Earlier text: JOHN HALLCounterfeiting Heaven's Ways
By C. M. S.
NEITHER human being nor angel has ever been commissioned by the Lord of glory to stand as an intermediary between Christ and his children. That infinite price, the life of him who was at once the Son of God and Son of man, was not given that another might step in between him and the object of his redemptive work. Upon this point of his right to retain what his blood had purchased, our Lord declares: “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” Isa. 48: 11. Christ achieved glory by his sacrifice for man. By the glorious work which he there accomplished, he won the right and the glorious position of Mediator between God and man. So we read: “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” 2 Cor. 5: 18, 19. Whatever other glory Christ may have achieved, whatever other position he may be now holding, he did achieve that glory of redeeming man and the earth that sin had cursed, and he does occupy that position of mediator between God and man. That it is, then, which he will not relinquish to another. There is no power that can deprive him of his well-earned office. Of Judas it was said prophetically: “Let his habitation be made desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his office let another take.” Acts 1: 20; Ps. 109: 8. Why was this? Because his character was the antithesis of righteousness. The reward he sought is called “the reward of iniquity.” Acts 1: 18. How fitting that the betrayal price, the reward of his traitorous act, should be used for the purchase of a grave! On the other hand, the reward sought by the Redeemer was an eternal habitation for every child of his. God the Father said of the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” That preeminence of Christ has always stirred the animosity of Satan, even as did the Father’s council with Christ over the creation of man. In view of this, how natural it is that the enemy of Christ and his cause, he who inspired Judas to his infamous act, should seek to wrest from Christ his office, his glory, in the estimation of mankind. Satan’s representative — Judas — lost his office; therefore he will seek to rob Christ of his, so far as the estimation of men is concerned. Christ’s position is between the Father and his people. He says: “Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15: 16. Again: “If ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name.” John 16: 23, 24. This is Christ’s own definition of his position; and nowhere in the Sacred Word is any intimation given that any person or any being of any order whatsoever is ever to come between him and those whom he redeemed. What means, then, this human exaltation of the name of another — the Virgin Mary — as an intercessor between human beings and the Christ who died to save them? It means simply the outworking of Satan’s envy at the exaltation of Christ. Lucifer had conceived the mischievous purpose of being like the Most High. That purpose was his ruin; and so he has set himself in every possible way to war against the purpose of Jehovah. It is consistent with his plan, therefore, that he use the same great power in the earth in more than one line of opposition to Christ and his work. The same power that instituted Mariolatry, the worship of Mary,— that made Mary an intermediary between the people and their Saviour, putting her in the place of Christ,— that same power it is that has thought “to change the times and the law” of God, as foretold by the prophet Daniel. Through that same power has come to us the pseudo-sabbath, usurping the place of the Eden-blessed Sabbath of the Lord. Through that same powerful organization we have been given a doctrine which would rob Christ of his glory and office as life-giver. That doctrine is the immortality of the soul. Through Christ only have we life; but that dogma would make life inherent in us, independent of Christ and his great sacrifice in our behalf. So we might continue on to the end of the whole roster of false doctrines, and find them aimed at the position and glory of our blessed Redeemer; but his own word is sufficient: “I will not give my glory unto another.” He is ours, and we are his; and to him who is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” “in all points tempted like as we are,” we can come direct for forgiveness, blessing, and every temporal and spiritual necessity. Until the end of time, until the warfare of evil against righteousness is ended in the triumph of Christ, we may expect to see the counterfeits of Satan put forward as the truths of God, even to the sealing of the people with a mark which stamps the deceived hosts as the subjects of Satan’s kingdom. He who would be a child of God and would share in the victory of Christ needs to walk close beside his Master, trusting him implicitly and listening intently to his counsel. Half-hearted service will avail nothing. It will require the whole heart, might, mind, and soul, and all under complete submission to the will of Christ. The Missionary Partnership
By W. A. S.
The superintendent of the South China Mission, Elder George Harlow, closes a recent letter with the words: — We are glad that our people in the home land are so good to us in this benighted land. In his letter he had told of plans for securing at last the long-hoped-for mission headquarters building in Canton. “I hope erelong,” he says, “to close the bargain and go to building. We are very thankful for the good appropriation that was given us at the last committee meeting in Shanghai, and we are glad that our people in the home land are so good to us.” Our work has so spread out that not even in the General Conference Office can the brethren watch developments and needs in detail. The union or division committees in the fields must make the272 detail appropriations according to the faith needs. But when a local field gets the lift it has longed for, the hearts of the brethren in that remote field immediately turn toward the believers in the home churches, their comrades and partners in service, whose gifts that come flowing in week by week make all the advances and the victories possible, under the providence of God. W. A. S. The Work in the South
By F. M. W.
RETURNING from the Pacific Coast several weeks ago, we came into brief touch with the organized work in the great field of the South. One day and night were spent at Keene, Tex. Here it was our privilege to meet with the students of the Keene Academy and to speak to them at the chapel hour. We faced a company of earnest, sturdy young men and women, whose evident and determined purpose is to fit themselves for active, efficient work in connection with this great movement. Prof. C. B. Hughes and his associates are doing faithful and painstaking work in this Southern training-center. This school is located in the midst of a great needy field, and no class of workers can do so much for the development of the work in the South as those who are born in the field, educated in it, and who are thus acquainted with its needs and peculiar conditions. From this school have gone out a goodly number of earnest young men and women who to-day are bearing an active part in the carrying forward of the gospel, and we are satisfied from what we saw that there are many others who will go out in the near future to do valiant work for the Master. We regret that the day following our visit a fire destroyed their broom-factory. It had been enjoying an excellent patronage, and the academy board, which was in session at the time, determined to rebuild at once, and so continue this excellent feature of industrial training in the school. The meetings of the Southern Publishing Association were in session at the time of our visit. From all parts of the Southland the workers were gathered at Keene to consider the work of our Southern publishing house, elect a board of directors for the ensuing year, and transact other business pertaining to the publishing work. We were pleased with the whole-hearted interest which these brethren manifested in the publishing work, showing that they recognize it as a strong leading factor in the development of the cause in the South. Of the excellent success that has attended the work of the association Elder A. G. Daniells speaks quite fully in another column. Certainly the Lord has prospered the faithful efforts of Brother R. Hook and his associates, enabling the publishing house to net the neat little sum which was reported at this meeting. We believe that these workers will be even more abundantly blessed in the year to come, and that the results of the work for 1913 will greatly surpass the record of succeeding years. We were pleased to greet at this meeting Elder G. F. Watson, an old-time associate in labor, who is president of the Southwestern Union Conference; Elder S. E. Wight, president of the Southern Union Conference; and Elder C. B. Stephenson, president of the South-eastern Union Conference; and a number of others whose acquaintance we formed for the first time. We were particularly pleased to meet L. A. Smith and C. P. Bollman, the editors of the Watchman. These brethren have done faithful and efficient work, as the character of our Southern magazine testifies from month to month. We have always regarded the Watchman as a most excellent exponent of the great issues before the world at the present time. Many have been brought to a knowledge of the truth through the ministry of this paper, and we believe that our people throughout the country, and particularly in the Southern field, should give to this journal their hearty and constant support from month to month. Much can be done in the way of increasing its regular subscription list, and even more can be done in the circulation of the paper by our brethren and sisters in their localities in selling the magazine regularly from house to house. This will place the truth it contains before many readers, and will furnish remunerative employment as well. In the Southland as well as in other parts of this country and the field at large, there is still a great work to be done. Men are needed to establish more firmly the work that has been begun, and to extend it into new avenues. May the Lord bless the efforts of the faithful workers in the hard and difficult field of the South. F. M. W. The White Slave Decision
By C. M. S.
The Supreme Court’s decision as to the constitutionality of what is known as the White Slave law is generally regarded as the most advanced step yet taken by the Supreme Court in construing the powers of the federal government over interstate commerce. The law was passed in 1910, and since its passage there have been 337 convictions of persons engaged in interstate transportation of women for immoral purposes. The sentences pronounced upon these persons total 607 years, and the fines amount to $66,695.50. In addition to this, 106 cases were pending at the time these figures were announced. The Attorney-General asked for an appropriation double the amount previously appropriated to enable the government to increase its efficiency in detecting such criminals and bringing about their conviction. In answering the contention of the opponents of the law that as persons have a right to move freely from one State to another it can not be considered criminal for another person to assist them in doing what they have a right to do, the Supreme Court answers: “The contention confounds things important to be distinguished. It urges a right exercised in morality to sustain a right to be exercised in immorality.” The court places this contention on the same ground with that which opposed the law against sending obscene literature through the mail and the law against the use of the mails by lottery concerns. The court then says: “It is misleading to say that men and women have a right. Their rights can not fortify or sanction their wrongs, and if they employ interstate transportation as a facility of their wrongs, it may be forbidden them to the extent of the act of July 25, 1910.” The decision of the court holding the law in question to be constitutional will do much toward hindering the business of that class of moral degenerates known as the white-slavers, who deceive, entrap, ruin, and induct into a life of shame thousands of unsuspecting girls and young women every year. Regarding the interests and the rights of the individuals affected by that immoral traffic, there could not have been a more important law passed. That the Supreme Court has found it constitutional should be cause for rejoicing on the part of every friend of humanity. If the establishment of chaplaincies in the halls of legislation is out of place, doubly so is the weaving of political speeches into such prayers. For doing this, the lieutenant-governor of Indiana called a Baptist clergyman sharply to time in the Indiana Senate on February 20, and cut short the prayer which the clergyman was making, by ordering the reading of the journal. A little previous to this, however, a Catholic clergyman, in the same chamber, took occasion to thank God for a Democratic victory, for thirteen Democratic representatives, lieutenant-governor, speaker of the House, a Democratic governor, two United States Senators, a Democratic Congress, and for Woodrow Wilson. In concluding his prayer, the Catholic clergyman wove in considerable Roman Catholic dogma, and273 closed his prayer by placing the Indiana Legislature under the special protection of the Virgin Mary. The lieutenant-governor did not interfere with this prayer in any way. The New York Weekly Witness, commenting upon the last occurrence, says:— The action of the lieutenant-governor of Indiana in stopping a minister's prayer and rebuking him publicly, calls attention in a very emphatic way to a practise that needs to be sharply condemned, and prohibited; namely, the practise of making speeches in the form of prayer. . . .
Neither politics nor religious controversy, nor any economic question as to which the opinions of the audience may be divided, is a suitable subject for public prayer. Arrangements for the General Conference
By A. G. Daniells
IN response to the general interest manifested by our people in the approaching General Conference, we avail ourselves of the columns of the REVIEW to report the progress being made in our preparation for the meeting. All who contemplate attending the Conference should read with care the information given in the REVIEW from week to week regarding railway arrangements, and entertainment during the meeting. In our endeavors to secure favorable railway accommodations we have found the railway officials most obliging and willing to do all for us that the general regulations of the railroad associations of the country will allow. The Baltimore and Ohio is the only road running through Takoma Park. This road has granted all we have asked in the way of local accommodations. Thirty trains pass through Takoma Park daily over this road. Some are local trains, and some are fast express-trains running between New York City and Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago. During the first three days of the opening and also at the close of the conference, every train running through Takoma Park will stop. None of our people traveling on this road need leave the train at the Union Station in Washington. All the agents of this road will be instructed to ticket our people and check their baggage to Takoma Park. And on leaving, all may purchase tickets and check baggage to any station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The General Conference Reception Committee will have persons at the Takoma Park station to meet all trains. These persons will collect all railway baggage checks, and give in their place Conference claim checks to be presented at the Conference grounds to obtain baggage. Conveyances will run between the station and the grounds to carry passengers and baggage. The conference grounds are about one and one-half miles from the railway station. There is now a good cement walk all the way. The vehicle road is nicely macadamized from the station to the grounds, and the entire distance is lighted with electric lamps. A new subway under the railroad has just been completed, so no one will be exposed to danger by having to cross the tracks in a crowd. We have been greatly favored in securing the lumber we shall need to floor the family tents, the large pavilion, the dining-tent, and others that may need to be floored. We have purchased the large reviewing stands used by the President and the senators on inauguration day. By taking the large quantity of lumber in these stands just as they stood, we were able to make very favorable terms, and this will make it possible to lighten the expense of our people who attend the meeting. We have also been favored in securing good beds at a reasonable rate. We are doing all in our power to provide for the comfort of our people, and as cheaply as possible. The dining arrangements will be on the cafeteria plan. Brother E. G. Fulton, of Los Angeles, who has had large experience in this line, will have full charge of the arrangements. Plans are being made to seat six hundred at a time. In addition to the cafeteria, there will be a lunch-stand and a grocery. There is one thing all should remember, and that is that it will not be possible to supply many furnished rooms near the grounds. The rooms in the Sanitarium and nurses’ dormitory will all be required for the sick. Nearly all the rooms in the Sanitarium are now occupied with guests, and new ones will be coming each week. The rooms in the Seminary buildings will be used for those attending the Conference, but these should be reserved for three classes of delegates: those who are advanced in years, those who are not strong physically, and married couples from foreign fields. These we must care for first. We shall make the tents just as comfortable as possible, and we shall notify all who apply for rooms whether it will be possible to supply them, so that there need not be any disappointment in this matter. All who contemplate attending the Conference should apply at an early date, so that there may be time to make provision and assignments and send back information regarding the arrangements we are able to make. Send all applications to L. A. Hansen, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. Disintegrating Protestantism
THAT disintegrating elements are at work in the great Protestant bodies to-day, is recognized by others than Seventh-day Adventists. Speaking of this weakening process which is now going forward the Christian Appeal, published at Greenwood, S. C., says:— The editor of an organ of the Northern Methodist Church is responsible for the statement that “Protestantism is losing its religious character and becoming a civil force.” This is a far-reaching and profoundly significant statement; it is made by a man in high official position with every opportunity to know the facts; it is the utterance of a man who expresses his convictions when he knows that by so doing he subjects himself to sharp, keen, and bitter criticism, and possibly the loss of his official head. But that utterance is worth, as a warning, more to the church than the babbling of a thousand men who have no eyes to see, no ears to understand, no convictions to express and maintain. . . . Is Methodism losing her religious character? Other Protestants may speak for themselves, but we can not deny that we have lost our spiritual power. We have a compact organization, but it is permeated with a spirit of unrest. We keep up the form of godliness, while we are without the power. Are we losing our religious character? Have we not, in the true sense of those words, lost it already? . . . Have we not built handsome churches and furnished them extravagantly? Have we not given hundreds and thousands to charity, benevolence, and missions? Why should God withhold his approval and his blessings? Why should he hide his face and deny us power? In what spirit did we those things? Others cast of their abundance into the treasury, but they received neither reward nor commendation. Were we actuated less by pride of heart than loyalty to God? If Protestantism is drifting into a civil force, a political power, then she becomes a failure both as a political force and as a church, because she departed from faith in the living God and sacrificed her mission. True indeed is it that when Protestantism drifts into a civil force and274 becomes a political power, she becomes a failure in her God-given work; a failure also in the new rôle which she assumes. She has departed from God's will, great design for her, and is left to reap the fruits of her own apostasy. The extent, to which the great churches of Christendom to-day reach out after social prestige and political favors indicates their departure from the true work that Heaven gave them to perform. “SEEST thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” The Influence of Romanism
SPEAKING of the influence of the Church of Rome in those countries where she has become most predominant; the Standard of March 1, 1913, says:— We are not among those who are never able to see any good in the Roman Church, but it is equally impossible for us to be blind to the fact that in those countries where it has had the fullest opportunity for self-expression, Romanism seems not only to have been bankrupt in moral and social and religious uplift, but even to have been an active agency in the very opposite direction, as the corrupt national church in Mexico well illustrates. WE expect that in the political world men will seek office and do everything in their power to secure the coveted position. This is the spirit of the world. But this spirit of self-seeking should have no place in the Christian church. According to the teachings of Christ, Christian service affords the greatest distinction. The Lord of all became a servant of all. He sought not his own but others’ good. This same spirit should possess his followers. Speaking of the self-seeking policy of the world, which little by little is slipping into the great church of ‘God, the Continent of Feb. 27, 1913, justly says:— Spring birds are not more sure to be a-wing in March than a covey of moderatorial booms flying toward one or more of the Presbyterian General Assemblies dated for May. Wherefore the Continent deems it seasonable in the end of February to say again what in substance it said soon after last General Assembly time—that for the credit of the church this whole flock ought to be mercilessly hunted with ammunition guaranteed to be fatal to ambition and self-seeking. Progress from bad to worse in the use of political methods to secure personal honors in the church has gone far enough to demand drastic measures to end it. For the Christian cure of the condition the only adequate measure is a frank and unreserved adoption of the standard of the apostle Paul, who prescribed that Christians must in honors and distinctions prefer not themselves but one another. Knowing full well how grave a thing it says, the Continent declares here its positive conviction that henceforth no man ought to be selected to the chair of moderator in any General Assembly who has given the least occasion to suspect that he covets the place. Only by this rigid rule, in our opinion, can the horrible unchristian habit of “making a fight” for distinction in the kingdom of God be obliterated. And nothing less than obliteration of it can square the church with the plain teachings of its Master. Better far that all the men of eminence in the church should be passed by and that the choice should fall upon some man too obscure to have dreamed of receiving the honor, than that the place and its distinction should be esteemed the reasonable reward—as is now with amazing complacency often assumed—of the most shrewd and relentless candidacy for it. Control of Catholic Church Property
AN interesting decision has recently been made by Judge Brumm, of Pottsville, Pa., in the case of the legal control of the St. George Catholic Church, Shenandoah, of that State. The attorneys for the church argued that the present Archbishop Pendergast had succeeded to all the rights of the late Archbishop Ryan, and for that reason was the legal trustee of the church property. The court, however, decided that church property in Pennsylvania is absolutely under the control of the lay members of the congregation, and that as the former archbishop had held the deeds only in trust for the congregation, the present archbishop has no trustee rights in the property unless they are given him by the members of the church society. WITHIN the last few weeks affairs have been developing in Cuba which are quite unsatisfactory to the American government. A personal attack upon the American consul-general by a Cuban was followed by a bitter newspaper attack upon the American minister to Cuba. The Cuban government took no steps toward punishing the responsible parties, even after strong urging by the State Department at Washington. Later an amnesty bill was passed by the Cuban congress, whose provisions made it very objectionable to the American State Department. Both former Secretary Knox and Secretary Bryan protested to the Cuban government against this legislation. President Gomez signified at first his intention to sign the bill, but has not yet done so, and it is reported that a new bill will be put through the Cuban congress as a substitute, in which the objectionable features will be eliminated. In Santo Domingo a peculiar situation now exists. A Roman Catholic archbishop was made temporary president, and was virtually kept in office by President Taft, who despatched a war-vessel to Santo Domingo to back up the policy of the United States. The archbishop did not desire to continue the office, and signified to President Taft his desire to resign. The President strongly discouraged the archbishop’s intention, and promised to stand by him with whatever force was necessary. The archbishop left the capital a few days ago on a visit to another city in line with his ecclesiastical duties, and it is reported that he will not return to take up the duties of president of Santo Domingo. THE city of Janina, Turkey, which had been besieged by the Greeks for many weeks, has been taken by assault, and with a large loss of life on the part of both besieged and besiegers. The cities of Scutari and Adrianople are still holding out. There has been a serious clash between the Greeks and Bulgarians at Naghrita. The Greeks had captured the town after a skirmish with the Turks. A strong Bulgarian force with artillery then attacked the Greeks, who defended the town with infantry alone. Both sides are said to have suffered heavy losses. This incident indicates that when the allies have settled with Turkey, there will need to be arbiters to help them to settle with each other. Each is likely to feel that the others have more than their share of the spoils. The powers having been appealed to by Turkey to arrange for another conference, have communicated with the allies in reference to the matter. The allies have not yet replied, and it is the opinion that they are waiting for Scutari and Adrianople to fall, in order that they might have the advantage of going into conference with these undertakings as accomplished facts. The Mexican Situation
By C. M. S.
THE reports of the week indicate that the forces in opposition to the new government in Mexico have been materially augmented, and that the situation is less promising than it appeared the previous week. There has been a renewal of rebel activity along the border and much apprehension on the part of Americans in border cities. Because of a fear of international complications, the federal garrison at Agua Prieta has decided to evacuate the city, so as to avoid a battle at that border town. It is reported that the insurgents are now in complete control of the state of Sonora. Both railway and wire communications are blocked, and the insurgents expect to be able to check any advance of the federals. Equal Suffrage in England
THE feeling seems to be quite general throughout England that the militant methods of the exponents of equal suffrage there have hopelessly injured their cause. With the leader under indictment for complicity in the dynamite outrage on the home of David Lloyd-George, with a number of other representatives of the cause in prison, and with large crowds breaking up woman suffrage meetings and only restrained from injuring the speakers by strong forces of police, it seems evident that nothing has been gained by the methods employed. The destruction of property has not impressed the general public as a demonstration of the right and ability to conduct good government. Claremont Camp-Meeting
By W. S. Hyatt
According to appointment, we held our camp-meeting January 3-19, at Claremont, a suburb of Cape Town. The camp was pitched on the same beautiful oak-shaded grounds which we occupied six years ago when we were visited by Elder G. A. Irwin. The South African Union Conference held its biennial session and the Cape Colony Conference its annual meeting at this time. This brought a large number of our people together from various parts of the field. The mission fields were well represented. Elder W. H. Anderson and Brother J. R. Campbell, with their families, were in attendance from Barotseland; Elder M. C. Sturdevant and wife from Mashonaland; Brother T. J. Gibson and family, also Brethren J. N. de Beer and G. Hutchinson, from Matabeleland; Elder W. C. Walston and wife from Solusi, our oldest mission station, near Buluwayo; Brethren E. C. Silsbee and H. C. Olmstead, with their families, from Basutoland; Elder F. B. Armitage from Zululand; and Brethren Sparrow, Tarr, Burton, and Moko from Kafirland. This band of workers, together with all the ministers of the local conference, gave a strong force of laborers for the meeting, although we had no assistance from abroad. God greatly blessed the message delivered by his servants. During the fifteen years that I have been in this field, I have never known the Saviour to be presented so clearly and with such power. At the beginning of the meeting the steps to Christ were clearly pointed out, and nearly every one found forgiveness, acceptance, and peace in believing. Then came a call to the higher life in Christ,—the life of continual victory through faith. As the possibility of such a life was presented, God witnessed to the preaching of his word and placed his seal upon this truth. Then as faith grasped these promises of continual victory and the power to live a blameless life in Christ, expressions of confidence such as we seldom hear were heard in the camp. As the Spirit of God began his work among us, and sins were pointed out, confessions were made among the workers, and hearts were drawn to one another till it seemed that every barrier between the laborers had disappeared. The same spirit took possession of the entire camp, and where there had been words of criticism and faultfinding there were now heard expressions of confidence and love. As this spirit flowed from heart to heart, all could say that it was truly good to be there. It can be easily understood that under the influence of such meetings the business passed off pleasantly and harmoniously. The reports of the various laborers, secretaries, and treasurers caused much rejoicing, and I think that I can safely say I never was in a meeting where “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,” was sung so often by us and meant so much to a congregation. The finances of both the union conference and the Cape Colony Conference were found to be in good condition. The debt on the college has been reduced £800, and the funds are in hand to reduce the sanitarium debt £1,000. There has been a steady increase in all the various funds, and the tithe has come up with a corresponding ratio. The union conference begins the new year with a good balance on the right side, as does also the Cape Conference. It is encouraging to our people when they see the work rising in all its departments. During the meeting over £200 was donated for a tent and camp-meeting fund, and £150 to purchase a plot of ground upon which to build a home for those workers who are compelled to go to the Cape on account of sickness. As the plot is adjacent to the sanitarium ground, it will be a convenient home for our workers who may need such a home from time to time after spending a period in the fever districts of the interior. There are but few places more healthful than the vicinity of Cape Town. For several years the brethren in the Cape Colony Conference have largely concentrated their labors in the Free State in order to build up the work in that field as rapidly as possible. For some months there has been talk of dividing the conference. This matter received due consideration, and a new conference was organized. Prof. H. Eiffers was chosen president, and three of our best workers, Elder D. F. Tarr and wife and Brother A. H. van Eden, were given to assist in the work. During the past year this part of the field has raised nearly or quite £1,000 for the work in its own borders, which shows the new conference to be quite able to be self-supporting. The Cape paid all the workers up to date, and gave £150 to start this our youngest conference upon its mission. A proposition was then made to change the fields of labor of some of the workers. Elder H. J. Edmed has been the president of the Natal-Transvaal Conference for the past ten years, or ever since it was organized. During the many years that the writer has been in South Africa he has been connected with the work in the Cape Colony Conference. The brethren decided that a change would be advantageous for both conferences, and these two brethren were invited to exchange fields. Accordingly this has been done, and we are pleased to say that all were united in the change. Here again the mother conference showed her liberality by donating £100 to assist work in the Natal-Transvaal Conference. We were very thankful that the Cape was not only able but willing to render this much-needed assistance. Although the meeting continued longer than usual, still it was none too long in which to accomplish the work that the Lord desired to do for his people. The Sabbath meetings were precious seasons, but the revival work was of daily occurrence. The last days of the meeting were blessed ones. Faith had taken the place of unbelief and confidence that of doubt. As the brethren separated for their various fields of labor, they went with a confidence and assurance hitherto unknown that God would be with them and give them victory in their personal experience, and success in the work of the Lord. The South American Union Conference
By J. W. Westphal
There are many evidences to show that the Lord is blessing his work in this field. In some respects the past year has been the most difficult we have had. There has been considerable sickness among the workers and their families. Bolivia has suffered most. All the workers have been seriously ill, most of them with typhoid fever. Brother Ramon Beltran, of Peru, a native missionary, died, while Sister A. N. Allen, Brother and Sister O. H. Maxon, and Sister W. R. Pohle have been either seriously ill or very poorly, two of them not being very well at the present time. Elder Damaso Soto and Brother and Sister C. E. Krieghoff, the latter of the Chile office, have passed trying experiences with feeble health. In Argentina Elder Luis Ernst, who has been working in the south of the republic, has lost two children with diphtheria. In their affliction the Lord has graciously sustained and comforted the parents. Mrs. Westphal, Sister Lude, Sister Kerr (matron of the school), and Sister Rojas (wife of Elder L. A. Rojas, of Paraguay) have all spent time at the sanitarium, some of them very seriously ill; and some of the nurses have been close to death’s door with typhoid fever. Sister Frances Brockman, of Uruguay, found it necessary to return to the States on account of poor health. Even the physical blessings far outnumber these apparent evils, while our spiritual blessings have been many. The union conference was a season of great12 blessing. The recent camp-meeting in Argentina was one of the best that I have ever attended. The sanitarium graduated its first class of nurses, six in number, and these will nearly all be in the field under conference employ. The sanitarium has greatly improved its condition financially. The school has had a splendid year, and eight or ten of the students have been baptized. Since the camp-meeting in October forty-four have been baptized in Argentina, and others intend to take this step soon. In Buenos Aires the work had grown until there was a church of ninety-five. It became necessary to divide it and organize two new churches, making three in all. The interests in the city are promising. To the Indian church at Puno, Peru, eighteen have been added, making a church of sixty-two. The interest among the Indians is spreading to other localities. The work in Montevideo is growing and promises excellent results, several having accepted the truth recently. These are only a few of the more prominent blessings received. In finances the Lord has also blessed us. In nearly every field the tithe has increased over the previous year, while the offerings also have been good. The thirteenth Sabbath Sabbath-school offering for our schools in South America was over $175 in the Diamante church. We can not report for the rest of the field as yet. The canvassing work, under Brethren E. M. Trummer, John Lorenz, and R. B. Stauffer, has made splendid progress. It is the best year we have had, but we need more leaders. We have every reason to be greatly encouraged in our work. We ask that our brethren continue their prayers in our behalf.