Golden Age, October 10, 1923
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Contents of the Golden Age
Social and Educational
Fourteen Points, an Echo or the Cedar Point Convention
Finance—Commerce—Transportation
Statistics of Manufactures...........
Elemental Social Philosophy ...........
Abolish Usubt.................
Political—Domestic and Foreign
Commissions a Curse......;......
Rewards of Heroism..............
Science and Invention
The Radio Telephone............
Sound Waves Made Audible........
Voice Speeds as Lightning.........
Astronomical Observations.........
Home and Health
The Emotions and Treto Control ....
The Power of Right Thinking......
Turning Grief into Joy........
Ration-wide Neurasthenia.......
Heart Beats Speeding Up ...... .
Travel and Miscellany
Reminiscences of an Old Sailor......
Religion and Philosophy
▲ 144-Word Remembrance to 144,000 Foreheads •
•‘The Rulers Take Counsel Together’*.....
Impotency of Churchianity.........
Not Following the Master.........
No More Ingersolls Needed.........
Heard in the Office (No. 10)........
Future Life and Evolution.........
Digging King Tut-ankh-amen Out of Hell . . .
Angels—Ancient and Modern........
Gospel, a Message for All.........
Studies in “The Harf of God”........
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Fourteen Points
An Echo of the Cedar Point Convention
ON SEPTEMBER 10,1922, the International Bible Students Association, at their general convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, passed certain resolutions, which were published in full in The Golden Age for October 11, 1922. The circulation of over ten million copies of the aforesaid resolutions in the United States alone seems to have made an impression; for now we find another assembly of Christian people Styled the Christian Citizenship Conference of the National Reform Association passing other more-or-less-similar resolutions at their annual convention at Winona Lake, Indiana, July 7th, 1923.
We believe that a comparison of these resolutions will be of interest to our readers. For convenience we designate the one as the Citizenship Conference and the other as the Bible Students. As the Citizenship Conference resolutions were the last adopted we follow their order, merely noting that their resolutions were • Bent by cable or telegraph direct to President Harding, the King of England, the President of France, the President of Germany, the Kings of Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the Premier of Russia, and the Governor General of Canada. There is no mention of cables to the Emperor of Japan, the Sultan of Turkey, or the Shah of Persia; and as we read the resolutions we can understand* why they were omitted.
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1. <rAn address to the Rulers of the World."—Citi-aenship Conference.
The Bible Students were rather more bold. Not kowtowing too much to earthly rulers (for they think that the rulers have been kowtowed to already more than is for the best interests of humanity) their salutation was:
"We call upon the nations of earth, their rulers and leaders, and upon all ths clergymen of all the denominational churches of earth, their followers and allies, big business and big politicians, to bring forth their proof in justification of the position taken by them that they can establish peace and prosperity on earth and bring .happiness to the people; and their failing in this, we call upon them to give ear io the testimony that wo offer as witnesses for the Lord, and then let them say whether or not our testimony is true”—Bible Student*.
2. “Humanity is staggered by the possibilities of another world war."—Citizenship Conference.
Here again the Bible Students were more bold. They came out flatfootedly with the statement:
“Relying upon the Word of God and his providential dealings with mankind through Christ Jesus, we as his witnesses hold and testify as follows, to-wit: Thai the World War came in 1914 and was followed by great famines, pestilences and revolutions in various parts of the earth exactly as foretold by the Lord; that 1914 marked the legal ending of the old world and there Christ the rightful King took unto himself his power as king; that the Lord Jesus Christ is now present, invisible to man, and proceeding with the work of establishing his kingdom, for which kingdom he taught his followers to pray; and that there is now impending and about to fall upon the nations of earth, according to the words of Christ Jesus, a great time of 'tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, as, nor over shall be again/ and it is this impending trouble that the rulers and mighty men of earth see coming”—Bible Students.
• • •
3. <fHome6 in every land over which the shadow of sacrificial death still hovers are saddened by the proa- . pect of still further heartbreak and suffering.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Bible Students are not pleased with the implication that those who die while they are engaged in obeying the commands of big business, big politicians, or big clergy are counted as dying in the same way and to the same end as Christ died; and hence their resolution:
"That during the World War the clergy of these various church denominations were disloyal to the Lord Jesus Christ in this, that they wrongfully united with big business and big politicians to further the World War; they preached men into the trenches and falsely and blasphemously told them that their death upon the battlefield would be counted as a part of the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ"—Bible Students.
4. "The people in these lands have already given millions of their sons in the belief that their supreme sacrifice would make the world safe for democracy, create a high idealism which would make the world a fairer place in which to live and end war for all time. None of these hopes has been realized.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Bible Students gave expression to the same thought in their declarations:
"That the rulers of earth have frequently boasted that the World War was fought to make the world safe for democracy, which claim has proven to be a delusion and a snare; that the international conferences at Paris, Washington, Genoa and The Hague, participated in by the financiers and statesmen and approved by the denominational clergy of the world, held for the purpose, as announced, of establishing peace on earth, have failed to bring forth the desired result"—Bible Students.
• • •
5. “Men hate each other as intensely as ever. Chaos reigns in every human relationship. Economic and political conditions have sunk to low levels. Nations have been guilty of promoting selfish and ignoble loyalties. Efforts have been made to avert the disaster which is inevitable if present tendencies continue. Every such method for adjusting these difficulties has failed."— Citizenship Conference.
Again the Citizenship Conference is in agreement '"with the Bible Students; for the latter set forth in their resolutions:
"That all of the nations of earth are now in distress and perplexity, as the Lord foretold they would be at this time, and that the entire social and political structure is threatened with complete dissolution; and the leading statesmen and rulers of the earth being aware of this fact and of their inability to establish peace and prosperity are frantically calling upon the denominational churches to save the world from disaster; that it is the desire of all the nations and peoples of earth that they might dwell tn peace and enjoy life, liberty and happiness; that the people are being misled by those who are attempting to bring about this desire through international conferences and agreements in the form of the League of Nations and like compacts"—Bible Students.
6. “The time has come to try Christianity. It hai never failed in any field when given a fair chance, and civilization is entitled to every opportunity to free itself from its present predicament. There is an inescapable obligation on the part of every nation to make its contribution to consummate this desired end, even at great sacrifice to itself.”—Citizenship Conference. '
The Citizenship Conference sees that our civilization is not a Christian civilization but a pagan one, and therefore sees that what is needed in the earth is Christ’s kingdom, the substitution of a perfect government for the imperfect ones. This the Bible Students also see:
"We hold and declare that Messiah’s kingdom is the complete panacea for all the ills of humankind and will bring peace on earth and good will to men, the desire of all nations; that those who yield themselves willingly to his righteous reign now begun will be blessed with lasting peace, life, liberty and endless happiness"— Bible Students.
7. “The nations of the world must depart from selfish individualism and inhuman isolation.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Citizenship Conference, in spite of all past failures of leagues and compacts, is still in hopes that something can be gained by more leagues and compacts. But the Bible Students have no such hopes and say plainly:
"That all international conferences and all agreements or treaties resulting therefrom, including the League of Nations compact and all like compacts, must fail, because God has decreed it thus"—Bible Students.
8. “They should unite in creating new standards which are based upon the teachings of Jesus. He must be acknowledged as the Supreme Arbiter in every national and international difficulty. Loyalty to Him should be the chief desire of the nations.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Citizenship Conference thinks that all the nations should unite upon the teachings of Jesus. But the Bible Students think it unlikely that the heathen nations of China, Persia, Turkey, and Japan would unite upon such a program, partly because they have such a poor opinion of the warlike and barbarous nations of Europe and America. Indeed, the Bible Students criticise the denominational clergy because they have
"repudiated the Lord and his kingdom and showed their disloyalty by voluntarily uniting themselves with Satan’s organization and boldly announcing to the world that the League of Nations u the ’political expression of
God's kingdom on earth,' which announcement to made by them was in utter disregard of the words of Jesus and the apostles/'—Bible Students.
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9. “It should be recognized that nations are accountable to the same Christian principles as those which pertain to all Christian men and women as individuals, ttere is no double standard of morality and ethics, one for men and another for nations. There is only one morality, one honor, one righteousness. We believe that the State belongs to God and that He is the ultimate source of all civil and political authority.”—Citizenship Conference.
Although the Citizenship Conference has already tacitly admitted that none of the kingdoms of this world are Christian kingdoms, and although they must see that the rum and opium and tobacco and high finance and predatory nations in white collars are no more Christian than are Turkey, Persia, China, and Japan, yet they would like to think that, in some way, God is at the head of all these nations. The Bible Students do not so think, but give it as their opinion
“That all efforts of the denominational church organisations, their clergy, their leaders and their allies, to save and reestablish the order of things in the earth and to bring peace and prosperity must of necessity fail, because they do not constitute any part of the kingdom of Messiah/'—Bible Students.
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10. “We believe that the divine right of sovereignty and civil authority is vested in the nation, and that the nation is an intelligent moral entity which God holds responsible for the use of the sovereignty and authority which He has vested in it”—Citizenship Conference.
Here the Citizenship Conference places the divine right of sovereignty in the human family. God took that sovereignty away from Adam in the garden of Eden. It does not belong to the human family now; it belongs to “Him whose right it is.” (Ezekiel 21: 27) That one is Christ, the principal Sheep in the flock of God. Hence the Scriptures say of Him: “Unto thee shall it come, 0 thou Tower of the flock, even the first dominion.” (Micah 4:8) Meantime the Bible Students reiterate
“That Satan, long the god of this world, has deceived the statesmen, financiers and the clergy, by inducing them to believe that by international- agreement or .other combined efforts they can bring the desire of dll na-iions"—Bible Students.
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11. “We believe that God's judgments can be averted only by national obedience to the laws of love and brotherhood and fair play, as taught by Jesus, and that such obedience will bring peace to the world, and a restoration of prosperity and happiness to all the peoples.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Citizenship Conference, although they admit the wretched condition of civilization, still think there is some chance that it may right itself. The Bible Students believe that “the jig is up,” and therefore
“further hold and testify that this is the day of God/s vengeance against Satan's empire visible and invisible; that the reestablishment of the old world or order is on impossibility; that the time is here for the establishment of the kingdom of God through Christ Jesus; and that all the powers and organisations that do not willingly submit to the righteous reign of the Lord will be d& strayed."—Bible Students.
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12. “We further believe that civil rulers are His ministers as certainly as are the rulers of the church, and that those rulers are directly and immediately responsible to Him for their official conduct.”—Citizenship Conference.
The Citizenship Conference believes that the politicians are God's ministers as much as the clergy are; and with this the Bible Students would agree, but for different reasons. Just how much, we wonder, would the Citizenship Conference think that the Emperor of Japan is God’s minister, or the Shah of Persia, or the Sultan of Turkey. However, the Bible Students agree that if the politicians and the clergy, as well as the financiers and all the people, would become Christians something lould really be done. Hence their resolution:
“That if the politicians would faithfully represent the people, and big business would cease exploiting the people, and the clergy would tell the people the truth concerning God’s arrangement, and the people would cease from strife, the kingdom of Messiah would be established by him without further trouble or distress; but failing thus to do, greater trouble must shortly follow."—Bible Students.
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13. “It is because nations and rulers have held themselves above all moral law, becoming a law unto themselves as far as their civil lives are concerned, that present-day world conditions have become so chaotic.” —Citizenship Conference.
This statement of the Citizenship Conference is undeniably true, and because it is true it justifies the resolution of the Bible Students:
“That all of the world's present organization constitutes the visible part of Satan's empire or organization. and that Satan’s empire must now fall before the forward march of the King of glory.”—Bibis Students.
The Resolution of the International Bible Students Association at Cedar Point, Ohio, September 10, 1922 was adopted at the conclusion of a week of Bible study attended by an average of- about 10,000 persons. There were perhaps twice the number at the session at which the Resolution was adopted. In its preamble it set forth that:
"The International Bible Students in convention assembled deem it a duty and privilege to send this message to the nations of earth. A.s a body of Christians consecrated to obey and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are opposed to engaging in war, revolution, anarchy, or violence in any form; and we are opposed to fraud and deception being practised upon the people by the misrepresentation of the Word of God or otherwise. We earnestly desire peace, prosperity and the blessing of the people with life, liberty and happiness; and we hold that the only means by which this can be accomplished is by and through the reign of Christ. In the light of the Word of God, and particularly of fulfilled prophecy, we submit the following as a true statement of the facts relating to present conditions"—Bible Students.
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The concluding words of the Citizenship Conference resolutions were:
14. “Now, therefore, an assembly of 2,000 Christian men and women, coming from many parts of the United States and representing many different nationalities and practically every Protestant ecclesiastical organization in this country, as well as officially representing the Governors of twelve foreign States, who have been in session at Winona Lake, Indiana, U- S. A., for the period of a week to discuss these problems, unite in asking the rulers of these United States and of the world to join in setting up the kingdom of God on earth, acknowledging Jesus Christ Lord of lords and King of kings, so that justice and happiness and brotherhood and peace may prevail throughout the whole earth.”—Citizenship Conference.
The very fact that the Citizenship Conference unites in asking the rulers to set up Christs kingdom shows that it is not already set up; that the kingdoms which are in its place are not His kingdoms; and that they think He cannot set it up alone. The language in which their concluding paragraph is stated suggests that the Citizenship Conference had at least seen and profited by the concluding paragraph of the Bible Students' Resolution. It should be noted further that while the resolutions of the Citizenship Conference are addressed to the rulers, those of the Bible Students are addressed to the people.
"Therefore, we bring to the peoples of earth God’s message of good tidings contained in the Bible, his Word of truth, and we publish to them his message of peace and everlasting salvation, to-wii, that the King of glory, the Deliverer of man, is invisibly present and has begun his reign; that the old world, under the control of Satan, has ended and is being rapidly broken in pieces, to make way for the everlasting kingdom of righteousness now being set up, and that millions of people now living on earth, if obedient io the laws of that righteous kingdom, will continue to live and never die; and we call upon all nations, peoples, kindreds and tongues who love righteousness and hate iniquity io recognize and freely acknowledge that Jehovah is the only true God and that his belated Son Christ Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords”—Bible Students.
The Emotions and Their Control By b. r. Kent
HUMANLY speaking, there is no such thing as absolute self-control; that is, no human creature is able to so guide his or her thoughts as to be immune from emotions which, at different times, are awakened by improper impressions, evil suggestions or wrong thinking. Like raging waves of the sea, the wrong kind of emotions are dangerous and frequently cast up human wreckage upon the sands of Time.
Emotions are felt; therefore it might be said that feeling is emotion. Some individuals, due to a fine nervous system, natural or acquired, feel very deeply; and their emotions are easily awakened by causes which would probably have little or no effect upon a person whose nature is not so <fhigh strung."
It is necessary to classify emotions before much progress can be made toward their control. To emphasize the distinction, let us place the most important ones in pairs, or opposites, as far as possible: Love vs. Hate; Courage vs. Fear; Joy vs. Grief; Reverence vs. Disrespect or Irreverence, etc.
Every human being capable of intelligent feeling experiences one or more of these emotions; and, on account of ignorance, superstition and sin, the majority of men, women and children are controlled by their feelings, or emotions. Therefore they are unreliable in their judgment. At one time they may be fully dominated by a feeling of joy and quickly thereafter grief may overwhelm them. They may be courageous one moment; and the next, fear rob them of their courage. But these are able, if conditions are normal, to maintain a comparatively peaceful existence; nevertheless they are liable at any time to have their tranquility shattered by some unexpected event.
The criminally inclined are, of course, still more unfortunate. Some are completely at the mercy of wrong emotions. One is sometimes born a criminal, due to influences ever which he has no control; but more frequently one becomes a criminal through environment. Whether one is criminally inclined or not, he should seek the best environment possible which can reasonably be his. Real criminals are, of course, controlled by destructive emotions, such as hate, fear, etc., and should be deprived of their liberty until they can be reformed, if this is possible in any case. There are some, however, who for a time are branded as criminals who are not criminally inclined at all, but are influenced by good, benevolent emotions. These have been imprisoned through misuse of power by those who are temporarily under the influence of, or are controlled by, emotions which are degrading and destructive. These conditions should automatically adjust themselves when the majority of the people regain their normal condition; but sometimes the wrong must be brought to their attention before it is rectified. These outrages against justice would never occur if each individual sought to control his emotions and bring himself more under the power of those which are good. Love is the king of all emotions.
Perfect Self-Control Impossible
THERE are people, however, who have more of the “spirit of a sound mind” than the mass of humanity, because they study the effect of the emotions and strive for self-mastery. They do not have perfect self-control, however, because that is impossible at this time. These few have access to the Fountain-head of all that is good—the great Creator. This sweet relationship they gained through full surrender of self to God and His service, and His subsequent acceptance of them as His children through Christ. Under the Messianic reign of one thousand years, this class, having in this life sought to control their emotions for good, will, with the Prince of Peace, teach the people of the earth perfect self-control.
Three important ways in which emotions are aroused are:
(1) By impressions received through the senses—sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch;
(2) Suggestions caused by one's condition of health and by evil spirits;
(3) By extended thought on any subject
If the ordinary, normal person sees some beautiful object, smells some sweet odor, tastes a delicious dish, hears enchanting music, or touches something soft and velvety, an emotion of pleasure results—it may be of joy, peace, admiration or some other like feeling. On the other hand, should one see a murder committed, hear the groans of the dying victim, and touch the corpse, a feeling of horror or of fear will be the result
A suggestion of suicide may enter the mind because of ill health; or, if one is strong and robust, the very condition of splendid health suggests the desire to live and continue to enjoy life’s good things. An evil desire lurking in some dark recess of our being, let in by habit, may clamor for recognition. Mental impressions received from evil spirits, or demons, often arouse violent emotions which may lead to rash acts, even to murder, theft, and gross immoralities. For these suggestions and impressions, however, one may not be wholly responsible and, consequently, will not be held accountable for them to the extent of accountability incurred due to deliberate thought along any given line.
The Power of Right Thinking
XTENDED thought and meditation can be powerful for either good or evil; for "as a man thinketh ... so is he ” Suggestions alone may not leave their mark upon our brain cells, but deep thought to a conclusion is indelibly impressed. Reasoning or connected thought upon some noble, pure, lovely or just subject brings a wealth of good emotions and legitimate pleasure and is conducive to mental and physical health, as well as moral fibre, or sterling character development. The same amount of thought given to a hateful, irreverent, immoral or fearful subject produces the opposite effect and will lead one finally to manifest despicable characteristics.
Impressions and suggestions received by the mind cause emotions great or slight, and are either disposed of by dismissal or else manufactured into thoughts. Thought is a product of the mind. Deliberate actions result from thought. Since the mind has to do with suggestions, impressions, emotions, and thought, then an effort to control one’s mind seems to be the simplest and most effective way to dominate our emotions and bring our thoughts into captivity. This cannot be done without will power, neither can it be done by the will alone. None should be discouraged, however, because of weakness of will; for the will can be strengthened by proper mental exercise, aided by physical recreation. To be truly wise in the battle for self-mastery, one must seek divine aid; for "the reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
To be successful in emotion and thought control, one must be a diplomat; and this requires considerable training in the school of experience. If the basis for thought is not pleasant, or is degrading, change the subject. It is a self-evident truth that one cannot think of two subjects at the same time; therefore be diplomatic in the disposition of your thoughts and emotions. To try by sheer will-power to cast out of mind an unwelcome suggestion or thought may lead to nervous exhaustion, especially in the case of one who is excitable or very impressionable. Therefore the best and most economical way to combat these evils (speaking of nerves) is to think on some different subject that will be helpful. If you thus continue to think on an uplifting subject, the evil effects of an improper thought can be erased.
Suppose you are out in an auto or are streetcar riding, and you pass by the stock-yards and rendering-plant of some packing house. You are greeted by a nauseating smell of dead animal matter,' skins, etc. Immediately you begin to think of the thousands of animals slain daily, of their suffering, and of the offensive odor. Divert your attention from the stock-yards by thinking of the near future, when such sights and smells will not exist, and when the packers will seek more beneficial service for mankind.
In thus dwelling upon the absence of all distasteful things in the Golden Age you will counteract the emotion of disgust and the discomfort caused by such sights and smells.
Turning Grief into Joy
IF YOU are an employe in some office building or elsewhere, and are “called down” on account of being late at the office or because of some mistake you have made, do not allow the emotion of anger or of grief or of discouragement aroused by the sharp rebuke to overwhelm you. Just take your medicine calmly, and resolve to increase your efficiency by doing better next time, thereby turning damaging emotions into channels running to good, happifying thoughts. Should you be an employer, and your stenographer insists on doing “sloppy” work and you are tempted to anger, rather than ruin the day by arousing emotions which make you miserable think of the beautiful day, or of the fine breakfast you have just eaten, or of the romp with the kiddies you expect to have tonight. Last, but not least, try to think of some kindly suggestion given in an altogether different way than usual which your stenographer will appreciate; and thus kill the bad emotion with some cheerful thought of helpfulness. Put this into practice at once.
Should you be caught with a vacant, inactive mind, and some vile suggestion is impressed upon your brain, and you are neither able to throw it off quickly by will-power alone, nor to “change the subject” successfully, pick up a good book and occupy your mind in reading until no trace of the evil suggestion or emotion remains. Do not be inactive mentally, or allow blankness of mind, if you value your physical and mental health. Rest the mind at night when you are asleep. Keep the mind alert and engaged in constructive thought, and be active physically. Thus many evil suggestions, and the consequent harmful emotions, will be avoided. Truly it has been said: “An idle brain is the devil's workshop.” Activity of the right sort tends toward life, while inactivity leads to death.
If conversation in company with others is not elevating, or is destructive of another’s good name, diplomatically change the line of talk to different channels and seek to dominate the conversation until the wrong suggestions have succumbed to good thoughts. The Good Book says: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” An active mind in good things leads to purity of conduct and eternal life in the Golden Age, now breaking in impressive dawn upon a much befuddled and shattered race.
Something should be said about fear. Fear is an emotion which causes much needless suffering. Fear, when entertained, will benumb otherwise keen faculties and render them useless. By cultivating a kindly sentiment toward Mothers and forgetting self, the “fear of man, which bringeth a snare,” will daily lessen its grip upon you. Dread is a form of fear brought about by various tilings, some of which are unpleasant environment, timidity, poverty, and inefficiency. Fear of losing one’s position will frequently rob life of its sweetness. Fear of death often torments, fear of old age with its dependence will make one frantic. But all of these, and many other fears, only serve to lessen one’s efficiency and hasten the very thing dreaded. To counteract these fears permanently, it is necessary for one to gain a knowledge of God’s plan for the righting of every ill in the near future. This can be successfully done by the perusal of proper books, including the Bible. This knowledge is becoming daily more necessary as the race is further embroiled in a tangled mass of wars, revolutions, peace conferences and Bolshevism.
Commissions A Curse ByL. d. Barnes
rpiIE curse of commissions, boards, and industrial courts is receiving some deserved notice in a friendly press. And the way these fellows work the people is truly a cause of anxiety.
Here is how the gas commission worked it in Oklahoma. Three raises were granted the distributing company in the zinc fields in rapid succession. From fifty cents per thousand feet, the price was raised to sixty-three cents; and before they had collected at this rate it was raised to seventy-three cents. This was collected once, and then the price was boosted to two dollars for the first thousand, and fifty cents for each additional thousand.
Thus the people are at the mercy of these sharks that have been appointed on commissions. It is said that there are over four hundred of these commissions at Washington, constituting an “invisible” administration that the people cannot reach. These commissions are the creatures of big business. Nobody is ever able to get to the man behind the commission.
Rewards of Heroism By Joseph Greig
THE following item, from the Toledo Union
Leader, shows how cheap human life has become, and how rapid the decline in the estimated value of heroism and super-patriotism. It seems the very fulfilment of the words of the wise man: “All is vanity.” There is a scripture which seems to have some bearing upon this matter. For is it not written: “I will take away the pride of their tinkling ornaments in that day”! The item reads:
"New York.—Four years ago the victory medals conferred on American soldiers for conspicuous bravery in the war were priceless. A year ago some of these decorations were found in the possession of men who never were under fire. They could not be bought nor sold— oh, no— but if you asked about them in some of the local pawn-shops, you were likely to be met with a request, in a low voice, about the particular sort of ‘deal’ you were interested in. Ten dollars, you were likely to have been told, would bring you, for instance, a badge with three bars, St. Mihiel, Meuse, Argonne, Defensive Sector, across a ribbon above the figure of the bronze Victory on the medal. Now you can buy •uch a medal in pawn-shops for $3.75. The ruling price is $2 for the medal, with $1.75 added for the extra bars. And they are sold openly. Where did the pawn-shops get them? From ex-service men who were jobless and hungry, and in many instances whose families were hungry.”
Ere long the badge of true courage will be seen to be upon the objectors who had the stamina to brave popular hatred. We read of some such: “They shall be mine ... in that day when I make up my jewels.”
It is chronicled in Scottish history that Romanism once sought recantment of two lassies of the heather, by placing one to a stake for the ocean tide to drown gradually, while the younger was fixed to a similar stake farther back. Both were continually asked to believe in the mass, as the tide gradually rose higher and higher. When no response came to this devilishness, their tormentors dashed the heads of their victims forward into the overwhelming sea; and thus they finished their testimony of Jesus. Many are the heroes of faith whom the future will shortly reveal with glory undimmed and eternal in luster.
Statistics of Manufactures -
THE statistics of manufactures for the Thirteenth Census have been published in a volume O of 1,698 large pages bristling with facts and figures. For the convenience of our readers we have examined the volume and give the names of all cities which had a value of over $100,000,000 in manufactured products for the year 1919:
CITY
value
OF PRODUCT
PRINCIPAL LINES 07
MANUFACTURE
New York
$5,260,707,577
Clothing, printing, meat, millinery, furs, tobacco, bread.
Chicago
8,657,424,471
Clothing, machinery, printing, bread, cars, confectionery.
Philadelphia
1,996,481,074
Sugar, machinery, leather, textiles, printing, clothing.
Detroit
1,234,519,842
Automobiles, machinery, meat, brass, engines, bread, printing.
Cleveland
1,091,577,490
Machinery, automobiles, meat, electrical apparatus, stoves.
St Louis
871,700,438
Meat, shoes, tobacco, machinery, bags, ' coffee, clothing.
Baltimore
677,878,492
Clothing, meat, fertilizers, tinware, bread, confectionery.
Buffalo
634,409,733
Flour, meat, machinery, iron and steel, bread, food, soap.
Pittsburgh
614,726,978
Iron and steel, meat, bread, pickles, cars.
Newark
577,608,564
Leather, electrical apparatus, jewelry, machinery, chemicals.
Milwaukee
176,161,312
Leather, meat, machinery, engines, shoes, knit goods.
Akron
558,962,067
Rubber.
Cincinnati
500,040,996
Meat, machinery, clothing, shoes.
Minneapolis
491,382,975
Flour, linseed oil, cars, bread, machinery, ironwork.
Kansas City, Kans. 468,686,423
Meat, flour.
452,236,634
Meat, butter, flour, bread.
San Francisco
417,321,277
Ships, meat, coffee, automobiles.
Indianapolis
398,666,553
Meat, automobiles, machinery, flour.
Jersey City
- 374,182,924
Meat, bread, machinery, tobacco.
Rochester
351,416,379
Clothing, shoes, machinery, electrical apparatus, optical goods.
Toledo
293,520,900
Machinery, electrical apparatus, flour.
Flint
275,779,638
Automobiles.
Seattle
274,431,239
Flour, meat, machinery, lumber, ships.
Textiles, jewelry, machinery, dyeing.
Providence
267,629,283
Bayonne
260,602,109
Chemicals.
Youngstown
241,458,370
Iron and Steel.
Perth Amboy
230,658,263
Chemicals, fire brick.
Camden
218,165,277
Leather, Phonographs.
Paterson
216,659,174
Silk, dyeing, shirts.
New Bedford
210,773,312
Textiles.
Worcester
208,705,773
Machinery, shoes.
Bridgeport
208,089,797
Machinery, corsets, electrical apparatus, brass.
Louisville
204,565,727
Tobacco, cars, meat, pickles.
Winston-Salem
200,484,834
Tobacco.
Portland, Ore.
196,380,146
Flour, machinery, lumber, ships, bread*
October 10, 1923
GOLDEN AGE
Kansas City, Mo.
192,815,052
Bread, printing,
’ New Haven
125,455,547
Hardware, corsets.
butter, flour, coffee,
Denver
125.411,270
Meat.
clothing.
Canton
124,292,924
Itou and steel.
Columbus
184,021,849
Machinery, cars, shoes.
Trenton
122,477,987
Rubber, pottery, wire.
Lawrence
183,449,096
Textiles.
Racine
120,027,399
Agricultural imple-
New Orleans
182,798,561
Bags, rice, foods.
ments.
Dayton
174,990,607
Machinery.
Wilmington, Del.
121,039,617
Explosives, machinery,
Fall River
163,246,082
Textiles.
cars.
Lynn
160,905,792
Shoes, electrical
Hartford
118.002,693
Machinery.
machinery, leather.
Brockton
117,855,025
Shots.
Richmond
Syracuse
156,724,322
150,091^78
Tobacco.
Automobiles,
Memphis
117,717,829
Cottonseed oil, foods, cars.
Textiles, shoes.
St. Paul
149,638,290
machinery.
Machinery, butter,
Manchester
117,493,082
cars, shoes, flour, furs.
Lorain
116,908,616
Iron and steel.
Sioux City
146,393,134
Meat.
Atlanta
113,991,946
Cottonseed oil, food,
Reading
141,560.831
Iron and steel, knit
confectionery.
goods.
Grand Rapids
109,135,055
Furniture.
Yonkers
140,016,561
Bags, carpets, sugar.
Schenectady
106,531,182
Electrical machinery,
Lowell
137,801,538
Textiles, machinery.
locomotives.
Pawtucket
135.517,533
Machinery, textiles.
McKeesport
105,058,713
Iron and Steel.
X’assaic
129,073,484
Textiles.
Pontiac
104,990,133
Automobiles.
Cambridge
127,864,901
Automobiles, belting,
Lansing
104,722,115
Automobiles.
shoes, confectionery.
Kenosha
103,725,717
Automobiles. ‘
Birmingham
127,214,048
Iron and steel.
Tacoma
103,171,756
Flour, lumber. -
The Radio Telephone By Ralph H. Leffler
THE subject of radio is one which has claimed the attention of many people, especially so during the past year since the advent of radio telephony.
That it is possible to transmit the human voice, or any form of sound wave, from one station to another separated by hundreds of miles and without any visible means of communication, seems almost uncanny to many people. Yet it is no more mysterious than many other phenomena in nature which occur all about us daily, and which have ceased to be mysterious and wondrous because they have become common to us.
Every day the sun will rise, shedding his beams of light abroad over every living thing upon the earth. What is light and by what mechanism are the rays carried over the millions of miles of space intervening between the sun and the earth? Again, if we place some object upon a support, and then remove the support from under it, the object will move towards the earth; or we say it will fall. What causes it to fall? You say, Gravitation. But what is gravitation? We have seen these phenomena so often that we cease to wonder about them. Yet they are miracles, and just as much so as radio.
Many theories have been advanced purporting to explain how light is transmitted from one place to another, and how transmission of electro-magnetic waves without the use of interconnecting wires, as in radio telegraphy, is accomplished. But as to which of these theories is true, if any, time alone will tell. The one generally accepted by scientists at the present time is known as the ‘‘ether” theory; that is, an imponderable substance of some kind, known as ether, fills dll space and is the medium by which light and the electro-magnetic waves as used in radio are transmitted, just as water is the medium for the transmission of waves over the surface, and as air is the medium for the transmission of sound waves.
It was back in the 80’s that Hertz of Ger* many first discovered the possibility of setting up in the ether electrical disturbances which would travel out in all directions to a great distance. He used an induction coil to produce a high potential, and an oscillator consisting of two horizontal wires with a plate of zinc at each end. The zinc acted as the plates of a con-
denser. When they were charged by the indue- greatly different in other respects. They are tion coil, powerful electric oscillations were set evacuated to a much higher degree; and they
up in the horizontal wires connecting the plates.
These electric oscillations set up in the ether electro-magnetic waves or disturbances which were found to travel out in all directions and to a great distance. The action is analogous to the ripples that are set up in a pond of water when a pebble is cast into it. The ripples travel out in all directions on the surface of the water, in the shape of concentric rings from the starting point where the pebble dropped into the water. The only difference between these water waves and the electric waves set up bjj Hertz’s oscillator, is that in the case, of the pond of water the waves are material, can be seen, and travel only on a plane consisting of the surface of the water; while in the case of the electric waves, they cannot be seen, and they travel in all directions as from the center of a sphere, instead of in one plane as from the center of a circle.
Sound Waves Made Audible
AFTER it was once known how to create electrical disturbances in the ether, then in order to use them for purposes of communication it was necessary to know how to detect and intercept those disturbances and to transform them in such a way as to make them audible to the human ear. To accomplish that end required the effort and patient research of many inventors; such as DeForest, Zenneck, Marconi, Armstrong, Fleming, and others. Many sensitive devices to detect these electric waves in the ether have been developed.
It is largely due to these sensitive detecting devices of the present time that radio telegraphy and radio telephony are possible. The simplest of these is known as the galena detector. It consists of nothing more than a small copper wire making a point contact on a piece of galena, a mineral. This device has the property of transforming the high frequency electric waves to a lower frequency, so that they can be heard by the human ear.
The most sensitive detector in use at the present time is generally known as a "vacuum tube.” It has many other names, such as radio-tron, audion, triode, and electron relay. These vacuum tubes resemble an ordinary ten-watt electric incandescent lamp, in that they have a glass bulb and a small filament. But they are have two other elements, a plate and a grid, . 1 which play a very important role in the reception of electro-magnetic waves. When these vacuum tubes are used as detectors of electrio waves, their function is exactly the same as the simple galena detector, but of course many times more sensitive.
In order to transmit the human voice by radio, it is necessary first to have a transmitting station that is capable of producing power- । ful disturbances in the ether in the form of electric waves. These waves must be continuous and must have a high frequency, that is, must follow each other in rapid succession.
When these waves are used for telegraphing, they need not be continuous but may be broken up into groups for signaling. The frequency of the electric waves used by broadcasting stations at the present time, working on 350 meters, is 857,000 per second, which is far above audibility and much higher than any frequency found in the voice wave. This high-frequency electric wave is technically known as the "carrier wave." It is used to carry the voice frequency wave which is impressed upon it. This carrier wave can be produced by several different methods; by a high-frequency alternator, by a D. C. arc, or by large, high power vacuum tubes. The latter method is used by practically all broadcasting stations at the present time. These power tubes are being rapidly developed so that in the near future they will be used to replace the elaborate and bulky machinery in use by the high-powered trans-oceanic stations.
The voice musta next, be impressed upon this f carrier wave. This is done by speaking into an ordinary telephone microphone transmitter. This transmitter changes the sound waves into electric waves, which are then passed through several stages of amplification, then through a ; speech amplifier, and finally through special -modulating devices which serve to impress every minute variation of the voice upon the oscillators and the carrier wave. This modulated carrier wave then radiates but into space in all directions, and carries with it a faithful reproduction of the speaker’s voice—every tonal *
variation, the overtones or harmonies, and all the complexity of wave shapes and frequencies represented in that voice.
Voice Speeds as Lightning
HE voice has been given the wings of flight, and it now flies in all directions with the speed of light, or around the earth more than seven times a second! Truly wonderfull
The prophet Job was given a glimpse of this very thing when the Lord said to him: “Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?” (Job 38:35) Undoubtedly the Lord had reference to the radiophone, which we see before our very eyes today.
Before the listener at the receiving station many miles away can hear the speaker at the transmitting station, it is necessary for him to bring his receiving set into tune with the transmitting station. The action is analogous to the production of sympathetic vibrations in a tuning-fork. If a tuning-fork is set into vibration and if a second fork is brought into the field of the first, this second fork will start to vibrate sympathetically when and only when the second has the same natural vibrating frequency as the first; that is, when it is in tune with the first. Likewise, in order for a radio receiving station to hear a transmitting station, it must be so adjusted that its electrical vibrating period will be the same as that of the transmitting station. .
This electrical adjustment is called “tuning.” It explains why several radio stations may be transmitting at the same time, each using a different frequency from the others, and only one can be heard at a time—the one with which the receiving station is in tune.
Occasionally it happens that two stations will be working on nearly the same wave length; that is, at nearly the same frequency. When this'occurs, these two stations will interfere with each other, and neither one can be understood. It is for the purpose of preventing just such, interference that the United States Government has required all transmitting stations to obtain licenses and to transmit on certain designated wave lengths only.
When the operator of a receiving station has his set in tune with the carrier wave from the broadcasting station, he then may 'listen in” and hear every syllable and word that may be spoken into the microphone at the transmitting station. Or he may listen to an orchestra and hear every tone that is produced by the musical instruments, as well as he could if he were in the same room.
Such are the wonders of radio telephony! What radio holds forth for the future, can only be imagined. The possibilities are infinite. When it is written that in the Golden Age the law shall go forth from Jerusalem, it is certain that radio will play an important part in the fulfilment of that prophecy.—Isaiah 2:3.
Astronomical Observation By Lyle Crist
ACCORDING to the press, they have discovered a new star cluster, indicating for the known universe a diameter of 2,100,000,000,000,000,000 miles. Known by whom? Why, by us.
And that is the amusing part of it. Who are we? Mighty small fry; so small that I doubt our capacity ever to discover or comprehend anything except other small fry. An ant might get some idea of the cupola of one of the hotels at the foot of Pike’s Peak. But you know that an ant will never discover the whole Rocky Mountain range; and even if it did, it would only be starting to learn. So with us. I cannot get much exercised over our discovery of a new huge star. Any star we discover must be nothing more than a speck, relatively, in the great scheme of things. I am afraid that if we puny little creatures, with our weak little instruments, can “know” a universe 2,100,000,000,000,000,000 miles wide, the whole thing must be an infinitesimally small part of the main show. In other words, all of these discoveries just emphasize our own unimportance and comparative tininess.
Here we are, on a globe which, if the whole thing went up in smoke some night (but it will not), would not make a blaze that would look like a fire-alarm fire from the distance of Venus, the nearest planet. It would hardly be observed as far away as our sun; and that is a very short distance—only some 92,000,000 miles. Why, they have discovered one star, Betelguese, the diameter of which is three times the whole distance between us and the sun! Just stop and take that in. A star nearly 300,000,000 miles in diameter! Yet I contend that Betelguese must be relatively a peanut—if we Ettle creatures can measure it.
We human beings and our discoveries must be about like potato bugs and their discoveries. I imagine that a hundred years ago the potato bugs may have had a convention and exhibited a wonderful new telescope. Can you not see them all crowded together out there in the garden, with old Doctor Ten-Legs giving a demonstration of the powerful new instrument? "Gather around, boys, and take a look. Marvel of marvels!” What they see is the haystack in the back pasture. It is 21,000,000 potato-bug miles away. No such distance was ever dreamed of before.
A century passes. Again the potato bugs gather to witness the stupendous wonder of the ages, an instrument of such incredible power that through it they can see a distance of 47,000,000,000 potato-bug miles. The bugs draw near; and Professor Stripe-Back Crawl, Ph. D., the demonstrator of the new telescope, shows them the greatest discovery of all time. The bugs take a look and gasp in amazement; for through the telescope they have looked millions of potato-bug miles past the haystack—and discovered the bam on the next farm! Think of it—the bam! Probably within the next fifty years they will have discovered the town clock across the valley.
So do not get excited over what we have discovered of the universe. Probably all that we have seen is the haystack in the back pasture. Do not stick out your chest and proclaim loudly the “great” discoveries of “great” scientists; for, like the potato bugs, ’twill not be long before our present discoveries will seem insignificant. Soon the long-looked-for Golden Age will shed its light abroad; and then, when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the deep, we shall look back upon our “wonderful discoveries” as upon the work of a child.
A 144-Word Remembrance to 144,000 Foreheads (Ezekiel 3:8)
By Charles Henry East
Foreheads
Marked with the marks
Of confusion;
Scarred with scarlet letters;
Being bound with fetters Of earth and Christendom.
Spherical forms of bone
And withered skin, *
Seared by the flames Of creeds and sin.
Foreheads
That speak of lust
Untold.
Foreheads
That in disgust Tell of AGONY THEY HOLD.
Pale, wrinkled, thoughtlessly
Marked with fear,
At “all nations marching to Armageddon,*
At the time now here; .
Women of error, Men in fear!
(Revelation 17:5; 19:15; 14:9,10; 13:16; 9:4)
Foreheads
Marked with the marks
Of sonship;
Sealed with sacred letters;
Free from myriad fetters Of earth and christendom.
Shining forms of bone And glistening skin, Brightened by the flames That bum therein.
Foreheads
That speak of truth Now told.
Foreheads
That in their youth
Tell the message they hold.
Lustrous, shining, thoughtfully ;
Marked with cheer,.
At the TRUTH THEY POSSESS, At the time now here ;
Brothers in truth, Sisters of cheer. •
(Rev. 14:1; 9:4; 7:3; 20:4; 22:4; EccL 8:1J
Nation-Wide Neurasthenia By Dr. Melville J. Eames (Chiropractor)
to be a very simple thing, the smallest partide of matter in existence. But now they find that it is much more complex, in reality being a complete system in itself, consisting of a central nucleus with smaller particles or electrons revolving about it Any rise in temperature increases the rate of vibration of these electrons, thereby changing the condition of ths substance, just as water is changed into the gaseous state, steam.
To my mind this is an excellent illustration of modern civilization. Not long ago it seemed to be a more or less simple unit, like the atom; but now it is seen to consist of many parts revolving about it, just like the electrons, the whole comprising a complex system of its own. And not only that, but we see the heat of selfishness so applied, and the rate of vibration of its parts becoming so rapid, that its substance also seems liable to be converted into the gaseous state soon or in common phrase to "go up in smoke.”
The above condition has been recognized for some time and frequently commented upon by writers of prominence; but there seems to be a complication arising which is not so well understood. It is already being recognized as a dangerous condition; but its cause and remedy have not been found by those who are well informed on this simpler disease—“American neurasthenia.”
Readers of The Golden Age are now to be favored with a clear understanding of this new condition, while readers of many of the world’s greatest newspapers and magazines are receiving no real enlightenment, nothing but the confused and ever-changing ideas and hopes of the world’s statesmen, trying to remedy something of which they know not the cause.
Heart Beats Speeding Up
THE following news item from the Birmingham Age-Herald will probably be better understood and appreciated by the readers of The Golden Age than by the readers of the paper in which it originally appeared.
“Men’s Hearts Beat Faster Than They Did, States Physician. ■
“The general uneasiness of the period is reflected in the very hearts of men. At least the observations of Dr. W. W. Clapp, veteran Birmingham physician, who is the United States pension examiner for this district, point to that conclusion. _
NEURASTHENIA has been called “the disease of the American people.” It is a byproduct of this “brain and gold age,” or a result of the modern civilization of which this nation is so proud.
To be sure, the American people have many things of which they can justly be proud when compared with other nations of the earth. But our present system of civilization, a very complex one, contains many things which do not call forth the spirit of pride from even the “reddest-blooded Americans.”
There was a time when everything American was “the best” in the eyes of millions; but that was before the epidemic of neurasthenia and also, no doubt, “before the war,” when civilization was not so “modern”; that is, things were not done on such a large scale nor at such a rate of speed as they are today. With the increase of knowledge coming at the dawn of the new dispensation, all things began to expand; for “knowledge puffeth up,” and everybody and everything had to speed up to the limit, yes, even exceed the speed limit, in order to keep up with the expansion.
Now history shows that the American people have been a people of “nerve.” The most trying experiences through which they passed in the development of this country have served but to strengthen their “nerve.” But now something is arising which seems to be changing the “nerve” of the American people into "nerves,” the layman’s way of saying neurasthenia.
Civilization, with all its component parts, some more, some less to blame, is the cause of this disease. The nerves of the people have not stood the excess of speed. Selfishness in most cases has been the power which developed such speed. Love of money, pleasure, and fame are the parts of this complex system mostly to be blamed. The pursuit of these has exhausted our nerves until today we are styled “a nation of dyspeptics.” Our nerves are on edge'and are continually crying for more speed to satisfy their craving.
This is not a pessimist’s view by any means. It is merely the view of many sober-minded people who have slowed down enough to catch a glimpse of the scenery as they go by.
Of late, scientists have been speaking a great deal about the atom, which was once supposed
u
"Tlen'a hearts beat faster than they once did,' he •ays. 'There was a time/ Dr. Clapp declared, 'when the normal heart beat ranged from sixty-five to seventy-five, but now/ he continued, 'the average ranges ten beats to the minute faster and sometimes more/ He ■aid it was not unusual to find a man with a pulse beat of around ninety in comparatively good health. The pulse rate of most men now ranges from seventy-five to eighty-five, Dr. Clapp asserted. Dr. Clapp offered no explanation of this speeding up of men's hearts other than to attribute it to the general uneasiness of the period,” '
I believe Dr. Clapp's explanation of his observations is a good one; but almost any reader of The Golden Age could elaborate on this cause just a little, so that it could be better appreciated by the readers of the Birmingham Age-Herald and by Dr. Clapp himself.
I am naturally interested in viewing current events in the light of Bible prophecy; and so this statement regarding the general uneasiness of this period brings to my mind the words of One who also was a very close observer of human affairs, Jesus Christ.
Probably those who read this article in their morning paper did not know that “the period*' of which Dr. Clapp spoke was the same as that spoken of by Jesus in Luke 21: 25-28; namely, the closing days of the Gospel age and the beginning of the Golden age, better known as the Millennial age. Jesus had been observing carefully the conditions that existed at that time; and He was very plain and to the point regarding the things of which He disapproved. In this instance His remark about the destruction of the temple brought forth the question, ‘•'When shall these things be!” and as recorded in Matthew 24:3, “What shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the world (age] 1”
In answering their question Jesus said: “And upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”—Luke 21: 25, 26.
These words, “men’s hearts failing them for fear,” carry the same thought as the words of Dr. Clapp: “Men’s hearts beat faster than they did.” The only difference is that Dr. Clapp states the fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy.
BfeOOKLYW, W. Xa
Sometimes Knees Show Fear
IS THERE any one who has not experienced what fear will do to the heart! I believe that every one has at some time or other had his heart quickened by fear, and not only his heart, but probably the fear was manifested in his knees. While Dr. Clapp makes no mention of the condition of men’s knees at the present time, any lack of observation on his part, or ' that of any other examining physician, is more than compensated for by the foresight of the prophet Ezekiel: “All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.” (Ezekiel 7:17) Further on in his prophecy (21: 6,7) he states the reason: “Sigh, therefore, thou son of man, . . . and it shall be when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou! that thou shalt answer, For the tidings, because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord God.”
It is quite evident that the Prophet is referring to something which will cause great fear. Just what does he mean by the words, “Behold, it cometh”! He is referring to the same condition which Jesus said would cause men’s hearts to fail them for fear. It is the same condition recognized by Dr. Clapp when he says: “This speeding up of men’s hearts is due to the general uneasiness of the period.”
…