p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 19. (4/13/1916)

Sunday Closing and Secret Societies

By Editor

Elder E. H. Curtis, president of the Wyoming Conference, writes us that a Sunday-closing ordinance has just been passed by the city council of Cheyenne, the capital of that State. It provides a fine not exceeding $100 for any person who shall “offer for public sale, or shall sell, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, any dry goods, groceries, clothes, shoes, hardware, and furniture.”

We have received from our readers a number of letters of appreciation of the excellent instruction from the pen of Sister White on the subject of secret societies. We believe that her words of admonition are worthy of the careful consideration of our brethren and sisters everywhere. When we give ourselves to God and identify ourselves with the Lord's work, he desires us to cut loose from every worldly affiliation. We cannot join with the world and maintain fellowship with God. We believe that the principles expressed by Sister White apply to all secret societies. Some may be better than others; and there may be in some of them much of real good; some of our brethren who belong to them may argue that they receive only good from them. This of course we cannot discuss in detail, but let these brethren consider the extent of their influence on others. It is as true today as in the days of the apostle Paul that “none of us liveth to himself.” However humble the station we occupy, our course of conduct has its influence on our fellows. And even admitting, which it is not at all probable, that our connection with some of these worldly organizations may not bring us injury, others weaker than we are, and less experienced, may take license from the liberty we accord ourselves, and go even farther than we go, bringing irreparable injury to their souls. Let us consider what relationship Christ would sustain to these worldly organizations if he were on earth today. Would he unite with secret societies? He is our example. As he would do in our place, so we are to seek to do in every relationship of life.

Elders White Counsel in Washington

ELDERS J. E. and W. C. White spent several days in Washington last week, in counsel with their brethren regarding some special features of the work.

Dr. W. B. Holden Visits Washington

DR. W. B. HOLDEN, superintendent of the Portland (Oregon) Sanitarium, has been spending some time in the East, and visited Washington for one day last week.

Cottrells Return from China Mission

Brother and Sister Roy F. Cottrell, on furlough from the Central China Mission field, reached Washington last week. They are working, as is usually the case with all returned missionaries, for their field by reporting the progress the message is making there, and trying to secure recruits to go over and help carry the burdens.

Missionary Volunteer Day

SABBATH, May 6, is Missionary Volunteer Day. This day has been set apart by the General and North American Division Conference Committees for the study of the needs of our young people and the work that is being done through their organization. Our churches everywhere are urged to observe it. The program for the day will appear in the REVIEW of April 20.

Support the Los Angeles Medical Hospital

By Editor

We direct attention to the article from Mrs. S. N. Haskell in the Medical Department of this number. The effort now being made to raise funds for the building of a medical hospital in Los Angeles should receive the hearty co-operation and support of our brethren and sisters throughout the field. A good beginning has already been made in the securing of pledges, but the major portion of the fund is yet unprovided for. We understand that the plan for raising the money contemplates the appointment of some sister in every union or State conference to promote the work in her particular field, but it is proper for our sisters in every church to co-operate on their own initiative in soliciting others for the support of this work.

The Secret of Successful Work for God

A WORKER in Africa, on visiting an outschool in the midst of heathen darkness, says, “To see a village school numbering forty or so, their ages ranging from five to thirty, singing lustily the hymns we love to sing, is a sight which arouses in me a feeling I cannot describe; my heart simply goes out to them, and I feel that I never loved a company of people so much before in my life. To get up and tell them of Jesus and his love is an easy matter, for their earnest faces appeal to all that is in me.” This is the secret of successful work for God, whether in the heart of Africa or among sinners anywhere else. It was this that brought Christ down from above.

Word from Mrs. H. R. Salisbury

In a letter received last week at the Mission Board office from Sister H. R. Salisbury, she tells of her deep sorrow, but states that the Lord has heard prayer in her behalf and has wonderfully sustained her. “The letters of sympathy which have come to me from all over India,” she writes (her letter is dated February 23), “and are now coming from England and America, have been a great comfort, and best of all has been the assurance they contained that my friends were praying for me. I know that God has heard their prayers and mine, and has given me strength for my hour of need.”

Unless some plan otherwise is made for her by the brethren in America, she will remain by the work in India, at least for a time. In going through some papers, she found this little verse cut out and put in Brother Salisbury’s notebook:—

“This is the day of toil Beneath earth’s sultry noon; This is the day of service true, But resting cometh soon. This way may rougher grow, The weariness increase; We gird our loins and hasten on, The end, the end is peace.”

She adds, “I know he tried to give his ‘service true,’ and I feel just as certain that with him ‘the end is peace.’”

Another Drastic Press Bill Introduced into Congress

By C. S. Longacre

ON March 27, Hon. James A. Gallivan, of Massachusetts, introduced the following press bill into the House of Representatives:—

“A Bill (H. R. 13778) Authorizing the Postmaster-General to exclude from the mails certain publications.

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster-General shall make the necessary rules and regulations to exclude from the mails those publications the avowed and deliberate purpose of which is to attack a recognized religion held by the citizens of the United States or any religious order to which citizens of the United States belong.”

Hearings have not yet been held upon any of the three press bills introduced in Congress. On account of the urgency of the army and navy bills now before Congress, it will be a month or more before these press bills can be taken up. Let us improve this time by sending to Congress petitions against these bills.

Be sure to write the following, in ink, on the last line of each press bill petition which appears in the Liberty Extra: “Also H. R. 13778.” In this way we can still use the Liberty Extra petitions and carry forward our campaign against all three measures.

Let us renew our efforts, and get our churches which have not had a part in this campaign to send in their orders for the Liberty Extra, at $1 per hundred, or $8 per thousand.

If any of these bills were to become law, most of our literature might be denied transportation, and the giving of the warning message be greatly hampered.

C. S. LONGACRE.