It has been the policy of Satan to counterfeit the work of God. When Jehovah worked signs and wonders by the hand of Moses before Pharaoh for the deliverance of his people, it is said of the magicians, who were agents of Satan, They “did so with their enchantments.”
Just before and during the loud cry of the third angel’s message, Satan, true to his principles, will cause counterfeit movements to sweep over the world to divert the attention of the people from God’s special, closing work of the gospel. “God will work in power for his people; and Satan will be permitted to work also. I saw that the mysterious signs, and wonders, and false reformations would increase and spread.”—Early Writings, page 37.
“Satan employs various means by which to accomplish his purposes; and if, under the guise of popular religion, he can lead off the vacillating and unwary ones from the path of truth, he has accomplished much in dividing the strength of the people of God. This fluctuating revival enthusiasm, that comes and goes like the tide, carries a delusive exterior that deceives many honest persons into believing it to be the true Spirit of the Lord. It multiplies converts. Those of excitable temperaments, the weak and yielding, flock to its standard; but when the wave recedes, they are found stranded on the beach. Be not deceived by false teachers, nor led by vain words. . . . There will ever be flashing meteors to arise; but the trail of light they leave immediately goes out in darkness that seems denser than it was before. These sensational religious excitements that are created by the relation of anecdotes and the exhibition of eccentricities and oddities, are all surface work; and those of our faith who are charmed and infatuated by these flashes of light will never build up the cause of God.”—Testimonies for the Church,Vol. IV, page 74.
God can never work at cross-purposes with himself. There can not be a genuine revival of religion where any one of the precepts of God’s law is knowingly set aside. We have a great work to do, and we have no time to devote to side issues that Satan may rattle in our ears, except to rescue the unwary. The shady methods employed by many itinerant “evangelists,” if generally known, would destroy the confidence of the people in their Christian integrity. William R. Moody, son of the great evangelist, in an article in the Home Herald of February 24, says:—
“In older days evangelists depended upon the Spirit of God to draw men to hear the gospel. To prostitute the sacred work of evangelism to the methods of circus and vaudeville was an unheard-of thing. But now the press agent is engaged to supply the secular, as well as the religious press with highly colored reports of the work. The evangelist is the object of adulation, and only too often the message is less reported than the messenger. In a recent mission one of the leading ministers who was in heartiest sympathy with the work, expressed to us his regret that such highly colored reports had appeared in the press. The work was hindered rather than helped by the statements that ‘the city was stirred as never before,’ and ‘thousands were being converted.’ And yet these reports were prepared by a member of the evangelist’s staff who was engaged for that purpose. Within a short time we received letters from two evangelists, asking what rates would be charged for inserting their portraits in its columns, as they wished to be better known in evangelistic work.
“But probably the greatest evil in modern evangelism is the spirit of commercialism. As a certain minister recently expressed it, ‘Evangelism is suffering from the financial microbe.’ Evangelists of the older type refused to bargain for their services. Their first question was, ‘What are the prospects for a united effort?’ Compensation was not even mentioned, the evangelist accepting what was offered for his services. To-day the advance or business agent presents terms which in more than one city we have heard of have been too exorbitant to permit of a mission. Several experiences of this kind have been repeated to us from different parts of the country, as well as from Great Britain. Many earnest men, themselves imbued with an evangelistic spirit, find that it is necessary, in order to conduct union evangelistic services on a larger scale, to invite and entertain at great expense, not only the evangelist and his singer, but his press agent, stenographers, soloists, and others. From a reliable source we have been informed that during the past year a certain evangelist in this country made the statement that results of his last year’s ministry had netted him fifty thousand dollars, while still another evangelist is reported to have accepted a large sum of money from a lecture bureau to give the story of his conversion as a popular platform lecture.
“There are those who will seek to condone these methods by pointing to certain results which have followed their use, and the conversions which have been reported. Even those who do not approve of introducing into the work of Christ the methods of the circus and the theater will nevertheless quote St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, where for the sake of the weak he is willing to become weak that he may gain them, and asserts, ‘I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.’ This, however, is to lose sight of the large number to whom the methods of sensationalism and the spirit of commercialism are a stumbling-block. The older methods of evangelism refused to make the preaching of the gospel a matter of barter, and looked to the preaching of the gospel itself as its own best means of drawing multitudes. In its place there has come the adulation of the individual, effected by press notices prepared by salaried clerks, and in some cases even the space in the newspaper itself has been purchased by evangelists. The time has come, we believe, when the church itself should demand a reform in evangelistic work, and insist that it be conducted under the direction of the church.”
In the same number of the Herald Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D., says:—
“Modern evangelism is increasingly costly. Sometimes it has a fixed price and does not hesitate to announce it, and it runs into high figures. To invite a campaign, with all its aids and accessories, may involve an expenditure of a thousand dollars a week, in some cases ten thousand a month. Single churches can not assume such a burden, and a whole city must marshal its forces to lift the load. The worth of one soul outweighs millions of money; but when avarice baits the hook, the fisher may get caught rather than the fish, and whenever money gets hold of an evangelist, his spiritual power is gone.
“Modern evangelism makes much of numbers, parading statistics, and often with a reckless mode of reckoning. It is easy to secure a show of numbers, but such numerical estimates are very deceptive and misleading. If superficial means be adopted, if people are encouraged to think that some simple outward act or step carries merit or brings salvation, or if in any way there is a carnal appeal to the hope of some self-advantage, there will be a ready response.”
Sometimes the evangelists arrange with merchants to close their places of business on certain days, that their employees may attend the meetings, making it appear to be a spontaneous movement in response to a deep religious feeling. Rising votes are called for by these evangelists, and the question is put in such a form that one has to respond in the affirmative, or tacitly declare himself to be an infidel or an agnostic. Jesus says, concerning false teachers, “Go not after them.” Luke 17:23.
Grandville, Mich.
The Eastern Polynesian Mission
By B. J. Cady
B. J. CADY
The people of Pitcairn Island were the first in eastern Polynesia to accept the truths of the third angel’s message. Many of our readers doubtless remember when our missionary ship, the “Pitcairn,” was purchased eighteen years or so ago, and sent out to the South Sea islands. When it started on its mission, the first island visited was Pitcairn, where the inhabitants had begun to observe the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here, a large number were baptized and organized into a church. The ship then sailed to the Society Islands, which lie twelve hundred miles a little to the north of west from Pitcairn Island. Three islands of this group were visited at that time,—Tahiti, Raiatea, and Huahine,—and as a result, a few persons on each of them became interested in the truths of the message. The ship called at Rurutu, in the Austral group, at Rarotonga, of the Cook Islands, and then went on toward the west, visiting Fiji and other islands of central Polynesia, and also Norfolk Island and New Zealand. On its way back to the United States, Brother E. H. Gates and wife were left on Pitcairn Island, and Brother A. J. Read and wife at Tahiti.
STREET SCENE IN RAIATEAN VILLAGE
In January of 1893, the “Pitcairn” started on its second cruise, visiting Pitcairn Island first, and then the Society Islands, as on the previous trip. Brother and Sister E. C. Chapman were left in Tahiti to start the printing work, after which we visited Raiatea, the second island in size and importance in the Society group, which lies about one hundred twenty miles from Tahiti. Here, the natives made an urgent plea for a missionary to be left among them, and it was finally decided that Mrs. Cady and I remain.
During the sixteen years since we first came to this field, quite a number have come and labored with us for a time, but for various reasons, the most of them have returned to the home field. At present, we have Brother and Sister George Sterling and H. L. Fowler looking after the training home and other interests on Raiatea, and Brother and Sister Henry Thomas have lately come to Papeete, Tahiti. Brother M. W. Carey, of Australia, is laboring on Pitcairn Island, and Brother F. E. Lyndon and wife, of New Zealand, are at Rarotonga. Some of our island people have developed into workers. Paul Deane, who labors for the natives, is on the island of Huahine just now, and Brother J. R. McCoy, of Pitcairn, travels with our missionary schooner the “Tiare.” His daughter Winnie is proving a valuable assistant in the circulation of the Tahitian paper. One of our native brethren of Rarotonga has recently visited Aitutaki and Mangaia, laboring in the interests of the truth and in the circulation of our Rarotongan literature. We have also some young people in our training home at Avera, Raiatea, who we hope may soon be prepared to take some part in active service for the Master. At present, my wife and myself are on a furlough in the United States, but we hope to return to the islands in July.
We now have three organized churches and three church buildings on Tahiti, one organized church on Raiatea, a company of Sabbath-keepers on Huahine, a church on Pitcairn, and one on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. For some time, we have been collecting money to build a church on Raiatea, and hope to get it up before the end of this year.
We have two small eight-page papers in the Tahitian and Rarotongan languages that are printed monthly at our Avondale Press in Australia. These papers are well received, not only because literature in the island languages is scarce, but because they are made both interesting and instructive to the native mind, and are attractive in appearance. They both have a good circulation. We have about four hundred subscribers for the Tahitian paper in about fourteen different islands.
The Tahitian language is used in nearly all the eastern Polynesian islands. In the Cook Islands, the language varies somewhat from the Tahitian, yet is very similar to it. The Marquesas islanders have a different dialect, also the Gambier islanders, but there are very few of the people in the eastern Polynesian field who do not speak and read the Tahitian, as Tahiti is the commercial center, and there is a great deal of traffic between13it and all the surrounding islands. The Tahitian Bible is used by the natives all through this field, except in the Cook Islands, where the Rarotongan language is spoken.
The Cook Islands and Pitcairn belong to Great Britain, but all the rest of the islands in this field are under the French rule. Our people are generally acquainted with the history of Pitcairn Island, and know that its inhabitants are English-speaking people. They have a peculiar dialect that they use among themselves, but all speak and read the English. It has been a little over one hundred years since Christianity was first introduced into these islands, and now the majority of the people are nominal Christians. In the Society, Austral, and Cook islands, the Protestant religion, as taught by the London Missionary Society, predominates. The Tuamotu islanders are usually Mormons or Catholics, and the majority of the Gambier islanders are Catholics. Both Catholics and Protestants are working in the Marquesas Islands, but I understand that heathenism still prevails among the people to a great extent.
Because of evil habits, there is a great deal of sickness among the natives, and they are rapidly decreasing. They are slow to adopt new ideas, and even after they accept new truths, it is very hard for them to change their manner of life. On this account, the work moves slowly; and the people are not very stable, so we are often disappointed in them. Yet, we are told that among the redeemed there will be representatives from every kindred, nation, tongue, and people; so we trust that some of these people are to be there. They must have an opportunity to learn the truth of God, and some one must teach them and bear patiently with them, as the Lord does with us. So we deem it a privilege to labor among them, trusting that we shall have some sheaves to show for our work at last.
L. D. SANTEE
By L. D. Santee
Christ
L. D. SANTEE
CHRIST stands so near in every time of sorrow,
To strengthen day by day,
Safe in his care, I fear no coming morrow,
He is “the life, the way;”
Fears and temptations, howsoe’er insistent,
Through him, are overthrown:
He is a Saviour near, and not far distant,
My willing heart, his throne.
Loyal to him, through every passing hour,
In every time and place,
Kept from all sin by his almighty power,
Rejoicing in his grace,
So would I live through all time’s changing weather,
Through pathways bright or dim,
I and my Saviour journeying together,
Living alone for him.
Welcome the way if Jesus walk beside me
With pleased, approving face,
Welcome the burdens; whatso’er betide me
Is but a means of grace.
Do what thou wilt to mold me to thy pleasure,
O blessed Lamb of God!
Heap thou of hardship yet another measure
Where thy dear feet have trod.
If my feet bleed from sharp stones on the mountain,
Thy footsteps went before;
They’ll rest at last beside life’s living fountain,
The toilsome journey o’er.
Until the time when all the saints shall gather
In the bright world above,
Guide and protect and shield me, O my Father,
And lead me by thy love.
Moline, Ill.
In the Kingdom of Saxony
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
The second annual session of the Saxon Conference was held in the manufacturing city of Chemnitz, January 20-24. The territorial boundaries of this field include simply the small kingdom of Saxony, cut off from the East German Conference one year ago. The kingdom of Saxony is the most densely populated country on the Continent; although it is only a little larger than the State of Connecticut, its population numbers over four and one-half millions, or about seven hundred seventy-nine persons to the square mile. Here we have a unique condition of things, for there is a Roman Catholic king, ruling a thoroughly Protestant country. I am told that many are turning from Protestantism to Romanism, to ingratiate themselves into the favor of the court. In the days of Augustus III (1738), Count Bruehl, his minister, laid out the beautiful Bruehl terrace adjoining the royal palace in Dresden, and water was let in from the Elbe, to form pleasing artificial lakes.
At one time the kingdom of Saxony was very rich, because of its productive silver-mines; but with the discovery of silver in other parts of the world, the price of silver has so fallen that to-day the miners here are gradually being pensioned off, and it seems but a matter of time till these once renowned silver-mines will fall into disuse.
There is, however, a mine in Saxony that is not decreasing in its productive powers, and the kingdom of the Owner of this mine will never fall into decay. His miners have been busily engaged during the past year in this part of the German empire, and as a result, eighty-seven souls, all of whom we trust may prove to be more precious than fine gold in the day of judgment, have been gathered in.
After auditing the accounts of the laborers, there was a surplus of over three thousand marks for the year. There has also been a constant growth in means. However, in one department—the tract and missionary work—there seems room for increased activity, and a resolution was passed at the conference, laying special stress upon this branch of the work for the coming year. There were about two hundred of our people, representing the eight churches and the four companies in this field, at the conference. Thirty-eight copies of “Ministry of Healing” and fourteen of “Parables” were sold here. As the total membership of the Saxon Conference is four hundred thirty-four, the percentage of the members in attendance was good. For the new school building in Friedensau, 1,862 marks was raised. The Sabbath-school donation amounted to 224 marks for the day. One hundred ninety-six members were present. The conference voted one thousand marks of its tithe to assist the work in Galicia.
The same general line of thought was followed by the resolutions as had been developed in the preceding German conferences of the season. For a time it almost seemed that we should have no permission from the police to hold the conference. When this was reluctantly granted, we were told that we would not be permitted to take up any collections. However, about two hundred sixty marks came in from our people for the purpose of meeting the conference expense.
The companies in Neustadt, in Saxony, and in Zwickau, with a combined membership of twenty-seven, were received into the conference. Brother Paul Staubert was ordained to the ministry on Sabbath, January 23. Brother K. Sinz was re-elected president of the conference. The help of Brethren H. F. Schuberth, J. H. Schilling, and L. Mathe, and Dr. Behn was appreciated.
We believe that, as never before, the cause of the third angel's message will go forward in this interesting and densely inhabited district. May God add his blessing to that end.
Hamburg.
German East Africa
By A. C. ENNS
A. C. ENNS
A MEETING OF THE NATIVES AT VUASU, GERMAN EAST AFRICA
WE had a most beautiful Christmas week here in Vuasu. The last week in the year was prayer week. I made it a rule to start prayer-meetings about Christmas with the natives. On Christmas morning we had everything arranged, and extended invitations all about our station, asking the people to take part in giving thanks to the Giver of all things for the blessings of the past year, and to pray him to give us a good new year. The picture shows the gathered group, numbering two hundred fifty. We could not get them into our little school building, of eleven by twenty-seven feet; nevertheless we had most attentive audiences. The next day it was the same. They enjoyed listening to the story of the Christ born on earth, who suffered and died for us, but more, who arose and ascended to the right hand of God, whence we await his return.
Vuasu.
Dedication of the Printing Plant in Brazil
By F. W. Spies
F. W. SPIES
FROM January 1 to 7 the Brazilian general committee, and also the Brazilian members of the South American Union Conference committee, met in council at Sao Bernardo, Sao Paulo, to consider the needs of the work, and to lay plans for its more rapid advancement. Many things of importance were discussed, and resolutions adopted. Among other things plans were laid for a several14months' course of instruction for native laborers, especially canvassers. It is hoped that we may soon be able to open a school for the training of workers in or near Sao Bernardo. This is certainly an imperative need.
During the council, on Sunday morning, January 3, the printing plant was dedicated to the Lord. A short sketch of our experiences in finding and purchasing the place was given; and as we realized that in less than two years from the time when we decided to move from Taquary, we could dedicate so large and well-equipped a printing plant, located so centrally for the entire field, we could but feel that it was certainly the Lord's hand that had guided us. Remarks were made setting forth the part this institution is to act in giving the last gospel message to this great country, after which it was, by prayer, solemnly consecrated to the Lord, his blessing being invoked upon the institution, upon those who are employed in it, and upon the precious literature to be sent forth to lighten the pathway of many a soul. May the Lord indeed make this printing plant a lighthouse from which may emanate rays of light that may be the means of saving many precious souls.
On the eighth of this month a general meeting begins in Itapetininga for the Sao Paulo Mission. We are of good courage in the Lord, for we certainly see him working, and in him the work will soon triumph.
Sao Bernardo.
Pygmies in the Valley of the Amazon
CARLETON M. JONES, of San Juan, Porto Rico, representing a company of Boston capitalists interested in the rubber interests of South America, has returned to New York, after an absence of sixteen months on an exploring expedition through the valley of the Amazon. There he found a village of pygmies, which he describes as follows:—
“For a week we traveled by canoe without seeing a human being, and then we came to the village of the queer little creatures, which I judge consisted of at least five thousand inhabitants. They received us without surprise or emotion, due, as I afterward learned, to the fact that an immense feast of boar meat had just been finished. Men, women, and children were so gorged with food and with some sort of fermented liquor, that they were stupid and sodden and paid little attention to their surroundings. In two days they were hungry again and active, and I had an opportunity to observe them more closely. Their average height is about four feet. They are misshapen, and their large heads and faces are ludicrously out of proportion with their paunchy bodies and spindly bowlegs. So far as I could determine, the pygmies had no form of government, and it was evident that they were not warlike, because they possessed no weapons of any description. Many of the men had no forefinger on the right hand. The evidence of amputation was plain, but it was impossible to learn why the finger had been cut off. My guide spoke the language of several Indian tribes, but could not understand a word of the pygmies. I remained in the village a week, and lived on a species of bean, mixed with maize, and boiled. We brought away a number of gourds and copper ornaments as souvenirs.”
Among the Romans, in the period of their best civilization, a village of five thousand such midgets could not well be gotten together, as it was their custom to take such malformed creatures by the heels and dash their brains out against a tree, or dispose of them in some other summary manner. Among the Jews, physical blemishes disqualified a person for the highest offices in the service of Jehovah. Under a Christian civilization, physical infirmity and blight are a greater reason for human pity, sympathy, and help, and if these pygmies have not yet had the light of the gospel, it will not be long before some consecrated men and women will seek them out, to help and bless them.—The Christian Herald.
T. E. BOWEN
By T. E. Bowen
The Relation Between the Local Church and the Mission Fields—No. 3
T. E. BOWEN
“Fitly Joined Together”
THE two former articles dealt with the organization of this cause, and a few points in connection with the work of the Mission Board. This wonderful system of organization is not the result of man's sagacity. It is from the Lord himself. From the very first, it has withstood strong opposition. At this point we wish to call special attention to one feature. One of the surest evidences we have that the plan is from the Lord is that every part of the organization is dependent upon some other part. This reveals the wisdom of the Lord. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” Eph. 4:15, 16.
In the actual working of this cause, how true it is that “the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth . . . maketh increase.”
Let it be observed that the General Conference itself has no territory of its own from which to draw its resources in men and means with which to carry on its work in the mission territory. It is dependent upon the conferences in the Protestant countries of Europe, Australia, and the United States to supply these resources.
Selecting Workers
When a worker is selected to answer some call, the Mission Board does not write directly to the individual worker, but first submits the call to the president of the union conference in which he is laboring. Yet there are times when it becomes necessary, to save time, to write to the president of the local conference at the same time the union president is consulted. But this is the exception, and not the rule. In such instances a note of explanation is addressed to the union conference president.
If the consent of the union and local committees is obtained for the release of the worker, and they concur in the judgment of the Board that his qualifications entitle him to answer the call, then correspondence is taken up with him in view to his going.
Keeping the Wires From Getting Tangled
Our enemies sometimes throw out the charge that some central board exercises lordship and kingly authority in the management of affairs. But how can this be, when the Mission Board is wholly dependent upon the co-operation of those in charge of the work out in the union and local conferences?
Some may ask, Well, why have any General Conference management at all? Why not let each local conference, or anyhow each union conference, or possibly every church, do its own sending out of workers?—Simply because that would result in a medley of confusion at once. There could be no concert of action in a plan of this sort. All wires of purpose and action would be crossed and recrossed, and become hopelessly entangled. Some mission fields would be entirely neglected, while others might be worked altogether out of proportion to others. No; while the General Conference is dependent upon the local fields, likewise the local conferences are dependent upon the counsel and help the General Conference is prepared to give.
As these general men are called to attend the meetings in the union and local conferences, and from time to time visit the mission fields, a familiarity with the entire world field is thus obtained, so that when these different representative men who have entered into the labors of the brethren in charge of the local fields come together in council, they are prepared in an eminent way to conserve the best interests of the whole field in general. All can see this at a glance. Thus the expense of attending these general gatherings, and going to the mission fields, and the time taken to become familiar with the work and workers, is by no means misspent or unnecessary. On the other hand, the interests of the whole field are conserved by intimate acquaintance with each part.
Takoma Park, D. C.
Room for Him Who Bought Us
It is “If our hearts are full of worldliness, there will be no room for Him who bought us.”
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
“THIS is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Our Spanish Literature
By N. Z. Town
SINCE the work started in Spanish-speaking countries, the workers in those fields have felt the need of books treating on the different phases of the message, not only to help establish those who came into the truth, but also to use in doing aggressive work. To this end, from time to time, calls for such literature were sent to the Mission Board. There were many difficulties and delays in providing literature for the Spanish-speaking people; but the Mission Board was not deaf to our appeals, nor blind to the needs. About three years ago our joy was great when we received word from the secretary of the General Conference Publishing Department that steps were being taken to publish several of our standard books in the Spanish language.
In order to carry out these plans, it was arranged that the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the Hamburg Publishing House share the responsibility of producing these Spanish books. Steps were soon taken to have “Great Controversy,” “Bible Readings,” and portions of “Home and Health” translated as quickly as possible. This work has gone ahead as planned. Some of the translations have been made by those not of our faith, but a considerable portion has been done and is being done by Prof. G. W. Caviness, and Brother Ed. F. Forga.
Four sections of “Home and Health”—“Diet,” “Care of the Body,” “The Care and Training of Children,” and “The Home Treatment of Disease”—are now ready for the typesetters. The first two and the last-named sections of this book will be published separately in pamphlet form, and the whole four together in one bound book.
Brother Forga is finishing the translation of “Great Controversy,” and Professor Caviness that of “Bible Readings.” The type is also being set on a corrected edition of “New Testament Primer.”
After the Pacific Press took this work, they secured the plates of “Patriarchs and Prophets” from our publishing house in England. These plates were revised and corrected. New full-page engravings were made, and new ornamental headings added, thus making this book conform in every way to the new English edition. It is now attractive and acceptable for circulation.
The Press has also taken a special interest in getting out a number of well-illustrated Spanish tracts. Four of these treat on different phases of the Sabbath question, and the others are devoted to diet and temperance questions. There will also be one well-illustrated pamphlet of about sixty-four pages, giving instruction in regard to natural treatments, how to avoid disease, with special consideration of hydropathic applications. Proper notices of these books and tracts, with prices, will be published, when they are ready.
It was my privilege to spend six weeks at Mountain View recently, working with Brother Forga in the preparation of some of this literature. He and Professor Caviness have done earnest work during the past year in selecting, translating, and preparing Spanish manuscripts. The work they have accomplished will be greatly appreciated by those working in the Spanish-speaking fields.
During my stay at Mountain View neat prospectuses were prepared both for “Coming King” and “Patriarchs and Prophets,” with printed canvasses for each. The Spanish canvassers have been especially anxious for these.
We are grateful for these advance steps taken in the preparation of literature for the Spanish fields. In every land and in every tongue where this message has gone, the circulation of our literature has had a prominent part. What the circulation of the blood is to the body, the circulation of literature is to this message. We believe it will be the same among the Spanish-speaking people. Many to-day are rejoicing in the truth as a result of the circulation of our Spanish periodicals.
Many of our small books have already been circulated in Spanish fields, and have done great good. But we believe there is a great future before the work with our larger books in these countries. During the past year the Pacific Press shipped over sixteen thousand dollars' worth of Spanish books. A company of canvassers who went to Mexico have met with excellent success in selling our books. Brother T. H. Davis, who has charge of the book work on the west coast of South America, is also meeting with encouraging success, and is confident that canvassing with our large books in those countries can be made self-supporting.
At the close of the coming General Conference we hope to have a company of five or six strong men who will return with us to take up this work in the South American fields. If any one who reads this desires to devote his life to this work in some Spanish field, the Mission Board will be glad to hear from him.
N. Z. TOWN.
A Good Word From Mexico
By J. A. P. Green
I AM favorably impressed that a self-supporting canvassing work can be established here in Mexico. Brother Brown’s first week in Tampico, a city of about nineteen thousand inhabitants, resulted in orders amounting to $77.75, mostly for “El Rey” (Coming King); his second week, $92.25. He is still doing well.
I canvassed two weeks there, after he had taken practically all the business section, and my first week’s work amounted to nearly seventy dollars. The people there seem very hungry for the truth.
Many would stop me on the street to tell of others who wanted my book. One who purchased the book saw me coming a block away, and waited for me. Upon reaching him, he grasped my hand, and told me in Spanish that I had a good book, and he hoped I would sell many more in the town.
This same man met me a day or so after, and called me into his house. He told me to go to a certain person’s house; but as he could not remember the number of the house, he took the price from his own pocket, and paid me for the book.
O, how I wished at that moment that I could speak the language, and explain to him this wonderful truth! How I pray that some dear soul will have a burden for this field! A grand missionary work can be done here.
