Earlier text: First Fruits From ManchuriaThe West Virginia Camp Meeting
By B. G. WILKINSON
The West Virginia camp meeting this year was encouraging beyond expectation. It was, without question, the best camp meeting ever held in West Virginia. Brother Hirlinger, the newly elected president of the conference, had spent considerable time out in the hamlets of the churches trying to get a good attendance. As we had heavy rains throughout the meeting, the attendance from the outside fluctuated, but was good when we had propitious weather. The conference was held in connection with the camp meeting, whose site this year was Weston, W. Va., August 26 to September 5. From the very beginning, the Spirit of God was manifested in great power. During this meeting four great revivals took place, adjusting many old difficulties, bringing about some splendid reconciliations, and withal breathing a new life and spirit into the conference. Some perplexing problems which have troubled the conference for years were discussed, and under the blessing of God we think were practically solved. The report of the conference president showed a splendid advance in all lines, and an increase of membership and of tithe and offerings. At this camp meeting seventeen persons were baptized the last Sabbath. For a conference as small as this to gain during one year about fifty-four members, indicates progress. The tithe for 1913 amounted to $3,816, while for 1914 it came to $3,924, making a gain of $108. The mission offerings for 1913 were $1,793.64, while the gifts to foreign missions for 1914 amounted to $2,168.45, a gain of $374.81. Another feature of added interest at the camp meeting is the fact that there was converted to the truth and baptized at this meeting Norman W. Phillips and his wife. For years Brother Phillips has been a prominent minister of good standing in the Disciples Church. Two years ago he was asked by one member of his congregation to preach on the second coming of the Lord. He said he found enough in the Scriptures to preach not only one sermon, but each Sunday evening for eleven months he preached on this and kindred subjects, such as the time of the end, the judgment, the nature of man, the millennium, the arming of the nations. But he reasoned, “What good would it be for me to preach these subjects in the Disciples Church?” If he were to make converts and bring them out of Babylon, into what should he bring them? Therefore he accepted a call to become secretary of the Anti-Saloon League of West Virginia, at a good salary. Going through Martinsburg, W. Va., one day, he saw in the papers the announcement of the subjects for the sermons for the following week, to be given at the tent where Elder G. A. Stevens was holding his tent effort. He was surprised to find that these subjects were exactly the ones on which he had been preaching. He therefore went immediately to the tent, sought out Brother Stevens, who continued earnest study with him until he was led to the acceptance of all the points of present truth. We hope and pray that under the leadership and keeping power of God, he will become a good worker in proclaiming the third angel’s message. The financial calls at this meeting also received remarkable response. A Sabbath school donation of $320 was given the last Sabbath of the camp meeting, while on the following morning offerings in cash and pledges were taken to the amount of about $1,500. The season being unfavorable, practically the only helper from outside the conference was Prof. J. L. Shaw, who attended the last few days of the meeting. We believe that this meeting marks a new era for the progress of the work in West Virginia. A Galveston Flood Survivor’s Experience
By Chr. F. Mahr.
Experiences During the Flood! at Galveston UNDOUBTEDLY nearly all our people have by this time read of the recent flood at Galveston, Tex. Much has been written in the papers. There is, however, a story to be told which the writer alone can tell. And it is his sincere desire that it may prove a blessing to our people. The seaport Galveston, situated on the east end of an island, has about forty thousand inhabitants. The surface of this island is very flat. Toward the south the city faces the Gulf of Mexico, and toward the north, the bay, where ships receive their cargoes. Along the shore of the Gulf a sea wall of cement, fifteen feet high, protects the city. This wall extends toward the west as far as Fifty-third Street. A causeway, built at an expense of two and one-half million dollars, connects the mainland with the island. Not long ago I came to Galveston to canvass or do other work. I found a place to stay, not far from the Gulf, and where the sea wall ends. On Monday, the sixteenth of August, a storm began to rage, bringing with it heavy rain. The people outside of the city went into the city for protection; but I remained at the place where I had been staying. As night approached, a sudden change set in. The wind, which at first had come from the northeast, came from the south, forcing in the water from the sea. Only a little while before, I had been out trying to help an elderly woman from her little home to a safer place. On my return home, it seemed as if God had there prepared a hiding place for me. My clothes were wet and I was very tired, and as a result of my weariness I felt very sleepy. Should I now do as the disciples once did, and fail to pray earnestly?—No, I must pray to my Heavenly Father. I spent the night on a narrow wardrobe. The storm raged fiercely. It seemed as if the house could not withstand the storm. I prayed earnestly, and found myself in a quiet condition, although human frailty exerted itself to some extent. The more the storm raged, the more earnestly I prayed. While I was praying, I knew that God was permitting destruction to come upon the city. My prayers must be in harmony with the divine will, and yet I could pray for myself as well as for others, and for those who might yet glorify the name of the Lord, accepting his grace. I prayed and sang during the night,—that dark and horrible night,—being in the house alone. Alone?—No, I was not alone. The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, came into my heart. I felt that I must now leave everything with him, trusting his promises. I tried to get what rest I could leaning in a corner with my head against the wall, and allowing myself to be shaken at regular intervals. When at last I saw a dim gray on the windows indicating the dawn of another day, I began to praise the name of the Lord. The storm continued the next day, but the water subsided gradually, and soon one could walk again on dry land. There was destruction nearly everywhere, but the central part of the city had been largely spared. I thank the Lord that he was so merciful. The house in which I am living was damaged, a large piece of its wall being torn away. But why have I told this story? Not to awaken sympathy, for though human frailty exerted itself, the peace of God prevailed, and the memory of that night is one of rich and blessed experiences with the Lord. I am now so glad that in the providence of God I could pass through such an experience. I have related it here that my dear friends, the brethren in the faith, might be brought closer to the Lord. Let us consecrate ourselves anew to the Lord, and enter the ark of safety now, before it will be too late. O, that I could speak to the heart of every one, impressing upon him the need of a pure and holy life! My dear brother, let me hopefully and joyfully tell you that you can prevail with the Lord. Cling close to him, and the victory will be yours. I speak of what I know, and my testimony is true. Galveston, Tex., General Delivery. The Camp Meetings in the Central Union Conference
By R. A. UNDERWOOD
THE camp meetings this season in the Central Union have been most excellent meetings, with a good attendance of our people, and, as a rule, a very fair outside attendance, especially in Missouri, where the camp was located so that the people could walk to the meeting. A good interest was awakened, and Elders J. S. Rouse and F. L. Limerick, who are following up the interest, are having good congregations. The last general meeting in the union was held in Kansas, September 2-12, in a beautiful grove at the edge of town. It was remarked by our general men in attendance that few camp meetings they had attended were so nicely arranged, in the layout of the ground and in the sanitary arrangements for the camp. There cannot be too much importance placed upon the sanitary conditions of the grounds upon which we invite our brethren to come and spend ten days. Elder MacLay and his committee took every precaution possible, but no more than was necessary to protect the health of the campers. The meeting was a strong one from beginning to end. Prof. C. S. Longacre, Dr. Percy T. Magan, and Elder F. W. Paap were with us more or less of the time. The union laborers were Elders18 John Christian and W. W. Ruble, Prof. H. A. Morrison, Brother J. H. McEachern, and the writer. There were about nine hundred Sabbath keepers encamped on the ground. The work in the conference has prospered during the past year in a marked degree. About three hundred have embraced the truth. Fifty-five dear souls were baptized at the camp meeting. About twenty-five hundred dollars' worth of our books was sold to our brethren, about twenty-five hundred dollars was raised for local needs, and about ten thousand dollars was donated for foreign missions, in pledges and cash. The Sabbath school donations for the two Sabbaths were $845. Two of our brethren were ordained, A. T. Wilson and P. F. Richard. Kansas has the largest number of young people within its borders of any conference in the union, and has, therefore, great possibility of growth and prosperity. The universal feeling among the laborers and churches is that it was a great blessing to have this field united into one conference a year ago. More has been accomplished, and the laborers are of splendid courage. The Lord has been blessing them in their work. Our brethren and sisters go from this meeting loaded with publications, and with a purpose to do more missionary work than ever before. No public effort was made to raise means in behalf of Union College or the Clinton German Seminary at any of our camp meetings this season. In a few cases some private donations were given for these institutions. Elder John Christian labored most untiringly in all these meetings, but his efforts and the efforts of those in attendance were to strengthen the local work and to secure as large funds as possible for foreign mission work. Brother Christian remained in Kansas to unite with some of the local laborers there, to solicit funds for Union College and the Clinton German Seminary. Dr. Magan expects to unite with Brother Robinson in Colorado, about the first of October, to solicit funds for Union College. We have about eighteen thousand dollars more to raise in the Central Union Conference to bring Union College out of debt. We hope, with the blessing of God, to accomplish this by the first of January. The prospect for the attendance at Union College and also the Clinton German Seminary, is much better for the coming year than it has been for years in the past. I am sure that every loyal heart will be glad to see these institutions freed from debt; and the purpose of our brethren, with the blessing of God, is to keep at it until we see this accomplished. Elder MacLay was reelected president of the Kansas Conference. There were few changes in the officers. Four Camp Meetings in Western Canada
By GEO. F. ENOCH.
It was my privilege to attend the four camp meetings in Western Canada, in company with Elder Luther Warren, from Vancouver, who labored very effectively at these meetings. Elder H. S. Shaw, the union conference president, also attended all the meetings. They were of special interest because held in territory actually engaged in the war. The consequent state of things can hardly be realized by those who have always lived where there is peace. The conditions were more sharply defined, because in all parts of this country we have a great many brethren who are of German descent, and who have to be very careful to preserve a neutral attitude. Some had thought that the attendance at the meetings would not be large on account of the stringency of the times, and most were sure that there would not be very much given to missions. In this we were all happily surprised, for there had never been so many out to camp meetings, and, with the exception of the first meeting, which was held at one extremity of the conference, the donations to missions were as large, or larger, than at any previous meeting. Truly this cause is the greatest thing in the world, and even the greatest war in the history of the world cannot stay its progress. At Vernon, British Columbia, we were encamped near a large force of volunteers, also near a large camp where Austrians and Germans were interned. This was a good meeting, marked by the deep moving of the Spirit of God. The German brethren did not try to hold public services. The donations were about five hundred dollars. We felt that under the circumstances this was good, as several testified that conditions were such financially that they did not know how they were to get food for their families. At Brandon, Manitoba, we enjoyed the sweet presence of the Spirit of God. Old difficulties that had long hindered the cause of truth were put away, and brethren began to see eye to eye. This was a cause of great rejoicing, and greatly encouraged the brethren and sisters to return to their homes with a determination to see great progress in the Manitoba Conference the coming year. The donations at this meeting were about two thousand dollars. At Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, we found a large number of campers, where just a few years ago there were scarcely any church members. The company of believers has developed in this province with great rapidity. The brethren and sisters had come up to the meeting determined that the time had come when all differences should be put away and the one purpose pervade every soul, that of obtaining the blessing of the Holy Spirit. The Lord came graciously near, and his people were lifted nearer to him than they had ever been before. The offerings for home and foreign work were over three thousand dollars. The last meeting was held at Lacombe, Alberta. Here also the people had come expecting a great blessing, and because they were thirsty, they were not disappointed. This meeting was marked by large numbers of the unconverted giving their hearts to God. Families where either husband or wife had been out of the truth, were united by the conversion of the other member of the family, and several who were not Adventists, but had accompanied friends to the grounds, were also converted. More than four thousand dollars was donated at this meeting for the pushing forward of the gospel work into all the world. One striking feature of all these meetings was the way in which the Sabbath schools responded to the appeal made by the writer for larger Sabbath school offerings. I believe it has become a habit with some to feel for the smallest coin in the pocket and drop that in the collection. How much better it will be when each week we bring to the Sabbath school an offering that represents sacrifice, according as God has blessed us during the week. When we set our hearts really to sacrifice,—and that means we must feel what we bring to God,—then the question of funds will be settled. The meetings were small compared with many here in America, but at the last two the Sabbath school donations were very liberal. The Sabbath school offering at Saskatoon, the last Sabbath of the meeting, was $321; at Lacombe, $325 the first Sabbath and $350 the last Sabbath. When it is remembered that this is an average of almost one dollar a member, including the children, one can see that if it is carried out each week, a great inflow of means for missions will result. The young people at these meetings also vigorously took hold of their quota for missions, about five hundred dollars being raised by them for their share at each of the last two meetings. There is a large number of loyal brethren and sisters in Canada. The Lord gave his servants who led out a message of courage and victory that found a response in the hearts of the seekers, and the shout of victory was heard in the camp. Many expressed it as their determination that when a time of peace comes, if it ever does, they will sell everything and bring it to the treasury, that it may get into the work before it is too late. It takes actual war conditions to make us realize the necessity of laying all on the altar of sacrifice. May the Lord stir our brethren and sisters to a realization of these things before it is too late. GEO. F. ENOCH. Local Oregon Camp Meeting
By T. G. BUNCH.
THE local Coos County camp meeting of the Southern Oregon Conference was held in Bandon, beginning August 23, and continuing six days. Besides the pavilion and young people's tents, there were twenty family tents in a little grove overlooking the Coquille River bar and the Pacific Ocean. The camp meeting was preceded by a short series of meetings, conducted by Elder C. L. Lingenfelter and the writer. The weather was ideal. Elders C. W. Flaiz, N. W. Lawrence, F. S. Bunch, and C. A. Burman were present from the union conference, and their timely instruction was appreciated by all. Many pronounced it the best meeting ever attended. An effort was made to follow the instruction given through the spirit of prophecy, to teach people how to work for others. Volunteers were called for, and the town was covered twice, literature on the signs of the times and on the Sabbath question being placed in every home, and the people invited to attend the services. As a result, there was not even standing room in the tent during the evening meetings. The book and tract sales during the camp meeting were nearly two hundred dollars. The Lord came very near during the Sabbath services, and a number came forward for special help. Victories19 were gained, backsliders reclaimed, and nearly all renewed their consecration. It was refreshing to see the tent well filled with our people on the Sabbath. This section, set off from the remainder of the conference by the Coast Range of Mountains, has had a local camp meeting almost every year for over twenty years. Several present had attended most of these gatherings, and spoke very encouragingly of the progress of the message. For many this was their first camp meeting. A year ago Bandon, a town of 3,500 inhabitants, had never heard the message, and but two or three isolated members witnessed for the truth. Now we have a good bungalow church, with a membership of forty-five and a Sabbath attendance of over sixty. Several others are keeping the Sabbath, and many more are deeply interested. Sunday, the last day of the meeting, eight were buried with their Lord in baptism, near the mouth of the Coquille River. Elder Lingenfelter will remain to follow up the interest in Bandon, and oversee the Harvest Ingathering campaign in the county. T. G. BUNCH. Two Camp Meetings Contrasted
By Wm. Covert
Tipton, Ind., 1870; Joliet, Ill., 1915
I HAVE been attending camp meetings with Seventh-day Adventists for a period of forty-five years without missing a year. The earliest one I attended was held at Tipton, Ind., in 1870; the latest was held at Joliet, Ill., the present year. At the opening service of the Tipton meeting there were seventeen members present, and these were called to the altar for prayer, led by Elder James White. At the Joliet opening meeting there were several hundred present, properly distributed in the new 80 x 110 foot tent, and instructed by Elder Westworth. At the Tipton meeting there were no tents of any kind pitched on the ground, but instead there were five lumber shacks, probably 12 x 12 feet, with conveniences for making our beds upon the ground. At the Joliet meeting we had more than one hundred excellent tents well equipped with flies, and furnished with bed springs, mattresses, and cots. The camp and its beauty could have been well described by reading Num. 24: 5, 6: “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side.” At the Tipton meeting thirty-four church members within the State attended. At Joliet there were fifteen or twenty times as many. At Tipton none were baptized. At Joliet thirty were buried with their Lord. At Tipton, Elder White, president of the General Conference, spoke of the great work of proclaiming the last message among the nations of earth before Jesus comes. At Joliet, Elder A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference, told of the great work now actually in progress among the nations of all the earth. At the Tipton meeting Elder and Sister White were rejoicing because the message was getting a hold in such a large number of the States in this country. They said eight conferences were then organized, and three States were included as missions belonging to the operations of those conferences. Only one State west of the Mississippi River was within the boundary of these conferences. Our membership in all the denomination at the close of that year was 5,440, and the tithe paid amounted to $21,822.46. In the North American and Asiatic Division Conferences, more persons were baptized by our laborers the first six months of this year than belonged to the entire denomination at the close of the year 1870. And the tithe paid by the Northern Illinois Conference in the year 1914 was $11,000 more than all that was paid by the entire denomination in 1870. In 1870 we rejoiced because our publishing assets amounted to $64,471.14, and the book and periodical sales for the year in the denomination amounted to $7,000. We then employed thirty persons in this department of our work, and issued three periodicals in one language. Now we own and operate thirty-seven publishing houses, and have invested in them $1,488,388.46, and are using in the circulation and publishing department of our work 734 laborers and 2,500 colporteurs. We distributed literature last year to the amount of $2,100,000, some of it in eighty-seven languages. And our evangelists are doing oral work in one hundred different tongues. It is now necessary for our presses to issue not less than one hundred and thirty periodicals in order to serve properly the interests of the truth which we are promulgating. And the end is not yet. Not until 1872 did our educational work take form; and then we started with one school, three teachers, and an enrollment of ninety students, and a valuation of $500. This year our statistics give us 786 primary and advanced schools, including our 206 mission schools. These now employ 1,511 teachers, and they have an enrollment of 27,379 students. The amount invested in these schools is recorded at $2,338,328.14. Much of this was hinted at as in prospect by Elder White, president of our General Conference in 1870. But all of the foregoing, and much more, was set before us at our Joliet camp meeting as actual things now doing service in the world-wide field where we are operating. It was an inspiration to our people to hear Elder Daniells, fresh from the Orient, set these things ardently and clearly before us. It was very encouraging to know that what God had long ago by the prophets declared would immediately precede the second coming of our Saviour, is now being fulfilled before our eyes. If any of us are sleeping, it is high time that we arouse and trim our lamps, that light be given to us and to all whom our influence can help. A United Effort
By M. E. KERN
A GREAT campaign is about to begin,—not a campaign of war and destruction, but of peace and salvation. Our missionary lines have been flung out in nearly all the great mission fields of the world. Our children, our brothers and sisters, former members of our churches, and our schoolmates have gone out into all parts of the world to save souls. Good success is attending their efforts almost everywhere. But the lines are so thin! Our missionaries are overworked. They needed help. In order to furnish these missionaries proper support, and to send them recruits, the Mission Board must have money. I suppose that most of us rarely stop to consider what it means to the men who compose our Mission Board, to have more than a thousand persons in various parts of the earth looking to them for money on which to live and to advance the work. And the Mission Board must look to our people. A very important part of these funds comes from the Harvest Ingathering. It is very important that the whole church enter enthusiastically into this campaign. Let the church missionary committee, which should consist of officers20 representing the different departments of church work, carefully study the work and lay out the plans for the campaign. Let the young people have a part to act, suited to their age and experience. “The Lord has chosen the youth to be his helping hand.” But they must be “properly directed and encouraged.” Carey said, “I will go down and dig, but you at home must hold the ropes.” We are one great united army of workers. Some have gone to fields afar. We at home must loyally support them while they toil. The Lord expects every Missionary Volunteer to do his duty in this coming campaign. Religion Through Friendship
By Henry F. Cope
SIMPLE friendship is the most helpful expression of any man's religion. He is most like God who most loves man. Religion at its best is doing deeds of kindness, showing friendship in plain, everyday ways. It is the laying down of life for men; not by dying, but by daily living for them. By thoughtfulness, gentle consideration, practical helpfulness, by doing whatever the Friend of sinners would do for them, it proves itself born from above.—Henry F. Cope. Practical Results
By M. E. KERN
The value of the Missionary Volunteer Reading Courses and the Standard of Attainment plan in turning our young people to the Lord is well illustrated by the following from a church-school teacher:— “The church where we taught last winter had a large number of young people, about a score between the ages of twelve and twenty, with only two professing to be Christians. Soon after the school opened there was an effort made to reach these. Finally we began the Reading Course by meeting at different homes once a week and reading for an hour. Later we were able to start a denominational history class, meeting each Sunday evening at our home. This effort aroused some interest; especially was this true in reading ‘The Desire of Ages’ and ‘Ann of Ava.’ The result, which seems to be largely due to the above-mentioned effort, is that four have been baptized, and some whom we expect to see take the right stand are still in the valley of decision.” Many, in our day, have witnessed the transformation of desert land into fruitful fields, by the process of irrigation. But the life-giving streams can only enrich the land to which their water is conducted. So our Missionary Volunteer plans can only bless the young people to whom they are brought. In every church there ought to be those who have a special interest in the youth,—persons who will tactfully, enthusiastically, and lovingly bring into their lives the things that are blessing our young people everywhere. Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. KERN — General and N. Am. Div. Secretary C. L. BENSON — Assistant Secretary MEADE MACGUIRE — N. Am. Div. Field Secretary Caring for the Sick Poor
By L. A. Hansen
PERHAPS no question gives greater perplexity to our sanitarium workers than that of answering the many calls that come from the sick poor. The matter received attention at our last medical conventions. Some of the discussions may be considered with interest. Dr. H. W. Miller introduced the matter as follows: “One of the purposes in the establishment of our sanitarium work was to provide facilities for our sick poor. As it is at present, there does not seem to be any well-developed general plan for carrying out this purpose, though the need is great. “As our sanitariums are now conducted for carrying on their work as a whole, it is a difficult matter to receive very many patients on a charity basis. Our finances do not permit us to carry a great deal of such work, though considerable of it is being done. “I have been interested to watch the growth of our Washington Sanitarium Dispensary and Mission Hospital. With inexpensive equipment and facilities and with help furnished by nurses on a missionary basis, we have been enabled to make a rate low enough to meet the needs of most people who cannot afford the regular sanitarium rates. Good care is given, and patients get well, and the work seems in every way successful. “Possibly other sanitariums conducting training schools, and located near cities, could engage in dispensary work to advantage. It does not prove a drain on an institution, but rather a help.” Dr. D. H. Kress: “Our physicians are often placed in a hard place over this matter of caring for the worthy sick poor. We come in contact with so many cases of urgent need, but know the inability of the sanitarium to care for all of them. I have thought that it would be well if we could have a sick poor fund from which our churches could meet the expense of caring for their sick poor, for the responsibility should rest with the churches.” L. A. Hansen: “This burden of caring for the needy sick should not all rest on the sanitariums. Already considerable is being done in this direction. The rate sheet of an institution is its dependence for its income with which to carry on its work. It must be carefully guarded. To do much in quoting special rates, means to demoralize the rates and jeopardize the financial welfare of the institution. As it is, most of the sanitariums have made liberal provision for cases of special need. “The rates made to our poor are considerably lower than what it actually costs per week to care for patients. The outlay for the care of such a patient is an actual expense to the institution. It is important that such bills be promptly met. Our sanitariums have on their books unpaid accounts of this kind representing thousands of dollars. “It must be evident that it is easier for each individual to make arrangements for securing the money to meet the cost of his own care than it is for the institution to do it for the many who apply to it.” F. M. Wilcox: “We cannot receive charity cases in the main institution and quote rates without letting down our rate standard. If we do it for some, others feel we must for them. As far as possible, we should provide another place where people can obtain necessary treatment at a minimum expense. “We cannot place such work on a commercial basis. We must not seek a profit in it, but place the rates on a basis of actual cost, figured on ordinary running expenses. God would respond if we had more of the spirit of reaching out and helping our poor. Our people would respond and give our institutions their support. It would bring our sanitarium work into closer touch with our people.” L. H. Christian: “We ought to care for our poor people; but we should not ask our sanitariums to do it. We should educate our churches to do this. They should not send their poor members to our sanitariums at the cost of the institution. They should pay the bill. It is easier for them to raise the money than for the sanitarium to do it. We should also educate our churches to try to get as many of the rich people as possible to come to our sanitariums.” I. H. Evans: “Our sanitariums have a pretty heavy load, and I wonder why, as conferences, we should not have a fund that could be used for taking care of the needy poor. There are those who are helpless; it is wrong not to give such help when we can. Why should not the conference provide a fund, so that when such a case occurs it can be referred to the conference president, and arrangements be made to pay the sanitarium at least the cost of the food and the actual expense? “It would be well for us to pass a recommendation to encourage our conferences to provide a fund for this. Then let the sanitarium make the lowest possible rate to these people, and when they must receive treatment let the conference provide for them. This would be money well spent. “We used to carry two or three beds, and it was not difficult to keep them full. I have felt that our conferences could now each provide one or more beds in a sanitarium, taking advantage of the low rates offered, and help do something for the poor people needing the benefits of our health institutions. It certainly ought not to be left for the sanitariums to do it all.” Dr. W. T. Lindsay: “In one of our conferences we used to take up a collection once a year. This was placed in the care of the conference president, and it was understood that correspondence regarding the care of the sick poor should be directed to him. He determined who should receive the benefits of this fund. The sanitarium made the lowest rate possible, not based on adding “overhead” expenses, but on actual cost. The sanitarium looked to the conference president for settlement of the bill, and he saw that it was paid. “It is hard for the business manager or the medical superintendent to reply to some of the urgent appeals that come. They would like to respond to them, but cannot always do so. Then, too, there are instances in which it is not clear that the applicant is entitled to the special rate. It is best that conference officers have the matter in charge. The responsibility of caring for the poor really belongs there.” Chas. E. Rice called attention to the fact that sanitariums are doing a liberal share in caring for the sick poor, even when the board and room expense is met, as the average weekly cost of caring for a patient, aside from the board and room, is considerable. C. F. Marvin had seen the need of some such provision as pointed out, and believed that the plan proposed would offer the much-needed help. He thought the churches should do their part. Dr. E. D. Haysmer spoke of his experience in connection with the dispensary work in Washington, and what he thought of it as a practical way of helping the poor and at the same time giving nurses a wider experience in certain lines of medical work than is offered in the sanitarium, as well as giving them a practical missionary experience. Dr. H. A. Green saw advantages in city dispensary and hospital work in meeting the needs of a large class of people, and thought it practical for a sanitarium located near the city to engage in such work. Burton Castle spoke of some of the difficulties in meeting charity demands, citing instances where efforts to meet such needs had resulted in embarrassment to the institution. E. J. Baker also spoke of unfavorable experiences in the effort to meet requests for special consideration, and stated that sometimes great harm to the work of the institution comes from unfair criticism that arises in connection with such effort. Other speakers agreed with the foregoing. The following resolution was then adopted:— “Resolved, That our sanitariums co-operate with the conferences in the care of the sick poor among us to the extent that we furnish board, room, and treatment at seven dollars a week, with nursing and other necessary special service at cost, it being understood that the persons receiving the benefits of this provision shall be recommended by conference officers, and that the conference or local church will be responsible for the payment of bills thus incurred; and that on the health and temperance Sabbath of each year a special collection shall be taken for the care of the sick poor, the same to be sent to the local conference office, to be used by the local conference in the care of such cases as it may be responsible for.” Medical Missionary Department
W. A. RUBLE, M. D. - General Secretary L. A. HANSEN - Assistant Secretary H. W. MILLER, M. D. - N. Am. Div. Secretary Setting a Goal
By W. W. EASTMAN
The following communication from the Montana Conference well illustrates the wisdom of setting a goal and then working hard to pass it. The communication referred to is from E. E. Stratton, field missionary agent, and is as follows:— “Montana has reached her goal! It was with some hesitancy last winter and early spring, as we looked over our little empire and surveyed its possibilities for the canvassing work, that we set our aim at $8,000 for the year 1915. Heretofore, Montana has been ranging from $3,000 to $6,000, and to set our mark at $8,000 was like taking a leap in the dark; but in a sense we were like a noted English author who said, “One’s reach should far exceed his grasp in order to do his very best.” But by the gracious hand of the Master in not only giving us an abundant harvest, but in creating inquiry in many minds as never before, and by the splendid cooperation of our faithful men, we were able to scale the almost dizzy heights in the first eight months. No doubt we shall crowd the $10,000 mark by December 31. “Our men have done nobly, and I want to compliment them again on the faithful, persistent, determined way they have pushed their work to success. Only one man dropped out of our ranks, and this was due to an attack of appendicitis. Twelve men went into the field last spring, and at this writing eleven of the original twelve, together with two additional ones, are holding a firm front. Of this number eight have reached the $100 mark, and two or three have gone above it as many as seven different weeks during the season. Surely God has blessed in a wonderful manner, and eternity alone will reveal the work that is indicated by these figures. I wish that I could insert the words of encouragement that have been written to me from the several men on the firing line, but space will not permit. In nearly every week’s report one or more would tell how persons bought books because they were Adventist works, and in one case a lady requested that a minister be sent to that district. I wish that it might be possible to relate more, and give incidents of real results, but I shall let the following report speak for itself:— | NAME |
BOOK |
HOURS |
VALUE |
|---|
| C. A. Andrews |
G. C. |
212 |
$504.00 |
| Harry Cooper |
B. R. |
366 |
$907.50 |
| Clifford Flaiz | B. R. | 477 | $1169.50 |
| Ted Flaiz | B. R. | 387 | $836.75 |
| Austin Follett | B. R. | 377 | $586.25 |
| Roy Loutzenhiser | G. C. | 75 | $340.70 |
| M. E. Mullinnex | G. C. | 481 | $1135.55 |
| A. C. Madsen | B. R. | 267 | $409.00 |
| Wm. J. Merickle | B. R. | 242 | $526.00 |
| H. L. Newell | U. S. | 135 | $118.50 |
| Stephen Palmer | U. S. | 133 | $148.25 |
| J. J. Strahle | G. C. | 458 | $1163.50 |
| Fred Thompson | B. R. | 538 | $810.00 |
| John H. Betz | G. C. | 39 | $19.50 |
| Helen Orr | B. R. | 56 | $100.00 |
| | | | |
| Grand total | | 4243 | $8775.05 |
| Average per hour | | | 2.07 |
| Average per week | | | 73.10 |We pass this along with the hope that it will encourage others to do likewise, for surely every conference should show an increase in literature sales every year till the work is finished.