p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 59. (11/30/1916)

THAT HOLIDAY GIFT

What Shall It Be?

This question is being asked by thousands at this time of year. People desire to make the holiday season a joyous one by remembering their friends, and often find it perplexing to decide just what to give them, something that will be appropriate. What are you planning to give your friends?

Let Us Help You

Answer the question. Present them with a copy of the new book just coming from the Review & Herald press, entitled

“Our Father’s House”

A beautiful book, consisting of three essays written by Daniel March, D. D., entitled “God’s Glory in the Heavens,” “God All in All,” and “Heaven Our Home.” This book is not dogmatic nor argumentative, and no one can read it without having his vision enlarged and his soul thrilled with emotion at the contemplation of God’s greatness and goodness, and the glorious provisions he has made for those who love and trust him. Indeed, our “hearts burn within us” as we seem to walk with Him who saves us from destruction, provides for our needs and comforts in this life, and whom we shall soon see as he is.

The book is artistically printed and bound, and the price is only 50 cents, postpaid. Present it to your friends, and they will ever remember you in appreciation.

OTHER SIMILAR GIFT BOOKS

“SHAMS”

This book was published a year ago, and many hundreds of copies were used as Christmas gifts. It is composed of three essays by Frederick A. Atkins: “Shams,” “How to be Insignificant,” and “What is a Gentleman?” Each essay presents a splendid ideal, something that will help every person, whether young or old, to strive for higher attainments, and to come into more sympathetic, brotherly touch with his fellow men, and be really helpful in making the world better for his having lived in it.

Scores of testimonials speak of the help it has been to those who have read it. Your friends will appreciate it.

Printed in two colors; cloth binding, gilt stamp, 50 cents.

“Blessed Be Drudgery”

By Wm. C. Gannett

This book will be a real help and uplift to every one whose station in life makes it necessary for him to labor, perhaps doing the same kind of work over and over again, until the frequent doing of it causes it to seem monotonous or even like drudgery. This book presents the fact that what many call drudgery can be made a means of real culture and uplift. A splendid book, especially helpful to young people.

The second essay in the book is entitled “A Cup of Cold Water.” This gives many illustrations of little acts, like the giving of a cup of cold water, which are noticed and rewarded by the Master.

A very pretty book, printed in two colors; cloth binding, with gilt title; price, 50 cents.

“Pen Pictures of the Face of Jesus”

By Wm. P. Pearce

The real pictures and the word pictures in this book are among the most inspiring and uplifting. They illustrate the life of Christ from infancy through the various conditions of life to his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. No one can read this book without feeling that his desire to see Him face to face is strengthened.

The lessons of trust, humility, sorrow, and resignation, and also of love, mercy, and triumph, are strongly featured in this book.

Printed in two colors; beautiful cloth binding, embossed in two colors, with gilt title; price, 50 cents.

Published by the

REVIEW & HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION

Order from your Tract Society

The Week of Prayer and the Annual Offering

By I. H. Evans

DECEMBER 2 brings to us another annual season of prayer and offering. These occasions serve as reminders that “time and tide wait for no man,” and help us to appreciate the rapidity with which the years pass, as one after the other takes its place in history. For many years the week of prayer has meant much to this people; and as the stirring events and signs of the time of the end multiply about us, this season of devotion should call us to a deeper consecration.

One of our greatest dangers is the tendency to become engrossed with the cares of this life. We should call a halt in our business affairs, and often take our bearings in our march toward the kingdom of God. The week of prayer gives an opportunity to every one of us to examine himself, whether he “be in the faith.” The season of devotion must not be permitted to slip by without bringing into the church and into the lives of its members a richer Christian experience and greater consecration to the Lord and his work.

The benefits of the week of prayer to the church as a whole are proportional to those received by its individual members. If we receive the uplift that we need during this week of prayer, the church will be greatly blessed; but if our own souls miss the blessing, the church will be greatly hindered in its onward movements; for the church can accomplish only what the Holy Spirit can do through its members. This season of prayer will bring rich spiritual blessings to some; others will fail to receive the blessings they need so much, because they will neglect to seek God with all their hearts. “Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Deep heart searching and critical self-examination, oftentimes accompanied by fasting, should be our experience during the week of prayer. All should put sin out of their hearts and lives, receive the confidence of full forgiveness, and enjoy the peace of complete trust in and resignation to the will of God. There should be reconciliation between offended members of families and between brethren who are at variance with one another. This reconciliation should be sought early in the week, lest the enemy defeat the purpose of the meeting, and many blessings be lost. Backsliders should be sought out, and every endeavor be made to bring them back to the fold.

The young people should have a large place in our prayers, and every possible endeavor should be made to win them to Christ, and to help them to enter heartily into the Master's service. A few kind words, a warm handshake, the invitation to pray and to speak in social meeting, oftentimes have a wonderful influence upon the timid and hesitating.

The unconverted should be invited to surrender to the Lord. The Holy Spirit can do much more through such invitations than we realize.

Often the week of prayer can be made the beginning of a neighborhood revival, by asking those for whom you have been laboring and praying to join in your worship. Invite your friends and neighbors to seek the Lord during this week of prayer. Many will appreciate this opportunity, which they may not have in the church of which they are members.

The Annual Offering

Then we must not neglect the annual offering. This has become an important part of our mission offerings; for it is the time when we try to make up the remainder of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund for the year. The past two years the annual offerings were as follows:—

1914, $46,275.42 1915, $41,604.44

Thus the offering last year was $4,670.98 less than that of 1914. The offering this year should pass $50,000. Fifteen cents of the twenty cents a week this year goes to foreign missions, and five cents is returned to the union conferences to apply on the indebtedness of the conferences and institutions.

The past year has been a most prosperous one. Probably our people never found it easier to get hold of money than they have this year. Yet many must plan ahead in order to make a liberal offering on this occasion. Why not plan to give an amount that will help your church to go far beyond its quota of the twenty cents a week? The denomination has never yet made up the full twenty cents a week for each member. Last year the shortage was $8,924.29. This year the fund should pass beyond the twenty cents, so that the overflow can make a big reduction in the indebtedness of our institutions. Next year the Division Conference has promised that the General Conference shall have sixteen cents out of the twenty. So there never will be another such excellent opportunity to help in reducing the indebtedness on conferences and institutions as is offered the present year.

Many will be glad to learn that during the year 1915 the institutions and conferences in the Division territory reduced their liabilities $364,723.43, and increased their assets $152,157.90, thus increasing their net worth $516,881.33.

It is greatly desired that the indebtedness on all our institutions be wiped out, so that the curse of debt may be removed from our denomination. We urge all to make as liberal an offering as possible, and to seek for rich spiritual blessings. I. H. EVANS.

The Harvest Ingathering

By F. W. Paap

WE are glad to be able to pass on an encouraging word relative to our Harvest Ingathering campaign. The treasurer reports that $42,850.20 has been received to date, against $25,880.04 for the same date one year ago, this being a gain of nearly $17,000. The Pacific Press has sent out about 1,000,000 papers, and still large orders are being received each week. We say, Good! let the good work go on.

Some conferences are only just beginning, as other special interests demanded their time till November 7. But now they are lining up their forces for big things. Other conferences have determined to place a copy of the special Signs in every home in their respective fields. It requires steadfastness,—real stickability,—but the Head of the church is counting on each individual member. Do not let him be disappointed in you. Let us be sure to reach our goals. F. W. PAAP.

Death of Elder R. C. Horton

A NOTE from Elder S. B. Horton informs us of the sad death of Elder R. C. Horton, of the West Michigan Conference, which occurred November 16, as the result of an automobile accident. He was buried at Covert, Mich.

Successful Lectures in Denver

WE are glad to hear of the splendid interest that has attended a series of public lectures conducted in Denver, Colo., by Elder T. B. Westbrook. On a recent Sunday evening, 3,500 people, it was estimated, came out to hear the address on Christ’s second coming.

Mission Workers Arrive in Seattle

The Mission Board hears of the safe arrival in Seattle of Elder and Sister W. H. Anderson, of the Barotseland Mission, and Sister J. V. Willson, of Kimberley, South Africa. Brother and Sister Anderson return on furlough, while Sister Willson will make her home in this country, following the recent death of her husband, at Kimberley, after many years of missionary service.

Porto Rico Mission School

IN a private letter received from Brother E. C. Jacobsen, who has recently gone to Porto Rico to take charge of our mission school, he says:—

“We stood the trip well, and are here in Santurce, Porto Rico, now. Our school has a daily attendance of thirty. We enjoy the work very much, and are doing our best to make it successful. The climate is warm, but not hot. The customs are different from those at home. I can understand most of the Spanish language already.

“I will send for the Review and Instructor next month, as we must keep up our connection with the homeland.”

Appointments to Foreign Fields

THE Mission Board gives us the following list of workers who have accepted appointments to the fields abroad: Clyde Lowry, of Southern California, to Jamaica, as secretary and treasurer of the Jamaica Conference; L. J. Borrowdale, of Ohio, to the Lake Titicaca Indian Mission; E. H. Wilcox, of New Mexico, to the Inca Union Mission, as field missionary secretary; J. J. Strahle, of South Dakota, to the Philippine Islands, as field missionary secretary; Melvin Munson, of California, to Malaysia, for evangelistic and editorial work; Elder W. D. MacLay, president of the Kansas Conference, to South Africa, as president of the Cape Conference; Elder H. F. Neumann, of south Texas, to Brazil, for service in the Santa Catharina Conference; U. M. Cooke, of Texas, to Salvador, Central America, as field missionary secretary; Chas. C. Landis, M. D., of Chico, Cal., to the Asiatic Division, as medical secretary; Elder R. W. Parmele, of the Cumberland Conference, to the superintendency of the Northern Latin American Missions, which comprises Porto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, and Honduras; G. D. Raff, field missionary agent of Porto Rico, to the same work in the South Caribbean Conference.