Earlier text: The Song of the AngelsInto the Heart of Africa
By Arthur G. Daniells
SURELY this is the “day of His preparation.” Day by day fresh, convincing, encouraging evidences are coming to light, showing that our Lord is going before us to the uttermost parts of the earth to prepare the way for the proclamation of the message he has given us to give to the world. Thus we are being taught more clearly the meaning of “the day of his preparation.” Last week we gave a quotation from the letter from Brother Anderson, of Matabeleland, showing that the way has opened for us to enter Barotseland with our message. Barotseland is a long step toward the very heart of the dark continent. The king of that country, on his return to Buluwayo from England, whither he had gone to attend the coronation ceremonies, earnestly requested that missionaries should enter his country, and establish industrial mission schools for the training of his people. When Brother Anderson wrote, there was the most excellent opportunity for him to take advantage of this request of the king, but he was unable to do so because he had no messengers and no means. He pleads with the Mission Board to send at least two teachers for that great field almost in the heart of Africa. We are earnestly praying that this appeal will touch the hearts of those who ought to go, and of those who can give the means with which to send and support them. And we sincerely hope that this response will be quickly made. There should be no delay on the part of this people to answer this earnest request from these poor people in dark Barotseland. What does it mean that this far-off country has been brought to the knowledge of civilized nations, and that they turn their eyes pleadingly to the Christian church, and beg of them to send consecrated gospel workers into their country? And what does it mean that there was a representative of the third angel’s message at Buluwayo to hear this request from the king of that country, and to pass it on to us who are so far away? The meaning is surely plain; namely, that the Lord has gone before us, and opened the way for us to give his message to that nation. We could not ask him to do more for us than this. Now let us show our love for him, and our faith in the cause we profess, by immediately entering this open door. This week’s REVIEW contains a report from another part of Africa. Brother Booth tells us of the situation in Nyassaland, which lies east of Barotseland. None should fail to read with care Brother Booth’s report. Note particularly what is said about the training school at the Cholo Mission station. From this we can fully discern the hand of God in this work, preparing the way for the speedy proclamation of the third angel’s message to the many tribes and tongues in Central Africa. Think of from thirty to fifty students from nearly all the tribes of Nyassaland, and even from other parts, gathered at our mission station, being instructed in the truths of the third angel’s message! Some of these students have come from other mission stations against the strong opposition of their former teachers. In last week’s report, Brother Booth lamented the fact that there was no representative of the Atonga tribe, but in this week’s report, he tells of a smart, English-speaking youth who has come from that tribe, about three hundred and fifty miles north of our mission, to be instructed by our teachers. He also tells of two men having come from the Chipeta tribe, fourteen days’ journey west of our mission. This tribe has obtained permission from the government authorities to reopen a school under the auspices of Sabbath-keeping teachers. These men will probably return7 to assist in this work after they have been properly instructed at our mission. As we reflect upon the situation in Nyassaland, our hearts must be filled with courage and unspeakable joy. It is a great achievement to have fifty representatives from different African tribes gathered at our mission station, and receiving instruction from our missionaries. They are taught the message from the Word of God; they are taught how to take Christ as their Saviour from the power of sin; they are led to look forward to the coming of Christ to end the reign of sin, destroy the wicked, renew the earth, and establish his kingdom under the whole heaven forever and ever. They are taught that they are debtors to their fellow men, and that they must carry this light to the people of Africa, who are still in great darkness. They are also shown how to take care of themselves, how to till the soil, prepare suitable clothing, and to care properly for their bodies. When these students have received proper training, they will be sent to the tribes from which they have come, to impart to them all they are now receiving. In this way we shall be able to proclaim the third angel’s message in all the tongues, and to all the tribes of Africa, in a comparatively short time. How often we have thought of the many tongues and hidden tribes of that great, dark continent, and have wondered how we could ever give them this message in this generation. We have supposed that it would be necessary for us to go to these tribes and learn their languages, but here we have them coming to us, and receiving from us this light, that they may themselves make it known. This simplifies and hastens what has always seemed to us to be an almost impossible task. We call special attention to that feature of Brother Booth’s report in this issue which tells us of the help they need to assist in supporting these students, and for providing suitable accommodations. He says that a native student should have not less than three years’ Bible training. They ask for help to support fifty students at two dollars a month, or twenty-four dollars a year, for each student. They also ask for assistance to build inexpensive houses. A bamboo and clay house that will stand three years will cost fifteen dollars. A brick house, which should be provided for teachers, will cost fifty dollars. The brick houses will stand for years. Are there not many of our brethren whom God has blessed with an abundance who will be glad to share their gifts with these men in Nyassaland? Brethren, some of you cannot possibly go with this light to the dark continent. You must remain on your farms, or in the business the Lord has given you. But thank God, there are some who can go, and spend the rest of their lives in that dark land; and those who cannot go in person can go in spirit, and can share liberally of their means with those who go in person. In this way, all can have a part in giving this message to the people of Africa. Brethren, do not these pleadings draw upon your hearts? Do you not hear a sweet voice within, telling you to share the gifts of God with your brethren in Africa? You may read this article and the report with which it deals, before you make your Christmas offering. If so, you may be led greatly to increase your offering over previous gifts. If you have already made your gift, it may be that you will see how to increase it by another. The time has come when we can pour out our lives and our means upon the altar of service so effectually that by them the world will be speedily warned, and our Lord will come. Then we shall each be given a share in the inheritance promised to Abraham and all his seed. God help us at this time to know what Israel ought to do. Note and Comment
By L. A. S.
NEW HAMPSHIRE has been revising its constitution. In this document there is a recognition of the Deity and of the Protestant religion, as follows: “As morality and piety, rightly grounded on evangelical principles, will give the best and greatest security to government, and will lay in the hearts of men the strongest obligations to due subjection, and as the knowledge of these is most likely to be propagated through society by the institution of the public worship of the Deity and of public instruction in morality and religion, therefore to promote these important purposes, the people of this State have a right to empower, and do hereby fully empower, the legislature to authorize, from time to time, the several towns, parishes, corporate or religious societies within this State, to make adequate provision, at their own expense, for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of piety, religion, and morality.” At the session of the State Constitutional Convention, December 2, at Concord, Dr. E. H. Everett, of Nashua, introduced a resolution calling for a popular vote on the question of omitting from the constitution “all reference or inference to God, Deity, or Protestant Christians,” citing in its support “the surprising forethought and the thoroughly demonstrated good judgment of the framers of the Constitution of the United States in omitting any reference to a personal God.” The resolution was voted down. The part which it proposed to eliminate from New Hampshire’s constitution has stood since 1776. THE “Philippine National Church,” which is the name taken by an independent body of Filipino Catholics, has made a demand on Governor Taft for possession of the cathedral of Manila. The demand is made through the archbishop of the “national church,” Gregorio Aglipay. It represents that the cathedral, under the Spanish occupation, belonged to the crown of Spain, and not to the “Holy See;” and that since by the Treaty of Paris the property of the crown passed to the United States, the cathedral is the property of the Filipino people, under the care of the Civil Commission, of which Governor Taft is the head. This demand shows upon what dangerous ground the United States government stands as the ruler of these Catholic islands. The government is asked to step into the place of Spain, and hold possession of certain property for the use of a church. Spain was united with the church, and held title to church property by virtue of this union; and it was in this way that the title to the Manila cathedral rested in the Spanish crown. By the Treaty of Paris the property of Spain in the Philippines passed to the United States, but the United States cannot assume to hold church property, as Spain did, without assuming religious prerogatives, and setting up a union of church and state. As the New York Independent observes: “It is hardly probable that any court would uphold the contention that the government of the United States also succeeded to the title of the crown of Spain to all holdings for ecclesiastical purposes as well. The very notion of our government exercising functions or asserting rights as patron of religion, under a four-century-old delegation of authority from the pope, is plainly incompatible with our separation of church.” Governor Taft has proposed to the Vatican that the titles of churches and church property formerly vested in the Spanish government, be conferred on the bishops of each diocese, following the practice of the Catholic Church in the United States. This is not likely to please the “national church” party, which is said to be ready to make serious trouble if its demands are not respected; neither will the spectacle of the papacy disposing of the title to its property under the direction of the American government be in any way justifiable from the standpoint of American principles of government. The Philippine government will do well if it escapes becoming entangled, and entangling the Washington government, in the affairs of the Roman Catholic Church. L. A. S. “Think on These Things”
By Ellen G. White
ANOTHER year has almost passed into eternity. A few more days, and we shall enter a new year. My brethren and sisters, employ wisely the remaining hours of the old year. If you have in any wise neglected your duty, repent before God, and return to the path from which you have wandered. Remember how brief the period of life allotted you. You know not how soon your probation may close. Say not presumptuously, “To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain.” God may have different plans for you. Life is but a vapor, “that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth.” You know not how soon your hand may lose its cunning, your step its firmness. There is peril in a moment’s delay. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” What of your stewardship? Have you during the past year robbed God in tithes and offerings? Look at your well-filled barns, at your cellars stored with the good things the Lord has given you, and ask yourselves whether you have returned to the Giver that which belongs to him. If you have robbed the Lord, make restitution. As far as possible, make the past right, and then ask the Saviour to pardon you. Will you not return to the Lord his own, before this year, with its burden of record, has passed into eternity? We ask your prayers for the advancement of the work. We need them. But we ask that prayer and giving may be united. Let your prayers and your alms rise as a memorial before God. Remember that faith without works is dead. We are to pray, and we are to give all that we can, both of our labor and of our means, for the fulfillment of our prayers. From age to age Jesus has been delivering his goods to men and women. Soon will come the day when he will call each to account for the use made of these goods. It is God who gives men power to get wealth. He waters the earth with the dews of heaven and with the showers of refreshing rain. He gives the sunlight, which warms the earth, awakening to life the things of nature, and causing them to flourish and bear fruit. And he asks for a return of his own. Hoarded wealth is not merely useless; it is a curse. In this life it is a snare to the soul, drawing the affections away from the heavenly treasure. In the great day of God its witness to unused talents and neglected opportunities will condemn its possessor. There are many who in their hearts charge God with being a hard master because he claims their possessions and their service. But we can bring to God nothing that is not already his. “All things come of thee,” said King David, “and of thine own have we given thee.” All things are God’s, not only by creation, but by redemption. All the blessings of this life and of the life to come are delivered to us stamped with the cross of Calvary. The Home a Training School
Fathers and mothers, how stands your record? Have you been faithful to your trust? As you have seen your children inclined to follow a course that you knew would result in impurity of thought and word and act, have you, first asking God for help, tried to show them their danger? Have you pointed out to them the peril of following a path of their own choosing? Mothers, have you neglected your God-given work,—the greatest work ever committed to mortals? Have you refused to bear your God-given responsibilities? In the time of trouble just before us, when the judgments of God fall upon the impure and unholy, will your children curse you because of your indulgence? Your home is a little world of itself. In it, order, prompt obedience, submission, should prevail. It is a duty that parents owe their children to make wise rules for the guidance of the household, and then to see that these rules are obeyed. The home is a training school. The mother is the teacher. She is to choose for her children. She is to mold and fashion their characters. She is to teach them to bring God into their lives. She should be so closely connected with God that through her he can work out his will. Mothers, have you neglected your work? Then I beseech you to take it up now in the fear of God. Be converted. Before the year closes, confess your neglect to your wayward children, and ask them to help you to begin the new year aright, and during its hours, to live for God. Parents, you are the ones who must decide whether your children shall choose the service of God or the service of mammon, eternal life or eternal death. Watch them carefully and tenderly. Give them wise instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept. Study their dispositions, that you may know what traits of character to repress and what traits to encourage. Teach them to guard constantly against selfishness, fraud, cruelty, dishonesty, and to cherish all that goes to make human beings Christlike. Remember that what your children learn in the home, they will carry with them when they go out into the world, and that it will affect all their future experience. If you have neglected your work, repent before it is too late, and strive to atone for your neglect. Think of the time you have lost, and be doubly earnest in your efforts to undo the wrong you have done. The result of your neglect you may see in the wayward course of your children, and in their lack of power to resist the corrupting influence of the age. And very plainly you will see it when they go forth to fight the battle of life for themselves. I entreat you to arouse before it is too late, and take up your work, lest you be found unfaithful. To the parent who neglects his life-work, God cannot say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In many homes, prayer is neglected. Parents feel that they have no time for morning and evening worship. They cannot spare a few moments to be spent in thanksgiving to God for his abundant mercies,—for the blessed sunshine and the showers of rain, and for the guardianship of holy angels. They have no time to offer prayer for divine help and guidance, and for the abiding presence of Jesus in the household. They go forth to labor as the horse or the ox goes, without one thought of God or heaven. They have souls so precious that rather than permit them to be lost, the Son of God gave his life to ransom them; but they have little more appreciation of his goodness than have the beasts that perish. Like the patriarchs of old, those who profess to love God should erect an altar to him wherever they pitch their tent. If ever there was a time when every house should be a house of prayer, it is now. Fathers and mothers should lift up their hearts in humble supplication for themselves and for their children. Let the father, as priest of the household, lay upon the altar of God the morning and evening sacrifice, while the wife and children unite in prayer and praise. In such a household Jesus will love to abide. From every Christian home a holy light should shine forth. Love should be revealed in every act. It should flow out in all home intercourse, showing itself in thoughtful kindness, in gentle, unselfish courtesy. There are homes where this principle is carried out,—homes where God is worshiped, and truest love reigns. From these homes, morning and evening prayer ascends to God as sweet incense, and his mercies and blessings descend upon the suppliants like morning dew. A well-ordered Christian household is a powerful argument in favor of the reality of the Christian religion,—an argument that the infidel cannot gainsay. All can see that an influence is at work in the family that affects the children, and that God is with them. If the homes of professed Christians had a right religious mold, they would exert a mighty influence for good. They would indeed be “the light of the world.” The God of heaven speaks to every faithful parent in the words addressed to Abraham: “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.” “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8.