No. 172 in the new edition of “Christ in Song” was the opening hymn.
H. W. Cottrell offered prayer.
A. G. Daniells: We closed the morning meeting in the midst of the admission of union conferences that have been organized since the 1905 Conference. The next on the list is the South American Union. Elder Westphal has just arrived, and will make the request.
Brother Westphal then presented a request that the South American Union Conference be admitted to the General Conference. A motion to admit was unanimously carried.
A. G. Daniells: The next is the West Indian Union. Elder Bender, president of that conference, will tell us about it.
Elder Bender then made formal request for the admission of the West Indian Union, stating that the conference was organized in 1906. It has six local conferences, and includes the West Indian Islands, with the Guianas, Venezuela, the United States of Colombia, Panama, and all Central America.
A. G. Daniells: The next is the Russian Union. We thank the Lord that Russia has been united in this work and comes to us as one of our unions. Elder Boettcher, the president, will present the request.
J. T. Boettcher (reading): To the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference assembled at Washington, D. C., May 13 to June 6, 1909, greetings:—
In October, 1907, the Russian Union Conference, which had heretofore been a part of the territory of the German Union Conference, was duly organized, the organization to go into effect Jan. 1, 1908. Elder L. R. Conradi, representing the General Conference, was present.
The territory of this union includes European and Asiatic Russia, excepting the grand duchy of Finland, with a population of 148,442,000. The union is composed of the following fields: The Caucasian, the Baltic, and the South Russian conferences, and the Middle Russian, West Russian, Little Russian, Siberian, and Central Asian missions.
As a union we respectfully request that the Russian Union Conference be admitted into the sisterhood of union conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and that our five delegates be allowed to take their seats at this session of the General Conference.
A motion to adopt this request was unanimously carried.
Elder L. Tieche, president of the Latin Union Conference, presented a request that this union conference, having 24 churches and a membership of 963, be admitted to the General Conference.
A motion to admit this conference was unanimously adopted.
Elder E. L. Stewart then presented a request for admission from the Western Canadian Union Conference. This conference has a present membership of 817.
Upon motion this union conference was admitted.
The Columbia Union Conference sent in a request for admission, which was read by the president of the union, Elder G. B. Thompson.
Motion to admit was unanimously adopted.
Elder W. A. Westworth, president of the Southeastern Union Conference, read a request for the admission of that conference to the General Conference.
Upon motion, the request was granted, and the conference admitted.
The District of Columbia Conference, newly organized, composed of five churches and two companies, applied for admission to the General Conference, through B. G. Wilkinson, its president. Since its organization in February the Columbia Union, of which it should naturally be a part, has had no meeting; so in order to be represented at this session it must needs come in as a local conference, not a member of any union.
On motion it was received, and its delegates were seated:
A. G. Daniells: Next will be a report from the European division of our field. Elder Conradi will now present his report.
Before presenting his report Elder Conradi called for a quartet by delegates from Great Britain.
Report of the European Division of the General Conference
L. R. CONRADI, VICE-PRESIDENT FOR EUROPE
Nearly three thousand years ago the prophet counseled the Israel of God: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left. . . . For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isa. 54: 2-5.
Growth of the Work
When, in 1863, the first General Conference was held, we had some 3,500 believers and a tithe of about $8,000. The following year the brethren were strongly entreated to send a missionary to Europe, but they felt unable. However, the missionary went back to the Old World, where Christian Sabbath-keepers had never been lacking since the days of the apostles, and where, immediately after the disappointment of 1844, some began to keep the Sabbath in southern Germany, and where some others had by this time begun its observance in Prussia, simply from reading the Bible. A company of believers was soon raised up in French Switzerland, and in May, 1869, Elder Erzenberger was sent as their first delegate, and he remained in America until March, 1870, to represent Europe for the first time at a General Conference. Later the same year another delegate was sent; but it was not until 1874 that the Macedonian cry was heeded, when we had over 7,000 Sabbath-keepers in the States, and an income of more than $31,000 tithe; and with his being sent, the offerings to missions set in, beginning with $5,000, which revealed possibilities heretofore unthought of by our people. Elder J. N. Andrews left for Central Europe in 1874, Elder Matteson followed for Scandinavia in 1877, and Elder J. N. Loughborough for England one year later. In 1880 our first missionary, a European, left for Africa, where he and some of his helpers met death in the massacre of Alexandria, in 1882. That same year our first missionary was imprisoned in Sweden, and in 1886 two missionaries were imprisoned in Russia, at the time of the organization of our first Russian church. In 1889 one of our missionaries working in Europe, entered Asiatic Russia.
European Conferences
In 1889 the work was begun at Hamburg; in 1891 both the German and the Russian mission fields were organized; in 1893 the mission property in Hamburg was purchased, to which the publishing work was removed from Basel in 1897. In 1890 the Pacific Press established a branch house at London. Although the membership rapidly increased on the Continent, yet organization of other fields was retarded till in 1898, when the German Conference was founded, with about 1,500 members. While Elders Irwin and Moon were with us the same year, a European Union Conference was organized, consisting of four main parts.16In 1901 two German conferences, the first Russian conference, and the German Union Conference were organized. In 1902, while Elder Daniells was with us, two conferences and a union conference were organized in Great Britain, and a fourth conference in Germany. In 1903 the Scandinavian Union followed, and in 1907 the Latin Union (and the French) conferences, and in 1908 the Russian Union, were organized. There are now in the European division, five fully organized unions, a union mission field, 24 conferences, and 28 mission fields; of these, one conference and four mission fields are in Asia, and five missions in Africa.
Training-Schools
As to the training of workers: At first we held institutes of a few months’ duration; but in 1889 a more permanent school was opened at Hamburg, which was transferred to Friedensau in 1899, where it still serves as the training center for the German and Russian unions. From 1894-97 the Frydenstrand High School was in operation; and this was followed in 1899 by Nyhyttan, and in 1908 by the Scandinavian Union school, at Skodsborg. The Duncombe Hall College began its existence in London in 1901, and since 1907 has its permanent quarters at Stanborough Park. In 1905 a Latin Union school was opened in Gland. There are about 350 students enrolled in the European schools at present. Three of the schools have their own buildings, another is nearly completed, and the fourth will be erected this year. There are about $90,000 invested in educational buildings, and a Russian Union school is planned for. Some thirty teachers are employed.
Medical Work
Our medical work commenced at Basel and Skodsborg about 1896; later on, Frydenstrand began to be used as a sanitarium; in 1901 the Friedensau Sanitarium was opened; in 1902 the Caterham Sanitarium was purchased, and in 1905 the work of the Basel Sanitarium was transferred to Gland. There are now seven sanitariums and four health homes, supplying accommodations for four hundred patients, and working in connection with them are five prosperous food factories. About $460,000 is invested in our health work. We have nine physicians, two hundred nurses, and in preparation for the medical work there are seven medical students attending European universities. Not only do we find our nurses laboring in Europe, but also at Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, Cairo, Algiers, Eritrea, and in German and British East Africa.
Publishing in Chassu
We have seven publishing houses and three branches, employing in all about 125 hands. There are 472 canvassers laboring under 12 general agents, and our sales for 1908 were $308,000, while for the four-year period they amounted to $935,000. We have invested in this department $302,000. We do only our own publishing, and our houses have been able not only to improve their facilities, but the Hamburg and London houses have contributed liberally to other missionary enterprises, in addition to doing a great deal of missionary publishing in various tongues. Our Hamburg publishing house has issued the first publication in the Chassu language, (East Africa), and expects to print the Gospels in that tongue this year. This language was first reduced to writing by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries; and their writings are the first to be printed by any publishing house in that tongue.
Evangelical Workers
As to the greatest department in our work—the ministerial and evangelical—we have now 116 ministers, 70 licentiates, and 195 Bible workers. These, with those engaged in office and treasury work, make a total of 435 workers, or nearly twice the number employed four years ago. Including the physicians, nurses, colporteurs, and teachers, we have a total of over 1,200 laborers of all classes who are engaged in the European division. Of these there are, in the Asiatic portion of the field, 8 ministers, 5 licentiates, and 12 Bible workers. In Africa there are 4 ordained missionaries, 11 licentiates, and 9 other workers, or 24 in all.
Work Self-Supporting
The work in Europe proper, with its 425,000,000 people, is more than self-sustaining, as we spend in our operations in Asia and Africa more than the $10,000 received from the Mission Board. Comparative statistics of the past four years with the previous four years will best show our growth:—
During the years 1900-04 there were received into the churches, by baptism, 4,900 members; by vote, 1,736 members; these paid a tithe of $256,805; Sabbath-school offerings, $19,446.50; weekly offerings, $4,923.30; annual offerings, $14,651.10; the book sales amounted to $295,825. In the years 1905-08 there were received into the churches, by baptism, 9,374; by vote, 1,738; the tithe paid was $539,072; Sabbath-school offerings amounted to $41,561.40; weekly offerings, $21,088.30; annual offerings, $31,806.30; the book sales amounted to $633,525.
Net Increase
Our net increase from 1900 to 1904 was from 7,000 to 11,028, or 4,028 members; and from 1905 to 1908 it was raised from 11,028 to 17,362, or 6,334 members; while our tithe for the two quadrennial periods more than doubled, and our offerings nearly trebled. The present membership of the European division equals the total membership of the denomination in 1883, and the tithe equals that of the denomination in 1888. The tithes and the offerings for 1900-04 amounted to $295,826, and for 1905-08 to $633,588. Sixteen of our conferences already pay a second tithe for the support of missionary work outside of their own borders; and this year a number of them gave, in addition to this, sums of $250 to $500 for missionary operations in other fields besides. None of our conferences or union conferences is financially involved.
Extent of the Work
Our work to-day extends from Lisbon and the Irish coast in the west to Charbin, Tarschkand, and Ararat in the east, and from Iceland and Lapland in the north to Nyassaland and the Kongo in the south; in other words, our stakes are being set up to the border of China, Korea, India, Persia, and the South African Union Conference, covering a territory that extends about 8,000 by 6,000 miles. There are to-day hundreds of believers in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Riga, and Copenhagen; there are strong churches in Petersburg, Christiania, Stockholm, Edinburgh, Paris, Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bucharest, Dresden, Cologne, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Breslau, Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Erfurt, The Hague; besides smaller churches at Constantinople, Prague, Eisenach, Jerusalem, Cairo, Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Budapest, Brussels, Amsterdam, Dublin, Moscow, Warsaw, etc.
Summing Up
But when we consider that there are over 535,000,000 people, or one third of the world’s inhabitants, living within the territory worked by the European division of the General Conference, we must confess that the work is only begun. Workers are called for everywhere, new fields in the three continents should be entered, the few workers in some portions should be increased, our schools enlarged, and our educational funds to help young people obtain a training for the work should be increased. Our publishing work needs urgent help to assist in getting out more publications adapted to our various fields, and to make translations into still other languages. Consecrated medical missionaries should be fitted to qualify for different countries.
We can not close without mentioning in tenderest remembrance our noble pioneers who have died in Africa and in Europe: Brother Sander, Brother Wunderlich, Dr. George, Brother Kueller, and Sister Ehlers.
The European field extends a hearty invitation to the General Conference to hold its coming biennial meeting in Europe, that the presence of the General Conference Committee may be a blessing to us, and that its members may also be blessed by coming in contact with so many of various nationalities, where God has a great work to be done. While we have lengthened our cords, and strengthened our stakes, we do honor our Maker as the true husband of the church, as the Redeemer of Israel, and as the God of the whole earth.
After the close of this report, a quartet from the German Union sang a hymn in German.
Meeting adjourned, with benediction by I. H. Evans.
A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman,
W. A. SPICER, Secretary.
Third Meeting
May 13, 7:45 P. M.
The third meeting of the Conference was called at 7:45 P. M., May 13, A. G. Daniells in the chair.
Prayer was offered by R. A. Underwood, and F. Griggs sang as a solo, “How Can I Keep from Singing?”
The Chairman stated that the constitution provided that the General Conference Committee should nominate to the Conference certain chairmen to preside in the sessions. He reported that the committee had nominated Brethren G. A. Irwin, L. R. Conradi, O. A. Olsen, and H. W. Cottrell to act with himself as chairmen during the session.
On motion, the nomination was unanimously approved.17
The Chairman asked the pleasure of the Conference as to the manner in which the standing committees of the session should be appointed.
It was voted that the General Conference Committee, of twenty-nine, be instructed to bring in nominations of standing committees to be submitted to the Conference.
The President of the General Conference then presented his quadrennial address. [This address was printed in full in the last REVIEW.—Ed.]
In presenting his quadrennial address, Elder A. G. Daniells added to the names of ministers who have been laid away during the period, Wm. Simpson, of California, Dexter A. Ball, of New York, and H. E. Rickard, of Canada. It was not the speaker’s intention to go beyond the list of ministerial laborers, but mention was made in after remarks of Miss Marian Davis, for years a valued worker with Sister White; of Mrs. Nora Haysmer Anderson, who sleeps in Africa; and of Mrs. E. T. Nowlen, of Central America. Another laborer, in business lines, E. A. Chapman, of California, has laid down responsibilities carried for many years. Other names will be remembered by others, as of the company of those who rest from their labors, while their works do follow them.
General Conference Proceedings
Fourth Meeting
Friday Morning, 10:30
ELDER G. A. IRWIN in the chair. Prayer by Elder H. Schultz, of California.
The treasurer of the General Conference, Elder I. H. Evans, presented his report for the quadrennial period, Jan. 1, 1905, to Dec. 31, 1908. Brother Evans gave a brief review of the financial situation, and of the financial condition of the various fields at present under the supervision of the General Conference Committee, calling attention to the fact that nearly all the territory now directly operated by this committee consists of the so-called heathen lands, such as Africa, China, India, etc. He said it was the hope of the committee that in due time the contributions of native believers in these fields would be sufficient to support the native workers, but at present these contributions fall far short of doing this. He showed that year by year during the period, the income from the different funds had steadily increased, but on account of the rapid growth of the work the disbursement had correspondingly increased so that the treasury was kept practically empty nearly all of the time. He declared it to be the policy of the committee not to retrench in any department, but on the contrary to extend the work and thus increase the expenditures.
Accompanying his report there was submitted to the delegates an extended statement in detail of all the funds received and expended, accompanied by the auditor's statement vouching for the accuracy of the accounts.
From this statement, it appeared that the total income from all sources during the quadrennial period was $1,655,137.53, while the disbursements for the same period amounted to $1,641,199.55, leaving a balance in the treasury, Dec. 31, 1908, of $13,937.98.
It further developed in the report that at the beginning of the period, the debt of the General Conference, was $47,965.50, but that during the four years this indebtedness had been met, and at the close of the period the resources exceeded the liabilities by $6,770.71.
Some questions were asked by the delegates concerning various features of the report, after which Elder A. G. Daniells expressed his gratification at the favorable showing made by the report of the treasurer, and suggested that at a later time he would take time for consideration of some of its features. On motion, the report was unanimously adopted. The Conference then adjourned, the benediction being pronounced by Elder L. R. Conradi.
Fifth Meeting
3:00 P. M.
Elder G. A. Irwin in the chair. After singing, prayer was offered by Elder J. H. Schilling, of Germany.
The General Conference Committee then reported to the delegates the names of the committee on nominations and the committee on finances and plans, as follows:—
Committee on nominations: O. A. Olsen, chairman; M. N. Andreason, E. K. Slade, E. E. Andross, Charles Thompson, W. B. White, H. H. Burkholder, M. N. Campbell, H. F. Schuberth, Daniel Isaak, F. W. Spies, J. V. Willson, H. H. Dexter, S. F. Svenson, W. J. Fitzgerald, J. B. Beckner, W. A. Westworth, A. J. Haysmer, C. Santee, H. S. Shaw, William Guthrie, J. N. Anderson.
Committee on finances and plans: I. H. Evans, chairman; J. E. Fulton, J. M. Johanson, F. W. Field, W. R. Smith, H. J. Edmed, A. C. Selmon, G. W. Caviness, W. Ising, H. H. Votaw, D. C. Babcock, F. Griggs, W. A. Ruble, M. E. Kern, E. R. Palmer, G. B. Thompson, G. A. Irwin, K. C. Russell, J. T. Boettcher, L. P. Tieche, J. C. Raft, W. C. Sisley, J. H. Schilling, J. W. Westphal, U. Bender, L. R. Conradi, C. F. McVagh, H. W. Cottrell, Allen Moon, R. A. Underwood, W. C. White, C. W. Irwin, E. T. Russell, G. W. Reaser, A. T. Robinson, J. H. Morrison.
On motion these nominations were unanimously approved, and the brethren named were chosen to act on these committees.
In behalf of the German Union Conference, Elder H. F. Schuberth, the president, then presented his report.
The following brethren then rendered reports for various divisions of the conference: J. H. Schilling, president of the South German Conference; J. G. Ohlander, president of the German-Swiss Conference; G. W. Schubert, president of the East German Conference; O. Luepke, of the Friedensau institutions; E. Frauchiger, president of the Rhenish Conference; L. Mathe, president of the North German Conference; H. Hartkop, manager of the Hamburg Publishing House; E. Bahr, president of the Prussian Conference.
Meeting closed with benediction by Elder A. C. Bourdeau.
Bible Study
Friday, 9:15 A. M.
In the absence of Elder S. N. Haskell, who had been appointed to give a Bible study at this hour, Elder E. W. Farnsworth conducted the service. The subject was prayer, and various texts were considered.
Luke 18:1-8: (a) Men ought always to pray and not become discouraged. Praying is the way to keep from discouragement.
(b) The importunity of the widow was emphasized. Luke 3:21; 4:1, 14, 22, 32: This experience came to Christ as a result of prayer. As a result of prayer he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, and spoke “gracious words.”
Luke 9:28, 29: It was while he was praying that he was transfigured, and his countenance was changed. It is while we are praying that our hearts are changed.
Jesus continued all night in prayer to his Father. Elder Farnsworth raised the question as to what would probably happen if this whole delegation should give itself to prayer as Jesus did.
He urged strongly that we give ourselves to prayer, that we go in twos and threes to the groves about us, and continue in prayer till we see in our midst the working of the Holy Spirit in special power.
Friday Evening Service
A LARGE congregation more than filled the pavilion Friday evening to listen to a sermon by Elder A. G. Daniells. He spoke from Rev. 14: 6-14. He stated that these verses are the basis of the belief and the message of the Seventh-day Adventists to the world, and that this is a message for to-day and not for the future, and that it knows no nationality in its scope and application. He said, in part:—
“In the book of Daniel, the eighth chapter, with supplemental information in the ninth, we find a very remarkable time-table, a period of 2300 prophetic years, beginning 457 B. C., and extending down to the fall of the year 1844. The religious movement of that time, chiefly under the direction and leadership of William Miller, attracted world-wide attention, and it is a well-known matter of history, because it called attention to the Bible doctrine of the second coming of Christ.
“William Miller had studied the prophecies of Daniel and become convinced that it contained a message for the peoples of the whole world. Believing the cleansing of the sanctuary meant the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, and this would mean the coming of Christ and the end of the world, he boldly proclaimed that the end of the prophetic period of 2300 years would see the ushering in of the long-looked-for reign of righteousness and the setting up of the kingdom of God on the earth.
“The 2300 years did end Oct. 22, 1844, and the close of that period marked the beginning of a religious movement whose representatives to-day are here from every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary above commenced in 1844, and the message we are carrying is the last gospel message of God to all the world. It is still the message of Jesus’ coming.”
Denominational Publications for Sale
A FULL line of denominational publications is on sale at the Review and Herald bookstore.
General Conference Notes
A good number of delegates are receiving their first impressions of America and the headquarters of our world-wide work. We hope they will be inspired for further courageous service at the outposts.
The testimony of living witnesses who can speak from personal knowledge concerning the beginning of this advent movement shows what has been accomplished during the last six decades. But the most rapid progress is yet to come.
All were interested at the opening meeting to hear Brethren G. W. Amadon and J. L. Prescott relate some particulars of their experiences in the early days when advent believers were few. A spirit of tender regard for the aged pilgrims was fittingly manifested.
It is a great pleasure to greet so many delegates from “the regions beyond.” In fact, this is the first conference in which the territory outside of America has had an adequate representation. We are sure that the results, both direct and indirect, will be most helpful. This will be a world-wide movement.
After an absence of seventeen years spent in active labor in the Australasian Union Conference, Elder G. B. Starr and his faithful companion have returned to America, and are enjoying the opportunity of meeting many old friends at this Conference. Brother Starr is one of the delegates from his field.
Departmental meetings, in the interests of the educational, publishing, medical, Sabbath-school, and young people’s work, are a daily feature of the Conference. They are well attended, and are helpful in the discussion and preparation of resolutions relating to the work of these departments to be brought before the Conference later.
The editorial committee of the Bulletin is, W. A. Spicer, C. P. Bollman, Mrs. I. H. Evans, C. M. Snow, T. E. Bowen. The special reporting staff, for stenographic work for the Bulletin, is, H. E. Rogers, C. C. Crisler, D. E. Robinson, Miss Mertie Wheeler, B. P. Foote, E. B. Beuchel; and Misses Carrie Bailey and Elizabeth Zeidler will also assist.
To bid good-by to the workers in Japan, Korea, and China, and then to greet them again at this Conference, is an experience which can come to but few. The editor greatly appreciates the privilege of again associating with those in whose labors he joined for a short time in the far East. He hopes that their presence and testimony in the Conference will draw additional workers to that great heathen field.
The familiar faces of Elders A. J. Breed of Washington, H. W. Decker of Oregon, J. O. Corliss of California, J. H. Morrison and J. S. Hart of Nebraska, R. M. Kilgore of Georgia, R. A. Underwood of Minnesota, Wm. Covert of Illinois, T. H. Purdon of Vermont, and others who have regularly sat in many conferences, make one sure that the old guard are still loyal to the advent message.
Quite full reports of the Conference are appearing in the Washington papers, illustrated with views and groups taken expressly for this purpose.
Photographs of all the delegates in one large group were taken on Friday afternoon for a syndicate of New York papers, including Harper’s Weekly.
The dining-tent is conducted on the cafeteria plan, and the service is excellent. It is a serious problem to provide for so many at a distance of about seven miles from market, but the work is being well handled by Brethren J. R. Scott and P. G. Stanley, with a faithful corps of assistants.
The large meeting tent is fitted up in a very satisfactory way. The floor renders the place dry and clean, the chairs are comfortable, and the platform arrangements are admirable. The only difficulty will be to furnish sufficient accommodations for the large number in attendance. It is probable that overflow meetings will be held on Sabbaths and Sundays, when the local attendance will be considerably increased.
Much satisfaction is expressed by both delegates and visitors at the improvements made on the Sligo property since the Conference four years ago. During this quaternial period the Sanitarium, the nurses’ dormitory, and the Seminary building have been erected, and the grounds have been graded and otherwise improved. In addition to this, the approaches have been greatly changed for the better, and the new bridge, just ready for traffic, renders the place easy of access. Taken altogether, the Conference is delightfully located.
The following general program indicates the daily work of the General Conference, with the exception of the Sabbath services:—
6-7 Devotional Meeting.
7-7:45 Breakfast.
7:45-8 Morning Work.
8-9 Departmental Meetings.
9:15-10:15 Bible Study.
10:30-12:30 Conference (Business).
1-2 P.M. Dinner.
2-3 Committee Work.
3-5 Conference (Reports).
5-6 Committee Work.
6-7 Lunch.
7:45-9 Evening Service.
The following additional committees have been appointed:—
On licenses and credentials: W. A. Spicer, chairman; J. L. Shaw, J. N. Anderson, F. W. Field, E. W. Farnsworth, A. G. Haughey.
Distribution of labor: The General Conference Committee.
On reference: W. C. Sisley, chairman; A. T. Robinson, G. I. Butler, C. W. Flaiz, H. Shultz, M. N. Campbell, C. H. Edwards, C. H. Jones, J. M. Johansen, N. Z. Town, W. H. Heckman, G. W. Caviness, R. T. Dowsett, C. N. Woodward, J. O. Miller, C. P. Bollman, J. T. Boettcher, J. Curdy, H. Hartkop, G. Oblander, W. T. Bartlett, R. H. Habenicht.
On constitution: H. W. Cottrell, chairman; W. A. Westworth, James Cochran, W. T. Bartlett, I. H. Evans, C. W. Irwin, L. R. Conradi.
Current Mention
— The first formal session of the second National Peace Congress opened in Chicago on May 3.
— Dr. Sheldon Jackson, the pioneer missionary of the Presbyterians in Alaska, died at Asheville, N. C., on May 2.
— Dr. Amador, founder of the republic of Panama, and its first president, died at Panama, on May 2, at the age of seventy-five.
— The value of the peanut crop of the United States during the past year is stated by the Department of Agriculture to have been about twelve million dollars.
— With a view to stimulating interest in the navigation of the air, the Aeronautical Society of New York City has offered cash prizes amounting to $10,000 for distance and speed races at an aeronautical tournament on the Morris Park race-track in May. Twenty-three members of that society have aeroplanes in course of construction.
— In order that England shall not be behind other nations in the matter of aeronautics, the British government has organized a new department, which will be occupied entirely with the problems of aeronautics and the testing of flying-machines. The premier states that it is the purpose of the government to make this department the most complete of any in the world, putting England in the lead in aeronautics, as she now is in naval matters.
— An attempt was made to destroy by means of dynamite a bridge in process of construction at Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 9, at a time when it was to be inspected by fifty prominent men of that city. The explosion was timed for the hour of inspection, but the inspectors were delayed, and by the delay their lives were saved. The bridge was being built by non-union labor, and the plot to destroy the bridge and the lives of the inspectors is laid at the door of the union.
— The former sultan of Turkey has finally yielded up the keys to his treasure in the Yildiz Kiosk, at Constantinople, and has also arranged for the transference of his funds, invested abroad, to the present Turkish government. This means will be used in paying off the soldiers who helped in the overthrow of the former régime. The massacres of Armenians and Christians have ceased, and the indications are that the new government is rapidly gaining control of the situation.
— In spite of the repeated assurances from Central America that war was not contemplated by Central American rulers, a despatch from Honduras, dated April 26, stated that martial law was declared, and drafts had been made on every town for soldiers for the interior. The president of Honduras, according to this despatch, has informed the United States government that he will be unable to protect Americans, lacking funds, military equipment, and supplies. This is taken as an invitation to Washington to intervene.
Massachusetts
By Herbert C. Hartwell
BOSTON.—Four ladies and three young men were baptized by the writer at Tremont Temple recently, at the regular hour of Sabbath service of the Boston church. It was an impressive occasion, and one that we believe will linger in the memory of all who witnessed it.
There are a number of others in the Boston district who are intending to be baptized in the near future. We have just concluded a course of eighteen lectures on present truth here in the city which have received most encouraging support both in attendance and in contributions. These meetings have advanced the truth and strengthened the cause in this field, and the work is going forward, and our brethren and sisters are of good courage in the Lord.
HERBERT C. HARTWELL.
Nyassaland, Africa
By S. M. KONIGMACHER
PERHAPS some will be interested to hear of the work done on this, the first out-station of the Nyassaland mission which has a white teacher. There are other stations with native teachers, and we hope soon to have other stations superintended by white teachers. The work, indeed, is great in Nyassaland, and the laborers are few. This was a planter’s estate, which was procured for £40. It has two hundred sixteen acres, a large portion of which is covered with timber. Only the ground lying near the streams is good for raising food.
We are in the mountains, between five thousand and six thousand feet above sea-level, a much more healthful location than at Cholo.
The mission has a good brick dwelling-house, a brick school building, and three small brick outbuildings, one of which was changed into a home for our native teachers.
We are one hundred miles from the main station at Cholo, sixty miles from Blantyre, our base of supplies, and eight miles from the post-office. Our nearest white neighbor, a planter raising coffee, is about four miles away. There are native villagers scattered here and there through the mountains, the nearest one being about a mile distant. It is very pleasing to us to see the boys come from their villages to attend vespers, and then return again.
We have a school of about forty; and on Sabbath as many as seventy-three come to the services at the mission. We see the native as he is here. To-day an old chief came from the mountains to exchange beans for salt. We told him this was the mission of God, and he said, “Yes, to-morrow is the day of God,” meaning the Sabbath. They have all learned to know about the Sabbath. Last week some people came to sell some things, and a man coming from his village to services, called to them, saying, “This is the Sabbath of the Lord; they do not buy to-day;” and the people passed on, not stopping at the house.
It is interesting to see the people coming to church, carrying their little children on their backs, many of them having on nice, clean nsaru, or cloth. On Friday our teachers go to the mountain villages to hold services with the people, and on Sabbath afternoon to the near-by villages. Many times the total of those who hear the Word of God will be over a hundred.
There is very little medical work to do, because the villages are so far from the mission. The two great pests and trials in this country are the mosquito and the white ant. There are quite a number of wild animals here; but we are not troubled with them, except with the wild hogs and baboons, which come to eat the corn. Lions and leopards do not bother us much, as we have no cattle. Night before last a leopard was seen by our boy.
We have planted corn, peanuts, and sweet potatoes, and a small garden for ourselves. We have guavas, mangoes, bananas, pineapples, and a few lemons growing on the mission grounds. All the work must be done by hand.
We hope next year to be able to take some boys to board; but this year, on account of scarcity of food, we could take only two. One boy came from Blantyre, and another from a village about fifty miles in another direction, bringing his food with him.
We are indeed very thankful to God for his protecting care over us, and for his blessings, which are so bountifully bestowed upon all. Our earnest prayer is that God may work through us to his glory and to the speedy proclamation of his gospel, in our generation, to the many inhabitants of Nyassaland.