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Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 21.

THE WORK — AND — THE WORKERS

Review and Herald

May 27, 1909

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 27, 1909

THE WORK — AND — THE WORKERS

By Editor

THE Minnesota Tract Society has just sent in 31 more yearly subscriptions for the Protestant Magazine.
An attractive exhibit of denominational publications in which the publishing houses have united, is made in the gymnasium of the Seminary, the headquarters of the Publishing Department of the General Conference.
A letter from Lincoln, Neb., written by a lady not of our faith, says: “Enclosed find post-office money-order for $1, for which I wish you to send me Life and Health for one year, beginning with the May number. I recently saw the April number, and found much of interest in it.”
After sending in several lists of yearly subscriptions for Liberty, our Philadelphia agent says: “You see from these annual subscriptions that I meet a few who are interested in the magazine. I do not solicit these subscriptions. I simply take their order when they express a desire to get the magazine for a year. This shows that some are really interested in the cause of religious freedom.”
Mr. Charles Scanlon, secretary of the temperance committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, expresses himself thus regarding the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor: “I am in receipt of the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor, and congratulate you heartily upon the wealth of material which it contains, as well as the attractive form in which it is prepared. Trusting that your efforts may be appreciated, as they richly deserve, I am, yours cordially.” We believe that the sale of this magazine has only begun. It will be a good seller for months to come. Prices: 5 to 24 copies, 5 cents a copy; 25 to 99 copies, 4 cents; 100 to 499 copies, 3¾ cents; 500 to 999 copies, 3½ cents; 1,000 or more copies, 3 cents. Address the Youth’s Instructor, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
Seventh-day Adventists are not the only people who are awakening to the fact that the world needs just such a publication as our new quarterly, the Protestant Magazine. For instance, Rev. John H. Eager, financial secretary of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Baltimore, Md.), fourteen years a missionary to Italy, and author of “Romanism in Its Home,” writes as follows: “I am very deeply interested in what you say about the new publication, the Protestant Magazine. I am fully persuaded that there is not only a place for such a magazine, but a real need for it, and that much can be accomplished if it is properly edited and managed.” Yearly subscription, 25 cents; single copy, 10 cents. Remember our special offer, good April 1 to July 1, during which yearly subscriptions will be received as follows: 5 or more copies, one year, to one address, or to separate addresses (cash with order), only 15 cents each. Address the Protestant Magazine, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
ALL of our schools have now been supplied with full information regarding our magazine scholarship plan. Supplies of circulars have also been sent to our State tract societies, Missionary Volunteer officers, and other leaders.
It is not impossible to make Sunday sales of our magazines even in conservative Massachusetts. One of the South Lancaster Academy students, a young man, recently sold over 100 copies of the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor in six and one-half hours. Half of these were Sunday sales.
Your public library should receive regularly not less than two copies each of Liberty, Life and Health, the Protestant Magazine, and the Youth’s Instructor. Get your church interested in the matter. Speak to your librarian. Agitate the question until some action is taken.
Elder A. J. Breed, secretary of the Religious Liberty Department of the North Pacific Union Conference, writes, in renewing his REVIEW subscription: “I would not be without the weekly visits of the REVIEW for many times its cost. I have now taken it for more than thirty-five years, and can say that it grows better each year, as the truth reaches out into new fields.”
An eminent New York gentleman who figured prominently in the recent controversy between the late President Roosevelt and the Lutheran Synod regarding the possibility of a Catholic president, writes us as follows regarding Liberty: “I received your letter and Liberty. As much as my time permitted me to read of it anent the Romish question, it is good, especially the article on Cardinal Gibbons’s ‘The Church and the Republic.’” He refers to Liberty, No. 2—for the second quarter, 1909.
“The publication of the Protestant Magazine is another step in the right direction,” writes Brother John S. Wightman, secretary of the Central States Religious Liberty Association. This new publication is eliciting a hearty response from our people in all quarters. Remember that the first thing needed is a good large subscription list in order to launch it. You can help by forwarding five to twenty-five names of your neighbors, friends, or acquaintances, accompanied by fifteen cents to pay for each of their yearly subscriptions. Let us hear from you promptly.
Every home in the city of Boulder, Colo., was recently supplied with a copy of the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor. The occasion, we are informed, was “a hotly contested city election,” in which the question was whether the city should be “wet” or “dry,” with no side issues. “One of the dailies of the city gave the work and the paper a fine write-up.” The city was districted, and 1,750 copies of the Instructor were distributed, about fifty of our brethren and sisters engaging in the work. “The workers had many interesting experiences,” continues the writer, “and our people there are gaining an enviable reputation as a temperance people.” To date, Colorado has circulated the fourth highest number of copies of the Temperance Instructor.
We have just taken from our files twenty-four orders (just as they came), for the Protestant Magazine. Most of them were received in one day. They call for 316 copies, an average of thirteen copies to each order.
Arrangements have just been made with the George Washington University, Washington, D. C., whereby our periodical agents may earn a scholarship in the medical department, through the sale of our ten-cent magazines. For full information address this Office.
“The magazine is fine,” writes Mrs. Josephine Hale, one of our Wisconsin Life and Health agents. “It is a good education for the people. I like to work with it, and wish I could sell our magazines all of the time. Have been successful when I could get out, having sold 1,100 copies thus far.” Send $1 for 25 copies to sell to your townspeople.
One of our college students uses this simple canvass in selling the magazines: “Good morning. I am a student attending the —— college, located at ——, and am earning my scholarship for next year by selling this magazine (giving title). The price is only ten cents. I am not soliciting for yearly subscriptions. Thank you.” This canvass would not answer, of course, for others than student magazine agents who intend to go to one of our schools next year.
Two of our lady agents for Life and Health have just sold 1,000 copies in five days. Writing from Virginia, one of them says: “We sent you a telegram yesterday morning, for we were afraid we would not have enough magazines for to-day’s work. We go to —— next, and work in —— to-day. Please send 300 magazines there as soon as you can, and 200 more here. We are still enjoying the work very much, enjoying the presence and blessing of the Lord.”
“Please do not take my name from your subscription list,” writes a subscriber for our magazine Liberty. “I will send the money soon. I appreciate and enjoy the magazines, and give them away after I have finished reading them.” Are you on the Liberty list? The yearly subscription price is only 25 cents. Or we will mail you one copy and nine other copies to nine of your friends in the United States or Canada, one year, for only $1.50. Send in your order to-day.
“While I am not in harmony with you in regard to religion,” writes a gentleman from Arkansas, “I gladly renew my subscription for your magazine, Liberty. I am entirely in harmony with your views on religious liberty, and will at all times be ready to render any assistance I can to any movement that tends toward the complete separation of church and state. Have been acquainted with the Seventh-day Adventists for more than twenty years, and have always admired their honesty and fairness in wanting all people to have perfect civil and religious freedom. I am frank to say that this country is sadly in need of more publications like yours.” We little realize the influence this magazine is having upon those not of our faith.

Editorial

By L. R. Conradi

“THEN shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”
The First Week of the Conference
THE hundred delegates from the regions beyond is the most striking evidence of the rapid advancement of our work in all parts of the world. Their inspiring testimony of the ingathering of souls among the heathen, as well as in Roman and Greek Catholic countries and in Protestant lands, is a sure token of the mighty workings of God’s Holy Spirit in behalf of his truth. As our missionaries relate the wonderful providences of God, and tell us how he is going out before them and opening the way in spite of all apparent hindrances, the mental horizon of our people is enlarged, their faith in the final triumph of the message is strengthened, and their sympathies are enlisted as never before in behalf of the perishing millions who are yet unwarned. Louder than ever, we hear the Macedonian cry, “Come over . . . and help us,” and never did the demands upon us seem so exceedingly great as they are now. The more vividly the greatness of our task is presented to us, the more apparent is our human weakness, and the greater our desire for the power of the Holy Spirit. In weakness we are made strong. In seeking, we find. In asking, we receive.
The fields abroad, and the fields at home, have but one story to tell—all keynote recount the manifold blessings that God has bestowed upon them. But recounting the blessings received begets gratitude toward God, humbles human pride, removes all self-sufficiency, and fosters a craving for still greater blessings. And the nearer the people draw to God, the more they realize their great need of divine power; and the more they press together, the more fully do they experience the truthfulness of the words, “In union there is strength.” Perfect harmony marks the deliberations of this World’s Conference, where all the continents and the isles of the sea are represented. All sense that though they are of different nationalities and speak various languages, yet they belong to the one heavenly family, and have but one Father, one Redeemer, and one spiritual Guide into all truth. All seem to have but one great aim—the everlasting gospel of the kingdom to the world in this generation, not by human might or power or wisdom, but by the Spirit of the living God.
But the accomplishment of such a tremendous task demands perfect organization in all the world, and of all the instrumentalities employed to carry forward the work. As God’s wheels within the wheels are working in the most perfect harmony with the four living creatures, all guided by the same Spirit, so at this Conference every instrumentality used must come into perfect harmony with all the others. A world’s conference of the most practical nature is truly demanded. It should not only bring the richest blessings to every individual, but it should also assure the fullest co-operation of both men and women, and enlarge the sufficiency of all that are engaged in this great work, and hasten its speedy completion. Self must vanish, the human ear be wide open to hear the counsel of the divine Spirit, the eye ready to discern the providences of God going out before us, the heart full of divine love to respond to all the great calls, so that God’s will alone may be done.
The prayers of the true Israel in every clime at this time are being answered. The Lord of hosts is drawing near to his people. He showers down individual blessings upon them, and above all, he is conferring upon them the boon of blessings—the privilege of being collaborators with heaven in finishing the mystery of godliness. This is the great key-note of the Conference during the first week’s session. It is the happy omen of the ultimate and grand success of this thirty-seventh session of the Conference. L. R. CONRADI.

Rome’s Self-Assertion

By C. M. S.

THE Roman Church is beginning to speak again with authority to the great ones of earth. She is speaking out in America with greater boldness than ever before because of her growing power and influence; and less than a month ago she chose to make a shining example of America’s ambassador to France, Mr. White.
The approaching marriage of the American ambassador’s daughter to a German Catholic count in Paris furnished the occasion for Rome to demonstrate her intolerant authority. The ambassador and his family belong to the Episcopal Church. Cardinal Kopp, the bishop of Breslau, would not grant a dispensation for the Catholic count to marry the ambassador’s daughter unless the couple would agree not to have any other religious ceremony. Ambassador White, who desired that a marriage ceremony should be performed in the Episcopal church which he regularly attends, protested strongly against the intolerant requirement, and cited precedents; but the Catholic cardinal was obdurate. There could be no sanction of the marriage by the Catholic Church and no Catholic ceremony if there was to be any other religious ceremony.
Ambassador White, as a protest against the attitude of the ecclesiastical authorities, decided not to attend the ceremony. The American ambassador to England, Mr. Whitelaw Reid, who had come over to Paris from London to attend the wedding, remained away from the ceremony out of deference to the feelings of his brother diplomat. Concerning his position in the matter, Mr. White said:—
Both my public and my private life demonstrate my freedom from religious bias; but under the circumstances, and as the representative of a country eminent for its religious toleration, although predominantly Protestant, I have decided not to attend the service at St. Joseph’s.
The Catholic papers of America have taken the matter up and are making much of what they term the ambassador’s bigotry. The Western Watchman of April 22 declares that Mr. White“did a very silly thing in so doing, and one for which he will not receive any thanks from either the President or the American people.” It is probably true that neither President nor people will take the trouble to encourage Mr. White for his stand. The American people have forgotten how to protest against the violation of some of their most sacred rights, and it need not be expected that the government will tender thanks to any one under such circumstances, while Catholicism exercises so great power and influence in the government.
The editor of the Western Watchman boldly asks: “What right has our ambassador to criticize the laws of the Catholic Church? What right has he to protest against their enforcement?” He might with no greater inconsistency have asked, “What right has any one to think or speak, or even to be alive, who is not an ardent supporter of the Catholic Church?”
To illustrate the intolerant conditions imposed upon Protestants who marry Catholics, we quote from the same editorial:—
A Protestant marrying a Catholic may not bring his or her Protestantism into the family. The atmosphere of the home must be absolutely Catholic. The Protestant party must be, to all intents and purposes of the family, a Catholic. The children must be brought up Catholics, even should the Catholic parent be taken from them. To bring them up Catholics, it is necessary to teach them by word and example respect for the church and her laws, and to promote in every possible way their Catholic education. A mixed marriage demands that the Protestant party shall leave all Protestantism outside when entering the home where Catholic children are to be brought up. This is of such strict obligation that neither the Catholic parent nor the children can assist the Protestant parent to practise his or her religion. Were the Protestant consort to fall sick, neither the Catholic consort nor the children could go for a Protestant minister to administer Protestant rites to the dying parent. When a Protestant enters a home blessed by the church, his or her Protestantism must be forever dormant within the precincts of such home. There is no religious toleration in a Catholic home. . . .
The church never gives a dispensation save when the Protestant party forgoes all rights under such laws or customs. We can not too often repeat that the Catholic Church allows no religious toleration in a home blessed or founded by her.
This is Rome’s position stated by her own representative. Let Protestants who are fondly nursing the delusion that Catholicism is growing more liberal digest these words. All honor to Ambassador White for refusing to “go to Canossa,” taking with him the government he represents. It was stated in one despatch that Rome thought it a good opportunity to make an example of a prominent American as a protest against the reputed liberal tendencies of the American branch of the church. She has certainly illustrated where she stands, and has told the world plainly enough what it may expect when the dominance toward which she is aiming has been achieved. Says the self-reliant doubter, “That system will never accomplish her purpose—the world will rise up against it.” But she is accomplishing her purpose, and the world is so far from rising up against it that it is not even awake. C. M. S.

Incidents That Mean Much

By C. M. S.

THE boycott originated in Ireland in the year 1880, only twenty-nine years ago. The prediction that a time would come when a universal boycott would be proclaimed was made in Holy Scripture more than eighteen hundred years ago. Another matter of interest in this connection is the fact that this universal boycott has to do with religious things. When the divine prediction was made, there was no such method known in either temporal or religious affairs, and men have wondered how such a prophecy could be fulfilled, having seen nothing like it in either the temporal or the spiritual realm.
But the boycott came, teaching men its power and effectiveness by touching their temporal affairs. When that lesson was learned, it was not surprising that a power-loving church should see in it attractive features, and have a drawing toward it. Thus one eminent divine, Rev. Dr. Bascom Robins, approaches the subject in this manner:—
In the Christian decalogue the first day was made the sabbath by divine appointment. But there is a class of people who will not keep the Christian sabbath unless they are forced to do so; but that can easily be done. If we would say we will not sell anything to them, we will not buy anything from them, we will not work for them, nor hire them to work for us, the thing could be wiped out, and all the world would keep the Christian sabbath. . . .
The purpose is plainly stated—to wipe out all opposition to a state-enforced sabbath by starving out those who oppose it. That is the boycott in ecclesiastical garb, a close copy of that papal instrument of spiritual tyranny known as “major excommunication.” It is not strange that when professed Protestantism goes out after power to compel obedience to her dogmas, she should go armed with weapons forged in the arsenal of the Vatican. The papal system has attained to the very apex of success in manipulating human power to her own advantage. When she was unable to meet argument by argument, she has silenced opposition by means of physical force. So long as the Protestant sects were seeking the salvation of needy and the perishing souls, they looked with abhorrence upon the weapons of the papacy; but as fast as the love of power displaces the power of love, those weapons will come into play again. Then professed Protestantism will find it not repugnant to her taste to do as Dr. Bascom Robins says, and force compliance not only with the church’s edict concerning Sunday, but with many other religious requirements as well.
Where Rome has been the dominating force, she has boycotted and burned all books of which she did not approve—even to the Bible. Professed Protestants, who have in the past criticized her methods in this regard, are beginning to look at that instrument now with a kind of wondering admiration, and are testing its edge. An incident that bears upon this attitude has recently come to our attention. It relates to the action recently taken by the Sunday-law advocates of four California cities against the literature of Seventh-day Adventists. Concerning this a correspondent writes us:—
Here in Southern California, I am informed, the advocates of Sunday laws at Santa Ana, Riverside, High Grove, and San Bernardino have instituted a boycott against our literature, some even having bound themselves to pay fifty dollars if found reading any of it.
This reads very much like an incident which has come down to us in the records of the book of Acts (twenty-third chapter), wherein a band of Paul’s enemies bound themselves under a great curse neither to eat nor sleep until they had slain Paul. Such methods are necessary only to the cause of error. Truth has been able to get on without them and in spite of them. It is certainly a long way from following the admonition of the apostle to “prove all things” and “hold fast that which is good.” There is power in a little seed to break iron bands. The seed of the Word is backed by the same power.
The “Index Expurgatorius” was not enough for the Roman Church. She went further, and burned the books; and then she burned those who wrote them and those who read them. Will a dying Protestantism, coveting power, and starting with the instruments Rome used to get it, stop short of the goal, when Rome has so plainly marked out the path? These are straws that tell plainly how the wind is veering. Need we expect that such examples will not be followed? We can see in these incidents how it will be made difficult for the faithful colporteur and canvasser in the near future to place God’s last warning message in the hands of the people by means of the printed page; and they should serve as forceful admonitions to us to labor zealously while still there are open doors and unwarned souls. C. M. S.

Departmental Meetings

The Publishing Department

The first meeting of this department was devoted to prayer and social worship. At the second meeting the question of the re-organization of our publishing houses and the elimination of commercial work was discussed.
The following points were emphasized in the discussion:—
  1. That the rank and file of our people feel that these houses are now a part of their own work.
  2. That the State conferences now feel that the circulation of literature is not set apart specially as the work of the publishing houses, but that the responsibility rests upon each conference.
  3. That the membership constituency represents the field much better than the stock company plan of organization.
  4. That the elimination of commercial work has revived the spirit of our people and given them new confidence in our publishing houses.
  5. That publishing house employees prefer to work on denominational literature. They are willing to sacrifice in wages and otherwise if they can feel that they are advancing the third angel's message.
  6. Publishing house managers bore witness to the fact that the publishing houses prosper financially quite as well without commercial work, and that the circulation of literature is greatly increased.
  7. Our literature is being improved, and its circulation increased now that capable men, connected with these publishing houses, are giving their time exclusively to this work.
There was a spirit of perfect harmony in the discussion of these topics. Evidently the providences of God during the past few years have settled this question in the minds of the publishing house representatives.
At the third meeting of the department the time was spent in the discussion of several resolutions relating to the prosperity of the publishing department, which were adopted, and passed on to the general committee on plans.

Fourth Meeting

May 18, 8 A. M.
The headquarters room was well filled with enthusiastic representatives of our publishing houses and general field work.
The following topics were discussed:—
1. How has the subscription book work been benefited by advance steps in manning the field with strong, experienced men? How can this force of leaders be strengthened? (a) The selection of strong, experienced men as leaders. (b) Opportunities to attend important council meetings and conventions. (c) Their place as associates in conference counsel. (d) Wages in proportion to experience, ability, responsibility, and expenses. 2. Has the holding of book men's conventions contributed materially to the success of the subscription book work? (a) Should we continue to hold such conventions? (b) How frequently should such conventions be held? (c) What should be the character of the work accomplished? (d) Which is the best policy to pursue as to place of holding these conventions,—very large union conventions, separate conventions for each publishing-house territory, or one for each union conference territory?
In this discussion special emphasis was given to the demands for experienced men to be trained in well-organized fields where there are no leaders.
Brother N. Z. Town, from South America, spoke earnestly concerning the needs of such great countries as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, where great opportunities are opening up before our publishing work, and where there are few facilities and few leaders. He expressed satisfaction that two or three men have already been selected to go to South America to lead out in this work, and expressed the confident hope that others would volunteer and be sent to the front by the Mission Board.

Medical Missionary Department

Second Meeting

May 16, 8 A. M.
Dr. A. C. Selmon called the meeting to order. The interest in the medical missionary work was shown in the fact that the room assigned for this department was filled to overflowing. In response to invitation by Dr. Kress, the meetings will be held in the gymnasium of the Sanitarium hereafter. The following committees were announced:—
On Program: J. R. Leadsworth, A. W. Simmons, Olive Ingersoll.
On reports for the Bulletin: G. H. Heald, C. C. Crisler, C. O. Warner.
To Select a Committee on Resolutions and Plans: R. S. Ingersoll, R. H. Habenicht, W. A. Ruble.
The topic for the day was “Medical Missionary Work in Spanish-Speaking Countries.” Dr. A. A. John read an inspiring paper.
He emphasized the importance of the medical missionary work—preaching and healing—as one work, and gave instances illustrative of how the medical work opened the way for the gospel in the Mexican field.
The Spanish-speaking countries need medical missionary training-schools where the principles of rational therapeutics can be emphasized and properly demonstrated in connection with the teaching of gospel truth.
Elder G. W. Caviness, of Mexico, discussing Dr. John’s paper, referred to the beginning of the medical missionary work in Mexico, and to the various vicissitudes through which this work had passed.
Among the most pressing needs to-day are medical mission and treatment-rooms in Mexico City, also a health retreat in a little lower altitude, where workers and others can go to recuperate from the effects of the trying climate they find in many parts of the country.
Dr. Habenicht, speaking for Argentina, said that there is also very great need for medical missionaries in this field. It is difficult to obtain legal recognition, and good physicians are very scarce. There are places having three or four thousand inhabitants which are often without one physician.

Third Meeting

May 17, 8 A. M.
The third meeting of the Medical Missionary Department was held in the Scandinavian tent, with Dr. A. C. Selmon in the chair.
The discussion of yesterday’s paper, “Medical Missionary Work in Mexico,” was continued by Elder George W. Reaser, director of the Mexican field, as follows:—
No field in the world offers better opportunity for medical missionary work than Mexico. The early experience of Dr. Lillis Wood (now Starr) in the city of Guadalajara proves this. Although Guadalajara was a fanatical center, within a few weeks after the doctor had opened treatment-rooms she was overwhelmed with the applications from all classes for healing. Had assistance been given her, and had the large fund provided at that time for medical work been used in establishing treatment-rooms in half a dozen large cities in Mexico, there would have been numbers of influential centers radiating truth in different parts of the republic. We must use our failures of the past only as mighty counselors for the future. If we have made a mistake in dealing with our physicians in Mexico in the past, it was in not giving the same support and encouragement to them as to our evangelists. We desire to do everything in our power for the encouragement and support of our medical missionary workers in Mexico in the future.
An excellent sanitarium near Mexico City is placed at our disposal, and we are anxious to secure a consecrated physician to take charge of this institution, and also to connect with treatment-rooms in the capital, and thus revive and place this department of our work on a sure footing in the republic.
In the absence of Dr. G. K. Abbott, Dr. Olive Ingersoll gave a talk on “Preparation for Medical Missionary Work.” She referred to experiences in India, where nurses said, “I did not come out here to care for babies, but to do missionary work,” or, “I did not come out here to do housework, but missionary work.”
This raises the question, What is missionary work? The answer comes in the study of the life of Christ. The first thing that strikes one in his life is the long period of preparation for a comparatively short period of work.
Dr. W. B. Monsen mentioned consecration to God as first in importance in preparation for medical missionary work.
Dr. Ida Herr-Nelson spoke of the necessityof thoroughness and of having a special training in rational treatments, such as is not obtained in the regular schools.
Dr. W. A. Ruble said that the important point in the mind of the committee in assigning this topic had not been fully touched. Shall we qualify in the legally recognized schools? or is it possible and advantageous to make preparation in a special missionary training-school, such as that at Loma Linda?
Dr. J. R. Leadsworth said that the missionary who gets in the ordinary college some very hard technical work, and then at the close takes a little veneering of Bible, finds it requires a real effort to do missionary work with his patients. In the school at Loma Linda there are some who are probably as well qualified as very many physicians to do medical work. These as a part of their required course go out and hold Bible readings, visit the sick, and do medical evangelistic work, and to these it is not afterward an effort to do missionary work with their patients.

Fourth Meeting

May 18, 8 A. M.
Dr. J. R. Leadsworth was asked to lead the meeting, and announced the continuance of yesterday’s topic, “The Preparation for Medical Missionary Work.”
Elder J. A. Burden said, in brief: When the gospel is received in its fulness, it is a remedy for all the ills that sin has brought. We have been instructed that every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work. Then the preparation for medical missionary work must be as varied as the ability of the worker to labor would indicate, from the simple treatments and instruction that can be given by the laity to the more full instruction given by the nurse and competent physician. As the work to be done is “gospel medical missionary evangelistic work,” the character of the preparation is indicated. The world needs to-day what it needed nineteen hundred years ago, a revelation of God as revealed in the life of Christ. The work done in our sanitariums is but a small part compared with that, which should be done in the homes of the people. Light has come that qualified medical missionary evangelists should go through our cities and villages laboring as Christ labored for the restoration of the people physically and spiritually, and that those who do this work will reap a rich harvest of souls both from the higher and lower classes.
Elder Burden’s talk was followed by a paper on “Medical Missionary Work for the Colored People,” prepared by Dr. Lottie Isbell-Blake, of Huntsville, Ala., and read by D. E. Blake.
Among other things this paper spoke of some of the difficulties encountered in the early establishment of the work, principal of which were poor equipment and prejudice. The first effort, though unsuccessful in some ways, had a good educational influence, and won friends. Activities now under way for the strengthening of the work are:—
1. To install in a building which is already on the premises at the Oakwood school, Huntsville, treatment-rooms for charity patients.
2. In connection with these treatment-rooms a corps of visiting nurses, who shall seek out and minister to those in need of help, and instruct the people. A trained nurse should be accompanied on her visiting tours by one or more pupil nurses, equipped with material for giving treatment in homes.
3. A closed conveyance, which may be used by the nurses for visiting, as well as to carry supplies of clothing and literature for distribution. When occasion demands, it may serve as an ambulance.
4. It is greatly desired to maintain beds for surgical cases, the same to be supported by donations from individuals who may be interested in such work. The advantages of these endowed beds would, of course, extend also to the poor of our own denomination.

The Religious Liberty Department

Second Meeting

May 16, 8 A. M.
ELDER J. O. CORLISS gave a brief and lucid talk on the subject of “The Fundamental Principles of Religious Liberty.” After reading Mark 4:30, he stated that in the beginning man was made in the image of God, that his mind was in harmony with God’s mind, and that he was a true son and subject of God’s kingdom. But when man sinned, this earth was cut off from the kingdom of God. Sin brought in a separation between God and man. Had man never sinned, he would never have needed civil government. Since civil government became a necessity on account of sin, it is an anomaly, and altogether out of place, for civil government to attempt to uphold God’s government.
Confession will cleanse a man from all his transgressions of God’s law. But not so with civil government. To pardon a man under civil government upon mere confession would utterly destroy it. Civil government can not be operated upon the same principles which obtain in God’s government.
Following the remarks of Elder Corliss, Elder Healey said that the same law that gives us moral government, gives us civil government. Because man has a government which came into existence because of sin, therefore this government is not necessarily sinful.
Elder Allen Moon spoke in substance as follows: Civil government grew out of the necessity sin brought into the world. The kingdom which God gave to man in the beginning was usurped by Satan, and became his kingdom. The church is in the world to turn men from sin and to translate them into the kingdom of God. In this kingdom, one man has no right to rule over another. Christ has a kingdom and a dominion in this world.

Third Meeting

May 17, 8 A. M.
The subject discussed was “True and False Theocracy.” C. M. Snow led out in the discussion, presenting a very interesting and carefully prepared paper. Brethren C. H. Keslake and G. E. Langdon followed, each likewise reading thoughtful and well-prepared papers on the subject. The question was so well, so ably, and so clearly set forth in these three papers that there was at once a call for their publication, either in complete or abridged form. The thought was expressed that we were in need of literature upon this subject.
Both in the papers and in the discussion which followed, the question was raised as to when the theocracy of Israel came to an end, whether in the days of Samuel, when the people asked for a king; or in the days of Zedekiah, when the diadem was removed, and Israel went into captivity; or at the first advent, when the Jews rejected Christ as their king, and said, “We have no king but Caesar.” From various scriptures presented, as well as from a quotation from “Desire of Ages” (page 738), it seemed quite evident that it was not until the time last mentioned. Though the people kept departing from God, and from their proper relations to him as their rightful king, ruler, and lawgiver, under a pure and perfect theocracy, still God clung to them as his people and did the best he could for them, by them, and through them, under the circumstances, and they were not finally and fully cut off as a nation until they rejected Christ, their rightful King, and declared themselves openly, absolutely, and solely for another. Then the theocracy, so far as this present world is concerned, came to an end. Then their house was left unto them “desolate,” and the kingdom of God, in any national or world-wide sense, was to be no more “until he come whose right it is.”

Fourth Meeting

May 18, 8 A. M.
Again the religious liberty tent was crowded full, many being unable to find seats.Prayer was offered by Elder J. C. Stevens.
The topic up for consideration during this meeting was the question of “Sunday Legislation and the Laboring Man.” Professor Griggs read a brief paper on the subject, supplementing this with somewhat extended remarks. A lively and very interesting discussion followed, in which the pros and cons of the question were considered. This was participated in by Brethren J. S. Washburn, A. Mitchell, J. O. Corliss, M. C. Wilcox, J. S. Wightman, E. T. Russell, C. F. McVagh, W. A. Colcord, A. O. Tait, F. C. Gilbert, D. A. Parsons, and C. N. Sanders.
There was, of course, little or no question as to whether Sunday legislation of any description is and must necessarily be religious legislation; but whether a law requiring employers to grant to their employees the right to rest one day in seven, without specifying the day, is and must necessarily be, in its final analysis, religious, was not so apparent to all at first thought. But before the discussion was over, the opinion seemed quite generally to prevail that one-day-in-seven rest-day legislation would be but the entering wedge for definite-day sabbath legislation; that the gospel message, with the Sabbath kept and observed as God ordained and gave it to man, is the only real, permanent, and satisfactory solution to the question; and that religion can not be dissociated from the Sabbath, and its benefits and blessings, even from a physical standpoint, retained.
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