VOL. VII
SEPTEMBER, 1916
No. 9
The King's Business
“ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”—Rev. 1:5
ONE D O L L A R A YEAR
©It? SCittgs Ittateaa MOTTO: " I the Lord do keep It, I will water it every moment test any hurt it, I will keep it night and day."—Isa. 27:3. R. A. TORREY, D. D„ Editor T.C. HORTON, J.H . HUNTER, WILLIAM EVANS, O. D„ Associate Editor* A. M. ROW, Managing Editor Published by the BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, Inc. Los Angeles, California, U. S. A. Entered -as Second-Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles, Cal., _ . under the Act of March 3, 1879. Copyright by R. A. Torrey, D. D., and Bible Institute of Los Angeles, ......... for the year 1916. ........ -................ .. --
DIRECTORS
Lyman Stewart, president. William Thorn, secretary* - T. C. Horton, superintendent, E. A . K. Hackett. H. A . Getz.
R. A .-Torrey, vice-president - Leon V . Shaw, treasurer.- - William Evans. Giles Kellogg.
J. M. Irvine.
Nathan Newby
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT W e hold to the Historic Faith of the Church asi expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including: The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ.
The Maintenance of Good Works. The Second Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Spirit. The Resurrection of the Body. The Life Everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Im penitent. The Reality and Personality of Satan. (7 ) Bible Women. House-to-house visitation and neighborhood classes. (8 ) Oil Fields. A mission to men on the oil fields. (9 ) Books and Tracts. Sale and dis tribution of selected books and tracts. ( 10 ) Harbor Work. For seamen at Los Angeles harbor. ( 11 ) Yokefellows’ Hall. Thoroughly manned.' Our Mission for men with Street Meetings, and Bootblacks and Newsboys Sunday School. ( 12 ) ; Print Shop. For printing Testa ments, books, tracts, etc. A complete establishment, profits going to free dis tribution of religious literature.
The Personality of the Holy Ghost. The Supernatural and Plenary au thority of the Holy Scriptures. The Unity in Diversity ¡of the Church, the Body and Bride of Christ. The Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth. P u m o s e ' The Institute trains, free ^ * of cost, accredited men and women, in the knowledge and use of the Bible. Departments: clLsishM^nOy except on Saturdays and Sundays. (2 ) Extension work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3 ) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by our evangelists. (4 ) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night. (5 ) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories. (6 ) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work among the Hebrews.
SCOPE OF THE WORK
THE KING’S BUSINESS VoLVII. SEPTEMBER, 1916 No. 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial: The Present Political Campaign— Jitney Patriot ism— Business Success and Solid Character— Stick to Your Proper Business— Praying and Killing— Has the World-Wide Revival Come?..................................... 771 A Surrendered Life the Price of Power. By Rev. Campbell Coyle, D. D................ ............................ ^........................ 775 An Oriental Night School in America. By Sarah Van Wagener ................ 780 International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia........................... 783 Light on Puzzling Passages and Problems................ .............. 786 Bible Institute Activities. By the Superintendents................. 788 Experiences in China. By Albert Johnson........ .................... 794 Neglect and Abuse of the Lord’s Day. By Dr. R. A. Torrey 795 At Home and Abroad.............. ................................................. 799 Homiletical Helps. By William Evans, D. D.......................... 803 Great Revivals and Evangelists— V. William C. Burns (Concluded). By John H. Hunter................................. 807 Through the Bible with Dr. Evans.......................................... 81 3 International Sunday School Lessons. By R. A. Torrey and T. C. Horton......................... ...... .............wf.,7.................. 820 Daily Devotional Studies in the New Testament for Indi vidual Meditation and Family Worship. By R. A. Torrey ......................................... ....................................... 833
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE In the United States and its Possessions, Mexico, Canada and points in the Central American Postal Union, $1 per year. In all other foreign countries, $1.24 (5s. ,2d .). Single copies, 10 cents. Receipts sent on request. See date on address tag.
PUBLISHED BY THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 536-558 SOUTH HOPE STREET LOS ANGELES, CAL.
æ
83
Published by the Bible Institute of Los Angeles For Help in All Religious Work and Experience
DR. R. A. TORREY, Editor DR. WILLIAM EVANS, J. H. HUNTER, T. C. HORTON, Associate Editors A. M. ROW, Managing Editor
Every Reader an Agent Send FOUR NEW SUBSCRIBERS, accompanied by the cash, and receive the magazine free to your own address THIS OFFER GOOD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30th, 1916
\ \T E APPEAL to every reader interested in the ^ ^ cause of Christ, to exert yourself to extend the circulation of THE KING’S BUSINESS. You may have done so already, and for such service you have our sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks, but we urge you to further efforts.
See Rates on Front Page
Also kindly send us the names of persons who may possibly become subscribers if a sample copy is sent them, and we will promptly comply with your request. Make all drafts and money orders pay able to THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES and NOT to any individual.
Address all communications to BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES
SIXTH AND HOPE STREETS
LOS ANGELES, CAL., U. S. A.
I l THE KING'S BUSINESS
® r Il Voi 7 0 =
No. 9
SEPTEMBER, 1916.
E D I T O R I A L God has certainly been good to America in the present political campaign. He so shaped things in His provi- dence that both of the leading parties were compelled to put forward as their candidates men who represent
The Present
Political Campaign.
the very best traditions of the parties to which they belong. However much any of us may have differed from the policies pursued by President Wilson, all must admit that whatever mistakes he has made he has been governed by as high principles as have ever governed a chief executive in his policies; and Justice Hughes, the candidate of the Republican party, has made a record in the offices that he has filled that has been very seldom equalled. Both oi these men are pronounced Christian men. Both of them are sons of ministers of the gospel. Whatever way the election may go we are assured of having a true Christian man in the presidency for the next four years.
On Flag Day, the 14th of June, sixty thousand men and women of all classes of society from day laborers to bankers, lawyers and preachers, paraded the streets o f Los Angeles in what was styled a “ Preparedness
Jitney
Patriotism.
Parade.” One of the leading evening papers came out with display headings going across the entire first page, in the largest possible type, “ 300,000 people applaud 60,000 patriots as they parade.” Further on the newspaper said that “ every one of those that paraded displayed the spirit of 1776.” They spoke of it as a demonstration of the ardent patriotism of the people^ of our land, but to many it appeared like a very cheap form of patriotism in which self-adver tising was substituted for self-sacrifice. There was no end of enthusiasm and applause. Within a week it seemed as if war with Mexico was imminent and a call was made for volunteers. The same paper that lauded to the skies the patriotism of the people that paraded, came out with a statement that there were only about twenty enlistments a day, and in a series of days there were only 150 in all. There is a great need of patriotism today, but it is real patriot ism that is needed, not merely cheers for war and boastfulness as to our ability to lick any other nation, but a readiness to make sacrifices for the highest wel fare of our land and people. The true glory of our land will not be found in an enormous army or navy, but in justice and love for men of every nation. While war sometimes may be necessary for self defense in the present deplor able conditions of international life, a war o f aggression or a war merely to promote national pride, is' one of the most vicious and damnable things of which the human mind can conceive. God hasten the day when the nations of the earth shall learn war no more, but that day will not come until the Prince of Peace comes and Himself take's the reins of government.
772
THE KING’S BUSINESS One o f the most interesting autobiographies that has
Business Success appeared of late is that of Charles Francis Adams, and Solid Character, cohering a period from 1835 to 1915. While one may differ widely from many of the things said, in conclu sions drawn, many of the opinions are certainly full of suggestiveness, but one of the most striking and suggestive is found in the following words: “ As I approach the end, I am more than a little puzzled to account for the instances I have seen of business success—money-getting. It comes from a rather low instinct. Certainly, so far as my observation goes, it is rarely met with in com bination with the finer or more interesting traits of character. I have known, and known tolerably well, a good many ‘successful’ men— ‘big’ financially— men famous during the last half century; and a less interesting crowd I do not care to encounter. Not one that I have ever known would I care to meet again, either in this world or the next; nor is one of them associated in my mind with the idea of humor, thought, or refinement. A set of mere money-getters and tracers, they were essentially unattractive and uninteresting.” of God, he gets on his back and rides him to death with engagements.” Many a promising minister is robbed of his largest usefulness in this way. If a min ister of the gospel attains to any celebrity in his work he is immediately over- whelpied with invitations to all kinds of conventions and to membership in all kinds of philanthropic and educational societies. Many and many a promising young man has made a complete failure in his true work because he has not had the wisdom and courage to say “ no” to the major part of these invitations. The pastor’s first duty is to his own church and his own people. If he makes full proof of his ministry” he will not have much time for outside work. He may be allured by fields o f larger and broader usefulness, but the man who sticks to his own proper busjness and faithfully works the field that God has assigned to him is the man who will accomplish the most of permanent value in the long run. Early in the writer’s experience as a minister o f the gospel he found himself loaded up with societies and committees in which he was an officer. He was president of the Associated Charities of his city, vice-president of the News Boys’ Home, chairman of the finance and printing committee of the State Association, chairman of the executive committee of the Congrega tional Club. There were three other offices that he occupied. Sitting one day in his study looking at the various pigeon holes in which the papers connected with various societies were arranged, he was confronted with the question, “ To What work did God call you?” The answer was immediate, “ To preach the gospel.” And he wrote out seven resignations and gave himself up to the work of preaching and teaching the Word of God. From that day until this he has never regretted the decision. All these various lines o f work were^good, but they were not the best. It is hoped that these words will be of help to some young brother who is now confronted With the temptations that then confronted him. Stick to Your Proper Business. One of our exchanges quotes the late William M. Tay lor, D. D., of the Broadway Tabernacle, New York, as saying to Dr. James Stalker: “ As soon as the devil 5 sees a young minister likely to be of use in the kingdom
THE KING’ S BUSINESS 773 A writer in the New York Tribune describes an under- ground chapel in the French trenches at Verdun. He wrifes as follows: “ Yesterday morning we went down to examine a mine. Tbe French had dug a long gal
Praying
and Killing.
lery out from their front trenches and had mined the ground for 500 yards along their front. It was exactly like going through the tunnels, cross-cuts, and drifts in a gold mine in the Rockies. But at the entrance to the main tun nel the regimental chaplain had persuaded the colonel to let a huge chamber be excavated thirty feet under ground, and the chaplain had fitted it up as a chapel.” He then goes on to describe a service in this chapel at 10 o’clock on a Sun day morning. He says: “While cannon booming overhead in a terrific bom bardment told of preparing for a German assault, we, with two hundred French soldiers, assisted at mass, the colonel taking part. We saw soldiers going to the altar and receiving communion, while two of their comrades sat in a little chamber, hollowed in one side of the chapel, with their fingers oil electric buttons, ready to explode mines if the signal came that the attacking Germans had reached the mine-field.” There is something at once horrible and pathetic in this description. It is encouraging to know that these awful times have awakened even hardened and unbelieving soldiers to a sense of dependence upon God, but to think of some praying while their companions sit ready any. moment to send other human beings into eternity, has something horrible in it. Doubtless on the German side there were chapels in the trenches too, and men praying and calling upon God, while they were getting ready to send their antagonists who were praying in front of them into eternity, and very likely into hell. How must a God of infinite love feel as He looks down from heaven and sees these antagonists both praying to Him and both ready to kill one another! region a waiting list of 150,000 natives of India “who have been refused bap tism for' the present because the missionaries have not schools and churches enough to accommodate them.” From Korea the report comes that there has been an average of one convert every hour in Korea since missionary work began there twenty-five years ago, and- that at the present time there is an aver age of eighteen converts per hour. The crowds are so great in some places that church services must be held orle after another to accommodate them, and that at the midweek prayer meetings it is not uncommon in Korea to have 1000 in attendance. And then come reports from Japan regarding the work of the Japanese evangelist Kimura, who was trained at the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, and- who has been in part supported by one of the organizations con nected with the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Willard Price, in the Review o f Reviews, says concerning his work: “ I heard Kimura preach to 5000 people in his great tent in Tokyo, and saw nearly 100 Japanese ‘hit the trail’ every night. In two weeks’ time he made 1300 conversions.” He goes on to say: “ The evangelistic movement in which Kimura and many other workers, both native and foreign, are taking part has not reached a conclusion, so that definite On every hand reports are pouring in of great religious awakenings. In a recent report of the work started in Wide Revival Come? Northwestern índia under Bishop Thobum and car ried on by his successors, it is said that there is in that Has the World- „
774 THE KING ’S BUSINESS figures cannot yet be given out. The results, however, can be imagined from the fact that the Protestant missionaries in Japan have united in a call for 474 new missionaries to take care of the new business.” , Regarding Sherwôod Eddy’s work in China, it is reported that he “ shortly after the war began, spoke in twelve Chinese cities to 121,000 members of the educated class, admitted to his meetings by ticket only. It was an effort to reach the leaders of China. The. result was that 7,000 high officials, scholars, and ruling gentry—men who hold the destiny of the nation in their hands—turned to Christianity and are now enrolled in Bible classes!” And then, it is further said, about the work in the Philippines : ~~“During the past year in the Philippines 5,000 members have been-added by one denomination, and two missionaries report over 1,000 con verts each.” Bishop Stuntz reports on the work in South America : “ Never in the history of this continent have so many converts been gathered into the churches as during the past few months.” It is again said about the work in India/ that “the mayors of 200 villages recently voted in conference to usé their influence to make the entire population of their villages Christian:” The Chris tian community in India is increasing at the rate of 60,Q00 per year. Just as religious movements have proverbially^ thrived on persecution, so -the fact that the bitterest persecution assails the new Indian Christians only seems to add impetus to the movement. In regard to Europe, it was said that there are hun dreds of thousands of Testaments distributed in the trenches, and that revivals are on in France and Bulgaria. Mr. Ralph Norton, in the columns of the Sun day School Times, and in private letters to the editor of this magazine, gives wonderful reports of his work in the trenches in Belgium. He and his wife have been in the trenches while shells were crashing overhead, distributing Testaments and dealing personally with Belgians and other soldiers in the -trenches, and there have been many most remarkable conversions. Let us pray that the_revival may extend and deepen and prove indeed to be a real and last ing work of God. -------------- O —----------- CALLED OF GOD By Dr. J. S. Z "'ALLED by a voice that’s unrivaled in ^ sweetness, Gifted with faith that endureth through time, Dowered by love that’s both fervent and quenchless, Servant o f Jesus, rich blessings are thine. Van Dyke Strengthen reliance on mercy, Redeemer, Perfect the conquest o f right over sin. When at the river thy servant is tremb ling. _ Whilst in his loneness he waits on fhe shore,
Savior in kindness bestow a rich blessing, Guidance through darkness to heaven’s bright shore. Pardoned and cleansed from earth’s , sin and its folly, - Fully prepared for the home o f the blest, Safely pavilioned in infinite mercy, N Servant o f Jesus, your blessing is rest. —Herald and Presbyter.
Led by a hand that in guidance is match less, ~ Furnished with hopes that forever abide, Near to the fountain whose waters are stainless, Heir o f eternity, cling to Christ’s side. Jesus, adviser, companion and teacher, Quicken the sense o f demerit within,
By Rev. Campbell Coyle, D. D. Pastor of the Highland Park First Presbyterian Church
T! i following address was delivered by Dr. Coyle on Thursday, June 29. 1916, before the graduating class of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, from the text: re shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.”—Acts 1:8.
HE disciples were about to enter upon a campaign j against the entrenched forces Mr" o f sin and wickedness, and they needed power. They
they were endued with power from on high. What this power might be, they had no clear conception, but they recalled a prom ise that their leader had made to them on the Mount o f Ascension just before, as the Great High Priest, He entered into the holy o f holies, there to remain until the long day o f atonement ends, when He will come forth again to His waiting people. Which promise is found in these w ords: “ Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead on the third day; and that repentance and remission o f sins should be preached in His name among äll nations, beginning at Jeru salem. And ye are witnesses o f these things. And, behold, I send the promise o f My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the
were already well equipped with some things. _They had zeal and knowledge and faith, and a leader who was incomparable, but they lacked a certain kind o f power, without which their best efforts would be as vain as the dashing o f the waves against Gibraltar. Hence their leader bade them tarry in the Holy City until this power should .come upon them. However impa tient they might be to begin the conflict, and however well equipped they might imag ine themselves to be, they were not to act on their own initiative, and run ahead of God, but were to tarry in Jerusalem until
THE KING’S BUSINESS
776
versities are on every hand, and the men in the pulpit and the people in the pew will average ahead o f anything that has ever been. On the organisation side, the church o f the present lias far o'utstripped the church o f the past, and yet with all this extraordinary equipment arid preparedness the church has very little o f the kind of power that arrests attention, makes evil institutions tremble, convicts o f sin, and causes men and women to say: “What must we do to be saved?” There is little to indicate that a real and aggressive war fare is being carried on. The .very worst institutions plant themselves under the very shadow o f the church, and suffer naharm ; sinners attend their services in large num bers, yet real conversions are comparatively few. The early church, on the other hand, had practically no equipment, but it had power, which suggests the query whether we are not substituting equipment for power, and depending on the wrong things for results. Says John R. Mott: “An alarming weakness among Christians is that we are producing Christian activities faster than we are producing Christian experience and Christian faith; that the discipline o f our souls and the deepening o f our acquaintance with God are not prov ing sufficiently thorough to enable us to meet the unprecedented expansion o f oppor tunity and responsibility o f our genera tion.” THE NEED The fundamental need o f the churches is not money or members, or organization, or music, or eloquence, or scholarship. The fundamental need o f the churches is the Holy Spirit. “It is not.by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord o f Hosts.” There is no aggressive and conquering power for the churches apart from the Holy Spirit. And the particular church could do no better thing, no more business-like thing,. than to assemble, pas tor and officers and people, and look truth full in the face, and then prayerfully and irrevocably adjust itself to it. This would mean the transformation of.many lives, and in consequence a revolutionized church.
City o f Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Words, these that were spoken by the Master just before He opened the door into the invisible, and they are rich with spir itual significance. The disciples had fel- lowshipped with Him for three years and a little more; had heard His words and seen His miracles; had gone with Him into the Garden o f Gethsemane, up the Hill of Death, and on to the ascension mount, and breathed, almost without a break the won derful atmosphere o f His wonderful life—. and yet, in His opinion, they were not ready to enter upon their work. With all their equipment- and preparedness they lacked the great essential, power, and were bidden to tarry in expectant and importu nate prayer until the power should come. CLOTHED W ITH POWER Their leader had clearly promised this power before His departure, and it was their duty and privilege to wait until this promise was fulfilled, and when it was ful filled, after ten days o f waiting and sup plication, what a difference it made in the lives and ministry o f the disciples ! No longer hesitant and timid, no longer chilled by indifference and doubt, no longer in* bondage to' old habits and besetting sins, no longer weak and vascillating, blit clothed with power; the power o f the Holy Spirit, they cut their way like a wedge o f flame through all opposition, and caused multitudes to repent and drink o f the waters o f salvation. There is no truth that the church o f the present day needs more to face than this, the truth concerning power and how it may be obtained. There never was a time when the church was better equipped with certain things than now. On the matérial side, churches and temples and cathedrals are conspicuous for their size and beauty and number, while money is one o f the com monplaces o f the day. On the mathematical side, the membership o f the church was never so large as it is now. On the intel lectual side the church is fari ahead o f any former age. Schools and colleges and uni
THE KING’S BUSINESS
777
1But this is no reason why the truth should not be faced, but the very reason why it should be faced. I f the business house is not accomplishing what it was instituted for, the men in charge who have put their brains and money and lives into it, seek to know the reason why, and proceed forth with to make all the adjustments necessary to meet the conditions o f success, that results may come. In like manner should Christians seek to learn from the Scrip tures the conditions o f real spiritual suc cess, in the particular church, afnd then meet these conditions, that results may come. And this might mean many thnigs. It might mean a preaching that is more loyal to the Scriptures, and a more' consecrated preacher. It might mean an honest, heart searching on the part o f officers and peo ple, the putting o f certain things out of the life, the ceasing o f certain companion^1 ships, the rectifying of certain matters o f business, and the cutting o f certain nerves that connect the individual with certain institutions that foster evil. It will surely mean the lighted 'candle searching for sin in the heart, and the .shairp knife going to the very root o f it when it is found, and a consecration to Jesus that is real and true and abiding—it will mean the incoming of the Holy Spirit, and this will mean power. DANGEROUS PERIOD W e must meet the conditions, or we will fail. And how much the Christian and the church need this power! Whatever evil conditions may have confronted the church in the past, we are living in the most dan gerous period o f history, and without the Holy Spirit the church can make no prog ress and win no victory. In saying these plain words I am pleading for the very life o f the church as a divine institution. It is not the outwardness that makes the church, but the inwardness; not the form and the ceremony, but the life. And what ever else there may be, there can be no church apart from the presence and power o f the Holy Spirit. The time has come for honesty and reality on the part o f the
individual disciple, that the corporate church may have power, and fulfill her mission to the honor and glory o,f God. But that thé church may have power, as has been already said, the individual Chris tian must have power. The church and the members o f the church are one, and cannot be separated in any discussion o f them. The church can have power only as you and I and other disciples have power. Just as my lungs are strong, and contribute to my general health and strength only as each particular living cell fulfills its func tion, so the church will be strong just in proportion as each particular member ful fills his function. IDany o f my lung cells fail o f fullest life and power; just so far they contribute to my weakness and decline ; and likewise if any individual members fail o f fullest life and power, just so far they contribute to the church’s weakness and decline. The individual Christian is an indi vidual cell whose function is to inhale and exhale the Holy Spirit, the Breath o f God, and he is assuming a great responsibility when he consciously fails to fulfill this function. The ehurch, I say, can have power only as the individual member has power, and he can liave power only as he is willing to come to God’s terms, and pay the full price. THE BEST COMES HIGH The best things come high in the spiritual, as well as in the material realm. Silk costs more than calico, a house than a hut, a farm than a fence—-and to possess them we must pay the price. T o acquire an edu cation, to become proficient in art and sci ence and letters, to build up a profitable business, cost in ;money and labor and life, and to attain them we must pay the price. And this same law obtains in the spiritual realm. The best things come high, and the full price must be paid. There are no bargain days in God’s big store, when the best things are let go at half the original price. It would mean our moral and spir itual ruin if He did, for He would thus be putting a premium on unrighteousness, and telling us that coming short o f His require-
778
THE KING ’S BUSINESS
Spirit in his life and in so far impedes the progress o f the church. Therefore into the mirror o f this very obvious truth let each o f us earnestly and prayerfully look, and ask God for grace to put out o f our lives everything that is alien to His holy will. The second condition of power is the completely surrendered life. _ Surrender is the best and biggest word in our spiritual vocabulary, the all-inclusive word, and deserves our most earnest and prayerful consideration. It is the pivot on which the entire mechanism o f the spir itual life swings and turns. God can make no effective use o f any life that is not wholly surrendered unto Him. The person who follows his own will is never a person o f spiritual power, however effective and useful he may appear to be in the' esteem o f the world. There is a great difference between power and influence. The latter is o f men, the former is o f God, and God will bestow His power only on him who is surrendered to His will. This is scriptural, this is scientific, this is common sense. The artist can use his brush, the sculptor his chisel, the carpenter his hammer, and use them effectively, only when the brush and chisel and hammer are fully surrendered to the men who use them. I f another hand is on these tools, even partially, the work of these men will be seriously interfered with. Similarly, God cannot use the Christian, and use him effectively, as long as he is not fully surrendered unto Him. God wants to use the brush, and the chisel, and the hammer, and to use them unhindered, and then He will paint a picture that will be a masterpiece, carve a statue that will cause, the people to marvel, and strike blows that will be heard around the world. The sur rendered life is the price o f power, and may God grant us the grace to pay the price that we may receive the power. The third, and last condition of power, is the claiming of it by means of a simple faith. The Holy Spirit is here, for this is the dispensation o f the Holy Spirit, and we do
ment is not a sinful thing. In order to pos sess power, we must pay the price o f power; that is, meet the conditions o f power. The mechanism must meet the conditions o f . electricity if it would have the power o f electricity; and the Christian must meet the conditions o f God if he would have the power o f God. This law is inexorable, and must be obeyed, and for the sake o f clearness and definiteness, I will say that the conditions o f this power are three. The first condition is the putting out of the life Of every conscious sin. The sin must go out before the power can come in. This is scriptural, this is scien tific, this is common sense. God will not bestow the power upon him who is out of harmony with Himself. I f I had any power to bestow I would not bestow it upon him who was against me, but upon him who was for m e; and God will do the same thing. Hence if the Christian would have power he must put out o f his life every thing that displeases Him who alone is able to bestow power upon him, for a holy God will not bestow the Holy Spirit upon an unholy person. The milkman, who has any sense o f the fitness o f things, will not pour his pure white milk into a vessel that is unclean; and God will not pour His power into the vessel o f an unclean heart. The sin must go out before the power can come in. As soon as a vacuum is created by the expulsion'of sin the Holy Spirit will enter in with power. I know what people think and say about teaching like this, and how impractical it is, and all that. But what I am saying is scriptural, and scientific, and Common sense. It is something that never fails to work, and God will certainly clothe with power every Christian who comes to His terms. And Christians must come to God’s terms, if the church would have power and fulfill her mission, and prove a real dynamic amid the many oppositions o f the age. And this puts a tremendous responsibility upon the individual Christian. For in so far as he yields himself to wilful sin he hinders the presence o f the' Holy
THE KING’S BUSINESS
779
not need to tarry long in prayer, as the early disciples did, in order to receive Him, but having put away our sin, and surren dered the life to God, the next step is to follow the divine leading; and expect God to make His promise feood to us as we go on. In other words, having come to God’s terms, we have a right to claim and expect the presence and power o f the Holy Spirit aS our privilege in Jesus Christ; and we must claim this power by faith, for there is no other way. This is scriptural, for Paul says: “That we might receive the promise o f the spirit through faith.” If we meet the conditions o f the promise God will make His promise good. This is scrip tural, this is scientific, this is common sense. But this does not necessarily mean the incoming o f a power.that we can feel. Very likely there will be no thrill along the nerves, no electric shock, and nothing to startle us, or others. Very likely the power will come without observation, and as quietly as the dawn. When the Spring time comes there is no jar or noise or shock, yet its presence is very soon mani fested in the multitudinous life that every where abounds. The emerald sea o f the grass surges over hill and dale, and plain
and prairie, and breaks into spray o f flow ers that blow and bloom; the trees unfurl their green banners o f the leaves, and the birds flood all the landscapes with the rap ture o f their song. Not only so, but a new spirit is in the air, and a mighty spirit seems everywhere to brood. And thus it will be when the Holy Spirit comes, into the life. It will be with the quietness o f thought, but His presence will soon be manifested in ways that cannot be mistaken. The life will fake on a beauty and a fragrance it did not have before, become abundantly fruitful in all good works, and move amid other lives clothed with the sanctions o f God. And this power is not for the preacher only, but for all* who are willing to come to God’s terms. It will make the preacher a better preacher to be sure; but it will also make the father a better father, the banker a better banker, the teacher a better teacher, and the farmer a better farmer. It is a wonderful blessing that God is waiting to bestow in this won derful power, and we can all have it if we are willing to put away our sin, surrender our life to God, and then go forth by faith, as God leads, and expect Him to make His promise good.
FORM OF BEQUEST All bequests should be made to “ Bible Institute of Los Angeles” and NOT to “ The Bible Institute” as formerly but erroneously, advertised. The following is the correct form: I give and bequeath to Bible Institute of Los Angeles, incorporated under the laws of the State of California ........ ......... ........Dollars, and I direct that the release of the President of the Board of Directors of said Bible Institute of Los Angeles, shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors
i
in the premises.
An Or ienta l Nigh t School in Amer ica By SARAH VAN WAGENER
T HE First Presbyterian Church o f Seat tle, under the guidance o f its conse crated' pastor, Dir. M. A. Matthews, is known throughout our country for the wide scope o f its work and for the amount of work which it is doing along missionary lines and Bible study. There are at the present time about fifty classes for the study o f the Bible. One o f the foremost o f the missionary activities' is the work among the Orientals, including the night school for Chinese and Japanese" boys, which is held six nights a week in the Mission rooms o f the church. This work which had a small beginning has gone steadily on for th e past thirteen years, and the report o f the good work done by this mission has spread not only throughout the length and breadth o f our own land but also across the seas to the Orient. Boys embarking from China or Japan for America are told o f the night school by their friends on the other side o f the water and urged to attend, so that when the boys land in Seattle, they immedi ately come to the church and feel that they are among friends even though they may not be able to speak the English language. A fter a missionary sermon preached by Dr. Matthews, a few o f the consecrated women o f the church became impressed with the fact that
tume. The early teaching was very prim itive, consisting in the main o f hearing them read, going over and over the same words, teaching the names o f familiar 'objects; in counting, and later on in conversation. The second half o f the year showed an average attendance o f thirty; ten o f the boys had embraced the Christian religion, had been baptized and joined the church. O f the fir§t three young Christians in the Mission, one is now a merchant in Tacoma, Wing Lew. He has established a Christian home and is prospering. One o f the three, Lee York, is a merchant in Seattle; but-is now in Alaska for the summer. Recently he returned from a four years’ stay in China, where three years ago he estab lished two schools—one for women and the other for boys—after the manner o f the one in which he learned the English lan guage and the Christian religion. During these three years.he has borne all the expense o f the two schools, in which at present twenty women and forty boys are enrolled. The third, Loc Lok, died after having spent five years in the school. He, having become a Christian, was accorded a funeral which conformed with the customs o f his adopted religion, and was mourned not only by his associates but by the Chi nese all over the city. Contrary to Chinese custom, instead o f being afraid to go near a dead body, they all tried to do him honor and spared no expense nor efforts to accomplish this end. During the second year a “conversation class” was organized and in this class all talking or reciting in Chinese was forbid den—all speaking must be in the English language. In fact the violator o f the law, or the boy with the short memory, was fined a penny for each offense. One o f the early difficulties was in per suading the Japanese to attend the school.
“I f you can not cross the ocean and the heathen lands explore, You will find the heathen nearer— You will find them at your door.”
So in June, 1903, this idea assumed tan gible form and the night school was started. Those o f the ladies who could spare the time gratuitously devoted one or two even ings per week to the .work. For the first half year there was an attendance o f twenty Chinese boys and they belonged to the “old school” with queue and native Chinese cos
THE KING’ S BUSINESS
781
Upon accepting the invitation o f the ladies in charge to enter the school, when they would come and see none o f ¿heir own na tionality they would say “all Chinese,” bow very low and walk away. Finally, by tell ing three o f them that if they stayed they would be a help to the teachers, the preju dice was overcome and since that time the Japanese have outnumbered the Chinese. Four different superintendents have been in charge o f the work—Mrs. A. C. Dres- bach, Mrs. W . T. Stewart, Mrs. C. D. Floyd and Miss Sara Van Wagener. The school is in session six nights a week for ten months o f the year, with English teach ing four nights and Bible two. During the months o f July and August only the Bible is taught—this feature o f the work is in progress twelve months o f the year. The attendance varies with the season. During the winter months when the boys are working, or attending school, the enroll ment is about sixty-five, but when spring comes and they go away from the city for their summer’s work, a smaller number attend. For the first time last year giris were admitted to the school, and at one time this year nine were in attendance. At every session o f the school a chapter is read from the Bible, a hymn is sung, a prayer offered by one Japanese boy, another by a Chinese boy and all unite in the Lord’s prayer at the close. Many o f the boys spend six nights o f each week at the school. The superintendent receives a sti pend, included in the church budget, but the teaching is volunteer. Each teacher devotes one evening each week to the class. This is- simply a labor o f love and the appreciation o f the boys and their advancement in the work are the rewards; but those connected with the school feel well repaid for the effort put forth and the sacrifices made, for there is no Chris tian work that brings greater returns. One o f the boys o f the mission said that when ,he first came to the school he studied to find out what it was that the teachers had that he had not—that would make them willing to give o f their time, money and
themselves to teach the Chinese and Jap anese boys, and he found out that it was the love o f Christ in their hearts and he decided that he wanted it, too. Since that time he has been a most earnest and con secrated Christian. Like the disciples o f old, when one has found Christ he imme diately goes in search o f some brother or friend whom he wishes to see converted. “Does this work pay? Is anything accomplished by all this output o f time, energy and money?” asks some Skeptical one. This has been answered in part. During the life o f the mission—thirteen years—about 400 Japanese and 200 Chinese have been converted, have been baptized and joined either the First Presbyterian church or some other o f his choice. That these conversions are genuine and that the converts are trying to carry out Christ’s last command, “ Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” is evidenced by the fact that wherever these boys go, whether into lumber or rail road camps, canneries or hotels; whether in the large cities o f the United States, China, Japan or Alaska, they remain loyal to the church and to the teaching received m the mission—no matter what their envi ronment. This is shown by the letters which they write to the teachers and by persons wholly uninterested in -or unac quainted with the school who have come in contact with the boys in their various vocations. Dr. William Niccolls Sloan, in his book, “ Spiritual Conquest Along the Rockies,” thus writes o f an experience in Montana, where he discovered a Japanese prayer meeting: I was not a little surprised to learn that eighteen o f the number were pro fessed Christians and members o f the Pres byterian church. I learned also that about half o f them were converted in the Pres byterian Mission in Tokio, Japan, and the rest in the Presbyterian Mission o f Seat tle, Washington, sustained by the First Presbyterian Church, o f which Rev. M. A. Matthews, D. D., is pastor. They had all been associated with this mission and when
THE KING’ S BUSINESS
782
part o f what might be accomplished with more workers and more funds. Time put into this work will bring both earthly and heavenly rewards ; money thus invested will yield larger returns than if put into stocks and bonds. Next year more work will be done among the women and girls. |Classes will be organ ized for English and . Bible study. The writer o f this, the present superintendent, will devote her time to the work. She is now leaving for Pittsburgh and other East ern cities on a summer vacation o f two months, and while there will study meth ods used in teaching foreigners, whereby more efficient work may be done by the mission o f the First Presbyterian Church for these brothers whom God in His prov idence has seen fit to send to our very door. There must have been a purpose in this— it is a part o f the plan—and it may be that through the Christian people o f the Pacific Coast these two great nations will be won for Christ. ----------0------- -- The Friends’ African Industrial Mission is further pushing on its work in British East Africa. They have asked the govern ment for a new station between Kaimosi and Kitosh, near the northern end o f Lake Victoria Nyanza. The missionaries have been obliged to spend a considerable, amount o f l time superintending the making o f a road; which will mean much in opening up this district to the Gospel. The saving in cost o f transportation and doing away with the necessity pf using the black men as beasts o f burden, will be o f great advan tage to the mission. Boys come to the missionaries daily from long distances,, beg ging to be allowed to come to school. Sev enty-five boys recently came from two head men o f a town eight miles away. On hear ing that they could not come, the govern ment not yet having granted permission to open the school, they begged to be written down as “ school boys waiting until you get permission.”* This is considered remarkable by the missionaries, for this district has always been considered very backward and. unsettled.
they went out as employees on the railroad, they were counselled and exhorted to help each other and to hold a prayer-meeting every Sabbath. The leader informed me that-they had been out two years and dur ing that time never once omitted this Sab bath evening prayer-meeting.” It is not always easy for these boys to embrace Christianity, for Buddhism or Confucianism is a part o f their beings, and it is hard for them to give up the religion o f their ancestors. As one o f the boys said, he wanted to worship “ something that he could see.” To them, “ faith without works is dead,” and unless they can see the effects o f the Christian religion in the lives of those teaching it, it is as “ sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.” , A Japanese minister in an address not long ago said, “ Our people are deeply relig ious, but are not Christians,” and that is true. The prayers o f the converted ones are most touching. With them it is simply talking with God- They come to Him with their petitions as to an earthly father (as we have been bidden to do) feeling that they are talking to One Who will listen and answer. The little prayer circles on Thurs day and Sunday evenings seem quite cosmo politan. Even though small, three races, which comprise more than half'the popula tion o f the globe, are represented. Prayers are ascending from each; all have faith in the same God, who is Father o f all. This same Japanese minister in his address spoke o f the wonderful apprecia tion o f his people for what the American nation has done for the race, and it is even so. Chinese and Japanese' alike are very grateful for any help given them. The boys never fail to thank the teacher when the lesson is over for the help given. They never forget the members o f the teachers’ families in their prayers each evening at the close o f school. “ Truly the harvest is great but the labor ers are few. “While much is being done for the Orientals, yet considering the fact that there are 6,000 Japanese and 1,000 Chinese in Seattle, this is an infinitesimal
I n t e rna t i ona l S t anda rd Bible E n c y c l o p a e d i a
TT' OR a long time those engaged in the work o f training men for the ministry and for other forms o f Christian work, have felt the crying need that there was for a Bible dictionary, or a Bible encyclo pedia that was, up-to-date, scholarly, com plete; thorough, and dependable, which they could safely recommend to ministers, theological students, Sunday School work ers, and earnest students o f the Bible gen erally. The one-volume Bible dictionary edited by Professor Davis o f Princeton Theological Seminary, was satisfactory as far as it went, but the articles were alto gether too brief, and therefore not com plete enough to meet the need o f the thor ough student. Smith’s “Dictionary o f the Bible” was antiquated, the “Encyclopaedia Biblica” Was so erratic, fanciful, and some times even fantastical in its theories as to be absolutely worthless, except as a reduc- tio ad absurdum o f the current critical theories, and Hastings’ “ Dictionary o f the Bible” was utterly undependable and could not be recommended to any one unless he was well enough versed in the questions at issue not to be misled by its many unre liable statements and reasonings. In the International Standard Bible Ency clopaedia the need that so many have felt has been well met. As the editors o f the work and the contributors to it are only human, o f course the work is not without defects, but taken as a whole it far sur passes our- expectations; in fact, we have been so well pleased with it, after a pretty thorough examination, «that it seems to us as if it was well nigh' indispensable for any one who has any ambition to be an accurate, scholarly preacher or teacher bf the Word o f God. In examining the work, we natur ally looked first at the articles on the books or sections o f Scripture regarding which there has been. the most dispute among
those who claim to be critical scholars, and for the most part we found them very sat isfactory, both from the standpoint o f scholarship and the standpoint o f reliabil ity. For example; the article on the Penta teuch shows a thorough grasp o f the most recent discussions. It exposes in a thor ough w.ay the utter unreliability o f those conclusions o f the destructive critics which we have been, told so often were the “assured results” o f the best scholarship, that many who had,not gone into the ques tion for themselves supposed o f course, they must be. The article on the Hexateuch is short, but long enough, and altogether conclusive. The article on Isaiah goes at length into the arguments for and against the unity o f the book, and decides for the unity o f the book upon arguments which are con clusive for any one who is trying to dis cover the facts in the case, and not merely trying to establish a theory. The three paragraphs o f the article on the literature dealing with the subject, are comprehen sive, giving the best books on all sides o f the question. The article on the book o f Daniel, writ ten by one who is widely recognized as one o f the ablest Semitic scholars o f the day, exposes the utter baselessness o f the argu ments which the destructive critics have been so insistently urging against the gen uineness o f the book. The objections are given very fully and stated very fairly, and then their forcelessness is fully demon strated. There are two articles o f minor importance, viz., the one on the Apocrypha and the one on the book o f Sirach, that in passing bring down the date o f the writ ing o f the book o f Daniel to a later period than the writing o f the book o f Sirach, which the former article assigns to 190 to 170 B. C , and the latter to 240 to 200 B. C.,
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker