p. 17 | Review and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 9. (2/29/1912)

Winning and Holding Boys —

By Max Hill

No. 1

MAX HILL

THERE is no set, definite rule that I know of for winning and holding boys. There are, however, some principles really more like axioms, which apply to the winning of boys as well as to older men, or older boys, just as you please to apply it.

When the Saviour said, “Suffer little children to come,” I do not believe that he meant only very small boys and girls, the babes in arms, as the popular pictures imply. I am sure that as he ministered day by day, in the streets, by the wayside, on the mountain, by the sea, his arms often encircled strong, sturdy boys as well as the more childish forms. I can see him ready with a good, sincere embrace for the boy who sidled up to him, to be near the One who moved multitudes, who taught with such power, who preached and lived such a pure gospel of love and service. I know his heart must have had a warm place, and a large one, for the uncouth, bashful boy; because his love went out to all who needed it, and the growing, self-conscious boy needed it as much as any one in his great audiences, if not more.

And the need of the boy should appeal to us. Sometimes I think it is little short of a miracle that many a boy ever grows up to man’s estate without becoming hopelessly soured to all the world. He sees the little girls petted and favored, and their rooms better and more tastily furnished than his. He sees them given the lighter, more pleasant tasks. He grows up running errands, for which he receives scant thanks and few favors in return. He is expected to wait for the second table, and be sweet about it. He comes to feel that if no one else is actually caught in breaking rules and regulations, he will get the blame; which also accounts for the fact that he is so often the guilty one. But the fact that he is guilty is no reason for branding him a hopeless case from the very start. It is the strongest argument in favor of more wisdom and patience in dealing with him.

Winning the Boy

What do we mean by that? All talk and no do? or shall we consider the needs, and then actually do something? First of all we must get acquainted. You know when we set about getting acquainted with some one, we call on that one. When we see him, we speak to him, we notice him, we ask about his welfare, we investigate his occupation, and we talk to him about his business. Now every boy has his regular line of business. It takes a great deal of his time, and it claims a great deal of his attention and energy. He is as thoroughly wrapped up in it as is any business man.

If you would become acquainted with him, then, follow the regular business tactics in his line. Make yourself acquainted with his business. Find out how he prospers. Don’t let it be a pretended interest; no one despises a fake any more than a boy does, and you can not deceive him in the least. When you make him understand that you are interested, really interested, you are getting acquainted.

Getting acquainted is only the first step. It takes more to win. When a young man decides that he wants to win a certain young lady, he gives her very special attention. That is the simplest and most logical method known. For centuries this plan, simple and natural, though infinite in variety of working, has resulted in the union of earth’s millions in bands that only death can sever.

Now is it not reasonable to believe that the same tactics will be rewarded equally well if it is a boy who is to be won? Does it not seem logical, since human nature is so much the same in all ages, to follow at least similar methods with all? It is of course understood that methods may vary in application, they must vary, for different dispositions demand different treatment; but the principle referred to will be in it all.

When I find a boy whom I can not touch, a boy who shrinks from actual contact, I always feel that one of two conditions is in his life; either he is hungry for love and attention that he does not get at home, or he is mistreated. It is strange, one might think, that hunger for love will make one shrink from advances; but that is the peculiarity of the boy. If no friendly hand ever rests upon his lonesome little shoulder, if no kindly arm ever slips about him in a real hug of good-fellowship, he comes to avoid even those who are not so stingy with their affection.

And the same result comes if the only human touch the boy knows is the touch of the hand that punishes or abuses. By abuse I mean the unfair advantage so many people take of boys. I have seen men who never missed an opportunity to pinch or tickle or actually hurt boys, taking delight in their annoyance or pain. They seem to forget that the natural result will be a dislike that often reaches positive hatred on the part of the abused boy.

We must remember that there is a stage in the lives of most boys when they must be treated with all the patience and love we can muster; for they must pass through some times of stress and battle that so many men seem to forget entirely, and that some women who “work with boys” never seem to understand or appreciate. Then is the time when we simply must not be stingy with our love. If they are rough and trying, then the demand upon us is the greater; then they must be won and held. When we learn to allow for this period of the boy’s life, we have taken a long step toward winning lasting friends among those whose affections and ambitions are just being molded for life.

The world is full of boys hungry for love, boys who can not express themselves any other way than awkwardly, often roughly or coarsely. O then give us a generation of men and women—teachers and parents—who will make full allowance for this condition and time in the lives of the boys, who will be patient and careful, who will be determined to love the most ungainly and uncouth right through to the age when nature brings a change in the life and wakes up new affections and aspirations!

Are they hard to reach? Then greater the glory in winning. Do they utterly fail to show appreciation? If that is what you are working for, your aim is low. But there will be appreciation, only it will be expressed in boy language, and you have to learn that language, learn it again if you have forgotten it. You must learn to “read between the lines,” learn to accept a little word, a shy touch of the hand, a nudge of the shoulder in passing, as full payment, and give a receipt in full. Accept it, and let it warm your heart; but do not say too much about it, either to the boy or to others.

Life Is Helping Others

LIFE is not all in getting, but quite as much in helping. Property is not an absolute possession, to be used or abused at will, but a responsible trust. Labor is not genuine that has no heart nor conscience in it. The mutual obligations of men are not discharged when they have performed their tasks and paid the stipulated price.—Great Thoughts.

In the Kingdom of Saxony

By Guy Dail

THE fifth annual meeting of the Saxon Conference closed last night, having been in session here at Chemnitz from January 10 to 14. The twenty-six churches and companies of the field were represented by ninety-one delegates and nearly two hundred other brethren and sisters. Seven companies were received into the conference. The report of Elder G. W. Schubert, the president, showed that 270 new members were received during 1911, raising the membership of the field from 644 to 844. There were seventeen workers employed throughout last year in Saxony.

The tithe showed an increase of over 22,000 marks. After the auditing committee had done its work, there was a surplus of more than 5,500 marks apportioned to the East German Union, to assist in caring for the large mission territory under its supervision. There was also an increase in the gifts to the work in general. Evening after the Sabbath, a call was made for donations to the mission fund, as had been the custom in other fields, and 1,521 marks in cash and pledges was given. There were seventeen canvassers in the conference during 1910, and their sales amounted to 22,938 marks; last year the twenty-five colporteurs of the kingdom sold literature to the amount of 36,173 marks.

Brethren H. F. Schuberth, Ö. Luepke, F. Goetting, F. Boex, L. Trautmann, and the writer assisted the local workers in the business and meetings of the conference. We were all especially thankful to God for such a hearty spirit of cooperation among the brethren and workers present. Sabbath was an exceptionally good day. In the afternoon Brother G. Freund was ordained to the ministry.

All the public lectures, as well as the conference sessions, were held in the Bakers' Board of Trade Building. Two hundred to two hundred seventy-five of our own people attended, and about as many strangers were at the evening lectures. Meetings to follow up the interest will be continued in the same building. Many not of our faith expressed a deep interest in the message presented, and manifested a desire to hear more.

The kingdom of Saxony, with its many unentered cities and its densely populated districts, is perhaps one of the most promising fields in the world for our work. We trust the readers of the REVIEW will especially pray for the success of the cause of God in this kingdom, which exerted such a strong influence in behalf of the Reformation in Luther's day. GUY DAIL.

South India

By G. G. Lowry

THE work at our station at Tinnevelli has been making encouraging progress. Just at present there is a great deal of sickness in the villages. Persons are dying of cholera nearly every day, and we see on all sides poor people suffering with dysentery, fever, measles, etc.

For some time we have been holding meetings every night in the church for the benefit of those who have been baptized, and also for those who wish to hear more about the truth.

As a result, nine persons gave themselves to the Lord and asked for baptism. Last Sabbath evening all our people gathered at the place designated for the carrying out of this ordinance, which was only a short distance from our mission buildings, and there witnessed the baptism. You will be glad to know that four of the candidates were young people who have been in attendance at our school, and one was a young catechist who has had some experience in preaching and in colporteur work. We hope that he will be of some use to us in this kind of work in the future.

Brother James was with us a few days recently. We were very glad for the privilege of having his help in counseling and planning for the work here. While he was here, we made a short visit to Trichinopoli and Arumukunari, where work is being carried on.

There are some features of our work that look a little discouraging at times; yet on the whole, the prospects for the future are bright, and we are much encouraged as we see evidences of the Lord's presence with us. We realize that when the Lord of hosts is with us, he will be a present help in every time of need. G. G. LOWRY.

Carriacou

By A. G. Peart; E. Zettie Simons Peart

THE little island of Carriacou is one of the Windward group of the West Indies, and lies about twenty miles due north of Grenada. The island is mountainous, and its hills tower high in proportion to its size. Its area is about thirteen square miles, and the highest point is High North, 980 feet; Chapeau Carre, in the south, 960 feet, comes next. The peaks are pointed in shape, and have been almost denuded of their trees. The appearance, while beautiful in itself, is entirely different from that of the larger islands. There are no streams to add fertility to the valleys, or to quench the burning thirst of man or beast here. The water-supply is derived from wells, and contains much saline matter. Rain-water is stored in tanks for use in the dry season,—February, March, April, and May. The population is estimated at about eight thousand.

The island is visited every Thursday at about 5 P. M. by a small steamer which plies between here and St. George, bringing mail and passengers. There is a good hospital, where the poor and indigent are treated at a very small cost.

From this hospital at Bellevue, the center of the island, one of the most perfect views of the West Indies may be obtained on a clear evening, when St. Vincent to the north, and Grenada to the south, sixty miles apart, are visible, with the chain of Grenadines islets lying like gems in between. Here, too, may be observed the practical development of the government scheme of settling peasant proprietors on allotments cut out of abandoned sugar estates, and the creation thereby of contented landowners, where a few years ago there was only desolation and acacia scrub.

Having given a brief sketch of the island of Carriacou, we shall add a short account of the work of the Lord here. These words of Jesus are applicable in all lands where the message is preached: “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” Luke 12:49, 50.

We have verified the truthfulness of the words of this text by experience. The fire of the wrath of men has been kindled since the appearance of the first

Seventh-day Adventist missionary on this island. It still continues: the prince of darkness has fought us zealously; but notwithstanding the opposition and hard sayings of our adversary the devil, the work is onward. We are glad to be able to report the baptism of seven persons Jan. 26, 1912. It was through constant prayer and supplication to God that these were brought through the fiery trials of their faith to the place where we could present them to the Lord to be “planted together in the likeness of his death,” that they “shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” There are others who are not quite ready for baptism. Following the baptism, Elder A. N. Durrant organized the believers here into a church, after which we celebrated the ordinances. We ask the prayers of God’s people everywhere that this little church may grow, and may shine as a light set upon a hill, in this dark corner of the vineyard of the Lord.

We have now reached the place in our work where it is very essential that a church building be erected. We have procured a lot for that purpose, but there is no money to purchase the building materials. Those who have united with us here are poor, and we can not hope to receive much from them, except a little free labor when we start work. Of necessity we must therefore appeal to our numerous friends, the readers of the REVIEW, for help. Whatever assistance our people would like to offer to this needy island may be sent through the treasurer of the General Conference, with the specification that it is for the church on the island of Carriacou.

A. G. PEART, E. ZETTIE SIMONS PEART.

A Prayer

By M. H.

M. H.

LORD, make each day a day of glad surprise That thou, the adoration of the heavenly throng, From scenes of purest bliss should turn thine eyes On one whose feet inclined to paths of wrong.

Me, even me, thou pitiedst, and cried, “Come unto me, O weary one, and rest; Raise your proud eyes to Calvary, where died One who his love for sinners there expressed!”

I thank thee, Lord, for that compelling love Which, by its very tenderness revealed, Fills this heart full with visions from above, Makes it a joy my foolish pride to yield.

May thy sweet grace from me outforth so shine That other weary ones be turned to thee, The future joy of this glad heart of mine, With them to praise thee through eternity.

Panama City

By B. E. Connerly

In response to a recommendation of the conference committee, in July of last year we settled in this city as our place of labor, and have been working for the native Panamanians and for the West Indian residents here. Early in January we had the privilege of organizing a church of seventeen members. We have a growing Sabbath-school of over thirty members, and an active young people's society.

Each month we are using more than four hundred of our periodicals in five different languages, besides the tract and book work. Pray for the progress of the work in this city, for truly “their wickedness is great.”

B. E. Connerly.

The Temperance Battle in Maine

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

MANY of the readers of the REVIEW who helped in the Temperance Instructor campaign in Maine last autumn, may be glad to hear some news from this great storm-center of prohibition. There is not much being said on temperance at present, but both parties are planning and working for the fierce battle to be fought in a few months.

The governor and many of the leading officers of the State and of the city of Portland are anti-prohibitionists; but the best class of the citizens stand strongly for prohibition.

Last week I asked a prominent man of Portland where he stood on the temperance question. His quick reply was, “I have five boys; I am for straight prohibition.” The safety of the youth and the home is the foremost question in this issue on the part of the temperance people, while increased revenues and greed of wealth are the strength of the liquor man’s argument.

The governor of the State has called a special session of the legislature to convene March 20. One reason given for this session is the need of the help of the lawmakers in coming to some satisfactory conclusions on the temperance question. It is thought that the legislature will either pass some laws regulating the question or propose an amendment to the constitution of the State that will meet the mind of both parties, and then let the citizens accept or reject the proposed measure at the ballot-box next September. It is a strange coincidence that this special session of the legislature is to convene on the anniversary of the birth of Neal Dow, the great pioneer of temperance in the State of Maine.

Now is the time to educate the people on temperance principles. When we saw the present needs, we requested the Review and Herald Publishing house to print fifty thousand copies of the chapter “Liquor Traffic and Prohibition,” in Ministry of Healing. We wished it illustrated just as in the book. Sister White gave her consent to this, and the Review and Herald generously responded by donating us fifty thousand copies of this tract. We greatly appreciate the help and encouragement given us in our work here by the brethren in responsible positions at the headquarters of our work. Without the support they have so heartily given, it would have been impossible for us to do the work we have done.

We are working systematically with the temperance literature. Our company of workers connected with us here in Portland has already distributed several thousands of the “Liquor Traffic and Prohibition” tract, and we are now perfecting some plans by which we hope soon to have the tracts circulated throughout the entire State. We hope, by the help of the Lord, to do much more than circulate the fifty thousand tracts the Review and Herald has so generously given. We believe there are others just as deeply interested in this work as our brethren at Washington, who will help us to print fifty or one hundred thousand more of these tracts, so that we can do a work with them that will affect the votes at the polls next September.

One of our workers gave a woman a Temperance Instructor a few weeks ago. When he called again, she said: “I want to thank you for that beautiful paper you gave me. My husband has never taken any interest in religious things, has always seemed hardened; but when I read the article entitled ‘A Bottle of Tears,’ in the Temperance Instructor, the tears rolled down his cheeks. I went to our ladies’ club the next day, and they asked me to read a select reading that the leader had chosen. What was my surprise when the leader gave me a Temperance Instructor, and I read another article from it.” This shows that the people appreciate our temperance literature.

We have a company of workers with us, none of whom are on the conference pay-roll. They came to us as self-supporting workers, and the Lord is blessing them in sowing the seeds of truth. Since beginning our house-to-house work here in Portland, our workers have distributed the following literature: Tracts loaned in homes, 92,891 pages; tracts given away on the streets and in homes, 83,486 pages; papers given away, 3,162; papers sold, 609; bound books sold and delivered, 284.

We have been sowing bountifully, expecting the Lord to fulfil his promises wherein he declares that he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully, and that his word shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish that whereunto he sent it.

Our brethren of the Pacific Press have kindly donated us a club of one hundred copies of the weekly Signs of the Times, and our workers are lending them in the homes from week to week. They find many who recognize the Signs as an old friend. One woman said that for several years before her death, her mother had kept a file of the Signs as a great treasure, though none of the family was ever a Sabbath-keeper.

Before the weather was so severe, we had permission from the city authorities to place a tract table on the street. A worker sat by the table, giving tracts to all who paused and wished to take them. In this way we reached many who otherwise would not have been reached.

For the past three months, we have held a cooking school each week in the vestry of the church, with good success. In this way our work has been brought before some of the best people of the city. In a few weeks we expect to open a health school to be conducted each week in place of the cooking school.

The Maine Conference has just sent Elder E. E. Osborne to assist us, for which we are very thankful. He is opening cottage meetings in different parts of the city. Our workers have been studying hard, and are now beginning to make appointments for Bible readings in the homes.

Our plan of work has been to conduct public meetings in the church only three evenings each week, leaving the other evenings open for the workers to hold cottage meetings and Bible readings in different parts of the city.

The membership of the Portland church is small, and there are only a few to help, but they have taken hold heartily to do what they can to increase the attendance at the Sunday evening meetings, and we have all felt encouraged by seeing a good attendance.

There has been a deep-seated prejudice in this city against the truth, but we are thankful for the doors opened to the workers, and the amount of literature we have been permitted to place in the homes. We hope to keep pressing in the literature and visiting from door to door, as we feel sure, with the blessing of the Lord, this work will break through the highest walls of prejudice.

We are all of good courage, and trust our brethren will not forget to pray that God will bless the work in Portland.

S. N. HASKELL.

63 Grant Street, Portland, Maine.

Costa Rica

By Isaac Gordon

PACUARITO.— Owing to the inclemency of the weather, our week of prayer could not begin on Sabbath, the ninth; nevertheless we did not fail to improve the first opportunity that presented itself to begin the week of prayer services; and truly if there was ever a time when God was among his people, it was from the tenth to the sixteenth of December. The whole district was stirred while our brethren and sisters made it their duty to invite strangers and friends, and these, in turn, invited not only their own friends, but any one with whom they came in contact. On Monday morning a stranger was heard saying to another after he had invited him, “If you come to-night, you will come to-morrow night and the next night and the whole week, because they call it the week of prayer.”

We began our service at 6:30 P. M., and could never dismiss before 9:30, and sometimes even later. One brother said to our elder: “You have no control at all over the meeting. Truly the presence of God is here.” A Wesleyan who

had been very zealous for his Sunday, heard the singing after he had retired for the night. He dressed and came to the meeting, took part in prayer, confessed his fault in having heard the message and lived among the Adventists so long without accepting it, and prayed that God would be merciful to him. Another stranger said that he had never before enjoyed such a meeting. The whole week was one of great spiritual blessing, for which we thank God.

ISAAC GORDON.

Lord's Day Alliance Meeting in Baltimore

By S. B. H.

On Thursday evening, February 8, the Lord's Day Alliance of Maryland held a mass-meeting in the First Presbyterian church of Baltimore, at which Governor Goldsborough, ex-Judge A. S. Niles, and others spoke on the subject of the better enforcement of Sunday laws. The twelfth chapter of Romans was read as a lesson; and while the reader emphasized the admonition, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord,” still, the tenor of all the speeches made seemed to be an appeal to men to take into their hands the protection of the Sabbath of the Lord. In other words, the Lord's Day Alliance proposes to take upon itself the duty of avenging the non-observance of the Sabbath.

In his speech on the Sabbath as a national asset, Governor Goldsborough said some very good things in regard to the power and influence of example.

He took pride in being the executive of Maryland, and referred to that State as being “the cradle of religious liberty.”

He had promised to “clean up” Baltimore, but insisted that he must have clean men with whom to accomplish the work. He advised the people to let him know all about the antecedents of any man who was seeking public office, and if any were unfitted by character to occupy said office, he would refuse to appoint them.

The striking points of the governor's speech were:—

“There is need in Maryland for the death, burial, and resurrection of things political, and I intend to do my part as the executioner.

“The laws upon the statute-books must be enforced while I am governor. I have sworn that they should. I intend to appoint a police board that will think as I do on this point. And when the men I shall appoint take office, and their influence is felt, the Sunday laws of Baltimore and Maryland will be observed through fear, if not through respect. . . .

“No man will continue in office under me who does not observe Sunday, and who has not a good character. . . . If any of you knows aught against the character of any applicant for public office,

it is your duty to tell me about it, and, if you are right, the objectionable man shall never sign the State pay-roll.”

(Concluded from page 19)

Ex-Judge A. S. Niles, speaking on the same subject, “Why We Should Retain Our Sunday Laws,” said that for one he was glad Maryland had such a governor as Governor Goldsborough promises to be. He held that the object of the Sunday law was not to make men go to church, nor to prevent men from drinking on Sunday if they wish to. “It is desirable,” said he, “that men should go to church, and that they should not drink on Sunday; but if men desired to go to church, the opportunity, under the Sunday law, would be given therefor; and if a man desired to drink on Sunday, he could buy his drink the day before.” It was evident that the judge stood for the protection of the day rather than for the protection of the rights of the individual. He maintained that the Sunday law is a platform upon which all can stand, the atheist saloon-keeper as well as the Christian. Judge Niles admitted that some laws were obsolete, but insisted that the essence of the present Sunday law—one day out of seven for rest, is not obsolete and must be enforced.

In summing up the claims in behalf of the need of a Sunday law, he said:—

“It is up to every man to show that these claims are wrong, or to join the alliance for the purpose of enforcing the Sunday law.”

He said that the people who should favor Sunday laws may be divided into three classes, the Christian, the laboring man, and the patriot, and hoped all these classes would see that the law is obeyed. The Christian should be stirred in this behalf, he declared, because of his religious convictions concerning Sabbath observance; the laboring man, through the influence of the labor unions, should demand the observance of the Sunday law because of his selfish interests; the patriot, because of his love of country, should see that the law is obeyed because it makes for the moral betterment of the citizenship. When all these influences are aroused, there will be little fear of the repeal of the law, which, in his judgment, should not be repealed.

Secretary Davis, of the Lord's Day Alliance, submitted a brief report in which he referred to the fact that of the eight vice-presidents of this Lord's Day Alliance meeting, one was the former governor of Maryland, another the present mayor of Baltimore, another the president of the State Senate, another the speaker of the House of Delegates. The two legislative officials wrote letters regretting the fact that they could not be present, but indorsed the alliance in its move for better Sunday observance.

The meeting was not very largely attended, but considerable enthusiasm was evoked by the speeches of the gentlemen above referred to. As the legislature is now in session, this meeting will doubtless be followed by some move in the direction of making the Sunday law of the State more stringent or amending it in some way.

S. B. H.

The Pemba Mission School, Northwest Rhodesia

By H. R. S.

"It is up-hill work here; but somehow we are blessed, and souls are accepting the truth. We shall have baptism soon. There are five candidates ready. This is what cheers our hearts, and makes us content, in the midst of fever, trials, and weariness." These words, just received from Brother W. H. Anderson, give the true secret of the power that holds the missionary in those difficult fields. At the autumn council, word came to us that the South African Union would not need so large an appropriation this year as last, as the Pemba mission station had sent the information that it would be entirely self-supporting. That was cheering news, for it meant the release of money that could be used in entering new fields, hastening that day when the full meaning of the expression "in all the world" shall be realized. Brother Anderson continues:—

"As you know, we are short of help at this station now, as Brother Robinson has been taken away to act as superintendent of the work in Nyassaland. That left Brother Campbell and me alone here; and, although he is the best of help, there is a limit to what a man can do, even in mission fields. I am glad that our action [the one referred to in the first paragraph, that the mission would be self-supporting] has met the approval of the Mission Board. It has been a long, hard struggle; but we see the light ahead, and with the continued blessing of God, we hope for still better things in the future.

"I have just been going over the total amount that has been appropriated to this mission field since it was started, and find it to be 4,675 pounds. I find, from looking over the invoice of the value of the property we now hold here, that it is worth 4,000 pounds; and that since the mission has been established, the church here has contributed for work outside, that is, to the union treasury, about 750 pounds, so that at present we have property here to the value of the amount that the Mission Board has spent in this field. This is not quite a new experience for me in the mission work, as the last two years that I was connected with the work at Solusi, we did not draw a penny from the Mission Board, and we also paid all our tithes and offerings to the union treasurer.

"While I am on this subject, I will send you a statement of the finances of our little native church at Pemba, for the last year. We have received, in— Tithe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $259.66 Second tithe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198.00 Sabbath-school offerings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.53 Weekly and annual offerings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.87 For the college indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194.00 'Christ's Object Lessons' for college debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.65 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $783.71

"Now I know that we are away from civilization here, but I can not help feeling great satisfaction in the thought that from this church of fifty-three members, all but four of whom are natives, so large a donation could be received. We hope next year to raise the amount to two hundred pounds, and have set that as our mark.

"You will notice that one item is the second tithe. We wanted some literature in the vernacular; and as there were no funds for it, we paid a second tithe for this purpose. In the last three years, we have raised over one hundred pounds in that way, and we still have twenty-five pounds in the treasury for future use. I am sending you a copy of each book that we have printed. Two books, as you will see, are school books. The last one which comes from the press is a series of Sabbath-school lessons on the life of Christ. Mrs. Anderson prepared the lessons, and Brother Campbell translated them.

"We have just finished the planting of the crops this year. We have planted one hundred twenty-five acres to mealies (corn), twenty acres to peanuts, twelve acres to potatoes, and fifteen acres to sweet potatoes. Then we have a large orchard, from which we get a good variety of fruit, and a vegetable garden that supplies the table all the year round, as well as pays all the salary of Brother Campbell, from the sales; and we have milk, butter, and eggs, which bring a good income. Brother Campbell goes to Livingstone to-day, to buy thirty cows, and we have fifty now, so we are doing something at dairying.

"I have gone into the details of our work here, in order that I might in part answer your inquiry about teachers for the field. As you see, we need all-round men. But especially on these mission stations we need strong teachers for the primary grades. There are few natives in South Africa who advance beyond the sixth standard [grade]. Few here ever arrive at that. They may go beyond it in their Bible study. Most of those we have here are incapable of going further. Of course some of our boys can not learn at all, while some, after trying for a year, suddenly wake up and make excellent advance; and there are others who run well for a time, and then seem to reach their limit, and can go no further. Then it is hard to keep up the interest of our native mission teachers, as they are surrounded for months with nothing but heathenism, which is a poor stimulant for spirituality. We are now arranging a strong summer school for this year.

"We must also push the evangelical work in the villages. We now have a lantern, and as soon as the rains are over, we shall make use of that in evangelical work. We are soon to have more help from the Cape, and expect to make much progress this winter. This is the only time that we can travel about in the country.

"To return again to the school: We are hard pressed for the present. The only thing we have in the vernacular is the Gospel of Mark and the three books I am sending you. Much teaching has to be done orally. On the farm, in the garden, as well as in the school, we try to sow beside all waters. It is up-hill work. But somehow we are blessed, and souls are accepting the truth.

"We have all had our turn at fever this year, but no one has been seriously ill."

H. R. S.

Christian Education

By H. R. Salisbury

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference

H. R. SALISBURY · · · · Secretary

Christian Liberty

By K. C. Russell; S. B. Horton

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience

Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau

K. C. RUSSELL Secretary

S. B. HORTON Corresponding Secretary

The Publishing Work

By E. R. Palmer

Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference

E. R. PALMER - - - Secretary N. Z. TOWN - - - Assistant Secretary

The New Summary

THIS first colporteur's summary for the year 1912 will be studied with special interest because it strikes the key-note of progress, both in scope and in volume. By omitting the two columns showing the record of the two previous years, we are able to include the summary of our ten-cent magazine sales in America and the sales of missionary papers by colporteurs in foreign fields. Also by omitting the column showing the number of books sold, we have made space for a column showing the total value of book and periodical sales by colporteurs.

As indicated, the first three columns represent the book sales as they have appeared regularly in the monthly summary. Columns four and five represent missionary periodicals as they have appeared monthly in their summary, and the last column shows the total value of both. In order that the general progress of the two lines of work may be shown by comparison with previous years, we are continuing the two comparative summaries at the close. The first of these is the usual comparative summary which has appeared each month in connection with the report of the book sales, and the second is the comparative summary of ten-cent magazine sales in America.

The sale of missionary periodicals in foreign lands is not included in this final comparative summary, but is shown in the tabulated report from foreign union conferences and mission fields. The value of sales shown in this summary speaks well for the year 1912. There is a large increase in book sales over 1911, even though we had not received the usual reports from the North Pacific, West Canadian and Scandinavian Union Conferences. We were sorry to omit these reports from the first summary in the new year, but for some reason they have not come to hand. However, the summary as a whole is most encouraging. Each year the work is growing stronger in every part of the world, is reaching out and laying hold of new fields, and is making conquests where, from a human point of view, success could hardly be expected. E. R. P.

Continue reading: Colporteurs’ Summary for January, 1912