Earlier text: The Singing HeartCatholic Federation Legislative Influence
By C. M. S.
The American Federation of Catholic Societies
THE American Federation of Catholic Societies is intensely alive to the legislation proposed in this country, and in other places where this government might, through its influence, control or restrict legislation in the interests of the Catholic Church. This was made very plain in the annual reports of both the president and the secretary of the organization. President Feeny reported that the organization had made an earnest effort to defeat a bill pending before Congress which would make it more difficult for illiterate immigrants to come into the United States. The reason for the opposition of this Catholic society to the bill in question is that these illiterates are very largely from the ports of southern Europe, where Catholicism prevails, and therefore are predominantly Catholics. Should the hosts of illiterate Catholics from southern Europe be denied admission to the United States, it would mean that Rome's progress both in numbers and in the accomplishment of her aims would be much less rapid than it is now. Therefore the church will leave nothing undone that she can do to defeat all legislation of that character. The more illiterate the immigrant, the more easily he is controlled by the priesthood. Mr. Feeny's report also detailed how a bill passed by the legislature of the Philippines on the sixth of last December had been held tabled and defeated in the executive commission through the influence of the American Federation of Catholic Societies with those standing at the head of the government of the United States. In addition to this, the secretary's report revealed how a similar bill which was to be introduced into the legislature of Cuba was being attacked by this organization in the United States. Concerning this matter the secretary says:— One of the proposed measures was to nullify and make illegal all marriages7 performed by the priest, and the introduction of divorce. Your national secretary conferred with the apostolic delegate, now Cardinal Falconio, on this matter, and was advised to write to the bishop of Havana, Cuba, for particulars and suggestions. Bishop Estrada advised that the Federation take up the matter with the President of the United States and Cardinal Gibbons. In his letter to the national secretary, he said, among other things:— “A letter addressed to the President of the United States, making known to him the disgust felt by all fair-minded Americans at the idea of persecuting the church and depriving the Cuban people of their legitimate desires, and asking him to write to our president here, will do much good. Cardinal Gibbons, I am sure, would lend a helping hand in this affair.” The matter was carefully taken up, and Federation has been advised that a special emissary was sent to Cuba to look into the matter. The bishop of Havana again wrote the Federation:— The divorce bill and the bills to take away the validity of canonical marriage have not yet been considered. I fear, however, that the matter will be taken up as soon as the election period is over, and the enemies of the church get time to harm us. For this reason I should ask the Federation to prove as interested in our future welfare as it proved in the past, and I will keep you informed. It can easily be seen from these incidents how the government of the United States is made a party to the advancement of the interests of the Catholic Church, not only in America, where the government has jurisdiction, but also in Cuba, where it has no legitimate jurisdiction. In this matter the Church of Rome has not hesitated to ask the chief executive of the United States to interfere in the legislation and in the domestic concerns of a sister republic, whose independence she has acknowledged on paper. Neither the President of the United States nor the ruler of any other nation would permit the executive of another country to interfere in the domestic affairs of his nation. But if this published document of the Federation’s secretary states the matter as it is, that is what has been done toward Cuba; and the closing statement in the Cuban bishop’s letter indicates that he expects the Federation will continue to influence the American President, whoever he may be, to interfere in Cuban legislation in the future as in this case. The bishop’s letter indicates that if the proposed legislation should pass, the people of Cuba would be deprived “of their legitimate desires;” therefore the President of the United States must interfere with the legislation enacted by the representatives of the Cuban people so that the Cuban people may have their legitimate desires. It is as if the president of the French republic should interfere with the passage of bills through our House of Representatives, so that the American people might have their legitimate desires. The American people are supposed to get their legitimate desires through their representatives in Congress, and not through the interference of the executive of some other nation. So it is in Cuba; and this work of the American Federation of Catholic Societies in inducing the United States executive to interfere in the domestic affairs of a sister republic shows to what lengths the Catholic Church will go to accomplish her ends, and what specious arguments she will use in that endeavor. Bishop McFaul, in explaining what kind of politics was involved in the work of the Federation, cited a concrete case as an illustration. A bill had been proposed in the New Jersey Legislature, the wording of which was displeasing to certain Catholics. They went to the committee having the bill in charge, and asked that the wording be changed. The committee refused to make the desired alteration. Immediately Bishop McFaul, who is a member of the Federation, summoned the executive board of the State branch of the Federation, and they went before the committee with this threat:— “We represent the Federated Catholic Societies of the State. We are opposed to the phraseology of that tax bill; we ask that it be changed, otherwise we will go back and report to our societies.” The reply was: “Gentlemen, for Heaven’s sake, don’t stir up a hornets’ nest on this question. What changes do you want? We will be very glad to make them.” That’s the sort of politics there is in Federation. And it certainly is high time that we began to know how to employ the prerogatives of American citizenship. That is not government by legislation, but government by demand and threat, and is entirely outside and contrary to the fundamental purposes of those who framed the government; and if carried to the extent to which they propose to carry it, it would be utterly subversive of republican form of government. There is nothing in the Constitution which even suggests government by that process. What this Federation will be able to accomplish in this country will depend very largely upon what its actual strength is. Concerning this Archbishop Messmer, of Milwaukee, says:— Federation can look back with pride upon the work it has accomplished. There are unfortunately far too many Catholics yet who do not understand the purposes of Federation, and know nothing of what it has done. Should they learn of Federation’s activities, they will confess, as others have done, that they were surprised to know that Federation has really accomplished so much. Federation is the strongest and most powerful organization in the United States to-day.—Secretary’s Annual Report. Upon this point Bishop McFaul says:— We are gradually approaching the consummation of our hopes, the unification of the Catholics of the United States. Federation now numbers close to 3,000,000 members.—Federation Souvenir, page 160. Such a union is desirable for the formation of an instrument which will always be ready to voice Catholic sentiment in the State and the nation. We may seldom need it, but when we do, we need it badly, and it must therefore be in such shape that we can immediately put our hand upon it, knowing that it is powerful enough to produce the required results.—Federation Souvenir, page 162. An idea of how the Federation will use that strength and power was given near the close of the secretary’s report in a quotation from an editorial in the Newark Monitor, which reads:— Federation is doing more to bring the different races together in concord and harmony than any other instrument yet devised. And should the occasion ever arise, the word whispered by its rulers will throb through millions of hearts for the protection of faith and fatherland. Religion and patriotism are Federation’s watchwords; they sum up its purposes; they show forth its ideals; they announce its final object. Federation does not crawl in slimy secrecy. It stands erect in the light of day. In a certain sense, Federation is in perpetual session. It is a hand that points the way; an uplifted arm to defend; a giant to swing its strength wherever the cause most needs it. Federation in its presentation to the public is declared to stand for loyalty to American institutions; but there is in the above utterances no breath of loyalty to anything but the Catholic Church and its interests, and wherever they are opposed by anything whatsoever, that “giant” is “to swing its strength.” Furthermore, “should the occasion ever arise,” as it is certain to do in the not distant future, “the word whispered by its rulers” will call into action the millions who belong to that organization, not for the defense of the Constitution or of the institutions of the American government, but for the accomplishment of whatever object the hierarchy may have in mind, without any reference to Constitution or law or equity. This organization Rome proposes to use as an engine of war upon whatever stands in the way of her ambition. Again and again did this Federation declare its “obedience” to the Holy See and to the representative of the Pope in America. A cablegram expressing that obedience was sent to the Pope before the conclusion of the convention. With such an organization in this country pledged to obedience to the prisoner of the Vatican, it is impossible but that the politics and the legislation of this country will very soon be largely8 dominated by that foreign influence; and when we know that the Roman hierarchy has declared itself opposed to the most fundamental principles of this government, we are not at a loss to divine the purposes of that organization or the chief objects of its attack. Lafayette said that "if ever the liberties of the republic of the United States are destroyed, it will be by Roman Catholic priests." He saw farther into the future than many Americans seem able to see; and there can be no question that this organization is being used and will continue to be used by Rome to thwart the purposes of the founders of this nation in regard to the liberties of the people. What Protestants are doing to help Rome attain her purpose in these matters will be considered in another article. Note and Comment
By Editor
THERE are some things pertaining to this world that to the ordinary mind are quite incomprehensible in a way. Take, for instance, some of the fortunes represented in the vast combinations of wealth in the present day. The Record-Herald speaks of this as follows:— A well-informed writer on financial topics quotes, as the best information available on the subject, an estimate of the fortunes possessed by nine very wealthy Americans, which is perhaps as good an estimate as can be made. At the head of the list is the name of John D. Rockefeller, undoubtedly the richest man in the country, and credited with the possession of $1,000,000,000. Next comes Andrew Carnegie, with $500,000,000. J. P. Morgan is rated at $300,000,000, and William Rockefeller, George F. Baker, James B. Duke, James Stillman, Henry C. Frick, and W. K. Vanderbilt are said to have fortunes ranging down from $250,000,000 to $150,000,000, in the order named. These colossal fortunes and scores of others very nearly their equal indicate that we have reached the time spoken of by the apostle James when men should heap up treasures for the last days. In contrast with this picture we have on every hand an increase of poverty and pauperism. The high cost of living is causing wide-spread and increasing discontent on the part of the laboring classes. A great industrial conflict is being waged continually. Its outbreaking we see occasionally in strikes, the destruction of property, and even of human life; but every day witnesses a growing tenseness and a deepening spirit of rivalry. Arbitration serves from time to time to avert a threatened clash, but this is proving continually less effective. Only as we look beyond this scene of turmoil and strife to the better day of universal peace that will be ushered in by the coming of Christ the Lord, do we find assurance of changed conditions. A Matter of Courtesy
By Editor
Under the heading "A Matter of Courtesy" one of our valued exchanges, the Herald and Presbyter, in its issue of Aug. 21, 1912, complains of the discourtesy often shown the Presbyterian Church through the unwillingness of some of its sister churches who believe in immersion to receive into their communion as full-fledged members those who have been poured or sprinkled. The determination of this question depends upon the viewpoint. On our part we do not see how those churches that believe baptism to be a cardinal Christian doctrine, and that the only Scriptural mode of baptism is by immersion, can permit to enter their membership those who have not received this ordinance. We are quite willing to admit that there are good Christian people in every church. We believe there are many who have accepted the counterfeit of baptism for the true method who know the Lord and are the recipients of his saving grace. They have acted in good faith, and God has accepted them. We believe, however, that with respect to the question of baptism they are greatly in error, and that before they should be received into the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they should be instructed with reference to what the Scriptures of truth teach regarding the subject. Nor could we feel that we were lacking in courtesy in requiring this of these seekers. In fact, we should consider it not only an act of discourtesy, but injustice as well if we knew them to be in error, and failed, kindly and in a Christian spirit, to set before them what we believe the Scriptures of truth require in the way of Christian experience. Romanism in the Protestant Press
By Editor
THE persistence with which the Roman Catholic Church is seeking to advance its own interests, and its attempted encroachments upon the liberties of a free people, continue to be the subject of much discussion in the leading Protestant journals. We present herewith9 several clippings which we have made during the last few days from some of the church journals that have come to our office. Says the Lutheran Observer in its issue of Aug. 30, 1912:— It can not fail to be recognized that at the present time there is an anti-Catholic agitation in this country of more general and determined character than has existed since the days of the Know-nothings. It can not be attributed merely to the avowed anti-Catholic journals, and its present proportions preclude the idea that it is all the result of frightened bigotry. Sober journals whose spirit is the furthest removed from the sensational, are discussing the situation as holding a real menace, demanding recognition and careful attention. If there is no organized and matured plan on the part of the Roman Church to secure unusual rights, if not supremacy in the United States, the circumstantial evidence to that effect is such as would convict a defendant in any court in the world, and the utterances of her own papers would confirm the verdict. Catholics themselves are responsible for the drawing of religious lines by their insistence on the recognition of Catholics as such. The pretensions of the new-made cardinals and the flaunting by them of claims never ventured by Cardinal Gibbons, have had a tremendous effect. The claims of the Indian schools, and conducting them as though still under church control; the exploiting of the Catholic vote, and the pushing forward of Catholics politically as Catholics,—all have their effect. The placing of an Italian plenipotentiary of the Pope in Washington has accentuated the impression. If Rome has not the intentions credited to her, she has herself to blame for the belief that she has. If the intentions are real, the present agitation is essential to the future well-being of the nation. It is not bigotry, but the instinct of self-preservation. It is not fighting a man because of his religion, but a powerful organized body. The editor of the Christian Standard (Cincinnati, Ohio), in his paper of Aug. 31, 1912, makes the following sweeping charges with reference to the Papacy and the influence of its work:— Those who have even a slight acquaintance with history know the bloody record of the Papacy in its century-long struggle to crush out every vestige of civil and religious liberty. In every country where it has had the power, it has resorted to the most cruel and diabolic means to destroy these liberties, which we Americans regard as our chief national glory. To this end it has not only usurped political authority, corrupted governments, and destroyed civil institutions, but, knowing instinctively that intelligence is its deadliest peril, it has used every means to keep the people in ignorance and superstition. By keeping the people in dense ignorance, the Papacy has been able the more readily to play upon their superstitious fears, and extort from them the huge sums required for the enrichment of the clergy, and for filling the Vatican treasury. Wherever it has been dominant, it has worked so successfully upon these fears, and so multiplied terrors for the subordinate, that it has reduced the people to extreme and pitiable poverty. In lands where the Papacy has long had sway, illiteracy, superstition, and poverty are the common lot. After speaking of the efforts of the papal church to gain for its people recognition in the United States, and of the manner in which the government officials have given their influence to this propaganda, citing particularly the Thanksgiving service held two years ago in St. Patrick's Church, in Washington, and the field mass attended by leading government officials, the editor continues:— Many other instances might be given of impudent meddling with our public affairs, and undue influence exerted upon our public servants, by this hoary nightmare of nations, the Papacy. These, coupled with the occasional boasts of some who have high seats in the hierarchical synagogue, that Roman Catholics will soon control America, forces upon patriotic Americans an exhaustive inquiry as to what manner of thing it is. Will it undermine our free institutions; subordinate the state to the church; forbid all worship except the Roman Catholic; destroy our public schools; and hand us over to those tax-gatherers of a foreign power, the priests? It has done these things wholesale in other lands and in past times, but is there not something in our American atmosphere which can change the leopard's spots? The editor feels that these efforts on the part of Rome are not being sensed by the people of this country, and proposes to undertake the work of their enlightenment:— Many of our citizens, blinded by partizanship, or drowsy with the narcotic of indifference to public affairs, idiotically (the Greeks called one who took no interest in public affairs an idiot) conclude that this particular man-eater leopard has changed his spots. Many look with imperfect vision and ask, "Is there really a Roman Catholic peril?" For the clearing of the vision of such, we propose to look into the history of this ancient institution and discover the principles that control it. We shall examine the Papacy during the last hundred years, and see if it has changed in essence or aims since the middle ages. In our next we shall consider the rise and progress of the Jesuit order. The Northwestern Christian Advocate of Aug. 21, 1912, contains a report from the Rev. J. T. Wardle Stafford, D. C., British fraternal delegate, of his visit to the American Wesleyan Methodist Conference. Reviewing some of the conditions existing in America and the influences to be observed in the religious life of the people, he says regarding the Roman Catholic Church:— No man can be a good Romanist and at the same time a friend of the liberties of the people. The center of all interest for the honest Catholic is neither Washington nor Westminster, but Rome. Romanism and republicanism are at opposite ends of the pole. The Roman prelate claims not merely the lordship of the church, but the lordship of every government on the face of the earth. An infallible pope can have no sympathy with the audacious dreams of a young nation. The prophets of the States are wide awake to the insidious efforts of the Roman Church to control the politics of America. They know that such control would spell the death of American patriotism. Nothing has done so much to weaken the influence of President Taft, himself a good man and in faith a Unitarian, as his constant flirting with Rome. Says the United Presbyterian of July 4, 1912:— We are not indifferent to the significance of certain facts and tendencies. The hostility of the Roman Catholic Church to our public-school system is all too apparent, while its clergy have not the least hesitation in declaring that their parochial schools should be supported by the state. The Roman hierarchy, heedless of the stern lessons of history, seems unable to resist the temptation to seek after political power. The recent action of Cardinal O'Connell in claiming precedence over Governor Foss, and the comments of the Catholic press thereon, would seem to indicate that there is concerted effort to gain an official governmental recognition of certain prelates, and to establish the Roman Church in a position of official superiority. We have fairly well-defined ideas as to what this venerable ecclesiastical imperium might do in the United States if it had the power. The Christian Standard of June 22, 1912, quoting the Catholic Telegraph, in which Speaker Clark and Cardinal Gibbons were referred to as "America's two grand old men," says:— Why this strange classification? Has it occurred to any one to refer to Bishop J. M. Buckley and Mr. Cannon as "two grand old men"? Would it occur to any one to make such a comparison? Only a politician working for political support would classify a prelate with a statesman as is here done. The reference would jingle pleasingly to Catholics; evidence the fact that the Telegraph seizes upon it as a sweet morsel at once. This is the very thing Catholics desire, the association of their dignitaries with officers of state. In a little while it will be taken as a matter of course, by blind Americans; there will then be little distinction between officers of state and officers of the church. Then presently the two can be merged, as has once been done. CHRISTIANITY is in the greatest peril when it seeks an alliance with the state, or lowers its standard by compromising with false religions or worldly influences. That this temptation confronts Christianity in Japan is evident from the efforts now being made by the false religious systems of that country to effect a basis of cooperation with the religion of Christ. The Christian Observer of Aug. 28, 1912, speaks regarding this effort of heathenism:— A serious situation exists in the attitude of Japan toward Christianity. The Japan Advertiser, of Tokio, is authority for a statement that the proposed "new religion for that country is to be in the nature of a rapprochement between Shintoism, Buddhism, and Christianity," and that it will include among other things the introduction of religious teaching in the public schools. For many centuries Shintoism and Buddhism have existed in Japan as distinct religions, and the project for combining them with Christianity can not be regarded as promising success. The attitude of Japan clearly indicates that both Shintoism and Buddhism have failed to satisfy the religious needs of the soul. The Japanese effort to combine Christianity with these two forms of heathenism must, of necessity, result in failure. There are so many points at which Christianity antagonizes every form of so-called religion that even the ingenuity of the Japanese will prove incapable of bringing about an amalgamation of Christianity with their ancestral faiths. Principles and Methods of Christian Stewardship
At the recent general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the following principles of Christian stewardship were adopted as a part of the Methodist discipline:— 1. God is the giver and is the absolute owner of all things. 2. Under grace, man is a steward, and the steward holds and administers that which he has as a sacred trust. 3. God's ownership and man's stewardship are best evidenced by the systematic application of a portion of income to the advancement of the kingdom. 4. Biblical and extra-Biblical history point to the setting aside of the tenth of the income as a minimum, and indicate a divine sanction of the practise and the amount. 5. There should be careful, intelligent, personal, and prayerful consideration of the uses to be made of the money thus regularly set aside. This will require study not only of the local situation, but also of the missionary and benevolent work of the church. 6. Consistent use of the balance of the income not set aside. As aids in carrying out these principles, the following methods are suggested:— 1. Actual or constructive separation of the proportion of income which complies with the foregoing principles. 2. A pledge in writing, in advance, of the amounts to be applied to the regular work of the church (current expenses, missions, and benevolence). 3. A weekly payment of the amount so subscribed, deposited as an act of worship at a public service. 4. Payments from time to time, out of the sums set aside, but not previously pledged, to special causes as may be desired. 5. The plan of keeping a separate "Lord's treasury" is recommended for those who can not attend the services of the church. 6. Free-will offerings or thank-offerings. Naval Review in the North River
"Features of the great naval review in the North River in October have now been arranged by the Navy Department. The fleet will comprise 32 battle-ships, 4 armored cruisers, 4 cruisers, 20 vessels of special type, 8 fuel ships, 26 destroyers, 17 torpedo-boats, and nine submarines, making a total of 120 ships of all classes, with a total displacement of 736,644 tons. The naval militia has been invited by Secretary Meyer to participate. It is expected all the craft will be assembled by the evening of October 12." The Armenian Mission Field
By Z. G. Baharian
THE two small cities of Haini and Lidjeh are in the province of Diarbekir. Last year on my way from Mush to Diarbekir, I had stopped two days in a village near Lidjeh. Some one led me to Lidjeh, saying that I could see there several Protestants. I met these people, and two days later spoke to them about our message, and left a few tracts to be studied. After my departure they studied them, and some have been convinced of the truth. While we were holding our general meeting in Bardizag, I received a letter from them, asking me to come to them soon. As I could not go then, I wrote to our laborer in Malatia, Brother B. Touzjian, to visit them. He responded, and went to see them. At first he stopped at Haini, where he found two Protestant churches. After proclaiming the message to them, he passed over to Lidjeh. He worked for these persons in Lidjeh, and two began keeping the Sabbath. He writes as follows:— "Brother Thomas (the local elder of one of the churches here, who is also a builder) kept the last Sabbath together with Brother Donabed and myself, and at once Satan tried to raise a persecution in an unexpected way. Brother Thomas's son and his brother's sons, also several others from Haini, hearing that he kept the Sabbath, called at our room and found him studying the Bible. They at once went out and stirred his coworkers against him, saying, 'As he will do so, and work on Sunday, how can you labor together? It is better you stop working now and go to Haini, that he may be left in a straitened condition.' These coworkers being young and without experience, listened to this counsel, and left. They also found Thomas, and tried to persuade him to come back, setting before him the loss of his honor, and entreating him to delay his obedience at least two months more. But he gave them his clear-cut answer, and rebuked them because they tried to separate him from God's Word. "Thomas was indeed left in a difficult situation, because he had bargained to build a house, receiving money in advance, and just at the beginning his coworkers drew back to put him to shame. Upon this sorrow was added a letter from Haini stating the sad condition of his wife and his children and his relatives, and inviting him to Haini for a few days. This letter troubled him more, but he answered not. A few days passed, and lo, his coworkers returned and began to work again. So these were days of sorrow and trouble, but of good occasion for prayer." One Sunday Brother Touzjian was out in the street, and heard a crowd talking about the Sabbath. Going near to them, he saluted them, but they would not listen. He spoke to them kindly to quiet their anger, but seeing no benefit would come, he went away and found another gathering, but was given no opportunity to speak. On his return he met the former crowd, which now showed willingness to hear him. While he was talking, there came in two men who began to make disturbance, and to urge a policeman to stop Brother Touzjian's talking, but he refused, saying: "There is liberty now. Everybody is free to speak or to hear. If you do not wish to hear, you may go away." As Brother Touzjian was leaving the place later, the children began to cry out after him, "Gholo!" "Gholo!" that is, Satan! Satan! Brother Touzjian returned to Haini and spent eight days talking with nearly all the people. On Sunday morning he preached in the Congregational church about the second advent of Christ. He was invited to preach that afternoon also, but some opposed, so he was prevented. He left Haini, as it was a busy time for the people. We expect a good harvest next winter. So the message is arresting the attention of the people, and souls are being gained for the kingdom of God. Glory to his name! Kara Hissar, Sharki, Asia Minor. A New Union Conference in Southeastern Europe
By L. R. Conradi
IN view of the large area of the East German Union Conference and the rapid growth of the work in Hungary and the Balkan States, the General Conference Committee in Europe, after seeking the advice of Elder A. G. Daniells, proposed a division of this field, and the organization of the southeastern portion under the name of the Danube Union. The East German Union Committee heartily agreed to this proposition, and, accordingly, a meeting was called at Budapest, July 9-14, to effect the organization. Budapest is the leading city in this field. It has a population of nearly one million. It is really a twin city, separated by the beautiful Danube, Buda being on the western, and Pest on the eastern bank of the river. The meetings were held in the very edge of Buda, where a nice lot had been secured, on which two large tents (that Captain Christiansen had made) and several small tents were pitched. On arriving upon the grounds, we found all the fields well represented, about one hundred fifty attending the meeting; and on the Sabbath there were two hundred present. Besides the local men, Elders H. F. Schuberth, J. G. Oblaender, and G. Dail, and Brother Boex, and the writer, were present.11 At the opening session about forty delegates took their seats, representing fully all the fields of the union. All felt grateful indeed to the Lord that such an important step could be taken. This new union has a population of about 37,000,000, and in territory it is larger than the East German or West German or future Central European Unions. There are two conferences, the Transylvanian and Central Hungarian, both of which are in Hungary; then six mission fields, — North Hungary, West Hungary, Rumani, Bulgaria, the Adriatic, and the Theiss-Save Mission. All these fields are supplied with good leaders, and they are in a growing and prosperous condition. The best evidence of their development is the report of the last half-year. At the close of 1911 these fields had a net membership of 1,393. By July 1, 1912, their membership had risen to 1,581, a net increase of 188 members in six months. By the time the organization goes into full operation, Jan. 1, 1913, they undoubtedly will have a membership of about 1,700. In these meetings quite a number of languages had to be used. The business and the minutes were rendered in German and Hungarian, while there were translations going on in various parts of the tent into the Rumanian, Servian, and Croatian. Sixteen of our brethren from Rumania were in attendance. The business meetings were characterized by a spirit of unity and a desire to work in harmony with the great spirit of our people throughout the world. The resolutions passed not only expressed gratitude to God for all his goodness in building up the work in this field, but our people also pledged to support and sustain the home work with their tithe and the foreign work with their gifts. Hearty thanks were rendered to the brethren of the East German Union, who had turned their second tithe to the building up of this field, in addition to supplying it with a number of strong workers. When the East German Union turns the financial support of this union over to the European Division of the General Conference the first of next January, it will give with it the second tithe, which will enable the European Division to look after these fields without directly increasing its financial burden. While the two conferences and the Rumanian Mission are self-supporting, the other missions and the union will need about $9,800 appropriations for 1913. The tithe in the entire union has trebled during the last three years, amounting to $10,415 for 1911; so this new union, with the appropriations, will have about $20,000 for carrying on its work in 1913. Its working force at the close of the first quarter, 1912, was composed of thirteen ordained ministers, fifteen licentiates, twenty Bible workers, and one other worker — forty-nine altogether. Elder J. F. Huenergardt, who has been laboring in Hungary so many years, and who has fully acquired the Hungarian tongue, and is also well acquainted with the conditions in the Balkan States, was unanimously chosen as union president. Elder August Doerner, who has had a good experience in the Hamburg House as well as in the field, was chosen secretary of the union, of the tract society, and of the Sabbath-school department. The treasury remains in Hamburg, but the branch office in Budapest will serve as the subtreasury. The new union committee is composed of nine members, including the heads of the conferences, mission fields, and Hamburg Branch House at Budapest, and Elder O. Luepke, of the Friedensau School. Considerable time was given to instruction in church duties, in educating the workers, and instructing the new officers. Brother Boex gave a good deal of his attention to helping the canvassers. The East German Union has just voted them a good German general agent to develop the canvassing work. They have forty canvassers, but this number is fast increasing. The new branch of the Hamburg House already has its hands full. The Hungarian paper has increased its monthly circulation to 15,000, and the Servian quarterly to 10,000. As larger books appear in these various languages, we feel certain there will be a rapid growth in the canvassing work. The evening meetings, which were conducted in connection with illustrated lectures, were well attended, the interest growing steadily. Several reporters took notes, and at the close of the meeting quite a long favorable report appeared in one of the leading papers of the capital, which tended to increase the attendance. Several ministers remained on the ground to follow up, in both the Hungarian and the German tongue, the interest that had been created. The Central Hungarian Conference had its session in connection with the union meeting. Elder Huenergardt was unanimously chosen president of that field, which includes Budapest, and has a population of about 4,000,000. When a call was made to raise the mission offerings, some 2,400 kroner were pledged and raised in cash for this purpose. There was also a liberal Sabbath-school offering. The Sabbath was a most excellent day. It was a time of revival and seeking the Lord. In the afternoon Brethren Mantu, of Rumania, and J. Murbach, of the West Hungarian mission field, were ordained to the gospel ministry. The occasion was one of special blessing, as was shown by the many hearty testimonies of praise in the social meeting that immediately followed. We would especially invite the attention of all our brethren to our periodicals in the Hungarian, Rumanian, Bohemian, and Servian tongues. In the States there are many speaking these languages, and a very little effort would interest numbers of them in the good literature presenting the message in their mother tongue. Our Hungarian paper is a monthly, called Utolso Uzenet (The Last Message); Semnele Timpului (Signs of the Times) is our Rumanian monthly; Hlasatel Pravdy (Herald of Truth) is our monthly periodical for the Bohemians and Slovaks; and the quarterly Servian paper is known as Poslednja Objawa (Last Message). Any one interested in missionary work among his friends and neighbors who use any of these languages, would do well to correspond with his tract society about these publications, or to write directly either to the Hamburg Publishing House, Grindelberg 15a, Hamburg, or to our Budapest Branch, Vallasos iratok nemzetközi Kiadóhivatal, Váczi körút 16, I. Et., Tur 41, Budapest, V., Hungary. It is our sincere hope that our brethren everywhere will remember in their sympathies and prayers the work and workers in this new union, whose territory includes Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Servia, and Montenegro, where there is one of the most promising and needy fields in Europe, beseeching the Lord to richly bless all that is being done for the advancement of the third angel's message in these dark lands. Out of the Night
By Pearl Waggoner
DAY had departed; the night had descended,
Casting its mantle of darkness o'er all,
Joining the day's unfilled longings and failings,
Weaving a spell like a funeral pall. Looking abroad o'er the slumbering hamlet,
Fighting regrettings, and failure, and doubt,
Where is the light that can lessen the shadow,
Deeper within than the shadows without? Looking above at the star-dotted heavens,
Thinking of Him who such host could create,
Might it not be one so small, so all-worthless,
Needs is unnoticed by One so all-great? Out of infinitude, out of the silence,
Came there a voice speaking peace to my heart:
"Hills may remove, or the stars cease their shining,
Yet shall my kindness from thee ne'er depart." Wonderful, loving, long-suffering Saviour!
Was there e'er seen such a patience divine?
Mighty to save, and of love everlasting!
Wonder of wonders, this Saviour is mine!