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Signs of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 14.

VITAMINES
Earlier text: PROFESSING PROTESTANTS AS PERSECUTORS

Live Session of Busy Workers

By H. H. Hall

Bookmen, Colporteurs, and Secretaries from Pacific Press Territory—A Soul-Saving Work the Spirit of the Occasion
By H. H. Hall
“PRINTING is the latest and greatest gift by which God enables us to advance the things of the gospel,” said Luther. Had he been here last week and witnessed the enthusiasm and heard the experiences of the hundred men and women gathered in convention, he would doubtless have repeated the statement, or used a stronger one. Why?—Because to a greater extent than ever before, the convention emphasized the value of gospel literature to save men rather than to make dollars.

A Gigantic Affair

As an indication of this soul-saving idea that permeated the entire sessions, we quote the following from a talk given us by Elder I. H. Evans, president of the North American Division Conference:
“I believe that every man individually ought to take rifle aim, and say, By the help of God I will bring souls to Christ. This book department has grown to be a gigantic affair. You have more men engaged in it than we have in any other line of work, unless it be our sanitarium work. You are doing a splendid work; but I think we want to get a better focus on the real purpose, and then every man set his heart to bring souls to Christ. That will incite you to prayer. I hold that if a man has the true ideal of labor, he will be a man of prayer. . . . I would like to see our men in the field so carry on their work that wherever a man has sold a book, there should spring up a great demand in that community for a minister to come and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It seems to me this book department is the forerunner for the ministry to follow.”

Advance Methods and Plans

Under the leadership of Elder N. Z. Town, secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department, and Elder W. W. Eastman, secretary of the North American Division Conference Publishing Department, careful consideration was given to improved methods of circulating our books and of securing a still stronger class of men to act as leaders in foreign and home fields.
THE FIVE UNION FIELD AGENTS
THE FIVE UNION FIELD AGENTS
The demand for properly educated and thoroughly trained colporteurs to enter foreign lands was emphasized by Elder N. Z. Town, who has recently completed long trips through Europe and Central America.
DELEGATES TO MISSIONARY AND BOOKMEN'S CONVENTION, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., MARCH 5-15, 1915
DELEGATES TO MISSIONARY AND BOOKMEN'S CONVENTION, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL., MARCH 5-15, 1915

Publications in Other Languages

Very definite progress in the preparation of large subscription books in various foreign languages was reported by the Pacific Press as follows:
In Portuguese we already have “Home and Health,” “Christ Our Saviour,” “Steps to Christ,” and “Glorious Appearing.” “Patriarchs and Prophets” has been translated, and a joint edition will be published within a few months, in Brazil. “Coming King” is translated, and a joint edition of 12,000 copies is being issued in Brazil, we to take 3,000 for our western territory.
In the Italian we now have the new edition of “Steps to Christ” and “Mystery Unfolded.” “Coming King” has been translated, and a joint edition for the use of Italy and the United States is being published for us in Gland, Switzerland.
In Polish we have the new edition of “Mystery Unfolded.”
In Finnish a 5,000 edition of “Great Controversy” has been completed in Helsingfors, and only awaits the opening of sea traffic to be shipped to Mountain View.
In Russian we have “Mystery Unfolded” already in stock, and the translation of “Great Controversy” is nearly completed.
In Hungarian and Bohemian, shipments of “Mystery Unfolded” have been imported from Hamburg.
In Danish, “Practical Guide” is about completed, while the same book is now being translated into Swedish and will be ready the last of this year. The Spanish edition of “Practical Guide” is already on the market, and nearly 5,000 copies have been sold.

A Cheering Message from Mrs. E. G. White

The day we were considering foreign literature, and methods by which it could be carried to the foreign-speaking people of the United States and Canada, a telephone message was received from Brother C. C. Crisler, one of Mrs. E. G. White’s secretaries, reading as follows:
“Sister White once more expressed her pleasure over the privilege she had two years ago of meeting with so many of the bookmen from the Pacific Press territory. And then she said: ‘I am very glad for all they are doing for the circulation of our books. The publishing branch of our cause has much to do with our power. I do desire that it shall accomplish all that the Lord designs it should. If our bookmen do their part faithfully, I know, from the light God has given me, that the knowledge of present truth will be doubled and trebled. This is why I have been in so much of a hurry to get my books out, so that they could be placed in the hands of the people and read. And in the foreign languages the Lord designs that the circulation of our books should be greatly increased. Thus we shall be placing the cause of present truth on vantage ground. But let us remember, in all our endeavors, we must seek daily power and individual Christian experience. Only as we keep in close touch with the source of our strength shall we be enabled to advance rapidly and along even lines.’”
These words were greatly appreciated by the convention, seventy of whom had made a visit to her home at the close of our convention two years ago.
DELEGATION FROM THE NORTHWEST ON SPECIAL CAR EN ROUTE TO THE CONVENTION
DELEGATION FROM THE NORTHWEST ON SPECIAL CAR EN ROUTE TO THE CONVENTION

Increased Sale of Tracts and Periodicals

The convention members were surprised to learn that over 32,000,000 pairs of gospel tracts had been sent out from the Pacific Press during 1914. The accompanying chart shows the continued interest manifested in this class of literature.
The members were also pleased to hear, from the periodical department, that the Signs of the Times Magazine had increased twenty-two per cent in its mailing list, and over seventy-two per cent in gross sales, since the first of the year 1914. It was reported that the Signs of the Times weekly had closed the year with an increase of sixty per cent in its list over the preceding year.

Home Missionary Work

One entire day was given to home missionary questions. This was led by Elder F. W. Paap, secretary of the Home Missionary Department of the North American Division Conference. The campaign upon which Elder Paap and his associates have entered, is to know no cessation until every Christian in the denomination shall have some definite part in soul-saving service. The spirit of these sessions took possession of all, and we believe the delegates will work to this end as never before.
LITERATURE SALES OF THE DENOMINATION SINCE 1885
LITERATURE SALES OF THE DENOMINATION SINCE 1885

Evening Sessions

Among the interesting evening sessions was a stereopticon lecture by Elder A. O. Tait, editor of the Signs of the Times, entitled “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God”; another by Elder N. Z. Town, secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department, on the progress of our work in Europe; and another by the writer, on his recent trip through South America.
Other features of these evening sessions were selections by the Pacific Press orchestra; the rendering of “The Heavens Are Telling” by local musicians; motion pictures illustrating various processes in the making of paper and books, explained by our art director, F. H. Gage; and selections on the harp by Brother De Nufrio.
In a series of slides presented without comment in connection with these evening sessions, several interesting items of progress were given. Ten years ago, when the first convention was held at Mountain View, our entire western territory did not have a single general agent. At the present time, we have five general and twenty-three local agents, besides an army of regular colporteurs. Ten years ago, the entire output of gospel literature by the Pacific Press was $243,814. Last year it was $471,126. The entire sales of the Pacific Press during the forty years of its existence were shown to be $8,170,639. A chart presented by Elder N. Z. Town showed the sale of gospel literature by the denomination to have reached the astonishing sum of $1,869,000 for 1913; and while records for 1914 were not yet complete, it is supposed they will nearly reach the $2,000,000 mark. A blessed reaping is already realized from this liberal sowing of the gospel seed.

The Elevating Power of the Bible

“No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible.”

Another Volcano in Prospect

By Frank A. Coffin

Another mountain in northern California is smoking, and bids fair to become volcanic. It is Mount Stover, in northern Plumas County, fifteen miles to the southeast of Mount Lassen. This peak is not quite so high as Lassen, and has not yet been shooting flame; but it is reported from Reno to have been smoking two days.
The increasing frequency of volcanoes and earthquakes, and the breaking out of new ones in unheard-of places, reminds us of the Scripture statement that “great earthquakes shall be in divers places. . . . men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:11, 26.
These upheavals of nature are given in the Bible as one of the signs of the last days of this world’s history, before the coming of the Saviour in glory to give immortality to those who are faithful to Him. They are one of the signs of the “perilous times” that have come, when Satan, “as a roaring lion” about to pounce upon his prey, “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. It is a time of all times in this world’s history to keep close to the Source of strength, through prayer and careful, thoughtful Christian living.
Frank A. Coffin.

The Sure Way to Success

By Josef W. Hall

GOD is a good Master. If we are members of His great corporation—or co-operation—He pays us richly for our work; but He pays no dividends on worry. “Work, and trust, and pray”—that is the motto which insures success. Pray that you may be directed to the right work to do; then work, and trust, and pray for God’s aid and direction in doing it. Our only concern should be work; our only thought of reward, trust. When we shall have learned perfect trust, then we shall have found the secret of perfect peace. JOSEF W. HALL.

32,800,000 Pages

of the tracts listed below were put into circulation last year by the publishers of this journal.
Tracts are great favorites with many Bible students and gospel workers, because—
They are low-priced, definite, convincing, and convenient for mailing with correspondence, or for carrying in the pocket.
Make a selection for your own study of those subjects which are not exactly clear to you. If particularly interested in some, why not order a supply for circulation among your friends and neighbors?
Tract Series No. Price
Topical Bible Studies B.S.L. 185 $.01½
Sufferings of Christ B.S.L. 14 .02
Bible Election B.S.L. 67 .01½
Justified by Faith B.S.L. 104 .01
Way to Christ B.S.L. 105 .01
The Priesthood B.S.L. 191 .01
Looking unto Jesus A.G.L. 1 .00½
Return of the Jews A.G.L. 62 .02
Jesus Died for You A.G.L. 63 .00½
Heralds of His Coming A.G.L. 85 .01½
Sure Word of Prophecy B.S.L. 131 .10
Waymarks to the Holy City B.S.L. 189 .01
Prophetic Gifts B.S.L. 164 .10
A Chat with My Tobacco-Using Brother A.G.L. 67 .00½
Food: Its Mental and Moral Value A.G.L. 68 .00½
It Doesn't Pay A.G.L. 82 .01
What Shall We Drink? A.G.L. 93 .00½
Simple Treatments for Common Ailments B.S.L. 201 .01½
Drunkenness and Crime B.S.L. 196 .01
Prohibition and Sunday Legislation W.T.S. 49 .01
What Is “Done Away” in Christ? B.S.L. 149 .01½
“Under the Law” or “Under Grace” B.S.L. 163 .01
The Perpetuity of the Law B.S.L. 178 .01
Ceremonial and Moral Law Distinguished B.S.L. 195 .01
Spiritualism B.S.L. 112 .01
Christian Science and Divine Healing B.S.L. 197 .10
The Spirit World and a Future Life B.S.L. 202 .10
Mormonism and the Bible B.S.L. 203 .02
Hypnotism W.T.S. 28 .03
Matthew 24, or the Second Coming of Christ B.S.L. 58 .10
The Great Day of the Lord B.S.L. 65 .02
Manner of Christ's Coming B.S.L. 124 .01
The Gospel Message B.S.L. 188 .01
Signs of the End B.S.L. 194 .01
Temporal Millennium B.S.L. 121 .01½
Is Man Immortal? A.G.L. 86 .01
Tormented Forever and Ever B.S.L. 111 .01
Rich Man and Lazarus B.S.L. 146 .01
Satan's First Lie B.S.L. 199 .02
Christ Our Advocate B.S.L. 128 .10
Day of the Sabbath A.G.L. 50 .01
Which Day Do You Keep? and Why? A.G.L. 75 .00½
Is Sunday the Sabbath? A.G.L. 76 .00½
Sunday in a Nutshell A.G.L. 88 .01
From Sabbath to Sunday B.S.L. 95 .00½
Identical Seventh Day B.S.L. 114 .01
The Lord's Day B.S.L. 134 .10
New Testament Sabbath B.S.L. 137 .01
Who Changed the Sabbath? B.S.L. 187 .01
Elihu on the Sabbath B.S.L. 192 .01
Prayer, by A. T. Pierson A.G.L. 52 .01
On orders for ten cents or less, two cents extra for postage.
Our depository in your state will fill orders promptly, and upon request will furnish free a copy of the booklet “Speaking Leaves.”
Pacific Press Publishing Assn. MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL.

The Story of Old Joe

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
A PARDON? A pardon?—O, no, stranger! No! There is never a pardon for poor, friendless Joe. Sit down, stranger, pray, and the jailer will wait, For he knows my sad story and terrible fate; And if I the dark tale to some other may tell, It may warn some soul from the red drink of hell.
I was born, stranger, born with the horrible thirst That stamps its foul brand on the victim accursed. God knows how I struggled to sunder the chain That held me in bondage, but struggled in vain, Till I brought my poor mother, in heartbroken shame, To the grave of dishonor, a blight on her name.
Ah, well I remember the morning she died, How she called me to come and to kneel by her side, And with her thin hand on my penitent head, “God pity my boy!” were the words that she said. “God help him—God help him—that even to-day He may conquer the demon within him, I pray.”
She died, stranger, died while she murmured my name, As I bowed my head low ’neath my burden of shame.
Well, the days passed away, and I kept from the cup, Till I thought in my strength I would never give up. My wife, in her gratitude, smiled through her tears, And forgot the dull pain of the slow passing years. My dear little girl seemed an angel to me, With her fair, sunny curls, as she sat on my knee. O, I loved my sweet child as I loved my own life; And, stranger, believe me, I loved my dear wife.
But I fell once again from my happy estate, And now ’tis forever and ever too late. O God! had I died ere that terrible day, When the fiends of the cup took my reason away! But there came a glad day when our villagers rose, In the strength of their manhood, to conquer our foes. They arose as one man, from the south to the north. “We will vote the cup down!” was the word that went forth. O, the joy and the hope that came into my soul! I would yet be redeemed from the curse of the bowl.
Now I had a dear friend, from the days of my youth, A man well beloved for his virtue and truth. How I begged him to help me by giving his vote! But he sent me a letter—the words that he wrote I shall never forget to the end of my life. Each word pierced my heart like the stab of a knife: “Pray, what can I do? You have fallen so low! I shall vote for the liquor. Now be a man, Joe.”
Well, we met at the polls. Then the counting was done. O, merciful Heaven! We lacked only ONE! One vote—only one! How my heart sank like lead! My wife wept aloud, and my courage was dead. In my poor, weakened manhood, I never could stand. With the beckoning tempter on every hand.
How I struggled and wept! But I struggled in vain. To break the accursed—the damnable chain. And still, in the midst of my terrors and fears, The words of my friend echoed loud in my ears: “My vote counts but one. You have fallen so low! I must have my freedom. Now be a man, Joe.”
Well, the weeks passed away, till at last came a day When the fiends of the cup stole my reason away. I was staggering on toward my miserable cot— The home of a drunkard—the den of a sot— When my beautiful child, in her innocence free, Came running to meet me, in babyhood’s glee.
O God! I can see her so plain, even now, With the light zephyrs tossing the curls from her brow, And her sweet baby lips calling gayly my name— For the child knew not yet the red badge of my shame. The arms were outstretched, and the beautiful eyes Shone soft with her love, like the stars in the skies.
But the fiends were about me—the fiends of the bowl. The red fiends of MURDER had entered my soul. There sounded one shriek full of agony wild— And my garment was stained with the blood of my child. Then I fell to the earth, and they thought I was dead— That my poor, guilty spirit forever had fled.
But I’m here, stranger, here in this dark, gloomy cell. I have bid the bright world, with her pleasures, farewell. And I feel in my bosom the blackness of hell. And hark! Stranger, hark! for that sound well I know— They are building the gallows for poor, friendless Joe.
Now go, warn the young from the snares of the cup, With earnest entreaties, and never give up. Go out to the world with this message, I pray, And tell the sad story I’ve told you to-day.

Open Appeal to a Prominent Distiller

By L. D. Avery-Stuttle

EXERCISE OF THE WILL POWER
The following letter was written in answer to an article by one of the most prominent brewers in the country. His article appeared in a leading magazine, and he offered a prize of two hundred dollars for the best answer. He advocated the idea that the sale of liquor was a real help in developing the “will power” of young men; that temptation was a good thing, and should not be removed; that they should be taught to drink “in moderation,” and thus learn to exercise their “will power.”
Dear Mr. P——:
I have read your letter in the —— magazine, with great interest.
To your question, “Is there not some other solution to the drink evil than prohibition?” I most unhesitatingly answer, Yes, there certainly is. It is this:
Let all the brewers refuse to brew—and this of their own free will. Let them do this without any law compelling them—just the same as we would refuse to put bowie knives into the hands of insane men, and turn them loose in the streets, to run amuck.
I appeal to the intelligent brewers of the country. I appeal to them, instead of the lawmakers. Let them begin to govern themselves, as you suggest that the drinking men do. You say that in Mohammedan countries, where they drink little strong drink, they are uncivilized. I submit: Is it the lack of beer, or is it the lack of Bibles, that is the curse of the Mohammedan world?

What Such Will Power Would Do

Now, if, as you say, it makes men better and stronger to exercise the “will power”—and it surely does if exercised in the right way—suppose you and your colaborers just try it.
Let me predict the result of twenty years of this generous and Christlike exercise of the “will power” among distillers: There would be but one almshouse where now there are one hundred. The hospitals and the lunatic asylums would be put out of commission or be turned into libraries. There would be so few brothels that the “white slave traffic” would cease altogether. The insatiable fires of lust would go out for want of fuel, and the angels’ song of “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” would be almost realized.
Can you conceive, Mr. P——, of a more glorious result? And all because the brewers of the nation and of the world have decided to follow the Golden Rule! Just think how it would develop the spiritual and moral muscles of brewers and distillers, to resolve to conquer their own selfish inclination to fatten off the pocketbooks of their fellow men. Why compel them to do this, when they may just as well be a “law unto themselves”? Why do not the long-suffering people appeal to the brewer’s conscience, to his common sense, and to his kindness of heart? Bless my soul! Do the American people think he has none?

How It Would Help This Woman

Now I am sure, Mr. P——, that since you believe in the development of human beings through the “will power,” you cannot object to applying your own logical doctrine to yourself and to your colleagues.
Not very far away, live, or rather exist, a woman and her three children. The home is without any of the modern comforts of life. It is a home without sunshine, and where true love gives place to consummate selfishness. The little children are ragged and neglected; and all winter long, the poor, hard-working wife has walked barefooted over a carpetless floor. Why?—Because the saloonist down town has failed to exercise his “will power” enough to refuse to pour out liquid damnation to the other poor fellow, whose “will power” has been so long blunted and dwarfed by the vile stuff, that he has none to exercise.
Yes, Mr. P——, “overindulgence in a meat diet is a bad thing,” as you say. But when it becomes so woefully bad as to take the shoes from a woman’s feet, and food from the mouths of starving children; when the selling of beef becomes such a cruel traffic as to people the almshouses and insane asylums of the world; when it becomes such a demon of inhuman greed that its relentless clutches relax not even when the fingers are red with the blood of the innocent,—then, Mr.——, I trust that you as well as myriads of other humane and philanthropic citizens of this grand republic, will arise in righteous indignation, and throttle the monster.
You speak, Mr. P——, about “properly conducted” saloons. As well talk about properly conducted classes for the making of young ruffians and freebooters and robbers and villains.

His Mother Was His Victim

A vision of a happy home passes before my eyes. The mother was a widow. Her son, the joy of her heart, the pride of her life, was left her, tall, broad of shoulder, strong of limb, handsome as a king. One day, yielding to an insatiable craving for drink, he took one glass too many. He was not capable of determining just when to stop, you see; and the saloonist did not help him any—“he needed the money.” Crazed by the drink, that young man, only twenty-two, the pride of his mother’s soul, and always loving and kind except when maddened by liquor, entered his home, with murder in his eye and in his heart—and the mother who bore him was the victim.
But you are accustomed to stories like this. If the man who sold that poor lad the stuff which turned him into a murderer, had realized what he was doing, and if the brewer who brewed it had foreseen the bitter end, would they not have shuddered at the awful picture?
Mr. P——, I appeal to your humanity, to your unselfishness, to your better nature, to your paternal affection, to your love of decency and order, to your nobility of character, and finally, to your hope of heaven. Do not wait for the strait-jacket of the law to be put upon you; but for your own sake, as well as for that of your fellow men, take the wholesome advice that you give to the other fellow, and “control” yourself sufficiently to quit distilling liquid death for your fellow men.
If this humble letter of mine shall aid you in the smallest degree in doing this, I shall feel well repaid for my pains.
I am, sir,
Yours in the love of humanity,
(MRS.) L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

Wanted for Missionary Work

Ernest F. Waters, 826 N. Nineteenth Street, Birmingham, Alabama: denominational literature for free distribution.
Mrs. S. M. Housler, 1523 Eighth Street, Santa Monica, California: a continuous supply of literature for missionary purposes.
Mrs. A. B. Cameron, 4 Friend Street Place, Lynn, Massachusetts: back numbers of periodicals.
Mrs. S. N. Young, R. 2, West Scio, Oregon, desires a continuous supply of SIGNS, Watchman, Review, and Liberty.

The Best Route to and from California

Two Great 1915 Expositions

At San Francisco February 20 to December 4, 1915
At San Diego January 1 to December 31, 1915
There will be no postponement for any reason
INQUIRE OF ANY AGENT, OR MR. C. S. FEE Passenger Traffic Manager Flood Building San Francisco, California
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Signs of the Times

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Please order through our depository in your state.

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Fine Country Home for Sale

Forty-one and one half acres, fenced. Thirty acres bearing apple trees, ten acres young apricot trees that will bear soon, some peach, fig, quince, pear, cherry trees, about one half acre alfalfa, on county highway.
House of eight rooms, modern in every way; tank house, tank, windmill, good well and water, water piped to house, barn, and garden; garage, barn, chicken houses, vehicle shed, corncrib, all fenced. Some tools. No irrigation required.
This place is nearly level, and is one of the finest orchards in the apple district, producing between eight and ten thousand boxes of apples a year. The buildings are all in good condition.
Must sell at once. A real bargain.
Address M. R. W., P. O. Box 67, Mountain View, California.

FOR SALE

By M. S. Dickenson

Alfalfa honey in five-gallon cans, $4.00 per can. It is light colored and fine flavored. Sample free. Satisfaction guaranteed. Correspondence solicited.
M. S. Dickenson, Los Banos, California.
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