Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 19.
ORDAINED MINISTERS, INDIA UNION MISSION FIELDPage 1
Earlier text: Nyasaland MissionsThe Third Angel’s Message Must Be Given to the Jews
By F. C. GILBERT
THE word which the Lord spoke in olden time is as true now as it was when the Lord uttered it: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isa. 55: 11. At the General Conference held in Takoma Park, D. C., in 1905, the servant of the Lord stated the following: “The time has come when the Jews are to be given light. The Lord wants us to encourage and sustain men who shall labor in right lines for this people; for there are to be a multitude convinced of the truth, who will take their position for God. The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit. The Jews are to be a power to labor for the Jews; and we are to see the salvation of God. We are altogether too narrow; we need to be broader-minded.”—Review and Herald, June 29, 1905. In “The Acts of the Apostles,” page 380, 381, we find the following: “When this gospel shall be presented in its fullness to the Jews, many will accept Christ as the Messiah. Among Christian ministers there are only a few who feel called upon to labor for the Jewish people; but to those who have often been passed by, . . . the message of mercy and hope in Christ is to come. “In the closing proclamation of the gospel, . . . God expects his messengers to take particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the earth. As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an explanation of Jehovah’s eternal purpose, this will be to many of the Jews as the dawn of a new creation, the resurrection of the soul. As they see the Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old Testament Scriptures, and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains the Old, their slumbering faculties will be aroused, and they will recognize Christ as the Saviour of the world. Many will by faith receive Christ as their Redeemer. To them will be fulfilled the words, ‘As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.’ “Among the Jews are some who, like Saul of Tarsus, are mighty in the Scriptures, and these will proclaim with wonderful power the immutability of the law of God. The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save. As his servants labor in faith for those who have long been neglected and despised, his salvation will be revealed.” Looking at things from a human standpoint, it would seem as if such statements would be impossible of fulfillment. There never was a time when the large number of Jews were so indifferent to religion as they are at the present time. In their own magazines and newspapers they are to a large extent renouncing religion, even their own religion, and are becoming very bold in denying the integrity of the Old Testament, even the writings of Moses. The spirit of reverence is rapidly dying out from among the Jewish people; they are almost entirely given over to pleasure and to worldly pursuits, and seem to have very little interest in the things of God. Where a few years ago there were a thousand who had respect for the rabbi and the synagogue, there are now scarcely one hundred. The holidays and the holydays concern them but little, and the Bible has a very small place in their lives or in their homes. The rising generation knows comparatively little of God’s dealings with their ancestors, and the young Jews of today are practically irreligious. Nevertheless we are sure that the words of God are true. We know that God will fulfill his own word, and he will see that his word receives its place in its time. When Jesus died on the cross and his own disciples hid themselves in the upper chamber for fear of the Jews, it looked as if the Saviour had a lost cause; but before he gave up his life, he declared that he had other sheep which were not of this fold, and they, too, must come. And they did come. And why did they come?—Because the work was the Lord’s, and not man’s. And the Lord, who declared that he would accomplish his purpose, did accomplish his purpose when his disciples came into harmony with his will, and gave him the opportunity of doing the work in the manner he specified. We see many evidences today that these statements of the servant of the Lord will be verified; but we must note what the Word says, and seek to come into harmony with it. As we come in contact with the Jews and present to them the gospel in its fullness, it creates a hungering in their hearts. The reason why—perhaps I might say one reason why—so few of the Jews give heed to the gospel is because it has not been presented to them in its fullness. When they hear it in its fullness, they long for more. Recently while traveling on the train, I sat down beside a Jew. In a few minutes we were engaged in conversation on religion, and I soon learned that he was one of the Jews who had no faith. I opened up to his mind the true meaning of the oracles, and how those scriptures must be understood in the light of the Messiah as revealed in Moses and the prophets. As his questions were answered from the New Testament, he was astounded; and I believe that he must have felt as did the disciples when the Saviour walked with them on their way to Emmaus. For nearly an hour and a half the man asked questions on subjects which troubled him, and the Lord helped me to answer them in a way that appealed to his soul. How hungry he was! How delighted he seemed! How eager his desire to know these things! How he thanked God for what he learned! He said that I was the first man who had tried to encourage him to believe since he came to America; that he had wanted to believe, but that it seemed he had no foundation for belief. But as he saw the truth of the gospel unfolded from Moses and the prophets, and its fulfillment in the New Testament, he seemed like a man who had been very hungry, and was made satisfied; like a thirsty man who had enjoyed a good drink at a well. There are thousands like this man who are waiting for this beautiful and blessed message of God; and we must take it to them. But we must take it in the way the Lord has told us. More on this point will be presented in another article. BROOKLYN.—We are glad to report the onward progress of the work in this great city. Over and over we are reminded of the truth of the statement of the spirit of prophecy that God has many honest souls in these large cities. We have desired greatly to get the message before the masses of the people as soon as possible, and the Lord has given a measure of success. Since the writer came to this city last spring, the Lord has given us some honest souls who are very earnest in taking the truth to those around them. In this time about seventy-five have been added to the church, and another company is awaiting baptism, which will be administered in a few weeks. The membership of the Brooklyn English church is now 215, although our regular Sabbath attendance is usually much more than this. It will be recognized that with a large membership it is always difficult to maintain a high average per capita in tithe and offerings. However we are glad to report that we nearly reached the goal of twenty cents a week a member during the first quarter of this year. The tithe more than doubled over the same period of one year ago. Added to this, we now have a very heavy church expense. Our new church building, which we have leased, is proving a great blessing to the work. It is in a central location in the city, and is large enough to accommodate audiences of twelve hundred or more. The church is doing nobly in carrying this expense, besides caring for the needy poor. One feature of interest is the way the members engage in home missionary work. We are selling upward of one hundred copies of "The World's Crisis" each week, and it is our hope to keep this record up during the year. Some of the new members, who have had considerable experience working for17 the Chinese, have opened a Chinese Sunday school in the church. The prospects are very bright for a prosperous work with these people. We have some Chinese members, and they are helping in this work. We now have twelve nationalities represented in our church membership. We believe all will be interested in the wide publicity the truth is getting here through the public press. A few months ago the General Conference Press Bureau established a branch press work here, headed by Brother S. E. St. Amant, a newspaper man who came into the truth last summer. In the past three months he has been able to get published about two hundred articles, varying from a column and a half to a few paragraphs. Most of these have appeared in Brooklyn and Long Island papers, but many have also appeared in all parts of the country, as far west as Texas and Arizona and as far south as New Orleans. Many hundreds of articles have been sent out, but we are unable to learn definitely how many are published. In Brooklyn and New York City the Italian, German, French, and Russian papers are printing some articles on the Eastern Question. There are great opportunities in this line of work, and we trust you will remember it before the throne of grace. Our courage is good in the Lord as we near the time to start a big summer's campaign in this city. Not many more summers are allotted to us to labor in these great centers, and we ask the prayers of God's people in behalf of this work. The church-and-state power is not asleep, and we have seen its working of late. Doubtless before we are aware of it, our work will be greatly hindered. But God is guiding in all things, and we can rely on him. “May it be joy to me
To follow only Thee;
Thy faithful servant be,
Thine to the end,
For thee I'll do and dare,
For thee the cross I'll bear,
To thee direct my prayer,
On thee depend.” Strong Points Favoring Newspaper Publicity
By W. L. Burgan
IN an excellent article on “How to Advertise a Church,” in the Standard of January 30, Frederick A. Leach gave some thoughts well worth putting into practice. Among other things, he said:— “Most churches are antiquated in their methods of work. They are afraid to go out of the beaten tracks. Jesus said, ‘Go out . . . and compel them to come in.’ The church has the truth and must make men feel it. Shall the church excuse itself for empty pews if there is a way to fill them? Men are shortening their lives for business, why not for the church? Many a good pastor is preaching to empty pews. This should arouse not only the man in the pulpit, but the man of the pew as well. They alike should set themselves to the task of filling the pews. To say it cannot be done and make excuses will not free either from blame. Churches which are advertising judiciously and continuously are reaching the people.” In speaking of the different kinds of advertising that should be employed, he spoke particularly of the newspapers, as follows:— “The church will also do well to use regular advertising space in the newspapers. Many church members will not give their time to word-of-mouth advertising, and the only practical substitute is advertising. This is a dignified, inexpensive, and effective medium of reaching the people. There is no question but that one of the biggest powers in the world today is the newspaper. That is why many politicians purchase an ‘organ.’ Every pastor should cultivate the editors of his community. He will find them, as a rule, ready and anxious to coöperate with the church in its work. Not only will they give liberal space for news items, but special advertising rates. Regular advertising space should be used by the church and paid for. This is the most effective way of reaching the entire community. It also carries the impression that the church and pastor are alive and up-to-date. Much thought and time should be given to the wording of the advertisement as well as the sermon theme. People will be attracted by a striking wording of a subject. The pastor should be a specialist in church advertising.” Much emphasis should be put on the thought, “Every pastor should cultivate the editors of his community. He will find them, as a rule, ready and anxious to coöperate with the church in its work.” The writer of these lines also wished to convey the thought that news items which are published free of charge should be prepared for the editors. It is encouraging that some of our workers in various parts of the world are meeting with interesting experiences as a result of their activity in giving phases of the message through the newspapers. In a recent letter from Elder T. G. Bunch, president of the Southern Oregon Conference, he tells some encouraging things as the result of the newspaper work that has been done in his territory. He says:— “I have just heard of some of the good results of the press work in our conference, and pass the news on to you. I met one of our canvassers a few days ago who told me that while canvassing back in the hills, he found a family all stirred up over the Eastern Question. Wondering how they had heard about it in such an out-of-the-way place, he asked them. They had read a report of a meeting I held in Medford. They were taking one of the Medford dailies which gave a synopsis of my sermon on the Eastern Question. On the strength of this, the canvasser sold them two ‘Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation.’ I expect to send them literature, and hope to see them in the truth soon. “In one county in our conference where we have as yet done nothing, but plan to send a worker soon, one of our lay members has been writing a series of articles on the signs, for the largest paper in the country. This series of articles has already continued over three months. One brother from that section writes, ‘Very often we hear of or meet persons who have followed these articles right through and are interested in them.’ “This will no doubt help materially in opening up our work in that field. “One of our ministers wrote an article recently, protesting against the attempted muzzling of the press. Portions of his article were reprinted in a paper three hundred miles away, and commented on. “A similar article by another of our workers stirred the ministers of the town to action. They called a meeting of the ministers, thanked our worker for calling their attention to the dangers of such legislation, took up the matter in their respective churches, secured signatures, and sent in a number of petitions. Our worker was invited to speak in some of the churches. “My faith in the newspapers as an important means of giving this message is still increasing.” It is hoped that others will make use of the newspaper to hasten the message telling of the Lord’s return. The Columbia Union for 1914
By B. G. Wilkinson
FROM every standpoint, the Columbia Union Conference reached the end of 1914 with the most encouraging year it has had since its organization. The reports which came from different conferences and different workers showed that the reviving Spirit of God has been among us. Many souls have come to the light of truth, and there were nearly 1,000 baptisms within the Columbia Union. Our present membership is practically 7,000. The number reported as accepting the truth through the18 different tent and hall efforts was 521, and the net increase, the basis on which we compute the Twenty-cent-a-week work Fund, 276. There was not a larger net increase owing to the rectification of many church lists, which for some time had been neglected, and owing to the fact that a large number of those who accepted the truth in the East were attracted by the glowing possibilities of the West, and moved away. One church alone reported that about forty of its members moved West last year. The record of 1,000 baptisms, however, shows that God has witnessed to the efforts of the laborers. In one tent effort alone in the Chesapeake Conference about seventy-five persons accepted the truth. The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference reported three new companies organized as a result of three tent efforts, and the same conference also reported that three new church buildings were ready for dedication. As a result of one effort in Virginia, a Mennonite minister with forty of his flock accepted the truth. In another portion of that same State, a company of eleven believers was raised up through reading a copy of "The Great Controversy." Our large city efforts—in Philadelphia, Washington (D. C.), Mount Vernon (Ohio), Lynchburg (Va.), and other towns—sent in encouraging reports regarding the number of those accepting the truth, of baptisms, and of widespread interest. The outlook for 1915 is very bright, and we believe, under the blessing and guidance of God, that there will be a rich harvest of souls this coming season. The finances of the union were never in better condition. The tithe receipts have made an encouraging increase of $11,200. The District of Columbia Conference alone reports a very heavy increase of from $6,000 to $7,000. About $3,000 was given by one person upon his recognition of the claims of God upon him. On the twenty-cent-a-week plan the union raised its full quota and some extra, turning in to the General Conference $70,085.25. The removal of the debt from Mount Vernon Academy has already been reported, and is simply mentioned here as another financial item of great encouragement. There has also been a splendid work done in the union in the circulation of our publications. During 1914 we sold $96,007.82 worth as compared with $86,567.27 for 1913, or a gain of $9,440.55. Brother Richardson, returning from New Jersey, states that the recent colporteurs' institute in that State was the largest and most encouraging that he ever attended. Hence we look forward to a splendid gain in the near future in New Jersey, which has always been a very difficult conference for our book work, due to the fact that it has very little country territory, the population being largely in the cities. This is due, of course, to its proximity to that great commercial center, New York City. However, New Jersey has been putting forth excellent efforts in the circulation of periodicals. The conference president reports that they used 35,000 of the first REVIEW Extra, 70,000 English and 30,000 Bohemian of the second REVIEW Extra, and 18,270 of the Protestant Extra, besides each week circulating 776 copies of the Home Missionary Series of the Signs weekly. Over $740 more was spent for tracts during 1914 than during the previous year. Splendid gains in the book work are reported also in the Ohio, West Virginia, Chesapeake, and West Pennsylvania Conferences, where the gains for 1914 ranged from $3,500 to $5,600. If any one fears that the message is going to pieces, he will not find very great evidence of it in these Eastern conferences. I am glad to report that the educational department of the union has taken hold with a strong hand to revive the interests in our primary and normal schools. With the strong College at Washington, to which has been removed the normal department of the union, we expect to be able to answer the calls for church-school teachers, the demand for which thus far we have been unable to supply. There is a splendid spirit among our young people in the union in their desire to secure an education. The enrollment at Washington College is now about two hundred, the largest the institution has ever seen. In spite of the reduction of Mount Vernon from a college to an academy, the enrollment there this year is practically the same as it was last year, when it was operated as a college. The Shenandoah Valley Academy also reports a prosperous year both in attendance and in finances. All the brethren of the educational department are determined to make the year 1915 the best in the history of the union. And we believe that, with the blessing of God upon our young people, the different branches of the work will receive help and new recruits. There is a good spirit of earnestness on the part of the conference presidents and other leaders in this field, to make 1915 the best year in the history of the work in this territory. New Jersey
By A. R. Sandborn
LAST fall Brother G. W. Holman went to Swedesboro to do self-supporting missionary work. He had not been there long when an unused Baptist Church was offered him free of charge for public meetings. He accepted it, and began meetings about November 1. At first the interest was not very good; but when the subject of Romanism was presented, the interest increased, and he continued the services every night for five weeks. Since then he has been holding two meetings a week. I have visited the place several times. A number have accepted the truth. For some time several had been looking forward to baptism, so March 27 was set apart for this service. At this time Brother Lawry and I met with them, visiting the candidates Friday afternoon and then meeting with the company on Sabbath. Eleven adults were baptized. Four of these were men, three of whom were heads of families and accompanied by their wives. There are six others keeping the Sabbath who will soon be ready to unite with the company. Following the baptism we organized a church of fourteen members, which starts out with courage to carry on the work of advancing the cause of God. One not yet baptized is an aged man who is deeply interested in the work and its advancement. He is planning to help in a very substantial way financially in securing the church building in which they are now meeting. The Baptist Association has been very kind in permitting us to have this building free of charge, and now it is willing to sell it to us at a reduced figure, and in all probability we shall soon have this property. This church is in the best part of town, and would be a valuable asset to our cause in that part of the conference. Truly the Lord has wonderfully blessed Brother Holman in his efforts in Swedesboro, and we rejoice with him in the success that has attended his work there. Song of Gladness
By Eugene Thwing
I’m glad there’s room for singing in the
crowded, busy day. I’m glad that music in the heart makes
work as light as play. I’m glad I needn’t work alone, nor carry
all the load. I’m glad a Friend walks by my side and
cheers me on the road. I’m glad the heaviest burden leaves a
little strength to spare. I’m glad there’s power enough, withal,
a brother’s load to share. I’m glad my task is greater than my
puny strength can grip. I’m glad to have so sure a claim upon
God’s partnership. I’m glad the pains of yesterday are all
forever past. I’m glad the troubles of today have
little time to last. I’m glad tomorrow, all unspoiled, may
have more good than ill. I’m glad each day helps, drop by drop,
the cup of joy to fill. I’m glad again, for yesterday, for every
lesson learned. I’m glad for gain of strength and for
each bit of progress earned. I’m glad today is still my own to plan
and work and pray. I’m glad a future full of hope inspires
the hardest way. I’m glad for chance to be a friend, to
pass the cheer along. I’m glad to steal away a sigh and substitute a song. I’m glad for laughter, fun, and play, to
keep the spirit sweet. I’m glad the serious and gay are making
life complete. I’m glad the road of life is up — up, ever
to the end. I’m glad there’ll be no call at last in
darkness to descend. I’m glad the last beam shall not fade to
“shine again no more.” I’m glad I need not face the time when
all “man’s work is o’er.” I’m glad to go from little things to
“greater things than these.” I’m glad I’m called forever to obey a
King’s decrees. I’m glad I need not name the whole long
list of why I’m glad. I’m glad my Father knows it all. I
shall be always glad. *— Eugene Thwing, in Northwestern
Christian Advocate.* Guadeloupe, West Indies
By PHILIP GIDDINGS; LOISE P. GIDDINGS
We opened our meeting room last March, holding services thrice a week, and using the rest of the time in scattering copies of the French Signs of the Times, and looking for openings to hold Bible readings. After two or three studies the people seem to feel they have had enough. We are still searching for, and praying to be directed to, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. A young sister is now ready for baptism. An elderly woman joined us in the week of prayer meetings, and has since expressed her desire to go through to the kingdom with us. A schoolteacher has been in sympathy with our tenets for some time. Being ill, he had to go to the government hospital, which is staffed with Catholic sisters. While he was there, the bishop visited the institution, stopped at his bed, and presented him with a medal representing Christ, or some saint. He thanked the bishop, but told him he had no need for the medal as he had his Bible. Then he put some questions to this dignitary: “Who were the photographers that took the pictures of Christ, Mary, and others? How may we be certain that respects are paid to genuine copies of the original? How is it we read in the Bible of Mary as a poor woman, and yet in representation see her dressed in costly array, with her infant?” He said the bishop was gentlemanly and courteous, simply remarking, “You have Protestant ideas,” and bade him good-by. Some time afterwards a priest visited him who did not manifest such a spirit. The governor had to come in, and define, as far as that institution was concerned, the domains of body and soul. The governor told the priest, “This man is here for the good of his body; force nothing on his soul.” On my second visit to this brother, he was better and had left the hospital. I asked one of the sisters as to his whereabouts, and she told me I would find him on Rue l'Enfer (hell street), very suggestive in the connection. I found the brother cool and happy, and we passed some pleasant moments together. Since then he wrote that emissaries of the church were trying to make it very hard for him. “The moment you dare to19 think otherwise than a Romanist,” he said, “you are put on the Index.” His letter of recent date is full of courage and determination. He says: “I read my Bible constantly. I observe the Sabbath carefully. Your religion is mine. What I now await is the baptism in the manner John administered it to Jesus in the Jordan.” Besides his own language, he understands English, Spanish, and Italian. Until we came here we were never in a field where the people seemed so indifferent, and where we felt so much the need of divine help. But we are of good courage. The realization of Col. 4:3 is our constant prayer, and we ask all those who read these lines to join us in the same request. PHILIP GIDDINGS.
LOISE P. GIDDINGS. Great Things Are Happening
By C. S. LONGACRE
For many years we have believed that the time would come in this country when the preaching of the third angel's message would be prohibited; and that books, papers, pamphlets, and tracts proclaiming the message for this day would be condemned and destroyed. We based our predictions upon God's Word, which so clearly delineates the means employed and the measures resorted to by the enemy of truth during the final conflict. See Rev. 13:11-18. That our interpretation of God's prophetic utterances in this matter are well founded has been made very evident recently in the happenings both in Congress and in our State legislatures. Four attempts have been made so far this year to muzzle the press, and to put all literature which casts any reflection on the Catholic religion under government ban by denying it transportation through the mails. Three bills which were introduced into Congress by Catholic Congressmen aimed to make the Postmaster-General an absolute censor of the press, and commanded him to bar all literature from the United States mails which cast any reflection upon religion. One of these would bar from the mails any publication that was even represented as casting any reflection upon any form of religion. Although resolutions were introduced into several legislatures indorsing these three bills before Congress, and tens of thousands of petitions were sent to Congressmen by Catholic organizations in behalf of the bills, they failed to pass. On the day before these three bills died in Congress, Hon. F. J. Ryan, a Catholic representative of the Illinois Legislature, introduced a more drastic bill into that legislature than any of those which were introduced into Congress. His bill went so far as to prohibit the manufacture, the sale, the exhibition, or the giving away of any “defamatory book, pamphlet, paper,” etc., “presenting or representing anything of a defamatory nature tending to blacken the memory of the dead, or to impeach the honesty, integrity, virtue, or reputation of any living person, class, or body of persons, or of any sect, creed, or nationality not existing in violation of the constitution or laws, thereby tending to expose him or them to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, or financial injury.” Not only would the Ryan bill prevent the manufacture, sale, exhibition, or the free distribution of any of the articles above mentioned, but it would prohibit any one from bringing such articles into the State of Illinois from other States; it would prohibit any person from depositing or “causing to be deposited in any post office within the State of Illinois, or place in charge of any express company, or person connected therewith, or of any common carrier or other person,” any of the “defamatory articles or things mentioned in the preceding sections, or any circular, handbill, card, advertisement, book, pamphlet, or notice of any kind.” It would also subject any person to a prison sentence of six months in the county jail or a fine of one thousand dollars for each offense, “if any person shall knowingly or willfully receive the same with intent to carry or convey, or shall carry or convey same by express or in any other manner.” It also similarly penalizes any person who “shall give oral information stating where, how, or of whom such defamatory articles or things can be purchased or otherwise obtained in any manner;” and it also exacts the same penalty if any person attempts to convey these prohibited articles or things, not only “by mail or express, but in any other manner.” The fine for violating any of the above-mentioned prohibitions, as already stated, is six months’ confinement in the county jail or one thousand dollars’ fine for each offense—“one half of said fine to be paid to the informer upon whose evidence the person offending shall be convicted.” Mr. Ryan evidently copied this bill from some of the Roman decretals which were in full force in the days of medievalism, and which prohibited the people from writing, printing, scattering or receiving any books, papers, or pamphlets of a defamatory character, or which cast any reflection upon the Catholic Church or the Catholic religion. He would like to Romanize America, and change American jurisprudence to Roman ecclesiastical jurisprudence, and put all people under Roman jurisdiction as well. Of course, there is no possible chance of this bill becoming a law at present. The Catholics are too few in number to enact such laws. But it shows what they would do if they were in power. As long as Protestantism is opposed to Rome’s propositions we have little to fear on issues upon which they are at variance; but when they join issues and work for a common end, then woe to the little flock which stands in the way of this combined power. What we have to fear is the union and cooperation of the beast and his image when they get to working in conjunction in behalf of institutions they hold in common. Protestant organizations which will not hesitate to employ Rome’s methods in dealing with Rome, will not hesitate to join Rome on issues upon which they are agreed when operating against a common foe. The time will come when legislation of this character will be enacted by both apostate Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, and every principle of our republican form of government will be repudiated so far as its immunities and guaranties apply to individual liberty or the rights of the minority in religious matters. Let us make the most of our Constitutional guaranties and privileges while we have an opportunity to enlighten the people and give the world the third angel’s message in all its phases and in all its significance. Let us save all we can before our voices are stifled and our presses muzzled. Everything is tending toward the day of doom and the final culmination of all things. If we are faithful, we shall realize the consummation of the Christian’s hope. C. S. LONGACRE. The Home Missionary Campaign in the Pacific Union Conference
By E. M. GRAHAM
WHEN the publishing and home missionary convention, held at Mountain View, closed, Elder Paap and Brother Ernest Lloyd laid plans for an aggressive campaign throughout the Pacific Union Conference. One feature of the plan was a missionary rally in every large church. They have had some excellent meetings20 in Loma Linda and the towns near there. The attendance has been large, and the interest keen. The clubs of the weekly Signs have been increased by one hundred and fifty copies, which brings them to about the desired average of two copies a member. They are planning to make April 17 a Temperance Youth's Instructor day for that union. Now that so much attention is being given to the drink question by the nations engaged in the war, we have an excellent selling point for our temperance paper. If drink makes men inefficient soldiers and manufacturers of war supplies, it makes them inefficient in every other business, trade, and occupation. Therefore it is to the interest of every one to abolish it. The time has come when the special weekly Signs clubs are expiring, so now is the time for you to renew if you have not done so. The work is not finished yet, you know. There are souls around you looking for light, and the more literature you can distribute the more likely you are to reach them. The weekly Signs is full of the message, and will bring results. “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: . . . He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” John 15: 2-5. Bearing fruit is the evidence of an abiding in Christ. If we are not fruit bearers, we are nothing as far as the church of Christ is concerned, for this is evidence that we are not abiding in him. Real love for Jesus must flow out in soul-saving efforts. Religious Liberty Department
By C. S. Longacre
C. S. LONGACRE N. Am. Div. Secretary Home Missionary Department
E. M. GRAHAM General Secretary F. W. PAAP N. Am. Div. Secretary The Home of the “Signs”
By F. W. PAAP.
It was a great pleasure to the writer to step into the Pacific Press Publishing Association headquarters, and behold such a pleasing sight as was witnessed on March 8 at the banquet given to about three hundred of the constituency. Long tables were spread with viands such as only California can supply, and while the orchestra played, the keen appetites of all were abundantly satisfied. Appropriate speeches were given by the leading brethren, and all uttered expressions of thankfulness and gratitude. The past year has been one of great activity in this center, from which light is radiating to all parts of the world. The Signs weekly contributed something to the large profits for the year’s operations. I am sure all our people will be rejoiced to read the annual report of the Pacific Press Publishing Association, and to learn that the large bulk of the earnings is being used to further this great cause in both the home and the foreign lands. It was voted to make the Signs weekly a great factor in our home missionary campaign, and to encourage our people to subscribe for and handle at least two copies a member at the same prices as last year: $1.20 for two copies for six months, $2.40 for one year. The Signs is a soul-winning agency, and now is the time to use it with telling effect. Let everybody rally to the call for service, and use the Signs weekly as a powerful agency in the winning of at least one soul each for Christ. The Signs is appreciated wherever it goes. Do not fail to handle at least two copies.