BATTLE CREEK.—The work of God is onward in this church in which so many experiences of the past have centered. The church is pushing ahead in the Harvest Ingathering campaign. Three thousand papers have been taken, $500 has been raised, and we are still working.
We are striving hard to raise our quota for missions, and we expect to do it. Four thousand dollars has been raised, and we are confident that by the help of the Lord the full amount will be obtained.
We again started our Sunday night meetings October 17. Our attendance has ranged from 350 to 600; collections, $3.50 to $8.30. All the collections go to missions. Sales of books, tracts, etc., amount to $20.
We have a Berean band which meets Monday nights for Bible study and to arrange for Bible work. At present, there are four outposts where Sunday night meetings are held by brethren of the church, and Bible readings are being given in the city. Some report good interest.
The State Sunday school convention, with 4,000 delegates from all parts of the State, held its annual session of three days, last week, in the Tabernacle, which was the only place in the city large enough for the convention. The church has free literature racks in the vestibules, and Brother Babcock, church secretary, reports 10,300 pages of tracts and 200 periodicals taken. On the last night 2,000 tracts entitled “What Seventh-Day Adventists Believe” were handed to the delegates. We trust these pages may win many to rejoice in the truth of the Lord’s coming.
The academy, under the principalship of Prof. W. J. Blake, is prospering. This year it has the largest enrollment in its history.
Miss Frances Case, superintendent of the young people’s work in the church, is having a good interest, and many opportunities are opening for work. She has a large Standard of Attainment class.
The interest in the regular Sabbath services and Sabbath school is good, and the Tabernacle is well filled, except the vestries, nearly every Sabbath. Many strangers, from the sanitarium and other parts of the city, attend. Five persons were baptized on a recent Sabbath, making thirty-five since June 1. The church in general is loyal, and is working, praying, and sacrificing for the triumph of “the blessed hope.”
G. E. LANGDON.
Trinidad, British West Indies
By M. B. Butterfield
PORT OF SPAIN.— It is just one year ago today that we landed in Port of Spain, British West Indies. Time has quickly passed away. It seems only a few months since we stepped off the boat to enter Port of Spain. This island is called “the place of endless sunshine,” and every day in the year is like a beautiful summer day in America. Notwithstanding the continued heat, we have become acclimated and are enjoying good health.
Feeling that God had called us to this place, we made it a special subject of prayer that he would fit us to labor for these dear people. God has wonderfully answered our prayers, and we can truthfully say that we love these people as much as we do those in the homeland. In our experience we have found that the human heart is the same the world over, and that God has indeed made of one blood all nations, and that he is able, through his infinite love, to make us love one another as he loved us. What a blessed privilege! It is the love of God that moves the world.
God has signally blessed in our work in this city of sixty thousand inhabitants. During the past year we have held two series of meetings in the church. The attendance has been large—from three to five hundred persons who were all English-speaking. These meetings were well advertised. The people here give liberally considering the fact that they have so little, and labor is scarce. This condition makes it hard for one to accept the Sabbath, for the people are very much prejudiced against Seventh-day18Adventists. Notwithstanding these serious hindrances, over one hundred persons have been baptized and taken into the church. During the two efforts, we have had a faithful Bible worker, Miss Anna Osborne, to assist us. Our association with the church and the workers has been pleasant. We give God all the praise for what has been done, and pray that as we enter other places in the great harvest field, he will continue to prosper and bless the Port of Spain church, that in that glad day when Jesus gathers the nations, he may find a faithful people in this church, who will receive a crown of life.
M. B. BUTTERFIELD.
West Pennsylvania
By J. W. Watt
PITTSBURGH.— After the camp meeting in June, I was asked to come to Pittsburgh to act as pastor of the First Seventh-day Adventist church of this city. There is plenty of work to be done here, holding cottage meetings and visiting during the week, and preaching on the Sabbath and on Sunday evening. On the Sabbath we have an audience of 125 to 140. There is an active young people's society. The church members have started the Harvest Ingathering work by ordering six hundred copies of the Signs.
Our Bible worker, Sister Anderson, has all the work she can possibly do. There are a number of interested ones whom we hope to see accept the truth soon. Since I came here, eight persons have united with the church. I am thankful for a humble part in this great work, and desire to do all in my power to help precious souls to see the truth and obey it. Brethren, pray for the work in this city. J. W. WATT.
Porto Rico
By D. D. Fitch
SANTURCE.— The friends who have been so kindly supplying us with periodicals will be glad to learn that our own people feel they have been having a feast of good things, and are passing the same on to their neighbors.
From the literature sent we selected some for ship mission work. We first paid a visit to the captain of the coast guard ship “Seminole,” to arrange for giving the sailors an exhibition of stereopticon pictures. We found the captain to be a thorough gentleman, genial, and withal a Bible student. So much time was spent in satisfying his interest in the truths of the message that the real errand was deferred until later, when some of the reading matter was placed in his hands. He has since bought “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” and “Bible Readings,” and seems in harmony with all he reads.
Among the pictures shown were some on the Eastern Question, accompanied by a few remarks on the subject. Later the second officer said, “You have started in my mind a train of thought concerning a subject of which I wish to learn more.”
The sailors of this boat have been liberally supplied with literature, and two times we have had the privilege of holding Sunday services on the boat.
The captain has twice tendered us the use of the ship’s launch to visit three German vessels interned in the harbor. Literature is gladly received by them. Arrangements are being made to place reading matter in every house in Santurce.
D. D. Fitch.
The Summer's Campaign in the City of Buffalo
By F. C. Gilbert
For several years we have tried in various ways to solve the problem of reaching the Jewish people. As the brethren and sisters know, to reach the Jews with the gospel is a hard problem. But they must be warned, and somehow they must learn this truth. While to a large extent our work has been done and must still be done with the printed page and through publicity work, the living word must be preached whenever a hearing can be secured.
We have found from experience that the Jews are more friendly as they come to know Seventh-day Adventists. It is a wonderful thing for a Jew to learn that a Gentile believes in and keeps the Sabbath. A year ago this past summer we pitched a tent in Cambridge, Mass., where there are many Jews; and when we came to the specifically Jewish questions, as the Sabbath, we advertised in a way to attract the Jews. The Lord blessed the work in that city, and a number of persons accepted the truth, among whom was one Jewish young man.
This year, after counseling with the committee of the Jewish Department and the Western New York Conference Committee, it was decided that we locate for the summer in Buffalo. This is the tenth city in population in the United States, and has about fifteen thousand Jews.
I have felt for some time that the Jewish problem is really a city problem; and if we can find a way to solve our Jewish problem, it may aid in solving our city problem. It was therefore decided that in conducting this tent effort, workers of different nationalities should be associated with us. We had two German workers, one Jewish worker, one English Bible worker, a tent master, and my daughter, who acted as pianist and did the stenographic work.
We were convinced that we ought to do more than hold an ordinary tent effort. Desiring the cooperation of the members of the Buffalo church, we told them what we hoped to accomplish. The Spirit of the Lord came in, and we had a blessed consecration service. After the people had given themselves to the Lord, we read from the Testimonies what ought to be done for the cities, and showed how the brethren and sisters could help. In about twenty minutes they had given nearly all that was necessary for this special campaign. (The church at Burt, N. Y., also gave financial support to this Buffalo effort.) We then suggested that if we could get fifty persons who would give ten hours a week for eight weeks, we could warn the city. We assured them that if they would cooperate, we would reach every home, every office, and every business block in the city with this message. There was a splendid response.
In counsel with the president of the conference, we decided to get out a special bulletin for the campaign, in which we should include every feature of the message. We named it the King's Bulletin. It had sixteen pages of the size of one of our regular magazines, and cover.
We organized a Bible class for the church, and gave daily instruction on how to work for the people. We also had this class read Volume IX of the “Testimonies for the Church.” This was done by reading four pages each week day, and twelve pages on the Sabbath. In this way the book was read through in eight weeks.
The church sought the Lord daily for wisdom and guidance, and God heard and answered prayer. The city commissioner gave us the privilege of placing a large banner across the main street, advertising the lectures. The four leading papers of the city gave us space, and about sixty articles were published. This space was given to us gratuitously.
We districted the city into twenty-six sections, and each person was held responsible for the visiting of every home or building in his territory. In harmony with the Testimonies, we had the people work two and two; in this way the sections were thoroughly worked, and the workers did not go alone.
The churches within a radius of thirty miles caught the spirit of the campaign, and brethren came in from the country around to assist in the work. We further suggested to the brethren and sisters that while giving away these bulletins, they should ask the people for an offering.
Aside from a few Italians and other foreigners, the whole city was covered in twenty-three days. We placed in the homes of the people and in the business houses 1,020,000 pages of reading matter. The workers received nearly $120 in voluntary offerings while distributing the first 20,000 bulletins.
As soon as the bulletins had been scattered, we noticed in the meetings an increase in interest, in attendance, and in offerings. The evening audience was a steady one, the same people coming night after night. Altogether we placed in the city, in addition to the 1,020,000 pages of the King's Bulletin, 236,000 pages of Jewish literature.
The whole campaign, including the expense of the lot, advertising, printing, lighting, and everything else connected with the effort, cost about $1,100. With what offerings our people gave, we raised every dollar for the campaign, and nearly $150 besides, so that the whole effort did not take a dollar from the conference treasury.
Twenty-five persons took their stand for the truth. The tent collections were $425, besides nearly $120 from the sale of the bulletin. Among those who took their stand for the truth were three Jews, and as far as I have been able to learn, all who accepted the truth are steadfast. Elder Shoup is carrying on the work, and the last I heard, a goodly number were ready for baptism. I understand that still others have accepted the message. We are sure that as a result of the work being done by Elder Shoup and the workers associated with him, many others will unite with us.
If any of our workers or people would like to secure a copy of the King's Bulletin, we will gladly send one on receipt of a two-cent stamp.
We believe that our cities can be warned. May God roll a greater burden upon our hearts, that we may seek out the lost, both Jews and Gentiles, and finish the work the Lord God has given us to do. F. C. GILBERT.
Tithes From Our Publishing Work
By J. H. McEachern
On the third page of the Annual Statistical Report of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination for the year 1914, under “Publishing Department,” appear the following inspiring facts:—
“At the close of 1914 there were 38 publishing houses and branches, having assets amounting to $1,602,846.58, in which were employed 735 persons engaged in the production of denominational literature, the sales of which for 1914 amounted to $2,109,834.60. This literature is issued in the form of approximately 375 bound books, 350 pamphlets, 1,300 tracts, and 134 periodicals in 88 different languages. This literature is distributed by 2,076 colporteurs, of whom 885 are engaged in the North American Division, and 1,191 in other countries.”
In addition to the inestimable evangelical influence of our publications throughout the world, it is encouraging to note the financial returns to this cause accruing from the work of our colporteurs and those connected with the manufacture of our literature.
The total sale of all publications for the year was $2,109,834.60. Deducting one third, or $703,278.20, to allow for Sabbath School Quarterlies, tracts, etc., we have $1,406,556.40 as the value of large and small books and magazines. On these the colporteurs receive an average commission of 50 per cent, yielding a gross income of $703,278.20. Discounting one third, or $234,426.06, for delivery expenses, etc., which is a liberal allowance, would leave $468,852.14 as their net earnings. On this basis, the annual tithe from the colporteur (and no man or woman should be engaged to sell our literature who does not pay tithe) would be $46,885.21.
Our publishing houses furnish employment for 735 Sabbath keepers. At an average wage of $10 a week, they earn $382,200 a year. Thus the total annual tithe from colporteurs and publishing house employees, on a conservative estimate, would be $85,105.21. On an average wage of $14 a week, this $85,105.21 tithe would more than support 116 ordained ministers preaching this precious message for one whole year.
When we consider further the large donations made by our publishing houses, in both money and equipment, to foreign fields, together with their liberality last year in giving $1,000 to each of our several colleges; the opportunity afforded by the scholarship plan for hundreds of students to obtain an education; the millions of perishing souls pointed to Jesus through the earnest canvasses given by the consecrated colporteurs as they visit from home to home; and the far-reaching influence of our books in bringing scores to a knowledge of this truth, we are led to see in our publishing work one of the most valuable assets, both spiritually and financially, under the direction of this great cause.19God is blessing every individual and conference officer who stands ready to encourage this precious work; and those who engage in it from right motives will share the rich reward awaiting all who are instrumental in saving souls.
J. H. McEACHERN.
To Church Officers
By M. E. Kern
THE officers of the church have a sacred duty, as well as a precious privilege, to foster the young people's work. If “very much has been lost to the cause of God by lack of attention to the young,” then surely we must neglect them no more. If “the Lord has appointed the youth to be his helping hand,” it is certainly the duty of the overseers of the church to give most careful consideration to the organization through which the denomination is seeking to enlist them in the service of God right where they are.
At this time all our churches are considering the question of their officers for the coming year. It will soon be the duty of the churches to elect officers for the Missionary Volunteer Societies for the first six months of 1916. The success or failure of the work of the young people depends very largely on their leaders. How important, then, that the right ones be chosen!
What can the church elder and his associates do?
1. First, pray that God will give you an insight into the needs of your children and youth, and help you to know what to do and what not to do. I am coming more and more to think that we can find the solution to our problems in the secret place of prayer.
2. Give earnest thought to the leadership of the Missionary Volunteer Society, asking the Lord to help the church to choose well. Remember that this society is organized for personal work and other lines of Christian effort. The first essential qualifications of those who lead out in this work are deep spirituality and earnest activity in Christian work. It is far better to have a devout Christian who prays and works for souls, even though he may not have other desirable accomplishments, than to have one who is ever so brilliant but has not a real love for Jesus and his work. It is very necessary, of course, that a leader should have initiative and some ability to plan for others; but one thing is sure,—no one can lead others in soul winning who is not himself a soul winner.
3. In appointing the church nominating committee, remember that the Missionary Volunteer Society should be represented. It is pitiful to see a nominating committee with little knowledge of or interest in the Missionary Volunteer Society, choose persons as officers who are not qualified for the work, and who are not acceptable to the society. The young people need counsel and direction in their work, but not absolute dictation. Their desires should be considered. Their responsibility should be recognized by appointing one or more members on the church nominating committee from the active Missionary Volunteer workers.
4. When the Missionary Volunteer officers are elected, let the other church officers recognize them as fellow workers. Let those who are older help them20by their counsels and by their prayers to do a work for our children and youth which so much needs to be done.
M. E. KERN.
The Foreign Press
By J. R. Ferren
With reference to the influence of the foreign press of this country, a recent editorial in one of Chicago's leading daily papers makes the following comment:—
“At no other time in the history of the country has been so manifest the very considerable influence of the foreign language press in the United States as since the war began. The foreign language newspaper goes into the recesses of the city and country where the currents of American thought expressed in English are seldom felt. It is almost wholly relied upon for information of events.”
Mr. Casson, for years secretary of the American Advertising Association, after a thorough study of how to reach the foreigners in this country, said:—
“There are at least twenty million persons in this country who read foreign languages, and more than six millions of these can read foreign languages and nothing else. Out of every fifteen families in the United States there is one family that cannot read the English language. Fully seven per cent of the American nation is not yet American. There are enough people in the United States, in fact, to make three Chicagos, who cannot be reached by any of the advertising in our English-speaking newspapers and magazines.” Mr. Casson urges the use of foreign newspapers.
These facts, given for consideration of advertisers, are not less interesting nor significant to an organization commissioned to reach all nations with the gospel. The giving of the last message to these peoples is of vastly more importance than reaching them with the news or ordinary information. And in this work it seems that we shall have to depend largely upon our literature. It can go, as does the foreign newspaper, into the recesses of our cities and country where thoughts as expressed in English are unknown. Think what this means in the distribution of the foreign periodicals we now have, and others likely to be issued, as well as tracts, pamphlets, and books.
The foreign press of this country is studying its opportunities. Yesterday, upon invitation from the Nebraska State Manufacturers' Association, I met with representatives of the foreign press of Nebraska in a meeting at Lincoln. I was much impressed with the earnestness of these publishers, and how they regard their fields of endeavor. For example, one gentleman was there who began publishing in the Bohemian language, in Omaha, in 1871. He now operates eight weekly Bohemian papers in Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Their combined circulation of 40,000 copies an issue is largely in the Middle West and the West. A representative of a two-dollar-a-year weekly Italian paper published in Omaha, told me that it has a circulation of 9,000 copies a week. These go to subscribers located in the Middle and Western States. Another Italian publisher has recently established a weekly with a circulation of about 4,000 copies. He said that he is sure that seventy-five per cent of the Italians in this country can read. His subscribers are for the most part in the Middle States, but some are as far west as Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wyoming. I also had opportunity of becoming acquainted with the manager of the Danish-Norwegian publishing house which furnishes literature to the Lutheran Church in this part of the United States. It is located in Blair, Nebr. Washington County, in which Blair is located, is almost wholly settled by Danes and Norwegians.
This is only a slight indication of the way in which we are surrounded by foreign-reading people. And the parts of the United States here mentioned have a smaller per cent of foreigners than some others.
What must be the condition in many States, when Nebraska, which is not regarded as having more than an ordinary proportion of foreigners, according to the 1910 census, has 228,000 Germans, 50,000 Bohemians, 59,000 Swedes, 35,000 Danes, 13,000 Poles, and 12,000 Italians?
Truly, our leaders and churches should be studying how best to reach our great foreign home field. I believe our people will welcome every advance suggestion given, and unite in a mighty forward movement in behalf of those who must receive a knowledge of the third angel's message in their own languages.
J. R. FERREN.
Newspaper Publicity Profitable
By J. S. Rouse
THE experiment of supplying the newspapers of Missouri with articles on various topics concerning our denomination, has demonstrated that it is an effective way of reaching the public with the gospel, and also of informing them as to the progress our particular message is making. Reports about our work in the secular papers have been the means of increasing the attendance at different public meetings, and also of leading interested persons to write to the conference office for further information on the subjects presented in such reports.
During our camp meeting this past season the newspapers in the city where it was held devoted a liberal amount of space to the publication of reports. In these daily articles were given short accounts of the business proceedings, and interesting extracts of a number of the discourses presented. Our public audiences grew from the start, and we attributed the crowds largely to the publicity given the meetings.
Our worker in St. Louis has been meeting with success in having reports published in three of the large dailies there. He finds that it is profitable to supply these papers with reports, and makes the writing of these articles a regular part of his work. These papers circulate all over the State, and through the reports that are published in them our work is becoming better known, and men and women comment upon it. I think that more should be done through this agency, that the message might be hastened in its onward march.
J. S. ROUSE.
The Sweetness of Your Faith
“THE world will not be convinced of the sweetness of your faith by the sourness of your face.”
Missionary Volunteer Department
M. D. KERNGeneral and N. Am. Div. SecretaryC. L. BENSONAssistant SecretaryMADAM MACGUIREN. Am. Div. Field Secretary
For two months.
Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.
Summary
By N. Z. T.
OUR summary this month is a good one. Of the eleven unions in the North American Division which reported, ten show a substantial gain in book sales, the total gain for the Division being more than $14,000 over the corresponding month last year. The grand total from the foreign fields also shows a small gain.
We are glad that we can add a new field, Guatemala, to our list this month. Although the Guatemala peso, or dollar, is worth only from two to three cents in United States currency, a good beginning is being made with our large subscription books. Concerning the outlook in that republic, Brother C. F. Innis writes:—
“From the present outlook, which to me is encouraging, I believe that I can, with the Lord’s help, place a large number of our good books in this field. Business is somewhat dull because of the war, but there are always some who will buy when the book is presented to them in the right way. I believe that ‘The Coming King’ will be a good book to sell here, as the price is only $1.50; but this means $75 in Guatemala currency. I am now getting one hundred and twenty-five Guatemala pesos for the health book in the cheapest binding. I am endeavoring to do very careful, thorough work, in such a way that I can return with other books. . . .”
“I have been much encouraged by the interest that I have found in Bible study21and by the spirit of investigation which I see among the people. In each town where I have canvassed, I have found some who believe in the Bible. Some are already connected with an evangelical body, but there are others studying the Bible who are not yet connected with any church. In one place I was received as a brother in Christ in six different families. In another place the family joined with me in a season of prayer, asking the Lord to bless my work and the books that I was placing among the people. I firmly believe that when these people hear the advent message preached, after reading such a book as ‘The Coming King,’ many of them will accept the truth. I also believe that an Adventist minister could get a good hearing in the places where I have canvassed. The people seem eager to get more light from the Bible. Some of them already have their homes fitted up with benches, and a table with a large Bible on it, so that the missionaries who pass may hold meetings with them. Why cannot we step in and fill such openings as these?”
— N. Z. T.
“THE true waste of life consists in the love we have not given, the service we have not rendered, the sacrifice from which we have drawn back.”
Publishing Department
N. Z. TOWN - - - General SecretaryW. W. EASTMAN - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary
Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals
January, 1914, 485,968 copies, value $19,795.36; January, 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23.
February, 1914, 372,235 copies, value $10,739.70; February, 1915, 403,134 copies, value $11,357.55.
March, 1914, 381,017 copies, value $11,168.35; March, 1915, 467,626 copies, value $18,243.92.
April, 1914, 375,140 copies, value $11,686.31; April, 1915, 418,584 copies, value $10,001.96.
May, 1914, 297,877 copies, value $8,949.90; May, 1915, 595,740 copies, value $18,200.94.
June, 1914, 301,582 copies, value $9,509.79; June, 1915, 215,051 copies, value $7,974.76.
July, 1914, 380,246 copies, value $10,455.83; July, 1915, 561,531 copies, value $11,627.60.
August, 1914, 196,328 copies, value $5,502; August, 1915, 451,249 copies, value $11,301.47.
September, 1914, 300,761 copies, value $8,336.88; September, 1915, 220,832 copies, value $7,848.51.
October, 1914, 445,629 copies, value $11,703.18; October, 1915, 410,917 copies, value $10,454.20.