Earlier text: God’s Infinite CareVisit in Central New England
By D. E. Robinson
After resting for four days at the home of Brother H. C. Wilcox in South Lancaster, Mass., Mrs. E. G. White and her helpers left to attend the Central New England camp-meeting, held at Nashua, N. H. The grounds were in a good residence portion of the city, on a street-car line. There was a good attendance, there being a larger number present than at any previous camp-meeting since the formation of the Atlantic Union Conference, and the division of the former New England Conference. Among the other laborers present were Elders S. N. Haskell, H. J. Edmed, E. W. Farnsworth, F. C. Gilbert, H. C. Hartwell, F. W. Stray, and C. S. Longacre, also Dr. D. H. Kress and Prof. B. F. Machlan. During the forenoon meeting on Sabbath, June 26, the Spirit of the Lord was manifest in a marked manner. Mrs. White spoke, basing her remarks upon the chapters in Exodus containing the account of the giving of the law from Sinai, Israel’s apostasy, and Moses’s intercession with God in their behalf. “I have read of this experience,” she said, “that we may not become careless or indifferent, thinking that it makes no great difference if we do not exactly fulfil God’s requirements. Many even think that it matters not whether they observe as the Sabbath the day that God has plainly specified, or substitute a day of man’s invention. In the Judgment we shall all be judged by the standard of God’s Word.” “The mercy and compassion of God have been manifested in long-suffering kindness to his people. Let us follow on to know the Lord, that we may know that ‘his going forth is prepared as the morning.’ In the gift of Christ we see something of the measure of God’s love to us. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ What have we manifested of self-denial and self-sacrifice in Christ’s service? Unless we are in communion with God, unless we reveal the fruits of a pure and undefiled religion, our religious profession is worthless.” “Heaven is open for us. God is waiting, longing to bestow upon us his choicest blessings, if we will come to him as little children. And we need all the power that we can receive. In a little while from this, the power of Satan will be so manifest that it will be impossible for you to enjoy such advantages as you do to-day. I beg of you to appreciate these advantages, and to make of this gathering a season of earnest seeking of the Lord.” “I long to see souls converted at this meeting. How many here will seek the Lord with all their hearts? You can not make yourselves any better, but you may come to the Saviour just as you are. We feel in earnest in the matter of preparing for the coming of our Saviour in the clouds of heaven. I am sure that there are many here to-day who will take their stand on the Lord’s side.”8 Mrs. White then requested some of the front seats to be vacated, and made a call for those who desired to receive special help in drawing near to God, to come forward. She appealed specifically to the unconverted, to backsliders, and to children and parents. While many were responding to the invitation, she said:— “We are not to fix an arbitrary time on such occasions as this when our meetings must close. When the Spirit of God begins to work, we must not restrict its operations, even if a rule has been made that the meeting shall close at a certain hour or minute.” Elder Gilbert, Elder Haskell, and others joined in seconding this earnest appeal, and the silent but powerful work of the Spirit on hearts was manifested as one and another went forward. Earnest prayer was then offered in behalf of this company. Afterward they were divided into a number of divisions, and opportunity was given for each to bear testimony. Though this service continued for over three hours, those present felt that it was a time of refreshing. In a discourse Sunday forenoon, Mrs. White emphasized the importance of Christian education. She said:— “Some speak of the ‘higher education,’ meaning a training that is only to be received by men who do not believe in the Word of God. Jesus Christ was sent to this world to make known that which is essential for salvation. How could we discount his teachings more than by sending our children and youth to be educated by men who do not recognize the authority of the Word of God? We are seeking to prepare for the heavenly courts. We desire our children to be welcomed into the city of God when its golden gates shall be swung back on their glittering hinges, that the nations that have kept the truth may enter in. Then how can we consistently place these children under the influence of those who will insinuate into their minds error and doubts, even though their teachings are called ‘higher education’?” “The highest education you can receive is to learn how to ‘add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . . For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’” In closing her remarks, Mrs. White made another appeal for reconsecration, and a few were added to the number who the day before had expressed their determination to seek the Lord anew. Tuesday forenoon many of these were buried in baptism; and before the meeting closed, another baptismal service was held. Forty-two candidates in all submitted gladly to this solemn rite. Tuesday afternoon, Mrs. White again addressed the congregation assembled in the large tent. She read and commented upon the instruction found in the fifteenth chapter of John, and made a strong appeal for individual efforts to be put forth in giving the message to friends and neighbors. “In our homes,” she said, “we have a very important work to do for the salvation of our children, but we are not to shut ourselves up to service merely for our own families. We must not allow ourselves to be so overwhelmed with household cares that we shall find no time for visiting those about us. If a ray of light has come to you, find some one to whom you can impart it. There is a world to be warned, and we are to receive help and light and blessing from Jesus Christ, then carry this light to other souls. In this work you will not labor alone; angels of God will go before you.” “If you are repulsed by some one to whom you try to speak of the salvation of Christ, do not become discouraged. Do not say, ‘I will never speak to him again regarding religious subjects.’ The angels of God may work upon his heart, and prepare him for that which you desire to impart to him. He who is our advocate in the heavenly courts, has bidden us carry his gospel into every part of the earth, and he gives us the comforting assurance, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ Shall one of us hold back from engaging in this service with him?” “As a people we need to arouse, that we may realize the value that Christ has placed upon the human soul. Day by day we are brought in contact with those who are unsaved, and shall we let them go as though they had no souls to save? Since I left Washington, I have passed through city after city, and I have asked the question, Who is laboring here? Who feels a burden to go from house to house, visiting and praying with the people, and carrying to them the precious publications containing the truths that mean eternal life to those who receive them? There is a work for women as well as for men. Paul speaks of the women who labored with him in the gospel. All who dedicate themselves unreservedly to God will have a message to bear.” Wednesday morning, June 30, Mrs. White and a party, including Elder and Mrs. Edmed and Elder Haskell, accompanied Elder Gilbert to Concord, Mass. A few hours were spent in driving about the beautiful and historic portions of Concord, then the party were driven out to the property that has been secured as a refuge home for Jewish workers and converts. The home is beautifully located, and the buildings seem well adapted to the work. Elder Gilbert and his associates have labored untiringly in the securing and fitting up of the institution. When the family were gathered for dinner, Mrs. White led out in earnest prayer, acknowledging with gratitude the providence of God that had led in the securing of the property, and asking his blessing to rest upon the work and the workers. After dinner the party were driven over a portion of the land, until it was necessary to hasten to take the train for South Lancaster. Thursday morning, Mrs. White and her helpers drove to Sterling, a distance of about five miles from South Lancaster, to visit the “Pilgrims’ Rest,” a property recently purchased by the Atlantic Union Conference as a home for some of our aged brethren and sisters. This property consists of one hundred fourteen acres of land, a twenty-six-room house, and a well-built, commodious barn. The house was originally built by the town of Sterling. At the time of our visit, the building was being fitted up for use. Several applications had been made for admission, but the home had not been formally opened. In securing this home, our brethren did not intend to ignore the obligations resting upon the relatives of our aged brethren and sisters to care for those of their own household. Nor would they remove from the members of local churches the responsibility of caring for the poor and needy among them. But there are some who have no one to whom they can look for sympathy or support, and for such as these the “Pilgrims’ Rest” gives promise of furnishing an ideal retreat. War-Ships and Peaceful Pageants
UNDER this heading the Denver Republican of September 29, gives expression to the following pertinent and sensible remarks, in regard to the recent display of war-vessels at the Hudson-Fulton celebration:— The despatch of war-vessels by Great Britain, Germany, and other foreign powers to participate in the Hudson-Fulton celebration at New York City was a great honor to the United States, and evidence of the friendship of the nations represented. But how incongruous, after all, was the presence of these floating fortresses and their frowning guns in the midst of a peaceful pageant designed to commemorate events which had nothing to do with war. War-vessels are sent upon occasions of this kind because they seem more distinctly than merchant ships to possess a national character. They represent the sovereign power, as ambassadors are distinguished from ministers by the fact that they represent the person of the ruler. But in this very particular it is unfortunate that circumstances seem to make their employment requisite; for they tell of force, and from every porthole destruction glares. . . . Should a similar occasion offer, how much better would it be if the United States, instead of sending a fleet of battle-ships to represent the naval strength of this country, were to despatch an equal number of vessels engaged in commerce and bearing in their structure and character a message of peace from the American people to all the world. But the suggestion of the Denver Republican will never be carried out. The spirit of these times demands pomp and pageantry, and peace is not the offspring of such a spirit, nor does it foster such demonstrations. The world is preparing for its greatest war, and nothing so fitly shows that fact as the representation of nations at peaceful functions by ships that bristle with cannon. Christ’s Eight Sentences While on the Cross
By Noah W. Vincent
NAILS pierced our Saviour’s hands and
feet,
Sharp thorns had pierced his brow;
As if for earth nor heaven meet,
See Christ uplifted now!
In love he prays, “Father, forgive,
They know not what they do.”
His Father hears, the murderers live;
God’s boundless love how true! Soon to the contrite, trusting thief,
Who owns his dying Lord,
Christ gives in death a sweet relief,
Sure hope of blest reward:
“To-day,” said he, “do I declare,
True are my words to thee,
In paradise, God’s city fair,
Together we shall be!” Next, to his mother standing there,
The sad, heart-pierced one,
Christ says in tender, filial care,
“Woman, behold thy son!”
Then to his loved disciple John,
Still near, his friend, his brother,
Come lovingly from lips death-wan,
The words, “Behold thy mother!” Hear now Emmanuel’s dying cry
Of sharpest agony;
O list! “My God, my God, O why
Hast thou forsaken me?”
Well known was this long, long before,
Foretold e’en from the first.
Fulfilling now one scripture more,
Our Saviour cries, “I thirst!” The work God gave he had well done;
“’Tis finished!” loud he cries:
Slain Lamb of God! Atoning Son!
Sin-ending Sacrifice!
Our sins, our shame, the Saviour bore
When nailed to Calvary’s tree;
God’s love in Christ may we adore
To all eternity. “Father,” he breathes, “into thy hands
My spirit I commend;”
Then bowed his head in death’s strong bands:
So died the sinner’s Friend. In love he prays for us to-day;
O heed our Saviour’s call!
Let’s come to him, his word obey;
Find him our God, our all. A Learned Professor on Spiritism
By GEO. O. STATES
The Literary Digest of October 2 contains some interesting extracts from an article on Spiritism, by Prof. William James. After stating that he had been investigating this question for twenty-five years, he admits himself “constantly baffled” as to what to think of this or that particular story, for the sources of error in any one observation are seldom fully knowable. “I find myself believing that there is ‘something in’ these never-ending reports of physical phenomena, although I haven’t yet the least positive notion of the something. It becomes to my mind simply a very worthy problem for investigation.” After mentioning some of the mysteries of these phenomena, he says: “If there were in the universe a lot of diffuse soul-stuff, unable of itself to get into consistent personal form, or to take permanent possession of an organism, yet always craving to do so, it might get its head into the air, parasitically, so to speak, by profiting by weak spots in the armor of human minds, and sipping in and stirring up there the sleeping tendency to personate.” He closed by saying: “I personally am as yet neither a convinced believer in parasitic demons, nor a Spiritist, nor a scientist, but still remain a psychical researcher waiting for more facts before concluding.” Aug. 24, 1850, just a few years after the manifestation of Spiritualism, we were told that the “mysterious rapping” was the power of Satan: “I was9shown that by the rapping and mesmerism, these modern magicians would yet account for all the miracles wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that many would believe that all the mighty works of the Son of God when on earth were accomplished by this same power.” Just before the final deliverance of the saints, God would work powerfully for his people, and these modern magicians would be permitted to imitate the work of God. “Could our eyes be opened, we should see forms of evil angels around us, trying to invent some new way to annoy and destroy us. And we should also see angels of God guarding us from their power.” “I saw that we must watch, and have on the whole armor, and take the shield of faith, and then we should be able to stand, and the fiery darts of the wicked can not harm us.”—“Early Writings,” pages 59, 60. “I saw that the saints must get a thorough understanding of present truth, which they will be obliged to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them that the Sabbath has been changed, also other unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy, and will work miracles before them, to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who appear to them are the spirits of devils.” “I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board; that there could not be one left. Said the angel, ‘They are binding in bundles ready to burn.’ Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed, and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, ‘It is Satan. He is the conductor, in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and other of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.’ I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, and bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, ‘The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.’ This little company looked care-worn, as if they had passed through severe trials and conflicts. And it appeared as if the sun had just risen from behind a cloud and shone upon their countenances, causing them to look triumphant as if their victories were nearly won.”—“Early Writings,” pages 87-89. Is it any wonder that Professor James, after such a long investigation, is baffled, and is still waiting for more facts? He believes in the conscious state of the dead, and when Satan appears “transformed into an angel of light,” he will naturally think that seeing is believing, and so be deceived. God has given this people light above any people on the earth, and our only safety will be in standing on a “Thus saith the Lord,” and heeding the counsel God has given us through the spirit of prophecy. Simply a theory of the truth will not keep us in the trying scenes before us. We must have an individual connection with the Lord, and stand on the Word, no matter what the surroundings. Leading men among us have given up the truth, and no doubt others will, but we must not follow men, except as they follow Christ. Christmas; Its Origin and Character
By S. MORTENSEN
No Foundation in the Bible
IF Christmas is truly Christian, then the Bible ought to instruct us not only about the date when Jesus was born, but it should also contain a plain command from the Father that we should celebrate it. Many will be surprised that, in a thorough search of the Scriptures, they will not be able to find either date or precept for the celebration of the birth of Christ; no, not even the example of a single man who celebrated it during the time of Christ or the apostles. We will here notice some things that the Bible says concerning the birth of Christ: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14. This was foretold over seven hundred years before his birth. In the garden of Eden it was foretold, about four thousand years in advance, that Jesus should be born of a woman (Gen. 3:15), and it was also foretold to Abraham over two thousand years before it took place. Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:16. That Bethlehem should be his birthplace was foretold about seven hundred years before his birth occurred. Micah 5:2. The fulfilment of these prophecies is plainly spoken of in the Gospels. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary. Luke 1:26-38. Joseph was also informed about it in a dream. Matt. 1:18-25. Joseph and Mary came, in obedience to the decree of Augustus Cæsar, to Bethlehem to be taxed, and there Jesus was born. Luke 2:1-7. The angels announced his birth to the shepherds (verses 8-14), and both the shepherds and the wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem (verses 15-20), where the chief priests had said that he should be born. Matt. 2:1-12. All this is plainly revealed, but any date for his birth is not mentioned in the Bible. A close investigation will make quite plain to us the time of year when this wonderful event occurred. It was when the shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8. According to the information we have about Palestine, the flocks were let out in the pastures in the month of March, and brought back in November, when the rainy season began. Concerning this, Adam Clarke makes the following remark in his commentary: “It was a custom among the Jews to send out their sheep to the desert about the passover, and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain. During the time they were out, the shepherds watched them night and day. As the passover occurred in the spring, and the first rain began early in the month of Marchesvan, which answers to part of our October and November, we find that the sheep were kept out in the open country during the whole of the summer. And as these shepherds had not yet brought home their flocks, it is a presupposed argument that October had not yet commenced, and that consequently our Lord was not born on the twenty-fifth of December, when no flocks were out in the field by night. On this very ground the nativity should be given up. The feeding of the flocks by night in the field is a chronological fact, which casts considerable light upon the disputed point.” See also the book, “The Two Babylons,” pages 91, 92. It is also noteworthy that different translations of Luke 2:8 make the thought very clear that the shepherds were at the time staying out in the fields by the flocks. “And shepherds were in the same country lodging in the fields and keeping watch by night over their flocks.”—Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Again: “And there were shepherds in the same country dwelling in the fields, and watching watches of the night over their flocks.”—Rotherham. “This proves plainly that the flocks were not yet brought home from their pastures, when the angels visited the shepherds. Some have the idea that there is no winter in Palestine, but that is a mistake, because sometimes it is very cold there, so that the lives of both men and beasts are in danger of the cold rain and hail-storms of the winter.”—“Horne's Introduction,” Vol. II, pages 23, 24. Other ordinances which the Christians ought to practise are given to us by plain precepts or examples. In this way is given unto us the marriage institution (Gen. 2:24), the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 24:20), baptism (Matt. 28:19), the Lord’s supper (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-29), and the washing of feet (John 13:1-17). Therefore we can by divine right claim that these are Christian institutions, but as we can not find either precept or example in the Bible for Christmas, it can be said to be a Christian institution. Little Things at Home
By T. E. Bowen
What we truly are at home, is what the records on high put down as our real moral strength after all. We are no stronger than we are at home, in the every-day annoyances encountered there. If we are cross and disagreeable there, the prayers and testimonies suffer just this ratio of discount in the ears of the members of our homes, at least. And this discount we can not afford. The testimony of the wife, that husband is a Christian; the testimony of the boy and girl, that father is a Christian, counts for a great deal more than what some congregation that has listened to this same father preach or testify in their social service, may say about it. And the same holds true regarding what the husband and children know of the wife and mother's life at home. Jesus knows that it is no easy task to be truly kind and Christlike at home. He knows how the devil nags the steps of each, seeking in what seem the little things, to trip us up. That provoking little thing that comes up may lead the father or mother or child to a hasty word that manifests temper. Then the devil has his point gained. He follows it with another occasion, a little more aggravating, perhaps, and exults to see the same weakness repeated. Then the joy of the offender is broken. Hearts are grieved, angels are made sad, and the only way out is by way of the cross. These little things sometimes cost us hours of heartaches, some tears, and confession of the wrong done a loved one. This is no fancy sketch. We do not have to look over into our brother's home to see how it goes. There is, in reality, no little thing. It is the seemingly little things that Satan trips us up on. This being so, may it not be that the Lord can as truly be served in the seemingly little things on the side of right doing? If we can lose so much by a wicked, cross word to a loved one, why is it not possible to gain much by some little helpful kind word or act? This is worth thinking about. The only way out is to “acknowledge thine iniquity,” and not seek to excuse the wicked thing, just because we did it. Then joy to the soul may be restored. ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God.’ All is not lost. We need not go mourning all the day. Our joy may be regained. It is not like lost time, which is never found again, but rather like the neglected harp, hanging on the wall, dust-covered and unstrung, which, if taken down and properly readjusted, may give forth as sweet music as it ever did. So also the old joy, the first love, the fellowship and communion with God of other days, may be recovered; and the soul, exulting, sing again, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee?’ Another writer has beautifully expressed it in these words: “The way to the recovery of joy is up duty’s track. And It is by renewed obedience that we shall find our lost treasure of joy. Confession of sin, humiliation, the doing of the first works, and a ready obedience to the commands of God—these are stages in the journey which, if conscientiously and persistently continued in, will lead to the regaining of the heavenly joy that will increase with the years, and finally burst forth into the halleluiahs of our eternal home.” And all this may be experienced in your own home, with your own loved ones about you. To this end the writer is striving for the victory in his own home. “I have lost the way to happiness—
O, who will lead me back?
Turn off from the highway of selfishness
To the right—up duty’s track.” A Case of Healing
By O. L. STILLMAN
The Great Physician is the healer of both soul and body, ever ready, willing, and able to heal now as when upon earth two thousand years ago. He is the same “yesterday, and to-day, and forever,” No case has ever yet baffled his skill. Scores of instances are recorded in the Bible of his unfailing power to heal and save. All praise to his dear name forever.11For the encouragement of the afflicted, and for the glory of God, I here present my testimony:— I reside in Lincklaen Center, N. Y.; was born Jan. 14, 1836, being seventy-one years of age at the time the accident occurred to which I shall refer. On Aug. 20, 1907, while finishing haying, as I was getting onto the load, I took hold of the standard, which broke, throwing me over backward onto the whiffletree, and under the horses' heels, the standard falling over onto their backs. The horses, badly frightened, ran, hauling the load over both my limbs and over my stomach, breaking the third rib on my right side. My arm was broken above the elbow, with a second break about half-way up, and another in the shoulder, the latter causing the shoulder to drop down in front. One of the horses kicked me upon the right temple, and I was dragged about ten rods. My companion, and a little girl passing by, gave the alarm to two men, who carried me into the house, and telephoned four miles for a doctor. He came within half an hour, and with the aid of the two men, set the shoulder, put splints onto my arm, and dressed the wounds on my head and body. The doctor said I would have to lie in bed about nine weeks. He came three times during the five days I lay there. Nearly the whole of the fifth night I spent praying for deliverance, and at daylight, the Holy Spirit seemed to speak to me, and told me to get up and call my wife to take the bandaged splints off from my arm. When she asked if I was crazy, I simply told her that I had been talking with the Lord. (O, praise his dear name!) Well, to make the story short, the arm was freed; I raised it up over my head, put on my coat, went out and milked my cow with both hands, and did other chores. The next day my wife and I went by railroad to Binghamton, and visited for a week. We then returned home, and I went about my farm labors as usual. I have not suffered from the broken arm or the other wounds even to the present time, although more than two years have passed since the accident. Now at the age of seventy-three, I am still hale and hearty, and trusting the Lord and his power to save, looking for his glorious appearing and soon-coming kingdom here upon earth. LIKE some schoolmaster, kind in being stern,
Who hears the children crying o'er their slates,
And calling, “Help me, master,” yet helps not,
Since in his silence and refusal lies
Their self-development; so God abides,
Refusing what we ask; he is not deaf
To any cry sent up from earnest hearts;
He hears, and strengthens when he must deny;
He sees us weeping o'er life's hard sums,
But, should he dry our tears, and give the key,
What would it profit us when school were done,
And not one lesson mastered? What a world
Were this if all our prayers were granted! Not
In famed Pandora's box were such vast ills
As lie in human hearts, should our desires,
Voiced one by one in prayer, ascend to God
And come back as events, shaped to our wish.
What chaos would result! In my fierce youth
I sighed out breath enough to move a fleet,
Voicing wild prayers to heaven for fancied boons
Which were denied; and that denial bends
My knee to prayers of gratitude each day
Of my maturer life. Yet from those prayers
I rose always regirded for the strife
And conscious of new strength. Pray on, sad heart!
That which thou pleadest for may not be given;
But in the lofty altitude where souls
Who supplicate God's grace are lifted, there
Thou shalt find help to bear thy future lot,
Which is not elsewhere found. There is a story told of a somewhat eccentric preacher who was driving along a country road when something about the appearance of a farmhouse attracted him. Its whole air was so peaceful that it looked like an ideal abode. It occurred to him that, fair as it seemed, it might still be lacking in that which was most essential, so, leaving his carriage, he went to the door. A middle-aged woman answered the summons, and he propounded his question without hesitation: “Madam, does Jesus Christ live here?” The woman stared; but though he repeated his inquiry, he received no answer; and when he had gone, she ran out where her husband was chopping wood, and told him of her caller. “Didn’t you tell him we belong to the church?” demanded the husband. The wife shook her head. “Didn’t you tell him we give money every Sunday?” Again the gray head made its negative reply. “’Twasn’t anything like that he wanted to know, John. He wanted to know if Jesus Christ lives here,—that’s different.” “That’s different.” How true! It is easy to have a form; but there is no salvation in it. Though God himself ordained the form, it is only of value when filled with the power of the Spirit of life. The Pharisees gave money; those who were rich put in much. But the widow gave more than all the rest. The Pharisees paid tithe, and this God ordained; but without an indwelling Christ it is of no value. To give, to pay tithe, to maintain the form, is one thing; but to have an indwelling Saviour—“that’s different.” Reader, how is it in your home? Does Jesus of Nazareth live there? L. D. SANTEE
By L. D. Santee
“And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21: 5. O! THE world is filled with mourners,
Lonely ones who pray and yearn
That the innocence of Eden
To the earth may soon return. Souls are filled with earnest longing,
Prayers are sent to heaven’s fair shore,
That the singing of the angels
May be heard on earth once more. When the dove of peace had vanished,
And the reign of tears began;
When the light of joy was banished
By the sin of mortal man;
When the moan of pain was echoed
In the gray sea’s sullen roar,
And the waves of woe were breaking
Sad on life’s tempestuous shore, And the cry was ever swelling
By the ties that death had riven,
Till the anguish, past all telling,
Reached the far-off gates of heaven,—
Then was hushed the rapturous music,
Chords that angel’s fingers swept,
And upon a lost creation
Pitying angels looked and wept. But a word to earth was given
That would hush the mourner’s cry,—
Christ, the loving heart in heaven,
For the lost would come and die.
Morn and eve was incense rising,
Prayers ascended to the skies,
Faith was shown by daily offering
Many a bleeding sacrifice. Then the life of Christ was offered
In God’s own appointed way;
And the fountain love had opened
Washes every sin away;
And the soul that bends in sorrow
O’er the portals of the tomb
Longeth for that glorious morrow
When the earth as heaven shall bloom; When, within a world of gladness,
Eden’s bloom shall be restored,
Where is heard no sigh of sadness,
In the garden of the Lord,
Where is radiance warm and tender,
And, with never moan of pain,
Bright within the new earth’s splendor,
Eden’s flowers shall bloom again. The Workers' Institute at Amoy, China
By W. C. Hankins
A SHORT time ago we held a workers' institute at Amoy. Brother Hung, from Chow Chow Fu, was present, besides all the regular workers of the Fuhkien Province, and such of the brethren as lived near enough to come in. We had a good institute, and met four times each day for about two weeks. The morning and evening services were devoted to prayer and social meetings, while the forenoon and afternoon services were for Bible study. Elder B. L. Anderson presented a series of lessons on the sanctuary, which was very interesting, as well as profitable, to all. Elder N. P. Keh also gave a series of very interesting studies on the Word of God, and the writer took up a verse-by-verse study of as much of the book of Revelation as could be completed in the short time we were together. During the first part of the meetings, one of our workers was called home on account of the serious illness of his aged mother. She was ill when he left home, but, being anxious that her son should lose none of the benefits of the meeting, she would not let him know of it for fear he would not go. It was only a few days, however, until it became doubtful if she would live, so one of the neighbors came after the son. He immediately returned home, and did all he could to save her, but without avail, and a few days later we received the sad news of her death. She had accepted the Sabbath truth about a year before and had been baptized, and we have every reason to believe that she will come up in the resurrection of the just. It is not certain just what her sickness was, but we suspect the bubonic plague; for several of those who came to see her took the plague and died in a few days; and a number of those living near the chapel—where she was staying—also took the plague and died. Among these were the little son and daughter of one of the most faithful Sabbath-keepers in that section. To many this would be a source of great discouragement, but he, like Job, says, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,” and gives no sign that he loves God any less because of his affliction. Then, last of all, we heard that our faithful chapel boy at that place—Do-gang—had also taken the dread disease, and was dead. He had served the mission faithfully for over four years, and we all miss him very much. He was a worshiper of idols when he first became the caretaker of the Do-gang chapel, but he had been keeping the Sabbath for some time before his death, and had given every evidence of a thorough conversion. During his last illness, he begged his family, who are heathen, not to inquire of the idols for him or to go through with any of the regular heathen rites; and he exhorted them to turn from the worship of idols to the living God. He told them that Christ was coming soon, and exhorted them to prepare to meet him. Our hearts are sad as we think of the sudden death of these loved ones, but we rejoice to know that they died “in the Lord,” and claim the blessing pronounced in Rev. 14:13. And, as we12saw this young man, who, but a few years ago, was a worshiper of idols, dying with the name of his Saviour upon his lips, we felt renewed courage to press forward with this glad news of salvation, and to carry the message of mercy to the uttermost parts of this great empire of China. At the close of the institute, there were four candidates for baptism; one of them is a very intelligent and well-educated young lady who is now teaching the girls' school held in our Amoy chapel building. Two of the four that were baptized had never been members of any other church. We feel to thank God that his truth is gathering out precious souls for the heavenly kingdom, and we hope that you will all remember this needy field in your prayers. “So you, too, don’t know what an inch of rain is exactly,” said the weather clerk, as he looked at his rain-measuring instrument. “Very few people do, it seems. I’ll explain it to you.” “An acre is 6,272,640 square inches. An inch of water on an acre is therefore 6,272,640 cubic inches. That amount, at 227 cubic inches to the gallon, equals 22,000 gallons, or 220,000 pounds, or 100 tons. “An inch of rain is, in other words, rain falling at the rate of 100 tons to the acre.”—Philadelphia Bulletin.