Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 23. (6/10/1909)

Review and Herald

Jun 10, 1909

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jun 10, 1909

THE WORK

By Editor

— AND — THE WORKERS

THE weekly edition of the REVIEW weighs about 2,000 pounds.

UP to June 1 over 45,000 copies of the June number of Life and Health had been ordered,—a remarkable record, indeed.

WE have been obliged to print a second edition of the June Life and Health, making a total of 60,000 copies thus far issued.

IN applying for agency, kindly send a written recommendation from your pastor, teacher, banker, State tract society, or leading business firm of your town.

“I SOLD my 1,000 copies of the May Life and Health, and had to buy 400 from Mrs. S. N. Haskell besides,” writes a brother from California. “I am selling all of these myself, and must do all my walking on a pair of artificial limbs and crutches. I sell from 50 to 90 copies a day, and hope soon to make it 100 copies a day.”

PROF. H. J. SHELDON, principal of Maplewood Academy, Maple Plain, Minn., informs us that his board approves of our magazine scholarship plan, and that they will allow ten per cent discount from their regular tuition to those earning a scholarship through the sale of our ten-cent magazines.

THOSE selling our magazines are entitled to the same consideration by police and other public officers as are the authorized agents of the Saturday Evening Post, Ladies’ Home Journal, or any other newspaper. Our magazines are not books, but newspapers, and can be sold wherever and whenever newspapers are allowed to be sold. As a rule, city and town authorities rarely object to the work of our periodical agents, as they recognize the missionary side of the work, and that it is not merely a financial enterprise. For instance, the chief of police of one of California’s largest cities informed the writer that he had instructed his police officers not to molest even the book agents of the California Bible House in their house-to-house work. Our agents should show forth in their daily lives the Christian virtues advocated in the journals they sell.

MRS. J. S. CHANDLER, one of our periodical workers who attended the General Conference, has the honor of being the first agent to order one thousand copies of the Protestant Magazine.

“I AM ordering herewith 1,000 copies of the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor,” writes a young lady from Oklahoma, “to earn my year’s scholarship.” This is her first order.

ACCOMPANYING his order for five copies of the Protestant Magazine one year (seventy-five cents), a Washington brother says: “I hope this magazine will be the thing to help swell the loud cry.”

FOLLOWING are the names of the company of ten magazine agents appearing in the picture above, reading from left to right: (front row) Lowell M. Knapp, Mrs. Matie Williamson (company chaperon), Nellie Rothbaust, R. W. Leach; (rear row) Lora B. Duncan, Ada E. Achor, R. C. Spohr (company manager), Blanche E. Hicks, Elizabeth L. Kern, and Mina Andrews. Leaving Indianapolis, Ind., Wednesday, May 5, this company completed its sale of magazines in Pittsburg, Pa., Wednesday, May 19, just two weeks later. Brother R. C. Spohr, missionary secretary of the Indiana Conference, was in charge. These agents made their traveling and other expenses en route to the General Conference, and, in addition, earned enough to take them back to their homes in Indiana. One thousand magazines were sold in the city of Columbus, Ohio, in two days, and 1,500 copies in Pittsburg, Pa., in three days, the total sales amounting to 5,520 copies, valued at $552. From these and other like experiences it

would seem that of all our workers, the periodical agents are the best prepared to travel where they like and meet their own expenses. In order not to interfere with the work of our regular agents, the leaders of these traveling companies always arrange for territory with the tract societies through whose States they intend to pass.

ONE of our lady agents has just placed an order with us for 3,250 magazines and periodicals, as follows: 1,150 copies of the June Life and Health, 1,000 copies of the Protestant Magazine, 850 copies of Liberty, and 250 copies of the Thanksgiving number of the REVIEW.

IF at all possible, please order your magazines through, and arrange for territory with, your State tract society. If you must order direct, send cash with order.

THE following list shows where the May edition of Life and Health went. The figures inside the parentheses indicate the number of copies of the April number circulated in the States named. We feel sure that our conference officers will be glad to have these exact statistics for handy reference, from month to month. Which States will lead in the circulation of the June number? California, 5,247 (4,942); Indiana, 4,437 (671); Georgia, 3,889 (2,766); Illinois, 2,498 (5,190); Maryland, 2,171 (189); Tennessee, 1,349 (—); Iowa, 1,677 (1,561); New York 1,144 (1,623); Washington, 1,118 (1,423); Massachusetts, 1,117 (186); Nebraska, 925 (403); Oklahoma, 866 (338); Michigan, 775 (1,055); Minnesota, 703 (616); Pennsylvania, 676 (788); Kentucky, 571 (144); Oregon, 558 (1,116); Louisiana, 505 (471); Kansas, 479 (189); Ohio, 464 (775); Wisconsin, 377 (1,025); Maine, 328 (226); District of Columbia, 285 (461); Idaho, 264 (126); Colorado, 254 (161); Texas, 213 (241); Rhode Island, 210 (111); Alabama, 172 (319); Missouri, 160 (141); North Dakota, 152 (159); New Hampshire, 129 (58); New Jersey, 125 (86); Arizona, 111 (—); Virginia, 96 (93); Connecticut, 81 (149); Florida, 79 (65); Arkansas, 78 (55); West Virginia, 67 (189); Nevada, 63 (—); Utah, 58 (39); Montana, 57; South Dakota, 45; Vermont, 36; Mississippi, 27 (151); North Carolina, 25; New Mexico, 16; Wyoming, 8; South Carolina, 6; Delaware, 2. A united effort will largely increase all these figures.

The General Conference as Viewed From the Mission Fields

By J. L. SHAW

The General Conference just closing marks the beginning of a strong forward movement in mission work in heathen lands. Never have the needs of heathen nations been more clearly presented to our people, and never have appeals for men and means met with a warmer response. One conference president said, “We expect to send every available dollar in our field into the foreign fields.” Another said: “We are encouraging our young men and women to go to mission fields.” Such words of encouragement bring joy to every foreign missionary, and are sure to bring new courage and enthusiasm to the slender forces at the front, where needs are great and workers so few.

The preaching of the everlasting gospel throughout India is one of the greatest problems which the Seventh-day Adventist denomination faces in its world-wide effort. With three hundred million people before us, bound by heathenism, caste, and superstition, living in a trying climate, speaking no less than one hundred forty-seven languages, we find ourselves undertaking a work of whose magnitude even the leaders of our people have had in the past no adequate conception.

It fires our souls with new zeal to see so large a delegation of our people, so representative and so responsible, taking such a keen and united interest in the promulgation of present truth in heathen lands. It is surely a sign of our times, and a strong evidence that we are living in the generation which shall see the completion of God’s work for lost men in the darkest corners of heathendom. May the cry for missions raised at this Conference go from heart to heart among our people the world around, growing stronger and stronger until the work is done.

J. L. SHAW,

Superintendent of the India Mission.

The Missionary Spirit of General Conference

By J. V. Willson

THE influence of the General Conference of 1909 will be powerfully felt for a long time. The representation is so full from all the world, the subjects dealt with are of such vast importance, and the conclusions reached so clear and far-reaching, that it can not but profoundly affect every part of the field.

This is emphatically a missionary conference. The reports from China, Japan, India, South America, Africa, Mexico, and the islands of the sea were deeply interesting, and have led us to realize that indeed “the harvest is great, and the laborers are few.” As we learn of the many millions of people in the far East who have never had a knowledge of the gospel, and hear the urgent calls for workers to enter those fields, it stirs up in all our hearts a missionary zeal to answer the call.

This Conference has been characterized from the very beginning by a spirit of unity, harmony, and co-operation. As we listen to the reports of the advancement of the message in China, India, Japan, and other heathen countries, and see how the Lord is giving victories in every quarter our hearts are cheered, and we feel fresh courage to push forward the mission work in unentered fields in the Dark Continent. We must search out the land, and take definite steps to give the message to every part of the field in this generation. Nothing short of this will carry out the great trust committed to us to give “the third angel’s message to all the world in this generation.” The whole spirit of the Conference is to carry out the instruction to do that very thing.

Another feature of this Conference is the clear and unmistakable blending of the evangelical, medical, and missionary phases of our work in one united whole. The ministers, Bible workers, and canvassers must be medical workers. The doctors and nurses must also carry on the gospel work, and all be missionaries. These branches of the work were never so fully united as at this meeting. This spirit, carried out, will greatly increase the efficiency of all our laborers, and bring in greater results.

The educational work is receiving a great deal of attention, and plans are being laid to establish training-schools in all our mission fields, to train the native laborers to give the message to their own people in their own language.

With the generous support which this Conference proposes to give to the South African field, and the missionary spirit which this Conference will stimulate in our people, we must look for a marked advancement in our work in every part of the Dark Continent.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deut. 31: 6.

J. V. WILLSON, Secretary South African Union Conf.

The General Conference and the Mission Field

By J. W. Westphal

FROM the standpoint of the mission field the most important occurrence, that which is most far-reaching in its results and brings the greatest joy to the hearts of the missionaries, is the quadrennial session of the General Conference. It is a great family reunion, where from all parts of the world children of a common Father and workers in a common cause meet, not to gossip or visit, but to consult and plan with reference to its welfare. Some can not attend, but they feel that their labors and trials and desires and needs are considered, that they are sympathized with and plans are laid to strengthen their hands. By them every

kindness is noted, and every help, however small, gratefully received.

More, perhaps, than any other one thing, the General Conference makes and keeps the work one. Every field is represented. The interests of one become the interests of all. The needs of other fields appeal with equal force as those of one's own. Common trials and experiences draw out sympathies and unite hearts as nothing else can. China, India, Africa, South America, etc., are not strangers, but brothers.

While the mission fields have their trials and difficulties, the home field has those peculiar to itself. The missionary does not always see the struggles and burdens which those at home are carrying. Overwhelmed with calls and needs at every step, he does not always see why his own modest requests can not be granted. With the world's needs and the world-wide calls opened up at the General Conference, he is brought into touch with, and made to realize the perplexities and burdens of, those upon whom he must so heavily lean. The home-field laborer is made acquainted with the needs of distant lands, and the appeals inspire him to greater efforts in behalf of the mission fields, and the missionary is more considerate toward, and his prayers are more fervent in behalf of, and his heart is more closely united to, the man who is gathering the means and preparing the recruits for the mission field. The heart-beats of the present General Conference will be felt everywhere, and will bring life and health and power into every part of this great world-wide work. The message could not be carried on strongly and steadily without it.

J. W. WESTPHAL, President South American Union Conference.

Editorial

By Editor

The question that will be asked by the unsaved when Christ appears in the clouds of heaven, “Who is able to stand?” has been asked by many when Satan has caused them to doubt the possibility of their own salvation. The requirements seem too great. It is said of those who comprise the church triumphant that they are to be without “spot or wrinkle or any such thing; . . . holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5: 27. How can mortal man appear before God and have that said of him? The answer is found in Jude 24: “Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,” etc. No one is able of himself; but God is able to bring it to pass. In him is the requisite power and the willingness to perform.

A New Vision of China’s Needs

By J. N. Anderson

This General Conference is truly a great meeting; not, indeed, because of the great number present, nor even because of its enthusiasm, but because of its fixed, dominant purpose to carry the message to all the world. It seems to me that this is the time and the occasion in which this entire denomination is seriously setting itself, in accordance with its chief article of religious faith, to the superhuman task of preaching the glad news of the soon coming of our Lord to the ten hundred million souls in the heathen and Mohammedan worlds.

Viewing this Conference from the standpoint of China, with its population of nearly one third of the human race, there is much of encouragement and promise. It shows unmistakably that as a people we now have a better knowledge of the situation in that field, a larger faith in God and in the work now going forward there, and a more adequate conception of the urgency and magnitude of the work to be done in that country. From the spirit and general tenor of the meeting I am persuaded that there is a full determination to arise and attempt great things in the land of Sinim. I am compelled to believe that this Conference has had a new vision of China’s pressing needs, and a fuller realization of our own responsibility as a people possessing so great light. The much-needed men and means will surely be forthcoming; to fail in this would be to deny our faith and our own spiritual experience granted us in this very meeting. Our resources may seem very meager, but the Lord of the harvest will, as of old, surely multiply as we divide.

The present situation in China does not call for large institutions established at heavy expenditure of money that always demands large corps of men. We do need a well-equipped printing plant, from which a large volume of literature can be issued, three or four schools in different parts of the field, a hospital or two, and a small sanitarium, and several homes for our workers; but all these should be of such proportions as not to impede our one aim, that of giving the message and gathering out souls for the kingdom. I am fully convinced that our success in that difficult field will come through hand-to-hand evangelistic and canvassing work, which must be seconded and solidified by our schools and other institutions. The great majority of our workers, both native and foreign, must be left free to go to the masses who live in the large cities and a million or so villages in that vast empire.

So far as China is concerned, I conceive that this general advance into the heathen world is most opportune. The work there seems to be ripe for this step. We have had sufficient time to place the work on a good foundation. Six languages and five provinces have been entered, and our workers, with a knowledge of the languages and a large experience in laboring for that people, and ably seconded by a large, efficient corps of Chinese assistants, are now prepared to enter into this greatly enlarged forward movement. The situation in that field not only needs this enlargement from the home church, but the present status of the work there justly demands what this Conference is sure to do.

The work in China must indeed be regarded as superhuman, but we must not think that the day of spiritual miracles is in the past. It is not for us to say how our God shall accomplish this great work. Mighty forces are at work in China, and it is the hour of our opportunity. All other missionary societies operating there regard this time as a crisis in mission work in that field. I can not escape the conviction that this is the “fulness of the time,” so far as that land is concerned; and it is a cause for deep gratitude that this Conference is boldly going forward to place the leaven of this gospel message in the meal of Chinese heathenism and philosophy.

J. N. ANDERSON, Assistant Superintendent China Mission.

What Rome Sees in Turkey’s Transformation

By C. M. S.

It will be interesting to the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD to know how a representative Catholic journal views the recent change in the government of Turkey. Says the editor of the Western Watchman, in the issue of May 6, 1909:—

They call the recent events in Turkey a revolution; it is a dissolution. Abdul Hamid is the last of the sultans. The reign of Antichrist on the Bosporus has come to an end. The world, having passed through one of its worst periods, the crescent, which always meant an eclipsed Christ, has disappeared forever. . . . The Turk must leave the banks of the Bosporus and hie himself back to Asia and the fastnesses of the Altai range. His stay of four hundred years in Europe has come to an inglorious end. . . . The reign of the Turk in Europe was a punishment of Christian dissensions. Islam and Protestantism are twin born. They made their appearance in Europe almost simultaneously. . . . Were it not for the aid the Turks were ever ready to lend the Protestant princes, Austria would have made short work of the rebellious Reformers. Islam and Protestantism came into the world together; they go out together. Turkish domination is not more extinct than is Protestantism. The two great scourges of the Christian world drop back together into the dark from which they came.

The Christians of Turkey will now regain their autonomy, and the East will soon again blossom as a rose. The East needs the West to teach it the way to liberty and self-government; the West needs the East to learn from it the instinct of the supernatural. The union of both in the Orient is destined to bring untold development to the church of Christ. Not to St. Petersburg but to Rome will the gaze of the Eastern Christian henceforward be turned, for Rome is the mistress of the East once more. . . . Upon the dome of the great St. Peter’s of the Eastern Church will soon again be raised the symbol of man’s redemption.

Rome is looking with the utmost confidence to the complete domination of the world, the eradication from the world of everything that offends her, and an unbroken, unobstructed reign to the ages of ages. The changing attitude of the world toward her, and the program of her purpose as arranged by herself, both indicate that we are nearing the fulfilment of the prophetic Word concerning Rome’s destiny and the close of God’s work in the earth. C. M. S.

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