p. 10 | Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 49. (12/8/1910)

Increase of Heart-Disease

By Dr. William H. Guilfoy

Twice as many people are dying of heart-disease in New York to-day, in proportion to the population, as died from the same cause thirty-three years ago. At the present time, heart-disease ranks third as the principal cause of death, not only in New York, but in the entire country. Every year the death-rate due to heart-disease is increasing; and unless something is done to combat it, it will become a greater menace than tuberculosis or acute respiratory diseases, which now claim the largest number of victims.

In 1896 there were 1,331 deaths from heart-disease in New York City, a death-rate of 82 per 100,000. Last year 6,639 persons died from heart trouble, a death-rate of 161 per 100,000,—practically twice as many persons, proportionately, succumbing to the same disease. And from present indications the death-rate from this disease will show a still further increase when the figures for 1910 are completed.

Conditions Over United States

What is true in New York in this connection is true throughout the country, on a greater scale. According to the official figures of the Census Bureau, 65,000 persons died of heart-disease in the United States in 1909. The deaths from pneumonia and acute respiratory diseases were 82,000, while tuberculosis claimed 81,000. So it will be seen that heart-disease is a close third.

But although the death-rate from tuberculosis and acute respiratory diseases is being gradually decreased, every year sees an increase in the number of deaths from heart-disease; and it is only a question of time, unless steps are taken to check it, when it will be the principal cause of death in the United States.

The Cause of Increase

What is the cause of this alarming increase? What is making heart-disease one of the most common of our maladies? There are several reasons why it is becoming more prevalent every day. For one thing, the grip bacillus, which first made its appearance in New York in 1890, has brought about thousands of deaths from heart-disease.

But a far more important cause, in my opinion, is the luxurious manner in which most of us Americans are living to-day. We are eating too much nitrogenous food, particularly meats and game. We are imbibing too much liquor. Cocktails and wines, taken to stimulate the appetite, are having their effect.

The numerous deaths from acute indigestion, which is heart-disease more often than not, show that most of us are overeating. Our systems are unable to take care of the additional waste matter that is imposed upon them; and as very few of us take much exercise in the open air, heart-disease claims more and more victims every year.

Too Little Exercise

We are taking great pains to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, but we pay comparatively little attention to looking after our own health. If we would only eat less, drink less, and exercise more, the death-rate from heart-disease would show a decided drop.

One has only to see the fat men and women in fashionable restaurants and hotels to appreciate the fact that we eat too much. Of course, there are many abstemious eaters, but what I have said is true of the great majority of Americans in New York, Chicago, and every other important city.

This is not only true among the rich and the well-to-do, but among all classes except the very poor. The introduction of labor-saving machinery has lessened the amount of effort the average working man has to put forth; yet he eats more than he did a few years ago, and takes less exercise.

Fast Living

Then, there is no denying the fact that we are living faster than we did twenty or thirty years ago. Life is more intense, and the struggle for existence, especially in the larger centers of population, is more difficult. Naturally, that has some effect in increasing the prevalence of heart-disease.

However, I am inclined to believe we place too much importance on this cause, and not enough on the real cause of overeating and drinking. If we are going to avoid heart-disease, we must emulate Mayor Gaynor, and walk several miles in the open air every day, and be almost as careful of our diet. —Dr. William H. Guilfoy, head of Bureau of Vital Statistics, New York, in New York World.

Cultivate Your Memory

IN these days, when people read newspapers daily, making little effort to remember what they read, it is said that the art of remembering is going into a decline.

Now, a good memory is a wonderful help in life. The young person who tries to develop such a memory in his youth, will never regret it.

The most successful pastor is usually he who most quickly recognizes and calls by name the members of his flock.

The most successful politician is usually the one who remembers best the men whom he meets.

Writers, speakers, lawyers, doctors, merchants, and others, depend largely on a good memory for their advancement. There is no high place on earth for the forgetful man.

There have been many great characters who have declared that they owed their fame chiefly to their remarkable memories.

James G. Blaine was one of these. George Washington had a good memory. Napoleon was said to be able at one time to call every soldier in his army by name.

Milton could repeat the whole of Homer's works. Several men have committed the entire Bible to memory. Henry Clay could not learn poetry, but he never forgot a name, a face, or an argument. John Stuart Mill had a wonderful memory. Oliver Cromwell was another general who was said to know the names of all his men.

Probably Macaulay had as good a memory as any man who ever lived. He knew by heart the whole of “Paradise Lost” and the “Pilgrim’s Progress.”

Make a practise of learning both prose and poetry. Then repeat it often to yourself, in order to retain it. Train your memory in every way you can think of.

A very good memory will not take the place of original thinking, nor of industry; but it is still a valuable help in life. In these days of close competition a good memory is always likely to be the factor which turns the scale toward victory.—Selected.

A Wife's Soft Answer

“We were married thirty-seven years,” said Mr. Gardiner Andrews, “and in all that time my wife never gave me a cross word. But I shall never forget the first time I chided her. It was on a Sabbath morning, when we had been married about two years. I found a button off my shirt, and threw it across the room.

“‘Sew a button on,’ I said in a brutal voice. She was a good Christian woman, and she got a button and sewed it on.”

“And what did she say?” asked a little, bristling woman, with snapping eyes.

“She said, ‘Forgive me, husband; I had a great deal to do yesterday, and forgot it; but it shall never happen again.’”

“O,” said the man, fixing his eyes on the picture of his dear wife, “her gentle words almost broke my heart! I could have gone down on my knees to ask her forgiveness. She made a different man of me, and the world has been a different place since she died.”

There was silence as he finished speaking, interrupted by a general clearing of throats, and the little woman's snapping eyes looked suspiciously dim.—Selected.

Household Hints

A FLAT brass button sewed on your dish-cloth will be found a great help in washing dishes. It removes instantly, without injury to the finest china, bits of food that have dried to the dishes, and takes less time than scraping off with a knife.

SMALL punctures in hot-water bags or rubber gloves may be repaired by this method: Apply a small patch of tailors’ mending tissue, and moisten with chloroform; lay on a second patch, and moisten again, proceeding thus until four or five patches have been applied. The chloroform dissolves the tissue, and when it evaporates, a firm patch adheres to the rubber.

A FRIEND who is far from strong, and who does her own housework, accomplishes wonders in her kitchen with ease, and apparently without fatigue. On inquiring her secret, I learned that she attributes most of her comfort in doing housework to the use of the high chair used by her little boy when two years old. It is in shape like an ordinary light dining-room chair, differing only in having a considerably higher seat. She draws it to the sink when washing dishes, sits in it when ironing or making up pastry, and even uses it beside the stove when working there. The point she makes in its favor is the height of the seat, which raises her almost to the level of standing.

FINE lace curtains that you do not like to have laundered on account of the wear and tear may be dry-cleaned in the following manner: Take down the curtains and shake them free from dust. Spread a sheet on the floor, and lay a curtain smoothly on it. Cover with corn-meal. Lay on another curtain, and cover with the meal. Continue this process until you have about four curtains down. Then, beginning at one end, roll them tightly in the sheet and let them lie for a few days. Unroll, and hang on the line in the wind and sun for one day. When rehung, the curtains will look like new. Curtains that have never been laundered are most satisfactorily cleaned by this method.—Selected.

Jesus in the Home

A LITTLE girl went on an errand to an elegant house. The lady was proud of her home, and showed Jennie the carpets, pictures, ornaments, and flowers, and asked, “Don’t you think these things are lovely?”

“They are pretty,” said Jennie. “What a beautiful home for Jesus to visit! Does he ever come here?”

“Why, no,” answered the lady.

“Don’t you ever ask him?” asked Jennie. “We have only two rooms, but Jesus comes, and makes us very happy.”

The lady told her husband what Jennie had said, and he replied: “I have often thought we ought to thank God for his goodness, and ask him to come and live with us.”

They became Christians, and Jesus came to live with them, and made them happy.—The Lily.

Trying to Hurt Others Hurts Ourselves

“We always hurt ourselves when we try to hurt others.”

Words of Cheer

By Frank Bond

VALENCIA, SPAIN.— We thank the Lord for the evidences we see of his workings in Spain to-day. God is in this movement, and his truth will triumph in this present generation. We feel the need of the prayers of God's people. FRANK BOND.

JOEL C. ROGERS

By Joel C. Rogers

NYASALAND.— Do the believers in the message realize that its warning voice is rapidly nearing the uttermost parts of the earth? During the past week, with our prophetic charts hung up before heathen from Portuguese Central Africa, we have been giving a course of simple lectures on those three messages which first stirred your hearts to their depths a few years ago. We have been longing to go into that expanse of darkness in Portuguese territory, where men and women are still caught and driven and sold as beasts of the prairies. Restrictions hedged the way. Now God is sending some of these people to our stations. One faithful young man from that region has been with us three years. Soon, if able, we hope to send him back, with the two or three helpers, to definitely open my work. Let your prayers go with Peter Masula. “Masula” means, in the native tongue, “opening.”

You say: “How nice that is! Our missionaries can sit at their stations, and the Lord sends them people to teach.” Indeed the Lord always does his part. But the missionary has a part of his own. In this case of Peter, for two years he was among the stubborn, untamable, resisting ones. How many times have my wife and myself with groanings prayed over him and others like him! If we did not sometimes see answers to prayer like this, the burdens would be too heavy to bear. Probably there is not naturally a more stubborn, proud human being born than the heathen African. Heathenism in Africa is a system of brute rule that begets pride and stubbornness in their basest form.

Next to the blessed privilege of meeting with our dear people, which we may not enjoy, is the knowledge that their prayers ascend for us. This cheers us in lonely, busy burden-bearing, and your prayers reach us in the form of God's unmeasured power and peace, even in times of confusion and unrest. Keep the channel open. Do not omit prayer for your missionaries from your daily program. We often wonder why we hear so little of volunteers moved by the mighty Spirit to devote themselves to definite fields for mission work. Central Africa must have volunteers. At this end we are praying for such workers. “The harvest is great.”

JOEL C. ROGERS

The Levant and Austria-Hungary

By L. R. Conradi

L. R. CONRADI

The General Conference Committee of the European Division met in Hamburg, September 15, 16. The few days spent together were well occupied. In view of the great calls from the mission fields, we increased our appropriations for 1911 to $57,450.

From here the writer went to Vienna to attend the annual meeting of the Austrian Mission field. Here many evidences of God's power are seen. In Vienna, that great city of a million people, a large hall was crowded to the utmost with attentive listeners. By the end of the year, Austria will have close to three hundred members, yet there is a population of twenty millions to be labored for, and the work has scarcely begun. A number were baptized while the conference was in session. One province after another is being entered, and we hope to have the entire field covered soon. In spite of all the present restrictions, God is opening up the way, both to the preacher and to the canvasser. We were glad indeed to see God's prospering hand over the work in Austria, and trust that the Lord will continue to bless workers and leaders in this great field.

From here I went to Constantinople. I found seventy-five persons attending the workers' meeting. The six days of my stay were indeed busy ones. We had our regular meeting-hall in Stamboul for the conference, and everything spoken in English was translated into Armenian, Turkish, Greek, and German. Great changes are taking place in this field, and God is opening up different avenues for the advancement of the work. The new government is trying in every way possible to improve the country, to build railways, and to clean and beautify the city of Constantinople. But what has been neglected for centuries can not be accomplished in a few years. We were all happy that our people could now meet together without molestation. Elder E. E. Frauchiger reported his long trip along the western part of Turkey, down to Adana and Tarsus; and Elder Z. G. Baharian told of his tour into the eastern portion.

In view of all these openings, the Levant field was divided into three portions,—Armenia, Greece, and Central Turkey,—to which is added for the present the Syrian-Egyptian field, though it is understood that it will still be directed from Hamburg. A local committee of five was appointed for the Central-Turkish field. Of the five thousand dollars appropriated to Turkey, one thousand dollars was set apart for Greece, another thousand for Armenia, and the three thousand dollars left will be used in the central field. The tithe and contributions of the first nine months of this year were larger than the whole of any previous year. From all appearances a fair increase will be seen at the end of this year.

The report of our publishing and canvassing work was especially interesting. During the last year, 1,686,000 pages were printed by our depository. Of these, 761,000 were in Armenian, 313,000 in Armenian-Turkish, 320,000 in Greek, and 292,000 in Turkish proper. Besides this, printing is also being done in the Arabic language. Our canvassers sold about nine thousand French tracts and papers. The Armenian “Steps to Christ” is highly recommended by other Protestant societies. Over half a dozen bright young people were selected to enter immediately into training for the work. Though our people have liberty to work and to assemble, yet they have not gained the liberty of civil marriage as yet; and as long as the marriages have to be performed in the old churches, they must conform in every way to the ceremonies of the place. We hope that erelong this difficulty will also be removed.

Early Thursday morning, I reached Hermannstadt, in Transylvania, and

found about one hundred of our people assembled, and Elders H. F. Schuberth and J. F. Huenergardt conducting the meetings. Hitherto, Hungary, with its eighteen millions of people, has formed a conference, but by no means a self-supporting one. They had about seven hundred members; but as Transylvania proper, with a strong German membership, was well able to become a self-supporting conference, we decided that from Jan. 1, 1911, Hungary should be divided into the Transylvanian Conference and the Hungarian Mission field. The former has about four hundred members, and will pay two tithes to the union. Elder F. Kessel, who speaks both Hungarian and German, was elected as president, while Brother Huenergardt will remain in charge of the Hungarian Conference.

Most of our people present were Germans, and there were also a good number of Hungarians and Rumanians, so the word spoken had to be translated into the languages of the two latter nationalities. I left, after a good Sabbath meeting, to reach Hamburg by Monday, October 10, as my boat was to sail on Thursday, October 13, for South America.

We have now one thousand members in the Austria-Hungarian field, among fifty-one millions of people, and this empire is now divided into one conference and four mission fields, including also Servia.

Hamburg.

J. N. HERBOLTZHEIMER

By J. N. Herboltzheimer

KOBE SANITARIUM.—I praise God for the progress the work has made in Kobe this summer. Six souls were baptized. Dr. Noma and her nurses are working faithfully, and are of the best of courage. Pray for Japan. There are many more honest hearts waiting to hear this blessed truth.

J. N. HERBOLTZHEIMER

EAST GERMAN UNION

By H. F. Schuberth

The fifty-seven hundred members of the East German Union, scattered abroad throughout Galicia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Dalmatia, Servia, Bulgaria, Rumania, and eastern Germany, send greetings. Feeling our deep need of more power and efficiency in finishing the work of warning the seventy-six millions in our union, we ask to be remembered in the prayers of our people at this time.

H. F. SCHUBERTH.

Japan’s Need for Gospel Facilities

By W. C. Dunscombe

Tokyo, Japan.—We are just recovering from disastrous floods through this part of Japan. But these visitations will turn the people's hearts to God, and we must press forward with the closing gospel message more zealously than ever. I can not tell you with what anticipation and longing our brethren are looking forward to the time when we can have the much-needed facilities to work with,—a school, a printing plant, and a sanitarium. Honest souls are crying for help and instruction from all parts of the empire. Delay not to help us.

W. C. Dunscombe, M. D.

Fat Shan, China

By Law Keem

LAW KEEM

The Lord has blessed our labors with some fruit, although we can not see all the result. Our Sabbath-school has grown from one class at the beginning to four classes at the present time. This third year we have two canvassers who spend most of their time selling papers and tracts throughout the country. One is much studying the Bible, preparing himself to become an evangelist; he is also learning to give treatments and care for the sick. This thorough preparation will fit him for work wherever he goes. China is full of sick people,—sick both in body and in soul. When not out in the field, these two brethren assist in all the chapel meetings and in the dispensary.

Last June four believers were baptized. One was a minister, who accepted the truth over a year ago. He severed his connection with his church at the beginning of the present year, and has been doing faithful work with us ever since.

Our Sabbath-keepers all pay their tithe, and are always ready with good donations to the Sabbath-school and church. Those who have shops close them on the Sabbath.

One of our young brethren was married to a young sister in Bethel School, Canton, who was baptized a year ago. This sister is preparing herself for teaching; and as soon as she finishes the course, we shall open a girls' school in Fat Shan, having a Sabbath-keeping teacher in charge.

This fall the believers of our little company are to be organized into a church. At that time several others will, we hope, be ready for baptism.

We are of the best of courage, and expect to press the battle to the gates. Pray for us in Fat Shan.

Our First General Meeting in Spain

By Guy Dail

GUY DAIL

At one time, not so long ago, to have talked of holding a Seventh-day Adventist general meeting in the land of the Spanish Inquisition would have seemed merely visionary. However, those who expect God to do wonders on earth, will rejoice to read the report of our first annual gathering in this new mission field. It is another evidence that the third angel’s message is being rapidly carried to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. We regard it as a privilege much to be prized to meet with the thirty-nine Spanish believers assembled here in Barcelona from various parts of Spain, attending their annual meeting. Aside from the two ordained ministers of the field (Elders Walter and Frank Bond), together with their families, and the eight native canvassers and one Bible worker, Elder L. P. Tieche, president of the Latin Union, and Elder C. E. Rentfro and family, of Portugal, were able to be present on this occasion. [The group of believers attending this meeting will be found upon page 12 of the Week of Prayer issue of the REVIEW.]

In seven of the forty-nine provinces we now have believers,—Barcelona, Lerida, Zaragoza, Teruel, Valencia, Murcia, and Lugo, the latter a north-western province. Plans have been laid to enter the provinces of Cuenca, Guadalajara, Madrid, and Almeria.

The efforts of the canvasser have been richly blessed in Spain. The Brothers Bond have done a great deal of colporteur work since their arrival in the country, and a large measure of the success that has attended our efforts is attributable to the blessing of the Lord upon the circulation of our literature. Only about thirty-five per cent of the population can read and write. However, when the third angel’s message gets hold of these people, they learn to read, almost without exception.

The first resolution that was brought up for consideration was one of thanks to God and to the brethren of the Latin Union and of America for the help that had made it possible to hold our first annual gathering in this mission field. I am sure that if all our people in all parts of the world had been present at this time, they would never have been tempted to be discouraged in giving to send the gospel into those regions where it has been totally or partially unknown. All were granted opportunity to briefly express their gratitude, and the meeting was certainly turned into one of praise and thanksgiving. Although our brethren in this field are poor, yet they gave liberally toward the educational fund, raising above four hundred francs in cash and pledges.

Early Sabbath morning, eight persons (seven of whom had been Catholics) were baptized in the Mediterranean; about as many more are awaiting baptism, and seven were baptized in July. Our present membership is sixty-five.

We are glad that Spain has already begun to furnish its quota of foreign missionaries. One of its workers has just recently been voted to Algeria, where he will learn the Arabic, preparatory to working among the Mohammedans. Several more are in training, and we believe that before long, Spain will be furnishing strong laborers for the mission fields.

The workers and the brethren in this country are of good cheer. They recognize the greatness of the task before them, and are especially glad to know that they have a large number of fellow believers in other parts of Europe, in Asia, and in America and Australasia, who sympathize with them, pray for them, and think of them.

Barcelona.

H. KUNIYA

SOUTH INDIA.—Through Elder J. S. James, the new believers in South India send the message: “The Sabbath-keepers of South India, especially among the Tamil people, send greetings to our brethren. We thank God for what he has led you to do for us in bringing the blessed light of the gospel to us in these last days. We believe that Jesus is soon coming to take a faithful, commandment-keeping people to their final home. We are trying by God’s grace to live so that he may claim us when he comes. We have heard much about you, and some day we shall meet in God’s kingdom. We are anxious that others should hear what we have heard. We want our boys and girls to join you in preaching the truth; but they must be trained. The work has only begun. We need schools and other facilities to prepare workers to carry this truth. We, as brands plucked from the burning, beseech you to send us missionaries and money, that South India may be lightened by the glory of this message. Our prayers ascend with yours that this work may be accomplished soon. While you give, we shall also give from our poverty, and God will reward us both in the salvation of souls.”

JAPAN.—Shall the great mountain of heathenism move to yonder plain? Since we planted the banner of the cross at Hiroshima, we have worked in nine cities and twenty-six small towns. Now we are going to Nagasaki, the oldest port of Japan, where we shall meet with strong Buddhist and Catholic influences. Among the converts at Hiroshima, five young men began to canvass. Some have been wonderfully successful. We are working to move this great mountain, by the Lord’s help. Please remember us in your supplications.

H. KUNIYA

Sonship With God

By F. M. W.

THE bestowment of sonship on poor sinners is a marvelous revelation of God's grace. Says the apostle, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” God not only calls his children to this high and exalted relationship, but he affords them the power whereby the attainment of this position is made possible. “As many as received Him,” says the apostle John, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” This power is bestowed through the simple exercise of active faith; hence the rich and the poor, the learned and the illiterate, the bond and the free, can all comply with the condition, and receive the promised aid.

The bestowment of sonship is more than the giving of an empty title; it confers upon every recipient material benefits. Says the apostle Paul: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. . . . The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Marvelous beyond finite comprehension is the declaration of the Lord that the Father loves the disciples even as he loves his only begotten Son! This wealth of infinite love is shown in that he makes the disciple a joint heir with Jesus Christ. All that Christ inherits, his followers will inherit with him. The joys of eternity, the pleasures at God's right hand forevermore, all these will be shared by the faithful with Christ.

As the followers of the Lord, we are children of the King. In this glorious heritage let us lift up our heads and rejoice. The resources of divine power are at our disposal; all heaven is interested in our salvation; heavenly agencies are seeking to co-operate with our efforts in the accomplishment of God's work in the earth, in the salvation of ourself and our fellows. The inhabitants of other worlds are looking on to see how we acquit ourselves in the great conflict. In view of this, let us be brave and loyal.

If we stand on the side of truth, we stand on the side of God; and if God be with us and for us, who can be against us? The powers of earth may oppose, evil influences may combine; but they who be with us are more than they who be against us. We need constantly to be humble and distrustful of self, and strong in the strength of God. We need daily to sense our weaknesses and tendencies to evil, and not for one moment, by following our own way, take ourselves out of the hands of divine protection.

Christ, as our great example, submitted his will to the will of the Father; he came not to seek his own glory, but the glory of heaven. He is our Elder Brother in the family of God, the one who sets the example for all his brethren. His spirit we should constantly seek to emulate, submitting to him, consecrating our all to his service. Following closely and conscientiously in his footsteps, we shall take on the mold and similitude of his divine character, and be perfected through his grace to reign with him in glory. Let us be true to our heavenly calling; and while we profess the name of the Heavenly Father, exemplify in our experience the true characteristics of this divine relationship. F. M. W.

Continue reading: The World's Christian Citizenship Conference