Earlier text: THE WORK — AND — THE WORKERSThe Department of Education
In opening the council the chairman spoke of the importance of the gathering. At the council four years ago a great impetus was given to the educational work. The objects of the present council are to consider points on which we wish to secure definite action from the Conference, to listen to reports, to gain inspiration from our association, and to study how we may adapt our school work to the needs of the message. We shall hear reports of the work from all lands, and we shall need to view our educational work through these reports. From our schools come the men who are to fill the gaps in the missionary fields throughout the world. F. W. Field, superintendent of the Japan Mission, said that eight years in a heathen land had made him almost forget that he was ever a school man. No school has yet been started in Japan. Only institute work has been conducted to develop workers for the field, but the time is at hand when the organization of educational work must begin, and schools must be established. Professor Otto Luepke, principal of the Friedensau Industrial School, Germany, speaking through an interpreter, brought greetings from the brethren in Germany. He had been visiting some of our leading schools in this country, and had observed a great difference in methods. He had learned much that will be of value to him on his return. Prof. H. C. Lacey, principal of the Stanborough Park Missionary College, England, said that their greatest problem was to learn how to plan work for the students, so that they could earn their expenses in school. North American Foreign Department
The department held its first meeting Friday morning, May 14, at 8 A. M. G. A. Irwin, chairman, called the meeting to order, and B. G. Wilkinson was chosen as secretary. The chairman spoke of the work of the department during the four years, emphasizing the important work it has in hand in the effort to reach the populations speaking foreign tongues in the United States. W. C. White suggested a careful study of the relation of this department to the work in Europe, that close co-operation between this country and Europe may help in reaching European peoples in America. Elder L. H. Christian presented the first report of the program committee. To this committee were added the names of S. F. Svensson, F. C. Gilbert, H. H. Dexter, L. Zecchetto, G. W. Schubert, D. P. Boresena, and H. Shultz. Reports of Leaders in the Foreign Work
Elder G. F. Haffner spoke of the good progress of the German work west of the Mississippi River, especially in North Dakota. There two churches and many scattered members have been raised up for the truth. In all there are now about three thousand believers representing the German language west of the Mississippi River. There has also been growth in the publishing work. Last year there were 87 German students at Union College, 20 at Walla Walla, and very great growth in the North Dakota school. Elder O. E. Reinke, speaking for the German work in the East, gave some interesting statistics. Briefly speaking, the East may be summarized as follows: German population, 6,260,219; German churches, 14; membership, 418; scattered membership, 216; tithes per capita, $17.62; Sabbath-schools, 16; membership of Sabbath-schools, 471; Sabbath-school offerings per capita, $3.43; ordained ministers, 23. During the last four years, five churches have been organized, with a membership of 96. Elder L. H. Christian, representing the Danish-Norwegian work in North America, spoke of the desire for a closer union with the same work in Europe. The Danes and Norwegians in North America are scattered from Maine to California, there being something like 1,200,000 Danes and 500,000 Norwegians in the United States. We have at present 48 Danish-Norwegian churches. Brother Christian gave the following suggestions drawn from his experience with the Danish-Norwegian work: (1) Let laborers in these languages stick to the language; (2) stronger and more efficient organization in this branch of the work; (3) better co-operation between the workers in the different languages, and between the work in this country and that abroad. Elder S. Mortenson, representing the Swedish work in North America, spoke encouragingly of his work in connection with the Swedes. There are about 1,500 Swedish believers in the United States, one half of whom are strictly Swedish members, the other half being largely mingled with the American and Danish-Norwegian churches. There are 22 active conference workers in the field. The average per capita tithes of the Swedes rises as high as $19, and the per capita offerings to $11. The Swedish brethren are loyal to their work, and they endeavor always to extend a sympathetic co-operation to all the brethren in other languages. Bible Study
By G. B. THOMPSON
Conditions of Receiving the Holy Spirit
“AND when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20: 22. This is among the parting words of instruction that Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended to heaven, after he had chosen and ordained them to do his work. Now put with this another verse (John 14: 26): “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Again, in Luke 24: 49, we read: “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Now, brethren and sisters, whatever has been the need of God’s people in any age of this world’s history for proper equipment for doing his work, we have the same need to-day. No other people have ever had committed to them a greater work than is committed to Seventh-day Adventists. When we look out into the world, and see the tremendous work yet to be accomplished, and compare it with the shortness of time, we can see that some mighty power must come to help us finish the work in this generation. Notice what the Saviour said to his disciples, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” How was the Saviour sent? Let us read (Acts 10: 38): “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Our Saviour went forth to his work anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power. And he said to his disciples, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” He sent his disciples forth with the same anointing and the same power that he had in his work. Notice the instruction he gave. He promised the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and direct them. Then he said, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem.” How long?—“Until ye be endued with power from on high.” In the first chapter of Acts, the promise of the Holy Spirit is repeated and referred to: “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Almost the very last promise that the Saviour gave the disciples to encourage them was that the Comforter would come upon them, and abide with them, and stay with them. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Then just as long as there is a sinner on the face of the earth, and some one must be sent to carry him the message of salvation, just so long will that promise remain true, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” Before this message shall be finished, somebody will see it attended with mighty power under the operation of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. In connection with this there is to be a shaking time, when some will step out of the ranks, and will leave the truth that they once professed to love; but the promise is that others will come in and take their places. If a man is ever clothed with power from heaven, he will be in harmony with the third angel’s message, for it is this message that is to be proclaimed with great power. The angel that comes down from heaven with great power unites his voice to the voice of the third angel. He joins that movement, and it is under the direction of that angel that the work of God is closed up in the world. O that the Lord might be permitted to take criticism, suspicion, bad temper, and all these evil traits, out of our hearts and lives, and fill us with the fulness of his Spirit! The Holy Spirit is given to point out these evils, and to help us put them away; and when we yield fully8to the Lord, he will richly bless us with the fulness of his grace. Let us, O let us, my brethren and sisters, continue to be seek God for the victory over every evil besetment, and determine by his grace to keep working and praying until we shall unitedly share in the blessing of the Holy Spirit. The Work of the Holy Spirit
By R. D. QUINN
THE most essential thing which we as a people need is the vitalizing power of God. The Lord desires to baptize us with that power; I believe that the one leading thought and desire of every soul here is to enter into that experience. The time has come for God to finish his work gloriously in this generation; and so the essential thing is for us to know how we may individually receive the Spirit and enter into that experience; but the reception of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon conditions with which we must comply. The Holy Spirit is given to those who are qualified to receive and impart it. It is not so much a question of receiving the Holy Ghost as it is a question of surrendering to the Holy Ghost already received. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” This people have a large measure of the Spirit; but we are now talking about the fulness of divine power. We should not be satisfied with one little blessing; for the time has come to do much, and this will require much power. The secret of power in the case of Elijah was in his doing all things at the word of the Lord. Notice the case of Elisha. First, he was in earnest. He asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah to rest upon him. He was told that he had asked a hard thing, ‘but the conditions were that if he should see Elijah when he was taken away, his request would be granted; that is, if Elisha was able to stand amid the devouring fire of God and to behold the heavenly transaction,—if he was pure and clean and holy enough in the sight of God to see and behold it all,—it should be so; but if not, it could not possibly be so. Elisha surrendered every sin, and would do nothing that would in any way displease God; and so it came to pass that when the chariots of fire and horses of fire swept Elijah away into heaven, the record is that Elisha saw it; he complied with the conditions, he was pure enough in the very presence of God to behold the whole heavenly transaction. The Lord, looking down from heaven to show himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward God, baptized him with a double portion of the Spirit of God for service, and Elisha claimed it. Before Elijah got out of his hearing, he said, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” That was the condition, and so he claimed the blessing, but he felt no different than before The end of all things is very near. We are in the closing hours of the last generation; but before the end there is something that is to take place,—probation will close before the actual and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. Therefore the close of probation for every soul on this earth is nearer than the end. But probation will not close until this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached to every creature under heaven; and so the glorious presentation of this truth to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is still nearer than the close of probation. And there is something still nearer than that,—the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which alone can fit us to do the work; and so that baptism is still nearer. And there is one thing nearer than that, that must come before the fulness of the latter rain, and that is entire, whole-hearted consecration to the service of Christ,—absolute, unconditional, unreserved, and unqualified surrender. Transforming Faith
By C. H. Edwards
SYNOPSIS OF SERMON BY C. H. EDWARDS In the fifth chapter of Genesis we have a brief history of the life of Enoch, given in but fifty-three words, and yet they contain the life record of a man who walked with his Maker. Brief though the record may be, yet it is full enough to enable us to know the secret of this wonderful life. In Jude 14 we have a statement which shows that Enoch, looking into the future, prophesied of the return of Christ to this world. He was, then, a believer in the second coming of Christ. He looked forward into the future and saw the time when the graves would be opened and the saints of God would come forth clad with immortality. He also saw a little company of people who would say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, . . . we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” He looked down to the time when the angels would gather the elect from all parts of the earth. And looking and meditating thus, his faith then took hold of the thought that he might be translated without seeing death. He had this hope as a living reality in his soul, and he saw before him the face of Jesus, and desired to be like him. That hope purified his soul, and he stands to-day by the throne of God—a pledge of what the advent truth will do for every man who will truly believe it. This record was given as a picture of what the true advent message is. When this hope is fully planted in our hearts, our lives will be transformed and completely yielded to God. There must be, brethren, a depth of experience in connection with this message which we have not yet realized. We are living to-day under peculiar circumstances, when signs of Christ’s coming are all about us, when we are told in Holy Writ that our redemption draweth nigh. The coming of Christ is even at the door. To-day we face the second coming of Jesus and the translation of his people. Soon we must look into the face of Jesus and enter that silver cloud without passing the portals of the tomb. This means that every soul who believes this truth must be transformed by it. The key-note has been struck here at this Conference. The needs presented by our brethren from great needy fields abroad could be relieved by many of our people individually, and they would not feel the loss, but instead would experience a great blessing. These appeals from needy millions should thrill and stir our hearts to earnest action in this work, leading to transformation of soul, the close extending of this gospel truth to those in darkness, and the closing of this work, which would bring the return of Christ to this world. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.” That which would take man a thousand years to accomplish, God can do in a day. There is no question concerning the triumph of the third angel’s message. The only question remaining unanswered is, What attitude shall we sustain toward the closing work of this message? As we advance into the opening fields in all parts of the earth, we shall be called upon to yield ourselves and our all unreservedly to God, to be used as he may direct for the furtherance of his work. Success in God’s cause depends not on organization, which has its proper place; not on the giving of gold and silver, which is very necessary; but on the consecration of those who are connected with his cause. And the work will never be finished until God’s servants are imbued with the fulness of his power. For years we have been encouraged with the thought that the Holy Spirit is hovering over us, awaiting our demand and reception. In all our planning, let us never lose sight of the source of our strength and the secret of our success—the reception of the Holy Spirit in the individual heart, with all the blessings that this gift brings in its train. O, let us all, during this Conference, reconsecrate ourselves so fully to the Lord that he can be glorified in imparting unto us of the fulness of his grace. Then shall we see many going forth to unite with their brethren in an effort to complete quickly the work still remaining unfinished. God grant that this may be so, is my prayer. Amen. ON the evening after the Sabbath, May 15, Brother E. R. Palmer, secretary of the Publishing Department, presented a stereopticon report of the publishing work. This was given under two heads,—historical and statistical. A sketch was given of the rise and progress of the publishing work from its beginning in 1845 until the close of 1908. Slides had been prepared showing interesting pages of the first tracts, periodicals, and books published. These showed up very clearly on the screen. The history of the work was also outlined in decades, showing the principal events during the past sixty-four years. A summary of the sale of literature during the entire period was thrown upon the screen as follows:— 1845-1854 ............. $ 2,500
1855-1864 ............. 17,500
1865-1874 ............. 73,000
1875-1884 ............. 371,000
1885-1894 ............. 3,969,000
1895-1904 ............. 3,144,000
Total for sixty years $7,577,000
1905 ............ $548,000
1906 ............ 824,000
1907 ............ 1,035,000
1908 ............ 1,280,000
Total for four years $3,687,000
Grand total ........ $11,264,000 It will be seen by studying these figures that the sale of literature during the first sixty years amounted to $7,577,000. During the past four years, it9has amounted to $3,687,000. The sales during the past few years have amounted to a little more than a half million dollars more than during the previous ten years, and amounted to nearly one third of the sales during the entire sixty-four years. Many interesting comparisons may be made by studying these figures. The following points were emphasized in the report:— 1. That the great things of God usually develop from small beginnings. 2. These figures show that the grand old cause is rapidly marching on. Rapid progress made in the circulation of literature is but an index to the progress made in all departments. 3. In the fifth decade, 1885-1894, the circulation of our literature rapidly increased as the result of thorough organization. During the next decade, 1895-1904, there was a decline as the result of disorganization. During the past four years, there has been a strong revival as the result of the revival of the plans of organization, sometimes referred to as reorganization. In the Heart of Africa
By L. R. Conrad
OUTLINE OF STEREOPTICON LECTURE, BY The European Division of the General Conference at the present time has missionaries scattered all along the northern and eastern coasts of Africa. There are five distinct mission fields. On the northern coast are Algeria and Egypt; on the eastern coast are Abyssinia, German East Africa, and the Victoria Nyanza Mission, which is located on both British and German territory. In all we have about twenty-five workers there, located among over fifty million people, or more than one third of the population of the dark continent. This evening we want to give special attention to the efforts we are putting forth among the heathen in German and British East Africa
Our aim from the beginning has been to find virgin missionary soil; and as there are quite a number of Catholic and Protestant missionary societies operating in Africa, this was not so easy to secure. Six years ago I not only obtained information from the various missionary societies operating in German East Africa, but also came in touch with the German Colonial Department, at Berlin. Through the kindness of one of the officials there, I secured an interview with the governor of German East Africa, then Graf von Goezen, at Berlin. The official had told him so many good things that his very first words were: “We extend you a hearty invitation to enter German East Africa.” We had thought of going to the west side of Victoria Nyanza; but when we sent two missionaries (in the autumn of 1903), we wrote the governor that if there were reasons why we should not proceed to that territory, we would be glad to have him inform our missionaries at Mombasa of his wishes. When Brethren Enns and Ehlers arrived there, they found a letter inviting them to come to his capital, at Dar-es-salam. They were received very kindly, and sent to Usambara, the best-developed portion of the entire country, where at that time the only railroad in the colony was to be found. When they met the chief of that district, and told him their errand, and that they were Seventh-day Adventist missionaries, he treated them very coolly until they produced the letter of recommendation from the governor. Then he at once invited them to dinner and directed them to the South Pare Mountains, where there were no other missionaries at that time. Within three months after their arrival, the Leipsic Lutheran Mission, located something like fifty miles to the north of us, came down, and settled within a half-day’s journey, and claimed our territory. But we could easily answer them by referring them to the fact that the governor had assigned this district to us. In the spring of 1904 I went there, accompanied by four additional workers. The railroad went about sixty miles, and we had to go about as far on foot, having our baggage carried by natives. was established in the mountains, and it was named Friedenstal, or Valley of Peace. When we arrived at Kihuiro, after nearly an all-night’s march through the desert, we found but a small hut in which to place our sisters, while we stopped outside, fighting the mosquitoes. There were about 2,000 natives around there, and as the morning dawned, they came with food, and one of their chiefs presented a sheep to us; but our missionaries could converse with them only a little. Most of the natives had only skins about their loins; there was no store or shop; many never had seen a white woman; and as we ascended into the mountains, we found quite a congregation awaiting us at our station, to see them. Beside temporary clay huts for the kitchen and for a dwelling, we had our tents pitched. I spent over a month here to plan permanent buildings. We decided to open two more stations, one at Kihuiro, and another at the west side of the range. I then proceeded to see the governor, who granted me a long interview; and it may be of interest to you to know that his wife is from Washington, D. C. She invited me to attend a state dinner. While the other guests had their champagne, he kindly provided me with lemonade, and drank to my health. From eight to eleven that evening the countess asked me to explain to the ladies present the leading points of our faith, the gentlemen being near enough to hear what was said. This African visit gave me a broader view of what was needed. We selected two promising young men, one of whom had quite a classical education, and sent them to the Colonial Seminary at Berlin to study the language and tropical diseases. Other missionaries followed, and urgent requests came that I should visit them again. Meanwhile we felt the burden of opening up the work in so I conferred with the Colonial Department at London, and corresponded with the governor of British East Africa. We also secured a recommendation from the commissioner in Rhodesia, who knew our missionary work there. Brother Enns joined Elder Carscallen, who was provided with means and sent out by the British Union Conference. They were very kindly received by the governor, and proceeded to the Victoria Nyanza. At the very terminus of the Uganda Railway there was a great stretch of unentered territory among the Kavirondos, or Jaluo tribe. They secured a station twenty miles south of Port Florence, on an elevated point about a mile from the lake. The following year we encouraged our Scandinavian brethren to become interested in Abyssinia. I began correspondence, and it was finally decided to open this mission for the Abyssinians in the Italian Colony of Eritrea, in the autumn of 1907. In September, 1908, at the invitation of the General Conference, I again left for Africa. About this time eleven missionaries went out with me—two to Syria, one to the Dutch East Indies, two to Egypt, and four to German East Africa, and two to the Abyssinian Mission. My time being limited for such a vast territory, I first went to German East Africa. Our steamer did not get in until Thursday night, so that only by hard work were we able to get out in time Friday to catch the train. When we reached the terminus of the railway at four o’clock in the afternoon, I found no suitable conveyance, but being anxious to spend at least one Sabbath at the leading station, I pressed through with two brethren. But, O, how wonderfully changed was Kihuiro, as compared with my first visit! There were now several Indian stores in town. Everybody greeted the missionaries respectfully, and we found a large schoolhouse (which also serves as chapel), in the town, and a good wagon road leading out to the mission station a mile beyond. Instead of the scanty cultivation of the soil formerly seen, I saw nice cotton and maize fields. We were received and comfortably cared for in our mission home. A score of intelligent colored youth were ready to assist the white missionaries in looking after our wants. By ten o’clock we went down to the meeting-hall. The head chief (who, by the way, is a Mohammedan), and about a dozen sub-chiefs, had placed themselves before the building to give us a grand reception, and then they entered the place of worship with us. The room was crowded. As Brother Kotz led the native hymn with the small mission organ, hundreds of voices were united in song—voices of those who before had known nothing of a written language, or of the name of Jesus. Our weariness was forgotten. This was a sight that could make the angels weep for joy. We could now open up the precious Bible, and through a ready interpreter, tell them of the love of Jesus. The responsive “amens” assured us that the Word had fallen upon good ground. In the afternoon we visited our native Christian village. For years our missionaries have toiled day and night, often stricken with fever, in mastering the language, in writing a dictionary and a grammar, in instructing the natives, and in trying to lead them to Christ. Disappointments of all sorts befell them. The were threatened with expulsion from their tribe by their chief, and their sorcerers told them of terrible disasters that would await them. What a glorious day it was when the first six converts of this people were baptized! Sunday morning we had an10examination of the school, and were surprised at the results. There are two departments. The main instruction is in the native language. The new governor and the chief of the district have visited our school, and when I waited upon him, in Dar-es-salam, he expressed himself as being well satisfied with our work. Following is the governor’s report, written February 10, this year:— “I have noticed the efficiency and progress of the mission school at Kihuiro with satisfaction. Please inform the mission that I have granted them a number of instruction books [in Swaheli], as a premium for their efficiency.”
(Signed) Von Rechenberg. We received 250 books, whose value is $150. I found good mission buildings and a prosperous school at the old station at Friedenstal, and a well-built house and overfilled school at Vuasu. Besides the three main schools, we now have five out-schools, and a number of promising students are utilized as teachers. One of these younger teachers in one school (about 14 years of age), examined his class. The natives have an especially retentive memory. As we do not yet have the Bible in their language, this trait is of great advantage in teaching Bible history and Bible stories. I was surprised at the composure shown by the young man in asking questions. Only our most advanced students have learned the German language. Great joy was felt when the natives received their first hymn-book in their language, and still more joy was manifested as parts of the Bible had been copied for them. They anxiously await the day when the for them by our Hamburg House. Ere we parted, we had the ordinance of feet-washing and celebrated the Lord’s supper together. Besides the converts, about ten of the candidates for baptism were with us. The blessed Lord, who also died for the heathen, was present, and when I proposed a social meeting,—a thing heretofore unknown among them,—not only did the members take part, but every one of the candidates for baptism expressed his soul’s desire to become one with us. We expect a second baptismal service by the twenty-ninth of this month. To show the deep concern our teachers have for their pupils, I quote from a letter written on April 6:— “Two months ago the natives had one of their celebrated dances near us. Great noise and the sound of the trumpet came continually to us. Brother Kotz, fearing that some of his pupils might have gone there, inspected their bedrooms; as he could not sleep, he waded through the river, and told them to stop their noise. But he was horrified to find three of his pupils there. He became so disheartened that he could rise the next morning only with the greatest difficulty. He talked to them, with tears in his eyes, and they repented of their bad example.” Progress—Material and Spiritual
The missionaries have not only erected three main stations, and a number of out-stations and buildings, but they have also planted something like 25 acres of cotton. Last year the fields of cotton yielded a gain of nearly $600. We have in all 400 students in our school; six have been baptized, as many more will be baptized this month, and still others are candidates for baptism. We have eight missionaries there in all, among whom are two families. From here I went back with the steamer to Mombasa, and took the Uganda Railway for the lake. A dozen years ago this trip would have taken me four months, but I could now make it in 48 hours. The railway is a piece of wonderful engineering, running through immense waterless deserts; through rich plateaus, stocked with game as no other portion of the world; through mountains rising to an elevation of 7,000 feet, then descending to 5,000, and again ascending to 8,327 feet (and this all without any tunnels), and then through dense forest, with such a prolific growth that if for two years the road-bed were left unattended, it would require months to again trace the railway. The employees are mostly Indians, and so are many of the merchants, especially the Goanese. Nairobi is the governor’s capital, and there are large European plantations all about it. It is a rapidly growing town. From the Mau Escarpment, at an elevation of 8,000 feet, one has a wonderful view of the vast sheet of the Victoria Nyanza in the far distance. When I reached the plain, I found the Kavirondo settlements everywhere. Brother Carscallen met me at Port Florence, and we secured a small tug-boat for five dollars, to take us twenty miles across the sea. About half-way out, we could discern the outlines of the mission building and the school on the hill. As we neared the landing, built by the British government, a number of our mission boys and Brother Baker and others met us, and carried our luggage about a mile up the hill. The two brethren have worked hard to erect the buildings and to learn the language. Our stay was short. From our mission we could see the smoke of nearly a hundred small kraals containing from half a dozen to a score of huts. To become better acquainted with the lay of the country, Brother Carscallen and I went 65 miles on foot across it, to the next steamer landing. This trip required four days. Everywhere we found thousands of natives, men armed with spears and shields and their heads adorned with a miniature ostrich farm. The Kavirondos are a well-built people physically, and generally admitted to be one of the most promising tribes in Africa. Each evening about 3 o’clock, before the heavy thunder showers overtook us, we had to pitch our tent, and after a march of over 20 miles, mostly through native paths, we were indeed glad to lie down on the dry grass brought in by the natives. We found no fruit whatever. The only thing we could do was to buy a sheep for about $1.25 to feed our porters, and also to secure some mealies. Some of the villages are surrounded by hedges; but as we near the borders of other tribes, there are high stone walls. No less than 300,000 natives are scattered over a district extending something like a hundred and fifty miles on the east coast of the lake. They have no teacher, physician, or missionary except the two we have there at present. But since we entered it, both Catholics and Protestants are planning to occupy portions of it. Our safety lies in quick action. Accordingly, we have asked Brother Enns to go there, with three other missionaries. We planned one more station while we were there, at Wire Hill, where we placed Brother Baker. We have also secured several other sites. We had an interesting visit with the British commissioner at Kurungu. He thought we might secure the government building, as the government has moved its headquarters some 60 miles inland. Here we took the steamer for a trip around the lake. By our march we saved one day, but still it took us nine days more for the round trip. There is to-day a fleet of four large steamers on the lake, which are operated by the Uganda Railway Company. We touched three ports in the German territory, securing information wherever we stopped. We also touched at three ports in Uganda. At Entebbe, where the British governor of Uganda has his headquarters, we stopped several days. They had at the time an agricultural exhibition both here and at Mengo, the native capital, some 20 miles north. I was indeed fortunate to meet, at the fine residence of the governor, all the native sultans of the Uganda province. They had come down on a large automobile, and they were as fine-looking and large men as I have found anywhere in the world. Uganda is rightfully called the Japan of Central Africa. The gospel has wrought wonderful things here. Hundreds of thousands of Protestants have been gained here among the natives. The king and most of his governors are Protestants. There is a well-organized native government, with roads, well-built villages, and good plantations. The Word of God is read and proclaimed everywhere. Yet this victory was not won without even the clash of arms between Catholics, Protestants, and Mohammedans. At Jinja, we saw the waters of the Nile rushing out of the lake, and after having once baptized a dozen candidates near its mouth at Cairo, I was indeed pleased to see its long-sought-for source. After stopping a few more days with our brethren at the mission, I returned on the Uganda road, touched at different places in Portuguese territory, and visited South Africa. Before closing I desire to say a few words about Abyssinia. We had hoped to enter the Galla country in the south, but failed. Abyssinia itself is closed to missions, on account of former Catholic encroachments in the seventeenth century. They then wanted to force Abyssinians to quit the observance of the Sabbath, and to accept the Roman Catholic religion. There are nine millions of these people, and they have the Bible in the three leading languages of their country. The king believes that he is a descendant of Solomon, and his coat-of-arms is the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” They claim to have the original ark of the testament at Axum, their religious center, but they will not allow any one to see it. As Italy has conquered a part of the coast territory, we have done the next best thing, and begun missionary work among the Abyssinians on the Italian territory. As it takes11some six weeks to visit that country, I was unable to see our missionaries, but ought to go there this winter. We also need Scandinavian re-enforcements. Ethiopia stretches out her hands for some good missionary physician, who would find an open door. Since the European division of the General Conference entered the African work, it has not only opened the fountains of liberality among our people everywhere, but many of our young men have offered their services for that field. Only three have thus far lost their lives, but several have had to be recalled on account of the unhealthful climate. Others are pressing in to fill up the gaps, and the dying wish of the three was to have their health restored, not for a life of comfort, but to do more for this dark continent. They did not seem to realize that they were on the eve of death. In the very last moments, even those who were away from Africa, thought of nothing else than to return. One young sister, who had gone out with me the first time, and had to return on account of the sickness of her husband, came down with a fatal cold. She had two little babes; and when I met her husband, he told me that she would have but a few hours to live. She had left home, her husband had been taken down sick, she had two beautiful children, and she herself was on her death-bed. Death marked her features as I entered the room, and yet there was with her such a sweet peace as she stated that she was glad to meet me, and asked me to pray with them, that she and her husband might be restored to health, to return to Africa. There is indeed the stamp of divinity in such a dying request. And while some noble workers lay their all upon the altar of God, and while dark Africa is calling for hundreds more of workers, and thousands of dollars of means, ought not we to respond? Ought not our young people to consecrate themselves to this work? and ought not the men and women of means to bring their thousands to support it? The Master of the vineyard is looking down upon us. His Holy Spirit is ready to impress our hearts. What will this people say?