CHILDREN'S EXERCISES FOR SABBATH, DEC. 24, OR CHRISTMAS DAY
By Estella Houser
PREPARED BY ESTELLA HOUSER
Suggestive Program
I. OPENING SONG: “Hasten on, Glad Day.” (“Christ in Song,” page 448.)
II. PRAYER.
III. RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING.
IV. SONG: “The Harvest Waits.” (Music, “Hymns and Tunes,” page 1063.)
V. RECITATIONS:—
“Bear the Message Onward.”
“Thoughts of a Little African Girl.”
VI. SONG BY THE CHILDREN—with motions. “Living Is Giving.” (“Christ in Song,” page 433.)
VII. RECITATIONS:—
“The Macedonian Call of the Nations.”
“We Plead for the Little Children.”
VIII. SONG: “Idolatry.” (Music, “Hymns and Tunes,” page 775.)
IX. BLACKBOARD EXERCISE:—
China’s Millions.
X. RECITATIONS:—
“The Voice of Thy Brother’s Blood.”
“The Great Commission” (by sixteen children).
Little Boy with Collection Box.
XI. COLLECTION.
XII. CLOSING SONG: “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains.” (“Hymns and Tunes,” page 1055.)
Responsive Scripture Reading
Superintendent.—For the Scripture saith, “Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”
School.—“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Supt.—“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”
School.—“And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”
Supt.—“And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
School.—“And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”
Supt.—“As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Rom. 10:11–16.
School.—“We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace; if we tarry till the morning light,
some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.” 2 Kings 7:9.
Supt.—“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35.
School.—“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.”
Supt.—“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2.
School.—“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Supt.—“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:19, 20.
Song—The Harvest Waits
(Music, “Hymns and Tunes,” page 1063.)
Lo, the harvest waits for reapers!
Christian, wherefore waitest thou?
Blessed labor for the Master,
In broad fields, awaits thee now.
Christian, dost thou pray with pleading,
“Lord, into thy harvest send
Laborers to do thy bidding,
Toilers for the far-off lands”?
He who blessed the seed in sowing,
With the sunlight of his care,
Made it ready for the reaping.
Bids you to the garner bear.
Haste, O, haste! the shadows falling,
Soon the land in darkness leave;
Hasten to fulfil thy calling—
Quickly bind the golden sheaves!
He who bids thee to the reaping—
Christ—will all thy labor crown,
Till, o’er vale and mountain ringing,
“Safely gathered,” comes the song.
—Mrs. C. R. Allen.
Bear the Message Onward!
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.
BEAR the message onward!
Spread it far and wide;
Let the distant heathen
Know that Jesus died,—
Died, that God might justly
Vilest sins forgive,—
Died, that through his merit
Guilty men might live.
Bear the message onward!
Dare ye keep it back?
See those sin-bound millions!
Death is on their track!
Wretchedness surrounds them,
Woe succeeds to woe;
Listen, friends of Jesus!
Will you leave them so?
Bear the message onward!
Farther! farther yet!
Quickly! ere in darkness
This day’s sun shall set.
Quickly! judgment hasteneth!
Men are dying fast!
How can you, if heedless,
Meet your God at last?
Bear the message onward!
Spread it forth with power;
Let it reach fresh regions
Every passing hour.
Human souls out-value
Coronets imperated;
Pause not, till the message
Vibrates through the world.
—Rev. J. Clark.
Thoughts of a Little African Girl
I AM only a little black girl, and I live in a heathen village in Central Africa. My mother tells me I must begin early to learn to work; so she ties the baby on my back, puts a basket on my head, and I trudge after her to the field three miles away.
I have had no breakfast, for my brother ate all the mush that was left from supper; and when I tell mother I am hungry, she ties a piece of bark tight round my stomach. She says that will make me feel better; but it doesn’t.
I must not cry, though, or she will slap me, and tell me that the lions will come and eat me up. When we get to the field, mother digs up a sweet potato, and I eat that; it tastes nice, too.
AN AFRICAN VILLAGE
Baby cries, and wants mother; but she must hoe the corn, so I stand up and shake and shake my body till he falls asleep. Then mother puts him in a safe place, and tells me to pull weeds. I want to go to sleep, too. My back aches, and so do my legs; but mother says I must grow strong by working hard; then I can marry, and have a field of my own.
By and by when the sun is getting low, we leave the corn, and go into the woods and gather sticks to take home to cook our supper. I wish I was a baby, and could ride on mother’s back, but I must carry the heavy basket of wood.
When we reach the village, we find father sitting in the visiting house, smoking with a lot of men. He calls to me as we pass by, “Bring me a gourd of beer.” So mother takes off my load of wood, and puts the great gourd of beer in my hands. It is so heavy that I stagger and almost fall. Father calls out, “If you spill that beer, I will beat you.” O, how I tremble as I drop on my knees before him, while he drinks and treats his friends.
He is better-natured now, and when the gourd is handed back, he tells me to drink the thick dregs left in the bottom. I go back to our hut, and mother hands me a large clay pot, and tells me to hurry and bring water from the brook to cook our food. On the way down the hill, I pass a lot of boys, who are lying16
on the soft grass. I wish I were a boy. Boys never have to carry wood or water.
I hurry on, and fill my pot; but just as I am climbing up the steep rocks, my foot slips, and my water-pot lies broken at my feet. O, dear! O, dear! I cover my face with my hands, and wail till some one brings mother. She is very angry, and says it will cost her much corn, as it was a borrowed pot, and she must pay for it.
I flee to a deserted hut, creep into a dark corner, and cry alone. I am so tired and hungry! My head aches, and now I am burning with fever.
I keep thinking about that broken pot. Perhaps my uncle will sell me for a slave to pay the fine. O, if I could only die! Then they would cover me with lots of cloth—more than I have ever had in my life. They would send for all the relatives, who would wail for me, and shoot off gunpowder; they would dance and beat drums, and make beautiful noises all night. They would have a big feast, and then they would question my spirit as to who caused my death.
Then I would come back, and torment with fear those who have made me so unhappy. It is a dreadful thing to be a heathen girl in Africa.
The Macedonian Call of the Nations
JAPAN
Across the sea, full many a mile,
From far Japan’s sea-girded isle,
I come, O Christian friends, to plead
My country’s dire and urgent need;
Teach us to tear our idols down,
And give unto your God the crown.
CHINA
I come from China. Dark and deep
Pacific’s rolling billows sweep
’Twixt your fair land and mine, where now
Unnumbered millions blindly bow,
And prayers are poured, and vows are paid,
To gods which their own hands have made.
INDIA
I come from India’s ancient land,
Her forests, vales, and mountains grand
With idol temples are defiled;
The air is rent with mourning wild,
And suffering women live and die
In hopeless, hapless misery.
PERSIA
From Persia’s sunny vales I come.
No longer may our lips be dumb!
The days and years are fleeting by,
And we in heathen darkness die.
O, haste the bread of life to give,
That Persia, too, may eat and live!
SYRIA
From Syria’s sacred shores I come—
The land your Saviour called his own.
Yet where his holy feet once trod,
They know not of the living God!
O Christian people! heed our call;
Teach us of him who died for all.
AFRICA
From Afric’s darkened shores am I;
Hark! hear ye not that mournful cry?
There human blood is daily shed,
And living souls are as the dead.
O, haste and help to free our land
From Error’s dread, despotic hand!
MEXICO
From Mexico’s hill-girded shores
I come, a suppliant to your doors.
Haste, with the Spirit’s flaming sword;
Haste, in the name of Christ the Lord,
And help our fettered band to flee
From Rome’s dark craft and tyranny.
—Selected.
We Plead for the Little Children
We plead for the little children
Who have opened their baby eyes
A BOLIVIAN BABY
(Representing an unentered field.)
In the far-off land of darkness,
Where the shadow of death yet lies.
But not to be nurtured for heaven,
Not to be taught in the way,
Not to be watched o’er and guided,
Lest their tiny feet should stray.
Ah, no! It is idol worship Their stammering lips
Are taught;
To cruel and false gods
Only
Are their gifts and offerings brought.
And what can we children offer,
Who dwell in a Christian land?
Is there no work for the Master
In reach of each little hand?—Selected.
AN INDIAN WOMAN
Song—Idolatry: Its Misery and Remedy
(Music, “Hymns and Tunes,” page 775 or 844.)
Do you see the heathen kneeling,
Bowing to his god of stone?
Do you see how deep his feeling?
Hear, O hear his heavy moan!
Thus he sits in midnight darkness,
At the great dumb idol’s feet,
Pleading, wailing, sacrificing,
Yet his soul receives no meat.
Millions thus are vainly grasping,
Struggling on in nature’s night,
Vainly seeking, looking, longing,
For a ray of heavenly light.
Is there none in God’s great vineyard
Who will to their rescue go,
And among these thorns and briers
Will the seed of gladness sow?
Who will go and bear the message
That our blessed Saviour gave—
How he, wounded, bleeding, dying,
Gave his life their souls to save?
Can you sport while souls are dying,
Trifle precious time away?
Can you really live in comfort,
While you have a debt to pay?
Do you hear the Master crying
To his people great and small,
“Go and work in my great vineyard,
For the weeds and briers are tall”?
As this call is wide extended,
Will you answer while you may,
“Yes, O Lord, I’ll do thy bidding;
I will gather sheaves to-day”?
—F. L. Smelser.
China’s Millions
The vast empire of China comprises more than four million square miles of territory. It would spread all over the United States, and cover nearly two thirds of North America.
China is wonderful in its physical conditions. It has magnificent river systems, two of which—the Yangtze and the Hoangho—compare with the Mississippi, the Amazon, and the Kongo in extent. It has lofty mountains, deep and fertile valleys, and extensive plains. Its climate is healthful, its soil productive, its fruits various and abundant.
But more wonderful than the country itself is the vast, immeasurable sea of China’s millions of humanity, which has surged through the empire since centuries before the Christian era. Compilers of statistics strive in vain to count these millions, or to make us comprehend their extent. Our picture [explaining the figure on the blackboard] will give us a faint idea of their vast numbers. If we were to transfer the population of the great Russian empire, of the countries of Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Japan, and the United States, into the Chinese empire, there would still be room. Add to these again the population of South America, and we would be able to populate the country as densely as it is populated today by the Chinese themselves. Such figures are almost beyond our conception, yet they convey some idea of the great work to be done among that people.
Their needs?—Every province has been entered by a missionary, although the province of Hunan, with twenty-one million people, has but one mission station, with territory equivalent to that of Maryland and the two Virginias. The province of Shansi has the largest number of mission stations; but even here it is as though “only one town in Rhode Island contained a church, whose pastor and members were responsible for the evangelization of the entire State, and a considerable fringe of Connecticut besides.”
The position of women is degraded. They are secluded, maimed by foot binding, and almost slaves in the household. A result of this is the dreadful practise of destroying female children, which is still common, although done more secretly than formerly. Indeed, sometimes the little boys, too, are destroyed. Child17murder is not considered a crime. Only recently one of our workers in the province of Honan rescued two of these helpless little ones, one of which had been dropped twenty-five feet from the top of a wall, and the other thrown into a mass of refuse. Their sufferings were alleviated for a few days, but it was too late to save their lives.
What have we done?—We have entered two provinces—“one in southern China, at Canton, in the Kwangtung Province, and one eighteen hundred miles distant, in the province of Honan.”
There still remain sixteen provinces unentered by any herald of the third angel. It is as though all Europe had two stations—one in Great Britain, and one at the farthest point of Russia; or as though North America had but two stations—one at Montreal, and the other at New Orleans, with all the intervening railroad facilities blotted out,” and all these people [pointing to the figure on the blackboard] crowded into the territory. Recently the truth has gained a foothold in another province, at Amoy, north of Canton, but we have not been able to send a worker to follow up the interest.
What does this mean?—That still in the land of Sinim many wait for the gospel. When China’s millions have been reached, one half of the heathen world will have heard the good news of the soon-coming Saviour.
“The gospel that thou bearest,
The power of God shall prove,
To triumph o’er the souls of men
By the omnipotence of love.
And remember, while thou lingerest,
The voice of thy brother’s blood;
A million a month in China
Are dying without God!”
[NOTE.—Draw a large square, dividing it into 214 equal-sized small squares. The large square will represent the population of China, each tiny square standing for 2,000,000 of China’s 428,000,000 people. Of these squares, 53 will represent the population of Russia, 19 France, 26½ Germany, 19 Great Britain, 15 Italy, 22 Japan, 20½ South America, and 39 the United States.
The large square, divided into the 214 smaller ones, should be drawn upon the blackboard or a large sheet of paper, before the exercises.
When the number is called for on the program, the square should be divided to represent the population of the several countries, printing in the name of each country, and a statement made concerning China’s millions and our obligations to them. This can be made very impressive, if presented by one of the older pupils who understands the situation.]
“The Voice of Thy Brother’s Blood”
O CHURCH of the living God!
Awake from thy sinful sleep!
Dost thou not hear yon awful cry
Still sounding o’er the deep?
Is it naught that one out of every three,
Of all the human race,
Should in China die, having never heard
The gospel of God’s grace?
Canst thou shut thine ear to the awful sound,
The voice of thy brother’s blood?
A million a month in China
Are dying without God!
O, speak not of the noble few
Who the gospel sickle wield,
And reap some sheaves with weary hand
On the edge of its harvest-field;
For beyond their utmost efforts
Four hundred millions lie,
And a thousand preachers were all too few
To reach them ere they die!
But hear! O! hear ye for yourselves
The voice of your brother’s blood!
A million a month in China
Are dying without God!
And ye who can not go, O! help
With the wondrous weapon, prayer;
While ye uplift your hands at home,
The cross shall triumph there.
And give ye freely from your store
To the warriors in the field.
The more you give, to you the more
Barrel and cruse shall yield.
So only can you cleanse your hands
From the guiltiness of blood!
For a million a month in China
Are dying without God!
—H. Grattan Guinness.
The Great Commission
*(For sixteen children)*
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
Here am I; send me.
Many shall come from the east and west.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Surely the isles shall wait upon me.
Preach good tidings unto the meek; proclaim liberty to the captives.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.
Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Recitation by Little Boy With a Collection Box
THIS little red box in my hand
Is empty as it can be.
It makes no noise at all,
Though I shake it hard, you see.
I wish it were full — don’t you? —
Of pennies and quarters and dimes;
But wishing won’t make it full—
I’ve tried it so many times.
Just think how much good it would do,
If this little box were full—
How many a heathen child
Might be sent to a mission school.
It makes me most ready to cry
When I hear the stories they tell
Of children who don’t know at all
Of Jesus, who loves them so well.
I wish I could help them some way!
Now, listen, I have thought of a plan:
I’ll pass my box ’round the room,
And ask all to give what they can.
I think, if you’ll each give a little,
I’ll get my box full, I believe,
For you know it was said by the Saviour,
’Tis better to give than receive.
— Selected.
Progress of the Message in Central America
THE message continues to make progress in Central America. Dr. A. J. Hetherington writes: “O, the field is such a needy one, and our workers here are so few in number! These people need the fulness of the gospel. Some are anxiously inquiring after the truth. Here in this island new interests are constantly developing. One of our native brethren has found quite an interest among the people of the north side. He was telling me yesterday that he hoped I would soon be ready to go over with him and help to organize a Sabbath-school. We are finding in various places that people are awakening and asking earnestly about the truths for this time, and we are praying that the corps of workers may be increased.”
Virginia
By C. B. Rule
CARDWELL.—Last First-day was a good day for the company at this place. Nine faithful souls were buried with their Lord in baptism, and raised to walk in newness of life. This company are all full of courage in the Lord. I hope to see a good church at this place.
C. B. RULE.
Mexico
By GEO. M. BROWN
TACUBAYA.—I have recently received an encouraging letter from Gomez Palacio, State of Durango, which Elder Leland and I visited last summer. One subscriber whom Brother Leland secured writes (the following is a free translation): “We give thanks for the explanations, so true, which we have seen in your valuable periodical, and I offer myself to the work of your church, because as soon as I learned these good counsels, I made a vow to keep the Lord’s holy day, because I do not wish to please men, but God alone, and hope that the Holy Spirit will illuminate your understanding, in order that many souls may triumph.”
Another man in the State of Michoacan sends us seven names for the paper, and tells us how he enjoys it. Dr. Erkenbeck writes me that the man who accepted the truth last year at the sanitarium is there again on a visit, and that he is still faithful, and expects in a few months to dissolve his partnership, so that he will not be connected with those who do not keep the Sabbath.
I shall have more to write presently. Sabbath was a good day for us here in Mexico City. We had quarterly meeting, the first in which the recently added members had taken part.
GEO. M. BROWN.
France
By B. G. Wilkinson
PARIS.—I arrived this morning, after riding all night, from the south of France. I have just returned from the French camp-meeting, and it was one of the best meetings I ever attended. The hearts of these French brethren were filled with joy that God had opened up the way to have a camp-meeting in France. We had a beautiful spot among the Cavennes Mountains. Each night there was a large outside attendance.
When we first proposed this, we had counted on having about thirty of our people; but over forty were on the ground, and there were fifty-three of our brethren present in the Sabbath morning meeting. Considering the fact that the camp was in the south of France, and that there were four churches in the north, we were much encouraged. Our French brethren, unaided, have raised nearly all the expenses for camp-meetings, new tents, etc. So camp-meetings in France are now an assured thing.
Our tithe the first quarter of 1903 amounted to 533 francs. The first quarter of 1904 it amounted to 1,500 francs; the second quarter to 2,300 francs.
It is really sad to see these fields waiting for the truth when we have not enough workers to enter them. May the Lord open the way that more laborers may soon be here to reap the ripening harvest.
B. G. WILKINSON.
Japan
By F. W. Field
Tokyo.—Returning from my trip to Korea, I spent several days in Kobe. On Sabbath, October 8, we held the dedicatory services in the new chapel just completed there. This is our first and only church building in Japan. It is eighteen by thirty-five feet in size, with an entry, and presents a very neat appearance. The brethren and sisters in Kobe were very glad upon the completion of this work, for it has taxed their resources to the utmost; and even yet some debt remains. But this they are planning to remove as soon as possible.
The work in Kobe continues to progress. Plans have been made for holding regular meetings in a part of the city where the truth has not yet been presented. The sanitarium work is still prospering, and it looks as if we shall soon have to provide more rooms for patients.
Recently Brother Okahira spent some time with the believers in and near Wakamatsu. Four were baptized, and several others are observing the Sabbath. Work has been opened at Kitagata, a station on the railway some miles north of Wakamatsu; one young man has begun to observe the Sabbath there. Two of our young men are engaged in canvassing in that vicinity.
A young man, a telegraph operator, has recently accepted the truth in Tokyo, and has united with another of our young men in circulating our literature in the city. They are having good success. My English Bible class is unusually large this fall, and some of the students show much interest in the subjects studied and the truths presented. Several Chinese students attend quite regularly.
The war drags wearily on, and the effects are felt in the increase of prices on various articles, and in renewed calls for charity in behalf of widows and orphan children. The military law has lately been amended, extending the time of military service five years. Formerly a soldier was enrolled among the reserves till he reached the age of thirty-two; but under the present law the reserves are liable to service till they reach the age of thirty-seven. This change is likely to effect some of our brethren, who had about reached the age when they would be exempt from further service; but now they are subject to call during five more years, unless excused19for some reason. Thus the trials and difficulties increase as the end draws near. But these very trials should lead us to greater earnestness in our work, and deeper faith in God's preserving power.
F. W. FIELD.
Michigan
By J. J. Irwin
SUNDAY, November 6, was the day set for the dedication of the East Port church. The ministers present were Elders Wight, Matthews, and the writer. The church was quite well filled with the people from the town, who gave marked attention to Elder Wight as he spoke from Joshua 4:21. He briefly outlined our work, showing that our church buildings represent a principle, and that they are to call attention to the third angel’s message. At the close of the sermon the dedicatory prayer was offered by the writer.
The brethren at this place are of good courage, and are planning on active work in the missionary campaign this winter. Several will devote part of their time to the canvassing work, and one sister will spend all her time in circulating the printed page.
J. J. IRWIN.
Panama
By Carrie Knight
BOCAS DEL TORO.—Brother and Sister Stuyvesant, of Lamar, Mo., joined us about the fourth of October. Mr. Knight left here with them November 1, for San Andres Island, where they intend taking up the school work.
The work in this part is progressing, and, although we have had some trouble, caused by a false brother in Costa Rica, yet our courage is good. We are doing our best, and the work being the Lord's, we are confident that he will make all things come out after the counsel of his will. We know that we are being hewn and polished and refined in a way, perhaps, that would have taken years to accomplish in our home land.
We can only go slowly, as this people have to be taught and retaught the message, ere they accept it. This is due, I think, to the long years of ignorance and slavery under which they have been held. It is difficult even to get some of them to read the Bible; although there is no people who profess to believe the Bible as do this people.
Brethren, pray for us. We long for the day when we shall all be gathered home, bringing our sheaves with us.
CARRIE KNIGHT.
China
By E. Pilquist
LOSHAN HSIEN.—We are glad to see through the REVIEW how the work is prospering in our home lands. Surely the message entrusted to us must be carried to every nation and tongue before the end of this wicked world will come.
I wish we could all realize what it does mean to be entrusted with the most solemn message of warning ever given to be proclaimed in a condemned world. I tremble when I think of what a great work lies before us here in China. The field is open. God is guiding us in his good way, and helps us to proclaim the message far and wide. We have been here in Loshan Hsien about four months, and are preaching and working in all lines, in order to teach the poor people the true Bible principles.
October 1 we had a memorial meeting here in Loshan Hsien, after which we accompanied eleven new converts to the river, where we baptized them in the name of our Lord. We have now a small company of fifteen baptized adults in this place. Ten or more, who are waiting to receive more instruction, will soon enter our ranks. We have a day-school and a Sabbath-school, which are doing well. E. PILQUIST.
My Recent Trip to the North-western Camp-Meetings
By Smith Sharp
AFTER corresponding with, and receiving cordial invitations from, the presidents of the Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska Conferences to attend their camp-meetings in the interests of the colored work in the Southern Union Conference, I left home, August 17, and spent the three last days of the Missouri camp-meeting on the camp-ground at Columbia.
Earlier in the meeting the several different interests connected with our cause had been presented, and liberal contributions had been made to them.
I was told by leading brethren that under such circumstances I need not expect to receive much. Instead of these circumstances being a discouragement, they were an encouragement to me. Should I go near the close of a meeting where needy enterprises had been presented and no response been made, I should feel differently. But when the hearts of the brethren and sisters have been touched, and their pocket-books have been opened to these needy fields, they will not fail to respond when such a theme as our work among the colored people of the South is presented. I found this to be the case on the Missouri camp-ground, and felt that, under all the circumstances, the brethren responded liberally.
In company with Professor Kern, I left the Missouri camp-ground Sunday morning, and reached the Colorado camp-ground at Longmont, Monday night just before the evening services began. The meeting had been in progress several days, and the circumstances were much the same as they were on the Missouri camp-ground, only the camp was much larger, and the camp and grove were as beautiful as anything I have seen in the history of camp-meetings among our people.
I was not disappointed when I presented the needs of the colored school at Huntsville. I spent but two days, and left early Thursday morning for the Oklahoma camp-meeting at Guthrie. I reached their camp-ground just before noon, on Friday, where I remained until the following Wednesday. It would not have been possible for me to receive a more cordial reception, and the response to my appeal in behalf of the colored work was most encouraging.
I left Guthrie Wednesday morning, and arrived at the Kansas camp-ground, at Wichita, that afternoon. It had been many years since I had attended a camp-meeting in Kansas, and but comparatively few of those with whom I had been associated in former years were at the meeting. I found a large number of our people on the encampment. I do not know the number, perhaps from eight20hundred to one thousand. I was cordially received, and every opportunity was given me to present the interests of the cause for which I had come. The meeting had been in progress for a number of days, and not only had the general interests of our different enterprises been presented, but Kansas was building a sanitarium about two miles from the camp-ground. The frame was already up, the corner-stone was laid the day before my arrival, and nearly three thousand dollars had been pledged and donated to this institution, yet the appeal to the Southern work was perhaps as liberally responded to as it would have been had this been the first call.
I left the Wichita camp-ground Sunday night, in company with several of the leading brethren, and arrived on the Omaha ground on Monday afternoon. This, I think, was as large a camp-meeting as I ever attended among Seventh-day Adventists, and perhaps the largest. I do not know the number on the ground, but it seemed to me that the meeting was too large, and yet it was so organized and so conducted that all branches and all departments received due attention.
I do not know that I can say that I was more cordially received here than at the other meetings, but I can say the same cordial reception was extended to me that I had received everywhere. I could not ask for a more hearty welcome. It almost seemed to me at times that the different conferences vied with one another to show their interest in, and their sympathy for, the work in the great Southern field.
At the close of the Nebraska meeting it was my privilege to attend the fall council at College View. In company with Elder Butler and Brother Ford, I left College View, September 20, and reached my home at Graysville the twenty-second, having been gone about five weeks. During this time I received between six hundred and seven hundred dollars in cash, and over eighteen hundred dollars in pledges.
I felt very much encouraged, and I desire through our good REVIEW to express to the brethren and sisters of the different conferences that I visited, the hearty thanks of the brethren and friends of the Southern Union Conference.
