CHINA'S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION ORHE VOICE OF THE FOSSILS
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
CHINA'S
UNFINISHED
REVOLUTION
(Page 2)
OrHE VOICE OF THE
FOSSILS
(Page 8)
Volume 65 Number 40
Warburton, Vic., Oct. 2, 1950
(Price 2d.)
Registered at the G.P.O., Mel-
bourne, for transmission by post
as a newspaper
Chinese communists at
the gates of Hong Kong.
The inhabitants of Sham-
chun, a small Chinese
town on the Chinese side
of the frontier, look on as
youthful troops give the
communist salute.
T HE recent successful overthrow of
the Chiang regime in• China by
Mao Tzetung and his communist Unfinished
party is incidental only, when considera-
tion is given to the great possibilities of
the gospel of Jesus Christ in all Asia.
Dr. Roderick Scott, for many years Pro-
fessor of Philosophy in the Fukien Chris-
tian University, presents an interesting
REVOLUTION I
backdrop to the situation as it exists
today:— system. How fast is the U.N. working at that ?
"Back of everything that is happening in the
R. Pavitt Brown We have had the Republic of Indonesia on
Far East is the fact of the Asian Revolution. December 27, 1949. How soon will France
I use the term revolution to describe not only release Indo-China? She is making concessions
a social overturn but the presence of a tension now but too slowly I fear. So strong is this
tion,' which every patriot has ever since felt it Oriental 'nationalism,' so hated the very word,
or vacuum in this case. the vacuum or gap his duty to obey.
between the decaying loyalties, and sanctions `colony,' that America and Britain with clear
"With this slogan Chiang initiated the 'second records as regards the P.I., India and Burma,
of the East, and the strange but obviously suc- revolution' (1927). He was in a fair way to
cessful attitudes and methods of the West. The are still held in high regard by the realistic
succeed and 'finish the revolution' when World non-communistic Chinese. The 'reservoir' of
perennial food problem furnishes an illustration. War II put a stop to all his reforms. Now he
The West would employ science to avert the goodwill that Wendell Willie talked about is
has failed. not dry yet. Remember that F. D. Roosevelt
famines; why don't the leaders of India and
China do the same? The answer is that nobody "Mao Tzetung and his Communist Party insisted on treating China as an equal. He read
cares. Humanism, i.e., Confucianism, and pan- appear now to be taking Chiang's place as the the signs correctly. F.D.R. was very popular
theism (i.e., Hinduism), and disillusion (Bud- `party of the unfinished revolution.' They claim in China.
dhism and atheism) are all found wanting where also to revere Sun Yatsen as the 'National "Chiang, as I have said, did a good job with
people are concerned. 'You couldn't have "the Father' (Kuo Fu). giving China a modern government free from
forgotten man" in China,' said one of my "As Sun had a panacea for the nation's corruption. This was in the thirties. He did
students, 'he was never remembered, so he woes, 'The Three Principles of National Sur- a better job with holding his 'tray of loose sand'
couldn't be forgotten.' vival,' so Mao has his book which is also (Sun's characterization of China) together dur-
"The missionary movement has had its share propagandized as compulsory reading (with ing the resistance. But the war was too much
in producing this revolutionary tension, in in- exams every three months for all citizens). His for the Nationalist Government. The Japanese
spiring the leaders of new movements, and in book is entitled, 'The New Democracy.' Its as a matter of fact had come pretty close to
awakening the silent millions. I often use for point of view must be clearly understood. For winning it ; they had destroyed the national
the Chinese the contrasting symbols of the Great Mao democracy means the equality of groups; economy. That destruction produced a sense
Wall and the Burma Road. The Chinese for us it means the equality of individuals as of insecurity; that insecurity brought back the
sat down behind their wall for two millenia; well as of groups. old Chiang dynasty graft against which Sun
now they are moving and marching along The "Since the great slogans all over the Orient had fought so hard. Sun. was the first modern
Great Road' (title of the Marching Song of are, 'Down with the Landlords' (feudalism) Chinese official to die a poor man. Chiang
the thirties). and 'Down with the Colonies' (Imperialism), himself has remained outside this new graft,
"Sun Yatsen, whom history is more and more Mao's brand of democracy finds ready ac- but few of his party have been able to resist it.
according a high place among the great, was ceptance. The farmer is the equal of the And Chiang is not to be blamed for it.
the first Chinese to focus this 'revolutionary merchant, the student of the teacher, China of "What he is blamed for, rightly or wrongly,
tension' into a concrete social revolution. His the Western Nations. is the choice of civil war as the method of
effort (1911) failed ; at his death in 1925 China "The second pillar of the New Democracy is dealing with his greatest problems, the com-
had fallen a prey to rival warlords. But Sun the stronger. The easiest way to meet this munists. Civil war has brought inflation,
left behind him an order to 'finish the Revolu- kind of 'communism' is to abolish the colonial inflation further insecurity, further corruption,
Page Two October 2. 1950 SIGNS OF THE TIMES
and further misery. No wonder it is hated logical conclusion in true democracy, indi- seal, by which he would overcome the evil
by every good man. vidual dignity, and human rights."—Australian spirits,' and our 'Elder Brother' instructed him
"It is this general 'going along with the Christian World, August 25, 1950. how to act,' and 'accompanied him upon his
aspirations of the nation,' together with the wanderings.' When 'he woke from his trance'
notion, easy for an Oriental, that democracy We consider that Dr. Scott has given he started on his God-given work.
means group equality, that makes it possible a fair summary of the Chinese situation. "Before this Hung had received from a
for a Chinese Christian to talk about being also We are strongly of the opinion that the stranger on the street nine small books, which
a communist. In the over-socialized Orient, the point of view publicized in the daily press he had not read. Now he started to read them,
concepts of personality, personal rights, indi- and was joined by his cousin Le. The books
is closely related to the college of propa-
I vidual -responsibility, are strange ones still. ganda in Rome. Our readers should
contained some chapters from the Bible which
presented the same picture of God and Chris-
"What of the future? The great question
is, When the communists decide to turn totali- realize that the harvests of China are ripe tianity that he had seen in his visions. `Sui-
tarian and to commence to try to 'communize' for the gospel sickle. Our great British tshuen felt as if awakening from a long dream.
their fellow countrymen, will they be able to He rejoiced in reality to have found a way to
Commonwealth should beware lest once heaven, and a sure hope of everlasting life.'
hold their gains? It is the position of my
school of thought that they will not be able again it become a party to quenching the He and Le then baptized each other. They
to do so. fires of revolution of a type which might prayed to God, and decided to obey His com-
"They face several dilemmas in reaction to well have once led to China's being today mands, and then felt their hearts overflowing
which they must either modify a totalitarian with joy. 'They thereupon cast away their
one of the foremost Christian nations of idols and removed the table of Confucius.'
programme or get out. In either eventuality the world.
lies hope for the Chinese people and also the Through their earnestness and joy in the new-
Western nations. Already we read of revolts The following insight into a very dark found salvation, many were soon won, and in
among the farmers in six provinces. answer to prayer the power of God was mani-
piece of nineteenth-century history is to fested among them in healing the sick. They
"The communist world view, as we know, is the point:— had also the 'gift of prophecy' among them.
atheistic, materialistic, and deterministic. In
all three ways, China would seem fruitful soil "A heathen Chinese, without any acquaint- "At this time, Hung prohibited the use of
for communism. The only religion left, Bud- ance with Christianity, had, in 1837, a series of opium, and even tobacco, and all intoxicating
dhism, is dying; even Confucianism, as a form remarkable visions, in which he was shown the drinks, and the Sabbath was religiously ob-
of culture, is losing its grip. With the pre- principal points in the Christian religion. In served.'—`The Ti-Ping Revolution,' by Lin-Le,
vailing agnosticism and the long misery, ma- his visions Hung-sui-tshuen was first taken to an officer among them, Vol. I, pages 36-48, 84.
terialism, both philosophical and ethical would a river, where the celestial visitors said to him: London: 1866.
seem easy to preach. And as for determinism `Why hast thou kept company with yonder
people and defiled thyself ?' He was then " °The seventh day is most religiously and
there is the age-old belief in fate to help that. strictly observed. The Taiping Sabbath is kept
washed clean, his heart was taken out, and a
"But as I have said, communism is not new heart was given him. (How could a heathen upon our Saturday.' The Sabbath is ushered
popular. The Chinese seem to want something be given a better idea of conversion and in with prayer, and 'two other services are held.
more. It seems to me that what they want baptism?) He was then brought in before 'a . . . Each service opens with the Doxology:—
are the qualities summed up in the Protestant man, venerable in years,' sitting in an im- " 'We praise Thee, 0 God, our heavenly
ideal, the qualities of self-respecting individuals, posing attitude upon the highest place,' whom Father;
who, with God's help, take hold of the world's he called 'Our heavenly Father.' He also We praise thee, Jesus, the Saviour of the
troubles and commence to overcome them. `met with a man of middle age,' whom he world;
Christianity is no intrusion; it is the answer to called 'Our celestial Elder Brother.' We praise the Holy Spirit.'—Id., page 319.
their search. As a Christian student put it to
me once, 'The way to be a good Confucianist " `Sui-tshuen's whole person became gradually
changed, both in character and appearance. He "When the Manchu government made war on
or Buddhist is to become a Christian.' Chris- the followers of Hung, they organized their
tianity is one of the Chinese religions now. was careful in his conduct, friendly and open
in his demeanour.' own government, and millions of Chinese gladly
"Of course the masses do not see this yet, flocked to their standard, because of the kind-
"When Sui-tshuen, in his visions, was ness and strict justice of their government.
save in their unconscious rejection of com- brought in before 'Our heavenly Father' he
munism as spurious reform and in their refusal During the wars, their soldiers were not allowed
was shown the sinfulness of idolatry. God to drink the water nor eat the food of the
to give up hope, but there is a new spirit `began to shed tears, and said, "All human
abroad among the Chinese Christians, which conquered without paying for them, and no
beings in the whole world are produced and crime was committed by them, under death
is the great new fact in Asia. Archbishop sustained by Me; they eat My food and wear
Temple said the world church was the great penalty. The Taipings printed the Bible and
My clothing," ' but they have no "heart spread it among their people, and the Ten
new fact of our generation. The world church to remember and venerate Me" '; ' "they take
has had a good deal to do with this new spirit, Commandments were strictly followed.
of My gifts and therewith worship demons." '
giving the younger churches the feeling of `And thereupon He led Sui-tshuen out, told "In 1862 there were 85,000 converted Sab-
world-equality and world-belonging. him to look down from above, and said, "Be- bath-keeping Christians among them, besides
"Numerically this Chinese Christian Church, hold the people upon the earth! Hundredfold more than 45,000,000 others who gladly yielded
in its various branches, is very small, but be- is the perverseness of their souls." Sui- themselves under their government, but were
cause of this new, truly Protestant spirit among tshuen looked, and saw such a degree of de- not accepted as church members. Their terri-
its leaders (scores of whom are our personal pravity and vice that his eyes could not endure tory covered 90,000 square miles in the heart
• friends and students) the Chinese Christian the sight, nor his mouth express their deeds.' of China, and liquor, tobacco, opium, and idols
Church is about to take on a significance for He was then told to go and rescue his brethren were totally banished from its whole extent.
world Christianity and for world politics not and sisters from the demons, and was given 'a Had the Christian nations kept out of the
granted any other group. struggle, China today might have been a
"We should reflect on what Protestantism Sabbath-keeping Christian country. But two
has done for our own country and thank God influences conspired against the Taipings, or
that Oriental Christians are awake to its mes- God-worshippers, as they were called: I.
sage of individual initiative in planning and English opium-traders became alarmed about
deciding, of social responsibility, of moral cour- the probable destruction of opium and the loss
age, of intellectual balance, of faith in God. of the millions they earned annually in the
These are not qualities of character natural opium trade in China. 2. The Taipings did not
to a Chinese; the Confucian order gave no en- understand the difference between the images of
couragement to individual responsibility or saints, used by the French Jesuits in their
initiative, or even to change. worship and the idols used by the heathen
Manchus, so the Taipings opposed them indis-
"Specifically these are the things our leaders criminately, which aroused the ire of the Jesuits,
are thinking and doing; they have overcome and finally Christian countries assisted in com-
their fears of communism; they are preparing to pletely destroying the Taipings. Lin-Le, heart-
face persecution when it comes; they have de- sickened at the thought of this 'cruel sacrifice of
cided to keep schools and churches open: they the greatest Christian movement this world has
have asked the missionaries to stay and they ever witnessed,' exclaims:—
are even asking for more missionaries, as if
they intended to keep going a long time. Some " 'What excuse can missionaries give for their
leaders are talking of having a Christian revo- surprising negligence of . . . the 70,000,000, and
lution, of 'stealing' the revolution from the upwards, of those who might have become
communists, and of carrying it on to its (Concluded on page 13)
SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1950 Page Three
g-figkway to appineeo
ANY of our readers will have read MARIAN M. HAY The renouncement of evil. Verses 29,
M with delight and refreshment
"The Perfect Blueprint for Hap-
30. Any habit or indulgence that, en-
dangers the spiritual life must be ruth-
piness" by T. E. Murphy, which ap- and the heart, a consciousness of need lessly excised and put away. If the)
peared in the Reader's Digest for August. turning to God to meet that need. right hand becomes so damaged or
Mr. Murphy believes that the Magna The tonic of witnessing. Matt. 5: 13- diseased as to endanger the life, a person
Carta of the Christian faith, the perfect 16. The professing Christian who refuses will submit to amputation, and count
code of human relations, is found in the to profess his faith is a contradiction of himself fortunate to be alive, though
sermon on the mount, recorded in the terms. Yet how many there are who maimed.
Gospel of Matthew, chapters five to out of shame, self-consciousness, or fear Similarly, if any habit or indulgence
seven. to be different, neglect countless oppor- is threatening the life of the soul, it is
Here are not only deep spiritual truths, tunities to tell others of the blessings only wise and reasonable to cut it out
but practical rules by which anyone may and privileges of following the Master! of the life, no matter how painful it might
find success and serenity, and health and This apologetic, defensive attitude is be. In the case of sin, no half measures •
peace of both body and soul. damaging to the personality. How much will suffice. No compromise will break
Today men are obsessed with unwhole- better to state simply and directly that it the power of sin over the soul. The
some and abnormal attitudes of mind. is because of Christian principle that a danger is desperate, and the call is for
Much of current literature, art, and en- certain practice is shunned or a certain heroic measures. All the powers of the
tertainment deals with men and women course followed. will must be marshalled on the side of
who have signally failed in the great "Ye are the light of the world. . . . truth and right, and then God will supply
matter of living. This failure reflects Neither do men light a candle, and put the needed power. "Resolve, and thou
the experience of vast multitudes today it under a bushel, but on a candlestick. art free."
who feel desperate and frustrated, disap- . . . Let your light so shine before men Service beyond the call of duty. Verses
pointed with life as it is, and hopeless that they may see your good works, and 38-42. In all business relationships both
of anything better for the future. glorify your Father which is in hea Ven." parties are protected by certain rules
For those who will study and apply The courage and confidence exercised which can be enforced by law. But the
the principles outlined in our Lord's in letting the inner light shine out is no man whose thought is concentrated on
first public utterance of the truths of His less a tonic than is the respect that people gaining his full rights, and giving no more
kingdom, life will take on new meaning feel for one who is not ashamed of the than he is forced to, soon becomes crab-
and new joy. There will be release from gospel of Christ. bed and bitter, shrivelled and shrunken
galling bondage, satisfaction for the The poison of hatred. Verses 21-26. of soul. It is .this attitude that embitters
deepest longings of the heart. the relationship between landlord and
Hatred is shown to be the hidden root
We shall briefly notice how the of murder. Feelings of anger and dislike, tenant, between employer and employee,
principles so simply and unforgettably springing from small differences unrecon- and between buyer and seller. It takes
stated on a spring day so long ago exactly ciled, all too often grow out of all pro- the joy out of labour, the zest out of
meet the need of our self-centred, tense, portion to their first importance, and living.
fear-ridden, frustrated generation today. spread their toxin through the whole life. The principle of freedom and satis-
In the Beatitudes we are reminded Any difference should he made right at faction is expressed in the words: "Who-
that happiness is a matter of the mind once. soever shall compel thee to go a mile,
Page Four October 2. 1950 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES
go with him twain." The law ordained is battling against a hostile fate cannot what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
that a Roman soldier could compel any but be unhappy and insecure. But how judged: and with what measure ye mete,
member of the subject peoples to carry different is the experience of the man it shall be measured to you again." Far
his pack for a mile. It was a galling who feels that he is working in active better to look upon our associates with
bondage to the Jews, a bitter reminder partnership with a loving Father who generosity, sympathy, and understand-
of their abject position. But the way of owns all the riches of the universe! All ing; to find in them goodness and no-
freedom for them was not to rebel, but that he has is lent him in trust, to bring bility.
to do from choice more than the law blessing to his fellow men by helping Self-discipline. Verses 13, 14. The
demanded. The first mile was an obli- the needy and sustaining the work of God way to a fully developed life is not the
gation; the second mile a willing gift. at home and abroad, as well as to supply way of ease and self-indulgence. It is not
And this is the secret of happy relation- his own legitimate needs. found by following the path of least re-
ships in every walk of life. In this way it is possible to lay up sistance. There must be stern battles
The landlady who in her eagerness to treasures in heaven, "where neither moth with self, a rigid self-conquest, if the
gain full profit from her lodgers care- nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves life is to grow into symmetry and fruit-
fully watches their use of electric light, do not break through nor steal." fulness. "Enter ye in at the strait gate:
iron, hot water, or gas, and imposes petty Trust and appropriating faith. Verses for wide is the gate, and broad is the way
restrictions, is usually disliked and 25-34. Following naturally upon the that leadeth to destruction, and many
treated with the same grudging spirit realization that all material resources be- there be which go in thereat: because
of getting all possible for the money paid. long to God is the thought that if we are strait is the gate, and narrow is the
But the one who thinks first of her His children we have no reason for way, which leadeth unto life, and few
lodgers' comfort, and seeks to create a worry or anxiety. He knows what we there be that find it."
homelike atmosphere by little generosi- need, and has provided for us abund- Security in trouble. Verses 21-29. In
ties and kindnesses is seldom the loser, antly. The birds eat at His bountifully His unforgettable climax to the sermon
even in hard cash, and certainly finds spread table and sing their joyous on the mount Jesus emphasized that our
great gain in happiness and friendship thanksgiving. The flowers appropriate ultimate failure or success will depend
and freedom from pettiness. to themselves the blessings of sunshine entirely upon the foundations on which
Make love your guiding principle. and rain and fruitful soil, and grow in we build the house of our life. The
Verses 43-48. Many regard love as a beauty and fragrance. So we should principles that He had just outlined were
weak sentimentality led this way and seek first His kingdom and His righteous- those which would endure and outlast the
that by impulse and desire. But the love ness, knowing that all we need for this fiercest storm. Anything less would go
that Christ enjoins is a strong, positive, life will be given. down into destruction. Storm and trial
controlling principle able to subdue or Refusal to criticize and judge. Matt. and disaster come to all alike; those who
control the natural tendencies. "Love 7: 1-5. The spirit of criticism warps have built on the eternal principles of the
-your enemies, bless them that curse you, and cripples the personality. By show- kingdom of God will be unharmed and
do good to them that hate you, and pray ing someone else in a bad light, the critic, unshaken, while those who have built on
for them which despitefully use you." perhaps unconsciously, desires to appear human wisdom will go down to igno-
It is human nature to respond auto- to better advantage himself. But this minious defeat.
matically to the mood shown us, either mean and malicious purpose defeats its "Whosoever heareth these sayings of
love and friendliness, or harshness, own ends, for the habit of seeing and Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him
meanness, or enmity. But the divine seeking the worst in others develops unto a wise man, which built his house
principle of love is creative, transform- similar qualities in the critic. "With upon a rock: and the rain descended, and
ing. If it is habitually shown, what- the floods came, and the winds blew, and
ever the attitude of others to us, it exerts beat upon that house; and it fell not: for
its miracle-working power and makes a it was founded upon a rock.
friend of an erstwhile enemy. Such a 9Zetist. "And everyone that heareth these
triumph is worth many times over the LEONARD C. LEE sayings of Mine, and doeth them not,
price in self-control.
There is no desert where the raindrops fall shall be likened unto a foolish man,
Devotion to God should dominate our In soft profusion from the leaden sky, which built his house upon the sand:
religion. Matt. 6: r-r 8. Our acts of And thirsty foliage ends its noiseless cry and the rain descended, and the floods
public worship and private devotion As nature answers its insistent call.
The brightest sunshine falling on the mall came, and the winds blew, and beat upon
should spring from an appreciation of Will cause the grass to wither, fade, or die. that house; and it fell: and great was the
God's holy and exalted character. We The sunshine kills when rain is never nigh fall of it."
should be conscious of Him, and of Him And Aesert throws its mantle over all.
only, when we worship. The depth of Service, love, self-discipline, faith—
our religious zeal will be shown to our A lesson here from nature we may borrow. these are the qualities that make a man
Our sunshine too must have its clouds and rain great in the eyes of the world and beloved
family and neighbours by purity of life, To freshen up its fields of love again;
uprightness of character, kindness and The sweetest lives have all been touched with of his associates. They also make a man
courtesy in conduct, an unconscious, out- sorrow. great in the sight of heaven, and fit him
flowing love. "When thou prayest, enter The dark, the light, the sunshine, and the for a place in the eternal kingdom.
showers
into thy closet, and when thou hast shut In life as well as nature bring the flowers. We may each reap the rich reward of
thy door, pray to thy Father which is committing this beautiful sermon on the
in secret; and thy Father which seeth mount to memory and ordering our lives
in secret shall reward thee openly." by its living principles. Unlike the
Treasure in heaven. Verses 19-21. maxims of human philosophers, these
Men seek for security by accumulating words of Christ have in them the creative
material riches. But they feel no se- power that called the worlds into exist-
curity. They fear war, they fear depres- ence. Appropriated by faith, they will
sion, they fear that all their efforts will transform the life, until once again man
be in vain. The man who feels that he appears in the image of God.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1950 Page Five
Are we
FACING
Paris: Youngsters exchange their super-man comics.
MORAL COLLAPSE? WILL MODERN SOCIETY, REPEATING
D OWN with all barriers!" "Away
with all restraints!" "Let licence
reign!" This seems to be the call
THE FOLLIES OF SODOM AND GO-
MORRAH, SUFFER A SIMILAR FATE?
every community, shattered homes, and
bewildered offspring. With the lavish
use of lying advertisements, the drink
of the masses today. The Victorians, traffic threatens what is left of the moral
with their careful regard for propriety, fibre of the national life.
the Puritans with their acute sense of Frederick Lee Freedom is spelled 1-i-c-e-n-c-e in the
right and wrong, are anathema now. minds of the masses today. This is
Hollywood is setting the pace for the reflected in the literature they read with
worldly-wise. The attack upon religion was never more
avidity, in the kind of movies they attend
subtle than today. Never was the church
The revolt against taboos was initiated most frequently. Publishing concerns, as
in less repute.
when Freudian scholars began to teach well as movie producers, having an eye
that suppression of impulse and the Why? It can be for no other reason on the cash register, know what brings
thwarting of desire was harmful to the than that the church stands for moral the best returns. They are hewing as
personality, that sin is an illusion, and restraint, for clean and disciplined liv- close to the line of obscenity as they dare.
that a code of morals is a drag on pro- ing, for righteousness in public office. Now and then they break over the line,
gress. No wonder this generation, In spite of its failures and errors, Chris- and still nothing much is done about it.
which has grown up under such guidance, tianity is still a barrier to unholy desire The cry against any sort of censorship is
smiles tolerantly at the capers of a and a warning to all evil-doers. It is a so great that few dare jeopardize their
drunken socialite, pleads indulgently for thorn in the side of those who want to social position by combating this evil.
the release of the lad who has been be let alone in their sins and not be re- One would think that the book clubs,
caught for reckless driving in his tenth minded of eventual judgment. which put millions of books into our
serious traffic accident, stands worship- The parade of debauchery moves homes, would be more careful in their
fully before some amorous movie star, is along, with drinks offered at every corner. selections and not seek to appease the
content to see persons in public life in- Never did a nation go the way of aban- popular demand for questionable ma-
volved in one divorce after another, and doned living so rapidly as has America terial. However, a list of selections
listens to tales of questionable doings in since the floodgates of liquor were re- covering a period of more than twenty
high places as something that is none opened after prohibition. Once a few years reveals a number of unsavoury
of its business. saloons cluttered the unsavoury spots in volumes. One recent selection of a
Once it was the church's business to the larger cities and towns; now every popular book club was attacked by the
cry out against these things, but now the home is encouraged to have its bar. editor of the London Times News, who
affronters of good behaviour boldly say With what results? Mounting death called the book "incredibly foul and
to the church, "Physician, heal thyself." on the highways, growing lawlessness in beastly," and said, "It should be with-
Page Six October 2, 1950 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMES
drawn from publication immediately." COURAGE One day, when the prodigal came to
After receiving a flood of mail opposing himself, the last faint flicker of his
his views, the editor later stated that Why comes temptation but for man to meet conscience said to him, "Son, how many
although he, tog, was opposed to censor- An= master and make crouch beneath his foot, hired servants of thy father have bread
And so be pedestaled in triumph? Pray,
ship in general, "in extreme cases of "Lead us into no such temptation, Lord!"
enough and to spare, and you perish with
obscenity—and this is an extreme case Yea, but, 0 thou whose servants are the bold, hunger!" He realized that there was
—it is wholly against the public interest Lead such temptations by the head and hair, still time to make amends. "I will arise
that beastliness should be offered for Reluctant dragons, up to who dares fight, and go to my father," he said, "and will
I
sale." That so he may do battle and have praise. say unto him, Father, I have sinned
—Robert Browning. against heaven, and before thee, and
The cynical freethinkers snickered at
such a blast, for they knew that as usual am no more worthy to be called thy son:
it would merely stimulate sales, which is make me as one of thy hired servants."
a further indictment of the perverted The Scripture adds, "And he arose, and
tastes of the public. But it is likewise other, for there is something in the came to his father. And when he was yet
an indictment of the men who cater to soul of the man or woman who has had a great way off, his father saw him, and
such an appetite for the sake of gain contact with Christian standards that is had compassion, and ran, and fell on his
while they excuse themselves in so doing repelled by depravity. The danger is, neck, and kissed him." Luke 15: 18-2o.
in the name of realism and art. however, that the conscience will become Thank God, the wanderers can still
callous, and that which once appeared return. Dear reader, if you have been
The moral breakdown of modern so- disgusting will be clasped as pleasing, to
ciety is alarming. The constant pursuit caught in a whirl of social life and find
one's moral ruin. yourself being drawn away from the
of pleasure, to the neglect of the finer
values of life, the increased smoking and The first bitter sting of liquor, the standards of uprightness and purity, do
initial nausea of smoking, the early feel- not delay to separate yourself from such
drinking on the part of men, women, and
youth alike, the encouragement to ac- ings of guilt and fear at attending a dance a life, which will bring you present sor-
quire such evil habits by large-scale or a night club, are all lost after repeated row and future judgment. Today, while
advertising, the denunciation of those experiences. Soon one is walking on the it is yet today, say to yourself, "I will
who seek to uphold standards of up- broad highway to destruction, and there arise and go to my Father." No matter
rightness, the moral laxity in public is plenty of company. The thrill of the what you have done, if you are truly re-
-
office, the breakup of the home, the in- crowds, with their noise and clamour, pentant, He will receive you gladly.
difference to unseemly behaviour, im- becomes hypnotic, and one hastens from This is the one way back from moral
modesty in dress on the part of women, one indulgence to another, seeking some- collapse for the individual or for the
the loose relationships among men and thing that never fully satisfies. nation.
women, all add up to a moral state that
Is no less corrupt than that of Sodom,
which was destroyed by fire from heaven.
This deplorable condition was foretold
in Bible prophecy. Declared the Apostle
Paul:—
"This know also, that in the last days
4 &vie guide
perilous times shall come. For men shall W. DOWSON
be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without HERE are so many religions and No, because time is measured by the
natural affection, truce breakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of
T sects that no one can be sure which
to believe and there is not one
sun, and its marvellous accuracy can be
gauged from the fact that not a second
those that are good, traitors, heady, high- than can escape the brand of Ichabod." is ever lost. "The sun knoweth his go-
minded, lovers of pleasures more than Thus spoke an acquaintance the other ing down." Ps. 104: 19. Without his
lovers of God; having a form of godli- day. Then he added, "We are all aim- guidance, Big Ben at Westminster would
ness, but denying the power thereof : ing for the same place, . . . and one is become an unreliable timepiece, and the
from such turn away." "But evil men just as good as another." observatory at Greenwich could no longer
and seducers shall wax worse and worse, True, an ever-increasing number of send us the correct time nightly over the
deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. cults and sects, which have no relish for wireless as it does now. It is the sun
3: 1-5, 13.. sound doctrine, have arisen, appearing alone that preserves our time-keeping
If we would escape the penalties soon to endorse what my friend has said. But in perfect order.
to be meted out upon those who have no is there any real difficulty in ascertain- In the Word of God we have a similar
regard for the divine code of behaviour ing what it truth? authority. It is like the sun in its
among men, we will have to exercise self- An analogy in nature will help us. strength, pointing out the errors of man-
discipline. The flesh is wholly corrupt. Take the example of time. Do our kind. If we let its light shine into our
Now and then, in almost every heart, countless clocks, in their ever-varying souls, those precious truths that have
there is a flash of desire to rise to higher moods, affect the true time? long been neglected or rejected will ap-
levels of life. Then a friend appears and pear in all clarity. Besides this master-
says, "Come along. Let's have a good clock we shall see how inaccurate our
time." Conscience says, "Be careful. feeble timepieces have been. The old,
Do not go too far." But under the com-
pulsion of social licence the bounds are
OUR COVER elusive question, "What is truth?" will
at last find an abundant answer.
overstepped. When the moment of "There's sunlight in my soul
today . . . "How precious is the Book divine,
merriment has passed, the soul is filled By inspiration given !
with regret. There are but few who do The flowers of grace appear." Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
not have this experience some time or Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts To guide our souls to heaven."
SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1950 Page SevenThe V CE of the F
Y CONFIRM •R DISPROV "GEOLI
CLIFFORD L. sunnicK
HE fossils are called upon to carry
T a heavy load of responsibility.
They are appealed to as the high-
est court in the world by the scientists
seeking to prove their case for evo-
lution; they are appealed to by scientists
who do not accept that generalization.
These remains of the life of an ancient
world stand in the midst of a great battle-
ground.
The theory of evolution is generally ac-
cepted today among scientists. The
great enthusiasm over Darwin arose
from the belief that he had discovered
the "mechanism" of evolution, which he
called "natural selection." Many scien-
tists today reject his explanation, but
retain their belief that evolution actually
did take place. When asked for proof,
they list many lines of evidence, suck :4
as comparative anatomy and embryology,
but most evolutionists who are the least
bit conservative will admit that all such
"proofs" come under the category of
interesting analogies, rather than under
watertight evidence.
For "proof positive," scientists who be-
lieve in evolution fall back on geology
and paleontology, the testimony of the
strata and the fossils. If proofs are
lacking here, then belief in the theory
must be maintained by sheer faith—with
no less credulity than is exercised by
those who have faith in God the "assu-
rance of things hoped for, a conviction of di
things not seen." Heb. II: r, A.R.V.
Charles Darwin- devoted four chapters
in his book, "The Origin of Species," to
paleontology, and made it clear that he
placed entire dependence upon the fossils
and geology to change his doctrine of
evolution from an abstract hypothesis to
a concrete fact. He was, however, frank
enough to admit that the most serious
objection to his theory was the number
of "missing links"—not merely the
missing link between man and the lower
animals, but the links between all the
great orders of creatures and plants. To
clinch the case for evolution, the paleon-
tologist should be able to produce a
finely graduated transition of fossils from
the simple trilobites up through the
cordates, the birds, the mammals, to man.
But to date the gulfs are as unbridged
TRAIL HIKERS AT OPABIN PASS, CANADIAN ROCKIES
in the fossil world as in the living one.
Page Eight October 2, 1950 :: SIGNS OF THE TIMESY EA R S
AGE OF MAN QUATERNARY
0
r MAMMALS
3,0 00,00
\CENO/
AGE OF
ZO1C TERTIARY
MAMMALS
I
RA TI O 6, 9,000,000Y EA RS '
MES OZOICI
UPPER
CRETACEOUS
AGES"?
AGE
OF
LOWER
CRETACEOUS
4
REPTILES
/ 1
REPTILES
JURASSIC .
TRIASSIC
t
PERMIAN
AGE f —d
RATI O 12, 18, 000, 000YEA RS
To quote from Darwin himself, "Geol- OF UPPER AMPHIBIANS („0.1"
AMPHIBIANS (..) CARBONIFEROUS /
/
ogy assuredly does not reveal any such Rt.‘"'
finely graduated organic chain; and this 5N \.i.
perhaps is the most obvious and serious LOWER A
0 CARBONIFEROUS
FISHES
objection which can be urged against the AGE OF Q
theory [of natural selection] . The
explanation lies, as I believe, in the ex-
FISHES „:(5 DEVONIAN _ _ ps01-0‘c _ _
i
Ct. SILURIAN ;Tio l'Ax
treme imperfection of the geological
record." ORDOVICIAN /plc
AGE OF _ po.P.Eg_ —
Huxley, the pupil of Darwin, admitted INVERTEBRATES CAMBRIAN E;5113 ?
that the evidence of change or transition
I
in the fossil world is remarkably small.
"In view of the immense diversity of among the fossils? It used to be assumed face in the jungle with a live dinosaur.
known animal and vegetable forms, and that fossil plants and animals belonged This fish belonged to a special subclass
the enormous lapse of time indicated by to separate orders. Huxley summed it that was supposed to have been the an-
the accumulation of fossiliferous strata, up thus: "There are two hundred known cestor of the first land creatures, the
the only circumstance to be wondered at orders of plants; of these not one is amphibians, who were in turn the fore-
is, not that the changes of life, as ex- certainly known to exist exclusively in runners of the reptiles, the mammals, and
hibited by positive evidence, have been so the fossil state. The whole lapse of of man himself. New discoveries are
lomat, but that they have been so small." geological time has as yet yielded not a slowly demonstrating that modern life is
Since their day, there has been a vast single new ordinal type of vegetable not so different from ancient or fossil
accumulation of fossils; but, strange to structure. . . . No fossil animal is so life. Where do we find any evolution in
relate, the gaps between orders or kinds distinct from those now living as to re- the geologic ages?
are as pronounced as before. As Louis quire to be arranged even in a separate The differences are not so much re-
T. Moore, in "The Dogma of Evolution," class from those which contain existing lated to time as they are to geographical
sums up the situation, "It is equally safe forms." distribution governed by such special
to say that it will always be thus incom- If the fossil world had the same clear- environments as heat, humidity, and ele-
plete; that lacking this concrete present- cut distinctions that we have today be- vation. If that be true, then a very
ment of the structure of our ancestors, tween kinds or orders or classes, wherein ancient Paleozoic fauna or flora in one
evolution must continue to be a faith, do the fossils teach us any evolution, or part of the world could be contemporary
or deductive hypothesis." Page '18. the succession of life in the geologic ages? as to age with a more modern Cretaceous
The recapitulation theory assumes If they teach anything at all they tell or Tertiary form in some other part. In
that a mammal, for instance, in its em- us that the Creator commanded life fact, some good geologists now admit that
bryonic development from the one-cell on earth to bring forth after its kind. all that can be proved from the fossils is
stage, enacts a swift recapitulation of the It was formerly believed that the meta- the local order of life.
r history of the evolution of all life on sequoia, found in Alaska in fossil form, Much is made of mutations and varia-
earth, starting with simple one-celled was an extinct species, but now it has tions seen today, especially among the
creatures. But where among the fossils been found growing in certain parts of domesticated animals, but this is not
do we find such evidence? The Cambrian China. evolution in the broad sense. The Creator
or early Paleozoic rocks are the first in In the animal kingdom, a five-foot evidently endowed life with a certain
which well-recognizable fossils are found, fish was recently caught, a modern coela- flexibility within well-defined limits; or
and about the simplest fossils we find canth (Latimeria chalumnai) that was "kinds," as though He had said "Thus
there are the trilobites. Where are the supposed to have become extinct sixty far shalt thou go." At one point the
missing links between the trilobites and million years ago. It was anciently the pendulum swings rapidly, but as it ap-
the one-celled animals? Must we supply "macropoma," a Cretaceous fossil, con- proaches its limit fixed by gravity, the
them by pure conjecture, faith, or ima- temporaneous with the dinosaurs. No motion slows down and stops, then starts
gination? wonder that Edwin H. Colbert, assistant to swing back. The variations we see
The distinction between fossil types curator for paleontology of the American in the domestic animal world are due to
is almost as clear-cut as between living Museum of Natural History in New artificial selection. If left to themselves
ones, and if this be so, where, may we York City, called this discovery no less they swing back to type. Geology has
well ask, is the evidence for evolution startling than if a man came face to yet to upset this fundamental principle.
GEOLOGISTS HAVE WORKED OUT THE ABOVE TABLE FOR THE IDEAL SUCCESSION OF LIFE IN THE GEOLOGIC
AGES. IT IS, HOWEVER, A PURELY ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION, FOR THE FOSSILS ARE NOT ALWAYS TO BE
FOUND IN THIS ORDER.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1950 Page NineWhen Silurian, or very early, verte- certain that in any given linear section However, Dr. More points out in his
brates appeared, they did so without any of an undisturbed series of sedimentary book, "The Dogma of Evolution": "We
transitional forms having been preserved. deposits, the bed which lies lowest is the can then be certain that geology cannot
Land locomotion in animals appeared oldest. . . . For anything that geology and never will be able to translate the
suddenly, and the appearance of the and paleontology is able to show to the thickness of any one stratum into an
feathered birds has admittedly been a contrary, a Devonian fauna and flora in equivalent length of time." Many geolo-
puzzle to scientists. Bateson admits that the British Isles may have been contem- gists realizing this stark truth, were
the sudden appearance of angiosperms poraneous with Silurian life in North ready and waiting to join the proponents
among plants is still unsolved. As for America, and with a Carboniferous fauna of the theory of radioactive time, when
the more recent placental mammals, and flora in Africa." it promised to measure the age of the
geologists declare that their origin is Such reasoning is like a breath of earth with mathematical exactness.
one of the great outstanding problems of spring in the arctic. If generally ac- When one tries to arrange facts to
paleontology. cepted, it would reduce the hundred- fit a false theory, many difficulties arise.
But the real "Exhibit A" on which mile total of fossiliferous strata to about The simple Bible declaration, "For in
scientists rely with greatest assurance to one mile, and would cut down the alleged six days the Lord made heaven and
prove their case for evolution, is the hundreds of millions of years required for earth, the sea, and all that in them is,"
claim that in undisturbed fossiliferous evolution to some eight million, accord- may seem too hard for some to grasp, but
strata, where different types of fossils are ing to accepted uniformitarian rates of when once believed, it quickly clears up
found, the so-called earlier or simple deposition of sediments. a host of problems.
forms are always found in the lower
strata, because they were laid down first
when life had not evolved as far as later.
For example, as stated, ocean trilobites
were a simple form of life found in the The GREATEST QUESTION
supposed lower strata like the Cambrian.
The Mesozoic or middle ages, geologic- Man Ever Asked
ally speaking, contained reptiles, and the
recent strata contained mammals.
We see charts of this ideal succession
---and GOD'S ANSWER
of life in the geologic ages in almost any JOHN L. SHULER
text-book on the subject, and the un-
initiated are liable to get the impression
that this is the way the fossils are always
HE greatest question man ever
found. He would expect to be able to
go out fossil hunting, where fossiliferous T asked, or can ask, is found in Acts
16:30, where the gaoler asked
To believe on Jesus means, first of alb"
that we accept of Him as our Sin-bearer,
and that we actually lay our sins on Him
strata are well exposed, and find a
graduated series of fossils in perfect evo- Paul: "What must I do to be saved?" by repentance and confession. It means
lutionary sequence all the way from the If we find the right answer, we gain that we accept of His blood for our
bottom of the series to the top. What a everything. If we find the wrong answer, cleansing from sin. All who thus believe
shock when, if lucky, he may find two or we lose all. on Jesus shall receive the remission and
possibly three index types altogether, No man can give this question the pardon of all their sins. (Acts 10: 43.)
with most of the strata barren! If he right answer merely by living a good Second, to really believe on Jesus
follows up the quest and makes inquiry moral life. God has decreed that by means to be born again to live a life of
he will most likely be told that to fill in grace we are saved through faith, and righteousness. Thus in John I: 12, 13
the missing type fossils in the ideal gra- not by works lest any man should boast. we are told that those who receive Jesus
dational series, he will have to find them (Eph. 2: 8, 9.) by believing on Him are born, not of
in various distant places, and piece them No man can answer this question flesh and blood, but of God. To believe
together according to the accepted time merely by keeping the Ten Command- on Jesus in this way will produce a trans-
schedule or chart. ments. God has decreed that by the formation in their lives. They will put
works of the law no flesh shall be justi- off the old nature of sin and put on the
Right here he takes his departure from fied. (Rom. 3: 20.) There is only one
true science, for he starts assuming that new nature, which is patterned after God
way by which you or I or anybody else in righteousness and holiness.
Mesozoic fossils found in some distant ever has been, or ever can be, saved, and
spot should be fitted in between Paleozoic Thirdly, to really believe on Jesus
that is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. means that we shall so receive Christ
fossils and Cenozoic from some other "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
place, that they evolved and flourished that we shall have Christ dwelling in us
thou shalt be saved." Acts 16: 31. and living His life in us each day. This
in an age between the other two. Here Many people think that they have be-
he starts reasoning in a circle, assuming is what the great Apostle Paul means
lieved on Jesus Christ when they have
that which he started out to prove. when he said, "Christ liveth in me." Gal.
not truly believed on Christ according 2: 20. When Christ thus lives in us.
It was Huxley who stated, "Standard to the Scriptures. A nominal faith in
writers on paleontology take it for Christ which merely mentally accepts our lives will be lives of righteousness
granted that deposits containing similar Him as the Saviour of the world can and obedience to all of God's command-
organic remains are synchronous, at any never save any person from sin. Saving ments, so far as we have knowledge of
rate in a broad sense." A little reflection faith is a spiritual transaction by which them. But it will not be our keeping
will point out the unscientific assumption we actually receive the Lord Jesus as God's commandments, but it will be
in such reasoning. our personal Saviour. Christ in us living the life of obedience
Sir Henry Thomas de la Beche, in his In John 1: 12 it is made plain that to to God. Thus the righteousness of the
"Researches in Theoretical Geology," really believe on Jesus is to receive Him law of God is fulfilled in us (not by us)
says, "All that geology can prove is local into the individual life. Saving faith in when we "walk not after the flesh, but
order of succession. It is mathematically Jesus includes three things:— after the Spirit." Rom. 8: 4.
Page Ten Ootober 2. 1930 : SIGNS OF THE TIMESThe
RESURRECTION
A RESUME OF AN
F all Bible subjects, which naturally ceremonial sabbath, as recorded in Lev.
O are very many, there is no other
subject which so fully and wonder-
23: 10-14, it is well to bear in mind that
the whole of the Hebrew service is a
ADDRESS BY PASTOR
GEORGE J. PARKER
"THY WAY, 0 GOD,
fully unites all parts of the Sacred Word compacted prophecy of the gospel. And IS IN THE SANCTU-
into one harmonious whole as does the every detail commanded by God in this ARY." Ps. 77: 13.
subject of the sanctuary. It is notice- service was a shadow of the gospel in
able that every gospel truth centres in some form or other.
the sanctuary service, and radiates from The service of the first-fruits was a
it like the rays of the sun. It is clear, beautiful service. On this day the rection of certain saints on the occasion
then, that to understand the gospel of priest, clad in his sacred robes, entered of His resurrection. It also has a definite
the Lord Jesus Christ fully, we must the temple bearing in a reverent manner bearing on the resurrection of the just
understand the meaning of the services a handful of yellow heads of ripened in the last days. "For if we believe that
which were performed by the Levitical wheat. The record says, the priest paused Jesus died and rose again, even so them
priests in the earthly sanctuary, as they before the golden altar and waved the also which sleep in Jesus shall God bring
were commanded by God through His grain before the Lord. On this occasion [forth] with Him." r Thess. 4: 14.
servant Moses. Of all studies, it is the there was also a burnt offering. (Lev. 23: Paul leaves us without any doubt.
subject of the sanctuary that reveals the 12.) Yet there is no sign of any portion This was apostolic belief, and it was
beautiful and wonderful character of our of the first-fruits being burned. It was well understood as a result of the Hebrew
loving Redeemer. a type of the resurrected ones being teaching. "For as in Adam all die, even
In the annual round of services in the clothed in immortality. Not at any time so in Christ shall all be made alive. But
,l-lebrew economy the second major event does it suggest death or decay. You every man in his own order: Christ the
took place on the sixteenth of the first will notice in the record in verse it, the first-fruits; afterward they that are
month. It is called the feast of the priest offered many heads of wheat—not Christ's at His coming." r Cor. 15: 22,
first-fruits. (See Lev. 23: t0-14.) This merely one head, but many. This typi- 23.
feast occurred on "the morrow after the fied Christ as the first-fruits, and it also This is also an explanation of the
sabbath"—the typical sabbath celebrated typified the resurrection of the just. prophecy of Isaiah which says, "Thy
on the fifteenth day of the first month. There is something more vital in the dead men shall live, together with My
This day represented the beginning of offering of the many heads of wheat. dead body shall they arise. . . . And
the harvest. The seed which had been This is often lost sight of. It typified the earth shall cast out the dead." Tsa.
sown had now produced the first ripe that the Lord would not come forth from 26: 19.
corn from which they offered the first- the grave alone. For more than 1,500 Reading in Lev. 23: 13, we learn that
' fruits. It was, a type of life, and not years this was taught to the world in the there was a meat offering offered to the
death. And it is significant that that Jewish compacted prophecy, that when Lord on this same day. This was a blood-
demonstration of life was chosen to take the Lord would arise from the grave other less offering, it was meal, and it typified
place the third day after the killing of the graves would be opened and many saints that in the Lord Jesus there was no need
passover lamb. (Lev. 23: 5-it.) would rise with Him. Reading the New of further deaths. He paid the full pen-
11 True to type, the Lord Jesus stepped
from the grave that very day, "the mor-
Testament account, we learn that many
saints arose with Him at the time of His
alty for sin. This offering typified also
the life which the repentant, pardoned
row after the sabbath" which had oc- resurrection. The record says, "Many sinner finds in Christ. The type actually
curred that year on the Sabbath of the bodies of the saints which slept arose." taught that eternal life was dependent
fourth commandment. (Mark 16: f, 9; Matt. 27: 52. on the resurrection of Christ. Paul
Luke 23: 54-56; 24: I.) He is not only Thus by the feast of the first-fruits, wrote, "But now is Christ risen from the
the passover lamb, but He is also the the Hebrew people were taught that dead, and become the first-fruits of them
first-fruits, and thus He is described by when the Saviour would be raised from that slept. For since by man came death,
Paul in r Cor. 15: 20: "But now is the dead there would be a special resur- by man came also the resurrection of the
Christ risen from the dead, and become dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
the first-fruits of them that slept." in Christ shall all be made alive."
Thus the doctrine of the resurrection Cor. 15: 20-22.
is revealed to us from the heart of the The first-fruits also reveals that we are
sanctuary. Here we find not a dead dependent on Christ and His resurrection
Christ, but a living Saviour who came for the life of victory we now live. This
forth on the day after the Sabbath. He perhaps can be best explained from
is the hope of all the righteous dead. He Paul's account: "Always bearing about
is the hope of the righteous living. in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,
In studying this feast, which, in har- that the life also of Jesus might be made
mony with the instruction given to the manifest in our body." 2 Cor. 4: 10.
Hebrew people, fell on the day after the (Concluded on page 13)
SIGNS OF THE TIMES :: October 2, 1950 Page ElevenYou can also read
