p. 19 | Review and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 16. (4/21/1904)

Earlier text: Some Incidents in My Bible Work

Young People's Convention for the Central Union Conference

By M. E. Kern

“WITH such an army as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the world.”—“Education,” page 271.

What possibilities lie within our grasp! Shall this mighty force be allowed to go to waste while thousands are perishing for lack of the blessings it might bring to them if properly trained? We are coming to realize the sad truth that we have not been as active as we should “in devising plans whereby the younger members of the church may be led to co-operate with us in missionary work,” and that “very much has been lost to the cause of God by a lack of attention to the young.”

As we considered the young people’s work at the late session of the Central Union Conference, we felt strongly the need of more time in which to study the problems connected with this important subject. In order to meet this need, a young people’s convention has been arranged, to meet at College View, Neb., May 31 to June 5, where workers and young people from the conferences and the students and teachers of the college will study together the great question and seek God for a preparation for his work. The Lord calls for young men and young women to consecrate themselves to his work and become a part of the well-trained and disciplined army with which he will finish his work.

Let many of our young people plan to attend this convention, and give their earnest attention to helping work out these intensely important problems. Further announcement will be made later in regard to the convention and the entertainment of delegates.

M. E. KERN.

Sunday Legislation

By Allen Moon

THE promoters of the scheme to make righteous by force of law have again permitted a fragment of their designs to come to the surface. It is evident they have reached the conclusion that the public mind is sufficiently prepared, by the constant and untiring effort put forth by their leaders, to now accept and support any measure they might advance, looking to the Christianizing of the nation.

Accordingly there was introduced in the House of Representatives, some months ago, a bill for a District of Columbia Sunday law. This bill forbids all kinds of labor, with few exceptions, on the first day of the week. It has not, however, been urged for passage at this session of Congress, but instead another bill was, later on, introduced. This bill forbids the sale and delivery of meats, groceries, and all provisions on Sunday. It was found that while the great majority of butchers and grocers do not open and have not opened their places of business, they were envious of the very few who were not scrupulous about opening on Sunday. So the organized butchers and grocers were induced to give their support to a bill in Congress for a law compelling all business houses of this class to close. This bill is now being urged for passage.

Evidently it is the opinion of those in this movement that Congress can not resist the demand of these people for a law to compel themselves to rest. And once Congress is committed to religious legislation, the way will be open for any other proposed measure, and especially the general District Sunday bill. For if Congress may make a Sunday law for a class, it may with equal propriety enact such a law for all classes, and this will evidently follow.

At the present writing the prospect is that the butchers' and grocers' bill will pass. The Lord only knows whether we are ready for our government to begin a series of religious enactments and the enforcement of religious laws, and he knows, too, what use we would make of an extension of a time of peace, and we must now leave it with him.

ALLEN MOON.

Grading in Our Schools

By J. Grant Lamson

Of recent years in our denominational education, much comment has been made relative to the public school systems of grading, and so earnest has been the opposition to grading, that there has been a decided effort to get some other word even to express the division of the pupils into classes or groups or divisions for school work.

There may be faults in grading, but before we throw aside as of no account whatever the experience of years of actual work in the schoolroom, let us carefully consider: first, What is grading? second, For what purpose? third, The best methods of grading; fourth, Promotions.

1. Grading may be said to be that system of dividing the pupils of the school into classes so that those students who compose any one grade will be studying the same lesson at the same time.

2. The object of grading is to accomplish the greatest good to the greatest number with the least expenditure of time and energy.

Let us now study a few very patent facts. The students who come to our schools, or any school, are not all of the same brain power, have not all traveled the road to the same mile-post, are not all sufficiently well versed in one subject to be prepared to take up the next. We will suppose a school of twenty-five children. Probably no two are just alike in any particular. For illustration, let us take the subject of arithmetic. Number 1 understands and can do reasonably well a problem in addition; Number 2 not only can do that, but can work a problem, and understand it, in subtraction; Number 3, in multiplication; Number 4, in division; and so on with the entire twenty-five students, until the twenty-fifth will be able to solve the problems which relate to mensuration and commercial transactions. Suppose the students who are old enough to take up the study of technical grammar and those who are studying practical language are equally diverse in attainments, then consider that they probably are also equally separate in their ability in the subjects of reading, geography, etc.—what one teacher could teach such a school on the basis of no grades? Grades, then, are formed that the teacher may accomplish more work by asking a few of the students to delay their journey along the path of knowledge until some of those who are behind them can catch up with them and then walk together. This is not only a public school idea, but a Christian idea, and is an exhibition of Christianity in its voluntary, cheerful performance by the pupil. We will then ask those students who might be capable of working the problems in subtraction, multiplication, and division to review and become more proficient in addition, while the boy or girl who is learning how to add accomplishes his purpose; and then together the four will enter the subject of subtraction, two for the first time, and so on. In this way the twenty-five students might be grouped into three or four divisions; the teacher is able to accomplish more; the students are given more time individually than if each individual pupil were permitted to go on right where he left off. I believe the statements so far are clear to every one.

3. So anxious have been some of our church-school workers to avoid anything like the word “grade,” that in many of our schools they have adopted the word “group.” With an avowed purpose of decreasing the work of the teacher, the groups that have been formed have covered more territory than the former grades. In some schools, what were formerly the first, second, and even third grades, were placed in the first group. In many schools two grades or three grades have been formed into groups, the idea being that with fewer groups the teacher would have fewer classes. This means one of two things: that while the students are grouped three grades in one, the teacher still hears each pupil individually, and thus has as many classes as though there were no groups; or else the third-grade pupil, formerly so-called, must wait for the first-grade pupil, or in some way the pupils must be brought together for one period of instruction. If the first grade (supposing there are to be three grades in this group) is required to get the lesson which properly fits the second grade, it is a manifest injustice and a straining of the power of the first-grade child. If the third-grade pupil is required to get the lesson of the second-grade pupil in order that the three grades of this group may perform the same work, it is a manifest injustice to the third-grade pupil; for it unduly retards the advancement of the child.

Going back to the ideal method, it would be that each individual forms a grade for himself. This is possibly best in schools of from one to four or five pupils, but when the number exceeds this, divisions must be made, or the teacher’s time will be so cut up into small fractions that good work will not be accomplished for any pupil without slighting others.

If, then, we can not have the ideal method, what next?—Let us divide our pupils into such classes, divisions, or groups, whatever the name, that there will be the least tarrying on the part of any pupil for laggards or those who, because of lack of years or opportunity, have not been able to accomplish as much as others. With this idea in view, it is manifestly true that the nearer together grades are as to the time it takes to complete the work of a certain subject or a certain part of a certain subject, the better the grading. The further we are removed from this, the worse for the student.

In large cities where large numbers of pupils are enrolled, where many teachers can be employed because of the number of students, and where large numbers of students may be found of approximately the same ability, it is easy to accomplish the laid-out work of a grade, in a school semester of five months. In smaller cities and villages it is found impracticable to do this, and teachers are asked to take two groups of students approximately a year apart in their work. Of course, this means that the pupil who is not able to do work with the sixth grade, for instance, will necessarily be required to work with the fifth grade until that fifth grade comes up to a place where the sixth-grade pupil could have worked. This, in the mind of the writer, is a sufficient distance between classes as to the length of time it takes to accomplish a well-selected amount of work. If we go beyond this and form groups covering two or three years of school work, it is a manifest injustice to the child, parent, and teacher.

Now as to the word “grade.” Why should any one question the word? I believe Seventh-day Adventists have manifested an undue fear that they will use some word or expression which some one else is using. We are so anxious to be a distinct and peculiar people that we are getting to make ourselves such by a change of nomenclature, in our school work, in our church work, and in many other places. The Jews tried to make themselves a peculiar people by wearing peculiar clothes. Let us not endeavor to make ourselves peculiar by getting up a new system of names.

J. GRANT LAMSON. (To be concluded)

Home Life in Our Training-Schools

By Helen C. Conard

“It is the nicest work ever assumed by men and women to deal with youthful minds.” This would be true in the individual home, with children of common parents, and surrounded by common influences; but how the statement is intensified as we view the work before us!

Here are brought together a community of young people from homes widely separated, not in miles merely, but in conditions—in surroundings. Side by side we have the child of luxury and the child of penury; the pampered, self-centered one whose every wish has been anticipated, and who imagines the thing must go on forever; and the one who has been inured to plainness and bareness until he is almost too timid to reach out and take the privileges we offer. Between these extremes are nearly all shades and degrees of environment. We have the child of refinement, whose manners are well-nigh perfect, whose every movement is graceful, and from whose lips correct words fall in natural and easy flow; and we have others who lack everything that looks toward symmetry of mind or body. Here they are clustered,—elbow to elbow and face to face. The picture is one you never can get in its completeness until you have been there personally to deal with the situation.

But whatever they are, from whatsoever quarter they come, they have one common want,—the thing that of all things on earth they most need, that is at their age indispensable to their proper development,—the influence of a Christian home. This given, there is hope; this lacking, there must be “a certain fearful looking for” of failure and possible disaster.

The true Christian private home must ever be the basis of our ideal in the institution home, and how to approximate most nearly to this ideal is the question. In either case the building is for eternity, and foundations should be laid broad and deep.

We all recognize that the atmosphere of a Christian home must be the all-pervading one of love. Every service rendered must be the outgrowth of love; every favor asked the manifestation of loving confidence. “And this is the confidence

that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.” 1 John 5:14. If we are Christians, we shall not desire anything not according to God’s will; and what God is to us, we should be to our children, and what we are to our Heavenly Father, our children should be to us.

But there is one thing in God’s granting that we, even as Christian parents, do not all, and at all times, appreciate. God grants freely; he gives liberally and upbraids not. I can remember a parent whose permissions were always given so grudgingly, and with such upbraidings, that the thing desired was despoiled of all its pleasure, and became an actual task instead of the joy it should have been. On the other hand, I call to mind a parent whose refusals were accompanied with such tact and grace that the young pleader went away feeling that he had been granted a favor, and it became a delight to give up his cherished plans. I have heard girls in a school home say of their preceptress, “When she grants us a favor, it seems to give her much pleasure, so we know that when she denies us, it must be for the best, or she could not do it.”

Perhaps the most important element in a home is that represented by parental supervision. The pitying love and tender care of the father and mother are taken to illustrate the loving-kindness of our Heavenly Parent to us his wayward children. This godlike characteristic is a necessity to those in charge of our school homes. The position places us in the parents’ stead to the youth under our care; and, if along with the parental responsibility we do not have also the forbearing gentleness and long-suffering patience possessed by the true parent, we shall find our work moving hard indeed.

Naturally we do not love the unlovable, and we are prone to become discouraged when our friendly advances go unrecognized day after day and week after week. But of our Saviour it was written, “He shall not fail nor be discouraged.” “Christ has borne with the erring through all their perversity and rebellion.” By opening our hearts heavenward, it is possible for us not only to absorb those traits that enabled him to bear with the erring, but also to partake of that divine courage that kept him from failing.

HELEN C. CONARD.

Christian Education

By L. A. Hoopes; Frederick Griggs

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference.

L. A. HOOPES, Chairman; FREDERICK GRIGGS, Secretary.

The Avondale School

By G. A. Irwin

OUR school seems to be in a flourishing condition. More industries are being added each year, and those we already have are being strengthened. There are at present one hundred and forty-five students, over one hundred of these being in the homes. There is an older class of students this year than we have had during past years.

A short time ago I paid a visit to the school, the first time since the school year opened. I spoke to the students in the chapel, in the forenoon, and after the exercises visited the various industries that were being carried on. There were twelve persons engaged in the carpenter shop. They have three large benches and six smaller ones. Two students can work at each bench. They not only make everything they need in the shape of furniture and other articles about the buildings and premises, but are now making chests, called dressers in the States, for sale. Their work is very nice, and compares favorably with the furniture that is sold in the stores.

There are several mechanics in the school this year. Two of the young men are engaged in making two large tanks for use at the barn. In the printing department carried on by the Avondale Press, we found six students at work, laboring in various phases of the printing business. Others are at work in the food factory, packing foods, etc. In the kitchen we found a class of twelve, taking practical lessons in cookery, under the direction of the matron. They have these classes twice a week, and a quarter finishes the course, so that during the school year nearly all who wish to take this work can do so. Then they have a sewing department, where the young women are taught to cut and fit, and do all kinds of sewing. These classes are held every day. There are some who are just learning, and others who are in the advanced class. They have all the work that they can do, from the people outside.

The blacksmith department is just being put up, and broom-making will be added later. They are raising their own corn, but it is not ripe yet. As the brush has been so high in the past, it has not paid them to buy it.

G. A. IRWIN.

A Few Thoughts Concerning the Heavens

By Susie Sisley

THE sun seems vastly superior to any other body in the heavens. Compare him with our most brilliant star! It would take twenty thousand million stars like Sirius to equal in brilliancy the light of our sun.

Is this just judgment? Have we here the true relative importance of the sun and stars? Are we in a position to judge impartially? The truth is that the sun is one million times nearer us than is Sirius. Ninety-three million miles, the distance between us and the sun, is as nothing! Sun is near! Why, the sun so dazzles in our faces that we have to shade our eyes with night before we can even catch the faintest glimmering of Sirius a million times farther away.

Reversing the position and viewing the sun from Sirius, which is only fair, alas! how our good sun dwindles. Now we see ourselves as others see us. Sun appears the size of a half-penny sixteen hundred miles away, and earth is proportionately indistinguishable, and but for our own brother-planets with whom it would seem that we can touch hands, however staggering their distance may have seemed, this is the universal light in which we are viewed.

Our whole family—Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—together appear as one faint star in the Milky Way, the sheen of whose galaxy is due to the fact that it is composed of millions of such “closely packed” faint stars. Each one of these faint stars holds equal right with our sun to the control of a system of planets (it may be larger than ours). Yes, eighteen million worlds in a single system, and systems beyond count!

A cardinal truth, then, in astronomy is, “Sun is no more than a star, and the stars are no less than suns.”

While we speak of the stars as being “fixed,” they are really moving through space at a high rate of speed, though at such a distance from us that we can scarcely distinguish it. For example, Arcturus has not appeared to have moved more than over one moon’s breadth during our era, but in truth he has been traveling, and carrying all his worlds with him, at the rate of four hundred miles every second. Surely the Hand that guides earth, and Arcturus, 11,500,000 x 140,000 x 93,000,000 miles distant, is not shortened that it can not save.

For all they are so crowded, “closely packed,” this condition is not real. Sun with his sons, and his sons’ sons, a fairly well-regulated family, has ample room for harmonious action, with modest seclusion also. Their nearest neighbor is twenty-five million of million miles away. Thus our system owns an allotment in space of fifty million of million miles broad, which is intruded upon by no body, unless perhaps by a stray comet. The solar system in space has as much room as a raft a few yards square would have in the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and America.

In the light of the stars, then, we shrivel to a point. Surely here is a cure for the most over-self-esteemed,—the man who walks as if he owned the earth. What if he does, that is not much. There are worlds besides. Suppose he has traveled the earth around, can he boast of much travel when he has not visited the nearest star, or even a next-door planet? The richest man on earth has not money enough to purchase a ticket to the nearest station in starland (fare to Alpha Centauri $5,500,000,000, at the rate of two cents a hundred miles). Owned he all the Bank of England, yes, all the money on earth, he would still have to give up the trip for lack of means. The happiest man of leisure can not spare the time to make the journey (at the rate of sixty miles an hour,—48,663,000 years).

But while the study of astronomy is an effective cure for this ailment of mankind, paradoxical as it may seem, it is an equally good cure for the opposite. The humblest man on earth, who attracts the least notice, holds equal distinction with his fellows among the stars. Earth is the most distinguished body in the heavens. All the teeming millions have not caused the All-father such concern, none cost so much. Its position is unique. All eyes are upon it. Earth is the battle ground of a controversy of eternal consequences,—consequences so great that when the victory is won, proving to the waiting world that God the maker is God and love, as monument of this victory to stand on the battle field itself the whole New Jerusalem is placed, and God, who “inhabiteth eternity,” whom “the heaven of heavens can not contain,” says of earth, “This is home.”

Meanwhile God goes on with the operation of his hands, “guiding Arcturus, binding the sweet influences of Pleiades and Orion,” each in his place yielding perfect obedience to his will, each influencing every other to likewise walk in his ways. Which is easier, for God to control ten thousand million worlds, or one wayward heart? It is only this that dares and can baffle his power.

Knowing Arcturus, seeing him “night unto night,” can we not look up and say— “He who from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, In the long way that I must tread alone Will guide my steps aright”? SUSIE SISLEY.

NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

By E. L. STEWART

Notice!

THE annual meeting of the Western Washington Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at 309 Second Ave., North, Seattle, Wash., on Monday, May 30, 1904, at 10 A. M., for the election of officers and the transaction of such other business as may come before it. E. L. STEWART,

President W. W. Conf.

Current Mention

— Reports from St. Petersburg state that the czar’s health gives evidence of being on the decline.

— A bill making attempted bribery a misdemeanor was recently passed by the New York Legislature.

— It is reported that an Anglo-Russian arbitration treaty, which has been fostered by France, will probably be concluded within a fortnight.

— Three thousand people in a suburb of Montreal were driven to the upper stories of their houses by a flood caused by an ice jam at the Victoria bridge near that city.

— It is reported that the imperial palace in Seoul, the capital of Korea, has been burned, and that the emperor of Korea has fled. The palace was four hundred years old.

— A plot to assassinate President Loubet of France during his coming visit to Italy is alleged to have come to light in Marseilles, resulting in the arrest of three Italians.

— April 12 an attempt was made by an anarchist to assassinate the Spanish premier, Senor Maura, at Barcelona, the assailant using a dagger. The premier was only slightly injured.

— Bubonic plague is reported to be spreading in an alarming manner along the west coast of South America. It is especially prevalent at Antofagasta, one of the principal shipping ports north of Santiago, Chile.

— Present plans relating to the increase of the capital and equipment of Chicago University will, when matured, give that institution a “capital” of $50,000,000, making it the richest institution of learning in the world.

— German troops in southwest Africa are having difficult work in subduing the hostile natives. It is feared in Berlin that a German force of 350 men has been annihilated in the hostile territory, no tidings having been received from it for several weeks.

— Recently in a New York City police court testimony was given showing the existence in that city of a gang of professional murderers, known as the “Monk” Eastman gang, members of which would for fifteen dollars undertake to kill a man, or for ten dollars would maim him for life.

— The statement comes from Pittsburg that Andrew Carnegie has created a fund of $5,000,000 for the benefit of “the dependents of those losing their lives in heroic effort to save their fellow men, or for the heroes themselves if injured only. The endowment is to be known as “the hero fund.”

— It is reported from Colorado that John P. Spencer, a fruit grower in that State, has, after seven years’ experimenting, succeeded in developing a seedless apple, which in shape resembles a navel orange. The inside of the apple is entirely solid. Mr. Spencer is now preparing to graft his seedless buds on every sort of apple-tree, and asserts that he will be able to develop seedless apples of every variety. The tree on which the seedless fruit grows is unusual in that it has no blossoms.

— The Tonga, or Friendly, Islands, and the Society Islands, of the South Pacific, are soon to come under British rule, according to private advices from residents in those islands. The Society Islands will be exchanged by France for some English islands near New Caledonia. The Tahitians, it is said, will welcome British rule.

— The Catholic Church in the United States is giving much attention to the subject of missionary work in the Southern States. A press statement from Washington says: “Plans are being considered for the organization of an extensive finance committee with branches in all the Northern States, for the collection of funds to be devoted to the support of a large force of trained mission workers. The Rev. H. E. O’Grady, of Alabama, proposes that one cent a week be collected from every Catholic child in the North, the money raised to be sent South for the founding and maintenance of the Catholic missions, schools, and churches.”

— At the patent office in Washington, April 7, a patent was issued and dedicated to the people of the United States. It covers a process discovered by Dr. George T. Moore, of the Department of Agriculture, for the production of bacterial cultures employed in inoculating soils for the successful cultivation of clovers of all kinds, alfalfa, soy-beans, cow-peas, and many other similar members of the legume family. The patent is given to the people of the United States forever in effect, the object being to forestall any effort to patent such a process and by that means circumscribe the efforts of farmers to improve their soils by raising leguminous crops.

— One of the greatest of recent disasters in connection with American naval affairs took place on the battle-ship “Missouri” during target practise off the Florida coast, April 13. A charge of four hundred pounds of gunpowder which had been loaded into the breech of one of the twelve-inch guns, preparatory to firing the gun, was in some way prematurely ignited before the breech was closed, filling the turret in which the gun rests with flame and gases, and igniting four other similar charges which were near by, thus resulting in the explosion of 2,000 pounds of powder. The turret and the “handling room,” to which the force of the explosion was confined, were unfortunately full of men, all of whom were killed except five, these latter being severely injured, two of them fatally. Twenty-nine men were killed on the spot of whom five were officers, all the bodies being terribly burned. Only prompt action prevented the flames from reaching the magazine and blowing up the ship. The damage to the ship is estimated to be about $50,000.

— The progress of the Russo-Japanese war was marked by a heavy disaster to the Russian sea force, April 13, in the blowing up of the flag-ship of Admiral Makaroff at the entrance of Port Arthur, by a floating mine with which the ship came in contact. The explosion beneath the ship caused an explosion of the boilers and magazines within the ship, killing all the crew who were below the upper deck, and blowing out the side of the ship, which immediately filled with water, and sank, turning bottom up as it went down. About six hundred of the officers and crew perished, among these being Admiral Makaroff, the most conspicuous figure at the time in the Russian navy, on account of his activity, courage, and ability. The Grand Duke Cyril, heir to the Russian throne, was also seriously injured. The following day another Russian battle-ship was seriously damaged by a mine, and a Russian torpedo boat was sunk by the Japanese. Among those who perished with Admiral Makaroff, it is reported, was Verestchagin, the noted painter of war scenes, who was a guest on the admiral’s flag-ship. These disasters have caused profound gloom and depression at St. Petersburg.

— Conspicuous in Washington affairs for several days, concluding with April 15, have been a series of entertainments given to visiting Knights of Columbus, a Catholic order, representatives of which assembled in large numbers at the capital from the various States through which the membership of the order is scattered. At one of these entertainments, the following pithy statements touching on the hopes, aims, and methods which Catholics have in view in this country, were made in a speech by the national secretary of the order, Daniel Colwell: “Ours is the richest order in the world to-day, and our membership of 110,191 is a cause for pride. There are more than a million dollars in cash in our treasury, and we don’t owe anybody a cent. We have just cause for congratulation also in the fact that we have so large a representation of our order in the halls of Congress, and I predict and pray that the time will come when the orders of the Catholic Church can muster a quorum in the House of Representatives. [Applause.] “We have energy and tenacity of purpose, and when that institution on the hill [the Capitol], has given history as it ought to be written, Catholics will be given the place which has been denied to them, sometimes maliciously, for twenty-five years. In our order of the Knights of Columbus our motto has been quality first and then quantity. We are doing a great work. In New Haven we have the finest piece of land in the very heart of Puritanism, and we are going to erect there a building which shall be a landmark.”

Notice!

All members of the Monterey (Mich.) church of Seventh-day Adventists are requested to report by July 1, 1904, at which time the names of those not reporting will be dropped from the church record. It is

further requested that all persons living at a distance obtain letters and join the church nearest them. Address Church Clerk, Mrs. Stella McAllister, Allegan, Mich., R. F. D. 5.

Obituaries

HAGERMAN.—Died at her home near Hawley, Pa., March 22, 1904, after one year's illness, Sister Eliza Hagerman, aged 66 years and 17 days. A husband, three children, and other relatives mourn her decease. Words of hope and comfort were spoken at the funeral by the writer. S. S. SHROCK.

KEARNEY.—Died at Millbrook, Mich., Dec. 15, 1903, of muscular rheumatism, Geo. A. Kearney, aged 53 years, 7 months, and 19 days. Early in life Brother Kearney united with the Seventh-day Adventists, and was a faithful member at the time of his death. A wife and a son are left to mourn. ALBERT WEEKS.

McCULLY.—Died at Sheridan, Wyo., of appendicitis, Mrs. Ama McCully, aged 20 years, 3 months, and 2 days. Sister McCully lived a devoted Christian life from childhood. She leaves a husband, a child six months old, parents, brothers, and sisters, who look forward to the soon-coming reunion. Words of consolation were spoken at the funeral by the writer; text, Rev. 14:12. A. E. BAKER.

BENTON.—Fell asleep in Jesus, at Jackson, Mich., Nov. 26, 1903, of consumption, Jared G. Benton, aged 66 years, 11 months, and 22 days. Brother Benton accepted the truth at Battle Creek under the labor of Brother Gardner, about thirty-five years ago. He leaves a wife and one daughter to mourn their loss. H. S. MERCHANT.

WHITNEY.—Died at Six Lakes, Mich., April 3, 1904, of pulmonary tuberculosis, Brother A. R. Whitney, aged 42 years, 4 months, and 13 days. He had kept the Sabbath for some time, and in his closing days sought especially to prepare to meet his Lord in peace. Funeral sermon was delivered at the United Brethren church before a large gathering of friends; text, 1 Cor. 15:21-23. ALBERT WEEKS.

HARTWELL.—Died in Oceana County, Mich., March 31, 1904, Mrs. Ellen Hartwell, aged 59 years, 10 months, and 19 days. Sister Hartwell accepted her Saviour in early life, and joined the Seventh-day Adventists in 1890. She leaves a husband and five children, who mourn not as those who have no hope. Words of comfort were spoken to a large and attentive congregation, from Ps. 116:15, by the writer. W. C. HEBNER.

JOHNSON.—Died in Leavenworth, Kan., March 28, 1904, of croupous pneumonia, Vivian Johnson, aged 1 year, 9 months, and 5 days. She was the only child of W. M. and Jessie Johnson. A dark shadow came into the home of the parents by the loss of their dear child, but they rejoice in the hope of Christ's soon coming, when their darling will be borne by angels to their bosom once more. Words of comfort and cheer were spoken on the funeral occasion by Elder J. W. Norwood. LILLIE HORNBICK.

CLAXTON.—Died at the home of her daughter, in Hammond, Ind., March 24, 1904, after a brief illness, Mrs. Harriet Claxton, aged 75 years, 6 months, and 16 days. She became interested in the truth about three years ago, since receiving baptism and uniting with the Seventh-day Adventist church at Harvey, Ill. This dear sister was earnest in her profession, which gives us the blessed hope that she will come forth in the resurrection of the just. She leaves a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. E. R. BROWN.

HUGGINS.—Died in Spencer Township, Kent Co., Mich., March 20, 1904, William Huggins, aged 72 years. The deceased was born in Kent County, England, and came to this country in 1858. At the age of twenty-eight he accepted the Christian faith. When thirty-five years old, he identified himself with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, of which he remained a faithful and devoted member till his death. The funeral services, which were conducted by the writer, were held at the Trufant church, and were largely attended. W. H. HECKMAN.

HERRMANN.—Sister Carrie Herrmann was born in Germany, July 21, 1846, and with her people came to America in the spring of 1864. She was married to Elder C. J. Herrmann, Dec. 23, 1866, and their union was blessed with thirteen children, eleven of whom are still living, the youngest being about fourteen years of age. In 1878 they moved on to a homestead three miles from Antigo, Wis., where they heard the third angel's message through reading The Signs of the Times. After carefully studying it, they became convinced of the truth, and the whole family began to keep the Sabbath. Sister Herrmann had a very quiet disposition, and was a faithful Christian, standing by her husband's side to encourage and help him in his gospel work. For two or three years she had been troubled with an anemic condition, which resulted in tuberculosis. She peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, while praying, March 21, 1904. The funeral services were held in the Seventh-day Adventist church at Antigo, Wis., conducted by the writer. Words of comfort were spoken from Rev. 14:13. N. P. NEILSEN.

Annual Meeting of the Michigan Sanitarium and Benevolent Association

By E. L. Eggleston

THE regular annual meeting of the Michigan Sanitarium and Benevolent Association for the year 1904 will be held in the chapel of the Battle Creek College, on North Washington Ave., Battle Creek, Mich., Monday, April 25, 1904, at 3 P. M., standard time, for the election of trustees, and the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

By order of the Board of Trustees.

E. L. EGGLESTON,

Secretary.

Annual Meeting of Western Oregon Conference

By F. M. Burg; W. C. Raley

THE first meeting of the second annual session of the Western Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will convene on the camp-ground at Corvallis, Ore., Friday, May 27, 1904, at 9 A. M., for the election of officers for the coming year, and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. At such time during the session of the conference as may be announced by the president, the annual meeting of the Western Oregon Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, a legal corporation, and the annual meeting of the North Pacific Church Extension Society, a corporation, will be held for the election of officers, and the transaction of other necessary business.

F. M. BURG, President,

W. C. RALEY, Secretary.

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