p. 11 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 17. (4/6/1916)

Earlier text: Developments of the Work in the East

MRS. E. C. BOGER

By Mrs. E. C. Boger

Jamaica

MRS. E. C. BOGER

“Jamaica, thou lovely isle in the sapphire sea, Where breezes blow soft as breezes can be; Where hill and dale vie with his brother, To cover with beauty the faults of the other.”

I WONDER who could help finding beauty here, it is so lavishly strewn. Waving palms; soft banana leaves uncurling gently to the passing breeze, which takes delight in whipping them into fringe; ferns peeping from the rocks along the hillside and highways,—beauty everywhere, when one looks for it.

Through the REVIEW we send sincere greetings to all in the homeland.

As we look back over the past year, we see changes, some defeats, and many victories.

Pastor G. A. Roberts, with his wife and daughter Ruth, from Arizona, reached us January 10. Brother Roberts will act as pastor of the Kingston church, which has a membership of more than five hundred; so he is sure to find plenty to do.

Brother N. J. Aalborg, the former pastor, was asked last October to settle in the hill country, at Balaclava, where there are seventeen churches for him to care for. Mrs. Aalborg often travels with him, as they have a horse and buggy to use, and they greatly enjoy their work together.

During the past year we laid away two of our faithful workers, Pastor W. M. Crothers and Sister Mary Van Deusen, the first in October and the latter in December. Elder Crothers rests by the sounding sea, near the spot where Sister E. W. Webster is laid, who died of yellow fever soon after coming to the island, twenty-one years ago, in the early days of the work in Jamaica. Grandmother Van Deusen rests in the Riversdale churchyard, in the spot which she selected for her grave. Two days before her death the church was holding its yearly Harvest Ingathering service, and she sent as one of her offerings a neat, finely quilted patchwork quilt, every stitch the work of her loving hands.

During the year two hurricanes with their attendant coast tidal waves, together with other floods due to the fierce storms, have caused immense loss in property. The banana and cocoanut crops were practically ruined in the portion of the island visited. Houses were wrecked, and railroads and bridges washed out. But nature is kind here; she quickly spreads her mantle of green over all the defects, so that now, save for shattered hopes, little can be seen of the effects of the storm.

The war is making a great drain on the island, in both men and money. Taxes are high, and money is scarce. But in spite of all, the Lord’s work has steadily advanced. During the year, 221 have been baptized, many of whom are young people.

Our Watchman Press has done a noble and far-reaching work. The Watchman’s growth has been steady, the total issue being 86,892 copies, an increase over 1914 of 16,427. We are finding continually little companies accepting the truth as the result of having read the Watchman.

We have held three tent efforts since the new tent came a year ago, two very successful ones in Kingston, and one in the parish of St. Mary, Port Maria. Unfortunately, at the latter place, the rain fell so heavily that the meetings could not be held regularly. However, ten have promised to obey, and others are investigating.

Brother Degering, our tract society secretary, gives an encouraging report. Sometimes we wish the large books could be sold as rapidly as the smaller ones, but our canvassing agent, Brother A. E. Holst, has sold quite a number of copies of “Practical Guide,” and some other books of the same size. He has a band of faithful colporteurs who are doing a good work, and the churches are taking hold of the paper selling with encouraging results.

We know many prayers are going up to the great white throne for the workers in Jamaica, and our prayers ascend likewise for strength and courage to go forward with the work.

Progress Round the Caribbean

By William Ambrose Spicer

W. A. SPICER

It was for a busy week's work that the West Indian Union Committee met at Cristobal, on the Canal Zone, in February.

We do not always remember that the three conferences of this union represent more than four thousand Sabbath keepers. The visitation work planned for Elder A. J. Haysmer, the president, at the committee session, will keep him away from the headquarters in Jamaica until September. The fields are large in area, and communication in these war times is often very uncertain. But there is advancement everywhere.

Each conference president came in with a good report. Elder E. C. Boger, of Jamaica, reported 221 persons baptized in that island conference during 1915. Elder W. G. Kneeland, of the West Caribbean Conference (stretching from Nicaragua to the southern border of Colombia, in the heart of South America), reported 112 baptisms. And the Elder N. H. Pool came in from the South Caribbean Conference, which includes Venezuela and the Guianas, with a report of 378 persons baptized during the year 1915. Thus 711 new believers were baptized during the last year. The workers are expecting to pass the thousand mark during 1916.

Besides the presidents of conferences there were at this meeting, F. H. Raley, the union secretary; A. F. Haines, manager of the union printing house; Elder E. C. Widgery, of the Leeward Islands; Elder John Shultz, of Costa Rica; Elder B. E. Connerly, of Colombia; J. P. Redding, secretary of the West Caribbean Conference; and J. J. Ireland, auditor of the General Conference. It is a word of cheer that every one of these workers has to send to friends in other lands. These brethren are hard at work down here in the tropics, and with them is a little army of West Indian laborers and thousands of believers.

The day after the council closed, Elder Connerly and his family sailed for Colombia, expecting to settle about seven days' journey in the interior. They go with courage, and with our prayers that this may be a permanent establishment of our work in that republic. Now every one of the South and Central American republics is on our entered list.

The union office is removed from the Canal Zone to Jamaica, in order that the secretary may also assist in the work at the union publishing house. Four new workers are earnestly called for by this union,—an evangelist and a field agent for the South Caribbean Conference, and the same for the West Caribbean. There are open doors for work among the Indians of the Mosquito Coast of Central America; and the Indians of the upper Guiana district, where Elder O. E. Davis lost his life, are still calling for some one to come and teach them about Christ's second coming, which, because of some tribal tradition, they are looking for. They call to us for help. Some day we surely must enter these regions, marked by a missionary grave, but left without a teacher.

Canal Zone, Panama.

Christian Growth in Korea

REPORTS from Korea show a present native Christian membership of forty thousand, as contrasted with ten thousand a decade ago.

Two Hundred Ten Million Moslems

There are said to be two hundred and ten million Moslems in the world. One fifth of the population of the globe is therefore Mohammedan.

A God, a Moment, an Eternity

A TRAVELER once found this inscription hanging on the wall of an inn in Savoy: “Understand well the force of the words, a God, a moment, an eternity, — a God who sees thee, a moment which flees from thee, an eternity which awaits thee: a God, whom you serve so ill; a moment, of which you so little profit; an eternity, which you hazard so rashly.”

Getting Well at Home

By L. A. Hansen

L. A. HANSEN

DISTANCE lends enchantment to the health seeker. Another climate seems desirable; some other atmosphere seems better; a change of scenery is wanted; a higher altitude is necessary; more favorable conditions are demanded; something else than what we have is thought to be essential to the recovery of health. The fact that that something is at some distance from us may make it all the much more attractive.

True, there may be a real need for different conditions, whether it be in climate, altitude, environment, or something else. We would not say that such wants are always fanciful or whimsical.

Especially it may be true that one should receive institutional care, where suitable facilities are provided, and where skilled help is obtainable. Home conditions may not be such as to provide the facilities for recovery.

But to the one who looks wistfully to the far-away and to the unobtainable, we would say, Do not give up. Do not be discouraged if you cannot reach a popular health resort or a more healthful climate. Do not lose heart thinking that if you cannot get away from home, you cannot get help. Giving up is one sure way of not getting well.

While there are advantages in some locations over others,—the sun shining brighter and oftener, the atmosphere being clearer, the water being purer, the environment and general surroundings perhaps more conducive to health getting,—remember that not all conditions favorable to health are confined to special localities.

Health is not altogether a matter of place or territory. It is not confined to altitude or latitude. It does not require the same slant of sun rays, or the same kind of breeze. While there are spots particularly disease breeding, as a rule health is obtainable in almost any part of the world.

Quite largely is it the case that when one goes to great expense in an extended tour or a long-distance visit in search of health, he applies himself accordingly. He follows the directions of his physician assiduously. He is faithful to every detail of his program, and he makes it his one interest to do everything possible to get well.

Getting well is a serious business. It requires application. It demands intelligent study, and it requires effort. Should one who must stay at home make the same effort to get well that he would if he went away, he would without doubt realize a large share of the returns that would be obtainable elsewhere.

Make the most of what you have. Remember that the elements of health getting are largely within your reach, and it rests with you to determine how much benefit you will receive from them.

Fresh air is curative. A liberal supply of it is usually obtainable without expense. It does not come through a meter. The most of all outdoors abounds with it. If you can't get out into it, let it come in where you are.

Pure water is health giving. And it is comparatively inexpensive. Use it freely, inside and out.

Sunlight has healing virtues. The average invalid can have a good share of it on the porch, in the yard, on the common, in the city park, in the country field. It is the same sun shining where you now are that is shining out in Sunny Elsewhere.

Good food makes good blood. You must eat something in order to live where you are or anywhere else. Give thought to the quality of your food and its manner of preparation. Select the best you can get, and make the best use of it.

Exercise has its place. There are very few sick persons who are not benefited by it. There is probably no place where one cannot get it in some form, as far as locality is concerned.

Rest is recuperative. If you cannot get all you need, get as much as you can. Little periods of rest through the day count up. Early to bed at night helps. A day of vacation is better than none.

It may be necessary to make some material changes in the home, providing a special room for the invalid, readjusting the home life somewhat, providing a detailed program of things to do. To make such provisions, and then do the best one can, is far better than to give up to the hopeless despair of invalidism and expectant death, merely because one cannot go where conditions might be better.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

By Daniel H. Kress

D. H. KRESS, M. D.

VERY little is said about poisoning from carbon monoxide, yet it is not at all uncommon, especially in regions where natural gas is employed for heating purposes. Carbon monoxide differs from carbon dioxide and many other poisons in that it tends to accumulate in the blood. It enters into a chemical or fixed combination with the coloring matter, or hemoglobin, of the red blood corpuscles. At the end of one hour an animal surrounded with an atmosphere containing mere traces of this gas has been found to have over one hundred and fifty times the amount in the blood that is found in the atmosphere. It disables and ultimately destroys the red blood cells.

There are many who are suffering from a chronic form of carbon monoxide poisoning, but are unconscious of the cause of their headaches, nervousness, and other symptoms associated with it. There are living and sleeping rooms which have no outlet to the fumes formed by the burning of natural gas. In some instances even churches and schoolrooms are heated in this manner. It is dangerous and wrong to make necessary such exposure. The following clipping from a Pittsburgh paper, emphasizes the dangers to which persons are exposed who are confined to rooms heated with natural gas:

“HUNTINGTON, W. VA., February 8.—Exhaustion of the oxygen in a school-room in Chesapeake, Ohio, just oppositeHuntington, caused by the consumption of large quantities of natural gas in two stoves not provided with pipes for waste fumes, caused a hundred children to be overcome today. Four girls were so seriously affected that death is feared. . . . — — — — fainted at her desk just as the grade was being dismissed for recess, and the other children, realizing that they were stifling, broke for the fire escape. Many of them fainted when they reached the ground. None of the boys fainted, but all suffered from severe headaches.”

Conducted by Mrs. I. H. Evans, Takoma Park, Washington D. C

By Mrs. I. H. Evans; Miss Lora E. Clement

Assisted by Miss Lora E. Clement

Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.

Mother's Songs

By Eben E. Rexford

OFTEN and often my thoughts go back Like wanderers over a time-worn track To the time when I knelt at my mother's knee And she sang at the twilight hour to me.

Oh, the dear old songs! I can see her eyes Aglow with the gladness of Paradise, As I fancy she'll sing in the streets of gold The hymns that she sang in the days of old.

“Mear,” and “Hebron,” and sweet “Siloam,” Telling of rest and of hope and home; And, dearest of all that she sang to me, Old “Rock of Ages,” and “Bethany.”

As she sang them over, her face grew bright, As if God's city was just in sight, And she saw the angels, and heard them sing By the great white throne, before the King.

Over her grave in the churchyard old The grass grows green, and the moss and mold Have almost hidden her name away On the marble that crumbles to dust to-day.

But still as of old, when the twilight falls, The voice of mother her children calls, And we come at her bidding, o'er leagues of space, To hear her sing in the old home-place.

— Eben E. Rexford, in the Christian Endeavor World.

Mental House Cleaning

By Reina Melcher Marquis

It was an afternoon of early January when I called on the Wisest Woman I know, life having gone a bit awry with me, and my jaded spirit needing the refreshment which she always has on hand, like the tea and sandwiches of other women. She met me with a “smiling morning face,” although, as I have said, the day had reached its afternoon.

“Are you busy?” I asked, guiltily.

“No,—I’m just house cleaning.”

“Not busy—and yet you’re house cleaning?” I echoed in amazement. And then, as a practical afterthought, “But isn’t it rather early for spring cleaning?”

She had established me in the warm living-room, and I cast an unconsciously apprizing eye about it. It was a shining room,—shining with cleanliness and firelight and late, mellow sunshine,—but that was its wonted aspect. Nothing indicated a recent upheaval; peace and order presided there, and peace is not the ornamenting genius of house cleaning. My friend, noting my mystification, smiled at me from the other side of the hearth, and burrowed restfully into her deep armchair.

“I’ve been sitting here all afternoon,” she said, “and so I’ll have to confess that my house cleaning hasn’t been of the usual type.” And to the eager question of my face she continued: “It has been a mental, not a physical house cleaning. I’ve been sweeping and dusting and arranging my mind.”

“But how? and why?” I exclaimed. “Your mind is always freshly swept and dusted and filled with flowers. It was born that way, and it keeps so of itself.”

She shook her head. “Every one’s mind is born that way, perhaps, but no one’s mind keeps so without constant care. Our trite New Year resolutions, for example, are really brooms and dustpans for mental cobwebs; but as we produce them only once a year, they do not accomplish much. I clean up my mind at least once a fortnight. If I didn’t, I couldn’t live in it, and that, you see, I have to do. We all have to live in our minds; they’re our true homes. And pray what do you find there when you turn on the searchlight, and set to work with your broom? What an accumulation there is that must be ruthlessly cleared away!”

“Dust?” I inquired, curiously.

“And bogies,” she answered, gravely.

“But what is mental dust?” I persisted.

“Unkindness, intolerance, impatience, intemperance. All these accumulate like dust, and have to be swept away. For instance, I’m continually falling into the error of ungracious criticism. I see my fellows through lenses too strong for kindness, I’m afraid. I focus my attention on their faults, their disagreeable habits, their offensive manner or speech or dress. And while I’m looking at these weeds, I overlook the daisies of the simple folk, and the orchids of the fine. Now, I need their daisies and orchids in my mind to make it sweet, and I don’t need their weeds. So I have to remind and rebuke myself into a different point of view.”

“But every fastidious woman is critical,” I suggested somewhat defensively.

“Yes,” she assented with a humorous glint in her quiet eyes, “that is how I used to justify myself. And I really think that such small personal criticism is a peculiarly feminine feeling. But it isn’t an indication of a finely discriminating nature. The finely discriminating don’t waste their time on the ugly things,—no, not even to condemn them.”

“And the other dust-breeding qualities?” I suggested hastily, abandoning my attempt at defense.

“Well, I’m naturally intolerant, not only of people, as I have admitted, but of things and circumstances. I’m intolerant of my neighbors’ gilded chairs; and I’m often intolerant of my own life, of its limitations and responsibilities. Just another case of looking for the weeds, you see.”

“You unkind, intolerant?” I questioned in amazement. “Why, you couldn’t be and keep your radiant face!”

“But my expression is the result of constant house cleaning,” she triumphed. “I am critical and intolerant to a degree in my undisciplined state; and I’m impatient and intemperate, too. You’ve no idea how difficult it is for me to bear the petty worries of every day with grace. The doorbell that rings too often for sensitive nerves; the dinner that is somehow a failure; the frock that comes home from the dressmaker hopelessly spoiled; the unexpected guest who nonchalantly appears at the most inconvenient time; the neighbor child who incites mine to a devastating frolic on my flower beds,—all these and a host of other incidents make patience a hard-earned and harder-kept virtue for me. And intemperance! I mean intemperance of temper, of revolt, and sometimes of despair, which follows impatience like its shadow.”

“Yes,” I interrupted sympathetically, “I remember my impatience when baby broke his bottle of milk in a shower over the new dining-room rug—my intemperance of temper as you call it. And yet that darling baby—”

“Is the joy of your heart, of course,” she finished. “But he is also the menace of your nerves, and temper is somewhat a matter of nerves,” she continued. “There are a dozen such menaces in the course of a day, and each one leaves its dusty traces in the house of the mind. So frequent house cleaning is a necessity.”

“You spoke of bogies,” I suggested.

“Those that are biggest and commonest to all mankind,” answered the Wisest Woman, “are hate and fear. They are very big and very terrible indeed. When they come into the house of the mind, they have only to breathe to poison, although the malady may masquerade under another name. Hate—hate for some one who must always walk on the outskirts of my life, a figure that I must see every time I look out of the window, as it were—kept me ailing for several years. And fear—a foolish fear for the morrow’s welfare, for the bread in the pantry and the fire on the hearth—has beset me ever since as a small child I first saw a beggar. Many, many people feel this fear, vague but dreadful, and neither wealth nor place nor power can secure them from it. My mental broom and dustpan make no headway against these two bogies of mine. I have to buckle on my ‘sword,’ and fight them forth, so my house cleaning usually ends in battle,” and she laughed a brave laugh, the only kind that is truly joyous.

“It seems to me,” I said after I had laughed with her irresistibly, with a sudden lifting of the heart, “it seems to me that if unkindness and impatience and intemperance are the dust, and fear and hate are the bogies, love and faith must be the dustpan and broom, and courage the sword.”

“And so they are! But there’s one word in my little book of wisdom: Go to sleep every night with a smile, and a firm reliance on your heavenly Father’s love and care for you. This is just as necessary as opening a window. It lets the fresh air into the mind, and often a trouble or two will be blown away before morning. I’ve had my tragedy, like every one else. And through the months when it was blackest I smiled myself to sleep night after night so that I shouldn’t wear a bitter face. At first I found it hard to do, but after a while I fell into the smiling habit, and lo! before I realized it, tragedy had run away, and life was smiling back at me. Here,” she added thoughtfully, “endeth the lesson.”

But it didn’t end for me. It began as part of my daily life. And perhaps others may care to learn it for profit and for peace.—Reina Melcher Marquis.

Happiness in Home and Garden

“THE woman who thoroughly enjoys the looks of things inside her own four walls, the man who likes to grow shrubs and garden stuff and flowers, the pair who love to potter about, planning what to do another year to make the yard or garden prettier or more productive, are the happiest people in the world.”

The Secret of a Holy Life

By Colonel Brengle

THE secret of a holy life is a heart full of love.—Colonel Brengle.

Our Opportunity

By W. H. Sebastian

Turn where you will, people are reading. This is an age when “of making many books there is no end.” But people will read. Is not this our opportunity to supply them with meat in due season? Many gladly welcome our good books and tracts and periodicals, asking oftentimes for a second copy that they may read more.

One gentleman recently asked me for six more copies of a certain tract, that he might supply the men with whom he worked. The Lord has given us a truth for this day and generation; we have literature covering every phase of the message; people are anxious to read. Shall we not seize this opportunity to spread abroad a saving knowledge of the things of God? Shall we not form the habit of carrying a small packet of tracts or a few papers for distribution?

W. H. SEBASTIAN.

The King’s Messenger

By Mrs. Mary H. Williams

MRS. MARY H. WILLIAMS

Who goeth thus with armor bright And unsheathed sword of dazzling light? With eager haste his course is pressed; He goeth at a King’s behest.

What king doth his allegiance claim? What his commission? What his name? He sings for joy his way along; What is the theme of his glad song?

Wouldst know who wears that armor bright? It is a faithful Christian knight. The truth, the sword he’s trained to wield, And all the world his battle field.

He hasteth on good news to bring, As herald of the coming King. His song his service doth proclaim: “ All hail the power of Jesus’ name!”

His King’s commission would you read? “Go preach the gospel.” All who heed, His love constrains to obey, And every impulse feels love’s sway. He knows not Teuton, Slav, or Frank; The highest or the lowest rank Of every nation, tribe, or clan,— He loves them all as brother man.

They who with carnal weapons fight Can never prove that right is right; But rather wrong is always wrong, The weak are crushed beneath the strong.

Who feel the edge of Truth’s keen sword Arise to praise the conqu’ring word. Not strength to break, but love to bind, The potent force that wins mankind.

God speed thee, Christian, on thy way, Nor grant thee neither stop nor stay Till that glad day when wars shall cease, And reigns for aye, the Prince of Peace.

Charles City, Iowa.

Church Dedication at Huntsville, Ala.

By C. B. Stephenson

It was my privilege to attend the dedication of our church for colored people at Huntsville, Ala., yesterday, March 20. The program was well arranged. The Oakwood Manual Training School students gave valuable assistance in music. Elder Dasent, Brother Roberts, and the local elder, Brother Wilson, had been holding meetings for a few days, which were well attended. This offered an opportunity to give publicity to the dedication. The church was crowded. Some of the most prominent citizens were present. Elder T. H. Jeys delivered the sermon, which was deeply impressive.

The church is on a prominent street, and will be a strong factor in building up the work in the city. Students from the Oakwood School who are taking the ministerial course will fill the pulpit from time to time, and thus get a splendid experience in connection with their school work. The school is about five miles from the city.

We are pleased to report that the work is moving along in a satisfactory manner here at the school. The plant presents indications of industry and thrift. The farm is taking on rapidly the signs of preparation for the coming crops. Brother Swofford, the farmer, expects to produce this year a better crop than has ever been grown on the place.

I have just visited the poultry yards with Professor Boyd. He expects soon to have a thousand hens of the most choice stock. The incubators are filled with about five hundred eggs. It requires several buckets to hold the eggs which are gathered every evening.

The tent factory is running at full capacity most of the time. Large orders are coming in every week. We hear only good words about the work done at the school.

The work in the Negro Department is making progress. The workers are planning to put forth every effort the coming summer to extend the message.

C. B. STEPHENSON.

Growth of the Colporteur Work in the Atlantic Union

By W. W. Eastman

WE present herewith a picture of the chart used by Brother V. O. Cole, the Atlantic Union Conference field missionary secretary, at the meeting of the Atlantic Union Conference, to illustrate the growth of the colporteur work in the union during 1915 over the previous year.

The chart represents the situation so clearly that we hardly need to say anything. It will be noticed that while every conference but one shows progress, three of the seven conferences in the union show a striking growth, especially Maine and eastern New York.

It has often been stated that when the colporteur work prospers in a conference, all other departments prosper equally with it, and we believe there is truth in the statement. When the work is properly conducted, it becomes “missionary work of the highest order,” and naturally awakens the missionary spirit throughout the conference. The seed sown by the missionary colporteur prepares the way for the gospel minister and the Bible worker.

One thing must be apparent to all: where a genuine revival takes place among God’s people, the colporteur work receives its share of that revival. This has surely been the case in a special sense

in the Atlantic Union, where a wave of blessing seems to have come, and the message is moving forward with power.

We are thankful that it is not confined to the Atlantic Union. Other unions are likewise sharing this blessing. The third angel’s message is going to the nations of the earth, and to a large degree is being given through our publications.

W. W. EASTMAN.

Effective Way to Advance Truth

By W. L. Burgan

Reports from different parts of the field show that workers are still using the newspapers to good advantage in advertising the message. Many of these workers are giving extracts of their sermons to the local papers, while others are utilizing the articles that have been sent to them in the form of letters and regular news articles telling about our cause.

Much favorable comment is being received concerning the different articles on the message that have been sent to the brethren and sisters for publication in their home papers. A sister in Ohio says, “The articles on the message were all published, and I have heard several persons speak of them, saying that they were interesting.”

One of the officers of the church in Salem, Oregon, gives the following account of having an article published: “I handed the report of the wonderful growth that the Seventh-day Adventists made during 1914 to our leading paper here, and it was accepted quite readily. As a result of its publication, I had the privilege of holding two cottage meetings on the prophecies. It makes my heart glad to see the people manifest an earnest wish to learn the meaning of the things now taking place in the earth.”

From a local worker in New York State comes this word: “I have had good success in getting published the articles you sent me. The editor prints all I give him. Send me some others. I have arranged to have one printed every Monday morning.”

An evangelist in the Western Oregon Conference has had good success in his newspaper efforts in a recent meeting. He had his tent pitched in a prominent residential section of the city, and reaped a harvest of more than twenty souls. In speaking of his methods of advertising, he mentioned particularly the use of the newspapers, as follows:—

“The leading newspaper of the city gave abundant space for the reports of sermons, and the opportunity was fully utilized. Every sermon given in the tent was reported, and many who could not attend the meetings followed them day by day in the paper. Surely the open columns of the daily newspaper are one of God’s agencies for doing a quick work in giving the closing message to the world.”

One worker in Michigan, in speaking of the success that has attended his efforts in securing newspaper publicity, says, “I have succeeded in getting the write-ups on all my lectures printed in the paper in the city where I have been holding meetings. Articles treating on the war prove very interesting, and are invariably read. The paper in this town has a circulation of several thousand in the city and surrounding country, and many people read these articles who would not come to a meeting. In this way they will learn of the truth before they have had a chance to become prejudiced in any way.”

A brother in a city in western New York said that members of his church made the question of having some articles published a subject of prayer. Up to that time the articles had been withheld, but their prayers were answered, the articles being printed verbatim. In speaking of the worth of newspaper publicity this brother says, “I heartily agree that this is an excellent plan to get the message before the people.”

W. L. BURGAN.

Human Sympathy

By Geo. O. States

THERE are times in our Christian experience, when we all find that the burden seems just a little more than we can carry. We look over our lives and see so many, many mistakes that we feel discouraged and like giving up the struggle. At such times, if we could only have a few words of encouragement, or if some one would tell us of some time when we had been the means of helping him in passing through some trial, it would help us much.

During the past few weeks I have passed through an experience that has done me so much good that I feel I should like to tell it to the readers of the REVIEW for their encouragement. Since my article “He Knoweth” appeared in the REVIEW, I have had a number of letters from individuals scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, telling me how their hearts went out in sympathy for me in my affliction, and how much my article had helped them. Some said that they too were passing through affliction, and that my experience seemed to be just what they needed at that particular time.

I should be so glad, if my health would permit, to write a personal letter to each, but as I am not able to do this, I wish to say, These letters have done me much good. Never in the nearly sixty years that I have been a member of this church have I experienced such a drawing out of my heart to my brethren and sisters. It has been some time since I have been able to attend meetings or Sabbath school, and as I have received these letters, and have read them over on Sabbath days when at home alone, they have given me much confidence in the closing message.

I want to say to the readers of our church paper, that these are the people that are giving the third angel's message, and I love them as never before. As I read these letters, most of them from strangers, it caused my heart to go out in sympathy to our missionaries who have left their loved ones and the comforts of the homeland, and are passing through strange experiences, learning a strange language, adapting themselves to conditions not the most pleasant. It has given me more confidence and love for our young people who are out on the firing line, doing what I should so much like to do.

I cannot go out as I used to, but I can say to the younger ones, Stay by the work; continue to give the message. There is not a day passes but thousands of gray-haired fathers and mothers all over the homeland are earnestly pleading with the Lord to bless our missionaries scattered in all parts of the world. Dear brethren and sisters, the God who has charge of this work is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. He may not answer according to our desires, very often does not, but he does what is for his glory and our good. In order for us to have the sympathy for others that we should, we need to pass through experiences similar to theirs.

We who are getting old cannot fill the calls that are coming from all the dark countries of earth, but we can pray for those who go, and write them encouraging letters, extending to them our sympathy and love, saying, “Soon the work will close and these perplexities will end.”

GEO. O. STATES.

Cedaredge, Colo.

Field Notes

There are eight new Sabbath keepers in Glen Aubrey, eastern New York.

A new church was recently organized in Topaz, Mo., by Elder F. H. Hoxie.

A Sabbath school of seven members has been organized in Henry, S. Dak.

Elder E. W. Wolfe reports the organization of a church in Cresco, Iowa.

A Sabbath school has been organized in Hillsboro, north Texas, by Elder W. M. Cubley.

There are 280 organized Seventh-day Adventist churches among foreigners in the United States.

The new church building in Albemarle, N. C., was recently dedicated to the service of God.

During the past two years 1,263 believers were added to the church lists in the Southwestern Union Conference.

Western Washington reports seventy-two persons baptized into the Central Church, Seattle, and twenty taken in on profession of faith.

In the North Pacific Union an average of eighty new members was added to the various churches for every month of the past two years.

Eight persons have recently accepted present truth in Colville, in the Upper Columbia Conference, through the efforts of Elder R. A. Libby.

Reports show that 742 persons were baptized throughout the Atlantic Union in 1915, 237 of these being new members in the Greater New York Conference.

From the Pacific Union we learn that during the first nine months of last year 1,081 persons received baptism. For this same length of time the Southern Union Conference reports 119 new members; the Southeastern Union, 455 persons baptized; and the Western Canadian, 459.

Continue reading: The Bible Year