— An appropriation of $39,730,800 for the Spanish navy has been recommended by the navy reform commission. This provides funds for the construction of three 15,000-ton battle-ships, three submarine boats, twenty-four torpedo-boats, and several service ships.
— An all-day's battle is reported to have raged in the streets of an Albanian town recently between the Catholic and Moslem inhabitants. The trouble began by the imprisonment of a Catholic priest, and resulted in the death of fifty persons and the wounding of 100 others.
— A remarkable evangelistic campaign, conducted by Dr. R. A. Torrey, in the city of Chicago, closed December 1. The usual attendance was 3,000 (Sundays, 8,000), and as a result of the 135 sermons preached, about 3,200 persons have professed conversion.
— Very gratifying reports of the progress in excavating the Panama Canal have been received of late; and now Colonel Goethals, the chief engineer, has cabled that five times as much earth was excavated during the month of November as during the same month last year.
— During a snow-storm December 2 the Canadian Pacific Railway's steamship “Mount Temple” went upon the rocks of the Nova Scotian coast. She was bound from Antwerp to St. John, New Brunswick, and carried 600 passengers, all of whom were safely transferred to the shore.
— In his annual report made public December 2, Secretary-of-the-Navy Victor H. Metcalf recommends the construction of war-vessels costing $69,270,000. This includes four battle-ships, four scout cruisers, ten destroyers, four submarines, one ammunition ship, one repair ship, two mine-laying ships, and four fleet colliers.
— The French war balloon “La Patrie” broke away from the soldiers who were holding it during preparations for a demonstration at Verdun, near the German border. Although the air-ship escaped November 30, no authentic report of its whereabouts has yet been received. It is feared that it was blown out to sea, and is lost.
— The worst disaster in the history of mines in this country visited Monongah, W. Va., December 6. An explosion, whose cause has not yet been determined, wrecked two mines; and of the 406 men thought to be in the mines at the time, only fifteen are known to have escaped. On account of the gases, which are even yet hindering the work of rescue, no hope is entertained for any who were in the mines when the explosion occurred.
— A terrible explosion occurred in a coal-mine at Fayette City, Pa., December 1. Although strenuous efforts were made to rescue the entombed miners, none of those entrapped were taken out alive. Thirty-two bodies have been recovered, and it is possible that there are a few more victims. The federal government made an investigation of the disaster. This is said to be the first instance of the government's investigating such an occurrence.
Religious Liberty Notes
The Ministerial Federation of Seattle, Wash., passed a resolution recently to the effect that the officials should perform their duty in enforcing the Sunday laws of that city.
Elder B. F. Kneeland, president of the New Jersey Conference, secured the publication of an excellent article in the Trenton Times, of New Jersey, recently, on the question of the evils of Sunday laws.
A young man sends in three dollars for copies of the last number of Liberty, and says, “I am a young man of twenty-seven years, and expect to earn my living, selling Liberty.” We hope that many other young men will do likewise.
“The enforcement of a Sunday mine-closing law is a new wrinkle to mining men,” says the Arizona Democrat of Nov. 13, 1907. It continues: “It has been the custom of miners all over the country to work seven days each week.” The monstrous evil of religious legislation has found another avenue in which to exercise its growing power.
The Arizona Democrat of Nov. 12, 1907, says: “Upon a platform advocating the Sunday closing of saloons and the imposition of a high liquor license, the Tucson Democrats last Saturday nominated candidates for three positions in the city council.” It is evident that any candidate who will champion a Sunday-closing law will obtain the votes of those who hope to effect a great moral reform through the medium of Sunday legislation and enforcement.
The Philadelphia Ledger, of Nov. 19, 1907, contains nearly a column article on the Sunday navy dance on League Island. It appears that Admiral Pendleton has lost confidence in the Philadelphia Sunday-closing crusaders, and the outcome of the affair is that a strong resolution was adopted by the religious element in Philadelphia, and sent to President Roosevelt, making a vigorous protest against what is deemed a flagrant violation of the Sunday law by the navy.
JUSTICE O’GORMAN of the supreme court of New York rendered a decision December 2 in a test case involving the closing of theaters on Sunday. He denounced as clear violation of the law every possible form of Sunday stage entertainment, under whatever title. As there is no appeal from this decision, any relief must be found in new legislation. Police Commissioner Bingham has announced his intention of enforcing to the letter the law as interpreted by the court, even to the stopping of Y. M. C. A. lectures.
The Daily Picayune, of New Orleans, La., bearing date of Nov. 25, 1907, contains over a half-column report of a sermon preached in New Orleans, November 14, by Elder S. B. Horton, on President Roosevelt’s position in eliminating the motto, “In God We Trust,” from the ten-dollar gold coin. Elder Horton showed that such a motto in such a place is not in accord with the words of Jesus, when he said: “Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s;” and further compared such a custom with that which was established by Constantine in 321 A. D., of having on one side of his coin the name of Christ, and on the other side the figure of the sun-god.
Elder W. R. Andrews, the religious liberty secretary of the Southern New England Conference, writes in part as follows: “I will send you on a separate sheet a copy of the bill passed last June by the General Assembly of this State. There were seven bills introduced, but this one, and one other concerning hunting on Sunday, were the only ones passed. As the law now stands, any person found in the open air with a gun will be deemed a violator of the law, and will be dealt with as such.”
The Washington Post of Oct. 23, 1907, contains the following: “Clergymen of Philadelphia have entered a vigorous campaign to stop Sunday baseball at League Island. Having found that the protests to the commandant are unavailing, they have decided to petition President Roosevelt to prohibit a sport, which, the ministers say, is harmful to the city. The Rev. T. T. Mutchler, secretary of the Sabbath Association, said that he called upon the commandant at League Island and requested him to stop the Sunday games. The commandant refused to do it, declaring the sport was beneficial to the men.” It will be interesting to learn what the President’s attitude will be toward this petition.
Section 1 of “an act concerning the observance of Sunday, passed by the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, and approved June 29, 1907,” reads as follows: “No person who conscientiously believes that the seventh day of the week ought to be observed as the Sabbath, and actually refrains from secular business and labor on that day, or who conscientiously believes that the Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday night and ends at sundown on Saturday night, and actually refrains from secular business and labor during said period, and who has filed written notice of such belief with the prosecuting attorney of the court having jurisdiction, shall be liable to prosecution for performing secular business and labor on Sunday, provided he disturbs no other person who is attending public worship.”
The Kansas City Times, of Nov. 13, 1907, contains the following interesting comment on the exemption clause contained in the Missouri Sunday law, a St. Louis barber having been recently convicted for working on Sunday: “His contention is that a law which would put one man in jail for working on Saturday and another for working on Sunday, but not both for working on either day, is class legislation. If two men are arrested for shaving people on Sunday, and one is subject to fine, the contention is that it is not good law to exempt the other if he can say, ‘I am Jewish, I didn’t work Saturday;’ yet that is what the law provides, though it might be a question for the jury to determine whether the Jew observed his Sabbath properly. In case of the theater people it might be as much of a hardship to close Saturday as Sunday. The case is a curious one that is attracting considerable attention among lawyers. It is supposed to be the only law on the statute-books that attempts to apply a religious test forbidden by the Constitution of the United States, and it is not improbable that it will result in the whole Sunday law in that State being vitiated.”
The Sunday-Closing Movement
WE are just in receipt of a tract of fifteen pages, entitled “The Sunday-Closing Movement,” which has been issued by the Kansas City Religious Liberty Bureau. One unique feature in the tract, which can not fail to appeal to the reader, is the comparison which is drawn between true Protestantism and the position taken by the advocates of Sunday laws.
Christian Liberty
By K. C. Russell; W. A. Colcord
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL, Chairman
W. A. COLCORD, Secretary
The Sunday-Closing Crusade in Chicago
By L. D. Santee
A CONFLICT over the question of Sunday closing of saloons in Chicago has begun, that in its very nature must be far reaching. Sunday, November 24, was the day selected to begin the struggle. Detectives were sent out to secure evidence for the prosecution of all those whose saloons were kept open on Sunday.
A list of one hundred seventy-five saloons, with the evidence needed for the proprietors’ conviction, was easily obtained. The same day, nearly every pastor in the city spoke on the subject of Sunday closing of the saloon.
The battle promises to be a long one. The law has been a long time on the statute-books, but has been practically ignored. The plea is made that the people do not want the saloons closed, and that the executives should carry out the wishes of their constituents.
To-day, the clergy and the better class of society are trying to make Sunday legally different from the other days of the week. Civilly, what is right on one day of the week is right on any other day; but they are slow to see this.
On the other hand, the wealth, power, and influence of the liquor party are almost incalculable. Decisions of the lower courts count for but little. The Supreme Court of the United States is the tribunal before which doubtless the case will be tried.
The fact that the liquor dealers have voluntarily met the issue shows that they have confidence in their strength and resources. How long influence and adjournments may delay the decision, is only a matter of conjecture. “Coming events cast their shadows before,” and in the light of prophecy, it is easy to see that Sunday will be magnified more than temperance.
Our Illinois conferences are sending Liberty to our State legislators, and our churches have ordered it sent to the mayor, the city council, and the municipal judges of Chicago. Some religious liberty literature is also being scattered among the people. Now while the battle is on, while the great dailies are discussing the question, we have a good opportunity to educate the people on the principles of religious liberty, and emphasize the Saviour’s words, “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
L. D. SANTEE.
The Exchange of Confidence
By F. G.
WE teach by what we are more than by what we say. The facts we present may be valuable in themselves, but they do not most directly influence our pupils. That which does most directly affect them is principles of truth and salvation, seen not alone in the facts of knowledge which the pupil learns, but much more by the exemplification of these principles in the life of the teacher. The mystery of iniquity or the mystery of righteousness will be revealed in the life of the teacher. The spirit of self-exaltation or of humility will characterize his work. If he wishes his pupils to be Christians, he must in his own life place before them the example of Christ.
The teacher stands in a very difficult and trying place. He continually is called upon to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. It is his work to correct those features in the characters of his students which need correction, and to encourage everything that tends to the upbuilding of the good. As a consequence of this work, he naturally incurs, at times, the ill will of thoughtless pupils, and unless the principle of “considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted,” prevails in his life, he soon comes to be suspicious of the feelings of his students toward him. He then takes as a slight many things which are not so intended. A sensitiveness can develop on the part of the teacher with remarkable rapidity; and as a consequence, there is made between teacher and pupil a breach, which widens most easily. The only way for a teacher to have the good-will and love of all his pupils, is not to allow himself to believe that his pupils have any feelings toward him, except those of good-will and love. When he believes that his pupils feel kindly toward him, it is easy and natural for him to manifest the same spirit toward them. In turn, they manifest more of the same spirit toward him, and so this feeling of helpfulness and good-will grows. Confidence begets confidence. It is impossible for pupils to learn most readily unless there is an absence of friction in the running of the school. And one of the most helpful means of doing away with friction is for the teacher to be very slow to take offense, and ready to give to his pupils his confidence, and to believe that they have confidence in him.
F. G.
Our Attitude Toward the Public Schools
By F. G.
All civilized governments make some provision for the education of the children who are to become their citizens. The fact that private schools exist under all these governments is evidence that the promoters and supporters of these private schools feel that the public schools do not provide all that is essential for the education of their children. It does not follow, however, that this lack is due to any fault on the part of the management of these government schools, but rather that in the nature of the case, they can not well supply certain elements which some think to be necessary for the education of the young. Perhaps the demand for the religious education of the child leads to the establishment of private schools more than any other one feature. Civil government, being justly bound to protect all religionists in the free exercise of those forms of worship dictated by their consciences, in so far as this worship does not encroach upon the similar rights of others, must be impartial; and so it should not establish any system of religious education. To the ardent believer in any form of religion, the spiritual education and development of his children is a very important matter—a duty which he is bound by his obligations to his Maker faithfully to discharge.
Civil governments are ordained of God. They are intended to maintain an orderly state of society and to protect their subjects in the free exercise of their civil and religious rights. For them to exist and accomplish their work, they must have intelligent citizens. The government must bend its energies to the task of maintaining this intelligence and promoting the general welfare of its citizens, more largely, perhaps, through its schools than through any other single agency. On the other hand, Seventh-day Adventists believe that they have a distinctive and important work to do. This requires that they carefully educate their children.
It would seem that there is a slight danger at times, in the effort to establish and maintain our denominational schools, of unnecessarily disparaging the work of the public schools. One purpose of the public schools is, as has been indicated, to assist in the maintenance of the government. The schools of the Christians, while distinctly educating in those things which pertain to religion, do none the less seek to make capable, law-abiding citizens.
It would seem that the basis of the argument which should be used in urging our people to place their children in our own schools is the fact that we as a people have a distinctive work to do in warning the world of its impending doom, which the Scriptures clearly teach is coming upon it, and that we must have our children so educated that they will be enabled not only to escape this doom themselves, but to lead others to the way of escape. It is not alone what the public schools teach, but what from the nature of their organization they can not teach, that makes our schools necessary. The simple faith in God's Word and the ideals of unselfishness which it teaches, should create an atmosphere of purity and uprightness in our schools. Let us present positive rather than negative arguments in building up our own work. Let us assume a reasonable view of the work of schools other than our own. Let the importance of the teaching of God's Word to the young be the strongest argument for the necessity of the educational work which we are carrying forward.
F. G.
Impartiality
By F. G.
God is no respecter of persons. Christians are to be no respecters of persons. It is impossible for humanity to possess this characteristic unless men have power from on high. It takes a constant effort on the part of the teacher to avoid favoritism. It is but natural to like the capable, cheerful, helpful, and obedient pupil, and to feel an aversion toward the unlikely and awkward one. But the ill-favored, dull, listless, and wayward child is he who needs most the sympathy, help, and love of the teacher. The upbuilding and uplifting of such a pupil is the glory of the teacher’s work. It requires no special gift of teaching to instruct and lead in development the23bright-minded child. It is no evidence of ability on the part of the teacher that such a child makes progress under his instruction. On the contrary, the evidence of a teacher’s calling is his patience and perseverance shown in leading the dull, listless pupil to become active-minded and accurate, in leading the impatient and wayward child to become obedient and faithful in his work. It is this spirit of tact and patience that has made all great teachers successful in their work. This can be accomplished only by the strictest impartiality; and impartiality can be had only by receiving the spirit of it from God. It is the spirit of love. F. G.
Two Splendid Opportunities
By Frederick Griggs
At the meeting of the General Conference Council at Gland last May it was voted to establish a training-school in the Latin Union field. A school has existed in this field for a number of years, but it has not been on a thoroughly established basis. It has had no buildings in which to do its work. The school has not been organized in a thorough manner. On account of the rapid growth of the work in this field, it was felt by the council that an earnest effort should be made to put the school upon a sound financial basis, to enable it to do a thorough work in the training of young men and women for gospel work in that field.
This field is composed of the Roman-Swiss Conference, and the French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French-Belgian, Algerian, and Tunis Mission fields. It is a very thickly populated territory. During the last year Elder Jean Vuilleumier was in charge of the school. It was held in three or four different places about the sanitarium buildings at Gland.
Now it is high time for the school to be thoroughly established; and they have asked for the small sum of three thousand dollars with which to erect buildings and begin their work. When we compare this limited amount with the large investment of money in our training-schools in this and other countries, it must appeal to all as being indeed a very humble beginning for a school in so important a field. The brethren in this field are far from wealthy, and in all reason they need help for this worthy enterprise. They are raising one thousand dollars of this three thousand dollars. It was felt by the council that two thousand dollars could be raised by the students in our advanced schools, academies, and intermediate schools in the United States. This can be easily done by these students if all will enter upon the work unitedly, and will raise a sum of money equal to one dollar a student.
Now the majority of our students in these schools have difficulty in meeting their school expenses. The question of one dollar is oftentimes a serious one, but a most excellent opportunity is offered them to earn this sum of money, and at the same time help to spread the message of truth. The most excellent special numbers of the Youth’s Instructor, Watchman, Life and Health, and Signs of the Times afford them this opportunity. The “Our Truth” special number of the Youth’s Instructor is an exceedingly valuable paper for the students in all grades of our schools. Not only is it valuable for their own reading, but it is most excellent as a means for missionary work. The same is true of the special issue of the great Missions number of the Signs of the Times, and the most excellent special of the Watchman. The December number of Life and Health treats of the tobacco evil, and is exceedingly valuable for distribution. These four papers afford our students a most excellent opportunity to raise the means with which to assist in erecting a needed building for this Latin Union school. It would seem that every young person who appreciates the value of the school with which he is connected, would enter enthusiastically upon this plan to provide assistance for the establishment of this Latin Union school, and we look for splendid returns in this direction. FREDERICK GRIGGS.
Teachers' Convention at Canton
By E. H. Wilbur
From Aug. 11 to 16, 1907, the first Seventh-day Adventist teachers' convention in China was held at Canton. It was local in nature, only the teachers of our own schools, a few prospective teachers, and other workers being invited to attend and participate. About fourteen persons were in daily attendance. A program had previously been arranged by our local educational committee, and papers assigned to the different teachers. Two sessions were held daily from 10 A. M. until 12 M., and from 2 to 4 P. M. Each session opened with song and prayer. This was followed by the reading of a paper, and a general discussion of the subject presented. The following topics have been considered: How to Write Chinese Characters, Letter-writing, School Management, Methods of Teaching, Bible, Reading, Physiology and Hygiene, Geography, History, Mathematics, New Methods of Teaching, Value of Memorizing.
We had a very interesting and profitable gathering. Much care and thought had been given to the preparation of the papers, and all were discussed quite freely. Appropriate texts of Scripture were read at each session. One of the teachers remarked that it is wonderful how much instruction the Bible contains upon every branch of knowledge. Brother G. Doane Wong, formerly a student at Berrien Springs and Healdsburg, is teaching in our Canton schools this year, and he took an active part in the convention.
The autumn session of our schools opened August 21. As usual in this land there was not a full attendance the first day, but within two or three weeks we shall doubtless have as many as we had the first part of the year, if not more. During the summer vacation a committee has been at work preparing a six years' course of study in Chinese. This will mark a new era in our schools. Just now at Canton we are greatly in need of a young man who has had a thorough preparation and a good experience not only in teaching, but in superintending school work. If such a man could come to Canton now and begin the study of the language, he could perform an active and important part in preparing our young people in China to go forth with the loud cry in the closing work of this message. May the Lord put it into the heart of the right man to come, and to come soon.
E. H. WILBUR.
Meeting of the Constituency of the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary
By Frederick Griggs
Now that our training-school at Washington has changed the character of its work, and is conducting a line of work which is related in a special sense to all our mission fields, we believe that everything which pertains to its advancement will be of interest.
Pursuant to the call published in the REVIEW, an annual meeting of the constituency of the Washington Training College was held at Philadelphia in connection with the Atlantic Union meeting. Two meetings were held, November 15 and November 20. At the first meeting little was done other than to organize and to appoint the committees on nominations and plans. At the second meeting some time was taken in a presentation of the aims and purposes of the school, and in the work which it is now doing. Remarks were made by A. G. Daniels, H. R. Salisbury, Dr. D. H. Kress, W. W. Prescott, and others. The president of the school, H. R. Salisbury, spoke very encouragingly of the present work and future prospects of the school. He stated that the attendance is now sixty, and that the class-room space is at present taxed to its utmost. With more students coming every week, they are naturally anxious to be able to occupy the new college building, which is in process of erection, where they will have sufficient accommodations for the class work. The average age of the students now at the school is about twenty-five years. He spoke particularly of the spiritual interest in the school, stating that it was most encouraging. As the students are of mature age, and have definite plans for future work, there is naturally a solidity of religious experience which is very enjoyable. He spoke of a number of marked experiences of students who are at the school preparing for foreign work. Both Professor Salisbury and Dr. Kress spoke of the mutually free and helpful relations which exist between the Seminary and the Sanitarium. One of the most encouraging features of the work of the school was the very helpful and cordial attitude assumed toward it not only by the school workers, but by the presidents of conferences and other leading workers everywhere. The following persons were elected as trustees for the ensuing term: A. G. Daniels, H. R. Salisbury, W. W. Prescott, I. H. Evans, G. B. Thompson, K. C. Russell, G. A. Irwin, W. A. Ruble, Frederick Griggs.
The following resolutions were adopted:—
“In view of the following recommendation of the General Conference Committee held at Gland, Switzerland, in the month of May of this year, ‘That we request the trustees of the Washington Training College to so change their courses of study and plans of operation24as to make that institution a distinctively foreign mission training-school,’ and,—
“Inasmuch as this recommendation has been acted upon by the trustees, and the change made, therefore,—
‘Resolved, That we approve of the action of the trustees in making this change.
‘Resolved, That the necessary legal steps be taken to change the corporate name of the Washington Training College to the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary.
‘Resolved, That we amend Article IV, Section 1, of the By-laws, which reads, ‘The members of the corporation shall consist of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Executive Committee of the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Executive Committee of the Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Executive Committee of the West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, the Board of Management of the evangelical work of the Seventh-day Adventists in the District of Columbia, and Takoma Park, Md., and the Board of Trustees of the Washington Training College,’ to read, ‘The members of this corporation shall consist of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, unincorporated, and the president of each local conference in the United States;’ and further, That we amend Section 2, of Article IV, which reads, ‘A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of not less than fifteen members,’ to read, ‘A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of not less than ten members.’
“In order to provide efficient workers for the great fields beyond, and since the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary is established for the training of foreign missionaries,—
“We recommend that each conference in the United States co-operate with the Seminary in encouraging suitable persons to enter the foreign missionary work, and that each conference provide yearly the expense of the training of one or more students at the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary.”
It will be noticed that the constituency of the school by the adoption of these resolutions is changed. This change seemed necessary and fitting now that the school has taken on a work which is not related to any local field, but to the whole world. Elder G. A. Irwin remarked during the meeting that he considered the action of the General Conference Committee in thus establishing a school designed especially to fit workers for the foreign fields, to be one of the most important moves made by the General Conference in years. It seemed to be the feeling of all present that this school has an important work before it. FREDERICK GRIGGS.
Pure Language
By Pearl D. Bascom
As teachers, one of our greatest works should be that of assisting our pupils to acquire a pure language. The habit of using pure or impure language is formed in early childhood. New words are added to the child's vocabulary as he hears them spoken. The first few years of his life he is but an echo. Then how careful parents should be to choose for their children's associates only those who use language that they are willing to hear repeated.
Let us notice some of the negative rules of the Bible, that are almost universally broken, which the child needs to be taught as he comes in contact with others.
1. Swear not at all; neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by your head, nor by any other thing. Matt. 5:34-36; James 5:12. This forbids using “by” with various epithets to affirm a statement, also such expressions as, “Sure as I live,” “Sure as I have a head,” or calling on heaven to witness, or hoping God will strike dead if the thing affirmed be not true. See “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 201.
2. For every idle (meaningless) word, men shall give an account. Matt. 12:36. This includes not only light and trifling talk, but all slang phrases. These add no force to conversation, but are a result of habits unconsciously formed, and mark the user as unrefined and unchristian.
3. Lie not to one another. Col. 3:9. This is perhaps the first rule the child breaks consciously,—often the result of the severity of parent or teacher. He must be taught carefully and prayerfully the terribleness of this sin, that honesty and truthfulness may be woven together into the character. “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” Ps. 101:7. “The remnant of Israel shall not . . . speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.” Zeph. 3:13. And of the one hundred forty-four thousand it is said, “In their mouth was found no guile.”
4. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” Eph. 4:29. This includes all that is commonly called impure. “All uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.” Eph. 5:4. “No . . . impure suggestion will escape the lips of him who is following Christ.”—“Christ's Object Lessons,” page 337.
5. “Foolish talking,” let it not once be named among you. Eph. 5:4. In spite of this command, how prevalent the sin! “Girls and boys get together, and chat, and laugh, and joke, and drive Christ out of their hearts, and angels from their presence, by their foolish nonsense. . . . Small talk about this young man or that girl, withers noble, devotional thoughts and feelings, and drives good and holy desires from the heart.”—“Testimonies,” Vol. I, page 392. There is a great work to be done to prevent talk which brings results so dire. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction drives it away.
6. Last, but not least, I would mention criticism, or backbiting. “If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault,” says Christ. We are not commanded to tell it to another. Again, “If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1. It is the spirit of self-righteousness that leads to criticism, and the one who possesses this spirit can never dwell with God. “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that backbiteth not with his tongue, . . . nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.” Ps. 15:3. Well would it be if our youth would make this rule of George Washington's their own: “If you can not speak well of a person, do not speak at all.”
Finally, from the heart of every one who would perfect his language must daily ascend David's prayer: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight. O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
PEARL D. BASCOM.
Making the Best Use of a Short Recitation Period
By J. Scott Moore
The progressive, wide-awake teacher will endeavor to avoid monotony or anything that may produce listlessness. He will invent ways to attract and secure the attention and create an interest in the subject under study, in the dull pupil. A recitation of fifteen minutes is worth infinitely more than one of twenty-five to thirty minutes if the former is conducted so as to infuse that life into the work which will secure the attention and participation of all.
This can often be accomplished by varying the exercises, avoiding a stereotyped method of recitation; for instance, a topic may be assigned to each member of the class to elucidate in the way of a lecture. If the class is large, two can explain the same topic. The class may perhaps vote as to which one gave the best presentation. I do not regard a little healthful rivalry and criticism to be hurtful if properly managed. At another25time the teacher may question the class in the old-fashioned way. Occasionally some member of the class may be appointed to teach the lesson, the teacher becoming a member of the class. This plan often works well in oral spelling and geographical exercises. If the lesson is lengthy, and the class is small, the teacher may recite in turn with the class, especially in grammar where many sentences are to be disposed of.
In arithmetic, the class may be called forward to the recitation seat and spend a few minutes in answering questions in regard to the principles involved, then each may be assigned a principle or two to elucidate by an appropriate problem, occasionally making his own problem. To make the most of limited time, each member of the class, five minutes before it is called, may be assigned work to demonstrate in the recitation.
J. SCOTT MOORE.
Work Under the Holy Spirit
“THOSE connected with our schools and sanitariums are to labor with earnest alacrity. The work that is done under the ministration of the Holy Spirit, out of love for God and for humanity, will bear the signature of God, and will make its impression on human minds.”
Right Views of Education
By D. P. Page
EVERY teacher, before he begins the work of instruction, should have some definite idea of what constitutes an education; otherwise he may work to very little purpose. The painter who would execute a beautiful picture, must have beforehand a true and clear conception of beauty in his own mind. The same may be said of the sculptor. That rude block of marble, unsightly to the eyes of other men, contains the godlike form, the symmetrical proportion, the lifelike attitude of the finished and polished statue; and the whole is as clear to his mental eye before the chisel is applied as it is to his bodily vision when the work is completed. With this perfect ideal in the mind at the outset, every stroke of the chisel has its object. Not a blow is struck, but it is guided by consummate skill; not a chip is removed, but to develop the ideal of the artist. And when the late unsightly marble, as if by miraculous power, stands out before the astonished spectator in all the perfection of beauty,—when it almost breathes and speaks,—it is to the artist but the realization of his own conception.