Earlier text: Kolo (Basutoland) MissionSecretaryship as a Life Work — No. 2
By C. L. B.
THE special service of bringing fifty or sixty thousand young people of this denomination to Christ and enlisting their energies in his cause demands picked men and women. It calls for the best in heart and brain our denomination affords. It does not ask for a multitude, but it does ask for the best. The secretary multiplies himself a hundredfold, and substitutes for one personal worker many hundred. However eager he may be to work personally, shall one with the gifts of leadership leave hundreds helpless and ineffective because he wishes to gratify himself? The purpose of our organization is to multiply effective personal work. Take, for example, the secretary of our board of foreign missions, Elder W. A. Spicer. He spent some years in India, and would enjoy spending his life and energy in service for the Master there. But this same zeal, wedded to administrative capacity, enables him to recruit a whole army of missionaries. If this is not Christian activity, what is it? Instead of being at the front bearing the heat and burdens of the day, he is exchanging the burdens of a single life for the burdens of hundreds of lives. The secretary elongates himself to the foreign field hundreds of times. Then we turn next to the growth and characteristics of the secretarial office. The secretaryship is still a new calling, and is subject to rapid development. Its motto is, "Grow or go." The essential elements of growth are all here. The secretary must study if he proposes to meet his problems. His mind is kept alert as he comes in daily contact with the keenest minds among the young people. His sympathies are drawn upon by the experiences he is called upon to share,—the struggles, the successes, and the failures that he witnesses all about him. One prime requisite demanded of the secretary is that he be a religious leader. He exhibits this quality chiefly as an administrator and executive, but it is for the primary purpose of extending Christ's kingdom among the young people. The chief function of the minister is preaching, the chief work of the teacher is that of instruction, the chief purpose of the Missionary Volunteer secretary is administration. His aim is to organize young people for work, also to bring to bear upon them those influences and forces which will help them spiritually, mentally, and physically. He is to do this both personally and through an organization. The secretary is to enlist the young people of his conference in self-improvement, in religious meetings, in Bible study, in personal work,—not only for the children of Seventh-day Adventist parents, but for those not of our faith,—and in missionary effort at home and abroad. To do this successfully it is imperative that he understand the religious life and characteristics of young people. The way a young person spends his leisure time usually determines his character and usefulness in life. The greater part of Seventh-day Adventist young people do not attend our denominational schools. Many of these, and also of the class who do, leave school by the time they are fourteen years of age, and need opportunity for further study. The secretary should know the laws of the mind, and should understand the mental life of young people. Through interesting them in our schools, in the Reading Courses, and in the Standard of Attainment, he has a great opportunity to make better and more successful church workers of the young people. He should be able to meet young people and the public generally in a tactful and cordial way. Effectiveness as a public speaker is also desirable in the leadership of meetings, in presenting new lines of work to the church or to the young people's society, and in public addresses at conventions, and on other public occasions. The secretary who has the faculty of a promoter will find opportunity for every ability. No man has ever been able to say that he has outgrown this work. Considering the field of this office, can we not say that it has grown to be one of the most important functions of the church, and that the church will never give up the idea of specialized, thoroughly trained officers, who devote their entire time to enlisting and setting to work young people? The next division which we are called upon to discuss is the kind of men needed to fill the office of the secretaryship—their qualifications and characteristics. In the secretaryship there is room for a career of unsurpassed usefulness. The best young people the denomination can produce are demanded. This work offers opportunities for the religious zeal of the minister, the enterprise of the business man, and the quality of versatility necessary in administrative work of the college president. No man has yet engaged in this work who was too good or too great for his calling. Here the Christian young man has opportunity for the exercise of all his best qualities. The secretaryship does not call for a large number of men, but it is exceedingly difficult to find the right kind. Type of Men Needed in This Calling
That the secretary must possess genuine Christian character cannot be emphasized too much. The Saviour must be real to him; and the Master's goal, of living for the one purpose of blessing others, must be revealed in unselfish and loving service. Executive ability—the power to bring things to pass—is essential. In this calling, opportunities hedge one in. He has a new work, an untried field, tremendous forces to harness and to direct in channels of activity while beset with tremendous odds. He should possess leadership and skill in handling young people. He should also be a man of vision—a seer. To these essentials let him add all the graces of body, mind, and spirit that natural endowment or attainment may bestow upon him. No man has yet brought to the secretaryship qualifications so high or so varied that he has not had ample opportunity to use them all. The young person who wishes to enter this office ought in some way to show adaptation for it. He should have developed some leadership in Christian work among his associates in the young people's society, in the Sabbath school, in college, or in the church. He ought to have enough business experience to show that he has aptitude for business affairs. He must be a man of sterling worth and earnest Christian experience, an alert, up-to-date, twentieth century young man, with enough of vision to see in this new field an opportunity for great usefulness. He may come from the city, the country, the college, the store, the business office, the factory, or from other professions, but he must have the qualities which bring things to pass, the Christian life and the force of character to make him effective in leadership. The secretaryship invites to a strenuous life for the Saviour the best young people that our church can produce. A young person who is to enter this work ought to have a real love for it, to feel that it is his opportunity; and if God opens the way, he ought to enter it with courage and a deep joy. If we are to enter the open doors of opportunity into the religious life of young people, some things are necessary from a psychological standpoint. The secretary's life is a strenuous one, and in order to stand the pressure, a sound body is necessary. Alertness is a necessity. If one is to deal with young people in their spiritual natures, he must be alert. If he is to conduct religious meetings, devise plans, and start campaigns with bright, earnest young people, he must be in physical tone. Another requisite for the secretary's improvement of the movement's opportunity in the religious life of young people is optimism and courage. The witty Frenchman said that the fate of nations was often determined by the digestion or indigestion of a prime minister. We might say the fate of religious meetings, of missionary campaigns, and of young people's conventions is often determined by the condition of the secretary's stomach. Of what avail are the open doors into the religious life of young people if there is no buoyancy or sanguineness on the part of the young people's secretary about entering them? Unless there is the spirit which says, "Be of good cheer," and, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it," of what use will be these magnificent openings that God has put before us? C. L. B. Missionary Volunteer Reading Course Records
THE Missionary Volunteer Reading Course records for 1913 are very encouraging. The department issued nearly seven hundred Reading Course114certificates, and sent out ninety-three gift books to persons holding three certificates. Standard of Attainment Test
THE next general Standard of Attainment test will be held in March. How many young people in your community will take the test in one or both subjects? Brother Albert F. Prieger, who is in charge of the work in the Haitian Mission field, writes as follows concerning the progress of the work on the island of Haiti:— “We have now been here over a year, and have not seen another white Seventh-day Adventist since landing, and in fact, very few white people at all. Our believers are all natives, but we are really proud of them. They are poor, but full of courage to finish the work. The following figures will give an idea of what is being done. Last year we had 4 churches, with 146 members; 7 companies, with 57 members; and 1 church building. This year we have 8 churches, with 245 members; 7 companies, with 52 members; 3 church buildings and 6 lots. You can see by this that the work here is not standing still. “Last year we had no canvassers. This year we have thirteen,—six young men and seven young women. As I could not speak the French, I gave them the best instruction I could through an interpreter. Our sales thus far for the year amount to $550.03. They have sold mostly tracts and small books. I never before saw colporteurs stick to their work as nobly as do these. All the work has to be done on foot, traveling over hills and mountains, and through streams and valleys. In the president’s palace they sold fourteen books and over one dollar’s worth of tracts. “We also have nine Missionary Volunteer Societies and thirteen Sabbath schools, of which my wife has charge. “Our greatest need at the present time is a good French-speaking field agent,—one who can give these brethren the proper instruction, one who has had a real experience in the work, and is not afraid to labor for the colored man. He should be able to show these brethren how to do the work, and also to instruct our sisters in selling literature. “In a little while Haiti will have workers to send to other places where French is spoken,—to Madagascar, Algiers, Martinique, Guadeloupe, etc. I sincerely hope that a young man may be found who knows the French language, and is willing to take up the work here where the need is so great.” How One Church Has Worked
By E. M. Graham
A CHURCH elder gives the following account of the work done by his church during the last two years:— “There was a church membership of sixteen, but only a few resident members. We held a meeting with three members present, and decided that nothing could be done with so little interest. But after the meeting was dismissed, I called on a young man who was acquainted with the city, and told him that if he would go with me we would call on some of the people, and find out if they115wanted to learn about the truth. We soon found an opportunity for holding Bible readings, and the questions which were asked made it necessary for me to study. We soon had requests for Bible studies from all parts of the city. For eight months I held an average of six Bible readings every week. We had to go ahead in this work, as we could get no minister. When the minister did finally come, he had the privilege of taking eighteen new members into the church. "I felt that I could not do the work, but the conference president said that when I had done all I could, the Lord would do the rest. I found it so. On Sunday morning the young people who had accepted the truth would go out and invite others to the meeting which we began to hold every Sunday night. The congregation rapidly grew, until it was necessary to take a larger hall. I saw that the members must have something to do; so we ordered magazines, and put young and old to work. We were soon selling 1,400 copies a month. "Later, we organized the workers into missionary bands. Each had its leader. It was his business to see that the work was thoroughly done. We held our general meeting on Thursday evening. We had no time to get up a program, but we did not need it. We could not confine our meetings to an hour. "The greater part of the work was done by the lay members. Those who have come into the truth have come in as working members. The Lord blessed the movement. We did not have a minister but we had the truth. About forty members have been added in two years through the efforts of the local church." Here is a church which has grown from a membership of sixteen to fifty-six in two years, and that because an elder had the spirit of service to the Lord in his heart. If every elder would get this burden for souls, and would in like manner be a true leader to the church, what a wonderful growth in church membership we should see in the year! The Lord is anxiously waiting to bless, and every church may have this same rich experience if the members will work in the same way. Notice the expression, "Those who have come into the truth have come in as working members." This is as it should be. Every soul who accepts the truth should at once begin to work for others, and should continue to do so. We are in the time of the finishing of the work, and the help of every one is required. Shall not every church follow this good example, and at least double its membership in the year 1914? THE following earnest words from C. E. Eldridge, written in 1890, are as applicable today as at that time:— “The great demand of the hour is for willing, consecrated laborers in every part of the whitened field. The canvassing work opens up a field so vast in its domain that we fail to comprehend its magnitude. We have barely entered upon the borders of this yet unexplored territory, but the results have been such as to give us a faint idea of future possibilities. As we survey the field and take into consideration its possibilities, we can only exclaim, ‘Where are the reapers?’ While many have entered the field as bright examples of sacrifice and devotion, faith and works, many others should enlist in the good work of placing our books in the homes of all. “We want those who have their hearts in the work, those who believe that time is short, who see a great work to be accomplished and but little time in which to do it. We want those who feel that the salvation of those around them is of greater value than anything else, who know what is right, and who have a determination to do it, let come what will. This is the kind of material we want, and which we believe can be worked up into first-class canvassers. If there are any who have not entered the canvassing field on account of not being experienced canvassers, let them delay no longer, but make their wants known to their church elder or district director, who will see that proper instructions are given them.” God Cares for the Seed Sown
Brother Charles Degering, the secretary and treasurer of the West Caribbean Conference, sends the following encouraging experience, which shows how the Lord cares for the seeds of truth which are sown in honest hearts:— “About three months ago I was conducting a class in the church, using the Family Bible Teacher as our textbook. A visitor came in one evening. I invited him to return, and he promised to do so, saying he would bring a book with him which he thought was the same as the one I was using. The next evening he returned with a well-worn copy of Helps to Bible Study, which he had purchased in Cuba a number of years ago, just as he was about to unite with a church which observes the first day of the week as the Sabbath. He told his brethren what he had just learned in the book, and persisted that he was right; so they rejected him. Since then he has been looking for a people who keep the Sabbath. Today he has found them, and is rejoicing in the third angel’s message. He had previously heard of our people, but did not understand how it was they began Sabbath at sunset; so he was slow to accept their teaching until I explained to him the time of beginning the Sabbath.” Success in Mexico Notwithstanding the Revolution
ELDER G. W. CAVINESS sends the following note from Mexico, which shows that the Lord can prosper his work notwithstanding unfavorable conditions:— “The colporteurs continue to have good success. The three young men who are working in Tampico write that during the last week they have averaged over $105 worth of orders each. This work has been done mostly by native Mexicans who have recently begun to canvass. Brother Green, who is now on the isthmus, is also having good success. Last month we sent to him over $2,000 worth of books. Brother Schulz is selling back numbers of the periodicals, and it is wonderful the success he is having. Every week we receive splendid orders from him. “The work is succeeding as well this year as in years past, if not better. This seems especially manifest when we take into account the few workers we have and the unsettled conditions of the country. We do not know what may happen here, but up to the present we have not seen anything sufficiently alarming to cause us to leave the country. We are still trusting that God will arrange matters in such a way that his work may not be hindered.” Temperance Instructor
By Editor
THE Temperance Instructor comes out early in February. Encourage your young people to work hard for the circulation of this excellent paper. Use this weapon to help drive out of your community the liquor traffic, that merciless destroyer of American homes. Selling “Practical Guide” in Spain
Our brethren in Spain are rejoicing over the addition of “Practical Guide” to their list of Spanish literature. This book has been translated and published in Barcelona. It is bound in cloth, half morocco, and morocco, to correspond with our English subscription books. The bindings are very attractive, and the work on the book has been well done. The book sells in Spain for $2, $3, and $4, according to the binding. Concerning the first efforts of the colporteurs with this new book, Brother John Brown, the general agent, writes that he secured an order from the governor of the province, also a recommendation from the archbishop to the priests in the Catholic seminary of the town, which enabled him to take several orders among these priests to head his list. He also secured a recommendation from two of the leading physicians of the city, and was successful in taking orders from eight other physicians, besides securing a good list of orders from many of the business men of the town. One day he took thirteen orders for the book, and one of his native workers took ten orders. During the first week they sold 1,000 pesetas’ worth, or $200 North American currency. Brother Brown says:— “God is blessing us notwithstanding the fact that we started with this book in one of the most fanatical, proud, and ignorant provinces of Spain. One proud, ignorant fellow said he was going to kill me. He grabbed a club and swung it into the air to strike me, but just then God stayed his arm while I escaped through the door.” Let us remember the colporteurs in old Spain. What One Christian Endured
Dr. Jones tells the story of a Korean searcher after truth who came from a distance, spent three days and nights conferring with him about Christ, and was finally baptized. On reaching home, he confessed his new faith without reserve. The clan of which he was the head listened to his story with intense indignation. In view of this opposition, he offered to resign his position and property to any one they should elect in his stead; but as he was the only heir and in the necessary line of ancestor worship, this was rejected. There was more discussion and rising anger, until one of the most bitter struck him in the face. At this the fury of the clan broke loose upon him. He was beaten to the ground, stamped upon, and left terribly injured. When Dr. Jones heard of it, he hurried to his relief and found him suffering from internal hemorrhages. Being asked about his experience, the sick man said: "This is the way my Lord went. I am glad he has honored me by allowing me to follow him." When told by the doctors that he might not live long, he exclaimed, "Then what is left of my life shall be given my Lord!" He got a cartful of books, returned to the district where he had been so bitterly handled, and spent three years in colportage work. At the end of that time he was taken with a sudden hemorrhage and fell asleep in Jesus. Eleven churches had been founded by him in the brief ministry of three years.—Missionary Review ThE following quotation is from the speech of Senator Thompson. The facts showing the material benefit of temperance are worth repeating, and are given here so that all may have them:— "As this is a question in which Kansas has had longer and better experience than any other State in the Union, I desire to say a few words in support of the resolution. "We have had State-wide prohibition as a part of the Kansas State constitution longer than has existed in any other State in the Union. [The senator forgot that Maine passed its prohibitory law in 1854, and has never repealed it.—Ed.] The Kansas Legislature in 1879 voted by joint resolution to submit to a vote of the people an amendment to the State constitution forever prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, except for medicinal and scientific purposes. This amendment was adopted by the people at the general election in 1880. During the thirty-three years since that time the law has not been repealed, nor has the constitutional amendment on which it is based been resubmitted to the people for their affirmation or rejection. If there is any one question which is permanently settled in the minds of the people of Kansas, it is the prohibition question. In my judgment, the question will never again be submitted to the people or seriously attempted to be resubmitted by any organization, political or otherwise. If it should be resubmitted, prohibition would carry by a larger vote than any other proposition that could be presented to the people of Kansas. It has been entirely eliminated from politics, and the people are practically a unit on the question of retaining it as the fundamental law of the State. After this long trial and experience with the law, fully ninety per cent of the people would vote for its continuance, and are favorable to its extension throughout the nation. Our firm stand for the law is proof of the strength of character of our citizens, and a constant example in practical reform to all the States of the nation. "The closing of the saloons and joints in the State has had a most excellent effect upon the morals as well as the material interests of the people of the State, so much so that no one with the best interests of the people and the State at heart desires to go back to the old order of things under the saloon. Among the most beneficial results of the operation of the law are better homes, happier and wealthier families, higher standards of education and intelligence, and a large reduction in crime. These are the natural and inevitable results of prohibition wherever effectively enforced. But the best result of all is in the fact that of the half million boys and girls in Kansas, only a very small proportion have ever seen an open saloon. Children are growing to manhood and womanhood without the temptation or evil influence of the saloon. "During the thirty-three years of prohibition the illiteracy of our people has been reduced from 49 per cent to 2 per cent, and this trifling amount is almost entirely among the foreign element in the mining section of the southeast. With 105 counties in the State, 87 of them have no insane, 54 have no feeble-minded, 96 have no inebriates, and what few there are come from the cities which defied the law until recent years. There is only 1 pauper to every 3,000 population, and there are 38 county poor farms which have no inmates. In July, 1911, 53 county jails were empty, and 65 counties had no prisoners serving sentence. Since the establishment of prohibition the population of Kansas has increased more than any of the surrounding States, and her wealth has increased until it has become the richest State in the Union per capita. Although we suffered one of the worst droughts in the history of the State last summer, recent statements from the banks show that in the 930 State banks there is on deposit belonging to the people of Kansas about $120,000,000, and on deposit in the 213 national banks about $90,000,000, making a total of $210,000,000, or about $123 for every man, woman, and child in the State. "Until 1909 Kansas permitted drug stores to sell whisky and other intoxicating liquors for medicinal purposes. This privilege was grossly abused, and the State legislature, in 1909, passed a law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor for any purpose whatever. The State bank deposits of the State, which116had theretofore been gaining gradually only about a million dollars a year, made a sudden increase of $14,000,000, or from $83,000,000 to $97,000,000 at that time. In addition to this, the increase in wealth within the past ten years has been at the rate of $120,000,000 a year. The assessed valuation of property for taxation is sufficient to give every man, woman, and child in the State $1,700, while the average wealth in the nation is only about $1,200. Is it not reasonable to believe and fair to say that thirty-three years of prohibition has had something to do with this grand result?" Congressional Prohibition Speeches
By L. A. H.
Two very interesting and valuable speeches were recently made in Congress on the subject of temperance and prohibition. These are in print, and are available to any one who desires them, without cost. They are well worth having for personal reading and for use with others. Write the Hon. R. P. Hobson, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C., for speech delivered Dec. 11, 1913, and the Hon. Morris Sheppard, Senate Office, Washington, D. C., for speech delivered Dec. 10, 1913. L. A. H. The Ministerial Reading Course
By J. L. S.
BEFORE taking up the assigned reading for February, it would be well for the members of the Reading Course to review the sections covered in January. This can be done in a systematic manner by going over the outlines which precede each section. This will doubtless lead to the rereading of various paragraphs in different sections in order to refresh the mind as to important points which may have been forgotten. The reading for January brought before us in a forcible manner the work of the gospel minister. God has seen fit to save men by the "foolishness of preaching," and he chooses as his agents human instrumentalities. Christ began his work by preaching. He said, in his first recorded public utterance after his baptism, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor." His commission to his disciples was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." The apostles regarded the ministry as their heaven-appointed work. Pentecost had its beginnings in preaching, and three thousand were converted in a day. The advancement of Christianity during the first centuries was largely due to preaching. It was when men stopped preaching that the church lost power. During the Dark Ages the preacher became priest, giving his attention to the ceremonies of the church rather than to the ministry of the word, and darkness came upon the church. Not until Luther and his associates broke forth into the preaching of the word did the Reformation come. Preaching is God's way of saving men; and it has been, and will continue to be, the chief method of advancing the kingdom of God. The advent movement began and has developed under the personal ministry of the word, and it will end when with a loud cry the three angels' messages are preached to every nation, and tongue, and people. To be called to a work of so great importance and responsibility should lead his servants to grasp after every spiritual and intellectual qualification which will make them better fitted for the work to which they are called. The Ministerial Reading Course is designed as a small means to that end. Like soldiers making ready for battle, we are in constant need of training. Higher standards of efficiency are to be kept constantly in view. The following instruction is given in "Gospel Workers," pages 282-284:— "The work of the Christian laborer is not light nor unimportant. He has a high vocation, from which his whole future life must take its mold and coloring. He who gives himself to so sacred a work should bend all his energies to its accomplishment. He should aim high; he will never reach a higher standard than that which he aims to attain. He cannot diffuse light until he has first received it. He must be a learner before he can have sufficient experience and wisdom to become a teacher, able to open the Scriptures to those who are in darkness. If God has called men to be laborers together with him, it is equally certain that he has called them to make the best possible preparation to rightly represent the sacred, elevating truths of his Word. "Those who desire to give themselves to the work of God, should receive an education and training for the work, that they may be prepared to engage in it intelligently. No one should feel that he can step at once upon the upper rounds of the ladder; those who would succeed must begin at the first round, and climb upward step by step. Opportunities and privileges are granted them for improvement, and they should make every effort in their power to learn how they may do the work of God acceptably. "Wherever our ministers shall labor, in Europe or in America, they should seek to arouse the youth to prepare for active service in God's great field of battle. All who claim to be the servants of Christ have a work to do for him. The very name of servant conveys the idea of hire, work, responsibility. God has intrusted to every one powers to be employed in his service. He has given to each his work, and he requires that every faculty shall be improved to his glory. . . . "There ought to be connected with our schools the best possible facilities for the preparation of laborers for both home and foreign fields. There should also be in our larger churches special training schools for young men and women, to fit them to become workers for God. And far more attention should be given by our ministers to the matter of assisting and educating younger laborers." Reading Schedule for February
The reading schedule for February comprises the following sections in Part I of "Preparing to Preach:"— VI. The Introduction.
VII. Sermon Body.
VIII. The Conclusion.
IX. Materials.
X. Ministerial Senility.
XI. Originality.
XII. Instruction. Several of the important essentials in sermon building are considered in February's reading. In addition to the reading during the month, we shall add such collateral notes and quotations from week to week in this department of the paper as may seem helpful. The Bible and Testimonies provide much instruction for the gospel worker. Books written by earnest Christian ministers, many of them masters in the art of preaching, have also contributed much to the field of homiletics. We shall draw such material from these as may seem advisable. Ministering brethren who may have suggestions which they think will be helpful to others, are invited to send the same to the Educational Department of the General Conference. The first section in the reading for February is on the introduction to a sermon. A short, interesting introduction is usually advisable. On this, Dr. Johnson, in "The Ideal Ministry," says:— "The demand for it [the introduction] is based in the nature of the human mind, which is so constituted that it does not like to be bolted upon suddenly and abruptly, either in manner or in speech. Ordinarily, it prefers to be led up to the subject, as spring introduces the summer, or dawn the day. "The preacher comes to the pulpit aglow with his theme. It has been on his heart, and has come to be 'a fire in the bones.' He would kindle that fire in his hearers. But the hearer may be conditioned in indifference and need quickening, or in ignorance and need enlightening, or in prejudice and need conciliating. In any event the introduction should be kept exclusively to the one design of preparing the mind of the hearer to receive the truth. And this design will be accomplished in one or more of these three ways: by awakening interest, by helping to understand, by disarming of prejudice. These three exhaust the methods by which the design of the introduction may be secured." Introductions may be drawn from the text, the theme under consideration, or the circumstances of the occasion. The introduction should be short, only such material appearing in it as will in a natural way lead to the sermon proper. Speaking of what should not appear in an introduction, Dr. Johnson says:— "Should the preacher ever make himself the occasion of the introduction? (1) Never should an unwelcome truth be preceded by assurance of the purity of the preacher's motives. His life should testify to that. (2) Never should it be preceded by apologies for its presentation, as if he and the Lord were put to the necessity of asking the hearer's pardon for the disagreeable message. (3) Almost never, perhaps never, should an introduction refer to personal embarrassment, or unfitness of physical condition, or want of proper preparation. And this for two reasons: first, such an introduction is apt to grow into a habit, and so to grow insincere. If the preacher consents to appear at all, let him do his best to forget, and to make his hearers forget, any real or supposed personal unfitness. But the second reason leaves no hinge nor loop to hang a doubt on. Who can question that advertising one's deficiency is the surest way of impairing one's efficiency?" Of the important qualities of an introduction we quote further from the same author:— "(a) Pertinency. This is first and fundamental; the quality of strict relevancy and fitness. Everything in the introduction should be pertinent alike to the theme and the occasion. Its thought should have near relation to the theme, so as to introduce it; but it should be distinct from the theme, so as not to anticipate it. Strictly, an introduction117should fit one sermon, and no other. If made up of vague commonplaces, it may answer for almost any sermon, and be equally worthless wherever put. . . . "(b) Simplicity. This is opposed to everything ambitious in manner or matter—in style or thought. The porch should have neither the strength nor the beauty of the main building; and therefore should not be elaborate in structure or ornamentation. "Simplicity in the introduction requires, first, that it contain only one prominent thought. If this thought introduces the theme, there is no need of another. Why a vestibule to a vestibule? "Simplicity in the introduction requires, secondly, that the introduction be unimpassioned. If the preacher is aroused, the audience is not. If both audience and preacher are aflame, as they may be on emergent occasion, no introduction is necessary. But an unimpassioned introduction need not be trite and tame, enunciating only dull, insipid commonplaces; for this is not the opposite of passion. Let freshness and vivacity and vividness keep the preacher from mere platitudes and threadbare generalities in his opening words. Simplicity is not in these. But a highly wrought introduction will promise too much for the subsequent performance. If the preacher strike twelve when he begins, there is no more that he can do." Southern Training School
By C. L. Stone
THE week of prayer brought great blessings to the Southern Training School. On Sabbath the reading was given at the church, but the week-day readings were held at the school at the time of the chapel exercises. Revival meetings were held each night, and the whole church attended these. From the first, it was felt that the Lord had great blessings in store for us, and that he would hear and answer the many prayers ascending from more than a dozen prayer bands organized among the students of the school. Early in the week young people began to consecrate their lives for better service, and some for the first time; but on Wednesday the reading and the consecration service lasted from the chapel period at 9:15 A. M. until 1 P. M. On Thursday the same experience came. Confessions were made, earnest prayers were offered, and those who fully turned to God began to work for others. The most noticeable thought in the testimonies was the rejoicing because of answered prayers. The most noticeable characteristic of the experiences was that of beginning to work for others as soon as victory was felt in the life. The night meetings at the church, and the day meetings in the school, supplemented each other, and the result was a complete victory for almost all our young people. The hearts of the members of the faculty, and of all the workers connected with the effort, were made to rejoice greatly, and yet to feel solemn for the responsibilities of carrying the work of grace forward until each one should become strong and well established. The future prospect for workers is very bright, and the delegates in attendance at the union conference immediately following the week of prayer, felt to rejoice in the thought that in the near future, recruits having a deep Christian experience and hearts burdened for the work in this field, will go out into the work from the Southern Training School.