p. 24 | Review and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 11. (3/16/1911)

Printing Work in China

ON another page is a picture of the little alley in Shanghai in which our printing work is temporarily located. Yet it is remarkable what is being done in that narrow passage and out in the field. A line from Elder I. H. Evans says: “The special New-year’s number of the Chinese paper has passed the sixty-one-thousand mark, while the Scripture calendar has run to over two hundred thousand copies.” All this with no one to give any special attention to the circulation of literature. China is asking for a man to give his time to this work.

Southern Ministerial Institute

The reading of the article from Elder A. G. Daniells on page 15, reporting the opening of the Southern ministerial institute, will indicate to conference workers in the Atlantic and Columbia unions the nature of the important institute appointed for Philadelphia, April 12-30.

Medical Evangelists’ Board Meeting

The secretary of the Medical Department, Dr. D. H. Kress, leaves for the West this week, to attend the annual board meeting of the College of Medical Evangelists at Loma Linda, Cal. He will visit various points in the West going and returning. We learn that Elders R. A. Underwood, of the Northern Union, and C. W. Flaiz, of the North Pacific Union, are also planning to attend this meeting in Loma Linda.

India Sanitarium Work Suspended

THE India Mission had hoped that the growth of the $300,000 Fund would be such that provision could be made for permanent quarters for the India Sanitarium. The Mission Board was compelled to notify them that this was impossible, however. The brethren take it courageously, and have decided that it is better to suspend sanitarium work for a time, rather than to go on in the quarters which had proved unsatisfactory. Dr. H. C. Menkel writes:—

“It seemed, therefore, that there was nothing else to do but close down the work until such time as means is in hand with which to secure a suitable property and equip the same for effective work; and I trust the action which we have been compelled to take will result in our people in the home land seeing the urgent necessity of raising the $300,000 Fund as soon as possible, that similar action may not need to be taken in other fields. We can not afford to take any backward steps; this message must advance.”

A Grand Opportunity

By M. E. Kern

“ISN’T it beautiful?” every one says. Yes, it is beautiful; but that is not all; it is filled to the full with the very best on this great question of temperance. I refer, of course, to the new Temperance number of the Instructor.

I can not think of any one thing that would more materially shield that child of yours from the terrible curse of intemperance, and at the same time enlist his interest in the great work of saving others, than that he should carefully read again and again this excellent paper, and then make an earnest effort to distribute it to others. The reading of the awful facts of intemperance, and the pitiful stories of the havoc it has wrought, will arm your child against this great enemy of every home and individual. The efforts to give this saving information to others will fix in the minds of the young the great purpose of living as Jesus lived, — to help and bless others.

Let our parents, then, encourage their children to earnestly take hold of this present opportunity. Study with them the suggestions for a campaign given in the Instructor of February 21, and plan with them how to do what is suggested, remembering that one of the best ways to encourage the young is by example.

The liquor interests and all the agencies of evil are busy everywhere. Let our conferences rally to the work of combating the giant evil of intemperance.

M. E. KERN.

The Philadelphia Institute

By Arthur G. Daniells

At the last autumn council of the General Conference Committee, a memorial was presented by the Atlantic Union Conference, reading, in part, as follows:—

“In view of the very urgent calls which are coming to us in the East to enter the large cities without delay, and to proclaim the truths of the message, and knowing well that our ministry, which is expected to do this work, feels altogether unequal to the task without special preparation; we, therefore, would request the General Conference to appoint in the East, the coming winter, a ministerial institute, which will include in its plan the Atlantic Union Conference.”

In harmony with this request, the General Conference Committee recommended that such an institute be held, and arrangements have been made by the Atlantic and the Columbia union conferences to hold a ministerial institute in Philadelphia, April 12-30.

There are important reasons why such an institute should be held at this time. As indicated in the memorial, there is a call for a great forward movement in proclaiming the message in the East, and especially in the large centers of population.

The messages which have been sent to us concerning this work have rolled a stupendous burden upon us, which we can not and would not evade, but which requires a thoroughly trained force of workers, and careful organization and co-operation. Above all, we need a great uplifting, and that gift of power which can come only from an outpouring of the blessed Spirit of God upon the gospel ministry.

It has been many years since our ministry has enjoyed the benefits of a ministerial institute. Other departments have held many institutes and conventions, and their work has been greatly benefited and built up as the result. But the gospel ministry, which stands at the head of all Christian work, and includes all other lines, has not had the benefits which may be derived from such seasons of united prayer and study.

During the days of his earthly ministry, Jesus set us an example in this matter. For three years and a half he taught his disciples both by precept and example before he gave to them the commission to go into “all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” And when he was leaving them, he said, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

The great ingathering of souls during the days which followed the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, was a sequel to the preparation the disciples received in communing with one another and with God.

The ministerial institute in Philadelphia should mark a new era in the history of the message in the East. We earnestly invite all our conferences in the Atlantic and Columbia unions to send a large delegation to this institute. No minister nor Bible worker can afford to be absent, and no conference can afford to keep its laborers at home if they can reasonably be spared at this time. Let us unite in earnest prayer for the success of this meeting.

A. G. DANIELLS.