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Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 4.

Day by Day

Review and Herald

Jan 25, 1906

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 25, 1906

Day by Day

By Julia Harris May

I heard a voice at evening softly say, Bear not thy yesterday into to-morrow, Nor load this week with last week's load of sorrow. Lift all thy burdens as they come, nor try To weigh the present with the by and by. One step and then another, take thy way; Live day by day.
Live day by day. Though autumn leaves are withering round thy way, Walk in the sunshine. It is all for thee. Push straight ahead, as long as thou canst see; Dread not the winter whither thou mayst go, But when it comes, be thankful for the snow. Onward and upward. Look and smile and pray; Live day by day.
Live day by day. The path before thee doth not lead astray. Do the next duty. It must surely be The Christ is in the one that's-close to thee. Onward, still onward, with a sunny smile, Till step by step shall end in mile by mile; “I'll do my best,” unto thy conscience say; Live day by day.
Live day by day. Why art thou bending toward the backward way? One summit and then another thou shalt mount; Why stop at every round the space to count? The past mistakes if thou must still remember, Watch not the ashes of the dying ember. Kindle thy hope. Put all thy fears away; Live day by day.
—Julia Harris May, in the Atlantic.

Our Publishing Work

By Editor

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11.
*Any publication mentioned on this page may be ordered through your conference tract society or from any of our publishing houses or their branch offices. See last paragraph on this page for addresses of our publishing houses.
“ALL the wonders, uses, and functions of that most wonderful piece of mechanism, the human body, are explained simply and entertainingly, so that a child can understand, in “House We Live In.” Full cloth, 75 cents.”
“OUR young people will find much concerning the early history of this message, and can become familiar with the rise and progress of this cause, by a perusal of “Life Sketches of Elder James White and Mrs. E. G. White.” Price, $1.25.”
“THOUSANDS of copies of Sister White’s new book, “Ministry of Healing,” should be sent on their mission of helpfulness during the winter months. It will bring encouragement and blessing and a real spiritual uplift to all who read it. Price, $1.50, and postage — 15 cents additional — if sent by mail.”
“ONE of the most convenient books for ready reference is the “Vest Pocket Webster Dictionary.” It is small in size, but sufficiently complete to answer such questions as, “What does it mean?” “How is it spelled?” This little book contains over 45,800 words, is vest-pocket size, and is in such demand that over 600,000 copies have been sold. Price in cloth, 25 cents; leather, 50 cents; extra Morocco, 60 cents. Special rates to canvassers.
“ALMOST A WOMAN,” written by a devout lady physician, deals with the matters which a young girl approaching womanhood should understand. Many a young woman’s life has been blighted and her career ended in shame because of a lack of the information which this book contains. Mothers owe it to their daughters to see that this delicate instruction is given under proper conditions. This book will be most helpful. Cloth, new edition, 50 cents.
OF the importance of “Great Controversy” and its circulation, we quote the following from the author: “ ‘Great Controversy’ should be very widely circulated. It contains the story of the past, the present, and the future. In this outline of the closing scenes of this earth’s history it appears a powerful testimony in behalf of the truth. I am more anxious to see a wide circulation for this book than for any other I have written; for in ‘Great Controversy’ the last message of warning to the world is given more distinctly than in any of my other books.” Let all who read this item ponder carefully whether or not some responsibility does not rest upon them to place in circulation a book so completely filled with the message for this time. The Lord makes it possible for his servants to give the message, and to receive for their efforts a liberal remuneration for their service for him.
MAN in life and death, the reward of the righteous and the destiny of the wicked, is most plainly and forcibly portrayed in “Here and Hereafter.” Every Scripture reference in regard to immortality is considered and elucidated. Full cloth, $1.
SUCH subjects as the Saints’ Inheritance, the Future Kingdom, and the Restitution of All Things, are treated in a most helpful way in the little book, “Our Paradise Home.” It is a nice book to loan to a friend. Fully illustrated. Several large editions have been sold. Board style, 25 cents; cloth, 50 cents; presentation edition, 75 cents.
THE pleasing way in which “Uncle Ben” tells important facts concerning various articles with which we are very familiar, such as fire, water, smoke, glass, coal, salt, paper, matches, etc., lends new interest to these common things. The author’s style is such that boys and girls will be thoroughly interested in reading “Uncle Ben’s Cobblestones,” which is the title of this book. Price, 75 cents.
IN the Empire Series will be found a study of the history of nations from the time of the flood down to our time, into which has been interwoven the Bible history. Numerous maps in colors greatly aid in the study. No other books like these are to be found. ‘Empires of the Bible’—from the flood to the Babylonian captivity—$1.50; ‘Great Empires of Prophecy’—from Babylon to the fall of Rome—$2; ‘Ecclesiastical Empire’—from the fall of Rome to our own times—$2.50. This series of books should be in every library.
SOME very encouraging reports have been recently received from our young people handling “Heralds of the Morning.” From the reports of those working with this book we note that the average sales have netted the agents a liberal remuneration for their services. The people everywhere are interested in “Heralds of the Morning.” Its contents seem to impress them, and the situation in national and international affairs tends to bring conviction to them that the predictions outlined in “Heralds of the Morning” are gospel truths for this time. Those believing in the third angel’s message can do no better work than introducing at this time that wonderful book, “Heralds of the Morning,” which, under all the circumstances, favorably impresses the general public.
Orders for any publication mentioned on this page may be sent to any conference tract society or to any of the following: Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D. C., and Battle Creek, Mich.; Pacific Press Publishing Company, Mountain View, Cal., also Portland, Ore., and Kansas City, Mo.; Southern Publishing Association, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Tex.

Divine Compassion

THE only explanation for the love of God as shown in his dealings with us is the simple truth that God is love.
“God is love; his mercy brightens All the path in which we rove; Bliss he wakes, and woe he lightens: God is wisdom, God is love.”
Even when we have wandered from God and have grieved him by a rebellious course, yet his love follows us and invites us to return. It is his glory to forgive the repentant sinner and to receive him graciously. He is “long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” “All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channels of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean, when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue can not utter it; pen can not portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the Heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and breadth, the depth and height, of the love of God in giving his Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it.”
“O Lord, my soul rejoiceth in thee, My tongue thy mercy is telling; I've found thy love so precious to me, My heart with its rapture is swelling.”
“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”

Divinity and Deity

AT the recent Church Federation Conference in New York City an action was passed amending the form of confession of faith required of those who wished to join the movement. This amendment added the word “divine” to the formula previously adopted, thus demanding belief in Jesus Christ as our divine Lord and Saviour as the condition of admission to the federation.
The evident purpose of this action was to shut out Unitarians and Universalists, but now come the Unitarians and declare their belief that Jesus was divine, and they speak of “the glorious hope which has come to man through the gospel of Jesus, the divine son [small s] of God.” Their meaning will, however, be more clearly understood by quoting a little further. Thus they say:—
If Jesus is the son [small s] of God, he is divine. If any others are children of God, they also are divine. . . . All hail the power of Jesus’ name when his true place and rank are understood, when he is regarded as chief among the sons of men, but not the mighty Lord from heaven. . . . The growing perception that, in a deeper sense than was intended by the ancient chronicler, man is made in the image of God, justifies our use of the word “divine” to describe, not only the godlike traits of human character, but the godlike powers which they represent in human nature. When once the doctrine of the divinity of human nature is received and applied in all its bearings, it will be a source of joy and gladness and an inspiration of extraordinary power.
This shows that some who profess to believe in the divinity of Christ really believe in their own divinity, and allow that Jesus is also divine. They assert with much emphasis the fatherhood of God, declare that all men are his children because made in his image, and therefore assume the divinity of human nature. They regard Jesus as “chief among the sons of men,” but still only a man whose divinity is of the same order as their own.
This sort of teaching is not far removed from, and is closely related to, the doctrine that every man, without reference to the question of faith in Christ, is a temple of the Holy Ghost. While those who advocate these perversions of the truth appear to be exalting human nature, they are really belittling God and his Son, and are making man his own savior. They ignore the fall of man, and the consequent need of the atoning work of Christ, and substitute a philosophy of their own for the gospel of salvation through faith in Christ and his righteousness.
In view of this modern interpretation of the divinity of Christ, it may be well to emphasize the fact that the Sabbath-school lesson on this subject for February 3 is not based upon the Unitarian idea, and to call attention to the Scriptural foundation for the belief in the deity of Christ.
The first chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews sets forth in unmistakable language both the divinity and the deity of the Son of God. The Son is “heir of all things;” through him the worlds were made; he is the brightness of the Father’s glory and “the express image of his person;” he upholds all things; he is better than the angels, having inherited “a more excellent name than they;” the Father addresses him as God when he says to him, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever;” he is also called “Lord,” and declared to be the one who laid the foundation of the earth, and of him it is said, “Thy years shall not fail.”
The meaning of these wonderful statements, and especially of the fact that the Son was the direct agent of the Father in creation, is well presented in the following paragraphs, which are quoted from a well-known writer:—
Come and harken once more to what the divine message has to tell us of the glory of the Son, in whom the Fatherspeaks to us. Come and see how truly he is one with God, and shares with him all his glory. The deeper our insight into the true Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ, his perfect oneness with God, the more confident shall we be that he will, in a divine power, make us partakers of his work, his life, his indwelling.
We find Christ here set before us as the Creator, to whom all owes its existence, as the everlasting and unchangeable One, to whom alone, when all waxeth old and perisheth, can be said, “Thou continuest;” “Thou art the same;” “Thy years shall not fail.” In Isaiah God speaks of himself: “Hast thou not heard, The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?” In our text we see the Son as the Almighty Creator, the everlastingly unchangeable One, that we may know who it is through whom God speaks to us, and to whom he has entrusted the work of our salvation. . . .
Listen, believer! Christ, thy Redeemer, is the Almighty One. God saw that none but his Son could meet thy need: hast thou so seen it, too, that this, his almighty power, has been claimed and appropriated for thy daily life? Hast thou learnt never to think of him otherwise than as the One who calleth the things that are not as though they were, and creates what otherwise could not be?
Christ, thy Redeemer, is the everlasting and unchangeable One: hast thou heard him speak? “I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye . . . are not consumed,” and learnt to trust him as the One who is each moment to thee all that he can be, and who will, without variation or shadow of turning, maintain in never-ceasing power his life within thee? O learn that God saw it needful to speak to thee through none other than such a One as could reach the heart and fill it with the power of his eternal Word! The Almighty Son, through whom God hath created all things, who upholdeth and filleth all things by the word of his power; this is he who will even so, in the power of his Godhead, uphold and fill thy whole life and being. Thy Creator is thy Redeemer. . . .
And now let me once again urge my reader to mark well the lesson this chapter is teaching us, and the object it has in view. Let no one think, as I myself long thought, that, because we firmly believe in the divinity of our Saviour, this chapter, with its proof-texts, has no special message for our spiritual life, and that we may therefore hasten on to what the epistle has to teach farther on. No, let us remember that this is the foundation chapter. The divinity of Christ is the rock on which we rest. It is in virtue of his divinity that he effected a real cleansing and putting away of sin, that he can actually communicate and maintain the divine life in us, that he can enter into our inmost being, and dwell there. If we open our hearts and give them time to receive the full impression of the truth, we shall see that all we are to learn of the person and work of Christ has its value and its power from this—that he is God. Our Creator, from whom we have our life—it is he who alone can enter into us to give the new life; it is he, blessed be his name, who will do it now. As God, he is the hidden ground of all existence, and has the power to enter all and fill it with himself. Every part of his work has the character and the power of a divine work. If we would but believe that Christ the Son is God, is Jehovah, the Eternal, the Creator, how he would make our inner life the proof of his almighty power!
We also quote one paragraph from a writer who makes a very practical application of the truth revealed in this first chapter of Hebrews:—
Have we this chapter? Is it ours? Do we possess it? Can we say, “I will go with this into eternity; I believe it from my heart; it is a treasure to my own soul; I stand upon this rock; I hear his voice in the Son, and therefore I can go to him with childlike confidence”? . . . Do we worship Jesus? In this chapter he is called by divine names, the Son, Lord, God. Divine works are assigned to him; the creation of the world, the upholding of all things, the atonement upon the cross, and the government now from the right hand of the Majesty. Divine attributes are given to him; he is omniscient, he is omnipotent, he is unchangeable, he is eternal. Divine worship is accorded to him. God the Father himself commands the angels to worship him. Do you worship Jesus, Jesus the Son of David, who was crucified upon the cross? Have you learnt, like Thomas, to say unto him, “My Lord and my God”?
We have a divine Saviour to whom all power in heaven and earth has been committed, and who “is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.” To yield up this truth is to abandon our hope of salvation.

Editorial

By Editor

Acceptable Confession

GENUINE confession of sin involves turning away from sin. To confess a sin in words, but to continue in the same course of sin, is to use confession as an excuse for sin. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” God is infinite in mercy, and will “abundantly pardon,” but he would stultify himself if he should hold guiltless the sinner whose confession does not include the forsaking of the sins confessed. “Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of your repentance.”

Removing the Dross

By L. A. S.

THERE is a vast difference between cast iron and finely tempered steel. Though each is composed of the same elementary substance, the former bears no comparison with the latter when measured by the uses to which each can be put. The uses of cast iron are comparatively few. It is a crude material, incapable of serving the higher purposes of science and the arts. For the operation of railways and steamships, the erection of great buildings, the turning of the wheels of a watch, the composition of a surgeon's instruments,—all that which is highest in the world's industrial life,—cast iron will not do. All these higher purposes require the use of steel.
Steel is made from iron, by a process of purification. The iron is cast into a furnace, and is there subjected to a process which separates it from all dross, and tempers it to the desired degree of hardness. It comes forth at the end of the ordeal endowed with capabilities of usefulness which, in its former crude and imperfect state, it did not possess even in a slight degree.
God is purifying his church. He is removing from it all impurity, all dross. There has been in it much of the elements of worldliness. It has been composed of a mixed multitude. In this state it has not been capable of the high use to which God would put it. The wonders of his power unto salvation could not be revealed through a mixture of divine with worldly elements.
The separating line is being drawn between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The mixed multitude is being divided, the one part to return to Egypt, and the other to cross over Jordan. Erelong the purifying process will be complete. The baser elements will be removed; the dross of worldliness be cast out, the separation made from all that is unrighteous and unholy. Then will the church appear in her beautiful garments, “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Then will God do such a work through his church in the sight of the world as has not been dreamed of hitherto.
Let us not resist the ordeal of purification. L. A. S.

“To Them That Dwell on the Earth”

By William Ambrose Spicer

The idea in this great federation movement among the churches has been working in all the earth. The spirit of confederacy for the securing of uniformity, and for power to deal with non-conformity, is all abroad. The recent federation council is sure to make its influence felt to the ends of the earth. It is only another voice from this one-time land of the Protestant principle in civil government now saying, “to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image” to the old-time papal system.
Already these reactionary forces are working strongly in Protestant Europe and the colonies, and in many of the great mission fields the same spirit is moving to restrict and control missionary effort. By the last China mail one of our workers sent a page from the North-China Herald, in which a Scottish missionary speaks out against the tendency toward federation of larger missionary interests for the purpose of securing a purely artificial uniformity. He says of a recent conference on federation, which met in Peking:—
One speaker is reported to have said: “What we seek is union, nor conformity,” but all the steps taken were intended to secure uniformity with the object of calling it “union.” This is a blunder which has cost the church of Christ dear in all ages. It filled the prisons of England with the best men of the time; it drove the Pilgrim Fathers to America; it dyed with blood the Scottish heather. Uniformity is not a natural thing—there are no two leaves on a tree alike, no two facesin a crowd. It is chiefly characteristic of man’s productions—punched out with a machine. It has never been imposed without the aid of coercion, and where men have best succeeded in imposing a stereotyped uniformity, on either church or state, it has always resulted in stagnation and decay. The Greek Church and the Chinese people are interesting objects of study in this connection. If, therefore, uniformity be the price of union, I would rather not have it.
This missionary has a pretty clear view of the natural trend of these efforts to settle religious questions by majorities. Some of the issues were to be dealt with, he says, “on the you-use-my-Catechism-and-I-will-use-your-hymn-book principle,” but he rightly declares all these details as to the use of terms “but a trifle” as compared with what Peking proposes to do. “They are going to federate all the Protestant missions in China,” he says, and they even name the Roman Catholic Church in that country, as one with whom they hope to secure “ultimate union.”
Such a thing could never be, of course, and the federation remain in any sense Protestant. But this spirit is growing in the mission fields, and the inauguration of the federation movement here will give a new impetus to these ideas abroad. We must face the issue in all the mission fields soon. Now, truly, is the time to press in.
One aim of the movement in heathen lands is to limit the activity of each mission to its own allotted territory. The missionary may teach the people in the allotted territory the message of heaven, as he has received it from God, but beyond that territory he is a trespasser.
This idea is becoming more and more clearly defined, and it is to secure all possible regulation of spheres of influence that the mission federation movement is being hastened on. How Baptists, with the solemn duty of teaching Baptist principles and baptizing believers in all the earth, can possibly refrain thus from protest against these influences, it is difficult to understand. Certain it is that we can never do otherwise than carry this message of God’s judgment hour literally “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” We must be kind and considerate of other missionary interests. Those who bear the final message of the coming of the Lord and of Sabbath reform acknowledge every missionary agency as a factor in preparing the world for the coming of the Lord. But the fact is that the same influences working to build up federated church interests, to the abridgment of gospel liberty, in this country, are working also in all the world. The last days have come, and the last things are being done. W. A. S.

A Champion of Sunday Laws

By L. A. S.

The cause of Sunday enforcement has found a strong champion in the newly elected chief executive of Ohio, Governor J. M. Pattison, as appears in the following quotation from his inaugural address:—
What I have said about the obedience to and enforcement of law is especially applicable to the Sunday laws.
Individuals have various opinions as to how they ought, or how they wish, to spend the day of rest and worship, and it is their right to hold such opinions; but the state has certain laws on the statute-books which do not interfere with the religious ideas of any one. They were placed there through the wisdom of past generations who foresaw that such laws would make the people happier and better, and would enable the state to advance to higher degrees of Christian civilization.
While the disobeying of any law is demoralizing and degrading to a citizen or community, the disobeying of the Sunday laws is doubly so. Hence the so-called Sunday laws should be obeyed and enforced, not only in the country and in the small villages, but in the large towns and cities as well.
The village, county, community, city, state, or people that disobeys the divine law of the Sabbath, which makes it a day of rest and worship, fails to realize the teachings and commands of the Almighty. It was this sentiment of Sabbath observance that made our forefathers strong and mighty, and it is found in the warp and woof of every constitution of the original States.
If America is to maintain her position as the nation peculiarly favored by God, and the one of all others that is to have a great destiny, we must forever maintain our respect and reverence for this holy day.
While the republic endures, let us advocate what the great masses of all the people believe in—our American Sunday and the Christian sabbath. We should not forget that righteousness exalteth a state or nation, and that lawlessness degrades it.
Governor Pattison no doubt sincerely believes these statements, but he has evidently not studied the literature of this question. He should bear in mind that Sabbath observance pertains altogether to the law of God, which it is no part of the business of the state to enforce; that the penalty of violating that law, fixed by God himself, is death, and that the gospel is a provision instituted by the Author of that law for the express purpose of holding the penalty of that law in abeyance, while the transgressor is given opportunity to escape it; and that consequently if the state should enforce that law, with its death penalty, it would work directly against the gospel. He should bear in mind that religion, of which Sabbath observance is a part, and civil government lie in wholly separate spheres; that the conscience can not be subject to majority rule, that it is no part of the business of the state to decide the religious controversy over the seventh and the first day of the week, as to which is the Christian Sabbath, and that the enforcement of religious laws has never brought peace and prosperity to the state.
L. A. S.

“A Certain Sound”

By Editor

As the counsels and warnings given through the spirit of prophecy come to the brethren in the field, and they understand our present situation, they are taking their positions on the right side in this crisis. We have been confident that they would do this. While some are departing from the faith, and this creates considerable local stir where these influences center, yet it can not be truthfully said that there is a split in the denomination. The rank and file of the people and of the ministers are true to this message, and will not be led into apostasy.
As an illustration of this, we quote the following article written by Elder R. C. Porter, the president of the Missouri Conference, and printed in the Workers' Record. The title of the article is “A Certain Sound,” and we copy it entire:—
Of late a measure of uncertainty has been felt as to the attitude of some who occupy positions of responsibility in the work in Battle Creek toward the definite message which is committed to this people to proclaim to the world in this generation. Testimonies have repeatedly appealed to those in positions of trust in Battle Creek to persuade them to turn from worldly plans and methods to the spiritual, as the important character of all our plans of business and methods of procedure, in the education of our youth, and the preparation of laborers in this work. Of late the Testimonies have become decided that there was danger of pursuing a worldly policy in our educational plans, and especially directing that our educational plans should be in harmony with our faith in the near coming of Christ and the principles of our fundamental platform as a people, “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Recent Testimonies are more explicit in warning of the danger of turning from the principles of the faith in the educational work in Battle Creek. The instruction now given is that it is positively unsafe to send our young people to that place to obtain an education on account of skeptical influences with reference to our message and work which are prevalent in that place.
It is sad that such warnings must be given, but they are timely. The trumpet is being given a certain sound. It will be well if all who profess faith in the message heed the warnings now being given, and step firmly upon the solid platform of the third angel's message. It is said of the law of God that he that offends in one point is guilty of all. This is no less true of the message for our time. He that steps aside from faith in one point of the message will soon lose faith in the message as a whole.
The times are perilous. Let us pray for those in danger; but let us be sure that by our firm stand upon every point of truth we encourage them to walk in the path of safety. It is no time now for any false sympathy to be manifested. “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

Effect of Studying Error.

By L. A. S.

The Christian does not need to study error in order to recognize it as such. The best possible way to be prepared to know error is to study and know the truth. The study of error often leads to its acceptance as truth.
The result to an eminent teacher in this country, of the study of the heathen systems of the Orient, is stated in a recent issue of the Outlook. The individual in question, Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall, president of Union Theological Seminary, has attained great “success” as a preacher to India. He took up the study of the religions of India with a purpose of finding and appreciating truth in them, and he has found what he sought. He says, as quoted in the Outlook:—
I desired to be a humble learner from the systems of belief that commanded the allegiance of immense numbers of my fellow men, and that represented the insight, research, and aspiration of long lines of eminent and saintly personages.
The result, as he states it, was:—
From time to time, in this course of preparation, the conviction has recurred with increasing definiteness that the East could, if it would, give more adequate expression to Christianity than the West ever has given; that India might, if it would, express the innermost secret of Christ with an exaltation of tone, an emancipation from the thralldom of things visible, a grasp on the eternal, the invisible, the imperishable, never yet attained by the average thought of Europe and America.
Going to India in this frame of mind, he was received by his Hindu audiences with “enthusiastic approval.” Of the effect of his study of India’s religions, the Outlook says further:—
He is able not only to see the truth both in the pantheism of the Orient and in the doctrine of divine personality of the Occident, but so to state each truth as to make it intelligible to those who have dwelt with the other.
To be able to see truth in two systems, each of which is destructive of the other, is an attainment of very doubtful value. Christianity and pantheism are fundamentally opposed to each other, and the individual who thinks he can reconcile one with the other, is in a state of deception. He sees truth where truth does not exist. The study of error, with the purpose of discovering truth, leads to confusion of the distinction between truth and error, the perversion of truth into error and the reception of error as truth.
The proper study of mankind is not man, or human systems of belief and of worship, but the study of God. There is no safety, nor necessity, in searching for divine truth outside the revelation God has given of himself in his Word and works. The field of truth here opened to man is of infinite extent; and for his study he has the aid of an infallible word and an unerring Guide. It is not only useless, but unsafe, to study error.
L. A. S.

The Southern Union Conference

By George A. Irwin

This meeting was held, pursuant to notice, January 4-14, in the city of Nashville. The daily sessions were held in the chapel of the Southern Publishing Association’s building, and the Sabbath and evening services were held in the church recently purchased in the city. All the conferences and institutions were represented by their full number of delegates, and a deep interest was manifested in the various reports rendered and questions brought up for discussion.
The reports, in the main, were encouraging, considering the many enterprises, and the small constituency from which to draw means for their support. The Southern Training-school, located at Graysville, came in for a good share of attention. This school, under the management of Professor Tenney, is becoming a factor in the education and training of young people for the work in the Southern field. It was gratifying to learn that a number of persons who had received their training at this school are now occupying positions of responsibility in different conferences. Some reports had gone out derogatory to the school and its management, but these were all cleared up, and I am sure the discussions on the general situation brought about a better understanding on the part of all, and will result in the general welfare of the school in the future.
The sanitarium at Graysville has been passing through a trying experience, because of a lack of means to fully finish and equip the institution. This enterprise also received its share of attention, and I think there are better days in store for it. It occupies an important position in connection with the Southern Training-school, and the two together, when properly equipped, will become important factors in the growth and development of the work in the South.
Time was also devoted to the consideration of sanitarium interests in and around Nashville. An effort has been made to move the sanitarium out of the city to some quiet place in the country. A parcel of land containing thirty-two acres was purchased last year by the brethren, but as no means came in to warrant them in going ahead, nothing has yet been done toward the building. Another site has also been suggested, so at the present writing it is uncertain just where the institution will be located. The great need of moving it into the country was very apparent to us who were in attendance at the meeting from abroad, as the location of the site in Nashville, with its fog and coal smoke in the winter, makes it anything but a desirable place in which to live.
The Sanitarium Association was reorganized in harmony with the plan adopted by the General Conference, making it a constituent body, rather than a membership body with proxy privileges. The conference made appropriations for the various institutions, amounting, in the whole, to forty thousand dollars, twenty-five thousand dollars of which was to go to the Nashville Sanitarium. If this amount can be raised and judiciously expended, in addition to the fixtures and appliances that they already have which might be transferred from the city plant to the country, they will have a good institution. The publishing association, having sold its plant in the city, is erecting a new building on land purchased in the suburbs. The new site is on an elevation, and is free from the fog and smoke of the city. The main part of their new building is already up, and it is hoped that it will be ready for occupancy in a few months. The building is one story, and so arranged that the plant can be operated at the very least possible expense. While they have sustained considerable loss in the sale of the building and plant in the city, yet in the end I am satisfied that the change will prove a blessing to the work.
By request of the officers of the Southern Missionary Society and by unanimous vote of the conference, this society was placed under the care of the Southern Union Conference, to be operated by it for a period of two years. A committee of five was appointed to look after its interests. The transfer of this society to the Southern Union Conference makes it obligatory upon the conference to take a lively interest in the work among the colored people, and this I feel sure they have a desire to do.
The work of the Oakwood Industrial School for colored people received consideration during the meeting. According to reports, a good spirit prevails in the school, and the interest is gradually increasing. Several persons each pledged a sufficient amount of means to support one student in the school for a year. This school also needs considerable help in order to provide proper facilities, a girls’ dormitory and treatment rooms being especially needed. An appropriationof five thousand dollars was made for this purpose, and twenty-five hundred dollars to build and equip an orphanage.
Elder Butler was unanimously re-elected president of the conference, and Elder R. M. Kilgore vice-president. Quite a number of changes were made in the boards of management of the different institutions, which no doubt will be reported in the official report of the meeting.
Elders W. C. White and I. H. Evans, Dr. J. E. Froom, and the writer were in attendance at the conference. It was a great pleasure to meet with the laborers in the Southern Union Conference after an absence of nearly ten years from the field. Many of the familiar faces that were there when I had charge of the work in that field, are there still, and many others have joined the work since, showing that notwithstanding it is a hard field, they are making progress.
Taken as a whole, I enjoyed the meeting very much. Elder Butler kindly entertained us during the meeting. It was a great privilege to be associated with this aged veteran, and to be privileged to counsel with him as to the best interests of the work in the field where he is located, and where his heart’s affection seems to be centered. Brother Butler stands loyal and true to the principles of the third angel’s message, and is a firm believer in the spirit of prophecy.
A spirit of loyalty to the work seemed to characterize the entire delegation. While they will have many perplexities to contend with, I fully believe that the work in the Southern field has received a new impetus as the result of the meeting, and that rapid progress may be looked for in the next biennial period.
GEO. A. IRWIN.
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