p. 16 | Review and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 40. (10/5/1911)

The Finger of God

By Jennie Owen Mc Clelland

JENNIE OWEN MC CLELLAND

I AM watching for the finger Of the great and mighty God In the ever-shifting changes Of earth’s scenes through which we plod, And I see it daily, hourly, In events both great and small; In the things that he upholdeth, And the ones that he lets fall.

In the good that he supplieth, And the things he doth withhold; In the copper coin he gives me Just as much as in the gold; In the kindness of my dear ones I behold his love for me; In the favor of the stranger, Still his loving hand I see.

And I see so very plainly, With my inner, clearer eyes, That each ill that doth befall me Is a blessing in disguise. For there’s nothing can approach me But his will permits it so, And his will is naught but blessing For his little ones, I know.

So in strength I’ll walk beside him, And in weakness I will rest, Like a tired, trusting infant On its loving father’s breast. And he never will forsake me. And he will not let me fall, For his love is strong, unbounded, And his strength upholdeth all.

North Dakota.

Japan

By F. H. De Vinney

F. H. DE VINNEY

THE months have passed so quickly that we can scarcely realize that it is now more than a year since we left the home land, and joined the little force of laborers proclaiming the message in this far-off heathen country.

We arrived in Japan in the most trying time of the year, the hot season; but the Lord has been gracious, and our health has been as good as when we were at home under familiar and more favorable conditions. Elders F. W. Field and W. J. Burden met us at the ship's side in Yokohama, and we were quickly taken through the customs and on our way to our future home in Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

Having read much concerning the country, we had some very decided impressions as to what we should find; but we shall never forget the feelings forced upon us as we first walked through the little, narrow, dirty lanes that serve as streets, with their open sewers filled with vile, stagnant semifluids on each side in front of the little one-story houses, and the seemingly thousand and one odors coming from this filth. This, with the character of the foods displayed in the little open shops, all exposed to flies, dust, and odors from the sewers, was not very conducive to good appetites; but though we rapidly lost flesh, we continued as well as usual.

The repulsion of feeling caused by the first observations is rapidly passing away as we find many things to admire, and to let our minds dwell upon rather than upon the disagreeable things.

We were given a very cordial reception by the brethren and sisters, who soon made us feel at home. This, with the cooperation of all the mission workers, has made us hopeful for the future of the work in Japan.

Since we reached the field, Dr. W. C. Dunscombe, our medical superintendent, has left us. He went to Edinburgh, Scotland, to take postgraduate work, and his wife returned to the States. Later, Elder Field, so long superintendent of the field, also returned to the States to take up school work in the Pacific Union College. This was upon his own request, that he might give his two children school privileges impossible to secure here. The love and best wishes of every member of the Japan Mission follow him to the home field, and we know that he will continue to work and pray for the success of the work in Japan.

The work of the Japan Mission now extends from Okita, on the northwest coast of the mainland, to Kogoshima, in the southeast of the island of Kyushu, a distance of over 1,300 miles, about three days' travel by train. The railroads are narrow gage, the cars small and always crowded, the trains slow, and the discomforts to those accustomed to American trains, great. Almost the entire population, or quite 50,000,000 persons, live between the points mentioned, and for the most part in the narrow valleys following the coast lines, with but small population in the interior.

Imagine a conference extending in a narrow line from Boston to Chicago, with work established at points of about the same distance apart as are the largest cities between those two places, and you will get about the right idea of the extent and position of our work. This extended growth has not been the result of a plan, but has come about through openings made by the sale of our literature.

The great distances make our work difficult and expensive, and in many ways hard to manage. Our churches are so far apart that they can not get together in general meetings to give one another the sympathy and support so encouraging and desirable. It is impossible to call our laborers together as often as is really necessary, on account of the expense. But we are so much more conveniently and favorably situated than some in these Oriental fields, and have so many pleasant features connected with our work, that we believe we have the best field in the great heathen lands, and the longer we remain, the more certain we are of this.

Last fall we had two tents in the field, with good results from each. This year we expect to have three tents out, having received a new forty-by-sixty-foot tent from the States during the summer, which will be pitched here in Tokio next month. Our tent season begins about the second week in April, and continues until the last of November. The rainy season coming early in July, and the typhoon season the first of September, the year is divided into three parts just about right for an effort, so each tent can make three pitches, and avoid the bad weather. This season we plan for one tent to make four efforts and serve two companies, the first company remaining to bind off their work while the second uses the tent for an effort where there is an interest that a laborer is holding until he can have the use of the tent.

There are many encouraging features in our work; but we realize it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” that the work is to be done, and that it can be advanced only by much prayer and earnest, patient effort. We thank the brethren and sisters of the home land for their interest and their prayers in our behalf.

Tokio.

India

By G. G. Lowry

G. G. LOWRY

According to the teachings of Hinduism, if a man tells a lie he has committed a sin of the same magnitude as murder in the first degree; and unless he does enough penance to offset the sin, he must be punished as follows:—

When he dies, he must go to one of the many hells of which their writings tell. When he reaches the place, he is met by the angel of death, who beats him in the mouth, cuts out his tongue, and heaps upon him all the terrible punishments that hellish demons can invent. After he has spent thousands of years thus, he is born again into the world, first as a village hog, second as an ass, third as a dog, fourth as a maggot, and finally is again born as a man, to be afflicted all his life with deafness, leprosy, sore mouth, etc., and then to die and go to hell again.

They also teach that those who commit such sins as eating flesh, drinking intoxicating liquors, stealing, killing, committing adultery, gambling, showing ingratitude or disrespect to elders or teachers, and especially to Brahman priests, will be punished just as much more as their sin is greater than telling a lie.

In order not to receive all these punishments

they must do penance according to the direction of the priests. The penance generally consists in making a pilgrimage to some distant temple, in giving a cow or some other present to the priest, in lashing themselves with whips through the streets, or in going without food for a certain length of time, etc.

One day as I was going down the street, I saw a man doing penance by whipping himself most unmercifully. He had what is called a “blacksnake” whip about five feet in length, and was going up and down the street without any clothing, whipping himself, cutting the flesh so that blood came at every stroke. He would swing the whip around two or three times, then jump from off the ground, causing the whip to strike him in such a way as to make it sound like the report of a gun. While he was doing this, his wife and children were around him, beating drums and making all the noise they could. It was a terrible sight. For days the picture of that man was continually before me. I could not forget it.

Now the questions come, Why was that man doing that thing? Why was he so cruelly treating himself? The answer is: He was doing it as a good work which was well pleasing in the sight of his god, and which he hoped would pacify the anger of the god he had offended by his sins.

As I saw this, I could not help thinking of the prophecy of our Lord, where it says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” If we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we need not punish ourselves as that man did, for “with His stripes we are healed.” Jesus suffered for us. How thankful we should be that he has done so much for us!

But that poor Hindu man knows nothing of Jesus, the one who has done so much for man. He does not know that Jesus has been beaten for him. He knows nothing of the peace, joy, and happiness of trusting in the Saviour. And this is not an isolated case. Millions of India’s people are in the same condition. O that they had the gospel of Jesus! Can we not all do something to help give these benighted people a knowledge of the true God and of his love for them?

Pray that we who are in these dark lands may be able to reach them with the gospel, that they may enjoy with us the blessings that it brings.

Trichinopoli.

Feast-Days in the Philippines

By R. A. Caldwell

R. A. CALDWELL

In Spanish times these fiestas were almost as numerous as the days of the year. Even now they are familiar by their frequency. With the fiesta is always associated those things which appeal to the sentiments of these happy and easily contented people. Relaxation from labor is one of the chief attractions.

One of the greatest events is church attendance and processions. In the city of Manila it means something to traverse the crooked streets on foot under a tropical sun, visiting every church shrine; yet this is the duty of the faithful during one day of the so-called Holy Week.

The parades are attractive to a visitor, because of their novelty. Gaily dressed people in light-colored garments, the flickering candles, and floats representing the different characters of those who participated in the trial and crucifixion of our Lord, are all strikingly brought before one’s vision. These figures are dressed in no mean apparel. Costly jewels glisten upon the well-featured images of the women, with their luxuriant, lifelike hair. The several figures of Christ are works of art in their realistic reproduction of agony. The gaping wounds are calculated to affect the emotions, and the thorn-crowned head to arouse pity in the heart of even the most callous. The common men vie with one another for the honor of drawing the cart which bears the huge wooden cross with the image of Christ.

In this evening scene are many of the city’s best citizens, probably imposing upon themselves this light form of penance. Others, somewhat more radical, purge themselves by afflicting the body. Under the burning sun they parade themselves before the public in certain country places, exposing their bodies to the scourges—usually of twigs and occasionally of rope and glass—of men probably hired for the occasion, or those who think it some religious obligation to perform such acts. In the immediate vicinity are thousands of men hilariously gambling upon the combatants in a cock-fight, in buildings erected for the purpose. These fights are permitted only on church feast-days and on Sundays. Sunday is the great holiday of the Catholic Church.

All these practices mean difficult work for the missionary. One is convinced that the Catholic Church has adopted the only way possible of keeping up its membership,—by securing the children and dwarfing their pliable minds, so that they do not think except in certain channels. Men and women of mature years are not likely to be converted to the “faith” by these empty mummeries and superstitions.

The saddest thing of all is to see the people struggling to reach the black image and kiss its feet. The repulsiveness is increased when one remembers that this has been done for generations, which, of course, has not benefited the figure from a hygienic standpoint. Those who can not get close enough for an embrace are content if they can pass their handkerchiefs over the pierced feet, and depart caressing the handkerchief. How much better is this than the worship of Christless Japanese who adore Buddha by kissing the extremities of a bronze figure? Who would dare say that the Filipino is not in dire need of a living gospel?

Manila.

Colporteur Work in Ceylon

By F. O. Raymond

F. O. RAYMOND

I HAVE met with nothing extraordinary this month, neither have I witnessed any of those very special manifestations of Providence about which we love to hear and read.

On the contrary, it has been, “Who are you?” “Where do you put up?” “How long will you be in the city?” “Give me your address, and I will write to you;” “I must consider;” “I’ll take these two copies for four annas, have a read of them, and send for the full copies if I require.” “Have you been to Mr. ——? Just go to him; I’m sure he will buy;” “I’ve no time;” “Call when you come round again.”

These are the idle excuses which weary us, to say nothing of the summary dismissals. In order to accomplish anything, and faithfully to search out the few honest truth-seekers, it has seemed necessary to put in long hours, and make many calls.

I praise God, however, for the favor he has shown, for his keeping power, for strength imparted day by day, and for the privilege of bringing meat in due season to a few of his dear children who are hungering for truth. With his blessing upon the effort the last month has been the best in cash receipts of any of my twenty-two months’ experience in India. Of the rupees 455 taken in, forty per cent has been for message-filled books and periodicals, the remainder for our health literature, and “Best Stories” for the children. Last week my receipts were rupees 108-7.

I desire an interest in your prayers, that I may be enabled to do thorough work throughout this island, and that God may graciously preserve and water the precious seed sown.

The Karen Believers of Burma

By Editor

THE Rangoon Gazette of June 19, in an editorial, gives the account of a Karen by the name of Thomas Pellako, who has been studying his Bible, and has reached the conclusion that Jesus is soon to come. With him are two or three thousand Karens, who, from his earnest teaching, are following him in this belief. The bishop of Rangoon excommunicated him, and incited the government to persecute these people in different ways, one of which was a charge of treason against the government. Pellako, the leader, was imprisoned. His trial has stirred Burma. The judge, in handing down his decision, acquits him of both charges,—that of sedition and that of waging war. All this becomes intensely interesting to us when we remember that for two years or more, pleas have been most earnestly sent in from India for a missionary and his wife to be sent to open work among the Karens. These people are among the foremost to receive the gospel in all India. For several years the Baptists have been carrying on a prosperous work among them. The plea is renewed for some one to be sent out this very autumn. Shall we delay longer?

The Need of Relaxation

By Mrs. H. R. Salisbury

MRS. H. R. SALISBURY

A GLANCE at the tense faces and bodies of those we meet daily in the streets, is all that is necessary to convince even a casual observer that there is need of relaxation—a little “letting go” of the tension. If we are in a hurry, we not only run with our legs, but with our faces, our arms, our whole bodies, and thus a great deal of energy is often unnecessarily and unconsciously wasted. Through simple thoughtlessness and lack of self-control we sometimes tire ourselves more than we would by hard physical labor. What we need is not to do less work, but the same work in an easier way, with less tension.

Waiting for the Train

If you have an important engagement to meet, and your train is fifteen minutes late, do you sit or stand quietly, conscious of the fact that your hurry will not bring the train any faster? or do you pace the platform, look up the track every two or three minutes, and consult your watch between times? If you do the latter, you not only tire yourself, but waste much energy which might be put to better use.

“After we discover that the people who sit still on a long railroad journey reach that journey’s end at precisely the same time as those who ‘fuss’ continually, we have a valuable piece of information which we should not fail to put into practical use.”

There is a wonderful connection between rest and quiet of the body and of the mind. Perfect control of the body gives control of the mind also, and the ability to keep perfectly still when one feels nervous, has its quieting effect on the mind.

Don’t Fidget

When you are talking with a friend, do you stand still, without shifting from one foot to the other, playing with your watch-chain, or smoothing the handle of your umbrella? If you are waiting for something, do you tap with your foot on the floor, or drum on the chair or table? When you sit, do you hold on to the chair, or does the chair hold you? If, whenever you sit down, you would relax your hands and arms and allow them to rest in the lap, you would rest more; and by withdrawing the energy and tension from those parts of the body which are not in use, you can economize strength and nerve-force, and be resting one part while the others work.

People speak of “bracing” themselves to stand a pain. The very act of bracing often makes one feel the pain more intensely, because all the nerves are put on a strain. The next time you have to visit the dentist, do not grasp the arms of the chair tightly and nerve yourself for what is coming, but instead, relax; let your hands rest easily in your lap, practise slow, deep breathing, and see if it is not less painful.

A Good Resting Exercise

When you have been working under a strain till you feel tired, physically and mentally, and can not take the time for a half-hour’s nap, take ten minutes for the resting exercise given below, and you will be repaid for the time spent:—

Lie perfectly flat upon the bed, or better, the floor, and “let go” as much as you can, allowing the whole body to relax. Let yourself feel very heavy. Close the eyes, and slowly take six deep breaths. Imagine that all the life has been withdrawn from your right arm, except in the upper part. Keeping the eyes still closed, very slowly raise it from the floor, lifting it only a very few inches in a minute. Lift entirely from the upper part of the arm. By the time the arm is vertical, you will find it quite heavy. Hold it straight up while you take three more deep breaths, then lower it as slowly as you raised it. Let the hand hang relaxed all the time. Take the same course with the left arm.

Washington, D. C.

A Singing Cripple

A TOUCHING story is told in connection with the work of the Countess of Huntingdon among the colliers in the Black Country. Finding that many of these poor miners had never heard the gospel, she sent out preachers to hold meetings among them in the open air. Whitefield, Venn, and the Wesleys were among her helpers.

In a cabin on her estate there was a crippled blind girl, named Eliza Poulard, who heard of this great work. She was carried to the castle, having asked to meet Lady Huntingdon. “Can I help?” she inquired humbly; “I never have done anything for God.”

The servants would have driven her away, but the countess interfered. “She is lame and blind, and scared at her own voice,” they said. “God calls his own messengers,” replied the countess. “Carry her to the meeting to-night.” “Now,” says the old chronicler, “Eliza, in her solitude, had learned many hymns, and her voice was of that tone that it would wring the heart of a beast. When she sang of Christ upon the cross, the women cried out and the men wept sore. No words of the preachers were so powerful as the song of the poor cripple, lying on her pallet. They carried her from one place to another, and many people were converted by her.”

It is said that when Lady Huntingdon told her of the souls she had influenced for good, her face grew as beautiful as an angel’s. “Who would have thought He would have chosen me?” she said. Let us each seek out our work, and do it “as unto the Lord.”—Selected.

Fruits as Food and Medicine

Now that the height of the fruit season is at hand, with pears, plums, grapes, peaches, and other fruit in the market, it is well to know something of their nutritive and medicinal value. Many persons who are accustomed to think of fruits simply as healthful perhaps, but not particularly germicidal, will be surprised to learn their health-giving properties.

Marion Harland writes of the value of fruits as food:—

“Currants, berries, rhubarb, peaches, apples, pears, melons, and grapes each brings to jaded appetites and bile-laden systems its own message. A too common blunder is in overlooking the benefits we might get from carrying the habit learned and practised when the mercury is up to blood heat on into the winter solstice. For bile gathers as surely if more slowly then, and the digestive organs are sluggish to congestion.

“Peaches are catholic in principle and benignant in action. They may be indexed as a capital, all-round fruit. They correct constipation, yet have a decided tendency to brace the intestines. Prussic acid, in minute quantities, is secreted in the fragrant cells of the luscious peach, and as a healer, not a destroying principle.

“Fruits contain predigested food elements which do not clog the system, and which are valuable in sustaining strength. They are foods and medicines, or rather foods which avert the necessity of medicine.

“After the sleep of the night and the inaction of the digestive organs, a sort of mucous film forms upon the coat of the stomach, indisposing it to do its proper work. The gentle acids remove this and awaken the organ to a sense of what is expected of it. One writer upon gastronomy asserts in round terms that he would ‘as soon cover the coat of his stomach with a viscid poultice as to compel it to take care of a bowl of oatmeal or hominy early in the morning.’

“Oranges have an advantage over the great majority of other fruits in being obtainable all the year. They are antibilious. So are lemons, but oranges are agreeable to the taste, and have nutritious qualities not shared by the more tart cousin.”

There are other varieties of fruit which are of great medicinal value. A South American is said to have cured eight cases of yellow fever by feeding

each patient half of a watermelon. The body became so drained of fluids by disease that the patient became ravenous for liquids.

As an aid to digestion — a really material aid — the pineapple stands alone among the fruits. Its vegetable pepsin neutralizes, or, perhaps, rather digests, albuminous substances in the stomach. Fresh pineapple, or, better still, the juice of one, placed in direct contact with eggs, or gelatine, or milk, will prove this fact conclusively by producing a bitter-tasting dish.

In case of catarrhal ailments of the throat and its downward connection — the alimentary canal or tract — pineapple can not be overestimated, and it acts with equal force in malarial affections.

Oranges and lemons are not only valuable by reason of their potash salts, but especially for their citric acid. A case of paralysis of the entire right side is reported in a medical journal to have been helped by the adoption of the juice of oranges as a regular diet.

The Woman’s World states that oranges are the only food used in the cure of aggravated cases of dyspepsia, with no other food allowed. The grape cure is successfully used in a great variety of cases, especially in wasting diseases, and bananas in the same way. In all of these fruit cures no other food is used, and no medicine.

Tomatoes, raw or cooked, stimulate a sluggish liver. According to the Banting estimate, five ounces of sugar a day will increase a man’s weight one pound a week.

The salts and organic acids in the apple tend to improve the quality of the blood.

Cabbage, cut up to thread-like fineness, and eaten with lemon-juice, is digested in one hour.

As for dates and plantains, they contain sufficient nutriment to sustain life.

In these days of impure drinking water, water famines, and filtered water, it is well to know that one of the greatest advantages of fruit is that it offers us pure water for which we do not need a filter, to the amount of nearly fifty per cent in berries and more than ninety-two per cent in watermelons.—Los Angeles Herald.

Report of Our Work in Maine

By Stephen N. Haskell

WE have now been in Maine about two months, and these months have been ones of earnest activity. Maine has passed through one of the greatest crises as far as the temperance campaign is concerned that any conference in the country has ever passed through to my knowledge. It is probable that there is no part of the world where the believers in the message are more stanch than in the State of Maine. Some had an experience in the former messages. As immovable as the rocks in the State, are these brethren so far as the principles of the truth are concerned. The message was first preached in Maine. It was in Portland that the spirit of prophecy, which has been so prominent and has filled so important a position in the third angel’s message, was first manifested.

In early times the Lord wrought wonders in the State of Maine. He manifested great power in the healing of the sick, and in working deliverances for his people. It was here that arrests were made because of complaints that the people were disturbed by prayer and the shouting of praises to God in the night seasons. In these various experiences there were special manifestations of the power of God in bringing confusion to the adversaries and deliverance to his people.

God honors places when their men prove faithful. It was upon Mount Moriah that Abraham offered his son Isaac. It was on the same mountain that David purchased the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, and made his offering which he refused to make if it had cost him nothing. Upon the same mountain the temple of Solomon was built. God will yet honor this State by raising up in it a strong company to defend the truth, and to bear the last message of mercy to the world.

In early times, from this State as well as from other States in New England, both men and means were furnished to carry the message to the West. Now it has returned to the East, and we look for great things to be accomplished in the Eastern States, especially in Maine.

When we arrived in this State, we found the temperance campaign at its height. The ablest temperance speakers in the country came to the relief of the prohibitionists here. Those in favor of alcoholic drinks also spared neither pains nor money to secure the vote in their favor. We soon discovered that the majority in favor of prohibition was not large. To us it appeared to be a special providence of God, as it gave an opportunity to our people to place themselves on the side of truth in regard to the temperance question. We at once entered the arena, receiving from the Review Office a donation of a thousand of the Temperance Instructor to begin the work. Our brethren, as far as they understood the situation, rallied to aid us in the distribution of the Temperance Instructor. Portland, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Augusta, and nearly all the cities and towns of any size were supplied with the Temperance Instructor. These were placed directly in the hands of the people, as we made a thorough house-to-house canvass. In many places the temperance people joined our laborers, and worked faithfully in circulating the Instructor. Over seven thousand were distributed by these temperance workers alone.

The W. C. T. U. people in portions of the State where there were no Sabbath-keepers, heartily took part in the work. About fifty-five thousand copies of the Temperance Instructor were scattered over the State of Maine. It was generally acknowledged that there was no literature used in the campaign that could compare with the Temperance Instructor. As the time of the election drew near, the intensity of the work increased. Several companies were working in different places. Those whom we had considered our enemies because of our different views on religious liberty, commended us for what we did. One man of prominence wrote to one of our brethren, ‘Your paper was one of the strongest factors in the fight, and probably made as many votes as our small majority.’

We have been acquainted with the work in the East for nearly sixty years, and we never have seen any State more stirred than Maine during this campaign. It has brought our denomination before the people in a favorable light; and it is very possible that had it not been for the effort put forth by our people and others uniting with us in the distribution of the Temperance Instructor, the majority against prohibition would have been so large there would have been no question over the election. There never was a more opportune time than now to scatter our literature among the people.

Our brethren came to the camp-meeting full of courage and hope, and it was stated by many that it was the best camp-meeting ever held by Seventh-day Adventists in the State of Maine. We understand that nearly, if not quite, two thousand dollars was raised by pledges and cash for different departments of the work. Eleven persons were baptized. The question of entering Portland was considered, but as our brethren have interested companies in different parts of the State, it was thought best not to take their laborers and place them in Portland where there was no special interest; so after duly considering the matter, we gathered a company from workers who were not in the conference employ, rented a house in Portland, and have already begun work.

We have found some interest manifested. Those whom we have with us

doing house-to-house work are individuals of mature years and experience in the cause of God. They have learned to believe God, and are looking for the salvation of souls. We are expecting, as in times past, to connect with our work the health and temperance work, the selling of books, both large and small, and the distribution of tracts and papers, as well as the holding of Bible readings in the homes. We ask a special interest in the prayers of God’s people, especially of those who have taken an interest in this temperance campaign. We are looking for a harvest of souls, and we do not expect to be disappointed. The conference of Maine is able to carry only a portion of the expense of this work in Portland, so any donations from our brethren in any part of the country will be thankfully received, and due credit will be given. Our address is 63 Grant St., Portland, Maine.

S. N. HASKELL.

Built to Overcome Obstacles

JACK had been sent on an errand, runs the story, and he came to a fence across the lane that he traveled. “I am put here to stop boys,” said the fence; “you must turn back or go around.” “But I am built to climb fences,” responded Jack, and he went over the fence and on his way. Fortunate Jack! He had come to have a clear-cut conviction of what he was built for—to overcome obstacles, not to be daunted and delayed by them. Have we all learned what he knew? Obstacles are sure to appear in the way; but man was not built to go back or to go around, but to go over or through them. Difficulties in the way of your church work, of your Christian life?—Certainly; but you were built to overcome them.—Presbyterian Advance.

East Michigan Camp-Meeting

By K. C. Russell

THIS meeting was held at Oxford, Mich., September 7–17. Oxford is a beautiful country town of some fifteen hundred inhabitants. The ground upon which the camp was pitched lies in the outskirts of the town, but within easy access to the residential section.

Besides the union and local conference laborers, there were in attendance Elders J. O. Corliss and J. J. Westrup, and the writer. The attendance of our people was about four hundred. There was also a good attendance of the citizens of Oxford when the weather was favorable. The labors of Elders Corliss and Westrup were much appreciated. Our people responded liberally to the various calls for money, and especially to the call for the $300,000 Fund. The Sabbath-school offerings during the meeting aggregated over $240.

God's care for his people was manifested in a most signal manner in protecting them during two severe wind- and rain-storms that took place during the meeting. The last of these storms occurred on the last Thursday evening of the meeting. It began about 5 P. M., while a meeting was being held in the large pavilion. With scarcely a moment's warning, the large tent blew down, breaking all three of the center-poles. To those who saw the tent fall, it seemed as if at least some of those who were in the tent at the time would sustain severe injuries, and possibly the loss of life; for there was not only danger from the breaking center-poles and the heavy quarter-poles, but also the possibility of coming in contact with the live electric wire which was stretched about the interior of the tent for illuminating purposes. Providentially, there was in the tent at the time one of our brethren who is an electrician. He had on rubber boots, which are nonconductors of electricity, and he also had a pair of clippers in his hand, with which he cut the wire without injury to himself, and thus averted a possible loss of life. It seemed miraculous that all who were in the tent at the time should escape without injury. The storm continued to rage with great fury for a time after the large pavilion had been blown down, and it seemed for a while that it would be impossible to repair the poles, etc., before the Sabbath, so that the meeting could be resumed. But Friday morning the weather cleared off beautifully, and before noon, as the result of earnest work, the tent was in readiness for meetings.

With but few exceptions, all remained until the close. The weather was delightful during the remaining portion of the meeting, and the service on the last Sabbath will ever be remembered by those in attendance because of the presence of the Holy Spirit with mighty converting power. At the close of the last Sabbath afternoon service, three young men were ordained to the gospel ministry—Brethren Fred Hoxie, C. L. White, and Robert W. Leach. Sunday afternoon twenty-eight willing souls followed their Lord in the sacred rite of baptism.

Elder H. H. Burkholder, who has served for a long term of years as president of the Ohio Conference, was unanimously elected to the presidency of the East Michigan Conference, as the successor of Elder E. K. Slade, who has filled the office of president of the conference for several years past, and who has recently been elected to succeed Elder Burkholder as president of the Ohio Conference. We believe that the result of this exchange of conference presidents will prove a great blessing to the conferences where they have been elected to serve. While the people of both conferences regret to see these brethren separate from the fields where they have worked so long, yet we feel certain they will as earnestly stand by and support the newly elected presidents as they did the retiring ones.

K. C. RUSSELL.

The Utah Conference and Camp-Meeting

By E. W. Farnsworth

In company with Elder J. N. Loughborough and Brother J. J. Ireland, I attended the tenth annual session of the Utah Conference, at Salt Lake City, August 28 to September 4. The camp-meeting was held in connection with the conference, though it could hardly be called a camp-meeting, as there was but one tent pitched, and that was the pavilion in which evening services were held. Meetings in this tent had been held evenings for some time by Brethren W. L. Sims and L. E. Leavett. There was a good interest manifested by the people who came.

The conference and other meetings held during the day convened in the church. This building is a modest structure, yet was large enough to accommodate all who came to the conference. The meeting was small, not more than one hundred being in attendance at any time; but the conference membership is small, numbering only two hundred.

The meeting was a good one. Not a discordant note nor impatient remark was heard in any of the proceedings. The Spirit and blessing of God was present in every meeting, and brotherly love prevailed.

There was great freedom in speaking the word both to our own people and to those who came from without. Elder Loughborough’s labors were very helpful, and were greatly appreciated by all.

The business of the conference was transacted with despatch and harmony. Elder D. A. Parsons was elected president, with Brethren W. L. Sims, W. O. Willard, Samuel Elsner, and L. E. Leavett associated with him on the committee. Otis J. Fisher was elected secretary and the treasurer, and J. G. Smith field missionary agent.

Resolutions were adopted expressing gratitude to God for his goodness, and for prosperity; expressing sympathy and love for Sister B. Winifred Hunter, the former secretary and treasurer, in her serious illness; recommending that their portion of the $300,000 Fund be raised during the present year; approving the plan of starting a conference school; voting to discontinue the health food department in the tract society; guarding the sacredness of the tithe; favoring the raising of funds for the poor by contributions; contributing ten per cent of their tithe to the General Conference; recommending the raising of fifteen cents per capita each week for foreign missions; and urging the revival of the missionary spirit in distributing our truth-filled literature.

In the discussion of all these resolutions much interest was manifested, and the brethren and sisters showed a willingness to do all in their power to forward the message. Utah is not an easy field in which to labor. The “Gentile” element, as it is known, is not large. The Mormons control and mold everything except in Salt Lake City. Their organization is so complete, their opposition so intense, their prejudice so blind, that it is difficult to make rapid progress; and yet there has been a steady gain.

It is in Utah as elsewhere,—opposition from without may do something and may hinder somewhat; but that which hurts and hinders the cause the most, and wounds it the deepest, is the wounds “with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” The church, the cause, can truly say with the individual member,—

“But of all the foes we meet, None so apt to turn our feet, None betray us into sin, Like the foes we have within.”

The laborers in Utah are drawing together, and the believers are drawing near to one another, and God is drawing near to all. We confidently expect there will be prosperity in the third angel’s message in that conference the coming year.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.

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