Earlier text: The Call of the New YearW. C. WHITE
By William C. White
From Colorado to California
At the close of the Colorado camp-meeting, Mrs. E. G. White was urged to make an appointment to speak in Salt Lake City, when she passed through Utah on her way to California. The train leaving Denver Monday morning was due to arrive in Salt Lake Tuesday at 2:45 P. M. A meeting, appointed for four o’clock, would bring together the members of the Salt Lake church and representatives from near-by churches. A sleeper on the Oregon Short Line could be boarded at nine o’clock, which would run to Ogden, and stand there till morning, making easy connection with the through train to San Francisco. The plan was excellent, but there were disappointments. There had been washouts on the road, and the train ran slowly over many miles of reconstructed track; and so we reached Salt Lake City at 7:45 P. M. At the depot Elder S. G. Huntington met our party, and reported that a large congregation was at the church waiting our arrival. They had met at the time appointed, and held a meeting; and hearing that the delayed train would arrive at seven o’clock, they had gathered again, hoping to hear Mrs. White. Hastening to the church, she found an eager audience, to whom she spoke for nearly an hour upon daily Christian experience and the training and education of the children. ““All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Do we give heed to this promise, and are we seeing to it that our children are taught of the Lord? Are we making them understand the requirements of God in the earliest years of their lives? Christ gave his precious life that they might be partakers of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. The Lord wants the hearts of these children from their very babyhood to be given to his service. “Parents, you know something of the inducements by which Satan tries to lead your children into folly. He is working with all his powers to lead them astray. With a determination that many do not dream of, he is seeking to gain control of their minds, and to make the commandments of God of no effect in their lives. “He leads them to grieve the hearts of their parents. Never let the parents at such times manifest anger, never strike a blow in passion. While they are too young to reason with, divert their minds as best you can; and as they become older, teach them by precept and example that you can not indulge their wrong desires. Instruct them patiently. Sometimes they will have to be punished, but never do it in such a way that they will feel that you have punished them in anger. By such a course you only work a greater evil. Many unhappy differences in the family circle might be avoided if parents would obey the counsel of the Lord in the training of their children. ‘In righteousness shalt thou be established,’ God declares; that is, in doing the works of righteousness. “We need to present to the youth an inducement for right-doing. Silver and gold is not sufficient for this. Let us reveal to them the love and mercy and grace of Christ, the preciousness of his Word, and the joys of the overcomer. In efforts of this kind we shall do a work that will last throughout eternity. “When the work of the judgment is finished, and decisions have been made for eternity, it will be seen that those who have given themselves whole-heartedly to the service of God are the ones who stand right with heaven. Some of these may not have been able to leave their families to go to distant mission fields, but they have been missionaries in their own neighborhood. Their hearts have been so filled with the love of God that their great anxiety has been to win souls for him. This has been more to them than silver and gold and the precious things of this world. And as they have labored in simplicity to minister the word of truth, the Spirit of God has sent home the word to the hearts of the people. “My brethren and sisters, let us study the simplicity there is in the Word of God. Let us see what we can do to advance the cause of Christ in the earth. Christ was in this world as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. There were many who set themselves against his work. There will be those who will oppose you. But your work is to preach Christ and him crucified; and when you do this, the salvation of God will be revealed in the conversion of souls. “Since I left my home in California in April, I have visited many places, and have spoken to thousands of people. This is the last stop I expect to make before reaching my home again. I would leave these words with you: Carry forward the work in faith and humble dependence upon God. Let each believer have light in himself; then the blessing of God will rest upon you, and you will see the salvation of God in the advancement of his work in this field.” After the meeting it was found that no place could be secured in the sleeping car on the Oregon Short Line, as it was full; and to make the morning connection at Ogden, we must take the Rio Grande train due at 10:45 P. M., but expected at 3 A. M. The party went home with Elder and Mrs. Huntington to spend a portion of the night while waiting for the train. Just before midnight we were aroused by a false report that the train was making up lost time, and would leave at 1 A. M. Just as Mrs. White was ready to step into the hack, a message came that the train would not arrive until 4 A. M. She returned to the house, but not to sleep. About 4:45 A. M. the belated train left Salt Lake City, and made the connection with the train to California. The day following this almost sleepless night was uneventful. The train glided swiftly along through western Utah and Nevada. Shortly before daylight Thursday morning, September 9, when the train had passed the highest altitude, and was just finishing its run through forty miles of tunnels and snow-sheds, Miss McEnterfer, whose berth was nearly opposite, and some others near by, heard agonized groans from Mrs. White. When asked what was the matter, she said she must have air, she could not breathe. But her window was open, and the berth was filled with the smoky air from the snow-shed. Knowing that we were then seven thousand feet above sea-level, and that we had been several hours in this high altitude, we recognized the difficulty as heart failure, and trembled for the outcome. Miss McEnterfer attempted to count her pulse, but found that impossible, as there was only a little quiver instead of a regular beat. This grew more and more faint. She asked her several questions, but there was no answer. Her hearing and her speech had gone. Her limbs were cold, and she seemed powerless. The porter brought some hot water. Into this Miss McEnterfer put a little peppermint, and with much difficulty got Mrs. White to swallow a few spoonfuls. Then she vigorously rubbed her hands and arms and feet. After much delay bottles of hot water were secured and placed over her heart and at her feet. In the course of an hour her pulse began to grow stronger, and as we dropped into the lower altitude, her heart action increased. An hour later as we neared Colfax, she had so far recovered as to be able to speak and to hear what we said to her. During the day she was able to take a little liquid food, and at Oakland Pier and Vallejo Junction made the transfers with the aid of the wheelchairs furnished by the railway company. Arriving at St. Helena at 7 P. M., she walked from the train to her carriage, and was soon in her own home, from which she had been absent five months. At home it was reported that Elder G. A. Irwin was still at Angwin, the place just purchased for the new home of the Pacific College (formerly Healdsburg College), and that he was going8 the following afternoon to the Fruitvale camp-meeting. On this, Mrs. White, though still very feeble, decided to visit the place at once. So early on Friday morning, September 10, the big farm team was hitched to the easiest carriage, and Brother James drove slowly up the six miles of steep rocky road from Sanitarium to Angwin. Then, with Elder Irwin as guide, inspection was made of orchards and vineyards, hay-fields and gardens; the horse barn and carriage house, with their eight vehicles and nineteen horses and colts; the big cow barn, with its twenty cows and hundred tons of hay; then the big swimming pool, and the springs, and the recreation building which later was converted into schoolrooms; and last of all, the six cottages, with thirty-two rooms and the main building with twenty-nine rooms for students, besides kitchen, dining-room, and parlors. The following Monday, at the Fruitvale camp-meeting, Mrs. White spoke of the new school site as follows:— “I was very happily surprised to find here a place where we need not wait to make great preparations before our school can be opened. Here we may call the students to come, and we can begin school work just as soon as they are on the ground. The advantages to be found here are many. A great deal of labor has been put forth to improve this property, which up to the present time has been used as a health resort. “The Angwin place is more appropriate for our school work than was the property we were previously considering at Buena Vista, near Sonoma. There was on that place, it is true, one very large, expensive building, but this building was not so well adapted to our school work as the buildings at Angwin. At Sonoma other buildings would have had to be erected very soon; but at Angwin there are sufficient buildings for present needs, and our school work can begin at once. “The buildings are substantial, and in good repair. The whole bears the appearance of good care and neatness. The large supply of good bedding and mattresses reminded me of what we found at Loma Linda when that property was purchased. The buildings are well adapted to our present necessities. Later on, more may need to be erected. Facilities will be added from time to time as they are needed. “I am very glad that we need be delayed no longer in locating our school, and I am more thankful than I can express that our school and our sanitarium are near enough together so that their educational work can blend. The school can help the sanitarium by supplying it with fruit and vegetables, and the sanitarium can help the school by purchasing these things. And the students may receive advantages from both these institutions.” The Minister's Personality
By L. E. Sufficool
THE exhortation of the great evangelist is worthy of thoughtful consideration. The message committed to this people is to develop character which will reflect perfectly the character of God's dear Son. There are three phases of this thought,—suppression, cultivation, and impartation. Self-suppression is an important consideration. It seems to be continually paramount in the mind of Paul. He said, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection.” Again, “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” The ministerial life is a privileged, and to a great extent, a protected life. The minister may give all his time to the Master's work,—opening the eyes of the blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, leading lost and perishing souls back to the fold of their Redeemer. With a perishing world ever before us, the gospel ministry can be no place for idlers. It is the busiest life on earth, yet there are always doors temptingly open for self-indulgence. No one needs more sympathy than he who fills the sacred office, solely that he may eat the “priest's bread.” A consecrated and devoted minister, one who constantly sees before him open doors of opportunity for service, is God's best gift to the church, to society, and to the world. “Take heed unto thyself.” There are other perils which lie near the pathway of the minister. There is the dual danger of magnifying or minifying self,—each equally perilous to a perfect ministry and to effectual service. Undue elation and unreasoning depression are equally wrong. Very little concern should be manifest in our life service as to our personal authority, and to the personal equation none at all. If the influence, which is the atmosphere, the fragrance, the redolence, of the character, does not command the respect and confidence of society, any manifestation of authority never will. Whenever a minister is driven to rely solely on the office he fills for influence with the people, at that moment he becomes unworthy of the office. Let him permit his authority to take care of itself, while he, by purity of character, enriches his personal influence. The influence is to the character what the sweet perfume is to the flower. Nothing in the ministry can be used more effectively for the saving of souls than influence. What is more ruinous to effective ministry than morbid self-consciousness? As the mighty ships that plow the great deep shun the shoals, so let us, as servants of the living God, shun the “Valley of Despondency.” Very often we may enter hard fields, and at some time we may say, “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.” From beneath the cloud Satan may cast over us, let our faith take hold of the arm of the risen Saviour. Forget self. Charles Kingsley, addressing his son, wrote: “If you want to be miserable, think about yourself,—what you want, and what respect people ought to pay you, and what people think of you.” We are to magnify the office; but how?—“By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.” Self-cultivation, when prayerfully considered, will have regard first to spiritual endowment. While workers are needed, there is no room for spiritual and intellectual weaklings. We must have a brighter vision of God. By beholding, we are to become changed. The life of the minister must be a daily revelation of divine power. Paul's ministry began with a vision of God. Every minister's life is to begin with a clear vision of God. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Purity of heart must precede, as well as condition, the vision. Man has a devotional nature. This is the better life, and all that will be food for this life is to be our “daily bread.” Under this heading we may consider, (1) prayer, (2) study of the Word, (3) meditation. 1. The minister's home should afford a private study where he may, in secret, talk with God. Many times a minister's weakness and failure result from the neglect of prayer. 2. Study of the Word. The Word is to be our constant companion. We are to breathe its atmosphere, drink of its spirit, think its thoughts, and thereby speak in its terms. Familiarity with the Word is a necessity in the ministry. 3. Meditation. Take time calmly to think upon the blessings God has so bountifully bestowed upon you. Consider his dealings. Behold the guiding hand. Now think of his great sacrifice, his untold love for the children of men. Think of heaven, the home of the saved. If you are weary, remember that heaven lies at the end of the road. A young lady once came to an oculist to have her eyes tested and glasses fitted. The physician took her out into the open air and said: “I want you, when the eye is weary, to leave the manuscript, and go into the open air and look far away to the hills. That far-away look will rest the eye.” My brother, when you are downcast and disappointed, when your sermons gain no hearing, when mourners spurn your comfort, and sinners heed not the warning, and, weary, self-accused, you turn your footsteps homeward, then, O then, take one long look far away to the evergreen hills of paradise! The far-away look is so restful to the weary soul! Let the eye feast upon the resplendent glories of heaven. Heaven lies at the end of the road. This very thought rests my weary soul; and while feasting upon this glorious revelation, I drink of that living water, and my soul is refreshed.9 “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” In view of modern needs and conditions, ministers are required to be at their best. There is no room in the ministry for weaklings. There must be intellectual as well as spiritual growth. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Growth is the sign of life. When growth ceases, death begins. “Take heed unto thyself.” “None of us liveth to himself.” An isolated life is an utter impossibility. Both our virtues and our vices we transmit to others. Even upon this phase let us behold the bright side. We may transmit influences that will elevate as well as degrade. The most successful minister is the one who lives his message. The congregation, the people, demand to-day, far more than dialectic skill and scholarly resource, a personal experience and a vivid consciousness of the great truths with which we are dealing. The value of the minister is not fixed by his familiarity with flowing phrases that affect the hearer as the flash from the artist's light camera, or the thunder in the clear sky, but by what he is, and what he gives. Let the prayer now ascend,— “Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on heaven's table-land,—
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” Look Unto Me, and Be Ye Saved
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22. A Return to Pentecostal Power
By R. D. Quinn
At the recent General Conference the word came to study the first and second chapters of Acts. “Light has been given me that our work must be carried forward in a higher and broader way than it has ever yet been carried. . . . We need to come to God with faith in all that is promised in the Word, and then walk in all the light and power God gives.”—Mrs. E. G. White, in General Conference Bulletin, 1909, No. 7, page 105. We gather from the instruction to study these chapters in Acts, that pentecost was simply meant to be an object-lesson, or type, of all the days of all the years of the present age. In other words, God did not give at pentecost an experience which he either would not, or could not, maintain. The fact that our times have fallen far below the blessed standard of those early days, is not because of any failure upon God’s part, but because the church in a large degree has lost sight of this holy doctrine. We never can regain or hold our true position in this world until we see that the filling of the Holy Ghost is equally for us as well as for the first Christians. We can not dispense with the definite anointing and infilling of the Holy Ghost for service. No doubt the Holy Ghost is in us if we are Christians, for “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” But we must never lose sight of the fact that it is one thing to receive and yield to the Holy Spirit in regeneration, and another thing to be baptized with the Holy Ghost for the conversion of men. In Acts 2:4 we read that the company gathered in the upper room were all filled with the Holy Spirit. But these disciples had received the Spirit before this at their conversion, and when they were sent forth to preach the word. After the resurrection, but before his ascension, Christ breathed upon them, and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” But until pentecost it was never said of them that they were filled, for the simple reason that until then it could not be said of them that they were entirely empty, emptied of self and of self-seeking, and of one accord. If we have complied with the conditions set forth in Peter’s great sermon on the day of pentecost (Acts 2:38, 39), we may be sure that God has faithfully done his part, and we are at this time in possession of his Spirit. Then our attitude should not be that of waiting and longing for the gift which we already possess; but rather to ask God to search our hearts, and to reveal unto us why his Spirit has not come more mightily upon us. It may not be so much a question of receiving the Spirit, as it is of surrendering and yielding to the Holy Spirit already received. The Holy Ghost makes man the uncompromising friend of God. If we obey every intimation of his will, we may be sure that he will witness through us in power. “My brethren and sisters, plead for the Holy Spirit. God stands back of every promise he has made. With your Bibles in your hands, say: ‘I have done as thou hast said. I present thy promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”’”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, page 23. “We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the day of pentecost. . . . I counsel you to tarry at Jerusalem, as did the early disciples, until, like them, you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.” “If they needed it at that time, we need it more to-day. Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions, are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God, it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth.”—Id., Vol. V, pages 158, 159. “Why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit, since this is the means by which we are to receive power? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to us than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the baptism of the Spirit every worker should be pleading with God.” “To us to-day, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will to-day endow men and women with power from above, as he endowed those who on the day of pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour his Spirit and his grace are for all who need them, and will take him at his word. . . .” “The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth, and they claimed the endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. “So it may be now. Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the ‘former rain,’ and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant.” “He [God] himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for thy name’s sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory; remember, break not thy covenant with us.’ Jer. 14:21. He has pledged himself to give heed to our cry, when we come to him confessing our unworthiness and sin. The honor of his throne is staked for the fulfilment of his word to us.”—Id., Vol. VIII, pages 20-23. PHILIP GIDDINGS
By Philip Giddings
1. TIME is the minute-hand of which eternity is the hour. And how swiftly time’s minutes run to make eternity’s hour! 2. Principle is above prince or price. 3. The way to deserve kindness is to serve it; “therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” 4. There is time for but one thing—eternity! “A LIFE of pleasure makes even the strongest minds frivolous at last.” ONLY those really know the ease of living who never try to dodge the hard things in life. For the easiest time to do a hard thing is when it first makes its appearance. If we would double its difficulty, we need only postpone it once; if we would make it four times as hard, a second postponement will insure this. And if we would have the drag and nightmare of shirked duty always with us, so that life itself becomes a chronic burden, we must simply make our postponement of our hardest duties permanent. Tribulation lies ahead for any one who will not grapple his hard tasks promptly. Joy and strength and the exhilaration of ever-increasing power are assured to one who seeks the ease of instant duty-doing. We are hardest on ourselves when we try to save ourselves from hardship.—Selected. Kindness in the Home
By G. B. THOMPSON
TRUE religion is always manifested in the home. The person who is not kind in the home is not a Christian, no matter what his pretensions may be. To be kind and grace other homes with a smile while darkening our own with frowns, scolding about this and that, is hypocrisy of the worst sort. We read recently about the boy who, hearing his mother talking in another room, said she evidently had visitors, as she was using her “company voice.” Mark Guy Pearse relates the following experience:— “I happened to be staying with a very religious kind of man. In the morning he began the day with a long prayer that he might be kept from sin, and might have a Christlike spirit and the mind that Jesus had. A good prayer it was. I thought, You must be a very good man. “But in about an hour I happened to be coming along the farm, and I heard him hallooing, and scolding, and finding fault with everybody and everything. When I came into the house, he began again. Nothing was right; he was impatient and quick-tempered. “I said, ‘You must be very much disappointed, sir.’ “‘How so, Daniel — disappointed?’ “‘I thought you were expecting to receive a very valuable present this morning, sir, and I see it has not come.’ “‘Present — Daniel?’ — and he scratched his head, as much as to say, ‘Whatever can the man be talking about?’ “‘I certainly heard you talking about it, sir,’ I said, coolly. “‘Heard me speak of a valuable present! Why, Daniel, you must be dreaming. I’ve never thought of such a thing.’ “‘Perhaps not, sir, but you’ve talked about it, and I hoped it would come while I was here, for I would love to see it.’ “He was getting angry with me now, so I thought I would explain. “‘You know, sir, this morning you prayed for a Christlike spirit, and the love of God shed abroad in your heart.’ “‘O, that’s what you mean, is it?’ and he spoke as if that weren’t anything at all. “‘Now, sir, wouldn’t you be rather surprised if your prayer was to be answered — if you were to feel a nice, gentle, loving kind of spirit coming down upon you, all patient and forgiving and kind?’” What an awful spectacle it must be to the pure and holy angels to see one of the professed family of heaven, after a prayer for divine guidance, issuing impatient orders to other members of the family, scolding and fretting about things which he imagines are not as they should be. Imagine a professed Christian chasing the cow with the milk-stool as a weapon of punishment because she was restless while being milked; being unkind to the faithful horses and other domestic animals, and then telling of his hope on the Sabbath day! No wonder the angels flee from such a home, and weep in sorrow. In heaven all will be gentle and kind in every word and action. Jesus was always kind to all. Those who are saved when he comes will be “like him.” The time to speak kind words is while the persons are living, not around the bier at the funeral. The time to use flowers is while the persons are living, rather than in wreaths on the casket. How sad to remember, when the form is wrapped in a shroud, and the eyes are closed forever, that there are unkind, cutting words which have been spoken which can never be recalled. The home indeed should be “a world of strife shut out, a world of love shut in.” It will be if the grace and love of God rules in our hearts. The Joy of Winter
By William B. Quayle
Such as esteem winter a season to be endured — a frozen roadway leading to the redolence of spring — are far from the truth. We may fairly say they know not the truth. Spring is radiant; winter is jubilant. Winter trumpets like a war-like troop. Each season has its own strength, seasonableness, serenity, violence, tenderness, tears, rejoicement, as the case may stand. Each season in its way is best; therefore those who endure winter are utterly amiss, and those who enjoy winter are utterly right. Winter is ushered in by the leaf-fall of melancholy autumn, and ushered out by the rejoicing of the leaf-making of the gladsome spring; ushered in by sadness, and ushered out by joy; and its plateau lies high and cold like the giant uplands of the mountains,—let in of weeping autumn, let out of leafing spring. Winter is the season of naked strength. . . . The whole spacious world has become a roadway for the truculent winter winds. All is open. The north wind strides along the highways. He washes across the cold shock-tented corn fields like some devastating sea. He climbs the snowy mountains with a sudden angry leap. He takes the breath of travelers. He garments the whole landscape in storm. He hoots like the night owls; he whoops like a bloodthirsty Indian band; he carouses like a drunkard; he shrieks like a maniac; he is sleepless as a sick man; he moans like the broken-hearted; he shouts like men in battle; he drives like a mad charioteer; he curses like a gambler who has staked all and lost all. The winter wind goeth every whither, calls down the chimneys of the rich with a pitiful cry for admission, leaps into the frail houses of the very poor as if he were the landlord and their rent past due, nips with fingers like pincers the noses of the adventurous, and pounces triumphant upon the proud sea and pummels its wide waters with indignant fists till the sea boils like a pot. Such are the doings of the winter wind. Do they make you shiver? Rather they should make you in battle humor. Indoors is no place for people in winter. Outdoors is the place. Shivering by the fire is justifiable for invalids only. In spring people go outdoors; in winter they go indoors; but the latter procedure is quite amiss. All seasons are outdoor seasons. Spring is time when we lie open to the sun; winter is time when men run races with the winds and the swift leaves, and when we rejoice to feel the blood tingle and our pulse bound; when the fury of the world is on us; when the battles of our Viking folks survive in us. In winter we are not to flee from but toward. I fear me we have not caught the spirit of winter. We make outdoor trips under protest. We take the short cut. We complain at the nip of the wind and the frost. We say, ‘It is below zero.’ We shiver from place to place. We date everything by how near spring is. All this is wrong, greatly wrong. Winter is frankly glorious. The slow are stung to speed. The worn feel the tonic that seems drifted with the winter snows. Lassitude is all but impossible when frost writes its poetry on kitchen windows, and the snows crunch under the feet, and the cold stars blink with merry twinkle in their eyes as if to say, “Friends, how like you this weather?” Winter is to be regarded as our friend. This is the season of strength. Brawniness becomes you. Large moods seem fitting. Winter is a lesson against whimpering. A naked world not aching in the cold but rollicking in it and with it, is a lesson in enduring hardness. Complaints ought at this season to freeze on the lips. Let sleigh-bells jingle; let the wolf lope across the sullen fields of snowy nights; let the recluse owl hoot as he goes about like a surly housewife11 getting supper ready; let the icy branches crack in the frosty air like riflemen at practise; let the bittersweet berries hang like garnets coated with frost; let the mobile river turn to stable shore where skaters may hold festival; let the cattle gather with their trustful eyes, waiting for supper and the dark, making no complaint at anything, or anybody. . . . For myself I confess to feeling like the rabbits when winter comes. But for being pious, I would not put it past me to dance. But I run and shout and rejoice in the storm and call with the winds and regale me on the storm when the wild winds try to push me from the road and can not do it. And to hear and see the forest take delight in the wrath of the tempests, and hear the deep diapason of huge trees buffeting with huge winds — friend, that is fine. Winter is life to body and spirit. Nothing dyspeptic can winter tolerate. . . . Acclimate your soul to winter, and you will be inclined to draft resolutions of sympathy for all who have no winter season.—William B. Quayle, in Northwestern Christian Advocate. BLESSED is the man who counts another’s time as valuable as his own. Blessed is the man who is generous to his neighbor in all things except the application. Blessed is the man who has not found out that he is superior to other men. Blessed is the man who leans forward instead of backward.—Exchange. The Australasian Field
By J. E. FULTON
It is now over three months since we arrived in Australia after attending the General Conference. It was nearly a year since we had left on our way through the East Indies to the General Conference, and we were glad to be home again. We had heard on the way home that Sister Edith M. Graham, the secretary of the union conference, was very ill and had gone to the sanitarium for treatment. On arriving, we found her much improved in health, for which we were very thankful. Sister Graham has since returned, and is now at her work as usual. Soon after our return, our council was held at Wahroonga. Here the presidents of the conferences and different laborers met for the consideration of various problems, and for ten days we engaged in earnest study over these. Consideration was given to the various departments of our work, and special interest was taken in its advancement in the great island field. It was necessary to make a number of changes in the different conferences, but every one seemed anxious to adjust himself to the suggestions made, and we are hopeful that everything will work out for the glory of God’s cause. The help sent by the General Conference to fill vacancies in our field was much appreciated. Prof. B. F. Machlan has entered upon his duties at Avondale, and we are sure that his earnest efforts there will be much appreciated. Pastor J. M. Cole was chosen president of the South Australian Conference. Pastor Burke is engaged in a tent effort in New South Wales; he was also appointed vice-president of the New South Wales Conference. Brother Leonard Spear has entered the Warburton office as bookbinder. Brother C. H. Parker, who has labored so long in Fiji, was asked to take the presidency of the Victorian Conference. Brother S. M. Cobb, who has been the president, was released on account of failing health. We trust that Brother Cobb will soon be restored to his usual health. He has worked hard in the Australasian Union Conference, always carrying responsibilities. We were sorry to take Brother Parker away from Fiji, but we are certain that the change will greatly benefit him and his family healthwise, and we are sure that their earnest labors in Victoria will be greatly appreciated. The brethren in Fiji will miss him very much, but others will take up the burden that he has laid down. We are looking forward to the arrival of Brother J. W. Hofstra and family in the East Indian part of our union conference. They are coming from Holland direct to Java; and Brother R. W. Munson, who has spent a few years in Australia in translating and in other work, will also go to Java the last of the year. You will see from this that we are strengthening our out-post centers. Java has an immense population,—thirty-two million people,—and we must do all we can to build up the Lord’s cause in that needy field. The workers who have been laboring there are much cheered by the action taken by the General Conference in sending Brother Hofstra, and also because of the help we are sending from this field. The message is onward. Burwood, New South Wales.