Earlier text: Psalm XLIILoyalty and Responsibility
By I. H. Evans
THE work of the third angel's message is becoming a great and mighty work. Its voice is being heard in nearly every great country of the world. Its rise and progress have been remarkable. The gospel, testing truths that it teaches, the reforms in diet and dress that it inculcates, the opposition that it arouses among professed followers of Christ, all would seemingly tend to retard its rapid growth. Notwithstanding all the hindrances that have obstructed its progress, still it is onward with a momentum never experienced by it before. False brethren have arisen, apostasies have occurred, till some of the very friends of the message trembled for fear of the future prosperity of the work. Many mistakes have been made in the management of its affairs; and yet in spite of all these drawbacks, its progress has been steadily onward, and its work and influence continually expanding. The present generation can recall the day when there was not such a message to be found among men. To-day there is scarcely a nation upon earth that has not heard to a greater or less extent its warning voice. The progress of this work has been owing to two things—the blessing of God and the loyalty of those who receive the message. Perhaps no people were ever more true and self-denying to what they believed to be the work of God than those who have embraced the third angel's message. In other days many have gone to the stake or dungeon and died for their Master; some have gladly given their earthly possessions, and separated from all family ties, for the sake of him who died for them; but here is a people devoting their whole energies to the prosecution of God's work. No sacrifice is too great to make for this truth. If money is needed, it is forthcoming. If men are wanted, the volunteers are so many that it is hard to make a selection for the service. Parents gladly consecrate their children to God for any land where they may be called, and follow them with their means and prayers. The time was when the work was small. Its members were few, its laborers scarce. One man could easily know every family of believers, and be personally acquainted with every worker. All its business affairs could readily be attended to by a few men, with much time to work in other lines. From the first general meeting ever held by Seventh-day Adventists in the home of S. T. Belden in April, 1848, where about thirty Sabbath-keepers were present, we have grown till we have nearly eighty thousand church-members, with more than a thousand public laborers, and have had over four thousand four hundred believers assembled in a single camp-meeting. In 1861 we organized our first local conference, but to-day we have more than eighty organized local conferences, and more than fifty missions scattered throughout the world. The year 1849 marked the beginning of our publishing work as a people. It consisted of an eight-page periodical (size of page, 5 x 8 inches) called Present Truth, while to-day we are publishing eighty-nine periodicals in thirteen different languages, besides a paper for the blind, to say nothing of the twenty publishing houses, scattered in fourteen different countries, annually producing hundreds of tons of literature in about thirty languages. Think of our school work of to-day compared with a few years ago. The year 1873 marks the beginning of our denominational educational work. That year Battle Creek College was founded, and became the one school of the denomination. To-day we have seventeen colleges, academies, and training-schools, located in seven countries, employing over one hundred and eighty teachers and instructors in the various branches, with twenty-nine intermediate schools supported by conferences, to say nothing of the scores of church-schools scattered wherever there are companies of believers. Nor is our sanitarium work showing less vigorous growth. From 1867, when the old Health Reform Institute of Battle Creek, Mich., was organized, till 1905, the principles of health reform for which our people stand have rapidly gained ground, and the adherents to these truths far outnumber the Sabbath-keepers in our ranks. To-day we have seventy-nine sanitariums, cafes, charitable institutions, and food factories, employing over one hundred and seventy physicians, besides hundreds of consecrated nurses and other helpers.7 But space forbids the mention of our work in all its various departments. Think of the many enterprises springing up on every hand. There seems no end. Day by day we are astonished at the growth and spread of our work. From China, from Korea, from Japan, from far-away India, from darkened Africa; from every nation in Europe, yea, even from war-smitten Russia, comes the glad news of victories gained and battles won for Prince Immanuel. Defeat is nowhere. “Onward with the standard of our soon-coming King” is heard from every land. And our hearts cry out, “Amen and amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” In all this growth and progress the loyalty of our people transcends belief. Nothing daunted by almost overwhelming conditions, men and means are freely offered by our devoted people that the work be not hindered. God knows all the sacrifices made and the hardships endured by every trusting heart. To-day the work has attained such a magnitude and received such an impetus that it is impossible for any one man or any local committee of men to be responsible for all the undertakings launched by our people in various places. Enterprises are undertaken to-day, and plans are set on foot, of which neither the General Conference Committee, nor any quorum of that committee has any knowledge whatsoever. The time was when the General Conference Committee could look after every branch of the work, and know all the plans set on foot for prosecuting the same; that day is past. Local autonomy must be given to all these different fields, and local responsibility for the success or failure of the enterprises started must be assumed. The General Conference can not be held responsible for the financial outcome of these numerous undertakings. Each individual must carefully investigate every enterprise in which he thinks of investing his means, if he expects the return of his money. No branch of God's work has ever yet been able to pay a high rate of interest and pay off its obligations. It can readily be seen that the work in its growth and development has passed beyond the power of a few men to direct every enterprise. The General Conference should henceforth give its energies to the development of our work in the regions beyond. While fostering the work everywhere, local institutions in organized territory must be financed by those on the ground, and not by the General Conference. But we appeal to our people everywhere not to run in debt in order to launch new enterprises. Our message is to “preach the gospel to every creature.” Let our energies be bent in this direction. Let us build up our evangelical work, and pray the Lord to hasten the day of his coming. A Valuable Collection of Facts Regarding Our Denominational History
By A. G. Daniells
ALL our people, and especially our ministers, teachers, canvassers, and managers of institutions, should be apprised of the fact that our Year-book for 1905 contains a very valuable summary of the history of our denomination. This history begins with the year 1831, when William Miller preached his first sermon on the second advent to take place about the year 1843, and closes with the establishment of the General Conference offices in Takoma Park in the month of February, 1905. Between these two points, a period of seventy-four years, there is given, in chronological order, a closely connected and unbroken account of the changes, growth, and extension of the cause brought into existence by the threefold message of Revelation 14. Under the first angel’s message—from 1831 to 1844—are given the names of the leading men who joined William Miller in his work, the periodicals and publications issued, the conferences held, the dates connected therewith, and the general results of the entire movement. Under the second angel’s message are given the reasons that led the advent body to separate from the nominal churches, as well as brief accounts of the remarkable manifestation of spiritual power that attended “the midnight cry.” Under the third angel’s message are given the leading events connected with the rise and development of this cause, and every event is stated in chronological order. The account begins by giving the names of the pioneers in the movement, states the reasons which impelled them, the time when they became connected with the work, and the general service they rendered; there is also a statement of how and by whom various fundamental features of present truth were brought to light; reference is also made to the date and place of the first general meetings of believers; and then, step by step, the various organizations under the third angel’s message are traced, beginning, first, with the publishing work, in 1849, in the Eastern States, and showing its establishment in Michigan in 1855; then the organization of churches, of the General Conference, of local conferences, followed, successively, by sanitarium work, educational work, Sabbath-school work, and then foreign mission work. The important work done at each session of the General Conference is indicated, and there is also given a summary of the statistical report submitted at every session. This one feature alone gives, more clearly than anything else, an absolutely correct idea of the rapid growth that this cause has made since the General Conference was organized forty-two years ago. Tables are also given showing the consecutive number, date, and location of all the sessions of the General Conference, as well as the names of the presidents and secretaries, and their terms of office. The foregoing features are in addition to a full and revised directory of every institution, association, conference, or mission connected with the denomination. This is the main feature of the Year-book, and of course shows the present standing of the denomination in all the points which it covers. The information given in this summary has been culled from the periodicals, publications, Year-books, and Bulletins issued during the seventy-four years of our history. As only a very few persons have access to these documents, and as no complete account of this sort has ever before been published, this historical summary should be of great interest and value to our workers. In fact, every believer in this cause can study it with much profit. Our object in compiling these facts has been to place valuable data in the hands of our ministers and conference officers, and to give our people generally information that they may use to advantage. Those who really desire the Year-book should order at once. Only a limited supply has been printed. It is not probable that another edition of this number will be issued. Our ministers, conference officers, and managers of institutions who fail to get this book will lose a valuable document. Poor Food Among New York Schoolchildren
INSPECTOR HENRY M. LECHTRECKER, in a report to the New York State Board of Charities on food conditions existing among the inmates of the industrial schools of New York City, says that of 10,000 children involved in his inquiry, he found that, through poverty, 439 began the day's studies frequently without breakfast, 998 with insufficient food, and 7,415 upon breakfasts consisting only of either tea or coffee and bread. The great majority of children were anemic for lack of good and sufficient food. It is, of course, next to impossible for such children to grow into useful citizens. A Visit to Redlands and Riverside
By Ellen G. White
A Visit to Redlands and Riverside
YEARS ago many places in southern California were presented to me as very important fields, needing earnest labor. While at Redlands, I recognized it as one of these places. Light was given me that the unworked condition of the cities of southern California is a dishonor to those who know the truth. Recently Elder Simpson held tent-meetings in Redlands, as a result of which many new members were added to the church. For this we praise the Lord. But there is still much to be done in Redlands. We need now to put forth earnest efforts in the cities of southern California. On reaching Redlands we learned that Brother J. A. Bowles had died a few days before. I felt so sorry to think that I could not meet him once more and have prayer with him. As we passed by his flourishing orange grove, we thought of the kindness he had so often shown in sending us presents of oranges. Brother Bowles was a sincere Christian, and ever showed a deep interest in the work and cause of God. He rejoiced greatly when he saw souls accepting the truth. He is resting now, till the last trump shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise to meet their Lord in the air. An announcement had been sent out that on Sunday morning at eleven o’clock I would speak in our church at Riverside. Sister McEnterfer and I drove across with Brother Bowles’s son and his wife. On the way we passed through miles and miles of orange groves. A wonderful work has been done in bringing water from the mountains and from wells, and irrigating the land so abundantly that it yields rich harvests of beautiful fruit. On reaching the place of meeting, we found that here at Riverside, also, our people had recently built a beautiful house of worship. The church was well filled. Several not of our faith were present. I was able to speak for an hour, and all seemed interested. For a year or two Dr. Leadsworth has been operating treatment rooms in Riverside; and at the close of the meeting, I went there to rest for a little while before taking the train for Redlands. Here we met Brother and Sister Towle, old friends from Maine. On our way back to Redlands, as our train passed through miles of orange groves, I thought of the efforts that should be made in this beautiful valley to proclaim the truth for this time. I recognized this section of southern California as one of the places that had been presented to me with the word that it should have a fully equipped sanitarium. Why have such fields as Redlands and Riverside been left almost unworked? As I looked from the car window, and saw the trees laden with fruit, I thought, Would not earnest, Christlike efforts have brought forth just as abundant a harvest in spiritual lines? In a few years these towns have been built up and developed, and as I looked upon their beauty and the fertility of the country surrounding them, there rose before me a vision of what the spiritual harvest might have been had earnest, Christlike efforts been put forth for the salvation of souls. The Lord would have brave, earnest men and women take up his work in these places. The cause of God is to make more rapid advancement in southern California than it has in the past. Every year thousands of people visit southern California in search of health, and by various methods we should seek to reach them with the truth. They must hear the warning to prepare for the great day of the Lord, which is right upon us. In his work, Christ met the people where they were. Much of his public labor was done in Capernaum, a great thoroughfare of travel. People from many lands passed through the city, or tarried for rest in their journeys to and fro. Here Jesus could meet all nations and all ranks, the rich and the great as well as the poor and lowly, and his lessons would be carried to other countries and into many households. Investigation of the prophecies would thus be excited; attention would be directed to the Saviour, and his mission would be brought before the world. We are called upon by God to present the truth for this time to those who year by year come to southern California from all parts of America. Workers who can speak to the multitudes are to be located where they can meet the people, and give them the warning message. Ministers and canvassers should be on the ground, watching their opportunity to present the truth and to hold meetings. Let them be quick to seize opportunities to place present truth before those who know it not. Let them give the message with clearness and power, that those who have ears to hear may hear. I have longed to see men moved by the Holy Spirit meeting these people with the message borne by John the Baptist, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. . . . This is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” “Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,” went out to hear John the Baptist, “and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.” Just such a work as this can be done to-day in southern California. That Old Prophet
By R. C. Porter
In the thirteenth chapter of First Kings, we have an illustration of the simple manner in which the Lord instructs his people of duties to be performed and dangers that confront them. In this case there “came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel.” Note that this was “a man of God,” and he came “by the word of the Lord.” He knew where to go. The Lord had plainly told him to go to “Bethel.” He was sent on a special mission, with a definite message. “And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.” Verses 2, 3. King Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense at the very moment the9man of God reached the place, but he wavered not in bearing his message through fear of the king. The king, angered at the message, put forth his hand, saying, “Lay hold on him.” His hand was dried up, and he could not pull it in again. “The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.” Verse 5. The king then besought the man of God to entreat the Lord for him, and pray for the restoration of his hand. The man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored. The king then invited the man of God to go home with him and refresh himself, and he would give him a reward. “And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: for so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way which thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.” Verses 8-10. How noble stands this prophet of God, marching straight forward in the line of God’s instruction, varying not from fear of the wrath of the king, knowing no fear but the fear of God, marching in hunger past the invitation to refresh himself at the king’s table, and in poverty refusing the reward proffered if he would but vary enough from the plain instruction the Lord had given to turn in and tarry but a few hours with the king. The sad part of the history of that eventful journey follows. An old prophet, being informed by his sons of all the events at Bethel, requested his sons to saddle his beast, and he went after the man of God, “and found him sitting under an oak.” O, that fatal tarrying by the way while on the road fraught with so much peril! If he had but passed on in the fulfilment of his commission, with ever-quickening pace, how honorably would his mission have ended! Alas, that weary “man of God” seeks rest before his work is done, and is overtaken by the hastening enemy that is on his track to lure him into sin. The old prophet invites him back. At first he manfully refuses to turn from his plainly laid out mission. Then the old prophet tells him that he is also a prophet, and that an angel instructed him to call him back to eat and drink; but “he lied unto him.” The man of God who could not be turned aside from his work by the wrath or the bribe of the king, is ensnared by the old back-slidden prophet. For his error he must die. He never reached his home. We can but have feelings of pity for the poor man. He evidently meant to be true, but he allowed the word of a false prophet, who had perhaps once been himself devoted to God’s work, to lead him astray. With what contempt we look upon this seductive agent of Satan, who with lies turns the man from his high commission, and secures his ruin. That saintly garb in the name of Christ has lured so many souls to death. Vile hypocrite, “stealing the livery of heaven to serve the devil”! Words are weak to properly express contempt for such as he. All such scriptures, however, are full of meaning. The lesson was not only for that age, but for ours as well. Here is a people called to carry the last solemn message of God’s truth to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. The message to be given is plainly stated. The extent of the work is as faithfully declared. The call demands haste. “Go ye out quickly,” for the house is soon to be filled. Excuses will not be accepted. Not one that offers an excuse “shall taste of my supper.” “For many are called, but few are chosen.” The instruction is plainly given: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Tim. 6: 17-19. How perilous the way! How the enemy is offering bribes to turn the “man of God” from the pathway to-day! How kings are preparing to deter him through fear of oppression by earthly powers! How the old prophet in saintly robes lures again to destroy! “Supposing that gain is godliness,” he tempts the man of God to turn back with him, saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” A world, with open doors and outstretched hands, is beckoning the people under this message to speedily fill the world with light. An empty treasury bears testimony to our laying up treasures upon earth. Some ministers who were once full of zeal in the work, are now laboring for perishable treasures, and manifesting little interest in foreign mission work, or in perishing souls around them. They are pointed to as an excuse for not following this plain instruction of God’s Word. Will this excuse any man? It is the old prophet over again. A back-slidden minister is as dangerous a decoy to lure souls to-day from the word of God as in the days of “the old prophet.” It is time for the church of Christ to awake. It is time for every “man of God” to follow God’s plain word, and not be deterred by kings, or bribed by worldly wealth, or turned aside by back-slidden professors, even though they bear the sacred title of ministers. The world must be warned. Tithes and offerings withheld, witness to our covetousness. Every soul that goes through with this message must turn squarely and honestly and whole-heartedly heavenward, and so take hold of this work that he shall not be swayed by love of the world, or the indifference of backsliders. Many are honestly and nobly living the word of God as God has given them light. Many are in great peril on account of the worldly influence that surrounds them. The weekly offerings to foreign missions are either neglected, or too small and grudgingly given, to be accounted in heaven as given for Christ. And tithes are withheld, while individuals follow the old prophet away from the plain word of God, and lay up treasures upon earth. Listen to the exhortation of the Faithful and True Witness: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called.” Repent and live. COMING! O, the glorious promise!
How it thrills our hearts anew
With its certainty of gladness!
He said it: he is true.
Not a dream of bygone ages,
That great hope for which we pray:
“Coming”—and when God’s “hour”
striketh,
It shall break—that blessed day! Coming—then the glad fruition
Of his servants’ labors here,
Golden sheaves, and garnered treasure—
When his goodness crowns the year.
All that now seems lost or wasted,
Seeds long hidden out of sight,
Bursting into life and beauty,
Shining in his advent light. Coming—then the tearless brightness
For the eyes with longing dim;
O, the rapture of that meeting
And our gathering unto him!
Earth has had its blessed foretastes,
Hallowed hours, communion sweet—
But the bliss when he unites us
In his presence, at his feet! Coming—then the final triumph
Of his kingdom and his name.
Joy for those who held his banner,
Bore it through reproach and shame.
Strife of tongues forever silenced.
Doubts and fears forever past.
Manifested in his glory,
Owned of all, at last, at last. Coming—and our cup of gladness
Now is trembling to the brim;
More than all his advent bringeth
Is the thought, it bringeth him.
“This same Jesus” is returning;
With him triumph, rest, and home;
For himself our hearts are yearning—
Even so, Lord Jesus, come! Sound in the Faith
By T. E. Bowen
SOME persons think that the aged sometimes outlive their usefulness. This depends largely upon what character they have formed. God never intended that any man or woman should live beyond their usefulness. To be sure, their duties may change. They can not do that which they once did; but that which they may do, because of their longer experience, can be, and really should be, the highest service for God possible for any one to render. Ponder well this scripture: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” Titus 2: 1-5. Surely the Lord here has outlined duties grand and sublime for every aged pilgrim. By setting the younger servants of the Lord examples in right living as outlined in these words of instruction to Titus, the cause of God may be greatly strengthened by the dear aged ones whose rich experience makes them honored teachers. The only requirement specified is that they be themselves this that they teach. Then he mentioned among these things that they be sound in the faith. To be sound in the faith now, when every wind of doctrine is blowing, means much to the cause of God. This the aged can be, and should be. God grant that no believer in the message shall entertain the thought that he has outlived his usefulness. “Go Forward”
By C. D. M. Williams
THERE came a time in the deliverance of Israel when the Lord commanded his people to go forward. But never in all the history of their wanderings was the passage so hedged up as it seemed to be at this time when the command of God came for all to go forward. The sea, with its rolling, dashing waves, was before them; the mountains hedged them in on one side; and the Egyptian army blocked the only passage that man could see for the hosts of Israel. But God was there, making a way for his people. To-day there comes the signal call for the advance of the people of God; but many find themselves hedged in on every side with barriers, which it seems as impossible for them to surmount as it seemed to Israel to pass through the sea, climb the mountain, or overthrow the Egyptian army. But the command has come to advance; and we are told that “God is waiting for men and women to awake to their responsibilities. He is waiting for them to link themselves with him. Let them mark the signal of advance.” “The battle-cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness and with firm faith in God.” “All that heaven contains is awaiting the draft of every soul who will labor in Christ’s lines. As the members of our churches individually take up their appointed work, they will be surrounded with an entirely different atmosphere. A blessing and a power will attend their labors. They will experience a higher culture of mind and heart. The selfishness that has bound up their souls will be overcome. Their faith will be a living principle. Their prayers will be more fervent. The quickening, sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit will be poured upon them, and they will be brought nearer to the kingdom of heaven.” O how we long for this! We have read these sayings over and over again; but do we believe them? Have we ever put them to the test? Do we know that they are so? Believing them is good, but testing them inspires the soul with confidence and trust in the Heavenly Father. I have recently received two letters from which I will quote a few passages to show you that God is faithful to his promise:— “I had no idea of allowing myself to be reconciled to ——’s being sent away from here when we needed him so much, but I will confess that I am. I worried a great deal because so little was accomplished in our conference, and one day an idea came into my head: Do what you can to give this message to your neighbors. So I took my Bible and called on a new neighbor, a lady sixty-seven years old. I told her that I was so interested in what I found in the Bible that I had come over to read it to her. She very kindly told me she would be glad to listen. From that time on she came to my home for me to read to her. She has been going to church with me when she could, and is now keeping the Sabbath. I rejoice to see what the Lord did for her. And when I think of how little I have done for the Lord, I feel ashamed; for now I see plainly that if I do my part, my mind will be so full of work for the Lord that I shall not worry about what others do. I am now giving readings to five of my neighbors, and all seem interested. I have one neighbor who says that she devours our papers and tracts, and can scarcely leave them to do her work.” A neighbor of this sister has a boy about fourteen years old who has come to live with her from Chicago, and seemed to be very wild and almost unmanageable. He attended one of the readings, and seemed very much impressed. After the woman with whom he was staying went away, he came to this sister, and she read the Bible with him every evening for about a week; and when the woman came back, she was so impressed with the change that had taken place in the boy that she came and asked if it would be too much trouble for the sister to teach him two or three evenings each week. The sister adds: “I am glad to do this. Nor are these all the calls I have to work for the Master; there is so much more that needs to be done right away, that I feel my inability to ever accomplish all I should like to do. I feel that I am the watchman in my neighborhood, and will be more or less accountable for souls lost without knowledge.” Dear brethren and sisters, the Lord is sending us the individual members of the churches to-day, and filling them with the message and with strength and power and wisdom to present it. O brother! O sister! is he sending you? is he filling you? are you the watchman of your neighborhood? Will you be more or less responsible for the souls lost in your neighborhood? Another sister writes that Sister ——, a woman over sixty years of age, has sold her place, and has gone to a city where there is no laborer,—a city of many thousand inhabitants,—and is canvassing during the day and giving readings in the evening; and already some are keeping the Sabbath. This same sister writes of her own work that she is giving readings every afternoon except one, each week, although she has a family of five to support; and now, according to her letter, there are six or seven who are either keeping the Sabbath or making arrangements to do so. Brethren and sisters, “This is the recipe that Christ has prescribed for the faint-hearted, doubting, trembling soul: Let the sorrowful ones, who walk mournfully before the Lord, arise and help some one who needs help. Every church is in need of the controlling power of the Holy Spirit; and now is the time to pray for it. But in all God’s work for man he plans that man shall co-operate with him.” “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” And let us go out into the streets and the lanes and the byways and hedges, and by the Holy Spirit’s power compel them to come in, that the Master’s house may be filled, and we may enter in to the marriage feast of the Lamb. Supplication
By Cora Bigelow
Dear Lord, we lift our voice on high;
Hear, Father, hear our pleading cry;
And as to thee our prayers ascend,
May faith with each petition blend; Faith that to us thy mercies sweet,
On wings of love our trust will meet;
That heavenly messengers of love,
To us the present help will prove; For present helper thou wilt be.
All needful aid thou'st promised me,
More ready thy dear aid to lend,
Than could be hoped from earthly friend. O Friend of sinner, Friend of saint,
Each can thee with his griefs acquaint;
For thou wilt ever have a care
O'er those who seek thine aid in prayer. Prayer binds in mystic tie to thee
Our hearts from worldly thoughts set free,
And as the heavenly joys we taste,
We long for more of thy sweet grace,— Grace such as thou alone canst give,
Of priceless worth, this gift we crave.
That blessed peace we here shall know,
As humbly at thy feet we bow. So, Lord, our hearts to thee we raise
In earnest prayer, in grateful praise,
Rejoicing that our heavenly King
Accepts the tributes which we bring. WE think we need many things. Martha was burdened with a sense of need. She needed a good supper for her worthy Guest. She needed a good servant in the kitchen. She needed the help of her sister Mary. Perhaps all these things were needful to a certain degree, but there was one thing so much more needful that these minor matters were not worthy to be considered in comparison. Mary rightly apprehended the relations of things. She chose intimate fellowship with her Lord. We can do without many things which seem to be needful. We can do without riches, without luxuries, without the comforts of life, and perhaps be quite as well off. We can do without health, even life itself may be taken away, and we shall not suffer real loss. But we can not do without God. This is the good part. This is the one thing needful. It is needful for salvation, needful for happiness, needful for this world and the world to come.—N. Y. Christian Advocate. How Bananas Are Eaten in Their Native Home
By George F. Enoch
ON page thirteen of the issue of the REVIEW AND HERALD of January 12 is an article concerning bananas that should not pass unnoticed. It is true that the writer of the article failed to tell just what part of the world he referred to as the native country of the banana, but this very generality calls for a word of protest, at least from that portion of the world from which America draws a large banana supply. The writer of these lines has dwelt for seven years in a banana country. All this time he has had intimate associations with all classes of people, passing in and out of their homes on the friendliest terms, having every opportunity to observe their habits and customs. He has lived in three banana-producing islands, and visited many others. Over three years his home was in Port Antonio, Jamaica, a port from which at certain seasons over three hundred thousand bunches each week are shipped to the States, and he can candidly say that he can not call to mind a single native of the West Indies who would touch a banana that had reached the condition which is spoken of in that article. As soon as a banana skin is discolored, and the pulp is soft, it is considered by natives of this portion of the tropics as fit only for the garbage box, or the pigsty, and not for a place in the human stomach. In fact, there is a tendency here to eat bananas much harder than in the States. It appears to us here that for a Northerner to insist that a banana is not ripe until it is soft is equivalent to a West Indian arguing that an apple is not ripe until it is rotten. This suggests another idea that was current in the North, and that is that the banana would be much improved if it were only possible to let it ripen on the trees. The writer had fancied how much he should enjoy them when he had the opportunity of letting them ripen in that manner. Alas, his idol is shattered! A native brother kindly accommodated him, and allowed a bunch to stand on the stalk until the skin was yellow, when he at once lost his desire for bananas ripened on a tree. The reason was this: After the banana is full (a local expression, meaning “fully developed”), its further continuance on the stalk only allows it to take on a surplus of water, which causes it to swell until the skin bursts, and the result is a big, overgrown banana, which has lost most of its sweetness and flavor, and is flat and insipid in taste. The bananas that are sent from the West Indies to the United States are full before they are cut. The skin is yet green, but a few days will remedy that, and by the time the skin has become thoroughly yellow, you have a toothsome and delicate fruit that is healthful and palatable, and that can not be excelled in our mind anywhere in the world. Let us not allow a fear of indigestion to hinder us from eating it before it has gone a long way on the road to decomposition. It might be added that Americans have taught many West Indians to eat ripe bananas. Until the advent of the fruit companies, which have encouraged the culture of bananas, ripe bananas were scarcely used. But they have been eaten green from the most ancient times. In many a humble and respectable home in Jamaica you will have set before you for dinner a savory dish of green bananas boiled like a vegetable. The writer has enjoyed many such a meal, and hopes to be spared to enjoy still others. The manufacture of flour is another quite general use to which bananas are put in the countries where they are native. They are put in the sun to dry, and then ground with mortar and pestle to a flour resembling in appearance wheat flour, and used in much the same way. Many delicious dishes can be made therefrom. But as regards ripe bananas, it is the custom in the West Indies to cut the bananas when “full,” but yet green in color, and hang them in the shade to dry until the skin becomes yellow.