ROME.— We are glad to say that the Lord has helped us to learn the language, to the extent that we are able to hold meetings, Bible studies, etc., or to do about what we are accustomed to do in English. Our efforts have proved of some avail, for the Lord has heard our prayers for this priest-ridden people. We have not gathered out a large number of souls as yet, but the Lord has given us some foundation-stones upon which to build; and as the foundation is the first thing, and the most important, in a field, the material gained corresponds with the needs of the hour. All of those that have thus far been gained for the truth are educated people, and such as can give standing to the message. Among them we number three professors and one school-teacher, all of whom are very talented in their particular line.
We have just opened up a school here from funds sent us by the young people of southern California, and from the good beginning already made, it bids fair to become a strong factor in the development of the work in this place. The Catholics depend almost entirely upon their educational work for gaining converts and holding their prestige. They scarcely ever preach, but work away at the school problem, for they know that it brings the greatest returns for the time and money expended. We should learn some lessons from them, and enter the educational field and fight the battle out with them on their own ground. Our day-school has not begun yet, for we must have the papers from the government; but our evening school is open, and we have twenty-nine enrolled, with new ones coming at almost every session. CHAS. T. EVERSON.
The Ordination of Pauliasi Bunoa
PAULIASI BUNOA is the first believer in the third angel’s message from the Fiji Islands to be ordained to the gospel ministry. The ordination service was held Sabbath afternoon, September 22, the closing Sabbath of the Australasian Union Conference, at Cooranbong, Australia.
Elder E. H. Gates spoke concerning the work in the islands, as follows: “I will read Isa. 11:11: ‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left . . . from the islands of the sea.’ You will notice here that he is speaking about the remnant, and we know very well to whom that refers. We read in the book of Revelation about the remnant, and the opposition that will be brought to bear against the remnant people. Now, I do not suppose that there is a person who feels more interested in what we are about to do this afternoon than I do. Sixteen years ago, on October 20, when I left the shores of America to engage in labor among the islands, there were but two companies of Sabbath-keepers in all that region. We had one small organization in the Hawaiian Islands that had been organized by Elder Healey. About the same time, some work had been done in Pitcairn. To-day there are hundreds who are obeying the truth among the islands, beginning with the eastern part of Polynesia and stretching across the Pacific—a few here and a few there. It is with the deepest interest I take part in this service this afternoon, not because of the large numbers who have accepted the truth—probably large numbers never will accept the truth in these islands; but it is a fact that souls that at one time were in the darkness of heathenism, and even cannibalism, are to-day rejoicing in the light. Now it is of the deepest interest to me that our brother who is to be ordained knew in his youth what it was to eat human flesh, in other words, was among cannibals. The work is going to these dark islands. You are laying plans at this meeting to send workers to New Guinea, to send workers to that populous island of Java, with its almost thirty million people. This rejoices my soul. I have waited to see this day: I see it, and rejoice. A few days ago in the conference here, you voted that Pauliasi Bunoa should be ordained to the gospel ministry. This is the first worker from those who have accepted the truth in the islands to receive ordination. I hope that the time is near when we shall see more than one ordained to the gospel ministry from the dark islands where heathenism rules almost supreme.”
Elder C. H. Parker, who has been laboring in the Fijian field, gave a brief history of Pauliasi. He said: “Pauliasi was brought up in another denomination, and spent some thirty-two years as a minister, and ten years as a missionary to New Britain, New Ireland, and other cannibal islands. Seven years ago he came in contact with the truth; his heart responded, though it was not without a struggle that he gave himself to this message, because he realized what a difficult thing it was for him to take his stand among his people there. He thought he would go out in the bush with his family and lead a hermit life, but he saw he could not do that. The first Sabbath after he took his stand for the truth, the people lined the beach as he left for the mission. They laughed at him, and called him a fool, and when he came back that evening, they met for a council to drive him out of the town. But he faltered not. He has been our pioneer minister in the opening up of new fields, and the seal of his ministry is the souls that have responded to the truth. There are a goodly number of them, and I can say that those who have received the truth in Fiji respect Pauliasi. The officers of the government respect him. Brother Fulton and I have studied Pauliasi; and we have not come to this conclusion hastily. We believe God has called him to the work of the gospel ministry, and to a part with us in this ministry.”
Brother Pauliasi then followed with a few remarks concerning his own experience: “I will tell you concerning my faith in this truth. For many years I belonged to another church, and my faith was firm and steadfast in what was taught therein. When the light of the truth came to my heart, I rejoiced in it, and did not doubt that it was God’s truth. The truth that I heard in the Seventh-day Adventist church is something that can not be overthrown or controverted. It is built on the firm principles of God’s Word. I made a careful comparison of the truths as set forth by this denomination with what is written in God’s Word, and have been fully convinced that it is indeed the truth taught by the Word of God. There are many things that I believed while with this former people that are the same in this truth. All these truths that I formerly believed and which are substantiated by the Word of God, I have never thrown away, but hold them firmly still. The ground of my faith was, and is, and shall be, God’s Word, and God’s Word alone. I have heard now of the Sabbath, of the Lord’s coming, of true baptism, of feet washing, and tithing. I find these to be clearly taught in God’s Word. I know this to be the truth of God that I did not understand formerly. Therefore I gladly walk in the light.”
“Some things that I formerly believed to be true I now find to be error. I wish to read a scripture in Eze. 22:26: ‘Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.’ From this time onward, I desire always to separate the clean from the unclean in my belief; to accept that which is clean and put away that which is unclean. Not only do I desire to live by these truths myself, these truths which sanctify us, but I desire to teach the truth I have received to my fellow countrymen in Fiji.”
Following Pauliasi’s testimony, Elder O. A. Olsen said: “I am glad and rejoice with you to hear such a clear statement of the position and the work of the one whom God has commended to our charge. . . . Should there be any one in the congregation who sees any reason for not ordaining this brother, let him speak. I think that you all believe—not only the delegation, but all this congregation that have heard this testimony and the explanations of Brethren Gates and Parker—that he is called of God,18and that we should set him apart; if so, indicate the same by raising the hand. [Every hand was raised.] Now we will step down on this platform and follow out the Lord’s instruction.”
As Brother Pauliasi knelt in the center of the platform, the others knelt around him, while Pastor Baker led in prayer, followed by Pastor Gates. As they prayed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the congregation, and such a subduing, sanctifying experience of the power of God was seldom witnessed by those present. The sense of God’s presence deepened as Pastor Fulton led in prayer in the Fijian tongue.
All seemed greatly moved, and a holy joy filled every heart. At the close of this prayer all stood and joined in singing, “There are angels hovering round,” in a manner that indicated that all believed the sentiment the words of the hymn expressed.
There was a searching power in this holy influence that was noted in the many testimonies that followed. The secret of this blessed manifestation is revealed in the first verse of the first chapter of Acts: “They were all with one accord in one place.” A spirit of unity and brotherly love had pervaded the whole conference from the very first meeting.—(Australasian) Union Conference Record.
PAULLASI BUNOA
A Union Conference Session Amid Earthquake
By George F. Enoch
The Lord blessed in all the preliminary preparations for the first session of the West Indian Union Conference. The Jamaica Conference was the strongest conference within the West Indies, and the city of Kingston the second city in size. Most of the local brethren laboring in the ministry in the different fields had never had the privilege of attending any of our training-schools, and it was decided to hold a ministerial institute in connection with the union session.
S. D. A. CHURCH, KINGSTON, AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
Those of us who had labored for years in the pioneer work in the West Indies felt grateful to God at the auspicious opening of our conference. As all know, however, early in the sessions came the earthquake shock, utterly demolishing the city of Kingston, doubtless killing more than a thousand persons, and leaving the rest homeless. The disaster was so appalling that those in the midst of it could scarcely grasp its meaning.
With more than four hundred Seventh-day Adventists in the city at the time of the disaster, and not more than two per cent of the buildings left standing in habitable condition, it was with anxious hearts that we counted our numbers in the shadow of the calamity. Only one was missing, Brother Norman Johnston, but he was one of the brightest and most capable of our young workers in the West Indies. We sorrowed as we realized that the strong, energetic presence of this faithful laborer would no longer be felt in our West Indian field, but we believe he was ready to die.
There were several features in connection with the disaster in the experience of our own people which led us to feel that the days of special providences are not past. The earthquake came Monday afternoon. The Sunday evening before, it had been decided that quite a large delegation should visit the school site in the country on Monday, and therefore it was planned to have light work in the conference meetings in the city on that day. Some had proposed to adjourn all meetings in the afternoon, allowing the people to transact any necessary business in the city. Many who were in attendance had planned to go down into the business portion had there been no meeting. However, it was decided to call the meeting, and thus quite a good many were kept from being in the quarter where the ruin was greatest.
Our meeting room in the Kingston church was in the second story. Elder J. A. Strickland was in charge of the service at the time of the earthquake. As the building began to rock and sway, the first thought was to rush from it. But a hymn was started, and Elder Strickland stepped between the people and the door. A spirit of great calmness settled down upon the congregation, and with the exception of one or two who had reached the door before the singing began, no one tried to escape from the building. They continued singing until the shock was past, and then it was found that the arched stairway leading down from the meeting hall had partially collapsed. Had the people rushed in panic from the hall, they must have fallen to the ground in heaps. Surely it was a distinct providence that the walls of our church and the floor were left standing, when we consider that not a single brick church in the city was left upright. Very likely ours was the only church in which there were people at the time, and by the mercy of the Lord the building stood, although really totally wrecked.
The editor of the Daily Telegraph, one of the leading newspapers of Kingston, stated in the first issue after the earthquake, that with no exceptions, so far as he could discover, those who were in the business portion of the city, and who escaped alive, thought at the time of the earthquake that the end of the world had come. Men may scoff at the preaching of the coming of the Lord, but when the earth shakes terribly, their minds recognize the fact that there will be an end to the world some day.
We were thankful to God that our people were able to calmly consider all phases of our work, although all about us were terror-stricken people, crying out in terror and lifting their voices in prayer and cries whenever the later shocks would come, as in the days immediately following. Our business being transacted, it seemed best for the delegates to return to their fields. We regretted that the workers had not the benefit of the ministerial institute, but with the object-lesson given us of the awful scenes to come in the closing of the world's history, it was felt that all could search the prophetic Word more earnestly and prayerfully than ever before, and carry the message to the people to whom they go in the different parts of our great territory. Perhaps in this respect the workers received more than could have been possible in a three weeks' institute, as had been planned.
The school enterprise, placed in charge19of Prof. C. B. Hughes, lies very near to the hearts of our West Indian believers. These brethren and sisters, and those in Jamaica in particular, need the sympathy and financial help of our brethren in other lands. Perhaps no school has ever been started by our people under exactly the same conditions as this West Indian School. With students, very few of whom can give a cash equivalent for their education, with no membership in the West Indies of any financial standing, the situation was one that demanded great faith. But with a wrecked city, and a partially ruined island, the seriousness of the situation is intensified. May the Lord lay the burden to help upon some heart. There are hundreds of bright young men and women in the West Indies who are hungering for an education, and who, properly trained, will be valuable workers in this cause. The West Indian field needs them. Tropical Africa needs them. Our prayer is that their coming may not be long delayed.
It is with feelings of sadness and regret that the writer severs his almost nine years' connection with our work in the West Indies. But the Mission Board has called us to go on to India, and as our ambition is to work in the hard and needy pioneer fields, and we have seen the West Indian field develop from that condition into a well-organized union conference, we now gladly pass on. We feel certain that the blessing of God, which has attended the labors of the brethren thus far in the gathering out of more than three thousand baptized believers, will continue to be with them, and that a great work will be accomplished in that field. The work and workers in the West Indies will always have our prayers and sympathy, and we expect to see an abundant harvest of souls in the kingdom from the lands washed by the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
GEORGE F. ENOCH.
India
By Annie Orr
BANGALORE.—I have been working here in Bangalore for the last two years. The Lord has blessed us, and prospered us in the work. At first it was hard; but we held on. Now we have some Sabbath-keepers, others are interested, and the attendance at the meetings is increasing. The Lord opened the way for us to secure a nice meeting hall in a good locality. With a little solicitation, the rent was made up. Furthermore, the hall has been seated, lamps and a nice organ have been supplied, and the mission treasury is not in debt a single anna. This is a nice place, and the climate is delightful. ANNIE ORR.
Japan
By F. W. Field
Tokyo.—Brother Benson has begun to attend the language school for foreigners here in Tokyo. It is so far for his wife to go that we have arranged for a private teacher for her. Both are well, and of good courage.
We are very glad to learn that a Bible worker has been found for Korea. Brother Kuniya was at Tokyo for a few days lately, especially to confer with me about a Japanese pastor who has recently accepted the truth in Osaka. Brother Kuniya refers to this case in a report he has written for the REVIEW. The pastor desires to take up work in Kumamoto, Kiushu, in the southern island, not very far from Nagasaki; so he would be quite near Brother Kuniya. Thus the work is being started in new centers. Kumamoto is one of the principal cities in Kiushu. This man has a long experience, and if truly consecrated, ought to be able to do a good work for his people. F. W. FIELD.
Ohio
By E. J. Van Horn
LAKE VIEW.—For the last four weeks I have been holding a series of meetings in the Methodist Episcopal meeting-house, which is well lighted, and has a seating capacity of six hundred. The house would not hold all the people who came to some of the meetings. I spoke three times for the pastor, and was invited by him to take charge of one of his revival efforts. This I could not do at the time, owing to a call to a funeral and the interest of my meetings.
My wife and others who were present say that I never spoke with more plainness and with more power. Although I was occupying the pulpit of a popular minister and a popular church, I remembered that I was “not to spare,” but to speak plainly and with boldness. During these meetings I had a very large attendance of young people, and for several evenings I had seven school-teachers.
My new charts help very much in making the message plain. I have in all, about twenty charts, and although they have cost me much, they are well worth their cost.
The evenings when I spoke on the change of the Sabbath, and the United States in prophecy, with the use of my charts, it was generally admitted, “Surely this man is telling us the truth, for we can see it as well as hear it.” I am looking forward with much hope that great good will come from this series of meetings.
My health is good, and has been ever since the Lord healed me three years ago, at the time of our camp-meeting at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. To him be all the praise. My courage never was better in the Lord, nor my faith in the message stronger. E. J. VAN HORN.
Field Notes
ON Sabbath at the close of the week of prayer sixteen followed their Lord in baptism, and the next Sabbath six others took this important step, at Healdsburg, Cal.
FROM Indiana Brother F. M. Roberts reports three baptized and four united with the church at Terra Haute, and at Farmersburg four baptized and five united with the church.20
FOUR pupils of the small industrial school at Indiana, Pa., were recently baptized. A church had just been organized there.
As a result of the tent-meeting held in Turlock, Cal., by Brother H. C. Basney, ten were recently baptized, and a church of twenty-five members was organized.
BROTHER ALBERT C. ANDERSON reports that seven have taken their stand for the truth at Lead, S. D., since he began work there in May. Three others have been added by baptism.
MEETINGS were held about two weeks at Juniata, Ala., by Brother Sydney Scott, and nine took a stand for the truth, and twelve were added to the church. Then a few meetings at Montgomery resulted in two souls added to the number of those who believe and obey.
J. C. RAFT
By J. C. Raft
Denmark
I FEEL sure that you will be glad to hear from our small country of Denmark. The Lord is good to us, and we are of good courage. We all have as much as we can do, and the prospects for most of us are encouraging. Brethren Christiansen and Hansen are having fairly good interest in their meetings. Brother Muderspach is having an especially good interest at Aalborg. The house has a seating capacity of two hundred, yet many leave for want of room. We have now rented a larger hall. The audiences have been very attentive, and the Spirit of God is moving upon hearts. Last Sunday night we had about one thousand in attendance. The town is stirred, and the people are flocking in, praise the Lord!
PRIVATE HOUSE ON BEESTON STREET, WHERE VISITING BRETHREN WERE STAYING
Here in Randers the work is going nicely. I have rented the hall where we had our annual meeting last summer, and am holding three meetings a week. Sundays there are about three hundred in attendance, and the other two evenings from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. I have never spoken to more attentive hearers, and I have never experienced more of God's blessing.
The canvassing work is also going well—quite a little ahead of what it was last year. Some of our canvassers are now leaving for the mission school at Nyhyttan; but others are entering the ranks. The prospects are good. As for the Nyhyttan school, everything promises well, as far as Denmark is concerned.
J. C. RAFT
Ask Me of Things to Come
“Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” Isa. 45: 11.
Atlantic Union Conference
By I. H. Evans
Received on the $150,000 Fund
Up to Jan. 29, 1907
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England Conf. ........$ 370.29
Chesapeake Conference ............ 20.22
Eastern Pennsylvania Conf. ...... 70.78
Greater New York Conference..... 76.50
Maine Conference ................ 26.22
New Jersey Conference .......... 158.50
New York Conference ............ 585.50
Southern New England Conf. ..... 323.56
Vermont Conference ............. 346.76
Virginia Conference ............. 55.00
Western Pennsylvania Conf. ..... 161.15
West Virginia Conference ........ 54.11
Western New York Conf. .......... 16.00
Total .........................$2,264.59
East Michigan Conference ....$ 384.17
Indiana Conference ........... 1,580.71
North Michigan Conference...... 76.25
Northern Illinois Conference .. 686.15
Ohio Conference ............... 289.62
Southern Illinois Conference.. 444.46
West Michigan Conference ..... 441.25
Wisconsin Conference ........ 1,192.30
Total .........................$5,094.91
North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified ......$248.35
British Columbia Conference.... 10.00
Montana Conference ............. 59.45
Upper Columbia Conference ...... 24.75
Western Washington Conference . 186.00
Idaho Conference ............... 33.65
Western Oregon Conference ...... 82.13
Total ..........................$644.33
Northern Union Conference
Alberta Conference .............$ 58.80
Manitoba Conference ............. 64.00
Saskatchewan Mission Field ...... 5.85
Minnesota Conference .......... 1,256.29
South Dakota Conference ........ 503.22
North Dakota Conference ........ 662.63
Total .........................$2,550.79
Pacific Union Conference
Arizona Conference ............$ 10.00
California-Nevada Conference .. 170.09
Southern California Conf. ...... 45.05
Utah Conference ................ 10.00
Total ..........................$235.14
Australia .....................$122.45
China ........................... 3.00
South Africa .................. 128.16
Jamaica ........................ 3.17
Yukon Territory ................. 10.00
England ....................... 249.65
Gold Coast, West Africa ........ 10.00
Mexico .......................... 1.50
Costa Rica ...................... 1.00
India ........................... 9.60
South America .................. 23.35
Switzerland ..................... 5.81
Panama .......................... 1.00
Total ..........................$568.69
Grand Total ..................$15,464.18
All remittances should be made to the treasurer of the State conference wherein the remitter resides. If, for any reason, this is not possible, then remittance should be made to I. H. Evans, Treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., and not to the Review and Herald Publishing Association.
I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.
Current Mention.
— Scarlet fever and diphtheria are epidemic in Chicago, 145 new cases of the former and forty of the latter being recently reported in a single day.
— Henri des Houx has organized in France the “Apostolic Catholic Church,” which has been accepted by the French government as a cultural association, but is denounced by Vatican authorities as non-Catholic.
— In these columns, under date of January 24, it was reported that forty persons perished by tidal wave on the island of Simalu, East Indies. Later advices report that this island, lying off the northwest coast of Sumatra, has almost disappeared, and that fully 1,500 persons lost their lives in the tidal wave. Violent earthquake shocks continued to be felt for several days.
— The Senate has passed a resolution requiring the Secretary of Commerce to investigate the lumber trade of the country, and report the causes of the high prices of lumber. Particular inquiry is to be made as to whether there is any corporation intended to operate in restraint of trade.
— Dr. Hal W. Foster, of Kansas City, Mo., has discovered a new local anesthetic. He recently successfully operated on four patients who were perfectly conscious while under the knife. The dangers of administering chloroform and ether will be done away with if the new anesthetic is a success.
— At the annual meeting of the Washington humane society the president reported that during the year 1,997 persons had been prosecuted for cruelty to animals, chiefly horses and cattle. From these prosecutions 1,942 convictions had resulted. They had remedied the troubles of 26,801 other animals without prosecuting the owners.
— Recent conferences between the President, his cabinet, and certain members of Congress seem to indicate that the strained relations with Japan are more serious than generally supposed. The mayor and school board of San Francisco have been summoned to Washington for a conference over the separation of the Japanese pupils from the public schools of San Francisco.
— Professor de Martens, of St. Petersburg University, has recently started on a tour of the capitals of various countries, on a confidential mission to ascertain the views of the powers in reference to the program and date of the next peace conference at The Hague. He says the czar is willing again to discuss the subject of disarmament if it is agreeable to the powers that rejected it in 1899.
— Disastrous mine explosions have lately been numerous. January 23 an explosion occurred at Primero, Colo., entombing twenty men; similarly about 300 of the 600 men were caught 2,300 feet below the surface in a mine at St. Johann, Rhenish Prussia, on the twenty-ninth; on the same day an explosion occurred near Thurmond, W. Va., by which seventy men are known to have lost their lives.
— The Interstate Commerce Commission recently submitted to Congress a report relative to the Standard Oil Company. This corporation is accused of receiving secret rates, of corruption of the press, bribery, extortion, and the deliberate ruin of its competitors. It is charged with having sold oil of different grades at different prices, from the same barrel; with having bought the trade secrets of the independents, and having tampered with oil inspectors in different States. The commission states that if it is true, the competitive methods of this corporation in the past have been not only unfair, but disreputable. Its motto has been the destruction of competition at any cost, and this policy has been pursued without much reference to decency or conscience.
