought to be done, or what can be done
in the circumstances, we do not pretend to know at present....We agree with the
Michigan Presbyterian that 'there is a great deal that we can do. We can make
continually more of our own history, doctrines and plan of work, and
continually less of the undenominational character of this work.'"
THE DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS.
----------
At the
unveiling of the equestrian statue of Emperor William I. at Coblentz, the
present Emperor of Germany, in proposing a toast, made the following pointed
statement of his conception of his office:--
"My
grandfather went forth from Coblentz to mount the throne as the chosen
instrument of the Lord, and as such he regarded himself. For all of us, more
especially for us princes, he raised the throne once more on high, crowning it
with the bright rays of the treasure which may we ever preserve in its
sublimity and holiness. I mean the kingdom, by the grace of God, the kingdom
with its heavy duties, its never ending, ever enduring toils and labors, with
its awful responsibility to the Creator alone, from which no man, no minister,
no house of parliament, no people can release the prince. For me it will be a
sacred duty, following in the ways which the great ruler has shown us and in
solicitude for my country to hold my protecting hand over this splendid
jewel."
It is well
that all persons in and out of public office should recognize every influence
and opportunity as a stewardship from God; but it is very peculiar that the
king of Prussia having acquired imperial authority over the other German states
with and by their consent to be so governed, should now recognize his
accountability as to the Creator alone. He, like all other men, owes fealty to
God in all his acts: but his office came from the people and should be esteemed
amenable to the people who gave it. His views are part of the leaven dispensed
by Papacy, at the bottom of much of the world's superstition; which in this
particular has done good as well as harm. By and by we shall have the true King
and the reign of righteousness, whose only object will not be to fight for the
maintenance of a throne,-- but to "bless all the families of the
earth."
"ZIONISM" ADVOCATED AND DEFENDED.
----------
The Jewish
Conference respecting Zionism met at Basel, Switzerland, on August 30th as
proposed;--to discuss the feasibility and advisability of Dr. Herzl's scheme
for securing Palestine as a national home for the Jewish race, and assisting
the poor and persecuted to return to the land of their fathers and to
prosperity. The cable announces merely the fact that the Conference
enthusiastically endorsed Dr. Herzl's suggestions, and sent to the Sultan of
Turkey a telegram congratulating him upon the peace and prosperity of their
race throughout his dominions. Hebrew was the language of the Convention: a
very noteworthy indication.
Thus
gradually, but surely, prophecy is fulfilling along this line also; keeping
pace exactly with the developments along other lines--civil and religious--all
rapidly approaching their foretold climaxes. Praise God! [R2217
: page 274]
Mr. Max
Nordau, a Hebrew and a noted writer, expressed himself recently with great
freedom in favor of the Zionist program and in opposition to those Jews who are
opposing it. He suggests that "rabbis and idiots" who now raise
against the movement a "senseless outcry" may some day rejoice at the
success of Zionism, because of the refuge it will afford "from the
Antisemitic storm gathering over their heads." (Antisemitism signifies
opposition to the descendents of Shem; it includes all the races of
Southwestern Asia-- Assyrians, Arabs, Abyssinians, Hebrews, etc., but it is
here and most frequently used to signify opposition to Hebrews, the Jews.) Proceeding,
Dr. Nordau said:--
"Zionism
has been called into existence by the steady growth and encroachments of
Antisemitism in its various forms--official Antisemitism in Russia, popular
Antisemitism in Germany and Austria. Being a German myself I can only speak for
my own country. There, I have no hesitation in saying, the Jew is not only not
beloved, but he is positively hated and feared; and this aversion extends to
all people having the faintest trace of Jewish blood in their veins.
"The
Antisemitic propaganda has turned people mad in Germany and Austria, and there
seems to be no prospect of a change for the better. Altho no one can accuse me
certainly of being a parasite or a money-grabber --every penny I have earned
has been the result of hard and conscientious labor--my mail is often weighed
down with insulting anonymous letters from the other side of the
Rhine....Seeing that this anti-Jewish feeling is pretty well universal, or
rapidly becoming so, why should the Jew himself, we ask, be satisfied to continue
living in a hostile camp? Why should he be reduced to effacing his
nationality?...
"The
Jew, figuratively speaking, is constantly holding his hand in front of his nose
to hide its peculiar aquilinity, which peculiarity, by the way, he shares with
the all-conquering Romans of old. Why be ashamed of our natural and, above all,
national characteristics? No, let us develop them on the contrary, form them in
the right molds. Let us be true to ourselves, to our traditions, to the genius
of our race. Then, indeed, will great things come out of this disordered mass. Israel
will be herself again. This is the true essence of Zionism!...The gentle rabbis
in Germany and the United States who have been pooh-poohing our efforts may not
be aware that at this moment hundreds of thousands of their coreligionists are
living in the most awful squalor and misery conceivable within the confines of
the Jewish pale of Russia or among the wild Kurdish tribes of Asia Minor."
* * *
Thus, the
Jews themselves being the witnesses, God is forcing them back to the Promised
Land for which many of them had lost all hope and all love.
Whether
Palestine will be opened to the Jew by money, as they now propose, or whether
it will be opened by war, we cannot say; but far more than the Zionists hope
for will be attained by A.D. 1915. To permit all that God has promised that is
due before that time, would demand that they be admitted to Palestine under the
domination of some other Power or Powers very shortly. [R2218
: page 274]
Brother Kirkham
tells us that when in Europe recently he was brought in contact with certain
Jewish bankers to explain some inventions in tile making; and that incidentally
he found an opportunity to explain God's plan of the ages, mentioning also that
the due time had come for the restoration of divine favor to Israel. To his
surprise his hearers manifested deep interest and said that what he had said
was in many respects closely in harmony with their own views. They then
voluntarily sent with him an escort and showed him at a private marble yard,
kept secret from the general public, columns of very fine marble in
preparation, they said, to form parts of a grand temple to be built at
Jerusalem. The parts are being gotten ready according to draughted plans, and
each stone is lettered and numbered to indicate the place for which it is
intended.
THE DIVISION OF TURKEY ARRANGED.
----------
It is now
pretty generally agreed that Austria and Russia have reached an agreement
respecting the division of Turkey when it shall be judged that the opportune
moment has arrived. Austria is to have Salonica and all the territory west of
it, while Russia is to have Constantinople and a good share of the territory
surrounding it and northward. But it is not intended to force a war; merely the
arrangement is made so that in the event of another war with Turkey each nation
will know the portions to seize. It is said that Germany is very anxious to
secure Syria, including Palestine, on the same terms; but that the other Powers
would permit this is very doubtful, as they all covet Palestine.
Our chief
interest in the Turkish question is the opening of Palestine to the returning
Israelites: if it, or even liberty of settlement therein, be conveyed to the
Jews for money, we shall feel comparatively little further interest in Turkey.
THE LAMBETH CONFERENCE.
----------
The third
Conference at Lambeth, near to London, has just been held, bishops of the
Church of England being present "from divers parts of the earth." These
Conferences have done much to instil and foster the idea of Protestant
Federation, and meantime are endeavoring to hold together the Episcopal Church,
doctrinally. To this end previous Conferences have advocated the appointment of
a Primate, or Head Bishop, still higher than the Archbishop of
Canterbury,--practically a pope, without claims for his infallibility.
A large
conservative element has thus far hindered this proposal; and the friends of
the measure, abandoning hope along that line, have at this Conference secured [R2218 : page 275] the appointment of a "Central
Consultative Committee" to assist and give advice on all theological
points in controversy, with a view to holding in some kind of harmony the
various branches of the Episcopal Church in various climes, on doctrinal
subjects, which the present day awakening of thought makes very difficult.
The Committee
was agreed to, and is to be appointed by the chief minister of that church--the
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, of whose installation in office we not long
since gave an account, pointing out also that he is a Higher Criticism
unbeliever and an avowed Evolutionist, which signifies that he denies the
ransom, and is not in any sense a real Christian according to the New Testament
standard. That he will appoint upon this committee such as are disbelievers in
the Scriptures and in the ransom, like himself, goes without saying; and we may
accordingly judge of the lines of error along which they will seek to harmonize
the theological differences in the Church of England.
----------
HEAR THOU MY PRAYER.
----------
O Lord that
pitiest all, hear thou my prayer:--
For gold I ask not, nor for transient wealth,
Nor e'en for richer gifts, nor power, nor health,
But only this--to nestle in thy care,
To rest
supreme in thee, and feel that there
No harm can come that thou hast not foreseen.
To trust alway, and on thy strength to lean,
To feel thy guiding hand mid every snare.
I ask that
strength that comes alone from thee,
To falter not, nor any trials shun;
And eyes of faith mid deepening gloom to see
My duty's path, and thus my course to run.
Beyond these
years I look to that bright home.
Help thou my wavering step, O Lord, I come.
--Paul R.
Wright.
W.T. R-2216 a :
page 271 – 1897 r.