Earlier text: Salvation Only in ChristNever Heard of Dinah
By F. D. Starr
“Did Jacob have any daughters?” was the question raised by a student in a Bible class recitation. She knew very well, of course, about Jacob’s twelve sons, but did not know he had any daughter. She had never heard of Dinah. The story is briefly told in Genesis 34: “And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.” Poor Dinah! The remainder of the chapter tells the consequence of Dinah’s friendship with the ungodly. Not only did the daughters of the land receive her attention, but the sons of the land; the young Shechem in particular became much interested in her, and enamored with her attractiveness. So there followed a seduction, a proposed marriage, and a wholesale slaughter—all occasioned by this unfortunate act of this careless daughter of Israel in mingling with worldly society. Her course has since been often followed, and when such a fair damsel is seen imitating the foolish virgin of patriarchal times, the suggestion comes to the mind of the observer, Surely she has never heard of Dinah, else how could she venture to take the fatal, downward path that Dinah took? “To see the daughters of the land!” The next thing is to imitate the daughters of the land. If the daughters of the land wear finger rings, bracelets, corsets, low-necked and sleeveless dresses, then the daughters of Israel who have never heard of Dinah, or who are determined to follow fashion no matter what the consequence may be, will of course imitate the conduct so abhorrent to the Lord. Poor souls that never heard or heeded the history of Dinah! Why should not that story, written for our admonition, find its place along with the story of Joseph, of Samson, or of David? Why should not serious attention be given to what the Lord says about the daughters of Zion who are imitating the daughters of the land in their worldly attire? See Isaiah 3. The following from “Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 204, will be read with interest and profit:— “The history of Jacob and his sons at Shechem ended in violence and bloodshed. The one daughter of the household had been brought to shame and sorrow, two brothers were involved in the guilt of murder, a whole city had been given to ruin and slaughter, in retaliation for the lawless deed of one rash youth. The beginning that led to results so terrible was the act of Jacob’s daughter, who ‘went out to see the daughters of the land,’ thus venturing into association with the ungodly. He who seeks pleasure among those that fear not God, is placing himself on Satan’s ground, and inviting his temptations. “The treacherous cruelty of Simeon and Levi was not unprovoked; yet in their course toward the Shechemites they committed a grievous sin. They had carefully concealed from Jacob their intentions, and the tidings of their revenge filled him with horror. Heart-sick at the deceit and violence of his sons, he only said, ‘Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land. . . . I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.’ But the grief and abhorrence with which he regarded their bloody deed is shown by the words in which, nearly fifty years later, he referred to it, as he lay upon his deathbed in Egypt: ‘Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united. . . . Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel.’” Terrible results indeed of seeking pleasure among those that fear not God! “Prepare to Meet Thy God”
By E. H. M. Sell
ONLY a few years ago those in attendance at The Hague Peace Congress declared in almost the identical words of the prophet Isaiah, “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” But scarcely was the ink dry on this proclamation, when the fulfilment of God’s word through the prophet Joel began, and the greatest, most terrible war of history began. Even though nation after nation has become involved in the struggle, the peace advocates still sanguinely predict that the close of this war will usher in the millennium. They urge this in the face of the prophecy of a world war leading up to the battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. At the present moment, however, by the national Congress, from the lecture platform, and even from the pulpits of the Christian church, we are exhorted to preparedness against invasion by a foreign foe. How much more this means to Seventh-day Adventists than to the world at large! We are called to enlist under the banner of the King of kings; invited to serve in the army of Prince Immanuel in the struggle now going on against the archenemy of mankind. From this service there is no discharge so long as time shall last. Eternity alone will bring release. This service is constant, for our enemy neither slumbers nor sleeps. Coming in the garb of an angel of light, he will if possible deceive “the very elect.” We have reached a time of crisis not only in the political world, but in the religious world as well. People generally have lost faith in the Bible as the inspired word of God; they do not read it, and so are not prepared to meet the temptations of the enemy. Religious shepherds are lulling their flocks to sleep with the refrain, “The Lord delayeth his coming.” Seventh-day Adventists have a special work to do in the world today. We must preach “preparedness” for the second coming of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our message to the world is, “Prepare to meet thy God.” All who would enter the kingdom of peace, and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb, must be ready and waiting, for “at such an hour as ye think not,” “the Bridegroom cometh.” Then only will war cease, for sin and sinners will have been destroyed; then only will the millennium be ushered in, and “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” May we all be prepared for a place in that coming kingdom. Seventh-Day Adventist Camp Meetings
By George I. Butler
THE season of year when these meetings can be held with comfort is rapidly approaching. As the writer has attended hundreds of these gatherings, and has taken a prominent part in many of them, it may not be deemed improper for him to express some thoughts concerning them. These meetings have been very important in the progress of this cause in the past, and it is reasonable to expect they will be still more important in the future. In the early growth of this work, a great need was felt for large gatherings of our people for consultation, for instruction, for seeking God, and for promoting unity and oneness of purpose in carrying on the great work that God has committed to his people. The lack of such opportunities was deeply felt. We had no great buildings in which to hold meetings, and no prospect of soon having any. We could not expect assistance from other denominations, for our work was unpopular. Our people believed that all gatherings for the worship of God should be orderly, reverential, and solemn, with everything savoring of fanaticism discarded. In short, if we were to have camp meetings, we should have them with as good order as meetings in a church. The question with our leading brethren was whether or not this could be done.8 Our first camp meeting was held in Wright, Mich. It was a matter of great importance, and our people were deeply interested in its success. Of course everything was crude in comparison with our camp meetings at the present time. We had no family tents, so we had to learn how to make them. The campers were made as comfortable as possible. The attendance was quite good. Our leading brethren were present to supervise, and the order was as good as at meetings conducted in a church. Best of all, the Lord was there by his Spirit, and those attending were greatly blessed. The meeting was a great success. The report was rapidly spread, and to the best of the writer's memory quite a number of other camp meetings were held in other States the same year. From that time, camp meetings have been held by our people all over the great fields where the numbers of our people are sufficient and the cause is so far advanced as to justify such an effort. We have never known in our history any Seventh-day Adventist camp meeting which was a disgrace to our name. All have been blessed occasions, which God has honored by his presence. The purpose served by our camp meetings has been similar to that of the great feasts celebrated by ancient Israel. God required Israel of old to attend these gatherings, which were considered very important. The people came hundreds of miles, in many instances on foot, to attend these feasts. In the Saviour's time, when the Jews were scattered among the nations, many thousands gathered at Jerusalem on these occasions. The spiritual life of our people is largely influenced by our camp meetings. At these gatherings all important interests in the cause of God are considered and advanced. Through indifference in attending these meetings, some of our people are suffering great loss spiritually, and are in danger of getting worldly-minded and careless. A large number of souls will be lost because of this great mistake. The camp meetings are a very prominent means of grace, to keep us as a people spiritually alive. They cost considerable money, to be sure, but what is the loss of a little money in comparison with jeopardizing the salvation of our souls? We are coming rapidly to the time when our people will be terribly tested. The time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation is just upon us. Such a war as is now raging has never before been seen in our world. My dear brethren and sisters, we must be spiritually awake or be lost. There is no escaping this conclusion. There will be a terrible shaking before this shaking time ends. Many among us are liable to be shaken out and lost, lost forever. Shall we not use this blessed means of grace provided at much cost, preparatory to the terrible scenes before us? How can we escape if we neglect the means of grace designed to warn and arouse us? May the Lord impress this thought on all our hearts. The Exceeding Greatness of His Power to Us, Who Believe
By Daniel Nettleton
“The light of the world shines brighter and brighter,
As wider and wider God opens my eyes;
My trials and burdens seem lighter and lighter,
And fairer and fairer the heavenly prize.” “The wealth of this world seems poorer and poorer,
As farther and farther it fades from my sight;
The prize of my calling seems surer and surer,
As straighter and straighter I walk in the light.” “My waiting on Jesus seems dearer and dearer,
As longer and longer I lean on his breast;
Without him I’m nothing, seems clearer and clearer,
And more and more sweetly in Jesus I rest.” “My joy in my Saviour is growing and growing,
And stronger and stronger I trust in his word;
My peace like a river is flowing and flowing,
As harder and harder I lean on the Lord.” “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph. 3:20, 21. This is a part of Paul’s inspired prayer for the church of God. And is not God able and willing to give to his people all for which his Holy Spirit inspired Paul to pray; yea, exceeding abundantly above all Paul or we ever thought or asked? When the things for which Paul prayed are received, they will make those by whom they are received “signs and wonders . . . in Israel.” The angel said to Daniel, “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” In these days of the voice of the seventh angel when the mystery of God (the gospel) is being finished, in these days when there shall be delay no longer, God is waiting to do something out of the ordinary for his people. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him,” or “set steadfastly to seek him.” 2 Chron. 16:9. Let us note some of the things in Paul’s petition. His prayer began with verse 14 of Ephesians 3, and we observe as we read it carefully that the principal thing for which he prays is that we may be strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that, being rooted and grounded in love, we may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height, and to know, the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fulness of God. Oh, what a people we should be if we were all filled with the fulness of God! The earth would soon be lightened with his glory. Moses was so filled with the fulness of God that when he came from the presence of the Lord, he had to veil his face; he partook of the glory of God by association with him, and he reflected this glory on the people. God’s people are to have a similar experience in the time of the loud cry. “Servants of God, endowed with power from on high, with their faces lighted up, and shining with holy consecration, went forth to proclaim the message from heaven. . . . God’s people were strengthened by the excellent glory which rested upon them in rich abundance, and prepared them to endure the hour of temptation.” “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, followed the convictions of his own conscience, and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message.”—Early Writings, pp. 278, 279. God not only enlightens our understanding so that we may know his will, but he wishes us also to know what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe. The working of his mighty power is the same as that which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places. In Col. 1:9-11, the apostle Paul also speaks of this power to usward: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness.” Oh, why should we talk of serving God in “our weak way,” when we may be strengthened with all might, and that according to his glorious power? Why should we be faint-hearted and tremble with fear when all power in heaven and earth are his, and he has promised to be with us even to the end of the world? But for what purpose does he grant this power?—That we may be victorious in our lives over sin, and may give to others the glorious gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. We cannot retain this power unless we transmit it to others. One has truly said, “It is not the power we generate, but the power we transmit that counts. Power generated and not transmitted is a dead loss.” “In order to keep some things, we must give them away.” The manna hoarded spoils; the dewdrops give themselves to refresh the grass and flowers, and are turned into diamonds and pearls in the clear beams of the morning sunlight. The Dead Sea is dead because it is always receiving but never gives. Give, and it shall be given unto thee, is9 the rule of the gospel. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, and when thus anointed, he went about doing good. Christ commanded his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, to make disciples of all nations. He promised that they should receive power, after the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they should be witnesses of him, both in Judea and Jerusalem, and unto the uttermost parts of the world; and as they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, the promised blessing came. That day of Pentecost was the dawning light for a sin-darkened world. In a few short years, under the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the whole world heard the gospel, and thousands were turned from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. But there came a falling away, and the church exchanged the power of God for the power of man. “How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! . . . If the church had always retained her peculiar holy character, the power of the Holy Spirit which was imparted to the disciples would still be with her. The sick would be healed, devils would be rebuked and cast out, and she would be mighty, and a terror to her enemies.”—Early Writings, p. 227. God is just as willing and able to do a work in our time as he was to work for his church in the days of the apostles. “By the grace of Christ the apostles were made what they were. . . . Is not the Spirit of God to come today in answer to earnest, persevering prayer, and fill men with power? . . . As the disciples, filled with the power of the Spirit, went forth to proclaim the gospel, so God’s servants are to go forth today. . . . Why has the history of the work of the disciples, as they labored with holy zeal, animated and vitalized by the Holy Spirit, been recorded, if it is not that from this record the Lord’s people today are to gain an inspiration to work earnestly for him? What the Lord did for his people in that time, it is just as essential, and more so, that he do for his people today. All that the apostles did, every church member today is to do. . . . A work similar to that which the Lord did through his delegated messengers after the day of Pentecost he is waiting to do today.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VII, pp. 32, 33. Shall we keep him waiting? Oh, no, for it is written, “There shall be delay no longer.” Now listen to these encouraging words: “Already many are receiving the Holy Spirit, and no longer will the way be blocked by listless indifference.” “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” Oh, let us be willing. “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” My dear brethren, as I read these words, there comes into my soul a stronger desire, yea, an intense longing, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” “God was manifest in him that he might be manifest in them.” “He Leadeth Me”
By E. K. SLADE
THE words of the poet describe an experience that it is the privilege of every child of God to enjoy:— “He leadeth me! O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.” The Lord was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night to lead his chosen people from their enemies and their bondage into their own land of freedom and plenty. All that he was to them in their troubles and triumphs he has promised to be to every one in his battle with temptation and sin and in his journey to the Land of Promise. “The Lord shall guide thee continually,” is a promise most precious in these days of distress, deception, and darkness. “I will guide thee with mine eye;” “he will teach us of his ways;” “the way of the righteous is made plain;” “I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go;” and “I am the way,” are blessed assurances to the wayfaring man, which should give courage and hope and peaceful confidence in such a time as this. The Lord cannot lead a man who will not be led. If a man chooses to be led by the flesh, his end is certain death, and the only way of escape from such a doom is for him to choose to be obedient to the leading of God’s Spirit. Our impressions or desires are not safe guides. For us to fancy that God is leading when we go in ways contrary to the laws of nature or the teaching of his Word is an error. Our salvation depends upon our being led away from our natural desires and tendencies. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jer. 31:3. He leads by love, but many times it may be by the love that “rebukes” and “chastens.” He who weighs “the path of the just” will allow experiences to come to his children of a nature to help them to turn away from serving self to choose the “good way, and walk therein.” Adversity and affliction are permitted to come to us oftentimes when we have turned our face to sin and our back to God. “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa. 30:20, 21. Many times by his providences, he rescues his wayward children who are prone to turn away from him. It may be, when the way seems hardest and our grief or disappointment or affliction seems the most defeating, that our heavenly Father is most tenderly watching over us to make of such experiences a means of causing us to choose his way and enter into blessings and victories to which we could be led in no other way. This is illustrated by the experience of a young, loving, unconverted father and mother, who lost their only child, the idol of their hearts. Sorrow and gloom filled their once happy home. Though surrounded by good friends and many comforts, they were wholly disconsolate. So they finally decided to travel, hoping thus to find relief from their continual sorrow for their darling child. But relief did not come, and in vain did they try to forget. Finally they went to the hills of Scotland, and one day while wandering in the fields, they saw a shepherd trying to lead his flock across a stream to a better pasture; but in vain did he try. Finally he picked up one of the little lambs, and carried it across the water and placed it by itself in the new pasture. Soon the little one set up a most appealing call for its mother. This was more than the mother sheep could endure, and she marched straight across the stream to her little one. Then the rest of the flock followed her example. After witnessing with deep interest this touching scene, the husband said to his wife, “Is it possible that we have come all the way to Europe to see this shepherd lead his flock, in order to learn the lesson which the great Shepherd has for us? He took our little lamb away from us in order that he may lead us into his fold. Had we not better start at once to follow as he leads?” “Where’er the path may lead,
God gives to thee no helpless, broken reed;
But his own hand sufficient for thy need.
So where he leads thee, thou canst safely go;
And in the blest hereafter thou shalt know
Why in his wisdom he hath led thee so.” W. S. CHAPMAN
By W. S. Chapman
Rendering to God His Own — No. 3
It is vital that man shall yield obedience to the law of tithing, and for this reason Satan has sought to impress upon his evil angels the necessity of so influencing commandment keepers as to weaken their faith in the promises of God, and to develop the natural tendency to selfishness common to fallen man. He is represented by the servant of the Lord as thus instructing his angels:— “Go, make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares. If you can make them place their affections upon these things, we shall have them yet. They may profess what they please, only make them care more for money than for the success of Christ’s kingdom or the spread of the truths we hate. Present the world before them in the most attractive light, that they may love and idolize it. . . . Present every plausible excuse to those who have means, lest they hand it out. Control the money matters if you can, and drive their ministers to want and distress. This will weaken their courage and zeal. . . . Make covetousness and love of earthly treasures the ruling traits of their character. As long as these traits rule, salvation and grace stand back.”—Early Writings, pp. 266, 267. “As Satan sees that his time is short, he leads men on to be more and more selfish and covetous, and then exults as he sees them wrapped up in themselves, close, penurious, and selfish. If the eyes of such could be opened, they would see Satan, in hellish triumph, exulting over them, and laughing at the folly of those who accept his suggestions and enter his snares. . . . Every selfish, covetous person will fall out by the way. Like Judas, who sold his Lord, they will sell good principles and a noble, generous disposition for a little of earth’s gain. All such will be sifted out from God’s people.”—Id., pp. 268, 269. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the promise is that the Lord will raise up a standard against him. So, to counteract the effort of Satan to develop selfishness, God presents the principles embodied in the parable of the talents, these to be worked out in the life, thus developing a character that cannot be molded along evil lines. In the parable of the talents man is presented as a steward, a coworker, with God:— “The idea of stewardship should have a practical bearing upon all the people of God. The parable of the talents, rightly understood, will bar out covetousness, which God calls idolatry. Practical benevolence will give spiritual life to thousands of nominal professors of the truth who now mourn over their darkness. It will transform them from selfish, covetous worshipers of mammon, to earnest, faithful coworkers with Christ in the salvation of sinners.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. III, p. 387. One servant, in the parable, confessed that he had hid the talent intrusted to him, and his counterpart is seen all through the ranks of Sabbath keepers today. “This unprofitable servant was not ignorant of God’s plans, but he set himself firmly to thwart the purpose of God, charging him with unfairness in requiring improvement upon the talents intrusted to him. This very complaint and murmuring is made by a large class of wealthy men professing to believe the truth. Like the unfaithful servant, they are afraid that the increase of the talent that God has lent them will be called for to advance the spread of truth; therefore they tie it up by investing it in earthly treasures and burying it in the world, thus making it so fast that they have nothing or next to nothing to invest in the cause of God. They have buried it, fearing that God would call for some of the principal or increase. When, at the demand of their Lord, they bring the amount given them, they come with ungrateful excuses for not having put the means lent them by God out to the exchangers, by investing it in his cause to carry on his work. He who embezzles his Lord’s goods not only loses the talent lent him of God, but loses eternal life.”—Id., pp. 386, 387. “Christians forget that they are servants of the Master; that they themselves, their time, and all that they have, belong to him. Many are tempted, and the majority are overcome, by the delusive inducements which Satan presents to invest their money where it will yield them the greatest profit in dollars and cents. There are but few who consider the binding claims that God has upon them to make it their first business to meet the necessities of his cause, and let their own desires be served last. There are but few who invest in God’s cause in proportion to their means. Many have fastened their money in property which they must sell before they can invest it in the cause of God, and thus put it to a practical use. They make this an excuse for doing but little in their Redeemer’s cause. They have as effectually buried their money in the earth as had the man in the parable. They rob God of the tenth, which he claims as his own, and in robbing him they rob themselves of the heavenly treasure.”—Id., p. 398. To such professed Christians the servant of the Lord speaks in decisive tones: “I have been shown that many of our people are robbing the Lord in tithes and in offerings, and as the result his work is greatly hindered. The curse of God will rest upon those who are living upon God’s bounties and yet close their hearts and do nothing or next to nothing to advance his cause.” “The only means which God has ordained to advance his cause is to bless men with property. . . . Well, says one, the calls keep coming to give to the cause. I am weary of giving. Are you? Then let me ask, Are you weary of receiving from God’s beneficent hand? Not until he ceases to bless you, will you cease to be under bonds to return to him the portion he claims. He blesses you that it may be in your power to bless others. When you are weary of receiving, then you may say, I am weary of so many calls to give. God reserves to himself a portion of all that we receive. When this is returned to him, the remaining portion is blessed; but when it is withheld, the whole is sooner or later cursed.”—Id., Vol. V, pp. 151, 150. “Never was there a more important time in the history of our work than the present. The message of the third chapter of Malachi comes to us, holding up before us the need of honesty in our relations to the Lord and his work. My brethren, the money that you use to buy and sell and get gain will be a curse to you if you withhold from the Lord that which is his.”—Id., Vol. IX, p. 53. “Wherever there is life, there is increase and growth; in God’s kingdom there is a constant interchange,—taking in, and giving out; receiving, and returning to the Lord his own. God works with every true believer, and the light and blessings received are given out again in the work which the believer does. Thus the capacity for receiving is increased. As one imparts of the heavenly gifts, he makes room for fresh currents of grace and truth to flow into the soul from the living fountain. Greater light, increased knowledge and blessings, are his. In this work, which devolves upon every church member, is the life and growth of the church. He whose life consists in ever receiving and never giving, soon loses the blessing. If the truth does not flow forth from him to others, he loses his capacity to receive.” “The man who will rob God is cultivating traits of character that will cut him off from admittance into the family of God above.”—Id., Vol. VI, pp. 448, 391. The Faith of a Child
By Mrs. C. H. Bliss
ONE evening not long ago a woman noticed a bright light shining through the window, and stepping to the door, discovered that a neighbor's barn was on fire. She quickly called her husband, who aroused another neighbor, and they went to see what could be done to help. Soon after, the two small daughters of Mr. Jones came over to stay with Mrs. Smith until their father should return home. As they stood watching the fire, Mildred exclaimed, “Why, I believe that is Mr. Stevens's barn on fire!” This proved to be true, and when Mr. Smith returned, they learned that several cows had been lost. By that time it was quite dark, and Zella said, “I'm afraid to go home alone.” “O,” said Mildred, taking her by the hand, “come on, sister. God is looking down.” This thought seemed to remove all fear of danger; and though much excited by the fire, they went quietly down the road, trusting confidently in God, who constantly cares for even the smallest of his children. “THE world is full of weak, starving, feeble, sentimental morality. The firm, strong issues, such as the Word of God weaves into the soul-life of man, are sadly wanting. And why? — Simply because the religion of our fathers is ignored. And the great mass of people live upon the veriest trash, newspaper gossip, infidel lectures, telegrams announcing horrible murders, glowing descriptions of nameless sins raked up out of the filth of human depravity, blood-and-thunder novels, scandals, outrages, riots, fires, floods, calamities, husks, vanities, vexation of spirit. These are the staple mental diet from which a sound, fearless, unflinching character is expected to grow. Vain expectation! No stream can rise higher than its fountain; that which a man soweth shall he also reap. If we sow to the flesh, we must expect to reap corruption. And what a mighty harvest this country is reaping!” A Year's Progress in the Philippines
By J. E. FULTON
JUST a year has passed since the writer, in company with Pastors Daniels, Porter, and Salisbury, visited the Philippines, where, together with the local workers, we considered plans for the work in this interesting field. It was at that time that a printing office and equipment, and also a training school, were seen to be essential to the continued success of the work in these islands. In councils held since that visit it was decided to go forward with these projects. And now, after a year has passed, it has been the writer's privilege to make another brief visit and see the progress which has been made. A plot of about five acres in a good location near Manila has been purchased, and the building for the printing office is now practically finished and already occupied. This building is seventy-five feet long and forty-three feet wide at the front end, where the business offices are to be, and thirty-three feet wide on the main factory building. The building has good-sized windows and skylights, thus affording plenty of ventilation and light. A neat cottage for the one in charge of the printing office has been completed, and is occupied by Brother Roy Wallace and family, from Australia. The training school so greatly needed will be erected soon near the publishing office. It is intended that some of the students will work in the printing office. The care of these new enterprises has thrown additional burdens on our workers. They are to be commended, we think, in that the buildings reflect credit on our work. In 1915 there were 237 baptized members in the Philippines; Pastor Finster expects that the first quarter of 1916 will add about 130 more. The greater number of these will be the result of the effort now being carried on at San Pablo, fifty miles from Manila, where our native evangelist Bibiano Panis is being greatly blessed in his work. Pastor Finster reports that from a thousand to twelve hundred are frequently in attendance at the meetings. The book sales, chiefly in the vernacular and printed at the mission press, have amounted to $12,300. Some of our Filipino brethren are having excellent success in selling the books, and wherever they go interests are springing up. Brother Robert Caldwell, our veteran colporteur here in the Far East, is back from his furlough which he took with his family in Australia, and is again having excellent success. With a work so promising and doors opening in all parts of the group, more help is urgently needed. No more encouraging results can be obtained in any other part of the field. Does it not seem criminal to leave large islands with millions of inhabitants groping toward the light and no one to lead them on the way? How urgent the situation! Will not the liberality of God's people be stimulated to give for the cause of missions when such grand results are in sight?