"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men." Eph. 6:7.
SOME time ago the General Department sent to all conference secretaries this question, "Is the young people's work in your conference helping to train workers?" The following paragraphs are drawn from the replies received:—
British Columbia
The young people's work has been organized in this field comparatively a short time. Still I can see that it has done much good in our conference. It has been a help to me. It was in the young people's meetings and the Sabbath-school that I gained my first experience. If it were not for that experience, I doubt whether I should be in this work to-day. I can see that it is helping other young people, too. Different ones who were backward and timid before taking an active part in the meetings of the society are now taking hold of the work and bearing various responsibilities.—Lydia Stickle.
Central Union
As I have not been connected with a local conference for four years, I can not say much on this point. I may say, however, that the only society with which I have been connected locally during this period has had five of its members sent to foreign fields, and a great many others have entered the organized work in the home field.—Meade MacGuire.
Colorado
Yes, there are now several actively engaged in the work who were once members of the Missionary Volunteer movement in our conference. Not only is this true, but many of the present members have expressed to me their desire to fit themselves for usefulness in the cause of God.—Mrs. Mae Warfle.
Georgia
I have in mind a very timid young man to whom the Missionary Volunteer Society was a great blessing. He is now an efficient Sabbath-school superintendent, after less than two years' training in society work. Personally, the work has been a blessing to me, as all the training I ever received was in connection with the Missionary Volunteer Society and Sabbath-school work. The same society which developed the Sabbath-school superintendent also trained a timid German sister who did not believe in reporting her work. But the encouraging experiences related by others caused her, very timidly and cautiously, to tell some of her good experiences. This continued, and now she is a good worker. She sells the Watchman, and takes a deep interest in every meeting. The society to which I refer reclaimed a young man who had been backslidden for six years. He is now preaching the message every night, and has twelve or fourteen persons ready for baptism.—Mrs. Daisy Terry.
Indiana
Has the young people's work helped to develop workers in our conference?—Yes. Several of our church-school teachers and canvassers, our conference secretary-treasurer, and our conference stenographer were greatly helped in their development as workers in the Missionary Volunteer Societies of which they were members.—Mrs. R. W. McMahan.
Louisiana
The Louisiana Conference is one of the small conferences so far as membership is concerned, so of course our young people are few in numbers. You ask, "Has the young people's work helped to develop workers in your conference?" I answer, Yes. I can now count several who are or have been in the work. Two are ministers, one is a Bible worker, one is a teacher in our schools, several are nurses, one gave her life to the West Coast of Africa, and several are now in schools preparing for the Master's service.—Mrs. C. A. Saxby.
Maine
That the young people's work has helped to develop workers is evident to my mind, since from one society two have been missionaries in the foreign fields, and two are trained nurses, with their hearts in the work. From another society has gone a foreign missionary, from still another a minister's wife, working faithfully by her husband's side. The interest taken for three years in a young woman, resulted in bringing to us our most efficient office stenographer. She gave her heart to God, and is working faithfully to save others. Many who have been converted in our meetings are now in our schools fitting for definite fields of work.—Jennie R. Bates.
Minnesota
Yes, the young people's work has done much for the development of workers in our conference. Three ministers, two Bible workers, the canvassing agent, the missionary secretary, and the educational secretary are all young people who, if asked where they received their first impetus and training for this work, would attribute them to the influence of the young people's work.—Esther Francis.
New York
It has developed workers in the churches. The work is too young in the conference to see conference workers developed yet. Several young people are in school, training, as a result of church-school and Missionary Volunteer work.—Mrs. Bessie J. Rice.
Northern California-Nevada
From one society of our conference we see three of the faithful members now successful church-school teachers, and one a self-supporting missionary in the Southern field.—Lida Ackley.
North Dakota
Our Missionary Volunteer work is at its beginning, so I can not say much about development of workers as yet; but it has helped wonderfully to make the aim of our young people higher, and has created a desire for education and missionary work.—J. J. Reiswig.
Northern Illinois
As I review the work of the conference I have just left to come to Northern Illinois, I feel certain that the Missionary Volunteer work helped to inspire some young people to become canvassers, and still others to go to school and thus be fitted for a place in the cause. I know the work has held many of our boys and girls in the truth; and when the holding power continues, they soon have a desire to become active workers.—Edith Shepard.
North Texas
The most successful, and, indeed, all the younger workers in our conference are those who have taken an active interest in the young people's work. Our best church-school teachers, at least two of our Bible workers, twelve successful canvassers, five magazine agents, four young ministers and their wives, nine persons who are now in foreign fields, and five who will soon go, are among those who have developed in the societies of this conference since I can remember. Truly the young people's work has helped to develop workers.—Annie Laurie McCutchen.
Ohio
In a church of fifteen members raised up by the writer five years ago, a young people's society was organized, and an effort made to give every one something to do. It was a small society, but one member has already developed into a State canvassing agent; four of the young people were in Mount Vernon College last year, three of these having made expenses through the sale of our books. As the older brothers and sisters go into the whitened harvest-fields, the younger children step into their places in the church. This is a fair sample of what the young people's work is doing for us.—W. C. Moffett.
Ontario
One young man, who is now a minister, told from the pulpit that had it not been for his experience in speaking in young people's meetings, he would not have been able to give the message to strangers. His work in young people's meetings was the thing that encouraged him to enter the ministry, and he is proving himself very efficient in bringing people into the truth.—Margaret Shanks.
Southern California
As a result of the young people's work in Southern California, quite a large number of workers have been developed, and are now actively engaged in missionary work. I will copy a portion of a letter from one of our secretaries. She says: "Brother and Sister Hill, who have gone to China, were members of the Carr Street society [Los Angeles]. Through the direct influence of the young people's society while members, they felt a burden to give their lives to18the work of the Lord. Floyd Ashbaugh, who has recently gone to the Philippines, made his start in this society. He attended the Fernando Academy, and is now in the front. Other members of our society have gone to Africa, South America, British Columbia, Mexico, and the West Indies. I wish more had gone."—Mrs. F. W. Paap.
Southern Illinois
While I can not say that the workers in this field are laboring as a direct result of the young people's work, yet I know that many members who are holding responsible positions in the local churches began their work by taking some small part in the young people's meeting.—Edith McClellan.
South Dakota
The young people's work in this State began with the organization of several little Sunshine Bands. I know of several now directly connected with the work, who made their first attempts at speaking in public, and gave their first donations to missions in connection with the programs carried out by these bands. I remember in one society, of which I was a member, three young men who took a special interest in pushing periodical work; that is, in sending papers and accompanying them by personal letters. Two of these young men are now missionaries in other lands, and the other is preaching the gospel in his own State.—Mae LaFave.
Upper Columbia
I know of several young people who gained their first experiences in public work in the meetings of a society having no more than twenty members, young and old together. Three are to-day canvassing, one is teaching school, one is a stenographer in one of our offices, one was induced to go to college to make preparation for other work in the cause, and one is planning to go to a foreign field in the near future. I have watched the society for nearly four years, and only one young person has gone to the enemy. This convinces me that it is a grand place for our young people to develop.—Mrs. Emma Wilkinson.
West Michigan
Certainly the Missionary Volunteer work develops workers. It is one of the Lord's special means of developing workers. It is hard to divide the influence of the Sabbath-school, the school work, and the young people's society. But I have in mind at present a young man who was leader of one of our large societies for six months. He has never attended one of our schools, yet he is developing into a most excellent worker, and is getting his training through the Missionary Volunteer Society. He now has plans to enter the work.—Mrs. Flora H. Williams.
It is something of a surprise, even to those most closely connected with our Young People's Missionary Volunteer Department, that such results should be recorded thus early in the history of our organization. There have been, of course, various influences at work to produce these good results, but it is apparent that our Missionary Volunteer organization has laid hold on our boys and girls in a new way, inspired them to more careful study of the Bible and to the reading of good books, given them an outlet for their youthful energies in right channels in a critical time in their lives, and provided definite training in Christian work. The Missionary Volunteer Society is a training-school for young Christians, in which they develop under the responsibilities placed upon them.
"With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world!"—"Education," page 271. May God hasten the day when this shall have been accomplished. M. E. K.
State and Church
By William Warren Prescott
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of Religious Freedom, and the Campaign "to Make America Catholic."
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Association.
W. W. Prescott . . . . . Secretary
The American Doctrine
Under the department heading "News and Views," Tobias Schanfarber contributes regularly to the Chicago Israelite. In the issue of that paper for July 13, 1912, we find the following paragraphs, which we reprint entire:—
"It is not often that a Christian clergyman comes out in clear and bold statement against an alliance between church and state. We are accustomed to hearing the church call upon the state for assistance; therefore it does our heart good whenever we hear or read of a Christian minister lifting his voice in favor of a divorcement between the church and state forces. Without giving the matter the thought due it, the church, in season and out of season, has frantically declared that this is a Christian country, and in this declaration has intimated that God and Jesus should be recognized in the Constitution, and that the Bible should be taught in the public schools. Every exception taken by ministers of the gospel to this stand should be given all the publicity that lovers of this country can give it. Such an instance came to our attention recently. The Rev. Dr. Shelton, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., took a decided stand, in his Fourth of July sermon, against an alliance between church and state. We will quote a portion of the sermon: 'When Jesus commanded, "Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and to God the things that are God's," he laid down a broad principle, fundamental for every age and people. He taught that we have duties both of a spiritual and of a civic nature, and he forever severed church and state, each independent and coordinate and supreme in its own sphere. There are three ideas concerning the relationship of church and state: First, that the church should dominate the state; second, that the state should dominate the church; third, that the church and state should be entirely separate. The first is the Romish idea; the second the Russian and English; the third, the American. In order that we may dwell together in peace and Christian unity, let it be clearly understood that the church, whatever its name, shall give itself to spiritual concerns, with its hands clean and clear of civic activity in its own behalf. In America no church shall dominate the state; and none shall be hindered in its spiritual activity. In this declaration men of every creed, imbued with the spirit of their fathers, are united.'
"This statement is clear-cut, as clear-cut as that of the most radical secularist; and yet this minister could not avoid dragging 'Christian unity' into his remarks. If this is not a Christian nation, the peace that we crave and the unity that we look for is not 'Christian,' but American. If church and state are to remain separate, the name of no religion shall be given precedence over any other. Religion shall have nothing to do with the state; the state shall have nothing to do with religion. Of course religion should religionize the state through its work in the church. In so far it shall exercise force over the state, but in no other way. The state is neutral on the question of religion. No unholy hand should seek to turn the state in favor of any particular religion. 'American unity' should be the national shibboleth, not 'Christian unity.' Let the Christian preachers keep this fact constantly before them."
Another Encyclical
Pope Pius X will issue, in connection with the Constantine celebration, an important encyclical on the present progress of the Catholic Church, and on causes which, in some countries, retard that progress. The celebration is that of the sixteen hundred years since the defeat of the heathen leader and the recognition in final and complete terms of Christianity as a religious and political power in Rome. The event marked the liberty of the church to work without hindrance for its own advancement.19The letter of the present Pope will be addressed to the Catholics of the world, but will be of interest in largest measure to Catholics of England and America. It
will, so reports from the Vatican say, show the lack of progress of the church in countries controlled by Latin races, notably in France, Portugal, and in some sense in Italy and Austria, and the tremendous progress made in countries controlled by Anglo-Saxon and German races. The countries named wherein Catholic progress is great are those directed in political affairs by Protestants, and where religious liberty has been longest in force.
Mention will be made of the growth of Catholic education in America as shown by the Catholic University in Washington and the national organization of secondary schools closely related to the university, and in England by the abolition of the anti-Catholic formula in the coronation oath. Mention will also be made, it is reported, of the wonderful progress made in Paris under Cardinal Amiette since the freedom of the Catholic Church from political and governmental control was secured. Catholics of all countries will be urged once more to fight for the faith that won recognition in final form at the Maxmus Bridge. The celebration takes place next year, and many American pilgrimages are planned to Rome to attend it.—Washington Herald, July 13, 1912.
Dividing the School Funds
It is an open secret that the Roman Catholic hierarchy have determinedly set themselves to secure the division of the public-school funds in this country, and they lose no opportunity to impress the public with the idea that this is the only fair method of handling the public funds. The following paragraph is taken from the Catholic Citizen of Milwaukee, Wis. (July 6, 1912), and is, of course, intended to convey the idea that the same system ought to prevail in this country:—
“The fight for Catholic schools in Newfoundland has resulted in what Archbishop Howley, the venerable metropolitan of the island, calls ‘the most ideal educational system in the world.’ There is really no such thing as a public school, and the denominational education is everywhere the rule. The people, for educational purposes, are divided into three groups, Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist, and the educational fund is divided among them on a per capita basis.”
Even if this plan were acceptable to Catholics, Anglicans, and Methodists, what about the other denominations and those who are not connected with any church? But Roman Catholics, as well as some others, rarely concede religious liberty to the secularist.
The Publishing Work
By P. A. Rick
Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference
N. Z. Town - - - - - - - - - - - Secretary
An Encouraging Outlook
IN answer to the urgent calls from India for canvassers, I responded, and reached Ceylon last November. What I have seen since coming to India is very encouraging.
Brother C. E. Weeks met me, and we went across to the southern point of India to spend Sabbath with the workers among the Tamil people at Nazareth. At this mission station they had just completed a much-needed school building. This was made possible by money received from the $300,000 Fund.
In April I was canvassing near Karmatar, so had the privilege of being at that mission over Sabbath. It is a great blessing to a canvasser, after spending weeks alone, to meet the faithful workers who are keeping the light burning in these dark corners of the earth. At this place they have just moved into new quarters of their own. The money for these buildings, which are a credit to our work, was also from the above-mentioned fund. I am sure if all those who have had a part in the raising of this fund could see the results, they would feel that it is money well invested. Of course, all realize that mere buildings can not bring souls to Christ, but they are a real necessity.
Improvements have also been made in the literature work. Just one month before I came, the Oriental Watchman was enlarged eight pages. At the beginning of the year, the cover was greatly improved. This message-filled monthly journal is gladly received by the people here. In April the Herald of Health, our monthly health magazine, also had an addition of eight pages, with a better cover. This journal has a large circulation among the Indians.
A number have been added to our force of workers lately. Up to the time I reached India, no workers had come out for over a year. Since then nine have arrived, and word comes that another canvasser will soon reach here. Now, with the press in suitable quarters, they will be able to put out all the literature that a large number of canvassers can sell. India is a large field, and many more canvassers are needed to speedily carry this saving message to its needy millions.
I am glad to say that I enjoy the work here, and that the dear Lord has kept me and helped me to have success. We know that the Lord has promised, and also that "he is not slack concerning his promise." P. A. RICK.
A Flag Above the Flag
By Editor
At a recent public meeting in Washington, one of the speakers referred to the fact that the only time when any flag could properly occupy a place above the stars and stripes was during a religious service on board war-ships, when the church pennant was hoisted above the American flag. Senator Heyburn, who was present, interrupted the speaker to inquire on what authority the church pennant took precedence of the flag, and later he introduced into the Senate a resolution of inquiry bearing upon this matter. We reprint herewith the reply made by the acting Secretary of the Navy:—
"NAVY DEPARTMENT,
"WASHINGTON, D. C., June 17, 1912.
"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an attested copy of a resolution in the Senate of the United States, dated June 15, 1912:—
" 'That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, directed to inform the Senate whether or not at any time or under any circumstances any flag, emblem, or banner is raised above the stars and stripes on any vessel, building, or ground under the jurisdiction of the Navy Department of the United States.'
" 'In compliance with the above resolution, I have the honor to state that the first mention of any flag, emblem, or banner that is raised above the stars and stripes on any vessel under the jurisdiction of the Navy Department of the United States, is contained in the United States Naval Signal-Code, under the approval of the Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, in 1867. Article 45 of this code reads:—
" '45. Church pennant.—Will be hoisted immediately above the ensign at the peak or flagstaff at the time of commencing, and kept hoisted during the continuance of, divine service on board all vessels of the navy.'
" 'This provision has occurred in each succeeding edition of the signal-code; the last edition, published in 1908, contains the following provision:—
" 'The church pennant is to be hoisted over the ensign during the performance of divine service on board vessels of the navy.' Very respectfully,
"PHILIP ANDREWS,
"Acting Secretary of the Navy.
"Hon. James S. Sherman, Vice-President,
"President of the Senate, United States Senate,
"Washington, D. C."
The Joy of Overcoming Difficulties
By W. W. Eastman
BELOW we give extracts from two letters received from colporteurs, which serve to illustrate how one will fail under difficulties and another overcome them in the same territory.
The first is from a brother who returns his prospectus and quits the work because of conditions to him insurmountable. He says: "There is positively nothing doing here. The poorer classes have no money nor work. There are a great many people who insult you or order you out, and the richer class will not even look at the book nor talk to you at all, only say they have a library full of good books, and don't want any more, then turn around and shut the door in your face. This town certainly needs the work, but it will take a bolder and more experienced talker than I to do it.
"If I had any hopes that I could better this work later, I would gladly continue, but we as Adventists know these hard times will not get better, as many others expect, and I am not experienced enough to do a thing with this territory."
The following extract is from another colporteur in the same State, who, after mentioning difficulties that have hindered him in his work, but have been overcome at last, says: "I do not know how to tell you about the blessing of God this week. I have never had such a week before in my canvassing experience, but the Lord says, 'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.' Ps. 37: 3.
"I do praise his holy name. I am glad that I can receive direct answers to prayer from God. This shows that he is ever ready to help his servants in the work, for this is his work. I am glad to be one among those who are scattering the literature of the third angel's message. Yours in Christ."20
We are reminded of the little poem:—
"The inside of every cloud is bright and shining;
I therefore turn my clouds about,
And always wear them inside out,
To show the lining."
Could the first brother have only looked at the bright side and continued his work, no doubt conditions would have changed, and he would have had the joy that results from overcoming difficulties.
W. W. EASTMAN.
The Outlook in Spain
CARDINAL MERRY DEL VAL is on terms of such intimacy with King Alfonso, Dowager Queen Maria Christina, and all the reigning house of Spain, that notwithstanding the tenor of the public despatches from Europe, it is practically certain that a way will be found erelong of effecting an amicable settlement of the difficulties between Spain and the Vatican, difficulties which have existed ever since the Canelejas administration came into power.
Private news which reaches me from Rome and Madrid is decidedly to that effect. Curiously enough, no mention has ever been made in the biographies of the papal secretary of state that he was at one time in charge of the education of Alfonso XIII, while his brother, now holding the rank of minister in the diplomatic service of Spain, was the young monarch's professor of English.
The cardinal and his brother, who have English blood in their veins from the maternal side, were brought up almost wholly in England.
There was much sympathy between the little king of Spain and his tutor, now Cardinal Merry del Val.—Correspondence of the Washington Post, June 28, 1912.
Medical Missionary Department
By E. Meyer, M. D.
Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
GEORGE THOMASON, M. D. - - - - Secretary
L. A. HANSEN - - - - Assistant Secretary
The Friedensau Sanitarium
It is now more than ten years since the sanitarium in Friedensau was opened. Although I have been directly connected with the medical missionary work in the sanitarium for the last five and one-half years only, yet from the first I have been intensely interested in its development. In spite of all human failures, we can say that our institution has been richly blessed, and has been a blessing to others. Many patients have not only gained physical health, but have also found spiritual recovery for their souls.
God does not count it a mysterious experience for a man to live a Christian; it is, rather, only natural that a Christian have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Worldly people, on the other hand, think it strange, sometimes hardly comprehensible, and they involuntarily express their surprise. Often have I heard a woman who was inclined to theosophy, say, "I have visited many places, but what holds me so to Friedensau is the continual kindness and courtesy that is exercised by every one and to every one." We are glad of this testimonial, and it will serve as an encouragement for us in the future. We believe that, although preaching is a good thing, especially if the minister sets a worthy example, it is also a good thing if everybody preaches the word by a godly life. Here also many can be won only by a Christian example.
Many patients return to our institution after many years, partly because they desire to be revigorated, but also because they desire again to visit the place which they learned to appreciate at the first visit. Many guests have told us that Friedensau is like an oasis in the desert, as the ground is very sandy in the surrounding country, and needs thorough cultivation before it proves fruitful. But the most refreshing part of the oasis is not the Friedensau springs, but rather the living stream which flows from the hearts of those who are God's children. The children of the world seem to have an insatiable desire for these streams. May God enable every one of his children to answer the cries for help from a languishing world. If we always have the right connection with the Living Stream, we shall always be able to impart to the world and her children what they long for.
The nurses' school, which is connected with the sanitarium, numbers at present fifty students. After several years' training, we send our nurses out to various parts of Germany and to foreign lands. Nurses who were educated and formerly worked in the sanitarium are at present working not only in Germany, but also in Russia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Rumania, Palestine, and German East Africa. In many places the medical missionary work is being visibly blessed by God. In other places it meets many difficulties, and the worker's courage is severely tested. Jer. 15:19-21 ought to be the daily experience of every medical missionary. Success lies in perseverance. It would be too much for me to describe all the difficulties that our nurses meet in the different lands. It will suffice, perhaps, to quote a little from the letter of a nurse who is working in Hungary. This sister is a Russian subject; and besides German, she understands a very little Hungarian. Nevertheless, with the Lord's help, she has had the best success, as may be seen from the following:—
"The Lord be praised that he has helped me with advice and in many other ways, and has richly blessed me in my weak endeavors. I have often had the opportunity of testifying for the truth in the higher circles. May the Lord give success, and water the seed sown.
"I have had some good experiences with an atheist woman. I gave her some treatments without charge, and thus learned her comfortless and helpless condition. She always had a loaded revolver at her bedside, and was ready at any minute to take her life. After some conversation concerning the existence of God, she asked for a Bible, and read it diligently. When I saw that she was making good progress in faith, I took her 'Daniel and the Revelation.' One Sabbath I visited her again, and she asked me whether I had a holiday on that day. When I inquired why she asked this question, she answered: 'The Bible and the book you brought me show quite clearly that the Sabbath is the day we must celebrate. I am keeping to-day,—my second Sabbath,—and if you live according to the Bible, you must also keep the Sabbath.' Later she saw the other points of the message, and often rejoiced, with tears in her eyes, that she had found the truth. She was sorry she had not heard it before, and she forgot to complain and murmur about her sickness. Soon afterward, I had to go to nurse a case elsewhere, but she promised to remain true to the Lord. After I left, her brother took her to Austria, but I am hoping that the Lord will lead her to confess her faith boldly.
"My joy is great that I can write you that my missionary correspondence has been blessed of the Lord. My aunt has been keeping the Sabbath for a long time; and my cousin, with his wife, who would not listen to it before, wrote me a short time ago: 'We both acknowledge that the Sabbath is the right day, and must be kept; for both the Old and New Testaments testify to this fact. We are going to begin soon to keep the true Sabbath; but we have a great deal to learn yet in order to be true Sabbath-keepers and not Pharisees.'"
"A short time ago the Lord helped me wonderfully in a case of hypochondriac-hysterical melancholy, which had developed into complete insanity. The doctors had treated the patient for two years with drugs, pills, drops, and strong sleeping medicines, but without success. At last the patient was declared to be insane beyond all healing, and was put into an insane asylum under guardianship. A few months later, the relatives of the patient had her taken home again, and the Lord led me to that house to nurse. In despair, the relatives besought me to try our natural remedies on this human. Their doctor was opposed to all natural cures, but they requested me to try them. I besought the Lord to give me the right counsel, and spoke also with the doctor. He was willing for me to give the treatments, and it was only for me to request the Lord to bless my weak endeavors. How wonderful were the results of these simple treatments! In three months my patient was fully restored to health, to the wonder and joy of all. The guardianship was removed, and she still rejoices in her regained health. She is even merrier now than before, and weighs eleven pounds more. We can see how God blesses the practise of our health principles in connection with prayer.
"Although I had no permission to canvass in Hungary, and many hindrances were put in my way, yet the Lord helped me wonderfully in this also. Often the police stopped me while I was canvassing. In order to cause me further annoyance, they telephoned from place to place, announcing my arrival. Once two policemen took hold of me on the street, and took me to the senate-house21as if I were a prisoner. Another time the police were on my track for two whole days, but without result. After they had searched and found my lodging-place, they came early on the morning of the third day, being quite sure that they had me at last, but the Lord saved me wonderfully out of their hand. In all this the Lord blessed my work, and I was encouraged. Many days I took from fifteen to seventeen subscriptions for Good Health, and received from forty to fifty kroner in cash. One week I worked three and one-half days, took fifty-seven subscriptions, and received one hundred seventy kroner in cash.
"As I got along well with the German language in nursing, I learned but little Hungarian. Nevertheless, I summoned up courage to canvass in ——, although I was strictly forbidden to do so. Here, however, I had to sell mostly Hungarian literature; so I wrote the necessary sentences in Hungarian on a piece of paper, and read them from the paper until I could say them by heart. The people were rather surprised at my strange canvass, and advised me to learn the language first in order to have better results. But the Lord worked on the hearts of the people. They bought my papers, and subscribed for them also. One day, in which I worked eight hours, I took fifteen subscriptions for the Hungarian paper, and only two for Good Health. Thus I worked five days in secret, circulated about three hundred papers, and obtained fifty-nine subscriptions, two thirds of which were Hungarian, and also received about one hundred thirty-four kroner in cash. Altogether, the Lord gave me three hundred thirty-two subscriptions. May the Lord thus guide the people nearer to the truth."
Our wish is that the Lord may bless the medical missionary work, which is the right hand of the message, not only in Germany, but also in the whole world. May he make many willing to give themselves entirely to his service. Soon the day will come when the Lord will say to each of his faithful servants, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
E. MEYER, M. D.
How We Celebrated the Fourth of July
By C. G. Bellah
Brother Rockwell, a new canvasser, and the writer arrived in Hanna, Wyo., July 4, at 8 A. M. We found the city nearly wild over a big celebration, the first in the town for nine years. There were the usual foot-races, horse-races, ball games, gambling, drinking, etc., that are common on this national holiday.
The enemy told us we absolutely could not sell books that day, and from a human viewpoint it seemed true. But we knew better. In less than five minutes from the time we stepped off the train, we booked the first order. Once before I had sold forty-eight dollars' worth of "Great Controversy" on the fourth of July, so I knew this would be a splendid day for us.
We worked right through the day, scarcely stopping for meals, till eight o'clock at night. We made sales for "Patriarchs and Prophets" in about two thirds of the homes visited, seventy per cent of the orders being for the leather bindings. That night we went to bed very tired, but so happy we could scarcely sleep. Our total sales for the day amounted to $62.25.
The next morning the enemy tried to convince us that we simply could not sell books the day after the fourth, but we knew in whom we trusted. We had only a half-day to work together, as I had to take an early train for headquarters. In five hours we sold $42.50 worth. Altogether, we put in fifteen hours, and sold $104.75 worth.
We are thankful to be connected with a message that can not be stopped by holidays, droughts, floods, panics, or anything else, but will march gloriously on to final and complete victory.