What Can Be Done to Save the Young People in the Home?
By E. M. GRAHAM
WHEN we consider the subject of the salvation of our young people, we are brought face to face with one of the most serious problems in our work. We are losing every year a very large number of young people from the cause. The children of Sabbath keepers grow up in the truth until they reach the years when they are free from direct parental control, and then they give it up and drift away. Is there not power enough in this truth to hold our children? or is the failure somewhere else? for failure there is somewhere. What can be done to save the young people?
We know there is power in this truth to hold the children, if they really receive it into their hearts. Children have stood alone in their homes, and have suffered persecution, yet have firmly refused to give up this Sabbath truth. The truth of God has as much power to hold now as it had in the past, when many children and youth suffered martyrdom rather than deny their faith.
The failure is not there. It is with us, brethren and sisters. The power of the truth has not been in the lives of the men and women, and therefore the children have not received it. To them this message has seemed a mere form, having no special interest to them. Many of them plainly say that they know this message is the truth, but that they are not interested in it. This shows that they have not learned to love it; for to those who do love it, this message is of such absorbing interest that it fills their lives.
What can be done to save the young people by developing in them the love of the truth? There are three phases of life that have a molding influence on the hearts and minds of the children,—the home, the school, and the church. The home is the first in order, and the one which has the greatest influence in determining the future life of the child. We have been given direct instructions in regard to the duty of parents to train their children for heaven: ‑Let parents do their duty to those who are dependent upon them, and fashion their characters after the divine Pattern. Let parents, with living faith and entire reliance upon God, do the part assigned them, and God will do his part, and thousands of children who are now without God and without hope in the world, will be added to the church.‑‑‑‑Testimonies on Sabbath School Work,‑ page 103.
Many parents are desirous of helping their children, and are almost heartbroken as they see them drifting away, but they do not know how to turn their children’s interest to the truth. This is especially true in divided families.
The first step to be taken by the parents is for them to center their interest in the truth. Children are interested in what interests their parents. Let them talk the message at the table, speak of the development of the work in different places, mention special manifestations of God’s power they read of in our papers, and be wide-awake all the time to keep the cause of God prominent in their conversation. Let them put enthusiasm into the study of the Sabbath school lesson, and allow nothing to interfere with this.
If the children see mother hurry to get the REVIEW when it comes, hastily tear off its cover, with eager interest to see how the work is going, they will want to read it, too. This will be especially so if, with evident pleasure, she will read to them short interesting extracts as she comes to them. She can add to this interest by looking up the places on the maps with the children, that they may know where the things read of happened.
Books should be read to and with the children, the father and mother taking part, and manifesting interest in the subjects.
The parents need not only to talk the truth, to study and read it, but to work for it, if they are to save their children. They must have a burden for souls around them, and do all they can to save them, by distributing literature, by personal work, and by every means in their power. They should enlist their children in this work with them, planning work with and for the children, according to their ages. Children are naturally active and like to do things, and much depends upon how these activities are guided as to how the children will develop. The Testimonies speak very plainly in regard to this point of the parents’ training the children to work for him:‑‑‑
‑By many this home field has been shamefully neglected, and it is time that divine resources and remedies were presented, that this state of evil may be corrected. What excuse can the professed followers of Christ offer for neglecting to train their children to work for him?‑‑‑‑Testimonies for the Church,‑ Vol. VI, page 430.
‑When our homes are what they should be, our children will not be allowed to grow up in idleness and indifference to the claims of God in behalf of the needy all about them. As the Lord’s heritage, they will be qualified to take up the work where they are.‑‑Ib.
I call to mind one family with which I was for years intimately associated. The father and mother were bound up in the work of God. It had first place in their interests always. They interested their children in it, and shared their pursuits with them. As a matter of course, the children grew up in the work, and as they became old enough, their only desire was to connect with it. The older children had the privilege of attending a church school for only a short time before they finished that part of their education. But the influence of that home has been so strong that it has kept the interests of those children bound up in the truth.
Now the question is, Are the parents willing to pay the price for their children’s salvation? It means a thorough consecration on their part. That a different state of affairs may be brought about is shown by the following statement: ‑If parents desire to see a different state of things in their families, let them consecrate themselves wholly to God, and cooperate with him in the work whereby a transformation may take place in their households.‑‑Ib.
To effect this transformation will mean much self-denial and hard work on the part of the parents. They will need to throw themselves into this cause entirely, making it the chief thought of their hearts, and they will have to plan and work so that they may carry the children with them. Every home should be a cooperative missionary society for the Lord, where all unite in doing all that they can to save souls.
This does not mean that the care of the home and other necessary duties should be neglected, but that they should be made subordinate to the higher interests. Children should be taught to share in the housework as part of their service to the Lord, that their parents may have more time for soul-saving efforts. But this will shut out worldly amusements, the following of fashions in dress, the parties of pleasure, and such things. With hearts wholly consecrated to the Lord, these things will cease to please or interest.
So, will the parents pay the price? Are they sufficiently interested in the children to save them? Or shall this terrible loss of the youth continue? Continue it will unless decided steps are taken to change it.
There may be parents who are willing to pay the price, but who desire more detailed help in how to interest their children in study and in work. We would ask any such to write to Miss Matilda Erickson, General Conference, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. She will be glad to lay before all such parents, plans that will be a very material benefit to them in helping their children.
It does not need a high standard of education, or special natural ability in the parents, in order for them to be successful in this training of their children, but it does need entire consecration to God and deep love for the children.
Parents, what more can we say to you? The hearts of the leaders may ache for your children as they see them drifting away, but they cannot do your work for them. The children are all you can take with you into the kingdom. Are they not, therefore, worthy of every effort you can make for them here?
E. M. GRAHAM.
Turning Loss Into Ministry
By James F. Merriam
You may make of your loss not a disablement, but an equipment. You have learned a new, great lesson. Henceforth you should be more competent for that finest, most delicate ministration, sympathy toward those in trouble. A new temptation has come to you, a drawing toward the self-absorption of sorrow. Resist it bravely. Let your loss be not a barrier to, but a tie with, other lives. And just as surely as behind yonder clouds the sun is shining, so certainly will there issue out of this trial of yours, if only you will meet it as best you can, a good to yourself and to others greater than you now can think.— James F. Merriam.
Living for Something Bigger
“THIS world was not planned for our own personal happiness, but for something very much bigger and better. When we get that firmly into our heads, we are ready to begin living successfully and usefully, and are pretty certain to get many joys on the road—but not before.”
STANBOROUGH PARK SANITARIUM, WATFORD, ENGLAND
Stanborough Park Sanitarium
By C. H. Hayton, M. D.
THIS institution is situated seventeen miles north of the heart of London. It occupies the most prominent position in Stanborough Park. The estate, composed of nearly seventy-five acres, located in the most healthful part of Hertfordshire, is entirely owned by the British Union Conference. The sanitarium is surrounded by woodlands containing some of the finest specimens of English oak, and the front lawn contains a few majestic California redwood pines and some beautiful spreading cedars of Lebanon. Certainly, no better spot in England could have been chosen for the relief and care of the sick.
The building has a capacity for thirty-five patients, but by a few changes forty can be accommodated. A very pleasant, well-ventilated and -lighted bathroom adds much to the success of the institution. The electrical department contains the latest machines in high frequency and diathermy, and an X-ray apparatus is shortly to be installed. A small but fully equipped operating theater is also an added feature.
The doctor, the matron, three graduate nurses, the secretary, the cook, and an occasional charwoman constitute the paid staff, while fifteen bright and intelligent young people in training complete the working staff.
STAFF OF STANBOROUGH PARK SANITARIUM
There are two endowed beds in the institution, supported by the British Union Conference and the International Tract Society, respectively. These beds are open to all Seventh-day Adventists in this field who are in good and regular standing and need medical or surgical attention, but cannot afford to pay even the price charged our own people, who are allowed fifty per cent discount from the regular rates. For a small sum a week the occupants of these beds receive a full course of treatment, with every care and attention, nursing included. If they are unable to pay this amount, the church has a fund from which to draw the expense. This permits our people to come to the sanitarium free instead of going to other hospitals. During the year 1913 twenty-six Seventh-day Adventist patients availed themselves of these beds, with an average of four and one-half weeks' residence each.
Altogether there were seventy-four Adventist patients in attendance during 1913, out of a total of two hundred and seventy-three.
We believe that our sanitariums should make every provision for the treatment and care of our own sick. We have found our people who come to the sanitarium most helpful to the institution, and we take every means to secure their patronage. They mingle with the other patients, and, if tactful, have many opportunities of speaking a word in season to those who are weary. We find that the religious services of the institution are better attended by other patients when our people attend. We have found our own people charitable when others are not. We have found them loyal and fully in harmony with the truth, and we find the sanitarium most successful when we have their hearty support, their cooperation, and their prayers. We believe that our sanitariums are established to be an important factor in the dissemination of the third angel's message, and that our people should come into closer touch with them.
The patients leave the institution feeling very grateful for the help which they have received both spiritually and physically, and many are the expressions of gratitude and thankfulness for the truths they have heard. The sanitarium staff feel very grateful to God for the many blessings obtained last year, and all have expressed themselves as determined to reconsecrate their lives more fully to his service.
C. H. HAYTON, M. D.
COMMENT.—The above article concerning Stanborough Park Sanitarium, sent us by Dr. C. H. Hayton, the superintendent, presents an item worthy of special notice,—that concerning the relation of the institution to Seventh-day Adventists, and, in turn, their attitude to it. This, the newest of our sanitariums, seems to have found the right plan of dealing with this question.
We have much instruction that makes clear the mutual responsibility of the institution and of churches or conferences for the care of our sick. It was never intended, in the original establishment of our sanitarium work, that the burden of this expense should be on the sanitarium. At the same time, it was intended that these institutions should afford a means whereby Seventh-day Adventists could obtain proper care and medical treatment.
The relation of mutual interest and support mentioned in the above article should, and evidently could, be seen in connection with every one of our sanitariums, and would mean much in real blessing to all concerned. It is a question worthy of careful thought on the part of our sanitarium boards of management. A number of our institutions have provision for meeting the needs of our own sick, and are doubtless doing all they can afford to do. This is to be appreciated by the people.
Our sanitariums need the support of our people. Our people need the benefits to be had at our sanitariums. Let us do our utmost to meet both needs. It can be done. It should be done.
L. A. H.
Faithful Service
"^'Be not weary,' toiling Christian,
Good the Master thou dost serve;
Let no disappointment move thee;
From thy service never swerve;
Sow in hope, nor cease thy sowing;
Lack not patience, faith, nor prayer:
Seedtime passeth; harvest hasteneth,
Precious sheaves thou then shalt bear."
"The family, the church, and the state are divine institutions demanding alike our obedience, in their proper sphere of jurisdiction. The family is the oldest institution, and the source of church and state. The patriarchs were priests and kings of their households. Church and state are equally necessary, and as inseparable as soul and body, and yet as distinct as soul and body. The church is instituted for the religious interests and eternal welfare of man; the state, for his secular interests and temporal welfare. The one looks to heaven as the final home of immortal spirits; the other, upon our mother earth. The church is the reign of love; the state is the reign of justice. The former is governed by the gospel, the latter by the law. The church exhorts, and uses moral suasion; the state commands, and enforces obedience. The church punishes by rebuke, suspension, and excommunication; the state, by fines, imprisonment, and death. Both meet on questions of public morals, and both together constitute civilized human society and ensure its prosperity."—Schaff.
"Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state."—Id. See Matt. 18: 21, 22.
Civil governments are limited to the confines of their boundaries. Religion is limited only by the limits of the human race. See Jer. 27: 4-7; Dan. 3: 14-18.
"Jean Paul Richter tells us that 'the life of Christ concerns him who, being the holiest among the mighty, the mightiest among the holy, lifted with his pierced hand empires off their hinges, and turned the stream of centuries out of its channel, and still governs the ages.'"—Geikie.
"No one will accuse the first Napoleon of being either a pietist or weak-minded. He strode the world in his day like a Colossus, a man of gigantic intellect, however worthless and depraved in moral sense. Conversing one day, at St. Helena, as his custom was, about the great men of antiquity, and comparing himself with them, he suddenly turned round to one of his suite and asked him, 'Can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?' The officer owned that he had not yet taken much thought of such things. 'Well, then,' said Napoleon, 'I will tell you.' He then compared Christ with himself and with the heroes of antiquity, and showed how Jesus far surpassed them. 'I think I understand somewhat of human nature,' he continued, 'and I tell you all these were men, and I am a man, but not one is like him; Jesus Christ was more than man. Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne, and myself founded great empires; but upon what did the creations of our genius depend?—Upon force. Jesus alone founded his empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for him.'"—Id. See Acts 28: 23; 2 Cor. 5: 11.
"The ark of God was never taken till it was surrounded by arms of earthly defenders. In captivity its sanctity was sufficient to vindicate it from insult, and to lay the hostile fiend prostrate on the threshold of his own temple. The real security of Christianity is to be found in its benevolent morality, in its exquisite adaptation to the human heart, in the facility with which its scheme accommodates itself to the capacity of every human intellect, in the consolation which it bears to the house of the great mystery of the grave. To such a system it can bring no addition of dignity or of strength that it is part and parcel of the common law."—Macaulay. See Matt. 4: 8-10.
"Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state."—Schaff.
"This only I know, that there is salvation in no other name than in the name of Jesus Christ, the crucified, and that nothing loftier offers itself to humanity than the God-manhood realized in him, and the kingdom of God which he founded—an idea and problem not yet rightly understood and incorporated into the life, even of those who, in other respects, justly rank as the most zealous and the warmest Christians! Were Christ in deed and in truth our life, how could such a falling away from him be possible? Those in whom he lived would witness so mightily for him, through their whole life, whether spoken, written, or acted, that unbelief would be forced to silence."—De Witte. See Ezra 8: 22, 23; Heb. 4: 12; Cant. 6: 4, 10.
W. F. MARTIN.
Ministerial Reading Course
By J. L. S.
Reading Schedule for April
THE Reading Course for April includes the remaining sections in "Preparing to Preach," as follows:—
Part II—The Pulpit
Attention, Preliminaries.
Securing and Holding Attention.
Part III—Various Kinds of Sermons
The Narrative Sermon.
The Expository Sermon.
The Evangelistic Sermon.
The Special Sermon.
The Doctrinal Sermon.
The Illustrated Sermon.
Sermons in Courses.
The Next Two Books
The next two books in the Reading Course are "Acts of the Apostles," by Mrs. E. G. White, and "The Monuments and the Old Testament," by Dr. Ira Maurice Price. It is unnecessary to speak of the character and contents of "Acts of the Apostles." The book is known to be a mine of helpfulness to gospel workers. From the lives of the apostles, and their experiences and ministry, lessons are drawn of prime importance to our workers at this time. It is helpful to both those in the home field and those in the mission field. There has, perhaps, never been published among us a book which is more nearly a handbook for the foreign missionary than "Acts of the Apostles." We feel sure that all our ministers will approve of the choice of this as the second book in the Reading Course.
The object of "The Monuments and the Old Testament" is to answer the oft-heard question, "Where shall I be able to find in concise form the best reliable information furnished by the monuments illustrated by the Old Testament?" The excavations of recent years have given us, from tablets, temples, and tombs, new stories of the ancient Orient, and to the student of the Bible they are of great value. Later we shall speak more at length concerning this third book in the Reading Course.
The price of the two books, if purchased together, is $2.50; separately, "Acts of the Apostles" is $1.50, and "The Monuments and the Old Testament," $1.25. Orders should be addressed to the Educational Department of the General Conference.
The department is publishing a leaflet which will give a schedule of the Reading Course for the remainder of the year 1914, covering the two books above mentioned. This leaflet will be sent to all members of the Reading Course.
J. L. S.
Helping Others Through Experience
By Bishop Creighton
Noтнιng does good to others except what comes out of our own experience. . . . The only way in which we can help others is by recalling the way in which God has dealt with ourselves.
An Excellent Meeting
By Editor
THE meeting held on Sunday afternoon, March 1, at College Place, Wash., will long be remembered by those who were present as an excellent meeting, because of the special presence of the Holy Spirit. Such meetings are not easily described, and can only be appreciated by those who have attended gatherings of like character.
The object of the meeting was the consideration of the home missionary work. Elder I. H. Evans gave a short but earnest study on the plan and purpose of the home missionary movement, after which he gave opportunity for others to speak who desired to do so. He was followed by Elder H. W. Decker, one of our pioneers, who spoke of this phase of the message as it was in the early days of this truth, and told how the brethren and sisters worked for their neighbors and brought them into the truth without the aid of a minister.
Elder C. W. Flaiz, the president of the union, followed with a spirited talk, giving some remarkable instances and experiences showing the power of the printed page in reaching the people.
He was followed by Elder H. W. Cottrell and others; for, like fire in stubble, the spirit of the meeting caught in the hearts of the congregation, and scores arose and told of the mighty power of God in reaching souls through individual effort in cases they had seen or of which they had known. It was very noticeable that the printed page had acted a prominent part in almost every instance related.
One sister told of visiting one of her neighbors with the intention of leaving some reading matter. She laid a tract on the window sill, waiting for a favorable opportunity to present it, when, to her surprise and sorrow, it was snatched away by a sudden whirlwind. But the Lord had a care for the tract, which was whirled onto the seat of a passing movers' wagon. The occupants were very much surprised to receive a tract in that way, and felt very much impressed, as they eagerly read its message, that the Lord had sent it to them. The tract resulted in their accepting the truth and attending the camp meeting, where they told of how the message was brought to them, very much to the joy of the sister, who was present and for the first time learned why the tract was snatched away from her as it was.
The following instance was described to show what results may come from earnest, prayerful missionary endeavor: A sister sent to different families in a certain neighborhood a number of Signs. These people after reading became convinced of the truth, and six families, not one of which knew the decisions of the others, began to keep the Sabbath the same day. The next week, on learning of one another's convictions, a Sabbath school was organized, and, later, a church. Now a number of that company are workers in the cause.
Another told how God blessed a humble, prayerful effort to the salvation of souls. In a certain meeting a sister arose and stated that if she could only find one soul saved as a result of her missionary efforts, she would be satisfied; but, although she had put forth earnest efforts for years, she had not as yet had the pleasure of seeing any results of her labor. After sitting down, feeling almost discouraged, a brother arose and told how he came into the truth. He said, in brief, that he was a farmer living some distance from town. One day when he went to town, his wife, as usual, prepared his lunch and put it in a dinner pail. When he reached town, he unhitched his horses and tied them to the wagon. On returning for his dinner, to his surprise he found a tract in the pail. He wondered why his wife put it there, supposing, of course, that she did it. When he arrived home, he asked her why she put the tract in his dinner pail. She replied that she knew nothing about it. "Well," replied he, "that is peculiar. Let us read the tract and see what it is." They read it, "Elihu on the Sabbath," together, and the result was that they accepted the truth.
When this man sat down, the sister above referred to arose and said that that day she had been out doing missionary work, trying to scatter literature, but somehow nobody seemed to want it. She was turned away by merchants and by people in their homes. Finally she decided to go by and put some tracts in the farm wagons. When she came to a wagon with a dinner pail on the seat, she was impressed to open it and put the tract in the pail, which she did, after considerable hesitancy. Now her heart was rejoiced to learn the results of that effort.
We would like to give the readers of the REVIEW a fuller account of the meeting, but suffice it to say that those who were present recognized the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, and felt that the Lord was putting his seal upon this movement, which aims to put into active service every believer in the message.
W. W. E.
Missionary Work by Our Lay Brethren
By W. J. STONE.
THAT there is a great field open for our lay brethren and sisters to enter, and give the message to their friends and neighbors, is being demonstrated day by day, and the fact that this work will increase more and more as the days go by is evidenced by the greater interest that is being taken in it.
The Lord has said, "The work of God in this earth can never be finished until the men and women composing our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers."—"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. IX, page 117. According to this, the work can never be finished until our lay brethren and sisters are actively engaged in missionary work. But the work is to be finished, and in this generation. So the time is coming, and I believe it is at the door, when we will see a greater awakening on the part of our brethren and sisters.
The following experience will actually be witnessed in the near future, for the time has come, the hour has struck:—
"In visions of the night representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God's people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families, and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest. On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. . . . Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. . . . Yet some refused to become converted."—Id., page 126.
There are movements now in many places that indicate that we are on the verge of just such a time as here foretold. These movements are not in one locality, but in many places.
Not long ago a letter came to our office telling how one of our sisters was gathering her neighbors together and simply reading selections from some of our good literature. A real interest was manifested in hearing these blessed truths. This work can be done by thousands of Seventh-day Adventists.
A few days later a brother wrote that he and another brother were holding Bible readings nearly every night with their neighbors, and that a number were becoming interested, whom they had heretofore thought could not be interested in the truth.
Recently one of our sisters wrote for instruction on how to begin giving Bible readings to her neighbors, and she closed by saying: "We must engage in this work if we are ever to have a home in the earth made new. If I know my own heart, there is nothing in this world that I prize more than this truth. It is very precious to me."
Others are being moved in this direction; and when there comes a general move in this work by the body of our lay brethren and sisters, we will see many more praising God, the sick healed, and the mighty power of God manifested in the loud cry of the message. For this let us all pray.
W. J. STONE.
20## Home Missionary Work
We present herewith the first general report of the missionary work of our lay members that, we believe, has ever appeared in the pages of the REVIEW. This is only a partial report, but it is a beginning of what we believe is to grow into a mighty effort.
• A careful study of these few reports we have been able to present will show the value of organization and a regular reporting system. No union conference in the North American Division is fully represented, and only four out of the twelve are represented at all. Six of the nine union conferences in the European Division have sent in reports, so they are ahead of the North American Division.
As we look over these figures we can see the missionary letters, the literature distributed, the Bible readings, and the hours spent in personal ministry, all being used by God to do their appointed work. Not until we meet on the sea of glass shall we see the results of these figures now before us. We hope and believe that the next report will show a wonderful growth in the work done and number of conferences reporting.
E. M. GRAHAM.
The Book Work in Iceland
FROM the arctic regions comes the word of progress in the book and periodical work. Elder J. C. Raft, of the Scandinavian Union, writes:—
"It is only during the year 1913 that the colporteur work has really been started in earnest in Iceland. During the year the reports show book sales of about $1,500. The work began with the sale of Christ Our Saviour. An edition of 2,500 was issued in the Icelandic language, in 1912. We did not think we could sell that many, but hoped to send some to America, to be sold among the Icelanders in Canada. But the entire edition was rapidly sold, and last year we printed an edition of 4,500, which is now nearly gone. We have six faithful canvassers there at present, and the Lord has wonderfully blessed them. The population is only about 90,000, and the people are scattered over an area three times the size of Denmark, where we are now approaching a population of 3,000,000. Canvassing in Iceland is no easy task, but the results exceed all our expectations."
In China
THE superintendent of our publishing house at Shanghai sends the following interesting report:—
"Our publishing department begins the year with very promising conditions. The Wenli Signs has already a paid-up average monthly subscription list for 1914 of 2,261, with a club subscription list bringing the total Wenli issue to 15,000 monthly. The Mandarin paper has an average paid-up subscription list for the year of 202, with a club list of 41,500 copies a month. There is also an average paid-up subscription for the year of 336 outside of China. This makes a total monthly output of upward of 55,000 copies. If the published reports of Christian societies operating in China are correct, the Signs has a circulation several times the total of publications issued by them. The paper has been increased in size by four pages, making it possible to give a fair representation of the current news of the republic. Plans for the year have been so outlined that the main features of the advent doctrine may be presented, besides giving in the Outlook department a fair association of current events with the prophecies.
"The book on the prophecies of Daniel is well on its way in the type room, and we expect to have it out within the present quarter. The new edition of the Mandarin 'Bible Readings' is being published with illustrations, and we hope to have this ready for the public within the next two months. We find that the provinces of Honan, Hunan, and Hupeh have sold during the past year 336,000 magazines, besides our other literature associated with the message. On taking our inventory, we found that our stock is becoming quite depleted, with no time in the pressroom to replace it. Several subjects are not represented on the inventory. We hope, however, within a few months to be able again to supply all topics.
"Those at our stations where schools are being operated will be glad to know that we are publishing an adaptation of the McKibbin series of Bible studies, and we hope to have both the Old and the New Testament lessons through the bindery this quarter.
"To begin the new year, the first mail brought us 772 subscriptions from the Central Division. It may be interesting to our brethren in south China to know that these subscriptions are for the Wenli paper, at thirty-five cents each. The colporteurs there sell the Mandarin paper by the copy, but in taking subscriptions almost invariably secure orders for the Wenli. The Fukien field is quite faithful in supplying us with subscriptions to the paper, but outside of these two sections, we are sorry to say, very little is being done.
"It has been an encouragement to us to receive in almost every mail orders for literature from those who have accidentally secured a copy of the paper. Many are deeply interested in the truth because of such acquaintance with our work. We are very sure that these instances are sufficient evidence to convince one as to whether or not it pays to sell the paper in clubs to the colporteurs. The annual subscriptions, of course, are very essential, but the seed falling by the wayside will be the means of saving many souls in the kingdom. The work in Shanghai has been supplemented by a tract depository in connection with the reading room at the Xiang-si road chapel. It is very encouraging to see what a nice display can be made of our current literature."
