LEAVING College View, I went to Denver, where Elder J. S. Rouse and Brother W. D. Emery met me. Together we started for Campion Academy, where a board meeting had been called. At Boulder, Elders Underwood and Robinson and Brother Lane joined us. On our arrival at the academy, we inspected the immediate repairs affecting basements, sewer, and water supply.
The financial statement for the year 1913-14 was rendered, and in many respects was very encouraging. The board gave careful study to some features of the work at Campion, which, when properly adjusted, will greatly enhance the working value of the school. A strong faculty has been secured for the coming year; and we see no reason why every available space should not be occupied by earnest students, with the assurance that it will be a year of great benefit to them in securing a training for the Master's work.
Our return to Boulder brought us to the hospitable home of Elder Robinson. We were informed that not an empty room in the sanitarium or its cottages was available. The Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium has at present the largest patronage in its history. “There's a reason,” One is impressed at once on stepping upon the porch that this is a live place. Brother Cook's hearty handshake and broad smile as he bids you welcome, whether he has a place for you or not, makes you feel at home and you catch the spirit of the place at once; and you are willing to accept anything recommended just so you can stay. The business manager's face does not carry that Judas look so often seen in men whose duty it is to carry the bag. In fact, you wonder if he is not ready to hand you a “pass” or a complimentary ticket for a week's stay—but he doesn't. Still, you decide that, whatever the charges may be, they are cheap enough.
Dr. Green, the physician and surgeon in chief, with his noble corps of assistants, augmented by a devoted class of nurses, is never too busy to give attention to those who come for medical treatment. Any lack of attention, whether on the part of a doctor or a nurse, is promptly attended to, and is considered by the sanitarium corps of workers as almost unpardonable. Everything about the place indicates that all are a part of the concern. Dr. Green's long experience in denominational sanitarium work, in both foreign and home fields, amply fits him for the important place he fills in this center of our medical missionary work.
Sunday evening I was invited by Elder M. A. Altman, the chaplain, to speak to the patients in the parlor. It was gratifying to see the millionaire and the man in moderate circumstances sitting side by side listening to the gospel story. Many sin-sick souls find comfort and rest in the Lord through the united ministry of all connected with the sanitarium. The next morning I met with the helpers, and was happily surprised to find more than thirty-five helpers and members of the faculty gathered for morning worship. This is as it should be. What we need in our institutions is to recognize God, and by prayer, consecration, and earnest endeavor invite the Holy Spirit to cooperate with us.
Boulder has passed through many dark days, but the promise is, “There are better days in store for Boulder,” and even now we see the beginning of the fulfillment of this promise. Let not human hands be raised at this time to steady the ark. God is working out his own purposes, and he gives us the privilege to cooperate with him. Let us seize this opportunity to show our loyalty to the work.
J. W. CHRISTIAN
South Carolina
By W. H. Maynor
GOD is blessing our work among the colored people of Charleston, S. C., in a wonderful way. New believers are constantly being added to our numbers. We are planning to erect a church building twenty-four by thirty-five feet, and hope to have it ready by school time if possible. It will be hard work for us to meet the payments, but with God all things are possible, and we are trying to coöperate with him. Pray for us here. W. H. MAYNOR.
Good Words From Bowling Green, Fla.
By George I. Butler
ABOUT three months ago there was a report from this place giving the result of a course of lectures delivered by Elder J. L. Shuler last winter. At that time five or six adults had begun to keep the Sabbath, and the building of a small church was in progress. We have since held Sabbath meetings regularly each week, at which the writer has spoken to those present. Our Sabbath school has a membership of over twenty, a goodly number of bright, interesting children attending.
Since leaving Bowling Green, Elder Shuler has been conducting meetings at New Smyrna. A church of over twenty has been organized, and a neat house of worship erected. He recently returned to spend a week with us, encouraging those who have lately taken their stand for the truth. He baptized seven of these, all having an intelligent knowledge of the third angel’s message. It was surely a blessed occasion, and the Spirit of the Lord was present.
After the baptism Elder Shuler gave an excellent discourse, and we all took part in a good, social meeting. Hearts were made tender, and we trust that much good will result. One sister present, speaking of our regret at the smallness of our numbers, referred to Noah’s preaching one hundred and twenty years for the saving of eight souls, and said that we should not be discouraged when seven persons have taken their stand at our meetings. Our little church building will soon be ready for dedication. We are very thankful indeed to the good Father that we have a company of believers at Bowling Green.
GEO. I. BUTLER.
Recent Baptisms and Church Additions
EIGHT persons have decided to obey the commandments of the Lord as a result of meetings held at Coco, W. Va.
THE church at Spokane, Wash., has recently received six new members by baptism.
SPEAKING of the work among the colored people in Guthrie, Okla., C. S. Lightner says: “Eight have already united with the church, and others intend to do so in the near future.”
The “Signs of the Times” Brings Persons Into the Truth
By E. M. GRAHAM
I Prize No Other Paper So Much
“About two years ago a man in St. Louis picked up a part of a page of the Signs of the Times and became interested in it. He had a newspaper dealer order the paper for him; and just before I left the city I had the privilege of taking him into the church. I am told that he made a good worker. I prize no other paper so much as the Signs for missionary work.”
Some One Sent Her the “Signs”
“For ten long years she had been living in the mountains, away from any church. Some one sent her the Signs of the Times, and other reading matter occasionally. She finally accepted the truth, and is now a member of one of our churches.”
Picked Up a “Signs” While Waiting for a Train
“The dear old Signs brought the truth to me and my family in a very peculiar way. My son-in-law was coming to Portland, and while waiting for a train, picked up a Signs that some of our good brethren had left in the station. He brought it home with him, and liked it so well that he subscribed for a year. Through his personal effort and the Signs of the Times, six of us were brought into the truth of the third angel’s message. God bless the dear brethren and sisters who are carrying forward the good work with the Signs is my prayer.”
Bought a “Signs” on the Street
A testimony was given at a prayer meeting as follows: “I was on the street one day and bought a copy of the Signs. I took it home. My wife and I studied it; and now she, my little girl, and I are happy in the truth.”
Mailed the “Signs”—A Church Organized
“A sister sent to different families in a certain neighborhood a number of Signs. These people after reading became convinced of the truth, and six families, not one of which knew the decisions of the others, began to keep the Sabbath the same day. The next week on learning of one another’s convictions a Sabbath school was organized, and later a church. Now a number of that company are workers in the cause of present truth.”
Read the “Signs”—Twelve in the Truth
“Last summer a man came fifteen miles to attend one of our meetings, and on inquiry I found he had been reading the Signs sent to him by some unknown person. He was in perfect harmony with the truth. He invited us to hold meetings in his home. We did, and left twelve rejoicing in the truth.”
Club of Five “Signs”—Six Accepted the Truth
“A sister has been sending out a club of five Signs for the past year, together with tracts, and has lent some books. The result thus far is that a family of six have accepted the truth, and are preparing to unite with us. These are the first-fruits. Do you suppose that sister regrets paying out $6.25 for the papers for the year, when she can see six souls saved for the kingdom of God?”
A Piece of the “Signs” Left in House
“A sister and her husband moved into a house where a piece of the Signs had been left. On that the REVIEW was advertised, and they subscribed for the papers. They read them for a year, and then accepted the truth, but did not meet any of our people till some time afterward.”
Part of a Page of the “Signs”
“One of the elders of a leading church in northern Missouri learned the truth over thirty years ago through the Signs. He was a young man and had run away from home. None of his people were Christians; but he felt a desire for a better life, so went to California. One day he found a part of a page of the Signs, containing a portion of an article on the Sabbath question by Sister White. He read it, subscribed for the paper, accepted the truth, went to camp meeting, and was baptized. That little scrap of paper, blown hither and yon, and run over by machinery, was always under the eye of him who reads the hearts of men, and was the means of bringing this man to Christ.”
Here are given instances of how the Signs of the Times has been used by the Lord for thirty years, right up to the present time, to bring people to the truth, in this country and in others.
The papers reach the people in various ways—through the mails, being left in railroad stations, sold on the streets, left in houses, and even torn pages being picked up from the roads. Surely this is a medium through which we may each have a part in winning souls.
Let us each take our two copies weekly of the special Home Missionary series of the Signs of the Times beginning October 1, and ask the Lord to direct us in using them.
E. M. GRAHAM.
One Great Call of the Hour
By W. W. E.
ONE great need of the hour is for men and women called by God and wholly consecrated to him, to give their entire time to the circulation of our books and magazines. Please note carefully this quotation from the spirit of prophecy: “The press is a power; but if its products fall dead for want of men to circulate them widely, its power is lost.”
How true it is that the power of the press is lost when its products are not circulated. From the beginning of this advent movement, the Lord has, in his providence, connected the publishing work with it in a prominent way. From a very small beginning it has steadily grown until now we have what seems to us, at least, a very large work in both the production and the circulation of our literature. And none of us doubt the mighty influence this divine agency has wielded in bringing the movement to its present proportions.
But our work is not finished. Indeed, we are just now coming to the hottest of the conflict with the powers of darkness. Superhuman effort has been and is being put forth to keep the people in darkness. Every conceivable devise has been invented by the great enemy of souls to occupy their attention. Many never attend religious gatherings at all, and a large class of those who do, through loyalty to their particular creed, will not attend a gospel service where they can hear God’s special message for the people of this generation. Yet they must be reached. Thousands of both these classes have been and are being reached by the printed page through the evangelistic colporteur.
The students from our schools are doing a good work in this line during their summer vacation. But the season in which they have to work is altogether too short for the needs of the hour. This work must be carried forward in a strong way during the fall, winter, and spring months, as well as in the summer.
In every climate it has been and is being demonstrated that the books containing present truth can be successfully sold at all seasons of the year. In the extreme northern part of Minnesota I met a brother last winter who took over four hundred dollars’ worth of orders for our large books during the month of January, and that in a very difficult part of the field. Recently I met a brother in Ontario, who eighteen years ago left his farm at the call of God to enter this work, and has with unabating zeal continued winter and summer to the present time. I heard him state publicly that he had never yet seen a day too cold for his house-to-house work. In that northern climate during all these years he has never lost any time on account of weather conditions, his sales averaging $1,800 to $2,000 a year.
Some whom God has in the past called to this work have not continued in it. Read carefully the following instruction from the servant of the Lord:—
“A great and important work is before us. The enemy of souls realizes this, and he is using every means in his power to lead the canvassers to take up some other line of work. This order of things should be changed. God calls the canvassers back to their work.”
God is calling for those whom he has in the past called to this work but who are not now engaged in it, to reenter it. Not only is he calling for this class to return to the work, but “he calls for volunteers who will put all their energies and enlightenment into the work. . . . Who will respond to the call? Who will go forth to labor in the wisdom and grace and love of Christ for those nigh and afar off? Who will sacrifice ease and pleasure and enter the places of error, superstition, and darkness, working earnestly and perseveringly, speaking the truth in simplicity, praying in faith, and doing house-to-house labor?”
“Let all who labor effectually in the canvassing field feel in their hearts that they are doing the work of the Lord in ministering to souls who know not the truth for this time. They are sounding the note of warning in the highways and byways to prepare a people for the great day of the Lord which is so soon to break upon the world. We have no time to lose. We must encourage this work. Who will go forth now with our publications? The Lord imparts a fitness for the work to every man and woman who will cooperate with divine power. All the requisite talent, courage, perseverance, faith, and tact will come as they put the armor on. A great work is to be done in our world, and human agencies will surely respond to the demand. The world must hear the warning. When the call comes, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ send back the answer, clear and distinct, ‘Here am I; send me.’”
We know there are many among us with small families or with no families at all who could, by consecrating their lives17wholly to God and faithfully devoting their time and energies to evangelistic canvassing, accomplish much toward finishing the work and thus hastening the end.
Please read again the words quoted in this article, and ask yourself seriously if they do not mean you. Surely these earnest words ought to meet with a response to this important call of the hour.
W. W. E.
Publishing Department
By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman
N. Z. TOWN — General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN — N. Am. Div. Secretary
Wide-Open Doors in the Canvassing Fields
By Walter Harper
I CAN report only courage and good cheer. I am full of joy and hope in this grand, glorious work of placing our good books in the homes. I see so many tokens of God’s loving care and remarkable answers to prayer that time fails me to enumerate them all. Ps. 40: 5; 98: 1; 105: 1-5; 145: 7. May a host be won for the Saviour, to adorn his glorious courts above and sing his praises for all eternity, as a result of these pages circulated, followed by our good missionary papers.
Having left home at the Loma Linda (Cal.) Sanitarium, on April 5, for Goldfield and Tonopah, Nev., I have been busy ever since. In about eight weeks’ canvassing I was blessed by the Lord with between eleven and twelve hundred dollars’ worth of orders for books, helps, etc., including those for the relief edition of “Ministry of Healing,” for Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists. All honor to the Lord for it all; for all is of his bountiful hand. All is of his heart of love; for he is love. 1 John 4: 8, 16. I have been delivering for nearly one month, and have filled from seven to eight hundred dollars’ worth of orders. My delivery will take about three weeks more, and I hope it will total ten to eleven hundred dollars. How gracious God is to us all!
Dear brethren and sisters, pray the Lord of the harvest to abundantly water this seed sown. Rom. 15: 30. O, I see so much to do—open doors on every hand in Nevada, California, Arizona, and other States! I cannot get around to do it all. O, where are the laborers? Fields are white unto the harvest here; also in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina,—room for an army of God’s messengers, the canvassers.
WALTER HARPER.
The Book Work
By W. H. George
WE are all glad to see the good reports from the faithful colporteurs in the field. Mr. Spurgeon said, “There is no calling or occupation more beneficial to mankind than the business of selling good books.” Mr. Gladstone said, “The greatest benefactor is the man who sells good books.” Mr. Talmage said, “I always feel like lifting my hat to the book agent because he is doing more good than I can ever hope to do.” These eminent men, who were leaders in their day, recognized the need of placing good books in the homes. Education makes society what it is today. Minds are trained either for or against truth by what they feed upon.
We live in a time when the world is filled with violence and crime. It was Mr. Webster who said, “If we work on minds and imbue them with right principles, we build monuments that will not decay, but grow higher and broader with the roll of age, and brighten in all eternity.” The mind is molded according to the suggestion given in what we read.
A few days ago the writer saw a lad upon a bicycle clad in the garb of an Indian. The front of his trousers, from waist to feet, was covered with sheepskin with the wool on it, a colored handkerchief was about his neck, a wide hat on his head, and a large toy pistol in his right hand. He was riding fast in the street and going through the form of shooting right and left. One could very quickly decide what that lad had been reading. It was taking effect very soon in his life.
There never was an age in the history of this world when such books as are produced by our publishers, were so much needed as now; and those who see the value of this work are spoken of in the Bible in a manner that should make a very strong impression on the minds of all. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchman shall lift up the voice.” Isa. 52:7, 8. It is a voice of warning and reproof that is heard. It is the feet of the colporteurs that press the mountains and out-of-the-way places of the earth. But they are willing to go. And the Lord not only calls them beautiful, but crowns their efforts with success, and gives them souls for their hire.
W. H. GEORGE.
The Canvassing Work in South Africa
By G. H. Clark
WE are glad to report progress in this far-away land. While the white population here is only two and one-half millions (about the same as in New Jersey, U. S. A.), the territory is more than one thousand miles long and seven hundred miles wide.
The Lord has blessed and is still blessing this “missionary work of the highest order,” for which we are truly grateful to him. Although we have passed through some trying experiences, there has never been one moment since coming here that I have been discouraged. Praise the Lord! Of late he has drawn me closer to himself than ever before. His love is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto me. The Comforter has come to abide forever, and he has given me victory in every difficulty and conflict. I am finding that his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. My greatest desire is to become more and more like Christ, and to be used in saving and edifying many others, for whom he died.
The following people are represented by our force of canvassers: the English, American, Scotch, Irish, Jewish, Scandinavian, Dutch, and German, and the native.18The Lord has united our hearts so that perfect harmony prevails among us. The desire to save souls is growing stronger and stronger. We have pledged ourselves to reach others, with God's help.
One of our brethren made the following record: In eight and one-half days he secured $477.90 worth of orders for “Great Controversy.” During the past eleven weeks he has secured $1,413.22 worth of orders and delivered $763.02 worth of books; and since he began canvassing forty-three months ago, he has actually delivered an average of $173.70 worth each month, or a total of $7,616.56 worth.
Another brother has delivered during the past four and one-half years $5,962.86 worth, while the total deliveries of books and sales of papers in this field for the four and three-fourths years have been about $65,000 worth.
Fifteen hundred and eighty dollars' worth of native literature has been sold during the past year to natives in the Johannesburg mines. The light contained in these different books and pamphlets will be scattered among many thousands, and will, we hope, open many blind eyes. A permanent laborer has been secured for this work, and native literature is being prepared in order to advance this long-neglected work.
Steps are now being taken to secure men and vehicles for doing country work among the many scattered farmers within our borders. The drought has affected them for several years, but we must not cease our efforts, whatever may be the hindrance.
We are glad to have such a stanch friend and supporter of the canvassing work in Elder W. B. White, our new union conference president, and we expect the work will take advance steps under his wise and aggressive leadership.
Brethren and sisters, the end is near. Jesus is soon coming. I wish to join you in the Lord in finishing the work in this generation. G. H. CLARK.
Selling Books in Cuba
By H. A. B. Robinson
I AM sure that every reader of the good old REVIEW would be glad to know of our latest success here in Cuba in the colporteur work, and so I wish to tell a little of it.
Henry Brown, who recently arrived from the Foreign Mission Seminary, has just made another record for Cuba, taking $329 worth of orders in one week for “Patriarchs and Prophets,” Spanish.
As soon as he reached Havana, he went directly to Matanzas, the city to which he had been assigned. I met him there the same day, and helped him some in getting a start. His first report was $44 for six hours’ work. Then he got to work in earnest and secured the names of the best men he could find in the city, including the governor, the treasurer of state, the mayor, several bankers, and a long list of schoolteachers. He put in forty-nine hours that week, taking 109 orders, valued at $329.
We have counted up and find that we have just about $1,500 worth of “Patriarchs and Prophets” in the office, and Brother Brown has promised to dispose of all of them before he leaves Cuba this summer. Last week he took orders amounting to $236, and this week they amounted to $286, making a total of almost $900 worth of orders which he has taken since coming to the island.
When we remember Brother Brown’s experience with the student mob in Santa Clara last year, his $600 delivery in the face of advertisements against him and his book, the fact that he has already earned three scholarships in Cuba, and his good experiences in Mexico, even selling two of our books to Venustiano Carranza, the present head of the rebel forces in that republic, we have faith that he will do good work here this summer. I trust all who read this will join us in praying that Brother Brown may have good success in his deliveries in August, and that a harvest of souls may some day be gathered in Matanzas as a result of his faithful work.
H. A. B. ROBINSON,
General Agent.
Cuba
By A. N. Allen
THE work in this island is still onward. Gradually we are getting our workers established in the more important cities, while the bookmen are literally covering the field. Elder and Mrs. J. E. Anderson are now established in Havana; Mrs. Burgos is doing Bible work in Santiago de Cuba; Elder and Mrs. H. C. Goodrich are in Nueva Gerona, Isle of Pines; and with the help of some others I hope to be able to look after the work in the cities of the center of Cuba. While there are many large cities still unoccupied, we now have our few workers in large centers, and we hope to have more ministers and Bible workers as the work develops.
Emsley Williams, who came to us from Jamaica in February, not knowing a word of Spanish, delivered sixty “Coming King” in one week. This shows how easily the Spanish language may be acquired by one who applies himself. Henry Brown, from the Washington Seminary, secured $329 worth of orders for “Patriarchs and Prophets” the first week he was in Cuba this season. Now that we are placing so many religious books in the homes of the people, we hope to see a corresponding growth in members. Never before have the workers in Spanish fields been so well armed with message-filled books as now. We are most grateful to our publishing houses that have given us of late “Great Controversy,” Elder Conradi’s book on “Daniel and the Revelation,” and “Practical Guide.” May God move many strong bookmen to labor in the Spanish fields. With these books and the excellent Spanish missionary papers, we certainly shall be without excuse if we do not build up strong churches in these Spanish fields.
I am glad to say that my family is now with me. Mrs. Allen was in the American Hospital at Ancon, Panama, during the month of May. Since returning she has continued to gain in strength. We are very grateful to God for his loving care, and are glad we were not obliged to leave the field, as it seemed for a time we might be compelled to do. Pray for the work in Cuba. A. N. ALLEN.
Home Missionary Experiences
By E. M. Graham
Does One Good to Work for Others
“I SHALL try to tell you a little of my experience. The first thing I wish to say is that it does my own soul good to work for others. I had never felt the burden of working for lost souls as I have during the last few months. I do most of my work by mail, sending a paper and writing a good missionary letter. I put my solicitor’s card in the letter, and it comes back with anywhere from twenty cents to a dollar. None have given less than twenty cents. I gathered in about eight dollars last year for the Harvest Ingathering work, and want to do more this year. I love the message, and hope to live to see it close in victory.”
Decided to Write a Letter
A sister says: “The Lord has greatly blessed my efforts, especially for one soul. When I was out to gather means for the foreign missions in the Harvest Ingathering work, I met a woman who seemed anxious to learn. We became friends in a few minutes. When I returned home, I decided to write to her. In doing so I told her of the great closing work that the money being collected was doing, and how the Lord had said, ‘This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ I told her we should then meet Jesus, and if we had been true and obedient, we should have a home in his kingdom. In less than a week, an answer came. She was anxious to learn, and asked me to help her. I wrote again, sending her a tract on the subject of the new earth. Later I sent her ‘Steps to Christ,’ which she writes she is enjoying very much. She ordered four copies to give to friends and relatives, so the blessing is spreading. She is also reading the book to her family. I shall do all I can to help her accept the truth.”
We never know the results of our feeble efforts. God can richly bless them; and as one little wave of blessing is started, it starts many other little waves.
E. M. GRAHAM.
The Need of Church-School Teachers
By F. G.
FROM nearly every union conference there comes an imploring call for church-school teachers. One union conference secretary says that he should have fifteen more than he now has to meet the urgent demands.
This need must be supplied. Our young people who are looking forward to the educational work must not feel that the church school work is not a high and important calling. There is no larger field of endeavor in the line of teaching than molding and educating the mind of the child. The world's greatest educators have ever emphasized this. Froebel's maxim, “Come let us live with our children,” expresses the sentiment of all the greatest teachers of all time. Christ himself emphasized the importance of the teaching of the children.
Our church schools must be placed on vantage ground. They must be given facilities that will command the highest respect from all. They must be supplied with teachers of learning, culture, and high spirituality. We should have scores, yes, hundreds, of men and women who have completed college courses in charge of these schools. They should enter upon this work as a life work. Our church schools have a very important part to play in the saving of our children, and we cannot emphasize too highly the value of a sufficient number of well-educated men and women who are consecrated to this work.
Let our church school work prosper.
F. G.
Educational Notes
By F. G.
A FEW items gleaned from our correspondence will, I am sure, be of interest to our educational workers, and indeed to all who are concerned about our children and young people and the development of our school work. From H. M. Hiatt, educational secretary, Minnesota Conference:—
“We are endeavoring to place our educational work on a systematic and firm basis: First, by putting Christian Education in each home as a foundation on which to build; second, by establishing our work upon solid ground financially. During the past year we have raised the number of our church schools from six to fourteen or fifteen. Twelve are now thoroughly organized for the coming year, and three have the organization of their work practically effected. Two new schoolhouses, for which we have raised the money, are now in process of building. We are having them thoroughly constructed so that they will, in every respect, meet the requirement of the State law for such buildings. We are raising a fund with which to assist the weaker schools. This fund is receiving a welcome from all our people, who are contributing liberally. We are working definitely along the following lines:—
“1. Locate schools in various parts of the State, one wherever there are sufficient children for a school to be organized.
“2. Build schoolhouses or rent schoolrooms so as to meet every legal and educational requirement, equipping them all with the best modern helps for teachers.
“3. Make these schools permanent by systematically ‘feeding’ them or building them up by assisting new families with a number of children, to move in and take the place of those who may leave the school.
“4. Educate and develop teachers who plan to make teaching their life work, who love children, and are especially gifted in teaching, training, and governing them.
“5. Gradually develop manual training, which will enable boys to learn the use of simple tools and girls to perform the essential duties of the home.
“6. Assist the weaker schools by a general fund to be raised throughout the conference from donations by those who love the Lord and desire to see his instruction carried out.
“We are determined by God’s help to push these lines of advancement with all our strength; for we believe they will revolutionize the educational work in this conference and place our church schools upon a permanent basis.”
From M. M. Hare, principal Maplewood Academy, Minnesota:—19
“The prospects at present are for a full school. We are seeking to draw that class of students who have a real purpose to do their best at all times. We are making extensive repairs in and around our buildings.”
From J. H. Schilling, president Clinton German Seminary:—
“According to all appearances we shall have a better attendance this coming year than we have ever had in the history of the school. We look for from between one hundred and fifty and two hundred students. A splendid feeling prevails in this territory regarding our school work.”
From C. W. Irwin, president Pacific Union College:—
“I am pleased to say that the outlook for our school work was never better. We are improving our room facilities as rapidly as possible so as to accommodate as many as we can. All the rooms in our girls’ dormitory except two are now engaged for the coming school year, and this is true of our boys’ dormitory. We are building six cottages for the accommodation of married students or families. We have four of this number already rented, and others are applying for cottages. We are drawing off our balance sheet for the past year, and it will show a gain on running expenses of the school of between two and three thousand dollars.”
F. G.
Educational Department
By J. L. SHAW; F. GRIGGS; W. E. HOWELL
J. L. SHAW — General SecretaryF. GRIGGS — N. Am. Div. SecretaryW. E. HOWELL — N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary
The Christian's Guerdon
By Worthie Harris Holden
WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
HOPE is the Christian’s guerdon, steadfast,
sure,
That cannot fail;
It pierces through earth’s mists to anchor
fast
Within the veil,
And pledges e’en the throne and majesty
Of God in heaven,
For thoughts of peace and blest security
To mortals given.
Hope yields the sunshine for the darksome
day
When life is sad;
It lifts the burdens of the toilsome way
And bids, “Be glad!”
Hope wreaths the mourner with a hallowed
calm
To quell his grief;
It binds the wounded, bleeding heart
And brings relief.
Thou Hope incarnate, born of heaven, im-
bued
In finite man,
Thy power hath waged its battle with
despair
Since sin began.
O, urge us ever onward, till we reach
The kingdom given,
Full ushered to immortal bliss and joy
Of home and heaven!
An Appeal to Parents
By W. E. H.
YOU have been reading the press accounts of the conflict of arms in Europe. You have noted how millions of men are marshaling for war. Already they are marching into the jaws of death, undaunted by the cannon's awful roar in their very faces. You know that each of these men is somebody's son. You picture mother and wife peering out through the lattice, like the mother of Sisera of old, and crying with anxious heart, “Is it well with my son, with my husband?” You read perhaps of the Belgian mother who was willing her son should die if only he first killed three Germans. You recall the Spartan mother who, on the eve of battle, gave her son a shield, saying, “Return with it, or upon it.”
“Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” You who read this appeal belong to the “we.” It is not an untimely thing for me to ask, How far are you willing to go that your son and your daughter may obtain an incorruptible crown? How earnestly do you desire them to have a part in helping others to win such a crown? What bearing on these questions has the attendance of your children at one of our schools?
As nearly as we can learn, about half our own children of school age are yet in the secular schools. In which half are yours? Why does Germany appear the best prepared of nations in the present European conflict?—Because of the vigorous and universal training of her young men in times of peace. Suppose she had trained only half of them herself, and left the other half to be trained in France? (The French school at St. Cyr has an international reputation.) O, you say, but France instills into her cadets a spirit of enmity toward Germany. Exactly; you have the point. Germany has tactics of her own, and a spirit of her own with which she wishes to imbue her young men. She will not let out their training to strangers to the imperiling of the aim of the Vaterland.
Why Halt Ye Between Two Opinions?
If Seventh-day Adventists have any specific work of their own to do in the world, they also have working policies of their own, and a distinct spirit of their own—the spirit of the last warning message—which must be inculcated in those who are preparing to bear responsibility. More than that, they need all their young men and women enlisted and in training to meet the demands of this cause. And they need all the educational resources that all the people can muster, in order to accomplish this preparation.
If you have been content heretofore to allow your son or daughter to attend a school whose aims and spirit are alien to the Seventh-day Adventist cause, are you willing, in the light of world events today, to continue this practice? We do not know how much time there is left in which to educate our children and to sound the last message. We do know that the time is growing very short. We may have to do in times of trouble what we might have done in times of peace. One thing at least seems clear: you cannot afford to halt longer between two opinions in the education of your children. You cannot afford it for your children's sake; you cannot afford it for the work's sake. Many parents have already found this out, and are rejoicing in the results of their decision to identify themselves fully with this advent people.
In the present world crisis, all the peoples of the earth are taking their stand on one side or the other; it is a political and economic necessity. How long shall Seventh-day Adventists halt between two opinions in the school question?