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Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 2.

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Earlier text: Great Danger

The Work in Northeastern Jamaica

By HUBERT FLETCHER

This field comprises the parish of Portland, with an area of about two hundred and eighty-eight square miles, and a population of thirty-two thousand. This is the chief banana-producing parish of the island. It is also the headquarters of the United Fruit Company, the largest fruit-trading company in the island, as well as of other smaller companies.
Its capital, Port Antonio, the next shipping port to Kingston, is a town of growing importance, and could well be styled an “American town,” as one sees more of the American customs there than elsewhere on the island. There is a great future for Port Antonio. Besides the great improvement being made to the town through the United Fruit Company, an American company has undertaken the construction of hotel buildings, which, when completed, are to be the best in the island. The streets are expected soon to be lighted with electricity. They are being reconstructed, and a park has been recently added, while the town is extending more and more. During the tourist season, which begins about the first of the year, the town does its best business, being visited by hundreds of Americans; in fact, throughout the entire year it is visited by Americans and others. During the banana season, called the “long days,” which begins also with the tourist season, money is freely circulated. The planters receive 2s. 6d. a bunch for their fruit, which is a profitable return. We would add, too, that in this parish are to be found people from every parish of the island, who have come to earn money.
In this interesting parish we have the third angel’s message permanently established. In Port Antonio we have a neat and attractive church building, which is a credit to the cause. It is thirty-six feet by twenty-four feet, with a frontage of eight feet by seven feet. This was dedicated November 13. Thus in this capital there is a memorial of the great truths for these last days.
Seven miles to the south (with Port Antonio as a center) is situated the John’s Hall Church, on the top of a mountain which overlooks the harbor, as a beacon light, indeed, pointing out the reefs of danger, and guiding souls into the quiet haven of rest. About nine miles to the east is the Sherwood Forest church. Thirteen and one-half miles west, and three and one-half miles from Hope Bay, is the Swift River church, situated in a beautiful valley, and watered by the river from which it takes its name. Seven miles across the mountains, and eight miles from Orange Bay, is the Moore Park church. And a pleasant walk of two miles from Buff Bay brings us to the Hart Hill church. Thus we have six strongly built church buildings in the parish. Of these four are organized churches and two are companies, with a total membership of one hundred and seventy.
These brethren have labored hard to erect these buildings, and now that they are completed, there is a great work for the brethren to do. Each company has been raised up by God to form a nucleus, with its apportioned territory assigned it. By faithfully living out the truth, and giving it to those around them, these brethren and sisters can work. Filled with the missionary spirit, they can say to the ministers, “Go to those places where the truth has not been proclaimed, and establish the work. We will carry on the work here.” Thus the whole parish will be worked. There are several small interests at present; but these can be looked after by the brethren in the different churches.
The writer has spent three years and nine months of interesting labor in this field; and as he leaves for his new field of labor, his prayer is that the grace of God may abound richly to all, and, “My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
HUBERT FLETCHER.

Iowa

By J. W. Dorcas

DES MOINES.—The Des Moines church enjoyed a refreshing season in the meetings held by Elders Daniells and Starr, December 29-31. Quite a number of isolated members were in attendance and greatly appreciated the privilege, and all were very much encouraged. Elder Daniell's review of the lines of prophecy and their fulfilment, and his recounting of the early experiences in this message—which constitute the evidences of our faith—led us to a greater appreciation of the truths which make us a peculiar people. The warnings and admonitions given, the accounts of interesting openings in other lands, and the appeals for help in maintaining the work of God in the earth, filled us with a desire to be more faithful in the service of the Lord, to consecrate ourselves and our means more fully to the advancement of his work.
J. W. DORCAS.

Argentina

By J. W. Westphal

Buenos Ayres.—The work seems to be onward in our several South American fields. In the State of Parana, at Castro, several have lately begun to keep the Sabbath, under the labors of Brother Emil Hoelsle. This is a new field, he having moved to this place to be more centrally located for the whole State. Elder Graf reports that more than fifty have accepted the truth in one place in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, where he and Elder E. Schwantes have been laboring.
Several have begun to keep the Sabbath at Lehmann, Argentina, where our recent conference was held. This is an Italian Catholic town, and those who have accepted the truth were Catholics. The interest still continues, and the work is being carried forward by Brother Santiago Mangold, one of our licentiates.
Others have received the message in Valparaiso, Chile, and a few weeks ago seven were baptized. While the enemy is working, the Lord is lifting up a standard against him.
J. W. WESTPHAL.

South Africa

By A. W. KUEHL

JOHANNESBURG.—Our work is moving along nicely in Johannesburg. A few are deciding for the truth; six have taken their stand definitely. Others are wavering and we can not yet tell which way the balance will turn.
Sister Webster is doing good work as a medical missionary, and is also giving quite a number of Bible readings. Sister Keet is progressing in the work nicely, and has several Bible readers. Brother Robinson is looking after the tent, and spending what time he can in canvassing.
We have a children’s meeting each Sunday afternoon, with an average attendance of over sixty. My wife is very grateful to those who have been kind enough to send us back numbers of the Little Friend and the Youth’s Instructor, and would like to have as many more as we can get. The children appreciate the papers very much. All papers may be sent to 20 Jacoba St., Troyville, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Our Sabbath-school also is increasing in numbers and interest. A kindergarten department has just been opened. The little children are much pleased.
A. W. KUEHL.

The Eastern Polynesian Mission

By Mrs. B. J. Cady

The second annual conference of this mission was held at Avera, Raiatea, July 7-18, 1904. The workers in attendance were Elder E. H. Gates, general superintendent of the island field, from Australia; Brother and Sister G. F. Jones and Miss Gooding, from Rarotonga; L. A. Roth, Paul J. Deane, and Mrs. Beckner, from Tahiti; and Brother and Sister B. J. Cady and Miss Nelson, of Raiatea. We hoped to have some of our people from Pitcairn with us, and several had planned to come, but it was thought unsafe for their cutter to make such a long trip again.
The meetings were held in the home on the Hillsdale plantation, and most of the visitors were entertained there. No better time could have been chosen for holding the meeting in this place, as we have but little rain at this season of the year, and also have our coolest weather.
I believe that all enjoyed their short sojourn in this quiet spot among the verdant hills, where God seems to come especially near. In leading us to this place, it is as if the Lord said to us, as to his disciples of old, “Come ye yourselves apart . . . and rest awhile.” And I trust that all found just the rest needed, and that they now go out to labor with new energy and courage.
Part of the time during the meetings, the people of the island were in the settlement, celebrating the chief holiday of the French nation. The custom is to celebrate three days, July 13-15, but the natives try to lengthen it out all the way from one week to a month. The natives of the island were all compelled to attend this celebration, and help in the singing, or else pay a fine of $1 each. This is in accordance with an old native law which is still in vogue, and is quite in harmony with the tastes of these people, who love to attend such gatherings, and who are highly entertained for days at a time in watching the trials at the fortune wheels and listening to the singing. They call it arearea (pleasure); but while nearly the whole island were gathered in the village, vainly seeking their pleasure in this way, a few of us met day by day in our retreat at Avera, and found real joy in considering our relation to God and to his work.
From the ninth to the eighteenth the time was quite well filled with meetings. Our week-day services were held each day from eleven to twelve o’clock in the forenoon, from one to about half-past three in the afternoon, and again in the evening. Considering the time it occupied, I think that what brought in the most light and blessing was a series of Bible studies, showing the importance of the spirit of prophecy and its relation to the church. These were conducted by Brother Gates, and were heartily appreciated by all. Our conference meetings occupied the larger part of the time. Though our delegates were few in number, most important matters were thoroughly discussed and decided. Quite a number of good resolutions were adopted. In the discussion of these resolutions, important matters of church discipline were carefully considered, and the truth was made plain to all present. At times, these meetings took the form of a brief social service, as in the consideration of the resolution urging all to be faithful in the paying, when many testified to the blessing received as a result of faithfulness in this respect, while some who had not been in the habit of following out this plan expressed a determination to do so in the future.
As most of our brethren in Raiatea are English-speaking people, and usually all present understood the English, our services were conducted in that language.
One interesting feature of our meetings was the reports from the various laborers in regard to their work during the past year. Though Rarotonga is about seven hundred miles from Tahiti, it is a part of our mission field, and we listened with much interest to the reports given by Brother and Sister Jones and Sister Evelyn Gooding of the work there. Sister Gooding came from Australia a little over two years ago to take up school work in that island. This work was first conducted in the form of a boarding-school at Arorangi, but has since been removed to Titikaveka, where it is carried on more successfully as a church-school. Brother and Sister Jones went to Rarotonga last August, and have since labored hard to build up and establish the work in that island. A church building has been erected at Titikaveka, and was dedicated last May.
Brother Deane has spent the past year in Tahiti. He never before attended a meeting of quite such a nature as this, and it has brought a great blessing to him, and through him we trust that it may be a great help to our native people, for whom he is to labor.
As Mr. Cady was away so long on his visit to Pitcairn Island, he has not been able to get out into an entirely new field, but his remaining time has been fully occupied in labor in connection with our churches, and looking after our industrial institutions. A sugar-mill has been started in connection with the Hillsdale plantation, which will help to furnish work for those receiving training, and also be a financial help to the place.
Since our last meeting, Brother Roth has been laboring especially for the French people of these islands, principally through the distribution of literature. Brother and Sister Beckner moved to Tahiti a few months ago, and now have charge of the bakery in Papeete. Brother Leonard Christian has taken Brother Beckner’s place at Hillsdale as overseer of the outdoor work.
Sister Nelson has been busy the past year instructing the youth who have been under her watch-care, and training them as best she could. Her efforts have not been in vain, as four of them have decided to take their stand on the Lord’s side. We rarely see children here take upon themselves the name of Christians and unite with the church, but we are glad to see these little ones take this step; for we know that the lambs are safer in the fold than they would be outside.
The principal work of the writer during the past year has been in behalf of our Sabbath-schools. The work of translating and copying our Sabbath-school lessons in the Tahitian has been continued, and readings have also been prepared in that tongue for use in the Sabbath-school and church services. One result of this is seen in the development of a better missionary spirit among our members, which is manifest by a large increase in our Sabbath-school donations.
I am sure that the efforts put forth to help our own people have not been in vain. Although they make very slow progress, we can see some encouraging results, and we have learned to rejoice over every apparent victory, though it may be very small. We are told that we must “educate, educate, educate;” and that is especially applicable to this field, where past education and hereditary influences have all been so very detrimental to all that is good and pure and true.
The prevailing opinion in these islands is that the young people can not be Christians until after they are married, and native parents do not usually expect their children to keep themselves pure. As a result, the youth almost invariably give themselves up to licentiousness and revelry, which necessarily brings on physical, mental, and moral weakness, and an early death. The sad effects of such living is everywhere apparent in the diseased condition of the people, and in the many deaths. For instance, among the few Sabbath-keepers in the two islands of Raiatea and Tahiti, I can now bring to mind eighteen who have died in the past eleven years since we came here, and this does not include the small children, but only those grown to maturity. The death-rate is just as great outside of our ranks. The native people are rapidly degenerating in every way. Excess in eating and drinking is one cause of this, and the free use of tobacco by both men and women is another. They are taught from childhood to indulge the appetite, and it seems almost impossible for them to see that it is their duty to deny the appetite, and not partake of such things as will weaken the body. They are trained to think that the more they eat, the better it is for them, and that it is a great mistake to urge one to refrain from eating everything in case of sickness. The fact is that when one touches a native’s appetite, it is as if he touched the apple of his eye. In spite of all this, many have gained the victory over tobacco and alcoholic drinks, and some have gone still farther; for the Lord is able to do for them what man can not do.
The last Sabbath of our meetings will long be remembered. We had the pleasure of receiving into the church through baptism one young woman and four children. One of the children is a boy from the island of Aitutaki, who has spent the past year with our workers in Rarotonga. For the present, he is to remain here at Hillsdale under the care of Sister Nelson.
The officers chosen for this coming year were as follows: Chairman, B. J. Cady; Secretary, Mrs. Cady; Executive Committee, B. J. Cady, G. F. Jones, and G. T. Beckner.
Nearly all expressed themselves as having enjoyed these meetings as much as any they ever attended, though some have been in attendance at our large General Conferences. Probably one reason for this is that the burden of the work for this field rests heavily upon the few of us who are here, and we feel intensely interested in planning and working for its development. Then, too, the Spirit of the Lord has been with us in a special measure to soften and subdue hearts, and to help us to see eye to eye. The Lord has been true to his promise that where only a few are gathered together in his name, there he will be in their midst.
On the whole, it has been a season of refreshing to the workers, and although we may not be able to do any more work during this coming year than in the past, we hope to do better work. We start out anew with a strong determination to co-operate with Christ, that his will regarding us may be fulfilled to the salvation of precious souls.
MRS. B. J. CADY.
Papeete, Tahiti.

Week-of-Prayer Notes

By CHAS. THOMPSON.; S. H. LANE.

From the Southern Illinois Conference

I ENJOYED some good meetings during the week of prayer. At Noble the Lord blessed us greatly. Three of the young people united with the church, one back-slider was reclaimed, and four are awaiting baptism.
I am now near Danville assisting Elder Stanley in a series of meetings. We are having a good interest. Two families have taken a stand for the truth, and others are much interested.
CHAS. THOMPSON.
THE week of prayer was a season long to be remembered by the New York Conference. The readings were highly appreciated, and the social meetings were soul-stirring, plainly indicating that hearts had been moved by the spirit breathed forth in the readings. In some instances confessions were made, estranged hearts united, and the churches revived.
Our annual offerings in the conference in 1903 exceeded those of 1902, and according to present indications the offerings of 1904 will greatly exceed 1903.
We trust the eighty thousand dollar point will be reached, from the fact that the greater the amount of means raised and properly expended, the more rapid will be the advancement of the message, which is certainly destined to ripen up earth's harvest, and garner precious souls into the soon-coming kingdom.
S. H. LANE.
The Southern Watchman says of the week of prayer at Nashville, Tenn.:—
“The week of prayer was a great blessing to the Nashville church. The Spirit of the Lord was present in all our meetings. Sinners were converted, and believers strengthened and encouraged. The offering for foreign missions at the close of the week was generous, when it is considered that the church is not large, and that it has no wealthy members. The whole amount was about one hundred and fifty dollars, half in cash and half in pledges. May our offerings accomplish great good in the Master’s service.”

A Noble Work

THE Keene (Tex.) Orphanage has been remarkably blessed during the past summer. The founders of the institution took two of their children to assist in the work of selling The Bible Training School. They were out about five months, and sold thirteen hundred and forty dollars' worth of double numbers of The Bible Training School under one cover, at ten cents a copy. Who can fail to see the hand of God in this?
They worked in eleven States and one Territory, and also in about twelve large cities and scores of smaller towns. The truth was scattered by them like the leaves of autumn. The profit on this work is about one thousand dollars, which has gone to the support of the Keene Orphanage.
Space will not permit a narrative of the numerous and valuable experiences of these workers. The proprietor of the orphanage has traveled in the interest of the Lord's work for nearly forty years, but never had such an enjoyable and profitable trip before. He gives the praise all to his Heavenly Father.
He also labored with many churches, including two of the colored churches in Mississippi. This was a rare privilege to him, and one long to be remembered. The Lord has blessed the work in the South for this unfortunate race.

The Sabbath Agitation in Washington

By W. A. COLCORD

THROUGH the efforts to secure Sunday laws for the District of Columbia, and the agitation for better Sunday observance in Washington, the Sabbath question is coming to the front at the nation’s capital.
December 12 seventy-five Protestant ministers of Washington met and decided that “the first Sunday in the coming year should be devoted to the discussion of the question of ‘Sabbath Observance’ in the city of Washington.” The sermons to be preached then were to be expressly aimed at the governmental practise of making certain employees work on Sunday. A systematic campaign, therefore, it was reported, was to be inaugurated “to remedy this state of things.”
To us this seemed a providential opening to present the claims of the true Sabbath in contrast with the false, and the evil involved in the movement to exalt the Sunday, and enforce its observance by law. We therefore decided to address an “Open Letter” to the Protestant clergy of the city on the Sabbath question. This we did, giving in it the plain Bible argument on the Sabbath, the perpetuity of the law of God, the change of the Sabbath, and the final warning against false worship in the matter of Sabbath observance. The letter, which appears in another part of this paper, was published in two of the leading daily papers of the city, which have a combined circulation of something like sixty-five thousand copies. We also published ten thousand copies of the letter in tract form, which were circulated in the city in connection with an announcement for a mass-meeting to be held December 28 in one of the large halls of the city, to discuss the question, thus giving a total circulation to the document of seventy-five thousand copies, which would mean a reading audience of three hundred thousand or more.
Two days after the publication of the “Open Letter,” the Washington Post came out with a leading editorial on “Sabbath and Sunday,” in which it was pointed out that beyond all question Sunday is not the ancient Bible Sabbath, that the Seventh-day Adventists are consistent in their keeping of the seventh day, and that the great danger in connection with the Sunday movement is that the friends of Sunday observance will become intolerant.
The mass-meeting was held in Pythian Temple, December 28, as announced, in which Elders K. C. Russell, W. W. Prescott, G. B. Thompson, J. S. Washburn, Luther Warren, Prof. B. G. Wilkinson, and the writer took part in the speaking, each dealing with a different phase of the question. Good reports of the meeting appeared in all three of the daily papers of the city the following day.
A few days later there appeared in two of the papers a reply to our “Open Letter,” written by Bishop Satterlee, of the Episcopal church of Washington, and in one paper a very weak and brief attempt at a reply by Mr. W. F. Crafts. The bishop took the position that because the Supreme Court of the United States has decided in favor of Sunday laws as utilitarian in character, therefore whatever our personal preferences or convictions may be in the matter, these should be laid aside, and as loyal patriots, all should heartily support the Sunday laws of the country. On the religious side of the question, while admitting that the Sunday Sabbath has been established by no divine command, he held that the ‘universal Christian consciousness of the church’ is the real authority in the church, and as this approves of Sunday observance, the practise is warranted,—positions plainly at variance with the fundamental principles of Protestantism, which assert that the rights of conscience are above the state, and the authority of the Holy Scriptures is above the visible church. A reply to the bishop’s letter was prepared by Professor Prescott, and appeared in the Washington Post of January 7, occupying over a column.
Thus the agitation is broadening, and the attention of many is being called to God’s downtrodden Sabbath here at the capital of the nation. Within a week ten columns of matter on the subject have appeared in the daily papers of Washington. And to speak through the Washington papers means much; for they are widely circulated, and speak for the nation. W. A. COLCORD.

A Letter From the South

By F. T. Wales

MEMPHIS, TENN.
DEAR REVIEW AND HERALD: It is a great pleasure to me to express my unbounded interest in our much beloved REVIEW AND HERALD. And as I have watched closely the advancement and progress of the message at Washington, and the prospering hand of the Lord in it, my soul has been caused to rejoice. And although I am not able to contribute means as I used to, to its financial interest, my heart is in the work. I expect soon to remit a small donation to the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund, as an expression of my continued interest in the good old REVIEW AND HERALD. F. T. WALES.

“The King’s Business Requires Haste”

By K. C. RUSSELL.

We take this opportunity to urge upon all the importance of making haste in the circulation of the petition remonstrating against the Sunday bills that are now before Congress; for the present session will be a short one, as it must close by the fourth of March. There will be only about six weeks at most after the receipt of this issue of the REVIEW before our opportunities to present the petition against these present bills will be over; it will therefore require special haste to secure the signatures to these petitions and to return the petitions in time for us to use them before Congress adjourns.
The following was said in substance to one of our brethren the other day, in a Western State, who was circulating the petition: “We will not sign your petition, for this concerns only the District of Columbia; but when Congress does anything to interfere with our State laws, then we will sign a petition.” A good answer to such an argument will be found in the leaflet that accompanies the petition blanks, entitled “Sunday Bills Now Before Congress,” under the sub-heading, “A District Law an Entering Wedge.” The facts are that the city of Washington is unlike all other cities in the United States in that it is not a self-governing city; that is, Congress legislates for it. With this thought in view, it will be readily seen that every citizen in this country is directly concerned in any action the government may take on a question of this character for the District of Columbia; for the national legislators are representatives of the people from the respective States from which they come, and are pledged to carry out the will of the people in harmony with the Constitution of the United States. Let it ever be remembered, therefore, that when once Congress commits itself to Sunday legislation in the District of Columbia, it then would, without doubt, take its stand for a national Sunday law.
Those circulating the petition should be careful to fill in the name of the place where it is circulated, in the blank space at the head of the petition, and see that each person signing, signs both petitions, the one addressed to the House, and the one addressed to the Senate.
K. C. RUSSELL.

The Burning of the New England Sanitarium

From press dispatches we learn of the burning of the New England Sanitarium, located at Melrose, Mass., which occurred on the night of January 1. We take the following report from the Boston Journal of January 2:—
“While the New England Sanitarium was enveloped in flames at half-past nine o’clock to-night, the women nurses fought the fire with buckets, hand grenades, and a small hose, as the male attendants carried to safety the forty inmates.
“All but the stone wing of the institution was destroyed, but throughout the excitement not a life was lost, no one was injured, and no sign of a panic appeared.
“There were many thrilling rescues of the helpless patients, the women acting with equal bravery and heroism with the men, and it was due to the splendid fire drill maintained at the sanitarium, and to the coolness and heroism of the seventy-five employees, that the patients were rescued.
“The fire started soon after nine o’clock in the room of Miss Etta Albee, a nurse, who overturned a lighted kerosene lamp. With splendid presence of mind, she ran into the corridor, and instead of growing hysterical she sounded the fire gong, then went to the office of Dr. C. C. Nicola, head of the corporation and head physician, where telephone messages were sent to the Stoneham and Melrose Fire Departments for assistance.
“Then the employees of the institution carried out their drill, the women, with few exceptions, fighting the fire, while the men, because of their superior strength, carried out the helpless patients and assisted the others.
“Long before the firemen arrived, all the inmates had been taken to the numerous cottages connected with the sanitarium and occupied by the physicians, and with the exception of a score of the nurses detailed to care for the patients, the employees returned to fight the fire.
“It was due solely to the fact that the women were able to keep the flames from spreading rapidly that the inmates were given time to escape.
“After all were out, men and women employees in the sanitarium made trip after trip through the halls and rooms to see if any by chance had been overlooked, until it became impossible to live for a moment in any part of the building except the stone wing where the offices are located.
“All the inmates were made comfortable in the cottages, and there is ample accommodation for the employees also in the many new cottages that have been erected in connection with the sanitarium.
“‘The loss to furnishings, instruments, and other equipment will be heavy, how heavy, I can not estimate now,’ Dr. Nicola told a Journal reporter, ‘but the loss on the buildings will not be much more than twenty-five thousand dollars, I believe.’”
“‘It is too early to talk of plans, but I believe we shall go about rebuilding. We can care for a good many patients in our large cottages, and the site is too healthful to give up. I believe we shall rebuild at once, although, being a corporation, this can not be an authoritative statement.’”
“The sanitarium was on the site of the old Langwood Hotel, burned about three years ago. Wings had been added until it was a very large building.
“Half the firemen, from both Stoneham and Melrose, were ordered to remain on duty all night as they had by no means finished fighting the flames at midnight.”

Our Church Paper

By W. J. STONE

The Review and Herald

We should never lose sight of the fact that the REVIEW AND HERALD is our church paper, and no other periodical printed by the denomination can take its place.
How I wish every Seventh-day Adventist in the world appreciated the value of the REVIEW enough to subscribe for it, and to read carefully its contents each week. But some will say, “We are not able to take the REVIEW. We have not the money to spare to pay for it.” Is this really true? Do not all our brethren and sisters get the necessaries of life, or those things which they feel that they need most?—Certainly they do. And if they felt that the REVIEW was one of the most important necessities, it would be among the first procured.
Now, is it not one of the most important necessities in our lives that we meet the mind of God in his great plan and work for this time? Is it not our first duty to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness? Is not the matter of our spiritual life and growth of the first and greatest importance? Should not that come before our temporal necessities? Listen to the words of Christ: “The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment,” Luke 12:23. Then the things that pertain to our spiritual good are of first importance; and, could we all realize this, the REVIEW would be in every home; for it is the best medium in the denomination to assist in encouraging and building up and establishing its readers in the faith.
I believe it to be a truth, that those who take the REVIEW and read its contents weekly, will never apostatize from the faith. It brings to them from week to week the news of the advancement of the work in all parts of the world. It gives the latest fulfilment of prophecy in the development of the message. It gives the trumpet a certain sound in exposing the many heresies that are arising on every hand, and points us to the sure word which is to be our guide and safety. No one can be an up-to-date Adventist, and well informed in the progress of the message, unless he is located at the headquarters of the work, or is a reader of the REVIEW.
Will not those who are readers of our good church paper, and who know its value, become active workers for it, and assist in placing it in the home of every Seventh-day Adventist in the United States within the next few weeks? Why should we not do this, and thereby do a good work by saving many who otherwise might apostatize?
W. J. STONE.

A Letter From an Aged Believer

By Wm. Fenner

“Who Will Come Over and Help Us?”

I HAVE recently read in the REVIEW the articles by Elders Daniells and Spicer upon the outlook and the review of the great harvest-field, and these have carried my mind back to the advent movement of 1840-44. I was then living in Dansville, N. Y., and I well remember the enthusiasm that was manifested. Meetings were held far into the night, and the people were so thoroughly convinced that the Saviour was at the doors that converts were baptized in the canal as late as ten and twelve o'clock at night. They did not wish to lose any opportunity in the service of Jesus. After their baptism they began singing and praising God for their deliverance from sin, and for the hope that Jesus was soon coming.
My heart is filled with joy and gratitude to think that we are erelong to witness a scene of far greater interest than that; for soon Jesus is to come, with all the holy angels with him, and he will then gather the faithful home, there to live eternally. All who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb will be there; the holy and blessed of all ages will be there, and Jesus himself will be there. Blessed, happy throng, eternally free from sorrow and sin!
As I read from week to week the calls from the ripening, neglected fields abroad, earnestly pleading for help to be sent them, my heart is stirred. These people do not know the full meaning of these things. They have caught a glimpse of the blessed light of the third angel's message, and the fact that Jesus is soon to come again; and yet, with only the faint ray of light which they have, they are pleading for messengers to be sent to them, that they may learn of this blessed truth. It makes my heart and soul burn within me, and the tears roll down my face, as I read these things, and I retire to my closet and earnestly pray for the Lord to raise up laborers to go into all the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, that a people may be prepared for his soon coming.
Are there not those among our ranks who will respond to these calls, and help to save these perishing, lost souls from the certain ruin to which they are going, and from which they are pleading for salvation? I am made to feel that these calls mean me, and if there is no one in the ranks of our people who will make the proper response to the urgent calls now before us, I will myself respond, and will say, Lord, send me. I am now fourscore and two years old, yet hale and hearty. I have never been sick a day in my life. Surely the promises contained in Ps. 91:15, 16, have been fulfilled to me.
I have been connected with this message for thirty-six years, being one of the pioneers in proclaiming the gospel message in California in 1868. I helped pitch the first tent in Petaluma, Cal., and assisted to build the first Seventh-day Adventist church in Santa Rosa, in 1869. Time has rolled swiftly on, and we are now brought to the last generation, and Jesus is even at the doors.
Who among our young men and women will respond to the pleading calls now coming for help? Who will go forth to save perishing souls? Who will let their lights burn brightly in the dark places where souls are groping for light, longing for the precious truth which sets men and women free from bondage? Who will go in answer to these calls?
WM. FENNER.

My Confession

By FREDERICK GRIGGS

As one directly interested in the advancement of our school work, I have naturally had a deep interest in the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” Every year since the book was published, I have had something to do in its sale, but never until this year have I taken this work up in a thorough and earnest manner.
For some time preceding the week of prayer instruction was given to the students of the South Lancaster Academy concerning this book. During part of the week of prayer our school was closed, and the majority of the students and teachers went out into the surrounding towns and country to dispose of the book. For my own part, I determined to take up the sale of this book in just as energetic a way as possible, and the days when I was canvassing for it from house to house were among the very brightest of all my Christian experience. I had many pleasant and profitable talks with people concerning religious themes.
I have always disliked canvassing, not but that I felt it was one of God’s special means of reaching the people with truth, but I have felt that I was perfectly willing that others should engage in this line of work while I pursued some other. I do not now feel that it is my duty to change my line of work; but I have found something in the canvassing work that I had never found before, which has shown me that there is a blessing for those who engage in it, which is of inestimable value. I have now determined to take a more active part in carrying the light of truth to people in their own homes than I have in the past.
As I have thought these matters over, I have exclaimed to myself more than once, Why are we so slow to believe what the Lord has said concerning the blessings and benefits in the work with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and, indeed, in all forms of personal work for souls? I believe that I have learned some valuable lessons from this experience, which others of our people may learn, and this is the only motive prompting me to speak of the experience. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.”
FREDERICK GRIGGS.
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