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Heralds of His Coming
Is the end near? May we know the time? are important questions deserving of the most serious consideration. These, together with many others bearing on Christ’s second advent, are fully answered in this tract.
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THE WOMEN OF PORTO RICO.
By Mrs. A. M. Fischer
Since coming to Porto Rico, I have been deeply interested in the women, especially those of the middle and lower classes. The wealthy are surrounded with luxury; and altho they have not the freedom that their American sisters enjoy, they have need of nothing so far as the pleasures of this world are concerned. Porto Rico is very Oriental in its ideas of women, tho they are not so strict with those who are married as with the young ladies and children. It is an every-day sight to see servants walking behind the children as they pass to and from school; and when young ladies wish to call on their friends only a few doors away, they must be attended by a servant, either a man or a woman. We were somewhat amused one evening about eight o’clock, to see our next-door neighbor coming home from her sister’s alone. This was no doubt her first experience on the street alone at night, and she came almost on a run. But the people are becoming less particular in this respect.
The middle and lower classes are the ones to suffer most. Many of the middle-class people know nothing about work. They are trained to look upon work as only fit for the peons or for their mothers or grandmothers. The girls spend their time in working on lace or fancy work of some kind, planning all the time to dress themselves so as to be attractive. Since the invasion of Americans, the Porto Rican girls, wealthy or poor, see in the Americans possible future husbands. Many of the soldiers have married Porto Rican girls. Some have proved faithful; others have shipped off to the States, leaving their wives to earn a living and support their children. Many of these women know nothing about work, and they are thrown as outcasts upon the public.
One day a girl of seventeen came to the house, asking for help. She appeared modest, and was attractive. She was white, and we supposed she was a Spaniard. We saw that she was not very strong. She claimed to be the wife of an American soldier, who had gone to the States and left her. She could not sew, never had washed or ironed for any one; in fact, knew nothing about work. After helping her, we took her address; and when she came again for help, my little girl and I went with her to her room. And such a place to live in! It was evident that she tried to be clean; but her room was a dreadful place from a health standpoint. Since her husband left her, two years ago, she has been living with a well-to-do Porto Rican. Her baby was only six weeks old when she came to us for help. The Porto Rican has left her now, and does not support her or the child. The child’s grandfather gives her her room free, and since our first visit she has moved into a better room. This is only one among a thousand or more cases.
I asked this young woman if she was married to the Porto Rican. She said, “No.” I asked her if she did not know that it was wrong for her to live that way. She said, “No, it isn’t wrong for Porto Ricans; but it is wrong for Americans, and for a Porto Rican and an American.” I said, “It is wrong for all nations; the Bible, the Word of God, says so.”
Before Porto Rico became United States territory, it cost just $20 for a marriage with any kind of ceremony, and for some ceremonies $40 and $50. The more ceremony, the greater the cost. We can readily see one of the reasons for so much adultery and fornication in the island.
Many of the women, in fact the majority of them, are true to the fathers of their children. When the fathers leave them, the mothers cling to their children. Some toil early and late to supply their needs; others are careless, indifferent, and wicked at heart. But I have never heard of a woman casting off her children; she may leave them in care of the people, yet she seems to love them dearly.
The lower class appeals to my sympathy much, from the fact that no class of people loves them. The Americans care nothing for them, and in the eyes of the Porto Ricans they are nothing more than brutes. They are descendants of the slaves imported from the western coast of Africa by the Spaniards from about 1600 to 1873. Many of the descendants of these slaves have had Indian or Spanish fathers. During the “fiestas” many of the girls sell themselves for gold. Fornication abounds on every hand and nothing but the religion of Christ can make a change in the lives of these people. It is something appalling to see so many souls for whom Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s cross, selling themselves for the paltry sum of a few dollars, yes, even cents.
Many of these souls know nothing of the right and wrong way. Often the Americans have failed to be living witnesses for the Gospel. What more can we expect of these people, when our own people fail to live moral lives?
There are many things too dreadful to write on this subject. All we can do is to work and pray. When these awful things are brought before me, I can not help thinking that for the people’s sake it were better that the work should close soon; but I am glad that God will give all who are willing a chance to be saved. Remember the work here. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
MRS. A. M. FISCHER.
A Tibetan.
A GLIMPSE OF TIBET.
TIBET is a part of the Chinese empire. It is a land of mountains and tablelands, of plains and valleys, of rocks and ravines. Owing to the inaccessibility of the region and the suspicions which the inhabitants have entertained of all foreigners, the country was until recently almost a terra incognita. But within a few years travelers have to some extent explored this inhospitable land, and missionaries have entered its borders with the story of the cross.
A House at Sere Sounds, Tibet.
In 1895 Mr. Petrus Rijnhart, a Dutch missionary, accompanied by his American wife, Mrs. Susie Carson Rijnhart, M. D., entered the northeastern border of Tibet, by way of China. For four years these devoted missionaries did good work for the Master in ministering to the sick and the sinful. Then one day, as they were traveling, Mr. Rijnhart went for aid to a camp of nomad Tibetans, and never returned; his fate has since remained an impenetrable mystery. Left alone among treacherous strangers, Mrs. Rijnhart made her way through many perils to civilization13and safety. Since her return to America, she has told the story of her Tibetan experiences in a book entitled, “With the Tibetans in Tent and Temple.” She thus describes her entrance into the country:—
Westward from Sining [on the border between China and Tibet] the road leads through a highly cultivated plateau; the farms are watered by a perfect system of artificial irrigation, bearing evidence of the industry and skill of the peasants. The houses in the villages are all built of mud and have flat roofs.
On the road one meets groups of merchants, partly Chinese, but bearing a strong resemblance to the Turk, and distinguished by a headdress which seems to be a cross between a Chinese cap and a Moslem turban. These are Mohammedans going down to trade in Sining. Next comes creeping along a small caravan of camel-mounted Mongolians or Tibetans, clad in their ugly sheepskin gowns and big fur caps, on their way to see the Amban [Chinese official] of Sining, or perhaps going to eastern Mongolia or Peking; or one may meet a procession of swarthy-faced Tibetan pilgrims returning single file, with slow and stately tread, from some act of worship at Kumbum, to their homes in the valleys north of Sining. This region, so far as its inhabitants are concerned, marks the transition between a purely Chinese population and a foreign people, the Chinese predominating in the larger centers.
Of her first experience in medical work Mrs. Rijnhart says:—
As soon as the people found out that we were prepared to treat their ailments and dispense medicines, they came to us quite freely. The Chinese were the first to approach us; but soon the Tibetans came, even the lamas [priests], and it was not long before we had as much medical and resultant guest-room work as we could attend to. As it is impossible to get a crowd of Tibetans to listen to a discourse, our evangelistic work consisted chiefly in conversing on Christianity with the people who came to see us, and from the very beginning we were able to interest them in the teachings of the New Testament.
The Tibetans themselves having no medical science worthy the name, the treatment given by the native doctors generally means an increase of agony to the sufferer. For headache large sticking plasters are applied to the patient's head and forehead; for rheumatism often a needle is buried in the arm or shoulder; a tooth is extracted by tying a rope to it and jerking it out, sometimes bringing out a part of the jaw at the same time; a sufferer with stomach-ache may be subjected to a good pounding, or to the application of a piece of wick soaked in burning butter grease. If medicine is to be taken internally, it will consist, probably, of a piece of paper on which a prayer is written, rolled up into the form of a pellet; and if this fails to produce the desired effect, another pellet is administered, composed of the bones of some pious priest.
Mrs. Rijnhart adds: “Altho the natives appear to have great faith in the native doctors, yet they were quick to bestow their patronage upon us.”
“IF WE WOULD.”
If we would but check the speaker,
When he spoils his neighbor’s fame;
If we would but help the erring,
Ere we utter words of blame;
If we would, how many might we
Turn from paths of sin and shame!
Ah, the wrongs that might be righted,
If we would but see the way!
Ah, the pains that might be lightened,
Every hour and every day,
If we would but hear the pleadings
Of the hearts that go astray.
Let us step outside the stronghold
Of our selfishness and pride;
Let us lift our fainting brothers,
Let us strengthen, ere we chide;
Let us, ere we blame the fallen,
Hold a light to cheer and guide.
Ah, how blessed—ah, how blessed
Earth would be if we’d but try
Thus to aid and right the weaker,
Thus to check each brother’s sigh;
Thus to talk of duty’s pathway
To our better life on high.
In each life, however lowly,
There are seeds of mighty good;
Still we shrink from souls appealing,
With a timid, “If we could!”
But the God who judgeth all things,
Knows the truth is—“If we would.”
—Anon.
Proclaiming Salvation to Every Nation
“Can we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we to souls benighted
The lamp of light deny?
Salvation, O, salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth’s remotest nation
Shall learn Messiah’s name.”
NEW HIGHWAYS FOR THE GOSPEL.
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.”
Every discovery and every invention should be used and may be used for the glory of God in the progress of His kingdom. Already steam, electricity, photography, printing, and innumerable other modern discoveries have been employed to harness the powers of nature to the chariot of the Lord. When missionaries first sought to carry out the “Great Commission,” they were at the mercy of wind and wave in long and perilous voyages. Now the highways on land and sea are “prepared for the Lord” by railroads and steamships, which carry the ambassadors of the cross with their “good tidings to all people.”
In Asia the railroads are now binding the nations together with bands of steel. The Trans-Siberian road has already carried missionaries to their fields of labor in China. The journey from London to Shanghai can be made in six or seven weeks, at a cost of about $200, including all expenses. In Asia Minor railroads are progressing, and will make it possible to go from Constantinople to Bussorah on the Persian Gulf. China is also being “gridironed,” and India and Japan are already railed.
Two other great projects deserve to be mentioned, as they will greatly facilitate missionary journeys. One is the proposed line in Africa connecting Cairo with Cape Town, and the other, the “Pan American” road, connecting Mexico with Colombia. Already the Uganda railway is in operation between the Eastern coast and Lake Victoria, and others are approaching this point from the north and south. This opens a large section of the Dark Continent to commerce and travel, and helps on the great Nile irrigation scheme supervised by the British Government. But, above all, this railway will facilitate the healing of the “open sore of the world,” and aid in banishing from that territory the horrible traffic in slaves. On the west coast of this enormous continent, Germany has set about the gradual abolishment of this evil. Not content with stopping slave-trading, the Germans are determined to end domestic slavery. Masters are compelled to grant their slaves a third of their time to work for themselves, and are to care for them during their sickness and old age. And the slaves themselves are permitted to purchase their freedom. For these decided steps forward, we thank God and take courage.
The American intercontinental link is still “in the air,” but will doubtless materialize in time. These modern inventions should not be monopolized by the devil and his servants, but claimed for God.—Missionary Review.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
A PROVINCIAL camp-meeting is to be held at Galt, Ont., June 12-22.
AT Cedar Rapids, Iowa, four candidates were recently baptized and added to the church.
AT Niantic, R. I., Brother E. A. Stillman reports the recent addition of six to the company of believers.
BROTHER L. H. CHRISTIAN, who is laboring among the Scandinavians in Chicago, reports the recent baptism of seven candidates.
THE North Pacific annual camp-meeting will be held at Albina, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, beginning May 22 and continuing ten days.
A CLASS in canvassing was recently organized among the students of Healdsburg (Cal.) College, and thirty-six names were enrolled the first day.
THE WISCONSIN Reporter says that Brother Lewis, of Albany, in that State, has sold a copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons” to every business man in that city, and two to the banker.
THE Atlantic Union Conference is about to construct a larger missionary boat for New York Harbor, to take the place of the Sentinel, which has been in use for a number of years.
THE Ontario Messenger says that a general meeting is called for the latter part of this month at St. John, N. B., at which time the Maritime Provinces will be organized into a conference.
BROTHER J. A. TRAUGH reports to the Monitor that ten persons have commenced the observance of the Sabbath of the Lord in Barbour County, W. Va., and two others at Salem, in Harrison County.
ON the first page of the Review of May 6 is a group of eight buildings showing the different medical missionary stations conducted by our people in Chicago. This is a very good showing for one city.
AT Milwaukee, Wis., April 27, Brother John Isaac was ordained to the Gospel ministry. Brethren Wm. Covert and H. W. Reed officiated. Brother Isaac is to labor in some portion of the Canadian field.
BROTHER T. H. WATSON, writing from Skagway, Alaska, under date of May 3, says: “The work here has been very interesting, the dear Lord has blessed. We have baptism to-day. Quite a number have decided to obey the Lord. We are all of good courage, and have nothing but words of praise and gratitude to the Master of the harvest-field.”
A METHODIST minister of Jacksonville, Oregon, bought a copy of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and has written a testimonial in which he says that “the chapter on the ‘Prodigal Son’ is worth the full price of the work.”
BROTHER H. F. KETRING, a laborer in Chile, reports to the Review the baptism of nine persons at different points. He is encouraged in the work, as several others desired baptism, but were persuaded to wait for further instruction.
IN Honolulu, Brother De Silva has taken about 500 subscriptions for Good Health, and is using 100 copies of the Portuguese paper, and 50 SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It is designed to hold a protracted tent-meeting during the summer.
AT Singapore, capital of the Straits Settlement, off the Malay Peninsula, March 9, Brother E. H. Gates baptized a British soldier, who had accepted the faith before leaving Hong Kong. His term of enlistment will soon be out, when he expects to enter the canvassing work.
BEGINNING with July 6 the International Sunday-school lessons for the remainder of the year will be on “The Exodus.” Those who study these lessons would do well to purchase the book entitled “Patriarchs and Prophets.” Besides much other matter pertaining to the general scope of the work, it is the best commentary on the experiences of the Israelites to be found anywhere. 766 pp.; cloth, $2.25. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.; New York City, Kansas City. Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.
THE meeting of the stockholders of Healdsburg College, Monday, May 5, resulted in the election of the following board of trustees: A. T. Jones, M. E. Cady, J. A. Dolson, W. C. White, A. O. Tait, W. S. Sadler, G. H. Heald. The Board was organized as follows: President, A. T. Jones; secretary, M. E. Cady; treasurer and business manager, F. A. Lashier; superintendent of industries (including printing, tent-making, broom-making, agriculture, horticulture, blacksmithing, dressmaking, hygienic cookery, wood-yard, carpentry, etc.), J. A. Dolson. In many of these trades and vocations the regular teachers in the college will give instruction. The president of the faculty is Prof. M. E. Cady. The other members of the faculty are nearly the same as last year. Will note it when fully complete. Among the actions taken are the following: The school will continue throughout the year. The summer quarter will begin the first Wednesday in July. Each student will be required to work on an average two and one-half hours a day, besides doing the work of his room. Not more than three class studies will be taken; there will, however, be various drills extra, and the instruction in the trades will be mental as well as manual.
A VOICE FROM THE FAR NORTH.
A BROTHER who embraced the truth in Alaska, last winter, under the labors of Brother T. H. Watson, has these good words to say:—
I was brought up in the Baptist Church, but I have found that I was wrong in not keeping the day set apart by the Lord. I thank Him that I am on the right road now, and come what will I mean to stay on it, and serve the Lord.
We read in Gen. 1: 27 that “God created man in His own image”—to serve Him. And in Exodus 20 He gives us the commandments that tell us how we are to serve Him. I would that all the world might be induced to turn to the Lord, obey His law, and be saved. God is willing to accept them; for He “so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Why can we not take Him at His word? May the Lord help the people to think.
I ask an interest in the prayers of God’s people, and may He bless all who read this.
ROBERT KING.
CALIFORNIA CAMP-MEETING.
A LOCAL but central camp-meeting will be held in Petaluma, June 5-15. Grounds have been secured on the west side of the town at Sunny Slope. Particulars as to reaching the ground will be considered later. All our institutions will be represented there. Those expecting to attend will do well to order tents early of M. H. Brown, 301 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, Cal.
A SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY.
READ and see if this does not mean you. The Correspondence School for nurses connected with the Sanitarium Medical Missionary Training School, will begin a new class the first of July. Lessons are sent weekly to students who are unable to leave home duties in order to take a regular course at one of our sanitariums. This is the fourth year this has been carried on, and hundreds are availing themselves of it. Studies on eleven subjects are given, among which missionary work and care and treatment of the sick are prominent. Our lessons have recently been revised and enlarged and are in every way much improved. The tuition fee is $3.00, which barely covers the cost of sending out the lessons, correcting the replies, and returning the reports to the pupil. The text-books required for this work are furnished at actual cost price. We shall organize a new class in July, which will continue one year (some finish in six months), and shall be glad to hear from all who are interested. A descriptive circular giving full particulars will be sent free on application. Address, Correspondence Department Sanitarium Training School, Battle Creek, Mich.
LESSON 10.—JUNE 7.—THE PROMISES TO DAVID.
NOTE.—This series of lessons is entitled, “Studies on the Gospel Message.” For Introduction and excellent suggestions as to their study, we refer the student to the Lesson Quarterly.
The whole history of the children of Israel is of special value at this time (1 Cor. 10:11), but we are necessarily limited to the consideration of some special experiences. The time during which the chosen people of God were made the depositaries of the divine law is divided into three periods (Matt. 1:17), and the limit of each one constitutes a pivot in the history. In this brief outline of the development of the original promise of the Seed (Gen. 3:15), we now pass from the promise to Abraham, and shall next consider the promise to David. This naturally leads to a study of the seventh chapter of 2 Samuel.
1 “And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies round 2 about, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I 3 dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in 4 thine heart; for the Lord is with thee. And it came to pass 5 the same night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell My servant David, Thus saith the Lord, 6 Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a 7 tent and in a tabernacle. In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, 8 saying, Why have ye not built Me an house of cedar? Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto My servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldst be prince over My 9 people, over Israel; and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name 10 of the great ones that are in the earth. And I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall 11 the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover the Lord telleth thee that the Lord will 12 make thee an house. When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish 13 his kingdom. He shall build an house for My name, and I 14 will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be My son: if he commit iniquity, I will 15 chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; but My mercy shall not depart from him, as I 16 took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be made sure forever before thee; 17 thy throne shall be established forever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.”
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
Under what circumstances did David’s thought turn toward the Lord’s house?
What did he say to the prophet Nathan?
What reply did Nathan make to him?
What experience did Nathan have the following night?
What question was he instructed to ask of David?
What was the period of time during which the Lord had not dwelt in a house? What had He done during this time?
Had the Lord during all this time demanded that a house should be built for Him?
What was David’s occupation when the Lord called him? To what work did He appoint him?
To what extent had the Lord prospered him in this work? What had He done for him?
In what promises did the Lord indicate His purpose to provide a permanent home for His people?
What past experiences were not to be repeated?
What did the Lord promise to do for David?
How would David’s house be built?
How would the kingdom be made secure to David’s son?
What would this son do for the Lord?
What would the Lord do for him?
What relationship would be established between them?
What would be the result of disobedience?
What experience of a former king would not occur in this case?
In what threefold promise and prophecy was the Lord’s promise now expressed? How long a time was contemplated in these statements?
How fully did Nathan communicate this vision to David?
NOTE.
The primary object in this and the next lesson should be to become familiar with exactly what is said in this chapter. When this has been done, we shall be better prepared to understand what is meant by what is said. The main theme of the vision is evidently the king and his house. It is simply “the king” who is first introduced. David is mentioned by name only twice in the vision, and in each case it is “My servant David.” As long as His people were journeying from place to place, and lived in tents, the Lord walked with them and made a tent His dwelling-place. Now that the people have a more permanent home, He will permit them to build Him a more permanent temple as His dwelling-place, where His worship shall be conducted. But He first emphasizes the fact that He will make David a house. And the vision closes with the emphatic declaration that David’s house, and David’s kingdom, and David’s throne “shall be established forever.”
