Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 50.

THE WORK AND THE WORKERS
Earlier text: The Family Group in Jamaica

Colporteurs’ Summary for October, 1913

Books Periodicals
AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1913 VALUE 1912 NO. COP. VALUE 1913 VALUE 1912
ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE
Maine 5 120 $150.75 $169.15 1161 $116.10 $511.00
N. New England 9 465 462.70 251.35 893 89.30 609.70
Massachusetts 4 610 604.85 177.50 3092 309.20 837.90
S. New England 6 638 772.45 147.25 1118 111.80 486.00
New York 18 688 865.30 702.60 1340 134.00 463.00
W. New York 12 831 854.35 149.10 1580 158.00 1016.00
Gr. New York 12 959 853.85 223.84 6961 696.10 1419.30
Totals 66 4311 4564.25 1820.79 16145 1614.50 5342.90
COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
Ohio 26 2249 2488.64 664.50 2841 284.10 1392.40
West Virginia 9 768 560.25 1430.06 175 17.50 3255.50
Virginia 11 834 396.05 79.50 945 94.50 760.50
Chesapeake 6 544 625.70 452.50 550 55.00 1562.50
E. Pennsylvania 9 428 518.55 495.89 1397 139.70 1043.00
W. Pennsylvania 8 1100 1032.70 1977.30 791 79.10 925.50
New Jersey 9 572 409.60 1021.30 756 75.60 782.50
Dist. of Columbia 5 598 713.05 319.50 652 65.20 831.00
Totals 83 7093 6744.54 6440.55 8107 810.70 10552.90
| LAKE UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | E. Michigan | 9 | 854 | 507.08 | 629.05 | 3924 | 392.40 | 930.60 | | W. Michigan | 4 | 403 | 341.90 | 269.25 | 525 | 52.50 | 1027.00 | | N. Michigan | 4 | 401 | 269.05 | 333.50 | 384 | 38.40 | 474.10 | | Wisconsin | 2 | 86 | 54.00 | 638.85 | 1137 | 113.20 | 1634.60 | | N. Illinois | 5 | 464 | 308.74 | 649.05 | 3096 | 309.60 | 1162.50 | | S. Illinois | 11 | 1604 | 1611.05 | 1200.08 | 243 | 24.30 | 535.20 | | Indiana | 16 | 1587 | 1534.60 | 166.75 | 120 | 12.00 | 1002.30 | | Totals | 51 | 5399 | 4624.42 | 3886.53 | 9429 | 942.90 | 6766.30 | | EASTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Ontario | 4 | 258 | 317.45 | 203.15 | 1957 | 195.70 | 862.60 | | Quebec | .. | .... | 32.80 | ..... | ..... | ..... | 241.00 | | Maritime | 2 | .... | 204.30 | 367.45 | 295 | 29.50 | 82.00 | | Newfoundland | .. | .... | ...... | 177.75 | 100 | 10.00 | 52.50 | | Totals | 6 | 258 | 554.55 | 748.35 | 2352 | 235.20 | 1238.10 | | SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Louisiana | 16 | 1226 | 1146.55 | ...... | 70 | 7.00 | 308.50 | | Alabama | 29 | 2023 | 1124.00 | ...... | 331 | 33.10 | 349.10 | | Kentucky | 15 | 1100 | 1298.55 | ...... | 650 | 65.00 | 474.50 | | Mississippi | 22 | 2228 | 1421.00 | ...... | 204 | 20.40 | 167.00 | | Tennessee River | 10 | 1417 | 909.30 | ...... | 775 | 77.50 | 517.50 | | Totals | 92 | 7994 | 5899.40 | ...... | 2030 | 203.00 | 1816.60 |
| SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Cumberland | 9 | 1266 | 975.10 | 1219.45 | 510 | 51.00 | 356.50 | | Georgia | 12 | 1041 | 641.50 | 1130.90 | 1086 | 108.60 | 506.50 | | North Carolina | 12 | 1362 | 1018.55 | 2265.20 | 580 | 58.00 | 547.80 | | South Carolina | 10 | 1156 | 943.75 | 541.30 | 700 | 70.00 | 225.00 | | Florida | 7 | 548 | 318.20 | ...... | 675 | 67.50 | 316.90 | | Totals | 50 | 5373 | 3897.10 | 5156.85 | 3551 | 355.10 | 1952.70 | | SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Arkansas | 19 | 1896 | 1443.50 | 663.15 | 267 | 26.70 | 473.50 | | Oklahoma | 33 | 3907 | 1238.16 | 793.50 | 703 | 70.30 | 493.40 | | W. Texas | 8 | 587 | 36.00 | 101.90 | .... | .... | 120.00 | | S. Texas | 15 | 949 | 559.40 | 1036.15 | 263 | 26.30 | 198.50 | | N. Texas | 43 | 2984 | 254.00 | 1555.40 | 838 | 83.80 | 390.00 | | New Mexico | 5 | 629 | 653.30 | 615.80 | 490 | 49.00 | 231.50 | | Totals | 123 | 10952 | 4184.36 | 4765.90 | 2561 | 256.10 | 1906.90 | | CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | N. Missouri | 8 | 425 | 607.41 | 114.75 | 209 | 20.90 | 889.00 | | S. Missouri | 11 | 712 | 1697.35 | 479.70 | 300 | 30.00 | 386.00 | | E. Colorado | 9 | 278 | 188.95 | 367.10 | 406 | 40.60 | 1055.90 | | W. Colorado | .. | .... | ...... | 58.45 | 1025 | 102.50 | 374.50 | | Nebraska | 7 | 227 | 199.70 | 352.60 | 1265 | 126.50 | 1665.00 | | Wyoming | 1 | 48 | 67.60 | 297.50 | 600 | 60.00 | 248.20 | | E. Kansas | .. | .... | ...... | 518.35 | 963 | 96.30 | 803.50 | | W. Kansas | 5 | 493 | 465.00 | 858.20 | 257 | 25.70 | 404.00 | | St. Louis Mis. | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 120.00 | | Totals | 41 | 2183 | 3226.01 | 3046.65 | 5025 | 502.50 | 5946.10 |
| NORTHERN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Iowa | .. | .... | ...... | 904.45 | 4054 | 405.40 | 2614.10 | | Minnesota | 4 | 106 | 203.35 | 221.70 | 1953 | 195.30 | 1556.10 | | North Dakota | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | 1040 | 104.00 | 200.40 | | South Dakota | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | 1769 | 176.90 | 521.00 | | Totals | 4 | 106 | 203.35 | 1126.15 | 8816 | 881.60 | 4981.60 |
| PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | N. Cal.-Nev. | 3 | 257 | $1119.60 | $731.00 | 205 | $20.50 | $671.00 | | Arizona | 2 | 331 | 698.75 | ...... | 167 | 16.70 | 118.50 | | S. California | 11 | 517 | 979.50 | 2591.32 | 1624 | 162.40 | 3443.40 | | Utah | 3 | 643 | 1617.50 | 177.00 | 160 | 16.00 | 150.00 | | Cen. California | 4 | 140 | 248.90 | 331.15 | 605 | 60.50 | 700.50 | | California Coast | 7 | 517 | 469.90 | 1187.60 | 3916 | 391.60 | 1612.30 | | Totals | 30 | 2405 | 5134.15 | 5018.07 | 6677 | 667.70 | 6695.70 | | NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | W. Washington | 12 | 436 | 484.95 | ...... | 1820 | 182.00 | 1726.00 | | Upper Columbia | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | 900 | 90.00 | 1899.50 | | W. Oregon | 5 | 155 | 201.00 | ...... | 1340 | 134.00 | 1039.00 | | S. Idaho | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | 803 | 80.30 | 317.00 | | Montana | .. | .... | ...... | ...... | 430 | 43.00 | 665.50 | | S. Oregon | 2 | 62 | 71.50 | ...... | 960 | 96.00 | 414.00 | | Totals | 19 | 653 | 757.45 | ...... | 6253 | 625.30 | 6061.00 | | WEST CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE | | | | | | | | | Alberta | 4 | 180 | 240.50 | 130.00 | 887 | 88.70 | 295.50 | | Manitoba | 4 | 100 | 202.50 | 69.30 | 675 | 67.50 | 248.00 | | British Columbia | 4 | 105 | 278.95 | ...... | 2760 | 276.00 | 401.00 | | Saskatchewan | .. | .... | ...... | 277.80 | 523 | 52.30 | 218.90 | | Totals | 12 | 385 | 721.95 | 477.10 | 4845 | 484.50 | 1163.40 | | Subscription lists | | | | | 40578 | 4057.80 | 2835.50 | | Foreign and miscellaneous | | | | | 10193 | 1019.30 | 1523.30 |
| FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS | | | | | | | | | British | 55 | 4019 | 1696.89 | 2306.85 | 152452 | 3093.51 | 3147.96 | | Australasian | 77 | 6001 | 11207.81 | 7316.56 | ...... | 1917.72 | 2073.92 | | South African | 7 | 706 | 882.48 | 1286.70 | 600 | 59.66 | 277.38 | | Indian | 26 | 2521 | 840.17 | 446.18 | ...... | ...... | 82.80 | | Scandinavian | 120 | 23000 | 10318.31 | 7208.18 | 3536 | 210.62 | 424.76 | | E. German | 90 | 8051 | 2376.08 | 11633.80 | 46254 | 1228.69 | 5687.80 | | W. German | 95 | 8664 | 2596.97 | ...... | 64956 | 1692.60 | ...... | | Danube | 38 | 3870 | 890.53 | ...... | 2454 | ...... | ...... | | Cen. European | 96 | 9541 | 3159.18 | ...... | 17128 | 536.92 | ...... | | Russian | 25 | .... | 1620.66 | 2138.67 | ...... | 2.64 | ...... | | Siberian | .. | .... | ...... | 117.82 | ...... | ...... | ...... | | Latin | 8 | 733 | 685.83 | 475.35 | 4289 | 130.48 | 138.99 | | Mexican | 1 | 48 | 60.00 | ...... | 5030 | 257.33 | 132.11 | | Porto Rican | .. | .... | 13.24 | 143.90 | ...... | 174.60 | 128.73 | | Cuba | 6 | 300 | 691.34 | 1414.80 | 472 | 39.20 | 33.90 | | West Caribbean | 5 | .... | 879.22 | ...... | 2459 | 179.10 | ...... | | Philippine Islands | 1 | 205 | 809.42 | 377.62 | ...... | 6.30 | ...... | | Levant | 6 | 394 | 31.18 | 101.00 | ...... | ...... | ...... | | Korean | .. | .... | 7.85 | ...... | 2554 | 63.85 | ...... | | South American | 30 | 1685 | 3013.34 | 1719.29 | ...... | 196.20 | 67.33 | | Japan | 8 | 911 | 11.67 | 1.42 | 1634 | 34.66 | 60.09 | | Brazil | 31 | .... | 1710.20 | 1043.99 | ...... | ...... | ...... | | Totals, foreign | 725 | 70649 | $43502.37 | $37732.13 | 303818 | $9824.08 | $12255.77 | | Totals, N. Am. | 577 | 47112 | 40511.53 | 32486.94 | 126562 | 12656.20 | 58783.00 | | Grand totals | 1302 | 117701 | $84013.90 | $70201.07 | 430380 | $22480.28 | $71038.77 |

Comparative Book Summary

1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913
Jan. .... $25,929.06 $40,677.06 $42,532.23 $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88
Feb. .... 30,466.40 48,748.21 50,990.34 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12
March .... 35,757.15 52,703.85 55,711.55 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42
April .... 43,858.29 55,109.54 64,042.39 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45
May .... 67,455.44 82,971.94 86,333.58 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,640.01
June .... 82,878.67 124,412.34 112,606.05 135,888.76 137,838.38 139,217.06
July .... 120,973.89 95,445.21 103,919.12 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.74
Aug. .... 66,946.38 71,652.97 91,145.11 91,810.46 103,165.69 111,660.64
Sept. .... 51,148.56 55,625.41 66,523.65 86,001.72 67,551.70 73,732.12
Oct. .... 62,719.91 52,666.93 62,461.13 81,267.80 70,210.07 84,013.90
Nov. .... 53,787.31 49,964.99 58,211.68 67,600.00 77,424.87
Dec. .... 39,873.18 45,759.73 54,663.93 58,386.24 57,291.91
Totals $681,794.24 $775,741.18 $849,140.76 $976,218.80 $1,017,684.13

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1910 1911 1912 1913 1910 1911 1912 1913
Jan.1 89462 122202 121666 177080 Aug. 152520 215773 183119 153849
Feb. 116198 99234 144257 201659 Sept. 120020 135179 173077 127017
March 132165 244003 207529 166499 Oct. 161157 164537 587830 126562
April 183981 192757 189498 152088 Nov. 102795 110326 108755
May 174886 141204 162220 166465 Dec. 99137 98541 111199
June 193727 145025 163120 156550
July 222146 197582 191937 176772 Totals. 1703194 1866363 2344207

The Spread of the Message Through the Printed Page

By W. W. E.

We know there is nothing that cheers the hearts of God's waiting people more than to learn of the advancement of the message, the proclamation of which means the ripening of earth's harvest.
From the very beginning of this advent message the printed page has acted a prominent part in its proclamation, and thousands are rejoicing in the truth to-day through this agency. But at no point in the history of the movement has this mighty agency been used to the extent, or with such telling effect, as at the present time. All classes of people throughout the whole world are having their attention called to the special truths for this time through our books, magazines, periodicals, and tracts.
We give below a few letters, which are only samples of those continually coming to our publishing houses, that indicate the different classes of persons who are being reached through the printed page. The first one is from a minister in Missouri to the Kansas City Branch of the Pacific Press. He says:—
“I have been in the evangelistic field for twenty years, and have had good success in winning souls. About three weeks ago a good sister in California sent me some tracts, and we have been studying them and looking up the scriptures, and I find we have left out one of the principal truths,—the keeping of the Sabbath. Brethren,—if you will allow me to call you that,—I am going to preach the gospel from now on, and I desire to know more about you as a people, and your mode of teaching. I should like you to send me some tracts to study so I can be ready for work when tenting time comes. The tracts I have are as follows: ‘The Seal of God and Mark of the Beast,’ ‘Signs of the End,’ ‘Thoughts for the Candid,’ ‘Heralds of His Coming,’ ‘How Esther Read Her Bible,’ ‘Back to the Old Paths.’ I am going to have a battle just as soon as I make my conversion known. And that will not be very long,—as soon as I get studied up so as to meet opposition. Bless God, it makes me feel as if I had embarked on a new ship.”
The next letter is from a minister in another State who has been reached with our books through the faithful efforts of the colporteur. He says:—
“I have had the pleasure of getting hold of one of your publications,—the book ‘Bible Readings,’—and find it to be the sentiments of my heart. It contains the very thing that I believe. I am a minister, and I belong to no church except the one we read about in the Bible. I have been preaching since 1882, and have never met with anything that has helped me along more in the study of the Bible than this one book has.
“Will you please send catalogue of your books that I may select some book that will serve as a ready reference to a man who has not the time to peruse the Bible and get the testimonies bearing upon every subject? And if you have no agent in this locality, I wish you would place one here. I have ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ and find it to be fine, and can recommend it to any one. I want the Bible testimony on all subjects. Will you please let me hear from you soon?”
It is plain from the preceding letters that ministers are being reached with our literature, and are changing banners, enlisting in the message that is now world-wide and is attracting more and more the attention of all classes.
The next is a very interesting letter from a banker in one of the Southern States. You will see from this how the truth is being studied by means of the printed page in the quiet hours of the home life; and this by a class of men whom we consider generally hard to reach. The letter follows:—
“I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very kind and much-appreciated letter of the seventeenth instant, in which you state that my subscription to the Watchman expires next month.
“I hasten to enclose a check for four dollars, to be applied as follows: one dollar to renew my subscription to the Watchman for another year, three dollars for a copy of ‘The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan,’ cloth, marbled edges, etc.
“Both the magazine and the books which I have at different times secured from you I consider absolutely beyond any monetary value to me. I do not hesitate to state that they have done more for my spiritual uplift and enlightenment than any other agency, primarily because in the privacy of my home, undisturbed, and with ample opportunity to reason and study, I see things which heretofore have been in darkness to me.
“Your great work has my unqualified indorsement and praise, and I earnestly pray for God's continued blessing upon your efforts.”
Next is a letter from a doctor in one of the most thickly populated States in America, and you will notice he states that our books have made a believer out of a scoffer; and the best of all is, he proposes to give the truth to others. This is generally true of those who receive the truth through the printed page. The letter is as follows:—
“Enclosed find New York draft for four dollars, for which please send me ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ by Uriah Smith, cloth; also set my subscription to the Watchman ahead another year. These two publications have made a believer out of a scoffer, and I want to show others the truth.”
Here is an interesting letter from a humble soul who found one of our books in a second-hand bookstore, doubtless placed there by some one who did not appreciate it:—
“I found a book called ‘Bible Footlights for the Pilgrim's Path’ (illustrated) in a second-hand bookstore, and have inquired at several of our bookstores here, but they have never heard of it. Will you please tell whether you still publish it, and how much it is, and if you would make any reduction if I should take more than one or two? I think it is one of the best books I ever read, and you ought to publish it by the thousands.”
We might go on giving more letters of this kind, but space forbids. These are sufficient to show that the influence of the printed page extends to all classes, and through this agency the message is rapidly spreading. Let us continue the good work. W. W. E.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman

N. Z. TOWN — General Secretary
W. W. EASTMAN — N. Am. Div. Secretary

Relation to the Church

Duties of the Church Missionary Secretary—No. 2

Relation to the Church

To Encourage Individual Effort

THE missionary secretary should not only study the plans submitted by those in the conference office, or by others representing various phases of our work, but he should also study the individual members, so that he may be able to enlist the coöperation of each one in the kind of work for which he is best adapted.
If the missionary secretary would have a working church,—a church in which all the members are engaged in personal effort for others,—he must put forth earnest personal effort for the members, becoming acquainted with the situation and capabilities of each one, and encouraging, instructing, and providing suitable work for all.
There is no work that will yield greater returns; for in addition to the work done in the extension of the third angel's message, the workers will themselves be built up and blessed, and the whole church strengthened. Many, through lack of confidence or interest, are standing idle in the market-place. These should be set to work. Let the motto be, “Something for each one to do.” Some can do a variety of things, but all can do something, for God has given “to every man his work.”
The timid and retiring should be induced to take up some simple line of work for which they are best adapted, until confidence is established and they are prepared to launch out into broader fields. Those needing instruction should be so taught that they can act some part, and those who have not the interest to put forth the effort for themselves should be labored with until they catch the inspiration to join the ranks of the workers.
It has been our observation that where we have a good, energetic, wide-awake, thoroughgoing missionary secretary, and a church elder who will coöperate with the missionary secretary in the missionary work, there we have a church that is accomplishing something for the advancement of the truth. A missionary secretary should never sit down and mourn because more is not being accomplished, and because this brother or that sister is not doing something in the missionary work, but he should be ready—

To Suggest Plans of Work

going from individual to individual, and laboring with them until they are all at work. The missionary secretary should also bear in mind that when the members have been set to work, his responsibility has just begun. It is very important that he keep in the closest touch with the workers and their work, and be prepared to encourage, direct, and instruct wherever necessary.
In our larger churches, where the work of the missionary secretary is more than one individual can carry, it is an excellent plan to have a missionary committee of three or five members, including the missionary secretary, appointed by the church, to have the special care and oversight of the missionary meetings and work. This missionary committee should hold a regular weekly council to plan for the missionary meetings, and for the aggressive missionary work in the church. Each member of this committee represents some special line of work, such as missionary correspondence, local work with our tracts and periodicals, canvassing for our smaller books, cottage meetings, hospital work, etc. Their aim is to get all the members to take up work in some one or more of these lines, those representing these different phases leading out and instructing in the work.
Untiring efforts should be made to induce the brethren and sisters to work, and to keep a record of what they do. Faithful reports, carefully prepared, glorify God, become a source of encouragement to others, and, therefore, a potent factor in the upbuilding of the church work. They are also absolutely necessary as a matter of business, that the church may know what use is made of the tracts, etc., with which it supplies its members, and that the tract society may be able to compile correct quarterly and yearly statistical reports, from which the activity of the churches and the progress of the work may be determined. God commands us to be “not slothful in business,” and when the officers of a church request the members to make a note of the number of tracts given away and of other work performed, it becomes the duty of each to regard the request. These principles should be impressed upon the mind of each worker. Each Sabbath morning the missionary secretary should supply the members with blanks for reporting, collecting these the following Sabbath.
It would be an excellent plan for every member to secure a copy of the Morning Watch Calendar and use the report blank in keeping a record of all work done. It would then be an easy matter to fill out the report blank supplied by the secretary each week.
When the blanks are all collected, the items should be added together and entered in a book provided for that purpose, under the headings to which they belong. Each week's work should be entered on one line. Each week a summary of the work of the young people should be obtained from the church Missionary Volunteer secretary and entered on the line below that on which the work of the older people is entered. At the close of the quarter all should be added up, and totals filled out on the blank sent by the conference tract society for that purpose. This report should be sent to the tract society secretary not later than the seventh day of the month following the close of the quarter.
The missionary secretary should obtain a list of the members of the church, with their addresses, and see that this is kept up to date. This is essential for reference in ascertaining whether every member is a working member.

Evidences of Progress

By Editor

DURING the past few weeks we have received the following new books in foreign languages:—
“Coming King,” Spanish, revised. Elder W. C. White, who has had charge of the revision of this book, has given special attention to adapting it to the different Latin countries. It is a beautiful volume of 363 pages. The prospectus for this book, prepared by the Pacific Press, is especially attractive.
“Great Controversy,” Spanish. This is a translation of the complete English book, having all the improvements of the latest English edition.
“Bible Readings,” in Chinese. A paper-bound volume of 240 pages, with over thirty full-page illustrations.
“Steps to Christ,” Portuguese. Our brethren in Brazil send this book. It is beautifully bound, having the same size page as “Christ Our Saviour.” Brazil also sends a copy of the little book “Manual for Canvassers,” in Portuguese.
We thank God for these evidences of progress in the preparation of literature in foreign tongues.

Encouraging News for China

WHEN Elder F. A. Allum left the General Conference for a visit in his home land, Australia, before returning to China, it was suggested to him that if possible he find one or two good men in the Australasian field for leaders in the colporteur work in China. The following from Elder J. E. Fulton, the Australasian Union president, tells how Australia responded to Brother Allum’s efforts in the field:—
“I am glad to tell you that we have selected two of our best canvassers for China, two of whom we are proud, and are whom we offer freely, praying God’s blessing upon them. Their names are H. Stacey and A. Mountain, Jr. They are both young men with good Christian experience and with good canvassing records. Brother Allum is highly pleased. We gave him a free hand in the selection of these men, and we were glad for his counsel.
“We are also giving a special Sabbath-school offering throughout Australasia to pay the transportation of these brethren to China. Both of these brethren are very dear to us, and we can ill afford to spare them; but we see your need, and your appeal has touched our hearts, so we give them freely. I trust they may never disappoint you, and that they may labor as earnestly in their new field as they have labored in Australia.”
Our hearts are full of gratitude to God for this liberal response of Australia to the appeals and needs of the Orient.

A Good Way for a Field Agent to Begin

LAST year Brother A. R. Sherman was sent to Argentina, South America, to take charge of the colporteur work in the Argentine Conference. Regarding his experience after reaching the field, Brother Sherman writes:—
“I have had charge of the work since July. Before this I was canvassing by myself. I started in to canvass two weeks after getting here. Of course, I did not know much about the language, but I learned my canvass. Brother Trummer went with me two days, and then I went alone. The Lord blessed me from the start, and in 88 days I delivered 2,250 pesos’ (over $950) worth of ‘Coming King’ and ‘Patriarchs and Prophets.’ I have found out this: that when we consecrate our lives to the service of God and are willing to do our part, the Lord is willing to bless wherever we are. I felt that I needed some experience before I took charge of the work. Now I can be of much more help to the boys since I have made a success of the work in this field.”
NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS
NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

Clinton German Seminary

The constituency of the board of directors of the Clinton German Seminary is called to hold its next annual meeting at the seminary in Clinton, Mo., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1914, at 9 A. M. This meeting is called for the election of officers for the next term, for the appointment of a faculty for the next school year, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before this meeting.
E. T. RUSSELL, President; E. C. WITZKE, Secretary.

Southern Missionary Society

The fifth biennial meeting of the constituency of the Southern Missionary Society, a body incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee, will be held in the Seventh-day Adventist church on Fatherland Street, Jan. 13, 1914, at 9 A. M., for the election of officers, and for the transaction of such other business as should legally come before this meeting.
The members of the executive committee of the Southern Union Conference are the board of this society, and under the statutes of the State of Tennessee each member is entitled to one vote, either by person or by proxy.
S. E. WIGHT, President; E. H. REES, Treasurer.

Annual Meeting of the Southern Publishing Association

Notice is hereby given that the sixth annual meeting of the constituency of the Southern Publishing Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at 7 P. M., Saturday, Jan. 3, 1914, at the Nashville Memorial Church, Fifth and Fatherland Streets, Nashville, Tenn., for the purpose of electing a board of directors for the ensuing year, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
S. E. WIGHT, President; L. A. SMITH, Secretary.

Southern Union Conference Association

Notice is hereby given that the fourth biennial session of the constituency of the Southern Union Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held at the Seventh-day Adventist church on Fatherland Street, Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1914, at 9 A. M., for the purpose of electing a board of directors for the ensuing biennial term, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
S. E. WIGHT, President; E. H. REES, Secretary.

Southern Training-School

A meeting of the Southern Training-school of Seventh-day Adventists, Incorporated, will be held at Graysville, Tenn., at 11 A. M., Dec. 29, 1913. This meeting is called for the purpose of electing officers, and filling vacancies in the membership of the incorporation.
R. L. WILLIAMS, President; C. L. STONE, Secretary.

A Timid Woman’s Experiences

By E. M. Graham

A SISTER tells her experiences in selling papers, as follows: “I shall write of some of my experiences in the magazine work, hoping to help some other timid worker. I am a very timid woman. Two years ago it would have seemed almost an impossibility for me to sell magazines, but a year ago our minister’s wife encouraged me to go out with her. When she went away for the summer, it seemed as if I could not go out alone, but finally I asked the Lord to take away the fear of man, and especially to give me courage to go to the business places. I asked him to help me sell some Liberty and Protestant magazines which I had. I sold thirty-seven in a little over three hours, and could have sold all in a short time longer, but met a friend who took me home to supper. I went to private houses several times after and did quite well. I never sold less than nine in a few hours, and have sold as many as twenty-four. When our minister’s wife returned, we went out together, and sometimes sold as high as sixty-five in a short time.”
“I went out with some of the Harvest Ingathering Review a few days ago, made eight calls, disposed of seven papers, and collected $1.50, with the promise of a donation later in the eighth place. What a blessed experience I had! I shall long remember it. What possibilities there are in the magazine work to get in close touch with persons and to find the honest in heart. All seemed glad to give to missions. Not a word was said about its being the work of the Seventh-day Adventists. Of course, all knew I was one, but this did not at all affect their willingness to give. It makes me feel like saying that if I am spared until next year, I will put no limit on the number of papers I will take, but will work until the territory is finished. I used to think it was not possible for me to canvass, and did not see how any one could do it, but now I love the work.”
“A number of years ago almost all our people left this place, and we were almost disbanded. After we had been in that condition for some time, I became very anxious about my little girls, feeling the need of a Sabbath-school for them. I arranged with a sister and her little girl to come to my house, and we began a little Sabbath-school. Sometimes another sister would come. We had some trials and seeming drawbacks, but held on until tent-meetings were started, and now we have a nice company again, with regular services, Sabbath-school, and Missionary Volunteer Society. We have our hall again, which was almost lost, and are putting it in good shape. It seems too good to be true. I want to tell those who are alone to go ahead and have a little Sabbath-school, even if it is only the members of one family, and the Lord will bless their efforts. It was our testing time, but the Lord was mindful of us, and to him be all the praise. We are of good courage, and want to do our part in hastening the coming of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Here is a timid sister almost too fearful to venture out, and yet when she does go in the strength of the Lord, he gives her success and such rich blessings that now she loves the work she once thought it impossible to do. This will be the experience of all who will go out to labor for others. They will find that in blessing others they are richly blessed. Are there not many in our churches who will be encouraged by this sister’s experience to venture out on the Lord’s promises? He is waiting for them to prepare the way for his coming. E. M. GRAHAM.

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press
— During the football season of 1913, which practically closed November 22, fourteen players were killed, and 175 injured.
— England now possesses a full squadron of eight battle-ships of the super-dreadnaught type, the most compact and powerful fighting force in the world. Its cost is estimated at $70,000,000.
— Should all the motion-picture films manufactured in the United States during the calendar year of 1913 be placed together, they would measure 25,000 miles, enough to encircle the globe.
— On November 22, proprietors of more than 3,300 saloons in Ohio closed their places of business in accordance with the provisions of the State liquor license law, which limits the number of saloons in wet territory to one for each 500 population.
— The general public reception, which has been held at the White House every New-year’s day since the administration of Thomas Jefferson, will be omitted this year. President Wilson will spend the holidays in a quiet, restful vacation somewhere in the South.
— And now we have an egg trust. It is authoritatively stated that thousands of dozens of this now “rare luxury” are being held in cold storage in order to force prices higher. More than 700,000 members of the Housewives’ Leagues of New York and Chicago have united in a boycott on eggs until the price is reduced to at least thirty-two cents a dozen.
— Miss Jessie Woodrow Wilson, second daughter of the President, and Francis B. Sayre were married in the East Room of the White House, at Washington, D. C., on the afternoon of November 25. This great social event of the season was conducted with that democratic simplicity so characteristic of the administration. The gifts received are valued at more than $250,000. Mr. and Mrs. Sayre will make their home in Williamstown, Mass. They are now spending a few weeks in Europe.
— A painstaking statistician has estimated that tips of one kind and another paid daily in Paris to waiters, janitors, cabmen, and the thousand and one others whose income is largely derived from this source, amount to $42,600, or a total per annum of $64,420,000.
— Statistics which have recently been compiled show that there are now more than two and a quarter million women in commercial and professional life in America. Of these there are 239,077 stenographers; 327,635 teachers and professors; 481,159 in various trades; 770,055 engaged in agricultural pursuits; 7,355 physicians and surgeons; 7,305 women preachers; 1,037 architects, designers, and draftsmen; 1,010 lawyers; 429,497 women in various professions.

Where Will It End?

By Editor

WEEK before last 856 new names were added to the Signs subscription list, and last week 1,012 new subscriptions were received. This week we have received 1,107 additional subscriptions.
That is the way the new series of the Signs is going to the homes of the people. Let us keep the ball rolling until we have reached a mark really commensurate with the value of this attractive, helpful, timely, and important missionary journal.

Holiday Gifts

The custom of making holiday gifts has become such a perplexity and such an expense that nation-wide organizations are now endeavoring to check it. How successful the movement will be is to be seen, as it is just in its beginning. But why not turn the opportunity to good? As the season draws on and we plan gifts for our friends, let us bring into consideration our good literature. What could be better than that new series of the Signs just beginning? Our leading men are its contributors, and in view of God's providences among this people in all parts of the world, they certainly have much to tell the people. Let us catch the spirit of the season and make it a real missionary opportunity. A beautiful announcement-card is mailed with the first paper if desired. The price of the Signs is $1.75 a year; two copies for $3, three for $4, four for $5. Send your order to the tract society.

The January “Watchman”

By Editor

The most skeptical must see, in the trend of events throughout the world, the rapidity with which marvels increase on every hand, and the wonderful facilities for learning and travel, that the present generation is without a parallel in any age. The student of the Scriptures sees in these things the working out of the purpose of God in the universe, and the rapid approach of the close of earth’s history.
Those who are interested in the fulfilment of prophecy and desire to keep in touch with the march of events, will appreciate the timely editorials and general articles contained in this number. Some of the subjects presented are as follows:—
A View Into the Future. How Will Jesus Come? Archbishop Bonzano on Sunday Observance. Nations Rightly Struggling to Be Free (the Eastern Question series by P. T. Magan). A Synopsis of the Revelation.
The Bible says that the prevalence of deceptive doctrines will be characteristic of the last days. This makes the article “How Will Jesus Come?” especially interesting and timely. Perhaps no other subject in the Scriptures has been so greatly misrepresented. Lovers of truth will therefore read with satisfaction this convincing refutation of unscriptural views upon this subject.
If you are not a subscriber, send in your subscription to begin with this issue, and keep in touch with the valuable matter to be presented from time to time in the columns of the Watchman. Or, better still, send us a club of five at the reduced rate, and be instrumental in giving the truth to your neighbors and friends.
Subscription prices: One year, $1; six months, 50 cents. Rates in quantities: 5-40 copies, 5 cents each; more than 50 copies, 4 cents each. To Canada, 5 cents straight. Single copies, 10 cents each. Order through your tract society.
Continue reading: Publications Wanted