At an international aviation contest in Brigue, Switzerland, a few days ago, the city authorities interfered with the aviation program at the point where the birdmen proposed to start on their flight from Brigue to Milan, Italy, on Sunday. The aviators were determined to defy the authorities, but the committee decided to disqualify any aviators making the start on the “holy” day.
Since Father Vaughan’s attack on Protestantism at the late eucharistic congress, calling it soulless, much is being said on both sides about “soullessness.” The closing sentence of the following editorial in the Toronto World is doubtless a facetious allusion to that matter; for Toronto is decidedly a Protestant city: “There is something symbolically consistent in the action of the secretary of the Dominion [Lord’s Day] Alliance forbidding a meeting of the brotherhood of St. Andrew in a theater on Sunday. Mayor Guerin, of Montreal, said the by-law was never intended to apply to religious meetings; but the Alliance, which depends on the letter of the law and not on the spirit for its aim in life, evidently had a different opinion. It may be true, after all, that the religion of some Protestants has no soul.”
F. F. BLISS.
Suggestive Program for Fourth Sabbath Home Missionary Service
By A. J. S. B.
(To be held Oct. 22, 1910)
Opening Song—“Is Your Lamp Burning?” “Hymns and Tunes,” No. 1244; “Christ in Song,” No. 481 (old edition, No. 404).
Song—“Ask Not to Be Excused,” “Hymns and Tunes,” No. 1243; “Christ in Song,” No. 513 (old edition, No. 422).
First Reading—“An Appeal to Our Lay Members.”
Second Reading—“Home Missionary Work.”
Music; or text symposium by Missionary Volunteers and children.
Third Reading—“How to Regain the First Love.”
Monthly report of Missionary Volunteers.
Prayer for officers of church missionary society.
Collection for home missionary work.
Explanation of reporting system by leader and missionary secretary.
Announcement of plans for weekly missionary meeting.
Closing Song—“Blow the Trumpet,” “Hymns and Tunes,” No. 1245; “Christ in Song,” No. 683 (old edition, No. 600).
Benediction.
To the Elder or Missionary Leader
(Not to be read publicly)
Before organizing the church tract and missionary society, let the leader show by means of circles on the blackboard, or on a large sheet of paper, the relation existing between our various missionary organizations. See outline on page 3 of Home Missionary Leaflet, No. 3, entitled “Home Tract and Missionary Work.”
Plan of Organization
The following recommendations by the General Conference Committee outline very clearly the steps to be taken in organizing the church tract and missionary society:—
Membership.—That the membership of the church missionary society include—
(a) All church-members.
Church Missionary Committee.—That the work of the church be under the direction of a missionary committee, made up as follows:—
(a) Elder or leader.
(b) Assistant leader, who shall be the leader of the Missionary Volunteer society.
(c) Missionary secretary, formerly known as the librarian.
(d) Assistant missionary secretary, who shall be the secretary of the Missionary Volunteer society.
(e) Sabbath-school superintendent.
(f) Church-school teacher, or leader of the junior society of Missionary Volunteers.
Officers.—That the officers of the church missionary society consist of—
(a) The elder or leader.
(b) The missionary secretary (librarian).
(c) The assistant missionary secretary.
A brief outline of the duties of the church missionary secretary, a facsimile of the individual missionary report Blank, together with suggestions regarding the making out of reports, the holding of weekly and monthly missionary meetings, etc., will be found in Home Missionary Leaflet, No. 3.
Missionary Volunteers
Let the Missionary Volunteers and the children take an active part in the program: (1) by rendering a monthly report of work done; (2) by contributing special music if desired; (3) by reading missionary texts, each selection to be written out on a slip of paper, and numbered. Let those who are to read be stationed in various parts of the audience, and rise as their numbers are called. Ten suggestive texts: 2 Cor. 6:1; Isa. 32:20; John 20:21; Matt. 21:28; Isa. 60:1; 2 Cor. 5:14; Eccl. 11:1; 1 Cor. 3:9; Mark 13:34; Isa. 6:8. If preferred, brief selections from Volume IX of the Testimonies may be substituted for some of the texts. Let the selections be rehearsed in advance, and read clearly and distinctly.
Report Blank
Near the close of the service, let the leader call the attention of the members to the individual missionary report blank, together with them to take up as many of the suggested lines of work as possible. It is not expected that every member will report something done in each of the lines indicated. The blank is prepared to meet the wants of all classes of workers. Let the church missionary secretary pass a blank to each member, to be filled out and returned at the time decided upon by the church missionary committee.
Weekly Missionary Meeting
Before dismissing, definite announcement should be made of plans for the weekly missionary meeting.
A. J. S. B.
An Appeal to Our Lay Members
By A. G. DANIELLS
(First reading)
The proclamation of the third angel’s message to all the world is indeed a great task. It is therefore fitting that we should take an inventory of our working forces.
Every consecrated Seventh-day Adventist is needed in the ranks. In the United States we have 517 ordained ministers and 246 licensed preachers, a total ministerial force of 763. If the responsibility of carrying the message to the 84,435,805 inhabitants of the United States were to be thrown upon these few workers, it would mean that each minister would be responsible for 110,663 souls. If, on the other hand, our 65,122 lay members in the United States undertake the work, each one will assume responsibility for only 1,296 individuals.
These statistics clearly indicate that the duty of every loyal lay member is to come to the assistance of the gospel ministry in giving publicity to the message. They also emphasize the following recent appeals from the spirit of prophecy:—
“My brethren and sisters, take an active part in the work of soul-saving. This work will give life and vigor to the mental and spiritual powers. . . . By personal labor reach those around you. Become acquainted with them.
“Preaching will not do the work that needs to be done. Angels of God attend you to the dwellings of those you visit. This work can not be done by proxy. Money lent or given will not accomplish it. Sermons will not do it.
“By visiting the people, talking, praying, sympathizing with them, you will win hearts. This is the highest missionary work that you can do. To do it you will need resolute, persevering faith, unwearying patience, and a deep love for souls.
“Find access to the people in whose neighborhood you live. As you tell them of the truth, use words of Christlike sympathy. Remember that the Lord Jesus is the Master worker. He waters the seed sown. He puts into your minds words that will reach hearts.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, page 41.
Warning the Cities
For years the spirit of prophecy has urged that we put forth extraordinary efforts to warn the many millions inhabiting the great cities of the world. Accompanying the call for immediate and decisive action in behalf of the cities, there also came the word that “if every church-member were a living missionary, the gospel would speedily be proclaimed in all countries, to all peoples, nations, and tongues.” And also that “if Seventh-day Adventists will now arouse, and do the work assigned them, the truth will be presented to our neglected cities in clear, distinct lines, and in the power of the Spirit.”—Id., page 32.
God calls for many self-supporting missionaries to enter the cities and villages, and prepare the way for our ministers to present the truth. In many places the faithful colporteurs, tract workers, and magazine agents are sowing the seeds of truth by means of the printed page. But what has been accomplished is but a drop in the bucket, when compared to what must be done before the end of probation. Notice the following encouraging statement made to those who earnestly take up home missionary work:—
“A thousand doors of usefulness are open before us. We lament the scanty resources at present available, while various and urgent demands are pressing us for means and men. Were we thoroughly in earnest, even now we could multiply the resources a hundredfold. Selfishness and self-indulgence bar the way.”—Id., page 38.
I appeal to all our lay members to assist in organizing the tract and missionary societies in their respective churches, by enlisting for life in the great army of home missionaries. How literally true it is that “a thousand doors of usefulness are open before us”! Those who can not preach from the pulpit, can become able ministers of the truth by distributing tracts to the homes of the people, visiting neighbors and friends, doing Christian Help work, holding cottage Bible readings, writing missionary letters, giving lessons on healthful cookery and dress, mailing tracts and papers, selling our magazines and “Ministry of Healing,” distributing the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW, and in many other ways.
A Bountiful Harvest
The president of one of our largest conferences reports that as the direct result of the house-to-house distribution of tract packages, and the sale of magazines during the past few months, calls have been received for many more laborers,12Bible workers, and meetings, than can possibly be supplied. This is but one example showing the bountiful harvest that is sure to follow earnest efforts put forth in home tract and missionary work.
God’s chosen people will always be in the minority in this world. To effectually fight the battles of the Lord, they must be united, organized, and trained. But in these worthy efforts, let us ever remember that the victory will be obtained “not by an army, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4:6, margin.
A. G. DANIELLS.
The Missionary and Publishing Work
Notes, Plans, Reports, Statistics and Other Information Regarding Missionary Endeavor and the Circulation of Gospel Literature.
Conducted by the Missionary and Publishing Department of the General Conference.
E. R. PALMER — Secretary
N. Z. TOWN — Assistant Secretary
A. J. S. BOURDEAU — Missionary Secretary
Home Missionary Work
By Ellen G. White
(Second reading)
God expects personal service from every one to whom he has entrusted a knowledge of the truth for this time. Not all can go as missionaries to foreign lands, but all can be home missionaries in their families and neighborhoods.
There are many ways in which church-members may give the message to those around them. One of the most successful is by living helpful, unselfish, Christian lives. Those who are fighting the battle of life at great odds may be refreshed and strengthened by little attentions which cost nothing.
My brother, my sister, what are you doing for Christ? Are you seeking to be a blessing to others? Are your lips uttering words of kindness, sympathy, and love? Are you putting forth earnest efforts to win others to the Saviour?
It is a mystery that there are not hundreds at work where now there is but one. The heavenly universe is astonished at the apathy, the coldness, the listlessness, of those who profess to be sons and daughters of God. For years the work has been kept before us, but many have been asleep.
Our Lesson Book
Christ’s work is to be our example. Constantly he went about doing good. In the temple and the synagogues, in the streets of the cities, in the marketplace and the workshop, by the seaside and among the hills, he preached the gospel and healed the sick. His life was one of unselfish service, and it is to be our lesson book.
Human beings have no right to think that there is a limit to the efforts that they are to make in the work of soul-saving. Did Christ ever become weary in his work? Did he ever draw back from sacrifice and hardship? Church-members are to put forth the continuous, persevering efforts that he put forth.
Comparatively little missionary work is done; and what is the result?—The truths that Christ gave are not taught. Many of God’s people are not growing in grace. Many are in an unpleasant, complaining frame of mind. Those who are not helping others to see the importance of the truth for this time, must feel dissatisfied with themselves. Satan takes advantage of this feature in their experience, and leads them to criticize and find fault.
A Place for Every One
The Lord has a place for every one in his great plan. Talents that are not needed are not bestowed. Suppose that the talent is small. God has a place for it, and that one talent, if faithfully used, will do the very work God designs that it should do.
The talents of the humble cottager are needed in the house-to-house labor, and can accomplish more in this work than brilliant gifts.
The Lord is calling upon his people to take up different lines of work. Those in the highways and byways of life are to hear the gospel message. Church-members are to do evangelistic work in the homes of their neighbors who have not yet received full evidence of the truth for this time.
The presentation of the truth, in love and simplicity from house to house, is in harmony with the instruction that Christ gave his disciples when he sent them out on their first missionary tour. By songs of praise, by humble, heartfelt prayers, many will be reached. The divine Worker will be present to send conviction to hearts.
Different Lines of Service
By lending or selling books, by distributing papers, and by holding Bible readings, our lay members could do much in their own neighborhoods. Filled with love for souls, they could proclaim the message with such power that many would be converted.
Allow no opportunity to pass unimproved. Visit the sick and suffering, and show a kindly interest in them. If possible do something to make them more comfortable. Through this means you can reach their hearts, and speak a word for Christ.
There is a wide field of service for women as well as for men. The efficient cook, the seamstress, the nurse—the help of all is needed. Let the members of poor households be taught how to cook, how to make and mend their own clothing, how to nurse the sick, how to care properly for the home. Even the children should be taught to do some little errand of love and mercy for those less fortunate than themselves.
Other lines of usefulness will open before those who are willing to do the duty nearest them. It is not learned, eloquent speakers that are needed now, but humble, Christlike men and women.
Work disinterestedly, lovingly, patiently, for all with whom you are brought into contact. Show no impatience. Utter not one unkind word. Let the love of Christ be in your hearts, the law of kindness on your lips.
In the work of scattering our publications, we can speak of a Saviour’s love from a warm and throbbing heart.
MRS. E. G. WHITE.
How to Regain the First Love
By A. J. S. BOURDEAU.
The Three Steps Necessary
(Third reading)
A Christian’s missionary activity is measured by the amount of the “first love” he has retained in his heart. In the second chapter of Revelation, we find God’s wonderful prescription, whereby we may, yea, must, regain the blessed heart experience known as the “first love.” Speaking to the remnant church, Jesus outlines briefly its history, trials, and fatal malady:—
“I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Rev. 2: 1-4.
Method of Regaining the First Love
In verse five the Master points out how lukewarm church-members may be restored to the exalted position they occupied at the time of their conversion. The three necessary steps are thus described:—
See Revelation 2:5
(At this point let the reader hang up a previously prepared outline of the “three steps,” or represent them by the use of books or other suitable objects at hand.)
First Step: “REMEMBER therefore from whence thou art fallen.”
Second Step: “REPENT.”
Third Step: “DO THE FIRST WORKS; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”
How logical the order of these three steps! The reason so many Christians fail to regain their “first love” is because they fail to follow God’s explicit directions.
Many succeed in taking the first and second steps, but fail to take the third. In almost every prayer-meeting the burden of the testimonies borne shows that many indeed do “REMEMBER” whence they are fallen. Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit they realize their fallen condition. Still others “REPENT” publicly of their lukewarmness and cold-heartedness. Having taken these first two steps, however, many hesitate or lack the courage to “DO THE FIRST WORKS,” and thus take the third and final step, which will land them on13the elevated plane of the “first love.”
(At this point, let the leader call upon several members to relate briefly some of their “first works,”—their missionary efforts for friends and others at the time of their conversion. If properly handled, this will become one of the most interesting parts of the service. It will be difficult, in fact, to limit the speeches to the proper length.)
All Three Steps Necessary
Shall we not, as Christians, take all the steps necessary to regain our “first love,” in the order given? Let us resolve that, by God’s grace, we will no longer be content to take the first step, or the first two steps, and then slip back to the “fallen” plane, from which we have so earnestly prayed to be delivered.
It will take courage and faith in God to step out and actually do some of the “first works.” Did we then visit our unsaved relatives? Let us do so now. Did we write missionary letters to our friends, telling them of our new experience, and beseeching them to “taste and see that the Lord is good”? Let us write similar letters now. Were we then moved to confess Jesus in the public assembly? Let us do so again.
As we advance step by step in the performance of the simplest missionary duties, God will give us strength and wisdom to accomplish greater tasks for him.
A. J. S. BOURDEAU.
NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS
Camp-Meetings for 1910
PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
California, Visalia (local), Sept. 29 to Oct. 9
Utah, Salt Lake City (conference only) ................. Oct. 4-9
Arizona, Phoenix (conference only), Nov.
SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Florida, Leesburg ........ Oct. 13-24
Florida (colored), Sanford .. Oct. 28 to Nov. 7
Current Mention
—The annual “tank fight”—an institution of Purdue University, La Fayette, Ind.—took place on the evening of September 24. As a result, one young man is dead, and 20 others are more or less seriously injured.
—Not a day passes that the papers do not record an increasing number killed and wounded in automobile accidents. Recently seven persons met their death in this way in one day, among them a prominent surgeon of Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife and two young children.
—During the recent target practise of the Atlantic Ocean battle-ship fleet, the gunners demonstrated their ability to hit a ship at a distance of six miles, or soon after it made its appearance on the horizon. Targets that looked “like pin points on the horizon” were easily hit at a distance of 10,000 yards.
—Two Englishmen were recently arrested as spies on Borkum, the western extremity of the German Friesian Islands. This is taken as an indication that the kaiser is fortifying this bit of land, six miles long and two wide, as a military base. It is said that, thus fortified, it will become as strategic a point to Helgoland—“the Gibraltar of the North Sea”—as is Malta to Gibraltar.
—Disobedience of orders and “speeding” caused a serious collision on an interurban railway near Tipton, Ind., September 24, and cost the lives of six persons, the serious injury of six others, and severe hurts to several more. This is the second accident of the kind to occur in Indiana in three days. On September 21 two cars running at a high rate of speed collided on a curve, near Fort Wayne, resulting in the death of 41 persons and the injury of 20 others.
—Practically all the cadets at West Point have been under arrest the past week for administering what is known as “silence” to an instructor. This is a grave offense in military discipline, and is the first case that has occurred at West Point for ten years.
—It is said that the new station of the Pennsylvania Railroad just opened in New York City is the largest building ever constructed at one time in the history of the world. It covers an area of twenty-eight acres, of which eight acres are taken up by the building itself, the rest being allotted to the railroad yards.
—The beginning of the new school year brings even more than the usual number of reports of injuries to students by the foolish practises accompanying the initiation of members into school societies. Ten students of a Pennsylvania high school had their faces disfigured for life on joining a debating society. We are thankful our own schools are pervaded by a different spirit.
—Ten indictments were recently found against ten of the most prominent meat packers in the country, including J. Ogden Armour, L. F. Swift, and others. The indictments charge “conspiracy,” “monopoly,” and “combination in restraint of trade.” Satisfaction is widely expressed that these indictments are found against individuals instead of against corporations, as is the usual course.
—In spite of the utmost vigilance the Asiatic cholera continues to spread. Cases are reported from Rome, Naples, and other points in Italy. A hundred thousand persons of the better classes, left Naples during the last week in September. In Budapest the scourge is increasing. Since the beginning of the plague, which has raged continuously in Russia for three years, more than 78,000 persons have died from the disease.
—The “Harvest Queen,” an old-fashioned sailing-ship, bound from Windsor, Canada, to Buenos Aires, became disabled, and drifted out of her course. When 1,000 miles south of the Azores, and on the edge of the Sargasso Sea, her distress signals were read by an Italian steamer, and immediately a wireless call for help was sent out. The “Koenigen Luise” received the signal at two o’clock in the morning of September 24, and made all haste to go to the rescue of the sinking ship, arriving in time to save the lives of all on board.
—Under the auspices of the Philadelphia County Sunday-School Association, more than 50,000 children, pupils of the Sunday-schools of Philadelphia, with their teachers and pastors, marched through the streets of that city on September 24. According to the committee having the matter in charge, this march, and the service following it, were “for the exaltation of Christ before the unchurched world; the exaltation of Christian character in the individual by courageous assertion of religious principles before one’s neighbors; and to show the fraternity of feeling between the evangelical churches of the city.” Thus are fostered in the minds of these children the idea of “church federation” and a tendency to supplement outward parade for a work of inward grace.
—It is said that Collector Loeb, of New York, in one year has collected over two and a quarter million dollars from would-be smugglers in the way of fines and duty payments.
—September 19 Captain Klaus Larsen made a successful trip in his motor boat from the foot of the cataract of Niagara through the Whirlpool Rapids—a distance of 4½ miles. He was badly battered, but announced his intention of making the trip again.
—The regard for relics of the Pope has led to the undoing of one of his personal attendants. It was found that every time the Pope’s hair was cut, the attendant gathered the locks, and was making a profitable business of selling them among the faithful.
—The Moabit district of Berlin was last week the scene of frequent riots between the strikers and their sympathizers and the police. September 28 the police commissioner issued the order, “Suppress disturbances without mercy.” The instruction was obeyed literally, the police sabering right and left whenever a group gathered.
—A steamship on the Atlantic picked up a boat-load of men who had escaped from a burning freight steamer. These men reported another boat-load of sixteen men somewhere on the sea. The captain immediately sent out the news by wireless, and by means of the wireless a search was continued about the North Atlantic until one of the liners picked up the missing crew.
Maine Conference
By O. MONTGOMERY
The forty-third annual session of the Maine Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at the Reed meeting-house, Richmond, Maine, at 7 P. M., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1916. Each church is entitled to one delegate for the organization, and one additional delegate for each ten members.
O. MONTGOMERY, President.
Publications Wanted
THE following-named persons desire late, clean copies of our publications, post-paid:—
Mrs. J. B. Nichols, lock box 320, Inman, Kan., desires a continuous supply of late copies of our papers for missionary work.
J. Gregory, National City, Cal., would like copies of Signs, Instructor, Watchman, and all our magazines, for distribution from house to house.
Mrs. Kate Taylor, 6503 Cedar Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, desires copies of our papers suitable for missionary work, and for public reading-rack in a railroad station.
Mrs. Eleanor A. Himebaugh, 15 Clinton Ave., Fredonia, N. Y., desires late copies of the Signs, Youth's Instructor, Life and Health, Bible Training School, and Watchman, also tracts on health and temperance, and leaflets suitable for use in reading-racks.
Zeichen der Zeit
By Editor
Fourth Quarter, 1910, Now Ready
For the benefit of our tract societies and our English-speaking canvassers and magazine workers, we herewith present a brief description of our excellent German magazine, Zeichen der Zeit.
• The thought of autumn and harvest-time is suggested by the beautiful three-color illustrations on the first and second pages of the cover, with promises of God’s faithfulness in giving us the seasons, the grain, and all the blessings of life. The contents are as follows:—
The Most Beautiful Song (poetry)
The Harvest of the Earth
All the Scriptures (illustrated)
Daily Bible Study (illustrated)
The Sanctuary in Heaven (illustrated)
The 2300 Days of Dan. 8:14 (illustrated)
The Day of the Lord (illustrated)
The Millennium (illustrated)
The Spread of the Gospel and the End (illustrated)
Chili, South America (illustrated)
The Shelf Behind the Door (poetry)
From the Watch-Tower: The Modern Peace Movement (illustrated)—Is Universal Peace at Hand? (illustrated)—Something About Cold Storage—The New Gigantic Money Trust—Opinions of Military Men.
The Home: A touching story of how God providentially interposed in behalf of a poor widow and her child.
The price of this magazine is 10 cents a copy; 5-40 copies, 5 cents a copy; 50 or more copies, 4 cents a copy.
Order of your tract society, or of the International Publishing Association, College View, Neb.
