Go, teach, baptize,—this is still the divine commission. Go into all the world, teach all nations, baptize believers. "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Notice the preparation of Jesus for his work. First, he knew the Scriptures and understood the prophecies for his time, and he was able to show from Moses and all the prophets that he was the Messiah. He knew "all things that should come upon him." He taught "as one having authority, and not as the scribes," being recognized as "a teacher come from God." Men of authority said, "Never man spake like this man." He silenced the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and all his opponents, and taught the truth in its purity. His perfect
knowledge of nature enabled him to draw lessons of divine truth from her great storehouse, and thus simplify the gospel and bring its saving power within the reach of all classes. From the standpoint of knowledge, he was eminently qualified to be the greatest missionary of this world.
Christ's life was a perfect representation of the truths he taught; so that by precept and example he was the world's only model teacher. In character he was a living epistle, "known and read of all men." His life was above reproach or just accusation. His enemies, being challenged to point out sin in him, remained silent — mute witnesses of his perfect life.
With knowledge so complete, with a character so pure, and with love for humanity wholly unselfish, surely no further qualification could be needed for his special mission. Human judgment would thus decide; but Jesus understood the nature and magnitude of his work, and he knew, therefore, that the most important qualification in his preparation had not yet been obtained; namely, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Knowing that the time had come for his special work to begin, Jesus went to John to be baptized. That baptism, typical of every true baptism, represented a genuine surrender of himself to the will and work of God. So perfect was this surrender, that the Spirit of God came upon him without measure, and the Father acknowledged him as his Son, the Saviour of the world.
In this crowning act of preparation, Jesus recognized the fulfilment of prophecy: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound; . . . to comfort all that mourn; . . . to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." Isa. 61: 1-3.
The commission of Jesus embraced all that is set forth in this scripture, and his life was devoted to just that kind of work. He "went about doing good," doing always those things that pleased his Father. John 8: 29. He lived the truth, and thus became the world's only perfect example. He was man's light and life, man's savior, friend, and brother. "As he is, so are we in this world." Are we? This is the question. Many have gone forth with the gospel12
message, depending principally upon a theological training, believing that superior education would make them soul-winners. Failure in their work has demonstrated that "without Me ye can do nothing." Many young men and women are today in training in our various schools, hoping soon to "enter the work." To all such the preparation of Christ for his work is a perfect example. There is time now for only such knowledge as will aid in giving the message, and that knowledge should be thorough. The principles of truth should be woven into the life, developing in every young man and woman a character that will correctly represent the message to be proclaimed.
But most important of all, whether called to service at home or abroad, there must be the complete surrender of self and of all one's capabilities to the will and work of God, and the acceptance by faith of the most essential of all preparation, the gift of the Holy Spirit. With knowledge practical for his work, with a character that will ever reflect the life of Christ, and with the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, the missionary may go and teach, and have the joy of baptizing believers into the household of faith. This is the highest calling in life, and will bring in the end an exceeding great reward.
Pernicious Literature
By Editor
It is a timely warning which the Youth's Companion sounds against the reading of many of the periodicals which are now being printed:—
Not long ago there was a time when parents could leave any American periodical upon the sitting-room table without misgiving. That time has passed. The periodicals that you do not need to examine with some care before you put them where your girls may see them are now few. Under one specious pretext or another, those who control them are printing stories and articles that are far from paying that deference to modesty and decency upon which our literature used justly to pride itself. This is a matter for very great regret. Periodicals intended for general reading seek to enter the home—on the plea always that they bring wholesome recreation, if not more solid benefits. Thus they rest under a peculiar obligation to be careful what they print. That obligation they are now disregarding, to the injury of our youth.
If the new standards of the periodicals are to persist, the difficulty of the problem of bringing up our young people in sweetness and wholesomeness of mind is greatly increased. Their reading must be much more strictly supervised; their taste for what is good and pure and wholesome in literature must be more sedulously cultivated; and their characters must be molded to new strength to resist in a world no longer tender of them.
The Extravagance of Armed Peace
The great expense of maintaining the armies of France on a peace footing is commented upon in the Washington Herald of July 26, 1913, as follows:—
It is almost incredible that in this age of progress and intelligence one of the foremost nations of civilization should feel called upon to keep nearly 700,000 men under arms and prepared to defend the country against a danger that should have no existence, and would have none if common sense were to be given a chance. The Chamber of Deputies last week passed the bill to provide for three years of military service instead of two in France. It is estimated that this will add 210,000 more men to the standing army, making the total approximately 700,000. This was done as an answer to the action of Germany in increasing its military force, and is another striking illustration of the wastefulness of "armed peace."
Desire for Christ
By L. D. Santee
WITH longing heart I look to the skies,
Which shall sometime flame in glory;
And I think of the sweet and the glad surprise,
As I read the wondrous story
Of the second coming of Christ sublime,
And the endless life to be given
When we shall exchange the woes of time
For the joy and the bliss of heaven.
The hands of earth make not the chords
That thrill with the hopes of heaven;
And worldly hearts are cold and hard,
Nor rejoice in the promises given;
And worldly hopes all center here,
In the land of the sick and dying,
While mine reach up to that home so dear,
Where is known no death nor crying.
I think of Christ, who will come again,
The desire of all the ages.
His coming inspired the prophet's pen,
And shines from the sacred pages.
And smiles have beamed on the care-worn face
As the lips have told the story
That Christ, with his love and tender grace,
Would come in his Father's glory.
He'll come with his shining angel host,
Arrayed in wondrous brightness;
Come to redeem the loved and lost,
And clothe them in robes of whiteness;
Come to provide a robe and crown,
Where friendship ne'er shall sever.
The garments of earth have the saints laid down,
To enjoy the rest forever.
Moline, Ill.
Another Life for Africa
By T. E. Bowen
C. LYNN BOWEN was born in Randolph, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1881, and died at the Tsungwesi Mission, in Rhodesia, South Africa, June 2, 1913, at the age of 32 years, 2 months, and 19 days. Lynn was a faithful, energetic boy, carefully doing his share of the work while assisting his parents on the farm in western New York. He attended school at Mount Vernon and South Lancaster.
Two or three years after his marriage to Miss Ida Nelson, he felt a call from the Lord to connect with the newly opened intermediate school at Tunesassa, New York, where they labored about four years, Lynn as business manager, his wife as teacher.
Feeling the need of further training, they went to South Lancaster Academy, in 1909, where they received their provisional appointment for foreign field service, coming to the Foreign Mission Seminary in Washington before the school year was over. Here they remained about two years, and then answered an urgent call for Tsungwesi Mission.
The first year of mission work was successfully passed, and they had enjoyed excellent health, when what appeared to them as chicken-pox broke out at the mission. Their two children and some native children had it and were recovering, when Lynn came down. It was then discovered to be smallpox.
During General Conference a brief cable announcing his death was received. Because of the strict quarantine regulations, no word or particulars of any kind were received until nearly two months had elapsed. Then came the following from Elder W. S. Hyatt, assistant superintendent of South Africa:—
“Right in the midst of Brother Bowen's illness, Brother Chris. Sparrow went to the mission to visit his son Laurie, who is assisting in the work at that place. When he arrived, he discovered that they had the smallpox. Up to that time they thought they were having a hard run of the chicken-pox. One of Brother Bowen's children had had the disease and was getting better. Several of the natives had had it. They then reported themselves to the authorities and were put in quarantine, and have not been released so far as I know.
C. LYNN BOWEN
“June 3 I received a telegram stating that Brother Bowen was dead. As it had been about ten days since I had last heard from them, I had thought that he was better and getting along nicely. I had sent them word to keep me informed as to the condition, but doubtless the quarantine hindered them from doing so. I heard nothing further except a wire saying that all were well at the station, till June 19, and then I received a letter from Sister Bowen, written by a policeman who stood thirty yards away and received her dictation. The letter was written on June 3, and is as follows:—
“‘My husband died yesterday at 1 P. M. We did everything we could for him, but he had complications which made it very difficult and painful for him to breathe and swallow. Laurie Sparrow's father came here the first week of his illness, and took care of him. He also conducted the funeral service today. I am glad to say I have not taken the disease.’
“A letter written June 20 by Brother Sparrow stated that all were well at the station, and no new cases had developed since about the time of Brother Bowen's death. He also wrote that Brother Bowen had not been vaccinated, but as soon as he arrived at the mission he vaccinated Sister Bowen, his son, and himself, and they hoped from this to escape. Brother Sparrow has been vaccinated five times, and his son was vaccinated about a year ago. It seems that if Brother Bowen had been vaccinated, he would have had the disease lightly or possibly escaped altogether. Of course we do not know this to be so, and we can only bow our heads in the deepest sorrow, and say, ‘Thy will be done.’
“As soon as I learned that Brother Bowen was dead, I wired Brother Walston to visit Tsungwesi and report the condition of things as he found them. When he arrived near the mission, he found the red flag up, denoting the quarantine. He then followed around the marked trees and flags till he came near the mission building. Here he expected to find the police. I quote now from his letter: ‘I knew unless I found him, I would be obliged to return that night to the siding unless I made myself liable to be devoured by lions. I found all along where fires had been made to keep out such creatures, so concluded they were not far off. I turned back, and on my way discovered an enclosure made of fresh brush, just inside the boundary. I thought it might be the policeman's camp, which I had missed going down, so I hallooed, but received no response. I drew a little nearer and discovered a fresh mound of earth, and you can guess the rest. Poor Brother Bowen! it will take a louder voice than mine to awake him.’ By calling he was able to make himself heard by those at the house, and had a short visit with them. We have done all that we could to help them. They had a doctor to see Brother Bowen.”
While to his loved ones this comes as a severe blow, yet we feel the assurance that in that morning when Jesus shall call for his children Lynn, in his lonely grave in Africa, will hear his voice and come forth to everlasting life. The “blessed hope” is truly a comfort in this hour of trial.
Looking on Things Unseen
By N. W. Vincent
OUR earth made new will bear a beauteous gem;
It is Christ's city, New Jerusalem.
In it we'll meet, God and the Lamb adore,
Our loved ones greet,—saved, safe forevermore!
What transport then will fill each ransomed soul!
What shouts of ecstasy will rise and roll
What melody of golden harps with songs
That sweetly tell what love to Christ belongs!
O dearest friend, bought by the Saviour's blood,
Let's now prepare to love, to meet our God;
Let heart and life to Christ be gladly given.
Count self as naught, but count his smile as heaven.
Caney, Kans.
HOME AND HEALTH
Faithfulness in Following Principles of Health Reform
By L. V. Mann, M. D.
L. V. MANN, M. D.
ARE we living up to all the light we have received on the subject of health reform? We should thank the Heavenly Father for this phase of the message, and for the instruction he has given us regarding it. Says the servant of the Lord:—
"I am instructed to bear a message to all our people on the subject of health reform; for many have backslidden from their former loyalty to health reform principles."—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, page 153.
"Seventh-day Adventists are handling momentous truths. More than forty years ago the Lord gave us special light on health reform, but how are we walking in that light? How many have refused to live in harmony with the counsels of God! As a people we should make advancement proportionate to the light received; . . . and yet there are among us well-instructed members of the church, and even ministers of the gospel, who have little respect for the light that God has given upon this subject."—Id., page 158.
Looking back over the history of our medical work, we find several reasons why some of our people are not faithful in health reform. First, we might mention the inconsistencies and extremes that were advocated. Articles of food necessary and common to the average household were withdrawn from the dietary. Many could not replace these articles with those recommended, and being conscientious in the matter, lived on an impoverished diet. This resulted in a lowering of the vitality. Families that had plenty of good milk, butter, and eggs rejected these articles from the diet list and provided themselves with foods more expensive and less adapted to the system. The body was not only made to suffer from the effects of a lack of good food, but had to endure the outrage imposed upon it in the use of articles not suited to the system. This caused many cases of confirmed dyspepsia, and some of these persons are dyspeptics still.
Years ago so much was said and written on how, when, and what should be put into the stomach that we learned to believe this organ to be the largest part of our anatomy. Many of us have run the gauntlet of the stomach tube. If you have escaped the ordeal, you may consider yourself fortunate. The point is that we have confused the light Heaven sent on the subject of health reform with what man has said.
The spirit of prophecy says on extremes in diet:—
"Some, in abstaining from milk, eggs, and butter, have failed to supply the system with proper nourishment, and as a consequence have become weak and unable to work. Thus health reform is brought into disrepute. The work that we have tried to build up solidly is confused with strange things that God has not required, and the energies of the church are crippled."—Id., page 162.
Any system that undermines the constitution of the worker, making him less efficient in the cause of Christ, is far from being health reform. It is health deform! There are some today who are putting in a miserable existence for which hard work, the climate, etc., receive the blame, but many times the cause is directly due to a false system of health reform.
Many, in beholding what disastrous results followed this radical teaching, became confused in the matter, and condemned the whole thing. Any good principle carried to extreme is liable to cause a reaction.
Is health reform any the less binding on our people because we have met these discouragements? As the great day of Christ's coming approaches, his church will need health reform principles the more. We can easily dispense with the radical ideas of men in health reform, but we cannot get along without the principles themselves.
"I have been shown that the principles that were given us in the early days of the message are as important and should be regarded just as conscientiously today as they were then."—Id., page 158.
We are looking forward to the time when man's home will be restored to him unmarred by sin, and he will live on the original diet given to him in the garden of Eden. In order for us to inherit our new home, we must make the preparation here. This is why God is holding the four winds. We must look upon health reform as a part of our preparation. Our habits of life, both physical and spiritual, must be such on our journey toward the promised land that they will harmonize with our surroundings when we reach the city of God.
One of the sins of the children of Israel in the wilderness was the longing after the flesh-pots of Egypt. They had lived in disobedience to the laws of life, and had been eating and drinking as they pleased so long that when they came to partake of the simple food of heaven, they complained bitterly. The result was that they never saw Canaan.
We are on our journey through the wilderness to the land of Canaan. God is bearing with us to make the necessary preparation. He has given us his Word and the spirit of prophecy to help us act wisely in the matter and avoid mistakes. Let us be sure that a lack of faithfulness in health reform will not turn the balances against us.
"God demands that the appetites be cleansed and that self-denial be practised in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before his people can stand before him a perfected people."—Id., pages 153, 154.
Lucknow, India.
The Noon-Hour Prayer
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends."
PRAYER at its best can never take a secondary place in life. When prayer has become secondary or incidental, it has lost its power. Those who are conspicuously men of prayer are those who use prayer as they use food, or air, or light, or money. They never attempt to get along without it. It is part of the provision and currency of their lives. They would count themselves starved or bankrupt if they should attempt to live a prayerless twenty-four hours. Many of us believe in prayer, and avail ourselves of it as a sort of "top dressing" to our lives, a desirable and helpful accompaniment to our own efforts, and nothing more. The result is that it never becomes anything more. And we live in poverty.—Sunday School Times.
Requests for Prayer
By Editor
269. A Michigan brother whose wife was restored to health in answer to the petitions of the noon-hour prayer band, asks us to pray for his recovery.
270. From Pennsylvania a sister writes requesting prayer for help in meeting a severe trial which has just come to her.
271. A sister in California desires prayer for the conversion of a friend who is dying with no knowledge of God.
272. "Will you please pray that my wife may be delivered from the evil habit of novel reading?" is the desire of a Tennessee brother.
Shut Thy Door
A MAN was standing in a telephone booth, trying to receive an important message, but had great difficulty in hearing. He kept saying, "I can't hear." The man at the other end of the line said, after a while, "If you will shut the door, you can hear." When the door had been closed, all the noises from the street were shut out.
Many a Christian is going through life with spiritual weakness and worry because he does not more frequently close the door that silences for a time the din of the world. The "shut door" is one condition of the peculiar blessing of God.—Selected.
Tent Pitching
By S. E. Wight
THIS article has been prepared for the REVIEW AND HERALD by request. Many of the young ministers who have not had the opportunity of connecting with tent efforts would like to know how to pitch a tent, and it will be the endeavor of the writer to give such plain instruction that any one may be able to pitch a tent without difficulty. It is more than likely that the older ministers of the denomination, having had a great deal of experience, can tell better how to pitch a tent than can the tent-makers themselves, and the writer would like it understood that he does not attempt to exhaust the subject in this article, but only to give a few hints that will enable the beginner to successfully prepare his tent for the holding of meetings.
When a tent is bought, a blue-print should be secured with it, if possible. This makes the pitching very simple. Often these prints are not procurable, so for this reason we must know how to pitch a tent without their help.
First, let us consider a square meeting-tent. The tent may be spread out on the ground to its fullest capacity on the spot where the tent is to be pitched. We shall suppose that the wall is six feet high, and that the tent has only one guy-rope in each corner. Draw a line around your tent in a perfect square, five feet every way from the tent, and in each of the four corners of this square, put a stake. The other stakes place five feet from the wall pole holes, directly opposite and in line with the corner stakes. Most of the square tents are not laced. If they are sufficiently large to be laced, then before lacing, the ball ring should be put on and the center poles put in place. In case it has no lacing, the center pole is put in after the tent is placed on the ground in its proper place. When all the stakes are driven well into the ground, tie the guy-ropes and raise the tent.
In pitching a round tent, the diameter of the tent should be determined. To do this, measure with a tape the distance around the eaves of the tent, and divide that by 3.1416, which will give the diameter. Add to the diameter twice the distance from the tent you wish your guy-stakes to be set, which is usually one foot less than the height of the wall, and multiply this by 3.1416; divide the product by the number of spaces between the wall pole holes there are in the rim of the tent, which gives you the space between each stake. When this distance has been found, put a stake, with a nail in the top of it, where you wish your center pole to be placed; place over the nail the ring in your tape line, and go out a distance equal to one half of the diameter of the large circle just found, and set a stake. After the first stake has been set, then pass on, keeping the tape line straight, and make sure the space between your stakes as found, and so follow on until the complete circle has been formed.
If there is a splice, prepare only one half of the round top as described above; then if you wish, you can lay down the splice on the ground opposite this half-circle and set the stakes for it, and then prepare the other half-circle the same as the first.
When the tent is put up, do not make the mistake of drawing it too high on your center poles. Leave it very loose until you have your small guys adjusted. The rim rope should be well stretched before the center is pulled up. When you have securely tied your small guys, unless something out of the ordinary takes place, it is not necessary to ever untie them before taking the tent down. When desiring to slacken the tent, do so by crossing the wall poles and lowering the tent on the center poles.
S. E. WIGHT.
A Request for Scandinavian Young People
By L. H. Christian
THERE is not a State in the Union where we do not find some Danish and Norwegian young people that love this message. Many of these are working for our American Adventist farmers. Not a few of them belong to an American church, which is entirely proper. Our conference presidents, ministers, and church elders know many Scandinavian young people. Teachers in several of our schools know some students in their own institution that are Scandinavians and ought to receive an education that would prepare them for work among their own people. Very many of our Scandinavian youth are in our sanitariums.
We are not finding fault with this situation. We are glad that we have a large army of Scandinavian Adventist youth in this country. We do not expect them all to attend our own school, or to engage in the Scandinavian work. However, we do greatly need more of them in our Scandinavian work and school than we have at present. God has given us a large work to do for the Danes and Norwegians in this country. The Lord is blessing what we are doing with our limited number of laborers. During the quarter that ended June 30 we baptized seventy-seven, and eighty joined the church in this branch of our work. But we greatly need more laborers both in this country and in Scandinavia. We ought to send some young, strong workers to Europe.
For this reason we request our brethren who know of Scandinavian young people that might become laborers in the Scandinavian work to send us the names and addresses of these. We also request that our brethren encourage them to attend the Danish-Norwegian Seminary at Hutchinson. In a very marked manner the Lord's blessing has been upon this school. We have strong and experienced teachers. We teach the English as well as the Danish-Norwegian language, besides Latin and German. The school is not expensive. Any one desiring information should write to Elder M. L. Andreasen, Hutchinson, Minn. We would again request our brethren here and there to encourage young Scandinavians to come to our school and to remember the work for their own people. We should be very glad to hear from many.
L. H. CHRISTIAN.
Minneapolis, Minn.
The Mississippi Camp-Meeting
By George B. Thompson
THE annual camp-meeting of the Mississippi Conference was held in Hattiesburg, July 30 to August 6. The camp was well situated on a good street-car line, in the edge of the city. The location was healthful. The dining-tent was neatly screened, also the tent of the general laborers, and I did not hear of a single case of sickness on the ground. The weather was fine. Considering the membership of the conference, the attendance of our people was good. The regular conference business received attention in connection with the meeting, which although lasting only one week, afforded ample time for all business matters. The utmost unity was seen in the consideration of these. Brother Charles S. Wiest was reelected president.
The revival spirit prevailed throughout the meeting, and practically all on the ground consecrated themselves anew to the Lord. The evening services were quite well attended by people from the city, who manifested a deep interest in the doctrinal truths that were presented. The whole city was reported as being more or less stirred by the message. The interest was such that it was decided to continue the meetings on the same ground for several days. Six were baptized on the last day of the meeting.
The reports rendered showed progress. The book sales for 1912 amounted to $8,788. The tithe was $2,577. For the first six months of the present year15the conference raised twenty cents a week per member in offerings, and will doubtless do equally well for the entire year. As one looks over the available resources of the conference, it seems that if this conference can raise its quota of funds, every conference can do equally well. The Sabbath-school collection for the one Sabbath of the meeting was $50. A collection was taken for home and foreign missions, and over $1,000 was realized. This was very encouraging.
Elder W. W. Eastman, Prof. C. L. Stone, and the writer attended the meeting, in addition to the union and local conference laborers. This was the first opportunity I had had of attending meetings in this part of the field, and of coming in close touch with its peculiar needs. But each time I visit the South I am impressed anew with the splendid resources here to build up a strong work. The same education and culture found in other parts of the country are found here. The people are hospitable, and have as much respect for the Scriptures as do those elsewhere. They have money also, and those who embrace the message show a liberal spirit in giving to the cause. This conference needs some strong, consecrated laborers to enter these cities and towns and raise up good, strong churches. This can be done by those who will come South, not to make war upon established customs which they may find different from those of other parts of the country, but to make this their home, and to come in close, sympathetic touch with the people. With proper effort churches of believers can be established here as well as elsewhere.
G. B. THOMPSON.
THE FIELD WORK
How Can You Live Without Jesus?
By Mrs. M. H. Timanus
MRS. M. H. TIMANUS
How can you live without Jesus?
How can you turn from your Lord?
O, there is joy in believing!
O, there is hope in his word!
How can you live without Jesus?
How can you bear without him
The burdens of life that are making
Even the sunshine seem dim?
What will you do without Jesus
When in the valley so drear,
Without his arms to protect you,
Without his presence so dear?
Will you not come now to Jesus?
He is so wondrously kind;
He will forgive and receive you;
Peace in his love you will find.
Come, then, to Jesus your Saviour,
Come, and his faithfulness prove.
O, there's joy in believing!
O, there is rest in his love!
