From his pulpit the priest of a church near Genoa made the announcement to his congregation that the cholera had entered the village. This startling announcement was certainly calculated to awaken some alarm in the community. But an investigation proved that the terrible plague that had entered the place was nothing more or less than a harmless Seventh-day Adventist who had begun to tell the people of the great truth for this time. Our Italian brother has come from California as a self-supporting missionary, and, as his relatives live in this village, he naturally went there first to tell them of the glad tidings. But when the parish priest heard of his arrival, he went to see him, and tried to win him again to Catholicism, the religion to which he adhered in youth. But all the arguments and sophistries that the subtle mind of the priest could bring to bear upon him had no effect except to establish him more firmly than ever in the truth. When the priest saw that his words failed to convert our brother to the Roman church, he denounced him from the pulpit, using the expression already referred to. He also warned the people from speaking to Brother Oberti, saying that the wolf had come in among the sheep, not to take the sheep, but their souls. The people, after this discourse, refused to have anything to do with our brother, and his relatives would even pass him on the street without taking any notice of him. The people have also prohibited their children from speaking to him, and have spread the word from town to town that he is a deceiver.
But amid it all this brother is not discouraged, as can be seen from the following extract taken from one of his letters: “They do not frighten me, for I know in whom I have believed. My heart is very sad to see this great darkness, and to behold the people worshiping idols and bowing down to wood and stone. Here they are now making preparations to celebrate the feast of St. Rocco. They light candles every morning before this statue and sing, asking the saint to intercede for them. I propose to live near God, so that they find nothing of which they can accuse me.”
It is not difficult to see the spirit that still animates the church of Rome, and, had they the power, they would use more than words in trying to suppress the efforts of this worker, as they have done in other places even in these days. The church of Rome not only has persecuted God’s people in the past, but she takes delight in recognizing in herself a persecuting power. This may seem rather a strange declaration, but it can be easily substantiated. For example, under the heading, “How to Write to the Pope,” one of the journals of Rome stated, after speaking of the way in which to obtain a response, that “these words may be written, which will act like a charm: To His Holiness the Pope, Prefect of the Holy Roman and General Inquisition.” The pope since the time of Paul IV has had been the special head of the Inquisition tribunal. So we see that while the pope can not exercise now his prerogative as head of the Inquisition, still he clings fondly to the name, and still it charms his ear to be addressed as “The Prefect of the Holy Roman and General Inquisition.” As the Inquisition stands for the very personification of persecution and cruelty, are we wrong in concluding that the church takes delight in recognizing in herself a persecuting power when that which is most pleasing to the pope today is to be called the head of the Inquisition?
To say that the church of Rome is contesting every inch of ground in Italy, and especially in Rome, is stating the case mildly. The church of Rome is like a great army well organized and well instructed for the warfare which they are waging. I have noticed how quickly they will send re-enforcements to a weak point, that they may hold what they have, and gain more, if possible.
But, as I have said, our brother is not discouraged, but has obtained from us a supply of books and tracts, and is going out among the people to give them a knowledge of the greatest message that has ever gone to this world. And I only wish that, where we now have one, we could have a hundred such faithful brethren who would be willing to put their life and means into the great work of proclaiming the third angel’s message.
Rome, Italy.
ITALIAN PEASANTS
Mission Notes
THE Aryan Messenger states that 6,016,759 little Indian girls, between the ages of five and nine, are married, and that 174,000 of these are widows.
THE cobra, one of the most poisonous of serpents, is worshiped by millions. It is common in Southern India to see a whole village, with music and processions, worshiping a living cobra.
A MISSIONARY (Anglican) is at Obihiro in Hokkaido, Japan. “There is a church here,” he says, “with sixty or seventy members. The chief of police is an earnest Christian, as are also some of the ordinary constables. There are two Sunday-schools, whose pupils number ninety.” Through such little congregations in country districts the leavening of the nation is being prepared.
ONE gets a glimpse of the real facts from the following bit of description from a missionary in South Africa: “Our bell is a broken pick tied to a branch, and beaten with a bit of stone. You should see my dear students at a lecture. Their attention is simply glued from beginning to end; and you can easily tell when an argument has gone home; for a great light comes over their jolly, black faces, and they give vent to a strange grunt of appreciation.”
THE following story is told of a Filipino evangelist, who was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of the Philippine Islands in January, 1904. As early as 1872 a copy in Spanish of one of the Gospels was given him. The priest who gave it was afterward executed by the Spanish government for having ideas, but this Domingo Nocum buried the Gospel between two other books, and so saved it; for when he ventured to uncover his treasure, the white ants had eaten up the other books, and left the Gospel whole, the only time known in history that white ants stopped at anything. Domingo read the book, accepted its teachings, became a true Christian, and is now free to impart to his people the light in which he rejoices. The Presbyterians have now quite a number of native evangelists in the Philippine Islands.
BECAUSE of the great revival in Wales, the Bible is in demand. One bookseller writes to the British and Foreign Bible Society, under pressure that is unmistakable, although he stumbles in choosing the words: “Please send them at once. Great demand for Bible now the revival is doing such havoc (!) in our midst.” The orders for Scriptures received by the British and Foreign Bible Society from Wales in November and December were three times the amount for the corresponding months in 1903. The Christian Briton or American, once converted, cares for the Bible just as much as the converted Confucian or fetish worshiper.
Thy Word Is Truth
“Thy Word is truth.”
Review and Herald Publishing Association
Second Annual Meeting
ACCORDING to the prescribed legal notice, duly published, the members of the Review and Herald Publishing Association convened in their second annual meeting in the large tent at Takoma Park on Wednesday, May 10, at 9 A. M. On motion, W. W. Prescott was elected chairman, and W. B. Walters secretary. On inquiry it was found that thirty-two members of the corporation were present, a legal quorum.
It was voted to defer the presentation of reports until a larger number of the members could be in attendance. By vote of the meeting the chairman was authorized to appoint a committee on nominations to recommend the names of four persons to be elected as trustees to fill the places of the four whose terms of office expire at this time, and a committee on plans. These committees were announced as follows: on nominations, W. J. Stone, A. E. Place, W. H. Thurston, G. A. Irwin, G. B. Thompson; on plans, E. R. Palmer, W. C. White, S. N. Curtiss, H. H. Hall, I. A. Ford, W. C. Sisley, W. D. Salisbury. The meeting then adjourned until Tuesday, May 16.
The annual report of the manager of the association is given herewith:—
Report of the Manager
The president has outlined quite fully the history and work of this association during its brief existence. It will perhaps be of interest to the membership to have fuller details concerning some of the work of the past year.
At the first, we wish to express gratitude to God for his protection and guidance. No accident has occurred, and nearly all our workers have enjoyed most excellent health.
Since our last report the force in our Circulation Department has been increased by the addition of D. W. Reavis, Mrs. Allee, and three stenographers and assistants. One additional proof-reader, one job compositor, and a secretary for the president have also been found necessary. The number of persons now on our pay-roll in Washington is thirty-one.
As nearly all understand, this association publishes at its Washington office four periodicals; viz., THE REVIEW AND HERALD, The Youth's Instructor, Life and Health, and the Sabbath School Worker. On these we do all the mechanical work except the actual printing, the presswork being done by another firm.
The Review and Herald
The REVIEW AND HERALD, the church paper of the denomination, has shown quite an encouraging growth in circulation during the year. The smallest number of copies printed was 12,407. The printing order for the issue of May 11 would have been 18,500 copies, but to provide for the extra demand during the General Conference session we printed 21,000 copies. This is largely due to the fact that the Week of Prayer Readings and the Missionary Convention Readings were for the first time printed in the REVIEW during the past year. This new departure seems to have given the best of satisfaction. The same may be said of the plan to publish the official reports of the thirty-sixth session of the General Conference in this paper, instead of publishing a separate Bulletin.
Youth's Instructor
The Youth's Instructor also shows encouraging growth. The smallest number printed was 12,400 copies, and the present edition is 13,400. The expense for illustrating the Instructor is such that it shows a small loss for the year.
Many letters have been received expressing the thought that the Instructor is better than ever before, and we feel that continuous effort should be made by our people to secure its admission to every home where there are children.
Sabbath School Worker
This sixteen-page monthly journal for the use of all Sabbath-school teachers and officers seems to fill an important place, and many are the words of appreciation which come to us concerning it. The present edition is six thousand copies, and notwithstanding the absurdly low price at which it is furnished,—twenty-five cents a year in clubs of two or more copies,—this periodical has more than paid its way.
Life and Health
is the latest addition to our list of periodicals. This journal came into our possession through an agreement by which the Pacific Health Journal was transferred to this association. We changed the name to Life and Health, and the first number printed was that of July, 1905. The actual number of copies called for by the subscription list of the Pacific Health Journal when we received it was 1,950. We added five hundred new subscribers the first month, and the list has steadily grown until at the present time it numbers 6,360. In addition to this, a large number of persons order regularly, from month to month, copies to sell, so that the edition is never less than 10,000 copies. Of the June number, now in press, we are printing 17,500 copies.
This periodical also shows a small loss, but we feel that the loss recorded makes the showing for the first year a very encouraging one.
The Book Department
Because of lack of room in our building on North Capitol Street, a store at 716 Thirteenth Street, N. W., was secured, and here our book stock is carried. This has, in a measure, isolated this department from our other business, and has prevented that intimate connection and frequent counsel which the other departments have had.
From this department are supplied all the books, tracts, etc., used in the territory of the Atlantic Union Conference.
During the Sunday law agitation we republished in tract form the “Appeal to Clergy,” which had appeared in the Washington Post, and of this tract over 400,000 copies have been sold. The total sales of this department for the year, at wholesale rate, were $29,053.01.
Battle Creek Branch
On Feb. 14, 1905, the Battle Creek office became the property of this association, by the court's confirmation of our bid made Jan. 10, 1905.
The Battle Creek Branch having taken its inventory at the time of the sale, Feb. 13, 1905, it was not thought best to require a new inventory on April 30. We have taken the resources of this Branch onto our books at the price paid for the property, thus leaving any gain or loss which may come from the handling of this property to appear as it may accrue.
In the Battle Creek Branch there is a fairly well-equipped printing-office and bindery. Nearly the whole outfit has been purchased new since the fire in 1902. It is our intention to remove this entire manufacturing plant to Washington as soon as we are ready to instal it, unless a favorable sale of a portion or all of it is made previously. There are about forty persons in the employ of our Battle Creek Branch, and all our book manufacturing is done there.
The facilities in Battle Creek, together with what we have here, will probably be about all that will be required for doing our portion of the denominational work for some time to come.
Our New Building
At the last annual meeting the following action was taken:—
“Whereas, The trustees are negotiating for the purchase of lots 12 to 19 inclusive and lots 33 and 34 of Block 3 and lots 1 and 2 of Block 5 of the Thornton estate, at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., the same comprising about one and seven-eighths acres, at a cost of about $3,030, and the demands of the business necessitate the early erection of a suitable building for manufacturing and office purposes, therefore,—
“We recommend, That this work be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.”
In harmony with this action, after much unavoidable delay, the building site above referred to was purchased on Dec. 28, 1904, the cash consideration, including fees, being $3,303.65. We have also paid in addition to this amount $178.08 for laying cement sidewalks:
Our board of trustees voted that the manager go to Mountain View, Cal., and examine the new building of the Pacific Press Publishing Company with reference to its adaptability to our needs. This was done in January of this year.
After considering all the advantages and disadvantages of a one-story building, the trustees decided that a two-story building would be better adapted to the shape of our building site and to this climate, and accordingly plans are being drawn by our architect, Brother F. G. Atkinson, for a building eighty by one hundred feet, with an office extension in front fifty feet wide and twenty-five feet deep, and a one-story foundry in the rear thirty by forty feet.
This building is to have two stories, with high attic and mansard roof, and a cemented basement. The first story20is to have a solid cement wall, and the second story will probably be of pebble dash.
An electric elevator will run from the basement to the attic floor, and the building will be lighted with electricity. All machines will have individual electric motors. On the first floor will be the counting-room, circulating department, manager's office, book storeroom, composing-room, pressroom, foundry, toilets, etc. On the second floor will be the editorial offices, chapel, reading-room, and bindery. The basement will be used for storing paper, and the attic for storing signatures.
In the rear of the main building will be a separate fire-proof vault for the storage of plates, and a power-house for the dynamo, boilers, and machine shop.
The cost of the main building, including plumbing and lighting, will be about $25,000.
We hope to have the architect's plans to present to you before this session closes.
S. N. CURTISS,
Manager.
McKim’s Move Killed
By William W. Prescott
School Board Was Unanimous Against Its Adoption
Religion in Schools Tabooed
Statement Setting Forth the Reasons for Rejecting the Petition of the Committee of Fifteen—Views of General Boynton, President of the Board, Presented in Separate Statement.
UNDER these headings in its issue of May 11 the Washington Post announced the decision of the Board of Education of this city concerning the matter of religious instruction in the public schools of the District of Columbia.
“The Board of Education last night unanimously declined to adopt the suggestion of the committee of fifteen for the introduction of a course of religious and moral instruction in the public schools. J. Holdsworth Gordon, vice-president of the Board, presided at the meeting.”
“Gen. Henry V. Boynton, president of the Board, who is confined to his home, sent a statement, which was read at the meeting, in which he advocated an investigation to determine whether or not a non-sectarian text-book on morality could not be added to the supplementary list.”
“The statement made public by the Board is as follows:—
Statement by the Board
“The Board of Education has carefully considered the petitions asking for the introduction of a course of religious and moral instruction as a part of the curriculum of our District schools. This matter has been considered solely from the standpoint of the welfare and best interests of our school system as a whole. In view of the earnest protests that have been presented to us, many of them from large representative religious bodies, and undoubtedly inspired by conscientious motives, and in view of the unfortunate rancor that the matter has already aroused, as is evidenced by the public and private expressions that have been brought to the notice of the Board, we feel constrained to decline the adoption of the course suggested.”
“In so doing we appreciate the motives that have impelled the movers to take the action they have, but believe the conditions existing, if fully understood, would impress them with the propriety, and indeed the necessity, of our decision. We do not deem it desirable to enter into any argument as to the many reasons, other than as above, which induced this action, for we trust that our people will believe that the Board have at heart the welfare of the youth committed to our care, and that the elevation of our wards, morally as well as intellectually, is our first aim.”
Present Rules Sufficient
“The discussion in the public press and from our pulpits has given rise to the impression that there is nothing done in our schools in the line of moral teaching, and that our exercises are without religious tone. This, of course, results from the fact that but few of our people have the opportunity of visiting these schools and of familiarizing themselves with their methods. We believe we go as far, in the direction suggested, as any school system in this country, and we have studiously pursued this course in the face of repeated and earnest objections from representative bodies and individual Protestants.”
“General Boynton’s communication, which was addressed to the Board, is, in part, as follows:—
“I was surprised to notice a protest against the present use of the collection of hymns approved by the Board and in use in the opening exercises of the high schools. I believe the manner of making this collection has not been brought to the attention of the public, and in view of this protest, it is right that it should be. As the members of the Board know, this collection consists of practically an equal number of hymns taken from among those most highly thought of in each denomination in the city. So far as the protesting delegations which appeared before the Board have any form of religious service, hymns were chosen from their publications. The collection, when completed and approved, contained hymns from the books of the Catholics, Jews, People’s Church, Unitarians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists. How the Board could be more impartial passes comprehension.”
Movement in Other Cities
“General Boynton refers to the movement in Chicago for religious instruction in the schools. He adds:—
“I respectfully suggest to my associates that the committee on rules be requested to prepare an additional clause to rule 46, making it more specific, by providing that on some given day of each week the teachers shall, in their opening exercises, include the ten commandments and the summary of the law, with the provision that any scholar may be exempted from attendance upon these particular opening exercises at the written request of the parent; and, further, that the committee on text-books be requested to inquire and report whether a suitable, thoroughly non-sectarian text-book on morality can be found for addition to our supplementary list.”
From the report which appeared in the Washington Times of the same date we take the following paragraphs:—
“We have done our duty in presenting the matter to the Board of Education, and if they have seen fit to refuse to consider moral and religious instruction as a necessary adjunct to the public school curriculum, then it will have to rest there.”
“In these words the Rev. Dr. Randolph McKim, one of the committee of fifteen who originated and endeavored to forward the plan, this morning declared that no further effort would be made toward securing the adoption by the Board of Education of moral training in the public schools on a religious basis.”
“Dr. McKim declared himself in ignorance of last night’s action of the Board of Education, but expressed no surprise when informed by a Times reporter of the outcome. He said he would have no suggestions or counter-proposals to make, and plainly indicated his belief that the committee of fifteen, or any other similarly constituted body, would not soon again exert itself on a lost cause.”
In the Evening Star of the same date there was a full report of the action of the Board of Education, and in addition to this there was an editorial dealing at some length with the controversy, and approving of the decision of the Board of Education. The Star said that “it felt confident that the right course would be pursued by the Board of Education which has just been announced, and the events prove that this confidence was not misplaced. . . . It remains to be seen how far the rancorous discussion which has proceeded for many weeks has affected the efficiency of the rule [providing for daily religious exercises], and weakened the public confidence in existing methods of moral instruction in the schools. It is clear that more [than is now provided for] can not be attempted without incurring a greater loss, and it is gratifying to read in the terms of the Board’s firm refusal to entertain the proposition a determination to proceed, as in the past, with a system of moral guidance which will stand as a guaranty to the people of the District that the spiritual welfare of the children of the District is not being impaired while their brains are being cultivated.”
This brings to a close a remarkable campaign which has been carried forward for nearly three months, and which has aroused an interest at times almost intense. At the first the Seventh-day Adventists stood almost alone in their opposition to the action of the majority of the interdenominational conference favoring the teaching of religion in the public schools, but later the Baptists, the Jews, the Southern Methodists, and various secular organizations have joined in the protest. When the plan of teaching what was declared to be unsectarian religious principles in the public schools was first suggested, there seemed to be quite a strong sentiment in favor of the movement, and it is quite likely that the petition might have been granted if no effort had been made to educate the public mind upon the principles involved, but “the temperate and unanswerable arguments” which were adduced against such a movement, the public meetings held, and the literature which has been circulated, together with the telling editorials in the Washington Post, have plainly had a marked effect upon the public and upon the Board of Education, and a decided victory has been gained for right principles. This experience is another testimony21to the soundness of those principles of religious liberty which are an essential part of this third angel’s message, and the result ought to encourage all believers to put forth most earnest efforts in disseminating these truths while we are permitted to do so freely. These movements in various parts of the country to unite church and state under one guise or another will be renewed with increasing determination, and the lovers of religious liberty must be on the alert to meet every such effort by presenting the truth. In this way much can be accomplished in preparing the way for the final conflict between truth and error. To this work let us address ourselves with courageous faith and earnest purpose. W. W. P.
Field Notes
THE Central Valley, Va., church gained four new members, and that at Hebron, Va., five new members, on the occasion of their recent quarterly meetings.
A LOT for the erection of a church building has been procured by the second Seventh-day Adventist church (colored) of Springfield, Ill. The work of erecting the building will begin shortly.
FIVE persons were baptized at Kewanee, Ill., during a visit there by Brother L. H. Christian, April 15, 16. Four others desired baptism, but were prevented by circumstances from going forward in the ordinance at that time.
THE first church for the Seventh-day Adventist colored people of Texas was dedicated at Cleburne, Sabbath, April 29. Elders N. P. Nelson, W. W. Eastman, and H. B. French, and Sisters Nelson and French, with several of the Keene brethren, were present.
IN a report of a visit among the churches of central New England, Elder A. E. Place says: “It is encouraging to see the interest manifested by the brethren and sisters to consider the various phases of our work. We have found but very few notes of discouragement. Generally the testimony is one of courage, for which we thank God and rejoice.”
REPORTING from Karmatar, Miss Anna Knight writes: “Last night we had five Bengali ladies join us in our evening worship, and they were much pleased, and said they would come again. One of our girls read a chapter in Bengali from the Bible, and a number of prayers were offered in their native tongue, as well as in English. Others urge us to come to see them and sing hymns and tell them of Jesus. What more could we want?”
IN a report of the second annual session of the Western Pennsylvania Conference, at Wilkinsburg, near Pittsburg, April 19-23, Elder H. W. Cottrell says: “In my experience in the work of the Lord, I never witnessed a greater manifestation of his willingness and power to work for his children, to reclaim the discouraged, and to convert those who had never known him, than I saw at this meeting. There was not the least element of sensationalism, and yet the entire congregation was deeply moved to repentance before God. Several souls who had never professed conversion yielded their lives to him, and found favor in his sight.”
BROTHER L. H. CHRISTIAN says in a report of work among the Scandinavians in Chicago: “Two weeks ago we had22baptism in the Rockwell Street church. Eight souls were baptized, and nine joined the church, one of these having been baptized before. Two have recently begun to keep the Sabbath in the place where Brother Andreasen held meetings before he left; and in the other place where most of the work has been done since New-years, quite a large number have taken hold of the truth. The attendance and interest have been very encouraging, and are still good.”
Items of Interest and Progress
By R. A. Underwood
I LEFT my home in Minneapolis, April 20, to attend the General Conference at Washington. As I came through Ohio, I stopped at the Ohio State meeting, which was in progress at Cleveland, Ohio. It was a real pleasure to meet the Ohio workers and many of the brethren and sisters of my former acquaintance. It was a happy surprise to here meet Elder E. H. Gates. Elder Gates and I began laboring together in Ohio about twenty-eight years ago. The providence of God has separated us largely in our fields of labor for many years. It was a joy to meet those who embraced the truth under our united labor years ago, and to see this zeal and know of their love and sacrifices for the cause of God. The Ohio State meeting was a blessing to those in attendance.
I reached my father's old home in Wayne, Ohio, April 27. This day was father and mother's fifty-eighth wedding anniversary. To meet with them at that time was not only a great pleasure to me, but also to my dear parents. Father is nearly eighty-nine years old. Mother will be eighty-eight years of age if she lives till the twenty-eighth of June. At the beginning of the Sabbath on Friday evening, April 29, several of the neighbors, and the children and some of the grandchildren, came together, and we had a grand meeting, which was greatly enjoyed by father, and mother. Father and mother embraced this message under the laborers of Elder J. H. Waggoner in 1864. The message of Christ's soon coming has lost none of its sweetness to these aged pilgrims. They are looking for the glad day, and are ripening for the kingdom.
I spoke to the church in Erie, Pa., Sabbath afternoon, April 29. This was another pleasant occasion. I reached Williamsport on Sunday, and spoke in the evening. Here I had the pleasure of meeting my daughter, and friends, and remained with them for a few days. My next stop was at Dr. C. D. Christman's in Wiconisco. The Lord is greatly blessing Dr. Christman in his work for the sick. His efforts are not limited to the physical man, for he and his family are alive to all branches of the message. At the different places where I stopped in Ohio and Pennsylvania, it seemed as if I had come home.
My last stop was at Philadelphia, May 5-8. The work in this city, as well as at other places in eastern Pennsylvania, is making advancement. Sabbath morning I spoke at the North Philadelphia church, and in the afternoon at the church in the western part of the city. The cause in Philadelphia has gained more during the last five years than it had in fifteen or twenty years before. We now have two of the strongest churches in the conference in the city, and a good prospect for a third church to be organized the coming year. The North Philadelphia church has a permanent meeting place at 1942 North Seventeenth Street. It was my privilege on Sunday, May 7, to assist in appropriate services at the laying of the corner-stone of the new church building of West Philadelphia, at the corner of Fifty-first and Locust Streets. Over four thousand dollars has been raised for the purchase of the ground, and the erection of this building, which will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible.
Not least among the advance steps to place the cause of truth on vantage-ground in Philadelphia is the recent opening for the purchase of suitable property for the use of the medical work, on Girard Avenue, at about one third of its original cost. This will make a creditable place for the sanitarium work, so far as the city is concerned. The sanitarium and its work is becoming better known in Philadelphia, and its friends are increasing. All these developments are indications of a permanent advancement of the cause we love, and should cause thanksgiving, and serve as a stimulus to greater activity and service for the Master.
R. A. UNDERWOOD.
Southern California.
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE held its regular spring meeting at Fernando, April 11–16, with quite a general representation of delegates from the churches within its borders. Interesting reports were given of the evangelical, medical, and educational departments of the work. During the past nine months, about two hundred have accepted the truth as a result of the ministerial labors bestowed. The tithe for this period has been $13,045.79, and the offerings for all local branches of the general work outside of the conference amount to $2,948.11.
The conference has voted to pay the salary of one of its laborers in a foreign field until the field becomes self-supporting, or the laborer is withdrawn. This step on the part of the conference we are sure will increase the interest of all the members in the conference in our general foreign missionary work.
In the educational work an active interest is being taken by the churches in keeping up their church-schools. At Fernando College, an excellent interest has been maintained all the year. The enrollment has been eighty-three, besides about forty-five pupils that are attending the church-school.
At the conference held last fall, in Los Angeles, it was voted to purchase property at Glendale for sanitarium purposes. Steps were taken immediately thereafter to properly equip and furnish the building for the reception of guests. The formal opening took place January 9, and since that time the income has exceeded the expenses by one thousand dollars, and the accommodations have not been sufficient to meet all the requests that have been made for admission to the institution.
Elder Geo. W. Reaser was chosen president of the conference, and S. S. Merrill secretary and treasurer. The educational and medical interests will be directed by Boards that were chosen by the delegates assembled.
The laborers from abroad that attended this meeting are Elders W. B. White, M. E. Cady, and W. C. White.—Pacific Union Recorder.
