Treasured by many older Seventh-day Adventists is the memory of a personal acquaintance with Ellen G. White. A few people living today were associated with her in service, some heard her speak, others have not forgotten even a casual meeting. Unfortunately, the larger number among the ministry of today have not had the privilege of personally observing the lifework of Mrs. White.
Such, however, may gain much of that feeling of personal acquaintance through reliving with her the stirring beginning days of the movement, pioneering with her in many lines of denominational endeavor, traveling with her in lands overseas, watching her write, hearing her speak, and sharing her joys and sorrows as she so vividly recounts the high points of her remarkable life story. This is all graphically told in her autobiography, "Life Sketches of Ellen G. White," the Spirit of prophecy volume for the 1941 Ministerial Reading Course.. An intelligent knowledge of the experience, objectives, and accomplishments of the Lord's messenger is indispensable to the fullest appreciation and clearest understanding of the Spirit of prophecy counsels.
Principles of Liberty in Jeopardy
When the character of a nation crumbles, the only defense against injustice and oppression is gone, and a craven people cower before the force of corruption and intolerance. Governments are what the people make them. The world of today is faced with an unprecedented moral breakdown. With the collapse of character has come the loss of liberty.
Centuries of struggle were needed to gain for mankind its most priceless possession. Only a few months, and even days in some countries, have sufficed for its loss. Before this cataclysmic change, a bewildered world seems helpless and hopeless. Under the opiate of sin, men seem not to recognize the subtle nature of the workings of the enemy. No protest is made when liberties are brazenly bartered away for apparent social security. Temporal advantage is considered of greater worth today than the "intangible" liberties for which our fathers fought.
As never before the world needs the essential knowledge of true liberty. Every minister should know that he may with power proclaim anew the principles of freedom. Every church should be a center from which the message sounds forth. Today these principles may be proclaimed; tomorrow may be forever too late. Great issues will soon be met and decided—and in the decision our own freedom is involved.
The new Ministerial Reading Course book, "Forty Centuries of Law and Liberty," by Varner J. Johns, professor of Bible, College of Medical Evangelists, is filled with essential material for meeting the great issues of our day. A greater battle than the Battle of France or the Battle of Britain is the Battle of Freedom. We must be ready to act our part in this conflict.
Modern Science Verifies Creationism
Ever since Charles Darwin captivated the scientific world with his arguments in favor of natural selection as the principal agent in the evolution of new species, men have been looking for proofs that the present life of the earth came from simple ancestors. Theory after theory has been propounded, and wave after wave of speculation has surged across the sea of scientific knowledge. In it all, there has been a hopeful looking for the coveted prize—the positive evidence in favor of evolution. Yet, in all the speculation, there has been the continuous note of hopeless confusion and despairing uncertainty.
When Mendelism came to the front in the first decade of the current century, it was hailed as the savior of the evolutionist faith. But it was not long before scientists began to realize that Mendelism was conservative in its conclusions. Instead of proving evolution, it indicated a tendency toward preservation of existing types rather than production of new ones. So strong was this tendency that, in 1916, M. Caullery, of the Sorbonne University, declared that the evidence would almost lead one back to creationism.
The second decade of the century saw a resurgence of evolutionary faith, as new knowledge of genetics was brought to light. But with the third decade, it has been discovered that the newer knowledge has been decidedly in favor of conservatism rather than liberalism in scientific dogma. The results of the work of Russian and German geneticists have been published, and with their work has gone the work of English and American researchers. No less an authority than Austin H. Clark, of the Smithsonian Institution, recently declared that, while there is evidence of abundant change within the groups of animals, there is not one scrap of proof for the origin of one group from another. High authorities like Goldschmidt admit reluctantly that the modern data of genetics give little or no help in explaining the alleged course of evolution.
The history of the whole evolution question, with a summary of the latest findings of scientists which take the supports out from under the theory of evolution, as also a discussion of the scientific aspects of creationism, are all discussed in the new Ministerial Reading Course book, "Genes and Genesis," by Harold W. Clark, professor of biology at Pacific Union College, Angwin, California. In this volume, the author gives the results of years of intensive study on the problem. He shows the importance of the newer genetic studies, and their bearing on the problem of the origin of species. The work is strictly scientific, yet holds to the absolute orthodox Adventist position of creation in six literal days. Every worker in this cause will find it profitable to acquaint himself with the facts in the case, and learn the true strength of scientific evidence for the creationist viewpoint.
"Typical Evangelistic Sermons"
Further information regarding the fourth Reading Course book for 1941 will appear in the December Ministry. We plan to reproduce Elder W. G. Turner's introduction to the book, and hope to include miniature pictures of the eighteen evangelists whose sermons constitute this volume.
