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Review and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 34.

ICHABOD
Earlier text: The Missionary's Commission and Preparation

The Arkansas Camp-Meeting

By John W. Covert

This conference and camp-meeting was held at Van Buren, Ark., July 17-27. About one hundred and thirty were in attendance, some tenting on the grounds, and others occupying rooms near by. The camp-meeting was preceded by a strong tent effort, which began June 25. During this time many testing points of our faith were given, and about a dozen new believers took their stand for the truth. At the time of the camp-meeting, the interest was increasing, and many from the city came regularly to the services. The same brethren who conducted the tent-meeting continued their efforts at the evening services during the camp-meeting, and remained to follow up the interest.
The camp was districted, and leaders appointed to conduct morning worship in each division. Services for the young people and children were held every day throughout the meeting, under the direction of competent leaders.
Elder G. F. Watson, president of the Southwestern Union, and O. B. Watson, Missionary Volunteer secretary for the union, were present the first week. Their services were a great help, and were much appreciated by all present. We regretted that it was necessary for them to leave early for the colored camp-meeting in Texas. Elder J. P. Anderson, of China, was with us until the close of the meeting. He gave many interesting and instructive talks on the work in that great mission field. Elder Eugene Leland, of Michigan, came during the second week of the meeting, remaining until the close. The practical instruction given in his sermons was much appreciated. Brother A. F. Harrison added much of interest by his talks concerning the progress of the book work, and his earnest efforts to enlist the young people in this service. Prof. H. H. Hamilton, of Keene Academy, was present in the interest of the educational work. He also audited the conference books.
The business of the conference passed off very harmoniously. With the exception of a few changes in the departmental secretaries, the same officers were chosen for another year.
The report of the president showed encouraging advancement in the conference work. In the last four years the tithe per capita has increased from $8.97 to $18.58; gifts to missions from $4.09 to an average of over $9 for each member. Four years ago the tract society was in debt to the amount of $6,300. All except $500 of this debt has now been paid, and $400 of that amount was provided for at the camp-meeting. Our Midsummer Offering in the past has been less than fifty dollars each year. This time we had the readings and took up a collection of $53 at the camp. We have heard from only one church as yet, and that company sent in sixty dollars. This makes at least a total of $113.
Our canvassers are doing excellent work. Arkansas has proved to be a fruitful field, but more than half the State remains still as new territory, where neither the printed page nor the living preacher has entered.
We all feel that there are better times ahead for the work in this conference. A spirit of love and unity pervaded the camp during the entire meeting. In my forty-three years' attendance at camp-meetings, it has never been my privilege to join in a greater spiritual feast than that afforded at this convocation. God is surely going before his people, opening the way. Let us all be of good courage in the Lord.
JOHN W. COVERT.

Louisiana Camp-Meeting

By S. E. Wight

THE annual conference and camp-meeting of the Louisiana Conference was held in Alexandria, July 23-30. The camp was located by the street-car line in a beautiful residence section of the city. For three weeks previous to the camp-meeting a course of lectures was conducted by Elder R. W. Parmele, the conference president, with a corps of workers. The outside interest was excellent during the meeting, and some fruit of the effort was visible. The people were very courteous, and many favors were shown the campers. The interest will be followed up. Eighteen family tents were well filled with earnest people from all parts of the conference. The weather was pleasant, the camp was neat, and everything was comfortably arranged. The dining-tent was screened, and a good impression was made by the inexpensive, well-cooked food. People were impressed with the good order and neatness of the camp.
Elder W. W. Eastman, of Washington, D. C., Prof. C. L. Stone, of Graysville Academy, the union conference laborers, and the writer, were in attendance. Dr. Lydia E. Parmele gave some timely instruction on health topics, which was much appreciated. A good spirit prevailed throughout the meeting.
The Lord blessed those who sought him for special help, and at the close of the meeting all left the camp rejoicing.
Fifty-five persons had received baptism by the ministry of the conference during the past year, and one new church had been organized, which was added to the conference at this meeting. The time of the camp-meeting covered but one Sabbath, and the Sabbath-school offering on that Sabbath was $30, which was nearly one half more than was received the previous year for both Sabbaths of the camp-meeting. The Midsummer Offering was taken up in the meeting following the Sabbath-school, and amounted, in cash and pledges, to $408.
Practically the same officers were elected to conduct the work of the conference during the year to come. The work in all lines shows a substantial gain. The book work has especially advanced. Several colporteurs have recently been added to their band, which leads us to believe that soon the State of Louisiana will be doing a large work in the circulation of our good books. The tithe increased $1,709.17 over the previous year. The Sabbath-school offerings increased $208.98. There is every reason for encouragement in the work in the Louisiana Conference, and to expect still greater advancement in the year to come. S. E. WIGHT.

Newspaper Publicity

By E. L. Cardey

I HAVE had the privilege of demonstrating to some extent this summer the value of the newspaper as a means of publicity in connection with our work in city efforts. This is the second summer that I have held tent-meetings in the city of Albany, N. Y. Last year we did not use the papers, but depended on the use of handbills. We had quite a successful effort, but were able to draw the people from only a short distance from the tent. This year we decided to obtain the help of the big daily papers if possible.
While I have published sermons now and then heretofore, our intention this year was to get them published every day if possible. Consequently, we decided to select the leading morning paper of the city, and center all our efforts on this paper to get the sermons published. I first went to see the business manager, and through him got in touch with the editor-in-chief. I stated just what we were going to do. We received the promise of fair play, and they said they would send a man to the tent every day to get the copy, which they have faithfully done.
We have now been holding the meetings nearly four weeks, and without a failure the paper has published the sermon each morning after it was delivered. Only a few have been cut down, and nearly all have appeared with big head-lines on a prominent page in the paper. So far about one million copies of these papers containing these short sermons have been scattered all over this part of the State. This week we are dealing with the Sabbath question, and to our satisfaction the papers came out Monday morning, with a four-inch heading, setting forth our position on that subject. This morning the change of the Sabbath was published.
The results of this newspaper work are many. We have people coming from all parts of the city. I have received letters from prominent men who say they have been reading the articles in the papers, and write asking questions. We know of a number who attended the first part of the meetings, then went away on their vacation, but are having the paper follow them so they can keep up with the subjects.
A gentleman came to the tent last evening for the first time, he told me. Yet he has read every sermon, and when he saw the sermon on the Sabbath question he could not stay away longer, and the first thing he said was, "I believe all that you have been saying, the Sabbath truth the same as the rest." He is a railroad engineer, and possibly he will take his stand for the truth.
Surely the Lord has given us a wonderful means of reaching the people through the daily papers, and he will give us favor with the editors if we take him with us and approach the men in the right way. At the end of the summer's work we shall no doubt have much more to say of the final results of this newspaper campaign. E. L. CARDEY.

Why Our Tent Efforts Are Not More Successful

By K. C. Russell

THERE is one question we need well to consider: Why are our public efforts not more productive in winning souls? This is especially true of tent-meetings. How often we hear of the holding of a tent-meeting, at much sacrifice of both time and means, with scarcely any results. True, it is impossible to always determine the chief cause of an unsuccessful effort. There is one cause, however, that I wish to mention, which I believe has much to do in making our tent work unsuccessful, and that is in striking our tent and closing our meetings prematurely.
This might not seem to be so serious a matter if a single meeting was to close before the effort was properly developed; but when hundreds of tent-meetings are discontinued with the interest possibly at its height, or when precious souls are in the valley of decision, it becomes a more serious matter.
It seems to me that the time has come when every conference official and laborer should seriously study the disastrous results that are sure to follow in closing our tent efforts before the interest is sufficiently developed. Consider the aggregate amount of means expended in salaries, tent equipment, freight, railroad fare, and advertising, in the conducting of our many tent efforts every season throughout the world. These considerations are nothing, however, as compared to the value of human souls who have been aroused to the importance of the truth for these times, and then left to lapse back worse than they were before, as the result of cutting short the tent effort.
All who have had experience in conducting evangelistic meetings in a tent, know that the most critical time to leave an interest is just after souls have decided to obey. It is then that the enemy of all truth seeks to enshroud them in discouragement. The most serious time to leave new converts is at such a time as that.
It is desirable that our workers shall be in attendance at the annual camp-meeting, but I believe that our camp-meetings should be arranged at a time in the season which will not conflict with this the most important part of the work in which we are engaged. If, perchance, it cannot be arranged to conduct the camp-meeting without conflicting with the tent efforts, then one or more of the workers should stay with the effort, while the others attend the camp-meeting, and not jeopardize the interest they have labored so hard to develop. One might reason that they could close up their effort and attend camp-meeting even though they are in the midst of their interest, and then return after the camp-meeting is over and take up the work where they left it. But to revive an interest after allowing it to decline is a practical impossibility, for those who were interested will in many instances have lost their interest, and others will become prejudiced against the truth and will not care to listen further.
Again: it should be remembered that when a company is left undeveloped by those who first taught them the truth, it is next to impossible for another person to perfect the work which has been begun, for they will discount what is taught them, because they did not receive it from the one who first brought them the truth.
I am confident that when we come to appreciate the importance of the evangelistic work as we should, we shall more carefully consider the effect upon our tent work, when we arrange for our annual camp-meeting.
Respecting the importance and value of evangelistic work, I wish herewith to quote from the recent report rendered by the president of the General Conference, found on pages 7, 8, of the General Conference Bulletin, May 15, 1913, as follows:—
"The preaching of the gospel is the fundamental part of gospel work. It precedes all other phases of that work. It is that which, more than any other kind of effort, makes disciples, and adds to the church such as are being saved. All other features of gospel work are built upon this. All the administrative and institutional work of the church springs from the results of preaching the gospel. However good and important the administrative and educational work may be, it can never successfully take the place of purely evangelical work. That must go on, or the other departments, which spring from its results, will become of none effect in advancing the cause of Christ.
"The pioneers of this movement laid great stress on the proclamation of the gospel as it was revealed to them in the threefold message of Revelation 14. This led them to the most earnest, prayerful study of the Word, and to a close and constant association with the people. Their preaching convinced hearers, and led many of them to accept the message. As they pressed forward with their work, and believers were added to their numbers, they began to feel the need of agencies which they could use to multiply their forces, efficiency, and results. This brought the printing-office, the school, the sanitarium, and organization, but all these were designed by the pioneers to be only tools in their hands to hasten the work.
"It was no thought of those who launched these administrative and institutional features that they could take the place of the evangelical work that had been carried forward, but the tendency has ever been for these features to paralyze evangelical work. The formal, business, and mechanical duties needed in the carrying on of the organized work and institutions, can be performed without special spiritual attainments; whereas, successful evangelical work cannot be done without much study of the work, earnest prayer, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. For these reasons the tendency is to swing toward the formal, mechanical, official part of the work, to the neglect of the more spiritual and purely evangelical phase.
"Some of us cannot forget the earnest, pressing call that came to us through the spirit of prophecy at the last General Conference to turn to the cities in strong evangelical effort everywhere."
Since we know that the evangelical phase of our work is that upon which all other lines of the third angel's message depend, shall we not conduct it in a manner that will demonstrate that we really believe it, and thus hasten the close of the work?

Our First Foreign Missionary Society

By Frederick M. Rossiter, M. D.

IN these days when our foreign missionary work has assumed such large proportions under the third angel's message, it may be of interest to the readers of the REVIEW, to our foreign workers, and to students in our schools to know something about the first foreign missionary society in this denomination. In fact, this society was one of the first young people's societies organized with a definite purpose for a definite work.
It came about in this way: In the summer of 1890, Brother C. N. Sanders and the writer were canvassing in upper Michigan for "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." We were in Escanaba during the hottest part of the summer. One night it was so hot and sultry that I could not sleep, and my mind was active reviewing the past school year and planning how to make the coming year a much better one. Finally the idea came to me that we ought to have a foreign missionary society in the college, and right then and there I decided that as soon as I went back to college, I would see some of the boys and make a start. Before morning I had it all planned out whom I should see and invite to join in such a movement. I have always felt the Lord put that idea into my mind, for at that time I had not heard of the Student Volunteer Movement, organized by Robert Speer and a few other young men among the colleges of the land, with this as their work: "The Evangelization of the World in This Generation." I believe that their first convention was held in 1886.
Before the first week of school was past the idea was working. Some whom I thought would eagerly take hold of the scheme were not interested. Harry Anderson had been my roommate and I thought surely Harry would be in for the plan, but he did not see it that way. However, Harry joined the next year, and all the readers of the REVIEW are familiar with the work Elder W. H. Anderson has done in Central Africa.
One Saturday night in September, 1890, seven young men met in a room in West Hall and organized the College Foreign Mission Band. Those present were: Guy Dail, Lee Wheeler, Frank Lyndin, Ned Caro, Will Emery, ———, and F. M. Rossiter. We organized, drew up a constitution and by-laws, and decided on a very definite plan of study of foreign missions. The following were the officers for the first year: President, F. M. Rossiter; secretary, Guy Dail; treasurer, Will Emery.
The college faculty did not look with favor upon our plan—only twenty-three years ago!—and so we met quietly in our private rooms every night after the Sabbath, and I am confident not one will ever forget the great blessings we enjoyed as we had seasons of prayer and studied foreign missions. Our first collections and donations went toward getting books and foreign mission magazines published by other denominations.
In 1891 the young ladies of the college organized their Foreign Mission Band, and members were added to our original seven. That year we were permitted to meet in the college library, and frequently we had joint meetings. Any missionary who came to Battle Creek promptly received an invitation to speak to our bands. Elders O. A. Olsen, W. C. White, L. A. Hoopes, W. A. Spicer, and others kindly consented to meet with us, and they not only talked about foreign missions, but gave us some very wholesome suggestions and advice. Altogether our meetings were deeply spiritual and an uplift to all.
In 1893 most of the early members of the bands were graduated, but the membership had largely increased, and the outside attendance was good. Following our organization, similar bands, I understand, were formed in some of our other colleges.
The first member of the Foreign Mission Band to go out as a foreign missionary was Miss Hattie Andre. Her farewell meeting was a very solemn occasion to us all, and we felt that the end could not be very far off. In the years that have come and gone since, many who were members of the college Foreign Mission Bands have gone into foreign fields or are actively engaged in service in the home field.
FREDERICK M. ROSSITER, M. D. Portland, Oregon.

The Needs of the Indian Mission Work

By F. A. Stahl

Elder F. A. Stahl, of the Indian mission in Peru, writes from La Paz, the capital of Bolivia:—
“This year we have opened a mission for the Indians here in La Paz, as we have in this city sixty thousand Aymara Indians. We combine the medical and the school work with the gospel, and have found this way very successful.
“This Indian work will connect in a way with our Indian work on the shores of Lake Titicaca, as the Indians living there come to La Paz to find a ready market for their produce. In this way also the message will be carried between these two mission stations. We need more workers to help care for these interests.
“We need an industrial farm,—this has been under consideration in Bolivia for the past three years,—a place where we can educate the Indians and at the same time benefit the mission by the work done. The fact is, we believe that such a farm in the right place will be a strong factor in making this work self-supporting.
“Besides, such a place at a low altitude would keep up the health of the workers. They could get a change and at the same time be working. There is so much work to attend to that we do not like to leave the field for a change. There are other cities at a lower altitude where one might go for a change, but as there are no railroad connections it is hard to get to them. Since opening our mission for the Indians here in La Paz, an Indian who attended our first meeting told us of a fine farm, only one day from La Paz, which could be bought for six thousand dollars. This farm is at an altitude of seven thousand feet—just the thing—and has a temperate climate.
“Prices are very high for produce at all times of the year. For example, potatoes are from $3.20 to $5 a bushel, and everything else accordingly. So I repeat that if we had such a place, it would be a paying investment, and especially would it pay by preserving the health of the workers. We are praying and hoping that the necessary amount can be sent us from the General Conference so that we can buy this place at once; for at this very time all the workers that are in Bolivia need just such a change as this industrial farm would afford.”

Financial Standing of the Fireside Correspondence School

By C. C. Lewis

The following statement needs no explanation, and should cause all to rejoice that one more institution is paying its way.

Cash Statement of the Fireside Correspondence School Covering Entire Time

July, 1909, to June 30, 1913

RECEIPTS
June 30, 1910 . . . . . . . . . . $1860.10
June 30, 1911 . . . . . . . . . . 2149.29
June 30, 1912 . . . . . . . . . . 1668.27
June 30, 1913 . . . . . . . . . . 1896.80
$7574.46
Inventory, July 1, 1913 . . . . . $2709.97
$10284.43
EXPENDITURES: SALARY, GENERAL SUP- PLIES, TEACHERS, ETC.
June 30, 1910 . . . . . . . . . . $2124.76
June 30, 1911 . . . . . . . . . . 2688.79
June 30, 1912 . . . . . . . . . . 1852.86
June 30, 1913 . . . . . . . . . . 2141.18
Unexpired tuition July 1, 1913 234.22
$9041.81
Present worth July 1, 1913....$1242.62
This is to certify that I have checked the accounts of the Fireside Correspondence School, and I find the attached statement to agree with the books in detail. When credit is given for the inventory July 1, 1913 ($2,709.97), and charge made for the unexpired tuition ($234.22), the statement and the account in the General Conference books are in balance. R. T. DOWSETT, Auditor.
The undersigned would extend congratulations to his predecessor, Prof. W. E. Howell, under whose able and efficient management so good a result has been obtained, and would take this occasion to commend also the lessons that have been prepared, the system of keeping records and accounts, and the general foundation that has been laid. If, by the blessing of God, he shall be able to continue the structure begun upon this foundation, and maintain the high character already formed, he will feel that he has indeed done well.
All profits of the Correspondence School, above a working capital, are turned over to the missionary fund of the General Conference.
C. C. LEWIS.

A Call for Volunteers

By M. E. Kern

THE late General Conference was the greatest missionary conference ever held by Seventh-day Adventists. There were more representatives from foreign fields than at any previous meeting of this kind, and it was plainly evident that the missionary idea has taken deep hold upon our people. This is witnessed by the splendid showing of gifts to missions, and by the willingness of our workers to go to distant and difficult fields to labor. One hundred and fifty persons, in all, were recommended by the Conference to take up foreign work. It might seem that this large number would be all we could send out for some time to come. There are, however, just now several calls which the Mission Board has not been able to fill for want of suitable persons to go. Urgent calls for help will doubtless continue to press upon us; and we must prepare to do a greater work during the next four years in carrying this message to the ends of the earth than has ever yet been done.
To do this work we must have well-trained missionaries. Let our younger workers, and the young men and women in our schools, consider well the claims of foreign missions upon them. We need several more volunteers at this time,—ministers, teachers, Bible workers, nurses, and colporteurs. Those who are selected will be given a special training for their work in the Foreign Mission Seminary. Let those upon whom God is laying the burden of the great unoccupied fields in the regions beyond, and who can take up this work of preparation at once, write to the secretary of the Mission Board, or to the writer, stating their qualifications, experience, and desires, and giving references. Full information will be given them, and their desires will be carefully considered.
M. E. KERN.

Field Notes

Seven adults have recently been received into the Hamilton (Ontario) church by baptism.
A new Sabbath-school has just been organized at Central Park, Mont., and five are keeping the Sabbath as the fruits of a series of meetings held near Stevensville.
Elder G. W. Caviness tells of a recent trip among some of the churches of Mexico, during which he baptized seventeen at Torreon, sixteen at Monterey, and fourteen at Visnaga.

Publishing Department

By E. M. Graham

N. Z. TOWN - - - General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

After Many Days

A LETTER from Elder B. J. Cady tells of an interesting experience. While on the Southern Oregon camp-ground, a woman came to him, saying, "Do you know me?" He did not. She then told him that at one time he had held meetings in her neighborhood in Dakota for a short time, and had left "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation" in her mother-in-law's house. He remembered doing this, and that at the end of three weeks he was called away to care for some sick workers, and did not return. He heard at the time of one who began to keep the Sabbath, and now, twenty-seven years later, learned that the books left there and his short stay had resulted in four others accepting the truth.
This is an encouraging incident. Who knows what the books, tracts, and papers that are being left in the homes are doing? Let us place more literature in the hands of the people to do its appointed work of enlightening them in regard to this truth.
E. M. GRAHAM.

Successful Tract Selling

By N. Z. T.

THE Pacific Press Publishing Association has been making special efforts to dispose of tracts in packages. They first prepared a five-dollar package, which they sold very successfully at camp-meetings. Next they prepared a dollar package, which met with equal success. For the camp-meeting season this year, they added to these three twenty-five-cent packages, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. The following item taken from a letter written by Brother H. H. Hall, July 31, shows how readily these tracts are taken by our people:
"Since the first of the year, we have sold 1,623 of the twenty-five-cent packages No. 1, 1,450 of package No. 2, 1,426 of package No. 3, 1,115 dollar packages, and 318 five-dollar packages."
This makes a total number of tracts sold as follows:—
TRACTS PAGES
In the twenty-five-cent packages 113,632 1,179,600
In dollar packages 109,270 1,784,000
In five-dollar packages 246,450 3,307,200
Total 469,352 6,270,800
Concerning this tract work Brother Hall says: "You will be interested to know that tract sales are becoming very, very heavy with us. The packages which we now manufacture, a circular of which I enclose, seem to be generally appreciated by the people. Yesterday at a missionary meeting at the San Jose camp-ground, 47 of the five-dollar packages were taken in a few minutes. Our Kansas City House has been ordering tracts for its camp-meetings to an extent that has greatly surprised us. In addition to a stock which we supposed was sufficient, they wired yesterday for 100 of the dollar packages, 30 of the five-dollar packages, and 100 each of the twenty-five-cent packages."
These are indeed cheering figures, and are an indication of what our people may do in circulating tracts when they become thoroughly interested in this work. Now that special efforts are being made by the General Conference missionary secretary to reorganize the home missionary work in our churches, we believe that we shall hear of a still greater increase in the sale of our message-filled tracts, not only from the Pacific Press, but from all the other publishing houses among us. N. Z. T.

Missionary Volunteer Department

By R. A. Underwood

M. E. KERN - - - General Secretary MATILDA ERICKSON - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary

Cooperation of Conference Officers and Others in Young People's Work

THE principle of cooperation is fundamental to success in all human endeavor. The animal, vegetable, and commercial kingdoms are built upon the principle of cooperation, and no less is the intellectual and spiritual development of man dependent upon cooperation.
Without cooperation man's best efforts are but failures. Hence the success or failure which will attend the efforts to help the young will depend upon the degree of cooperation given by conference officers and others to those engaged in this work.
We may not fully grasp the importance of parents, teachers, ministers, and conference officers uniting with the efforts of those selected to labor especially in the most fruitful field of all Christian endeavor—among young people. It is not necessary openly to oppose the young people's work to be a hindrance to the efforts made for the youth. Indifference, or the attitude of watching the efforts of others with a question mark, is all that is necessary to place one in the ranks of a modern Sanballat at the gateway of spiritual advancement among the young people in a church or a conference, especially so if the person has considerable influence.
If we could measure the possibilities of the human soul, if we could realize the dangers that beset the pathway of the youth and understand the desire on the part of many for help, our indifference or spirit of questioning would be changed into earnest, sympathetic endeavor to help the young in the formation of right thinking, action, and character building. There is need for a life-saving crew composed of parents, church and conference officers, including all the conference workers, to rescue many going the downward path to eternal ruin.
It is not enough that each local and union conference select suitable persons to give time and strength to labor for the young people. There ought to be a strong, united effort on the part of all conference workers to bring into sympathetic touch the young people of this denomination with our organized work, and as far as possible see that they are in training for service.
It is a hopeful sign that Mal. 4:6 is being fulfilled. The human heart calls for sympathy; especially is this so of the young. Our hearts must be large and full of sympathy born of kindness if we help the youth. The good impulses of the young must be nourished, their wayward tendencies checked, their laudable ambitions encouraged, while new aspirations and purposes must be planted and cultivated in the soul. In the past, great loss has come to this cause, and to the young people, because we have not exercised a wise, aggressive policy to enlist the talent among the young people and harness it for service. The great demand and need of the cause of God today is more burden-bearers, and those capable of carrying heavy responsibilities. How is this crying need to be met? Where shall leaders in all departments of this cause be found? They must be found among the growing young people. We have not outlived the inspired message written for our learning: "It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." Lam. 3:27.
Our mission fields and conferences need an efficient ministry and leaders in various lines of work. If this demand is met, the young among us must be trusted with weighty responsibilities. Years ago I was urging the conference in which I was acting as president to place in the ministry and Bible work all the available trustworthy young people possible. Two good brethren from another State came to me and said, "Elder Underwood, we have a word of counsel, and you will not be offended if we give it?" I replied, "Certainly not." They continued, "We are fearful that you will spoil these young men," naming several who were at the last General Conference either as delegates from a foreign land or bearing burdens in the general work. "You are placing too much responsibility upon them; they are in danger of having the big-head," etc.
I said, in reply, "Good brethren, I wish I had ten thousand such young men to spoil. I would do my best to spoil them for everything except to become laborers in the cause of the third angel's message."
The great apostle gave his son in the gospel an important charge which should be kept today. "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy." "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Every worker in this cause ought to be a recruiting-officer to enlist the young in its service. The efficiency of a laborer in his riper years depends largely upon his experience in his early life and the burdens he then successfully carried.
No one can prescribe just how, in each case, one is to cooperate in the work of developing the young for service. In most cases the first step is to create a desire on their part to become of service in this work, and to become fitted to do the very best work possible for God and their fellow men. A school of training is necessary in most cases.
In order to help the young, one must become a child himself. Luke 18:17. We must make the young our companions as far as possible in study, in labor, and recreation. We cannot drive the young, but rather lead them in right paths.
We should place before the young a vision of life's possibilities and its responsibilities. If we are able to lead the youth, we must have their confidence so they will trust us, and we on our part should trust them with increasing responsibilities as they are able to carry them with safety.
We must extend a helping hand to those in discouragement and to those who have fallen into sin.
A devotion born of love to develop strong burden-bearers among the young people, will be cooperating with God and angels. To this work Heaven's approval will be given. R. A. UNDERWOOD.
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