MANY complain that their prayers are not answered. They say, “I pray daily, but the answer does not come.” Some, because of this, have grown discouraged and ceased to pray.
Now there are conditions in prayer. Jesus says, “What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. To receive answers to our prayers we must believe God. Do you believe? or are you like the woman who prayed for a mountain in front of her door to be removed, and on arising in the morning found it there, just as she expected? The Lord has asked those who lack wisdom to “ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:5-7. Is this your trouble? Are you restless, fretful, and vacillating, like the waves of the sea? Do you possess a sort of “up and down” experience, believing today and doubting tomorrow, hoping God heard you, but not quite sure, wavering between doubt and certainty? If so, the Lord has said you will not receive anything. Your part is to believe.Can’t you believe God? Can you find a single instance in all God’s dealings with men where he ever failed to keep his word? Until you can put your finger on one single promise he has failed to keep, you ought to believe God, and rest in his word.
Another reason why some prayers are not answered is that we ask amiss. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3. The motive is wrong; we pray with a selfish purpose, for our honor instead of God’s; so, in order that we may not be inflated with pride and be lost, the Lord withholds from us the thing which we covet. The Pharisees prayed on the street corners to be seen of men. Their prayers were misdirected, they were intended to be heard of men, rather than of God, so they were rewarded accordingly. There is much in this. We should direct our prayers aright if we wish them to be answered. G. B. THOMPSON.
Kobe Sanitarium, Japan
By B. P. HOFFMAN
B. P. HOFFMAN
The past year has been the most prosperous year for the Kobe Sanitarium that it has had in the eleven and a half years of its existence. In the wonderful recoveries that have been witnessed it cannot be doubted that God is blessing the work.
Last year the manager of a copper mine, having heard of the work of the sanitarium, sent to it his daughter, who had temporarily lost her mind. The best nurse in the institution was put on the case, and the girl's affliction was made the subject of prayer. Besides administering suitable treatments, her attendants began to tell her about God and his salvation. She at once showed an interest in what she heard, and from the first week her mind showed a change for the better. Soon she began to join in the daily prayer seasons. She was in the sanitarium about four months, and while here she gave herself to God. She then returned home, and again entered school with apparently the normal use of her intellect. Naturally her parents were impressed, and they also were led to study the Bible, with the result that her mother has given her heart to God and has been baptized.
Another case was that of a young man who had had tuberculosis in his thigh ever since he was a boy five years of age. He had been to many hospitals, and had numerous operations performed, but apparently with no good result. When he came to the sanitarium, he had been in bed for three years, and his thigh and the flesh of his abdomen were literally honeycombed with holes issuing pus and odors that made it hard for one to stay in the room with him. His case did look hopeless, physically and spiritually, for he did not know what faith in Christ meant. All he relied on was a superstitious belief that three stones which he carried with him continually would bring him some help. Even this case yielded to the power of prayer, joined with patient nursing and the use of treatments and cleansing methods; and after four months, only four holes remained where there had been thirty. This sufferer also learned to believe in Christ, and was the means of his brother's conversion. All this was some years ago, and now the man whose life was despaired of is married and has three children. Also others of his relatives have been won, and are among our most faithful workers in this cause.
Of course many are helped physically who do not become believers before leaving the institution; but the seeds of truth have been sown in their hearts, and may some day take root and grow.
I have had interesting experiences with some of those who have come to our home for instruction in the Bible. One Chinese who speaks English well has studied faithfully, and has accepted every point of the truth so far presented. He has now decided to keep the Lord's Sabbath. He came from Shanghai last fall, and, being ill, was directed to our sanitarium. As he could not understand Japanese, he came to me, desiring to hear about our principles of health, and from that was led to hear present truth also. He now plans to return to China, and has a desire to tell others of the new things he has come to believe. To show his appreciation of the Bible, he bought a number of Bibles and presented them to the Kobe church for missionary work.
At present I am studying the truth with the son of a Japanese baron, who comes regularly three times a week. He is a well-educated man, and known for his literary ability. The interest expressed on his countenance as we read the Word is an inspiration to me, and helps in my endeavor to explain the meaning to him with my imperfect use of the Japanese language.
West Africa
By W. H. WILSON
W. H. WILSON
I AM SURE the brethren and sisters of other lands will be glad to hear something about our little school here in the hinterland of Sierra Leone, West Africa.
School work was started here Sept. 24, 1914, and although the rice harvest has taken most of our students from us, yet we are thankful for the success already achieved. As you know, the heathen tribes of Africa are wholly given up to superstition and devil worship, and we are right in the midst of one of these tribes. I see some manifestation of the renewing power of the truth on a few of our students. Two have given up smoking. But the work cannot be done in a day, for Satan has taken a firm hold on the minds of both young and old, and so much the more now when he sees that some efforts are being made to emancipate them from his yoke.
Here is an instance which shows how firmly devil worship has taken hold of the people. On my way to school one morning I saw nine women in one of the baras (native courthouse), with their feet in the stocks. Being shocked at the sight, I asked a man near by why the women were thus treated. He told me that the women in the town were having a big sacrifice to a krefe (devil) who required that before the sacrifice could be accepted every woman with child in the town should be stocked and compelled to abstain from food for at least twelve hours; and that as soon as the women who carried the sacrifice to the krefe came, these women would be released. How terrible it is to serve Satan! And yet so few will accept the Saviour!
After this explanation I continued my walk to the school, which is being held in a bara until a permanent building can be procured. There are vast fields yet to be worked here in West Africa. Let us pray that some of these devil worshippers may be redeemed, and numbered among the 144,000 to meet the Lord when he comes in the clouds of heaven.
Mamunta, Sierra Leone.
Tent Meetings in Brazil
By F. W. Spies
F. W. SPIES
Ever since the work of presenting the third angel's message to Brazil's millions began, the question of how to reach the inhabitants of the large cities has been studied. Efforts were made to induce the people to attend services at our various meeting places, and halls were rented in which to hold lectures; but owing to religious prejudices on the one hand and scorn and persecution on the other, it was hard to get even a few to attend such meetings.
In the early part of last year a series of tent meetings was begun in connection with our union conference session at Santo Amaro, a small suburb of Sao Paulo. This series of meetings was a success, and a church was raised up as a result. But still the question remained unanswered, Will the tent also solve the problem for our large cities? Experience, however, seems to be demonstrating that the large meeting tent is the way by which we can reach the multitudes living in our large cities.
Tents are at present being used in the two largest cities of Brazil, one in the capital, Rio de Janeiro, with a population of over a million, the other in Sao Paulo, with 350,000 inhabitants. In the former place, where the tent is pitched in a suburb, from 125 to 150 have been attending. In Sao Paulo, where the tent is pitched in a much-frequented part of the city, from three hundred to four hundred is the usual attendance. So far the best of order and attention has been observed by those in attendance, and we are not only greatly encouraged, but very thankful, that the tent offers a means of reaching hundreds at a time with the message, even in Catholic Brazil.
Both tent companies use the magic lantern to quite an extent in illustrating the subjects treated, and this, of course, tends to increase the interest.
In conclusion, I would remind our brethren and sisters at home that the prayer of the righteous availeth much, so do not grow weary in praying for the work in these mission fields. All the workers in all the fields need your sympathies and your prayers, and it is a source of great encouragement to them to know that you are praying for them.
Home Efficiency
By Mrs. C. C. Lewis
MRS. C. C. LEWIS
An article from the pen of Edward Earle Purinton, in a recent number of the Independent, contains some timely suggestions on this subject, which is of vital interest to all our readers:—
“Efficiency is the keynote to success in any line of activity, and efficiency depends upon our home life. Energy is perhaps the most important bodily factor in efficiency. Energy is a product of pure, wholesome, abundant food, properly chosen, combined, and prepared; of sound, refreshing sleep in a quiet, clean, airy, restful room; of comfortable, hygienic clothing made of the right materials in a manner that becomes the individual; of daily bath and exercise; of rest and relaxation in the evening, away from business and in the company of those you love. These things must be had from the home.
“At least forty per cent of man’s efficiency lies in the hands of women. . . . The most valuable mental trait in efficiency is probably enthusiasm—a blend of courage, optimism, kindliness, and alertness. These qualities are manufactured daily as by-products of a normal household. . . . Home is the great power house of human electricity. Our nerves are the wires, our emotions the currents, our actions the manifestations of light, energy, and influence carried from home. . . . In a power house we employ the highest-priced electrical engineers, to handle the machinery with faultless care. But in a kitchen we hire cheap maids totally ignorant of the digestive machinery, the science of marketing, the principles of household economy, hygiene, sanitation, organization.
“Certain articles for home use cost less from mail-order houses, others cost less from local dealers. Which are they, in each list? At certain seasons of the year, bargains may be had regularly, in clothing, furnishings, foods, and so forth. Do you buy accordingly? In the kitchen, there is a science of utilizing ‘scraps,’ and leftovers. Have you learned it? A pound of beans, of whole-wheat grains, or of nuts contains from two to three times as much pure nourishment as a pound of best steak, and costs perhaps half as much. Do you consult modern tables of food values in ordering the daily meals?
“In this violently practical age, when even schools and churches are made for utilitarian purposes, the home is the only place where we can satisfy our souls with grace of line, symmetry of form, harmony of color, beauty of texture, poetry of symbolism. . . . A cottage costing $3,000, planned by an artist for the needs and the tastes of the members of the family, is a better investment than a $30,000 mansion void of the magic touch of refinement and affection.
“Hurry is the chief cause of worry, and a home is the haven of rest where we can smile at our haste, and watch the world go by. . . . One of the sure tests of a real home is that the very thought of it relaxes our nerves, mind, muscles, and gently and firmly restores our peace and faith in the goodness of God’s great plan.
“Real education starts with inspiration, leads to action, and ends in satisfaction of teacher and taught. The inspiration comes from a mother’s heart, the action must be guided by a father’s strength and skill.
“By hospitality I . . . mean the outflow of heart and overflow of spirit which moves you to give a feast to the poor, to search out and hearten up the victims of a ‘hall room’ desolation, to throw your doors wide open to the waifs in the street. A home is not a home until it shelters the homeless. The reason is a secret; you must find it out for yourself.
“One of the first duties of a mother is to make her children proud to wait on her. But, alas, few mothers learn this until they are too old to begin and too tired to care. Each member of a family has certain duties and responsibilities to every other member. These are usually ignored, and often violated. . . . When ‘family pride’ is changed into community feeling, and community feeling grows to be race fellowship, we shall have made the home what it should be—a starting point for service.”
Home Life Department
By Mrs. C. C. Lewis; Miss Lora E. Clement
Conducted by Mrs. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
Assisted by Miss Lora E. Clement
Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.
Quarantined
“Show me no more!” exclaimed the doctor reluctantly. “It is scarlet fever,” he continued, and our hearts sank.
Father looked at me, his eyes betraying the unspoken fear felt by both of us, as I held in my arms our only son, a golden-haired darling of less than two years.
While he lay in a fevered sleep, the good doctor, in his quick professional way, helped us make plans for the nursing of him, and for the protection of the other children.
I was to be isolated with him, for we could not afford a trained nurse. And how could his mother have given him up to the care of another?
I was stunned. The props and stays, the necessary settings of my life, were suddenly withdrawn, and left me benumbed and bewildered.
I looked up, and there was the little jacket he had worn in the morning. It was night now, and my heart ached. The little jacket was like a living thing, suddenly becoming of priceless value.
Father came for his good-by before we were closed in room quarantine. Our eyes met in unspoken question. How shall it be when we meet again? How shall it fare with our baby toddler?
We had been shut in a good many days,—days of ceaseless anxiety and watching for me; to my child, days of suffering and pain.
“Muvver!” and the blue eyes were big and wistful. “Yes, darling,” and two little arms were held up imploringly.
With God’s help the battle had been fought and won. The doctor had made his farewell visit, saying, as he departed, that with careful nursing all would be well.
I now had time to think, to wonder what lessons this pause in my busy life held for me.
There were always duties that filled every hour with their unceasing demand on strength, brain, and heart. Could it be that I had been too much occupied with doing the things that perish with the day?
Did the crown of motherhood sometimes press so hard that I failed to wear it with the grace and the sweetness that belonged to it?
Yes, I needed a vision—a clearer view into my own soul, and the tonic effect of this standstill.
The voices of my little girls came to me as they rang out in merry play downstairs. Ah! the wise training that their active young lives must have, the tender guidance needed for their busy little feet! Surely, nothing but the power of God was sufficient for these things. Of course I had thought all this many times before, but it seemed to me then that never had I felt it so keenly, so insistently. And the little prattler in the room with me, was his life to count for good or for evil? My purposeful, my earnest prayer was that his young voice should proclaim the gospel news, and his willing feet carry the message of peace.
“It largely depends upon the mother,” a dear old lady had once said to me, “whether the boy makes a fighting Ishmael or a praying Samuel.” I walked to the window and looked out at the mountains which were now bathed in their sunset glory. Tomorrow the quarantine would be raised, and baby and I would be welcomed into the family life once more. To my eyes it seemed as if out there lay the Delectable Mountains, so magically had twilight turned all into the softest tints of violet. And out there, too, I knew lay Vanity Fair.—The Lutheran.
The Third Angel's Message Must Be Given to the Jews — No. 3
WHILE on a tour recently among the cities in the Western New York Conference, I saw what I have seen manifested many times in the past, the kindly feelings of the Jews toward our people, their willingness to hear the message, and their desire even to help our work.
In Sayre, Pa., is a very wealthy Jew who had learned of our people. Brother Baum desired very much that I should meet him. I went to see him, and a more pleasant man it would be difficult to find. On entering I gave him the Jewish salutation, Shalom ale-chem (Peace be to thee), and immediately the man was pleased. For three hours we talked about present truth, and as I opened up to him the oracles of the Bible, and showed him that Seventh-day Adventists are the real and the true Jews, and are fulfilling the Scriptures today, the man was pleased and helped. How hungry and interested he seemed! And he was glad and grateful for the light that had come to him. He was willing to hire a hall, and have us give the message to all the people in the town.
He came to meeting that night, and at the close of the service he called Elder Baum aside, and asked him how much was yet to be done on the church our people are now building. When Elder Baum told him what there is yet to do, he told Brother Baum that he would pay for the laying of the sidewalks. He also told me that any time we would hold meetings in the town, he would gladly hire a hall and pay for it. Seventh-day Adventists appeared to him in a new light, and he saw that they are a people who have the truth of God, and are really the true Israelites.
While in the city of Elmira, N. Y., I, with Elder De L'horbe, called upon a Jewish woman who had shown some interest in the message. While visiting with her this woman's niece came to the house, and for about two hours we talked with these two Jewish women about present truth. The Spirit of the Lord was present with us, and while the young lady raised many objections to popular Christianity, she seemed interested to learn that the Seventh-day Adventist people believe in many points as do the Jews. One of them came to the service that night, and she felt deeply impressed that this is God's truth and the Lord's message for today.
At the close of this service a man came to me, and told me that he was a Jew. He said he had been looking for light, and had visited nearly every church in the city. He told me that his wife had seen the announcement of the service for that evening, and wished him to attend it. He said that he greatly appreciated the truth that he had heard, and felt thankful that there was light from the Word of God even for the Jews in these days. He expressed himself grateful for the message, as he saw many things in the Old Testament in an altogether new light.
The Jews have hitherto thought that the Gentiles have nothing whatever to do with the Old Testament, and they have always believed and have been taught that the New Testament is the only book that has anything to say about the Saviour. But when they see that the New Testament is simply a key to unlock the treasures that are contained in the Old Testament, their eyes are opened, and they see wonderful light in the Word of God. This is exactly what the prophet of the Lord said would come to pass; and in so far as we follow the light the Lord has given to us, we shall surely prosper and be blessed in this work.
Although the Jew will not go to Christian churches, he will read; and we believe that when he once reads about Christianity and becomes somewhat enlightened, he will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to go to the places of worship where this message is preached, to find out more concerning it. The Testimony says, “The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day.”—The Acts of the Apostles, page 381. But we must work in right lines for this people.
We are fully convinced, therefore, that one of the greatest efforts we can put forth in behalf of the Jews is a publicity campaign. We need to place in their hands our literature instructing them who we are and what we believe. We must endeavor by the help of God to create within them a desire to know what true Christianity is. We must cause them to forget error by placing truth in their hands. If they will not come to us, we must go to them.
While holding meetings recently in the city of Buffalo, I gave our people instruction as to the best methods of working for the Jews. At the close of one of the meetings a sister who had been present at this instruction meeting, told of her call at a Jewish home that day while canvassing. When she wished to show the book, she was told that the woman was a Jewess. Then she told this Jewish woman that she also was a Christian Sabbath keeper, and kept the Sabbath of the Lord and believed in all the prophets. She was at once invited in, and the sister said that the instruction she had received the day before was not only timely, but very helpful in enabling her to gain access to that Jewish home and heart.
We are now preparing a magazine in the Yiddish language, which we hope will be ready before long, and we trust that our dear brethren and sisters will do all they can to circulate this among their Jewish friends and neighbors. We are also working with other literature which we hope will be out soon, that this people may become known among the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Dear brethren and sisters, pray for the Jews. Remember the poor lost sheep of Israel. When Jesus was here, he had compassion on them. Matt. 9:36. Why?—Because they were as sheep without a shepherd. What was then true is also true today.
If any of our people desire information that will enable them to answer the objections they will meet in working among the Jews, we shall be pleased to give such help as far as we are able. Address Jewish Department, F. C. Gilbert, Secretary, South Lancaster, Mass.
South Dakota
By E. T. Russell
THE work in this conference is being prospered as well as could be reasonably hoped for considering our limited corps of laborers. As a result of the efforts put forth since January 1, many have embraced the truth.
At the beginning of the year Brethren Lair and Weatherly held a series of meetings in Mitchell, and at the close of the public effort ten persons were baptized and united with the church. Elder Lair then left, but Brother and Sister Weatherly remained and followed up the15work. Many others are now ready for baptism. We expect as a result of what has been done and is now being done that there will be more than twenty added to the church at that place.
Elder C. F. Cole has been holding a series of meetings near Monroe, and as a result of his labors there, eleven or twelve have accepted the message and cast their lot with this people. With those who were keeping the Sabbath before the meetings began, there will be a company of about thirty, which can soon be organized into a church.
Elder Lovold has been laboring near Breckenridge, and six have begun the observance of the Sabbath. They are contemplating building a church.
Brother and Sister M. E. Anderson went to Clear Lake in January and began a series of meetings, and as a result there are at that place about fifteen earnest believers in the message of the soon-coming Saviour. Brother Anderson is now conducting meetings in the school district near Clear Lake, where he is hopeful of good results.
Brother C. W. Rubendall conducted a series of meetings not far from Oldham, where two or three who had not walked in fellowship with this people for some time, reconsecrated themselves to God.
Brother R. H. Wiper entered Sioux Falls late last autumn and continued to labor there, being assisted since March 1 by Elder Lair. As a result of this effort fifteen have been baptized, and the prospects are favorable for ten or fifteen others to be baptized and unite with the church in the near future. Brother and Sister Wiper will remain there to follow up the work until camp meeting.
Sister Mary McGuffin reports three new Sabbath keepers in Line, S. Dak.
A hall has been rented in Aberdeen, and Elders Lair and Rubendall will hold a series of meetings at that place beginning April 11.
Every one of our field workers has seen fruit of his labors during the past quarter. We pray that the good work may continue until our blessed Lord says, “It is finished.”
We are planning on having seven companies in the field this summer. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.” E. T. RUSSELL.
A. R. OGDEN
By A. R. Ogden
Iowa
For the first quarter of 1915, we are glad to see some evidence of success and progress in the work. Elder McNay, who is closing up his work preparatory to answering a call to Africa, has held a successful series of meetings at Algona. Fifteen are reported as having accepted the truth at this meeting. It will be a great loss to our conference to lose Elder McNay at this time.
Others of our ministers have held successful series of meetings, among which I might mention those held by Elder E. W. Wolfe at Waukon and Lansing. The Waukon church, I believe, is the oldest one in the Iowa Conference, but for many years it has received but little attention. He reports about twenty-five having promised to obey the truth in meetings recently held at that place. Brother W. K. Smith is holding a successful series in the country near Bridgewater.
Elder V. B. Watts, following our workers' meeting in Nevada in January, held a successful series of meetings, and has since visited other places. Nearly all our workers are reporting encouraging results from their endeavors, so the year 1915 promises to be one of a good ingathering of souls in the Iowa Conference.
Financially, the work is all that we could expect. Our mission funds for the first quarter exceed those of the same period last year by a little more than $800, and the tithe has increased over $2,500 for the first quarter, making the increase thus far for the year a little more than one thousand dollars a month in tithe and mission offerings. We are also receiving some good gifts for the relief of our conference association obligations. Our institutions—both the sanitarium and the academy—are well filled and are doing good work.
We have bought or erected five new church buildings, and fitted up two chapels for regular services, since the close of our last summer's campaign. The two new buildings are in Council Bluffs and Davenport, and each is fully representative of the cause for which it has been erected. The three other buildings were bought from other denominations at very reasonable prices.
A. R. OGDEN
F. H. WESTPHAL
By F. H. Westphal
Chile
Despite the fact that we have very few facilities with which to work, we are doing something for the Lord in this dark land, for surely there is no field where there is greater need. During the past year a new zeal for missionary work seems to have possessed our churches, and many baptisms have been reported. About one hundred and fifty new members have been added to our churches. Of course some of the seed of truth falls on stony places, among thorns, and by the wayside, but other falls on good ground, and for this we praise the Lord.
During the past year some of the Araucanian Indians have taken an interest in our work, and a number have made great sacrifices to unite with us. These Indians are courageous indeed, and willing to do anything and risk their all for the Lord.
Our work is really growing rapidly, yet much more slowly than we wish it were. We are trying to organize the home missionary work here in Chile, and our members are doing well, though of course we cannot expect to perfect the organization as you have in America.
The war has brought hard times to this country, as the saltpeter business was almost entirely paralyzed, Germany being the principal customer. We are hoping, however, that trade can soon be established with other countries. Mrs. Westphal is spending the vacation months in Pitrufquen, but will return to the school in Pua in April. She is the mother of the school, and is always busy.
F. H. WESTPHAL
Among the Schools
By Frederick Griggs
Walla Walla College
I FOUND a great climatic change in thirty-six hours, in going from our school in Lacombe, Alberta, where the thermometer was hovering around zero with deep snow, though with plenty of bright sunshine, to Walla Walla, with its spring warmth, open doors, and lawns beginning to green.
Walla Walla College is experiencing a very prosperous year. Its college work is being rapidly developed. There will be a good graduating class from the college course, as well as from the other courses, this year. Every department of the school seems to be in a healthy, growing condition, and faculty and students are very enthusiastic in the upbuilding of all the phases of their work.
I was pleased with the interest in the development of different industries in the school. Steps were taken at the annual board meeting, which was held at the time I visited the school, to strengthen these lines of manual education. A good spiritual atmosphere prevails. All this, with a united faculty, and a spirit of harmony and cooperation existing between it and the board of management, augurs well for the future of this school.
I was favorably impressed with the class of students of Walla Walla College and their courteous manner in the homes, in the classrooms, and in and about the buildings. Our faculties have a large work in teaching the principles and developing the habits of courtesy and proper etiquette on the part of our students. These young men and young women who are to go into homes all over the world, should be taught to do the right thing at the right time, and form those habits of manner and courtesy which not only make life's companionships more agreeable, but make the entrance of the truth easier.
Laurelwood Academy
With Professor Lawrence, the educational secretary of the North Pacific Union, I left Walla Walla to visit the academies of the union. We first went to Laurelwood Academy, which is located four or five miles in the country from Gaston, a little town about thirty miles from Portland. It is situated on a hillside, and the view from the buildings is a very pleasant one. The abundant winter rains keep everything green.
This school has twelve grades of work, and the faculty of Walla Walla College say that they get some of their best students from it. Quite a community has grown up around the school, and yet there seems to be a spirit of harmony and cooperation. The school has an enrollment of over one hundred. There are three main buildings,—the academy building, the young men's dormitory, and the young women's dormitory. These buildings seem in a good state of repair, and a spirit of thrift and order prevails not only throughout the school, but around the premises.
Portland Intermediate School
From Laurelwood we visited the Portland Intermediate School. Our people in Portland and the immediate vicinity have erected a very pretty and commodious school building. They are at the present time employing three teachers, and there is an enrollment of eighty or ninety students this year. The work of these ten-grade schools, thoroughly done, is of inestimable value not only to the pupils themselves, but to the upbuilding of the cause. When they finish these grades, the pupils must naturally go to the training school before entering the work. The eleventh and twelfth grades in the training school make them acquainted with the work of the college, and there is a strong tendency for them to continue their work through the college courses. The demands for well-trained workers make it imperative that we should encourage our young people to take work in our colleges. In these training schools the education which they receive by associating with young people from other States, and often from other countries, is a very broad and helpful one.
In such a city as Portland we are glad to see a school thus affiliated with the training school of the union conference. Many of our other churches in cities would do well to follow the example of the Portland churches in the establishment of similar schools.
Forest Home and Meadowglade Academy
Upon leaving Portland, we visited the two academies of the Western Washington Conference. These academies have not been prospering financially for some time, and each of them has quite a heavy debt resting upon it. The conference committee, together with the president of the union conference, took up the matter of reorganizing the management of these schools at the time we were present. At a previous conference meeting it had been voted to ask the churches where these schools are located, to take over their management, and conduct them as tenth-grade church schools. At each place steps were taken to carry out this action, and the churches have undertaken to carry forward the work of these schools on their own responsibility. There is a large church connected with each school, and there is little question that if care is exercised in the management of the school, an excellent work will be carried forward without the heavy financial loss which has resulted in the past. Some of these experiences only emphasize more fully the necessity of not endeavoring to carry the eleventh and twelfth grades in our academies unless the income from them fully covers their expenses.16
In order to make our school work successful it is necessary that we should cooperate closely. The General Conference has, on at least two occasions, taken action advising against the conducting of the eleventh and twelfth grades in our academies, save in exceptional cases. Generally speaking, our ten-grade schools are financially successful, and they increase the attendance, and so help the finances, of the training schools. In the development of our school work it is necessary that we shall observe this spirit of cooperation in all the grades of our schools.
Royal Academy
Our next stopping place was the Royal Academy, located at Cottage Grove, Oregon. This school is about five miles from town. It carries but ten grades, is doing thorough class work, and has always been financially successful, so that it has not been a burden to the conference. At this place there was held, while we were there, an enthusiastic Missionary Volunteer institute. During the winter Professor Lawrence held a series of these institutes throughout the North Pacific Union. Such meetings in connection with our schools are of much value, as they serve to bring the large number of young people in these different localities into working order with the young people the world over. Through the Missionary Volunteer work and the schools, we hope greatly to increase the resources of our conferences and Foreign Mission Board, for, after all, the greatest asset which this denomination has is its youth.