Yet another phase of the worship of “the god of this world,” included in “the pride of life,” is the worship of Mammon, or riches. And this is not by any means least, though it is the last one in the list. For is it not written, “The love of money is the root of all evil”?ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.3

This is so wrapped up with that phase of “the pride of life” which was noticed last week,—ambition, self-exaltation, self-aggrandizement, gloriosus,—that it is, in great measure, inseparable from it. For there is nothing that gives worldly glory so quickly, so easily, and so abundantly as money; and there is nothing that gives power so quickly and so easily as does money. All this, simply because Mammon is such a familiar deity to mankind, because mankind is naturally so worshipful of Mammon. And yet it is all idolatry; it is all a denial of the true God; it is a breaking of the First Commandment, which says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” For, says Jesus: “Yet can not,“—not, Ye ought not; not, Ye should not; but,—“Ye can not serve God and Mammon.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.4

Since the true worship of God is to love God with all the heart, and all the soul, and all the mind, and all the strength; and anything that draw away either the heart, soul, mind, or strength to it, and comes between man and the true worship of God, is another god; so the allowing of money, the desire for money, the love of money, to come between a man and his true service to God, is the worship of Mammon. And to allow the desire for money, the love of money, to separate a man from true Christian thoughtfulness, and care of mankind temporally and eternally, is the worship of Mammon; it is to have another god than the Lord; it is to break the First Commandment.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.5

The distinction may be clearly drawn by saying that the keeping of the First Commandment is the being right, and doing right, with no thought whatever, at any time, as to what it will cost. No amount of money can ever have any consideration whatever in any question of serving God; in any question of loving God with all the heart, or our neighbor as ourself. And yet everybody knows that “What will it cost?” does have a positive bearing with the vast majority, even of professed Christian people, upon the exercise of their love to God with all the heart, and their neighbor as themselves.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.6

But to allow this question to have any bearing whatever is the worldly way. It is not of the Father, but of the world. For with the world the first question is always, “What will it cost?” “How much can I make?” In all the dealing, all the traffic of business relationship, in the world, the way of the world, and the inquiry of the world, is only, “How much can I make?” And if more can be made by oppressing the neighbor, the oppression takes precedence of the love of the neighbor; and the neighbor is deliberately robbed.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.7

If a neighbor begins business of the same order as that of a man who has already begun, he is deliberately underbidden, undersold, that, if possible, he may be crowded completely out of the business, in order that the first one may be left alone, to have all, in order that he alone may be rich, and have the worldly glory of his little kingdom of the crossroads. And those that have succeeded most fully at this, form gigantic combinations to crush out, or absorb, all lesser ones, until there remains but one vast combination drawing tribute from all the people in the nations, and even of the whole world.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.8

But God has written of it all that “he is a proud man” “who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathered unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people;” “that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil.” But “shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his? how long?” “Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee.” Habakkuk 2:5-9.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.9

This is all “the pride of life,” which is not of the Father, but is of the world. It is all Mammon worship. And since the literal, original meaning of the word “mammon” is “that in which one trusts,” it is particularly appropriate that these various combinations, which crush out all individuality and demand tribute of all peoples, should be called “trusts.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.10

Yet the most gigantic of the “trusts” is but the extreme of that trick of trade held by the individual, by which, to get the trade, he undersells and crowds out the man across the way.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.11

The most gigantic “trust” is but the extreme of that trick in trade by which the individual or the little partnership or corporation asks more for a thing when there is no competition than would be asked if there were competition. Whosoever, without competition, demands a greater price than he knows that he would take if there were competition, is an exactor of unjust gain. And “he that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.” Proverbs 28:8.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.12

The most gigantic “trust” is but the extreme of that trick in trade on the part of the individual, by which, through his beating down, or “jewing,” he tries his best to get a thing for less than he knows that it is worth. “It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.” Proverbs 20:14.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.13

The organizer or the president of the “trust” who boasts in his enormous gains is no more an idolater and a sinner in this thing than is the individual who, in his degree, and to the extent of his power, does the same thing precisely. If he had the ability, or the power, of the organizer or the president of the “trust,” he would be doing precisely the same things that he is doing now, only in the larger measure that would be his, as the head of a mighty corporation. And so certainly is it true, as written, “In the world, the god of traffic is the god of fraud.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.14

All such is but the worship of Mammon; it is idolatry; it is to have another god before the Lord; it is not of the Father, but is of the world; it is neither loving God with all the heart nor the neighbor as the self. “If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; if I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; ... this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.” And this equally and as really as if I were a worshiper of the sun and the moon. Job 31:24-29.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.15

There is a better way: it is the way of the keeping of the commandments of God: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It is the way of Christianity: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” You know that you do not like to have a man work a scheme upon you, by which he requires you to pay for a thing more than he would take for it if there were competition. You know that you would not like to have people “jew” you down to take for a thing less than you know that it is worth. Put yourself in the other man’s place—and stay there. Look at things from his side, and continue to do so. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” This is Christianity; it is the keeping of the First Commandment. Yea, it is the keeping of all “the law and the prophets.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.16

Nor is it hard to do this. It is the easiest thing in the world for him who has the heart to do it. And God gives the heart to do it; as it is written: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.17

“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” “Our of Egypt have I called my Son.” “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.18

“Another Brief Review of ‘Passing Events’” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 78, 12, pp. 184, 185.

ALL who have been readers of the REVIEW for the past three years know that we have constantly called attention to the fact of a national apostasy from republican principle, which has been going on in these United States. It is true that a few have thought that this was “too much politics;” but we knew that it was not politics at all, but principle of divine truth, and of prophecy. The prophecy had declared long ago, and shortly ago, that such would be; that there would be, in this nation, an apostasy from the truth, a repudiation of republican as well as Protestant principle of government.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.1

In the REVIEW of Aug. 30, 1898, under the general heading of “Passing Events,” we called attention to “A Quiet Revolution” that was even then going on in the United States. We cited some facts that had occurred the week before in a great convention at Saratoga, N.Y., in which the lines were drawn between the maintenance and the repudiation of the principles of the Declaration of Independence: the force of the argument resting in favor of the Declaration, but the weight of sentiment being overwhelmingly against it. We then said: “This occurrence is only an illustration of the situation all over the country. And by this is perfectly plain that there is a great and most dangerous revolution going on before the very eyes of the American people; and they are even helping it on, while they do not discerned it.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.2

“Under the false impression that revolutions can be accomplished only by violence invisible upheaval, the American people are even now passing through a revolution, and are in danger of finding themselves in the clutches of a new and strange power before they realize that any such thing is going on at all.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.3

“We have already shown the course of the Roman Republic, and how the American Republic is going over the same ground precisely. And just now it should not be forgotten by any member of the American Republic, that the Roman Republic passed through the despotism of two triumvirates, the second far worse than the first, each ending in the despotism of one man, and then passed into the ‘furious and crushing despotism’ of the Roman monarchy, all in the name of the republic. All this occurred inside of forty years, before the eyes of all the people, while they were pleasing themselves with the fancy and the name that they were still a republic.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.4

“Even when Augustus had become emperor, this fiction was played by him before the eyes of the people; and the people were pleased with it. For, as Gibbon most pointedly remarks: ‘Augustus was sensible that mankind is governed by names; nor was he deceived in his expectation that the senate and people would submit to slavery, provided they were respectfully assured that they still enjoyed their ancient freedom.’ Upon this safe assumption, he accordingly deceived ‘the people by an image of civil liberty, and the armies by an image of civil government.’ He was eminently successful, and both people and armies congratulated themselves upon the greatness, and the new and wonderful career, of the Roman Republic!”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 184.5

From that day, Aug. 30, 1898, to this day, March 19, 1901, the progress of this revolution has been as steady as has been the ticking of the clock. And this revolution is now so fully accomplished that, in principle, there is nothing more to be done: all that remains is the practice of the principles which have been officially adopted and promulgated by the government of the United States.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.1

In the United States Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1901, and in the House of Representatives, Thursday, Feb. 28, 1901, there was enacted as law, for the governing of the Philippine Islands, the following:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.2

All military, civil, and judicial powers necessary to govern the Philippine Islands acquired from Spain by the treaties concluded at Paris on the 10th day of December, 1898, and at Washington on the 7th day of November, 1900, shall, until otherwise provided by Congress, be vested in such person and persons, and shall be exercised in such manner, as the President of the United States shall direct for the establishment of civil government and for maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of such islands in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and religion: Provided, That all franchises granted under the authority hereof shall contain a reservation of the right to alter, amend, or repeal the same.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.3

First of all it is to be noticed that this is a distinct abandonment of the Constitution, and a distinct abdication of its powers by the Congress of the United States. For Section I of Article I of the Constitution of the United States says:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.4

“All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consists of a Senate and House of Representatives.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.5

Secondly, Section I of Article III of the Constitution says:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.6

“The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.7

Now, when the Constitution definitely confines to Congress all legislative powers granted, and to a supreme court, and such inferior courts as may from time to time be provided, all judicial powers; and then Congress passes over to, and vests in, “such person and persons... as the President of the United States shall direct,” all civil and judicial powers necessary to govern territory of the United States, that is nothing less than for Congress so far to abdicate its own powers; and, so far, to take away from the courts their powers. It is also a clear abandonment of the Constitution of the United States, so far as the Philippine Islands are concerned, and, in principle, so far as any place is concerned.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.8

Nor is this abandonment of the Constitution merely tacit, by the wording of the law relating to the government of the Philippine Islands. It is explicit, and was repeatedly confirmed.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.9

For an amendment was proposed, to the Philippine section of the bill, as follows:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.10

SEC.—That the Constitution of the United States is hereby extended over and declared to be in force in the Philippine Islands so far as the same or any provision thereof may be applicable.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.11

This was rejected, by a vote of thirty-nine to twenty-three; not voting, twenty-six.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.12

Afterward there was offered the following amendment:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.13

And provided further, That no judgment, order, nor act by any of said officials so appointed shall conflict with the Constitution and laws of the United States.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.14

That amendment was rejected by a vote of forty-five to twenty-five; not voting, eighteen.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.15

After this an amendment was offered requiring that:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.16

Every person in whom authority is vested under this grant of power shall take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.17

This was also rejected, by a vote of forty-one to twenty-five; not voting, twenty-two.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.18

After this there was offered the following amendment:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.19

All persons shall be bailable unless for capital offenses where the proof shall be evident or the presumption great. All fines shall be moderate, and no cruel or unusual punishment shall be inflicted. No man shall be deprived of his life, liberty, or property but by the judgment of his peers and the law of the land. If the public exigencies make it necessary for the common preservation to take the property of any person, or to demand his particular services, full compensation shall be made for the same. No ex post facto law or law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be made. No law shall be made which shall lay any person under restraint, burden, or disability on account of his religious opinions, professions, or mode of worship, in all of which he shall be free to maintain his own, and not burdened for those of another.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.20

This, too, was rejected, by a vote of forty-one to twenty-three; not voting, twenty-four.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.21

When, thus, it had been voted, over and over again, to bestow unlimited power upon such persons as the President shall name to govern the Philippine Islands, then attempt was made to limit the time of the exercise of this power. Accordingly, an amendment was offered, limiting this time to March 4, 1903. But this was rejected by a vote of forty-three to twenty-six; not voting, nineteen.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.22

When it had been so positively decided that unlimited power should be given to these men,—and for unlimited time,—an attempt was made to give the Filipinos a part in the government of themselves. Accordingly, an amendment was offered as follows:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.23

And secure to them such participation in the affairs of the civil government so to be established as shall be consistent with the safety of the government.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.24

But this was rejected by a vote of thirty-nine to twenty-three; not voting, twenty-six.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.25

When it had thus been explicitly and confirmedly settled that the powers of such men as the President shall appoint to govern the Philippines, shall be unlimited; shall be unlimited for all time; and shall be absolute over the people of the islands, attempt was made to save at least a vestige of Constitutional liberty, as follows:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.26

Mr. Hoar: Mr. President, there is one principle of Constitutional liberty not yet slain, and I desire to give it a little chance for its life. I move the amendment which I send to the desk, to be inserted at the end of the bill.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.27

The Presiding Officer: The Senator from Massachusetts submits an amendment which will be stated.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.28

The Secretary: It is proposed to add as a new section the following:—ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.29

“In the government of the Philippine Islands no person vested with legislative powers shall ever exercise the executive or judicial powers, or either of them; no person vested with executive powers shall ever exercise the legislative or judicial powers, or either of them; no person vested with judicial powers shall ever exercise the legislative or executive powers, or either of them; to the end that it may be a government of laws and not of men.”ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.30

The Presiding Officer: The question is on the amendment of the Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Hoar] to the amendment of the committee.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.31

Mr. Jones, of Arkansas, and Mr. Pettus called for the yeas and nays.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.32

The yeas and nays were ordered, and the Secretary proceeded to call the roll.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.33

And even this last principle of Constitutional liberty was slain. It was rejected, by a vote of forty-three to twenty-six; not voting, nineteen.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.34

See the whole account in Congressional Record dated Wednesday, Feb. 27, 1901.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.35

As already stated, the next day the House of Representatives passed this legislation, as it came from the Senate, without any change whatever. And since it was all done at the demand of the President, of course it was all approved by him when it came before him to be signed. And thus the government of the United States has, in principle,—and for the Philippines in practice,—deliberately and expressly repudiated every principle of its Constitution as a republican government. Not a single item, nor even an iota, of the principle of republican or Constitutional government remains.ARSH March 19, 1901, page 185.36

March 12, 1901

March 26, 1901