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Signs of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 10.

THE NEED OF HUMILITY
Earlier text: THE FOUR GOSPELS

THE NORTH PACIFIC CONFERENCE.

By S. Fulton

THE churches in this Conference observed the fast-day and week of prayer as recommended by the General Conference Committee, and as far as we have been able to learn it has proved to be a season of spiritual benefit to all. I spent the first part of the week of prayer with the company at Woodburn. December 18 their new church was dedicated. Brethren Reed and Dickenson were also present. The remaining portion of the week was spent with the East Portland church. In order to accommodate the students who were attending the school, it was thought best to hold the meetings in the evening. Meetings were also held in the day-time for those who could not attend in the evening. Each service of reading was followed by a social meeting.
As the urgent need of means to aid in the different branches of the cause was presented to us, the hearts of all seemed to be opened to do what they could to aid in the work. The Christmas exercises passed off pleasantly. The donations in this church amounted to $436.46—more than double the sum raised last year. This, with what was paid in by the other churches, made $778.38.
We feel thankful to God for the blessings of the week of prayer, which is in the past, and we trust its influence will be felt throughout the coming year. We have reason to rejoice for the omens of good manifested in this Conference. As far as our limited knowledge extends, we can report favorably, both as regards finances and the spiritual condition of laborers and members; and with the corps of workers that are preparing to enter the field in the spring, we cannot see why, with the blessing of God, the coming year may not be more prosperous than any in the past. A good degree of interest has been manifested in the missionary work.
At the last Conference $1,000 was pledged to support the ship work. At Portland, Seattle, and Victoria about seventy-five steamers are visited weekly. These with the sailing vessels carry the precious truth to the various ports of the coast from California to Alaska, and to foreign countries. About one thousand periodicals are sent out in this way, and by our societies and individuals. The past winter, thirty thousand Bible-readings have been printed and circulated.
The school at East Portland, which has been in operation a part of the past three years, is proving a great blessing to the cause throughout the Conference. The room occupied being too small to accommodate all who wished to attend, a building capable, when completed, of seating one hundred and fifty, was erected last summer. The attendance this winter numbers eighty, with Professor Starbuck as principal, and Carrie Mills and Frank Bunch as assistants. Bible study is one prominent feature of the school. A tract and missionary society of thirty-five members has been organized. Regular work is being done, so that while giving a better understanding of the truth and those things that will enable the students to become useful, they are learning to labor for the salvation of others. Nearly a score are preparing to go out either as canvassers or Bible-workers, the coming season.
Our prayer is that God will continue to bless the work in this part of the great harvest field. S. FULTON.

The Missionary.

By Mrs. L. A. Fero

UPPER COLUMBIA T. AND M. SOCIETY.

REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1887.
No. of members, - - - - - - - 194 " reports returned, - - - - - - - 99 " missionary visits, - - - - - - - 140 " letters written, - - - - - - - 154 " periodicals distributed, - - - - - - - 2,432 " Signs taken in clubs, - - - - - - - 117 " Sickles taken in clubs, - - - - - - - 100 " new subscribers obtained, - - - - - - - 158 " pages, tracts, distributed and sold, - - - - - - - 36,196 Received on donations and membership, - $ 30 75 " " sales, - - - 89 70 " " periodicals, - - - 100 45 " " from agents, etc., - - - 36 65 Total receipts, - - - $257 55 MRS. L. A. FERO, Secretary.
Medical Lake Society failed to report.

CHRISTMAS DONATIONS TO FOREIGN MISSIONS.

By California Conference Committee

It is unquestionably true that Seventh-day Adventists, as a people, are deeply interested in the cause of foreign missions. And it is evident that their interest and activity in both home and foreign mission work are steadily increasing. Those acquainted with them know that they are not a wealthy people, and some surprise is expressed that, notwithstanding the fact that there are but few wealthy men in their churches, they seem ever ready to undertake educational and missionary enterprises, that would appear discouraging to a body of Christians only twenty-five to thirty thousand in number.
However liberal they may be and however self-sacrificing in the cause of missions, they are not, as some honestly suppose and others maliciously report, bringing themselves rapidly to a state of poverty by their prodigal liberality. They believe and teach that temperance, industry, and economy are essential, Christian virtues, and that self-denial and sacrifice for the good of others are necessary to Christian growth.
In their foreign missionary operations, as in everything else, they have aimed at economy and practicability, for it seems apparent that their resources must ever appear limited when compared with the work undertaken. Many of the more expensive methods in use by other societies were of necessity disregarded, and only the most economical and safe plans of labor are followed.
Notwithstanding the most careful economy, the expenses of these missions during the last two or three years has exceeded by several thousand dollars each year the amount contributed for their support. To partly pay the old debt, and to help carry forward the present work, a Christmas meeting was held in all of their churches, in which each church-member, and all the children also, were encouraged to make a Christmas gift for the foreign missions.
All seem to have taken a hearty interest in the plan, and contributed according to their ability or their interest in the work. It is estimated that nearly $25,000 was contributed in this Christmas offering.
The amount contributed by the churches and isolated members of the California Conference is reported as follows:—
Burr Valley, Nev., $ 81 00 Oakland, 602 16
Calistoga, 38 86 Petaluma, 15 40
Dow's Prairie, 10 25 Placerville, 23 97
Eureka, 75 10 Reno, Nev., 187 50
Ferndale, 107 00 Sacramento, 52 80
Forestville, 3 25 San Diego, 206 00
Fresno, (a) 143 70 San Francisco, 194 00
Gold Hill, Nev., 13 00 San Jose, 55 10
Grass Valley, 4 25 San Pasqual, 101 30
Healdsburg, 825 25 Santa Ana, 92 00
Lakeport, 5 35 Santa Barbara, 44 80
Laytonville, 15 00 Santa Rosa, 30 00
Lemoore, 89 60 Selma, 30 50
Little River, 25 00 St. Clair, Nev., 26 65
Los Angeles, 118 00 St. Helena, 529 60
Monrovia, 26 05 Vacaville, 48 45
Napa, 38 05 Woodland, 90 55
Norwalk, 72 35 Personal, 134 87
Total, $3,655 71
Considering the heavy burdens, such as erecting new meeting-houses, borne by several of these churches, also the fact that over $2,000 in cash was given by them for the same purpose at the Oakland camp-meeting, and that since this camp-meeting over $5,000 has been paid, that was pledged to the missions a year ago; we must regard this as a liberal Christmas present to the missions.
What a blessing this will be to the cause of truth in foreign lands! What an encouragement to the faithful workers in the mission fields, who see around them most promising fields of labor, and faithful men willing and anxious to engage in the work, if the necessary means for carrying on the work can be provided.
And how are those affected who have made this Christmas present? In almost every case the donors are happier for having made the gift. We have heard of no one who wishes his gift had been smaller, but there are many who wish it had been more. Leaving out the note of $1,000, we find that the average per church-member is less than two dollars. A few have given their hundreds, and some scores their twenties, forties, and fifties, but the average is very moderate.
What a change it would make in the mission treasuries and in the work of all missions if every Christian would give a thoughtful answer, not only once a year, but once a week, to the question, "How much owest thou my Lord?" CAL. CONF. COM.

WHEN SHOULD T. AND M. SOCIETIES BE ORGANIZED?

By Maria L. Huntley

THAT an active tract and missionary society is a necessary adjunct of the live church has been established beyond question. At this stage in the progress of our work, no argument is needed upon this point, and as a people we are beginning more fully to realize its importance. But the question as to when these societies should be organized in a new field may seem to some unimportant, and the course frequently pursued leads to this conclusion.
Usually local societies are organized at the time of the church organization, or later. At this time it is generally the case that the truth has been presented from the desk, opposition, sometimes strong and bitter, has been aroused, causing prejudice, and the expression of unkind feelings. A separation has come between those who have accepted the truth and those who have not, and a large portion of the people wish to hear no more about it, and the minister is about to leave for another field. Perhaps the last thing he does is to organize a missionary society; and those who have embraced the truth are left in their inexperience to conduct the society, and extend the work of presenting the truth by personal effort in the face of these opposing and discouraging conditions.
Under these circumstances, to expect that they will carry forward the work with courage, energy, and success, is unreasonable. If the organization of the society is delayed still longer, the conditions are seldom improved. Much of the interest, zeal, and love first manifested in the truth, owing to a lack of healthful exercise, is gone. In either case, the society starts out under very unfavorable and discouraging circumstances for successful home labor. Too often it struggles along for mere existence, and it is very hard ever to bring it into the position it should occupy.
In direct opposition to this course is that pursued by Mr. Moody and other evangelists. When they begin labor in any place they call together persons of influence who are interested in their work, giving them instruction, and some important part to act. In this way they greatly increase their influence and working force, without unnecessary expense. Why should we not pursue a similar course in the presentation of the truth? As soon as an interest has been aroused, and people acknowledge God's claims upon them, why should they not be encouraged to co-operate with us, not in a general, hap-hazard way, but by uniting in an organized systematic effort to enlighten the people. They will at this point readily appreciate the character of our work, and oftentimes will esteem it a privilege to aid in carrying it forward by their means and personal effort.
The offer of reading matter for free distribution would be sufficient to induce many to become members of our missionary societies, if the matter was properly set before them. By this act they would in a measure identify themselves with us, and it would do much toward establishing them in the truth. Every effort made by them in its behalf, however small, would unite them more closely to it, and also separate them more and more from adverse influences. The advantages to be gained would be twofold, as it would greatly benefit the persons themselves, and through them the minister would be able to reach a class he could gain access to in no other way. It would afford him and his co-laborers the best of opportunities to give instruction in the different methods of labor, and in conducting missionary operations. By the time they were ready to leave, a good working force would be developed, and prepared to carry on the work and extend it under less favorable circumstances. The experience of seeing persons embrace the truth for whom they have labored in connection with the minister, and under his direction, would be invaluable to them. The following is from "Testimony for the Church, No. 32," page 64:—
"Every member of the church should be instructed in a regular system of labor. All are required to do something for the Lord. They can interest persons to read; they may converse and pray with them. The minister who shall educate, discipline, and lead an army of workers, will have glorious conquests here, and a rich reward awaits him when he shall meet those saved through his influence around the great white throne."
When a permanent church organization is effected, the tract and missionary organization can be completed, and the names of unworthy members dropped, if there should be any such. As soon as there are two or three of these local organizations, they should be united in a general organization, having at least a president and secretary, the latter to act also as treasurer. The work can then be carried on systematically and vigorously before the time arrives for a Conference organization. See the recommendations on this point at the last meeting of the International Tract and Missionary Society.
There can be no propriety in waiting until the work goes hard, and our brethren and sisters have lost the enthusiasm and devotion which they had when they first embraced the truth, before giving them the advantages of our tract and missionary organizations. They should receive their instruction and first experience in missionary labor in their own vicinity under the minister who gives them the truth. They would not then regard it such a task to labor for their neighbors and friends, the very ones who have the greatest claims upon them.
MARIA L. HUNTLEY.

Just Measures and Balances

Give full measures and weigh with a just balance.

The Commentary.

ABRAHAM'S PLEA FOR SODOM.

LESSON 11.—SABBATH, MARCH 17.

1. Who came to Abraham while he lived in Mamre?
"And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre; and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground." Gen. 18:1, 2.
2. Who were these men?
"And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the Lord." Verse 22.
"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground." Chapter 19:1.
3. Did Abraham recognize the Lord as one of the three men?
4. How did Abraham show his hospitality?
Chapter 18:3-8.
5. What exhortation based upon this occurrence is given to us?
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Heb. 13:2.
6. When the men rose to go, what did Abraham do?
"And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way." Gen. 18:16.
7. What did the Lord say?
"And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" Verses 17, 18.
8. Why did the Lord honor Abraham in this manner?
"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." Verse 19.
9. What did the Lord say of Sodom and Gomorrah?
"And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous." Verse 20.
10. What did Abraham say to the Lord?
"And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city; wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Verses 23-25.
11. What reply did the Lord make?
"And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." Verse 26.
12. In what spirit did Abraham continue his plea?
"And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes." Verse 27.
13. What was the second request, and the reply?
"Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it." Verse 28.
14. What concession did the Lord still further make in answer to Abraham's earnest prayer?
"And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake." Verse 29.
15. How did Abraham still further pray, and what was the result?
"And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there." Verse 30.
16. For what still smaller number did the Lord say he would spare Sodom?
"And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake." Verse 31.
17. Finally, how many righteous persons did the Lord say would save Sodom?
"And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake." Verse 32.
18. In this simple narrative, what scripture do we see fulfilled?
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16, last clause.
19. Cite some notable instances where wicked men's lives were spared on account of a righteous man. Acts 27:21-25; Job 42:7-9.
20. What relation do the righteous sustain to the people of the earth?
"Ye are the salt of the earth." Matt. 5:13, first clause.
21. Will the presence of righteous men always be sufficient to save the wicked from merited punishment?
"Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Eze. 14:19, 20.
22. What is the only safe place for people to occupy?
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Ps. 91:1-4.

NOTES.

By Editor

THE first thing noticeable in this lesson is Abraham's hospitality. As soon as he saw the men he ran to them and begged as a personal favor that they would stop with him. "If now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant." This is the true spirit of hospitality; it is the very essence of hospitality. The truly hospitable man loves to care for others, and instead of making them feel that he is conferring a favor on them, he makes them feel they are doing him a favor by accepting his hospitality.
WE cannot always judge people by their appearance. In fact, judging from the appearance is about the most unsafe thing a person can do. Those three men who came to Abraham were no doubt very ordinary looking. Very likely they looked heated and dusty. Nevertheless two of them were angels, and one was the Lord himself. What a lesson for us, and how forcible are the words of the apostle: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Heb. 13:2. How many people are there who would invite the Saviour into their houses if he passed by just as he used to walk along the dusty roads of Judea and Galilee? Isaiah said that there was no beauty in him that he should be desired. When we think of all the circumstances of the case, we shall be less likely to justify ourselves by condemning the ancient Jews for not accepting Christ. Their conduct was inexcusable; but would we have done any better?
IT may not be amiss in connection with this incident in Abraham's life, to speak of the ancient practice of feet washing. Many people claim that in washing his disciples' feet, as recorded in John 13:1-17, the Lord was simply impressing on them the importance of hospitality, and that he did a thing that was very common in those times. Christ's own statement to Peter, "What I do thou knowest not now," and also the simple fact that it was a thing absolutely unknown for a host to wash the feet of a guest, ought to be sufficient to disprove this; Abraham was the prince of hospitable men; but he said to the men: "Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree." They were to wash their own feet, just as they were to rest themselves. No principle of hospitality or courtesy required one man to wash another's feet; but Christian fellowship does require just that, and not only that, but all the service one for another that may be implied by it.
ANOTHER lesson that ought not to be lost sight of may be learned from Abraham's prayer for Sodom. First, Abraham asked for just what he wanted, and second, he was importunate. He gained confidence as he proceeded. There is altogether too much formality in prayer. By this we do not wish to be understood as favoring in the slightest degree that

Health and Temperance.

By F. N. Scott

CONVERSATION BETWEEN A SAVAGE AND A WHITE MAN.

White Man. I am very glad to make your acquaintance, sir, although you are in your present unregenerate condition. I understand that you mean to eschew your savage customs, and take up with the ways of civilization.
Savage. That is my resolve.
W. M. And a very commendable resolution on your part, I am sure. I trust that you fully appreciate the superiority of our modern civilization, to the wretched mode of life which you have pursued hitherto.
S. I must confess that at present I have but a vague notion of what civilization means. I will be greatly obliged to you, if you will make more clear to me the difference between it and my present condition.
W. M. I shall be delighted to. Savagery, you must know, means ignorance, falsehood, selfishness, degradation, and superstition; civilization means knowledge, truth, generosity, refinement, and reason. Savagery is the triumph of the body over the mind; civilization is the triumph of the mind over the body. As a savage, you eat, and drink, and dress, without knowing why you do these things in one way rather than in another. After you have become civilized, you will do everything because it is the right thing to do.
S. I think I understand.
W. M. Very likely you do not, though. You savages never can understand anything without some visible sign. Let me illustrate my meaning. I have here some head-dresses of your relatives,—the Musquito Indians of Central America.
S. Very beautiful head-dresses they seem to me.
W. M. That is because you are still a degraded savage, with your aesthetic tastes in a rudimentary stage of evolution. When you have become civilized, those head-dresses will appear to you hideously ugly.
S. Why?
W. M. For two reasons: first, because they lack the elements of beauty; second, because they are not adapted for their purpose. Such massive towers of feathers, and grass, and wood, and strings, accumulate filth, heat the head unnecessarily, and give rise to scalp diseases. Besides this—excuse my mentioning it—do they not breed a peculiarly prolific and troublesome—ahem—you understand?
S. I am sorry to confess—
W. M. Let us say no more about it. To a civilized mind, I assure you, the subject is quite revolting.
S. Then am I to understand that no civilized person would wear anything of this sort?
W. M. It would be quite impossible.
S. Will you be kind enough to explain to me a passage which the interpreter read to me from one of your books, while we were waiting for you? As nearly as I can remember, it ran as follows:—
"The fashionable Englishwoman of one hundred years ago erected upon her head a massive tower composed of hair, tow, beads, feathers, ribbons, artificial flowers, and glass ornaments, which frequently rose to the height of three feet; so that she could not use a coach as it was constructed, but was obliged to have the roof of it raised. The interior of this monstrous pile was explored only at certain intervals, when the accumulated filth made a sight not to be described, nor yet too vividly imagined." Excuse my mentioning anything so revolting, but is not the reference here to this same peculiarly prolific and troublesome—ahem—you understand?
W. M. But, my dear sir, you forget that this was a hundred years ago.
S. Then I am to understand that your ancestors of a hundred years ago were savages?
W. M. Heaven forbid! I fear these distinctions cannot be made clear to your untutored mind, but I will try another illustration. Perhaps you may know of certain relatives of yours who make a practice of binding a board upon the heads of their children, so that as they grow up, their skulls will be squeezed into an absurd semblance of the peaked roof of a house, and their mental capacity reduced to that of an idiot.
S. I have heard of this practice. If you will notice the shape of my forehead,—
W. M. Pardon my rudeness. Nothing personal was intended, I assure you. You must see, however, even with your undeveloped reasoning powers, that such a hindrance to the natural development of the body cannot but work harm.
S. Am I to understand that civilized people do nothing of this sort?
W. M. It would be looked upon as a crime.
S. Indeed! but I have been told that among civilized people it is quite common to bind around the waists of young female children a stout bandage made of cloth and bone, by which the ribs are gradually pressed out of shape, the liver almost cut in two, and the lungs compressed to one-half their natural size. And further, that this bandage is worn, not only during childhood, but even until old age. Is not this true?
W. M. You must talk to my wife about that.
S. Ah! I see. It is only the men who become civilized; the women remain savages.
W. M. No, no; you are wholly on the wrong track. It is principles that make civilization. I do not deny that these things are wrong, but, do you not see, we know they are wrong. That is the important thing.
S. Oh, now I understand the difference. The civilized man does wrong, and knows that it is wrong. The savage does wrong, and does not know it. Is that it?
W. M. (To interpreter.) Take this man away. If I talk with him much longer, I shall make myself out more of a savage than he is.—F. N. Scott, in Good Health.

Learn to Say No

By Charles Haddon Spurgeon

LEARN to say, No; it will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.—Spurgeon.

SIGNAL LIGHTS.

I ONCE knew a sweet little girl named Mary. Her father was the captain of a big ship, and sometimes she went with him to sea; and it was on one of these trips that the incident of which I am going to tell you happened. One day she sat on a coil of rope, watching old Jim clean the signal lamps.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I am trimming the signal lamps, miss," said old Jim.
"What are they for?" asked Mary.
"To keep other ships from running into us, miss; if we do not hang out our lights, we might be wrecked."
Mary watched him for some time, and then she ran away and seemed to forget all about the signal lights; but she did not, as was afterwards shown.
The next day she came to watch old Jim trim the lamps, and after he had seated her on the coil of rope, he turned to do his work. Just then the wind carried away one of his cloths and old Jim began to swear awfully.
Mary slipped from her place and ran into the cabin; but she soon came back and put a folded paper into his hand.
Old Jim opened it, and there, printed in large letters—for Mary was too young to write—were these words: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
The old man looked into her face, and asked, "What is this, Miss Mary?"
"It is a signal light, please. I saw that a bad ship was running against you, because you did not have your signal lights hung out, so I thought you had forgotten it," said Mary.
Old Jim bowed his head and wept like a little child. At last he said: "You are right, missy, I had forgotten it. My mother taught me that very commandment when I was no bigger than you; and for the future I will hang out my signal lights, for I might be quite wrecked by that bad ship, as you call those oaths."
Old Jim has a large Bible now, which Mary gave him, and on the cover he has printed, "Signal lights for souls bound for Heaven."—Selected.

The Reward of Forbearance

FORBEARANCE is a virtue which not only honors God, but brings its own reward to the possessor.
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