p. 16 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 13. (3/9/1916)

The Bible Year

Assignment for March 12 to 18

March 12: Joshua 11 to 13. March 13: Joshua 14 to 17. March 14: Joshua 18 to 21. March 15: Joshua 22 to 24. March 16: Judges 1 to 5. March 17: Judges 6 to 8. March 18: Judges 9 to 12.

For Supplementary Study

After completing the reading of the book of Joshua, outline it under the following heads: Conquest, Assignment of Lands, Joshua's Farewell.

A large number of cities and towns are mentioned in this book. Make a list of them, and see how many you can locate on the map.

The Bible a Treasure

“The Bible is a treasure. It contains enough to make us rich for time and eternity. It contains the secret of happy living. It contains the key of heaven. It contains the title deeds of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away. It contains the pearl of great price. Nay, in so far as it reveals them, . . . it contains the Saviour and the living God himself.”—James Hamilton.

“The Bible is the treasure of the poor, the solace of the sick, and the support of the dying; and while other books may amuse and instruct in a leisure hour, it is the peculiar triumph of that book to create light in the midst of darkness, to alleviate the sorrow which admits of no other alleviation, to direct a beam of hope to the heart which no other topic of consolation can reach; while guilt, despair, and death vanish at the touch of its holy inspiration.”—Robert Hall.

Joshua—the Man

Joshua, “born a slave in the brick-fields of Egypt,” and chosen by divine appointment to succeed Moses as leader of Israel, was about forty years old at the time of the exodus. By his long and intimate association with Moses, by his faithfulness and loyalty in times of stress and trial, by his courage in war and his wise counsel in peace, and by his implicit confidence in God and obedience to his commands, Joshua was peculiarly fitted to take up the great work to which he was called.

The name Joshua was originally Hoshea, meaning salvation; or Jehoshua, God's salvation. “According to the modifications which Hebrew names underwent in their passage through the Greek language, this took, in later years of the Jewish church, sometimes the form of Jason, but more frequently that of Jesus.”—Stanley.

Joshua was a type of Christ. “Jesus of the Old Testament brought ancient Israel into the typical Land of Promise. Jesus of the New Testament is yet to bring his people into the real Land of Promise, the eternal rest in the kingdom of God.”—Starr.

“God buries his workmen, but carries on his work.” The period of mourning in the plains of Moab was more than a formal matter with Israel. “Never,” says Dean Stanley, “could there have been such a blank in the history of the chosen people as when they became conscious that he who had been their leader, their lawgiver, their oracle, as far back as their memory could reach, was taken from them at the very moment when they seemed most to need him.” Moses was dead; but the real Leader of Israel “ever liveth.” It was his power, not the mantle of the human Moses, that came upon the quiet, loyal, brave-hearted Joshua, and enabled him to lead Israel into Canaan, and leave that land in their possession when his work was ended. Joshua was always ready for service; and “success is readiness for occasions.”

Some traces of the deeds of Joshua are found in the fragments preserved to us in the clay tablets that have come down from that early day, in inscriptions on monuments, etc. One writer mentions a “Phenician inscription found near the city of Tingis, the sense of which is thus given: ‘We are those who fled before the face of Joshua the robber, the son of Nun.’” By a king of Armenia Minor he was called “the murderous wolf,” and by another writer “the evening wolf.” Thus Joshua was called by his enemies. In later years the Jews chose a robber for release rather than Jesus.

The Judges

“Since the departure from Egypt the Israelites had been under the leadership of two remarkable men, Moses and Joshua. The tribes had acted as one army. Common dangers and objects had made their interests one. Now the great leaders are dead. The tribes are scattered over the land; their foes, their interests, their cares, are different. They have no king, no common master. Hence, as occasion requires or danger arises in this or that quarter, a judge is raised up to lead the people until the trouble is over.”—Sell.

“The judges were temporary and special deliverers, sent by God to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors; not supreme magistrates, succeeding to the authority of Moses and Joshua. Their power extended only over portions of the country, and some of them were contemporaneous. Their first work was that of deliverers and leaders in war; they then administered justice to the people, and their authority supplied the want of a regular government.”—Peloubet.

The Book of Judges

This is the second of the historical books, and takes its name from the class of men whose deeds it recounts. The story of thirteen of the fifteen judges of Israel is told in this book; and though the chronology of this period is beset with difficulties, it seems to be agreed that the time covered is about three hundred years. The authorship of the book is uncertain. “Jewish tradition ascribes it to Samuel, although portions belong to earlier times, and a few references must have been incorporated later.” But whoever the author, it is evident that he had a well-defined plan in mind. His object was to show that “the only way to happiness was to shun idolatry and obey the commandments of the Lord.” The sins of the people are plainly set

forth, and no attempt is made to excuse or hide them.

The book is “a series of striking historical pictures, portrayed with a painstaking fidelity. They reveal the condition of the country, the people, and the times. They show the conflicts of the nation with itself and its Canaanitish neighbors, when there was no king in the land. We find here the record of the faithfulness, the righteousness, and the mercy, of God.”—Sell.

Missionary Volunteer Department

M. E. KERN — Secretary MATILDA ERICKSON — Assistant Secretary MRS. I. H. EVANS — Office Secretary MAUDE B. McGUIRE C. L. BENSON — Field Secretaries J. E. SIMON

“A Little Child Shall Lead Them”

By J. L. McCONAUGHEY

Some Experiences

In “Testimonies for the Church,” we find the following:—

“As the children sang in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord,’ so in these last days, children’s voices will be raised to give the last message of warning to a perishing world. When heavenly intelligences see that men are no longer permitted to present the truth, the Spirit of God will come upon the children, and they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.”—Vol. VI, pp. 202, 203.

When the children begin to take up the work of proclaiming the message, it will be another sign, added to the many that have already appeared, that we are rapidly nearing the end of all things. How careful should parents be in the conduct of the home and the training of their children! This quotation says that some children of Seventh-day Adventist parents will go out and proclaim the gospel to the world. It will be easier for them to do it than for older workers.

But we need not wait longer. Already the children are beginning to go out and do their part in spreading this message. A number are doing a noble work in the distribution of literature. Many are being trained to sell our publications, especially our periodicals, and are entering into this work as real missionaries, with a spirit of consecration.

The circulation of our magazines has opened a broad field of endeavor for all our people,—men, women, boys, and girls. Interesting stories could be told of the experiences of our brethren and sisters who are engaged in the sale of our magazines; but it is my purpose to call your attention to the work that is being done by children in the sale of our magazines.

In Louisville, Ky., lives an eleven-year-old girl who has been selling our magazines ever since she was six years old. Her father and mother have a great love for this message, and are actively engaged in our colporteur work; and being reared in such an atmosphere, this girl has a missionary spirit. For several years she has been going out with her mother and selling our magazines. She is very enthusiastic about her work, and always makes it clear to her prospective customers that she is engaged in missionary work. She explains about her paper, and does not care to sell it unless she feels her customer is buying because he is interested in what she tells him about it. When she was nine years old, she sold sixty-two magazines in one hour, and just a few days ago made another record by selling forty-five copies of the Watchman in forty-five minutes. Who can tell the amount of good this little girl is doing in her sweet, simple way? Who doubts that she is getting these truth-filled magazines into the hands of many who would not otherwise buy?

Five Interested Readers

I wish to quote a portion of a letter I received a few days ago from a thirteen-year-old girl in Idaho. It is given just as she wrote it:—

“I only sell in the business district. There are five different persons who are interested very much, four of whom I am expecting to see take their stand for the truth any time. The other is a man who said he would be at prayer meeting tonight. Of course there are many more, but these seem to be especially interested.

“I was thirteen years old the eighteenth of November, and have sold magazines for nearly seven years. The first year I started out was one Fair week, and on Children’s Day, when my sister had some magazines that the church had given her to distribute. I asked mamma if I couldn’t sell them, and she said, ‘Yes.’ She then took me across the street, and I was to sell down to Thirteenth St. as there was a car track there; then mamma would take me to the other side, doing the same thing, and when I would get through I would call and she would come and get me. The first business place I sold in was a hotel. I had such good luck that I just kept it up.”

I wonder if it is mere “luck” this little girl has had? Do you think it is just luck that she now has four persons ready to take their stand for the truth, and several others interested? Here is a faithful little Watchman agent, who has worked for seven years with our magazines, and who at the age of thirteen is beginning to see some of the results of her labors.

Sells to a Catholic Sister

The girls do not do it all, though. The boys are becoming interested, too. One boy thirteen years old, who sells the Watchman regularly every month, writes me one of his experiences as follows:—

“I was out Sunday and had some good experiences. I sold a magazine to a Catholic sister, and she gave me twenty-five cents for it. I did not know that it was the place where the sisters stay.”

“At first I was rather discouraged, but I prayed to the Lord, and he answered my prayers; for after that I had good experiences. I think Satan was just buffeting me to do wrong; but praise the dear Lord, I overcame him, and I hope that I always will.”

This young brother has set his aim to sell a thousand copies of the Watchman during 1916.

About the first of the year I received a letter from a boy aged twelve years. He wrote as follows:—

“I have received two letters from you, and one postal card, since November 23. The first one asked that I order fifty copies of the Watchman, January number. So I at once ordered fifty, which are very nice and sell well. I was glad to see that the motto is, ‘Constantly striving to make our best better.’ I am a twelve-year-old boy, so cannot do much, . . . but thought I would do my best, and aim to sell a thousand this year. I can sell twenty-five on Sundays, and there are fifty-two of them; so I am planning on good service.”

These two boys are doing a good work by selling the Watchman on Sundays. This is a day when they find most of the people at home and in a reading mood. Let us remember them in our prayers, that they may be guided aright and be faithful in their work, and with the help of the Watchman, may see as good results from their work as has the girl in Idaho.

The Saviour said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” When our children show a desire

to have a part in the proclamation of this message, they should be encouraged to do what they can. One of the easiest ways for children to get experiences in doing real, live missionary work, one that will be of greatest encouragement to them, is through the sale of our magazines. Other instances might be cited where children are selling the Watchman.

Care should be taken by the parents when starting their children out; but when the influence is right in the home and the children are taught and trained in missionary work by precept and example, great good will result from their efforts, and “they will do a work in the proclamation of the truth which the older workers cannot do, because their way will be hedged up.” When we pray for the work and workers in this great cause, let us not forget that even the children are beginning to bear responsibilities in this work, and that they need our prayers in their behalf.

J. L. McCONAUGHEY.

Home Missionary Department

E. M. GRAHAM - - - General Secretary

F. W. PAAP - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

Colporteurs’ Summary for January, 1916

Books Periodicals UNIONS AGTS. HRS. VALUE VALUE NO. COP. VALUE VALUE 1916 1915 1916 1915

ATLANTIC Maine 7 272 $210.35 $277.80 160 $16.00 $149.30 N. New England 3 300 132.85 190.25 2139 213.90 35.80 Massachusetts 12 754 705.54 780.26 5391 539.10 317.40 S. New England 3 270 336.50 125.25 885 88.50 27.00 E. New York 11 761 749.80 171.80 2245 224.50 154.50 W. New York 4 300 248.75 548.85 1040 104.00 233.00 Greater New York 10 424 559.65 437.19 2580 258.00 391.00 Totals 50 3081 2943.54 2531.40 14440 1444.00 1308.00

COLUMBIA Ohio 29 1825 1797.65 745.93 2614 261.40 352.60 Chesapeake 8 682 1061.10 1385.15 875 87.50 45.00 Virginia 5 372 416.20 311.95 560 56.00 207.50 W. Pennsylvania 8 465 548.85 466.55 1385 138.50 68.00 E. Pennsylvania 5 621 531.25 561.65 1490 149.00 111.50 W. Virginia 10 723 904.65 1310.80 1085 108.50 85.00 New Jersey 3 191 134.45 175.75 7103 710.30 95.90 Dist. of Columbia 7 400 1043.65 306.60 911 91.10 458.90 Totals 75 5279 6437.53 5264.38 16023 1602.30 1442.40

LAKE E. Michigan 10 676 622.40 711.75 6555 655.50 329.00 W. Michigan 10 868 764.75 757.95 5348 534.80 105.50 N. Michigan 6 298 186.50 60.85 582 58.20 47.50 Wisconsin 4 233 316.20 360.30 960 96.00 167.50 N. Illinois 7 468 318.80 276.30 2492 249.20 415.50 S. Illinois 15 1038 1206.34 806.95 211 21.10 30.50 Indiana 12 736 403.00 1135.70 5249 524.90 85.30 Totals 64 4317 3817.99 4109.80 21397 2139.70 1180.80

EASTERN CANADIAN Ontario 1 … 275.85 298.00 1341 134.10 281.80 Quebec 1 … 6.20 18.30 76 7.60 16.00 Maritime 1 … 124.70 39.70 200 20.00 60.00 Newfoundland … … 13.50 …. …. …. …. Total 2 … 420.25 356.00 1617 161.70 357.80

SOUTHERN Louisiana .. … 245.15 560.75 375 37.50 104.00 Alabama .. … 58.50 136.35 925 92.50 61.50 Kentucky 10 654 867.70 630.90 235 23.50 80.00 Mississippi 5 139 205.60 157.45 795 79.50 42.40 Tennessee River 7 619 350.90 511.75 858 85.80 219.00 Totals 22 1412 1727.85 1997.20 3188 318.80 506.90

SOUTHEASTERN Cumberland 8 450 492.00 432.45 835 83.50 150.00 Georgia 7 230 407.85 819.95 727 72.70 108.00 North Carolina 8 632 1003.30 370.10 595 59.50 88.50 South Carolina 6 527 895.65 377.67 360 36.00 91.70 Florida 8 536 1061.65 615.00 395 39.50 166.00 Totals 37 2375 3860.45 2555.17 2912 291.20 604.20

SOUTHWESTERN Arkansas 6 139 150.55 61.60 44 4.50 19.50 Oklahoma 9 120 85.80 293.15 452 45.20 114.70 N. Texas 5 175 214.45 33.00 594 59.40 87.40 W. Texas 3 199 315.20 46.55 25 2.50 25.00 S. Texas 10 930 1679.35 203.55 2435 243.50 90.50 N. Mexico 4 74 48.00 401.10 50 5.00 16.50 Totals 36 1637 2493.35 1038.95 3600 360.00 353.60

CENTRAL Missouri 8 927 703.10 776.67 7542 754.20 83.50 Colorado 4 355 464.00 660.70 633 63.30 143.00 Nebraska 5 669 588.70 610.43 5312 531.20 88.00 Wyoming 1 74 84.75 128.90 95 9.50 10.50 Kansas 12 1074 1022.25 728.70 1174 117.40 178.00 Totals 30 3099 2862.80 2905.40 14756 1475.60 503.90

NORTHERN Iowa 6 194 152.02 … 3036 303.60 401.00 Minnesota 4 302 297.50 258.95 6552 655.20 809.00 North Dakota .. … … 60.00 355 35.50 106.50 South Dakota 2 74 50.90 44.25 1044 104.40 83.00 Totals 12 570 600.42 363.20 10987 1098.70 1390.50

PACIFIC Cen. California 2 146 128.45 173.45 1480 148.00 102.00 California 2 143 247.00 … 8420 842.00 356.20 N. California 6 260 314.90 121.00 165 16.50 55.00

N. W. California 2 199 $200.95 $….. ….. $….. $….. S. California 1 32 34.50 611.45 3950 395.00 332.20 S. E. California 1 65 205.00 … … … …. Inter-Mountain 4 421 599.10 272.00 114 11.40 54.00 Arizona 1 50 91.00 61.00 250 25.00 32.50 Totals 19 1316 1820.90 1238.90 14379 1437.90 931.90

NORTH PACIFIC E. Oregon .. … ….. ….. ….. ….. 5.00 W. Washington 3 227 292.50 ….. 1605 160.50 429.00 Upper Columbia .. … ….. 502.50 705 70.50 185.80 W. Oregon .. … ….. 203.75 963 96.30 267.00 S. Oregon .. … 71.50 85.50 135 13.50 29.00 S. Idaho .. … ….. 87.80 671 67.10 37.50 Montana .. … ….. ….. 1491 149.10 98.00 Totals 3 227 364.00 879.55 5570 557.00 1051.30

WESTERN CANADIAN Alberta .. … ….. ….. 711 71.10 75.00 Manitoba .. … ….. ….. 2050 205.00 61.10 British Columbia .. … ….. ….. 595 59.50 51.00 Saskatchewan .. … ….. ….. 600 60.00 109.50 Totals .. … ….. ….. 3956 395.60 296.60 Foreign and miscellaneous 7084 708.40 1877.90 Subscription lists 57198 5719.80 5279.20

FOREIGN, UNION CONFERENCES, AND MISSIONS

Australasian .. 6405 8727.06 7036.37 5234 1771.41 1093.34 British 23 1437 793.36 1015.74 160165 5162.20 4559.35 Scandinavian 73 6276 2314.03 2788.52 3443 227.50 440.48 Latin 9 821 5177.75 1579.43 4162 647.70 154.61 Portugal 1 93 15.84 … 529 12.44 …. W. German 45 5400 2331.63 2159.98 86027 2089.55 2601.38 E. German 46 5224 1805.02 1965.41 69547 1768.49 2426.27 Danube 13 1283 542.14 663.75 … … …. Cen. European 63 6319 2620.03 2429.77 31793 957.75 703.27 South African 3 187 273.42 140.94 74 7.68 …. Levant .. … ….. 22.06 … … …. India 4 249 320.00 … 3481 108.72 …. Korean .. … 37.63 13.05 5443 136.15 126.15 Japan .. … 88.64 33.26 718 188.09 2.56 Philippine Islands 12 … 651.05 817.72 … 208.07 …. Hawaiian 2 50 199.25 … 500 45.00 …. Guatemala 1 71 39.50 … … 9.55 …. Canary Islands 1 79 101.34 28.93 143 25.74 .07 Porto Rican 5 381 238.23 1181.03 … … 201.80 Cuban 14 735 2034.75 471.30 … … 4.25 Jamaica 8 … 431.89 69.27 4000 240.00 120.00 Haitien .. … ….. 287.86 … … …. South American 15 588 858.18 678.89 … 78.70 90.26 Venezuelan .. … ….. 197.35 … … 42.45 Brazilian 53 4481 3568.43 … … … …. Totals, foreign 391 40079 33169.17 23580.63 375259 13774.74 13166.24 Totals, N. Amer. 350 23313 27249.08 23239.95 177107 17710.70 17094.00 Grand totals 741 63392 $60418.25 $46820.59 552366 $31485.44 $30260.24

Comparative Book Summary

1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 Jan. $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88 $59,697.52 $46,778.58 $60,418.25 Feb. 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12 67,149.45 47,943.61 . March 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42 75,962.31 73,414.23 April 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45 85,685.35 78,974.96 May 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,604.01 87,024.10 70,987.69 June 135,888.76 137,838.38 137,373.06 153,480.96 151,199.10 July 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.24 199,116.62 170,546.02 Aug. 91,810.46 103,165.69 111,660.64 105,391.65 118,773.18 Sept. 86,001.72 67,551.70 73,732.14 74,359.96 78,364.70 Oct. 81,367.69 70,210.07 84,015.90 60,357.25 76,102.53 Nov. 67,600.00 77,424.87 73,949.68 57,388.95 69,660.16 Dec. 58,386.24 57,291.91 59,749.92 57,496.17 69,145.88 Totals $976,218.80 $1,017,684.13 $1,049,943.46 $1,083,110.29 $1,088,890.64

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1913 1914 1915 1916 1913 1914 1915 Jan. 177080 152971 170760 177107 July 176772 210040 150880 Feb. 201659 242627 134619 . Aug. 153849 171451 152273 Mar. 166409 224757 341059 Sept. 127017 164860 130465 April. 152088 162027 18,280 Oct. 126557 174182 123027 May 166465 168934 158114 Nov. 100351 142040 98172 June 156550 189897 159635 Dec. 99504 143190 107220 Totals................................................. 1804391 2147976 762048

For two months.

† Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.

The Home Missionary Membership Card

By F. W. Paap

“Let the gospel message ring through our churches, summoning them to universal action.” This is the command of our great Leader, who “demands that every soul who knows the truth shall seek to win others to the love of the truth.”

We have reached the time when a new order of things is due, a time when every latent power in this movement is to become mightily possessed with the Spirit of God, and pressed into service as an instrument of divine power. We have great cause for gratitude, for we are finding it is as our God has said it would be: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” Ps. 110: 3.

This membership card shows the Saviour pointing to the work he has given us to do — soul winning. Our aim is printed on a globe that represents the world which must receive this message. The world stands on a base, on which is the underlying motive of our work — the love of Christ. Work for souls calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice, so the cross appears in the center of the pledge; all who would wear the crown must share in the cross. This card will serve to remind us that we may and should show our love for Christ by leading souls to him.

We want definitely to enlist every believer in this work of saving souls. We believe this membership card will be a great help to the leaders in securing the fullest cooperation of our people in this work. In some instances where the cards have been presented to the missionary society, every member present has signed them. We want all to know that whether they are rich or poor, great or humble, God calls them into active service for him. “But though you may be weak, erring, frail, sinful, and imperfect, the Lord holds out to you the offer of partnership with himself, inviting you to come under divine instruction. Uniting with Christ, you may work the works of God.” —“Appeal,” p. 21.

These membership cards are to be signed by the church members and the local home missionary secretary, who will keep a record of the names of those who have signed, after which the cards

are to be returned to the members to be kept as a constant reminder of their obligations.

With a steadily growing conception of the importance of this home missionary work, we confidently hope to learn of thousands thus definitely enlisting for life in the service of soul saving. Who will voluntarily put on the armor and go forth to the warfare, willing to do and dare for God, knowing that his omnipotence will supply their every need?

F. W. PAAP.

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— Pike’s Peak automobile road is the highest motor road in this country. There is but one higher road in the Western Hemisphere,—a road in Bolivia, which crosses the Andes seventeen thousand feet above the level of the sea. The Pike’s Peak road is ten thousand feet above sea level.

— The Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Railways announced on February 2 that an embargo had been placed on all shipments of rolled oats to the United States. The ruling applies also to oatmeal, breakfast foods, and all special mill products manufactured from oats. According to local mill and railway men, the embargo has been placed by instruction from the Dominion government, and applies to all Canada.

— The Philippine bill, which would extend to the islands a greater degree of self-government and authorize the President to grant them independence within four years, passed the national Senate on February 4 by a vote of fifty-two to twenty-four. Various Democratic Senators, led by Chairman Stone of the Foreign Relations Committee, tried unsuccessfully to obtain amendment of certain features of the independence clause.

— It is reported that the Mexican government, directed by President Carranza, is attempting to establish and develop many new land reforms. A commission made up of carefully selected men has been appointed to develop the plans and put into operation the Carranza land equalization scheme as quickly as possible. This scheme contemplates returning to the government control of all municipal lands taken by private parties during the Diaz régime, and also the lands taken subsequent to the Diaz régime. When this is accomplished, Carranza will proceed to divide the uncultivated lands on an equitable basis. These lands comprise some very large estates in the Mexican republic. It is announced that the soldiers who fought under the Carranza banner will come in for a first share in the distribution of the small farms when all the details are worked out and the plans completed.

— Nation-wide interest is taken in the recent appeal for funds to relieve the Jewish war sufferers, which resulted in securing over a million dollars for these unfortunates. But this is only a step in what leading Jews have in mind for their coreligionists throughout Europe. Already action has been taken to try to secure civil and religious rights to Jews everywhere after the war is ended. The Independent Order of B’nai B’rith, the international Jewish society, is now taking steps to find out from the capitals of Europe the most acceptable methods of having this very important matter presented to the Peace Congress at the close of the war. It will include in its scope, however, not simply Jews, but also the Armenian Christians. It is thought that this will lead eventually to a solution of the vexatious Jewish problem in Europe. The B’nai B’rith has in its membership many of the leading Jews of the United States and also of other countries.

— And now another fond notion is proved to be nothing but fiction. The Sahara is not all sand after all. Who would have thought it? Travelers, having skirted the fringe of it on all sides and seen nothing but sand dunes, came to the conclusion it was nothing but sand from border to border. And the geographers put it down accordingly. But now it turns out through thorough explorations that, while there are 700,000 square miles of sand, the desert also has 2,800,000 square miles of rocky tableland. While much of this rocky surface is as forbidding as the sand wastes, there are other sections that are capable of cultivation. And this can be carried on even among the sands, as was the case near Biskra last year, where, through sinking 800 wells, 1,500,000 date palms were made to bear fruit. It is reported by experts that the date industry may easily be developed along the northern edge of the desert, south of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis.

Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals

JANUARY, 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23; January, 1916, 375,259 copies, value $13,774.74.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman

N. Z. TOWN — General Secretary

W. W. EASTMAN — N. Am. Div. Secretary

Our Summary for January

By W. W. Eastman

WE are glad to be able to start the year with a gain for the first month. By a glance at the comparative book summary, it will be seen that this is the largest gain for January, with one exception, in six years.

It is truly gratifying to note the progress some of the conferences are making in securing a class of colporteurs who do not freeze up in the winter nor dry out in the summer, but continue their God-given work with unabating zeal through heat and cold.

It is encouraging to note that the number of this class of workers in the foreign fields is now greater than in the homeland. This tells with certainty that the messenger with the printed page, bearing the third angel’s message, is widening his circle of influence, and that the honest-hearted of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will soon have heard the glad news of the coming of Jesus. W. W. EASTMAN.

Columbia Union Conference Meeting

By F. H. Robbins

THE next session of the Columbia Union Conference will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., March 13-20, 1916. The Carnegie Library, which was used four years ago for the union conference, has again been secured for the same purpose. This auditorium will seat about six hundred persons, and is an excellent place for a meeting of this kind.

BOARD

We will begin to serve meals on the cafeteria plan Friday, March 10. This will accommodate the tract society secretaries, and the bookmen, who plan to hold some meetings before the union session opens.

ROOMS

In securing rooms for the delegates, we have been very fortunate, and shall be able to meet the needs of all. However, we kindly ask each conference president to send at once a list of the names of those who will attend, in order that definite assignments may be made, and thus avoid disappointment.

HOW TO FIND THE PLACE

The Carnegie Library is located on the corner of Lang and Hamilton Avenues, Homewood. The dining pavilion is also on Lang Avenue, about four squares north of the library. When you arrive in the city, take either a Frankstown Avenue or a Hamilton Avenue electric car.

If you take a Frankstown Avenue car, get off at Lang Avenue, and walk about one square north to the dining pavilion. If you take a Hamilton Avenue car, get off at the Carnegie Library, and walk about four squares north to the dining pavilion. Bring all suit cases and baggage to the dining pavilion, and you will be taken to your room from there.

Address all communications to the West Pennsylvania Conference office, 7155 Mount Vernon St., Pittsburgh, Pa.

F. H. ROBBINS.

NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

By S. E. Wight; G. H. Curtis

Southern Union Conference Association

Notice is hereby given that the fifth biennial session of the constituency of the Southern Union Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in the chapel of the Southern Publishing Association, 2123 Twenty-fourth Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn., at 9 A. M., Monday, March 27, 1916, for the purpose of electing a board of directors for the ensuing quadrennial term, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

S. E. WIGHT, President. G. H. CURTIS, Secretary.

Southern Union Conference

By S. E. Wight; G. H. Curtis

The first meeting of the seventh biennial session of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in the chapel of the Southern Publishing Association, 2123 Twenty-fourth Ave. N., Nashville, Tenn., at 9 A. M., Wednesday, March 22, 1916. Each conference is entitled to one delegate for its organization, and to one additional delegate for each fifty of its church organization.

S. E. WIGHT, President.

G. H. CURTIS, Secretary.

Legal Meeting of the Southern Training School

By W. H. Branson; A. N. Atteberry

We hereby call a meeting of the Southern Training School of Seventh-day Adventists, Inc., to meet in the Seventh-day Adventist church building, 508 East Fair St., Atlanta, Ga., at 10 A. M., Monday, April 3, 1916, to elect trustees, to change the constitution and by-laws, and to do such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

W. H. BRANSON, President. A. N. ATTEBERRY, Secretary.

Southwestern Union Conference

By G. F. Watson; C. E. Smith

THE eighth biennial session of the Southwestern Union Conference will convene in Oklahoma City, Okla., April 7-13, 1916. Each local conference is entitled to one delegate without regard to numbers, and to an additional delegate for each one hundred of its church membership. All members of the Southwestern Union Conference Committee, of the North American Division Conference Committee, and of the General Conference Committee who may be present at any meeting are also delegates.

This will be an important session, and we trust that all delegates will be present at the first meeting. Officers for the coming term will be elected, and such other business transacted as may properly come before the meeting.

G. F. WATSON, President.

C. E. SMITH, Secretary.