AMONG the influences which count for high character in a man's life none is comparable for a moment to the influence of a godly home. In such a home the writer was reared, and for that he will never cease to be grateful. In his thought, at least, he thanks God for it nearly every day of his life. The charm of the influence of that home grows sweeter with the years. The memory of it is pictured in colors drawn from the skies. Nothing stands out quite so prominently now in connection with it as its genial and distinctly religious atmosphere. The foundation of the home life was the family altar. No other interest, however imperative, was allowed to encroach upon the hour for morning and evening devotions. A proposition to omit the morning or the evening meal would have met with just as much favor as the proposition to omit the morning or evening prayers. There were times when it was urgent that the harvest should be gathered. The days suitable for work may have been few. The crop may have suffered in consequence. No matter, the workmen must be brought together in the morning for the reading of the Bible and for prayers. The reading of the portion of the Scripture was never cut short under such circumstances. Contrasted with the commercial spirit of the age in which we live, the picture of my father's devotion to the religious interests of his family, bending gradually under the weight of the years, but ripening meantime for the eternal life, is like a vision of heaven.
My father's efforts in these directions were seconded and strongly reinforced by the spirit of my mother. Readily and heartily did she co-operate in every good word and work for the benefit of the home. She was the very impersonation of patience and devotion to the highest things. It was her custom on Sunday afternoons to gather the children about her for the reading of good books and literature generally. Bible study came in here for its full share, too. It was at her knee that I formed my first taste for good literature. What heavenly sweetness was in her voice!
Little do Christian fathers and mothers know what a safeguard they throw about their children in the years when the old home has been left behind, by faithfulness to the family altar. And little, alas! it is to be feared, do those who neglect it realize of what a safeguard they are thus depriving their children.
Music and healthful amusements were wisely interspersed. Freedom was the atmosphere of the home; no unnecessary restraints chafed our young and rising spirits, though it was always understood that the wishes of our parents formed the final court of appeal in all things.
In the good providence of God I have been permitted to become a student successively in four high-grade institutions — one of them a state university, two of them among the very best of the universities of their respective denominations, the other an advanced postgraduate seminary. But as I view my educational opportunities through the perspective of the years, from the viewpoint of middle life, I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that the greatest institution in which I was ever permitted to be matriculated as a student and learner was the dear old farmhouse among the hills. Its lessons abide, its memory is like sweet incense to the soul, its ideals float before the vision of my thought to-day, its touch upon my spirit is the touch of heaven and of God.
“Home, that spot of earth supremely
blest,
A dearer, sweeter place than all
rest.”
— Selected.
“Physiology, Fear and Faith”
THE mental influences that flow from lofty purposes and from a clear conscience are also beneficial to the body, just as surely as sunshine and showers are healthful to vegetation. Not all the drug medicines in the world can antidote in one human body the depressing and undermining influence of a guilty conscience, or the unnerving power of anxiety or fear. There is nowhere in the world a drug or a combination of drugs that can overcome the physical damage one individual may do himself by the habit of fretting and worrying, of fault-finding and opposition to beneficent law.
A clear conscience, a cheerful and confident hope, a rational, practical trust in God, a merry-hearted contentment, will dissipate more disease than can be cured by all the drugs in the universe.
There are to-day thousands of men and women who are frequenting doctors’ offices, consulting quacks, and pouring down patent medicine who might better be consulting their pastor, an intelligent teacher, or Christian friend for advice and direction concerning their mental habits and their moral character. Each one needs to settle his accounts with the conscience and his God, before his stomach will help him to make good blood, or his brain permit him to think clearly.
On the other hand, people are trying formal, superficial, conventional, superstitious “piety,” “faith cure,” “divine healing,” “Christian science,” “will power,” etc., who might better be learning of some competent teacher or physician how wisely to use the stomach, the lungs, the muscles, the brain, and the nerves.— Selected.
Over and Over Again
By Josephine Pollard
Over and over again,
No matter which way I turn,
I always find in the book of life
Some lesson I have to learn.
I must take my turn at the mill,
I must grind out the golden grain,
I must work at my task with a resolute will,
Over and over again.
We can not measure the need
Of even the tiniest flower,
Nor check the flow of the golden sands
That run through a single hour;
But the morning dews must fall,
And the sun and the summer rain
Must do their part and perform it all
Over and over again.
Over and over again
The brook through the meadows flows,
And over and over again
The ponderous mill-wheel goes.
Once doing will not suffice,
Though doing be not in vain,
And a blessing failing us once or twice
May come if we try again.
— Josephine Pollard.
High-Heeled Boots
SHOULD our women-folk persist in wearing nonsensical, high-heeled shoes, they will of necessity degenerate into indoor creatures, fit for nothing except to sit about and be looked at. The weight of the body should fall on the arch of the foot. This is the decree of nature. So nature constructed there a beautiful arch, perfect in every part of its mechanism.
Now, the high heel throws the weight of the body on the toes and ball of the foot. These parts were not intended to sustain this weight. They are not adequate for the purpose. Therefore, the ligaments that bind the toes together naturally spread under the undue tension, and transfer their strain to the nerves. Of course the nerves soon get out of gear, and the inevitable result is nervous trouble.
Nature intended that the weight of the body should be distributed in almost a straight line. The bones of the leg bear this weight, and the muscles take the strain. The high-heeled shoe throws everything below the waist line out of poise.
Of course the straight line that nature provided for is altogether lost. The muscles of the legs try to accommodate themselves to the unnatural order of affairs, and as a consequence, bow out. Athletic sports become practically impossible, and the freedom of outdoor life ceases.
The shoe for a woman, as well as a man, to wear is the broad shoe with flat heels and sensible, projecting soles.— Selected.
The South England Conference
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
When the subject of having local winter meetings in the British field was first suggested last summer, some feared that such gatherings might not be very generally attended, as the brethren here had been accustomed to holding their annual assemblies in the warmer season of the year. But it was finally agreed that at least a trial should be made, for, if the local conference business could be attended to in the winter time, as is the case in many other parts of Europe, it would leave the way much more free for a successful British Union meeting in the summer.
Accordingly, Friday, March 9, and each Friday thereafter for four weeks, appointments were made for South England, North England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, for local meetings, that would close Tuesday morning.
The fourth annual session of the South England Conference lasted from the evening of March 9 until the morning of March 13. The Sabbath-school and preaching services on Sabbath were held in Holloway Hall, while the other meetings were held in Duncombe Hall. About four hundred people were in attendance, representing every church in South England. Two new churches were received into the conference—that at Catford, with a membership of twenty-nine, and the church at Caterham, numbering eighteen. During the twelve months ending Dec. 31, 1905, fifty-five had been baptized, and ten added by vote, bringing the present membership of South England up to five hundred and seventy-eight, a net gain of forty-two for the year.
Since the Birmingham meeting last summer, a conference church composed of the isolated members, has been organized; it numbers eighty-one, and regular correspondence is carried on with each of these scattered believers: their tithe for the last quarter was about three hundred dollars.
The reports from the laborers showed that there is a spirit of investigation being aroused by the literature we are circulating, and by the house-to-house efforts of our Bible workers, and by the public presentation of the word by our own ministers and the public opposition to the work on the part of some preachers who would tear down what we are trying to build up. The students at Duncombe Hall Training College are doing a good work in distributing our literature, and holding public services in a number of places.
HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, LONDON
Resolutions were passed, urging that immediate steps be taken to utilize the present Sunday agitation to set before the people the true principles regarding the binding claims of the law of God; to recommend that the South England brethren close up their part in selling "Christ's Object Lessons," before the first of July, in view of the urgent need there will be for funds to apply in securing suitable and permanent quarters for the school; that more earnest efforts than ever be made to organize the local churches into missionary bands for the distribution of our literature, as the time for such work is now very short, especially in places where a public effort is contemplated, as it is found that our literature as sold by the canvasser and the earnest members of the church best prepares the way for the entrance into the homes and hearts of the people; and that the First-day offerings be increased, and the youth and children be especially encouraged to sell the "Story of Joseph," which is soon to be published in this field, and a portion of the proceeds of which will, together with the First-day offerings, form a fund devoted to opening up a mission by the British Union Conference, in British East Africa. It is estimated that at least five thousand dollars ought to be in sight before the proposed mission is undertaken.
The conference tithe for 1905 was $9,245, as against $6,923 for 1904; the offerings were $955—forty dollars larger than the year before.
At Professor Salisbury's earnest request, the brethren relieved him of the presidency of the South England Conference, as he felt that he had as much as he really ought to be expected to carry in looking after the educational work. The following officers were elected: President, E. E. Andross; Secretary and Treasurer, T. C. O'Donnell; Auditor, S. S. Barnard; Conference Committee, E. E. Andross, H. R. Salisbury, J. W. McCord, W. T. Bartlett, and D. Sargent; Auditing Committee (to act with the conference committee), S. J. Thomas, W. C. Sisley, and E. Clifford.
Credentials were given to J. W. McCord, A. Ritchie, C. C. Jensen, and F. D. Gauterau; ministerial licenses to W. T. Bartlett, George Nickels, T. C. O'Donnell; and missionary credentials to Mrs. C. C. Jensen, Miss E. Barnard, Mrs. W. T. Bartlett, and Mrs. Laura Whitgrove.
Spiritually and financially there never was more progress. It would be impossible to correctly describe the interest the people showed in the meetings, and the enthusiasm and earnestness manifested. Certainly, it would seem that a new era is opening before our workers and brethren in this field. We believe that none were ever more blessed in this field before, and that there never was a better spirit manifest. All seemed pleased with the meeting, and filled with courage for the future. Difficulties there are, as in every field; but God's presence attended his servants who labor in this field, and was with his ministers from other parts of Europe. Brother Andross, of the British Union, and Brother Conradi, of the General European Conference, rendered valuable and appreciated help. More fully than ever are the people settling down to earnest work, in harmony with the principles God has revealed to us during the last sixty years. Brethren, success is bound to crown our efforts, if we remain true to him in whom alone there is success; and this seemed to be the determination of all workers and delegates at the South England meeting.
Hamburg, Germany.
A Scene of Joy
By J. C. Little
MONDAY, February 5, our hearts were made glad by seeing five of our schoolgirls and one man from Brother Barlow's mission at Simultala, India, step out on the Lord's side and identify themselves with this truth by baptism. Elder Miller conducted the service at a pretty spot not far from the bungalow. The most encouraging thing of all was that these young people all asked for baptism13of their own free will without being urged beforehand to take the step.
Those of us who best know these young people through acquaintance with their daily lives feel free to say that we consider them in earnest in this, and welcome them as one with us.—J. C. Little, in Eastern Tidings.
The Third Angel's Message in Syria
By W. H. Wakeham
W. H. WAKEHAM
IN a former communication I gave an account of my visit to eastern Turkey, and our Armenian workers' Bible institute at Aintab.
Leaving Turkey November 24, I returned to Beirut, the chief port and largest city in Syria. Here I visited the American Press, which does most of the Arabic printing for Protestants in the East. Most of the Arabic Bibles used in the Orient are translated and printed here. Thus this is one of the great agencies for preparing the field for the spread of the last message. I also visited the large American college located here, and found over seven hundred native young men and boys enjoying educational advantages in no way inferior to many of our American institutions. More than one hundred of these young men are Moslems, who are thus brought daily under the direct influence of Christianity. What a grand opportunity the teachers of this school have of showing the true Christ-life to those who, if not hating him, at least deny his divinity. Here I met Dr. Bliss, one of the pioneer missionaries of Syria. He received me cordially, and as it was the thirtieth of November, I was invited to attend an American Thanksgiving service in their beautiful chapel near the main college building.
More interesting, however, to me was a visit to the little school of Sister Anastas Khouri in the village of Schwaifat, about an hour's drive from Beirut. This sister embraced the Sabbath truth while visiting New York about five years ago, as a result of hearing a discourse on that subject by Elder E. E. Franke; but she did not at that time see all the truths of the third angel's message. She has now fully identified herself with our people, and I had the pleasure of baptizing her in the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean Sea, near Beirut, into the full faith of this closing message. This sister, who is a competent teacher in both the Arabic and English languages, has been for years carrying on what is really a Sabbatarian mission school at her own expense, and earning a meager support for herself, a widowed sister-in-law, and several orphan children. The seeds of truth are being sown here, and must bring forth fruit in due time.
During my stay in Beirut I was hospitably entertained by Brother and Sister Haussmann. Brother Haussmann is a masseur, and his wife was a nurse at our former Basel Sanitarium. They are trying to hold up the light of health reform and rational medicine in that large city, and God has been blessing them in it. They have passed through some trying experiences, but are firm in the truth, and are looking for that 'blessed hope' soon to be realized.
I was detained for some time in Beirut on account of bad weather (the winter rains were just beginning), also waiting for Brother Elias Zarub, our Syrian worker, who finally came, bringing his family into the city for the winter. Sister Zarub, having fully accepted all the truths of the message, was also baptized at the same time that Sister Khouri was.
Leaving this place in company with Brother Zarub, we first came to a village called Malaka, three hours from Beirut. This place is a Roman Catholic stronghold, the entire population, with two or three exceptions, being counted of that faith. But the closing message has reached some honest hearts here. Through the labors of Brother Zarub two families are in part keeping the Sabbath. The heads of these families were buried in baptism, and other adult members, who are keeping the Sabbath, will, we hope, soon follow. These are the only converts from Catholicism in the town. One of these has been keeping the Sabbath for two years, and both have had a taste of persecution. One has lost about fifteen hundred francs (three hundred dollars) on account of his faith. Unjust charges are “trumped up” against him, and as his judges are always Catholics, of course the case is sure to go against him. But he seemed to take joyfully the spoiling of his goods, and showed no disposition to surrender his faith on account of persecution. Many others in this place have lost faith in 'the church,' and are looking for something better. One man is reported to have offered nine hundred francs (one hundred and seventy-five dollars) to the Protestant mission to start a school there. Many are anxious for their sons and daughters to receive a more liberal education than is afforded by the school of the Jesuits, which is all they have now. Here is an excellent opportunity for a missionary teacher to do a grand work. The field here is fully ripe. Where are the reapers? An English teacher, with one or two native assistants, who could be readily secured at a small salary, with a small capital could go into this place and build up a work, the results of which eternity alone would reveal. And there are those there who would assist financially in such an enterprise. May God send them help soon. Now is the time, before the field is occupied by others who will not give the gospel in its fulness.
Leaving Malaka, we came into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Here we were detained two days on account of the rains, which fell in torrents almost continuously night and day. And as the only mode of transit is on horses or mules, traveling in such weather was out of the question. At Sidon the Protestants have good mission schools. Our Brother Zarub was educated here, and has scattered some of our tracts among his former fellow students and teachers. Several here are convinced of the truth, and are favorable subjects for future labor.
In the village of Magdouche, near Sidon, we had a blessed experience. A Roman Catholic priest here has recently embraced the truth. For some time he had been convinced that the Protestants had the best of the argument in every way, but not till the mighty truths of the third angel's message took hold of him did he receive strength to come out of mystic Babylon. As he seemed thoroughly in earnest, and intelligently converted, I gladly acceded to his earnest request for baptism into the faith of the third angel's message. We hope that in due time the Lord will call him to have an active part in this closing work of the gospel.
This brother has also had a taste of persecution. He knows the true spirit of the papacy as few Americans can. That church in the United States is, in its outward aspects, quite a different thing from Rome in the Orient. A short time after he left the church, the bishop sent some Mohammedan “toughs” to kill him, but God delivered him out of their hands. Since then he has suffered numerous petty persecutions from both Catholics and so-called Protestants, so that it was not difficult for him to see the dragon spirit in the “daughters” as well as in the “mother.”
A few years ago this was an intensely Romish town. At one time the bigoted adherents of Catholicism gathered all the Bibles and tracts that had been put in circulation by Protestant missionaries in the place, and publicly burned them, together with the building in which they were. To-day on that very spot stands a Protestant house of worship. Thus do temples to the Lord arise out of the ashes of Romish hate and intolerance.
Our priest brother is something of a humorist, as a little incident will serve to show, as well as to illustrate Oriental methods of teaching truth. A Turkish official said to him, on one occasion, that sometimes he smoked as many as a hundred cigarettes in a day. “Well,” said the priest, “some good will come out of that. If you continue so to do, three benefits will come to you: no robber will rob you at night, no dog will ever bite you, and you will never have a gray hair.” Being asked to explain, he replied in substance as follows: “First, smoking will cause you to cough so much at night that the robber, hearing you, will think you are awake, and will not attempt to enter your house; second, you will grow so weak that when you walk out you will need for support a very large staff, seeing which the dogs will flee from you in fear; and, third, you will die before you are old enough to have a gray hair.” We pass this arraignment of the cigarette along for what it is worth.
Cairo, Egypt.
(To be concluded)
L. JOHNSON
By L. Johnson
Nebraska
DENMARK.—From fourteen to twenty miles north of Curtis, in Lincoln County, live a number of Danish families. A few of these embraced the truth some years ago, others have moved in from other places, and still others have grown up there and given their hearts to God to obey and serve him. The writer has now for the first time labored among them two weeks. The weather has been unfavorable, as we have had much snow, and the roads have also been bad, but the people are hungering for the truth. The meetings have been held in the homes of the people, from 2 to 5 P. M. All have shown a marked interest. For three full hours some have sat on boards or boxes without showing any sign of weariness, and none have seemed to think the meetings too long. All gladly received the spiritual food from the Word of God. Surely, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
We have now organized a church, which, including eight dear souls who desire baptism, has twenty-five members. They are all Danes except one family of Swedes and one Norwegian sister; and as the post-office in their locality is called Denmark, we also named the church “Denmark.”
Land is still cheap near this place, and can be bought for from five to twenty-five dollars an acre. The soil is good, but on account of the many large, long canyons, it can not all be farmed, and yet good grass is growing in these canyons. For the last four years this region has had plenty of rain, but last year the hail took part of the crop. Good water can be found everywhere by boring from two to three hundred feet. The most of our brethren live in sod houses; these are put up with care, and are kept in good condition.
It seems to the writer that this is a good place for our brethren who wish to leave the cities and move into the country, and who do not have sufficient money to buy expensive land.
L. JOHNSON
B. HAGLE
By B. Hagle
Indiana
LOGANSPORT.—A canvassers' institute was held in this place, February 16-26. The instructors were J. B. Blosser, of Berrien Springs, Mich., and Field Secretary J. Blankenship, of Monon, Ind. This was not a large gathering, but it was a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Preaching services were conducted each evening. Elder W. A. Young and the writer were present, the former doing most of the preaching. Elder W. J. Stone, of Indianapolis, Ind., was with us a few evenings. The message borne by God's servants was spoken with power. The third angel's message was their theme.
The writer has continued the meetings up to the present date, and six, all adults, have decided to obey God and keep all his commandments. March 3 two were admitted to the church, one by baptism; and one who had wandered away from the fold returned to her Father's house. This was a joyful occasion. March 31 was another good day for us in Logansport. We met at 2 P. M. for Sabbath-school, at the close of which our quarterly meeting was held. The Lord gave freedom in presenting the importance of following the Saviour's example before the ordinances were participated in. An invitation being given to those who wished to unite with the church to make known their request, one after another arose, until five more were taken into the church. An elder was elected and ordained. Three other persons said they expected to unite with the church, but were not quite ready yet; others are in the valley of decision.
At the close of the meeting on the evening after the Sabbath a man arose and thanked God that he had found the church of his choice. He said his mother found the Sabbath by searching her Bible before she ever knew of an Adventist. This was strong proof to him that there was something in the Sabbath. He subscribed for the REVIEW AND HERALD. Right here let me say a word to mothers that have children out of the truth. Do not become discouraged and give them up. Continue to hold them up before the Lord. If your prayers are not answered before your death, they will be answered afterward, as were this faithful mother's.
A few months ago we began to build a house of worship. We have met with many hindrances, but we praise God the victory has come, and we have a small house of worship nearly finished. I am thankful to God that I have been able by his help to labor each day in drawing earth and stone, and to hold meetings each evening. We have also distributed one thousand pages of tracts, and have sold fifteen dollars' worth of bound books. To God be all the praise. My courage in this message is good. Unity and harmony have come into this church. May the good work go on until every honest soul is gathered out.
B. HAGLE
Itinerary Labors in Japan
THE following is taken from a private letter from Brother Kuniya; but it gives such a good idea of the conditions in this field, and of the encouraging features in such work, that I am constrained to place this much of our brother’s letter before the readers of the REVIEW:—
“TAJIMA, FEB. 5, 1906.—Last Thursday I left Tamba, and came here on foot. That day I walked over thirty-eight miles. It was a very stormy day, the rain being mixed with snow. I almost fainted by the way when I climbed the mountain road between Tamba and Tajima; but the Lord gave me strength to continue till I had reached the house of Sister Koide. I arrived about seven o’clock in the evening, and they welcomed me gladly. I had a good rest that night by the fireside. There is very much snow in this province now, more than in Tamba; and very soon the snow will cover all the houses, and the people will not be able to go out. But our merciful Father answered our prayers, and sent many souls who are thirsting for the truth to our sister’s house. The first night over forty souls came to hear the message, and some of them seemed much interested. Sister Koide’s mother said that they had never had such good meetings since they became Christians. I am working every day as I did in Tamba. If possible, I would like to stay several months; but a brother who has begun to keep the Sabbath in Nagasaki urges me to come there as soon as I can, because his faith is not yet fully established. The field is so broad, but our handful of workers must finish the work before our King comes. How much we need the power from on high!”
“Brother Kumamoto is now teaching night-school in his house. Every night over fifteen youth come to study. He said this is the best way to teach the truth in his village. His wife and aged father-in-law are keeping the Sabbath, but have not yet been baptized. I visited some of the scattered Christians in those parts while I was there. One doctor’s wife entertained me very kindly, and donated one yen. It was surely the Lord’s work, for if I had not received that money, it would have been difficult for me to reach Tajima. She asked me to stay at her house and preach to the neighbors; but as I had an appointment, I could not accept her invitation.”
“If Sister Koide’s husband were converted, it would be a good work done. He troubles our sister very much, instead of helping. The sisters are very sorry for him, and are praying day and night. But I am glad they are very firm in the truth. Often their relatives scare them, to lead them to give up their faith. The mother answered them, ‘You may trouble us if you wish, but we will not give up our Christianity at all. If you want our land, you may take it; but we believe that the Lord will provide for our needs.’”15
“If I can, I will leave for Kobe next Thursday, and then go to Nagasaki, visiting Brethren Harada and Tatsuguchi and some interested people by the way. Please remember me in your prayers.” F. W. FIELD.
North Dakota
By G. F. Haffner
AFTER the Northern Union Conference I went, in company with Elder George Wagner, to North Dakota, to visit the German churches. The meetings with the different churches were so appointed that we had from one to three services every day. As I could spend only about three weeks in this way, we could stay only a short time with each church, but the time was well improved. The Lord came very near, and at some places sinners were converted to God, and some who were discouraged took new courage to go forward. The Lord blessed in presenting his word, and it had its effect on the hearers. Some confessed that they never paid tithe, and resolved that they would do so. May the Lord help them to keep their promise.
North Dakota has some strong German churches, and the Lord has blessed them in material things. They have raised good crops, and if every one would pay an honest tithe, the conference funds with which to send forth laborers would be doubled. May the time soon come when every believer in this message will show his faith by his works.
G. F. Haffner.
An Experience From Our Work in Rome
By Charles T. Everson
A PERSON who has never worked in a Catholic country can not imagine the power that Catholicism exerts over its members. It is not so much a power of argument as an influence that the people seem to draw from the atmosphere itself. The greater part of them are persuaded that the priests are a wicked, domineering class, and that the church is a great business; and yet they remain in the church as if held under a mighty spell. Those who have been born and reared in Catholicism seem to have been injected with a poison that intoxicates them; the Scriptures well state it: “The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” We find that even those who do not attend the church, and who speak against it, when it comes to the point of leaving it for the Protestant religion, seem powerless to make the move. It takes a mighty power to break the spell of hypnotic influence that the papacy throws around its adherents. And this mighty power we find revealed in the present truth, God’s remedy against the power of the “beast” in these last days. Some time ago a young man who comes to our home for Bible studies invited another young gentleman, a friend of his, to come and study the truth. But this young man was a fervent Catholic who went regularly to the church and to confession, and, therefore, became much offended at this invitation, and told his friend that if he spoke to him again of Protestantism, he need never come to his home again, for he would not receive him.
Little by little he worked quietly with him, and the young man finally began to relent, and became curious to know in what consisted the Protestant religion. At last he consented to call and see me and study the Bible. After the first study he still remained doubtful, and after the second he was not persuaded, but in the third study he began to become convinced that we had something superior to Catholicism to offer him. He continued to come, and each time he became more certain that this is the truth, and that the Church of Rome is in error. At the same time he interviewed his confessor, and asked him for explanations in the Scriptures. His confessor was a very learned professor, whose brother is a cardinal, but still he often found himself at a loss in endeavoring to respond to this young man’s questions, and he would reply that “even if we can not understand the teachings of the church, we must believe them and accept them, for we have them from the church, which is infallible.” But these reasonings did not satisfy the young man, and therefore he became more convinced than ever of the truth; for, as he told me, “You make everything so plain that a person can not help but see it.” He was planning to have me meet this professor as he was not clear about the question of confession, in which he had been very carefully taught by this priest; but at that time he received notice that he would need to leave Rome to enter the army for his military service. As his time then began to be limited, he came for Bible studies every day, and the last day of his stay at Rome he told me, “Now if I had the subject of confession straightened out, I should be convinced on everything.” So we took it up and studied it, and he saw it clearly. Although his time was very limited, he returned again before leaving, and we studied the question of the church founded upon Peter. After these studies he said that the subjects were now so plain that he would not be afraid to meet the priest himself, and show him the truth on confession and the other subjects. He said that he was fully satisfied that what he had learned was the truth. He took with him a Bible and some of our literature, and when he left, his heart was overflowing with gratitude for what we had done for him.
A short time after his arrival in the army he wrote me that he had found a young man, an infidel, whom he had succeeded in interesting in the truth, and he wished to know how he should proceed with teaching him the message. As he is stationed in a city not very distant from here, he made a trip to Rome last Sunday, and came to see me, and told me that he wished I could meet the young man of whom he wrote; for he thought I could help him. He said that his courage was good, and he wished to go forward in the truth.
