Gospel Finance — No. 20: Our Financial System and Our Organization
E. K. SLADE
If the enemy of God's work cannot find selfishness enough in a man to make him withhold his tithes and offerings, he will suggest that each individual ought to say just where they shall be paid, even to the placing of them in the hands of the individual user. Thus the way is opened for any sort of self-appointed preacher or evangelist to receive support from consecrated funds, regardless of his standing, fitness, or qualifications. A glib talker, a pleaser of the people, with winning personality and the ability to cause the tears to flow freely, would walk away with his pockets full; while a purer, better man, too honest to do that, would go hungry and naked rather than make a play upon the people's sympathies to get funds for his personal needs. Such a state of things would make it possible for men to receive financial support and pose as public workers in the Lord's work through the approval of one or two or a very few. The standard of those supported by the tithes and gifts of the people should be that demanded and agreed to by the whole body. When, in recognition of gospel order, all funds are placed in the Lord's treasury, they are used to support only those workers whose lives and labors will warrant such support according to the judgment, not of one or two or a few, but of the whole body.
Let the reader imagine, if possible, what our work would be if each one were to pay tithes and offerings promiscuously to whomsoever or whatever might appeal to his fancy. There are those who move about in our conferences1215advocating such an arrangement, and bidding for such support. Unusually pleasing sermons are preached and timely truths are presented by men who manifest a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of those who listen to them, but their opposition to gospel order in directing and financing the work and their disregard of the spirit of prophecy are made prominent. We have no warfare with such men, but we appeal to those who love God's closing work to be true to the message and the great world-wide movement by which it is being carried to the world. The enemy hates to have it go as it is going, and he hates the grand and effective system and the financial arrangement, the benefits of which he understands better than we do; and for this reason he would, if possible, place in operation a movement in opposition to that which is so essential to such advancement. Those who love to see the work prosper and who properly regard their own eternal welfare, will do nothing by word, act, or gift to encourage or sustain such a movement.
It is wise that our churches do not invite men to occupy their pulpits whose relation to the truth is such that the General Conference or the division, union, or local conferences will not grant them credentials or recommend their support. When place is given to such persons or when contributions are made to them, to that extent the purpose of our God-given organization and financial system is defeated. Approximately two million dollars are contributed and distributed annually in our work, and every dollar of that amount is accounted for and appropriated with care and systematic management. Who can feel that it would be profitable to the cause to have it otherwise?
Our foreign mission operations have assumed gigantic proportions. An inspection of the Mission Board budget will convince one of this. In going through the budget for 1914 recently, it inspired confidence in the management of our work as well as emphasized the necessity of order, to see with what exactness the needs of the fields of the world are anticipated and provided for, and how carefully every cent of money sent abroad is accounted for. There is no haphazard work about this. The needs of every field are carefully studied. Will an opposer of organization and of our financial system venture to say how the work of God in these great fields could be carried forward without our church, conference, and general organization?
We have in our ranks hundreds of faithful veterans who have given their lives to the work until disabled by age, and those who have failed in health from bearing heavy burdens. Their support must come from some source. They are not to be treated as subjects of charity. Their support is properly provided for in the same systematic way, so that this faithful class of God's servants is not left to suffer. Who would have this effective and equitable system set aside, and these disabled servants of God neglected? He who by precept or practise consents to the payment of tithes or offerings wherever one's fancy may dictate, loses sight of one of the most vital and fundamental parts of the great system of truth committed to the remnant church. That the enemy strikes a blow at that point is significant. In our study of gospel finance, this question of our financial system and organization is not the least important. It will be appreciated more as the work develops and as the enemy tries harder to bring in confusion.
“Be Ye Therefore Merciful”
By T. E. Bowen
T. E. BOWEN
Mercy is an attribute of God. He is its author. Back of mercy is love. Without love mercy cannot exist. And then to show mercy there must be some one undeserving upon whom to bestow it. Otherwise it would not be mercy.
We all have sinned; we all need mercy. God is merciful, and he delights in showing mercy. He has even told us so in the law itself: “And showing mercy unto thousands of them [generations] that love me, and keep my commandments.” This world offers God the opportunity for showing mercy, and there are abundant opportunities granted us for showing mercy. How strange that we should delight ourselves in the fruit of God’s mercy, and yet shun, as we all often do, the showing of mercy to those who need ours! We enjoy the fruit, but many times miss the benefits of the experience by which the fruit is produced.
To illustrate, in the neighborhood is a poor family. They are unfortunate. They do not seem to know how to plan their affairs so that they are not always in need. They are often sick. By some they may be considered not very bright, because they do not do differently. Somehow, by common consent, they are ignored. They may have moved in better circles, but that day is now past. They are isolated. They know it; they feel it; in their hearts they resent it. But what are they to do? Perhaps nearly all in the neighborhood, including the poor family, profess to be Christians. They go to church every week. They all hear the same gospel truths, yet here is a chasm.
A large-hearted, motherly soul appears upon the scene. She takes in the situation. She spurns the caste she sees on exhibition. Seeing a need, she recognizes her God-given duty; and regardless of the fine-spun distinctions of modern society rules, her sympathy is drawn out for the neglected ones, and, to use a common phrase, she “rolls up her sleeves” and goes to work for them. Her heart is large enough to love them without loving her friends any the less. She somehow has the discernment to place her interest and love where they are most needed. Her old friends may be neglected a bit; they may even throw out the hint that she does not call upon them very often. Some may even drop her from their circle. But what of that? “They are able to care for themselves and find plenty of friends to their liking,” she reasons, and she proposes not to shun the poor family until they are again on their feet, in a measure, at least.
So she works on for them. She is not ashamed to be seen on the street with the poor woman. She can go to church with her, and sit with her after she gets there. In other words, in her heart she does not despise the one whom she knows to be in need, and whom she has really learned to love; for by this time she has dug down into the treasures of these neglected hearts and discovered gold, real gold, which long has been concealed, but which she knows God sees and highly values.
More than likely this dear, practical, sensible Christian has often read, yes, studied, in her private devotions, the few words leading up to the ones which say, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Here they are: “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6: 32-36.
Thousands of professed Christians are withering up because they pass by as unimportant these living lessons left us by the Master. He lived them literally while he was here. He had compassion upon the poor; he visited them and became their friend. He healed them, and blessed them with his counsel and teaching. He was not ashamed to associate with them and share their simple hospitality. And for this one thing more than anything else,—this breaking of the Pharisees’ caste,—he was hated by the teachers of that time. Their exclusive caste was broken in upon by his going among the poor, the supposedly forsaken of God. But Jesus preferred the companionship and sincere love of these neglected ones to that of the self-satisfied, proud, conceited persons who thought themselves superior to others.
God still loves judgment and mercy. Many will go into the kingdom who are not perhaps so wonderfully wise or brilliant or talented, as men count such things, but who have shown mercy to the poor, who have taken a loving interest in them and helped them in their need. Such have manifested the character of the Father and the Son, and are numbered among heaven’s most valued treasures. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”
“Be ye therefore merciful.”
The Classification of Apostasy
By Francis M. Wilcox
Apostasies from the church of God have been varied in their character. The time, the circumstances, the environment, the temperament of individuals, the cause of grievances,—all have had to do with shaping the course of those who turn their backs upon the truth. The record of the church, as brought to view in the Scriptures, makes of these deflections three general classifications, as follows:—
1. Those who apparently shut the truth out of their knowledge, and turn from it and from all religious experience and conviction to the allurements of the world. Of this class was Demas, of whom Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy: “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.”
Demas at one time was a fellow laborer with the apostle, and in the epistles to Philemon and to the church at Colosse, united in the salutation with his other fellow workers. But the influence of the world appealed too strongly to his natural temperament. He failed to keep all on the altar. Little by little he yielded to the temptation held before him, until finally he could resist no longer. The record is that in his love for the world he forsook the cause of Christ. From this time forward Demas drops out of sight. We have no record that he opposed the gospel work. He went his way, and permitted the church of Christ to go its way. In this respect his course was certainly more commendable than that of some others who departed from the faith.
2. Those who apostatize from the truth and then turn and openly oppose it. Of this class was Diotrephes, who, while he still maintained his official position, erected the standard of revolt, cast out from his fellowship all who did not harmonize with his methods, and with malicious words fought the apostle John and the work of the church. Of him John in this third epistle writes:—
“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”
In the apostasy of this man Satan sought to secure double advantage. He not only drew him from the ranks of the believers, but caused him in turn to become the enemy of his former brethren. Diotrephes, however, had one distinguishing characteristic by which his former associates might know the position he occupied. He carried on an open warfare. He did not profess allegiance to the church of God and then secretly undermine it. As far as we are afforded information, his fight against the church and the authority of the church was open and unmistakable. In consequence, his former associates were left undeceived as to his real attitude, and therefore knew how to relate themselves to the new movement.
3. The third classification of apostasy is the one most insidious in its workings and pernicious in its influence. It is represented in the Bible by such men as Hymenaeus and Philetus, of whom Paul writes in his second epistle to Timothy. These men evidently, while yet members of the church of Christ, advocated doctrines entirely subversive of gospel truth. They argued that the resurrection was already past. They struck at the very foundation of the gospel. Their word had its effect. It ate its way into the simple faith of the Christian believers as a corroding canker. Of their work the apostle Paul writes:—
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.”
There came a time, however, when the work of these men became manifest to the church, for the apostle speaks of some who had made shipwreck of the faith, “of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
In this third class of opposers were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and others mentioned in the Scriptures of Truth. Posing as conservators of the truth, covertly and little by little they corrupted its simplicity in the minds of the believers. Against those who sought to meet their errors and protect the church of God from their pernicious influence, they raised the cry of persecution. They posed as martyrs to the right. They claimed for themselves loyalty to the cause, and charged the truly loyal ones with apostasy. They regarded themselves as cast out for the cross of Christ, and when Heaven manifested its displeasure of their course by visiting upon them divine retribution, their sympathizers declared to Moses, “Ye have killed the people of the Lord.”
These three classes have had their representatives in every age. Their prototypes exist today. The history of this movement in which we are engaged has seen men separate from the cause of truth and follow in the path of those who have gone before them. Some, like Demas, have left the third angel’s message and gone to the world. They are lost in the great vortex which has swallowed up the thousands. They have given no apparent opposition to their former brethren; they have dropped out of sight as far as this movement is concerned. They have evilly affected the work only as far as the personal influence of their apostasy extended.
Others have left the truth and have come to be its bitterest and most outspoken opposers. They have written and spoken against this movement. They have, of course, accomplished an evil work. They have created prejudice in the hearts of some who otherwise would have listened to the message. In small measure they have drawn off disciples after them. But with this class, the same as with Diotrephes and Alexander, it was known where they stood. Their onslaughts could be met and repelled. The sheep of the fold could be shielded as from a roaring lion.
But others, it is to be regretted, while professing to be loyal supporters of the truth, have opposed it, and secretly worked to undermine its power and influence in the lives of the believers. Claiming they have been misjudged and mistreated, and appealing to sympathy for support, they have sought in the rôle of martyrs to secure a following among their associates.1217
And in this day, as in the days of the apostle Paul, every effort to unmask these specious workings and preserve the truth in its purity and the church of God in its unity, is looked upon by some as stern and tyrannical. The apostle, however, did not so regard it. Of his attitude toward this class of opposers in his day he says:—
“To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
And of this same class Jude exhorts the church:—
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
It is for the church of God today, even as in every age of the past, to fortify itself against these evil influences. We have been told by the spirit of prophecy that in the closing days of this work some of the brightest lights would go out in darkness. The greatest danger we have to meet is not from open opposition. It is from men and women who profess to be Seventh-day Adventists, but whose teaching and conduct demonstrate that they are endeavoring to tear down the work which the truly loyal believers are giving their lives to build up. Against such deception as this we need to be particularly on guard.
To individuals who are doing this work, however highly esteemed in the past, we must not give support. To do so is to be counted partakers with them in their disintegrating influence. Says the apostle John, speaking of the effort to corrupt the truth of the gospel:—
“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
While we seek to manifest toward all classes Christian charity, let us not confound charity with unwise sympathy nor mistake license for liberty. Let us “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” and instead of confirming men in wrong positions by our attitude, show clearly where we stand in the conflict between truth and error. These times and the issues before us admit of no divided or neutral positions. It is as true of this work as of the gospel message in Christ’s day that he who gathers not with it, scatters abroad. Let us see to it that our influence is cast unmistakably on the side of God and his truth. F. M. W.
A Personal Saviour
By Editor
Editorial
A Personal Saviour
It is not enough that we believe Christ to be the Saviour of man, of our brother, or of a friend. We must accept him as a personal and individual Redeemer. We are considered of the Lord, in his redemptive scheme, not collectively, as a nation or as a church, but as distinct and separate individuals, each responsible alone for his individual acts. “If any man eat of this bread;” “if any man will do his will;” “if any man thirst;” “by me if any man enter in;” “if any man hear my words, and believe;” “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,” — all these expressions, together with many others all through the Sacred Word, make the work of redemption a very personal as well as practical matter.
Angel Guardians
By W. A. S.
What more precious promise of divine watch-care than that of Ps. 91:11: “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” To believe it is to know the secret of courage in the daily toil. Unseen, they are there, according to the promise, angels that one moment behold the Father’s face in heaven and the next come swiftly to minister to his children on earth.
A narrative of early times in America, which appeared many years ago in the Boston Christian, bears witness to the fact that sometimes the heavenly watchers have been made visible to human eyes in these modern days, even as in olden times. One C. G. Steinhofer was a faithful Lutheran pastor, in a frontier region of one of the Eastern States. In his pastoral labors, it came to his knowledge that a member of the congregation was living a double and wicked life. He labored with the man, but to no avail. Then he told the offender he would have to rebuke the sin publicly.
The man threatened the pastor, and finally, just before the public service, gave him notice that he would surely do him violence if he made the matter public. The pastor, however, discharged his duty, and called on the congregation to pray that the evil might be removed from their midst. The offender was so enraged that he immediately prepared to take the pastor’s life. Knowing that he would pass through a wood to visit a sick member, the furious man lay in wait for the minister, with gun in his hand and murder in his heart. The narrative continues:—
In due time the clergyman came in sight; but to the dismay of the watcher, two men appeared to be with him, one on either side. This, for that time, baffled his intention; but being determined to effect it, he concluded to do it when the visit was over, and therefore remained waiting in the wood. Steinhofer, after a short period, returned, but to the surprise of his enemy, the two men who had appeared to accompany him as he went were still apparently beside him; and thus he again passed safely through the wood, not knowing that it concealed an enemy.
Perplexed in mind and uneasy in conscience, the offender felt an earnest desire to know who the men were whose presence had protected his intended victim. To obtain that knowledge he sent a servant-maid on some trivial errand to the house of the minister, telling her to find out who the strangers were who accompanied him on his afternoon visit. She made inquiry, and was told that he went out alone, and took nothing with him but his Bible, which he carried under his arm. This return to his question startled the man more than ever. He immediately despatched a messenger to the clergyman, demanding who those two men were who, one on his right and the other on his left side, accompanied him to visit the sick man. The messenger was also instructed to say that his master had seen them with his own eyes.
C. G. Steinhofer, although he knew not what peril he had escaped, yet felt convinced that the Lord’s hand was in the thing, and also that he had, by his preserving providence, been round about him that day. He bade the servant tell his master that he knew of no man having accompanied him. “But,” he added, “I am never alone; the Lord whom I serve is always with me.” This message, faithfully delivered by the servant, produced a powerful effect on the master. His conscience was alarmingly awakened. He immediately complied with the requisitions of duty, and the next morning, as a humble penitent, he called on his faithful reprover, with tears confessed his past crime, and also his wicked intention so providentially frustrated.
Patriarch and prophet and apostle of old are passed away, whom angel messengers attended, guarding, delivering, and blessing. But the angels still live on—the same that have kept up the line of communication between heaven and earth since Adam’s fall. And their ministry is just the same in these latter days of unbelief in a living God. It is good to know it, not merely in times of danger, but in the common round of everyday life. They are still with us, these messengers from heaven, to help us to be ready to live in heaven, where we shall see the King in his beauty, and where we shall join in his praise with the angels that have been fellow servants with us in God’s service here on earth.
W. A. S.
Our House of Bread
By C. M. S.
WHEREVER the gospel of Christ is preached, the beautiful name Bethlehem is learned and loved. Thither came Ruth to leave the dutiful record of her filial love, and to give to posterity a lineage of kings. Thither came Samuel, the prophet of God, to anoint the great-grandson of that believing Moabitish maiden to be king of Israel in the place of Saul. There was he born who gave to Israel, in unapproachable poetry, messages of mercy, songs of praise, and prophecies of great things yet to be. Thither fled the anointed but uncrowned David, to escape the wrath of the ruler who had fled from the leading of God to take counsel of his own will.
Then to this Bethlehem, or House of Bread, there came one day, when the fulness of time had come, that Babe who was destined to feed the world with the bread of life,—he who was so fully to identify himself with that life-giving work that he himself was that “living bread which came down from heaven,” and of which “if any man eat,” “he shall live forever.” To herald the coming of that Child, we hear the songs of angels under the star-sprinkled sky, with God’s own message of assurance to the1218world. They tell us that the true God is not the author of war and strife, of hatred and cruelty, of jealousy and malignity. The will of God, expressed in angel song, was, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” “Still does our Father love us, and God cannot forget.”
But closely written into the history of the coming of that Child is that sad story of the senseless cruelty which filled the cemetery of Bethlehem with little graves, and the homes of Bethlehem with sorrowing fathers and mothers. Blind selfishness set itself up to spend its little day and raise its withering arm against the purpose of infinite love. Herod filled his little place of pomp for a little day in feverish anxiety; but he has filled a larger and more enduring place in the loathing of the world than any other character known to history, and justly so. What sadness and what gladness cluster around the name of ancient Bethlehem!
Micah had long ago foretold the birthplace of that Child to whom the world must look for redemption and whom Israel had been taught to expect. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” “And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be our peace.” Micah 5: 2, 4, 5.
How appropriate that to the House of Bread (Bethlehem) should come he who was the bread of life and who was to feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah. With the manna that fell from heaven God fed the wandering hosts of Israel in the wilderness of Arabia; and in that manna God has symbolized the work of Christ for this world during all the history of sin. Born in Bethlehem of Judea, he has been the inexhaustible Bethlehem for the whole starving world. To that house of bread no hungry soul has ever come and found repulsion or emptiness. No king or pope or priest has ever been able to lock the door of that Bethlehem against the yearning importunities of a single unsaved soul. Tyrants have locked men and women in dungeon cells, or burned them at the stake, for going of their own free will to partake of that proffered bread; but they could no more cut off the supply of that bread of life than they could prevent the sun from shining or the clouds from pouring down their blessings on the earth. A sense of the thirst and hunger of soul is the only ticket required to secure for the applicant a bountiful supply of the water of life and the bread of life.
The prophet declares of those who are fed by Him that “they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be our peace.” The time is drawing near when the kingdom of Christ, the Prince of Peace, will bear sway over all this world, which is now dominated by the kingdoms of men, ruled through force and fomenting strife. But they who are fed by his hand “shall not be moved,” “shall abide,” and abide in peace. Strife is running riot in this world today; but he who is truly fed of God will have peace in the very midst of this world’s commotion. He will not be moved, he will not be anxious, he will not be fearful of the outcome, because “this man shall be our peace.”
The inn at Bethlehem had no place for Him in whose hands lay all the blessings of heaven for a lost world. The house was filled with the every-day traveler and trafficker. So it is with the hearts of the great mass of humanity today. Men are struggling, striving, surging, self-seeking, competing, crowding the heart walls for room, while the Saviour of the world stands without, knocking unheard, pleading unanswered, and still loving, through it all, the souls that weave themselves as woof into the warp of this world. And when one does hear, and turn from the turmoil and the strife and the grasping and the soul-starving to the water of life and the house of bread, then heaven rejoices, and the long waiting and the scorn and the rebuffs and the mockings of the rabble that hounded Him to the cross then and follow his disciples now—all are forgotten in the joy that fills the heart of Christ. He is seeing the fruit of soul travail, and the seeing brings the satisfying that recompenses all.
O soul outside of Christ, why dwell longer in sin? Why wander longer in the wilderness of strife, uncertainty, and doubt? Why walk longer in the way that has no other end than death? Why journey on toward the desert of death when you might return to the garden of God, with its flowing river of life and its fruit-filled tree of life, where there is no death? The bread of life has come; let us partake and live. C. M. S.
Returning and Rest
“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Isa. 30:15.
Note and Comment
“America”
According to the Advance of Sept. 25, 1913, earnest protests are coming in from Catholic priests and politicians against the use of the hymn “America” in public schools and general patriotic services. They charge that it was written by a New England parson, and that it is narrow and sectarian in its scope.
Says the Advance:—
This paper stands for no spirit of bigoted hostility to the Roman Catholic Church, but we earnestly resent the machination and hostility to American institutions which underlie movements of this character. . . . But a deeper reason for opposing and resenting this movement is that it proceeds from a bigoted spirit of sectarianism, thoroughly hostile to our most cherished American institutions. Save America!
United States Leads in Woman Suffrage
“WITHIN the year the United States has become for the first time the leading woman-suffrage nation. That rank was previously held by Australia, which has a population of about 5,000,000. Previous to 1912, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, with a combined population of 2,785,000 in 1910, were our suffrage States. In California, with a population of 2,377,000 in 1910, women voted for the first time last fall. Arizona, Kansas, and Oregon, with a population in 1910 of 2,566,000, adopted suffrage amendments. Even with New Zealand, Australasia has not much more than 6,000,000 people. Woman-suffrage Finland has 3,000,000, suffrage Iceland 80,000, the suffrage Isle of Man 55,000. In other countries, as in other States of the United States, woman suffrage is limited. The nine full-suffrage States have now many more than 8,000,000 inhabitants. The women voters of the United States in 1912 nearly doubled their numbers in 1913 and nearly trebled them for 1914.”
Political and Social Changes in Italy
“In many ways there is shown the operation of modern and aggressive methods in political, commercial, and social life in Italy. The country has been enjoying unusual material prosperity. At the opening of the parliament on November 27 the king was greeted with much enthusiasm, irrespective of party affiliation of the members. For the first time, Socialist and Republican members took the oath of office in the presence of the king. Heretofore they have absented themselves while he was present. It was the first parliament to meet since the granting of universal suffrage. The address of the king was conceived and expressed in optimistic and conciliatory spirit. Many reforms were promised. It was declared to be the intention of the government to give Italian women their rightful place. Concerning the church, his majesty said that the most ample religious liberty would be given to it, but that it would be prevented from interfering in state affairs, as the government regarded itself as the only representative of Italian subjects, and could not admit any limitation of its sovereignty.”
Nassau, Bahamas
By J. H. SMITH
J. H. SMITH
It has been some time since we sent to the readers of the REVIEW a report of the progress of the work in this part of the harvest-field. We are sure that all those who are looking and longing for the coming of Jesus are anxious to know what advancement the gospel is making here, for it is not until “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” that we can expect the Saviour’s advent.
For your comfort and encouragement we are glad to be able to report that the work of the gospel is onward here. There seems to be a kindly feeling on the part of most of the people toward the truth. We find many who are glad to converse on Bible subjects and upon those things which are of interest to their souls. It is our experience that the people here in Nassau are not so easily reached by sermons as by daily associating with the faithful representative of the message.
This is a city of churches. We never saw another of its size with so many. Many of them are massive structures. The form of godliness is greatly in evidence, but the power thereof is sadly lacking.
Our Sabbath-school attendance has increased considerably the past month. We feel that those who will lay aside their work on the seventh day and mingle with us in our Sabbath services, will soon be with us on all points of the faith. Four have already avowed their purpose to do this.
There are two papers published in the city, one a daily and the other a semi-weekly. The editor of the daily paper has shown himself to be quite friendly, and has expressed a willingness to publish articles on our faith, provided they are written in such a way as not to arouse controversy. We have already sent him considerable matter, which he has accepted, and we have more ready to send. We spare no pains in getting these subjects written up in such a way that they will be read with interest by the public. We hope to retain the privilege of using this paper to give the message to the people of these islands.
The little church here has been holding services in a rented hall, but its members now feel that the time has come that they should have a building of their own in a more convenient part of the city, which will be a monument to the faith. We feel quite sure that such a building will add greatly to the success of our efforts to win souls, as the idea prevails that we are a transitory people and will soon cease our efforts, and that what we have done will soon go to pieces. If we erect a church building, it will be an evidence to the public that we are here to stay. Although this church numbers only a score, and all its members are poor, yet they have about one thousand dollars on hand with which to build, and the lot on which to erect the building. The plans for the house are already prepared, and work will begin in a few weeks.
For several months many of the reliable citizens of Nassau have been requesting that we help them establish a school in which their children will be given a more thorough and broader education than that given in the public schools. This matter has been presented before the Mission Board, which has looked with favor upon it. These men expect to begin erecting the school building by the first of the year, if our people will cooperate with them. They are willing by the first of the year, if our people school entirely in our hands, and desire12that we shall use our own text-books.
There are many openings to present the message in some of the outlying islands. Thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord is going before us to prepare hearts to receive his truth. This gives us courage in our work.
