Earlier text: Let Down the NetAt the camp-meeting and conference held at Richmond, Va., from Aug. 24 to Sept. 3, 1911, I was called to the presidency of the Virginia Conference. Leaving Indiana, where I had lived and labored for over eight years, I arrived in Richmond, with my wife and son, on November 1, having on my way attended the General Conference Committee Council and the Columbia Union Conference Committee meeting at Washington, D. C. My time since coming here has been employed in getting settled, and becoming acquainted with the work and its needs throughout the conference. I have visited one third of the churches in the conference, and recently held a council of the conference committee and a number of our workers. During this time our Richmond church building has been undergoing needed repairs and changes, to prepare it for a series of meetings to be held soon. At our council held Dec. 19-21, 1911, many points of vital interest to the cause in Virginia were considered, and plans were laid which I believe will greatly advance the work in this conference during the next few months. Our council was opened with an earnest season of prayer, after which we gave consideration to the question, “How can we revive the rank and file of our people throughout the conference, and make this effort lasting and result in a great awakening in missionary lines?” Several hours were devoted to the consideration of this question. Much instruction was read from the Testimonies, and it was fully decided that this work to be lasting must be educational. We read in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, page 140: “Should all the labor that has been expended on the churches during the past twenty years, be again expended upon them, it would fail, as it has failed in the past, of making the members self-denying, cross-bearing followers of Christ. Many have been overfed with spiritual food, while in the world thousands are perishing for the bread of life. Church-members must work; they must educate themselves.” On page 139 we read: “In every church young men and women should be selected to bear responsibilities. Let them make every effort to qualify themselves.” We also read on page 116: “Those who have the spiritual oversight of the church should devise ways and means by which an opportunity may be given to every member of the church to act some part in God’s work.” “In the closing controversy now waging between the forces for good and the hosts of evil, he expects all, laymen as well as ministers, to take part.” Pages 117, 32, contain the following: “That which is needed now for the upbuilding of our churches is the nice work of wise laborers to discern and develop talent in the church. . . . There should be a well-organized plan. . . . It is training, education, that is needed. Those who labor in visiting the churches should give the brethren and sisters instruction in practical methods of doing missionary work.” “If every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.” “The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church-membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers.” Much might be quoted to the same effect, but this is sufficient to enable us to understand that what is needed now in our churches is not sermonizing nor emotional meetings to bring a happy flight of feeling, leaving the churches to go back to the same low spiritual plane, but practical methods of true missionary work, with instruction as to how to work. Then on the Sabbath let the members relate their experiences, and the testimonies borne will be filled with power. “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 19. We are endeavoring to plan for the carrying out of this instruction. With our scarcity of laborers, and with the effort we had planned for Richmond, we decided to combine our work for the churches at this time with the meetings in Richmond. Two strong efforts will be made for Richmond, beginning about Jan. 20, 1912, one for the white people and one for the colored race. These efforts will be continued three months, and in connection with the services we have planned to hold two gospel medical institutes. We have asked all our churches to select one or more consecrated persons to attend these institutes. The line of work taken up will cover every branch of gospel medical missionary work, and will give those who attend the meetings practical training in active service. We decided to visit at once all our churches in the interest of this and other lines of work. Already about one half of the churches in the conference have been visited, and they are enthusiastic over these plans, and are sending from one to three persons to take the instruction. These individuals will then return to work in their home churches, or wherever they may be called; thus while we are educating twenty-five or thirty workers, they in turn will be helping us in our efforts to do a great work for the people in Richmond. We are confident that God is leading in these plans, and the hearty response we are receiving from our members gives us courage. As we planned for our work, the Spirit of the Lord came very near, and some of our council meetings partook more of the nature of praise meetings than of business meetings. Our laborers are filled with courage for the future work in Virginia. Foreign Mission Band of Walla Walla College
By E. C. Kellogg
IN the fall of 1907, a foreign mission band of twenty-four members was organized. The individuals starting this work had belonged to the Missionary Volunteer Society, and to give more direct consideration to the subjects related to missionary work in foreign fields, the organization was effected. “It is my purpose, if God permits, to become a foreign missionary,” is the declared determination of each member. The Lord is blessing the work. His presence is near in the meetings, which are held every two weeks. A public program is rendered once in three months. The membership has increased to one hundred forty-one. Nineteen are either in foreign fields or under appointment. During the time of preparation for the broader fields, active work is carried on with the foreign population in the immediate vicinity. Several nationalities are accessible and good work is being done. A Mountain School
By Mattie Hamilton Welch
IN response to many requests that I give an occasional report through the columns of the REVIEW, I am glad to write that I am now in my chosen field of labor, among the mountaineers of Virginia. This is surely a needy field, and the harvest is overripe. These dear people have been left in ignorance, and comparatively few can write even their names, while many can not name the capital of their own State. There are forty-four children in this district who are eligible for school. Many of them have never seen a book, and can not tell the name of any State in the Union except their own. They are taught that Virginia is the best place in the world. With this they are content, and do not feel the need of further inquiry. My work for the present will consist in teaching the elementary branches. Many of the parents will attend, and my primer class will indeed be large. There is an old log schoolhouse with no windows, and without facilities necessary in a schoolroom. While waiting for this building to be repaired and put in order, I am going to the different homes and teaching the families. The Bible is seldom read in these mountain homes, and few families know of the soon coming of our Saviour. However, Halley's comet awakened them to a belief that the great Creator of the world is showing signs in the heavens. There is also a feeling of apprehension that a great war will soon begin in which all nations are to take part. I earnestly ask the prayers of my brethren and sisters in the message, that God may use me mightily in this work. One woman, sixty-three years old, asked me how much the tuition would be. When I told her it would be free, she exclaimed, “Then I will come to school, too, and maybe I can learn to read my Bible before I die.” I am hoping that some revival services can soon be held among these people and a church organized. I would be happy to correspond with some of our people, as I am far away from all my relatives. Address me at Stanleyton, Page Co., Va. A Revival: Its Conditions and Hindrances
By R. D. QUINN
On every hand there is felt the need of a great spiritual quickening such as this generation has not seen. Nothing short of this will meet the demands of the hour, and nothing but this will ever satisfy the longing in the hearts of all those who have a clear vision of the work that is to be done. But even while we are praying for a revival, may we not ask ourselves the question, Why is a revival needed? Can we think that when the Lord went away he intended his church to have alternate seasons of depression and revival; to be at times on the high table-lands of purity and power, and again in the lowlands of doubt and discouragement? Let us answer the question by a reference to Israel. When God brought forth his people out of Egypt, did he intend that sometimes they would overcome their enemies, and sometimes their enemies would overcome them? Was it any part of his plan that at certain seasons they would be mightily oppressed by Midianites or Moabites, Philistines or Assyrians?—Certainly not. Whenever those nations came against them and oppressed them, the fault was their very own. The children of Israel had done evil in the sight of the Lord, and yet they generally threw the responsibility back upon God, and mournfully asked, “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” If they were seemingly forsaken for a time, it was because of their disobedience. Ancient Israel had to learn what the church needs to learn to-day,—that God’s very present help depends upon moral and spiritual conditions which we must set ourselves to understand and fulfil. He gave his church in the wilderness the secret of perpetual blessing when he said, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” And he gave the apostolic church the same secret when he said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” More than once in their history, Israel pleaded for a revival without first fulfilling revival conditions. But it was only when they discovered their sin, confessed and forsook it, and turned again to the God of their fathers, that he gave them the desired deliverance. If the Holy Spirit is with the church ungrieved and unhindered, there surely will be full spiritual power; and if there is full spiritual power, what need is there for a revival? If we have not this power, we shall do well to test our experience by the Word of God and find what the hindrance is. Perhaps the answer will at once be found. One great hindrance is a lack of prayer. But this may be only part of the truth. Sometimes it is obeying instead of praying that God is calling for. Instant and perfect obedience to all of God’s requirements is the one supreme condition of entering into the spirit-filled life. As long as Israel served strange gods, and Ashtoreth was among them, it was vain to pray to God for victory over the Philistines. But when they turned to God with all their hearts, and put away their false gods, then God came to their help against the mighty. And so it is to-day. God will not send full spiritual blessings that evils may be put away. Evils must be put away that the fulness of blessing may come. One notable saint of God has said, “Our reception of the Spirit will be in exact proportion to the subjection of the flesh, and the consequent vigor of our inner life.” There are three passages in the Acts of the Apostles which clearly show that the church’s growth is altogether dependent upon her spiritual condition. They are as follows:— “And day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple; and breaking bread at home, they did take their food with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.” Acts 2: 46, 47, R. V. “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, was multiplied.” Acts 9:31. “So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.” Acts 16: 5. R. D. QUINN. Japan Mission Training School
By H. R. S.
We are thankful to receive such an encouraging report of our educational work in Japan as that which follows from Brother H. F. Benson, who is in charge of the school:— “The Japan Mission Training School opened Oct. 23, 1911, with an attendance of eighteen; a number more are planning to come soon, and we expect to have about twenty-five by the middle of next month. All the students expect to enter the work as soon as school closes; in fact, more than half of those in attendance have been in the field during the past summer. Until we get our headquarters located, our school will have to be carried on at a disadvantage. At present the girls are in a rented house, with Miss Cornish in charge, and the boys are living in rented quarters with my wife and myself. The classes meet in Elder W. D. Burden’s house. In many ways this is inconvenient, but we feel constrained to thank the Lord that he has given us such comfortable, though slightly crowded quarters. We could have a school without any buildings, but I believe that all will agree that that would not be the ideal way of conducting educational work. “Heretofore the school has been carried on with the object of training the workers already in the field; and as they could be spared for a short time only, the school has been planned, so as to meet the immediate needs of those attending. This has made it impossible to have a fixed curriculum extending over a definite period of time. However, it has been thought best from this year to adopt a regular course of study, covering a period of three years. “At present we are limiting our19 young people and teachers half of the year in the field,—an effective remedy for institutional inertia. “The Spirit of God is manifestly present with us, and the enthusiastic devotion to preparation for the Lord’s work on the part of the students, is a most encouraging feature of our school. We feel our great need of help when we come before the student body, and realize that we have before us young people that will be called upon to carry the message to Japan’s millions during the most trying period of this world’s history, and that they are looking to us as instruments through whom God is to give them a training for their work. Did we not believe that the Lord had called us to this task, the burden would be too great. “We know that God’s people are praying for the success of the message in Japan; and yet when we see the great need, we are impelled to request your earnest prayers, that our labors may not be hindered by any action of the government, that lack of means may not prevent the filling of every opening in new places, and that above all God may keep his workers fit for his service.” Gospel Workers' Department
By A. G. DANIELLS
Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc. Conducted by A. G. DANIELLS Effectual Sermons
By R. A. Underwood
A SERMON must be drawn from the Word of God and must be full of human sympathy, backed up by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be effectual. A sermon making a display of the man, may cause a sensation, but it disappoints and does not feed the church nor convict of sin. A minister must be possessed with his message; for he can not give to others what he does not have. He must know by experience the way and the power of saving grace, which he offers to his listeners. A successful minister will mingle with the people, that he may know their needs and be able to reach their hearts. The pastor must tread the pathway of innocent childhood and youth, as well as walk in the sterner paths of life; and he must also enter into the infirmities of old age, if he feeds the flock, giving to young and old “meat in due season.” He must know the burdens and the temptations of his people, and the source of power he recommends to those to whom he would bring help. If the servant of God would serve men through his sermons, he must start somewhere and go somewhere, and not wobble about like a dancing toy. The sermon must enlighten and edify the people with truths that will continue to feed the souls in years to come. A man with a message from God will present it in humility and tears, in fearlessness, and with power. Such ministry will bring light and convincing power, and will reach the consciences of men. It is only such a minister of God's Word that the Holy Spirit can use to feed and build up the church of Christ. Christian Education
By H. R. SALISBURY
Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference H. R. SALISBURY . . . . Secretary Choose Ye This Day
By WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
Choose ye this day whom ye will serve,
To-day alone belongs to thee;
Another morn may never rise
Till waking for eternity. On Carmel's mountain prove thy God:
See Sinai and Moriah meet;
Behold the flash of Satan's fall,
And choose the master you would seek. Thy will is sovereign to control
For good or ill thy work to-day,
To build with God or bide with sin,
And 'mid its chaos pass away. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve,
E'en at the dawning choose your king:
Then weave the moments in a crown
To bring at eve as offering. A Call to Medical Workers
By L. A. H.
ONE of the recommendations of the last General Conference Council, on the “Ministry of Healing” work, was the following:—
“We recommend that the Medical Department of the General Conference take an active part in the campaign, urging our sanitariums to join in this earnest endeavor to achieve success, and to impress our people generally with its importance.” It is but reasonable that our medical institutions and workers should engage in a campaign that is especially in behalf of the medical work. The financial need of our sanitariums made this campaign necessary, and the interest of our brethren in this branch of our cause led them to launch the campaign. It is because our people are interested in the medical work that they are helping it, by forwarding this relief movement. Surely, those directly connected with the special object of all this effort should appreciate the privilege of general cooperation thus secured. No one is better situated to present “Ministry of Healing” and the plan of its sale than are the physicians and nurses. An intimate acquaintance with the principles contained in the book, and a personal knowledge of the work it especially represents, should give a preparation for successfully interesting others. The association with the sick and their friends presents excellent opportunity for offering this volume, so well suited to the occasion and the individual. Many are working to this end, and send in good reports of success. Some physicians state that they place the book in the hands of as many patients as possible, and that the results are most gratifying in every way. Only friendly reception is given to this, generally with expression of appreciation for the opportunity to secure such a book. The comfort and cheer contained in it have proved an actual help in physical restoration, bringing courage to the mind and strength to the body. Others have found relief for mental despondency, and have taken a new hold on life. Untold blessings have come to many in a spiritual way. Most interesting and precious experiences of individual cases are reported. Our people will be glad to know that many of our sanitarium workers and others in private field work are responding to the relief call. Some institutions are making constant effort to place these books. Others avail themselves of dull periods to send out nurses to visit the people in their homes, introducing “Ministry of Healing” and presenting the work of the institution, perhaps leaving suitable advertising matter. The results are always good, sometimes securing patients immediately, and nearly always giving the workers a good personal experience by their visits and talks with the people. The Glendale (Cal.) Sanitarium has had a man in charge of the “Ministry of Healing” work for some time, carrying it forward as the seasons permit. The institution has contracted to sell a thousand copies. Dr. C. P. Farnsworth, of the Chamberlain (S. Dak.) Sanitarium, writes that the workers there have succeeded in disposing of a number of books, and that they will continue to do what they can to supply guests with them. The Florida Sanitarium also reports the sale of several copies to patients, the number of which will doubtless be much increased by the present crowded season. The Loma Linda (Cal.) Sanitarium employees carry forward the “Ministry of Healing” work as a regular thing, and are not wearying in the well-doing. It proves a good work for them. The members of the Atlanta (Ga.) Sanitarium family were recently given an opportunity to get out in the city. They returned with good cheer, having sold several books and met with encouraging experiences. The taste of it was good, and they were eager for more20 The workers of the Madison (Wis.) Sanitarium have given considerable attention to the selling of “Ministry of Healing” and Life and Health. It has resulted in openings for further missionary work, and has given the workers an increase of missionary spirit and zeal. “The Nashville (Tenn.) Sanitarium workers made good response to the call for help,” writes Elder C. F. McVagh, president of the union conference, who personally presented the call for the special week’s effort. Other sanitariums and other individuals in field work are doing a share. All through the conferences the good work goes on; books are being sold and read, and as a result people are coming to our sanitariums; money is given to help relieve financial burdens; and workers are enjoying blessings. More work can be done; a larger number of books can be sold, many more persons thus receiving benefit; greater financial help may be secured for institutions; and a richer blessing result to individuals. We are now in the last year of the campaign, and that means an increase of effort on the part of more persons in order to complete the work in the allotted time. The call sounds; will not all respond? Medical Missionary Department
Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference GEORGE THOMASON, M. D. — Secretary L. A. HANSEN — Assistant Secretary The Nameless Saints
By Edward Everett Hale
WHAT was his name? I do not know his name.
I only know he heard God's voice and came,
Brought all he had across the sea
To live and work for God and me;
Felled the ungracious oak;
Dragged from the soil
With horrid toil
The thrice-gnarled roots and stubborn rock;
With plenty piled the haggard mountain-side;
And at the end, without memorial, died.
No blaring trumpets sounded out his fame,
He lived, he died; I do not know his name. No form of bronze and no memorial stones
Show me the place where lie his moldering bones.
Only a cheerful city stands,
Builded by his hardened hands.
Only ten thousand homes
Where every day
The cheerful play
Of love and hope and courage comes.
These are his monument, and these alone.
There is no form of bronze and no memorial stone. And I?
Is there some desert or some pathless sea
Where thou, good God of angels, wilt send me?
Some oak for me to rend? some sod,
Some rock, for me to break?
Some handful of thy corn to take
And scatter far afield,
Till it, in turn, shall yield
Its hundredfold
Of grains of gold
To feed the waiting children of my God?
Show me the desert, Father, or the sea.
Is it thine enterprise? Great God, send me.
And though this body lie where ocean rolls,
Count me among thy faithful souls.
—Edward Everett Hale. The Week of Prayer in Our Schools
By H. R. S.
SINCE the week of prayer, reports from our schools have been coming to me, full of rejoicing because of the victories which were won for Christ in the lives of the students. Prof. O. J. Graf writes:— “I am sure you will be interested to know that the week of prayer has proved one of the best weeks we have ever had in the history of the school. All the students in the dormitories except one have taken their stand on the Lord’s side, and in the entire school there were only four who did not decide for Christ. We are surely thankful for this. Wednesday night practically every one in the room made a complete surrender to the Lord. Our week of prayer closed with great power.” In a letter, Prof. M. E. Cady says: “I divided the week of prayer season between two of our intermediate schools—Thatuna Academy and North Yakima Valley Intermediate School. We had excellent meetings, and the Lord came in and blessed abundantly, many yielding their hearts to the Lord for the first time. I hear good reports throughout the Northwest, from the week of prayer. I believe that everywhere in the world our people are feeling the need of drawing nearer to the Lord, and of having a deeper Christian experience than ever before; for it is needed in the finishing of the work.” From Union College comes this encouraging report, through Brother Meade MacGuire: “Doubtless you have heard from Union College, where I spent the week of prayer. The Lord certainly worked many miracles upon the hearts of those who had long resisted his grace. Some way I feel that there is a general spiritual awakening among our schools.” The Power of High Thinking
We become largely what we think we want to be. High thinking leads to high aiming. If we think great things long enough and hard enough, some day we are likely to do them.—Selected. Encouraging Progress in North Carolina
By W. E. Lanier
God has wonderfully blessed our efforts during the year, for which our hearts swell with gratitude. By the time this reaches the readers, nearly, if not all our canvassers will have completed their deliveries for the year. The present outlook is that we shall have passed all previous records for this conference by twenty to twenty-five per cent, and that, too, in the face of many obstacles. At the time we were taking the orders, the country was experiencing a severe drought. It is true that the farmers were successful in raising a good crop of cotton, nevertheless the unexpected drop in the price of this article has made our deliveries difficult. Notwithstanding all these difficulties, with about the same number of canvassers as last year, we shall have augmented last year's sales by $2,000 to $2,500. We can but exclaim, “See what God hath wrought!” We have four canvassers who will have delivered nearly $6,000 worth of books, exclusive of Bibles. We do not write these things to boast of what we have done, but to show what God, through us, has done. He has said that the canvassing work should be revived. To-day we see that revival accomplished. We appeal to others to join us in this great work. “Soon autumn will close the golden gate;” but to-day you can work for the Master, and he says that “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” A Courageous Canvasser
By E. W. Farnsworth
The importance of placing our literature in the homes of the people can not be overestimated. The faithful canvasser who leaves home and friends to carry the message, meets difficulties and real hardship, yet he finds God’s grace sufficient; and the great reward when the work is done, outweighs every obstacle. One lad, a student from one of our schools who has been canvassing in the country during the summer, with excellent success, writes this of his experiences:— “It rained Monday and all of Tuesday, so my fellow worker and I remained together till Wednesday, when we separated. It certainly takes the life out of a canvasser to be cheated of half a week on the start. “One night we slept in a caboose, after wading mud and sloughs in the dark, while the rain was falling. Another night we went to the schoolhouse, built a fire, and stayed all night, sleeping on the rostrum. No supper, no breakfast, so we felt hungry. After dinner Wednesday, we started out canvassing. Report for Wednesday and Thursday was eighteen hours’ work, thirty-four exhibitions, and twenty-two orders; value $53. Friday I put in eight hours, making sixteen exhibitions, and taking eleven orders, $28.25. God certainly helped me while I was at work; and even though the farmers are looking rather glum and dubious, I keep right on smiling and taking orders. “One day I was told that I could not sell a book at the next house, but decided to go there and get dinner anyway. A creek ran through the farm, right across the road; and as there was no bridge, I walked through it. I found the young man, who was a bachelor, at home, and very glad to see me, as nobody had called to see him for two weeks. After showing him my book, he began to tremble lest he did not have a pen with which to write his name in the order-book. Of course, I lent him mine, and then had dinner, too. “Friday at noon a dense mist formed, so I could not see from house to house, and the nearest one was two miles away. I set out, going over a mile when I stopped to listen. Soon a cock crowed in the distance, and I made out to find its owner. He gave me dinner and purchased a book. Then I went across the road to a man to whom, I had been told, it would be very hard to sell a book, but he was glad to get one. At the next house I secured two half-leather orders; so orders came all the way. “I shall soon reach the mark I have long aspired to. I have taken orders amounting to $1,471; and if all goes well, next week I shall have over $1,500 for the summer’s work. I long for some of the good meetings at the college, and I hope to be there some time.” All honor to the brave, aspiring canvasser. We ought to pray for more of this kind, and then our petitions should follow them to the field, that God will crown their labors with success. Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press —The attempt to restore the sale of beer to soldiers of the United States army, through the canteen, or army post store, is to be renewed in the present session of Congress. —Rear-Admiral Robley D. Evans, familiarly known as “Fighting Bob” Evans, died suddenly at his home in Washington, D. C., on the afternoon of Jan. 3, 1912. Acute indigestion ended the career of one of the most popular officers in the navy. He was ill less than two hours. —The biggest foreign mail that ever came into New York on one steamship arrived Dec. 14, 1911, on the “Oceanic.” She brought 5,850 sacks, containing 1,500,000 letters and parcels. The next highest record is held by the steamship “St. Louis,” which brought to New York on Dec. 23, 1910, 5,500 sacks.21 —In New York the police arrest, on an average, forty-eight men every day who declare they have no occupation. —Thirty-five lynchings, known to be such beyond doubt, occurred in the United States in 1911. In previous years the number has been much larger, 47 having been recorded in 1910 and 57 in 1909. —One burglary, highway robbery, or case of pocket-picking for each hour of the 24, is Chicago’s current record. Probably as many more never are reported. The loot ranges from 50 cents to $600. —A writer in the Southern Workman reports that the total number of reindeer in Arctic Alaska is now nearly 23,000, a remarkable showing when one remembers how short a time has elapsed since the government established the first herds in that territory. —President Taft has adopted the plan of sending to Congress a series of messages, each dealing with but one topic, instead of one long message dealing with many subjects. The first of the series discussed the trust problem, the second was devoted to foreign affairs. —The gold production of the United States during 1911 was $96,233,528, and the silver production 57,796,117 ounces, according to a preliminary estimate issued Dec. 30, 1911, by George E. Roberts, director of the mint. This is a reduction in gold of about $45,000, and in silver of about 660,000 ounces as compared with the returns for 1910. —The naval council of Japan has estimated an expenditure of $200,000,000 as necessary to supply that country with the proper equipment of war-ships and guns between now and 1917. Seven battle-ships of the dreadnaught class are to be constructed, and in five years Japan expects to have practically a new navy which will be of a thoroughly modern type. —There was an increase between the years 1904 and 1910 of 37,303, or 24.8 per cent, in the number of insane persons confined in the 372 institutions in the United States canvassed by the Census Bureau. This fact was disclosed in a bulletin made public by the bureau recently. The number of insane persons in these institutions on Jan. 1, 1910, was 187,454. —In ten years the orange crop of California has increased 145 per cent, while the lemon crop has made a gain of 210 per cent. During the same period the orange crop of Florida increased sixteenfold and the lemon crop fourfold. California produced 14,436,000 boxes of oranges, and 2,156,000 boxes of lemons in the last year of the decade; Florida, 4,853,000 boxes of oranges, and 12,367 boxes of lemons in the same year. —Smith and Myrtle islands, comprising an ocean-swept domain of 4,038 acres, opposite Cape Charles, have, after a lapse of 150 years or more, passed out of the ownership of the famous Lee family, of Virginia, into the hands of Oliver S. Campbell, of New York. The transfer of this estate marks the passing of another of the large properties formerly included in the estate of Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate forces. —Mongolia, which almost equals China proper in size, was proclaimed independent Dec. 28, 1911, simultaneously with the cutting off from China of the vast dependency of Turkestan. Both will pass under Russian influence, and will practically become Russian protectorates. Russia at any time will be able to annex them. A grand khan will be named as monarch of Mongolia. The construction of the trans-Mongolian railway, for which Russia has long sought permission from China, will now be only a matter of time. —“A total of forty battle-ships, with a proportionate number of other fighting and auxiliary vessels, is the least that will place our country on a safe basis in its relations with other world powers.” This is a sentence from the annual report of the Secretary of the Navy. He adds that while at least two of the other powers have more ambitious building plans, it is believed that if we maintain an efficient fleet of the size mentioned, we shall be safe from attack, and that our country will be free to work out its destiny in peace and without hindrance. —So wide-spread has become forgery in the United States, and so great have been the losses within the last twelve months, that companies issuing forgery insurance have adopted the most stringent restrictions in issuing policies. Albert S. Osborn, an expert on handwriting, estimates that the losses totaled $15,000,000 through checks and drafts alone during 1911. The chief new restriction is that the bank insured shall not open an account with any one not known personally to an officer or director, or whose integrity is not vouched for by a depositor. —A report issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the number of persons killed and injured by the railroads of the United States in the year which ended June 30 last, shows that the total number of casualties for the year was 160,555—10,396 killed and 150,159 injured. The killed number thirty a day, or more than one an hour. Of this total, 439 were killed and 79,237 injured in accidents classed as industrial, which do not involve the movement of cars or engines on rails. During the year 5,287 persons were killed and 5,614 injured while walking on the tracks or stealing rides on trains. —In these days of but temporarily relieved tension between Germany and England, there is no more zealously guarded or more curiously regarded spot in the empire than Spandau citadel on the Havel. For in the dark red, looming, medieval-crenelated Julius Tower of that citadel, there lies the famous “Reichskriegsschatz,” or “imperial war treasure,” which is the only hoard of its kind in the world. The treasure originated in the reign of Frederick William I of Prussia. It was not so much then; but when, after the Franco-Prussian war, Germany became an empire, a law was passed that $30,000,000 should be taken out of the French milliards and forever locked away as a war treasure. The law of the imperial war treasure is that “it can only be used for the purpose of mobilization,” and then only under imperial decree with the consent, preliminary or subsequent, of the Bundesrath and Reichsrath. —A firm of lawyers engaged by a daily paper to assist victims of salary loan companies in New York City, during three months settled three hundred cases for persons who had been in the clutches of the loan-sharks for from six months to five years. The comparison of the total principal borrowed by these persons with the interest they agreed to pay, showed that they were being charged one hundred eighty per cent for their money. In nearly all the cases the original loans were obtained for burial expenses or doctors’ fees. —The prospective union of the five republics of Central America, with President Estrada Cabrera of Guatemala as president of the confederation, has been coldly received by Salvador, and violently opposed by Costa Rica. However, a special envoy from Costa Rica arrived in Guatemala early in November with the object of smoothing away the difficulties by diplomatic maneuvers. The five republics became a part of Mexico in 1822, as the supposed result of a general election. Three years later they broke away and formed the United Provinces of Central America. The confederacy lasted eighteen years. Since its dissolution frequent attempts have been made to revive it. Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference N. Z. TOWN — Assistant Secretary Success in the Orkneys
By N. Z. T.
DURING the last summer vacation, twenty-eight canvassers worked in the Orkney Islands north of Scotland, with “Great Controversy.” They succeeded in placing 518 copies of the book in those islands, amounting to $960. So the good work goes forward, even in the out-of-the-way places. Good Word From New Zealand
By N. Z. T.
At the beginning of 1911, the canvassers in New Zealand planned to place 10,000 copies of “Great Controversy” in that field during the year. Up to May 31, they had secured 5,211 orders for this book. The general agent reports that their deliveries have been the best they have ever had. Out of one shipment of 810 copies of “Great Controversy” which the agent received, they delivered 784 books. We rejoice with our New Zealand brethren over the splendid success which their canvassers are having.