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Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 43.

The Open-Flat Bible
Earlier text: The Rise of the Ottoman Empire

Visit to California and Items of Interest

By George I. Butler

As the California camp-meeting at Oakland came later than any in the North Pacific Union Conference, and as I had invitations from the presidents of the Pacific Union and California conferences to be present, I concluded to take my homeward journey through that State. The expense was but little more, and I desired to visit that interesting State, where many old friends reside, and many interesting features of the causes are to be met.
The Oakland camp-meeting was in many respects a peculiar meeting to me. Though nominally not a business meeting, as the election of officers occurs next winter, yet much important business was done in it. The Northern California Conference has become the largest and most important conference in the whole cause of present truth. California as a whole State has nearly seven thousand Sabbath-keepers. But since Southern California has been organized into a separate conference, with nearly two thousand members, Northern California is left with upward of four thousand members. For many years in this cause Michigan stood as our leading conference; but things have occurred which have changed these conditions. Michigan has been divided into four divisions, three of them conferences.
Washington has become the headquarters of our work. California has been pushing ahead. Large numbers of our church-members have moved there. The Pacific Press has always been a wide-awake, aggressive institution, and various causes have existed to make the work on the Pacific Coast prominent. California has been fortunate in having large, well-equipped sanitariums. People of wealth have been liberal, and the conference is strong financially. The tithe for the support of the ministry has ranged somewhere from sixty thousand to eighty thousand dollars annually. This year fourteen tents have been running in the field of the North California Conference, and several hundred have accepted the truth. All true Seventh-day Adventists will rejoice in this prosperity; but of course such prominence brings with it a weight of responsibility. We all have a right to expect great things of California in the direction of helpfulness in this grand cause.
I stated above that the Oakland camp-meeting was in some respects peculiar. As all know, a large number of believers live in the vicinity of Oakland. On the Sabbath the great tent would be packed full of Sabbath-keepers from all the surrounding country. On other days through the week it was hardly ever half full, and a portion of the time not more than two or three hundred met at the most. Of course it would hardly be reasonable to expect so many on other days as on the Sabbath; but in so large a conference of believers it quite surprised me to see so few, not as many as in meetings of much smaller conferences.
As I remembered the few laborers in the Southern conferences, and contrasted them with the plethora of laborers here, I could not but wish there was greater equality. In large portions of California the truth has been preached over and over, while in the South comparatively few have heard it at all.
One very live question in California was the place for the conference school. Healdsburg was formerly the educational center. For wise reasons doubtless, that has ceased to be such. Much searching has been done to find an ideal locality for such an institution. A little while before the Oakland meeting an ideal place was found some eight miles from the sanitarium at St. Helena, a description of which Elder S. N. Haskell gave last week. All who know of the two places unanimously agreed that this last is far superior to the Sonoma property. The Lord knew best. How precious to serve a God who knows all things, and directs his humble servants in paths better than they know.
Having paid a personal visit to this location, the writer knows whereof he speaks. Doubtless by this time the school is in progress, under the direction of Prof. C. W. Irwin. Here will be an excellent opportunity for pupils to attend who can find a chance to pay for their schooling by working their way through school, thus obtaining a valuable experience of a practical nature with book education. Here there will be no opportunity to run about in the city, and thus learn evil things, as in city schools. Thus the school problem for California is solved, and the Lord's hand has been manifested through it all.
The conference council gladly accepted this outcome. Sister E. G. White, though very much wearied by her recent Eastern trip, spent a day or two at the meeting, and briefly and clearly testified to the desirability of securing this ideal locality. She had visited the place herself and was delighted with it.
Besides this important item, other matters received attention. A large number of books were sold to our people for distribution in missionary work. The religious meetings were seasons of interest. Revival meetings were held, and a goodly number were converted and baptized. Elder G. A. Irwin was present during the early part of the meeting, and labored with his accustomed energy. One feature of his labor at this, and at the Northern meetings when he participated ought to be mentioned. In each of these he took considerable time in giving instruction in regard to the Testimonies. Excellent instruction it was indeed, just such as our people need everywhere.
Before Elder Irwin left for the East, he did not forget to lay before the brethren and sisters the great needs of the foreign missionary work. There were comparatively few present, and they had been having other calls for means. About two thousand dollars in pledges was raised. This was indeed a very small amount to be raised from such a strong conference. I felt sorry to see the effort close with such a result, so on the last Sunday of the meeting I made another effort. It was about nine o'clock in the morning. The people were weary, and very few present. They had given for various other objects. However, about one thousand dollars more was subscribed.
It was my happy privilege in coming homeward to stop briefly in Los Angeles and Loma Linda. Brother E. E. Andross went with me to see the Glendale Sanitarium,—a fine sanitarium in a beautiful locality. Los Angeles is a growing city of some two hundred fifty thousand population. A continuous stream of tourists pour into this section to spend the winter each year, making it an important point for a large sanitarium. Our people have excellent vegetarian restaurants in Los Angeles, where seventeen hundred persons are fed each day. I spent two or three days here, stopping over Sabbath, and speaking twice to the inmates of our sanitarium. It is an interesting place, and to the best of our knowledge is doing an excellent work.
Through the kindness of Brother Brante, I was permitted to take a fifty-mile ride in his automobile through Riverside and Redlands, famous centers for the orange industry. Probably there are no other places where can be seen in one body such an immense number of orange trees. In a solid square of twenty or thirty miles at Riverside, it seemed like a solid body of orange groves. Beautiful drives were seen in every direction. The whole section of country from Los Angeles to Loma Linda, some sixty miles, seems to be the paradise of orange-growing. Steam and electric railroads run in all directions. Multitudes of people come, go, and reside through this region. The servant of the Lord has taken a very deep interest in this section of California. She has felt that where such a concourse of intelligent people visit, congregate, and live, opportunities must be afforded to enable them to become acquainted with our work. Our sanitariums afford such opportunities. These institutions are in every way suitable for such a purpose. This was the first time I had ever seen this section, and I was most happily surprised by what I saw.
Southern California is indeed a place of great interest. The efforts made in that section have borne fruit. Several hundred Sabbath-keepers have made that their home, and others are coming in. What I have said is a very meager statement of what might be said.
My trip homeward ended October 2. It has been an interesting trip to me, and I trust of some profit to others.
GEORGE I. BUTLER.

West Caribbean Conference

By H. C. Goodrich

CHANGUINOLA is a tract of level land from ten to twenty miles wide and from fifty to sixty miles long, on the mainland about ten miles from Bocas del Toro, Costa Rica, at the nearest point. It belongs to the United Fruit Company, and a good share of it is planted to bananas. This land is divided into farms of one and two thousand acres each, with a manager over each farm, and men enough to keep the land clean and to cut the fruit and get it out to the road. These farms are all connected by railroad, with branches in every direction to reach all the farms; and as fast as a new farm is opened and planted and begins to bear fruit, the road is extended to it. At Almirante, a low, swampy place ten miles from Bocas by water, the company have built a wharf where two of their largest ships can load at one time. All their fruit is taken to this place, and often two and three ships are loaded in a single week.
At a place called “Base Line,” sixteen miles from Almirante, Brother J. A. Reid has been laboring for the past year, holding meetings in a very comfortable house, kindly furnished us free of charge by the United Fruit Company. During the year hundreds of dollars’ worth of books have been sold, also a club of one hundred fifty Caribbean Watchman. The seed has fallen on good ground, and many souls are rejoicing in the newly found truth, while others are still in the valley of decision. The writer spent two Sabbaths with these people, and was deeply impressed with their earnestness. Sabbath morning at eight o’clock they began to come, some coming five and six miles afoot. One man, his wife, and two little girls walked nine miles to attend the meeting. Seventeen in all were baptized, and a church was organized of thirty members. Officers were elected, whom we hope to see ordained at our next visit.
At Bocas they have a new church building thirty by forty-five feet, nearly finished, and entirely free from debt, which was dedicated; and an elder was ordained. We celebrated the ordinances, and enjoyed a real season of refreshing from the Lord.
At Old Bank, five miles from Bocas, on another island, we found another church building under way. Here Brother T. M. Brown is working with the church, and there is a good interest to hear the truth. One man decided to obey while I was there. The opposition to our work there was strong, but the question box was well patronized, showing a desire on the part of the people to learn. One was baptized, and others are expected to follow soon.
Bethel is another church, five miles from Bocas on another island. Both Bethel and Bocas have been much reduced by removals, yet they are of good courage and faithful. The rain hindered the first two days, but then the sun came out, and we had a precious season together. Differences of long standing were put away, and nearly all made a new covenant with God and one another to consecrate themselves anew to the work we have to do.
H. C. GOODRICH.

Northern Illinois Conference

By William Covert

SINCE our camp-meetings our laborers have been following up the work in Elgin, Chicago, and elsewhere within our borders.
At Elgin a tent effort was held after the camp-meeting closed, in which eight persons decided to obey the truth, and Bible work is still continued there.
The Swedish effort with tent-meetings in Chicago resulted in gathering several members, and this interest is being followed up by maintaining services in a hall.
The German laborers of Chicago closed their meetings held in a tent several weeks ago. Their work has borne fruit, and seven or more new members are to be added to the German church as a result. The interest is now continued by house-to-house work, supplemented with evening services held in the church house lately purchased by the Germans for their convenience in Chicago.
A series of tent-meetings was held in West Pullman, a suburb of Chicago. As a result, several became interested, a few decided to obey, and plans are under advisement for further labor there.
We are just starting work among the Italians and Bohemians in Chicago; but how we can give the message in the many other languages spoken in Chicago is a problem that yet remains to be solved. However, we must keep trying.
Wm. Covert.

Wisconsin Camp-Meeting

By George B. Thompson

The annual conference and camp-meeting of the Wisconsin Conference was held in the city of Milwaukee, Sept. 23 to Oct. 4, 1909. The meeting was very centrally located in the city, in what is known as Schlitz Park. The meeting was well advertised, and it was hoped that it would be largely attended by the citizens, but our expectations in this respect were not fully realized. On account of the lateness of the season the weather was cool and somewhat uncomfortable. Besides this, those living near the park were mostly Jews, and not inclined to attend such services. For these and other reasons the attendance was quite small; yet some came, and manifested a deep interest in the truths presented, especially in the German language.
The attendance of our own people was not so large as in former years, owing, no doubt, to the meeting's being held somewhat late in the season and not so centrally located in the conference as usual. There were, however, about five hundred of our own people who were camped on the ground and temporarily located in rooms.
There was a good spirit manifested, and the rich blessing of the Lord was experienced in the meetings until the close. Several revival services were held, and many found that blessed peace and freedom from sin which is for every Christian. Prof. M. E. Kern was present, and united with the local workers in laboring for the young people and children. Excellent work was done among the youth, and many of these gave their hearts to God. Services were also held daily in the German and Scandinavian languages, and those in charge of this part of the work reported splendid meetings.
A good degree of harmony was seen in the business deliberations of the conference. Elder C. McReynolds was re-elected president for another year. The other officers chosen were about the same as last year.
Much interest was manifested in the growth and development of the work in the regions beyond. During the meeting about four thousand dollars was given in cash and pledges for the work in foreign fields and the local needs in the conference. One thousand dollars of this was pledged by a man who is not a Sabbath-keeper. Sister Ida Thompson, who has done such faithful service in China, was on the ground, and presented many stirring things in reference to the needs and advancement of the work in that great Gibraltar of heathenism. A goodly portion of the money pledged for missions was designed for China. A number of scholarships were taken, at thirteen dollars each, for pupils to attend Sister Thompson's school.
The conference also voted to turn over regularly to the Mission Board one fifth of its tithe, beginning Jan. 1, 1910. On the basis of last year's tithe this will mean about six thousand dollars for the fields abroad. We were glad to see the conference take this advance step, and believe that it will mean prosperity for the home work as well as be an encouragement for those laboring in the dark heathen fields abroad.
The last Sabbath of the meeting Brother K. Rasmussen was ordained to the sacred work of the gospel ministry. This was a very solemn meeting. The ordination service was preceded by a very close, practical sermon by Elder O. A. Olsen on the high calling of the gospel ministry and the responsibility resting upon those who assume these sacred responsibilities.
The laborers present from outside the conference were Elders O. A. Olsen, Allen Moon, Wm. Covert, K. C. Russell, L. H. Christian, M. E. Kern, G. F. Haffner, S. Mortenson, Brother J. B. Blosser, Prof. Otto J. Graf, Brother J. W. Mace, Dr. David Paulson, Sister Ida Thompson, and the writer. These united with the local conference workers in the burdens and blessings of the meeting.
We trust the coming year will be one of much prosperity and blessing for the work in this large conference. There are many in this field who speak a foreign language for whom work should be started. Steps are being taken in this direction, and it is hoped that a strong work will be developed among the various nationalities. This conference presents a splendid field for labor. We were glad to see so many young people on the ground, and the spirit that characterizes many of these to attend our schools and become fitted for the work of the Master was encouraging. We have reached a time in the work of God when every energy of our being should be devoted to the proclamation of this truth, and a spirit of devotion to this cause such as has never been seen in the past should characterize God's people at this time.
G. B. THOMPSON.

September in the California Conference

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

For over a year we have been trying to find a suitable location for our Conference College, and the last of August it was decided to purchase the Angwin Health Resort, particulars of which transaction have already been given in the REVIEW. The first week in September the deed was signed and two thirds of the purchase price paid, the other one third to be paid in six months. September 29 the school buildings were dedicated, and the school was opened. The school began with about fifty boarding students, and others have come in since.
The general camp-meeting was held September 9 to 19. This was the third camp-meeting held in this conference this year. Earlier in the season, two local camp-meetings were held, which were a great help to the cause in their respective localities.
The general camp-meeting was held in Fruitvale, a suburb of Oakland. This meeting was well attended, and many important matters were considered. There was a good spiritual interest throughout, and at the close twenty-four were baptized. One entire day was devoted to educational work. Every day there was a Bible study at 6 A. M., missionary meeting at 9 A. M., and a health and temperance meeting at 5 P. M., thus giving prominence to these three important lines of work. Young people's meetings were held every day, and the children received due attention. Preaching and social services filled up the remainder of the time. The presence and labors of Elders Geo. I. Butler and G. A. Irwin were appreciated, and added much to the interest and success of the meeting.
The sales of books, periodicals, and tracts during the camp-meeting amounted to $2,944.95. The literature that has been scattered in different parts of the conference has created more interests than our laborers are able to attend to. The majority of the laborers in the conference attended the general camp-meeting, so that most of the tent-meetings were closed; but tent-meetings were conducted in six different places during the month. Eleven were baptized by laborers in the field, besides those baptized at the close of the camp-meeting.
The following is the amount of literature sold through our tract society: Books, $2,630; tracts, $110; periodicals, $1,423.50, making a total of $4,163.50. This does not include orders that may have been sent by individuals directly to the publishing houses, but only what passed through the tract society.
There is a glorious future before the California Conference if it continues to purchase and distribute literature as it has been doing for the past two years. The aggregate sales at the three camp-meetings held this season is over five thousand dollars. This is for literature taken by the rank and file of our people and distributed by them. Should all our conferences put forth the same effort, and the rank and file of our people take hold of the distribution of our literature, there is no telling what would take place in a very brief period of time. Certainly the results of the loud cry, expected for so many years, would be seen.
We can only praise God and take courage in view of the final triumph of the truth. S. N. HASKELL.

Church Organized in Dickson

A REPORT from Elder R. M. Kilgore, of Dickson, Tenn., states that twelve or more are keeping the Sabbath at that place, and a church of twenty-five members has been organized. This is a result of a tent effort which is still in progress.

“Reform” Methods

By Franklin Bliss

A GENTLEMAN present at a ministers' meeting in a northern California city, addressed by Rev. Dr. G. L. Tufts, National Reformer, reports the talk as substantially the following:—
“We believe that the world is in need of many reforms, of which Sunday legislation is one. We have pursued the following plan in the cities which we have visited: We call upon the local ministers and ask them to select a committee of ten or fifteen, this committee selecting a large committee consisting of from one to two hundred. The large committee is to co-operate with the National Reformers in securing such reform as they may suggest. We would not have the ministers to lead out in such movements, as the public would recognize at once the ministerial aspect, and the object for which we are laboring would be defeated. We have had many such experiences as this in the past.”
“We would advise that in selecting this large committee you should secure strong men from the business leaders — men of means, not necessarily members of any church. Also we would recommend that you select, or have the priest select, from the Catholic Church strong men, and if possible secure the co-operation of the priest in such movements.”
“In all such maneuvers, let the ministry remain behind and push — everlastingly push — these measures, but be never in the lead.”
“I would not recommend that you take up the Sunday movement first. I see you have a number of slot-machines in your city. That would be a good object to organize your forces upon, one to which no good citizen could have any objection. Later on, any other reform deemed necessary could be inaugurated.”
“After that, we would recommend that you take up the closing of saloons at midnight, then Sunday closing of saloons; and at our next legislature send us strong men to Sacramento, and we will not be defeated as we were last winter. Our defeat last winter was due to the lack of organization. I expect to visit every city in California, and organize it as I have this one; and when we come up to the time of the legislature, we will secure the Sunday amendment to the constitution without a question.”
The above casts a very interesting side-light on the methods of these “reformers.” They see the necessity of not letting the public recognize the “ministerial aspect” of their work, as “the object for which we are laboring would be defeated.” But the ministers are to “remain behind and push — everlastingly push.” Notice, “I do not recommend that you take up the Sunday movement first.” Slot-machines are to be attacked as a starter, for “no good citizen could have any objection” to fighting that; the implication being that good citizens would object to Sunday tinkering. Midnight closing of saloons is to serve as an initiative for a Sunday lid. Then when all the difficult and stony way has been paved thus nicely, they can drive swiftly and triumphantly to Sacramento and to — victory! FRANKLIN BLISS.

Christian Liberty

By K. C. Russell; W. A. Colcord

Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau
K. C. RUSSELL - - - - Secretary
W. A. COLCORD - - - Corresponding Secretary

The Ministers and the Militia

By W. A. C.

THE following news item from Little Rock, Ark., under date of October 9, clipped from the Denver Sunday News-Times of October 10, reveals not only that who are the real advocates of Sunday enforcement, but what kind of “force” they would use in enforcing Sunday observance upon the people, could they have things their way, and had they the power of the state placed at their disposal for carrying out their wishes:—
“At the request of a committee of ministers, Governor Donaghy to-day addressed a communication to the authorities of Little Rock demanding that the State laws relating to the sabbath observance in Arkansas be enforced, and prohibiting the operation of the State fair to-morrow. The governor was asked to call out the militia to enforce his request, but this he refused to do.”
This reminds us of 1893, when church leaders throughout the country were excited over the opening of the gates of the Columbia Exposition at Chicago on Sunday, and at a mass-meeting held in the First United Presbyterian church of Boston, May 18, the following telegram was ordered sent to President Cleveland:—
“The First United Presbyterian church of Boston, distrusting both directory and commissioners, appeals to you to suppress Chicago nullification with Jacksonian firmness, and to guard the gates next sabbath with troops if necessary.”—Chicago Herald, May 19, 1893.
The Boston Evangelical Alliance, May 15, also sent the following telegram to Hon. Richard D. Olney, Attorney-General of the United States:—
“The presence of the United States troops at Fort Sheridan holds Chicago anarchists in check. Can not the administration notify the directory that those troops will be promptly used, if necessary, to maintain inviolate the national authority, and keep the Fair closed on the Lord’s day?”—Id., May 16.
Another item of the time ran thus:—
“If the proceedings now contemplated shall fail, other resources within the law will be available. The Christian people of this country can fight within the law to have the law observed as well as they can pray.”—Id., May 31.
This is sufficient to show the character of the spirit actuating the movement for the enforcement of the Sunday institution by law, and what may be expected in this country when church and state are united here,—when the ministers can control the militia. We do not need to go back to the Dark Ages to find the spirit of intolerance. W. A. C.

Religious Liberty Institutes

By W. A. C.

SOME remember the religious liberty institutes held back in 1889 and onward up to 1893, when the Blair Sunday-Rest bill, the Breckenridge District Sunday bill, and other like measures were before Congress. Referring to these, one of our religious liberty workers writes: “I wish we might have a real old-fashioned institute like those held years ago.” The people were not only instructed in the principles of religious liberty in those institutes, but they were aroused to active work. Money was contributed freely for the carrying on of the work, public meetings were held, petitions were widely circulated, and a large amount of literature was distributed.
We believe it is time there was a revival of these “old-fashioned institutes,” as the brother just referred to styles them. Our people need to have an opportunity to study both the issues that confront us and the principles involved in them. There is an inspiration and a fitting up for the work that comes in this way, which, it seems, can be obtained in no other.
In the West, where a fierce conflict is approaching, and a determined effort is now being made to bring the one remaining State without a Sunday law into line, our brethren are planning to hold a number of religious liberty institutes. In another State, where there has been considerable agitation of late over the question of Sunday enforcement, one of our religious liberty secretaries is planning for religious liberty institutes to be held in all the churches in the conference, as far as can be arranged for. We believe that this would be a good plan to adopt in all our conferences. In order that we may do the work that should be done, and meet the rapidly approaching crisis that is to try every soul, we need to be informed upon the principles of religious liberty. A study of these in the light of the Scriptures, of the writing of the spirit of prophecy, of history, and of present-day issues, can not fail to be helpful. Let conference officers, church officers, and religious liberty secretaries consider this matter, and plan for institutes of this kind to be held wherever suitable arrangements can be made for conducting them. W. A. C.

Nebraska

By J. S. Hart

By invitation I held quarterly meeting with the church at Cortland recently, and on Sunday we had service at the home of Brother Vermasse. After the meeting, seven willing souls were buried with their Lord in baptism. The meetings were well attended, and about ten dollars was collected for the work in the South. The church was greatly encouraged by seeing so many persons added to their number. J. S. HART.

Revival of Home Department Work

BROTHER WM. H. BROWN, of Sawtelle, Cal., writes: “Last Sabbath was a good day for us here at Sawtelle. A larger number than usual attended our Sabbath-school, and also the two services following. In the afternoon we considered the home department work, which we had hitherto partially neglected. I am glad that our General Conference has matured this important branch of our Sabbath-school work, and has recommended a revival of this work in all our schools.”

Amending the Constitution

By W. A. C.

According to the terms of the Constitution of the United States, Congress, upon application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several States, must “call a convention for proposed amendments.” Thirty-one States have now signified their desire for such a convention, Idaho and Wyoming having been first to express themselves, in 1895, and Alabama, the last, having taken action only last August. This makes the required two thirds, there being but forty-six States in the Union. It seems, therefore, that according to the terms of the Constitution itself, Congress will be compelled to call such a convention.
The demand on the part of the States has very largely, if not entirely, been for an amendment providing for the election of senators by direct vote; but if a convention for this purpose is called, there seems to be no reason why amendments of every sort may not be proposed and considered. Referring to this matter, the Springfield Republican of June 24 said:—
“Whether such a national convention could be limited by the call to one particular subject of change is a question that has never been given opportunity for authoritative determination. If forecalled to amend in one particular, it may seemingly propose amendments in other particulars. But in any case the convention might easily be made a power for bringing under popular agitation various Constitutional changes not comprehended in the call.”
Speaking concerning this same matter, the Washington Post of October 9, says:—
“We think that the best Constitutional authorities will agree with us that any and all subjects may be laid before the convention.”
As to the importance, significance, and possible results of such a convention, the Post further says:—
“It is beyond the mind of man to prophesy what will be done with our Constitution the moment that its mantle of inviolability is laid aside. It is this fact which gives a profound and almost anxious significance to the fact that under the very terms of the Constitution itself the Congress of the United States may soon be compelled to call a Constitutional convention.”
In view of the proposed religious amendment already in Congress, and of what both prophecy and the spirit of prophecy have said concerning this nation, such a convention, if held, ought to be of more significance to us than to any one else in the United States.
W. A. C.

Urges Union of Churches

UPHOLDING the statement of Bishop McFaul [Roman Catholic], “that Catholics and Protestants alike should sink their petty differences and unite,” the Rev. A. H. Thompson, pastor of Waugh Methodist Episcopal church [Washington, D. C.], delivered a sermon on “A Plea for a Holy Confederacy” yesterday [Sunday, October 10]. Dr. Thompson said:—
“We live in an age of trusts and corporations, which are but expressions of man’s sense of insufficiency in the presence of stupendous problems. With the commercial wants of millions to be supplied, men discovered that it was important that they get together. Hence, interests were pooled, vast enterprises projected, and the world’s needs met.
“A greater need confronts the church. It is moral. How shall the evil forces of society be checked, subdued, and finally overcome, and the highest interests of the race be subserved? This is the problem. And the answer is not a matter of form but of spirit. Men may be ‘separate as the waves,’ but ‘one as the sea.’ Such a spirit exists to-day in larger measure than ever before. In the settlement of great moral questions, in healing the breach between labor and capital, in attempting to relieve the victims of poverty and misfortune, and in the effort to preserve the home and the fundamentals of faith, we are closer together than we have ever been in the world’s history. More and more are we coming to realize that only in a closer union is it possible to combat the forces which threaten the very existence of society. In this connection we hail with delight the suggestion of Bishop McFaul that Protestants and Catholics alike should sink their petty differences, and unite in opposing the influences which threaten to profanize modern life.
“Should that great communion lead the way, it would not be very long before Christians of all shades of belief would be united as an alliance so powerful that no person on earth could resist it. Religious sentiments abound. All that is needed is organization. Therefore it is incumbent upon every man who believes in God and who prizes the common moralities, to unite with some religious organization. And it behooves the religious organizations to compete less and co-operate more.
“We have made mistakes in the past, but we need not repeat or perpetuate them. A comic paper offered advice which the church might well follow: ‘Competitors for goodness, who, at each other thrust, should imitate the plutocrats and organize a trust.’”—Washington Post, *Oct. 11, 1909.

A Decision in Favor of Justice

By H. F. KETRING.

It is very gratifying indeed, in these times when religious oppression seems to be gaining ground, to see a supreme court take a stand in favor of the rights of the people. This was the stand taken on October 4, by the supreme court of Colorado, in the case of L. E. Mergen, a grocer. The case was first started by the Denver Retail Grocers’ Association in an effort to force all non-union grocers to close their doors on Sunday. There are about five hundred of these smaller grocers in the city, and they maintained through their attorney that class legislation was being enforced upon them, and that they were being deprived of their rights as citizens contrary to the Constitution of the United States.
In the Denver County court the defendant was found guilty of violating the ordinance providing that no grocery or meat shop could sell food on the sabbath. Upon appeal to the supreme court this decision was reversed, and the Sunday closing ordinance declared to be unconstitutional. The opinion was written by Justice Musser, all the other justices concurring. He said:—
“It does not appear that section 1256, the municipal code, as framed, will promote the peace, welfare, health, or other ends for the promotion of which the police power of the city may be exercised. Upon the authority of Denver vs. Bach, and for reasons there given, the section of the municipal code under which the plaintiff in error was convicted, is invalid. The judgment will, therefore, be reversed, and the cause remanded, with instructions to dismiss the complaint.”
In the case of Denver vs. Bach referred to, the court declared that: “ ‘Sunday ordinances,’ as they are termed, have been upheld upon the theory that it is necessary for the good order, good government, and general welfare of the inhabitants of a city, that their usual and ordinary vocations (except those of necessity or charity) should be suspended upon that day. The business of selling clothing is not unlawful; it does not in any manner interfere with morality, or tend to create disorder. . . . If the ordinance can be upheld, it must be upon the ground that prohibiting keeping open stores for the sale of this character of merchandise upon that day is necessary for the welfare of the public. “Experience has demonstrated that to permit class legislation where a general law can be made applicable is fraught with danger, for it frequently results that a legislative body, under the guise of a law, oppress a class or a particular avocation. . . . “We conclude, therefore, that . . . a business or occupation which is not liable to interfere with public morality, or tend to create disorder, and over which the city has no special control, can not be singled out, and made the subject of prohibition on Sunday.”
In these days when our legislatures and courts are being dominated by the enemies of liberty, it is encouraging when a court will enunciate such principles as the above. We should ever remember to pray for the magistrates and judges of our land, that God will influence them in their decisions in favor of justice.
H. F. KETRING.

Opening of Walla Walla (Wash.) College

By M. E. Cady

We are glad to be able to report an encouraging outlook for Walla Walla College for the coming year. The entire enrolment has already reached two hundred fifty-four, which is fully as large as it was at the same time last year.
It is very gratifying to the board of management and the faculty to see the college growing in numbers and in its sphere of usefulness from year to year in spite of the fact that there are ten intermediate schools now operating within the Walla Walla College district, two of these opening for work this present year.
We have an excellent class of students, and thus far a very creditable spirit of work and study has been shown by all who are connected with the institution. We are expecting great things from the Lord during this present school year.
The ladies’ dormitory is already filled with students, and provision is being made in a cottage for the overflow. The young men are a little later getting in on account of the fall work. We expect both dormitories will be occupied to their utmost capacity.
We shall be glad to hear from any who may desire to enter the school. A calendar will be sent on application.
M. E. CADY, President.
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