MEN on earth are to learn their duty as fathers from the great and first Model of fatherhood. He provided for his children, and this is a father's first and incumbent duty. Provision implies protection, instruction. Some fathers ignorantly excuse themselves from teaching, with the plea that teaching cannot begin before the capacity to learn, not thinking that the capacity begins even at birth. As soon as the eye opens, it begins to observe. It distinguishes between light and darkness, and soon knows the difference between looks of love and anger. Smiles attract, while frowns repel. A mother often draws to her embrace the babe whom its father's frown repels. Children learn much before they utter words. Let fathers teach their young children the sweetness of love, by their treatment of the mother. Rudeness, anger, neglect by the husband, teach similar conduct by the children to the mother. Some parents seem to think that their whole responsibility is met when they send the children to the infant school, without inquiring about the efficiency of the teachers.
How deeply impressed I was, when quite a little child, not only by being taken into a quiet room with my mother every day when she prayed for me, but by standing outside at her room door and hearing her pray, and wondering at her thus talking with an unseen God and asking his blessing. A parent not known by a child to pray is really a lesson on not praying. Can I ever forget entering unexpectedly early in the morning into my father's room, and finding him on his knees before God? Did not we children, while still young enough for an infant school, thus receive lessons in early piety, sermons without words, but indelibly impressive? I could never think of my parents in after years apart from their habitual communion with God. If parents are prayerless, can they expect their children to grow up otherwise? Such prayer should not be that of mere stated form, but language of the heart suited to the circumstances of every day. Thus teach young children to ask for what they need, and seek help both for themselves and for their parents with them.
The duty of truthfulness in speech should be lovingly enforced. Children are often careless in their statements, apparently indifferent whether or not what they say is actually in harmony with facts. They tell falsehoods without knowing it. A lie is something which they have learned to hate and condemn, without considering that whatever is said intentionally to mislead is disgraceful and is a lie. In daily life how many falsehoods are uttered as if harmless, excused as the usages of society, as the sport of conversation, and afterward in the daily business of life, as the necessity of trade, and permitted by the customs of commerce. Thus it comes to pass that in many business transactions “yes” and “no” are words hastily uttered, which convey and are intended to convey a meaning contrary to the reality. How much of the crimes of business result from the habits of untruth acquired in childhood, and not condemned by fathers!
Honesty is intimately associated with truthfulness. The eagerness for gain is easily aided by departure from truth. “It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer,” when he desires to obtain an article at a less price than it is worth. Very often the dishonesty is gloried in rather than condemned. So also in selling. The value of the article is declared greater than its real worth, and the extra price obtained by the lie is regarded as the lawful prize of sharpness. It is to be feared that in most buying and selling there is deliberate lying. This is considered by many dealers as of no consequence in little things, while in large matters it may cause absolute ruin or enormous wealth. If fathers would avoid helping their boys to develop in after years into creators of guilty wealth or of widespread ruin, let them be taught in early years to abhor lying and cheating. Similar hints might be suggested respecting industry and indolence.
There are mysteries in the physical frame which cannot easily be explained to the young, which it is impossible to conceal. Is it right to disguise or hide them altogether? Will not the young ask questions most natural for them to ask, and important for them to know in order to behave themselves aright? If children are reproved for asking such questions, will not the same questions be asked from others not so able or so safely to be trusted? Some parents resort to fiction, and invent fables and fancies which are sure to be discovered and unraveled, and thus do great harm when the youths discover that they have been deceived. Will not the truth of facts, soberly and solemnly explained, be more conducive to purity, both in themselves and toward others, than any stern repression or any falsified delusion?
This course will be made easy if in regard to all other subjects there is diligence in explanation. Children from the first ask questions: “How?” “When?” “Why?” Tell as plainly as their child minds can comprehend the origin of plants, the growth of seeds, the development of birds, the progress of nature in all its operations, and the mysteries connected with our own physical nature will greatly diminish; that is, will cease to seem so different from everything else.
At the age of eighty-five, looking back on a long experience of fathers and children in many families, there are hints I feel disposed to add which might prove more or less commendable or useful, but my space is already occupied. A parent's chief duty and endeavor should be to bring up his children as children of God, and therefore to cultivate the divine life. But there is danger lest external forms should take the place of religion itself. A child may be drilled into the attitudes and forms which look like real piety, but injuriously exclude it by the outward show of it. Better the real beating of the young heart toward God than any amount of mere pretense.
Be careful of the conversation you encourage in their presence. Never make game of religion or religious people. Do not ridicule or censure people who may belong to some other church or denomination. Treat all who love God and wish to live godly lives as, with themselves, sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty. Try to teach them that all belong to the same family of heaven who try to serve and please God. Tell them that in after years they may learn what these differences mean, but that meanwhile we must love them all as children of God. Let them, above all things else, try in everything to please their Heavenly Father, and so best to give joy12to yourselves. Let not your prevailing topic of discourse be social quarrels or commercial schemes or the gain or loss of money, but the fear of God, which is “better than riches,” “and the gain thereof than fine gold.”—Newman Hall.
They Two
THEY are left alone in the dear old home,
After so many years
When the house was full of frolic and fun,
Of childish laughter and tears.
They are left alone! they two—once more!
Beginning life over again,
Just as they did in the days of yore,
Before they were nine or ten.
And the table is set for two these days;
The children went one by one,
Away from home on their separate ways,
When the childhood days were done.
How healthily hungry they used to be!
What romping they used to do!
And mother—for weeping—can hardly see
To set the table for two.
They used to gather around the fire
While some one would read aloud;
But whether at study or work or play,
'Twas a loving and merry crowd.
And now they are two that gather there
At evening to read or sew,
And it seems almost too much to bear
When they think of the long ago.
Ah well! ah well! 'tis the way of the world!
Children stay but a little while,
And then into other scenes are whirled,
Where other homes beguile.
But it matters not how far they roam,
Their hearts are fond and true,
And there's never a home like the dear old home,
Where the table is set for two.
—Selected.
The Care of the Skin
By John Harvey Kellogg
J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.
THE outer covering of the body is remarkably adapted to its protection. When viewed with a microscope, its surface is found to be made up of several layers of horny scales, which form a protective layer that is a poor conductor of heat and electricity, but affords a considerable degree of resistance to the entrance of foreign bodies, the bites of insects, and the introduction of poisons. It also protects against the entrance of germs. Beneath this layer are found the active portions of the skin, glands, nerves, and blood vessels, by which are performed the various functions that are carried on by this remarkable organ.
Of the glands, there are two kinds; we may, perhaps, say three. They are the perspiratory, or sweat, glands, consisting of a long tube leading from the surface to the deeper layers of the skin, ending in a little coil. The walls of these tubes are filled with blood vessels. The number of sweat glands in the skin has been estimated to be two and one-half million, and the walls of their tubes, if spread out, would cover a surface of ten or eleven thousand square feet. These glands secrete water containing salt and various waste substances. Under certain conditions, the sweat may also contain a slight amount of acid. Under ordinary conditions these glands pour out perspiration upon the skin at the rate of about one and one-half ounces an hour. Heat and exercise may increase their activity to more than forty times that amount. It is even possible for a person to perspire one fifth of his weight in twenty-four hours.
There are found in the skin small glands which secrete fat. This is poured out upon the skin as a protective measure. Probably to some extent the fat glands also act as purifiers of the blood, by removing wastes.
Here and there in the skin are found little pockets, from which grow the hairs.
The skin is very rich in blood vessels, the capillaries of which, by a peculiar arrangement, are made to lie between bands of muscular tissue. These, under some circumstances, are able to contract and compress the vessels in such a way as nearly to empty them.
The Temperature Nerves
The skin is a most remarkable structure in the large number and variety of the nerves which it contains. It receives special nerves for its glands, others for its blood vessels, nerves which appreciate pain, pressure nerves, the tactile nerves, which enable one to recognize the location of any part which is touched, and the temperature nerves of two kinds — the so-called hot and cold nerves. In all, there are at least seven or eight different kinds of nerves in the skin alone. By the aid of the temperature nerves, the skin becomes, like the eye, an organ by which it is possible to recognize light. The skin may, in a certain sense, be considered an extended eye. Some lower animals possess no other eyes than their skins, which are, however, extremely sensitive to light. This function of the skin is quite generally overlooked. Its importance can scarcely be appreciated until we have learned something more of the nature of light, one of the most wonderful of all the forces with which we are daily in contact. A word further, however, in reference to the thermic, or temperature, nerves.
There are two kinds of temperature nerves, which can be easily determined by touching the skin with hot and cold points. It will be found that the hot points are felt at certain places, and the cold points at certain other places. Those parts of the skin which are sensitive to cold are not sensitive to heat, and vice versa. These hot and cold areas are, of course, very small, and can only be detected by very careful observation. The information communicated by the thermic nerves is relative rather than positive. An object is felt as cold when it has a lower temperature than the skin, or some other object which has just before been in contact with the skin. In this way, one hand may be made to report an object as warm, while the other hand reports it as cool or cold. Very hot and very cold objects are not felt as such, but give rise to impressions of pain. Temperatures near that of the body are said to be neutral, because they do not stimulate either the hot or the cold nerves. The skin is more sensitive to cold than to heat, and cold is more quickly felt than heat. Objects that are good conductors, and so transmit heat to the skin or withdraw heat from it, rapidly feel warmer or colder than other objects whose temperature is the same, but which are not good conductors of heat. The temperature sense becomes quickly fatigued. It is for this reason that water which is so cold or so hot as to be at first painful, after a few seconds can be readily tolerated.
Light, and Its Effect upon the Skin
Modern researches have shown that a sunbeam contains at least three different kinds of light rays; namely, heat rays, luminous rays, and chemical rays. When the ray of light is decomposed by a prism, as seen in the rainbow, the heat rays are found chiefly in the red portion, the luminous rays in the yellow portion, while the chemical rays have a violet color. There are also invisible heat rays and invisible chemical rays. All these different rays act upon the body through the skin, but in different ways. The thermic nerves are especially stimulated by the luminous and heat rays. The chemical rays without doubt act upon other nerves. So-called “sunburn” is produced by excessive action of the chemical rays, and is an inflammation rather than a burn. The browning of the skin produced by exposure to the sun is due to the action of the chemical rays. These are also the rays that are useful to the body photographer. For though invisible to the human eye, these rays are recognized by the eye of the camera. All these visible and invisible rays are associated with the sunbeam, and exert a powerful influence upon human beings, as well as upon animals and plants. The powerful stimulating effect of light is shown by its influence upon vegetation in the spring.
Unquestionably, the civilized portion of the human race suffer greatly because of their exclusion from the influence of the sun’s rays by thick and dark-colored clothing, and by dwelling so much indoors. This evil should be remedied, as far as possible, by out-of-door life and frequent exposure of as large a portion of the body as possible to the active influence of the sun’s rays, by swimming in the open air, by means of the sun bath, the air bath, and the sand bath. Every school, and when possible every home, should have connected with it a large out-of-doors gymnasium, in which the benefits of the sun’s rays may be enjoyed in the summer time. Sun rooms should also be connected with every home, where the beneficial effects of light may be enjoyed to the fullest extent possible, as one means of counteracting the deteriorating influence of civilized modes of life.
Skin Training
An enormous amount of time is devoted to the training of the hand, the eye, and the brain; but the training of the skin is seldom thought of. Nevertheless, a well-trained skin is more essential to health than almost any other kind of bodily culture. The neglect of the skin must be regarded as the foundation cause of a large number of chronic maladies. It may almost be asserted that a man who will keep his skin in a thoroughly healthy condition may defy almost any known disease. The experienced horseman knows very well the importance of attending to the skin of the animal under his care. A horse which has a hidebound skin, with the hair dry and rough, is by this fact alone known to be in a state of disease. A man whose skin is hidebound, with the hair dry and dingy, dull and lifeless in appearance, and harsh and brittle to the touch, shows by this fact that his whole body is in a state of disease.
A healthy skin is warm, slightly moist, smooth, reddens quickly when rubbed or exposed to the action of hot or cold water, is supple and elastic, perspires readily under exercise or the application of heat, and is free from pimples, eruptions, and discolorations.
To maintain this condition, the skin must be subjected to daily bathing and grooming. Horsemen rub and groom their charges daily. Wild and domestic animals left free in the field habitually groom themselves by vigorously rubbing against trees or other objects. Man, of all animals, neglects to groom himself, and this is especially true of civilized man; for, as is well known, the savage and half-civilized nations from time immemorial have practiced rubbing of the body as a means of maintaining health.
The Scandinavian Conference
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
At the time of the General Conference held in London, at which all the European fields were represented, several matters were left over for consideration at the various local conferences to be held during the summer.
The Denmark Conference
THE CITY OF BERGEN, NORWAY
The earliest of the local conferences convened at Copenhagen, Denmark, June 3-8. Sixty-four delegates represented the Danish churches. The report of the president, Elder P. A. Hansen, showed that between seventy-five and eighty persons had been baptized during the year. The financial condition had been much improved, and the prospects for the coming year were good. Brethren A. G. Daniells, N. P. Nelson, H. W. Cottrell, C. W. Flaiz, and H. Shultz were present from America. Elder Conradi also attended this meeting. Two organized churches were received into the Denmark sisterhood of churches, increasing the membership of the conference by thirty-three.
Recommendations were passed urging that a school be established for the education of the youth, and that the sale of “Christ's Object Lessons” be encouraged, to assist in this enterprise; that the denominational paper, Evangeliets Sendebud, be more widely circulated; and that the canvassing work be strengthened. A committee was appointed to revise tracts that were applicable to the needs of the field, and also to prepare new ones for circulation.
The time devoted to preaching services was divided between the native and foreign workers. Drs. N. P. Nelson and J. H. Kellogg spoke on health topics, the latter having arrived near the close of the meeting.
The Norway Conference
At the close of the Denmark meeting, the sixteenth annual meeting of the Norway Conference was held in Bethel, Christiania, June 10-15. At the opening of the conference, thirteen of the twenty-one churches were represented. A number of companies unable to send delegates sent telegrams expressing their interest in the meeting, and praying for divine guidance during the session in all its deliberations.
One encouraging feature of the work during the past year was the fact that the brethren and sisters had so liberally responded to special calls for money that the conference and tract society had been able to liquidate their debt to the publishing house.
The recommendations passed at this conference were quite similar to those of the Denmark Conference. But in addition to these, it was urged that a special effort be made to strengthen the Sabbath-school work, both by encouraging the study of the lessons and by assisting the churches in more properly organizing their Sabbath schools, and also that the church schools be increased during the year.
One recommendation will be of interest to our brethren in America:—
“Whereas, Our hearts to-day are full of gratitude to God for his wonderful deliverance in our time of great need in Norway; and as our brethren in Amer- ica and other parts of the world so nobly came to our rescue, not only with their counsel, but with what money we needed to pay the banks, and thus save the cause of God from the reproach of our enemies; therefore,—
“Resolved, That we ask our brethren who are present from America to convey our sincere thanks to our beloved brethren beyond the great Atlantic, for all the help and encouragement they have sent us in our time of need.”
The health work was not neglected at this conference. One session was devoted to the presentation of reports from the field. There are three places in Norway where medical missionary work is regularly carried on,—Christiania, where we have a water-cure establishment under the superintendency of O. J. Olsen, which is controlled by the conference, and in Bergen and Hamar, where there are treatment rooms. These are private, self-supporting undertakings, conducted in harmony with the light God has been pleased to give us on this subject.
The treasurer's report showed that during the year the conference had had an income of Kr. 713.07 more than expenses, and there was a gain in the book missions of Kr. 2,733.11, in spite of the depressing financial condition of the country. About seventy had accepted the truth in Norway during the past twelve months.
The Swedish Conference
The next to be held was the Swedish Conference, which convened in its twenty-first annual meeting, at Nyhyttan, Jarnboas, June 18-24. This is the country place where the Swedish school and farm are located. Sixty-eight delegates were present, and about two hundred brethren from all parts of Sweden. At this meeting, as also at the other gatherings on the Continent, the American delegates were present.
A resolution was adopted, that since the General Conference in America had given the plates for printing “Christ's Object Lessons,” the publishing house in Stockholm bear all the expense connected with the publishing and binding of five thousand copies of this book, and that the church members be encouraged to sell, on an average, seven copies per capita, without receiving any commission, the money thus raised to be used expressly for school and medical missionary work in Sweden.
Plans were also laid to strengthen the medical missionary work, by personal effort, by opening a health home at Örebro or some other suitable place before October 1, and by collecting means for the establishment of the health food factory in the country, and the publication and circulation of suitable health literature.
At both the Swedish and Norwegian Conferences it was decided to support the work of the conference from nine tenths of the tithe, paying one tenth of14the tithe, as well as the Sabbath-school and week-of-prayer offerings, to a general fund to be used in mission fields.
At the close of the conference year, March 31, 1902, there were twenty-eight churches in Sweden, with a total membership of 744. The year's tithe was $3,499.43; while the donations were $398.31, and the book sales $22,515.88.
Hamburg, Germany.
The Field Before Us in India
By Ellery Robinson
ELLERY ROBINSON
It is very encouraging to hear of the missionary spirit which is moving many in our ranks to give themselves to the work in the dark regions beyond, leaving their homes to hold up the banner of truth where the need is great, and the laborers are few.
It was my privilege to work in India for over five years, devoting most of the time to canvassing for our large books, and working up the subscription list for our monthly paper, The Oriental Watchman. I had a good opportunity to learn by observation something of the vastness of the field, and the need which exists there; and I have been watching with much interest the departure of different workers to distant lands, to see if some of them were booked for India. Among about three hundred million souls in that field, there is but a handful of workers to carry on the different departments of labor,—only two ordained ministers, and one of them must devote a large portion of his time to editorial matters, and the general oversight of the work in that field. Until more ministerial help is supplied, the extension of the work beyond its present limits must be comparatively slow.
Our health publications have been circulated quite freely by the canvassers throughout India and Burma, and “Patriarchs and Prophets” and “Great Controversy,” with a few copies of “Daniel and the Revelation,” “Prophetic Lights,” and some smaller books have followed the health books. Since May, 1898, The Oriental Watchman has been published monthly, having now a circulation throughout India and Burma of about four thousand copies.
Thus the ground has been prepared for aggressive work by the living preacher among the English-speaking people of India. These are Englishmen who hold a government position, or are engaged in some private enterprise connected with the products of the country, such as silk, cotton, jute, hides, wheat, etc.; a large class of Eurasians, whose language is English, also the educated Hindus and Parsees who have acquired the English, and can speak, read, and write it readily. The latter class are not a few, and by the providence of God are ready for the message to be presented to them in the English language.
The importance of reaching these English-speaking people of India quickly may be better understood when we realize that among them are representatives of the many different languages and dialects of India. Such, when they accept, the message will be valuable helpers to get the same before their own people in their native tongue, both by word of mouth and by the printed page.
Judging from the work of other denominations it would seem that our work for India’s millions must be largely carried forward through tracts and leaflets printed in the many different dialects. If all the people of India spoke the same dialect, the work would be wonderfully simplified; but as it is, from a human standpoint it appears prodigious. If our people in the more favored fields understood what needs to be accomplished for India before Jesus comes, would not many be ready to spend and to be spent for this great and needy field?
While traveling in India, it has been a pleasure to me to find many searchers after light. A native in Bombay by some means had seen a copy of “His Glorious Appearing,” in which was stamped my address. He wrote to me, asking if he could get a copy, and if I could also get him a Bible. I called upon him with the desired books, both of which he bought. He also readily subscribed for The Oriental Watchman.
Another native through reading The Watchman was sufficiently interested to ask me to visit his native place in the north of Ceylon to solicit subscriptions to The Watchman from his relatives and friends.
An educated Parsee subscribed for The Watchman in Bombay, and told me afterward that he was reading the paper with much interest and pleasure, and ventured the remark that if I should hire a hall, and give some lectures on the subjects presented in the paper, he had no doubt that many of his Parsee friends would attend.
In Jubbulpore, a place in the central part of India, I found a native who had seen or heard about “The Great Controversy,” and was very anxious to possess a copy himself.
These are indications of how God is going out before us to prepare the hearts of men in India for the everlasting gospel.
Bombay has a population of over eight hundred thousand, about two thousand of whom are Europeans. Madras has a population of four hundred and fifty thousand, among whom are many English. Other smaller but important cities in the Central and Northwest Provinces are waiting for the living preacher. “Now, just now, is our time to work in foreign countries.” Who is now ready to do something for India by going, or helping to send others, to that field?
British Guiana
By D. C. Babcock
D. C. BABCOCK
THERE is an increased interest in the Lord's work in this colony. Our good meeting held in May and June has proved a great help to our workers generally, and to the churches.
In a former report, I referred to the general topics considered, and I am especially glad to see the good results from the principles of health reform placed before the people.
Brethren Morrow and Downer hold three public meetings each week, besides the Sabbath service, in the same hall where our general meeting was held. These are well attended. We are now putting forth every effort in our power to build a house of worship, so long needed in Georgetown. Our people are very poor, and I know of some who are actually sacrificing some of the necessities of life to save a few pennies to help in this good work. I am thankful that some in the United States have remembered us with very liberal contributions for the church building. Any one wishing to contribute toward this good work can forward his donations to the Mission Board, Battle Creek, Mich.
Brother Giddings returned to the Essequibo district a few weeks ago. I was with him at Queenstown, and then went to our Indian mission, on Toppercrooma Creek. In a recent letter from Brother Giddings he writes that three are awaiting baptism.
On my arrival at the Indian mission I was sorry to find many of the Indians very sick, and word has reached me since that one aged sister has been laid away to await the coming of the Life-giver. On Sabbath morning, though many were sick, several came to the little mission church to worship. The good Sabbath-school lesson on the life of Daniel was studied, and a deep impression was made in the meeting following the school. I continued the same subject, and gave all an opportunity to speak. The power of the Lord came in, and confessions of the use of intoxicating drinks were made by some of the Indians. Every one in the house wept, and all signed the pledge wholly to discard such things.
On Sunday morning, in company with one Indian brother and one colored brother, we went down the creek to our steam launch “Glad Tidings,” and started on our first missionary trip, up Supernaam River. We visited a family of Indians who had become discouraged and given up the truth. The brother was sick, but after talking and praying with them, he decided to attend our meetings. In the afternoon we came down the river to Sand Road. At this place one of our ministers and two other brethren some years ago were so bitterly opposed by the rough element that they were compelled to go away. By an urgent invitation of the old gentleman who assisted me in building the launch, I held a meeting on Sunday evening. More than two hundred were present, and the best of attention was given.
A request was made for us to return.
Monday morning we started across the15Essequibo River, a distance of twenty-five miles. As we were passing a freight boat working against the tide, they asked us to tow them to the open sea. This we did, and while traveling with them, we sold two copies of “Christ's Object Lessons,” and distributed other reading matter.
Arriving at Leguan on Friday, we found Brother Hyder, our cooly worker, with other brethren of the Leguan church, with a good interest among the Hindu people. I can probably do no better than quote from a letter received from Brother Hyder to-day:—
“I am happy to state that the Lord has dealt bountifully with me, inasmuch as he has opened the way for the preaching of the everlasting gospel to my poor, benighted countrymen, and has blessed me in health and strength to perform the work. There are fifteen students in attendance at the night school.”
It was a pleasure to me to be present at two of these meetings, and see the deep interest taken by cooly men and women. I counted twenty-five cooly women present—something I never witnessed before—and fully fifty men. Surely God is working upon the hearts of this people. I hope soon to see Brother Close, from the Sanitarium training school, to assist in the work among the aboriginal Indians.
It seems very difficult to associate the different nationalities of this colony in religious services,—the creoles in one place, coolies in another, and aboriginal Indians in another. After they receive the message, it is not so difficult to get them to worship together.
There are many perplexities to meet in such a field. But the promise of the Lord is to us here, as in other parts of the world; so we shall move forward in the fear of the Lord, trusting him for health and strength to carry forward the work.
Georgetown.
Progress of Students in Raiatea
BROTHER B. J. CADY writes from Papeete, Tahiti: “I have just returned from a visit to Raiatea. It did my soul good to see the progress that our students are making. If this good work continues for a while, we believe that we shall have native missionaries to send to the surrounding islands, with much less expense than to send workers here from the States.”
Progress in Fiji Islands
By J. E. Fulton
The work is onward here. Our new companies previously reported are becoming established in the truth. We lately made a trip to Lau, the most easterly portion of Fiji, where three new companies of Sabbath keepers are located. We were ten days in making this voyage of less than two hundred miles. Our little cutter was terribly tossed by the waves, and we were compelled to run before the wind and sea and find places of shelter at the Friendly Islands. Our clothing was drenched with the heavy seas that passed over us day and night. Fiji is a hot place sometimes, but I can assure you that we were cold enough to shiver. Our boat furnished only canned beef and yams for food, and as we do not eat beef, we had yams cooked in sea water as our diet. We were glad when this long trip was over. We have many trips of this kind in Fiji. Happily they are not usually so long as this one. But in stormy weather traveling is very dangerous among these coral islands.
After our voyage was over, we were glad to go on shore, where our brethren treated us to the best of the land. The natives are very kind, and seek to make their visitors comfortable. Our wants were well supplied, and we were thankful to our brethren and to the Lord for the great kindness shown us. Acts 28:2. We had a profitable visit in this part of Fiji. It is a most beautiful country and very productive. The natives are more intelligent here than in other parts of the group. This is perhaps due to the fact that they have intermingled much with the Tongans in this part. I fear that morally, however, they are not improved by their Tongan associations. There is much sin here, and a great work needs to be done to elevate this poor people.
Brother and Sister Parker have settled in that district. They take up the work with earnestness and faith. May the Lord be with them to make their lives a great benefit to the people of Lau. Pray that their health may be sustained.
Three small companies have been established there. We rejoice to see them growing in the truth. We have Sabbath schools at each place, and they are paying tithes. We hope that some will soon develop into workers. There is a great interest to hear, and we pray for laborers to go forth to preach the word.
In another part of Fiji several have recently begun to obey the word. No living preacher was sent among them. Our literature was scattered among them, and through reading a few began to obey. Then a half-caste who first saw the Sabbath truth by reading a torn portion of a tract written in Fijian, visited these people. He had been a local preacher for the Wesleyans. He preached the truth as best he knew, and now there are Sabbath keepers in several towns in that district.
The work is onward, but there is much to do. The Macedonian cry sounds forth from Fiji, "Come over, . . . and help us." We need several hundred dollars16just, now to get out more literature. Who will help us? Come, brethren, Fiji calls for help. Precious souls are dying for want of knowledge here. Who will help in this great and blessed work of enlightening them? Soon it will be too late to help. Help us now. Send your donations to the Mission Board.
J. E. FULTON.
Missionary Tour Through Basutoland
BROTHER D. KALAKA, our native missionary in Basutoland, recently completed a missionary tour through that country with a cart. He visited Maseru and the district beyond, and over twenty settled villages. Meetings were held, and small books and tracts in the Sesuto language were distributed. Brother Kalaka is out again on his second trip in the eastern part of Basutoland.
The Moravian Missionary Spirit
MORAVIAN children are trained from infancy in the belief that their church exists for the purpose of giving the gospel to a lost world, and that every disciple must do his part, however humble. Note the result: they give one member out of every ninety-two to foreign missions; while we—the rest of Protestant Christendom—give one out of every five thousand. They send five missionaries abroad to every minister at home, while we send out one missionary to every seventy-seven ministers. We play at missions; they make it the dominant purpose of their lives.—Missionary Intelligencer.
“Escape for Thy Life”
By MRS. M. A. LOPER
MRS. M. A. LOPER
“Escape for thy life!” sure destruction is hastening;
The heaven-sent message resounds far and near,—
The soul-stirring tidings,—time’s last sands are wasting.
Flee thou to the Refuge, with all thou hast dear.
“Escape for thy life!” wait not others to pity,
Nor tarry thou yet on the dangerous plain.
The dread fires of vengeance will sweep the doomed city.
Look thou not behind thee to view it again.
“Escape for thy life!” Mercy’s last invitation,
The loud cry, is swelling by land and by sea;
And soon ev’ry people and kindred and nation
Will hear its last echo. O haste thee to flee!
“Escape for thy life!” The sweet “angel of mercy
Is folding her beautiful wings to depart.”
God’s glory is risen, a halo on Time’s sea.
Eternity dawns! Christ is coming! take heart.
Africa
By G. W. REASER
JOHANNESBURG.—We are truly thankful that a good teacher is en route to Natal. This revives our courage, and will give strength to our work. Some of our people were about to abandon the school enterprise and move away. In order to keep the work from disaster, Sister Chaney left her work in Durban, and began the school.
Two more members joined the church here to-day. Others will follow soon. They are planning for me to come to Natal, but I should not leave Johannesburg until some one comes to take my place. I am confident that we are going to develop from two to four laborers, to take up work at the beginning of the year. G. W. REASER.
