Does the great Protestant world possess the knowledge of the Word of God which it had a quarter of a century ago? That it does not is the charge brought against it by its opponents. The New Orleans Morning Star, a Catholic paper, says:—
There was a time when our Protestant friends, if they did talk rather loud and long about the Bible, at least possessed a close, first-hand acquaintance with their Scriptures.
This time, however, the Star feels has long since passed, for of Protestants today it says:—
Our scattered brethren still scatter Bibles as the sower scatters seed; but the ranks of those who personally read and study and know their Bible—as Protestants once did—are becoming attenuated almost to the vanishing-point.
The New York Weekly Witness of Dec. 27, 1911, quoting the above extract, comments as follows:—
We fear there is far too much truth in this accusation, and it is a very serious accusation. Romanism or any other form of religion that recognizes human authority as the basis of its beliefs, might exist without the Bible; but evangelical Protestantism exists because of the Bible, and could not continue to exist without the Bible. In proportion as the Bible loses its hold on the affections and on the consciences of men, religion ceases to be evangelical.
We are led to wonder to what extent this charge is true as applied to Seventh-day Adventists. Do we study and understand the Scriptures of truth as we did forty or fifty years ago? Then our position was under constant fire. We were driven into close quarters by opponents, and were obliged to know for ourselves the reasons of our faith. On the part of many we believe that there is a growing interest in the study of the Scriptures of truth. We feel, however, that with others there has been a falling back. It is time for us all to return to the old-time spirit, and search the Scriptures daily, that our minds may be stored with the precious truths of God against the time of need.
A Soldier of the Last Legion
By A. W. SPAULDING
A. W. SPAULDING
THE tread of marching feet is stilled,
Our banners for a moment stand,
While, for the last, we touch the hand,
And breathe the farewell God has willed.
Not again shall the trumpet’s ring
Call thee, comrade, into the fray;
Thy service ends with the ending day;
The morn shall disclose thy guerdoning
King.
Just as the rim of the red sun dips,
Just as the black night’s terrors fall,
Thou hearest the voice of another call,
And the blade from thy hand reluctant
slips.
Just as the sun goes down in the west,
And the bugles blare for ordered rank,
With girded loins, in the trenches dank
We leave thee, comrade, awhile to rest.
For the lines are arrayed, and the great
trump’s voice
Is sounding the grand charge o’er and
o’er,
And Christ’s last legion is faced to the
fore;
Our place is with them; we have no
choice.
This night shall see on the field of time
The final struggle, the victor-stroke;
And the far-stretched pall of the battle-smoke
Shall dispel to the music of heaven’s
chime.
God rest thee, comrade; grief is o’er:
Thou fellest o’erwhelmed in the heavy
fight.
But, victory-bound through the last
fierce night,
Christ’s last legion is faced to the fore.
Cholo, Nyassaland
By MRS. S. M. KONIGMACHER
MRS. S. M. KONIGMACHER
My husband has met with an accident, and I am writing a few lines to tell you about it.
The mission was obliged to buy five tons of corn this year. Brother G. A. Ellingworth bought it from an Indian about twenty miles away. He was unable to get carriers to transport it to the mission, and the Indian asked him to take it away. So my husband volunteered to take thirty-five schoolboys, go to the Indian’s place, build a grain store (native style), and transfer the grain to the roadside, so the oxen could be put to a cart, to haul it in.
He left here Sunday morning, reaching the village about two o’clock in the afternoon. They had a session of school with the boys, and bargained for a new native hut in which to place the grain. This saved building the grain store. On Monday they transferred a ton of corn, and held their school session. On Tuesday they carried two tons to the house, and the third ton was also put in bags and carried quite a distance, for the early Wednesday trip home. One ton had been brought to the mission, three were left with a watchman, and the fifth was brought on here.
MR. AND MRS. S. M. KONIGMACHER
When my husband was within eight miles of home, the donkey was frightened, and, turning quickly, threw him off. The saddle also slipped, so that he had quite a fall, breaking his right arm just above the elbow.
He obtained a machila (stretcher), and was taken on it to the nearest house, where he found a doctor who had come to get a blackwater fever patient. The doctor set the bones, made some splints of bamboo, and bound it up.
He was exceedingly fortunate to have a physician’s help at once. Yesterday he went in to Blantyre to have the arm properly bound and to get good splints.
The accident was on Wednesday morning. Thursday he taught his classes as usual in school, and held a lantern lecture and prayer-meeting in the evening. Friday he conducted vespers, and on Sabbath day held three church services.
Conditions are not always especially pleasant, but God’s work must go, and the people must be warned; and if we, by our feeble efforts, can do any good in this land, may God have all the glory.
The Hindu Lawyer
By Percy C. Poley
PERCY C. POLEY
During my residence in this land of Hindu temples and Mohammedan mosques, it has been one of my objects to discover how far the religious beliefs of the Indian people have been translated into their deeper and inner life. I have been careful to observe what real sincerity of religious purpose lay behind this display, these customs, and the support given to their Systems of worship.
It is easy to learn this. Educated Indians frankly tell you that only a small proportion of the people are earnest seekers after that good which they suppose they will find in the religious system to which they adhere. The rest go no farther than to observe the customs it imposes. Many would neglect even the latter were it not that they would lose standing in their community.
How our hearts are moved when we meet and talk with some Hindu who by his devotion to a heathen philosophy, thinks to obtain that reward which it promises! How gladly would we see him resting upon a better hope!
I have in mind a certain Hindu lawyer who used to visit me evenings for Bible study. His interest had been awakened by the writings of Hindu sages, in which Jesus is described as a spiritual man. The Hindus affirm that Jesus is ranked with others who were spiritual from their birth, and could act as guides to those choosing to learn of them the art of attaining to the spiritual life.
It will come as a surprise to many that Hindu philosophers have written of Christ in this way. Need I say, however, that the Christ of the Hindu writers is not the Christ of the Holy Scriptures? Only as Christ is presented in a correct doctrinal setting, does he become life to us. When the gospel of atonement is preached, the wonder-working power of God is revealed.
CATTLE AT NYASSALAND MISSION (BROTHER ELLINGWORTH IN THE REAR)
Among the religious Hindus the words salvation and spirituality are used often; but not in the Christian sense. Salvation to them means the end of the cycles of transmigration in absorption into the Godhead. The spirit is said to survive the13body at death, and to pass into another state of life in this world; the spirit of man has lived in the body of the insect and other inferior beings. These errors appear again in the meaning they give to the word spirituality. It is the attribute of the man who desires and seeks the highest attainment of the spirit,—to lose his individuality by becoming one with the spirit of the Hindu god.
These beliefs and many others were held by the lawyer who came to me to learn what the Bible reveals of the teachings of Jesus. Unhappily he had never read the Bible for himself, and I could see that many of the things I read to him in answer to his questions were fatal to his preconceived views.
He believed that if he had lived in the time of Christ, he would have found in him a guide. Jesus, I told him, was more than a guide. He was a Saviour from sin. Now, to a Hindu, trained in a peculiar philosophy, such a distinction has little importance. “That means the same thing,” suggested my companion in the Bible study. He had little conception of the real nature of evil, and the presentation of the necessity of salvation from sin through the work of Christ, was full of difficulty.
One part of the conversation has written itself indelibly upon my mind, because it revealed something of the strength of his inner desire to obtain salvation, that salvation which accorded with his own view. He practised certain “manners” daily for one-half hour. The word was his own, and I inferred that he meant religious exercises. I asked him to explain what these “manners” were, but he was disinclined to do so. He lamented that the claims of his business calling did not allow him to devote a longer period to these exercises. When I asked if he hoped to obtain salvation by the employment of that half-hour, a sad, hungry look came into his eyes, and he said “No!” so quietly and solemnly; this was followed by silence. It was evident that retirement from business life was, in his opinion, the only thing favorable to the spiritual life of the Hindu.
How joyous to the Christian is the realization that, by the grace of God, he is able to serve Jesus faithfully and acceptably while living the busy life to which he is called. Indeed, diligence in business according to the Bible rule, is the only thing consistent with the holy life. Even Jesus himself served the Father faithfully while working at the carpenter’s trade.
Before I left his city, this lawyer had expressed a determination to obtain a copy of the Scriptures. I hope to learn some day, provided this earnest intention is followed up, that a precious soul has been born into God’s kingdom of grace.
These lines may reveal a little of the struggles that are passed through by those who, in their unsatisfied longings, are searching for truth. May they enlist our more earnest sympathies and prayers on their behalf.
Our Dumb Friends
By Edith H. Bourchier
O MEN and women, turn with hearts of pity
To help the animals, whose wordless cry
Goes up from country lane and crowded city,
Pleading a little kindness ere they die!
They yield us all their strength and their obedience;
They toil for us from dawn till setting sun;
They give us faithful love and true allegiance;
What do we give them for the service done?
O ye who preach of Christ, his cross and passion;
O ye who teach the children how to pray,
Teach them God's infinite, divine compassion
For all things living underneath his sway!
Let us not, then, neglect them in our blindness.
They do not need so much of whip and goad.
They need a little love and human kindness
To help them on their long and weary road.
— Edith H. Bourchier, in Dublin Mail.
Importance of Early Training
By GEO. O. STATES
GEO. O. STATES
“AND when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maid walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.”
When the child had grown, and was tending “the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian,” the Lord said:— “I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”
Who can estimate the influence of early training in the preparation Moses received for the great work God had called him to do?
My earliest impressions in life are those given me by my praying mother. In 1852 my father and uncle went to California, and my mother and aunt lived in the same house. An Adventist minister held meetings in our schoolhouse. My mother did not attend the services, but my aunt became interested, and coming into our rooms, talked the truth. Finally mother told her she did not care to hear any more, that the good old Wesleyan Methodist Church satisfied her. My aunt did not again mention the subject to her. This worried me so that I used to leave my play, go into the bedroom behind a curtain, and, kneeling by a large trunk, say, “O Lord, those commandments! O Lord, those commandments! O Lord, that Sabbath! Help my mother to keep it.”
Finally my mother went to my aunt and said, “My sister, if you have any light for me on this Sabbath question, I want to understand it.” Soon mother commenced to keep the Sabbath, and was baptized. Mother always had family worship. My father made no profession, but usually knelt with us in prayer. Mother’s quiet home life soon led father to accept the message.
In my long experience in the ministry I have seen the importance of early training in many homes. About fifteen years ago I visited a family one member of which was a little girl two years of age. She was playing that she had prepared a meal, and invited me to eat with her. When we were seated, she waited a moment looking at me very earnestly, and then said, “You say it,” meaning that I should say grace. I was embarrassed and answered, “You say it.” With her it was all a reality. She bowed her head, folding her hands reverently, and repeated a little prayer she had learned.
This family always had morning and evening worship, and would never partake of a meal until a blessing had been asked. Such impressions with little ones are never forgotten.
We live in a time of rush and worry:14and there is danger of our becoming so burdened with the cares of this life that we may often neglect these important Christian duties. We owe it to our children to give them the training that will prepare them to go out and endure the temptations of life.
Cedaredge, Colo.
Eczema of the Hands
“I HAVE eczema of the hands, with intense itching, sometimes thickened skin and cracks. Please tell me what to do for my condition. J. W. P.”
TREATMENT.—This condition when present, should never be given up as incurable; but the longer it has stood, the more difficult it is. The general idea that the local condition must be treated first, is a wrong one. Try to discover the cause of the disease, and remove it. Especially investigate the diet, the condition of the digestive organs, and the eliminative organs of the body. If the cause is a dietetic one, especially avoid fats, sugars, preserves, pickles, and fried and rich foods. Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, cocoa, confectionery, hot bread, cheese, and coarse vegetables should not be indulged in. Starchy foods may also have to be discarded. Eating between meals is harmful. The quantity of food taken may often with advantage be limited, and the intervals between eating be lengthened. The simpler the food, the better. Water-drinking should be encouraged, from six to eight glasses being taken in the twenty-four hours. Fruit-juices, milk, and buttermilk are also good drinks. Thorough daily elimination by way of the kidneys and bowels should be insisted upon. Water-drinking is best of all for flushing the kidneys; if medicine must be taken, castor-oil at night is a cathartic which may be used. General hygienic measures should be vigorously maintained.
Local treatment is also necessary. A good procedure is to wash the hands morning and night with a one-per-cent15solution of a carbolic preparation called lysol, after which apply a soothing application such as equal parts of lime-water and sweet-almond oil, or a paste consisting of equal parts of boracic-acid powder, starch, and bismuth subnitrate. After applying either of these preparations, bandage the hands well with strips of old soft cotton. Repeat this local treatment until the condition has been relieved.
As a further protection of the eczematous patches during labor, gloves, finger-stall, or bandages may be worn; or the fingers may be dipped in some protective oily solution, or they may be dusted with lycopodium-powder. Avoid too frequent washing the parts with soap and water. Paint fissures or cracks with compound tincture of benzoin or with collodion. A useful paste to apply in these cases is made of ten parts each of glycerin and water. The above preventive measures will lessen the itching, but the following ointment is especially recommended for this:—
Five drops of carbolic acid, one dram of cacao-butter, and vaseline or lanolin enough to make one ounce. Add four drams of lead plaster. This may be applied several times a day.
Burns
“Scalded hands. Please give treatment. H. P.”
TREATMENT.—If the burn is superficial and there is a mere reddening and smarting of the skin, cover the area with a paste made of bicarbonate of soda, and bandage. If the skin is burned to a blister or is partially destroyed, saturate some gauze in a one-per-cent solution of picric acid, apply to the area, cover with cotton, and bandage. This may be repeated till the pain has largely ceased. Care should be taken, if the burn is deep or the area large, that the patient is not rendered toxic by absorption of the acid applied to the burned parts. When the pain has ceased, remove the picric-acid dressing, and apply a powder composed of equal parts of boric-acid powder and bismuth subnitrate, and bandage; or one may use a dressing of gauze wet in boric-acid solution, which dressing should be resaturated with the solution as often as it dries. If blisters form, they should be pricked near their bases with a needle held a moment in a flame to sterilize it. If pus appears on any part of the area, cleanse with a one to one thousand bichlorid of mercury solution, apply a few drops of peroxid of hydrogen until the foaming largely ceases, and apply a boric-acid wet dressing as mentioned above.
Burns of a severe nature should be referred to a physician as soon as possible, though the boric-acid wet dressing may be applied in any case until the doctor arrives.
Do the Neighbors Feed Your Children
By David Paulson, M. D.
DAVID PAULSON, M. D.
Most parents gather their children about the family board two or three times a day for their regular meals. They do not depend upon their children’s being fed by accident or given food by kindly disposed neighbors.
But children “can not live by bread alone.” They have spiritual natures that require regular, systematic, and do properly prepared food just as certainly as their physical natures need it. There are many Christian parents, however, who so far overlook this certain necessity that they are willing to depend upon Sabbath-school teachers and other kindly disposed persons to give occasionally spiritual meat to their children, who frequently do not receive even these few morsels.
The Lord expects every father to be the priest and chaplain of his own home, and to feel as responsible for the spiritual as he does for the physical nourishment of his children. The devil assists the average parent to manufacture plausible excuses for neglecting this solemn duty.
This is the first and foremost excuse: “If I am kind and good to my children, there is no need of regular family worship, or in any other definite way to teach the gospel to my children.” But that same man does not think he is going to extremes when he expects his cook not only to be good and kind to his children but also to prepare food for them. A strong Christian character does not come by accident. It is the result of definite, earnest, persistent effort, cooperating with divine grace. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent taketh it by force.” Matt. 11:12.
This is generally the second excuse: “There are so many parents who have forced religion upon their children and brought them up to observe strictly all the forms of religion, and they have turned out badly. I don’t propose to make any such mistake with my children.”
To show how lame that excuse is, and how easily the devil can fool us in spiritual matters, it is only necessary to look for one moment on the same truth from the physical side. That same father may know several parents in his neighborhood who feed their children such tasteless, insipid, and unwholesome food that it fairly nauseates them, and it is they are scrawny and anemic, stunted, perhaps broken out all over with boils, etc. But our friend does not accept that as a good reason why he should neglecting so to furnish his own children with appetizing, nourishing food. Why should he do any less spiritually?
The hour of worship can be made not only pleasant and enjoyable but also intensely interesting. If the father takes half the time and thought for the preparation of this spiritual food for his children that the mother takes to prepare their breakfast, he will be astonished how eagerly the children will look forward to the hour of worship.
The next best excuse is that in these busy times it is so inconvenient; in fact, it seems to be next to impossible to get time morning and evening to gather the entire family together for a little quiet devotional service. The emptiness of this excuse is of course immediately shown from the simple fact that this entire family with astonishing regularity do gather two or three times daily to have their bodies fed.
As an inspiring example of how a busy man can succeed in getting time for regular devotional service without wrecking his business we have only to think of Daniel the statesman. He was prime minister of one of the greatest nations that the sun ever shone upon. He discharged his official duties so faithfully that his bitterest enemies could not discover a flaw in his work. But three times a day Daniel closed his office, and went down to his house for a prayer-meeting.
Even if it were true, which it is not, that some business affairs would have to be sacrificed in order to maintain regular, enlivening, spirit-filled family worship, the best answer to the question, “Does it pay?” is the startling Scriptural declaration, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. But the thousand and one snarls and tangles that the devil is permitted to inflict upon a prayerless home requires much more time during the day to untangle than would have been consumed in a short, simple, and interesting devotional service.
We now come to the weakest excuse of all: “I am so busy building up God’s work, and I have so many cares and responsibilities connected with the Lord’s cause which I dare not neglect, that I have no time for regular, systematic spiritual work in my own home.”
Absurd as this excuse is, unfortunately it is by no means uncommon, and it is one reason for much of the weak, beggarly spiritual work that some are inflicting upon their fellow men.
When Christ sent forth his disciples to be witnesses unto him in Judea, Samaria, and then unto the uttermost parts of the earth, he told them to begin at Jerusalem. That is always the place to begin. One of the most pathetic statements in all the Bible is found in Song of Solomon, chapter one, verse six, and it is equally true of many modern shepherds who are such wretched failures: “They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
Lot was a shrewd and successful business man, and yet by no means entirely devoid of spiritual sense and aspirations. 2 Peter 2:7, 8. But he was too busy to give his children spiritual instruction, and as a consequence he left most of them in Sodom and he left all of his business there.
The world around us has become another Sodom. Luke 17:28-30. And unfortunately too many of those who know or should know this are actually belonging to Lot’s church. They are the same kind of business men and they have the same kind of religion.
Wherever Abraham pitched his tent he built an altar, and offered sacrifice upon it every morning and evening. If you are a child of Abraham, the sweet incense of prayer is ascending from your home morning and night, and in return upon your family is descending, as the dew of heaven, divine mercies and blessings.
Hinsdale, Ill.
Medical Question Corner
By Dr. P. S. Bourdeau-Sisco
Answers by Dr. P. S. Bourdeau-Sisco, head lady physician of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium.
Life’s Lessons
By Lutheran Witness
I LEARN, as the years roll onward
And I leave the past behind,
That much I had counted sorrow
But proves that God is kind;
That many a flower that I’d longed for
Had hidden a thorn of pain,
And many a rugged by-path
Led to fields of ripened grain.
The clouds that cover the sunshine,
They can not banish the sun;
And the earth shines out the brighter
When the weary rain is done.
We must stand in the deepest shadow
To see the clearest light;
And often through wrong’s own darkness
Comes the welcome strength of light.
The sweetest rest is at even,
After a wearisome day,
When the heavy burden of labor
Has been borne from our hearts away;
And those who have never known sorrow
Can not know the infinite peace
That falls on the troubled spirit
When it sees at last release.
We must live through the dreary winter
If we would value the spring;
And the woods must be cold and silent
Before the robins sing.
The flowers must be buried in darkness
Before they can bud and bloom,
And the sweetest, warmest sunshine
Comes after the storm and gloom.
—Lutheran Witness.
Tsungwesi (Africa) Mission
By M. C. STURDEVANT
TRULY the work is onward at this station, though we have not much new development to report. The usual strain of work in opening a new station is upon us, and we as well as our helpers long for a respite. We have had no vacation since our arrival here a year ago; but things are beginning to shape themselves so we hope soon for a little rest.
The natives’ houses are built, also the schoolhouse, and to-day I finished putting the iron on the top of our house. The inside work and finishing are yet to be done. Now we are where the rains can not stop us. We hope in due time to be farther up the hill, and away from the lowlands.
Our hearts abound in thanksgiving. Brethren W. H. Anderson and C. Robinson have made us the expected visit, the latter staying over four days and laying brick for us. We greatly appreciated this help.
We are ready for the field work now as soon as the rains come. This month has been the driest we have had the whole year, yet there is an abundance of grass for all the stock.
Our school work is still growing. Forty-three were enrolled this month, with eighteen boarding students. A young man and his wife signed on to-day, besides our daily working force. Every Sabbath our church is full, and good attention is given, so we know we are gaining the hearts of this people. We are longing for our helpers from America to come, for we are feeling weary in body and mind; but our courage is good, and our only desire is to push the battle onward.
M. C. STURDEVANT.
Self-Supporting Medical Missionary Work in Bloemfontein, South Africa
By D. H. GROENEWALD
We are told by the spirit of prophecy that the medical missionary work is the right arm of the message. This is certainly proving to be true in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State. This is the most central town in South Africa, and the junction of the main railroads to Cape Colony, the Transvaal, and Natal. It is also an important educational center, and for these reasons should become a strategic point in the closing work of the message. Our consecrated laborers have repeatedly presented the truth here, but with apparently little success.
I shall ever feel thankful that the providence of God led me to leave this, my native country, and spend four years at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, where I took a thorough nurses’ training course. I was recalled from the States in 1896 to help start the Claremont Sanitarium. For several years my wife and I worked in different health institutions in South Africa. Later I was called to the ministry, where God also blessed my labors; then my wife and I were asked to take charge of the health institute in the Natal. When Dr. J. J. Bell was ready to enter that institution, the conference released us; and as the treasury was nearly empty, we were asked to take up self-supporting medical missionary work. Although my wife’s health was very poor, we were glad to do this, that our salary might be divided among the workers who had families to support. As the climate is much better here than in the Natal, we came to Bloemfontein, trusting the providence of God to open the way before us.
We began our work by selling Life and Health from house to house, and also doing private nursing wherever opportunity offered. We had many difficulties to meet, but God greatly blessed us, and soon there was a demand for treatment-rooms. No means were at hand with which to start this work, and in our perplexity we sought the Lord for help. This he sent us speedily from an unexpected source. The director of education for this province resigned, and Dr. Vilogen, whose confidence we had gained years before through nursing in16his family while in Cape Colony, was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was happily surprised to find us here; and when he learned our needs, he very kindly offered to lend us £50 ($243) free from interest. The Lord helped us to secure the rental of a building in the central business district, which we equipped with the money so kindly lent us. The Cape Colony Conference aided in the enterprise by furnishing us with a fine electric-light bath cabinet which we were to pay for when we could. Our rent was high, £8 ($40) per month, not including water-rates and lights, but we launched out trusting in God to help us pay expenses and clear off our debt. About Dec. 1, 1910, the local newspapers announced to the public that this institution was open, and patronage was solicited.
Under the blessing of God our work started most encouragingly. Members of the best class of society came for treatments. The patronage increased month by month far beyond our most sanguine expectations. During the eleven months from Jan. 1, 1910, to Nov. 30, 1911, our monthly averages were as follows: Number of patients treated, 45; treatments given on full or part pay, 194; free treatments, 19. As we look over this record and consider that these treatments have all been given by my wife or myself, we are profoundly grateful and must exclaim, “What hath God wrought!” Government officials and leading business men are our patrons and friends; we have gained the confidence of the medical men, and calls continue to come from surrounding towns and country places. If we had the means, we could start a sanitarium and it would soon be full. Truly the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few.
Our great need now is consecrated, wide-awake, energetic, trained nurses to assist us in the work. Trained help can not be obtained in our field, since all our health institutions are full and need more help than they already have. I feel confident that a good doctor would soon have a good practise, as our methods and principles of living are fast taking hold of the people. We pray that God will send efficient workers into this part of the harvest-field to help speedily finish his work. May all the REVIEW readers remember us in their prayers.
D. H. GROENEWALD.
Christ Heals the Needy
“He welcomed them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and them that had need of healing he cured.” Luke 9:11.
Closing Exercises of the Buresala School, Fiji
By A. MARRIOTT
ON Friday forenoon of Nov. 3, 1911, we all met in the church for the closing exercises of the school. After the opening hymn and prayer, short addresses were given by Brethren Marriott, Driver, and Alipati Rainima, which were followed by remarks from Joni Mataoqo, our town mayor. All recounted the experiences of the closing year, and spoke of the blessings and love of God manifested in every department. Truly to God alone can be given all praise.
At the close of the last address the students were told that the maramas (ladies) had something also to offer; that if each student would present the ticket given him, he would receive a small parcel with the corresponding number attached. This was quite a surprise. If those receiving these gifts enjoyed them as much as Sisters Williams, Villa and Driver, and the writer enjoyed preparing them the evening previous, I am sure it was quite a success. These parcels contained small articles, stationery, clothing, etc.,— such things as would be useful.
At present the plantation looks exceptionally well, with corn in ear, pineapples well advanced, some being ripe already, coconuts and bananas in good bearing, and the yam and kumala crops doing well. After some weeks of unusually dry weather, copious rains fell the end of October, for which all nature is very grateful. The dairy and poultry departments, which are in charge of Brother Driver, are showing the fruit of the labor and means expended on them.
All the students are in good spirits, and seem eager and willing to begin their vacation's work. Those who are to spend the time canvassing are busy getting their books packed, as the launch leaves early Monday morning. This year none of the girls are to leave, as a few weeks' visit to their own homes undoes the work of a whole school year.
We ask the prayers of our brethren and sisters on behalf of our students, that the Lord will so help them that they can return promptly when the new school year begins, and that many new ones may also be added to our number.
