p. 18 | Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 35. (8/30/1906)

British West Indies

By W. A. Sweany

GRENADA.—Sabbath, June 9, was a happy and eventful day for the believers in St. Patricks, Grenada. After Sabbath-school, a service for final instruction and exhortation was held, and then we repaired to a pool in a near-by mountain stream, where, beneath the leafy canopy of the overhanging cocoa trees, twenty willing souls, all adults, followed our Lord in the significant and sacred ordinance of baptism. A large audience watched the ceremony with the deepest interest, some being moved to tears. Probably none present had ever seen Bible baptism administered. Prayer, appropriate songs, Scripture readings, and remarks constituted a service that will not-soon be forgotten by those present. Even those who came to scoff were deeply and solemnly impressed. A crowd of the baser sort, bent on mischief, misunderstood the location, and went to another place and waited long for us, while we held our service in peace and quiet.

Later in the day a church of twenty-three members was organized, and the ordinance of humility and the sacramental rite solemnized. This was also a

most blessed occasion, being the first for all except the missionaries. My wife and I transferred our membership here, and a sister whom I baptized some months ago was admitted. We three are the only white persons in the church, but the color of the skin is as far as the “color-line” goes in this little company, “for we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Four are East Indians, while the rest are of African descent. Every one of this company pays tithes and offerings, and loves and obeys the entire message as well as any company I have ever known anywhere. They sent two delegates to the conference, and paid half their expenses. We also attended the conference, which has, of course, been fully reported by others, so I need not write of that further than to say that it was a good meeting, and marked an epoch in our work in the West Indies.

While at the conference we pledged to sell fifty copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” for the benefit of our school in Jamaica. We hoped, by hard work, to sell them by the end of the year in connection with our other work, but the Lord enabled us to dispose of them all in less than three days, so we have ordered fifty more. My wife sold twenty-one in one day, to the leading people of St. George. I have never seen anything appeal to the people so powerfully as that book and the cause it represents. Nearly all realize that a practical industrial training is sadly lacking in the popular system of education. We are hoping and praying that the West India Training-school may be a beacon light for this great, needy field, and a recruiting ground and training-school for workers. One young man in the church here sold four of the books, and others sold one or two. We hope some of our young people may be able to attend the Jamaica school.

After returning from the conference, we spent three weeks in looking for a house, as we have been notified to move before August 1. Religious prejudice and real scarcity of houses make it very difficult to get a suitable place here. It began to look as if we should have to retreat to St. George, or camp out; but we finally found a place, and were moved just one day before our time was up. Moving is a great undertaking in this mountainous country. We moved a mile and a half this time. I moved five loads with my horse and trap, and our brethren and sisters and their children moved the rest on their heads and in two donkey carts. The loads they carry on their heads are something astonishing. We have rooms up-stairs in a large cocoa house, twenty-five by fifty-two feet. The entire lower story is one large room, and in it we now hold our services, and next Monday Mrs. Sweany will start a school, which has long been the greatest need of our people here. A number of our young people will attend, and we hope to train one or two of them as teachers, so that the school will not stop when we leave.

We have a beautiful lot given us for a church, just across the road from our present quarters. We hope soon to be able to erect a neat, plain church and school building combined. We are giving our all, as we have done on other occasions, and as it always seems necessary for the missionaries to do in this field. Our people will do all they can, but most of them are poor, so we shall need some help from elsewhere, and are asking the Lord to send it to us. Who will help answer our prayers? The building will be either mud or concrete walls in wood frame, with cement floor and iron roof. We shall do the work ourselves, but lumber is forty-five dollars a thousand, and other materials in proportion, such as nails, hinges, lime, cement, etc. Money may be sent directly to us by foreign post-office money-order, or to the Mission Board. We want to begin not later than October 1, and finish before going to our union conference meeting in Jamaica in January. So this matter, like the rest of the King’s business, requires haste. We have received some small donations from friends in the States, for which we are very grateful, but we do not wish to begin until we are sure we can finish. Our seats at present consist of boards laid on soap boxes, so naturally we are anxious to get our church and school building completed and furnished. We have a beautiful location, overlooking a wide scope of picturesque scenery, including mountains, valleys, and sea, with several beautiful little islands.

Our work here is still making progress, despite hard opposition of various kinds. Several of our brethren are being discharged from the big estate where they have labored all their lives, and are being evicted from their humble homes, with nowhere to go, and nothing to do. But not one of them has faltered yet, and others are taking their stand for God and the truth, being encouraged by the example of our faithful brethren. Interference and immorality prevail, without even a remonstrance, but let a man forsake those things, as in the case of our persecuted brethren, and immediately he is made to feel the hand of prejudice, bigotry, and oppression.

Another class is in preparation for baptism. In fact, there is reason to hope that our membership will soon be doubled. The Sabbath-school numbers about fifty, and the young people’s and the missionary meetings are well attended, as are also the Sunday night preaching services.

Other localities are ready and waiting for the message, but we have not the time or strength to open up and prosecute any further work, till this is bound off. Of course we still tour the island each month with the Caribbean Watchman and the English Good Health, and this seed sowing is already giving promise of a harvest a little later. The church is assisting us more and more in this work. Conducting the school and building the church, will greatly add to the burden we are already carrying. However, we are eager to be at it. In fact, our meager fund of mental and physical strength and ability, is the only limit to our zeal, ambition, and effort. My wife is now away alone on a three days’ canvassing tour, as I was not able to accompany her so far from home. The overexertion of our recent move brought on a sharp attack of fever and dysentery. However, prompt treatment checked it, so to-day, though still weak. I was able to travel sixteen miles in a trap, and I sold thirty-five papers and two copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” I hope to be able to make another similar trip to-morrow. We are of good courage and are rejoicing in the progress of the message.

W. A. SWEANY.

New Jersey

By E. E. Franke

NEWARK.—We pitched our tent here on Clinton Avenue, between Peshine and Hunterdon Streets, about six weeks ago. The location is a very noisy one, with two lines of cars passing within a few yards of the tent. Up to the present time, however, eighteen good, substantial persons have fully accepted the message, and are ready to unite with the local church. Quite a number expect to be baptized next Sunday, and others who have been baptized will unite with the church. We expect to begin a new effort at once to proclaim the truth to others before the season closes. The truth is being presented in the same old way with the usual results—souls rejoicing in the blessing of God. Pray for the work in Newark.

E. E. FRANKE.

The South Carolina Camp-Meeting

THIS meeting was held at Cowpens, a town of some eight hundred inhabitants, August 9-19. This place is not far from the historic battle-ground where the battle of Cowpens was fought during the Revolution. The meeting was held in a beautiful grove only a few minutes’ walk from the town.

South Carolina is not yet an organized conference, but is still a mission field of the Southern Union Conference. The work here has moved very slowly, but within the past two years the Lord has signally blessed the earnest labors of Elder E. W. Webster, the superintendent of this mission field, and his faithful corps of workers. He has abundantly blessed in the canvassing work under the direction of Brother C. F. Dart. During the past year about five thousand orders for books have been taken, and over twenty-five hundred dollars’ worth have been delivered. It reminded one of the days of our great prosperity in the canvassing work among us as a people to hear these consecrated canvassers relate their interesting experiences in the canvassing work. Our prayer is that the same spirit that characterizes these workers may take possession of other canvassers throughout the field.

There was a good attendance of our own people at the meeting. The services consisted largely in giving instruction on the various phases of the work, which was of a most practical nature. The Lord came near on the last Sabbath of the meeting, and a goodly number responded to the call that was extended to those who had never yielded to the Lord, and to the backslidden ones. On Sabbath afternoon seven precious souls followed their Lord in baptism.

When the weather permitted, there was a large attendance of the citizens from the city and surrounding country. One family came thirteen miles afoot to attend the meetings on different occasions.

It has been decided to follow the camp-meeting with a series of tent-meetings, which will be conducted by Brethren R. T. Nash and E. W. Carey, assisted by other workers.

During the first part of the camp-meeting Elders R. M. Kilgore, E. H. Rees, and Brother J. A. Ford were in attendance; Prof. J. E. Tenney and the writer attended the latter part of the meeting. The instruction given by Professor Tenney on the subject of Christian education at this and other camp-meetings in the Southern Union Conference has been of a most practical nature, and has been attended by the converting power of God.

The total amount of donations made by those in attendance aggregated $166.47 in cash and pledges, of which over twenty-five dollars goes to foreign missions, raised at one meeting. This is indeed a liberal amount when the dire needs and poverty of this field are considered. Those in charge believe in educating the believers not to be circumscribed to simply the needs of their own field. The workers are greatly encouraged with the future outlook for the work in South Carolina.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the loyal believers in this field:—

“Whereas, Recent experiences as a

denomination plainly show that the time has come when God’s people are called upon to take their stand in a special manner on the side of truth, the spirit of prophecy, and organization, therefore,— “Resolved, That as believers and laborers in the South Carolina Mission field we express our unqualified confidence in the teaching of the spirit of prophecy, in the whole truth as held by the denomination, and in the administration of affairs by the president of the General Conference and the executive committee.” K. C. RUSSELL.

Another Institution Moved to the Country

By W. D. Salisbury

The removal of the Echo Publishing Company's business and part of the plant from North Fitzroy to Warburton, Victoria, a country town of about three hundred inhabitants located forty-eight miles east of Melbourne, has now been accomplished. The reasons for making such moves have already been fully set forth in the REVIEW. The principle applies to all parts of the world.

We believe the Lord guided us to this place. It was the last place we visited in our search for a location, and we came here as a last resort, as other places visited were not clear to all members of the committee.

Warburton seemed so far from Melbourne, and was so little known, that we did not expect to find what we wanted.

We had been looking for water power so that the saving would pay the extra expense of freight incurred by being located in the country.

A VIEW AT WARBURTON. PRINTING PLANT IN THE FOREGROUND; RESIDENCES ON THE HILLSIDE

We found here what we were looking for, and after a very careful survey by the committee of all that entered into the question, we asked the union conference committee to meet with us, when several days were occupied in carefully considering every phase of the question of location, and a definite plan for raising the necessary money to purchase the land, erect a factory, and buy the machinery that would be needed. We also presented to them a plan of reorganization, which would ultimately transfer the shares of the Echo Publishing Company to a membership association. The union conference committee approved of the location, gave the enterprise its hearty support, and before its members separated, they raised among themselves one thousand dollars to start the donations. From that time on, a spirit of liberality was manifested among our people in every State of the commonwealth. Up to the present time $15,734 have been pledged, and most of it has been paid.

Work on the factory and water plant began the middle of October, 1905. We began the tedious job of moving about the first of March, 1906. The first number of The Signs of the Times was printed April 9, 1906. Gradually our bindery, foundry, and engraving departments were placed in working order, and since that time we have been working not only full time during the day, but nearly every night in the week. Our staff of workers comprises forty persons, all engaged on our denominational work, as we do no commercial printing whatever. We hope in a few months to get caught up with our work, so as to have stock in hand. At present it is taking us all our time to keep up with our orders.

Before closing this report we will mention a few facts about our factory and plant. The factory is located on a flat near the River Yarra. All departments are in one large room, eighty feet by eighty-eight feet. The book store-room is in front, with the general offices above, making the front portion of the building two stories. The partition between the offices and the factory is glass, enabling the manager and others to have a view of all parts of the factory. A 12½ K. W. dynamo gives light and heat to all parts of the building, also to the homes of the employees.

Our embosser, glue pots, and various heats required during the day in the bindery, foundry, and engraving departments, also radiators in the editorial room and small offices are electrically heated. This is a saving of expense and time. The factory itself and the large general office are heated by open fireplaces, as wood is obtained at the cost of cutting.

The machinery and dynamo are driven by a thirty-inch Pelton Wheel located in the factory. This water-wheel is capable of developing fifty-horsepower. The water is obtained from two small mountain creeks supplying sixty cubic feet a minute during the driest part of the year, and over one hundred cubic feet a minute in the winter, when light is required. The water is conducted through thirty-six hundred feet of nine-inch earthenware pipe into a reservoir holding fifty-five thousand gallons. This reservoir is located three hundred and twenty-four feet above the factory, and would require six hours to empty at the wheel if there was no water running in from the creeks. With the loss in friction we have three hundred and ten feet of effective head, which gives one hundred and forty pounds' pressure per square inch on the wheel. There are two thousand and ninety-four feet of spiral steel pipe between this reservoir and the factory. A governor regulates the speed of the wheel according to the power required. This gives a cheap, clean, effective power which will run twenty-four hours a day if necessary, without special care or expense.

The employees' houses are built along the line of the water pipe, and each house has water laid on and a good pressure. They also have the electric light.

As there is beautiful scenery around Warburton, it is quite a resort for tourists. During the past few months it has been visited by several university professors and that class of people. About all the tourists visit our office, and we have been able to interest men in our denominational work that it has been impossible to reach in the city. The very novelty of such a large institution located in the bush creates a desire to know something about our work. We hope to present the truth to many through this means.

W. D. SALISBURY, Manager.

Warburton, Victoria, Australia.

Was Kindly Given

By A. O. Tait

We are just in receipt of a letter at the Signs office from a brother who requests us to send the Signs for six months to an address which he gives. He states that this six months' subscription was received by “kindly giving away one of the Earthquake Specials.”

We are receiving numerous subscriptions to the Signs from persons who have become interested in the paper through some of the special numbers that have been handed to them by friends, and on a recent Sabbath Elder Corliss baptized three persons into one of our California churches, who received their first impressions in regard to the truth from some of the earlier numbers of the Earthquake Specials that were sent out. While I am writing this note, two of these persons, an intelligent-looking man and his wife, who thus received the truth, are sitting with Brother Hall at his desk, making arrangements with him to enter actively into some line of our work.

Results are following our work that should encourage us, and the urgent appeals that are being made through the spirit of prophecy to work our large cities right now, should receive the careful consideration of all our people. There is no better medium for working these large cities than The Signs of the Times, and the results that are attending its circulation should encourage every one of us to press into this work with earnestness.

The undersigned is always glad to correspond with any of our people who are interested in taking up work with The Signs of the Times, or who would be glad to know more about how to do this work.

A. O. TAIT.

Mountain View, Cal.

“What Hath God Wrought”

There is probably no other work being carried on by the people of God in these last days which is of so much importance, and upon which the progress of this message so largely depends, as the educational work. “Our youth are our hope for missionary labor.” Many and many a time have we read those sentences dictated by the Spirit of the Lord which place before us the fact that the youth of to-day who are coming upon the stage of action are to bear the heavy burdens in the front of the battle which have in the past been carried by our aged pioneers. “Upon Christian youth depend in a great measure the preservation and perpetuity of the institutions which God has devised as means by which to advance his work.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IV, page 434; see also Vol. V, pages 128, 129.

Through the spirit of prophecy the Lord has said concerning his schools in general, “One great object of our schools is the training of youth to engage in service in our institutions and in different lines of gospel work.” These youth are to be “trained according to his plan of growth and development.”—Id., Vol. VI, pages, 133, 127. These thoughts should ever be kept in mind by those who have to deal with the younger members of the Lord’s family.

Probably there is no other school in our ranks to which the Lord has given so much instruction concerning what it should be and how it should be conducted, as to the Avondale school. It is a well-known fact that his specially ordained servant was in the field when the school was established. The Lord especially directed in the selection of the site; and as the years come and go, we who are here on the ground can see more and more wisdom in the selection. The Lord has given abundant evidence that no mistake was made.

A few statements from unpublished Testimonies might not be out of place in this connection, to reveal to us God’s designs for this school: “The school instituted in Cooranbong is to be a pattern school.” “God designs that this place shall be a center, an object-lesson. Our school is not to pattern after any school that has been established in America, or after any school that has been established in this country.” “This school is to be a shining light, a blessing to others.” “Missionary work is to be done on this ground; for this is missionary soil.” “In this school, if all will act a part in sustaining it, a missionary work will be done, the far-reaching influence of which few can realize.” In other places Avondale is spoken of by the spirit of prophecy as the Lord’s farm, “his own schoolroom.”

During the early part of this present school year, considerable time was spent by the teachers and students in studying these Testimonies, and deep impressions were made upon the minds of many as to the responsibilities which rest upon us as teachers and students connected with an institution of the Lord’s own planting. It certainly does inspire our hearts to greater earnestness when we ponder such statements as have been cited, and also when we contemplate that “God’s Spirit moves upon persons to come here to make something of them. . . . God wants to do something for each of us. This work is an individual work, a personal work.”

One very interesting feature connected with this study was to note how fully the words of the Lord have been fulfilled in the preparation of laborers for the field. It is the object of this article to review some of these facts, as we believe that our people throughout the entire field will appreciate them.

Of the six hundred and ninety students who have been or are in attendance at the school since its first year, 1897, we find just about fifty per cent in the field at work, or seeking further preparation. This percentage does not include those who are doing an excellent work in connection with their home churches and neighborhoods, neither those who have in the past been engaged in the work, but have dropped out. Thirty per cent of the old students are actively engaged in the work, some as ministers of the gospel, some as State canvassing agents, and others as nurses, teachers, tract society secretaries and accountants, stenographers, canvassers and foreign missionaries. From the information we have at hand, fourteen of our students are in office, tract society, and publishing work; about forty are canvassing and doing a very successful work; twelve are engaged in evangelical work in the home fields; forty-three are engaged in medical study and nursing; twenty-one are teaching in the home fields; and twenty-two are engaged in various lines of work in foreign fields.

As an illustration of the work done by our students in the canvassing field, I will refer to the canvassing reports for November of last year, this month being the first month of the summer vacation. Of the ninety-one canvassers in the field, thirty-six were former students. Our students obtained orders valued at about $5,090 (£1,018), leaving the value of orders obtained by the remaining canvassers as $4,585 (£917). Brethren Harold Harker and A. G. Mackenzie, two of our former students, are now acting as State canvassing agents in Victoria and New Zealand respectively.

The superintendent of the North Queensland Mission, Pastor G. A. Wantzlick, spent a short time at the school in its early days, and Brother A. H. Piper, superintendent of our Cook Island Mission, no doubt often calls to mind his experiences in the pioneering days of the Avondale school. Among our students are numbered Brother Thorpe, who is now in charge of our mission in Tonga; also Brother and Sister E. C. Davey, who have been conducting the medical branch of our work in Singapore during the past year. Sister Davey, writing recently, speaks of conducting a small school of seventeen Chinese and Japanese children.

The names of two of the members of the Avondale school faculty for the past two years find a place among the six hundred and ninety students. Church-schools are being conducted very successfully by our former students in the following places: Wellington and Napier, N. Z.; Launceston and Hobart, Tasmania; North Fitzroy, Victoria; two in West Australia; one in South Australia; Stanmore, Bathurst,

Eugowra, New South Wales. Miss Ella Boyd has a school of about thirty pupils in Tonga, and Brother Mark Carey is now conducting the school in Rarotonga formerly taught by Miss Evelyn Gooding, who was also one of the first students of our school, her failing health making it necessary for her to leave Rarotonga for a time. Brother S. W. Carr and his wife and Miss Sybil Read are doing a good work in connection with the school in Fiji for the training of native workers for the islands to the north of that group. He reports an enrolment of fifteen at the present time.

Many of the regularly employed nurses in the Sydney Sanitarium began their nurse’s training course at the Avondale school. Others are engaged in our cafés and treatment rooms, and some as evangelistic nurses.

The school has recently been called upon to supply a worker in literary lines to act as proof-reader and assistant editor of The Signs of the Times, in their new office at Warburton. We are glad to report that we were able to answer this call. In addition to these already mentioned, ministerial laborers, Bible workers, and colporteurs are to be found doing faithful service in almost every conference in the union, and stenographers, secretaries, and accountants, numbering from one to ten in each State.

I will quote further from the Testimonies of God’s Spirit: “From this center we are to send forth missionaries. Here they are to be educated and trained, and sent to the islands of the sea and other countries. The Lord wants us to be preparing for missionary work. . . . Some who are here may feel that they must go to China, or other places, to proclaim the message.”

It is with feelings of thankfulness to God that we are able to bear testimony to the fulfilment of these words. The names of some who are in the islands of the sea have already been mentioned. Among others we find the name of Brother Wm. Meyers, who has in charge the canvassing work in Ceylon, India, and Burma. He reports good success in reaching the people of these lands with literature containing present truth, and is hopeful that ere long some will decide to follow in the footsteps of our Saviour. Brother and Sister Albert White are to be found in the heart of Africa, assisting in the training of native workers in the Somabula Mission. At the time of writing two more of our students, Brother Arthur Allum and his wife (nee Miss Eva Osborne) are on the broad ocean sailing to their field of labor in Honan, China, the field for which their hearts have yearned so long. No doubt the Lord saw these two young people in this school with the desire they had, when he dictated the words quoted above. At the time these words were spoken, neither of them had visited the school.

Brother Fred Parker has now been in Singapore about two months. The Lord is indeed blessing his efforts to bring the truth as contained in Brother Uriah Smith’s book on Daniel and the Revelation before the people of that great and important center. He reports an average of sixty orders a week for the first three weeks’ work. During the first eight and one-half days he gave one hundred and thirteen canvasses, taking eighty-eight orders, valued at £64 16s. 6d., five orders to every six canvasses, and this in the midst of very bitter opposition on the part of the local missionaries. Most of his work is done in the early mornings before breakfast, and in the evenings. Brother Robert Caldwell, for several years State canvassing agent in West Australia, has also done an excellent work with our health books and “Desire of Ages” in Singapore, Siam, the Philippines, and Hongkong.

Thus we see that our students are located in every conference in this union, and also in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Rarotonga, Singapore, the Philippines, Ceylon, China, Africa, England, and the United States. Our hearts are full of gratitude to God that he has given us a part in the training of these faithful young people, and it gives us great encouragement to see them leaving our shores from time to time to enter the ripening harvest-fields. Truly, it can be said of this school, as was said of Jacob and Israel of old, “What hath God wrought!” “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” To his name be all the glory.

Avondale, Cooranbong, N. S. W., Australia.

Field Notes

On a recent Sabbath five were baptized at the English church in Minneapolis, Minn.

Elder S. S. Shrock reports the baptism of two at Wilkesbarre, and six at Scranton, Pa.

Four persons have been baptized at Blyville, Neb., and six received into church-membership.

Seven were baptized at Center, Colo., as the result of a tent-meeting conducted by Brethren Alway and Mackintosh.

Fourteen persons received the truth during the recent tent-meeting at Newberry, Pa., eight of whom were baptized.

The tent-meeting at Zanesville, Ohio, has brought twelve into the observance of the Sabbath. Others are still considering the question.

A church has recently been organized at Collbran, Colo., where a tent-meeting was held by Brethren Wm. Kennedy and Will F. Hills.

Five have signified their intention to move out in the path of obedience to all of God's commandments, during the tent-meeting at Bath, Maine.

Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell are assisting the workers in Oakland, Cal., in their tent effort on the camp-ground at Forty-first and Grove Streets.

A church of twenty-eight members was recently organized among the Russians south of Balfour, N. D. Twenty-one of those had just accepted the truth.

As the result of the labors of Elder U. S. Anderson, several have accepted the truth at Eaton, Ind., and a church has been organized. A house of worship has been erected which will be dedicated at once.

Brethren J. C. and F. J. Harris report a growing interest in their tent work at Mount Carroll, Ill., largely as a result of the distribution of literature. They say: “We have canvassed the place now five different times, putting tracts upon some point of present truth in every house in town each time.”

Christian Education

By Frederick Griggs; C. C. Lewis

Conducted by the Department of Education of the General Conference. FREDERICK GRIGGS, Chairman, C. C. LEWIS, Secretary.

How Sunday Legislation Is Secured in Congress

By W. A. Colcord

THE following from the May, 1902, number of The Sabbath, the official organ of the American Sabbath Union, shows how the Sunday-closing provision to the five-million-dollar appropriation made by Congress to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, commonly called the St. Louis Exposition, was secured:—

“The latter part of February, 1900, Dr. Wilbur Crafts of the Reform Bureau, Washington, D. C., sent a telegram to the general secretary [of the American Sabbath Union, Dr. I. W. Hathaway], calling him to Washington to aid in securing an amendment of the bill appropriating five million dollars to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

“February 22 this bill passed the House of Representatives without any Sunday condition. When it came to the Senate, Senator Teller consented to move the following amendment:—

“As a condition precedent to the payment of this appropriation, the directors shall contract to close the gates to visitors on Sundays during the whole duration of the fair.”

“We were assured by several senators that it was useless, and that such amendment would not pass, but after several days of unceasing effort on the part of Drs. Crafts and Hathaway, this bill, with this amendment, was passed by the Senate.”

And the following from the August, 1906, number of the Christian Statesman, shows how the Sunday-closing provision to the two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar appropriation just made by Congress to the Jamestown Exposition, to be held next year, was likewise secured:—

“On Monday, June 25, there was held in Philadelphia a meeting of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association. At this meeting it was strongly urged that Dr. T. T. Mutchler, the corresponding secretary of the Association and of the Pennsylvania Sabbath Association, shall visit Washington again to make sure that there should be no failure at the last moment of the assurances already given that the appropriation in favor of the Jamestown Exposition should be conditioned on the closing of the grounds on the Lord’s day. Dr. Mutchler reached Washington early on the following day, and found to his astonishment that the bill had already passed the second reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, an identical bill having been introduced in each house, and that it contained no such provision as he had been assured on a former visit it would contain. Not more than three full days of the session remained. Only the most resolute and strenuous endeavors could secure the desired action at so late a day. With the help of some good men in each house, the necessary provision was at the last moment embodied in the bill, and passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously. It read as follows: ‘Provided, That as a condition precedent to the payment of this appropriation in aid of said exposition, the Jamestown Exposition Company shall agree to close the grounds of said exposition to visitors on Sunday during the period of said exposition.’”

“Thus we have another impressive example of the necessity for unrelaxing vigilance and persistence in the effort to secure even the most righteous legislation at the hands of our lawmakers. We have a lesson, too, as to the value of organization of the friends of the right. Dr. Mutchler’s most effective argument in all his interviews was the fact that so many States have now Sabbath Reform Societies within their bounds, that more than half the counties of Pennsylvania are organized as auxiliary to the State Association, and that the good will of the great body of citizens represented on these organizations is indispensable to the success of any such expositions. This, he claimed, had been demonstrated in the contrasting experience of the Chicago and Buffalo Expositions on the one hand, and those in Philadelphia and St. Louis on the other.”

The real nature and purpose of all Sunday legislation is shown by the fact that it is always a religious organization that stands back of such legislation and demands its passage. It is the “American Sabbath Union,” or the “Philadelphia Sabbath Association,” or the “Lord’s Day Alliance,” or the “Ministers’ Union,” or some other preachers’ association that starts the agitation and follows up the demand for such laws. They never come from secular sources as do other laws. The foregoing instances are striking proofs of the truthfulness of this.

The “most effective argument” of Dr. Mutchler, referred to by the Statesman, by which he persuaded members of Congress to favor or consent to this unconstitutional legislation, recalls the following prediction from the Testimonies, published as long ago as 1885: “To secure popularity and patronage, legislators will yield to the demand for a Sunday law.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” No. 32, page 207; Vol. V, page 451.

The yielding, it seems, has already begun.

The Sabbath Reform Societies now organized in various States, are beginning to bear fruit in both State and national legislation.

The Report on Sunday Mails adopted by the United States Senate in 1829, well said: “All religious despotism commences by combination and influence; and when that influence begins to operate upon the political institutions of the country, the civil power soon bends under it, and the catastrophe of other nations furnishes an awful warning of the consequences.”

W. A. COLCORD.

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