p. 206 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 13. (4/7/1914)

Earlier text: SCENE OF THE CONFLICT TRANSFERRED FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

The Living Message Making Healthy Progress

By H. H. Hall

THE EUROPEAN DIVISION EXTENDING ITS WORK AT HOME AND ABROAD

—THEIR PUBLISHING HOUSE PRINTING IN NINETEEN LANGUAGES—EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AMONG HEATHEN TRIBES BRING FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FROM THE NATIONS

THE manager of our book department, H. H. Hall, gives herewith a report of the splendid progress our work is making in the European Division. In previous issues he has told of the progress he has found in England and the Scandinavian countries. Next week he will tell us what he has found while visiting our publishing headquarters in Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

HERE in Hamburg is located the headquarters of what is known, in the Seventh-day Adventist plan of organization, as the "European Division Conference." This conference bears the same relation to this country and certain mission fields, that the North American Conference, with headquarters in Washington, D. C., bears to North America.

THE KAVIRONDO,—MISSION BOAT, VICTORIA NYANZA, EAST AFRICA

The territory in which it directs soul-winning work is 8,000 miles from east to west, and 6,000 miles from north to south, and includes all of Europe, the northern and western portions of Asia, and most of Africa.

GAINED ONE FOURTH IN A YEAR

Its membership is almost 30,000, of which 5,464 were won last year. Its work is in the hands of 680 ministers and gospel workers, assisted by the treasurers and office employees in its ninety-four local conference organizations, the doctors and nurses in its seven sanitariums and treatment rooms, the 200 workers in its publishing houses, and nearly a thousand colporteurs.

Its tithes and offerings for 1912 were more than four hundred thousand dollars, and its various institutions and missions show an investment of $1,836,197.94. Its mission work is attracting governmental attention, and its mission schools are so highly regarded that the entire school system among the 25,000 Wapares of Africa has been placed in its hands. But of this we will speak more specifically later.

Not far from the old university of Wittenberg, where Luther and Melanchthon taught nearly four hundred years ago, is their leading school, Friedensau. Beginning in a small way in 1899, it has steadily developed until it now has 250 students enrolled. It was my good fortune to be present at their graduation exercises, the other evening, and to catch a glimpse, through Brother Dail's translation of the various speeches and recitations, of the spirit of both faculty and students.

EARNEST MEN AND WOMEN FROM MANY LANDS

The graduation class of fifty was not made up of boys and girls, but of serious-faced, mature men and women, who had learned that "he that winneth souls is wise"; for between ninety-five and one hundred per cent of the students enter gospel work as soon as they leave school.

There I met and conversed, through signs and interpreters, with young men from Russia, Poland, Finland, Turkey, and Switzerland, all of whom seemed anxious to complete their preparatory work and return to their home land to assist in spreading the gospel message.

Yes, the cradle of the Reformation of the sixteenth century, of which Reformation the third angel's message is but the continuation and development, was at Wittenberg. The educational institution that kindles the enthusiasm and sharpens the weapons of the young soldier in this last reformation has its European headquarters in quiet, secluded Friedensau, only a few miles away. Appropriate, isn't it?

PLAYMATES IN FRIEDENSTAL, PARE MISSION, GERMAN EAST AFRICA

A mute testimony to the faith and good sense of the founders of this school is borne by the old barracks in which the students lived and carried on their work while the school was in its infancy. Buildings have been added from time to time as they were needed and the money was forthcoming for the purpose. With the large new building recently completed, the investment stands at $75,000, and the institution is nearly free from debt.

A food factory doing a business of $30,000 a year is operated in connection with the school. A sanitarium capable of caring for sixty patients, and an old people's home in which forty-five inmates are now cared for, are located on the school campus.

PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES

Reference has been made, in previous articles, to the publishing plants at Watford, England, and Christiania, Norway; but the International Tract Society of Hamburg is the largest of all, having an investment of

$190,000. It stands close to the Pacific Press and the Review and Herald in the value of publications issued, its sales last year being more than a quarter of a million dollars.

As I went through its shipping departments — foreign and domestic — in which eighteen men are constantly employed, and saw the shelves upon shelves of books, in nineteen languages, issuing from the Hamburg publishing house, I said, “Surely this gospel of the kingdom is going to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; for all these represent but one fourth of the tongues in which our publications are heralding the coming King.”

On the opposite page is shown the front of their office, in which the salesrooms and a portion of the editorial rooms are located. On this page is shown the new four-story concrete factory building, about fifty by ninety feet, but which has already been outgrown. Land has been purchased on which a bindery will be installed, together with such printing machinery as may be found necessary to keep up with the rapidly increasing demand for books and periodicals that give the only true solution of present-day problems.

LONG HOURS OF BUSY WORK

Brother Hartkop and his 118 associates were working long hours of overtime during the three weeks I was out and in at the office, and in fact they had just obtained permission from the government to work six days a week before the holiday season — ordinarily they are not allowed to work on Sunday. On my inquiry of one of the young men as to when he usually went home at night, he replied, in his broken English — and how I wished I could speak German half as well as he could speak English — “No regular time we have. We stop when the work done is.” That answer unconsciously spelled the spirit of the institution, and the reason for its success.

A THOUSAND COLPORTEURS DO FAITHFUL SERVICE

In the European Division as a whole there are nearly a thousand colporteurs, and their sales last year amounted to $424,000. The first copy of a tract in the Tigre language, entitled “The End of All Things,” was received from one of their missionaries in Abyssinia, while I was at the office. He had no press, and had therefore traced the peculiar looking characters with pen on a wax stencil, and neostyled, folded, and neatly bound the sheets. May it, like it predecessors, be blessed of God in bearing the gospel to those who know it not.

MISSIONS IN AFRICA

As has been stated, the European Division Conference conducts large and successful mission enterprises in Africa, in which they are combining gospel instruction with regular school and industrial work. Sister A. Kussner, their treasurer, placed in my hands the following facts relative to their progress and standing:

Field	Schools	Teachers (Wh. Ntv.)	Students	Value of Buildings
Pare — German East Africa	23	7 26	2,132	$ 5,272.44
Victoria Nyanza — German East Africa	24	10 18	2,334	6,799.19
British East Africa	5	7 30	833	3,317.31
Abyssinia	1		30	2,873.58
Total	53	24 74	5,329	$18,262.52

NEW ADDITION TO HAMBURG PUBLISHING HOUSE

They also own two boats, which ply between their different missions on Lake Nyanza, and several tents, which bring up the total valuation of their mission property in East Africa alone to $19,169.57.

ATTITUDE OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT

An interesting commentary on the attitude of the German government and mission societies in general to our mission work is afforded by the following incident: Last summer a special collection was taken up throughout Germany, called the “Kaiser’s Jubilee Collection,” in honor of the twenty-fifth year of the emperor’s reign. The money so raised was to be presented to the emperor, to be used by him for mission purposes.

Our people were not included among the mission societies who launched this enterprise, but decided that they would take up a collection at the same time for our African missions. The general committee of the other societies, hearing of this, invited us to send it in to them if we expected to be considered in the division of the large collection. The invitation was accepted, and the money, amounting to $6,250, was sent, our brethren not knowing what the division of the committee might be.

Imagine their surprise, therefore, when they were awarded $12,000 instead of the $6,250 they had raised. So instead of building five new Jubilee stations in Africa, as they had expected, they will now build ten. Verily “he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Shall we not both pray and expect that this experience may be an earnest of proportionate reapings from the liberal sowings in which the European Division Conference is engaged?

MAJITA CHAPEL, GERMAN VICTORIA NYANZA MISSION

Loyal Hearts in Borneo

By O. J. Gibson

THERE is a young man in Sandakan, Borneo, who had been connected for some time with a government hospital dispensary, and who became convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord. Shortly afterward he was promoted, and transferred to another place, with double his former salary. However, he was not satisfied to go on disregarding the Sabbath, and decided to resign, and return to Sandakan to learn what it meant to be a follower of Christ.

The manager of the establishment told him that he was very foolish to give up such a position to join the Adventists. Another raise in salary was offered him; but he replied, “I will not work in Babylon, even if I should get a hundred dollars.” O. J. GIBSON.

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TEA and COFFEE

By Daniel H. Kress, M. D.

Our Modern Beverages

THEY HAVE NO FOOD VALUE—ACT AS A WHIP, USING UP OUR RESERVES, BUT SUPPLYING NO POWER — CONTAIN A SLOW, INSIDIOUS POISON By DANIEL H. KRESS, M. D.

THE use of stimulants is becoming almost universal. For the future welfare of the race, it seems important that the injury resulting from their use should be clearly understood by all.

The word "stimulant" is derived from a Latin word meaning to goad or to urge on. A stimulant acts as a goad or a whip. It urges one on to do that which he feels disinclined to do.

By some, alcoholic beverages are employed for this purpose. Others, who are acquainted with the injurious nature of alcohol, resort to stimulating beverages against which there exists no popular prejudice.

WHEN FEELING AMBITIONLESS

When a person feels a lack of energy, or feels ambitionless, a cup of tea or coffee appears to impart new life. This has naturally led to the belief that beverages that are capable of exerting such decided effects must in some way impart energy. Yet they possess practically no nutrition. For instance, it would require all the nutritive properties contained in five hundred cups of tea to sustain a man for a period of twenty-four hours.

Stimulants can in no sense be termed foods, and can never take the place of food. They do not impart energy nor build up or repair tissue. Man derives energy from food, not from stimulants.

ASSISTED BY THE WHIP

The fact that stimulants are everywhere sought is evidence that the vitality of the race is at a low ebb. It is not well, however, for one who lacks energy, to resort to stimulants. The tired, worn-out horse, attempting to draw a heavy load, may be assisted with a whip, and may appear greatly improved and strengthened thereby.

The whip does not impart energy. It dissipates or draws upon the little that nature would wisely have reserved for other and more important purposes. All the energy we possess can not be expended in mental or muscular work. The organism needs to hold in reserve a certain amount for the heart, to enable it to pump the stream of life through the system. Some of the energy must supply the digestive organs, so that they may be able to digest the food. The function of the liver, the kidneys, etc., must also be sustained by it. To draw upon the supply held in reserve to carry forward the important work of these organs, must sooner or later result in serious injury, for upon their proper function the health of the body depends.

ENERGY GRANULES

The brain cells of a healthy individual are well filled with what are known as energy granules. After a hard day's work, instead of being plump and well filled, they possess only a few of these granules.

When the brain cells are in this state, mental and physical effort should cease, and the needed rest and sleep should be taken to enable the cells to be recharged. It has been observed, however, by users of stimulants, that when this feeling of fatigue occurs, a cup of tea or coffee apparently answers the same purpose as rest, for it imparts a feeling of strength, and causes the tired feeling to disappear. The cup of tea adds no energy granules to the exhausted cells. It merely enables one to utilize for muscular or mental effort the few remaining energy granules.

UNNATURAL AND DESTRUCTIVE METHODS

The habitual users of these beverages never afford an opportunity for nerve cells to become fully stored with energy. Fullness of life is therefore never experienced by them. Users of these beverages awake in the morning feeling tired, unrefreshed, and exhausted. They feel that they could much better dispense with breakfast than with the accustomed morning cup. Several hours are required for food to digest, and for the energy stored up in it to be liberated, while the cup of tea or coffee affords an immediate supply of energy by drawing upon the partially depleted nerve cells.

WORKING ON BORROWED CAPITAL

It is evident that the slave of these beverages is carrying on business on borrowed capital and must eventually become a mental and nervous wreck. The modern use of such stimulants no doubt accounts in part for the many nervous diseases and the rapid increase of insanity.

A POISON IN REALITY

The real constituent that is responsible for the stimulation experienced by the tea and coffee drinker is an alkaloid or poison, and is almost identical with others that we frown upon. Thein is derived from the tea leaf, caffein from the coffee-berry, theobromin from the cacao seed, strychnin from the seed of nux vomica, morphin from the poppy. These all act upon the nervous system in such a manner that one dose invites the second, the second invites the third, and the third demands the fourth. Thus these habits become fixed, and we do not realize that we are slaves to them until an effort is made to abandon them.

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The Dangers of Careless Speech

"The majority of us talk too much. An indiscriminate, helter-skelter, pell-mell method of talking is far from being helpful to true piety; and a loose, slipshod, reckless way of speaking works havoc in many directions. It reacts on the one speaking, hurts the hearer, and oftentimes injures the subject of the conversation. How ready we are to express an opinion concerning things about which we know but little! How quick we are to see the mote or flaw in somebody else, how ready to justify ourselves even at the expense of others!"

NAIL PRINTS

By B. M. Grandy

MUTE WITNESSES OF LOVING SERVICE

By B. M. GRANDY

IN a home in one of the beautiful mountain valleys of Idaho there dwells a typical Western family. As the summer season is short, the pleasant hours of the fleeting days are filled with the busy labors of the farmer and his family, "putting up" the hay, storing and canning the fruits and vegetables, and otherwise arranging for the long, cold winter, with its deep snows and its months of enforced inactivity.

THE ELDEST IS A CRIPPLE

Mother Nature grants reluctantly of her treasures in this rigorous climate; so the home, in common with others in the valley, is necessarily humble. But being far removed from the fashion-and-pleasure-loving centers of population, the wants are few, and are easily satisfied. The family is large, the mother's health is delicate, and much of the work in the home falls upon the willing shoulders of the older daughters. The oldest, yet in her teens, is a cripple; but with alacrity seldom witnessed in those who are whole of limb, she hurries from one place to another, preparing the food for the family, doing the other housework, or helping the little ones to solve their childish perplexities. When visiting the home, one no doubt would notice many nail prints on the uncarpeted floors—nail prints so close together that the end of one's finger could scarcely be put down without covering one or more.

Each nail print marks the spot where the point of Annie's crutch has pierced the floor; and I wondered, as I beheld her activities in ministering to the wants of those about her, how many of the nail prints witnessed to errands of helpfulness crowded into her unselfish life.

Added prosperity may bless the farmer's thrifty efforts, a new house may replace the old, oiled and carpeted floors may take the place of the nail-scarred boards; but the memory of the nail prints will not be replaced with others more beautiful, for that memory recalls to mind a beautiful character, the most enduring of the things of earth—or heaven. Nail prints! Perhaps, reader, in fancy you have already viewed those other nail prints—nail prints that witnessed to a life of love and sacrifice as high above our feeble comprehension as heaven is higher than the earth.

NAIL PRINTS IN THE HANDS

Nail prints—not on the rough floor of a home, but in the hands of One whose every act was one of helpfulness, whose every thought was for others' welfare! Hands beneath whose tender touch the wasted frame of the sufferer pulsated with newfound vigor, and the clammy coldness of death was replaced with the glow of abundant life! Ministering, helping, loving hands, maimed by nail prints inflicted by the ungrateful recipients of their bounty! Nail prints scarring the feet of One who trod the path of sorrow alone! Feet whose prints would honor the courts of the throne-room of the sanctuary above, yet which willingly trod the dusty, stony paths on the sinful earth below! Feet that ever trod the pathway leading to the homes of the needy, weary, thirsty creatures of earth, and finally up the dark sides of Calvary, where the sacrifice of the ages was made!

Nail prints to be beheld through eternity, silent witnesses of that transcendent sacrifice, a sacrifice of love! O, so spotless, pure, and holy!

Through eternity, made glad by the songs of praise from the immortal lips of earth's redeemed! No tap, tap, of the crutch, in the streets of the holy city of God! No puzzled stare of the unhearing deaf! No strange signs made by the hands of the dumb! No sickness, sorrow, pain, or death—the heritage of sin! Only joy! But still the nail prints in the hands and feet of the loving Saviour mute witnesses to a great love that saved, and saved to the uttermost!

"I shall know Him, I shall know Him, As redeemed by His side I shall stand, I shall know Him, I shall know Him, By the print of the nails in His hands."

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