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Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 49.

A Prayer
Earlier text: What It Cost

S. MARCHISIO

By S. Marchisio

Mexico

VISNAGA.—At the general meeting held in Mexico City in August I was asked to go to Matehuala to give Bible readings to some who were calling for help. In Matehuala I found a man who kept a charcoal store interested in the truth, but he was not yet keeping the Sabbath. For about ten days I held meetings in the evenings, and gave several Bible readings with increasing interest.
While I was engaged in this work, three young men came from a ranch about twenty-five miles in the country, and invited me to come and instruct them. These people already had some knowledge of the truth from reading our Spanish paper, El Mensajero de la Verdad, and I decided to accept their urgent invitation at once.
On my arrival they received me very kindly, and gave me the best they had; and although their best was not very much, yet as it came from the heart, it was much appreciated by me. We immediately made arrangements for meetings, and after a series of thirteen Bible studies, thirteen signified their intention to keep the Sabbath and get ready for the coming of the Lord from heaven.
The owner of the house where we held our meetings, being a Catholic, forbade us the use of the house for meetings, and so we had to seek another place. We found it difficult to get a suitable place for meetings, and had to use the kitchen of one of our brethren. This was small, and when it was packed full of people, it was very hot and disagreeable; but the interest kept up, and we are glad to help these poor people under any circumstances.
An intelligent and nice-appearing young woman of about twenty years of age attended the services for a while, but her mother took her out and whipped her. She said to her mother: “You whip me for hearing the Word of God. You may whip me, but I must hear it.” After a while she ceased coming. We trust that the Lord will overrule all for the best. I believe the Lord has begun a work in this place, and that he will sustain it. Remember the work in this needy part of the great vineyard.

S. MARCHISIO

Medical Missionary Notes

By W. A. R.

DR. A. W. HEWETT, of Edelstein, Ill., writes that he is having some good experiences in medical missionary work in that town.
Dr. L. A. Marsh, who for the past year has been lady physician at the Wabash Valley Sanitarium, has accepted a call to Loma Linda Sanitarium, and is at present connected with that institution.
In reporting from the St. Helena Sanitarium, Dr. H. F. Rand states that the patronage at that institution has been the best this summer it ever has been. All are much encouraged in the work.
Dr. Maria L. Edwards has lately been chosen medical secretary of the Pacific Union Conference. We are in hopes she will soon take up this work, and we are certain that good results will follow.
Mr. Harmon Lindsay, business manager of the Paradise Valley Sanitarium, speaks of the work there: “September was one of the best months that this institution has ever seen as regards patronage and income. In December, we hope to see winter patronage come in.”
Mrs. Bertha Pierce Close, in writing from Aveca, Raiatea, gives some interesting experiences during her voyage to her field of labor. She and others of the company are having good results from combining the medical missionary work with the evangelical. She says the people are very thankful for both.
Mr. L. M. Bowen, who for some time has been helping in the business management of the Washington Sanitarium, has lately returned to California, to resume his work as business manager of the St. Helena Sanitarium. Before returning, he made a short visit to the Melrose Sanitarium, and gave them some valuable help. Brother Bowen’s help in the East has been appreciated.
“We have had a most excellent year as far as patronage is concerned,” writes Dr. W. H. Smith, superintendent of the Pennsylvania Sanitarium. “During the summer, the institution was filled most of the time, and this fall has been especially good, not only in the treatment-rooms, but in the house patronage. I see no reason, the way things are going now, why we should not enjoy a full patronage all winter. Medical work throughout the city is very slack, and our counseling men are congratulating us because we are so busy.”
A very interesting report comes from A. W. Semmens, business manager of the Sydney Sanitarium. Among other interesting items, he says: “The patronage of the sanitarium during the year has been good. We have had an average of thirty-eight patients, and the outlook for the present year is encouraging. Our financial condition has improved very materially during the year, due to better patronage and economy, as well as a fair amount of surgical work. A deep spiritual interest on the part of many patients has been manifested. Five have embraced the truth.”
Dr. Kiku Noma writes some very interesting items concerning the sanitarium work in Japan. She says: “We have thirty helpers in the institution, and they are all working in perfect harmony. We are receiving much of God’s blessing in our work.” Dr. Noma is having excellent success with her native sanitarium in Japan. While paying a high interest on the investment, she has paid all running expenses during the year, and has paid off several thousand dollars of indebtedness. The work has been considerably hampered, too, on account of two interruptions because of sickness during the year. She is now enjoying good health, and the work is prospering. It is necessary for her to secure the services of another physician to help her carry on the work of the institution.
Dr. Franklin Richards, of the Sydney Sanitarium, Wahroonga, New South Wales, Australia, says: “The graduating exercises of the Sydney Sanitarium were held in the sanitarium parlor on the evening of September 20. Ten members composed the class. As our union conference council was just finishing its work, we had present with us state conference presidents and other workers from all parts of the field. It was, therefore, thought best to vary the exercises from the usual routine by calling upon a number of the workers to give five-minute addresses. After a few words of welcome by the chairman, and the rendering of a musical selection, a paper was read by A. W. Semmens, on ‘The Missionary Nurse,’ in which the work of our nurses was compared with that of the professionally trained nurse. Pastor A. H. Piper, the president of the West Australian Conference, then spoke five minutes on ‘The World’s Need of Missionary Nurses.’ Other subjects assigned were, ‘Why We Are Nurses,’ by a member of the class; ‘Our Nurses From the Patient’s Point of View;’ ‘Following the Master,’ an original poem; ‘Our Graduates;’ and several musical selections. The presentation of diplomas by the president of the Australasian Union Conference was the final feature of a very interesting program. Many of our former nurses are in the island mission fields. They have varied and interesting experiences, reports of some of which are given in the Sabbath Readings. Our new year’s work is soon to begin. We have accepted a class of eighteen on the usual three-months’ probation.”
The Wabash Valley Sanitarium, La Fayette, Ind., reports the best year that the institution has ever experienced. They have just graduated a new class of four members: Miss Alice Gunderson, Miss Ethel F. Harrison, Miss Nellie M. Harrison, and Mr. Earl M. Dudley. The institution, although but two years old, has steadily grown during the last year. The new class admitted this fall numbers ten. A year ago at this time, six patients were in the institution, while now there are twenty-three. It is necessary to erect some new cottages, and the storehouse lately started is nearly completed.
We quote the following from a letter from Dr. G. B. Replogle, of Argentina, South America: “It is gratifying indeed to know of the interest manifested by our people in the foreign fields. The conditions here are somewhat different than in North America, but there is a great need of doctors. The laws here are very strict, however, concerning medical practise. I have been here now for seven months and can manage pretty well with the patients in their own language, but am not at all fluent. The work on the building of the new sanitarium is going ahead quite rapidly. As fast as a room is ready, it is occupied, sometimes by three or four patients. The fittings and furnishings and running expenses largely depend upon the receipts of the institution. We have about twelve house patients, and constant calls are coming from the outside. My work is pretty much that of house physician, but I am subject to outside calls. Dr. R. H. Habenicht answers most of these, however, as he is well known throughout the country. The past few days Dr. Habenicht has successfully performed some quite heavy operations. Our facilities are very limited, yet I do not see but that the results here are as good as could be. During the last two days, we have had three abdominal operations. They were all very unfavorable, but the patients are doing well.”
W. A. R.

K. C. RUSSELL

By K. C. Russell

PHILADELPHIA.—On my way from Washington to South Lancaster to attend the Atlantic Union Conference, I stopped over the evening of November 10 in Philadelphia, and spoke at the West Philadelphia church, where the congregation consisted of members from both the North and West Philadelphia churches. It was a satisfaction to meet once more with the people in this city, especially with the many believers who have embraced the truth during the past summer as the result of the tent-meetings which were conducted by Elder O. O. Bernstein and his faithful coworkers. Besides those who have taken their stand for the truth, there are a number of others who are in the valley of decision. Let the readers remember this latter class in their prayers, for it means an exercise of strong faith for these souls, in the face of apparent loss of positions, at the beginning of a long and cold winter, to take their stand for the Sabbath of the Lord. Those who are taking this step by faith should remember that accompanying every command of God is a pledge of divine power to sustain them in their obedience. Without the blessed assurance that Christ will uphold every trembling soul in the noble purpose to obey him, all would be darkness. Our earnest prayer is that the work, not only in Philadelphia, but in all the Eastern cities, may be attended with a great harvest of souls.

K. C. RUSSELL

Medical Missionary Department

By W. A. Ruble

Conducted by the Medical Department of the General Conference
W. A. RUBLE, M. D.     -     -     -     Secretary

Medical Missionary Work in Java

By Lily M. Thorpe

My husband and I set out early one morning for a village some thirteen miles from Soember Wekas, on horseback. It took us the best part of the day to go and come, and to treat forty sick people. It was a good experience.
We passed through lonely gorges, where the mountain streams, flowing over the rocks and pebbles, made the sweetest music. Wonderful tree ferns, tropical growth, and bright-plumed birds lent a charm to the scene. We climbed up the mountainsides, which were almost perpendicular, and went down their rocky steeps. It was so cold in the gorge that our ponies shivered, and we were glad to get out into the warm sunshine. Our sturdy Arab ponies were very sure-footed, and although at times it seemed that we would be hurled into the gorge below, we came out safe and sound.
We reached our destination by ten o'clock, and then a real rallying began. Each native called to his fellow as we went along, and soon there was a motley crowd of sick and maimed and lame. Messages were sent far out over the rice fields to the toilers, saying that “Dokter Pundita” had come. We treated sore eyes, sore legs and heads and backs, skin diseases, rheumatism, malaria, etc. We were asked to go to other villages, but the distance was too great. We treated forty persons at this village.
A few weeks ago a man from this village had come to us begging for medicine for his father, who was an opium fiend. We procured some herbal medicine from the antiopium society in Singapore, and made it up, which was considerable work. Before we received this medicine, Mr. Thorpe visited this village and saw the man, and many others who were treated. He had received some simple help and medicine, and had gone away. This time on visiting the village he came also, and asked for some of the same medicine that he had received before. He said that since taking the other he had no more desire for opium. He said, very emphatically, “I do not want it now,” and others witnessed to this testimony. We can scarcely credit this case, as this man had been a terror to his family and neighbors. As we looked into his countenance, then eager in its earnestness, we thought of Pastor Hsi and others who had been reclaimed from the devil’s grasp, and realized that this man, too, might be reclaimed for Christ. We had brought much medicine and ointment with us, and used the last of it on one poor woman who came panting and perspiring in her efforts to get to us before we left. When we returned their greeting of peace as we rode away, we realized that Christ’s methods of reaching the people truly opens their hearts and homes.
Since that time many have come to us from villages near the one of which we have written, and far beyond. They said, “We heard that you helped the sick at Cambang, and that they are all well. We have come for help, and to ask that you will come to our village also.” One man came to us, leaving home at one o’clock and walking through the dark, reaching us at 10 A. M. It is unusual for a Mohammedan Javanese to be out alone in the dark like this. He is afraid of the spirits of his ancestors who inhabit the trees and leaves. This man came to ask help for an elderly man who had not walked for one year. His legs were much swollen to the knees with dropsy, and he was very sick. It was impossible for us to go to that far village at that time, so we sent some simple directions. This morning two patients came from that village, and told us that the man was well and able to walk about. Now we know that the power of Jesus of Nazareth worked on behalf of that man as on behalf of every other hopeless case. God is establishing a witness for himself in these places, and we believe that a harvest from dark Java will be gathered into the heavenly garner. Pray that this may be the case.
LILY M. THORPE.

Receiving Members Into the Church

By T. E. BOWEN

SOME time ago a sister wrote stating that she had been informed that some of our churches had adopted the plan of considering the names of those applying for membership one week before action was taken receiving them into the church. In commenting upon this practise, she says that others in her church thought this a bad ruling. ‘Why hold any one out who has been baptized or has been given a letter? Why not consider the name and act upon it immediately?’
The practise of giving careful consideration to the matter before admitting any one to church-membership we believe to be very important, and this subject should receive careful consideration by every Seventh-day Adventist church everywhere.
To hold open a name for one week is not so serious a matter. It gives every member of the church opportunity to carefully and prayerfully consider the move, and in case there is any question in the mind of any member as to the Christian experience of the candidate, he can satisfy himself either by visiting with the individual himself or in some other proper way seeking to clear away the difficulty that may be in his mind regarding the case. It is much more praiseworthy to look into these things before an individual is taken into church fellowship than afterward. If the member be true and loyal, no injustice is done him to wait one week for the action of the church. If it should occur that the name of an individual was under consideration who was not true to the message on some point, much injustice to the church may be avoided by postponing action.
In this connection it might be in place to mention that ministers examining candidates for baptism should be careful to make the examination in a thorough manner. Haste at this point may entail much trouble upon the church later. Baptized jewelry and feathers and disbelief of the Testimonies, etc., bring forth their harvest in the church that does not belong to the fruits of the Spirit.
While written to guard the point of selecting proper persons for church elders, the following Testimony is to the point concerning the exercise of care as to what is admitted into the fellowship of, and to be sanctioned by, the church:—
“The gospel net gathers both good and bad. It takes time for character to be developed; there must be time to learn what men really are. The family of the one suggested for office should be considered. Are they in subjection? Can the man rule his own house with honor? What character have his children? Will they do honor to the father's influence? If he has no tact, wisdom, or power of godliness at home, in managing his own family, it is safe to conclude that the same defects will be carried into the church, and the same unsanctified management will be seen there. It will be far better to criticize the man before he is put into office than afterward; better to pray and counsel before taking the decisive step, than to labor to correct the consequences of a wrong move.”—‘Testimonies for the Church,’ Vol. V, page 618.
Thus in receiving members into the church, it will be better to pray and counsel over it ‘before taking the decisive step, than to labor to correct the consequences of a wrong move’ a long time afterward.
T. E. BOWEN.

The Gospel Commission

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt. 28: 19.

Some Important Questions

By G. B. Thompson

A BROTHER from one of our island fields sends in several questions concerning church organization. A few of these we answer briefly:—
1. Question.—What is the minimum number necessary for a church organization?
Answer.—It is difficult to answer this, as it depends somewhat upon circumstances. If all expecting to be organized are converted, consecrated persons, centrally located, capable of filling some office in the organization, a smaller number can be organized than if scattered, and not well fitted for some official position. A church properly organized should have at least an elder, deacon, secretary, and treasurer. The same person may fill more than one office if necessary. There should really be more members than required to officer the church in order to organize properly, though it would be possible to organize with simply enough to fill the necessary offices.
2. Ques.—Can a licensed minister organize churches?
Ans.—No; only ordained ministers can properly organize churches and ordain the officers. Before a company of believers is organized into a church, it would be wise, as a rule, to correspond with the conference president, or director of the mission field, and proceed to organize only after receiving the approval of the conference officers. If possible, it would be a good plan for the president, or some other officer of the conference, to be present and assist, though the organization can be effected without this, by an ordained minister. The organization of a church, however, is a matter of much importance, and should not be done hastily. Nothing will be lost by counseling with the conference. God is a God of order.
3. Ques.—What is the difference between the work of a licensed and an ordained minister?
Ans.—A very extended answer could properly be given in reply to this question. In brief, it is this: a license is simply the sanction, or invitation, of a conference to a young man to go into the field and demonstrate his call to the ministry. The proof of his call is not the license, but the conversion of souls. His work is not to labor among the churches, but to go into new fields as a pioneer, and show by bringing souls to Christ that the Lord has called him to this work. Aggressive work, pioneering in new fields, should be his main work. A license, according to the custom of this denomination, does not entitle a person to baptize, perform marriage ceremonies, or ordain church officers. When a licensed minister has produced sufficient fruit of his labor as a seal of his apostleship, he should be ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. He can then work, when necessary, among the churches, ordain church officers, baptize, and do such other work as belongs to the properly ordained minister.
Confusion has been created in some instances by those who have received only a license assuming that it gave authority to do the full work of a minister. But it should be remembered that those granting any official recommendation are the ones to say how much is included in it, and not the one receiving the recommendation. For any one to read into a recommendation what those granting it never intended, is not to be commended. The usage of the denomination, as the writer understands it, is as stated above.
G. B. THOMPSON.

C. C. LEWIS

By C. C. Lewis

Historical Sketch of the Educational Work of Seventh-day Adventists—No. 1

Most of the early converts to this cause were Adventists who had been disappointed in the advent movement under William Miller. When the time passed and the disappointment was experienced, they fell out by the way; but the more earnest, devoted, and pious people among them began to look to the prophecies for special light to help them understand the disappointment. They embraced the Sabbath and kindred truths. They bore a great cross, and were very unpopular. Some took their children out of the public schools, as they still thought the Lord’s coming must be very near. They did not like the influences prevailing in the public schools; and Adventism was so unpopular that the children were often ridiculed and things made very uncomfortable for them. But after a few years had passed, and they had begun to see the great need of education, they again sent their children to school or arranged to teach them at home.
At a very early date, about 1857 or 1858, a sister by the name of Louise M. Morton taught the first church-school in Battle Creek, Mich., in the little church building erected on Cass Street, a few feet south of Elder S. H. Lane’s brick flat. She had all the children in the then small Battle Creek church. She taught a good school, charging twenty-five cents a week a scholar as remuneration. This sister had a liberal education and was a magazine writer. She did not remain long in Battle Creek; and when she left, the education of the children ceased for a time. In the summer of 1907 the writer visited her at the Old People’s Home, Battle Creek, Mich. But later, early in the sixties, a sister taught a select school in a kitchen in a house near the present Negro church on Van Buren Street. Not over twelve children attended this school. Still later, J. F. Byington taught a large parish school for the Seventh-day Adventist children in the church already mentioned, which was built by our people, and used by them for divine worship.
When the Health Institute was started in 1866, Prof. G. H. Bell, with health broken down, came there for treatment, a teacher from the schools of the world. He received help, both physical and spiritual, but especially spiritual help, and became an earnest believer in the truths of Seventh-day Adventists. This naturally drew his sympathies away from the public schools, and he began to see the importance of education among our own people. Elder and Mrs. James White and other leading laborers saw the necessity of some provision for the rising generation, and encouraged him to establish a private school in Battle Creek. Professor Bell’s school started small, in a building belonging to the Review and Herald, away down toward the Kalamazoo River. Quite a number of those prominent in the cause began their education under his instruction.
The school grew, and in a few years it became evident that increased facilities must be provided. As the great mass of those who had preached strongest against the advent movement were college-bred men, who used their educational advantages to do everything they could against the truth, there was a prejudice among many of the old believers against college education. Their minds were intensely religious, and the need of education was not so apparent to them, as the Lord’s coming was so soon expected. But after a period of years had passed, the more thoughtful ones began to study the subject of education, and to see the need of their children’s having its advantages. But there was not, by any means, a general desire to provide the facilities for education, such as we have seen since the college was started in Battle Creek. That introduced a very prominent feature of our work, which has been constantly developed by our people ever since.
The principal cause leading to the founding of Battle Creek College was the great need felt by the intelligent members of the denomination as they saw their children going to the world in spite of their home training, because of the influences brought to bear upon them in the public schools and in the higher institutions of learning. In many instances efforts were made to turn away our young people, and as they saw openings where they could make money (as young people will even before they leave school), they were thus caught out from under the influence of godly parents, and were swallowed up in the great maelstrom of pleasure seeking, pride, and worldliness. Love of the cause of God, and faithfulness in proclaiming the message to the world, were the leading motives that actuated our people in starting the educational work. It was indeed a work of self-preservation. If the aged laborers died, whence were the new workers to come, unless from our own families, brought up in the faith?

C. C. LEWIS

A Man’s Attitude Toward God

A MAN'S attitude toward God may be told by the restfulness of his inner spirit, his ability to rest. And more, a man's attitude toward God's rest day tells us men his attitude toward God.— S. D. Gordon.

Christian Education

By Frederick Griggs

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference
FREDERICK GRIGGS - - - - Secretary

The Thanksgiving Proclamation

By W. A. C.

AFTER reciting various reasons for gratitude and thanksgiving, the Thanksgiving proclamation issued, on November 15, by President Taft, said:—
“Therefore, I hereby appoint Thursday, the twenty-fifth day of November, as a day of general thanksgiving, and I call upon the people on that day, laying aside their usual vocations, to repair to their churches and unite in appropriate services of praise and thanks to Almighty God.”
Should this, after designating the day, have read: “I command the people on that day to lay aside their usual vocations, and to repair to their churches and unite in appropriate services and praise and thanks to Almighty God,” instead of “I call upon,” etc., how quickly every American would have detected the mistake and the unwarranted assumption of power and authority. But just this is what the mistaken church people throughout the country are demanding that Congress and the President shall do regarding the observance of Sunday. They do not mean that there shall be a mere proclamation “calling upon” the people to observe the day. Modeled after the present Thanksgiving proclamation, and put in terms in harmony with their desires, they would have it read:—
“I hereby appoint Sunday, the first day of the week, as a day of rest and worship, and command the people on that day to lay aside their usual vocations, and repair to their churches and unite in appropriate services to Almighty God.”
This is the style of law they would have Congress and the President of the United States make. Neither would this be an unheard-of thing. The Sunday law of Charlemagne, in A. D. 800; that of Charles II, in 1676; and the first Sunday law enacted upon American soil, that of Virginia, in 1610, all read very much like this. All required church attendance. And the Blair Sunday Rest bill, introduced into Congress in 1888, was not far removed from it in either spirit or letter. In its title it was openly declared to be a bill to secure Sunday to the people “as a day of rest, and to promote its observance as a day of religious worship.” And the fifty Sunday bills which have been introduced into Congress since then, whatever their phraseology, have all been of the same character, and were introduced for the same purpose.
W. A. C.

Sunday Enforcement in North Dakota

By C. J. Kunkel

ELDER M. N. JORGENSEN, laboring at Grand Forks, N. D., has had a very interesting experience while working in opposition to the Sunday-law enforcement movement in that place. The city attorney had been directed by the council to prepare an ordinance for the enforcement of Sunday observance. Brother Jorgensen debated the question for a time, and finally went to the office of the city attorney for a consultation. He was courteously received, and in a few moments was enabled to make some inquiries regarding the proposed law. The attorney said he had been instructed to frame a law that could be enforced, but that he did not know just how to draw up one which would not work hardship for some people.
Brother Jorgensen asked a number of questions tending to show that religious legislation would always work hardship to some one; that any law for the enforcement of Sunday would be a religious one; that God had divided the time and set apart the seventh day; that it was the preachers and church people who desired the enforcement of a Sunday law; that the making and enforcement of a Sunday law was religious legislation; that all of the present State Sunday laws had been copied from the old Puritanical “blue-laws.” To all of these inquiries the lawyer gave a ready assent. He then said: “Your religion interests me. What church do you belong to?” When told that he was a Seventh-day Adventist, the lawyer did not appear to be at all surprised.
After an extended conversation this plan was arranged: At the next meeting of the city council, representatives for and against the proposed law will be given a hearing. The attorney said: “You just let the other preachers express themselves, and when they are done, I will make an appeal with all the ability I possess against making any such law. When I am through, you step in and use all your power to show from the Bible that any Sunday law would be a religious one, and I believe we shall win in the council meeting.”
Brother Jorgensen gave the attorney a Bible study on what true Sabbath-keeping really means. He asked for Scripture texts, and marked them down. His attention was called to the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, and he seemed to grasp the truth. He said that he had been handed one hundred fifty names to prosecute, but he did not want to do this, as many of the people were of “the best people of the city.”—C. J. Kunkel, in Northern Union Reaper.

Stocks as Punishment

By L. Brooking

EARLY in August a confectioner of Cleethorpes, England, having been summoned for Sunday opening, demanded that the Grimsby justices should order him to be put in the stocks in the marketplace in default of paying a fine and costs for Sunday trading, and he is still resolute about the matter. He says:—
“With regard to my present attitude, I ascertained that I was summoned under an act of King Charles II (Lord’s Day Observance Act), which states that failure to remit the fine is to be met by confinement in the stocks in the public market-place for two hours.
“I do not choose to pay the fine, and I have the right to demand the alternative. Of course, it is contended that the stocks are now obsolete, but that is not my fault. If the form of punishment under the act is obsolete, then the act is also obsolete.”
Those who would enforce legislation on such matters (in the British empire at least) would do well to heed the message of King Edward VII, which he recently sent to the Plenary Council of the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec, Canada: “It is my constant desire that religious and civil liberty should always be enjoyed by my subjects in all parts of the empire.”
The obligatory cessation of work on Sunday does not give religious liberty, but makes a distinction of one class above another.—L. Brooking.

Sunday-Law Crusade in Jacksonville, Fla.

By F. Frederick Bliss

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., is feeling the terrific throes of a “reform” along lines of “civic righteousness,” according to the Florida Times-Union of that city. The Ministers’ Alliance comes out with an address to the people, disclaiming any intention of entering upon a “blue-law” campaign. “Without putting any sectarian, irrational, or ascetic stress,” they say, “upon the reasonable demands of that day,” they urge the people to think upon the fact that our Lord declared, “The Sabbath was made for man!” This seems to them sufficient reason why they should demand civil statutes to compel men to observe the sabbath. Those who accuse them of “fanatical restrictions” or of “trying to force people to attend worship on Sunday,” they say, “simply throw chaff in the air to blind the public to the real issues in the case.” “Are you willing,” they ask, “that your children shall grow up without reverence for the Lord’s day?” and all the while they are hiding the Lord’s day from their own and everybody else’s children. They make much of the significance of a day of rest to the working man, and do not seem to see that to some working men, at least, it is very plain that their remedy for the evil of Sabbath desecration would bring in a much more serious evil—that of putting men where they can not work six days in the week without breaking either the law of God or that of man. When will such blind eyes be open?
F. FREDERICK BLISS.

Christian Liberty

By K. C. Russell; W. A. Colcord

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL       -      -      -      -      Secretary
W. A. COLCORD      -      -      -      Assistant Secretary

A Religious Liberty Convention

By K. C. R.

A CONVENTION of the religious liberty secretaries of the Atlantic Union Conference was held at South Lancaster, Mass., for a few days preceding the regular session of the Atlantic Union Conference, and the work of the convention also constituted a part of the program for the first few days of the conference. Among the different topics upon which papers were written and addresses given were the following: “The Fundamental Principles of Religious Liberty;” “A Century’s Retrospect of the Religious Liberty Work;” “Sunday Legislation and the Laboring Man;” “Sunday Closing and the Saloon;” “The Law of Expediency as Applied to the Religious Liberty Work;” “The Work with the Public Press.” In addition to the papers that were presented, the question box proved to be a very interesting and profitable feature of the convention. Two evening lectures were delivered by the writer on the subject of religious liberty, one of which was a stereopticon lecture.
The conference unanimously voted to elect a union conference religious liberty secretary, who will devote his entire time to that line of work. It was also voted to inaugurate a vigorous campaign in the interests of the religious liberty work throughout the entire union conference,—the holding of religious liberty institutes, the circulation of our religious liberty literature, and the placing of the new revised edition of “American State Papers” in the hands of all State legislators.
We believe that this convention will prove a great blessing to the religious liberty work in this union conference. There certainly is no part of the United States where there is greater activity displayed on the part of the champions of Sunday legislation than in the territory covered by the Atlantic Union Conference. K. C. R.
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