Earlier text: Mr. Hubbell’s ConversionThe Friendly Islands
By E. E. Thorpe
THE mission of Seventh-day Adventists to these islands began some twelve years ago. About 1895 Elder Hilliard and his wife came as witnesses, and held up the banner of truth amid the prevailing darkness. Dr. M. G. Kellogg also lived in Nukualofa, Tonga, building the mission house. Like the apostle Paul, Brother Hilliard worked with his own hands, carpentering, etc., thus lightening the expenses of the mission. Sister Hilliard conducted a school, the memory of which to-day is held in good repute. In traveling around here, many have introduced themselves to us by saying they were taught in Sister Hilliard’s school. Many families in Tongatabu became acquainted with our truth through the labors of Brother and Sister Hilliard. Brother and Sister Butz labored with them for a little while, and were then left in charge of the field. A church of twelve members has been raised up. A few others partially accepted the truth, were baptized, and attended the church, afterward giving up. We have one Tongan Sabbath-keeper as a result of these labors. Sister Butz got into the homes and hearts of the people by ministering to the sick, which work has been appreciated. Some tracts have been written and translated, dealing with the second advent, the love of God, baptism, tobacco habit, etc. These have been freely distributed in Tongatabu and some of the surrounding islands, including Lefuka, Haapene, and Eua. The mission property consists of the church building, school building, and mission house, which stand on about two acres of rented government land. The church-school, under the labors of Sister Ella Boyd, has done and is doing commendable work. The school has been filled all the time, and, through the blessing of God, has the best reputation of any school in Tonga. The present enrolment is twenty-four. Some of the students are doing very encouraging advance work. The present outlook for our work here in the Friendly Islands is encouraging. To our minds, at least at present, future plans consist in doing educational work among the children. We shall endeavor to increase our church-school membership and to keep our standard high, giving the children the best education possible. We propose also to open a night-school for young men. We are endeavoring to introduce the sale of our health foods. One of our brethren, W. Palmer, who has a good command of the language, having lived in these islands for over twenty years, has begun to translate the larger portion of “Bible Readings” into the Tongan language. There is a demand for such a work among the people. The native ministers here often go to our brethren for their Sabbath’s sermon. We believe that a book like this would sell readily. We shall have to work in faith, as far as its publication is concerned. Brethren and sisters, the Lord’s work in these darkened islands needs your prayers. Great light has shone upon Tonga, but as yet the people sit in darkness. E. E. THORPE. LIMA.—One year ago this morning (November 16) we landed in Callao. The year has passed very rapidly, and, for the most part, pleasantly. As is usually the case, in looking over the year's work we can see many mistakes, and many good things undone; but we are exceedingly thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for his beneficent care, his daily help in trial, and his patience with us. With but little exception, our health has been good. In our work we have tried to move cautiously, and we can see that it is gradually coming into shape as an organized effort. Nearly all of the first believers here were leavened with false theories when we came, and most of them have dropped out. The newer members are coming right up through the tests thus brought upon them, and are getting quite fully established in the truth; but it has been a trying task. However, I think that the first year or two will be the most difficult. We have not organized a church yet, and have baptized but two, but hope to organize soon in Lima. Last night seven came to our meeting, some for the first time, and said that they wanted to keep the Sabbath and unite with us. All seem intelligent. One man last Sabbath went to his employer, and asked for Sabbath free, offering to work Sundays. The employer refused to grant the request, even though from a trusted man, his under-paymaster. This brother took home his tools, and has spent the week looking for work where he can keep the Sabbath. He is an excellent man, and we shall watch after him carefully. Brother Robinson has just finished some new benches, and we are looking for a larger meeting place, as this one is outgrown. We face our second year with courage, and hope, and confidence in God. O, if our people could see the need, and the harvest of souls that might be gathered but may be lost, they would send more men and means into these dark and sinful parts of the earth—our earth; for, is it not promised to the faithful, the children of Abraham? When shall we arise and proclaim the kingdom of the Lord Jesus in the fulness of power? “Then shall the end come.” How many more of the aged standard-bearers must fall under the power of death before the final victory? Ever since I can remember anything, my father has talked of seeing Jesus come. He tried to do what he could to help. He made an effort to train his children for the work. But death claimed him before the fruition of his hope. He died last May, after living this message for sixty years. May God give to his servants who stand as leaders minds filled with the wisdom of God, and words newly edged with power sent down from heaven, that the work may be done soon. South Africa
By J. F. Olmstead
PORT ELIZABETH.—At present the work here is encouraging, and our hearts are made glad to see a few taking their stand for Christ, even in this field, where it is quite difficult to get the gospel of the kingdom before those who still sit in darkness. Very many do not realize their need of original research, digging for the treasures of God. They seem satisfied with the established churches, and see no need of making a change, but there are some who are willing to sacrifice for Christ, giving up position and all for him whose we are. Brother W. C. Walston and I came here in July from Oudtshoorn. He began meetings in Uitenhage, twenty-one miles distant, and I began here in Port Elizabeth. Brother Walston worked faithfully in Uitenhage, laboring in love to draw the honest to God. After spending about two months there, he was called up-country to assist Elder Armitage in the Somabula Mission, twenty-two miles from Gwelo, Rhodesia. Since then I have endeavored to carry on the work in both places to the best of my ability, and in the fear of God. The members in both churches are quite active in missionary effort, and the success enjoyed is largely due to their efforts. Since July, 1906, nine sisters and one brother have been baptized and taken into the two churches. Many others are interested, while a few are seriously counting the cost of yielding all to the Lord and walking with him. We invite those of the household of faith to remember us in their daily petitions to God, that we may have spiritual success in our work for the Master, and18 that we may be fruit-bearing branches. We do pray that our coming to Africa may not be in vain, but that we may see some turning from sin and unrighteousness to walk in harmony with all the precepts of God. J. F. OLMSTEAD. Church Organized in Chicago
By Wm. Covert
WE gladly state that another church of Seventh-day Adventists has recently been organized in Chicago. This new church meets in Belden Hall. The place is at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Orchard Street, second floor. The entrance is from Lincoln Avenue. It is near the place where our camp-meeting was held last summer. Much labor has been bestowed in that part of the city recently, and perhaps fifty persons embraced the truth in connection with the service, but some of these have united with the different Seventh-day Adventist churches in Chicago and elsewhere, and probably twenty in this district are keeping the Sabbath as a result of the meetings, but have not united with any of our churches yet. About twenty members belong to the new organization, and half of these are receiving letters from other churches that they may unite there. It is confidently expected that other persons who have lately embraced the truth will soon unite with the company here. This new church enters upon its course with courage and confidence in the righteousness of the cause which it has espoused. May its membership increase and its works be approved by the Lord. JAMES A. MORROW
By James A. Morrow
HAMILTON.—The first of October we moved from the rooms we had occupied since we first came to Bermuda. We now have a six-room cottage. Our people have been urging the matter of a church-school for some time. We have felt very deeply over the situation, and my wife opened a school in one room of our house, six weeks ago. She now has eleven pupils. Ten of these belong to Sabbath-keeping parents. From the beginning we have felt the blessing of God in this work. There are eight or ten more children in the circle of our church, but their parents live nine miles distant. So far we have not been able to make any arrangement whereby they can attend. Since writing last I have been sick two weeks. Two or three weeks before, I began open-air meetings on Monday nights, in a new place, seven miles from Hamilton. At first the people were very backward, but they have gradually come nearer to us. Two Monday evenings while I was sick, Brother Enoch held a service at this place. Last night about fifty persons were in attendance. The evening was quite chilly, as were also the two preceding Monday nights, but the people sat and listened. The very week I was taken sick I had intended to hold a service every night, it being bright moonlight. Had I been able to do this, I suppose the people would have heard enough so they could have been brought to a deciding point before these chilly nights came. But here we are, in a very trying place. We have been unsuccessful in finding a room in this neighborhood in which we could hold our meetings. Two or three persons have offered their rooms, but they were too small to accommodate the people. We have been thinking that we may have to get a tent. We have been making some inquiries about a room one and one-half miles this side of the point where we have been holding these meetings, but have not received a decided answer. It is a little doubtful whether we could hold the same interest, should we move. We also have two or three interested families here in Hamilton, and the same number nine miles west, where I have a service every Thursday night. British Honduras
By H. C. Goodrich
BELIZE.—I have just come in from a preaching service held on the street, at which we had excellent attention while I talked on the second chapter of Daniel. We have a folding organ, and with Mildred to play, we get a good crowd. At first we had no interest, except in the singing; to-night we had the best of attention to the preaching. About two months ago I began these meetings in another part of town. The interest was small, yet a few came to hear the singing. One woman of seeming ability has accepted the Sabbath. She has two daughters, and we hope to see them, also, with us soon. Now we have chosen another place, and the interest is much better, with a better class of people. Of course, when the weather is bad, it stops our work; but often the rain has held off until the meeting closed. We are thus reaching many people whom we could not meet in any other way. At the meetings held in the first place, a Catholic man came with a club every night for some time, and drove off all the Catholics. Several young men of the Catholic college came to see me, or asked me to visit them, but these visits were immediately stopped by the priests. I am holding these meetings while waiting for an opportunity to go over to Spanish Honduras. The governor has kindly sent me an official permit, signed and stamped, giving me the special privilege of coming to Spanish Honduras without waiting for the quarantine to be lifted. This was sent last month (September), but we have not found a boat yet that would take us, so great is the smuggling business; for when a boat is smuggling, no passengers are wanted. One came in yesterday which I understand is going straight in, and we may be able to go the first of next week. This trouble of getting passage here is sometimes a very serious one. A ship would be a necessity if there were more workers in this field; and I expect to see such a conveyance before this mission field becomes a conference. And now let me mention the matter of laborers. I have been in this field for more than six years. I have taken things as I found them, and have worked hard, yet I have not had any great success. Sometimes I have been encouraged with a successful effort; but I think the losses have been nearly equal to the increase. The last two seasons here have been very trying ones, on account of the quarantine, which has hindered our work a great deal; I have not been able to go about as I should, and have had to depend altogether on writing. I am sure one laborer in Spanish Honduras, one in British Honduras, and one in the Bay Islands, would be but a little band, with the field so divided and no ready means of conveyance. We always pray that God may help in the home field, and bless it abundantly, and we would humbly ask a share in your prayers for the work here. The Argentine Conference
By John W. Westphal
Five years ago the River Plate Conference, embracing Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, was organized. At the organization of the South American Union Conference last March, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and Missiones were cut off and made into two separate mission fields. At the sixth annual meeting of the River Plate Conference, recently held at Alberdi, the name was changed to the Argentine Conference, which now more properly designates its territory. Alberdi is the wealthy suburb of Rosario, in the Province of Santa Fé, the second largest city of Argentina, containing about one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants. Work was begun in this place by Brother Arthur Fulton during the school vacation last summer, with the result that several souls were won for the truth, and others became interested. It was to help develop this interest and to plant more firmly the truth in this important center that the conference was appointed for this place. To search out the interested ones, to personally invite all to attend the meeting, and to get the truth into as many homes as possible, a goodly number of the workers and brethren and sisters visited the homes of the people, selling our papers and tracts. About 1,350 copies of the paper and 315 thirty-two page tracts were sold, and thirty-six subscriptions were obtained. Some very interesting cases were found, and the evening attendance at the meetings was good. One woman who had never heard of the truth before attended nearly every meeting, fully accepted the message as far as she had opportunity to learn it, and was baptized. Others were deeply interested, and since the camp-meeting the work is being followed up by Brethren Maas and Rojas and some sisters. We hope soon to be able to organize a small church in this place. On the last Sabbath about one hundred adults were present. The Lord blessed us throughout, but especially the last few days. All present consecrated themselves anew to God, and fourteen precious souls were baptized. At the close of the afternoon service Brother Jacob Mangold was ordained to the sacred work of the gospel ministry, to which the Spirit witnessed. The day19 closed with an excellent social meeting. Nearly six hundred dollars was donated to enlarge the school building, to obtain more land for the school farm, to secure a permanent place of worship in the city of Buenos Ayres, and to assist Chile on account of its loss in the recent earthquake. We expect our donation to this fund will be considerably augmented by our brethren who were not present. The officers of the conference were all re-elected. A spirit of harmony and good will was manifest throughout the entire meeting. The year has been the best in the history of the work in Argentina. Since the previous conference one hundred and seven have been received into the churches or have been baptized. Although the harvest was not so good as the previous year, 1906 will probably show an increase in tithes and offerings. The message has been planted on new soil, and plans are shaping to enter permanently new provinces. Elder Mangold and a colporteur will make the province of Corrientes their future field of labor. Brother Arthur Fulton and his wife, after laboring a short time in Junin, in the province of Buenos Ayres, a large territory where nothing as yet has been done, will go to the province of Mendoza, at the foot of the Andes Mountains, to open up the work. The prospects for our work were never so bright as now. We see evidences that clearly indicate that the time for the increase and enlargement of God's people has surely come, and that there will be delay no longer. J. W. WESTPHAL.
Diamante, Entre Rios, Argentina. The Iowa State Young People's Convention
By C. L. Benson
THIS convention was held at Des Moines, Iowa, December 26-30. About twenty-five delegates were present, representing almost as many societies or churches. These, together with the young people residing at Des Moines, made quite a goodly company to consider the important issues brought before the convention. In addition to the delegates, Elder Luther Warren, Elder Starr, Brother Fred Wilbur, Prof. Floyd Bralliar, and the writer were present. The program consisted of addresses, papers, and discussions. There was the utmost freedom and the best of spirit manifested in carrying on the discussions. It was very interesting to learn the attitude of the different churches toward the young people's work, the nature of the societies' programs, and the kinds of work carried on by each. In following the discussions the delegates used their note-books and pencils freely to preserve the many practical suggestions offered. The stirring addresses given by Elder Warren aroused all present to the supreme importance of making their calling and election sure. An individual heart searching resulted, the fallow ground was broken up, and praise and consecration meetings were enjoyed by all. The Spirit of the Lord brooded over all the meetings of the convention. From the convention the delegates returned home with a determination to kindle the zeal of their societies by imparting to them the inspiration received at the council. We look for Iowa to forge to the front ranks, to plant her standard where it belongs, and to sound the rallying cry to her hundreds of young people—“The advent message to all the world in this generation.” Three members of the student bindery family, South Lancaster, Mass., were baptized on Sabbath, January 5. Brother C. J. Kunkel reports that, through the Lord’s blessing, the fruit of a tent effort in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the past season, is ten souls who rejoice in present truth. From Flint, Mich., Brother B. F. Stureman reports that the Sunday following the week of prayer two went forward in baptism, the Baptists kindly granting the use of their baptistery. The following Sabbath two others united with the church on profession of faith. Four persons recently embraced the truth, and three of them were baptized at Leach, Tenn. Brother W. S. Lowry held three meetings in a schoolhouse a few miles from the church, and then continued in the church, with the result above told. Brother Chas. F. Ulrich reports progress in presenting the truth at East Wakefield, N. H. Although the plain, cutting truths have been presented, there is no prejudice. Another man and his wife have decided to obey God. A Sabbath-school of eleven members has been organized. Brother Ray Hickman reports fruit still being gathered of the seed sowing done at the tent-meeting held by Brother J. R. Bagby and himself near Addington, Okla. The last Sabbath of the week of prayer, another brother was baptized, making seven that have been added to the church there recently. Sister Sophia V. Parker, the Bible worker in Shawnee, Okla., has been made glad to see seven of her readers recently begin to observe the Sabbath. Two of these first became interested during the tent-meetings the past summer. Other attendants at the meetings are still interested, and she hopes for still more soon to join the thirteen new Sabbath-keepers in Shawnee. Sister Ella Mallory, who styles herself a “paper missionary,” is selling our periodicals in the settlements along the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon, in Alaska. She sends clippings of favorable notices that appear in the newspapers, and reports only the kindest of treatment. Her zeal for her work is attested by the fact of enduring the rigors of that climate, being out when the thermometer registered fifty degrees below zero. Brother E. R. Williams and his wife are working in connection with the Englewood church of Chicago. They have rented a hall at Sixty-ninth and Sangamon Streets, and besides the Sabbath meetings hold services three evenings in the week. Since the removal of the Sabbath meetings from the small quarters formerly occupied on Sixty-third Street, the Sabbath-school has more than doubled in numbers, and Sabbath, December 15, eight were added to the church, four by letter, and four on profession of faith. There are three to be baptized. Atlantic Union Conference
Received on the $150,000 Fund
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England Conf. ......$ 365.29
Chesapeake Conference .......... 20.22
Eastern Pennsylvania Conf. .... 70.78
Greater New York Conference .... 76.50
Maine Conference ............... 26.22
New Jersey Conference .......... 158.50
New York Conference ............ 583.50
Southern New England Conf. ..... 323.56
Vermont Conference ............. 331.76
Virginia Conference ............ 53.00
Western Pennsylvania Conf. ..... 160.15
West Virginia Conference ....... 54.11
Western New York Conf. ......... 11.00
Total ..........................$2,234.59 Canadian Union Conference
Maritime Conference ............$ 1.00
Quebec Conference .............. 6.00
Ontario Conference ............. 3.00
Total ..........................$ 10.00 Colorado Conference ............$ 28.00
Iowa Conference ................ 24.50
Kansas Conference .............. 53.23
Missouri Conference ............ 19.80
Nebraska Conference ............ 825.40
Wyoming Conference ............. 6.50
Total ..........................$ 957.43 Washington churches ...........$ 758.85 West Michigan Conference .......$ 207.21
Indiana Conference ............. 1,480.71
North Michigan Conference ... 9.25
Northern Illinois Conference .. 333.59
Ohio Conference ............... 286.62
Southern Illinois Conference .. 186.15
West Michigan Conference ...... 440.25
Wisconsin Conference .......... 897.55
Total ..........................$3,841.33 North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified ......$ 248.35
British Columbia Conference .. 10.00
Montana Conference ............ 56.45
Upper Columbia Conference .... 24.75
Western Washington Conf. ...... 173.00
Idaho Conference .............. 26.00
Western Oregon Conference .... 82.13
Total ..........................$ 620.68 Northern Union Conference
Alberta Conference .............$ 1.25
Manitoba Conference ........... 64.00
Saskatchewan Mission Field .... 5.85
Minnesota Conference .......... 874.41
South Dakota Conference ....... 18.90
North Dakota Conference ....... 445.42
Total ..........................$1,409.83 Arizona Conference .............$ 10.00
California-Nevada Conference .. 48.07
Southern California Conference 45.05
Utah Conference ............... 10.00
Total ..........................$ 113.12 Southern Union Conference
Alabama Conference .............$ 5.00
Tennessee River Conference .... 24.60
Florida Conference ............ 26.75
North Carolina Conference ..... 12.25
Kentucky Conference ........... 6.40
Cumberland Conference ......... 12.84
Louisiana Conference .......... 50.25
Total ..........................$ 138.09 Southwestern Union Conference
Arkansas Conference ............$ 85.50
Oklahoma Conference ........... 306.29
Texas Conference .............. 310.42
Total ..........................$ 702.21 Unknown ........................$ 143.00 Australia ......................$ 122.45
China .......................... 3.00
South Africa .................. 128.16
Jamaica ......................... 3.17
Yukon Territory ................ 10.00
England ....................... 249.65
Gold Coast, West Africa ....... 10.00
Mexico ......................... 1.50
Costa Rica ..................... 1.00
India .......................... 9.60
South America .................. 23.35
Total ..........................$ 561.88 Grand Total ................$11,491.01 NOTICE.— We note that many are sending their donations on the $150,000 fund to the Review and Herald Publishing Association. It is desired that, so far as possible, all donations for the above fund be sent to the State or union conference treasurer. If for any reason this can not be done, then all remittances should be sent to I. H. Evans, Treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., and not to the Review and Herald Publishing Association. — Priests and students are beginning to respond to the order of France that they shall serve in the army the same as other citizens. Fifty-five hundred are affected by the order. — The worst flood in twenty years is raging along the banks of the Ohio River and its tributaries. In the immediate vicinity of Cincinnati alone fully 15,000 persons have been driven from their homes. — A tidal wave has devastated some of the Dutch East Indian Islands. According to an official dispatch, 300 persons perished on the island of Tena, while forty are known to have been drowned at the island of Simalu. — A New York alderman has been arrested for receiving a bribe of $500 each for the votes of himself and ten of his colleagues in the contest of choosing a recorder. A member of the common council of Pittsburg has been convicted of soliciting a bribe in that city. — The worst typhoon in ten years swept over the islands Leyte and Samar of the Philippines, January 10. One hundred lives were lost in Leyte, and the barracks and officers’ quarters on Samar were destroyed. Communication with these islands was cut off for six days. — According to New York report two former officers of the Palma administration in Cuba are in that city, and a third is in Europe, to again foment trouble in the island. These reports state that arms and ammunition have been shipped clandestinely from New York to Cuba for possible future use. — By an explosion of gas at the base of a blast furnace in Pittsburg, Pa., January 9, tons of molten metal were showered about the thirty-five workmen near by. Of these three are dead, seven are dying, and twenty-four are missing. It is feared they were engulfed by the molten mass from which they were last seen fleeing. — Encouraged by some successes, strikers in the mill district of Orizaba, Mexico, cut the wires of telegraphic and telephone communication, and began pillaging the shops and houses. When a body of troops arrived, it met with resistance. The soldiers fired upon the mob, killing thirty and wounding eighty. Not long after thousands of the strikers suffering from hunger from being idle returned to work, at least seven of the ringleaders of the trouble were executed by the government. — Train wrecks seem to be chronicled with increasing frequency and horror. A single paper has brought the news of nineteen dead and thirty injured near Terra Haute, Ind., from the explosion of a car of powder on a siding; and sixteen killed and ten injured at Fowler, Ind., caused by the engineer of a fast train on the Big Four Railroad passing a block signal in a fog; also minor casualties to trains at Denmark, S. C.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Meridian, Miss.; De Soto, Kan.; Peoria, Ill.; and two at Hammond, Ind.