WHEN the first Sabbath in April comes, it will bring to us all the precious privilege of doing service to the Master himself. On April 2 there will be the usual annual offering taken for the support of those Seventh-day Adventists in need of financial help. Sickness and death, and the loss of property and positions through accepting the truths of the third angel's message, are continually placing among us those who need care and financial aid.
We are all God's stewards, having charge of more or less earthly treasure to be used to his glory. The orphans and aged ones among us who are in need of homes and tender, loving care are given us by the Lord that we may show our love to him by tenderly caring for these his representatives. When Christ himself was on earth, most of his life was spent in ministering to the poor, healing their diseases, and imparting hope and courage to those who were in utter despair. It was from his bountiful hand that the hungry multitudes were fed. It was his person who often was seen in the sick chamber, standing beside the sick and dying, ministering to their recovery. It was he to whom the hopeless leper appealed for help, and an appeal was never made to Jesus in vain.
The Master's life is given to his children as the great sample life we all should live. Not simply in teaching doctrines and elucidating Scripture was he our example, but he became our pattern in ministering to those in need and in helping those who could not help themselves.
In summing up real Christian experience, the apostle James says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
No Seventh-day Adventist should ever want for a good Christian home. No unfortunate, needy Seventh-day Adventist should ever have to ask for public charity. All these needy ones belong to God's people, are a part of the church militant, and it belongs to those who are well and strong to see that their needs are supplied, even as we would gladly minister unto Christ himself were he on earth in their stead.
The money that is received in this donation is now used by our union and local conferences in behalf of those requiring financial help. The offering should be liberal, that these organizations may have funds enabling them faithfully to look after those in need of financial aid. Do not forget the date, April 2, and let us all lay our plans that we may have an offering to bring on this occasion.
I. H. EVANS.
Echoes of the Harvest Ingathering
ECHOES of the Harvest Ingathering campaign are still coming in. Elder E. C. Widgery writes from Port of Spain, Trinidad: “Our campaign effort so far has brought in over sixty dollars.” And they were still gathering gifts in that island field.
Daisy Ingle Returns to Mission Work
LAST week Miss Daisy Ingle called in Washington, on her way to New York, from which port she sailed March 17 for England and South Africa. After several years in this country, during which she completed the nurses' course, she returns to her home land to engage in the work.
El Amigo de los Niños
The Mexican press is issuing a children's paper, El Amigo de los Niños (Children's Friend). It is a fine-appearing little paper; and Mrs. N. Z. Town, of this place, who reads the Spanish, tells us that it is an excellently edited paper, with just the kind of matter to interest and instruct the Spanish-speaking children. Mrs. Caviness is the editor.
Elder Irwin Returns from Pacific Coast
AFTER weeks of absence from the General Conference Office, Elder G. A. Irwin returned last week from the Pacific Coast, having just attended the biennial meeting of the Western Canadian Union Conference.
Growth of Sabbath Schools in the District of Columbia
WHILE reporting growth out in the fields, we must not overlook the work nearest our office. The Sabbath School Worker for April says: “Six years ago the first quarterly report of the District of Columbia Sabbath-schools was made out. There were three schools, with a membership of 170, and $14.47 given to missions. For the last quarter of 1909 the report shows nine schools, with a membership of 624, and $317.54 given to missions.”
Changes in Arrangement
By Editor
Every paper has the privilege of now and then changing its style of make-up, though changes ought not to be frequent, as the average reader likes to know about where to turn to find any department. With this number we change the arrangement somewhat, putting general matter first, with editorial in the center, followed by field reports and the special departmental matter. These departments grow upon us and crowd the space, but they represent the activities of the denomination in the various departments of work. There is a world-wide movement on, and every believer ought to watch its progress week by week.