I CAN only give thanks to the Master for enabling me to close up a long canvass a few weeks ago by delivering fully one thousand dollars' worth of orders for books, helps, etc. In addition to these there were 112 orders for "Ministry of Healing," relief edition, for Loma Linda (Cal.) College of Medical Evangelists, or over $165 worth.
Early in August I boarded the steamer "Ravalli" for Humboldt County, California, to spend some time at the hospitable home of Brother and Sister C. E. Spear, resting (and working, too, on their ranch) to recuperate depleted energies. But it was not long until, almost unawares, I found myself in the harness again, busy at the canvassing work.
Recently on a trip to Brother Fred Ramsland's fruit ranch we stopped a few moments in front of a farmhouse. I climbed down off our load of lumber, went to a house near by, and in almost no time the Master gave favor. I secured two orders from one man, amounting to $6.50. These were for "Practical Guide to Health" and "Daniel and the Revelation," which are my two leading books. This seemed a "providence," a "pointer," or a "straw," to tell the way the wind was blowing. Books will sell even in war times, when men's hearts are failing because of those things that are coming on the earth. Do not believe the enemy of souls and of our canvassing work when he says we can do nothing now. It is not true.
In one week more I had dropped the work of harvesting choice peaches, prunes, etc., and was at work selling our good, truth-laden books. The first man I canvassed very readily gave an order for "Practical Guide to Health" in full leather, $5.50. In three hours I took $14.50 worth of orders. On September 13, near and at Dyerville, Cal., the Lord did certainly bless and favor in giving me orders amounting to $48.85, mostly for our large books. It now looks as if my orders for this week will total from $135 to $140, for books, helps, etc.
It is close to that now. I pray that a host may be won for Christ's kingdom as a result of it all. Pray it be even so, dear brethren and sisters in the broad field. In it all I can only say: "What hath God wrought!" "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes." "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
WALTER HARPER.
Review and Herald Daily Mail
By D. W. Reavis
THIS picture shows the Review and Herald truck with the third load of mail, October 6, and the mail car which has been placed on the sidetrack daily at Takoma Park during the past month.
Each day during this time this car has been well filled with REVIEW Extras, Ingathering REVIEWS, and the regular house mail, and it will be required for some time to come; for the daily mail is yet so large that a train cannot make a stop on its regular schedule long enough to load our mail from the regular mail shed, though it stands close to the track, and on a level with the car door.
Our publishing houses have made marked advances in printing and circulating literature during recent years. At first our periodicals could be carried to the post office in a carpetbag. Later only a few mail bags were required, and still later light carts could handle it. Only a short time ago we reported outgoing books by the tons, later by the carload at long intervals. But now, even our periodicals are sent out daily for more than a month at a time by the carload — a car a day of periodicals from Washington has been the average since August 15. Greater things are yet in store for our literature. There will be more and more of it as time passes; for every believer will some day be an active worker in the circulation of the printed gospel.
D. W. Reavis.
Camp Meetings in the Southwest
By H. H. Hamilton
The Oklahoma Camp Meeting
"I HAVE heard many say that this was one of the very best camp meetings ever held in Oklahoma." This is the language of the president of the Oklahoma Conference, and it voices the opinion of every one present. The camp was pitched in Highland Park, in the city of Guthrie. About seven hundred were encamped, and the outside attendance was good.
In addition to the regular workers of the conference, the following persons were present, whose labors were greatly appreciated: Elders Charles Thompson, G. F. Watson, H. Schultz, G. F. Haffner, J. H. Schilling, and John Covert; Brethren A. F. Harrison, H. L. Wilcox, and Theodore Valentiner. Prof. C. B. Hughes attended the camp meeting and represented the union conference school, Keene Industrial Academy, while the writer was present to assist in the educational and young people's work.
Elder John Isaac was re-elected president. There were no changes in the officers of the conference, with the exception of two committeemen, one of whom was elected president of the New Mexico Conference.
The Spirit of the Lord was manifested at this meeting, and thirty-seven were baptized at its close. I am glad to report that the people of the Southwestern Union are willing to give of their means for the prosecution of the work of the Lord. Their liberality was shown in the Oklahoma meeting by their contributions, $753.89 being given as Sabbath-school offerings, and $7,079.58 (cash and pledges) as an offering to foreign missions.
Excellent interest was shown in the young people's meetings, there being an average attendance of more than two hundred. Plans were also laid to carry forward more vigorously the home missionary work.
The meeting closed August 30, with stirring sermons by Elders Schultz and Thompson.
The Arkansas Camp Meeting
The Arkansas camp meeting was held in Hot Springs, August 7-17, and was the largest and most profitable camp meeting ever held in the State. There were about two hundred encamped. The outside attendance was very good, and many who for the first time heard the truth embraced it at this meeting.
The Sabbath school offerings amounted to $50, and more than $800 in cash and pledges was raised for foreign missions. In addition to this, lands and stock to the value of $1,500 were given.
Besides the regular conference helpers, there were present to assist in the meetings,18Elders Charles Thompson and G. F. Watson, Brother A. F. Harrison, and the writer. At the close of the meeting, about thirty-five presented themselves for baptism.
New Mexico Camp Meeting
It is said by the workers who attended the New Mexico camp meeting that it was one of the most spiritual meetings ever held by this people. The Spirit of the Lord was present in a very marked manner, and some wonderful conversions date from the Roswell camp meeting. The young people's work received great blessings in the form of direct answers to prayer in behalf of their unconverted friends.
Elder Coberly, of Oklahoma, was called to the presidency of the conference, the other officers remaining the same. Besides the union conference helpers, Elder A. T. Robinson was present, and his labors were greatly appreciated.
At the close of the meeting, about thirty-five were baptized.
H. H. HAMILTON.
Baptisms and Sabbathkeepers in Michigan
ON a recent Sabbath ten persons were baptized at Eureka, Mich., where Elders H. A. Boylan and O. M. Kittle are holding meetings. A Sabbath school of eighteen members has been organized at Fenton, and four persons have begun to observe the Sabbath. Others are deeply interested in the truth.
Using the Newspapers in Louisiana
By Walter L. Burgan
An excellent illustration of the numerous opportunities our workers have to get articles published in the newspapers is found in the recent experience of Elder E. W. Parmele, president of the Louisiana Conference. He says:—
"Several months ago I spoke on the Eastern Question in Lake Arthur. The editor feared he would not be able to use my matter, as he had no linotype machine, and not a very good force of typesetters. I volunteered to set the type for him. He gladly accepted my offer, so I rolled up my sleeves and went at it. In this way the whole story went in. I then went to Lake Charles, and took a copy of the Lake Arthur paper to the editor of the American Press, a daily, and asked him if he should like to use it in his Monday's issue, as I intended to speak on it in our church on Sunday night. He accepted it gladly. I then went to Shreveport (I was out visiting churches), where I showed the Lake Charles paper to the editor of the Journal, and asked him the same question, to which he gladly assented.
"Then I went to Ringgold. There I called on the pastor of the Methodist Church with a copy of the paper, and asked if I might have his pulpit at one of his Sunday hours to present that subject. He immediately told me that he should have no service on Sunday, as that would be his day with another church, and according to an understanding with the Baptist Church of the place, his congregation would go to their church, the Baptists coming to his church when their pastor was away. He advised me to see the Baptist pastor. I did so, and after he had read the newspaper story, he said he should be glad to bring the matter before his deacons. The result was that I occupied the Baptist pulpit that night, the Methodists and Seventh-day Adventists all being there, and a good many others besides, as the Baptist pastor had announced it in the morning service. It seemed to me that this was attained by having the newspaper story with me for him to read, so he could see about what I should say. At the close of the discourse, he said publicly: 'I told you, when I returned from the Baptist convention, that I wished you could all have been there to hear Brother —— preach on the prophecies; but I want to say that I heard nothing there that could compare with what we have heard tonight, and I am not sure but that we have heard the truth. I rather think we have.' He continued in that strain for some little time.
"At Welsh, two weeks ago Sunday, I spoke on 'The European War Fulfilling Prophecy,' in the morning and evening, in the Baptist church. The sermon I reported to the newspaper, occupying more than one and one-half columns. I took that report to Lake Arthur and showed it to the Baptist pastor there, with the request for his pulpit Sunday morning. This was granted, and then we requested the pastor of the Methodist Church to dismiss his congregation after the Sunday school and come over in a body to the Baptist church. This they did, and we had an enthusiastic meeting, all apparently accepting what was said. The matter was published in the Lake Arthur paper."
This experience ought to encourage every minister and evangelist in our denomination, as similar opportunities to spread the message over a wide field are frequently appearing. Other interesting reports have just been received, showing that our workers are still using the war in Europe as a basis for articles treating on the signs of the times and the nearness of the Lord's coming.
WALTER L. BURGAN.
Lessons From the War
By E. M. Graham
As I have followed the progress of the European war, I have been impressed that there are many lessons we may learn from it in regard to our work, which is really a warfare against the powers of evil.19One lesson is the advantage of united action. The military leaders study the situation and then outline a plan of operation. This is faithfully followed by the entire army, under the direction of these leaders. There may be men among them who do not consider these plans the best, but that makes no difference; they carry them out to the utmost of their ability; and in this lies much, perhaps most, of the strength of the armies.
In the work of the Lord also there is strength in united action. The leaders in the North American Division Conference studied the situation, and laid plans for a general aggressive home missionary campaign, to begin Oct. 1, 1914, and continue in full force until March 31, 1915. These plans call upon every member of the Lord's great army to unite with this campaign. Its success depends upon the response the members make to this call for united action.
In the armies of the world, force is used to compel obedience to the calls of the leaders, but in the Lord's work love is the only compelling motive. Shall it be said that the force used by the world is more effective than the love that is manifested by the Lord? Is it to be demonstrated that men of the world are more loyal to their rulers and countries than the people of God are to the Lord of lords and King of kings?--Surely not. We believe the people of the Lord will respond to this call, and make such a united, vigorous attack on the forces of the enemy that it will lead to victory all along the line. This campaign has started out with three lines of work:--
1. The systematic lending of tracts throughout the districts which our churches and isolated members can reach. For use in this, three packages of tracts have been put up: the first contains one complete set of the series of tracts, ten envelope packets in all, for 25 cents; the second contains four complete sets, with envelopes, for $1; and the third contains twenty-five complete sets, with envelopes, for $5. This last package is a bargain, for it contains tracts and envelopes which at ordinary prices would cost $7.75. This heavy discount is a contribution from the publishing houses to the home missionary campaign.
2. The distribution of the Signs of the Times weekly, by each church, and also by the isolated members, taking a club of the Signs, averaging two copies a week for each member. These papers may be sold or given away, as thought best.
The entire profits made by the Pacific Press on this issue of the Signs weekly will be turned over to the foreign mission funds, and each conference will receive credit for that part of this donation that comes through the sales in its territory. Therefore every copy sold not only spreads a knowledge of the message, but it also assists the foreign missions.
3. The wide circulation of the Berean Library. In this library are a number of books which contain a thorough exposition of the leading points of our faith, and others are on practical religion and present-day issues. There is enough present truth in a set of these books to give any one who will read them an intelligent understanding of this message. They may be sold, given away, or lent, and although inexpensive, are in neat and attractive form.
Other features may be added as the campaign progresses and the needs develop. If you have not already done so, now is the time for you to secure the necessary supplies of tracts, Signs weekly, and the Berean Library.
In this campaign it will be necessary for the strong to stand by the weak. Some members are not in a position to provide themselves with the necessary supplies, while others are able to pay for much more literature than they can use. If every one will do his utmost, these inequalities will be made even, and every one may have the privilege of sharing in this great home missionary campaign.
There may be some to whom these plans do not appeal, but even so, they will do well to unite with their brethren in carrying them out; for just as in the war in Europe it is the united action of the armies that gains victories, so in this cause it is the united action that gives the greatest success. Plans for campaigns like this are not presented until the situation has been given thorough study by representative men of long experience, and the best methods agreed upon. Is it not reasonable to expect that every member of the Lord's army will take his place in this campaign, and thus show his loyalty to the great Commander? E. M. GRAHAM.
South Texas Camp Meeting
By J. A. Leland
The annual camp meeting and conference for South Texas was held at Houston, July 23 to August 2. The camp ground was very pleasantly situated in a shady grove. All the business sessions passed off harmoniously. The resolutions respecting the home missionary campaign and other matters were passed after appropriate discussion.
The evening meetings were well attended by persons from the city, and many manifested deep interest in the truths presented. The laborers from abroad were Elders Charles Thompson, G. W. Caviness, and G. F. Haffner.
Arrangements were made for more aggressive efforts among the Germans in the conference by uniting our efforts with those of the North Texas Conference. To further facilitate this work, Brother H. F. Neumann was ordained to the ministry. Elder Charles Thompson offered the prayer of ordination, and Elder G. F. Watson delivered the charge.
With the exception of minor changes in the conference committee, the previous officers were reelected. Provision was also made for a secretary for the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Society and the educational and the Sabbath school work, Mrs. Hattie Leland being asked to take charge of these branches.
J. A. Leland.
English Tent Effort Closes in Buffalo
THE English tent effort in Buffalo closed its series of meetings Sunday night, September 13. Thus far, eleven are keeping the Sabbath, and several others are interested and deeply agitated over the Sabbath question.
Ingathering Notes
By F. W. Paap
WE wish we could tell you how greatly we appreciated the first word from the field in connection with our great Harvest Ingathering campaign. It is certain that if this is a criterion of what we are going to reap from this great harvest season, the results will be far ahead of our calculations. Sister Jacobsen, of Minnesota, writes:—
"Yours received in due time, and I am intensely interested in what you say. I have been greatly blessed in the work. I started out with eighteen of the Ingathering Reviews, and have only two left. I set my goal at $25. I have reached that amount, and have raised the goal to $30. If the weather continues good, I hope to reach that. I am in my seventy-fourth year, and not very strong. I have ordered fifteen more papers. I am doing all I can to get the members of our little church to work. I believe most of them are at work now. I sincerely hope we shall be able to raise the $5 a member. We are surely living in solemn times. It is time that every Seventh-day Adventist was awake to the situation and taking hold of the work as never before. It is the Lord's work, and he will give success to every one who goes to work in earnest, trusting in him."
Brother J. L. Turner, of Mississippi, writes:—
"Yours of September 25 is before our church, only adding fuel to the fire already burning in the heart of our church here. We are responding to the great call made by you and others for the help of our missionary workers throughout the world in this time of distress. We began the work of soliciting, according to order, on the fifth instant. For our little band of workers, twenty in number, we set the goal at $100, or $5 a member. . . . We have worked only three days, and some report their $5 already. Yes, with the Review and Herald in our hands, prayers in our hearts, and the war cry upon our lips, we think to reach the goal."
We surely have reached the time when God is going before his people. Courage in the Lord should be our battle cry. From time to time we shall pass along items of special interest. Are you at the battle front? Have you reached the goal of at least $5 a member? Now is the time to work, and God will surely bless our united efforts.
F. W. PAAP.
Australasian Missionary College
By W. E. H.
OUR readers are perhaps more familiar with this school under its former name of Avondale School for Christian Workers. It is located at Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia, and is the central school for the Australasian Union Conference. It was established while Sister White was residing in Australia, much of the time near the school itself. Her personal presence and counsels went far toward founding the institution on true principles of Christian education, well balanced in spiritual, mental, and industrial interests. Our people in America had the privilege of contributing of their means toward establishing the school, and of their men also, particularly in the persons of three of its principals, Prof. C. B. Hughes, Prof. C. W. Irwin, and Prof. B. F. Machlan.
During his recent labors in Australia, Elder A. G. Daniells visited the Avondale school for a few days. From a letter on its progress, which he wrote to Professor Machlan, we are permitted to take a few extracts. He says:—
"I was very glad to find the school plant in such good shape, and to find such a large, superior body of students. The enrollment this year is 230. I suppose there is an attendance at the present time of about 200. The church school has an attendance of 30. I must say that the student body of Avondale college is equal to any I meet in our schools in the United States. As you know, the most of them are there for strenuous work, and so they are fairly well advanced in years. There were but few young students. Nearly all are grown. They are a bright, wide-awake lot of young people. They are working very hard in the industrial lines, and I was informed by the principal and other members of the faculty that although the most of the students work from 35 to 48 hours a week, they get their lessons as well as students usually do who do no physical labor. I am sure that they were as attentive and receptive and responsive as any student body I meet in my travels.
"I made inquiry with reference to the percentage of graduates who enter our work. From 1902 to 1913, inclusive, out of 129 graduates, three are dead, 96 are in the work or making further preparation in other lines. Thirty are not engaged in our work. The 96 who are in the work constitute 74.4 per cent of those who have been graduated. Of course there are many others in the work who did not remain in school long enough to complete a regular course, but the 74 per cent of the graduates is a very large percentage to go into our organized work.
"Brother Teasdale [the present principal] and other teachers all speak very highly of the work the students are doing. They feel that they are thoroughly loyal to the industrial features of the school, and that they are trying earnestly to do good work in their studies, so that their grades will be what they ought to be.
"I was pleased to find all the buildings, except the barn, newly painted and in a good state of repair. The church and retreat have both had a fresh coat of paint, so they all look bright and cheery. The barn needs painting and cleaning up. That was the only building of the entire plant that did not give the enterprise credit. Brother Teasdale told me that that would be the next building they would overhaul. I found that the buildings we put up about eighteen years ago of that hard wood cut out of the eucalyptus logs were in a good state of preservation, and are good for a hundred years yet, so far as decay is concerned.
"Brother Fred Reekie is the manager of the farm, the orchards, and the vineyard. As you know, he is a wide-awake, active man. When I was there nearly every acre of land that has been cleared had been recently turned over with the plows. They are making a big effort to put the land around the campus in all directions under good, strong cultivation. The vineyard looks fine, but the orange, mandarin, and lemon trees are dying out. Brother Teasdale thinks that they are so far out of the citrus belt that they are not justified in trying to grow those kinds of fruit; so as the trees die they are dug up, and apples, pears, plums, and peaches are put in their place. They have a very fine young orchard of these last-named fruits at the present time."
Elder Daniells says further that they are installing a new water system, by which they hope to solve, through irrigation, the problem of the dry weather which has given them much trouble the last few years. One feature of the system is an engine which generates their electricity, and which uses charcoal as fuel. They make two tons of charcoal a week, in their own retort, from a poor wood called the ti tree, found on the place. One ton supplies the engine, and the sanitarium buys the other ton for enough to cover the cost of producing the two tons. A boy can care for the engine by attending it once when the lights are needed in the evening, and once at bedtime.
The letter continues:—
"The dairy is doing very well at the20present time. They have thirty-five cows, and are milking between twenty and twenty-five, so that they have all the cream and milk they need for their large family.
"I was very much pleased with the printing plant. They employ 36 persons, 33 of whom are students. The value of work done during 1913 was a little more than $6,000. They print eight papers. The Australasian Record and the Missionary Leader are English papers for Australasia. The other six are in the native languages for Tahiti, Rarotonga, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Maoris of New Zealand.
"As I talked with the different teachers, I found that they all felt that the school is located in the right place. They are glad that they are not close to some large city. They would be better satisfied if not a foot of ground belonging to the estate had been sold. . . . They feel very glad that no one is living nearer than a mile to the school buildings."
This informal report illustrates well in the concrete some of the fundamental principles of Christian education given us years ago. W. E. H.
Principles of Christian Education Illustrated
By William E. Howell
For the sake of making clear the illustration of certain principles underlying Christian education which are brought out in a letter from Elder Daniells as presented in the preceding article, we set down here in immediate connection, first the principle, then the illustration—the principle taken from Mrs. White's writings, the illustration from the letter:—
PRINCIPLE.—"Much can now be gained by connecting labor with our schools. In following this plan, the students will realize elasticity of spirit and vigor of thought, and will be able to accomplish more mental labor in a given time than they could by study alone."—"Counsels to Teachers," page 202.
ILLUSTRATION.—"I was informed by the principal and other members of the faculty that although the most of the students work from 35 to 48 hours a week, they get their lessons as well as students usually do who do no physical labor."
PRINCIPLE.—"One great object of our schools is the training of youth to engage in service in our institutions and in different lines of gospel work."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. VI, page 133.
ILLUSTRATION.—"Out of 129 graduates . . . the 96 who are in our work constitute 74.4 per cent of those who have been graduated. Of course there are many others in the work who did not remain in school long enough to complete a regular course."
PRINCIPLE.—"A competent farm manager should be employed, also wise, energetic men to act as superintendents of the several industrial enterprises, men who will use their undivided talents in teaching the students how to work."—Id., page 182.
ILLUSTRATION.—"Brother Fred Reekie is the manager of the farm, the orchards, and the vineyard. As you know, he is a wide-awake, active man."
PRINCIPLE.—"The youth who shall attend our schools need all the land near by. They are to plant it with ornamental and fruit trees, and to cultivate garden produce." "The land will yield its treasures, bringing the joyousness of an abundant harvest; and the produce gathered through the blessing of God is to be used as nature's lesson book, from which spiritual lessons can be made plain, and applied to the necessities of the soul."—Id., pages 181, 187.
ILLUSTRATION.—"When I was there nearly every acre of land that has been cleared had been recently turned over with the plows. They are making a big effort to put the land around the campus in all directions under good, strong cultivation."
PRINCIPLE.—"The students should also be trained to manage all the different kinds of work connected with printing, such as typesetting, presswork, and book-binding."—Id., page 176.
ILLUSTRATION.—"I was very much pleased with the printing plant. They employ 36 persons, 33 of whom are students. The value of work done during 1913 was a little more than $6,000. They print eight papers" [two in the English language and six in the native island languages].
PRINCIPLE.—"The reasons that have led us in a few places to turn away from cities, and locate our schools in the country, hold good with the schools in other places."—Id., page 177.
ILLUSTRATION.—"As I talked with the different teachers, I found that they all felt that the school is located in the right place. They are glad that they are not close to some large city."
PRINCIPLE.—"Matters were then opened before me in regard to the evils that would arise from disposing of the land near the school to be occupied with dwelling houses. . . . The greater the number of families that settle around the school buildings, the more difficulties there will be in the way of teachers and students."—Id., page 184.
ILLUSTRATION.—"They would be better satisfied if not a foot of ground belonging to the estate had been sold. . . . They feel very glad that no one is living nearer than a mile to the school buildings."
By thus presenting these principles as illustrated in the work of the Avondale college, we do not mean to give the impression that some of our schools in the United States are not working with equal earnestness and success to apply the instruction given us long ago on these various features of Christian education. We hope, however, that this brief summary of what Avondale is doing, as reported by one so well able to judge, and this abbreviated mention of principles given us, may help in stimulating all our schools to more earnest, wide-awake effort to realize the ideals set before them.
W. E. H.
Effective Preaching
ONE of the readers in our Ministerial Reading Course sends in the following digest of helpful things he has gathered from the first book in the course, on preparation for effective preaching:—
"It is imperative that the minister have a message, and that he be constantly studying for improvement. He is to deliver the straight word of God uncorrupted, without addition or subtraction, so that it may seem to the hearer that 'divine import and almighty urgency is behind it all.' He must speak for his God.
"In studying his Bible, he must study for his own personal benefit. Then from the texts that are most helpful and appeal strongest to him personally, make his selection for sermon texts. If in doubt upon the meaning of any text, he should not attempt to use it, but preach what is clear and certain. He should be and live that which is set forth in his sermons. Smart men can preach smart sermons, but only good men can preach sermons that will help anybody.
"The preacher is to keep close to youth, never to consider himself old, but keep on studying and becoming better qualified for service all his life. He should make the best preparation possible. The fact that a minister is sixty or seventy years of age should not count to lay him by; he may be ready for new fields and successful service even then. No dead line should be recognized in vocations calling chiefly for intellectual activity rather than physical. Ruts must be avoided. Vital preaching depends more upon the will, the purpose, and the sincerity of a man's character than upon his mental attainments.
"Sermons need not be sensational to tell for good, and the thought is echoed that 'the truths which have had the greatest influence upon mankind have made people neither laugh nor cry.'
"The preacher should not allude in public to his own trials. He should make no excuses for his poor preparation, but go right to work.
"As Christ had no words of condemnation for any but hypocrites, so his minister should not. He should be hopeful and cheerful, having no care for unfavorable criticism of his work.
"When he has proceeded to a point where his sermon ceases to interest, he should close. The sermon to be useful at all must have a present-day value, and he must make the profound simple, seeking primarily to instruct, despairing of no one. Diligence should be exercised in finding what he may praise in others rather than censure, as censure has been said to require simply a small brain and a wagging tongue. Saying smart things is not the object of his efforts, but to say the saving thing.
"The sermon should be systematically prepared with a suitable but brief introduction, a truth-laden discussion, leading if possible to a climax of power as it proceeds, and closing with the strongest blow of all and in the height of interest. The object should be to save souls, not to attract the hearers to man, but to point them to Christ in that way that they may gain salvation and life eternal.
"Speaking without notes is strongly urged. The preparation should be such as to enable the minister to speak in this way, as many things tend to make this method much more effective than to read a sermon. The power of the eye is largely lost in reading.
"In seeking to avoid sensational methods, one thing is to be remembered as worse than that, namely, stagnation. Freshness is to be sought; illustrations from nature and the common walks of life may be employed.
"In every way the preacher should seek all legitimate ends to make his efforts powerful for saving souls, pointing them to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
21Words of appreciation of the Reading Course for ministers and other gospel workers, and reports of having completed books in the course, are pouring in from all parts of the world. Many are now reading the third and last book of the course for 1914, The Monuments and the Old Testament. Notes and citations to accompany this book appear in the magazine Christian Education from month to month. A new course for 1915 is being planned. Our present registration of about seven hundred ought to be doubled for next year, and it can be if each reader will make a little personal effort to interest at least one other to take the course. To give the work some degree of definiteness, a reading course certificate will be issued to each reader who completes the three books for 1914, and sends in a brief estimate of their value to him.
Address General Conference Department of Education on all matters pertaining to this course.
The Work at Oakwood
By Editor
Though delayed in transit, we believe the following report of our Alabama school will interest the reader because of its very definite and encouraging nature. It was sent in by the principal, C. J. Boyd. Note particularly the number brought into the truth, the number gone into the work, and the uplifting influence of the school in its community:—
“The Oakwood Manual Training School closed one of its most successful year's work May 26, 1914. While the class of graduates was not so large as the class of 1913, yet there was an exceptional eagerness on the part of each member to devote his life to the cause of the message for which the school stands. The class consisted of one academic graduate, two ministers, four teachers, and two nurses. All but two are taking up work in connection with our regular organization, or will take advanced studies at Oakwood next year.
“In 1913 our class numbered fourteen; all but four are working in connection with some of our conferences. We have twenty-four students who are in the field at present earning their scholarships for next year by selling our books. Most of them are having good success. Eight or nine of the boys are taking orders for one hundred dollars' worth of orders each week, and sometimes more. Eight of our number are working in connection with tent efforts that are being held in various places. While most of our students come to us from Sabbath-keeping homes, already converted to our faith, yet we can claim about forty who have accepted the truth in the last three years as a result of efforts put forth by the school.
“We are trying to make our school of real service to our community in an industrial way, our sawmill and blacksmith shop receiving the heaviest patronage. Our prospects were never brighter for a greater work at Oakwood. A number of important improvements are receiving consideration. Our daily prayer is that the Lord may keep each one connected with this work in the humble path of duty, so that he can consistently crown our efforts with success.”
