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Review and Herald, Vol. 81, No. 45.

The Eucharistic Hymn
Earlier text: The Eucharistic Hymn

The Power of the Word of God

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE
In the Word of God, studied and obeyed as our guide-book, we possess a spiritual guide and instructor by which the worst forms of evil in ourselves may be brought under the discipline of God's law. If the teachings of this Word were made the controlling influence in our lives, if mind and heart were brought under its restraining power, the evils that now exist in churches and families would find no place. Upon converted households the purest blessings would descend, and from these households an influence would go forth that would make them a power on the side of truth and righteousness.
The work of reformation that is needed must begin in the home. There rests upon parents the most solemn obligation to train their children in the fear and love of God. In the home the purest morals are to be preserved. Strict obedience to Bible requirements is to be taught. The teachings of the Word of God are to control mind and heart, that the home life may demonstrate the power of the grace of God. Each member of the family is to be “polished after the similitude of a palace” by the divine principles and precepts.
Parents need to awake from their deathlike slumber, and no longer neglect the Lord's instructions. As members of the church, and for the benefit of those with whom they may be associated, their characters are to be cast in a Christlike mold. Their course of action is to be a constant declaration that, instead of wearing the stamp and mold of the world, they have put on the image of the heavenly.
In the Bible the will of God is revealed. Through all time this book is to stand as a revelation of Jehovah. To human beings the divine oracles have been committed to be the power of God. The truths of the Word of God are not mere sentiment, but the utterances of the Most High. He who makes these truths a part of his life becomes in every sense a new creature. He is not given new mental powers, but the darkness that through ignorance and sin have clouded the understanding, is removed.
The words, “A new heart will I give you,” mean, A new mind will I give you. This change of heart is always attended by a clear conception of Christian duty, an understanding of truth. The clearness of our views of truth will be proportionate to our understanding of the Word of God. He who gives the Scriptures close, prayerful attention will gain clear comprehension and sound judgment, as if in turning to God he had reached a higher grade of intelligence.
The Word of God, studied and obeyed as it should be, will give light and knowledge. Its perusal will strengthen the understanding. By contact with the purest, most lofty truths, the mind will be enlarged, the taste refined.
We are dependent on the Bible for a knowledge of the early history of our world, of the creation of man, and of his fall. Remove the Word of God, and what can we expect but to be left to fables and conjectures, and to that enfeebling of the intellect which is the sure result of entertaining error. We need the authentic history of the origin of the earth, of the fall of Lucifer, and of the introduction of sin into the world. Without the Bible, we should be bewildered by false theories. The mind would be subjected to the tyranny of superstition and falsehood. But, having in our possession an authentic history of the beginning of the world, we need not hamper ourselves with human conjectures and unreliable theories.
Wherever Christians are, they may hold communion with God. And they may enjoy the intelligence of sanctified science. Their minds may be strengthened, even as Daniel's was. God gave him “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom.” Among all the youth examined by Nebuchadnezzar, there was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
The habits and understanding of the youth who were not instructed by God were in accord with the knowledge that comes from idolatrous practises, and leaves God out of the reckoning. Daniel and his companions, from the first of their experience in the king's court, were gaining a clearer comprehension and sounder, more accurate judgment, than all the wise men in the kingdom of Babylon. They placed themselves where God could bless them. They ate only that food which would not becloud their minds. They followed rules of life which would help to give them strength of intellect, that they might gain the greatest possible benefit from their study of God's Word.
It was to Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar, unable to get help from his wise men, turned for an account of his forgotten dream, and for an interpretation of it. Daniel and his companions sought the Lord in prayer, and he revealed to them the dream and its interpretation. And when they related to the king what God had shown them, Nebuchadnezzar said, “Of a truth it is that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret.”
The mind of which error has once taken possession can never expand freely to after-investigation. The old theories will claim recognition. The understanding of things that are true and elevated and sanctifying will be confused. Superstitious ideas will enter the mind, to mingle with the true, and these ideas are always debasing in their influence. Christian knowledge bears its own stamp of unmeasured superiority in all that concerns the preparation for the future, immortal life. It distinguishes the Bible reader and believer, who has been receiving the precious treasures of truth, from the skeptic and the believer in pagan philosophy.
Cleave to the word, “It is written.” Cast out of the mind the dangerous, obtrusive theories which, if entertained, will hold the mind in bondage, so that man shall not become a new creature in Christ. The mind must be constantly restrained and guarded. It must be given as food only that which will strengthen the religious experience.
The Bible teaches every soul to turn to the lands where the cross of Calvary has not been uplifted, and the name of Jesus exalted above every other name. The nation that gives free room for the circulation of the Scriptures opens the way for the minds of the people to work with greater vigor. The reading of the Scriptures causes light to shine into the darkness. As the Word of God is searched, life-giving truths are found.
In the cities and nations of our world, there will be found among unbelievers a remnant who will appreciate the blessed Word, and who will receive the Saviour. Christ will give men and women power to become the sons and daughters of God.

Great Things and Small Things

BETWEEN the great things that we can not do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing.—Adolph Monod.

In Fidem

By William Yarnell

WILLIAM YARNELL
Dedicated to the afflicted.
’Not here alone ’We toil and plan, speak cheering words, ’Breathe scent of buds, hear twit of birds; ’We build, adorn, endear a home; ’Enraptured, call the work our own, ’Not here alone.
’Not only here ’We kiss the lips and clasp the hands, ’Love the embrace that love demands; ’Our loved ones but an instant stay, ’Then leave us naught but blight, dismay: ’’Tis lonely here.
’Not here, ah, no! ’The starving soul, the heart’s desire, ’Must slake its thirst in regions higher; ’No perfect pleasures here delight; ’For thorns and thistles, rust and blight, ’Are here below.
’Not here alone, ’The pansy and chrysanthemum ’And flowers all in beauty come; ’A thousand worlds invite us home, ’There’s wealth untold and joys unknown, ’Not here alone.
’Not here and now ’Is life complete. We know that soon ’This earth, transformed, will bud and bloom ’Edenic. All who love the truth ’Will then enjoy eternal youth ’In glory here.

The Sanctuary

As far as I know, we are the only people in the world who believe that the sanctuary is in heaven. There are others who believe that the most holy place is in heaven. There are those who have some views concerning the sanctuary, but I do not know of any people in the world who believe that the sanctuary service in heaven is antitypical of the service that was carried forward in the sanctuary here upon the earth, except the Seventh-day Adventists, and, as I understand the question, a correct understanding of the sanctuary will rectify every error that may be brought to bear upon the people of God in these last days. In fact, a genuine Christian experience in connection with the work of God comes from the sanctuary question, whether you realize it or not; it comes from the sanctuary where God dwells.
Now, this I propose to show you by reading a few texts of Scripture. I can not give all the scripture that I would like, but will call your attention to a few things concerning the importance of the sanctuary question. When Satan came into the garden of Eden in the form of a serpent, Eve listened to him, and from her Adam also partook of the forbidden fruit, and both were taken captive. In every sense of the word they were taken captive; they saw as Satan saw, and they heard the words of Satan, they felt as he felt, or as he would have them feel. They were wholly under the control of the devil until the Lord put enmity in the heart of man against Satan. Christianity, or true conversion, is restoring that which was lost by the sin of Adam in the garden of Eden. I think all can readily see this. I will read you one expression that states the condition of man after he had partaken of the forbidden fruit: “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Gen. 3:3-5. Now notice: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes” etc., was it good for food? If it was, God was withholding something good from man. What made her see that it was good for food?—It was the devil in her; and she saw as the devil would have her see. “She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat;” and their eyes were opened. She was a captive, and Satan had her see as he saw, had her feel as he would have her feel; for he had perverted her judgment. Sin is an awful thing! When sin is harbored in the soul, it always pervert's a man's judgment. Satan enters the citadel of the heart, and perverts the judgment of man so he can not see any differently from what the devil would make him see; for the devil is in his heart. Is not that true? Is such a man the temple of the Holy Ghost?—No; he is the temple of the devil, and so is every man that harbors sin. God is seeking an entrance into every man's heart. If man opens his heart to Christ, and lets him enter, then he becomes the temple of the Spirit of God, and God takes possession of the citadel that was formerly occupied by the devil. I think everybody can see that.
I am going to read you some texts to show that all the strength that men have to overcome the devil comes from the sanctuary, also that all the intelligence, all the wisdom, men need to render acceptable service to God comes from the sanctuary where God dwells. He is the author of wisdom, knowledge, and life. It all emanates from him, and the devil hates the doctrine that reveals it. In Ps. 20:1, 2, we read, “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.” Where will he get his help?—From the sanctuary. If we had no other text, it seems to me this would be sufficient to settle the question that all our strength and help come from the sanctuary. But turn to Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple. Eight times in that prayer, Solomon said, “Lord, hear thou in heaven.” Did you ever stop to think where they were to turn their faces when they prayed? They were to turn their faces toward old Jerusalem, to the sanctuary. If Israel, when in trouble or in need of help, said Solomon in his prayer, “shall pray unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name: then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.” 1 Kings 8:44, 45; 2 Chron. 6:38, 39. Do you see the lesson in that?
The sanctuary was built under the direction of God upon the earth, and when they were in affliction or needed strength or wisdom or any help from God, Solomon said in his prayer, Turn thy face toward this place. The old prophets did, and when they turned their faces toward Jerusalem and pleaded that promise, they always had victory. Read from the Bible where Jehoshaphat said, Lord, “when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence. . . . and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help,” and the Lord said, “Stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” God wrought for them. 2 Chron. 20:5-25.
Turn to Ps. 68:24, “They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.” What are the “goings of God”?—The ways of God. Does it not show his character, his work, and what he does? Where did they find his character, his work, and the manifestation of his power? Where?—In the sanctuary. There is where God dwells. Again in Ps. 77:12, 13: “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” Now, we can not see the workings of God, but I want to tell you, dear friends, if we take the Bible for a guide, we shall find the ways and workings of God, the foundation of strength and wisdom, in the sanctuary. “Well,” says one, “we see them everywhere.” Not according to the Bible. The word “sanctuary” occurs one hundred and forty-seven times, and always refers to something that exists. God once is called a little sanctuary, and the people of God, but in every other instance it refers to some particular place where God dwells—his habitation (Ps. 33:13, 14), his dwelling-place. 2 Chron. 6:39.
I will give you another text, Ps. 73:13: “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. . . . Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Where did the psalmist get that information?—In the sanctuary. Paul understood the strength in the sanctuary when he wrote, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” Heb. 6:19. Where are we to have our anchor cast?—Within the veil. Where is the veil? In the earthly sanctuary there was a veil at the outer door, and a veil at the inner door, dividing the holy from the most holy place. Christ has gone within the veil, and he is our anchor. Do you believe it? “Well,” says one, “I do not know anything about it.” Be careful that you do not find yourself swept away by and by. We need a knowledge of Christ, and of the nature of the work that he is doing for the human family, and in proportion as we understand the nature of his work and believe in it, we shall have a Christian experience. It is the devil's business to upset the faith of God's people, and to get them to believe in nothing in particular only that they must be good and have a sort of religion. There are thousands and tens of thousands of professed Christians to-day who hold simply to that view. They say, “God has forgiven me my sins.” Is it necessary to believe God has forgiven your sins? Of course it is, but there is something else also necessary. This idea of throwing away all the exhortations that God has ever given us simply because we profess to be a Christian is a great mistake. It is a trick of the devil. If God has given you judgment and a mind to comprehend, he wants you to understand something about the science of redemption, and that you have a Saviour who has gone into the heavens to intercede at the right hand of the Father for us. (To be continued)

Passion and Patience

“PASSION is a sign of weakness and want of self-control; patience is an evidence of inward might.”

The Opening of Foreign Mission Work

By J. O. Corliss

Experiences of Former Days— No. 16

The Opening of Foreign Mission Work

J. O. CORLISS
One must be impressed, as he looks back over the development of the third angel's message, with the fact that the people to whom it has been entrusted have been very slow, at times, to comprehend the magnitude of the work given them to do. In almost every great movement among them, they have seemingly been forced into the positions they have finally occupied.
The development of their foreign mission work is an illustration of this, and shows how surely God has prepared the way, step by step, so that they might make no mistake in assuming aggressive attitudes. Very early in the labors of Elder M. E. Cornell, he was called to hold a series of meetings in western New York, which resulted in bringing into the ranks a Polish priest by the name of M. B. Czechowski. He was quite highly educated, and for a time gave promise of being a valuable addition to the working force of those days.
But this man's talent did not seem suited to the peculiar work of presenting the detail of the message among Americans, and he soon requested to be sent to open a mission in Europe. He was not, however, considered well adapted to such a calling, and so received no encouragement in his chosen work. The result was that he drifted away, and sought employment among the First-day Adventists. By them he was sent to Switzerland in behalf of their work. But (as he afterward confessed) his conscience would not permit him to give up the Sabbath, and as he knew of no other way to present the importance of the Lord's coming but that which first impressed him, he preached the Sabbath message in the Swiss mission.
About fifty intelligent persons embraced the message under his labors in that field. But in time they came to feel that he was not a safe leader in financial matters, and by degrees they became alienated from him. Then they opened correspondence with brethren in Battle Creek, which resulted in the sending of James Ertzenberger to America in the early part of 1869.
On his arrival, he was met at the station in Battle Creek by Elders White and Andrews, and was recognized by a pre-concerted signal, which was that of the young man's holding an envelope above his head having written on it in bold hand “Elder J. N. Andrews.” He was taken to Elder White's home without a word's being passed between them, each being ignorant of the other's language.
That evening, however, a meeting was held in the old church. A fair-sized audience was present, when Brother Ertzenberger gave a short address in French, which was interpreted by Brother John Daigneau. The gist of the address was a conveyance of fraternal greeting from the brethren in Switzerland to the brethren in America, and a statement of the needs of the cause in the distant European field.
Brother Ertzenberger remained in America a year or more, and in the meantime Elder Andrews was asked to superintend the struggling work in Europe, which he consented to do. Arriving there, his life became one of hardship, for several reasons: (1) The work was new, and consequently experimental for some time; (2) the language of the country had to be acquired, which is hard for one past the meridian of life; (3) the customs of the people were far different from those with which the missionary had always been associated. And yet, amid these disadvantages, Brother Andrews succeeded in so organizing his work that he could early begin the publication of a sixteen-page paper in Basel, Switzerland, entitled Les Signes des Temps (The Signs of the Times).
As early as 1882 Elder Andrews, whose health had failed considerably, pleaded that Elder B. L. Whitney be permitted to unite with him in labor. At the next General Conference, held in Rome, N. Y., this request was granted, and Elder Whitney and his family went to Europe in the summer of 1883. Elder Andrews died in October of the same year. Elder Whitney's labors wore upon him so much that, in about five years, he returned to America, where he died. Elder J. H. Waggoner was sent to that field, and he, too, soon succumbed. Thus by sacrifice was the work of missions begun by Seventh-day Adventists.

The Week of Prayer

By H. W. Cottrell

H. W. COTTRELL
THE Lord has entrusted to Seventh-day Adventists, as a body of Christians, the most solemn work ever required of any people in any age since the world began. The gospel has been preached in its simplicity to a greater or less extent in every period of the world’s history, but in each succeeding age there has been, or should have been, an additional unfolding of the great plan of salvation. In the unrolling of the sacred scrolls of Holy Writ the truth has gathered new luster all the way.
The year 1844 was the crowning epoch of all epochs then reached in gospel history. It marked the time of the beginning of the presentation of the everlasting gospel in its last and threefold setting,—the third angel’s message of Revelation 14. At this period the seventh trumpet began to sound. The last and longest prophetic period ended, and the judgment work began. The door of the temple of God in heaven was opened, “and no man can shut it,” and the holy law of God was seen. The darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars, were then all seen from a historic view as signs of the coming of Christ. This should forever settle the question that both you and I are numbered with the last generation of men.
When Christ, the divine son of God, was on earth, and revealed to us his foreknowledge of these events, he said, “This generation shall not pass, ’till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
In view of the fact that we are to-day in the time of the finishing of the mystery of God on earth, that there are one billion five hundred million people in the world, that so few of them have any knowledge of the special message of reform now being given with no uncertain sound, and that God will hold each soul responsible to do his duty, should we not awake at once to our privilege in service for him?
The King is at the door. “Set thine house in order.” But the houses of so many people are not set in order. Jesus said to an inquirer, “One thing thou lackest,” “go thy way, sell whatever thou hast, and give to the poor.” There is no one so poor as the soul out of Christ. A large majority of the world’s population know not the name of Christ. What can we do to help this class of “poor”?
The General Conference Committee has fixed the time, Dec. 10-17, 1904, as a special period of seeking the Lord. It is our annual week of prayer. From now until then, and then, should be a time of self-examination, surrender, and consecration for service.
We are on the threshold of eternity. That eternal day of God is just upon us. Soon the heavens will open as a door,—roll back as a scroll,—to reveal to the saints their King. The veil of sin that now hides his face from our view will fade away. The mystery of God will be finished, and we shall see our Redeemer face to face. “And his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” Each one should renew his courage, and take on new strength; for there will certainly be a glorious triumph to this message.
Let each one prayerfully consider to what extent he can assist in a material way those of our brethren and sisters who have taken their lives in their hands, deprived themselves of the association of friends and the comforts of home, and gone into distant lands to scatter the light of present truth. Jesus gave all. Shall not we give freely of that over which he has made us stewards?
We have missions established in nearly every country in the world. The larger number of missions we open, the greater the demand for additional workers and funds to support them. At the recent General Conference Council held at College View, Neb., appropriations were made to missions, amounting to $124,773. It was recommended that we do our utmost as a people to raise $80,000 of this amount at the time of our annual offering in December. If we all take hold of this matter with prayer, and with a will to accomplish the undertaking, we can, in the name of the Lord, easily realize our hopes.
Our annual offering last year amounted to $40,200. If those who gave last year would, on an average, double their offerings, we should have the $80,000. Then if the few thousands of new believers will come forward and swell this amount, additional help can be sent to the needy fields.
Let us unitedly do all we can with our prayers, our means, and our service to hasten the coming of Christ in this generation.

On Tract Distribution

By William Ambrose Spicer

A SISTER at the Washington Memorial church thanked God in the missionary convention service that about twenty-five years ago a timid young man gave her a tract called “The Third Angel’s Message.” A worldly young woman, attending all the gaieties of the hour, she was nevertheless challenged by the truth of the message. Her father, a stanch Methodist, a pillar in the church, read the booklet, and the next Sunday his neighbors were astounded to see him at work on his farm. The truth in that tract later brought our sister fully into the faith, and for years she was the only Sabbath-keeper in Washington. Doubtless the young man who timidly gave out the tract never will know until the last day what it accomplished, or that the bright, cheerful look on his face as he gave it out, impressed our sister to look into it to see what it was that he found so much satisfaction in.
Our friends in Wales have had a good experience in selling tracts. They sell even the little one-cent leaflets. The Newport, Monmouthshire, church led out in this. They wanted the people to have the message of the tracts, and wanted them to pay the price so that they would understand that the literature was worth reading. They have sold thousands of tracts, and are still at it.
In an English city, recently, a canvasser distributed copies of a little leaflet on the Sabbath question. One gentleman was so impressed by it that he paid for fifty thousand of the leaflets, and hired our brother to put them out. One was dropped into the letter box of a gentleman, who was much impressed by the truth in the tiny tract. He wrote to the office for permission to reprint, and had fifty thousand copies struck off, and hired a regular hand-bill distributing agency to scatter them. The time has come for the literature to be scattered “like the leaves of autumn.”
W. A. SPICER.

An Aid to Missionary Work and Enterprise

By E. W. Webster

E. W. WEBSTER
Do you know that all our publishing houses issue catalogues of publications and price-lists that contain the names and cost of all the English and foreign books, tracts, and papers that this people print? Do you know that you may have one free from each office by sending for it? Do you know that you can tell in a moment just what is printed on all points of present truth, and what it will cost to get it for yourself or for your neighbor?
I believe that each person, at least each family, connected with our churches everywhere, and all the isolated ones, should have not only one catalogue, but all the catalogues and price-lists put out by each of our printing-offices. They will gladly furnish them to any one sending for them. If the librarian would count up all the families and single or lone persons in his church, and send to each of our publishing houses for a catalogue for each of these, it would more than pay for the trouble, and would no doubt awaken a deeper interest in these hearts to do more to scatter these leaves of precious truth. No person at all interested can examine these catalogues without being deeply impressed with the vast scope and variety of the literature containing this truth, and stimulated to do much more to circulate it.
When a neighbor calls, how easy it would be to show him the catalogue, or read to him from the long list of books and tracts this people print. How long would it be before he would hear something upon which he would like to read? When going on a trip or a visit, how easy it is to put one of these price-lists into the pocket or hand-bag, to be used in the same way with those whom you meet. A vast amount of good would thus be done for others, your own souls would often be watered, our printing-houses would reap the benefit of many additional sales, the message would be carried more rapidly, this people would prove themselves to be the missionary people they profess to be, and the glad day when the saints possess the kingdom would soon come.
Try this plan, brethren and sisters, and see if it will not prove successful. Don't delay; send at once; you will need these catalogues in your work during this fall and winter missionary campaign.

An Experience

A STATE agent sends the following note through Brother H. H. Hall:—
“I went to —— a few days ago to start a canvasser for ‘Controversy.’ One of the sisters told me that books would not sell in ——; for she had tried it, and knew whereof she spoke. Well, I smiled, and said I would not be satisfied until I had given it a trial. Next morning I took the ‘Controversy’ prospectus, and started with the new canvasser after asking God to help us. In eight hours we had $37.50 worth of orders in sight of the sister’s house. Her husband then said he believed he would canvass, too. So the next day I went out with him, and we got $63.50 worth in seven hours. The next day the brother himself took seven dollars’ worth, and the other man with whom I was working took twelve dollars’ worth. I tell you, Brother Hall, I know that it is good for a State agent to buckle on the harness, and show how it is done.”

A Reviving Campaign

By D. W. REAVIS

The Review campaign is resulting in revivals in some sections of the country. From a conference president's personal letter we quote the following:—
“We are still pushing the Review campaign. We are stirring matters all we can. Thus far in every church that we have visited in the interest of this work, a general revival has taken place; and we have succeeded in getting the Review in the home of every Sabbath-keeping family.”
If the mere subscribing for the Review brings a revival in the church, what would be the result in that church when every member becomes a regular reader of the paper? This question was answered last year in one of our conferences where the result of having the Review in many families was experienced. Spirituality was improved, tithe was increased, and a general interest in the work was evident in all the churches.
A. J. Olsen, State agent of Wisconsin, has set his mark about right for the book work in that State. He says:—
“I am working for one hundred and fifty canvassers for next spring. I almost think we shall have them; and it is true that the soil is good; and if we can put in a good amount of books, it will help our people to feel differently in regard to the canvassing work.”
D. W. REAVIS.

Success in Follow-up Work

By H. H. Hall

Here is a part of a letter just received from Brother Geo. A. King, who is engaged in the circulation of the Signs in New York City:—
“During the past three weeks I have been following up the Signs work. In addition to finding many interested in the matter it contains, I have taken orders for two hundred dollars’ worth of books to be delivered at Christmas time. These were taken here in New York City, where good canvassers have been obliged to give up in despair.
“A skilful use of the Signs in these great cities will open the way to any class of society where honest men are to be found. I shall work harder than ever to follow the counsel the Lord has given us in regard to obtaining yearly subscriptions; for this gives the people an opportunity to know what they are really reading.”
Brother King has demonstrated the fact that there is success in following up every missionary effort made. This is the principle on which this great fall missionary campaign rests. It is a tried and true principle, brethren and sisters. Let us adopt it. H. H. HALL.

Religion in Good Cooking

By G. H. Heald

G. H. HEALD, M. D.
“In the preparation of food, the golden rays of light are to be kept shining, teaching those who sit at the table how to live.”
Who is the teacher?—The cook. The skilful, hygienic cook holds a place second to none as a teacher of hygienic living. In a measure she controls the destinies of those that gather around her board.
Good cooking will not take the place of an individual Christian experience, but bad cooking may do much to spoil a Christian experience. Bad cooking makes dyspeptics, and dyspeptics are not very successful Christians. The irritability and nervousness incident to poor digestion are bad accompaniments of a Christian profession.
What are some of the qualifications of good food?
“Food” should be thoroughly cooked, nicely prepared, and appetizing.” “The food should have been prepared in a simple form, free from grease, . . . nutritious, healthful, and inviting.” “Food should be prepared with simplicity, and yet with a nicety that will tempt the appetite.” “In every line of cooking the question which should be considered is, How can the food be prepared in the most natural and inexpensive manner?”
The characteristics of a hygienic meal, then, are that it should be simple and economical, thoroughly cooked, nutritious and healthful, and tempting to the appetite.
This implies more than simply dropping meat, tea, and coffee from the bill of fare. It means more than simply adding beans and peanuts to take the place of meat. It presupposes much study and planning.
It includes a consideration of the amount of money available for kitchen supplies (and it is not true economy to cut too close here), the characteristics of each article of food as to digestibility and nutritive value, alone and in combination with other foods, and the likes and dislikes of your family. In cooking, it will imply an avoidance of “rich and complicated mixtures” on the one hand, and of tastelessness and unvarying sameness on the other.
It means dishes made palatable without the use of condiments and spices; for “condiments and spices, used in the preparation of food for the table, aid digestion in the same way that tea, coffee, and liquor are supposed to help the laboring man to perform his task. After the immediate effects are gone, those who use them drop as far below par as they were elevated above par by these stimulating substances.”
There will not be much liquid served with the meals; for “the more liquid there is taken into the stomach with the meals, the more difficult it is for the food to digest.” The food will be served in a condition requiring mastication, for thorough mastication facilitates digestion. “In order to have good digestion, food should be eaten slowly.” Dry foods should therefore form an important part of the meal. Zwieback is far better than soft, warm bread, especially for those who are inclined to eat too rapidly.
There will be an avoidance of too much variety at the table; for “rich and complicated mixtures are health destroying.”
There will be no elaborate dessert placed before the guests after they have already eaten all they ought to. “At too many tables, when the stomach has received all it requires to carry on the work of nourishing the system, another course, consisting of pies, puddings, and highly flavored sauces, is placed upon the table. . . . Many, though they have already eaten enough, will overstep the bounds, and eat the tempting dessert, which, however, proves anything but good to them.”

Little Things

By Elizabeth Willard Dennison

My life is full of little things, A little care, a little task, A little walking in the dark— No great thing does the Master ask.
I long to do some noble thing, To show how great my love may be; But only little daily tasks Does the dear Lord require of me.
A little yielding of my will, A little while to patient wait; Sometimes my life so little seems I sigh and murmur at my fate.
Yet once—’twas in the twilight hour— He whom I love said tenderly: “There is no task in all thy day But may be done for love of me.”
“I see each effort thou dost make, And trivial though the day may be, Each one that’s spent for Christ’s dear sake Will bring thee one step nearer me.”
A little life of faith and prayer, And love and joy, mid daily care, Ready to help and brave to bear— Yet these are needed everywhere.
—Elizabeth Willard Dennison.

Hints to Dyspeptics

EAT slowly, masticating the food very thoroughly—even more so, if possible, than is required in health. The more time the food spends in the mouth, the less it will spend in the stomach. Avoid drinking at meals; at most, take a few sips of warm drink at the close of the meal, if the food is very dry in character. In general, dyspeptic stomachs manage dry food better than that containing much fluid. Eat neither very hot nor cold food. The best temperature is about that of the body. Avoid exposure to cold after eating. Be careful to avoid excess in eating. Eat no more than the wants of the system require. Sometimes less than is really needed must be taken, when digestion is very weak. Strength depends, not on what is eaten, but on what is digested. Never take violent exercise of any sort, either mental or physical, either just before or just after a meal. It is not good to sleep immediately after eating. Never eat more than three times a day. For many dyspeptics two meals are better than more. Never eat a morsel of any sort between meals. Never eat when very tired, whether exhausted from mental or physical labor. Never eat when the mind is worried or the temper ruffled, if possible to avoid doing so. Eat only food that is easy of digestion, avoiding complicated and indigestible dishes, and taking but one to three kinds at a meal. Most persons will be benefited by the use of oatmeal, wheat meal, cracked wheat, and other whole grain preparations, though many will find it necessary to avoid vegetables, especially when fruits are taken.—Public Health Journal.

Dates as Food

Country Life in America records that David G. Fairchild, the agricultural explorer, who has visited the date-producing regions of the Old World, has written an account of his investigations for the Department of Agriculture, with special reference to date culture in America.
“The doctors seem agreed that sweet things in excess are injurious to the digestion, and the dentists claim that sugar ferments between the teeth, forming lactic acid, which attacks the dentine; but, for all this, it is doubtful if there can be found a sounder, stronger race, with better digestion and finer, whiter teeth than the date-eating Arabs. The remarkable physique of the Arabs, and their resistance to the almost unbearable heat of their country might be attributed in part, at least, to the nature of their simple food. At any rate, a thorough investigation of the food value of the date and its adaptability to the formation of food for our hot summer season should be made, and possibly this wonderful vegetable product, which is now used in America only as a second-class confection, might be utilized as a basis of a nutritious new food.” — Philadelphia Ledger.
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