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Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 17.

His Matchless Love
Earlier text: MRS. E. C. BOGER

The Bible Year

Assignment for April 9 to 15

Supplementary Study

Review First and Second Samuel. Make a brief outline of the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, as presented in these books.

The Books of the Chronicles

“The title of the books is taken from the Hebrew, the title in the Septuagint being ‘The Things Omitted,’ implying that the books are intended to supply what was left out of the books of Samuel and the Kings. In the course of the books twelve other histories are named as the author’s source of information. This author may have been Ezra—a supposition made probable by the fact that the closing passage of Second Chronicles is identical with the opening passage of Ezra. There are four divisions of the books: genealogies, and the histories of David, Solomon, and the remaining kings of Judah. Everywhere a knowledge of the preceding books of the Bible is taken for granted, and many new and important facts are given. Scarcely anything is said about the northern kingdom, or about the sinful acts of David and Solomon. The great number of genealogies is accounted for by the need of such records that would be felt after the exile, when the land came to be assigned to its hereditary owners, and the temple service to be taken up by those whose hereditary duty it was.”—Amos R. Wells.

A Review of Sacred History

“CONTENTS.—The books of Chronicles were originally one. The narrative begins with Adam, and is brought down to the time of the restoration of Judah from the captivity. It is the history of all that has gone before, briefly rewritten.
“PLAN AND FORM.—Up to this time the books have fitted one into the other, and beginning with Genesis, the books have recorded a continuous history. Now the connection is broken, and the author goes back to Adam for his starting point.
“SPECIAL FEATURES.—There are a number of marked contrasts between these and the preceding books that call for notice:—
“The genealogical tables. We here find the ancestry of tribes and families traced back to the earliest times; this does not arise from a mere fancy of the writer, but from a real necessity. The tribes or a remnant of them had returned from captivity, and in order that the land might be properly allotted, the temple services maintained, the officials have their proper places, the tithes rightly paid, ‘there must be strict legal proof of hereditary descent.’ This proof these tables furnished.
“The narrative follows the line of Judah. The writer does not mention Israel, except where he is obliged to do so. The kingdom of Israel or the portion that had been taken away into captivity disappeared, and the people who had taken the place of the Israelites were hostile to Judah upon the return from captivity. The line of the Messiah is through David.
“The narrative is written with a religious purpose, probably by the priests. God’s care for his people and his purpose to save them is the theme from beginning to end. ‘Divine favor is represented as dependent on the faithfulness of rulers and people to the original covenant, and divine punishment as the natural result of unfaithfulness.’ The religious purpose of the writer is seen very clearly in the first nine chapters of Second Chronicles, where, in describing the glorious rule of Solomon, six chapters are given to the story of the building of the temple and its services, and only three to recounting other matters pertaining to this reign. The names of the kings who served God and put away idolatry are made very prominent. Thus these books are made the beginning of an ecclesiastical history which extends through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.
“The attitude of faith and hope. Hardships, wars, pestilences, and captivities had done what could be done to destroy the divine seed; and here at the very last it was showing signs of a new and vigorous life in the Land of Promise. No wonder the returning captives, heirs of such a history and promises, were enthusiastic in their devotion to the law.
“These books reveal in a very plain way that God had for this people a particular purpose and mission which must be accomplished.”—H. T. Sell, in “Bible Study by Books.”

A Catholic Testimony

By C. S. Longacre

THE Redlands (Cal) Review of Jan. 28, 1916, published a lengthy article from the pen of Rev. T. F. Fitzgerald, of the Sacred Heart Church (Catholic), entitled, “Does the Bible Contain the Whole Christian Code?” In this article the writer takes Protestants to task for being opposed to tradition in theory, but adhering to it in practice. He then cites two doctrines held by many Protestants which cannot be found in the Bible, but only in tradition, as follows:—
“If there is any one thing in the whole Christian code which the Bible Christian is strong in inculcating, that one thing is the observance of the Sabbath. He will tell you that before Moses brought the command from Mt. Sinai, God himself, by his example of rest after the work of creation, teaches us that the Sabbath ought to be observed. And what is the Sabbath? The Sabbath is the seventh day. Sunday?—Not at all; the Sabbath is Saturday, the seventh day. If the Bible contains the whole Christian code, and commands the Sabbath, then those who keep Sunday transgress its command. You will search the whole New Testament in vain to find one single text justifying the observance of Sunday.
“Not in the Catholic Church alone is the practice of infant baptism observed. There are Christian denominations who believe in its necessity. . . . Is there any authority for this in the Bible?—None whatever.”
This Catholic writer then taunts the Protestants for professing to adhere to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, and yet practicing the customs handed down by tradition. He continues: “It is very strange, my friends, how our actions contradict and condemn our words. Tradition, as a way of receiving instruction, is set aside, and yet our whole life is guided by tradition.”
Thank God, there are some who have not bowed the knee to Baal. There are some who both teach and practice the doctrines of the Bible only, refusing to follow traditions which are contrary to the Bible. Our Catholic friend says that the Catholic Church follows traditions which are not in the Bible and contrary to the Bible, and that Protestants are following suit. The Catholic Church professes to believe in the Bible and tradition, and the Protestant church believes in following the Bible only. This, of course, makes the Protestant who follows tradition very inconsistent with his platform principles. But our Catholic friend is just as illogical as is our Protestant friend who observes Sunday and infant baptism, contrary to Bible authority.
Mr. Fitzgerald says that the Bible is God’s infallible word, and that tradition is the church’s infallible teaching under divine authority. He says further: “With authority, indefectibility, and infallibility has Christ invested his church. She has the right and power to teach—the right and power to govern. She will last forever, and is guarded against the liability to err in delivering her sacred deposits, and she will divinely hand down what was divinely given.”
But does God contradict himself? How can God’s word in the Scriptures be infallible, and tradition also be infallible, both coming from the same source, as our Catholic friends assert, and yet contradict each other? In this, our Catholic friends are just as inconsistent as are our Protestant friends who follow such contradictory traditions. The only logical and consistent platform is to stand by a “Thus saith the Lord,” and not by a Thus says a man in the place of God. And let us make our theories of a religious life and our practice of such a life harmonize. C. S. LONGACRE.

To Bible Year Members

ALL who began to read the Bible through in 1915, enrolling in the Bible Year, and who for any reason were unable to finish in 1915, but who faithfully complete the reading at any time during 1916, will be sent a copy of the William Miller Bible Card. This card shows a clear picture of the Bible that William Miller used in his study of the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. On the reverse side is a facsimile poem by Mr. Miller, written shortly after the disappointment in 1843.
To secure this card write to your conference Missionary Volunteer secretary.

Missionary Volunteer Department

M. E. KERN    Secretary MATILDA ERICKSON    Assistant Secretary MRS. I. H. EVANS    Office Secretary MEADE MACGUIRE    Field Secretaries C. L. BENSON J. F. SIMON

William Jones and the Bible

“What books have you read?” asked Dr. Bunting of the great Welsh preacher, William Jones. “I have read the Bible,” was the answer. “But,” said Dr. Bunting, “have you read nothing else?” “Oh, yes,” said William Jones, “I have read the Bible Dictionary” (meaning concordance). But what a preacher this man was! His sermons glowed with poetic imagery kindled at the altar of prayer, and both the learned and the ignorant crowded to hear him by thousands.—Selected.

Religious Liberty Department

By C. S. Longacre

C. S. LONGACRE - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

A Few Observations

By L. A. Hansen

A Literature Record

A DOCTOR showed me a notebook in which he kept the names of people to whom he was lending books for missionary reading. Dates were kept of the time each book was lent, and when it was returned. The list of books was a good one, including a number of pamphlets and large bound volumes. The list of names of readers was a fine one, including persons of influence and prominence. Some of these were evidently pursuing a regular course of reading. The doctor said that the record enabled him to keep in touch with the readers' progress, and to make appropriate inquiries and suggestions from time to time.
This plan seems a splendid idea, and we pass it on.

Antifriction

The superintendent of a certain sanitarium said to me, in reply to my inquiry, “Yes, I like my work, and am satisfied to stay. But I was going to leave when I saw the prospects of family difficulty arising. I cannot maintain a spirit of missionary labor in the midst of discord.”
He surely stated a truth, did he not? Family friction kills cooperation, and drives out that which binds workers together.
It is also true that cooperation shuts out divisions. It is the genuine antifriction as applied to the working machinery of an institution. Its supply should not run low. A good stock of it will leave no room for family jars.

Attending Worship

I have noticed that the best-attended worship exercises in our sanitariums are those where the heads of departments attend. This is not because these persons number so many as to make a big increase in the attendance, but because their example causes others to attend. These leaders seem to think that they must lead where they want others to follow, and that if they wish to impress others with the importance of attending worship, they must show that they believe it is important enough for them to attend themselves. Is there anything in that?

Cow Efficiency

The Florida Sanitarium has a small dairy. There are only seven cows, but they are made to do efficient service. A record is kept of the milk yield of each cow at every milking. Any variation can be readily noted, and proper attention be given. Intelligent feeding is followed, and everything done for the cows that can be done to make them pay. If a cow proves unprofitable, she is sold.
An examination of the records of the cows showed how it might be easily possible to keep poor stock that would cause a loss. The same thing might apply to a poultry yard and to various auxiliary departments. There is good business sense in the keeping of such records.
L. A. HANSEN.

Missionary Correspondence

By B. P. Foote

There are wonderful possibilities in missionary correspondence. Let us compare the mail facilities with those of years ago: then it cost 8 cents to send a letter of one sheet 40 miles, 20 cents was required to carry a letter of the same size 500 miles, and 25 cents for more than 500 miles. The cost for sending a two-sheet letter was twice as much, three sheets three times as much, and so on.
Now a two-cent stamp will take a one-ounce letter to any nook or corner of the United States, Canada, or Mexico; across the continent and across the Atlantic to England, or across the Pacific to Shanghai.
Less than twenty years ago the first rural mail route was started from Clarksville, Ark. Now there are said to be 43,000 carriers, covering about one million miles a day.
What do these things mean? Is not this a part of the fulfilment of the prophecy that in the last days knowledge should be increased, and many should run to and fro? Are we making the use of these wonderful facilities that we should?
Business houses are far ahead of us in this matter. One firm is reported, on good authority, to have sold $50,000,000 worth of goods in one year by mail orders alone.
Something has been done in missionary correspondence, but the work has barely been touched in comparison with the possibilities in this work.

Some Results of Missionary Correspondence

1. The first four Sabbath keepers in Russia received the Sabbath truth through a tract sent from Kansas. That indicates that it is a good plan to inclose a tract with every letter. Tracts can give the message in languages that we cannot speak or write and have not time to learn.
2. One invalid lady is said to have raised up several churches by correspondence, and her work was as valuable as that of a minister.
3. A man who works in the Review and Herald office says he is able to count more than one hundred persons who are keeping the Sabbath as the result of missionary letters he has written.
4. Just recently a government employee, a lawyer, came to the Pacific Press and bought three or four of our books. In talking with him, it was learned that he had been receiving missionary letters from a man in Takoma Park. The lawyer seemed fully convinced of the truth, and said he expected to become a Sabbath keeper as soon as he could get his affairs in proper shape.
5. A single tract sent from the United States to Lower Burma is said to have resulted in bringing 1,500 people to Christianity.

Advantages in Missionary Correspondence

These are some of the advantages in missionary correspondence over other lines of missionary work:—
1. Distance makes little or no difference.
2. It is inexpensive, requiring little time and no travel.
3. Bad weather seldom hinders it to any extent, except to make the mail go a little slower. You can sit by your own stove and do missionary work by correspondence when it would be very uncomfortable walking or riding outside.
4. Letters may be written at odd moments, and may be planned almost entirely while engaged in regular work.
5. Letters will be read by people who will not listen to you. And the letter may have a good effect, even if you never receive an answer.
6. If your letter is answered and questions are asked, you can take all the time you need to look up the correct answers. This is a good thing for some of us.
7. It is a line of self-supporting missionary work in which every one can engage. There is no excuse for any one who can read and write. Think what might be accomplished in one year if every member of every church would write only one letter a week!

How to Write Missionary Letters

I cannot tell you just how you should write your letters, but a few general principles may help.
What is a missionary letter? It is not necessarily a letter written to some one you have never seen, or to some one who is not a Sabbath keeper. The best kind of missionary letter sometimes is one written to a discouraged friend or relative.
No harm is likely to result from a letter full of sympathy and encouragement. Remember it is easier to love people into the truth than it is to argue them into it. Avoid arguments.
The first letter is very important. It should be so worded that the recipient will feel it either a privilege or a duty to answer.
Say “you” oftener than “I.” Business houses make a great deal of this principle, and it is worthy of careful thought. This is tact.
Do not say that you cannot write letters. There is a saying among shorthand writers, especially reporters, who of course dare not ask the speaker to slow down, that it is easier to read a poorly written outline than it is to read a blank space. Now, I believe it is easier for the Lord to bless a poorly written letter than it is for him to bless an absolutely perfect letter that you are planning to write sometime but never get done. It is all right to think before you write, and I hope you will think, and think, and THINK; but please do not think too long without acting. Action that is sixty per cent perfect is worth far more than mere theory that is one hundred per cent perfect.
Doubtless many of you are mailing papers to individuals. Be sure that a good letter is sent to every one to whom a paper is sent. It will increase the value of the paper a great deal.
In all up-to-date business colleges and in the commercial departments in our own schools, classes in business correspondence are conducted. Why should there not be in every one of our churches a missionary correspondence class, with some experienced person as leader? This class or band should meet once a week and take up actual work, asking questions and making suggestions as they go along. One letter a week could be written in this way, and it would not only be a blessing to the one receiving it, but, as in the case of other kinds of missionary work, an even greater blessing might come to the writer himself. We really help ourselves most when we are trying most to help others.
Now, how many can think of at least one person to whom he can write a missionary letter? B. P. FOOTE.

Home Missionary Department

E. M. GRAHAM - - - General Secretary
F. W. PAAP - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

Medical Missionary Department

W. A. RUBLE, M. D. - - General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN - - Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. - N. Am. Div. Secretary

Colporteurs’ Summary for February, 1916

UNIONS AGTS. HRS. BOOKS—VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915 PERIODICALS—NO. COP. VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915
ATLANTIC
Maine 8 722 $1258.20 $241.68 171 $17.10 $32.50
N. New England 6 291 98.50 34.21 14166 1416.60 41.00
Massachusetts 16 1072 949.55 890.15 4985 498.50 281.50
S. New England 4 343 543.60 200.20 9525 952.50 18.50
E. New York 9 425 496.90 294.50 6550 655.00 55.50
W. New York 4 268 121.95 4035 403.50 286.50
Greater New York 6 290 465.75 222.40 4308 430.80 371.90
Totals 53 3411 3934.45 1883.14 43740 4374.00 1087.40
COLUMBIA
Ohio 35 3330 3371.52 2043.05 3322 332.20 296.60
Chesapeake 7 506 514.15 1235.26 3135 313.50 71.20
Virginia 10 765 846.25 338.20 1020 102.00 182.00
W. Pennsylvania 12 1251 1939.07 1104.41 707 70.70 68.00
E. Pennsylvania 8 846 818.55 399.10 3184 318.40 80.70
West Virginia 8 371 520.05 1377.20 990 99.00 48.00
New Jersey 3 195 249.85 197.79 3136 313.60 174.20
Dist. of Columbia 8 569 1259.05 509.10 648 64.80 204.40
Totals 91 7833 9518.49 7204.11 16142 1614.20 1125.10
LAKE
E. Michigan 9 920 963.25 780.25 9923 992.30 302.00
W. Michigan 10 630 436.15 568.00 2851 285.10 54.00
N. Michigan 6 701 531.75 340.60 432 43.20 12.50
Wisconsin 4 261 337.30 149.55 2030 203.00 145.00
N. Illinois 9 374 405.50 325.66 5294 529.40 421.50
S. Illinois 15 1486 1620.10 1567.35 1175 117.50 33.50
Indiana 11 1133 1274.60 1453.40 1187 118.70 74.00
Totals 64 5505 5568.65 5184.81 22892 2289.20 1042.50
EASTERN CANADIAN
Ontario 2 275.85 628.75 1994 199.40 255.40
Quebec 6.20 35.26 800 80.00 28.00
Maritime 124.70 46.70 350 35.00 60.00
Newfoundland 13.50
Totals 2 420.25 710.71 3144 314.40 343.40
SOUTHERN
Louisiana 5 93 60.10 1065.35 908 90.80 98.50
Alabama 13 923 433.50 715 71.50 75.00
Kentucky 8 545 781.55 2036.30 405 40.50 32.00
Mississippi 11 631 1416.95 830 83.00 140.80
Tennessee River 9 521 703.95 528.85 76 7.60 167.50
Totals 46 2713 3396.05 3630.50 2934 293.40 513.80
SOUTHEASTERN
Cumberland 7 717 765.40 1691.40 1260 126.00 90.00
Georgia 9 846 933.25 744.45 1540 154.00 92.50
North Carolina 10 897 926.60 1426.10 881 88.10 210.90
South Carolina 9 956 1003.35 167.95 329 32.90 67.20
Florida 8 758 1221.70 1468.85 2910 291.00 112.00
Totals 43 4174 4850.30 5498.75 6920 692.00 572.60
SOUTHWESTERN
Arkansas 6 249 181.05 86.00 1647 164.70 22.70
Oklahoma 14 717 1169.80 1253.70 2094 209.40 143.00
N. Texas 3 155 192.60 68.75 1523 152.30 47.00
W. Texas 6 437 467.35 112.10 62 6.20 21.50
S. Texas 12 1306 2507.95 300.25 3652 365.20 185.50
New Mexico 3 162 130.80 56.00 185 18.50 20.00
Totals 44 3026 4649.55 1876.80 9163 916.30 439.70
CENTRAL
Missouri 10 1411 903.40 809.70 1019 101.90 84.50
Colorado 5 652 431.70 543.15 2675 267.50 69.50
Nebraska 8 954 1256.63 160.25 675 67.50 82.50
Wyoming 3 176 169.75 104.90 1520 152.00 16.00
Kansas 15 1508 1341.33 497.85 1720 172.00 153.50
Totals 41 4701 4102.81 2115.85 7609 760.90 405.00
NORTHERN
Iowa 8 903 627.00 205.50 8500 850.00 406.00
Minnesota 3 372 289.23 197.65 2820 282.00 295.20
North Dakota 57.50 1699 169.90 93.80
South Dakota 1 35 24.00 7029 702.90 164.00
Totals 12 1310 940.23 460.65 20048 2004.80 959.00
PACIFIC
Cen. California 9 870 $452.40 $26.00 1810 $181.00 $115.50
California 2 189 213.75 15948 1594.80 274.00
N. California 7 753 631.25 153 15.30 43.00
N. W. California 2 128 176.60
S. California 1 20 125.00 70.75 14085 1408.50 207.50
S. E. California 498.75
Inter-Mountain 4 325 585.60 105.10 620 62.00 24.90
Arizona 1 45 400.50 90.00 350 35.00 13.50
Totals 26 2330 3083.85 291.85 32966 3296.60 678.40
NORTH PACIFIC
E. Oregon
W. Washington 3 199 285.85 1516 151.60 223.60
Upper Columbia 8516 851.60 142.50
W. Oregon 2 144 118.70 2670 267.00 72.00
S. Oregon 2216 221.60 81.50
S. Idaho 631 63.10 25.60
Montana 1682 168.20 72.00
Totals 5 343 404.55 17231 1723.10 617.20
WESTERN CANADIAN
Alberta 192 19.20 44.50
Manitoba 2170 217.00 111.50
British Columbia 325 32.50 88.00
Saskatchewan 141 14.10 61.50
Totals 2828 282.80 305.50
Foreign and Miscellaneous 4465 446.50 1781.90
Subscription lists 32388 3238.80 3590.40

FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS

AGTS. HRS. BOOKS—VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915 PERIODICALS—NO. COP. VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915
Australasian 100 6884 9576.53 9079.58 1663651 3794.94 3579.45
British 19 1452 730.14 168502 3424.97
Scandinavian 79 6320 4507.51 3660.56 9555 591.70 123.16
Latin 170 244.14 1163.94 3184 124.84 177.27
W. German 43 5485 2398.22 2735.92 99476 2447.42 3400.83
E. German 44 4616 1816.39 1894.19 80536 2163.99 2434.03
Danube 1 168 37.59 694.09 141 3.20
Cen. European 59 6783 3177.56 2815.17 35574 1005.02 1086.19
South African 8 620 1409.38 1690 116.22
India 485 1053.72 473.34 8056 408.17
Korean 52.36 46.30 2814 70.35 176.37
Japan 47.82 .55 889 69.10 27.15
Philippine 14 1355 654.78 1018.18 172.30
Hawaiian 2 225 505.65 500 45.00
Guatemala 1 100 120.10
Canary Islands 146.70 .09
Porto Rican 5 469 438.35 202.24 29.90
Cuban 16 691 2827.00 1008.00 30.00
Jamaica 86.35 120.00
South American 21 1197 1656.09 1712.93 43.35 173.11
Venezuelan 1119.65
Brazilian 18 1594 1056.64 2348.40
Totals, foreign 430 38614 33429.62 29086.44 577282 14480.57 11357.55
Totals, N. Amer. 427 35346 40869.18 28857.17 222470 22247.00 13461.90
Grand totals 857 73960 $74298.80 $57943.61 799752 $36727.57 $24819.45

Comparative Book Summary

1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916
Jan. $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88 $59,697.52 $46,778.58 $60,418.25
Feb. 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12 67,149.45 47,943.61 74,298.80
March 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42 75,062.31 73,414.23
April 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45 85,685.35 78,974.96
May 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,640.01 87,024.10 107,987.69
June 135,888.76 137,838.38 137,373.06 153,480.96 151,199.10
July 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.24 199,116.62 170,546.02
Aug. 91,810.46 103,165.69 111,660.64 105,391.65 118,773.18
Sept. 86,001.72 67,551.70 73,732.14 74,359.96 78,364.70
Oct. 81,367.89 70,219.07 84,015.90 60,357.25 76,102.53
Nov. 67,600.00 77,424.87 73,949.68 57,388.95 69,660.16
Dec. 58,386.24 57,291.91 59,749.92 57,496.17 69,145.88
Totals $976,218.80 $1017,684.13 $1049,943.46 $1083,110.29 $1088,890.64

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1913 1914 1915 1916 1913 1914 1915
Jan.2 177080 152971 170760 177107 July 176772 211040 150880
Feb. 201659 242627 134619 222470 Aug. 153849 171451 152273
Mar. 166499 224757 341059 Sept. 127017 164860 130465
April. 152088 162027 183280 Oct. 126557 174182 123027
May 166465 168934 158114 Nov. 100351 142040 98174
June 156550 189897 159635 Dec. 99504 143190 107229
Totals 1804391 2147976 762048
  • For two months.
† Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.

The Spiritual Side of Institutes

By V. O. Cole

“ALL who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God’s service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of his own spirit, the life of his own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth his highest energies to work in heart and mind.”—“Gospel Workers,” p. 513.
Truly these words have been verified in the different colporteurs’ institutes held in the Atlantic Union this season; and it may be interesting to review some things that happened at these meetings.
The first one of the season was held in Richmond, Maine, in what is known as “the old Reed meetinghouse,” where the first angel’s message was preached. This institute was not largely attended; and when it began, it was a question in the minds of some whether it would pay to hold it with so few; but as the institute progressed, the Spirit of the Lord stirred up the hearts of some of the local members to take the drill and enter the work. Since then the sales of one of these brethren have been more than $80 in one week. Nearly the whole church shared in a great spiritual revival during the meetings.
The next institute was held in Tremont Temple, Boston, Mass. About twenty-five prospective colporteurs were present. From the very first, it was evident that the Holy Spirit was present in a marked manner. The last meeting was an especially good one. It lasted about two hours, and all took part, giving praise to God for the blessings bestowed upon them.
One young man was soundly converted at this institute, and others were healed of disease. The young man referred to had been of a wild, roving character all his life. After the earnest solicitation of his brother to attend at least a few of the meetings, he came one morning with his grip all packed to go to the war zone in France; but somehow the Spirit of the Lord took possession of him, and he asked for prayers. He was soundly converted, and remained to the close of the institute, when he went into the field, planning to give the rest of his life to the Lord for service.
One brother came to this institute with the intention of canvassing, but the enemy brought discouraging thoughts into his mind, which caused him to drop out and go back to his home, about forty miles away. The Spirit of the Lord followed him, and he could find no rest until he returned. In making his confession after coming back, he said that he was very conscious while at home that the brethren were praying for him, and he could hold out against their prayers no longer.
At the institute held in Burlington, Vt., it was evident that the Lord was present through the entire meeting. One or two who were not expected came to receive instruction. The Lord had stirred their hearts to have a part in this closing work, so they studiously applied themselves to the lessons given, prepared their canvass, and are now actively engaged in selling our good books. The church at this place was also greatly blessed, and a talented young man who is holding a good position in the world, began to keep the Sabbath, and will enter the work in a few weeks.
It would be hard to describe in a few words how greatly the Lord worked in the institute held in Rome, N. Y. It started with prayer and ended with prayer. An early morning prayer band was organized at the beginning.
At this meeting one brother dropped in, as he thought, for only a day. He let the first train go by, and before the next train came, he had surrendered to the Lord for service. He gave up a business that brought him from twenty-six to thirty dollars a week. He remained through the rest of the institute, took the general instruction, learned his canvass, and has now set his goal to sell $2,000 worth of “Daniel and the Revelation” during the remaining part of 1916.
During these meetings several were compelled to take to their beds with severe attacks of la grippe, but earnest prayers were offered in their behalf. The result was that they speedily recovered. To some who were not present, these things might seem as a “happen so,” but it was not hard for those who were in the spirit of the meetings to tell whence came the power.
At each of these institutes the president of the conference was present to conduct the Bible study in the morning, and also the service in the evening, whenever evening services were held. This evidently added much to the spirituality of these meetings. Surely it can be said that “all who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God’s service will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power.”
It should be understood that the deep spirituality of these institutes in no way took the place of sound instruction on the principles of the canvassing work. The Lord gave us those blessings in addition to the instruction that is usually given on Christian salesmanship.
The time has indeed come when the Holy Spirit is being poured out in abundant measure upon those who will consecrate all to his service; and showers of the latter rain will be received when we throw ourselves in the channel of God’s providence, dedicate all to his service, and then press forward, working upon right principles. Brethren, these blessings are ours to enjoy. Are we willing to pay the price and claim them as our own? V. O. COLE.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman

N. Z. TOWN - - - General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN - N. Am. Div. Secretary

Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals

JANUARY, 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23; January, 1916, 375,259 copies, value $13,774.74.
February, 1915, 403,134 copies, value $11,357.55; February, 1916, 577,282 copies, value $14,480.57.

Colporteur Work in Honan, China

By O. J. Gibson

THIS morning [February 8] while settling accounts with one of our colporteurs, I was impressed with the struggle which some of these men have to make ends meet. This man is a faithful believer, and is endeavoring to live up to the terms of his agreement,—that of paying fifty per cent of all sales and subscriptions to the mission, and settling accounts monthly.
Perhaps a few words by way of review will help us to understand the situation. When we came here two years ago, colporteurs were being paid a wage of three or four dollars monthly, with papers and books given them. For ten months of 1914, $475.43 was paid to colporteurs as wages, or an average of $47.54 a month. Literature receipts reported by evangelists for the same period amounted to $30.08. Hence the net expense to the mission on literature, above first cost, was $445.35.
At the fall meeting that year it was agreed that the wage to colporteurs be discontinued; that they pay twenty per cent of sales and subscriptions; that evangelists pay fifty per cent. Working on this program from Nov. 1, 1914, to Oct. 31, 1915, no wages were paid, and receipts on literature for those twelve months were $236.16, or an average of nearly $20 a month. I think that during that time our workers suffered no special hardships as a result of the plan, although some of them were very much inconvenienced when it came time to settle accounts in full at our general meeting last October. We had previously made a ruling that a license would be granted to no one who had not settled his account. Some had no idea how their accounts stood, and were about undone to learn that they owed so much; but we insisted on full settlement or no license. All but one of our workers made good, and are continuing with us on the new schedule, which is another great advance step, bringing our colporteur work up to the fifty-per-cent basis.
For the months of November and December, 1915, and January, 1916, receipts on subscriptions and literature sales were $146.59, an average per month of $48.86. For the sake of comparison, we will call it $50 a month against $20 a month for last year. Whether this will hold good for the twelve months I cannot say, but it is a good start.
The last of December the colporteur referred to had come in and paid $6 on his account, which, including tithe, left him still owing about two dollars. This morning he paid his tithe in full and seventy-five cents on account. When I asked him if this was all he could pay, he said it was, and then, with tears in his eyes and a broken voice, he told me how it was. He said that to pay his account in full at general meeting time had taken every cent he had, that he and his wife returned from the meeting to an empty house, so that he had to sell some papers before they could buy food. But he promised, if possible, to pay in full next time. It is his purpose to live up to his agreement with the mission, and he will do it, with the help of God.
The work here is still in its infancy. We expect great things from this department in the future. Much of God's Spirit is needed to enable us all to work for his glory and the advancement of his cause. O. J. GIBSON.

An Experience of Faith

By Henry Balsbaugh

SOME good friends made the Jackson (Miss.) church a gift of three hundred copies of the January Watchman to help toward finishing our new church building. The church missionary society had assumed payment for the new carpet, so these papers were turned over to the society to sell for this purpose.
At a missionary meeting on January 20, Elder C. S. Wiest gave an earnest exhortation on church work, pointing out the privilege and duty of all to be workers. Then he asked for volunteers to sell the three hundred copies of the Watchman, but only a very few responded.
Our first effort was to sell them within the month of January. So the few volunteers began to work by faith, and the Lord blessed, for in a double sense it was his work,—first, the distribution of printed truth, and second, to secure money to pay for a house of worship. As the good experiences of these workers were told, others joined them in the work.
But some who had taken papers sent them back. Jackson had been canvassed twice before within a year with periodicals for the new church building, also with the Harvest Ingathering Signs; and the last day of January found us with about one hundred and twenty-five copies of the Watchman unsold.
We kept on, however, in faith. The church school and Sister Wiest, the teacher, helped for half a day. Again God blessed by giving sales to the children, from the youngest to the oldest. Before going out we had a short, impressive meeting of consecration and instruction.
There still remained some papers unsold. In faith we continued our effort until the last paper was disposed of in the latter part of February. They were all sold at full price.
One inexperienced sister sold over thirty. Another, though inexperienced in selling on the street, sold twelve on Saturday night. Another received one dollar for five papers. One sold over one hundred, surpassing all previous efforts. We also had good success on Sunday morning.
May this experience of real work in answer to faith encourage all the churches to a larger work of faith.
HENRY BALSBaugh.
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