The forty-third session of the Iowa Conference of Seventh-day Adventists convened on the camp-ground at Boone, Iowa, June 1-5. Five churches, with a membership of seventy-six, applied for admission, and were received into the conference. The following recommendations were adopted:—
“Whereas, The prospering hand of the Lord has been seen in bringing many souls to the knowledge of the truth, and in many other ways advancing the message in our conference; therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That we express thankfulness to our Heavenly Father for his blessing during the year, and that we pledge greater faithfulness to the promulgation of the message in the future.
“Whereas, Since last we met in conference session, death has entered the ranks of our workers, and removed from our midst our oldest and most respected laborer, Elder C. A. Washburn; therefore,—
“2. We recommend, That while we bow in humble submission to the will of our Heavenly Father, and while we realize that our brother sleeps and thus is permitted to rest during the last great struggle between good and evil, we express our appreciation of his many years of earnest public ministry and our regret at the loss of the kindly and wise counsel which his death has brought upon this conference; also that as our brother longed to live to see the work closed and our Saviour come, we only allow his death to be an inspiration to us to labor more earnestly and more energetically to hasten the day when Christ shall come, and the dead in Christ shall be resurrected, and, united with the living righteous, taken home to glory, nevermore to be separated by the great enemy, death.
“3. We recommend, That a man be chosen to take charge of the church-school work who can spend his whole time in the field.
“Whereas, The most active efforts are being put forth by the National Reform Party to secure the enactment of Sunday laws, and the enactment of other religious measures, by both State and national legislation, thus uniting church and state in this country; and,—
“Whereas, The constitutional liberty guaranteed to us by the fundamental law of our nation is thus being threatened; therefore,—
“4. Resolved, That an earnest and vigorous campaign be inaugurated in our conference to educate the people concerning the evils of this sought-for legislation, by means of the circulation of religious liberty literature upon the various phases of the question.
“5. Resolved, That we put forth strong efforts to give the new quarterly Liberty, recently started by the General Conference, a large circulation in our State.
“6. Resolved, That some person be chosen by this conference to be known as religious liberty secretary, who shall have special oversight of this work in our conference.
“7. Resolved, That we work for the improvement of our Sabbath-schools by encouraging earnest study of the ‘Testimonies on Sabbath-school Work;’ by continuing to encourage thorough, systematic study of the Sabbath-school lessons, by helping to increase the circulation of the Sabbath School Worker, and by working for the Home Department.
“Whereas, The Lord has said, ‘One of the most effective barricades against the incoming tide of evil is the cultivation of habits of self-denial and benevolence;’ therefore,—
“8. Resolved, That we keep before our schools the needs of the mission fields and the importance of planning continually that we may increase our contributions; and we recommend that all Sabbath-school contributions be devoted to missions.
“9. We recommend, That earnest work be done by all our workers and people for the salvation of our youth by establishing church-schools in our churches as rapidly as properly qualified teachers can be obtained. As a means of preparing such teachers, we recommend that the Iowa Conference bear the traveling expenses of its accredited church-school teachers to and from the Central Union Conference summer school and General Conference educational council to be held at College View this summer.
“Whereas, The workers in different departments of the conference are greatly inconvenienced by the failure of our churches, missionary societies, and Sabbath-schools to report; therefore,—
“10. Resolved, That a special effort be made by all officers of these organizations to encourage promptness and thoroughness in this matter.
“Whereas, The Lord has greatly blessed us the last year, and given us a substantial increase of tithe; therefore,—
“11. Resolved, That we appropriate from the tithe fund the sum of five thousand dollars for the mission fields; and we suggest that this donation be used to open a mission in Uganda, Africa.
“Whereas, Our resolution of last year that we deal on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system has produced such good results; therefore,—
“12. We recommend, That this policy be continued with increased efforts; also that fourth Sabbath collections be taken up each month to be placed to the credit of the society.
“Whereas, The book, ‘Ministry of Healing’ has been set aside by the author for the relief of our sanitariums, and our Iowa Sanitarium carries a burden of debt,—
“13. We recommend, And urge, our workers and our people everywhere to purchase the book and make a strong effort to sell a sufficient number to relieve our sanitarium of all indebtedness.
“Whereas, A large number of people have been converted to the truth through the canvassing work, and the Lord has told us through the spirit of prophecy that it is one of the best means for educating our people,—
“14. Resolved, That we do all we can to carry on a progressive campaign in this work, (1) each church doing everything in its power to furnish at least one canvasser, (2) all our workers, including canvassers, doing all in their power to encourage promising persons to take up this line of work, referring the same to the one at the head of this work, (3) holding institutes at convenient times, and calling for donations of food and cash to help carry them forward, (4) creating a good, substantial canvassers’ fund.
“Believing that the name of field secretary is more appropriate than that of State agent, and as a large number of other State conferences have made this change to their satisfaction,—
“15. We recommend, That the name field secretary be substituted for that of State agent.
“Recognizing the value of the work that has been begun in our conference for our young people,—
“16. We recommend, That all conference workers, church elders, and parents co-operate with the young people’s secretary in working for the salvation of the youth and in their organization for service.
“17. We recommend, To all our people the Educational Messenger, the organ of the educational and young people’s work for the Central Union Conference, and that all our young people be encouraged to take and read the Youth’s Instructor.
“We look upon it as a lamentable fact that so many of our young people are in secular schools or not in school at all, and, recognizing the great need of well-equipped workers for every line of work; therefore,—
“18. We recommend, That our church elders, ministers, and other workers urgently present to our young people the claims of God upon them, and encourage them to enter Stuart Academy or Union College and obtain a thorough preparation for the work, and that we pledge our support to all the young men and women of Iowa, who thus prepare themselves for the work.
“19. We recommend, To all our young people in need of an education the Stuart Academy and Union College scholarship plans.
“20. We recommend, (1) That as a conference we approve of the recommendation of the General Conference to raise the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; (2) that we concur in the general plan suggested by Elder Daniells that each conference raise a sum equal to two dollars for each church-member in the conference; and that a determined, persistent movement be inaugurated in our conference for this purpose, that we invite our churches to take up this matter at once to raise a sum equal to two dollars for each of their membership, and that we plan to have this task completed before the end of the present year; (3) that all funds raised in response to this action be forwarded through the usual channels.
“Whereas, We have received much of the blessing of the Lord during our stay on this camp-ground; therefore,—
“21. Resolved, That we take the blessing home, and endeavor to share it with those about us, and that we earnestly endeavor to present this message by scattering our missionary papers, the Signs, Watchman, etc., also by the use of our tracts and books, with greater faithfulness than ever before, striving to make this year the best one ever experienced in the service of our Lord and Master.”
Credentials were granted to L. F. Starr, N. C. Bergersen, J. H. Kraft, E. G. Olsen, Henry Rorholm; ordination and credentials to J. C. Clemens, F. M. Corbaley; ministerial licenses to Wm. J. Johnson, Floyd Bralliar, J. W. Dorcas, A. V. Rhoads, J. M. Moore, O. M. Kittle, A. F. Ferguson, J. T. Spriggs, F. E. Brotherston, W. E. Perrin, R. J. Bryant, A. V. Cotton, J. F. Piper, Edgar Swap; P. A. Field, C. V. Starr, E. Rosenwold, C. W. Hollingsworth, Mrs. Minnie Syp;17missionary licenses to N. L. McClintock, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas, Della Wallace, W. H. Cox, Katie Earle, C. Juhl, Margaret Young, Mrs. Blanche Spriggs, F. J. Wilbur, S. B. Kephart, E. W. Wolfe, R. E. Burke, H. F. Meeker, Wm. Andress, Anna Camp, Mrs. Nettie Shaw, J. W. McComas, May Kephart, Edith Shively, Carrie Armstrong, Cora Quinn; church-school teachers’ certificates to Essie Ferguson, Bessie Scism, Bessie Stanfield, Maud Perrin, Emma Curtis, Anna Thermensen, Hattie and Ida Brown.
The following officers were unanimously elected: President, L. F. Starr; other members of the Conference Committee, C. Juhl, J. W. Dorcas, N. C. Bergersen, J. C. Clemens, A. V. Rhoads, J. H. Kraft; Secretary, Flora V. Dorcas; Treasurer and Secretary and Treasurer of Iowa Tract Society, C. W. Larson; Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Nettie Shaw; Field Secretary, R. J. Bryant; Superintendent of Young People’s Work, F. J. Wilbur; Religious Liberty Secretary, W. E. Perrin; Sabbath-school Secretary, Flora V. Dorcas; Trustees of the Seventh-day Adventist Association, L. F. Starr, C. Juhl, J. M. Whitney, N. C. Bergersen, J. M. Petersen, C. W. Larson, W. E. Perrin.
MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS, Sec.
Pacific Union College and Normal Institute
By W. T. Knox; L. A. Reed
To Succeed Healdsburg College
The past year has marked a crisis in the educational work in the Northern California Conference. Independent of the interest on an already large indebtedness, and not counting taxes and insurance, the Healdsburg College debt has been increased the past two years almost six thousand dollars, and this, added to the interest, taxes, and insurance, has increased the total indebtedness by nearly eleven thousand dollars. Such a financial burden has caused considerable embarrassment in conducting the work, and has led to a general sentiment that the continuation of financial losses must stop or the school close.
Statements from Sister White, like the following, have impressed the people that the time has come to do something: “Debts must not be allowed to accumulate term after term. The very highest kind of education that could be given, is to shun the incurring of debt as you would shun disease. When one year after another passes, and there is no sign of diminishing the debt, but it is rather increased, a halt should be called. Let the managers say, ‘We refuse to run the school any longer unless some sure system is devised.’ It would be better, far better, to close the school until the managers learn the science of conducting it on a paying basis. For Christ’s sake, as the chosen people of God, call yourselves to task, and inaugurate a sound financial system in our schools.” —“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 211.
A thorough investigation of the financial organization and conduct of the school has shown that the institution can be conducted at a very large reduction of the expenses, without in any way curtailing the educational work or its value. In the light of this fact, the Pacific Educational Association, which legally controls the college, at its recent annual meeting, June 19, 1906, decided to reorganize the educational work upon a safe financial basis, and in a way to do credit to the cause of education on the Pacific Coast.
To this end a new managing board was elected, composed of the following persons: H. W. Cottrell, E. D. Sharpe, E. R. Palmer, J. O. Corliss, F. A. Lashier, with W. T. Knox president of the board, and L. A. Reed secretary. It was also decided to sell the property in Healdsburg as soon as possible, and secure a more suitable location in the country. Looking to this change in location, it was thought best to change the name of the institution to that of the Pacific Union College. This name is especially appropriate in view of the action of the Pacific Union Conference at its last biennial meeting in recognizing this college as the one representing the college interests of its territory, embracing the States of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
Steps have already been taken to dispose of the old college property. We expect as a result that this property will be taken the present year by the town of Healdsburg for its school purposes.
This leaves the home property still undisposed of. This property is a beautiful tract of ten acres, overlooking the town, on which are located the college home and a number of other buildings. The value and location of this property almost guarantees its sale eventually. It could be very nicely adapted to sanitarium or similar work.
For the coming school year, however, we may have this property, and it is possible that the Pacific Union College will conduct its first year’s work in the old home and its adjoining buildings. Perfectly adequate facilities can be provided for the work of the coming year, and it is earnestly hoped that in the meanwhile something can be done toward securing permanent quarters. The matter of the school’s location for this year will be definitely decided at the Oakland camp-meeting, July 19-29.
During the coming year we expect to have one of the most successful schools the conference has ever conducted. Some very marked changes will be made in the financial management of the school, such as we are assured will bring confidence to the people, unity to the educational work, and hearty support to the school.
The courses of study have been largely reorganized and greatly strengthened. A faculty has been chosen, and the calendar is now in the hands of the printer, and will soon be issued.
For the first time in the history of the work here, we shall have a thoroughly organized normal school in operation. The mere announcement of this department of the college has awakened a response that shows the great need of such a work and of a thorough appreciation of it. The special feature of this normal course will be the training-school, where the normal students will have an opportunity of studying and practising the actual work of teaching under the supervision of skilled critic teachers.
We shall have a well-organized commercial department and strong courses in music. Dr. L. A. Reed has been elected president of the college, and Prof. E. D. Sharpe director of the normal. Prof. I. C. Colcord has been chosen conference educational superintendent, and will do a great deal toward upbuilding the educational work, and in supporting the interests of the college.
Wherever our people here have come in touch with the new order of things for the school, they are showing a willing co-operation that is truly encouraging.
The prospect for a large attendance is very bright. About twenty-five students are in the canvassing work this summer for the purpose of earning scholarships. They have been working barely a month, and some have already half of their scholarships earned, and all of them are moving steadily on. Brother Covell has done a grand work in training these young people for the summer campaign, and the spirit of service which he has kindled in their hearts has done much for the school and the religious influences of the college.
Those wishing to know further with reference to the school should write for a calendar, or correspond with the president of the college, Healdsburg, Cal.
W. T. Knox,
President of the Board,
L. A. Reed,
Secretary.
Wyoming Mission Field Camp-Meeting
By K. C. Russell
THIS meeting was held at Edgemont, S. D., June 21 to July 1, in the city park near the center of the town. The use of the park was kindly donated by the citizens. Edgemont is a town of about five hundred inhabitants, and is located near the State line, between the States of North Dakota and Wyoming, in view of the famous Black Hills.
The weather was somewhat stormy during the first part of the meetings, but later it was ideal. The attendance of our people was good, considering the fact that they are so greatly scattered over that great expanse of country, which is so sparsely settled. It was indeed interesting and touching to listen to the pathetic testimonies which were borne by some of the isolated ones who have been deprived of the privileges of meeting with our people where they could hear the preaching of the word. It certainly was an inspiration to speak to people who seem to be hungering for the bread of life. One can but wish that those of our people who are blessed with abundant opportunities to hear the preaching of the word so often, and seem to regard it so little, would be obliged to exchange places for a time at least with the dear isolated ones until they, too, could have their appetite sharpened for the bread of life. The meeting was a very spiritual one from its beginning, and, with but very few exceptions, all in attendance made a full surrender to the Lord, and at the close of the last Sunday meeting several precious souls were buried with Christ in baptism.
There was an excellent attendance of our young people at this meeting, and they had their regular services every day, which were conducted by Brother Clem Benson, who rendered most excellent help in this part of the work. All departments of the work were considered at this meeting, and each was given its share of attention. There was a great revival in educational work, and also in the religious liberty work. The world-wide mission field was duly considered18and liberal donations were made.
The outside attendance was excellent when the weather was at all favorable. Both the Methodist and Presbyterian ministers of the place attended a number of the services. By invitation of the Methodist pastor, the writer spoke in his church the first Sunday morning during the camp-meeting. Besides the local laborers in that field there were in attendance Elder E. T. Russell, president of the Central Union Conference; Dr. W. A. George, chairman of the Medical Department of the General Conference; and the writer. Elder J. H. Wheeler was unanimously elected superintendent of this field, for the ensuing year. There will be two or more tent efforts conducted in that field during the present season.
We believe that the work is now so thoroughly established in this new and growing field that the progress will be much greater in the future in every way.
K. C. RUSSELL.
Field Notes
BROTHER F. F. PETERSEN reports the baptism of five at New London, Wis., on June 23.
BROTHER H. STEEN reports the baptism of four at St. Paul, Minn., and Brother C. M. Babcock reports the baptism of five at Detroit, Mich.
SIX adults have been added to the company of Sabbath-keepers at Florence, Mo., as the result of a course of meetings held in the new church there.
ELDER E. HILLIARD reports from Woodbridge, West Australia, that nine have taken their stand for the truth as a result of meetings just closed there.
ON July 1 a series of tent-meetings was opened in Brooklyn, N. Y., by Elder O. E. Reinke, with a company of three helpers. He asks prayers for the work there.
AT Harmattan, Alberta, as a result of Brother A. C. Anderson’s work, five persons, mostly heads of families, have begun to keep the Sabbath, and are rejoicing in the truth.
THE New York missionary yacht “Sentinel” has completed its trip up the Hudson River and through the Erie Canal to Buffalo, where it will engage in ship mission work.
A LARGE field tent will be used in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and another one in Toledo, during the tent season. These tents were recently purchased by the Cincinnati and Toledo churches.
BRETHREN E. G. Olsen, P. A. Field, and E. W. Wolfe began a series of tent-meetings at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 6, and request the prayers of God’s people for the success of their work there.
FOUR persons were baptized in the Los Angeles (Cal.) church, Sabbath, June 2.
ON July 7 a church was organized at Ridgefield Park, N. J., by Elder J. E. Jayne.
SABBATH-SCHOOLS have been organized recently at Princeville and West Hallock, Ill.
THE Indiana Reporter states: “The outlook is good for our canvassing work. There will be twenty-five or thirty canvassers in the field by July 1.”
WORK at the Jewish Mission in Boston shows encouraging results. The attendance is increasing, and one Jewish rabbi has openly avowed his belief in Jesus, in spite of the persecution that such a declaration entails.
IN a report from Longview, Tex., Brother E. B. Hopkins says: “Our church now numbers fourteen, and our Sabbath-school thirty-three. Several others are keeping the Sabbath, and I think four will soon come into the church.”
TENT work has been taken up by Brother F. E. Gibson at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He reports a favorable outlook there, though the field is a rather difficult one. He requests the prayers of our people for his success in that field.
BROTHER MARTIN OLSON reports the conversion of four persons as a result of his personal work at Clifford, N. D. One of these has already gone into the canvassing field to help make known the message. So the work increases, and the workers increase with it.
IT has been decided to hold the teachers’ institute for southern California at Fernando Academy, beginning July 30, and closing August 13. A partial list of the workers who are expected to take a prominent part in the institute include the names of Prof. W. E. Howell, Sister Sarah Peck, Prof. E. S. Ballenger, Elder E. D. Sharpe, and Sister Grace O’Neil.
ONE sister in Maine proposes to place our literature in the home of every family in her town. Over forty families have already been thus provided for by her. Now if this excellent example will be followed by some one in each town where our people are living, the warning will soon be given in this country. You who read this, do not wait for some one else to do this work in your town. Be yourself God’s instrument to that end. There is probably no work ever started among us that will do so much to hasten the coming of the King. Our desire for his return is shown in what we are willing to do to help in bringing it about. He will come when the world has been warned. Who will be the next now to fall into line in this movement? Do not put it off. Do not let the good impression created by hearing of this sister’s work pass out of your mind, when your own influence is needed to set some other at work. Resolve to do the good work, and carry out the resolution.
Evangelistic Work in Santa Ana
By Wm. Simpson
California
SANTA ANA.—I held the first meeting last night in the Grand Opera-house. The opera-house, which will accommodate one thousand people, was filled. I realize that the time has come to make a bold attack upon the strongholds of Satan, and I have rented the Grand Opera-house for two months. Instead of the foolish songs of the world there will be heard the solemn truths of the last warning message. While our expenses are high, the Lord has sent us money as it was needed, so that we have not had to call upon the conference to pay a dollar of expense for the last three years. We are expecting the Lord to do great things for us in Santa Ana. Brethren, pray for us.
Wm. Simpson.
Porto Rico
By B. E. CONNERLY
MAYAGUEZ.— Although our work has been passing through a great trial, with the laborers scattered and sorely pressed, still there is a rift in the clouds, and the work never looked so encouraging as it does just now. Sister Simmons, from St. Lucia, paid us a visit last month; and while she was here, we stopped our work, sent for Sister Fischer and Brother Moulton, and we all together sought the Lord earnestly for his blessing, and gained a great victory. Brother Moulton has gone out to his work with a determination to succeed. Satan had seemed to successfully oppose our getting a meeting place for our little company here in Mayaguez; but through earnest prayer, the way has now opened up, and a place that we had long desired for a chapel is being prepared for us. We shall pay eight dollars a month, paying one hundred dollars of the amount down at first, for repairs. It seems necessary that we have a place of worship, to hold our members; otherwise, they will go to the other churches, where they are made welcome and comfortable.
Our stock of tracts which we printed nearly a year ago is almost exhausted, and we are printing another edition. There is an excellent interest in these, and we are adding to the list this time four new ones,—one on the immortality question, by Sister Fischer; “The New Birth,” by Mrs. Connerly; “The Perpetuity of the Law,” by Brother Moulton, and the “Law and the Gospel,” by myself. We sold nearly two thousand last month, and the indications are that we shall reach that number this month.
B. E. CONNERLY.
Just a Little Girl
By A. O. Tait
A SISTER from southern California has just sent us an order for five copies of The Signs of the Times to be sent to a little girl in Canada. She, with her parents, is observing the Lord's commandments alone in the vicinity where she resides. She states that she has not heard an Adventist sermon for years, yet she is thoroughly alive to the great work of getting this truth before the world in this generation, and is anxious to do what she can among her friends and neighbors.
The object in reporting this is simply to raise the question again in the mind of every Seventh-day Adventist, “What am I doing for the advancement of this message?” Unusually good results are following the circulation of the Signs right now.
The undersigned will be glad to correspond with any individuals who may be interested in this most important missionary topic. A. O. TAIT.
Mountain View, Cal.
The Educational Convention
By W. E. Howell
(Concluded)
ON Friday evening, Elder Daniells pleaded with deep solicitude, the rising of God's people to finish the work, pointing out the progress already made.
Christ's second coming is the hope of every true Adventist; but Christ can not come until the gospel is preached in all the world; therefore the certainty of this hope in the church is measured by the progress of missions. If the third angel's message is true, the only mission of the one who accepts it is to give it to the world.
Something is being done. The work of God goes on while we sleep, as does the movement of the earth. There are now forty-seven organized conferences in the United States, and all of North America has been entered except Greenland. In Mexico there are three papers published, some tracts, and some books. All of South America has been touched (except two countries), also the islands of the West Indies, Europe, Africa (except Madagascar), Asia (except Arabia, Persia, and the other Mohammedan countries). Fields which a short time ago were mission fields, absorbing money and workers, are now training centers sending out both to the territory around. This is the case with Australia, Germany, Scandinavia, Great Britain, and Switzerland. Like tiny lamps of a great electric light system, the messengers of truth are being scattered in all parts of the earth, and when the right moment comes, and the current of the Holy Spirit is turned on, it will be a matter of a very short time before God will finish his work in the earth, and cut it short in righteousness.
With power and solemnity, Elder E. W. Farnsworth urged, on Sabbath, the pressing necessity of entire individual surrender, and personal activity in this the world's critical hour.
In the life of every man there is likely to come a time when his whole future career is summed up in one auspicious hour. The same is true of nations. Jerusalem rejected her Saviour, and she has been trodden down of the Gentiles.
“Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ‘choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’” He made the right choice, and became the leader of God's people.
The secret of Joshua's success lay in his whole-hearted devotion to the work God had called him to perform. There is need of earnest work to-day. The greatest mistake Seventh-day Adventists can make is to do nothing.
Saul had great capability, but he proved unfaithful, and was rejected of the Lord. Esther, when brought into a most trying position, risked her very life to save her people, and thus wrought a great deliverance.
We read that when the disciples had brought their ships to land after the miraculous draft of fishes, they forsook all and followed their Master. There was a straight road from that experience to the baptism at Pentecost. God does not anoint men with the Holy Spirit to do the common work of life. Even the Lord Jesus himself was not anointed until he left his common work and gave himself entirely to preaching.
God has called this people to do something that he never called any other people to do—to give the last warning message to the world. This message is to go in the spirit and power of Elijah. The time has come for us to look at this thing in a more serious light than ever before. We are rapidly nearing the end. If it was right for the disciples to leave all and follow the Lord, it is right for us. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he can not be my disciple.”
There is not only an opportunity to work, but there is a living in the message for every one of our people. We need preachers, teachers, Bible workers, canvassers, and many others. We must do much more than we are doing in the circulation of our literature.
The thing God has given each of us to do is to carry the third angel's message to the world. That is the opportunity of this hour. We preach the great crucial hour of earth's history. Never was such an hour known before; never will there be such an hour again. Let us be faithful to our high calling.
This educational convention is regarded by every one present as decidedly the best that has been held by this people. A deep conviction has settled upon all the teachers that upon them rests much of the responsibility of giving such an impetus to the forward movement of this message as it has not yet felt. All pledged themselves to more earnest service in preparing thoroughly, but as quickly as possible, recruits for our missions in all the world. Strong resolutions for the co-operation of the schools with the conference and the mission leaders, were adopted without a dissenting vote, and the convention was resolved into an experience and consecration meeting, with the melting power and sweetness of God's Spirit present in large measure. Almost entire unanimity prevailed to the last in studying and adopting plans of a delicate and perplexing nature. Every teacher departed feeling that his calling is higher and holier than he had thought, and with a deep sense that only entire personal surrender and dependence upon God will enable him to do acceptably his part in warning the world.
At the close, it was decided to print the proceedings of the convention in concise form for general distribution. This will include the courses of study fully outlined from grades one to sixteen, the recommendations on text-books, on the preparation of missionaries, and other important features of the educational work. A number of the papers and addresses will appear in the REVIEW during the summer, as also in the proceedings of the convention.
W. E. HOWELL.
Nature Study
It has been proved that the surest way to keep young is to live outdoors, take an interest in growing things, study the stones and rocks, associate with the beautiful birds, and listen to nature’s thousand voices that speak of God. This secret of perpetual youth seems to have been discovered by the naturalists; for however venerable they became, their fresh hearts kept their eyes from fading, and the lines from gathering on their faces, and made them proverbially young both in manner and in spirit.
Nature study brightens faces and enlarges minds. Not only may one “go to the ant” and “be wise,” but insects, birds, and beasts are our teachers. They are always furnishing us with useful patterns and ideas, and some of our most wonderful inventions have been merely copied from their feats of engineering.
There is no such thing as a lonely forest or field. The city’s activity is nothing compared with the life that is to be studied in nature’s quiet places, where each leaf is a separate study; for no two of the countless billions that clothe the trees are exactly alike.
The great musicians of the world have put into their finest compositions echoes of the lovely bird-songs they have heard in their rambles, and the great artists have taken their fadeless colors from the numberless tints of flowers. When we recall that there are fifty shades of red between crimson and scarlet, we are able to realize dimly that the study of color alone could keep one busy a lifetime. No one can be low spirited who opens his eyes, mind, and heart to the world of nature. A high, earnest, happy look must be on his face; and happiness is beauty always.—Selected.
Religious Intolerance in Eastern Pennsylvania
By George W. Spies
PENNSYLVANIA is, without doubt, taking the lead in the unconstitutional and unchristian practise of enforcing religious observances upon its citizens by law. This is admitted by the American Sabbath Association, and proved by the statistics of arrest in our conference during the past year.
Since the organization of the Religious Liberty Department in our conference one year ago, no less than one thousand persons have been arrested in eastern Pennsylvania for non-observance of Sunday, three of this number being Seventh-day Adventists. During the same time, fines amounting to tens of thousands of dollars have been imposed upon the victims of these unjust laws, a probable aggregate of forty or fifty thousand dollars having been thus collected.
Thirteen of the thirty-six counties in the conference were more or less active during the past year in the crusade against the natural rights of man. Two hundred and sixty-seven arrests, the largest number reported from any one county, were made in Lackawanna County, two hundred and twenty-nine of them in a single month. Schuylkill County reported two hundred and fifty-one. Northumberland County stands third in the list, with one hundred and forty-six arrests, all but one of which were made early in January, 1906. Philadelphia stands fourth, with one hundred20and fourteen reported arrests, all but two having been made in the month of April, 1906, at which time, at the request of the preachers of Philadelphia, one million three hundred thousand American citizens were deprived of the liberty granted them by the Constitution, by a Sunday closing order issued by Mayor Weaver, which made honest toil a crime. Six cities in the conference had such orders issued during the closing months of the last year. The remaining nine counties reporting arrests have all had fifty or less.
Thus the State in which the Declaration of Independence was drawn up, and in which the Constitution, after months of fierce fighting, was adopted, has gone back on right principles. The historic metropolis that gave birth, in a manner, to the liberties of our nation, is now in the hands of religious zealots, who call it the “Nation’s Training-school of National Reform.” Truly in the State of Pennsylvania has the sun of liberty both risen and set. GEORGE W. SPIES.
Christian Education
By FREDERICK GRIGGS; C. C. LEWIS
Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference.
FREDERICK GRIGGS, Chairman,
C. C. LEWIS, Secretary.