Earlier text: A Visit to TranscaucasusThe Seed-Sowing Campaign in the West Indies
By GEO. F. ENOCH.
At the meeting of the East Caribbean Conference Committee held in Trinidad in January, 1906, it was decided that the writer should make a tour of the West Indies in the interest of the publishing and educational work. One thing that made this trip a necessity was the recent acquisition, through the liberality of the brethren and sisters in this field, and some interested ones in the home land, of a new cylinder press, and other requisites sufficient to give us a small but complete printing plant. It is hoped that we can keep this press running continually, and that every believer in the West Indies will come into line for one great, continuous, aggressive campaign. Hitherto the different conferences and mission fields in the English-speaking West Indies have been working independently of one another, but now the publishing work and the educational work are binding us all together, and we are feeling the pressing need of concerted action. In our field, the lay members in general have been able to do very little in the literature campaign, as the reading-matter coming from other lands was so expensive as to be practically prohibited. Many agents have done noble work in canvassing, and thousands of books have been sold, but the rank and file have not been able to do their part. The Caribbean Watchman, issued first in 1903, filled a long-felt need, and was the first step in the right direction. There was quite a general and hearty response from the entire field, and the Watchman has kept its circulation between six and seven thousand, sometimes exceeding that. This circulation has depended entirely on the faithful continuance in well-doing of an army of Watchman agents scattered throughout the field. Our paper from the beginning was printed by a job printer. We have not been idle in the meantime, but have been slowly accumulating those things necessary to do the printing ourselves, and at last our hopes are realized. With this plant we now propose to issue literature suited to our field, within reach of the pocketbooks of our people, so that the West Indies may be literally covered with pages of present truth, like the leaves of autumn. In this campaign we are organizing every church and company for service, and urging every lay member to do his part. To accomplish this we are having librarians elected in every company of believers, to have oversight of the campaign, and to encourage each company to hold regular missionary meetings. Then we are providing them with such literature that every one can have a part in the work. The Caribbean Watchman and English Good Health stand in the forefront of the campaign. Our watchword is that the members of each family in our field must provide themselves with these papers, and then do what they can in selling or loaning them to their neighbors. Agents are being selected in every company, who will carry these papers to all surrounding districts. But these papers, as cheap as they are, do not meet all the needs. So we are printing The Family Bible Teacher, and are instructing our librarians to see that each society is provided with a liberal supply, and that every member, as far as possible, is working with one or more copies of each number, using them to loan to the people after the envelope plan. But we need something still cheaper for free distribution. To meet this we are printing a series similar to the Signs series of leaflets, to be given to our societies at not more than ten cents a hundred. These can be sown broadcast. We will also issue tracts, pamphlets, and cheap books suited to the needs of our field. On Sabbath, March 24, I arrived in Kingston, and began a five weeks' continuous campaign. With a mule and trap accompanying Elder J. A. Strickland as far as Glengoffe, and Elder J. B. Beckner from there, we toured the island, visiting fifteen different companies centrally located, to which places came surrounding companies so that more than forty companies were represented at the meetings. For miles the brethren and sisters came, and the Lord gave freedom in all the messages delivered. That the rank and file would arise and do their part was the burden of the hour. There was a hearty response everywhere. The meetings were enthusiastic, and not a dissenting voice was heard. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” The plans were unitedly accepted; and now if they are perseveringly carried out, all the hills and vales of lovely, though rugged Jamaica, will be covered with the precious seed, the word of God, which shall ripen the harvest. The industrial school proposition also received attention, but I will speak of that in another report. W. H. GRANGER
By W. H. Granger
COLUMBUS.—I am glad to report progress in the work here. During the past month fifteen new members have been received into the church. I have recently put into operation a plan for working our large cities, which at present bids fair to solve the difficult problem of how to warn the masses in our cities. After much searching I succeeded in securing a good ten-room residence for our headquarters. This is known as the Berean Bible Institute, and serves not only as home for my family and helpers, but also as a place where regular classes of readers are taught the truth. We can easily seat17 fifty persons in our large double parlors, one of which is fitted up for our regular class room, with blackboard, charts, and maps. Our classes meet on different evenings of the week, and are mostly composed of interested persons from among the best citizens. In addition to the regular instruction given at the institute, we have what is known as “the home department.” In this we already have a class of nearly three thousand families who are regular readers of the course of printed lessons known as The Family Bible Teacher. This is proving to be a powerful and efficient agency for reaching the people in their homes. How I wish we could put on paper the rich experiences we have as we visit among our large class of readers. One worker often visits as many as two hundred families in a day. I have had experience in all branches of this work, but have never found anything so interesting and inspiring as this house-to-house ministry. Thousands of our people should be doing systematic work with these lessons. The plan of work is so simple, inexpensive, and easy as to admit of operation by the most inexperienced person. Associated with me are young persons who are devoting their time and talent to this work. While our expenses are necessarily heavy, yet the dear Lord has given us a plan for financing the enterprise which makes the work self-supporting. Our present class of readers will be increased just as fast as we are able to increase our number of helpers. The following is a partial report of the work done in this city during April: Family visits, 215; calls, 5,000; Bible readings given, 96; pages of literature distributed, 40,000. Many books have been sold. We have also placed an order for over twenty-six hundred of the Earthquake Number of the Signs. Should any persons be interested in starting similar efforts in other cities, I shall be pleased to correspond with them, giving our plans of work. Southern California Conference
By G. W. Reaser
The third spring session of the Southern California Conference was held in Los Angeles, April 16-20. The total number of delegates in attendance was seventy, representing all but three of the twenty-seven churches of the conference. During this session, conference officers were elected, and the legal meetings of our various corporations were held, and boards of management for each institution were chosen. Few changes were made in the personnel of the various committees. A list of our institutions located in southern California would include three large sanitariums, an academy, a three-story building, centrally located in Los Angeles, wherein are operated a vegetarian café, treatment rooms, bakery, health food store, and in which our conference and tract society officers are located. The original cost of these properties was about four hundred thousand dollars. All of them, save the building located in Los Angeles, are owned by our people, and came into our possession at a cost, including improvements to date, of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It will be apparent to all, that careful attention must be given to business details, where the volume of business requiring an expenditure of more than two hundred thousand dollars a year is essential to the maintenance of all departments of our work, including the foregoing institutions, our church-school system, embracing fourteen schools, and the support of our conference laborers, which includes fourteen ordained ministers, three licensed ministers, and three Bible workers. The total number of persons connected with our organized work and receiving salaries is above two hundred. The following extracts from reports presented to the conference, may be of interest to the readers of the Review:— At the beginning of the present conference year, July 1, 1905, we found our conference, tract society, second tithe and trust funds, in arrears to the amount of nearly eight thousand dollars. On the first day of April our books showed that all these indebtednesses were liquidated, that all current bills had been met each month, and we had cash on hand to the amount of $6,665.51 of conference and tract society funds, not including personal deposits. Our tithe for the past nine months reached the total of $22,115.51. The total second tithe which has come into the conference treasury (which is two thirds of the whole amount paid by our people) during the past nine months, is $5,161.15. Of this amount we have paid $3,909.35 for the support of our teachers, and have a surplus of $1,251.80 now in the conference treasury. Our total gain in first tithe, above expenses, in nine months, including the amount paid on debts, was $10,154.18, or enough to have supported double our corps of workers. Our total donations for nine months was $3,460.77, of which amount $2,800 has been forwarded to our general Mission Board. The indebtedness of Fernando Academy has been reduced in five months' effort from $24,170 to about $12,000. It is only fair to state that $7,170 of the amount of the Fernando debt was liquidated by the cancellation of its indebtedness to our conference association. Fernando Academy has been operated thus far this year with a net gain of about one hundred dollars a month. Its total enrolment in the academic department is fully one hundred students. Including the reduction of the Fernando Academy debt, the conference and tract society indebtedness, the erection of a conference warehouse in Los Angeles, the purchase of three large field tents, and about twelve family tents, we have met obligations amounting to over $21,000, besides meeting our current expenses, without borrowing. Ten months ago we were staggered at the thought of purchasing Loma Linda Sanitarium at a cost (including $5,000 for starting) of $45,000, so soon after securing the Fernando Academy property and the Paradise Valley and Glendale Sanitariums. But this institution, being urged upon us by the servant of the Lord, was purchased, and early in the month of February our willing-hearted people had advanced money in loans and donations, so that we made the last payment of $20,000, securing a rebate of $1,150 by making payments before they were due. For several months in the past Loma Linda has had an excellent patronage, being filled, much of the time, with patients. The receipts above expenditures at Loma Linda have run as high as eight hundred dollars a month, but this was prior to the date when full salaries were paid to its corps of workers. The patronage of Glendale Sanitarium has been fully equal to that of Loma Linda, considering the capacity of the two institutions, and the net earnings of Glendale have been even more encouraging than those of Loma Linda, but the latter institution has not become so well known as the former, as a sanitarium. We have made substantial gains on the indebtedness of our three sanitariums, by annuities and legacies, and in the case of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium by selling stock in the corporation. The last-named institution has made improvements costing about $16,000 in the past few months, which places it in equipment, at least on vantage-ground with any similar institution on the Pacific Coast, and it is now enjoying its portion of the prosperity with which the Lord has blessed our entire work in southern California. The net gain in the operation of our health work in Los Angeles for the past nine months has been $8,812.64, and this amount has been applied largely on our indebtedness. The total net gain on all departments of our work for the same period was $28,135.30. This does not include Loma Linda and Paradise Valley Sanitarium. The magnitude of the business of the thirteen departments of our conference seemed to demand the making of monthly statements by each department, and submitting the same at regular monthly meetings of the conference committee and business managers of institutions. This plan, which has been in operation about eight months, works admirably, bringing to bear the united counsel of our business talent on all matters of major importance, also providing a regular day in each month for committee work. Our conference is well adapted for the convening of these monthly meetings, as the institution the most remote from the conference office in Los Angeles is only one hundred and twenty-eight miles distant. Knowing the true financial standing of each of our institutions and departments monthly, may avoid some unpleasant surprises at the end of the year. The creating of a purchasing department, known as the Sanitarium Mercantile Agency, which has been operating for several months, gives us business prestige in the commercial world, and enables us to get special discounts and reduced prices on nearly all commodities required for the various departments of our work. The liberal and unbounded confidence of our people in supplying funds for carrying on the work, and for the reduction of our indebtedness, places the conference management and the managers of our institutions under the highest bonds of sacred honor not to abuse this confidence in spending money for improvements and accessories not positively essential for the comfort and prosperity18 of our institutions, which is a natural tendency where the loan of money is freely offered. Southern California, on account of its equable winter climate, attracts a tourist population each year which is said to more than equal the resident population. This fact doubtless makes this conference one of the most favorable places for the promulgation of the message, as well as one of the principal sanitarium centers of America. Our metropolis, with its suburbs, has a population of fully two hundred and thirty thousand, and is growing at a rate which would double its present number of residents in eight years. Our force of medical workers has been augmented by the arrival of Dr. Julia A. White, late of Battle Creek, Mich., who is now a member of our medical staff at Loma Linda, and Dr. M. M. Kay, recently from Chicago, who has a place on the medical staff of Glendale. Dr. F. Zelinsky has closed his private practise in Los Angeles, and is connected with Glendale Sanitarium, but just at present is taking post-graduate work in New York City. Since the last session of our conference, the following churches have been organized: Vernon, Edendale, Loma Linda, Glendale, and Corona, making twenty-seven organized churches in all. With this list of churches, nine companies of Sabbath-keepers, and such an excellent field for missionary operations, we have had, until recently, but three ordained ministers and one licentiate for evangelistic field work. Our force of evangelical workers has been much strengthened by the arrival of Elder S. N. Haskell and his wife, Elder B. E. Fulmer, of Wichita, Kan., and Elder G. W. Rine, from the California-Nevada Conference. During the months of October, November, and December, Elder W. W. Simpson, assisted by Elder Healey to some extent, and two Bible workers, Brethren Hoare and Rawson, held a series of meetings in San Diego, with the result that seventy souls accepted the truth. Special contributions from individuals and churches in our conference enable us to support seven native workers at mission stations in South Africa, and to partially maintain one in India. Our conference owns fourteen church-school buildings, all except three of which are free from indebtedness. The total enrolment of these schools is three hundred and twenty students. It has been a source of much satisfaction to those connected with the disbursement of funds, to have money in hand to meet the salaries of all our workers at a moment's notice, and we have also been in a position to satisfy at sight all bills presented. This gives financial prestige to the cause, and enables us to secure better rates in purchasing, as well as discounts in paying bills. The delegates came to the conference with instructions from their respective churches to vote our surplus funds to the Mission Board; but while the conference was in session, news came that the most destructive earthquake in the history of the Pacific Coast had visited San Francisco, and the conference voted to send two thousand dollars of our surplus to assist our institutions in the California-Nevada Conference which sustained such heavy loss by the disaster. It was also voted that a tithe of our second tithe, amounting to $398.36, be forwarded to the Mission Board. Other actions of the conference included recommendations for the organization of a nurses' bureau, the continuance of the plan for the liquidation of the indebtedness of Fernando Academy by the payment of one dollar a month from each church-member in the conference; the payment of nineteen per cent of our first tithe to the Pacific Union Conference, the organization of an advanced nurses' training-school at Loma Linda, and that our conference officers correspond with the general Mission Board with a view of securing the establishment of a mission station on the west coast of Mexico. Mrs. E. G. White and Elder W. C. White were with us during the conference, and added interest to the occasion. An excellent spirit of harmony prevailed during the meeting, and all who attended seemed to be inspired with courage and confidence in the early triumph of the cause of God in the earth, to culminate in the glorious coming of the King of kings. G. W. REASER. The Earthquake Special “Signs” Campaign in Washington
By K. C. Russell
AFTER receiving the intelligence that there was to be an Earthquake Special of the Signs, our Evangelistic Committee of the District of Columbia took immediate steps to inaugurate a campaign for a thorough canvass of the city of Washington and its vicinity with this paper. Tuesday, May 15, has been set apart for a concerted action by our people in the District of Columbia to make a special effort for the sale of this important issue of the Signs. The city is being thoroughly districted, so that each one who takes part in the work will be assigned his territory. To our satisfaction, just as we were organizing for this work, we received a visit from Brother E. R. Palmer, who had just arrived directly from the Pacific Coast, the scene of the great calamity. It was at once arranged for him to speak in all four of our churches in the District, and to describe to them some of the experiences through which the people of the Pacific Coast had recently passed, and also to urge upon them the importance of entering at once upon a vigorous and enthusiastic campaign in placing the Earthquake Special Signs in the hands of the citizens of Washington. His description of the earthquake experiences was both graphic and thrilling. No one could listen to the report without being impressed with the necessity of building upon something more firm than this old earth in its unstable condition. I only regret that all the readers of the REVIEW could not have enjoyed listening to the recital of these experiences by Brother Palmer. Although we had ordered by wire a good supply of Signs to begin with, we found, upon Brother Palmer’s arrival, that he had already shipped ten thousand copies here, which reached us soon after he arrived. It is remarkable how devoid the public press has been of anything concerning the real meaning of these things. While they have given very full reports of the terrible and frightful catastrophe as the result of the earthquake, yet they have seemed to leave the field free to us to tell the people what these things mean. There are many people, we believe, who are anxious to know more concerning the significance of these things than they are receiving through the daily papers. Much written for the public press is calculated to parry the force of anything that may be said concerning the true meaning of these things by impressing the people with the idea that this earthquake experience will give occasion for a lot of fanatics to arise and tell the people that these things are the result of the judgments of God, etc. Nothing, however, should deter us from heralding the warning, and doing it quickly. It seems to me that there is no agency that God could have provided that would do it more effectively than this special number of the Signs. Notes Concerning the Earthquake Special of “The Signs of the Times”
From letters received we take the following paragraphs of interesting information about the campaign for the special issue of the Signs:— “APRIL 30.—Our school at Fernando, Cal., has ordered, up to date, 2,350 copies. “Our school at Graysville, Tenn., has ordered by telegraph 5,500 copies. “A little boy six years old sold 113 copies on the streets of Mountain View yesterday. “Brother Ferren sold 111 copies in Mountain View last Friday afternoon, and he and Brother Olcott, another one of our young men helpers in the Signs office, sold 218 in the streets of Palo Alto, all in one block, evening after the Sabbath. “We have districted all of Santa Clara Valley, the valley in which the Signs office is located, and brethren and sisters from the Mountain View church are out all through the valley as I am writing this letter, selling the paper. “We received orders for 43,000 copies by wire this morning before eight o’clock.” “MAY 2.—During the last twenty-four hours orders for nearly 150,000 copies have been received by wire. “One conference orders 28,000 as a starter. Individuals are ordering from one hundred to twenty-five hundred copies. All pronounce this the best and most complete of anything yet published. The papers sell at sight. Some agents are selling as high as fifteen and twenty copies to one person to be sent to friends. “Our big perfecting press is running night and day at the rate of five thousand copies an hour, and we would like to keep this up for several weeks.” Baptisms and New Sabbath-Keepers in Texas
A RECENT report from Texas mentions the baptism of six persons at the New Hope church, and the addition of several to the church at Avinger. There are some new Sabbath-keepers at Tatum. One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund
By I. H. Evans
We know that our people are deeply interested in the progress being made in establishing the headquarters of the General Conference in Washington, D. C. The rapidity with which the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund was made up outstripped the faith of even the most sanguine, and is evidence of the world-wide interest our people take in following the instruction of the spirit of prophecy. Never in the history of our denominational work had there been so large a fund as this raised within so short a time. We are sure our people are desirous of knowing the progress our various institutions are making in establishing their headquarters in this place. Four sets of buildings were called for in opening up our work here, namely, the General Conference office building, the Review and Herald Publishing Association building, the College buildings, and the Sanitarium building. It will be understood that when we arrived in Washington in August, 1903, we had no buildings; we had absolutely nothing except the furniture and a little machinery that we had brought from Battle Creek. A building had been rented in which the General Conference and the Review and Herald were to locate for the time being. In the fall of 1903, a council of many of our leading brethren in the United States was called. This council provided that a fund of one hundred thousand dollars should be solicited with which to construct the buildings necessary for the accommodation of our various departments of work. At this council no one was able to submit any definite plans for the buildings needed, nor had any one any definite idea just how much such buildings would cost. No architect had figured on any plans; everything was indefinite, and no estimates had been made of the actual cost of the buildings suitable for our work. Up to the present time a tract of forty-seven acres of land has been bought on the Sligo for six thousand dollars. On this tract of land the school has been located, and it is expected that the Sanitarium will be located there also. Three school buildings have already been constructed,—two dormitories and a dining hall. The General Conference building has also been constructed. The Review and Herald has its building nearly completed. The Sanitarium building has not been built, but plans are now being made for its construction. A large double house was rented in Washington, fronting Iowa Circle, and was equipped and furnished for sanitarium purposes. Neither the Sanitarium nor the main building of the school have yet been begun. So there still remains to be constructed the Sanitarium building on the Sligo, and the main College building. We herewith append an itemized statement of the receipts and disbursements of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund up to April 1, 1906. By a glance at the following statement, it can readily be ascertained how much of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund has been appropriated to each of the various enterprises. Statement of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund, April 1, 1906
Total receipts to date........$115,347.22
Expenditures,—
Washington Training College. $51,374.72
Wash. (D. C.) San. Assn..... 40,667.30
General Conference building.. 10,000.00
Nashville church ............ 5,000.00
Financial Sec. expense ...... 3,714.41
Review and Herald ........... 3,000.00
Removal expenses ............ 1,223.81
General expenses ............ 68.50
Amount on hand April 1,
1906 ....................... 298.48
Total ....................... $115,347.22
I. H. EVANS. Treasurer. Thanksgiving
By E. W. Webster; R. W. Webster
“O THAT men would praise Jehovah for his loving-kindness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Ps. 107:8. We desire through the columns of the dear old REVIEW to briefly relate our experiences for the last three months, and tell of the goodness of the Lord to us, that all may rejoice with us, and that others may be strengthened in trials. Thursday, January 25, Mrs. Webster was taken ill with appendicitis, and was a great sufferer for many days and nights. Two weeks from the following Sunday was the first time real relief came. While at prayer that morning the Spirit of God came upon us, and she was instantly relieved; but it was two weeks more before she could walk any. During all this time of suffering and care and suspense the Lord revealed his love to us in many favors and blessings. Daily we praised him. Kind brethren and sisters sent many messages of love and offered many prayers, for all of which we are very thankful. The doctor told us that the only way to avoid another attack (this was the fourth one in two years) soon, which would undoubtedly prove fatal, would be to have an operation just as soon as possible. On account of the meeting of the Southern Union Conference Committee to be held at Graysville, Tenn., we decided to go to the Southern sanitarium. The operation was performed Sunday, March 18, and was a very severe one on account of adhesions and diseased conditions, and less skilful surgeons would probably have failed. But God's blessing added to the science and skill of our God-fearing physicians made it a wonderful success. We feel that we can never thank our dear Heavenly Father enough. We now understand what it is to have the bitter made sweet, the severe trial a blessing. Whenever a complete surrender was made after a severe struggle caused by one dark cloud after another piling up over us, the blessing that came more than compensated for it all. One enjoys most the rich blessings of God at a time when they are most needed. We have been deeply touched also by the love of our dear brethren so often and tenderly expressed. This has been a great lesson to us, as well as a wonderful help, and we are resolved hereafter to express our love to others more fully. We would indeed be ungrateful and unworthy if such assurances of love from kind friends did not lift us up and make us better. We trust we are now better able to help others. Before closing I want to say a word about our sanitarium at Graysville. It has had a struggle for two years. It is not yet fully fitted with the appliances necessary to do the very best work satisfactorily to the class of patients its beautiful situation is so well calculated to draw; but it already is doing a good work. It needs help at once. I believe that if our dear people knew its needs and its prospects for usefulness, they would immediately send help to put it in shape to receive a large number of paying patients and do its appointed work better. Situated on the side of a wooded mountain overlooking Graysville and the beautiful valley, the silvery Roaring Creek dancing between; the bountiful spring above supplying an abundance of cold water to all the four-story building; the natural woods all around, with green fields and beautiful orchards in the valleys and off on the opposite hills; the bracing, life-giving air and climate rivaling those of California; and with the competent surgeon and doctor, nurses and helpers, it is well fitted to benefit the sick and spread the third angel's message. A more beautiful place for such an institution would be hard to find. Without hesitation we recommend it to our own people, and to others, as one worthy their patronage and hearty support. E. W. WEBSTER,
R. E. WEBSTER. FROM the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette of May 3 we take this report:— “The fourth annual commencement exercises of the Michigan Sanitarium Training-school for Nurses were held in the parlor and living-room of the sanitarium, at 125 East South Street, Wednesday evening at 7:30. The decorations, which were pretty and effective, included the class colors of lavender and white, and a bank of flowers and plants. The program was as follows:— “ Invocation — B. F. Kneeland. “ Salutatory — Florence J. Currier. “ ‘Art and Science of Nursing’— Effie S. Branham. “ ‘Medical Work in Armenia’— Elizabeth Dombourajian. “ Piano Duet — Mrs. Midgley, Nina Parkhurst. “ Class History — Clarie L. Farman. “ Class Prophecy — Yula B. Leech. “ Valedictory — Nina M. Parkhurst. “ Address — A. G. Haughey. “ Presentation of Diplomas — T. H. Midgley. “ Benediction — M. N. Campbell. “ Miss Dombourajian, of Armenia, furnished a special feature of interest by singing in her native tongue the selection, “There is sunshine in my soul.” “ The class has completed a three years’ standard nurses’ course, comprising fourteen different studies. “ The members of the class are Clarie L. Farman, of Washington, D. C.; Nina M. Parkhurst, of Grand Rapids; Yula B. Leech, of Pleasant Hill, Mich.; Florence J. Currier, of Cedar Lake, Mich.; Elizabeth Dombourajian, of Armenia; Effie Branham, of Neosho, Mo.” In Favor of Sunday Laws
By K. C. RUSSELL
A MEETING OF the Woman's Interdenominational Missionary Union was held May 7 in the Foundry M. E. church, of Washington. The object of the meeting was to discuss the Sunday law question. The chief speaker was Representative Heflin, of Alabama, who introduced a one of the Sunday bills now before Congress. He said, in part, as reported in the Washington Evening Star of May 7, 1906:— “In this republic the voice of a majority of the people is supreme; the majority rules. That a vast majority of the people of America sanction the observance of the Christian Sunday is borne out in the fact that every State in the Union except two has a Sunday law. Can it be that these States enjoying the blessings of a Sunday law will, through their representatives in Congress, deny them to you? Will the members of this Congress vote for a Sunday law for the District of Columbia? I have had many of them tell me that they would support my bill, but the trouble is in getting the committee to report the bill. Go to your commissioners in the District and plead with them to report my bill to the committee on the District of Columbia with a recommendation that it be reported favorably to the House, and I believe that the House will pass it.” “This is a Christian nation — declared to be so by the Supreme Court of the United States. Our fathers and mothers have set apart the Christian Sunday as a day of rest. It has been observed and sanctioned by the usages and customs of a vast majority of the American people. It is well that one day out of every seven should be designated as a day of rest.” After Representative Heflin's address, it was moved and adopted: “That the Woman's Interdenominational Missionary Union express its appreciation of the efforts of Representatives Wadsworth, Heflin, and Allen in behalf of better Sunday laws for the District. It was also decided that Congress be petitioned to make an appropriation for the Jamestown Exposition on condition that the gates be closed Sundays.” Among others who spoke were Dr. Crafts, and Mrs. Dubois, the wife of Senator Dubois, of Idaho. This meeting is only another evidence of the persistent efforts that are being exerted by the promoters of Sunday legislation to secure what they have so long sought to obtain, a national Sunday law. K. C. RUSSELL. A Sunday Law Convention
By K. C. Russell
The State convention of the American Sabbath Association was held in the Central Presbyterian church at Columbus, Ohio, May 1 and 2. Sister Ida M. Walters has furnished us the following report of the convention:— “The keynote of the convention from the beginning to its close, was the enforcement of the law for the protection of the American sabbath. One significant feature in the meeting, which showed unmistakably that the spirit was that of a union of church and state, was the presence of prominent State officials, and the active part taken by them in this religio-political gathering. “Hon. Louis B. Houck, secretary of Governor Pattison, addressed the convention in the governor’s absence. He called attention to the governor’s strong position regarding the enforcement of Sunday laws in his inaugural address of Jan. 5, 1906, and stated that his position was unchanged, and that as soon as his health would permit him to return to his duties, he would join heart and hand in the work of the convention, the object of which is the enforcement of Sunday laws throughout the State of Ohio.21 “The work of the Religious Liberty Bureau was mentioned by the last speaker of the convention, Joel B. Slocum, D. D., pastor of the Baptist Temple of Columbus, Ohio. An extract was quoted from some of our religious liberty literature, which he had recently received, showing that religious legislation was a menace to the liberties of the people, Russia and the introduction of a new religion being cited as an example. He made light of the same, and endeavored to refute the argument by saying that these Religious Liberty Bureau people would, no doubt, object to blue signs in the city, which interfered with their liberty to spit on the pavement. He argued for Sunday sacredness, and asked that these hair-splitting arguments be put away, and that all unite in this great movement for Sunday enforcement. “The methods of the Pennsylvania Sabbath Association were set forth by the secretary, T. T. Muchler, of Philadelphia. He exhibited a book in which a record was kept of the position of every representative in that State on Sunday enforcement, and those who will not harken to their demands, are to be defeated at the polls. “Ohio at present has an organization after the order of the Pennsylvania association, for the enforcement of Sunday laws in every city, county, and township in the State.” The Columbus convention and organization undoubtedly marked a great onward movement in the fulfilment of prophecy, for which we have long been looking. Surely these signs should awaken us all to more determined activity in the third angel’s message. THREE persons accepted the truth at Adhall, Tex., at the time of the last quarterly meeting. A CHURCH of twelve members was organized by Elder O. O. Farnsworth at Sharon, Vt., April 28. THE company at Lowry, Va., have planned for the erection of a combined church and school building. ELDER C. B. RULE reports the organization of a Sabbath-school of fifteen members at Mount Williams, Va. THE Wisconsin Reporter of May 2 states: “Elder Shrock administered the ordinance of baptism to five converts last Sabbath.” ELDER F. M. DANA writes from Burlington, Vt., that he is moving to West Burke, which he will make a center for his work in that State. THE Northern Union Reaper reports: “Twelve persons have taken their stand to obey all of God’s commandments at Gladstone, Manitoba, where Elder W. M. Adams has been holding meetings.” ELEVEN persons received baptism at Lucas, Iowa, April 22, following which a church of thirteen members was organized by Elder J. H. Kraft. One more member came in immediately after the organization. FIVE persons received baptism on a recent Sabbath at the St. Helena (Cal.) Sanitarium, three of whom united with the St. Helena church, one with the Sanitarium church, and one was a rebaptism. Another was also accepted upon a former baptism from another church. BROTHER A. W. KUEHL reports from Minneapolis, Minn.: “Since the union conference we have been doing house-to-house tract work, holding Bible readings, and visiting. We have some interested readers. Two have begun to keep the Sabbath.” Two Germans are studying the truth with deep interest. ELDER E. L. STEWART says in a report from western Washington that the prospects at Seattle are very encouraging. Quite a number have recently accepted the truth, and seven workers are busy in different parts of the city. At Sedro-Woolley preparations are being made for the erection of a church building. Five young people who are students at the Manor school will soon be engaged in spreading the message of present truth. BROTHER W. H. SEBASTIAN reports from Mississippi: “My recent visits to Columbus, Yazoo City, Jackson, Brookhaven, Greenville, and Vicksburg were seasons of rejoicing to the churches and myself. The work at these places is progressing. Five were baptized at Jackson, four at Greenville, and one at Vicksburg. April 21, at Jackson, a church of fifteen members was organized. Elder F. R. Shaeffer, president of the Mississippi Conference, was present and officiated.”