Earlier text: God UnderstandsIn Touch With the Field
By F. M. W.
THERE is a rest in change, even though it involves extra work and earnest labor. From the editorial den to the tented field; from poring over endless manuscripts, many of which are interesting and inspiring and some dull and prosy, to talking face to face with our contributors; from receiving and writing long letters, to handclasp with the correspondents themselves; from the dull monotony, which at times attends routine work in the factory, to the stir and bustle of the active field operations,—such a change is pleasant indeed, and we were afforded this pleasure during the last few weeks as we met with our brethren and sisters of Wisconsin and Michigan in their annual convocations. The meetings at Stevens Point, Wis., and at Holly, Mich., were inspiring occasions. From eight hundred to one thousand persons attended each gathering. Among these worshipers were men and women of varied experience, but possessed with the one longing for a deeper consecration of heart and life to God and the obtaining of a greater measure of his Holy Spirit. Many came from communities wherein they were the only representatives of this work and people. Others came from divided homes where they are not only alone in their neighborhoods, but alone in their family relationship, in the stand they have taken for the truth of God. Some were ministers and Bible workers who had been laboring away out on the firing line. Others were canvassers who for long months had gone from door to door, experiencing all the hardships and pleasures which befall this class of workers, in an effort to carry the special message for this generation to those who know it not. Our camp meetings are occasions for a renewal of the ties of Christian fellowship, and for united cooperation in the work and service of God. One who visits our large gatherings today is impressed with the fact that during the last decade a new generation for the most part has come onto the stage of action. How quickly the boys and girls spring into manhood and womanhood! At the Wisconsin meeting there were fully two hundred young persons on the grounds, and nearly as large a number at the Michigan meeting. As we looked into their earnest faces, we saw a solution of the problem of the speedy completion of this work. What cannot God accomplish in carrying this last message to earth's remotest bounds through the young men and women connected with our church work, if they will but dedicate their lives to his service! In behalf of the young people at the Wisconsin meeting Elder W. H. Wakeham, of Emmanuel Missionary College, together with the secretary of the Missionary Volunteer department, Miss Frances L. Case, and the secretary of the Sabbath school department, Miss Ida Thompson, carried a heavy burden and did most excellent work. At the East Michigan meeting the same earnest effort was put forth for the young people by Elder O. M. Kittle and Miss Lottie E. Bell. In both conferences are seen the fruits of the efficient work done by Prof. O. J. Graf and his associates at Emmanuel Missionary College, in preparing young men and women for a part in this work. Excellent interest was shown by the citizens of Stevens Point in the evening preaching services. In these Elder A. J. Clark, of the Southern Illinois Conference took the leading part. The reports of the conference departments showed that the Lord had blessed the efforts of our brethren in Wisconsin during the last year. Three new churches were admitted into conference membership. There has been an appreciable gain in offerings to missions, and during the first five months of the present year a marked increase was shown in the tithe funds of the conference. The Bethel and Walderly Academies and the Madison Sanitarium presented encouraging reports showing that a good measure of success had attended these institutions during the past year. Elder P. A. Hanson, the president of the conference, has been connected with the work in this field only a few months. He is fast winning his way into the hearts and confidence of the people, and was reelected president of the conference for the ensuing year. Brother Frank Hiner was chosen secretary and treasurer. The members of the executive committee remain practically the same. By the earnest request of the Minnesota Conference, Elder John Hoffman, who has faithfully labored for a number of years in Wisconsin, returned to his old field of labor in Minnesota, to carry forward work for both the English and the Scandinavians. The interests of the book work were generously represented at this meeting by Elder W. W. Eastman and Brethren J. B. Blosser and J. W. Mace. Much enthusiasm was aroused in this department of the work, and a goodly number of recruits were secured. Elder G. P. Gaede did excellent work in behalf of the German believers. At the close of the Wisconsin camp meeting forty-five followed their Lord in baptism. A number of these are young men and women who went forward with definite conviction and purpose to follow henceforward in the footsteps of their Saviour. The quiet, deep movings of the Spirit of the Lord were present in this gathering, and while there were no particularly striking manifestations, a spirit of deepening consecration took possession of the hearts of the people, and we believe the fruits of this meeting will be seen in the kingdom of God.8 The same excellent spirit which attended the Wisconsin camp meeting was present in the East Michigan meeting. The attendance from the outside was not so large, although a number manifested a growing interest. At this meeting $8,500 was raised in donations and pledges, and $700 worth of literature was sold from the bookstand. Sixty-three persons were baptized at the close of this meeting. At the East Michigan meeting we renewed friendships of former days. It was cheering to find that some who have grown gray in this movement were on the ground, their faces still turned Zionward, still eager and enthusiastic in the advocacy of this message. It was a pleasure to meet again Elder H. Nicola, who in his earlier days bore a great burden of responsibility in connection with our church work, and to renew our acquaintance with Elder L. T. Nicola, with whom we were pleasantly associated in labor years ago. At Holly we visited for the first time the buildings of the Adelphian Academy, and learned of the good work which this institution is doing for the young people in that conference. The laborers in East Michigan for the most part are young men who have heard the call of God to his work. These, with their earnest conference president, Elder William Guthrie, are doing faithful work in extending a knowledge of the third angel's message throughout their populous field. Brother I. J. Woodman was ordained to the gospel ministry. The personnel of the officers and committees for the ensuing conference year, with two or three exceptions, is the same as last year. It afforded us personal pleasure and spiritual refreshing to attend these meetings. We greeted old friends and made new ones. We found pleasure in our association with Elder L. H. Christian, president of the union, whose earnest words of counsel were appreciated by our brethren and sisters. May the rich blessing of Heaven attend the work of the laborers in the Lake Union Conference. F. M. W. Paying Tithe, Lifting the Debts
By W. A. S.
A BROTHER from the Transvaal was telling what tithe paying had done for him. “I was in debt,” he said, “and couldn’t seem to struggle out. I had come home without a penny, and the debt hung over us.” Just then came the truth. “I started to keep the Sabbath,” he said, “and lost twelve shillings a week out of my wages.” “How are you going to live?” was the question the evil one kept pressing upon him. “Then I saw the truth regarding the tithe,” the brother said. “And now the enemy kept saying, ‘How are you ever to do it and pay your debts?’” “But I began to pay the Lord’s tithe; and, brethren,” he said, “I was quickly able to pay off my indebtedness.” It is the same testimony everywhere, in all the world. God’s blessing does rest upon souls that obey his voice, putting their trust in him. What Has He Done? What Shall We Do?
By C. M. S.
THE old ship Zion is nearing the end of its voyage. The haven of eternal refuge is almost in sight. The climax of the contest between good and evil is near at hand. Soon we believe we shall see Him whom we have loved coming in the clouds of heaven to seal the gift of eternal life to his faithful and to put an end to the activities of sin. This is not a shadowy illusion, based on human desire, feeding the anxious hearts of men with the husks of a false hope. It is the very certainty of certainties. Its foundation rests upon the irrevocable word of him who created all that our eyes behold. The promise of our Lord’s return and his assurance of victory over sin are the very bread of life to the hungry souls of men. One day some will look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” Isa. 25:9. The clash of nations and the uncontrollable drive of events show that this generation is in the grip of forces that will not yield nor slacken until the contest is ended. It is the death grip of the powers of righteousness and iniquity; and the pen that writes history today writes the fulfillment of prophecy. In view of these facts, the greatest blessing that can come to any soul is to receive a knowledge of God’s message for this time. They who accept it enter into the inheritance of eternity. They become joint heirs with Jesus Christ to “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away;” and they who bring to their attention this saving truth become “workers together with him” and sharers in his joy. The “Well done,” spoken by the lips of our Saviour to those who have done this, will be the sweetest words to which human ears ever listen. The hardships endured and the rebuffs suffered which may seem like mountains now, will seem as nothing then. Says the writer of the epistle to the Romans:— “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to usward.” Rom. 8:18. We sometimes are tempted to feel that we are doing considerable for the Lord’s cause, making considerable sacrifice; but when we view these “sacrifices” in the light of the accomplished victory, and see what our eternal gains are there as compared with our temporal losses here, we shall be ashamed even to mention them. God’s open-handed liberality toward us compared with our reluctance to give to the forwarding of his last great work in the earth, will furnish a picture our mind’s eye will not wish to dwell upon. God emptied heaven of its choicest treasure in order to make us the happy subjects of his realm. Our Saviour, in order that he might know and feel our sorrows, became a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Because we dwell in flesh that is mortal, corruptible, temptable, having in it the accumulated tendencies of centuries of sin, “he also himself likewise took part of the same.” He “himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases.” Matt. 8:17. This is equivalent to saying that he became one of us. In fact, the Inspired Word makes this very statement: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest.” And here is the reason for it stated again: “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Heb. 2:14–18. Wonderful provision! Wonderful fairness! Wonderful justice! Wonderful love! All this was done for our good—not that we might have no occasion to accuse him, but that nothing might be left undone in the work of saving men and healing the wounds that sin had made in the household of God. It is not possible for us to go through life without feeling the infirmities of the flesh in some degree; and there are many, very many, whose pain-racked bodies are a continual testimony to them of the weaknesses, frailties, and infirmities of the flesh, till they wonder if God still lives and cares. But God tells us that “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are.” And again: “In all their affliction he was afflicted.” If we are children of God, there is no sorrow or pain which we are called to bear but Christ has felt it and bears it with us. He is the kindest physician that ever ministered to the woes and ills of humanity. He feels our infirmities and bears our diseases. Never doubt it again; but thank him that he does know and feel and care. Have we felt the pangs of hunger? He has felt them as we never have. Have we dwelt in poverty, and been spurned by the well-to-do and great of earth? Remember that the Son of God, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes9he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” He became poor that he might make us joint heirs with himself in the riches of heaven and in the earth made new. The way has been opened whereby every son and daughter of this world may be taken into that wonderful and blessed partnership. He has done his part to bring that about. Let us thank him that he has, and then go and do ours. If you are a tiller of the soil, remember that as year by year you have planted the seed, God has watered that seed with his rain and warmed it into germination with his sunshine. You sowed, and he multiplied the seed. You planted, and he heaped up, in your cellars and granaries, the increase that fed and clothed you, kept a roof over your head, and a pleasant couch under that roof. You sowed one, and God made it thirty; you planted one, and God made it fifty; you purchased sheep and cattle, and God gave you food for them, too, and they increased to your account. You labored in sun and rain and cold to provide for your household; but God alone could make any good come out of all you did. He crowned your efforts with success, filled your plowed land with waving grain, and your fruit trees with their bounty. There ought to be enough in this to make every tiller of the soil, every herdsman, every husbandman, every soul, glad to acknowledge God’s goodness and love, and return him thanks for the bounties he has bestowed upon man. But these are the temporal things. What of those that have to do with the great beyond? Without the knowledge of God, we are hopeless, lost. He has provided and set before us the hope of an eternal inheritance in an everlasting kingdom. We were sold under sin; he has redeemed us by his own blood. We were full of sin; he has promised to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity. Sin had burned itself into our very bones; but, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Friends have forsaken us; but he declares, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We have been through sorrow, affliction, strife, and turmoil; but Christ’s promise is, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” We are in constant need of help; he has filled his Book with unfailing promises of help for us in every time of trial. And when that great day of days shall come, he will take us under the wings of his protection, and hide us from everything that could do us harm. What thanks are due him! All we have that is justly in our keeping came from him; and all that Christ is heir to he has promised we shall share with him. When we have truly thanked him for all his great and marvelous gifts to us, we shall only have begun to understand how much there is to thank him for. And when we have learned somewhat of that, our sacrifices and losses and gifts in this present world will occupy but a small place in our estimation. We are drawing near to the time set for a large offering for the cause of God, and we shall demonstrate on that occasion how great or how small a valuation we place upon what we are doing for God, and how great or how small a valuation we place upon all God has done and has promised to do for us. May God help us to put right estimates upon these things, and not let the nearness of the temporalities blind our eyes to the true value of the eternal riches. Let us give such an account of our stewardship that we shall not be ashamed to look upon the record of it in that day of final accounts, so near at hand. Signs of the Approaching End
By W. A. S.
Part 5. The Falling Stars of 1833
A great impetus was given to the study of divine prophecy by the events of the closing years of the eighteenth century. Observers had seen the papal power dealt a “deadly wound” in the events and effects of the French Revolution; and it was understood that the world was entering a new era of enlightenment and liberty. Bible students began to see more clearly the lesson of the great outlines of historic prophecy, and hearts were stirred with the evidences that the coming of the Lord was drawing near. In Europe and America, in the early decades of the nineteenth century, there was the beginning of a revival of the study and preaching of the advent idea. Another Sign in the Heavens
Just here appeared another great sign in the heavens, foretold by the word of prophecy. Of the sign that was to follow the darkening of the sun and moon, Christ’s prophecy says:— As the prophet John beheld the spectacle in a vision of the last days, he described it in these words:— “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Rev. 6: 13. On Nov. 13, 1833, came the wondrous celestial exhibition of falling stars, which is listed as one of the most remarkable phenomena of the astronomical story. Meteoric displays, swarms of shooting stars, have been observed at various times through history. But in the true order of the prophecy, following the sign of the darkening of the sun, there came, in 1833, the sublime display answering to the pen picture of the Apocalypse—as if all the stars of heaven were falling to the earth. The essential thing about a sign is that it shall be seen, that the circumstances of its appearance shall fasten attention. Not in America alone, but equally in all the civilized world, as a topic of study, this sign in the heavens commanded the attention of men. An English scientist, Rev. Thomas Milner, F. R. G. S., wrote:— The attention of astronomers in Europe and all over the world was, as may be imagined, strongly roused by intelligence of this celestial display on the Western continent.—“Gallery of Nature,” London, 1852, page 141. This writer called it “by far the most splendid display on record.” See Id., page 139. Another English astronomical writer of recent date says:— Once for all, then, as the result of the star fall of 1833, the study of luminous meteors became an integral part of astronomy.—Clerke’s “History of Astronomy in the Nineteenth Century,” page 329. This same work describes the extent of the display as follows:— On the night of Nov. 12-13, 1833, a tempest of falling stars broke over the earth. North America bore the brunt of its pelting. From the Gulf of Mexico to Halifax, until daylight with some difficulty put an end to the display, the sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks, and illuminated with majestic fireballs.—Page 328. The closest scientific observations were made by Prof. Denison Olmsted (professor of astronomy at Yale), who wrote in the American Journal of Science:— The morning of Nov. 13, 1833, was rendered memorable by an exhibition of the phenomenon called shooting stars, which was probably more extensive and magnificent than any similar one hitherto recorded. . . . Probably no celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country since its first settlement, which was viewed with so much admiration and delight by one class of spectators, or with so much astonishment and fear by another class. For some time after the occurrence, the “meteoric phenomenon” was the principal topic of conversation in every circle.—Vol. XXV (1834), page 365. Prof. Simon Newcomb, the astronomer, declares this phenomenal exhibition of falling stars “the most remarkable one ever observed.” See “Astronomy for Everybody,” page 280. This was not merely a display of an unusual number of falling stars, such as Humboldt observed in South America in 1799, or such as we find recorded of other times before and since. It was a “shower” of falling stars, just such a spectacle as one must picture from the words of the prophecy, “And the stars of heaven fell.” The French astronomer, Flammarion, says of the density of the shower:—10 The Boston observer, Olmsted, compared them at the moment of maximum, to half the number of flakes which we perceive in the air during an ordinary shower of snow.—“Popular Astronomy,” page 536. This affords us a better idea of the scene than the estimate of 34,640 stars an hour, which was made by Professor Olmsted after the rain of stars had greatly abated, so that he was able to make an attempt at counting. Dr. Humphreys (president of St. John’s College, Annapolis) said of the appearance at the Maryland capital:— In the words of most, they fell like flakes of snow.—American Journal of Science, Vol. XXV (1834), page 372. Nothing less than this could have presented the counterpart of the prophetic picture. Thoughtful hearts were solemnized by the unwonted spectacle. Prof. Alexander Twining (civil engineer, “late tutor in Yale College”), giving his views as to the nature of the flaming visitants from space, wrote:— Had they held on their course unabated for three seconds longer, half a continent must, to all appearance, have been involved in unheard-of calamity. But that almighty Being who made the world, and knew its dangers, gave to it also its armature—endowing the atmospheric medium around it with protecting, no less than with life-sustaining, properties. Considered as one of the rare and wonderful displays of the Creator’s preserving care, as well as the terrible magnitude and power of his agencies, it is not meet that such occurrences as those of November 13 should leave no more solid and permanent effect upon the human mind than the impression of a splendid scene.—American Journal of Science, Vol. XXVI (1834), page 351. Multitudes felt that the great Creator had spoken to men in this notable wonder of his heavens. Again and again in the records and reminiscences of that time, testimony is borne to the fact that observers were impressed with the likeness of the scene to that described in the divine prophecy as one of the signs of the end of the world. W. A. S. A Visit to the Province of Honan, China
By Arthur G. Daniells
Our journey by rail from Manchuria down through Central China was most interesting and instructive. It gave an excellent opportunity to see some of the conditions prevailing in the interior of this great country. The distance by rail from Mukden to Hankow is 1,279 miles. This part of China is certainly a wonderful agricultural country. It is level, well watered, and fertile. As far as the eye can reach on either side of the railway there could be seen well-cultivated fields of wheat, rice, millet, barley, buckwheat, maize, potatoes, beans, peas, etc. Mulberry trees are extensively cultivated for the silk industry. It is said that China produces one fourth of all the silk used throughout the world. The Chinese are hard-working, painstaking farmers, but for the want of modern methods and implements they work at a great disadvantage. The only implements of cultivation I saw were a clumsy hoe, a spade, and the old-fashioned hand sickle. They use but few horses or bullocks. This compels them to work long hours. They begin as early as they can see to work, and continue until darkness closes around them; and the masses work every day of the week. We crossed the line from Manchuria into China proper at Shanhaikuan, 260 miles southwest of Mukden. Here we passed through the great wall of China, built by the Chinese more than two thousand years ago, to protect their country from invasions by their enemies in the north and west. The length of this wall is 1,200 miles in a straight line, or 1,500 miles measured by its windings over hills and mountains, some of which are 4,000 feet high. It is from fifteen to twenty feet wide at the base, and from eight to twelve feet wide at the top. The height varies from fifteen to thirty feet. Its towers are forty feet high and about six hundred feet apart. Although completed 214 years before the Christian era, it is still in a fair state of preservation,—a monument of the engineering skill and thorough workmanship of the Chinese in their earlier history. Our route took us through the city of Peking, the capital of China. During China’s long history its capital has been located in many cities, but Peking has remained the national capital without interruption since 1416, a period of 499 years. The great outer wall of this city incloses an area of forty square miles, and at present a population of about one million. Although this capital will not compare at all favorably with American and European capitals, it is in many respects a nice city, one of the best in China. While in the city we improved the opportunity to get a look at the places of greatest interest. These were the old palaces of dynasties which ruled China centuries ago, the palace now occupied by the young emperor who was deposed during the revolution of 1911-12, the new palace built for Yuan Shi-kai, the first president of the new republic, the Temple of Heaven, the various foreign legations, and the business part of the city. These were all interesting, but that which impressed me most deeply and seriously was the fact that in this city of a million souls we have no representative of our glorious cause. Nor have we a single believer in the province of Chi-li, in which Peking is located. This province is as large as the States of Iowa and Illinois combined, and has a population of twenty-nine million, nearly one third as many people as live in the United States. This fact pressed heavily on my heart all the day; and all the while I was going about looking at the sights, I kept looking for favorable omens for beginning our work in the national capital. I felt so sure of having seen evidences of providential openings for beginning our work here, that when the day closed I felt that if I were young enough to get the language I should beg to be placed there for life, if need be, to give those dying souls God’s message of salvation. When I reached Shanghai a week or two later, I found that a burden for Peking was pressing hard on the hearts of Dr. Selmon and his wife. During the Shanghai conference that immediately followed, it was decided to send Brother and Sister Selmon to Peking at once, to begin medical evangelistic work, and to request our Mission Board to increase the appropriation to China in order that this decision may be carried through. Both the city of Peking and the province of Chi-li give every evidence of being most promising fields. Leaving Peking, we continued our journey south 521 miles, to Yen-cheng, the headquarters of our work in the province of Honan. Peking is exactly halfway between Mukden and Yen-cheng, a distance of 1,042 miles. Between these two mission stations there are many cities and a densely populated country. One of these cities is Tientsin, with a population of nearly a million. It is said to be one of the finest, most modern promising cities in China. There must be at least fifty million people living between Mukden and Yen-cheng, who can be reached and saved by our message as readily as hundreds have been in other places we have entered. No man who believes this message can travel among these lost millions without a heavy heart, and without praying the Lord to send more laborers into this great field. We were met at Yen-cheng by our dear brethren, R. F. Cottrell, Fred Lee, and Orvie Gibson; also by a number of our native evangelists and brethren and sisters. I had not seen Brethren Cottrell and Lee since they came to China years ago. I cannot tell the joy it gave me to meet these workers in the field where they have toiled and struggled, and have won splendid victories for the Master. We were sorry that we could not have had with us Brother J. J. Westrup, who remained at Yen-cheng station so long without his family. It was here11that he was exposed to great dangers during and following the revolution. Honan is the province in which Dr. Selmon and Dr. Miller, with their wives and two missionary nurses who came with them, settled when they came to China in 1903. Although the work went hard and many difficulties had to be surmounted, and although there have been many changes in the staff of workers in this province, yet the field has never been deserted. There has been no retreat, and we are now reaping precious fruit. There are in Honan, 7 churches, with a total membership of 288. Of these members 80 per cent came direct from heathenism into our message. Besides these there are 16 companies with an attendance of 200, making 488 Sabbath keepers in the province. We have one central school with an attendance of 45 students, and a number of schools at the outstations. The working force consists of 1 ordained foreign minister, 1 ordained native minister, 14 native evangelists, 15 canvassers, 6 Bible women, 8 school-teachers, and 4 other workers, making a total of 49. The province of Honan has an area of 68,000 square miles—about the size of either Missouri, Oklahoma, or Washington. The population is 35,000,000, giving about 400 persons to the square mile. This population is a little more than one third of the total population of the United States. The greatest distance east and west between these churches and companies of Sabbath keepers is 230 miles, and the greatest distance north and south is 350 miles. The majority of these Sabbath keepers can be reached only by cart roads, which in the rainy season are almost impassable. The canvassers are circulating between 7,000 and 10,000 copies of our monthly Chinese paper. Their sales for the year total about $1,000. This is the status of our work in the province of Honan at the present time. It does not appear large by the side of some of our old, strong conferences in the States; but when looked at in the light of conditions and obstacles that have had to be met and overcome in Honan, it is wonderfully encouraging. It took a long time to get a good, reliable, substantial band of believers, but now the work is going much faster. The majority of those who have embraced the truth have received a new life and experienced a change of heart. They have come to know the Saviour who died for them, and they rejoice in his mercy and love as truly as do the followers of Christ in other lands. The same desire that takes possession of converts in Christian lands to tell the good news to others, fills the hearts of these converts from heathenism, and they at once become active workers in the proclamation of the message. To those who are best acquainted with conditions in this field, the future of the work looks very bright and encouraging. During the first quarter of 1915, forty-four persons were baptized. This compares well with a large majority of the conferences in the United States, as will be seen by the statistical report for the last quarter of 1914. The work of the canvassers in the sale of our literature is creating interest in all directions. At the time of my visit the native evangelists were holding meetings in seven new places. Every month people are taking their stand for the truth. If the progress now being made continues, we shall soon have a thousand Sabbath keepers in Honan. But there is a serious side to this situation. Our foreign staff of workers is too small for the work that presses upon them. Pastor Fred Lee is the only foreign minister in the province. The only other foreign worker is Brother Orvie Gibson, who acts as secretary and treasurer of the mission, and looks after the central school located at the headquarters. As he cannot leave the main station, the entire burden of the field work falls upon Brother Lee. It is a heavy task. All the churches and companies must be visited to instruct and build up these five hundred Sabbath keepers. The fifteen evangelists must be directed and encouraged in their work. The fifteen canvassers must be trained for their work, and constantly directed and encouraged to make the work successful. The schools must be looked after, and the teachers must be given instruction in order to make the school work efficient. This would be considered heavy work by the president of any conference in the United States having a membership no larger than the number of believers in Honan. But in the States the task would not begin to compare with the work in Honan. In America the people who embrace the truth have been all their lives under Christian influences. Their education from infancy has been far more in harmony with our gospel message than anything these poor heathen have ever known. It requires a great deal more care and effort as well as patience to bring these converts from heathenism up to a proper standard than is required to develop converts in Christian lands. Also in the States there are comfortable railway trains, automobiles, and other vehicles to convey the president of the conference to his churches, while in Honan long journeys must be made with bullock carts, and sometimes the vehicle of transportation is only a wheelbarrow pushed through the mud by a coolie. Oftentimes Brother Lee must spend days walking to his churches and companies, while the vehicle can carry no more than his luggage. I confess my heart was made to burn within me as I got a good square look at the situation in Honan. Brethren Porter, Fulton, and Cottrell and I went over the situation very carefully, and decided that without fail more help must be sent to this great field. We are aware that this will make one more call for larger appropriations to China. But surely the present condition is the most expensive kind of economy. In the first place, it is utterly impossible for Brother Lee to do justice to the large work that has developed in Honan. In the next place, he cannot endure the toil and the fatigue indefinitely. He has already had more or less trouble with malaria, but we thank the Lord that he still has splendid endurance. But think of the great loss Honan would sustain if his strength should fail at the present time. His place could not be supplied by any one in China without imperiling the interests of the work in some other province. There would be no way of preventing a steady loss until some one from the home field could get a sufficient knowledge of the language to enable him to take up the work to advantage. There should be at least two foreign evangelists in each of these large provinces, to share the burdens, counsel with each other regarding the work, and relieve each other in time of sickness or other emergencies. I am sure that if our people in the homeland can understand the situation just as it is, they will cheerfully contribute the money required to greatly increase our staff of workers in many places in these foreign fields. We greatly enjoyed the general meeting held at Yen-cheng. It was a pleasure to form the acquaintance of the native evangelists, canvassers, teachers, and students. Before the meeting closed, we ordained Brother Lieu Djen Bang to the work of the gospel ministry. This brother has been a faithful evangelist for seven or eight years, and has led many persons to take a stand for the truth. The native brethren as well as Brethren Cottrell and Lee united in recommending that he be ordained. They came forward at the close of the service and gave him a most affectionate welcome. Our meeting closed with an inspiring praise service. The countenances of the brethren and sisters told of the joy that filled their hearts as they testified of their love for the Lord, and for our brethren in America who had sent the third angel’s message to them. By a rising vote which they themselves proposed, they requested me to bear their Christian greetings and brotherly love to all our brethren and sisters in the homeland.