Earlier text: NyasalandThe writer is a firm believer in publicity of the message of present truth, and to that end has been endeavoring to get matters in and about the Santurce (Porto Rico) church in such a condition as would justify giving publicity to our work. The Lord has brought to a knowledge of this message a minister who is now spending his time distributing our literature and studying with those whom he knows to be interested. This is bringing to us a number of others who are searching for truth, and at the same time stirring up the other members of the church, old and young, to greater missionary activity. The chief problem with which we have to contend is the getting of means to meet the expense of printing tracts in Spanish, the language commonly spoken and read here. The expense of bringing tracts from Spain or South America precludes their use in free distribution. Our young people would be glad to search out the many who read English, if assured they could have some truth-filled literature to give them. Some weeks ago we placed in the REVIEW a request for missionary papers, and for a time a number came; but now, when the church members are aroused to missionary activity, the supply has almost ceased. May this serve as a reminder that a continuous supply will be appreciated. The same rates of postage apply here as in the States. Before papers are given out, they are impressed with a rubber stamp which reads as follows:— “If you desire more literature or information on this or any other Bible theme, you may obtain it by asking at the Adventist church, Calle Nueva, Stop 14, Santurce, P. R., or at the pastor’s residence, Calle Cerra 12, Tel. 512 Azul.”
Thus the people not only have something to read, but are informed of the location of the church and office, and the residence of the pastor. There are special reasons why a large supply of the cards that have been used in our Sabbath schools could be utilized to good advantage. D. D. FITCH. Assignment for February 27 to March 4
REVIEW the book of Numbers. Make a list of sins shown by this record to be abhorrent to God; such as, slander (chap. 12); unbelief (chaps. 13, 14); Sabbath breaking (chap. 15). Add others. What have you learned about “acceptable offering” from reading this book? Deuteronomy is the fifth and last book of the Pentateuch. It is mainly made up of three addresses by Moses, given just before his death. In chapters 1 to 4:40, he rehearses God’s goodness to Israel; chapters 5 to 26 review the law for the new generation; chapters 27 to 30 are a renewal of the covenant. It is from the second section that the book is named, the word “Deuteronomy” meaning the “second law,” or a “duplicate of the law.” These addresses by the leader of Israel were both an admonition and a farewell. “His words look both forward and backward—backward along the way in which they have been led by God, and forward along the way in which he is yet to lead them. The deliverance from Egypt is repeatedly made the motive for obedience; obedience is the condition of their obtaining the land before them.” There was much in their past experience that Israel needed to remember. “Thou shalt remember,” “lest thou forget,” “take heed to thyself,” are expressions that occur frequently. NECESSITY FOR THE BOOK.—A crisis had come in the affairs of the nation, and a review of Israel’s history and a restatement of God’s law must be made. (1) A new generation had grown up in which had not heard the original promulgation of the law at Sinai. (2) A new country was before the nation. This country was devoted to an idolatrous worship of the most seductive kind. On every high hill and in every grove this worship was carried on. An unflinching devotion to God was necessary to resist this alluring worship, which was more to be dreaded than any armed resistance. (3) New duties: The people had been leading a nomadic life; now they were to be settled in cities and villages, and to till the land. The observance of some laws had been suffered to lapse. The people must be shown the need of conforming their lives and conduct in these new relations to God’s laws.” TIME.—The time covered by this book may be easily reckoned. It opens with an address given by Moses on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year of the exodus. In Joshua 4:19 we read that Israel entered Canaan on the tenth day of the first month—seventy days later. This includes the thirty days’ mourning for Moses. “When Alexander the Great was plundering the palace of Darius, one of his soldiers found in a leather bag the crown jewels of Persia. The prize was worth millions, but the stupid fellow opened the bag, shook out the little glittering stones among the rubbish, and went away boasting about the fine sack he had got for carrying his food.” “A slave was one day climbing a mountain when his foot slipped, and he fell. To break the fall he caught a shrub, but it gave way, and man and bush went rolling together down the mountain side to the bottom. When he got up, he noticed curious little white particles sticking to the roots. They looked like silver. He hastened back to the spot where the bush had grown, got down on his knees, and with his hands dug away a few inches of the soil. Lo! he had discovered the mines of Potosi, which have yielded hundreds of shiploads of solid silver. The owners of ‘the silver mountain,’ as it is called,—for it is now honeycombed with more than five thousand silver mines,—were till that day poor men. Only the surface was theirs; they knew nothing of the riches beneath.” “You sing,—
‘Holy Bible, book divine—
Precious treasure, thou are mine!’” Is it yours only as the jewels belonged to the soldier, or as the silver mines belonged to the owners before the slave made his happy discovery? The scribes and Pharisees are said to have known the Bible so well that, if every Bible in the world had been destroyed, they could have rewritten it from memory without a mistake. What good did it do them? “The Bible in the hand won’t do; the Bible in the head won’t do; but the Bible in the heart—made a living thing by God’s good Spirit—means eternal life.” The “Temperance Instructor”
By M. E. KERN.
OUR Missionary Volunteers should not forget that just now is the time to work for the new Temperance Instructor. Surely this should be our banner year in working for this paper. We feel confident that every Missionary Volunteer has an earnest desire to see the liquor traffic abolished. Many who do not fully sense the terror of sin in the abstract can see in the ruin which rum has wrought, a concrete illustration of the awful results of wrongdoing; and as our young people work against the liquor traffic, they learn to hate sin and to identify themselves with the cause of righteousness. On Jan. 1, 1916, seven States passed under prohibition. One of the seven had had prohibition years ago, but had gone back to liquor. It takes more than laws to insure prohibition. It takes education. The Temperance Instructor is needed just as much perhaps in prohibition territory as elsewhere. It is needed everywhere. During the year 1916, the following States will vote on this great moral issue: Vermont, in March; in November, South Dakota, California, Nebraska, Montana, Michigan, Idaho; also Alaska. Will not our Missionary Volunteer leaders at once organize their young people for a big temperance campaign? In some cases, public-spirited men will pay for copies of the Temperance Instructor to be distributed. In others, our young people can take up the regular sale of this paper, and while conducting an educational campaign on the subject of temperance, can make a reasonable profit for themselves. We shall be glad to hear concerning your campaign plans. Report From Argentina
By M. E. KERN
THE following report from Elder R. T. Baer, president of the Argentine (South America) Conference, will be of interest to all who are watching the advance of our Missionary Volunteer movement. This letter is a sample of many received from foreign fields, asking for help in the work for the youth:— “I am sure you will want to know all about the young people’s work in this part of the field. I will say we have a church membership of a little more than a thousand. There are about two hundred and fifty young people; many of these are promising. We are encouraging them to come to our school. Doubtless you know that Prof. Harland Stevens is in charge of our school. We now have Brother A. R. Sherman as Missionary Volunteer secretary, and I have taken him with me to visit some of the large schools. We would call a special meeting for the young people, and after getting acquainted with them, we would call a meeting of the church officers, and in counsel with them would organize a society. In this way we have carefully organized six societies, with good leaders. “I must say that we are at a disadvantage here, inasmuch as there are no programs in Spanish for the young people to follow. The good things you are presenting in the Church Officers’ Gazette do not help our young people here. We have for the present made arrangements with the union conference to prepare some programs in Spanish that will serve as a guide to the young people in their meetings, so we hope to be in a little better shape for the new year. “We have received the Morning Watch Calendar in Spanish, and we are17pleased to offer this to our young people. We expect to cable you for the Morning Watch in German. “We have had a good camp meeting, which was held at Camarero, where our school is located. We had some very spiritual meetings for the youth. A committee was appointed to have charge of the Missionary Volunteer work. This committee was composed of the following brethren: G. W. Casebeer, A. R. Sherman, and H. U. Stevens. I addressed the young people’s meetings a few times at the camp meeting. We had about one hundred youth at these services. Several who were not Christians were converted and received baptism. The Lord blessed in the meetings for the youth, and many expressed themselves to the effect that it was the best meeting they had ever attended. “We are impressed that we should do more for our young people in this field. We should appreciate any suggestions that may be helpful for young people in the Spanish-speaking fields.” If the young people of America, surrounded by Protestant Christian influences, need reading courses, Bible Year outlines, Standard of Attainment studies, prepared society lessons, organized missionary activity, and efficient leadership, surely the young people who have come out from Catholicism and are surrounded by superstition and darkness, need these things more. Let us pray for the young people of South America. Always Enough
By Anne Porter Johnson
IN time of drought the spring will fail;
The cattle on the beaten trail,
The birds perched on the dusty brink,
Search vainly for the cooling drink.
The grass is brown, the blooms are dead,
Along the little stream's dry bed. Not so God's Fountain! Drought nor heat
Can check its waters clear and sweet.
For all the thirsty souls of earth
It gushes forth,— there is no dearth,—
Abundant, free, an endless flow,
While countless ages onward go. Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. KERN Secretary
MATILDA ERICKSON Assistant Secretary
MRS. I. H. EVANS Office Secretary
MEADE MACGUIRE
C. E. BENSON } Field Secretaries
J. F. SIMON The Ministerial Reading Courses
By Frederick Griggs
During the past four or five years considerable attention has been given to reading courses for our young people, teachers, and ministers. Many of our brethren and sisters in their homes have entered heartily into one or more of these courses of reading. There is no question as to their value. A few extracts from “Gospel Workers,” one of the books of the 1915 Ministerial Reading Course, emphasize the value of these courses. While these words are addressed primarily to our brethren in the ministry and to our sisters in the Bible work, yet the principles of which they speak are applicable to all. Sister White says:— “A minister should never think that he has learned enough, and may now relax his efforts. His education should continue throughout his lifetime.” “Ministers of age and experience should feel it their duty, as God’s hired servants, to go forward, progressing every day, continually becoming more efficient in their work, and constantly gathering fresh matter to set before the people.” “God has no use for lazy men in his cause; he wants thoughtful, kind, affectionate, earnest workers. Active exertion will do our preachers good. . . . Persons who have never acquired habits of close industry and economy of time should have set rules to prompt them to regularity and dispatch.” “Men of God must be diligent in study, earnest in the acquirement of knowledge, never wasting an hour. Through persevering exertion they may rise to almost any degree of eminence as Christians, as men of power and influence.” “Mental culture is what we as a people need, and what we must have in order to meet the demands of the time. Poverty, humble origin, and unfavorable surroundings need not prevent the cultivation of the mind.” It is just as important that the brother on the farm or in the shop, or the sister in her home, should make an effort to become an efficient worker for Christ as that the minister do so. Very few persons realize the value of moments,— moments that go to waste which might have been spent in improvement of mind and heart. Such a use of time as would ordinarily be lost gives to one a new life within and a new outlook upon life without, which makes living a joy and fills the days with light and courage. At the last General Conference a recommendation was adopted, establishing a regular course of reading for our ministers and Bible workers. During the year 1914 the following books were read in the course: “Preparing to Preach,” by Breed; “The Acts of the Apostles,” by Mrs. E. G. White; and “The Monuments and the Old Testament,” by Price; and in 1915, “Medical Science of Today,” by Evans; “Gospel Workers,” by Mrs. E. G. White; “History of the Ancient World,” by Goodspeed; the magazine Christian Educator; and “The Minister as Shepherd,” by Jefferson. During the present year we are reading “History of Western Europe,” by Robinson; “The New Era in Asia,” by Eddy; “The Ideal Ministry,” by Johnson; “The Ministry of Angels,” by I. H. Evans; and the magazine Christian Educator. The magazine contains from month to month notes and outlines on the books being read, and other valuable matter pertaining to gospel work. No charge is made save for the books and the magazine, for which there is a special club offer of $5. This is a saving of seventy cents on the regular retail price of the books. Money spent for good books affording wholesome intellectual food, is as necessary and helpful as that spent for physical food; for after all, the spiritual and mental life is of higher consequence than food and raiment. These good books should be in our homes and be read this year. The Department of Education of the General Conference will be very glad to correspond with any of our people relative to these reading courses. Our School Work Outside of North America
By Frederick Griggs
It is interesting to note that the rapid and substantial growth of our school work is world-wide, and is not confined to the North American Division Conference, the home of our schools. According to the report of the statistical secretary for 1914, there were in the North American Division Conference 565 schools, taught by 997 teachers, having an enrolment of 16,176 pupils; while outside this Division Conference there are 113 schools, employing 244 teachers, with an enrolment of 3,524. This gives a grand total throughout the world of 678 schools of all grades, with an enrolment of 19,700 students, and employing 1,241 teachers, an increase during the year 1914 of 98 in the number of schools, 1,931 in enrolment, and 92 in teaching force. The foregoing figures do not include our mission schools, whose interests are now assuming large proportions. During the year 1914 there were reported 248 mission schools, including the out-schools connected with them, which was an increase of 42 schools over the number the previous year. These schools had an enrolment of 11,156, an increase of 1,546 over that of 1913. They employed 401 teachers, an increase of 39 over the previous year. These schools are scattered throughout all mission lands, and are carried on in connection with our other mission enterprises. A few words taken from letters received from these schools will be of interest:— W. C. Walston, Solusi Mission School: “We are all well here at our mission, and our work is prospering. Our school is full, and every week, for lack of accommodations and funds, we are obliged to turn away some who would like to enter the school. Our ten out-schools are well attended, as are also the Sabbath meetings and the Sabbath schools. Our industrial work has a good outlook for the coming year. We realize that we have the blessing of God from day to day, for which we are very grateful indeed. We have a baptism class of about twenty; these will be baptized next Sabbath, nothing preventing. Such experiences repay us for the labor bestowed in bringing these natives in heathen darkness to the light of the gospel and the saving love of a Saviour.” Herbert S. Mould, El Instituto de La Mision Adventista, Cuba: “The mission training school at Santa Clara closed at the end of 1915, after a four months’ session. During the past year we had an enrolment of twenty. Most of the students were mature young people who were called in from the canvassing field for a little further preparation. Besides the regular school work, a thorough course was given in Bible doctrines, and now once more the students are out in the field. This time some are doing ministerial work, others Bible work, and the rest are scattered throughout the island, canvassing. Nearly every one is actively engaged in the work.” Floyd E. Bates, Amoy, China: “We are opening a training school here in Amoy where our students will be largely young converts or sons of church members, and will be in school with the idea of preparing for active missionary work among their own people. We hope to make the school so strong that it will draw students of other classes. These students vary in age from fourteen years to adult men and women. As to classification—well, that is a very hard question. A large percentage of them will be able to read a little at least, and some will know how to write a limited number of characters, but as to what we term the common branches, they will be ignorant. The Chinese language has no grammar, so that very important member of the common branches will be eliminated from the course of study here. Practically all that is taught in the out-schools which we are operating is Bible and Chinese. We are very anxious, however, to increase the scope of our school work, as it is entirely insufficient18for our needs. But before we can do that, we must educate teachers for this province who can teach the other branches. This will devolve upon our training school in Amoy. “As to the length of time the students will be with us, that is very uncertain. We shall try to keep them at least two years, and longer if possible. Some of the students will be supported by the mission, and some will support themselves. When we find a young man who has the necessary qualifications but is without money, as is often the case, the mission will send him to the school, if possible. We shall have good buildings, with room enough to accommodate fifty or sixty pupils. The buildings are now in process of erection, and will be finished about the first of the year. We expect to open the school at once when they are finished.” It is well recognized in the homeland that the efficiency of our schools measures very definitely the strength of our conference work. If a conference has its young men and women in Christian schools, there is life and vitality going back to the homes and churches whence they came; and from these schools come the workers of the conference. Now this principle holds in the mission fields just as well as in the homeland. The progress and stability of our work in those portions of the world where spiritual darkness prevails are dependent in no small degree upon the spiritual light and efficiency of the schools which we maintain there. Hence the need of strengthening the school interests in heathen lands. The rapid advance of our educational interests in these lands is highly gratifying. FREDERICK GRIGGS 3 3 3 General Secretary W. E. HOWELL 3 3 3 Assistant Secretary Origin and Purpose of Tract Societies
By N. Z. TOWN
TRACT and missionary societies among Seventh-day Adventists began with a company of ten sisters, in South Lancaster, Mass., who, in the spring of 1868, banded together and organized what was at first known as the Vigilant Missionary Society. Concerning the object and work of this society, Sister Maria Huntley, the secretary, wrote as follows:— “It was the fact that in this conference (New England) there were many lonely Sabbath keepers who seldom if ever had the privilege of attending our public services, which first prompted the organization of this society; and it was formed with the view of meeting the wants of such cases, in calling their attention to the importance of such points of present truth as they might be losing their interest in, and affording encouragement and consolation to those who might need them. It was also designed to distribute reading matter and to call attention to such enterprises as might arise from time to time as far as their influence might extend.” The second article of the constitution of the Vigilant Missionary Society, which was adopted in 1870, reads as follows:— “The object of this society shall be to awaken and increase an interest in pure and undefiled religion:— “1. By corresponding with all who we may have reason to believe will be benefited thereby, especially lonely commandment keepers. “2. By visiting, conversing, and praying with families which we might suppose our Saviour would visit were he here upon the earth. “3. By circulating tracts.” Later, this article in the constitution was changed to read as follows:— “Its object shall be:—19“1. To seek openings where publications on the Sabbath and kindred truths may be brought into respectable notice, especially in regions beyond conference limits or Seventh-day Adventist tract and missionary organizations. “2. To obtain a knowledge, as far as practicable, of all the scattered observers of God’s Sabbath and those who may be influenced to investigate the truths we believe, where they do not have the benefit of conference or church organization. “3. To take a special interest in the worthy poor and afflicted everywhere; and where they are found within conference limits, or if there are openings for labor within the bounds of any conference where missionary efforts can successfully be put forth, this society shall notify the proper officers of the tract and missionary society of said conference. “4. To render aid to the General Conference tract organization, and to the various conference tract societies throughout the country, by imparting to them such information as will better enable them to advance the cause of present truth.” Interest in the work of this society grew so rapidly that within a short time there were scores of what were then called corresponding agents cooperating with the society in every conference in this country, and finally led to the organization of conference tract societies. The first of these was organized Nov. 6, 1870, in the New England Conference. Articles 1-6 of the constitution adopted by this society are as follows:— “ARTICLE I. This society shall be called The Missionary and Tract Society of the New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “ART. II. The objects of this society shall be to visit, circulate books and tracts, and to obtain subscribers for our periodicals. “ART. III. The officers of this society shall be a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Executive Committee of five, of which the President shall be one, and they shall be elected annually. “ART. IV. Any person may become a member of this society who is a member of a church of Seventh-day Adventists, by payment of the sum of one dollar. “ART. V. Each member shall keep a record of his labor, and report the same quarterly at the quarterly meetings, at which time there shall be sessions of this society. “ART. VI. The funds to be employed by this society shall consist of the money paid for memberships and freewill offerings.” We see by these articles which governed the first tract and missionary societies that the original purpose of their organization was:— 1. To promote a purer Christian life,—
(a) By correspondence.
(b) By visiting and praying with families.
(c) By circulating tracts and other literature. 2. To assist worthy poor. 3. To aid the General Conference in carrying on the work. It is worthy of notice that the missionary phase of the work was made most prominent in the work of these early societies, as the first conference society was called the missionary and tract society instead of the tract and missionary society. As the work has grown and become better organized, the tract societies have become distributing centers, not only for tracts and periodicals, but for our large subscription books and home workers’ books; and instead of being supported by donations, as in the early days, they have become largely self-supporting from the commissions they receive on the literature they handle. As the monetary and commercial phase of the work has grown, the old-time missionary phase has, to some extent, been lost sight of, and we have come to look too largely to the machinery of the organization to carry on the work, instead of to individual, personal effort. But we are glad to see in some of the conferences a return to the old-time method, which is proving a great blessing to those conferences. The following paragraph from one of the workers in the early days shows how the brethren then regarded the advantages of the tract society:— “The tract and missionary society places within the hand of every man, woman, and child the means of contributing to the spiritual improvement of the world. Our books, periodicals, and tracts will penetrate where no preacher could get a foothold; they will preach where he could not be heard. Our publications will reprove, condemn, alarm, advise, and console in solitude, where no passion interferes to drown their voice. Of these silent preachers thousands and thousands may be sent abroad and reach the honest in heart; and where the good seed of the kingdom is abundantly sown, we may reasonably hope for an abundant harvest.” In a report given four years after the first society was organized, Elder Haskell, the president, says:— “It is only four years since the first conference tract and missionary society among Seventh-day Adventists was organized. This was in the New England Conference. Then it was all an experiment. We had everything to learn. But, by the blessing of God, it proved a success. Its influence reached other conferences until there are now ten that have organized tract societies. The annual report of total work done by these conferences during the past year is as follows: Between three and four million pages of reading matter distributed; thousands of volumes placed in libraries; nearly ten thousand families visited and prayed with. Only think of it! Ten thousand prayers offered for particular families and individuals in connection with personal labor, and fifteen thousand subscriptions obtained for our periodicals! We call this a work of no small magnitude, especially when we realize that this effort is made wholly among those who are not believers in present truth. The amount of money raised by the tract societies for this home missionary work is not less than $15,000. This is truly wonderful.” Speaking of the field in which the tract society should operate, Elder Haskell says:— “Our field of operation is the world. We should never forget the great fact that there is a world lying in wickedness. There is no reason why the strength of our system should not be felt in every civilized nation on the globe.” The following forceful words from Elder G. I. Butler, which we quote in closing, are as applicable as in 1874, when he wrote them:— “The one grand thought which we desire to consider is this: The strength of the organization consists in making every member a worker. The system enables every one to work effectually, but the work must be done by the members. The machine will not work alone. Each one must do his part; thus astonishing results will be seen. Now that the organization is perfected, we beg of our people to use it. Go forth with the precious seeds of truth, using good sense, judgment, and discretion. Scatter the tracts and papers. If you cannot interest people in present truth of a religious character, interest them in the health question. We need none of us talk of a reaction in the tract and missionary society. There is no need of this, but we do need much greater action. God bless the tract and missionary work. Under him it is bound to succeed.” We Shall Meet in the Judgment
By F. W. Paap
THERE is not one of us but desires to be saved in God’s eternal kingdom. At times we all have some serious thoughts relative to the judgment, and no doubt many of our words and actions would be far different than they are if we could look at things now as we shall see them then. “Jesus came to our world, and gave his own life to save these souls, and yet you who know the truth make so little effort to impart the blessings of his grace to those for whom he died. Such indifference and neglect of duty is an amazement to the angels. In the judgment you must meet the souls you have neglected.”—“An Appeal,” p. 19. We rejoice in the improved conditions that we see on every hand. Many are coming to sense their personal responsibility in this great soul-winning work, but we are solicitous for the many who are still neglectful of the daily opportunities of doing work for God. “What manner of entreaty can be brought to bear upon the idlers in market places that will arouse them to go and work in the Master’s vineyard? What can we say to the slothful church member to make him realize the necessity of unearthing his talent and putting it out to the exchangers? O that God would set this matter in all its importance before the sleeping churches!”—Id., p. 14. The following is a mighty appeal to us all to watch as those who must give an account:— “‘As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.’ 1 Kings 20: 40. “Don’t ask the awful question. It is agony to me to think about it! “The Spirit said, ‘Speak to him. Tell him of a Saviour’s love. Tell him his danger.’ But I was ‘busy here and there;’ I neglected it; and by and by he was gone. “I knew I ought to talk to him. I felt that I was the one God meant to put the gospel before him, and somehow I felt I ought to do it quickly—now, now! “But I was ‘busy here and there.’ “Now it is too late! He is gone! “I shall not see him until I meet him at the judgment bar, in that awful day! I know I shall see him then! “I do not fear that day of judgment for myself, for I heard and believed God’s good news, that Jesus of Nazareth died for me, that he took my place on the cross, where he bore all [sin] for the whole world. I heard that all who believed he bore their sin, and trusted him (for he rose from the dead, and is alive now), should be saved, and should not even be judged (John 5: 24); for Jesus was judged in their place. I believed this, and I know I am saved. But he—he is gone! “Maybe if I had told him, he, too, would have believed; and with what joy we should have met in glory! “But he is gone! Gone without Christ, without God, without hope! “‘It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.’ Oh, if I had only told the gospel to him! If I had only said, ‘Jesus Christ died for your sin. Will you trust him?’ “But I was ‘busy here and there,’ and I put off speaking to him; and now he is gone—gone!”—W. R. Newell, in Missionary Witness. “Shall we hear the glad word spoken: ‘Faithful servant,’ and ‘well done’? Or the dread and awful sentence, ‘Thou art wanting, sinful one’?” The Life Purpose
By Edith M. Graham
The call of Jesus to his disciples is, “Follow me.” What does it mean to follow Jesus? Literally, to follow a person means to walk behind him, going in the same path as he does, turning as he does, and watching to see the way he goes, that it may not be missed. We may conclude that figuratively it means to do as Jesus did, to make his life purpose ours. What was Christ’s life purpose? “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19: 10. The one purpose of his life was to save souls. He had no other aim. Then to follow Christ means to seek and to save the lost. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2: 6. “Even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2: 21. How did Jesus walk? “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10: 38. To walk as Jesus walked, to follow his steps, therefore, means to go about doing good, to spend the life in acts of service for others, to bring them to a knowledge of the way of salvation. Where should our following begin? “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1: 8. To each of us Jerusalem means our home, our city, town, or village, the place where we live. There we are to be witnesses for Christ by our lives and by our works. Only so can we in truth be followers of the Lord. EDITH M. GRAHAM. Home Missionary Department
E. M. GRAHAM . . . General Secretary F. W. PAAP . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary N. Z. TOWN . . . . . General Secretary W. W. EASTMAN . . . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary