FEW other Bible subjects have ever been held more sacred in the Christian's mind than has the Sabbath. At the present time, the agitation of its observance is worldwide. It is one of vital importance to every believing child of God, because it involves one of God's plainest commandments; and the consequences of our obedience or disobedience of it reach into eternity.
The fourth commandment says that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God" (Ex. 20:10), and commands us to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (verse 8). But the great majority of professed Christians keep Sunday, the first day of the week. The question is often asked as to which of these two days God requires to be kept holy. Another question is common—Does it make any particular difference with the Lord, just so we recognize one day in every seven as holy time? That it does make a difference, and that God is particular, is revealed in His dealings with His people in past ages, the account of which is "written for our learning," that we may know Him with whom we have to do. Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11.10
God Is Particular.
Take the case of the sons of Aaron, who offered "strange fire" before God, which He had forbidden. They died before the Lord. Lev. 10:1-3. Uzzah disobeyed God's word that they should not touch any holy thing, lest they die. Num. 4:15. He only put his hand to the ark, but there he died before the Lord. 1 Chron. 13:9, 10. God commanded Lot and his family to flee from wicked Sodom. He said, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee." Gen. 19:17. Lot's wife thought God was not particular, and looking back, "she became a pillar of salt." Verse 26. "Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32.
God sent Saul to destroy Amalek, to "utterly destroy all that they have." 1 Sam. 15:1-3. But he failed to do as God had commanded. Verses 7-9. And yet when God sent Samuel to him, twice, in the face of God's word through His prophet, Saul said, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord." Verses 13, 20. So with many who observe the first day of the week instead of the seventh day commanded by the Lord. Ex. 20:8-11. They say, "I have obeyed the voice of the Lord." It was not until Samuel said, "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee," that Saul realized that God was particular. He then confessed his sin, and said, "I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words; because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice." Verse 24; see also verses 22, 23. But his confession came too late.
Many professed Christians to-day fear the people, and obey their voice, when, like Saul, they know they are transgressing the commandment of the Lord in keeping the first day of the week as the Lord's day, instead of the Sabbath. The time is coming also when they, like him, will confess that they have "transgressed the commandment of the Lord" in keeping the first day instead of the seventh. God grant that it may not be too late. Therefore I pray you in Christ's stead to obey God now, "before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you." Zeph. 2:2; Rev. 6:15-17.
God's law is the truth (Ps. 119:142), and our eternal life depends upon our obedience of faith to the fourth commandment as much as upon obedience to the other nine. In the teachings of Christ, He deals with the Sabbath commandment more than He does with any of the other commandments. And His words are spirit and life; He only hath the words of eternal life. John 6:63, 68. "The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me." John 14:24.
As Jesus received these words from His Father and gave them to His first disciples, they, too, received and kept them. John 17:6, 8. When Jesus said unto them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27), He received this commandment from His Father; for He says, "I have not spoken of Myself, but the Father which sent Me. He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment [whether spoken of the Sabbath or any other] is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak." John 12:49, 50.
God is just as particular about the Sabbath commandment of His Word as about any other. He who puts the Word of God from him, judges himself unworthy of everlasting life. Acts 13:46.
The Sabbath at the Cross.
There are many Christian people who truly believe that Christ abolished the seventh-day Sabbath in His death, and that after His resurrection on that first day morning, He instituted the first day as His memorial of that event. But this is as impossible as it would be for the sinless One to become the sinful one. Christ was manifested in the flesh to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8. Had He abolished the Sabbath in His death on the cross, He would have permitted to be done through Him what the devil had been trying to do for ages.
A Sign of the True God.
The Sabbath has always been the sign by which "ye may know that I am the Lord your God." Eze. 20:20. It is the sign of God's creative power (Ex. 31:17), by which His people were to know Him from the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth; for "there be gods many and lords many, but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him." 1 Cor. 8:5, 6.
God created all things by Jesus Christ. Eph. 3:9; John 1:3; Col. 1:16, 17. Man was the crowning work of all that God created, and He purposed that man should ever remember Him in Jesus Christ as Creator. To this end "He hath made a memorial for His wonderful works." Ps. 111:4 (Rabbi Leeser's translation). This memorial was to endure throughout all generations. Ps. 135:13; 102:12. By remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy, all generations would remember that their Creator, the Lord, "is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King;" and that "the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." Jer. 10:10, 11.
Satan's Purpose—False Conception of God.
Satan was well aware that the eternal life of God's people depended on their knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. To know the only true God is to know the Creator of all things, which He wrought in six days. Therefore, before Satan could influence men to set up and worship idols and graven images, he must destroy their knowledge of the Creator. But how could he do this? how could he cause man to worship and serve the creature more than the Creator?—By destroying the Sabbath, the memorial of God, the Creator. Ex. 20:8-11.
Then it was that the people "provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods," and "sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not [as Creator], to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not." Deut. 32:16, 17; Lev. 26:1, 2; Eze. 20:12, 13, 16. How well Satan has succeeded in causing man to change "the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things," needs no proof. I only need call attention to the idolatrous nations of to-day and past ages.
That these nations at one time knew God, is evident, not only from the Scriptures, but from "A Chart of the Week," by Rev. Wm. Mead Jones, D.D., showing the unchanged order of the days and the true position of the Sabbath, as proved by the combined testimony of ancient and modern languages. Of one hundred and sixty different languages, one hundred and eight show in the unchanged form of the week, a knowledge of the Sabbath of the Lord, the memorial of the Creator. But when they knew God, as Creator, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom. 1:21. And as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge (verse 28) by remembering the Sabbath day to keep it holy, they "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever." Rom. 1:25.
A Safeguard against Idolatry.
In the Sabbath, from the creation of the world, the invisible things of God are clearly seen, "being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Rom. 1:20. Had His people not been unfaithful, and by polluting the Sabbath day (Eze. 20:16), forgotten God that formed them (Deut. 32:18), the devil never could have turned them unto idol-worship, nor influenced them to make unto themselves molten gods (Lev. 19:3, 4); and no Sunday Lord's day, or first-day sabbath, would ever have found a place in the minds of God's people, or in the Christian church. But the Sabbath, God's memorial, would have continued forever as the day of rest and worship, as revealed in Jer. 17:21-27.
God sent His prophet to the kings of Judah, and all Judah and Jerusalem, with a most blessed message of deliverance for their city for all time to come, even forever. If they would but hallow the Sabbath day to do no work therein, then, said the Lord, "This city shall remain forever." The fact that the city could only remain forever on condition that they hallowed the Sabbath day as He had commanded their fathers, is divine proof that the Sabbath was to remain forever, just as God had commanded it to the fathers in Ex. 20:8-11. Jerusalem would remain forever only as they would hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein forever.
God desired to instruct His ancient people in true Sabbath-keeping for their good for all time, but the same spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2) worked in them, and caused them to obey not, neither incline their ear, but made their necks stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction. Jer. 17:23. That spirit has not changed with the centuries that have come and gone since then. Satan is the same deceiver to-day that he was then and ever will be, even to the end of the world.
THE STOREHOUSE OF ALL TRUTH.
THIS Book, the Bible, contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and happiness of believers. Its teachings are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are unchangeable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practise it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, and commands you to heed it; food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Its pages show Paradise restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our great good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, daily, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be open in the judgment, and be remembered forever. It proclaims man accountable, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.—Anon.
Humility, the Perfume of Christian Character
"BE humble; humility is the perfume of Christian character. Its fragrance will attract when all other means fail."
THE NATION NOT DESIRED.
By W. H. Wild
To this nation God calls, and repeats the call thus: “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired.” Zeph. 2:1.
When is it that God wants this nation of which He speaks to gather together? Why gather together? What nation is meant? First, we believe this call, “Gather yourselves together,” has special reference to all those who are looking for the coming of Christ in these last days, just before the great day of God's wrath shall come; hence we must believe, and have so believed for over forty years, that the nation not desired is the remnant church spoken of in Rev. 12:17; and in 14:12. That this gathering has special reference to the true people of God in these last days, the second verse clearly shows. We there read of a certain decree that is to go forth, and this people not desired are commanded to gather together before that decree goes forth.
This decree is evidently the same that we read of in Rev. 22:11, 12, occurring just previous to the second coming of Christ. It reads: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me.”
Now we know the meaning of the words in Zeph. 2:2, “Before the day pass as the chaff.” This undoubtedly means the day of probation that ends at the commencement of the great day of the Lord. Hence the following words: “Before the fierce anger of the11Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.” Zeph. 2:2.
Then in the next verse is the command to “seek righteousness and meekness,” that they may be “hid in the day of the Lord's anger.”
Now we are prepared to answer the question, Why is it that this nation is not desired? We answer, Because of their loyalty to their king. Over forty years ago God warned us of the great confederacy of the three great divisions of great Babylon,—Spiritualism, Catholicism, Apostate Protestantism; and to-day we behold this anti-Christian confederacy spreading over this country like the leprosy. He must be as blind as the Pharisees of old who can not see the wolf's nose in this confederacy.
Those who have the anointing, and have anointed their eyes with the eye-salve of the Spirit, can not help seeing how when this confederacy is completed, which is so broad that its ample cloak will cover Spiritualism and Catholicism, then most assuredly will great Babylon “become a habitation of demons, the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Rev. 18:1-3. Then will the sins of Protestantism reach unto heaven, because she has repudiated her Protestant principles as taught by Luther and all the Reformers, that the Papacy was anti-Christ.
My brethren, there are stirring, thrilling times before us. The children of God will be hated. They will be despised by all those who unite with this great confederacy, even because they can not fellowship the unholy union. They will be despised because they keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And the fourth commandment tells us to keep the seventh day, not the first day. Let us therefore heed the warning from God and press together. Tho we may not be desired by the confederacies of men, we know that God has forbidden us to unite with them in their Babel building.
We may know that Christian Science, with its great form of godliness, is nothing but Spiritualism in its full blossom. We may know that Catholicism is the same to-day as when the Reformers, through the Spirit of God and the Word, denounced it as anti-Christ. Do they not tell us to-day, after having put millions of martyrs to death, that they never have erred, and never can err? Why not take the Word of God? W. H. WILD.
THE BIBLE REVEALED.
THE Bible came by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit reveals to our hearts its meaning. Therefore prayerfully read and believe the words of Christ in John 16:13.
The following illustration given by an old minister will be a great help to the honest in heart in these days: "The most successful Sunday-school teacher I ever knew, was a poor, humble, sewing woman, with only a common school education, who took class after class of the most heedless boys, and every member of every class she taught came to Christ.
"She so baptized all her study with prayer, that she got at the very mind of God in the Scriptures. She examined every verse, taking note of the thoughts given her by the Spirit. These she arranged in simple order, aiming at perfect simplicity. Her illustrations were nearly all scriptural.
"She was a woman of one book. Her only help was a concordance and a Bible text-book with subjects arranged orderly. She was taught of God through the Word, till she had an answer from it for every teaching. She handled the Word with knowledge and wisdom, yet with the simplicity of a child." —Anon.
THE CONDITION OF THE DEAD.
By L. D. Santee
I DO not want to believe that the dead are conscious between death and the resurrection. It brings in so many unhappy features that with all my heart I thank Him who has said, "The dead know not anything," (Eccl. 9:5), who has assured us in His Word of their unconsciousness. Those who find comfort in the belief that the dead are conscious and retain their faculties, have not considered all that it involves.
Ever since my earliest memory, friends have been dropping out of my life. Like broken urns they strew the pathway of the years. "God's acre" holds them and I mourn their loss. Some died Christians, but by far the greater number were pleasure-loving, and unconverted. I do not want to think that they are now in unutterable pain, that the nerves of feeling are quivering in untold agony, that while life is sweet to me, their condition holds horror that would drive to insanity, that language can not tell, or heart imagine. The larger part of my friends were not Christians, is not your experience the same? Go out into the graveyard, visit the familiar mounds. Affection has chiseled their names on the marble. Love calls them up one by one, but while fond memory fills the eyes with tears and your heart holds them all, you know of the most of them that they are now peacefully sleeping and unconscious, or that they are in torment. While we hope and desire that our friends are in heaven, we only think of those that are saved, and forget the condition of the rest. Had you not rather that Christ should say of them, as He said of Lazarus, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth"? John 11:11. Even of those that you hope are in heaven, have you thought of their real condition?
In heaven, joy is supreme. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Ps. 16:11. My imagination shows me the battlements of heaven lined with the blessed, their beautiful eyes dark with the shadow of an infinite sorrow as they look earthward. The mother who has toiled for her children until the vital chord was loosed sees from on high her lessons forgotten, while neglect, degradation, and evil influences are ruining those whom she loves better than her life. Other little ones suffer from cruelty and brutality while the mother is in glory and sees it all. Such a condition can not be. The woes of earth would darken heaven, if the dead were conscious and knew what was transpiring on earth. Thank God, this picture will never be realized.
I think that I have drawn the two pictures fairly—the unsaved, now wild with anguish and without hope; the saved, their hearts aching with an anxious solicitude. How much better is God's way, "He giveth His beloved sleep." Ps. 127:2. Job speaks of those that are in their graves: "There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary be at rest." Chapter 3:17. Inspiration generally speaks of death as a sleep. Job is supposed to be the first book written by inspiration, and it speaks of death in these words: "They shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." Job 14:12. The Lord said to Moses, "Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers." Deut. 31:16. I will copy some expressions from the record of the kings of Israel: "And Solomon slept with his fathers" (1 Kings 11:43); "And Rehoboam slept with his fathers" (1 Kings 14:31); "And Abijam slept with his fathers" (1 Kings 15:8); "And Asa slept with his fathers" (1 Kings 15:24). Daniel uses the same expression in chapter 12:2: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." The New Testament is full of evidence that death is a sleep. What could be plainer than the account of the death of Stephen: "And when he said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:60. Again we repeat the words of the Saviour: "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth."
The fifteenth of 1 Corinthians is full of the sleep of the dead and the resurrection: verse 6, "But some are fallen asleep;" verse 18, "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Read verse 20: "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept." In verse 51 he refers to translation, "Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." Turn to 1 Thess. 4:13: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
Further proof is unnecessary. If it is not already plain, language can not teach it. At death, we, like Stephen, fall "asleep." "The spirit shall return to God who gave it." Eccl. 12:7. That is, the life principle leaves the body. What becomes of the mind, or intelligence?—"In that very day his thoughts perish" (Ps. 146:4); "Their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished," Eccl. 9:6. The preceding verse declares that "the dead know not anything." When I walk in the quiet cemetery I think, Of all that lie buried here, not one is suffering; they are sleeping till God shall awaken them in the resurrection. The psalmist says, "I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." Ps. 17:15. No sainted mother who is passed away is grieving over wayward children. She rests from her labors. Rev. 14:13. Truly God's way is best. L. D. Santee.
MY FAITH.
By New England Magazine
Be not an anchor, O my faith, to lie
On ocean's oozy floor, dim fathoms deep,
Where dead, forgotten things forever sleep,
And tumult of the waves comes never nigh,
And e'en beyond the glimpse of day's great eye,
Thy task to clutch and blindly cling and keep
My boat at rest—in front the self-same sweep
Of well-known coast, o'er head the self-same sky.
Nay, rather, when the mighty winds are free,
Be thou the needle loyal to thy North,
To bid my bark the utmost isles explore.
Better go down amid the tempest roar
Than rot in land-locked bays and put not forth
At hearing of the loud-entreating sea.
—New England Magazine.
Purity of Heart and Constant Prayer
By La Combe
He that has a pure heart will never cease to pray; and he who will be constant in prayer shall know what it is to have a pure heart. —La Combe.
Christianity and Mystery
By Argus
A CHRISTIANITY without mystery is as un-philosophical as it is unscriptural.—Argus.
“THE SEA AND THE WAVES ROARING.”
By Rosalind A. Young
THE disaster that has befallen the city of Papeete, is a wonderful fulfilment of our Lord's great prophecy, given us in Matthew 24, and Luke 21.
Last night, the night of February 7, saw the inhabitants of this place going to bed as usual, in their homes, many of which are only a few yards from the waters of the beautiful Bay of Papeete. In one instance, two ladies, the mother and sister of the American consul—who was with his brother, away at another district of the island—with their serving woman, fearing that the rising waters might prove dangerous, sought a place of shelter nearer the foot of the hills. It was well they did.
The main street in Papeete is shown in the photograph, with the custom-house in the middle of the street, where it was swept from its location seventy-five feet back by the tidal wave. The building with the wreckage in the front of it contains the offices of the Oceanic Steamship Company.
An hour or two after darkness fell, the word was passing that already some of the houses nearest the sea were in danger of being swept away, and that the inmates, alarmed at the incoming of the waters, had gone to seek some safer place to spend the night.
At ten o'clock the rush of water had so increased that wreckage from the wharf and the houses lying near was floating about in the streets.
Men, women, and children gathered in groups to watch the waters rise higher and higher, and to see, too, how the vessels in the harbor were faring.
There was scarcely a breath of wind, while the roaring of the billows as they broke over the reefs could be heard a great distance.
Still the dreadful sea rose, sweeping a quarter of a mile inland, and bearing, in its resistless advance, roofs of houses that had fallen, flooring, spars, small boats, and everything else that could float.
Well might such a scene inspire men's hearts with terror, as the question was passed, “What is the meaning of all this?” To the child of God, there is but one answer.
As the waters increased, many had to flee for their lives, and the endeavor to do so was, in some cases, most dangerous, as the water was rushing with mighty force through the streets, and the floating wreckage threatened death.
At the hour of three, the solemn tones of the cathedral bell awoke the inhabitants who might be still sleeping, as it rang a call to prayer; for “men's hearts [were] failing them for fear.”
While it still lacked an hour till daylight, the alarm call of the bugle sounded on the air from a man-of-war stationed in the harbor.
All through the night, the frightened people had been seeking some safer place, those at least whose homes are near the sea.
Morning broke, and what a scene of devastation met the eye. Most of the business houses had become wrecks, while the peaceful homes that lay near the bay had broken to pieces. All that man could do, while the water held sway, was to stand by and look hopelessly, helplessly on, while the fearful havoc that the sea was making went on before their eyes. The Chinese storekeepers worked hard to save what they could from the destructive element, wading waist-deep through the water, carrying on their backs loads of what their stores contained. In several instances the destruction of the stores was complete. The post-office was swept away, and many other buildings were broken down.
At about nine o'clock the dreadful calm gave way to a hurricane, whose fury did not last long, and which also had the much-desired effect of breaking the force of the terrible sea.
Were it not that a reef belt extends around a large portion of the bay, thus breaking the force of the waves, doubtless most of the city of Papeete would have been swept out of existence.
It is while participating in such scenes as these that the soul realizes the full meaning of the words of the psalmist in that soul-comforting forty-sixth psalm: “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; tho the waters thereof roar and be troubled, tho the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. . . . The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
A Scene in Papeete Where the Post-office Stood.
“Let mountains from their seats be hurled
Down to the deep, and buried there,
Destructions shake the solid world,
Our faith shall never yield to fear.”
ROSALIND A. YOUNG.
Papeete, Tahiti.
ANNUAL MEETING.
THE thirty-first annual session of the stockholders of the Pacific Press Publishing Company was held at the office February 27. There was a good attendance, and a marked interest was manifest in the work of the institution. The manager's report for the past year showed a volume of business amounting to $162,492.20, about equally divided between denominational and commercial work. The present worth of the company, according to this report, is $102,649.12.
Of denominational bound books there were printed: "Ministry of Healing," 10,000 copies; "Heralds of the Morning," 10,000; "Great Controversy," 5,000; "Bible Readings," 5,000; "Cobblestones," 7,000; "Capital and Labor," 5,000; "Priesthood of Christ," 3,000; "Things Foretold," 3,000; "Testimonies," Vol. 5, 1,000 copies.
The average weekly circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES was over 22,000 copies, and over 1,000,000 copies of "Signs of the Times Leaflets" were printed. The average weekly circulation of Our Little Friend was over 16,000 copies. In addition to these, large quantities of tracts and pamphlets were printed.
The Kansas City Branch showed an increased volume of business, and a fair profit. The Portland Branch, tho only in its second year, showed a small gain both in volume of business and in profit.
It was recommended by the stockholders that special effort be made to enlarge the circulation of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES and increase its earnings. To this end it was recommended that its editors spend as much time as possible in the field, interesting our people in the mission of the paper. Also that there be a more liberal use of large type, and that the price of clubs be raised from 90 cents to $1.00 a year per copy.
A very important recommendation was, "That13the Pacific Press undertake the publication of Spanish literature, as far as necessary to supply the growing demands, and secure the required facilities and labor for that work; it being understood that such work will be carried on in harmony with the General Conference recommendation that the Pacific Press and the Hamburg publishing house cooperate in the production of Spanish literature."
It has been demonstrated that the prices of our denominational publications are too low to sustain the work in the absence of the commercial work that was necessarily sacrificed by removal to the country. Therefore it was recommended that we approve the policy of the General Conference Publication Committee in reducing the number of bindings, and increasing the price of our subscription books.
In order to strengthen the financial management of the corporation, it was recommended and adopted by the stockholders that there be chosen a Finance Committee of three to advise with the board of directors.
The outlook for denominational book work the present year is decidedly fair, as there are already in press the following orders: "Ministry of Healing," 12,000 copies; "Patriarchs and Prophets," 5,000; "Great Controversy," 5,000; "Early Writings," 5,000; "Making Home Peaceful," 5,000; "Soul Winning Texts," 5,000.
At this meeting we were favored with the experienced counsel of Vice-President George A. Irwin, of the General Conference; W. C. White, of the General Conference Committee; H. W. Cottrell, president of Pacific Union Conference; W. T. Knox, president of California-Nevada Conference; E. R. Palmer, secretary of the General Conference Publishing Committee, and leading business men of some of our other institutions.
The board of directors, officers, and committees for the ensuing year were briefly announced in last week's paper.
MISSIONS
READY FOR DUTY.
By Mrs. H. H. Wilcox
READY for duty, let us press on with speed,
To the help of our brother in trouble and need.
Ready for duty, in sunshine or rain,
Asking of God that He make our paths plain.
Ready for duty, whatever we need
The Lord will supply, and our hungry souls feed.
Ready for duty, whatever betide
We are safe, ever safe, with our Lord at our side.
MRS. H. H. WILCOX.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
By Editor
A CANVASSERS' institute will be held at Elk Point, S. D., March 23 to April 13.
A CANVASSERS' institute is to be held at Harvey, N. D., March 22 to April 10.
FIVE candidates were baptized at Long Beach, Cal., by Brother J. F. Ballenger, January 27.
THE brethren at Eaton, Ind., have commenced the work of erecting a new house of worship.
MINNESOTA Conference has secured a field secretary in the person of Brother F. F. Fry, of Pennsylvania.
DURING meetings held by Brother F. M. Roberts at Tell City, Ind., in January, thirty-four candidates were baptized.
A REPORT of meetings held at Lapeer, Mich., by Brother B. F. Stureman, in the Banner, notes the addition of eleven to the ranks of the faithful.
AN institute for the instruction of book canvassers will commence on the 28th inst., at Healdsburg, Cal., with Brother W. H. Covell, state agent, in charge.
ELEVEN persons have recently accepted the truth at Arlington, S. D., under the labors of Brother J. M. Erickson. An increased interest in church work is a natural result.
ALREADY our Nebraska brethren have decided to hold four camp-meetings this year—at Lexington, Aurora, Fremont, and Beatrice. The dates have not yet been fixed.
JANUARY 27, a church of thirty-eight members was organized at Glendale, Cal., by Brother George W. Reaser, president of Southern California Conference. Eight of these were received by baptism.
IN the Canadian Union Messenger of March 1, Brother W. H. Thurston says that petitions containing about ten thousand signatures had been sent to Parliament protesting against a dominion Sunday law.
WE learn with regret that Brother Allen Moon, president of Lake Union Conference, has been obliged to have a foot amputated, owing to an injury received some time ago and complications arising from a former operation. We are glad to hear, however, that he is recovering, and hope that he will again be able to carry on work with his former vigor.
BROTHER CHAS. H. A. BROOKE, Lighthouse Service, Alcatraz Island, Cal., informs us that he has received 266 copies of our various periodicals as a result of the notice placed in the SIGNS. He is very thankful for them, and will gladly use more. If those sending him papers will give name and address, he will be pleased to send a souvenir card of the island by way of acknowledgement. Address him as above.
BROTHER L. A. ROTH, at Papeete, Tahiti, writes concerning the late disaster in that region, that a terrific windstorm coming from the opposite direction from that of the tidal wave saved much property and possibly many lives. The wind counteracted in great measure the force of the waves. The damages are estimated at $1,000,000. He adds: "We are doing all we can to show the people what the Bible says about these things. . . . Brother and Sister Cady and Brother and Sister Beckner are safe on the island of Huahine. Here, as well as at Raiatea, the storm and tidal wave did not do as much damage as on Tahiti."
