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Review and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 19.

WHAT TO DO FIRST
Earlier text: WHAT TO DO FIRST

Editorial

By Editor

One of the Hard Times in Missionary Pioneering

THIS is a word concerning one side of the pioneering on the missionary frontiers which our missionaries do not emphasize in their reports. The missionaries love to tell of the victories gained and of the progress of the work, of the breaking down of barriers and of the winning of souls. Now and then, however, at the far frontiers, where facilities and comforts are few, the workers have to fight a very personal battle. We catch just a glimpse of this in the letters from the fields to the Mission Board office. We venture to take a few statements from a recent letter from Elder W. B. White, president of the South African Union Conference, who has charge of the work of the mission stations in the South African interior. These stations are fortunate in having in the South African colonies a home base to which workers requiring special attention healthwise can resort for recuperation and medical care. Writing in a personal letter of the rather trying times some of the mission station workers have been having, Elder White says:—
I am glad to say that Brother R. P. Robinson is making a fine recovery from his operation for appendicitis. I visited him Sabbath at the sanitarium. In two weeks we shall pass him on to the Spion Kop Mission, where he will spend some time with Brother F. B. Armitage while convalescing, Sister Robinson in the meantime helping Sister Armitage in the mission work. Later it is planned to send them on to the Solusi Mission [our first Matabele station] for a time, and then on to join Brother W. H. Anderson in the work in Barotseland.
I think I wrote you that Sister Anderson has had a very serious time with the fever. I have received a letter from Brother Walston, of Solusi, who has been up to Brother Anderson's mission, stating that Sister Anderson was past the crisis, and it was hoped would soon be very much better. For this we all rejoice.
Brother F. B. Jewell (who was disabled soon after having reached Tsungwesi, by an accident that induced sciatic rheumatism) was brought down to our sanitarium after having failed to recover by measures possible in the mission field. He is now able to walk quite naturally, and in two months we believe he can return to Tsungwesi. We had to rush Brother Hubert Sparrow and Brother J. R. Campbell to the assistance of Brother Sturdevant, who was left alone at Tsungwesi. He has had to work very hard, and was himself about disabled. But we have sent two good men to help.
Elder Anderson has had to work very hard in Barotseland. We ought to send him help also, and must as soon as the rainy season is over. The great drought now seems to be quite broken, and rain has fallen in different parts of the country, but too late in many cases to save the crop. However, it may provide grass for the cattle. One of our Dutch brethren wrote me that unless rain came within the next month, he would be ruined, for his cattle would all die.
This is more of personal news than we usually put out through the papers, but this glimpse of the battle that is going on in the South African fields will, we know, appeal to the hearts of our brethren and sisters in the churches in a very personal way. We must never forget that along with the gifts for missions, for which the fields thank the brethren in the churches, there is constant call for prayer in behalf of the workers. The work is pushing on into regions that are not healthful, and yet there the people are, millions of them, waiting unwarned, with no knowledge of the Saviour, and our brethren and sisters are pushing the mission stations on and ever on into regions beyond, in order to save the lost and the perishing. It is a real battle, and the farther we push on with it, the greater need of earnest haste in the doing of the work.
W. A. S.

Missionary Literature

By F. M. Wilcox

We have been asked by several correspondents what literature they should use in awakening the people to the dangers threatening our liberties from the Catholic propaganda and other church-and-state movements. We have replied unhesitatingly, "The literature prepared and published by Seventh-day Adventists." Why this counsel? We answer, Because in this literature the principles of civil and religious liberty are clearly set forth in their relation to the Scriptures of Truth and to the times in which we live.
There are some excellent religious journals published by other denominations. These journals express much truth, but oftentimes this is intermingled with specious error; and while the truth is expressed in its general relationship to Christianity, no attempt is made to teach it in its relationship to that phase of the gospel message which is due the world at the present time.
The publications of the Baptist Church clearly teach the doctrine of immersion as the only Scriptural method of baptism. With the advocacy of this vital truth we are in hearty accord. The doctrine of free grace is precious to the heart of every Methodist, and in this belief we rejoice as a people. In the Lutheran papers the blessed truth of justification through faith is taught and emphasized. These papers minister good to many of their readers, and exert an ennobling influence in the lives of the members of these churches. We wish them Godspeed in all their efforts to build up the kingdom of Christ in the earth.
But in the light of the development of prophetic truth for these days, these cardinal doctrines of the Bible are placed in a new setting in the great circle of truth. For instance, it is not for us to see the truth of justification through faith in Christ in the setting alone in which Luther placed it, but in its particular setting in the message of God for this generation. This doctrine should mean today all that it meant to Luther, and more. It means a preparation to stand, a little way from this, in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. It means a preparation to meet the King face to face at his coming. It means a power in the life to stand against "the beast and his image."
At the present time there are published in various parts of the country a number of journals which have as their burden the safeguarding of the liberties of the American people. These papers carry on an active propaganda against the efforts of the Roman Church. While we cannot approve many of their methods, which partake to a large extent of the partisan and religio-political spirit of Romanism itself, we do not question that they accomplish good in the campaign in which they are engaged. But the basis of their opposition to Rome is quite different from the basis of the opposition by Seventh-day Adventists. While these journals stand for some excellent principles, they carry on their work with partisan zeal rather than with a missionary spirit. Their efforts are not for the salvation of the Romanist, but to oppose Rome. To them the triumph of their cause is above the salvation of the individuals opposed to that cause.
We do not doubt that God may even overrule these efforts as deterrent forces for the sake of his truth; and for our friends and neighbors engaged in this propaganda against evil we have the kindest wishes. We cannot, however, afford to be classed with them in their opposition to Rome. Our opposition must spring from a different motive. We stand opposed to Roman aggression today not because we are anti-Romanists, but because we recognize the fact that the ascendancy of her principles means the ensnaring of souls. We stand opposed to evil principles whether advocated by Rome or by those who are fighting Rome. The salvation of the Romanist should appeal as strongly to our hearts as the salvation of Protestants. We recognize that the situation which exists is a fulfillment of the prophecy of the Word, and the only way that the crisis can be met is by the power of the Word. We cannot trust to numbers, political influence, logic, or argument. Our help must come from God. We must proclaim his warning message, and let his Spirit seal it to the good of the honest hearted.
The great mass of mankind, according to the inspired penman, will reject God and go down to destruction. We cannot hope to save the mass of humanity, but we can hope to find in the mass honest souls, both Romanists and anti-Romanists, who love God and desire his truth; who are reaching out not only for civil liberty, but above all for soul liberty. It is for these we must labor. Wherein we permit a partisan spirit to enter our hearts, we nullify the very work which God has called us to do. It is for these reasons that we should use our own literature in this present crisis.
The Protestant Magazine, Liberty, the Watchman, and the Signs of the Times (weekly and monthly),—all these journals have been prepared with special reference to these times in which we live, and they present the truth in the setting in which it belongs in this period of the earth's history. Let us make liberal use of our denominational literature just now. The minds of men are open for study. Thousands are looking out into the world, and as they witness the gathering of the forces of good and evil for the last great conflict, are inquiring what these things mean. It is our privilege, under God, to answer this inquiry, to point them to the prophetic word, and its striking fulfillment which is taking place before our very eyes.
Surely if we do not improve the opportunity afforded by the present agitation throughout the country to place in the hands of our neighbors the books and tracts and periodicals which explain these vital questions, we shall indeed be recreant to our trust. Let us recognize the opportunity before us, and enter the door which the providence of God has opened.
F. M. W.

Foreign Mission and Relief Funds

By W. T. Knox

Herewith is submitted the report of the receipts of the foreign mission and relief funds for the first three months of 1914, being the record of each local and union conference in North America. It is to be greatly regretted that conditions necessitate the rendering of a report with such a poor showing. On account of all that is involved in our success or failure in raising these funds, the careful consideration of the report by the Review readers is earnestly requested.
The appropriations of the General Conference for 1914 have been based upon the expectation of securing offerings equivalent to a full fifteen cents per week per member, our calculations being based upon a membership in North America of 65,013. This would furnish the General Conference for its operations $507,100, every dollar of which would be required to meet the necessities of the General Conference on account of the great expansion of the work during the past year.
The extra five cents per week per member called for, should yield $169,000 for the relief of our institutions. The report shows that there should have been received for the quarter just closed $169,033.80, one fourth of which would have been for the relief of our institutions, and three fourths for the work of the Mission Board. The total receipts, however, have been $78,754.64, hardly 50 per cent of the amount desired, and $48,000 less than the actual requirements of the General Conference, with nothing, of course, for the relief of our institutions, as in this relief measure it is understood that no funds will be available for the relief of the institutions until the full fifteen cents per week per member for missions has been secured. Only two conferences and one mission field have made a perfect record. Almost all others show a deficit ranging from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.
We are already well into the second quarter of the year, and unless instant attention is given to this situation and determined effort put forth to correct it, most serious embarrassment is sure to come to our foreign mission work before the year closes. All conference and church officers are therefore urgently requested to give this matter their immediate attention. The situation demands prompt attention. W. T. Knox.

Statement of Twenty-Cent-a-Week Fund for Quarter Ending March 31, 1914

CONFERENCES Membership Amt. at $2.60 per member Amount Received Amount Short Amount Over Net Amount Short Net Amount Over
ATLANTIC UNION
Central New England 1267 $3294.20 $1347.31 $1946.89
Greater New York 1101 2862.60 1796.83 1065.77
Maine 449 1167.40 464.36 703.04
New York 815 2119.00 501.19 1617.81
Northern New England 540 1404.00 702.78 701.22
Southern New England 496 1289.60 423.80 865.80
Western New York 840 2184.00 1285.75 898.25
Totals 5508 14320.80 6522.02 7798.78 7798.78
CANADIAN UNION
Maritime 239 621.40 317.86 303.54
Ontario 501 1302.60 287.67 1014.93
Quebec 136 353.60 268.42 85.18
Newfoundland 57 148.20 193.68 45.48
Totals 933 2425.80 1067.63 1403.65 45.48 1358.17
CENTRAL UNION
Colorado 1703 4427.80 1848.53 2579.27
East Kansas 1182 3073.20 1555.37 1517.83
Nebraska 2073 5389.80 4395.60 994.20
North Missouri 697 1812.20 567.73 1244.47
Southern Missouri 680 1768.00 763.48 1004.52
Western Colorado 465 1209.00 409.22 799.78
West Kansas 868 2256.80 1086.19 1170.61
Wyoming 517 1344.20 795.99 548.21
Totals 8185 21281.00 11422.11 9858.89 9858.89
COLUMBIA UNION
Chesapeake 605 1573.00 909.35 663.65
District of Columbia 771 2004.60 1187.78 816.82
Eastern Pennsylvania 1150 2990.00 1301.40 1688.60
New Jersey 726 1887.60 901.26 986.34
Ohio 2000 5200.00 2525.87 2674.13
Virginia 514 1336.40 463.50 872.90
West Pennsylvania 790 2054.00 1054.97 999.03
West Virginia 172 447.20 232.13 215.07
Totals 6728 17492.80 8576.26 8916.54 8916.54
LAKE UNION
East Michigan 1532 3983.20 1734.82 2248.38
Indiana 1732 4503.20 3633.40 869.80
Northern Illinois 1403 3647.80 2680.20 967.60
North Michigan 784 2038.40 687.45 1350.95
Southern Illinois 614 1596.40 810.26 786.14
West Michigan 2444 6354.40 2586.91 3767.49
Wisconsin 2594 6744.40 2044.71 4699.69
Totals 11103 28867.80 14177.75 14690.05 14690.05
NORTHERN UNION
Iowa 2343 6091.80 2694.89 3396.91
Minnesota 1715 4459.00 3741.68 717.32
North Dakota 1303 3387.80 769.86 2017.94
South Dakota 948 2464.80 1863.06 601.74
Totals 6309 16403.40 9069.49 7333.91 7333.91
NORTH PACIFIC UNION
Montana 452 1175.20 794.17 381.03
Southern Idaho 647 1682.20 954.99 727.21
Southern Oregon 573 1489.80 762.29 727.51
Upper Columbia 1900 4940.00 2290.04 2649.96
Western Oregon 1831 4760.60 1313.41 3447.19
Western Washington 1592 4139.20 1059.66 3079.54
Alaska 4 10.40 7.25 3.15
Totals 6999 18197.40 7181.81 11015.59 11015.59
PACIFIC UNION
Arizona 234 608.40 306.48 301.92
California 2698 7014.80 1423.63 5591.17
Central California 1138 2958.80 639.38 2319.42
Northern California 1139 2961.40 1496.88 1464.52
Southern California 3397 8832.20 5880.63 2951.57
Utah 173 449.80 194.72 255.08
Nevada Mission 92 239.20 146.95 92.25
Totals 8871 23064.60 10088.67 12975.93 12975.93
SOUTHEASTERN UNION
Cumberland 586 1523.60 389.86 1133.74
Florida 685 1781.00 836.69 944.31
Georgia 571 1484.60 292.39 1192.21
North Carolina 441 1146.60 280.69 865.91
South Carolina 308 800.80 186.99 613.81
Totals 2591 6736.60 1986.62 4749.98 4749.98
SOUTHERN UNION
Alabama 200 520.00 466.35 53.65
Kentucky 275 715.00 363.80 351.20
Louisiana 262 681.20 556.90 124.30
Mississippi 132 343.20 352.00 8.80
Tennessee River 617 1604.20 585.56 1018.64
Southern Union Mission 580 1508.00 399.22 1108.78
Totals 2066 5371.60 2723.83 2656.57 8.80 2647.77
SOUTHWESTERN UNION
Arkansas 295 767.00 278.25 488.75
New Mexico 291 756.60 202.78 553.82
North Texas 1409 3663.40 500.58 3162.82
Oklahoma 1875 4875.00 764.41 4110.59
South Texas 230 598.00 392.34 205.66
West Texas 316 821.60 88.51 733.09
Totals 4416 11481.60 2226.87 9254.73 9254.73
WESTERN CANADIAN UNION
Alberta 475 1235.00 1088.38 146.62
British Columbia 364 946.40 940.38 6.02
Manitoba 213 553.80 279.78 274.02
Saskatchewan 252 655.20 1278.76 623.56
Totals 1304 3390.40 3587.30 426.66 623.56 196.90
Summary
UNIONS
Atlantic 5508 14320.80 6522.02 7798.78 7798.78
Canadian 933 2425.80 1067.63 1403.65 45.48 1358.17
Central 8185 21281.00 11422.11 9858.89 9858.89
Columbia 6728 17492.80 8576.26 8916.54 8916.54
Lake 11103 28867.80 14177.75 14690.05 14690.05
Northern 6309 16403.40 9069.49 7333.91 7333.91
North Pacific 6999 18197.40 7181.81 11015.59 11015.59
Pacific 8871 23064.60 10088.67 12975.93 12975.93
Southeastern 2591 6736.60 1986.62 4749.98 4749.98
Southern 2066 5371.60 2723.83 2656.57 8.80 2647.77
Southwestern 4416 11481.60 2226.87 9254.73 9254.73
Western Canadian 1304 3390.40 3587.30 426.66 623.56 196.90
Miscellaneous 124.28 124.28 124.28
Totals 65013 $169033.80 $78754.64 $91081.28 $802.12 $90600.34 $321.18 $90279.16

Self-Supporting Work in the Armenian Mission Field

By Z. G. Baharian

Z. G. BAHARIAN
LAST summer when I made a missionary tour from Malatia to Diarbekir, Haini, Lidja, Kharput, and back to Malatia, one of our members of the Malatia church, Brother Mergerius Barsamian, who is a coppersmith, planned to make a self-supporting missionary tour in the plain of Kharput, where there are many Christian villages. He took with him another brother, Khosrof Barsamian, of the same trade, and started, August 18, for Kharput, preparing their instruments for tinning the copper utensils mostly used in those villages. In two days they arrived at Mezireh, the capital city of that province. Through the kindness of the Bible agent they were directed first to a village called Kouyoulou, where no tinner had yet gone. Brother M. Barsamian relates his experience in this way:—
"We were cordially received. They saw that we were masters of our trade, and they said that no coppersmith so skillful had ever visited this village. By and by they began to understand that we were Sabbath keepers. Several persons have thought to send us back with the dust of our shoes, but others have opposed them, saying that we were good Christian young men who had called there both to work and to preach. In this way we remained and began to sow the words of the Lord. Several Protestant brethren and sisters were interested and began to ask us questions. They began to look about us and examine how we pray, sing, and trade, and how we keep the Sabbath. In this village there is a pastor. These brethren and sisters called on him and asked about the Sabbath. Poor man! he did not know where to flee. He called on us, but seeing that we knew the Bible, began to evade. . . . He preached on Sunday about the ten commandments, their perpetuity,—just as we believe; but about the fourth commandment he tried to show that the change of the day does not affect it. Moreover, he confessed that the Sunday-sabbath was established by men three hundred years after Christ. This sermon opened the eyes of the people, and they saw clearly that Sunday is a tradition of men. In this village there are four families whom I found to be near to the truth. Though they did not decide to obey, yet while parting with them, they entreated us to call again next spring.
"Twice also I visited the village called Pazmashen. While we were dining in the house of an aged Protestant, there came another Protestant, seventy years old, and began to speak against me. When he saw that he could not answer any more, his wrath was flamed against me, and he wanted to beat me, but did not dare. The owner of the house confessed that the seventh-day Sabbath is the true and Biblical Sabbath.
"In this village I talked in a shop with two school-teachers also. They asked me many questions, and I answered. This village is composed of three hundred houses, all Armenian. I visited Husseyinik also, where there are eight hundred Armenian and two hundred Moslem families. Here I talked with a group of scholars who did not believe the Bible. While a woman was saying to others that false prophets have come to the village, another woman said, 'No, it is not so; our own men deny the Bible, but these defend it.' There are many villages, and much work to be done in them. More can be done in them than in larger cities. If the Lord is willing, I shall go again next spring and stay longer and work."
May God move upon every member of the churches to do some kind of self-supporting missionary work.

The Dowry Evil

By L. G. Mookerjee

L. G. MOOKERJEE
Hindu society has been profoundly moved by the tragic death in Calcutta of a young Brahman girl who, rather than allow her family to be brought into difficulties by the necessity of paying her dowry, drenched her clothes with kerosene, set fire to them, and perished in the flames.
This sad event occurred in a Brahman family of Calcutta. The name of the girl who committed suicide was Snehalata (love-creeper), a girl fifteen years of age. Fifteen years, in a country where child marriage is a strict social custom, seemed to be rather an advanced age. The father of the girl, not having sufficient money to give a large dowry, failed to secure a husband. As he found the girl passing her marriageable age, he arranged to raise money by mortgaging the house occupied by his family. The bridegroom to be, held a university degree. The amount of the dowry is arranged according to a bazaar rate (rate fixed on the university qualifications of a young man). The guardian of the boy, after a great deal of bargaining, consented to accept $660 in cash and in jewelry. This led the father to mortgage his dwelling house to raise the amount.
February 26 was the date arranged for the wedding ceremony. Snehalata realized that for her sake her poor father was willing to give up his paternal property. She tried to prevent his doing such a thing, but her pleadings were not heeded. On February 14, rather than see the family reduced to poverty on her account, she burned herself to death.
The following is a free translation from Bengali of a letter reported to have been written by Snehalata Devi to her father before her tragic death:—
"MOST HONORED FATHER: I cannot bear to think of your mortgaging the house for the sake of my marriage. You shall not do it. You will have no necessity to do it, for ere the sun shines again tomorrow morning, the troubled spirit of your inauspiciously born daughter will have winged its flight to where beyond these voices there is peace.
"You have lavished your affection upon me. You have let this tender tendril of love entwine your manly breast. I have been happy in the love of my doting parents, beyond the dreams of princesses. Am I then to requite all this wealth of love by making myself the cause of the whole family's being turned out into the streets, and you, my loving father, doomed to lifelong penury and misery?
"Day before yesterday, late in the afternoon, when you returned home foot-sore and weary, after having been out the whole day since the break of dawn, I saw your face, saw the world of anguish and despair which was depicted on it, and heard with my own ears those fatal words, 'All is lost.' That face has never ceased to haunt me since. Those words are still ringing in my ears. And I heard the rest of that heart-breaking story, how the big mortgage, which you were so sanguine of your ability to put through and which was to furnish the money required for my marriage, had almost at the last moment been canceled, and now the only way out of the difficulty was to raise the money by a mortgage upon the house.
"Father, I can't bear that idea. What is marriage to me, except as a means of lifting the weight of anxiety on my account which lies so heavy on your breast? What social obloquy have you not already endured because I am unmarried! What heroic efforts have you not already made to find a suitable match for me, and with what ill success! No, the hall of my ancestors will not be trodden by the feet of strangers nor resound with unfamiliar voices. Not you, adored father, but I shall be the sacrifice.
"Father, I have heard that many noble-hearted and educated young men volunteered for philanthropic work for the relief of the sufferers from the Burdwan floods. God bless their kindly hearts, so full of compassion for their suffering fellow beings. But is there no one among them to feel for their own people?
"Last night I dreamed a dream, father, which made me take my vow. After I am gone, father, I know you will shed tears over my ashes. I shall be gone, but the house will be saved. Since then I have been pondering on the best way of ending my worldly pilgrimage by either fire, water, or poison. I have preferred the first, and may the conflagration I shall kindle set the whole country on fire!
"And now, dear father, farewell. The hour of sacrifice is come. All nature is slumbering peacefully, and erelong I am going to fall into that sleep which knows no waking. A strange and sweet sensation overpowers me. In my new home, lying with the light of uncreated rays, as I used to lie upon your loving breast, I shall be happy. I have only to wait a little while till you and mother come.
"Your ill-fated daughter,
"SNEHALATA BENGALEE."
The death of Snehalata has caused an outburst of indignation among the Bengali community over the high prices demanded for eligible bridegrooms. Meetings are being called by the leaders of the Hindu society. As the result of the meetings, an Anti-Marriage-Dowry League has been started.
Missionaries in foreign lands have varied duties. The gospel messenger not only preaches Christ, but has to educate people away from such pernicious heathen customs. It has been observed that those missionaries who enter into social work are better liked by the people than are others. It was in 1802 that William Carey by the help of the government carried into effect the abolition of the practice of drowning children at Sagar. He also condemned the practice of burning widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands, and at last brought about the abolition of suttee in 1829. Our missionaries have still a vast field to work on social lines, and thereby reach the hearts and homes of the people.
The presidency of Bengal contains a population of 46,305,642. On a fair average, half of these are women. It is a sad fact that there is not a single woman worker of our denomination who is spending her whole time in the interest of the zenana work among the Bengali women. There are many such unfortunate cases as the one mentioned in this article who could be comforted by the messenger of peace. In the city of Calcutta alone there are 233,003 Hindu women and 91,703 Mohammedan women. Who is there to visit their homes and carry the gospel to them?
Another appalling fact is that there are 4,516,922 widows in Bengal, about 400,000 of whom are under twenty-five years of age. My heart aches for these women in Bengal. It takes one of their own sex to work for them. Lately we have had several sad cases come to us from the zenanas. If our mission had a little home in Calcutta for such ones, it would be the means of bringing the truth before many of these homeless, helpless, and hopeless women.
Calcutta.

In the Uplands of Ecuador

MRS. JOHN OSBORNE
IN the midst of a new five-month-old rebellion in Ecuador, the wife of one of our medical missionaries stationed in the mountains at Quito, writes:—
"By the political conditions and lack of liberty our work is hampered to a great extent. Just recently, when the government sent soldiers north they notified one of our brethren who lives in Malchingui to have feed ready for thirty horses. He did so, but when they arrived they had sixty horses, and of course the feed was short; so they took him and brought him to Quito, where they put him in prison for four days.
"There are at present about one hundred political prisoners, and several hundred have been sent out of the country since the president took office. Everything has advanced in price, and the customs duties have been doubled within the last year in order to raise public funds. There is great suffering among the poorer classes.
"This uprising has been in progress for five months. We all hope it will soon come to an end, and that then there will be more liberty to carry the gospel to the honest in heart."

The New Zealand Camp Meeting

By J. E. Fulton

J. E. FULTON
An excellent camp meeting was held in New Zealand, January 13-26, being the largest one yet held here by our people. The Palmerston show ground and buildings had been secured for this purpose, and made a delightful place for the meetings. A large number of small tents were erected, but the large auditorium, dining rooms, and other buildings made it unnecessary to use our large tents.
Never has the writer seen a greater degree of unity manifested by conference workers than at this meeting, and no doubt this was one of the great reasons for the good meeting. God's Spirit was present from the very beginning, and the many notes of praise indicated that God's people had been uplifted and encouraged.
We were favored in many ways. The weather was excellent throughout, and there were no strong winds to disturb us. At the revival services held on both Sabbaths, many both of old and young turned to the Lord, and a number of rather remarkable conversions were recorded.
The New Zealand missionary training school is located four miles from where we held the camp meeting. New buildings having been erected during the year, it was thought wise to plan a day so that all our people attending the camp-meeting might have the privilege of seeing them. Accordingly, most of the campers left by train for Longburn, and spent a few pleasant hours looking over the buildings and farm. All were very much pleased with our new school. The prospects for the new year are excellent, as all the rooms are to be filled, and it is probable that some additional rooms will have to be finished in the annex.
About $2,500 in cash and pledges was raised during the camp meeting. At present a church is being erected in the capital city, Wellington, and our people throughout the conference are helping in this important enterprise. The church will cost about $7,500. Land is exceptionally high in the city. Near the close of the meeting Brother Harold Piper, who has been engaged in ministerial work for a number of years, was set apart to the gospel ministry. New Zealand has now a band of efficient workers, and God has certainly blessed their efforts during the past year. At the close of the camp meeting a number were baptized, making one hundred persons who have been baptized since the camp meeting a year ago.
Elder J. M. Cole was again unanimously elected president of the conference. The work is onward in all parts of the dominion. Our people are of good courage, and seeking to do all they can to forward the message.

Opening Doors in Kiang-Si

By R. F. Cottrell

R. F. COTTRELL
Early last autumn one of our colporteurs met the native preacher of an independent church. They talked together upon Scripture topics, and the preacher, whose name is Li Yun Tai, was greatly surprised to learn that there is a mission in China with a definite last-day message.
His interest was thoroughly awakened; he came to Chang-sha, and remained over a month in order to attend the annual meeting in Hunan; he accepted all points of truth, and at the close of the meeting presented himself for baptism and church membership.
Afterward Mr. Li returned to his home in Kiang-si Province,—about one week's journey overland,—with a full supply of tracts, booklets, and papers. We have long prayed and looked forward to the time when the Lord would go before us in the opening of this new province, and now it seems that our petitions are being answered. One of our native workers has recently returned from a trip to Mr. Li's home, and reports that he is gathering out a nice little company of believers.

Our Need of Crosses

By Fenelon

WE have need of all our crosses. When we suffer much, it is because we have strong ties that it is necessary to loosen. We resist, and we thus retard the divine operation; we repulse the heavenly hand, and it must come again. It would be wiser to yield ourselves at once to God. That the operation of his providence which overthrows our self-love should not be painful to us would require the intervention of a miracle. Would it be less miraculous that a soul, absorbed in its own concerns, should in a moment become dead to self than that a child should go to sleep a child and wake up a man? — Fenelon.

Flies and Dust

By MRS. MARIA MEAD

MRS. MARIA MEAD

WHILE the mill is grinding, I will throw in a grist.
Much has been said and written about flies and dust, but the subject is in no-wise exhausted; and having waged war against these enemies all my life, I wish to do what I can to help others in their struggle against these foes of humanity. I cannot give in scientific terms the exact results of harboring these family pests, but laying claim to a spark of common sense and the experience of fifty years' housekeeping, I give a recipe for their elimination.
Use prevention instead of so much cure. If you do not feed flies, they will not trouble you. Every door and window should be kept screened. As soon as possible after each meal, all food should be cleared away. Do not shake the crumbs from the tablecloth at the door, but brush them off, and either feed them to the chickens or burn them. Leave no milk standing uncovered. Empty no dishwater or slops near the house. Do not let your children run about with a "piece," or lunch, between meals. Three meals a day give sufficient nourishment for any child. Also train your children to go in and out of screen doors quickly and to shut them carefully, as well as to keep their faces, hands, and clothes clean. If these precautions are taken, there will be no necessity of being wakened in the morning by flies tickling your nose or eating their breakfast off your face. How restful it is during a hard, trying day to be able to sit down for a few moments in perfect peace, with not a fly to torment you.
And now about dust. Dust and flies are like the Siamese twins. They go about hand in hand through life, and even in death are not divided. There is no more necessity of our houses being filled with dust than with flies. Both are enemies to our well-being. The first lesson the young wife should teach her husband (if his mother has failed to do so) is to clean his shoes well upon the scraper and mat at the door. The scraper and mat should be the first articles purchased for housekeeping. The next purchase should be a whisk broom, to brush all dust and dirt from the clothing before entering the house. This can be hung by the door. Never shake or brush any garment in the house. How many tired and worn-out mothers there are, barely existing, because the husband and children are careless, and in their home exhibit a "don't care" spirit. "Order is heaven's first law," and "cleanliness is next to godliness." The man or the woman who is lacking in these two essentials would hardly be able to enjoy heaven, if entrance for such were possible.
Brainerd, Minn.
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