This meeting was held at Alliance, Neb., June 16-26. This conference is small, and as it includes the State of Wyoming, the western part of Nebraska, and the Black Hills region of South Dakota, the members are much scattered. In spite of this, more than half of the entire church-membership attended a part or all of the meeting. On the last Sabbath two hundred were present.
During the first part of the meeting, Elder E. T. Russell and the writer were the only laborers from outside the conference, but the home workers aided very materially. Later in the meeting Elder R. S. Owen, of California, gave valuable assistance, and the last two days Elder C. Santee was in attendance.
The business meetings were harmonious, and did not occupy a large portion of the time. Elder E. A. Curtis was re-elected president, with a strong committee to assist him. Five new churches were received into the conference, and one was dropped. A number of members have moved into the conference during the year, thus materially strengthening the work.
The financial report showed an encouraging increase over the previous year. About five hundred dollars was raised for local purposes, the Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium was given a lift in the “Ministry of Healing” work, and the Loma Linda Medical School received some assistance.
Wyoming stands near the head of the list in the raising of the $300,000 Fund, as it has seventy per cent of its quota raised, and a considerable portion of that already sent forward. The missionary pulse is a good index of the spiritual condition of a conference, a church, or an individual.
The spiritual interests of the camp were good. While no special excitement was noticeable, there was evidence of a determined seeking of God on the part of old and young. The studies of Elder Owen on the sanctuary offerings, as well as those on practical, godly living, were food for all.
At the close of the meeting four persons were baptized by Elder A. C. Anderson. The laborers go from the meeting to their tent work with a determination to work with greater earnestness in the saving of souls. All felt that the season spent together was one of profit. How good the time when we shall all come together in the grand encampment under the direction and teaching of Jesus himself! How many who sacrifice to attend these annual meetings are sacrificing sufficiently to make certain the privilege of a part in that great gathering where we shall part no more?
Personally, I enjoyed the privileges of this meeting and my labors with the young, and shall look for many recruits from this conference for the mission fields.
E. E. FARNSWORTH.
The Sabbath-School Work
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
A STUDY of the quarterly summary for the first quarter of 1910 makes it evident that the Sabbath-schools in the home field have something to do, if they reach the definite goal placed before them of a hundred thousand dollars to missions during 1910. This first quarter the schools in the home land have given $21,319.01 to missions, not quite one fourth the amount to be raised in the four quarters of the year. However, comparing this record with that of the first quarter of 1909, we find a most encouraging increase:—
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS
GIFTS TO MISSIONS
1910, 1st quarter..
$22,015.43
$21,319.01
1909, 1st quarter..
19,459.87
16,989.53
Increase .....
$ 2,555.56
$ 4,329.48
The Honor Roll
The list of conferences giving all their regular Sabbath-school contributions to missions is growing. Five substantial conferences appear on the Honor Roll for the first time: Western Colorado, New Jersey, Cumberland, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The list is now thirty-six names long. Vermont, the first conference ever on the roll, now appears as Northern New England. The entire list is as follows:—
N. New England
Iowa
Alberta
Southern Idaho
Saskatchewan
Cen. New England
Quebec
Montana
W. New York
Chesapeake
Texas
Georgia
North Dakota
Greater New York
Louisiana
British Columbia
Florida
North Carolina
Maine
Southern Illinois
Manitoba
Kentucky
West Pennsylvania
West Virginia
West Texas
Wyoming
Alabama
Western Colorado
Alaska
New Jersey
New York
Cumberland
South Dakota
Oklahoma
Dist. of Columbia
Arkansas
The Union Conferences
The Western Canadian Union is the first on the Union Conference Honor Roll. Four other unions have but one conference each reporting any expense. These are as follows:—
Atlantic — Southern New England, $3.25
Northern — Minnesota ........ 7.16
Southeastern — South Carolina.... 5.03
Southwestern — New Mexico ..... .50
Most interesting is the progress shown by the reports from the Australasian and British union conferences. This summary shows that in the entire Australasian field only the Victoria Conference reports expense ($16.55). North England is the only conference in the British Union reporting expense ($13.24). The most of the European field has long furnished us a fine object-lesson in the matter of giving all Sabbath-school donations to missions.
The Goal
Our world-wide motto, “One hundred thousand dollars for missions in one year,” is now the motto of the schools in the home land alone. Can we reach it? We are answering the question from Sabbath to Sabbath.
MRS. L. FLORA PLUMMER.
Union College
By E. T. RUSSELL
During the past year there was a total enrolment of four hundred seventy-six students in Union College. In this number were included the students of the Danish-Norwegian, Swedish, and German departments. At the General Conference Council held at College View last October, it was recommended that these departments be separated from Union College, and that separate training-schools be established for these respective nationalities. It was recommended that the Danish-Norwegians establish a school in the Northern Union Conference; that the Swedish training-school be located in the Lake Union Conference, not far from Chicago; and that the German training-school be established in the Central Union Conference. During the coming year the separation of the foreign departments from Union College will no doubt materially affect the attendance, but we hope by earnest effort to secure such an increased attendance of English students that the breach will be filled, and the institution not suffer financial loss.
For some years Prof. C. C. Lewis and his associates have faithfully labored so to organize the work of the institution as to place it on a sound educational basis. As a result of their efforts much improvement has been made, and the work of the institution has been greatly strengthened. Professor Lewis and his wife have accepted a call to connect with the educational work in the Pacific Union Conference, he to teach in the Pacific Union College, located at Angwin, Cal., and also to act as educational secretary of the Pacific Union Conference, a position which his long experience as an educator well fits him to fill acceptably.
The General Conference has generously released Prof. F. Griggs from the secretaryship of the Educational Department of the General Conference, that he might take the presidency of Union College. The board of management realize that they have been especially favored in securing his services, as he has had a broad experience in connection with the educational work of this denomination. With a corps of able instructors, under the supervision of Professor Griggs, we see no reason why Union College should not be filled with students during the coming year, even though it has been deemed advisable to separate the foreign departments from the college.
All departments of the college are being carried on in a strong way, and its work is meeting with favorable recognition by the denomination. We hope during the coming year to strengthen the work in every department. This is especially true of the normal department, under the supervision of Miss Sarah E. Peck, and the art department, under the direction of Peter Rennings. Miss Alyse Swedberg, who has been for some time employed as instructor of piano and harmony in the University of Nebraska, will take up work in connection with our music department.
The following-named persons constitute the college faculty, with one or two exceptions, as some instructors have not yet been chosen:—
Frederick Griggs, president; psychology, logic, moral science.
F. M. Burg, English Bible, ministers' training.
C. L. Benson, ancient and modern history, history of missions.
Ernest C. Kellogg, mathematics.
Winnifred P. Rowell, English language and literature.
Leon L. Caviness, ancient and Romance languages.
Emil C. Witzke, librarian; German and New Testament Greek.
Harland U. Stevens, physical science.
W. S. Butterbaugh, M. D., biological science.
Albion G. Taylor, secretary; commercial department.
Sarah E. Peck, director of normal department; methods, principal model school.
Peter J. Rennings, drawing and painting.
Mertie A. Wheeler, registrar; assistant in commercial branches.
Eugene Rowell, assistant in English and Latin.
M. S. Reppe, Danish-Norwegian language.
Herman O. Olson, Swedish language.
School of Music
J. L. Crouse, director; counterpoint, history, theory, singing; orchestral, band, and choral work.
Alyse Swedberg, piano, harmony.
Marion Crawford-Smith, piano and voice culture.
Etta Bickert, assistant piano.
.........., organ (pipe and reed).
.........., violin.
Industrial Department
Agriculture, S. A. Smith.
Bookbinding, H. M. Spear.
Broom-making, ..........
Carpentry, J. L. Crouse.
Cooking and domestic science, Mrs. J. L. Jones.
Dressmaking and sewing, Rubie Owen.
Floriculture, S. A. Smith.
Horticulture, S. A. Smith.
Hydrotherapy (men), W. S. Butterbaugh, M. D.
Hydrotherapy (women), Mrs. P. A. Field.
Laundering, Mrs. E. M. Whittemore.
Manual training, Sarah E. Peck.
Printing, F. F. Byington.
Plumbing, B. M. Curtis.
Farm animals, S. A. Smith.
Steam and electrical engineering, B. M. Curtis.
At the Nebraska State Teachers' Association, held in Lincoln last November, the industrial exhibit of Union College attracted considerable attention. There were about twenty specimens of woodwork—two screens, a bookcase, and nine articles of burnt wood being made by the ladies' class; and a bookcase, a crib, a work-bench, a document-case, and other articles made by the class of young men. There were also twenty-nine exhibits in drawing and penmanship and nine in painting. In sewing, there were three sample-books, one dress, four other garments, and three specimens of fancy work. There was also a display of the work of the cooking class, consisting of loaves of bread, different styles of buns, rolls, puffs, etc. The engineering department exhibited a miniature steam-engine and eleven steel tools made by students. There was from the broom shop an exhibit of different styles of brooms and brushes. The following statement about the exhibit was made by Hon. E. C. Bishop, superintendent of public instruction, of Lincoln, Neb.:—
“The exhibit made by Union College at the Nebraska Industrial School Exhibit, held at the Lincoln State Auditorium, under the direction of the Nebraska Teachers' Association, November, 1909, was one reflecting great credit upon the institution. The departments of industrial work represented, not only showed development of skill upon the part of the students, but were evidence of the adaptation made by the college of education to the real problems of social and business life. The different work required in the various lines of industrial education showed a correlation with the general work of the student in such a way as to dignify labor, and exalt right ideals among the student body.”
At the close of this year's work nineteen students were graduated. These students expect to engage in our denominational work as ministers, Bible workers, teachers, or medical workers.
It is the sincere desire of the board of management that this institution shall accomplish the work for which it was established in the training of many workers for usefulness in the cause of the Master, that the world-wide message may be forwarded through the faithful efforts of the consecrated, humble men and women whom God has called to act as instructors in this institution.
E. T. RUSSELL.
British Guiana Conference
By T. J. KENNEDY
THE fourth annual session of the British Guiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was held in Georgetown, April 1-5. The field was well represented, many of the brethren and sisters from the different churches and companies being present. The reports from the field showed a marked increase in membership and tithes during the year. Owing to the amount of machinery needed to work this field as a conference, it was thought advisable to operate it as a mission field, and it will in future be known as the British Guiana Mission Field. Credentials and licenses were granted as follows: For ministerial credentials, O. E. Davis, F. L. M. Spencer; ministerial licenses, T. J. Kennedy, R. Hyde; missionary licenses, H. Beck, J. C. Wilson, Mrs. C. E. Davis; missionary teachers' licenses, Blanche Haynes, Hophnial Brown, and H. M. Bettou. Although the adversary has done much to hinder the progress of the work, yet we believe that the Lord is still leading the way. We ask the united prayers of God's people everywhere for the work and workers in this needy field.
T. J. KENNEDY, Secretary.
North Carolina
By D. T. SHIREMAN
BAKER'S MOUNTAIN, HICKORY.—I have just returned from visiting some of our near-by towns, where I have been selling our monthly magazines, the Signs, Watchman, Life and Health, and others. I placed nearly fifteen hundred of these in the homes of the people, selling them in the interests of our orphans' home at Baker's Mountain, Hickory, N. C. We hope these truth-filled papers will be read, resulting in much good.
We tried to impress upon those who bought them that the reading-matter was important for our time. Most of the papers were back numbers, but the reading-matter is just as valuable as if printed to-day. The date of the magazine made no difference to the people. We trust that through this work many will become interested in the message contained in this literature.
This is a field of work which is open to many. I believe our young people especially should scatter the seeds of truth in this way. There are many places in which this message may be hastened by writing letters and sending out our good papers. At one time I advertised through the REVIEW and the Signs for the addresses of persons desiring to carry on missionary correspondence with others, and received two hundred thirty responses. Twelve hundred names were sent to these individuals, and as a result of the work done many accepted the truth.
I speak this in the hope that the experience may encourage others to enter this worthy field of missionary effort, and thus have a part in the closing work of the message. D. T. SHIREMAN.
_The South Caribbean Conference_
By H. C. J. WALLEKER
THE annual session of the South Caribbean Conference was held in the Seventh-day Adventist church at Port of Spain, Trinidad, April 9-13. A good representation of the churches in Trinidad was present, and some from most of the islands in the conference. Careful consideration was given to the various matters which came before the conference at this time. An earnest effort was made to make such arrangements for carrying forward the work during the year as would best advance the truth in the different islands.
The workers reported ninety-two baptized, and two new church buildings erected. The islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent were added to the conference territory during the year. There are six large islands and many small ones in this conference; this makes it a very difficult field to work with only a handful of laborers. Four ministers, two licentiates, and three Bible workers constitute the working force. The field is not self-supporting as yet, most of the people being very poor; but although poor in this world's goods, many are rich in faith, and I am sure they are precious in God's sight.
The officers chosen for the ensuing year are as follows: President, J. B. Beckner; vice-president, G. F. Lane; secretary and treasurer, A. G. Peart; Sabbath-school and Missionary Volunteer secretary, P. C. Carrington.
The laborers present from outside the conference were Elder D. Bender, president of the West Indian Union Conference, and the writer, from the East Caribbean Mission.
Several fatal cases of yellow fever occurred in Port of Spain during our conference session; after this, when it was about time for the quarantine to be lifted, bubonic plague broke out. This resulted in more strict quarantine than before, and made it very difficult for us to get away. Elder Bender, who had an appointment for the Colon Conference, could not purchase a ticket for that place, so was obliged to go to New York and thence to Colon. I had to go to Barbados, and finish my quarantine there, taking a boat thence to St. Thomas. While waiting to get away from Trinidad, we held two profitable general meetings on the island, one at San Fernando and one at Arima.
While the climate and conditions in many of these places are very trying, we can say that the message is forward, and our workers are of good courage.
H. C. J. WALLEKER.
The Manitoba Conference
By K. C. RUSSELL
THE annual session of the Manitoba Conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Gladstone, June 23 to July 3. The camp was pitched in a beautiful grove, only a few squares from the main part of the town. During most of the meeting, the weather was ideal. The attendance was small at first, but increased toward the close.
Those who were present at the business sessions of the conference will ever remember how the Lord led in the deliberations. It was a source of satisfaction to see, upon the part of those who were in the minority on any question, a willingness to abide by the decisions of the majority. When this principle is disregarded, dissatisfaction and trouble result.
A strong spiritual interest was manifested during the entire meeting. Twenty-one persons gave their hearts to the Lord for the first time, and sixteen than of these were baptized. We shall pray that their baptismal vows will never be forgotten. The young people's meet<span></span>18ings were well attended, and were a blessing to those for whom they were designed. An appeal in behalf of the $300,000 Fund resulted in raising over $1,200 in a short time. A liberal offering for the midsummer foreign mission fund was also taken up on Sabbath, July 2. The book sales exceeded those for any previous year.
In addition to the regular laborers of the conference there were present Elders H. S. Shaw, F. Griggs, R. S. Owen, C. Sulzle, and the writer. Elder C. Nelson was appointed temporary chairman of the executive committee until such time as the Western Canadian Union is able to supply the conference with a president.
Each department of the work received its due share of attention. Steps were taken to enter upon a vigorous campaign in this province for the purpose of enlightening the people concerning the true principles of religious liberty, by preparing, and engaging in a wide circulation of, appropriate literature upon this important subject. A persistent campaign is being carried on by the Lord's Day Alliance for a more rigid enforcement of the already existing Sunday laws.
During the last Sunday afternoon of the meeting, a temperance rally was held, at which a number of the citizens of Gladstone were in attendance. The following resolution was unanimously adopted:—
“Whereas, The liquor traffic is a menace to the peace and welfare of the home, a burden to the province, a curse to the community, and is destructive of the moral foundations of society; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we hereby express ourselves as opposed to the liquor traffic, and in favor of municipal, provincial, Dominion, and world-wide prohibition.”
This camp-meeting will mark a new era in the work of God in this conference. All the people returned to their homes with new courage and hope for the future of the work in Manitoba.
K. C. RUSSELL.
The Washington Sanitarium
By F. I. RICHARDSON.
Early in the present year I visited the island of Jamaica, where I at one time spent nearly four months. It was a real pleasure, after an absence of seven years, to have the privilege of meeting old friends again, and to find them still faithful in the Lord. Many have joined the ranks, until now nearly two thousand profess to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It was a source of rejoicing to find a number of the early believers engaged in the ministry, and others holding positions of trust. At the school at Riversdale are a number of young people who are preparing to give their lives to the gathering in of precious souls for the kingdom of God. Elder D. E. Wellman, the president of the conference, with his wife, who is president of the Missionary Volunteer society and secretary of the Sabbath-school Association, are working hard to keep the work going. Three tents were running, and each reported some success. The church-school at Kingston was being taught by Miss Georgia Sanders, from Berrien Springs, Mich. She was working heroically, and we trust the Lord has crowned her efforts with success.
The first of May I returned to the States, and took up work in connection with the Washington Sanitarium, as chaplain. Comparatively speaking, this is a new institution; and, like other institutions of its kind, it is passing through a severe struggle financially. It now has a corps of managers, physicians, and nurses who have had some years of experience in institutional work, also a large class of consecrated young people in training for nurses. The buildings and grounds are ideal, and the institution is well equipped to care for any class of patients that may come to it. With a goodly number of guests, and others coming nearly every day, it would seem that, if those connected with the work will do their part as unto the Lord, prosperity will crown their efforts.
F. I. RICHARDSON.
Washington, D. C.
By W. H. GREEN
WHILE moving from Atlanta, Ga., to Philadelphia, Pa., about the last of October, we were requested by the District of Columbia Conference to make Washington our field of labor. While our field covers the whole conference, our work has been especially with the Fifth church. As a result of the efforts put forth, some who have long been connected with the message have come to a clearer understanding of the truth, and pledged themselves anew to the cause and the finishing of the work.
About the first of last November the membership of this church was thirty-four; the tithe for the year ending Dec. 31, 1909, was $390.98; and the several offerings amounted to $119. The present membership is fifty-one, or an increase of seventeen; and the tithe for the six months ending June 30 was $317.99—almost as much as for the whole year of 1909. There is a favorable increase in offerings, and a spirit of progress in the church. Reports from the other churches in the conference are also encouraging.
We have begun tent-meetings, which have been running since June 10. Bad weather prevented a good beginning; nevertheless the meetings are fairly well attended during the week, and there is an excellent attendance on Sunday nights. The tent is pitched in a locality where no meetings have been previously held by our people, and the indications for a fair harvest are reasonably good.
W. H. GREEN.
An Account of the Hurricane at Suva Vou, Fiji
By Mrs. A. Marriott.
I WILL try to give an account of the hurricane here at Suva Vou. As is my custom when Mr. Marriott is away, I slept that night in one of our native believer’s houses in the koro (native village). Soon I was fast asleep on a native bed, but not for long. Voices awakened me, and I found the inmates very busy packing all their belongings. The wind was howling furiously, and I was told that they expected a hurricane.
I asked a native sister, Seni, to come with me to our home, a few minutes’ walk away, and help me get some things packed into our built-in wardrobe. This must have been about 11 P. M. It was hard work finding our way, with the rain beating in our faces, and already many trees obstructing our path. When we reached home, we found the shed had disappeared, and the iron of the front veranda roof was lifting. The rain was beating in on our goods. The temporary doors were gone. The only windows in the house were burst open. I tried to pull them in, but could not. I lighted the lamp, but it soon went out, so we did the best we could in the dark to bundle the things into the cupboard. One trunk had been blown across the passage into another room. As the wind was increasing in fury, we thought best to return to the native village. Seni’s house was swaying to and fro, and the roof was leaking badly. Soon Metui, our elder, and his family sought admittance, as his house was almost down. This was indeed bad news, as his was a new house, and we had thought of seeking shelter there. Presently part of the roof where we were was lifted, and we all ran to the next house. I shall never forget how that place swayed. The rain beat in from all directions, the children cried and clung to their mothers, while the men were kept busy nailing up stays from the inside. We all kept near the door.
Our elder came in to say that Seni’s house, where I had slept, was down. That was about ten minutes after we had left it. The four houses opposite had been blown by the wind half-way down the hill to the beach, and the newest house in the village, next to us, was leveled also. We were all in readiness to go to the second house from there, but Metui returned saying that it was full of people and might fall at any moment. Where could we flee? He brought us worse news—the church, the strongest building in the place, had a lean, the doors were burst, and many panes of glass were broken. Not another house was left standing on the hill, but some were still safe in the hollow.
The houses of the bali (town chief) were down, but the house of the turagani-koro (lord of the town) was holding well. Metui took his wife and children there, then returned for me. This house was full of men, women, and children. The main posts were swaying backward and forward.
What a sight we beheld on Friday morning when the wind had abated enough to have the door opened wide! House after house leveled; great trees, the growth of years, and the food supply for weeks, uprooted. The ground was strewn with limbs, coconuts, breadfruits, oranges, etc. The church was nearly over, being lifted off the posts on one side. I found two of our chairs outside, one near the church, the other in a native’s garden. Everything in our house, even to the goods in the steel trunks, was saturated, except one case of books. The bathroom and kitchen roofs were off, and it seemed to me that as many of our belongings were outside as inside. Nearly every tree on the mission land is uprooted. Some of our goods we had left in the native mission house until the new building could be completed. These were quite destroyed, as it is among the twenty-seven houses in the town that are down flat. Kerosene was spilled on our food supply, and the water in the tank is flavored with leaves and salt spray from the sea.
Five large cutters were washed ashore here. It was indeed touching to see the people coming up from the boats. Only two fatalities occurred on our beach. Praise the Lord, all our workers and brethren here are well, and of good courage. We rejoice to look forward to the land where storms are unknown. I determine to shelter daily under the wings of the Almighty.
MRS. A. MARRIOTT.
Field Notes
ON a recent Sabbath, eighteen persons were baptized at Lucky, Ark.
A CHURCH of seventeen members has been organized at Yale, Wash. Ten of these are new converts.
THE tent-meeting held at San Rafael, Cal., recently, has resulted in a few taking their stand for the Sabbath.
AT the close of the Central New England camp-meeting held at Worcester, Mass., twenty-seven persons received baptism.
BROTHER W. T. RAMSEY reports that twelve persons have accepted the truth at Charleston, Okla., as a result of meetings recently held there.
THE work in Michigan is onward. Fifteen persons have been baptized recently,—six at Stanton, two at Carson City, and seven at Jackson.
Two adults were baptized by Brother E. L. Maxwell at the close of a three weeks' meeting at Hobart, La. Both united with the church at that place.
TWENTY-ONE persons have taken a stand for the truth at Dogden, N. D., as a result of meetings held by Brother Carl Leer. Eleven desire baptism.
ELDER S. D. HARTWELL, after holding a short series of meetings with the Frost (Mich.) church on a recent Sunday, baptized six persons, who were received into the church.
ELDER J. F. PIPER recently baptized seventeen persons at Burt, N. Y. Baptismal services were also held at Buffalo on Sabbath, July 2, when this rite was administered to several.
AT the Minnesota camp-meeting, recently held at Hutchinson, Minn., twenty-eight persons received baptism. Baptism was also administered to six persons at Meadow Lawn, Minn.
ONE of the patients at the Florida Sanitarium, Orlando, Fla., has accepted the truth and received baptism. Several have accepted the truth as the result of a tent effort at Miami, Fla.
As the result of meetings held by Elder J. H. Hoffman at Prentice, Wis., one person was baptized. Ten young people took part in this rite on June 18, at the close of the camp-meeting.
THE meetings being held at Fort Worth, Tex., have resulted in four adults being baptized thus far. A church of fifteen members has also been organized at Barstow, Tex. Five of these are new Sabbath-keepers.
A REPORT from Fenelon Falls, Ontario, states that a Christian woman there has accepted the Sabbath truth, and the prospects are that others will soon follow her example. At Williamsdale, N. S., Elder J. A. Strickland has baptized two persons, and Brother L. D. Longard has baptized two at Scott's Bay, N. S.
Notes of Progress
By A. J. S. B.
OF last year's May edition of the Signs Monthly 23,858 copies were sold, as compared with 29,038 copies this year,—a gain of 5,188 copies.
FIVE of the magazines show a decided increase in their circulation over last month. One of them, the Watchman, records its highest circulation thus far in its history.
UP to July 12, orders were received for 65,000 copies of the July Life and Health. At the rate orders are being received, the total edition of 70,000 copies should soon be disposed of.
ELDER A. J. BREED, religious liberty secretary of the North Pacific Union Conference, recently sent in an order containing 700 yearly subscriptions for Liberty. If all our people realized the true significance of the great questions discussed in this quarterly magazine, its circulation would be increased a hundredfold within a month.
IN addition to the regular Signs of the Times Monthly cover design for July, the publishers have issued a special cover for their Canadian edition, appealing especially to Canadian and British citizens. On this cover appear pictures of the late King Edward VII and the present King George V. This number will certainly prove a good seller in the Dominion.
THE manager of the Review and Herald periodical department informs us that orders have been received for 190,000 copies of the Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor. The total number printed thus far is 210,000 copies.
UP to July 3 the publishers of the Signs Monthly received orders for over 40,000 copies of the July issue. This did not include the orders in two days' mail which they had been unable to fill up to that time. This indicates that the July number will have a much larger sale than the June issue.
A YOUNG woman in Baltimore, Md., sold 47 copies of the Temperance Instructor in one and one-half hours on June 12, making a net profit of $2.82. Incidentally, she delivered 47 strong temperance lectures to that many or more persons. Are there not others who will thus successfully agitate the temperance question?
ABOUT a year ago a sister in Ohio ordered five copies of Life and Health. The next month she ordered six copies, the next month seven, and kept on increasing her orders month by month. She is still selling the magazine, and has now increased her order to sixteen copies. This illustrates how one who has but little time can yet accomplish something in this work during odd moments.
ONE of our Bible readers associated with a city tent effort, recently sold twenty-two copies of the Temperance Instructor in one hour. Since then the other Bible workers connected with that work have been circulating Life and Health and our other periodicals as a means of arousing an interest in the tent-meetings. As a result of these efforts, the minister in charge now reports a good interest in the services.
MISS BERTHA LOFSTAD, secretary of the British Columbia Tract Society, writes that some of the periodical agents in that territory are having good success. She says: “Yesterday two of our girls sold 99 copies of the Temperance Instructor in just a few hours. They are selling the Dominion Sentinel to-day. I am trying to get them to take a club of the papers, and sell them regularly at least once each week during the summer.”
As a result of efforts put forth during a recent camp-meeting in the Western Oregon Conference, 117 yearly subscriptions were secured to the Protestant Magazine. Seventh-day Adventists have been pointed out repeatedly by leaders in the Catholic Church as the only body of consistent Protestants. If your neighbors and friends have not seen the latest number of this quarterly, try in some way to bring it to their attention.
DURING five days of the last week in June, one brother sold 1,250 copies of the Watchman, thus averaging 250 copies a day. On a recent Sunday this same brother sold 500 copies of the Watchman to people going to and from a Catholic church. The priest met him, and told him that he would denounce him and the Watchman if he did not stop selling the magazine, which he declared maligned his church. The brother explained that it contained nothing but the truth.
A. J. S. B.
The Summary
By A. J. S. B.
THE average monthly sale of our ten-cent magazines during the eighteen months reported in the “Comparative Summary” was 127,726 copies.
WORD received from the periodical department of the Pacific Press states that 30,000 copies of the June Signs Monthly were sold by June 12.
ALTHOUGH this is only our thirteenth summary, we are glad to be able to present, through the courtesy of our publishing houses, a “Comparative Summary for Eighteen Months,” beginning with January, 1909.
THE June sales exceed those made in May by 14,149 copies. Owing to the tremendous sale of the Temperance Instructor during April, however, April still remains the banner month for magazine sales thus far during 1910.
It is gratifying to note that 17,286 more of our ten-cent magazines were sold during June, 1910, than during the same month last year. A further glance at the “Comparative Summary” will show a decided growth in the circulation of five of the magazines, as compared with one year ago. One of them, in fact, has practically doubled its circulation during the year.
In the present “Comparative Summary” certain lump sales previously reported in one item have been distributed to the months in which they were actually made. For instance, the 14,738 copies of the Dominion Sentinel, credited to March, were actually made during January, February, and March, though not reported until March. In order to keep the records of our American and Canadian magazines by themselves, the sales of our foreign magazines and periodicals have been eliminated from the “Comparative Summary.” It is planned to report the sales of our foreign periodicals by themselves, along with other miscellaneous denominational periodicals, the retail prices of which are under ten cents.
FOLLOWING is a list of the union conferences showing the largest gains in the June sales over those made the previous month: (1) Central Union, 6,080 copies; (2) Columbia Union, 4,036; (3) Lake Union, 3,714; (4) Northern Union, 3,641; (5) Canadian Union, 2,319; (6) Atlantic Union, 1,685; (7) Southern Union, 740; (8) Western Canadian Union, 575; (9) Southwestern Union, 556; (10) North Pacific Union, 215; (11) Southeastern Union, a loss of 2,358; (12) Pacific Union, a loss of 3,007. The union conferences showing the largest number of magazines sold during the month of June are as follows: (1) Columbia Union, 28,705 copies; (2) Lake Union, 27,807; (3) Northern Union, 18,969; (4) Central Union, 18,706; (5) Atlantic Union, 18,247; (6) Pacific Union, 17,733; (7) North Pacific Union, 14,950; (8) Southwestern Union, 7,596; (9) Southern Union, 6,801; (10) Southeastern Union, 6,330; (11) Canadian Union, 4,360; (12) Western Canadian Union, 3,596. It will be noticed that only two union conferences show a loss in magazine sales, as compared with May. Also some of the smaller union conferences show the largest per cent of gain over the previous month’s record.
A. J. S. B.
The Missionary and Publishing Work
Notes, Plans, Reports, Statistics, and Other Information Regarding Missionary Endeavor and the Circulation of Gospel Literature.
Conducted by the Missionary and Publishing Department of the General Conference.
E. R. PALMER — Secretary
N. Z. TOWN — Assistant Secretary
A. J. S. BOURDEAU — Missionary Secretary