Many of the readers of the Review may have wondered why we have not previously given a report concerning the work. If the reader could understand and comprehend something of the magnitude of New York City and its connection with adjacent cities, he could better understand the nature of our work. New York City and the cities which immediately surround it, including Jersey City, contain about 4,000,000 people. The statistics of 1900 show that the number of inhabitants is larger than that of any State in the United States, except the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, being more than a million more people than there are in Michigan or Massachusetts. In this city there are some buildings over thirty stories high, and the city averages five stories in height; so there are five families deep in this city. We are located near the center of the city, and in the building where we live there are fifty-three families. The building is seven stories high, and two elevators run night and day. The elevator men in the buildings are all instructed not to let any peddler, canvasser, or stranger enter unless he first states his business plainly, and tells whom he wishes to see.
There are four Seventh-day Adventist churches in Brooklyn, two English, one German, and one Scandinavian; in New York proper, including the church that has been organized since we came here, there are four; and in Jersey City there are two. The united membership of all these churches is about five hundred. The churches in New York proper are located as follows: No. 1 on 125th Street, in the northern part; No. 2 on 11th Street, in the southern part of the city; and another across the Harlem River.
We live on West 57th Street, in the central part of the city, between the Upper and Lower churches, and work among all classes of people. We now have a small church organized in this part of the city.
From the beginning of our work the providence of God has gone before us. We have labored to train and educate the workers themselves in canvassing, in visiting from house to house, in holding Bible readings, and in other ways, and have endeavored also to form as many little nuclei in the city as possible, where we can interest the people. We have labored to educate our brethren and sisters in the churches to go out and distribute tracts and hold Bible readings, that the seed may be scattered in all parts of the city. Our Bible workers have worked almost exclusively in the section near where we live. There are at present eight workers in our family, besides Elder J. A. Brunson, my wife, and myself. All of these except one are holding Bible readings and selling publications wherever opportunity offers. One of our workers who was called home on account of sickness, returns next week; then our family of workers will number twelve. Those who had no experience before coming here are beginning to see fruit of their labors, some with whom they are reading taking their stand on the Sabbath.
The special providence of God has attracted people to us. One of the first to accept the Sabbath, having never heard anything about the truth, wrote us asking if he could come and have a Bible reading on the law. One of his friends who had been to Washington, D. C., had heard the truth preached, and returned home all wrought up over it. He learned our address and wrote us, and kept the second Sabbath after this. Special circumstances have developed an interest in different places, and some have been led to accept the truth.
We held meetings in our own house until two weeks ago. About six weeks ago we began to pray that the Lord would give us a hall in this vicinity. Respectable halls in this city rent very high. Usually our brethren pay five dollars for the use of a hall for Sabbath meetings in the daytime. Twenty-five dollars is a cheap price for Sunday nights. In God's providence we have secured for our present use a hall that will seat over one thousand persons. It is right in the heart of the city, and its rent has been held at five hundred dollars a month, but we have it for a trifle. It is lighted with electricity: inside there are three hundred and fifty eight-candle-power lamps, and outside there are one hundred more to attract people to the place. However, the building is for sale, and could our brethren furnish us five thousand dollars at once to head a list, we feel sure that the building could be purchased, as well as the land upon which it stands, by donations from interested parties outside of our people who would be glad to see our work permanently established in this city.
The cost of fitting up the hall for religious meetings was about three hundred dollars. A large part of this was given by outside parties and by our brethren who helped in the work. Lumbermen gave us lumber; the Heywood Company donated two hundred chairs, the wholesale price of which is $4.50 a dozen; the Estey Organ Company placed an organ valued at three hundred dollars in the building, subject to their call. The hall is not for ourselves. If it were simply for us alone, a much smaller place would serve the purpose, but we need a place where the public of this city can be reached. If the hall were purchased, there would be no taxes on the building if owned for religious purposes. It would furnish a place for general meetings and for the assembling of large crowds. New York is a wealthy city, and there are many in it who are noble, generous-hearted people, when they see a work going forward for the benefit of humanity.
To relate the particular instances of God's opening providences would occupy too much space in an ordinary report like this. We can only say that we are thankful to our brethren for remembering us, and we hope that they will continue to do so, and that those who have means to invest in establishing a settled place for the Lord to abide in this great city will send it in, for we would be glad to receive donations from a small sum up to thousands of dollars. Now is the time to purchase before others take it from us.
In reference to the running expenses of the Bible school in this city, our friends have remembered us from all over the field. They have sent us sums of from fifty cents to one hundred dollars, so that our expenses, which have amounted to more than one hundred and fifty dollars a month, have all been met. Now they are increased to about two hundred dollars a month, as we have added to our number of workers.
Our Bible readers have gained access to many homes; a goodly number have already taken their stand for the truth, and many others are now in the valley of decision. One striking fact is that while the persons who have accepted the truth have held a variety of positions in business, none have lost their position on account of the Sabbath. All are keeping the Sabbath in the same business that they were in when the truth found them. We praise the Lord for this.
We distribute large quantities of reading-matter in the city. If the reader has clean papers and tracts that he would like to have scattered among these teeming millions, kindly send them, prepaid, to our address, and we will gladly receive them. Please be sure to pay all expense of sending, as our balance of cash is something like the widow's meal in the barrel: we are always near the bottom, but the Lord has never allowed us to pay out the last dollar. We praise Him for all this, and go forward. Pray for us that the Lord may give many souls.
S. N. HASKELL.
400 West 57th St., New York City.
COLORADO SANITARIUM.
By Francis M. Wilcox
We are glad to say that the Lord has been signally blessing our sanitarium, more, perhaps, during the last year of its experience than during any preceding year. Fully one third more patients have visited us during the last twelve months than in any previous period of its history, and the patients, too, have been of an excellent class. They have manifested a deeper interest in the principles of our work, and have returned to their homes with a more thorough knowledge of the principles for which the institution stands. The Lord has blessed and is blessing in the accomplishment of cures, and as patients have taken their departure, many expressions of heartfelt gratitude have been uttered.
An increased interest over any preceding year has been shown by the patients in religious matters. During the summer months, particularly, lectures were given upon various phases of present truth, and these were well attended, and listened to with marked interest.
This increased patronage is not due, perhaps, to any special efforts that have been put forth of late, but rather it seems to be the fruit of the faithful labor of the past. The earnest, devoted efforts of Dr. Riley, and of Brother and Sister Druillard during the years of depression through which the institution passed, are now beginning to bear fruit. Then, too, we believe the Lord, in pity and forbearance, is turning the captivity of His work here. However it may be, to Him we ascribe all the praise.
At the present time our staff of physicians consists of Drs. W. H. Riley, O. G. Place, Kate Lindsay, and Alice Conway. Dr. Riley, in addition to the superintendency of the institution, holds the chair of740mental and nervous diseases in the State University of Colorado. This has been an assistance to the institution, in that it has given the medical work a standing among the medical fraternity. No small per cent of our patients come now through the suggestion of their medical advisors at home. The long experience of Dr. Lindsay, we believe, will materially aid our work here. Indeed, we know that it has already done so in a large degree, and we are pleased to report that she expects to remain with the institution for some time. Her efforts for our lady patients, supplemented by the valuable services of Dr. Conway, give to the institution the help it has needed for a long time. It was under the direction of Dr. Place that the work was begun, and it is a cause for rejoicing on the part of his many friends that he is again connected with the institution here. His large practical experience, and particularly his experience in surgery, will be of inestimable value to the sanitarium.
The family of helpers are of good courage. While they have trials, they also see many ways in which the Lord is at work, and this brings to them encouragement in their trying experiences. The nurses' class which begins this month will be the largest, and considering everything, the best class, we trust, that has ever entered upon the nurses' course in the institution. FRANCIS M. WILCOX.
TENNESSEE
By B. Hagle
We closed our work at Goshen, Tenn., after a three weeks’ meeting. The attendance was good. Some seemed to think it did not make much difference to what church they belonged; still others were not much moved, but about fifteen promised to keep the Sabbath. After visiting these, and bringing out every point of our faith, some thought they could not go any farther at present. One family was willing to accept the whole message, and have united with the church in Murfreesboro. We feel that the work is not lost, for that one family can be a light in that place, and perhaps others will accept the truth after a time.
We expect to begin a series of meetings in Murfreesboro. The city council has given us a large hall in the courthouse, free of charge, in which to hold meetings. A number seem anxious to listen to the word. I am visiting the people; they are friendly, and talk freely about the truth.
I think the people here in the South are beginning to look at the truth with more favor than in the past. Some lights have been established, especially the publishing house in Nashville. We already begin to feel its influence in this place. In nearly every place to which I go, I find some one who has been to our sanitarium in Battle Creek, and the impressions received there are a help in our work. I can truly praise God for our institutions.
Brethren and sisters, do not be afraid to put your means into these institutions, and especially in these needy fields. Now is the time to work for God. I can see His hand in our coming to this field; and if hundreds more would come here, they would find many opportunities to do good. Good land can be bought here cheap; I know of farms of one hundred acres that can be bought for five or six hundred dollars, and if properly worked, will yield from twenty to twenty-five bushels of wheat to the acre. Corn is a good crop, and brings as much again per bushel as in the North. Some of these farms have forty or fifty acres of cleared land, and plenty of good timber for wood and saw timber. Any one wishing further information may write me, sending stamps for reply. I know of these places, for I have been on them, and have seen the crops growing. If some would come here with the missionary spirit, God would bless them, and they would be a help in getting the truth on a more solid foundation.
The people here are friendly; and when you get acquainted with their ways, you will like them as well as the people of the North. I like to live here, and God has given me health and strength to work every day since I came here. B. HAGLE.
NEWS AND NOTES
By A. J. B.
Leading Events of Week Nov. 3–9.
—England will send 5,000 more cavalrymen to South Africa.
—Colombian rebels capture the town of Tumaco, 500 miles south of Panama.
—The Boers sustain a heavy loss in an engagement in the East Transvaal.
—The Nicaraguan Canal treaty with England is at last reported to be in sight.
—Fourteen American war-ships are maintaining a blockade of Samar Island, P. I.
—The bubonic plague makes its appearance in Liverpool, but it is carefully quarantined.
—Snowstorms were reported in several places in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, the 3d inst.
—Nine persons were burned to death at Hurley, Wis., in the fire which destroyed the Klondike Theater, the 6th inst.
—France and Russia reach an agreement “to force Turkey to make reforms in Armenia and other provinces.”
—The American consul, Dickinson, is trying to induce the brigands who abducted Miss Stone, to take less ransom money than they ask.
—Adjutant-General Corbin and Miss Edyth Patten were married at Washington, D. C., the 6th inst., by Cardinal Gibbons, in the presence of 600 guests.
—The European press, speaking of the case of Miss Stone, casts reflections upon this country because of “the inability of the United States to protect its citizens.”
—On the 5th inst. the French squadron, under Admiral Caillard, took possession of the three principal Turkish ports of the Island of Mitylene, in the Grecian archipelago.
—In his sermon at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, Sunday, the 3d, Archbishop Corrigan “denounced socialism as diametrically opposed to Christianity, and as tending to cause misery.”
—Li Hung Chang, the noted Chinese soldier, statesman, and diplomat, died at Peking, the 7th inst., at 11:15 A. M., after a brief illness. His demise delays the Russian occupation of Manchuria.
—On the 4th inst. the committee of the Aero Club of Paris, awarded M. Santos-Dumont the Brazilian aéronaut the Deutsch prize of 100,000 francs ($20,000) “for sailing from St. Cloud to and around the Eiffel tower and back to St. Cloud, in thirty minutes.”
—A Manila dispatch of the 5th inst. discloses the fact that “a plot to massacre the American garrison at Moncada, Province of Tarlac, Island of Luzon, has been revealed by the wife of one of the conspirators,” who hid a detective beneath the house where they met. Many arrests followed, and incriminating papers were seized.
—Tuesday, the 5th, witnessed the overthrow of Van Wyck, Tammany’s candidate for mayor of New York City, and the election of Seth Low, fusion candidate, by a 35,000 plurality. Judge W. T. Jerome was also elected District Attorney. Republicans now expect great reforms to be made in the government of that great and corrupt city.
—According to a Paris dispatch of the 5th inst. “a secret compact exists between France, Russia, and England, under the terms of which Russia is to be left peacefully in Manchuria, England in Egypt, and France is to be allowed to occupy Syria.” But compacts will go to the winds when the final scramble between the Powers begins in earnest.
—A dispatch from Jerusalem, dated the 5th inst., states that “the church of the Holy Sepulcher, surmounting Christ’s tomb (?) was the scene of a sanguinary affray on Monday last, between Franciscans and Greeks, during which there were a number of casualties on both sides. The dispute arose on the question as to which community had the right to sweep the church.” Turkish troops that had been watching for the fight, were “outnumbered and overpowered by the contending parties,” both of which pretend to be Christians — followers of the meek and lowly Jesus!741
—The rebels in Java are defeated in two engagements, by the Dutch troops.
—Chile offers its services to settle differences between Venezuela and Colombia.
—A thirteen-year-old girl of Whitesville, N. Y., elopes with a man sixty-eight years old.
—As the result of the elections of the 5th, the Democrats will have a majority of sixteen in the Maryland Legislature.
—The labor unions began on the 7th inst. a campaign “to secure the re-enactment of the Geary Chinese exclusion law.”
—A delay of one year in the St. Louis fair is urged by the chairman of the Foreign Relations’ committee for fear of utter failure.
—The Mexican delegates to the Pan-American Congress propose an international court to settle all differences between the American republics.
—Edward Percival Seeger, a Harvard graduate, died at Ithaca, N. Y., the 4th inst., of blood-poisoning from a pin prick received three days before.
—Na Tung, former Boxer leader, was appointed to the Chinese Foreign Office by an edict of the 5th inst. He was also helped to office by strong Japanese influence.
—While at work on the new federal penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., the 7th inst., 450 convicts attacked their guards, killing one and wounding three. Twenty-five convicts escaped, two others being killed.
—A Calcutta dispatch of the 4th inst. states that great unrest prevails on the Kurram frontier, where a British survey party has been attacked and thirteen Sepoys killed. It is possible that a punitive expedition will be sent.”
—Over a dozen St. Louis, Mo., children died this week from tetanus (lockjaw), victims to the use of antitoxin for the prevention of diphtheria. Investigations are being made, the city having furnished the antitoxin serum administered in each case.
—On Monday, the 4th inst., London was enveloped in “a fog such as Great Britain had not experienced for years, blockading shipping, deranging railways, and throwing business into confusion. The fog descended so thickly in the afternoon that the avenues of traffic resembled the steam room of a Turkish bath.”
—On the 7th inst. Claude Couse, of the Dayton, Ohio, Daily News office, “set 3,250 lines of nonpareil, linometer count, making a total of 84,500 ems, in eight hours. The machine was speeded to seven lines a minute. To secure this result it was necessary to touch the keys 109,000 times, or nearly six times a second.” The REVIEW is set by means of one or more linotype machines each week.
—From Rome, Italy, under date of the 5th inst., comes the statement that the Voce Della Verita, the organ of the Vatican, published “a letter, dated October 28, from the Pope to Mgr. Chappelle, in which his Holiness rejoices at the excellent manner in which, in spite of the difficulties encountered, Mgr. Chappelle has accomplished his mission in the Philippines, and highly compliments him upon the result of his labors.”
—The London Gazette of the 4th inst. contains the new title of the king of England: “Edward VII, Dei Gratia Britannorum et Terrarum Transmarinarum Quæ in Dicione Sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor, Indiæ Imperator.” Freely translated the title reads: “Edward the Seventh, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British dominions beyond the sea, King, defender of the faith, and Emperor of India.” It is provided that “coins of the old style shall be lawful currency until the king’s pleasure.”
—A Paris dispatch of the 4th inst. makes public General Botha’s counter proclamation to Lord Kitchener’s recent proclamation. It was issued on September 15, and reads as follows: “Whereas, no official of the Orange Free State or the Transvaal Republic, and no general, commandant, or burgher intends to obey Lord Kitchener’s proclamation, or to trouble with it; and, whereas, the proclamation contains falsehoods, habitual to the English; and, whereas, Lord Kitchener’s proclamation has strengthened the determination of all burghers to resist to the end; now, therefore, I, Louis Botha, Commandant General of the Republican forces, with the consent of the governments, officers, and burghers of both republics, proclaim Lord Kitchener, his staff, and the officers and soldiers serving under his orders and fighting us now, to be outlaws in South Africa, and all officers and burghers in the two republics and in Cape Colony are ordered to shoot every armed Englishman whom they meet.”
—Germans are angered over “the alleged offensive references to the conduct of the German troops in 1870, made by Mr. Chamberlain, the British Colonial Secretary,” in a recent speech.
—A Paris dispatch of the 8th states that the Sultan “has notified France that he agrees to all the French claims. The Turkish embassy in Paris confirms this. M. Delcasse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has informed the Turkish government that the French squadron will leave Mitylene as soon as he receives official communication that the Sultan has ratified the decision of the Sublime Porte.” In recognizing the French demands the Sultan “first authorizes the working of the French schools hitherto unrecognized; secondly, he recognizes, officially, the existence of the religious and hospitable institutions already founded, and accords them customs immunity and exemption from certain taxes; and, thirdly, he authorizes the reconstruction of the schools and hospitable institutions destroyed at the time of the Armenian troubles, of which a detailed list is attached to the French note.” He also agrees to recognize the Chaldean patriarch, as demanded by France.
—In the Chicago Tribune of the 9th inst. appears a Washington dispatch stating that “the American government’s response to the request for its views, made by France, with reference to the desire of that country to enforce the collection of its claims against Turkey, marks one of the most important steps in the definition of the right of the United States to protect its interests in Europe. . . . That in itself constituted a recognition of the United States as having the same right as a power in the European concert to a voice in the determination of Turkish affairs. . . . Should France be permitted by the European concert to retain possession of the Turkish customhouse which she now holds, the United States will regard that as a precedent for the exercise of similar rights by this government, not only in Turkey, but elsewhere in Europe, should the case ever arise where it will feel obliged to resort to radical steps, as have been taken by France.” In the present instance Great Britain saw fit not to interfere, and Russia stood ready to assist her ally, France. The United States is now asserting its position among “the kings of the East” in no uncertain tones.
A. J. B.
THE MISSIONARY SIDE OF THE HYGIENIC DINING-ROOM WORK.
By David Paulson
TWENTY-FIVE years ago many of us thought that if we carried the message to the representatives of all nations in this country, then the gospel injunction to us would be obeyed. But little by little the Lord has helped us to take a broader view of His work in the earth. Early in this movement the only way we had of propagating the principles of truth was by the means of public lectures and a handful of literature. God in His providence has opened up, one after the other, additional channels whereby the masses may be reached. Humanity cannot all be equally helped by the same methods.
In recent years the canvassing work, medical missionary work, and the educational work have each become prominent factors in this work of helping the world. It is becoming more and more evident that we ought to be daily interested in every movement that is truly good so far as God in His providence opens the way for us.
It is only within the last few years that our attention has been called to the question of establishing hygienic dining rooms in our large cities. We were slow at first to see the great need that existed in this direction. It had hardly dawned upon us that thousands were going to their graves every year because we were not doing our duty in educating them to eat only healthful foods, actually providing such for them, thus heeding in a practical way the Master's injunction, “Give ye them to eat.” God has signally blessed the efforts that have been made to take up this work. It has brought our workers into contact with a class of society that before scarcely knew of our existence. I refer to the business elements in our large cities, and we find that the hearts and minds of these people are wonderfully open for the reception of truth. The many encouraging experiences in this enterprise recently started at the University of Chicago will be noted in a future article.
A personal letter just received from Brother Menkal, who a few months ago opened up this work in Denver, is so full of encouragement that I take the liberty of making some extracts from it for the benefit of the readers of the REVIEW:—
“We can see an overruling providence in the establishment of our hygienic dining room here in Denver. In the first place, it is situated in the very heart of the city, where it is difficult to find a suitable place; but we were led to a man who had rented this place for other purposes, but failing to carry out this plan, had decided to sell his lease; thus we secured one of the best spots in Denver for our work.
“We expected a hard and long pull to educate the people in the principles of health; but to our amazement, we found, a few days after opening, that our capacity was too small; so we crowded in all the tables possible, and these were soon filled. The next move was to take out our food counter, and occupy that space with tables; still we had not sufficient room, so two weeks ago we moved the partition between the kitchen and the dining room back six feet, which allowed room for more tables, and our work is still growing.
“The class of people who patronize our dining rooms are the leading business people in the city, and a number of physicians are also sending their patients. One lady physician told me the other day that since beginning to eat at our place she had gained thirty-two pounds. People ask her, ‘Doctor, what are you doing for yourself?’ Her reply is, ‘Eating Battle Creek foods.’ A lady stenographer to one of the leading railroad officials, told me that she had gained fourteen pounds. Previously to her coming to our place her health was poor, while now she is the very picture of health. Her expression the other day was, ‘I feel wholesome, inside.’ This same young lady has been skeptical regarding religious matters, but the other evening she requested Mrs. Menkal and myself to give her a study regarding personal salvation. Through her influence many bright young people have been converted to the principles of right living.
“Recently a young man came to me and said, ‘Mr. Menkal, will you please write up a paper which I can sign, pledging myself not to use meat, tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcohol, and to eat only two meals a day?’ He said, ‘The other day I went into a restaurant and ordered some meat; after eating this I wanted a cigar, after smoking which I felt a desire for some beer, which I drank, and now my stomach is all upset; please make me out something which I can sign right away.’ I am very much interested in this young man.
“A number of business men have been bringing their wives to our dining rooms in order that they may become familiar with our dishes, and adopt the same principles in their home cooking.
“It is almost an every-day occurrence for us to hear our patrons inquire for light on some point of our faith. The other day a physician called for me, saying he desired to have me meet a certain clergyman; so we called upon him, and the doctor, in introducing me, said, among other things, ‘I believe these people are the most orthodox in the interpretation of the Bible, and the most modern in their methods of reaching the people.’”
“This work is certainly making an excellent impression upon the minds of the most intelligent and the best people. I have had splendid opportunities to explain our views to a number of business men here, while calling upon them in the interest of this work.
“There is one important feature of this branch of the message which demands earnest consideration. Those who are engaged in this work meet many unpleasant experiences, and unless there is a constant effort to point out the divine order in this work, and a continual reminder of the importance of keeping in touch with God, worldliness and the cares of life are likely to take possession.
“We have organized a medical missionary Sabbath-school, which is held in the afternoon, and some of our brethren are also attending this. The evil one has his snares laid everywhere, and what we need is much divine wisdom. The prospects are all encouraging thus far, and interesting features are developing every day. I am impressed with the importance of recognizing God in every experience of life, and then every event will be interesting.”
DAVID PAULSON.
Opportunities for Workers in North Dakota
By Benj. F. Banks
SCOTIA, N. D., Oct. 19, 1905. Editor of Review and Herald: I feel impressed to write you, this beautiful Sabbath day, concerning the grand opportunities awaiting workers in this part of the great northwest termed North Dakota.
The crops this year are unusually fine, prices are good, and farmers all have plenty of money.
We are an isolated family of Sabbath-keepers, living three miles from the Canadian line, in the famous Mouse River country, one of the most fertile portions of the state. We live on a main traveled road, about twenty rods from a schoolhouse, which is open to all denominations, and is now occupied every Sunday by either the Methodists or Presbyterians. The people are, on the whole, religiously inclined, the greater portion in our immediate vicinity being English Canadians, although the general population is composed of persons coming from all parts of the United States, especially from Michigan.
We believe that the golden opportunity for the canvasser to make a small fortune, besides doing a vast amount of good, is just now. We will provide a home for two consecrated workers as long as they wish to remain. Yours in the faith, BENJ. F. BANKS.
[If any canvassers or others intend to visit this place, they should first write to Brother Banks.—Ed.]
