Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 37.

A Practical Illustration of the Value of Tithing
Earlier text: Western Washington Camp Meeting

Statistical Report of North American Division Conference for 1915

By H. E. Rogers

H. E. ROGERS, Statistical Secretary
Atlantic Union Conference 1 Eastern New York Conference 2 Greater New York Conference 3 Maine Conference 4 Massachusetts Conference 5 Northern New England 6 Southern New England 7 Western New York Conference Totals Central Union Conference 8 Colorado Conference 9 Kansas Conference 10 Missouri Conference 11 Nebraska Conference 12 West Colorado Conference 13 Wyoming Conference Totals Columbia Union Conference 14 Chesapeake Conference 15 District of Columbia Conference 16 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference 17 New Jersey Conference 18 Ohio Conference 19 Virginia Conference 20 West Pennsylvania Conference 21 West Virginia Conference Totals Eastern Canadian Union Conference 22 Maritime Conference 23 Ontario Conference 24 Quebec Conference 25 Newfoundland Mission Totals Lake Union Conference 26 East Michigan Conference 27 Indiana Conference 28 Northern Illinois Conference 29 North Michigan Conference 30 Southern Illinois Conference 31 West Michigan Conference 32 Wisconsin Conference Totals Northern Union Conference 33 Iowa Conference 34 Minnesota Conference 35 North Dakota Conference 36 South Dakota Conference Totals North Pacific Union Conference 37 Montana Conference 38 Southern Idaho Conference 39 Southern Oregon Conference 40 Upper Columbia Conference 41 Western Oregon Conference 42 Western Washington Conference Totals Pacific Union Conference 43 Arizona Conference 44 California Conference 45 Central California Conference 46 Northern California Conference 47 Northwestern California Conference 48 Southeastern California Conference 49 Southern California Conference 50 Utah Conference 51 Nevada Mission Totals Southeastern Union Conference 52 Cumberland Conference 53 Florida Conference 54 Georgia Conference 55 North Carolina Conference 56 South Carolina Conference Totals Southern Union Conference 57 Alabama Conference 58 Kentucky Conference 59 Louisiana Conference 60 Mississippi Conference 61 Tennessee River Conference Totals
Southwestern Union Conference 62 Arkansas Conference 63 New Mexico Conference 64 North Texas Conference 65 Oklahoma Conference 66 South Texas Conference 67 West Texas Conference Totals Western Canadian Union Conference 68 Alberta Conference 69 British Columbia Conference 70 Manitoba Conference 71 Saskatchewan Conference Totals # RECAPITULATION
1 Gen. Conf. & N. Amer. Div. 2 Atlantic Union 3 Central Union 4 Columbia Union 5 Eastern Canadian Union 6 Lake Union 7 Northern Union 8 North Pacific Union 9 Pacific Union 10 Southeastern Union 11 Southern Union 12 Southwestern Union 13 Western Canadian Union Totals, 1915 Totals, 1914
(a) Under General Conference and North American Division are included those engaged in general labor, and not accounted for elsewhere. Miscellaneous individual tithes and offerings are also listed under this head. The total receipts by the General Conference Treasurer from Union Conferences in the North American Division applying on the twenty-cents-a-week fund during 1915 were $692,477.71. A portion of the difference required to make the grand total as shown in the table, viz., $706,293.50, was made up of miscellaneous offerings to foreign missions coming from outside the North American Division, but included here because the amount cannot be conveniently shown elsewhere in this table. There is also another item explained thus: In the report of the General Conference Treasurer there is shown a receipt of $123,838.27 from the Lake Union Conference applying on the twenty-cents-a-week fund. This report has a total of $114,442.56, or $9,395.71 less for that Union. That is the amount, however, which that Union included in Column 19 in this report, but reported to treasury department as applying on twenty-cents-a-week funds. These amounts were made up as follows: Indiana Conference, $2,495.71; East Michigan Conference, $1,900; West Michigan Conference, $5,000. In Column 18, under General Conference and North American Division is shown the amount of book and periodical sales by the various publishing houses in the North American Division, and not included in the report of sales by conferences.

Total Contributions for All Purposes, During 1915.— Summary 1.

G. C. & N. A. Div. Atlantic Central Columbia Eastern Canadian Lake Northern North Pacific Pacific Southeastern Southern Southwestern Western Canadian Totals for 1915 Totals for 1914 Gain for 1915 Per Cent of Gain

Total Contributions and Communicants.— Summary 2.

Gen. Conf. & N. Amer. Div. Atlantic Central Columbia Eastern Canadian Lake Northern North Pacific Pacific Southeastern Southern Southwestern Western Canadian Totals N. A. Div., 1915 Totals N. A. Div., 1914 Gain for 1915 Per cent of gain

The Statistical Report for 1915

On the accompanying pages is presented the statistical report of the North American Division Conference for the year ending December 31, 1915. As a matter of convenience, this report is published prior to the report for the entire world. When all returns are received from every field, the complete report will be issued.
During the past ten years the gain in membership in the territory of the North American Division Conference has been 19,354 or 33.15 per cent, an average annual gain of 1,935 members. But the gain during 1915 was greater than for any preceding year, the net gain in members being 5,720, or an annual gain of 7.94 per cent. The number added by baptism was 9,624, the largest number being reported in Lake Union Conference. The largest number ever received by baptism in any preceding year was during the year 1914, but the number baptized in 1915 was greater than the number thus received in 1914 by 2,287. The number of baptisms averaged 185 per week, or 26 every day throughout the year.

Tithe

The total amount of tithe paid by members in the North American Division during 1915 was $1,337,810.20. This is the largest amount ever paid by the members in this division in any year, and is a gain over the amount received for the preceding year of $67,848.11, being a gain of 5.34 per cent. The amount per capita was $17.21.

Summary No. 1

This summary shows by union conferences the amount of total contributions for all purposes during 1915. The contributions are grouped under three heads, namely: tithe, offerings to foreign missions, and all other offerings. From this it will be seen that the amount of offerings for foreign missions paid by members in the North American Division Conference during 1915 was $706,293.50. This is a gain of $90,727.55 over the amount for the preceding year, or a gain of 14.74 per cent. All other offerings received constitute a total of $498,579.29, this being an increase of $55,355.45 over the amount received for the former year, or a gain of 12.46 per cent. The grand total contributions received during 1915 were $2,542,682.99, a gain of $213,931.11 over the preceding year, or a gain of 9.18 per cent. This amount constitutes a per capita of $32.71 for each member in the division, and is an increase of $.38 per member over the receipts for 1914.
The relation which these three funds sustain to the grand total contributions is as follows: Tithe 52.62 per cent; offerings to foreign missions, 27.77 per cent; all other offerings, 19.61 per cent. That is, of every dollar contributed for any branch of this cause, a little over 52 cents is tithe, nearly 28 cents for foreign missions, and a little over 19 cents for other lines of work. These percentages show an increase particularly in offerings to foreign missions over the average for years, and such gain for 1915 is in harmony with the net gain noted above, as well as the gain in amount per capita to foreign missions, to which attention is called later in this report.

Summary No. 2

Summary No. 2 gives the total contributions by unions, with per capita and percentages both of contributions and membership. From this it will be seen that the Northern Union Conference gave the highest amount per capita, namely, $37.57, with the Atlantic Union second, contributing $37.42. Column 4 of this summary indicates the per cent of contributions which each union raised in relation to the grand total contributions. Column 6 indicates the per cent of the membership of each union conference as related to the grand total membership. Comparison of these two columns will indicate the conferences which contributed in proportion to the membership they have reported.

Foreign Missions

It will be observed that the amount contributed for foreign missions during 1915 was $706,293.50. This constitutes a per capita of $9.08 for every church member in the division. The largest single source of income for foreign missions is that furnished by the Sabbath School Department. The contributions for the year were $332,106.20. This is $57,164.08 greater than the amount reported for the preceding year, or a gain of 20.79 per cent in the amount of contributions. The amount per capita is the highest ever reported, namely, $4.27.
It will be interesting to note the amounts contributed for foreign missions during the past ten years, in order to obtain a correct idea of the gain not only in the amounts contributed each year, but of the increase in the per capita amounts. In this summary as in those presented later, the figures include the returns from the United States only, up to 1912, after which the figures include returns from Canadian territory. This is done to avoid confusion, since the figures pertaining to amount of offerings have already been published thus in former reports.
YEAR AMOUNT PER CAPITA
1906 $ 159,064.40 $2.72
1907 211,458.61 3.61
1908 246,314.52 4.16
1909 303,289.99 5.07
1910 352,025.27 5.96
1911 357,587.73 5.89
1912 444,428.23 7.20
1913 490,713.65 7.43
1914 615,565.95 8.55
1915 706,293.50 9.08
$3,895,741.85
The reader cannot fail to observe the large increase in the amounts contributed to the cause of foreign missions. The amount contributed during 1915 was over four times the amount given during 1906. This is not because of a like increase in membership, but is the result of increased giving. Note particularly that the per capita amounts have been increased from $2.72 for 1906 to $9.08 for 1915. These figures certainly do not indicate a diminution of interest in the cause of foreign missions on the part of the membership composing the churches in the North American Division. These figures do show, however, that the cause of missions holds a large place in the thoughts and hearts of this people. During the past ten years the total contributions for foreign missions run well up toward the four million mark.

Sabbath School Contributions

As already stated, the Sabbath-school contributions form the greatest single source of income to the fund for missions. During the past ten years nearly one and one-half million dollars have been contributed by members in the North American Division, the amount so contributed constituting 38.31 per cent of the total amount given to foreign missions. The gain in membership of Sabbath schools has been from 51,816 for 1906 to 84,909 for 1915, or an increase of 65.78 per cent. The per cent of increase in contributions has been 535.97 per cent; that is, taking the amount given during 1906 as the basis, the amount given during the past year has been an increase as stated. The per capita amounts in the following summary are based on the membership of Sabbath schools, which is of course different from the membership of churches year by year. Consequently there is a slight difference in the amount stated in the column as the per capita for 1915 from the amount noted in the summary of total contributions presented later as the per capita of Sabbath-school contributions. In this summary the per capita is based on the Sabbath-school membership, and in the one below it is based on the church membership, for the reason that the amount is used in adding for the grand total, and a correct total could not be secured otherwise.
Year Membership Contributions Per capita
1906 51,816 $52,226.33 $1.01
1907 55,351 59,564.17 1.08
1908 58,383 75,224.51 1.29
1909 60,487 86,708.19 1.43
1910 60,923 97,498.00 1.60
1911 60,756 112,505.07 1.85
1912 65,014 172,756.86 2.66
1913 70,283 228,938.24 3.26
1914 76,751 274,942.12 3.58
1915 84,909 332,106.20 3.91
$1,492,469.69

Total Contributions

The amount of total contributions and the per capita for each fund is indicated below for 1915:—
FUND AMOUNT PER CAP.
Tithe $1,337,810.20 $17.21
Foreign Missions 374,187.30 4.81
S. S. (to For. Miss.) 332,106.20 4.27
Other Offerings 498,579.29 6.42
Totals $2,542,682.99 $32.71
The amount of total contributions for the past ten years, with the membership of churches and per capita contributions indicated, is presented herewith for comparative study. Beginning with 1913, these figures include returns from Canadian territory. Thus there is indicated a steady gain in every item, and particularly in the amount of total contributions and per capita. The latter, it will be seen, have increased from $17.99 during 1906 to $32.71 for 1915.
Church Members, U. S. Only Total Contributions Per Capita
1906 — 58,381 $1,050,209.27 $17.99
1907 — 58,557 1,312,562.81 22.41
1908 — 59,138 1,325,752.80 22.42
1909 — 59,785 1,467,933.84 24.55
1910 — 59,060 1,620,440.79 27.44
1911 — 60,691 1,679,543.92 27.66
1912 — 61,722 1,897,792.52 30.75
1913 — 67,268 2,079,238.07 30.91
1914 — 72,015 2,328,751.88 32.33
1915 — 77,735 2,542,682.99 32.71
$17,304,908.80
Truly, seventeen million dollars is no insignificant sum for a small people, poor in this world's goods, to raise in ten years! In considering the figures the question may be raised in the minds of some, Has the confidence and loyalty of this people kept pace with the increase in members, as exhibited in their gifts and offerings for the promotion of this message? Has their unbounded confidence in its ultimate triumph led them to devote their means to the extension of this cause to the same extent that there has been a gain in membership? Let the figures answer. The gain in members during the past ten years in the North American Division has been 33.15 per cent; the gain in total contributions for all lines of work has been 142.11 per cent. In other words, there has been a gain of about one third in membership in the ten years; the funds contributed annually are now nearly one and one-half times greater than they were ten years ago. And the amount per capita has almost doubled. One could hardly expect a finer example of, or more loyal devotion to any cause.

Book Sales

A very excellent showing is presented as to the sales of literature in this division during recent years. The amount of sales for the past five years is shown below:—
1911 $1,042,813.20
1912 1,172,192.69
1913 1,178,820.80
1914 1,370,903.00
1915 1,396,184.65
$6,160,914.34
Thus the retail value of denominational literature sold in North America during 1915 reached the splendid sum of nearly $1,400,000. This represents the sales of literature published by the denomination, and not the sales of miscellaneous and general literature. Thus the light of this truth is extended in this manner throughout this country in a wonderful way. There are now 839 persons giving their time to this line of work, and the benefits are realized in many ways.

Church Buildings

The total number of church buildings in this division at the close of 1915 has been increased to 1,233, an increase of 60 buildings reported during the year. The total value of these buildings now stands at $1,939,702.10. This does not include the value of buildings devoted to the work of primary schools, which amounts to $266,587.50 additional, or a total value of buildings devoted to both lines of work amounting to $2,206,289.60. The approximate seating capacity of church buildings is listed at 204,393 persons, a gain during the year of 25,652. The seating capacity, it will be observed, is nearly three times the membership of churches.

Primary Schools

An interesting growth is clearly indicated by the figures pertaining to the work of primary schools. The reports show that the number of schools in this Division now stands at 602. This is a gain of 83 schools during the year, or about 16 per cent. The number of teachers has increased to 720, a gain of 134 during the year, or 22.87 per cent. The enrolment now stands at 11,444, the highest ever recorded during any year. The gain in enrolment during the past year has been 1,464, or 14.77 per cent. The expense of maintaining these schools during the past year has been $193,438.59. This is an increase over the amount expended for such purposes during 1914 of 31.86 per cent. The cost of maintaining these schools has been an average of $16.99 for every student enrolled. This represents the amount that is expended in maintaining the primary schools alone, and has nothing to do with the expenditure for colleges and other more advanced schools. These primary schools cover, generally, the work outlined under grades one to eight. If these schools are conducted an average of eight months, it would show an expenditure of $2.11 per pupil per month. In view of the support already rendered in behalf of state schools, this support of $2.11 per month per pupil as an average throughout this division can only be regarded as a splendid manifestation of devotion to the cause represented.
The figures presented below indicate the growth of this line of work for the past ten years, figures for the United States appearing up to 1912, and Canadian figures added from that time:—
Year Schools Teachers Enrolment Maintenance
1906 350 386 6,066 $....
1907 362 385 5,706 85,002.05
1908 432 485 7,492 87,685.90
1909 450 509 8,325 97,902.06
1910 457 559 9,514 107,241.83
1911 436 505 8,765 112,335.72
1912 441 508 8,250 121,144.11
1913 468 544 9,404 132,128.94
1914 519 586 9,980 146,702.01
1915 602 720 11,444 193,438.59
$1,083,581.21

Young People's Work

The same indication of progress seen in other lines is clearly revealed by the figures pertaining to the Young People's Department. These show 820 societies having a membership of 15,644. The total contributions for all lines of work during the year were $35,965.79, a per capita of $2.29. This is a much higher per capita than has ever been reported prior to this year. Of the total amount given for all purposes by the Missionary Volunteer Societies in this country, $27,094.72, or over 78 per cent, was devoted to foreign missions, leaving $8,871.07 for lines of home mission work. The manifestation of this spirit of liberality on the part of the young people, in behalf of foreign missions, is certainly very commendable, and indicates the trend of thought given that branch of work. And the result of this increased attention and study as to the needs of foreign missions is seen in the larger number entering service in these lands from year to year.
Necessarily this transfer of laborers from the home base to foreign fields reduces the number somewhat in the home land, until the number is reinforced by other laborers joining the ranks. In the present report the reader will note that the number of total laborers engaged in service in this division is somewhat less than for the previous year. This decrease is partly from the cause stated, and also the fluctuation at different seasons of the year in the colporteurs engaged. But the first cause of decrease is no inconsiderable draft upon the force of laborers in this territory; for the total number of persons entering service in foreign lands during the past five years is 507, the most of whom have been drawn from the territory of the North American Division Conference.
During recent years the number of societies and membership in the division have run as follows:—
YEAR SOCIETIES MEMBERSHIP
1907 365 6,673
1908 408 7,745
1909 418 7,574
1910 438 8,039
1911 396 9,397
1912 460 9,197
1913 637 12,730
1914 734 13,809
1915 820 15,644
From the accompanying summaries and recapitulation it will be seen that there has been a gain in practically every item covered by the report. Complete returns are not yet in hand respecting institutional work, but when these are received it will be found that the per capita contribution of $32.71 will be considerably exceeded because of the assistance rendered in lines of institutional work.

A Church Matter

IN every good work a wise man will counsel with the people. He will submit all plans to them, and abide by the decisions made by them. “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” A multitude includes more than the average committee or board.
The plan to send P. T. S. to relatives and friends from September to March has in many cases been taken up by the churches, and instead of individual members sending in their orders alone, the entire church combines and makes up a list as a church, including some desirable names of the poorer members who could not send the papers without the assistance of the church. The church assumes the account, and weekly collections are taken, payments are made, and the club is paid for by the church librarian. As a sample of this plan of work, we cite one of these latest orders received:—
“Please send 35 sets P. T. S. September List to the attached list of 35 names, furnished by the Marceline church, Missouri.”
The churches, therefore, in dealing with this plan, have immediately made changes that are far superior to the original plan. “Leave it to the churches to work out.” The Lord has set the example, and we can safely follow.

“History of the Waldenses”

A FEW words of appreciation from those who have had the privilege of reading this book:—
“No book that has appeared for some time has pleased me more. Since it has been out of print, I have been asked hundreds of times to see if our publishing house could secure the privilege of publishing it. Now our people can have it. I think it all the more remarkable that the Review and Herald is able to supply the book at 50 cents. I believe there will be a large sale of it.”—W. W. Eastman, Secretary of the North American Division Conference Publishing Department.
“I have already read three chapters, and find the book so interesting I can hardly leave it.”—M. G. Haynes, Secretary Arkansas Conference.
“I have really been fascinated as I have read this excellent book. I verily believe that there never has been a time in the history of this denomination when this book was more timely than now; for, to some degree, the same experiences through which the Waldensian Christians passed, will be ours to endure.”—Burton Castle, Secretary Kansas Tract Society.
“This is a valuable little volume, and ought to be in the hands of all our people. We are glad you have brought it out in such a neat and attractive form. It is intensely interesting, and will serve to strengthen our faith. We may be called upon in the near future to pass through such experiences as are recorded therein.”—C. H. Jones, Manager Pacific Press Publishing Association.
“I feel that ‘History of the Waldenses’ should be read by all our people, as it will have a tendency to awaken the old-time Protestant spirit.”—M. N. Campbell, President Eastern Canadian Union Conference.
While this book is being read as one number of the Missionary Volunteer Reading Course, it is just as good for older readers. Cloth binding; price, 50 cents. Order from your tract society.

So Easy to Order

THE Present Truth Series has a tempting feature in its being so easy to order. The following is a sample, sent on July 6 by the Southern Idaho Tract Society:—
“P. T. S. Southern Idaho, Box 643, 1,000 each whole Series.”
This order totals 24,000 copies,—1,000 each, Nos. 1 to 24,—and amounts to $96; yet its order is made in three words and four figures. Nothing like it.

“The Shadow of the Bottle”

PERHAPS no book of its size has exerted a greater influence in the cause of prohibition than has the book “The Shadow of the Bottle.” It was first published only a little more than a year ago, but has already had a circulation of approximately 200,000 copies. It is filled with pointed facts, statistics, stories, and poems, which make the book at once interesting and effective in its mission. The illustrations are pictures that talk, telling the real situation with reference to intemperance. It should be in every home in the land.
Price, paper covers, 25 cents; cloth, plain, 50 cents. Order of your tract society.

A Good Plan

A SISTER in one of our enterprising Western towns wrote us recently as follows:—
“In last week’s REVIEW, which I read from cover to cover, I saw the announcement of the plan to send the Present Truth Series for six months to our relatives and friends, beginning September 1, and mailing one number each week. I at once made up a list of ten or a dozen names for myself, and further resolved to visit all the members of our church and lay before them this good plan. I shall take the names of their friends and relatives, collect the money, and send it to you, through the tract society, in a lump sum. If the members prefer to send the papers themselves, all right; but I intend to urge that they send them one way or the other.
“I, with many others, cannot go away to do missionary work, either at home or abroad, but all of us can use the Present Truth Series. I fear many who read about this plan will think they will use it, but fail to do so unless some one keeps them reminded of it. Others may not even see it; so, through the REVIEW, I am going to visit all our members.
“If every church librarian or elder would appoint some one who has a real interest in missionary work, he ought to do much with this splendid plan to get the truth before those especially dear to us. My plan of work is my own thought and desire. I wish you would send me a few sample copies of the series.”
A suggestion to the wise is sufficient.

Lessons for Home Missionary Institutes

THIS book should be read by every church leader and every church missionary secretary in our denomination. It gives very clear and concise instruction in regard to the duties of missionary leaders and missionary secretaries. It tells how to organize churches for missionary work, and gives instruction in the various lines of aggressive missionary work to be carried forward in these last days. It also gives instruction regarding the Missionary Volunteer Society and the relation it sustains to the church missionary society. It tells how to conduct a missionary meeting, providing a missionary program, etc. It gives instruction with reference to the organization of various missionary bands, the work of the leaders, and the division of territory. It gives general suggestions with reference to various plans for working with tracts, periodicals, magazines, and home workers’ books; also with reference to missionary correspondence, holding Bible readings, doing Christian help work, temperance work, etc. No missionary officer should deprive himself of the help to be derived from this little book.
Price, paper covers, 15 cents; flexible leather cover, 50 cents.
Order from your tract society.

“The Man that Rum Made”

THIS is a book that ought to be placed in the hands of every young man who might be tempted to form the drink habit. It shows how boys form the taste for intoxicating liquors. Stories from real life, giving incidents from experience, make the book very interesting, even fascinating. The illustrations are profuse, and really “speak louder than words.” Now, while the war against intoxicating drink is being waged, is the time to circulate such books as this.
254 pages. Cloth binding, 75 cents.

“The Men of the Mountains”—Special Offer

THE Southern Publishing Association, publishers of the book entitled “The Men of the Mountains,” is making a special introductory offer of this book to Seventh-day Adventists, at a reduction of 40 per cent from the regular list price of the book. This is a most interesting book, filled with valuable information regarding the people living in the hill portions of the Southern States.
“The Men of the Mountains” is a new book that reveals the mountain and hill country of the South as it really is today. It tells of the aid that is being given the mountaineer and of the response he is making to this help. It is indeed cheering to read how he is welcoming the light of the message as it is presented by our teachers and other consecrated workers.
This book contains 27 chapters, or 320 pages, is printed in large, clear type, and is illustrated by numerous pen drawings and 16 full-page engravings. Scores and scores of unsolicited testimonials have been received for it from all parts of North America. In order that all our people may be able to secure a copy of “The Men of the Mountains,” it has been arranged to furnish the book to Seventh-day Adventists at forty per cent discount. The regular price is $1.50 for the cloth and 75 cents for the paper covers. Less the discount as above stated, the full cloth will cost only 90 cents, and the paper covers 45 cents, postpaid. Send all orders to your tract society.

God’s Children in Korea

By Riley Russell, M. D.

HERE are two pictures that I am sure will be of interest to all. The old gentleman and his wife in the photograph have quite a history.
Son of Pai E. Myon, preacher, and his wife
Son of Pai E. Myon, preacher, and his wife
About six years ago as I was holding a Bible reading on the subject of the “Seal of God,” down by the Yellow Sea, an old man jumped to his feet and said, “I want this seal. Pray for me,” and sat down with the tears rolling down his face. He accepted the whole message and went to his home only to have all his belongings as well as himself thrown out of the house by one of his older sons. But he held on, and soon his youngest son and his wife accepted the faith, to be followed in a little while by his second youngest son. Then his oldest son yielded to the truth, and began preaching it in the extreme north of Korea, on the border of Manchuria. (The small picture of the man and his wife is this couple.)
About one month ago I had the privilege of dedicating a small church at the home of the older brother, and ordaining him as its elder. He is now about seventy years of age, and at the close of the organization the remaining son yielded to the pleading of the Holy Spirit, and he and his family made a complete surrender; so that now the father and his wife, his five sons and their families, and one daughter are one in desiring to be sealed with God’s seal. As the last son, the one who had persecuted the old gentleman, yielded to the claims of God’s law, the father broke down and cried, saying his cup of happiness was well-nigh full as he saw his whole family come into the fold. So the message goes, for it is an overcoming message.
RILEY RUSSELL, M. D.

Missionary Voyage and Literature Plan

By Editor

SOON after the readers receive this issue of the REVIEW, the largest number of outgoing missionaries ever sent out by the denomination at one time, about forty-five, not counting children, will be embarking from San Francisco, August 1, on the steamship “China.” Dangers are rife, these days, on land and sea. We believe our people generally will be glad to make this voyage of the “China” a subject of special prayer, that God’s angels may protect these dear missionaries leaving friends and home as they cross the broad Pacific, bringing them unto their desired haven. Forty-five more recruits to the waiting fields means much to the advancement of the message in the Far East.
LET all remember the special general plan to send a full set of the Present Truth Series to relatives and friends, beginning September 1. The names and full addresses of these persons, with remittance of 24 cents for each name, should be sent at once to the tract societies. The publishers will mail a copy of the Present Truth Series each week, beginning September 1, to each, until the full set of twenty-four issues has been sent. Do you not want to join in a general plan of this kind?

An Indian Medicine Dance

Writing from Chin Lee Indian Reservation, in Arizona, where he is laboring for this race, Brother Orno Follett describes an Indian medicine dance which he visited:—
“There are between thirty and forty thousand Indians on this reservation, nearly all of whom are as truly pagan as the heathen of darkest Africa.
“A few days ago I attended a ‘sing,’ as it is called, where ‘medicine men’ were endeavoring to drive the evil spirits out of a sick woman. They chanted weird songs all night long for many nights. A bright camp fire was kept burning in the center of the hogan while the priests and laymen participated in ceremonies to ‘the queen of heaven.’ The head priest would wave his long feather wand over the head of the patient, first this way four times, then that way four times; another burned incense on live coals of fire, after which sacred water was poured upon them, and they were thrown outside the camp. This was repeated. A kind of herb medicine was next taken by the patient, and then passed around to the guests, some of whom drank of it. The patient, all this time, was stripped to the waist. She was nearly white, and I noticed with surprise that she had blue eyes, showing that she was a half-breed.
Pai E. Myon and his wife, the father and mother
Pai E. Myon and his wife, the father and mother
“These priests get very much in earnest, and their weird songs are chanted with a vim which must tax their physical strength to the utmost, and great streams of sweat roll down their tense faces and bodies while they sway back and forth, singing and shaking native rattles to frighten away the evil spirits. The number of nights these ceremonies continue depends largely upon the number of sheep or goats the victim is able to pay the priests for their services!
“O, what a shame, what a pity, that we of this fair land, with its Christian privileges, should have overlooked and quite forgotten these poor deceived heathen so near our own happy Christian homes! May God fill our souls with a determination to see to it that these pagan neighbors of ours shall receive the warning message which is due ‘every nation, and kindred, and tongue.’
“Dear reader, pray for me, that I may have wisdom from God to know how to handle this most difficult field.”

CONTENTS

Note and Comment ................................ 2
EDITORIALS
Home Religion — The Spirit of Commercialism — The Divine Principle of Organization — “I Will if You Will” ... 3, 4
GENERAL ARTICLES
The Number of Bible Promises, J. N. Loughborough ............ 5
Forgiveness, D. E. Huffman ............ 5
The Atonement — No. 6, J. O. Corliss ......... 5
Christian Experience — No. 3, W. E. Hancock ............ 6
Alone with God, Mrs. Flora Post ........ 7
The World-Wide Field .................. 8, 9
Our Homes .............................. 10, 11
The Field Work ........................ 12–14
Missionary Volunteer Department ...... 14
Miscellaneous ........................ 15–17
Statistical Report .................... 18–22

Prescott Returns from South America

PROFESSOR and Mrs. W. W. Prescott reached Washington last week, from their South American trip.

Spicer Leaves for England

LAST week Elder W. A. Spicer left New York for England, to attend the conference meetings in the British Union.

Autumn Council and Week of Prayer Dates

WHILE the General Conference workers have been in Washington between the early and fall camp meetings, committee work has had attention. Among other important matters, the time of the autumn council was decided upon — October 17-31, at Takoma Park. The time of the next week of prayer has been set for December 9-16, one week earlier than last year.
Continue reading: Meyer Leaves Mexico