Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 46. (9/14/1916)

Review and Herald

Sep 14, 1916

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Sep 14, 1916

GOD’S ETERNAL LOVE

By G. A. Roberts

G. A. ROBERTS

In that better land love will have wondrous and glorious surprises in store for us; but never again will it be expended in an amazing, consuming sacrifice for sin or sinners, nor will it be manifest, as now, in rebukes, reproofs, or even in the gentle chiding of the Holy Spirit. There the same boundless, inexpressible love that is here vicariously bestowed to rescue us from ourselves and from sin, will be wholly untrammeled in its going forth. Then its ultimate object, its real purpose, the work which now suffers human interference, the production of everlasting joy for the creatures of God, will receive love’s full and undivided attention. God’s exhaustless reservoir of love will be perpetually pouring forth for the one purpose of dispensing eternal happiness. Eph. 2: 4-7; Isa. 35: 10.

Special Mention

By Mrs. S. N. Haskell

What Our Women Have Done for the Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital

THE Lord has laid the financial burdens of his cause upon the men. They are expected to lead out in building up the various enterprises connected with the work of God, but again and again in time of a crisis in the cause of God women have come forward and rendered valuable assistance. Lydia opened her home to the apostles in Philippi, and Abigail by her generous gift prevented David from shedding blood. Acts 16: 14; 1 Sam. 25: 14-33.

The majority of women belonging to the church of God in all ages have not been able to make offerings like the “great woman” of Shunem, who provided a home for the man of God. 2 Kings 4: 8-10. It is not the amount that God regards, it is the love that prompts the gift that is valuable in his sight. That was the reason the widow’s mite was precious to the Saviour.

When the tabernacle was built in the wilderness, the women as well as the men gave liberally for the entire building. Ex. 35: 29; 36: 6. But there was one important article of furniture which the women had the honor of donating. The laver and its base were made of the highly polished metal mirrors of the women. Ex. 38: 8. Glass was unknown in those days, and metal mirrors were expensive. One Jewish translation says that the women who gave the mirrors came in crowds, while the Septuagint tells us the women who gave their mirrors to make the laver fasted the day it was set up. That was a great sacrifice for the women of Israel. Women of all ages have been noted for pride of appearance; and for those women to come in crowds and give their mirrors to help furnish the tabernacle when they were in the wilderness and could not hope to replace them, meant a sacrifice that few women know anything about at the present day.

Some of our sisters are experiencing a taste of the same spirit of sacrifice in giving for The Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital. One sister in the West started the list with an offering of $5,000, and has since increased the gift by $3,000. Another sister in the East has given $5,000 to assist in erecting a dormitory where our medical students can be surrounded by a Christian home influence while carrying forward their studies in the hospital.

God did not put it into the hearts of a sufficient number of our wealthy sisters to furnish the entire amount; just as in building the tabernacle, he left opportunity for many to give of that which they had thought they really needed. One dear white-haired sister gave what she could spare in money, but still she longed to do more. Then she thought of the beautiful silk quilt upon which she had spent hours of work during many who give liberally are doing so at decided that she would do so. And the quilt was given to be sold for all it would bring for the hospital.

One sister pledged two dollars, but did not have any way to obtain the money. She prayed over the matter, and the thought came into her mind that she could do plain sewing. She at once began soliciting plain sewing of her neighbors, and soon earned two dollars. Then she remembered a sick sister who longed to give for the hospital but was unable to work. She at once set to work to earn two dollars more by sewing. This she brought to the sister who was leader of the work in their church, and asked her to credit it to the sick sister.

One sister living on a farm set aside an acre of wheat as a gift for the hospital. Others have dedicated broods of chickens, and in various ways have secured their offerings, that they might have a part in building the hospital, which, while it will relieve the sick and suffering, will also be a training school for the preparation of medical missionaries to carry the light to those who sit in darkness.

Many of our sisters who are earning daily wages have given one day’s wages, while a goodly number have given two days’ wages. Many women who have given sums varying from one to twenty-five or thirty dollars, have earned the money selling message-filled literature. Thus the Lord is putting it into the hearts of our sisters to work earnestly to help equip The Ellen G. White Memorial Hospital.

Cannot our sisters everywhere between now and Sabbath, October 14, prepare to make a substantial offering for the hospital fund? Think of ways and means by which you can save a liberal offering. If you do not have the cash, there is plenty of time in which to earn it before October 14, and the Lord will bless you in doing it.

Remember our dear sisters of ancient days, who came in crowds to give their looking-glasses to help furnish the house of God; and ask the Lord to help you to find ways and means to assist in equipping the only medical school we have for the training of medical missionaries. If the Lord reminds you of a sacrifice you can make, do not draw back. Make the sacrifice and receive the blessing.

MRS. S. N. HASKELL.

The Los Angeles Hospital

From the California Conference

LEADERS in this work to whom I have spoken regarding experiences in collecting money, have remarked over and over again how willingly the people are giving to this cause. People often come up to the one in charge of this work and say, “I want to pay my pledge.” There has been very little soliciting done. When once the matter is presented to them, all seem anxious to have a part in this noble work.

One woman handed in $27, but did not want her name given. She said she was interested in the hospital work and wanted to show her appreciation in this way. Another woman handed in $17, saying that she had expected to buy a dress with this money, but she wanted to have a part in helping to erect a memorial to Ellen Gould White; so she gladly gave up her dress. We find that many who give liberally are doing so at big sacrifices. One sister gave $50 at much personal self-denial. Five dollars was given by an elderly sister who earned the money by making and selling tatting. Thus we find that although the money has come in freely, real sacrifices are being made.

In one church the goal was set for $300. Already more than that amount in cash has been turned in, with many pledges still to be collected.

Let the Children Help

One of our sisters who had charge of this work in a certain church, believing that the children should also be permitted to help, visited the church school and explained to the children the need for this hospital and the plan for raising the money to build and equip it. The children were very anxious to help. They set the goal for $25, much to the astonishment of the older ones, who did not have so much faith as the children had. In just a short time the money was coming in so rapidly that the goal was changed to $75. The Lord has rewarded the faith of these children. Already they have $82.

The leader purchased twenty-seven copies of “The Cross and Its Shadow” at a dollar each, and gave them to the children to sell at $1.50 each. At one meeting held in the church, a girl twelve years old gave a canvass of the book. After the canvass an offering was taken, which amounted to $23. The rest of the $82 the children earned by selling the book, “The Cross and Its Shadow.” This twelve-year-old girl alone has sold thirty books.

CORA B. McELHANY, Sec.

From the Northwestern California Conference

We organized the work in the Northwestern California Conference in July by appointing local secretaries in most of the churches. Nine of these have

The Los Angeles Hospital

(Concluded from page 2)

reported as having begun their work. Elder W. C. White, assisted by E. W. Alsberge and the secretary, visited four of the churches in the southern part of the conference before the local camp meeting, with very encouraging results.

In all the churches of this conference, as elsewhere, there are just now other financial burdens pressing heavily; but in every place we have visited, our people have shown a decided interest in our medical college, and especially in the Los Angeles hospital.

The amounts pledged, together with the money received on the sale of the book, “The Cross and Its Shadow,” are as follows:— St. Helena, pledges and book....$ 67.20 Sonoma, pledges................ 40.00 Healdsburg..................... 166.00 Santa Rosa, book............... 26.00 Napa, book..................... 10.00 Conference church (one brother) 100.00 Total..........................$409.20

The work has but just begun. Two of our largest churches, those at the Pacific Union College and at the St. Helena Sanitarium, will take up the matter after the new term of the college opens. We are greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm with which our physicians, both in institutional work and in private practice, take hold of this work. In Healdsburg Dr. Iva Wheeler ably assisted in presenting the work to the people, while Dr. Henrietta Heald liberally donated one hundred dollars. All are anxious to have the blessing that comes from taking a part in this noble work.

MRS. LOTTA ALSBERGE, Sec.

The Great Industrial War

By F. M. W.

Mutterings of the Coming Storm

A GREAT industrial war is impending. For long years its distinct mutterings have been heard, as underneath the surface the elements of discord and disintegration have been silently marshaling their forces. The growing difficulties between capital and labor are reaching more and more an acute and critical stage. The cause of this is found in the rapidly widening class distinctions which exist: the great aggregation of wealth in the hands of a favored few on the one side, and on the other the intolerable conditions under which many of the wage earners live, and the little hope they see for the alleviation of their situation.

Dividing the country into three classes, the rich, so called, comprise two per cent of the population, and these own sixty per cent of the wealth; the middle classes comprise thirty-three per cent of the population, owning thirty-five per cent of the wealth; while the poor represent sixty-five per cent of the population, and own about five per cent of the wealth. This is an age of great fortunes; a day not merely of millionaires, but of billionaires; a time when the fortune of one man equals the annual income of more than two million American wage earners.

The world owes much to the great captains of industry. They have been instrumental in the establishment and operation of many great enterprises which have proved of untold value to their fellows. It is difficult to see how, without the foresight, sagacity, and executive ability of some of these great commercial leaders, the world's work could be carried forward. Unquestionably, however, there has been on the part of invested wealth a marked tendency to overstep the bounds of justice and to impose upon laboring men unbearable conditions. The employees feel that while they are largely responsible for the creation of the wealth of their employers, they do not share in its just distribution. As a result, the laboring men have combined into trade unions to force from confederated wealth what they consider their just portion of the returns of their labor. The consequence has been labor strikes, riots, and violence, times without number, in practically every nation on both sides of the Atlantic.

Speaking of these conditions, Dr. C. H. Parkhurst, of New York, writing for the Evening Journal of that city just before the beginning of the great European war, said:—

“Certainly to the observant eye the signs of tempest are already in the air, and to one who looks across the world with a glance that takes in the whole collective scene, it is not easy and it is not reasonable to maintain oneself in perfect serenity of mind. . . .

“The more serious thing to consider is that what we listen to here is but a few notes of the general concert of discontent that prevails on both sides of the sea, and that that discontent is everywhere declaring itself in tones that are increasingly confident and bold. And so far as appears, nothing essential is being done to stay the forward march of dissatisfaction. We had a civil war half a century ago, and the mutterings of another civil war of an economic kind are distinctly audible.”

To this statement of Dr. Parkhurst’s might be added many of similar import from other writers and thinkers. This spirit of discontent is not confined alone to the more ignorant part of our population. It embraces men who have learned to think for themselves, who have studied the existing economic conditions, and as the result of such study have deliberately concluded that they are suffering injustice. Speaking of this, Vice President Marshall, in an address at Mooseheart, Ill., July 27, 1913, and reported in the Washington Post the next day, declared:—

“Thoughtful men who believed that the republic was founded, not only to maintain the equality of all men before the law, but also to furnish each individual man a fair field in which to work out his individual life, stand aghast at much of the discontent in America.

“The thoughtless man believes that the public mind is being agitated by the flannel-mouthed anarchist who waves his red flag, curses God and man, law and order. This is not so. A policeman’s squad whenever it chooses can settle, and settle forever, this agitation. The discontent is produced by the hundreds and thousands of high school, college, and university men and women who find themselves thrust into a modern warfare with no weapon of offense or defense save those of the ancient crusader.

“They have been eking out precarious existences in callings which God did not intend them to follow, and at the same time have been seeing some low-browed inferior, barely able to read and write, gathering unto himself all the good things of life. Unless some way be devised to minister to the wants, physical and mental, of these educated men and women, they sometime will trample underfoot all the theories of the republic in order to reach a better condition of life.”

Canon George William Douglas, writing on ‘The Close Kinship of Capital and Labor,’ in the New York Times, declares:—

“Few Americans, except politicians, and the settlement workers like Jane Addams, know how great the danger in this country is of a real revolt of labor.”

These conditions, which the last few years have served greatly to develop, afford a striking fulfilment of the prophecy contained in the fifth chapter of the epistle of James. Says the apostle, in speaking of the strife between capital and labor in the times just preceding the coming of the Lord:—

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5: 1-8.

A striking illustration of the conflict between capital and labor has been witnessed in this country during the last few days. A strike of far-reaching consequence was threatened by the railroad brotherhoods. It was only by the strenuous

efforts of President Wilson, aided by speedy legislative action, that the great arteries of travel were not closed, resulting in incalculable loss to every business interest, and imposing untold suffering upon thousands.

This action on the part of Congress in providing an eight-hour law has been hailed by the labor unions as a great victory to the cause of labor. On the other hand, it has served to embitter the heads of the great railroad interests, who declare that they will test the constitutionality of the law by appeal to the Supreme Court. Thus the controversy has not been settled, although the immediate crisis has been bridged.

Of this particular controversy and of the far-reaching effects of this great industrial conflict we will speak further at another time. F. M. W.

Divine Warnings Against Disorganization

By W. A. S.

THE divine establishment of gospel order gave authority to appointments to oversight and direction in the work. The spirit in the church was one of counsel, and of deference to church order and government. The gift of “governments,” which is the gift of administration and organization, is one of the spiritual gifts. The apostle, writing from Italy to the Hebrew churches in Judea and everywhere, gave the exhortation: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.” Heb. 13:17. Again he wrote: “We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thess. 5:12, 13.

Christ’s instruction regarding dealing with the erring shows that the visible church is a definitely organized body, not only having authority to maintain its unity and purity, but in duty bound to do so. Matt. 18:15-20; John 20:23. The Spirit of prophecy says:—

“Christ here gives no liberty for any man to pass judgment upon others. In the Sermon on the Mount he forbade this. It is the prerogative of God. But on the church in its organized capacity he places a responsibility for the individual members. Toward those who fall into sin, the church has a duty, to warn, to instruct, and if possible to restore. Declare what God has said. . . . If they persist in sin, the judgment you have declared from God’s Word is pronounced upon them in heaven. In choosing to sin, they disown Christ; the church must show that she does not sanction their deeds, or she herself dishonors her Lord. She must say about sin what God says about it. She must deal with it as God directs, and her action is ratified in heaven. He who despises the authority of the church, Christ himself.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 805, 806.

Before all the first apostles had passed away, the attack on the purity of the faith and the organization of the work had begun. The opposition of men who turned openly from the truth was not so deceptive and dangerous as that of those working from within. Hence Paul’s warning to the elders of Ephesus to take heed to themselves and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers; for men were to rise from within, teaching perverse things, and seeking to draw away the people after themselves. Acts 20:28-30.

Later, as apostasy further developed, Peter warned against those who, in the name of greater liberty, would lead to the bondage of error. 2 Peter 2:19. They were opposed to the order and organization which hindered their efforts to tear down. They “despise government,” he says, “Presumptuous are they, self-willed.” Verse 10. Jude wrote of them also as despisers of dominion, or government. “These be they who separate themselves,” he said. Verse 19. As they could not dominate the organization, they drew apart and sought to separate churches and individuals from the movement.

The apostle John, who wrote latest of all, in all three of his epistles warned against these influences. Of one experience, in which the pastor or officer of a church asserted its independence of apostolic oversight, refusing to receive the laborers sent to minister to it, he says:—

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preëminence among them, receiveth us not.” 3 John 9.

No doubt this advocate of the independence of the churches from the established general oversight, was loud in his denunciation of the effort of the organized body to preserve the unity of the work. He prated against the apostle “with malicious words,” and had the word been coined then, he would surely have called the apostle’s effort popery. Inspiration says that his real difficulty was that he loved to have the preëminence among them. This was the spirit of self-exalting independence and disregard of gospel order and organization which led straight to the Papacy.

In this brief review of New Testament order we see the church established on the platform of truth, the whole body bound together in unity, possessed of the divine spirit of organization, with spiritual gifts and local and general officers set in it for the administration and government of its affairs in harmony and fellowship.

Christ was the leader and commander, guiding by the voice of the Spirit of prophecy, and by the spiritual gifts promised to the church as it seeks his counsel.

Isaiah describes how the farmer plans with system and order his work of tilling the soil: “His God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.” Isa. 28:26. The church is “God’s husbandry,” or “tillage.” 1 Cor. 3:9, margin. He who gives wisdom to the tiller of the soil to plan his work, is counselor to the gospel church, to enable its work to be done with the system and order befitting its sacred character. “This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” Isa. 28:29.

As was shown John in the Revelation, Christ himself walks among the seven candlesticks,—the churches,—and holds the seven stars—the messengers of the churches—in his own right hand. His presence and guidance are promised “even unto the end of the world.”

He has been the leader in this advent movement, and by the counsels of his Word and through the Spirit of prophecy the divine principles of order and organization have been developed and applied to present-day needs and conditions. Every principle in the organization of our work today is found in the Word of God. As one united people, let us devote all our powers to the world-wide proclamation of the everlasting gospel and the finishing of the work.

W. A. S.

Current Events as Signs of the Times

By L. L. C.

IN natural phenomena one is struck with the many occurrences of recent date said to be the worst of their kind in many years. One of the most recent of these is the serious crippling by the aurora borealis of the telephone and telegraph service throughout the East and West of the United States. The Washington Post of August 27, speaking of this occurrence, gives a New York dispatch of the previous day:—

“Telephone and telegraph service throughout the East and West were seriously crippled tonight by the aurora borealis, described by officials of the companies in this city as perhaps the most depressing on wire circuits in many years. “The disturbance, according to the officials, was first observed about 7 P. M. By midnight, it was said, the service of the telegraph companies east of Chicago and as far west as Minneapolis was only about fifty per cent normal.”

To those who believe that the earth is waxing old like a garment, unusual phenomena which now show themselves so frequently, are all signs of the times in which we live.

Recent developments in the political world also seem to present new fulfilments of those prophetic scriptures which point to the last days as times

when many will be saying peace and safety, and urging national disarmament, while at the same time the nations will actually be preparing for war. It has been prophesied that man will say, God “shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:4. The prophetic picture is the reverse of this, for the prophet Joel says: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3:9, 10.

The time of the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy is indicated in the fourteenth verse of the same chapter, where it says, “The day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” The time of this warlike preparation is to be the time of the near approach of the day of the Lord. We have seen these scriptures being fulfilled in the last two years as never before.

A new step toward preparation for war in the case of the United States is the proposal for universal military training. Recently the poll of business men of the nation was taken by the United States Chamber of Commerce. It was found that an overwhelming majority of employers of this country are in favor of universal military training of all male citizens of military age. The ballot showed 889 votes in favor and only 56 opposed to a system of universal military training. The Washington Post of August 21 says editorially:—

“This overwhelming testimony from that section of opinion which is not only conservative, but is also closely concerned with the actual cost and with the economic problems which go with any system of universal military training, must inevitably have its effect upon Congress.”

It is thought that this attitude of business men is due to a change in public opinion which has come about since the outbreak of the European war.

Not only do we see one of the last great nations which does not have universal military service becoming persuaded that such a system is necessary, but recent years have marked a great increase in the implements of destruction. Two of the newest to be developed are the submarine and the airship. Not only has the submarine been used in actual fighting, but in the carrying of those articles of commerce needed as war materials. A supersubmarine, built for carrying cargo, arrived August 23, according to a wireless dispatch, at the mouth of the Weser River. It had successfully completed a trip from Germany and back. It is now believed that airships are in the process of building which will have a maximum speed of eighty miles an hour, with a radius of action of three thousand miles. It is thought that this new craft will be able to cross the Atlantic and back. These are only a few of the triumphs of human ingenuity which may be so developed as to play their part in increasing the effectiveness of war to destroy.

The Scriptures seem to indicate that a supernatural agency will have a great control over the minds of men in these times of warlike preparation just before the end of the world. At the present moment leaders of religion are much concerned over the interest which many reputable persons are taking in the prophecies of Spiritualistic mediums and fortune tellers. Many anxious women are resorting to these seers for information concerning their relatives on the firing line. A special cable from London says:—

“One of the best-known women in the American colony here permits séances to be held in her residence almost nightly. A medium summons the shades of Napoleon and other great military geniuses: they lay out the immediate plan of campaign and tell of its success or failure. Incidentally the medium will foresee the fate of Lieutenant This or Captain That, of noble families, whose relatives are seated in the Spiritualistic circle.”—Washington Post, August 22.

The accuracy with which these spirits foretell the occurrences of the war seems remarkable indeed. A similar accuracy is seen in the Bible account of the medium who foretold for Saul the outcome of the battle in which he and his sons were killed. This turning to spirits for counsel is truly a sign of the times.

L. L. C.

Some Interesting Figures

FROM the statistical report for the second quarter of 1916 of the North American Division Conference, sent out by Brother H. E. Rogers, the statistical secretary, we take the following interesting comparisons:—

“The same rapid advancement in this work as has marked this cause in the recent past, is clearly indicated in the report for the North American Division Conference for the quarter ending June 30, 1916. This progress is revealed in nearly every line, as will be readily seen by a comparison with the totals for the preceding quarter. The outlook before the work in this country was never brighter, the prospects never more encouraging.

Membership

“Before taking up the figures for the report in hand, it might be of interest to glance backward over recent years, and note the gain in membership. In 1906 the membership stood at 58,381, thus indicating an increase during the past ten years of 21,812. Coming down five years later, to 1911, the membership in this territory stood at 60,691, thus indicating an increase during the past five years of 19,502; that is, while the gain during the first five-year period was only 2,310, during the last five-year period the gain in members in this territory has been 19,502. The per capita of total contributions for the entire year in 1906 was $17.99. Current reports indicate an amount nearly twice in excess of that figure,—for 1915, $32.71.

“The net increase in members during the second quarter was 1,325, thus making the grand total membership stand at 80,193. This is the highest membership ever reported in this country. The membership of Sabbath schools is 5,081 more than the membership of churches, or a total of 85,274. The net gain in the membership of churches during the year closing June 30, has been, by quarters, as follows: 1,090, 1,133, 1,209, and 1,325, a total net gain of 4,757. Thus it will be seen that the past quarter has witnessed the highest gain of any of the four quarters of the past year.

“The highest number of persons baptized in any Union Conference was reported by the Pacific Union, namely, 403, with the consequent increase in membership of 401.

Tithe

“The total tithe receipts amounted to $359,580.16, a per capita of $5. With the exception of the receipts for the fourth quarter, which are usually heavier in all lines, this is the highest amount ever paid in this Division in any quarter, and also the highest per capita amount. The highest per capita amount paid by any local conference is that paid by the Saskatchewan Conference, namely, $13.07. The Western Canadian Union Conference has again the distinction of paying the highest amount of tithe per capita of any of the Unions, paying $9.37 for each church member in its territory.

Twenty-cent-a-week Fund

“The total amount received during the second quarter on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund was $130,749.40. This is a per capita of $1.82. The amount received during the first quarter was $124,096.66, or a total for the six months of $254,846.06. This is the exact amount reported as receipts by the General Conference treasury. The per capita for the first quarter was $1.72, thus indicating a gain of 10 cents per member for the second quarter. The amount is, therefore, just a little over one half of the quarterly goal, namely, $2.60. The last six months of the year must witness a heavy increase in mission offerings in order to make up the deficit for the first six months.

“It should be stated that the basis for figuring the per capita of both tithes and mission offerings is the membership as reported in the annual statistical report for 1914. This will be the basis of figuring during 1916.”

We have occasion for thankfulness that the blessing of Heaven has attended the efforts which have been put forth by our laborers in this Division during the last quarter. And yet there is no occasion for self-gratulation. While we are grateful that Heaven has been pleased to work through our poor, feeble efforts, at the same time, to compare what has been accomplished with the great work yet remaining undone, brings a sobering sense of our own insufficiency and of our dependence upon God. Grateful for past success, let us press forward, seeking a still greater measure of power in future labors.

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