Earlier text: Statement of Twenty-Cent-a-Week Fund for Three Months Ending March 31, 1915The Work in the Pacific Union Conference
By FRANK. A. COFFIN
THE redistricting of the entire California field was brought about recently at the annual meeting of the conferences in this State. This was made necessary because of the rapid growth of the work on the Pacific Coast, making it difficult for those in charge of the largest conferences to give to the spiritual interests of the work in their fields that consideration which they desired to give, in addition to the large institutions requiring constant attention. The Southern California Conference had grown by leaps and bounds, until it had become the largest in the world in membership, having 3,773 Sabbath keepers, and a tithe in 1914 of $75,621.26. Los Angeles alone has fourteen churches. The California Conference had grown until it had a membership of 2,826, and a tithe for 1914 of $51,987.03. The Southern California camp meeting had become so large as to be unwieldy; and although some good results were seen from such gatherings, our leading brethren felt that much more could be accomplished in smaller meetings, where our workers could come into closer touch with the people. To some extent the same was true in the California Conference. Also, it was apparent that some change must be made in the territorial lines of the Central California Conference, for the mountains made an almost impassable barrier between the valley and the coast districts of this field, necessitating long detours for our workers to reach the coast, and travel by a circuitous route for our people on the coast to reach the annual camp meetings in the valley. The annual gatherings in the California and Southern California Conferences were much nearer by rail to these members, hence they were attending the meetings in these other conferences rather than their own. To work the field better, it was thought best to recognize these natural barriers, and place this coast portion with adjoining fields. Accordingly a joint meeting of the California, Central California, and Northern California Conferences was called to meet in Oakland, February 4-9. Two hundred and forty-three delegates were present, besides others of our brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came into the meetings as all sought him with sincere hearts, desiring to know and do his will. All felt that in business matters as well as in evangelistic work we need the Lord’s guidance and presence, and there was a great desire on the part of our brethren to do that which would meet the Lord’s approval and bring about the most rapid advancement of the work. After studying the question for a day and a half, discussing the various issues involved, and planning for the work with a large map of California before them, the delegates decided to divide the California (Coast) Conference at San Francisco Bay, and along the northern line of Contra Costa County, leaving the bay cities in the southern portion, and all north of this line, in the Northwestern California Conference. In this readjustment of lines, San Benito and Monterey Counties were united with the California Conference, and San Luis Obispo County with the Southern California Conference. This joint meeting was made the annual session for the three conferences. Because of the desirability of having as large an attendance of able and experienced brethren as possible at the annual meetings, and because they can attend better in the winter than in the summer;17 also because the strength of our conference officials is needed in the summer camp meeting season for evangelistic work, a recommendation was passed that the conference committees consider with favor the plan of holding the annual conference sessions hereafter in the winter months, after the close of the year. Like action was taken by the Southern California Conference at its annual meeting. A recommendation also was passed requesting the officers of the Pacific Union Conference to make thorough legal investigation, and report upon a plan to simplify the holding of all church and conference real estate. Three newly organized churches were received into the Central California Conference, these being: Clovis, Fresno County, membership 21; Shafter, Kern County, membership 18; Rolinda, Fresno County, membership 23. The Southern California Conference met in annual session February 18-21, 139 delegates being present. One new church, the Berean (colored), was admitted to the conference, with 30 members. During the last six months of 1914, 138 were baptized, about the same number received upon profession of faith, and the tithe amounted to $38,037.33. Twenty-seven church schools were in operation, employing 36 teachers, and having an enrollment of about 700 pupils. An increase of $885.16 in the retail sales of publications was reported for 1914, over the sales in 1913, those last year being $34,415.88. This local conference had 61 Sabbath schools at the close of the year, with a membership of 3,542, and their offerings for the last six months of 1914 amounted to $8,149.25; $1,852.48 of this being thirteenth Sabbath donations. The tithe for the year 1914 amounted to $75,621.26 in the Southern California field. The delegates gave careful study to our rapidly growing work, and decided to divide the Southern California Conference along the western boundary line of Kern and Los Angeles Counties. The territory east of this line was named the Southeastern California Conference. A welcome was extended to workers from our nearby sanitariums, who are assisting in evangelistic work in Los Angeles, and the conference pledged them its support. A resolution of protest was passed against the bill in Congress to censor the press, and exclude certain publications from the mails. Action also was taken supporting the twenty-cent-a-week plan. The three conferences in the northern part of the State passed a like resolution at their joint session. All the conferences elected officers for the year, and accepted reports from the various officers for 1914. The new officers elected were as follows:— California Conference: President, J. L. McElhany; secretary and treasurer, H. B. Thomas; executive committee, J. L. McElhany, J. W. McCord, C. E. Ford, R. S. Fries, M. A. Hollister, H. G. Childs, A. Brorsen.
Northwestern California: President, J. Adams Stevens; secretary and treasurer, S. Donaldson; executive committee, J. Adams Stevens, E. J. Hibbard, S. T. Hare, L. M. Bowen, E. C. Bond.
Northern California: President, Clarence Santee; secretary and treasurer, Verah MacPherson; executive committee, Clarence Santee, A. J. Osborne,18 T. H. Watson, J. W. Rich, Geo. M. Wisner, N. W. Kauble, E. J. Urquhart. Central California: President, N. P. Neilsen; secretary and treasurer, G. A. Wheeler; executive committee, N. P. Neilsen, E. H. Adams, F. E. Brown, G. A. Grauer, A. N. Loper, P. J. Wolfsen, Nis Hansen.
Southern California Conference: President, B. E. Beddoe; secretary and treasurer, B. M. Emerson; executive committee, B. E. Beddoe, F. I. Richardson, G. A. Snyder, D. A. Parsons, E. G. Fulton, I. C. Colcord, H. G. Lucas.
Southeastern California Conference: President, W. F. Martin; secretary and treasurer, John McReynolds; executive committee, W. F. Martin, R. S. Owen, J. A. Burden, C. E. Rice, Frank Lane, C. F. Falkenburg, Clyde Lowry. The auditor of the Pacific Union Conference was elected auditor of each local conference. The territory now included in the six conferences is as follows:—
Northwestern California: Solano, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties.
California Conference: Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Monterey, and San Benito Counties.
Northern California: Stanislaus, Tuolumne, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador, Sacramento, Yolo, Eldorado, Placer, Nevada, Sutter, Colusa, Yuba, Sierra, Butte, Glenn, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Siskiyou, and Modoc Counties.
Central California: Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties, north of the Tehachapi Mountains.
Southern California: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Kern Counties, south of the Tehachapi Mountains.
Southeastern California: San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and Imperial Counties.
The comparative standing of these local fields before division and afterward is given below:— Before the Division |
POPULATION 1913 |
NO. CHURCHES |
MEMBERSHIP 1914 |
TITHE 1914 |
|---|
| California |
1,253,444 |
39 |
2,826 |
$51,987.03 |
| Central California |
282,546 |
28 |
1,341 |
19,999.32 |
| Northern California |
418,650 |
26 |
1,688 |
27,035.29 |
| Southern California |
1,178,000 |
54 |
3,773 |
75,621.26 |
| Total |
3,132,640 |
147 |
9,628 |
$174,642.90 |
After the Division |
POPULATION 1913 |
NO. CHURCHES |
MEMBERSHIP 1914 |
TITHE 1914 |
|---|
| California |
1,084,167 |
20 |
1,620 |
$32,051.32 |
| Central California |
250,000 |
28 |
1,322 |
20,352.66 |
| Northern California |
394,650 |
22 |
1,617 |
25,371.22 |
| Northwestern California |
201,823 |
21 |
1,261 |
20,758.96 |
| Southern California |
877,000 |
29 |
2,163 |
40,728.88 |
| Southeastern California |
325,000 |
27 |
1,645 |
35,379.86 |
| Total |
3,132,640 |
147 |
9,628 |
$174,642.90 |
God is adding his blessing to the work being done in these fields, both by our evangelists and regular conference laborers and in our institutions. To him be all the praise for the continued and rapid development of the work in all its departments in this part of the harvest field.
FRANK. A. COFFIN. Borneo
By R. P. MONTGOMERY
THERE are many in different parts of Borneo anxious to hear about the second coming of Christ. From Sarawak an urgent call comes for help. Sarawak is one of the political divisions of Borneo, and has a population of about five hundred thousand, most of whom are Dyaks. There are about fifty thousand Chinese in this division. At present we have an organized church at Sandakan, a few believers at Labuan, and a few in Sarawak. It surely will not be long till we shall have more Chinese and native helpers to scatter the precious gospel throughout this large island. The harvest is white, but the laborers are few. Pray for more laborers for Borneo. Abyssinia
By EMERY J. LORNTZ
THE Lord has blessed his work among the Abyssinians during the past year, and we are thankful to him for his help. At the beginning of 1914 we did not have much hope for success, but he who guides all prepared his work in quietness, and therefore the honor belongs only to him. Our second baptism we had last October, and others are now preparing for the next occasion. One of those baptized will become an indispensable help for us in the work if he remains true and continues to receive God’s grace. He had to give up all, and take the mockings of others. They even brought him before the government, but he bore it all for the sake of the truth. Satan is working, but we can see clearly how God guides all. One day the Roman Catholic bishop and the director of the Protestant mission went to the governor and asked for a Sunday law. A Sunday law in Africa! Think of it! The influence of the Papacy reaches far indeed. But this time the request was in vain, “Because,” said the governor, “there are Seventh-day Adventists, Mohammedans, and Jews here, and this is a matter of conscience and faith.” What would Luther say could he see such a commingling of Protestants and Catholics? EMERY J. LORNTZ. Among the Schools
By FREDERICK GRIGGS
I HAD the privilege of staying for over a week at the Pacific Union College. This was my third visit to this school, and it was very interesting to see the changes which have taken place from year to year. It is a great undertaking to build up a large institution such as is planned here, and at the same time carry forward strong educational work. This.18 is being done only by the hearty spirit which unites the entire faculty in the industrial as well as the intellectual phases of the work. The buildings are being erected by the students, under the direction of members of the faculty. This school has an estate of about seventeen hundred acres, a good portion of which is mountainous woodland. There is more than enough timber on the school property for all the buildings. The school owns a sawmill, which enables the institution to produce whatever lumber is needed. Work was begun here six years ago, and so far the chief energies of students and teachers have been spent in the erection of buildings. There is about one hundred acres of excellent farm land capable of irrigation and of producing fruits, vegetables, and grains, which, when the buildings are erected and the plant well equipped, will provide employment for students. In this school, as in all the other schools that I have visited, there is a strong missionary spirit pervading the work. The ministerial and missionary bands are large and enthusiastic. In view of the fact that our advance schools are not increasing in number as they did a few years ago, and so will not need so many new teachers, it is manifest that our efforts must be directed more largely to preparing men and women to enter evangelical work rather than teaching. I also visited intermediate schools at Mountain View and St. Helena. These schools are conducting ten grades, and each has three teachers. They have their own buildings, and the work is being carried forward in a strong, successful manner. This school was established seven or eight years ago. It is located about a mile and a half from the city of Lodi, in the rich San Joaquin Valley, and is surrounded by large vineyards. There is a church of about five hundred members at Lodi. This school was started as a private enterprise. It did not succeed financially, and was taken over by the conference about five years ago. A strong effort is being made to enable it to meet the full purpose of our schools. I believe this school has a good future before it. I was glad of the opportunity to visit it. Elder I. H. Evans and Dr. H. W. Miller accompanied me on my visit to this school, which is situated in the region of large orange groves. It has only about ten acres of land, upon which some fruit and its garden produce are raised. An industrial department for the manufacture of brooms is just being established. We found a prosperous school. Principal H. G. Lucas is now in the tenth year of continuous service in this capacity in the academy. We believe the time is not far distant when our schools will make fewer changes in their faculties. Continuity of the teacher's service lends strength to the school. The schools of the Pacific Union are working under an affiliated arrangement. While this organization has not been fully perfected, yet it is in working order. There are two academies, the Lodi and the San Fernando, besides the training school. These three schools are practically under one board of management. One catalogue is issued for them. This affiliated arrangement does away with extra expense in various ways, and it brings in a spirit of unity and mutual effort which is very helpful. This plan offers a suggestion to our other union conferences in the development of their system of schools. Of course it could not always operate as it does here in the Pacific Union, where the schools affiliated are in one union, for two or three of our training schools draw their support from two or three unions. But some plan of affiliation similar to the one obtaining here might be adopted by each of our colleges with good results. Steps are being taken by the educational secretary of the union, Prof. M. E. Cady, and the management of these schools, to have them recognized by the State university, so that their students may obtain direct entrance to the medical school. This will probably be accomplished this spring. It is a step that should be taken by all our schools. At the recent meeting of the constituency of our medical college a resolution was adopted asking our schools to do this. College of Medical Evangelists
From San Fernando we went to Loma Linda. There was held at this place, while we were here, one of the three medical conventions held during the winter by the Medical Department of the North American Division Conference. It was characterized by a spirit of unity and consecration to the work of soul saving offered by this medium of gospel effort—the healing of bodily ills. We attended the annual meeting of the Association of the College of Medical Evangelists. This school was established in 1907, but plans were not laid until 1909 for a full medical course. It now has 140 students in attendance in the various departments, 63 of whom are enrolled in the medical course, and has graduated 125 students, 6 as physicians. The graduating class in the medical course this year consists of 12 members. Forty-two of its graduates have gone to foreign fields, and 63 into home fields. Every one of our members in the North American Division Conference must recognize this school as one of those enterprises of our cause which needs his loyal support, for it certainly has a God-given work to do. It is not the property of any union conference, but belongs to and must be supported by the entire body of our people. The College of Medical Evangelists certainly has a very important work to do in the finishing of the work of the third angel's message. The Educational Council
By Frederick Griggs
The final preparations for our educational council and the conventions to follow it are being made. It is generally understood that these meetings are to be held as follows:— General educational and Missionary Volunteer council, Pacific Union College, St. Helena, Cal., June 4-14. Convention for the Pacific Union Conference, St. Helena, Cal., June 18-26. Convention for the North Pacific Union Conference, College Place, Wash., June 29 to July 6. Convention for the Northern, Central, and Southwestern Union Conferences, College View, Nebr., July 9-17. Convention for the Lake Union Conference, Berrien Springs, Mich., July 19-26. Convention for the Columbia and Atlantic Union Conferences, Takoma Park, D. C., July 29 to August 4. Convention for the Southern and Southeastern Union Conferences, Graysville, Tenn., August 6-14. An important feature of the council will be to receive and act upon the reports of thirteen standing committees. Thinking it may be of benefit to those of our educators who may be interested in the work of these various committees, I give herewith the list of the committees, with their chairmen:— Elementary standards, C. A. Russell, Berrien Springs, Mich. Science equipment, L. H. Wood, Graysville, Tenn. Library, J. N. Anderson, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Standardization of our academies, W. E. Howell, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Bible courses, C. Sorenson, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Courses of study, J. L. Shaw, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Textbooks, Frederick Griggs, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Certification, H. G. Lucas, San Fernando, Cal. Industrial work, C. W. Irwin, St. Helena, Cal. School auxiliary organizations, M. E. Kern, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Blank forms, W. W. Ruble, College View, Nebr. Normal library, Myrta E. Kellogg, Berrien Springs, Mich. Normal equipment, B. B. Davis, College Place, Wash. We trust that those who are interested in the work of any of these committees will be free to correspond with its chairman, and make any inquiries or offer any suggestions with reference to the work. This will be of assistance in bringing in valuable reports. And we further trust that all members of committees will work energetically in an immediate preparation of their reports, that they may be in the hands of the department before the council begins. Those who are at all acquainted with our educational work can most readily appreciate the importance of these gatherings. Five years have elapsed since the meeting of the department at Berrien Springs, and in this time there has been rapid growth in our educational work. This rapid growth demands many adjustments. Our educational work must keep pace with the advance strides of our message. It must be strengthened in all its features. And it is impossible to accomplish this without such gatherings. There is need of unifying many phases of our work. Each school, and the work in each territory, has made progress; and it will be to the advantage of our work as a whole to compare these notes of progress, and to adapt to all our institutions these individual features of advancement. All the conventions save one are to be held in connection with the college in the territory from which the delegates to the convention will come. This will tend to bind into one unit the educational work of the territory tributary to the college, and will admit of those local adaptations which could not be made so easily if there were but one large convention. A limited number of delegates have been planned for the council in order that there may be the fullest delegations in attendance at the conventions. That the conventions may accomplish the most good, it is imperative that every educational worker in the territory of each convention be present. Another valuable feature of our plans for the council and these conventions is the cooperation of the educational and Missionary Volunteer workers in attendance. Plans will naturally be laid for more effective work, these two departments being very closely related in many phases of their work. We look for great good to come from these meetings, and we sincerely expect to receive the hearty cooperation of our conference, Missionary Volunteer, and educational workers. F. GRIGGS General and N. Am. Div. Secretary W. E. HOWELL N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary In the Field
By F. W. Paap
In the interests of our home missionary movement, which is constantly taking on larger proportions, the writer left Takoma Park, D. C., in February, to attend the bookmen’s and home missionary convention held in Mountain View, Cal., March 5-15. In order to make the trip count for the most, special meetings were planned in the churches of Newark, N. J., and Battle Creek, Mich. At each place we found a readiness and willingness on the part of our people to do more than ever before to live the truth and to give the message to their friends and neighbors. At Newark we found facilities and equipment the most up-to-date. Sister L. Scott is president of the local home missionary society, and in her desire to see things done, and done systematically, she has spent much time and means. We feel confident that the Newark church will take hold of the work in so simple and yet so comprehensive a manner that it will demonstrate how much can be done by carefully planned and systematized missionary endeavor. The districting of territory and appointing of leaders over small companies is in harmony with the plans of our great Leader. The meetings in Battle Creek were well attended, and with a little outside help, things moved along nicely. Brother Joseph Mace, the Review and Herald branch manager, was present with a good supply of literature, which was bought quite largely by our people for the one purpose of diffusing the light. After leaving Newark, and before reaching Battle Creek, the writer spent a few days attending the Greater New York conference, held at Brooklyn, N. Y. It was very pleasing to hear the note sounded by Elder J. L. McElhany in his address, “Every Member a Worker.” This was the keynote of the whole conference. We greatly rejoice to see our leaders lining up on this question, with the settled purpose of using the great latent potentiality of our church membership. The hope of this movement is surely inseparably linked with the activity of the laity. The work cannot be done without them. While crossing the continent, we found many opportunities to work for God. That choice and effective little book “The World’s Crisis” was placed in the hands of many who readily paid the price. Bible studies were held with others. At Cheyenne, Wyo., being joined by others of our brethren en route for the convention, we enjoyed a good song service. This was entered into most heartily by the passengers in our car. One very pleasing incident was the request by one not of our company that we all bow our heads and unite in prayer with the writer. So with our train speeding on at forty miles an hour, we all bowed our heads and addressed the throne of the Infinite God, praising him for his great goodness, and seeking his face for new and richer blessings. We reached the convention in good19 time, and enjoyed much of the blessing of God while studying and planning together for greater things in our needy home field. Following the convention, the writer, in company with Brother Ernest Lloyd, home missionary secretary of the Pacific Union Conference, began a tour of the larger churches in the union. Already we have visited twenty-four, and we are still working. A report of our labors and the results will be given later. F. W. PAAP. Fireside Correspondence School
THE Fireside Correspondence School reports a most encouraging year's work for 1914. Two hundred and fifteen students were enrolled. The majority of these were in the United States and Canada, but some were in Africa, Central and South America, China, Korea, England, Egypt, the South Pacific islands, East Indies, and Scotland. The receipts of the school amounted to $3,257, and the expenses to $2,815. We believe there are many denied the privileges of attending our denominational schools who would find great benefit from taking one or more studies in the Fireside Correspondence School. Write to the principal, Prof. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., for catalogue and information. Home Missionary Department
E. M. Graham General Secretary F. W. Paap N. Am. Div. Secretary What Seven Men Did
By W. W. Eastman
THE importance of careful selection and thorough training of colporteurs has often been emphasized in our conventions and institutes. The following instance well illustrates the value of this theory:— In the Southern Illinois Conference, seven men sold and delivered during 1914 $9,758.33 worth of books, or an average of $1,394.04 for each man. The lowest total sales of any one of these men was $1,010. and the highest, $2,279.95. In order to accomplish this, these men put in a total of 10,556 hours, or an average20 of thirty hours a week for fifty weeks. This would give an average sale of ninety-two cents an hour, or a retail value of $27.60 a week, for each individual for the fifty weeks. With the exception of one, all these men are married and have families. While the total sales appear large, when spread over fifty weeks the wage is small. Still, by careful economy men can care for their families and continue indefinitely this self-supporting evangelistic work. What is needed in each conference is more of these selected, thoroughly instructed, and trained men, whom God has called to this work; and we believe our conferences are appreciating the value of this class of workers, and endeavoring to supply the need as never before. A Foreign Field at Home
By E. E. Messinger
I was interested in reading, some time ago, the report of one of our colleges, giving the number of students who volunteered for service abroad. It was interesting and inspiring to note the enthusiasm and courage manifested. But among the one hundred or so definitely planning for their future work, not one was contemplating entering the foreign field at home, which so loudly calls for men and women of consecration, devotion, and talent. It often seems that, seeing the far-off lands, the church ignores the calls nearer home, and the work here languishes. We would not say that there should be fewer foreign missionaries; but we do say that there must be more true home missionaries if the work is ever to close in triumph. Many, finding it impracticable to go to other lands, or being physically or otherwise unable to respond to the heathen's call, settle down and say, 'There is nothing I can do.' But if they would look about them and see the need of foreign missionaries at home, they would feel that God needs them as truly here as in a land beyond the seas. Such workers, willing to spend and to be spent, will find a waiting field in their homeland. They can labor among the Mongolians along the western coast, who have settled so closely and thickly in places as to form communities that would make one think of their homelands. They can seek to reach the ever-increasing mass of Mexicans and Spanish-speaking people in the southwestern part of our country. And in the great cities they can use their skill and talents in incessant and earnest labor for the millions, yea, rather, tens of millions, of Germans, Slavs, Jews, and Italians. Let us now consider especially the large Slavonic part of our population. It has been estimated that there are ten million Slavs in this country. Numerically they are third in number in the ranks of immigrant peoples, the English and Germans alone outnumbering them. The entire Slavic population of the world is numbered at one hundred fifty million, so that we have a good representation here. We have as yet, however, done little work among these millions. Except as a small beginning in New York City, Newark, New Jersey, and the Russian work in North Dakota, we could call this an unentered field. And yet it is a population larger than that of Belgium, and about twice that of Ireland. It is about as large as that of Korea, and larger than that of all our Rocky Mountain States. It would take twice the population of the Argentine Republic and twenty times that of San Francisco to make up as large a number as the Slavic population of the United States. All these fields were entered years ago, but the great mass of American Slavs are still waiting to hear the third angel's message. Can we at the last day face our Saviour and say we have done what we could, when this near-by field has been left untouched? Is it any wonder that we are urged by the spirit of prophecy to work the cities, and to be just as ready to labor for the foreigners at home as for those abroad? When would be a more opportune time for a large number of persons to enter this work than at this very time? Ways and means will come; the necessary tact and requisite wisdom will be given as we put on the harness. Let some learn the languages of these foreigners, and labor for them in word and doctrine; let some be sent out with books, papers, and tracts, to be sold to those living within the shadows of our doors; let those who cannot learn strange tongues, gratuitously scatter the foreign truth-filled pages as the leaves of autumn; let all sacrifice and pray for this work; and let the converts themselves be trained to labor for their countrymen. The Slavic tongues are said to have sprung from, and to be in reality, simply dialects of the old Slavonic, which in turn is supposed to have sprung from a still older tongue. So the modern Slavic languages are quite similar to one another. Knowing Bohemian, for instance, one does not find it so difficult to learn the Polish or Croatian language. The Slavs professing the Greek Catholic religion, however, use the Greek alphabet, while the Roman Catholic Slavs use the Latin characters. St. Cyril translated the Bible into old Slavonic, but its reading was soon suppressed. Later, at one time during the Reformation, it seemed that both Poland and Bohemia would become overwhelmingly Protestant. But rulers favoring Rome having come into power, the tide was turned, and as in the case of France, the 'heretics' were gradually exterminated or driven out of the country. Persecution and bigotry, however, left their trace. Slavdom is far inferior in culture, education, and civilization to its western neighbors. The Bohemians have come to be an unbelieving and atheistic people, like the French, while the Poles and others are led blindly to follow the 'Holy Father.' Their independence has been removed, and their most illustrious men, who, in other nations, would have been the glory of civilization, have been sent to Siberia. For this reason many have come to America. Here they have political freedom. The Polish people are more largely represented here than any other Slavic people. Chicago, with three hundred thousand Poles and nearly as many Bohemians, is the Slavic metropolis of the New World. Here they can be found for miles and miles in succession. Also it is the second largest Bohemian and third largest Polish city in the world. Other large Slavic centers are: New York City; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Cleveland, Ohio; and St. Louis, Mo. Then we find these people, more or less, in all our cities, and often in large numbers in the country. Other denominations have begun a good work among the Slavs. In Chicago they have over a dozen flourishing churches and missions among the Bohemians alone. There is also a mission among the Bulgarians, of whom there are ten thousand in that city. The Lutherans have a mission among the Poles, and the Baptists among the Poles and Slovakians. The Disciples have started a good work among the Russians. But we have not touched the field. Who will begin work for the Master among the five hundred thousand Slavs in this city? We cannot say that it is not worth while. Can we plead that this is a people who are degraded and ignorant beyond help? Pestalozzi, Huss, Jerome, Kosciuszko, and Copernicus were Slavs, and so is Paderewski. These people are as capable of great things as are other races, when placed on equal footing. Are they prejudiced, hard to reach, unappreciative? Our Saviour had all these difficulties to work against, but love overcomes all obstacles. Is it worth our while to labor for them? "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him," Ps. 126:6. N. Z. TOWN ····· General Secretary W. W. EASTMAN ····· N. Am. Div. Secretary A Good Word From Wales
By N. Z. TOWN
At the time of the Welsh annual meeting in March of last year, the brethren in that conference were urged by the union president to work to the end of becoming self-supporting by the beginning of 1916. Some of those present encouraged them to believe that they might reach this desirable goal much sooner if all joined in the effort. In a recent letter received from Elder A. E. Bacon, president of the Welsh Conference, he writes as follows: “For the years 1912 and 1913 this field drew an appropriation of nearly £350 ($1,700) each year, and during 1914 the British Union voted us £172 ($860). I am glad to tell you that by the help and blessing of the Lord, in spite of five months of the year being war months, we lacked only $40 of being self-supporting last year. Our tithe showed a gain of more than £200 ($1,000) over the previous year, and our offerings a gain of £73 ($365). To God be the glory. We enter upon this year with confidence, knowing that the mighty God of Israel will bless and prosper his people and work in the earth.” N. Z. TOWN.