p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 29. (6/8/1916)

Elder M. C. Kirkendall

By N. S. Ashton

ELDER M. C. KIRKENDALL was born in Bigprairie, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1863. He departed this life May 15, 1916, at Washington, D. C., being at the time of his death just a little past 53 years of age. On Sept. 8, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma R. Morris, and to them were born five children,—Viola (now Mrs. Blosser), Myrtle, Earnest, Amber, and Virgil,—all of whom, with his wife and his mother, survive, except Earnest, who was laid to rest in childhood. Brother Kirkendall and his family accepted present truth in the fall of 1893, through the efforts of Elders Jerry Isles and William Woodford, at Shreve, Ohio.

Soon after accepting the truth, he entered the colporteur work, and was afterward made State agent of Ohio. He was finally ordained to the gospel ministry, and his labors have been blessed to the salvation of many souls. It can be truly said of him that his works do follow him. Elder Kirkendall acted as Bible teacher at Mount Vernon College for three years. While he was laboring in this capacity, he was called to take the pastorate of the South Side Church in Chicago, where he labored for three years.

He was then called to the presidency of the Ontario Conference, in which capacity he served a little over five years, and at the end of this time he was called back to the States to take the presidency of the Chesapeake Conference, which position he filled until the time of his death. He was brought to Mount Vernon, Ohio, for burial, where he had expected to come to live and recuperate his health, had not death prevented.

The funeral services were held in the academy chapel by the writer, assisted by Elders E. K. Slade, D. E. Lindsey, and F. H. Henderson. In the death of Elder Kirkendall we feel the loss of a faithful laborer, fallen at the post of duty. Another voice of the third angel's message is hushed in the silence of the tomb, and death has placed its seal upon his lips, but not forever. The willing hands which lie pulseless now, will soon be raised to seize the everlasting prize; and the lips so mute, are yet to shout the welcome to our King.

While the family mourn deeply their great loss, yet they mourn not as those that have no hope. Sometimes the sweetest voice of hope reaches us through the portals of the tomb, and by the tears of our deepest sorrow are watered into life the purest flowers of the soul. We confidently believe that our brother sleeps in Jesus, soon to arise at the resurrection of the just. N. S. ASHTON.

“The Way of Life”

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In the gospel dispensation, we find the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, while in the distance is seen, in faintest outline, the New Jerusalem, with its mansions so fair, coming down from the clouds to the earth.

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Philippines Baptisms and Literature Sales

ELDER L. V. FINSTER reports that last year 235 persons were baptized in the Philippines. The literature sales in that mission amounted to $12,678.

Brother Allen Moon to Work in Washington

BROTHER ALLEN MOON, long associated with the Lake Union Conference, more recently with the New England, has accepted the invitation to connect with the work in Washington. He will act as pastor of the Takoma Park church, and also assist in religious liberty work.

MacLachlan Begins College Presidency

PROF. B. F. MACLACHLAN, formerly principal of South Lancaster Academy, reached Washington last week, and entered upon his duties as president of the Washington Missionary College. He will attend some of the camp meetings in its territory in the interest of the College. The last of the week he went on to Richmond, Va., for the closing days of the camp meeting.

The Message Enters an Island Near Korea

THE message has recently entered a large island adjacent to Korea, in a peculiar manner. A heathen man, intoxicated at the time, bought literature of one of our colporteurs. Later he became a Christian, and suffered much persecution. Now a fellow believer has built a church, deeding it to our mission, and native evangelists are sent to carry forward the work. Several converts were recently baptized by Brother Butterfield, and a church was organized.

Tennessee Sunday Labor Trials

As has been stated in the Review, several of our brethren in Tennessee have been under indictment for Sunday labor. Their trial was held May 25. Elder C. S. Longacre, who was present, wires us as follows: “Robert and Ralph Ashton and Mr. Templeton were acquitted by court yesterday. In the cases of the two Robinsons, the jury stood ten to two for acquittal. But the two would not yield, so the court announced a mistrial, which means a victory.”

Early Childhood Impressions

THE impressions of early childhood are often powerful factors in shaping the life. One of the appointees going out soon to the Asiatic Division as a teacher writes: “From my earliest recollections I have loved the Lord and planned to do definite work for him. Since seven years of age, I have wished to be a foreign missionary.” Although exceptional difficulties made the road to an education a hard one, the early purpose has been adhered to, and now the way opens into the field of foreign service.

A Call for Workers in the Leeward Islands

A NOTE from Elder A. J. Haysmer, president of the West Indian Union, reports that he is accompanying Elder N. H. Pool, of the South Caribbean Conference, through some of the Leeward Islands. Again he sounds the call of need for workers. “Island after island,” he says, “has no worker.” Thus, whether from near-by points or from the ends of the earth, the appeal comes urging us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers.

A Precious Christian Faith

A recent letter from Elder H. A. St. John, of Sanitarium, Cal., speaks of his continued interest in the third angel's message. Brother St. John has been very feeble for a number of years. He says, “I grow weaker in infirmities, but my Saviour grows dearer, sweeter, and more precious all the time. I feel sure Jesus loves even me.” God loves the old standard bearers who have grown weary by the way and find it necessary to step aside and rest from their labor. It is indeed a precious Christian faith which can grow stronger under increasing infirmities. May God give to each of us such faith as this.

Our Literature in China

A LETTER written April 7, by Elder James E. Shultz, editor of the Chinese Signs of the Times, says: “Our magazine circulation here is steadily growing, so that our greatest anxiety in these war times is to be able to buy paper on which to publish it. The war is not restricting its circulation, as you will realize when I tell you that recently I received a code telegram from the most western dependency of China, asking us to print a citizens’ petition in our paper. This petition came from Kashgar, Chinese Turkestan, and was signed by the most prominent people of the city. They have evidently thought our magazine the most influential in China. I hope through this to get a number of subscriptions. This is the way that our message is being spread in China.

A short time ago word came that a pastor in Shan-si bought nine copies of our magazine, which he carefully studied, with the result that he is now a full-fledged believer in the third angel’s message, and has believers in sixty villages. He brings with him schools, church buildings, and one advanced school in which are teachers who are graduates of the Peking and Tientsin universities. Thus our work is spreading, and thus the Lord is encouraging us in pushing it forward. We pray for a faithful heart, that we may be able to present the truth in a clear, attractive way.”

Death of Elder M. C. Kirkendall

In the death of Elder M. C. Kirkendall, whose obituary appears in this number, the cause of truth has lost a faithful and efficient laborer.

Nurse Returns to Pitcairn Island

A DISPATCH from Bridgeport, Conn., published in the Los Angeles Tribune, states that Miss Emily McCoy, who for a number of years has been engaged in nursing in Bridgeport, will leave in a few weeks for Pitcairn Island, her birthplace. Years ago her mother died on the island without medical attention, and Miss McCoy resolved to prepare herself to minister to the physical needs of her people. Accordingly over fifteen years ago she left Pitcairn Island and since that time has been studying nursing, dentistry, and other lines of work, with a view to fitting herself to return. She has been endeavoring to go back to Pitcairn for a number of years, but has been unable to secure passage on any boat which would stop there. The opening of the Panama Canal places Pitcairn Island more in direct route of some of the ocean liners, and on one of these Miss McCoy hopes to obtain passage. She is endeavoring to take back with her a piano to supplement the work of the organ presented to the inhabitants in 1870 by Queen Victoria, which is still the only musical instrument of note to be found on Pitcairn. The dispatch states that there are one hundred and ninety-five inhabitants on the island at the present time. All are Seventh-day Adventists.

The Rural School Work

By I. H. Evans

SABBATH, June 10, is the day appointed to take the offering for our rural school work in the South. Special readings have been prepared for the service, and it is hoped that our people will heartily respond to the needs of this line of work.

Some of the schools already established must be strengthened. They cannot do the work which they are undertaking without additional facilities, and an offering is to be taken that some of these imperative needs may be supplied. Nothing should hinder the offering from being a liberal one. This offering does not apply on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, but is a special freewill offering for work in the homeland.

I. H. EVANS.

“Liberty” Extra Campaign

The new Liberty Extra campaign is well started. More than 50,000 copies have already been sent out through the mails. The orders are coming in by the thousands every day. Congress is not going to adjourn so soon as we had expected; so this gives us a little longer time in which to obtain signatures to the petition blanks that appear in the back part of the Liberty Extra. A good, earnest campaign right now will go a long way toward defeating the pending Sunday and press measures before Congress. Our people should put forth extra effort to get as many of these Extras in the hands of the people as possible. Strong pressure is being brought to bear upon Congressmen to report the press bills and the new Sunday bill (S. 5677) out of committee. So far action has been deferred on all these measures. Let our churches send in their orders at once for the Liberty Extra, the price of which is $8 per 1,000, or $1 per 100.