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Review and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 32.

Our High Calling
Earlier text: Our High Calling

Editorial

By Editor

Rejoicing in Trial

THE Scriptures of Truth assure us that all things work together for good to them that love God. This is so because to the believing, trusting soul God, in his infinite wisdom and power, will shape every experience for good. Joy and sorrow, light and darkness, pain and pleasure, success and failure, all will be overruled to work out the divine purpose in the life. How comforting is this assurance! Trusting him, we may know that every experience which he permits to come has its uses in the divine plan.
How many today might testify that this has proved true in their experience! Our lives have been filled with varied experiences. There are none who have not known sorrow, disappointment, and reverses in some form and in some measure. As we study our lives in the light of God's leading providence, we can see how these trying experiences have been sanctified of him for the teaching of some needed lesson.
Another has said that the life that has never known sorrow has not come to fully know God, and this we believe is true. Sorrow has its uses. God "doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men," but in his wise purpose affliction is permitted, and the lessons learned in the affliction he designs shall serve a second use in that they shall be passed on by his servants to others suffering in a similar way:—
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 2 Cor. 1:3, 4.
It is for us to seek by every laudable means in our power to better our condition, to avert calamity, to avoid pain and discomfort; but having done all we can do, let us believe that the great, loving Father above will overrule the unkind experiences we cannot prevent, for our highest good. Let us not chafe nor fret, let us not murmur nor complain. Let us seek to harmonize with our environment, keeping heaven's peace in our hearts. In the world to come, if not now, we shall be enabled to thank God from the depths of our hearts for the dark chapters in our experience, realizing that they have been sanctified for the working out of his plan in our lives.

Increasing Worldliness

By Frederick M. Wilcox

A GREAT flood of worldliness is sweeping over the professed church of Christ. This is so apparent to every observer that a citation of facts and figures is not necessary. The sorrowful admission is wrung from many devoted Christians in the various churches that the flood-tide of evil has set in strongly toward worldly pleasures and dissipation, commercialism, display, etc.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is not without its dangers with respect to these matters. Unconsciously this spirit will enter the church and will affect the lives of its members unless there is maintained continually a spirit of prayer and of watchfulness. Already in some of our churches there are members succumbing to these evils. How may these careless ones be helped? Criticism will not do it. That will serve only to add recklessness, and perhaps bitterness, to indifference and carelessness. Our ministers and church officers should conscientiously and kindly, without personal reference, set the principles relating to these questions before our churches. Those who have entered upon paths of danger should be kindly and considerately labored with. They should be awakened to the demands of this work upon their time and talents.
If those who now find pleasure in worldly pursuits could come to know the joy of Christian service, the satisfaction that comes into the life surrendered to God, this peace and joy would leave no room and permit no longing for the pleasure which comes through selfish enjoyment. We need today to enlist the lives and energies of the members of our church in service for God. Our church today does not need preachers so much as it needs teachers. The need of our members is not sermonizing, but the placing before them of definite plans for missionary service, and their enlistment in that service. It is not enough as preachers that we present before our churches abstract theories or the great principles of the truth. This is well and good, but having done that, we need to sit down with our brethren and sisters, plan with them and for them, suggesting to them different ways and means by which the principles we have taught can be put into practical operation.
A working church will be a live church; it will never become a backslidden church. During the camp-meetings many will receive a revival of Christian experience. Their great danger will be after returning to their homes. Removed from the immediate influence of the meeting, many will be in danger of falling back into the old ruts. This evil will be averted if our ministers and the officers of our churches will see to it that every member has a part in definite Christian service for others. Christian labor is the great panacea for spiritual ills. Let us seek to revive in all our churches the old-time personal missionary spirit. This, above all else, will save our people from the natural drift to worldliness and indifference.
F. M. W.

The Great Christian Endeavor Convention

By C. M. S.

Notes and Observations

THE twenty-sixth international convention of the Christian Endeavor Society was held in Los Angeles, Cal., July 9-14. This is without question one of the greatest annual conventions that is held in any part of the world. The arrangements of the convention are methodic in all their details, and none can help admiring the way in which the convention is conducted, or the spirit of enthusiasm and zeal that is manifested both in the leadership and in the rank and file of the delegation.
To conduct a convention with some ten thousand actual delegates and have no confusion, no interference of section with section, and no failure of promised speakers to be on hand to carry out their part, is a task of no small magnitude.
Of much that was said and much that was done only the highest commendation could be given. The membership of the organization stands as a unit for the suppression of the liquor traffic, and for the suppression of the white slave evil; its influence is cast against the cigarette plague; it urges its members to cleanliness of life in home, in society, in official positions in municipality, State, and nation.
There is no question that the membership of the society is made up of the cream of the young people of the world, and many of them are honest and earnest. They see the great evils that are threatening the body politic and are eating out the heart of society, and they and their leaders have an intense desire to remedy these conditions. The desire is laudable, and the determination to work for a better condition of things is commendable. It is always laudable to choose that which is better rather than that which is worse. It is always better to work for the remedying of evil conditions than to sit inert and sanction the conditions by one's very inactivity.
But the mournful part of it all is that the remedy which it is proposed that these young and enthusiastic Endeavorers shall apply to the conditions is a remedy that can never heal that sickness nor mollify those sores. The only remedy for those conditions is the gospel, and that must be applied to individual hearts and lives. But the leaders in this movement are relying upon the ballot-box and the legislature to make of this present existence a veritable heaven on earth. We cannot help looking forward to the sad disappointment in store for these estimable young people when the remedies fail and the sad consummation comes. If the zeal and enthusiasm and effort put forth in this direction were put forth in real evangelical undertakings, a mighty work would be accomplished. But the bringing in of the millennium through the ballot-box and the legislature is an ignis fatuus that is destined to lead thousands into the swamps of ruin and despair.
One of the first speakers at this convention was the Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, whose theme was "The Old Gospel at Work in a New World;" but he yoked up the state with the church in accomplishing the mission of the gospel in the world, and taught the people to look for great and good things from the federation of the churches.
Pres. Ira Landrith, of Belmont College, Nashville, Tenn., in discussing the topic, "Christianity's Solution of Civic Conditions," declared that the golden rule, the decalogue, and the sermon on the mount are adequate solutions of the civic problems of the day, and must all be written into the planks of all political parties. He urged all Christian men and women to get into politics, and declared that the problems of our civic life are nearing solution; that a political pessimist in these days is most unpardonable. He said, "This age is trying to be honest and upright and clean," and declared it useless for any one to tell him that this world is growing worse. In referring to the relation between the preacher and politics, he said: "The man of all men who shall tell me what is right is my pastor; and if he does not, he is a common coward, that is all. When the church gets as active as it ought to be, it will of itself solve all these civic problems. If virtue will only unite, it will succeed. The church of Jesus Christ holds not only the balance of power, but it holds the power in this republic."
From this it will be seen that it is the idea of this eminent educator that the politics of the country are to be directed by the ministers, and that through a federation of the churches legislators will be compelled to pass the laws which the church demands. When the golden rule, the decalogue, and the sermon on the mount are all incorporated into the platforms of all the political parties, we shall have a mingling of the sacred and the profane in the professed service of God that will put to shame any attempt of that kind which past history records. There will then be the form of godliness, but the only power displayed will be the power of the civil arm, the club of the policeman.
Another speaker, B. M. Gambier, voiced the prevailing sentiment of one of the Christian Citizenship meetings in these words: "I am tremendously interested in our Christianity expressing itself in our Christian citizenship. The time has come, I believe, when men should go into politics just the same as they go into the pulpit." There can be no other understanding of such sentiments than that it is expected that the church is to dominate politics and the state. To do that, there must be a union of the two, and such a union as will put the church over the state and make the state the instrument and the servant of the church. When that condition is realized, we shall have the dark ages over again, the church writing her decrees, the state enforcing them upon the people, and the liberties of the people trampled in the dust.
A question was asked: "How are we going to federate all these forces that are to transform these conditions?" The chairman replied: "It must be done; and if it must be done, it can be done. Heretofore we have lacked a definite program. We have generally failed to unify our forces because we have emphasized our differences. Now we are going to emphasize our agreements, the things upon which we can stand together. We are going to find a fighting platform of common agreement; and this department [Christian Citizenship] of Christian Endeavor stands for getting the forces together, emphasizing the spirit of union." The chairman then presented a list of aims which Christian Endeavorers are to have held before them from now on, and among these is "better Sabbath observance," by which was meant the securing and enforcing of Sunday laws.
Mr. G. W. Benn, president of the Texas Christian Endeavor Union, declared that they had come to one of the great epochs in the history of their society, the epoch when they are to cease spasmodic efforts and work for definite objects. He said: "We must have some slogan if we are going to succeed in Christian Endeavor or in Christian Citizenship. This is our slogan: 'The enthronement of Jesus Christ and the supremacy of Jesus Christ, in all the affairs of men and nations.' We shall say: 'We demand these Christian reforms of this Christian nation, pronounced so by the supreme authority, and in the name of Jesus Christ these things shall and must be done.'"
Such statements as the above are in perfect harmony with the aims and purposes and methods of the National Reform Association, and also with the policy and purpose of the great federation of churches. In fact some of the speakers at this convention were National Reformers, and had just come from participation in the World's Christian Citizenship Conference at Portland, Oregon. The Christian Endeavor Society is swinging very largely into the channel of what is termed Christian Citizenship, and one of the departments of the organization bears that title. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that we should find them advocating the same principles, working for the same objects, and proposing to accomplish them by the same methods as do the National Reformers. By having their aims and methods adopted by such organizations as the Christian Endeavor Society and the Federal Council of the Churches, the National Reform Association is accomplishing more in a year than hitherto in a generation.
It is not proposed to seek these ends through the ordinary avenues of gospel or evangelical endeavor. Said Rev. P. J. Rice: "The things that we are facing here are symptoms of the deeper disease. There is an undercurrent of a deep depravity." This is true as the Word of God long ago pointed out: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," but the remedy that God applies is the gospel and the influence of the Holy Spirit on the individual heart. Not so this Christian Citizenship movement. The speaker last quoted said: "We shall have to know the situation and the great forces of corrupted, debased human nature. We shall have to know the black-heartedness that is back of much of this, and then we shall have to know also those gentle, persuasive avenues of operation that will not simply bring on the war, but that will get the work done. I think the time has come when, though we may plead for the great blessings of peace, some of us must dare to fight for the civic righteousness which we desire."
How far such a program is from the program of Jesus, both in method and in direction to his followers, ought to be apparent to the youngest convert to the real truth of the gospel. Jesus Christ came to this world not to establish nations, not to establish governments, but to set up the kingdom of God itself in the hearts of men; and then, when sin had run its course and set a sufficient object-lesson to all the universe, to wipe it out once for all so completely that never again, in all the ages to come, would there be any danger of a repetition of the tragedy of iniquity. But sin can never be eradicated from the hearts of men by some men daring to fight some other men, or by the placing of certain men in responsible places in the government and forcing others out. That is no remedy for sin. But Satan is blinding the eyes of the multitude who profess the name of Christ to such an extent that they have mistaken politics for the gospel and the ballot-box for the sanctuary.
To those who know what is the real hope of this world, who know what God's program is for men and for the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the earth, it is a matter of astonishment that great religious organizations are being swept into that field of deception at such rapid rate.
The program of the Endeavorers contemplates all kinds of moral reforms and civic regenerations by making religion a test of qualification for holding public office; and that is directly opposed both to the letter and the spirit of the Constitution of the United States. In that program comes the exaltation of the Sunday institution and its enforcement upon all. With such organizations as this, the Federal Council of the Churches, the National Reform Association, and the Lord's Day Alliance, working to that end, the wonder is that they have not long ere this accomplished their purpose and placed the liberties of the people once again under the thraldom of an ecclesiastical tyranny. It must be God is restraining these forces, that his people may have opportunity to finish the work he has committed to their trust.

Twenty Cents a Week

By Frederick M. Wilcox

At the recent General Conference it was recommended that our mission offerings be increased to an amount averaging twenty cents a week per member. It was determined that an amount equaling fifteen cents a week per member should be devoted to the support and extension of mission work in lands outside of the United States, and the remainder—five cents—to be devoted to the liquidation of debts now existing on schools and sanitariums. This plan was adopted after careful and mature deliberation, and we believe that it must commend itself to all our people.
Indeed it is gratifying to observe the hearty manner in which a number of our State conferences have already pledged themselves to the adoption of this plan. The reports of the camp-meetings held show that the matter was presented before the rank and file of our people in various States, and that they have entered into the plan heartily.
We know of no more just or equable manner in which funds can be raised for this purpose. By hearty, united effort on the part of the denomination, our work in other lands can now not only successfully be carried forward, but substantial reduction can be made from year to year in our institutional indebtedness, and surely this latter object is a most worthy one to secure.
Who can estimate the good that has resulted from the establishment of our schools? Scores and hundreds of earnest young men and women are laboring in this cause today who no doubt would have followed worldly vocations were it not that in our schools they have obtained a new vision of life and its possibilities, and through the influence of godly instructors have had their consciences awakened to hear the call of the Master for enlistment in his service.
The same is true of our sanitariums. To them has come a class of people who have been brought into touch with our work and with the principles we hold who undoubtedly would never have made this connection under other circumstances.
What are the debts resting on our institutions today compared to the worth of souls and to the great good that has been accomplished? and what are the debts compared to the resources of this people and the results to be attained by their united effort for the next few years? By the hearty cooperation of all, no heavy burden will be thrown upon any.
Every conference, every church, and every individual should give hearty support to the effective operation of this plan. How may this be done?—By increasing our general offerings for missionary purposes; by an increased distribution and more earnest solicitation in the circulation of the Harvest Ingathering REVIEW. That which swells the Sabbath-school offerings, the Harvest Ingathering funds, the week of prayer offerings, and the other missionary offerings of the church, helps to make up this amount. May God give to his people willing hearts in this day of opportunity.
F. M. W.

A Timely Warning

By Editor

IN view of the unsettled conditions that exist at the present time, and the attacks that are being made upon old-time principles, the following warning from Chief Justice White, as published in the Washington Post, is to the point: —
Look around this great land today. Where is there a country like this? The world has never seen the equal of it, yet the world will never see its endurance if the American people forget the foundation principles of their free institutions because of what they imagine to be an evil here and an evil there, and seek to pull down the pillars of the temple in order that they may destroy what they suppose to be a rat within the house. Many thoughtless persons today suppose that everything that is wrong is wrong in the institutions, when without the institutions there would be no right, and everything wrong.

Influence of Literature

Of the good results attending the circulation of a religious paper the Christian Advocate of July 17 gives the following:—
A West Point cadet received a weekly denominational paper by the thoughtfulness of a Christian friend. It did not interest him, and was often dropped into the waste-basket unopened. He had decided to ask the publishers to stop sending it when one day his chum, glancing through it, was caught by an article which appealed to young men to invest their lives where they would produce the highest results. That was the beginning of that boy's remarkable career. After a few years of honorable service he resigned from the army, and volunteered to go to Japan as a missionary, becoming one of the most efficient workers in that field. It was "a church paper" that helped to transform this man's life.

Eternal Vigilance

Recently there was held at New Rochelle, N. Y., a celebration of the landing of the Huguenots. On that occasion Mr. W. Bourke Cockran, lawyer, ex-congressman, and a representative Catholic, delivered an eloquent address. He declared that "the American spirit of today is the edict of Nantes with its toleration in actual operation, or rather with its spirit in effect," and that "every one recognizes that the basis of all laws should be the sermon on the mount, and that it is not the function of the state to support the church, but it is the function of the church to support the state." The Christian Herald of July 16, commenting upon this, justly questions whether Mr. Cockran spoke with authority as a representative of the church, and says of the watchfulness which should be exercised regarding the designs and purposes of the Catholic Church:—
The true attitude of Americans of all religious denominations, and especially of American Protestants, should be one of eternal vigilance. Every Protestant publication should be a watch-tower and every pastor a sentinel on the heights, vigilant and alert against any encroachment from whatever source, by any religion, upon the independence of the state.

Singapore, East Indies

By R. P. Montgomery

R. P. MONTGOMERY
THE work is onward in Singapore and in the rest of the Malaysian Mission field. On Sabbaths we have meetings in three languages,—English, Chinese, and Malay. These meetings are well attended, and many are taking a deep interest in the truth.
In Singapore we have a few young men from Borneo who have come to us to learn more about the soon coming of our Saviour. One man has come from the island of Moa, off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. He is very zealous for the cause of Christ.
Thus the message of salvation is getting a foothold in these islands of heathenism and the false prophet. We have a fine class of young people whom we shall train and put into active missionary work.
Just a ride through some of the busy streets of Singapore, jammed with people of a hundred languages and divers sorts of religions, pushing their way on in all directions, apparently aimlessly,—this is enough to inspire any consecrated Christian with a desire to do all he can to direct their feet into the narrow path that leads to Christ our Lord, which means eternal life. O, the millions of people in the Malaysian Mission field, of which Singapore is the headquarters, who, steeped in ignorance and bowing the knee to the false prophet, are only waiting for the messengers of life to bear them the glad tidings of salvation and set them free.
What are nine foreign workers and a few native helpers to fifty million people, over a hundred languages, and nearly every heathen religion on earth? May God inspire brave hearts in the home lands to consecrate their lives to this needy field.

In Nyasaland

By S. M. Konigmacher

THURSDAY I spent a very profitable day visiting my nearest out-school and nearly all the villages in its vicinity. Though many were in their gardens, those whom I found in the village were glad to see their teacher had not forgotten them in the stress of station duties. I praised them for their thrifty-looking gardens. We prayed together, and I told them that they must not neglect to come to worship because they are watching the baboons by day and the wild hogs by night. That is good and necessary, but the service of God is of more importance.
I found one poor woman mourning the loss of her baby. She has a mother's heart even though she is in Central Africa and her skin is dark. A few feet away her sister sat in the door of her hut, dying and wasting away with that enemy of mankind, tuberculosis. Their brother, who is one of my teachers, was with me, and as we prayed for them we tried to draw them close to the One who carries all our infirmities and heals all our diseases. We also counseled together about the baptism of this poor sick woman, deciding that if she was ready and could not come to the mission, her husband, who is a baptized member of the church, and others would bring her in the machila, and I would baptize her; thus if the Saviour should call her, she would be ready.
The school was doing well, and the progress was noticeable, though many were absent, some picking tea and some hunting food; yet nearly fifty were present. On Friday two of my teachers from the mountain back of the mission came down to report about their schools, and to get some supplies. Jim, who is teaching two schools, says that the children in his second school are wishing to have their lessons in the early morning, the same as at the school in the chief's village, so I shall have to send another assistant to take charge of this second school. The natives during the planting season like to go to school in the early morning, so they can have the greater part of the day in their gardens. They see the importance of an education, but at the same time cannot do without their "daily bread."
The tract on the Sabbath is out, and we have begun to distribute it.
While the work is going steadily forward, the brethren at home must not think there is no more to do. O, no! we need your help in many ways. Think of it, six workers among one hundred thousand persons scattered over miles of dreary wastes! We are of good courage.

Our Sisters in Anhwei

By Bertha L. Selmon

BERTHA L. SELMON
THE work in Ying Shang Hsein for the past two years has been in charge of the Chinese evangelist, Brother C. D. Han, and his wife. A Bible woman, Mrs. Dzan, assists Sister Han with the women's work. We were much pleased to find a good interest among the women and girls, and were able to assist them in starting a church-school during our recent visit to Ying Shang. This place, being removed quite a distance from any of our mission centers, does not receive a visit from foreign workers very often. It took us one week from Shanghai to reach them. We remained seven weeks with them, and conducted a general meeting and Bible institute during our stay. We also devoted two hours daily to dispensary work.
Sisters Han and Dzan have done good work in visiting and teaching. Besides eight women members in the church, a goodly number of inquirers, in addition to the members, meet for Sabbath services. As none of our women there had sufficient education to act as teacher of the girls' school, one of the young evangelists, an earnest Christian, is doing the teaching. A class of six or eight women, including the teacher's wife, attend the school. Some cannot attend full time, but come when they can. Others would like to come, but opposition at home prevents them. One young woman can attend only the Sabbath services, when her husband is away from home. If he learns of it, she is sure to get a beating.
A young woman whom we could not see at all is trying to live the truth as far as she knows it, in spite of the fact that she is forbidden by her father either to leave the house or to let any of our workers come to see her. One young woman, a widow of the son of one of the church-members, was so much interested in the dispensary work that she desired a nurse's training. She seemed to us to have a natural ability in that line, and arrangements were all made for her to go to Shanghai to attend the school; but her mother, who is a heathen woman, learned of it, and the story was told that the father-in-law had sold this young woman to us for one hundred and sixty dollars. The mother opposed so bitterly that the matter had to be given up for a time at least. This young woman will continue to attend the school in Ying Shang, however, and we hope will be a useful worker.
Another woman, who was left a widow with three children about thirteen years ago, and made a livelihood by selling flour, till her children were grown, is now bitterly persecuted by her son and his wife. The daughter-in-law would take the mother's portion of the food prepared and defile it with mud, to show her contempt for the mother's religion. This woman is now leaving her home to the children, and seeks to support herself elsewhere, so that she can be free from heathen entanglements, and be a Christian, as she desires to be.
Some of these women who learn now for the first time to read in their own language, will make good workers in the future. The best workers, however, will be those who begin to learn at a younger period, so now the boys and girls in school have the greater advantage. There are five girls in the advanced class in the Ying Shang girls' school. Three of these are not tied by marriage engagements, and one other will break an engagement already contracted with a heathen man, so at least four give every promise of making good workers when they finish their training. Fourteen other younger girls are attending the school, besides a class of four small boys. The teacher cannot look after both the older women and the children, so Sister Han and the Bible woman take turns in the schoolroom, teaching the women. They have a good visiting work besides, going out into the homes of the interested ones, so they are quite busy.
When we left, all the schoolchildren and workers, and a goodly number in addition, accompanied us to the riverside. Our house-boat was filled with people. As we sang, "God be with you till we meet again," there was hardly a dry eye in the room. The older girls had been crying all the forenoon because we were leaving them. We believe that many of these will be found in that great gathering that knows no parting.

Look Beyond

By Pearl Waggoner

WHEN the clouds are dark, and hanging low about thy way, Look beyond the shadows to the land of perfect day; Think of One who for thyself a deeper sorrow bore, Think of endless life with him where pain shall come no more.
Look beyond the shadows to the dawn of perfect day When a God of love himself shall wipe all tears away,— Where the mists shall vanish, and the dark things be made known, Where earth's worn and weary ones no more shall walk alone.
Look beyond the shadow. There is light the other side, Daylight that is lasting, joys that evermore abide. Look beyond the shadow when the prospect seemeth drear; Light beyond will compensate for all the gloom down here.
Look beyond the shadows. But and should they chance to be Far too deep for human eyes the light beyond to see, Lose not then thy hope, but hold by faith the promise fast: Morning surely cometh when the shades of night are past.
Look beyond the shadow, for the morn will soon be here; Even now on the horizon signs of dawn appear. Hold, then, fast thy confidence, whatever tests arise: Light for thee, if faithful, just beyond the shadow lies.
Hinsdale, Ill.

Finland

By J. T. Boettcher

J. T. BOETTCHER
THE fourth annual meeting of the Finnish Conference was held at Tawasthus, June 25-29. Brother Rentala, a young Finn and former student of our school at Friedensau, held meetings in this town last winter, and succeeded in awakening a good interest. The hall, with a seating capacity of about four hundred, was filled evening after evening with interested listeners, some of the better class attending. Hence it seemed best to hold the conference at this place.
At the very beginning of the conference the police came, accompanied by detectives, to inquire into things and to learn why their small town of some five thousand inhabitants was to be disturbed by these meetings. The ministers present were told to get their passports registered. The chief of police also forbade any baptizing. After the first storm had passed over and they learned that we were quiet folk, seeking only the good of the people, they did not trouble us any further until the last morning of the conference. Then we had a baptism of twenty-six candidates. Just at the close, the chief of police came, but as the brethren had baptized just outside of the city limits, he could say nothing.
The attendance at the conference was very good, more than two thirds of the entire membership of the field being present. During the year 1912, eighty-nine new members were taken in by baptism, the net gain in membership being seventy-four. Three new churches were added to the conference.
Sabbath, June 28, was an occasion of especial blessing. The whole congregation dedicated themselves anew to the service of the Lord. In the afternoon of the day, Brother H. Mikkonen was solemnly ordained to the gospel ministry. As this brother is our first ordained Finnish minister, this begins a new era for our work in Finland. May it be the beginning of great blessings. There are some bright young people of promise connected with the work here, to whom we look for help in the near future. What a great blessing it is that we have schools where our young people can be trained for the work of God. We had no trouble to find translators for our preaching, as some spoke English, Swedish, and Finnish, while others German, Swedish, and Finnish.
Elder L. Muderspach was unanimously reelected president of the conference. Very little change was made in the conference officers. Elder J. C. Raft, president of the Scandinavian Union Conference, and the writer assisted in the meetings.
We are very thankful that there are now three hundred and twenty-nine Adventists in Finland, forty-five of whom are having good success in the canvassing work. These can exercise a power there that no other people can. Still there is liberty in Finland, but how long it will last only God knows.
On Friday evening, June 27, Professor Suksdorf, of Helsingfors, gave a very interesting lecture on health reform, which was also timely and practical.
Our foreign mission work was not forgotten, and a collection of 500 F.Mks. was taken up. The Sabbath-school collection amounted to 132 F.Mks. It is their earnest desire to reach during the year 1913 the ten-cent-a-member mark for foreign missions. All their donations stand quite high except the First-day of-ferings, which are small. But we trust that by the blessing of the Lord the brethren and sisters will come up on this point.
The influence of the meeting was very good, and all left for their homes strengthened and encouraged by the word of God.

A Chinese Woman Healed

By J. J. Westrup

J. J. WESTRUP
A SISTER, the wife of our leading evangelist, was really possessed of the evil one, and at times was very hard to control. This was a great cross to our brother, and about a year ago I saw him weeping like a child. The cross was almost too heavy for him. We had her live in our compound so that she might be surrounded by the best influence; and by faith, prayer, and the hearing of the Word she has been made completely free in Jesus. I heard her testify at our general meeting four months ago, and I rejoiced in the Lord as I listened to her earnest and powerful testimony. She is diligently studying the Bible every day, and is praying much, being at present a great encouragement to her husband. The power of Jesus Christ can save all who accept him as their Saviour.

Chinese Carpenter Baptized in Burma

By H. H. Votaw

Brother H. H. Votaw, of Burma, sends this interesting incident:—
“The Chinese carpenter instructor in the Meiktila Industrial School came to Brother Thurber and asked for baptism. As none of our believers know Chinese, and the candidate understands Burmese but imperfectly, Brother Thurber rather hesitated about administering the rite, fearing that the man did not sense its significance. While he pondered, the man said, ‘I don't know much, but I have been reading your Chinese paper, and I believe what I have read.’ Then he added, ‘I know that I am a sinner, and that Jesus Christ is my Saviour.’ Of course he was baptized.
“Among the nineteen candidates who have been baptized in Burma during the first quarter of this year, we have had three Chinese, one Tamil, and one Sgaw-Karen. The last mentioned is the first from his tribe. The Chinese are also our first converts from their nation. Our interest is good in Burma, and our faith is strong.”

Buddhism and Taoism on Women

By Missionary Review of the World

Buddhism and Taoism are equally hard on women. According to these two systems, no woman, however virtuous she may be, has any hope of immediate salvation beyond the grave. When a woman dies, simply because she is a woman she falls into the dread "lake of blood." And when she has expiated her supposed sins, the sins of womanhood, in the supposed lake, all she can expect, the highest she can hope for, is to be reborn into the world as a man. — Missionary Review of the World.
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