Eminent Specialists Consulting Spirits — Prophetic Warnings Against It — What Does It Mean?
THE prophet Isaiah speaks of certain things that were to occur in "the last days," and among these we find the following: "Therefore Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers." Isa. 2:2, 6.
Current Opinion for August, 1914, contains an excerpt from the pen of an eminent physician, Professor von Schrenk-Notzing, who has written important treatises on criminal psychology, and spent years in psychical research. His words are quoted from the London Chronicle as follows:
"We know, from Sir Oliver Lodge's address in Birmingham, that, in the inner circle of scientific research, the occurrence of certain psychic phenomena is so thoroughly admitted that the interpretation of these phenomena has already begun, and that that interpretation is in favor of the conclusion that the dead are communicating with us. A steadily increasing number of books and a daily increasing interest in all forms of occult research show conclusively which way the wind is blowing713and what may be expected in the immediate future. Modern thought is increasingly occupying itself with the 'reconstruction of Christian belief,' and is steadily reverting to pagan necromantic practises." Italics ours.
He says further: "It will have to be admitted, therefore, that for the mind which is not hopelessly entangled in the net of conventional or constitutional skepticism and will take the trouble to study the evidence, the entire question as to the reality and objectivity of these mysterious phenomena may now be regarded as settled."
The apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy, says: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy." 1 Tim. 4: 1, 2.
AN UNFAILING SIGN
We are unquestionably in the latter days, and many are departing "from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." We must confess that much of that which passes for Christianity is undergoing a reconstruction, and is "steadily reverting to pagan necromantic practises." This, however, is but the fulfilment of the prophetic Word, and is one of the unfailing signs of the last days.
"And when they say unto you, 'Inquire of those that have familiar spirits, and of the wizards, that whisper, and that mutter: should not a people inquire of their God? (should we then) in behalf of the living (inquire) of the dead?'" Isa. 8: 20, Leeser translation.
Anciently all practises among God's people such as Professor Schrenk-Notzing mentions were strictly forbidden. "There shall not be found among you any one . . . that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." Deut. 18: 10-12.
CONSULTING WITH DEVILS
All such professed to consult with the dead. Instead, however, they were really communing with devils. "I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." 1 Cor. 10: 20.
The Lord gave His people very plain information regarding the condition of the dead. He said: "The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun." Eccl. 9: 5, 6.
DEMONS AS ANGELS OF LIGHT
Satan and his angels, having power to transform themselves into angels of light (2 Cor. 11: 14, 15), can personate the dead. An instance of such personation is seen in the experience of Saul when the witch of Endor professed to bring up Samuel, who had previously died. 1 Samuel 28.
The Lord says: "Man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." Job 14: 12. Since the dead "know not anything," and since they have no more "a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun," any one who claims to consult with the dead really consults with evil angels.
It is certainly a deplorable fact that "modern thought is increasingly occupying itself with the 'reconstruction of Christian belief,' and is steadily reverting to pagan necromantic practises."
THE TENDENCY IS DOWNWARD
Professor Schrenk-Notzing, in speaking of the effects attending the evocation of the phenomena, says: "So ardent a spiritist as Sir William Barrett was constrained to declare, some years ago, that 'he had observed the steady downward course of mediums who sit regularly,' and that so open-minded an investigator of the phenomena as Sir William Crookes wrote, after his experiments with Home, 'I could scarcely doubt that the evolution of psychic force is accompanied by a drain on vital force.'"
Thus by the confession of its ardent advocates, it is acknowledged that spiritism is from beneath, since the course of the medium is steadily "downward."
Communion with God always elevates. His Spirit is the Spirit of life. Communion with evil spirits always degrades, and leads eventually to death. E. E. A.
A WONDERFUL GIFT
By J. O. C.
It Is Bestowed upon Children Very Early in Life
THE exhortation of the apostle for all to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith (Rom. 12: 3), is one worthy of much study.
The specification here, it will be noticed, is not that a measure of faith has been given to all, as though the gift were one bestowed according to merit; but the measure of faith — that is, a gift freely and equably distributed to all alike. It is only reasonable to believe that when Heaven makes requisition upon humanity for service, the ability to render that which is required will be provided alike in each and every case. The capacity to think soberly according to a prescribed standard must be provided to meet the necessity, or no responsibility can attach to the one failing to meet the established rule.
BESTOWED IN EARLIEST CHILDHOOD
Inasmuch as grace brings salvation, and that through faith, which is the gift of God (Eph. 2: 8), the measure of faith to be dealt by God to every one must therefore be uniform, since it is designed to meet a single, well-defined purpose. The great question then is, At what time in human life is this equable endowment bestowed, in order to assure a permanent lead of the mind in proper channels of thought?
From some statements by the Saviour, one would logically conclude that the favored period is at earliest childhood. And why not thus equip the child, so that his earliest thoughts may tend to establish his mind in the things of eternal interest? But to the Saviour's words. When asked to tell who are greatest in the kingdom of heaven, the Master at once set a little innocent child before the questioners, and pointing to the pattern, said: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18: 1-4.
Inasmuch as the infant thus presented was said to be the standard of heavenly greatness, and faith is the road to that goal, the Saviour virtually affirmed that faith was and is lodged in the human breast at infantile age.
SUFFER THEM TO COME
This thought is strongly entrenched by the words of Christ on another occasion. Complaint was expressed against mothers who had brought their infants to be blessed of the Saviour. Quickly the Master rebuked the sordid spirit by saying: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Mark 10: 13-15.
It is therefore clear that the simple, trusting faith that moves the moral faculties is vested in the little child before it has developed the independence of later years, which is perhaps stimulated by unhallowed association with those who have no fear of God before them. These tender years are those in which the mental powers act with the most ease and vigor, as may be seen by the natural and healthful operation in useful school studies. The same condition obtains regarding religious impressions. These act quickly on the young mind, bringing vividly to the front one's relation to God, long before the mind becomes capable of mental activity in the departments of more extended common human knowledge.
PREVIOUS EQUIPMENT FOR LIFE'S ACTIVITIES
This is indeed a wise provision on the part of the Almighty; for were it otherwise, when intellectual dormancy had ended, and the child must pass to his place in society, he would do so with untrained and comparatively feeble mentality. Besides, it seems highly proper that when mature life duties are begun, these should be prefaced, and hence strongly supported, by antecedent religious experience. This becomes important because in early life questions of duty are of hourly occurrence, and the education received in settling these assists greatly in establishing the mental activity of later years. Religion is, therefore, to the child, not only a motive power, but a molding agency as well.
In the foreknowledge of God, all these advantages were provided the child, to equip him for mature service in the busy marts of commerce or the more quiet scenes of rural occupation. But in whatever place he might be called to act a part, God gave him714a pre-equipment for the place, in order that his life might reflect glory upon the Author of his existence.
What a loss, then, is met when parents neglect to cultivate the native gift God has so graciously bestowed upon their offspring, especially since the time for doing this is when the mind is so tractable and retentive! How much better is this way than in later days to be called to mourn that their charges have outgrown the time when they would have had pleasure in the ways of the Lord! J. O. C.
THE LAWYER AND THE DECALOGUE
By George B. Thompson
SPEAKING concerning the Decalogue, in the bosom of which is found the great Sabbath commandment, which says that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God," an eminent lawyer is reported as saying:
'I have been looking into the nature of that law. I have been trying to see whether I could add anything to it, or take anything from it, so as to make it better. Sir, I can not. It is perfect.' And then, having shown this to be so, he concluded: 'I have been thinking, Where did Moses get that law? I have read history. The Egyptians and the adjacent nations were idolators. So were the Greeks and Romans; and the wisest and best Greeks and Romans never made a code of morals like this. Where did he get it? He could not have soared so far above his age as to have devised it himself. It came from heaven.'"
This is indeed a great law. It is but a transcript of the original, which is in the "ark of the testament" in heaven. Men can no more change or destroy it than they can ascend into heaven, and having removed Jehovah from His throne, open the sacred ark in the holy of holies, and hurl the original over the shining battlements of heaven.
Truly, as has been said, long should pause the erring hand of man ere he seeks to chisel with human philosophy a single iota from the divine code.
G. B. T.
Question Corner
By Milton C. Wilcox
Conducted by MILTON C. WILCOX
Professor of Biblical Exegesis of the Faculty of the College of Medical Evangelists
Loma Linda, California
NOTE.—This department is for the purpose of helping Bible students. Answers must of necessity be brief, often only suggestive, never exhaustive, never infallible only as they agree with the infallible Word. Such questions only will be answered as seem to the editors to minister to the mission of the paper. Questions of the same import can not be answered repeatedly in the same volume. Name and address must be given, not for publication, but as evidence of good faith and to insure reply by letter if thought best. It is well always to enclose stamp, not stamped envelope, unless answer is desired by letter alone.
Do the events of Rev. 6:14-17 come in the order given in those verses? What passes away when the heavens depart as a scroll? Do the wicked call upon the rocks and the mountains to hide them after the heavens have departed?
There seems to be no reason to look upon the prophecy in any other than as a prediction of a series of chronological events. It certainly is true. The great earthquake foretold in the twelfth verse occurred in 1755; the darkening of the sun and the moon, in 1780; the falling of the stars, in 1833. The other events come in close connection with the second coming of our Lord. The fearful shaking that will take place, and the rolling up of the heavens as a scroll, are certainly caused by the voice of God. See Rev. 16:17 and other passages. There is nothing in the Scriptures that tells us just what the removing of the heavens as a scroll is. There are some passages that apparently throw light upon the matter. We have simply this to suggest,—that when sin entered this world, the world was veiled. Man has not been able to see God's glory. He has not been able to see the beauties of God's kingdom. He has not been able to see all that God would reveal. God in His mercy enveloped the earth with this pall, so to speak,—this veil over His glory; but when He comes into His kingdom, then the veil will be removed, rolled back as a scroll, and His own people will be changed from glory to glory, and the wicked will perish under its insufferable intensity. It is when this shall take place, when the earth itself, in which men have had their hopes, is shaken, that they will cry to the rocks and the mountains to fall on them.
This passing away as a scroll can not refer to the atmospheric heavens, because it is after this that the princes and the chief captains and the mighty men pray that the rocks may fall on them; and Isaiah 34 seems clearly to show that after the desolation made by the destruction of humanity in the earth, animal life will still persist. When the dead are raised again, at the end of the thousand years, they will doubtless feed upon the animal life that has been increasing during the thousand years of earth's desolation.
47—THE 2,300 DAYS
I would like you to explain why you add 34 to 1,810 when it has been cut off from the 2,300 days with the 490 days or years.
The 2,300 days begin 457 B. C., and end in 1844 A. D. They are 2,300 full years. Beginning in the autumn of 457 B. C., they would end in the autumn of 1844 A. D. 457 from 2,300 leaves 1,843 full years; but as the time began in the autumn of 457 B. C., it would extend over beyond 1843 A. D. to the autumn of 1844 A. D. There were 490 years cut off upon the Jews, or 70 weeks of the 2,300 years of Daniel 8 and 9. 457 from 490 would leave 33. That is, 457 of these years would be before Christ; 33 years would be after Christ, or carrying it over into the thirty-fourth year. This would leave 1,810 years to 1843. In other words, the 490 years that were cut off upon the Jewish people extend from the autumn of 457 B. C. to the autumn of A. D. 34. 490 from 2,300 leaves 1,810. 1,810 years from 34 A. D. carry us to 1844 A. D. It takes the two numbers—the 490 and the 1,810—to make up the 2,300,—the 490 devoted to the Jewish people exclusively; the rest of the time, of course, to the whole world.
Can we conclude, from Rev. 3:14 and Col. 1:15, that our Lord Jesus had a beginning, and there was a time when God the Father was alone?
1. Some of these scriptures are so plain that it seems as though we could have no question concerning them at all. The one in Psalms would seem to apply to our Lord. The term used is not "Jehovah," but Adonai, which, without question, is applied to Christ; and this is the One whom Moses is addressing. He declares, "Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." And this is in harmony with Micah 5:2.
Isa. 42:8 evidently has reference to God. It is Jehovah Himself who speaks: "I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise unto graven images." That is the very family name of the Godhead. Sometimes our Lord is called Jehovah. This is emphatically true in Jer. 23:6. In verse 5 He is called the Branch. "In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is His name whereby He shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness."
1 Cor. 8:6 presents before us the agencies by which the earth is created, the relative positions of the two Persons: "To us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him." The same thought is expressed in John 1:1-3 and in Col. 1:16,—that all the creation was wrought through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Deut. 6:4 is simply an expression of the unity of the Godhead: "Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." Many times, when mention is made of God, it simply implies the Godhead. Of course there is absolute unity in that, just as truly as though there were but one Person; and therefore it is spoken of as one. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 indicates the same thing: "As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee." And then He prays that the same unity may exist among His followers.
2. Yes, some do conclude, from Rev. 3:14, that there was a time when the Son did not exist, save in the all-comprehending purpose and potency of God. And yet there are others who still hold—and there is nothing to the contrary in the text—that the beginning of the creation of God means the One in whom the creation began, as declared in Col. 1:17, "And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." The finite can not grasp the infinite. Let this suffice,—that our Lord is God with the Father from the "days of eternity"; that "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist," and He brings to all those who believe in Him the plenitude of the power of the Deity according to our needs.
Of course, sometimes the expression, such as is used in Col. 1:15, "the First-born," refers to preeminence rather than to priority. God calls Ephraim His first-born, although Manasseh was the first-born. He calls Israel His first-born, while Esau was the first-born of Jacob. That is, God had adopted these as such. They became preeminent because of character. So Jesus is called the First-born of the dead, and is preeminent above them all, and only by His power do all the others live.
SYSTEMATIC BIBLE STUDY
By Editor
OUR reading this week introduces us to the prophecy of Daniel. The first, third, fourth, and fifth chapters are largely historical and descriptive, but the second presents one of the great lines of prophecy of this truly interesting book. For this line of prophecy, you will find no greater help than the verse-by-verse study of this subject by the late Uriah Smith. It is entitled "Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation." We will read the book through this week and next, but we can with great profit devote years of study to this prophecy.
The book of Daniel, written nearly six hundred years before Christ, foretold the history of the world in outline for thousands of years to come, even to the end of its career, and to the sublime climax of the second coming of Christ.
Read three chapters each day, from the portions designated in 1 and 2 Chronicles and Ezekiel. On Sabbath, read the first five chapters of Daniel.
PIONEERS IN RHODESIA
By Ross C. Porter
MORE DESIRABLE THAN SOLDIERS
—DELIVERED FROM THE REBELLION—
RAINED ON MISSION FARM ONLY
By Ross C. Porter
A cloud had hovered over the mission farm for four hours.
IN this article, we have another one of those intensely interesting experiences that came under the observation of Elder Porter when he was pioneering in Africa. He is now in charge of the Asiatic Division of our work. EDITOR.
IN 1894 we began mission operations near Bulawayo. Wild game abounded. The country territory was untilled, wild, and uninhabited except by the native Africans. They were chafing under the restraint of British rule, and waiting an excuse for a further uprising. Fevers were common, and medical attendance was scarce. The procuring of proper food was one of the greatest perplexities to the foreigner.
All mail that reached the government post-office, with the exception of letters, was thrown in a pile on the floor, in a room that was open to the public. Each person had to sort out his papers from the pile; and at the end of the month, all unclaimed papers were dumped into the back yard and burned.
BETTER THAN SOLDIERS FOR THE NATIVES
Providentially, when the late Hon. Cecil Rhodes, Africa's greatest statesman, learned that we were about to open mission work among the Matabele tribe, he secured for us a donation of twelve thousand acres of land, in order that we might conduct our mission on the industrial training plan. In presenting the gift, he said he had learned that missionaries were better than soldiers to keep peace among the natives, and they were much less expensive.
Soon the Matabele rebellion made it necessary for all missionary efforts to be suspended for a time, and all foreigners were urged to flee into Bulawayo for safety. After a fruitless search for rooms in which to live, the three mission families were forced to live in the ox wagon. One family occupied the front end, another the rear, and the third the space on the ground beneath the wagon.
FACING A FAMINE
After five months, the food supply in the city ran short. Prices for necessities were as follows: flour, $37.50 a hundredweight; corn, $25.00 a hundredweight; sugar, 62 cents a pound; eggs, $6.25 a dozen; cabbage and cauliflower, $3.00 to $7.50 a head; butter, $3.00 a pound; canned fruit, $2.50 a quart; with other prices in proportion.
As money ran low, our missionaries decided to risk making weekly visits to the mission farm to have food brought in by the friendly natives. On one of these night trips of thirty-five miles, a gentleman requested the missionary to ride his horse and leave it with the natives, as he could not afford to feed it in town. While passing a range of hills, he was impressed that danger was near. He even heard the still small voice saying, "You are in danger." Putting spurs to his horse, he galloped hastily to a fort near, and put up for the night. While there, he learned that a band of rebels passed the place where he heard the warning voice, about three minutes after he had passed it.
ESCAPED DETECTION AND WERE PRESERVED
Upon another occasion, when one of the missionaries had loaded five donkeys with produce and started on his return journey, the natives keeping up a constant talking, he decided to ride on ahead in order to escape detection if the noise, which he was unable to quiet, should attract the rebels.
When about five miles from town, in the midst of the greatest danger, his donkey, being separated from his mates, began to bray, and regardless of all efforts to quiet him, kept it up until almost to the city. When making later excursions, the missionaries decided to go on foot rather than risk detection in this way. During the ten weeks that these weekly visits were made through the territory under rebel control, they escaped detection, and were enabled in this way to supply themselves with suitable food, thus preserving their health until peace was restored.
A SHINING LIGHT RESCUED FROM THE FAMINE
Famine followed the war, and hundreds of natives starved to death. Children were killed to prevent their starvation. One baby boy was found on the veld by the side of the dead body of his mother. Two other children with fractured skulls were found hidden in a hole near. With this little boy, who is now one of our most efficient Bible teachers in the Solusi Mission, and twenty-nine other famine-stricken children, rescued from death by our missionaries, our mission work began in Rhodesia. Until then, the warnings and the penalties previously given and inflicted, before the British government took control, caused the people to fear to send their children to the mission school. The famine experience was providentially the key that opened the hearts of the Matabele, and from that time they were eager to have their children attend the school.
CONQUERING DIFFICULTIES
The pioneers in mission work had everything to learn. They were in a strange land, among a people of strange customs and a strange language. Their first task was to master the language. Even then they knew little of their undertaking. They had come to bring to the heathen a saving knowledge of the gospel, and to this work they addressed themselves, with too little regard to the care they should take of their own health. This was not on account of carelessness, but the result of a strong burden for a specific work, and is often witnessed in connection with the beginning of great enterprises.
With no suitable home in which to live, their exposure while laying the foundation of their work, the desperate struggle with fevers, their weary watchings between life and death, the burial of companions under the shade of Rhodesia's forest trees, the loneliness that followed, caused by their separation from home friends and loved ones in this hour of their bereavement, were among the experiences of our pioneer missionaries in Rhodesia.
CREATING AN OASIS IN THE DESERT
Their faith was unwavering. Undaunted by adversities, they pressed on. In time the heathen land where their mission station was located, was changed to an oasis. From a barren waste of sand there sprang into life hundreds of acres of cultivated fields of corn, fruit, and garden vegetables in abundance. Modern dwelling-houses replaced native huts, which were, in the beginning, the only available quarters for our missionaries. Beautiful lawns gave to the place an air of Western civilization. School buildings grew with the increase of attendance. A brick chapel to accommodate two hundred native worshipers indicated the influence of the gospel instruction on the students that were regular occupants of the homes of the boarding-school, and other natives in the vicinity.
Work five hours a day by each student was part of the regular curriculum. In this way all received a thorough industrial training, and paid their board and tuition while in school.
Calls for outstations came in from the native kraals for a distance of seventy-five miles from the main station. These outstations were established, and continue with marked success.
During an hour appointed for social worship, I have seen one hundred intelligent, well-dressed natives arise and give testimony to the saving power of the gospel. From six to ten were on their feet at once from the beginning of the service to the close, awaiting an opportunity to testify their appreciation of what the gospel had done for them.
RAINED ON BUT ONE FARM
After twenty years of experience, the Solusi Mission staff decided to undertake to make their mission, with its outschools, entirely self-supporting. This would require12that $5,500 annually be produced from their industrial farming and dairy. Then intervened one of those tests of faith which are not new in Christian experience. One of the worst droughts of many years set in. Fields were drying up, grass was withering, and cattle were dying of starvation. Apparently the plan of the missionaries was destined to defeat, unless in God's providence these conditions were overruled.
The superintendent of the mission placed the situation before the South African Mission Board, and solicited their united prayers for rain. Prayers were offered, and the following week the superintendent wrote that a most wonderful thing had happened. A cloud had hovered over the mission farm for four hours, giving a regular downpour of rain, while none had fallen on the adjoining farms.
A skeptical neighbor whose farm joined the mission, and who witnessed the exhibition, said it was clearly evident that God wished to indicate His special favor for the work of our mission. Later, the same year, after another special season of prayer for rain, there came a good rain upon the mission farm, and also upon the farms adjoining it. That year the grain commissioner reported that the Solusi Mission furnished more grain for the market than was furnished by thirty farmers combined, operating farms in that section.
The effect of these experiences was soon apparent. Farmers who had hitherto refused to have mission schools opened on their farms, made calls for them, saying, "We are convinced that the Lord favors your mission work by giving you rain in time of drought, while others have none." In all these experiences, it is easy to trace the hand of God leading in the onward march of His last-day message in its mission to lighten the earth with His glory before His second advent.
R. C. P.
Work and Workers
By Editor
IN Kuala Lumpur, Java, four Tamils have recently been baptized after being instructed in the Bible. One is a government bookkeeper, and the Sabbath has been granted him, on condition of his working the other six days. Some unbaptized candidates in this field are already paying tithes.
AUSTRALIA has just sent two colporteurs to China. This is outside the regular work of that division in supporting the work in the South Sea Islands and Malaysia.
THE past year has seen the acceptance of the advent message by thirty individuals in Queensland, Australia.
Two young men, recent converts, of Cunningham, Victoria, Australia, performed quite a feat in going to school this year. They rowed more than 250 miles around the coast to Sydney in an open seventeen-footer of their own construction, called the Advent, and it was in weather rough enough to make things interesting also. Aside from the object of adventure, they had the incentive of being able to put Adventist literature into places along the coast which are not reached by railway.
THE Fiji training school for native workers has abundantly justified its establishment.
Four natives from that island are now helping at our mission in British New Guinea, and several in other islands.
OUR Southern New England Conference voted to omit their camp-meeting, and ask the members to devote the money thus saved to the emergency fund, to repair the loss to the mission treasury of the help given by European believers, and to help them also when the way opens.
JUST before the war, the sanitarium at Gland, Switzerland, was overflowing with patients. The sanitarium work and the publishing work on the continent are practically at a standstill during the war.
OUR large sanitarium at Skodsborg, Denmark, has been taken over by the government for use as military barracks. Thus even in the neutral countries of Europe, all peaceful endeavors for human good are hampered or suspended on account of war.
SIX persons are reported baptized in Lake Leman, Switzerland.
THE Geneva chapel has just been completed.
THE membership of the Latin Union increased by 121, or about ten per cent, during the year just passed. 1,200 members were baptized in Germany last year. There are about 63 members in Belgium, and 47 in Algeria. The Rumanian field has been organized.
SEVENTY-ONE Indians of South America were recently baptized at our Indian mission at Plataria, making the membership there nearly 180. Many more were desirous of being baptized, and as far as we know, were quite prepared, but were unable to be present at the baptismal service. There are 175 members in the Lake Titicaca mission.
TWENTY individuals went forward in a recent baptismal service in Brazil.
A MEMBER of the Japanese church in Oakland, California, has commenced the publication of a Japanese monthly devoted to the "proclamation of faith in the Bible." It has sixteen pages, including the cover, and ought to grow and do much good.
Missionary Literature Wanted
SIGNS and other periodicals. Mrs. A. D. Peckham, Box 95, Bolivar, New York.
Clean copies of SIGNS weekly and monthly, also tracts and leaflets, to be used in railway station. E. J. Popplewill, Darlington, Missouri.
SIGNS, Watchman, Liberty, Life and Health, Instructor, Little Friend, and tracts or books, for missionary work. Mrs. Stella Wise, 738 Center Street, Shelbyville, Indiana.
A continuous supply of S. D. A. papers and books for missionary work. Mrs. Hugh Will, Ava, Jackson County, Illinois, R. R. No. 5.
Z. S. Arey, Brenham, Texas: periodicals and tracts, English or German, for reading racks and house-to-house distribution.
Elder W. H. Armstrong, 521 Overley Street, Danville, Virginia: SIGNS OF THE TIMES weekly and monthly, Watchman, and doctrinal tracts, for city distribution. A continuous supply of clean copies is desired.
Mrs. L. Campa, Taft, Texas: Review, SIGNS, Watchman, etc., for distribution.
J. E. Qualls, Box 200, Marshfield, Oregon: SIGNS weekly, Instructor, magazines, and tracts.
Mrs. O. J. Corwin, 2101 Webster Street, Waco, Texas: late copies of SIGNS weekly and monthly and Watchman for free distribution.
A Scholarship Earned
By Editor
A girl up in the northwest was anxious to enter Laurelwood Academy this fall. How to do so without funds was her problem. Seeing an opportunity in the home workers' books, she arranged for territory and samples of the books, and went to work in earnest. Result — she earned the requisite amount, and entered on time.
If already enrolled, and in need of money for board, books, or other needful things, sell the books in your spare time. Previous experience not essential to success.
Here is pleasant, good-paying work in which any bright young man or woman who is willing to hustle, might earn a scholarship in the school or college of his or her choice.
On every dollar sale, you earn forty cents. This is no inconsiderable amount when we remember that some persons sell anywhere from $5 to $20 worth in a single day.
November and December are the harvest months for books like these, because they are admirably suited for holiday gift books.
Our depository in your state will tell you all about it. Ask for a copy of the short story "Alice Goes to Work."
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA
Kansas City, Missouri
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Portland, Oregon
