p. 59 | Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 4. (1/23/1900)

OBSERVATIONS

By S. M. I. Henry

[THE following article was handed in by Sister Henry shortly before she left Battle Creek on her last journey alive; and is really the last contribution that she made to the REVIEW AND HERALD. It was put into type at once; but was crowded out of the paper until now. It is well; for thus it comes to us “as a people” as in fact her dying testimony. It is thus of doubly solemn importance; for in itself alone it is too sadly true, and therefore reveals a situation of the most solemn, because of its dangerous, importance. Let all prayerfully study it, and rise to its call to a true Christian experience and work.—ED.]

It is borne in upon me that as a people we are confronted with a most solemn situation, of which we seem to be strangely unconscious.

The steady accelerating march of events emphasizes every word of those prophecies that form the basis of all our hopes, making assurance doubly sure that we are indeed nearing the close of the probationary age; that all opportunity to do anything toward securing our own salvation or that of any other soul will soon be at an end; that the world is still full of people who have never heard these things; and that for some reason the truth, which so intimately concerns them, has been committed to the custody of a handful of people, themselves so situated that even to live seems to require all the effort that the majority of them can put forth. In the “hard scrabble” for bread and a foothold among men, in plain sight the hand upon the dial of time is rapidly moving toward the point upon which is marked the solemn declaration, “No more!”

The emergency would seem to demand that everything else be dropped out of our hands, and that as one body, with one spirit and one voice, we should go out to utter the cry of warning and of invitation, taking our bread as it comes to us on the wing. I would not intimate that business operations should cease, that housekeeping should be neglected, but only that those mercenary motives which flavor these occupations, which should be held sacred among us, shall be eliminated, and that the opportunities they afford for personal intercourse shall be faithfully used for proclaiming the message to those who never knew it, and for “comforting one another” with its precious words.

There is some reason why a people with such slender equipment as this world gives should have been made responsible for so great a trust. It is more than probable that God saw that he could save us in no other way than by just such a correlation of forces and situations as we find ourselves in. At all events, since we can not go back of the divine purpose to discover its secret, there is left but one thing that we can do safely; that is, to fall into line with the march of God among the nations, catch the step and pace that has been set for us, and keep it to the end. Falling in this, all is lost to us; and it would be too bad to have passed through the difficulties involved in becoming Seventh-day Adventists,—the losses and crosses,—to have been such a part of this awful play of destiny which Satan has put upon the boards,—to have stood against him in these momentous days, and at the last, when all is over, be relegated to the ash heap.

“But,” says one, “I am not a candidate for the ash heap. I know I am not just ready for immortality, but I shall line up in time. I shall set my house in order, shape my business, and be ready.”

But when?

There is that letter, its postage as well, which might be sent to help some soul instead of to wound and discourage; there are those precious moments for social intercourse, which might be spent in speaking the truth about Jesus, instead of spreading a questionable report about some fellow laborer, or in carrying to him one concerning himself, his work and family, perhaps in even reading him out of the denomination by saying, “O, yes, he may keep the Sabbath, but he is not really one of us.”

There are the principles upon which a true family, church, and neighborhood life must be based. You know them, but ignore them.

There are the Testimonies of the Spirit, which you profess to believe, with their admonitions with reference to cleansing, keeping, and building up the temple of God, which is your body, which is defiled by the use of tobacco, coffee, tea, and animal foods, as well as by the indulgence of unholy thoughts and lustful habits.

O my brethren, when, when, shall you be ready to meet the closing hour of preparation? It is time that we should draw close and closer to one another; cultivate confidence; love as our Lord loved; cherish one another as those who must soon be scattered like sheep upon the mountains.

Do you marvel at these words—then listen! Within the last few months I have heard from brethren concerning other brethren, even leaders and teachers at whose hands the Lord is seeking to feed his flock, such expressions as these: “Oh, he is queer in the upper story!” “He is going wild over his theory.” “He is a little off.” “She is one of the queer kind.” Expressions which belong to the coarsest chaff of the world’s gossip, not to any grain of the kingdom.

I have seen a company of our people throw away a God-given opportunity to help carry the message to a local W. C. T. U. and other church people, simply because the services were not all “for them.” They were like children who would not “play” if they could not have it all on their own cellar stairs.

“When are you going to talk to us?” I was asked by more than one who voiced the thought of almost the entire company after a meeting under the auspices of the W. C. T. U. and all the churches—several ministers of as many denominations being in attendance.

“Why, I am talking to you all the time,” I replied, in amazement, “as much as to anybody.”

“O, yes; but we want a meeting for our own selves.”

At one place this spirit was so malignant that I concluded to have the word quietly passed around that I would meet our own people at a certain afternoon hour. I would not wound the other Christian people by a public announcement of such a meeting. And when we were alone by ourselves, I read our brethren some instructions which had been sent me through the servant of the Lord to the effect that I should not confine my work to those who have had an opportunity to know the truth.

Then, I am glad to say, these brethren revealed the real, true mettle of character, as they always do sooner or later, by a quick acknowledgment of their error—they called it sin—which they had committed in blowing the frosty breath of prejudice and criticism all through the atmosphere in which I was trying to do my work, instead of breathing it full of the warmth of prayerful sympathy and love for souls. Then they longed to go back to the first meeting and begin right to do their part in the ministry to which I am called; but the opportunity was gone.

Brethren, in the labor that is before us this year of all years, what shall we do? Shall we be ready to meet the responsibility, forgetting everything that can hinder, and help one another with all our hearts, like members of the same family? or shall we stand off and continue to watch critically, and wonder if indeed this new work, this that never was before, really does concern us?

S. M. I. HENRY.

Resisting Sin and the Powers of Darkness

“As never before, resistance must be made against sin—against the powers of darkness.”

How Shall I Pardon Thee? Children Forsaken

By P. T. Magan

“HOW SHALL I PARDON THEE FOR THIS? THY CHILDREN HAVE FORSAKEN ME.”

These were the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah. They were given to Israel just before that people went down into Babylonish captivity. The sins of the chosen people in those days were many. They had grievously displeased their Lord and Master. But of all their iniquities none seemed harder for the Lord to forgive than that one of having allowed their children to forsake him. This was the crowning wrong,—the one thing for which pardon was almost impossible. All else could be forgiven and overlooked; but the great heart of God, yearning in tenderness toward the poor children, faltered at forgiveness; because the sacred charges committed to Israel’s fathers and mothers had been allowed to wander into forbidden paths.

Israel had sinned by indulging in luxury, by the non-payment of tithes, by oppression of the fatherless and the widow; by a host of other evil deeds; but all of these, in the mind of God, were overshadowed by their sinful neglect of the precious children and youth.

I am pained to see the careless indifference with which the children are treated to-day. God has himself spoken and appointed the means whereby they shall be saved. He has said that there should be church schools for the little ones; small industrial schools, several in the large Conferences, for the middle classes; and colleges on the order of the schools of the prophets for those who need a training for active work. And yet there are hardly a hundred and fifty church schools in all the land, and a mere handful of industrial schools, academies, and colleges; and many more could be cared for within the walls of these latter if there were only the money to support them, or the facilities to enable them to support themselves.

Those in charge of the schools are flooded with letters from all over the country, asking them to take this boy or that girl, and see him or her through school without any money. Hundreds and hundreds of letters of this character come to our desks every year. But what can the schools do? None of them have large facilities with which to assist students to pay their way by work. Calls have been made many times, but the response has been feeble. In a letter just received from Elder W. C. White are these words:

“Mother is much interested in the progress of your industries, and she pleads that our brethren throughout the field, who are successful farmers, mechanics, and business men, shall turn their talents of money, experience, and skill to the establishment of church schools, which shall be surrounded with industries that will enable the students to earn their tuition in part or in whole.”

In another place it is said, “Do not say, ‘Go and work a year, and then go into the college.’ No; but try to help them: present them before the churches; bear a decided testimony, and say, ‘Brethren, we want you to help these individuals through college.’”

Now the burden of providing money and facilities for the youth in order that they may have an education does not rightly rest upon the schools; but upon the people in the churches. The schools are all poor, and as far as I know, they are all deeply in debt. God calls upon men who have money, to help the youth to go to school. He calls upon the churches to create funds that this may be done.

Now, brethren and sisters, please do not keep on asking the schools to take students and keep them for nothing, or to furnish them with work to pay all their expenses, when we are not supplied with the money to provide these facilities.

“As a church, as individuals, if we would stand clear in the judgment, we must make more liberal efforts for the training of our young people, that they may be better fitted for the various branches of the great work committed to our hand. As a people who have great light, we should lay wise plans, in order that the ingenious minds of those who have talent may be strengthened and disciplined and polished after the highest order, that the work of Christ may not be hindered by the lack of skillful laborers, who will do their work with earnestness and fidelity.

“The church is asleep, and does not realize the magnitude of this matter of educating the children and youth. ‘Why,’ one says, ‘what is the need of being so particular thoroughly to educate our youth? It seems to me that if you take a few who have decided to follow some literary calling, or some other calling that requires a certain discipline, and give due attention to them, that is all that is necessary. It is not required that the whole mass of our youth should be so well trained. Will not this answer every essential requirement?’—No, I answer, most decidedly not. What selection would we be able to make out of the numbers of our youth? How could we tell who would be the most promising, who would render the best service to God? In our human judgment we might do as did Samuel when he was sent to find the anointed of the Lord, and look upon the outward appearance. . . . ‘Who can determine which one of a family will prove to be efficient in the work of God? There should be general education of all its members, and all our youth should be permitted to have the blessings and privileges of an education at our schools, that they may be inspired to become laborers together with God. They all need an education that they may be fitted for usefulness in this life, qualified for places of responsibility both in private and in public life. There is great necessity of making plans that there may be a large number of competent workers; and many should fit themselves up as teachers, that others may be trained and disciplined for the great work of the future. The church should take in the situation, and by their influence and means seek to bring about this much-desired end.” P. T. MAGAN.

BRAZIL

By F. W. Spies

IN company with Brother A. B. Stauffer I visited the province of Espírito Santo, assisting the churches there, and encouraging scattered believers. During this trip we had the pleasure of seeing some persons yield themselves to the requirements of the truth of God. Returning home the beginning of April, on the 20th of the same month I started south, joining Brother Graf at Brusque, from which place we traveled together through the provinces of Santa Catharina and Parana. This trip was a pleasant one. Since coming to Brazil it had been my desire to labor, for a time at least, in company with another brother. During our trip through the last-named provinces thirty-eight persons received baptism, and we had several special evidences of the Lord’s goodness in working for us.

Upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, and after having a short season of counsel, Elder Graf, accompanied by Brethren Berger and their families, visited the province of Minas Geraes, while Brother Thurston and I visited the province of São Paulo, to look after the work there, and especially to see what prospect that province offered for new openings. But finding that what seemed to be an opening for work did not prove to be such, Brother Wm. Stein, a native brother, who is proficient in the language of the country, came from São Paulo, to Rio de Janeiro; and since then he and the writer have been making an effort to present the gospel to the natives. To be thus for a time associated in labor among the natives with a brother who could speak the Portuguese language fluently, had long been my wish.

It was not without encountering many difficulties that we secured a small hall in which we could hold meetings; the Lord also opened ways of which we had no idea. Blessed be his name! Our first meetings were well attended, with scarcely any effort to invite people, and many manifested an interest to know what the word of God says. May the good work go on, and souls be gathered for the heavenly garner.

The daily increasing heat reminds us that the hot season is approaching, with its sicknesses, yet our trust is in Israel’s God; and we thank him for all the truth he has revealed to us, and know that his power can keep us secure from “the pestilence that walketh in darkness,” and from “the destruction that wasteth at noonday;” and that even though “a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,” “it shall not come nigh thee.” Praise the Lord! F. W. SPIES.

VICTORY

By A. F. Ballenger

A Fight for a Child.

“MAY I have a talk with you, Brother Ballenger?” asked a nine-year-old girl at the close of the meeting. A time was set, and the youthful seeker came and told her troubles, and asked that prayer might be offered for her. There was great earnestness in her conversation, and tears and sobs broke into her intelligent prayer.

From others it was learned that her adoptive mother, who had taken her when two years old, had thought it absolutely necessary to separate this child from her family because she dreaded the result of certain sinful habits upon the younger adopted children. This decision brought great suffering to both adoptive parents; for they loved the child.

The situation, summed up, was this: a nine-year-old child confessing her sins, and weeping before God in prayer for deliverance from sinning; a loving mother weeping and praying for her deliverance; and the life of the Lord Jesus Christ given for her salvation, and pleading in her behalf at the Father’s throne. And yet the child continues to sin, and so seriously that she is deemed dangerous, and is sent forth from the home as an incorrigible.

No encouraging results followed our prayer season. The help must come through the co-operation of the adoptive mother for her own salvation.

Months later I met the adoptive mother, and heard from her the sad story again. Her heart yearned for the child, but she feared to let the little outcast come home. The little sinner wanted to go home and be good; the mother wanted her to come home and be good; and the Lord wanted her to come home and be good; and yet she was bad; and was banished from home.

When these facts were all laid before the mother in this light, it was decided that the devil was not strong enough to keep the little one from home and deliverance, in opposition to the desire of the child, her mother, and her God. We therefore knelt and presented the child at the throne of grace with holy boldness. We told the Lord that we did not believe the enemy had power enough to ruin the child in the face of such a combination of cries for deliverance. The mother arose from her knees with faith to call the little wanderer home. The result of her faith is here told in her own words:—

“For some time I have been impressed to write to you to the glory of God; but have felt that it would be wrong unnecessarily to take a moment of your time, which otherwise would be spent to the glory of God. But my heart is so full this morning that I can not forbear writing. Doubtless you will not remember me unless I refer to the case of the little girl, —, whom you talked with at —, and who seemed such an extraordinary case. I am —, who was helped spiritually and physically through your efforts at the — camp-meeting. My heart

is full of praise and gratitude for the goodness of the Lord to me. I claimed the victory over sin in all its phases at that time, and claim it still. Be untiring in your efforts to inspire others with the same faith that you preached at our camp-meeting. I had been groping for help. It was dark, but I held on, and my prayer was more than answered at the camp-meeting. My faith has grown a hundredfold. Since then I live by faith. Many and varied have been my experiences, but they have all been permitted for my good, as they have tended to strengthen my faith. And the Lord has permitted my experiences to be a help to others, for which I praise him.”

“I asked for your prayers in behalf of little —, and I have felt that I had them. I have taken her back into my heart and home. I have claimed the keeping power with and for her, and I thank God that now I see a change for the better. We seek the Lord earnestly and untiringly; and the very fact that she, over whom Satan seemed to have almost entire control, is being molded into the likeness of Christ, demonstrates the power of God, and the truthfulness of the scripture which says, ‘What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Oh, I am so glad I have learned to trust in Jesus! He gives me strength to do more than I have been able to do in thirteen years. I live by faith, and I praise the dear Lord for the privilege of so doing.”

It is not enough to pray. Many prayers, even earnest prayers, prayers offered with tears, do not bring the petition asked for. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1: 6, 7. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. 11: 6. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11: 24. A. F. BALLENGER.

GREAT BRITAIN.

By John Norton Loughborough

BATH, ENGLAND; CARDIFF, WALES.—From December 1-17 I was with our people in these places,—the first ten days at the former place, and the last seven in the latter. Thus my time during the week of prayer for the British field was equally divided between these two places. The meetings in Bath were well attended. Many of the company live quite a distance from the meeting-place, and have to come on foot up and down the steep hills of Bath. Though not blessed with much of this world's goods, the company contributed, with cheerful hearts, to the annual offering.

At Cardiff the Lord was with us, and blessed those who were able to come to the nine meetings held during the seven days. During our first evening meeting a heavy snowstorm visited Britain, with a change to severe cold weather. Some of our people, or their children, took cold, and were made ill, thus losing the public meetings. The weather was so cold that I found it the safest for me to keep near the fire when out of meeting. For this reason I made but few visits in Cardiff. Our week of meetings seemed to be one of encouragement to this company. They cheerfully contributed to the annual offering.

‘God loveth a cheerful giver.’ We are told that he ‘regardeth more the will with which one worketh than the amount that he doeth.’

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

THE WEEK OF PRAYER AT MESICK, MICH.

By O. E. Davis

I wish to tell our brethren and sisters what God has done for his people at this place. The Lord prepared our hearts for the rich blessings he had in store for us, through the week of prayer readings. Brethren B. F. Stureman and J. A. Irwin came here and held some meetings just before the week of prayer began. After a few meetings had been held, Brother Irwin went on to visit other churches, Brother Stureman remaining with us.

From the very first the Lord was with us, and blessed in a special manner. Not only did the Spirit of God melt the hearts of his people, and draw them together by the cords of love, but he also manifested his power to heal the sick, in answer to the effectual, fervent prayers of his people. Some called for the servant of the Lord to come and pray for them before daybreak, others late in the evening, and still others were prayed for at midday. None were turned away empty, but all received according to their faith. The work has not stopped there; but through the continued labors of Brother Stureman, the power of God attending his efforts, many who had grown cold and indifferent were reclaimed, and sinners are being converted, and still the work is going on.

And what do all these things indicate?—That God is getting his people ready for the soon-coming Saviour. O brethren, praise the Lord with us; for what he is doing for his people in Mesick he is ready to do everywhere. O. E. DAVIS.

For Week Ending January 20, 1900.

— Archbishop Chappelle, the papal delegate to the Philippines, has arrived at Manila.

— The basis of a new treaty between Spain and the United States has just been drawn up.

— The Russian government objects to the censorship over telegrams to and from South Africa.

— It is estimated that the Nicaragua Canal will cost the United States government $40,000,000.

— M. Dreyfus has taken a villa in Cairo, Egypt, and will spend the winter there with his family.

— Russia is planning to dig a canal from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Its length will be 994 miles, but only 125 miles of artificial excavation will be necessary.

— A rigid enforcement of the curfew law in Indianapolis, Ind., has caused a decrease of eighty per cent in the commitment of the young of that city to reform schools.

— A concern in Iowa is making farm wagons wholly of steel, and it can scarcely fill the orders that pour in from the wheat-growers out in Dakota and other parts of the West.

— A dispatch from St. Petersburg, Russia, says that ten villages in the Alchakalak district of the government of Tiflis were destroyed by earthquake, January 4, and 600 people killed.

— Rev. Brooks, of the Church Missionary Society, stationed at Ping Yin, China, was murdered in that vicinity by a band called the “boxers,” who are killing many native Christians.

— The congregation of the University of Chicago, by a vote of twenty to sixteen, passed a resolution favoring the use of the reformed spelling adopted by the National Educational Association.

— President Steyn, of the Orange Free State, has issued a declaration that every white man, irrespective of nationality, is liable to be compelled to fight for the defense of the country against the British.

— A Washington dispatch says that President Schurman will not return to the Philippines when the other members of the Philippine Commission go back to Manila. Admiral Dewey’s return is also more than doubtful.

— The British have crossed the Tugela River, in their efforts to relieve Ladysmith. Several attacks are being made by them on the Boers, to divide their intrenched lines. The news censor allows only conflicting statements to come over the wires at present, to mislead those friendly to the Boers.

— Miss Lillian Whiting, who is the literary executor of the late Miss Kate Field, writes to the New York Herald, that “she has had frequent communications with her friend since her death, through the mediumship of the famous Mrs. Piper. Nearly everything that Miss Whiting does in connection with Miss Field’s affairs, is by the latter’s instruction direct from the other world.” This is verily the age of Spiritualism.

— Dec. 30, 1899, the British cruiser “Magicienne” seized the German steamer “Bundesrath,” in Delagoa Bay and took her to Durban, on the ground that German officers and men intending to join the Boer army, were on board. January 4 the British seized another German vessel, the “General,” at Aden, and compelled the ship to discharge her cargo. Both of these seizures have intensified the anti-British feeling in Germany, and some of the papers speak savagely of the seizures.

— Great Britain and Germany have both served notice on the United States that “they will protest against fortification of the Nicaragua Canal if that waterway be constructed by the American government.” These notices, it is said, were filed within three days (January 17) by British Ambassador Pauncefote and German Ambassador Von Holleben, at Washington, and “will be followed later, if necessary, by formal or written protests.” France, Russia, and perhaps other maritime powers, will join Britain and Germany in this protest, if the United States “persists in constructing the canal upon the basis provided in the bill;” that is, for the benefit of the United States alone. What is demanded by these powers is a neutral isthmian canal.

— M. A. San Clemente, the president of Colombia, died January 8.

— It is declared, on British authority, that the Boer army numbers 87,000 men.

— The Mississippi River is frozen solid at St. Louis, Mo., for the first time in many years.

— It is estimated that the present war with the Transvaal costs England $10,000,000 a week.

— The French government has ordered a squadron to San Domingo, to enforce payment of French claims.

— France, Italy, and Belgium have adopted twenty-four-hour time, and say thirteen o’clock instead of 1 P. M.

— Last year 305 persons were convicted of lèse majesté in Germany, and the sentences aggregated 100 years in prison.

— For the first six months of 1899 the Methodists report an actual decline in membership of 24,000 communicants.

— King Charles, in his message at the opening of the Portuguese parliament, January 2, failed to mention Delagoa Bay.

— The money in United States savings banks exceeds the combined deposits of Great Britain, France, Russia, and Italy, by $326,000,000.

— Five hundred steel cars of special pattern have been ordered from a Pittsburg, Pa., firm, for the Paris, Lyons, and Mediterranean railroad of France.

— The Chinese are reported to have routed the French, near Wang Chuan, the battle occurring December 10, 11. The French loss was thirty killed.

— The broom manufacturers of the United States and Canada, in session in Chicago, have advanced the price of brooms twenty-five cents a dozen.

— The British people are beginning to talk of a successor to Lord Wolseley, in their anger and impatience at the defeats met in South Africa.

— The Austro-Hungarian government will immediately spend $100,000,000 for increasing the army and navy, in consequence of the serious European situation.

— Portugal’s minister in Berlin, Germany, declares that his country will not sell Delagoa Bay, as the transfer to England would be unfriendly to other nations.

— The Figaro, a Paris paper, favors an increase of the German navy, as a check to England. This is quite a thing for a French paper to do, in view of the war of 1870.

— Experiments with the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy in the Transvaal are being carried on with difficulty, owing to the extraordinary amount of iron in neighboring hills.

— Nearly 2,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus were received this year at the Dead Letter Office. Why should children be encouraged to believe in such a stupendous lie as that Santa Claus exists?

— During the year 1899 there were, in the United States, 107 lynchings, 6,225 murders, and 131 executions by hanging. One hundred and three of the lynchings, and 100 of the hangings, were in the South.

— In a total of about 16,000,000 voters in the United States, there are 800,000 who are Catholics. It is evident, therefore, that those who do not profess Catholicism are helping Rome in political affairs in this country.

— Dr. von Block, the Russian writer, announces that “the proposed Russian war exhibit at the Paris Exposition for 1900 will be omitted, upon the czar’s order.” Nicolas II evidently prefers to exhibit his war powers elsewhere, and on the quiet.

— The latest statistics from France show that the number of deaths last year in that country exceeded by 50,054 that of the previous year’s report, and the number of births has decreased by 15,174, showing a net loss of 65,228. The present population of France is 38,517,975.

— A French naturalist, quoted by Popular Science News, asserts that “if the world should become birdless, man would not inhabit it after nine years’ time, in spite of all the sprays and poisons that could be manufactured for the destruction of insects. The bugs would simply eat up all the orchards and crops in that time.” And yet the women, and city ordinances in many places, continue to encourage the ruthless slaughter of the birds!

— Lake Michigan is now connected with the Mississippi River by a canal forty miles in length. At the top the channel averages 201 feet wide, and at the bottom 160 feet, with a depth of thirty-eight feet. The work on this canal was begun Sept. 3, 1892, and completed in the closing days of 1899, at a cost of $33,000,000. The full capacity of the channel, when all obstacles are removed, will be about 300,000 cubic feet a minute; but at present only about one sixth of that amount has been admitted into the canal. By this engineering feat, the flow of the Chicago River has been reversed, and it has been made a tributary of the Mississippi River, through the Des Plaines and the Illinois River. There is a slight, but perceptible flow westward, and, “after a long period of hesitancy as to which direction it should flow, the Chicago River is finally headed for the Gulf of Mexico. The heretofore muddy river is already taking on the bluish tinge of Lake Michigan.

— A dispatch from Rome says that Great Britain has ordered a number of guns from Italy.

— The Rev. Dr. Edward McGlynn, the well-known Roman Catholic priest, died the 7th inst.

— Eugene Haupick, a Russian officer, declares that “the Transvaal war will be the tomb of England.” He also asserts that “the whole campaign was carefully prepared at Potsdam, Germany, as well as the strategy planned for the Boer generals to execute.”

— The “Bundesrath” incident is at last settled. The British government has acknowledged the seizure of the vessel as unjust, and undertakes to foot the bill of damages. Lord Salisbury and Count Hatzfeldt, the German ambassador in London, adjusted the affair between themselves.

— It is reported that “a veritable storm of laughter broke loose in the diet of the Grand Duchy of Baden, the 16th inst., when a petition, signed by 300 citizens of the good old town of Offenburg, was read, calling upon the diet to pave the way for a peaceable intervention between Britain and the Boers.”

DISTRICT 1.

By H. W. Cottrell

The District meeting was held at South Lancaster, Mass., Nov. 28 to Dec. 10, 1899. The ten Conferences and two mission fields in the district were all represented by delegates. The representation from the different Conferences, outside of the delegates, except from the New England Conference, was not very large.

Elders Irwin and Haskell were present from abroad, and took special interest in the services throughout the series. Elder Irwin had regularly the morning hour, from nine to ten, at which time he read the Testimonies that have recently been sent to the church. The Testimonies are applicable to us, and portray vividly the condition of the world about us. They were highly appreciated by all, or at least by nearly all, in attendance. I think the general desire was to receive them as personal, and walk in harmony with the principles therein laid down. Elder Haskell occupied the morning period, from half past five to half past six, and the evening service at half past seven. He dwelt largely upon the very timely and distinctive truths of the third angel's message, which have made us a distinct people. These lessons were highly appreciated; for we see the necessity of teaching the people of the earth the special reformatory truths that the Lord has in mercy intrusted to us.

A few discourses were delivered by other brethren, which added to the abundance of good things. Mrs. Haskell was given an hour daily, at which time she introduced many practical thoughts in Bible study. One hour each day was given to praise service, which was improved by the congregation to the glory of God. Some souls that were under the bondage of discouragement were set free in Jesus.

The remaining portion of the day was improved in the business meetings of the Academy corporation, the Mutual Aid corporation, the District Conference, and the sanitarium board meetings. It was recommended that Elder H. C. Giles, of the New England Conference, make Newfoundland his field of labor; and that Elder A. R. Hyatt, of the New York Conference, labor in the maritime provinces. The Conference voted requesting the General Conference and Foreign Mission Board to look favorably upon the idea of the securing of a fund to be known as the “Superannuated Ministers’, and Ministers’ Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund,” and to suggest some plan upon which all can heartily agree, that provision may be made at least in cases of dire necessity. Surely this is a step in the right direction.

The delegates from the various Conferences had nearly all returned home before the collection was taken for the United States Southern field, yet the offerings amounted to over eight hundred dollars, besides nearly one hundred dollars, which was given to the Australian field. H. W. COTTRELL.

Continue reading: THE WORK AT UNION COLLEGE