Earlier text: System and Order in Gospel Finance“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.” PHILLIPS BROOKS once said, “Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness.” The bounties of heaven are free to all on the condition of asking. The power of Omnipotence is waiting upon your praying, my praying. To every one of his children Christ has pledged his word: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” If God’s blessings could be purchased, how gladly we should work day and night for the gold and silver wherewith to buy them. If they came to us as rewards of merit, we should willingly climb many a Peter’s staircase, and toil our weary way to many a distant Mecca in order to win them. But because our Saviour’s mighty works for us are conditional only upon our simple asking, we stumble and often fail to find the blessing in store for us. Shall we not begin to-day to live the prayer life? Will you not ask in simple faith, according to the Father’s will, and receive your heart’s desire? To you who are trying to serve the Lord but are deeply conscious of the need of the Spirit’s quickening power in all that you do and say, to you who have loved ones outside of Christ who are daily resisting his call, to you who are burdened with anxious care, to you upon whom affliction’s heavy hand has been laid, to you who walk in darkness and have no light, the Heavenly Father says, I am able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. A California sister who asked prayer for the conversion of her father some weeks ago, writes that God has heard and answered. To-day he is a changed man. A sister residing in Indiana who requested prayer for the recovery of her little niece, whom the doctors had given up to die, sends word that the child is rapidly improving. 52. Writing from Indiana, a sister asks that we pray for her healing; also that her father may overcome the tobacco habit, and be led to believe the testimonies which God has given to this people. 53. From the same State (Indiana) an afflicted brother sends the request that prayer be offered for his restoration to health; for the conversion of his aged and afflicted mother; and for his wife, who is just now passing through severe trials. 54. A Wisconsin brother who has been suffering with consumption for some months, writes that the Lord has given him assurance of recovery. He desires us to pray that this manifestation of divine power may be the means of bringing his unconverted relatives and friends into the truth. 55. A sister residing in Wisconsin requests prayer for the healing of her mother, who has been an invalid for over a year. 56. A burdened mother asks that prayer be offered for the conversion of her son, who once loved this truth, but has gone out into the world. 57. From California comes the request for prayer in behalf of a physician and his wife who are passing through trying financial difficulties; also for a brother and sister who have recently accepted the truth, that they may be faithful in observing its precepts. 58. A sister in California asks prayer for the conversion of her husband and a wayward son; also for the healing of herself and little daughter. 59. A Michigan brother and sister desire prayers for deliverance from the power of the enemy. They are handicapped by physical afflictions, struggling with financial difficulties, and their home was recently destroyed by fire. Let us pray that they may be of good courage in the Lord. 60. Writing from Michigan, a sister requests that we pray for the conversion of her husband, who was once a member of this church but has gone out into the world, and for herself that she may have wisdom and strength properly to represent Christ in her home. 61. From the same State (Michigan) an anxious wife and mother sends the request for prayer in behalf of her unconverted husband, whose mind has been much weakened by sickness. She also desires us to pray for her son, that his appetite for strong drink and tobacco may be taken away, and for herself, that she may live closer to the Lord. 62. Still another request comes from Michigan. A sister is anxious that we pray for the conversion of her brother, who once rejoiced in this blessed truth, and for her aged father, who is bitterly opposed to the Sabbath. 63. “I am writing to ask prayer for112my mother, who is a lonely widow living in Virginia,” writes an Iowa friend. “She is losing her hearing, and is very desirous of healing if it is God’s will.” 64. A sister living in Washington asks the prayers of this people for her oldest son, who has given up the Sabbath. 65. An isolated brother in New Mexico desires prayer that he may have the victory over severe trials which he has experienced during the last two years. 66. From Nebraska an isolated sister whose memory is failing, sends a request for prayer. She also asks that we pray for the conversion of her family. 67. Writing from Colorado, a burdened sister expresses a desire that our prayer band plead with God for the conversion of her husband; for her mother and two sisters who have recently accepted the truth, that they may be strong and courageous; and for another sister who is on the verge of a nervous and mental breakdown. 68. “I desire an interest in your prayers, that if it be the Lord’s will my hearing may be restored, and that I may be healed of other troubles which threaten to develop into tuberculosis,” writes a sister from North Carolina. She also asks prayer for the healing of her nephew, who is seriously afflicted. 69. A sister living in Tennessee requests that the members of this prayer circle pray for the conversion of her husband and four sons. 70. Writing from Minnesota, an anxious father makes request that prayer be offered for his restoration to health, and for the conversion of his sons. My Summer's Rest and Experience
By E. W. Webster
After the death of my beloved companion last spring, I was so worn that it seemed advisable to go to the mountains awhile. I had brothers in the West, and to visit them, to secure the benefits of the climate and treatments at the Boulder Sanitarium, and especially to fulfil my wife's dying request that I visit and help certain relatives all I could, I went to Colorado the first of August, where I spent three months, stopping one month also in Kansas and Missouri. I not only got a good start on the road to health, but also had the pleasure of visiting brothers I had not seen for years, witnessed the conversion of one of them to the truth, and had the pleasure of baptizing him; and since then his son and his wife have been baptized, and all have joined one of our churches in Denver. For over thirty years I have been in this truth alone, so far as regards my relatives; I greatly rejoice that these are now with me. Not only so, but three other brothers are studying the message, and in their letters they say, “Pray for me that I, too, may be ready to go with the Lord.” One of these I had not seen nor heard from for twenty-seven years. How good the Saviour is to give us our dear ones to be with us in the truth! What a cheer is brought into the life by the hope of having them with us in the kingdom of God! The visit with my wife's relatives was profitable also, though I feel that not all was accomplished for them that she had hoped for. During the summer, and to the present time, though so worn to begin with, I have spoken fifty-seven times, at various places; have held several other meetings and Bible readings, and have done much personal work. Although the labor has been little, the results have led me to rejoice greatly; and after the rest, I now find my health so nearly restored that I can again take up more active work in this cause, which is dearer to me than life itself. Praise the Lord with me for all he has done. Sanitarium, Takoma Park, D. C. Canvassing Work in North Carolina
By J. W. Siler
THIS state has an extreme length of 503 miles, with a breadth in the widest part of 187 miles. It has a population of 2,206,287,—a thriving, enterprising people. Altogether, this is a State of great opportunities. We are sure that the field is ripe and ready for the missionary colporteur to enter and gather a rich harvest, as our record the past few years will prove. The Lord has signally blessed our efforts in both subscriptions and deliveries. In 1911 we delivered $13,016.18 worth of literature. It gives us cheer, for this is truly a grand, good work and a good showing for the few faithful colporteurs who labored so earnestly in this branch of God's cause. One colporteur took $281 worth of orders in one week, and delivered most of them; and another, in one week of forty-nine hours, delivered $370.75 worth of books. This is perhaps the largest record in the United States. It is a demonstrated fact that books do sell here in the South; not only can orders be taken, but good deliveries can be made. Consecration to God, with a willingness to obey the command, “Son, go work to-day in my vineyard,” is all that is needed, and success is certain. We have four colporteurs who have earned their way to the General Conference, one of them being the State agent. I have told you how God has blessed our efforts in the past, and how we have17demonstrated what can be done; I now want to state something of the extent of our work and the need of help to fill the many openings that we have here. This State has one hundred counties, and of the one hundred there are twenty-six that have never as yet been entered with our literature. Only thirty have been worked thoroughly with one or two books. In forty-four counties a little has been done, but some of this work was done as far back as 1893, which leaves them practically virgin soil. Now, in consideration of all this and of the instruction God has given through the Testimonies that the work would close in the South first, I make an appeal to you to come over and help us warn the many souls that know nothing of present truth or of the perils of these last days. Certain destruction is coming upon the inhabitants of this world, and unless we do our best, their blood will be upon us. “I can not understand why our people have so little burden to take up the work that the Lord has for years been keeping before me, the work of giving the message of present truth in the Southern States. Few have felt that upon them rests the responsibility of taking hold of this work. Our people have failed to enter new territory and to work the cities in the South. Over and over again the Lord has presented the needs of this field, without any special results.” —“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, page 34. My brother, my sister, consider these statements carefully, and pray earnestly to know if you are the one whom the Lord points out; and if you are, do not delay the work any longer by neglecting your duty to give the third angel's message in this needy field. If you feel impressed to come South and help in this worthy and great work, I should be pleased to have you write to me. Power of God's Word
By CHAS. P. WHITFORD
The Word of God will effectually work in those who believe it. 1 Thess. 2:13. There is a blessing for those who get hungry for the Word of God. Matt. 5:6; 6:33. The principles of the ten commandments will be seen in the life of the man or woman who has been filled with the righteousness of God. Ps. 119:172. Those who are merely professors of Christianity generally love pleasure more than they love the Word of God, which is able to accomplish so much for them. 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 4:1-4. Study every verse cited, and when done thank God for a love for the Bible. At its fall council in September of 1912, the Mission Board asked Elder A. F. Prieger and wife, of Alabama, to go to Haiti to take charge of the work in that field. They responded to this call. Sailing from New Orleans October 29, they reached Haiti November 16, via Cuba and Jamaica. In each of these islands they spent a few days getting acquainted with the work and workers in the West Indies. I went with them to Haiti, and by appointment Brother Isaac met us at Port au Prince. Here we spent one week. Several meetings were held with the company there, and on Sabbath two were baptized. The next day we went by steamer to Cape Haitian, on the north side of the island. Several of the brethren came in from the country places to greet us. Every one rejoiced because some one had come to lead out in the work and to minister to their spiritual needs. One year and seven months have passed since Elder J. W. Tanner was compelled to leave the field. Can you wonder that the people were glad to see some one who had come to live and work among them? The Haitian brethren have been very faithful and zealous in their work. The lay brethren have helped Brethren M. N. Isaac and A. Pean in every way possible. The result is that many are ready for baptism. Elder and Sister Prieger left a very needy field to join the family of workers in the West Indian Union. Let us pray that the Lord will bless them as they give themselves to the work in Haiti. The language is French, and will have to be learned. This requires time and patience. The Lord goes before all his workers in all places, and he is in Haiti. We shall soon have reports from them of the work there. U. BENDER. Working for the Indians in Fiji
By Ellen Meyers
We are thankful to report a safe and pleasant voyage. We arrived on October 28, and Brother A. Stewart met us. He happened to be in Suva that day, and just two hours before the arrival of the boat he received the cable stating that we were passengers on the “Atua.” It was a surprise to Mrs. Stewart, as there was no time to inform her, but we were made welcome. Our first impressions are favorable, but I am slow to express myself lest I create wrong impressions. We have conversed with some Indians, and they express themselves favorably. They are glad when we say we are from India. We spent a few days at Suva before we decided where to settle, and are glad to report that we now occupy part of a house (two rooms, kitchen, and wash-house) on one of the main streets in the residential part of Suva. The house is divided into four suites. The first is occupied by three women working for the Pentecostal Mission. We occupy the third, leaving the one between us and the mission just mentioned. Our direct neighbor is an educated Indian, who is a government interpreter and knows seven Indian languages. His wife is a half-caste Maori woman. They seem quite friendly toward us. He has helped me translate into Indian something for a sign-board stating we are the Seventh-day Adventist Mission for Indians. His wife plans to study. We realize it is the day of small things, and expect up-hill work. We organized a small Sabbath-school last Sabbath. There are two English-speaking families here who are Sabbath-keepers. We are of good courage. The Lord in answer to prayer gave me definite assurance from his Word concerning our coming to Fiji. Prov. 4: 11, 12: “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.” The path of duty is the safest path. We need your prayers. Pray for us. Just where and how to begin is a perplexing question. We need the power of God’s Holy Spirit in this work. Pray with us that God will raise up a man and his wife among the Indians who will help us give the message. Ways of Working
By John N. Quinn
How I Was Won, or How I Won Others for Christ
In your conversion to the Christian life there stands out in bold relief some service or incident which you feel was chiefly instrumental in leading you to Christ. It may have been a revival service, the prayer of a friend, the kindly interest of a neighbor, the example of a godly life, even a pleasant smile or loving word. In turn, you may have found these or similar methods effective in reaching other hearts. In a few short, well-chosen sentences, tell others of your experiences. It will prove an incentive to Christian service. These experiences will be printed in this department, under the above heading, as received. Let all our readers contribute missionary incidents to this symposium. Kindly Christian Courtesy
Being interested in physical culture when a young man, much of my leisure time was spent in the gymnasium of the Y. M. C. A. One Saturday night, after several hours spent in muscular exercise, I was passing out of the building when a young man accosted me, and in a pleasant manner invited me to remain for the religious service. I did so, and at the close of the meeting the same person asked me if I was a Christian. I replied in the negative, and he suggested that I allow him to pray for me. Out of courtesy I consented, and knelt with him in prayer. A year later I made the surrender of myself to Christ, and his peace became very real to me. In order to observe Sunday, I resigned my position on a Sunday newspaper. Another year passed, when the Signs of the Times was brought to my home by a Bible worker. Bible readings followed, and Sunday passed out of my life, the Sabbath of God taking the place of honor. I retained my position, and for seventeen years on the sixth day of the week before sunset I passed out of the office, while the other employees continued their work. The Review and Herald invited me to enter its employ. I accepted; and am at present with this association still rejoicing in Christ and in the truth which is to usher in his second advent. Twenty new believers were baptized in New York City on Sabbath, January 4. Elder P. C. Hanson reports six new members added to the church at Richland Center, Wis. Four persons were baptized by Elder M. C. Kirkendall, in Toronto, Ontario, several weeks ago. From Harvey, Western Australia, comes the report of twelve adults recently accepting the truth. At the close of the week of prayer fifteen young persons were buried with their Lord in baptism at Laurelwood, Oregon. A few weeks ago the Second German Seventh-day Adventist Church of Chicago, Ill., was organized, with a membership of ten. During the recent week of prayer season every student in the Williamsdale Academy, in Nova Scotia, surrendered to the Lord, and eleven young persons were baptized. From Western Kansas Elder S. S. Shrock reports the baptism of four persons at Collyer. Six persons in Bird City have decided to obey the commandments of God. Elder I. H. Evans, of China, writes of a recent trip into the interior, reporting splendid meetings and the baptism at one station of thirty-two converts. At another mission thirteen received baptism. Eight persons have recently accepted the truth through the efforts of our workers in Plainfield, N. J., and four in Newark, where, on January 5, a new church building was dedicated to the service of the Lord. Elder E. E. Farnsworth reports as follows from Marceline, Mo.: “Two months ago there was not a Sabbath-keeper in this place. Now we have a Sabbath-school with an attendance of about forty.” During the year 1912 more than fifty new members have been received into the First Seventh-day Adventist Church of Richmond, Va. A little company of fourteen believers has just been organized at Rileyville. A church of eleven members has been organized at Kendrick, Idaho, in the Upper Columbia Conference. A new church has also been organized at Nezperce, Idaho, and at its first quarterly meeting six members were added. A very successful tent-meeting was conducted in Charleston, N. C., by Elder Charles Manns. About twenty-five persons decided to obey the commandments of God. At Albemarle five new Sabbath-keepers were recently baptized, and a church of nine white members has been organized at Wilmington. STATISTICS just issued show that the Catholic Church in the United States received during the year 1912 personal contributions aggregating $500,000,000. Among the donors were twenty-seven Protestants. One member of the Hebrew church, Max Pam, a millionaire, not only established a school of journalism at Notre Dame University, Indiana, but also gave $25,000 to the Catholic University for a chair of antisocialist studies. Secretary of State Philander C. Knox gave $500 to St. Regis's Home, in Pittsburgh. Archbishop Ireland recently received a check for $100,000 from J. J. Hill, founder of St. Paul's Seminary, to be used for that institution. His daughter, Miss Clara Hill, of St. Paul, gave $110,000 to the Visitation Sisters. Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., donated a Catholic day-home for children in San Francisco, at a cost of $100,000. Mrs. Thomas F. Ryan recently gave the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus property worth over $250,000. Her husband made the largest donation the Catholic Church has ever received in this country — $1,000,000 for the Church of St. Jean Baptiste. The late Michael Cudahy's executors gave $50,000 to the Apostolic Mission House at the Catholic University.—Selected. Present Conditions
By Juan Orts Gonzalez
I CAN not understand how American Protestants can endure silently and without shame the present conditions. Catholics to-day may not only attack, but even slander Protestant people and doctrines, and no important paper even depreciates their abusive language; but we Protestants in a Protestant country can not preach Protestant doctrines without being accused of being bigots and called narrow-minded. Catholics can organize a religious order like the Paulist Fathers, which stands chiefly for the conversion of Protestants, and such attempts have never been denounced, as far as I know, as a bigoted proselytism; but no Protestant can go to preach among Catholics without being accused of bigotry and base proselytism. Catholics have organized a society like the Knights of Columbus, which counts already about three hundred thousand citizens who are bound to defend the Roman Catholic Church even in social and in political spheres, and no important paper denounces such organizations as unfair and un-American. Catholics are taking the Bible out of our public schools, and then discrediting this greatest of American institutions by calling it ungodly and pernicious. Finally, they are establishing their parochial schools (wherein the most bigoted Romanism is taught, since foreign friars and foreign nuns are largely the teachers), and no important paper has warned the nation of the tremendous and sinister influence that must thereby be exerted in the near future on American ideals and civilization. Catholics dare to say to a Protestant party, By no means can you marry a Catholic, unless the marriage is performed by a Catholic priest and an oath is made that all children springing from the union shall be Catholic, and there shall be no interference with the religion of the Catholic party; but no important paper therefor accuses them of narrowness and sectarianism. Catholics can say from the confessional box, from the pulpit, through their books, and even through bulls of the popes, that the children of Protestant marriage are not legitimate children. They can say that when a Protestant minister performs the marriage ceremony, he merely authorizes concubinage. They can insult Protestant daughters and wives since they do not consider them canonically and legally married at all, and no one finds such conduct unfair and un-American. But we Protestants can not speak of the Syllabus without being accused of attacking the Roman Catholic people and church.—Juan Orts Gonzalez, in the Presbyterian of the South, Jan. 15, 1913. BACKED by a letter from Rear-Admiral George W. Baird, U. S. N., retired, prominent speakers of the Secular League yesterday afternoon bitterly denounced Christopher Columbus, discoverer of America, as a thief, an adventurer, a gold lover, and a pirate, at a crowded meeting held in the Pythian Temple, Ninth Street and Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest. Admiral Baird termed as ridiculous the efforts of prominent Knights of Columbus to have Columbus created a patron saint of the United States. The letter from Admiral Baird was directed to Hyland C. Kirk, president. The admiral has made an extensive study of all histories dealing with the life of Columbus. “I have read every history,” wrote the admiral, “on the subject which has come to my hand, and I am fully convinced that it is proved beyond cavil that Columbus was a Hebrew by birth and in his religious beliefs. “At this time the college of cardinals in Rome has before it a bill to make Columbus the patron saint of the United States. It would be absurd.” Professor Kirk opened the meeting by reading a long essay, asserting that Columbus was born in Porto Santo, a suburb of Pontevedra, Spain. His real name was Christo Colon, he added. John D. Bradley, secretary of the league, assailed the Catholic Church for attempting to claim the so-called discoverer of America for its own.—Washington Post, Jan. 20, 1913. Religious Liberty for Spain
MADRID, January 19.—Count Alvaro de Romanones, the new premier, will publish his program as soon as the king returns from a hunting trip in Granada. The program, which is strongly marked by Liberal tendencies, is said to include complete reconstruction of the associations' bill, after negotiations with the Vatican; complete religious freedom; secularization of the cemeteries; obligatory civil marriage; a diminution of the number of non-elective senators, and a corresponding increase of elective senators; abolition of the death penalty; freedom of education; increased salaries for teachers; important public improvements; the creation of a second squadron of the fleet; and various measures to improve the condition of the working classes.— New York Times, Jan. 20, 1913. State and Church
By W. W. Prescott
Reports, Notes, and Comments Pertaining to the Current History of Religious Freedom, and the Campaign "to Make America Catholic." Conducted by the Religious Liberty Association. Duty Belongs to Us, Results to God
“We can not accomplish everything, however much we may see that should be done. But with patient care and watchfulness we can accomplish all of which the Lord has made us capable. And this is to succeed. Duty belongs to us, results to God.” A Secular Solution to Ireland’s Troubles
The Irish question could very easily be settled by a complete, final, and irrevocable separation of church and state, the establishment of secular national schools, and exemption of the seventh-day Sabbath observers from the operation of Sunday laws. This to be a part of the constitution of the new Ireland, and to be beyond the power of any Irish parliament to change it. The trouble between Ulster and the other Irish provinces is entirely a religious one, and, as stated above, could be settled by eliminating the religious element of the question, to the vast advantage of the people of Ireland and the British Empire.—The Chicago Israelite. Oct. 19, 1912. An almost incredible statement was made last week by Dr. Struthers, the chief medical inspector of Toronto's public schools. According to Dr. Struthers, a number of parents who objected to medical inspection transferred their children from the public to the separate schools. The presumption is that these parents are Protestants. They must be Protestants by chance and not by conviction. No man who has a proper appreciation of the principles of liberty and communion with the Deity without the intermediary of a priest, for which Protestantism stands, would subject his children to the influence of the Roman Church schools. Even if he did not believe the physical well-being of his child would be served by medical inspection, he would not risk its spiritual welfare and introduce a discordant element into his home by sending the child to a school conducted by priests and nuns, in which it would be taught the dogmas of the Roman Church. Rather than that, he would submit to what in a moment of indignation he might have considered a humiliating inspection, or send the child to a private school. Orangemen have a duty in this regard. They are under an obligation to show fellow Protestants the danger of allowing their children to come under priestly influence. Did people rightly estimate the work of the Roman hierarchy they would sacrifice their all rather than allow their children to pass under its control. A little more knowledge, not more backbone, is what is needed by most Protestants who trust Rome. Our watchword should be, “Spread the Light.”—The Sentinel (Toronto), Jan. 9, 1913. Medical Missionary Needs of Some Fields
By L. A. H.
We give herewith some extracts from our office correspondence presenting some of the conditions that call for help in medical missionary lines and emphasizing the importance of medical knowledge and training for foreign field work:— “I am impressed with the importance of our giving careful study to the need of sufficient medical training for missionaries working in the mission fields, where they must often meet the sick. We find ourselves unable to give the needed advice on account of lack of knowledge in the fundamentals of healthful living, treatment of certain cases, etc. “Here we see the need of physicians to open up mission work among the natives in the interior, especially among the Moslems and others, where a minister will hardly find an audience or even an entrance, unless he can join with his spiritual message that of physical help for the suffering. There is a tremendous and fruitful field of labor for a consecrated medical missionary who is not a professional physician alone, but a missionary. “In countries like these, especially in the interior, it seems to me to be imperative that a minister or gospel worker should be accompanied by a medical worker. A man who has the training of a nurse is not sufficiently qualified. At Jerusalem we have some medical work established, but we are handicapped for the want of a physician. We can not do independent work and treat patients as we should, making our medical work secondary, as there are plenty of other doctors and well-equipped sanitariums. Free treatments may be had by most of the patients. “We in the Near East need some good physicians to do missionary work in the field, ministering to the sick, and thus acting as the right hand in the work here. There seem to be unlimited possibilities for a good, consecrated doctor who has his heart fixed on bringing the message of eternal life and a powerful Saviour to the people, while ministering to their bodily needs successfully.
“W. C. ISING.” “The people in these islands need a great deal of instruction on how to care for their bodies; but how to reach them is a large problem, as we are not allowed to give the simplest treatment to the sick. Only government doctors can practise here; and if they should find out that we are helping the people or advising them in such matters, they would make it hard for us. We see a great many die who, if they had been properly cared for, would have lived; but in most cases we are powerless to help them. Many die very suddenly, often after only a few hours’ illness. Large numbers die of apoplexy, all classes and conditions of people being subject to it. H. C. J. WALLEKER.” “It is very important that those coming to a new field know how to adapt themselves to its climate, its food, and its generally new conditions. Many come with the idea that abundance of sunshine is all that is needed. Others seem to think that if they can get all the bananas and oranges they want, they will need nothing else. There is need of an intelligent and comprehensive knowledge of what one should do to become well settled in a new country, and how to make the best of the conditions found there.
U. BENDER.” “We are doing practically nothing here in the way of medical work, except what our workers are doing as they visit the homes of the people. They can do but little, as they have never had any training and know very little about caring for the sick. In fact, if they get sick themselves, they are just as full of superstition as others are. It is hard to get it out of these people. “A good work could be carried on in Georgetown with visiting nurses and treatment-rooms. Of course, the services would have to be free, as the people are very poor. We are selling a few copies of Life and Health, but even at the low price at which they are sold, the people complain that the magazine is so high they can not afford to buy it. “We are of good courage in the Lord, and the message is going forward with power here. Many souls are taking their stand. We lack in means, in both money and men, for carrying forward the work as we should. Still we can see God’s hand every day. We thank him for a part in his work. “I give herewith some figures I received from the American consul, showing something of the need here of medical workers who can help by giving instruction in health and in caring for the sick. In the face of these conditions, we have been blessed with very good health, except that we feel the continuous heat. It is not possible to do as much work here as in the States.
“E. C. BOGER.” We give herewith a part of the special report that Brother Boger sends regarding health conditions in British Guiana:— “The report of the registrar-general shows that the deaths in 1910 were 10,424, the births 8,332, leaving an excess of deaths over births of 2,092. Of these 8,332 births, 3,325, or 39.9 per cent, were legitimate, and 5,007, or 60.1 per cent, were illegitimate. The foreign-born European population decreased from 7,911 in 1891 to 3,638, a decrease of 54.7 per cent. “A recent examination of several hundred schoolchildren revealed the appalling fact that seventy-five per cent were already afflicted with filaria, or elephantiasis, and a medical estimate places the proportion of the population of the colony suffering from this disease at forty to forty-five per cent. It is incurable in this climate, and the only known way of arresting its progress is to go immediately to a cold climate to live. A return to the tropics usually brings it on again. The mosquito which carries the filaria germ is found in all parts of the colony. “There is much malarial fever all over the colony. It is common on the sugar plantations. No general campaign has been made for the extermination of the mosquito. The number of cases of malarial fever admitted to the Estates’ Hospital for five years, from an average population of 58,778, was respectively: 1906-07, 33,748; 1907-08, 26,930; 1908-09, 28,181; 1909-10, 27,301; 1910-11, 21,063. “Quinin is distributed by the post-offices of the colony at cost prices. The sale is steadily increasing. “The average daily number of inmates in the leper asylum during the year ending March 31, 1911, was 424. Exhaustive experiments on the efficacy of the Nastin treatment for leprosy were conducted by the Colonial Bacteriological Office, and showed a practically complete lack of beneficial results. “The average number of resident patients daily in the lunatic asylum during the year was 746.” These calls present but a small part of the great need of help. Surely there is ample opportunity for every true-spirited worker who would prepare for usefulness, or who may be already prepared, to find a field for his most faithful and ardent labors. L. A. H.