THE following quotations are from letters written by a bright young Presbyterian girl, now the wife of an honored minister, who was first instructed in Fairfield Institute, Winnsborough, S. C., and afterward was graduated from the Scotia Seminary (Presbyterian), at Concord, N. C.,—schools founded and carried on by the Board of Missions for Freedmen (Presbyterian). As she advanced in Christian knowledge, the longing grew in her heart to go to Africa that she might tell the glad tidings to those who had never heard of Jesus. But while she waited, another door was opened before her among a very ignorant class of colored people, near her own home, in South Carolina. After teaching seven months in this school,—which gave her a walk of six miles daily, up and down hill, with three creeks to cross on the way,—she wrote the following letter:—
“Shall I tell you how I came to be here? After returning home from the school which I had been attending, I happened to meet the school commissioner, and he asked me to take this school. I promised him that I would, but not long after I met a man who lived in that neighborhood, and he told me that I had better make up my mind to go to Africa at once, rather than go down there on the government land to teach. He said it was useless for me to go, for the people had met together and decided not to send their children to any school-teacher, white or black. What, now, was I to do? I went home feeling sad, knowing that my parents would not be willing for me to go to such a place. I told them just what the man had said, and they objected to my going. But I begged them to permit me to go. They knew I had thought of going to Africa, and here was Africa in our own land. Finally they consented, and I set out on my weary journey, which did not end until late at night. The next morning I asked the woman where I had stayed to direct me to the school-house. She said they had no school-house, but there was an old empty log hut where she had heard they intended to locate a school. I got her to go with me, and just before getting there, I picked up a little half-naked girl and carried her with me to the miserable little hut. I went in and found that the hut had been used for prayer-meetings. There were logs lying about for seats. I sat there awhile, and soon found that the people meant to be as good as their word in regard to sending their children to school. I opened the school, however, with that one little child that I had picked up by the way. I knelt down and prayed, and then sang, ‘Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour.’ I took this child, and went to four or five houses, and begged the people to send their children to school next day. Some said that they would, and others that they would not.
“I went back to the house where I was to board, some three miles away, very sad and not a little tired. What was my surprise the next morning, on arriving at the school hut, to see seventeen little savage-looking children, with their parents along with them. The children’s clothes—or the one piece they wore—were actually pinned on with thorns. I shall not tell you how I met them, as I hope to write again soon. I got along rather roughly for the first two weeks, but after that my school numbered seventy-six, and the Sabbath-school [Sunday-school], from thirty-six to forty. The greatest need now is books and papers for my day- and Sabbath-school.”
The following year she wrote thus about her school:—
“Had any one from the North, who knew nothing about a slave State, passed through here two years ago, he would16have had little hope for these people and their children. The men would actually come to church in clothes which looked as if they had not been washed for weeks, with no coats on and in their bare feet. The women, of course, corresponded with the men in their untidy dress, and all chewed and smoked around the place of worship. I wish I could picture just how they looked and acted when I first came among them. The change has been wonderful for so short a time. You may still, now and then, find a man who comes to church without his coat, but not one without his shoes. The women all wash their clothes on the evening before, if necessary, that they and their children may come clean to Sabbath-school. I was afraid at first to tell the parents about coming to church in their untidy clothes, so I spoke through the children to the older ones about cleanliness.
“The little hut which I spoke of can bear that name no longer, for I have patched it up with pieces of planks and logs, and a little mud, too, so that it is almost comfortable now. I wonder how I wintered in this miserable, open place, with from seventy-six to eighty pupils, and no fire except what I kindled outside in the yard so that the children could warm their little bare feet as they passed in and out; for one third of them had no shoes. I have managed to get a little stove for this winter, and had it put up. Last week a number of the children and myself were caught in a rain-storm, and when we reached the schoolhouse, we looked as if we had been immersed, and it was cool enough for November. I made a fire in the stove. The children had never seen a stove before, and they stood off and looked on with as much astonishment as the natives did at Columbus, and asked all sorts of questions about it, which I took pleasure in answering.
“When I came here, there was not one child who knew the alphabet; now many can both read and write. I have an excellent Bible class, but only three Bibles, which we pass from one to another until all the children have read. You will be surprised when I tell you that these children have learned to read without books. I had one Appleton’s ‘First Reader,’ and a small blackboard. I would print each lesson on the board and around the room on the old black plank which had been used to stop cracks. Then I would call up fifteen or twenty children, and go over the words two or three times. It certainly was surprising how the children would recognize the words on the board.
“I have about ten old persons in the Sabbath-school. One old man, seventy-eight years of age, sits laughing and crying at the same time, and every now and then cries out: ‘De Lord be praised! Did I ever ’spect to see dis day? O glory! my soul feels new!’ I stop talking until he quiets down. The women, too, say ‘Amen, amen!’ while I am reading to them. I think of having the old people meet at a different hour, as I think I can teach them better by having them alone. A more superstitious people I have never seen. O, pray that they may rise above dreams and superstitions!”
When I first heard the above letters read, I thought that picture could not be true of 1911, but was assured by those who knew the condition of things, that there really are places in the South that are just as bad to-day.
If that be true, what a work we, as Seventh-day Adventists, have to do! The Lord has given us light above every other denomination. Then why should we sit back, and let others enter these places? Is it not time for us to arise and shine; to go forth in the name of the Lord, enter these dark places, and carry them the glad tidings of a soon-coming Saviour?
DORA V. HAYSMER.
The Oklahoma Camp-Meeting
By G. B. Thompson
THE annual conference and camp-meeting of the Oklahoma Conference was held in Enid, August 27 to September 3. The location of the camp was all that could be desired, being conveniently near the city, and reached by excellent street-car service. There was also an abundance of pure water. We were blessed with fine weather during the entire meeting. The city of Enid made liberal donations toward defraying the expenses of the meeting, though the attendance from the city was not large.
On account of drought and consequent shortage in crops, there were not so many of our people present as there have been in former years. However, it was a large meeting, there being about eight hundred encamped on the ground, many of whom were Germans.
The business of the conference was transacted with a good degree of unity. The officers chosen for the coming year were about the same as those of the past year. Elder David Voth was unanimously reelected president.
The reports rendered showed progress in the various departments. Those selling our publications have met with excellent success. Orders were taken for nearly $30,000 worth of books during the year. The financial reports showed a gain. The tithe for the past year was $27,287.25, an increase over the previous year of $2,895.07. The conference voted to give a portion of its tithe in the future to missions, on the basis of the recommendation passed at the recent council in Germany, which would be twenty-two per cent for the coming year, provided the tithe is equal to that of the past year. It was also voted to raise a sum equal to fifteen cents a week per member for the work in the regions beyond. During the past year $9,775.57 was raised by the ten-cent-a-week plan. The Sabbath-school contributions increased $657.41 over the previous year. Donations were also made to the $300,000 Fund and to the Clinton German Seminary.
A number of revival services were held during the meeting. The Lord seemed to lead in this direction. At some of the evening services a call was made for those to come forward who desired a better experience and deliverance from the bondage of wrong habits. Many found special help from the Lord, and rejoiced anew in the forgiveness of their sins. The last Sabbath of the meeting was marked with much of the blessing of the Lord. At the forenoon service a large number sought the Lord, some for the first time. In the afternoon Brother Bernard Voth was ordained to the sacred work of the gospel ministry, and the Lord's Spirit was present on this occasion in a very special manner. Two baptisms were held during the meeting, and forty-two persons followed their Lord in this sacred rite. Some others will be baptized in their home churches.
Elders G. F. Watson, O. A. Olsen, H. Shultz, G. F. Haffner, W. W. Eastman, T. M. French, and E. E. Farnsworth, and the writer attended the meeting, sharing with the local laborers its burdens and blessings. A meeting of the union conference committee called a number of other laborers in for a short time.
Oklahoma has grown to be a strong conference. It has great resources. The State has much wealth. Liberal donations should come from this field for the extension of the work abroad. Here also are many young people of both the American and the German nationality who should be developed into strong workers for God. My prayer is that the abundant resources of this large field may be properly husbanded, and that great growth and prosperity will mark the work of the coming year. Personally, I very much enjoyed this meeting, and am encouraged to believe that God will prosper the work here in the future. G. B. Thompson.
West Michigan Camp-Meeting
By K. C. Russell
The West Michigan camp-meeting was held at Muskegon, Mich., August 17-27. The camp was conveniently located on a street-car line. The ground was covered with trees, which supplied the campers with an abundance of shade. There was a good attendance of our people at the meeting, and also a fair attendance of the citizens of Muskegon at the evening services.
The leading of God's Spirit was signally manifested during the business sessions of the conference. The conference voted to pay fifteen per cent of its tithe to missions, and will increase this amount to twenty-five per cent at the earliest opportunity. It was with much regret on the part of both officers and people that they were not financially able to do so at once. The people cheerfully accepted the plan to have the offerings average fifteen cents a week per member. They will also put forth a strong effort to finish raising their share of the $300,000 Fund by Dec. 31, 1911. Elder S. E. Wight was unanimously elected president of the conference for another term.
Besides the regular laborers of the conference, there were in attendance Elders O. A. Olsen, A. Moon, F. C. Gilbert, S. Mortenson, O. Montgomery, and J. J. Westrup, Dr. D. H. Kress, Profs. O. J. Graf and R. U. Garrett, Brethren J. B. Blosser and J. W. Mace, and the writer.
The meetings were characterized by much of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was a source of great encouragement to observe the willingness manifested on the part of a large number of young people to devote their God-given talents to the service of their Master.
Elder Westrup's talks on China were greatly appreciated by all, as was evidenced by the liberal offering that was made on the $300,000 Fund at the close of his last address.
We feel confident that this meeting has given a new inspiration to the people of this conference to exert themselves as never before to do all within their power to finish the work quickly.
K. C. RUSSELL.
The Ohio Camp-Meeting
By B. G. Wilkinson
THE annual session of the Ohio Conference was held at Wooster, in connection with the annual camp-meeting, August 17-27. This place is a beautiful little town situated in a good farming community, a place which had never heard the preaching of the third angel's message. The fair-ground, located conveniently near the city and supplied with good buildings, pure water, and ample shade, was freely given to the conference for its use. The town has a population of about seven thousand; and during the whole course of the meeting there was a large attendance on the part of those not of our faith.
There was not so good an attendance of our own people at this meeting as at that of the year previous, probably due to the fact that it was held in the northern part of the State, somewhat at one side. Nevertheless, the reports of the work done in the conference during the past year were most encouraging. Financially, there has been a gain in the amount of tithe, an increase of about $2,700. Reports from all the departments of the conference work were very encouraging.
In harmony with the resolution passed by the General Conference Committee last April at the time of the ministerial institute at Philadelphia, Pa., Elder E. K. Slade, of East Michigan, was elected president of the Ohio Conference for the ensuing year. Elder Slade arrived during the latter part of the camp-meeting, and received a hearty welcome from the brethren and sisters of the Ohio Conference. Deep regret was shown by all at the loss of Elder H. H. Burkholder, but the prayers and good wishes of the conference which he has served so long will go with him to his new field of labor.
The conference heartily adopted all the resolutions lately recommended by the General Conference Council respecting the relations of the finances of the local conferences to the foreign mission fields. In response to a call, a good donation was given toward completing the $300,000 Fund this year. Attention was also paid to the interests of the union institutions and of the Columbia Union Conference. An offering of nearly five hundred dollars was taken up on one occasion in behalf of Mount Vernon College. The brethren were greatly pleased at the turn for the better which has taken place in the affairs of the Philadelphia Sanitarium, and pledged themselves heartily to a renewed and diligent prosecution of the campaign with “Ministry of Healing.”
The meeting was deeply marked throughout by the presence of the Spirit of God. Revival services were held on several occasions, both in the large tent and with the young people, and many hearts surrendered to God for the first time, while those who had been discouraged or backslidden renewed their covenant with God. A deep impression was made upon the people of the city. One man took his stand for the truth during the meetings, and so great was the interest manifested that it was decided to leave a tent at Wooster to follow up the effort so well begun.
The last Sabbath afternoon four young men were ordained to the gospel ministry. These were Walter C. Moffett, J. J. Marietta, John W. Shultz, and Dr. W. J. Venen. We were favored during a part of the time with the labors of Elders A. G. Daniells, K. C. Russell, and H. R. Salisbury, and of Brother I. A. Ford, of the Review and Herald. All the officers of the union carrying the responsibilities of the different departments, were also present, and participated actively in the labors of the meeting.
B. G. WILKINSON.
Washington Foreign Mission Seminary
By M. E. Kern
THE constituency meeting of the Foreign Mission Seminary was held in connection with the Philadelphia ministerial institute, May 17-20, 1911. The constituency is composed of the members of the General Conference Committee and the president of each local conference in the United States. A legal quorum consists of ten members, but more than that number were present at each meeting.
The president’s report showed the total enrolment for the year to be 110, the largest in the history of the institution. The Lord has blessed the efforts put forth to give missionaries a special equipment for their work. The General Conference Committee and the Sanitarium and Seminary boards have given special study during the year to the best methods of training recruits for the foreign field. The results of this study were presented in the plans for a closer union between the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary and the Washington Sanitarium in their work.
The treasurer, M. E. Kern, presented the financial report for the year ending June 30, 1911, showing a present worth of $51,327.84, with a net gain of $1,058.74 for the year. This report, with the statement of the auditors, was adopted.
The constituency voted —
“1. That we approve of the action of the board of trustees in bringing about a closer relationship in the operation of the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary and the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium, to the end that Seminary students may receive a better medical training, and that Sanitarium nurses may receive a more thorough training for evangelistic work.
“2. That the membership of the board of trustees of the two institutions be identical.”
The following-named persons were elected as the board of trustees of the Washington Foreign Mission Seminary: A. G. Daniells, Dr. Robert S. Ingersoll, Dr. H. N. Sisco, W. T. Knox, R. T. Dowsett, F. M. Wilcox, M. E. Kern, H. R. Salisbury, E. R. Palmer.
Organization of Board
Soon after this meeting the new board of trustees organized, with W. T. Knox, president; M. E. Kern, secretary; and R. T. Dowsett, treasurer. The Sanitarium Board elected the same chairman and treasurer, with Dr. H. N. Sisco as secretary. Legally the two institutions are entirely separate, but they are united in their operation, having the same business management.
Courses of Study
The Seminary offers the following courses: Ministerial, postgraduate missionary nurses’, canvassers and colporteurs’, Bible workers’, and music. Academic work is provided for those who are deficient in those subjects. Special attention is given to thorough and advanced training in Bible, missions, history, modern languages, English, music, Christian work, and other fundamentals. Of the industrial subjects, printing, agriculture, dressmaking, millinery, and cooking are emphasized.
The Seminary and the District of Columbia Conference work closely together in giving our students the very best possible experience in Christian work. In this way special attention is given to the training of ministers and Bible workers.
The postgraduate nurses’ course seems to meet a real need, and appeals very strongly to our missionary nurses. The opportunities afforded for clinical and dispensary work in the largest hospital in Washington is proving a great blessing to those who desire advanced work. There is still room for a few others to enter this course this fall.
The special lectures on denominational organization and work and on the Bible versus human philosophy which were given daily last year, and which proved to be a most beneficial feature, will be continued this year.
Faculty
The faculty chosen to carry forward the work for the year 1911-12 is as follows: M. E. Kern (president), C. Sorenson, J. N. Anderson, M. Ellsworth18Olsen, Warren E. Howell, Dr. R. S. Ingersoll, Mrs. H. R. Salisbury, Dr. H. N. Sisco, Clement Hamer, Dr. Olive Ingersoll, Isabella B. Campbell, Lynn H. Wood, Dr. Bourdeau-Sisco, Mrs. N. Z. Town, Esther M. Spicer, S. Grace Denny, Ruby N. Owen, O. F. Thompson, W. J. Maxson, F. E. Hull. The special lecturers are: A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, W. A. Spicer, W. T. Knox, H. R. Salisbury, K. C. Russell, Mrs. L. Flora Plummer, G. B. Thompson, J. N. Anderson, F. M. Wilcox, B. G. Wilkinson, M. E. Kern, A. J. S. Bourdeau, Dr. Geo. Thomason, M. E. Olsen, R. T. Dowsett.
The Seminary opens Wednesday, September 20, at 9 A. M. On the evening of that day, appropriate addresses will be made by different members of the General Conference Committee.
As a board and faculty we solicit the prayers of God’s people that wisdom may be given for the carrying forward of this important work which means so much to the progress of the third angel’s message.
M. E. KERN,
President.
New Brunswick
By J. A. Strickland
HARVEY.—This is a village with a population of about four hundred, situated in the center of one of the finest farming sections in the province of New Brunswick.
In harmony with a recommendation of the Maritime Conference, I entered Harvey with a tent in June, and began the proclamation of the third angel's message. For more than three weeks the weather was stormy and unfavorable, yet encouraging congregations were present at every service, sometimes double the number our tent would accommodate.
The Spirit of God was present in a remarkable manner. The testing truths for our times found lodgment in the minds and hearts of many. At the expiration of six weeks a company of twenty-one believers was organized, ten of this number being adults. These dear souls are heartily rejoicing in the blessed hope of present truth; they meet from house to house each Sabbath. The entire company is full of courage, and is happily journeying to the kingdom that is now very near.
August 6 I removed my tent to a place called Little Settlement, five miles from Harvey. I will say for the people of this place that I have never found a more moral, friendly, and sociable people, nor a community that insisted on fair play more than this one.
Our tent has been filled at every meeting, it not being able to hold half who came on pleasant evenings and Sundays.
The Sabbath question is being presented now. Not one word of opposition has been offered. We believe by the help of God, some bright jewels are going to be gathered from Little Settlement for our blessed Master.
There are quite a number of intelligent young people here, whom some day I hope to see occupying places of usefulness in our Lord's vineyard.
Pray that God's blessing may richly descend upon this place.
J. A. STRICKLAND.
Report of Work Done in Baltimore During Summer of 1911
By Carlyle B. Haynes
In thinking over the matter of reaching the people of Baltimore with the truth, I was impressed with the fact that about the only thing that went into all these homes which could carry the truth with it was the daily newspaper. Very few of the homes in any city are without the newspaper. It would take years for the canvasser to reach every home in this great city with one of our publications; it would take years for Bible workers to visit every home of the city and teach the people the truth; in fact, this work can never be done in this way, for our workers will not be received in all the homes. It would take years for all the people to be reached by tent efforts, for there are comparatively few who ever attend the most successful tent effort. But the daily newspaper visits all the homes in the city every day in every week of the year. It seemed obvious, therefore, that the thing to do was to get the truth in the daily newspaper.
In talking this matter over with Brother Walter L. Burgan, an experienced newspaper man, a member of the editorial staff of the Baltimore American and a member of the Baltimore church, I was encouraged to believe that with proper care and effort it might be possible for us to get some reports of sermons in the paper. The success with which our efforts in Baltimore this summer have been crowned is largely due to the care and pains which were taken by Brother Burgan in instructing me how to write articles for the press. I do not mean by this that the success in getting them into the paper depended on Brother Burgan, for I wish to emphasize the thought that what has been done in Baltimore this summer can be done just as easily everywhere else where the same methods are followed. This is not a thing which depends on having a Brother Burgan in every newspaper office in the country. It can and will succeed where we have no “friend at court.” All that is necessary is for the men who do it to know how to do it. There are just as many little things connected with writing for the press as there are in any other work or calling, the knowing of which or the ignorance of which makes the difference between success and failure.
While the success that has attended our efforts in getting these articles in the papers of Baltimore has been largely due to the fact that we made the effort to do it, it is nevertheless the fact that it is just as largely due, and undoubtedly more so, to the wonderful working of the Spirit of God. None of us who have been connected with the work in Baltimore has any desire to claim any of the credit for this work. Many times we have been made to marvel at the evidences of God's guiding hand; we have witnessed many things that we had no expectation of seeing.
Some statistics may be of interest. During the course of the tent effort we sent 88 articles to the different papers of the city, containing reports of the meetings, most of them having a synopsis of the sermon preached. There are five daily papers in Baltimore—the Sun, the American, the Evening Star, the News, and the Evening Sun. Two of these are morning papers, and three are evening papers. Most of the reports of sermons have been in the morning papers, the American and the Sun.
Of the 88 articles taken to the papers, 84 have been printed. The American has published 72, the Sun 23, the News 9, the Star 4, and the Evening Sun 1.
The American has a daily circulation of 80,000 copies, the Sun 85,000, the News, 75,000, the Star 55,000, and the Evening Sun 35,000. From this it can be seen that the American has published 80,000 copies each of 72 articles on some phase of present truth, the Sun 85,000 copies each of 23 articles, the News 75,000 copies each of 9 articles, and the Star has had 4 articles of which it published 55,000 copies each, while the Evening Sun published 35,000 copies of 1 article. Totaling these figures, we find that of all the papers in Baltimore there have been printed and circulated 8,645,000 copies of newspapers, each one of which contained an article on some phase of the message.
The territories of the circulation of the American and the Sun cover the whole State of Maryland, and much of Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia. They also go to a considerable part of Pennsylvania. They are sold at all the news-stands of the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio railroads, in all the towns and cities from Richmond, Va., to Boston, Mass. I have received letters from persons in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware telling me that they were reading the articles in the papers. Hundreds of thousands have seen these reports of sermons on the truth, and only the day of God will reveal what good has been accomplished through this summer's newspaper campaign. In the city of Baltimore itself, these newspaper reports have interested so many people that I have found it necessary to do but very little advertising in any other way, for the newspapers have brought the audiences. I wish to add in closing my report on this part of the summer's work, that all this newspaper publicity has not cost one cent. We have not even advertised in any of the papers. The papers have received absolutely nothing for anything that they have published.
I have dwelt at considerable length on this newspaper work, for we have felt that this has been the feature of the Baltimore effort. Now, however, I wish to give some facts with regard to the tent effort itself. The first meeting was held on Sunday night, July 9. About four hundred attended this service. During the effort we have held 54 meetings.
At these meetings 10,675 persons have been in attendance. This makes an average attendance of 197 for each meeting. The donations have amounted to $120.10, which makes an average nightly collection of $2.22. At the last three Sunday night meetings pledges were taken from the audiences for money to help carry on a series of Sunday afternoon theater meetings this winter, and so far about $150 has been pledged for this purpose. Of these pledges $80 has been paid.
About twenty-five are observing the Sabbath as a result of the meetings, and these will be ready for baptism in a few weeks. We are endeavoring to secure some suitable place for this baptism, in some stream or lake near the city, and we fully expect that when the Baltimore papers print the announcement of the baptism, many thousands will wish to be present to witness this sacred and solemn ceremony.
In the tent effort during the summer I have been privileged to be associated with earnest Bible workers—Sister Cassie Wilson, of the Foreign Mission Seminary, and Sister Ethel Carroll, of the Hagerstown church. They have done faithful work in visiting the people and instructing them in the truths of the message. Sister Wilson will return to the Seminary, but Sister Carroll is planning to remain in Baltimore and follow up the interest created by the tent effort. Brother W. J. Vanzant, of the Rock Hall church, has acted as tent-master throughout the effort.
Every Monday night has been devoted to health topics, lectures being delivered by our physicians from the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium. Nine of these meetings have been held. Four lectures were delivered by Dr. R. S. Ingersoll, two by Dr. Patience Bourdeau-Sisco, two by Dr. Lauretta Kress, and one by Dr. Olive Ingersoll. It is impossible accurately to estimate the good that has been done by the instruction that has been given on the principles of health. One thing has been very noticeable, and that is that from being the worst night of the week, the Monday night health meetings have become the best of the week. Next to Sunday night, the largest attendance has been on Monday night, and many people have been attracted to the meetings by becoming interested in the health lectures. The reports of these meetings have been given the most space by the daily papers.
CARLYLE B. HAYNES.
Kentucky Church and Evangelistic Reports
JUNE 25 Elder B. W. Brown met with the church at Grove, Ky., and four persons were baptized and united with the church. A church building was dedicated the same day. At Lexington six persons are keeping the Sabbath as the result of the tent effort at that place. At Louisville, July 2, two persons were baptized. Two families are reported that keeping the Sabbath from reading books sold them by canvassers.
“Forget Foolish Blue-Laws”
By S. B. H.
THE entangled affairs of Glen Echo, Md., growing out of ill-feeling provoked by an attempt to enforce the Maryland Sunday laws, have been finally straightened out, as it were, by the election of a new mayor, Mr. Robt. Garrett, who has adopted a “Glen Echo Decalogue,” in which the sixth and seventh sections say: “Forget foolish blue-laws;” “Enforce Sunday-closing laws.” The new mayor says, among other things, that the “blue-laws are a foolish part of the Maryland statutes,” and that he will make no attempt to enforce them.
Query: By what process of reasoning can Sunday laws be separated from the legislation rightly characterized as “blue-laws”? S. B. H.
A Specious Argument
By S. B. H.
THE Defender of June-July published an editorial on “Physiological Reasons for the Weekly Rest Day,” and associated with the article Dr. Hegley’s chart, in which it is assumed that Sunday rest is essential to mankind for the preservation of physical health. This is one of the excuses put forward for the enactment of civil laws compelling the observance of Sunday. It is a fact supported by available evidence that for the most part this “discovery” has been made by some of the clergy favoring compulsory Sunday observance. But the claim that physicians and scientists generally indorse this position is not sustained by the record. In the light of history, the position of the Defender on the question amounts to nothing more nor less than assumption. It goes without saying that the number of people in this world who have kept Sunday regularly as a day of rest, is comparatively small. The weekly rest day is mostly confined to those lands where the people profess Christianity. In heathen lands weekly rest is not observed, and it never has been known among the heathen nations of past times; and yet it is of record that in point of physical perfection, the heathen compare favorably with the people of so-called Christian nations.
A bit of more recent history from the pen of Bishop Andrews, of the Methodist Church, who has visited China, will be of interest:—
“In China they have no septennial division of time, no weekly rest day, but merely annual festivals. They work right along all the time, with no day of rest as such; yet they live to a very advanced age. This fact has led one of the most careful thinkers who has ever been sent as a missionary to China, to raise the serious question whether the great purpose of the Sabbath is not for worship and communion with the other world.”
We are not contending that Sabbath observance does not bring physical as well as spiritual benefit, but we do maintain that to make physiological reasons a basis for compulsory Sunday observance is unwarranted. The Bible tells us of such men as Goliath of Gath, Og king of Bashan, and “the giants, the sons of Anak,” concerning whom the ten spies reported, We were in their eyes as grasshoppers. The ancient Greeks furnished some of the most noted men in point of physical perfection, and yet they had no weekly rest day. Neither did the conquering armies of Rome follow the practise of observing a weekly day of rest.
To refer to the Defender again, we find in that issue an article by Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, on the subject of Sunday play, in which he says, among other things:—
“We are indeed becoming a child nation like Spain, with half of its time devoted to saints’ days and holidays. If most of our people were not so much on the street and in places of amusement in their leisure hours, and had the time to read something of history, they would recognize an alarming likeness between our present situation and those days before the fall of the Roman empire, when the common cry of the people was ‘bread and games.’ To an unprecedented degree, Americans are busy with money-making by day and pleasure-making by night; and if the pleasures were not in themselves degrading, they would degrade by their very excess.”
It seems to us that Mr. Crafts in this language points out the real difficulty with the mass of humanity to-day. As he puts it, dissipation threatens the people. Continuous pleasure-making at night, the divinely ordained time for physical rest, is the thing to be deprecated. And if we are to argue in behalf of rest periods from the effects of dissipation carried on at night, when we should be resting physically, it would require more than one weekly rest day sufficiently to offset the trouble.
It should be remembered in passing that the eight-hour working-day, the half-holiday on Saturday, and the early closing of stores, are coming to be generally observed; and, taken in connection with Dr. Crafts’ “saints’ days and holidays,” it would seem superfluous to compel the people by civil law to rest on Sunday.
But the motive behind compulsory Sunday observance by civil law is designed to conserve religious rather than physiological ends, Dr. Crafts himself being the judge; and we are safe in concluding that the argument put forth in behalf of “Physiological Reasons for the Weekly Rest Day” by the Sunday-law advocates is a very specious one, and certainly lacks the necessary element of logic.
S. B. H.
The Work for the Colored People
By C. F. McVagh
Good words are coming from the colored workers in all parts of the Southern Union Mission. Over forty persons have accepted the truth in Louisville, Ky., about thirty in Dothan, Ala., and nearly thirty in Meridian, Miss., during the summer. Encouraging reports also come from other places.
On my way to Jackson I had the privilege of spending a little time with our colored brethren at their camp-meeting in Meridian, Miss. This is the most successful camp-meeting ever held for the colored people in the Southern Union Mission. The attendance of our own people was good, and there was also a large attendance of those not of our faith, and a number took a firm stand for the truth during the meeting. Elders A. C. Chatman and N. B. King conducted a fruitful tent-meeting in Meridian during the summer. In addition to these brethren, Elders J. H. Lawrence and S. A. Jordan, Dr. Isbell-Blake, and the mission Sabbath-school secretary, Julia Lowe, together with Professor Rogers, Elder C. P. Bollman, and the writer, were in attendance at the camp-meeting. The colored laborers have done faithful work, and the spirit of courage and unity prevails throughout the mission. Truly this is the time to press the work among the colored people. Calls are coming from interested persons in many places.
The first Sabbath in October is the time for an annual offering in all our churches for the work among the colored people. This is the only opportunity in a whole year given for unitedly aiding in pushing forward this important work, so I trust that all our people will remember it in a very substantial way, both by their prayers and by a liberal offering.
C. F. McVAGH.
Christian Liberty
By K. C. Russell; S. B. Horton
Reports, notes, and comments pertaining to the current history of the rights of conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL - - - - Secretary
S. B. HORTON - - - - Assistant Secretary
Religious Despotism Established Insidiously
IN an enlightened community, blessed with free and liberal institutions, religious despotism can only be established insensibly and by degrees. Every approach to it should be vigilantly guarded against by the government.—Memorial of Citizens of New Hampshire to Congress in 1830, quoted in “American State Papers,” page 285.