p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 17. (4/8/1915)

Earlier text: An Important Mission Field —No. 1.

Eight Months of War

EIGHT months of war and bloodshed, and what has been accomplished? It is estimated that four million men, the flower of the nations of Europe, have been killed or crippled or made victims of disease and lifelong suffering. Thousands of square miles of territory have been desolated. Thousands of wives have been widowed, and thousands of children orphaned. Hardly a home in the warring nations that has not felt directly or indirectly the pangs of personal sorrow and grief over the loss of some loved one. Millions upon millions of dollars' worth of property has been destroyed. Huge national debts have been created, entailing grievous burdens for years to come upon already overtaxed populations. It is estimated by the London Economist that ten thousand million dollars had been added to the debts of the five chief belligerent powers up to the end of February. It is estimated that the war is costing the nations at the present time fifty million dollars a day.

According to the statements of prominent statesmen the terrible carnage and destruction have just begun. It is expected that with the opening of the spring months aggressive warfare will be carried on on a much larger scale. The numbers of men on the fighting line will be greatly augmented by the arrival of fresh recruits. Where will it all end? What will be the outcome of the strife? What will be accomplished in the way of national prestige and glory? Wherein will any of the warring nations be benefitted? Surely every sympathetic heart must cry out to God to bring a speedy end to this terrible situation. The believers in this movement should cry mightily to God that the winds of war may be held in check, and that God will still grant opportunity in days of peace for the carrying of this message to those who know it not.

THE Free Press Extra of the Protestant Magazine, which has attained a circulation of over 250,000 copies, has been received with much favor, and several workers have testified to the good it has accomplished in their territory. The president of the Southwestern Union Conference, in a letter dated March 10, refers to this matter and says: “The Protestant Extra has done wonders in our union. I meet people on the trains who are alive to the situation, and some way I look for the greatest lining up of Protestants against the work of iniquity that this world has ever known. I believe that we as Seventh-day Adventists should stand close to one another, so that we can feel the warmth that should be felt by members in this great cause of God.”

Reports from China and India Missions

ELDER W. C. HANKINS, writing from Amoy, China, says of the work there: “We are hard at work once more, and glad to be back in our old field. The outlook is encouraging. Our small force of workers has taken about two thousand subscriptions for our Chinese paper this last year in Fukien. One of our men went to Swatow four months ago, and he reports about six hundred subscriptions taken in that time. Our work in Fuchau is very promising, as more than fifty members have been added to our church there the past year. God is working to finish the work in this generation, and we are glad to have a part in this great undertaking.”

RECENT word from Sister May M. Quantock, who has served as treasurer of the India Mission for years, states that she and her daughter expect to sail March 23, coming by the Pacific route, reaching the Coast early in May. She hopes to visit Washington later.

Progress in North Dakota

ELDER E. T. RUSSELL, president of the North Dakota Conference, reports that the work in that field is moving along exceptionally well. About seventy have been converted to the Lord since January 1, and the prospects for the future appear most encouraging.

The Obergs Travel from Venezuela

MARCH 16 Brother and Sister S. A. Oberg arrived in Colon from Venezuela and Trinidad, on their way to the States. A few days later Sister Oberg and the children went on to San Francisco by the Swedish boat “Suecia,” Brother Oberg remaining at Colon to attend the West Indian Union conference to convene April 9-27. It is hoped that by change of climate Mrs. Oberg may soon regain her health.

Great Interest in Trinidad

M. B. BUTTERFIELD, who recently went to Port of Spain, Trinidad, from Iowa, writes that the church and yard are altogether too limited to accommodate the crowds that come to the meetings being held in that place. Between three and four hundred have handed in their names as being interested and desiring reading matter, or asking that some one be sent to visit their homes to study the Bible further with them.

Thanks for Rhodesian Missions Offering

In appreciation of the action of the General Conference Committee in naming four missions in Rhodesia as the object for the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering for the third quarter of 1915, the South African Union Conference Committee, through its chairman, sends the following message to the General Conference Committee:—

“In a recent session of our union conference committee held at Cape Town, a resolution was passed extending to you our sincere thanks for your kind remembrance of this field in appropriating the third Thirteenth Sabbath School Offering for 1915 to four of our Rhodesian missions; namely, Barotse, Glendale, Solusi, and Tsungwesi. We thank you very much for your interest in our work in this field, and wish you all the blessings God may have in store for you. Our greatest desire is to be faithful to our trust, that when the reaping day comes many of Africa’s sons and daughters may find a place in the kingdom.”

Wonderful Interest in Georgetown

In a report from N. H. Pool, superintendent of the South Caribbean Conference, he mentions a recent visit to Georgetown, British Guiana. He says: “I had never seen such an interest manifested anywhere. We did not advertise, not even so much as to put a notice in the papers, and yet the crowds came until there was no more room in the church or as far as I could see outside. Many invitations came for us to procure a large hall down town and hold a meeting.” There are no more interesting topics than the presentation of what the Bible has foretold concerning events now taking place in the world. In these events we see the literal fulfilment of what was presented in vision to prophets hundreds of years ago. He is wise who has an ear to hear what the Spirit now says unto the churches. God is pouring out his Spirit upon all flesh, and hearts are opening to the influences of his Word.

The Campaign Against Loan Sharks

“UNDER the influence of the Sage Foundation a very effective campaign has been waged against a class of vampires known as loan sharks. When the work began over four years ago, this was the picture drawn as representing with a fair degree of accuracy the ramifications and scope of the ravages of the sharks: ‘Let us imagine a parade of sixteen abreast in close formation, and reaching from Washington Arch to One Hundred and Thirtieth Street, a distance of six and one-half miles. In the front ranks are 2,000 policemen; next come 2,500 firemen; then 2,000 other city employees, 500 letter carriers, 75,000 clerks of railroads, insurance companies, and public service corporations; 75,000 employees from large mercantile houses; with school-teachers, professional and business men, and others numbering 50,000 more. If we just imagine a parade of this size and character, we shall get an idea of the extent of the loan shark evil in New York.’”

“The business done by the 117 establishments amounted to $20,000,000 annually. Besides New York, every other considerable city in the country was and is infested with the sharks. As a result of the Sage Foundation campaign in New York City, there is not one loan shark advertising in any newspaper, and whatever business they are doing under cover is negligible. Throughout the United States the campaign against the loan shark has been marked by success.”