Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 45. (11/9/1905)

Review and Herald

Nov 9, 1905

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1905

Portals of Prophetic Significance

AN ENTRANCE TO THE NURNBERG (BAVARIA) CITY HALL

ON the first page of last week's issue there appeared a picture of another of these portals, and an article in the same paper called attention to the significance of the figures over the entrance. Over this portal will be found the figures of the leopard and the ten-horned beast of Daniel 7. These are certainly “powerful expositors of the prophetic Word.”

The Gospel Message

IN FOUR PAPERS

The Special Message series of the Signs of the Times presents the leading features in the third angel’s message, in brief, attractive form. Here is a partial list of the article titles:—

SIGNS of the TIMES

NEARNESS OF THE END—Mrs. E. G. White

SIGNS IN THE HEAVENS—Prof. Geo. W. Rine

SIGNS IN THE EARTH—A. J. S. Bourdeau

CHRIST’S SOON COMING

CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN; HOW? WHEN?—Elder G. B. Thompson

WHAT CHRIST’S COMING MEANS—Dr. B. F. Richards

PROPHECY

OBJECT OF PROPHECY—Elder R. A. Underwood

PROPHECY MAY BE UNDERSTOOD—Elder W. S. Sadler

IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY—Elder S. H. Lane

THREEFOLD VIEW OF PROPHECY—Elder F. M. Wilcox and others

THE GREAT APOSTATE POWERS—Elder A. T. Jones

A WONDERFUL BOOK—Elder M. C. Wilcox

The IMMORTALITY QUESTION

CHRIST, OUR LIFE—Elder Wm. Covert

The LAW and the GOSPEL

THE ETERNAL LAW AND EVERLASTING GOSPEL—Elder W. A. Spicer

THE ONLY POWER THAT CAN SAVE—Mrs. E. G. White

The SABBATH

THE BIBLE SABBATH—Elder A. T. Robinson

THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK—Abdiel

THE SABBATH CHANGED—Elder J. O. Corliss

The JUDGMENT

THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT—Mrs. E. G. White

BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT—Elder F. C. Gilbert

The SANCTUARY and 2300 DAYS

THE SANCTUARY AND ITS LESSONS—Mrs. S. N. Haskell

THE CLOSING WORK OF OUR HIGH PRIEST—Elder W. N. Glenn

THE GOSPEL IN TYPE AND ANTITYPE—Prof. J. A. L. Derby

THE GREAT CENTER OF THE SANCTUARY SERVICE—Elder J. O. Corliss

PRIESTHOOD, TYPE AND ANTITYPE—Elder E. J. Hibbard

The SEAL of GOD

ENCROACHMENTS ON FREEDOM—BEAST, IMAGE AND MARK—Elder K. C. Russell

THE SEAL OF GOD—Elder R. S. Owen

BABYLON—ITS MEANING

CHARACTER OF BABYLON—C. M. Snow

PRINCIPLES OF BABYLON IN SUCCEEDING AGES—Elder R. C. Porter

REFORMATION IN AMERICA—Prof. J. A. L. Derby

The THREEFOLD MESSAGE

GOD’S GREAT PROTEST—Elder A. O. Tait

A CHURCH RESTORED AND TRIUMPHANT—Elder M. C. Wilcox

A MESSAGE OF PREPARATION—L. A. Phippeny

The OUTPOURING of the SPIRIT

THE SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH—Elder W. A. Spicer

REQUISITE CONDITIONS TO A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH—Elder A. G. Daniells

The SPIRIT of PROPHECY

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.—Elder J. N. Loughborough

THE GREAT APOSTASY IN SPIRITUAL GIFTS

The price of this series is 20 cents a set. In quantities the rates are as follows:—

5 or more sets to single addresses .................... 15 cents

25 to 500 sets to one address ........................ 10 cents

500 and upward ....................................... 9 cents

Address your tract society, or

SIGNS of the TIMES,

Mountain View, Cal.

Helping Others

WHEN we are almost overwhelmed with difficulties, and our faith is sorely tried, we may well remember that our experience is not the only one of the kind, and that all about us are those who need help and encouragement. The shadow of death is in many homes, and a trouble worse than death weighs upon many hearts. There are calls on every side for that genuine Christian Help work which brings comfort to the distressed and renewed courage to those who are cast down. This is just the work which Jesus did. "He might have retained the glory of heaven, and the homage of the angels. But he chose to give back the scepter into the Father's hands, and to step down from the throne of the universe, that he might bring light to the benighted, and life to the perishing." "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." In bringing help to others we often dissipate our own troubles, and the comfort which we minister to others will comfort our own souls.

"There are lonely hearts to cherish, While the days are going by; There are weary souls who perish, While the days are going by; If a smile we can renew, As our journey we pursue,— O, the good we all may do, While the days are going by."

Like Unto His Brethren

THE first promise of the coming Deliverer who should vanquish Satan declared that he would be born of a woman, just as any other member of the human family. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Through Moses the announcement was made of another prophet of whom he was the type. "Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."

Unto David the prophet Nathan foretold an everlasting kingdom, and assured him that his seed would sit upon the throne of that kingdom forever. These were the Lord's words: "When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."

To the same effect the psalmist declared the purpose of the Lord: "I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations."

Through Isaiah it was distinctly prophesied that God would manifest himself in the flesh for the salvation of the human family. Here is one statement: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, concerning which it is said, "Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet," and the word "Immanuel" is interpreted as meaning "God with us."

Again, it was said through the same prophet: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." That this prophecy had reference to the birth of Jesus is plain from the announcement which the angels made to the shepherds on that memorable night: "There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord."

So also in the epistle to the Hebrews, that divine commentary upon the plan of salvation as revealed in the sanctuary and its services, we have a clear statement concerning the humanity of Jesus and the purpose of his taking the flesh. We therefore quote at some length: "Both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me. Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham. Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation

for the sins of the people. . . . For we have not a high priest that can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

And it is further declared that the flesh which Jesus took and in which he was tempted, was the same as the flesh of the other members of the family, sinful flesh. Here is the direct statement: "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

In the face of these plain statements of the Scriptures the question often arises whether Jesus did not have some advantage over us in the conflict with sin, and some are at a loss to understand how it could be otherwise since Jesus committed no sin even as a child, while other children are "brought forth in iniquity." It may therefore help some minds if we should give this matter consideration. In the first place, let us settle it that the statements already read are absolutely true, and that we shall not find any satisfactory explanation of a supposed difficulty by trying to modify the glorious truth taught in them. Jesus is a perfect Saviour because, having lived in our sinful flesh without sin, the Son of man, he has formed such a union between divinity and humanity that he is able to live the same life in us. "It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me." "In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

Let us note, then, what the Scriptures say about Jesus and his being born into the human family. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." Here we have the divine genealogy of Jesus. His appearance upon earth was not the beginning of his existence. In foretelling the place where his earthly career would begin, the prophet declared that out of Bethlehem should one come to be ruler in Israel, "whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." Jesus was both Son of God and Son of man, and as the only begotten Son of God he was with the Father "before the world was." He came to this world as the result of his own deliberate choice. It is true that the Father gave him to us, but it is also true that he gave himself for us. All this is set forth very clearly: "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men." He who existed in the form of God entered upon a new stage of existence in the form of a man.

Before entering upon this new stage of existence Jesus committed himself to his Father's care, and trusted him to keep him even during his infancy and childhood. This is plainly declared in the twenty-second psalm, which is "prophetical of Messiah's passion." These are the words of the divine sufferer: "Thou art he that took me out of the womb; thou didst make me trust when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb; thou art my God since my mother bare me." Both the Son and the Father knew that the child Jesus would be exposed to the temptations of Satan, and that as a child subject to all the conditions of childhood he could be kept from sin only by the same provision which has been made for every child of God, but they accepted the conditions which sin had imposed upon the human family. "Into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted his Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss."

It was through being born of the Holy Spirit that Jesus entered upon his new stage of existence as the Son of man. Said the angel to his mother Mary, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that which is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God." Thus Jesus was born again by the Holy Spirit. So it must be with every child of God. Said Jesus to Nicodemus, "Except one be born anew, he can not see the kingdom of God." When one commits himself to God and submits to be born of the Spirit, he enters upon a new stage of existence, just as Jesus did. The failure to see the perfect parallel between the two experiences may arise from the fact that Jesus was a perfect being of an infinitely higher order before he was born of the Spirit as the Son of man, while we are already in the flesh as sinful beings before we are born of the Spirit. In the process of conversion we become as little children by being born again, and then our experience is parallel with the experience of Jesus, who was born of the Spirit. There is the same condition of weakness in both cases, and the same dependence upon the keeping power of the Father.

It was the experience of Jesus in being preserved from sin although dwelling in sinful flesh, by casting himself upon his Father, which has made it possible for any member of the human family to have the same experience in the same way. "The Saviour was deeply anxious for his disciples to understand for what purpose his divinity was united to humanity. He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be uplifted by its restoring power. God was manifested in him that he might be manifested in them. Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, which men may not have through faith in him. His perfect humanity is that which all his followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as he was."

Instead of finding any occasion of stumbling because Jesus was kept from sin in his childhood, we ought to be able to see in this a wonderful testimony to the efficiency of the grace of God when we cast ourselves like helpless children upon his keeping power. Praise be "unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

Editorial

By Editor

A Difference

It is one thing to fear that the coming of the Lord may be near, and it is quite another thing to love his appearing. The things which are now happening in the world are troubling many minds, and the conviction is almost being forced upon observers of the signs of the times that the end may be near, but in view of this possibility there is a feeling of apprehension rather than of joyous anticipation. Only those who cultivate the fellowship of Jesus and prize his presence here will lift up their heads and rejoice when they see that their redemption draweth nigh. To them the coming of the Lord means a fuller realization of all that they have enjoyed in their vital union with a risen and ascended Saviour. Those whose hearts fail them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth, but who do not accept Jesus as their refuge in this time of trouble, will be at last among that company who hide themselves “in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,” and who say “to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?” This is the time to learn to love the appearing of the blessed Lord by cherishing his presence with us here and now.

“Scientific” Study of Spiritualism

By L. A. S.

“WHAT shall we believe about spiritualism?” is a question considered in a recent issue of Public Opinion, by Mr. H. Addington Bruce. This writer devotes two articles to a review of the work of the Society for Psychical Research, covering a period of more than a score of years. Three hypotheses have been put forward by those who have taken note of what are called “spirit manifestations” to account for the same; namely, trickery, the agency of spirits, and “telepathy,” the latter term meaning the transference of thought from one mind to another by some unknown psychical means of communication. The opinion is gaining ground, says Mr. Bruce, that “telepathy” is the hypothesis which most satisfactorily accounts for the phenomena under consideration, and which is therefore most likely to be accepted as the basis of such phenomena, by the outside world.

But what is “telepathy”?—Nobody knows. Nobody can explain it. It is a name used to designate a hypothesis. There is a hypothesis that thought may be transferred from mind to mind without speech, sound, sign, or writing, or any visible means of communication, and regardless of intervening space. To accept this theory as an explanation of the revelations given by spiritualist mediums it is necessary to believe that there is a certain “power belonging not to the ordinary but to the secondary consciousness—the ‘subjective mind’ or ‘subliminal self;’ that information conveyed ‘telepathically’ from one ‘subjective mind’ to another will remain latent until conditions are such that it can rise above the threshold of consciousness; and that such information may be retransmitted ‘telepathically’ by the

original percipient to a second percipient—the ‘medium’ for instance.” From this statement some idea may be gained of the heavy draft upon one’s credulity that is necessary on the part of those who accept a “scientific” explanation of the phenomena of modern spiritualism. People are prone to invent a term to designate some unknown force or some hypothesis relating to certain mysterious phenomena, and then make familiar use of that term as if it were an explanation of the phenomena, instead of a mere word to designate something entirely beyond the range of their knowledge. “Telepathy” is an explanation of this sort.

Through the Society for Psychical Research and other agencies the world is being stirred over the manifestations of modern spiritualism, and the former prevalent belief that they could all be accounted for on the supposition of fraud and trickery is losing ground. “It is useless,” observes Mr. Bruce, “to deny facts which can easily be substantiated. The problem is the interpretation, not the verification of these facts.”

It is certainly an excellent time for those who know the Scriptures to set before the people the Bible explanation of the phenomena of spiritualism, as the only explanation which has both reason and revelation for its support.

L. A. S.

The Prophecy Fulfilled

By W. A. S.

THE message of God in New Testament times continually called attention to the fulfilment of prophecy. Fulfilled prophecy sets the seal of divinity upon God's holy Word, and forces men to decision and action.

John's voice in the wilderness was the voice so long foretold by the prophet. Jesus came saying, “The time is fulfilled.” Peter on the day of Pentecost declared to the multitude that they were beholding “that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Through all the New Testament story apostles were showing that events on earth were moving in exact accordance with the word of God by the prophets of old.

Wonderful as it is to behold prophecy fulfilling, more wonderful still the experience of acting a very part in the fulfilment of prophecy. Joining in this advent movement is more than merely joining a denomination that has much to say about prophecy. This movement, the very presence of this people in the world to-day, is the fulfilment of prophecy.

When the year 1844, according to Daniel the prophet, brought the hour of judgment, or the cleansing of the sanctuary, it was necessary, according to the word of another prophecy, that there should be a movement in the earth crying out the judgment message to every people and tongue, continuing to lift up the standard of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus until the end.

At the appointed time the world saw just such a movement. It has made Seventh-day Adventists a people, the burden of whose message is exactly the burden of Rev. 14: 6-12. And this is the only movement the world has ever seen proclaiming such a message. No other people has ever professed to give that message. Here is the movement that is fulfilling prophecy. Solemn indeed the thought of being a part of such a work.

What this means is suggested by the words of Jesus concerning John's work: “But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” Matt. 11: 9, 10.

John was more than a prophet; he and the message that he bore were the fulfilment of prophecy. It was the first advent movement fulfilling the words of the prophets of old, preparing the way of the Lord.

Now Christ is coming again, in glory. This advent movement that has made us Seventh-day Adventists is a mightier thing than the rise of a people preaching about prophecy and its fulfilment in history. The movement itself is the fulfilling of prophecy. This very people, in the work they are doing, “are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 8: 16-18.

What a marvelous thing to be a part of the movement that is to bind up the law, seal the testimony, and prepare the way of the Lord as he comes with all his holy angels. We have followed no cunningly devised fables. All along, and in every department of this work, God's hand has been seen fulfilling prophecy. As the message gathers strength and sweeps from land to land, the world will witness the fulfilment of the prophet's word: “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

The movement not only calls attention to the signs of the Lord's soon coming, but it is itself the sign that the Lord is at the door. To be a part of the movement is to live a life that proclaims the coming King. To be a part of it is to have every aspiration of the soul and every power of the life at the stretch to send this message flying, like an angel in the midst of heaven, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Again, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”

W. A. S.

My Visit to the European Field

By Arthur G. Daniells

Ireland

FROM Scotland, Brethren Conradi, Andross, and Dail, and the writer went direct to Belfast, Ireland, to attend the general meeting of that mission field. Here Brother W. C. Sisley joined us, having come from London. The most of the Sabbath-keepers in Ireland attended this meeting. Our cause has been established many years in Ireland, but there are not many more believers there than in Scotland, where we have only recently begun our work. No doubt the experiences through which the Irish people have passed because of the influences of the Roman Catholic Church make the work more difficult in Ireland than in any other part of the British field. But nowhere in that field is there to be found a warmer-hearted and more loyal, intelligent band of Seventh-day Adventists than in Ireland.

The meetings were held in a public hall, and continued each day, with only two short intermissions, from half-past nine in the morning until nine o'clock at night. A deep interest was manifested in the Bible studies. As we reviewed some of the fundamental doctrines of our message, they appeared more harmonious, and more thoroughly invulnerable than ever before. The presence of the Lord was very manifest in that little hall as we studied and prayed together. This united our hearts as members of one family. It was hard to part from these dear believers, who are so earnest and warm-hearted in this cause. But it was a source of much satisfaction to know that they are not only firmly established in the doctrines of the message, but that they are vigilant in their efforts to reveal these truths to others.

The business proceedings passed off very harmoniously. Arrangements were made for more effective missionary effort by the members, and to increase the tithes and offerings of the field. A hearty and unanimous request was made for the General Conference to send a consecrated, wide-awake minister to Ireland to take charge of the work. The officers of the committee are endeavoring to provide such a leader for that field, but so far without success. This is a call that surely ought to be gladly responded to. I would be glad to hear from any minister whose heart may prompt him to answer this call from Ireland.

Some time was spent during our visit to this field in searching for a country location for the sanitarium work which has been carried on in Belfast during the last three years by Dr. J. J. Bell. Some beautiful places were inspected, but final decision was not reached. It seems evident that our medical work can

be as great a blessing in Ireland as in any part of the British field. The medical workers there desire and deserve our co-operation and prayers. And this is true of all our workers in that field. While the growth of the cause is slow, the work is not cheerless and dismal. There is something about it that is uplifting and encouraging. This meeting left a warm place in our hearts. This message is exactly what Ireland needs. It has brought great blessings to those who have received it, and it will prove a blessing and an inspiration to many more who will yet take their stand for it.

A. G. DANIELLS.

Strife

By L. A. S.

THIS world is full of strife. Strife is characteristic of the world. It is one of the fruits of the flesh, a natural exhibition of the carnal mind. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isa. 57:20, 21. The world is not growing better in this respect. The spirit of the times is not one of peace, but of haste, impatience, of grasping after wealth at the sacrifice of integrity and human rights. All this genders strife, which is especially marked to-day in the industrial world. There are peace congresses, and men talk hopefully of a coming era of universal peace between the nations; but while there may be international peace, based upon the cost and general inexpediency of war, there are no signs of a coming era of peace based upon brotherly love, short of the coming of the Prince of Peace to set up his universal kingdom in the place of the kingdoms of men.

Strife being characteristic of the world, it is evident that the absence of strife should be characteristic of the church of Christ, of those who are not of this world. In the place of the spirit of strife, which is a great evil to its possessor, the Christian has the blessing of peace, peace which comes from God himself, and which nothing can disturb. Without this peace there can be no true or lasting happiness. It is a prize earnestly to be sought and carefully treasured. But it requires constant effort on the part of the Christian, in this time especially when intensity is taking possession of every evil agency of the world, not to be drawn into the current and partake of the spirit of impatience and strife with which he is constantly brought in touch.

It is very easy to present the message of divine truth for this time in a controversial way, which is itself provocative of strife. It seems the natural way to present a truth which contravenes the doctrines and practises of men in many important points. Yet here of all places it is essential to have a heart ruled by peace. The truth has little to gain from strife and contention. Men are not converted by controversy. An important admonition, which is too often lost sight of, is given in 2 Tim. 2:24-26: But “the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” Much has been lost to the cause of Christ in the past by failure to heed this admonition. The power of the truth is not so much in its logic, as in its beauty. The mind may be convinced by argument, but the heart is won by seeing that which is greatly to be desired. Multitudes acknowledge the truth, but few obey it; but this order of things will be changed when the beauty of the Lord is seen upon those who proclaim his truth, and in the words which they speak. Let us study to present the truth in the full beauty with which its Author has invested it.

L. A. S.

Where the Papacy Is Supreme

By L. A. S.

It is fair to judge a tree ‘by its fruits’; it is fair to judge a church by the lives of those whom it owns as its orthodox members. By this rule of judgment what must be said of that church which dominates the people of South America? On this point Dr. H. K. Carroll says, in the Northwestern Christian Advocate:—

No one who visits that beautiful and interesting section of the world can bring away with him a favorable impression, either of the moral or religious condition of the people. The Church of Rome is everywhere supreme, it is everywhere the church of the classes and the masses; but nowhere does it seem to have any elevating influence. The morals are frightfully low, superstition rules all, and to be “a good Catholic” does not generally mean anything more than devotion to the rules and customs, the rulers and interests of the church. There are lovely Catholic people just as there are lovely pagans. The priests are rarely “ensamples to the flock.” . . . Illiteracy and superstition are wide-spread, while illegitimacy, gambling, and many other immoralities extend their baneful influence through all grades of society. The Spanish race can never rise to eminence and power until it is emancipated. If the Church of Rome could only be made to see its opportunity, it could assist in the work of liberation; but it must first heal itself, it must first cast the beam out of its own eyes, and of this I see not the faintest shadow of promise. It has all the advantages that state connection can give, and large sums of money are placed at its disposal. It has magnificent cathedrals and churches, and numbers the rich and influential in political and social circles. It might mold the lives of great and small and make them worthy of the Christian name; but it either can not or will not assume such an obligation.

The hope of the millions living in this “dark continent” of the western hemisphere, says Dr. Carroll, is the pure message of the everlasting gospel, for which, he believes, the people are ready. There is no message which is so well suited to the needs of the people of papal lands as that gospel message which has been entrusted to Seventh-day Adventists, which so specifically calls for a reform from papal errors of belief and practise, warns against the worship of the papacy and the reception of the “mark” of that power, and protests against every papal principle and tendency in the Christian church. Loud indeed is the call to this people from South America. Dr. Carroll says:—

The hope of Spanish America is in evangelical Christianity. It needs the gospel, the gospel preached by men of holy life and character. It needs the church divorced from politics and the state treasury; of simpler organization; without prelate or priest, monk or nun; with services not in an unknown tongue, but in the tongue understood by the people; with no confessional to debauch the mind of the young; without images to materialize the spiritual faculty, and with no cult of the virgin and of the saints.

Are the people ready for evangelical Christianity? I believe they are. Not consciously so, for they are intensely prejudiced against Protestants and the evangelicos. The priests fill the minds of the masses with misrepresentations, and they believe that the Bible is a dangerous book, and that Protestants are very bad. But contact with evangelical preachers and people dissipates these prejudices, and the hearts of those thus enlightened are ready for the gospel seed.

L. A. S.

Taking the Blessing Home

By W. A. S.

THE Lord told the man whom he healed at Gadara to go home to his friends and tell what great blessings he had received. Thank God, the blessings of the camp-meeting season did not end with those meetings. Every blessing came from heaven, by the Spirit and the Word, and the same Word and Spirit are with the seeker at home. And by witnessing to friends and neighbors of the great things done for the soul, the blessings are only multiplied.

Here is a word from Elder Rickard, of Quebec, concerning the experience of a brother and his wife whom the Lord blessed at the camp-meeting, bringing them into line again after years of wandering. He says:—

Brother and Sister ——, who had not kept the Sabbath for fifteen years, were baptized at the camp-meeting, and returned to their home and told of their experience. The family at home consisted of two sons and two daughters and a daughter-in-law. After talking over the rich blessings they had received and praying with the family, they all decided to obey. All came nine miles to the Fitch Bay church the first Sabbath after the return from the camp-meeting. Last Sabbath I baptized four of the family. I trust the good spirit of that camp-meeting may work until the whole conference is leavened with its power.

It is an illustration of the power of the testimony that the forgiven soul may bear to his fellows. That which we have seen and felt of the blessing of God in our own hearts, that let us tell to others at home and abroad. W. A. S.

Financial Responsibility

By I. H. EVANS

ONCE more we call attention to a matter which has already been mentioned in the REVIEW AND HERALD—the relation which the General Conference, unincorporated, the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, a corporation, and the General Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, a corporation, sustain to the various organized agencies operating as Seventh-day Adventist enterprises.

At the late session of the General Conference held in Washington, May 11-30, 1905, the relation which the General Conference, with its corporations, should sustain to other organizations created in various parts of the world was discussed, and the following preamble and recommendations were unanimously adopted:—

Whereas, The growth and extension of our denominational work has become so varied and extensive that it is impossible for the General Conference, either in itself or through its committee, to familiarize itself with the needs of the cause in every place; therefore,—

We recommend, (a) That the General Conference assume no financial responsibility whatever in any institution, corporation, or enterprise, planned and started in the various parts of the world without the direct action of the General Conference or the General Conference Committee.

(b) That all parties loaning money to such enterprises should satisfy themselves as to the security before making such loans.

It will be readily understood that the General Conference can not familiarize itself with the workings of all the operating agencies that may be created by various persons or combinations of persons who represent working organizations in our denomination.

The General Conference wishes to announce to everybody, everywhere, and for all time to come, that it assumes no financial responsibility in any wise whatsoever for any moneys borrowed by any organization or corporation that assumes the name of “Seventh-day Adventist,” or that assumes any other name, purporting to be carrying forward work represented by our denomination, outside of the corporations known as the General Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, and the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.

The reason that we reiterate this matter, is because of a communication addressed to the vice-president of the General Conference, asking advice in regard to loaning money to the American Medical Missionary College, a corporation of Battle Creek, Mich., or transferring notes held against the General Conference Corporation to the American Medical Missionary College, taking in lieu thereof the notes of the American Medical Missionary College.

The General Conference Committee wishes to state to our people everywhere, that the General Conference is not responsible in any way for the management, control, or direction of the affairs of the American Medical Missionary College, and that all individuals loaning money to it must look to that corporation for satisfaction therefor, inasmuch as the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, or the General Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, or the General Conference unincorporated, is not, and will not be in any way, responsible for any obligations contracted by the American Medical Missionary College.

It is necessary that our people should understand where financial responsibility begins and ends. It is impossible for the General Conference to finance the various enterprises that may be created, or to be in any way responsible for any money that may be tied up in any institution or enterprise whatever, outside of those for which it is directly responsible by the direction of the General Conference itself or the General Conference Committee. All persons, therefore, intending to loan money to enterprises, must satisfy themselves as to the security, and must assume all responsibility in making the loan.

This principle is not enunciated with any unfriendly feeling to various enterprises, for many that are formed are necessary for the advancement of the cause of God, but it is a distinct declaration to all our people, and to the world as well, that the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, or any of its corporations, is not and can not be held responsible for the finances of the various institutions and corporations directly or indirectly connected with the work of this denomination, except as already stated.

Every enterprise launched for the advancement of the third angel’s message, in harmony with the spirit of this message, and laboring for its upbuilding, has the sympathy and co-operation of the General Conference. While this is true, it must be definitely understood that this does not involve any financial responsibility in any way for the obligations of the various enterprises.

I. H. EVANS, Treasurer.

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