(95-99) earnestness. We have as Christians undertaken a great contract—a death-contract as regards the flesh; and levity 1s not to be very much expected in such a funeral, and especially not from the corpse. We may say, however, that we differ constitutionally ; and while the Lord has said, “Blessed are those who weep,” he certainly has not forbidden us to laugh. Quite probably, experience tends to bring sobriety, and sobriety is, generally speaking, the most proper condition for the representatives or ambassadors of the great King. (3) Is it sinful to dress well? Answer.—It is not sinful; but many things that are not sinful are still not expedient. We are to consider ourselves stewards of the Lord’s means, and whether or not he would approve of rich and extravagant clothing. We are to consider, secondly, whether or not such clothing would be helpful to us in our influence in favor of the truth. We are to consider whether or not such dressing would be calculated to have a very good influence or a very bad influence on ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa. those who cannot afford rich clothing. These things would seem to indicate modesty and simplicity, yet they need not signify coarseness nor carelessness nor mean appearance. (4) Is dancing improper? Answer.—Not in itself. That is to say, the mere exercise of dancing might in some respects be beneficial, especially if gentlemen danced with gentlemen and ladies with ladies. But with such limitations we fancy that dancing would lose much of its charm. We reason, therefore, that its charm is not morally helpful and that Christians would do well to avoid it, and to take their exercise in some other manner, better calculated to stir up heart purity. (5) 1s it wrong to eat meat? Answer—The eating of meat is not sinful, if the meat be honestly obtained and of good quality and healthful to the system. Our Lord ate meat during his ministry and also, on two occasions, at least, after his resurrection. This is a sufficient answer to those who claim that the eating of meat is sinful. “In him was no sin.” THE AUSTRALIAN BRANCH Brother Henninges reports that he and his wife have arrived safely at destination atter a pleasant vovage. They have secured suitable quarters and the Melbourne Branch is an ac Vou. XXV RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF THE WAR The success of Japan bids fair to make of her a “Christian nation”—for are not the successful fighting nations Christian nations? And are not the unsuccessful fighters the barbarians? As a matter of fact the heathen masses of the Japanese are tractable and obedient to their rulers, economical] and industrious and very poor. The leaders of that nation have adopted the civilization of Europe and America, but very little Christianity, except as it appeals to them as indispensable to forcign relations and the advancement of their own nation’s interests. So far as we can ascertain, the majority of those rated as Christians are no more worthy the name than are evolutionists and higher critics of Europe and Amcrica,— they are agnostics. The name Christian is a respectable one now-a-days, and many good fighters end brilliant thinkers prefer and adopt it as in contrast with Heathen. We even hear that the “Anglo-Israclites” have about coneluded that the Japanese must be part of what they are pleased to term the “ten lost tribes.” Why? We presume because they are successful fighters! Alas, that the professed disciples of the Prince of Peace should measure the affairs of earth by such carnal rules! The New York Independent contrasts the paganism of Japan and the Christianity of Russia thus:— “Russia claims to he fighting the battle of Christendom against a pagan nation. It is not so easy to say which is the Christian nation. Japan allows liberty of conscience, There are members of Christian churches who command her battleships. who sit in her cabinet, who preside over her parliament, There is the full civilization that has grown out of Christianity: public schools, the best education, the institutions of Intsiness and bnevolence which are the product of Christianity. This has been given to Japan under the tutelage of Christian nations, frankly adopted from this and other countries. There is a constitutional government, elected rulers, courts and freedom. “But what do we see in Russia? An absolutely autocratic government, with no local self-government, no congress, no constitution, no public-school system, no religious liberty, the Dukhobortsi, the Jews and the Lutheran Finns equally foreed into exile and the Armenians in the Caucasus driven to frenzy by the robbery of their churches and schools, Which is the Christian country?” RUSSIA’S INTERNAL TROUBLES “Geneva, Switzerland. March 13.—Japan is not all that is worrying the Russian government at present. As a matter of fact, the opinion prevails in revolutionary circles here (and this is headquarters for the whole revolutionary movement in Europe) that St. Petersburg is in far greater dread of the work of the revolutionary party at home than of the legions and warships of the Mikado in the far east. “Geneva swarms with Russian spies, and the movements of known Nihilist leaders are watched as closely as possible; but despite all the efforts of the Czar’s police, the presses are busily turning out revolutionary literature and most of it finds its way across the frontier and is distributed throughout Russia. “There is no doubt that plans are being made for a series ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 1, 1904 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER complished fact. May the Lord’s blessing be with the work and workers there as elsewhere we surely all pray. AUSTRALIAN BRANCH—32 JOHNSON ST., FITZROY, MFLBOURNE. No. 7 of demonstrations against the government at the first favorable opportunity. A decisive defeat of the Russians in Manchuria would unquestionably be regarded as the opportunity.” One of the leaders of the Russian revolutionists here said recently: “We don’t propose now to make war on the Czar. Our efforts will be directed against the creatures who use him as a cloak for their reactionary designs. I believe that if the Czar were freed from the influence of such men as Pobiedonestzeff, Plehwe and those they represent, the nobles who think more of their privileges than of the good of the country, that his majesty would ultimately be willing to go as far in the direction of liberalizing Russia as is desirable at this time. We realize that there is a vast population in Russia, the descendants of former serfs, who are not ready for a full measure of self-government, but we believe the day for the autocratic government of Russia in the name of the Czar by an oligarchy of noble grafters is nearly passed. ‘“Russia’s defeat by Japan would be the very best thing which could happen to the fatherland, and the revolutionary party will spare no means to encompass it. This is not a war for Russia. It is a war for the nobility, and the defeat of the nobility means that the people will come to their own, That there will be ‘removals’ of high officials when the time comes is altogether probable. “All reforms in a country like Russia must be accomplished by agitation, and the dagger and bomb properly applied are potent agitators. Even the most radical revolutionary, however, will not move against the Czar. His danger lies not with the Nihilists but with the oligarchs whose power is threatened. His liberal ideas and predilection for peace may cost him his life, but if he is slain it will be by the men who have dragged Russia into this predicament. “That the Nihilists will be blamed in case the Czar is assassinated is altogether probable, but you may say that those who wish to see Russia enter a new era of greatness under a constitutional government look upon the present Czar as more likely to bring this about than any man living, and would regard his death as a national calamity.” * * * It is well for those who are followers of him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life to avoid extreme views and positive assertions respecting the Russo-Japanese war. The new King, Immanuel, has taken the helm of earth’s affairs— Michael has assumed command (Dan. 12:1) and matters will no longer be allowed to “drift.” The outcome will be favorable to the preparation for and the establishment of the kingdom of the Lord under the whole heavens, however disappointing the intermediate steps may be to those with whom “the secret of the Lord” is not. Let us not forget that the Lord is preparing for “his act, his strange act,” utterly incomprehensible to those not acquainted with his “secret,” revealed through his Word only to this “little flock”: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.” [3342]
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