p. 18 | Review and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 51. (12/19/1912)

Earlier text: Two South American Schools

The Sabbath-School Lessons for 1913

By G. B. THOMPSON

For the past three years, beginning with the lessons on the life of Christ, we have had uniform lesson topics in all divisions in our Sabbath-schools. The subjects studied have been of special interest, and all have enjoyed the plan of having the same lessons in all divisions.

For various reasons we can not well follow this plan all the time. We have a regular four-year course for the children and young people, consisting of two years in Old Testament history, one year on the life of Christ, six months on the book of Acts, and six months on doctrinal, or topical, questions. As the children and young people pass from one division to another, we can go over and over the same ground in a regular course, such as mentioned above; but all can see that we can not take the senior division over and over the same four years’ course. So for a time we shall have to revert to the plan of having special lessons for the senior division.

Beginning with the first quarter of the year, the intermediate and primary divisions will begin again the regular course. The lessons will begin in Genesis. A most excellent series of lessons has been provided, and we hope these studies will prove a great blessing to all in these divisions.

The senior division will begin a six months’ study on the mediation of Christ, covering his work as priest in the heavenly sanctuary. These lessons, we feel sure, will be of special interest, and will prove very helpful at this particular time. Other good lessons are to follow.

We urge a study of the lessons in the senior division especially, for we feel that there is a serious lack of real Bible study in our Sabbath-schools. Looking over the lesson for a short time is not studying the lesson. Many persons come up to the recitation of the lesson on the Sabbath having studied it very little. This is very sad indeed. Mental gymnastics are not a pleasing task to many. Some are intellectually lazy, and mental sloth is as wicked as any other kind of laziness.

The cry is sometimes raised, “These lessons are too hard; why don’t you give us something easy? Make them simple so we can understand them.” This may be all right; but when something easy is called for in order to avoid the necessity of doing some hard studying, the request is very unfortunate. Complaint sometimes comes to the Sabbath School Department that the lessons are too difficult, when the real difficulty is not with the lessons, but with the persons who have failed to study hard and long, and do not want to do so.

All our Sabbath-school lessons are Bible lessons. Questions are asked, and the exact Bible texts designated where the answers are to be found. Of course there are deep things in the Bible in the unfolding of the mystery of godliness. We do not have much sympathy with the idea that we are to study only the easy, simple, surface truths of the Bible. All Scripture is for our instruction; and there are times when we should plunge out into the deep and let down the net; when some of the things which Peter says are “hard to be understood” should be considered. God put these things in the Bible for our instruction. But it will require study to unravel some of the things which “the angels desire to look into.” The subject and manner of presenting it may be new, and some of the ideas different from the way we have looked at them. But do not argue, nor get discouraged, but study. The Bible is a mine of truth in which we must dig for the ore. The most valuable diamonds are not found with ease, lying on the surface, but after hard digging, deep down in the earth.

The department endeavors to secure the most capable lesson writers, and to simplify the form of the lessons, and make the manner of their preparation as simple as possible. But it can not simplify the Word. That is with the Lord. All subjects are not equally simple. There is a great difference between the pastoral psalms of David, some simple narrative, a description of the new earth in its Edenic beauty, and some sublime and majestic utterances of Ezekiel by the river Chebar, when wrapped in visions of glory; of Daniel at Shushan, who, when he had a vision of the future, “none understood it;” or of Paul when he was caught up to the third heaven and heard “words, which it is not possible for a man to utter.” 2 Cor. 12:4, margin. But should we not study these deep, sublime things?—Most assuredly. It is in the seemingly inscrutable utterances, given to unfold the mystery of God, that some of the most precious jewels of truth are found. But it will require study to find them. So instead of mourning over the profundity of these subjects of infinite depth concerning the plan and purposes of God and man’s destiny, and wishing for something more easily understood, we should dig in the mine, put our mental machinery to work to the limit, being assured that no mine of truth will fail to yield a rich treasure in return for our toil. Notice the following instruction:—

“The entrance of sin into the world, the incarnation of Christ, regeneration, the resurrection, and many other subjects presented in the Bible, are mysteries too deep for the human mind to explain, or even to fully comprehend. But God has given us in the Scriptures sufficient evidence of their divine character, and we are not to doubt his word because we can not understand all the mysteries of his providence.

“The portions of Holy Writ presenting these great themes are not to be passed by as of no use to man. All that God has seen fit to make known, we are to accept upon the authority of his word. Only a bare statement of facts may be given, with no explanation as to why or how; but though we can not comprehend it, we should rest content that it is true, because God has said it. All the difficulty lies in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind.”

“We shall advance in true spiritual knowledge, only as we realize our own littleness, and our entire dependence upon God; but all who come to the Bible with a teachable and prayerful spirit, to study its utterances as the word of God, will receive divine enlightenment. There are many things apparently difficult or obscure, which God will make plain and simple to those who thus seek an understanding of them. . . .

“There are mines of truth yet to be discovered by the earnest seeker. Christ represented the truth as treasure hid in a field. It does not lie right upon the surface; we must dig for it. But our success in finding it does not depend so much on our intellectual ability as on our humility of heart, and the faith which will lay hold upon divine aid.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. V, pages 609, 700, 704.

The lessons for the senior division, which begin with the first of the year, will perhaps not be so easy as some we have studied. But every lesson is found in the Bible, and deals with a theme vital for this time. We must put

the mind to the stretch. We must train ourselves to think. No one is qualified to pronounce a lesson difficult until he has put in hours of faithful, taxing study upon it.

We feel to urge with all the heart a diligent, prayerful study of the lessons prepared and sent out to be studied in all divisions. We are facing trying times, and we shall need a clear understanding of the Word, in order to stand the trials before us. In the Sabbath-school lessons is found an excellent field for study, and the gaining of an understanding of the Bible. We hope the opportunity afforded will be improved to the utmost.

G. B. THOMPSON, Sec. Sabbath School Dept.

Oregon

By H. W. Cottrell

PORTLAND.—Taking advantage of a providential opportunity afforded us by the present war in Turkey, we secured the largest theater in the city of Portland, with a comfortable seating capacity of three thousand, placing the work of advertising for a Sunday afternoon service in the hands of some of our business men (brethren) who are up-to-date advertisers. The lecture was advertised to be delivered from the viewpoint of the foreknowledge of God, as indicated in the Bible. The theater, which could be had for that period only, was filled to its utmost capacity, and hundreds were turned away.

We followed up this effort with a Sunday evening service in the largest hall we could secure; however, the hall would seat only about eight hundred, so there was not seating room for the people.

Arrangements were then completed to secure the Gipsy Smith Tabernacle for an afternoon meeting Sunday, November 17, with the result of a most appreciative audience of thirty-five hundred persons. Plans are completed to carry forward the work so well begun. Five discourses have already been delivered, covering various lines of prophecy which unmistakably reveal divine evidences of the early end of barbarous wars and earthly affairs, and the soon triumph of God's truth and people.

Elder Luther Warren has done the speaking, assisted in other respects by Elders M. H. St. John and J. T. Nethery, and the writer. H. W. COTTRELL.

Press Bureau Work

By Walter L. Burgan

MANY encouraging letters have been received by the Press Bureau during the past few weeks, in which the writers tell of their success in having reports concerning the work of Seventh-day Adventists published in their home newspapers. The tone of these epistles is an excellent indication that the authors believe in the power of the press as a means for the spread of the gospel, and intend to use it as a part of their commission to preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue.

In order for the readers to appreciate the importance of the following letter, it will be necessary to make an explanation. A few weeks ago the statistical secretary of the General Conference sent to the various conference presidents in North America copies of the printed report dealing with the work conducted by our denomination in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries, and with each package he also sent several copies of a report on this subject prepared in newspaper style, with the request that the presidents invite brethren in different parts of each conference to hand in these reports to their home newspapers. That the work done by our people in these lands has been given such wide publicity through this effort that it can not be measured, is quite certain.

The following letter was sent from the president of one of the conferences in the Northwest:—

“The statistical letter that you sent out some time ago to the various conferences relative to the growth of our work, etc., was received in due time. I gave the copies out to our various workers, asking them to endeavor to get the reports in the newspapers, each in his locality. Brother — has forwarded me one paper from —, in which the report was published apparently in full.

“One of our leading advertising brethren here stated that if I should give him a copy he would see that a copy was furnished every paper in the State. I did so, and I am sure he will do his utmost to place this report in the hands of the editors.”

A brother in one of the conferences in New England writes:—

“I have just sent over [to the newspaper office] an article regarding the development of our work among the people in heathen lands. Every time I get any news worth reporting, I am right after it. I wrote up quite an article recently on the purchase of the 2,200 acres of the Ladysmith battle-field for our mission school in South Africa. I have reported nearly every sermon I have preached since camp-meeting, and during all this time have had but one left out, and the editor told me that it was because of a shower of news reports from the shore resorts.”

Clippings of the reports on the progress we are making in non-Christian and non-Protestant countries have thus far been returned to the Press Bureau from points in California, Indiana, Oklahoma, Delaware, and Rhode Island, while the Washington Post also gave an interesting account of the work. We feel that the work has been even more extensively advertised, though the brethren in other places have not notified us as yet.

Extensive publicity has been given our denomination in connection with the war now going on in Turkey. Not only have copies of a set report dealing with the war in the light of prophecy been sent broadcast to our brethren, with the request that they endeavor to have these copies published, but brethren are preaching on the subject and having extracts of their sermons published. Clippings of a report dealing with the Turkish situation have been returned to the Press Bureau from points in Indiana, Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, South Carolina, Nebraska, and Ontario. The two morning papers of Washington published very excellent accounts of another report dealing with the Turkish trouble which has also been circulated throughout the United States. Brethren in different places, including Grand Rapids, Mich., and Portland, Oregon, have had large reports published of their sermons dealing with the Eastern question.

So well did the editor of the North Pacific Union Gleaner think of the report published in the Portland Oregonian on this subject, that he republished it in full, which ought to encourage other brethren, especially those in that union, to use this powerful medium for the spreading of our message.

Items about Seventh-day Adventists are looked upon with as much importance, if the prominence of the headlines means anything, as are national events. One editor in California was so well pleased with a report about our denomination recently handed to him that he placed a heading on it two columns wide and three inches deep.

We can secure more recognition from newspaper editors and consequently attract more attention from the people by our frequency in submitting items of interest to the editors for publication. Our denomination is alive with news, and the editors are eager to print it; but the brethren must write it. The Lord wants his servants to take advantage of every opportunity now before them to spread the glorious message of his second coming through this powerful agency. WALTER L. BURGAN.

Queensland, Australia

By Morris Lukens

THE Queensland conference and camp-meeting were held at Kelvin Grove, a suburb of Brisbane, September 19-29. This was the first camp-meeting held in the Australasian Union Conference this summer. The camp-meeting was located in a beautiful grove easily reached by the street-cars, and as a result there was a good attendance of the public. It was the purpose of those in charge of the meetings to present the truth in such a way as to meet the great needs of the people. Services had been held in a tent near by preceding the camp-meeting. Several who had attended these meetings and had not yet given themselves fully to the Lord were led to decide for the truth of God during the camp-meeting.

The attendance of our people at this meeting was very encouraging, it being the largest gathering of Seventh-day Adventists ever held in the Queensland Conference. This conference contains over 668,400 square miles, and scattered over its territory are 350 Sabbath-keepers. Some, in order to reach the camp-ground, were obliged to travel more than seven hundred miles. There was a spirit of harmony and earnestness and love manifested by all who attended, and from the first the Spirit of the Lord seemed to be very near his people. Opportunity was given early in the meeting for all to give their hearts to God, and to reconsecrate their lives to his work. The last Sabbath was a day long to be remembered by those in attendance, on account of the deep movings of the Spirit of God in convicting and delivering souls.

One feature of special interest was the liberal response to the call that was made in behalf of the work. After a short Bible reading by Pastor George Teasdale on the last Sunday at the early morning devotional service, the meeting developed into one of thanksgiving, in which nearly all present took part. It was indeed encouraging to hear the different ones testify to the goodness of God. Some had seen their loved ones converted at the camp-meeting, and all had been blessed in one way or another, and desired to bring a thank-offering to the Lord. One after another testified, and made his pledge. The Spirit of God seemed to draw near; and when the meeting closed, although no one had been urged or even asked to give, yet about $825 had been voluntarily pledged for the carrying forward of the work.

The early morning meetings were sources of special spiritual refreshing, and were enjoyed and appreciated by all who could attend them. One marked feature of all the meetings was the general regular attendance, and especially was this noticeable at the business meetings. The interest taken in the Bible instruction, missionary meetings, health lectures, etc., was such as to indicate

a real spiritual life in the conference. In harmony with the beautiful surroundings, a spiritual calm rested on the encampment and affected every soul that came within its reach, and heartfelt praise, without one discordant note, ascended to God for present blessings and for unstinted goodness during the past year.

Twenty-four rejoicing believers were baptized on the final day of the meeting. Aggressive plans were adopted for the carrying forward of all branches of the work. There is reason to believe that there will be united and vigorous efforts put forth by the whole conference membership during the ensuing year for the advancement of the work in all departments.

In response to the earnest call of the union conference that Elder Teasdale accept the position of principal of the Australasian Missionary College, the brethren in Queensland reluctantly released him from the presidency of that conference. Elder Watson, of Victoria, was unanimously elected president, the other officers remaining about the same as last year. MORRIS LUKENS.

Alabama

By S. D. Miller

MOBILE.—The Master's work is onward in this large Catholic city. My wife and I have placed more than twelve hundred copies of the Signs, besides other periodicals, in the homes of the people during the last few months. It is through these silent preachers that many of the colored people have become deeply interested in the wonderful truths of the Bible. A minister and his family who have recently accepted present truth soon leave for the Oakwood school to gain a preparation for service. As the result of our Bible readings several others have decided to walk in the light. We shall appreciate late, clean copies of the Signs of the Times and the REVIEW AND HERALD, as well as our truth-filled tracts, for free distribution.

S. D. MILLER.

Education in South America

By R. H. Habenicht, M. D.

THE South American Union Conference is composed of the republics of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, with the Falkland Islands as a mission field. It has a population of 20,000,000, the majority speaking the Spanish language. Of this vast multitude only a small per cent can read or write. The younger people are apt and anxious to learn, but the advantages in this direction are so meager that many become discouraged at trying. There are large, thickly populated sections of country where there are hundreds of children and young people and not a school within forty or fifty miles. Many of these inhabitants are farmers who are quite well to do, and they would gladly build schoolhouses, and pay for teachers could they be obtained. Even in many of the cities the government can not supply room for half the children who might attend could they be supplied with teachers. On every hand one will find great numbers who are anxious to learn to read and write. The governments are making efforts to provide school facilities, but the progress is very slow.

Could we at this time be in the field with teachers who would not only teach the people to read but who would sell them our books and papers as their textbooks, the minds of thousands would be impressed with the truths taught, and many would receive the message from reading their daily lessons. In Argentina and Chile we have made a small beginning in the work of education; but we are very poor, and have such limited facilities that we are greatly handicapped in our efforts. Because of lack of help and means in Argentina, I have had to act as teacher as well as doctor; and many, many times I have had to leave my classes to attend some sick person in urgent need. The pupils would patiently wait until I could resume class work. So anxious were they to learn that such interruptions were gladly borne with.

Please remember our two small schools in this great field that are trying to help a few of these dear young people get an education, that they may act as teachers for the rest; and when you know how poorly we are supplied with the necessary things to make these schools a real success, your hearts will doubtless be touched, and you will make the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering of this quarter a large one. As you know, this offering has been dedicated to our schools. I assure you that many glad hearts will well up with thankfulness for the help this offering will be to our struggling schools in this dark part of the world. May it be said in the final day that the offering of Dec. 28, 1912, was the means of bringing the truth to many souls through the help given to our schools in South America.

R. H. HABENICHT, M. D.

News From the Levant

By A. J. GIROU

IN a former letter from Constantinople Mrs. Girou gave some information about the work we were carrying on in that city. Our last efforts in holding tent-meetings were in vain, as the political conditions could not favor such things just then. Unless one lives in this country it is almost impossible to understand the strict rules of the government and the manner in which they are enforced. Although not able to secure permission for the tent, we continued our meetings in a private hall in Scutari. It was decided at the time of our conference that I should study the Turkish language. In order to do this best I should be in a place where only Turkish is spoken; therefore we left the work in the hands of others, and moved to Smyrna a month ago.

This city has a population of about three hundred fifty thousand. Perhaps three fourths of the people are Christians, belonging to the Orthodox, Gregorian, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches. One can hear almost all the different languages of the country, as well as European languages, spoken. This makes our missionary work quite difficult indeed, as I am obliged to speak much through an interpreter. I count myself fortunate to have an interpreter (my wife) who is able to translate into several of the native languages.

As I am writing these lines, Turkey is carrying on the war against the Balkans. The Turkish press is speaking of the victory their army is each hour gaining over the enemy, while the foreign papers tell the contrary; therefore we have no authentic news about the true condition of affairs. The people are impatient for details. There is great fear that Russia will give her aid to the Balkans, and thus bring European Turkey to an end. Those at the head of the government also see this danger, and one of their orators has lately declared that if the European part of the country should be removed from their hands, they would sign this treaty with blood, and leave nothing but a desolate land for their victorious enemies. When we look at their past history, we see where this patriotic fanaticism may lead, when united with religious fanaticism.

Recently a train carrying soldiers was struck by another train, and about three hundred were killed and injured. As this incident happened just at the commencement of hostilities between the Greeks and Turks, the Turkish inhabitants of the city of Aidin rose against the Greeks (these Greeks are Turkish subjects, and not of the number who fight against Turkey), accusing them of having secretly laid plans for this collision. Notwithstanding all measures taken by the government to keep order, a number of Greeks were massacred, among whom was an orthodox priest. Rumors of such massacres come from other parts of the country. A Protestant paper lately told of two young Christian girls who were taken by the Turks and forced to accept the Moslem religion. These poor girls are now shut up in some harem.

At present we can not hold public meetings here in Smyrna, and it is not safe to go out after five o'clock in the evening. We see the police and soldiers in the streets day and night, but even this does not seem enough to stop robbery and killing. Yesterday a friend told me that a few minutes before starting from his home he had witnessed the death of a Christian only a few steps from his door. In case the trouble should increase, we shall be obliged to leave for Cyprus or some other European island, but we hope this will not be necessary.

Pray with us that out of all these wars a harvest of liberty may come, so that we may be able to proclaim with power the last message of the eternal God. A. J. GIROU.

Field Notes

EIGHT or ten persons in Buenos Aires, Argentina, have identified themselves with us, and are awaiting baptism.

THE brethren who have been holding meetings at Britton, Mich., report that eight are keeping the Sabbath there.

AT Changsha, Hunan, China, nine candidates were recently baptized. At the close of a general meeting in Hunan, thirty-two were baptized.

As the result of meetings recently held at Hamilton, Mont., twelve new members have been added to the Sabbath-school, and four adults taken into the church.

SINCE the beginning of the year fifty-three persons have united with our churches in the vicinity of London. About fifty others have begun to keep the Sabbath, and to walk in the light of the message.

ELDER W. F. KENNEDY baptized three persons at Cassoday, east Kansas, several weeks ago. Four others have begun the observance of the Sabbath, and a Sabbath-school of seventeen members has been organized.

FROM the Upper Columbia Conference, Elder P. A. Hanson reports the organization of two new churches, one at Craig Mountain, Idaho, with a membership of fifteen, and the other at Nezperce, with eleven members.

FIFTEEN persons are reported by Elder J. W. Beams as having taken their stand for the truth at Blythedale, Mo., recently. As the result of a tent effort at Clinton, twenty-seven have been converted and baptized. Fifteen new believers were baptized on a recent Sabbath by Elder M. Mackintosh, and seven members have been added to the Seventh-day Adventist Church for colored people.

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press

— During the past year one aviator was killed for every 62,000 miles flown.

— King George of England rules 11,475,054 square miles of the earth’s territory, and 378,725,857 of its population.

— According to notice issued by Secretary of the Treasury MacVeagh recently, white phosphorous matches will not be permitted to be imported or exported after Jan. 1, 1914. This is in compliance with a recent act of Congress.

— The militant suffragettes of England decided at a recent meeting to resort to the use of explosives in the event of the government’s refusing to incorporate woman suffrage in the forthcoming franchise bill. Volunteers are to be called for to use bombs both inside and outside the House of Commons.

— In Vienna every man’s home is his dungeon from 10 P. M. to 6 A. M. Vienna is a city of flats, and at 10 P. M. the common entrance door of each block is closed and bolted. Thereafter persons passing in and out must pay a fine of 2d. to the concierge until midnight, and 4d. from that hour to 6 A. M. To go out to post a letter costs 2d., and the same amount to return. To prolong a visit to a friend after 10 P. M. means 2d. to get out of his house and 2d. more to enter your own. A natural result of this irritating tax is that of all capital cities Vienna is earliest to bed.

— Canada proposes to add three of the most powerful battle-ships afloat, at a cost of $35,000,000, to the naval defense of the British empire. These vessels are to be built in Great Britain, and will form part of the British fleet, but they can be recalled to form part of a Canadian navy should such a step be necessary.

— On December 6, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson submitted to President Taft the last annual report he will make as head of the United States Department of Agriculture. This report contains a summary of the agricultural advance of the country during his long term of sixteen years. Statistics show that the value of farm products has advanced from $4,000,000,000 to $9,532,000,000 annually.

— One of the reforms which the new leaders in China desire to carry out is the simplification of the system of writing. The old way required the student to memorize about 8,000 ideographs, or word-signs. A committee of learned men has been at work on the preparation of an alphabet, and has now devised one which will represent every sound in the Chinese tongue. This alphabet comprises forty-two characters, twenty-three of them vowels and nineteen consonants.

— A gun of fourteen-inch caliber and of fifty tons’ weight, the largest and newest type built by the United States government, at a cost of $130,000, exploded at the Sandy Hook proving-grounds December 9. While the explosion of smaller guns has taken scores of lives, the big fourteen-incher blew to pieces without causing so much as a scratch to the men around it. The two-ton breech-block was blown a quarter of a mile, the muzzle was hurled still farther away, and fragments were spread in every direction.

— The German government has decided to introduce an imperial petroleum monopoly in the wholesale oil trade. This new enterprise in oil will be conducted on the same plan as the Imperial Bank, which has been most successfully managed. It is declared that this new governmental effort will be a blow to the Standard Oil Company, as well as an economical venture. The Roumanian and Galician oil-wells which have been worked by German capital are to be taken over, and, in addition, American petroleum not under the control of the Standard will also be purchased. The imperial company will be formed by the greatest banks of Germany.

— Exhibits at the Museum of Anthropology of the University of California in San Francisco show that some of the aboriginal tribes supposed to be densely ignorant showed remarkable skill in invention. Among these is the Eskimo with his oil-heater and cook-stove, his water-tight boat, the arch in building, the water-proof overcoat, the best fish-spear ever invented, the spear-thrower, and the harpoon. From Peru comes a whistling jar said to be 2,200 years old. One pulls a string, and “chirp, chirp,” goes the little bird on the cover of this pre-Inca relic. The jar is double, Siamese-twin fashion, and when partly filled with water and tilted by the pulling of the string, the air rushes out of the little slit in the bird’s mouth, producing a call like a live bird. All the inventions are not to be credited to this generation.

The Education of Our Children

By Mrs. F. H. DeVinney

ONE of the great causes of anxiety in this field [Japan] is the education of our children. The government requires the attendance of all of school age at the public schools, unless especially excused. This means the attendance of all our children on the Sabbath, as school is held upon that day, unless the requirement for an excuse is conformed to. This is already very difficult, and is fast becoming impossible; so what we do to establish schools of our own must be done soon. The government will now allow us to maintain our own schools upon certain conditions, which we are unable to meet because of the lack of money, and laborers who can be given to this work.

Is it not a pity that heathen teachers can have the training of our children six days in the week, and we can have them but one day in which to instruct them in the things of God? In Japanese schools they are trained to worship the same picture of the emperor, and, in a number of cases of fire, the teachers have given their lives in attempts to save the picture from the flames. Every boy, from the time he enters the first grade until he leaves school, is drilled in military tactics, and patriotism, which, in its last analysis, means the worship of the emperor and of the spirits of his ancestors; and to give himself, body and spirit, to the state is constantly held before him as being the highest ideal of manhood.

We are seeking permission from the government now to establish a school where our boys and girls can be trained as loyal subjects of the kingdom of heaven, and we are praying for the help we must have to comply with the requirements of the government, and to build and equip the school.

MRS. F. H. DeVINNEY.

Christian Education

By H. R. SALISBURY

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference

H. R. SALISBURY Secretary

Emmanuel Missionary College

By O. J. GRAF.

Students and Foreign Missions

RECENTLY at the close of a chapel exercise, slips of paper were passed to the students on which they were asked to answer these questions:—

Are you planning to go to a foreign field as a missionary after you have obtained your education?
Are you willing to go if the Lord should call you?
What is your choice of field?

The slips were gathered and the answers classified with the following interesting results: Those definitely planning to go to foreign fields, 49; willing to go if the Lord calls, and have a choice of field, 33; willing to go if the Lord calls, but have not a choice of field, 50. Total, 132. Total number of replies received, 156.

A classification of the fields chosen revealed the following:—

China .................... 19 India .................... 19 Africa ................... 17 South America ............ 14 Japan ..................... 4 Holland ................... 1 Persia .................... 1 Islands ................... 1 Abyssinia ................. 1 Australia ................. 1 Cuba ...................... 1 Mexico .................... 1 Total .................... 80

It is our prayer that the Lord will help these young people to prepare speedily and thoroughly for the work to which they are consecrating their lives.

O. J. GRAF.

Guatemala English School

By J. G. PETTEY

We are glad to report that the past year has been a banner year financially for the English School in Guatemala. It has not only met its expenses for the year, but has canceled some debts previously made. The outlook for the future is encouraging, but we must have another teacher for the coming year.

The need of a man who can take charge of the real missionary phase of the work is very great, since it is not possible for those engaged in the school to devote much time to this all-important line. There are a few persons who manifest much interest in the Bible studies that are given from time to time, and we feel sure that the efforts of an experienced worker would produce immediate results. Our prayer is that such a worker may be provided for this field.

J. G. PETTEY.

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