When I speak of “fairy stories,” I wish to include all such stories as “Jack and the Bean-Stalk,” “The Three Bears,” “Little Red Riding-Hood,” etc., as well as those untruths which are sometimes told about “Santa Claus” and the new baby.
A child’s mind is easily impressed, and we can not be too careful in regard to his teaching. When we repeat to him wierd and fanciful stories about fairies, ghosts, and goblins, we are not only filling his mind with that which will be a positive injury, but we are losing a precious opportunity to teach important truth, which will help him to form a righteous character. One is taking upon himself a fearful responsibility when his teaching is such as to give the youthful mind a wrong mold. “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:2.
Fairy stories unduly excite the imagination, affect the nerves, and tend to make children timid. I once knew of a little girl who had a serious illness, and had to leave school, because her teacher made it a part of her program to tell the children fairy tales. The nerves of the child gave way, and in her illness she imagined that the room was inhabited by horrible creatures.
The tendency of the fictitious tale is toward skepticism and superstition. When the children become older, they discover the fact that they have been deceived, and they learn to doubt things that are really true. To doubt everything will be found as disastrous as to believe everything. There are many who count themselves Christians, whose religion is really little more than superstition. It consists of a rigid observance of forms, and a dread of transgressing church rules, for fear that ill luck will follow. It appears much like the fruit of the seed planted in childhood, when some waving of a fairy wand, or some absurd incantation, wrought magical success or dire disaster. There is no genuine faith or heart-transformation in such religion.
As the first glass of wine taken by a young man is a step in a downward course, which may lead to degradation, pauperism, and eternal death, so the repetition and belief of the fairy story may prove to be a step that leads far away from God. Not all who drink the first glass become drunkards, but the tendency in that direction is so strong that it is unsafe to touch the deceptive draft. It is true that some whose intellectual diet has not been what it should be afterward become Christians; but these exceptions do not prove that there is no danger.
Ellesmere, Ontario.
_The Fly Pest_
THE fly season is on, and it now behooves every one to fight these disease-carriers vigorously. Of all pests, the common house-fly is now recognized as the worst in the way of carrying disease. It breeds in filth, it lives on filth, and it carries filth. It spreads disease germs on the meats, the milk, and the vegetables which the people eat. It is one of the most prolific causes of typhoid fever, tuberculosis, dysentery, etc., in that it carries the germs of these diseases to the food and the bodies of the people. The fight against these is being vigorously waged on all sides, especially by boards of health. Flies should be kept out of the house by means of screens, and in case some should slip in when the doors are temporarily opened, they should be caught on fly-paper or killed with fly-poison. The Merchants’ Association of New York City has issued the following rules for dealing with the fly nuisance, which it would be well for every one to observe:—
Keep flies away from the sick, especially those ill with contagious diseases. Kill every fly that strays into the sick-room: its body is covered with disease germs.
Do not allow decaying material of any sort to accumulate on or near your premises.
All refuse which tends in any way to fermentation, such as bedding, straw, paper, waste, and vegetable matter, should be disposed of or covered with lime or kerosene oil.
Screen all food, whether in the house or exposed for sale.
Keep all receptacles for garbage carefully covered, and the cans cleaned, or sprinkled with oil or lime.
Keep all stable manure in vault or pit screened or sprinkled with lime, oil, or other cheap preparations, such as are sold by a number of reliable manufacturers.
See that your sewerage system is in good order; that it does not leak, is up-to-date, and not exposed to flies.
Pour kerosene into the drains.
Burn or bury all table refuse.
Screen all windows and doors, especially in the kitchen and dining-room.
If you see flies, you may be sure that their breeding-place is in near-by filth. It may be behind the door, under the table, or in the cuspidor.
If there is no dirt or filth, there will be no flies.
If there is a nuisance in the neighborhood, write at once to the health department.—Boulder (Colo.) Daily Herald.
Send Them to Bed With a Kiss
O MOTHERS! so weary, discouraged,
Worn out with the cares of the day,
You often grow cross and impatient,
Complain of the noise and the play;
For the day brings so many vexations,
So many things going amiss,—
But, mothers, whatever may vex you,
Send the children to bed with a kiss.
The dear little feet wander often,
Perhaps, from the pathway of right;
The dear little hands find new mischief
To try you from morning till night;
But think of the desolate mothers,
Who’d give all the world for your bliss,
And, as thanks for your infinite blessing,
Send the children to bed with a kiss.
For some day the noise will not vex you,
The silence will hurt you far more;
You will long for the sweet, childish voices,
For a bright, childish face at the door;
And to press a child’s face to your bosom,—
You’d give all the world just for this.
For the comfort ’twill give you in sorrow,
Send the children to bed with a kiss.
— Advocate and Guardian.
Getting the Most Out of Life
WHAT do I get out of life? This question confronts each one of us. Many are living in the past, brooding over losses and the death of loved ones, considering their lives failures because their high ambitions have not been realized. We should live in the present and prepare for the future; let the past be buried if it prevents us from reaching the summit of success and happiness.
“Take the lesson to thyself, loving heart and true;
Golden years are passing by, life is ebbing, too.
Learn to make the most of life, lose no happy day,
Time can never bring thee back chances swept away.
Leave no tender word unsaid, love while life shall last,
The mill will never grind again with waters that are past.”
These beautiful thoughts should make every one feel like getting a new grasp on life, doing all that is possible to get the most out of life for the present and for the future.—Success.
Private and Public Devotions
PRIVATE devotions and secret offices of religion are like the refreshing of a garden with the distilling and petty drops of a water-pot; but, addressed from the temple, are like rain from heaven.—Jeremy Taylor.
China
By WM. A. WESTWORTH
WM. A. WESTWORTH
Had not past experience shown us the necessity of being ready for any call that might come, we would have to confess to some degree of surprise at the request of the General Conference Committee that we make China our field of labor. But having determined to be ready to make any necessary sacrifice of personal desires essential to the progress of God’s work, we heartily responded to the call to this dark country. Although the experiences have thus far been different from anything in the past, we can not but testify to the goodness of our Heavenly Father in caring for us since we left the home land, and praise him for the privilege of working here in the land of Sinim, for the message on every hand.
QUEEN'S ROAD EAST, HONGKONG, CHINA
Leaving the United States the latter part of December, we had a very good voyage, considering the time of year. After short stops at Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagasaki, at which places we were entertained by the brethren there stationed, we reached Shanghai just in time for the annual council meeting, which had been arranged for the date of our arrival.
We were soon busy in the study of the situation in this vast mission field, which presents the greatest of all missionary problems. Day by day the magnitude of the work in China has grown upon us, until we are overwhelmed with the situation confronting us. Were we not confident that God will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness, we would have to give up in despair; for, from a human view-point, the task is greater than we as a people can ever hope to accomplish.
Still on every hand we can see how the Master is opening up the way, and evidences abound that nothing but victory awaits each honest effort to spread the light of this message, which will bring, as nothing else possibly can, relief to the people here. They are calling for the message on every hand. As we pass through the land from station to station, our hearts ache to hear the calls for help and for light about Jesus and his love. How sad to be compelled to tell them that we can not answer the cry! Had we a thousand workers where now we have one, or had we ten thousand where now we have one who is master of the language, we still could give every worker ten thousand souls to labor for, and yet have tens of millions unwarned. Does this mean anything to you? Brethren, it means something to us who are here, with this unspeakable need staring us in the face day after day; and we can not but wonder when the tension will be lessened.
Our workers, though few, are working the best they can. We are still trying to divide our forces, and press out, so that centers for the training of native workers can be established. This year we open up work in three more provinces,—Szechuen, with a population of over sixty-eight million; Hupeh, with over thirty-five million; and Chekiang, with ten million. Think of it!—one hundred thirteen million heathen to five workers! Surely our ways are not “equal,” when the demands of humanity on us in relation to this message are considered. But we thank God that even this small start can be made to begin to “throw a line” to these who are sinking to eternal despair.
At the council meeting already referred to, plans were made to strengthen every branch of the work. With confidence that our brethren and sisters at home would stand by us and God’s work, we have taken steps to open up these new fields, and expect much of the blessing of God, who is everywhere giving us evidence that he stands at the helm.
The Southern Division was divided into two distinct missions, to be known as the Southern and Southeastern China missions, with populations of about thirty-seven million and twenty-five million respectively. This was necessary on account of the distances to travel, the variance in language, and the inaccessibility from a central headquarters. J. N. Anderson takes the Southern China Mission, and W. C. Hankins the Southeastern, as superintendents. R. F. Cottrell was asked to take the Eastern Division, which has a population of fifty million; and J. J. Westrup the Central Division, with one hundred million. In a few weeks F. A. Allum expects to enter the Western Division, with its population of eighty million. Dr. A. C. Selmon will come to Shanghai to labor as editor of the paper; and N. P. Keh was called from Amoy to act as Chinese editor, and is now at work in that capacity.
Progress has been made as far as funds would allow in establishing the press work on our own land, and till this can be accomplished, our hands are practically tied. Calls for literature abound. Every little while we hear of souls who are coming into the truth through reading, and the demands for our papers, tracts, etc., are far in excess of what we can supply. To hire the work done means great expense, and at the same9time this very work might be given to our own believers, who, with hearts in love with the message, would render far better service than is possible by those who know not the truth.
THE WORLD WIDE FIELD
Thy Will Be Done
By Frank L. Connor
Could I but know each step that I
Must tread unto the end;
Were I to have life's devious chart,
Complete, placed in my hand,
With every burden there portrayed,
And every task well planned,
The joys to know, the griefs to bear,
The causes to defend,
How automatic life would be!
Thy way is best, hold Thou the chart,
Permit me but to know,
Each day, the duties to perform,
Each hour, the way to go;
And I thy will shall strive to do,
As faith e'er stronger grows,
And knowledge into wisdom blends,
As stream to river flows,
Until at last I meet with thee.
—Frank L. Connor.
The West Indies—Cuba
By U. Bender
U. BENDER
Our local conference meetings began this year at Jamaica, January 1-10. We were very fortunate in having Prof. F. Griggs present at this meeting. He has already reported the meeting, so I will only say that, so far as human judgment goes, the conference was a profitable one in every respect.
On January 8 Professor Griggs and myself sailed from Kingston for Cuba. The sea was very rough; it was not long until nearly all the passengers were seasick. After thirty hours of fasting and nausea, we landed at Santiago, leaving by train the next morning for Havana, five hundred forty miles distant. On the way, we stopped one day at Omaja to visit the brethren. The church at this place is composed of believers from the States who have come to Cuba to help the cause in whatever way they can. They greatly desire to see a school established at Omaja, not only for the benefit of their own children, but also for Cuban children.
We stopped overnight in Camaguey, the largest city in central Cuba. This enabled us to make the entire trip by day, and so get a good look at the country all along the railroad. The eastern part of the island is made up of lofty mountains. After leaving the mountains, we passed through about two hundred miles of heavily timbered country. To the west, the country is more open, with savanas, or cleared land, till one reaches the mountains at the west end of the island.
On Sabbath, January 15, the church at Marianao, near Havana, had an all-day meeting. Sabbath-school began shortly after 9 A. M., and was followed by examination of candidates and baptism, seven believers taking this step. On returning from the river, quarterly meeting services were held, which lasted till sunset. All the talking was done in Spanish, or interpreted. This church is almost entirely composed of Cubans. It has grown during the past year; I do not know its exact membership.
The next day we went out about fifty miles west, to visit the church at San Claudio. Like the church at Omaja, this company is composed of believers who have moved here from the States. Among them are S. H. Carnahan and wife, who are conducting a school for American and Cuban children. As the boat was soon to sail for New York, Professor Griggs hurried back to Havana, E. W. Snyder and I remaining with the church a few days longer.
In order to sail to Santo Domingo, I returned to Santiago. On the way I spent one Sabbath with Brother Guy Holmes and family at Minas. Here I was joined by B. E. Connerly, and after visiting Brother and Sister Anderson at Las Tunas, where they have a good school for the Cubans, we spent the following Sabbath with the church at Omaja. Here Sister E. C. Gray, Prof. E. A. Sutherland, and E. W. Snyder met us; and after a short counsel with reference to the work in Cuba, we went on to Santiago.
Cuba is a Spanish field. The people are mixed in color, and know little of religion outside of the leading of the Roman Catholic Church. The work of the third angel's message will grow in this island, but it will require much effort. We thank God that it is making headway. May the Lord give abundant increase to the seed sown.
Jamaica, West Indies.
An Industrial School in the Orient
By R. B. Thurber
R. B. THURBER
We are happy to sound a note of courage from Meiktila, Burma, in our first report to the readers of the REVIEW. At the last General Conference, Elder H. H. Votaw made a strong plea for a teacher to start an industrial school at this place in central Burma. We were sent in answer to this call, and arrived in Meiktila on January 11 of the present year.
ROYAL PALMS, CUBA
We believe God has opened the way for a good work to be done here among the Burmese. Seemingly by accident the truth came here, one influential man accepting the message, and telling its principles to all whom he met. The people were especially impressed with our health and educational principles. They urged that we start a school, and have worked enthusiastically in its behalf. They believe that eight thousand dollars can be raised here in the field to erect buildings. Several hundred dollars has already been contributed. A grant of seventeen acres of land has been secured from the government, adjoining which is much low rice-land, which can be purchased at a low rate, and irrigated.
Elder R. A. Beckner is with us for a time, also David Hpo Hla, our Burmese worker, who is also our Burmese teacher. According to the general plan, we settled down to study the language, that we might be better able to work for these people. We expected no interruption for the first year; but the Burmese urged us to begin our work, even in a small way, to show the people that we were in earnest, so that more money would come in. Besides, their children had been taken out of other schools, and were waiting. After considering the matter carefully, it seemed the Lord’s leading, so we consented to give them three hours a day for the present. They rented a large store in the center of the town, and we began school on March 15, with fifteen boys, ranging from ten to twenty-five years of age. We are discouraging a large attendance, but many want to come. The school is held from seven to ten in the morning, thus being over before the heat of the day, and we have the rest of the day for language study.
Not the least of our troubles is in the line of discipline. The time-worn habit of shouting their lessons aloud still clings to them, and they can not be made to understand that comparative quiet must be preserved. We have only crude benches and tables, and not enough of them. But we are purchasing some tools and lumber, and, with the help of the boys, will make properly shaped seats and desks.
The Burmese desire to have the work started on a right basis, so we have better facilities in the way of maps, etc., than many schools in America. A signal victory was gained in persuading them to introduce our “True Education Series” of school readers. The system of correlation taught in them is excellent for our work here. More and more schools are destined to be established beyond the seas.
We have heard that some of the parents object to our teaching the Bible in the school, but we made it plain that such teaching is a part of our plan. However, we told the boys at first that they need not enter the Bible class unless they wished. Then we endeavored to make the wonderful story of creation and salvation interesting to them, and now all are glad to stop everything and listen intently.
We are fitting up the schoolroom for meetings, and soon will begin to proclaim the truth from the pulpit. Brother Hpo Hla will speak himself, or will interpret for us. We find it well to begin with the health principles; for the Buddhists feel that we have special light in that line.
The language is hard to learn, and not easily picked up, like the Hindustani, which latter tongue is spoken by the servant classes here. Yet the Burmese can be acquired, and we hope by the close of the year to be doing some work in the vernacular.
Editorial
By Editor
Our First French Work. — In the REVIEW of May 1, 1856, was a letter from Augustin C. Bourdeau, pastor of a little French church in Vermont, announcing that he and his wife and his parents had accepted the third angel’s message, through reading the REVIEW. The following February he reported a visit he had made to Canada, to carry the light to his brother, Daniel T. Bourdeau, who was in the French Institute of the Grand Ligne Mission. The ordeal of meeting the learned professors of the institute weighed heavily upon the young convert:—
Satan tried for a while to put snares in my way to prevent me from going to Canada: I was unlearned, and too young (twenty-two years of age) to appear before such learned and mighty men. “But,” said Paul, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” These words of the apostle banished all my fears; and I felt that if God was for me, I had nothing to fear.
DISCUSSING with the leading professor, his brother Daniel was surprised at the professor’s endeavor, first, to show that there was no Sabbath at all, and then to build up a Sunday sabbath from nothing. His final position was, “It is better to cover a truth, rather than to offend.” This line of controversy drove Daniel Bourdeau to take sides with his brother in the argument. Brother A. C. Bourdeau was greatly strengthened by the interview, and his brother was convicted. That night, says the report,—
We prayed till he felt that his sins were forgiven. Then he prayed the Lord to guide him in the truth concerning the Sabbath. We continued in prayer till break of day. Of a truth the Lord was with us in our little prayer-meeting, and that to bless. Praise his ever-blessed name!
A FEW Sabbaths later Brother D. T. Bourdeau wrote to his people that he had fully accepted the light, adding: “I this day retrace my steps. I come within the circumference of the Bible. I enlist in the army of the Almighty.” By December 1857, he was in Battle Creek, studying and preparing to translate. Elder James White printed that month the first call for help to bring out literature in the French language:—
God in his great goodness has brought Brethren Augustin and Daniel Bourdeau to love and obey the present truth, and they most ardently desire to teach it to the French people. Brethren, they need tracts as well as we. It is for you to say whether they shall have them. I wait to hear from you, and shall go forward in this work if I am sustained by my brethren.
In April, 1859, the REVIEW began to advertise a French tract on the Sabbath, and one on the prophecies of Daniel 2 and 7.
Commissioned by a Vision
By W. A. S.
BETWEEN the years 1840 and 1850, Dr. Thomas E. Bond was editor of the Baltimore Christian Advocate, at that time one of the leading Methodist organs in America. After his death, in 1856, that paper published a memoir of his services and work. The writer of this memoir related the following experience, which we find reprinted in an early volume of the Review:—
He very rarely mentioned it, and never ventured to designate or explain it. Its truth is, however, beyond question. The circumstances forbid the supposition of optical illusion or temporary hallucination. There are those living who testify to such of the facts as were subject to observation, and the memorials of the transaction are yet distinctly preserved in the religious character of sons and daughters of some who were immediately affected by it.
Being on a visit to his father, he was deeply grieved to find the church, which he had left in a state of prosperous activity, languishing, lukewarm, and weak. His thoughts were much occupied with the subject, and of course it was the matter of earnest and frequent prayer. In this state of mind, one morning he was walking over the fields to a neighboring house, when suddenly he seemed to be in a room where a number of people were assembled, apparently for worship. The room he recognized as an apartment in the house of a neighbor, where a prayer-meeting was to be held on the evening of that day. Had he stood in the midst of it, he could not have been more conscious of the scene. There was nothing of the dim, or shadowy, or dreamy about it. He recognized the people, noticed where they sat and stood, remarked his father near the table, at which a preacher was rising to give out a hymn. Near the middle of the congregation he saw a man named C—, for whose salvation he felt considerable anxiety, standing with his son beside him. While gazing with astonishment upon the scene, he heard the words, “Go and tell C— that he has an offer of salvation for the last time.” Naturally supposing that the too great concentration of mind upon one subject had induced some hallucination of the senses, Dr. Bond fell down on his knees, and besought God to preserve his reason. The scene, however, continued; it would not disappear or change in any of its particulars. In vain he struggled to dispel it; the voice yet repeated, with indubitable distinctness, “Go tell C— that he has an offer of salvation for the last time.” Yet how would he dare to deliver so awful a message!
For a great length of time he struggled for deliverance from what he still considered an illusion. At length an expedient occurred to him, which he adopted. He had never been in the room in which he was apparently present, when it was used for a public religious meeting. He, of course, did not know how it was commonly prepared for such occasions. He therefore noted with great care the particulars of the scene. He saw where the little table for the preacher, the benches and chairs for the people, were placed. He noticed his acquaintances, and where they sat and stood; and when he was satisfied that he had possessed himself perfectly of these details, he said, “I will go to this meeting; and if I find all things there to correspond with what I now see, it shall be a sign from the Lord, and I will deliver the message.” Immediately the scene vanished, and he was alone in the green fields.
With a spirit indescribably agitated, he returned home, where he found ladies, who required him to escort them a long distance; and it was somewhat past the hour fixed for the meeting, when he reached the place. During the day he had freely indulged the hope that on his entrance into the room, his trouble would disappear. He thought he had been the subject of an illusion, the fruit of an excited brain; and that a want of correspondence, immediately to be detected, between the real scene and the one presented to his disordered fancy, would at once satisfy him as to the morbid character of his morning vision, and release him from the obligation of delivering the terrible message, with which he was conditionally charged.
When he opened the door, however, he saw again, in all its minuteness of detail, the morning scene. In vain he searched the room for a variant particular. There sat his father in the designated place. The preacher at the table was rising to give out the hymn. In the midst of the room stood C—, with his son beside him. Everything demanded that the message should be delivered.
After the preliminary exercises, he rose and stated the circumstances as we have related them; and then, going to C—, he laid his hand upon him, and repeated the words he had heard. The effect was indescribable. C— and his son fell down together and called upon God. An awful solemnity rested upon all present. Many cried for mercy, and from that time began a revival which spread far and wide, the fruits of which are yet seen, after many days.
In these last days, with unbalanced temperaments all about, and fanaticism running wild, disregarding the Word of God for fancies and impressions, we need more than ever to emphasize the things of the Word. However, in many an experience, we see that God bears testimony at the moment of need, even if by unusual means. W. A. S.
Camp-Meeting Hints
By Francis McLellan Wilcox
ANOTHER camp-meeting season is opening before us. In various places throughout the world, plans and preparations are going forward for these annual spiritual feasts. It is desirable that each one who attends these meetings should receive that help which God is anxious to bestow. A few suggestions may be helpful to some of our readers in the realization of these blessings:—
1. Make early temporal preparation. Prepare to be at the first meeting and to remain until the close of the gathering. Arrange matters at home so that the mind may be at rest, and all the energies given to the development and realization of the desired blessing.
2. Make spiritual preparation. You are going to the encampment to unite with your brethren in communion with God. Prepare your heart for the reception of his Spirit. Confess to him every wrong in your life. If differences have entered into your family relationship or into the church of God, remove these stones of stumbling. These differences may prevent you from receiving the desired blessings; they may stand as obstacles in the way of others.
3. Arrange if possible to take your entire family. Let parents and children, a united band, go up to meet with God and seek his special help.
4. Induce your friends and neighbors to accompany you to the meeting. This will add zest to your attendance. In sharing with others your privileges and opportunities, your own soul will be doubly refreshed and strengthened.
5. Reach the camp the day before the opening meeting, in order that you may have your tent pitched, may become rested from your journey, and be in readiness to partake of the beginning of the feast.
6. As far as possible be in regular attendance at all general services. Do not absent yourself from the business meetings. Acquaint yourself with the working of the various departments of the cause, so that you may be intelligent as to what this movement is doing in the world, and the means and methods by which it is seeking to accomplish its purpose. Make note of all plans for the prosecution of the work, in order that you may co-operate intelligently in the future.
7. Take time for personal devotion. Remember that if you do not reach out personally after God, you may backslide even at a religious meeting. Take time every day for the study of the Word, time for private devotions and for family prayer.
8. Be a missionary worker. Judiciously and wisely labor for the members of your own family. See that each one has a living experience in the things of God. Labor for your brethren and sisters. You will find many poor, discouraged souls on the camp-ground who need a kindly word of encouragement, a smile of cheer. Be sociable. Labor also for your friends and neighbors; watch your opportunities to show courtesy and kindness to strangers who may attend the meeting.
9. Co-operate with the spirit of the meeting and with the regulations of the grounds. Remember that while you have rights, others have rights as well; therefore do not disturb the quietness of the sleeping hour. Observe faithfully the regulations of the camp with respect to the daily program, sanitation, order, etc.
10. If you have children, be exceedingly watchful for their interests. These younger members of the flock sometimes go away from the camp-ground in a much worse condition than before the meeting. Do not allow them to drift, to come and go at will, but enter into their confidence and companionship. Remember that although they are at a religious meeting, they are not sedate old people; and they should be afforded proper exercise. A brisk walk once or twice a day, or other suitable physical exercise, will do much in affording relief to their pent-up spirits, and better enable them rightly to relate themselves to the religious services.
11. Keep sweet, and do not grumble or complain. Sometimes there are unpleasant things in camp life. The wind may blow, the rain may come down in torrents, and everything may not be to your liking. Consider these things as opportunities for the exercise of Christian grace. Refuse to express a word of complaint or criticism.
12. Avoid the spirit of pleasure-seeking. Many temptations will assail those gathered at our camp-meetings. Satan will devise ways and means to divert many from their purpose of seeking God. The spirit of sightseeing often robs many of the very meeting where they would receive the most help. Particularly should the young be guarded in these matters, and wise counsel and right direction should be afforded them in times of need.
13. Take care of the physical health. In the changed conditions of living, proper attention must be given this matter. Take with you suitable clothing for rainy weather or cold nights. Plain, healthful food should be served. Avoid cold lunches and highly seasoned food. In this period of physical inactivity many become sick through improper eating or overeating; and even if sickness does not result, the sensibilities are benumbed, and the mind is clouded to that which God desires them to obtain.
14. If possible, appear before God with an offering for his work. Many needy enterprises, representing both local and general interests, will be presented. Respond to these calls, not alone to meet their requirements, but as an expression of love and gratitude for the mercies and benefits you have received. Give a helping hand to any necessary work on the grounds, and, if needed, assist in clearing the encampment at the close of the meeting. Returning home, carry with you the fire and enthusiasm of the occasion to bless and gladden the lives of those who could not attend.
These suggestions are by no means exhaustive, but the observance of even these will do much in making our camp-meetings during the coming summer rich spiritual feasts to those who attend them. Let us co-operate with God and heavenly agencies in seeking to obtain that which he has in store for us. He is waiting to be gracious; let us open our hearts to receive the proffered blessing.
