TIFLIS.—As it often happens that one has the least spare time when he is accomplishing the least, so it has been with us. In a country where Satan seems to have full control of everything, it will not be strange for the message to be hindered by outside matters. It takes some time to learn the enemy’s tactics peculiar to this place, and we have had many things to learn. We have not found a man whom we could trust for help. At first it was very difficult to be patient when we saw the way the people deal, but we are learning patience.
The hope of starting medical missionary work we are obliged to set aside at present. To obtain permission to practise seems almost impossible. All kinds of missionary work must be done secretly. To convert even a Mohammedan to Christianity any other than that of the state church, is punishable with months of imprisonment. It takes great wisdom to bring this message to the attention of the people.
For some time we have thought of passing over into the Persian territory, where we should have none of the restrictions we meet here, and at the same time have the same class of people to work with—Armenians and Persians, both of whose languages we are able to speak. Persia has been open to missionaries for many years. There the soil has been broken and made ready for the third angel’s message.
In order to awaken the Armenians of the Caucasus from their deadly sleep, an exceeding “loud cry” is necessary. Press and speech must be fully employed.
Recently such a deadly enmity has broken out between Armenians and the Mohammedan population of the Caucasus that bloodshed and fighting are the order of the day. In one city there were nearly two thousand killed. There is a great demand for revolvers, rifles, and other instruments of destruction. The people are willing to pay large prices for them.
On the other hand, there is very little seeking after God and his truth. We are having a foretaste of the conditions which are soon to take place when the angels of strife are loosened. We feel our utter helplessness and our entire dependence upon God. Our constant prayer is, Lord, help us to hold up the standard of the truth, and warn the people of the soon-coming judgment.
V. PAMPALAN.
California
By Chas. W. Peter
SAN FRANCISCO.—In the past I have prayed very earnestly that at some time I would be called to become a foreign missionary. Now for almost a year I have been a foreign missionary in cosmopolitan San Francisco. I am not in India, China, or Africa, but I meet representatives from every nation that the sun shines upon, on board the many vessels that drop anchor in the harbor here.
Many precious experiences, which I would gladly relate if I had time and space, would show that it pays to “cast bread upon the waters.” There are over twenty foreign boats in the harbor, and one hundred and twenty-nine vessels chartered and now on the way here from foreign ports.
I want to relate one incident that occurred here. Some of the Korean converts in Korea wrote to some of their countrymen here about the Sabbath truth. These latter came to us, and on their prayer-meeting night I met with them. Eighteen were present. They had Bibles in their own language to study while one exhorted them. After speaking to them, and leading in prayer, our Japanese brother spoke to them through an interpreter. The next time16I met with them, I gave a study on the Sabbath question. The leader and interpreter—a member of the Presbyterian Church—came to me, requesting to attend our college. I wrote to Professor Howell. He presented the matter to the students, and they raised the amount necessary to pay his tuition to the end of the school year. He was baptized a few days ago. Another man with whom I labored last year was baptized at the same time.
I have precious experiences with other workers in this field. Mr. ——, who has three hundred and fifty boys under his charge at the Y. M. C. A., is taking a Bible course from The Family Bible Teacher studies. He invited me into his private room the other evening, to pray with him.
The pastor of three Finnish churches of Astoria, Ore., after taking treatment of me at the Hydriatic Dispensary, requested us to go to Astoria and start treatment rooms, saying that he and his people would patronize us. There are about three thousand Finns in Astoria.
CHAS. W. PETER.
Idaho
By F. D. Starr
Ilo.—Tent-meetings were begun here July 7 by Brethren C. J. Rider and James Standage, and myself. We have had a very good attendance so far, though, of course, nothing definite as to prospective results can be known yet. We are trusting the Lord of the harvest for the increase. Pray for the success of the work here. F. D. STARR.
Western Washington
By W. F. MARTIN
TACOMA AND PUYALLUP.—After a few weeks spent at my home, I returned to Tacoma to resume labor in the city. I was joined in my work by Brother John Reith, a student from Walla Walla College. We pitched a thirty-by-fifty-foot tent in the city, and began a series of meetings. During the summer all the meetings of the church are held in the tent.
The interest in the tent-meetings has been good, and some have taken a stand for the truth. Sabbath, July 1, we baptized six in a beautiful lake near the city. Others are contemplating baptism soon. Almost every Sabbath sees the addition of one or more members. The Lord is blessing our work in Tacoma.
Sabbath, July 8, I spent with the church at Puyallup. Four were added to the church, three of them by baptism. The summer’s work thus far has been both pleasant and profitable. Our courage is good. W. F. MARTIN.
The Chadron (Neb.) Camp-Meeting
By A. T. ROBINSON
A CAMP-MEETING for the Wyoming and western Nebraska mission field was held at Chadron, Neb., June 22 to July 2. The camp comprised twenty-five or more tents, erected on good grounds, centrally located, with about one hundred dwellers in tents.
The weather during the first and last days of the meeting was quite unfavorable, but the hearty good cheer of the brethren and sisters served to make one forget any outward discomfort.
The attendance from the outside, which was hindered considerably by the wet weather, increased each day during the meeting. A very friendly feeling was manifested on the part of the people of the town, one of the ministers offering the use of his church, in case rain prevented holding services in the tent.
Besides the regular laborers in the mission field, Elder E. T. Russell was present during the entire meeting, the writer the first part, and Prof. C. C. Lewis the last part. The preaching and Bible studies were of a close, practical nature, and were heartily responded to by our people. At the evening services, which were well attended by those not of our faith, the great truths of the message were dwelt upon, and the sermons were listened to very attentively. A baptismal service, which was to have been held near the close, was prevented by a heavy rain. A. T. ROBINSON.
The Moscow (Idaho) Camp-Meeting
By F. D. Starr
This meeting was held, according to appointment, May 25 to June 4, 1905. Perhaps this is the first time an attempt has been made to hold a camp-meeting while the General Conference was in session, so it was rather an experiment. But it seemed impossible to accommodate the people of this part of the Upper Columbia Conference at any other time. The laborers from abroad were Elders E. J. Hibbard, H. Shultz, and H. J. Dirksen, and others. Meetings were conducted in both German and English in their respective tents. The attendance of our own people at the meeting was quite fair, though quite a number went to the Portland, Ore., camp-meeting instead of the Moscow meeting. There was quite a good attendance from the city also.
Many pronounced the meeting the best they had ever attended. The Spirit of the Lord was present in rich measure, and many gained a good experience. Communications from the president of the conference, Elder A. J. Breed, who was attending the General Conference in Washington, D. C., gave an encouraging influence to the meeting, and at times it seemed as if our camp and the one at Takoma Park were not very far apart. We felt that we, with them, were having a heavenly sitting together. Though sundered far, by faith we met. Before the close of the meeting, twenty-one were baptized, and others desiring baptism returned to their homes to have the ordinance performed there. We thanked God for the results of the good meeting, and felt that the undertaking was not a lost one, though we regretted the absence of the president and General Conference representatives.
F. D. STARR.
Iowa Conference Proceedings
By MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS
The forty-second annual session of the Iowa Conference convened on the camp-ground at Des Moines, June 9-18.
Four churches were admitted to the conference. Ministerial credentials were granted to eight laborers, ministerial licenses to fifteen, missionary licenses to nineteen. Church-school teachers will receive their credentials at the close of the teachers’ institute.
The following resolutions were passed:—
“Whereas, The fields are white for harvest, and our God is calling for laborers, therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That we answer the call of God to support his work and workers by urging both laborers and people to enter upon an active campaign to increase our tithe the coming year.
“2. We recommend, That our conference laborers and church officers keep constantly before all our people the importance of the weekly offerings to missions, and that we put forth a united effort to raise the offerings to missions from all sources, to an amount averaging at least ten cents a week per capita.
“3. We recommend, That the policy of sharing our men and our means to forward the work in more destitute fields be the policy of this conference the coming year.
“4. We recommend for adoption Resolution No. 63 passed by the last General Conference, which reads as follows:—
“‘Realizing that multitudes are in the valley of decision, and that the time has fully come when the Master pleads with every child of his to go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and into the highways and hedges to bid the hungry and perishing to the marriage feast,—
“‘We recommend, That the great missionary campaign entered upon last year be strengthened, deepened, and enlarged into a mighty movement for the promulgation of the third angel’s message,
“‘To avoid confusion, and to economize effort, we recommend the following— “GENERAL PLAN FOR NORTH AMERICA
“‘(1) That the effort to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every Sabbath-keeping home be continued, especially through the camp-meeting season and early fall.
“‘(2) That a general campaign in North America for our missionary periodicals be entered upon about October 1.
“‘(3) That beginning in early November, special efforts be made by conference workers and church officers to interest our people in the sale of the forty-per-cent books.
“‘(4) That the interest aroused by this work be developed by (a) the liberal use of message-filled tracts; (b) securing subscriptions for our periodicals; (c) holding Bible readings and cottage meetings; (d) missionary correspondence.
“‘(5) That missionary conventions be held October 7 and November 18 in all our churches, to study local needs and to organize for service.’
“5. We recommend, That individuals living near churches or companies where they have a librarian order their supplies through the local society rather than direct from the State tract society.
“6. We recommend, That the pay-as-you-go policy be adopted in all departments of this conference. That accounts with regular canvassers be settled after each delivery by paying for all books delivered and by furnishing an itemized inventory of all books on hand.
“Whereas, Our beloved State institutions; namely, the Iowa Sanitarium, the Sanitarium Bakery, and the Stuart Industrial Academy, are in debt, and,—
“Whereas, The spirit of prophecy plainly states that we should shun debt as we would shun the leprosy; therefore,—
“7. Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that we make every effort during the year 1905-06 to remove these debts by means of donations, collections, etc., as deemed best by the Iowa Conference Committee; and,—
“Whereas, That grand book, ‘Ministry of Healing,’ from the pen of Mrs. E. G. White, now coming from the press, is practically donated to the sanitarium work throughout the world; therefore,—
“8. Resolved, That we advise every Seventh-day Adventist family in Iowa to place their order as soon as possible with the Iowa Tract Society for one or more copies of the same, and that we make an effort to place in the homes of our friends and neighbors a copy of this valuable book at the first opportunity.
“9. We recommend, That the instructors in our academy and in our Bible and other schools keep this important branch of the work constantly before the students; also,—
“10. That our ministers and other conference workers use their best endeavors to influence church-members to enter the canvassing field, and refer names of all promising or interested persons to the State agent.
“Whereas, The condition of our church-school work in Iowa demands that our teachers, and those preparing to teach, have the benefit of a summer normal; and, whereas, it was the mind of the Central Union Conference Committee that the various States provide such schools this season,—
“11. Resolved, That we hold an eight weeks’ summer normal at Iowa Academy, under the direction of the conference17committee; that we bear the transportation expense of such teachers as have taught church-schools in our State the past year, and others who may teach the coming year; and that we ask the academy to furnish the regular home accommodations to such teachers for $1.25 a week and domestic work not to exceed two hours a day for each teacher.
“12. We further recommend, That we co-operate with the plans laid by the Central Union Conference and the General Conference for the strengthening and upbuilding of our church-school work.
“13. Resolved, That we urge all our workers and our church officers to make it their business to acquaint themselves with the workings and purposes of Iowa Academy and of Union College, and help all our people to appreciate the value of education and the necessity of sending their young people to these schools.
“14. Resolved, That we work for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God through the Sabbath-school, by (a) continuing to encourage thorough, systematic study of the lessons; (b) home department work both in local schools and in the State department; (c) earnestly studying the instruction given in ‘Testimonies on Sabbath-school Work;’ (d) doing our part to increase the circulation of the Sabbath School Worker; (e) doing all in our power to increase the Sabbath-school contributions; (f) seeking to have The Youth’s Instructor in every home where there are young people.
“15. Resolved, That we instruct the Academy Board to take over the sixty acres of land now held in trust, and used by the Academy, at the exact cost to those holding the same in trust, to be owned and used by the Academy in its industrial work.
“16. Resolved, That we recommend the conference and its societies and institutions to end the fiscal year December 31.
“Whereas, The Commercial Club has favored us much, furnishing the use of these beautiful grounds free, also providing city water without expense, and otherwise making us welcome in the city; therefore,—
“17. Resolved, That we express our sincere appreciation of the favors shown, and that a copy of these resolutions be furnished the secretary of the Commercial Club.”
The following officers were elected for the coming year: President, L. F. Starr; Secretary, Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Treasurer, C. W. Larson; Conference Committee, L. F. Starr, Chris Juhl, J. H. Kraft, C. W. Larson, C. A. Washburn, J. W. Dorcas, J. C. Clemens; Supt. Field Missionary Dept., J. W. Dorcas; Supt. Educational Dept., Floyd Bralliar; Secretary Sabbath-school Dept., Mrs. Flora V. Dorcas; Tract Society Sec. and Treas., C. W. Larson; Assistant Sec., Mrs. Nettie Shaw; State agent, R. J. Bryant; Trustees of Iowa Seventh-day Adventist Association, L. F. Starr, C. A. Washburn, C. J. Johnston, C. W. Smouse, Chris Juhl, J. W. Dorcas, J. M. Whitney.
MRS. FLORA V. DORCAS, Secretary.
A Visit at the Huntsville (Ala.) Training-School
By C. M. KENNY
THE writer enjoyed the privilege of making the Oakwood Industrial School, located near Huntsville, Ala., a brief fourth-of-July visit. It was gratifying to find them preparing to celebrate the nation's birthday of liberty by a quiet, pleasant literary program in the beautiful groves of oak on the school grounds, rather than by visiting the city, where they would have witnessed many tokens of bondage instead of liberty.
I had not visited Huntsville since 1897. The school was not then in session, and improvements were not begun. Now important and much-needed improvements are in progress. I was glad to see what had been done, and sad to see so many real needs unsupplied.
This is the only school of the kind for colored people among Seventh-day Adventists, and I but voice the deep sentiment of heart-felt thanks to God and to the friends that have helped this school, and continue to pray that amid the multiplied calls to take the precious message to all nations and peoples speedily, the colored people of the United States, and especially the Oakwood Industrial School, be still remembered. We are thankful for the consideration given this work in the late General Conference, and it shall stir us to greater faithfulness to act well our part in finishing the message in this generation.
C. M. KENNY.
Our Nashville Meeting-House
By I. H. Evans
Our denominational work in what is known as the Southern field has had a checkered career. Early in the history of the third angel's message, the standard of truth was planted in various places in this territory. Oftentimes large numbers of people would receive the truth, and everything bid fair for great prosperity; souls were easily touched with the spirit and intensity of the third angel's message. All hopes would be strong that a conference of believers could soon be organized, and when matters would look so propitious, oftentimes the workers would return to the North or West to the places they had left when entering into this work, and the poor souls would be left a long time without spiritual help, or the presence of an evangelical worker. Thus, again and again good starts have been made, when suddenly, while everything looked encouraging, the field would be left without workers, and the work would largely "ravel out."
THE NASHVILLE CHURCH BUILDING
Some ten years ago the General Conference undertook to operate in the South from a different standpoint. It selected men who would go and live in that field, and adapt themselves to its environments, and give their lives to the great and noble work of building up the third angel's message in that territory. Since that time the work has prospered; conferences have been organized in nearly every Southern State; institutions have been planted in various places. Today, we can look with real interest on our school at Huntsville, upon our little sanitarium at Atlanta, Ga., upon our printing plant at Nashville, Tenn., and upon our school at Graysville, and on other enterprises which our brethren who have given their lives for the cause have established.
Periodicals have been started, containing the principles of the third angel's message, adapted to the conditions in that field. Literature has been brought out in a variety of forms, and thus the third angel's message has adapted itself to the noble work of helping to save souls in this field.
It will be well remembered that at the Battle Creek General Conference held in the spring of 1901, it was decided that a publishing house for the South should be established at Nashville, Tenn. The brethren in charge of the work in that territory took hold of this enterprise with earnest zeal, and soon an institution was provided, and the publishing work started in this place. Now a sanitarium is being started for the work in Nashville.
Not only has the publishing work planted its headquarters at Nashville, and have small sanitariums been started for both races, but the Southern Union Conference, operating in all the Southern States, has made Nashville the headquarters for all this territory.
Many of our people have had the privilege of visiting Nashville. Those who have seen the place know that it is a thriving, prosperous city, progressive in its ideas, healthful in its location, and that it occupies an influential place as an educational center for the growing and populous South.
Up to the time of the recent General Conference the believers in Nashville had never had a meeting-house of their own. When important meetings had been called at that place, they were compelled to accommodate themselves in the small chapel of the printing-house. This chapel is not sufficient in size, neither is the location favorable, for a general meeting place for the workers gathered from all parts of the South, and it was poorly adapted for the aggressive work needed to be done for the important city of Nashville.
There seemed no way for our influence to extend as it should in this center without providing a suitable church building in Nashville, in which our people could meet, and which could accommodate the numerous general meetings necessary to be called in the interests of the work in the South. To secure a suitable lot in the center of the city, and to build a suitable church building, meant an investment far surpassing the possibilities of the Southern Union Conference.
A providential opening presented itself, whereby our brethren there were able to provide themselves with a nice church building in a desirable location, within easy access of all parts of the city, at a price which was far below anything required in the erection of a building of like nature.
INTERIOR VIEW
One of the leading denominations of Nashville, having outgrown its meeting-house, desired to put up a more extensive building, and offered to sell to our people the one which they had outgrown, for the small sum of five thousand dollars. We are informed that this building cost in the neighborhood of sixteen18thousand dollars when it was first constructed some years ago.
The brethren who examined the house say it is in good condition, and will only require in the neighborhood of one thousand dollars in the way of repairs, for painting, new gutters, etc., when it will be practically as good as new.
This building is of solid brick, and has a good stone foundation. The lot itself, without the building, is supposed to be worth at least five thousand dollars in cash.
The church is carpeted throughout, both in the basement and in the auditorium, has cushioned seats made from hard wood, a good pipe-organ, and besides this there is a good piano. The auditorium will accommodate about four hundred people. There is a basement under the whole auditorium, which is divided into two parts.
Besides the building, there is ground sufficient for a play-ground for children, and our brethren think that they can use the basement for a good day-school. The church is lighted with both electricity and gas.
The brethren on the ground felt that it was a providential opening, and the General Conference Committee was in favor of their purchasing the property. This property has to be paid for in cash before Oct. 1, 1905. It will be seen from the illustrations that the building is well adapted to the needs of our people at Nashville.
Now, there is no way that our brethren can pay for this, except to call upon our people for donations. The General Conference Committee has voted that they will endeavor to help raise the funds to pay for this church at as early a date as possible.
We think that, from the statements that have been made, all can readily see the great need of a suitable church building at this place. Our brethren will greatly appreciate having a respectable place to which they can invite their friends to join them in worshiping God.
We believe that there are many brethren and sisters throughout the field who will gladly contribute a small sum to help raise this money at the earliest possible time. The donations can be forwarded to the General Conference treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., or to the treasurer of the Southern Union Conference, I. A. Ford, 1025 Jefferson St., Nashville, Tenn.
Shall we not all take hold and do what we can in raising this fund at the earliest possible moment? We know the hearts of our brethren in the South will be made to rejoice by the raising of the necessary funds, with which to pay for this church building.
I. H. EVANS.
The Mount of Private Prayer
“The longer you are with God on the mount of private prayer and secret communion with him, the brighter will your face shine when you come down.”
San Jose (Cal.) Camp-Meeting
By Geo. A. Irwin
This meeting was held in an open field in the southeastern portion of the city of San Jose, beginning June 23 and continuing until July 3. Owing to the fact that three other camp-meetings are to follow in northern California, and one in Nevada, there was not so large an attendance as has been customary at their general meeting. There were one hundred and forty-five tents, containing about four hundred persons. The day services consisted of preaching, Bible studies, and general instruction on subjects in which our own people are interested and need help, while the night and Sunday services consisted of lectures from the prophetic portions of the Bible that have a direct bearing upon the time in which we now live. There was a good attendance of outside people at the night meetings, who listened with rapt attention. Sister White was present during the entire time, and spoke several times with freedom and power. Donations were made for foreign mission work as follows: First Sabbath, $22.01; second Sabbath, $25.91; cash donation July 1, $370.75; pledges, $178.75, making a total of $597.42, besides several pieces of jewelry.
The Arrangements were made for Elders Hibbard and Fero to follow up the interest. It was also planned to hold an institute directly following the camp-meeting, for the church-school teachers and others contemplating entering the work. The instruction was to be given by Professor Howell and his associate teachers at Healdsburg College. The teachers, led by Professor Beardslee, were to furnish the music for the night meetings held in the tent, and assist in other ways as opportunity offered to interest the people, thus putting to practical use the instruction received during the day.
A hot wave began with the beginning of the month, which lasted during an entire week, reaching its height on Friday, July 7, when the mercury registered in places as high as one hundred and ten degrees in the shade. Notwithstanding the inconvenience and suffering that came to the campers as a result of the heat, we hope to hear good results both from the tent-meeting and from the institute.
The conference committee is showing a deep interest in the church-school work, and is acting a liberal part toward the teachers now in the work by paying their time and traveling expenses to and from the institute. Professor Howell and other members of the faculty of Healdsburg College will spend a portion of their summer vacation in visiting churches and isolated families in the interest of the college. Elder Knox is busily engaged at present, gathering his large crop of apricots, and otherwise arranging his business affairs so that he can attend all the later camp-meetings, and thereafter devote his entire time and attention to the work of the Lord. I am glad to be able to report that Elder W. B. White is much improved in health, and if he receives no backset, will soon be able to take up active service in the field.
As a whole, the work on the Pacific Coast is encouraging. There is a growing interest in the missionary work abroad, which I feel sure will result in an increased interest in the work at home. Some who formerly labored publicly in the Lord's work, but who, for different reasons, have been out of the work for some time, are now shaping their affairs to take up the work again. There is a growing sentiment among the people that our only safety in these strenuous and perilous times is to be in some way engaged in the Lord's work.
I have been at Mountain View for the past three days, engaged in committee work, with Brethren White, Palmer, and Hall, in formulating plans for the sale of Sister White's new book “Ministry of Healing,” and other books set apart for relief work. We have felt the presence and blessing of God in our councils, and I trust our suggestions will meet the mind of the body that appointed us, and also that of our brethren at large, upon whom we depend for co-operation in making the undertaking a success. I am now on my way to St. Helena, in company with Brother Field, in search of workers for Japan and Korea.
GEO. A. IRWIN.
The Sale of the Battle Creek College Property
By I. H. EVANS
THE friends of the old Battle Creek College can but be interested in the arrangements for the future of that property. It will be recalled by the readers of the REVIEW, that sometime last winter, the General Conference Corporation, at Washington, D. C., took the title to this property, and became responsible for the obligations of the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association. This was entirely in the interest of the creditors, as the General Conference believed that they should be protected in the money they had loaned to the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, and to the old Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society.
As these associations were not in a position to carry these obligations, the General Conference Corporation felt that they were warranted in assuming the payment of the liabilities, and therefore had the title to the property transferred to them.
The General Conference Committee, however, took the matter under consideration, and believed that the property should be sold. It was advised that the American Medical Missionary College be offered the privilege of purchasing this property for the sum of $45,225.42, and that if they did not see fit to purchase it, the same should be put upon the market, and sold on the very best possible terms.
It is understood by all that the property is worth much more than the sum asked the American Medical Missionary College. This price was named as the sum which would be sufficient to cover the outstanding obligations against the college property, after the Review and Herald Publishing Association had canceled an obligation of fifteen thousand dollars against it.
A committee was appointed, consisting of Elders Daniells, Prescott, Cottrell, and Evans, to negotiate with the American Medical Missionary College in regard to the purchase of this property. The American Medical Missionary College agreed to purchase it, paying the sum asked, on the following conditions: that the General Conference Corporation should execute to the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association a quitclaim deed of all its interest in the property, and that the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association should execute to the American Medical Missionary College a title to it, the American Medical Missionary College paying all taxes and other obligations against the property, outside of the notes owing by the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association. The American Medical Missionary19College agreed to pay the sum of $3,200, plus any accrued interest, within sixty days; $3,500 on the first day of March, 1906, and $3,500 on the first day of September, 1906, at which time they will secure a deed to the property, and cover the General Conference Corporation for the remainder due with a mortgage upon the college buildings and the college campus, not including the South Hall and the three cottages. The rest of the money is to be paid in five annual instalments of seven thousand dollars each, with interest at five per cent on deferred payments, the General Conference Corporation assuming the responsibility of paying all the outstanding obligations of the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, which it assumed at the time it received the property from that association.
Thus it will be seen by all our brethren that the Battle Creek College property has passed into the hands of the American Medical Missionary College. The General Conference Committee believed that these arrangements would be as satisfactory as any that could now be made. Those who had obligations against the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association will not be in the least affected by this, as the General Conference remains surety for the payment of such obligations as were assumed by it at the time it took the college property from the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association.
We make this statement, as some are inquiring in regard to the money owed to them by the International Medical Missionary Training-School Association, having already heard that another change was being made in regard to this property.
We trust that all will be satisfied with the arrangements that have been made by the General Conference Committee concerning this property, and wish to assure the creditors that their interests will be protected as far as any responsibility of the General Conference is concerned.
I. H. EVANS.
The General Conference Text-Book Committee
On the last day of the General Conference, the General Conference Committee appointed the members of the Department of Education, whose names were recently published in the REVIEW AND HERALD. The members of this department at once organized, and appointed various committees, among which was a committee on text-books. The addresses of its members are given below, and they should be preserved by all interested in their work:—
Text-Book Committee
Chairman, C. C. Lewis, College View, Neb.; Secretary, M. E. Kern, College View, Neb.; M. E. Cady, College Place, Wash.; B. E. Huffman, College View, Neb.; Miss Sarah E. Peck, Sanitarium, Cal.; Miss Fannie M. Dickerson, 222 N. Capitol St., Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Sara J. Hall, South Lancaster, Mass.; Mrs. N. H. Druillard, Madison, Tenn.; Mrs. Flora H. Williams, Industrial Academy, Battle Creek, Mich.
Work of the Committee
It was expected that the Text-Book Committee would examine all text-books now in use in the schools of the denomination, not only those written by our own teachers, but also those obtained from other sources, also that they would examine manuscripts submitted to them, and be prepared to make definite recommendations to a general educational convention for the denomination, to be called next summer. It is the desire of the committee to do thorough work; and in order that they may have material upon which to begin, they would request all who are interested in the improvement of text-books for our church-schools, intermediate schools, academies, and colleges to comply with the following requests as soon as possible:—
1. Will those authors having text-books already published or about to be published kindly send copies to the members of the committee at the addresses given above, with such suggestions in regard to the purpose and use of their books as they may think helpful?
2. If authors will send manuscripts of unpublished text-books to the secretary of the committee, the committee will take pleasure in examining them, and in making such recommendations as their merit may deserve.
3. The committee will be glad to receive suggestions from any one in regard to the best plans of carrying on their work, and of selecting the best books for conducting the work of Christian education.
Address all communications to the secretary, Prof. M. E. Kern, College View, Neb., or to the undersigned.
