Earlier text: A Working MissionFireside Correspondence School
By W. E. Howell
Our school is always open. Whenever any one works up to the starting-point his determination to enter upon a simple plan of self-improvement, he will find us present, ready to receive him, any day in the year. Last (our first) year's enrolment, beginning Oct. 4, 1909, rose to 176. To this number have been added so far, beginning Oct. 3, 1910, almost 100 new students. Of course we lost some of our old students, through death, through severe affliction, or through their entering a residence school this year. Some, whose work was interrupted for a time during the summer, are taking up the thread of their work again; while others have kept up a steady gait from the original opening of the school, and are registering for new subjects—one of the best evidences of satisfaction with our service. These renewals have not been reckoned in our new enrolment. Our revised and enlarged calendar may be had for the asking. It gives full information on the subjects we offer, the rates of tuition, and how to proceed in registering for one or more studies for six months or for a year. We take pleasure in answering all special inquiries about any feature of our work. Address us at Takoma Park, D. C. Sabbath-School Report for the Second Quarter
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
$24,017.75 to missions from the Sabbath-schools in the home land for the second quarter of the year! We are steadily pushing toward the goal of one hundred thousand dollars to missions from the home schools alone during the year 1910, and we mean to reach it. In order to do this, we must continue to increase our offerings during the remaining two months of the year; but our schools do not believe in standing still, as is shown by the following figures; so we say with confidence, We can do it. Comparison of Gifts to Missions
First six months of 1910,
United States and Canada, $45,336.76
First six months of 1909,
United States and Canada, 37,659.87
Increase . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,676.89 The number of conferences giving all the regular Sabbath-school donations to missions is rapidly growing. This quarter we have seven additions to our list: Southern New England, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Texas, Southwestern Union Mission, Newfoundland Mission, and the Bahama Mission. The complete list, numbering forty-three, is as follows:— N. New England
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Iowa
Southern Idaho
C. New England
Quebec
W. New York
Texas
North Dakota
Louisiana
Florida
Maine
Manitoba
West Pennsylvania
West Texas
Alabama
Alaska Mission
New York
South Dakota
Dist. of Columbia
Cumberland
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Montana
Chesapeake
Georgia
Greater New York
British Columbia
North Carolina
Southern Illinois
Kentucky
West Virginia
Wyoming
Western Colorado
New Jersey
S. New England
Mississippi
New Mexico
South Texas
S. W. Un. Mission
Newfoundland M’n
Bahama Mission Two other union conferences have joined the Western Canadian on the Honor Roll. These are the Atlantic and Southwestern unions. We are also much pleased to note that the entire Australasian field is now giving all its Sabbath-school donations to missions. Honolulu
By C. D. M. Williams
It has been a great pleasure to us to read the good reports from other parts of the great harvest-field, and to learn that everywhere the message is gaining ground. The visits, though brief, of those passing here to and from the home field have been a source of great encouragement to us. We were glad to meet Elder I. H. Evans and Elder F. H. DeVinney and his wife as they passed on to their field of labor in the Orient. May the Lord bless their labors to the advancement of his kingdom. About the first of the year, several openings of an encouraging nature appeared in Honolulu. These we filled the best we could. At one place there were several Hawaiians who understood little or no English, and a man and his wife who understood very little besides Spanish. A brother interpreted in the Hawaiian; and as I understood a little Spanish, we got along fairly well. At another place they understood only Portuguese; here Brother Da Silva did good work interpreting. The results of this work have been that the last Sunday in April three persons went forward in baptism, and later five more followed in the same holy ordinance. We hope to see five or six more take this step soon. Of those who have been baptized, one is a Spaniard, two are Portuguese, two are Hawaiians, and three are Chinese. We give all the glory to the Lord, and our prayer is that each one of these may be an honor to his cause, and an instrument in his hands to win more souls to the kingdom. We hope we may have the prayers of God's people, that success may attend the preaching of the word in these islands. C. D. M. WILLIAMS. College of Medical Evangelists
By S. P. S. Edwards
SEPTEMBER 29 was a red-letter day in the history of our medical missionary work. A new mile-stone was passed in the opening of the College of Medical Evangelists, our denominational medical college at Loma Linda, Cal. Because of the importance of this institution as a training center for medical missionary workers, both for home and foreign fields, it was appropriate that on this opening day of actual school work, special exercises should be held, when the object of the school, the conditions which called for its establishment, the work it is called upon to do, and its relation to the work of the denomination, could be clearly presented, for the benefit of the faculty and students, the guests of the sanitarium, and the many friends who were present. In this opening we had a living picture of the medical missionary work. The patients in wheel-chairs and on cots represented the needy, suffering world; the Christian physicians and ministers on the platform were representatives of the Great Physician, who loves the world so much, and has sympathy, healing, and forgiveness for all; while between the physicians and the patients were the students and nurses, here to receive a training that will enable them to minister to all in pain and need. It is our prayer that this condition may always continue at Loma Linda, not only in figure but in actual life,—the gospel ministers and the Christian physicians united heart and hand in giving quickly and with power to the eager students the whole truth which the world needs, and which God has committed to us.18 The following program was carried out, Dr. W. A. Ruble, the president of the college, presiding:—
Doxology ................ Congregation
Scripture Reading ...... Elder C. Santee
Prayer .................. Elder Luther Warren
Hymn: “Come, Thou Almighty King”
......................... Congregation
Address: “Why Is This Medical College Needed?” .... Elder E. E. Andross
Music ................... Double Quartet
Address: “Growth of Medical Missionary Work in Foreign Fields”
......................... Elder J. A. Burden
Address: “What the College of Medical Evangelists Means to Our Denominational Work” ............
......................... Dr. S. P. S. Edwards
Address: “What Can We Do to Make Our School a Success?” ............
......................... Dr. W. A. Ruble
Hymn, “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains” ........ Congregation
Benediction ............ Elder R. S. Owen The address by Elder E. E. Andross, president of the Southern California Conference, was an impressive presentation of the great principles of Christianity and Christian education, in contrast with the conditions found in many educational institutions of the world. He spoke in part as follows:— “I am very glad that God has given us a complete gospel,—one of healing for the soul and healing for the body. Jesus came to this earth to save souls, but he did not make that his only work. The healing of the body was associated with the healing of the soul. Many times physical healing was bestowed to teach men that he is able to save the soul also. Thus in our work we ought to take into account both these great principles, and give the full gospel of the healing of the soul and the healing of the body.
“To-day the gospel of Jesus is being perverted; it is not taught in its simplicity in the great institutions of the world. It may be asked, as it has been asked over and over again, why we are establishing this medical school, which will involve the expenditure of a great amount of funds. Some regard it as unnecessary. But while we have educational institutions for the training of workers in every other kind of effort necessary to carry the gospel of Jesus to the world, we greatly need an institution for the training of Christian physicians. This need has called the College of Medical Evangelists into existence.” The speaker then read several very striking extracts from articles appearing recently in leading magazines, showing the attitude of prominent universities toward the Bible and its teachings. From these statements of leaders in the educational systems of the world, it is evident that many of these educators repudiate the Bible as the Word of God, and with it its Author, both as Creator and as Redeemer. After earnest discussion of such teaching, the speaker concluded with the following words:— “When it comes to pass that such enunciations as these find a place in the curriculum of the colleges of the world, and we are to fit men and women for the coming of the King of glory, surely we must have an institution where the Word of God as it is written, and the commandments of God as they came to us, are regarded, respected, and written in the hearts of its instructors. I am glad that we have such a place, and a faculty who believe that God’s Word is of divine origin.” Elder J. A. Burden, who has been the business manager at Loma Linda since its acquirement by our people, spoke earnestly of the history of medical missionary work. Dr. W. A. Ruble, president of the college, stated what the school should and could be, and what each one could do to help meet the demands. The calm, earnest spirit of the exercises was indicative of the atmosphere of the whole institution. Within a few minutes after the benediction, the assembly had quietly dispersed, each to take up active work, some with tools to assist in putting up the new buildings, others to various departments of the medical work of the institution, and some to their duties in the domestic department, all happily and seriously taking up the task at hand. The spirit of industry so permeates every part of the institution that it is a lonesome place for the one with nothing to do. I hope the time is not far distant when the industrial work of Loma Linda will be so organized that every patient who enters the institution will be taught, by precept and example, the pleasure and curative value of manual labor. The medical college opens with ninety-two students enrolled. Of these, ten are second-year medical, twenty-four first-year medical, six cooks and bakers, and fifty-two nurses. There are many more applicants who must be rejected, either because of insufficient preliminary education or failure to meet the requirements in other lines. This school must be close to the hearts of our people. It must be watched closely in its development, not that we may find fault and criticize, and so make heavier the burdens of those in charge, but that we may love and help it, pray for it, and give of our means to provide the necessary equipment. Northern Michigan Camp-Meeting
By K. C. Russell
THIS meeting was held in Traverse City, August 25 to September 4. The camp was easily reached by the people of the town, and the evening services were well attended. Harmony and unity characterized the business proceedings. During the day, the preaching services were of a practical and spiritual nature, and the evening sermons were devoted to the presentation of doctrinal themes. The last Sabbath of the meeting will long be remembered by all present, and we trust that the good work begun and revived in many hearts will prove to be permanent. The various branches of the work received attention. It was especially gratifying to see the interest taken by the people of this conference in the education of their children. Where such a spirit prevails, there may be expected many recruits for the work of the Lord. The people in the North Michigan Conference are willing and ready to do all in their power to advance the work of the Lord. This was demonstrated by nearly all doing something, regardless of their limited financial resources. A good amount was raised in cash and pledges for the work of the conference and for the $300,000 Fund. Besides the regular laborers of the conference, Elder Allen Moon and other union conference laborers were present, and helped in the meeting. Elder J. J. Irwin was re-elected president of the conference. Good results have attended the work of the laborers in this conference during the past year. Especially has the work among the Chippewa Indians, in the copper-mining regions, been blessed. JOHN FRANCIS OLMSTEAD
By John Francis Olmstead
COLUMBUS.— Sabbath, October 15, was a good day for the Columbus church, and one that meant much to the six candidates for baptism. After a short service in our church, we went in a body to the Church of Christ on East Broad Street, where six persons were buried in the likeness of the Saviour’s death, and raised to walk in newness of life. The blessing of the Lord is resting upon the church, and we feel that he will do a great work for us here. We are glad to see men and women seeking mercy and pardon for past sins, and strength for the days to come. Several are keeping the Sabbath, and in due time will, we hope, be added to the church. Our workers are of good courage, and feel that the Lord is blessing their efforts for others. We greatly appreciate the prayers of God’s people in our behalf at the throne of grace, and trust that the Lord will soon cut his work short in righteousness. A West Coast School
By T. M. French
WE have moved our training-school from Freetown, Sierra Leone, to a farm at Waterloo, where the industrial features can be developed. Now it can be made nearly self-supporting. Besides the advantage of industrial training, this will enable us to receive a much larger number of students. The Lord is filling our school with a good class of young men. Waterloo is at the gateway for the vast hinterlands, stretching away to the Upper Niger country. The great Temne and Mende countries meet here. We ought not to linger on the outskirts of these regions, with millions in darkness, but must push stations into the interior. T. M. FRENCH. Circulating Literature in Korea
By N. Z. T.
THE two following items from Brother H. A. Oberg, of Korea, show how the Lord is blessing the circulation of the printed page in that field:— “We have a book containing thirteen studies from ‘Helps to Bible Study.’ One of the workers, Kim Hyo Seph, sold a copy to a Christian lady by the name of Anna. Later, word came to the mission that this lady was interested, and Miss Scharffenberg held studies with her on present truth. Anna was called before her church, and was cross-examined by the pastor and workers. At last the examination became so severe that one of the workers remonstrated, saying,19 “‘Don’t be so hard on her. I have read that book, and it is a good book.’ Anna was later expelled from the church, and now keeps the Sabbath.” “Another lady bought several of these helps, and distributed them among her friends, and now we hear of two companies meeting together on the Sabbath. A native worker has been sent to one of these places, and reports that seventeen have begun to keep the Sabbath.” Bahama Islands
By W. A. Sweany
NASSAU.—We have just secured a larger and better hall in this city, and will begin a series of meetings next Sunday night. Our hopes were not fully realized in the series of meetings we are closing in this end of town, and yet we have much to be thankful for. Several persons have fully accepted the truth, and many more are almost persuaded. We shall continue to follow up the work here. The collections have been sufficient to pay all the running expenses. Our little Sabbath-school of fifteen averages over a dollar a Sabbath for missions. We have one case that is among the most encouraging I have ever known. A young man attended our first meeting the fifth of last December. As soon as he heard the Sabbath truth, he closed his place of business on Sabbath, and has never been absent from a Sabbath service since. His offerings have been very liberal, and recently he paid $425 back tithe. He has been active in the work of helping to spread the knowledge of the truth in a quiet, modest way, and is wielding a good influence, as he is highly respected in the community. Slang in the Lord’s Work
By N. Z. T.
Here in the United States one has continually to learn a new phraseology, if he wishes to express himself in the current vernacular. Such expressions as, “It’s up to you,” “Make good,” “Fall down,” “Keep on sawing wood,” “That is good horse sense,” are heard on all sides. We are such imitative creatures that very few of us are able to avoid adopting these phrases into our vocabulary. Many of them may be all right in their place, although it hardly seems fitting for a leader in this work to use such expressions from the platform in a religious gathering. Other purely slang phrases and cheap expressions, which we often hear, should find no place in the vocabulary or the writings of Seventh-day Adventist Christians. There is probably no place where such language is more likely to be used than in the canvassing work. “The vernacular of the road” among a large number of worldly salesmen is made up principally of “smart,” slangy sayings. But the best salesmen, even in the world, are learning a better way. One writer on salesmanship says: “The purest of king’s English will secure an audience and hold attention for the salesman anywhere, while slang and short cuts of speech often excite distrust, and offend the ears of the truly refined.” This is doubly true in our work. In the “Manual for Canvassers,” page 21, we read: “The work is a good one, the object noble and elevating; and there should be a corresponding dignity of deportment.” Again, on page 24, we read: “Canvassers should remember that they are working with the Lord to save souls, and that they are to bring no commonness nor cheapness into his sacred service.” Let us bear in mind this good instruction, and exclude all cheapness from the Missionary and Publishing department. 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 How Two Beginners Earned Their Scholarships
By A. J. S. B.
Miss Clara Ogden, a student in Union College during the past four years, thus describes her experience in earning a year's scholarship in that school:— “Last spring I was forced to face this situation that confronted me: Should I return the coming fall to Union College, I would have to earn the money in some way to pay my expenses. I went to work with the magazines. My first order was for 300 Life and Health, 200 Temperance Instructor, and 100 of the Signs Monthly. In the month of June, at Wichita, Kan., I disposed of these in about eight days. I next ordered 500 copies of the July Life and Health, and sold them in seven days. I then ordered 800 copies of the August number, and disposed of them in ten days. This left me 600 magazines more to sell in order to earn the scholarship, which required a sale of 2,500 magazines. These 600 remaining copies I sold in less than a week. I canvassed in offices and also from house to house. In the offices my sales generally averaged from 75 to 150 copies a day. From house to house my average was 50 to 60 copies a day. I am now back at Union College, and praise the Lord for his blessing during my summer vacation. Next summer I expect to do a similar work, only on a larger scale. I hope to work the greater part of the entire vacation. Before this I had never canvassed at all. I found the work very pleasant. Many spoke in the highest terms of Life and Health. It was customary to hear people say that it was the best health journal they had ever seen.” Miss Jakobsen succeeded in earning a scholarship in our Danish-Norwegian Seminary by selling our new magazine, Lys over Landet, in Minneapolis, Minn., during the past summer. Accompanying a rush order for 50 copies of this magazine, she says:— “Those whom we meet on the streets always ask for the new number. They all praise it highly, and are anxious to get it.” Miss Jakobsen is the first one to report having earned a scholarship through the sale of one of our three excellent magazines published at College View, Neb. We trust that many other students attending our Danish-Norwegian Seminary may be as successful in earning a year's schooling in this way. Canvassing in a Strange Language
By N. Z. T.
A RECENT letter from Brother J. A. P. Green, of Mexico, tells of the experiences of Brethren Martin and Phillips, who recently went to that field, in their first work in the unfamiliar Spanish tongue:— “Think of canvassing in a strange tongue after being in the country only two weeks! Brother Phillips made his first delivery to-day. In four hours he delivered orders to the value of $17.70, and in addition took $6 worth of orders. He has been here only four weeks, and the last two were spent in the field canvassing. “Canvassing under difficulties? Listen to a first attempt: Buenos articulos por entendidos medicos, such as Dr. Kress, Dr. Cummings, and so forth. Tabla las enfermedades y sus tratamientos,—let’s see; what shall I say?” One man said, ‘Por ahora no,’ which means, ‘Not now.’ The canvasser looked around, and said, ‘What is he saying?’ I told him to continue to canvass; he did, and the man signed for one year’s subscription to Salud y Vida, our Spanish health paper. These brethren had their canvass committed, but when questions were asked, they would look around for help. Sometimes the man canvassed would say that he had no time just now; but not knowing what he said, they would keep on canvassing, and very often get an order. There is sometimes an advantage in not knowing what is being said. “The first trip made by these young men was rather a hard one; but they kept bravely at work, and now they are getting along well. We rejoice to know that our workers have help to carry the message to Mexico. Better still, Heaven rejoices to see young men willing to leave pleasant surroundings, and give their lives to these needy fields. We ask your prayers that God may do a wonderful work through his representatives in Mexico.” Writing later, Brother Phillips speaks thus of his experience:— “Our work in the federal district of Mexico began August 8. I went on a canvassing trip with Brother Green, and listened while he gave his canvass, noting carefully how he approached the people and addressed them, all the time storing up knowledge for future use. Finally, August 12, Brother Green said to me, ‘Here, take this, and try your hand.’ Having studied my canvass, and believing that the Lord would help, I took my first subscription, with a little assistance from Brother Green, who attended to the details. This I could not do, not knowing the language thoroughly. By steady application to study and practise in the field, I am now able to understand nearly everything in connection with our work. The Lord has blessed wonderfully, and to him we give all the glory. “Brother Martin and I are doing our own cooking; and as I was at one time a master of the art, it soon devolved upon me to do that part of the work. We fare well, as fruit and vegetables are cheap. For instance, lemons are a cent apiece; large red bananas, which cost from five to ten cents, gold, at home, are only two cents here. Other native fruits and vegetables are proportionately cheap; but imported foodstuffs are exceedingly high. “The people are very courteous. Men meeting us on the car will shake hands; meeting again, on the street, ten minutes later, they shake again. Their expressions of good will are very frank. The homes of the people are very beautiful. Even the homes of the poor have a patio, in which flowers and trees and grass, arranged artistically, are pleasing to the eye.” A Year's Work in Oklahoma
By G. C. Jenks
FROM July 1, 1909, to June 30, 1910, we had sixty-seven agents in the field, some working full time, others only part of the time. Hours worked ................. 19,885
Orders taken ................. 5,947
Helps sold for cash .......... $750.95
Value of book orders ........ 18,484.00
Bible orders, three months ... 1,311.60
Total value of all .......... $20,546.55
Number books delivered ...... 4,258
Value books delivered ....... $12,878.75 Counting five persons to a home, there are at least 21,290 individuals who have access to our books as the result of last year's efforts. The 4,258 books delivered contained 247,651 chapters, which, if reduced to pages, would be 3,846,290, or nearly two pages for every man, woman, and child in Oklahoma. The following comparisons show the steady growth of the work: The number of books delivered in 1908 was 2,523; in 1909, 3,715; in 1910, 4,825. Value of books delivered in 1908, $7,221.70; in 1909, $10,630.85; in 1910, $12,878.75. Surely the blessing of the Lord has attended our efforts the past year. For this we are grateful, and we go forward believing that the coming year will witness even greater results. G. C. JENKS,
Field Missionary Agent for Oklahoma. Canvassing in Chile
By T. H. Davis
At the time of our annual meeting in Gorbea, it was voted to raise the prices on our books, and to sell them at fixed prices. It was also voted that each canvasser send a weekly report of his work to the field agent, and another to the secretary. Since then our workers have been having better success than ever before. One worker in Concepcion took $180.50 worth of orders in seventy-two hours,—an average of over $2.40 an hour. Another brother is showing us how to take orders for the large books. In the city of Valparaiso his orders amounted to $1,048.50 in twenty-eight hours. The writer had an encouraging experience in the slaughter-house in Santiago. While delivering six copies of “Patriarchs and Prophets,” for which I had orders, I took eight new orders, two of which were for full morocco, at $24 each Chilean currency. In the Governor's Palace
By N. Z. T.
Recently Elder John Lipke, superintendent of the North Brazil Mission, took forty-four orders in five and one-half hours in the governor's palace in the city of Pernambuco, Brazil. The brethren in Brazil believe our books can be sold as well among the Portuguese in that field as among the Spanish in Argentina and other parts of South America.
N. Z. T. Sanitarium Relief Campaign
By L. A. HANSEN
Columbia Union Conference
WHILE this is one of the youngest union conferences, it is carrying a large sanitarium financial obligation, which it received by inheritance. Several years ago, in territory that now belongs to this union, an unfortunate location was chosen for an important sanitarium enterprise, which, in spite of all that could be done to make it succeed, was finally discontinued. The Columbia Union Conference assumed a heavy burden, becoming responsible for a share of the indebtedness that remained, as well as in dealing with perplexities connected with the work in its trying experiences. The situation here has been rather discouraging in some respects; and the union, and the conferences composing it, have shown a commendable spirit in the way in which they have assumed heavy burdens which they did not create. An unusual degree of interest and activity has been shown in advancing the relief campaign. Early in the year a series of institutes was held in all the conferences, at which the laborers were present, and devoted time and careful study to plans for carrying on the campaign. This was followed by more or less work in the churches. Good results have been seen, and a number of churches have given pledges for their entire quota of books and journals, while some have nearly sold theirs as well. Returns in cash are coming in, and a healthy interest in missionary work is being awakened. The president of the union has taken an active part in advancing the campaign at the camp-meetings, having made it one of the leading questions at each meeting. The general situation of the sanitarium work was presented, telling of its growth and development, what is being accomplished by it, how its indebtedness has come about, its present need, and how this need may be met. A statement of the local situation was submitted, and an appeal made to all to respond to the call for help. When the campaign work was presented, the books were piled up on the rostrum. Then it was proposed that while the interest was up, and the printed canvass was perhaps learned, it would not require much more effort to sell the books for the entire time than to sell them for only one year. This suggestion usually met an enthusiastic acceptance. The response of the people was good as they came forward and secured their books, a number of them taking more than the allotted six, some even taking as many as twenty. The hearty co-operation of the presidents of the conferences and of the other workers helped very materially to forward the work. Some of these took twenty-five or thirty books. Besides the books that were placed directly, many were ordered to be shipped, some members ordering the whole quota of books for their churches. The work is to be followed up in the different churches throughout the conferences. At the West Virginia meeting there were only about sixty persons present, but this little handful of believers gave $108 to foreign missions, besides raising almost its entire quota of the $300,000 Fund. At some of the other meetings about half of the share of this large fund was raised. The relief campaign not only will not interfere with other missionary enterprises, but it will help to create a missionary spirit of giving and working for others,—a spirit that is good for both people and conferences. In the West Pennsylvania Conference, the campaign is farther along than in any other from which we have received reports. The progress of the campaign in this conference indicates that a worker who carries other duties can also devote some time and attention to the relief work. Other interests may be looked after in connection with it. Especially is this so in the smaller conferences. Evidently Brother I. G. Bigelow has considered the campaign work as a part of his duty, and the work done shows exceptional results. Soon this conference will have finished its part in this campaign, and can devote its attention and energies to other things. It will be better off for what has been done in this work, and the members who have taken it up so earnestly can be counted on to respond to other calls. — About 75,000 persons have died of cholera in Russia during the last six weeks. — Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver died suddenly at his home at Fort Dodge, Iowa, October 15. — The first heavy snow-storms of the season were reported from Wyoming, Colorado, and other Western points, October 19. — Julia Ward Howe, noted literary woman and lecturer, and author of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” died at her summer home at Middletown, L. I., October 17, at the advanced age of 91 years. — Luigi Luccheni, who stabbed Elizabeth, empress of Austria, in September, 1898, at Lake Geneva, Switzerland, and was sentenced to solitary confinement for life, committed suicide in his cell last week. — Henri Wynmalen, a youthful recruit among the airmen, established a new world’s record for altitude on October 1, when he rose 9,186 feet—almost two miles—in a biplane. His motor failing, he descended in thirteen minutes. He declares that he suffered greatly from cold. — Thousands of Portuguese monks and nuns, expelled from their country in the recent revolution, have taken refuge in Spain. Here they are being so distributed among the convents and monasteries as to render very difficult their expulsion from Spanish territory. It is stated that the Spanish orders in the various provinces “are strengthening the convents and monasteries with iron doors and shutters, and are laying in stores of arms and ammunition.” How sharp the contrast between such a spirit and that of Him who said, “Put up thy sword”! — A two-track tunnel for the Michigan Central Railroad has been completed under the Detroit River, between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, and opened for service. This tunnel will supplant the large railroad-car ferries heretofore in use at that point. — October 3, the imperial Chinese Senate was opened in Peking by the regent, Prince Chun. “The new senate has 200 members, half being chosen by the provincial assemblies and approved by the provincial viceroys. The other half were selected by the throne, and included Manchu princes and nobles, distinguished scholars, and representatives of the official class and of the high taxpayers.” — The long list of injuries and fatalities attending the Vanderbilt automobile cup race, run recently over the country roads of Long Island, leads the Scientific American to call this event “a gross reflection on modern civilization,” and to ask “whether, after all, our much-vaunted civilization is not shallow veneer, which, if it be peeled off, would reveal below something of the same old brutality which led the multitudes of Rome to the Colosseum to witness its unspeakable cruelties.” — October 16 a French dirigible balloon crossed the English Channel, passed over the heart of London, twice circled St. Paul’s Cathedral, and made a safe landing. This is the first time that the Channel has been crossed by a dirigible. The 195 miles of the route was easily covered in six hours—one hour less than is required by the fastest express-trains and boats. Seven persons were carried, though the dirigible is built to accommodate 39 passengers in addition to the crew. — An investigation conducted by the Census Bureau of the enormous growth of a number of Western cities, has led to the discovery of frauds in the census returns, the lists of certain cities being greatly padded. Tacoma and Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Boise, Idaho; and Minneapolis, Minn., are mentioned as participating in the frauds. In a letter to the secretary of the Census Bureau, President Taft declares that “the instances cited are sufficient to require the utmost vigilance to bring those who have violated the law to justice and proper punishment.” — In an attempt to cross the Atlantic by balloon, Walter Wellman, with a crew of five men, left Atlantic City, N. J., October 15, in the immense cigar-shaped dirigible, “America.” A large amount of gasoline, and food supplies for thirty days, were taken. Wireless messages were received for several hours, indicating that all was well; but when the messages ceased, considerable anxiety was felt for the voyagers, in view of the serious storms prevailing. On the morning of the eighteenth, word was received from the Royal Mail steamer “Trent,” Bermuda to New York, that she had rescued the crew of the “America” off Cape Hatteras. It was soon learned that the large balloon had been driven far from her course by adverse winds, and had become almost unmanageable. When the crew was rescued, the “America” was abandoned. It is already stated that another attempt to cross the Atlantic by dirigible will be made next year.21 — The evil results of the popular moving-picture show are shockingly revealed in the case of a fourteen-year-old boy of New York City. Arraigned before the juvenile court, he pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary, grand larceny, assault, and receiving stolen property, and declared that he was moved to his crimes by seeing moving pictures representing such deeds. — The art store of Duveen Brothers, of New York City, was seized by federal officers on October 13, and the members of the firm in this country were placed under arrest, charged with conspiracy to defraud the government out of customs dues. It is said that duties aggregating more than $1,000,000 have been withheld by the firm, whose members, if the charges are proved, face heavy fines and long terms of imprisonment. — Postmaster General Hitchcock announced, on October 18, that the deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910, amounted to only $5,881,482, as compared with $17,479,770 for the preceding year. These are the final figures as reported by the auditor for the department, and show a saving of $11,598,288 during the course of the year. In view of the saving already accomplished, it is predicted that the long-desired penny post will soon be an accomplished fact. — What is declared to be the most destructive hurricane recorded in the history of Cuba occurred last week. The storm began with light rains, Thursday morning, October 13, and developed into a heavy cyclone, which abated somewhat on Sunday night. Suddenly the wind changed, and a second storm of still greater fury swept over the island, completing the destruction begun by the first. The residence section of Havana was flooded, buildings were destroyed, lighters sunk, and the dredge and apparatus for raising the “Maine” wrecked. The wind blew at the rate of 90 miles an hour. On the nineteenth, Tampa, Fla., and all points south of Jacksonville, were cut off by the storm, which passed slowly up the coast. A heavy downpour of rain accompanied the high winds. The property loss is believed to amount to millions of dollars, and a heavy loss of life is feared. — More than 700 cases await the consideration of the Supreme Court, the present session of which opened October 10. A few of the more important cases to be brought before the court are: “The rehearing of the Standard Oil and Tobacco Trust cases, made necessary by the death of Chief Justice Fuller and Justice Brewer, which will be postponed until the other justices are appointed; the Gompers’s contempt case; the employers’ liability cases; the New York World Panama libel case; the two-cent passenger-rate cases from Missouri; and the claim of Virginia against West Virginia for $11,000,000, which the former declares is the latter’s share of the State debt incurred before West Virginia separated from Virginia. The case of importance that has already been taken up by the court is the suit of the American Anti-Boycott Association, which objects to the ‘we don’t patronize’ list of the American Federation of Labor.” The present sitting of the court is regarded as the most momentous since the Civil War.