Earlier text: THE COST OF SUCCESSCourage and Faithful Work in a Testing Time
By W. W. P.
Now is the time to pray earnestly and to work faithfully. This is a testing experience. Read the report of the Indiana meeting, as given on another page of this issue, by Brother Hankins, and notice how the question is regarded there. This plan is of no human devising. The Lord saw the situation, and provided just such a plan as would fully meet it in every way. When heartily accepted and followed out, it will bring blessing to those who sell the books, blessing to those who buy them, and blessing to the schools in behalf of which they are sold. It is no time now to be faint-hearted or to yield to any apparent difficulties. The Lord speaks words of hope and courage to His people, as of old. “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.” “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” “There are, in the divine providence, particular periods when we must arise in response to the call of God and make use of our means, our time, our intellect, our whole being, body, soul, and spirit, in fulfilling His requirements. The present is such a time as this. The interests of God’s cause are at stake. The Lord’s institutions are in peril. Because of the terrible burden of debt under which our schools are struggling, the work is hindered on every side. In our great necessity, God has made a way through the difficulty, and has invited us to co-operate with Him in accomplishing His purpose. It was His plan that the book, ‘Christ’s Object Lessons,’ should be given for the relief of our schools, and He calls upon His people to do their part in placing this book before the world. In this He is testing His people and His institutions, to see if they will work together and be of one mind in self-denial and self-sacrifice.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 469. W. W. P. LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.
By W. W. P.
Some of the Sanitarium buildings have been destroyed by fire, but all the principles of truth which made the Sanitarium what it was still live. And the Lord is abundantly able to overrule to His glory and our good what seems on the face of it to be a great disaster. We may not now see clearly the lessons which we are to learn from this experience, but the first step toward learning these lessons is to maintain unflinching trust in the “God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” When He takes anything from us, or permits anything to be taken from us, He will always give us something better in its place. All resources are at the command of our God, and our only concern should be that we maintain such fellowship with Him that He can trust us with some of His goods to be used in His service. The managers of the Sanitarium are meeting the situation with real Christian fortitude. The helpers are faithful and true. All are hopeful in what seems to be a dark hour for the institution, and the tears which were shed in the first bitterness of the trial were soon wiped away, and a spirit of courage in the Lord fills all hearts. Now let all the people manifest the same spirit. Pray for those upon whom rests the responsibility of planning for the future of the work, that the Lord will impart special grace and wisdom to them. Pray that we may all learn just the lessons which the Lord has for us in this experience. Pray that the Lord will use this apparent calamity for the advancement of His kingdom. Pray that the better thing which He has for us may be clearly seen and fully realized. Pray that every other feeling may be swallowed up in that sympathy and brotherly love which will bear witness to the world that “whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.” So will light shine in the darkness, and hope and courage spring up anew in troubled hearts. W. W. P. PUT IT INTO THE FIRE.
By L. A. S.
Put into the fire that disposition to criticise and dwell upon the faults, real or imaginary, of your brethren. Put into the fire that tendency you have to look for evil, rather than for good in your brethren, and to believe an evil report concerning them quicker than a statement to their credit. Do the same with your inclination to criticise and hold aloof from an effort made in the cause of God because it is not conducted according to your ideas of the proper method. And anything else that causes you to hold back, and assume an attitude of indifference or of opposition toward the work of God should be treated likewise. Put it into the fire. There is a fire that will consume all these, and that is the fire of zeal for the Lord. The zealous servant of God cannot dwell upon the things that are evil, upon the imperfections, and that which is merely negative in its influence and without any power to advance the interests of his Master's cause. His heart is full of faith, full of the expectation of121success, full of the knowledge of the power of God through whom wonders are to be accomplished in the cause of right and of truth. Zeal for the Lord will cause you to forget, or to regard as unworthy trifles, the things which otherwise seem to you of great moment, and which intrude themselves into a position of precedence to everything else. The love of God will fill your heart with love to your fellow men,—with the love which thinketh no evil, and covereth a multitude of sins. Open your heart to the Lord, and let Him work in it both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Then you will quickly get rid of the dross; “for our God is a consuming fire.” L. A. S. HE DOETH ALL THINGS WELL.
By W. W. P.
WHEN one calamity after another followed in quick succession in the experience of the Lord’s servant Job, so that he was bereft of property and family, although he manifested the outward signs of grief, yet with humble submission he said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Thus Job recognized that nothing happens outside the sphere of God’s providence. This is the lesson for the child of God to remember under all circumstances. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” “Whate’er events betide,
Thy will they all perform;
Safe in thy breast my head I hide,
Nor fear the coming storm. “Let good or ill befall,
It must be good for me,
Secure of having thee in all,
Of having all in thee.” It was this confidence in God as “a very present help in trouble” which led the psalmist to say, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” The test of our confidence in this truth as a general principle is in our ability to apply it in those individual experiences which outwardly seem to be against us. When the sun shines brightly, it is easy to say that “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all;” but when the night thickens about us, we sometimes forget that “the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” When we remember that “clouds and darkness are round about Him,” then we may be sure that wherever there is what seems to us to be a dark place, there we may be certain of finding Him. Then “trust in Him at all times.” “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” W. W. P. GOD'S CALL FOR MEN.
By L. A. S.
The call of the hour is for men. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth,” in search of men. 2 Chron. 16:9. If this was true when spoken by the prophet to King Asa, many centuries ago, much more is it true of the present time, when the climax of God’s work in the earth has been reached. Now, when all things are moving swiftly forward to the final consummation, the call for men is more imperative than ever before. But for what men is this call made? Not for rich men; for God could as easily rain down gold from heaven as He once rained manna, if wealth were the thing on which the advancement of His cause depends. Nor is He seeking for orators to proclaim His truth, nor for men to whom the world looks up because of their power and influence. All these things God can supply at any time, for they are gifts from Him, and He will supply them when He sees that they are needed and will be properly used. But the men God is looking for and calling for are the men who have an earnest desire to work for Him. Consecration is the one thing God does not and cannot supply; and without consecration, wealth, influence, intellectual power, can avail nothing for the work of God. Who is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord? Any person in the world who will consecrate himself to God’s service, can be one of those for whom God is calling; God will supply all other needful things. But no person in the world, however great or talented, with whom consecration is lacking, can respond to the call of the hour. A Willing Mind Opens the Channels of Power
Through a people who have a mind to work the Lord can accomplish whatever He sees to be necessary. The willing mind on the part of the people opens the channels of power, and human instrumentalities become “strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” Then we can undertake great things for God with the fullest confidence that success will attend the effort. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” The People Had a Mind to Work
THE secret of the success of the effort to restore Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s time was that “the people had a mind to work.” They had difficulties to meet, but difficulties need not stop the work of the Lord when His people have a mind to work. Keeping Jesus Near Amid Difficulties
We must learn to look to Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, and to keep Him so near that He must of necessity be between us and all difficulties. Thus shall we see Him who is invisible, and all difficulties will be conquered by the light and the glory of His presence. Working Together With God
The true children of God are not idlers. They follow the example of the Father and the Elder Brother. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” “We are laborers together with God.” Our fellowship with the divine Worker is the basis of all our working, and all our work is “wrought in God.” “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” We labor, yet not we, but the grace of God which is with us. This was the experience of Jesus. “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.” Lake Union Campaign to Sell Christ's Object Lessons
From various parts of the great field are coming in the reports which indicate that the people have a mind to work. Just now the believers in the Lake Union Conference, comprising the great States of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, are entering upon a united campaign to sell sixty thousand copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” in the shortest possible time. All are joining in this effort. The presidents of the Conferences are planning the movement with their committees, and are directing the operations. All the ministers and other Conference workers are acting as leaders of the people, and are taking the field with them. There is a hearty acceptance of the Lord’s evident leading in the plan, and from the confidence that the Lord is ordering the battle, springs the well-grounded hope of victory. THE TEST OF THE DAY.
By Edward Alexander Sutherland
THE great campaign for the sale of 60,000 copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” by the Lake Union Conference has already begun. When the possibility of so doing was first suggested, it was received with incredulity. But when God wishes a work done, He has men prepared to do that work. It was known that Emmanuel Missionary College must erect buildings this spring. The association having this work in charge had no money. The author of “Christ’s Object Lessons” stated that the way to raise means lay in the selling of this book. The matter was prayerfully considered by the president of the Lake Union Conference. He put his shoulder to the task. He met with the different Conference presidents and their committees. Each State volunteered to take its quota. This means that the officers in each of these States have guaranteed to stand responsible for the sale of four books by each Sabbath-keeper. This is what they were asked to do; this is what they have done. There are one hundred and twenty-five Sabbath-keepers in the church and school at Berrien Springs. The quota of books for this place is five hundred. Naturally the officers of the church and the faculty of the college felt that in this campaign Berrien Springs must be in the forefront of the battle. At a joint meeting of the church officers and faculty these questions were put: “Shall we take our full quota? Shall we pay for them?” All the objections which will be raised in any quarter were brought forward here. “The church numbers only forty-four members. On that basis our quota is one hundred and seventy-six books,” said one individual. “The students are poor, and cannot afford to pay five dollars for books,” argued another. “Shall the officers of the church and the faculty be held responsible for five hundred books? See what an enormous debt for a few people, if the books are not sold.” This represents the doubting side. But doubt did not prevail. God’s promises were read. Elder Daniells stated that he regarded himself responsible for the sale of 60,000 books in the next few weeks. If, as president of this Lake Union Conference, he is responsible for 60,000, surely teachers and church officers will stand by him. The officers and teachers said, “Order the books, and pay cash for them.” The order was at once telephoned to Battle Creek. The church and school were divided into companies of five or seven, and each teacher became responsible for the sale of the books of one company. To make it explicit, it was like this: Elder Brunson was given seven boys. Including his own quota, this meant his personal responsibility for the sale of thirty-two books. He met his boys and laid the situation before them. Other teachers did the same. If for any reason some person was faint-hearted and did not wish to take four books, the other members of that group, or the leader himself, offered to sell the weak-hearted member’s quota. How many persons do the readers of the Review suppose were willing to resign their part in this work?—Not one! Every man and woman, and even the children, entered heartily into the work. Some who had never canvassed, and who had for months dreaded the thought of going to the people, went out with their books. God blessed every effort. The time set apart for Michigan to sell its books is the week beginning February 9. The Berrien Springs church is selling its books one week earlier, that others may be encouraged by their song of victory. As I write this, students are out in the country canvassing. Others planned to go to the neighboring towns to-day, but on account of the blockade on the railroad are detained until to-morrow. But there is courage, such courage and enthusiasm as I never before saw. This is a developer of character. Angels are watching our people, and those who come now to the body of the Lord will be prepared for rapid advancement in the future. This work will be done suddenly. It is impossible to picture the results of united efforts now. Fifteen thousand people selling sixty thousand books in the course of two weeks! Will not this be the greatest impetus that could possibly be given to the work of the Third Angel’s Message? And everybody can have a part in it. That is the most glorious thought of all. E. A. SUTHERLAND. “CHRISTIAN SCIENCE:” ARE ITS DOCTRINES TRUTH OR ERROR?
By George I. Butler
Are There Evil Angels? What Does the Word Say (Continued)?
The previous article on the subject above mentioned was somewhat general in its treatment of the theme. In this I will come more directly to the teaching of the Scriptures. Rev. 12: 7-9 was quoted, which plainly states the fact that Satan and his host of rebel angels were cast out of heaven. We quote further, as additional proof of the same fact: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [“Tartarus,” R. V., margin], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” In Jude’s epistle, verse 6, the same fact is stated in similar language: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Notice the following facts: (1) there were angels that sinned. Therefore there had been sinless, or holy, angels before; (2) the place where they sinned was in heaven, God’s holy habitation, for when they sinned, they were “cast out” of heaven, “neither was their place found any more in heaven.” This holy place was their “first estate,” or “principality” (margin); (3) they were cast down to “hell,” as our English version translates the word “Tartarus.” And let the reader note the fact that this word is used only once in all the Bible. The word “hell” in our English version in every other instance is translated from the Greek word “Gehenna” or from “Hades.” Greek lexicographers define “Tartarus” as the dark region surrounding the habitable universe. The Englishman’s Greek word-for-word translation defines it “deepest abyss.” When we consider the fact that God had made no place for the abode of wicked, rebellious intelligences, as that was foreign to His great designs, these texts seem to prove that Satan and his host were cast out into the dark regions of space, where they had no abiding place, until Satan, by deceiving our first parents, obtained a foothold in our earth, then newly created. Thus sin and rebellion were transferred to man’s abode. Again we quote: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8: 44. Here the great generalissimo of evil is again brought to view by Christ himself, who was perfectly acquainted with him for ages before this. He no doubt knew fully as much about his reality as Mrs. Eddy does. He abode not in the truth. Then he was once in the truth, but left it, fell from it, and was cast out of the society of the truthful and faithful angels. He was not a lie, as Mrs. Eddy tells us, but a liar, one who tells lies. A lie has no personality, but a liar has. It is right at this point where Mrs. Eddy and all those who teach that there are no such real, personal beings as Satan and his angels, throw their dust to confuse unwary souls. They teach that the terms “Satan,” “devil,” “demons,” etc., are merely abstract principles, and not real personalities. They might as well teach that God and Christ are abstract goodness or love, and that no such real beings as Christ and God exist. The Bible, beyond all question, teaches the real personality of both classes of spiritual beings, the good and the bad. The Bible everywhere represents Satan as a being of very great power, though by no means equal to Christ or the Almighty. He is represented as the commander of the great host of dark spirits, or angels, connected with the ruin of the human family. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.” Eph. 6: 11-13, margin. Here are the real foes the true Christian has to contend with. This fact Satan and his host greatly desire we shall never realize. Hence he has his agents teach us that there are no such personalities in existence, even as a celebrated robber in English history, who, just before making an intended haul, advertised his own death, so men would not be on the watch for him. This would greatly improve his chances of success. Multitudes, because of this pleasant fable that there is no devil, will be deceived and ruined by him. Surely the Bible will not be responsible for this deception, but those who are contradicting the Bible and teaching such doctrine will be held responsible in the day of judgment. Satan is spoken of as “the prince of this world,” or “the prince of the power of the air.” “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Eph. 2: 2. This language clearly presents the fact that Satan is a leading actor in human history. He stands as the great perverter of God’s truth, the leader in every false religion, the persecutor of the true Church, the head center of every apostate movement. He has his power in the corruption of the great cities of the globe. The Revelator speaks of a great city as the place “where Satan’s seat is.” Rev. 2: 13. In such a place of influence he delights to dwell, leading, directing, corrupting, enslaving, and ruining the greater portion of earth’s inhabitants. In no other way could he be properly called the prince of this world—the leading potentate in human affairs. The large masses have ever followed him, as Christ teaches: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matt. 7: 13, 14. The true child of God will never expect, if intelligent in what the Bible teaches, that the great masses in this world will follow in the self-denying way of the Prince of peace. The prince of this world has too much influence. Fashion, love of the world, covetousness, extortion, and every form of evil are too prevalent, and too highly loved by the masses for them ever to follow the humble Galilean. When our Saviour was about to die, and Satan’s agents were hunting Him for His life, the Lord said, “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” He had lived on the higher, nobler plane. This title is repeated several times by our Saviour. It sets before us truthfully the real position Satan occupies in human affairs in all history. The blood-stained track of poor, weak humanity through all human history, is a sad commentary on the power and influence of the prince of this world in its affairs. The true child of God worships another—Prince Emmanuel, the Prince of peace. The “Era of Burning Money.”
“It is the era of burning money,” remarks Mr. Paul Latzke in an article in the Saturday Evening Post of February 15. He does not mean that everybody is burning money, or that there are fewer poor people in the land to-day than there have previously been; he is speaking of the nation’s metropolis—New York City—and of the representatives of wealth and fashion which that city contains. After speaking of the prodigious advance in real-estate values which is a feature of its current history, this writer says:— “This much is apparent to any one who cares to look around: Money is being circulated at a rate that eclipses all past records. It is the scramble of the shopkeepers, the purveyors to this epoch of luxury, that has forced up rents and land values. It is because the people here are so eager to spend money that the persons who cater to them are practically unable to keep up with the demand. To-day the limit has apparently been reached in display and indulgence, when lo! to-morrow the doings of to-day pale into insignificance.” “For years it has been said that the acme of luxury in hotel-keeping was reached at the Waldorf-Astoria, where the guests and the ordinary strollers in the lobby walk on oriental rugs, and gaze on art treasures beyond price scattered about the reception rooms and parlors. Now plans are announced for a hotel farther up the avenue that is to make the Waldorf look like an inn by comparison. Here guests are to dine off china the smallest piece of which will cost five dollars. The table napery is to be woven by the finest looms in France. The lodgers are to sleep in chambers in which every article would rival the furniture once used by kings alone. The men behind this scheme are all practical, hard-headed business experts, who would not invest a dollar except in a certainty, and they feel that they have a certainty here.” Ah, there is another “certainty” about all this, not realized by these hard-headed business men, or by those who are seeking how they may burn some of their “heaped-up wealth”; and that certainty is that this unheard-of heaping up of treasure, this revelry of luxury which eclipses anything known in ancient or modern times, is declared by inspired prophecy to be a characteristic of the time when the end of all things is impending. “Go to now, ye rich men. . . . Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” The past year in Arkansas has been a prosperous one in connection with the work of God in all its departments; and as a result, quite a number have joined our churches, three new companies have been raised up, and four new churches have been added to our Conference. When compared with what is accomplished in a large Conference, this may look small, but there are only about four hundred Sabbath-keepers in the State, and only three ordained ministers and two licentiates at work. In the last two years the tithe has increased from about twelve hundred dollars a year to about twenty-one hundred dollars. We are enlarging our corps of workers, and thanks be to God, the tithe is coming in so that we are nearer out of debt now than we have been for two years. There are four new church buildings in process of construction. We also have a company of young women in Little Rock, doing Bible work, and canvassing for our books and papers. The Spirit of the Lord put it into the hearts of Brethren V. B. Watts and U. Bender to come to our State and give us a year's work; as a result of their labors, we have a strong church, and a new building in Batesville, which will be dedicated March 8, 9. The readers of the REVIEW have read many appeals from Sister White concerning the work in the South. Now there are in Battle Creek, College View, and other places many of our people who are not needed where they are, and who could do a vast amount of good in the South. At the present time there are many opportunities for proclaiming the message in this State. This country is covered with dense forests of oak, pine, etc. This timber is valuable, and the railroads are pushing out into the forests. Speculators are coming here and securing the timber as fast as they can. In the north-central part there is a great deal of vacant land that could be secured as homesteads. This land has valuable timber on it, and it would have been occupied long ago had it been near the railroad; but now the railroads are there, it will soon be converted into fruit farms and cattle ranches. In the southern part of the State there is a great deal of fine timber. There are three railroads going through the country. At Star of the West we have a church, and the brethren there tell me that there are plenty of claims that could be taken, some within a mile of the church. This is a good cattle country. Cattle can secure their own living the most of the year. Fruit also grows in abundance. If there are any of our people who would like to improve this opportunity, and settle where they can do good missionary work, we will welcome them; and shall be glad to help such all we can by correspondence, or in any other way. May God bless the work in the South. A. E. FIELD. THE BRITISH FIELD.
By Ole A. Olsen
WE are glad to report some progress in the work. Our new magazine, Good Health, the first number of which was issued last November, is meeting a most cordial reception. The public are showing a deep interest in the health principles, and our own people are doing their best to secure for the magazine a wide circulation. We printed thirty thousand copies of the February number. During the same time the circulation of Present Truth has also made considerable progress. The weekly issue is now nearly twenty thousand copies. However, we shall not stop here, but continue to increase our efforts for a much wider circulation. The Present Truth ought now to go to fifty thousand homes every week. A most important advance move in this Conference was the opening of a missionary training school on Monday, Jan. 6, 1902. The brethren here have long felt the need of such an institution. It ought to have been started before; but we are glad that a beginning has been made. On the day of the opening, twenty students presented themselves, and at this writing the enrollment is thirty-six. The opening of the school was marked by the presence of the Spirit of God, and, best of all, this manifest presence continues with the school in its daily work. The British Conference is thankful to the General Conference and the Mission Board for the interest manifested, and the assistance rendered the work in this field; and while we appreciate this for the past, we must say that we shall need more help for the future. We do not say this with a view to excuse ourselves from any responsibility. No, far from it! We are glad to say that there is increasing activity manifested by our people to advance the message, both in active work, and also in contributing of their means. And this is as it should be. But with all this, the largeness and importance123of this field call both for more men and for more means than can be produced here at present. However, we are of good courage, and rejoice in what we see and experience of the Lord’s blessing day by day. We fully expect that He will do more than we can even ask or think. The reports from the workers are encouraging. Recently seven persons were baptized at Bath, fifteen at Swansea, nine at Cardiff, seven at Liverpool, and just now we receive the report that twenty-two were baptized at Southampton. Brother H. Armstrong has gone to Glasgow to open the work there. This is the first time that a minister has gone to Scotland to begin permanent work. May the Lord greatly bless this undertaking to the rapid advancement of the message. Brother W. H. Meredith has just secured a portable tabernacle for the work in Wales. Aside from a few canvassers, he is the only laborer in that needy field. One minister for Scotland, one for Wales, and only one for Ireland! Surely the harvest is great, and the laborers are few. The most distressing part of our experience is our inability to send ministerial help in response to many urgent calls that come to us. And when we realize that we are living in the very last days, this situation becomes all the more serious. We earnestly pray that God will send faithful laborers and means to carry forward the work. There is an urgent call for a health home or a suite of treatment rooms. Some effort has been made to find a suitable location for one or the other, but as yet nothing has been decided upon. We are also beginning to look for a permanent location for our school, which is now being held at Duncombe Hall, North London. These are important matters, concerning which no mistake should be made. We earnestly pray that God may give wisdom to His servants, and himself clearly indicate the proper places for the headquarters of the several departments of the work. The Archbishop and the Constitution.
An intimation that the Constitution of the United States might properly be amended so as to be less liberal in its provisions touching the liberties of the people, was made by Archbishop Ireland before the Merchants’ Club of Chicago, February 14. The topic before the club was the “Limitations of Liberty,” and the archbishop was the principal speaker. He condemned the doctrines of Tolstoi, the noted Russian opponent of the Greek Church and militarism, as being very dangerous to good government. “The drumming of wild socialism into the ears of the people that wealth is unfairly distributed,” said the archbishop, “and that the weak are oppressed by the strong,—these are some of the things that create anarchists.” And then he added: “We need laws, and if the government has not the power to enact them, the Constitution should be amended.” The significance of this statement lies in the fact that the national Constitution was framed with the express view of safeguarding the liberties and rights of the people. It was framed by men who well understood the evils of monarchical government, and of that European system into which had been woven so many of the principles and methods of the papacy. It was framed by men before whose eyes anarchy—the result of long curtailment of the people’s rights—was then rampant in France and other countries of the Old World. Rome now hopes, and apparently not without reason, that the Constitution may be so amended that it will read more like a papal document. THE FRENCH-SPANISH FIELD.
By B. G. Wilkinson
In the last six months since our Swiss camp-meeting, the Lord has blessed the laborers in the French-Spanish field. Nearly all have seen fruit of their labors. At Valence, France, where Brother Badaut has been laboring, fifteen have accepted the Sabbath truth, ten of whom are waiting to be baptized. I have just received a letter from Thiers, France, where Brother Blaizat, who is a bookkeeper in a firm of that city, and who gives only a small portion of his time to the distribution of papers, etc., is working. He states that a family has accepted the truth, and that others are interested. In Italy, where Brother Curdy has been preaching the message, eighteen have joined themselves to us. This causes great rejoicing in the Italian field, which was losing ground. We have now in training two young men, whom we hope to send to Italy to establish the work there. Fruits have also been seen of the work in Switzerland. At Lausanne three or four have recently accepted the message, and a good interest exists among those not of our faith. This is a growing church. At Neuchatel five or six have been baptized into the truth. May the Lord continue the work, and send more laborers to carry the blessings of a crucified Saviour to sinful men. SOUTH DAKOTA.
By F. D. Starr
COLUMBIA.—In compliance with the solicitation of the Dakota Conference Committee, I came here about two months ago to give Bible instruction in the canvassers’ school. About twoscore earnest students are receiving the benefits of this three months’ course. Besides the class in English Bible, we have an interesting class of eight German young men and women, to whom it is my privilege to impart Bible instruction in their own language. Instruction in other necessary studies, with the Bible as a foundation, is given by Brother Beach, Brother and Sister Walker, and Brother and Sister Isaac. This opportunity is much appreciated by those who are thus fitting themselves for greater usefulness in the work to which the Lord may call them in His vineyard, and we trust that we constitute one small wing of the Forward Movement. All are of good courage in the message. F. D. Starr. CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS.
By A. J. Haysmer
I have just returned from my visit to the island of Tortola. I found six keeping the Sabbath, and others interested. I never saw a people more anxious to hear the truth and to receive reading-matter. Five are awaiting baptism here at Charlotte Amalie. We expect soon to organize a church of about nineteen members. This has been a very hard field, and the work has made slow progress; but the Lord is gathering out a few who love Him and His word. There is great need for consecrated men and means just now, as the fields are ripe. We are trying to make up some of this deficiency in our field by printing and circulating leaflets. We desire to supply our ministers and canvassers with reading-matter for the many who are unable to buy. We see fruits in all the islands where literature has been circulated. A. J. Haysmer. MARITZBURG, NATAL.
By G. W. Reaser
I AM now busily engaged in holding a series of meetings in our new church at Maritzburg. The interest is excellent, and I am confident that some will decide in favor of the truth. There are at least ten towns in Natal, to say nothing about the Transvaal, in any one of which two good, consecrated Bible workers could locate for one year, and during that time a church could be raised up. The field is ripe for the harvest in Natal. The people need the truth and its saving power. This church at Maritzburg was raised up by Bible workers. A church has been built, worth, with the lot, probably about twenty-one hundred dollars, and their tithe will exceed seven hundred dollars a year. I never held meetings where the people manifested such an interest to hear the truth. They come out in the worst kind of weather, apparently as well as in the best. They urge me to go to their homes, and they have many questions to ask concerning the things presented in the meetings. I wish we had a ton of literature to supply the Boer prison camps. These people are eager to get it, and we will never find them gathered together in the future, with time dragging heavily on their hands, as they are now. Shall we step out by faith and occupy the field now, or shall we wait until the way is hedged up? Wonderful opportunities are opening up before us for native work. Yet we are so short of workers and literature! I have just been interrupted by a call from a man who, with his family, is attending our meetings. He urged me to advertise the meetings in the daily papers, and gave me the money to pay for the same. A letter from Bulawayo speaks very encouragingly of the work there, and also of the sale of Zulu Bibles. The workers there are quite anxious to have “Steps to Christ” and some other small publications translated and published. We hope in a few weeks to have these ready for the printer.