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Review and Herald, Vol. 79, No. 16.

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Earlier text: W. T. BLAND

Three Hours’ Seed Sowing, and Its Results

By S. N. Bell

ON Sunday afternoon, August —, 1901, after a season of prayer, in which we asked the guidance of our blessed Master, that we might be of service to him, my companion and I started out on a missionary tour, our chief object being to win souls for Christ.
At the first cottage where we called, our rap was answered by a woman, who, seeing the Bible in our hands (by the way, the Word of God is our passport into every home), threw the door open, and ushered us into a small room, in which was a man who had been bedfast for nine months. We were kindly received by the family, and after making ourselves known, were introduced to the sick man. We spoke to him of Jesus of Nazareth, and in a few minutes the tears started, and we could see that the Lord was working with him. After a stay of about twenty minutes, we arose to leave. The family gave us a pressing invitation to return, and Tuesday evening was set for a cottage prayer meeting.
We passed on to another street, where we did not know a single soul, as far as we were aware. We found a little boy sitting on the curbstone, and taking a seat by his side, I inquired, “Johnny, who lives in the little green cottage just across the street?”—“Mrs. ——,” a sob. “What church does she attend?”—“Methodist.” “Who lives in the next house to the right?”—“Mrs. ——.” We entered these names, with others, in our notebook, thanked the boy, and went across to the little green cottage. An elderly lady appeared in answer to our ring. “This is Mrs. ——, I believe?”—“Yes, sir; won’t you come in?” “Mrs. ——, this is my wife, Mrs. Bell.” “Pleased to meet you.” After we were all comfortably seated in the little parlor, we made some inquiries regarding the family, which brought out the fact that this poor soul was in deep trouble. Her little daughter was very sick in Arizona, the mother expecting every minute to hear funeral of her death, and,—“O [sobbing], she’s not saved!” After a season of prayer we were invited to call again Wednesday evening, Tuesday evening being already occupied. By the way, we have to do all our missionary work evenings and Sabbaths, as we have to labor during the day (I am a carpenter).
We passed on to the next house, which was occupied by foreigners, who could not understand English. We left them a copy of the Signs of the Times, and went to the next house. Rapping on the door, which stood open, a lady appeared. “Oh, here are Brother and Sister Bell. We were just talking about you. Come in, you are just the persons we want to see,” introducing us to others in the room, and all being again seated. “Brother Bell, Mrs. —— has six children, and we wanted to ask you if we could not have a Sunday school here.” Arrangements were made, and a committee chosen to give invitations to the children of the neighborhood and to their parents during the week, announcing that a Sunday school would be opened at the home of Mrs. ——, at 2:30 P. M. the next Sunday.
Two other visits were made without important results, and our three hours’ seed sowing was ended. Now for the results.
Tuesday evening about a dozen people attended the cottage meeting at the sick man’s house, and the Lord manifested his presence with us in a wonderful manner. Some precious truths were presented, which impressed the whole company, and especially the sick man. After spending a very happy hour, we arose to leave. “Brother Bell, won’t you come over Saturday night, and read the Scriptures to me?”—“Why, certainly, my brother.” Prayer meeting was held on Tuesday evening and Bible reading on Saturday evening for several weeks. In the meantime our elders had been called in to anoint him and pray for his recovery; and as the light of God’s precious truth dawns upon his mind, he gives it to every one who comes to see him. Remember, fellow workers, that a seed cast into the ground multiplies.
One Saturday night after the reading I saw that something was weighing heavily upon his mind. As I took his hand before leaving, he grasped it tighter than usual. I waited until he choked back a sob. “O brother, pray for me that I may get well, if it’s only for a day. Since the reading you gave me on baptism, the one desire of my heart is to go to your church and be buried with Christ in baptism. I cannot die until I have been immersed.” “My brother, you need not wait to go to the church to be baptized, we can do it here.” “What, here?”—“Yes, here.” So we carried down a large bath tub, and placing it by his bedside, we filled it with water, and Elder Owen baptized him in the name of the Lord. Praise his holy name!
We held three Bible readings at the little green cottage, and then this poor mother was called away to attend the funeral of her daughter, and we lost track of her.
The Sunday school was started, as appointed, with about forty present. Officers were elected, classes formed, and teachers assigned. Our Little Friend and the Youth’s Instructor were distributed to the children, and Lesson Quarterlies to the older ones, and a collection of one dollar was taken. This school is still running, and has a membership of nearly sixty. The mother of the six children has been converted to the truth, and has joined our church. The interest in this school has been so great that we have set apart Friday evening for Bible study and social meeting in connection with the school. As a result of these meetings, two precious souls have been baptized, and one has united with the church on profession of faith. And still the good work goes on.
As a result of this three hours’ seed sowing, the gospel has been presented to nearly three hundred souls; four persons have joined the church, and many children have been taught in the school from week to week. O my brethren and sisters, to work! to work! The harvest is truly great, and the laborers, how few! Many precious souls are floundering in the sea of despair. Shall we stand idly by and see these souls for whom Christ died, go down to a Christless grave, without stretching out a hand to save them?—No, no; a thousand times, no.
This is only one of many similar instances in our experience.
S. N. BELL.
Los Angeles, Cal.

J. C. ERKENBECK

By J. C. Erkenbeck

Mexico

GUADALAJARA.—We are having many rich experiences. The Lord is surely with us. I never have witnessed more marked cases of recovery. Nearly every day we see the Lord working in a special manner. I am sure, as a result of the mission work, that there are several families to whom I can go and talk Bible truths, and command the same interest as in our own land.
The medical work is growing. During the month of September the mission received about thirty-three dollars; during the present month we have received two hundred and ten dollars. Some days we treat as many as thirty-five persons. The department for the better class is being well patronized. Yesterday thirteen treatments were given for which we received from twenty-five cents to one dollar each. At present four native missionaries are under treatment. To-day one of these, a young man, remarked, after reading the commandments, which are hanging on the wall, “I wish to do what is right, and I mean to study in regard to the Sabbath.” This remark was made without any suggestion on our part.

J. C. ERKENBECK

Feb. 27, 1902.

The Matabele Mission

By William Henry Anderson

On the first day of November we began our second farm school with those whom we had in training for teachers. We continued our study of the life of Christ which was begun in April. We used “The Desire of Ages” as a guide in our study, and in harmony with our plan, completed the book. The last week of the school, December 21–28, we devoted to prayer and consecration to God for his service in giving the gospel to those about us. The Lord came near, and all had a rich experience. At the close of these meetings, nine entered the school work as teachers. Our schools are prospering above our expectations. Already souls are being converted. The leaven is working, and we must soon enlarge our borders and increase our facilities to meet the demands. Natives are asking for teachers, but we have no more to send. We have several in training, but they are not ready yet. Ten have joined our training school since November 1, but much must be done for them before they can be sent out to represent the Master.
While I was away on the Zambesia trip, the father of one of our girls stole her away. She was an earnest Christian and an efficient teacher. She had been with us for years. Her father, who is a very wicked man, took her to sell her to a man for his wife. Her life will be practically that of a slave to the man and his older wives. There will be no opportunity for Christian privileges, and her Bible will be denied her and her life become threatened if she attempts to run away. I am quite sure she would be killed if she were caught in an attempt to return to us.
Satan is aroused, and is combating the work with great energy. This gives us courage, for we know that it means that God is working for souls, and that subjects are transferring their allegiance to God.
The boys in the school planted a small garden this year. We hope in this way to raise some grain, which will aid in their support.
At present, about twenty natives come in each morning from the farm, and are taught by Lena Mead. At 10 A. M. the natives in our home attend school. Mrs. Anderson teaches these, assisted by two native teachers. This means very heavy work for Mrs. Anderson, and it is telling on her strength; but until some one comes to do this work, I do not see how we can arrange it differently. I hope we may have help soon. Our offerings for the week of prayer amounted to fifteen pounds (seventy-five dollars).
W. H. ANDERSON.
Feb. 20, 1902.

Two Object Lessons

By Joel C. Rogers

IN the earlier days of the message in Ontario, determined opposition met the believers in several localities. In some places this took the form of bitter persecution. Under this opposition, companies grew up, became strong in the Lord, and were organized into churches. Every effort was made by their opposers to discourage and intimidate, but this seemed only to strengthen the bands of love, binding the believers together, and adding to their number.
Visiting one of these places a few days ago, two lessons impressed themselves upon me. First, when times of peace come, the believers cease their activity for soul saving, and set to making discord among themselves. (Spiritual idleness led to busy-ness in carnal matters.) Now, instead of a beautiful, working harmony, a nest of difficulties is found. Second, calamity and death mark the estate of every one of the earth opposers. Farms, buildings, fences, and everything else are in a dilapidated condition. Families have been broken by sickness, death, and immorality. Homes have been seized by the merciless hand of mortgage, and other money troubles have befallen some of them.
The remedy. Let the remaining believers return to their first zeal, and the Lord will help them to rise above their troubles, in busy work for him. Ephesus and Sardis experiences have come far this side of John's day. “I know thy works,” says the angel, “be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Souls are all around us to be rescued. Soon there will be a famine in the land for hearing the Word of God. We do not want our neighbors, in that time when it is too late, to accuse us of withholding the word from them. Let us take it to them, speak it to them, now. Busy work for God will stir up the dragon's wrath, but better suffer that than the wrath of God.
Let us take heed that we be not found opposing the progress of the message of God. It is a dangerous thing to do, even because of the results in this world. My only safety, and yours, is to receive the love of the truth, to be kept in that love so that we shall obtain “salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” This is our hope; this is our safety. JOEL C. ROGERS.

To the Women of the South-western Union Conference

By Mrs. C. C. Lewis

Dear Sisters: For a long time I have been wishing to talk with you about our Woman’s Work for India. Are we doing all we ought to do for that work? Are we really doing what we planned a few months ago to do? The fields are white already for the harvest. Many heathen lands are to-day opening their doors to us, and reaching out their hands, saying unto us, Come over and help us.
The spirit of prophecy tells us that now is the accepted time to push the work in the “regions beyond.” The experience of the missionaries now in foreign fields proves this true. Mrs. John Davidson, the wife of a Friend missionary, in the Missionary Review of the World for April, says: “We are now living in such times as we never saw in China before. Years ago the people would crowd around us out of sheer curiosity. Now they crowd around us to ask about the doctrine, and to ask to have their names entered as inquirers. In the past we have had to give the people catechisms, Testaments, and hymn books; now they come and buy them; and when they have bought them, they read them, and, moreover, they know what they have been reading about. They come not by twos or threes, but by scores and hundreds.”
My heart has been stirred as I have read this and similar testimonies concerning the open doors of heathen lands. How the Macedonian cry is coming to us from every country! How can this gospel of the kingdom be preached to all the world in this generation, if we do not awake out of this lethargy? Have we not reached a time when the Lord is going to do a short work in the earth? If we do not bestir ourselves, will it not be said of us, He is “joined to his idols: let him alone”? God forbid that we should be found asleep at our post of duty when all heaven is astir.
We flatter ourselves that we are quite a missionary people, that we sacrifice for the message, but we need only to read the Missionary Review of the World, and see what other people are doing, to find that we have only a glimpse of the real spirit of sacrifice and missionary zeal.
Think of Mrs. Warren, who recently died in India, where she has labored for the past twenty-seven years. Many years ago she and her husband were sent to that field, where he afterward died, leaving her alone in a strange land. Even when left alone, she refused to leave her field, but stood true and faithful at her post—alone, and yet not alone.
Another worker in India, after speaking of the sordid, sunken lives of the people, exclaims, “What can we do for such a degraded people?—Save them! We did not come here because they were attractive, but because they were lost. We did not come because the work was easy, but because God was mighty; not because they loved God or us, but because he first loved us and them. And we are glad we came, glad a thousand times! However low they are fallen, their Christ has come to save them. We can begin with loaves and fishes, with the water of a well, or whenever we find them, with a gospel that can save them, body, soul, and spirit.”
These illustrations might be increased indefinitely, of men and women who know nothing of the soon coming of the Lord or of the third angel’s message, yet who are giving their lives that others may know of Christ.
Shall we, who have been favored with the special message for the closing days of the world’s history, be indifferent at such a time as this? If we are, surely the Saviour’s words concerning Chorazin and Bethsaida, will apply to us. If the truth that was given to us many years ago had been given to them, who knows but that, ere this, they would have been far in advance of what we are.
We have taken it upon ourselves to support one, only one, zenana worker in India. Are we going to do this in a grudging, half-hearted way, or are we going to give of our means as God has given us of his truth? Dear reader, is the third angel’s message worth anything to you? Does the gospel of healthful dressing and healthful living save you any money? Does it save you any doctors’ bills, any suffering? Does the Christian’s hope and the knowledge of a soon-coming Saviour give you any joy and consolation?
The Lord blessed Abraham that he might be a blessing to others, and that is what he wants each one of us to be. We want to see the time, and see it soon, when not only the Southwestern Union Conference shall support a foreign worker, but when every conference in the union conference shall have her own foreign worker in the field. The Lord blessed the beginning of this work, and he will bless it until the end if we are faithful and true to duty.
MRS. C. C. LEWIS.
Keene, Tex.

Iowa

By G. W. Angelbarger

Cedar Rapids.—The Lord is greatly blessing us in the work here. During the past six months thirty-six have been added to the church, twenty-six of these on profession of faith, ten by letter. We praise God for all this, and for the way he is manifesting himself with us and in the work. Never before have I seen Satan work as he is working here; Rev. 12:17 is certainly being fulfilled before our eyes. G. W. Angelbarger.

W. B. HILL

By W. B. Hill

Nebraska

DECATUR.—We have held meetings in this place for nearly seven weeks. During this time there was some public opposition to the truth. This only increased the desire to hear the word. Nine adults have taken their stand to obey the Lord, and others are much interested. Brother R. Ryan has charge of the work, and is assisted by Brother L. Porter and Sister Rena Carpenter. Sabbath meetings have been established. May the Lord's blessing rest richly upon this work.

W. B. HILL

Pacific Union Conference

At the recent session of the Pacific Union Conference the following officers, committees, and boards were chosen:—
President, W. T. Knox; Secretary, J. J. Ireland; Treasurer, E. A. Chapman; Auditor, J. J. Ireland; Assistant Auditors, H. H. Hall, H. E. Hoyt; General Canvassing Agent, S. C. Osborne; Missionary Secretary, H. H. Hall.
Executive Committee: President of the Union Conference, Presidents of the State conferences, President of Walla Walla College, W. R. Simmons, the General Canvassing Agent, the Missionary Secretary, and the President of the Pacific Press Publishing Company.
Mission Board: W. T. Knox, J. J. Ireland, W. C. White, J. O. Corliss, W. S. Sadler, C. M. Snow, and M. E. Cady.
Educational Committee: A. T. Jones, R. S. Owen, W. B. White, Geo. Pettit, W. S. Sadler, President of the Walla Walla College, and President of the Healdsburg College.
Board of Directors of the Walla Walla College: A. J. Breed, S. W. Nellis, T. L. Ragsdale, S. A. Miller, W. B. White, Greenville Holbrook, G. A. Nichols, C. D. Hobbs, H. W. Decker.
Board of Directors of the Pacific Medical Missionary and Benevolent Association: A. N. Loper, T. S. Whitelock, W. R. Simmons, A. T. Jones, W. T. Knox, A. Boeker, and E. E. Parlin.
Credentials and licenses were granted as follows:—
Ministerial credentials: W. T. Knox, E. W. Webster, W. A. Alway, A. G. Christiansen, T. H. Watson, A. M. Dart, J. H. Behrens, B. L. Howe, C. E. Leland.
Ministerial licenses: W. L. Black, C. D. M. Williams, J. E. Bond, J. J. Ireland, I. C. Colcord.
Missionary credentials: Mrs. W. L. Miles, Mrs. E. W. Webster, Mrs. Carrie R. King, Mrs. Carrie Hansen, Mrs. B. L. Howe, H. H. Hall, S. C. Osborne, H. E. Hoyt.

Treasurer's Report

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR SIX MONTHS ENDING DEC. 31, 1901

RECEIPTS

Amount Cents
Title from conferences $4,352 39
Mission field tithe 2,249 51
Mission offerings 341 07
Second tithe 2,991 40
Donations 493 01
Chinese school 474 91
Pacific Union Recorder 260 33
On expense 4 23
On labor 17 50
Bills payable 3,000 00
Deposits 475 25
Mission Board 179 65
General offerings 11,801 93
Mission receipts 21 65
Personal account 38 60
$26,701 43

DISBURSEMENTS

Amount Cents
General offerings $11,801 93
Hawaiian Mission 3,598 36
Alaska Mission 1,229 19
Utah Mission 1,095 67
Arizona Mission 1,364 99
Advance to laborers 1,494 98
Pacific Union Recorder 537 69
Furnishings 183 14
Expense 296 61
Bills payable 109 10
Deposits 200 00
General Conference 934 45
Mission Board 179 65
$23,025 76 Cash on hand ........................ 3,675 67 $26,701 43
E. A. CHAPMAN, Treasurer.

Northwest Territory

By J. W. Boynton

PONOKA, ALBERTA.—Since my report in the REVIEW of December 10, I have been receiving scores of letters from all parts, from Ontario to Oregon, asking for information about this country. As these letters are much alike, I have concluded to give the readers of the REVIEW a brief description of the country.
Alberta is about the size of Nebraska, having one hundred thousand square miles of territory, lying along the eastern border of the Rocky Mountains, with a population of about seventy thousand, besides several thousand Indians. Southern Alberta is an open, rolling prairie, devoted to stock raising. It has very little timber, but good grass and water, and large quantities of coal in the foothills. This part is subject to heavy winds. Northern Alberta is a rolling prairie and timber country, with good water, good grass, and a black loam soil with clay subsoil. A few small stones are found in the soil. There is some alkali in places, though none near Ponoka.
There are native fruits, such as red raspberries, currants, strawberries, and saskatoon berries. Some seasons these fruits are abundant, and other seasons there are none. Small grain and vegetables (except vines and the very tender plants) do well here.
The summers are short, with very long days. The temperature seldom rises above 85°; while the nights are always cool, with an occasional frost, and sometimes snow. There is an abundance of rainfall for growing crops. The winter begins in November and lasts until April. The snowfall is from a few inches to two feet, this winter being light. Many imagine this to be a very cold climate; but that is a mistake. In November we had one day when the mercury registered 20° below zero, one day in February it registered 34° below, and to-day (March 16) it went to 32° below. These are the three coldest days. The average for the past five months has been about 29° above zero.
Government land can be obtained from twenty to fifty miles from the railroad. An entrance fee of ten dollars is charged when filing on it; no fee when final proof is made. Settlers must live on the land six months each year for three years, and make improvements. On making final proof they become British subjects. Railroad land can be bought for from $3 to $4.50 an acre.
There are about one hundred Sabbath-keepers in Alberta, in different places. We have a German church at Leduc, where the brethren expect to erect a good church building soon. There is a small company at Ponoka, and another at Harmattan, where a church and a church-school building are expected to be erected soon.
Just now many immigrants are coming here, principally from the States. Among them are a few of our people. We hope that as they settle in this new field, they will become a power for good, and will leaven the whole lump. Living is expensive, about twenty-five per cent higher than in the States. We do not advise any to come here to make money, although some are here, for that purpose, and are succeeding; but to all brethren who will come and help us to carry the message to those who know it not, we will give a welcome and any help in our power.
We are of good courage, and hope to be able to do the work which God has called us to do in this field. We like our new field, and enjoy the work, although we find many trials and difficulties. J. W. BOYNTON.

S. JESPERSSON

By S. Jespersson

Jerusalem

We came to this place, from Basel, Switzerland, the latter part of November, 1901, but the medical missionary work had been started at the beginning of the year. It is difficult to make such a work pay here, as there are so many hospitals where people are treated free. At present we are not having as much work as we had, at first; so we have rented the upper floor of our building, and conduct our work on one floor. We still have a few small rooms for patients, and are arranging to take boarders, hoping in this way to teach the principles of healthful living in a thorough manner. At present we have a boarder from Beirut. She wanted her daughter to come to us for board, and treatment; but having some doubt in regard to the diet, she wished to try it herself first. So she asked permission to take her meals with us one or two days. When she had been with us two days, she wanted to come the third day, and then asked to board with us a whole week. When she had been with us a week, she said she felt better than when she came, and enjoyed the diet so much that she would like to remain until she left Jerusalem. We feel grateful to God that he is always ready to bless our feeble efforts.
Some have said that this is the most difficult place on earth in which to labor. Perhaps it is, but I am glad that the Lord has just as much interest in Jerusalem as when Christ himself was here.

S. JESPERSSON

STATISTICS OF PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1901

Conferences Ordained Licensed Bible Workers Total on Pay Roll Churches Organized Companies Total Membership Tithe for Year General Offerings S. S. Offerings to Missions Canvassers Sales
California 27 16 34 64 54 12 3,924 $48,975 53 $9,162 31 $1,659 34 33 $4,752 35
North Pacific 15 14 5 38 52 ... 2,508 19,406 44 4,554 21 1,036 70 15 7,000 00
Southern California2 5 6 6 17 14 3 1,073 6,803 09 1,108 57 118 15 9 884 75
Upper Columbia 17 5 16 16 46 4 1,536 13,038 17 2,305 34 328 53 28 7,363 99
Montana 2 5 3 11 12 10 396 5,699 33 510 93 273 83 15 4,278 99
MISSION FIELDS
Arizona 1 3 2 6 4 1 151 1$550 88 1$130 75 1$23 45 1$2 1$672 50
Utah 2 ... 2 4 4 ... 160 1,311 32 350 00 ... ... ...
Alaska 2 ... 2 2 ... 2 10 1$99 33 1$257 30 ... ... 1,017 00
Hawaii 2 1 4 7 1 ... 36 1,167 89 167 20 60 10 1 ...
General Field 1 ... 1 4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
74 50 75 169 187 32 9,784 $97,051 98 $18,546 61 $3,500 10 103 $25,909 58

MRS. J. N. ANDERSON

By Mrs. J. N. Anderson

China

HONGKONG.— Hongkong is a peculiar city. The European population is made up almost exclusively of men. There are few European women in the city. You see men everywhere, and the large majority of them are in uniforms. Great Britain has many thousands of soldiers here. In fact, a large section of the city is made up of soldiers’ barracks and quarters. Immense buildings, as large as two Battle Creek Sanitariums, are in process of erection for hospital purposes; these are in addition to a number already in operation. The government buildings are being enlarged constantly, and one must get the impression that it will be the headquarters for troops for years to come.
A CHINESE STUDENT
A CHINESE STUDENT
Besides land troops, there are eight or ten war vessels always in the harbor. The vessel on which our brethren work carries a crew of eight or nine hundred men, and the others carry as many. Besides these, there are men-of-war of all nations always in waiting. Now, these men are all away from home environments, and almost without Christian influence. Still many of them are responsive to the gospel teaching. It really seems to us that we cannot leave this place until some one comes to carry forward the ship-mission work.
We are quite interested in the Chinese brother here, about whom you have no doubt heard from Brother La Rue. He is a capable business man, connected with a large firm at present, where he commands a good salary. He speaks English intelligently; was for a number of years a translator, or interpreter, in the supreme court. It was he who translated several tracts for Brother La Rue. At present he has allowed his worldly interests to stifle his spiritual life, but we hope he may be led to devote himself fully to the Lord’s work. He is a thorough Seventh-day Adventist in principle, if not fully in practice. Last evening he paid seventy-five dollars tithe (colonial money, equal to forty-four cents on the gold dollar). Our sailor boys have just paid their tithe for the month, almost forty dollars (colonial). Only five of them are paying tithe. Two who had backslidden, seem to be encouraged by our coming, and their comrades think they may be led to take a new stand. One of these gave my husband ten dollars as an offering the other day. One brother, who has recently been removed to Singapore, awaits baptism.
We have Bible readings every evening at Brother La Rue’s home. Our own faithful sailor boys, and occasionally others, attend. We have some genuine Christian sailor boys, and it does us good to meet them.

MRS. J. N. ANDERSON

Feb. 16, 1902.

The Young People's Work

By L. Flora Plummer

The readers of the REVIEW will certainly be interested in the progress of the young people's work. Since the last General Conference, provision has been made for the carrying on of this work in connection with the Sabbath School Department. A simple plan of organization has been suggested by the committee in charge of the work, and this plan has been almost uniformly adopted by the societies which have been organized. The plan does not make of these societies organizations independent of the church and the Sabbath school, but preserves their relationship to the church as a department of church work.
From recent reports we learn that in eighteen of the conferences a beginning has been made. The usual membership ranges from six to twenty-five. Nearly all that have been heard from are using, in their young people's meetings, the specially prepared lessons in the Instructor. The members are doing many kinds of missionary work. A number of conversions are reported as the direct result of the young people's work. In those places where the work of the society has been most successfully carried on, the churches are beginning to feel the impetus of the movement, and seem to have awakened to new life.
At the recent meeting of the Lake Union Conference, the following report was read, and this is a fair sample of many that have been received:—

The Chicago Young People's Society

“In December, 1901, some of the young people of the Chicago South Side church felt that it was time for them to obey the call which had been given for the young people to organize to work for God. The young people were accordingly called together, and a few plans laid before them. The object for which we were asked to organize—namely, the giving of the advent message to all the world in this generation—was at that meeting kept uppermost in the minds of the members, and has been ever since. This movement has seemed to supply a long-felt need in arousing our youth to a realization of the fact that they have a part to act in carrying the gospel to the world.
“Each department of our work is carried on under the supervision of a committee, and every member of the society is a member of at least one committee. This is not done for the sake of giving each one an office, but that each may feel that he is personally responsible for the accomplishment of some part of the work. The plan has been very successful. Some of the number, especially the younger ones who never before seemed to take any interest in the work of either the church or the Sabbath school, have become deeply in earnest, not only in the department which was allotted to them, but in other lines as well.
“The mission committee arranged with those in charge of the Life Boat Mission, for the society to furnish the special features for the mission meeting every Saturday evening. The blessings which have thus been passed on to others we may never fully realize, but the men who have been helped by the songs sung by the young people and children, have expressed their gratitude. The joy which has been brought to our own hearts by working for others, has been great. The converted members of the society have had a burden for the unconverted ones, and the work in the mission has brought an experience to some of these that is invaluable.
“The Christian Help work committee has done faithful work in visiting and praying with the sick, both at their homes and in hospitals. When speaking of the work of any special committee, we mean the whole society working under the direction of, and reporting through, the committee appointed to have the special charge of the department. A strong effort has been made to educate each member to regard himself a member of each committee, and that spirit prevails. Cottage meetings have been held in the homes of both the rich and the poor, and two persons have been converted as a result, one of whom was a Catholic. Medical aid and nourishing food have been secured for some of the sick poor. One sister has been doing all the dressmaking for a family of six children, whose mother is dying with consumption. Others, by means of their musical ability, have gained entrance to homes and hearts where the light of the gospel had never before reached. Some of our members have assisted in the gospel meetings in the jail, with good results. The inmates of the isolation ward at the county hospital were one day made glad by being supplied with a hygienic dinner and a package of reading matter which we hope drew some soul nearer to the Saviour. Good literature and pictures have been carried to the Life Boat Rest, the jails, and depots, and to homes where they were much appreciated.
“A number of our young people are teachers in the Sabbath school, and an effort has been made to get new members into the school, and secure punctuality on the part of those who were already members, and also to develop a spirit of cordiality toward strangers who may visit the services. We feel much encouraged over the progress which has been made in this direction.
“Our first financial undertaking was to raise seventy-five dollars to have our church cleaned and newly decorated. The older members of the church willingly gave liberal donations, but the members of the society have worked hard to complete their work. The money has been raised by solicitation, plain sewing, fancy work, selling pictures, tracts, and books.
“We have not had all smooth sailing. The enemy of souls has been on our track, but we have clung to the hand of One who has said, ‘I will guide thee.’ Although mistakes have been made, we are not discouraged, but are determined to ‘press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ GRACE ADAMS, Sec.”
We especially invite the readers of the REVIEW to keep informed in regard to the progress of this work by reading each week the department in the Instructor, devoted to the young people's work. Some most interesting experiences are reported through that medium from week to week.
If you desire any additional information concerning this work, or the plan of organization, write to your State Sabbath-school secretary, or to the undersigned at 705 Northwestern Building, Minneapolis, Minn.
MRS. L. FLORA PLUMMER.
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