This splendid report from the Australian field may be a little late, but it has just come to hand, and as it contains some interesting suggestions, we are glad to receive it even at the eleventh hour.
Brother J. M. Johanson, general agent for the Australian field, and manager of the book department of the Echo Publishing Company, writes as follows:—
“With reference to our work here in Australia, we certainly have cause to feel encouraged. There is, nevertheless, ample opportunity for doing better. During the past year I spent most of my time in the field, and most likely it will be the same during the coming year. It is in the field that the big end of our work lies, and it is from there our success must come; and the longer I am in the work, the more I sense the necessity of keeping in personal touch with the work in the various States.
“The result of last year's work, as far as the number of books sold is concerned, was better than any previous record we have had in our work in this field, and I am glad to say that notwithstanding the fact that the sale of our health books is only about half what it used to be, the money value of our work has been on the increase. During the past year we have had sixty-six agents in the field, working an average time of sixty-seven hours a month—equal to about eight colonial working days. The actual number of subscription books delivered was 15,432, and the total value of our sales $71,070, as against 13,754 subscription books and a total value for sales of $68,395 the previous year. The percentage of our deliveries was ninety-six as against ninety-two the previous year. This is especially encouraging, as it indicates that not only did our sales increase, but our canvassers did better work.
“The weak spot in our work here seems to be on the point of time. I should like to see us average at least seven thousand five hundred dollars' worth of business a month; and it could readily be done without putting any more men into the field, if we would only improve on the matter of time; but that little ‘if’ comes in, as usual, and spoils the calculations. Still, we are living in hopes that by steady perseverance we shall improve on this point.”
The preceding is a report of subscription books only, which were actually delivered during the year. There was also a good sale of trade books and periodicals, which brings up the total retail business to nearly one hundred thousand dollars. As this is by far the largest report furnished from any country in our world-wide field in proportion to the population and the membership, it may be of profit for us to review briefly the organization and plans of work which have enabled the Australasian Union Conference to attain this splendid success.
Australia is a scattered, difficult field to work. More than half the population is in large cities, and the great, almost unbroken, droughts for the past ten years have afflicted the country to such a degree as to make it one of the most trying fields to be found anywhere in the world for our canvassers. Therefore this report must be interpreted as a triumph of general principles, rather than an unnatural boom on a basis of prosperity and easy sales.
1. At about the same time when the book work was at its highest in the United States, between 1885 and 1893, the canvassing work also prospered in Australia; but beginning about the latter date, the book work began to fall to pieces there, just as it did in the United States, and from about the same causes.
2. In 1895, when the writer went to Australia, the book work was about as near flat as it could be. There was a general agent in New Zealand, who was also president of the New Zealand Conference and was running a series of tent-meetings; and Elder Daniells, who was president of the Australian Conference, was holding the fort (what there was left of it) in Australia.
3. The rebuilding of the work was a slow, difficult process, and very little advancement, apparently, was made during the first year. No effort was made to start a boom. The work was begun by teaching fundamental principles with the object of erecting a structure upon a permanent basis, which would give a substantial, permanent work.
4. The success which was finally attained came as the direct working out of sound principles of labor and organization, and the enthusiastic, harmonious co-operation of the Australasian Union Conference, the Echo Publishing Company, and the State tract society departments. These two forces, co-operation and right principles, were necessary to17secure these satisfactory results. Co-operation would have been only half successful without the right principles of organization and labor to work upon, and the right principles would not have prevailed without the co-operation.
5. The principles adopted were the old fundamental principles of tract society organization and work which God gave to this people almost at the beginning of their work, and which were built up and maintained for many years under the energetic labors of Elder S. N. Haskell, Miss Maria Huntley, and a score or more of faithful, energetic tract society secretaries, the most of them women, whose names are inseparably connected with the past prosperity of tract and missionary efforts in the United States. This system, with its faithful workers, built up the splendid publishing achievements of this denomination, which reached their greatest success between the years 1885 and 1893. The neglect of these principles was the cause of the decline of the work in Australia, just as it was the cause of the decline of the same work in the United States; and the revival and steady maintenance of those same principles brought the revival of the work in Australia, just as it has brought a revival in every country where those same principles have been maintained.
6. The co-operation, already mentioned, was also necessary in order that tract societies, occupying local territory under the local ownership and control of conferences, might be protected and maintained as retailers; that the publishing house might be protected as the importer, manufacturer, and wholesaler for the entire country, and that both wholesaler and retailer might have the powerful assistance of the conference workers, who hold the key of influence with the people, and are set by the Lord as the guides and shepherds of the flock. This powerful combination, working harmoniously upon this co-operative basis, accomplished the revival of the work in Australia, just as it can accomplish it in every other place.
7. The strong co-operation between the union conference and the publishing house in Australia is indicated by the fact that the general agent is appointed and largely directed by the union conference, and his salary and traveling expenses are cheerfully paid by the Echo Publishing Company, and he is made the manager of their Book Department.
8. Even the Echo Publishing Company itself has been organized as a department of the Australasian Union Conference, so that the work not only in spirit, but in fact, is one.
9. One of the strongest features of the Circulating Department of the Echo Publishing Company—that feature which has contributed most largely toward strong, harmonious co-operation with the field—has been its strict adherence to the just principle of maintaining its wholesale business, and protecting each State tract society in the full enjoyment of its retail trade. Cash orders are filled and charged up to the State societies at wholesale rates, and the cash received is credited on account, and letters are forwarded to the State societies, thus directing the purchasers to the local retail office. This system has strengthened the State society, has decreased the routine of the Circulating Department of the publishing house, has turned the attention of the general public toward its local office, and has done more than any other one thing to establish a harmonious, co-operative basis between the office and the field, and has made both wholesaler and retailer prosperous.
10. The Echo Publishing Company ships out most of its books in boxes by the hundredweight, instead of in parcels by the pound, and is able to turn over between eighty and ninety thousand dollars' worth of book business a year with only one packer, who gives half his time to other work outside of the Circulating Department, a stenographer, and a general agent, who manages both the office and the field. This strict adherence to the wholesale business enables the office to turn over a large business on small expense, and make larger net profits than it could possibly make if it carried a retail trade by elaborate organization and long-distance management. This protection of the retailer by the wholesaler is one of the most vital and best known of business principles.
11. Tract societies do not carry stock, except sample copies, and a small supply of the most current literature for filling mail orders and the most urgent express orders. Other shipments are sent directly from the Echo Publishing Company to the agents in the field.
12. A cash business is maintained through the entire system, from the individual in the churches and the canvassers in the field to the publishing house. When this system was introduced, it was feared that it would cut down the trade, but, on the contrary, it did not lessen the trade, and greatly improved the profits and the success of the tract society work. This cash policy was adopted without any serious trouble. State tract societies and agents were considerably involved in debt, and it was found necessary to make a change in some way, and after careful counsel it was unanimously agreed that a cash policy was the best. Church librarians, canvassers, and State tract societies closed up their accounts, and placed their debit balances as account number one, and started in to pay cash. No old account could be increased, and all new business had to be done on a straight cash basis for every one. Tract societies sent in their orders to the publishing house with a check attached, and deposited a small sum with the publishing house to cover periodical business and other small purchases. Then every one who was in debt worked to pay off his old debit little by little. The success of this cash system has been such that old obligations are nearly all settled, and the tract society work is being run almost clear from all indebtedness, and all concerned feel good about it.
13. The best man available is secured as State agent in each conference. The heavy responsibility and expenses of his work are such that he is paid a good living salary, equal to the salary of any of the best ordained ministers. The substantial support given to these men, and the fact that their work is placed on a level with all other departments of work, and they are given opportunities and advantages which make them staunch counselors and good committeemen,—all these things have served to build up the work of the State agent and to magnify its importance, and has enabled the Australasian Union Conference to keep a strong line of competent men in these positions. Every agent in the Australasian colonies is paid from $12.50 to $15 a week. It would be impossible to hold able men, such as have charge of the work there, year after year if they were paid a pittance which forced them to sleep on the benches in railway stations and eat crackers and cheese.
14. For eight years this steady prosperity has been maintained in the tract society work of Australasia, and as indicated by the report given above, it is rising steadily every year. May the Lord greatly bless the work and the workers as he has done in the past, and forever save them from a departure from the strength of their present co-operation on the basis of the sound principles of our tract and missionary work.
15. This perfect system of tract society organization puts each local section of the field into the hands of local workers so completely that when important plans are laid at headquarters, either by the publishing house or by the union conference, these plans can be launched by a few hours' correspondence with these tract society secretaries, and the whole machinery of the denomination is set in motion as if by an electric button; and the strong co-operative relation of the union conference and the publishing house to the tract societies gives these societies a strength and confidence which makes them thus efficient.
16. This tract society system and co-operation are as valuable to the prosperity of the periodical work as for the book work. In Australia the periodical work is carried on by these local societies, and the average sale of the Australian Signs of the Times is something over three papers a member. This excellent circulation can be secured only by the local forces at work in each field, and the active co-operation of these workers can be secured only as they are organized locally so as to enable them to do their work in an intelligent, responsible way.
Such reports as the one above, together with other reports of great interest from England and Germany, which we will give later, make us long from our hearts to see stronger, more united work in the United States. There was such a work years ago, in the days when the principles mentioned above were, in the main, controlling this field. Our work went down as these principles were neglected. Statistics show that no other department in God's cause has brought so many people to a knowledge of present truth as the tract and missionary department. One cause of the languishing of our evangelical work is the decadence of the tract and missionary work. As one pioneer minister in this message used to say, “The tract and missionary society puts a gun in the hands of every Adventist,” and a gun in the hands of every Adventist makes an army that can conquer.
Has not the time fully come when the officers of the General Conference and the union conferences should unite with our publishing houses and State conferences and tract societies in re-establishing a united movement on the strong basis of the vital principles which God himself has given to this people? The18times are perilous. The end of all things is overdue. The Lord has been waiting graciously for us to finish his work that we might have the precious privilege of sounding the last notes of warning. All these years we have been very, very slow. In the Battle of the Wilderness, when the results of the third great day of strife hung in the balance, the word was passed through the ranks, “Touch shoulders and turn to the right.” This is the word for us just now. Touch shoulders for union, and turn to the right.
May God put it into the hearts of his people to band together inseparably upon such strong working principles that our tract and missionary work shall be indeed a “continuous great campaign.”
E. R. PALMER.
Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.
College View Meetings and Offering
By J. J. GRAF.
COLLEGE VIEW.—We held district meetings in the homes of the people every afternoon, for those who could not attend the evening meetings; these proved a real success. Evenings we met in divisions in the several vestries of the church building. On Monday and Wednesday evenings, the church, college, and sanitarium united in a general meeting, when Elder Spicer spoke to us on the “Eastern Question” and the “Spreading of the World-wide Message.” The meetings have been a great blessing in many ways. Excellent impressions have been made, and good fruits are manifested; backsliders were reclaimed, and the youth took a decided stand for the Lord. Many testimonies rang with clear notes of victory over sin and the flesh. The readings were real spiritual food. I think I can safely say that I have never before seen such a general move in the ranks of God’s people for a march to victory. I am greatly encouraged that so many members of this church have taken an advanced position in the Christian warfare. The annual offering from this place amounts to about five hundred and forty dollars, and will, I believe, reach six hundred.
J. J. GRAF.
Selling Books in Arizona
By WALTER HARPER
I HAVE returned to my field of labor, which I left about two weeks ago, in order to take my aged father, who is quite weak and feeble, from Albuquerque, N. M., to our beautiful Loma Linda Sanitarium in California. This caused me to lose one week's time, yet, after all, the time was well spent, for it enabled me to place my aged and sick parent in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and where conditions are favorable to the recovery of health.
This was my first visit to Loma Linda. I had heard much of the place, but I must say that all descriptions fall short of the reality. Its charms can not be portrayed, and its beauties are not to be depicted by the pen. It is certainly an ideal spot, a veritable garden of Eden on earth.
I am at work once more. Our dear Father above gives all the success. I seek the Lord much by prayer and fasting. I try to lay hold of the arm of omnipotence, plant my feet on the Eternal Rock, lean heavily on the Everlasting Arms, and thus avail myself of the rich supplies of grace so freely offered to all. The Lord does hear and answer most graciously. It is only by his power from on high that our feeble efforts can accomplish anything.
Last Thursday at Metcalf, a small mining town near Clifton, the Master gave me thirty-five or thirty-six orders for the large books, helps, etc., and fifteen or sixteen orders for small books, or a total of fifty-one or fifty-two orders, amounting to $121.10—all in one day! Twenty-three of these orders were for that grand, good work, “Patriarchs and Prophets.” It was the largest day's work for “Patriarchs” I was ever permitted to do.
The next day at this same place, or on Friday, by 10 A. M., I was favored with over forty dollars' worth of orders, and in about half a day I had ninety dollars' worth of orders for books, helps, etc. In it all I can see the marvelous workings of the power of God.
WALTER HARPER.
The Portland (Ore.) Sanitarium
By W. R. Simmons
THE past summer season has been the most prosperous one in the history of the work. The Exposition brought a number of people to us who would, perhaps, have gone elsewhere had it not been for the special railroad rates. But aside from these transients, we have had an excellent patronage. It became necessary during the summer to put up tents to accommodate those who came.
Among our guests were people from nearly every State in the Union. One lady from West Virginia spent several weeks at the sanitarium. Since the fair has closed, our patronage has decreased somewhat, but we still have more patients than usual at this time of the year. The work is steadily growing in every department, and we are endeavoring to add new facilities from time to time, that we may be better prepared to care for those who come to us for help.
A class of ten nurses have just finished their course of study. Some of these have gone to work in different parts of the field, but five are still at the sanitarium, helping in the work. A new class of twelve members have already begun their course of study and are taking hold of the work very enthusiastically; some of the number have had experience in caring for the sick in other places, and their help is much appreciated. The regular course has been lengthened to three years, and more studies have been added, so that each one will receive a complete training for the work.
We appreciate very much the help given by Elder Daniel Nettleton, who has accepted the position of chaplain. His Bible classes, given three times a week, are especially interesting. These studies, together with the Friday evening sermon, regular weekly prayer-meeting, and Sabbath services, make it possible for patients and helpers to learn much of the Bible truths. Several of the patients are much interested in the truth, and one, a banker, so much so that he intends to dispose of his business and follow out the things he has learned.
We are thankful for the many blessings God has given us the past year. We realize that this prosperity comes only through his love. We are all of good courage, and pray that God will give each one of the workers connected with this institution the wisdom and skill necessary to carry on the work as it should be done; also that with his19blessing we may be able to continue in the work for suffering humanity, and relieve the many who come to us for help.
The financial basis of the institution is better than ever before. Several thousand dollars of the original indebtedness has been paid, and the interest materially decreased. The prospects for the future were never brighter. We trust, by a continual consecration to his service and by devotion to the work, that we shall have his blessing, and by this power that he alone can give, be able to help those in need of the principles for which the institution stands.—W. R. Simmons, in the Pacific Union Recorder.
Mississippi
By S. A. JORDAN; W. H. SEBASTIAN
AMORY.— We began work in this field August 18, and have labored earnestly from that day until this (December 17). As a result, twelve have taken their stand for the truth. There is also a prospect that a school will be opened here.
S. A. JORDAN,
W. H. SEBASTIAN.
Reports From Quarterly Visits
By W. H. Sebastian
At Vicksburg one soul was baptized, and at Jackson five are awaiting baptism. At Yazoo City three were baptized, and at Greenville four were buried in baptism, and four others are awaiting that rite, two of whom (a Baptist minister and his wife) are in school at Vicksburg. At Columbus two were baptized, and at Crawford one new believer is awaiting baptism. At Brookhaven four have recently accepted the message. W. H. SEBASTIAN.
H. A. HEBARD
By H. A. Hebard
Nebraska
LINCOLN.—The week of prayer has been a season of great blessing to this church. God came very near and made our hearts tender toward one another, and increased our love for him who forgives sin. He also laid upon us a burden for those in darkness. Sins were confessed, wrongs made right, and a spirit of love and tenderness was felt by all. Several who had grown cold consecrated themselves anew to the service of God. Nearly all expressed their desire to make this week of prayer only a beginning of better service to their Lord.
Our offering amounted to seventy-five dollars, and it is expected that more will come in next Sabbath. May God give us courage and zeal to arise and finish the work he has given us to do.
H. A. HEBARD
Minnesota
By J. M. HOPKINS
VILLARD.—The week of prayer just past was the best we ever experienced. The readings were most excellent. The instruction and encouragement were just what we all needed. We gathered at our little meeting-house in Villard on Sabbath, Sunday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sabbath. On Sunday, Tuesday, and the last Sabbath we had two readings each day, with prayer, song, and testimony. At the close of the last meeting those present instructed me to write to the REVIEW that they had received much good and blessing from the week-of-prayer service. There were no emotional demonstrations, but careful, thoughtful self-examination, and earnest seeking after God and a deeper consecration to his service.
One good feature of the meetings was the earnest desire manifested for the conversion and salvation of our companions and children who are unsaved. We believe the time has fully come when the Lord will turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents.
On the last day of the week of prayer the friends all gave as they were able for the cause of missions.
J. M. HOPKINS.
Field Notes
THREE new Sabbath-keepers are reported at Fuller, Kan.
A SABBATH-SCHOOL has been organized at Palmerston, Ontario.
A NEW church building was dedicated at Preston, Kan., November 12.
THE church at Leavenworth, Kan., has recently gained four new members.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to erect a church building at Plant City, Fla.
THE Jacksonville, Fla., church has purchased a chapel at Riverside for public worship.
ELDER J. R. BAGBY has been holding a series of meetings at Ingersoll, O. T., with a good interest.
BROTHER W. T. LLOYD reports the organization of a Young People's Society in the church at Rock Falls, Ill.
ELEVEN students of Emmanuel Missionary College received baptism at Berrien Springs, Mich., November 18.
AT Bache, O. T., eight persons have taken a stand for the truth as the result of meetings which were recently closed there.
A RECENT report from Elder C. N. Martin, Yuba City, Cal., stated that five persons were ready for baptism at that place.
A NEW church building has been erected at Woonsocket, S. D. Eighteen persons have accepted the truth there the past year.
THE church at Jennings Lake, Fla., which began recently with a membership of eight or ten, now has a membership of twenty-two.
RECENT meetings at Abilene, Kan., have resulted in bringing eleven persons to the observance of the Bible Sabbath.
THE Kansas Worker reports five new Sabbath-keepers at Preston, Kan., and states that “more seem ready to obey.”
THE company at Muskegon, Mich., have rented a church building, in which they hold Sabbath-school and weekly meetings.
BROTHER L. F. BAXTER, treasurer of the church at Humboldt, Kan., writes of the week-of-prayer services there: “There seemed to be a real reconsecration of hearts to the Lord in our week of prayer, that, if practised in daily living, will bring blessings to each one in this our little church of Humboldt. We feel encouraged.”
The Kansas Worker of December 13 states: “From the field there comes the cheering word from all sides that there seems to be such an awakening on the part of the people to hear the word as has not been for some time. Large congregations have gathered to hear, and more seems to have been accomplished within the last few weeks than for a long time.”
The South Dakota Worker says of the week-of-prayer experience at Elk Point: “The week of prayer was a good week for the church and school. A number of the students would gather from day to day in little private prayer-meetings and seek God's blessing on the school and the cause of God in regions beyond. It was a week of self-examination and private prayer. The testimony meetings revealed victories gained; the desires to enter the heavenly Canaan were quickened in the hearts of many.”
BROTHER E. J. HARVEY sends this cheering word from San Diego, Cal.: “We witnessed such a soul-inspiring scene this morning, December 31, that I must tell you of it. Among the twelve sisters and eight brethren who were buried in a watery grave and arose to walk with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in newness of life to-day, were a saloon-keeper's wife and two young daughters, who walked together into the water, and were baptized by God's servant, Brother W. W. Simpson. The Lord is working mightily in San Diego. Praise him for his precious truth for these days.”
BROTHER E. L. CARDEY says in a report from Herrin, Ill.: “Since the organization of the church here we have been especially blessed in working for souls, although we have met some disappointments. A number have been added to the Sabbath-school. It now numbers thirty-six, and the church eighteen. We are expecting others to begin keeping the Sabbath before long, and are working and praying to that end. November 25 was a good day for the church. The Christian people kindly gave us the use of their baptistery, and four souls were buried with their Lord in baptism. Others are still waiting baptism. We are trying to raise means to erect a church building, and hope to build before the winter is past.”
One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund
AMOUNT previously reported. $111,694.10
Lake Union Conference .... 75.93
Shattuck (O. T.) church .... 42.50
Shattuck (O. T.) church .... 37.50
Emil Nelson .... 35.35
Geo. S. Manual .... 30.00
N. B. Emerson, Treas. .... 28.08
J. E. Martin .... 25.00
H. M. Hiatt .... 15.00
Eastern Pennsylvania .... 14.25
Leadville (Colo.) church .... 11.00
John Freeman .... 10.00
Robt. Grierson .... 10.00
Sister Dodge .... 10.00
N. B. Emerson, Treas. .... 10.00
Mrs. M. Harrison (Jamaica) 6.97
Western Pennsylvania .... 6.25
Lizzie Houser, $5; J. H. Coffman, $5; George Bernhart, $4; Greater New York Conference, $3.20; Walnut Grove (Ohio) church, $2.30; Nels Johnson, $2; Mrs. M. C. Pyle, $2; David Houser, $2; West Virginia, $2; Conrad Haffner, $1.50; C. S. Veeder, $.50; John Weber, $.50.
ONE DOLLAR EACH
Columbus (Ohio) church, Woodward church, Mrs. I. D. Woolsey, Mollie Weber, Barbara Schiffner, Amalia Haffner, A. J. Thomason, Mrs. Laura Loudenlager, John Early, Mina Whitmore.
Total reported .... $112,101.93
I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.
An Encouraging Report
By C. F. Dart
THREE fourths of South Carolina has never been canvassed for any of our books. It is a good field, has a mild climate, and is just the place where you can let your light shine. I am having good success. I have no trouble in getting a hearing. About three out of four families that I visit subscribe. I never was treated better in my life. They are kind and hospitable.
The time I have put in has been limited, but the profits on orders were about seventy-five cents an hour; or, after counting out time for delivering and for lost orders, about forty-five cents an hour. A brother working with me is supporting a family of seven. He is a new hand at the business, yet he never enjoyed work any better in his life.
I am handling “Coming King,” and “Gospel Primer,” just the books adapted to the needs of the people. They are all well pleased with them. Many say they wouldn’t take five dollars for the “Coming King.”
We greatly need laborers. There is plenty of room for all those who desire to come. I shall be glad to correspond with all who are thinking of coming here to canvass. My post-office address is Gaffney, S. C.
C. F. DART, State Agent.
The Review
By Albert Weeks
THE question has been asked, “How do you like the REVIEW?” My reply is, Very well, indeed. I appreciate its sound principles. It stands firmly for the fundamental principles of the gospel of Christ as embodied in the last message of mercy to this world. The efforts of the enemy to corrupt the message have not succeeded. The Spirit of God has lifted up a standard against the enemy when he would come in like a flood.
May the Spirit of God still guide in the management of our precious old Review. Let us all help by sending in all the new names we can for its weekly visits. It has the precious, saving truth for the world, and the people are perishing for the lack of the knowledge it contains. God bless the editors, workers, and those who read our good paper.
ALBERT WEEKS.
Christian Liberty
By C. S. LONGACRE
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience
_Annual Convention of the National Reform Association_
In the last article we gave the National Reform Association’s plan of operation for the coming year, and in this article we shall give some of the significant statements made, and a syllabus of the discussions.
The Rev. S. F. Scovel, D. D., who was elected president of the association for the ensuing year, delivered the annual address, “The Gospel Ministry and National Reform.” The speaker emphasized the thought that the church in the past labored to save individuals, but that the present task is to save nations. “We must save the nation first, and then the individual will have to swing into line.”
The first topic discussed in the institute was entitled, “The Fundamental Principles of Christian Civil Government.” The Rev. T. P. Stevenson, D. D., led out in the discussion. Many strange deductions were made from Bible texts to sustain their doctrine of the nation’s recognition of God and his laws, and Christ as supreme ruler over all nations.
Dr. Scovel said: “The nations in the past who have not recognized God and his laws in their laws have gone backward, and have been terribly punished by God in judgments of war and national corruption. The people of this nation are beginning to realize this, and a strong sentiment is increasing each year to have the true God recognized in the national laws of this great nation, and Christ as universal king of all nations. When this is done, it can be truthfully said: ‘The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.’”
This speaker must have forgotten two important lessons in the history of the past. The celebrated Gavazzi writes: “When Christianity was imposed by Constantine on his pagan subjects, paganism introduced itself into the church of Christ. Before, the choice of religion was free; but after he had made some laws . . . the profession of Christianity became almost an obligation. Commands and magistracies were obtainable only through the portals of this new faith; it was embraced by multitudes, but with what fervor or what motive?—A mercenary motive and a worse than languid fervor. . . . A pagan flood flowing into the church carried with it its customs, practises, and idols. . . . The church did not prevent the sin. . . . Becoming vain of having many millions of adherents, it did not closely examine their faith.”
There is no mistake emphasized more in history than the mistake of the Christian church in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries, when the clergy made a rush, every time a new emperor or king took the throne of his dominion, to get him on the side of their peculiar tenets. The professed church then made legal conversions to the Christian cause on the wholesale plan, receiving vast armies and entire nations in a single day by a mere formal acknowledgment of their general or ruler. This very scheme brought trouble, dissension, and continual war between political and religious factions. Then followed the one-man power in the church and the persecution during the Dark Ages.
Another lesson of past history which these “Reformers” seem to have forgotten, is the undeniable fact that every nation of the past that has established religion by law has gone backward and has experienced national hypocrisy. All history testifies that a flood of corruption crept into the church as soon as the clergy induced the state to formulate the unholy union and legalize matters of faith.
Do not Spain and Russia still have a state religion? Have they not tried this theory of religio-political rule for nearly sixteen centuries? How do they compare with this country which shook off from the state at the very outset every shackle of ecclesiastical bondage, and refused to acknowledge even the shadow of a semblance of any form of religion in national and constitutional law? Does not the experience of a little more than a century in this republic prove that a government enjoys more of the divine blessing when the state and the church attend each to its own affairs without joining hands?
Rev. David Gregg, D. D., L. L. D., president Western Theological Seminary, gave utterance to the following sentiments: “No one can be a full-fledged Christian who does not and will not stand on the platform of the National Reform principles.”
Dr. R. C. Wylie in his syllabus on “The Application of Fundamental Principles,” set forth in printed form the following statements: “Legislative bodies should obey God’s law as to the day of rest, and enact laws for its protection. They should legislate as to the oath, prohibiting blasphemy, etc. A system of public instruction should be established whereby instruction should be given in the foregoing principles and in their application. The Judicial Department of government should act on these principles. Occasion for so acting arises in deciding cases involving the constitutionality of moral statutes, such as laws against blasphemy, for the protection of the Sabbath, etc. Cases involving the interpretation of statutes touching moral questions furnish a similar opportunity. The Executive Department of government should act on these principles, by a prompt and impartial enforcement of the law, by embodying them at suitable times in executive documents, such as messages, proclamations, etc. The officers of government should be men who believe the Christian principles of civil government, and whose characters are in harmony with them.” These statements were drawn out to their logical conclusions.
Rev. J. S. Martin, of Rochester, Pa., expressed himself thus: “The government should only choose those men as officers who are morally and religiously qualified to uphold the laws and principles of Christ as king. All others are unqualified for public office, and should not receive any votes unless they conform to, and believe in, these principles as advocated by this association.” Another speaker said: “Civil government and religion can not be divorced. We must get the religion of Christ into legal ink, and then enforce the ink to the letter. We are the champions of moral reform into law, and we alone can accomplish this great feat.” One speaker suggested that with the co-operation of the great church federation of fifty-four million adherents, their united effort would soon accomplish this great feat, and whip every opposing element into subjection.
To the student of the Bible and of history these statements need no comments. Soon we can expect startling developments in this nation.
C. S. LONGACRE.
The Much-Abused Frank
By W. A. COLCORD
Under the above heading, the Washington Times of Dec. 14, 1905, says: “Of all the mail transported last year by the postal service, one-eighth part in weight was carried under ‘frank.’” In his annual report, Postmaster-General Cortelyou says that it costs the government twenty million dollars to extend these courtesies.
The old story of the representative in Congress who dispatched a set of bedroom furniture and an iron safe under the franking privilege to his home is still current in Washington. But this would not have been further from the original intent of the frank, nor a greater abuse of the franking system, than is the use some are now making of it to carry on a religious propaganda, and promulgate principles subversive of the government, and contrary to the express terms of the Constitution.
Among those who are abusing this franking privilege in this way the National Reformers and the Reform Bureau may be mentioned. In an article published in the Washington Post of Aug. 16, 1905, Mr. William F. Crafts admits that he has “used franks more or less for seventeen years—since the first of his twenty-eight hearings before committees of Congress, on April 6, 1888.” And at the recent annual convention of the National Reform Association, Dr. H. H. George admitted as much, when he said, “We don’t pay for things we can get out of if possible.”
The third assistant postmaster-general, in his report, recommends that the franking privilege be abolished; that all mail matter be prepaid at the regular postage rate; and that a system of appropriations to cover necessary postage expenses be adopted to supply the needs of members of Congress and the governmental departments.
W. A. COLCORD.
Organize for Liberty
“ORGANIZE for Liberty” is the title of an appeal for the religious liberty work that we find in the East Michigan Banner, under date of December 13, 1905, and signed by authority of the conference committee, from which we select the following important paragraphs:—
“Now is the time to get ready for the great battle just ahead. Some one will be asked to bear the brunt of the work in your locality. As you value your soul, do not shirk a responsibility if the church lays it on you.
“We do not yet know to what extreme we may be pressed; so let us be prepared for quick and concerted action.”