THE prevention of the spread of infectious diseases by separation of the sick from the uninfected, is practised more or less everywhere except in the homes of the land. Yet the home is just where isolation would be most effective as a life-saving and disease-preventing measure. If every home were provided with a room fitted up for caring for any member of the family in case of illness, so constructed as to have an outside entrance, and so located that it could be closed up from direct communication with other rooms in the house, the expenditures of money and loss of time due to illness would be greatly reduced and the death-rate notably decreased.
The infectious disorders are especially dangerous among children. Measles, whooping-cough, scarlet fever, and diphtheria are often fatal during the first five years of life, most of the fatal cases occurring under this age. Whooping-cough and measles are especially deadly from six months to two years. In cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria the mortality decreases after ten years of age, and these diseases are seldom contracted in a severe form after twenty. The epidemics of children's diseases are most common in the cold season of the year. With the shutting up of the homes of the nation, by closing doors and windows, and the greater crowding together of the family members within four walls, comes a foul domestic air-supply and closer personal contact, with much less outdoor exercise. The women and children living most of the time in the unhealthful, shut-in environment, are the greater sufferers. The schools also begin to open with the advent of September, and the infection of one home by any contagious disease endangers the health of other households. Thus the whooping-cough, measles, scarlet fever, or diphtheria, of the isolated farmhouse, carried to the district school on the clothing or person of some student, may spread over the entire neighborhood, and infect other distant country homes.
Epidemics are often more difficult to control and stamp out in the country than in the city, where the contagion hospital is handy, and the board of health is better organized. The absence of the contagion hospital indicates the need for the farmhouse quarantine room, and the more or less imperfect rural board of health system indicates the need of every family having its own sanitary regulations. Many healthy country children of school age have measles, scarlet fever, whooping-cough, or other children's diseases in a mild form. They are in no serious danger of either death or damage to health from these disorders.
Young Children Most Liable to Infection
But at home are the infant members of the family, not yet of school age, who are liable to infection from their older brothers and sisters, and likely to have these diseases in a severe and speedily fatal form, or else their health may be permanently injured and death result a few years later from tuberculosis or some other chronic disorder. The writer once had such a case with which to deal. A sturdy youth of eighteen had a mild attack of scarlet fever. He came home, and was warned not to mingle with the younger members of the family, which consisted of eighteen-months-old twins, his half brother and sister. The young man, being away from home at the time of their birth, and not having seen the children, was very anxious to have them brought to his room, as he arrived late the night before and did not see them, fortunately, at the time of his arrival. The physician called early the next morning to diagnose his case, positively forbade any communication between the youth and the babies, prescribed the needful treatment of the case, reported it to the health officer, and went on her way. She was satisfied in mind that no member of the family was likely to suffer from the spread of the infection, as the parents had both had the disorder, and the little ones were to be sent to their grandparents, half a mile distant, at once. Calling next day to see her patient, you may well imagine her chagrin to find the young man sitting up in bed playing with the innocent little ones.
The health officer had tacked up a scarlet-fever sign on the gate-post to save the children outside from infection. It did not protect the babies in that home. Some wise old lady had diagnosed the young man's disorder as scarlet rash, which she assured them it was better for them to get through with while young. Four days later the little sister awoke feverish and with sore throat, vomiting, strawberry tongue, and all the symptoms of scarlet fever. Next day the little brother was ill too. The tenth day both the children died of malignant scarlet fever. The youth and his thoughtless parents were left at home to meditate on the folly and fatality likely to attend the voluntary exposure of tender infants to contagious, infectious disorders.
The Wisdom of Precaution
If a wise system of home sanitary regulations were established by the head of all homes, such sad bereavements would be much lessened in number. When a member of the family would complain of feeling ill and having a sore throat, rash, or any other symptoms of contagious disorder, he could be retired to the quarantine room at once, where he could be put to bed and made comfortable until the arrival of a physician. If it should prove some simple disorder and not dangerous to the life of others, no harm is done to any one. Should it prove to be a case of contagion, who can tell the good done to the other members of the family and the community? Also, consider the saving, even from a money standpoint. It is cheaper to care for only one case of family illness, rather than to have the whole household sick. In most homes now constructed, no provision has been made for a home quarantine room, therefore a selection must be made of the one most suitable for this purpose, well ventilated, and with an outside door, also in communication with another room where water can be heated and disinfecting done; or the room, if large, may be divided with a curtain or screen; all carpets, heavy curtains, and upholstered furniture, or anything likely to hold infection, should be removed. The bed, a few plain chairs, cheap rugs, two or three tables, a number of cheap, bright pictures on the walls, and vases for flowers, with a screen or two, are all that are needed. A closet or wardrobe is handy if it has shelves and drawers, but should never be used to hold soiled clothes or unemptied slop-pails. Only medicine bottles, clean linen, and the needed sick-room utensils, after a thorough cleansing, should be put into these useful receptacles for stowing away things out of sight.
Before the Doctor Comes
The family needs, for diagnosing illness, a thermometer and carefully cultivated powers of observation. When the temperature is above normal two or three degrees, it may indicate some serious disorder, or only a cold, overeating, overexercising, or some trivial disorder, or it may mean the onset of some serious illness. In any case the management is the same until the doctor arrives. Undress the patient and put him to bed, stopping all food, and giving him plenty of water to drink. A warm bath is useful and needful in most cases, also an enema to free the bowels. If there is sore throat, a gargle of peroxid of hydrogen and water, one part to four of the water, is good; also hot fomentations. Pain in the bowels is often relieved by hot applications; sickness of the stomach, by free tepid water drinking or a lavage to free the digestive organs from fermenting food. A chill can be relieved by a hot foot-bath, hot water drinking, and keeping quiet in bed. A warm bath will often hasten the rash in eruptive disorders, and cool sponging or a cool bath is very soothing in cases of fever. A little care at the outset of any infectious disorder may make the whole course of disease light. When the doctor comes, he will have charge of the case, but there must be some one who has undercharge, and who will carry out his orders, look after the disinfecting of all discharges from the body, and see to the cleansing and sterilizing of clothing, bedding, and all utensils about the sick-room. The discharges from the body in case of contagious disease, should never be emptied into the water-closet, or other closet used by the family. They had best be burned. If they are not burned, disinfect with five-per-cent carbolic acid solution or with chlorid of lime, and bury in quicklime.
Boulder, Colo.
The Best Way
By Anna Cecilia Doyle
WHY should I wear my sorrows
For all the world to see?
Why should I let life's bitterness
Cast its shadow over me?
Could I serve the Master better
If I wore a solemn face?
If I let each bitter heartache
Too plainly leave its trace?
O, didn't he make the sunshine?
And didn't he make the flowers?
And do the hearts that love him
Love him less in life's sunnier hours?
And his own dear face was brilliant
With the light of his love, I know;
If it did not glow with that fire intense,
Would the children love him so?
Why not laugh, if the laugh is kindly?
It is better than looks forlorn;
The dear Lord made the lips that smile
As well as the lips that mourn.
— Anna Cecilia Doyle.
It Might Not Be True
I SERVED my apprenticeship on the Springfield Republican. One of the first stories I wrote contained a serious reflection upon a well-known citizen. I had made a thorough investigation and was confident of my facts. So I informed the managing editor, Mr. Griffin, when called upon to answer questions springing from the proof-sheet. “There is not one chance in a hundred,” I declared, positively, “that the story is not correct in every particular and none whatever that it can be confuted.” “You are sure,” he said, “not one chance in a hundred.” “Well,” I replied, “just about that; certainly no more.” “Then,” he said, quietly — and the words were chiseled upon my memory — “then it may not be true.” I reluctantly assented. “I haven’t a doubt that it is,” he said, “and,” he added, with a grimace, “I hate to lose it. But it is a serious thing to take even a chance of blasting a personal reputation. Besides, you see, it is a rule of the office never to print anything that may not be true.”
The story went by the board. Subsequently it was fully substantiated. But I didn’t care. By that time I had acquired too strong a sense of pride in the paper I was working for to mind what had then seemed to be a sacrifice. I might add that forever thereafter, in common with certain little boys who are reputed to have profited from early lessons, I heeded the injunction thus conveyed. To make the assertion would be easy. But I hesitate. In fact, I can not. Alas! it might not be true.—From George Harvey’s Speech to the Sphinx Club, in Harper’s Weekly.
Forgiving or Vindictive—Which Will You Be?
PERSONS “strong in their loves and friendships” are naturally as strong in their dislikes and resentments. Earnest, deep natures need to cultivate the grace of “not remembering injuries” and the gift of forgiveness. I say gift, for the ability to forgive an injury is a gift from God, given in answer to agonizing prayer. One may argue with one’s self and strive to crush out the “hateful” feeling, but until the Spirit helps, the bitterness still abides. Oftentimes one takes a pride in nursing the bitterness, vainly imagining it an evidence of firmness. No finer words were ever written for such persons than the following from Everybody’s:—
“Nursing a Grudge”
“Nursing a Grudge: ‘Tending it, keeping it alive, nourishing it until it becomes a companion. What a foolish, reckless occupation! You probably know men right in your town who nurse grudges almost as big as they are, and show off the grinning things on every possible occasion, and apparently with great pride. Now a healthy soul can’t keep a grudge overnight. It forgets or forgives. Life is too sweet, too beautiful, to befoul with a nasty grudge, big or little. . . . A grudge doesn’t hurt anybody but the man who harbors it.’”
“The writer goes on to advise that all who have grudges strangle them and bury them in unmarked graves, and it closes with these words: ‘Why will people make themselves wretched and keep themselves wretched when it is so beautiful to be happy and clean-hearted?’”
Again, if we are to be judged by our thoughts and by our thoughts condemned, the nursing of grudges means condemnation for thoughts of our wrongs that do not minister to Christian living. Moreover, these bitter thoughts leave their impress on features, and we grow to look in harmony with our thinking, so that we mar our own visage with furrows of discontent and malice.
What a good, comprehensive text to preach from:—
“Thou who upon the waves of Galilee
Bade the wild waters bow to thy control,
And sink to softest ripples instantly,
Look with thy pitying eyes, O Friend most true,
Upon all human hearts so deeply stirred;
Hush their tumultuous passions and subdue
With ‘peace, be still’ each stormy thought and word.”
—Selected.
To Stand Correctly
THE correct standing position has been frequently described, but as frequently forgotten, or at least neglected. Chest up is the essential direction, and one might almost say the only one needed, since in lifting the chest the shoulders are at the same time thrown back and down and the abdomen drawn in; to swell the chest with a full, deep breath and to hold the position is the secret of the correct position. The chin should be held in, but not stiffly so, and the weight should be on the balls of the feet instead of on the heels. One can teach one's self to take invariably that position when rising from a chair, at first consciously and afterward unconsciously.—Harper's Bazar.
The Countenance as Life’s Title-Page
By Wm. Matthews
THE countenance may be rightly defined as the title-page which heralds the contents of the human volume, but, like other title-pages, it sometimes puzzles, often misleads, and often says nothing to the purpose.—Wm. Matthews.
Forget: Don't Remember
By Edward Bok
MEN have made fortunes teaching the human race how to memorize and how to remember. But a greater fortune awaits the man who will teach humanity how to forget. A good memory is excellent, when it is cultivated to remember the right things. But what many of us need to learn is how to forget the unpleasant things, the things that irritate and drag down the health of the mind and of the body. We do not realize how much our health depends upon the art of forgetting. We nurse a grievance until it makes us angry and bitter; we hug to our minds a fancied wrong until it becomes a real one. A word, an action — in the majority of cases misunderstood — rankles in our bosom, and we let it linger there until it fairly eats our vitality. If all this did us any good, — if it undid the wrong, actual or fancied,— there might be some excuse for our doing it. But all it actually does is to sap us mentally and physically.
“Easily said,” says some one, “but how can you forget?” Simply by cultivating the habit of switching your mind off to some happy memory the moment some disagreeable thought enters into it; by forgetting the faults of your friends and keeping strictly in mind their good qualities; by believing not in the worst side of people, but in their best; by letting go and not hanging on to the little jealousies, the petty annoyances, the disappointments, the rankling acts — the little gnats that eat into our very souls and minds and bodies. Just to forget — that is what we need as much as how to remember. It is not easy. No; nothing that is worth while is easy. But the mind can be trained to forget what it is best for it to forget, just as well as it can be cultivated to remember what it is wise for it to remember. To learn to forget, to practise it, to make a study of it — that is what we need! — Edward Bok.
The Hindustani Work, India
By S. A. Wellman
S. A. WELLMAN
EARLY in March the school for Hindustani girls was to open its work for the coming year at Dehra Dun, and for that reason it was planned to hold a meeting for the Hindustani native workers in connection with the opening of the school. The writer was invited to meet with these brethren and sisters, and hold the quarterly service.
Leaving Lucknow on the evening of March 3, and arriving in Dehra Dun the next morning at daybreak,—it is three hundred sixty miles from Lucknow,—we began the meetings at 10 A. M., Brother L. J. Burgess giving a Bible study in Hindustani. In the evening a similar service was held. At ten o’clock Sabbath morning we held the ordinances and communion service, after a study of the Scriptures concerning these things, Brother Burgess interpreting for the writer. We had a most enjoyable time together, all the brethren and sisters entering whole-heartedly into the spirit of the service. Sabbath-school was held in the afternoon at five o’clock.
Sunday we spent in counsel with the brethren and sisters in regard to their summer’s work, and in planning for the girls’ school, and for the dispensary recently opened at Najibabad by Sisters Kurtz and Shryock. It was decided to move the girls’ school from Dehra Dun, where already there are abundant facilities of this kind provided by other missions, to Najibabad, where practically nothing of this kind has been attempted.
GROUP OF HINDUS, MAHRATTA CASTE, INDIA
The workers departed to their homes early on Monday, and Brother and Sister Burgess and the writer came down to Najibabad, ninety miles toward Lucknow, to plan with Sisters Kurtz and Shryock concerning their work in the dispensary, and to find a suitable location for the girls’ school. The dispensary is very well situated in the heart of the native Hindu quarter of the town. The building, in which these sisters also live, is in fair condition, and would be very suitable for the purpose were it located in more healthful surroundings. It is, however, the best that can be found, and much better than the usual native house in the villages. The sisters had not been an hour in the place when they were called out to attend the wife of one of the native merchants, and they have since treated two of this family with success. There is no doubt of the dispensary having all it can do, even though it confines its efforts to the native women, as is planned.
In looking over the ground we found that the building which had previously been promised for the girls’ school could not be obtained, and we had, consequently, to seek another location. This was found in a much better quarter, where more sunlight and air would be possible. In April, as soon as the renovation of the buildings selected is completed, the school will be transferred to Najibabad, where already a lively interest is taken in it by the native people.
Of our workers in the field among the Hindustani people, Brother and Sister Burgess will locate in the Garhwal district in the hills, during this hot season, where they are building a boys’ school.
The two nurses before mentioned, together with Sisters O’Conner and Sing, who have the girls’ school in charge, will locate in Najibabad. The writer and family will locate at Mussoorie, and continue the study of the language.
For ourselves we can but say that we are thankful that the guiding hand of God brought us to India this year. We are making good progress in the language, and are getting acquainted with the customs and manners of the people; healthwise, we have never felt better anywhere. But as we look upon this great Hindustani field, with its eighty million people who know nothing of Christ, we long for the day when we shall have large additions to our present force of laborers. Those previously mentioned are our all to-day. Dear brethren in America, pray for the work in this Eastern land, and answer your prayers with your sons, your daughters, and your substance. Like the love of God should the love in your hearts reach out toward India, not because of its love for you or its personal call to you, but because of its dire and pressing need. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” We stand in the same relationship to this great needy people. May God help us that our love, like an enduring flame, may light this sin-darkened land. “Brethren, pray for us,” and pray for the work in India.
Mussoorie, India.
***The Union Conference Committee
By L. R. CONRADI
Meetings in Europe***
L. R. CONRADI
AFTER the German Union Committee meeting in Friedensau, the writer hastened immediately to Watford, England, where the British Union Committee held its session February 11-17. When I reached Stanborough Park, I was pleased9to see the new school building well under roof, and nearing completion. All the members of the committee were in council; and as their three legal associations had their annual meetings at that place, there were also a number of our other brethren present.
The British Union added last year 263 members; but its membership — 1,811 — is about the same as it was in 1907. However, during this time the tithe has been increased by $2,500, so we have every reason to believe that we are on a better basis than we were then. The appropriations for 1909 were $3,500. As quite a number of workers had been returned to the States, and as they had sent a number of their delegates to the General Conference, the allowance proved a little short; but the South England Conference stepped nobly in to make up the remaining deficit. The appropriation for this year has been cut down to $2,000, and since the two German unions as well as the Scandinavian are now getting along without any outside appropriations, the British Union felt like doing its utmost to follow their example by 1911.
We were pleased to notice the prosperity which had attended our institutional work. By the efficient help of Brother W. C. Sisley, the British Union has been able to erect a neat publishing plant, a food factory, a fine building for the school, with suitable dormitories, and some cottages for the employees. All that remains is to remodel the present mansion building into a well-equipped sanitarium. This last proposition received careful attention at the meeting, and it was unanimously voted to begin this work during the present year. The Leicester and Caterham sanitariums have had a prosperous year, and the latter has been able to make some substantial improvements, the cost of which it covered from its net earnings. If during 1910 there is a strong campaign throughout this union, and its sixty-six workers spend their energies in solid gospel work, there seems to be no reason why this union should not come up to two thousand members at the close of the year. England with its wealth,—the greatest of all the countries in Europe,—with its 45,000,000 people, with its wonderful liberty for the preaching of the gospel, with its great opportunities for the canvassing work, and with a fair number of workers and sufficient institutions, ought to make great strides in the near future.
From there I went to Gland, where the Latin Union had their session February 18-22. As I drove into their beautiful place on Lake Geneva, I noticed that their new sanitarium building was up several stories; it is expected to have it ready for occupation by July. All the members of the committee were present except the members from Portugal and Africa — the most distant regions. Important changes were also made during this meeting. Elder H. H. Dexter, who had hitherto been the president of the Southern French Conference, was invited to take the French-Swiss Conference, Elder T. Nussbaum succeeding him in South France. Elder J. Curdy was transferred to the Northern French Mission field, where there are about 18,000,000 people who have never heard this message. In view of the fact that there are only a few hundred Sabbath-keepers now in France, and considering the important position which Paris occupies in all the Latin Union, it was decided that Elder L. P. Tieche remove the union headquarters to that city, making Paris a union district, and that a good additional business man be secured for Gland, thus freeing the union president for the important gospel work to be done among the millions of people.
As the French-speaking members of Belgium desired to become united with the other Belgian Sabbath-keepers, the Latin Union voted unanimously to cede this portion to the West German Union, which has both means and men, and is now far better situated to work all of Belgium as a separate mission field. There were also some changes of workers. Elder H. Steiner, who was working in Lille, was changed to Paris, and Elder J. P. Badaut from Paris to Lyons. Elder L. Zechetto reported favorably about the future outlook for Italy, and the committee felt that everything should be done that this great kingdom should take its proper place among the nations of Europe in this message. We were also pleased to notice the progress of the work in Spain, Portugal, and Algeria. Last year $11,000 was appropriated for the Latin Union; however, in order to meet the increasing demands for this great field, and the extra expenses for the General Conference, we found that the deficit was somewhat larger; but the French-Swiss Conference stepped nobly forward, and voted $400, while the General Conference increased its appropriation over $800, thus covering all the deficit, and making it possible to do justice to the workers. The Latin Union added last year 159 members. Its membership passed the 1,000 mark during 1909, but as it now cedes fifty members to the West German Union, it starts out really with a membership of 985 at the beginning of 1910.
During last year a separate building was set aside for the school, and there are now thirty students in attendance from all portions of the union. Their sanitarium, food factory, and publishing house had a fair year. But they need another good business man to do justice to their growing work. We shall be pleased when we can get the $5,000 from America to equip a little printing-plant on our place in Gland; then we can remove the publishing work from Geneva to Gland, and start a depository in Paris in connection with the union office. When we remember that there are only fifty workers now for 100,000,000 people, we can see that the great need of the hour is more workers. Let us all remember the Latin Union in our prayers and gifts.
February 24-27 I spent with the Scandinavian Union Committee at Skodsborg, and we were pleased to meet all the members. The Scandinavian Union added 307 members last year, and it has passed the 3,000 mark in membership; while its tithe has come up to nearly $25,000. During last year we were able to organize a fourth conference in Finland. A good school building was erected in Skodsborg, and there are now over thirty promising young people from Denmark and Norway in attendance. A small Swedish school is also in operation in Nyhyttan. Denmark and Norway are fast increasing their membership and finances; and as Sweden has now been separated into two parts, we are sure that it will soon follow suit. The work among the Finns is very promising. We were also pleased to welcome here Brother G. S. Juhl, from Iowa. He has been selected as the business manager of the Skodsborg Sanitarium, while Brother A. C. Christensen is doing efficient work as head bookkeeper. This gives Elder J. C. Raft better opportunity to concentrate his efforts on the field, and he has already conducted a well-attended public effort in southern Sweden. During the past year Christiania was able to pay off the mortgages held by the Hamburg office. Scandinavia has about forty-seven workers for its 13,000,000 people. Now that proper attention is given the education of their youth, there is no reason why this field should not forge ahead. We are indeed thankful that this union not only supports itself, but that its conferences and the union had a surplus last year, and will soon be able to help, beyond their regular offerings, to push the work in far-off fields.
The real work in all these fields is only just developing, and with the proper system and organization and development of workers, we shall see great things accomplished in a little while.
Hamburg.
He Will Save Us From Our Sins
By Delwin Rees Buckner
DELWIN REES BUCKNER
WHEN Jesus, robed in heavenly array,
Upon his steed-like cloud speeds through the sky,
The cynosure of every anxious eye,
Will he confess my name that dreadful day?
I feel more guilty than a common thief,
For I have robbed my Lord of tithes and time;
But I have asked him to forgive my crime,
Though of vile sinners I have been the chief.
That day the lawless to the rocks will cry
To hide them from his bright, consuming flame,
But others, many risen from the grave,
A loyal company, with whom may I be worthy to be found, who have his name
Sealed in their foreheads,—them will Jesus save.
Ambato, Ecuador.
The West Russian Mission Field
By W. J. Fitzgerald
W. J. FITZGERALD
Following the meeting of the Little Russian Mission held in Kief, March 2-6, Elder J. T. Boettcher, Brother Paul Brandt, and the writer proceeded to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, for the meeting of the West Russian Mission, March 9-13. Twenty-two hours were required to make the journey. For over half the distance it was evident, from the appearance of the towns and villages, that we were in real Russia, and, from the appearance of the churches on every hand, that Greek Catholicism holds well-nigh absolute sway.
As we entered Poland, it appeared that the soil was not naturally so productive as much of the country through which we had traveled in Russia proper. There were, however, on every hand evidences of greater thrift, and that the influences of Western Europe had long been producing their results in the lives and affairs of the people. There were better10villages and towns. Everything looked far in advance of real Russia. Though politically a part of the colossal Russian empire, Poland possesses a more modern and progressive civilization.
We entered the fine city of Warsaw in the night. As we passed through its streets, we experienced a very distinct impression that we were again on the border between Eastern and Western Europe. We felt almost as if we were outside the western border of Russia, but certain things reminded us of the constant watchcare of the czar’s government over all subjects and alien travelers in this country. Groups of soldiers could be seen marching through the streets; their uniforms were Russian. On every hand were the vigilant police; they were Russian, as well as their uniforms.
The usual demand for our passports was made. This is the ever-present and forceful reminder that one is in Russia. It is said that “in Russia, a man possesses three parts: body, soul, and a passport.” One can not safely pass from one town to another without a passport. Before he is allowed to stop overnight in a hotel, he is required to deliver up his passport, that full information may be entered in the records at police headquarters.
Neither the attendance of our own members nor of the people from the city, was as large in Warsaw as in Kief. Yet we were again impressed with the fact that God is just as ready to bless a small meeting of his people as a large one. In all the services from first to last, we enjoyed the presence of the Holy Spirit in the annual meeting of West Russia.
At the opening service, the special officer from the ministry of religion at St. Petersburg, who was with us at Moscow, graciously presented himself to us again. While he was very alert in his attitude in Moscow, he manifested a keener interest in all the services in Warsaw. He took elaborate notes of all sermons and Bible studies. We are praying that he may be convinced of the truthfulness of the message he has noted so carefully. Not only was this officer from St. Petersburg present in Warsaw, but also the missionary of the Russian Church, mentioned in a former report, was present at the beginning of the session. As all the meetings were conducted in the German language, and as that gentleman could not understand the German, he did not deem it advisable to attend all the services as he had done in Kief. A special police officer from the Warsaw government attended all the services, to prevent anything being done which is not permitted in the laws and edicts of toleration. It should be understood that our people are only tolerated in Russia; they do not have a full measure of liberty. (The special officer from St. Petersburg has just approached me, as I am writing at a table in our meeting hall in Mitau, to inquire what I am writing. I have satisfied him by saying that I am writing a letter to our people in Great Britain and America. This incident will help to illustrate how closely all our conduct is observed by these official spies. They desire to know all about everything.)
Thus far the work in Poland has been confined mostly to the German population. Only a few Poles have been won. A great lack has been felt, for there have been no Polish workers. Earnest efforts are now being put forth to develop some strong young workers in the field. Everywhere it is apparent that the permanent success of the work depends upon the development of strong native workers. Encouraging progress is being made in this in all parts of Russia. Every year adds a considerable number of young persons who have attended the Russian department of our school at Friedensau, Germany. It will be a great advance move when a school can be established right here in Russia. Great care and patience must be exercised in the selection of a location for the school, and in making all necessary arrangements with the government.
The West Russian field has five provinces besides Poland, with a total population of over twenty million. About five million, or nearly half the Jews in the world, live in Poland. One third of the population of the country is Jewish, and it seems to a stranger that the proportion is more than one third. The present membership of the mission is 311.
Brother H. J. Loebsack, who attended the General Conference last year, is superintendent of the field. Brother H. Schmitz was recommended for ordination to the gospel ministry at the union conference session to be held immediately at Mitau. Seven workers are engaged in the field. May their united efforts win many souls during the present year.
Caste in America
The Sioux City Daily News of recent date contains an article from the pen of Tishi Bhutia. The News says that this gentleman is a Hindu, twenty-five years of age, who has recently been graduated from Harvard University, and is now studying law in New York. He is the only Hindu who ever worked his way through an American college, and the only Hindu who ever studied American law. He came to America as the protégé of Lady Curzon, with the understanding that he was to work his way through school. This article was written by him to young Americans, and prepared especially for the Daily News:—
“In order to come to America I was forced to measure off fifty miles of dusty roads with my prostrate body. That was because I was of high caste in India, and caste is the thing that prevents the progress of India.
“Of course I did not expect to find caste in the United States, because I had heard it was a free country.
“In India a man is born to sweep, or to carry water, or to cook, or to do some special work of his caste. Brahmins—men of my caste—are not supposed to work for a living. They must die first. But in your country I found distinct caste lines. I had promised Lady Curzon to work my way through Harvard.
“‘It’s hard to find something to do for money,’ said a schoolmate of mine at Harvard.
“‘I don’t know,’ I answered, ‘I found a job taking care of a furnace to-day,’ I said.
“‘He laughed at me. I got more furnaces to attend to. Altogether I made ten dollars a week from them; and whenever it snowed, I cleaned off sidewalks, and made as much as two dollars in an afternoon.
“Yet there were many students who suffered for lack of funds because their ideas of their position—in India we would call it caste—prevented them from doing menial work.
“Down in Wall Street I see many young men in old clothes, tattered and worn. They are men who have lost their money. But they will not go to work. They think their position in life prohibits them. That is American caste.
“Progress, to twentieth century eyes, is absolutely necessary, but one from the Old World is constrained to question whether the penalties of progress do not overbalance her advantages.
“I am struck with the lack of unity in your families. Each member of the family strives to reach high in the social scale. I read in your dailies case after case of separation, of divorce, of parents against children and children against parents; of murders, of suicides, of grasping greed for gold that gives might strength over right, and gives wealth to the few and crushes in poverty the many.
“Your Christian religion is the greatest and best religion in the world. Brahman though I am, I must admit it. It is a religion that teaches you to love one another. Our religion does not teach us that, but it teaches each man to care for himself as best he can. Our religion could not make the world happy, because it is selfishness. Your religion teaches unselfishness; that is bound to brighten the lives of others and make this world a better place.
“I have been in your country several years, working quietly and watching you.
“If you would all follow the Christian religion, you would make the whole world happy.
“India is in darkness, and so are other Oriental countries. Our religion gives us angry gods, who must be appeased by our sufferings. Your God is kind. He teaches you to be kind to each other and to all other men. Why don’t the people of the United States let their religion make them happy?
“Or does each man consider that it is not his religion, but that the religion belongs to the United States government, and entitles it to be called a Christian nation? Why are you so proud of being a Christian nation when so many of you do not live as Christians?”
Make the Best of What You Have
“If you can not get the best, get the best possible.”
