“Clergymen” and “Temperance Workers” Indorse Duffy’s Malt Whisky
L. A. S.
MANY of our readers have no doubt noticed among the proprietary-medicine advertisements in the papers one showing the portraits of three “clergymen,” with the accompanying statement: “Clergymen indorse Duffy’s Pure Malt Whisky. Distinguished divines and temperance workers, who have spent their lives in uplifting their fallen brethren and placing their feet upon the solid rock, use and recommend Duffy’s Pure Malt Whisky. These great preachers have been cured of dyspepsia, and of stomach, throat, and bronchial trouble by this wonderful medicine, whose virtues they extol. Honored and respected preachers of the gospel and advocates of temperance without regard to creed or prejudice make frank and outspoken statements of what Duffy’s Malt Whisky has done for them,” etc.
With reference to this advertisement Mr. Adams says in Collier’s: “Of these three ‘distinguished divines and temperance workers,’ the Rev. Dunham runs a Get-Married-Quick Matrimonial Bureau, while the ‘Rev.’ Houghton derives his income from his salary as deputy internal revenue collector, his business being to collect Uncle Sam’s liquor tax. The printed portrait of Houghton is entirely imaginary. The Rev. McLeod lives in Greenleaf, Mich., a township north of Port Huron and off the railway line. Mr. McLeod was called to trial by his presbytery for indorsing Duffy’s Whisky, and was allowed to ‘resign’ from the fellowship.”
Duffy’s Whisky advertises as “the only whisky recognized by the government as a medicine,” though decisions by the Supreme Court of New York and the Internal Revenue Department of the federal government class it as being on a par with ordinary whisky and gin. It differs from ordinary whisky only in being sweetened.
Warner’s Safe Cure
Regarding this much-advertised preparation Mr. Adams says:—
“When this series of articles was first projected, Collier’s received a warning from ‘Warner’s Safe Cure,’ advising that a thorough investigation would be wise before ‘making any attack’ upon that preparation. I have no intention of ‘attacking’ this company or any one else, and they would have escaped notice altogether, because of their present unimportance, but for their letter. The suggested investigation was not so thorough as to go deeply into the nature of the remedy, which is an alcoholic liquid, but it developed this interesting fact: Warner’s Safe Cure, together with all the Warner remedies, is leased, managed, and controlled by the New York and Kentucky Distilling Company, manufacturers of standard whiskies which do not pretend to remedy anything but thirst. Duffy’s Malt Whisky is another subsidiary company of the New York and Kentucky concern. This statement is respectfully submitted to temperance users of the Malt Whisky and the Warner remedies.”
Of the percentages of alcohol in some of the most commonly advertised nostrums of this class Mr. Adams states:—
“Hostetter’s Bitters contain, according to an official State analysis, forty-four per cent of alcohol; Lydia Pinkham appeals to suffering womanhood with twenty per cent of alcohol; Hood’s Sarsaparilla cures ‘that tired feeling’ with eighteen per cent; Burdock’s Blood Bitters with twenty-five per cent; Ayer’s Sarsaparilla with twenty-six per cent; and Paine’s Celery Compound with twenty-one per cent. The fact is that any of these remedies could be interchanged with Peruna or with one another, so far as general effect goes, though the iodide of potassium in the sarsaparilla class might have some effect (as likely to be harmful as helpful) which would be lacking in the simpler mixtures.”
It should be noted that the proportion of alcohol in these “medicines” is much greater than that in wine or beer.
Liquozone
We come now to the consideration of a different class of patent nostrums, the so-called microbe killers. The advertisements of these preparations are based upon the claim that all diseases are the work of microbes, just as Peruna advertisements are based on the claim that all human ills result from catarrh. As frauds these preparations are no whit behind those of the alcoholic type. By far the most prominent of them at the present time is “liquozone,” which is advertised to cure almost every known disease, including cancer and consumption. The usual convincing testimonials are to be had in abundance, together with much “scientific” evidence of the curative virtue of this compound. Mr. Adams finds it interesting and enlightening to trace the genealogy of liquozone back to its first parentage. He says:—
“Twenty years ago the microbe was making a great stir in the land. The public mind, ever prone to exaggerate the importance and extent of any new scientific discovery, ascribed all known diseases to microbes. The infinitesimal creature with the mysterious and unpleasant attributes became the leading topic of the time. Shrewdly appreciating this golden opportunity, a quack genius named Radam invented a drug to slay the new enemy of mankind, and gave it his name. Radam’s Microbe Killer filled the public prints with blazonry of its lethal virtues. As it consisted of a mixture of muriatic and sulphuric acids with red wine, any microbe which took it was like to fare hard; but the ingenious Mr. Radam’s method of administering it to its intended prey, via the human stomach, failed to commend itself to science, though enormously successful in a financial sense through flamboyant advertising.
“In time some predaceous bacillus, having eluded the ‘killer,’ carried off its inventor. His nostrum soon languished. To-day it is little heard of, but from the ashes of its glories has risen a mightier successor, liquozone. Where twenty years ago the microbe reveled in publicity, to-day we talk of germs and bacteria; consequently liquozone exploits itself as a germicide and bacteriocide. It dispenses with the red wine of the Radam concoction, and relies upon a weak solution of sulphuric and sulphurous acids, with an occasional trace of hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid. Mostly it is water.”
After giving a list of the diseases which liquozone “cures,” Mr. Adams continues:—
“These diseases it conquers by destroying, in the human body, the germs which cause (or are alleged to cause) them. Such is liquozone’s claim.
“Yet the Liquozone Company is not12a patent-medicine concern. We have their own word for it.
“We wish to state at the start that we are not patent-medicine men, and their methods will not be employed by us. . . . Liquozone is too important a product for quackery.”
“The head and center of this non-patent-medicine-cure-all is Douglas Smith. Mr. Smith is by profession a promoter. He is credited with a keen vision for profits. Several years ago he ran upon a worthy ex-piano dealer, a Canadian by the name of Powley (we shall meet him again, trailing clouds of glory in a splendid metamorphosis), who was selling with some success a mixture known as Powley’s Liquefied Ozone. This was guaranteed to kill any disease germ known to science. Mr. Smith examined into the possibilities of the product, bought out Powley, moved the business to Chicago, and organized it as the Liquid Ozone Company. Liquid air was then much in the public prints. Mr. Smith, with the intuition of genius, and something more than genius’s contempt for limitations, proceeded to catch the public eye with this frank assertion: ‘Liquozone is liquid oxygen—that is all.’”
“It is enough. That is, it would be enough if it were but true. Liquid oxygen doesn’t exist above a temperature of 229 degrees below zero. One spoonful of it would freeze a man’s tongue, teeth, and throat to equal solidity, before he ever had time to swallow. If he could, by any miracle manage to get it down, the undertaker would have to put him on the stove to thaw him out sufficiently for a respectable burial. Unquestionably, liquozone, if it were liquid oxygen, would kill germs, but that wouldn’t do the owner of the germs much good because he’d be dead before they had time to realize that the temperature was falling. That it would cost a good many dollars an ounce to make is, perhaps, beside the question. The object of the company was not to make money, but to succor the sick and suffering. They say so themselves in their advertising. For some reason, however, the business did not prosper as its new owner had expected. A wider appeal to the sick and suffering was needed. Claude C. Hopkins, formerly advertising manager for Dr. Shoop’s Restorative (also a cure-all) and perhaps the ablest exponent of his specialty in the country, was brought into the concern, and a record-breaking campaign was planned. This cost no little money, but the event proved it a good investment.”
(To be continued)
Fiji
By C. H. Parker
C. H. PARKER
At the beginning of the nineteenth century the people of Fiji were in the midnight darkness of heathenism, and were practising all the abominable rites of superstition. Temples dedicated to the devil were the only places of worship among them. These drew the veil of blindness over every town, and Satan rejoiced as the smoke of the burning flesh of human victims arose from these abodes of darkness. How true the scripture, “The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” Cannibalism of the grosser sort was indulged in with seemingly no compunctions of conscience. Cakabau (pronounced Thackambau), who was the leading king in Fiji, went so far as to eat only the tongues and hearts of the victims of this cruelty, giving, as his reason, that the heart devised mischief, and the tongue spoke it. The life of no one was safe. Towns were depopulated, and tribes broken up. Continual warfare was carried on that their fiendish appetites might be satisfied.
FIJI SCHOOL CHILDREN
About the year 1825 the gospel gained a foothold in the Tongan Islands, and soon was imparted by some of the native converts to the Fijians in the Lau, or eastern division of the Fijian group. About the year 1835 two Wesleyan missionaries, Pastors Cargill and Cross, established a mission on the island of Lakeba (Lakemba). Afterward they tried to begin work at the capital, which was Bau, but King Cakabau, being engaged in a war, would not allow them to settle there, but gave them permission to start a mission on the island of Viwa, a few miles from Bau. Cakabau, meeting reverses in the war that he was engaged in, sought help from King George of Tonga. King George sent word back that if Cakabau and his people would accept Christianity, he would come to his aid. This condition was yielded to, and he received the support promised. The proclaiming of the gospel in Fiji went with power at the time of the giving of the first angel’s message, and since then the whole group has been Christianized, so that all are nominally Christians, though it is equally true that a large number do not work at their profession.
Every town has its native pastor, who has to do with the teaching of the children from earliest childhood. Religious services are held Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, also on Sunday morning at sunrise, and at ten and three o’clock.
The Fijian people are very devotional, and they never tire of meetings. Morning and evening worship is strictly observed. A pen picture of the inside of a church and their mode of worship might be interesting.
Their churches, except a few wooden structures which have been built during recent years, have no wooden floors or seats. Mats cover the ground, upon which they sit with their legs crossed under them. The only articles of furniture are a pulpit and a blackboard. As the people enter the door of their meetinghouse, they drop on their knees and bow their heads to the floor; they will either crawl or walk in a stooping manner to their places. The children always sit in front, while the women sit on one side of the building, and the men on the other side. The chiefly men and those who occupy positions, either in the government or in the church, sit behind and on either side of the pulpit. Fifteen or twenty minutes before the meeting begins, the people take their places, and the women chant the catechism. When the minister is seen coming, two young men beat, with four clubs, the lali, or native bell, which is a log from four to six feet long, hollowed out. As the teacher enters the door of the church and bows down, the women take up a chant that the Lord will bless him. After the singing of the hymn, the teacher offers prayer, then the women chant another petition that the Lord will bless his word, and close with the Lord’s prayer. This is all performed with their faces bowed to the floor. Each sentence always ends with a jerk or grunt. After another hymn the13instruction is given, then a closing hymn, and the benediction is given upon bended knee, with the chanted refrain from the people for God to help them to do what the minister has said. Perfect quietness and order prevail throughout the whole service.
Babies are christened the same as they are among the Europeans with the exception that the rite will not be performed unless a shilling is forthcoming.
Once every quarter they have a love-feast, and the sacraments are administered. At the end of each year they make a great feast. The young men and young women and children, with their bodies oiled and painted and bedecked with different ornaments, furnish amusement to the older people by singing, which is accompanied with different motions of the body, as well as of the head and the hands and feet. The singing is mostly historical and religious. War dances are always connected with this occasion. A teacher of elocution would feel that he had reached the acme of his profession, if he could but behold the graceful movements of these children of nature. Perfect rhythm and time are kept. During these entertainments mats are placed on the ground in the center of the rara (town commons), and a leading minister, with a number of subordinate ones on either side, sits down upon them. Then all vie with one another in seeing who can give the most money. They will have their money changed into the smallest coinage, for they seem to love display as well as white people, and they will pass up before the minister and throw down one or two coins. In a short time they will do the same thing again, and will continue to repeat this act until their supply is exhausted. Each time a piece of money is thrown down, all the ministers will clap their hands and say, Vinaka, vinaka (good, good).
The marriage ceremony is very interesting. The persons concerned must first get the consent of the town chief who is the town father. Then they are married, but have nothing to do with each other till some time later when they have a reception. Their friends come from all directions, bringing all the needful things for the setting up of housekeeping. Tappa (native cloth) is wound around the bodies of both bride and bridegroom till they take on enormous sizes, then the remainder is piled upon their backs, and they, bending and sweating under their load, bear the first-fruits of their married life to their new home, and for the first time they live together. For about four days after they are married, they neither bathe their bodies or faces nor comb their hair.
God has in the past blessed the labors of the Wesleyan missionaries here; but at the present, as in a great many other Protestant denominations, form has taken the place of the spiritual life, and a hollowness pervades all their spiritual exercises. How true it is, when we fail to keep step with the light, our abode becomes darkness.
The third angel’s voice is beginning to be heard by this people, and some who have been sitting in darkness are seeing great light, and are responding to the divine pleading. Persecution is brought against them, but they would rather suffer reproach with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for it is given us not only to believe on Jesus, but also to suffer with him.
Mualevu, Loma Loma, Lau.
Temperance and Moderation
“TEMPERANCE is a moderate use of only things that are good.”
The Beauty of a Soul Serving Jesus
THE colored sunsets and the starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the shining seas, the fragrant woods and the painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus out of love in the wear and tear of common, unpoetic life.— Frederick W. Faber.
General Meeting in Hayti
By W. Jay Tanner
W. JAY TANNER
ON the thirteenth of December, in company with Brother Isaac and several others, I left home for a short visit to the Sabbath-keepers at Ranquitte and Hinche. The brethren had planned a general meeting to be held at the latter place, and such, indeed, it proved to be, for each of the three little companies in Hayti was well represented.
We arrived at Ranquitte on the afternoon of the second day, and found that nearly all the members of this company had already gone to the place of meeting, leaving word for us to follow. Being unable to do so that day, we concluded to remain there overnight, and finish our journey early the next morning. In the meantime I looked over the town, and called on some of the people. Ranquitte is situated high among the interior hills of Hayti. The air is fresh and cool, the water abundant and pure, and the soil very rich. The houses for the most part are built of mud, and thatched; but a few are of Spanish wall with corrugated iron roofing. By far the largest building in the place is the Catholic church, which, by the way, as a thing of beauty and cleanliness, could hardly be considered a good example for the people to pattern after. But what interested me most of all was what we may call the Seventh-day Adventist church. The past summer the Baptist congregation of fourteen members who owned this building, all embraced the message for this time, and as the church was their property, they naturally still retained possession of it. It is one of the neatest and best-built buildings in the town, and is the only Protestant church for miles around; as an example of true Protestantism, it will no doubt be a beacon light among the Haytian hills.
Four hours in the saddle the next morning brought us to our destination, the home of one of the members of the Ranquitte company. Here a booth of cocoanut branches had been erected for the meetings, and ample provision made for all who might attend. The power and presence of the Spirit of the Lord was felt in all the meetings, of which we held ten in two days. On the Sabbath afternoon four willing souls were buried with their Lord in baptism, and immediately afterward we celebrated the ordinances for the first time in Hayti. The solemnity that rested upon this service will not soon be forgotten by those present. These meetings resulted in strengthening our believers, and one man of intelligence from a place far to the south publicly declared his determination to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. On this trip we also learned that since our last visit to Grande Riviere the government doctor there has begun to observe the Sabbath. Thus we are able to report that the work still continues to gain ground.
Having now seen all the Sabbath-keepers in the republic, except two or three in the southern part, I am able to report as to the general aspects of the work here. Those who have embraced the message are, as a rule, from among the better class of native Haytians.
A VIEW OF CAPE HAITIEN
There are between forty and fifty Sabbath-keepers, fully four fifths of whom are educated. The significance of this will be appreciated when it is remembered that only ten or twelve per cent of the entire population can read or write.
Another feature of the work here is that the majority of the commandment-keepers are men. Among these are several young men of more than average intelligence, who, if they continue faithful and devoted, will help us solve the problem of supplying workers for this field when the time comes to increase our forces.
Of course it is not to be expected that these new Sabbath-keepers should be thoroughly informed on all points of our faith so soon after having left the errors of Babylon. However, they had a good understanding of the second advent and Sabbath questions when I came. One of the first things they asked me to explain was the state of the dead. In explaining this and other subjects it has greatly warmed my own heart to see the eagerness and satisfaction with which the truth is received by them. In this work, as well as in getting the truth before those who have not heard it, Brother14Isaac, the young teacher of whom I spoke in a former report, is a great help. We are able to instruct him, and then he is willing and glad to go and freely give to others that which he has received.
The chief difficulties that seem to stand in the way of the progress of the message here are the instability of the currency, the value of which is so uncertain from day to day as to make canvassing well nigh out of the question; the ignorance of the masses, which would naturally limit our canvassing work to the comparatively small per cent of educated people; and Roman Catholicism, the influence of which against truth and progress is well known. However, it is a source of consolation to know that the power of God which is in this cause will, somehow and surely, brush aside these obstacles, and quickly and effectively carry it, not only to Hayti, but to every other difficult country. That the Spirit is at work in Hayti there can be no doubt; the problem is how to keep pace with its movings.
In the General European Field
By L. R. Conradi
L. R. CONRADI
KNOWING the interest our people feel in the growth of the work of God, we would be pleased to refer to the report of the European field for the third quarter, 1905, and also to a comparison between the first nine months of 1904 and the first three quarters of 1905. During the third quarter, there were 397 baptisms, and 92 additions by vote; the tithe was $23,883, and the donations, $2,700. A comparison of January 1 to September 30, of last year, with the corresponding time this year, is encouraging. In respect to the number received, there is a falling off of about one hundred this year, as the number is sixteen hundred now against seventeen hundred then; but our tithe during that period of 1904 was $57,000, while it has been $71,700 in 1905; the Sabbath-school donations rose from $4,700 to $5,550, the First-day offerings from $1,400 to $1,980, and the annual offerings from $1,250 to $1,350; this gives us an increase of over $16,000 in our income the first three quarters of 1905 as compared with the same period in 1904. Our net increase in membership since the beginning of the year is about 1,050—not a bad increase if we remember the large number of our converts who go to America, and also keep in mind the fact that we try to have a thoroughly revised membership list all the time.
There are other encouraging items to which we might refer. While the newspapers in general are describing the perilous times into which we are entering, and there have been revolutions and insurrections, and massacres and violence, and political and religious strife, yet God is caring for his own, and his cause goes right ahead in the midst of all these difficulties.
We learn that in Iceland the brethren have been so blessed that they were able to erect a house of worship, mostly on their own resources, and that the meetings there are well attended. There come good tidings from Elder Wakeham, who has been able to hold a profitable institute with the Armenian workers in Asia Minor, in spite of the difficulties that seemed before him. Elder Fred Anderson, of Finland, reports that we never had better attended meetings there than have been in progress during the revolutionary times through which they have been passing. Our canvassers in that field have been selling their books even faster than ever before. Dr. George writes that they are now completing the treatment rooms in Constantinople. Dr. Yeram, of Macedonia, reports some interested inquirers there. We receive good news from the land of Palestine, where several Germans are to be baptized when Brother Wakeham visits that field. Elder D. Isaac, who lately went to the South Russian field, refers encouragingly to his visit to several churches there; he states that a number of our brethren have very profitable employment as stone-cutters in that field, and that more might be so employed.
During my recent visit to Gland, I found in the school there about twelve students, from the Latin Union. Our buildings are now in good shape, and we hope by spring to have a good patronage; we have lately opened a health-food store and a bookstore in Geneva. Our work in Friedensau is prospering, and we are constantly put to our wits' ends to provide more room.
We are now laboring hard to get out the book, “Ministry of Healing,” in the German language, and are raising our “material fund” for it. When we visited our paper dealer, and told him that the book would be ready by spring, and asked whether he would like to assist us on it, he said, “Yes, surely; but why should I wait until spring; can I not help you sooner?” And within a week he sent us a check for sixty dollars. I received the same promise from our printer and from our binder in Leipzig. Our institutions have to be constantly enlarged, and it naturally puts quite a strain upon us to provide the necessary facilities with the small constituencies we have to assist us. Our brethren in Great Britain are between hope and fear as to the possibility of securing a suitable place for their institutions; but they write very encouragingly with regard to their book and field work, and they are anxiously waiting for the help of the men promised from the States.
In Germany the press is constantly advertising us and our work, to a greater or less degree. We read of a young Seventh-day Adventist in Bavaria who refused to serve in the army on the Sabbath, and suffered imprisonment in consequence; we read of a similar case in Hessia; and as the number of the young men who are faithful and loyal to their Master is constantly increasing, of course our people are brought more and more to the front.
In the city of Nurnberg, where Elder J. T. Boettcher recently celebrated the Lord's supper with our church,—about fifty were present, and among them some strangers,—the congregation was suddenly surprised by four policemen, who took the name of every person present, and all are now subject to a fine of $12.50 each; but we shall again appeal to the government, and protest against this injustice.
From the East African Mission we learn that the buildings are now nearly finished, and we expect them to be done before the rainy season. They have sent us some nice views. We have two stations, one in the mountains, and the other at Kuihiro. While the workers suffer more or less from the climate, still their work is slowly onward.
Thus, whether the news comes from the cold arctic regions or from the hot torrid zone of Africa, whether we hear from troubled Russia or from the “pleasant land,” yet we have cheering tidings of salvation. We have every reason to be of good cheer, knowing that in every condition God is our strength and salvation, our fortress and deliverer.
Hamburg.
Mission Notes
“He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa. 53:12.
THERE are more than two thousand temples in Peking, and more than thirty thousand domestic shrines.
CHINA annually gives three hundred million dollars for idolatry, while Protestant Christianity gives twelve million dollars a year to extend Christ’s kingdom.
RELATIVES of Japanese soldiers went, bowed with anxiety, to the temple of the god of war, hoping that prayers poured forth there would protect their loved ones. The priests of the temple at — were up-to-date men. They arranged a tariff of fifty cents a minute for those who used the temple to pray for soldiers on the battle-field! Still, some people in this country say Japanese religions are good enough for all practical purposes. By the way, willingness to pay such a fee shows that the war aroused in some Japanese a feeling of need to find God.
A BASEL Society missionary in Kamerun, West Africa, writes to his society: “For some time I have been dreading a request for teachers from the Ndogomakumak tribe, composed of twenty-eight smaller tribes. The request has now been made, and the people are very much in earnest. They say they have been made to wait three years. The young scholars are ready; the teachers will be received with joy; but we have no money! What are you going to do about it?” Many wild tribes in Africa are waking up to their need of instruction. What are we going to do to avoid fearing such opportunities?
Philippines
By E. H. Gates
MANILA.— I arrived in this city the first of this month, and to-day I am sitting on the Luneta, just outside of the old “walled city,” a few rods from the monument on which stand the figures of Legaspi and Urdaneta. Brother Caldwell, our canvasser from Australia, is with me. He has made a successful canvass for the medical books, and on the twenty-seventh (December) will go with me to Hongkong, as I go by there on my way to Singapore, to canvass that city. He will later return here to canvass for the religious books.
This is an interesting field. I see many good reasons why we should place a minister here at once. The sooner we begin, the better; the longer we wait, the more difficulties we shall find.
At our New South Wales camp-meeting and conference, a recommendation was passed that the conference support a worker in this island field. The field is as ready as it ever will be. We should have entered it when the war closed. Other Protestant denominations are getting a foothold here, which will be no help to us. In Singapore these are our bitterest opponents.
When we begin, we shall need Spanish literature, and plenty of it.
E. H. GATES.
Mississippi
By James Bellinger; Carrie Bellinger
HATLEY.—It has been some time since we reported from this needy field; but God has been with us all the time, and blessed us. Our courage is good, our faith strong, and our aims are high. We have been located at Hatley this winter. Mrs. Bellinger will close a four months' term of school the twenty-third of February, which has proved a great blessing to both teacher and students, and also to the church here.
Our school enrolled twenty this winter, and we feel to praise God for the advancement made in so short a time by the students, both mentally and spiritually. We have had an intelligent class of young people and children, and we are sure that a few of them will be actively engaged in helping to spread the third angel's message from now on.
This is a large and very needy field. We need more workers, and are praying the Lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers into the harvest-field. We want the Spirit of God to impress upon the hearts of our dear brethren in the Northern States, where there has so much work been done, and where there are so many workers going over the same ground again and again, that in these Southern fields there are hundreds, yes, thousands of towns that have never heard of this precious truth. Come and help us, brethren, we need you, and God calls you to come.
God will hold us accountable for souls that we might have warned, but did not. We can give the trumpet an uncertain sound by staying in our comfortable homes, and thus say by our words and actions, My Lord delayeth his coming. Many professed people of God are going to wake up too late and be obliged to say, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” God help us all to wake up, and work as never before. As soon as our school is out, we expect to enter new territory.
JAMES BELLINGER,
CARRIE BELLINGER.
_East Michigan_
By E. K. Slade
THE LORD has greatly blessed our labors in this conference during the past months. We have been encouraged to see an awakening in all departments of the work, and some renewing of energy on the part of our churches in missionary effort. Our financial situation is the most favorable that it has been for many years. During the past year an old indebtedness has been wiped out, so we are now entirely out of debt, and have a good surplus in the treasury. There has been a decided increase in the payment of tithe. Within a few months, through the liberality of some of our brethren, nearly fifteen hundred dollars has been forwarded to the Mission Board for the foreign work. In a few days one of our laborers, with his family, is going to a needy field, where he will be supported by this conference. For this we are grateful to God, and we report it only that our brethren may rejoice with us in these good things.
Our school work is growing, and the number of church-schools increasing, making it necessary for other teachers to be pressed into service. Where schools are in progress and liberally supported, all lines of work in the church are advancing. Our academy at Holly has made a good record during the past year. Our buildings are not completed, but we hope to have them finished for the beginning of the fall term. We are made to feel the importance of this by seeing the minds of many of our young men and women much exercised in reference to preparing themselves for the work.
While Michigan is an old field, thought to be thoroughly burned over, yet there are many openings, and urgent calls for meetings. Several successful efforts have been made in various places of late. Some labor has been bestowed at Prattville, where a church was already organized, which has resulted in sixty-four new additions to the faith. Ten have recently taken their stand for the truth at Hanover. Several were added to the Ithaca church as a result of a short effort recently. Eight have just taken their stand for the truth through an effort which has been made at Lapeer. A good company has been raised up in Sanilac County; they are now planning to erect a church building, and request to be organized into a church. We feel that there is a great work to be done yet in Michigan. All our laborers earnestly desire to stand abreast with the great issues that are before us, and faithfully perform the work committed to us.
E. K. SLADE, President.
California
By J. F. Ballenger
LONG BEACH.—The Lord has signally blessed the efforts put forth for the upbuilding of his work in this place. The church here purchased a tract of two and one-half acres of land in the suburbs of the city, for which they paid seventeen hundred and fifty dollars. This they divided into twelve lots, nine of which they sold for more than enough to pay for the whole tract, leaving three lots clear. On one of these they have erected a neat building, twenty-eight by forty feet, for a church-school; in this they also hold their Sabbath meetings. The building, when completed, was all paid for. Since we have finished the schoolhouse, our numbers have increased so rapidly that by another season it may be necessary to erect a building for a church.
The Lord has blessed our efforts for the Spaniards. We have labored for them through an interpreter, and several have accepted the truth. January 28 four Spaniards were baptized, also one German sister. Others expect to be baptized later. A German minister, Elder Louren, of Oklahoma, has been laboring here during the past month, and several of these people have accepted the truth.
At the baptism last week the services were conducted in three languages—the opening song in Spanish, the prayer in German, and the baptismal ceremony in English, thus showing how this message is gathering believers from all nations. Our Sabbath-school numbers about seventy; we have a class in Spanish taught by a brother who was a government interpreter in Manila. We have also a German class, besides several16in English. The Lord is calling for volunteers in every tongue to fight the good fight of faith.
By invitation of the board of directors of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium I go there to act as chaplain. My address will be Paradise Valley Sanitarium, National City, Cal. J. F. BALLENGER.
