p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 15. (4/14/1904)

Earlier text: A Sunday Law for the District of Columbia

The Tendency to Worship Nature

“THERE is a tendency to worship nature,” says the well-known preacher, Dr. Larrabee, “to renounce the Christian religion and to go back to what the Greeks had—culture and nature. Since the year 1890 there has been a decided change in the world's thought.”

Testimonies for the Church, Volume VIII

ORDERS can now be filled by the tract societies and publishing houses for “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, and this book ought to have a prompt sale. An editorial article on page 4 deals quite fully with the contents of this latest issue of the Testimonies.

Reports from Nyassaland and Cape Town

FROM our Nyassaland station Brother T. H. Branch writes that their two hundred acres of corn looks promising. He is putting in a few acres of cotton. We learn from Cape Town that Sister J. H. Watson and her little boy made a safe journey down from Nyassaland, and will remain in South Africa.

Missing At the Door Booklets

WE are requested by Brother F. E. Belden to say that judging from the frequent complaints received by him to the effect that the art booklet, “At the Door,” has not yet been received by persons who bought the “Falling Stars and Niagara” picture, he fears that a package of addresses has been lost, and he desires to learn of all other such cases. Address him at Battle Creek, Mich.

Discontinuing The Central Advance

On account of the strong desire in the local conferences to continue their State papers, and the consequent lack of support for their union conference paper, the Central Union Conference Committee has decided to discontinue the publication of The Central Advance. At the recent session of the Pacific Union Conference it was decided to change the Pacific Union Recorder from a sixteen-page semimonthly to an eight-page weekly.

Lake Union Conference Meeting

ALL the union conferences in the United States have now held their biennial meetings, with the exception of the Lake Union Conference. This meeting will be held at Berrien Springs, Mich., May 17-26. The auditing committee of the General Conference will meet at the same place on Tuesday, May 17. The following persons, in addition to the General Conference officers, constitute this committee: William Covert, Allen Moon, W. J. Stone, C. D. Rhodes, W. A. Wilcox, J. Sutherland, Fred Johnson, and A. G. Haughey.

Japanese Preacher Released From Military Service

DR. LOCKWOOD writes from Kobe that one of our Japanese preachers there received a call to join the army for service. He explained why he could not conscientiously engage in war. It was an unaccountable reason to the authorities, and the penalty for refusal to serve in war time is death. They sent him to his home province for investigation, and word had just reached Kobe of his release from all liability to service. “There can be but one reason that punishment was not meted out to him,” says Dr. Lockwood, “and that is because the Lord intervened in his behalf.” These far-away conflicts mean much in our missionary campaign now. It is a time for prayer and for faithfulness in pushing the recruits and resources to the fields. Now, just now, is the time to work.

The Missionary Acre

By William A. Spicer

WE have just sent out from the General Conference office the reading on the Missionary Acre plan, which was announced on this page last week. It is designed to be read Sabbath, April 16, and takes the place of our usual second Sabbath missionary letter this month, as it was thought best not to add to the number of readings sent to the churches. This is not an appeal for a Sabbath collection, but sets forth the plan adopted for meeting the old Battle Creek College obligations, and the reasons for remembering this plan at this time. It is brief, and the reading of it will take but a portion of the time allotted to the Sabbath service.

It has been sent to church elders, workers, and isolated believers. Any who have been missed may have a copy by addressing the General Conference. Isolated readers of the REVIEW will find the main part of the appeal in Sister White’s articles in the issue of Dec. 3, 1903. The reprint comes with special timeliness just now, as the planting season opens, and acres and gardens may be planned for. Pledge blanks have been sent with the reading. These, when filled out, should be returned to Prof. P. T. Magan, Berrien Springs, Mich.

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

A Sunday Law for the District of Columbia

By J. S. Washburn

On April 6 the House of Representatives of the United States passed the Sunday law which was published in the REVIEW of recent date. The proceedings will be found on page 20 of this number of the REVIEW.

We earnestly hope that this legislation, so long foreseen, may yet for a time be averted; but when a bill has passed the House of Representatives, it has gone a long way toward becoming a law. This precedent established, a flood of religious legislation for the District and for the nation inevitably follows. Surely by the direct providence of God the representatives of this message have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

J. S. WASHBURN.