It was in the sunny Southland, where the air is filled with the perfume of jasmine and magnolia, that our friends, the Middletons, lived. They were well-to-do people, surrounded with happy boys and girls growing up amid scenes of plenty and comfort. They were warm-hearted and hospitable, universal favorites in their community.
Mr. Middleton was a prosperous business man, and it was his delight to bring into his home every convenience that would add to the happiness and comfort of his family. Mrs. Middleton was a good housekeeper, as well as a successful home-maker. It means more to be a home maker than it does simply to keep a house. The housekeeper looks after the material comforts of the family; she sees that the laundry is cared for, the mending done on time, the baking attended to properly, and the meals served promptly. All this must be done in a good home, but the home maker, in addition, must look after the hearts of the family. Mrs. Middleton was a resourceful little woman, and with the aid of her helpers she created a wholesome, uplifting atmosphere in her home.
The Middletons were what we call worldly people, for though of fairly good habits they were not churchgoers, at least not regular members. They attended the theater and other places of worldly pleasure, and found much happiness in one another's society, as well as in entertaining their friends.
One day in the early spring there came into their town a company of people who pitched a large tent a few blocks from their home. It created no small stir in the neighborhood. Soon all the small boys in the town were plying the strange men with questions: “Mister, are you going to have a show?” “Where are the animals?” “Have you any Shetland ponies?” The men putting up the tent told the boys that they were going to have some meetings, and when the tent was ready and seated they would like to have their parents come to the lectures. Preaching in a tent! That was a new idea.
Every one was curious to hear what the new ministers would talk about. The meetings continued every night for several weeks. The congregation was greatly interested when the speakers unfolded the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. Their hearts were deeply stirred when the signs of the times and the soon coming of the Lord were presented. Notwithstanding the solemnity of these themes, when it was made plain that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and if we are true to God we must observe it as the Sabbath, many turned away and hardened their hearts against the truth.
Our friends, the Middletons, were divided. On account of his business and his popularity, Mr. Middleton tried to excuse himself, and decided, at least for the present, to go on in his usual way; but Mrs. Middleton was more conscientious. She said, “If these things are so,—and I believe they are,—I must obey,” and she decided to abandon her worldly pleasures, give herself to the Lord, and keep all the commandments. Her husband did not seriously oppose her, but thought she was needlessly concerned about the matter.
All went well for a time, until a “fine play” was announced for a certain theater. Mr. Middleton expected to take his wife and daughter. He was not a little disappointed when Mrs. Middleton told him she could not attend such places any more.
Soon he noticed that she did not wear her prettiest evening dresses. Her jewelry was laid aside; and often when he was home in the evening she was away at the missionary meeting or the prayer meeting. This was a great change to him, and it was hard for him to see the justice of it all. He thought he would surprise his wife by buying her beautiful things to wear,—costly furs, elegant hats, and other articles he deemed suitable. He invited their friends to dine with them, and continued to enjoy the pleasures of this life as in the former days.
Once, when Mrs. Heartsease, one of the church workers, came to visit them, Mrs. Middleton gave her whole attention to this lady, and left her husband to entertain their old friends alone. In her zeal to be plain in her dress and simple in all her habits, Mrs. Middleton was unconsciously widening the breach between herself and her husband. She did not realize that if she failed to guard the avenue to his heart, Satan would creep in and work ruin in her home.
Matters continued in this way for some time. Mrs. Middleton was quite absorbed in her church work, attending meetings, distributing literature, and in other ways “advancing the cause,” as she supposed. Mr. Middleton was learning to enjoy other society. The house did not seem so empty after all when his wife was away at her meetings. Sometimes he invited friends to spend the evening, or he went out alone to find congenial companionship at his club.
Poor Mrs. Middleton! How shocked she would have been if she could have realized how Satan was stealing a march on her! But God is good to his children. He says, “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way.”
One day Mrs. Wiseheart came to visit Mrs. Middleton. She noticed that her friend was growing in the Christian graces of patience and kindness. She saw, too, that she had put off her jewelry and her gay colors. But she observed something else. She noticed with sorrow what Mrs. Middleton had not noticed,—that her husband was spending too much time away from home evenings. He did not invite his wife to go with him as often as he used to do. This grieved Mrs. Wiseheart deeply, for she thought a great deal of the family. It was sad indeed if the religion of Jesus Christ should thus be brought into reproach. She decided to have a talk with Mrs. Middleton.
(To be concluded)
When We Criticize
No one who habitually points out others' failures can be a success himself. There is something about the habit of criticism that prevents the free, full expression of good in the life of the critic. It has been said, for example, that “professional literary critics never turn out any good literature. Their habitual attitude of criticism dries up the sources of literary production.”17
Whether this sweeping statement is true in every case or not, it suggests a warning that most of us need to think about. To be habitually interested in seeing and speaking about the failures of others is to dry up our own powers of good. And the reverse is equally true; to be sensitively conscious of the good that is in others, to discover it and talk about it freely, is to bring good into being in our own lives that might otherwise never come into existence. How much better it is to discover that which makes for life than that which makes for death!— Sunday School Times.
The Word That Spells Success
THERE used to be an old Irishman who was a ditch digger. But he made a profession of it; he made an art of it. When he dug a ditch it was dug, and it couldn't be dug better. Of how many ditch diggers can you say that today? That man's pride in his work was positively stimulating. The only thing old John knew was to dig a ditch, but he was an artist at it. He dug a ditch not for a day's wage, but because he loved it. He never did anything else; to the end of his time he dug ditches, and hundreds blessed him because they could rely upon him to dig their ditches well.
Yet how many would call old John a successful man? But he surely was. None more successful—in his line. He was a success in his work as ditch digger; and, what is better, he was a success as a man,—the very highest type of man. For the part that God gave him to do in the world he did honestly, lovingly, and well; the very best he could do. He was competent! To be competent: one man as president, the other as ditch digger; each in his own sphere—but competent! That spells success!— Ladies’ Home Journal.
Conducted by Mrs. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C
By Mrs. C. C. Lewis
Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.
The Annual Chesapeake Conference.
By Benjamin George Wilkinson
THE brethren of the Chesapeake Conference assembled for their annual meeting in the new church in Baltimore, Md., October 4-11. The number of delegates, small at first, increased toward the last of the meeting. An excellent spirit prevailed throughout all the meetings, all the brethren working together harmoniously for a better basis for the work the coming year.
The report of the president, Elder R. T. Baer, showed excellent progress for the conference during the year. Over two hundred persons have accepted present truth in that period of time. There was a very marked growth in tithes and offerings. Special mention should be made of the work of Brother Rodgers among the colored people in the city of Baltimore. About sixty have already accepted the truth as a result of the tent effort last summer, and the number will probably run much higher before the effort is concluded. The splendid growth in tithes and offerings in this conference is all the more marked when we consider the unusual number of new church buildings which have been erected in this field in the last two years. This has18drawn heavily upon the material resources of the brethren, yet in spite of this the conference shows excellent growth financially as well as spiritually.
Owing to the proximity of the meeting to Washington, D. C., many of the leading brethren came to Baltimore and occupied the pulpit in the evening meetings. The union men representing the various important departments were also present, and gave material assistance in the formation of plans and the preparation for their execution.
The blessing of God was experienced on Sabbath in an unusual manner. Many found new blessings in renewed covenants. About $200 was given in the Sabbath school donation from an attendance of about three hundred. As the emergency call had been thoroughly presented in all the churches, no heavy call for foreign missions was made. The donations of the day, however, amounted to about $500.
The brethren plan to hold a camp meeting next year under tents, in the early part of the season. This will no doubt be quite helpful to this conference, where it is not so easy to arrange for camp meeting as in some of our northern conferences. We look for good growth in the conference the coming year.
B. G. WILKINSON.
Northern Illinois Conference
By G. E. Langdon
THE forty-third annual session of the Northern Illinois Conference was held at Downers Grove, twenty miles west of Chicago, in connection with the camp meeting, September 3-13. This place has a population of five thousand. The conference was given free use of the beautiful grounds located in the edge of the town. It was the largest meeting ever held in Illinois by our people. Six hundred and fifty tents were pitched on the ground, and on Sabbaths and Sundays the congregation consisted of about one thousand persons. Each evening there was a good attendance from the town. Several nights large numbers of seats had to be provided outside of the pavilion. H. P. Waldo and wife were stationed in the borough to follow up the interest after the camp meeting.
There was considerable rain during the meeting, which made a few days a little too cool for comfort. The large new tent, 70 x 90 feet, was rain-proof. It was dedicated to the Lord at the first service, Elder William Covert offering the dedicatory prayer. The Spirit of God came into the camp services from the very first. Elder O. A. Olsen took charge of most of the early six o'clock services, and the people pressed forward with earnestness and consecration from the beginning. Brother Olsen spoke the first Sabbath, and nearly the whole congregation responded to the appeal to seek God. Opportunity was then given for those who wished to make their first start in service, and for those who had wandered away. About fifty came forward. Half the congregation remained to the aftermeeting. The last Sabbath service was held by Prof. Frederick Griggs, and another remarkable moving of God's Spirit was manifest. Elder T. F. Hubbard and Prof. C. L. Benson took the principal burden of the young people's meetings during the week, as Prof. C. A. Russell was early called home. Twenty-five were baptized at the close of the camp, and several returned to their home churches for baptism. Brother R. Calderone was ordained to the gospel ministry.
The Sabbath school offering to foreign missions the first Sabbath was $610. On the last Sabbath a special effort was made by Elder L. H. Christian, the union president, and $4,400 was raised in cash and pledges, making a total of more than $5,000; $1,650 was received in cash and pledges for the Fox River Academy debt; $250 was raised on tent and camp meeting fund; $150 for the colored church school in Chicago.
Last year books sold on the camp ground amounted to $775. Special plans were laid this year by Brethren J. W. Mace, H. E. Moon, and J. A. Applegate to reach $1,000. It is gratifying to report that the sales were over that amount. One interesting feature of the meeting was the placing, by the young people, of two different tracts in every home in the town, at the same time inviting the people to the meetings.
During 1913 Elder Calderone brought out a company of 15 Italians in Chicago, which have been organized into a church. Laborers' reports showed 181 baptized and 220 new members added to the churches. During the year nearly 200 old names of long standing were dropped from church records, so that the increase over last year's report amounted to only thirty-five. Three new church buildings were added, making sixteen in all. Book sales amounted to $18,544. Mission offerings increased $1,300. Judging from the present outlook, the conference will reach the twenty-cent-a-week apportionment this year. The first nine months show a gain of $2,122. The tithe last year was $28,800, the increase being $600 above the previous year. This year the increase for nine months is $3,615. We feel to praise the Lord for the good outlook for Northern Illinois.
The following elections were made: President, G. E. Langdon; secretary and treasurer, H. E. Moon; field missionary, J. A. Applegate; Sabbath school secretary, Gladys Seeley; educational and young people's secretary, Edith Shepard; religious liberty secretary, G. E. Langdon. Members of conference committee: G. E. Langdon, H. E. Moon, Wm. Covert, P. E. Broderson, J. W. Cummings, David Voth, W. C. Foreman, J. B. Clymer.
The farewell meeting was held Monday morning. The testimonies were full of good cheer and a determination to live for the Master and to help win others to the blessed hope.
G. E. LANGDON.
When He Passed By
By Helen Adair
HELEN ADAIR
As Moses hastened to remove his shoes
In holy rev'rence, when the voice of God
Called unto him from out the burning bush,
So men, in sudden, silent awe their heads
Uncovered, yesternight, before the sky
That burned and burned and yet was not consumed.
A voice, the same that startled Horeb's heights,
From whom the trembling Moses hid his face,
Whispered from out the sky, “I am the God
Of Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and of thee.”
The autumn-tinted atmosphere was charged
With glory dust, as though the leaves of gold
And scarlet, brown and purple, red and green,
Had all been mixed together, ground up fine,
And each mote kindled with a bit of God's
Own light, and then sent out to shine for him.
Like shaded, shimmering banners swung the trees,
Darkest at roots, and lightest at the tips;
The church spires glowed and flashed, and roofs were bathed
In light reflected from the gorgeous screen,
On which the earth was thrown in silhouette.
The lawns 'neath changeable bright carpets lay,
The pattern luminous oak leaves, tip to tip,
With jagged spots of green just peeping through.
The men and women, creatures, great and small,
Were draped in dazzling autumn hues.
The fowls
Of air, like mocking birds, had “russet wings.”
The streets and pavements, yea, and star-pierced clouds,
Above, below, all nature caught the glow
Of God Omnipotent, who, passing by,
Permitted sinful, fallen man to gaze,
One little moment, on his loveliness.
A Worthy Purpose
A WORTHY purpose, as the purpose to graduate, will often work wonders, converting the careless girl and the wayward boy into attentive students.—Joseph Baldwin.
The Mount Vernon Tent Effort
By E. K. Slade
[IMMEDIATELY following the Ohio Conference held at Mount Vernon, a nicely located lot was secured in the city, where we pitched the large tent and advertised a series of meetings. Elder N. S. Ashton, assisted by Brother Merritt V. Eusey, was given charge of the work. There had been developed some interest during the camp meeting, and we had had some attendance from the city, but it was not especially large. There was some question in our minds as to the probability of an interest at the tent meetings, as our work had been established here for twenty years, and many opportunities had been granted to the public for hearing.
From the first, the meetings were well attended. There was not an interruption during the whole series on account of bad weather, and nearly every night the tent was full. Many times from one hundred to two hundred who could not be seated stood outside. The attendance ranged from about three hundred to five hundred. The Lord’s especial blessing attended the preaching of the message, and it was made evident to all who attended the meetings that there is a special power in the message for this time, when presented in a plain, direct,19and clear-cut manner. No attempts were made at presenting something new and spectacular. The Lord greatly blessed the plain preaching of the word.
During this series of meetings Mount Vernon was stirred from center to circumference. The wonderful things presented at the tent, were the topic of conversation among the people of the city and the surrounding country.
Quite a number of business and professional men attended the meetings. The assistance given by the members of the Mount Vernon church by their presence, by distributing announcements and literature, and in the singing, was a great help to the meeting.
Between twenty-five and thirty have indicated their purpose to keep the Sabbath and unite with us as a people. It is hoped that as a result of the seed sown a number of substantial persons will unite with the Mount Vernon church. This work is being looked after by Brother Merritt Eusey and others in the church. The meetings have proved a great help and encouragement to the church in this place.
Though collections were not taken very often, yet during the meetings over one hundred dollars was donated, which considerably more than met all the expenses of the effort. E. K. SLADE.
On the King’s Business
By F. J. Greenwood
F. J. GREENWOOD
FIRST CHILD (carrying a bundle of papers, and coming from outside):
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten—
Is that all there are left of my papers?
I had better count them again.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight, nine, ten.
I’m sure I can sell them out quickly,
And won’t I be happy then!
SECOND CHILD (coming from other side):
Well, Evelyn, where are you going,
And why are you thinking out loud?
And what is that bundle you carry,
As you go in and out through the crowd?
FIRST:
’Tis the Harvest Review I am selling,
And selling a lot of them, too! [Opens
and shows paper]
Didn’t you ever see it?
Then let me show it to you.
This picture, here on the cover,
Shows an angel of light from above,
Bringing a message of mercy,
Telling the world of God’s love.
God tells all his children who know him,
To go to all parts of the world,
Till in every nook and corner
The gospel flag is unfurled.
Here is a picture from China,
Of some people who knew not the Lord
Till our workers brought them the message,
And now they rejoice in his Word.
This shows us Friedensau College,
With its students, a hundred or more.
I’m afraid that now they’re all scattered—
Sent out to be killed in the war.
SECOND:
Such manly and noble young fellows!
And with such a good purpose in view!
To think some are now dead or dying,
’Tis really too bad to be true.
FIRST:
The dispensary out in Korea
Is given here in this view;
And there stands Dr. Russell,
With nurses and patients, too.
SECOND:
O, who are those cute little children
Dressed in such funny clothes;
With their eyes as bright as diamonds,
And no shoes on their little brown
toes?
FIRST:
That’s a Sabbath school class in Borneo.
Don’t you think they’re a bright-looking lot?
I’d like to have him for a brother, [Points
at the picture]
He’s such a dear little tot!
Here’s a party of magazine sellers
In far-away little Japan.
If they can sell papers in their land,
Surely we in American can.
This Seventh-day Adventist family
Lives in Antioch, city of old,
Where first the good news of salvation
By Paul the apostle was told.
This group of unselfish workers,
Are heeding the call of the Lord,
And will soon be braving the billows
To bear to the far isles his word.
SECOND:
But who pays the fares of these workers,
And who gives them homes and food?
And how do they make a living,
While they’re teaching and doing
good?
I know it must take lots of money
To send them all over the earth—
To the East and the West and the Southland,
And up to the frozen North.
FIRST:
Yes, it does indeed take lots of money;
So we who must stay home, you know,
Just make it our business to raise it,
So those who are able can go.
Our people all over the country
Have promised their leaders to raise
A good many thousands of dollars
In these Harvest Ingathering days.
That’s why I am selling these papers;
The money will all go abroad,
And be used to support the workers
As they tell the poor heathen of God.
Our church should raise two hundred
dollars [or some other sum],
And so, when Thanksgiving draws
near,
We’ll take up a splendid collection,
And we’ll get that amount, never fear.
SECOND:
Why, I like that kind of business;
Why can’t I go into it, too?
Give me some of your papers,
And I’ll work right along here with
you.
TOGETHER (advancing, hand in hand):
Now, together we’ll do the King’s business,
Selling the Missions Review.
The papers are ten cents a copy—
Can we do any business with you?
Oakland, Cal.
Texas
By E. L. Neff
HOUSTON.—We began our meetings at this place August 15, and continued without interruption for six weeks. The workers connected with the effort devoted their time to personal work, holding readings, distributing literature, and inviting the people to the meetings. The members of the Houston church attended the services regularly and helped in the singing.
The Lord blessed our united efforts, and already twelve have begun the observance of the Sabbath. About twenty families are taking Bible studies, and some of these are deeply interested.
The church here has had no meetinghouse of its own, but we are now building a neat little church, which will be ready for use in about three weeks.
The outlook is good, and we believe if we will all unite our efforts and go forward trusting in the Lord, we shall yet see many brought to a saving knowledge of this truth.
We were able to use the daily paper to quite an extent in these meetings, and some who attended and are now keeping the Sabbath, had their attention first called to the meetings in this way.
We are planning another public effort as soon as the church is finished.
E. L. NEFF.
Why Not Let Well Enough in America Alone?
By S. B. Horton
ABOVE the din and roar of the clashing armies of Europe the questions are being asked by pulpiteer and layman, by believer and unbeliever. Has Christianity broken down? Has our civilization proved a failure? These questions have an appropriate relationship to the times in which we live. We have reached the twentieth century of Christian civilization, and notwithstanding our boasting that we have progressed and that in the judgment of some we are living just before the millennium, we read such experiences as these:—
“If the churches throughout the world possessed the same candor as the stock exchanges, they would do what the latter have done — close their doors.”
“What a spectacle we Christians are to the non-Christian world, whom we in our self-glory call heathen!”
These two utterances fell from the lips of G. Monroe Royce, rector of the New Windsor-on-Hudson church, and were quoted in the Literary Digest of August 29. Continuing in this strain, the rector is quoted as saying, among other things: “One has a right to expect that, after nineteen hundred years of civilization calling itself Christian, the church and her ministers should have influence enough, power— downright moral and spiritual power— enough, to prevent the savage, the brute instincts of mankind dominating not only kings and other rulers, but the whole body of people composing the nations of Europe. This much we have a right to insist upon; and if the combined influence of all organized Christianity cannot bring about such a result, then it is, I think, perfectly fair to conclude that the church machinery has broken down; that it does not do what it professes to do, and is not worthy the support it is receiving.”
We believe there is a reason for this sad and calamitous condition of the churches that have been undertaking the work which would seem to be, from present results, an attempt to mold opinion and forms of godliness rather than to secure conversions by the preaching of the gospel, accentuated by the gift of the Holy Spirit. We do not charge that the churches have so labored wittingly, but we do believe that when the early church departed from the plan of gospel ministry devised by the Lord Jesus Christ and carried out by his apostles, it chose a plan of Christian endeavor devised by human ingenuity, propelled by human reasoning and laws, and adopting forms and ceremonies as a standard of Christian profession.
Nor do we assert for one moment that there was absolutely no Christianity in the churches. On the contrary, from the very beginning of Christ’s church upon earth there has always been a percentage of loyal devotion to Jesus Christ, to his gospel, and to his Word, in all the churches. And were it not for this fact, there would be very little even of the forms of Christianity extant in the world. But it must be admitted that apostasy and human devisings have had a hand in the control and management of church establishments during the nineteen centuries in question.
We have quoted the preceding, with what seems to us to be pertinent commentary, for the benefit of those organizations and movements which have for their purpose the Christianizing of the United States of America by civil law and Constitutional amendment. To prove that there is such a movement in this country at the present time, we quote from the platform of the National Reform Association: “The objects of this society shall be to maintain existing Christian features in the American government: . . . and to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation’s allegiance to Jesus Christ and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion, and to indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniably legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.” — Article 2. If this does not spell a union of church and state, then words fail to have any meaning.
What has the union of church and state, the Christianizing of European nations now engaged in mortal combat, done for them? It must be remembered that the European nations now engaged in wanton destruction of life and property are for the most part professedly Christian nations. Austria is a Catholic Christian nation, at whose head is a ruler who was titled by the late Pope as apostolic emperor. The late Pope had communicated to the emperor a prayer that he would not stain his life and rule with blood. His prayer was of no avail, and in connection with this it is interesting to note that Pope Pius X, while on his sick bed just before his death, made this statement: “In ancient times the Pope by a word might have stayed the slaughter, but now he is impotent.” — Literary Digest, Aug. 29, 1914. Germany, Russia, and England have their state churches, and are professedly Christian nations. Each has been calling upon God to guide it through to victory.
If the union of church and state in these Christian nations has not benefited them to the extent of making war a remote contingency; and if the United States, which declares for the complete and absolute separation of church and state, appears to be the one nation in all the world prepared to mediate between the warring nations, why should America be afflicted with the strangely anomalous conditions now existing in Europe?
We sincerely believe that the National Reform Association and other kindred organizations engaged in the movement to make the United States legally a Christian nation should view the European situation with more than ordinary concern. What the National Reform Association is demanding for America most of the European nations have; but it has not prevented the greatest calamity of the age.
But can it be truly said that Christianity is a failure, predicating such conclusion upon the present situation in Europe?—Nay, verily, a thousand times no. Christianity is not a failure, and the war in Europe is not to be charged up to alleged failures of Christianity. The20conditions in Europe are the outcome of apostasy from Christianity. In the first place, pure Christianity demands the separation of church and state (Matt. 22: 15-21); Christianity demands that as individuals we should love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22: 39; 7: 12); Christianity demands that the truth as it is in Jesus shall be taught the people by those commissioned to preach the gospel (2 Tim. 3: 14-17; 4: 1-4); Christianity demands that the ten-commandment law shall be respected, honored, and obeyed above all other laws (Acts 4: 19); Christianity demands that we put up the sword, and labor in those paths which make for peace and righteousness (Luke 3: 14; Matt. 26: 52; Luke 9: 56).
S. B. HORTON.
Field Notes
THERE are sixteen new Sabbath keepers at Coleman, Colo., and Elder G. O. States reports the addition of three members to the church at Cedaredge.
Baptisms at Ohio Camp Meeting
AT the recent Ohio camp meeting, forty-three were baptized, twenty-two of whom were young persons. Of the latter number, fourteen were from churches where church schools are located.
New Believers in Kansas
Six new believers have been received into the Neosho (Kans.) church. The tent meeting held in Kansas City by Elder J. W. Allison has resulted in the baptism of three persons, and five others are keeping the Sabbath. At Sparks the workers report that five have been baptized.
Baptisms in Jacksonville
ELDER W. H. SMITH reports from Jacksonville, Fla., as follows: “Last Sabbath was a day of special blessing to the little church here, when eleven new Sabbath keepers gathered with us on the banks of the beautiful St. Johns River and were buried with their Lord in baptism. There will be another service of the same order in the near future, when six or seven others will follow their Lord in the same ordinance.”
Progress in Ontario
By F. C. Webster
ELDER F. C. WEBSTER reports that nine have accepted present truth in St. Catharines, Ontario. A church and a Sabbath school have recently been organized in Toronto. During the past year forty persons have been baptized and received into the Brantford church. Reporting the close of meetings at Peterborough, Elder F. W. Johnston says: “An interesting feature of our accessions to the truth is a missionary to Japan, who has been here for her health. Having attended nearly every service, she has become thoroughly established so far, and when she returns to Japan she will preach the third angel’s message. Her husband, who is a minister, is now on his way from Japan.”
Religious Liberty Department
By C. S. Longacre
C. S. LONGACRE — N. Am. Div. Secretary
A Severe Loss for Our European Educational Work
By Louis Richard Conradi
IN the midst of the turmoil and confusion of war, our educational work in Europe has sustained a most severe loss in the premature death of Prof. Otto Luepke. Elder Luepke was born Aug. 14, 1871, in Magdeburg, where he attended the Lutheran school from 1877-85. From 1885-88 he attended the Royal Preparatory Teachers' Seminary in Quedlinburg, and from 1888-91 the seminary at Osterburg. Having successfully finished his course as teacher, he was at once called to instruct in the preparatory seminary at Quedlinburg, and until October, 1897, he taught in high schools for boys and girls. Having meanwhile heard of the truth, he, with his mother, embraced it. He resigned his position, and began to work in Hamburg. Later he held a course of lectures in Kiel and Flensburg. In 1899 he went to Berlin, and in November of the same year took charge of our mission school at Friedensau.
For nearly fifteen years he was in charge of our leading school in Europe, and through God's blessings, that school developed from very modest beginnings, until last year there were over two hundred students in attendance from all parts of the Continent. Professor Luepke had rare gifts for teaching. He took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare of his students, inspired them for mission work, and was also talented in music. Besides his regular school work, he did considerable literary work, editing our Sabbath school Quarterlies, and our German educational paper, writing for our other journals, and also did valuable work on our German hymn book. As he attended our General Conference in Washington in 1909, many of our brethren in America will remember him. Surely all those who ever visited Friedensau will deeply sympathize with us in our loss. Professor Luepke leaves an aged mother, a faithful companion, and three children, to mourn their loss.
For several years he was ailing, and fears were entertained that he was suffering from that dreadful disease, consumption. He spent a number of months in the Harz Mountains, and seemed somewhat better, but failed in health again this spring, and went to Meran, in the Tyrol mountains. Only his dear companion was with him at the time of his death, August 13. On account of the outbreak of the war we did not even hear of his death until several days later. But it can be truly said of him: "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."