p. 22 | Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 47. (11/23/1905)

Earlier text: A Review of the Mission Fields

Finishing God's Work

By A. G. DANIELLS

A. G. DANIELLS

(Reading for Sabbath, December 16)

There is a work being done in the world which the Bible calls “the work of the Lord.” Of this work the prophet Jeremiah says, “Come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord;” again, “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.” Jer. 51:10; 48:10, R. V. Writing of the work Timothy was doing, the apostle Paul said, “He worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.” 1 Cor. 16:10.

Let the fact be well understood, and ever kept fresh in the mind, that the work of the Lord is God’s work, and not man’s. It originated in the mind of God. It was planned and inaugurated by him. It has been under his constant supervision, and praise be to his name, it will be gloriously finished by him. Man’s part in this work is co-operation with God in carrying it forward.

The work of the Lord is the proclamation of the gospel to the world. It embraces all that is involved in making known and applying the gospel to sinners. It is represented by the infinite sacrifice of Christ, the unwearied ministry of the holy angels, and the loving service of his followers here below. This is a great work. It is, by all means, the most important work in the world. Man’s greatest projects and achievements can bear no comparison, in meaning and importance to the well-being of men, with God’s work. Man’s works are confined to this world, while God’s include the world to come.

The life of Christ on earth was the truest and clearest revelation we have of what constitutes God’s work among men. When he began his work, he said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18. While engaged in this blessed ministry, he said to his disciples: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” John 9:4; 4:34. At the close of his ministry on earth, Jesus said to his Father: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4. Thus it is plain that God’s work among men is ministering to them the gospel of his grace.

God’s work began in Eden, when the gospel was first revealed to Adam. It spans the whole history of the world. It has passed through many conflicts and crises, such as those connected with the flood, the deliverance from Egypt, the captivity in Babylon, the first advent, the Dark Ages, and the Reformation. Through all these long centuries God’s work has never ceased, nor even stood still a single day. And it is still a living, vitalizing movement, accomplishing his eternal purpose.

But that work will not continue forever. God has declared that “he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Rom. 9:28. At different points along the way the workmen have finished certain definite parts of the work committed to them. Paul said, “I have finished my course.” Jesus said, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” But the day is coming when the work itself—the whole work—will be finished.

The finishing of a work is its most important phase. It is well to begin a good work, and to carry it forward successfully, but it is the finishing, the full consummation, that reveals its highest point of excellence. The finishing of the gospel will be the grand climax of the greatest movement in the universe. Well may we inquire when and how the work of God is to be finished. The answer of God’s Word to these inquiries is plain and positive:—

“In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” Rev. 10:7.

Here we have a positive statement as to when and how the work of God will be finished. The important facts of this statement are these: (1) “the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound;” (2) “the mystery of God should be finished;” (3) “as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” The primary point of these three is this, “the mystery of God should be finished.”

What is the mystery of God that is to be finished?—It is the gospel. This is clearly demonstrated by many passages of Scripture. In his epistle to the Romans, chapter 16, verse 25, Paul speaks of the gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the mystery, as all being the same thing. In the epistle to the Ephesians, the same apostle states that by revelation God made known to him the mystery of Christ. Eph. 3:3, 4. To the Galatians he says that that which was made known to him by revelation was the gospel. Gal. 1:11, 12.

Thus it is proved beyond all question that the mystery of God is the gospel of Christ. And this further proves that it is the gospel which the angel declared to John should be finished at a certain time.

When is that time?—“In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound.” That is when the gospel is to be finished. What is the seventh angel? When is he to begin to sound? How long is he to sound?

The seventh angel here referred to is the seventh of the seven trumpet angels

brought to view in the eighth chapter of the Revelation. “I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” Verses 2, 6. Then follows a statement of the sounding of each angel, and of what took place under the sounding of each.

This line of prophecy gives very clear statements regarding important events which are to take place, and very definite periods as to when these events will take place. The fifth trumpet outlines the terrible assaults to be made upon the Roman empire by the Turks. It says: “Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them.” Rev. 9:10, 11. This king was Othman, who began his campaign July 27, 1299. The five months during which they were to hurt men would be one hundred and fifty days, reckoning thirty days to the month, according to the calendar of the Jews in ancient times. A day in prophecy stands for a year of literal time. Adding to July 27, 1299, the one hundred and fifty years during which the Turks were under their king, to hurt the Roman empire, we are brought to July 27, 1449. Here the fifth trumpet ended.

The sixth trumpet was to sound for “an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year.” Rev. 9:15. This is just three hundred and ninety-one years and fifteen days. Adding this time to July 27, 1449, when the fifth trumpet ended, we find that the sixth trumpet must close Aug. 11, 1840. Its close was to be marked by the loss of Turkey’s independence. This was fulfilled on the very day fixed by the prophecy almost eighteen hundred years before.

There is but one trumpet more in this series yet to sound, and that is the seventh. And it is “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound,” that the mystery of God—the gospel—is to be finished. The seventh angel can not begin to sound until after 1840, for it was not until then that the sixth angel ceased sounding.

Great events are to take place under the sounding of the seventh angel. Here are some of the events mentioned in the prophecy:—

“The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come.”
“And the time of the dead, that they should be judged.”
“The mystery of God should be finished.”
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” See Rev. 10:7; 11:15-19.

The loss of Turkey’s independence at the termination of the sixth trumpet laid the foundation for the anger and strife among the nations that is manifested under the seventh trumpet. And is it not being signally revealed before our eyes to-day?

When the seventh angel began to sound, the time came to judge the dead. This statement definitely locates the time when the seventh angel began to sound. It was in the autumn of 1844, at the termination of the twenty-three hundred years, that the time came to judge the dead. This we know from the prophecy of Daniel, chapters 8, 9. That prophecy locates that year as the time when Christ was to enter the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to make an atonement for his people. The atoning service is the cleansing of the sanctuary, and that includes the judging of the dead. In full harmony with all this, John says that when the seventh angel sounded, “the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Rev. 11:19. This reveals to the people of God the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ ministers while the judgment proceeds before the law of God, by which all shall be judged.

Now it is when the seventh angel begins to sound, that the mystery of God—the gospel—is to be finished. That was in the autumn of 1844. We have, therefore, been living sixty-one years under the sounding of the seventh angel, and in the finishing, closing work of the gospel. This is still the beginning of the period during which the seventh trumpet is to sound. It will not cease until the kingdoms of this world become Christ’s, and he destroys the wicked, and gives the full reward to his saints. The wicked will not be destroyed, nor the saints rewarded, in the new earth, until a thousand years after the second coming of Christ. Thus it is plain that the first sixty years are only the beginning of the days of the voice of the seventh angel.

But what a tremendous fact—that for sixty-one years God has been carrying on the closing, finishing work of the gospel!

This leads us to the consideration of the question, How, by what means, will the gospel be finished? There are two very important phases to this finishing work: one is the ministry of Christ in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary; the other is the proclamation, by the church, of God’s final, closing message to the world.

As we have already seen that Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, his ministry in that apartment is to cleanse the sanctuary, or to make an atonement for God’s people—the overcomers. This requires an investigation, and a final decision, and that is a work of judgment. The cleansing of the earthly sanctuary was the closing, finishing work of the year, and completed the year’s round of service. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary will be the closing work of Christ as High Priest for a lost world. When that work is completed, the mystery of God will have been finished, and that will be the finishing of the gospel.

When Christ entered upon that solemn work in 1844, the hour came to give the great threefold message of Rev. 14:6-14. This message opens with this statement: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” It closes with this event: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.”

This threefold message, it is declared, is the “everlasting gospel.” It is to be preached to “them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” This is the gospel of the kingdom, which Christ says shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; “and then,” it is emphatically declared, “shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14.

Thus it is plain that while Christ performs the cleansing work in heaven, his followers perform the closing work on this earth. This is the fulfilment of what “he hath declared unto his servants the prophets.”

At the precise time when Christ began his finishing work, God raised up a people to tell it to the world. He had wonderfully prepared the way for it to be told to the uttermost parts of the earth. He had brought to Western, civilized, Christian lands, a knowledge of the peoples in the uttermost parts of the earth. He had sent devoted missionaries ahead, to learn the languages of these peoples, and translate his Word into their tongues. He had provided every facility for the rapid publication and dissemination of knowledge. And he had provided means for safe, quick transportation of messengers to all the world. All this was preparation on God’s part to finish his work. Then he raised up a people to finish it.

We—let us say it reverently—are

that people. And the finishing of God’s work is the tremendous task assigned us. It is a fearful responsibility, and yet it is glorious. The very thought of it should cause our hearts to burn with zeal and enthusiasm. It is different from all that has been before. In the past, men have done what they could for God, and handed the results to their successors; to-day, God’s people are to finish the work, and hand it over, not to successors, but to the Master, at his coming.

This work is direct, definite, specific. It has a great, well-defined aim. We can work to a point. There need be no aimless efforts, and no wasted energies and means. There is no other movement like it in all the world.

God’s work will be finished in this generation. He has declared that it will, and he can not lie. The Scripture can not be broken. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.” We must count on this. We must make every calculation on seeing the end. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it [may seem to] tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Hab. 2:3.

This finishing work calls for all that we have. It is worthy of our whole-hearted love, our best talents, our highest energies. It deserves more than it is receiving. Let us pray God to help us to repent of our half-heartedness in this, the grandest of all movements. Let us earnestly pray to be washed from our sins, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to have a full measure of God’s love shed abroad in our hearts. Let us seek to see things as God sees them, to be willing to go, and to let our children go, to sinning, dying humanity in mission fields. Let us esteem it a great pleasure to return to God a full tithe of all that he gives us, to be eager to give every dollar that we can spare for the advancement of God’s cause, and to do all we can where we are to give to others the light that so greatly rejoices our hearts.

“Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”

Religious Liberty Notes

By K. C. Russell

The writer attended the convention of the Federation of Churches held in New York City, November 15-20, and hopes to report some features of interest from this significant gathering of churchmen.

Brethren H. W. Reed and S. F. Shadel, of the Wisconsin Conference, have been doing some earnest work during the month of October in the distribution of our religious liberty literature. They report an aggregate of 25,585 tracts distributed.

The president of the Nebraska Conference, Elder A. T. Robinson, expresses his convictions concerning the great movement in the interest of religious legislation as follows: “I am satisfied that the movement which aroused our people years ago, and which has appeared to die out, is in reality not dead, but be sleeping. The leaders of that movement rushed into the enterprise without reckoning with the forces they had to meet. As stated in ‘Great Controversy’ and the Testimonies, this movement is now moving in a secret way, gathering forces for an open movement later.”

In response to “ecclesiastical petitions” and the efforts of “Sabbatarian agitators,” the Ministry of the Victorian Parliament, in Australia, has lately prohibited the running of all suburban trains in the city of Melbourne on Sunday. The Melbourne Argus styles this “a distinctly retrograde move,” and asks, “Why should the ministry become the agent of the churches in a religious crusade? Are the people of Melbourne children who have to be dragooned by a parental government into the due observance of Sunday?”

Elder S. B. Whitney gives an interesting report in the New York Indicator of the 8th inst. concerning the fifteenth annual meeting of the New York State Sabbath Association, which was held in Syracuse, October 1, from which we quote the following: “A variety of ideas, at times conflicting, was presented, some of the speakers saying better than they knew. Shutting the eyes while listening to some of the remarks, one could almost imagine himself in a Seventh-day Adventist meeting. One speaker said that legislation would never accomplish what they desired, but they must have a revival of the Spirit’s power. Another said that the best means of preserving the Sabbath was to impress its sacredness by teaching it from the Bible, from the fact that the authority of the fourth commandment is relaxed in the minds of many Christian people, and they become largely responsible for the increased desecration of the Sabbath. A third deprecated this laxity of sentiment, and argued the sanctity and perpetuity of the fourth commandment as strongly as a seventh-day advocate, confirming his position with the statement that the Lord Jesus respected and observed the seventh day. Mr. Stanley stated with double emphasis that the crucial time had come for the decision of the question as to whether we are to save or lose our Christian American sabbath, and that the conflict would center on the Pacific Coast.” K. C. RUSSELL.

Washington Training College

Special Course

The plans for this course are now taking definite form, and it has been arranged to conduct this special work in such a manner that any one taking it will be able also to take any one of the regular classes of the school. This will involve an afternoon or evening session, as the morning hours are fully occupied with the regular class periods; but this plan will be advantageous in several ways, and will therefore in all probability be determined upon. Should there be those who do not care to take any of the regular studies, they would have the forenoon to spend in study, or in canvassing or holding Bible studies in the city; or if any wish to engage in manual labor, this time may be thus employed. The school has much hard work which it can offer to young men.

The charges for this special work will be the same as those for the regular classes,—four dollars for a school month of four weeks for tuition alone; or if any one wishes to receive board, room, and tuition, as our regular students do, the rate will be eighteen dollars a month, and one hour of manual work daily, or seven hours a week, the time to be devoted to work as may best serve the general interests. The cost of books will not necessarily be large, a few dollars being sufficient to meet this and all other incidental expenses excepting car fare. It might be well for those who are planning to take the course to make inquiry of the nearest transportation agent of the General Conference, as undoubtedly some would be entitled to the reduced rates which are offered by the railroad companies to ministers and missionaries. Any transportation agent can give information to any individual as to whether he would be entitled to such courtesy, and if so, can arrange to secure the desired rates.

The printed announcement is now off the press, and will be furnished free upon application. This circular gives quite full information; but if any further information be desired about any feature of the proposed course, the same will be given by correspondence. Address all letters to Washington Training College, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.

Field Notes

FOUR persons have recently been added by baptism to the church at Detroit, Mich.

EIGHT persons received baptism in the new church in West Philadelphia, October 29.

FIVE persons have recently taken a stand for the truth at the mining town of Bache, I. T.

A NEW church building was recently dedicated free of debt at Cumberland, British Columbia.

NINE new Sabbath-keepers have been gained in Haskins, Ohio, through the efforts of Elder J. P. Gaede and Brother Fred Fairchild.

ELDER H. CLAY GRIFFIN reports that several persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath at Sunset, Ark., where he has been laboring for some time past.

EIGHT adults have begun the observance of the Sabbath at Lincoln, Ark., as the result of a course of tent-meetings, which are now continued in the village schoolhouse.

A CHURCH of fifteen members was organized at Logan, Kan., October 22. It is expected this number will be increased by the addition of others who are now keeping the Sabbath there.

ELDER E. K. SLADE reports from East Michigan: “Some very profitable meetings have been held at Prattville and Jefferson of late, resulting in several conversions and the reclaiming of several backsliders. At Prattville six more have recently taken their stand for the truth. Five have gained the victory at Jefferson, and rejoice in the liberty of the gospel.”

Business Notices!

BRIEF business notices will be published in this department subject to the discretion of the publishers. A minimum charge of one dollar will be made for one insertion of forty words or less. Three cents a word will be charged for each additional word, and remittance must accompany each order. Initials and figures count as words. Name and address must be counted.

All persons unknown to the managers of this paper must send satisfactory written recommendations whenever submitting notices for insertion in this column.

In the case of poor persons who wish employment, the charge may be remitted, but in order to secure this concession a letter from the elder of the local church of which the advertiser is a member, or from one of our well-known ministers, must accompany the advertisement.

WANTED.—A first-class broom maker, one who understands sorting. Pease give reference. Write to Healdsburg College, Healdsburg, Cal.

WANTED.—Home for a beautiful baby girl, strong and healthy, of dark complexion and of good parentage. Address E. C. McCarty, M. D., 920 North Nineteenth St., St. Louis, Mo.

WANTED.—Expert bookkeeper desires work where Sabbath can be kept. Good reference. About $2 a day. Intricate accounts elucidated. Address J. H. Downes, New England Sanitarium, Melrose, Mass.

WANTED.—Position by reliable S. D. A. young man, having had 12 months experience as vegetarian cafe cook. First-class reference given. Address W. L. Newton, Hinsdale Sanitarium, Hinsdale, Ill.

THIS is what the Hampton Art Company, of Hampton, Iowa, says of the rapid steam cooker: “We got the material ready, and put it to work; in just forty-five minutes we were ready to eat our meal. We thought we would try it before we delivered it. We will just add, the cooker more than meets our expectation. We want full control to sell your cooker in this county.” Address Rapid Steam Cooker Co., Laura, Ohio.

WANTED.—To let my farm and stock for three years. Also have some good land for sale; if desired, will take work for part or the whole. Address A. C. Woodbury, Hines, Douglas Co., Wis.

ABSOLUTELY the purest and best peanut butter, only 12 cents a pound, cash with order. Will positively not get rancid. We pay freight on 100 pounds or more, east of Rocky Mountains. Address Vegetarian Meat Company, 309 Bond Building, Washington, D. C.

I WILL give $1 for a copy of the 1893-94 Book Catalogue of the Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich., if sent immediately, and 50 cents each for a copy of the 1895-96 or the 1897-98 catalogue. Address W. E. Cornell, 33 North Washington Ave., Battle Creek, Mich.

PEANUTS FOR SALE.—About two hundred bushels of peanuts raised on the school farm at Toluca, N. C., are now ready for the market. Price, 7 cents a pound in lots of 50 pounds or more, delivered at our railroad station. Address Earl Hahn, Toluca, Cleveland Co., N. C.

The One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund

By I. H. EVANS

Previously reported ........$109,966 80 J. J. Ireland, Treas. ...... 729 54 J. J. Ireland, Treas. ...... 245 44 Iowa Conference ............ 170 39 Oklahoma Tract Society .... 126 75 N. B. Emerson, Treas. ...... 40 00 East Cooper (O. T.) church . 32 25 Avard (O. T.) church ....... 32 00 H. Mosebar ................. 25 00 Ezra C. and Hattie E. Ohm-Clark ........ 25 00 Geo. Hawkins (England) .... 24 35 South Dakota Conference ... 22 74 Anvil (O. T.) church ....... 22 50 East Michigan .............. 22 35 Aaron C. Neufeld ........... 12 90 A. M. Neff on sales of jewelry donated ........ 12 55 Richard Graham ............. 12 50 Mrs. Annie McAllister ...... 10 00 J. D. Miracle .............. 10 00 Mrs. L. O. Johnson ......... 10 00 L. A. Carrick ............... 8 00

FIVE DOLLARS EACH

Miss Laura Morrison, Dr. and Mrs. J. W. Erkenbeck, W. H. Burchfield, N. T. Sutton, Perry E. Pepper, Turner Rowe, L. H. Devoir, D. Kinney, J. W. Shields, A. L. Philbrick, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Snow, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Knowlton, W. J. Goodwin, Swan Johnson.

Mrs. A. Summerville (New Zealand), $4.87; M. L. Burnett, $3.25; Mrs. L. E. Brant, $3; South Dakota Conference, $2.25; Mrs. S. H. Stark, $1.50; South England Conference, $1.22; Alberta Mission, $.20.

$2.50 EACH

E. Frost, Wm. Van Gundy, Mrs. G. H. Bates.

TWO DOLLARS EACH

G. A. Hein, T. J. Strawn, T. B. Franklyn, C. E. Barron, S. C. Burchfield, A. E. McElmurry, a friend, Mrs. Russell, Edgar F. Cole, Central Union Conference.

ONE DOLLAR EACH

S. J. Strawn, F. F. Johnson, C. V. Hamer (Treas.), W. W. Burchfield, Victoria Pepper, Zora Culver, Wm. Duce, Mrs. C. Elton, Mrs. H. Weitzel, Mrs. W. S. Neff, Canadian Union Conference, R. B. Thompson, N. I. Weber, Mrs. Estella Brown Mullikin, Lloyd L. Brown, Sybil E. Brown, K. A. Gurrier.

FIFTY CENTS EACH

Mrs. M. F. Brown, Mrs. Eva Wardrip, Louis Lehmann.

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS EACH

Mr. Peterson, C. Crow, a friend.

Total reported ............$111,694 10 I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.

The following names of donors to the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund are sent in by the Iowa Conference. The amounts have been already acknowledged as coming from the conference, but the names were not sent before:— Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dietel .... $ 25 00 Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Klinger ... 10 00 Hawkeye church ............... 6 85 Mrs. P. W. Baker ............. 50 00 J. S. Rollins ................ 1 00 B. L. Dieffenbacker .......... 5 00 Emil Anderson ................ 12 50 Jacob Christenson ............ 12 50 Sioux City church ............ 28 38 Mattie Swansen ............... 10 00 Davis City church ............ 2 00 Pilot Mound church ........... 8 23 Exira ......................... 12 50 S. E. Smothers ............... 5 00 Rosie Christensen ............ 1 75 Sophia Christensen .......... 1 00 E. W. Wiltse ................ 12 50 A. B. McReynolds ............. .50 Hattie McDade ............... 12 50 David H. Keene .............. 25 00 A. T. Dwier .................. 10 00 John A. Pines ................. 8 50 Coon Rapids Society .......... 2 00 Stuart Society ............... 5 00 Smithland Society ............ 5 50 Winterset .................... 7 75 P. C. Adamsen ............... 25 00 Atlantic Society ............. 3 00 A. O. Wilson ................. 5 00 Mrs. F. A. Wolford ........... 2 00 W. S. Greenfield ............ 25 00 L. Buck ........................ 2 50

Address

DURING the winter the post-office address of Elder Geo. O. States will be Escondido, Cal.

Publications Wanted

THE following persons desire late, clean copies of our publications, post-paid:—

Ada Hunt, Childress, Tex., periodicals and tracts.

Miss Birdie Cruzan, 1213 W. Ninth St., Joplin, Mo., REVIEW, Signs, Watchman, and tracts.

Louisiana Annual Meeting

By S. B. HORTON

QUARANTINE restrictions prevented the holding of the annual meeting of the Louisiana Conference during the summer or fall. Announcement is hereby made that the annual meeting of the conference, for the election of officers, etc., will be held in New Orleans, Dec. 19-24, 1905. Elder G. I. Butler, Prof. J. E. Tenney, Brother I. A. Ford, and others will be present. We hope for a good attendance.

S. B. HORTON, Conference President.

Obituaries

By W. C. White; H. W. Reed; E. G. Olsen; A. J. Williams

ELEY.—Died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. S. C. Atwood, of St. Helena, Cal., Oct. 20, 1905, Mrs. Jemina Eley, formerly of Monroe, Wis. Her life was one of loving service to her family and friends, and she fell asleep peacefully at the age of 71 years, with a firm trust in her Saviour. W. C. White.

ACMOODY.—Died Oct. 31, 1905, infant daughter of Elder Claude and Henrietta AcMoody, aged 5 months, having survived the death of her mother only five weeks and two days. It was my sad part to lay the sleeping babe by the side of the sleeping mother, to await the call of the Life-giver. H. W. Reed.

DOUGLAS.—Died at Waukon, Iowa, Oct. 25, 1905, of ulceration of the stomach, Sister Mary J. M. Douglas. Sister Douglas embraced present truth over thirty years ago, and was a consistent Christian. She died triumphant in the faith. She leaves a husband, brothers and sisters, and many friends, who mourn their loss. The funeral was conducted by the writer. E. G. Olsen.

WILLIAMS.—Fell asleep in Jesus near Jervella, La., Nov. 5, 1905, my dear wife, Maggie Fulton Williams, in her forty-fifth year. She was not a member of the Adventist Church, but during her last year of great suffering (from cancer of the breast) her former prejudice gave way, and I fully believe that had she been spared, she would have come into full fellowship with us. She bore her sufferings patiently, and died in full hope of a glorious resurrection. She leaves two married daughters, two sons, and many relatives and friends to mourn their loss. A. J. Williams.

Deaths of Pioneer Missionaries

OUR hearts have been made sad the past week by the announcement of the death of two of our pioneer missionaries: Mrs. E. D. Robinson, who, with her husband, the late Elder D. A. Robinson, went out to India in 1895, died at South Lancaster, Mass., November 12. Sister Robinson had been living in South Lancaster since the death of her husband, devoting the last days of her life to interesting others in the field she loved so much, and her death is a real loss to the missionary cause. Brother Wunderlich, one of the second party going out to our new mission in German East Africa, after completing several buildings at the mission station, was compelled to leave on account of sickness. He died October 31, at Friedensau, Germany, just two weeks after reaching home. Although he had spent less than two years in Africa, his work continues, and is a blessing to those in the field. This is our first loss in the new mission in German East Africa.

Annual Offering Envelopes

By I. H. EVANS

THE week of prayer is near at hand. December 9-16 is the date fixed for this season of devotion. It has proved such a blessing so often to so many dear souls that there seems little need to urge upon all the opportunities and privileges that it offers to our people in drawing near to God.

The offerings, too, that have been so generously donated from year to year have been a great factor in sustaining our missionaries abroad. Last year our annual offering exceeded that of any previous year. It will reach the grand total of $50,000. We truly hope the offering for 1905 will go beyond this amount.

Already envelopes for offerings have been forwarded to all the church elders as far as we have their addresses. A limited quantity has also been sent to each State tract society, so if any churches have not been supplied, they should at once apply to their respective State offices, or to the Mission Board, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

Let us all bring a liberal thank-offering to the Lord for all the blessings received, and pray for the outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord upon his people.

I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.

Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute

From the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, located at Madison (near Nashville), Tenn., comes its announcement for 1905-06. The distinctive mission of this educational institution is thus stated:—

The object of the school is to give a thoroughly practical, all-round training for missionary work. Students as they leave the institution should be known as advocates of certain well-defined principles. Among these are (1) the advantages, in this age of crowded cities, of the simple, wholesome life in the country; (2) the dignity of labor; for men and women have been educated away from hand-work, and this school dignifies labor; (3) the benefits of a simple vegetarian diet and the rational treatment of disease; (4) the value of self-supporting missionary effort in the spread of the third angel's message.

The winter term of this school will open Wednesday, December 6. Full information may be obtained by addressing E. A. Sutherland, Madison, Tenn.

Suggestions to Church Elders

For the Week of Prayer

It is not too early to begin to prepare for the week of prayer. Let every service until the first Sabbath of that occasion—December 9—be spent in seeking the Lord, that this year may not close without marked evidences of his blessing and presence among his people. Let this be a season of special effort for the unconverted and backslidden. Announce the meetings early, and urge a full attendance.

The readings may be presented by different ones. Let these be appointed before the time so that they may study the readings, and be able to give them as meat in due season to the people.

It would be well to arrange each day's program in advance, if possible, selecting appropriate scriptures and hymns. After the reading, there should be time for prayer and social meeting. Encourage all to take some part in the meetings, that all may share in the revival and blessing which we are to receive at this time.

The envelopes for the annual offerings should be distributed the first Sabbath of the week of prayer. Make an effort to reach all the absent members. Collect the offerings on the last Sabbath, after the reading. The annual offering this year ought to be larger than ever before. The condition of our missions demands it, the time in which we are living demands it, and our own soul's salvation depends very largely on the attitude we assume toward the Lord's work at this time. Our offering will show whether we intend to hasten the third angel's message throughout the world during the next year, or whether we are willing that the work shall still move slowly. What do we say? Can we not work to double last year's annual offering? Emphasize the need. Much depends upon the efforts of the elder. The cash offering should be sent at once to your conference treasurer, as the money is needed. Later gifts may be forwarded at the end of the month, with your regular remittances, to your treasurer.

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

Week of Prayer Readings

The week of prayer has been appointed for December 9-16. The readings to be used during that season are printed in this issue of the Review.

Washington Brethren at Medical Convention

The following brethren from Washington are attending the medical missionary convention now being held at College View, Neb.: Elders A. G. Daniells, G. A. Irwin, and I. H. Evans; Drs. J. E. Froom, G. H. Heald, and G. T. Harding.

Read the Second Page

By Editor

THE notes found on the second page from week to week are of interest to all our readers. The announcements of new books, the information concerning the publishing work, and the helpful suggestions for the missionary campaign which appear there should not be overlooked. Read the second page.

Scandinavian Papers’ Special Numbers

By Editor

THE special numbers of our Scandinavian papers, Sions Vaktare and Evangeliets Sendebud, are made attractive by a cover of tasty design in colors, and they are both well illustrated. We are sure that the matter contained in these papers is both interesting and helpful, and we shall be gratified to learn that the demand for them necessitates a large edition.

Changes for the Week of Prayer Issue

By Editor

IN order to provide the required space for the readings for the week of prayer we are compelled to omit nearly all of the usual departments this week, and to abridge the others. We mention this for the information of any who may receive this issue of the REVIEW, but who are not regular subscribers. The fifteen pages occupied this week by the readings are ordinarily used for additional editorial matter, “General Articles,” “Home and Health,” “The World-Wide Field,” and “The Field Work.” Next week we shall return to our normal make-up.

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