Earlier text: On a Far FrontierSmall Matters
By MRS. D. A. FITCH
It is small things which make up the sum of life. It is the little matters which count the most in housekeeping. The minute details of the home, if neglected, cause more annoyance than do the omission of some seemingly important matters. A smoking stove renders the air unwholesome, injures the ceiling, and leaves soot and ashes on the furniture. No stove opening should be left uncovered a moment longer than is actually necessary. Very little more fuel is required to cook on the top of the stove than in direct contact with the fire. By adopting the former method, the necessity of often opening the stove is obviated, and there are no sooty kettles to soil other things and finally require the unpleasant chore of cleaning. Besides this, moderately slow cooking is much the best, as rapid cooking causes the fine flavors of the food to escape to a great degree. If a pot boils, that is sufficient; and by keeping a medium fire much fuel may be saved. Did you ever see a careless housekeeper empty her pan of dirt into the open top of the stove instead of the hearth, and notice the dust sail upward to lodge on the most convenient article within reach? All good housekeepers keep cupboard doors closed when it is not necessary that they remain open. The pantry is only a large cupboard, and dust is just as objectionable there as in the smaller cupboards. Food is usually stored in these places, and we cannot be too careful of it, and also of dishes. Germs are in the dust. Let order reign in the pantry if nowhere else in the house. Have a place for each kind of china, and keep each in its place. Arrange another place for food. Do not put food and empty dishes on the same shelf, and just as may be convenient at the moment; for what is more trying than to find that a clean dish has been set into one of the same kind which is partly filled with soup or some other food? Victuals should not be placed in the refrigerator while hot, or even while warm. It is not good for the other foods nor for the refrigerator. Keeping the ice box closed is a great advantage moneywise. If you are using solid instead of plated ware, you may give it almost any kind of abuse; but if the plated ware, it is economy not to use it for cooking purposes, nor to leave soiled pieces waiting a long time before washing and drying, especially if somewhat worn. Silver is badly injured by being moved about in the dish pan; it is best to wash it carefully When spoons are to be laid in a horizontal position, it is well to let the convex part of the bowl be up, since this saves the ugly wear so often seen. Of course no tidy person will retire at night with the room in disorder, thus making inconveniences for the morning. Good judgment should be used in regard to ventilation, the occupant being sure there are at least two openings into outdoor air. At proper time for rising it is well to take a cool sponge bath, or at least an air bath, accompanied by breathing exercises. Do not cease ventilating the room when you leave it for other duties. See that the bed is as wide open as circumstances will permit, and that a current of air is passing through the room. When sufficiently aired, the bed should be made, the floor cleaned, all dresser drawers or others closed, dead matches and all other rubbish disposed of, slops emptied, and all things left as if visitors were expected. No cleanly housekeeper will begin handling her breakfast cooking utensils until her hands have been washed. And if not at all convenient to comb the hair, she will at least closely confine it by means of pins or in a cap. Have a sink or other place for washing dishes, and keep all dirty things out of it. It does not seem in keeping with good sanitation to see the hand basin, mop pail, or stomach and spine bags in the same place with cooking utensils and table dishes. Even if in no other room of the house you use a dampened broom for sweeping, it should be used in the kitchen, that there be as little dust as possible. Be orderly while working, rather than allow an accumulation of misplaced articles, thus necessitating the use of valuable time in putting them in place. If possible, secure promptness of the family at all meals, thus avoiding delays, waste of time, indigestion, and many perplexities. Have plenty of good holders near the stove, and so save burning the fingers. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is true in more than one case. Be careful about striking the edge of granite ware, for flakes are likely to find their way into the food, which when swallowed may produce some trouble as grave as appendicitis. Bits of glass could be no worse. To taste from the cooking spoon and return it to the food without washing is quite unsanitary, and should be as carefully avoided as would a like practice at the table. A good cookstove is much to be preferred to oil, gas, or gasoline for various reasons, but principally because the latter use the oxygen of the air to the extent that humans are not allowed their share of it. Fruit jar covers should be dried in an oven after having been washed, whether they are to be used immediately or laid13 away until the next season. Germs are likely to gather between the cover and its lining if left wet. Instead of making pie of your pumpkin, prepare it the same as for pies, bake or steam it, and serve as custard. You should have a well-equipped ironing board, and it should be kept in some place where it will not be exposed to dust, preferably with the face to the wall. Having no other animals to eat pea pods, try grinding them through the meat mill for the chickens. There are many reasons why the housekeeper should put forth diligent effort to keep the house rid of the dangerous little creatures we call flies. A yard of fine thread costs just as much as a yard of that which is twice as coarse. Hence when a strong thread is required, which is the most economical—a single coarse one or a double fine one? Sometimes a bit of perplexity may be avoided and considerable thread economized by running one seam immediately after another when sewing on the machine. A small bit of cloth may be run under the machine foot, which will, by the setting of a few stitches, serve to hinder the knotting of the thread on the under side at the time a new seam is being begun. Also less thread is used than by the ordinary method. Remember that when sitting, a person is much more susceptible to the cold than when standing. On that account exercise care about leaving doors open. Visitors and perhaps others might not like to speak of their discomfort. When desiring any important change in the house furnishings or the home management, seek to learn what will suit the convenience of other members of the family. If one must chew gum or engage in any other disagreeable practice, it is well for him to retire to another room, or at least to such a distance that no one else will be annoyed by sound, sight, or odor. The Morning Hour
By MINNIE EMBREE PARKER
It came to my heart with a lesson,
As the day was beginning to dawn,
As the day, with its cares and trials
And its blessings, was drawing on,
How Jesus, the world's Redeemer,
Arose before it was day,
And, feeling his human weakness,
Found, in secret, a place to pray. Not even the three disciples
Who followed their Lord the best,
Were there in his sanctuary;
They slumbered as did the rest.
And only the stars of heaven,
With, perchance, the silver moon,
Looked down upon their Creator,
Who would suffer and die so soon. If Jesus, the King of glory,
Commander of hosts on high,
Must petition for daily succor,
What about such a worm as I? I rest at ease in the morning,
Before me a puzzling day;
I know not how I shall meet it:
But my Saviour arose to pray. How foolish our human blindness!
How hard are our hearts of stone!
Why rise we not in the morning
And pray to our God alone?
There's help for the daily duties,
And spiritual strength and power,
There's victory for the conflict,
To be gained in the morning hour. If we walk in the Master's footsteps,
And follow the path he trod,
We must find, in the early morning,
A quiet place with God.
We must pour out our heart before him,
And let him into our life,
If we ever shall be the winner
Of victory in the strife. Rejuvenated
By MRS. M. E. STEWARD
MRS. COLE felt “all run down,” as she expressed it. All summer she had done the work for two small children, her husband, and two farm hands. Mr. Cole was not heartless; he did not intend his wife should overdo, he simply did not understand. He built the fires in the morning, and brought in the wood and water, though she often had to draw some herself with a windlass from a well eighty feet deep. She never felt rested, was tired when she arose in the morning, for she did not sleep well, and had no appetite. This woman went to Dr. Alice Wayland for advice. “In the first place, you must have a good strong girl to take the housework,” Dr. Alice told her. “Meantime, take an hour in the forenoon and another in the afternoon for rest.” “That’s impossible! Besides, the baby frets too much for me to rest,” said Mrs. Cole, very decidedly. “Lie down when he is asleep.” “That’s the best time I have to work.” “You will find after a time that the baby will be more quiet as you get stronger. Select a comfortable, quiet place in the sunshine, and lie on your back, with your clothing perfectly loose. Lay a cool, wet, dark cloth over your head and eyes. Then let go of yourself.” “I fear I do not get your meaning.” “A nervous person is never at rest. Clinching the hand, snapping the fingers, swinging the foot, he is always in motion, or some part of the body is stiff. When sitting in a rocker, he involuntarily keeps rocking. Even the bed is not allowed to hold him, on account of this nervous tension. One can learn to fall instantly like a dead weight, whenever one lies down. “Let the mind rest, as well as the body. Think of nothing, yet do not try to think of nothing; avoid making any effort of any kind, whether to think or not to think. Simply be perfectly passive, letting the mind be a vacuum. You may not find this condition at once, but move toward it, and you will certainly succeed.” “I fear I’d fall asleep; then I’d be sure to sleep too long.” “That would be a good thing, surely. If you positively cannot take more time, your little girl might awaken you; but lie quiet an hour, whether you sleep or not. “Live as much as possible outdoors, at least three or four hours every day, and do all the work you can in the open air. For instance, if you have apples or potatoes to pare, go outside into the sunshine. Sit all you can while at work; you could even iron small articles on a lapboard while sitting. I hope you let your little girl assist you? A child five years old can do many things to help her mother, which will be for her own benefit as well.” “I have no time to teach her.” “Pardon me, but some things she might learn in five minutes. This alone would save part of the time you need for rest.” “I am glad you mentioned it; strange I had not thought of it in that way before.” Mrs. Cole followed the doctor’s suggestions, and in a little time was so much improved that she decided she could do her work comfortably without a girl, especially as harvesting was over and they would have no hired man. Mr. Cole said she should never work so again. He himself assisted her in many ways; and he felt paid many times over when he saw his wife more as she was when he married her, six years before, rather than the prematurely old woman she was fast becoming. One day her husband read the following in her diary; while he playfully rallied her about it, he was not above uniting with her in its observance:— “A Good Prescription for Daily Use”
“Don’t worry; seek peace and pursue it. Don’t hurry; too swift arrives as tardily as too slow. Sleep and rest abundantly. The best physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merriman. Spend less nervous energy than you make; work like a man, but don’t be worked to death. Be cheerful; a light heart lives long. Think only healthful thoughts: ‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’ Avoid passion and excitement; a moment’s anger may be fatal. Associate with healthy people; health, as well as disease, is contagious. Don’t carry the whole world on your shoulders, far less the universe; trust in the good Lord. Never despair; lost hope is a fatal disease.” HUDSON TAYLOR was a man of great faith in God, as well as a great missionary. When he first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shores of a cannibal island the ship was becalmed, and it was slowly drifting shoreward, unable to go about, and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor and besought him to pray to God for help. “I will,” said Taylor, “provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain declined to make himself a laughingstock by unfurling sails in a dead calm. Taylor said, “I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” And it was done. While Taylor was engaged in prayer, there was a knock at his stateroom door. “Who is there?” The captain's voice responded, “Are you still praying for wind?” “Well,” said the captain, “you'd better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can well manage.” And, sure enough, when but a hundred yards from shore, a strong wind had struck the sails of the boat so that the cannibals were cheated out of their human prey.—Selected. THE LORD’S PRAYER places God before his people as their father. It reveals him as giving, forgiving, guiding, delivering. In uttering the Lord’s Prayer, we profess to come before our God,— As children ................ Our Father
As worshipers ............ Hallowed be thy name
As subjects .............. Thy kingdom come
As servants .............. Thy will be done
As beggars ............... Give us
As sinners ............... Forgive us
As weak and frail ........ Lead us not into temptation
As helpless and in danger ........ Deliver us from evil
As fully trusting in his all-sufficiency for time and eternity . . For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Protestant Mass Meeting in Detroit
By LEE S. WHEELER
ON the evening of February 12, the birthday of Lincoln, a patriotic mass meeting was held at the Armory, in Detroit, the aim of which was to enlighten the public upon the questions: “Is the State of Michigan doing its full duty toward the correction and care of our wayward boys and girls? Is it doing this duty right?” The personnel of the committee in charge of the mass meeting was Lutheran, and the speakers were the Rev. C. H. Ruesskamp, of this city, and Dr. W. Schoenfeld, of New York, who spoke upon the separation of church and state. Dr. Schoenfeld may be remembered as one of the men who replied to President Roosevelt’s statement that he regarded with satisfaction the time when a Catholic statesman would be elected to fill the presidential office. There was no demonstration of opposition against the mass meeting, such as has been manifested by the Catholics in many parts of the country, little publicity having been given to the announcement, and admission being by cards, which were distributed mostly in a private way. Yet the seating capacity of the building, which accommodates four thousand persons, was taxed by the citizens, mostly men, who responded to the invitation. When we learned of the meeting, we communicated with the committee, most of whom are acquainted with our work through the Protestant Magazine, and were cordially given an opportunity to have the magazine placed on sale at the entrance of the hall. Our workers who waited upon the people with the magazine as they came out from the meeting, met a friendly reception and disposed of about one hundred and fifty copies, although no public announcement was made in behalf of the publication. Dr. Schoenfeld in his address, in referring to Roman Catholic opposition to civil marriage, held up before the audience in proof of his statements what appeared to be a page from the Protestant Magazine, Vol. IV, No. 2, showing a facsimile certificate of baptism which declared the offspring of such marriages illegitimate. The incident indicates the work which our literature is doing in enlightening the minds of great and good men, whose strong influence God will use to hold back the evil which threatens our country. This address by Dr. Schoenfeld was able and convincing, lacking neither the force of plain-spoken truth nor the finish of Christian culture and courtesy, and his statements were applauded again and again by the large and intelligent audience which listened to him. Resolutions were passed at the mass meeting protesting against the juvenile courts of the city and county using private and sectarian institutions as places of penal imprisonment and servitude for the confinement of dependent, neglected, and delinquent children and youth. Other resolutions relating to the organization of a State-wide campaign against the present confusion of church and state, and demanding a free press, were also passed. The meeting was opened with the singing of “America,” and closed with a patriotic song entitled “Michigan, My Michigan,” sung to the air of “Maryland.” Thousands of strong and loyal voices united in the song of fidelity, the first stanza of which follows:— “The call has brought us to thy side,
Michigan, our Michigan.
We have the charge, with loyal pride,
Michigan, our Michigan.
We gladly pledge our vows with thee
Beneath the shadowing oak and pine
That guard the glory of our shrine,
Michigan, our Michigan.”
[The following quotations are taken from a sermon delivered several weeks ago by Dr. Gabriel Reid Maguire, pastor of the Park Avenue Baptist Church of Plainfield, N. J. The report is furnished us by Brother F. E. Johnstone, of that city.—Ed.] THE greatest war the world has ever seen is that between capital and labor, —a war of centuries. The middle classes in this country, who have held the balance of power, acting as mediator between the two extremes, are diminishing. Should this state of affairs continue as it has during the past twenty-five years, there will soon be no middle classes; there will be the very rich or the very poor, palaces or hovels. Some people have an idea that this trouble between capital and labor is just like a crying child that will soon fall asleep; but the problem is far more serious than that. Most of the men who have tried to pacify these two parties have miserably failed. The trade-union is more bitter today than it ever was. "Give us more wages," cry the employees. "You shall have less," says the capitalist. There are 10,000,000 persons in this country tonight on the verge of starvation, and 4,000,000 paupers. Several million hungry persons cannot be kept quiet very long, no matter how large the police force, nor how many the enactments of the legislature. This war between capital and labor will never be settled by human wisdom. Christianity is the only force in the universe that has the power to settle this controversy. The laboring class is not found in our churches today, and there is a reason for it. They think the church is supported by the capitalist, and that therefore the rich own the preacher. The church has got to wake up. There is too much cold-storage religion. There is too much churchianity, and not enough Christianity. It is a sin to build million-dollar churches in New York City, with the thousands of poor and needy at our very doors. That is churchianity, not Christianity. Jesus Christ loved the poor as well as the rich. How shall we solve the problem? This controversy between monopoly and labor cannot be stopped by crying out against the rich. There is no laboring man in America who would not be rich if he could. It is no sin to be rich if the riches are attained honestly, if fortunes are amassed through skill and industry; but if wealth comes through grinding down the wages until there is barely sufficient to keep soul and body together, if the millionaire is known to take the bread from children's mouths, the curse of God will surely follow him. Neither is this problem solved by cynical and unsympathetic treatment of the laboring classes. This question can never be settled by violence. God never blessed murder. If you were to blow up all the magnificent residences in Plainfield tonight, all the brick and stone would fall back upon your own head. Anarchy will never heal the breach. Barbarism was never known to cure the ills of civilization. Capital and labor stand today with thumbs on each other's throats, and it is high time we looked somewhere for a settlement of the difficulty; and this is not to be found in churchianity. No force nor influence in the universe will ever be able to settle this momentous question but the power of the living God. Jesus is the only one who can settle this gigantic question,—he who died a death of shame on the cross. Before such a cross I ask the capitalist and the laborer to meet, to shake hands, to permit the golden rule to govern their lives, and to worship the Saviour, who gave his life for both. Religious Liberty Work in the North Pacific Union Conference
By W. F. MARTIN
ON January 9 I started on a tour of the Western Washington Conference, holding religious liberty institutes and meetings with the churches and speaking in public halls. The following places were visited: Tacoma, Seattle, Forest Home, Everett, Colby, Aberdeen, and Centralia. At all these places we had good meetings. Elder J. M. Willoughby, religious liberty secretary for the conference, was present during the meeting at Tacoma, as he is pastor of the church at that place. He was also with us one day at Everett. It was my privilege to speak the last Sunday night of the institute at Seattle. There was present a fine audience. At the close of the meeting, Elder Piper, the pastor, presented the Liberty magazine and secured a good list of subscribers. At Everett, we secured the Odd Fellows' hall for our last meeting. Excellent attention was given to the truths spoken. Much literature was sold and distributed at Everett. At Aberdeen it was my privilege to open the temperance campaign, speaking in the Baptist church to an appreciative audience. Now that there is a clean-cut temperance issue on in the State of Washington15 it gives us an excellent opportunity to place ourselves and our message in a right light before the people. We should plan to do this. Then, when because of our attitude on Sunday closing we are classed by those favoring it with the saloon keepers and men of that class, those who are honest will know better. There is also a concerted move on in many places in Washington to close up things on Sunday. Thus while we are working for a good thing, we can at the same time work against an evil thing. After spending a few days at Centralia, I was called to Wenatchee, a city in the Upper Columbia Conference. The city council had passed a Sunday-closing ordinance, but it had not been signed by the mayor. On reaching the city, I found that a good hall in the Commercial Club building had been secured, and a meeting announced at which I was to speak. I called on the mayor and had a very interesting and pleasant visit. Some of the councilmen were present at the meeting, among them the one who had introduced the Sunday-closing ordinance. The president, secretary, and other members of the Commercial Club were also present, as well as other prominent men and women of the city. It was a splendid opportunity to present the truths of the message to some who otherwise would not have heard it. The two daily papers of the city gave good accounts of the meeting. Two days after this, the mayor vetoed the Sunday bill. The city of Walla Walla is at present agitated over Sunday closing, following a revival. We are arranging for a meeting in the Keylor Grand Theater. Thus it is that matters are hurrying on to completion. May we do all in our power to hasten the coming of our Lord. The Continental Congress and Romanism
By C. E. Holmes
THE question of preserving our liberties from the machinations of the Church of Rome is a present problem. But it was also uppermost in the minds of our forefathers. One of the first actions taken by the Continental Congress was regarding the Catholic religion. Sept. 5, 1774, an address to the people of Great Britain was adopted by the delegates of our American colonies. In this appeal we find this resolution:— “That the late act of Parliament for establishing the Roman Catholic religion in the French laws in that extensive country now called Quebec, is dangerous in an extreme degree to the Protestant religion and to the civil rights and liberties of all America; and therefore as men and Protestant Christians, we are indispensably obliged to take all proper measures for our security.”—“Journals of the Continental Congress,” Vol. I, page 16.
This was followed a few days later by this declaration:— “Nor can we suppress our astonishment that a British Parliament should ever consent to establish in that country [Canada] a religion that has deluged your island in blood, and dispersed impiety, bigotry, persecution, murder, and rebellion through every part of the world.”—Id., page 44.
The founders of our government were enjoying a large degree of civil and religious liberty. The pit of religious tyranny and intolerance was just behind them. They did not wish again to become ensnared in the net of the Papacy. The statement is now being made, and has been asserted for many years, that religious liberty in America was first planted in Maryland by a Roman Catholic, Lord Baltimore by name. He is held forth as a representative of Catholic principles regarding religious liberty. But it is very evident from the foregoing resolutions that our forefathers, who lived not far from Baltimore’s day, saw anything but liberty in the teachings and practices of the Roman Church. They saw danger to their liberties when Rome began to intrench itself even outside of the colonies. PORTSMOUTH.—A number of years ago a church was organized at Portsmouth, but through reverses the number had been reduced to about ten or twelve, and these were all sisters, and somewhat scattered, without any place for meetings, except in private houses. In February, 1913, we sent a company of workers there to hold a series of meetings, and for a time great hopes were entertained that a good work would be accomplished; but bitter opposition arose, and although services were continued in a hall and tent for weeks, only a few took their stand for the truth. It was decided to hold our camp meetings at Portsmouth, for both white and colored people, and a tent effort was also held for the colored people. The camp meetings awakened quite an interest among both classes. Brethren L. O. Gordon and J. D. Reavis followed up the interest awakened by the camp meeting among the white people, and a number were added to the church. Elders J. B. Mallory and W. H. Sebastian conducted the tent effort for the colored people, and as a result, a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of organizing a church there of seventeen members, who are fully instructed on all points of our faith, and are faithful tithe payers. Others have since been added, and the interest still continues. After camp meeting it was decided to erect a small church building for the white people, and our brethren have done nobly, having completed a neat structure that will seat one hundred and fifty persons. One month ago Elder G. W. Walker, of Richmond, joined Brother Gordon in a series of meetings in the new church building, and a good interest has been manifested. When an opportunity was given a few nights ago for all who had decided to obey God and keep all his commandments to manifest it by standing, fully twenty-five responded, and yesterday eight persons followed their Lord in baptism. This makes about twenty-five who have united with the church since our effort began, bringing the membership up to nearly forty. The church is rejoicing greatly over what has been accomplished, and the outlook for the work is bright. A room was built in connection with the church for school purposes, and a church school has been started. The two churches now number about sixty, and courage fills the hearts of all, while one year ago there were only about a dozen believers, and the outlook was discouraging. Perhaps I should say in closing that Sister Watkins, who fell asleep a few months ago, was, perhaps, more instrumental in holding this company together for years than any other person. She was a faithful, godly woman, and for years prayed for this revival of the work at Portsmouth. How her heart would rejoice could she witness what has been accomplished! She rests from her labors, but her works do follow her. Foreign Mission Bands
By L. L. Caviness
THE report of the Foreign Mission Bands has been somewhat delayed. All the colleges have been heard from now except Pacific Union College. The best report comes from Berrien Springs. It reports sixty-one students definitely planning to go to foreign fields. Of these, four prefer China; seven prefer India; seventeen prefer Africa, one especially choosing Abyssinia; nine prefer Spanish fields, seven of these specifying South America; four prefer Japan; one chooses Mohammedan fields; the rest express no preference. Of the sixty-one, twenty-five are in college grades and thirty-six in the academic. Walla Walla reports forty resident members, twenty-seven honorary members (now in the foreign field), and one hundred and three members now in the work here at home. Of these last, fifteen are in the ministry, twenty-four are teaching in our schools, four are State agents for our book work, twelve are nurses, five are bookkeepers and stenographers. Details of grade of work of resident members or their preferred fields were not given. At Mount Vernon there are thirty-two students definitely planning on the foreign field. Their preferences are not specified, except in the case of two students, one choosing India and the other China. Three students are listed as in the college grades, and twenty-nine in the academic. Seven associate members are reported, who are studying the foreign mission question, but have not yet decided definitely to plan to go. The Foreign Mission Seminary organized a band of twenty-five this year. Of these, five have already gone out this current year. It is expected four others will go out before the close of the school year. Of these twenty-five, three are college graduates, one a graduate from a fourteen-grade musical course, several are graduate nurses, and most of the others have at least finished an academic course. Union College reports a band of twenty-two members definitely planning on the foreign field. Details of grade of work and preferred fields were not given. Union's honorary membership should number about one hundred, for over one hundred have gone from that college to the foreign field. Deducting the five who have gone out from the Seminary this current year, there are one hundred and seventy-five young people at these four schools who are definitely planning on service in the foreign field. We cannot but take courage at the army which the Lord is providing. Let us pray both that these dear young people may be well prepared intellectually and spiritually and that their number16 may be greatly increased. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” L. L. CAVINESS,
Interband Secretary.