Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 33. (8/16/1906)

Review and Herald

Aug 16, 1906

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

Our Publishing Work

By Editor

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11.

See last paragraph on this page for instructions where to order.

IT is expected to have the new edition of “Christ in Song” completed in a short time. The demand for this book has been very good during the past season.

DO you remember what was said about our Waterman fountain pens in the issue of July 12? The new improvements on these pens render them practical in every respect. The price of the standard pen having all the improvements is only $2.75.

AS early as August 7, our Baltimore agent, who is a little girl fourteen years of age, had ordered 1,000 copies of the August number of Life and Health. She sold over 2,000 copies of the July number. Other girls and boys could do as well if they would try.

TO the question, “What is the most available means for the ordinary man or woman to do service for God and humanity?” we have just received the following answer: “The circulation of the printed pages bearing the message for this time. The world is in darkness, and the greatest present need is spiritual food. Our books and papers contain this food in clear, connected form. All who consecrate themselves to God for service will find the circulation of message-filled literature the most available means for acceptable service for God and humanity.”

WHAT about the value of “His Glorious Appearing”? Listen to what is said about it by a man seventy-two years of age, who had just read it for the first time: “Yesterday a friend lent me a copy of ‘His Glorious Appearing;’ I have read it, and was never more interested. I am seventy-two years of age, and my judgment is that if ‘His Glorious Appearing’ could be placed in the hands of every sane man and woman of the Christian faith the world over, true Christianity would be universal, and I desire to be an instrument in helping to that end. Enclosed please find twenty-five cents, for which send me a copy of the book.”

DO not delay longer if you do not have a full set of the “Testimonies for the Church.” The more these Testimonies are studied, the better prepared will be the individual to meet perplexing issues that are sure to come to every one connected with the work of the message. The full set comprises eight volumes. Volumes I–VI, bound in cloth, $1 each. Volumes VII and VIII, bound in cloth, 75 cents each. The full set, therefore, in uniform cloth binding, costs only $7.50, post-paid. The full set, Volumes I to IV bound in leather, and Volumes V to VIII bound in flexible leather, can be had for $11.50. These bindings make a very durable combination. They will be found very serviceable for a set of books used as often as the Testimonies should be.

A GOOD thing for a boy to carry is a vest-pocket size Webster’s Dictionary. This little work is, in itself, a library of information that every boy ought to have. Price, cloth, 25 cents; leather, 50 cents; Morocco, 60 cents.

THE new edition of “Early Writings” contains the first published Testimonies of Mrs. E. G. White. The book is reprinted from new plates, uniform in size with “Testimonies for the Church.” Bound in plain cloth, 75 cents. Flexible leather, $1.25.

JUDGING from the way orders are coming in, the Canadian people appreciate Liberty No. 2. The Alberta Tract Society has just sent us an order for 700 copies, 500 of which were for one person. This number of Liberty is good for all countries, but it is especially adapted to the present needs of the United States. The magazine is only 25 cents a year. When 25 or more copies of any one number are ordered at one time, the price is only 2½ cents a copy, or $2.50 a hundred.

THE children in our Sabbath-schools should have the benefits of “Bible Object Lessons and Songs for Little Ones.” This work was prepared especially for the use of kindergarten teachers. It is composed of fifty-two lessons, one for each Sabbath in the year, with suggestions accompanying each lesson; thirty-nine songs and hymns written especially for the lessons; thirty-six full-page pictures, six-by-eight half-tones, and colored plates; fifty-two pen drawings, showing how to use the illustrative material; 160 pages, filled with very practical information to all kindergarten and primary teachers. Bound in durable board, 7½ by 10 inches, $1.50; cloth, the same size, $2.

DO not forget that the Review and Herald Publishing Assn., of Washington, D. C., has secured a line of Bibles printed in the old country, that will come up to the standard with any other Bibles published. They contain all the latest up-to-date features in Bible manufacture, and have the famous large “quart-in-a-pint” type, plain Arabic figures—the kind that the old people like—for chapter headings. They are furnished with or without concordance and thumb index. Supplied to agents at good discount. The general demand is for large type in a small Bible. This line is the nearest approach to such a book that we know of. Write for descriptive circular for these Bibles. Any one who sells five Bibles, can get one of the best bindings free.

Orders for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society or to Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C., or Battle Creek, Mich.

Also Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal.; Portland, Ore.; Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Tex.

Counterfeit Holiness

By Editor

Editorial

We must never forget that this message is to be proclaimed to all the world in “this generation,” and that the time is already far spent. Our zeal in doing this work testifies to the intensity of our longing for the coming of our Saviour.

Character is being tested in these days. Many whose Christian experience has consisted in belonging to the church and in conforming to the mere outward forms of religion are being swept into open sin by the strong current of prevailing evil. In this time when Satan is working with such power to hold men in the bondage of sin there is need of a special revealing of divine grace in order to overcome temptation. “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

The law of God is the great subject of controversy between Christ and Satan. The prince of this world demands that liberty which is license to disregard all restraint of law — the liberty to set up a rival kingdom; Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity,”—all transgression of the law,—and that he might enable us to walk at liberty by walking in the way of God’s commandments. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Those who place contempt upon God's law, and urge that we are under no obligation to obey it, have taken Satan's side in the great controversy. It is our duty to make this matter clear so that those who are doing this ignorantly may be delivered from Satan's snare. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.”

Counterfeit Holiness

When you find a man who professes holiness, and yet denies the obligation to keep the commandments of God, you may be sure that his holiness is not of the right kind. That holiness (wholeness) which is genuine is the perfection of the righteousness of Christ, received through faith, and it will be witnessed by that law which is “holy, and just, and good.” “Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God; and ‘God is love.’ It is conformity to the law of God; for ‘all thy commandments are righteousness;’ and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law.’ Righteousness is love, and love is the light and life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving him.” Provision has been made that we may attain to that holiness which is manifested in obedience to the commandments of God. “God’s ideal for his children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’ This command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and he has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.” A counterfeit holiness is in some respects harder to deal with than open wickedness, because a sense of our own sinfulness and need is essential to receiving the righteousness of Christ, and because the counterfeit variety of holiness spurns the thought of obedience to the commandments of God. Those who rest their hope of salvation upon this profession of a counterfeit holiness are doomed to a terrible disappointment when they are judged “by the royal law of liberty.” The true holiness people in this last generation will be those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The Mission of the Church

The church is the body of Christ. Through the church, filled with the Holy Spirit, Christ is to continue on earth the work which he began in his own person. The apostles believed that the commission given to Jesus was addressed equally to them. This is plainly shown by the words of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia, who gave as a reason for turning to the Gentiles the prophecy concerning the world-wide character of the work of Jesus, applying it to themselves thus: “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”

It is therefore the work of the church to preach the gospel, to proclaim salvation from sin through faith in the atoning work of Christ, and to prepare dwellers on earth to be dwellers in the heavenly courts. “While Christ is the minister in the sanctuary above, he is also, through his delegates, the minister of his church on earth. He speaks to the people through chosen men, and carries forward his work through them, as when, in the days of his humiliation, he moved visibly upon the earth.”

For many centuries it has been admitted without dispute that the mission of the church was to deal primarily and chiefly with the souls of men, to break to them the bread of life, and to impart to them spiritual gifts. In view of this, the apostle Paul wrote “to all that be in Rome:” “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” But in this time of dissatisfaction with old beliefs and old methods there has been advocated quite a different conception of the church’s mission in the world, and this modern idea has been crystallized in the expression “the institutional church.” Such an organization conducts various lines of effort which are thought to contribute to the temporal benefit of the community, on the basis that it will thus be able to do a more successful work of soul saving. The institutional church therefore maintains an employment agency, a medical dispensary, and perhaps a gymnasium and an amusement parlor. It may conduct cooking schools, sewing schools, schools of carpentry, etc. It may have a free reading-room and provide a popular lecture course. Thus in various ways it may seek to reach the people with such

spiritual truth as it has to offer to them, by attempting to be a sort of general helper to them,—by offering them first the gospel of philanthropy, or, as it is sometimes designated, the greater gospel of humanitarianism.

After a personal experience of five years in administering one of these institutional churches, Dr. A. C. Dixon, of Boston, testifies concerning the results. We take the following paragraphs from his article in The Ram’s Horn. Speaking of the employment agency, Dr. Dixon says:—

In one year more than eight hundred people were given employment, and I was charmed with the result. It looked like the poetry and music of religion, and yet, after two or three years of observation, I could see no spiritual results. There seemed to be no conversions or additions to the church as a result of this beautiful philanthropy. This led me to watch more closely its workings, and during the third year I became convinced that our employment agency made more converts away from the church than toward it. . . . A few months of observation convinced me that our beautiful employment agency was a millstone around the neck of the church, and it was discontinued. We still assisted in securing employment for those out of work, and succeeded just as well without the incubus of an advertised “employment agency.”

The same lack of spiritual results appeared in connection with the medical dispensary, although the services of several physicians were secured for two or three hours a week, and it seemed to be doing good work. Dr. Dixon expresses his conclusions thus:—

My conviction is that a hospital connected with a church will drive away from its services as many as it will attract, even of those who have been physically benefited by its treatment. And when, as is often the case, medical treatment at the dispensary does no good, while the patient grows worse, the church does not escape censure, and if the patient dies, the family and friends are as apt as not to be so critical of the church for having such physicians under its auspices that they will not go again within its doors. A Christian nurse, going from house to house among the poor, teaching them the laws of health and ministering to the sick with loving sympathy, will do more good than a dispensary.

The general influence of this philanthropic work is thus described by Dr. Dixon:—

The institutional church if plentifully supplied with money, is in danger of pauperizing the community in which it is located, while it repels the self-respecting working man. . . . And when a church has made a reputation of helping the poor with a liberal hand, the independent working man hesitates to go to it, lest he may be considered as seeking charity, against which his soul revolts. . . . And we find ourselves in the rather unusual predicament of having to live down a reputation for charity work before we can reach the very men for whose benefit the church was endowed. The body is redeemed, and Christians should do all they can to relieve physical wants, but the great work of the church is the redemption of the soul, and everything else should be made secondary to that.

After this experience Dr. Dixon expresses his belief that “it is easier to reach the bodies of men through their souls than the souls of men through their bodies.” His experience and his conclusion are worthy of careful study. While the whole gospel includes the redemption of the body, and temporal benefits may come from the acceptance of the gospel, yet those who are induced to accept the salvation of their souls because of expected temporal benefits usually fail of receiving either the salvation of their souls or the anticipated temporal benefits. The simple gospel must be its own attraction.

Belting a Continent

By William Ambrose Spicer

Our ship is waiting at Pernambuco, the most easterly large port in South America, and the first and last port of call for the European and South American mail-boats. As one travels along the coast line of Brazil, he is impressed with its extent.

Pernambuco is over two thousand miles from Rio Grande, in southern Brazil, where we first touched as we began this visit to our Brazilian mission stations. And still the coast line of this republic runs on nearly another two thousand miles, to the Guianas on the north.

Our South American Union brethren are anxious to find the workers and the means by which to establish the work at commanding points along these coast lines. The believers are thoroughly committed to the work of surrounding the continent on Gideon’s battle plan. We are to “belt the world” with this message, and the only way to do that is to belt all these continents with mission stations.

The States of Bahia and Pernambuco ought to have at least one worker each, putting out the literature. Such seed sowing would surely bear fruit. This town of Pernambuco is a large one, claiming over two hundred thousand inhabitants. There is a busy cotton- and sugar-growing country round about it, and the harbor, or lagoon, inside the coral reef, is full of shipping.

Other Protestant societies have missions here, and a good many Bibles are sold in the country. But the State of Pernambuco has been one of the most hostile in Brazil to the work of Protestant missions. This was the ancient capital of Brazil. When the Dutch, two hundred and fifty years ago, took Brazil from the Portuguese, the rough old Dutch Reformed conquerors set in to forcibly convert the Catholics. They bitterly persecuted the priests, and apparently were as cruel as the Catholics themselves. When later the Portuguese reconquered the country, the priests set in to pay up old scores by a policy of revenge, and the Bible Society agents testify that this bitter, revengeful spirit has seemed to continue to this day.

On round the coast toward the Amazon are towns with from ten to forty thousand population. The Bible colporteurs tell many an interesting story of blessed experiences along this coast. Para, at the mouth of the Amazon, capital of the State of the same name, is a busy city of one hundred thousand people, with a large trade with Europe. Foreign commercial influence has had a liberalizing tendency, and the manager of the Bible Society’s work writes that more Bibles, proportionately, have been sold in this Amazon region than in any other part of Brazil.

There are people in those parts for whom we must do something at an early day. If only we can get the Portuguese literature of the advent message scattered through these regions, the leaven will work, and we shall find witnesses springing up, and the work spreading. A thousand miles up the Amazon is the town of Manaos, with a population of forty thousand.

Beyond Brazil are the Guianas. We have a good work in British Guiana, have barely touched Dutch Guiana, and so far as I know have done nothing for French Guiana. Venezuela is unentered, unless just recently our East Caribbean Conference brethren have been able to carry out their long-desired plan of sending a worker there. Colombia is unentered. Some one ought to be there by all means, before many seasons pass.

With Venezuela, Colombia, and French Guiana entered, we could mark down every land in South America as “entered” territory. Then with a few long gaps filled in, we would have a thin and long-extended line surrounding the Neglected Continent, as Gideon’s three hundred surrounded the camp of the Midianites.

It is an idea to pray and work for. It is not so distant from realization, either, as the Lord blesses the work. Our line extends now from Ecuador on the equator, down the west coast to the Straits of Magellan; for let it be noted that now this truth is represented by a Scandinavian brother in Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in the world.

Along the east coast the message is represented from Bahia Blanca, in southern Argentina, to the southern point of the State of Bahia.

There are some long gaps to be filled in, but the surrounding of South America with our missions is not so far off, after all. And only think that about

twenty-five years ago we did not know of a single Sabbath-keeper in all the continent! Now there is a strong union conference in the field, working away courageously to complete the “belting” of the continent with the light of the message.

W. A. S.

Pernambuco.

Whosoever Shall Deny Me

By C. M. S.

THIS world is now preparing for just such a departure from God as that which characterized the world when ancient heathenism was at its height. It seems paradoxical that this should be the case when the Word of God is being published as never before, and is going into countries which it has never before entered in printed form.

In lands and among people where the Word has had longest and freest circulation, a subtle force has been at work undermining the faith of the people, dulling the edge of Christian doctrine, and parrying the direct force of the immutable law of God. In the midst of this fierce struggle between light and darkness God has multiplied his witnesses in the form of his printed Word. With no other force than this, the converting power of the Spirit and the living light of his faithful children, that battle will go on till the world has made its choice, “and then shall the end come.”

For years this attack upon the position and work of Christ has been filtering into almost all kinds of religious literature, and was never so prominent as it is to-day. In gilded phrases, in lofty panegyrics, man is said to be able to do for himself what God could do for him only through the death of his own Son.

Making man his own savior did not originate with Unitarianism. The germ of it was in Cain’s self-invented sacrifice of the fruits of his own labor. It grew to perfection in the tower of Babel; it has been kept alive in penances and self-inflicted flagellations, which are being practised even to-day in heathen and Catholic lands; and to-day in a new garb it parades through eloquent literature, and speaks from costly pulpits to luxurious pews into ears that flash diamonds and hear more of the jingle of gold than of the stately steppings of the true God.

There is going on in the religious press at the present time a considerable discussion over the question of whether Christians should add to their prayers such expressions as “in Jesus’ name,” and “for Christ’s sake.” The printed agitation of the matter has come up as a result of its oral discussion; and that oral discussion reveals in the general body a malignant growth of doubt along the line of Christ’s intercession in our behalf before the throne of the Father. Christ’s own instruction upon this point should settle the question for those who believe in Christ and his work: “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13. Again: “Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16.

Those who look upon him simply as a great and good teacher must in their own hearts impeach his testimony in this matter, and accuse him of assuming a position which God the Father did not recognize. Such ones, of course, make no petitions “in his name,” or “for his sake.”

At the same time there is going on in heaven, in our behalf, an intercessory work “with groanings which can not be uttered . . . because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Rom. 8:26, 27. And there rings out from the direct testimony of Jesus, “Without me ye can do nothing.” But Jesus Christ is not even “a great teacher” if he did not teach truly concerning man’s inability to save himself, and man’s need of an intercessor at the throne of God. That is one of Satan’s devices to make Christ appear to be an imposter.

A work having a similar effect in discrediting Christ is that which exalts the Virgin Mary to the position of intercessor in man’s behalf. This was particularly noticeable in the work of Leo XIII, whose exaltation and glorification of Mary were very pronounced. Other Catholic writers have put her in a position which would almost entirely shut out Christ from the human race. Mariolatry is gaining at a furious pace.

With Mohammedanism and the heathen world generally repudiating Christ; with the unconverted of “Christian” lands too busy to listen to the messengers of the Lord; with the great Catholic world shutting Christ away from men by putting another in his place as mediator; with the popular churches of the land repudiating the fall of man and Christ’s redemptive work for the race; with many who had been loyal now questioning whether they should longer pray “in his name,” and “for his sake,” with the “higher critics” (nominally Christians) sowing broadcast the seeds of doubt concerning the very Bible itself, this present world seems to have reached the place which the ancient heathen world had reached when the record states of that age. “As they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind,” when, “knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.” He who is denying Christ’s work for us, and his death in our behalf, is certainly not giving thanks for that work and that sacrifice.

It is a terrible accusation that such philosophers are bringing against our Lord, this denial of him and his work. To such apply with terrible distinctness these words of our Saviour: “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 10:33. We can leave him out of our reckoning here, we can call his life and death a “sweet, sad story,” but without worth in our salvation; nevertheless, when our name and our record come before the Judge of all the earth, the fact of our denial of Christ will be the first witness against us, and none other will be necessary. “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”—He will, in a little, persecuted band. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” But the world will have denied him, and that “evangelism of denial” is making most rapid headway to-day.

C. M. S.

An Important Recommendation

By Arthur G. Daniells

THE most important and the most precious thing in the world to-day is God’s message for this generation. That is the third angel’s message of Revelation 14.

The greatest gift, the greatest fortune, that can come to any one to-day is a saving knowledge of the third angel’s message. Those who receive it are brought under great obligations to God and humanity.

This is the view that was taken by the pioneers of the cause set on foot by this threefold message. They reckoned themselves debtors to all men. They abandoned the pleasures and riches of the world, and addressed themselves to the one great task of making the message known to all the world.

Their view was right, and it must still dominate this people. The supreme question of the hour is the proclamation of the third angel’s message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This will require the devotion of our talents, means, and lives to the work. Nothing less will answer the call to arise and finish the work.

Every new day brings a new pressing call to this people for help. That means the consecration of another life to some part of this work. It means the gift of another dollar or more in addition to what we have given. It means that another young man or young woman must leave home for the training-school to prepare for the Lord’s work.

And so the great work we have undertaken moves on with a firm, steady tread. It never stops in its onward march. It never retreats. It does not cease for a moment to press upon us fresh demands. This has been the program of this cause from the first day that it started, and it

will never change until the work is finished.

Who would not be profoundly grateful to be identified with such a cause? Thus far the Lord has enabled his people to meet the demands he has made upon them. Each year these demands grow larger, but each year he increases the power of his people to do. Not one enterprise which the Lord has led us to undertake has failed. This should cause us to meet any and every new call with cheerful courage.

And now comes one of the largest single calls ever launched upon this denomination. But it is not beyond our possibilities by any means. It can be met before the close of 1906. God is blessing this country with a prosperity which enables his people to do great things for him. This call was made by the General Conference Committee at its spring council held last April, in Washington. Owing to the collection that was taken for the Pacific Press, and also the midsummer offering to missions, it has been thought best to defer presenting this call until the present. The action of the General Conference Committee is as follows:—

We recommend,—

1. That a fund of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars be raised for the work in the South, and to complete the work in Washington, D. C.

2. That the first fifty thousand dollars received from this fund shall be donated to the work in the South.

3. That the funds shall be sent to the treasurer of the General Conference, at Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

4. That our church paper, the REVIEW AND HERALD, The Watchman, The Signs of the Times, and the foreign papers in the United States, open their columns for suitable articles from various persons agitating the raising of these funds, and that a list of these donations be printed in the REVIEW AND HERALD.

5. That the president of the General Conference open up the campaign for this fund by publishing an article in the REVIEW AND HERALD and other papers, accompanied by the recommendations of the General Conference Committee favoring the raising of the fund.

6. That the editors of these papers be invited to make frequent favorable mention of this fund.

7. That in our efforts to raise this fund we earnestly solicit the sympathetic co-operation of our union and State conferences, and of our people everywhere.

This recommendation states the general purposes for which this large fund is required; namely, for the development of the work in the South, and for the completion of the institutions begun in Washington.

Our people will desire to be informed regarding the details. These we shall give through the REVIEW and other papers and documents. We shall explain the use made of the one hundred thousand dollars raised to establish the headquarters in Washington. We shall show why this was not enough for the work here; and we shall give the specific uses it is proposed to make of the One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund. The plan that has been agreed upon for raising this fund will be fully explained. We believe it will commend itself to our people generally. Although the sum now called for seems large, it can be raised in a short time. Now is our time to do great things for our Master. What a dreadful thing it would be to us and this glorious cause if the shocking state of affairs now existing in Russia were to be transferred to the United States. Besides stripping us of all we possess and destroying our homes and breaking our family circles, it would place us where we could do little or nothing for this cause. Who can contemplate such a situation without a shudder, and without a thankful heart for what we have? Surely we should be a grateful people, and should show our gratitude by liberal gifts and by earnest, whole-hearted service.

A. G. DANIELLS.

A Fire and a Voice

By H. W. Cottrell

ON the night of the 20th ult., about eleven o’clock, a fire broke out in the building of the Pacific Press Publishing Company, located at Mountain View, Cal. Soon the entire plant was enveloped in a solid flame. A desperate fight was made by the fire company to extinguish the flames, but, with poor water facilities, it was to no effect. The entire plant—including every machine, all office equipments (except a few typewriters and two desks), and the large library of choice reference books (the fruit of years of ingathering)—was, from every outward appearance, entirely destroyed, and lies in ruins as complete as does the burned district of San Francisco, the Western metropolis, where the scenes remind one of the ruins of ancient Babylon as given in Biblical history.

The Pacific Press was the largest and best-equipped publishing house west of the Missouri River.

The cause of the fire is not known. There may have been an explosion of chemicals in the photo-engraving department. It may have been the work of an incendiary. Perhaps the real cause will never be known, as there is nothing left to tell the story.

We do not understand why the Lord permitted this great disaster to come to us, but we bow at his feet in humble submission, with the blessed assurance in our souls that he will turn this great loss, as he does every calamity that comes to his work or his people, to his own glory and to the more rapid advancement of his work.

Ever since the earthquake, we have had more denominational work than we were able to handle, notwithstanding the fact that much of the machinery was kept in operation both day and night.

Our loss exceeds two hundred thousand dollars. There was one hundred thousand dollars insurance on the property, and there certainly is no reason why this should not be secured by the company. But, even then, we shall be very heavy losers.

In the days of Elijah there was a great and strong wind; “but the Lord was not in the wind.” Then there was an earthquake; “but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” That voice was the voice of God to Elijah, “What doest thou here, Elijah?”

Our Pacific Coast publishing plant suffered severely from the earthquake, and went down as already stated, in the fire. But “an enemy hath done this.” History has repeated itself. The Lord is doubtless testing his people. He is evidently speaking by the “still small voice” to each soul, and we are anxious to know his will.

It is sad to see our plant in ruins. We are cast down, but not discouraged. A great and noble work lies at our doors; for the Lord has entrusted to us the third angel’s message to bear to all people, and the printed page containing the message should and must be scattered as the leaves of autumn.

Institutions may burn; men connected with the denominational work may die, or may deny the faith; but the truth of God can not fail, nor can it deny itself. In the very near future it will triumph gloriously. In view of the responsibilities resting upon us, we must arise and move forward.

The trustees have arranged to have The Signs of the Times, Our Little Friend, and the Pacific Union Recorder printed at San Jose, a near-by city, for two or three issues, until we are re-established in temporary quarters, which are already being constructed. Invitation has been given the Review and Herald Office to handle the book, “Great Controversy,” until we are in permanent quarters; while the printing and binding of an edition of “Heralds of the Morning” will be arranged for, most likely, in Kansas City. These books are having a very large sale on the Pacific Coast.

We have had personal conversation with each employee, and, in all cases where necessary, have provided for their support until such time as our plant is again regularly installed and in operation. A large number have been secured work in near-by offices, to return to us at call. Our employees, almost to a man, are loyal, faithful men and women. They are willing to go anywhere, or do anything they are able to do. There is no complaining over their lot, or fault-finding because of conditions.

In counsel with other leading brethren, the Board decided to rebuild, on certain conditions. If the city will give the proper encouragement by way of fire protection and monetary consideration; and, further, provided the spirit of prophecy does not direct otherwise, we can do no less than to arise and build. We must move forward with renewed faith, with redoubled energy and courage, and thus defeat the movement of the enemy.

At the Oakland (Cal.) camp-meeting, a statement was made of the financial loss caused by the burning of the Pacific Press, after which the people made a free-will offering, in coin and pledges, to the amount of $9,468.70, to apply on the rebuilding of the Press. This amount will doubtless be greatly augmented by contributors in this field.

Shall we not act as minutemen, and so bear ourselves, so multiply our forces in the spread of the truth, that the enemy will never regard it as wise to bring another such disaster upon God’s people?

H. W. COTTRELL.

A Statement Concerning Our Special Funds

By I. H. Evans

The work in Washington is dear to the hearts of God's people. Rarely, if ever, in the history of our denominational work has there been such a hearty response in donating funds to any enterprise as was manifested in raising the one hundred thousand dollars for Washington. It came with a hearty good will, even to the last dollar of the overflow of more than fifteen thousand dollars.

This money has been a great blessing to God's cause; it was distributed as follows:— Washington Training Col., $51,374.72 Wash. (D. C.) San. Assn. 40,667.30 General Conf. building.... 10,000.00 Nashville church ........ 5,000.00 R. & H. Pub. Assn. .... 3,000.00 Removal expense from     Battle Creek........ 1,223.81 Financial Sec. expense ... 3,714.41 Sundry expenses ........ 68.50 Balance on hand ....... 569.43 Total received up to     Aug. 1, 1906 ........$115,618.17

The General Conference building is completed at an expense of $13,583.18.

The College has two dormitories and a dining hall already erected, but there is no main building for the school proper.

The Review and Herald Publishing Association has erected a good building, in which they are located and conducting their publishing work, but they have been called upon to make large donations to other enterprises, and must have financial help.

The Sanitarium is just starting its building. The basement foundation is already laid, and we hope to see the building finished not later than August, 1907. The main building is one hundred and sixteen feet by forty-four feet, with an annex fifty-two feet six inches by forty-four feet, all to be three stories above the basement. This building, completed, will cost about sixty-five thousand dollars, and will accommodate nearly forty patients.

It must be evident to all that the one hundred thousand dollars is not sufficient to pay for erecting all these buildings.

The General Conference has authorized the raising of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The first fifty thousand dollars of this fund is to go to different branches of the work in the South. They have many enterprises which are in need and must be helped. The Nashville Sanitarium is to have twenty-five thousand dollars, which is greatly needed, and must be sent as soon as possible. The rest of the fifty thousand dollars which will be sent to the South is to be distributed among our schools at Graysville and Huntsville, the Graysville Sanitarium, the Atlanta Sanitarium, etc.

One hundred thousand dollars is to come to Washington to complete the Sanitarium, erect the main College building, and to make an appropriation to the Review and Herald and to the General Conference.

It will never do to leave our buildings in an incomplete state here at the heart of our nation. We have started a great work. God has blessed us at every step of the way. His guiding hand has been over us, even as it was over Israel when they fled from Egyptian bondage.

The promised Canaan seems but a little way ahead, and yet a great work must be accomplished before our Master comes.

Is not our next great task to complete the work which God has said should be done in Washington? If all unite in this, it will soon be accomplished.

I. H. EVANS.

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