We left San Francisco, the morning of July 7, over the Southern and Union Pacific by the way of Ogden. Our mission was twofold; namely, to attend the convention of young people and Sabbath-school workers at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and to visit Eastern cities in the interest of this journal.
Nothing of moment occurred on the way to Chicago. There were, however, two things quite manifest, not only on the first part of our journey, but thruout its course. The first was the demoralization of railway traffic and transportation. We have ridden over several great railway lines, over many miles, in many trains, and we recall but one or two trains which were not late, some so late as to lose their place in the schedule and be cut out for the next regular train. Then we have missed several important connections. The great roads centering in Illinois are needing thousands of men to operate the roads as they should be operated, and are putting many thousands of dollars into a school for the purpose of educating men for the railway service.
The second observable feature of note was the universal lateness and more than frequent lightness of the crops. The season is about a month behind what we are told everywhere. The fruit and hay crop will not reach fifty per cent of general average in the sections where it is best, and in many places there is none at all. Some fruit growers in New York are confidently looking for five dollars a barrel for apples and pears, and it looks as tho they would get it. The old earth is, in the language of Holy Writ, waxing old like a garment, and the aberrant seasons may be expected more and more.
Our young people's convention in Mount Vernon, Ohio, was a grand meeting, packed full of good things from beginning to end. Representative workers were present from all parts of the field, among whom were A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference; G. A. Irwin, vice-president; W. A. Spicer, secretary of foreign mission work; G. B. Thompson, head of the department of Sabbath-school and young people's work, and others whom we have not space to mention; for it would be difficult to stop. Suffice to say, a detailed report of the good meeting will be published in printed form for general circulation.
The papers and discussions in the convention covered all practical phases of young-people's and Sabbath-school work. They were generally thoughtful, able, instructive, and helpful. The consecration and devotional meetings were good and strong, and the reports from various parts of the field showed a coming up to the help of the Lord on the part of the young men and women among us, and the infusion of a missionary spirit, which are exceedingly hopeful. It was also clearly manifest that good, strong workers are developing among the young people thruout the field.
Two interests were united in this convention, both of which have been conducted under the one department of the General Conference. But it was thought best to create a new department for the young people's work alone, a wise thing to do. The head of this department is Prof. M. E. Kern, and the secretary is Miss Erickson, the address of both being Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. The local organization is to be known as the Seventh-day Adventist Young People's Society of Missionary Volunteers. This, as we remember. There were several forms suggested, forms for general, State, and local use, and the above term may not exactly express it. But the name for short will doubtless be, "Missionary Volunteers."
We look for great blessing and results in and from this better organization of our young people. Work for their associates, work for those who know not Christ, education in religious and missionary lines, and the inculcation and fostering of a truly missionary spirit will be the prime objects of the work of the future. Let them walk humbly and meekly with God, and He will lead in safe paths and give glorious results.
In the Sabbath-school work much good was accomplished. Able papers were read, free and full discussions of methods and plans of Sabbath-school work and lessons were held, and plans for the future were approved. There are active workers who would very much like to have more ideal methods obtain in our lesson studies, and plans were suggested which would be almost ideal under certain conditions, but on fuller consideration they were felt to be impractical for the whole field, and the general plan was heartily approved. We look for union and hearty cooperation in the future.
The writer spoke several times, and especially concerning the future of this paper, and the young people pledged us their hearty cooperation. It was a striking thought, emphasized by President Daniells, that while this convention for the furtherance of God's last great Threefold Message was holding, at Indianapolis the Roman Catholics were organizing under one control all the Catholic young men of America. It will be the sons of Zion against the sons of Greece, the weapons not carnal against the weapons which are. But the glorious outcome is assured. The very conflict ought to be an inspiration to zeal and devotion. The human forces may seem overwhelming in numbers, organization, and power, but they who fight with God are more than all who can be against them. The great conflict of the future is between the forces who range under the banner "Might makes right," and those in whose hearts are inscribed the eternal principle "Right is might." God is with the right.