p. 20 | Review and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 49. (12/8/1904)

China

By Edwin H. Wilbur

CANTON.—July 27 Mrs. Wilbur and I moved from Hongkong to Canton. Arriving there, we were unable to secure the house that we had planned to move into; but Sister Thompson kindly gave us the use of the girls' schoolhouse, as they were having vacation. Every day for about ten days I went out in search of a house, but nearly all the vacant houses were low, damp, one-story brick buildings, with no windows, and were unsuitable for our use. Across an open space from the girls' school is a large two-story Chinese house. The upper story was vacant, but they were afraid to rent it to foreigners. Besides, they insisted that they would have to go upstairs every day and burn incense on the ancestral tablet. This, they said, could not be omitted, even if we should pay them one hundred dollars a month.

The time drew near for the girls' school to reopen, and we were compelled to get a house. What to do we did not know. We went to the Lord in our helplessness, and he heard our prayer. After worship I went over to Elder Anderson's, where I picked up volume eight of the Testimonies, and my eyes fell upon these words of encouragement:—

“Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear; but fear not. . . . The plans of the enemies of this work may seem to be firm and well established, but he can overthrow the strongest of these plans, and in his own time and way he will do this, when he sees that our faith has been sufficiently tested, and that we are drawing near to him, and making him our counselor.”

Upon reading these words, I felt the assurance that the Lord would find us a house; and he did that very day. In the afternoon a Chinese woman and her son, who have been living in our home more than a year, took our little boy, and going across the way, secured for us the very house we wanted. Those who had the renting of the building had previously asked securities that we could not give; now they were ready to admit us upon the word of our serving woman alone, only requiring that upon entering we should pay, as is customary here, two months' rent in advance. This we were able to do, thanks to our faithful brethren in America, and accordingly we at once moved into our new home.

The rooms are large, light, and well ventilated, and we have the free use of a suite of blackwood furniture for the front room. The rent is less than six dollars gold a month. We feel to praise the Lord that we have such a pleasant place in which to live, to carry on our study of the language, and to entertain those who become interested in our work. In the matter of burning incense on the ancestral tablet, we are happy to say that the people who have charge of the house burn all their incense downstairs so we have the upper floor entirely free from idolatry.

On August 11 the girls' school reopened, with an attendance of twenty-five, all that the schoolroom could accommodate. But so many have applied for admittance that another room in the same building has been fitted up, another lady teacher employed, and about forty students will be admitted, though the rooms are small and much crowded. While the girls are learning to read Chinese characters, thus becoming intelligent in their own language, they are studying from books that teach about the one true God and Jesus Christ our Saviour. They are also learning to sing gospel songs and to do knitting and sewing. Miss Thompson lives in the schoolhouse, and gives the work of this school her personal attention.

August 11 we also opened our boys' school, of which I will write more fully in my next letter.

We are very happy to be in Canton, and desire to walk humbly before God from day to day that he may be able to use us in the proclamation of the last message to this people. It seems most fitting in this land of idolatry to proclaim the message of Rev. 14:7: “Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

EDWIN H. WILBUR.

W. H. SEBASTIAN

By W. H. Sebastian

Mississippi

YAZOO CITY.—Having been called to Yazoo City on the third of November, to look after some business for the Southern Missionary Society, I remained over Sabbath with the church at that place, which is the largest company of colored believers in the State.

The brethren and sisters had planned a special season of fasting and prayer for November 5, as a recognition of the recent action of the fall council of the General Conference Committee, in behalf of the colored work in the South. In fact, all the colored companies in this State observed the day as one of fasting and earnest prayer, that this important occasion might bring to our minds and hearts, a true sense of our responsibility toward this work. We had a grand meeting, and all seemed “of one accord.”

A brother from Greenwood, fifty miles north of Yazoo City, met with us. He expressed a desire to become a member of the Yazoo church. Two months ago he visited the church here during my absence, and since that time I received a letter from him in which he expressed a desire for baptism. He was impressed to visit Yazoo again November 5; so, after a few words of examination, some of our company walked a mile to the Yazoo River. The brother was baptized, and we all returned to the church praising God. The Lord added the brother to the church, after which we had a good, spiritual meeting.

The brother passed to us a small-sized bag; and after pouring out its contents, I counted $19.50, which we were informed was that the brother had laid away for the Lord. The Lord has said: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

This brother is the only Sabbath-keeper in Greenwood, and I am glad that God has placed a light in that city. We hope the Lord will send a laborer to that place before long. I see many cities apparently ripe for a harvest of souls; but the laborers are few, and the work is great. The colored work surely needs the prayers and support of the brethren and sisters. We need means and workers. But we are grateful for what has already been done.

The work among our people in this State is progressing. Our mission schools are accomplishing a great work. Many young souls have been brought into the Sabbath truth, and have learned to love their Saviour, as a result of the efforts put forth in the mission schools. I believe that the message and the work will now grow rapidly among our colored people, and prepare many of them to meet the Lord.

W. H. SEBASTIAN

Report of Bible Reading Committee of Young People's Association, Takoma Park, D. C.

By Frank Artress; Chapman McCoy; Harry Phillips

As there are other Societies besides ours of the same nature among our people, we have felt that it would be an encouragement to them to know how the Lord is blessing us in this important work of teaching the people the truth for these last days.

The primary object of the Society is to disseminate the truths of the third angel's message among the people around us. This, of course, might be done in various ways. We have used The Family Bible Teacher, in connection with Bible readings, as a good way of teaching the people. It was suggested that each member secure as many sets of The Teacher as he thought he could dispose of. Supplied with these, he would go out to make the acquaintance of the people, leaving, at the close of each visit, a set of these silent messengers of truth.

We have seen great manifestations of God's Spirit working upon the hearts of the people. In almost every case where we have called on families and left The Teacher, they have, sooner or later, invited us to their homes to study the Bible with them. We began with just one family, but at present readings are held each week with six families, and we have not at any time asked to hold readings with any one of them.

While the Lord has blessed our friends as we have met them in their homes, he has not forgotten us. He has caused us to taste the joys which an individual feels, and always will feel, when he sacrifices a little of his own pleasures for the more lasting and eternal joys which one experiences when engaged in the service of Christ.

The Lord has certainly blessed the work of our hands. As a result of our efforts, one family has begun the observance of the Sabbath. They are evidently in earnest, and rejoicing in the Lord. They attend Sabbath services at our Takoma Park hall.

This, certainly, causes our hearts to rejoice. We are glad to have a part in this great work of winning souls. The Lord is coming; but he will not come until “this gospel of the kingdom

shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.”

May the Spirit of the Lord Jesus put it into the hearts of our young men and women throughout the land who have received the light of God, to throw themselves unreservedly into the hands of the Master, saying, “Lord, I am thine; make me an instrument in thy hands to hasten the coming of the great King, and the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God.”

FRANK ARTRESS, CHAPMAN McCOY, HARRY PHILLIPS, Committee.

The Opening of the Washington Training College

By Arthur G. Daniells

WEDNESDAY, November 30, was the date set for the opening of the Washington Training College, and at ten o'clock members of the college board, members of the faculty, about fifty students, and some of our people living in Takoma Park met in the assembly-room of the boys' dormitory, where the opening exercises were held.

Following the opening song, Elder W. A. Spicer read as a Scripture lesson portions of the second and third chapters of Proverbs. Prayer was then offered, invoking the divine blessing upon the work of all connected with the institution.

The principal of the institution, J. W. Lawhead, stated that this service was not for the purpose of dedicating the buildings, but rather to mark the formal opening of the school. Because of the unfinished condition of the buildings, they could not be dedicated now, but would be at a later time.

Following these remarks the writer called attention to some facts in connection with the origin and development of our educational work, comparing the conditions surrounding this school with those that attended the beginning of some of our other schools, which have done a noble work in training young people for service in the great harvest-field. Our first educational institution, Battle Creek College, was opened June 3, 1872, with an attendance of twelve students. The managers, in reporting the opening of that school, said: “This is a better beginning than we had ventured to anticipate.” Before the close of the first year, however, the attendance had increased to forty, among whom were Professor and Mrs. Lawhead, who are now in charge of the Washington Training College. Since that time our educational work has grown, hundreds of workers have been trained for service in all parts of the world, many institutions have been built, and are now engaged in training still others to enter the needy, waiting fields. We should not despise the day of small beginnings; steadfast adherence to righteous principles will bring glorious results.

The one great purpose of the Washington Training College is to aid in preparing men and women for the highest service possible in the closing work of the gospel as set forth in the third angel's message. To meet this purpose the institution must be filled with a missionary spirit. The students must breathe the warm atmosphere of gospel missions from the day they enter until they leave. This means that the faculty must be thoroughly imbued with this spirit. If the teachers chill the students, the whole work of the school will be imperiled.

Although at the present time our buildings and grounds show a degree of incompleteness, yet this is only temporary, and we have great reason to rejoice at the progress that has been made in so short a time in the erection and equipment of this institution. The actual building operations were begun about the first of July. Since that time workmen have had to be secured, material placed upon the ground, and equipment of various kinds brought to the place. Contractors and firms in various parts of the country have been negotiated with, in providing different kinds of material. This has required much care in order to make the best selections, and at the cheapest prices, so that time has been consumed, and unavoidable delays have ensued. Great credit is due those who have been engaged in the work of erecting these buildings, in the fact that they have worked unselfishly, and almost unceasingly; for during the past few weeks many have worked until far into the night in order that the buildings might be ready for use at the appointed time. The main college building will not be erected until next year.

Elder H. W. Cottrell spoke especially to the students, counseling them to have a high ideal in their work, and to endeavor to carry it out in their school life. One great purpose of education is to receive, in order that we may impart; and the record is true, that it is more blessed to give, to impart, than it is to receive.

We trust that the work of the Washington Training College will be blessed of God in training many persons who shall engage in service for him wherever duty may call.

A. G. DANIELLS.

Organization of Takoma Park Church

By H. E. Rogers

In establishing the work in Washington, it has been the settled policy not to organize one large church, of which all the believers in the city would become members, but rather that small churches should be formed as the necessities might arise and the needs of the cause demand. This plan affords better opportunity for individual effort on the part of the members of the churches than any other plan that could be followed, and also avoids some of the ill effects which have resulted from the collection of large numbers in one organization.

Accordingly, when the number of those who were called to take up duties in connection with the institutions and organizations in the city seemed to make advisable the formation of another church in the District of Columbia, such a step was at once undertaken, and plans laid for its proper execution. A hall had been secured for holding meetings, and Sabbath services were begun in Takoma Park.

It was on Sabbath, August 20, that the brethren and sisters met for the purpose of effecting a church organization, which was completed the following Sabbath. Elders W. C. White and W. A. Colcord were asked to take charge of the services and assist in the organization of the church. At the first meeting there were forty-one persons who presented letters from other churches, and who thus banded themselves together, and by prayer gave themselves anew to the work of the Lord. The membership has constantly increased, until the congregation now numbers considerably over one hundred.

In selecting officers, it was deemed advisable to leave free from local responsibilities the ministers who are living here, and to choose those who are not bearing such heavy burdens, thus distributing the responsibilities to be borne. The following-named brethren were elected elders of the Takoma Park church: J. L. Prescott, A. J. Bristol, and S. N. Curtiss. A full complement of other officers was selected, and thus the burdens were distributed as widely as possible. In this way ample opportunity is given for all the members to engage in active duties in connection with some line of work.

Owing to the presence of a large number of young people who were engaged in work upon the school buildings being erected here, there were soon begun regular meetings by the young people. This effort crystallized into the formation of a Young People's Society, which now has an attendance of about fifty at their regular meetings Sabbath afternoons. Members of this society had for some time been engaged in holding Bible readings with different persons whom they had interested in the truth by means of the printed page and otherwise, and the result of such effort has already been realized in the acceptance of the truth by one family, and the deep interest manifested by many others.

The general interest shown in our work and message led the officers of the church to plan for a series of public meetings in the town hall, to be held each Sunday evening, which began October 23. It is planned that each member of the church shall assist in every way possible in carrying forward this work, and it is confidently expected that the result will be seen in the acceptance of the truth by many who are living here.

H. E. ROGERS, Clerk.

The Forward Movement in Nebraska

By A. T. Robinson

I AM glad to report that our people in Nebraska are responding nobly to the call of the hour. We ordered five thousand sets of the special Signs. We had them sent in bulk to the Pacific Press, Kansas City, asking our people to order from that place. A few days ago Brother Cochran, manager of the Kansas City Branch, wrote me that four hundred of the five thousand of the first number had been sent out, and that several hundred orders were being received from Nebraska every day. Very large numbers of the Southern Watchman, Life Boat, Life and Health, and our foreign papers are also being used.

Our people seem to realize that this is not to be a spasmodic effort that will be over in a few weeks, but rather that we are entering upon the finishing of the work. In a letter received a few days ago, the writer asks, “When this effort with the special Signs is over, What next?” About the next thing Nebraska will be asked to do, will be to act her part fully in bringing the annual offerings to foreign missions up to the eighty thousand dollars called for. I believe that the determination to do this is being formed in hundreds of minds.

There has never been a time in the history of this movement that has called so urgently for a spirit of loyalty to God and his cause as does the present hour. The fact stares us in the face that unless we do our duty fully at this time, there will have to be a retrenchment in our work in foreign fields. This fact should burn its way into the heart of every Seventh-day Adventist. Shall we not really be guilty before God if means are withheld which are needed to carry this blessed message of the gospel to the regions beyond?

Elder W. D. MacLay and wife sailed from New York to Scotland, on Wednesday, November 9. Brother O. A. Hall and wife have recently left to engage in educational work in Manitoba. Sister Pearl West will sail for South Africa, on December 13. Thus, some of our dear fellow workers are leaving us, forming links which will bind our hearts more closely to the work in various far-away fields. We have been able to advance to the Mission Board, in the case of each of these workers, one hundred dollars for transportation expenses, also their salaries until December 31. The Mission Board have expressed their appreciation of this little help, in the time of financial strain that is upon the Board, to sustain the work in foreign lands. Brother Spicer writes that there has never been a time when the work has seemed to grow beyond the possibility of the Board to cope with it, with the means at command, as is the case now. As he expresses it in a recent letter, “We shall surely have to start in with 1905 under short canvas.”

Our prayers will follow each of these dear workers as they take up their work in distant fields. O that the Lord may move upon the hearts of our brethren and sisters in Nebraska to be faithful in the payment of the Lord’s tithe, that we may be able to forward their support to them promptly; and also to make liberal donations to the Mission Board, that other faithful workers may be sustained at their post of duty.

We are receiving some encouraging reports from the work in various parts of our own conference, for which we praise the Lord. A. T. ROBINSON.

The One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund

The donation of $14.50 credited to W. L. Brisbin in the REVIEW of November 17 should have been credited to the following names: M. Vanslyke, $5; Mrs. Mary Vanslyke, $5; W. L. Brisbin, $.75; Mrs. M. F. Brisbin, $.75; Ray D. Brisbin, $1.25; Baby Brisbin, $.25; Sister Tucker, $1; a sister, $.50.

The credit of fourteen dollars to W. L. Brisbin in the issue of November 24 was an error, being a partial duplication of the former credit. Three dollars sent in some time ago as tithe was by mistake credited to the Washington fund. We therefore deduct these two amounts from the total reported of last week, leaving $47,920.52.

Amount previously reported .......... $47,920.52 J. D. and M. S. Rockey .............. 100 00 Sullivan Wareham ..................... 50 00 Mr. and Mrs. J. Pippy (Newfoundland) . 40 00 Southern California Conference ....... 31 24 J. P. Larsen .......................... 26 80 Upper Columbia Conference ............ 26 00 A. C. Raymond ......................... 25 00 J. B. Wallace ......................... 25 00 H. Smart (New Zealand) ................ 24 35 E. Murfet, Sr. (Tasmania) ............ 24 35 Robert Blackwood ...................... 15 00 E. H. Murfet (Tasmania) ............... 12 18 E. K. Cassell .......................... 10 00 Elder and Mrs. B. J. Cady (Tahiti) .... 10 00 E. M. Ball ............................. 10 00 H. H. Schnebby ........................ 10 00 Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hamilton ........... 10 00 Elizabeth Rundle ....................... 10 00 Mr. and Mrs. E. Hilliard ............... 9 74 L. R. Foos .............................. 8 22 Friends (Tasmania) ..................... 7 87 Byron (Cal.) Sabbath-school ............ 6 55 Andrew Ness (Scotland) ................ 5 01

FIVE DOLLARS EACH

Anna M. Nelson (Raiatea), F. H. Hicks, J. R. Johnston (Newfoundland), Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Gibson, H. N. Harrison, W. S. Kearn, C. M. Gleason, N. S. West, Mrs. Jennie T. Sheddy, Mrs. Mary A. Holbrook, D. Brownsberger, W. M. Ferguson, Hagerstown (Md.) church, Amanda Wallace, Ernest Payberg, Robert Cowan, Gottlieb Sulzle, Frank Christie, Conrad Wagner, Wm. Dunning, W. A. McCroskey, Peter Hansen, E. I. King, A. D. and May West, Mrs. Nettie White, Mrs. George Koland.

$4.87 EACH

W. J. Smith (New Zealand), E. Smith (New Zealand), Mrs. Goldsmith (New Zealand), Brother Fabling (New Zealand), Mrs. L. Howse (Tasmania), Church-school children (Tasmania).

George Manning, $4.17; Mr. and Mrs. A. Logan, $4; Mrs. Marie Johnson, $4; M. E. Hastings and family, $3.60; Hildebran (N. C.) church, $2.12.

THREE DOLLARS EACH

West Washington Conference, Olaf Lund, Mr. and Mrs. John Allen.

$2.50 EACH

Mrs. S. G. Young, Mrs. Eva Routt, B. W. Wiltrout, J. A. Neilsen.

$2.44 EACH

Miss E. Hill (Tasmania), P. H. Pretyman (Tasmania), Robert Watson (Tasmania).

TWO DOLLARS EACH

Benton Wareham, Freddy Adams (Newfoundland), O. O. Marvin, a friend, Mrs. A. E. Cary, Minnie Erickson, John and Nancy Disher, C. W. and E. D. Allen, O. M. Prentice.

Church-school children (Tasmania), $1.95; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Christian (Raiatea), $1.68; a friend in Rock Falls (Ill.), $1.50; Charles M. Tucker, $1.50; Max, Olive, and Maggie L. Marquand (Newfoundland), $1.30; Chester and May Holt, $1.25; friends (Tasmania), $1.12.

$1.22 EACH

H. F. Smith (New Zealand), W. T. Smith (New Zealand), Lillian Smith (New Zealand), Mabel Smith (New Zealand), P. Larsen (Tasmania), Miss M. DeJersey (Tasmania), Miss M. Judge (Tasmania), W. Large (Tasmania), Mrs. F. DeJersey (Tasmania), James Eyre (Tasmania), M. H. Eyre (Tasmania), E. M. Hawkins (Tasmania), J. S. Everett (Tasmania), V. Weeding (Tasmania), Arthur Brown, Sr. (Tasmania).

ONE DOLLAR EACH

Nellie Fern Mann (Newfoundland), Millie Johnstone (Newfoundland), Mrs. Lulu Trinkner, Mrs. Minnie Cooper, B. Hopper, Mrs. Chas. M. Finch, Susannah Warrick, Mrs. Mary Gibson, Emma Fellow, James Eastwood, Mrs. R. Clark,

J. F. Klostermyer, Iver J. Grimstad, Jacobine Grimstad, David E. Bell, Frank Nelson, Lydia Nelson, Frances Baker, Joe Wilson.

Harry Wooley (Tasmania), $.98; Harold Hurburgh (Tasmania), $.98; a friend, $.90; Friends (Tasmania), $.84; friends in Virginia, $.75; Dayton Wareham, $.75; Mr. Burridge (Newfoundland), $.70; Mrs. Carrie K. Butcher, $.55; M. Robertson, $.40; Myra Howse (Tasmania), $.36; Herbert Brown (Tasmania), $.36; Hilda Brown (Tasmania), $.34; Mrs. Bleach (Tasmania), $.30; Mrs. Annie Worth (Tasmania), $.24; Victor Worth (Tasmania), $.08.

SIXTY-ONE CENTS EACH

Miss E. M. Cooper (Tasmania), Miss Mekalfe (Tasmania), Mrs. Wilmott (Tasmania), Willie Howse (Tasmania), Mrs. Golding (Tasmania), Seymour Wooley (Tasmania), Huon Lane (Tasmania).

FIFTY CENTS EACH

Mrs. McBay (Newfoundland), Mrs. Hall (Newfoundland), Mr. Hunt (Newfoundland), Mrs. Hunt (Newfoundland), Bessie Logan, Dee Logan, B. Hammer, N. and B., W. C. Dillian, E. W. Perkins, A. J. Amick, M. Jarvis, M. C. Duncan, a sister, Mrs. A. E. Roys, Vera Wallace, Nannie Thompson, J. B. Gafford, Etta Alsberg, N. Dora Pratt, F. E. Jaffar, J. O. Conklin, William Johnson, Ina Wilson.

FORTY-EIGHT CENTS EACH

Mrs. M. Staples (Tasmania), James Bellette (Tasmania), Mrs. F. Furniss (Tasmania), Arthur Brown, Jr. (Tasmania), Emily Brown (Tasmania), Maud Brown (Tasmania).

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS EACH

J. Surface, F. Kirke, John Kivitt, Arthur Kivitt, Tressa Whetstine, Claire Morrow, Mrs. H. Wolfe, Louise Alsberge, Nora Clark, Hortense Alsberge, Minnie Rivie, M. B. Johnson, J. C. Freeman, Ruth Johnson, Edna Johnson, Bernice Nelson.

TEN CENTS EACH

M. Jones, Gena Whetstine, Marion Wilson.

Mrs. J. R. Johnston (Newfoundland) ............ 7 00 J. J. Wiltrout .................................. 10 00 Mrs. Carrie Thompson ........................... 16 00 J. F. Pearson ................................... 25 00 North Dakota Conference ........................ 47 00 Henry Ferrett .................................. 100 00

Total reported ......................... $48,923 84 A further list will follow. Send all donations to W. T. Bland, 222 N. Capitol St., Washington, D. C.

Field Notes

AN enrolment of thirty-five pupils is reported in the industrial school at Maplewood, Minn.

THE third annual session of the West Michigan Conference will be held in the Seventh-day Adventist church in Grand Rapids, Jan. 20-25, 1905.

THE Indiana Reporter says: “The facts interest at Martinsville is as good as at any time since the camp-meeting. Our workers are giving many readings to families in their homes. We confidently look for a good church to be raised up there.”

ELDER J. O. CORLISS writes from Hanford, Cal.: “I had two glorious meetings here yesterday [November 12] in the interest of foreign mission work. People were present from miles about, and the large house of worship was crowded. Good impressions were evidently made.”

BROTHER W. R. UCHTMANN says of the work in New Bedford, Mass.: “The work in New Bedford is very encouraging. Not only are the people opening their houses for Bible readings, but the pastors are actually opening their pulpits to hear our truth, and are themselves helping to sell our literature from their platforms, and that on Sunday.”

IN a report of the canvassing work in Missouri, Brother G. Phillips says: “One of our canvassers took $37.50 worth of orders in one day, and the next day the same one took over fifty dollars' worth. Yesterday the same humble canvasser made seventeen exhibitions, and took seventeen orders,—value $51.50,—and yet some people tell us ‘times are too hard to sell books.’”

REPORTING from West Pennsylvania, Elder E. J. Dryer says: “Elder Longacre’s two tent efforts in Washington, Pa., have resulted in adding a number of good souls to the little company there, and they are now planning to build a new church in another part of the city. Elder Baierle also had a successful effort in Charleroi. Elder Schwartz reports eight new Sabbath-keepers from his summer’s effort, and several more this fall as he visited the scattered companies. Elder McVagh is doing a most excellent work among the churches in the northeastern part of the conference, where the companies had greatly decreased in numbers during the past few years. In several places where the truth was preached years ago new interests are springing up.”

Teachers an Example

By P. G.

A FOUNTAIN will not rise any higher than its source. When the source of its supply rises, it will rise correspondingly; and likewise when the source lowers, the fountain will lower. This law of liquids is not any truer than a law governing the mind, which makes it impossible for it to rise any higher than its source of thought. But it likewise occurs that when the source of thought rises, the mind, in all its operations, is stronger and purer.

Our line of advance and progress will pass directly across the way of indolence and idle content. It is not hard for a teacher to cease to grow. But just when a teacher ceases to grow, he ceases to be a teacher. A teacher has to deal with facts of knowledge in a material way, but the vital truths of life do not necessarily lie in these facts in themselves. The vital, living truths of life come directly from God. It is true that they often come by the way of the facts taught. But they come far oftener through the teacher. His life is to be, under God, an inspiration and an example to those whom he would teach; and here again, unless it is such, he can not claim the name of teacher, and should not attempt the work of this high office.

Growth is a natural result of life. Progress and advance are always the result of growth, if indeed they are not synonymous with growth. Our denominational system of schools can make the right sort of progress only when all our teachers are growing. And they can grow only when they draw daily from the source of life. To be educators we must be educated, and to be educated we must study. When we have this spirit of a student ourselves, it is not difficult to inspire our pupils with a similar spirit. It is not right for teachers to go on year after year making no definite advance along the highway of knowledge. We have heard much, but none too much, said about the importance of the spiritual nature of our work. Perhaps, however, not enough has been said of the importance of securing a good fund of the facts of science, history, language, and other fields of knowledge for ourselves and our pupils. I do not think I state it too strongly when I say that much of our educational work is greatly hindered by a lack of the knowledge of many of the common facts to be observed on every hand. This knowledge is within the reach of every one who will seek it. Religion is practical, and is given us in order that we may deal with the material things of life in a proper way; but when we lose a sense of the just importance of the material things, our religion and religious experience degenerate into mere form.

Let us then, as teachers, be students, and make real advance in the field of knowledge, setting for ourselves definite tasks, and then mastering them. This will not detract from the spiritual features of our work, but to the contrary, will make our religion one of life, and not form. We shall then be leading our pupils in an unconscious, though forcible way, instead of consciously driving them. We teach far more by what we are and what we do than by what we say.

P. G.

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