“AND it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit.” Probably no promise is more sought after by Christian people than this one. And possibly none seems to be farther from being fully realized. Yet this promise is just as positive and just as sure as any that God has given to men. Why then do we not see it fulfilled?
After the resurrection of the Saviour, Peter and John ran to the sepulcher and went down into the tomb and saw the clothes of the One who had been crucified, and the napkin that had been wrapped about his head; otherwise the tomb seemed to be perfectly empty: but when Mary brushed the tears from her eyes and stooped down and looked into the sepulcher, she saw not the clothes but she saw two angels sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, and then when she had turned around, she saw Jesus himself. Why did not Peter and John see the angels? Why did they not see Jesus? Was it because there were no angels there? Was Jesus not with them?
After Elijah had prayed for the Lord to open the young man’s eyes, he saw that the mountain was full of the horses and chariots of the Lord. Why did he not see them before? Were there none there?
We do not see the great outpouring of the Spirit. Is it not being poured out? The angels were there and Jesus was there, but Peter and John did not see them. The horses and chariots of God were in the mountain, but the young man did not see them.
Is the Spirit of God doing its work now, and we so blinded that we do not recognize it? Is the message to the last church, “Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see,” a meaningless one? Are we, like Peter and John, looking at the rags and cast-off clothing of this earth, or, like Mary, really looking for Jesus? Are we like the young man who saw only the enemy, the trials, the trouble, persecution, and death, or like Elijah, calmly, sweetly resting in the power of God?
We read the prophecy with reference to John, that he was to go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias. Here was the promise of God that his Spirit should rest upon John in mighty power. Elijah had shut the heavens that it rained not for the space of three years and six months; the cruse of oil and the barrel of meal failed not in his presence, the fire of God had fallen from heaven and consumed the sacrifice at his command; the swollen waters of the Jordan ceased to flow while he passed over; the dead were raised to life at his petition. When John comes in that same spirit and power, what mighty work will he do? He will touch the hearts of men, he will turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. He will come baptizing in the wilderness, preaching the baptism of repentance. But what great miracle will he perform to show men that the power of God is mightily resting upon him?—Not one.John 10:41. “John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.” Did the Spirit rest upon John in great power?—Yes. What was the power of the Spirit to do when it rested upon him? Was it to call down fire from heaven and raise the dead?—No. What was it to do?—It was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. What mightier miracle could be performed?
This wonderful power began its work by saying to God’s people, “Do not begin to think how good you are, do not look back at your ancestors, do not say, I belong to the church, but repent and turn away from sin.” The great work of this mighty power was to change the hearts of men, to turn them from disobedience to wisdom, to get them to see the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world. It was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. This same Spirit is again to prepare a people for the Lord. How will it begin? with what miracle will it commence its work?
“He will reprove the world of sin.” When you and I are praying for the outpouring of the Spirit, we are praying that God will show us our sins. Is this what we want, or do we want to see some miracle performed? Do we really want to see and put away every sin, that we may be a people prepared for the Lord, or do we want the world to see some mighty work that the Lord is doing through us?
The Spirit of God has a mighty sword to work with; it cuts deep, it reaches down through the joints and marrow and strikes the heart. It is deep-searching and knows even the thoughts and intents of the soul.
The sword is always for warfare, its purpose is to kill. So the Spirit takes its sword and goes forth to slay men. Then when they are dead, it makes them alive in Christ Jesus. “I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I546live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” “Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken.” “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”
The reason why we do not see more of the work of the Spirit is because we expect the Spirit to make us alive before we are dead. Do not be afraid to let the letter kill, if you want the Spirit to make alive. Is God pouring out his Spirit upon us today? is there a dying to self? is the sword of the Spirit cutting your heart, purifying your life, preparing you to meet the Lord? Yes, the Spirit of God is now touching the hearts of men, purifying their lives, turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and making ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Honolulu, Hawaii.
Results of Spirit-Filling
By G. B. THOMPSON
The Holy Spirit—No. 21
Results of Spirit-Filling
G. B. THOMPSON
SOME of the records of the great conquests and special work of the apostles in the book of Acts are introduced with the words, “Filled with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31. One able writer has well said that the book of Acts might properly be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” It was because the apostles were Spirit-filled that they were able to do great things for God. What they did was wrought by the Spirit in them.
It was this Spirit-filling for service the Saviour had in mind when he said to the disciples, “But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. These words were not spoken to unbelievers, but to believers, to Christians, to chosen disciples. The disciples had experienced a large measure of the Spirit’s power. They had felt its transforming power in their own lives. They had seen the great miracles of Christ, and witnessed the workings of the Holy Spirit in his life. But Jesus saw they needed a greater fulness, a baptism of the Spirit, for service; therefore he said, “Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5. And although the disciples were from the humbler walks of life and without great education from the world’s standpoint, filled with the Spirit they were able to stir the world wherever they went.
“Look at this old piece of common iron. Let us wrap the electric current around it, and what wonders! It talks, it sings, it lifts loads, it turns night into day, and carries us up hill and down dale and through the waters,—a new wonder every day. The greatest thing in the world is the thing we call electricity. The greatest power in the world is the power of the Holy Spirit. See that uncouth, unlettered man, sunk in sin,—common iron. Something happens. Call it by any name you like. The Spirit of God envelops that man, and he melts and moves a vast audience as he speaks for God. Jerry McAuley (the great missionary worker in New York City), the river thief, and Samuel Hadley, the drunkard, became the lights of New York slums, and when death claimed them, the whole great city sobbed.”
We believe there is an enduement of the Holy Spirit for Christians today; not to work miracles and make a show, but for the work of saving souls. And just in proportion as God has given to every person a work to do in saving souls, he has promised him a spiritual equipment for his work. And when this is believed and laid hold of by faith, it will change many a desert experience into a watered garden. It will change churches that are like a Sahara into an Eden.
“When Samuel Baker was exploring in the upper Nile valley, he pitched his tent one night in the bed of a large river long since dry. The heat was stifling and the country apparently dead. That night the river rose into a torrent. He had scarcely time to escape with his Arab attendants. When morning broke, the scene was transformed; birds were singing, people were rejoicing, and a large, broad river was flowing on to the sea. The natives began immediately to irrigate, and the whole atmosphere of the place was surcharged with life. It was nature’s baptism. With such a baptism does the Holy Spirit fill the soul and change the life.”
In tracing the history of the church through the centuries, we find striking examples of consecrated, Spirit-filled men, who have had great power with God and with men. Think of Paul and the other apostles in the first century. Through the dark ages God had his witnesses. Great earnestness and spiritual power were seen in the mountains of Piedmont, in Spain, Belgium, the country of Bohemia, and other places. This zeal and power the terms of the Inquisition could not quench. Thousands were put to death, but spiritual power continued to be manifested. It gave Christian fortitude to gray-haired men, tender virgins, and weak women to face the fagot, the rack, the gallows, and the wild beasts in the arena.
Under the preaching of Luther and his associates, the kingdoms of the world were stirred, and the papal throne feared for its existence. Knox in his burning zeal exclaimed, “Give me Scotland or I die!” Such spiritual earnestness and power attended his words that Scotland was stirred to her depths.
Who cannot see in Livingstone, who lies buried in Westminster Abbey, one of England’s uncrowned kings, a man whom the Spirit of God greatly used? The same spiritual halo gathers around Carey, who gave his life to India; Judson, who laid down his life for the Burmese; Morrison, who placed his life on the altar for China; John G. Paton, who devoted his life to the cannibals of the New Hebrides; and many other worthies whom we might mention.
Under the preaching of Whitefield and the Wesleys, great spiritual power was seen. They were examples of Spirit-filled men. It is recorded of Whitefield that “in a single week he received no less than a thousand letters from those distressed in conscience under his preaching.” A formal church was aroused. Society was stirred to its foundation. In the fields, miners and thousands of the common people, with tearful eyes, listened to the preaching of Wesley. Bishop Simpson reports Cardinal Manning as saying that “had it not been for the preaching of Wesley, no man could tell into how deep a degradation England would have sunk.” Why was he able to give such a spiritual uplift?—It was because the power of the Holy Spirit was at work.
Great power attended the preaching of Jonathan Edwards in New England. On one occasion one of his auditors is reported to have said that “he fully expected to see the heavens open and the Judge descend.” A great spiritual awakening followed the preaching of Chalmers. “It is said that Professor Young, who occupied the chair of Greek in the university, was on one occasion so electrified that he leaped up from his seat upon the bench near the pulpit, and stood breathless and motionless, gazing at the preacher till the burst was over, the tears all the while rolling down his cheeks.”
Most startling and almost overwhelming results attended the preaching of Charles G. Finney. In different places where he labored whole communities became greatly convicted of their sins. It is said that the feeling was such at times as “to make the stoutest men writhe on their seat, as if a sword had been thrust into their hearts.” He attributes his work to a special baptism of the Holy Spirit given him for service.
George Muller, who conducted the orphanage at Bristol, England, for many years, sheltering, feeding, and clothing thousands of children, with no funds except as sent him in answer to prayer, is called “the standing miracle of the nineteenth century.” He stands as an example of faith and great spiritual power. In his experience is shown what God is willing and able to do for a consecrated, Spirit-filled man in this time.
Then there is the work of D. L. Moody. Though not possessing a finished education, he secured a baptism of spiritual power that enabled him to stir the English-speaking world. The sinners in Zion were made afraid, and thousands without hope were brought to Christ. A fellow laborer says of him: “I have seen him preach with the fire of heaven illuminating his countenance, with the tears blinding his eyes, when he could scarcely speak for sobs; and hundreds cried out, ‘What must we do to be saved?’” Concerning his own experience, both before and after being “filled” with the Holy Spirit for service, Moody says:—
“I can myself go back almost twelve years and remember two holy women who used to come to my meetings. It was delightful to see them there, for when I began to preach, I could tell by the expression of their faces they were praying for me. At the close of the Sabbath evening services they would say to me, ‘We have been praying for you.’ I said, ‘Why don’t you pray for the people?’ They answered, ‘You need power.’ ‘I need power,’ I said to myself; ‘why, I thought I had power.’ I had a large Sabbath-school and the largest congregation in Chicago. There were some conversions at the time, and I was in a sense satisfied. But right along these two godly women kept praying for me, and their earnest talk about ‘the anointing for special service’ set me thinking. I asked them to come and talk with me, and we got down on our knees. They poured out their hearts that I might receive the anointing of the Holy Ghost. And there came a great hunger into my soul. I knew not what it was. I began to cry as never before. The hunger increased. I really felt that I did not want to live any longer if I could not have this power for service. I kept on crying all the time that God would fill me with his Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York, O, what a day! I cannot describe it; I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for fourteen years. I can only say, God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of his love that I had to ask him to stay his hand.
‘I went to preaching again. The sermons were not different; I did not present any new truths, and yet hundreds were converted. I would not be placed back where I was before that blessed experience, if you would give me all Glasgow.’
It is not numbers that count with God. It is Spirit-filled men and women that are needed. It is a question of putting away sin and wholly surrendering to God. Those who are empty of sin God will fill with his Spirit. We may not be conscious of it. Moses did not know his face shone, but the people did.
“Placed on the insulated stool and connected with the electrical machine, we are filled with electricity, filled so full that every hair upon our heads stands almost erect. Yet we have no consciousness of it. But let any one come near us, and the fire sparkles from every part. So we may be filled unconsciously with divine influence, which will sparkle from our eyes and issue in words of power from our tongues. How wonderfully is science revealing to us divine possibilities! The electric messages we send to our brothers, over mountains, under oceans, across the globe, so quietly, unseen and unheard by those around, do they not illustrate how God can reach our hearts, how he can infuse his own power, without any outward manifestation? This power is not only ‘from on high,’ it is a connecting-link between the throne and our hearts. It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not for regeneration, not for sanctification, but to use the whole of a purified nature, and especially the tongue, for aggressive Christian work.”—“Lectures on Preaching,” page 209.
In our study of this subject we have seen the great need of spiritual power, we have studied the promise of the Saviour to send another Comforter to abide with his people till the end of time. We have seen the power which attended the apostolic church after Pentecost.
The church today is in its closing struggle. God has committed to his people a tremendous work. To carry this message to all the world in this generation is a task wholly beyond the power of any human arrangement.
The nations are angry. Armageddon is gathering. We look out upon a troubled sea. The world is a seething caldron of strife and discontent. Earth’s millions are intoxicated with pleasure, and madly worship the money god. A Christless religion is proclaimed by many. A cold form of worship without power is gripping the world with its icy hand. The papal beast with its deluded worshippers is showing increased strength. Millions of heathen, who worship they know not what, bow before senseless idols.
In the face of all this, our only hope of finishing the stupendous commission given us of God is in the latter rain, a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Without it we may well despair. With it the outlook is as bright as the promises of God. This message is the everlasting gospel. The gospel has tamed and enlightened savages. It has taken naked, rude, and uncultured barbarians and refined them. It has taken heathen nations, knowing only images, and taught them the true God. Clothed with the Spirit, this last call of God to a lost race can do the same. Shall we not as a people put away every sin, unitedly humble our hearts, and allow the Paraclete to rule in our individual hearts, and in every church, that the loud cry of the third angel may be heard in all lands, and the way prepared for the Lord to come and receive his waiting church?
Human Sympathy
By GEO. O. STATES
GEO. O. STATES
WHILE it is a great comfort to know that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin,” still we all have times in our Christian experience when we long for human sympathy; we feel it would lighten the burden if we could sit down and have a heart-to-heart talk with some dear brother, telling him all about it,—just how it happened, how we yielded to the temptation, and imperceptibly drifted into the world, and before we were aware of it, found ourselves in a backslidden state.
Over eight years ago the physician at the Boulder sanitarium advised me to drop all mental work and go to my farm near Cedaredge and rest. The thought of not being allowed to labor in this message for a time, seemed more than I could bear. I certainly went to my place with a heavy heart. Some time after, I received a letter from a dear brother, in which he made use of an illustration that the present generation with improved machinery cannot appreciate. He represented a father with his sons working hard to harvest a crop of grain. In the heat of the day one of the sons gave out, and he was kindly laid aside in the shade to recuperate. The thought was, as he expressed it, “Brother States, you have worked hard to give the message, and while you are forced to drop out for a time, your brethren are thinking of and praying for you.” That brother will never know how much good those words have done me during the dark shadows of the years since, until “the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants.” It is then that he will learn that a few words of courage spoken in the right way at the right time will bring great encouragement to those who are depressed.
As the years went by and I did not recuperate as was hoped and I was feeling discouraged regarding my recovery, I received a long letter from the same brother, in which he said: “I shall unite most earnestly with you in prayer to God that he may restore you to your old-time health and strength. You have spent long years of faithful service, Brother States, and I know God loves you; and if in your present hour of darkness his presence seems withdrawn, remember that it is only apparently so, and not in reality; remember that the Lord is the best and truest friend you have in all the universe. He stands a little back in the shadows, tempering the trial and giving you the needed grace and strength. I cannot understand why you need this trial, and doubtless you cannot; but God knows, and sometime in the eternal ages when you can study his purposes, it will be clear to you. In the mean time, then, trust the wisdom and love of our Father, and believe he knows best and will do the best.”
Is there not danger of our judging those who do not come up to our ideas? Nearly three years ago I was surprised to get a letter from a brother with whom I had labored for a number of years in carrying the message. I had not heard from him for nearly fifteen years, but knew he had given up the truth. He wrote how much help he had received in reading my articles entitled “My Lodge Experience,” in the REVIEW. After giving up the truth, he had joined a lodge and was holding a high office with a large salary, but he never had been satisfied.
I saw that the Spirit of God was striving with this dear brother, and having passed through the lodge experience, I wrote him, giving him the counsel I felt the Lord would approve. We had further correspondence, and he once more took his stand with the remnant people.
Meet Trials With Smiles
“THANK God for the man who is cheerful,
In spite of life's troubles, I say;
Who sings of a brighter tomorrow
Because of the clouds of today.
His life is a beautiful sermon,
And this is the lesson to me:
Meet trials with smiles, and they vanish.
Face cares with a song and they flee.”
Colporteurs’ Summary for April, 1913
Books
Periodicals
AGTS.
HOURS
VALUE 1913
VALUE 1912
NO. COP.
VALUE 1913
VALUE 1912
ATLANTIC UNION
Maine
1
75
$51.25
$31.15
910
$91.00
$125.00
N. New England
5
180
95.81
198.58
299
29.90
37.50
Massachusetts
2
223
222.00
722.85
4254
425.40
457.30
S. New England
4
108
171.75
238.30
1033
103.30
229.70
New York
10
749
949.35
464.60
722
72.20
212.40
W. New York
8
337
286.60
24.50
3010
301.00
148.40
Gr. New York
17
934
538.97
448.72
4175
417.50
430.00
Totals
47
2606
2315.73
2128.70
14403
1440.30
1640.30
COLUMBIA UNION
Ohio
16
1206
1040.80
470.30
3190
319.00
266.10
West Virginia
5
360
323.75
697.45
51
5.10
29.50
Virginia
12
344
433.61
970.60
977
97.70
63.70
Chesapeake
8
657
965.95
823.70
445
44.50
104.50
E. Pennsylvania
21
1071
1039.25
704.45
1935
193.50
236.00
W. Pennsylvania
11
924
969.26
154.05
2118
211.80
255.10
New Jersey
5
388
332.90
760.96
4093
409.30
175.90
Dist. of Columbia
15
799
1059.15
……
1659
165.90
207.10
Totals
93
5749
6164.67
4581.51
14468
1446.80
1337.90
LAKE UNION
E. Michigan
11
733
700.25
912.10
2606
260.60
276.50
W. Michigan
7
928
549.90
88.10
248
24.80
174.50
N. Michigan
5
428
226.40
……
439
43.90
18.50
Wisconsin
6
372
232.70
395.00
1174
117.40
212.00
N. Illinois
6
695
877.90
330.30
2755
275.50
440.50
S. Illinois
12
1425
1248.60
779.90
710
71.00
37.80
Indiana
5
603
337.95
157.20
859
85.90
99.50
Totals
52
5184
4173.70
2662.60
8791
879.10
1259.30
CANADIAN UNION
Ontario
1
200
284.18
265.60
5260
526.00
238.80
Quebec
..
…
…
15.00
200
20.00
150.00
Maritime
..
…
…
62.05
310
31.00
5.00
Newfoundland
..
…
…
…
135
13.50
…
Totals
1
200
284.18
342.65
5905
590.50
393.80
SOUTHERN UNION
Louisiana
5
599
506.50
903.65
806
80.60
95.60
Alabama
12
1006
462.45
605.55
860
86.00
154.60
Kentucky
8
657
483.35
894.90
1625
162.50
117.00
Mississippi
20
1850
2116.65
1765.90
795
79.50
29.50
Tennessee River
11
977
670.40
1325.90
1795
179.50
54.90
Totals
56
5089
4239.38
5493.90
5881
588.10
451.60
SOUTHEASTERN UNION
Cumberland
10
1404
1045.40
818.00
933
93.30
46.50
Georgia
16
1703
959.95
2188.45
1545
154.50
262.00
North Carolina
12
1373
1420.80
1991.75
942
94.20
65.00
South Carolina
12
1892
1241.50
1571.37
2137
213.70
205.00
Florida
7
562
375.05
857.90
546
54.60
88.10
Totals
57
6934
5042.70
7427.47
6103
610.30
666.60
SOUTHWESTERN UNION
Arkansas
13
1390
1401.35
1077.90
557
55.70
58.00
Oklahoma
22
2173
3713.20
2923.45
1073
107.30
63.20
W. Texas
10
682
768.20
1557.55
25
2.50
…
S. Texas
14
497
735.65
528.65
920
92.00
71.00
N. Texas
32
2437
4768.18
5622.70
461
46.10
121.00
New Mexico
11
942
552.60
366.80
140
14.00
137.50
Totals
102
8121
11939.18
12077.05
3176
317.60
450.70
CENTRAL UNION
N. Missouri
2
78
48.80
185.70
238
23.80
70.00
S. Missouri
2
105
63.00
229.50
226
22.60
30.50
E. Colorado
5
488
439.45
276.40
881
88.10
105.10
W. Colorado
..
…
…
…
695
69.50
54.20
Nebraska
..
…
…
…
5320
532.00
322.00
Wyoming
4
349
383.50
10.00
326
32.60
17.50
E. Kansas
7
414
336.70
157.55
1335
133.50
120.50
W. Kansas
4
157
265.50
…
970
97.00
57.50
Totals
24
1591
1536.95
859.15
9991
999.10
777.30
NORTHERN UNION
Iowa
..
…
…
672.00
2070
207.00
182.70
Minnesota
1
35
110.30
192.10
3124
312.40
222.20
N. Dakota
3
120
250.25
151.00
217
21.70
141.50
S. Dakota
2
201
155.65
139.20
600
60.00
64.00
Totals
6
356
516.20
1154.30
6011
601.10
610.40
<page-break/>
PACIFIC UNION
N. Cal.-Nev.
3
313
$329.25
$220.00
1532
$153.20
$34.00
Arizona
4
201
372.55
…
100
10.00
80.50
S. California
7
392
430.85
141.50
2430
243.00
1064.50
Utah
2
210
344.30
417.60
295
29.50
3.00
Central California
4
185
417.45
356.85
395
39.50
471.50
California Coast
2
110
88.70
639.50
2300
230.00
416.00
Totals
22
1411
1983.10
1775.45
7052
705.20
2069.50
NORTH PACIFIC UNION
W. Washington
4
195
410.20
370.45
5026
502.60
399.40
Upper Columbia
3
133
350.95
367.60
2582
258.20
88.50
W. Oregon
6
351
430.95
…
5445
544.50
356.50
S. Idaho
1
67
89.95
13.50
260
26.00
36.20
Montana
..
…
…
165.25
1430
143.00
50.00
S. Oregon
2
17
33.25
193.55
685
68.50
83.00
Totals
16
763
1315.30
1110.35
15434
1543.40
1013.60
WESTERN CANADIAN UNION
Alberta
2
200
170.00
…
1495
149.50
89.20
Manitoba
1
39
139.00
193.05
800
80.00
19.50
British Columbia
..
…
…
…
1400
140.00
168.00
Saskatchewan
..
…
…
…
1290
129.00
350.50
Totals
3
239
309.00
193.05
4985
498.50
627.20
Subscription lists
…
…
…
…
37237
3723.70
5635.00
Foreign and miscellaneous
…
…
…
…
12651
1265.10
2016.60
FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS
British
36
2843
1264.35
2134.62
312610
6580.94
2642.22
Australasian
56
4431
8325.93
4352.45
…
1914.42
…
South African
9
828
1171.33
1441.26
754
53.26
91.60
Indian
19
1765
699.84
704.61
…
…
…
Scandinavian
76
7041
3261.37
3665.10
4504
245.59
355.00
German (2)
444
33960
5340.22
13158.00
271125
7409.65
5191.20
Danube
64
5023
844.00
…
8280
40.77
…
Cen. European
123
12596
3297.40
…
21037
601.24
…
Russian
32
56
1088.12
2146.96
…
20.13
…
Siberian
10
110
122.25
156.34
…
…
…
Latin
12
1375
1012.37
773.93
4316
117.41
132.52
Brazil
21
1670
1077.50
715.58
…
…
…
Mexican
4
331
…
796.25
3990
187.28
692.74
Cuban
12
409
1163.87
512.00
257
22.65
28.51
Porto Rican
..
…
326.05
549.10
…
383.24
89.82
West Caribbean
..
…
…
1928.29
…
…
193.44
Philippine Islands
..
…
…
222.05
…
…
…
Levant
10
874
96.14
61.95
…
…
…
Korean
..
…
30.75
…
3200
80.00
…
South American
34
2224
4661.78
…
…
107.52
…
Japan
2
401
7.09
2.65
925
31.82
123.80
Totals, foreign
964
75957
33700.36
33221.14
630998
17795.92
9540.85
Totals, N. Am.
479
38243
39820.09
29806.18
152088
15208.80
18949.80
Grand totals
1443
114200
$73520.45
$73027.32
783086
$33004.72
$28490.65
Comparative Book Summary
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
Jan.
$25,929.06
$40,677.06
$42,532.23
$44,495.65
$53,931.97
$64,262.88
Feb.
30,466.40
48,748.21
50,990.34
53,923.57
53,525.18
62,813.12
March
35,757.15
52,703.85
55,711.55
73,015.56
73,374.99
66,640.42
April
43,858.29
55,109.54
64,042.39
73,548.31
73,027.32
73,520.45
May
67,455.44
82,971.94
86,333.58
81,923.78
94,166.15
June
82,878.67
124,412.34
112,606.05
135,888.76
137,838.38
July
120,973.89
95,445.21
103,919.12
127,256.86
156,166.90
Aug.
66,946.38
71,652.97
91,145.11
91,810.46
103,165.69
Sept.
51,148.56
55,625.41
66,523.65
86,001.72
67,551.70
Oct.
62,719.91
52,669.93
62,461.13
81,367.89
70,219.07
Nov.
53,787.31
49,964.99
58,211.68
67,600.00
77,424.87
Dec.
39,873.18
45,759.73
54,663.93
58,386.24
57,291.91
Totals
$681,794.24
$775,741.18
$849,140.76
$976,218.80
$1,017,684.13
Comparative Summary of American Periodicals
1910
1911
1912
1913
1910
1911
1912
1913
Jan.1
89462
122202
121666
177080
Aug.
152520
215773
183119
Feb.
116198
99234
144257
201659
Sept.
120020
135179
173077
March
132165
244003
207529
166499
Oct.
116157
164537
587830
April
183981
192757
189498
152088
Nov.
102795
110326
108755
May
174886
141204
162220
Dec.
99137
98541
111199
June
193727
145025
163120
July
222146
197582
191937
Totals
1703194
1866363
2344207
: * Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.
Results of a Working Church
By W. W. EASTMAN
The apostle Paul, in writing to the Thessalonian church, commends them for their activity in the work of God, and says that the influence of their example had spread abroad.
The experience of the church at Savannah, Ga., seems to be somewhat similar, as shown by the following letter received from Elder L. T. Crisler, the president of the Georgia Conference, which we give with the hope that it will prove an incentive to our people everywhere to do likewise:—
“Some three years ago a church of sixteen white members was organized in Savannah, Ga., with a leader that believed in getting every member to work. This little company began working energetically, distributing tracts from house to house. On Sundays a special work was done by way of selling our magazines, principally the Watchman and the Signs. Later, certain ones selected from the company devoted almost their entire time to selling magazines.
“Soon homes were opened for Bible readings and cottage meetings, which were held in different parts of the city nearly every night in the week. Sometimes two or three meetings would be in progress at the same time. Today this company has increased fourfold, and now occupies a commodious church costing $5,500, and located in the best residence section of the city.
“Among the Negro population of Savannah, numbering thirty-five thousand, a systematic distribution of our literature was carried on by some of this company. The magazines Watchman and Signs were sold by the hundreds every month. One brother found that Sunday was the best day of the week to sell our books to the colored people, and for months has been doing a profitable business. This brother is a hard-working lay member, working at his trade through the week, and spending Sundays in distributing our literature and talking to the people.
“Less than a year ago two of our549colored ministers with two Bible workers began a series of meetings in this section that had been worked so thoroughly with our literature. At that time there was not a Sabbath-keeper. The Lord wonderfully blessed from the start, and in this short time there has been raised up an organized church of one hundred fifty members, and a mission school with sixty-five students. A church building is now in process of erection.
“Our present constituency of over two hundred good, loyal Sabbath-keepers in Savannah is a remarkable demonstration of what the Lord will do with a working church when they go to work for their neighbors with the means that God has provided and with a desire to save souls.”
The above is a plain evidence of what the faithful circulation of our magazines and tracts will do, combined with the efforts of our church-members and the ministry. W. W. EASTMAN.
The Publishing Work
By N. Z. Town
Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference
This Report
We are glad to be able to present such a good report. We note that seven of the unions in the North American Union show a substantial gain in their book work over the corresponding month last year. The reports from the field abroad also show a small gain. The periodical work shows a falling off, but we trust that this is only temporary, and that this deficit may be made up during the coming months of the year.
There is a splendid interest in the Publishing Department meetings at the General Conference. As the superintendents of the various mission fields have presented their reports and told of their needs in the colporteur work, a number of young people have signified their willingness to respond to these calls. There is also a determination among all the colporteurs present to reach the two-million mark during 1913.
N. Z. Town.
Comparative Summary for Foreign Periodicals
THE following is the comparative summary of the sale of foreign periodicals for the first three months of this year as compared with the corresponding months of last year, with the values of the same:—
January, 1912, 457,122 copies, value $11,248.02; 1913, 402,908 copies, value $10,301.63.
February, 1912, 384,735 copies, value $9,671.61; 1913, 394,257 copies, value $12,342.06.
March, 1912, 378,416 copies, value $10,170; 1913, 395,933 copies, value $12,987.49.
April, 1912, 358,150 copies, value $9,540.85; 1913, 630,998 copies, value $17,795.92.
Weak Faith Makes Weak Men
“WEAK faith makes weak men.”
Enforcing the Ten Commandments
By W. F. MARTIN
THE Rev. Dr. Mark A. Matthews, of Seattle, Wash., former moderator of the Presbyterian synod, is to be one of the principal speakers at the coming Second World's Christian Citizenship Conference. In the course of a recent sermon in his great church, he made the following significant statement:—
“The law of ten commandments as given to Moses by God at Mt. Sinai is the fundamental element which governs and protects this nation in its exercise of religion. This is a Christian nation. These ten commandments should be interwoven in the federal Constitution without the tiniest variation and without a single amendment, and they should be enforced.”
Dr. Matthews will be a dominant figure in the coming conference, and it is safe to say the above voices the prevailing sentiment of the leading men of the meeting. To enforce the ten commandments would require a religious tribunal, and that means a union of church and state. It is better to leave the matter of religion to the individual, and let the state confine itself to the management of civil affairs. “Keep the church and the state forever separate.”
W. F. MARTIN.
Eastern Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting
By S. D. Hartwell
To those who are planning on attending the Eastern Pennsylvania camp-meeting to be held in Emmanuel Grove, near Allentown, June 19-29, and expect to ship freight for their use at the meeting, we would suggest that it be shipped as early as convenient, and that the freight be prepaid. It would be greatly to the advantage of the shipper, and more satisfactory to the camp-meeting management, if all goods shipped by freight were consigned to the Allentown Transfer Company, for the party shipping, or to whom it will be called for at the camp-grounds. To illustrate: If John Jones has some goods he wishes to ship to the camp-grounds, he should have them plainly marked as follows: To Allentown Transfer Company, Allentown, Pa., for John Jones, S. D. A. Camp-grounds. If the freight is shipped in time, and thus properly marked, it will be on the camp-ground when the shipper reaches there. Otherwise it will be necessary for the freight to remain in the warehouse of the railroad company till the shipper reaches Allentown and receipts for it. The Allentown Transfer Company will look after all freight consigned to it, and have it transferred to the grounds, and the shipper can settle for the transfer on the grounds after he arrives.