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Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 44.

The Bible
Earlier text: The Reading Courses

Education of Physicians

JESUS CHRIST is justly called “the Great Physician.” We are also taught to look upon him as the greatest teacher the world has ever seen. I take it, then, to be reasonable that we should look to the life and teachings of Jesus for a revelation of the fundamental truths to be followed in the teaching of men to become physicians.
There are three great truths in Christ’s life and teachings which particularly stand out in my mind in connection with this subject: First, love must be the motive of service, and not the desire for gain. And this truth is taught so universally by him that it is difficult to select those parts of his life and teaching which best exemplify it. Perhaps the story of the good Samaritan is the best illustration. In the Testimonies of the spirit of prophecy this truth is emphasized over and over again in the warnings to physicians against what is called commercialism. For example, we are warned not to “seek to grasp the very highest wages or else do nothing,” and again, against “exacting the large fees that worldly physicians demand for their services.”
We sometimes use the word “professionalism” to mean about the same as “commercialism.” I think this is not a justifiable use of the word. The practice of medicine should never be on a commercial basis, but should always be a high type of professional work, which to my mind should mean an enthusiastic service from the motive of love for those who suffer and demand relief, and a love for the doing of the work.
There is one element that often comes into the work of the physician which tends to commercialism, and which is inimical to disinterested service, or the highest type of professional work. I refer to the evil of competition. It is a well-known fact that the great majority of medical practitioners in their work are in very strong competition with one another. I believe that the Christian physician should not put his services on such a basis, nor consent to work in a place where it is necessary for him to be in such a position. It is not conceivable that the work of Christ should be of such a nature that those who are taking part in it should have to be competing with others for work which they feel is necessary to bring in an adequate financial return.
The second great outstanding truth of Christ’s message, which it seems to me is especially applicable in a consideration of medical education in this relation, is that which he enunciated with reference to the true method of study. When the Jews marveled at his wisdom and authority, in view of the fact that he had never taken a course of study in the schools of the day, he explained his intellectual power and moral authority by saying, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,” or teaching. In order rightly to know the truth, we must do the things which we are studying. This truth is expressed in the following words: “We must have a living experience in the things of God before we are able to understand his Word. This experimental knowledge is what strengthens the intellect and builds us up into Christ, our living Head.”—“Counsels to Teachers,” page 97.
In our medical teaching, this principle of the superiority of practical study is recognized in the teaching of the fundamental subjects of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, pathology, etc., as well as in the teaching of the clinical subjects; and the tendency of the better medical schools in late years is to put the large part of the teaching on this experimental basis. In my opinion we should plan our work to make all our teaching even more strongly practical than is the general rule. It should be our effort in planning the teaching and the clinical and laboratory facilities, to make it possible for, and in fact incumbent upon, the medical student to make use of the essential laboratory procedures himself in the examination of all the patients with whom he deals, as well as to apply the therapeutic procedures in the individual cases himself.
The third important teaching of Christ which should be constantly held up before the medical student during the period when his mind and body are becoming trained for the work of the physician, along with these two other thoughts, is the idea that sickness, disease, and death are the direct result of sin, and that sin includes the breaking of any of the laws of nature, which are the laws of God, and that the only real cure of disease comes through removal of the cause, which means the ordering of the life in accordance with law. In other words, our great work as Christian physicians should be the study of causes of diseases and of the laws of right living, and the teaching of these truths to those who need them. Or we might say it is the practice of preventive medicine in the broadest and highest sense.
We should become specialists in the art and science of the use of pure air and pure water, cleanliness, proper diet, exercise, purity of life, and a firm trust in God’s love and providence as preventive and curative agents. In Christ’s words to the man who was sick of the palsy, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” he indicated that the sickness from which the man suffered was the result of sin, and that the same creative power was as effective to forgive the sin as to remove the results of sin.
This view of disease, if kept before our minds, must naturally exclude the empirical treatment of symptoms by poisonous drugs, or even other therapeutic agencies, as the large part of our duties as physicians.
In this special instruction which has come with reference to the work at Loma Linda, the one thought repeated more often perhaps than any other, is the importance of getting away from the idea of the necessity of following after the pattern of the world in our educational work. This is seen in such expressions as, “Shall we represent before the world that our physicians must follow the pattern of the world before they can be qualified to act as successful physicians?” “The less dependent you are upon worldly methods of education the better it will be for the student. I would that all might see the inconsistency of our being God’s commandment-keeping people and yet feeling that we must copy after the world in order to make our work successful.”
I have given considerable thought to these expressions in trying to comprehend what is meant by worldly methods. Of course they cannot be interpreted as condemning all methods of teaching and study used in the larger scientific schools. I think we must look to the written instructions themselves in order to learn what some of these worldly methods are which are to be avoided. Some of the specific points which are set before us as goals in our work are as follows:—
  1. Simplicity in all of our teaching, which is not seen in the worldly schools.
  2. Great emphasis laid on the practical education.
  3. Avoidance of the use of poisonous drugs.
  4. Avoidance of the spirit of competition.
  5. Superficial work on the part of the students in covering a subject, simply with the motive of passing the required examinations and receiving their credits.
In our effort to hew to the line in the matter of avoiding worldly methods, as we are so frequently warned, we must not confuse these worldly methods with high scientific attainments: for we are repeatedly urged to strive for the highest scientific and literary attainments, and to turn away from being satisfied with any superficial knowledge. “The light that God has given in medical missionary lines will not cause his people to be regarded as inferior in scientific medical knowledge, but will fit them to stand upon the highest eminence.”
“In striving in a legitimate way and in the fear of God for this scientific knowledge which will fit us, and those whom we are training as students, to stand upon the highest eminence, we should think carefully of the principle of specialization. In the present state of medical knowledge it is impossible for people of ordinary ability to do efficient work without more or less of specializing. This principle is recognized in these words in the Testimonies: ‘No man can hope to be a complete whole.’ God has given to every man certain gifts, and has ordained that men be associated in his service in order that the varied talents of many minds be blended.”
However, this principle of special training must not be allowed to interfere with the complete training of every physician in all the fundamentals of medicine, with an adequate knowledge of each of the special groups of diseases; and this is particularly applicable in the case of those men and women who are to do their work in fields where they must work alone without other physicians, as in the foreign mission fields.
In our plans for our medical school curriculum we must give first place to a systematic and daily study of the Bible. “If medical students will study the Word of God diligently, they will be far better prepared to understand their other studies; for enlightenment always comes from an earnest study of the Word of God. Nothing else will so help to give them a retentive memory as a study of the Scriptures. Let our medical missionary workers understand that the more they become acquainted with God and with Christ, and the more they become acquainted with Bible history, the better they will be prepared to do their work.”
The work in Bible teaching should be so arranged, and the teachers of Bible so selected, as to make it possible to correlate the Bible teaching with the teaching of the medical sciences in such a way as to make each shed light on the other; for, rightly understood, science and the written Word agree. But we should always emphasize the fact that the Bible is not to be tested by men’s ideas of science, but science is to be brought to the test of the unerring standard. Teachers should be selected who are able to teach after the method of Christ, bringing spiritual lessons from a study of natural phenomena.
The preparatory work for the medical course should receive very careful consideration. The consensus of opinion of the medical educational authorities seems to be that two years of regular college work is sufficient, but that that standard is about the minimum ideal standard; and many of the States are now requiring that amount of preparation for those who are to be allowed to begin practice in those States. I see no reason why this standard should not be accepted.
The principle of requiring, or at least strongly recommending, the year of practical work (interne year) after graduation, I am sure is a good one, and I believe we should lay definite plans so to arrange the work in our institutions as to make it possible to supply this practical work in a systematic manner.

The College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, Cal.

By Newton Evans

OUR readers will doubtless be pleased to know of the distribution of the graduates of our medical college. Long before their graduation, four of these had been chosen for foreign fields. Three of these, Drs. A. N. Donaldson and Dr. D. E. Davenport and wife, will go to China. Dr. Olive Smith, and her husband, who is a graduate nurse, expect to labor in India. Dr. A. R. Dickson has a position as interne in the California Hospital in Los Angeles. The other graduates are all located in various denominational institutions for a time.
The medical course proper having been well established, the faculty has determined to give more especial attention to developing and perfecting the medical evangelistic courses. There are two of these courses. One is a two-year course designed to speedily prepare workers for needy fields. These should be graduate nurses, Bible workers, young ministers, and others who have had some experience in our work but who desire a better preparation for reaching the people with the truth.
The other evangelistic course covers quite fully the complete medical course of four years, but does not require the same preliminary training as the medical course. While this course is designed to give its students the qualifications of physicians, they are not to seek recognition as such, but are to labor as evangelists. We are told that thousands ought to be given this preparation. Any of our young people desiring further information regarding these courses should send to the College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, Cal., for a calendar.
The attention of our readers is called to the September 15 number of the Signs of the Times. This number of this valuable missionary periodical is devoted to health and its preservation, and is got out by the students and faculty of the College of Medical Evangelists. Don't fail to get and read this valuable health number, and pass it on to your neighbors and friends.
NEWTON EVANS, M. D., President.

Medical Missionary Department

W. A. RUBLE, M. D. — General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN — Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. — N. Am. Div. Secretary

Plans for Work

By E. M. GRAHAM

“When the love of Christ is enshrined in the heart, like sweet fragrance it cannot be hidden. Its holy influence will be felt by all with whom we come in contact. The spirit of Christ in the heart is like a spring in the desert, flowing to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish, eager to drink of the water of life.
“Love to Jesus will be manifested in a desire to work as he worked, for the blessing and uplifting of humanity. It will lead to love, tenderness, and sympathy toward all the creatures of our Heavenly Father’s care. The Saviour’s life on earth was not a life of ease and devotion to himself, but he toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind.
“So those who are the partakers of the grace of Christ will be ready to make any sacrifice, that others for whom he died may share the heavenly gift. They will do all they can to make the world better for their stay in it. This spirit is the sure outgrowth of a soul truly converted. No sooner does one come to Christ than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus; the saving and sanctifying truth cannot be shut up in his heart. If we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and are filled with the joy of his indwelling Spirit, we shall not be able to hold our peace. If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell. Like Philip when he found the Saviour, we shall invite others into his presence. We shall seek to present to them the attractions of Christ, and the unseen realities of the world to come. There will be an intensity of desire to follow in the path that Jesus trod. There will be an earnest longing that those around us may behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
“And the effort to bless others will react in blessings upon ourselves. This was the purpose of God in giving us a part to act in the plan of redemption. He has granted men the privilege of becoming partakers of the divine nature, and, in their turn, of diffusing blessings to their fellow men. This is the highest honor, the greatest joy, that it is possible for God to bestow upon men. Those who thus become participants in labors of love are brought nearest to their Creator.
“God might have committed the message of the gospel, and all the work of loving ministry, to the heavenly angels. He might have employed other means for accomplishing his purpose. But in his infinite love he chose to make us co-workers with himself, with Christ and the angels, that we might share the blessing, the joy, the spiritual uplifting, which results from this unselfish ministry.”—Steps to Christ, pages 82-84.
“If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the Scriptures.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, page 390.
“If our papers, tracts, and books, expressing the truth in plain Bible language, could be widely circulated, many would find they are just what they want.”—Id., page 392.
There is only one way in which we can demonstrate our love for Jesus, our Saviour, and that is by loving service to our fellow men. It is true that our love will flow out in prayer and praise and in spiritual communion with our Lord through his Word, and these things are essential to our spiritual life. But the real demonstration of our love will be in actions of loving service. Loving is doing. It is not an inactive sentiment. We cannot perform acts of loving service directly for Jesus, to whom our hearts go out in adoration and gratitude, but he has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matt. 25:40.
We can do no greater service to our fellow men than to give them a knowledge of this truth, for in it there is salvation and eternal light. Our business is to live it and to make it known to others.
There are many ways in which this may be done. One is through the circulation of literature, and we are told that if there is one work more important than another, it is this. Therefore if we take up this line of work, we know we are engaging in a work that is fully equal in value to any in this cause in saving souls. Results have proved this to be true.

Tract-Lending Plan

One plan which has been very fruitful in results is that of lending tracts from door to door, until a series, covering the main points of truth, has been lent. Tracts for this purpose can be obtained, already classified and placed in envelopes. A package containing twenty-five complete sets would cost a church $5. This is an economical method of working, for you can lend No. 1 package the first week to one house, next week take No. 2 there, and leave No. 1 at the next house, until with one package of tracts you have worked twenty-five houses.
As you visit the houses with these tracts week by week, you will have opportunities to talk with the people and to do personal work with them. There are many hungry hearts all about us, waiting for some one to invite them to the Saviour. This kind of systematic work opens the way to find such as these.

Present Truth Series

An excellent series of papers is being issued, called the Present Truth Series. Each paper takes up one phase of the message. If every house could be visited with one of each of the twenty-five papers of this series, no one would be left unwarned. Of course, all would not receive them, but all would have been given the opportunity to do so. These papers cost 50 cents a hundred or $4 a thousand.

Division of Territory

In order to insure that the territory is systematically visited, it would be an excellent thing if each member would become responsible for a certain portion of it, according to the circumstances of the members, for some can take more, some less. The territory should be divided into small blocks, and arrangements made for the members to take one or more of these, as they think they can work them. It is advisable not to attempt too much at first, for thorough, painstaking work is the most effective. Unless some systematic plan of this kind is followed, some portions of the territory will perhaps be visited by several workers, while others will receive no attention.

Reading Racks

One excellent plan for circulating literature is by placing it in reading racks in rooms where people have to wait, for some reason or other. Few persons like to sit still and do nothing. If they see something that they can take to read, they will in most cases do this. How many persons have been brought into the truth through these reading racks eternity alone will reveal, but it will certainly be a substantial number. It has also been found that it is a very rare thing for reading matter placed in these racks to be wasted or destroyed.
Each rack should be supplied by two members at a time, two taking one month, another two the next, and so on, thus dividing the burden. All the magazines are suitable for this work, also the weekly Signs, Youth’s Instructor, Little Friend, Present Truth Series, and tracts.

Careful Use of Literature

“As the disciples, by Christ’s direction, gathered up the fragments, that nothing might be lost, so we should treasure every fragment of literature containing the truth for this time.”—Words of Encouragement to Workers, page 3.
All our literature is valuable, and therefore every paper and tract that comes into our hands that is suitable for the public should be put to some use, after we have read it. We often find in Seventh-day Adventist homes piles of papers and tracts that should be going out to carry light and truth to others. Let us make use of everything we can.
While we desire to see our literature circulated as widely as possible, care should be taken that it is not wasted. The following instruction, given by Elder James White, in the early days of the message, is just as applicable now: “We do not ask men and women to circulate tracts as they would scatter corn to the chickens. Our publications should be handed out judiciously, where they are needed and wanted. Those who feel it a duty to sow this kind of seed broadcast, can sow all they please at their own expense.”
It is generally understood that the tracts supplied by the church for the use of members are intended to be used to give to those who have manifested some interest in the truth, or who have asked questions on some specific subject. They may be used to hand to individuals with whom the members have talked on some subject. It is not expected that members will take large quantities of tracts paid for by the church and place them on street-car seats in numbers, or lay them around promiscuously in other places. Those who have a burden to circulate tracts in this way, should purchase them themselves. Tracts left at times on street-car seats, the seats of railroad trains, and in other public places, have been used by the Lord to save souls, so this may be done to a reasonable extent. But the plan of interesting the individuals, and then handing the tracts to them, is a more profitable one. No literature should be used without being accompanied by prayers that the Lord will bless it to some soul’s good.
“By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.”—The Desire of Ages, pages 633, 634. E. M. GRAHAM.

Home Missionary Department

By E. M. Graham; F. W. Paap

E. M. GRAHAM     -     -     -     -     General Secretary
F. W. PAAP     -     -     -     N. Am. Div. Secretary

Colporteurs’ Summary for July, 1915

UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914 NO. COP. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914
ATLANTIC
Maine 18 1684 $2202.00 $1114.58 1750 $175.00 $187.20
N. New England 13 1049 853.20 759.80 2063 206.30 153.60
Massachusetts 10 1145 1071.25 1642.83 7157 715.70 554.10
S. New England 3 346 516.75 619.00 943 94.30 220.10
E. New York 18 2976 3941.82 2146.39 1352 135.20 349.40
W. New York 18 2166 2768.70 1261.40 1164 116.40 503.50
Gr. New York 11 1115 656.55 991.05 7638 763.80 730.90
Totals 91 10481 12010.27 8535.05 22066 2206.60 2698.80
COLUMBIA
Ohio 33 3620 3843.30 5619.15 2799 279.90 519.40
Chesapeake 12 940 1638.95 1550.40 1553 155.30 188.00
Virginia 15 1912 2403.85 2091.90 3315 331.50 202.50
West Virginia 11 1451 1976.78 5019.75 311 31.10 30.50
E. Pennsylvania 16 2808 3091.60 1392.25 1338 133.80 367.60
W. Pennsylvania 19 1304 971.10 2223.85 498 49.80 122.60
New Jersey 11 826 939.50 521.40 4055 405.50 511.90
Dist. of Columbia 4 235 262.65 ..... 60 6.00 170.70
Totals 121 13096 15127.73 18418.80 13929 1392.90 2113.20
UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914 NO. COP. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914
LAKE
E. Michigan 17 1406 1273.00 1548.25 2850 285.00 471.80
W. Michigan 22 1797 1391.85 1236.25 1152 115.20 173.50
N. Michigan 22 1795 1265.25 1058.05 210 21.00 99.00
Wisconsin 28 2699 3312.25 2517.20 2425 242.50 119.10
N. Illinois 25 2468 1762.25 2540.17 2735 273.50 856.60
S. Illinois 27 2880 2560.15 3837.14 2513 251.30 55.20
Indiana 39 3657 4175.30 2802.97 362 36.20 780.00
Totals 180 16702 15740.02 15540.03 12247 1224.70 2555.20
EASTERN CANADIAN
Ontario 8 .... 1737.04 993.06 2575 257.50 301.60
Quebec .. .... 54.10 27.00 50 5.00 17.50
Maritime 5 .... 1057.00 82.50 200 20.00 75.00
Newfoundland .. .... .25 ...... .... ...... 13.00
Totals 13 .... 2848.39 1102.56 2825 282.50 407.10
SOUTHERN
Louisiana 9 784 1051.30 1660.55 951 95.10 124.60
Alabama 24 2469 1776.60 4110.75 980 98.00 97.50
Kentucky 16 2421 1709.60 2898.05 1310 131.00 110.00
Mississippi 21 1417 2149.10 3226.50 1135 113.50 77.10
Tennessee River 17 1476 871.70 1965.40 1385 138.50 280.00
Totals 87 8567 7558.30 13861.25 5761 576.10 689.20
UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914 NO. COP. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914
SOUTHEASTERN
Cumberland 12 996 629.05 2118.70 835 83.50 43.50
Georgia 20 1675 2698.80 6814.75 560 56.00 146.50
North Carolina 13 1828 1917.66 2139.07 2950 295.00 308.00
South Carolina 9 1158 1337.10 1823.80 320 32.00 124.00
Florida 12 1088 945.80 5136.20 1007 100.70 77.00
Totals 66 6745 7528.41 18032.52 5672 567.20 699.00
SOUTHWESTERN
Arkansas 15 1217 1570.45 2738.20 215 21.50 21.30
Oklahoma 36 2087 4548.83 6664.92 1772 177.20 80.40
N. Texas 11 870 1080.35 6162.00 1056 105.60 178.50
S. Texas 22 2023 3112.10 5678.00 2310 231.00 91.20
W. Texas 16 1163 1311.40 1670.20 271 271.00 12.00
New Mexico 2 200 230.00 2970.85 60 6.00 33.50
Totals 102 7560 11853.13 25884.17 5684 568.40 416.90
CENTRAL
Missouri 16 2435 2137.35 3048.90 1797 179.70 789.70
E. Colorado 14 1557 1747.75 544.05 983 98.30 683.10
W. Colorado .. .... ...... 332.10 .... ...... 16.50
Nebraska 15 1837 2331.45 3659.00 141 14.10 393.60
Wyoming 9 1139 1805.10 1600.70 210 21.00 12.00
Kansas 19 2540 2401.60 1234.95 1180 118.00 150.40
Totals 73 9508 10423.25 10419.70 4311 431.10 2045.30
NORTHERN
Iowa 15 2158 2654.90 1067.10 3427 342.70 501.00
Minnesota 41 7678 7427.62 5982.20 8346 834.60 439.40
North Dakota 22 4224 7168.00 3528.50 1166 116.60 93.50
South Dakota 13 1871 2056.75 3834.37 230 23.00 41.50
Totals 91 15931 19307.27 14412.17 13169 1316.90 1075.40
UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914 NO. COP. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914
PACIFIC
Cen. California 6 485 $612.25 $956.00 75 $7.50 $90.50
California 7 1056 1814.13 1254.45 2761 276.10 158.50
N. California 6 626 985.36 1247.55 100 10.00 321.00
S. California 4 299 2577.00 1585.00 1465 146.50 536.50
Utah 3 398 455.70 1577.25 50 5.00 17.50
Arizona .. .... ...... 172.00 20 2.00 206.50
Totals 26 2864 6444.44 6792.25 4471 447.10 1330.50
NORTH PACIFIC
W. Washington 4 212 301.25 1384.55 2584 258.40 217.00
Upper Columbia 11 800 1385.40 4213.50 550 55.00 320.00
W. Oregon 6 223 215.30 2530.85 855 85.50 63.50
S. Oregon 8 550 537.85 806.30 135 13.50 10.00
S. Idaho 9 1002 1307.05 1001.10 210 21.00 22.00
Montana 10 1609 3760.10 2406.30 1185 118.50 89.00
Totals 48 4396 7506.95 12342.60 5519 551.90 721.50
WESTERN CANADIAN
Alberta 12 2038 1757.75 2538.05 640 64.00 150.50
Manitoba 9 2263 1957.10 1288.60 615 61.50 96.50
British Columbia 6 918 1213.40 872.70 800 80.00 224.80
Saskatchewan 25 3444 5852.10 4087.55 1010 101.00 140.30
Totals 52 8663 10780.35 8786.90 3065 306.50 612.10
Foreign and miscellaneous 6101 610.10 1214.10
Mailing lists 46059 4605.90 4525.70

FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS

UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914 NO. COP. VALUE 1915 VALUE 1914
British 1 53 12256 6390.81 5656.98 308481 4101.86 2939.13
Australasian 82 5722 9653.60 10034.39 65400 2037.28 2080.91
South African 7 492 779.57 326.98 7006 288.22 .....
Indian 22 3402 336.92 664.52 ..... ..... .....
Scandinavian 119 18978 11901.73 13139.68 1075 29.06 393.53
E. German 56 6867 2328.00 2137.44 65393 1720.96 1483.02
W. German 44 5362 1882.02 3050.26 64084 1882.60 1988.72
Danube 16 1800 497.30 940.62 ..... ..... .....
Cen. European 57 6739 2396.05 3378.76 22444 802.95 740.79
Latin 9 1364 1115.41 1149.83 6889 210.78 283.32
Porto Rican 4 .... 442.46 118.42 ..... ..... 55.25
Cuban 21 939 2615.35 2018.05 63 5.15 4.90
South American 10 614 898.40 1315.08 ..... 35.50 237.44
Brazil 44 2443 1809.04 716.00 ..... ..... .....
Japan 18 1972 9.83 ..... 5662 137.53 .....
Canary Islands 2 52 45.31 7.47 22 .40 .....
W. Caribbean .. .... ...... 335.14 ..... ..... 248.82
Korea .. .... 45.29 ..... 15012 375.31 .....
Philippine Is. 10 .... 270.42 ..... ..... ..... .....
Totals, foreign 574 69002 43417.51 44989.62 561531 11627.60 10455.83
Totals, N. Am. 950 104512 127128.51 154128.00 150880 15088.00 21104.00
Grand totals 1524 173514 $170546.02 $199117.62 712411 $26715.60 $31559.83

Comparative Book Summary

1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915
Jan. $42,532.23 $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88 $59,697.52 $46,778.58
Feb. 50,990.34 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12 67,149.45 47,943.61
March 55,711.55 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42 75,962.31 73,414.23
April 64,042.39 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45 85,685.35 78,974.96
May 86,333.58 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,640.01 87,024.10 107,987.69
June 112,606.05 135,888.76 137,838.38 137,373.06 153,480.96 151,199.10
July 103,919.12 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.24 199,116.62 170,546.02
Aug. 91,145.11 91,810.46 103,165.69 111,660.64 105,391.65
Sept. 66,523.65 86,001.72 67,551.70 73,732.14 74,359.96
Oct. 62,461.13 81,367.89 70,219.07 84,015.90 60,357.25
Nov. 58,211.68 67,600.00 77,424.87 73,949.68 57,388.95
Dec. 54,663.93 58,386.24 57,291.91 59,749.92 57,496.17
Totals $849,140.76 $976,218.80 $1,017,684.13 $1,049,943.46 $1,083,110.29

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1912 1913 1914 1915 1912 1913 1914 1915
Jan.2 121666 177080 152971 170760 July 191937 176772 211040 150880
Feb. 144257 201659 242627 134619 Aug. 183119 153849 171451
Mar. 207529 166499 224757 341059 Sept. 173077 127017 164860
April 189498 152088 162027 183280 Oct. 587830 126557 174182
May 162220 166465 168934 158114 Nov. 108755 100351 142040
June 163120 156550 189897 159635 Dec. 111199 99504 143190
Totals 2344207 1804391 2147976
  • For two months.
† Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.

Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals

JANUARY, 1914, 485,968 copies, value $19,795.36; January 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23. February, 1914, 372,235 copies, value $10,739.70; February, 1915, 403,134 copies, value $11,357.55. March, 1914, 381,017 copies, value $11,168.35; March, 1915, 467,626 copies, value $18,243.92. April, 1914, 375,140 copies, value $11,686.31; April, 1915, 418,584 copies, value $10,001.96. May, 1914, 297,877 copies, value $8,049.90; May, 1915, 595,740 copies, value $18,200.94. June, 1914, 301,582 copies, value $9,509.79; June, 1915, 215,051 copies, value $7,974.76. July, 1914, 380,246 copies, value $10,455.83; July, 1915, 561,531 copies, value $11,627.60.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman

N. Z. TOWN — — — General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN — — — N. Am. Div. Secretary

The Home Missionary Convention at Portland, Maine

By E. M. Graham

A VERY interesting and helpful home missionary convention was held at Portland, Maine, July 31 and August 1. The first day was devoted to a consideration of principles and methods, the great needs and the responsibilities. A hearty response was made, nearly every one in the house rising when a call was made for a sacred covenant to be made with God to be faithful to the impressions of the Holy Spirit.
After a discussion upon the value of the REVIEW AND HERALD in keeping faith alive in the home, it was unanimously voted that every family in the church should have this tried and faithful minister in the home.
In regard to the second day, Mrs. W. H. Carr writes as follows: “The second day of the convention was devoted to demonstrating different phases of the missionary work, instead of telling how it should be done. In the two ways of giving Bible readings, one worker seemed untrained, was late in meeting her appointment, and upon a slight invitation readily consented to stay to supper. The second one made her points clear and persuasive, and left her reader deeply interested, and anxious for the worker to come the next week. Missionary letters were written and sent, and the answers read. A tract rack was placed in a waiting station; while the passengers waited, they read, and results were developed and reported. A sick woman was visited by a worker, who related gossip, read exciting war news, and was sorry to inform her that her physician feared she had tuberculosis. The second visitor brought a ‘sunshine bag,’ filled with dainty remembrances, and flowers. The patient was assured of her improved condition, and the worker left her with hope and cheer.”
“The importance of reporting missionary labor was thoroughly discussed, after which a solo was sung, set to the old familiar tune of ‘Majestic sweetness sits enthroned,’ and the words, ‘Report, report, report, report,’ were impressively sung, the congregation joining in the chorus. The second stanza was called for, and sung with enthusiasm.”
An interesting goal was set before the church for the Harvest Ingathering. It was stated that if one hundred of the members would each dispose of one of these Ingathering papers each day for three months, beginning October 1, and if an average of ten cents were received for each paper, it would mean a circulation of 10,000 papers and a collection of one thousand dollars in cash. The question, “Do you want to do it?” was answered by a vote to adopt this as the goal of the Portland church.
It will be seen that this was a very practical convention, and this plan of giving practical demonstrations in how to do different lines of work is a most helpful one. Most people learn much more readily by seeing a thing done than they do by hearing how to do it.
It is particularly encouraging to see this Portland church setting a high mark for its Ingathering work. If all our churches would aim as high, and all determine to reach the mark at which they aim, a tremendous impetus would be given to our foreign mission work. The Portland church set a high mark last year and reached it. This one is still higher, but they say they intend to do the work, and we believe they will. One of their workers says, ‘We must crowd into the hour of setting sun a whole day’s labor.’ If all will do this, the work can soon be finished.
E. M. GRAHAM.
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