What the Movement under the Third Angel's Message Stands For
By Arthur G. Daniells
A. G. DANIELLS
(Reading for Sabbath, December 21)
Seventh-day Adventists are carrying forward a world-wide religious movement. This movement is not exactly like, nor directly connected with, any other movement in the world. What is this movement, and what does it stand for?
It is the proclamation of that threefold message outlined in the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. It is, therefore, the fulfilment of prophecy.
In its fullest and most comprehensive meaning, this movement stands for the messages of divine truth, the people who receive and obey them, and the work of those people in proclaiming the messages to the world. The messages, the people, and the work are all definitely mentioned in Revelation 14.
The messages are the “everlasting gospel.” Verse 6. They stand for the “truth of the gospel” as revealed in the entire Bible. In these messages the fulness of the light of the gospel is centered. By them the earth will be lightened with the glory of God. Rev. 18:1.
The people are the result of the shining of that light. They are called out by the truths of the messages. The proclamation of the messages develops a company of people of whom it is said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. These people are mentioned in other places as being sealed with the seal of God (Rev. 7:1); as standing with Christ on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1); and, finally, having “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark,” they are seen on the sea of glass surrounding the throne of God. Rev. 15:2.
What the Work Includes
The work is the proclamation of the messages by the people. This represents the whole effort made to give the truth of the messages to the world. It includes every desire felt to make that truth known, every prayer offered for its progress, every sermon proclaiming it, every word written explaining it, every visit made, every page of literature distributed, and every dollar given. It represents every church building, printing-house, school, sanitarium, and office dedicated to the advancement of this cause. It embraces every mission established in the dark places of the earth, and every journey and voyage made by land and sea to enlighten and lift up humanity with the truth as made known in the third angel’s message. Of those who give their lives to active work in this message, and fall at their posts, the Lord says: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.
Object of the Message
The object of this threefold message is plain, definite, and solemn. It is the announcement to all the world that the judgment-hour has come. Rev. 14:6, 7. It is that proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all the nations, which will bring the end. Matt. 24:14. It is the finishing of the mystery of God under the sounding of the seventh angel, when the kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ. Rev. 10:7; 11:14, 15. Its object is to finish the work of God in the earth, and cut it short in righteousness. Rom. 9:28. That object will be accomplished. It is impossible that it should fail.
Scope of the Message
This message is world-wide in its scope. It is to be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. All classes in all the world are to be warned of the coming perils, and invited to the only sure place of refuge.
By land and sea the message is to be carried to the busy throngs in the centers of population, and to the remote, isolated, scattered peoples in partially explored lands and in the islands of the seas. And this will be done. John not only saw the work in progress, but he saw its glorious consummation in a company of people standing around God’s throne who had been gathered from every nation by this message.
Beginning of the Message
This movement as a whole began with the work of William Miller, in 1831. But in its present form it dates from 1845, immediately following the great disappointment of 1844. Its history has been marked by a steady growth and triumphant progress into all the world. It has taken permanent root in nearly all lands in every continent. It has been planted in nearly all the island groups of the world. Its missions are gathering believers from nearly every “kindred, and tongue, and people,” just as the prophecy represents. Millions of dollars have been invested in this movement, and to-day thousands of intelligent, consecrated men and women in all lands are devoting their lives to the advancement of some phase of this work.
The situation we now face is truly remarkable. Whose heart is not stirred and thrilled, as he looks over the battlefield and sees the army of devoted soldiers facing the enemy? Whose heart is not encouraged as he sees the splendid victories being gained over that enemy? Whose heart does not rejoice to see the captives being set free?
Power of the Message
What is this great movement which we behold? Whence comes its power? It is not popular with the world, and it never can be. It strikes down every idol of the carnal heart. It is laden with crosses, self-denial, and sacrifice. It leads its votaries against the whole current of the world. And yet it attracts and holds them with a power they can not resist. For it men and women abandon evil habits and ways, and break old and hallowed associations. To it they contribute their gold and silver, consecrate their sons and daughters, and give their lives. Wherever this cause touches the world, it exerts this power over the hearts of men.
Evidences of the End
Let us thank God for these victories. They are evidence that we are nearing the end. We are surely in the time of the latter rain, and the showers are falling. The loud cry of the third angel has begun. It may not be sounding exactly as we had supposed it would, but it is sounding. The heathen are hearing it, and are coming to us for help.
Every believer in the third angel’s message rejoices to hear of its progress. We have claimed from its earliest days that this message would go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in the world; that the earth would be lightened with its glory; and that then the end would come. Why, then, should we not rejoice at every step of its progress? Why should we not be filled with gladness, assurance, and courage, as we see it now firmly established and working like leaven in almost every country in the world? This is our privilege.
What Its Progress Means
And while we rejoice at its triumphant progress in every direction, we should have a clear understanding and a full realization of what this progress means. It means marches, battles, and conquests in new territory at the front, and the sending of fresh supplies from the base. The supplies to be sent consist principally of workers and money. Much is involved in this. The workers who go must cut loose from everything in this world. They must leave a country whose people, language, and customs they understand, and go where everything is new and strange. They must leave the many comforts, advantages, and safeguards of modern, advanced civilization, and place themselves where they will be exposed to heat, and cold, and disease, often without proper protection, and be deprived of educational and other advantages they and their children need. They must cut themselves off from what appears to be a visible means of support, and cast themselves on the good-will and loyalty of the believers in this message who do not go.
The Duty of Those Who Stay
This is what the triumphant progress of this cause in the world means to those who go to the front. What does it mean to those who stay at home? Have they any special responsibilities? They must have. And what are they? It is impossible that the responsibilities that are created by the growth of this work should all fall upon one class; namely, those who go to the regions beyond. Those who stay must remember with affection and solicitude those who go. They must pray for safe voyages. They must pray for their health, and for protection from various deadly diseases to which they will be exposed. They must pray for their success in learning the ways of strangers, and mastering difficult languages. They must pray especially that their efforts to save the perishing shall be crowned with success. They must pray that as the work develops, the Lord will send more laborers to join them in carrying the increasing burdens. They must pray for their support while giving their lives wholly to the work.
And besides praying for their support, those who remain at home in possession of property and of commercial advantages, must give of their means to support those who have left all these. This is a vital, fundamental point in the great problem of foreign missions. It is immensely practical. It can not be overlooked, forgotten, nor set aside, except at the peril of our comrades. Many connected with this cause, and who enjoy reading of its progress, do not realize18what this means from a financial standpoint.
Look at our situation to-day. We have ministers, Bible workers, writers, teachers, physicians, nurses, and canvassers in China, India, Africa, Japan, Central and South America, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, the West Indies, Mexico, Canada, Ceylon, the islands of the Pacific, and in other lands. These laborers are our own brethren and sisters. They were once in the home country with us. Now they are scattered all over the world. They find perishing souls who are glad to get the light of this closing gospel message. They are devoting every hour of their time, every ounce of their strength, wholly to the proclamation of the truth. They are not farming, nor engaging in commercial enterprises of any kind—not because they do not like to work, nor because they are not able to make a living for themselves. When they were here engaged in worldly business, they were as industrious and successful as any of us. But their ears caught the earnest appeals for help that are coming from these distant lands, and their hearts responded in love and self-sacrifice. They obeyed the command of the great General: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Forgetful of their own personal interests, they have gone abroad to render service to their fellow men.
The Support of the Vanguard
The question of their support they have left with the Lord and their brethren. In round numbers, that amounts to at least two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. That means twenty thousand dollars every month. And as this is required to purchase fuel, food, and clothes, and to pay house rent and other necessary expenses, it must go promptly and regularly, or they will be placed in embarrassing circumstances.
Where is this money? Who is to supply it? What is the resource of this great enterprise?—This money is in the hands of Seventh-day Adventists. It is lodged with those who are listening this day to the reading. You are the visible resource. The daily support of a thousand persons rests upon you. Whether these missionaries and their wives and children shall have what they need at the time they need it, depends upon your gifts. This is a sacred responsibility. But you helped to create it. You accepted it when you accepted the gospel as set forth in the third angel’s message.
As a people, we have not exhausted our resources. We have farms, stock, and money on interest. We have good health, and good trades by which we command large wages. We have a large working capital. We are well able by these gifts from our Lord, who has called us to this undertaking, to carry it forward. The total offerings to missions made by our North American churches for 1903 amounted to $113,608.15. This includes the annual offering, the weekly contributions, the miscellaneous gifts, and the portion of the Sabbath-school offerings that was appropriated to missions. This is an average of $1.88 for each Sabbath-keeper. It amounts to three and three-fifths cents a week during the year. Surely we must do more than this, before we talk of retrenchment. We should do more than this, rather than compel the officers of the General Conference to say “No” to so many of the appeals that come from the fields needing help, and from consecrated workers whose hearts burn to answer these calls.
When the light of this message shone into the minds and hearts of those to whom it came at the first, it gave them new hope and joy. And more, it laid upon their hearts a deep conviction that it was their duty to give to others what they had received. They were compelled by an unseen, resistless power to tell the message to their friends. But they could not stop here. This opened the way to tell it to their neighbors. And thus they went on and on, from friend to neighbor, from neighbor to town, and from town to State, and from State to nation, until they and their associates encircled the world. This is the law of the kingdom.
What Our Attitude Involves
The last step is involved in the first. The consent to hear the truth involves obedience to it. Obedience involves communication to others. To avoid the last step—world-wide communication—it is necessary to refuse to take the first—to even listen to the truth. But that involves the loss of the soul.
And so by this law we find ourselves, as Seventh-day Adventists, in the solemn situation we are facing. This cause has leaped over barriers of every kind and description. It has crossed State lines, wide oceans, and national boundaries. Nothing has been able to stop its onward movement. As it has gained adherents, it has distributed them. As it has created and increased resources, it has scattered them. It has lost no ground. Every advance step taken has been held and used for another step forward. Every laborer sent in answer to a call for help has sent back an urgent appeal for others to join him. Every door entered opens more doors to enter. Every dollar expended creates a demand for more than its double.
In order to answer the pressing calls that come to this denomination from the world for the light God has given us, we should have a larger week-of-prayer offering this year than ever before. This call from the dark places of the earth is an appeal to every believer of this message. It should make a deep impression, and should move us to something special. Nothing will cause greater rejoicing among our hard-pressed missionaries in all lands than a splendid contribution, during the week of prayer, to foreign missions.
Brethren and sisters, for the sake of our Redeemer, for the sake of the perishing souls in heathen lands, and for the sake of our missionaries who are pressed almost beyond reason with work, we should open our hearts and our purses in a far more than ordinary way, in behalf of missions, at this time.
The Lord's Prayer
Children's Lesson—No. 7
The Lord's Prayer
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Satan tempts and accuses. Zech. 3:1, 2, represents the work of Satan toward every soul drawn toward Christ.
In offering this prayer, we ask God to lead us in safe paths, to give us victory over temptation, and surrender ourselves to his guidance. If we venture into forbidden places, we have no assurance of protection from Satan’s power.
He who prays this prayer may depend upon the promise in 1 Cor. 10:13.
Mention a few temptations “common to man.” (Encourage children to answer from experience.)
“But deliver us from the evil one.” Matt. 6:13, R. V.
“Christ will never abandon the soul for whom he has died. The soul may leave him, and be overwhelmed with temptation; but Christ can never turn from one for whom he has paid the ransom of his own life. Could our spiritual vision be quickened, we should see souls bowed under oppression and burdened with grief, pressed as a cart beneath sheaves, and ready to die in discouragement. We should also see angels flying swiftly to aid these tempted ones, who are standing as on the brink of a precipice. The angels from heaven force back the hosts of evil that encompass these souls, and guide them to plant their feet on the sure foundation. The battles waging between the two armies are as real as those fought by the armies of this world, and on the issue of the spiritual conflict eternal destinies depend.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in “Mount of Blessing,” page 158.
The Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Lesson—No. 8
The Lord’s Prayer
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Memory Verse: “Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Ps. 90: 2.
The first word of the last sentence of the prayer connects it with all that has gone before. “For” has the meaning of “because.”
Why should God’s name be hallowed? Why should his kingdom come? Why should his will be done? Why should we ask him for daily bread, for forgiveness of sin, for deliverance from evil?—Because his “is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.”
“Amen” used in prayer or worship means “So may it be.” The Jews used it in the temple services. The people remained in the court while the priests offered the sacrifices in the temple. Then the Levites would sing a psalm, and at every pause in the music, the trumpets would sound, the people would bow and worship, saying, “Amen!”—“So may it be.”
Jehovah an Abundant Helper
PRAISE ye Jehovah.
Praise Jehovah, O my soul.
While I live will I praise Jehovah:
I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
Put not your trust in princes,
Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that in them is;
Who keepeth truth forever;
Who executeth justice for the oppressed;
Who giveth food to the hungry.
Jehovah looseth the prisoners;
Jehovah openeth the eyes of the blind;
Jehovah raiseth up them that are bowed down;
Jehovah loveth the righteous;
Jehovah preserveth the sojourners;
He upholdeth the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
Jehovah will reign forever,
Thy God, O Zion, unto all generations.
Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 146.
Victories in Hayti
By W. Jay Tanner
If I have not sent in any report for some time, it is not because there has been any diminution in the progress of the message in this field. The past month I baptized four young people at Plaisance. Two others were to take part in the ordinance, but sickness prevented. Our company at this place numbers seven, the eldest of which is twenty-seven, and the youngest fifteen. These young people are all sober and intelligent, and some of them know what it means to step out to obey God in the face of severe opposition, if not real persecution.
During the past three months the Catholic clergy have been extremely active in their efforts to hinder our work and to bring us into reproach. Their efforts came to a crisis the second week in July, when a simultaneous attack was made on our two workers, the one laboring at Grand Rivière, and the other at Plaisance. At the latter place, with the aid of an army officer, who is an ardent Catholic, a charge was made against our native laborer, Brother M. Nord Isaac, accusing him of trying to raise a revolution. No severer charge can be brought against an individual here; and, indeed, it often happens that the mere suspicion that one has revolutionary tendencies means a summary execution. There is no doubt that it was intended that Brother Isaac’s voice should thus be silenced; for a strong effort was made to present an effective case against him, although in reality he had done absolutely nothing unlawful, or that could in any way complicate him with the authorities.
He appeared before the Délégué extraordinaire of the president, and his officers, to answer to the charge, on the Sabbath, July 13. Without any witnesses except the Word of God, which he carried in his hand, he was able to make a strong and effective defense that was accepted by the Délégué, and he was, accordingly, exonerated. Owing to the fact that this official has the name of being very severe with suspected cases, and that there is some unrest just now, due to the approach of a new election, it is considered by some that our helper was very fortunate to get off so easily; but for our part, we consider that it was but another interposition of Him who is overruling all things for the progress of his message.
The evening of the day on which Brother Isaac appeared before the officials here at the Cape, our Swiss worker, Brother Fawer, had a skirmish with the priest at Grande Rivière. This brother had secured permission to hold public meetings on La Place, and had been getting the ears of a large number of people. In the midst of their meeting on the night in question, the priest appeared on the scene, followed by a crowd of boys and young men beating drums and old tin-pans. They kept up such a din that our people were compelled to stop their service for a time. However, word was carried to the commandant dela place that our meeting was being interfered with, and he dispatched a company of soldiers, who drove the priest and his followers away. In this confusion, some of the Catholics, angered at the action of the priest, stoned his house; and the next week it was a priest, and not a poor Adventist predicateur, who was summoned before the Délégué extraordinaire to answer for his conduct. The outcome of this is, I understand, that the priest is to be removed from his present charge. Be that as it may, the cause here has scored another victory; and I have no doubt that many have at least been led to see that our work stands for truth and good order.
The Catholic clergy have now changed their tactics a little, and are seeking to make us appear ridiculous and odious before the public. A few Sundays ago the bishop solemnly warned the people to beware of the Jews, meaning us, telling them that because of us God would soon send an earthquake, as he did in Jamaica, or some other calamity, to punish these Jews and all those who would receive them. Let no one imagine that this was without effect. Many of the better class, and the Europeans, have begun to manifest a desire to keep as far away from us as they can; and the lower classes are, for the first time since we came here, beginning to hoot at us when we pass them on the street. Of course these things do not move us. They only show us that the battle with the papacy has now begun in earnest in its own territory, and that we may expect a warm running fight until the end comes.
W. JAY TANNER.
The Australasian Field
By Ole Andres Olsen
SOME time has passed since our last report. We have been so occupied that writing has had to be neglected. To the praise of God we can say that all our workers and people are of good courage, and in every department the work is making steady progress.
We are made to rejoice over the good reports denoting courage and progress, which reach us through the columns of the “good old REVIEW,” regarding the world-wide field. Surely, we have entered the time so long looked forward to when the message should go with power, and the whole earth be lightened with its glory. May the day be hastened that will bring the glorious consummation.
The work in the home field (the commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand) shows many encouraging features. Among these we note the readiness on the part of all our conferences to contribute workers and funds for the mission fields. Among the young people there is a decided growing missionary interest that is most encouraging. In all our conferences we have Young People’s Societies, and each supports a laborer in the mission field from funds raised by the young people in the respective conference. This is not only a help financially, but is of the utmost value to our young people in fostering the missionary interest among them, and so proves of great blessing to them spiritually as well as being an educational factor in preparing them for a part in the work itself.
Our late union conference council, held at Adelaide, was a season of real refreshing. Personally, I looked forward to this meeting, in view of the many urgent calls for help from so many different places and various branches of the work, and the difficulty that confronted us in filling these calls owing to the great scarcity of workers. But the Lord knew the situation better than we did. As we sought him earnestly day by day for guidance and direction, we were able to do much more than our highest expectations in the matter of meeting these calls.
We were able to provide additional workers for Java and Singapore, and made provision for opening the work in New Guinea in the near future. This is a field that has not yet been entered. Brother and Sister Carr, now in Fiji, will with other native workers go to this field just as soon as others are prepared to carry on the work in Fiji. Arrangements have been made to supply Fiji with needed workers; to resume work in the Samoan group; to give additional help to the school in Tonga, and to call one of the brethren there into the work. Thus the island work has been strengthened and enlarged.
We also realized the guidance and blessing of the Lord in adjusting matters connected with the home field. During the past year some of our prominent laborers had returned to the States. This was a disappointment to us all, but notwithstanding this loss, the way has opened to adjust matters satisfactorily; so much so, that it is a matter of wonder to us all. Such a result was possible because of the willingness of the various conference presidents and workers to be used anywhere and in any way that the providence of the Lord seemed to indicate. We greatly rejoice in the spirit of unity and fervency that prevails in all the varied departments of our work in this field.
The sanitarium and health work in general received much careful and prayerful thought and study. It seemed to be the unanimous mind of the brethren that it would be well for Brother Semmens to connect with the Sydney Sanitarium, located at Wahroonga, provided that the work in Adelaide, South Australia, could be supplied with proper help. We hope that this may be done.
Our educational work was another subject for much study and careful thought. The intermediate school, soon to be opened in New Zealand, as well as the school in West Australia, called for a full complement of teachers. Then came our church-schools, and the mission-schools in the various islands. Altogether we had quite a problem to solve; but in this, as in other matters, we saw the guiding hand of the Lord in a very marked manner, and so we were enabled to meet these calls much more satisfactorily than appearances would indicate.
We are much encouraged by what we see in our mission fields of the Lord’s working. The work in Norfolk Island is being strengthened. We have just secured a mission home, which will place our work and workers there in a more advantageous position than heretofore. Brother Mitchell reports a good interest among the people.21
At our late council it was decided to purchase the home where our mission in Padang, Sumatra, is now located. This will afford us room for church and school. The readers of the REVIEW have already learned that the truth has gained a foothold in the Battak country, in northern Sumatra, a young man by the name of Emmanuel having accepted the truth as a result of some studies received from Brother Munson. The last mail from there informs us that six additional souls have accepted the truth, and that many others are studying it with deep interest. This portion of the country was closed against any outside missionary, but the Lord has brought them the message in his own way.
Our little printing plant at Singapore is kept very busy producing literature in the Malay. “Christ Our Saviour” in the Baba Malay is meeting with a ready sale. Now a five thousand edition has been ordered in the Dutch Malay. Our literature is meeting a more ready sale than was expected. Thus the Lord is opening the way that the whole earth may be lightened by the glory of his truth, and the day of his coming be hastened. O. A. Olsen.
Norfolk Island
By Harry Mitchell
We send a few words from our far-away little island field, some six hundred miles from the nearest island, in the South Pacific Ocean. This is that interesting little island to which the Pitcairn islanders were moved by order of Queen Victoria, as recorded in Rosalind Young’s book, “Story of Pitcairn Island.”
We have had some reverses in our work here, owing to the death of our two leaders, Brother Alfred Nobbs, who acted as elder for many years, and Brother Stephen Belden, formerly of the United States, who had settled among these people, where he spent some thirteen years in self-supporting work. These two faithful men are sadly missed by the islanders, and we all feel the loss keenly, but we are trying to take up the work where these brethren laid it down.
We have a company of forty meeting with us on the Sabbath. The island is so small, only twenty-one miles in circumference, that we can not extend our work very far, yet we find plenty to engage our time and strength in visiting and reading with the people. We find open doors everywhere, but these people are slow to decide for the truth. It would be hard to find a place more favorable for Sabbath-keeping than here, as every man is his own master, there being no industries of any kind carried on. Everybody serves himself, and yet the people will not obey the truth. Generally speaking, they are very kind and hospitable and religiously inclined. We have many opportunities to present the truth. We must tell the story simply, as to a little child.
That awful scourge, consumption, is carrying off many of the young people here, and it is increasing fast. The vitality of the people is low, owing probably to the close intermarriages for over one hundred years. There are some precious souls here, and we are glad to be able to point them to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
This island will doubtless be among those fields that will always need help from home, as the people here have no opportunity to earn money. No trade can be carried on with the outside world, as there is only one ship a month, and the freight and customs are excessive. Some of the oldest residents say they do not earn five pounds in a year. So you may imagine the need of this people. All business is done in bartering; yet the people seem as happy and contented as people who have far more of this world’s goods.
The island itself is one of the gems of the Pacific—a beautiful green all the year round. It is very hilly throughout, with a rock-bound coast. There are forests of lemon-trees and gigantic pines. It is the home of the tree ferns, which grow fifty feet high, also of a large variety of palms, some growing to an immense size. It is semitropical, the temperature standing at from sixty to ninety degrees the year round.
We read with deepest interest the reports appearing in the REVIEW from our many mission fields and workers, and feel glad to know of the onward march of the message. We can see by faith even now the gathering time when we shall all come rejoicing, bringing precious sheaves with us.
This island is the center of operations for the Melanesian Mission carried on by the Church of England. Their mission property here must have cost them twenty-five thousand pounds. It is a very fine mission. The Methodists also have a following here of about one hundred souls.
We hope in our next report to be able to tell of an increase in our numbers, as several are on the point of deciding for the truth. We are all well and of good courage, and are looking forward to the time when we shall have finished the work, and the dear Lord shall come.
HARRY MITCHELL.
Fiji
By S. W. Carr
BURESALA.—The illustrations on page 6 show our school buildings, past and present. When we first came to Buresala, the old building, though only eighteen feet long by twelve feet wide, was used both as a teacher’s house and as a schoolroom, the smaller building on the right being used as a kitchen. Later, after the erection of a European house for the teacher, these were both used for school purposes.
Our new school building was erected this year, and was dedicated at the first meeting of the recent Fiji council. As will be seen, it is built Tongan fashion—with rounded ends and reed walls; this not only insures plenty of light, but is neat as well. The rafters were cut out of the trunk of the cocoanut tree, and were shipped one hundred and sixty miles in the mission boat.
The skilled work on this building was done by Joni Sisi (Seesee), a Tongan carpenter of Lau, Fiji, with the help of Pauliasi Bunoa and Latu, the latter being also a Tongan. All the students helped nobly on this building, which is forty feet long by twenty-one feet wide. Situated on a high ridge between the European houses and the students’ village, it can be seen from all parts of the farm, and also from passing boats and steamers, and is so built that it can easily be extended.
Its furniture consists of a raised platform at one end, a pulpit, a blackboard, table, and two maps; native mats spread upon dried fern providing the seating accommodation.
In this building, plain and unpretentious, we trust that many will learn the simple truths of the third angel’s message, and with God-given power carry them to the people of these and other islands. S. W. Carr.
The Work Still Onward in Mexico City
By G. W. Caviness
At our quarterly meeting held the first Sabbath of this month we had the privilege of baptizing three persons and receiving a fourth into the church on profession of faith. The baptism was held in the morning, followed by the Sabbath-school at 10:30 A. M. After the Sabbath-school came the celebration of the Lord’s supper. The Spirit of the Lord was especially present on this occasion, and all felt that it was good to be there. One of those baptized is a young lady of good education, speaking English as well as her native Spanish. We hope she may yet be of use to us in the work of the message.
A few weeks ago Brother Colunga wrote me from San Pedro, near his home in Torreon, that our Spanish paper El Mensajero de la Verdad was well received there, and quite an interest had been created. Later another letter was received from him, saying that nine have begun to observe the Sabbath after about twelve Bible readings with them. So the seeds of truth seem to be springing up in that part of the field. A large number of subscriptions were taken in that place a year ago. We are glad to see that our labor is not all in vain even in Mexico. G. W. CAVINESS.
Field Notes and Gleanings
Five young people were baptized into the church at Niwot, Colo., October 12, by Brother H. A. Aufderhar.
SABBATH, October 5, Brother W. C. Hebner baptized four persons, who united with the church at Shelby, Mich.
MEETINGS are being conducted in the German language at Winona, Minn. Brother H. F. Graf is in charge of the work, and the members of the church are helping to carry the Family Bible Teacher to the homes of the people.
THERE is quite an interest to hear the truth at Lyons, Colo., which is largely the result of the missionary efforts of one of our brethren who is a shoe cobbler. Two men are keeping the Sabbath after some meetings recently held there by Brethren Watson Zeigler and M. O. Douglas.
BROTHER E. M. CHAPMAN, in writing of the work at Alexandria, Minn., where he and others have been laboring, says: “There have been ten baptized, and seven others are keeping the Sabbath, as the result of the summer’s work. Among these families there are twenty children. With these our Sabbath-school has doubled its membership, and we find our church too small. We are planning to enlarge the building.”
Notices and Appointments
By E. L. Stewart
Notice!
A MEETING of the British Columbia Association of Seventh-day Adventists is called at 9 A. M., in Manson Industrial Academy, Port Hammond, British Columbia, Dec. 31, 1907, for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before it. E. L. STEWART, President.
