The annual meeting of the Review and Herald Publishing Association was held at Battle Creek, Mich., in connection with the biennial meeting of the Lake Union Conference. The first meeting convened Tuesday, February 8. The meeting was called to order by the vice-president, S. N. Curtiss. In the absence of the president and the secretary, W. W. Prescott was elected chairman, and I. A. Ford secretary. After the appointment of the committees on nominations and on plans, the meeting adjourned to February 11, in order that a larger number of the constituency might be present. At the second meeting reports were given by the manager and treasurer, the managers of the book and periodical departments, and the managers of the two branch houses, all of which showed a very encouraging volume of business done during the year.
The manager's report was as follows:—
Manager's Report
“We take pleasure in presenting this, the seventh annual report of the Review and Herald Publishing Association of Washington, D. C. For more than two-score years the members of the Battle Creek church listened to reports of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association (familiarly known as Review and Herald Publishing Company) while its plant was located in this city. But this is the first opportunity the church has had to listen, within the walls of this Tabernacle, to the report of the Review and Herald Publishing Association of Washington. We are sure that the members of this church, as well as people everywhere, have watched with great interest the progress of the publishing work since this association was incorporated in the summer of 1903.
“This new association, organized for religious and philanthropic work, and not for gain, is a non-stock corporation. It must necessarily have a definite legal constituency; but its real constituency is the membership of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination throughout the world, and it is the loyal support, the faithful work and earnest prayers, of these people that has made possible, under the blessing of God, whatever success has been attained.
“Early in the year 1909 it was necessary for us to purchase another cylinder press, making five in all, and one linotype. These machines were put into use as soon as received, and have been in constant service ever since. In fact, it seems that we could not have gotten along without this additional equipment. We were also obliged to purchase another power paper-cutter, and an addressing machine for printing the addresses on our periodical wrappers.
“Additional fire protection has been provided in our building during the last year by installing water-pipes inside the building, at the front and rear, with two hose reels on each floor. A system of fire-alarm stations was also put in. By special arrangement with the town of Takoma Park the hose cart belonging to the town is stored in an annex alongside our main building.
“During the last General Conference we printed eleven thousand copies each of twenty-one numbers of the General Conference Bulletin, averaging more than sixteen pages each day, of the size of the REVIEW.
“In April, 1909, we issued the first number of the Protestant Magazine. This new quarterly periodical has been received most favorably, and has built up a fine list of over twelve thousand subscribers, the average number circulated for each issue being nearly twenty-five thousand copies. The special efforts now being put forth by the Roman Catholic Church to win America, and the failure of nominal Protestantism to maintain its principles, make necessary a publication which shall be devoted to the pure and true principles of Protestantism, and this is the field which the Protestant Magazine is intended to fill.
“At the last General Conference it was voted that a new educational journal be started. The Review and Herald Publishing Association was asked to publish the magazine, and the first issue of Christian Education appeared in September. The editorial work is done by the Educational Department of the General Conference, and we have heard nothing but words of praise for the journal. The circulation will, of course, be limited, but the contents of the journal are such as to make it useful in every home where there are children, and helpful to every educator in the land. The present subscription list ought to be doubled.
“In March a special Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor was published, and over one hundred twenty-five thousand copies were circulated. This was a most excellent and powerful temperance document, and has received unusual and flattering indorsement from temperance workers everywhere. We now have in preparation a still better Temperance number, which will be ready in March, and a quarter of a million copies ought to be sold.
“Our facilities were again taxed this fall to produce the necessary number of copies of the special Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW. For weeks our pressroom ran night and day, and our bindery force was often obliged to work far into the night. The number of copies printed was seven hundred five thousand.
“At the last annual meeting it was voted that the prices to agents on our ten-cent magazines should be increased one half a cent or more a copy, according to the quantity ordered. Later this matter was more carefully canvassed by the representatives of our various publishing houses at a meeting held in College View, last October, and a rate of five cents a copy on five to forty copies and four cents a copy on fifty or more copies was recommended.
“At the same time it was decided that in view of the increase in cost of material and labor the subscription price of the REVIEW should be changed from $1.50 to $1.75, that the club price on the Instructor should be increased to seventy-five cents, and on the Worker to thirty cents. These new prices were approved by the General Conference Council in its October meeting, and were put into effect the first of January, 1910.
“It was also recommended at our last annual meeting that our tract societies should properly ‘represent and handle our various publications,’ and the matter of more thorough organization of the periodical work was fully canvassed at the General Conference then in session. To this end we have encouraged our periodical agents everywhere to send their orders to, and arrange for their territory through, the conference in which they were at work. This has brought increased work to the tract society offices, and has made necessary some provision for meeting the additional expense thus entailed. The publishing-houses have therefore agreed to allow a discount of ten per cent to the tract societies on all periodical business which passes through their hands; and are also asking that more attention be given to building up and maintaining an extended circulation of all our periodicals in every conference.
“The treasurer's report will show that every periodical has more than paid its way during 1909, and the home office and its branches show quite a satisfactory gain. Detailed reports will be presented by the managers of our book and periodical departments, and branch offices.
“No serious accident has come to any of the workers, and death has not entered our office family, since we began operating in Washington.
“There has been a marked improvement in the spiritual atmosphere of the office since the last week of prayer, and there is an earnest spirit of consecration and active work in behalf of others, which promises great things for the future. The entire office family is divided into six bands, or groups, each with a leader. These bands meet weekly, their object being prayer, study, and service. Some are holding Bible readings, visiting the sick, and relieving the poor, while others are conducting Sunday night meetings in which they are ably assisted by their collaborators.
“We praise the Lord for the prosperity which has attended our work in Washington from its very beginning, and we request your prayers, your suggestions, and your co-operation, that it may always be carried forward in a way that will make it a blessing to the cause of God.”
The report from the book department revealed the fact that during the year 140,450 copies of our standard books have been printed, the larger part of which were our regular subscription books, among which we might mention 7,000 “Bible Readings,” 5,000 “Home and Health,” 10,000 “Great Controversy,” 5,000 “Daniel and the Revelation,” 6,250 “Patriarchs and Prophets,” etc. It also called attention to the fact that 370,000 copies of our tracts and pamphlets had been issued during the year.16
The report from the periodical department gave us the encouraging information that 3,411,298 copies of our seven periodicals and magazines had been actually circulated during the year.
The treasurer reported the net gain of the association for the year to be $19,691.13; this is after paying to the General Conference a tithe on our net earnings amounting to $2,129.52.
After the reading of this report, the following resolutions were adopted by the association:—
“1. Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for his constant care over the association and its workers in preserving from calamity and accidents, and for the general health of the workers, and for the prosperity that has attended the work during the year.
“Whereas, This association is carrying a large interest-bearing debt upon which it pays between four thousand and five thousand dollars interest annually, and,—
“Whereas, The deferred payment of outstanding accounts increases the amount of interest thus paid, therefore,—
“2. We recommend, That the trustees consider the advisability of charging interest on accounts which are not paid within sixty days from date of invoice.
“3. We recommend, That Article V, Sections 1 and 2, of the By-laws, be amended to read as follows:—
“SECTION 1. The affairs of this corporation shall be directed by a board of nine trustees elected by the members of this corporation, and said trustees shall hold their offices until their successors are duly elected and appear to enter upon their duties.
“SEC. 2. At the annual meeting of this corporation held each even year commencing with 1910, five persons shall be chosen to act as trustees for a term of two years. At the annual meeting of this corporation held each odd year commencing with 1911, four persons shall be chosen to act as trustees for a term of two years.”
At this meeting there were five trustees elected for two years, as follows: F. M. Willcox, W. W. Prescott, S. N. Curtiss, D. W. Reavis, and I. A. Ford.
These meetings were largely attended by members of the association and others, many of whom expressed themselves as much encouraged over the present condition of the institution.
I. A. FORD, Secretary.
The North American Negro Department
By A. J. Haysmer
At the last General Conference, after much consideration, it was thought advisable to organize a North American Negro Department for the better advancement of the work for the colored people. There has been considerable delay in getting the department into working order.
We did not realize at first the great amount of work before us. But when we consider that nearly one seventh of the population of the United States is colored, and that little has been done for them, we can see that there is much to be accomplished. A few comparisons will help us to see this more clearly.
There are seven and a fraction white people in this country for every colored person; but only one minister for the colored people to thirty-three for the white people, only one training-school for the colored people to twenty-eight for the white people, only one sanitarium for the colored people to fifty for the white people.
The spirit of prophecy speaks the truth when it says that this people have been neglected.
When we consider that forty-four per cent of the colored people are illiterate, and only six per cent of the white people, and that the death-rate among the colored people is much larger than among the white people, we must admit that they especially need schools and sanitariums.
Surely the time has fully come when we should arise, and put forth well-organized and systematic efforts to carry this complete gospel message to the ten millions of colored people in this country.
We are now getting the work of the department more fully organized and plans developed to push forward this work. But we need more workers and more means. I believe our dear people, who have a real desire to see this work finished in this generation, are ready to help us with their prayers and their means to enable this work to be carried to a speedy finish.
The department has taken over all the work formerly carried on by the Southern Missionary Society, and we desire to see the good work begun in a few places, and carried on until the light of the message reaches every place.
The Gospel Herald will be enlarged, and will be made the organ of the department. The price will be increased from ten cents to twenty-five cents a year for single subscriptions; fifteen cents in clubs of ten; and ten cents in clubs of twenty or more.
We are not only desirous that every Seventh-day Adventist family shall take this paper, but that a special effort be made to get it into the homes of those not of our faith. We know that all will be glad to receive reports of the work that they are helping to support. We shall do our best to make this paper what it should be.
We shall be glad to hear from all who are interested in helping forward the work among the colored people.
We have located the office of the department at 61 Lindsley Ave., Nashville, Tenn., where all correspondence to the writer should be addressed.
A. J. HAYSMER,
Secretary.
MAXIMO TRUMMER
By Maximo Trummer
Argentina
This last month's report of book sales (amounting $1,473.75) includes two hundred sixty copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” which have been on the shelves here for four years. At the camp-meeting I persuaded the brethren to take from two to ten copies each home with them, to sell to their neighbors. The Lord so blessed in the undertaking that all the books were disposed of, and we had to tell the people there were no more. One brother sold his ten copies within three days.
We are getting along nicely. Some of the boys do not sell as many books as I would like to have them, but all are having their first experience, except one—a school-teacher. But though they do not sell much, they are just as faithful as if they did. One wrote to me last17week, that I should go ahead with full courage, and they would follow me. It is a pleasure to have boys like that. I certainly love to work shoulder to shoulder with them. I am in the field helping them from three to four days every week.
They work two and two, like the Waldenses. They take their cots and bedding and an oil-stove with them, rent a room, do their own cooking, and work until the town is finished; then they move on to the next one. Thus far the city authorities have given us permission in every place to canvass without a license.
The school and conference unite in offering scholarships on the same basis as in the United States. We are working with heart and hand and head to make the work go quickly. The more we are tried, the more we hang on. Like Hannibal, “If there is no way, then we will make one.” I could not have found a better field than South America; thanks to our Heavenly Father.
MAXIMO TRUMMER
Field Notes
A NEW Sabbath-keeper is reported by Elder T. B. Westbrook, at Buffalo, N. Y., and others in that city are studying the truth.
THE report of the recent session of the New Jersey Conference states that sixty-five persons have been baptized by the workers during the year, and nearly a score more are awaiting baptism.
DURING the year 1909, ten precious souls accepted the truth in Greater New York, as a result of the work among the Italians; and on Sunday, Jan. 16, 1910, four persons were baptized in the German Seventh-day Adventist church of Brooklyn.
In the Heart of the Andes Mountains
By H. H. Hall
THE following order, sent us by the South American Union Conference, is to be shipped to F. A. Stahl, La Paz, Bolivia, which is in the very heart of the Andes Mountains:—
50 “Patriarchs and Prophets,” Spanish
300 “Coming King,” “
350 “Christ Our Saviour,” “
200 “Steps to Christ,” “
This shipment has to be packed in especially made boxes, as it will be carried a portion of the way on muleback. It will cross Lake Titicaca, which is only two thousand feet lower than the top of Pike’s Peak. Certainly the gospel canvasser is rapidly carrying the truth to earth’s darkest recesses. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.”
H. H. HALL.
H. O. ROBINSON
By H. O. Robinson
Mexico
My deliveries in Vera Cruz were very good. The Lord helped me to deliver books to the value of $647.25, U. S. gold. From that place I went to Tampico, where I was successful in enlisting my brother to work with me. He had good success there, and sold and delivered $145 worth of books a few days ago.
During the thirty-nine hours that I worked in that place, my orders amounted to $259.50. The first two-hours' work there gave me sales amounting to $55. Some of these people were so anxious to get their books that I delivered several the day after the orders were taken.
The manner in which the Lord is blessing us here certainly keeps our faith and courage up, and although at times we get some bumps and jolts, we soon pass these over.
H. O. ROBINSON
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
The Church
By G. B. Thompson
Instruction Pertaining to the Duties and Responsibilities of Officers and Members
Duty of the Church Toward Its Officers
An officer in the church occupies a place of very great responsibility. The elders are called “bishops,” or “overseers” of the flock. Acts 20:28. They are to “feed” the church, and guard them from the wolves from without, and from those who from among themselves shall arise, speaking perverse things; from those who shall arise making great pretensions to having light, but who in reality draw disciples not to Christ, but to themselves. There can be no greater responsibility than this. It reaches into eternity, and must be answered for at the tribunal of the Great Judge.
No doubt much of the coldness and lack of spiritual advancement in many churches is traceable to the lack of earnestness and spiritual power among the officers. The church is not fed. Backsliders are not looked up and labored with. The discouraged, and those in special trial, are not visited and prayed with, and every effort possible is not made to maintain unity and brotherly love in the family.
But while this is true, there is danger that the church will settle down into an “I-told-you-so” attitude and charge all the trouble and spiritual lethargy to the officers of the church. This is quite convenient, and the selfish, worldly heart likes to have it so. But all the blame should not rest there. To succeed there must be unity and co-operation between the officers and other members in the church. All have a responsibility. While the officers may properly be expected to lead the church, they ought not to be compelled to drag the body. They should be, under God, the guides, or directors, of a living, moving body, endowed with life, and moving in a direct course toward the city of God.
Decayed logs and rubbish of every sort easily float down-stream, but it requires life and strong effort to row up-stream. We can go down-hill without much effort, but it is different when it comes to ascending the grade. Advancement means work. We need to plant our feet on higher ground; but this can be done as a church only by united action.
Officers of the church, especially the elders, occupy in some respects a hard place. Encompassed with infirmities, and sometimes without much training or experience, week after week, year in and year out, the elder must stand before the church, and according to his best ability, try to instruct and build them up. They are all his neighbors. All his limitations are known to them. They have heard frequently about his failures, and his weaknesses are all before them. Oftentimes his work is made hard, and all his efforts to help are neutralized, by harsh, unkind, and unnecessary criticism.
The reason that there is so much criticism in the world, and that so many are engaged in the business, is because such a large amount of business can be done on so small an amount of capital. To be a first-class critic requires no special endowment of either brains or religion.
Criticism is the devil’s business, and should not be engaged in by the Lord’s children. In a special sense should the members of the church refrain from criticizing those whom they have chosen to carry certain responsibilities in the church. I have heard parents confess that they had driven their children from the truth by criticizing in their homes the leaders in the church. The elder is perhaps more conscious of his failures than you are, and is almost overwhelmed by them. The deacon mourns over his, as well as do the other officers.
If, in our churches, a full stop can be put to the evil of criticizing the leaders; it will help. We will feel better ourselves, and the church will grow faster. Have some helpful suggestions. Be a burden-bearer. If you see where improvement can be made, go to the officers and in a kind, Christian way call their attention to the matter. If they do not see it as you do, don’t sulk and say they are stubborn. It is possible, after all, that they are right and you are wrong. Having done your duty, wait and pray.
“An earnest effort should be made in every church to put away evil-speaking and a censorious spirit as among the sins productive of the greatest evils in the church. Severity and faultfinding must be rebuked as the working of Satan.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, page 609.
If the officers in our churches arise and take hold of the responsibility with which God has entrusted them as they should, if all in the church take hold and do their part—do some real hard lifting—in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, renewed life and power will be seen everywhere.
G. B. THOMPSON.
THOMAS H. DAVIS
By Thomas H. Davis
Chile
I AM now in Valparaiso with Robert Tapia, one of our young canvassers. He had been working country towns, selling small books with good success. Monday I helped him start his list. We went to Baron, the largest railway station, and I presented the book at the office window of one of the employees. He took the book to look at it, so that left me on the outside of the small window. How to get hold of that book again was rather a puzzle; but I just took my hat off, and crawled about halfway through the hole, and said, “Let me show you what it contains.” Soon several other young men came to see what it was, and I soon had five orders, three for “Coming King,” and two for “Patriarchs and Prophets.” One man who gave his order for both made the remark, “What is fifteen pesos compared with salvation?” I think there are better days for the canvassing work here.
Brother Tapia tried canvassing alone in the afternoon, and when he came home, I counted the orders for the day on his list, and he had forty-six. That isn't bad for a Chileno boy. He is sticking right at it. This morning before dinner he took eleven orders. I think we shall have a few more canvassers soon for the large cities. Valparaiso is just like a beehive. The city that was destroyed by the earthquake is being rebuilt. One of the boys who sells papers sold the Signs of the Times to the president of the republic the other day.
THOMAS H. DAVIS
Church Officers and the Tithe
By T. E. Bowen
IN a recent report from a State conference treasurer I noticed a very interesting feature. In connection with the amount of tithe received from each church, was given the church-membership, and the column following this important item was headed, “Number of Church-Members Paying Tithe.” This last feature was that which attracted my attention.
One would naturally think that the amounts given in these two columns would be identical, for the number paying tithe should be the same as that of the church-membership. But in this instance the number listed in the “tithe-paying” column was just about one half that given in the church-membership column. What does this mean?
Is it possible that in a whole conference one half of the people whose names are enrolled upon the church books as Seventh-day Adventists “in good and18regular standing,” for a whole year (as this was an annual report) pay absolutely no tithe into the treasury? This is what the report said. And we are convinced that this conference is not an isolated case, but that a similar condition would be revealed in other conferences if the conference treasurers were to report conditions as honestly as did this conference treasurer. Possibly not, at least we hope others would be better.
Now it certainly seems as if something ought to be done in regard to a condition of this sort. How can God bless his people when from one fourth to one half pay no attention whatever to his plain requirement to bring “all the tithes into the storehouse”? This matter should not be left entirely with the conference president, or the conference treasurer, or the ministers. The local church officers have a responsibility in this thing. The elder should call together the officers of the church,—the deacons and deaconesses, the treasurer, the Sabbath-school superintendent, the librarian, etc.,—for earnest prayer to God for his direction and his blessing. It might be well then to go over the list of names. The treasurer will have a record showing who have paid tithe. It would seem as if some arrangement should then be perfected whereby labor by different ones who would be careful and judicious, who love and fear God, might be put forth for those who have been remiss in their obligation to the Lord and his cause. God will help you devise some means whereby this reproach may be rolled away from the door of your church.
Can any one tell why every Seventh-day Adventist, whose name has been enrolled among those who love God and keep his commandments, should not be a tithe payer? Even the children can be as honest in this as the richest man in our ranks. And it is just as obligatory upon the one as upon the other. It requires as much love and devotion and sacrifice (if you wish to call it that, but privilege would be the better word) for the one to pay to the Lord his own as it does for the other. The tithe from an income of forty or fifty cents from some little boy or girl is just as precious and sacred to God as if the tithe in amount was one hundred dollars, the amount due from some prosperous farmer with an income of one thousand dollars. God will bless the faithful little boy or girl equally with the rich man. It is because this soul blessing which comes as a result of conscious loyalty to God is not experienced that many in our churches are drying up spiritually. This withholding from God that which is his own, is an evil thing, and works only harm to the individual, and retards the cause of God in the earth.
At a recent local conference the suggestion was made that the church treasurer can do much in this matter by keeping his accounts in such a manner as to send out to the entire church-membership quarterly a letter stating the full amount of tithe received by him during the quarter, and then in a blank place, with the heading, “Of This Amount You Gave $——,” write the amount paid by each individual. To those paying tithe the amount is here given. If the member has paid nothing, this place will be left blank, and that alone should be sufficient to remind him that he has been unfaithful to his God.
T. E. BOWEN.
Panama
By Charles F. Innis
After attending the book men's convention at College View, Neb., January 3-12, my wife and I left that place for our field of labor in the West Caribbean Conference. We had a pleasant voyage from New Orleans to Colon, arriving here January 20. Since that time we have been very busy getting located and looking after the interests of the book and magazine work. Although there have been a great many books sold here, I find this a good field still, and we expect, with the Lord's help, to place a large number of our books among the people.
We have just finished a successful institute with a class of sixteen for regular book canvassing, and a class of six for the small books and periodicals. This institute was for the Canal Zone territory alone. Elder H. C. Goodrich and I will soon hold other institutes at Bocas del Toro, Panama, and Port Limon, Costa Rica.
Charles F. Innis.
Medical Missionary Work in Nashville
By W. A. R.
IN and around this important city of the South is a promising place for this kind of work. The Nashville Sanitarium is near the city; Rock City Sanitarium, conducted for the colored people, is in the city; and a sanitarium is connected with the Madison school, ten miles northeast of Nashville.
The Nashville Sanitarium was established five years ago. A new institution was built three miles east of the city, out in the open country. The grounds of the sanitarium consist of ten acres of good land, which, with about twenty acres of leased land, is used for farming, raising vegetables for the institution, and pasture. A sufficient part of the land is reserved for well-planned, beautiful grounds, so that the patients have abundant opportunity to get out into the open air and sunshine.
While in attendance at the Southern Union conference, held in Nashville, it was my privilege to visit these institutions and become acquainted with their work. I found the Nashville Sanitarium full to overflowing with patients. Only for one night was I able to secure room in the institution. This condition of a full house has continued for several months, and the prospect for the institution is bright.
Not all the rooms in the main building can be utilized for patients, as there is no dormitory for the workers. A dwelling-house near the institution is rented for workers, but this does not nearly meet the demand. A nurses' dormitory is one of the greatest needs. There are only about enough rooms available for patients to meet the running expenses of the institution, consequently there is little hope that the institution will earn a surplus to apply on its indebtedness until provision is made for housing the nurses outside of the main building. While the capacity of the building is nearly forty, twenty-five patients are about all that can be accommodated comfortably.
Financially the institution is doing remarkably well, considering the length of time it has been operating, the changes made in the staff, and the capacity for patients. The increase in earnings over the previous year was between two thousand and three thousand dollars.
The sanitarium during the past year sustained a heavy loss in the bursting of the underground pressure tank for water. The supply of water is an important consideration. The matter did not receive proper consideration in planning the institution, and consequently much inconvenience and expense have been the result all through its history.
The present staff of workers in the Nashville Sanitarium is as follows: Two physicians, business man and manager, four graduate nurses, eight second-year nurses, seven first-year nurses, and eight other workers.
A country sanitarium is being conducted by Dr. Eshelman-Magan, in connection with the school at Madison, about twelve miles from Nashville. This is built upon the college plan. It has enjoyed a goodly patronage from the first. The institution is beautifully located on the oak-covered, rolling hills of Tennessee.
Of the three institutions providing sanitarium conveniences for the colored people, one, the Rock City Sanitarium, is located in the city of Nashville. This little institution is quite well equipped, and will accommodate a dozen patients very comfortably. Dr. Isbell Blake acts as its superintendent. Her husband is pursuing medical studies in Nashville, and assists the doctor as needed in managing the institution. Many excellent opportunities come to them to help their own people. The doctor is giving instruction in one of Nashville's leading medical schools for colored people.
From Nashville I went to Huntsville, Ala., to visit the Oakwood Manual Training School. A small but neat and well-built sanitarium has been constructed in connection with this institution. Classes in simple treatments are being conducted, and about a dozen young persons are taking the nurses' course. Several graduates have completed the work here, and are doing acceptable work among their people in that needy field. Dr. Bascomb was in charge of the medical work until a few months ago, when failing health made it necessary for her to withdraw. Another physician is much needed there. It is hoped that a consecrated physician can be found to help carry on this good work.
This little sanitarium is not yet completed, and there is no furniture or equipment. The money that we have been calling for from our Northern sanitariums and young people's societies for a year or more is very much needed in these places,—Huntsville, Rock City, and Atlanta.
W. A. R.
Medical Missionary Notes
W. H. WARNER, M. D., of the Walla Walla (Wash.) Sanitarium, writes: “I have your letter in regard to our nurses taking up work with ‘Ministry of Healing.’ We shall be glad to do our part in this as fast as we can, but for the last three months we have been crowded with patients, and have not been able to care19for them properly, owing to lack of help. We usually have from ten to fifteen patients; lately we have had from twenty-five to thirty-five. As soon as there is less to do, we are going to push this campaign as hard as we can. Our surgical work continues to develop; in one month we have done over one thousand dollars’ worth. We are greatly encouraged.”
Dr. C. A. Hansen, who has recently been appointed medical secretary of the Central Union Conference, sends us the following interesting information: “We have taken up the work in Boulder, Colo., at the sanitarium and in the church, and have ordered two thousand dollars’ worth of the books, ‘Ministry of Healing.’ The outside world seems as interested as our own people. The Boulder Commercial Association is planning to help us.”
Dr. Riley Russell, of Soonan, Korea, writes as follows: “Well, old Father Time has turned the hands two times round since I left the District of Columbia, but we have been so busy, and we enjoy our work so much, that we have not been lonesome for a single day. During the year 1909 we had 5,172 patients, and 578 of them were outside calls. Our total expense was $450 gold, and we received about $150 fees; we have about $200 worth of supplies on hand, so our total net loss was only about $100 gold. Our dispensary cost forty yen (twenty dollars), but we can sell it for that amount when we get ready to move.”
In a recent letter from Dr. G. B. Replogle, of the sanitarium in South America, he says: “The sanitarium keeps about full all the time—twenty-five to thirty patients. Almost everything comes along that one could think of. Yesterday we had an amputation of forearm, result of accident in a machine. The same day a family came with diphtheria. To-day two cases of typhoid fever came to the sanitarium. Our nurses’ class is doing well. We expect others to join in a short time. We are having lectures for the patients twice a week, and once a week, Sabbath evenings, religious services especially for the sanitarium family. Two patients have accepted the truth—one has been baptized, and the other is waiting for the rite.”
Harmon Lindsay, business manager of the Paradise Valley (Cal.) Sanitarium, writes: “I am glad to report that we are crowded to the utmost capacity. We have forty-five patients and several boarders at the present time, more than I thought it was possible for us to care for. Oftentimes our dining-room is so crowded that members of our faculty have to eat elsewhere. Financially, naturally, we are doing well while our patronage is so good.” Further word regarding sanitariums in California states that the patronage in all the institutions in that State surpasses anything they have ever known before. St. Helena has from one hundred twenty-five to one hundred fifty patients, Glendale thirty-five to forty, and Loma Linda from eighty-five to ninety.
Medical Missionary Department
Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
W. A. RUBLE, M. D. Secretary
D. H. KRESS, M. D. } Field Secretaries
L. A. HANSEN
— Elizabeth Barrett Browning
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Serving
THE sweetest lives are those to duty wed,
Whose deeds, both great and small,
Are close-knit strands of unbroken
thread,
Where love ennobles all.
The world may sound no trumpets, ring
no bells;
The book of life the shining record tells.
Thy love shall chant its own beatitudes
After its own life working. A child's
kiss
Set on thy sighing lips shall make thee
glad.
A sick man helped by thee shall make
thee strong.
Thou shalt be served thyself by every
sense
Of service which thou renderest.