Earlier text: Twenty-Fourth MeetingA. G. DANIELLS in the chair. The Chair called for unfinished business, and the report of the committee on finance was considered. Question was called on recommendation 1 (page 14). Recommendation 2 was considered, relating to the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. C. A. Burman: I suppose it is quite natural for each of us to consider our own position in this matter. I was wondering how far this would apply. I suppose it will apply to all fields alike. It might be well to know how some fields are situated. I understand this means five cents a week for every member, to the support of our institutions, providing the institutions receiving the benefit have a twenty-five-per-cent indebtedness. We are in such a place as not to receive any benefit, and still we are asked to settle our own indebtedness, which is less than twenty-five per cent, and at the same time turn over five cents to the support of some other institutions. Now the question in my mind is whether it is just to carry this into effect in applying it to all conferences. We of course are outside the United States. We live just over the line [Alberta, Canada]. Our position is that we have been deprived, and have deprived ourselves, of many things other institutions have, in order to keep out of debt, and we have been able to do it to quite a large extent. Now to ask us to turn around and pay some one's obligations to put in sidewalks and various lighting plants and things which we denied ourselves of because we did not want to go into debt (perhaps we should have afforded them), seems not just right. If it is so voted, of course we shall be good-natured about it; but this is the position we are in: We shall receive no benefit, and still we shall be helping others to pay for the things which we would not invest in because we did not want to go into debt. C. R. Kite: I would like to ask if this plan is based upon the church-membership, that is to say, the twenty cents a week is based on the membership of the conferences.568 A. G. Daniells: Yes, sir. C. R. Kite: The same as was the Fifteen-cent-a-week Fund? A. G. Daniells: Yes, sir. C. R. Kite: Now I would like to ask, Brother Chairman, if there is not a better way, a better basis to place our mission offerings upon than upon the membership basis. Is there not a better standard or basis to fix our funds upon? I am sure we do not shirk responsibility in raising funds for missions, that I speak as I do, Brother Chairman; but it has seemed to a number of us that the correct basis would be as the Bible has said, according as God has prospered you, not according to whether you are a member of a church; that the index of a man's ability to give is measured or established by his tithe. Individuals grouped together make a church, and the tithe of the church would measure the ability of that church to give to missions, or to any other cause. The tithe receipts of the conference would tell better the exact ability of the conference to give than its membership; for the membership may change according to the administration or ideas of a conference in making up its lists; whereas the tithe really represents the actual capital and income of the people of that conference; and it has seemed that in the great plan of working up these funds, we shall more certainly see the fund raised from year to year if placed on this basis. We started with ten cents a week; it grew to fifteen; now it is placed at twenty; and before this work ends, it will go higher than that. I do not know where it will stop—not until it takes all we have, I hope. But, Brother Chairman, I wish that the finance committee could have found a basis different from the membership; for I can assure you that it is not very satisfactory in many places. A. G. Daniells: I would say, in answer to Brother Kite, that this matter was given a good deal of study. It seemed to those who did this, that the membership basis was really a more certain basis, a concrete basis, to work upon. E. K. Slade: I think it should be understood by all of the delegates that our conference officers and our conference presidents have something to do besides holding tent efforts; that it keeps us pretty busy in trying to carry out the plans and meet the standards. We have other funds to raise aside from money for the mission field—for our tent outfits, and for meeting the deficit, perhaps, in the running of the camp-meeting, the poor fund, and other funds, and helping some companies in building their churches. Now when we go to our churches asking for a tent fund or an emergency fund of any sort, about the first question that is asked by our church officers today is, “Will it be counted on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund?” It is getting to that point that we do not get a very hearty response unless we say that it is counted on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. I do not know that I would want to change that. I am glad that our people do want to see this mission fund brought up to that high standard; yet it must be understood that it is making the burdens a little heavier, the struggles a little harder, in meeting the various funds to carry on the good, strong work in the local conference. J. H. Behrens: I had hoped that some one would suggest what I have in mind, but no one has so far. When the General Conference Committee met in January at Mountain View, we were furnished with a copy of the recommendations. We took these to our conference the following month, and adopted them. Even previous to this we presented the matter of the mission funds to the people in our churches, and the conference voted that instead of raising twenty cents a week per member, we raise that fund to twenty-five cents a week per member, giving fifteen cents to the foreign mission work, five cents for the institutional work in the North American Division, and five cents additional for our own individual obligations in the California Conference, and we were confronted with the question as to what basis we would place this fund upon. They said: “All right, we will give to missions. We are in sympathy with the work in Africa and in India and in China, but when you come and ask for institutions nearer home, we haven’t any faith in it.” And we were forced to study the question, not from the local standpoint, but from the missionary standpoint, and we told the people that the work in India, in China, in Japan, or in other fields could not be carried forward unless we had the home institutions to furnish the workers; therefore the five cents addition that was asked for in liquidating the indebtedness of our institutions was missionary funds in the highest sense of the word; and we found that from that viewpoint our people responded gladly. The thought has occurred to me, Brother Chairman, that we ought to swing around from the idea of having home mission work and having foreign mission work, in connection with this Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. I believe that we will have more success in getting the money when we present the idea that these institutions—Loma Linda College, the Foreign Mission Seminary, or any other institution that may have the benefit of this five cents—are missionary institutions in the highest sense of the word, and that without them the foreign mission work would be crippled. I believe it will help in raising this money, and I would like to see a little discussion along that line, that when our delegates go back into the field there will go a sentiment all over the North American Division that we are not divided in this fund, as to having one portion go for institutional indebtedness and the other to mission work directly, but that this is all one fund, and goes to missions, even if it pays the debt of Healdsburg College, which has sent out missionaries to foreign fields. In that old institution at Healdsburg were worked out some of the most beautiful principles of Christian education that can be found in this earth; these principles of Christian education have had their influence all over the denomination, not only in this country, but in the foreign field. Therefore I contend, Brother Chairman, that this institutional relief ought to be put on a strong missionary basis. W. T. Knox: A number of other plans were suggested to the finance committee, looking toward a modification of our plan of raising funds for the mission fields. They were all given careful consideration. I will tell briefly why the committee did not think it well to change the plan. First of all, because the present plan upon which we are operating, after years of trial and effort, has now become a positive success. It is not unscriptural, because, when it is understood as it should be, and as I have always thought our people generally did understand it, it does not mean just exactly fifteen cents a week from every member, no more and no less, but it calls for an amount from all the conferences, from all the churches, and from all the membership, of an average of fifteen cents a week per member, which, on the aggregate, would give us so many thousands of dollars for our operations. In it is the idea of giving according as the Lord prospers. Where one man might give, and give acceptably to the Lord, five cents per week for himself, another man might not meet the requirement of God if he gave five dollars a week. Each one is to give as God has prospered him, with the idea of furnishing so much money for the needs of the cause. I will say that we felt very reluctant to give any favorable consideration to any plan that would turn away the denomination from this plan that today is a success. Local conferences have attempted in the past to provide mission funds, school funds, camp-meeting funds, tent funds, all kinds of funds, from a second tithe, and from the raising of money on the basis of the tithe paying. As far as I know, as conferences, they have abandoned them today, although they were strongly advocated at certain times. They have abandoned them because they have not found them workable. Whether that is correct or not, I cannot tell. Now, however, we do have a successful plan in operation. F. W. Stray: I would like to mention a feature of the raising of this fund that has not been touched upon so far as I have heard. In speaking of the denomination receiving so much more than any other denomination, I am convinced that the doctrine of the imminence of the second advent and the finishing of the work in this generation, is a thing that impels our people to large missionary giving. As I have learned from our church elders, I believe that the reason we jumped so quickly last year from ten to fifteen cents was not so much administrative effort. I know our brethren worked hard; yet I believe it was largely the providence of God working through the development of the Eastern question that stirred our people to give last year. E. E. Andross: Was it not in God's plans originally that the sanctuary and its services should be maintained on the membership basis, aside from the tithe? Was not the gift for the temple to be a half-shekel for every man? I think that is true, and I think we could not find a better basis for the support of our work than that which we have already set forth. Chas. Thompson: The success or the failure of the plan, in my judgment, lies with the people here. Whether we raise twenty cents a week or not per capita will depend upon our leadership before the people. The people are ready for it, evidently. So far as our field is concerned, they are ready for it. They reached the standard very easily last year, and more. Now, it seems to me we are on the advance. We must be on the aggressive, and if our field reached17 more than the fifteen-cent standard last year, for us to keep the stake back at fifteen cents this year would not be an aggressive move, I think. So I have every confidence that if we will give proper leadership, we shall have no trouble in doing it. I believe, brethren, it is time that we, as preachers and conference workers, should set the right pace before the people. The thing for us to do is to lift the obligations, and when there is a plan set in operation that we have every reason to believe will do the work, we ought to go at it. The very principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for those who are not in trouble to help the unfortunate. Now, brethren, let us take hold of the plan for the relief of our institutions, and four years from now we shall see how greatly strengthened our whole work will be. A. J. Clark: It seems to me that the question of the membership basis involves the keeping of the list of members as it really is. Some have advocated a sort of retired or inactive list of members, not counted in these apportionments for the raising of funds, though their names are on the church books. It seems to me we ought to place ourselves on record that there is but one basis, the real membership of the church, so we can know where we are on this Twenty-cent-a-week Fund. A. G. Daniells: That is just the position the General Conference has taken from the year one in that matter. W. A. Ruble: I believe if there is one word we should leave out from our vocabulary it is the word “foreign” in regard to missions. I believe that all our work should be missionary work, and any enterprise that is not worthy of that name ought not to receive our support. I believe that the yellow man's soul in this country is just as good as it is in foreign countries, and that we should give our money to home mission work just as we should to those in foreign lands. Another thing. It is sometimes said that some of our people are favorable to paying deficits on institutions if they are called educational. I want to give you a little information that possibly you may not have. When I was in college, I paid on an average $140 a year for tuition and board. Today we have in our sanitariums a thousand young people who are paying all their way; the institution is giving them their education, and the expense of those institutions is about one hundred fifty thousand dollars a year. Some sanitariums are teaching subjects that could not be gotten elsewhere. And the students have been paying their tuition by working in the institutions. It is recognized by every sanitarium board that the nurses' training-class is an expense to the sanitarium, a heavy expense. Some of our schools are getting $140 a year tuition per student, and are running behind. Now, what is the difference whether we are educating our young people in an institution known as a college or a sanitarium? It seems to me we must recognize these institutions as educational, whatever kind of training they may give, if we recognize them at all, and, further, that we must recognize them as missionary if we recognize them at all. A. G. Daniells: M. C. Wilcox has the floor, and then we must decide whether we will pass this resolution or adjourn. M. C. Wilcox: Brother Chairman, I have only this to say, that if our people fully understand that the fifteen cents a week is for missions, and the extra five cents for institutions financially involved, upon which there shall be piled up no more debts, we shall have no trouble whatever in raising the twenty cents a week. [Many amens.] A. G. Daniells: And that is the condition. M. C. Wilcox: And that is what our people ought to understand, too, Brother Chairman. I think that when the time comes that we are as willing to groan under the obligations as we are now to groan over them, we shall get along all right. [A chorus of amens.] E. L. Maxwell: This recommendation provides for revision of these plans adopted by the General Conference. Are we to do this revising here this afternoon? A. G. Daniells: I understand so. G. B. Starr: Would you be willing, Brother Chairman, to state the spirit with which the report was received here in the East when you returned from the California council stating that such a movement was on foot to clear the indebtedness of both schools and sanitariums? Some of us regarded it as one of the signs of the soon coming of the end, that the Lord was going to work to get his institutions out of debt. A. G. Daniells: After this decision was made at Mountain View, wherever I went I spoke of it in church or conference gathering, and it was hailed with gladness. In a number of cases churches and conference gatherings voted to support that measure and to encourage the Conference to go on with it. I have never related an action of the Conference that received heartier acceptance than this proposition has, as far as I know. Question was called, and the report adopted. North American Division Conference
Fourth Meeting, May 30, 4:15 P. M.
At the close of the afternoon session of the General Conference, W. T. Knox called a short meeting of the North American Division Conference, and the following partial report was rendered by the nominating committee:— After much earnest, prayerful, and careful consideration, your committee on nominations for officers for the North American Division Conference would respectfully submit the following partial report: For president, Elder I. H. Evans; for vice-president, Elder O. A. Olsen. Motion was made to adopt the report. A. G. Daniells: Four years ago, when we were considering the needs of the Asiatic field, we looked the proposition over very carefully. The brethren were greatly perplexed to know whom to send. We canvassed the subject for days, and finally reached a unanimous decision throughout the entire conference, everybody joining in the recommendation that Elder Evans, the treasurer then, should go to that field, to take charge of the work. So we telegraphed to Elder Knox to know if we could secure him for the General Conference, as Elder Evans's successor. He sent back a provisional reply of acceptance. We took that up, and finally Brother Evans went. He has been going over his field, adjusting, reorganizing, and putting things in shape. Personally, I felt great satisfaction in placing a man of Elder Evans's experience in that field. But now that Elder Evans returns to America, we shall join hands in pressing the work in this country, and shall gird up our armor for Asia, and do our best for that great field. I can say for my associates and myself in the General Conference Office that we accept the committee's report, and we vote for it, we stand for it, and will help Brother Evans and his associates in this division in every way. This new conference has a big work to do. We must all unite earnestly to carry out its policies; for they are the policies of the General Conference. C. W. Flaiz (chairman of committee): I think perhaps I ought to state some of the reasons that led the committee to present the name that we have presented. In studying the field it appeared to the committee that we should have a man as president of the North American Division Conference who would be strong in evangelical lines; and, inasmuch as we are confronted with heavy financial responsibilities, it seemed to us that we should have a man who had had experience in financial affairs, large financial affairs; we felt it should be a man who could come near to local conference presidents, one who had had experience in that line, and on the General Conference Committee. In consideration of the fact that the resources for the mission fields abroad must largely come from this field, it was the opinion that it would be well if we could have a man who had had personal experience in the mission fields abroad. In looking over persons to fill and to meet these qualifications, our minds turned toward Elder Evans. Then we were confronted with the problem of eastern Asia, and the question was, Will it be better to let him remain in the foreign field, and serve the situation there, or will it be better to call him back to the base of supplies, and bring his large experience to bear on this great division conference, to develop its resources for the fields abroad? It was this question which has been perplexing the committee for several days past. Brother Evans's large experience in financial affairs will be a great assistance to this new conference. Not only must we furnish largely of means for mission fields, but we must also train men for the fields. And so we need some one who can lead out strongly in evangelical lines. These are the considerations that have led us to select Elder Evans and present his name to this body. The report was unanimously adopted. Fifth Meeting, June 3, 3:15 P. M.
I. H. EVANS in the chair. After the meeting was called by the chairman, H. C. Hartwell submitted the following further partial report of the nominating committee:— For secretary, G. B. Thompson; treasurer, W. T. Knox; departmental secretaries: Medical, H. W. Miller, M. D.; Educational, H. R. Salisbury; Missionary Volunteer, Matilda Erickson; Religious Liberty, C. S. Longacre; General Foreign, O. A. Olsen; German, G. F. Haffner and J. H. Schilling; Danish-Norwegian570 L. H. Christian; Swedish, S. Mortenson; Negro, C. B. Stephenson. Executive committee: I. H. Evans, O. A. Olsen, G. B. Thompson, W. T. Knox, the union conference presidents of North America, the secretaries of departments, and five additional members, as provided for by the constitution, as follows: Dr. W. A. Ruble, Frederick Griggs, R. A. Underwood, W. W. Prescott, and L. M. Bowen. Secretary of Press Bureau: W. L. Burgan. While the name of the nominee for treasurer was before the conference, a statement was made by W. T. Knox as follows: I am sure that all will recognize the desirability from the standpoint of both the General Conference and the North American Division that the division conference should have its own treasurer. The work in the General Conference treasury department ever since I have been connected with it, has been all that I have been equal to, and it is growing heavier each year. This change that has come into our organization does not lessen the volume of the work of the two conferences. And the interests of the North American Division are such that it should have a treasurer of its own. They recognize that, and are aiming to secure it. I have had a conversation with Elder Evans, and it is understood between us that my name is presented on the condition that I be relieved of all responsibility in the office at the time of the fall council. General Conference Departmental Resume
By C. M. S.
IN the third meeting of the Foreign Department Elder O. A. Olsen laid before those in attendance the vital importance of doing more for the foreign population of the United States and Canada. He said there were millions of Italians, Poles, Slavs, and other nationalities in this country. In many localities the Lord is raising up believers among these peoples, and from them earnest pleas are continually coming for help. Leaders must be selected to take charge of the work of training men and women to give the help that is being demanded by these converts from the foreign population, and to assist those who are already seeking to help such ones. A very important topic was under consideration at the eighth meeting of the Religious Liberty Department. In a number of instances our workers have used quotations in their public addresses, which it has been difficult or impossible to verify. In some cases such quotations have been challenged, and the ones who have used them have been unable to prove the quotations authentic. They have used such quotations in good faith, believing them to be authentic, and embarrassment has come to them and more or less injury to the work they were trying to do, when they were unable to show the genuineness of the extracts. Some of these quotations, traced back from one writer to another, have vanished. These experiences have shown the importance of ceasing to use any quotation which we cannot verify. It was recommended that our public workers furnish themselves with a list of quotations which can be authenticated. A strong testimony to the importance of the circulation of our literature in opening up work in new territory was borne by Elder G. W. Caviness, of Mexico, in the ninth meeting of the Publishing Department. Elder Caviness stated that the circulation of our tracts, papers, and books seemed to be almost entirely responsible for the raising up of companies of believers in Mexico. The tenth meeting of the department was devoted to a consideration of the scope and work of the General Conference Publishing Department in carrying forward the work committed to this people. The work of the department, as set forth by Elder Daniells, showed that there is no greater nor more important work than that which comes under the jurisdiction of this department of the work. It must secure literature adapted to the needs of all classes, from the simplest people in heathen lands to the best educated and most perfectly civilized peoples of the world. It must see to the proper translation of literature for the various nationalities. It must be on the lookout for writers who have ability in presenting the truth strongly and attractively. It acts as a unifying agent among our publishing houses, holding before them all the common endeavor of giving this message to all the world. It is the business of this department to educate our people to appreciate the importance of our literature in the proclamation of this message. It must provide a system to enable our people to circulate this literature intelligently and successfully. It will also assist and encourage home missionary work, using its influence to put the rank and file of our people at work in the circulation of tracts and periodicals. The eleventh meeting of the department was devoted to the need of spiritual power in colporteur work. This power, it was shown, makes all other phases of the work easy, solves difficulties, and unravels trying perplexities. Such power is the key that unlocks every problem connected with the distribution of our literature. The meetings of the Missionary Volunteer Department have been of much interest and profit to those in attendance. The denomination is manifesting greater interest in the work being done by this department of the General Conference, and the organization continues to grow. It is being taken up in the foreign fields, and the young people are being developed rapidly as missionary workers. The importance of this department of the organized work can hardly be overestimated. It is not only of great assistance in the extension of the work, but it serves also to bind the young people to the work and to insure a greater and more rapid increase in the number of our laborers than would otherwise be the case. At these department meetings the importance of this branch of the work is being demonstrated in the reports of work done by the young people and the record of persons brought into the truth through their instrumentality. Report of the Sabbath-School Department
By G. B. Thompson
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Report of the Sabbath-School Department
The Last Quadrennial Period
In the time set apart for this report I can do but little more than refer to the progress of the Sabbath-school work since the last General Conference, and make a few suggestions for the future. The last quadrennial period has been one of much blessing. I think it is true that the progress in all lines has been the greatest and most encouraging in the history of the work of the department. During the past four years correspondence has been carried forward by the corresponding secretary with secretaries and workers in all parts of the world, and reports have been received from every land where the message has taken root, and, without exception, the word that has come to us has told of progress and cooperation in the work, and breathed a spirit of courage for the future. The outlook was never brighter. We should like here to express to all conference workers, secretaries, and local Sabbath-school officers in all parts of the globe, our appreciation of their loyal support, most hearty cooperation, and helpful suggestions, without which no progress could have been made. At the close of 1908 we had 3,747 Sabbath-schools. Of this number 1,269 were in foreign fields, and 2,478 in the home field. At the close of 1912 there were 4,457 schools. Of this number 1,843 were in foreign lands, and 2,614 in the home field. There has been an increase of 574 Sabbath-schools in foreign fields, and 136 in the home field, since the last Conference. In 1908 we had a total membership of 88,843, of which 22,011 were in the foreign field. During the quadrennial period there has been an increase in membership of 25,170, of which 23,678 have been in foreign lands, and 1,492 in the home field. Our membership in foreign fields has more than doubled in the past four years. Of the total membership of our schools, 5,786 are members of the Home Department. This department has increased in membership 1,286 during the quadrennial period. By means of this department, the Sabbath-school is brought into the homes of the isolated, aged, and infirm, so that all can be members of the Sabbath-school. Quite liberal donations come from this source for the support of our work in mission fields. The department committee has worked hard during the past four years to provide suitable and helpful lessons for all divisions. The best lesson writers possible have been secured, and changes calculated to improve the lessons have been made. We have been encouraged by the favorable and commendatory letters received from all parts of the world as to benefit received from their study. The Lesson Quarterly, printed by the Pacific Press at the present time, has a circulation of fifty-three thousand five hundred copies. These lessons are translated into most of the leading languages of Europe, and published by the Hamburg House. In some of the languages many thousands of copies are printed. Lessons are now furnished to China, Korea, and Japan for translation into the language of571 these countries. The work has increased in some of the Spanish-speaking countries to that extent that calls are now being made for the lessons to be published in pamphlet form in all divisions. During the quadrennial period the lessons have covered a study of the life of Christ, the book of Acts, some doctrinal topics on the message, and some practical subjects, and have been uniform in all divisions during most of the period. God alone can measure the infinite value to a hundred thousand people of an earnest, prayerful study of lessons on such subjects. We sometimes greatly fear that the lessons are not studied as they should be. During the past period special efforts have been put forth to make our Sabbath-schools strong agencies in the salvation of souls, and to have each teacher feel the responsibility of bringing all his class to Christ. These efforts have met with a most hearty and encouraging response from all parts of the field. During the past years the quarterly report blank has asked for the record of Sabbath-school pupils converted. The total number reported for the year is 3,542, most of whom have been baptized. We realize the difficulty of obtaining accurate statistics upon this point, as other departments of the work, closely associated with the Sabbath-school, have no doubt contributed to this encouraging result. But Sabbath-school teachers are making earnest efforts to bring their pupils to a decision in the matter of serving the Lord. Consecration services are held in many schools, and these result in many of the youth and children giving their hearts to the Lord. The “Sabbath School Worker”
The only periodical published by the department is the Sabbath School Worker. Much of the success of the work in various lines is due to the influence of this excellent paper. Since the last General Conference it has been enlarged from 16 to 20 pages, and the subscription list has increased from 6,906 to 9,705, or an increase of more than 40 per cent. This is quite encouraging, when we remember that it is intended to cover only a special field. We feel that this journal is indispensable to the success of the Sabbath-school work, and that it will be an even more potent factor in the work in the future. We would not forget to mention also the valuable help of the Little Friend and Youth’s Instructor, which contain lessons and other excellent matter each week for our schools. As a help to teachers, and to assist the children to learn the memory verses, and thus fix some precious words of Scripture in their minds, the department has encouraged the use of Memory Verse Cards, where the scripture is associated with a picture. Four years ago only one thousand sets of these cards were used each quarter. It now takes ten thousand sets to supply the demand. While we believe that the primary object of the Sabbath-school is to save souls, yet we feel sure that studying the mission fields, where unwarned millions still sit shackled in pagan darkness, and making offerings to carry the message to these lost millions, is a most blessed inspiration to all our Sabbath-schools. We cannot serve God and mammon, but we can serve God with mammon. Sabbath-schools, like armies, grow by conquest. The Sabbath-school is working out a program outlined by the Lord of the harvest. As our consecration deepens, our service to man will correspondingly increase. Our Sabbath-schools have now reached the place where they are depended upon to raise a large percentage of the funds required to carry the message to the world. Since 1887, when the first deposit for missions was made by our Sabbath-schools in the bank of heaven, they have donated $1,313,580.78 for this purpose. The constant annual increase in offerings to missions has been very gratifying indeed. Four years ago there were only 10 conferences in the home land giving all to missions; now there are 71. The plan of having our schools give all their regular offerings to missions has been practically accomplished. During the previous quadrennial period, from 1905-08, our Sabbath-schools gave $273,141.36 to missions. During the past four years, from 1909-12, they gave $632,778.30, an increase of $359,636.94 over the previous period. During the past four years our Sabbath-schools have given $3,521.68 more to missions than was given in the previous eighteen years, from 1891-08. Surely this is gratifying progress. The record of offerings for 1912 is especially encouraging. During the year $228,029.24 was given to missions. This is an increase of $71,540.87 over 1911. This increase alone is nearly as much as the total offering in 1907. Four years ago the Sabbath-schools were giving less than two thousand dollars a week for missions. Now they are giving almost five thousand dollars a week. Four years ago our goal was “One Hundred Thousand Dollars to Missions in a Year.” Now it is “One Million Dollars to Missions in Four Years.” It seems each year that we have about reached the limit of gifts to missions from our schools, but evidently we have not, and the future will no doubt show even larger offerings annually from this source for the advancement of the message. The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering
During the past year the plan has been adopted of setting apart for a special offering the thirteenth Sabbath in each quarter for a specific purpose. The General Conference Committee has designated some needy and worthy object each quarter. This plan has met with general approval from the field, and has proved very helpful to our mission work. The offerings on the thirteenth Sabbath of the four quarters of 1912 are as follows:— Cities of India, $7,674.33; Selukwe Reserve, Africa, $12,680.64; mission homes in China, $12,379.82; schools in South America, $10,854.42; or a total on these four Sabbaths of $43,589.21. The plan has worked very successfully in Australia for some years, and we recommend that it be adopted in other parts of the world,—some especially needy mission enterprise being set apart by the proper committee, to which the schools in that field can contribute. In conclusion we thank God for the blessed Sabbath-school work, and the great blessing and help it is to us as a people. While there are perplexities and some problems to be solved, we are of good courage, believing that God, who has helped us hitherto, will help us in the future. The Sabbath-school is the child of the church, and as such needs the love and fostering care of all the people. We most earnestly ask for this, and for the prayers of all God’s people that this work may prove to be all that the Lord designed that it should be. G. B. THOMPSON, Secretary. Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press — Managers of Eastern railroads notified their 100,000 conductors and trainmen that there would be no arbitration of the demand for an increase in wages. The increase demanded would have added $17,000,000 to the pay-rolls. — The draft of a bill authorizing the French government to borrow $200,000,000 for twenty years in order to meet military expenses, was submitted to the cabinet recently by Charles Dumont, minister of finance, and approved. — Spain is to follow the example of other Continental countries and become the owner of its railways. As Spanish railways have been notorious for delays and poor management, travelers will hope that the change promises improvement in service. — President Wilson issued an order last week revoking the action of previous administrations relative to fourth-class postmasters,—excepting those receiving less than $180 a year,—throwing all such positions open to competitive examination. This will affect about 50,000 incumbents. — Turkey has definitely ceded the island of Cyprus to Great Britain, according to the Constantinople correspondent of the London Express, who claims to have received a formal statement to that effect from the best-informed source. The cession of the island is said to have been due to clauses in the Anglo-Turkish entente. — With all the ceremonial which attaches itself to the wedding traditions of the Hohenzollern house, Princess Victoria Louise, only daughter and the youngest child of the German emperor, became the bride, on May 24, of Prince Ernst August, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg. The prince and princess will ascend the throne of the duchy of Brunswick at an early date. The direct line of rulers of the duchy became extinct in 1884. — Two great landslides at the Culebra cut in the Panama Canal have filled sections of the ditch and buried a big steam-shovel and other machinery, and threaten to ruin the Young Men’s Christian Association club building. This building has moved eighteen inches toward the cut, and engineers say it cannot be saved from sliding in. Its use is forbidden. The entire hill seems to be settling, and commissioners say the slides will delay work on the canal from six weeks to two months.