TAKE your Bible with you and read it. A vacation is a good opportunity to become better acquainted with God's Word.
Be careful as to the friends and companions you choose. A man is judged by the company he keeps.
Do not forget your prayers. You will need God's help and protection against the various temptations of the vacation season.
Take Jesus with you. His presence will assure you a good time of the right sort and a clear conscience after the vacation days are over.
Read if you feel like it. But be careful what you read. Do not waste your time on books of a harmful or even worthless character. The market is full of books of proved merit.
Let your conduct be in accordance with your Christian profession. Do not in the slightest degree let down the bars of decency and propriety. The vacation season is called the "foolish season." Let it not be so in your case. Your self-respect is something too precious to give up lightly. And remember that God's eyes are upon you.
Deport yourself in such a manner that you may have only pleasant memories of your vacation, and others may have only pleasant memories of you. Little deeds and words of kindness will make you and others happy.
Get out into the open. Get near to nature's heart. Learn to appreciate the power and majesty of God in the glories of his creation round about you. Live under the open sky. It will do you good, body and soul.
Do not let your vacation be a time only of gaiety and ceaseless pleasure-seeking. Let it be a time also of relaxation. Get acquainted with yourself. Get to know yourself a little better. A little sober thought, a little self-analysis, is most wholesome.
Finally, again, take Jesus with you.—New York Lutheran.
The Glorious City of Zion
By Mrs. M. H. Timanus
MRS. M. H. TIMANUS
O GLORIOUS city of Zion!
Thy glories no mortal hath seen;
Thy river and streets clear as crystal,
Thy trees and thy fields ever green.
Thou needest no sun to shine in thee,
O city so wondrously bright!
Nor moon, nor the light of a candle—
The glory of God is thy light.
O glorious city of Zion!
O city so free from all pain!
The saved of all nations walk in thee,
Forever and ever they reign.
"O come," say the bride and the Spirit,—
And let him that heareth say,
"Come,"—
"And take of the life-giving water
And share in that beautiful home."
O glorious city of Zion!
We long for thy evergreen shore;
For there we shall see our dear Saviour,
And rest in his love evermore;
And there with the saints and the angels
We'll join in the heavenly strain:
"Thanksgiving, and honor, and power
To God be forever. Amen."
Baltimore, Md.
New Jersey
By W. H. Smith
NEWARK.— Sabbath, July 5, was a day that will long be remembered by every member of the Newark church. We held our first baptismal service in the new church, where twenty-two believers followed their Lord in the ordinance of baptism. Seven of these were of the Bohemian company, the results of the earnest labor of Brother Paul Matula, the pastor of that church. There were seven other persons who had purposed to be baptized with the above-named company, but unavoidable circumstances kept them away. They, with several others, will go forward in baptism at the next opportunity granted.
On June 29 we opened our tent services for the summer, near Twelfth Street and Seventh Avenue, Roseville. We were more than pleased with the first service. It was impossible to seat the people who were present in our 40 x 60-foot tent. The attendance during the week, while not so large as that of Sunday night, has been very satisfactory, both the attendance and interest increasing with every passing evening. We hope all our dear brethren throughout the great harvest-field will remember the work in this large city. Pray that God will keep us from mistakes and that he may have the right of way in every step that is taken, that the outcome of the effort may be the gathering in of many more precious souls into the kingdom. W. H. SMITH.
The South Dakota Conference and Camp-Meeting
By G. F. Watson
This meeting was held in Sherman Park, about three miles from the city of Sioux Falls. Elder Charles Thompson, president of the Northern Union, opened the meeting Friday evening, June 20, by giving a stirring and timely discourse. He left the following Monday evening for the North Dakota camp-meeting, which convened the same date in Bismarck. We all regretted that it was necessary for him to leave, but we tried to carry out his admonitions and requests.
Elder J. S. James, of South India, assisted throughout the meeting, and what he had to say was much appreciated. Prof. C. L. Benson, of College View, Nebr., labored earnestly for the young people. Elder P. E. Broderson, of Chicago, worked for the Scandinavians, as well as assisting in the large meetings. Brother S. N. Curtiss, of Kansas City, made an earnest effort to lift the book work to its rightful place in this cause. Several other laborers visited the camp on their way to different meetings. Among these were F. E. Painter, the Northern Union Conference bookman, and Prof. Frederick Griggs, of Union College. Elder M. L. Andreasen, of Hutchinson, Minn., spent the last Sabbath and Sunday with us. These dear fellow workers used the time to good advantage while they remained on the ground, and the hearts of the campers were made glad by their timely instruction.
Our German brethren and sisters were much disappointed by the failure of Elder H. F. Graf to reach the camp. We all did what we could to help them, but of course were not able to take the place of a German minister.
The business of the conference passed off with the best of feeling and unity. Elder C. M. Babcock was unanimously reelected president, with a few changes in the conference committee. Miss Florence Miller, who has for many years carried the Sabbath-school work, asked to be relieved, and her work was given to Mrs. H. M. Shoals. As Brother M. E. Anderson asked to be released from his departmental responsibilities that he might devote all his time to ministerial effort, Miss Alma DuBois was elected to take the Missionary Volunteer and educational work.
We were all pleased to note that the spiritual work deepened as the work of the conference progressed. Thursday, June 26, after spending some time in considering spiritual topics, the financial side of our message was presented and over $3,100 was given for home and foreign work. The speaker called for five-hundred-dollar men to start with, and three responded. The people gave willingly, for which we thank the Lord.
Sabbath, June 28, was the day of all days on the camp. God had his way with many. Over one hundred, young and old, came forward for spiritual help, out of which thirty-four followed their Lord in baptism.
While at times during the meeting the rain fell in torrents, only one service was broken up, the last Sunday night meeting. One very impressive service was the ordination of Brother C. F. Cole to the gospel ministry, after which the large audience was divided into several groups, and in a few moments hundreds of earnest believers testified to the goodness of a kind Heavenly Father. The universal testimony was that this had been the best camp-meeting ever held in the State and the largest for years. Young and old were labored for, and God gave many victories.
The writer enjoyed every moment of the time. Many old friends were present, and many new ones were made. On the whole, the South Dakota conference and camp-meeting was a grand success, so say we all. To the dear Lord be all the praise.
G. F. WATSON.
Feeding a Huge Camp-Meeting
By Waldon Fawcett
PREACHERS and religious workers whose duties embrace the conduct of camp-meetings or other similar open-air gatherings have recently been making pilgrimages in considerable numbers from all parts of the country to Takoma Park, Md. The magnet which has drawn these churchmen — leaders in their respective communities, who must, perforce, be of a practical as well as a spiritual turn of mind — has been found in the opportunity to observe the routine of what is frequently referred to as the world's greatest camp-meeting.
Once every four years representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination assemble in a world conference, which continues in session for a month or more. Adventists come from all quarters of the globe and "camp out" in a model tented city during the Conference. It is not alone the programs given in the huge assembly tent that attract. Many of the visitors are deeply interested in the ways and means of caring for the material needs of those in attendance. The Adventist officials have not only been willing to disclose their methods, but have afforded every facility to persons, whether of their own denomination or not, who have journeyed to Takoma Park to get "pointers" on this subject.
It is safe to say that no camp-meeting in the length and breadth of the land presents harder problems in connection with cooking and serving food than does the Conference in Maryland, which has come to be regarded as a national object-lesson. For one thing, there is the circumstance that the scene of the Conference is in a somewhat isolated locality, and there being few, if any, regular eating-places in the neighborhood capable of caring for strangers, it becomes necessary to provide meals for virtually all those in attendance at the Conference. As many of the delegates camp on the grounds, the responsibility is not merely for a midday meal, but for three meals every twenty-four hours. Finally, the fact that hospitality must extend not over days, but weeks, precludes the possibility of those makeshifts, suggestive of the basket-picnic idea, which are resorted to in the case of many a brief camp-meeting.
The officials of the International Conference of Adventists, as the result of experience, have gradually reduced to a fine science the task of feeding the multitude. A large dining-tent is maintained at a central location on the Conference grounds, and connected with this are kitchens which, in point of system and equipment, are worthy to rank with those in the average large city hotel. During the Conference of 1913 there were served in this dining-tent an aggregate of upward of 100,000 meals. On occasion 4,000 to 5,000 persons had to be cared for, and repeatedly the dining-room force demonstrated its ability to serve 2,500 people within an interval of from one hour to one and one-half hours. The dining-room and kitchen staff totaled 125 persons, and the salary list was approximately $600 a week.
Persons who made a study of the culinary department at the gathering in Takoma Park soon found the secret of its success. It was system, always system, with rigid economy of time and space. The kitchens, as has been explained, directly adjoined the dining-tent; but in order to minimize the effect of inclement weather, the kitchens were installed in rough wooden buildings rather than in tents. Ranges and ovens of the latest approved pattern were provided, but these were not as numerous as they would have had to be but for the fact that the Adventists serve exclusively vegetarian menus. There were machines, all operated by electricity, which did the work of dozens of persons in preparing the vegetables, and there was even an individual butter cutter which turned out with almost incredible rapidity the individual squares of butter served to each diner. Potatoes were pared by friction, the skins being removed without a suggestion of tearing, pounding, or bruising; and dish-washing machines, likewise operated by electricity, cleansed thousands of dishes after every meal with very little breakage.
From the kitchens food was transferred direct to the steam-tables, ranged in double tier in the center of the dining-tent. This was one of the most ingenious features. In such temporary quarters it was, of course, impracticable to have steam-tables such as are utilized to keep food hot in restaurants and hotels; but tables were constructed with racks into which pans would fit snugly, and beneath these were placed burners, such as are to be found in the ordinary gasoline-stove, with the result that the heat was easily regulated and all food was kept piping hot for the late comers. Most of the serving in the dining-tent was done by young women, and they were so well trained that the serving of each course in a meal proceeded like clockwork.
The menus for all meals were posted in advance on large bulletin-boards outside the dining-tent. Persons who did not choose to patronize the dining-room17were free to go to a lunch-counter, which was operated in connection with the dining-room and under the same canvas roof. Or, if preferred, a visitor could be even more independent by making such purchases as he might desire at a full-fledged grocery and provision store that was conducted in this same connection. This store not only furnished the supplies needed for the dining establishment, but all manner of eatables, especially package goods, were retailed over the counter.
Visitors were most favorably impressed by the excellent sanitary conditions in the camp, despite the great quantities of food handled daily and the rapidity with which many of the operations connected with cooking and serving had to be conducted. It was found impracticable to screen the huge tent; yet, thanks to traps and preventives, flies were at a minimum. The manager even resorted to the expedient of erecting a screened shed, in which all garbage from the kitchens was deposited until it could be burned or permanently disposed of. Another marked improvement over old-time conditions was the provision in the dining-tent of electric lights. — Waldon Fawcett, in Christian Herald.
Missionary Volunteer Department
By A. G. Daniells
M. E. KERN - General Secretary
MATILDA ERICKSON - N. Am. Div. Secretary
The Place of the Missionary Volunteer Movement in Our Denominational Work
THE Missionary Volunteer Department has a place in this denomination, a rightful and legitimate place. It is demanded. It is not here by any artificial arrangement. It is not here hindering other important phases of the work because of not being natural and required; it is here and is doing great good directly and a great deal of good indirectly. You cannot limit nor circumscribe the influence and the service, which it is rendering.
Like other branches of our work, it overlaps everywhere. Our educational work reaches out and lays hold of men and women, old and young, in the denomination and out of the denomination. To know what our Educational Department is doing, you must study the finished product all the time. You must go to the editorial rooms, where the men who have attended our schools are editing our papers. You must go to the mission fields, where men who have had their training in our schools are laboring. You never can fully understand the influence of the educational work until you get to the very throne of God. There perhaps you will find the limit and the sum of it all.
So it is with the Young People's Department. It is more than an organic affair with a secretary and assistant secretary; with an office, a desk, a Morning Watch Calendar, a list of books prepared for the young people to read, and the office correspondence. It is more than that. It is all those; but they are agencies for a great result—overcoming great things, accomplishing great things.
The Young People's Department affects the fathers and mothers in the cause of God. It gives them true views of child life and the service of the life of young men and young women. It leads them to give their children proper advantages and training and influence.
Then it lays hold of the children, and molds their thoughts, their ambitions, and their ideals in life, and leads them to determine the course of life they will choose and the service they will render. And then it lifts the denomination, because a denomination is judged as much by the young men and the young women and the children in it, as by the old men and the old women; in fact more, for the actions of the young are weighed more, as a rule. They are noticed more than the actions of the older people.
You go into a home, and the actions of the children at the table, in the home, and at the fireside are noticed more by you than the actions of the father and the mother. Somehow the children are brought into the limelight. So it is in the denomination. Let it have a body of converted youth. Let all the young
men and women be converted, consecrated, and giving their service to God, and that denomination will be noticed, and its influence will be felt, and it will become mighty for good in the world. We hardly realize how much influence Christian youth exert in the world.
Once there was a gentleman taking treatment at one of our sanitariums. One morning I stopped and had a little chat with him, and he said to me, "Elder, I have obtained a new view of humanity since coming to the sanitarium. I have all my official life been on the bench, and I have seen the seamy side of humanity, the bad side. Only felons and criminals, as a rule, are brought before me, and I have the rotten part of humanity detailed before me all the time. I am looking at them. I am hearing of their awful deeds, and I had come to think that that is about all there is in humanity—nothing but a mass of rottenness. But here I have seen a new world, a new piece of humanity. I have seen young men and young women here who are honest, who are clean and pure. They are conscientious, and kind, and obliging, and painstaking, and it is a new world to me. Where did you get that kind of young people for this institution? Where did you find them? I never saw any such before. They never come into the courts. They have never come under my observation."
I replied, "We went to God, to the Lord Jesus Christ, to his church, that is where we got them. These young people naturally are like all other young people in the world. But the gospel of Jesus Christ has been working on their hearts. It has been creating them anew; they are Christians."
He continued, "When I first came here, I heard singing in the gymnasium. I stopped at the window, and listened. Then I heard them pray, then I saw them get up and speak and tell of their Christian experience. I wanted to go inside and look at them, and I did. I have been attending their meetings right along, and this is the most wonderful manifestation I have ever seen."
Now the judge did not notice me, the doctors, and the teachers,—it was our young people. I want to say to you, dear friends, it is true that the young people of a denomination are, so to speak, in the limelight of the world, and everybody measures the denomination by their character.
Our Missionary Volunteer Department has to do directly with the young people. If I were to say in just a few words what the place of the department is, I should say its place is to lay hold on every child and youth in the denomination, and mold them for Christ.
Every family that has a boy has an object for which this department exists. Every girl, old or young, in every family of Seventh-day Adventists is an object at which this department aims, and which this department desires and designs to take hold of. That is the scope of it. And we must never rest satisfied until the influence of this department is being brought to bear upon every child in the denomination. It does not matter how much the Sabbath-school is doing to get them to study the Sabbath-school lesson; it does not matter how much the schools may do to draw them into those institutions when they are the right age; and it does not matter what these other690departments do. Here is a work by itself to be done by this department. It is the work of laying hold of these children while they are small, and keeping a grip upon them until they are landed in the work of God somewhere in the world. That is what we must do. And our educational work, and our evangelical work, and our canvassing work, and all branches, will reap the results of the service rendered these children.
Lay hold of these children to bring them to Christ. That is the first thing. That is more important than giving them any intellectual acquirement; more important than training them in the greatest accomplishments—music, art, and all the rest. Bring them to the Saviour. Help them to know there is a God, and that they must give their hearts to him.
The next thing is to exert a constant influence to prepare the young people for the service of Jesus. It is not enough that they recognize him as their Redeemer and surrender their lives to him; they must surrender their lives to join him in the work, and then you must exert that influence until they find a place in the work, just as has been done for the young men you hear giving reports from foreign fields. Somebody spoke to their hearts. Somebody gave them true ideals of life as they grew up. Somebody held on to them until they were placed over there in foreign fields, and today they are noble types of humanity.
Every year I can see wonderful progress being made. The Lord is blessing this department. I feel grateful for the deep interest manifested in it. I feel thankful for the way the parents and ministers feel toward this department, and I am so glad to see the helping hand the greater part of our denomination is giving the youth through this department. May God greatly bless you all, and give you a clearer vision of what is to be done, and greater power to do it. The work is being done, and I believe that we are nearing the point when all our young people will be reached by the love of Christ, and will be a converted body throughout our ranks. That is the aim. It is possible, and we must never stop until this is realized.
A. G. DANIELLS.
Ontario Camp-Meeting
By M. N. Campbell
The Ontario camp-meeting was held on the fair-grounds at Oshawa, Ontario, June 19-29. Those present feel that it was a very successful gathering, viewed from every standpoint. The attendance was good, and the Lord was present by his Spirit to meet with his people.
On the Sabbath, when opportunity was given for a forward move the response was general and immediate. Eleven persons were baptized, and several others will receive the ordinance later at their home churches.
The reports of the laborers showed remarkable returns from the efforts put forth during the past year, and the workers are returning to their fields with a degree of courage that means success for the future.
The Ontario Conference more than met its quota of missionary offerings last year, and the tithe is on the gain.
In addition to the good work accomplished in the evangelistic field, the conference has built a new school at Oshawa to take the place of the unsatisfactory establishment at Lorne Park, which was sold last year. The new institution has two hundred thirty-seven acres of land connected with it, and is housed in a modern, up-to-date school building that is a credit to the field. It has a capacity for seventy-five boarding students. In harmony with the advice of the General Conference brethren, this school will prepare to offer fourteen grades of work when the demand for this grade of work makes it advisable. It will serve as the training-school for eastern Canada. Fifty-two hundred dollars were raised at the camp-meeting toward a fund to complete the enterprise free of debt. The balance is to be raised in the field immediately.
Elder M. C. Kirkendall was reelected president for the coming year, with practically the same corps of officers to assist him. Elders C. S. Longacre and W. C. Hankins were the general laborers present. Their help was greatly appreciated. M. N. Campbell.
Medical Missionary Department
W. A. Ruble, M. D. . . . . . . . . . . General Secretary
L. A. Hansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Secretary
H. W. Miller, M. D. . . . . . . . . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary
Field Experiences of Nurses
THE following excellent report is sent by Dr. G. B. Replogle, of the sanitarium in Argentina. The nurses reporting the experiences are native graduates of the sanitarium. The institution feels justly proud of these workers. The experiences will be of general interest.
Adela Toledo writes from the city of Corrientes as follows:—
“A few days after coming here I went with Brother Rojas to visit various doctors in this capital. Some said that it seemed that Corrientes was not the place to begin work of this kind, but others wished to see it tried.
“On visiting the president of the Council of Hygiene and presenting our diplomas, he said that we had come to the place where competent persons were needed for that kind of work, and assured us of much success and that we could count on his help.
“We had, however, to pass an examination a few days later. For this, they took us to one of the best hospitals in the city. The president of the council and three other doctors who are also members of the council, and other visiting doctors, were present. At first the president had me give a massage to a rheumatic leg, and asked questions, such as, ‘What is the effect of massage?’ and, ‘How often should it be given?’ He was apparently satisfied with the replies. I was shown a seat, and was asked many questions, the answers to which seemed to be well taken.
“When he had concluded, one of the other doctors had a list of questions to ask about things that I had studied at the sanitarium, one of which was, ‘What does this mean, “The History of the Advent Message”?’ This gave me a splendid opportunity in the presence of all to explain to them about the principal points of our faith, after which they thanked me and let me go. Later the diploma was duly registered and signed by the council.
“A few days afterward, not having work, I went out with our health paper Salud y Vida, visiting the families and making acquaintances. Later I was called to give treatments to several women in the hospital, also to a child that is cared for by a Sister of Charity, who is also sister superior of a hospital. She expressed herself as much pleased with my work.
“I was sent by a doctor to the father of the governor of the province, who is suffering with rheumatism in the leg. He was well satisfied with the treatment. I have since been called to treat others of the best families here.
“Several times a week we go to the hospital and sanitarium to give massage and electricity, and sometimes to assist at operations.
“We have had offers to connect with the institutions here. The doctors are asking about our plans for the future. We told them that we are working as opportunity offers, and if possible will establish treatment-rooms. One institution offered to equip us a room, another offered to employ us permanently; but we are content to follow the Lord’s opening providences.”
Alejandro Vedoya, who is also working with our mission at Corrientes, Argentina, writes as follows:—
“I will give some of our experiences. We are happy and content with our work in the city. I passed my examination very well in the presence of four doctors, and now have a provincial diploma that permits me to work at my profession as a nurse. They gave me very difficult questions, but I answered them all.
“I can see that the preparation that I received at the sanitarium is sufficient and complete for my work among the doctors of the world. I shall never forget my home in the sanitarium, and the counsel that I received from the teachers there, which helps to guide me in my work here and in this way to do something for the cause of Christ. I am thankful to the Lord for the success that I have had.
“I can see more clearly than ever how important is the profession of a nurse, and what a faithful nurse can do for those who are without hope in the world.
“I am happy in my work, and have plenty to do. In the morning I go to the sanitarium and help the four doctors in office work and operations. I am earning fifteen pesos a day without any night work. The price of massage is good. They pay from four to five pesos for a general massage, and from three to four pesos for local treatment.
“The doctors here seem satisfied with our work. We are the only trained nurses in the city.”
Louisa Mangold, who is located with our mission in the city of Santa Fe, writes that she is employed as the principal nurse in a sanitarium in that place, and that she enjoys her work.
Brother Pedro Kalbermatten, who is working for our conference in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, writes as follows:—
“I have much pleasure in relating my first experiences as a nurse. It is now a month since I came here to begin my work as a missionary nurse under the direction of the Argentine Conference.
“The first week I visited some acquaintances who are lawyers, doctors, and pharmacists. These persons received me very kindly, and gave me their cards of recommendation to the different doctors, hospitals, and sanitariums. This gave me a chance to call on them and make their acquaintance.
“Some offered me work, but I did not know where to begin. I prayed the Lord to direct me, and truly he opened the door. One night the ambulance stopped in front of my lodging, and brought me an order from the director of the Assistencia Publica (government emergency hospital) to come to see him as soon as possible. I went to see him early the following day. He asked me if I should like to engage as nurse in the ambulance service. After taking in the situation, I was convinced that the place was quite suitable for me, and that in no other place could I have so many opportunities. After the director saw my diploma, he put more confidence in me. I went to work at once. I took off my coat, put on an apron, disinfected my hands, and treated such patients as generally frequent these public institutions. The first thing that I had to do was to open a large abscess, and then treat other classes of wounds.
“I often have to go out with the ambulance to give first aid to very serious cases. Here I can put into practise the precious lessons that I learned at the sanitarium. I cannot but give thanks to the Lord for the privilege of being so situated that I can use my talents in his service.
“The doctors seem to have much confidence in me, and consider me a religious man. I frequently talk to them in regard to the truth. This institution has about twenty doctors, and some six or seven hundred patients a day. I expect the blessing of the Lord in my work. Pray for me.”
Brother and Sister Bartolome Rojas, who went as medical missionary workers to the Indians in Bolivia, write as follows to Dr. Habenicht:—19“MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: My wife joins me in saluting you and the family at the sanitarium. By this letter I wish to acquaint the brethren and sisters of our new residence at the ‘mission indigina,’ in Puno, Peru, on Lake Titicaca. In the daytime it is fine, but at night it is cold. We cannot walk fast nor work hard, as in a short time we get out of breath. With the help of the Lord, we hope soon to be accustomed to the new conditions.
“After our arrival, I went to various places on foot or on horseback with Brother Stahl. He felt ill with malaria, and had to go to bed. He had chills, attended with pains in various parts of the body. This delayed our starting the school and other work. We have several sick persons to attend to every day. There are all classes of diseases, but we have good success with them.
“Now that Brother Stahl is sick, I have to conduct the meetings. I speak twice on Sabbath, besides the meetings that we have on Sundays and Wednesdays. On Sabbath, March 22, I spoke about the Sabbath, the blessing that it has, and cited the text in Isa. 66:22, 23, that in the new earth the redeemed will come to worship God every new moon and Sabbath.
“I asked all present (there were about four hundred) how many would like to greet their Saviour and Heavenly Father each new moon and Sabbath in the new earth. Their hands came up, men, women, and children. It made a deep impression on me to see courage so firm, with faith like a child’s. I had never seen the like before. These Indian brethren have the love of Christ very strong in their hearts, and desire to do his will.
“At the close of the meeting we noted thirty-seven names of persons who want baptism. There are many others who will take this step soon. All are awaiting Brother Stahl’s recovery.”
