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Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 18.

The Withered Hand—Whole
Earlier text: Editorial

Northern Union Conference

By Arthur G. Daniells

WHAT is now known as the Northern Union Conference was organized in 1901, and was then called the Northwestern Union Conference. At that time its territory embraced the States of Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming; also the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, in Canada. The development of the work in the northwest has led to the reorganization of the territory, so that what was the Northwestern Union Conference is now the Northern, with but the four States of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
This conference held its fourth biennial session in the Seventh-day Adventist church in Des Moines, Iowa, February 22 to March 3. The different conferences and departments of work were well represented, 165 delegates being present, besides many visitors.
The usual committees were appointed early in the meeting, and the business of the conference was carried forward very promptly. The report of the president, Elder R. A. Underwood, gave an interesting and encouraging account of the development of the work during the biennial period. All the reports rendered by conference presidents and department secretaries indicated progress in all branches of the work, and the degree of enthusiasm and aggressiveness manifested was very encouraging.
The report of the treasurer indicated an increase in finances. Over $120,000 passed through his books during the biennial period, about $90,000 of which was trust funds for the advancement of the work outside of the union conference. More than ten cents a week for each church-member had been raised in this union conference for missions during the past two years.
The Danish-Norwegian Seminary, which the General Conference Council, held at College View, Neb., in October, 1909, voted to establish, has been located in this union conference, at Hutchinson, Minn. A college building, 123 x 127 feet, four stories high, built of brick, with 150 acres of land, has been secured at a cost of $22,250. Many things connected with the securing of this site for a school indicate that the providences of the Lord have favored us in the establishment of this institution. A strong effort is being made to dedicate the school free from debt at the opening this fall. We hope this can be done.
The Iowa Conference has effected a sale of its sanitarium in the city of Des Moines, and during the past year has erected a very nice sanitarium building at Nevada, at a cost of about $50,000. The new institution is enjoying a good patronage, and the outlook for the future seems encouraging.
The conference formulated plans for an aggressive advance in all lines of work. The union conference cheerfully accepted its share of responsibility in the raising of the $300,000 Fund. The “Ministry of Healing” campaign was also approved. In harmony with a request from the General Conference, the delegates voted to appropriate two thirds of all that is raised in the union conference by this campaign, to one of the Eastern sanitariums. This generous act will be greatly appreciated by our people in the East.
The instructive and helpful series of Bible studies conducted by Prof. W. W. Prescott during the session was one of the most excellent and inspiring features of the conference.
Union, harmony, and brotherly love pervaded the conference. Elder R. A. Underwood was re-elected president, with Elder M. N. Campbell vice-president, and T. D. Gibson secretary and treasurer. This is a growing conference, with great resources, and the outlook for its future is encouraging.
A. G. DANIELLS.

Enforcing the Blue-Laws at Topeka, Kan.

By W. A. C.

THE following is taken from an editorial in the Washington Herald of April 22:—
“Mayor Billard, of Topeka, has views of his own regarding Sunday observance. Elected three weeks ago under the commission plan of government, he has begun the enforcement of the Sunday laws to such an extent as to insist that no paid preacher work on Sunday, no salaried choir sing, no papers be printed or sold, no street-cars run, and no service at the hotels be paid for. Idiotic as such things may sound, there nevertheless are found on the statute-books such stringent laws as to bar every vocation in which money is earned.
“It is Mayor Billard’s intention primarily to have a liberal interpretation of the law, and he hopes soon to make his meaning clear. During the campaign he was attacked as a candidate for the ‘wide-open’ element, but immediately upon taking office he suspended all the ‘blind tigers’ in the city.
“He is now seeking a more liberal interpretation for the benefit of the working man. . . . By making the blue-laws so obnoxious as quickly to result in their repeal, the mayor hopes to attain his point.”
This is simply an illustration of some of the inconsistencies couched in the State Sunday laws. A strict and impartial enforcement of many of them would not suit even their most ardent advocates.
W. A. C.

Mr. Crafts Accuses Speaker Cannon of Blocking Sunday Legislation

By W. A. C.

In an address delivered in the Hamline Methodist Church, of Washington, D. C., Sunday, April 17, Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts accused Speaker Cannon of packing committees in the House of Representatives so that no law “for the protection of the Sabbath” or the promotion of temperance has any chance of passing the House. He said:—
“I wish to protest against one aspect of so-called ‘Cannonism’ that has been overlooked by the press; namely, that the Speaker has so constituted the committees that have to do with morals that representatives themselves generally admit no law for the protection of the sabbath or for the promotion of temperance has any chance to pass the House. Since 1889, twenty long years, the Christian citizens of this city have asked Congress to stop needless Sunday traffic and toil. Now, when a law below the average of the Sunday laws of the States has passed the Senate, the House committee holds it up. And they themselves should be held to account if it fails.”—Washington Herald, April 18, 1910.
This was a reflection not only upon Mr. Cannon, but upon the members of the committees having measures of this kind in charge. It very naturally, therefore, brought forth some quick responses. At a hearing on a certain resolution before the House District Committee a few days later, Representative Wiley, of New Jersey, said:—
“The committee of the District of Columbia frequently comes under criticism from its residents, and while it is one of the hardest-working committees in Congress, receives slight credit for all its labors. In that connection I wish to call attention to another statement made last Sunday in a sermon by the Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent and treasurer of the International Reform Bureau, in which he accuses the Speaker of packing the House Committee on the District of Columbia so that ‘no bill seeking to protect the sabbath or aiding the cause of temperance would ever be reported in the House for action,’ and this would be the committee which would report it.
“It is a great pity that the reverend gentleman did not ascertain the facts before making this statement, which I publicly criticize as unqualifiedly false and an insult to the intelligence and reputation of every member of the District committee.
“Personally, I may say that I asked the Speaker not to put me on this committee, knowing the hard work engendered and the little praise which would come from it; and during my four years’ experience on the committee he has never even asked my opinion on a single subject.
“I therefore call upon the Rev. W. F. Crafts, through the press, to either prove his statement or publicly retract it, and silence on his part will naturally lead to the conclusion that either he can not prove the one or is not man enough to retract the other.”—Washington Evening Star, April 23, 1910.
Mr. Coudrey, of Missouri, a member of the present House Committee on the District of Columbia, responded as follows, as reported in the Washington Times of April 23:—
“In a letter to the minister, Representative Coudrey declared that, as far as his own case is concerned, Speaker Cannon placed him on the District committee without ascertaining his views on any subject, and, since that time, had never, in any form, attempted to influence him on any bill that had come before the committee.
“‘In reference to the proposed Sunday law which is before the committee, I don’t know whether Speaker Cannon is for or against it, and your statement reflects on the integrity of the committee,’ said Representative Coudrey. ‘I do know one thing, and that is that I am opposed to the law, and intend to vote against it, and I find twenty-five people in the District opposed to it where I find one for it.
“‘From your remarks I am led to believe that you favor the rich and are against the poor. The poor have to work hard for six days, and are not able to belong to country clubs and own automobiles, horses, and carriages. Now, why should they not go and see a game of baseball? It does not interfere with their going to church, and they are entitled to some recreation.’”
From these responses it would appear that Mr. Crafts’ accusations against Mr. Cannon are quite unfounded.
W. A. C.

“Do You Wish Congress to Prescribe Your Religion?”

By K. C. R.

This excellent tract has been revised up to date, expressly for use in our campaign against the Johnston Sunday bill and other religious measures now pending in Congress.
No action has yet been taken on the Johnston bill by the House Committee on the District of Columbia, in whose hands it is now resting.
We believe that it is in the providence of God that this wicked legislation is being held in check until opportunity has been given us to sound further the note of warning against it.
We most earnestly urge that every Seventh-day Adventist in the United States enter heartily with us into a campaign this summer for placing this tract and other religious liberty literature into the hands of as many people as possible.
The tract can be supplied by your conference tract society at seventy-five cents a hundred, or $7.50 a thousand.
We are hopeful that the Johnston Sunday bill and all other religious measures will fail of becoming law during this session of Congress, and if so, we shall have the entire summer to enlighten the people of this country along these lines; but of this, of course, we can not be certain. Now is our time. We must improve the moment of respite.
Plan to order a supply of these tracts and begin work.    K. C. R.

Christian Liberty

By K. C. Russell; W. A. Colcord

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL — Secretary
W. A. COLCORD — Corresponding Secretary

“Speaker Cannon Defended”

UNDER the above caption, the Washington Herald of April 25, published the following communication:—
“The preacher who tries to control politics is again in evidence. In an address delivered a week ago Sunday, in the Hamline Methodist Church, Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts accused the Speaker of the House of packing committees so that ‘no law for the protection of the sabbath or for the promotion of temperance has any chance to pass the House.’
“So far as Sunday legislation is concerned, this is certainly not true, for twice since Mr. Cannon has been Speaker, the House has passed Sunday bills, once on April 6, 1904, and again on June 11, 1906, and this in addition to the ‘Sunday-closing provisions’ which Mr. Crafts and a few others got tacked onto the government appropriations to the St. Louis and Jamestown expositions, of 1905 and 1907. This part of the charge, therefore, at least, can not be sustained. Mr. Cannon has not been as successful in holding this kind of legislation in check as is alleged.
“But even though Mr. Cannon had been instrumental in holding up Sunday legislation in Congress, as Col. Richard M. Johnson did in 1829 and 1830, it would be nothing to his discredit, for, as stated in those famous ‘Sunday Mail Reports,’ prepared by Mr. Johnson, and as every preacher even ought to know who has ever read the Constitution of the United States, Sunday legislation, being religious legislation, is unconstitutional. In such case of him it might be said, as the biographer said of Mr. Johnson for his bold, courageous, and patriotic stand against national Sunday legislation: ‘Charge him not with hostility to the principles of religion because he opposed the wishes and thwarted the designs of the clergy, rather say that he proved himself the friend of pure religion, by guarding it against a contaminating alliance with politics.’
“It was not through hostility or even indifference to religion that the founders of the national government interdicted Congress from passing religious laws, but, as stated by Bancroft, ‘that the infinite Spirit of eternal truth might move in its freedom and purity and power.’
“Before these men who are calling so insistently upon Congress to pass a Sunday law urge such legislation further, they ought to alter the principles upon which the national government was founded, and change the Constitution. That the real object behind the demand for this legislation is altogether at variance with both the spirit and the letter of the Constitution is evident from such expressions as the following from an editorial in the April number of the Christian Statesman, the official organ of the National Reform Association:—
“‘Washington and the District of Columbia have no sabbath law. . . . The value of such a law would lie not only in the relief which it would bring to many who are now deprived of their weekly rest, but in the support which it would lend to the cause of our national Christianity.’
“This reveals the secret of this whole Sunday law movement — a desire to enforce a religious institution by law and thus gain ‘support’ from the government by law to a ‘national’ religion. In other words, if they have their way, the passage of such a law will be but the beginning of a national religious establishment, just as the Sunday law of Constantine in 321 was the beginning of the ‘support’ which the bishops of his time gained for their ‘national Christianity’ then, and of the wicked and oppressive religious establishment which followed. All honor to Speaker Cannon or to any other man in or out of Congress who sees the evil in such a movement and has the courage to battle against it.
“The great danger, as I have pointed out in the public prints of Washington before, is that Congress, through outside ecclesiastical pressure, will pass the unchristian, un-American, and unconstitutional Sunday law which it ought not to pass, and, through other untoward influences, fail to pass the grand, humane, constitutional, and much-needed law against the terrible liquor traffic which it ought to pass. Honest labor and innocent recreation and amusement on any day, though not consistent with proper Sabbath-keeping, is not a crime; but the doling out of that stuff which makes men murderously mad and criminals is a crime, and should be treated as such. The licensing of the traffic is nothing less than the licensing of crime. But the spirit in ‘spirits’ is not more wicked, nor, in the end, more degrading and ruinous in its effects than the spirit actuating and controlling an ecclesiastical tyranny. One would think that the world had seen enough of the evil results of both to let both forever alone.
“W. A. COLCORD.”

Religious Intolerance in China

By W. A. C.

THAT the native Christians in China have something to suffer for their faith appears evident from the following account of atrocities committed in the present uprising in the province of Hunan:—
“The mobs have exhausted even Chinese ingenuity in torturing the native Christians. Every punishment of criminals known to Chinese criminal lore is practised by the mobs, and tortures never before used, some of them unspeakable, as well.
“In some instances the victims’ tongues have been torn out by the roots, and they have been set loose, often blinded, and mockingly told to preach the new creed. Bound till they could scarcely move a muscle, others have been tickled continually till their brains gave way.
“The water torture—the steady dropping of water on one spot of the body—has been frequently employed by the vengeful mobs. After the four-hundredth drop, this torture is excruciating; in one instance reported to-day more than three thousand drops were used.
“In one instance a Christian, an old woman, was bound, and her teeth were filed away to the gums. Finger and toe nails of others have been pulled out.”—Washington Times, April 25, 1910.
These atrocities seem almost to rival those of the Inquisition, and are a forcible reminder of the fact that we are still living in an age of persecution, and that even in an epoch of peace and freedom the spirit of persecution is not dead, but simply slumbers. W. A. C.

St. Louis Sunday Grocery Ordinance Challenged

THE validity of a recently enacted city ordinance in St. Louis, requiring grocery stores to be closed after nine o'clock Sunday morning, is to be determined in a court of record. No more arrests for violations will be made by the police department until the matter is decided. Judge Pollard, of the police court, pronounced the ordinance unconstitutional. He cited Supreme Court decisions which held lemons to be a necessity. The police judge contended that other articles sold in grocery stores were as necessary as lemons. It will be interesting to watch the developments.

Summary of Magazine Sales for March, 1910

By A. J. S. B.

Following is a list of the union conferences, according to the largest number of magazines sold during the month of March:— (1) Pacific Union, 20,355; (2) Lake Union, 20,209; (3) Atlantic Union, 14,744; (4) North Pacific Union, 14,203; (5) Columbia Union, 13,776; (6) Central Union, 13,442; (7) Northern Union, 10,282; (8) Southwestern Union, 5,242; (9) Southern Union, 4,112; (10) Southeastern Union, 3,814; (11) Western Canadian Union, 1,646; (12) Canadian Union, 1,239.
The union conferences showing the largest gains in the March sales over those made the previous month are as follows:— (1) Lake Union, 17,467; (2) Columbia Union, 14,635; (3) North Pacific, 13,233; (4) Northern Union, 6,627; (5) Pacific Union, 6,580; (6) Atlantic Union, 5,795; (7) Southwestern Union, 1,364; (8) Southern Union, 1,142; (9) Central Union, 1,062; (10) Canadian Union, 370; (11) Western Canadian Union, 196; (12) Southeastern Union Conference (loss), 1,883.
It is truly encouraging to note that of the twelve union conferences only one showed any loss in magazine sales as compared with February. A. J. S. B.

Summary of Magazine Sales for March, 1910

Signs Monthly Watchman Life and Health Liberty Protestant Temp. Inst. Christian Education Lys over Landet (Danish) Tidens Tecken (Swedish) Zeichen der Zeit (German) Total No. Total Value
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England 824 370 1695 535 115 339 78 ... 100 7 4063 $406.30
Maine 120 31 955 ... ... 242 16 ... ... ... 1364 136.40
New York 600 102 475 ... 170 253 10 ... ... 7 1617 161.70
Greater New York 807 133 1040 50 100 782 20 36 ... ... 2968 296.80
Western New York 305 101 730 101 ... 405 15 ... ... ... 1657 165.70
Southern New England 278 138 683 ... ... 1121 9 ... ... ... 2229 222.90
Northern New England 153 16 327 ... ... 332 18 ... ... ... 846 84.60
March totals 3087 891 5905 686 385 3474 166 36 100 14 14744 1474.40
February totals 2344 732 4901 479 1938 ... ... 1395 ... ... 8949 894.90
Canadian Union Conference
Maritime 125 6 51 10 52 34 10 ... ... ... 288 28.80
Newfoundland ... 10 2 ... ... 4 ... ... ... ... 16 1.60
Ontario 330 77 250 ... 56 180 12 ... ... 1 1906 190.60
Quebec ... 3 15 ... ... 7 4 ... ... ... 29 2.90
March totals 455 96 318 10 108 225 26 ... ... 1 1239 123.90
February totals 254 56 295 45 50 ... 19 ... ... ... 969 96.90
Western Canadian Union Conference
Alberta 400 12 37 ... ... 334 7 4 ... 5 799 79.90
British Columbia 295 52 26 ... ... 34 7 1 ... 1 416 41.60
Manitoba 130 12 35 ... ... 40 2 1 ... 2 222 22.20
Saskatchewan 155 9 17 ... ... 15 1 2 ... 10 209 20.90
March totals 980 85 115 ... ... 423 17 8 ... 18 1646 164.60
February totals 291 57 261 25 316 ... ... 268 70 162 1450 145.00
Central Union Conference
Colorado 316 341 848 ... ... 900 25 ... ... 4 2434 243.40
Western Colorado 202 318 78 ... ... 281 13 2 ... ... 894 89.40
Kansas 608 201 694 ... ... 1531 27 ... ... 8 3069 306.90
North Missouri 1188 138 125 ... ... 192 6 ... ... 6 1655 165.50
Southern Missouri 210 236 282 ... 104 518 12 ... ... ... 1362 136.20
Nebraska 654 148 1412 310 20 1081 77 20 110 7 3839 383.90
Wyoming ... 18 62 ... ... 99 6 2 ... 2 189 18.90
March totals 3178 1400 3501 310 124 4602 166 24 110 27 13442 1344.20
February totals 2600 701 3599 165 1718 ... 10 1579 556 564 11380 1138.00
Columbia Union Conference
Chesapeake 150 141 806 ... 525 470 4 ... ... 2 2098 209.80
District of Columbia 202 78 473 390 10 539 20 ... ... ... 1712 171.20
New Jersey 403 414 718 148 172 372 22 18 50 10 2327 232.70
Eastern Pennsylvania 525 136 154 ... ... 512 20 ... ... 4 1351 135.10
West Pennsylvania 198 73 154 15 115 751 17 1 ... ... 1324 132.40
Ohio 1160 363 862 420 120 495 38 ... ... 2 3460 346.00
Virginia 120 297 237 50 ... 195 7 1 ... ... 907 90.70
West Virginia 225 16 317 ... ... 37 2 ... ... ... 597 59.70
March totals 2983 1518 3721 1023 942 3371 130 20 50 18 13776 1377.60
February totals 2146 1034 3107 845 2107 ... ... 300 187 654 1141 114.10
Lake Union Conference
Indiana 512 375 1159 225 55 1283 22 ... ... ... 3631 363.10
East Michigan 290 304 329 25 105 907 35 ... ... ... 1995 199.50
West Michigan 446 308 1772 150 45 1902 43 30 ... ... 4696 469.60
North Michigan 145 308 110 35 110 247 15 ... ... 3 973 97.30
Northern Illinois 1110 674 670 ... ... 1965 26 21 ... 5 4471 447.10
Southern Illinois 105 536 95 ... ... 631 12 ... ... ... 1379 137.90
Wisconsin 585 333 631 12 68 1210 43 67 100 15 3064 306.40
March totals 3191 2838 4766 447 383 8145 196 118 100 23 20209 2020.90
February totals 3447 1291 8311 553 2260 200 ... 1731 820 191 2742 274.20
Northern Union Conference
Iowa 1294 417 895 25 75 1332 61 85 ... 4 4188 418.80
Minnesota 1332 116 1043 ... ... 999 35 93 75 14 3707 370.70
North Dakota 265 147 208 120 ... 211 12 65 ... 38 1066 106.60
South Dakota 105 60 51 25 ... 1040 17 20 ... 3 1321 132.10
March totals 2996 740 2197 170 75 3582 125 263 75 59 10282 1028.20
February totals 4162 915 2598 140 1163 ... ... 2371 860 424 3655 365.50
North Pacific Union Conference
Montana 200 17 239 ... ... 80 34 5 ... 1 576 57.60
Southern Idaho 175 42 75 28 5 1535 9 1 ... 1 1871 187.10
Upper Columbia 1741 490 598 ... ... 1500 70 ... ... ... 4399 439.90
Western Oregon 1715 35 300 800 ... 560 68 9 ... 22 3509 350.90
Western Washington 911 242 1100 10 ... 1500 55 20 7 3 3848 384.80
March totals 4742 826 2312 838 5 5175 236 35 7 27 14203 1420.30
February totals 3817 594 1934 325 1080 ... 10 488 345 137 970 97.00
Signs Monthly Watchman Life and Health Liberty Protestant Temp. Inst. Christian Education Lys over Landet (Danish) Tidens Tecken (Swedish) Zeichen der Zeit (German) Total No. Total Value
Pacific Union Conference
Arizona 557 60 243 ... ... 162 19 ... ... ... 1041 $104.10
Northern California 1721 1298 4415 2200 75 1641 66 12 30 4 11462 1146.20
Southern California 1170 416 2754 ... 150 3006 58 ... ... 20 7574 757.40
Utah ... 3 129 ... ... 141 2 3 ... ... 278 27.80
March totals 3448 1777 7541 2200 225 4950 145 15 30 24 20355 2035.50
February totals 6214 629 4990 150 1512 20 10 ... 120 130 13775 1377.50
Southern Union Conference
Alabama ... 371 28 ... 5 63 13 ... ... ... 480 48.00
Kentucky 150 136 32 15 ... 128 6 ... ... ... 467 46.70
Louisiana ... 219 681 50 ... 58 3 ... ... ... 1011 101.10
Mississippi ... 294 133 ... ... 260 1 ... ... ... 688 68.80
Tennessee River 500 703 82 ... 50 106 25 ... ... ... 1466 146.60
March totals 650 1723 956 65 55 615 48 ... ... ... 4112 411.20
February totals 318 1172 997 14 409 ... ... ... 10 50 2970 297.00
Southeastern Union Conference
Cumberland ... 195 90 ... ... 216 16 ... ... ... 517 51.70
Florida ... 127 116 ... 25 141 6 ... ... ... 415 41.50
Georgia 250 526 293 ... 5 422 2 ... ... ... 1498 149.80
North Carolina 125 303 34 ... ... 554 3 ... ... ... 1019 101.90
South Carolina ... 81 154 ... ... 125 5 ... ... ... 365 36.50
March totals 375 1232 687 ... 30 1458 32 ... ... ... 3814 381.40
February totals 1629 1731 1598 205 529 ... ... ... 5 ... 5697 569.70
Southwestern Union Conference
Arkansas 110 139 28 25 15 163 11 ... ... ... 491 49.10
New Mexico ... 57 126 ... ... 87 3 ... ... ... 273 27.30
Oklahoma 850 188 632 25 ... 896 14 1 ... 18 2624 262.40
Texas 498 531 60 ... 25 310 15 ... ... 9 1448 144.80
Western Texas ... 298 30 ... ... 75 3 ... ... ... 406 40.60
March totals 1458 1213 876 50 40 1531 46 1 ... 27 5242 524.20
February totals 1096 664 803 210 853 ... ... ... 12 240 3878 387.80
Miscellaneous
Foreign 1122 762 1328 25 25 512 84 38 63 14 3973 397.30
Dominion Sentinel ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 14738 1473.80
Grand totals 28667 15101 34223 5824 2397 38063 1417 558 535 252 141775 14177.50

Comparative Summary for Ten Months

Signs Monthly Watchman Life and Health Liberty Protestant Temp. Inst. Christian Education Lys over Landet (Danish) Tidens Tecken (Swedish) Zeichen der Zeit (German) *Dominion Sentinel Total No. Total Value
June 27607 15501 58185 35352 10308 101050 ... ... ... ... ... 248003 $24800.30
July 48011 15891 79400 15161 1549 2918 ... ... ... ... ... 162930 16293.00
August 54689 18500 65537 20233 10945 4232 ... ... ... ... ... 174136 17413.60
September 34302 16335 46845 2217 1584 750 ... ... ... ... ... 102030 10203.00
October 30483 13035 37812 22171 2819 1126 1125 ... ... ... ... 111577 11157.70
November 28327 20221 37700 3473 14904 225 2010 ... ... ... ... 106860 10686.00
December 29495 20624 36200 2569 1528 290 35 ... ... ... ... 90741 9074.10
January 18881 13996 32800 15374 1302 710 1269 ... ... ... ... 84332 8433.20
February 29305 11410 36098 3116 14513 220 30 8242 5036 3098 ... 111068 11106.80
March 28667 15101 34223 5824 2397 38063 1417 558 535 252 147381 141775 14177.50
Grand totals 359767 150614 464800 125490 61849 149584 5886 8800 5571 3350 14738 1333452 $133345.20
* Copies sold during January, February, and March.

The Summary

THIS is our tenth monthly report of magazine sales in America. The gain of 30,707 copies over the previous month's sales is largely accounted for by the extraordinary success attending the sale of the new Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor and the diligence of our Canadian brethren in circulating that excellent magazine, the Dominion Sentinel.
We are informed by the publishers of the Watchman that the March orders called for five thousand copies more than the 15,000 they had printed. Thus the March orders practically equaled those for December, 1909,—the “high-water mark” in the history of the magazine.
Brother B. B. Noftsger, manager of the Canadian Publishing Association, informs us that all but 262 copies of the 15,000 edition of the Dominion Sentinel have been sold. These 14,738 copies were disposed of as follows during January, February, and March.
Canadian Union Conference Maritime ................ 1699 Ontario ................. 4782 Quebec .................. 1990 Western Canadian Union Conference Alberta ................ 1215 British Columbia ........ 2847 Manitoba ................ 1250 Saskatchewan ............. 955 Total .................. 14738
The circulation of this timely religious liberty magazine has aroused both the friends and foes of religious freedom in Canada. A number of newspaper editors have commented favorably upon our position with reference to religious legislation. The publicity thus given to the truth has inspired the leaders of the “Lord’s Day Alliance” to write for the Dominion papers, attempting to overthrow our position. Generally speaking, however, public opinion seems to be favorable to religious freedom.
Nearly 40,000 copies of the Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor were sold during the month of March. The total number sold up to Tuesday, April 26, was 105,000 copies,—a splendid record indeed!
Although last year's Temperance number was an excellent one, enjoying a sale of 125,000 copies, this year's magazine is even better. The enthusiastic reception given by our agents to this beautiful, condensed encyclopedia of temperance warrants us, we believe, in predicting a total sale of from 200,000 to 300,000 copies during the year 1910.
If you have not examined this small, but mighty weapon for the overthrow of the demon intemperance, do not fail to send at once for a sample copy. It is being sold with the same degree of success in Canada as in the United States. Backed by the heartfelt recommendations of many of the world's great thinkers, it is being sold and widely advertised by leading W. C. T. U. and antisaloon workers.
The good words in its behalf uttered by David Starr Jordan, president of Leland Stanford Jr. University; Miss Lucy Gaston, superintendent of the Anti-Cigarette League of the United States (see REVIEW of April 28), and others, enable our agents to greatly increase their sales. Let every Seventh-day Adventist join in this great effort to educate the masses regarding the evils of intemperance, urging them to arise and put a stop to the nefarious traffic.

An Important Meeting

By F. G.

OUR educational workers will remember that for some time consideration has been given to the question of a convention for the teachers in our training-schools. The conventions of 1903 and 1906 gave special attention to the matter of church and intermediate school work; and, comparatively speaking, the work of our training-schools did not receive a proper amount of careful study. It was at one time hoped to hold a meeting for the study of the problems of our advanced schools at the time of the last General Conference, but for various reasons it was deemed inadvisable.
The question of such a meeting was given careful attention at the Council recently held in Washington, and it was voted that such a meeting be held. The definite action was as follows:—
“1. Recognizing the special need of strengthening our work above the tenth year, we recommend that such a convention be held this coming summer.”
“2. That the time be early in June.”
“3. That we accept the invitation of the Lake Union Conference Committee to hold this meeting at their college at Berrien Springs, Mich.”
“4. That all our advanced schools be requested to send the heads of their leading departments.”
“5. That the traveling expenses of all accredited delegates be thrown into one fund, and borne equally by all delegates, thus making possible the attendance from all portions of the country.”
“6. That the expenses of these delegates be borne by the schools, or the conferences to which those schools belong, or by both, as may be arranged by them.”
“7. That educational secretaries of union conferences be delegates to this convention.”
It will be noted that the time of the convention is given early in June. Upon careful consideration of this matter, it has been felt necessary to place this date June 10-20. This time is chosen in view of the fact that a number of our schools do not close until the first weeks of June, and if it were placed earlier than this date, it would be impossible for these teachers to attend. It will be necessary to place some of the summer schools at a little later date because of this. But it has seemed to the department that our educational cause would be better served by having the teachers of the training-schools present at the convention than it would be by commencing the summer schools at the usual time. We feel confident that our union conference educational secretaries and their associates will co-operate heartily with us in this matter. It will also be noted that the plan of traveling expenses is such as to make possible the attendance of delegates from all portions of the country.
We find it impossible to emphasize too strongly the importance of this meeting. Never before have our advanced teachers had the privilege of associating themselves together for a consideration of the problems of their work. In our various departments each teacher is practically “a law unto himself.” He uses the text-books and methods that seem best to him. He has not had the privilege of conferring with teachers in our other schools doing similar work.
It is planned, at this meeting to form sections, such as history section, Bible section, etc., and to get the teachers who are working in any particular line together to confer with reference to various features of their work. Not only will the convention be of special benefit to these teachers, but the great problems of our work in the preparation of men and women to carry forward the various lines, will be thoroughly discussed. We must seek to be very practical in our work,—to follow out the instruction which has been given to us in this important matter. We look for this meeting to give a standing and impetus to our training-school work such as will enable it to do its work far more efficiently.
We trust that our boards of management and our teachers will make every effort to attend this meeting, and that our people everywhere will seek the Lord that his leading and Holy Spirit may direct in all of its considerations.
F. G.

Christian Education

By Frederick Griggs

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference
FREDERICK GRIGGS    -    -    -    -    Secretary

The Missionary and Publishing Work

Notes, Plans, Reports, Statistics, and Other Information Regarding Missionary Endeavor and the Circulation of Gospel Literature.
Conducted by the Missionary and Publishing Department of the General Conference.
E. R. PALMER - - - - Secretary
N. Z. TOWN - - - - Assistant Secretary
A. J. S. BOURDEAU - - - - Missionary Secretary
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