The sanitarium at Melrose, Mass., is situated seven miles out of Boston, in an extensive park system known as the Fells, reserved for public use and preserved in its natural beauty.
The New England Sanitarium was first opened in South Lancaster, Mass., in 1899. In 1902 it was decided to move the institution nearer the great city of Boston; and the committee in charge of the matter found the present property, which was then used as a hotel, and were successful in securing it for sanitarium purposes.
_Location_
It is doubtful whether a more desirable spot could be found in all New England for sanitarium work than this, situated in the midst of a tract of land of such great natural beauty that thousands of acres have been reserved by the State, in order to preserve it from the marring hand of civilization. Although the sanitarium grounds are only six miles from the heart of Boston, they are surrounded by a veritable wilderness of woodlands, rocks, and rugged fells, and are completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the business world.
The grounds are about a mile from the city of Melrose, and two miles from Malden, both of which are thriving suburbs of Boston.17
_The Buildings_
The buildings belonging to the sanitarium are a commodious main building, an annex, three cottages or dormitories, a large barn, and several other buildings. The new main building, which, on account of the rapid growth of the work, was added to the plant in the spring of 1906, was designed especially for the facility and convenience of sanitarium work. It contains sixty-five guest-rooms, physicians' offices, treatment-rooms, parlors, and a dining-room. Every guest-room in this building is exposed to the sun during at least a part of the day. The building is equipped with a first-class hydraulic elevator, steam heating, electric lights, telephones, call-bells, and other modern conveniences.
In spite of many hardships through which the institution has passed, it has always been fairly prosperous; and on a late visit to the sanitarium, the writer found it enjoying excellent prospects of a good patronage of many of the leading people of Boston. The religious condition was also encouraging. At morning worship the chapel was filled with helpers from every department. The Sabbath services are especially interesting, and helpers and managers are putting forth earnest effort to help in every way possible the guests in the institution. They are also holding health schools, giving lectures, and doing other Christian Help work in Boston. To this effort the Lord is adding his blessing.
A matter of great encouragement to those directly connected with the institution, is the late decision of the court in a suit against the sanitarium for taxes, which has been pending for several years. When organized, the institution was chartered as a benevolent institution, and exempted from taxation. For some reason, certain citizens desired to have this matter changed, and a suit was instituted to recover past taxes. This suit was lost by the sanitarium in the home court; but the decision was reversed in the higher court, and the institution was sustained as a charitable institution on account of its philanthropic work, and for the reason that no individual nor corporation receives any dividends from its operation. This decision saves the institution an expenditure of about seven thousand dollars, and relieves it from taxation in the future.
The last report from this sanitarium states that there are seventy patients in the institution. The workers are not sufficient in numbers to care for the guests properly, without extra hard work and long hours; but all are working to the utmost until others can come to their aid.
The work the sanitarium is doing in adjacent territory by holding schools of health, giving lectures on health topics, etc., is winning many friends. It is only necessary to let intelligent people know of the work done in our sanitariums, in order to win their co-operation. Next week we shall give more in detail the plan on which this institution is working in getting to the people. W. A. R.
Faithfulness in Tithing Rewarded
By G. W. Wells
RECENTLY I wrote to Brother ——, telling him I was visiting the isolated Sabbath-keepers in the eastern part of the conference, and that I expected to spend a certain Sabbath with him, and as I did not know just how to find his place, I would be glad to have him meet me at the station.
I arrived at the appointed time, and was pleased to find the brother there waiting for me; we had a very pleasant conversation, while riding out to his country home. I learned on the way that he was in harmony with all points of the truth, and was glad to hear of its progress.
Arriving at his house, I was attracted by the well-filled corn-crib, and found upon inquiry that he had a little better crop than others. I became more curious and interested, after seeing his tithe receipts from the office, and was led to ask him what, in his opinion, was the secret of his success. I was immediately referred to the third chapter of Malachi.
I soon found he was particular to “bring in all the tithe” “of all that” God gave him. Gen. 28:22. His wife, I found, was just as particular, believing that a tithe of “all” the eggs and butter was “holy unto the Lord.” Lev. 27:30.
The neighborhood talk is, “They get along so nicely, and work only five days in a week;” and their neighbors know that they pay a “tithe of all,” and they talk about that also.
I wonder how many of our brethren and sisters on small farms, or in other work, are meeting the Bible requirements and receiving the blessing of God, to such an extent as to cause their neighbors to take notice of it and talk about it among themselves.
G. W. WELLS.
Give the Best You Have
By Madeline S. Bridges
THERE are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are pure and true;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
Give love, and love to your life will flow,
A strength in your utmost need;
Have faith, and a score of hearts will show
Their faith in your word and deed.
Give truth, and your gifts will be paid in kind,
And honor will honor meet;
And a smile that is sweet will surely find
A smile that is just as sweet.
Give pity and sorrow to those who mourn,
You will gather in flowers again
The scattered seeds from your thought outborne,
Though the sowing seemed but in vain.
For life is the mirror of king and slave,
'Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best that you have,
And the best will come back to you.
—Madeline S. Bridges.
Medical Missionary Department
By W. A. Ruble
Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
W. A. Ruble, M. D. Secretary
Sanitarium Relief Campaign
By L. A. Hansen
The Reason for the Campaign
As may be known at once, the direct call for the sanitarium relief campaign is to give financial assistance to our sanitariums. There may be those who do not understand why this is necessary, so a few words of explanation may be in place.
Our sanitarium holdings represent the larger part of our investment in institutional property, the valuation of sanitarium properties being more than that of all our educational and publishing institutions combined. The last published statistical report gives $2,766,346.50 as the total investment in sanitariums.
The assets of these institutions are reckoned upon the basis that is usually followed in making inventories, allowing for depreciation in values from year to year; placing real-estate values on the basis of original cost, with the cost of improvements added, and not increasing them in ratio with advanced prices of surrounding property, or inflating them because of local real-estate booms. So our sanitariums stand listed at what they cost us, and what they are actually worth to us. They are valuable holdings and good assets.
Possible Danger
As things are now, we can feel a large degree of satisfaction in the possession of these institutions, and we do not need to view with alarm the call that is being made for help. It does not mean that our sanitarium work is in critical danger, or that the situation is one necessarily to cause apprehension. While we think our institutions are generally upon a good financial basis, yet it is only acting the part of wisdom and discretion in the time of prosperity to use every effort available to strengthen their financial condition, in order that they may stand any severe shock coming from a possible general financial depression. To accomplish this has been the main object of this campaign of relief.
It has been with a great deal of satisfaction that we have up to the present time been able to say to our people that in placing their means in our denominational institutions they were making a perfectly safe investment. We are confident, however, that this satisfaction would be greatly enhanced with the people in general if they knew that this security existed, because, through the aid of the people, the financial condition of each institution had been so strengthened that each for itself would be able to operate successfully, and withstand any crisis that might come.
Some Burdened Ones
While our sanitarium work as a whole may be considered in a position of strength, some of these institutions are meeting with perplexity and embarrassment because of their financial burdens. Their situation may be explained upon grounds that are very evident. Some of the causes of sanitarium indebtedness will be presented later.
As it is, a number of these institutions have carried an indebtedness from the time they were started. This has been in the form of loans or other interest-bearing accounts. This item of interest has had to be met from year to year, and in many cases must still be met. At the present time our sanitariums are paying out in interest every year a sum that in almost every instance is more than sufficient to cover whatever deficit there may be in the operating earnings of the institution. In other words, our sanitariums would, almost without exception, be fully self-supporting were it not for the interest they have to meet.
Working at Odds
Such a burden as this is one that must be felt in the whole work of the institution. Lack of means necessitates working under cramped conditions. Essential facilities can not be secured. Necessary improvements can not be made. Much-needed repairs must be neglected, so that what is done as a matter of economy really becomes a costly waste, on the principle that “a stitch in time saves nine.”
Under such conditions the work of the institution is made harder. The opportunities for giving satisfactory service are lessened. The workers labor at a disadvantage, and suffer because of it. Those bearing responsibilities become discouraged.
Not only is this situation felt in the institution itself but outside of it as well. A number of brethren already bearing heavy responsibilities must, as members of the sanitarium board, wrestle with problems that arise. Valuable time and means must be spent in meeting together to deal with some condition arising because of financial matters. Frequently18the best thing they know to do is to make an appeal to the brethren and sisters throughout the conference. Thus the matter becomes one of general burden.
Progress
Some of our sanitariums have, after a number of years, managed to pay off their indebtedness. Others have done considerable in that direction. Still others have had experiences that have hindered them in meeting their obligations, and they have been able to conduct their work only under great difficulty. Prospects are good for believing that in the course of time all might succeed in getting clear of debt, but headway in this direction is made rather slowly, and at great cost. The time and energy so spent could be well used in other ways. The possibilities of making our sanitarium work accomplish much more in the advancement of the cause, can be greatly increased, and we should do more to develop these possibilities.
The Help Needed
As a denomination we have not given this branch of the work much help in the way of direct donations. Timely loans have been made, and these have been appreciated and have proved very material help. We have very properly given aid to publishing institutions and to schools, but for some reason our sanitarium work has not received that assistance that has been needed to place them on vantage-ground, where they would have opportunity of succeeding in every way. This is the help that is now needed.
The magnitude of this branch of the work, the amount of money invested in it, the number of institutions that we have, the number of workers engaged, the volume of work being done,—all present the strongest kind of reason for us to render such help as may be necessary, and is possible, to place this work where it can operate to the very best advantage. Denominational interests and the welfare of a most worthy branch of our work demand it.
The Opportunity
See how timely, how practicable, and how feasible, is this present campaign for meeting the requirements of this call. It comes at a time when our sanitarium work has fully adjusted its bearings and relations to the cause. We now practically know what we have, and where we are, in this respect. The development and growth of this work is greater than ever before. We are well assured of its place in our denominational interests.
Then, too, we have about completed our general effort in behalf of the educational work, and have finished, for the time being, the raising of funds for other home institutions. Now—just now—would seem the proper time to engage in earnest work for our sanitariums, and give them the help they have long needed.
The plan of relief enables us to help without giving of our own means, and thus depriving other lines of work. By the sale of health publications we are working in logical lines, the whole effort tending to strengthen our health work. The placing of this literature in the hands of the public will prove a great blessing to those who receive it; and there will come directly to our sanitariums the financial aid of nearly half a million dollars. The interest awakened and developed in these institutions will bring further material help in the way of increased patronage.
Surely the results to be gained from this campaign are worthy of the co-operation of every member to the extent of selling at least two copies of Ministry of Healing and five copies of Life and Health each year for the next three years. This is not a big thing to do, but its aggregate results will be tremendous.
L. A. HANSEN.
Notes
DR. M. M. MARTINSON has connected with the sanitarium which is being conducted in connection with the Oakwood Training School at Huntsville, Ala.
Dr. H. J. Williams, with his wife and sister, spent a day in Washington last week, on their way to visit friends in North Carolina, before the doctor sails to take up work in a foreign field.
Encouraging reports keep coming from the medical work in the sanitarium lately established in South America. Dr. G. B. Replogle writes that this new institution is filled with patients, and that much difficult surgery and other medical work are coming to them. Every case seems to do well.
Mrs. F. A. Stahl, who with her husband went to Bolivia, South America, a few months ago, is bringing a patient all the way from there for sanitarium treatment. She asks that we furnish a nurse and a teacher to accompany her on her return, as they are finding much more work than they are able to do. The present demand for nurses to go to these needy fields is greater than we are able to supply.
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WANTED: Interesting private letters from medical workers in different countries. These workers are too busy to write letters for our papers, but they do write most interesting private letters to their friends. If you have some that will be interesting for the next Missions number of the REVIEW, or for other numbers, please send them to the medical secretary, W. A. Ruble, M. D., Takoma Park, D. C. W. A. R.
Listening for God’s Voice
“He sometimes wants our ear — our
rapt attention —
That he some sweetest secret may impart.”
God Speaks in Quietness
God can not speak to us in the bustle and confusion of our daily life all he wants to say to us.
Sunday and the Barbers
DURING the session of the [Indiana] State assembly in 1907, a law was enacted compelling all barbers to close their shops on Sunday. To test the constitutionality of the law, one of the barbers of the city of Indianapolis shaved a customer on Sunday and was arrested. The lower court upheld the law and found the barber guilty. But on being brought before the supreme court, the law was decided to be unconstitutional, in that it was class legislation. This decision permitted the barbers to open their shops upon Sunday if they chose to do so.
About two weeks ago matters changed, so far as the city of Indianapolis is concerned. The city council passed an ordinance requiring all barbers owning or controlling shops to take out a license for barbering work. The city authorities based their action on sanitary grounds. Although the ordinance requiring the barber to be licensed says nothing about Sunday or Sunday work, yet the city authorities say they have no right to license any one to work at his trade or vocation on Sunday, therefore the barbers must all close their shops on Sunday.
After a number of meetings the barbers have decided to test the constitutionality of the ordinance. The case will soon be in the courts. In the meantime the barbers have agreed to close on Sunday until the case is decided. If the ordinance is held to be constitutional, that will close all the shops in the city on Sunday.
How shrewd the adversary is! He cares not what method he uses, so he accomplishes his purpose. In one way or another, the whole world will be compelled to worship the beast.—Elder A. L. Miller, in the Indiana Reporter of April 27.
Introducing Absurd Bills Into Congress
By K. C. R.
THE Youth's Companion of May 5 contains the following article, which illustrates the extreme length to which Congressmen will go in introducing bills of various kinds into Congress:—
“Every reader of the newspapers must have seen despatches from Washington reporting that Mr. So-and-so ‘has introduced a bill’ in Congress providing some amazing change in the law. For example, it would not be surprising to learn that some member has proposed a law that every railroad company doing interstate business shall provide a shower-bath in every car.
“No one should be in the least disturbed by the intelligence that a bill has been introduced in Congress, no matter how reasonable or how absurd its provisions may be. In the House of Representatives the members merely drop their bills in a box; the bills are referred to some committee; and that is usually the end of them.
“The present Congress has already nearly thirty-three thousand bills on the calendars of the two houses. Leaving out of the account some hundreds of pension bills, almost none of the rest can be passed unless there is unanimous consent to consider them. Of course there are many members who are always ready to object to the consideration of any ‘fool’ bill.
“Inasmuch as a senator or member can introduce any number of bills on any and every subject, and since some Congressmen are willing to present ‘by request’ bills sent to them by any ‘cranky’ constituent, the fact that a bill has been introduced does not suggest that it will be passed, any more than the gathering of a summer cloud implies that the earth is to be destroyed by another deluge.”
The writer of the foregoing articles might properly have included Sunday bills among the absurd measures which are introduced into Congress.
It should be remembered, however, that Sunday bills which are before Congress, although absurd, are, nevertheless, dangerous, because there is a liability of their becoming law. This is because their absurdity is not discerned by the19lawmakers, or because legislators may fear their misguided constituency, who are urging such measures because they think they are in the interests of good government. K. C. R.
A Commendable Method
By K. C. R.
THE Washington Herald of May 9 contains the report of a commendable method of seeking to secure a better observance of Sunday. It says, in part:—
“After a fight of seventeen years for the proper observance of the Sabbath, the Wholesale Fish Commission of Washington merchants have reached an agreement whereby they pledge themselves not to receive consignments or sell fish on Sunday.”
It is also reported that this agreement was reached through the efforts of several ministers.
While having no sympathy with the idea of Sunday sacredness, we can not help commending the methods used in this particular effort to secure the observance of the day; that is, persuasion and mutual agreement. It is in accord with what we have always recommended to those who believe that Sunday should be observed as the Sabbath. We can assure our Sunday-keeping friends everywhere that such methods as these will never be protested against by Seventh-day Adventists. It is when the Christian principle of persuasion and mutual agreement to bring about a better observance of Sunday, is disregarded, and men resort to unchristian and uncivil means to enforce the observance of the day, that Seventh-day Adventists enter their unalterable protest. K. C. R.
Christian Liberty
By K. C. Russell; C. M. Snow
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL Secretary
C. M. SNOW Corresponding Secretary
Planning for Stronger Work
By A. J. S. B.
ELDER S. E. WIGHT, president of the West Michigan Conference, writes that much interest is being manifested in home missionary work in that conference. He says: “I am glad to inform you that we are taking up this line of work very enthusiastically. We have appointed Brother Oliver Denslow as field missionary secretary of the conference.” Thus, one by one, our local conferences are completing the equipment of their tract society organization, through the appointment of a good field missionary secretary.
Elder W. H. Thurston, president of the Kansas Conference, reports further progress in the organization of the home missionary work in that field. He says: “I am pleased to inform you that our executive committee has appointed Miss Maggie Ogden as field missionary secretary of this conference. Miss Ogden has been engaged in Bible work, but will soon be released to take up her new duties.” Speaking of their efforts to make this work a success in Kansas, Elder Thurston says, further: “We are at it, all at it, and always at it.” A good motto for every worker to adopt!
In his program giving the conference plans for the summer’s work, Brother E. L. Spencer, secretary of the North Dakota Tract Society, states that during May there will be conducted a special temperance campaign, the workers using the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor. During June all are to use the Signs of the Times Monthly. During July a strong midsummer effort will be made with Life and Health. In August a special campaign will be carried on in behalf of Liberty and the Protestant Magazine. The month of September will be devoted to the sale of the Watchman.
Elder C. A. Burman, president of the Alberta Conference, writes that the Alberta Tract Society office has been strengthened by the addition of a German worker, who will assist the secretary, Brother F. L. Hommel, in promoting the sale of our magazines and other home missionary efforts. This appointment, he writes, has been made “because we see the need of more thorough work being done from our office.” Regarding the canvassing work, he writes: “It looks now as if we would have about sixteen agents in the field this season, most of whom will handle the books. The outlook for our book business is bright.” Probably no other conference in northwest Canada is favored with so many American and foreign emigrants each year as Alberta. This means more population, and hence greater possibilities for the sale of our literature.20
Brother Paul Curtis, missionary secretary of the Central Union Conference, is doing considerable field work. Writing of a recent trip of twenty-three days among the churches in Kansas, he says: “I visited four churches and the intermediate school at Oswego, Kan., and disposed of 700 copies of the Temperance Instructor, 150 of the Signs Monthly, and took 31 subscriptions to the REVIEW AND HERALD. We also made up two clubs of the Signs weekly, totaling 106 copies.” The prospects are good for an aggressive home missionary campaign in that great union conference during 1910.
Mrs. S. N. Haskell reports that a very successful home missionary institute has just been held in Fresno, Cal. She says: “We have had the largest attendance that we have had at any institute held in this conference. The sales of publications amounted to over five hundred dollars. A number of the brethren and sisters took up the work, and are developing into good workers. Best of all, two persons took their stand to keep the Sabbath.” The holding of workers’ meetings and missionary institutes among the churches is one of the best and most direct methods of arousing a permanent interest in home missionary work of all kinds.
Elder B. F. Kneeland, president of the New Jersey Conference, is planning to make a systematic effort in behalf of home missionary work in connection with their camp-meeting, to be held at Trenton June 23 to July 4. He says: “Monday, June 27, has been set apart as a special missionary day. Besides this, we have arranged to spend an hour every morning in giving instruction in various lines of church and missionary work. There will be only two sermons a day, and one Bible study, so there will be considerable time to devote to practical lines of instruction in the work which ought to be done in our churches.” Brother E. E. Pennington, recently appointed as field missionary secretary of this conference, will assist in giving this instruction to the elders, missionary secretaries (librarians), and other officers of the church.
We note that the Nebraska Conference has been divided into six districts, to facilitate a more thorough organization of home missionary work. Speaking of their recent spring workers’ meeting, held at Hastings, Neb., April 14-24, Elder A. T. Robinson, the president, says: “The united testimony of all was that it was the best meeting of the kind ever held in the Nebraska Conference. From the beginning to the close, we held before ourselves a picture of the small results that have been seen in our home work, and the great dearth of workers and means in foreign fields. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to our study of this subject, and every worker goes out from this meeting with his whole soul afire with a determination to see greater results of his labors the coming season. A carefully prepared program had been previously arranged, and different ones had given special study to subjects assigned them. These topics were presented in a most striking manner, and many of the papers were followed by an interesting and profitable discussion. We look forward with bright hopes to the coming season’s work.” A. J. S. B.
The Deadly Germ to Good Government
By Clifford G. Howell
IMPORTANT truths were recently set forth in a speech by Governor Hughes, of New York. Among other things he said: “I am convinced that what we need is not legislation, but moral character. . . . We can not carry matters of faith into the political arena.”
These principles have been more fully recognized and demonstrated in the government of the United States than in any other nation. Their value has been so fully proved during the hundred years following the adoption of the Constitution that it would seem that no student of the history of the nations of the past, with their dark records of religious intolerance, would ever see the first step taken toward political interference with religious affairs without making earnest protest.
And yet, notwithstanding the light of the past speaks to us, “history repeats itself.” That there is already a strong tendency toward religious legislation in this country, none can deny. In these days of microscopic examination, the germs of disease are recognized, and an effort is made to destroy them before they fasten upon the vitals. Why should it not be so with germs that have ever eaten the vitals from good government?
The Constitution of the United States, and the Master’s command, “Render . . . unto God the things that are God’s,” forbid Congress entering the realm of religion; but the demand has grown so strong that many are becoming confused over the question, and, to an extent, legislators are yielding. During the session of Congress now in progress, a Sunday bill has passed the Senate, and is now in the hands of a committee in the House. Such a thing could not have occurred forty years ago. But in 1863 an organization was formed for the express purpose of getting the Constitution changed so that this kind of legislation could be passed. The indications are now, however, that such enactments will be made, the Constitution to the contrary notwithstanding.
To the honor of most of the senators be it said, they have refrained from voting for this measure warned against by the prophetic Word. Evidently they felt there was something about it which was not right. The bill was opposed by a goodly number. When it came to the vote, a strange thing occurred. There was only one audible vote in its favor; and as there was no opposing voice, it was announced that the motion prevailed.
To some it may seem that heaven is far away; but it surely still has an interest in the affairs of men. When the Saviour bade Peter put away the sword, he thereby forbade that the power of the sword should be invoked in defense of even the true religion. The office of the state is to see that men are civil, not that they should be made to seem religious.
Moreover, there is a conflict between Sunday laws and the law of God. Senator Money, of Mississippi, said, in discussion of this bill, “If anybody considers Saturday as the Sabbath—and undoubtedly it is the Sabbath—and not Sunday,” etc. Is it a light thing that legislation upon earth should lead those who wish to obey all right laws to set aside the law of Heaven?
Every one is concerned in this matter. The example of the United States will be followed by other nations. But whatever one’s views of the Sabbath question may be, surely it is clear that neither the day commanded in the Bible, nor the day long ago fastened upon the world by the Catholic Church, should ever be forced upon the people by the power behind which is the sword.
CLIFFORD G. HOWELL.
Sunday-Law Case Reversed
By A. O. Burrill
THE barbers of Lexington, Ky., have been making an effort to close on Sunday all barber shops in the city. These cases have passed through all the city courts to the county court. The decision of the judge is that “a well-conducted barber shop open on Sunday for a portion of the day is not a violation of law.”
Says the Lexington Herald of April 23: “Judge J. Percy Scott, sitting in county court yesterday, held that a well-conducted barber shop open on Sunday for a portion of the day is not a violation of law, and dismissed the warrants against eleven local barbers charged with violating the sabbath by pursuing their trade on that day. Judge Scott held that barbering on Sunday is a necessity. . . . Each of the eleven barbers was charged with having pursued his trade on April 10, that day being the sabbath. Attorneys for the defendants demurred to the warrants, claiming that the work performed was a necessity. Counsel for both sides submitted to Judge Scott a number of decisions on the subject. With the decision of Judge Scott the matter will probably be dropped.”
A. O. BURRILL.
Religious Liberty Notes
ELDER S. B. HORTON, of Nashville, Tenn., is spending the month of May at Baton Rouge, La., working in the interests of Christian liberty, at present in jeopardy from adverse legislation in that State. After he has finished that service, he will make the New York Conference his field of labor. Our people in the Empire State are glad to know of the coming among them of this well-tried religious liberty worker, who will help in solving some of the vexing problems almost constantly arising in that important field.
A letter from the field director of the Pacific Religious Liberty Association states that the Sunday-law advocates in California are forming leagues in every hamlet and town to control the issues at the primaries, and not permit any man to be nominated for the legislature who will not pledge himself to work in behalf of a Sunday law. This is to be one of the features of the November election in California. The Pacific Religious Liberty Association is therefore entering upon a vigorous campaign of education, that the people may know the principles involved before they take their stand for the enactment of oppressive laws.
The Missionary and Publishing Work
Notes, Plans, Reports, Statistics, and Other Information Regarding Missionary Endeavor and the Circulation of Gospel Literature.
Conducted by the Missionary and Publishing Department of the General Conference.
E. R. PALMER Secretary
N. Z. TOWN Assistant Secretary
A. J. S. BOURDEAU Missionary Secretary
Incidents From Our Temperance Campaign in Australia
By E. M. Graham
We are having some very interesting experiences here just now in connection with the temperance work. There is to be a vote taken in New South Wales in September on the no-license question, and every adult has a right to vote, women as well as men. We are planning to circulate 100,000 temperance tracts, 100,000 copies of a special Temperance Signs, and 25,000 copies of a special temperance health magazine. This will cost $2,500, but we are planning to enlist the help of the public in raising this money.
We are getting our people to take a packet of tracts and a collecting card, visit every house in certain territory assigned to them, leave a tract, and ask for donations toward the distribution of temperance literature. We tried the experiment with some of our office workers first, to see if it was workable. One girl went out, left twelve cents' worth of tracts, and collected $1.24 in two hours. Others had similar experiences, so we decided the plan would succeed. If our one thousand Sabbath-keepers collect $2.50 each, we shall get the $2,500 needed; but many of them will get much more. One young man has set his stakes for fifty dollars. We are introducing the subject to our people in conventions in churches in the center of groups of churches. Two have been held so far, with gratifying success. At Stanmore, last Sunday, every one in the meeting stood up when the question was asked, How many will help?
Some incidents in connection with this work have been very interesting to us. We have been in touch with the New South Wales Alliance, and they have been pleased with our plans. Yesterday their secretary rang us up, and asked us to send some one to attend their quarterly executive meeting, as they thought that if we told them our plans, it might stir some of them up to work. So we sent our state agent to tell them of our plans.
He did not arrive until three quarters of an hour after their meeting started; but as soon as he entered the room, they stopped what they were doing, and called him forward. He told them briefly what we were planning, and showed them our literature. With this they were much pleased, especially with a plan for an illustrated tract to appeal to mothers.
Other speakers expressed the wish that they could get such a plan to work. They said they wanted collectors, but did not know how to get them. Then Brother Blunden asked if he might say a word or two more, and told them that we expected to put a thousand workers in the field, and that all our people, men, women, and children, stood solid on the question,—a statement that called forth warm expressions of approval. Archdeacon Boyce, chairman of the meeting, highly commended our temperance literature.
After the meeting, their city organizer told Brother Blunden that none of the other ministers had been able to give them one worker, so you can see why they were so happy when they found we had one thousand available. This man said he only wished he had such an organization at his back.
Two things happened yesterday which have further encouraged us. One of the sisters who took part in the Stanmore meeting on Sunday was going to the hospital to visit her husband, who is ill, and she took with her a temperance tract, a reprint of a chapter in "Ministry of Healing." When she left the train, a gentleman who had been sitting several seats behind her, said, "Excuse me, but is that a temperance tract you were reading?" She told him it was, and he replied that he had been impressed that she was reading a temperance tract which he ought to have, and asked if she was selling them. She said she was taking this to read to her husband, but that she had others which she was going to distribute, and solicit donations for the temperance work. He said he would give her sixty cents for it, so she let him have it. What encouraged us in this incident was that it was evidently the Spirit of the Lord who impressed the man to go to her, as he could not see what she was reading.
The other incident happened to my assistant secretary, Miss Gregg. She had to go to the city before a meeting at Stanmore, and took some of the Alliance tracts with her to study. A lady leaned over from the seat behind, and asked if she might speak to her when she left the train. So she waited for this lady, who introduced herself as the secretary of the W. C. T. U. of one of the country towns, and asked Miss Gregg if she could tell her where she could get some good temperance literature. Miss Gregg then had a talk with her about the temperance work. She will send her literature.
An interesting point in this was that this lady could have taken the train to her home from Strathfield, where she was, and where Miss Gregg boarded the train; but she felt impressed to go to the city, and take the train there, though she had to go back to Strathfield again on her way home. These things, though small in themselves, show that the Lord approves of our work, and that he is working with us.
E. M. GRAHAM,
Sec. Austral. Union Conference.
Notes of Progress
THE church institutes being held by Brethren J. R. Ferren and Ernest Lloyd in Southern California have resulted in stirring up the missionary zeal of our German and Scandinavian brethren and sisters. Several clubs of our German magazine, Die Zeichen der Zeit (Signs of the Times), were subscribed for, as well as large clubs of the weekly Signs of the Times.
A number of our active tract society secretaries are improving their opportunities to obtain some actual experience in the sale of our ten-cent magazines. Brother G. C. Hoskin, secretary of the Iowa Tract Society, writes: “I went out last week for a little experience, and canvassed something over four hours Monday, selling over fifty magazines. I expect to go again next Monday. One of our workers orders 1,500 copies of the Signs of the Times Monthly and 500 of Life and Health for June. Iowa is reaching the top notch in magazine sales these days, our report for April showing nearly 10,000 copies sold. Our conference claims the honor of having appointed the first periodical field agent.” Knowledge based upon personal experience is the greatest element in leadership.