Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast.—All the workers in the mission here are enjoying good health. I had expected to go to the mission farm as quickly as possible after arriving, but waited for Brother Hyatt, who came a week after we came. In the meantime, rather than to be idle, I started some evening lessons in the sitting-room of our house, which is a very large room. They have been well attended. Two young men have come regularly from the beginning, and several others seem much interested.
Brother Hayford came last night, desiring me to go with him to a place he has selected for a mission farm. From his description, it is an ideal place for a training school. I expect to leave the interest here in the hands of Brother Hyatt, and go with Brother Hayford to visit this place.
We greatly need a good medical missionary here. The work done by Brother Kerr was much appreciated, and the little he was able to do made a favorable impression on the people, which will long be remembered.
Pray for us. Of a truth we need all wisdom to help us; for we are taking steps now that will be felt in eternity; and if a wrong move is made, souls may be lost. I tremble at the responsibility. But the Lord has promised to be with us, and it is to him that I am looking.
D. U. HALE.
J. W. WESTPHAL
By J. W. Westphal
Argentina
A CAMP-MEETING was appointed for March 5-15, to be held in the vicinity of Urdinarrain, in the eastern part of the Province of Entre Rios, in connection with which the South American Mission Committee was to meet to audit the accounts of the laborers of the South American field. This meeting was held according to appointment.
For various good reasons not many of our people, and but few of the members of the committee were present; hence in both the camp-meeting and the committee we labored at disadvantage. But the meeting was by no means a failure. Only one lone and aged brother lived in the vicinity, and with the exception of a few short visits made there from time to time, the field was a new one. While there was bitter opposition on the part of some, there was a deep interest manifested by others. Some of these attended the day meetings as well as those held at night, and accordingly the work of the meeting was largely for them. In the revival meetings six or eight expressed their desire to serve the Lord fully, and three began the observance of the Sabbath. Others wept like children as the Spirit witnessed with the Word, but had not yet fully cast in their lot with the commandment-keeping people of God when the writer left, nearly a week after the close of the camp-meeting. Brethren J. V. Maas and C. Saller remained to follow up the work. Not only in this village (San Juan), but in others in the surrounding country is there a deep interest in the truth for this time, and it is probable that there will be work for Brother Maas in this vicinity for a number of months, with prospects that a good church will be raised up. These people are largely Russian-Germans. Meetings were also held in the Spanish language.
Of the South American Committee, N. Z. Town, Dr. R. H. Habenicht, A. E. Fulton, and the writer were present.
J. W. WESTPHAL
Uruguayana, Brazil.
B. M. GARTON
By B. M. Garton
Nebraska
ALBION.—Brother J. J. Graf and I held meetings in a schoolhouse eight miles southwest of Albion, in February and March. Although none took their stand during the meetings, four are now keeping the Sabbath, and I organized a Sabbath-school, April 18, with a membership of fourteen. I am glad there are a few who will heed the call to come out of Babylon. I am following up the interest, and hope that others will take their stand on the Lord's side. Isa. 55: 10, 11, is true. Praise the Lord.
B. M. GARTON
Colombia
By I. G. Knight
The work is starting nicely. We organized our people here into church fellowship last Sabbath, which seems to give them new courage. The tithe has begun to come in. There is some good solid material here. Our people are not wealthy, but I believe they will do their duty. We are anxious that some efficient help be sent us soon. The work is great, the field is large. I. G. KNIGHT.
Closing Labors in Jamaica
By W. W. Eastman
After seven and one-half years of labor in Jamaica and one of its tributaries, Grand Cayman, my family and I sailed on the twentieth of April for our native shores. Mrs. Eastman was so weak that she had to be carried to the boat, and it was feared that she would not live to cross the sea, but to our surprise she gained strength all the way, and at this writing seems much better than when we left Jamaica.
Our April quarterly meeting in the Kingston church was a blessed occasion. The church was well filled with earnest and devoted worshipers. The rich blessing of the Lord was present, and all hearts were made to rejoice in God their Saviour. Eleven—all adults but one—went forward in the ordinance of baptism, and twenty-one were received into church fellowship. The Sabbath before we left, two others were baptized and received into the church, making, in all, twenty-three accessions to the church during the first three and one-half months of 1903.
We are thankful to God for the years he has permitted us to labor in Jamaica, and for the abundance of fruit he has given us for our labor. It was hard to part with those with whom and for whom we had labored, and whom we had learned to love most dearly as brethren and sisters in Christ.
As our boat sailed down the south side of the island, and we viewed perhaps for the last time the place where we had labored, we could not but think of the grand gathering day, and wonder how many of these souls we shall meet in the kingdom. We shall watch with keen interest the progress of the cause in Jamaica, and our prayers shall continually ascend for its progress, and for the Lord’s blessing on the believers.
We were glad to leave the Kingston church so full of courage and faith. The church really seemed to be moving forward. A church school had been started with a good native sister as teacher, and we believe that the church will rally and support the school, and that under the blessing of God it will prove a success.
The outside interest in the city was never better. Each Sunday evening our spacious building was well filled with interested listeners, and the liberal collections made it possible for the brethren to make the necessary improvements and repairs, and not lessen the funds already in the treasury.
As we viewed the large congregation assembled at our last meeting, we could not but contrast it with the small number on our arrival nearly eight years ago. Truly the progress of the work in Jamaica has been marvelous. We felt to say, Behold what God hath wrought.
May the Lord bless his people everywhere with the spirit of consecration, that the work may be quickly finished, and all be gathered home.
W. W. EASTMAN.
Bethel Industrial Academy
By H. A. Washburn
This intermediate school was established in central Wisconsin in 1899. It was located in the primeval forest in a sparsely settled section of country, away from cities and towns. This institution has been abundantly blessed and prospered of the Lord, and has demonstrated that the movement in establishing intermediate schools may be successful, and a source of great blessing to our people. This school has readily met all running expenses, is free from debt, and has been blessed with a goodly number of students, and with success in their training. During the first year, which was a six months' session, there were ninety students enrolled; the second year there were one hundred and sixty, and the last year one hundred and seventy-six were enrolled. Thus far during the present year, two hundred and ten students have been enrolled.
The students have not been attracted by an extensive course of study, but simply by the opportunity to become proficient in the common branches, get a beginning in industrial education, and study the Word of God. We have been greatly encouraged by the excellent spirit prevailing in the school, and the regular report of the teachers regarding most of the students is that they are having a growing Christian experience. Many of our students are looking forward to the time when they shall be students in the Emmanuel Missionary College, and then labor in the Lord's vineyard. Over twenty expect to become teachers. Results of the work of the school are already seen in a number of workers who have gone to the training schools, and from there into active service in the field. Numerous letters from missionaries in distant lands addressed to the students in the school have aroused a deep interest in the work in regions beyond, and several students not of our denomination have felt called by these appeals to consecrate themselves to the missionary work.18
Industrial Education
The school has been blessed with a harmonious faculty, who have given special study during the past two years to the matter of industrial education in agriculture, carpentry, and domestic arts. There has not only been earnest study, but advance steps have been taken in this new and difficult work. There is a spirit of willingness to balance literary and industrial work, and we are encouraged at the prospect of our soon reaching the end we are seeking, when each member of the faculty will be teaching literary and industrial classes, and directing manual labor, thus setting the example of equal taxation of the mental and physical powers. All work connected with the school is done by students and teachers, and, in addition to this, industrial classes are conducted daily on the same basis as other classes, and by the same teachers. During the past two years, classes have been conducted in agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, carpentry, sewing, dressmaking, cooking, and nursing. Most of the instruction in class has been put into practice in the work connected with the school.
BETHEL INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY, BETHEL, WISCONSIN
Since the establishment of the school, the wood from sixty acres of land has been cut off, and about forty acres placed under cultivation. Eight or ten acres have been set out to such fruit as apples, plums, cherries, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc. The returns from our fruit began last year with over four hundred crates of strawberries, and it has demonstrated that the development of our resources in the soil is to be a great blessing to the school. This year the fruit will much exceed that of last year. Most of the vegetables used at the school are grown on our land, and our bees produced last year thirty-five hundred pounds of honey.
In addition to the academy building, there have been erected two cottages of ten and twelve rooms, a carpenter shop, boiler house, poultry house, and barn. These buildings have been erected by the class in carpentry, and have been well constructed. All students take industrial studies, and all home students spend several hours each day in manual labor. We have seen no baseball, football, or similar games, as students are engaged during most of their time outside of class in remunerative work. This is a great blessing in the training of the youth. Besides gaining valuable instruction from their work on the farm, with the fruit and bees, and in erecting buildings, the students have earned on the average during the winter one third of their school expense, and during the summer their entire expense.
We are endeavoring to heed the instruction that "study in agricultural lines should be the A, B, and C of the education given in our schools;" that those who "do not appreciate the value of agricultural work" "should not plan for our schools, for they will hold everything from advancing in right lines;" that the "teachers in our schools take their students with them into the gardens and fields, and teach them how to work the soil in the very best manner;" and that "much depends upon laying our plans according to the Word of the Lord, and with persevering energy carrying them out." To follow this instruction we feel that we must develop our agricultural resources, and plan to make our strong term of school coincide with the agricultural season. Our students are beginning to see the value of this, and are saying, what we have long felt, that the parents must be educated to see the value of having their children in school during the spring, summer, and fall. The coming summer term will be one of special advantages.
Providential Leading
While in planning and carrying forward our work in the way of industrial education we have been only following the instruction of the Testimonies, we have found that the Lord has been leading just in advance of a general movement in the establishment of similar schools in the public school system of Wisconsin. This movement consists in the establishment of schools intermediate between district and high schools, giving instruction in the common branches and in agriculture, domestic economy, and manual training. Two such schools are just being started this year, and a wide-spread interest is arising, and calls are being made for the establishment of similar schools in various parts of the State. The Lord is giving his people an opportunity to be the "head, and not the tail," "above only, and not beneath," in this line of education. Many problems confronting these other schools are some on which the Lord has given us special light, and if we as a people are faithful, we shall have an unusual opportunity of calling the attention of many intelligent people to the last message of mercy through the excellence of the work done in our schools. While this movement is beginning in Wisconsin, it is also attracting much attention in other States. I quote from the recent report of the secretary of agriculture:—
"We are, without doubt, in this country just on the edge of a great popular movement for the improvement of the conditions of rural life through the improvement of the rural schools. As one phase of this movement, there will come the broadening of the instruction in the principles of agriculture, so that in addition to the college courses we shall have secondary courses in ordinary and special high schools, and even some elementary education in the common schools."
We feel that the Lord is giving our people throughout the field an opportunity to step out in advance of this "great popular movement" by the establishment of intermediate industrial schools. Our chief difficulty at present is due to the fact that we have very few teachers qualified to teach agriculture, carpentry, and domestic economy as well as literary studies.
We earnestly hope soon to see those prepared in our training schools who shall be qualified to conduct the intermediate schools which are already in demand.
H. A. WASHBURN,
Principal.
Padang, West Coast Sumatra, East Indies
[THROUGH the courtesy of Brother J. D. Gowell, the president of the East Michigan Conference, we are able to print the following letter from Brother R. W. Munson. It will be remembered that the support of Brother Munson in the field was provided by the Michigan Conference before it was divided.—ED.]
FORT DE KOCK, March 4, 1903.
DEAR BROTHER GOWELL: I have for some time been intending to write you a letter concerning the work, but each day has had its duties, and my nights I try to spend in sleep, in order to recuperate my wasted strength, lost at the time of my hemorrhage of the stomach last July.
January 5 Sister Marcella Walker arrived at Padang, and she has been very busy most of the time since, particularly for the last six weeks. So many people call for her, that she can not answer all the calls. Dutch (Hollanders), Chinese, Malays, men and women, desire her attendance.
Our Chinese helper, Timothy Tay, assists Miss Walker in giving treatments to men. He is very intelligent and clever, and he earnestly preaches the gospel wherever he has an opportunity to do so.
Few people here will listen to the gospel. The Dutch are mostly skeptics, the Chinese are heathen, the Malays are Mohammedans. The first are totally indifferent to religion, and are absorbed in their personal ambitions; the second are straining after gain; the last are fanatical to an almost incredible degree. But all are sick more or less, and all are ready to listen to you if you possess the power to heal diseases. Through their bodies and their bodily afflictions we gain the mind, and through the mind we try to reach the soul—the heart—the man.
The January, 1903, Life Boat had a striking illustration of how this worked in Mexico, as told in an article by Rev. Levi B. Salmans, M. D., a Methodist missionary of Guanajuato, Mexico. A fierce, fanatical spirit made work by ordinary evangelical missionary methods almost impossible, but medical missionary work completely revolutionized the feeling of the people toward the missionaries. One year on independence day they were shouting, “Death to the Protestants!” (and this had gone on for sixteen years); the next year, during which the medical mission work had made great progress, they cried, “Long live the Protestants!”
Judging from what I have seen during the last six weeks, I think perhaps the same effect will be seen here. The outlook the past year has been discouraging, but it is much brighter now. Four or five Dutch families have begun to adopt health principles and a vegetarian diet. As they see the truth in health reform, they will be mentally in a far better condition to see the truth in all its bearings. Prejudice will melt away before the light of the sun of righteousness.
One man (a Dutchman, really a Eurasian) had been suffering for three years with pains across the small of his back. He is a railway engineer—track engineer—and the doctors could not help him. In two weeks he was entirely freed from pain, and reduced in weight twenty pounds (he was too fleshy). His delight knows no bounds. He has given up the use of wine, beer, and liquors, and most of his tobacco (from forty cigars a day he has got down to five cigarettes, and intends to quit).
One of the teachers in the public school suffered three years with thrush, diarrhoea, and dyspepsia, and in a few weeks after following my advice completely regained his health. I am giving him and his wife lessons in English. Both he and the engineer have been supplied with tracts on fundamental phases of present truth.
A Christian family is coming rapidly under the influence of the truth, largely through medical work. The head of this family is a bookbinder, and is getting a printing press, and both he and his wife are honest in heart, and I am persuaded will eventually come into the light of present truth. My oldest boy is learning the bookbinder’s trade with this man.
Some of the leading Malay men have called for Miss Walker, and we are hoping to plant the truth in their hearts, although we know they are Mohammedans. Yet God does rule, and can overrule so that these Malays can become Christians. At present the government allows no missionary work among them. We preach and teach in the Chinese quarter, and are most respectfully and kindly received by them, but so far not one of them has decided for Christ. We visit other towns, and sell tracts and preach, particularly at the big market places.
My tracts on the Lord’s second and soon coming are being circulated as widely as possible (without wasting them) in this part of Sumatra. I have just sent to the press another tract, “The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan,” in which I show the origin of sin and Satan, the fall of the race into sin, and the way of redemption in Christ. I am to begin another to be printed in the Arabic characters, on the Lord’s second coming. The other one is in Malay, but in the Roman letters, that is, the letters we use in English. Very many of the Malays can not read that, and so I am preparing one that they can read.
Below I give you Matt. 5:8, first in the Roman letters, then in the Arabic letters, so that you can see the difference:—
“Berbahagialah segala orang jang soetji hatinja karena mareka-itoe akan memandang Allah.” Matioes v:8.
The majority of the Malays who read can read only the latter. We are not allowed to undertake any aggressive Christian mission work among them, but we are allowed to sell tracts to them; therefore it is my purpose to prepare tracts that the millions can read, rather than the hundreds. In this way the warning message can be widely sounded among the Malays. Another reason why I wish a tract on the second advent, in the Arabic letters, is that the Mohammedans believe that the world will come to an end when Isa (Jesus) comes again. Their teachers say the time is already fulfilled, and it is only a question of days and years. He may come any day, they say. So you see that their minds are prepared to read a tract on the second advent, when they would read no other Christian book.
My health, as well as that of my wife, seriously hampered us in our work during 1902, but we are gaining in strength, and mean, God willing, to stay in this field until the Lord comes.
Sister Walker is a capable and efficient worker, and is a grand addition to our force. Pray for us, and pray the Lord to send a doctor and nurses to Singapore. This great field has a population of fifty million, and only one missionary and one nurse. Malaysia is four thousand miles long, two thousand wide, and this one lonely mission is like a dot on the map at the far western end of the archipelago. It might fittingly be called “The Lone Star Mission.”
We are training our children for the work, and in the near future Miriam (fifteen years of age) and Melvin (fourteen years old) must go either to the Avondale school, Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia, or to the school at Berrien Springs.
Mrs. Munson and the children unite in sending love to you and Sister Gowell and the children, and to all the brethren.
Your brother in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
R. W. MUNSON.
Washington, D. C.
By J. S. Washburn
Two thousand five hundred dollars was paid, April 27, on the debt of the Washington Memorial Church. This makes a total of $8,700 paid since Nov. 1, 1902, and leaves a remainder of $4,200 yet to be paid, with interest at sixty-four cents a day. With the exception of Sunday, money has been received on the church fund every day since January 20, the smallest amount received on any one day was one dollar, April 29.
On April 27 I received five hundred dollars from a sister in St. Louis, who had previously given fifteen hundred dollars to this fund. If a few others would give two thousand dollars, as this sister has done, or proportionately, as they are able, how quickly this account would be closed! Yet we know many have sacrificed in giving the small amounts, and we are sure that they will receive joy and blessing in proportion to their sacrifice.
One sister in Ohio offered to give one hundred dollars if a picture of the church and the congregation standing in front of it was sent to her. An excellent picture has been taken, and we now have forty-two more of these photographs, which we will gladly send to other friends for the same consideration.
We shall then joyously sing the jubilee song of freedom, and appoint a time for the re-dedication of this church to the blessed work of proclaiming in the nation's capital and to the representatives and people of the nation, yea, more, from this “city that is set on an hill” indeed, to all the world, the saving truth of eternal life and light and the everlasting and glorious liberty of the sons of God. The church and our leading institutions established here will bring the great testing question of the ages to direct and final settlement more quickly and definitely than if established in any other city in the world. This city is the bridge between the North and the South. It is the one city that belongs to the whole nation.
One hundred dollars more than two19thirds of twelve thousand nine hundred dollars, the church debt, has now been paid. Surely it will not be long until the whole amount is raised. At the present rate August 1 will witness the payment of the last dollar, but we trust to see the day of freedom much sooner.
The attendance at the meeting, Sunday night, April 26, was the largest in the new church, the room being packed. We have been studying Christian science as a fulfillment of prophecy, and a deep interest has been aroused. Every modern delusion seeks to establish itself in Washington.
Abdul Baha, a man who claims to be Christ, living now in Acca, Palestine, has sent his teachers to Washington. They are having a good hearing, and are winning followers. It is said that he has fifteen million followers. It is a most astounding story, a part fulfillment of the prophecy of false Christs in Matthew 24. Surely we may understand, as we consider the modern delusions, the words of Isa. 2:6: “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”
Christian science, according to the statements made by its own authorities, is simply a dangerous revival of ancient heathen witchcraft from the far East, with its mysteries and incantations. I hope to write on this subject more fully at some future date. We are certainly living in the days when great signs and lying wonders are beginning to appear, when many have come saying, “I am Christ,” and these delusions are deceiving many, and testing the faith of even the elect. But the Lord is able to keep us faultless, victorious, till the blessed day, now so near at hand, of “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Below is given a partial list of donations sent directly to me, and not previously reported in the REVIEW:—
Previously reported, $2,211.20.
Hattie G. Weller, $500; Mrs. Sarah Higgins, $100; Atlantic Union Conference, $691.47; Pacific Union Conference, $166.72; Iowa Tract Society, $150; Hermy Grobe, $25; a friend, $10; S. M. Holly, $10; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Payne, $25; Arthur Henschel, $10; Levi Clinger, $10; John Ninpentan, $10; David E. Bell, $1; V. H. Lucas, $1; D. S. Haley, $1; J. T. Ransom, $1; T. M. Bradford, $1; G. W. Hickey, $1; Mrs. Anna Hamer, $1; Mrs. Joseph B. Springer, $1; Chas. F. Miller, $5; J. D. Hildreth, .50; W. C. Wright, .50; E. R. Matthews, .50; Mrs. Anna Lodge, .50; Joseph B. Springer, .50; Mrs. F. C. Rasin, .50; Sam’l J. Bradford, .25; Mrs. Anna Haley, .25; Miss Lulu Viagofski, .25; Clifford Swope, .02; Little Faust, .10; Brother Crawford, .50; Brother Faust, $1; Sister Faust, $1. Total, $3,938.77. J. S. WASHBURN.
Receipts of the Mission Board Treasurer for the Quarter Ending March 31, 1903
Annual Offerings.—Atlantic Union Conference, $1,438.18; Central Union Conference, $4,630.43; Canadian Union Conference, $177.14; Lake Union Conference, $4,737.60; Northern Union Conference, $782.60; Pacific Union Conference, $311.69 ; Southern Union Conference, $47.69; Southwestern Union Conference, $964.24; Central America, $2; Miscellaneous, $10.50. Total, $13,102.07.
Sabbath-school Donations.—Atlantic Union Conference, $407.59; Canadian Union Conference, $64.17; Central Union Conference, $1,267.43; Lake Union Conference, $1,383.56; Northern Union Conference, $302.79; Pacific Union Conference, $155.90; Southern Union Conference, $361.43; Southwestern Union Conference, $236.65. Total, $4,179.52.
Second Tithe.—Lake Union Conference, $1,079.13; Northern Union Conference, $1,337.14. Total, $2,416.27.
Weekly Offerings.—Atlantic Union Conference, $216.79; Canadian Union Conference, $89.60; Central Union Conference, $855.95; Lake Union Conference, $1,240.90; Northern Union Conference, $213.77; Pacific Union Conference, $293.14; Southern Union Conference, $183.35; Southwestern Union Conference, $163.63; Porto Rico, $1.80. Total, $3,256.93.
General Fund for Missions.—Atlantic Union Conference, $433.62; Central Union Conference, $720.05; Lake Union Conference, $510.61; Northern Union Conference, $2,141.58; Pacific Union Conference, $1,138.35; Southern Union Conference, $31.23; Southwestern Union Conference, $11.45; Central America, $2; Miscellaneous, $17.43. Total, $5,006.32.
Scandinavian Relief Fund.—Atlantic Union Conference, $75.23; Canadian Union Conference, $1; Central Union Conference, $1.60; Lake Union Conference, $45.55; Northern Union Conference, $15.97; Pacific Union Conference, $16.55; Southern Union Conference, $7.35; Southwestern Union Conference, $15.97. Total, $179.22.
Skodsborg Sanitarium.—Central Union Conference, $11.
Chinese Field.—Central Union Conference, $177; Lake Union Conference, $189.86; Northern Union Conference, $32; Pacific Union Conference, $15. Total, $413.86.
Indian Field.—Atlantic Union Conference, $30; Central Union Conference, $28.24; Lake Union Conference, $85.15; Northern Union Conference, 90 cents; Pacific Union Conference, $8; Southern Union Conference, $50; Southwestern Union Conference, $3.50. Total, $205.79.
European Field.—Central Union Conference, $117.06; Pacific Union Conference, $1,267.56. Total, $1,384.62.
African Field.—Atlantic Union Conference, $517.75; Central Union Conference, $323.54; Lake Union Conference, $89.83; Northern Union Conference, $71.55; Pacific Union Conference, $115.10; Southern Union Conference, $5; Southwestern Union Conference, $30. Total, $1,152.77.
Mexican Field.—Central Union Conference, $300; Pacific Union Conference, $2.50. Total, $302.50.
South American Field.—Lake Union Conference, $2.60; Northern Union Conference, $9.30. Total, $11.90.
West Indian Field.—Atlantic Union Conference, $2; Central Union Conference, $4.02; Lake Union Conference, $2; Northern Union Conference, $66; Pacific Union Conference, $9.25. Total, $83.27.
Polynesian Field.—Central Union Conference, $48.70; Lake Union Conference, $173.70. Total, $222.40.
Canadian Field.—Northern Union Conference, $1.84.
Sumatra Field.—Lake Union Conference, $205.72.
Japanese Field.—Lake Union Conference, $6.47; Northern Union Conference, $13.10. Total, $19.57.
Bermuda Field.—Atlantic Union Conference, $1; Central Union Conference, $2; Pacific Union Conference, $2. Total, $5.
Southern Field.—Central Union Conference, $121.23; Lake Union Conference, $3.15. Total, $124.38.
General Summary
Annual Offerings................$13,102 07
Sabbath-school donations....... 4,179 52
Second tithe.................... 2,416 27
Weekly offerings................ 3,256 93
General fund for missions....... 5,006 32
Scandinavian Relief Fund........ 179 22
Skodsborg Sanitarium............ 11 00
Chinese field................... 413 86
Indian field.................... 205 79
European field.................. 1,384 62
African field................... 1,152 77
Mexican field................... 302 50
South American field............ 11 90
West Indian field............... 83 27
Polynesian field................ 222 40
Canadian field.................. 1 84
Sumatran field.................. 205 72
Japanese field.................. 19 57
Bermuda field................... 5 00
Southern field.................. 124 38
Washington church............... 2,695 46
English sanitarium.............. 4,430 45
Total.........................$39,410 86
Field Notes
THE Second Seventh-day Adventist church of Atlanta, Ga. (colored), was organized April 19 by Elders H. F. Courter and G. B. Douglas, with a membership of fifteen, ten of whom received baptism the previous Sabbath.
At the last quarterly meeting of the Salamanca, N. Y., church, April 25, several names were added to the church list by letter, and three persons made application for membership, who are expecting baptism. The church has a present membership of twenty-six, and seems to be in a flourishing condition.
THE following report of work being done by our colored brethren in Mississippi in the circulation of our literature, is furnished by Brother F. R. Rogers, of Vicksburg. The report covers the month of March:—
“The companies at Yazoo City, Columbus, Jackson, and Vicksburg, all handle a club of Signs numbering from five to sixty. The Jackson church handles sixty, and Vicksburg fifty; besides, one hundred and twenty-five copies of The Life Boat are sold each month. The sales of our books, ‘Story of Joseph,’ ‘Coming King,’ ‘Gospel Primer,’ ‘Best Stories,’ ‘Christ Our Saviour,’ and ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ together with a few Bibles, during March, amounted to $71.47; cash received.
“Our workers are engaged every night in the week teaching night school or holding Bible readings in some home. The day schools are making good progress, and seeds of truth are sown continually. Our teachers are of good courage, and are now planning how they may increase the efficiency of their school20the coming year. Five souls have decided to obey the truth, and others are deeply interested.
“Remember we are at work, if you do not hear much from us, and pray for the advancement of the work in Mississippi.”
Don't Forget Your Errand
By C. McReynolds
A SISTER in western Kansas writes that she has for some time made it a practice to take some tracts and papers, and generally a book or two, with her when she goes to town or to a neighbor's house. In short, her errand is to take the message to the people, and the other matters are of secondary consideration. In the pursuit of this plan, recently while on the way to town, some fifteen miles distant, she and her husband stopped at a strange house, and it was soon learned that a copy of “Heralds of the Morning,” which she had sold to one of her near neighbors, had been loaned to this family, and they were much interested in its contents. She left them a paper, and on her return was invited to stop again and talk about the Bible truths they had talked of in the morning. More tracts were left this time, and on a second or third call Bible studies were held with them, and they decided to begin the observance of the Lord's Sabbath, and are now rejoicing in the truths of the third angel's message. Another family in the neighborhood was interested at once. Because these people had found something so good, they took it to them without delay, and they began to read. A call comes now for a minister. Brother, sister, what is your errand in this world? Let every Seventh-day Adventist adopt this plan, and the message will go to the ends of the earth in a very short time. Why not? O, why not?
C. McREYNOLDS.
Silent Partners
WE have read of a man who had been a member of the church forty years, but his absence from its services, his lack of missionary zeal, and his daily life led an earnest young Christian to think he was unconverted, and to talk to him about his spiritual welfare. The thought that his life had not borne witness for the Master he professed to serve, so impressed him that he said to himself: “To think that some of the young folks didn’t know that I was a church-member, and were concerned for the old man! I’ve been a silent partner long enough. It is time I woke up and worked for the Lord; time to let my light shine so that the young folks can see it.”
There may be others who have been “silent partners” in the church long enough to be an occasion for stumbling to its younger members. They listen complacently to reports of labor performed, literature distributed, missionary visits made, and congratulate themselves on the good work done by the church, and settle down again for “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.”
But, good friend, while reading the encouraging reports in this paper, how much of the work do you do? How many books have you loaned? How many tracts distributed? How many of your neighbors have you visited? How many copies of The Signs of the Times are you selling? How many? Are you an active or a “silent” partner in the King’s business? If all the church-members had done the same amount of work as yourself, what would the record be? There will be no “silent partners” in heaven.—Australasian Signs of the Times.
Bright Prospects in Scotland
By W. B. Scott
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND,
April 26, 1903.
DEAR BROTHER: The work is prospering in Scotland. The Lord is going before us, and all the agents are doing well. Our great need is more laborers, and you can not know how our hearts were cheered last week to receive the news that re-enforcements were on their way to this field. With this addition to our company of workers we confidently expect to see successes attained in Scotland this summer which have never been approached before.
April 28.—Our brethren from America arrived at 5 P. M. on the 27th, and we were very glad to see them. They landed at Greenock, and I met them at the boat. They had a long voyage, but a pleasant one, and would recommend any others coming to Scotland to come directly by the Allan line to Glasgow.21They say that there were but few passengers on board, and they had the privilege of the entire boat, and ate in the first-class saloon.
They all seem to be pleased that they are in Scotland, and I can assure you that we are pleased to see them. All seem to be anxious to get to work, and we will endeavor to give them the best that we have. Thanking you again for your thoughtfulness for Scotland, and extending to you a most hearty invitation to visit us, I remain,
Your brother in the work,
W. B. SCOTT,
General Agent.
The persons mentioned above as having arrived in Scotland are the four agents who sailed from New York, April 15, namely, Andrew Ness and his wife, of Pennsylvania; James McKay, of North Dakota; and David Johnson, of Wisconsin. May the Lord richly bless their labors.
Silent Messengers
By Editor
Our Books, Tracts, and Periodicals
E. R. PALMER · · · Editor
Go Where the Sheep Are Straying
By F. G. Crosby
Go where the sheep are straying
Out on the mountains cold;
Seek, and with patience bring them
Back to the Shepherd’s fold.
See o’er the path you journey,
Light from his throne descend;
He with his eye will guide you
Safe till your work shall end.
Go where the poor and friendless
Long for a word of cheer;
Whisper the name of Jesus,
Name to the heart most dear.
Soft as the breeze of twilight,
List to the words descend;
He with his eye will guide you
Safe till your work shall end.
—F. G. Crosby.
