Newspaper Activity in the Atlantic Union Conference
By Walter L. Burgan
During the Atlantic Union conference held in South Lancaster, Mass., November 27 to December 7, it was encouraging to hear from various brethren concerning their success in having extracts of their sermons published in the newspapers. At the Atlantic Union Conference session two years ago there was begun the present newspaper campaign, which has spread to every State in the Union, as well as to places in other countries, and the reports at this last meeting gave clear evidence that the workers are realizing more and more the importance of using this medium as an aid in giving the glorious advent message to the world in this generation.
My heart greatly rejoiced when the brethren devoted the best portion of one meeting to the question of how to develop, in the cities, the newspaper phase of our campaign. They spoke principally of the newspapers because they felt, as they expressed themselves in the discussion, that the secular press has done a great deal toward bringing our work and the truth we stand for to the attention of the masses. It seemed to be the opinion of the majority of the workers that the papers must be considered as a valuable cog in this great wheel which will cease to revolve only when probation closes. Some stated that the success of their efforts during the past summer depended considerably on their activity in the advertising that was done through the newspapers in the places where they labored. They explained that persons were brought to their tents by reading their sermon reports and their paid advertisements in the papers who otherwise would not have heard of the meetings. A number of these eventually accepted the message, and are now stanch believers.
Some also told of the long distances interested persons had traveled to reach the meetings, having read of them in the papers. One brother working in Boston stated that he received a liberal amount of space in some of the large dailies there on special subjects, and was firm in his belief that these great publications will do much toward heralding the gospel warning. Another brother, who has recently connected with the Atlantic Union Conference, stated that he had been quite successful in having reports of sermons published in Chicago, some of the reports being a column long. One of the workers in New York City stated that the church editor of one of the large dailies there was friendly to him, and has been publishing accounts for him.
It was extremely pleasing to hear these reports, especially of what is being done in the large cities. When our evangelists secure reports of their sermons in the daily papers of these large cities, it certainly ought to encourage them in the belief that the secular press has been placed here for God's servants to use in the spread of the gospel. An illustration of the power of the press in15reaching honest hearts is herewith given:—
A short report of one of Elder A. G. Daniells's talks on the finishing of the work, in which he made prominent the thought of the nearness of the coming of Christ, was published on the first page of the Boston Post, a paper with a daily circulation of over three hundred thousand copies. This paper circulates all over Massachusetts. A man outside of Boston read the article and sent a letter to Elder Daniells asking him for more information concerning this wonderful topic. This is a striking instance of what the newspapers can do, and ought to arouse our workers to try more earnestly than ever to bring the light of truth through this agency to those who are in darkness. Another man in Worcester telephoned to one of the workers at the meeting, and expressed the thought that we were having great meetings. This man also had learned of the meetings through the daily reports appearing in one of the Worcester papers.
Many interesting experiences were told in connection with the newspaper work, which convinced all that the workers are seeing benefits, and also that the message is spreading out over a broader area, as the result of the publicity already secured. They returned to their homes determined to enlist the help of the newspapers in a more decided way than ever in the task committed to us of warning the world in this generation.
WALTER L. BURGAN.
Two Incidents
By W. F. Martin
Two significant events have recently occurred, both of which show the trend of affairs, but each in a different part of the country.
A dispatch from Aurora, Ill., states that there was a slight difficulty between two neighbors. To secure vengeance one of them had the other arrested for a violation of the Sunday law. The offense charged was carrying ashes out of his basement one Sunday. This shows to what use such laws can be put. They place power in the hands of bigots to be used against better men. The purpose of any body of religionists in wanting a Sunday law or any other religious measure is to be looked upon with suspicion.
When any church or combination of churches stoops to ask the civil government to aid in the support of religious tenets, there is something dangerously carnal in the purpose. There is the intent to use the law when it is secured. The enforcement of any religious tenet means infringement upon some one's rights. That always results in persecution. Any law that results in persecution does not have its origin with the Author of the golden rule. Again, no religious law is or can be consistent. We have seen nothing in recent years that more fully illustrates this fact than the case mentioned above. When a law puts the power for spite work in the hands of bigots, it can always be assumed that there will be bigots to act.
That means suffering on the part of good men. Religious laws make criminals of good men. That is not only wrong, but inconsistent. All Sunday laws are inconsistent.
The other incident occurred at Jefferson, Oregon. It was at a Sunday school convention. At one of the popular evening meetings a strong plea was made for the teaching of the Bible in the public schools. Thus we see that in all parts of our land, there is a strong agitation for a governmental recognition of religion. Surely the friends of religious freedom should be awake to the situation, and do all in their power to disseminate the true principles of religious liberty. W. F. MARTIN.
La Paz, Bolivia
By W. O. Cluff
Knowing that our people in the home land are anxiously waiting to hear from those who recently left for their respective fields of labor, I shall report from Bolivia.
At Jamaica we left about half our company — Brother and Sister Wellman, Brethren Aalborg and Furnival, and Sister Johnson, the mother of Sister Aalborg. We spent the day at the home of Brother Wellman, which was an agreeable change from the seasickness which we had suffered thus far on our journey.
The next morning we left Jamaica for Colon, arriving there August 25. Here we took the train to cross the isthmus, seeing a large part of the canal.
That night we left Balboa on the "Guatemala" to sail down the west coast. After sailing seven days we reached Callao, Peru, where we had the pleasure of meeting the brethren of that field. We passed several pleasant hours discussing the work, both in South America and in the home land. Here we transferred to another ship to continue our journey down the coast to Mollendo, which ended our sea voyage. Mollendo is known as one of the worst harbors in the world, but after much difficulty we were safely landed.
We had much trouble with our baggage, not being accustomed to do business with the natives; but Brother Westphal came ashore with us and helped us out of our trouble, for we could not speak a word with the people. Finally, with much running about and discussion, we succeeded in getting right prices, which were in great contrast to the rates the natives asked us in the first place. We then were delayed because of the customhouse officials. This necessitated our having to stop overnight in Mollendo.
The following day we began our long journey up the Andes, reaching Arequipa in the evening, where we were met by Brother Brooks. It was indeed a pleasure to meet a brother of like faith in this place; and we shall always remember the kind entertainment he gave us. The next morning we continued our journey up to Puno, where our Indian mission is located. At this point we realized what "high altitude" means,—headache, nausea, and faintness. We had expected to meet Brother Stahl at this point, but the telegram did not reach him in time.
Arriving at Puno, we had to change for a steamer waiting to take us across Lake Titicaca, the highest lake of its size in the world, its elevation being 12,599 feet. On board we met the assistant superintendent of the Bolivian Railroad, who showed us many courtesies, and asked us if we were not the persons that Mr. Stahl was expecting. Receiving an answer in the affirmative, he could not praise Brother Stahl's work enough. You may be sure we rejoiced to hear our work so highly recommended by a man of the world. He gave us to understand that the Seventh-day Adventist mission was considered by him and others in La Paz the only one that was doing a good work for the Indians.
On arriving at Guaicho, the Bolivian port of Lake Titicaca, we were met by Dr. Foster, an American missionary, who greeted us cordially, prophesying success for our work. On leaving Guaicho, a few hours' travel by rail brought us to the Alto of La Paz. Looking down some five hundred feet, our gaze rested upon a beautiful city situated in a deep basin. Our hearts beat faster at the thought of meeting our colaborers in the field. Though the station was full of people, it did not take long to recognize one another, and the meeting was one we shall never forget. These dear laborers, who have been praying so long for help and working so faithfully under such hard and trying circumstances, made us feel at home at once.
On leaving the station for our mission home, many strange sights met our gaze. A city of colors it could rightly be named. Indians walking through the streets with their many-colored blankets, the chola women in their fancy shawls, and the solemn black dress of the true Bolivian men and women, all served to increase our interest in our field of labor.
Three weeks have passed, and our time has mostly been taken up in becoming accustomed to our new surroundings, and in making furniture out of the boxes in which our goods were packed, an economy which we found necessary on account of high prices. Also within this time I spent five days in bed with the characteristic "mountain sickness."
The prospect of the work strikes us as tremendous. We had been here only a few days when Sister Wightman was called out on a case, and now a call has come for Mrs. Cluff and Sister Stahl, and only today I was asked to go into the interior city of Cochabamba to help out in a typhoid epidemic.
We praise the Lord for these openings. They greatly encourage us, and our prayer is that we may continue in health and strength, and be able to answer the appeals that come to us.
W. O. CLUFF.
The Harvest Ingathering Campaign
By H. D. Middleton
We read nowadays many reports of success in the Harvest Ingathering campaign. As a people we should not expect otherwise; that is, if we truly believe that this campaign is as much a live branch of the Lord's work as any other.
Here at Lacombe, Alberta, in the far northwest of Canada, I am pleased to report that over thirty members of our church enlisted for active service in the 1913 campaign. Our mark was set for $150, and this is how the Lord helped us to reach the higher standard of $160.
Five of our members visited the town of Red Deer, and gathered the sum of $29.40 in five hours. Lacombe was the next place of action, and in the short space of three hours there was deposited the sum of $56.20 in the treasury of our King. This was certainly encouraging to all who participated. The next step was to present the people of Ponoka and16Wetaskiwin with the message-filled papers and solicit their cooperation. In the former place the Lord blessed the effort with the sum of $16, and $31 was received at the latter place. The two sisters who worked in these places averaged 47 cents a copy for each paper handed out, and felt repaid for the trip. One of our sisters has collected the sum of $57, and averaged 80 cents a copy for every paper distributed. Others are working in different ways, and we believe that before 1914 is ushered in, the substantial sum of $200 will be raised.
Truly God is leading his people in this work, and wherever they will unite in effort to advance the cause, his blessing always follows.
H. D. MIDDLETON.
The Nurse a Factor in Molding Public Sentiment
By H. N. Sisco, M. D.
PUBLIC sentiment is the court of last appeal in all questions of public moment. Every secular propaganda seeks to mold public sentiment in its favor. This is legitimate. And the gospel ought also to avail itself of every legitimate means within its reach for molding the minds of the people in its behalf. The platform is doing a grand work, the press is a powerful educative factor in society, but the life lived right among the people is the most convincing argument of all. The following incidents point out a way that ought to be used much more than it is in reaching the hearts of the people:—
A nurse, recently graduated from one of our sanitariums, was invited to the home city of one of her patients while in training; and there she is today, nursing among the best families of the place, and living and teaching the truth of the gospel for this time in a most effectual way.
Another nurse is in the home of a wealthy physician in one of the large cities of the East, caring for his little child. The physician himself is not a Christian. He asks her many questions about her religion. She has wonderful opportunities in this home. She is simply living her convictions daily before the members of that household. She has sold several copies of our books in the family; holds Bible study every week with the servants, of whom there are eight or ten regularly employed; and has induced several persons to attend the services held in our church. She is secretary of the small Sabbath school, and organist at the church services in the church to which she belongs while in the city, and is faithful in attending the religious services as far as her work permits.
These cases probably are not isolated ones, and all such nurses are doing a most laudable and effective kind of missionary work, and are creating public sentiment favorable to the truths of the Bible for this time.
Now, all the nurses graduating from our sanitariums cannot hope to find employment in our institutions, and only a few are employed by the conferences. Then why should not many now in training and many now graduated look forward to this mission field in the homes of the people in the great cities and towns of the land? Why should not our large centers of population be literally dotted with God-fearing nurses, affiliating with our churches where they go, and demonstrating the truths they know? To many of these families, literature can never penetrate; the Bible reader cannot gain access; and the preacher is likewise powerless. Only the nurse can reach the citadel of these homes and hearts; and once inside, no other work can outrank in nobility the work thus done.
Such nurses must, of course, be first-class operators in their profession; they must be thorough Bible students and be able to instruct others; they must be intelligent on the issues of the day, and see their real relation to the gospel work for this time; and they must have the courage and the ability to go out into the seething masses of the great cities and make standing room for themselves. A livelihood will thus be secured, and the highest type of work for God and humanity will be done. They will be powerful factors in molding public opinion in favor of the truth. This article is written with the hope that many nurses will see the great opportunities before them in the great cities.
H. N. Sisco, M. D.
Minnesota
By O. O. Bernstein
MINNEAPOLIS.—During the past seventeen months eighty persons have been baptized and added to the church as a result of the work in this city. A large number of others are keeping the Sabbath and preparing for baptism.
Last summer's tent effort was only of six weeks' duration. Although interfered with by intense heat and swarms of hungry mosquitoes, the meeting was a success.
While the aggressive work here has proved salvation to so many, it also has been a great blessing to the Minneapolis church, as evidenced by the deepening of spiritual life in the believers and by the $1,200 increase in tithe last year over the year 1911, and a considerable increase this year over last year.
The church school this year will raise nearly a thousand dollars for foreign missions. This department of our church work is very prosperous.
The church school, with Mrs. Katherine Pogue in charge, assisted by Miss Vida Wells, is proving a great blessing to our children.
Mr. Gust Freeman, Miss Gertrude Burghart, and Miss Jeannette Franklin, Bible workers, are busily engaged in giving readings to interested families throughout the city.
We are planning to conduct an effort in St. Paul, beginning about February 15. A beautiful hall in the center of the city has already been secured.
The work never seemed so great as now, but the Lord is willing to supply the needed strength and blessing for success. This gives us courage. Pray for the work in this part of the field.
O. O. BERNSTEIN.
Danish-Norwegian Seminary, at Hutchinson, Minn.
By H. R. Johnson
Our school, which now has an enrolment of ninety-seven, has been greatly blessed of the Lord. Our meetings are good, especially our Friday evening meetings, which are very precious seasons, and in which the Spirit of God has at times come very close to us. We also experience the divine presence in our classes. But the Harvest Ingathering time has been the most precious and refreshing experience of all.
For some time we had been thinking quite seriously about the Harvest Ingathering campaign. But how could we spare the time to go out? We seemed to be overcrowded with work on every hand, both within the school buildings and on the school farm. However, we did not feel justified in passing by this special season of missionary work. After a sermon on the subject we began to organize. A committee on arrangements was appointed, and the school grouped into bands with a leader in charge of each.
November 19 was chosen as the day for this special effort. The previous evening we gathered for a brief general meeting. After Prof. P. E. Berthelsen had given a short talk on how to approach the people with the Missions number of the Review, Prof. M. L. Andreasen, the principal of the school, read some words from the Testimonies. "This is just the thing to do," was the message, and this message also assured us of God's blessing upon those who would go forth in faith. "If 'this is just the thing to do,' then let us do just this thing," added Brother Andreasen. The church elder then prayed that God would help us do just this thing. Afterward each company separated by itself to further complete the organization.
The next morning, notwithstanding the threatening storm, we went forth to our respective fields. As the day wore on, the sun appeared shining in its strength, and every student seemed to feel that the Lord was showing favor to the effort that was being put forth.
On returning that evening17there was great joy in the camp on the part of all, even on the part of those who tarried by the stuff. We gathered in the chapel to hear the report. One hundred and seventy-six dollars was placed on the desk. I have never seen students more happy. An appropriate hymn was sung, and the principal read the one hundred and twenty-sixth psalm. Our mouths were filled with praise and thanksgiving to God, for we felt that the Lord had done great things for us. Our attention was again called to the Testimony which had been read the evening before. Surely the word had been verified, and we were glad.
After singing "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow," we had a short testimony meeting. It was a thanksgiving feast indeed. Notwithstanding the fact that the rooms in the school building were very chilly,—the boiler being under repairs,—we all were as happy as could be. The blessing of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow. There were three things we had accomplished this day,—a personal experience was gained, the papers were placed in the hands of the people, and a generous sum was gathered for the foreign fields. After a prayer of thanksgiving had been offered, we felt moved to sing the doxology again, and then the benediction was pronounced. Thus closed the day's experience, one never to be forgotten by the seminary family.
H. R. Johnson.
A Refreshing Departure
By S. B. Horton
IN these busy and strenuous days of National Reformism, Lord's Day Alliance activities, and endeavors of the Federal Council of the Churches, it is refreshing to read a contrary opinion from some pastors of those different organizations.
Rev. Robert J. Dogan, pastor of the Fulton Avenue Baptist Church (Baltimore), in his sermon on December 7, pointed out that the keynote of Christ's ministry is for men to adjust their relations with God. He said further: "Notwithstanding that Christ emphasized the fact that his kingdom was a spiritual kingdom,—a kingdom not of this world,—there are some who would make us believe that the whole trend of the New Testament is to teach the readjustment of material conditions."
Opposed to the principles for which such men as Reverend Dogan stand are such organizations as, (1) The Lord's Day Alliance and the National Reform Association, seeking for legislation to compel men, by civil law, to adjust their relations with the Lord by forcing them to render to Caesar the things that belong to God; (2) the Federal Council of the Churches, endeavoring to secure a monopoly of philanthropic and church work through civil laws; (3) the Roman Catholic Church, which proposes to gather all forces, religious and political, under the dominion of the Pope.
S. B. Horton.
Western Pennsylvania
By J. W. Watt
JOHNSTOWN.—I began work in this city October 20. For some years we have had a church and a church building here, but no minister has before been located in this city of eighty-five thousand persons. The church pays a good tithe and makes liberal offerings to the cause; the members are also quite active in doing various kinds of missionary work.
At the present there is some outside interest. We are thankful for small things and hopeful for the future. When a call was made at a recent meeting, three dear souls asked for the prayers of God's people.
The great evangelist Billy Sunday has just closed a six weeks' campaign here in Johnstown, and claims 11,466 converts. The Johnstown Leader reported that he had received $15,880 as his part of the collections up to December 15, with prospects of more before he leaves the city. The majority of the churches held no services on Sunday during his campaign, but we held our regular meetings and had good audiences, especially on Sunday evenings.
Now that this great excitement is over, we hope to see an increase in attendance. We hope that the canvassers' institute to be held here the first part of January will help us materially. Pray for the work in this place.
J. W. WATT.
Religious Liberty Institutes
By W. F. Martin
IN harmony with recommendations passed at the North Pacific Union camp meetings last summer, plans were made to hold religious liberty institutes in the different conferences of the union.
The Western Oregon Conference arranged for institutes in ten of its leading churches. In addition to religious liberty, other important subjects were studied, such as organization, Sabbath school and Missionary Volunteer work, and our church schools. The studies on religious liberty were taken almost entirely from the Bible. In view of the fact that God's people will soon be called to stand before the courts of the land to give a reason for refusing to worship the beast and his image, it is surely time that all should make a careful study of the Bible principles of church and state. A true understanding of this question will be necessary to enable one to stand in that time of trial.
Again: God's people will at this time have an opportunity to witness for the truth. To do this, it will be necessary to have a personal knowledge of the teachings of the Bible concerning the relations that should exist between the kingdom of God and Cæsar. At the institutes held in western Oregon the study was conducted by comparisons. The church and the state were each studied under the following heads: (1) its origin; (2) its head; (3) its purpose; (4) its weapons; (5) limits of its authority; (6) derivation of its power. A good interest was manifested in all these studies.
At a number of places one or more evenings were devoted to lectures on religious liberty. These were always well received, and usually attended by a number not of our faith. At almost every place the merits of the magazine Liberty were presented. This met with a hearty response, and a goodly number of subscriptions was received. This magazine is doing an excellent work, and should be given a wide circulation among all classes of people.
The last of the institutes was held in the Central Church, Portland, Oregon. Now, after five weeks of strenuous work, all who have been engaged in this work feel that the time was profitably spent, and that it means an uplift to the churches visited. We also believe that the cause of the message was decidedly helped thereby. The writer plans to assist with similar meetings in other conferences in the union.
W. F. MARTIN.
En Route to New Guinea
By J. E. Fulton
MITIELI NAKASAMAI and his wife, natives of Fiji under appointment to mission work in New Guinea, arrived from their native land on the "Levuka," and left two days later for their new field of labor, on the "Houtman." The short time ashore in Sydney was fully occupied by our young Fijian workers in learning what they could of life in the land of the Kai papalagi (white man). Needless to say, much was strange to them; and the great buildings, the trams, motor cars, and trains filled them with astonishment and wonder. After looking at the buildings, Mitieli remarked that he could not but think of what must happen to these great buildings at the coming of Christ. He said they would all melt down like salt or sugar in water when the voice of God calls out in that day. When looking at the animals in the zoo, he was struck with the power and wisdom of God, as was also Fika, his wife, who was delighted with her visit there, and laughed heartily at some of the queer-looking animals.
We visited the café, where they met the staff of workers. Here they sang with the waitresses a hymn or two, and enjoyed the all-too-brief time allotted.
On Wednesday afternoon our Fijian brother spoke to the nurses at the sanitarium, telling about his experiences in accepting the message, attending the school at Buresala, and his two years' field work. Both were greatly interested in the sanitarium. Brother Morrison, the head nurse, showed Mitieli the electric light bath, and the treatment rooms, while Fika was shown through the ladies' treatment rooms. Then Dr. Sherwin showed both of them some wonders in electricity by the use of the static machine, and also the wonderful X rays. It was to them a marvelous thing to look through their hands and feet and see the bones so clearly.
In the evening, at the church, Mitieli gave us a picture of Fiji during cannibal days, and contrasted it with the light and blessing of present truth. He emphasized his remarks with such texts as Rev. 14: 6, 7; Matt. 24: 14; Rev. 10: 1-3, showing that the message is a world-wide message and must go to every tribe and nation; also Rom. 10: 14-17, which shows that messengers must be sent to those who are in darkness: "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach18the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things."
He closed with an appeal to the brethren to remember them in the work as they go to a land as dark as Fiji was once. We are sure this request will be answered. It is a great sacrifice for these young people to leave their country and their kindred, and face the difficulties to be confronted in heathen Papua.
To look back to the time when Mitieli first came to us, himself almost a heathen, and to see what God has done for him, inspires hope as to what God can do through these black-skinned brethren. God bless this young man and his wife, is, we believe, the prayer of hundreds throughout Australasia.
J. E. FULTON.
California
ARTESIA.—As a result of the labor expended here, we are glad to report eighteen adults keeping the Sabbath. It rejoices our hearts to see some making progress in the Christian life and gaining victories over evil habits. Others are in the valley of decision, and still others are desirous of private study. The last service was held in the tent November 23. Since then, meetings have been held in the Searcy hall. About fifty attend the regular Sabbath afternoon service.
D. D. FITCH,
P. L. KNOX.
Maryland
By Gustavus P. Rodgers
BALTIMORE.—Since our last report, we have observed the week of prayer. From the very beginning, every member sought the Lord earnestly, not only for a refreshing from on high, but that souls who were longing for assurance of acceptance with God might come to enjoy the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding."
The Spirit of God touched hearts. Altogether, twelve took their stand on the side of right. Ten united with the church. There are still seven persons for whom we are earnestly praying and working. We ask that you unite your prayers with ours for their salvation. Without doubt we have had a few drops of the latter rain, and from their deep poverty our members gave ten dollars as an annual offering.
Our general meeting will be held January 14-18, instead of January 7-11 as formerly announced. We are especially anxious to have all the colored believers in the Chesapeake Conference present. More effective plans will then be laid for reaching the 275,000 colored persons scattered throughout Maryland and Delaware. We have never before had a general meeting of our colored brethren, and we expect a feast of good things.
Gustavus P. Rodgers.
Relation of the Missionary Volunteer Society to the Church Missionary Society
By Home Missionary Department; Missionary Volunteer Department
ThE relationship between the Missionary Volunteer Society and the church missionary society needs to be clearly understood, that all may work harmoniously together.
Underlying Principles
1. There is a distinct benefit in separate young people's meetings and organization for missionary work that cannot ordinarily be derived from an organization of the whole church:—
a. Timid and backward young people, who have had little experience, take hold of the work better, and develop into workers under the burden of responsibility thus laid upon them.
b. Young people should have the privilege of planning as well as of executing, and of doing things on their own initiative; that is, of learning by doing.
c. The work of our young people is much more effective when there are plans and methods especially adapted to their use.
d. The young people's organization is a training school for the development into workers of those who are young and inexperienced.
2. There is a benefit to be derived from having a distinct membership in the local society:—
a. It serves to bind young people together in closer fellowship, and to help them in remembering and performing their vows.
b. Young people are made to feel a more definite responsibility.
3. There is an advantage to be derived from a general world-wide organization of all our young people who have for their aim, "The advent message to all the world in this generation:"—
a. Broader conceptions of the work come to the young people from the knowledge of this world-wide organization, and through the reports made by young people from every quarter of the earth.
b. Inspiration comes from union with such a young people's organization.
4. The fact that the church is doing organized missionary work should not prevent the organization of a Missionary Volunteer Society, where there is a sufficient number of young people to warrant it:—
a. Reasons under No. 1 apply to this.
b. The young people's society is a division of the church missionary work, just as the junior department of the Sabbath school is a division of that work, and is not a separation of the young people from the church.
c. It is often necessary to form subordinate organizations in the local church for the best development of its work. The organization for the management of the church school is an example.
5. Great care must be exercised in providing wise leadership for this work, and in giving the young people the true idea of the relation between the Missionary Volunteer Society and the church:—
a. The Missionary Volunteer officers should be chosen by the church. (The young people should be represented on the nominating committee.)
b. The church should often, especially in the beginning of the work, choose a tactful person as leader who is no longer considered young, but who has broad sympathies and is resourceful in planning and directing in such work.
c. Young persons should be developed as leaders.
d. The older people should visit the young people's society from time to time; and the young people should take an active part in the missionary meetings of the church.
6. Every earnest Christian young person in the church should have the privilege of uniting with the Missionary Volunteer movement, but it is not best to endeavor to form an organization with separate meetings where there are only a few young people, whose influence is necessary to make any organized missionary work of the whole church a success; yet they may form a band for prayer and personal effort.
7. In churches where there are not enough young people to make a separate meeting for them a success, they should be given a definite and regular part in the church missionary meetings. One of their number should be appointed as their leader, and should act as assistant church missionary leader, another as secretary, who should act as assistant missionary secretary on the same plan as in the larger missionary society. This secretary should keep the records of work done by the young people, give to the church missionary secretary a summary of the work each week, and report it to the conference Missionary Volunteer Society at the close of each quarter. In this way the young people in small churches may be represented in the great body of Missionary Volunteers. A part of the program each week should be prepared and presented by the young people, or they should be responsible for the entire program every other week, in order that they may receive the training they would have in their own meetings were the church large enough to warrant them.
When there are as many as five or six young persons who are church members, they should be organized into a Missionary Volunteer society, and hold their own meetings, and plan their own work, in order that they may have the training adapted to their needs which this organization gives them.
8. In the conduct of this work, it is essential that the members have some time when they can meet, either all together or in groups, for prayer and the study of methods of work.
9. In general, the scope of our young people's work is in "helping other youth," and engaging "in any branch of the work where they are qualified to labor." The primary object of this work is the salvation and development of our young people as workers. Should the Missionary Volunteer work fail to develop active church workers, it fails to meet the purpose of its organization.
10. If the foregoing principles are recognized and entered upon heartily, with the idea of making the work succeed, the results will be,—
a. The salvation of our young people, and their development as useful members of the church.
b. More missionary work accomplished by the church as a whole.
c. The turning of "the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."
In the large churches where Missionary Volunteer Societies are fully organized, the Missionary Volunteer leader should act as assistant missionary leader, for two reasons:—
1. Because the Missionary Volunteer Societies are for the purpose of training and developing active church workers, and because it is to be the Missionary Volunteer Societies that we look for future leaders. Therefore it is an advantage for them to supplement their work in their own meetings by assisting in the general meetings of the church.
2. Because the holding of the office of assistant leader gives them a place on the missionary committee, and a voice in its plans, enabling them to see that in these plans careful attention is given to protecting the Missionary Volunteer Society, that due scope may be given it to accomplish its purpose in the developing and training of active church workers.
When general plans for work of any kind are submitted by the conference to the churches, the work should be so planned that a proper share in it is allotted to the Missionary Volunteer Society, the organizing and planning for their share to be attended to by their own leaders.
A summary of their work should be given to the church missionary secretary each week to enable him to make up a complete record of all missionary work done by the church, because the Missionary Volunteer Society is a junior division of the church missionary society. Their work is also reported separately to the conference, that we may know what part the young people are having in giving this last warning message.
Progressiveness in Spiritual Growth
By J. W. Bardsley
FROM the moment that the day breaks and the Sun of Righteousness dawns upon the soul, light is strewn upon life's way; so that the righteous man advances step by step in the light. Progressiveness is the law of spiritual growth.—J. W. Bardsley.