A DREARY place would this earth be,
Were there no little people in it;
The song of life would lose its mirth,
Were there no children to begin it.
No little forms, like buds, to grow,
And make the admiring heart surrender;
No little hands on breast and brow,
To keep the thrilling love-chords tender;
So sterner souls would grow more stern,
Unfeeling nature more inhuman,
And man to stoic coldness turn,
And woman would be less than woman.
Life’s song, indeed, would lose its charm,
Were there no babies to begin it;
A doleful place this world would be,
Were there no little people in it.
— Selected.
Fear Hath Torment
By Frederick M. Rossiter
FREDERICK M. ROSSITER, M. D.
Fear is an emotion, or passion, that had its origin in the garden of Eden, following the first sin. As sin becomes more and more prevalent, fears multiply proportionately, and as a direct sequence have a more pronounced influence upon the body.
Fear is an apprehension of danger, and may vary in intensity. It may be unconscious fear, worry, anxiety, dread, or abject terror.
Fear torments its victim, for “fear hath torment.” Torment comes from the Latin word tormentum, which means an instrument of torture, or, more literally, an instrument for twisting. Torment causes anguish, the utmost degree of misery; it vexes, harasses, inflicts excruciating misery upon mind or body. No physical pain is more excruciating than that produced by an instrument for twisting any part of the body. These words alone express the rack and ruin that may be produced in the human body by fear.
In Corinthians we read that “the sorrow of this world worketh death.” And the sorrow of the world is so closely associated with fear that it is difficult to draw a line of distinction between them.
Fear has ever been an effective agent in keeping man from the full enjoyment of physical and spiritual blessings. As we are born in sin, so we are born to fear, and it is about as common among Christian believers as among unbelievers. An infant in its mother’s arms often has fear of falling, though it has never been dropped nor injured. Our fears are legion—fear of calamity, of pain, of storm, of flood, of lightning, of fire, of wreck, of drowning, of disease, of death, of sailing on Friday, of the number thirteen, and numerous other superstitions; fear of financial losses, of poverty; fears of heat, of cold, of droughts; fears of secret sins; fears of eternal damnation; fears of committing the unpardonable sin; fears that torment soul and body day and night. Many are in distress most of the time because of fears, often more imaginary than real.
Fear sometimes becomes a form of insanity,—morbid fears, such as being afraid to cross a bridge, of riding in a boat, of filth, of being poisoned by some friend or relative, and so on ad infinitum. The time has come when men’s hearts are filled with fear because of “looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”
Influence on the Physical Nature
Now we are led to inquire, what is the influence of fear upon the body and its functions, and hence upon the health. It has long been recognized by physicians that the patient’s fear of not getting well stands very much in the way of his restoration to health. Fear of not getting well has brought death to many a person who otherwise would have recovered. On the other hand, great hope and confidence have snatched many a soul from the grave. Hence it is evident that fear is inimical to health. It effectually stands in the way of abounding in health.
One is in eminent danger of sudden death or loss of limb. What is the effect of fear in such a case?—One is “paralyzed with fear.” The heart beats rapidly, it “comes up in the mouth,” the face is marble white, cold chills pass over the body, the sweat glands pour out a cold perspiration, the blood has left the skin, there is goose-flesh, the muscles tremble, the flow of saliva is checked, the mouth is dry, and there is intense physical weakness; in other words, there is intense physical shock, which may almost wreck the nervous system. In such fright one may “faint dead away,” or the mind may be unbalanced for months or years. We must conclude from such a manifestation that fear excites a most profound nervous commotion in the body; that it depresses every vital activity, and throws the organism into the utmost confusion. Fear may also have a marked effect upon the secretions. A woman who saw her husband killed, nursed her infant shortly after, and it died in a convulsion caused by the poisoning of the mother’s milk.
If a great fear of a few moments’ duration will excite such a profound commotion in the body, we are just in saying that all lesser fears will act upon the body and its functions in a corresponding degree. Lesser fears are often of long duration, and so produce more permanent results. All such fears exhaust the nervous energy, lower vital resistance, and make one a prey to disease.
Promotes Disease
In every great epidemic of disease, such as cholera, yellow fever, or smallpox, fear has played a prominent part in the spread of the disease. In certain epidemics of cholera it has been said that the mortality among those who were sick from fear was greater than among those who actually had the disease.
The lesser fears may not cause a chill or a fever, but they so act upon the nervous system that the circulation is checked in various portions of the body, as is illustrated in cold hands and feet, loss of appetite, or poor digestion. Every square inch of skin, and every organ of the body is represented in the brain. The brain receives messages from these organs, and in turn sends messages back to them. Every emotion and every controlling mental influence in some mysterious and subtle manner goes out to all the body, promoting health or else disease. Many illustrations could be given to demonstrate this fact. Fear causes depressing influences to be sent out. Fear entertained in reference to any organ for any length of time depresses it, interferes with its circulation, and encourages disease.
The world is full of people who are fearful that they are going to have cancer, tuberculosis, or that they are going insane. These fears prey upon the mind until the vital resistance is so lowered that the disease may actually appear.
No inconsiderable number of people are in fear that certain foods will not agree with them, and sure enough they do not. Fear that a food which has been eaten will cause trouble, is quite sure to invite the expected trouble. I do not think there is any doubt that fear of the disease, because of a knowledge of it and of its location, has made appendicitis more prevalent in these days.
A speaker addressing an audience often has a dry mouth and cold hands and feet, because of fear. A morbid fear of draughts is pretty sure to lead to colds.
Most of our fears are subjective; that is, they come from within, and are of our own creation. Many of our fears are of long standing, and so exert their influence upon the body almost unconsciously, but most effectually interfering with the health. Imaginary fears lead to introspection, and hence foster selfishness, for the mind becomes self-centered.
Now the apostle says “fear hath torment,” and every one can testify to the truthfulness of this statement. It torments its victim to death if it can, and keeps him in a constant state of suspense, worrying mind and body.
The Remedy
To fear is to doubt. Fear and faith are opposite to each other, and incompatible. Fear depresses, faith energizes. Fear promotes disease, faith promotes health. Fear interferes with the functions13of the body, while faith enables each organ to work at its greatest efficiency.
What will cure one of fear?—Love, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” God is better than all our fears. To fear him means that he will help us not to fear anything. The Christian has no right to fear. Fear is antichristian. Fears are discouraging. He alone who is out of Christ has reason to fear.
Alcohol as a Beverage and Medicine
By H. D. Didama
The evolution of medical science through the elimination of error and discovery of truth has been continuous, although sometimes restrained by conservatism and hampered by prejudice. Many theories which were at one time regarded as Gibraltar principles have been consigned to merited oblivion.
Of these traditions, one which traces its origin to almost prehistoric times, was that alcohol in some form—as beer, wine, whisky, or brandy—is harmless, and valuable as a beverage, important in the management of minor disorders, and sine qua non in the treatment of dangerous ones.
Regarding the use of alcohol as a beverage, opinions differ radically. The advocates of the canteen claim that when the soldiers could buy wine, beer, and other “soft drinks,” there was little or no drunkenness, but that now, since the abolition of this great temperance promoter, the men resort to outside saloons, and buy whisky as well as beer.
It is well to remember that the active principle in the soft drinks is identical with that in the strong ones. Whisky contains an indefinite amount of alcohol, from twenty to forty per cent.; beer ranges from four to eight per cent.; claret, nine per cent.; champagne, eleven per cent.; tokay, the favorite prescription of some physicians, twelve per cent.; port, eighteen per cent.; and sherry, another soft drink, twenty-two per cent. People can and do get drunk on any one of these beverages; and a high authority holds that beer rather than whisky is the cause of certain forms of neuralgia. The canteen is the primary school, the kindergarten, for the saloon. Many a new recruit tasted an alcoholic beverage for the first time in the canteen. The acquired taste led him with boon companions to the grogshop. Many newspapers advocate the restoration of the canteen, ostensibly for temperance reasons, and at the same time advertise in another column some favorite brand of whisky side by side with an account of an assault or horrible murder committed by an inebriate.
Some readers may remember that Dr. ——, claimed by a leading daily paper to be one of New York’s most eminent medical authorities, read an essay advocating the daily use of old whisky as a stimulant, an excellent predigested food, and a healthful beverage.
Every day we read accounts of men who tarry long at night, and spend their money, in those restaurants—clerically christened “poor men’s clubs”—where the precious liquid food is furnished, and who then go home, and in their hilarity abuse, beat, and maim their half-starved wives and children.
The unanimous testimony of those who train for athletic exercises—football, foot races, rowing matches, pugilistic contests—is very emphatic that alcoholic drinks are always harmful. It is ancient history that Kane, Nansen, and other arctic explorers gave to their men not a drop of alcohol—this so-called king of stimulants—although the thermometer in those frigid nights sometimes indicated a temperature of eighty degrees below zero.
Business men, also, and employers of laborers testify that the abstainers in their service not only endure cold and heat, hunger and exposure and fatigue, better, but they recover sooner than those who indulge in intoxicants. This testimony of practical men, who know what they are talking about, would seem to overbalance the statements of a few tippling surgeons that alcoholic drinks are indispensable in hot climates.
An important lecture was delivered in London by Victor Horsley, who is acknowledged to be a great authority on the brain, and who is known not only as a fearless investigator for truth, but as the servant of science. The lecture is published in The British Medical Journal of May 5, 1900. Horsley’s experiments demonstrated that the effect of alcohol upon the brain was first an apparent quickening of the cerebral act, which lasted but a few minutes, and then for a period of two to four hours the cerebral activity was diminished; that is, it took longer for a person who had had a small quantity of alcohol to think. And he asserted that the evidence was overwhelming that alcohol in small amounts had a most deleterious effect on voluntary muscular work.
Alcohol was employed in the treatment of diphtheria by nearly all physicians in Europe up to seven years ago, and by a majority in our own country. The mortality abroad was sixty-eight per cent., but was not so great in America; and this lessened death rate here was attributed by many practitioners to the use of Rhine and domestic wines, which contain but a small percentage of alcohol. After the introduction of Behring’s antitoxin the mortality in Europe was reduced to thirty per cent.; still this enormously high rate continuing in spite of, if not in consequence of, the persistent employment of the accustomed alcohol. At home the early use of antitoxin sine alcohol brought the mortality nearly to the vanishing point.
Notwithstanding the evolution, resulting from scientific experiments, observation, and experience, of the conviction that alcohol is harmful as a beverage, promotive of many diseases, and useless in medical practice, it is to be regretted that a large number of authors—especially those who have already embalmed their opinions in printer’s ink—still adhere to their ancient views, and advocate them vehemently. Many teachers in medical colleges—the number, it is to be hoped, is growing beautifully less every year—follow their leaders, the bookmakers, who in too many instances are not so much original idealists as transcribers.
And not a few of the worthy rank and file of the medical profession who have little time and few conveniences for experimentation, are content to adopt as their excuse for administering alcohol the one given by a candid young practitioner at a discussion of the subject in New York City, “I use it because other doctors do.”
The number of careful and scientific observers at home and abroad who have proved that alcohol is an anæsthetic and depressant instead of a stimulant is rapidly increasing. The small army of physicians who have had the courage to relinquish the use of alcohol in the treatment of diseases have come to rejoice at the daily addition to its list of recruits. “The acorn is small, but it has in it the potentiality of the giant oak.”
The science of medicine is intimately associated with practice. As a rule, those who best know, best do. Their philanthropy, instead of halting at easy benedictions, passes forward to practical benefactions. Their delight as well as their duty inspires them not only to alleviate suffering, but to anticipate and ward it off. They indorse the popular maxim, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”—sixteen to one.
In conclusion, those physicians who neither use alcohol in so-called moderation, as a beverage, nor prescribe it in heroic or minute doses as a medicine, and who have personal experience for their belief that the non-alcoholic treatment of any disease is far more satisfactory than the alcoholic management which they formerly employed, are liable and likely to have many pleasant and gratifying experiences. For instance, gastric catarrh is a complaint abundantly prevalent among those who use beer, wine, or whisky in asserted moderation. The statement of not a few of the victims is possibly well founded, that the whisky was prescribed by a reputable physician to improve digestion. A careful investigation of the case results in the regulation of the diet, and the exaction of a promise to abstain permanently from the use of every form of alcoholic beverages. And it is not an uncommon occurrence for the patient to return after a week or two and express his gratification, to inquire why other doctors had not given the same counsel, and to renew his total abstinence pledge.
Satisfactory experiences like this, which any physician may possess, are already enjoyed by a rapidly increasing number of medical men who are counted among the most eminent in this country and abroad—in Germany and France, as well as in England.—H. D. Didama, M. D., LL. D., Dean of College of Medicine, Syracuse University, in the Christian Advocate.
Our First News From Far Assam
By W. A. Spicer
W. A. SPICER
WITNESS is being borne for the truth of this advent message in far Assam. This is a province buried away in the northeast corner of the Indian empire. It has about the area of Ohio, with a population of five millions. It is a hill country, on the southern slope of the Himalayas. The tea-growing industry has called many Europeans into the district, Assam tea having a high reputation in Europe. Coolies from Bengal are continually passing in troops into the Assam tea districts, many never to return; for Assam generally is an unhealthful country. The Baptists have long had a vigorous and successful mission work among the wild hill tribes.
PLANTER'S HOME AND TEA GARDEN, HIMALAYAS
Assam is beyond the bounds of our organized work in India, but God has blessed an English sister there with the knowledge of the truth, and she is letting her light shine. I have just received a letter from her; and though it is a personal letter, not written for publication, I am sure our sister will not censure me for allowing others to read a portion of it here. It is the first word we have ever had from Assam. The reference to Brother Smith's death, news of which had just reached her, suggests how this truth is bringing believers into one family in all parts of the world, so that at such a loss there are hearts that sorrow away at the ends of the earth. I quote as follows:—
“Dear Elder Smith has fallen like a brave warrior at his post. I sat and wept when I read it. I have enjoyed his writings so much. After I had heard you preach twice from the second of Daniel, and had become interested in the truth, his book, ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,’ was a great help to me in studying the truth. It is the very book for these days, and though our friend has fallen asleep for a little while, truly his works will follow him. Many times I have lent these books to friends, and I hope the Lord will bless what they have read therein. My daughter is now an earnest worker in carrying the message to the world. [She is engaged with our canvassers and Bible workers in selling literature up and down India.] Do you remember us in Calcutta, how for eighteen months we came and went to the medical branch before we heard the truth? When I look back upon it, I wonder at the merciful, patient way the Lord has led us, how gently he caused us to have to return to these people who were to become the bearers of the King’s messages for us.
“And now I am standing for the truth, so far the only Seventh-day Adventist representing our people in Assam. I am doing, I must not say all, but something toward spreading the message here. It is in my thoughts by day and night, lest the blood of souls be found on my garments. With the aid of ‘Bible Readings,’ I have been getting the readings printed in order, beginning with the four kingdoms of Daniel, and going right on through the three messages with the solemn work of the cleansing of the sanctuary. These readings I am sending the length and breadth of Assam, to missionaries and other people, and I hope the Lord, will hear my prayer, and cause others to see what he has shown to me.
“A Baptist missionary told me the other day that there are one hundred and seventy-five different tribes and tongues in Assam. Every group of hills has its own tribe and tongue, and many have never even heard of the gospel. I do wish some of our people in America could see the fields here ready for laborers. I do pray that God may put it into the hearts of some to come here and ‘compel’ the people to come in to the feast that will soon be ready, and to show them how and through whom they may claim the robe of righteousness that will give them entrance to the King’s palace.
“Our workers in Calcutta are doing their uttermost. In the midst of the heat they work, work, work, as if there was no time to lose, as if the Lord might be expected to-morrow. They are cheerful, hopeful, loving, forgetting themselves in their service for others, and I am sure they are gaining ground. It has been my privilege to live among them, and I thank the Lord for it. They have worked against great odds, but the lump is leavening. If only more workers would come—if people would only listen to the voice of God through his prophet, how loud the cry could be made in India and everywhere! I look forward to the day when the REVIEW and the Signs are due. We in India believe we are going to see an advance all over the fields. Sister White’s warning will surely not be in vain.
“A few days ago an Assamese Mohammedan left this place for Calcutta, to be baptized. He is a storekeeper in the public works department. He had been reading the Bible, and was impressed with our Lord’s prayer for his murderers, ‘Father, forgive them.’ This convinced him that Christ was the Son of God. Such a return of good for evil sank deep into the mind of this Assamese, and some time ago he decided upon renouncing the religion of his fathers. Various denominations tried to lead him, but he is also convinced on the Sabbath question, and has decided to keep it. This man has suffered much persecution from his own people, but is of good courage, and says he knows the Lord is leading him. I pray the Lord may lead him into all the truth and into service.
“Do you remember how indifferent I used to be to heavenly things? Well, the Lord has shown me the way of life, and now people say I have this truth on the brain. My answer is that I hope I shall never be able to refrain from taking up the general cry of warning that will, I believe, go quickly through all the earth. May the Lord hasten the day. Yours in the blessed hope.”
This blessed hope makes us one the world over. I know that many an isolated one, working alone, will be cheered by this letter from the banks of Brahmaputra, one of the streams most sacred in Hindu superstition. The little jets of light are springing up in the darkness. Pray that other lights may be kindled among the Assam hills.
The Danish Conference
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
This year the Danish Conference was held in our mission building, “Ebenezer,” in the nicely situated capital, Copenhagen, a city of about four hundred thousand inhabitants, June 9–14. Sixty-two delegates represented the nineteen churches and companies of Denmark. The meeting was not so well attended as the one last year, although there was often a congregation of nearly three hundred. Elders Irwin and Conradi and Dr. Paulson were present, and rendered valuable help, which was greatly appreciated by all who were at the meeting.
The spiritual interest was good, especially among the young people. Our laborers seemed to be greatly encouraged at this meeting, and they go forth with renewed energy and hope. The educational and the canvassing and the health work received special attention. The financial condition of the conference is much improved. On the Sabbath, a day when God came very near to us, Brother P. Christensen was ordained to the gospel ministry. Seven candidates received baptism. Among them were two young people to whom an aged brother in Wisconsin sent some Danish papers in 1890. These papers awakened their interest, and one of our canvassers found them a few months ago, and through his efforts they were brought fully into the truth. Two other of the candidates were also largely indebted to our co-porteur work for their knowledge of the third angel’s message. Quite a number who have been attending Elder Lewis H. Christian’s meetings in Copenhagen the past winter and spring will soon be ready for baptism.
Denmark is a small country, yet it could make good use of a few more laborers, especially devoted Bible workers. The greatest financial necessity now confronting the Danish brethren is the raising of the second mortgage on the mission building in Copenhagen. This mortgage amounts to four thousand dollars, and bears five per cent interest. It ought to be paid as soon as possible, and then the building could quite comfortably pay its running expenses. It is a nice building, in a splendid location, and amply answers the purpose for which it was erected, although a little money must soon be expended in necessary improvements.
Some small, wide-awake, up-to-date tracts would be a blessing to this field, and to establish a tract fund for the publication of something of the kind, nearly twenty-seven dollars was collected. To assist in creating a co-porteur’s fund, about ninety-five dollars was given in cash and pledges; this money will be used in helping needy canvassers, who through sickness or misfortune may be brought into distressing circumstances.
The following-named persons now constitute the force of laborers, as suggested by the Committee on Credentials and licenses: those receiving ministerial credentials, P. A. Hansen, J. C. Raft, N. Clausen, L. H. Christian, P. Christensen; receiving ministerial license, L. Muderspach; missionary license, J. P. Hansen.
At the suggestion of the Nominating Committee, these officers were elected: President, P. A. Hansen; Vice-President, J. C. Raft; Secretary and Treasurer, Jens Olsen; other members of Conference Committee, N. Clausen, Dr. N. P. Nelson; Auditors, P. Hansen, A. J. Aagaard.
The following resolutions were passed in the business sessions:—
“1. Resolved, That we express our heartfelt gratitude to God for his prospering hand in the affairs of the conference during the past year.
“Whereas, Our American brethren have shown us their good-will by sending Elder L. H. Christian to our assistance, as well as giving us the benefit of the presence of Elders G. A. Irwin of L. R. Conradi and Dr. David Paulson during our annual meeting, and have further helped us in a financial manner, therefore,—
“2. Resolved, That we hereby express to them our appreciation of their kindness in these respects.
“3. Resolved, That the Danish Conference be requested to consider the advisability of sending out proper persons to awaken among our churches a deeper interest in the circulation of our health and evangelical literature.
“Whereas, We appreciate the work of the Library Committee in getting out ‘Faith and Conversion,’ the ‘Heavenly Meeting,’ and the ‘Signs of the Times,’ therefore,—
“4. We recommend, That our churches and scattered members take an active part in the circulation of these tracts, and we would urge the Literary Committee to make arrangements for the publication of additional inexpensive and neatly prepared tracts, as soon as possible.
“Whereas, The necessity of educating our young people becomes more and more apparent, and,—
“Whereas, It is impossible to establish a high school under the existing circumstances, therefore,—
“5. We recommend, That a five months’ training-school for workers be conducted the coming winter, and that, beginning with July 1, 1903, our brethren be asked to contribute ten öre a week, per capita, toward the support of such a course of instruction.
“Whereas, Both by precept and example the Lord has taught us to send out workers two and two, and,—
“Whereas, We have seen from experience how difficult it is to labor alone, and our brethren who labor in other countries two and two have greater success in their labors, therefore,—
“6. Resolved, That hereafter we endeavor to send out our missionary workers two and two.
“Whereas, It is the Lord’s will that the third angel’s message be rapidly proclaimed to all the people of the world, and,—
“Whereas, The day of the Lord hasteneth greatly, therefore,—
“7. Resolved, That our workers be recommended to lay their plans for holding two courses of lectures each year, so that the people may have an opportunity to decide for or against the gospel for this time.
“8. Resolved, That the laborers in the field correspond with the conference president as often as once a month, that they may receive from him and the conference committee any advice they may need.
“Whereas, It is often difficult and expensive to secure halls in the country, and,—
“Whereas, The rural districts ought to be as thoroughly worked as the cities, therefore,—
“9. Resolved, That the conference provide, as soon as possible, a tent to be used for missionary work in the country during the summer season.
“Whereas, It is of great importance to educate the people properly in the principles of temperance and hygiene, and,—
“Whereas, Our health paper gives valuable instruction upon these topics, therefore,—
“10. Resolved, That we heartily recommend our brethren to become subscribers to this paper themselves, and do what they can to distribute it among others.
“11. Resolved, That we recommend our conference committee to co-operate in the religious work of the Skodsborg Sanitarium as much as possible.
“12. Resolved, That our brethren and sisters be asked carefully to consider the health work among us, and determine whether they themselves, or some of the young people in our churches, ought not to be engaged in this or some other branch of the work.
“Whereas, God has greatly blessed us through the Sabbath-school work, therefore,—
“13. We recommend, That our people everywhere be encouraged to renew their interest in the Sabbath-school, and that such plans be laid as will lead both parents and children to take part more fully in this branch of the message.
“Whereas, In most places the Sabbath-school is the only religious school we have for our children, therefore,—
“14. We recommend, That every effort be put forth to make the Sabbath-school as attractive and interesting to the children as possible.
“Whereas, Unity gives strength, and,—
“Whereas, God’s cause in Scandinavia is in great need of all possible strength, and,—
“Whereas, It is inconvenient for brethren from other lands to attend so many local conferences, therefore,—
“15. Resolved, That we recommend the Scandinavian Union Conference to consider the advisability of holding an annual session of their union the coming year, in harmony with the general practice of the other European union fields.
“Whereas, The canvassing work is16the means of winning many souls to the truth, especially those who would not otherwise receive a knowledge of the message, therefore,—
“16. Resolved, That we encourage God-fearing men and women, who are capable of making a success of canvassing, to take up the sale of our publications.
“Whereas, The sale of our publications is a very important part of the third angel’s message, so that the Testimonies even declare that if one branch of the work is more important than another, it is the canvassing work, therefore,—
“17. Resolved, That we request the conference to give this department of the cause special attention; (a) in the selection of proper colporteurs, as such laborers are as important as ministers; (b) that only those be sent out as canvassers who have received thorough instruction in the Word of God and in the message for our times, in a school conducted for this purpose; (c) that inexperienced workers be encouraged to live and work together with an older canvasser in the beginning of their canvassing experience; (d) that we create a fund for the aid of canvassers in need of help; (e) that the churches show their interest in this work, first by their prayers, and, secondly, by contributing to this fund.
“Whereas, The sentiment of our people, and the teachings of the Testimonies, acknowledge the importance of the canvassing work, therefore,—
“18. Resolved, That hereafter this branch of the work be given greater attention at the yearly sessions of the conference.”
There has been some growth in the conference the past year (1902). Fifteen were baptized; thirty-six were received by vote, and their present membership is 649. The tithe for the year was $4,359, and the offerings $555. As far as we can see, the work in this field is onward, and the outlook for the future brighter than heretofore.
