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Review and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 16.

Nearer Than We Dream
Earlier text: News From Lake Titicaca

A Macedonian Call for Medical Missionaries

By A. C. Selmon

A. C. SELMON, M. D.
THERE are none from abroad who have visited China but were deeply impressed with the appalling amount of physical suffering that could be easily and quickly relieved to be seen on every hand. The causes for this are overcrowding and extreme poverty, together with the ignorance of the nature and the causes of disease, and the scarcity of trained physicians. There is an impression abroad that the Chinese do not have as sensitive nerves as some other nationalities. Needless to say, this is an error; for the Chinese suffer as keenly from injury and disease as do any other people under similar circumstances. It is true that the prevalence of disease has begotten in the people a certain degree of hardness, so that they bear their aches and pains with much less complaining than the average European would. If evidence is wanting that the Chinese have nerves that are keenly sensitive to pain, it is found in the haste with which they flock to the dispensary and the hospital of the medical missionary. When Dr. Peter Parker arrived in Canton and opened up the first medical work in China, it is said that it was not long before the sick came to him from the far distant province of Honan, at that time over a month’s journey from Canton.
While conditions in China are now much better than they were in Dr. Parker’s day, the demand for medical missionaries grows with the years. The knowledge of the causes and the nature of disease is now being spread abroad to a degree. As the people come into possession of this knowledge, they begin to see that the physician can not only help them to get well when they are sick, but he can teach them how to keep their health; and in a land where the people are dependent entirely on to-morrow’s earnings for to-morrow’s rice, health is a most valuable asset. The result is that the medical missionary does not need to search for an opening, for in many places the people are calling for him. An instance may be mentioned:—
For some time during the last year one of our Chinese evangelists was located in one of the large cities of Anhwei province. About three weeks ago I received a letter from this place stating that the people wanted a doctor there very much. They had already raised four hundred dollars to secure the supplies for a hospital, and more was pledged. They requested that Mrs. Selmon and I come at once and locate there and help them. It was also stated in the letter that as soon as they received my reply, three hundred dollars in cash would be sent me with which to get some supplies for opening up the work.
This request seems very much like the vision Paul had of the man calling for him to come and labor in Macedonia. It seemed a cruel thing to send back the word that it was impossible to comply with their request. But a deaf ear must not be turned to such calls as this, for they are from the Lord and clearly point out to us our duty. My prayer is that as this comes to the notice of young men and women in our ranks in the home lands who are prepared or are preparing to do medical missionary work, it will be to many a Macedonian call. The Lord through his servant has said, “Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel.” And has not the Master himself commanded us, saying, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick”? Matt. 10:7, 8. “Into whatsoever city ye enter, . . . heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Luke 10:8, 9.
Large are the doors of opportunity that are open for medical missionary work in China. Probably in no other land is there such a crying need of this kind of work. Other lands need medical missionaries, it is true, but from the standpoint of area and population their needs are small compared with those of this great republic. There are in China with its more than four hundred millions of inhabitants not more than three thousand trained physicians, and two thousand are Chinese physicians trained in modern medical science. This is an average of one physician to every one hundred thirty-three thousand of the population. In the United States there is one physician to about every five hundred persons. What a call for doctors would go out through the newspapers of the land if in San Francisco there were but three doctors, in Denver two, in Omaha one, in Boston five, and if in all these places cholera, leprosy, plague, smallpox, and a score of other fearful diseases were always prevalent. No doubt there would be an army of volunteers, and among them would be found a goodly number of Seventh-day Adventist medical workers. Why is it that such a call in the home land, where hygiene and simple treatment for disease is the common knowledge of the major-ity of people, should find so many volunteers, and more urgent calls than this from the mission fields should be so long unanswered?
The Lord has given some very pointed instruction in regard to this. It is: “Those who have been trained for medical missionary work in foreign countries should be encouraged to go without delay where they expect to labor, and begin work among the people, learning the language as they work. Very soon they will be able to teach the simple truths of God’s Word.”—“Ministry of Healing,” page 155. This shows in what way the medical missionary stands on vantage-ground, for he no sooner gets a start in the language than he can begin to do active work, and as he relieves the suffering ones he can point them to the Chief Physician, who not only can preserve life, but can also impart life.

Free Albania

DURING the recent struggle of the Balkan States for freedom, in southern Europe a few Protestant missionaries have been called upon to endure great hardships. In a quarterly bulletin issued by the Congregational Mission Board is given a report from a minister who went out to Albania five years ago, C. Telford Erickson. In speaking of Mr. Erickson’s experiences before giving his letter, we read:—
“What he has experienced and suffered would supply material for several wonderful stories. Here are a few outstanding facts in a record of rare heroism: Settles at Elbasan; moves to Tirana; warmly welcomed by the people; driven out by persecution of the Young Turk government; returns to Elbasan; with wife and three children lives in wretched native building; arrested by government and transported to Monastir; weary negotiations; allowed to return; effort to obtain land and establish schools blocked; oldest boy, taken sick, is carried by the father to Switzerland and dies there; the war breaks out; Erickson seeks to rejoin wife at Elbasan; thrown into prison by Servians at Durazzo; sends secret message to the board through prison boy; state department advised; released, he returns to family and finds them safe; ordered by Servians to leave country within ten days; now in Switzerland.”
Mr. Erickson writes:—
“The great powers—and the Balkan allies give assent—have decided that Albania shall be made an independent state. Some questions, such as the marking of boundaries, choosing a prince, etc., remain to be settled. But it is enough for us to know at present that a new nation is being born there, that they are going to need, in a desperate way, true, honest, capable young men for public service and for private leadership. The Greek and Moslem propaganda is knocked out. What influence can the Orthodox Church wield in Albania after this when with fire and sword, rapine and plunder, murder and outrage, their armies have swept the country, robbing priests and churches as well as hodjas and Mohammedan mosques? They are hated worse than the Turks were hated before them. As for the Mohammedan population I am convinced, having it from the mouths of the people themselves, that once they are free from the Turkish yoke, off goes the Moslem yoke as well. What are these people to do? What is to save them from religious anarchy? I answer, Only Protestant work can do it. We only have their confidence and regard. England and America are their ideals, and their highest hope as a nation is to be like them. The whole face of the nation is changed. Hitherto I have felt that an aggressive Protestant propaganda would be a mistake, but I believe we are face to face with that duty now, and should lose no time in planning such a forward campaign as will bring at the earliest moment possible the principles of our Christian faith to the knowledge of the whole people of the land by the printed page and personal evangelism. Till we know where the new capital is to be we can postpone our land purchase and settlement of the question of location, provided we are preparing for this greater work, and the Albanian people know we are. But if we go back there now with empty hands and wait or press forward with feeble effort with all these new stirrings of life going on about us, I fear it will destroy all their hope and confidence in us.”
THE ENTIRE MISSION STATION, SEOUL, KOREA Chapel and printing-office at right, with three dwelling-houses for workers at left.
THE ENTIRE MISSION STATION, SEOUL, KOREA Chapel and printing-office at right, with three dwelling-houses for workers at left.

Dedication Service at Seoul, Korea

By C. L. Butterfield

C. L. BUTTERFIELD
SABBATH, Feb. 1, 1913, marked a new era in the work in Korea. The buildings of our new mission station, located outside East Gate, Seoul, had been completed, and the houses were occupied by Brother H. A. Oberg, secretary and treasurer, and his wife; Sister Mimi Scharffenberg, editor of our paper; and Brother Frank Mills, superintendent of publishing work, with the writer and his family. The publishing house had been in operation a little over one month, and a few meetings had been held in the chapel, which is on the second floor and is 24 x 36 feet in size. As chairs or seats are not common in Korea, mats are placed on the floor upon which the people sit. In this way two hundred people can easily be seated in the chapel.
It was a cold day, but the believers from the West Gate church, about seven miles distant, and some from the country, assembled and listened to the dedicatory sermon by Prof. H. R. Salisbury, who arrived that morning on his trip around the world. We were indeed thankful to have Professor Salisbury with us, and our hearts were cheered as he told of the advancement that has been made in the foreign fields during the past thirty-eight years. The message now so completely encircles the globe that he was able on six consecutive Sabbaths before reaching us to meet with six different companies of Sabbath-keepers. We were also reminded that while we were dedicating this building of brick and stone to the service of God, it would be of no avail unless we as individuals should also dedicate our lives to him; for God dwells not in temples made by hands, but in the living temples of the heart.
THE NEW PUBLISHING HOUSE AND CHAPEL, SEOUL, KOREA Chapel on second floor; business offices of Korean Mission below, with printing-office in rear.
THE NEW PUBLISHING HOUSE AND CHAPEL, SEOUL, KOREA Chapel on second floor; business offices of Korean Mission below, with printing-office in rear.
These buildings, built from the $300,000 Fund, mean much to the work in Korea. The publishing house and offices have long been needed. Our monthly magazine has a larger circulation than any other paper or magazine in Korea. It sells for five sen each, and some of our agents are selling from twenty to fifty copies daily. It is a twenty-eight-page paper, and is wholly devoted to present truth. Many are interested and some have already taken their stand for the truth as the result of reading this magazine.
The houses are not large, only 22 x 30 feet and two stories high, but they make homes for the workers where they can care for themselves and where their lives can be preserved for the work.
God has richly blessed our work during 1912, and a total of one hundred twelve were baptized and taken into church fellowship, but we believe that brighter days are before us and that many will be added during this year. Pray for the work and for the workers in Korea.

Portugal Open to the Gospel

The establishment of the republican government in Portugal has brought a new era of liberty, and doubtless of progress, too, for the people. It was feared at first that the comparatively small amount of gospel work in progress in Portugal would be handicapped under the new régime. This has proved groundless. Instead, Portugal is now, perhaps as never before in her history, open to the gospel. The need, too, at present, is urgent, for it is a time of crisis. The Jesuits have been expelled from the country; the people, naturally religious, are loosed from the thraldom that for centuries has kept them in ignorance; and now they hardly know which way to turn. The great danger is that Portugal will become a nation of atheists. Several times on offering Scriptures to the people the reply was: “Nao, Senhor, sou republicano” (No, sir, I am a republican).

The Modern Girl and Her Ways

By Margaret E. Sangster, Jr.

MARGARET E. SANGSTER, JR.
A LITTLE old lady with faltering steps entered the room while a club meeting was in progress.
“O, it’s only grandmother!” murmured the president of the club, without leaving her place; and as “grandmother” was a stranger to the girls, they went on with their remarks.
That is, all except one tall, plain girl in a business suit. She was on her feet as soon as the little lady entered and did not resume her chair until the grandmother of her hostess was comfortably settled. And all of the very modern and sophisticated girls looked at their friend in surprise and wondered why she was so unnecessarily polite and formal.
But the girl in question thought of it not at all; she did not know that she had done anything unusual. For this girl can often be seen amid the rush and bustle of the city, helping an old man across a crowded street, or giving up her place in a car to a tired-faced mother with shawl and market-basket. She thinks nothing of it, and expects nothing from it; but to her, a smile from a tremulous mouth or a brightened gleam from a pair of fast-fading eyes means more than much fine silver or gold.
This type of girl is fast dying out. She is now as unique as she is refreshing, and all because of the modernism that girls love to boast of. When the maiden aunt who lives in a story-book world tells “what I did,” or “how I acted when I was a girl,” you should not think of her as a fault-finding old woman who tires you, but rather think how she acted when she was your age, and what you would be like if you had her pretty politeness and formal little mannerisms.
I once heard a girl who was popular and well brought up—yes, and even a shining light in society—say to her mother in the presence of some young men:— “Cut it, mama! Do you think that we want to listen to your old-fashioned ideas?”
As the mother was a little deaf, she missed the drift of her daughter’s rude remark; but two young men who heard it never called at the house again, and I heard one say to the other as they gained the street:— “A girl who speaks to her mother like that is not the kind of girl that I care to know!”
Girls who labor under the impression that their friends like the young woman who is a “good fellow”—slangy, rough, and unrefined—are all wrong. For I have heard young men condemn a girl many times for just these things. And, in one way, it was a rather unjust condemnation; for these same girls were sweet and natural when alone with their families, and were only tomboyish from the mistaken idea that they would be more attractive to their social acquaintances.
One of the most popular girls I ever knew was perfect in her manner to older persons. She was tender and loving to her grandparents, and she petted her father and mother as she did her small sisters and brothers. Everybody loved her, from the stern, puritanic village minister to the smallest and crossest baby in town. At last the girl’s engagement to a college chum of her brother’s was announced; and when I met the happy man on the street I stopped to congratulate him. His eyes shone as he shook my hand. “There’s nobody like her!” he said in a fervent tone, “nobody! The first day I met her I knew that she was the Only Girl. And when I saw her wrap a shawl around her grandmother with that quaint little air of taking care of some one; and saw her pat her mother’s hand when she thought they were alone, and kiss the scratch on a dirty baby’s cheek, I knew I was done for, and that I loved her!”
I once went to school with a girl who for a long time was my model in everything. Her hair and dresses were always spick and span, and her smile was always radiant; but her manners were the greatest source of delight to me. There was not a soul in the school who did not like her. Even the grim principal unbent when she was near. Personally, I idolized her, and enthroned her in my dreams. Perhaps this attitude made my awakening a little sharper and a trifle more cruel.
One day I summoned up enough courage to call for her on my way to school. And as I was somewhat early, a flurried maid told me to wait in the hall, as she informed me that “Miss Madeline was not dressed yet.”
I waited, silent, frightened by my presumption, when suddenly from somewhere above me came a call—almost a snarl—in a well-known voice:— “Sister, have you taken my hair-ribbon? Have you? Oh, how I hate you! Say, mother, hurry up there!”
The mother’s patient voice came in answer to the peevish call: “Coming, dear. I’ll help you to dress.” “Can’t you hurry, mother?” screamed my little model. “D’you think I’ve got all day? Don’t put your cold hands on my neck. Haven’t you got any sense?”
A cough behind me brought me to myself, and I saw Madeline’s father standing near. “Don’t mind that noise,” he said nonchalantly. “It’s only my daughter getting ready for school.”
His matter-of-fact manner was the last straw. So this, then, was a common, every-day occurrence!
“I don’t think I’ll wait,” I stammered. “It’s getting late.” And with uncertain steps I reached the street. My dream-bubble had burst; my shining idol was shattered into a thousand fragments.
Girls, never be hypocrites with your manners! Never treat a stranger better than you would your own mother; never fail in courtesy where your own family is concerned. For if you do, even though you gain a little cheap approbation, you will be found out.
In the large, beautifully furnished reception-room of a Young Women’s Christian Association building, there hangs on the wall an illuminated card. Stepping up to it, this is what one may read: “Courtesy is like an air-cushion; there may be nothing in it, but it eases the jolts a lot.”
Try to live up to that homely little text. It is best to be natural always. Cultivate a courteous manner in your home and it will come as a matter of course before strangers.—Christian Herald.

Strong Drink

By J. D. Montgomery

J. D. MONTGOMERY
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” There is no higher motive than this. It at once precludes all intemperate habits of eating or drinking. If all applied this test to their habits of life, there would be no excuse whatever for discussing the question of strong drink.
There are two kinds of wine mentioned in the Scripture. One is the harmless and useful kind used by Jesus in the institution of the Lord’s Supper, and provided by him at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. It is of this wine that Paul spoke when he said to Timothy: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Tim. 5: 23. This is “the pure blood of the grape” (Deut. 32: 14), the wine referred to by Christ when he said, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matt. 26: 29. It is a food-drink which “maketh glad the heart of man” (Ps. 104: 15), and is said to contain a “blessing” (Isa. 65: 8).
There is another kind of wine that is responsible for the misery in many hearts and homes in the world to-day. It is mentioned as the wine of the heathen in Deut. 32: 32. “Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.” Verse 33. Could words describe it better? Is it not a poison, a cruel poison? Is it not the product of death, and does not death hover over its habitation?
From that chapter of the Proverbs which has so much to say about intemperate eating and drinking we borrow a word-picture of the drunken condition. It is not a beautiful picture, but it is a vivid one. It portrays the shame of debauchery, and reveals the fact that the victim does not realize his disgrace. It is not unfamiliar to Bible readers. It is as follows: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babblings? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” Prov. 23: 29-35.
Could anything be more plain? It is the state of a man who is under the control of another but does not know it. He feels as if he were lying down among the waves of the sea, or maybe on the top of the mast as it sways back and forth with the motion of the ship. In his stimulated condition he beholds strange women: his passions are inflamed; and his heart uttereth perverse things, things not natural to him in his sober moments. He is beaten, and he does not know it: he is narcotized. He is stricken, but he is not sick: his body is benumbed and does not react to punishment. Then the shame of it all: “When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”
The passing of the intoxicated condition is not the end of the matter by any means. Its power over the body and mind can not so easily be shaken. It lures its victim from wine-bibbing to intoxication, and then it holds him with a power that only Omnipotence can loosen. “Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
Concerning the responsibility of giving strong drink to our fellows we note the following: “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken.” Hab. 2: 15. There is a very great burden of responsibility laid upon those who teach others the use of intoxicating drinks. If no drunkard can enter the kingdom of heaven, what could be said of those who are drunkard-makers?
Of the stimulating effects of strong drinks the Scriptures have this to say: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continueth until night, till wine inflame them.” Isa. 5: 11. The effects of wine and other alcoholic drinks are inflaming to the tissues with which they come in contact. This is the effect on the body tissues and on the mind and the temper. Of the effects on the religion of the user we read these words: “They also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.” Isa. 28: 7. No teacher of morals could possibly retain his high standards and use wine and liquors either to excess or moderately. He would soon begin to err. He would stumble in judgment, err in vision, and fall out of the way. He could not retain his integrity, however earnest he might be in the endeavor.
There is only one safe stand to take on the strong-drink question, and that is to taste it not. No man is safe if he dabbles with danger; and this is especially true with so insidious a thing as alcohol. It may be disguised and colored, flavored and sweetened never so wisely, but it is alcohol still, and in it lurks the germ of drunkenness and spiritual blindness. It may be called whisky or brandy, wine or champagne, beer or ale; it may be hidden in patent medicine or in other medicine; it may be found in home-made wine and cider, or possibly in toddies, or cordials, or what not, but it is alcohol still,—the product of death, the forerunner of perdition. Shun it; pass by it; look not upon it; turn from it and leave it alone.
Newark, Ohio.

The Noon-Hour Prayer

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”
DID you say you were too busy to pray? It is through the communion we hold with Heaven that God fits us for his service here on earth. Notice the railroad system. It makes no difference how congested the freight-yards are with traffic, how fully occupied the trainmen are with their various duties, the engines are never too busy to stop for coal and water. Why?—Because fuel and water mean power, and power is an absolute necessity in their work. Just as the whole great railroad system would be tied up with helpless, dead locomotives and the traffic of a continent paralyzed if they did not stop long enough to get power, even so the work of God is hindered and delayed by lifeless Christians, who do not stop long enough to enter the place of prayer and get the power they must have if they would be of service in giving this last message to a dying world. Let us pause a moment, turn aside from the busy highway, and plead with the Father above for the keeping power of his presence and blessing in our own lives, remembering also those whose requests are printed in this column from week to week.

Requests for Prayer

175. A brother who is canvassing in South Carolina requests prayer that his hearing may be restored.
176. “Please pray that I may be healed from nervous trouble,” asks a California sister.
177. From Wisconsin an afflicted sister writes requesting prayer for the restoration of her sight and hearing.
178. A brother in Missouri desires prayer for healing.
179. An Oklahoma sister makes request that prayer be offered for her healing.
180. “I am suffering from heart-disease and kidney trouble. Please pray that I may be healed if it is God’s will,” asks a New York sister.

A Woman’s Best Compliment

The finest compliment we have ever heard told of a woman was by her husband, who said in speaking of her: “We always think of her as a morning-glory, because she looks so bright and cheery and pretty at the breakfast-table.” How many breakfast-tables are presided over by women who make an effort to be dainty? And there are a great number who are at once untidy and even uncleanly to look at.
The claim that household duties keep women from looking well in the morning is easily disproved, for in many a household where the lady gives a helping hand in the kitchen a big apron will thoroughly protect her dress; and then, too, cooking, unless one makes it so, is never dirty work. That woman commits an error who looks uncared for in the morning.
The other woman, who wears any old thing to the breakfast-table, is also making a mistake; for that is the time when the men of the household ought to see a woman at her best, and not specially rely on her appearance in the evening, when the soft and charitable light of the gas will hide many defects.—Selected.

To Break the Monotony

An entire change of occupation will often prove a grateful rest to a busy housewife. When the needle drags and each stitch represents so much concentrated effort, try some other work about the house. Prepare one of the dishes for dinner or luncheon, tidy up the dresser or chiffonier drawers, launder some of the neckwear or pieces of fine linen you do not care to trust in heedless hands, or, best of all, pick up a book or magazine and take the strain away from the tired body by using the mind exclusively for a half-hour.
At the end of this time you will feel quite as if you had indulged in a long rest, and you will return to the needle with a zest that will mean twice as much by way of accomplishment as did working in a state of fatigue and revolt.—Philadelphia Bulletin.

Annual Meeting of the Southern Publishing Association

By L. A. SMITH

This meeting was held at Keene, Tex., February 3, 4. The meeting was called to order Monday evening, February 3, with S. E. Wight, president of the association, in the chair.
Following the opening exercises Elder G. F. Watson, in behalf of the Keene church, made an address of welcome to the delegates, which was responded to by the chair.
The calling of the roll showed that twenty-seven members of the constituency were present.
The manager, R. Hook, Jr., presented the following report for the past year:—
“My report of the work accomplished during 1912 is of such an encouraging nature that I feel that we have indeed been laborers together with God and as such have received his blessing, for the printed page has been distributed in larger quantities than ever before. When we stop and consider that the books that we are circulating contain a saving message to the world, our hearts are solemnized and we sense our entire dependence upon our Heavenly Father.
“Much time has been spent in prayer, both in the office and by the men in the field. In addition, our brethren and sisters have not forgotten the publishing work at the family altar, and the Lord has answered these united prayers.
“When I presented my report one year ago, 1911 was the banner year in our history, and we really thought that if we only held our own in 1912 we should be doing well, but our report today shows that advances have again been made. It has been the first year in our history that we have had no real financial stress. In former years there were many times that we did not know where to raise money to meet pressing obligations. We have never before gone through a year that we discounted all our bills, but during 1912 we have discounted every bill that has been presented. This has meant a saving to the office of $1,087.63.
“During 1910 the total retail value of book sales was $161,566.71; for 1911, $191,185.85; and for 1912 it amounted to $238,168.56. The year 1911 showed a gain over 1910 of $29,619.14, while 1912 shows a gain over last year of $46,982.71.
“At this point we shall make comparison with previous years; 1907, $137,451.90; 1908, $113,231.94; 1909, $140,892.03; 1910, $161,566.71; 1911, $191,185.85; 1912, $238,168.56.
“You will note that the last four years have shown a steady increase. The circulation of the Watchman is also on the increase.
“In order to publish a stock of books for fall delivery, we secured loans from Nashville banks to the amount of $11,500. This is the largest sum we have ever secured from the banks, and it was granted cheerfully, with the statement that we could have more if necessary. It is with pleasure that I report these bank loans paid in full several months before the close of the year, about $7,000 being anticipated thirty and sixty days. This has given us a splendid standing with financial institutions, and when we consider that all open accounts have been discounted, you can readily see that our financial record now stands A1 with the business world.
“During the year we have printed 220,540 books of all classes, and the total number bound is 182,567. Total number subscription books printed, 104,094. In order to print these books, eight carloads of paper have been required. During 1912, 12,700 gilt books and 41,180 marbled books have been finished. These figures show that we have printed 35,340 and bound 42,067 more books than last year. The number of books marbled is 19,480 more than last year, the number of gilt books is 3,400 less. The above figures are from the standpoint of the manufacturing department.
“From the standpoint of sales we find that 198,793 bound books were sold during the year as against 176,405 last year, a gain in volumes sold of 22,388. Our retail sales have averaged per month $19,847.38, per week $4,962, or an average per day of $992.50. We have shipped in the aggregate over thirteen car-loads of books during the year, with a weight of 155 tons—a gain over last year of about fourteen tons. Average weight of books shipped per day, 1,210 pounds, requiring 1,600 packing-boxes for the year.
“The actual income received from sales of books and Watchman as shown by ledger is as follows: 1902, $19,608.22; 1903, $23,749.50; 1904, $38,605.51; 1905, $35,605.99; 1906, $46,604.85; 1907, $64,383.48; 1908, $59,979.85; 1909, $65,053.17; 1910, $71,181.33; 1911, $84,432.27; 1912, $87,432.27; total, $596,569.73.
“There is no reason why 1913 should not go far ahead of the year which has just closed. What we need, brethren, is a closer walk with God and more colporteurs in the field, and we solicit the support of every union and conference president in helping us to attain this end. In union there is strength. In Ps. 68:11 we read: ‘The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.’ My report has been made possible by the work of a comparatively small company, for I think that in our territory there are only two hundred eighteen colporteurs in the field. If the Lord can accomplish such great things with only a few, what may we look for when the statement made by Sister E. G. White, ‘Where there is now one there should be one hundred in the canvassing work,’ is fully realized?
“In closing we give all praise to our Heavenly Father for the success of the work, and pray earnestly for a closer walk with him, that in the years that are left for us to work the results obtained may go far ahead of anything yet reported in the history of our work in this field.”
At the conclusion of this report Elder A. G. Daniells spoke in behalf of the General Conference Committee, expressing their appreciation of the work that is being done by the association and by the men who are circulating this literature in the field.
The report of the treasurer showed a gain of $9,623.17 for the year, making the present worth of the association $52,352.80.
The committee on plans presented the following report, which was adopted:—
“1. Whereas, The blessing of God has attended the work of this association during the year past, enabling our treasurer and other officers to show a balance of financial gain and give reports of souls saved as a result of our publishing work,—
“Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for his blessing bestowed upon us, and pledge ourselves to greater faithfulness in the future.
“2. Whereas, It has been recommended by our sister publishing houses that there be either a raise in price or a reduction in the discount on juvenile books; and,—
“3. Whereas, Experience has shown that the cost of manufacture demands such a change, therefore,—
“We recommend, That on the 25-cent and 50-cent books, exclusive of ‘Best Stories,’ the prices be raised to 35 and 60 cents, and present discounts be maintained, as in our judgment it would be detrimental to the work in our field to reduce discount.
“4. Whereas, There is a need in our territory for another large book, therefore,—
“We recommend, The publication of an edition of ‘Patriarchs and Prophets.’
“5. Whereas, Much good is being accomplished by the circulation of the Watchman, therefore,—
“Resolved, That we pledge ourselves anew to its hearty support—
“a. By endeavoring to secure energetic and efficient agents.
“b. By encouraging in every consistent way the agents already in the field.
“c. By subscribing for the Watchman ourselves and securing subscriptions for the same whenever and wherever possible.
“6. Resolved, That the Southern Publishing Association Board make provision for the annual auditing of the expense accounts of such employees of the association as may be called upon to travel during the year.”
It was voted that the board take into consideration the advisability of so amending Article 8 of the by-laws that following the January meeting in 1914, the meetings of the constituency will be held every two years.
L. A. SMITH, Secretary.

The Burdens of Riches

THERE is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing them; and a burden of account at last to be given up concerning them.—M. Henry.
Continue reading: The Spirit of the Missionary Volunteer Movement