From June 1 to July 8 I was with our people in their annual meetings and Conferences in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. It was feared that there would be but a small attendance in the Norway meeting, owing to the depression in money matters all through Norway. The country has been afflicted with what Americans call a “boom,” and this, as usual, has been followed with business failures, and a general stagnation in the money market. In the “crash” Christiania alone lost over three million dollars by business failures. Our publishing house in Christiania was involved in the difficulty, which caused some discouragement among our people. As they came to the meeting and learned more fully the situation, they decided to submit to the inevitable loss of property, and, learning by past experience, to avoid in future what led to present calamity. Trusting in the Lord to build up again the work from a humble beginning, good cheer took the place of sadness.
Of the six hundred and fifty-two church-members in the twenty churches in the Conference, nearly one fourth were in attendance in the Drammen meeting. The report of standing showed that the tithe paid to the Conference for the year was $3,053. The tithe and contributions, notwithstanding the “hard times,” were $659.20 more than for the preceding year. The Sabbath-school contribution was $232.42. All of this, except $6.08, was given to mission work. The forty-two colporteurs sold books during the year to the value of $5,602.43. This was $1,218.67 less than the year before. This was partly owing to financial troubles, and partly to the lack of a new book to place before the people.
Brother O. A. Johnson, of Union College, Neb., was elected to preside over the Conference. Our people are full of courage with the prospect now before them. They have desired some one at the head of their Conference who could give his whole time to the work in that Conference. Now they have their desire, and we trust all will “pull together” with their president.
The annual gathering in Sweden was held in a new building on the school farm at Nyhyttan. Of the twenty-nine churches, comprised of seven hundred and forty-one members, nearly two hundred persons attended this Conference. There was a large attendance of the services by the people from the surrounding country. The meetings were full of interest. Several persons took their stand for the truth. To give some idea of the tone of spirituality, I would say that in one testimony meeting ninety-five persons bore testimony in about seventy minutes. June 26 Brother O. A. Olsen baptized six candidates.
There seemed to be a grand opportunity to study God in nature on the Nyhyttan school farm. I never saw a greater variety of wild flowers on the same amount of ground in any country. It seemed as if two or three new kinds came forth each day. The principal of our school there told me that during12last season his class, which was studying botany, picked two hundred kinds of flowers. The Lord has surely provided a glorious opportunity there by the river between two lakes, both in sight, to study his beauties in the natural world.
The Conference report of standing showed the tithe of last year to be $3,372.43; contributions to the work, $318.80. The Sabbath-school offerings were $236.80. All, except $3.80, was given to mission work. Their thirty-eight colporteurs sold and delivered last year $18,794.58 worth of books. Brother Linn, the canvassing agent, said that it was the largest amount of our books ever sold in one year in Sweden. The gain for the year at their book depository was $1,683.31.
Brother Pilquist, a missionary on his way to China, gave two talks on China to crowds of people, who contributed quite liberally to aid in the mission. Brother and Sister Pilquist sang several pieces in Chinese. They are anxious to get back to their field in China, and can hardly wait for the present “Chinese troubles” to be restrained before passing on their way. The part of Sweden where our meeting was held was their former home. They are visiting relatives and acquaintances on their way.
The Conference in Denmark was held in Vejle. This being a place quite central for Jutland, Denmark, a good representation from our churches gathered at the meeting. It was the largest representation of our people ever yet gathered in Denmark. One new church was added to the Conference, making seventeen in all. Several persons have accepted the truth in Denmark during the year; but owing to deaths, and many removals to America, the membership remained about the same as last year—six hundred. The tithe paid was $4,411.02; the contributions to the Conference funds were $94.41; the Sabbath-school contributions were $280.30, all of which was given to mission work. During the year twenty colporteurs were in the field, who sold books to the amount of $6,668.92. There was a loss of $364 on the business of their depository.
The meetings of this Conference were full of interest, from first to last. Among the topics considered was the health question. Dr. Ottosen, of the Skodsborg Sanatorium, gave several talks, and also presented testimonials showing how that institution is gaining favor with the people. Their rooms are full, and for the last two months they have met all their expenses from receipts, and furnished some funds to apply on debts. Brother P. A. Hansen, of Iowa, was elected president of the Danish Conference. Steps were also taken at this meeting to open again the school at Fredrickshaven, which has been closed for many months. Brother O. A. Olsen, president of the European Union Conference, was present in all these Scandinavian meetings. The writer was glad of the opportunity of meeting in these gatherings with about one fourth of the two thousand Sabbath-keepers of these Conferences. There is a great field before the ministers, physicians, teachers, Bible workers, colporteurs, and all who will give themselves to the work. May the Lord grant his special help to the workers.
This he will do for all who trust him, “because they trust in him.” So may the work prevail.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
MORDEN (MANITOBA) CAMP-MEETING.
By L. A. Hoopes
THE annual camp-meeting of this mission field was held at Morden, June 28 to July 8, 1900. The camp was in a beautiful little grove adjoining the city. Morden is a city of about eighteen hundred inhabitants. The camp consisted of two hundred persons, occupying forty family tents. Besides, there were about fifty persons who occupied rooms outside the camp.
Services were conducted in both the English and German languages, for both the grown people and the children. Besides the laborers of the mission field, there were present, for the English work, Elders J. H. Morrison and B. G. Wilkinson, and the writer; and for the German, Elders E. Loeppke and J. J. Graf. All phases of the message for this time received some attention at this meeting. All seemed to be deeply interested in every department.
Considering the new field, and the shortness of this year's crops, the brethren did well to take up offerings. The Sabbath-school and First-day offerings for foreign missions amounted to about thirty dollars. The subject of the book, “Parables of Jesus,” was presented, and two hundred copies were sold. The brethren then raised in money and pledges enough to purchase another tent, so that two tents can be in the field this summer. The camp-meeting was conducted in such a way that when the meeting closed, the receipts for rent of tents, dining-tent, etc., exceeded the expenditures by a few dollars.
Professor Wilkinson spent considerable time in speaking and answering questions on the educational work, both for the home and for the college.
The canvassing work received special attention. The general agent of the dominion, J. H. Watson, of Toronto, was present. There are now nine agents on the list. An effort will be made to have a school for the canvassers during the cold winter months.
Besides the workers who are under the pay of the Conference, other young persons are being encouraged to spend some time with the tent companies, where they can receive instruction in Bible-reading work, canvassing, and various parts of the message. Three intelligent young women who were at this meeting are now engaged in this work.
From the first, the spiritual interest of the meeting was good. Three persons declared their intentions to observe all the commandments, and seven followed their Lord in baptism. When the camp-meeting closed, a strong tent company was left in the city to develop the interest awakened. Services will be conducted in both German and English.
On the whole, it was one of the most refreshing camp-meetings I have attended. While the enemy worked hard to defeat us, the Lord manifested himself ready to help in every time of need.
L. A. HOOPES.
THE WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING.
By A. J. Breed
This meeting was held in Eau Claire, June 5-17. The grounds were all that could be desired. A beautiful carpet of grass covered the ground, which was watered several times during the camp-meeting by gentle showers, which were much needed in this part of the State. The meeting was not so large as other annual meetings have been, on account of its being held in the northwestern part of the State. The object in holding it in this part of the State was to build up the work in what is practically a new field. The attention of the Conference has been turned in this direction, and several new churches have been raised up. The efforts of the laborers have been rewarded in going among a people who are hungry for the truth.
There has been a good degree of prosperity attending the work of the Conference for some time, especially is this true of the year just closed. One item of special interest is the educational work. The Woodland Academy has been erected; a school has been maintained; and from the number of students who were present, and the interest manifested by them, it is evident that the school has done a good work.
The business passed off very pleasantly. There was seen in all the meetings a desire upon the part of all to say and do only that which was for the good of the work and the benefit of those present.
Meetings were held also each day with the Scandinavians and Germans. The work among the Scandinavians has been moving forward, and several young men have been added to the laboring force. There seems to have been more growth among them than among the English-speaking people. The German work needs more laborers. At present they have only one ordained minister. Plans were laid to circulate more literature among those speaking the German language, of whom there are many in the State. The Scandinavians asked to have a colporteur wagon placed in the field, to visit the many settlements where the Scandinavian languages are spoken. There is a spirit among the people to go forward.
The work of the Conference is increasing; and because of failing health, Elder Covert was relieved of the burdens he has carried for a number of years541and Elder H. S. Shreve was chosen to the presidency of the Conference. The work will be carried into new fields as far as the Conference is able during the coming season.
The interest in the city was good. House-to-house labor will be continued. Workers had been here for some time before the meeting, and several persons had become interested, and attended the meetings. One thing of special interest to the citizens was the food and the way it was served. It was strictly hygienic, and was served on the European plan.
Five young men were ordained to the work of the gospel ministry: two English, two Scandinavians, and one German. This will add another German laborer, which will be a great help to their work. Three new churches were admitted to the Conference.
The finances have kept up well. Although several thousand dollars has been expended in the building of Woodland Academy, the Conference voted to give Battle Creek College five hundred dollars, the Foreign Mission Board five hundred; and, if their funds continue to keep up as they hope, they will give the General Conference five hundred.
I have never attended any meeting where committees were more careful and thoughtful in their work. There was a good spirit present at all times. And thus the meeting closed, and the brethren and sisters returned to their homes rejoicing in the love of the truth, ready to take up life's duties anew, having gained many victories over besetting sins.
Elder J. A. Johnson, Professors Boettcher, Magan, and Sutherland, Dr. Holden, and the writer were present. I am not able to state the number who were baptized, having been obliged to leave the meeting before it closed, in order to reach the meeting in Ontario.
This was the first of the camp-meetings of this season in District 3; and we hope to see the deep movings of the Spirit of God continued among the people in the other meetings that are to be held.
A. J. Breed.
LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI CAMP-MEETINGS.
By N. W. Allee
The Louisiana camp-meeting was held at Marthaville, in northwestern Louisiana, July 13-22, it being the first camp-meeting held by our people in that part of the field. The attendance of the brethren was all that could be expected reasonably. Although there are not many of our people in that section of the State, yet it was as large a camp-meeting as has been held in the State. It was the first camp-meeting ever attended by quite a proportion of the brethren, as they had accepted the message from the labor of the canvassers. I never before saw so large a per cent of those in attendance at a camp-meeting who had received present truth as the direct result of the canvassing work. I am sure the faithful canvasser will have fruit in the kingdom.
This meeting had some encouraging features. There was a large number of children in attendance with their parents; and in all the camp-meetings I have ever attended, I have not seen so good deportment of the children as on the grounds there. Little boys and girls carried their Bibles regularly to the services, and their ringing testimonies in the early morning meetings were inspiring. Prompt attendance at all the services by all in the encampment was also another pleasing feature of the meeting. No meetings were late nor dragging in the beginning, and promptness was observed in closing. The attendance of the citizens of the village was good, and the interest shown in the truths presented was very encouraging.
From the first of the meeting, revival work was continued. The meeting was a series of successive victories, and the brethren were much encouraged. All entered heartily into plans for enlarging the work in the State, and a spirit of personal sacrifice was shown in raising a fund for tent and camp-meeting purposes, as well as in the sale of a number of copies of the new book for the educational work. The outlook for the spread of the message is good in Louisiana.
The camp-meeting for Mississippi was held at Columbus, a beautiful city in the eastern part of the State, July 24-31. The ground selected was not well adapted for the rainy weather that occurred there, being too low and level. The campers at one time were obliged to divest themselves of shoes and stockings in order to get from the large tent just after a heavy shower.
The usual order of exercises was followed here, as in Louisiana, and the results were satisfactory. The preaching and Bible study were close and searching, and the response to the invitations to seek the Lord showed earnestness and willingness to surrender to the work of the Spirit. Here, as in Louisiana, the brethren manifested a willing spirit to contribute of their money to further the work in the State. A fund was provided for tent and camp-meeting purposes, and books were taken for the furtherance of Brother White's work in the State.
This meeting was encouraging to the cause in Mississippi. We are glad to see the good results that are following the camp-meeting work in the Southern field. This work is meeting with favor, and is accomplishing much for the cause of God in getting the truth before many, and giving the brethren the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the breadth of the message and its work.
N. W. ALLEE.
BUSINESS PROCEEDINGS OF THE MINNESOTA CONFERENCE.
By H. F. Phelps
The thirty-ninth annual Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists of Minnesota was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Anoka, June 7–17, 1900. The business occupied the time of five sessions, the first being called at 9:15, June 12. The president, Elder C. W. Flaiz, was in the chair. Only forty-eight churches, out of eighty-four on the Conference record, were represented, by one hundred and fourteen delegates. These meetings were made occasions of spiritual interest, and were instructive in their nature.
A fair measure of success has attended the laborers in this field. Besides an increase in the membership of several churches, four new churches were added to the Conference. The report of the Conference treasurer showed that $20,179.73 tithe had been received during the year. The amount received on foreign missions, including a small sum on hand, was $8,425.82; on the orphan’s home, $778.07. The report of the mission secretary showed that the increase in the contribution to the foreign mission work was more than double that of last year; and that a good sum had been placed to the credit of the South, while the home work had been well sustained. The work of placing our literature in the prisons has given encouraging results.
The force of laborers was increased by the ordination of Brethren J. F. Pogue and J. C. Christianson to the gospel ministry; and by an increase of those receiving licenses.
By vote of the Conference the Helping Hand Mission in St. Paul was discontinued. It was voted that a school be maintained at Anoka, during the coming winter, with the purpose of training workers; that greater efforts be put forth in our large cities; also that the Conference laborers and Union College continue to work in harmony in seeking out and preparing laborers.
The officers for the ensuing year are the same as last year, except that a representative of the German work, Elder J. J. Graf, is placed on the Executive Committee.
Harmony and brotherly love prevailed throughout, and the Conference enters upon the fortieth year of its history with every promise of God in its favor. Experience has verified the statement of the Spirit of God, made many years ago, even before a Conference was organized, that Minnesota is a good field for labor.
H. F. PHELPS, Conf. Sec.
NEWS AND NOTES
—British troops, numbering 28,480, are proceeding from India to China.
—General MacArthur reports 3,775 American soldiers sick in Philippine hospitals.
—The shah of Persia has ordered a Gardner-Serpollet steam automobile for his personal use.
—Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, founder of Robert College, Harpoot, Turkey, died in Portland, Me., August 10.
—An agent is visiting Nevada, Utah, and Montana, to secure 3,000 cavalry horses for the German army.
—The health department of Chicago recently condemned 75,000 pounds of poultry shipped from St. Paul.
—The Haitian government has decided to furnish lights to its cities, and not to grant to corporations concessions for this work.
—The brother and the brother-in-law of King Humbert’s assassin are under arrest on the charge of foreknowledge of the murder.
—John Crosby Brown, treasurer of the Committee of One Hundred on India Famine Relief, reports that contributions aggregate $200,000.
—The fourteenth Atlantic cable will be completed this month, or early in September. It will connect New York with Emden, Germany.
—When Dr. E. Benjamin Andrews took formal charge of the University of Nebraska, two weeks ago, there was, at his request, no speechmaking, and no ceremony whatever.
—Battery O, with its seven-inch siege guns, the largest in the army, and 175 men, started from Fort Riley, Kan., for San Francisco, August 7, on hurry orders to proceed to China.
—The German Foreign Office has promised the Protestant League at Berlin to make representations to the Austrian government against the expulsion of Protestant clergymen from Austria.
—The Chicago dry-goods firm of Schlesinger and Mayer has installed an automobile bus line from the railway stations to its store, the fare charged being the same as by ordinary conveyances.
—The question is now being asked, Where is the Chinese fleet? Although four Chinese torpedo cruisers were captured by the allied fleet, before Taku, an entire squadron managed to escape northward.
—Speaking of the Chinese problem in connection with the United States, the Saturday Evening Post says: “If we get a slice of China, our ethnological collection will be the most complete in the world.”
—Official reports announce that “the Siberian railway is now open for traffic from Tcheliabinsk to Lake Baikal, a distance of 3,047 versts (a verst being 1,500 English feet), and also from Mayovaya to Syretenska, a distance of 1,034 versts.”
—Henry Hoffman, the oldest man in Pennsylvania, died recently at his home at East Butler, aged 105 years, 2 months, and 4 days. He was born in New Brunswick, N. J., July 6, 1795. When he was 102 years old, he cut two cords of wood a day. Up to a year ago he went hunting every fall, and always brought back rabbits, and sometimes a weasel, which are hard to kill. He never used glasses.
—An exchange says that “a Bank of England note is not of the same thickness all through. The paper is thicker in the left-hand corner, to enable it to retain a keener impression of the vignette there; and it is also considerably thicker in the dark shadows of the center letters, and beneath the figures at the ends. Counterfeit notes are invariably of only one thickness throughout.”
—Mr. William Pritchard Morgan, member of Parliament, sent a message to Li Hung Chang, urging that the allied troops be allowed to enter the capital, and stating that a settlement could be made at Tien-tsin. In reply, Earl Li Hung Chang said: “In case the troops advance, the Chinese must fight. The suggestion that the allies should be allowed to enter Peking in order to escort the ministers to Tien-tsin is absolutely impossible.”
—Speaking of the Chinese situation, Admiral Dewey said, August 9: “I regard the situation in China as exceedingly grave. The difficulties that our soldiers will have to contend against are many and various. The conditions that exist there are much the same as those in the Philippine Islands.” When asked whether, in his opinion, there was really a condition of war now existing between this country and China, he said: “I should say, Most assuredly, yes. They are killing our people, and our soldiers are fighting hard for their lives.”542
—The Peruvian Cabinet, headed by Dr. Rivaguero, has tendered its resignation.
—Ninety-three horses fell dead, in the streets of Chicago, August 9, from the heat.
—It is reported that 7,000 native Christians have been massacred at Paouting, east of Peking.
—Andrew D. White, United States ambassador to Germany, is at present in this country.
—Impressive funeral services were held over the body of King Humbert, August 9, in the Pantheon, at Rome.
—Colonel Grassa, a Filipino insurgent, has surrendered his command of nearly 200 men to Colonel Freeman, near Tayug.
—Fifty lives were lost recently by the sinking of a torpedo-boat destroyer by a battle-ship, at the French naval maneuvers, off Cape St. Vincent.
—The People’s Co-operative Ice Company, with a capitalization of $200,000, has been organized in New York City, to antagonize the ice trust.
—The long period of dry weather has seriously affected dairy and market farms in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
—Sir Francis Richard Plunkett has been appointed British ambassador at Vienna, and Sir Henry Mortimer Durand will hold the like office at Madrid.
—A plot to shoot a number of prominent British officers, and to capture Lord Roberts, was discovered in Pretoria, and a number of arrests have been made.
—Since Harrismith has surrendered to General Macdonald, through railroad communication between Natal and the Orange River Colony has been re-established.
—London, England, is installing a new municipal telephone system, at a cost of $5,000,000. It is expected that there will be 40,000 subscribers at nominal prices.
—Lord Roberts reports that the Boers are flying before Kitchener and Methuen’s forces. Mafeking, however, is again threatened, and is preparing for another siege.
—Representatives of nearly every large publishing house in America have decided to form an association to maintain prices of books. Thus we have a book trust.
—It is reported from Bitlis, Asiatic Turkey, that 200 men, women, and children have been massacred in the Armenian village of Spaghank, by Turkish troops and Kurds.
—The average population of the United States is about twenty for each square mile, while that of China is about 200 for each square mile, or fifteen times greater.
—Count Lamsdorf, recently placed at the head of the Russian ministry of foreign affairs, has been appointed permanent foreign minister, succeeding the late Count Mouravieff.
—Of course, it is but natural to expect that the French press would be “furious at the appointment of Count von Waldersee to command the allies” in China. And all because Waldersee happens to be a German!
—Burning up gunpowder costs money. When President Loubet recently visited Cherbourg, the fleet gathered there fired 24,800 salutes. Each shot cost about twenty dollars, making the total cost for powder almost $500,000.
—The Russian government recently granted permission to M. de Giers, Russian minister at Peking, and his staff, to leave Peking under Chinese protection. The other governments have directed their ministers to hold out till relieved.
—Returns from the United States census enumeration in Chicago show that city to have a population of between 1,695,000 and 1,697,000. Taking 1,697,000 as the correct figure, the gain in population since 1890 would be 597,150, or fifty-four per cent.
—The building and business of Harper and Brothers were sold, August 9, at auction, for $1,100,000, to A. E. Orr, chairman of the Reorganization Committee, the sale being merely a formal transfer to get the property out of the hands of the receiver.
—It is said that “a committee appointed by the Civic Federation to examine into the work of public schools in Chicago, reported younger pupils overtaxed; too much mathematics in lower grades; only English should be taught below high school.”
—A negro mass meeting was recently held at New Orleans, La., at which resolutions were adopted, protesting against the departure of so many colored persons from the city because of the recent troubles, sacrificing homes and other property in order to do so.
—Kaiser William, of Germany, has “succumbed to the motor-car craze, and is busily engaged in the art of running an automobile. A German manufacturer has given him three cars, of as many shapes and designs, and it is his intention to travel to the summer maneuvers in Saxony in one of them.”
—The United States has agreed to pay Spain $100,000 more for the two islands of Subutu and Cagayan, near the Borneo coast in the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines. The mention of these islands was omitted in the treaty made at Paris, and, as the United States already has possession of the islands, “the present negotiation is by way of quieting the title, as lawyers would say.”
MAINE
By J. B. Goodrich; C. W. Richmond
ELLSWORTH FALLS.—We pitched our tent in Ellsworth Falls, and began meetings, June 30. The attendance has ranged from fifty to four hundred. Good attention has been given by the audience. Many acknowledged the truth, and some have decided to obey God. To him be all the praise. We are in the suburbs of Ellsworth, which has about five thousand inhabitants. Our camp-meeting is to be held here. We believe that the Lord led us to this place, and we expect victory in his name. Pray for the work. In God we trust.
J. B. GOODRICH,
C. W. RICHMOND.
Great Bend and Wellington (Kan.) Camp-Meetings.
By G. G. Rupert
The Great Bend meeting, held from May 31 to July 9, had an attendance of almost two hundred. Meetings in both German and English were held. Elder Leer, of Nebraska, assisted the Conference laborers in the German work. The themes dwelt upon at the desk were especially adapted to the present bearings of the truth and the necessity of a personal experience in the things of God. As a result, twenty-three persons were baptized at the close of the meeting. Elder A. R. Ogden and the writer remained to develop the interest. When I left, the prospects were favorable for a good company of believers, as several had already taken their stand, and were observing the Sabbath.
The meeting at Wellington, July 12-22, was not so well attended by our people, but those who came were much encouraged. Nine persons were baptized at this meeting. The outside attendance was good, and much interest was manifested. Elders Ketring and Stebbins will continue the labor as the interest demands. Elder Kilgore was present at this meeting, and his labors were appreciated by all. All departments of the work were considered as far as time would permit. Especially was this true in the labor and spiritual work. The evening preaching bore on the central points of present truth. Elder Westphal gave a study each day on the history of the church, past and present, as relating to Christ's true church as brought to view in the Bible and in the Testimonies. This was beneficial and interesting to all. Elder J. W. Covert assisted in both these meetings.
I am now on my way to the meeting at Stockton. In following out the plan in holding these local meetings as directed by the Lord, we find many omens of good. May God still lead us on in the good way.
G. G. RUPERT.
An Experience.
By S. C. COLTRIN
WHILE laboring in Astoria, I used seventy-five copies of the Signs of the Times every week for about four months; and during that time three persons took their stand for the truth. My next experience was with the Quarter-Centennial Number; and in disposing of one hundred copies of that issue of the Signs of the Times, I secured fifty-five regular subscriptions, none of them for less than six months. I used my special issue of the Signs as a lever to secure subscriptions, and it proved a good one. When the World's Harvest Number was issued,—and it seems to me the very best of all,—I used three hundred and fifty-five copies, and also took advantage of this opportunity to again secure regular subscriptions.
I do not think we should be satisfied in simply selling these special numbers, but we should use them to aid us in securing subscriptions for this grand pioneer paper, which contains the glorious gospel of the Third Angel's Message. Now, brother workfellow, do we have the gospel? If so, let us show our love for this glorious truth by giving it to others. We can do this by placing the Signs of the Times in their hands for six months or a year, and it will preach the full and complete gospel to them every week. We can place this silent preacher in thousands of homes that the living preacher may never reach. Let us each do all we can; for the little that each one does will make much in the grand total.
S. C. COLTRIN.
THE SPREADING INFLUENCE.
By J. B. Greenwood
A BROTHER, writing from one of our Southern cities, says: “I came here seven months ago. At that time there were no Sabbath-keepers here, but some brethren and sisters have moved in since. Much efficient work has been done with the Signs of the Times, and other publications have also been used. Several persons have come into the truth, and others are interested. I came into the truth six years ago, through reading some old copies of the REVIEW AND HERALD.”
This suggests a field in which all can work for the furtherance of the cause of God,—the salvation of souls. You may not be able to preach or canvass, or go away from home to labor; but you can use the “silent messengers,” which, prepared and distributed in the spirit of Christ for the upbuilding of his kingdom, will do a mighty work.
See the work accomplished,—a few old REVIEWS came to this brother; he was led to accept and rejoice in the light of truth; then he went to work for others; and through the same means—the circulation of literature—he brings the light of truth to them, so that from the distribution of a few papers a grand result comes. If all who have an interest in God’s cause would go to work, right now, and right where they are, scattering the printed page, what a work would be wrought! Many are doing this, using the Signs of the Times as a “pioneer,” and the Lord is greatly blessing the efforts put forth. Do you wish a part in the blessing that comes from working together with Christ?
Write to the brethren at the Signs office for suggestions in regard to the use of this paper; and keep on hand a supply of literature to use in bringing the light of truth to your friends and neighbors, and watch for opportunities to use it.
J. B. GREENWOOD.
SEPTEMBER STUDY OF THE FIELD: PART I.
“Religions of China: Part 2.”
August 26 to September 1.
(Text-book, September Missionary Magazine.)
1. How universally is the worship of ancestors practiced in China?
2. What is the actual belief of the Chinese in regard to the spirits of their ancestors, and the sacrifices they offer them?
3. Can you see in this practice any similarity to the first great deception of Satan?
4. In what way is it responsible for the treatment of the girls in China?
5. Why do the Chinese insist upon having their dead bodies returned to their home land?
6. Tell something of the ancestral tablet and the manner in which its worship is conducted.
7. Relate briefly a description of one of these ceremonies as witnessed by Professor Howell in Honolulu.
8. Give, in your own words, a summary of the Chinese religious belief.
