p. 7 | Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 5. (2/3/1903)

Facing a Crisis

By L. A. S.

“Is the church on the verge of a crisis?” inquires the Rev. D. S. Gregory in a recent contribution to the Homiletic Review. “Does not the church,” he asks, “face possibilities for good whose achievement would distance the loftiest imaginings of the optimist, and possibilities for evil whose realization would go immeasurably beyond the worst dreams of the pessimist?” He believes that a crisis has been reached by the church in the matter of her attitude toward the Word of God, and also in the work of world-wide evangelism. Members of the churches, he says, stand face to face with two diametrically opposite views—the one that the Bible is the word of God, the other that it is the word of men. “The crisis is already on, and the choice is being pressed between what the new critics propose and what the church of the age has held to be true, and has built into the foundations of Christianity.”

The zeal of the church in the great cause of world-wide evangelism, as indicated by existing facts, is at a very low ebb. “The Protestant Christians of the United States,” says Robert Speer, the well-known missionary evangelist, “were worth last year $23,000,000,000. They gave to the foreign mission cause one fourth of a tithe of a tithe of a tithe of their wealth, and one twelfth of a tithe of what they added to their permanent wealth last year, after all expenses of life were paid, after all their luxuries were indulged in, after all their waste.”

There is certainly a direct connection between the attitude of the church toward the word of God, and the zeal of the church to preach the gospel to “every creature.” Where the Bible is received only as the word of man, a zeal to proclaim its words to the heathen as a means of salvation from sin is not to be looked for. How can one who does not himself receive the word in faith ask others to receive it in faith? The fact that only one fourth of a tithe of a tithe of the wealth of the church is expended yearly to evangelize the world, is a sure indication that there is in the church only about one fourth of a tithe of a tithe of a tithe of the faith which should be manifested there.

How greatly the evangelization of the world might be hastened if the church

would give a full tithe of her wealth to this work. The third angel’s message stands for the support of the gospel work by tithes and offerings; it stands for the acceptance of the whole Bible as the word of God, and for the evangelization of the world in this generation. It holds up the standard of divine truth at every point where a crisis has been reached, and where the church has been led by worldly influences to lower it. This message came at the time when it was needed, and it is the rallying point for all who would contend to-day for the faith once delivered to the saints.

L. A. S.

Shall We Close the Material Fund for “Christ’s Object Lessons”?

By Arthur G. Daniells

Those who have been watching the reports of the Material Fund as they have appeared in the Review from week to week, have no doubt been pleased, as well as surprised, to see this fund rising week by week, like the tide of the sea. Under all the circumstances, it was not to be wondered at that the money came in freely when this fund was started two years ago. The plan for the relief of our schools was new, and so reasonable that it commended itself to the good sense of our people. The prospect of paying off the enormous debts upon our educational institutions was calculated to stir the hearts of our people, and lead them to great activity and sacrifice. The enthusiasm put into the work by those upon whom the burden of this important matter rested, touched responsive chords in many hearts, and brought to this enterprise generous gifts.

But when the Material Fund reached forty thousand dollars, it certainly seemed to many as if it would be almost impossible to increase it to any great extent. But week by week it has grown, until now it is more than fifty thousand dollars; and it is steadily, yet slowly, increasing.

It must be understood, however, and it certainly is by a few, that this growth of the Material Fund has not been without much hard work. The burden has rested most heavily upon Brother Magan. From the first, he espoused this cause, and for more than two years has stood by it with good courage and great perseverance. He has traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, has written many articles and appeals for our papers, and has corresponded extensively with our people in behalf of this Material Fund. After two years of steady, persevering, pressing efforts in this work, the chariot wheels are beginning to run heavily. The load, although much lighter in itself, seems almost as heavy because of the length of time it has been borne. Those who have been carrying it feel as though it can be carried but little longer. They feel that the time has come for the whole amount required, to be raised speedily, and the fund closed.

It is in view of this that I address a few words on this point to the readers of the Review. We are approaching another session of the General Conference. The Material Fund was started just prior to the General Conference in 1901. It was then fully expected that the entire fund would be raised, the books all sold, and the debts removed from most of our schools before another General Conference should open. This ought to be done.

We are now opening and pressing forward a vigorous campaign for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in all our States, with the view of disposing of the entire quota before the General Conference opens. Many of the conference officers and ministers in the various States have pledged themselves to put forth a heroic effort to close up this work, so that they can carry their “jubilee banners” to the General Conference. We join them in this noble resolution, and wish them the fullest degree of prosperity and ultimate success. We feel exceedingly anxious that this great achievement shall be made by all our conferences throughout America.

While we are putting forth these great efforts to sell the books, should there not accompany them a like effort to supply the Material Fund with enough to pay the entire bill, and so close up the account? This is the earnest desire of those who have this burden resting upon them. It will take but a few thousand dollars more than has already been received.

It is in the belief that our brethren and sisters will quickly and generously respond to the needs of this fund, that we make this special call. May we ask you who read these lines to give the matter prayerful consideration, and plan to send all that it may seem best for you to spare to the Material Fund? We earnestly plead, and we sincerely hope, that this fund will be entirely closed before the General Conference opens, March 27. Send your offerings to Prof. P. T. Magan, Berrien Springs, Mich., as usual, and he will report them in the columns of the Review. Brethren and sisters, please think of the burden that will be removed from the hearts of those who have this work in hand, and of the gladness it will bring to the hearts of our delegates to be able to report at the General Conference that this work is finished.

We thank you most heartily for the help you have already rendered, and we shall be exceedingly grateful for every response that will now be made to quickly and fully close this fund.

A. G. Daniells.

Priesthood Resignation and Socialism

By the resignation from the Catholic priesthood of Father McGrady, of Bellevue, Ky., attention is called to the “irreconcilable conflict” which has arisen between the papacy and socialism. The ex-priest has declared that he intends to devote the remainder of his life to the socialist propaganda, and to this end his resignation from the priesthood was a necessity. Two years ago Pope Leo wrote an encyclical against socialism, and this subject has been prominent in Catholic discussions since that time, Archbishop Corrigan and Bishops Quigley and Spaulding having spoken against it. By the socialist press Father McGrady is regarded as a noteworthy convert. The spread of socialism is certainly a marked feature of the times, and unfortunately it is one which tends to augment the world's strife.

Catholic Church Claims Porto Rican Lands

By the Treaty of Paris, signed at the conclusion of the war with Spain, the United States became sole judge in questions of the ownership of disputed lands formerly in the possession of the Spanish crown. There are various tracts of land in Porto Rico the title to which is in dispute between certain municipalities and the Catholic Church, and now Bishop Blenck, the head of the Catholic Church in that island, is in Washington, urging the claims of the church upon the Senate Committee on Insular Affairs. Will the bishop forget to remind Congress of the great political power of the church which can be wielded through the lately formed American Catholic federation?

Germany and the Monroe Doctrine

In the lengths to which Germany has gone in her dealings with the republic of Venezuela, it is easy to recognize a desire on the part of that leading European power to test the Monroe doctrine, which has been understood to mean “hands off,” to any European power that might look with covetous eyes on any portion of the Western hemisphere. After so much had been said about the Monroe doctrine, and after the United States had made a conquest of the Philippine Islands in the Eastern hemisphere, it was natural that the powers of Europe should desire to find out just how far they might go on this side of the water before the Monroe doctrine would be actually invoked. Germany especially, having large interests in South America, was interested in this question. By skillful diplomacy Germany succeeded in forming an alliance with England and Italy, creditors of Venezuela like herself, for the ostensible purpose of collecting their Venezuelan debts. Then, taking advantage of this alliance, Germany made open war upon Venezuela, sinking Venezuelan ships, and shelling a Venezuelan fort and town, causing great damage and considerable loss of life, all of which was entirely beyond what the necessities of debt-collecting demanded. She felt safe in doing this, because any interference by the United States would be met by England and Italy, her allies, their combined naval forces being of overwhelming strength. The precedent seems now to have been established that the European powers can make war upon a South American or Central American republic, to any extent short of an actual seizure of territory, without interference from the Monroe doctrine. England is now showing a disposition to withdraw from the alliance, but at the price, it is said, of a substantial sacrifice by the United States in the matter of the Alaskan boundary dispute.

“Prepare to Meet Thy God”

By Ellen G. White

Mrs. E. G. White

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. . . . Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

We are here warned not to defraud our souls of the privileges that the Lord has provided in order that we may be rich in faith, and heirs according to the promise. We are to watch vigilantly for the coming of the Lord. The first symptoms of spiritual slumber are to be sternly overcome. The first inclinations to spiritual indolence are to be firmly resisted. “Be sober, be vigilant,” is the apostle’s exhortation. Every moment is to be faithfully employed. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” We are told to work out our own salvation, and the way in which we are to do this is plainly stated: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Those who would be ready to meet their Lord must keep their lamps filled with the oil of grace. It was a neglect to do this that distinguished the foolish virgins from the wise. They had lamps, but no oil; their characters could not stand the test. The wise virgins had not only an intelligent knowledge of the truth, but through the grace of Christ their faith and patience and love constantly increased. Their lamps were replenished by their vital connection with the Light of the world. And while the foolish virgins awoke to find their lamps burning dimly or going out in the darkness, the wise virgins, their lamps burning brightly, entered the festal hall, and the doors were shut.

The oil with which the wise virgins filled their lamps represents the Holy Spirit. “The angel that talked with me,” writes Zechariah, “came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. . . . Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

By the holy beings surrounding his throne, the Lord keeps up a constant communication with the inhabitants of the earth. The golden oil represents the grace with which God keeps the lamps of believers supplied. Were it not that this holy oil is poured from heaven in the messages of God’s Spirit, the agencies of evil would have entire control over men.

God is dishonored when we do not receive the communications that he sends us. Thus we refuse the golden oil which he would pour into our souls to be communicated to those in darkness. When the call shall come, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him,” those who have not received the holy oil, who have not cherished the grace of Christ in their hearts, will find, like the foolish virgins, that they are not ready to meet their Lord. They have not in themselves the power to obtain the oil, and their lives are wrecked. But if God’s Spirit is asked for, if we plead, as did Moses, “Show me thy glory,” the love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts. The golden oil will be given to us.

Only by knowing God here can we prepare to meet him at his coming. “This is life eternal,” said Christ, “that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” But many of those who profess to believe in Christ do not know God. They have only a surface religion. They do not love God; they do not study his character; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. They do not know what restful love is, or what it means to walk by faith. Opportunities to hear and receive the messages of God’s love are unappreciated and unimproved. They fail of understanding that it is their duty to receive, in order that they may enrich others.

The world by wisdom knows not God. Many have talked eloquently about him, but their reasoning brings men no nearer to him, because they themselves are not in vital connection with him. Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools. Their knowledge of God is imperfect. They are not conformed to him.

Christ is a perfect revelation of God. “No man hath seen God at any time,” he says; “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Only by knowing Christ can we know God. And as we behold him, we shall be changed into his image, prepared to meet him at his coming.

So fully did Christ reveal the Father, that the messengers sent by the Pharisees to take him were charmed by his presence. As they heard the gracious words that fell from his lips, they forgot their commission. And when, returning without him, they were asked by the Pharisees, “Why have ye not brought him?” they answered, “Never man spake like this man.”

Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Readiness to meet him cannot be attained in a moment’s time. Preparatory to that solemn scene there must be vigilant waiting and watching, combined with earnest work. So, God’s children glorify him. Amid the busy scenes of life their voices will be heard speaking words of encouragement, hope, and faith. All they have and are is consecrated to the Master’s service. Thus they prepare to meet their Lord; and when he comes, they will say, with joy, “This is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. . . . We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless

we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

The Availing Prayer

By Charles Francis Richardson

If, when I kneel to pray, With eager lips I say: “Lord, give me all the things that I desire,— Health, wealth, fame, friends, brave heart, religious fire, The power to sway my fellow men at will, And strength for mighty works to banish ill,”— In such a prayer as this The blessing I must miss.

Or if I only dare To raise this fainting prayer: “Thou seest, Lord, that I am poor and weak, And cannot tell what things I ought to seek; I therefore do not ask at all, but still I trust thy bounty all my wants to fill,”— My lips shall thus grow dumb, Thy blessing shall not come.

But if I lowly fall, And thus in faith I call: “Through Christ, O Lord, I pray thee give to me Not what I would, but what seems best to thee Of life, of health, of service, and of strength, Until to thy full joy I come at length,”— My prayer shall then avail, The blessing shall not fail.

— Charles Francis Richardson.

English Public Schools

By John O. Corliss

J. O. Corliss

Under the head of “A Deplorable Position,” the London Daily Mail of December 19 contains some quite severe strictures on the kind of work done in many of the public schools of England. It says: “From an educational point of view, the present position of the average schoolboy is deplorable to the last degree.”

In order to justify the use of these words, the writer goes on to state that except in some special cases where boys are “coached” for a year or more for a position in the army, they are failures wherever they go, because of their lamentable ignorance. Mr. Parkin is cited for authority of the statement that many of these become “waifs and strays,” especially when they reach the English colonies.

Even the university candidates are placed in a bad light. At these places athletics seem to satisfy the largest demand for an education. Closing its criticism on the public schools, the Mail says: “Judging from the history of every career for the past century, it seems clear that the worst possible chance a struggling respectable parent or a professional man can give his boy is to send him to an expensive public school. He will find to his cost in due time that devotion to cricket and fashionable companions will give his son neither competence nor renown.”

Of course the public schools here referred to are largely those like Eton, Rugby, and Cambridge, which rank with average American colleges, these being conducted much after the same order. It can hardly be said that the picture is overdrawn; for it is well known that popular games are much in custom in all advanced schools and colleges, to the detriment, it is feared, of intellectual development. It is, however, strongly urged that these are necessary accomplishments of school life, because they are beneficial to the health of the student. But with this course followed, when one is through school life, he has no practical knowledge of the trades which are necessary to public prosperity, and, unless he is heir to a fortune, to his own success as a member of society. If he ever secures this necessary knowledge, he must serve an apprenticeship for it, after having arrived at the age when he ought to be fairly launched on the sea of a prosperous living.

How much better it would be for all those who seek an advanced education to connect themselves with an institution where, instead of having cricket, baseball, football, and other games of the kind for exercise, the various trades are taught, and the pupils are required to work at these, so that when they are graduated in theoretical knowledge, they will also receive commendation for having acquired some trade from which they may have an immediate income upon leaving school.

There is many a man to-day who is a mere trifler, a blot on society, who, if his school education had been of a different character, would have filled a useful place in almost any community. It may be that he averaged with many others in committing to memory set lessons from authorized books, but there was a lack of the practical side, from which he was never able to recover after closing his school days. Why should not this deficit in school work be supplied with practical instruction by competent teachers?

The writer just now recalls one case of a young man who had never learned a trade before attending school. Entering an industrial institution, he was put to work to learn the painter’s trade. Circumstances soon arose which prevented the young man from continuing in the school, but he was able to take up work at painting immediately after, under full pay. This is but one instance of many which might be cited to show that there is a better way to conduct schools than after the obsolete fashion of half a century ago.

The Father's Call

By Eliza F. Morris

Poor child of sin and woe, Now listen to thy Father's pleading voice; No longer needst thou go Without a friend to bid thy heart rejoice.

I know thou canst not rest Until thou art from guilt and sorrow free; Earth cannot make thee blest; Come, bring thy suffering, bleeding heart to me.

How often in the hour Of weariness, would I have succored thee! But thou didst spurn the power, And scorn the heart that loved so tenderly.

O, what on earth appears To comfort thy distress and heal thy grief, To dry thy bitter tears, And offer thy poor, sinking soul relief?

Thy life of sin has been A toilsome path, without one cheering ray; Now on thy Father lean, And he will guide thee in a better way.

Come, leave the desert land, And all the husks on which thy soul has fed, And trust the faithful Hand That offers thee a feast of living bread.

O sinner, 'tis the voice Of One who long has loved and pitied thee. He would thy heart rejoice, And set thee from all sin and suffering free.

O, canst thou turn away? It is thy Father that invites thee near. Nay, sinner, weep and pray; And Heaven shall hail the penetential tear!

—Eliza F. Morris.

He Will Finish His Work

By H. F. Ketring

H. F. Ketring

As we review in our minds the signs of the coming of the Lord, it seems that time can last only a little longer. But when we turn our eyes upon the vast missionary fields practically untouched, our hearts would fail us, and it would seem as though our hopes would never be realized, if it were not for the blessed assurance that “He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness.”

The Lord has not promised to begin the work, but “he will finish the work.” If it were not for that promise, we could never have the courage to begin a work so mighty as the preaching of this gospel of the kingdom “in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” If it depended upon us to finish the work, we could never hope to live to see the Lord come.

Therefore, we show our faith in God’s promise to finish the work when we set about ourselves to begin it. God cannot finish the work nor cut it short until it is begun. The work of preaching the gospel unto all nations must be finished. So our duty is made very plain—to begin the work among all nations.

Our hearts are stirred as we contemplate the magnitude of the work that confronts us. In this field, on the west coast of this “neglected continent” of South America, there is a population of about ten million souls. Nor can all these be reached by the Spanish language, the language of the country. In the interior are several million aborigines, among whom a number of dialects are spoken, very little of which is known by the white man. We must begin work among these, but what can less than half a dozen workers do?

Our hearts rejoice as we read in the Review the reports from other points at the front, of how our workers are pushing into the interior of Africa and other dark continents; and we are stimulated to consecrate every energy and faculty of our being to start the work in all parts of this great field, before the finishing time comes. But we must work fast, as we have a great work to do. “The harvest truly is plenteous; but the laborers are few.” While we therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into the harvest, we must be active if we would see our prayers answered.

A Word from Bermuda

By M. Enoch

M. Enoch

While Bermuda is in darkness as far as the last message is concerned, and while there seems to be a total unwillingness to hear anything about it on the part of the people, yet there are a few who love this precious cause. We are satisfied that many will be waiting and watching for the Master when he returns. How this is going to be brought about is known only to him who is the fountain of all wisdom. As I notice this unwillingness even to listen to what is the truth for the last days, I am often led to say, How long, O Lord, how long?

Besides this, the hand of sickness has been upon some, and the lack of work, for the truth's sake, is bringing trials upon us. But no one is discouraged, and these things serve only to drive us nearer the Lord, whom we find precious indeed.

Financially, all are poor; and for the reasons already given, some have thought that it might be necessary to give up the hall where we are holding our meetings. I thought that perhaps it might be best, until I read the following from “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 100: “The place should be thoroughly worked, until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God's Sabbath, a light amid the moral darkness. . . . In many places where the message has been preached and souls have accepted it, they are in limited circumstances, and can do but little toward securing advantages that would give character to the work. Often this renders it difficult to extend the work. As persons become interested in the truth, they are told by ministers of other churches,—and these words are echoed by the church members,—‘These people have no church, and you have no place of worship. You are a small company, poor and unlearned.’ . . . Can we suppose that this will not bring strong temptations to those who see the reasons of our faith, and are convicted by the Spirit of God in regard to present truth? It has to be often repeated, that from a small beginning large interests may grow.”

With these words before us, I felt that I could not consent to give up the hall.

It is with much reluctance that I would ask our brethren and sisters in America, or anywhere, if they would not be willing to help us retain our place of worship, which costs only $7.30 a month. To us here it is a large amount.

If I could bear this burden myself, I would not make this appeal, but I cannot bear to give up this our only place of worship in all Bermuda. Any help will be thankfully received, and it will be a source of encouragement to the few struggling ones here.

When Elder Bartlett was here, every hall was closed against him; and now that we have a place in which to worship, shall we give it up? Some have tried to persuade the owner of our hall to rent it to them for a dancing hall, of course offering more rent than we are paying; but he said, “No, as long as Mr. Enoch wishes the hall, I will not take it away from him.” In this I recognize the hand of our God.

Let no one think that we are discouraged—far from it; for the Lord is very precious here in Bermuda; and as we confess and forsake our sins, our souls are watered from the wells of salvation . We are holding on to the great cable, faith, and we find that it reaches within the veil, and that it is fast to our mighty anchor. Mighty ships may drag their heavy anchors, and their strong cables may break in the midst of storms and tempests, but the anchor within the veil never drags; faith, our cable rope, holds; and so we press on in the name of our Captain, who gives us the victory day by day.

Our Work in Tonga

By E. S. Butz

E. S. Butz

Our ship “Pitcairn” called at the Tonga Islands on her first trip through the islands, and sold and gave away quite a quantity of literature to the white people. In 1895 she called again, leaving Elder Hilliard and his wife there. They began the study of the native language, and started an English school. The school was composed of white, half-caste, and native children. This was continued with varying degrees of success till Brother and Sister Hilliard were called to Tasmania to labor. They also organized a little Sabbath school, which is still kept up.

Shortly after the arrival of our workers, one of the leading missionaries wrote a very bitter article against the new sect; this article was printed in the native church paper. The prejudice fostered in the minds of the natives has made it difficult to work for them. As the doctrines taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church are new and strange to the white people, and the missionaries are Americans, all sorts of stories as to who these strange people were and what they believed, were circulated. The Mormon missionaries had come from America two or three years before, so the idea that our workers were Mormons became quite general.

Mrs. Butz and I joined Elder Hilliard in the fall of 1896. Our experience in failing to get a teacher to assist us in the study of the native language was similar to Brother Hilliard’s, and we borrowed the same dictionary and copied it. It was impossible to buy one at any price. Finally we induced a native to teach us Tongan while we taught him English. It was a fair exchange, for he knew about as much English as we did Tongan; so we had interesting times trying to understand each other. But “necessity is the mother of invention,” and we contrived ways to communicate our thoughts, however crude, but our teacher soon left us.

In the meantime the people learned that we could care for the sick, and began to come for us. We went out and nursed whenever the calls came, and the prejudice began to wear away, and doors began to open. Mrs. Butz or I nursed in almost every white family in the town, and we followed the work by at least leaving some literature. In fact, we tried to improve every opportunity the Lord gave us. One day a neighbor saw our mop stick which I had made, so she wanted me to make her one, which I

did. Shortly after coming to Tonga, I was seen by a neighbor repairing our shoes; so it was reported that I was a Yankee cobbler, and several pairs of shoes were sent in for me to repair, which I did.

We felt the great need of literature in the native language, and Brother Hilliard and I hunted the islands over for a suitable translator, but without success. We saw that the only way was to learn the language as soon as possible, and do our own translating with what little native help we could get. We found it a most difficult problem. The language is such a meager one, and so barren of expressions to convey spiritual ideas. We sometimes entirely fail to find language to express a truth, or have to express it in such a roundabout way that the thought is not clearly presented. At times we get different natives to put a thought into “good” Tongan, and when we compare the thoughts, we are apt to find so much difference that we feel the truth of the saying, “When the judges disagree, who shall decide the case?” So all we can do is to wait till we know more of the language. We have succeeded in translating a few small leaflets, which were printed by the press connected with Cooranbong school, and they are ready for distribution.

Thus far the work in Tonga has been largely preparatory. There have been no very marked results of the efforts put forth, but we trust a good foundation has been laid. We feel that we have seen the touch of God in many ways in the melting away of prejudice, supplanting it with a kindly spirit, opening doors for the entrance of truth, and creating a willingness to read. If this were all, we would consider that the efforts were not entirely lost. But in his goodness and mercy God has seen fit to crown the efforts by leading a few honest souls to take their stand with the remnant people. A little church has been raised up of as earnest, devoted, and substantial members as can be found anywhere, for which all the glory belongs to God. In the island field, where the work moves so slowly at best, we learn to watch for and appreciate the slightest manifestation of the working of the Spirit of God.

Personally, we can say that God has blessed us richly, and sustained us in our times of perplexity. When clouds seemed darkest, there was always a rift through which a ray of light would steal, laden with courage. What we have seen and experienced already of God’s working in Tonga leads us confidently to believe that he has a work to do there, and that he is ready to bless the efforts put forth. We expect when Christ shall appear that a goodly number of dark-skinned natives will be prepared to “stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”

Nukualofa, Tonga.

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