This important gathering met in the city of Shanghai, China, January 12-22. All the foreign workers in China were present at the first meeting; also Brother N. P. Keh, a native worker from the Amoy Mission. It was a great privilege for me to meet the workers assembled at this meeting, though I had already met them in their respective mission fields during my visit to the various mission stations in China. It must be remembered that most of these families had been isolated in their respective fields during the last two years, as the workers had not met together since Prof. W. W. Prescott was with them in 1907. Those in the home land can hardly appreciate the pleasure it gives the workers in foreign fields to attend a general meeting of this kind, where they can exchange experiences, and receive the inspiration and help that come by being in touch with the influences that generally prevail at such a gathering. At best, the influence of heathenism is very depressing. Those in a heathen land, surrounded year in and year out by this depressing atmosphere, certainly need the uplift that comes by gathering together. Even in the home land, where we have Christian environment throughout the year, we find our courage greatly strengthened by our annual meetings.
The brethren in Shanghai had rented a convenient hall, heated and lighted, for the meetings. An effort was made to secure an outside attendance; however, very few could be induced to attend our meetings from the outside, though they were freely advertised in the daily papers, and circulars were distributed17advertising the themes to be presented.
The first part of the meeting was occupied with interesting reports from the field, nearly every one reporting progress in the conversion of souls. At one station in Honan, fifty-two persons had already identified themselves with the truth, while forty-six others were keeping the Sabbath, and were interested in Bible truths.
The Sabbath service was one long to be remembered by all present. The Spirit of God was present, and united hearts in such a way, as, we believe, will greatly help to advance the work in China. Nearly all present endeavored to clear away any stumbling-stones in the way of their fellow workers.
All phases of the work were considered at length, and many recommendations were adopted for the advancement of the message in this great country. In order to facilitate the advancement of the work, the field was organized into local mission fields, with a superintendent and working committee in each division.
Following are some of the recommendations adopted:—
“Whereas, The Chinese empire, comprising eighteen provinces and four dependencies, has an area of four million two hundred seventy-seven thousand square miles (being over two thousand miles from north to south, and two thousand five hundred miles from east to west), with a population estimated at from four hundred millions to four hundred thirty-three millions; and,—
“Whereas, Modern improvements in the way of transportation in China are far behind those of most other civilized nations, thus causing much loss of time in traveling, during which little or no work can be accomplished; and,—
“Whereas, It seems that we could facilitate the spread of the message in China by subdividing the territory, and locating at least two families of workers in each province and dependency; therefore,—
“1. Resolved, That we subdivide China and its dependencies into ten mission fields.
“2. Resolved, That each of these ten mission fields shall have its own superintendent.
“3. Resolved, That this council select from the present staff of workers as many superintendents as they can spare for this work.
“4. Resolved, That the General Conference Committee supply the remaining mission fields with superintendents.
“5. Resolved, That in addition to these superintendents the General Conference Committee be requested to at once select and prepare for entering China, during 1909 and 1910, not less than forty families, and that of this company a sufficient number of physicians be sent out to locate at least one in each mission field; and,—
“6. Resolved, That these forty families be apportioned as follows: Manchuria, two families; Tibet, two; the Northern Division, six; Northwestern Division, four; Eastern Division, six; Central Division, eight; Western Division, six; and that the dependencies of Mongolia and Turkestan be referred to the General Conference Committee, with the suggestion that a physician and evangelist be prepared to enter each of these fields as soon as the said committee deems it advisable.
“7. Resolved, That each mission field shall have a superintendent and an advisory committee, which shall consist of the superintendent and the chairman of the provincial committees, and such other members as the constituency of the mission fields shall agree upon.
A STREET SCENE IN THE FOREIGN PART OF A CITY IN CHINA
“8. Resolved, That the superintendents of these mission fields be appointed by the General Conference Committee.
“9. Resolved, That there shall be a general advisory committee for all China, which shall be known as the China Mission Committee, with headquarters at Shanghai, to be made up as follows:—
“(a) The chairman, to be the superintendent of the work in the Orient, who shall be appointed by the General Conference Committee.
“(b) An assistant superintendent, to be appointed by the General Conference Committee.
“(c) The superintendents of the different mission fields.
“(d) The secretary and treasurer of the China Mission.
“(e) The manager of the publishing work.
“(f) The secretaries of the medical and educational work.
“(g) The general canvassing agent, and such other persons as may be deemed advisable from time to time.
“10. Resolved, That the China Mission Committee shall carefully study requests for appropriations, and after they have settled upon an equitable distribution of the funds required for China, shall pass the same on to the General Conference Committee for its approval.
“11. Resolved, That a general meeting of all foreign workers (and such other workers as the China Mission Committee shall see fit to invite) of the China Mission shall be held biennially for the purpose of laying plans for the development of the work and the spiritual upbuilding of the workers themselves, and that this meeting shall not be held in the winter.
“12. Resolved, That each mission superintendent be held responsible for securing all necessary statistics and inventories of the work in his field, and shall forward the same to the secretary of the China Mission.
“13. Resolved, That we hereby suggest to the General Conference Committee the advisability of erecting a one-story printing plant with a two-story frontage, the lower part to be used for the storing of paper, books, etc., while the upper floor will be used for offices, the rest of the building to be on the ground-floor plan. We suggest that this building for the press be made to accommodate three cylinder presses, three job-presses, a wire-stitcher, a foundry, a composing-room, a bindery, and an engine-room.
“14. Resolved, That all workers be required to pursue a systematic course of language study, which shall be made out by the China Mission Committee, and that language examinations be held yearly by the superintendent of the mission field, or some one whom he may designate, and a competent Chinese teacher.
“15. Resolved, That the China Mission Committee outline this course of study as soon as possible, so that the workers may understand definitely what work is required in a year.
“16. Resolved, That the superintendents of fields render all possible help in the selection of suitable language teachers.
“17. Resolved, That a literature committee shall be appointed, consisting of three sections; namely: Mandarin section, three members; Wen-li section, four members; English section, three members; this committee to examine all manuscript submitted for publication, and approve the same before it is printed.
“18. Resolved, That no worker in China shall cause to be published any literature bearing on the third angel’s message without first submitting his manuscript to the literature committee, and receiving its approval.
“19. Resolved, That the China Mission Committee shall suggest from time to time to the literature committee such literature as they believe should be brought out in the Chinese language, designating in which dialects the same shall be published.
“20. Resolved, That the China Mission adopt the educational policy of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
“21. Resolved, That, as far as possible, in every company of believers where there is a sufficient number of Seventh-day Adventist children of school18age, we encourage the opening of a church-school.
“22. Resolved, That intermediate schools be established in the various provinces as rapidly as the constituency of believers will warrant.
“23. Resolved, That special attention be given to training evangelists, colporteurs, and Bible women for field work.
“24. Resolved, That all in charge of mission stations be earnestly requested to give special attention to the training of Chinese church-school teachers.
“25. Resolved, That we enlarge upon the medical missionary work already undertaken in China.
“26. Resolved, That we suggest to the General Conference Committee the advisability of establishing a small sanitarium on the land which we have already purchased in Shanghai, in which there shall be apartments, in separate buildings, for the accommodation of both foreign and Chinese patients.
“27. Resolved, That, at all our general meetings, medical instruction be given by our physicians on such topics as,—
“(a) Care of the health.
“(b) Treatment of fevers and maladies prevalent in the Orient.
“(c) Dispensaries, and the training of workers to supervise this line of work.
“28. Resolved, That the medical secretary shall keep in close touch with our workers in China, counseling them from time to time regarding the care of their health.”
Many other recommendations were adopted bearing on various phases of the work, but space will not permit them to be quoted at length here.
The following officers were elected: Assistant superintendent, Elder J. N. Anderson; secretary and treasurer, H. H. Winslow; superintendent Northwestern Division, Elder J. J. Westrup; superintendent Eastern Division, Elder J. N. Anderson; superintendent Northern Division, Elder R. F. Cottrell; superintendent Southern Division, Elder W. C. Hankins; superintendent Western Division, Elder F. A. Allum; superintendent Central Division, Dr. A. C. Selmon; manager publishing work, Dr. H. W. Miller; secretary medical work, Dr. H. W. Miller; secretary educational work, Elder B. L. Anderson, secretary Sabbath-school work, Mrs. B. A. Roberts.
It was left for the General Conference Committee to appoint a general superintendent for the China Mission field, and local superintendents for the dependencies of Manchuria, Mongolia, Eastern Turkestan, and Tibet.
Elder J. N. Anderson and wife and three children, Sister Ida Thompson, and Brethren A. C. Selmon, Esta Miller, and O. J. Gibson returned to the United States for various causes for a short length of time. Brethren Anderson and Selmon are delegates to the General Conference. Brother Anderson’s wife and Sister Thompson were in poor health, and came home on furlough.
I esteemed it a great privilege to meet these dear workers in Shanghai, and trust that the good spirit that possessed our hearts at this meeting may continue in the lives of each of the workers, and that they may have rich blessings from the Lord in their service for the Master in the year to come. It really seemed painful to leave them and hasten away, as we had to, before the meeting finally adjourned. We closed the meeting on Friday noon, January 22, in order that those who were going to leave on the boat could make arrangements. The last meeting was one of the best that I have ever attended. A few remarks were made by the writer, and then we had a social meeting, in which all the brethren and sisters present took part. Each one bore an earnest testimony of consecration to the service of God.
During the council, it had been recommended that Brethren E. H. Wilbur and F. A. Allum be ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. Their ordination followed the social meeting, and these brethren were set apart by prayer and the laying on of hands.
Thus closed one of the best meetings that I have ever attended. A large measure of the Spirit of God was with us in our work, and all our hearts were united in the bonds of brotherly love and renewed consecration to the service of the Master.
I. H. EVANS.
In Ontario
By W. A. SPICER
ABOUT four months ago the brethren and sisters of St. Thomas, Ontario, felt that they should have a house of worship. They were few, but they went at the work in faith, and on February 28 they dedicated a beautiful little church building to the worship of God.
The day before, Sabbath, they dedicated themselves anew to God. As one brother put it, the sight of the clean, fresh walls and furnishings within the building, made all feel that they must have the clean, pure heart within. A number of the brethren are builders, and they spoke feelingly of the fact that not one impatient word had been heard about the place, from first to last, and many a precious prayer season had been experienced in the basement as the work went forward. In this spirit, the whole company trust to carry forward the work of God.
Quite a number of the believers came in from other parts to attend the meetings. On Sunday afternoon the public dedicatory service was held, Elder Eugene Leland preaching the sermon, which was listened to with marked interest by a goodly number of citizens, who filled the church to its full capacity. Elder Isaac Sanborn, who resides in St. Thomas, one of the courageous and hearty pioneers in the message, offered the dedicatory prayer.
The building, which is of brick, cost about two thousand dollars. Citizens have given about two hundred dollars toward it. There is a good interest, apparently, in St. Thomas, and our brethren there have many warm friends. The services continued till Monday evening.
While in Ontario I also spent one evening with the church in London, where they have also a well-built meeting-house. I spent a day at the Lorne Park Academy. It was good to meet so sturdy a lot of young people, who mean to help in the finishing of this work.
I had also a good evening meeting with the Toronto brethren, reviewing the progress of the message and the certainty of its triumph.
Ontario is a populous and prosperous field, and more workers are needed. The believers are praying the Lord of the harvest to send them, and he surely will. I hope a good number will come from the Ontario school. W. A. SPICER.
South Africa
By M. C. Sturdevant
SOLUSI MISSION, BULUWAYO, RHODESIA.— When I reached home after our conference meeting at the Cape, I found the crops almost ruined by the drought, but that very afternoon a good rain set in, and we have now had rain almost every day for over two weeks. The crops are really revived, and are growing nicely again, so that we yet hope for a fair harvest. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Father for this. Our stock is also doing well.
The territory near us seems to have been quite thoroughly worked, and we shall have to branch out wider in southern Rhodesia. Accordingly, it was decided at the union conference for me to make a trip this coming winter through southern Rhodesia, and find, if possible, a new site, and start a new center for work. Being acquainted with the language here, my plan for the future, by advice of the brethren, is to stay in this country, and open up work anew.
Brother and Sister J. R. Campbell are to be taken from us, and will go to Brother W. H. Anderson, at Pemba, Northwest Rhodesia. As they have escaped the fever here thus far, it is hoped they may stand the climate there. Brother and Sister H. C. Olmstead will come here, and try this mission. This mission must have some one to take my place as superintendent, so that I can move on, according to appointment.
We enjoyed a most excellent meeting at the Cape. The help of Elders L. R. Conradi and R. C. Porter was much appreciated, and courage seems to have revived all along the line. I am sure it is so for this mission. We are cheered to learn that good help is on the way for our Claremont school. We are also glad to hear that India is to have help. It cheers us, too, to hear of the good Thanksgiving ingathering. O, hasten the work, brethren! We want to go home. Sometimes we become most weary; but we do not want to lay down the work until the very finish. We were greatly disappointed that Elder Conradi did not visit this mission.
M. C. STURDEVANT.
Florida
By J. W. Manns
JACKSONVILLE.—I came here in November, 1908, for the purpose of conducting a series of tent-meetings. I found it difficult to secure a location for my tent, hence I began a series of meetings in a hall. Meetings were held every night for three weeks, with fairly good attendance. As the work is fast closing in the South, with so many thousands still in darkness, hungering and thirsting for the precious truth, we realize that the work must be carried on earnestly and rapidly. Because of the holidays, it was necessary to close our meetings in the hall for a few nights, but we continued to hold Bible readings from house to house. On January 1 the Lord opened the way, and we secured a very desirable location for the tent. We began a series of meetings, with good interest and fair attendance. We are thankful to say four new Sabbath-keepers have been added to our number, and are rejoicing in the blessed truth.
We are thankful to the Lord for the success and victory he has given. Our little company here is much encouraged, and greatly desire to have a house of worship. They are making an effort to erect a church building. Some here are hungering for the bread of life. May the Lord help us to arouse to the needs of the work here. We are now moving to another part of the city, and hope to be able to increase the attendance. I believe that with this special effort, we will be able to accomplish a good work and bring more into the knowledge of the blessed truth. I hope to see others added to our little number soon. I desire the prayers of the dear brethren and sisters for success in the work here.
J. W. MANNS.
West Virginia
By David W. Percy
ALL will remember the fearful mine disaster several weeks ago in McDowell County, West Virginia, when about one hundred fifty men lost their lives. Just previous to this accident, our workers sold and delivered many copies of “Great Controversy” to the families of those working in these mines. We may see in this the leading of the Lord. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, pages 313, 314, we are told:—
“It is true that some who buy the books will lay them on the shelf or place them on the parlor table, and seldom look at them. Still God has a care for his truth, and the time will come when these books will be sought for and read. Sickness or misfortune may enter the home, and through the truth contained in the books, God sends to troubled hearts peace and hope and rest. His love is revealed to them, and they understand the preciousness of the forgiveness of their sins. Thus the Lord co-operates with his self-denying workers.”
Who now will deny self, take up their cross and go out to have a part in calling in the maimed, the lame, the halt, and the blind, to the marriage supper of the Lamb? I have been corresponding with several who are deeply interested in the canvassing work, and I believe that some, and perhaps all, of these persons will enter the work in the near future. This is the weakest conference in the Columbia Union, and much in need of workers in every line.
One of our faithful workers, writing to me a few days ago, said: “I am very much encouraged in the good work. The Lord is surely sending his angel before me. The Lord has demonstrated to me more than once that he is pleased with my feeble efforts to put the printed page in the homes of the people.” He then relates how the Lord once helped him to make a good delivery of books during a strike.
Those interested in entering this needy field should correspond with me at 1200 Seventh St., Parkersburg, W. Va.
DAVID W. PERCY,
Field Sec. W. Va. Conf.
Nebraska
By M. E. Ellis
THE net increase in membership [in this conference] during the year was three hundred five, or an increase of thirteen per cent. The total number of Sabbath-keepers now in the conference is 2,630. The tithe receipts average $12.99 per capita.
Two church buildings have been erected, but no new churches were organized during 1908. The church at North Platte, through the efforts in Bible work and tent-meetings, more than doubled its membership last year, and the church in Hastings lacked only two members of having done the same. The membership of these churches is respectively twenty-one and sixty.
The largest increase in any one line of activity during the year was in the offerings to foreign missions, $14,785.59 being the total amount, of which $2,858.59 came from the Sabbath-schools, and 2,383.46 from the young people. This puts us nicely over the ten-cent-a-week-per-capita line, with between two and three cents a week per capita to spare, even including in our basis of reckoning our two hundred twenty-one isolated Sabbath-keepers who are not church-members, and our two hundred two Sabbath-keepers who meet regularly in seventeen companies, but are not organized into churches.
The work done in missionary branches has also been increasing quarter by quarter, and the last three months of 1908, forty-one of our fifty-one churches reported work done—eight churches more than we have ever before heard from in a single quarter.
The young people's work is organized in more churches in our conference than19ever before, and those concerned are responding nobly in every line of missionary effort proposed. Our young people raised last year for various enterprises in home mission fields, $1,085.95, one item of which was three hundred thirty dollars for a small printing outfit, which was installed in the Hunstville school. One hundred five young people have joined the various churches in our conference this year, the majority of them by baptism. The largest number of church-schools we have ever had—twenty—is now in operation.
The prospering hand of the Lord has been very manifest in our work, but instead of looking complacently at this report, and forgetting to take longer strides forward this year, let us take heart from the blessings of the past, and remember that there are infinite possibilities before every individual, church, and conference that will work in right lines and in harmony with God's will. — M. E. Ellis, in Nebraska Reporter.
_Russia_
By J. T. BOETTCHER
DURING 1908 the Middle Russian Mission took into church-membership eight hundred sixty-six persons. Our membership has now passed the three-thousand mark by more than fifty. There was an increase of about two thousand dollars in the tithe. The other offerings to the mission have also increased. We are very thankful to the Lord for this blessing. We are in a poor country, and our people have not much of this world's goods, and yet they give to this cause with a glad heart. The prospects are very good everywhere. If we could conduct public meetings as they are conducted in the States, a wonderful work would be accomplished. In the Baltic provinces we have meeting-places of our own. The halls are so very crowded that in one place it was thought best to hold the same meeting two successive evenings; but still the house was full to overflowing. Then we concluded to hold three meetings a day. When we say “overflowing,” we do not mean as many persons as can be seated, but every inch of the floor is occupied by people standing. The people are patient, and stand as long as we can preach.
At the above-mentioned place our meeting-house is next door to that of the Baptist's. As they were there first, they thought we were intruding on their ground, so they sent a complaint to the governor. But after an investigation, it was thought that our rights were as good as theirs, and we were allowed to continue our work. There is so much false preaching going on that many of the people do not know where the truth is. But God finds the honest in heart everywhere.
J. T. BOETTCHER.
A Quarterly Meeting in Cuba
By Estelle Ketring-Snyder
It is now three years since it was our first privilege to have a part in a meeting of this kind in Cuba.
At our first quarterly meeting three years ago, we were a little company of twelve—all Americans, not one Cuban in the room, nor, to our knowledge, a single Sabbath-keeping Cuban on the island. Yet at this last meeting there were twenty persons present; not including ourselves, all Cubans, fifteen of whom are walking in the light, and have been baptized. Our hearts were made glad to see three new converts, all adults, go forward in baptism at this meeting. These were all wives; the husbands of two hope to be ready for this ordinance at the next quarterly meeting. We are not hasty in urging them to take this step. Before it is performed, they must have accepted Christ as their Saviour, have kept the Sabbath for at least several months, have given up tea, coffee, and tobacco (both men and women find this the hardest test), have had their domestic relations straightened out, also have laid off their ornaments, and be paying their tithe. Are they not examples to many of our American brethren?
At least an hour before the appointed time they began to come; some came a distance of twenty miles, some from points nearer. The Sabbath-school first held its session, and then the meeting changed. After the examination of candidates, and remarks appropriate to the occasion, the whole company quietly walked to a near-by pool in a running stream, sheltered by tropical growth, and the solemn ordinance of baptism was performed. All was done in perfect order, without disturbance of any kind.
It is not many years ago that this could not have been done; for in the days of Spain’s rule, Protestant gatherings of any kind would not have been permitted. Thus we see God’s hand in opening Cuba’s door to the message, and we are none too early in entering. Our only regret is that it was not done earlier.
On their return from the water, a social meeting was held. There was no waiting for one another; each told of battles lost or victories won; each determined to press onward, and asked one another’s prayers, that the Holy Spirit might guide. One, a little girl of twelve, whose family oppose her, thanked the Lord that she was still allowed to remain with the new Sabbath-keeping family where she has been for several years, although her father threatens to take her away from them.
The ordinance of humility then followed, all taking part; and after the emblems of the Lord’s table had been solemnly partaken of, the meeting closed, having lasted from 10 A. M. to 5 P. M., broken only by the going to and from the water for baptism, yet there was no sign of restlessness or fatigue on the part of any one present.
We do not hold a regular business meeting, but at each quarterly service, two envelopes are given to each individual—one for tithe, and one for offerings, which are returned the next quarter. On this occasion over thirty-six dollars, American money, was brought in by the Cuban people alone. This may not seem much to some who will read this, but we know it means a strictly honest tithe on the part of many of them. The little twelve-year-old sister brought her envelope; she earns nothing, so could only bring an offering of pennies given her, saying, as she did so, “Este es para la obra del Señor” (This is for the Lord’s work). So we see it is the same spirit in all lands and in all languages that actuates the honest ones when they have received the truth. While results do not develop rapidly, they do come steadily, and we have learned not to “despise the day of small things.”
ESTELLE KETRING-SNYDER.
Marianao, Cuba.
The Story of a Few Tracts
ABOUT forty years ago there lived in a little village in northern New York an isolated Sabbath-keeping sister who had taken part in the 1844 movement.
She used to tell how Brother and Sister White, when passing through that section with a horse and carriage, first visited her. When she accepted the message, Elder White wrote her name down on his list as the twenty-ninth Sabbath-keeping Adventist of whom he had any knowledge.
For years this devoted sister stood a lone witness for present truth, persecuted by her own family, and looked upon by the community as crazy because she believed the advent doctrine and kept the Sabbath.
She had talked the truth to all who would listen, and had given reading-matter to all who would read; and as none of the good church people would accept the message, she thought it useless to do any more. So when Elder C. O. Taylor, one of the pioneer ministers in New York, urged her to take a few more tracts for distribution, she told him that it was of no use to do so, for no one would read them. Nevertheless, at his earnest solicitation, she took a few, which she hid away to prevent her husband from burning them.
In the spring of 1871 a young farmer and school-teacher, while working alone in the field, heard a voice which said, “Why does Sally Dunton keep Saturday while every one else keeps Sunday?”
His mental reply to this question was, “O, she is crazy!” As he could not get the matter out of his mind, he began to read literature written to uphold Sunday sacredness, but being disappointed because of a lack of Bible authority, he began to study the Bible itself with a view of preparing a Biblical argument for Sunday observance.
Failing to find the expected Bible proof for the Sunday-rest day, he was ready to investigate the claims of those who observed the seventh-day Sabbath, and so visited this so-called crazy Adventist, and asked for reading-matter on the Sabbath question.
Overjoyed by the knowledge that some one had sufficient interest to come and ask for reading-matter, she drew forth from their hiding-place those tracts which she had thought it useless to take from Elder Taylor, and gave them to the inquirer.
The immediate result was that he kept the next Sabbath. Later he was joined by his wife, his mother, and sister, and a little Sabbath-school was organized. Thus after years of lonely waiting, and after she had given up all hope, that faithful witness had the joy of seeing four persons brought into the truth.
The influence of those tracts did not stop there. The young man soon entered the ministry, and by voice and pen witnessed for the truth in many States from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and still lives and works to advance the message.
His son, following the steps of the father, carried the torch of truth to foreign shores, and preached the everlasting gospel in a strange tongue to a people that had long been in darkness, thus widening the circle of influence which had its beginning in the giving out of those tracts. Eternity alone will reveal the results which have come from that little seed sowing done so long ago by that humble sister. Therefore, beloved,—
“Sow thy seed; be never weary,
Let no fears thy soul annoy;
Be the prospect ne’er so dreary,
Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy.”
Field Notes
As a result of efforts put forth at Helmer, Mich., twelve persons have accepted the truth.
At Iola, Kan., on a recent Sabbath, five persons were converted, and expect to be baptized soon.
A SERIES of meetings at Hornell, N. Y., has resulted in sixteen persons taking their stand for the truth.
FOUR persons at Fergus Falls, Minn., recently decided to keep the commandments of the Lord; others are interested.
BROTHER A. J. WATERS, who is holding a series of meetings at Heiberger, Colo., reports that fourteen persons have already decided to obey the truth, twelve of whom are young men.
THE following report comes from Brother Martin Olson, at Valley City, N. D.: “As a result of the meetings that I have been holding at this place nine persons are keeping the Sabbath.”
BROTHER WILLIAM WENTLAND reports from Ellendale, N. D., that several have given their hearts to God and begun the observance of the Sabbath. He has been invited to hold meetings in a large evangelical church in Ellendale.
Congress and Religious Legislation
By K. C. R.
THURSDAY, March 4, at 12 M., the Sixtieth Congress expired, and with it all the bills that had failed to pass during the session died.
Among the many bills that failed to become law was Senate bill 3940, known as the Johnston Sunday bill for the District of Columbia. The defeat of this bill will be a source of satisfaction to the friends of religious freedom in this country; for had the bill become law, it would have been the first Sunday law enacted by Congress, and would therefore have been a long step toward the union of church and state in the United States. The friends of Sunday legislation in the city of Washington and throughout the country have exerted persistent efforts for the passage of this and many other Sunday bills, but through the united efforts of the friends of religious freedom in the United States, and through the good sense of our lawmakers, this pernicious legislation has been defeated. Those who have in any way exerted an influence in bringing about this victory should take renewed courage in opposing any similar measure that may be urged upon Congress in the future.
The victories gained by the friends of religious freedom in defeating Sunday legislation in many of the States throughout the Union should also be a source of encouragement to them, because it demonstrates that there are still statesmen in legislative assemblies who prize too highly the principles of religious liberty to yield to the pressure that is being brought upon them by various religious organizations to secure the enactment of Sunday laws.
The recent movement to secure a Sunday law for the District of Columbia was instigated by the Ministerial Association of Washington in November, 1907. They sought and secured the co-operation of the Roman Catholics after obtaining the consent of Cardinal Gibbons. This movement was also championed by the National Federation of Sunday Rest Associations of America, and the American Federation of Labor, besides other national and local organizations. It might be queried, What more could be desired along the line of influence and numbers than the forces already indicated?
During the past four years the efforts of those who have sought to secure legislation in Congress have been met with signal defeat. The only measure of a religious character that the friends of Sunday legislation have succeeded in getting through Congress during this period was the Sunday-closing condition in the appropriation bill of the Jamestown Exposition. This was not surprising, however, owing to the prestige that had been established by Congress in making appropriations for other great expositions upon a like condition. It is a matter worthy of comment that the Sunday-law advocates have not been successful in securing a Sunday-closing condition to the appropriation for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition to be held at Seattle, Wash., this year.
Let none forget that in all efforts in defense of the principles of liberty the one objective point should be to warn the people of the final outcome, that they may escape the wrath of God, which is to be poured out without mixture upon those who reject the message of warning against the beast, and his image, and the reception of his mark. K. C. R.
