An intercepted letter from the viceroy of Pao Ting Fu shows that the Boxers are overrunning the country southwest of Tien-tsin, killing all who oppose them, and fighting the imperial troops. He reports also that the Taotai of the city of Tsung Chow invited 2,000 Boxers to a feast, and while they were eating and their weapons were stacked, the imperial soldiers by his orders fell upon them and slaughtered them all. The governor of Shangsi, according to report, has sent a memorial to the empress asking for a reward for having invited fifty-two foreigners under his protection and afterward having killed them.
Russia has ordered her minister to withdraw from Peking and return to Tien-tsin, and has also declared her intention of withdrawing her soldiers from Peking, with the idea of inducing the empress to return and set up a stable government there. The Washington government has also signified its intention of withdrawing from the Chinese capital, and has sent notes to all the powers in reference to the matter. England, Germany, Italy, and Austria do not take kindly to the idea of withdrawing their forces, and some reports quote Emperor William as declaring that the German troops should not be withdrawn, even tho other powers evacuated the capital. Responses from the powers to the American notes have not yet been received.
In answer to the appeals of Germans in the Yang-tse Valley for protection, Emperor William replies that they will receive protection when his nine war ships arrive which are now on their way. Germany will thus have a share in the settlement with the Chinese along the Yang-tse River. The Yang-tse viceroys having been suspected of showing too much leniency toward the foreigners, Chinese officials have been ordered to investigate their conduct. This is considered a very important matter, as it indicates the continued warlike disposition of the Chinese rulers.
The Japanese landing parties of marines have been withdrawn from Amoy, and what was considered a complication in international affairs has been relieved. The American gunboat Castine remains at Amoy to safeguard American interests. It is reported that Prince Ching has been appointed regent, but is afraid to return to Peking unless the foreign envoys will guarantee his liberty. It is thought that negotiations may be conducted through this prince for the cessation of hostilities and arranging the matter of indemnity for lives and property destroyed.
THE strike of the Welch coal miners and the employees of the railroad which handles the coal has come to be a serious matter. A coal famine is threatened in England, and numerous factories are compelled to shut down. Heavy shipments of coal have been ordered from America, while the product of 50,000 Cardiff coal miners lies at the mines and can not be moved.
THE reports from the Philippines still indicate anything but a reign of peace in those troubled isles. Guerrilla and robber bands are at work in all parts of the archipelago, keeping up a reign of terror among those who are disposed to be friendly or are unable to support the native cause.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL CORBIN has written to the Military Committee of the Senate a long defense of the army canteen, claiming that the canteen was established and is maintained in the interests of temperance among the soldiers, furnishing them beer and light wine at the post to prevent their obtaining stronger drink at other places. Saloon-keepers use practically the same argument when they say, "If we don't sell liquor, some one else will." One of the evils of the canteen lies in the very fact of government recognition of the legitimacy of that deplorable traffic, and the air of respectability which such recognition necessarily gives it in the eyes of the soldiers. If indulgence in drink were set before the soldier as the evil thing it is, and its sale strictly prohibited in army camps, it would have a much better effect than this partnership with sin can possibly have.
"It is generally understood that the Prince of Wales will be called King Edward VII., if he succeeds Queen Victoria on the British throne. In connection with this idea, we recall the old tradition that as the holy sacrifice of the mass was abolished in England during the reign of the sixth Edward, so will it be re-enstated there in the reign of the seventh Edward."—Catholic Mirror. Whether or not the Prince of Wales takes the title of "King Edward VII.," the drift toward Catholic ritualism in the English State Church becomes more marked with each succeeding year. It would not be surprising to those who are following the course of ritualism in the English Church to see the fulfilment of the "old tradition" to which the Mirror refers.
ACCORDING to a report to the New York World of August 29 the officers of the Indiana W. C. T. U. have instituted an "endless prayer-chain," the object of which is to defeat the Republican nominee for President, on account of his position on the temperance question. The plan is to inaugurate an endless chain of prayers, each member herself praying for the candidate's defeat and also inducing two other women to do the same. The Lord has directed that supplications, prayers, and intercessions be offered for "all that are in authority," and this the Christian can and should do; but to form an endless chain for the purpose of defeating a political candidate seems to be a little outside the purview of Christian prayer.
A REPORT from Peking dated August 25 states that an epidemic of suicide has broken out among the Chinese of that city, and entire families are hanging themselves. There is no doubt but this is due to the terror inspired by the brutalities of some of the foreign troops. Later reports dealing with the particulars of the occupation of Peking and Tien-tsin relate stories of unmentionable cruelty practised upon the defenseless Chinese, old and young, of both sexes. The record of unbridled murder, lust, and robbery connected with the war of the world on China must bring the blush of shame to the cheek of civilization as long as the world shall stand.
AT the recent meeting of the International Medical Association in Paris Dr. Tuffier demonstrated what is considered one of the greatest medical discoveries of the time, local anesthesia in surgical operations. Cocain was injected into the region occupied by the cerebro-spinal fluid in the spine, completely deadening all sensibility below the point of injection. This enabled the surgeon to perform the most painful operations without the patient experiencing the least discomfort.
MACHADODORP, the place at which the Boers were expected to make a final stand, has been evacuated by them and is now in possession of the British. General Botha is retreating before Generals Buller and French, and continues to keep out of reach of their forces. The recent release of a large number of British prisoners by the Boers at Mooit Gedbacht would seem to be an indication that the Boers have practically decided to give up the struggle.
ON account of the scarcity of coal in Europe and England, due either to strikes or difficulty of obtaining the fuel on account of the increased depths of the mines, many large orders are coming to America. Two contracts of 100,000 tons each have been closed with American coal companies during the week, and many other orders booked for smaller amounts, or for continual supply at certain points.
IN 1790 about 3 per cent. of the population of the United States was in the cities. In 1890 it had risen to 29 per cent.; and at the present time 33 per cent. of America's inhabitants are found in cities of 8,000 persons or above. The migration to the cities is constant and increasing, and is one of the unpromising signs of the times—a product of the hunger for wealth, and a cause of the hunger of many a destitute family.
THE last wooden railroad, probably, in America, unused for some years, is just giving place to one of steel. Its forest terminus was Clifton Iron Works, in Northern New York. The rails were made of spruce poles, and it was a common thing for a train to get off the track, and be pried on again by the railway men and passengers. It is now steel for wood.
AN official report from Bombay states that the number of deaths in India from cholera during the week ending August 25 was 7,969. The number employed on relief works is decreasing and the number receiving gratuitous relief is increasing, a condition which is to be expected from the prolonged famine which is exhausting the vital forces of the people.
AS ONE result of the recent naval maneuvers of the German fleet, it is announced that it was demonstrated that torpedo-boats are powerless to attack big vessels at night if proper vigilance is observed. This seems to have been evident for some time, else there would not have been such persistent efforts to perfect the submarine torpedo-boat.
AN epidemic resembling grip or pneumonia is attacking the natives of Alaska. The condition of the natives has been investigated by the governor of Alaska and by officers of the revenue cutter Bear, and all reports agree as to the severity of the affliction. In some places the natives report that more than one-half their number have died.
THE government has decided to send a transport to Nome to bring back to the Pacific Coast the destitute miners who have been appealing for transportation. It is also reported that some measures will be taken to relieve the sufferings of the Alaskan Indians, many of whom are in a pitiable condition of destitution and sickness.
REV. W. H. MORELAND, bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Sacramento, has been requested by the presiding bishop of the church in the United States, the Right Rev. Thomas M. Clark, bishop of Rhode Island, to pay a visit this coming winter to Puerto Rico to aid in the establishment of the church there.
THE submarine torpedo-boat Holland was given an official test by officers of the navy at Newport Harbor on the night of August 31. The powerful searchlights failed to find the Holland, which was several times within torpedo distance of the boats in the harbor.
DURING the last year 2,400 duels were fought in Italy, resulting in 480 deaths. The most of these are said to be between army officers, and based on the most trivial pretexts. Human "honor" and human life are cheap in these days of violence.
AS A result of the tension between the Roumanian and Bulgarian Governments, a frontier conflict took place on August 31 between the peasants of these two countries, in which a number were killed and wounded.
A PLAN is on foot among Methodists of Chicago, so it is reported, to consolidate several churches under institutional rule, and build one of the greatest religious temples known in time or place.
THE city of Glasgow, Scotland, has been declared infested with the bubonic plague, twelve cases having developed up to September 1, and eighty suspected cases being under observation.
THE recent storms at Cape Nome, Alaska, have resulted in much loss of life, thirty-eight bodies having been recovered on the beach at the time of the sailing of the last steamer.
A REPORT from Bohol, one of the islands of the Philippines, states that a collision has occurred between American troops and natives, in which the latter lost 120 killed.
THE army transport Thomas arrived in San Francisco on August 30 with a full regimental company of the wounded victims of the war in China.
THIRTEEN persons were killed and over thirty injured in a collision between a passenger and milk train at Hatfield, Penn., on September 2.
A REPORT from Tien-tsin states that the American commander there is preparing winter quarters for an army of 15,000 men.
THE CONVERT COMMUNITIES OF INDIA.
By W. A. Spicer
In any view of mission work in India, the first thing, naturally, is to consider what has already been attained, and what the results of the methods employed. At the beginning of such a view it must be recognized that so vast a field can not be summed up in a few paragraphs or articles, and that at best an observer can get only a general idea. The latest figures I have seen, and the largest, are given in the following extract from an address by the bishop of Lincoln, England, at a public missionary meeting:—
"If we attempt to answer this question merely from the statistical reports as to the number of native Christians, you will see that the ground of our confidence may seem shaken. The figures connected with statistical reports from India are so vast that they hardly leave any impression on our minds. From the great central provinces, which form the interior of the whole country, with a population of more than fifty million (50,256,108), we find a total Christian population of less than forty-six thousand (45,633). If we deduct from these the Europeans and Eurasians, we find left little more than twenty-two thousand native Christians (22,887), or, out of the fifty million, less than one-tenth per cent. It is plain that Christianity has affected this vast area as yet but very little. In Bengal and the States connected with it, with a population of more than eighty million (80,120,199), the total number of Christians is reckoned at less than two hundred thousand (195,167). If from these you deduct the Europeans and Eurasians, the number of native Christians is less than one hundred and seventy thousand (168,867), or less than three-tenths per cent. Of the two hundred and ninety million (290,000,000) which make up the whole population of India and Ceylon, there are less than three millions of native Christians (2,250,000), or again less than 1 per cent."
These figures are larger than I have before seen. Getting such a census in India is difficult, as mission records often cover lapsed communities, and by shifting and changing from one society to another, people are often counted twice. But, taken with the great increase in population, it is easy to see that the conversion of India, that we sometimes read of, is not to be realized.
But if this percentage represented the living Gospel of Christ, it would be a tremendous leavening power. As such statistics necessarily operate in every country, the figures include many under the head of Christians who would scarcely pass the most elementary examination in the principles of Christianity. One type, one of our workers met in a hospital the other day. The woman was a Christian, but could not tell why, nor what she believed. She was from a country district, and the kindness of a lady missionary had caused her to become a Christian.
In times of famine, districts which have eaten the Christian's rice, and so broken caste, have become Christians. While these things give missions opportunities to get at the people, the idea that the work is done by some magical formula, or by some outward ceremony, works sadly against the future teaching of the spirituality of religion. Hinduism has left its stamp too deeply in human nature to be wiped out by a ceremony. In Hinduism a man may commit almost any crime, and still retain his caste; but if he should eat an English biscuit, he would be outcasted at once. So the disassociation of religion from conduct has been made almost complete, and anything that favors the idea that men may become Christians without a complete change in life, and a heart experience of the power of God, is really a hindrance, however much it may appear to offer a temporary advantage. If there had been less haste to get converts, there would be more genuine fruit of missions in India. One can not escape that conclusion. And without at all desiring to criticize in a hostile manner the work of many noble missionaries who have given their lives to India, it is impossible to consider India as a mission field without looking squarely at the principles on which the Christian faith is built up and the manner in which they are propagated.
In one large district known as a Christian district, one of our society's agents was some time ago distributing literature. Some were inclined to be excited that the literature teaching the Sabbath and advent truths should be brought into the district. One preacher, however, assured the others that there need be no fear; that none in the district would believe anything unless they were hired to do so. It was a libel on many of his people, no doubt. But it is a fact that in many districts the bond that holds the communities is the money devoted to nursing and holding them. We have, in our own work in India, given the most positive proofs that we (Seventh-day Adventists) are not here on any proselytizing scheme, using the word in that bad sense which it has acquired. But we see that method going on all the time,—people being drawn this way and that, from one society to another, without any real change in life. Many have thought to come to us in the same way, and any society in India may, by a liberal use of means, attract to itself any number of converts, apparently.
Spiritually-minded members of the community know these things, and regret them; but it is a fact that the anxiety for numbers drags the societies into methods that are demoralizing the people. Not long ago in a Church of England periodical a missionary wrote that
"they were sending out preachers and teachers who did not know the power of salvation, to preach in the villages and bazaars. These, he said, were easily read by the keen non-Christians, who were not slow to see that the preacher was preaching for hire. This led some of the same stamp to decide to become Christians for the sake of the easy employment and help of mission work, and this kind of preacher often hints at this advantage. And the non-Christian of some character, seeing it all, becomes more hardened against Christianity. Thus, this writer declared, they were often bringing in the class they did not want, and driving away the class they wanted. No one should make a general application of this illustration to all, for that would be false; but it is a fact that a tremendous amount of work of this kind is done."
I have known preachers who wanted to get on with this society, who said they would be glad to do anything besides mission work, but could find nothing else to do but to preach. I heard the other day of a preacher who regretted that he had become a Christian; but, having become one, he did not know what else to do than to go on preaching the Gospel. In the midst of all this, there is need of the cry being raised that was raised on the banks of the Jordan by John the Baptist in the days of old. The Lord is coming, and the people are not ready for it. From the Hindu and Mohammedan, to the Christian, and even to the European communities of India, there is the need of an awakening, reviving message, that shall connect religion with the life, and demonstrate the power of God to save men.
Too often the thought of actual conversion has been put too far off. It is looked upon as a process of slow growth, of evolution. Thus a missionary journal says that Bishop Caldwell has said for us all:—
"It is largely, if not chiefly, in the hope of what succeeding generations may become, that we receive and persist in retaining many of our present Christians; and the end justifies us."
But the trouble is that, while making people who are not Christians believe that they are, by putting them through the outward forms of religion, the children are receiving an education which does not make this generation stronger than the former, but rather the reverse, I fear, from all that I can see. Another missionary writes on a better key. He says, discussing the ever-burning problem which the societies have upon their hands:—
"We have encouraged many who seem good Christians, because of what seemed to be a pressing need, to become teachers, preachers, or helpers in evangelistic work; and our system has also encouraged it; and the result is that we have a great number on our hands who at heart are not in sympathy with this reform movement, but are opposed to it in any form. These are only a burden. God could not give victory to Gideon till his 32,000 were reduced to 300 men. And the Lord can not give us victory in this line if we think to keep, and insist on keeping, our full 32,000, such as they are."
The side influences of Christian communities in India are not always in favor of Christianity. Of course it is so in Europe and America, and all the world, to some extent. But we do not count all worldlings as Christians in America or England. We regard them as outside the church, subjects for missionary effort. India has an immense field for a thorough missionary reviving, both among the convert communities and non-professing peoples. The message for these days has power to take people straight out of Hinduism and make them Christians. There is no need to wait for the evolution of generations for the regeneration of the believer11by the Word. That is an axiom of the Gospel, and it is better to have men understand what a convert is than to leave him deluded with the evolutionary idea of the Gospel."
W. A. SPICER.
NOT THROWN AWAY.
O TOILER in this world of sin,
And hast thou toiled in vain to win
Some soul to thy dear Saviour's love?
"In vain," thou hast no right to say;
No work for Christ is thrown away.
Has every effort made to cheer
Some trembling heart that quaked with fear,
Seemed labor lost, of no avail?
"Lost labor," thou shouldst never say;
No work for Christ is thrown away.
Hast thou with thine own passions fought,
While they on thine own soul have wrought
An evil work that brings thee grief?
Fight that same battle every day;
No work for Christ is thrown away.
The stubborn soil must feel the plow;
The harvest cometh, but not now.
The seed thou sowest shall not die;
Believe not those who falsely say
That work for Christ is thrown away.
—Selected.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
By Editor
It has been decided to hold a camp-meeting at Lake Crystal, Minn., beginning October 3.
THE addition of six members to the church at Miller, Neb., is reported by Brother J. W. Boynton.
A LOCAL camp-meeting is in progress at Baker City, Oregon. A like meeting is being held at Basin, Mont.
A NEW church building has been erected by the brethren at Nocatee, Fla., and another is being built at Punta Gorda, in the same State.
WE are requested to state that the address of Brother B. F. Purdham, formerly of Archdale, N. C., is now Stanleyton, Page County, Va.
A NEW colporter wagon has been started in the southeastern part of Nebraska by Brethren John Richards and Simon Bowman.
SIX persons have accepted the light on "present truth" in connection with meetings held at Ponca, Neb., by Brethren J. J. Hughes and Charles Rahn.
THE Minnesota Worker has this item: "A family of Italians, in Clearfield, Pa., who had been induced by their priest to burn three Bibles, have finally taken their stand for the truth."
A NOTE in the Reaper, concerning the work in the Upper Columbia Conference, mentions the baptism of eight candidates at Powder Horn Bay, Wash., and eight at Harrison, Idaho. At the latter place a church building is in process of construction.
THE Montana Bivouac says: "The daughter of millionaire W. A. Clark, of Butte, who was recently married, made our mission the liberal present of $100 in cash on that occasion. Other churches and missions were likewise remembered. Our Butte church received $75."
At the local camp-meeting recently held in Coos County, Oregon, eleven persons were baptized. A report in the Visitor, by Brethren H. W. Decker and D. T. Fero, speaks of "Mother Bunch," who was their hostess at the meeting and is active, at the age of 74. Seven of her nine children and twenty-six of her thirty grandchildren were also present.
THE Calendar of Battle Creek College for 1900-1901 has come to hand. It is unique and original in style, and, besides elaborate information regarding the school, it contains many gems of thought interspersed through the departments. The aim of the institution is thus expressed: "As the sole object which Battle Creek College has in view is the training of young people for the vineyard of the Lord, so its entire plan of education is directed to that end." The physical, mental, and moral powers are taken into consideration.
OF the pamphlet "Marshaling of the Nations," the San Francisco Examiner says: "Mr. Jones begins building his portentous wall with apparently insignificant quotations, but soon brings these together with such rapidity and with such an effect of their having previously been cut to fit into their perfect combination, that few readers will find the time to stop and quarrel with him—even if they wish to—without losing their places." This little work contains so much important truth for these times that every one ought to be acquainted with its contents. Price, 10 cents.
BROTHER GEORGE B. THOMPSON, president of New York Conference, has this note in a recent number of the Indicator: "Not long ago it was my privilege to meet with a company of Sabbath-keepers, unexpected to them, in their weekly prayer-meeting. They had not long been rejoicing in the light of the truth. I found every Sabbath-keeper in the company at the meeting; not one was at home. They all prayed, and all bore their testimony, and told us to what part they were steering. They were all laboring people, some being farmers, living some distance in the country, yet they were there. All were not young, some being seventy-five years of age."
THE Kansas City, Mo., Journal of August 27 gave a favorable report of the State conference and camp-meeting then being held in that place. From it we learn that one result of the meeting will be the erection of a tabernacle in that city, at an approximate cost of $10,000, to be built largely at the expense of the Missouri Conference, and to be made the headquarters of the denomination in that State. The local congregation has outgrown the present house of worship, and is to be sold, the proceeds to go into the new tabernacle. A series of tent-meetings was started immediately after the camp-meeting, under the direction of Brother L. W. Terry. Brother J. M. Rees, for some time president of Colorado Conference, has been elected president of Missouri Conference, and will locate in Kansas City. The Journal further says that, owing to the marked success of the State meeting, that of next year will probably be held on the same ground.
OUR INDIA FAMINE FUND.
By Editor
Previously acknowledged, $2,210.31.
Lydia A. Perry . . . . $2 25
Loyal, Wis., Church . . . 1 50
M. J. Newbill . . . . 1 00
Friends at Fruitland, Wash. . . . 5 00
B. Esterline . . . . 1 00
Mary Tampier . . . . 50
Mrs. Meek . . . . 25
Mary Culver . . . . 25
Mary Keeder . . . . 25
Lizzie Coover . . . . 25
Carl . . . . 25
Grace . . . . 25
Mrs. Michel . . . . 25
Mrs. Inez Stoops . . . . 1 00
Mrs. M. E. Burch . . . . 50
Mrs. M. A. Conrad . . . . 5 00
A friend . . . . 1 00
F. Brase, M.D. . . . 1 00
T. F. Champion . . . . 3 50
A. W. Rogers . . . . 1 00
J. T. Johnson . . . . 1 00
Church at — . . . . 1 00
Mrs. J. H. Fuller . . . . 1 00
Mrs. S. C. Hays . . . . 3 00
Mrs. F. B. Poulter . . . 1 00
A. P. Daniells . . . . 1 50
G. Graves . . . . $1 00
Nebraska City church & friends . . . . 7 69
E. Smith . . . . 1 00
Mrs. S. F. S. . . . . 5 00
Geo. F. Weber . . . . 1 00
Gust Larsen . . . . 5 00
E. Erickson . . . . 3 00
L. H. Robinson . . . . 3 00
Mrs. F. A. Soule . . . . 1 00
James Gans . . . . 7 00
Stewart Kime . . . . 6 00
Mrs. K. B. Peck . . . . 5 00
C. Jensen . . . . 2 00
J. W. McCord . . . . 50
"Della" . . . . 25
Mrs. Templeton . . . . 55
Mrs. J. W. McCarter . . . . 50
Mrs. Arrington . . . . 25
Mrs. Owens . . . . 15
Mr. Fishburn . . . . 07
Dr. Fair . . . . 25
Morris Mag . . . . 25
Mr. Epps . . . . 25
J. Cunningham . . . . 1 43
Other contributors . . . 1 30
J. H. Schunhoff . . . . 1 00
Grand total . . . . $2,299 25
"YE DID IT UNTO ME."
"And He said, 'The sin is pardoned,
But the blessing is lost to thee,
For failing to comfort the least of Mine,
You have failed to comfort Me.'"
Unawares
Such is the closing verse of one of the two poems found in No. 54 of the Apples of Gold Library under the above title. They are very touching and very good. Price, 50c per 100.
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.
New York City Oakland, Cal. Kansas City, Mo.
NATIVE MARTYRS IN CHINA.
THERE is no phase of the present crisis in China that carries with it a more pathetic character than the position in which it places the native Christians. Whatever may be thought of the Chinese in the United States, or, indeed, in any other country, those who have worked among them in China, and know of the self-sacrifices they are willing to make because of their faith, can not but regard them with great admiration.
Shut up in the Methodist compound in Pekin for the past several weeks, there have been 150 girls of the Girls' High School, and 150 students of the Pekin University. The ages of these children range from fifteen to twenty-four or twenty-five years. Because of our limited means we are not able to send them all home every year, as some of them live in the center of the Boxer region in Shantung, 500 miles away, so that they have not seen their parents for two or three years past. During the past year the Boxer troubles have been going on in the region of their homes, and they do not know, and can not know, the condition in which their parents are placed, or even whether they are living or not. And so these timid girls and boys are thus cooped up in those compounds, with the knowledge that, tho the Boxers fear to kill the foreigners, they have the sanction of the government to do as they please with the Christian natives.
Among those young people there is one who, when he was graduated, had an offer of $40 per month if he went into business, which offer he refused, and accepted a call to preach the Gospel outside the Great Wall for $2.75 a month. He is assistant pastor of the large church. His brother, who is also there, gave up a salary of 50 taels per month, and began teaching in Pekin University for 5 taels. After teaching about three months, he was asked to teach English to the two grandsons of Li Hung Chang, who are now in Vanderbilt University, one hour a day for 30 taels a month. He did this extra hour's work, and when he received the 30 ounces of silver, he gave it to the university to educate a boy. Twenty out of twenty-eight of the graduates have made the same kind of sacrifices, some of whom are reclaiming seventy-five to one hundred persons a year, whom they induce to give up wine and opium, and accept Christianity.
The Christians have shown themselves ready to endure persecution as well, and when the history of the church in China is written, as it will be some day, it will pile up a list of those who were ready to do, dare, and die for the faith they professed second to none in the world.—Leslie's Weekly.
STUDENTS, ATTENTION!
By Editor
THE long evenings are here. Do you realize now will be a fine chance to take the correspondence work connected with the Medical Missionary Training School? Lessons are sent weekly to students unable to take a course at one of our sanitariums. We shall organize a new class in October, and will be glad to hear at once from those interested. Send for descriptive circular, giving full particulars. Address, Correspondence Department, Medical Missionary Training School, Battle Creek, Michigan.
WALLA WALLA COLLEGE.
By E. L. Stewart
WALLA WALLA COLLEGE has just opened (September 12) for its ninth year's work. This school is located in the Walla Walla Valley, Wash., about three miles from the city from which it derives its name. College Place is the post-office address.
We are thinking of the vast number of young people who are laying no definite plans whereby they may become fitted for usefulness. Now is the time to obtain that which will be of lasting benefit. We would say to those in this school district, that we are preparing to offer every advantage whereby the young may receive the proper training, and we feel that very many utterly fail to realize the rapidity with which time is passing; thus they allow the opportune moment to slip from them.
We receive letters from many who have already passed the time of preparation, and they sadly write, "We are too far behind in our studies, and too old now to enter the school work." One year now means everything. No doubt thousands of young people will this year lay their plans in the wrong direction. While they know what they should do, they lack determination to carry out that which they know is right.
We wish that all who read these words might be filled with a determination to become useful in the Lord's work. There are very few who, if they had a mind to work and to stick to it, could not go to school continuously until prepared for service. It seems impossible for many of our most worthy young men and women to enter school, because of a lack of means. Would it not be pleasing to God for those who are able, to pay the way of one or more students, and thus have a part in the great closing work of God on the earth? Some have no children; let such consider the advisability of sending some worthy person to the school. Some might pay a part of the tuition of some worthy student. The money could be sent to the college to be loaned, and afterwards returned to the college to aid some other worthy person. Many of our brethren and others interested in educating the young, could thus have a part and become directly interested in the work of the school.
We would be glad also to have those who read this article send us the names and addresses of young people who might be encouraged to enter school through correspondence. I believe that the number of students in our Walla Walla College could be doubled if all would do what they could. Let us remember the solemnity of this time, and the rapidity with which most important events are transpiring; and let us understand by these events that we have but a short time in which to work on earth.
All who contemplate attending the college, should write in advance and give the date of their arrival, as the college hack will carry all students, free of charge, from the city to College Place.
