The disciples of the divine teacher, our Lord Jesus Christ, had been seeking instruction from Him concerning the kingdom of God. They had learned that the Father had appointed to Him a kingdom, in which they were to share. Luke 22:29. They understood that His kingdom was to succeed all earthly kingdoms, and be established upon the ruins of such kingdoms. Dan. 2:34, 35, and Ps. 2:8, 9, were familiar pictures in their eyes. They thus learned that when Christ’s kingdom should be set up, this earth, so far as its present material condition is concerned, or at least so far as the present organization of its social and political condition is concerned, would come to an end. And they knew that this change would be marked by the appearing of Christ in glory, when the judgment would fix the succeeding condition and destiny of every man. Matt. 16:27.
The disciples naturally became intensely interested in these announcements, and wished to know the time when, and the manner in which, they would occur. They accordingly, on the first convenient opportunity, addressed to the Lord this question: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Thy coming and the end of the world! What themes to engage the attention of men! Christ, in the sense of the expression here used, has not yet come; and the world has not yet ended. These events are still before us. We have as much occasion as had those early disciples still to raise the question, What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? The question has a world-wide and age-lasting application, and should stir our minds to an interest no less intense and absorbing now than that with which it stirred the minds of the disciples then.
But such an event could not be expected to occur unheralded: it would not be expected that Christ would suddenly reveal himself to the world, considering the pomp and circumstance to attend that event, and the all-sweeping and irrevocable results to flow from it, without manifesting some token, or sending forth some precursor, to jog the memory of mankind when the event was drawing nigh. It should therefore cause no surprise to hear the question raised, When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? What will lift the veil before the eyes of an astonished world, and show when the solemn event is impending? This must be the significance of the word “sign,” in this connection.
But is it not a little singular that, on such a theme, the minds of the disciples should narrow down to such an extent as to lead them to suppose that it reached no wider extent than one question would suffice to cover, or that a single sign would answer all the requirements of the case? for their question seemed to indicate that they had in mind only a single one: “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
But Christ is broader in His answer. He not only does not reprove them for their curiosity and repress their desires to know about these things, but enters into the spirit of their investigation, and gives them a long array of evidences and instruction on points of which they did not before have any conception. Thus He encouraged them in their search for truth, and more than answered the inquiry they offered. But first He throws out a broad caution: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Then He predicts the false prophets and false Christs that would arise and mislead many. That sign will never cease, and it grows more marked as we come nearer to the end. Witness the recent manifestation of Dowieism in Chicago,—a man before multitudes of people, brazenly claiming that he is the prophet Elijah returned to this earth; and witness the foolish crowd, every one of whom is a fit subject for an asylum for imbeciles or for the insane, hailing Dowie’s announcement with acclaim, and by a formal vote of about three thousand, with only one dissenter, voting that his preposterous assumption is true. When such moves as this can be carried in this manner, it is enough to confound and daze even the disciples of Enoch, who prophesied of these raging waves of the sea, and said, “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.” Jude 13, 14.
The Saviour then refers to how the political relations of the people would be strained, resulting in wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. This, too, continues to the end, and becomes more and more aggravated as the end approaches, so that John points out, as one of the characteristics of the period when the seventh trumpet begins to sound, that the “nations were angry.” Rev. 11:18. What national jealousies, and widespread social, political, industrial, and commercial plottings are this very hour racking the nations of the earth! Nature herself sympathizes with the general condition, and plagues and pestilences break out on every hand. Even the elements feel the shuddering apprehension of coming calamity, and earthquakes in divers places record, with trembling fingers, their increasing presence. Individuals do not escape what permeates whole nations; so the apostle describes in the last days a time of peril on account of the selfishness, covetousness, blasphemy, treacherousness, fierceness, and hate among men. 2 Tim. 3:1–5. Tidal waves assault the land, cyclones seek to level the works of men, and overflowing rivers to sweep men and their dwellings into the sea. The sun and moon have been darkened; the stars have withdrawn their shining, and fallen from heaven, as waymarks on the path to the kingdom. Thus the very powers of heaven—the sun, moon, and stars—are shaken, as if shrinking at the footfalls of approaching Deity. “Take heed that no man deceive you.” “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.” 2 Tim. 3:13. What is a seducer but a deceiver? Finally, says Christ, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14.
In this brief paper, we have spoken only of things which are specifically mentioned in the Scriptures as signs of the second coming of Christ, and of only a few of such events; and we have spoken of such things as are in the strong current of present history,—things appealing to our eyes and ears to-day. Have we any sign of Christ’s coming? Rather, let us ask, Is there any line of evidence where such a sign does not appear? If we look to the heaven above or to the earth beneath, the signs are there. If we look to the heavenly bodies, they are there. If we look to the movements among men, and inquire if there is any sign there, a bitter cry of distress and perplexity among the nations makes answer. Luke 21:25, 26. Do we look to the political world? Wars and rumors of wars are there, as the prophet said there would be. Do we look to the religious world? The ghostly form of godliness, without the power, greets our eyes. Do we look to the social world? Pride, extravagance, display, on the one hand, and grinding poverty on the other, checker the scene. Do we look to the industrial and commercial world? There we see men feverishly heaping treasures together for the last days (James 5:3), oppressing the laborer in his hire, and bringing about that state of things which James says shows that the Judge is standing before the door. Verses 7–9. Do we look to the prophetical world? This gospel of the kingdom has already encircled the earth, and will very soon swell to that volume which will constitute it a witness to all nations; and then the end shall come. The infallible Christ has said it.
“What shall be the sign of thy coming?” timidly asked the disciples. Did they expect such an array as He laid out before them? Evidently not; but He more than answered their question, and gave them multiplied signs and abundant instruction. Is His coming at hand? Is the end of the world near? “Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1 Thess. 5:4.
KNOWING THE TRUTH.
By L. A. S.
If you would have the truth in your head, first be sure that you have it in your heart.
Notwithstanding the boastings that are made to-day in the name of science, the world is full of error. It is the time of which the prophet Isaiah wrote: “Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” In the last days, wrote Paul to Timothy, men will be proud and boastful, “ever learning,” but “never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Men have put darkness for light, and light for darkness. By its “wisdom” the world knows not God. The world’s learned men, in the Church as well as out, hold to theories, and glory in them, which contradict the words of the Omniscient. They hold, for example, to the doctrine that the human race has been evolved from the lower forms of animal life, instead of having, as the Bible asserts, one common ancestor, Adam, who was physically and mentally perfect; they hold that the history of the race has been one of ascent, instead of one of sin and descent.
The Scripture tells us how it was that the world lost the knowledge of the truth. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind;” that is, as the margin reads, “a mind void of judgment.” Rom. 1:21, 22, 28.
This is how it was that men lost the knowledge of the truth, and this is how it is that men are still losing the knowledge of the truth to-day. This is why so many men are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
When the heart is evil, the mind is its servant to do its unrighteous bidding. The heart cherishes an evil, and orders the mind to produce a justification of it; and the mind obediently goes to work and finds something that will answer this purpose. Often it is able to employ logic to a considerable extent in making its justification, and a conclusion that is fortified with logic must surely be right! Thus men reason, and demonstrate things to their own satisfaction, and quiet the voice of conscience; but in the final day, if not sooner, they will discover how their eyes were blinded by the god of this world. Ah, the Judgment day will reveal to many a person the difference between mere “logic”—human reasoning—and the truth!
How can I know the truth? The answer is, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” “I am the way, THE TRUTH, and the life.” Rev. 3:20; John 14:6.
The world, because they did not desire to retain God in their knowledge, put God out of their hearts,427and then the knowledge of the truth went out of their minds. The heart must be opened, and God must be invited back to His rightful place before the knowledge of the truth that has been lost can be regained.
Trust not your reason if your heart be not right. You will be led astray. There are many who are preparing themselves to receive strong delusion, that they should believe a lie and be damned, because—they are deficient in reasoning power?—Oh, no; but because they do not love the truth. They have “pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:10-12.
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Are you free? Do you know the truth in your heart as well as you think you know it in your head? L. A. S.
A LIGHTED PATHWAY.
By L. A. S.
The pathway of divine truth is a pathway of light. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” wrote the psalmist. “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life,” is the assurance of Jesus. God has never left His people in darkness. Always there has been the “more sure word of prophecy,” which, as “a light that shineth in a dark place,” revealed the pathway leading to the heavenly land. And in this latter age of the world, when “darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people,” and there is a confusion of voices crying “Lo, here,” and “Lo, there,” the true pathway is still brightly illuminated.
In “Early Writings” (page 10) we have this description, showing the source of the light that makes plain the pathway for God’s people to-day:— “I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, ‘Look again, and look a little higher.’ At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, ‘Alleluia!’ Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path, down into the dark and wicked world below.”
Do we justly appreciate this wonderful provision that has been made for us? Do we rejoice in being in a pathway that is lighted up by the clear illumination of the message proclaiming the hour of God’s judgment and the proximity of Christ’s second coming; so that we are in no uncertainty as to the future of the world and of the Church? Do we realize the difference this merciful provision has put between our position and that of others who have not seen this light, or who have turned from it?
The earth is full of commotion and confusion. Men of the world have become drunken with the pursuit of wealth, knowing not that they are laying up treasure for the last days. The devices by which men’s minds are distracted from the themes of divine revelation, and engrossed with business and pleasure, are being rapidly multiplied. New religious sects—the outcome of church dissensions and efforts to exalt self—have been rapidly springing up during the last half-century. The nominally Christian churches have ceased to advance, and are wandering about in uncertainty. They see no definite outline of the purposes of God before them. They believe time is to go on and on indefinitely, and with this view there has come to them the idea that they have a mission to reform earthly governments. Seeing that the forces of evil are increasing in the earth, they believe that it is necessary to reform and enlist the political powers against these evils if they are to be subdued. And beyond this conquest of the powers that be, the churches see a vision of the setting up of the kingdom of Christ. Since God reigns, they say, it must be that truth and righteousness, as represented in His Church, are to prevail on the earth. Thus the Church is to go forward, not to the evangelization of the earth to prepare the way for Christ’s second coming, but to the conquest of the earth for Christ. The kingdom is to come, according to this scheme, not as a stone cut out “without hands,” which sweeps away everything before it, but as a kingdom entering the world “through the gateway of politics.”
Ah, it was at that very point where the bright light was set up behind the Advent people, that the churches missed the path. Had they received the message which proclaimed the hour of God’s judgment and the coming of the Bridegroom to receive His elect, they would not now be occupied with schemes of earthly conquest. They would not be busy with plans to reform the world and set up the kingdom of Christ through politics—following a mirage which ere long is to vanish, and leave them wandering in the desert.
We can hear the voices of some among these who realize that the Church is not making progress—that something is wrong. Here is one who writes in a late issue of the Outlook, expressing himself upon the particular need of the times. A prophet is wanted, he says. He realizes that “the need is for prophetic utterance. A word is wanted that shall come to the churches and to men’s hearts, with the authority of the voice of God.” “We are waiting,” he says, “to hear God speak to the children of Israel that they go forward.” Were he but in the right pathway, he would know that prophetic utterance has been fully given, that the word, speaking with “the authority of the voice of God,” has indeed come; that the forward call has long been sounding to the children of Israel.
And shall not we, who have upon our pathway the bright light of so great a truth, be sanctified by that truth before men, that they may see and know that the message we proclaim is indeed the gospel message for this time, and the light for which they are groping? L. A. S.
In the Question Chair.
(Designed for the consideration of such questions as will be of interest and profit to the general reader.) All correspondents should give their names and present post-office address, that queries not replied to here may be answered by mail.
813.—CHANGE OF THE SABBATH.
WILL you please explain Eze. 13:5-14? Does this portion of Scripture have reference to the attempt that is made to change the Sabbath; that is, does one denomination build up the wall of the change of the Sabbath? and do those who try to support it, daub it with untempered mortar? Do these verses apply to this work?
M. L., Battle Creek, Mich.:
ANSWER.—We suppose the question really is: Did Inspiration intend, by the prophet, to predict the work of the change of the Sabbath referred to in the query, inasmuch as it might fitly describe it, and apply to it, as it is now attempted in the religious world, and yet not be specifically intended to predict such a work? The general application of this scripture by our people is such as is indicated above. In fact, the application is so natural and fitting that it automatically applies itself. Thus the wall for the change of the Sabbath is a weak and tottering wall; and the efforts made to strengthen it—that is, all the arguments used to bolster up the idea of a change of the Sabbath—are like untempered mortar,—mortar that has no coherence nor strength, and hence will not make firm and steady the wall or whatever else it may be to which it is applied. Of course the reasoning often resorted to on this scripture is denounced as fanciful by the Sunday advocates, but this does not destroy the aptness of the illustration, which can be truthfully said to apply well to this subject. But whether the prophecy was intended to be so used, and was given for this purpose, is another question, and should be well considered before such a use is made of it. Many prophetic illustrations were doubtless used by the New Testament writers with simply the words, “And to this agree the words of the prophet,” or an equivalent expression, when originally the prophecy was not designed for that purpose. So long as no better application can be found for this scripture than the one referred to, it will doubtless continue to be so used.
BRAINS VERSUS MUSCLE.
The following beautiful passage is by the Rev. J. E. Corning. It will be appreciated by all “brain workers:” “While I sit at my study table with my pen in my hand, the fingers moving with tardy pace at the beckon of brain, I hear right below my window, in the adjacent field, the monotonous ring of a laborer’s hoe upon the corn hills. While he hoes, he whistles hour by hour, until the clock strikes twelve, and then with ravenous appetite repairs to his bountiful yet simple meal, only to resume his task again and pursue it to the setting of the sun. As I stood at the window watching his toil, and turned again to my pen and paper, I asked myself how it happens that the man with the hoe will labor his eight or ten hours a day with less fatigue than the man with his pen will toil his three or four.428the night hours in feverish wakefulness. And thus we get a great organic law of our being; to wit, that brain work subtracts vitality from the fountain, while muscle work makes only draughts upon one of the ramifying streams of life. It is estimated by scientific observers that a man will use up as much vital force in working his brain two hours as he will in working his muscles eight.”
“Hugh Miller was a great worker with the shovel and pick—would have made a good hand in a slate quarry, in grading a railroad, or digging a canal. But one night, as you know, he shot himself in a fit of nervous fever. What was the difference between the great geologist and the man with the hoe whistling under my window? Simply this! The former was a worker of brain, and the latter, a worker of muscle. Let this man with the hoe lay down his husbandry for a little while, and set himself to studying one of the stalks of corn, or the chemistry of one of those hills of soil, and very likely he would soon learn what it is to lose one’s appetite, and hear the clock strike nearly all
Faith Versus Doubt in Argument
“Doubt may be strong in argument, but it is faith that does the work.”
CALVARY STILL ESSENTIAL.
AND this is from the gracious Dr. Gayler in his “Brotherly Talk with the Preachers.” “I exhort you not to be caught by the current delusion that this ‘advanced age’ requires entirely new methods and a new style of preaching, and what is absurdly called an ‘up-to-date gospel.’ This age of ours, with all its mighty mechanical inventions and its increasing mammon-worship, has not advanced one single inch beyond its indispensable need of the atoning blood of Jesus and the converting power of the Holy Spirit. All the telegraphs and the telephones, and all the universities, with their boasted achievements in scholarship, have not yet outlawed Calvary and Pentecost. Human nature has not changed; human sinfulness and sorrows have not changed; the word of God has not changed; the precious promises have not changed; and what fallen man needed to lift him God-ward nineteen centuries ago, he needs to-day. Stick to the old gospel.”
THE LORD'S SUPPER.
By Mrs. P. Alderman
MRS. P. ALDERMAN.
O how shall we come to the table of God,—
This board in the wilderness spread,
The banquet most holy, the blood of our Lord
That for us was on Calvary shed?
His body the bread that was broken for me;
O mystery sacred and sweet!
The cup of His shame is the cup of my joy;
Salvation He came to complete.
“As oft as ye come.” If only but once,
My heart would have glowed at the grace
That invites a poor sinner to honor so high,
And cheers with the smiles of His face.
My Saviour, I come with repentance and tears,
Bowed down with the weight of thy love:
For here thou so sweetly dost banish my fears
While thy Spirit broods o'er like a dove.
With fervent devotion my heart shall be cheered
Till we meet at thy table above.
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
By Juan McCarthy
After leaving San Cristobal, we journeyed on to Norte of Santa Fé. There we had the privilege of meeting with the brethren of our three churches. There had been some difficulties among them, which had caused much disunion. We called a general meeting of all the brethren in the Chaco; and in response to our invitation, about fifty met with us for special services. From the first, the Lord came near, and hard feelings gave way in the presence of the loving influence of the Holy Spirit. We held three or four meetings each day, during which time our souls were watered with the rich dews of heaven. Two young men were converted to the Lord, and at the end of our meetings, desired baptism. These brethren were united to the San Antonio church. Truly, the power of the living God is among us; otherwise it would be impossible to bring about reconciliations and harmony when to all appearances a fraternal arrangement seems altogether out of the question. May the Lord help us to uproot every hard feeling that may linger in our hearts; so that we may be the recipients of a great measure of God's Spirit.
From the Chaco we came to Escalada, where we had to wait three days before taking a coach for San Javier. At the latter place we had the joy of seeing Sister Lockett, a North American sister who for some time has been keeping the Sabbath. There are also a few brethren here, but owing to the distance dividing them, they have met but few times to study God's word. Before leaving here, however, we shall organize a Sabbath-school, and also put an elder in charge. These brethren have not been visited for two years, yet they love the Lord and His truth, and are firmly battling against antagonistic influences brought to bear upon them.
May we, who have the blessed privilege of constantly hearing the preaching of God's word, appreciate the same; and let us make every effort in our power to send messengers of peace and truth to those in isolated regions; so that we may be participants of their joys, and gather precious sheaves into the heavenly garner, in the day when the Lord comes to gather home His own.
JUAN McCARTHY.
ENCOURAGING REPORT FROM THE TENNESSEE RIVER CONFERENCE.
By W. J. Stone
A little over a year and a half ago I was requested by the General Conference to take the oversight of the work in the Tennessee River Conference. After arriving on the ground, and learning the condition of the work, I found some things which, from a human standpoint, were not very encouraging; but as I had been earnestly seeking the Lord to direct in my field of labor, I did not feel discouraged, but believed the Lord had a work for me to do, and would bless my efforts put forth in His name. As the financial condition of the Conference seemed the most unfavorable, my special attention was given to that, in order to relieve the situation.
I found the total indebtedness of the Conference and tract society to be something over three thousand dollars. This for a small Conference, whose tithe was less than two thousand dollars a year, seemed to me to be a great load. I visited our churches, talking faith and courage, and placing before them our financial condition. I also told them that if each would do his duty, we could soon be freed from this debt, but asked for no special donations. Many of our brethren and sisters have been doing nobly, and our indebtedness has steadily decreased. Our tithe was increased last year about five hundred dollars, or about twenty per cent, and the prospects are good for quite an increase this year over last. We have also received some assistance outside of the Conference, for which we are grateful. The Upper Columbia Conference supported Sister Cornwell here in the colored work for about eight months, and the Michigan Conference is supporting one of its best laborers here for a year, also the Ohio Conference is supporting a Bible worker here for one year. The Iowa Conference has also promised us financial aid. Private individuals have assisted us some. This help has been most thankfully received, and words cannot express the gratitude felt by our committee and brethren generally for the assistance rendered in this time of need.
-We are glad to state to our brethren that by the great blessing of God, we are now comparatively out of debt. The three-thousand-dollar indebtedness has all been met or provided for, and we feel that we are now on our feet to do much more pioneer work in carrying the special truths for this time to the people. We have not seen our numbers increase as we have desired, although the reports show that about forty or fifty have professed faith in Christ and the message during this time.
When I came, there were but four laborers actively engaged in the work in the field, besides the canvassers. Now we have eight, and our canvassing force is somewhat increased, besides two trained nurses. Two camp-meetings and four tent efforts are planned for the summer, and we are expecting much of the blessing of God upon these efforts. During the past year two new churches have been built, and one bought. We have also built one church schoolhouse, and maintained four church schools, which have given good satisfaction. All these features of the work are most gratifying to those in charge of the work.
In bringing about the results mentioned above, God has blessed far beyond the expectation of those who had the most faith, thus fulfilling His promise “to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Therefore we joy and rejoice in Him for this blessing, and gather courage from this experience to press forward in the work with more faith and courage than ever before. To God be all the praise.
The Tennessee River Conference has a population of about two million people. It is a good field for self-supporting missionaries. We solicit correspondence from any interested in this part of the South, and invite consecrated brethren and sisters who have a little money, to engage with us in this work. The Southern publishing house is situated in our midst, so publications are easily obtained, with which to do missionary work. Our brethren throughout the Conference will take special pains to assist in giving any information desired regarding matters here. My address is Jackson, Tenn.
W. J. STONE.
THE NORTH PACIFIC CAMP-MEETING.
By Alonzo T. Jones
The North Pacific camp-meeting was held from May 23 to June 2, at Sunnyside, near Portland, Ore., in a beautiful grove of magnificent firs. Sister White and Elder W. C. White attended the meeting from the beginning until the close of the first Sunday. Elders Knox and Schultz and I were there Monday morning, May 27, until the end.
The same good Spirit and His cheering and encouraging liberty that was manifested in the General Conference, and was continued in the Indianapolis meeting and in the Upper Columbia meeting, was here also to lead in all the work, all the way. Both ministers and people were ready to receive the instruction of the Lord, and to enter heartily into the work of reorganization, beginning with the individual experience. This meeting therefore, like the others before it, was full of blessing from beginning to end.
The instruction was plain and positive, that each member, so far as he is concerned, is the Conference and the cause wherever he is; and that Christ is indeed the Head of every man. As the people began to practice local self-government, they met some unexpected trials, but they were taught to hold fast the principle, to trust God, and to pray to Him to lead them out, and He did it most triumphantly, causing all to see eye to eye, and to stand together as one. The experience was an invaluable educative experience; and all rejoiced at the victory, and in the better acquaintanceship with God in His gentle power and bountiful working.
The attendance from without was good, of an excellent class of people who manifested a positive interest in the truths which were presented. Indeed, the interest was such that a tent was pitched in Sunnyside to meet it, and, so far as possible, carry it to completion.
The first Sunday, at the afternoon service, in response to an appeal in behalf of the work in the429South, a cash donation of about five hundred dollars was made by the congregation. Later, nearly five hundred dollars was given to other parts of the work. Brother F. S. Bunch was ordained to the gospel ministry.
The following-named persons were chosen to carry the responsibilities of the Conference for the ensuing year:— President, Elder W. H. Decker. Executive Committee: J. L. Wilson, S. W. Nellis, Dr. W. R. Simmons, H. J. Schnepper, J. F. Hanson, F. S. Bunch. Trustees of Northern Pacific Church Extension Society, first five members of the Executive Committee; Treasurer, Church Extension Society; Secretary of Conference and Sabbath-schools, Edith Starbuck; Missionary Secretary, T. H. Starbuck; State Canvassing Agent, W. B. Scott; Corresponding Secretary, referred to Conference Committee.
ALONZO T. JONES.
Brother Sadler's Report from San Francisco
BROTHER SADLER writes from San Francisco, Cal. “We are now well started in our work here in connection with Elder Corliss.”
Tent Meetings Held at Kanapolis, Kansas
BROTHER A. R. OGDEN writes from Kanapolis, Kan., June 11, 1901: “We are holding tent-meetings now at Kanapolis, four miles east of Ellsworth, with a good interest.”
CHILE
By G. H. Baber
IQUIQUE.—In company with Brother Balada, I came to Iquique, April 1. For seven weeks we held a meeting each night and two on Sabbath. As a result, twenty persons were baptized. Brother Balada has returned to Santiago. I am conducting a Bible school for the benefit of those who desire to know more of God’s word. We are studying the book of Daniel. Several children of from ten to fourteen years of age are able to explain Daniel 2. I desire to continue this work for three months yet. May the Lord give grace and strength to His work here, to the end that some native tongue may be consecrated to preach the message in this needy field.
Brother E. W. Thomann is continuing the work in Valparaiso. I have asked Brother Balada to help him with the preaching there.
A letter from my wife tells me that the General Conference has not forgotten this field, for which I thank God, and take courage. G. H. BABER.
Public Meetings Begin in Lincoln, Nebraska
By Reuben Kite; Luther Warren
Nebraska
Lincoln.—For some time we have been preparing for a course of meetings in this city. Since the Conference, we have started public work. We have held two Sunday night meetings in the largest hall in town. The first night there were one thousand seven hundred present, and the second, two thousand. Already we see evidences that the Spirit of God is working among the people. The talks at the hall are being printed in leaflets, and carried to the homes by our workers, so we feel that we have an audience each week of from ten to twenty thousand people.
Pray that the Lord may teach us how to “compel” this dear people to “come in.”