THE State Board of the Federation of Churches for the State of New York was in session December 11, in this city—Syracuse. They formulated its policy relative to the constituency of the State council, by arranging to send information of its constitution and object to the highest representative bodies of all churches in the State, and to send invitations to the Y. M. C. A., and to the State Sunday-school Association, to send not more than three delegates to the State council.
Delegates were appointed to the national council, which is to convene in Philadelphia, February 5 and 6. The next State meeting is to be held in Rochester.
In the evening Dr. J. W. Hegeman, of New York City, explained the object and nature of the work. He emphasized the thought that the time for federation had come. He said: “Such an organization would become the servant of the churches in all things pertaining to the kingdom. It would be a clearing house for all church interests, a medium of exchange of facts, problems, and remedies, an organ of expression of the will of members of the kingdom, a tower of observation to give a bird’s-eye view of tendencies, situations, and changes affecting American Christianity, and a board of strategy to find out the strength and resources of the common enemy, and map out a plan of campaign.”
One plan suggested was that, when the federation met, they should choose a topic for discussion; then let each minister speak to his congregation upon it; and have the editors in his city publish editorials upon it; and thus educate the public on that particular subject.
He also said: “This would give to Protestantism that which it so much needs for efficient service, and which would realize the representative headship of the apostolic republic, and thus secure the advantages which the Church of Rome possesses in her magnificent organization.”
This he calls “the apostolic republic”—and yet it has an organization similar to “the Church of Rome”! Evidently the organization which the Roman Church has pleases him; for he designates it “magnificent.”
Such statements as the following fill my mind as I reflect upon what this church federation means: “The Sunday movement is now making its way in darkness. The leaders are concealing the true issue, and many who unite in the movement do not themselves see whither the undercurrent is tending. Its professions are mild, and apparently Christian; but when it shall speak, it will reveal the spirit of the dragon. . . . “Those who have access to God through Christ have important work before them.” “God has revealed what is to take place in the last days, that11His people may be prepared to stand against the tempest of opposition and wrath. Those who have been warned of the events before them are not to sit in calm expectation of the coming storm, comforting themselves that the Lord will shelter His faithful ones in the day of trouble. We are to be as men waiting for their Lord, not in idle expectancy, but in earnest work, with unwavering faith.”
A. O. BURRELL.
“WHEN I SELL MY PROPERTY”
By P. T. MAGAN.
It will be of interest to all those who believe in the RELIEF OF THE SCHOOLS to know that some of the pledges made last summer to the material fund on the condition of sale of property, have already been paid. In the mail received this evening was the money for three of these pledges. This shows that our dear brethren mean business for the Lord. It shows that they mean to wipe out these debts, and that when they say they will give upon the sale of property, they go to work to sell the property. This is good; and let us all thank the Lord for it. Let all who have made pledges to give upon the sale of property, bestir themselves, in the name and fear of the Lord, to sell this property. God, who moved upon your hearts to make these pledges, intends you to arouse and sell this property; and He will help all who are of a willing mind to do it.
P. T. MAGAN.
“YE ARE MY WITNESSES, THAT I AM GOD”
By Ole Andres Olsen
The Lesson in Testing and Proving
It has fallen to our lot to live in the most important, the most responsible, and the most solemn period of this world's history,—the most important, because it witnesses the closing of the great controversy that has been going on for ages; the most responsible, because of the prominent part we are called upon to take in this closing work; the most solemn, because now the destiny of every soul is being decided for eternity.
As God's peculiar people, we are His witnesses upon the earth. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange God among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” Men are rejecting God; they are setting His word at naught, and trampling upon His holy law. The cup of sin and iniquity is being filled to the brim; the whole world is submerged in wickedness. It is at such a time that we are to be living, active witnesses, revealing to the world the glorious character of God. Intensity has taken possession of every earthly power, and an intensity such as was never witnessed before is to take possession of God's people who are awake, and who sense the solemn responsibility of the hour. Then we shall hear the loud cry of the Third Angel's Message, and the world shall be enlightened with its glory.
We are entering the time of temptation (Rev. 3:10), when God's people will be severely tried. “The Lord trieth the righteous.” Ps. 11:5. “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Mal. 3:3. The trial will reveal defects, if such there are. This is the very purpose of the trial; for otherwise there might be a leak, causing terrible disaster at the most critical moment. It is to insure against such fatal accidents that a most thorough test is now being made. How solemn the thought that you and I, my brother and my sister, are now in the crucible, undergoing a preliminary testing process, that we may be ready at the right time to witness before the whole world, to the glory and majesty of God.
These tests and trials will come in every way, manner, and shape. We must be prepared to have them come from the most unexpected quarter, and be of the most unexpected character. They will often come in a way to make them the hardest to bear, and in such a form as to make it most difficult to see the hand of God in them. In many cases they will come, as it would seem, directly from the wrong and foolish course of our fellow men, and even of our brethren. They will not have the appearance of anything supernatural, but rather of real evil and wantonness, and on that account will be the harder to bear.
The experience of the children of Israel furnishes us with an important lesson. Their trials came to them in the most unexpected manner, and only a few of the people could see God's guiding hand in them. The outcry of the multitude was against Moses and Aaron. They did not mean to chide God. From their view of things, the lack of food and water and the other difficulties were the result of the mismanagement of Moses and Aaron. It was not possible for them to realize that the unbelief in their own hearts was the real seat of the difficulty. Had their faith grasped the promises of God, had they trusted in the mighty arm of Jehovah for deliverance, their heaviest burdens would have been made light, and their worst troubles would not have been disastrous at all. Instead, the power and glory of the Lord would have been revealed through them.
The same principle will always prove true. Trials do not of themselves prove disastrous to character; but they make manifest the defects that already exist. Oh that God's people might understand this! The divine purpose in permitting any trial to overtake us, whether it be as individuals or as a people, is to reveal flaws, that we may be led to seek more earnestly after the perfection of character to which the Lord would have us attain in this closing work. Viewed from this standpoint, the severest trials are seen to be great blessings. Instead of discouragements, they are stepping stones to greater joys, more glorious victories, and higher attainments in the Christian life.
During the last year we have had an unexpected experience, for which we were unprepared. I refer to the financial disaster that has befallen our publishing house at Christiania, Norway. The announcement of this came as a terrible shock to our people all over the world. It came at a time, and under circumstances, that made it most difficult to bear. We had felt the responsibility of the great missionary field, both at home and in distant lands, and had made advancement even beyond our ready means, thus loading ourselves with as heavy a burden, it seemed, as we could possibly bear up under. Therefore, to have this additional burden laid upon us was indeed most trying. Yet God is leading this people still; He knows what we are able to bear, and we can leave it all with Him.
We have always believed that none of the institutions established for carrying forward the work of the message could fail; because the work being the Lord's, and the whole denomination united in its support, God would not suffer such a disgrace upon His cause. But now we are brought to the test. Will we act on the true principle, and, arising as one man, in the strength of God meet this responsibility and every other demand for God's cause? I am glad we have decided to do so. In this way alone can we stand clear before God and the world; and going forward on this basis, we shall have the divine blessing. Thus we shall prove to the world the truthfulness of the saying that no institution standing as a representative of the last warning message can possibly fail. In the strength of God let us go forward. The day of final triumph is close at hand. “Courage in the Lord” should be our watchword.
O. A. OLSEN.
“CHRIST’S OBJECT LESSONS” IN MICHIGAN
By S. E. Wight
Michigan is putting forth tremendous efforts to circulate “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and everywhere the Lord is putting His Spirit in the hearts of the people to do something to relieve Battle Creek College from debt. The following letter from Elder E. I. Beebe shows that there is heart and courage in the Michigan Tract Society.
We are also publishing a letter received from Prof. E. A. Sutherland, of Battle Creek College, telling his experience in selling “Christ’s Object Lessons.” These experiences we are sure will touch a tender spot in many hearts.
Battle Creek College, Dec. 4, 1900.
Prof. P. T. Magan.
Dear Brother: You may be interested to learn something of my experience at ——. You know I agreed to canvass one day, provided others in the church would also do the same. Friday I started out, at ten o’clock, to canvass in the country. I was permitted to give only eight canvasses, as the day was a short one, but I never before had such glorious experiences. I truly believe the people are ready for this book; for I found every one interested. In three families the men were not at home, and their wives did not care to take the book until they had consulted their husbands, but I succeeded in taking three orders.
I had a remarkable experience with one woman. She is not a Christian; never has had any Christian advantages. She is a married woman, with four children. When I presented the book to her, it seemed to touch her heart. She wanted it very much. She said she had done some work that would bring in more than enough to pay for the book, but she was a little fearful that something would happen that she would not get the money. I was especially drawn out to this woman, to see that she got the book, which she wanted to read to the children. After showing her much of the book, I was convinced that the Lord was moving upon her heart; I asked her if she had ever prayed. She said No. Then I talked with her about prayer. Finally I asked her if she would be willing to ask the Lord to open the way to get the book for her children. She hesitated for a little while, but tears began to fill her eyes, and I saw that the Spirit of God was pleading with her. She at last promised that she would ask the Lord to open the way. Then, of her own accord, she admitted to me that this was a new experience to her. I felt very happy as I left her house, thinking that she had learned something12of the Lord, and was willing to call upon His name. You may be sure this woman will have a book. God will answer her prayers.
Sabbath I met with the church. The sisters who had been out canvassing made their reports. All had had good experiences. One sister said she felt rebellious when the plan was presented to her; for she thought that she had work enough to do at home. But her little daughter urged her to go out, so she did. She canvassed three persons, with success in every case. This troubled her; for she did not want to canvass for the book. The next day a gentleman came to her home who was very bitter against our people. She said to herself, “I will make this man a test: if the Lord desires me to sell this book, He will move upon this man to buy it. If the man does not buy the book, I will take it as a sign that the Lord does not want me to canvass.” So she presented the book to him, told him plainly that it was a Seventh-day Adventist book, and the object of it. To her great surprise, he seemed at once interested, and ordered one for himself, and said he was glad to have the privilege of assisting in lifting the debt from the college. This convinced the sister that God was in the movement, and as she told it, there was feeling in her voice. It moved many in the church.
After earnest testimonies from those who had been out, the church voted to take two hundred books, which is a few more than their quota. They have about thirty names on their church roll, but fully one half of these are not active members, but the church said they were responsible for carrying this list, and so would take six books apiece for every member on the roll. Bro. ——, one of the oldest Sabbath-keepers, has taken hold of the work with all his might. God will bless the church in this movement.
Hoping you will have success in your work, I remain, Your brother,
[Signed] E. A. Sutherland.
It is estimated that District 3 needs to sell only six copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” for each Seventh-day Adventist enrolled on the church records, in order to free Battle Creek College from debt. This is an easy task, when all will work.
Michigan’s quota is 42,000; but Michigan ought to sell these, and more. Every church should look up the number enrolled in that church and multiply by six to determine the number of books for their share. If each church will do this, it will save much care and anxiety for those looking after the work.
The number of book sales reported for the week ending December 15 is two hundred and eighty-six. One thousand books should be sold every week in Michigan. I trust the Michigan people will notice that two hundred and eighty-six books is a very small number for seven thousand persons.
S. E. Wight.
Lansing, Mich., Nov. 27, 1900.
Prof. Percy T. Magan,Battle Creek, Mich.
Dear Brother: Your three letters received, and contents noted. Yes, Michigan is always willing to do her share when she knows what it is. We can use several hundred of the leaflets you spoke of, say five hundred of each.
I am glad that you have done so well in Battle Creek, but it is no more than they ought to do, if they believe the truth. Lansing is starting out with about one hundred and fifty dollars. They expect to take their proportion, four hundred books. I heard from our next church to the east, and they have raised one hundred and fifty-five dollars. So the good work seems to be going forward.
I feel glad that the Review Office is taking hold of the truth lines more largely, and it is an omen of a soon-coming Saviour. Everything shows that the time is near at hand.
I trust that the good work will go forward, and soon we shall be free. May the Lord bless and keep you. Yours truly,
[Signed] Michigan Tract Society,
E. I. Beebe.
Conference of Religion
*On that “Conference of Religion” that was held in New York City, and that was reported in these columns several weeks ago, the Christian Advocate says:—*
What could be expected of a convention consisting of Jews, Christians, agnostics, or of a body that would produce “a manual of common worship consisting of selections from the Jewish, Christian, and ethnic scriptures, prayers selected from Jewish offices and Christian liturgies, ancient and modern, as well as from private sources, together with hymns and a wide range of authorship?” . . .
Priests, parsons, ministers, rabbis, may meet merely as citizens, and discuss other things than the fundamentals of their respective faiths; but a Christian can not approach God in any other name than that of Christ, while a Jew can not pray in that name, nor a modern Unitarian, except in a sense unknown to those of the evangelical faith. All such conferences are nets which catch the unwary, and make the impression on many that, as the distinctions between the conferees are immaterial, the subject on which they confer is immaterial or intangible.
Such a Conference of Religion as this, as an association conceived and constructed chiefly to make an impression on the public that the differences between the evangelical Christian churches and the Unitarians, the Jews, and others, are not fundamental (and as a partnership in which the latter classes have everything to gain and nothing to lose), would deserve the credit of being wonderfully well adapted to promote the object designed.
That is all true. Yet, true as it is, the Christian Advocate is the only paper in all the land, that we have seen, that has expressed any such views.
Current Events and News Notes
— The rebels in Colombia were recently defeated, losing 600 killed.
— The strike at Pittston, Pa., involving 1,700 iron workers, is at an end.
— The United States war-ship “Hartford” has been ordered to Venezuela.
— Edward Cudahy, of Omaha, Neb., recently paid $25,000 in gold for the release of his fifteen-year-old son from kidnappers.
— Rumania has declined Russia’s offer of a loan of $80,000,000, as the “conditions attached would undermine Rumania’s independence.”
— It is stated that “Russia cedes to Great Britain entire control of the railway from Peking (China) to Shan-hai-kwan, after January 1.”
— The American Express Company distributed $500,000 in gold among its employees, on Christmas day. Every man who had been in the service one year received five dollars.
— A resolution was recently adopted by the Indiana Federation of Labor, asking that “a law be passed prohibiting the employment by street railway companies of conductors or motormen who are addicted to the use of intoxicants.”
— A Chicago weekly states that “Mrs. James Bonner, sixty years old, was found lying dead on a doorstep in Chicago, December 14. When her clothing was searched at the county morgue, $1,374 was found hidden in the bosom of her dress.”
— In spite of the great business done by the United States postal service, the government will be obliged to meet a deficiency of $5,385,688 in connection with the cost of the service. This is due to the abuse of the privileges accorded to second-class mail matter.
— Agitators against the docking of horses’ tails have won a great victory in London, England. Queen Victoria, in sending out an order that none of her horses be docked, also announced that she had persuaded the Prince of Wales to follow her example. With royalty against the practice, it is likely that a docked horse may soon be a rare sight in the United States.
— British agents are buying 50,000 cavalry horses and mules in this country, for the British army.
— The New York City post office distributed 12,000,000 letters or mail packages the day before Christmas.
— Citizens of Paterson, N. J., will raise “the $200,000 necessary to keep the Rogers locomotive works there.”
— A number of Austrian manufacturers recently formed “an association for insurance against strikes.”
— Venezuela recently paid ex-President Harrison’s fee of $100,000 for arbitrating the boundary dispute with British Guiana.
— The American Federation of Labor, in session at Louisville, Ky., denounced Secretary of the Treasury Gage for admitting J. A. Dowie’s lace makers.
— All the Powers in China are at present buying large quantities of rice, to distribute to destitute Chinese. Russia leads, with a purchase of $700,000 worth.
— The strike of the Santa Fé Railway telegraphers is ended, the strikers being defeated. The railway officials refuse to recognize the Order of Railway Telegraphers.
— In Arkansas and West Virginia 650,000 acres of land has been offered to the American Transvaal Company, for Boer immigrants. Also a Kenosha, Wis., land company has offered farms to 5,000 Boers.
— Benjamin Harrison, Melville W. Fuller, John W. Griggs, and George Gray have been named by President McKinley as the American members of the International Board of Arbitration. This board was provided for by the Peace Conference at The Hague, and will be composed of 104 members.
— The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway has “instituted a house-to-house canvass in Chicago, with a view to causing the people to test the facilities of their suburban service, and free tickets are left at the houses, which entitle the holder to one free ride in either direction.” There is enterprise for you.
— An exchange states that “the Russian authorities, when requested by the Turkish representatives, have heretofore arrested Ottoman subjects residing in Russia. A recent decree of the Russian Minister of the Interior abrogates this practice, so that Turkey can no longer apply conscription to her subjects inhabiting Russian territory, and is thus deprived of an important military resource. The Porte is strenuously endeavoring to obtain the revocation of the decree.”
— The French government has decided to lay submarine cables of its own, to communicate with its colonies. It seems that during the Transvaal and Chinese campaigns most of the messages sent by the French government “had to be dispatched over lines under British control,” and that “even the communications that pass between the home government and the various ministers abroad have to pass through English hands. It is proposed to establish four cable lines interconnecting the colonies and the home country.”
— Mrs. Carrie Nation, president of the W. C. T. U. of Barber County, Kan., walked into the Carey Hotel saloon, at Wichita, the 27th ult., with a large bundle of stones under her arm. She began “hurling stones at mirrors, paintings, and men,” before she was arrested. Thirty years ago her first husband died of delirium tremens. She defies the saloon men to prosecute her, as Kansas has prohibition laws, saloons being illegal. Two months ago she wrecked two saloons at Kiowa, and went unpunished, the saloon men being afraid to prosecute her.
— The Chicago and Northwestern Railway is arranging a permanent pension system, whereby efficient employees will be rewarded. The plan, which will thus benefit the 27,000 employees of this railway, “takes in every employee of the road, from the highest to the lowest,” and provides that “any employee who is between sixty-five and sixty-nine years of age who has been for thirty years in the employ of the Northwestern Road, and who is incapacitated for service by age, will receive a pension of one per cent per month, calculated upon his monthly rate of wages for the last ten years of his service with the company.”
— It seems that “the Christian Commonwealth Colony at Equality, Ga., has disbanded, and its 1,000 acres of land and the improvements thereon will pass under the hammer. . . . The trouble began, as it has done sooner or later in all social commonwealths, when some of the members failed to do their proper share of work. The majority of the colonists voted to expel them. The drones, however, resisted, and employed counsel to plead their alleged rights in the courts. The colony could not survive the strife, and so the old story of another failure is now recorded.” The Independent further says: “Colonies in this country have always been short-lived, except those that are held together by the strongest kind of a religious bond, as the Shakers. . . . The attempts to practice socialism amid the cold world of competition are like a lump of ice trying to keep congealed in a tropical sea.”
13— The estate of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt has been officially appraised at $72,500,000.
— William Jennings Bryan will edit and publish a weekly newspaper, the Commoner, at Lincoln, Neb.
— A coal deposit, estimated to contain sixteen hundred million tons, has been discovered at Barmoor, Hungary.
— Tecumseh, O. T., and Coalgate, I. T., will soon be connected by a $500,000 electric railroad, 125 miles long.
— The citizens of Sing-Sing, N. Y., have petitioned the Legislature to change the village name to Ossining.
— Twenty Chinamen, arrested for posting anti-foreign placards near Canton, have been condemned to death.
— It is reported that the Vanderbilts will build a great water-power plant at Lockport, N. Y., rivaling that at Niagara Falls.
— The plant of the Lane and Bodley machine works in Cincinnati, Ohio, was recently destroyed by fire. Loss, $250,000.
— The fortieth annual convention of the National Educational Association will be held in Detroit, Mich., July 8-12, 1901.
— Queen Victoria has prorogued the British Parliament until February, expressing thanks for the liberal war funds voted.
— San Francisco, Cal., was recently visited by a severe wind and rain storm, telegraph and telephone wires being torn down.
— The government of Rumania will not lease its petroleum fields to the Standard Oil Company, having broken off negotiations with the same.
— An enterprising American has erected steam pumps on the Jordan, it is said, and is supplying churches all over Europe with genuine Jordan water.
— Another trust has been formed; for it seems that “European arctic explorers are confronted with a scarcity of polar dogs, an American having cornered the supply.”
— It is estimated that of the 550,000,000 feet of logs cut in the Maine forests this season, 225,000,000 feet will be sent to the pulp mills for paper making, instead of to the sawmills.
— Italy has a surplus of 5,000,000 lire ($950,000), “the result of increased revenue, which exceeded the estimates by 32,000,000 lire, and the receipts of the last year by 25,000,000.”
— Belgium has a population of 597 persons to the square mile, and is the most thickly populated country in Europe, if not in the world. Holland comes next, with 498 persons to the square mile.
— A Chicago dealer who was “guilty of selling oleo-margarine as pure butter, failing to mark the goods, and otherwise scheming to deceive the public,” was recently fined $1,000 and costs, by Judge Kohlsaat, in the federal court.
— The United States Secretary of War has instructed General MacArthur to begin the work of returning 9,000 volunteer troops from the Philippines, in order to permit of their discharge in this country by June 30, 1901.
— It is said that “Massachusetts has now only four towns in which there is no public library, and they are very small ones, being Marlboro, Gay Head, Lakeville, and Norwell. It is doubtful if any other community of 2,800,000 inhabitants can equal that.”
— United States Senator Proctor, of Vermont, has purchased the famous Carrara marble quarries in Italy, for $10,000,000. By this stroke he has virtually obtained control of the world’s marble supply, since he owns and controls the also famous quarries of Vermont.
— Thousands of French-Canadians who had migrated to New England to work in the factories, are now returning to Canada. One reason for this move is that “the Roman Catholic churches in several places have denied them the privilege of having priests of their own tongue.”
— The House of Representatives recently adopted, by a rising vote of 159 to 51, the following amendment to the army reorganization bill, proposed by Mr. Littlefield, of Maine: “The sale of or dealing in beer, wine, or any intoxicating liquor by any persons at any post exchange or canteen, or army transport, or any premises used for military purposes, is forbidden.”
— A dispatch from Constantinople says that the Turkish government has “signed a contract with the Cramps, of Philadelphia, for the construction of a cruiser for the Ottoman navy; the price to be paid is 350,000 pounds, which includes 25,000 pounds as indemnity to the United States for losses sustained by Americans during the Armenian massacres.” Thus the United States may, after all, get that $100,000 or over, that Turkey owes, and that this country has repeatedly tried to secure.
OHIO
By A. G. Haughey
MOUNT VERNON, OHIO, Dec. 14, 1900.
Prof. P. T. Magan,
Battle Creek, Mich.
DEAR BROTHER: In reply to your letter of December 9, I will say that we in Ohio will try to see that you get a report of the work done, and are working up some special report blanks for this purpose.
I went out last Monday and worked two and one-half hours; sold ten books, and took orders for fourteen. I told the story of how we got the book; that helped to sell them. Then the book sells itself; for one man to whom I sold a copy last Monday, saw me on the street car to-day, and asked for six more.
[Signed] A. G. Haughey.
TEXAS
By C. C. Lewis
Keene, Tex., Dec. 10, 1900.
Prof. P. T. Magan,Battle Creek, Mich.
DEAR BROTHER: Things are starting here at last. Brother Bodwell is pushing matters. Rousing meetings last Sabbath and the night after. Keene takes two thousand copies, but we fear we can not get them till Christmas. Can’t you rush things a little?
Your brother,
[Signed] C. C. LEWIS.
IOWA
In a single week, the Iowa Tract Society received orders for over twelve hundred copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons.”
F. H. WESTPHAL
By F. H. Westphal
We held our general meeting in the city of Diamante, from September 28 to October 8. It was the first time that our tent had been pitched in a city. We had printed a special issue of the El Faro for the purpose of advertising the meeting, a plan which proved very effective. God gave His messengers special power in presenting the Word, and the conviction forced itself upon the people that the messages delivered were indeed the truth. Nearly all the business men of the place came to the meeting every evening, and manifested great interest in our general welfare. The attendance averaged from four to six hundred persons from the city, besides those of our faith. In one evening meeting there was some disturbance, and the next day the business men visited the chief of police, and secured order for us without any appeal on our part. Generally the order was good, and the deepest attention was given to the word spoken.
Much prejudice had been fostered by a prominent business man of Diamante, who, for the last five years, had published articles in the city papers, awakening fear, distrust, and malice in the hearts of the people, against us. He was a man beloved and honored by his fellow citizens, and seemed honest in his opposition to our work, believing that I was simply collecting money from the people with the intention of leaving Diamante as soon as I had a goodly sum. Just a few months before our meeting, he left the city, after borrowing from one hundred to fifteen thousand dollars from several persons in Diamante. This, of course, destroyed not only the people’s confidence in him, but also the effect of his work against us. During the meeting we heard many say, “It is not at all as has been reported to us;” and, “These people tell the truth,” etc.
God’s blessing rested upon us all, as we met together for consultation and prayer. Our own people were encouraged to see so many interested in the truth; and it gave them a broader idea of the work now before us. A tract society for this field was organized, and the officers elected. The name adopted is “Sociedad de Tratados de Argentina del Adventistas del Día séptimo.” Every decision was unanimous. The Sabbath-school interests were considered, and a corresponding secretary was elected. The educational work was also presented, and placed under the supervision of a school board of fifteen members. As these are from different parts of the republic, we have a general working force in behalf of the school. Lessons were also given in health reform.
The following-named laborers were present: L. Brooking, J. A. Leland, Juan McCarthy, N. Z. Town, and the writer. We were sorry that Brother Vuilleumier could not attend, but sickness in his family made it impossible for him to do so. Much interest having been awakened in our work, Brethren Town and Leland stayed to continue labor. We hope to see fruit as the result of their work. The Lord has opened the way for the promulgation of the truth in the city, and for this we are thankful.
