In a fruit-packing house a few years ago I chanced to hear a woman remark: “In housekeeping I find the work much easier by having a system to follow.”
I wonder how many of those who are trying to keep house realize the force of this simple yet significant statement. A system, or plan, is a necessary business policy in any vocation, and must be followed at all times. Having a system to follow will relieve one of what would otherwise be considered drudgery. Drudgery produces worry, and is sure to lead to slipshod, slack ways, sooner or later.
“Have a system to follow, and follow it.” This is only another way of saying, “Have a place for everything, and everything in its place.” The writer has seen examples enough to convince him that no person can have a regular system in anything without first having a place for everything, and everything in its place. In the one case there is precision and satisfaction. In the other case one’s experience is like trying to carry water in a leaky bucket.
Many housekeepers are obliged to put up with crude facilities and inconvenient devices, because some one says that is “more economical;” “it costs less” to live in a certain style, or “that costs too much;” so they trudge on as slaves, merely existing, so to speak, because of a lack of what, with a little ingenuity, would often revolutionize things entirely, making home pleasant and life a charm.
System in housework will enable one so to utilize her time as to reduce the amount of energy expended from its maximum to at least its normal quantity, thus preserving strength and vitality.
Mill Valley, Cal.
Medical Question Corner
By Dr. P. S. Bourdeau-Sisco
Answers by Dr. P. S. Bourdeau-Sisco, head lady physician of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium
Urticaria, or Hives
“My brother has hives every fall for a period of a month or two. What is the cause? Is it curable? If so, give remedies. N. M.”
Mild forms of this disease usually respond to treatment, but severer cases which have lasted for several weeks, sometimes become most tenacious and unyielding. Toxemia, through intestinal absorption, is in most cases the cause. The treatment, therefore, is dietetics, with proper attention to the local manifestations on the skin. A good diet is one of fruit and milk only, for days or weeks, the fruit and milk to be taken at separate meals, of course. In some cases, fasting for a few days is most helpful.
For the manifestation on the skin, apply a lotion of two grains of menthol to one ounce of water, or one may use the fluid extract of Hamamelis.
FOR THE ITCHING.—The itching may be relieved by taking a warm bath, with a handful of baking-soda dissolved in the water. One may also apply the following lotion:—
Prepared calamin-powder, 15 drops; zinc oxid, 30 grains; glycerin, 45 drops; carbolic acid, 5 drops; lime-water, 1 dram; water, a sufficient quantity to make one ounce. Mix.
Plenty of fresh air, rest, pure water, and proper food will often accomplish more than any measure especially directed toward the relief of the local condition.
Solace and Shield
By WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
MOUNT thy little fret and friction,
Climb the ladder of thy care,
To thy Father's benediction
In the secret place of prayer.
For each care builds higher stairway,
And the added loads increase
All the blessings of thy pathway,
To the heights of perfect peace.
It is rest to simply trust Him
Who upholds the worlds and thee;
To unload thy grief upon him
Who blends power with sympathy;
So he gives a little sorrow
That his strength may be revealed,
That thy need may haste to borrow
From thy Solace and thy Shield.
O the love past comprehension
And the heights of grace unknown
In the plan of God's redemption
To create us all his own!
Portland, Oregon.
Panama
By U. BENDER.
JANUARY 12 I left Kingston, Jamaica, for Colon, where the sixth session of the West Caribbean Conference was to be held January 12-20.
As the ship passed out of Kingston Bay past Port Royal, I remembered that just five years before, Jan. 12, 1907, Mrs. Bender and I had our first glimpse of the tropics as we passed this historic place on entering the bay.
How quickly the time has passed, yet the days have been full of work. The mercies of God have been over us. We have not been free from human imperfections, neither have we escaped the physical ailments of the flesh. Together we passed through the earthquake; and in my travels, fever of divers sorts, as well as unforgettable seasickness, sometimes have been my companions. During these five years, not less than fifty thousand miles of land and water have been traversed. It is not much, but it takes time.
January 14 I arrived in Colon. Elder H. C. Goodrich met me, and we had only sufficient time to reach Mount Hope, where the conference was held, before the night preaching services began.
The delegation from the churches was larger this year than last. Two churches were admitted to the conference. The reports of the laborers were listened to with interest. A great deal of literature has been handled by the workers, especially those laboring for the Spanish people. The regular canvassers have done good work during the year, and many are going out into the field again.
Brother Timothy Brown has made a beginning in the work among the Indians in the western part of Panama. He reports six Sabbath-keepers, and forty pupils in school. He could not get out to attend the conference, as he is several days' journey inland from Bocas del Toro.
The West Caribbean Conference comprises the republics of Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, with a combined18population of one million. Elder Goodrich was again elected president of the conference. Brother J. A. Ried was ordained to the gospel ministry the last Sabbath morning of the meeting.
The fire, last March, was a hard blow to the work in this field. It burned out the building where the Cristobal chapel and the Watchman Press, as well as four suites of living-rooms for workers, were located. The printing plant was removed to Jamaica, but it was necessary to erect a building for the church here, as well as to provide a place for conference office, and for living-rooms for the workers. This building, containing a neat chapel and office on the ground floor, with three suites of living-rooms above, will be ready for occupancy before this article appears in print.
May the Lord be with the laborers and people of this conference as they begin another year's work.
U. BENDER.
With the Officers of the W. C. T. U
By H. N. Sisco, M. D.
THE national officers of the W. C. T. U. and other celebrated temperance workers have recently been in Washington in the interests of a measure before Congress designed to protect the prohibition States against the importation of liquor from surrounding non-prohibition States.
It is believed that the national government ought to protect the individual States in their efforts to protect themselves against the liquor curse. Temperance mass-meetings have been held in the Washington churches, in halls, and other public places to arouse increased interest in the question at stake. These efforts have met a hearty response from the people. The meetings have been thronged, and public sentiment, we believe, is being more and more aroused by this temperance organization, which is powerfully battling for the right. Mrs. Lillian M. N. Stevens, national president of the W. C. T. U.; Miss Anna A. Gordon, national vice-president; Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis, national legislative superintendent; Mrs. Chauncey Goodrich, president of the W. C. T. U. in China; Miss Ellen Stone, who a few years ago was made a prisoner by bandits in Macedonia; Mrs. Mary Armour, who was foremost in the campaign that first made Georgia “dry;” and Mrs. Emma Shelton and her corps of earnest workers in the District of Columbia, as well as many officers from neighboring States, were the leaders in this Washington campaign.
It was the rare privilege of the Washington Sanitarium to entertain a company of these distinguished women at lunch last week. After the vesper service and the lunch were over, they responded to an invitation to address the students of the Foreign Mission Seminary. The room was packed. Mrs. Goodrich gave an interesting account of conditions and of her work in China. This was followed by a stirring address by Mrs. Stevens, telling “how Maine fought its recent prohibition battle and won.” Appreciative mention was made of the fact that Seventh-day Adventists all over the land gave their assistance to the temperance cause in the Maine campaign. It is also interesting to know that when these officers were first invited to come to the Sanitarium and the Seminary for the evening, they hardly saw how, with their full program, they could spare the time; but when they remembered our efforts as a people in helping in a small way to win the prohibition victory in Maine, they said, “We must go,” and they came; and all who heard them much appreciated their efforts, and the words they left with us.
Miss Gordon gave an animated account of the part the young people had in the struggle in Maine. It was stated that our youth’s paper, the Youth’s Instructor, was used to good advantage at this time. It is surely a great and grand work to aid other earnest men and women in any movement that will elevate the home, better society, and make human lives happier. At the close of the service, a call was made for all to arise who would be loyal to the temperance cause, and the entire congregation immediately stood. Great appreciation was expressed for even the little that our denomination did for the work in Maine and for the evening’s expression of loyalty; and, on the other hand, both students and nurses expressed themselves as very grateful for the encouragement and inspiration of the evening with the officers of the W. C. T. U.
H. N. Sisco, M. D.
Zululand, South Africa
By F. B. ARMITAGE
AFTER spending a few days at home, I went to see some interested ones at Ladysmith. I spent one week there.
Two Indians, two colored women, and a native minister have promised to obey the truth. One of the Indians is second teacher in a government school for Indians.
While in Ladysmith, I learned from Brother v. d. Molen of a family living in the country who had become dissatisfied with their church, because of the decline of spirituality; and turning to the Bible for help, they were convinced that they were not following God's Word in keeping Sunday.
Friday morning Brother v. d. Molen and I started to visit this family. We found them pondering over a letter they had just received from their minister, in which he had tried to cover up the truth in the usual way.
This opened up the way for us to begin at once. We spent some time in turning from scripture to scripture.
Mr. Churchill is very anxious that the natives on his farm should have a chance to know the truth. He said they could not understand why he and his wife should now leave them and keep another day. He is deeply interested in work for the natives.
He said he would be so glad if some one would come and help him teach the Sabbath to the natives. I have sent two of my native helpers to assist him. We left them making all preparations to commence their first Sabbath on time, at the setting of the sun; while we rode back to fill an appointment in town, where the interest is still good.
Leaving Ladysmith, I next went to visit the little company of natives at Bethal. I found that the Sabbath meetings had been discontinued on account of unfaithfulness on the part of their leader, who had been making much trouble. I spent two weeks with them, holding meetings each night. The Lord came very near. It was decided to remove the leader, and another was chosen. All the members rallied once more with a determined will to be more faithful.
F. B. ARMITAGE.
Annual Meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association
By H. G. CHILDS
The eighth annual meeting of the Pacific Press Publishing Association was held, according to appointment, at the office of the association, at Mountain View, Cal., Jan. 22, 1912. There was a good attendance of the constituency.
After the usual preliminary exercises, the president presented his annual address, calling special attention to the marked care of our Heavenly Father over the institution and its employees, and setting forth the object of the association, and the God-given principles for which it stands.
The treasurer's report showed that the volume of business for the year ending Dec. 31, 1911, amounted to nearly $400,000, and that the interest-bearing debt had been greatly reduced. At the present time the assets, including real estate, plant, equipment, and supplies at Mountain View, Cal.; Kansas City, Mo.; Portland, Oregon; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada, amount to $296,903.67; the liabilities to $155,426.40; leaving the present worth of the association on Jan. 1, 1912, $141,477.27.
Reports show that since the reorganization of the association almost $16,000 has been raised, through appeals issued in the papers published by the association, as donations to mission fields. In addition to the above, $9,344.33 has been donated direct, or set aside by the association, for mission interests.
The association has recently purchased a lot and erected an office and warehouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and has also purchased a lot in Kansas City, Mo., on which they have decided to erect a new office building.
The general manager, C. H. Jones, gave a detailed report of the workings of the association for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 1911, from which we quote the following:—
“My report could be summed up in the brief statement that the past year has been not only one of the most prosperous, but the most prosperous year in the history of the institution, as to both volume of business and financial gain. Therefore we have every reason to be devoutly grateful to our Heavenly Father for his prospering hand that has been with us, and we trust that this evidence of his love may lead us to renewed consecration to his service.
“Not only has faithful work been done to increase the volume of business, but earnest and continued efforts have been put forth to economize and reduce the cost of production. The year 1910 was the banner year up to that date, the volume of business amounting to $388,000. But this year (1911) runs over $397,000, a gain in the volume of business of over $9,000, and all, too, on denominational work exclusively. Not one job of commercial printing has been taken into the office since the fire which destroyed our factory five years ago.
“Over fifty car-loads of paper, binding material, etc., were used in the printing and manufacture of books, tracts, and periodicals last year, averaging more than one car-load a week, and costing $68,764. This exceeds the amount purchased during 1910 by nearly $13,000.
“During the year all bills were paid promptly, thus strengthening our credit, and saving over $1,000 in cash discounts.
“Book Department
“Ever since the fire in 1906, the book department has shown a steady gain in volume of business, and this year it amounts to $285,000, including the sales at our branch offices.
“We attribute this steady gain to more thorough organization, a better corps of trained workers, and a higher standard of attainment. The canvassing work is no longer looked down upon and discredited, but has come to be considered one of the highest and most important callings a person can engage in.
“During the year, 154 tons of bound books and tracts were shipped out to various parts of the field from our office here in Mountain View.
“In harmony with the recommendation of the General Conference, we have now turned over all our retail business to the tract societies, and the Pacific Press acts simply as a wholesale house. In this we go so far as to credit the tract societies at the close of each month with all cash orders that may have been received by us from their respective territories.
“Fifty numbers of the Signs of the Times weekly were printed during the year, with an average circulation (exclusive of the Harvest Ingathering number) of 21,414, or a total of 1,070,700. This shows an increase over 1910 of 184,825 copies.
“Ingathering Missions ‘Signs’
“Five hundred fifty thousand copies of the Harvest Ingathering number of the Signs of the Times weekly were printed, and nearly all have been sent out on orders from the various conferences. These were printed for the General Conference at cost, and are not included in the figures above given concerning the regular weekly numbers.
“In addition to the editing and printing of this Missions number, much of the promotion work was carried on by our periodical department, thus adding materially to the work in that department.
“The average circulation of the Signs of the Times Monthly was 31,768 copies, or a total circulation for the twelve months of 381,216, a gain of 42,133 copies over 1910.
“We are aware of the fact that all satisfactory growth, prosperity, and success center in spiritual things, and we are glad to be able to report that nearly all connected with the office are earnest, devoted Christians. During the week of prayer special services were held in the various departments, and it was a season of great spiritual revival, every person expressing himself as desiring to renew his consecration to God or to give his heart to him.
“The office was closed one day during the Harvest Ingathering campaign, and nearly all the employees went out to solicit funds, and many reported rich experiences.”
Resolutions were adopted with a view to enlarging and greatly extending the work during the coming year.
The articles of incorporation and by-laws were amended to provide for a board of seven directors, with an additional advisory board of nine members, the personnel of which is as follows:—
H. W. Cottrell; C. H. Jones; H. G. Childs; M. C. Wilcox; H. H. Hall; A. O. Tait; B. M. Shull; G. A. Irwin, president Pacific Union Conference; R. A. Underwood, president Northern Union Conference; E. T. Russell, president Central Union Conference; C. W. Flaiz, president North Pacific Union Conference; H. S. Shaw, president Canadian Union Conference; E. E. Andross, president Southern California Conference; E. W. Farnsworth, president California Conference; C. L. Taggart, president Northern California-Nevada Conference; J. H. Behrens, president Central California Conference.
The following organization was effected at the first meeting of the newly elected board of directors: President, H. W. Cottrell; vice-president and general manager, C. H. Jones; secretary and treasurer, H. G. Childs; auditor, J. J. Ireland; manager book department, H. H. Hall; manager periodical department, G. C. Hoskin; manager Kansas City Branch, Jas. Cochran; manager Portland Branch, J. F. Beatty; manager Canadian Branch, W. V. Sample; editor Signs of the Times weekly, M. C. Wilcox; associate editors, A. O. Tait, L. A. Reed; editor Signs of the Times magazine, L. A. Reed; associate editors, M. C. Wilcox, A. O. Tait; editor Our Little Friend, Miss K. B. Wilcox; associate editor, Mrs. Vesta J. Farnsworth. Publishing committee: H. H. Hall, M. C. Wilcox, H. W. Cottrell, E. W. Farnsworth, A. O. Tait, L. A. Reed, C. H. Jones, J. O. Corliss, H. G. Childs, J. R. Ferren, F. H. Gage, G. C. Hoskin.
H. G. CHILDS,
Secretary.
Silesian Conference
By Guy Dail
THE sixth annual session of the Silesian Conference was held in Brieg, January 3-7. It was attended by about two hundred brethren and sisters; and two hundred seventy-five strangers came out to the evening lectures. So great was the outside interest that the public lectures were continued after the meeting closed. The work for sinners and backsliders was especially blessed of God, and a number were baptized.
Aside from the local laborers, Brethren H. F. Schuberth, G. W. Schubert, A. Hennig, of the Friedensau school, H. Boex, L. Trautmann, and the undersigned assisted in the work of the conference.
The report of Brother F. Goetting, the president, showed that at the beginning of 1911, just after the province of Posen had been separated from this field, causing a drop of 204 in its membership, there were 577 members. During the19year, 169 new members were received by vote and baptism. After allowing for some losses, the president reported a net growth of 126 members for the year. Two new companies were received. On an average twelve laborers were employed throughout the year.
The canvassing report is worthy of extra comment. In 1910 there were twenty-four canvassers in the field, and their sales amounted to 20,340 marks; while last year, in spite of the loss of Posen, there were twenty-three canvassers, and their sales were 26,755 marks.
Although this part of Germany is known to be less strong financially than many other parts, yet we are glad to say that the interest of our people in missions was shown by their raising 2,695 marks in cash and pledges for the work in the regions beyond. The blessing of the Lord was especially manifested on Sabbath, during the ordination of Brethren Hermann Freybott and Walter Herbert to the gospel ministry.
The prospect for the future is bright. The workers go out with a determination to accomplish more this year than they have done in the past, through the power of God. Evidences of the seriousness of the times in which we live are abundant here, as elsewhere, and we expect a richer harvest during 1912 than ever before.
GUY DAIL.
Field Notes
FIVE persons were baptized recently at Wewoka, Okla., by Elder J. R. Bagby.
ELDER T. E. GIBSON reports seven additions to the church at Charleston, W. Va., by baptism.
ELDER P. M. HANSON has been conducting a series of meetings at Chimney Rock, Wis. Five have begun to observe the Sabbath, and others are interested.
A GOOD series of meetings has just been closed at Wentachee, in the Upper Columbia Conference. Sixteen persons have expressed their belief in the message.
A CHURCH of eleven members was recently organized at Elm Grove, W. Va.
SEVERAL weeks ago two persons were baptized by Elder J. I. Taylor at Alvin, Texas.
ABOUT six weeks ago Elder B. W. Brown began meetings with the colored people of Indianapolis, Ind. Since that time eight have accepted the Sabbath truth.
ELDER F. H. PHILLIPS reports from Brownsboro, southern Oregon: “The Lord has blessed my efforts here, and fifteen have accepted the truth. Others are deeply interested.”
Baptists and the Russian Empire
By S. B. H.
It will be remembered that the Rev. Robert S. MacArthur, president of the World's Sunday-School Association, went to Russia in the interests of securing religious freedom for Baptists in the czar's dominions. Whatever successes have attended his labors is portrayed in letters from which the following report published in the Washington Star of February 4 appears to be a synopsis:—
“Baptists the world over are elated at the apparent success that has greeted the efforts of Rev. Dr. Robert Stuart MacArthur, president of the World's Sunday-School Association, in convincing the Russian minister of the interior that the leaders of the denomination should be allowed to preach their doctrine regularly in the big tabernacle they have just finished erecting in the city of St. Petersburg.
“The minister has also given his sanction to the proposition of allowing the Baptists to erect a Bible college in the Russian capital city, where theological students will be trained for the denomination's ministry.
“In letters to the leaders of the denomination in this country, Dr. MacArthur points out that there are many conditions placed in the articles of permission which the ministry has granted for the effort, but that these should be passed over when it is considered that the Russian government has yielded to the requests of the Baptists, and is now allowing them to preach their faith to the populace.
“One of these conditions is that no Baptist minister may, in his teachings, entreat a Russian to come into the Baptist fold. The names of those who might become members of the church on solicitation can not be taken, and the Russian who listens to a Baptist expounding the gospel must come into the church on his own volition.”
S. B. H.
Basutoland, South Africa
By H. C. OLMSTEAD
Week of Prayer at Emmanuel Mission
In our daily meetings during the week of prayer all were blessed and encouraged. Every heart was stirred, and our faith in the message and its early triumph was strengthened.
After the Friday meeting, a chief's wife, who has been observing the Sabbath for some time, came forward and laid two shillings, the work of two days, on the table as an offering to God. In the Sabbath meeting God's Spirit was especially manifest, and nearly all gave something, whether members or not. The least gave one day's wages; a little schoolboy, two days' wages; others three and even four days' wages. A heathen chief was eager to give a shilling. Thus a liberal offering was received, and dedicated to God.
What a grand sum would be secured with which to extend the triumphs of the cross in heathen lands if every believer gave only one day's earnings at this time! Seven non-members gave as much or more. H. C. OLMSTEAD.
Christian Liberty
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL Secretary
S. B. HORTON Corresponding Secretary
Religious Liberty Special Notice
It seems necessary to notify our brethren throughout the field that the Sunday measures now pending in Congress are as follows:—
The District Sunday Rest bill, Senate 237, known as the Johnston Sunday bill, introduced April 6, 1911, the beginning of the present (Sixty-second) Congress.
The Post-Office Sunday Observance bill, H. R. 9433, introduced May 16, 1911.
A bill prohibiting work in the District of Columbia on Sunday, H. R. 14690, introduced by Representative Heflin, of Alabama.
These are the only religious measures before Congress at this writing. Petition blanks against the first two of the above-mentioned measures have been sent out to our churches, but we are informed that some have been using the petition blanks intended for measures which had been before previous Congresses; as, Senate bill No. 404, and Joint Resolution, No. 17, etc. As these measures died with previous Congresses, petitions concerning them are of no service at this time. The Religious Liberty Department will gladly furnish additional petition blanks upon application.
We deem it preferable for the brethren to send memorials, protests, and petitions to Congress direct instead of sending them to this office,—the papers against the Senate measure to either of the two United States senators, and those against the House measure to the member of the National House of Representatives from the district in which the petitioners reside.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DEPARTMENT.
Religious Liberty Notes
By K. C. R.
An eminent jurist of St. Clair County, Michigan, is a regular reader of Liberty and the Protestant Magazine, and is a firm believer in the principles taught by these journals.
It is interesting to note that a widespread movement is now on foot in China, by Chinese themselves, to secure an article favoring religious liberty for that country in the new constitution soon to be made. A society has been organized, and the propaganda has already spread through a majority of the provinces, many people having enlisted under the religious liberty banner. Some provinces have even elected delegates to attend the national convention when it meets, and to labor for the proper recognition of religious freedom.
The New York Tribune of Oct. 31, 1911, in commenting editorially upon the appointment of three American cardinals by the head of the Roman Catholic Church, says in part: “American Catholics will be much pleased to have the importance of their province of the church thus recognized, and many non-Catholics will regard the act as a compliment to the nation. Indeed, the delegation of American members in the sacred college will invest the church in this country with increased importance and influence, and mark little short of a new era in its history. . . . These new creations will give America far greater standing than it has ever had before at Rome.” The appointment of these cardinals and this editorial comment are significant signs of the times, showing how surely Roman Catholicism is getting hold of America with a deathlike grip.