A NOTE from Brother Claude Conard, secretary and treasurer of the California Conference, contains a copy of a letter from the California secretary of state. From this it appears that the number of signatures to the Weekly Rest-day Initiative Petition aggregated 13,713. To the number reported August 7, there were added 4,999 supplemental petition signatures, making the total stated. It will be seen at a glance, however, how insignificant this number is when there is taken into account the hue and cry which has been raised over the question of a rest day for California, and the strenuous efforts that have been put forth by National Reformers to achieve this result. The facts of the case are that the citizens of this State have obtained from the publications of Seventh-day Adventists, particularly the Signs of the Times, too clear an idea of the principles involved in Sunday legislation to desire any change in their State law with respect to a weekly rest day. But this situation, instead of deterring the friends of religious liberty on the Pacific Coast from further activity, should only increase their earnestness, so that with the renewal of agitation over this question the people of the State will be alive to the danger threatening them, and take their stand on the right side.
ACCORDING to the Washington Post of October 29, liquor drinking and cigar smoking in the United States for the past year exceed all previous records. Here are the figures: "The American people are drinking more whisky and beer and smoking more cigars than ever before in history, according to tax returns received by Royal E. Cabell, Commissioner of Internal Revenue. From July 1 to Oct. 1, 1912, more than 3,800,000,000 cigarettes were smoked, an increase of 1,000,000,000 over the corresponding period of the previous year, which broke all records. The nation consumed 33,150,000 gallons of whisky during July, August, and September, an increase of 450,000 gallons as compared with that quarter of 1911, while nearly 1,950,000,000 cigars were smoked during that time. The cigar consumption promises to establish a new record. A total of 19,800,000 barrels of beer was consumed during the three months, which was 320,000 barrels more than in the same period of 1911. This somewhat surprised revenue officials, as beer drinking fell off considerably during the fiscal year ended June 30 last. That decrease was partly accounted for by Commissioner Cabell by the increased popularity of buttermilk as a summer drink. The growing consumption of these articles has greatly augmented the government's revenue. The internal revenue receipts for October, more than $2,000,000 greater than in October, 1911, eclipse all records for any October, in the judgment of Mr. Cabell."
Foreign Missions and Songs of Zion
By Editor
THIS number of the REVIEW is largely devoted to the interests of foreign missions. All will read with pleasure the testimonies of hope and courage from our missionaries in our World-Wide Field department. In the same department will be found a valuable compilation furnished by Brother H. E. Rogers, showing the work this denomination is doing in Catholic and heathen lands. These statistics are valuable for preservation.
A BOOK of unusual interest comes to the Mission Board from Elder and Mrs. Anol Grundset, of the Abyssinian Mission, on the border of Abyssinia. The book is hand printed, by the hectograph process, and home bound, the work being neatly done. We can read only the title-page, which is in English, "Songs of Zion in the Tigrina." Then follow twenty-six pages in the peculiar Ethiopian script, "containing seventeen Seventh-day Adventist songs." We thank God that these hymns of the Sabbath and the advent are ringing out on the Abyssinian border.
Annual Offering for Missions
By Editor
The annual offering for missions is to be made up on Sabbath, December 14. Many prayers will be ascending around the world that this offering may be a large one. The cause of missions needs it. As one people, may we give ourselves and our service and means to God for the finishing of the work.
Greetings from Guadeloupe
Our first message from the French island of Guadeloupe, West Indies, comes for this week of prayer. Elder Philip Giddings says: "In the midst of the population of 240,000, the three believers here, not despising their day of small things, send greetings, and pray that like the leaven hid in the meal, they may, by the grace of God, assist in leavening this lump with the blessed news of the soon-coming King."
Our Workers in the Near East
By Editor
WE should feel great thankfulness to God for the manner in which he has preserved our work and workers amid the war and bloodshed, famine and pestilence, now raging in the Near East. Our workers and believers, especially the native-born, will be brought into dire straits. Let us hold them up before the great Ruler of nations, for comfort and protection. Read the letter from Elder C. Voigt in our Editorial department.
Greetings from the Turkish Mission
From Elder E. Frauchiger, superintendent of the Turkish Mission, comes this message of greeting for the week of prayer season: "I am at work in Diarbekir, the chief city of wild Kurdistan, on the river Tigris. I am holding lectures with my translator, Garabed, and our canvasser, Myrditch. We have but one Sabbath-keeper here, but are hoping to see others accept the truth as the meetings are increasing in attendance. We send our brethren the heartiest greetings from this ancient river of paradise."
The Tigris is the river known to the ancients as Hiddekel. Gen. 2:14.
Students Earn Scholarships Through Book Sales
A report received from the general field agent of the Atlantic Union Conference states that during the past vacation twenty young persons sold sufficient subscription books in that territory to earn a scholarship. Seven earned two scholarships or more. During the summer twenty-four different reports were received, showing sales of over $100 each per week. Another interesting item was the fact that ten students averaged forty hours a week, or more, during the entire summer, and ten others averaged thirty-five hours, or more. The average sales an hour were $1.23. Such reports show how effectively our literature is being used in the proclamation of this message.
The Work in Little Russia
From Little Russia, a mission field in the southwestern part of European Russia, Elder John Perk sends word:
"The work is onward. Where a few years ago was utter darkness, now the light of truth shines. Nearly six hundred believers are rejoicing in the message. It is repeated from mouth to mouth. Satan tries to quench the light by force, and many difficulties confront us. In one place, where it was forbidden to hold prayer-meetings, and where for so doing the brethren had to pay a fine of twenty-five dollars, we have nevertheless baptized nineteen believers. Sometimes we are obliged to perform this rite at night. People gladly come on foot twenty miles to attend the meetings. One woman walked ten miles, carrying her baby in her arms. In some places we have more freedom than in others, as each officer interprets the law. However, we rejoice to know that this is the work of God in which we are engaged."
Worldwide Prayer for the Cause
By Editor
FRESH inspiration will come to the workers in all the home lands and the far lands as they realize that special worldwide prayer will be ascending to the throne of grace the coming week in behalf of the cause of God. And many a worker in isolated places will be mentioned by name before the Lord. We may depend upon it, also, that there will be prayer in far lands for the believers in the churches and for the isolated ones who are keeping the lights along the borders at home.
First Quarter Memory Verse Cards
By Editor
Our Sabbath-school workers should send in their orders for the first quarter Memory Verse Cards early in December.