This country forms a portion of the great central plateau of South Africa, stretching from the Maluti and Drakenberg range of mountains on its eastern side to the Vaal and Orange Rivers, through vast plains from 4,000 feet to a general level of about 5,000 feet above the sea. Bloemfontein is its capital, 4,518 feet above the sea level. This locality is highly recommended for healthfulness, and especially as a home for consumptives. The Orange Free State is about 400 miles in length from north to south, and about 200 miles in breadth from east to west, extending over an area of nearly 80,000 square miles. The capital is 750 miles north of Table Bay, 450 miles from Port Elizabeth, and 400 from East London, accessible by rail from all parts of Cape Colony. The census of 1890, the correctness of which is somewhat questioned, gives the entire population of the state at 207,503 persons, of whom 77,716 are whites of European descent, and 129,787 are colored. The education of the white children of the state has always formed one of the prominent objects of legislation. A permanent fund of nearly $1,000,000 has been set aside for this purpose.
A large majority of the population are members of the Dutch Reformed Church, which communion has a congregation in almost every little village in the state. This denomination is assisted to the extent of about $30,000 per annum from the government. The Anglicans, Wesleyans, Lutherans, and Baptists have churches and schools in the different towns and villages. And most of these denominations also receive small grants from the government. By an enactment of 1854, the Dutch language was declared to be the official language of the state, and is used in the official proceedings; but in Bloemfontein and most of the district towns, English generally is spoken.
The soil is remarkably fertile in the southeastern portion of the state, and is noted for wheat growing. Even the red soil, when well worked, is very productive. Wheat, oats, corn, barley, millet, and other cereals grow abundantly. Fruits, such as apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, strawberries, and grapes, do very well. As we rode through the country, we thought we had not seen any more inviting country in the United States than this. But there is no enterprise to even settle up the country, much less to obtain from the soil all that it might12produce. The price of the land ranges from $4.00 to $5.00 per acre.
Bloemfontein is an agreeable town, occupying a central position, with roads converging to it from all parts of the state. Out of the 5,000 inhabitants there are but 3,115 Europeans, or whites. It is a healthful town, and for a long time has been famous as a resort for invalids. Here, as elsewhere in the inland districts, it is wet in the summer and dry in the winter season. This is the reverse of what it is on the seacoast in Cape Colony. But, owing to the topographical conditions, the rainfall is variable, and droughts are apt to occur at uncertain intervals. Thunder and hailstorms come in the summer, and snow sometimes falls in the winter. In July, 1891, Bloemfontein presented a picturesque winter appearance. The roofs of the houses and the trees were white with snow, which also lay two inches deep in the streets. There are 24 other towns and villages in the state, but none of them are noted for size or business importance.
Three things work great disadvantage to the settlement of South Africa: First, large tracts of land which is of but little worth. Much of this is found in Cape Colony, where some of the land is very mountainous. Second, the uncertainty of the climate. There is no portion of South Africa where they can be at all certain of crops each year. The rainfall is uncertain—not like California and other portions of the United States where there is a regularity of the seasons, but like those portions where a drought or late cold in the spring injures the crops. In the United States when one portion of the country fails, other portions generally make up the failure by an overabundance. Third, the settlement is retarded by large landowners, either individuals or syndicates. Where there is rich, alluvial soil, some wealthy nabob gobbles up the land, so that small holdings are not in the market, or if they are, the price is beyond the reach of the poor. Thus there is not much inducement for men of small means to settle in South Africa. This is emphatically true of Orange Free State. Much of the country is good, and the resident population has increased of late. The majority of the settlers are Dutch, but there is a good sprinkling of English and Scotch farmers, and a few Germans.
In some sections diamond mines are found, and are now in process of development. There is a yearly increase in the product. The size of a conquered territory farm is from 3,000 to 3,500 acres, and a few exceed this. The great attraction to South Africa is the diamonds and the gold. This brings a class of people who are not the most reliable, or the most needed when a permanent settlement is desired. Putting these various considerations together, it will be a long time before Africa can be settled like America. It is quite evident that some time in the past South Africa was settled by a more intelligent race than the natives of this age of the world.
But whatever be the condition of the country or the people, God has one grand object in view, namely, to bring the Gospel of the Son of God to the masses of mankind in all conditions and circumstances of life. It is not for the people of God to be laying their plans as the people of the world do, but in many of the darkened places farmers, artisans, tradesmen, and those following the various avocations of life, can move in, and let their light shine, and at the same time earn a livelihood. If this be the main object, there are openings everywhere, in every portion of the world. Then let God be sought by his people, and he will lead to the darkest and most forbidding, as well as to the most desirable places, to carry the light, and gather from the rubbish of the world precious jewels for the Master. There are attractions everywhere, and also disadvantages.
LOOK UP.
The celebrated traveler, Baron Humboldt, wrote a thrilling account of the first earthquake he ever witnessed. The earthquake was at Cunama, South Africa. The first shock came after a strange stillness, and produced a terrible shock in the baron’s mind, upsetting all his previous notions as to the permanency of the earth. He could no longer trust the ground that had seemed so firm and solid under his feet. The houses could not shelter him, for they were tumbling to the ground. He turned to the trees, but they were being thrown down. He looked toward the sea, and its waters had so receded that ships were rolling on the sand. He thought of fleeing to the mountain, and looked that way; when lo! the mountains were reeling to and fro like a drunken man. He turned his eyes toward the heavens above him, and of all he could see they alone seemed calm, firm, immovable. Let Christians read and learn a lesson. Look up. “There’s nothing firm but heaven.”—St. Louis Advocate.
ANGELS; THEIR NATURE AND MINISTRY.
Contains also some hints on the origin, history, and destiny of Satan as gleaned from the Scriptures. Bible Students’ Library, No. 82. Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 140 pp.; 20 cents.
HEAVEN HERE.
By Matthew Arnold
'Twas August, and the fierce sun overhead
Smote on the squalid streets of Bethnal Green,
And the pale weaver, through his windows seen
In Spitalfields, look'd thrice dispirited.
I met a preacher there I knew, and said,
“Ill and o'erworked, how fare you in this scene?”
“Bravely,” said he; “for I of late have been
Much cheered with thoughts of Christ, the livingBread.”
O human soul, as long as thou canst so
Set up a mark of everlasting light,
Above the howling senses' ebb and flow,
To cheer thee, and to right thee if thou roam—
Not with lost toil thou laborest through the night!
Thou mak'st the heaven thou hop'st indeed thy
home.
—Matthew Arnold.
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A district conference is now in session at Rome, N. Y., and will continue till the 29th inst.
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A brother and sister journeyed a distance of fifty miles on foot to attend the recent camp meeting at Parkersburg, W. Va. This was somewhat after the manner of coming up to Jerusalem in ancient times to attend the general gatherings of Israel.
The Methodist minister, near Farnsworth, Indiana, who advised members of his congregation to burn copies of “Bible Readings” which they had purchased, no doubt thought he was “doing God service” by suggesting a speedy way of getting rid of Adventist literature. But burning books is a very poor argument against their contents; even the Bible has passed through that ordeal hundreds of times, but it still lives and does its work.
Brother F. W. Bishop, a canvasser in Chile, writes encouragingly of the work in and about Iquiqui. He meets much opposition from the ministers and some leading men, but has good success in selling books. He also notes the fact that ten members of a Spanish church had begun to keep the Sabbath as a result of Bible readings. He is certain that a good work could be done there if we had the teachers, and papers and books in the Spanish language.
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The Rights of the People
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An Up-to-Date Pamphlet on the Principles of Religious Liberty.
This book can not fail to be of great value to all in the study of the series of S. S. Lessons on Religious Liberty for the last three months of 1895. It was not written to go with these lessons, but it is fortunate and timely that it should be published at this time.
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Christ Our Master
International Sabbath School Lessons
“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” —Neh. 8:8
“But be not ye called rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” “Neither be ye called masters; for one is your Master, even Christ.”
2. If he is Master, what are we?
The complement of master is servant. Christ is the rightful Master, or Head, of every man; for he has paid the redemption price for every soul. It is therefore but a “reasonable service” that we render obedience and loyalty to him. Rom. 12:1, 2. But he forces none to serve him, and recognizes none as his servants but those who willingly offer themselves and take the freedom he purchased for them. Isa. 1:19; Rev. 22:17.
3. Has any one a right to come in between a master and his servant?
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up; for God is able to make him stand.” Rom. 14:4.
4. Therefore when men step in and begin to dictate to their fellow-men how, when, where, or whom they shall worship, what are they doing? Ans.—Putting themselves in the place of Christ.
5. Seeing each individual in his relation to God is responsible alone to him, what conclusion does Paul draw?
“Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12.
6. When the state makes religious laws and punishes men for noncompliance therewith, to whom does it make them accountable?
7. What position does the state under such circumstances assume toward the individual? Ans.—That of God.
8. Did God ordain civil government to take his place in religious things?
9. What is religion?
Religion.—“The recognition of God as an object of worship, love, and obedience.”—Webster. Another definition quite as good is, “Man’s relation of faith and obedience to God.”
10. When a man becomes truly religious, what will he recognize? Ans.—The relation he sustains toward God, and his duties and obligations in consequence thereof.
11. What has God done for man? Ans.—Brought him back or redeemed him from the service of self, sin, and Satan. 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
12. Whose are we then?
“What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” 1 Cor. 6:19.
“For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Rom. 14:8.
13. Whom shall we serve, therefore?
“For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:20.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Rom. 12:1.
“We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” Ezra 5:11.
14. In religious things whom shall we not serve?
“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Cor. 7:23.
15. How shall we regard rulers and those in authority?
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Tim. 2:1, 2. See 1 Peter 2:13-17, and note.
16. Why and how should we do this? 1 Peter 2:15. See note.
17. What will the Master finally say to his faithful servants?
“His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25:21.
NOTE.
While we are to regard Christ as our Master, we are to treat our rulers with respect and recognize their authority in civil things, for they are divinely ordained to exercise such authority. We are to do this, therefore, because it is the will of God (1 Peter 2:15), and we are to do this as the servants of God (verse 16). This is the proper exercise of our liberty as God’s free men. There will be no conflict of authority unless men and rulers undertake to exercise authority in religious matters, and then “we ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29. This is forcibly illustrated by memorable examples in Bible history, such as Daniel, the three Hebrew children, the apostles of Christ, and in latter times by the martyrs of Jesus who sealed their testimony with their blood. The words of the apostle in Heb. 11:32-40 and 12:1-3 should be a source of strength and encouragement to God’s remnant people, who are soon to feel the dragon’s wrath in the closing conflict of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Christ is our Master; let us be loyal to him, and we shall surely be delivered and stand at last upon Mount Zion. Rev. 14:1.
International Sunday School Lessons
“If any man will do His will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.”—John 7:17.
17. And Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh:
18. And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you.
19. And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20. And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21. When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken; and when they sought him, he could not be found.
22. Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
23. And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
24. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people! And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
Golden Text: “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice.” Ps. 97:1.
Note.—The section included in the present lesson study is chapters 8 to 12 inclusive, in which a new era in the government of Israel is brought to view. Samuel was now an old man, and had assisting him in the work of judge his two sons, who were located at Beersheba. These men did not follow in the ways of their father, but took bribes, and perverted the proper use of their office. For this alleged reason and for other causes the people demanded a king. Chapters 8, 9, and 10 tell of Samuel’s guidance in the matter, his meeting with Saul and instructions to him, and the public choosing. The events took place in the same locality described in the preceding lesson, only a few miles from Jerusalem. See the map of tribal divisions for the location of the tribe of Benjamin, to which Saul belonged.
Suggestive Questions
(1) To what place did Samuel call the people together? Verse 17. (2) What did he say the Lord had done for them? Verse 18. (3) In asking for a king, what had they virtually done? Verse 19. Note 1. (4) What were they commanded to do? Same verse. Note 2. (5) What tribe was taken? Verse 20. (6) What family and what member of it was taken? Verse 21. (7) How and where was Saul found? Verse 22. Note 3. (8) What was observed when he was brought forth? Verse 23. (9) How did Samuel call attention to him? Verse 24. (10) How was he greeted by the people? Same verse. Note 4. (11) Concerning what did Samuel then instruct them? Verse 25. Note 5. (12) What was then done? Same verse. (13) Who accompanied Saul? Verse 26. See verse 9. (14) Who refused to acknowledge him as king, and what did they say? Verse 27. Note 6. (15) How did this affect Saul? Same verse. Note 7.
Notes
1. Ye have this day rejected your God.—Heretofore the government of Israel was a pure theocracy, a direct government of God. Such a government, however, is only possible where the people are willing to follow implicitly the guidance of so holy a being. In his wisdom God had foreseen that the people would be influenced by their surroundings, and apostatize from him, and this present call for a king, that they might be like the nations around them, was foretold in prophecy. Deut. 17:14. Had the people been in a right relation to God, this request would never have been preferred. It was conclusive evidence that their spiritual vision was failing. Losing sight of God as he might and should have been seen, they demanded a king, a ruler visible to the physical eye, one who could go out before them and fight their battles for them. This decline and its result Samuel, speaking as the Lord directed, showed clearly to them. But they were in Samuel’s time in a vastly better condition than they had been for a long time before. The national worship, which had previously been well-nigh lost, had been greatly restored. Moreover, in this change that was demanded, and which the Lord had consented to, he was still to be recognized as supreme ruler. He retained the right to select for them a king under himself, and this right was tacitly acknowledged by all.
2. Present yourselves before the Lord.—This was for the purpose of making a proper choice by lot. The heads of tribes would be taken, then representatives of families, and finally the particular person. See Prov. 16:33; Josh. 7:14.
3. Behold, he hath hid himself.—The Lord, speaking through Samuel, revealed the hiding place. Saul was of course aware of what the result of the choosing would be, and no doubt modesty had considerable to do in his act of withdrawing from public gaze. Yet it must be remembered that God had given him another heart. Naturally he was no more perfect than others, and probably would have been lifted up and filled with his own importance at receiving such high honors. But he had been changed by the Spirit of the Lord, and given to see the responsibility of his position, and the true purpose of God’s leading of Israel. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is meekness and lowliness of heart.
4. God save the king.—Margin, “Let the king live.” He pleased the eye. He looked as they imagined a king ought to look, the goodliest in all Israel, head and shoulders above other men. They indeed looked on the outward man, and in the pride of the moment lost sight of what the Lord through Samuel had told them a king would do for them. See 1 Sam. 8:11-18.
5. The manner of the kingdom.—He outlined the duty of the king under the Lord. It was not to be an absolute monarchy. The people had rights, and were to be protected in the enjoyment of them. All these general principles, as a constitution, were written in a book, and laid up before the Lord.
6. The children of Belial.—The matter of a king had been widely agitated, and different tribes and sections had their favorites for the position. Some of the leaders themselves aspired to the place, and when the great rival tribes of Judah and Ephraim were passed by, and a man from Benjamin, the smallest and poorest tribe, was taken, their pride rebelled. “And they despised him, and brought him no presents.” But a company, who saw the hand of the Lord in his selection, whose hearts God touched, went with him, ready to do his bidding.
7. He held his peace.—The margin reads, “He was as though he had been deaf.” That is, it was too small for the notice of a king, and especially one anointed of God—too small, also, to be noticed by any individual whose heart God has touched. Saul returned home, and because of the dissatisfaction of certain ones, did not attempt to assume the reins of government at once. But the time soon came to call all Israel to his standard, and when the call was made (1 Sam. 11) 330,000 rallied around him. The Ammonites were defeated, and at a great gathering immediately convened at Gilgal, his coronation took place without a dissenting voice. Here occurred Samuel’s final address, the faithful judge whom Israel ungratefully asked to step aside, and whose heart sorrow at his ill treatment and the perverse course of the nation was comforted by the great Comforter, in the words, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me.”
