Earlier text: VenezuelaWork for the Colored
By C. B. Stephenson
Special Collection on March 6
At the fall council, action was taken to authorize a special collection to be taken in the Division Conference for our school for the colored people. The date for this collection has been fixed as March 6. The purpose of this collection is to secure funds with which to provide a girls' dormitory at the Oakwood Manual16 Training School, Huntsville, Ala. The old plantation building, with a small addition, has been used for this purpose. The original building is about one hundred years old, and the plan is not suitable for dormitory purposes. It was voted by the school board last fall to request the Division Conference, at its fall council, to make an appropriation of six thousand dollars for the erection of a girls' dormitory. The council granted this request by authorizing the collection already mentioned. It will very likely require more than six thousand dollars to provide the accommodations that we should have to meet the demands of a growing institution. We shall be glad to receive this amount, and shall make the very best use of it. The rough lumber can be sawed by the little mill connected with the school farm. The Oakwood Manual Training School is located six miles from Huntsville, Ala. The farm is composed of about three hundred acres, most of which is under cultivation. This school has grown in favor and usefulness from the first. At the present time there is a large enrollment of bright men and women, in training for service for God. About seventy-five per cent of the colored workers in the United States have had more or less training in this school. Ministers, Bible workers, teachers, and nurses are to be found scattered all through the South especially, and quite a number in the North, who owe their training to this school, which is the only institution of its kind operated by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. We are largely dependent upon this school for workers to carry the message to eleven millions of Negroes in the United States. It is a fact well known to all who have had experience in the evangelizing of this race that the colored man is the most efficient minister to his race. In order to give the students the advantage and comforts needed, we must provide a better school home for them. It is desired by the board that on March 6 all the churches avail themselves of the blessing, and make this collection equal to the amount needed. Will not every one who reads this article lift his heart to God in prayer for a sympathetic and responsive spirit? I am sure we could not place our surplus means to better advantage. The hands of this long-neglected race are extended to us for help. Remember the date, Sabbath, March 6. Secretary of the Department. MRS. O. A. OLSEN
By Mrs. O. A. Olsen
MY DEAR BRETHREN, SISTERS, AND FRIENDS: I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks for the kind, sympathizing letters sent to me and my sons; they have been a great blessing and comfort to me in raising me above my sorrow and grief in this hour of bereavement. May the Lord bless you all and reward you for these great kindnesses to us is my earnest prayer. City Work in San Francisco
By J. W. McCord
FULLY one hundred persons in San Francisco have recently begun the observance of the Sabbath. Seventy of these have already been baptized, and the others will soon be ready for that step. This is the Lord's work during 1914, through one company of workers in San Francisco, and we rejoice to have had a part in it. As 1915 is the year of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, we are praying and planning for greater results, and to this end we earnestly ask for the prayers and help of our people everywhere. Our company consists of Elder R. S. Fries, my associate in preaching; Elder Taphouse, a veteran in Bible workers; and Brother Ferry, who takes care of the hall and also does good service as usher. As we cannot use tents to advantage in San Francisco because of high winds and fog, we are obliged to labor entirely in halls and store buildings. This makes our work in this city somewhat costly, and to some degree less attractive. However, we are not discouraged by any means, but purpose by the grace of God to do our best with conditions as we find them. Of these one hundred new Sabbath keepers, seventy-two came out during our last series of meetings on Fillmore Street. Fifty-eight of these have already been baptized, and others will soon follow. The Fillmore Street series was excellent in every way. Our hall seated nearly three hundred, and frequently we had to turn many persons away. We had a service each evening for fourteen weeks and one day, and the attendance averaged fully 250 each night for the entire period. The expense of this series amounted to $695, and the donations for the same time amounted to $720, leaving a surplus of $25. We gave away thousands of tracts and papers, and sold $150 worth of books. One of the many things we city workers in San Francisco are thankful for is the steady cooperation that exists between the workers and the churches. This team work is a source of great encouragement to us, and also, we believe, to them. In closing this report, perhaps it would be wise to mention a few cases as samples of the Lord's work in reaching sinners during the Fillmore Street series. Brother Hines is a shoemaker, and a few years ago he owned a large downtown shoe store in San Francisco. He lost everything, however, through drink. A few nights ago I noticed that he seemed somewhat penitent, and asked the reason. He looked up in my face with tears in his eyes and said, “I was just thinking how the Lord has kept me from touching strong drink for four months.” Brother McDougall is a young Irishman, who, with his wife, sister, and cousin, also accepted present truth at this time. Brother McDougall was under deep conviction. For five months he had been vainly looking for work, and a few days after his conversion he obtained employment. A few days later the Sabbath was explained from the pulpit, but his employer would not allow him to keep it. This young man gave up his work at once, and within three days secured work where he could keep the Sabbath. Sister Ruggles had been a Spiritualist. She had often seen lights in the sky, and even Satan himself had appeared to her in different forms. Night after night in her bedroom, apparently deadly combats took place between so-called good spirits and bad ones. She was told that the good spirits were there to defend her, and she fully believed them. This woman was truly possessed of demons, and became so bad that her relatives finally had her placed in an insane asylum. She remained there for two years, and the spirits told her the very day and hour when she would be set free. This came to pass exactly as these spirits had told her, and she was liberated. Later she came to San Francisco and attended our meetings on Fillmore Street. She invited us to her home, and after weeks of patient labor the Lord set the captive free. She is now happy in the service of the Lord. These are but samples of the Lord's work in this wicked city, and they make us rejoice to have a part, however humble, in this closing work. We are now about to close another successful effort in San Francisco. This, however, is another story, and properly belongs to the next report. FROM January 7 to 13 a meeting of the Cuban workers was held in Santa Clara. At the same time Brother A. U. Cochran, the general agent of Cuba, and Brother C. F. Innis conducted a colporteurs’ institute with the young people who are taking up canvassing work this year. During the four previous months Mrs. S. H. Carnahan and her daughter had conducted a little training school for the young people in Cuba. They had in attendance about twelve who were preparing for service in the Master’s vineyard. The school closed with the colporteurs’ institute, and these young people are now in the field. Mrs. Carnahan is located in the city of Havana, with seven of the young ladies who were in the school. They are all canvassing for our large books. During the days we were together the Cuban Mission Committee spent some time considering questions relating to the work in Cuba, and planning for its future. As Brother Carnahan wished to17 be relieved of the work of secretary and treasurer of the mission, Mrs. C. F. Innis was chosen to take his place. Brother and Sister Carnahan will return to San Claudio, in the west end of the island, where they formerly conducted a small school, and where they have a school property consisting of four acres of land, and a house that will accommodate from twelve to fifteen students, free from debt. Brother and Sister J. E. Anderson will continue their evangelical work in the city of Havana this year, and Sister Grace White and Mrs. A. F. Burgos will do Bible work in the cities of Santa Clara and Santiago. Elder A. N. Allen plans to begin a series of meetings soon in an English-speaking colony. These meetings will be held in San Marcos, where he is living. Elder H. C. Goodrich is carrying on evangelical work on the Isle of Pines. The committee planned for another term of school of four months for the Cuban young people, beginning in September. The Lord has greatly blessed the colporteur work in Cuba. During 1914 over $6,000 worth of books were sold and delivered. As the sugar cane is bringing a good price this year, times are good on the island, and the workers are expecting to show a better record for 1915 than for 1914. Brother Herbert Mould, who has been attending the College in Washington, will soon join the force of workers in Cuba. Elder Allen, the superintendent, in his annual report told of several places where there are people interested in the truth, and where there is a good prospect of raising up companies. Notwithstanding that the force of evangelical workers in Cuba is small, we are looking for a good harvest of souls during 1915. Let us not forget to pray for the work and workers in Cuba. ELDER WM. STEELE sends the following interesting items regarding the work in Porto Rico during 1914:— “We have just made up our yearly report for 1914, and we are greatly encouraged when we see how the Lord has blessed us during the year. The total value of books delivered by our colporteurs during the year was $6,304.52; amount received on subscriptions to papers, $1,702.21; total, $8,066.73. This is over $2,000 more than the goal set at our institute in January. Certainly the Lord has been good to us. We hope to do equally well during 1915. “Our Sabbath school offerings during the year amounted to a little more than 15 cents a week per member. We are glad that we can have a place on the honor roll. Our tithe lacked only a few cents of $1,200, which is an increase over 1913. We had an excellent week of prayer. The Lord’s good Spirit came in, and the brethren are stirred as never before. “In the town of Moca, where Brother Moon and I have been holding meetings, a small company has been raised up, and this month Brother Moon expects to build a chapel there. The town council of Moca promised to give our doctor the medical work of the municipality if we would send one there. The doctor could look after the spiritual welfare of the people as well as heal the sick, and would have an unlimited field for missionary work. The city pays $50 monthly for such services.” Ministerial Reading Course
By W. E. HOWELL
The month of January has been a very active one among our readers and in our office. The reporting and recording of books completed in the course for 1914, the issuing of credit cards, making up the roll of charter members, and the registering of readers for the new course in 1915, have marked the very busy but very enjoyable activities of the month. Up to the evening of January 31, our records show the following results:— Number of readers who have completed the course for 1914, received their credit card, and are now listed on our roll of charter members . . . . . 170 Number of 1914 readers who have reported on two books completed . . . . 73 Number of 1914 readers who have reported on one book completed . . . . 84 Number of 1914 readers who have not reported at all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 Number of readers with paid-up registry for 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 This report is most encouraging, yet far from what it might be and ought to be. Doubtless a large number of those who have not reported have done the reading. May we not hear from all such at once? There are many who by a little extra effort could finish the reading for 1914, and report accordingly. Let us accomplish what we set out to do. Believing that all the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD would be interested to see how our roll of charter members makes up to the end of January, we present it herewith. It is not yet too late for our 1914 readers to have their names added to this roll. In consideration of the fact that the course was a little late in starting last year, and that this is our first general effort to conduct such a course, all who complete the reading for 1914 by March 31 and report to us promptly will be listed as charter members. The registration for the new year is making a steady increase daily. We regret that war conditions delayed us somewhat in filling orders for the first book, but we now have an ample supply on hand to fill orders promptly. The course is open to ministers and gospel workers of every class. Send for a registration blank, addressing General Conference Department of Education, Takoma Park, D. C. General Conference Ministerial Reading Course to Jan. 31, 1915
C. L. Benson, S. N. Haskell, N. Z. Town. NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION CONFERENCE
W. W. Eastman, I. A. Ford, S. Mortenson, O. A. Olsen. ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE
Greater New York: E. L. Cardey, John Sivak. Northern New England: F. W. Stray (president). Massachusetts: C. H. Castle, J. K. Jones. Western New York: M. W. De L'horbe, D. P. Gaede. Southern New England: Mrs. R. Gemberling. Colorado: Marvin Chaffee, J. S. Kilgore, H. M. S. Richards. Kansas: A. B. Campbell, Ellis A. Morey, W. L. Nott, J. E. Welch. Western Colorado: E. A. Curtis (president), Ray N. Studt. Wyoming: N. T. Sutton (president), H. E. Reeder. Nebraska: D. U. Hale (president), E. L. Cook, S. D. Hartwell, M. N. Heligso, Fred Johnson, G. S. Livingston, L. B. Porter, Geo. J. Seltzer. COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
Eastern Pennsylvania: H. M. J. Richards (president), T. H. Branch, Howard J. Detwiler, Harry M. Minier, Grant Priddy, Luella B. Priddy. District of Columbia: Ruby Owen. West Pennsylvania: F. H. Robbins (president), B. F. Kneeland. New Jersey: G. Mediary, S. S. Shrock. Chesapeake: J. H. Wierts. Virginia: W. E. Bidwell, L. L. French, L. O. Gordon, J. B. Mallory. Ohio: N. B. Underwood, G. E. Wales, Mrs. G. E. Wales. East Michigan: A. H. McCauley, Thos. W. Steen. Indiana: J. S. Davis, H. M. Kelley, E. R. Lauda, C. N. Sanders, W. A. Young. Northern Illinois: John E. Hanson, Adolph Johnson, H. P. Waldo. Southern Illinois: A. J. Clark (president), E. F. Ferris, R. J. Nethery. North Michigan: J. J. Irwin (president), E. F. Peterson. West Michigan: Clinton W. Lee, D. Williams. Wisconsin: W. H. Thurston (president), John Hoffman. NORTHERN UNION CONFERENCE
Chas. Thompson (president), M. B. Van Kirk. Iowa: A. R. Ogden (president), J. W. Beams, H. P. Gray, O. J. Nerlund, H. Rorholm. South Dakota: P. A. Field, E. G. Hayes, C. H. Miller. Minnesota: S. A. Ruskjer, Carl Svenson. North Dakota: R. T. Nash. NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
Montana: W. P. Dingley, D. H. Hanson, Paul Iverson. Southern Idaho: J. J. Nethery (president), W. L. Killen. Southern Oregon: R. W. Airey. Western Oregon: I. G. Knight, J. M. Meiklejohn. Western Washington: L. Johnson (president). Upper Columbia: F. A. Bower, B. J. Cady, A. F. Mascher, I. C. Schmidt, Emma Wilkinson, W. Woodford. Arizona: J. E. Bond (president), L. E. H. Birch, G. A. Roberts. Northern California: J. W. Rich, A. J. Osborne. California: Andrew Brorsen, Andrew Nelson. Southern California: Mrs. A. C. Bainbridge. SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Cumberland: C. R. Magoon. Florida: A. P. Palmquist, B. W. Spire. Georgia: H. Pannkoke, J. W. Willeford. North Carolina: J. O. Johnston, U. D. Pickard. South Carolina: J. L. Shuler (president). SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE
Kentucky: B. W. Brown (president), O. A. Dow, Mrs. O. A. Dow, Mrs. J. W. Ford, W. H. White. Mississippi: A. C. Chatman. Alabama: A. L. Miller (president), M. L. Wilson. Tennessee River: J. W. Norwood. SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Geo. F. Watson (president). Arkansas: W. E. Baxter (president), U. B. Dake, J. T. Jacobs. North Texas: J. I. Taylor (president), W. A. Sweany, Mrs. G. F. Watson.18 New Mexico: J. W. Phillips, M. R. Proctor. South Texas: R. L. Bradford, J. B. Hampton, H. F. Neuman. Oklahoma: John Isaac (president), W. R. Hanson, N. R. Hickman, John Howard, Otto E. Wertz. West Texas: C. J. Buhalts (president). EASTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE
Quebec: A. V. Olson (president). Maritime: Geo. H. Skinner. WESTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE
Alberta: Harry Johnson, H. A. Niergarth. Saskatchewan: A. C. Gilbert (president). WEST INDIAN UNION CONFERENCE
A. J. Haysmer (president). Jamaica: E. C. Boger (president). South Caribbean: C. E. Boynton, M. B. Butterfield, Frank Hall, E. A. Muller, E. C. Widgery. West Caribbean: J. A. Reid. SCANDINAVIAN UNION CONFERENCE
Swedish Conference: Chas. Kahlstrom. Irish Mission: W. E. Read. Portuguese Mission: C. E. Rentfro (director). G. W. Pettit (assistant superintendent). J. B. Stuyvesant (superintendent). PHILIPPINE ISLANDS MISSION