BATTLE CREEK.—Another year's work in missionary lines, home and foreign, has closed in this historic church, where the first nucleus was started in 1852 by our venerable Captain Bates. When he arrived in town, a stranger, he went to the post office and asked Mr. Nobel to direct him to “the most honest man in town.” Reflecting a moment, the postmaster replied, “David Hewett, of the ‘West End.’” Elder Bates called on him, stayed with him that night, held a Bible reading with him and his wife till after midnight, and both accepted the faith that night.
Meetings were begun in Brother Hewett's home, and several others joined them. Elder M. E. Cornell was called to follow up the work. He and his company of First-day Adventists at Jackson had just embraced the Sabbath under the teachings of Elder Bates. Elder Cornell was absent from Jackson when Captain Bates began meetings there, and hearing of it, he and his wife drove over from Albion “to set matters right.” He arrived in the morning while Elder Bates was preaching, and gave attentive ear to gather points of error. He said later, “Elder Bates preached all day and nearly all night, and the Lord converted us before I had a chance to reply.” Immediately on the arrival of Elder Cornell to follow up the work in Battle Creek, Elder J. B. Frisbie, a Baptist minister of ability and earnestness, embraced the faith and joined Brother Cornell in his work. They soon had a large company of believers.
The following summer they held tent meetings on the corner of Van Buren and Tomkins Streets, and believers multiplied. The growing interests which soon located in the city—publishing work, sanitarium, and college—outgrew three church buildings, and in 1878 the “Dime Tabernacle” was erected.
Thousands have become members of this church (which is still the largest congregation of Seventh-day Adventists in the world). Many of these have gone to the “blessed sleep” and many to the far ends of the earth, as doctors, teachers, publishers, colporteurs, and missionaries.
Our Father is still at the helm, and souls are being garnered for him. During the past year, $3,250 worth of gospel literature has been distributed; Sunday night meetings have continued, excepting through August and September; Bible studies have been held each Tuesday night during eight months, and eighty-three persons have been baptized—forty-two in the first part of the year before Elder Westworth left, and forty-one since.
A good interest was manifested in the Harvest Ingathering campaign, which resulted in gathering $625 for missions. The Annual Offering amounted to $650; Sabbath school offerings, $2,013; offerings of young people's society for missions, $250. Total mission offerings by the church, $5,099. Offerings for home missions: Tithe, $14,413; academy fund, $3,091; church expense fund, $1,551; religious liberty fund, $40; Dorcas Society, $117. Total contributions for all purposes during the year, $28,310.
A good spirit prevails in the church, and we are praying that more may be accomplished the present year. The church has greatly appreciated the help of visiting ministers who have stopped with us from time to time, and trust that our general men may continue in the future to favor us with their counsel and help.
The church school and academy are making favorable progress. The enrolment for the year is over 180, the largest in many years. Full ten grades of work are carried, five teachers being employed.
The spiritual interests of the school receive careful attention, and it is an encouragement to patrons and teachers to know that the great majority of the boys and girls are seeking something better than worldly pleasure. Interesting and profitable meetings were held in the school during the week of prayer. We confidently expect that many will be saved in the kingdom as the result of the efforts put forth by the church in sustaining this large school.
The work of the young people and youth is receiving careful attention. From 200 to 250 young people gather each Sabbath for their regular meeting, and a deep interest is manifest. The department lessons are now used, and a general interest is being awakened in these. A Standard of Attainment class is conducted each week, several members of which are giving Bible studies in the city. Earnest efforts were put forth by all to reach the 1915 goal, and the members are looking forward to the new goal of 1916. A large Junior Society is also conducted. Special meetings during the week of prayer were held for the children, with the result that a real consecration of their young minds and bodies took place among them. They are now doing active work for Christ.
G. E. LANGDON.
Newspaper Aid in Tent Work
By Wm. W. Rice.
DURING the past two years it has been my privilege to see the power of newspaper publicity demonstrated to the extent of attracting an intelligent class of listeners to a series of meetings, and also arousing enough interest among many who did not attend to look for the reports the first thing after receiving their daily papers.
In these two years, efforts have been held in two of the cities of Massachusetts, the papers in each place giving us a very liberal amount of space for the presentation of outlines of our different doctrines. In one of the cities our efforts were centered on giving daily reports to the leading newspaper, and not only did it reach a large portion of the population in the immediate town, but also circulated quite extensively throughout the county.
When in the series of meetings the subject of the change of the Sabbath was presented, the report of this sermon was not published. I asked some of those who had been attending the meetings to call the editor by telephone and inquire as to his reasons for withholding the report. Afterward the editor told me of the interest manifested by his readers, and we had no difficulty in securing the publication of future reports. This method surely could be adopted with good effect by others who might find difficulty in getting reports of their sermons published after they have reached the testing truths in their meetings.
We found, much to our encouragement, that not only did strangers read the articles, but many of them clipped the reports from the papers and saved them for future reference. We also patronized the pay advertisement columns of the papers, and soon realized that by giving a little money back to the papers in the form of advertisements, which, by the way, were also read, the editors showed more willingness to publish our news articles. Newspaper publicity not only reaches the masses, but it is not expensive, and it certainly is effective, even though but little money is involved to secure it.
Wm. W. Rice.
Field Notes
SEVEN new believers were baptized at New Haven, Conn., not long ago.
THE new church building at Marceline, Mo., was recently dedicated to the service of God.
NEAR COX, S. Dak., nineteen are keeping the Sabbath, and others are deeply interested in present truth.
ELDER A. R. BELL recently baptized fifteen adults in Lebanon, Pa., the result of a tent effort held there last summer.
ELDER J. G. LAMSON reports the recent baptism of seven new believers who united with the church at Grand Rapids, Mich. A new church has been organized at Napoleon, East Michigan.
A NEW church building is being erected at Otsego, N. Y. The workers at that place report fourteen new believers. During the past year forty-two persons have been added to the church in Brooklyn, twenty-five by baptism and the remainder by letter or profession of faith.
THE following good word comes from Davenport, Iowa: “Our church membership two years ago was 42; at this present writing it is 73. The Sabbath school attendance is 100. We have put up a new church building the past year, which cost about $4,000. This has all been paid but $480, which we hope to meet by the first of May, 1916.”
ELDER A. R. OGDEN, president of the Iowa Conference, in a recent letter says of the work in that field: “Am glad to report that everything is moving along quite satisfactorily in our conference work. We have passed the Harvest Ingathering goal by several hundred dollars, also reached the full Twenty-cent-a-week Fund with a surplus of upwards of $2,000. Our workers and people are full of courage, and we anticipate a good year during 1916.”
SOME one has spoken of Africa as a great interrogation point, turned westward, looking across the seas, asking, “Why am I the Dark Continent?”
A Call to the Instructor Temperance League
By C. S. Longacre
The Instructor Temperance League is composed of all those who will join in a campaign for nation-wide prohibition by aiding in an effort to put the Temperance Instructor into every home. A State will not vote for prohibition of the liquor traffic without a preponderance of public sentiment favoring it. The Temperance Instructor in the past has been a strong factor in molding public sentiment, especially in connection with State prohibition and local option elections. The temperance forces in Vermont are weak in comparison to the liquor traffic, and our people are few and limited in means. The situation there this year is similar to that in Maine in 1912, when Brother Haskell, with the Temperance Instructor and the liberal support of our people, saved Maine to the cause of temperance and marked the beginning of better days for our special work in good old Maine.
Nineteen States have already decided the great issue. Seven States will vote on this question this year; but the people of Vermont will be called to settle it the seventh day of next March, while the others will not vote on it until the general election next November.
Why not rally our forces around the old State of Vermont, and score a glorious victory? I am planning to assist our brethren in Vermont in a State-wide campaign the latter part of February and the first week in March. I should especially like to have our people in the States where the fight is not on, or where the victory is already won, to come to our rescue by supplying us with forty or fifty thousand copies of the Temperance Instructor to use in our temperance campaign throughout the State of Vermont, the same as it was used so effectively four years ago in the Maine campaign. We are anxious to place a copy, if possible, in every home needing it.
You can help us. If you volunteer to join our league the tract society secretary will, upon your request, send you an official solicitor's card, duly authorizing you to solicit funds from the public and from business firms that are interested in our fight for nation-wide prohibition. Many would gladly assist where a special fight is on, by contributing funds for the free circulation of the Temperance Instructor in the homes of those who need it and would be favorably influenced by reading it, but who would not purchase it before they became interested. The Anti-Saloon League of America solicits hundreds of thousands of dollars each year from business men in this way; why should not we? A Temperance Instructor will also be supplied to you, that you may show those whom you solicit the nature of the paper to be bought with this donation.
If our churches would rally to this issue, we could flood the State of Vermont with our literature, and score a great victory for the cause of temperance as well as for the truth we hold so dear. Why not do it? What we do must be18done quickly. Will not each of our churches make itself responsible for a certain number of papers, say, 100, 500, or 1,000 copies? Write the Vermont Tract Society, Concord, N. H., what you will do, so that the society can send its orders in to the Review and Herald for 5,000 copies at a time, and thus procure the Temperance Instructors at 3 cents a copy. The people in Vermont are going to do their share, but they need help.
The public will assist us in this campaign if only we have the courage to ask them. Now is the time to strike a decisive blow; let us improve the opportunity.
Review the book of Leviticus. Outline it in six divisions (Offerings, Priesthood, Cleanliness, Holiness, Feasts, Laws), giving the chapters.
To Think About as You Read
FEBRUARY 13: What it really means to love my neighbor as myself.
FEBRUARY 14: The duty of showing mercy to the poor.
FEBRUARY 15: How does my life conform to the Lord's standard of Sabbath keeping and reverence?
FEBRUARY 16: The honor of being chosen to minister.
FEBRUARY 17: Separation from the world.
FEBRUARY 18: Am I faithful in giving the invitation, “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good”?
FEBRUARY 19: Do I truly appreciate the daily gifts of bread and water and raiment?
Numbers
This book takes its name from the fact that it contains two censuses, or numberings, of Israel,—one at Sinai, the other in the plains of Moab, thirty-eight years later. The Greek name for the book is Arithmoi, from which comes our word arithmetic. A careful reading shows the appropriateness of this title.
Numbers has also been aptly called “The Book of Journeys.” The first chapters are a continuation of Leviticus; but beginning with chapter 9, the narrative of Exodus, which left Israel encamped at Sinai, is resumed. Their main experiences on the way to Kadesh-barnea are quite fully recorded; but of the years in the wilderness little is told save that the camp was moved from time to time.
“The book of Numbers is rich in fragments of ancient poetry, some of them of great beauty, and all throwing an interesting light on the times in which they were composed. Such, for instance, is the blessing of the high priest (6: 24-26). Such, too, are the chants which were the signal for the ark to move when the people journeyed, and for it to rest when they were about to encamp.” The beautiful prophetic poems uttered by Balaam, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, appeal no less to the mind and the heart than to the ear, so lofty and musical are their cadences.
The Key to the Cuneiform Inscriptions
The finding of the Rosetta stone awakened a great desire among Bible students everywhere to explore the historical lands of southwestern Asia in the hope of finding still further confirmation of the Sacred Record. All through the nineteenth century and up to the present time the work of surveying, locating, excavating, collecting, and comparing has gone steadily forward. The great valley of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers has furnished a rich field for archeological research. “Travelers through this valley for centuries had noticed many strange ruins, . . . artificial mounds, dry beds of ancient canals, ruins of towers and cities.” Some of these travelers “had noticed and occasionally picked up, here and there, especially near the mounds, bits of burnt bricks, and fragments of tablets, upon which were found some peculiar, wedge-shaped characters. No one could determine whether they were writing, or simply a species of artistic ornamentation.” Between 1808 and 1820 an English traveler named Rich made a collection of these curiously inscribed little bricks, and sent them to the British Museum. But no one at that time could read their story.
In 1835 Henry C. Rawlinson, then a young English officer in the Persian army, found on Mt. Behistun, in Persian Kurdistan, what is now known as the Behistun inscription.
The mountain that attracted the attention of the young officer was of limestone, “rising out of the plain to a height of seventeen hundred feet. One side of this mass was almost perpendicular in form. About three hundred and fifty feet above the base on this perpendicular side, Rawlinson could see a large space which had been carefully hewn off and polished. Upon this prepared surface he could also descry a large bas-relief representing a king, before whom stood a long line of captives bound neck to neck with a rope. Adjacent to this group were several columns of cuneiform inscriptions.” The young officer determined to secure a copy of these; and finally, after working at his self-appointed task at intervals for four years, in the face of almost insurmountable difficulties and often at the risk of his life, the work was completed.
The next thing was to find the hidden meaning. Seeing that the inscriptions were in three languages, he at once began to study the Sanskrit, Zend, and Pahlavi. He was already familiar with the Persian. With incredible patience he toiled at his task, and “succeeded finally in translating the five columns of old Persian cuneiform writing, nearly four hundred lines. Ten years after his discovery at Behistun, he sent his translation to Europe.”
It was found that this ancient inscription had been made by order of Darius I, king of Persia, about 515 B. C. It gave the history of various revolts, and contained other valuable information.
“On the supposition that the other two inscriptions told the same story, scholars began to attempt to read them. Very soon the second tongue, the Median, or Susian, began to yield its secrets. Then the third series of columns, the Babylonian, was forced to give up its hidden treasures. This Behistun group was found to sustain the same relation to the cuneiform languages of Babylonia that the Rosetta stone sustained to the tongues of ancient Egypt. It was the key to its ancient life, people, and government.”
Sin and the Cable of Habit
By David Thomas
EVERY sinful act is another cord woven into that mighty cable of habit, which binds the spirit to the throne of darkness.
— David Thomas.
Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. KERN — Secretary
MATILDA ERICKSON — Assistant Secretary
MEADE MACGUIRE — Field Secretary
C. L. BENSON — Field Secretary
MRS. I. H. EVANS — Office Secretary
Religious Liberty Department
By C. S. LONGACRE
C. S. LONGACRE - - N. Am. Div. Secretary
The Summary
By W. W. Eastman
WE are glad to be able to pass on such an encouraging report for December. It will be noticed that every union in the North American Division, except two, shows a gain over December of last year. During the last three months of the old year there has been a decided change for the better in our book work; in most instances gains have been shown.
An encouraging gain is also shown by our foreign fields. It will be seen that the total gain for the year, while not large, shows that our colporteur work as a whole has grown throughout the world. When it is remembered that 1915 has been marked with trouble, war, and distress, such as has never been known19in the history of the world, it is all the more remarkable that the sale and circulation of our literature has increased rather than decreased.
For all this let us thank God and take courage. The prospects for 1916, at the present writing, are very encouraging, and we have reason to hope that we shall be able under God to make further advance in the circulation of our truth-filled literature. W. W. EASTMAN.
Books reported for three months. ** Books reported for two months. † Multiply number of magazines in any month by ten cents to get value.
Publishing Department
N. Z. TOWN · · · · General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN · · · · N. Am. Div. Secretary
Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals
January, 1914, 485,968 copies, value $19,795.36; January, 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23.
February, 1914, 372,235 copies, value $10,739.70; February, 1915, 403,134 copies, value $11,357.55.
March, 1914, 381,017 copies, value $11,168.35; March, 1915, 467,626 copies, value $18,243.92.
April, 1914, 375,140 copies, value $11,686.31; April, 1915, 418,584 copies, value $10,001.96.
May, 1914, 297,877 copies, value $8,049.90; May, 1915, 595,740 copies, value $18,200.94.
June, 1914, 301,582 copies, value $9,509.79; June, 1915, 215,051 copies, value $7,974.76.
July, 1914, 380,246 copies, value $10,455.83; July, 1915, 561,531 copies, value $11,627.60.
August, 1914, 196,328 copies, value $5,502; August, 1915, 451,249 copies, value $11,301.47.
September, 1914, 300,761 copies, value $8,336.88; September, 1915, 220,832 copies, value $7,848.51.
October, 1914, 445,629 copies, value $11,703.18; October, 1915, 410,917 copies, value $10,454.20.
November, 1914, 375,186 copies, value $9,461.03; November, 1915, 359,241 copies, value $7,848.51.
December, 1914, 492,309 copies, value $14,893.63; December, 1915, 383,210 copies, value $10,329.
Does Home Missionary Work Bring Results?
By S. A. RUSKJER
THE thing that we all want to see, no matter what we are doing, is results. It makes but little difference how hard the work, we somehow or other feel perfectly satisfied if we can just obtain results. The world is looking for men that bring results. Business firms are constantly studying the best methods to employ in their business. Why?—That they may obtain the best and most sure results.
It is only just that we should ask ourselves the question, “Am I bringing results?” In laying plans for the prosecution of the Lord’s work, our first question should be, “Is this the best way to get results?”
I am glad that the plans laid for the furthering of the home missionary work20are plans that, if carried into effect, will bring results of great magnitude. We have splendid plans. The work is quite fully outlined. Now the important thing is to go into the field and carry out those plans and bring results.
At one of our home missionary institutes the question was raised, “Does it pay to hand out tracts to strangers with whom we are brought in contact?” While the importance of this method of work was receiving our attention, a gentleman in the congregation arose and said, in substance: “I am not a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as yet, but I hope to be soon. I should not have a desire to be one, and should not be here today, had not some one handed me a copy of the tract, ‘How Esther Read Her Bible.’ I read that tract, and studied the subject matter, and secured other tracts and literature upon the same subject as well as kindred subjects, and as a result I am here today, and desire to go all the way with this people.” Brethren, if we are faithful in casting our bread upon all waters, God will see to it that we see results.
The above example is not an isolated one by any means. Many of our church members are in the truth directly as a result of the faithful missionary work done by our earnest members. I trust that we shall see a great revival in the home missionary work, not simply a bright flash to be followed by darkness, but a real healthy growth, that shall continue to develop until the work is done and the workers gathered home.
S. A. RUSKJER.
Our Books Sell in Spite of the War
By W. W. EASTMAN
As an illustration of how our colporteur work prospers and grows in all parts of the world, in spite of the difficulties, we quote the following from a recent communication received from Elder J. Wibbens, superintendent of our work in Holland. He says:—
“Our colporteur work is booming. It used to be, according to our estimation, a good colporteur who sold 400 florins’ worth (about $164) in three months, but some are selling now close to 500 florins’ worth. We used to be glad when we sold 1,400 florins’ worth in a month, but in November our sales amounted to 2,127 florins ($672). We now sell in two months what we used to sell in three, and mostly large books.”
Speaking of the effects of the war on their industries, he says:—
“On account of the war there is much money among the farmers, and the fishers had five times as good a year as the average, and of course this helps some; but the industries and the people living in the cities and seaports are having a hard time, as the war hinders the import of raw materials.”
Thus it is that some are prospered while others suffer; but notwithstanding it all, our colporteur work, along with all other lines of the message, goes steadily forward, assuring us that the gospel message will surely be finished in this generation, “as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Rev. 10:7.
W. W. EASTMAN.
Home Missionary Department
E. M. GRAHAM - - - General Secretary
F. W. PAAP - - - N. Am. Div. Secretary
A Correction
By L. A. HANSEN
By mistake the date of the opening of our first health institution has been given as 1868. This was recently stated in one of our papers, which called forth a letter from Elder J. N. Loughborough, making the correction. His communication will be of interest to a number, as offering authentic information on the point. We give it as follows:—
“DEAR BROTHER HANSEN:—
“In the Harvest Ingathering Signs, page 26, near the top of the page, I see the printers cause you to say, ‘Its first institution was opened at Battle Creek, Mich., in 1868.’ I conclude that you wrote it 1866, but that the printers turned the 6 into an 8.
“The vision that ‘we should have an institution of our own,’ was given to Sister White on Christmas night in 1865, in Rochester, N. Y. I was present on that occasion. She did not, however, make the health institution part public until the session of the General Conference in the spring of 1866.
“I was at that time president of the Michigan Conference, and drew up the subscription paper, calling for means to start the enterprise. We purchased Judge Graves’s home, and the work began in August, 1866. It was needful for legislative action before we could organize legally. This matter was put through the legislature in the winter, through the labors of Lawyer Pine of Battle Creek. So in the spring of 1867 we organized legally.
“I see in my diary of that year: ‘April 1-5. Counsel over health institute matters.’ ‘April 7. Counsel on organization of health institute.’ ‘April 8. Down to lawyers’ office. Got Articles of Association for institute.’ ‘April 9. Signing Articles of Association for Health and Reform Institute.’ ‘April 26. Election of directors for Health Reform Institute.’ I was chosen president, and so served until the spring of 1868, when it was decided that I come to California. So you see it read a little strange to me, that the institute was opened in 1868, when at that date I was already on my way to California.
“[Signed] J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.”
Reference to early REVIEW files shows the above dates to be correct, and that the opening of the first Health Institute should be given as Sept. 5, 1866.
L. A. HANSEN.
City Treatment Rooms and Missionary Work
ONE of our oldest men nurses is C. L. Burlingame. He and D. T. Strickler purchased the men’s side of the Whiteis Baths at Columbus, Ohio, July 1, 1914. We have a brief summary report of their work, which shows encouraging figures.
The first six months the two brethren did all the work, giving 1,697 treatments, an average of 283 a month. The next six months there were given an average of 342 treatments a month, and the next six months the average number was 365. December of 1915 was the banner month, with 402 treatments. The total receipts for 1915 were over $5,000. The capacity was increased and facilities were added. Not much advertising is done, about ninety per cent of the business coming from satisfied patrons telling others.
We have several such enterprises, running successfully, affording self-supporting employment to workers and giving much opportunity for doing active missionary work in a personal way and in connection with the local church. Rightly conducted city treatment-room work is to be strongly recommended to those prepared to engage in it.
An encouraging paragraph comes in a letter from the New England Sanitarium at Melrose, Mass., as follows:— “A Mrs. ——, who has been coming to the sanitarium for a number of years, took her stand for the Sabbath truth before leaving a few days ago. She came into the office to say good-by, and told me something of her struggles over the question. She said that as far as she was concerned personally, she would much have preferred to go away quietly and say nothing in a public way, as she is of a rather timid disposition, but she finally decided to announce in morning worship her decision about the Sabbath, and she says the Lord helped her to make a clear statement in regard to the truth. This no doubt made a favorable impression upon the other patients assembled. These are some of the things that give us courage to press onward, believing the sanitarium work is accomplishing some good. There is a very good spirit among the workers, and a great majority are doing their part in bearing the burdens.”
A later letter gives this paragraph:— “It will no doubt be of interest to you to learn that another one of our patients, Mrs. ——, who has been making her home with us for some time, has begun keeping the Sabbath. She is a woman of very fine character and some means, and we know you will rejoice with us when you receive this good news.”
Notes of Interest
Two or three treatment room enterprises are available to suitable persons. Correspondence is solicited by our department.
Changes in California Sanitarium Management
An item of more than local interest is one regarding changes that have been made in the business management of the California sanitariums. L. M. Bowen is now at Loma Linda as business manager. Elder J. A. Burden has taken the management of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium; and Chas. E. Rice, of the latter place, is now business manager of the St. Helena Sanitarium. C. E. Kimlin is now manager of the Glendale Sanitarium. The brethren recognize that such changes do not generally contribute to financial prosperity for the time being. Regret is felt by associated workers to have their relations thus severed. The changes are made, however, after careful deliberation and much counsel, and with the view of strengthening the work as a whole.