On April 16, during the consideration of the Post-office Appropriation Bill (H. R. 21279) in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, Representative Mann, of Illinois, introduced the following amendment to the bill:—
“Provided, that hereafter post-offices shall not be opened on Sunday for the purpose of delivering mail to the public.”
In the previous session of the present Congress, Mr. Mann introduced a measure (H. R. 9433) that had for its object the closing of the post-offices on Sunday. This measure was referred to the Committee on Post-offices and Post-roads. The committee evidently did not intend to consider the bill, for no hearing was announced.
The discussion that took place on the above-mentioned date is of interest, so we take the following excerpts from the Congressional Record of April 16. Speaking to an amendment to Mr. Mann’s amendment, Mr. Fowler said:—
Discussion in the House
“Mr. Chairman, I desire to say that I have as great reverence for Sunday, the day commonly known as the Lord’s day, as any man. We are commanded to keep it sacred as a day of rest and spiritual worship. I believe all men should heed this divine injunction; but to close up the post-offices throughout the country all day on Sunday, and deprive the public from getting the Saturday and Sunday mail, in my judgment, is a very unwise provision. Nine tenths of the laboring people of this country are so employed during the week in making a living for themselves and their families that they do not have time to get their mail and read it until Saturday night and Sunday. If they are deprived of the privilege of getting it on Sunday, it will work a hardship upon them of doubtful propriety, which I do not believe this House can afford to indorse. The rights of the people in the country are just as sacred to them as are the rights of those living in populous cities. In the rural districts the daily papers in many instances come through the post-offices and are delivered on Sunday. Now, if the post-office should be closed on Sunday, these people would not have an opportunity to read them until Monday. The same logic that closes the post-office on Sunday, would close the telephone and telegraph offices of the land on Sunday. We all know that the news is as eagerly sought on Sunday as it is on any other day. It is sought by the layman in the cross-road districts the same as it is by the politician or the professional aristocrat in the most populous district of the country, and to close the mails all day on Sunday so that the public can not have access to these avenues of ordinary information and intelligence, in my opinion, is very unwise. I would have no objection, Mr. Chairman, to closing the mails the greater part of Sunday, and I grant that they ought to be closed for the purpose of giving the people an opportunity to attend Sunday-school and church, places where everybody ought to have the privilege of going on Sunday; but I grant, Mr. Chairman, that to take away from the public the right to get the newspapers on Sunday morning, and get the other mail that is important to the individual and often to the public, is, in my judgment, a very unwise course to pursue.”
“Mr. Tribble: Will the gentleman yield for a question?”
“Mr. Fowler: In just a moment. I have had a contest in my district upon that proposition recently (laughter and applause)—
“Mr. Kendall: We can not legislate for the gentleman’s district.”
The Common People Affected
“Mr. Fowler: I do not want you to legislate for me. I want you to legislate for the American people of this republic. (Applause.) Mr. Chairman, I say I have had a contest of the strength of the common people on the question of Sunday closing in one of the towns in my district recently, in which an order had been given by the First Assistant Postmaster-General to close the post-office entirely on Sunday. A petition was circulated requesting the office to be kept open, and 191 business men and citizens of that little town signed that petition to have the post-office open for one hour on Sunday. . . . The postmaster circulated a remonstrance to this petition, and he secured only 26 names. I want to say to you, gentlemen, that if you put that question to the common people of this country, I have no doubt but that the result will be in the ratio 191 to 26. The people are not dreaming now, and can not be fooled. They well know that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. They are self-armed ‘as a strong man to run a race’. . . .”
“Mr. Powers: If I understand it, this closing of the mails on Sunday applies to all the different classes of post-offices throughout the country?”
“Mr. Fowler: I so understand it.”
“Mr. Powers: The first, second, third, and fourth classes?”
“Mr. Fowler: All of them.”
“Mr. Powers: And, if strictly construed, would apply to locking the doors so that the men who have boxes could not get to their mail?”
“Mr. Fowler: I so understand it. I17now desire to yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Dyer).”
“Mr. Dyer: As I understand the gentleman, he said that this change in the bill would strike at the common people. I want the gentleman to state who are the common people in this country.”
“Mr. Fowler: The common people of this country are the 90,000,000 people of this country. . . .”
“Mr. Fowler: Mr. Chairman, so far as I am individually concerned, if I wanted to be selfish for my own district, I would agree to that proposition, because there is not a first-class post-office in my district. They are second, third, and fourth classes. But I want to be fair to the people in this republic in whatever legislation I may take part. And, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I trust that in the wisdom of this House you will pass my amendment, and not close the door of the post-office to every man, woman, and child in this country on Sunday. (Applause.) . . .”
“Mr. Mann: Mr. Chairman, I know by personal experience that one can get along all right without Sunday mail. I believe that the House will agree that I do my fair share of work in the House, but for years I have declined to receive or open mail on Sunday (applause), not from a religious standpoint, but because I thought there was one day in the week when I was entitled to be free from any requests coming through the mail. (Applause.) If I could have my way about it, I would take my way on Sunday where no one could reach me with any kind of request, and that which I would do for myself, I would do for the employees of the Post-office Department.”
“Mr. Mondell: Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?”
“Mr. Mann: You can not open the post-office for delivery of mail to the public without requiring the presence of the employees of the office, not merely for one hour, but for many hours. I can see no reason why they should not have an opportunity to rest, and I can see no reason why delivery of mail should be made on Sunday any more than why dry-goods stores should keep open to sell calico on Sunday. Now I will yield to the gentleman from Wyoming.”
“Mr. Mondell: I just came into the chamber, and perhaps I am laboring under a misunderstanding. The gentleman referred to the mail delivery, as I understand it, which involves the keeping of the post-office open?”
“Mr. Mann: The amendment, which has already been agreed to, provides that post-offices shall not be kept open on Sunday for the purpose of delivering mail to the public.”
Sunday Newspapers
“Mr. Mondell: The gentleman says he does not answer or receive letters on Sunday. Does he read the Sunday newspapers?”
“Mr. Mann: Well, I do not see what that has to do with the question.”
“Mr. Mondell: In all the country towns the people receive their newspapers through the post-office.”
“Mr. Mann: In very few country towns do the people receive their papers on Sunday. They have their Sunday papers delivered. They do not do it in the gentleman’s town. I know how papers are received in the country.”
“Mr. Mondell: I know how I receive my papers better than the gentleman from Illinois does, and I know I receive them in the post-office in wrappers.”
“Mr. Mann: If the gentleman receives his Sunday papers wrapped up, he had better wait until Monday to read them. Then he can not read the Sunday papers on Sunday in that way, I take it.”
“Mr. Mondell: We have no Sunday daily in our town.”
“Mr. Mann: Why do you not force them to publish a Sunday daily? They have not a Sunday daily there, but you want to force the post-office to keep open on Sunday so that you can read the Sunday papers published elsewhere.”
“Mr. Mondell: The gentleman lives in Illinois, and he does not care what the people in the country suffer from.”
“Mr. Mann: I admit with a certain degree of shame that I do more or less read the Sunday papers, and I know I would be better off if I did not. (Laughter and applause.) . . .”
COL. RICHARD M. JOHNSON
“Mr. Fowler: I believe my colleague says he reads the newspapers on Sunday?”
“Mr. Mann: To a certain extent.”
“Mr. Fowler: Does the gentleman want to deprive the people in the country of the same right he claims for himself?”
“Mr. Mann: I wish somebody would deprive me of the chance of seeing any paper on Sunday.”
“Mr. Butler: We will put an amendment in the bill.”
“Mr. Mann: I will not raise any point of order against it. I am unwilling that the post-office employees should be kept at work on Sunday in order that somebody may have a Sunday newspaper, and every one knows that the bulk of the Sunday newspapers does not go through the post-offices.”
“Mr. Fowler: I desire to ask the gentleman, further, if he has not the power within himself to restrain himself from reading the Sunday papers?”
“Mr. Mann: Well, I will say to the gentleman that in the main I do restrain myself on Sunday. I think I have not read a Sunday paper through in five years.”
“Mr. Berger: No one ever did.”
“Mr. Fowler: Does the gentleman know of any man who has read a Sunday paper through in five years or ten years?”
“Mr. Mann: I have no doubt my colleague has.”
“Mr. Fowler: I have never read one through in my life.”
“Mr. Mann: Then my colleague ought not to be so anxious to give other people the opportunity to do it.”
“Mr. Fowler: I select what I want to read.”
“Mr. Mann: How can you tell until you see it?”
“Mr. Fowler: Aye, there’s the rub. I want every man to have an opportunity to tell by seeing.”
The Principles Involved
It is unfortunate that opposition to Mr. Mann’s amendment does not proceed entirely upon the principles involved in that kind of legislation. It may be shown very clearly that Sunday legislation is religious legislation. The early Congresses of this nation held that compulsory observance of Sunday by act of Congress was contrary to the spirit and letter of the Constitution, and antagonistic to the fundamental principles upon which this government was founded; namely, the total separation of church and state. Said the Twentieth Congress, on Jan. 19, 1829:—
“Under the present regulations of the Post-office Department, the rights of conscience are not invaded. Every agent enters voluntarily, and it is presumed conscientiously, into the discharge of his duties, without intermeddling with the conscience of another. Post-offices are so regulated that but a small proportion of the first day of the week is required to be occupied in official business. . . . Religious persons enter into the business without violating their own conscience or imposing any restraints upon others. While the mail is transported on Saturday, the Jew and the Sabbatarian may abstain from any agency in carrying it, on conscientious scruples. While it is transported on the first day of the week, another class may abstain, from the same religious scruples. The obligation of government is the same on both these classes; and the committee can discover no principle on which the claims of one should be more respected than those of the other.”
A little investigation will convince a reasonable mind that, inasmuch as the general Post-office Department is encouraging by its own regulation the closing of post-offices to the public on Sunday, legislation by Congress seems unnecessary. Behind this whole movement is the design to commit Congress to the enactment of Sunday laws.
The bill above referred to will have to pass the House, then be sent to the Senate and considered there, before it can be enacted into law. The Appropriation Bill, of course, will pass, for it is necessary to make provision for the post-office service for the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1913. In the meantime, all who believe that the principles of religious liberty should be perpetuated in this country, should write at once to the congressmen from their respective districts, protesting against the enactment of the proposed law with the amendment incorporated in the same.
S. B. H.
Christian Liberty
By K. C. Russell; S. B. Horton
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL . . . . Secretary
S. B. HORTON . . . . Corresponding Secretary
Cast Away Every Obstacle
By E. T. Baroody
It might be a small sin that is keeping you back from Christianity. It might be an appetite, one ambition, one desire, one pleasure, that is standing as an obstacle in your way to your sailing peacefully over the seas of life. Cast it away, and come to Jesus as you are.—E. T. Baroody.
Experiences From the Home-School
By Elizabeth Lawson
It seems but an echo of the call of our God to gather the children and teach them diligently the great and blessed truths of Him of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke, saying, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.”
What a noble calling! What a sacred trust! God’s own children, the lambs of his flock, to be trained for his service here; and these, if faithful, will live and reign with him forever. Yes, our wise Creator, who has given “to every man his work,” has planned that we who are shut in from the world in the capacity of mothers and ministers in the home, may yet be in his service,—called to be teachers, in ever so small a sphere, yet, if faithful, to receive the promise made to all who serve as such.
But how great the task appears when brought face to face with it! How incapable we feel for the work before us! How little we can do of ourselves,—even nothing, as Christ himself has declared. But does he not say, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”? What does it matter if obstacles do arise like mountains, as they certainly will, when we begin to “put on the whole armor of God,” that we may be “able to stand against the wiles of the devil”? Through these very difficulties come our most blessed experiences,—a realization of our own weakness, and hence a firmer trust in God and the fulfilment of his every promise to us. Truly, I can say, with Joshua of old, “Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you.”
In a country home, with a frail constitution, and the needs of a family of seven to be provided for, four children to be educated, the Testimonies declaring that the time has come to take our children from the public schools and train them for the Lord’s service, yet no church-school privileges available, and finances not permitting the employment of a private teacher,—such was my situation four years ago. What was to be done? It would seem I had reached the Red Sea in my journey, with mountains on either side, and the enemy in the rear. But I had known the blessings of the church-school, and the joy of willing obedience to the Master.
A few friends to the cause of true education echoed the call to go forward, while more thought it unwise; and at length came the decision to attempt the discharge of this new duty which seemed thrust upon me. A room was accordingly furnished with seats from an abandoned school building; blackboards, maps, and such necessaries were obtained, and our work was begun. In spite of the awkwardness and discouragement attached to resuming with the children many studies practically abandoned for twelve years, the work proved in many ways a joyous one.
Abundant opportunity is offered in the home-school for bringing almost every capability of the child into action. Every lesson is made practical, and surely it is the place of all places where the hearts of parents and children are turned to each other and cemented by a love and confidence that will do much toward weakening the attacks of the enemy. Here is the place where strength and weakness meet, where praise and thanksgiving for every joy and blessing ascend, and strength and wisdom for every difficulty are implored, and thus a saving faith in God is established.
And when the mother gives so much of her time to the training of her children, it becomes imperative that they, in turn, share, to the extent of their ability, the duties and responsibilities of the home; thus they are better prepared to cope with the real, practical life before them.
I often find it advisable to hear the reading lessons, and to talk of the lessons taught therein, while preparing the morning meal. I find, too, that the older children can give the spelling drills to each other, in my presence. Many times and in many ways the work may be planned so as to get in all the parts that are really essential to the well-being of the home and home-school.
Health and strength have been given; for God’s promise stood ever before me: “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. . . . They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isa. 40: 29-31.
How sad our hearts are made as we look upon the devices that Satan has laid to ensnare our children and youth, and even ourselves! How imperfect we are! Nevertheless the encouraging words to us are: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa. 41: 10. “Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” Isa. 49: 25.
In the face of such promises and the evidence that we have of God’s leading, I am almost made to wonder that anything should cause us for one moment to become discouraged. And when, day after day, I see my children, even the child of only eight summers, searching out the Bible from among the books, in order to hear again the stories so wonderfully true, and so fascinating to the pure mind, and containing morals so broad that they extend into eternity,—when I see them making these stories a part even of their play, I know that they are making lasting impressions, and that the Bible can never become an uninteresting book to my children. And as I seek to impart to them a knowledge of the things essential to their well-being, as I sow or water the seeds of truth, I pray that God may give the increase of all our labors.
“And when he comes, the King in all
his glory,
Who died the shameful death our souls
to win,
O, may the gates of heaven shut about us
With all the children in!”
MRS. ELIZABETH LAWSON.
School Work in Cuba
By Ida Fischer-Carnahan
For some time we have been planning to write something of our work here, but have always waited, for fear we might overestimate the work. As in all Spanish fields, we have a class of people for whom to work who can not be counted upon, yet it has been satisfactory to know that we have found some who are proving faithful and developing into good steady workers.
We began school in the spring of 1909 with an attendance of nine American children. In spite of trials and perplexities which have come up the work has gone steadily forward. At the present time we have an enrolment of twenty-nine. Our outside attendance is better this year than it has ever been. We have not so many in the home as formerly, but what we have are older students. We are arranging as fast as we can to make the school one for only young men and women who will take hold of the truth and prepare for workers. This coming year a one-year course will be arranged for those who desire a quick preparation for field work. An opportunity will be given for practical work under teachers, in preaching, Bible work, and canvassing. A good course in hydrotherapy, common diseases, and treatments will be included in this workers' course.
We are now in a place where we can offer good accommodations to those who desire an education in one of our schools, and there are competent teachers in both the Spanish and the English language. The same line of work, based on the same system as that of our schools in the States, is carried on here. The rates are seven dollars a calendar month, and three hours of work in the cane-field for the men and domestic work for the women.
During the past month we have sent three workers into the field, who are doing well. This summer a good company is planning to go out for three months. Several are awaiting baptism, all of them young men and women Cuban students. We feel thankful that God has blessed us in our work by giving us precious souls. Two of the young women are standing firm amid the opposition of their families. The influence of the school is being felt for many miles around. One young man walks eight miles to attend Sabbath services. He became interested through the influence of one of the students who is not in the truth, and through the sending of a New Testament to his brother by one of our workers. He is accepting the message as fast as we can give it to him. He has ordered several dollars' worth of books, and is lending his papers and talking the truth to his friends.
During the coming year we can furnish accommodations for good steady young men who may desire an opportunity to work part of their way through school. Those wishing this will please write their conference president or secretary, giving good references, who will communicate with those in charge of the school. We ask that your prayers may go with us.
MRS. IDA FISCHER-CARNAHAN.
Christian Education
By H. R. Salisbury
Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference
H. R. SALISBURY Secretary
More Experiences in Soul-Winning
By E. R. P.
ALL who have read the experiences of Sister Mamie Moore, “the lady colporteur of Memphis,” which were published recently in the REVIEW AND HERALD and in the Youth’s Instructor, will read with special interest the following extracts from a personal letter from Sister Moore, in which she tells of further blessings the Lord is showering upon her efforts:—
“I am glad to report that I am enjoying still deeper experiences in the things of God, and the Lord has given me some grand victories of late, and some fruit of my labor here.
“One can never tell what just a word will do sometimes. A sister who was recently baptized into our church here, had her attention first called to the truth by a program that was placed in her hands, telling her of our tent-meetings, and inviting her to attend. The conversation which followed showed that she was interested, so I arranged for a Bible worker to visit her, and she soon accepted the truth. She is now a colporteur herself, selling our books.
“One day I called on a woman who said she used to keep the Sabbath, but finally gave it up because of the opposition she had to meet. I had an earnest talk with her, and arranged for another member of the church to visit her also. She has now taken a new stand for the truth. Arrangements were also made for a Bible worker to hold readings with her daughter, who is a very intelligent young lady, a sister of a lawyer of this city. She opposed the truth at first. (She is the one I told you about who bought fifteen copies of ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation’ to give to her friends. She told me recently that she thought that the grandest book in the world.) She was baptized into the church yesterday. Now if I had not been canvassing, both she and her mother would be out of the truth to-day, and those fifteen persons would be without ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.’
“Ten days ago I delivered a copy of ‘Bible Footlights’ to a woman for a birthday present for her father, who is eighty-five years old. She says he has a copy of ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ which her sister bought from me and gave him, and he values it more than any other book he has. He thinks it is the grandest book in the world. He has read it a dozen times.
“When I left the house, a woman across the street called to me. She was so anxious to read the book she had ordered that she came with the money in her hand, and requested me to give the book to her then, so she would not have to wait until the delivery. She had hesitated about ordering the book, as she was in close circumstances, but decided to trust the Lord for the money. His response to her faith came sooner than she had expected; and when handing me the money, she said, ‘The Lord helped me to earn this money myself.’
“The Lord certainly does lead us in our work when we permit him to do so. Last Friday I went to a street where I had not thought of going, and sold a copy of ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation’ where I could not have sold one had I not gone that very day; for the woman who bought it lives in Arkansas, and was going home the next Monday morning. When I introduced my work, she said she could not buy any kind of book; but after showing it to her, she said: ‘I was just thinking what a help that would be to my minister. He is young, and is studying, and is not able to buy such things for himself.’ So, before I left the house, she paid me two dollars for one of the books for her minister. Who knows but that the Lord will use this book to bring to her pastor a knowledge of his coming? I believe the Lord sent me to that woman just at that time so she might be the means of carrying the truth to her minister.
“I sold another copy of ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation’ to a woman who had wanted one for a long time. She said that when she was a child, her father was a wicked, cruel man, but he bought a copy of that book and read it, and he became a Christian and a good father, and she wanted to have a copy of the book that had done so much for her father. She has now accepted the truth.
“Here is another interesting case: I sold a copy of ‘Thoughts,’ half morocco, to a wealthy lady, who seemed to be in great haste for it; so I delivered it the next day. I also arranged for a Bible worker to visit her. Her fingers were loaded with diamonds, but amid all the glitter she wasn’t happy. She told me last week that she did not know what she would have done if I had not called on her. She was wretched and miserable, but had prayed more earnestly than ever before the morning I called to show her my book. She said she knew that the20Lord sent me to her in answer to prayer, and that these good things had brought her more peace and comfort than anything else that had ever come into her life. Now she has begun to work for others. She has arranged for the woman with whom she boards and for about a dozen other persons to take Bible readings every week. These two women and the son of the latter intend to be baptized soon, and the others who are taking the readings are accepting the truths taught, and are feasting upon these weekly studies.
“You doubtless remember my telling you about so many coming into the truth as the result of a copy of ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation’ sold one rainy day, the last one being a woman who was a Christian Scientist. Since relating that experience to you, this woman’s daughter, a married woman, has accepted the truth. So that seed is still springing up and bearing fruit. O that many others might have a part in this seed-sowing! There is surely no time for delay. The perils of the last days are right upon us. The people are beginning to think. Just now, while people are wondering what these things mean, it is our duty to search them out and tell them. May the Lord continue his rich blessings upon this work.”
As we try to realize from these reports what a work Sister Moore is doing in her quiet, self-supporting way in the great city of Memphis, we greatly rejoice that there are hundreds of other colporteurs who are devoting their lives most earnestly to the sale of our good books, magazines, and papers, and are continually winning souls for the kingdom. O that there were many, many more such workers! “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings!” Our colporteurs are indeed “publishers” of the gospel.
Let us all thank God, and take courage. Let us pray that rich blessings may continue to fall upon the good seed being sown by Sister Moore and by all our other workers. Let us pray also that these experiences may stir the hearts of many and lead them to lay their lives a willing sacrifice upon the altar of this service. In the words of one of the most devoted lady missionaries of central China, “Life holds no privilege more precious than that of giving itself in service for the lost.” E. R. P.
News and Miscellany
— Drastic administrative and legislative measures are being considered by the United States to prevent any repetition of the “Titanic” disaster.
— A cyclone swept through the States of Alabama and Georgia on April 22, taking many lives, and causing the loss of thousands of dollars’ worth of property.
— The new revolutionary government in Crete has sent a message to King George of Greece informing him of the formation of the new government, and assuring him of its loyalty to the Greek crown.
— A statue of Paul Jones, the first great commander of the American navy, was recently unveiled by Admiral George Dewey, in Potomac Park, Washington, D. C. President Taft was present at the ceremony.
— In the floods now sweeping the Mississippi Valley, 500 persons have been drowned, and 300 towns and hamlets inundated and partly destroyed. According to reports 83,000 persons are homeless, and without food or clothing.
— Great distress is, according to the Paris Journal, prevailing in Italy, by reason of the economic crisis caused by the war, and a wholesale emigration is taking place. Italy seems to be paying dearly for her ambitions in north Africa, and as yet is far from realizing them.
— A strike of railroad engineers employed east of Chicago and north of the Potomac River, a section of the United States in which it is estimated that fifty-two per cent of the railway traffic of the entire country is handled, has been averted, at least temporarily, by the officers of the federal government.
— Despatches from Gyangts, Tibet, say that the Chinese have established a representative council at Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, and proclaimed a republic. The officials have cut off their queues, and some of them are wearing silk hats and frock coats. The Tibetans oppose the change, and are threatening to exterminate the Chinese. Fighting has occurred near Shigatse, 130 miles from Lhasa.
— Dr. Isaac K. Funk, head of the great publishing house of Funk and Wagnalls, died on April 4, at the age of seventy-three years. He was well known as the editor of the publications of his firm, the Homiletic Review, the Literary Digest, and the Missionary Review of the World. His greatest effort was the editing of the Standard Dictionary. He had just completed his work on the manuscript copy for a revised edition.
— Fruitless efforts have just been made by some Americans living in Germany to recover possession by purchase of one of the most important American historic treasures, the old oaken table on which the Declaration of Independence was signed. This table, or desk, has, it appears, been for many years in the hands of the Bismarck family, having been presented to Prince Bismarck by a group of German-American admirers. It is now in the Bismarck Museum at Schoenhausen, near Berlin.
— Fez, the capital of Morocco, which had practically fallen into the hands of rioters and mutinous Moorish soldiers, has been recaptured by the French troops stationed there, after a desperate battle, in which a large number were killed and wounded.
— Many bodies of those who went down with the ill-fated White Star liner “Titanic” have been recovered by the cable steamer “Mackay-Bennett.” The unidentified were buried at sea, but the other bodies are being brought to New York.
— The New York Times says: “It may be stated on high authority that an ‘understanding in principle,’ which insures the prolongation of the triple alliance for another term of years, has now been reached between the German, Austro-Hungarian, and Italian governments.”
— Rifles and ammunition have been sent by the United States government to American citizens in Mexico City, in order that they may be armed for self-protection. The State Department in Washington has demanded that the life and property of Americans in Mexico be protected, and Mexican leaders have been informed through Ambassador Wilson that their people will be held responsible for any outrages committed. Grave international complications are threatened in the event of American intervention.
The Publishing Work
Conducted by the Publishing Department of the General Conference
