Earlier text: GEO. O. STATESThe Work in Singapore
By G. F. Jones
‘Less than one mile from the most southern point of Asia is the island of Singapore, as a British sentinel protecting the rights of the several nations of the Malay Peninsula. In his merciful provision for these last days, God has made this place, under the British government, a liberty post, giving freedom of conscience to all men. Penang and Dindings have a population of four hundred thousand; Malacca, one hundred and twenty thousand; Perak, four hundred thousand; Selangor, two hundred thousand; Negri Sembilan, one hundred thousand; Rahan, one hundred thousand; Johore, three hundred and fifty thousand; Siam, six million. Here are ten nations without any one to tell them that before every person now over seventy-three, possibly eighty years old, will pass away, the end will come. As it was revealed to Simeon that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, so its parallel is now a fact in the lives of some of the very aged here. They will see the Lord himself coming in the clouds of heaven. This fact ought to hasten the steps of many to these nations, for the time can not be very far off. And these islands are not unpleasant to enter. They offer inducements to men of the soil. Markets are good. And for those who have the one object—the glory of God—there is the added blessing for the “faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” In 1900 there were sold all through the peninsula nearly six hundred of our large books—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” “Great Controversy,” “Man the Masterpiece,” and “Ladies’ Guide.” Since Singapore was entered over a year and a half ago, hundreds more of our books have been sold, to the value of about $1,310, and hundreds of yearly subscriptions for Good Health have been taken. All these will bear good fruit. Again this year “Daniel and the Revelation” has been canvassed for, with already three hundred orders taken in Singapore alone. Tracts, Signs of the Times, and other of our papers, so kindly sent by our friends in Australia and America, have also been distributed. These silent messengers are doing their work and preparing the field for living witnesses to come and live among the people, and declare, with a loud voice, that the hour of his judgment is come. The first quarter we reported four Sabbath-keepers; the last, twenty-five. The Sabbath-school had three enrolled; it now numbers forty-seven. The tithe in the first quarter was about eleven dollars, but has now mounted up to three hundred and twenty-five dollars. The Sabbath-school offerings have risen from two dollars and a quarter to twenty dollars. The retail value of books sold has increased from one hundred and fifty dollars to eleven hundred and sixty-five dollars. This steady growth has been in the face of the meanest opposition. It is the Lord’s doing. Our needs are pressing. The time has come to buy land on which to put up a church building and school. A sanitarium also would be much appreciated in Singapore. We hope a good, faithful doctor will soon come and make Singapore his place of labor. We have started a health food store, which is gradually increasing its business. Besides the nations I have already mentioned, there lie to the south, east, and west of Singapore some of the largest islands in the world. Borneo and Celebes as yet have had nothing done for them except that I have a few names, to whom occasionally I send our papers. Java and Sumatra are waiting for workers, and a thousand islands are still unentered by us. Singapore is the one grand central depot for all these countries, and they, with us, stretch their hands for help. Matthew, in the midst of his business, heard the call of Jesus, “Follow me,” and he arose, and followed him. From Singapore Java has received her first Sabbath-keepers, a devout family of Eurasians. Mother, daughter, and son were the first baptized in Singapore. Sourabaya, the city in which they now live, has a population of four hundred thousand. They would be glad of help, as Java has nearly thirty million people. Here we come in contact with people who belong to these different lands, and, hearing the truth through us, they convey it to their own people. A few weeks ago I instructed a native of Amboyna, but after reading with him several days, I lost sight of him, and have not seen him since. Possibly he has returned, as he told me he had no particular object in coming to Singapore. He will take the news of the Sabbath and of Christ’s soon coming with him. He was quite intelligent in the Scriptures, and his father is a Christian minister. Another young man comes from Borneo, and is now studying with us. He is a good and promising young man, and speaks the Dyak language. We pray that he will accept the truth, and become a missionary in his own land. These languages are not picked up at will; so what we want is means to start a training-school, where earnest young people who already possess these tongues may be prepared to carry the third angel’s message to their own people in these far-away lands. There are some other very interesting cases showing that the Lord is at work among the heathen. To-morrow I sail for Java and Sumatra, to visit those who are already there without a shepherd, and to get acquainted with those fields, after which I will write further. Villa Hatsu, 12 Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore, S. S. Rio de Janeiro
By F. W. Spies
On July 20 I returned from my trip to Espirito Santo, of which I wrote in my last. Although I had been sent to Rio de Janeiro to work in the capital of this vast country, I have been absent from my real place of labor since Dec. 26, 1905; for it was then that I started out on a short trip to Parana and Santa Cathrina, and I have not been able to resume the work here until now. Naturally, many things needed attention, after such a long absence; and some who had been much interested, I found somewhat indifferent. On the whole, however, the church has been faithful in missionary work, disseminating a knowledge of the truth by circulating the printed page, and otherwise; and though we are but few, our work is known throughout the city. The first Sabbath in August had been set apart as the day for the celebration of the Lord's supper. At this time, two young men, natives, were received into the church; also, the officers, and elder and deacon were ordained. It was a day of great blessing. An aged lady missionary, who has worked in Rio for years, and has for some time been observing the Sabbath, said she felt especially drawn to us by the ordinance of humility. There are three other persons who have requested to be received into membership. Still others are keeping the Sabbath, and are becoming interested. In Nictheroy, the capital of the province of Rio de Janeiro, and which lies across the bay from Rio, the way has opened to hold meetings regularly, and some from the Baptists and Catholics—all natives—come to hear the last message of mercy preached. Thus the work goes on here. Only the distances make it slow labor. But here, as in olden times (John 1:41), when one has found the precious, saving truth, he goes and finds another, and tells it to him, and so the work goes on. May the glad day soon come when the reign of sin and misery will be over, and the Lord's children will be safely gathered into the heavenly mansions. NOTHING more spectacular could well be named than the recent session of a Presbyterian synod on the very spot at Dillon's Bay, Erromanga, where in 1836, seventy years ago, John Williams was killed and eaten by the savages, the session being also opened with prayer by a son of the murderer, who for years has been an elder in the church in that locality. Ontario Camp-Meeting
By A. O. Burrill
The Canadian Union Conference and the Ontario Conference held their sessions in connection with the camp-meeting at Paris. The location was central for the believers in western Ontario, where most of the Sabbath-keepers live. The attendance was larger than at any former meeting. There were twenty-four small tents, and three large ones. These were well filled, and many took rooms near the encampment. The citizens were kind, and did all that we could reasonably expect. The two weekly papers opened their columns to us, and we had good reports in them. The meetings were reported in the Brantford Expositor, which has a large circulation in Paris. The citizens gave us a candid hearing evenings and on both Sundays of the meeting. The ministers of the Canadian Union Conference were present, and the last of the second week Elders I. H. Evans and D. E. Lindsay came. The Lord worked in a marked manner for the people. Both Sabbaths were fruitful occasions. Twenty-two were baptized. The officers in both conferences were re-elected, with the exception of two committeemen. The ministers showed their loyalty to the message in all its branches, and met with a hearty response from the people. The average tithe was $12.50 per capita. Over three thousand dollars was pledged for the school work, and two thousand dollars was paid in by the close of the meeting. Elder Leland and Brethren C. E. Smith and H. L. Knister were appointed a building committee to erect new school buildings. The conference had money to pay all its laborers, and some was left to begin future work. A number of the medical workers were present, and made that branch of the work very interesting and instructive to both our people and the citizens. Among these were the Drs. McCormick, A. R. Satterlee, and another physician whose name has gone from me. The health talks of Elder G. D. Ballou, of Rochester, N. Y., were very highly spoken of. At the evening meetings two of our preachers began a regular course of lectures, which were continued by these same laborers after the camp-meeting. When the writer left Paris, two weeks from the time the camp-meeting closed, there were more than twenty new Sabbath-keepers as the fruits of the camp-meeting and the after labor. Others were interested. A hall had been fitted up, and the meetings were still in progress when I came away, and there was prospect that others would come into the fold. This island is about one hundred miles long, and lies in Georgian Bay. Brethren W. E. Hancock, a student from College View, Neb., and J. H. McEachern, a student from Lornedale Academy, Ontario, held a tent-meeting here during the summer, and had a good hearing. When I arrived, ten days ago, they reported eight Sabbath-keepers, and others are interested. I have been assisting them by visiting and by speaking in the schoolhouse during this time. There is a good class of citizens here. Many in this part of the island began life in the forest. They have cut it away, and have put up buildings. The log barns are now beginning to be replaced with frame ones with stone basements. These brethren have planned to remain by the interest until the work is developed. We see no reason why a good work can not be accomplished among this people. We shall remain a few days to counsel and help on the work in this new field. Camp-Meetings in the Lake Union Conference
By Allen Moon
THE camp-meeting season in the Lake Union Conference is over, and it has been a very successful one. The per cent of attendance of our people was much larger than last year, and the increase in attendance of young people was an especial feature of these meetings. At nearly all the camp-meetings there was a large outside attendance, and in most cases a good interest was manifested, inasmuch that it was found necessary in several conferences to follow up the camp-meeting with tent-meetings. Good results are reported from several of these meetings, and not a few souls have accepted the truth through this instrumentality. The spiritual interest at all the meetings has been unusually good, and unity and harmony have prevailed in all the business meetings to a degree that was truly refreshing. The universal testimony was, We have never before attended such excellent camp-meetings. A great deal of attention was given to the work for the young people, and these efforts were crowned with success, as is shown by the unusual number of young people that went forward in baptism at the close of each meeting; and also by the many new recruits to the ranks of those attending the various schools in the union conference. The large attendance of students at the opening of all our schools is an indication of the true missionary spirit that prevails in the minds of the youth, as a result of the good instruction given in all the camp-meetings. The watchword, “The gospel to the world in this generation,” was a special feature of the camp-meeting work; and the educational work, or the work of preparation for the carrying of the message, came in for its share of consideration. Attention was given to all lines of work, and the instruction given was both interesting and profitable. All seemed to realize that the time for labor is growing short, and a deep feeling of responsibility seemed to rest upon all minds, as the various features of the great message were reviewed. May the good work go on in all hearts, while we continue the study of these truths in our homes. ALLEN MOON. East Michigan Conference
By E. I. Beebe
This meeting was held at Holly, September 27 to October 1. Out of one hundred and forty-three delegates representing fifty-five churches one hundred were present. The following resolutions were adopted:— “Whereas, The rich blessings of God have attended the work of the conference during the past year, (1) temporally, by graciously preserving the lives and general health of the workers, (2) financially, by placing our work upon a solid basis, free from debt, (3) eternally, by fruits of our labor in souls for the kingdom, therefore,— “1. Resolved, That we express our gratitude to God for these blessings and pledge ourselves to faithfulness in his cause during the year to come. “2. Resolved, That we recognize the Lord’s answer to the prayers of his people in raising our Brother Beebe to health and strength so that his talents can be used in forwarding the cause of God, as a special blessing to this conference. “Whereas, The instruction of the Lord to us is: ‘There is need of camp-meetings like those held in the early stages of the work,—camp-meetings separate from the business work of the conference. At a camp-meeting the workers should be free to give the knowledge of the truth to those who attend from outside’ (‘Testimonies for the Church,’ Vol. VII, page 41), and, ‘As far as possible, our camp-meetings should be wholly devoted to spiritual interests. They should not be made occasions for the transaction of business’ (Ibid., Vol. VI, page 44), therefore,— “3. We recommend, That the conference business be divorced from the camp-meeting, and that the regular conference session be held early in the year. “4. Resolved, That the faithful work of Miss Tillie Barr during the past four years is appreciated by us, and that our full sympathy is with her in her present illness, and that it is our sincere prayer that she may soon be restored to health and ability to continue in the work. “Whereas, The academy which we have raised remains in an unfinished condition, its work being crippled by the lack of means, therefore,— “5. Resolved, That we take immediate steps to raise the remainder of the five thousand dollars voted at the Flint conference, and an additional five thousand dollars to complete the work as started. “6. We recommend, That the constitution of the East Michigan Conference be amended by striking out the word ‘vice-president’ in article 5 and article 7, sections 1 and 2. “7. We recommend, The indorsement of the plan of the General Conference for a special campaign with our literature this fall and winter, and that we also indorse the recommendation of the Lake Union Conference to hold a canvassers’ institute March 8-18, 1907. “Whereas, THE REVIEW AND HERALD18 is one of God’s ordained means of keeping the progress of the third angel’s message before this people,— “8. Resolved, That we urge upon all the members of this conference to do all in their power to place the REVIEW in every Seventh-day Adventist family in this conference. “Whereas, The third angel’s message is to go to every kindred, tongue, and people, and,— “Whereas, So many Germans live in the territory of this conference, which makes the urgent need of a laborer apparent,— “9. We recommend, That this conference take steps to employ a German laborer to work for that people. “Whereas, The East Michigan Banner has proved a valuable means of keeping our people in touch with the progress of the work in the field; and,— “Whereas, The Banner is to this conference what the REVIEW is to the field at large, we urge that our laborers faithfully report their work through its columns, and endeavor to extend its circulation as far as possible among our people. “Whereas, The Lord has spoken definitely and repeatedly relative to the need of doing more aggressive work for the cities, and,— “Whereas, The judgments of God are now visiting the cities, and thousands are being swept to destruction, therefore,— “10. We recommend, That immediate plans be made and acted upon to organize and follow up specific lines of work in our great centers of population, such as house-to-house work with our literature. “Whereas, The Lord through the spirit of prophecy has spoken in regard to our duty to ministers and worn-out laborers, therefore,— “11. We recommend, That Sister W. H. Faulkner be placed upon the conference pay-roll for one year at two dollars a week. “12. We recommend, That the Adelphian Academy Association take immediate steps to purchase all the financial interests of Prof. J. G. Lamson in the Academy, and that for that purpose a board of appraisers be formed, the Academy board to choose one, Professor Lamson to choose one, these two to choose a third. That this board of appraisers recommend to the Academy Association board what, in their judgment, is the best method of making such transfer as shall be proper by authority of this resolution. “Whereas, Sister Carrie Irwin devoted her life to the spread of this message until her health failed under the strain, and,— “Whereas, She is still deserving of our sympathy and consideration, therefore,— “13. Resolved, That we place Sister Irwin on the pay-roll of this conference for one year at two dollars a week. “Whereas, The salvation and education of the youth should be kept ever before our people,— “14. We recommend, That frequent educational conventions be held to advance this work. “15. We recommend, That the educational program to be prepared by the Educational Department of the Lake Union Conference be heartily entered into by all our churches. “Whereas, God has called for the organization of a school in every church in which there are six or more children of proper school age, and,— “Whereas, Church-schools are no longer an experiment, but a permanent feature of our denominational work, therefore,— “16. We recommend, The annual election of a school board of three in every church where a school is to be conducted, said election to take place at the time of the regular election of church officers, and that said board be considered a part of the church official list. “17. We recommend, That our young people in their society meetings follow the mission studies outlined in the Instructor, and studies on the doctrinal points of our faith be given with the same. “18. Resolved, That we favor the plan of the young people of the Lake Union accepting the financial responsibility of the Barotseland or other mission field, and urge the young people of this conference to enter into the work under the direction of the executive committee and the Educational Department of this conference. “Whereas, The Lord by his Spirit has moved upon his servant, Sister E. G. White, to prepare the book ‘Ministry of Healing’ for this time, and to meet the crises that the events of the past few years have precipitated, and,— “Whereas, This book gives in a clear and interesting manner the fundamental truths in regard to health reform, Christian Help work, and gospel medical missionary work, instruction in which is so much needed at this time; therefore,— “19. We recommend, That we express our gratitude to God for his precious gift, and urge that the book be placed in every Seventh-day Adventist home in the conference; and that a careful, prayerful study be made of the book, and that it be used in connection with the missionary campaign this fall and winter. “Whereas, Much has been lost by not following up the work of our canvassers, and,— “Whereas, Our brethren and sisters in all our churches would be greatly benefited spiritually by co-operating in the follow-up work, and,— “Whereas, the great object in our work is to bring souls to an acceptance of present truth, therefore,— “20. We recommend, A thorough follow-up work, by securing at our conference office a list of the names and addresses of those to whom our large subscription books have been sold, and then enlisting the co-operation of our brethren and sisters in taking up correspondence with these persons, and where an interest has been awakened, following it up with other literature; and that all our churches be urged to take clubs of the Signs, the Watchman, and Life and Health, to be used with the correspondence follow-up work. “Whereas, the vote of this conference has been that we share our men and means with needy fields, therefore,— “21. We recommend, That we comply with the request of the Canadian Union Conference by releasing Elder O. F. Butcher to labor in the city of Ottawa, and that this conference pay his salary in that field for one year. “22. Resolved, That, the conference committee having already granted Sister D. H. Lamson two dollars a week, we sanction the action of the committee, and continue the same during the conference year. “23. Resolved, That we as a conference donate from the surplus funds for the East Caribbean Union Conference two hundred dollars. “24. Resolved, That we look with favor upon the plan to raise the $150,000 fund, and that the conference executive committee formulate plans to carry this out.” Conference officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Elder E. K. Slade; Executive Committee, E. K. Slade, E. I. Beebe, J. G. Lamson, A. R. Sandborn, Frank Hiner; East Michigan Conference Association Board, E. K. Slade, E. I. Beebe, J. G. Lamson, A. R. Sandborn, Frank Hiner; Conference Secretary and Treasurer, E. I. Beebe; Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, Mina Pierce; Missionary Department Secretary and Treasurer, Frank Hiner; Educational Superintendent, R. B. Thurber; Sabbath-school Secretary, Mabel Parker. Ministerial credentials were granted to E. I. Beebe, O. F. Butcher, J. L. Edgar, J. G. Lamson, L. G. Moore, Wm. Ostrander, C. N. Sanders, A. R. Sandborn, E. K. Slade, B. F. Stureman, M. Shepard; ministerial licenses to E. R. Lauda, F. G. Lane, R. B. Thurber, Delmer P. Wood, Tilden Black; missionary licenses to Tillie E. Barr, Anna L. Boehm, Ethel Burnett, H. L. Cohoon, Ida Dunlap, Katherine Dunham, Marie Harriman, Frank Hiner, Clara Kiep, Mina Pierce, Nina Nelson, Lucy Tyte, Mabel Reavis, Daniel Wood, Nora B. Ammon. About two thousand four hundred dollars was raised in cash and pledges for the Adelphian Academy, and immediate steps are to be taken to finish and equip the school buildings. A spirit of union and harmony prevailed throughout the conference, and we trust the work will steadily advance during the coming year. THE following letter, written in Honolulu, H. T., has recently come from G. Doane Wong, a Chinese brother. He attended Healdsburg College, when he accepted the truth, and offered himself for service in China. A New York brother will support him there:— “Before I had opportunity to hear from the Mission Board definitely, I had to leave for the islands. It has been about ten weeks since my arrival. I am living with my relatives, sharing the pleasure of a family reunion for a short season. I found my father waiting for me to return home with him. This is a marked evidence of God's opening providence for my future work. And as I see the multiplied evidences of his love and care, I am the more determined to consecrate myself to his service, willing to undergo any trials that may chance to fall to my lot, that his cause may advance in the land of 'Sinim.'”19 “We expect to sail for Hongkong on the steamship 'China,' leaving here October 5. I do not know what the nature of my work will be until I consult with the advisory committee there. But I may be assured that there is no room for idleness for one who is filled with the life-saving message, especially in that darkened land. I shall write to you again after my arrival, and report from time to time, through the REVIEW, as success and experience will call for the writing. “I hope to have the hearty support of your constant prayers, and much of the Lord's blessing and his Holy Spirit.” Java and Sumatra
By G. F. Jones
It is four weeks since I felt Singapore on this trip, and I am now on the return journey about thirty-six hours' sail from that place. I visited Batavia, Buitenzorg, Soerabaya, Bencoolen, and Padang. I also conversed with men from the other cities of Netherlands-India, and got all the information I could concerning our missionary outlook in those places. I am convinced from all sources that we ought not to delay to begin work in these islands. The Dutch themselves are not so proud and unapproachable as are the English, and they are eager to learn English and to associate with them, which makes missionary work so much more pleasant. The Dutch are extremely strict disciplinarians, and the whole of Netherlands-India is well under their control. Their laws compel the native to work, else he would be the laziest man on earth, and the government also derives a rich revenue from native labor. The effect of this has been to make the native a better and more industrious man, and to destroy any fanatical tendency which would be really so had he nothing more than his Islamism. A native can not have his residence near the conservative Dutchman, neither is the Chinese permitted to draw near. No native, or Chinese either, dares to speak Dutch. There is liberty for the missionary to teach the Chinese, but to teach the native is against the law. Moreover, the native must not wear European clothes, but is compelled by law to wear a cloth around his waist, and another twisted into a hat around his head. No native dares leave his district, much less his island, without a pass. The Dutch has his eye and his hand upon every man, woman, and child in his country. He is a modern Pharaoh to the native; and I would not care to say but that the Lord has permitted him to be so. He sent Israel into Egypt for the same treatment before delivering them, and now in this our day the oppressed are under preparation for their final deliverance if they care to accept it. The Lord is good to all, “for his mercy endureth forever.” The Chinese are thrifty and well-to-do, and are hungering for an English education, and many of them wish to be Christians if some one would only teach them. There are openings in every city where a missionary could be self-supporting. It is, of course, well to possess some kind of school certificate in order more easily to get permission from the authorities, as nothing can be done here without their permission. Batavia is a large and important place. It needs, like other places in the Dutch Indies, good, common-sense workers who will not unwisely run up against the Dutchman's authority. He is a hard snag, and it is better to steer clear of him. Our work there would not have to encounter half a dozen bitter missions, as at Singapore. I visited Buitenzorg twice—once in going and once returning. There are two interested Chinese there who live next door to the mission room of the American Methodists of Singapore, who have just begun work there. One of these I have invited to Singapore to give him a training. This shows the need of a good training-school at Singapore, as I have already invited some other young men, but we are not yet ready to take this work in hand. Three Malay tracts which I sent from Soerabaya have stirred up quite an interest among the Chinese at Buitenzorg, and they have been loaned from one to another, so there is now a call for more, which I will send from Singapore. My next visit was to Soerabaya, where I stayed four days, and had a very pleasant and profitable time with the Fox family, who moved here from Singapore nearly a year ago. Mr. Fox has also become a vegetarian, and is seriously thinking of keeping the Sabbath with the rest of his family. I found them of good courage and endeavoring to give the truth to others. Here I met twelve or more educated young Chinese who were anxious to be Christians. I can not tell you how heavy at heart I have felt over these ripe calls for help with no one to take up the work. O where are all our young people! O that they would take a step by faith out into these fields and begin the work, that it might be finished in this last hour of this generation! I landed in Bencoolen, in Sumatra, to seek Brother Munson's Chinese orphans. Only one was there; all the others had gone back to Padang. The people (mostly Chinese), upon hearing that I was a missionary, crowded around me in the street, asking me all manner of questions, some religious and some concerning school, hoping I had come to stay, as they had no missionary to teach them. The richest Chinese there promised to be of some assistance to us if we would only open an English school. Bencoolen was formerly the British seat of government in Malaysia, but afterward it was removed to Singapore. In Sumatra I heard nothing but complaints against Dutch rule from Chinese, Eurasians and Malays preferring that of England. Of this they spoke openly. Personally I think the Dutch have done remarkably well with these islands, and the people I found to be humble and respectful. But there is only one kingdom I could safely recommend to these poor, heart-sick people which I know would never disappoint them, and about which I could tell them freely. What a blessed privilege it is to possess the keys of that kingdom, that the oppressed and the weary may enter it. Surely it is high time for us to make good use of these keys. At Padang I hunted up our few friends, and was very kindly treated by all. They were sorry to learn I had not come to stay. There is still work to do at Padang, and I hope somebody will be able to go there soon. Padang is a beautiful and healthful place. A number of people and government officials spoke well of Brother and Sister Munson, and they have been missed. I brought all the orphans who were under Brother Munson's care, to Singapore, as they were not properly looked after in Padang. Calling once more at Bencoolen and other places on the west coast, and again at Batavia and Buitenzorg, we sailed for Singapore, calling at Biliton. Here again I heard the same call, “Do come and stay with us.” A young man educated at Singapore, sat with me a whole hour, pleading for us to open an English school at Biliton. This is an island belonging to the Dutch, half-way between Batavia and Singapore. There are about thirty thousand natives and two thousand Chinese, with no missionary in the island. He thought that we would have two hundred pupils at five guilders a month each. Rent and food are cheap, water is good, and it is quite a healthful place in which to live. Before steaming out, he sought me again, to get my promise to come. Again I ask, Where are our young people to take up this work? To-morrow I hope to reach Singapore. I have been thirty days on the round trip. I traveled fourth class because there was no fifth, and together with the coolies I went to the tub to dig out my allowance of boiled, dry rice at meal-time. We have been literally packed on the upper and lower decks like chickens for market, but I am as well, and perhaps better, than if I had traveled first-class; however, it is good to enter into the experience of One who had “not where to lay his head,” and I rejoice to spend and be spent in the service that will soon close its mission for this world. British West Indies
By W. A. Sweany
GRENADA.—Last Sabbath, September 29, was a good day for the “little flock” in St. Patricks. Three men were baptized at seven o’clock in the morning. A large, orderly, and interested assembly witnessed the scene. The other ordinances were celebrated in the afternoon, and the entire day was filled with blessed experiences for us all. Several adults and a large class of youth will be ready for baptism, we hope, by the end of this quarter. Our church-membership is now twenty-six, while our Sabbath-school numbers about sixty. We began the day-school about two months ago, and it is proving a great blessing. The enrolment is thirty-six, mostly children; but most of the church-members and a good many non-members attend the four evening classes that we hold for the benefit of those who can not attend the day sessions. Men and women who work hard during the day, some of them past middle age, and with large families, attend these evening classes, and the progress they make is truly remarkable. Some who, two months ago, could not read a word, now read fairly well in such books as “Best Stories” and “Gospel Primer,” and will soon be able to read the Bible intelligently, which is the height of their ambition.20 Our equipment is the most meager imaginable,—one or two books for a large class, boards on boxes for seats, no maps, blackboards, or other helps, except such as we can make ourselves; but the blessing of God compensates for what we lack, when we do our very best with what we have. We have not yet been able to start our church and school building. We and our people here are truly giving all we can, and are praying, hoping, working, and waiting for sufficient help to enable us to go forward. If we can erect a building and establish the work here, we can do much better and quicker work in the other places that are waiting for the message. Our canvassing has created interests here and there, which should be followed up, but we can not add more to our burdens just now. We are all well, and of good courage, although our hearts are heavily burdened by the needs of the cause, which our all of time, strength, effort, and means is unable to supply. But somehow and soon, the work will—yea, must—be done; and we mean that it shall then be found that we did our best. The Collection, November 3
By C. A. Thorp
As previously announced, the General Conference Committee has appointed Sabbath, November 3, as the time when a general collection is to be taken up for the benefit of the International Publishing Association of College View, Neb. About this work the Lord has spoken thus through the spirit of prophecy:— “I approve of the efforts that have been made to establish our German and Scandinavian publishing work at College View. I hope that plans will be devised for the encouragement and strengthening of this work. “The whole burden of the work must not be left with our foreign brethren. Nor should our brethren throughout the field leave too heavy a load on the conferences near College View. The members of these conferences should lead out and do their best, and all should come to their assistance. The truth is to be proclaimed to all nations and kindreds and tongues and peoples.”—“Spirit of Unity,” page 23. And again: “A far greater effort should be made to extend the circulation of our literature in all parts of the world. The warning must be given in all lands and to all peoples. Our books are to be translated and published in many different languages. We should multiply publications on our faith in English, German, French, Danish-Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and many other tongues; and people of all nationalities should be enlightened and educated, that they, too, may join in the work.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 160. This is very plain language. The duty of our whole denomination is thus plainly set forth. And just at the present time this branch of the great work needs assistance that the institution upon which is placed the burden of the publishing work in these foreign languages may have means to enable it to successfully carry on the good work begun. We trust our American brethren and sisters will have this work in mind. Pray for it, and help it with your means in proportion to its need. Now is the opportunity. Now is the time to assist. “God loveth a cheerful giver.” Remember the date, Sabbath, November 3. A Unique Snake Story
By K. C. Russell
FROM the Buffalo (New York) Evening Times, of September 22 is the following:— “Connecticut blue-laws make it a crime to shoot a snake on Sunday, and they also make it a crime to sell or to buy the recognized antidote for snake-bite.” “Walking over his farm on the outskirts of this city last Sunday in search of a lost cow, Peter Zarcone, eighteen years old, took his shotgun with him for protection against snakes. Attacked by an adder while he was passing through a swamp, Zarcone shot and killed the reptile.” “The report of his gun reached the ears of policemen sent out by the game wardens to watch for poachers, and they caused the young farmer’s arrest. When Zarcone was arraigned before Judge Howard H. Scott, he was fined ten dollars and costs.” “The judge said he had no doubt from the nature of the evidence before him that the prisoner had used his gun only to protect himself against the snake, but the laws of the State made it a crime even to carry a gun in the open air on Sunday, and consequently he had no discretion under the law, and was obliged to punish him for carrying a weapon across the farm.” The Chicago Israelite of September21 29, in commenting editorially upon this incident, says:— “The fanaticism of the blue-laws in the State of Connecticut reminds one of the burning of the witches. It is a disgrace to this New England State to allow these outlandish laws to remain on the statute-books. Think of it in the twentieth century to convict a man for shooting a snake on Sunday, when that snake might have done him an injury! A man’s life ought to be of more value than a snake’s life, and more important, too, than the observance of Sunday. The people of Connecticut must not forget that they are living in the twentieth century. We do not burn witches today. We should not have a law on our statute-books that will punish a man for shooting a snake on Sunday when that snake might have done him an injury. The citizens of Connecticut should abrogate that law instanter.”