Earlier text: Temperance in the HomeCHANG-SHA.—When I last wrote to you, we were about to enter our house in this city. It hardly seems five weeks since we came, yet it has been quite long enough for us to have had much personal blessing from our loving, wonder-working God. When we had moved, we had the bare necessities for seating any guests who might feel inclined to visit us. Our means are so limited we dare not invest much in furniture. So many students were inquiring whether we would open classes in English, that it was taken as an evidence of divine leading. As it was but a month before the Chinese New-year, we hesitated a little. The lads, however, were anxious to begin, showing how even their oldest and most general customs are passing. A few days' holiday was all they desired. Those applying were from the very classes we are anxious to reach. We decided to open class January 26. Twenty-seven enrolled, paying deposit money. Two were refused, as being too far advanced to work conveniently with the others. Try as we would, seating accommodation could neither be rented nor loaned. It being so near New-year, the time was limited. And even could seats be procured, we could not be certain of paying. In our dilemma we cried unto the Lord, to know whether he would prefer we should not open the school, or if we should open, that the seats might be procured. This was Thursday night, and classes were to begin on the following Monday. Our landlord called that night. I spoke to him about the matter, and we continued to wait on the Lord. He was more faithful than we. The goods came; and what was still better, the cost was most reasonable. When school opened, the furniture was paid for. Even the bookstores gave us ten per cent commission on the books purchased. Meantime, a “great ferment” had been going on among the churches at Chang-sha since we “heretics,” keeping “Jewish Sabbath,” had arrived. Brother Alexander's observance of the Sabbath increased the tension. Calling on a pastor of one of the largest missions at Chang-sha, I learned that they were going to visit us, to ascertain our methods of working. On calling to see Alexander, for a spiritual talk and season of prayer, I found him getting anxious for the “foreigners” to hear of the Sabbath. We ourselves had been praying about the matter, and soliciting the intercession of the members of our China Mission, ever since coming here. The time seemed ripe to call them to a meeting before the deputation came. The invitations were out on Wednesday evening for Monday, February 4, at 4:30 P. M. God gave us much peace in our hearts, and in spite of threatened illness everything went off all right. The day was a wet one. Two workers wrote of their inability to attend. Another was visiting an out-station. Sickness prevented others. However, nine workers came, representing four separate missions. One of them was requested to open with prayer, after a hymn and the reading of John 17. The reading of the paper, which included a Bible study on the Sabbath, occupied about half an hour. There is every reason to believe that some received enlightenment. Whether they will accept the truth given, is now for them to decide. One brother, in closing, prayed most earnestly for my wife, and that God would bless and use us. He said, further, that many have their own minds made up about these things, and that God would show them what was right, and enable them to follow him. Having had but a few days since coming to our new abode, it is not easy to make forecasts of future prospects for evangelistic work. Again, at this season of the year the people are much engaged in the affairs of this world. Two days ago two sets of scrolls were presented to us by a grateful family. God has used the simple treatments given by my wife, and has heard our prayers for the recovery of a lady from what might have developed into a serious illness. These scrolls are an evidence of sincere gratitude. Such tokens of appreciation from people to whom the gospel has been faithfully proclaimed make us very humble, as such a gift is regarded by them as a great honor. To-day being New-year, we visited them. After pointing out the blessings God wishes to pour into their lives each and every day of the new year, they accepted the offer that I should go every Saturday evening and teach them. Will you not join with us that this family may speedily become Christians, burning and shining lights among their fellows?
P. J. LAIRD. Opening of a School in Rome
By Chas. T. Everson
From the very beginning of our stay in the home of the papacy, we have been convinced of the important part that the educational work would play in the proclamation of the third angel’s message in this place. From what has been said on the subject, all are persuaded, I am sure, that the educational work is, in the Catholic Church, the life of the papacy; upon it the church depends for retaining its hold on Catholic countries and for enlarging its sphere of influence in unconquered territory. Professor Lucas, president of the Fernando Academy, in California, has had a burden for founding some educational work at Rome for several years. By corresponding upon the subject, we finally came to a definite conclusion as to what could be undertaken at present, in this work. We have not the means to undertake a work in proportion to the importance of the place or the needs of the field; however, we were persuaded that as Rome was not built in a day, neither would the educational work in Rome be fully launched without long-continued effort. Nevertheless, through the effort made by Brother Lucas in presenting the needs of this cause to the young people of southern California, he succeeded in gaining their support for the enterprise. The young people are making a noble effort to help, and we certainly appreciate the many sacrifices they are making on behalf of this cause. The enthusiasm with which they have taken up this work has given it such an impetus that others are becoming interested in the enterprise. From the Northern California Conference, too, comes encouraging news of hearts stirred in behalf of the educational work in “the eternal city.” Professor Sharpe, of Healdsburg, is leading his young people to take an interest in the work, having himself a special burden for this branch of the message for Rome. The school, through the help of these kind friends, was opened last fall, and has now been in session about three months. The progress that it has made during this time has surprised even our friends here. We have a day-school in which we teach the regular studies that are offered in the government schools. This department is under the direction of Professor Orlando, who has a wide experience as a Catholic educator, having been professor in their schools. He is therefore just the person to lead out in this kind of work, as he understands the situation, having inside knowledge of the Catholic system of education; and having also had a university education, he is in touch with the methods used in the government schools. Our department of music is under the direction of Professor Borghese, a pupil of the famous composer Mascagni. His own music has also been published. He is therefore well qualified to instruct not only those residing here, but also those coming here from abroad to seek a musical education. Sister Schell teaches English in the school, the language which very many here are anxious to learn. We have also classes in French taught by Brother Vaucher. All our faculty are members of our church at Rome. God has so ordered things that he has brought together some strong men who can help in this branch of the work in this difficult place. In the different departments we have made over seventy enrolments since the school opened, and new pupils are coming in right along. We are now opening evening courses of common school education for the young men who have had to leave school early in order to earn their living. The government here does not conduct night-schools as is done in America, and for this reason this branch of the school can be developed into a very important factor; and it will bring us in contact with the working classes. We have already a good class of students. As we are near some of the best high schools of the city, we get some of the students of these institutions, especially for our language courses. By next year, when we shall be better known, we shall have a large number of them. They take the languages in their regular school course; but as it is only dry and theoretical, they scarcely know how to say a word after three years of study. We take them in, and18with the basis already obtained, get them to speak in a short time so that they marvel at themselves when they see the progress they have made. One of the professors of the high school attends two of our language courses. We have also students of the university and government employees in our schools. In one of our private classes we have the three children of one of the most prominent men of Italy, who has been four times in the king’s cabinet, and at the present time is vice-president of Parliament. We are thus on the one side getting in touch with the working classes, while on the other we are coming in contact with the higher classes. It would be impossible to gain an entrance into the homes of these leading families by meetings; for they never think of frequenting Protestant services. The educational work appeals to all, and furnishes an excellent means of forming their acquaintance and gaining their confidence. This much accomplished, good progress has already been made toward helping them to appreciate the truth when the right opportunity presents itself of teaching it to them. Of course the school has not escaped the notice of the Catholic Church. Among the first to visit us after the opening of school were two Catholic priests who wished to know all about us. They asked who the director might be, what we expected to teach, if we had any church relationships, etc. The Catholics know that a school is a formidable arm to be used against them, and for this reason they view with alarm the founding of educational institutions. However, the clerical forces gave us quite a surprise in that a gentleman representing the official organ of the Vatican, Osservatore Romano, invited us to advertise our school in the columns of their paper. We have not accepted the proposition. With the right efforts put forth here on the ground, and with the active support on the part of those who interest themselves in giving the work financial support, there is no reason why a good educational work should not be built up in Rome, which will perform miracles for advancing the truth in the center of Catholicism. An Excellent Tribute
By K. C. Russell
THE Northern Union Reaper (Minneapolis, Minn.) of April 2, 1907, contains a report from Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Holdman, of Ferrybank, Alberta, in which he relates a tribute which was paid to Seventh-day Adventists during a sermon preached against the seventh-day Sabbath and in favor of Sunday legislation. The report of his reference to this people runs as follows:— “In the course of his talk he told of the great work the Seventh-day Adventists were doing all over the world, of their schools, publishing houses, missionary enterprises, and about everything that gave a true statement of affairs, and he said that when a man gets hold of the principle of their doctrine, he sticks to it; he seldom changes. He further said that their money all goes with them. Illustrative of this point, he told of a Dutchman whom he once accosted on this subject, asking how it was. ‘Vel,’ he said, ‘Id is dis vay; first de head get converted, den de heart, den de pocket-book ; id all goes.’ The speaker further declared that besides giving ten per cent of their income, they gave from five to thirty per cent more for other purposes, and then said: ‘If my friends here would do in this way, there would be no begging for means with which to pay the preacher.’” Let every Seventh-day Adventist resolve that in his own experience he will make this tribute a true one of this people. _Dominica_
By PHILLIP GIDDINGS
THE Jamaica earthquake disaster of the fourth of January, from which God so wonderfully delivered us, abbreviated our program, but not without an impressive preaching of its own in a most realistic way. The book of Ezekiel, besides visions, similitudes, symbolisms, verbal idealism, etc., contains realisms in miniature, as in the fourth chapter, where the siege of Jerusalem and the consequence are acted, and in the twelfth, where the moving out and captivity are dramatized. And so, we take it, delegates from United States, Cuba, Central America, Panama, Hayti, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, Tobago, Trinidad, and Guiana had met in Jamaica—between the Americas—to witness a scene which would give emphasis, positiveness, and dispatch to their message as those who had seen “terrible things in righteousness.” I have not spoken to any of our ministers, but I believe they feel like telling their message with a new force, as those who know assuredly what they affirm. What seemed a disappointment at the meeting, was compensated by the attention and interest of the people in the different fields on our home coming. When I landed in Dominica, it was pathetic to see the crowd—Catholic friends and others, and our own people—that came to welcome me, thanking God that I was alive. Mrs. Giddings had mourned for me as killed, and our little girl made the situation still more painful by saying, “Mama, I don’t see papa coming.” It is an awful experience of a realistic sample of what awaits the world, when Heaven shall say, “It is done!” Till then, may we who read, tell the people to run to escape the ruin! A committee of leading gentlemen—among them a Catholic editor, a Catholic merchant, the chief of the telegraphic department, a lawyer, and a school-teacher—arranged for me to lecture in the court room on the disaster, at a shilling admission, proceeds going to the sufferers. Accordingly I did so, to an appreciative audience. We have reaped the first-fruits of our night-school, in the acceptance of the message by two Catholic young men. They started the beginning of the year. One of them is ready for the Jamaica school, to be better prepared for further usefulness. Another Catholic woman has begun the observance of the Sabbath. Just as I was about to close this report, one of the young men came in bringing his Christmas pledge ($1.20), also paying four dollars for books, and giving an order for six hymn-books as a present to the church for strangers. We are of good courage, and ask our friends everywhere to remember us in their prayers for the success of God’s work in this part of the vineyard. A Catholic Family Finds the Truth
By M. J. Allen
I FEEL to rejoice and give thanks to God for what the third angel's message has done for my wife and me. A short time ago while on our way to the theater we saw a large tent. The meeting was almost over when we came along, and the speaker, Wm. Simpson, gave a very pressing invitation to his audience (about fifteen hundred people) to come back the next night to hear why God did not kill the devil. The nature of the subject at once interested me, so I took a goodly number of my neighbors with me to hear all about why God did not kill Satan. At this time we were members of the Catholic Church. My wife was very devout, while I thought also that there was very little truth except in the Catholic Church. I was engaged in the grocery business at the time. The most of my neighbors were Protestants, and were much concerned about my salvation, so when I asked them to come with me to the tent-meeting, they readily accepted. I did not know who the speaker represented. Although up to the time I had thought that the devil was just a word that the church uses to scare people, I changed my mind when I heard Brother Simpson, as he read text after text from a book he called the Bible. To me this was a new book. A few weeks later I saw his advertisement in one of the papers, stating that he was going to speak on Daniel and Revelation, so I gathered my good Protestants together again, and we went to the meeting, and took a front seat. Brother Simpson drew a line across his blackboard and took up the study of Daniel 2 and explained this vision. When he reached the toes of the image, I was intensely interested. He invited me back again, so I went with my wife for fifty-two evenings. I made up my mind that I would not let the church do my thinking any longer. I heard God's Word explained, heard the truth for our time, and saw how clearly God's Word pointed out the falling away and the development of the man of sin. I began to rejoice that I had found something better than going to theaters and smoking and chewing tobacco, and baseball games. I am so glad that there is power in God's Word to change us.19 I kept the first Sabbath after I found the Sabbath truth, and I am rejoicing in the third angel's message. I sold my business, and came to Fernando to study the Bible, as I see very clearly that if we do not know God's Word and live up to what it teaches, we shall not have a home in the new earth. I would say to my Catholic friends, Study the Bible, as each one of us is responsible for his own salvation. I was a member of the Hibernian Society, and of the Knights of Maccabees, and others also, but gave it all up, and to-day am rejoicing and thank God that I ever heard the books of Daniel and Revelation explained. North Carolina
By T. H. Jeys
APRIL 7 the recently completed church building at Archdale, N. C., was dedicated. Although the weather was somewhat uninviting, the house was comfortably filled. The brethren at this place have put forth commendable effort in this work, and are to be congratulated on their success in having brought it to a successful issue. No debt to bring worry, misunderstanding, and disappointment rests upon them. All bills are paid. One of our sisters went out among the people and secured sufficient means to purchase a neat little chapel organ. The brethren here are pressing forward, endeavoring to keep pace with the message. — The United States circuit court has perpetually enjoined the “drug trust” from continuing its operations. — There is a strong movement on foot to prevent Oklahoma from becoming a State if she must come in with a constitution as at present ratified by her representatives. — Two passengers were recently arrested on board a train for violating the new Delaware law which makes it a crime to drink liquor aboard train in the State. — It is reported that the Russian troops have not yet been withdrawn from northern Korea, and the Japanese commander has been instructed to make a protest. — Arab rebels in the province of Yemen, Turkish Arabia, who have been in revolt for twelve years, have practically annihilated a force of Turkish soldiers 6,500 strong. — The lower house of the Pennsylvania Legislature has passed a bill prohibiting the buying, selling, or wearing for adornment of any Pennsylvania wild bird or part thereof. — The French steamer “Poitou,” from Marseilles, France, to Montevideo, Uruguay, was blown on the rocks off the south coast of Uruguay May 7, and forty-eight persons were lost. — As an indication of the moral depravity of these days, we notice that a Chicago court on the 11th inst. tried twenty-two suits for divorce in one hour and a half, granting the request in each case. — Advises from Morocco, bearing date of May 11, state that the Rahma tribesmen are about to seize the city of Morocco. European residents have left the place, and the commander of the French cruiser states that the outlook is very threatening. — Recently there died in New York one who had fought as an officer under the flags of eighteen different countries. He had borne the title of general for many years. Nevertheless he died penniless and alone, and was buried at the expense of another. — At the Jamestown Exposition on May 13, the representatives of ten nationalities took part in the celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of the landing of the English at Jamestown Island. About 25,000 armed men took part in the procession. — The dangerous nature of hypnotism is being well illustrated at Worcester, Mass., where one who has long been a student of hypnotic phenomena has succeeded in hypnotizing himself. He can not now be brought back to consciousness, and is slowly dying, having been unconscious for more than two weeks. — Parties from the interior of Honduras report that another war is beginning, the fighting this time being between the same armies which took part in the contest just closed. The quarrel is over who shall be president. The natives of Nicaragua are also involved in the struggle, the latter under the guise of peace-makers, whose object is to support one of the presidential aspirants. — A deep-laid plot to assassinate the czar of Russia has been unearthed by the confession of the palace gatekeeper. — At Lima, Ohio, May 14 the Grand Jury returned thirty-nine indictments against individuals and corporations concerned in the great bridge-building trust. They were charged with conspiracy in restraint of trade, and in violation of the Valentine anti-trust law. — There is much feeling among the officials of China against Japan, because of Japan’s failure to return to China a large amount of property appropriated by the Japanese at numerous places in Manchuria during the Russo-Japanese War. The Chinese claim that Japan has repeatedly promised to return this property, and has failed to keep her promise. — A new law recently passed by the New York Legislature seems to have been drawn up for the special benefit of those practising Christian science. All regular physicians are put under strict regulation, and their practitioners required to pass a rigid examination, but among those exempted from the application of this law are those who practise “the religious tenets of any church,” which will apparently exempt Christian science practitioners from the provisions of this law. — It has been announced at Washington, D. C., by the Interstate Commerce Commission, that Attorney-General Bonaparte has issued instructions to the various United States district attorneys to institute proceedings against twenty-five different railroad companies of the country to exact penalties for violations of the safety-appliance laws. From time to time the commission has extended the time limit of the fitting of cars with safety apparatus. But the Department of Justice has now determined to make examples of the roads which persist in violating the law. — There are serious strikes now in progress at the two principal ports of both the east and west coasts of this country. The San Francisco carmen’s strike is still unsettled. The strike of the dock laborers at New York, and at Hoboken, N. J., has given some promise of settlement, especially in the latter place. On May 10, 300 men working on the Fall River pier went out, in addition to the other dock laborers. These, however, resumed work the following day. The laborers also resumed work on the Pennsylvania Railroad pier, and on the dock of the Clyde line. Vessels leaving the port carry very light freight, and in some instances have carried back much of that which they brought with them. The grain handlers in forty elevators in New York harbor are also threatening to join the longshoremen in a strike. In addition to these troubles, 10,000 men are now idle at Colonia, Pa., who were employed at the Colonial Steel Works. Eighteen hundred longshoremen are on a strike at Montreal. The situation at this place is a little peculiar, owing to the recent passage of a law making it unlawful to enter upon a strike until after a regularly appointed conference between representatives of the two parties concerned. No arrests, however, have occurred, as it was felt by the employers at Montreal that more harm than good might result from such a procedure. The church at Rochester, Ind., has been encouraged by the addition of six members as the result of meetings held by Brother B. Hagle. Others are interested, and the meetings continue. Brother S. Swinson reports five conversions in the vicinity of the Sparta (Wis.) church as the result of meetings held there. Previous to the meetings, Bible readings had been held in the neighborhood. The students of the school at Berrien Springs, Mich., are holding meetings in two churches that have been secured within a few miles of the school. An evident interest is manifested, with attendance ranging from thirty to eighty. Brother J. M. Rees has been holding meetings with the church at Marion, Ind. Among the few not of our faith who attended were a man and wife on the way to Cuba with a colony of settlers. They gladly accepted the message presented. Following a dedicatory service the first Sabbath in March at Hagerman, N. M., Brother M. D. Warfle conducted a five weeks’ meeting in the church, which resulted in the baptism of twelve young people. Two others joined the church on profession of faith and previous baptism. Brethren W. H. Thurston and Wm. Guthrie recently conducted a ten-days’ meeting at Indian Harbor, Nova Scotia. As a result two young ladies took their stand to obey the Lord; two who had become indifferent resolved to walk in the light, and the church was encouraged by the study of the Word. Brother Wm. F. Kennedy, who, with Brother W. F. Hills, held meetings at Hotchkiss, Colo., writes: “We continued our public meetings for four weeks, and organized a church of nineteen members. Nine joined by letter, seven on profession of faith, and three by baptism, and on the last Sabbath before we closed our public meetings three more adults signed the covenant. They will be baptized and unite with the church soon. Sister Barnes, who has been living in Hotchkiss for some time, has put forth a judicious effort in canvassing for books and circulating literature. Her work, with the blessing of God, has been very helpful to our public effort.” Religious Liberty Notes
By K. C. R.
Elder S. E. Wright, president of the North Michigan Conference, writes as follows concerning the present attitude of the members of his conference toward the religious liberty work: “Our people are ‘waking up’ to the situation, and many churches and companies are placing some one at the head of this work to carry it forward.” Our prayer is that there may be a general awakening in this work all along the line. The Boston Post, of Boston, Mass., bearing date of April 14, contains a most forcible presentation of the days when the Puritan Sunday was in vogue. The reader should not fail to note how the clergy used the civil government to carry into effect their ideas of religion, nor to note the parallel between the clergy of those days and the clergy of to-day: “When listening to the defenders of our unjust Sunday laws, mostly clergymen, it is hard to believe that this is the twentieth century. The saddest chapter in the history of Massachusetts is that which tells of the rule of the clergy. These Sunday laws are a survival of the complete union of church and state, which existed at the founding of the colony. At that time no one could vote who was not a member of the Congregational Church. When in doubt on any question, the magistrates consulted the clergy. The usual evils, which throughout history accompany such a union, resulted. Some of our present Sunday laws date back to 1692, only thirty odd years after the Quakers were hanged on Boston Common while the Rev. John Wilson railed at them from the foot of the gallows. The restriction of the suffrage to church-members gave such excessive weight to the clergy that John Fiske wrote: ‘One might almost say it was not the people of Massachusetts after all that shed the blood of the Quakers; it was Endicott and the clergy.’ Like any class in control, the clergy used the power of the government to perpetuate their rule. Neglecting to frequent public worship was punished by fine or whipping. In 1644 the clergy informed the magistrates that the gathering of sticks on Sunday might be punished with death. No person on foot or horseback, and no cart, was allowed to pass out of Boston after sunset on Saturday. Funerals were prohibited on Sunday. Loitering in the streets on Sunday brought a fine. Absence from religious service for more than three months was a criminal offense until 1836.” Gov. R. B. Glenn, of North Carolina, delivered an address at Richmond, Va., April 21, 1907, in which he said, as quoted by the Washington Post: “If certain evils now in vogue in this country are not checked, the country will eventually suffer as did Rome and other republics.” He referred especially to the fact that there are in this country to-day “two men who have amassed more wealth than is owned by the commonwealth of Virginia and every man, woman, and child in the State, estimating the worldly possession of each inhabitant at five hundred dollars.” He pleaded for the general observance of the Sabbath as the keystone and foundation of the success of the republic. Rev. Watson, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Cincinnati, Ohio, in a recent Sunday sermon, dealt a scathing rebuke to Congressman Longworth and his wife, the President’s daughter, because of a breakfast that the Congressman’s mother gave in honor of her son and his wife on Sunday morning. The following is a sample of the pastor’s words concerning the incident: “I want to tell this waiting congregation this morning, that a man who breaks God’s holy law is, in the first place, not a fit man to represent the great commonwealth in the Congress of the United States, and, in the second place, that the man who does that kind of thing is a traitor to God and to his country.” Elder S. G. Huntington, president of the Utah Conference, in a letter written from Salt Lake City, bearing date of May 1, says: “J. H. Rosengren, one of our brethren, who operates a picture gallery and photographers’ supply store at Provo, Utah, has recently been arrested and fined five dollars and costs for doing business on Sunday. At the time of this prosecution, before, and since, in the same city and on the same street, drug-stores, bakery shops, soda-fountains, livery barns, and similar places of business all keep open and do business on Sunday, the same as on other days of the week, with no fear of the enforcement of the law in their cases. All these people, or most of them, are Mormons, as likewise the whole city, yet they do business seven days in the week without interference from the authorities, while our brother, who conscientiously observes the Sabbath of the Lord, and works only six days in the week, including Sunday of course, is prosecuted and fined for the offense of ‘doing business on Sunday.’ Indeed! what is the offense, Sunday desecration or Sabbath-keeping, which? Evidently the spirit behind all such prosecutions is the spirit of intolerance and persecution, the spirit of the Dark Ages and the fruit of religious legislation. Provo is also the city of Senator Smoot. The case has been appealed.” In Jail for Conscience’ Sake
By Morris Lukens
BROTHER JOHN CURLETT, a member of the Fords Store (Md.) church, is now in the Centerville jail because his conscience will not let him pay his fine for working on Sunday. The constable who arrested him (and by the way, this officer had been appointed only the day before) said, “I am in this work for all I can get out of it.” Taking advantage of an old law in the State of Maryland, he drove to Fords Store to see if he could find Brother Curlett at work. Passing several others who were breaking the law, he drove around a back road, then through another man’s farm. Tying his horse here, he went through a woods, and there found Brother Curlett quietly working on the back part of his farm, fully one-half mile from the public road, and took him to a magistrate, who placed him under bond to appear at court. His case came before the court May 8. He was tried before a jury, convicted, fined, and because his conscience would not let him pay the fine, he was placed in the Centerville jail for thirty days. It was my privilege to visit Brother Curlett in the jail, May 14. I remarked to him, “You seem very happy under the circumstances.” As we sat on the side of the prison bed, he told me the reason. I will give it in his own words. He said: “As the sheriff opened the iron door to put me in, he said to another prisoner, ‘Here is company for you.’ My fellow prisoner immediately told me his troubles. I told him he had broken the law, and was now trying to carry the burden alone; that if he would confess his sin, and ask God to forgive him and bless him, he would do so. He said that life was not worth living, and that he was about to kill himself when I came. After talking with him about the promises of God, I suggested that we have prayer. As we arose from prayer, he said, ‘I praise God for sending you here to comfort me,’ and then we quietly sang the hymn, ‘Jesus, lover of my soul.’ I tell you it was the best prayer-meeting I ever attended, and as I have since seen that man give his heart to the Lord, I am thankful I am here. These have been the happiest days of my life.” As I stood locked in behind those prison bars, listening to this man, deprived of liberty, separated from his wife and children; rejoicing in the thought that God can use him there to help others, and then looked upon the other prisoner who had but a few days before contemplated committing suicide, I realized more fully than ever before that the same God rules to-day that directed Paul to the jail in Philippi, to save the jailer and his family. During the trial, Brother Curlett was granted the privilege of speaking. He meekly told the court that he would not knowingly break any of the State laws unless that law conflicted with the law of God. “This court says, ‘The first day is the Sabbath,’ but a higher court the says, ‘The seventh day is the Sabbath.’ I must obey the higher court.” As he reasoned from the Scriptures, the crowded court room paid strict attention to every word spoken, and in the language of the poet— “Every one in the court room,
Gray beard and thoughtless youth,
Knew, as they looked upon him,
That the prisoner spoke the truth.”
A good impression was made upon all present. In giving the sentence, the judge said that he did not like to deprive him of his liberty, and advised him not to work on Sunday in the future where he will be seen. “I arrange to do all my Sunday work,” said Brother Curlett, “where no one will be annoyed, and, as was testified here in court, the constable found me at work a half mile from the public road. Unless the constable can be restricted from coming on my farm to spy me out, I can only ask you to be as lenient as possible with me whenever I come before you.” Sister Curlett was asked many questions by lawyers and others, which gave her an excellent opportunity to present the truth for this time. Remember this brother and his family in your prayers. If you desire to write to Brother Curlett, address him at Centerville Jail, Centerville, Md. Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of the Rights of Conscience Conducted by the Religious Liberty Bureau K. C. RUSSELL. — — — — Chairman W. A. COLCORD. — — — — Secretary