It is little short of criminal the way many parents permit their children to grow up helpless and inefficient, while the parents themselves are worn to the breaking point, doing alone what should be done in partnership with the children.
The following story, told by Ida C. Bailey-Allen, in the Country Gentleman, is so much to the point that I give it entire, hoping every one who reads it may profit by it:—
“It was four o’clock Saturday afternoon when Mrs. Sherrod rapped on Mrs. Brown’s screen door. From within came the spicy odor of baking cookies and the clatter of dishes, which bespoke a day’s work as yet unfinished. In a moment or two Mrs. Brown emerged from the kitchen, tired and obviously much embarrassed.
“I am glad enough to see you, Mrs. Sherrod,” she began, “and as long’s you’ve seen my dirt I don’t care; but I do declare I can’t see how in the world you’re12so smart. You look as fresh and cool in that pretty gingham as though you had nothing to do. Now you’re here, I’ve got an excuse to sit down, and here’s a cool spot by the vines. O you’re not interrupting! The housework will wait, and I’m not going to let you go home till you tell me how you manage to do your work so easy.”
“Mrs. Sherrod opened a work bag and took out her tatting. ‘I’ll sit here awhile and talk till you’re rested, and then I’ll help you finish up,’ she said. ‘As to my work, well, the truth of it is I don’t do it,—not alone,—for the children help me. We’re in company; I’m the president, and they’re the stockholders, and we do it together. You see, when you’re a stockholder you have shares, and our shares are to do parts of the housework. We exchange every week with one another, and try a new line. This prevents grinding out work, you see. We have dividends, too,’ she continued, catching up a thread; ‘one is a grand good time once a week. In summer it’s a picnic or camping out, in winter a candy pull or a good story read aloud. Then the children are never interrupted during playtime, and the one that works the quickest is given a dozen eggs or something else that will sell.’”
“Mrs. Brown’s tired eyes brightened. ‘But don’t they quarrel over the amount of time it takes to do the work?’
“‘That’s a problem I’ve had to figure out,’ Mrs. Sherrod answered thoughtfully, ‘and at last I’ve settled it by planning an hour’s daily schedule for each child. O, yes, they disagree sometimes!’ she added, ‘and then I step in as president of the company and ask them to do the work on schedule time, and they always finish in an hour.’”
A Mother Who Remembered
“‘How did you ever happen to think of this plan?’ Mrs. Brown asked.
“‘Well, the necessity dates back a good many years—to my own girlhood,’ Mrs. Sherrod explained. ‘When I was about seven years old, Rachel Joyce and I used to visit her grandmother quite often. One day she said to us, “Girls, how would you like to learn to make gingerbread?” Well, Rachel and I had been crazy to learn to cook, but our mothers were too busy “to bother,” they said. I’ll never forget that day. We couldn’t reach the table, so we stood on boxes. First of all, we learned the recipe: One cupful of sour cream, one cupful of molasses,—the same old ingredients we all use,—then we sifted and measured, and at last it went into the pans, with a little sample cake for each of us. Well,’—Mrs. Sherrod sat upright in her enthusiasm,—‘gingerbread was never so good; but somehow mother didn’t seem to understand that I would like to learn something else, for whenever I asked her to show me, she said she was too busy, and I spent most of my time washing dishes. How I hated it, week in and week out!’
“‘When I was married,’ she went on, ‘I couldn’t even bake a pie or cut out the little clothes for the first baby, and I hated housework. So I decided to teach my children how to do it from the beginning, so that they wouldn’t hate it as I did. You remember that box covered with red calico that stands in the sitting room? Well, that was the toy box, and when Johnny was only two, he played he was an expressman taking things to the station.
“‘The Christmas Mary was four, father and the boys made her a doll house out of a big packing box. I papered the walls. We made the furniture and planned it completely, even to the sheets for the doll’s bed. The first thing Mary did was to put her dolly into it; and when she took her out, I declare if she didn’t turn the sheets back to air! The school-teacher told me it was the instinct of imitation; all children have it, and I find it’s a help in teaching them. Right then and there I showed her how to make the bed. Whenever her dollies had supper, Mary had real food for the table, and she learned to wash their dishes. Then came sweeping and dusting. Finally one day when she was seven she said, “Mamma, let me set the table.” “All right, daughter,” I said; “let’s see how well you can do it.” I must say that I trembled for my dishes, but she didn’t break one, because she was used to handling things. That’s the secret in teaching them—they must learn to use their hands first.
“‘Well, later on, as the children grew older, we imagined all sorts of work games; for a while we played brownies, then it was fairies, and now it’s the company. At first it was a bother and sometimes I was almost discouraged, but I held on because I wanted them to learn for themselves the value of order and the usefulness of work.
“‘When the boys were ten and twelve, they caught the camping-out craze. I let them go to the lake for a week with the rest of the boys, and do you remember how they came back? Johnny lost pounds of flesh, and Thomas had indigestion so’s he could hardly walk; all because of the indigestible stuff they’d eaten. “I don’t want ever to go again,” Tom said, “till I’ve learned to cook.” The girls had started in long before, but somehow I’d thought cooking wasn’t for men. But as they wanted to have lessons, we started in,—first, cereals, then eggs and cocoa,—and each week the boys camped out for a few hours at least, and cooked the things they’d learned.’”
The Stockholders Take a Stand
“‘One day,’ continued Mrs. Sherrod, ‘Mary came into my room and said, most importantly: “Madam President, the stockholders think you should have a day of rest each week, so they’re going to get the Sunday dinner. It’s all right about Sunday school,” she went on; “we’ll fix the vegetables before we go.”’”
“‘Just then Mrs. Brown interrupted: ‘It takes me an hour a day just to pick up,’ she complained. ‘But before you go I want to inquire after your back.’
“‘O, it’s much better, thanks to Johnny! I found kneading bread was irritating it, and a month ago Johnny undertook to do it all. I’m feeling much better, thank you.
“‘But if you want children to be orderly, you must give them the things to do with. You can’t expect a little boy to hang up a towel till he has one of his own and a low hook that he can reach, or a girl to keep a bureau drawer in order that she shares with her sister. As to housework, you must provide utensils suited to them. Now, ten-year-old Queen can’t use a big broom, so I have a lighter one for her. Whenever we see any interesting tool advertised, we investigate and often buy it.
“‘You must think of the physical side, for too much or too heavy work is as bad as none at all. When Susan Brake came back from boarding school, she was telling us about her studies. “I just love gymnastics,” she said. “We take a long rod and hold it that way and then this.” Her father looked at her and said, dryly, “If that was a broom, I could ’most think you were sweeping.” Housework is certainly fine physical exercise if it’s done with the windows open,’ she added, ‘and it is certainly a good deal better for the children to have something to take up part of their time than to hang round getting into mischief. It is the fault of mothers that so many children are naughty.
“‘Judge Long was brought up to work both in the house and on the place, and he got his board and keep at college for two years by washing dishes. The biggest men and women are the ones who can do things, and if a knowledge of doing them decently and in order helps, my children will all have an education. But I’m going to finish up your work, Mrs. Brown; you’re quite tired out.’”
“‘That isn’t right,’ Mrs. Brown objected feebly.
“‘O, I’m not talked out yet,’ Mrs. Sherrod answered. ‘May as well talk and work as do anything else. There’s a good deal being said nowadays about scarcity of the food supply and going back to the soil. I tell you the problem can be solved through teaching the children right.
“‘It’s a great thing to be concerned in national problems,’ she added earnestly, ‘and we country mothers are the ones who can help solve this one, for we can make things so lively and interesting that the children will grow up happy, and contented to fill our places when we’re gone, and become providers for the nation.’”
Haiti
By A. F. PRIEGER
A. F. PRIEGER
We wish to thank all the REVIEW family who thought of and prayed for us during the time of trouble we passed through on account of the war. I am sorry to say we are not all through with it yet, for from all reports the revolution is starting again. We have been here since November, 1912, and during this time Haiti has had three presidents. We often wonder what will come next. Right here where we are located is the seat of trouble. Had not the United States gunboat come here, there would have been a great deal of pillaging. Just as the pillaging began, the United States marines landed, and it all stopped instantly. At present some fierce fighting is going on eighteen miles from us, and it seems to have turned into a guerrilla warfare.
Our work has been hindered to a great extent, but we hope that we shall make up for lost time in the near future. Thus far, only two of our brethren have been drawn into these political movements, and they have learned a lesson. None of our people have lost anything thus far. The Lord has kept them in a remarkable way, and I believe it is chiefly due to the prayers of our brethren everywhere.
We had quite an exciting time when the revolutionists entered the city. The shooting was terrific. Bullets went everywhere, and the empty shells were lying on the streets so thick that the next day at 11 A. M. I still found sixteen empty cartridges. Only a few persons were killed or wounded, for the city was surrendered without resistance.
I have just bought a photo of a genuine voodoo priest, and the man that took the picture was exiled because he took it. Everybody here, from the peasant to the president, believes in these voodoo priests. I have never attended their feasts. Nothing would be gained by doing so; for strangers attending them see only the humorous and ridiculous side, and often leave with the impression that such a feast is only an innocent worship of an innocent and ignorant people. But those who are here longer find out that it is a very serious affair. These feasts are always in the dark hours of the night; and when I meet some of these voodoo worshipers, I feel that Satan's host is present. Invariably all of them are fatalists, and the most ignorant is fully convinced that he can some day be president of Haiti.
Let Your Actions Shine
By Spurgeon
LIGHTS do not talk, but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by your conduct.—Spurgeon.
Life’s Mirror
By Madeline Bridges
THERE are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are pure and true:
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
Give love, and love to your life will flow,
A strength in your utmost need;
Have faith, and a score of hearts will show
Their faith in your word and deed.
For life is the mirror of king and slave;
’Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
— Madeline Bridges.
OUR HOMES
By Mrs. C. C. Lewis
Conducted by Mrs. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.
Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.
OUR HOMES
Women Need Standards of Value
What women need most is an educational campaign along the line of standardization of values. The bargain sale makes victims of women at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the storekeeper. That he gets a good percentage of return value on his hundred-million output shows how much13money Mrs. Housewife wastes by confusing yellow price tags with the actual needs of her home. Not knowing standard values is the great bugbear of the American purse. The American woman needs to put her mind to work and determine for herself whether she is buying the real article. The article bearing the yellow bargain tag is almost never cheap.
The big colleges are taking in hand the girl who will be the Mrs. Housewife of tomorrow, and through domestic science courses are teaching her to know values and to make a business of keeping house. Today, science invades and controls the whole house, including laundry and kitchen, says the Mother’s Magazine. In Madison, where the University of Wisconsin is situated, many of the town laundresses have availed themselves of domestic science lectures, and the result is the best grade of laundry work at moderate cost. Before the opening of this course at the university, it was almost impossible to have good laundry work done in the city, or to find trained domestic servants. Scientific laundry work is taught not only here, but at other universities.
There is no part of housework which cannot be performed more easily if only a little common sense is applied, and if the housewife avails herself of only a small part of the good things that are being done by science for the home. Housework is not drudgery—at least it need not be. It is only one kind of human service. We were all born for service, and woman’s best service is given in the home.—Selected.
Elder E. H. Wilbur
By George Harlow
EDWIN HYMES WILBUR was born April 2, 1869, and died May 1, 1914. When quite young he accepted Christ as his Saviour, and his life was spent in spreading the third angel's message. He was married to Miss Susan Haskell, July 21, 1902, and soon after the wedding Brother and Sister Wilbur sailed for China, arriving there Oct. 28, 1902, where they devoted their lives to the work of winning souls for the Master.
ELDER E. H. WILBUR
For several years Brother Wilbur's heart gave him much concern, he many times being so weak as to have fainting spells. Still he bore this affliction with great fortitude, until compelled by exhaustion to lay down his work, in Pakhoi, where he was sick for but two days, and quietly went to rest to await the call of the Life-giver.
Brother Wilbur dearly loved the advent truth, and laid down his armor in hope of seeing his Master soon. He leaves a wife and two children, father, brothers, and sister to mourn. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. E. Hipwell, of the English Episcopal Church, assisted by Mr. Pun, the Chinese evangelist of our mission.
GEORGE HARLOW.
Camp Meetings in the British Columbia Conference
By O. A. Olsen
ON account of the large territory and the consequent difficulties of assembling at one place, the conference held two camp meetings this season, thus affording a larger number the privilege of attending. The first of these meetings was held on the west coast, at Coquitlam, some sixteen miles from Vancouver.
The location was favorable. The camp was composed of forty tents, including the book tent and two meeting tents. The weather was cool, and there fell some rain. The attendance on the Sabbath was about two hundred. While the meeting was not a large one, it was good and profitable, and all in attendance returned home much encouraged in the Lord.
The Bible studies and preaching were of a very practical nature, and met a hearty response from all present. There was no conference business connected with the meeting, as this was attended to during the winter; still the different lines of work, such as the Sabbath school, the home missionary work, and the circulation of literature, were discussed, and it was pleasing to see those present take such a hearty interest in the various branches of church and conference work.
A special feature of the meeting was a temperance rally, the evening after the Sabbath. This was well attended by the people of the village, and it seemed to make a favorable impression.
The second meeting was held at Vernon, in the beautiful Okanogan Valley, three hundred and seventy-five miles by rail from the former meeting. The camp was located in the edge of the city, on the grounds of the Jubilee Park Hotel. The hotel, which was vacant at the time, together with the grounds, was tendered the conference for the occasion free of cost, by the Hon. Price Allison, M. P. This was much appreciated, and the hotel furnished rooms for many who could not be accommodated in the thirty-six tents that composed the camp.
At Vernon fully half the attendance of our people were Germans. The meetings were conducted regularly in both German and English. The weather was all that could be asked for, and the meeting was graced with much of the Holy Spirit, and all our people in attendance were greatly blessed and encouraged.
Here also the different lines of work were taken up, and our brethren responded heartily. The attendance at this meeting was about the same as at Coquitlam, two hundred being present in the Sabbath school. Also at this place a temperance rally had been announced, which called out a full attendance at the tent, and made a very favorable impression on the citizens of Vernon.
The workers at the Coquitlam meeting, besides the local conference workers, were Elder H. S. Shaw, president of the union conference, and the writer; and at Vernon the same workers attended, with the addition of Elder Humann, a German laborer from the Alberta Conference. Elder John G. Walker, president of the British Columbia Conference, bore the burden of the arrangements for these meetings, and he felt much encouraged with the results at both places.
On Sabbath afternoon, June 13, after a discourse on the subject of baptism and its significance, by Elder Shaw, sixteen persons were baptized by Elder J. Rottacker in a beautiful lake near the camp.14This conference, as well as others, feels the effect of the financial depression, but notwithstanding this the members have been very faithful in keeping up their part of the mission funds, feeling this a sacred obligation. Just now they are a little behind on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, but this time of year is the most difficult financially. It was very pleasing to note the conscientious earnestness they felt for the upkeep of their portions of the mission funds. This is right, and the Lord will bless them in this effort.
I was very glad to meet again so many that I had met in past years in other parts of the Lord’s vineyard. Monday morning our Vernon meeting closed with a very interesting praise service. Thus ended our good meetings in the British Columbia Conference. We all look forward with blessed expectation to the time of the glorious gathering of all the faithful at the coming of our Lord and Saviour. May we be numbered among the faithful!
O. A. OLSEN.
Mother's Ways
Let mother have her old-time ways,
And don't find fault with them;
For childhood thought her ways the best.
And they're as good as then.
The ways of love and tenderness
Are never out of style;
Remember this, and tell her so—
Don't wait till after while.
Let not affection wane with years;
It waneth not for you.
Go, put your arms around her now,
Kiss her as you used to do.
More than you know, her heart cries out
And craves affection still.
The same sweet mother love is there,
Unchanged; it never will.
Life does not hold enough of years
In which we can repay
A mother's love; but do your best
Before she goes away.
— Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.
The Housewife’s Exchange
By Mrs. W.
Oatmeal Cookies
2 EGGS, beaten light
1 cup sugar
½ cup melted butter
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon soda
Pinch salt
½ cup ground raisins
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Drop by teaspoonfuls on an oiled pan, and bake in moderate oven.
Mrs. W., Takoma Park, D. C.
CHARLES P. WHITFORD AND HIS COTTAGE
The Home of a Pioneer
By E. R. Palmer
A LETTER recently received from Brother C. P. Whitford, one of the oldest surviving pioneers of this movement, brings a good word concerning his health and courage. He says:—
“My Florida friends have built for me a little cottage on the sanitarium grounds, in Orlando, Fla., where I can go spend the declining years of my life on earth. When I am at home, I board at the sanitarium. It is not safe for me to be exposed to the climatic changes during the winter months, and therefore I was at home last winter most of the time from November to April. I visited the churches in the southern part of the State, and held twenty meetings.
“My health is very good indeed, but I am afflicted with a chronic bronchial trouble, and I fear I shall never fully recover from it. I can talk much easier than I can sing. Wherever I go, I receive a warm welcome.
“I plan to visit North and South Carolina during the next three months, where I shall attend camp meetings and visit friends. I am longing for that glad day to dawn when all the workers will assemble around the great white throne in the city of our God.”
Although rather feeble, and far advanced in years, Brother Whitford is still actively distributing literature, and selling the songs which all his life he has loved to sing. In his letter there was a photograph of the little cottage mentioned. Even such a modest little cottage as this becomes a haven of quiet and rest to a weary pioneer who has given his whole life a devoted sacrifice to the proclamation of this closing message; and it is indeed a palace when brightened and cheered by the blessed hope of the soon coming of Him who has gone away for a little time to prepare mansions for all those who love his appearing.
E. R. PALMER.
Newspaper Publicity
By Stemple White
At the direction of the conference committee we planned on holding a few weeks' meetings at Austin, Minn., immediately following the meeting of the Northern Union Conference, before taking up the city work in Duluth. March 1 was Sunday, go to church day, and as a result of free publicity in the Herald, the new house of worship was packed with interested hearers. We put out no cards nor bills whatever, but for nine weeks good reports of the meetings and the gist of the sermon appeared in nearly every daily issue of the Herald. As the interest deepened and the meetings progressed, we found it greatly to our advantage to insert from time to time a paid announcement with appropriate cartoon bearing on the testing points of the message, the expense of which was gladly met by local brethren.
As a result of these few weeks' work, God added twenty-three souls to the Austin church, twenty-one of whom were adults, increasing the membership from thirty-seven to sixty.
Since the all-powerful Word of God is the basis of all reform, how important it is that we take advantage of that greatest medium of free publicity, the press, to get the Word of God before the people. In our few paid announcements we kept prominently before the public the name “Seventh-day Adventist” in connection with a picture of the Bible, rather than with a picture of the evangelist (this we did not use). Many in Austin are now seriously thinking of the truth as a result of reading the Herald, and scores who never attended the meetings are searching for more light. We learned from the editor that the Herald circulates among friends in many parts of the United States, and even in far-away India, where it is eagerly read by a first-day missionary who used to reside in Austin. Only the judgment itself can reveal the wonderful results obtained by such publicity through the public press.
A certain Catholic lady read an article in the Herald on the number of the beast, which the editor had headed “666.” She immediately borrowed the priest's Bible (Douay Version) from his housekeeper, read the book of Revelation, attended one service in which the priesthood of Christ was presented, and at once vowed never to darken the door of the Catholic Church again. She destroyed her rosary and prayer books, and is keeping the Sabbath in her home. Although her husband is very bitterly opposed to the truth, she intends publicly to take her stand for God, and wishes to transfer her children from the parochial school to the local church school.
While in Mankato recently, I spoke on the seven seals, illustrating my subject with large hand-painted charts. Mankato had just been stirred by the lectures of Dr. Boles, and it was a most opportune time to give the warning against the beast, the image, and the mark; so by a little previous arrangement with the editor of the Journal, a full synopsis of the discourse appeared in that paper, under striking headlines. Thus free publicity was given to this phase of the message, and many who had never heard a word on this important line of prophecy had opportunity to study this portion of present truth.
During our recent Minnesota camp meeting at St. Paul, the big dailies gave us favorable mention, and a picture of the baptismal service appeared in the Daily News.
The daily press is yet to play a far greater part in the closing work of the gospel than it ever has in the past.
STEMPLE WHITE.
The West Pennsylvania Camp Meeting
By B. G. Wilkinson
ON a beautiful and charming spot in Homestead Park, Homestead, Pa., the annual session of the West Pennsylvania Conference was held in connection with its camp meeting, June 11-21. There was a splendid attendance from the conference,—larger than the year before,—especially of the young people. We felt very glad of this, because the reducing of Mount Vernon from a college to an academy, limiting it in its scope of territory, naturally increases its need of a good enrollment from the West Pennsylvania Conference.
On another hill, just a little way from our camp, were the dancing pavilions, confectionery booths, merry-go-rounds, and baseball park. Some attraction was on practically all the time, yet to the15praise of the Lord, we are glad to say that these in no way affected our camp meeting. Quite the contrary. We felt that the spirit of consecration and devotion was increased by the contrast between the emptiness and foolishness of the world and the deep things of God which we were enjoying. Especially was this manifested on the part of the young people. Their workers in attendance from abroad said that they had never seen so thorough consecration and devotion on the part of the youth to God's work.
From the first, the spirit of love and harmony pervaded the assembly. There were about sixty tents pitched on the ground, and almost three hundred of our people in attendance, according to the enrollment of the Sabbath school the last Sabbath. Elder F. H. Robbins, who had just been called from the presidency of the West Virginia Conference to take the presidency of the West Pennsylvania Conference, was unanimously chosen president. The corps of workers elected was practically the same as last year.
We are glad to note the stir that the truth is making among all classes in this section of the country. We are sorry that the call which took Elder Westworth from Pittsburgh to Battle Creek, Mich., left the city of Pittsburgh without an able minister. The recent great revival conducted by Billy Sunday stirred the city. After his departure thirty-six circles were formed for the study of the Bible. Nine of these in the vicinity of our church applied to our workers to take the leadership of them. Thus there are splendid openings on every hand, and many are inquiring for light.
The donations given at this camp meeting, both in the Sabbath school and in the other services, exceeded those of last year. The splendid offering on the part of the brethren for foreign missions practically covered the conference deficit up to date on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, so that there is every prospect that the West Pennsylvania Conference will fully raise its twenty cents a week this coming year.
We were favored with the presence of Elder W. A. Spicer during the first few days of the meeting. Prof. C. L. Benson was with us throughout the meeting, and gave us most valuable help. Brother I. D. Richardson, Prof. C. L. Stone, and the writer represented the union. Professors Salisbury and Kelly earnestly took care of the interests of Mount Vernon Academy. We were also favored with good help in the book work, by I. A. Ford and a representative from the Southern Publishing Association.
B. G. WILKINSON.
Gladstone (Mich.) Camp Meeting
By J. J. Irwin
THIS meeting was held June 5-14 at Gladstone, in a beautiful grove by the bay. There were not so many people in attendance at the meeting as in some former years, but it was universally conceded that it was the best meeting ever held in the Upper Peninsula. The Spirit of the Lord came very close to his people, and many who had been burdened for some time, enjoyed perfect freedom in the Lord.
The last Sabbath of the meeting eight persons were baptized, and some who could not be with us at that time, are planning to be baptized at the first opportunity.
At this meeting no business was transacted, as the conference business was looked after at the camp meeting held in the southern part of the conference.
The workers from outside the conference were Elder L. H. Christian, Profs. C. A. Russell and J. G. Lamson, and Brother J. B. Blosser, the latter representing the field missionary work in the Lake Union.
The instruction was very practical, and was given in a way to reach the hearts of the people. The foreign mission work received attention, cash and pledges to the amount of $150 being raised. One sister made up her mind to give $100 each year for the support of some native worker in one of the foreign fields, this money to be paid quarterly. What a good thing it would be if a large number of our people could do the same thing!
The interest on the part of the citizens of Gladstone was such that it was deemed best to leave a tent. Since the camp meeting, the weather has been unfavorable, but notwithstanding this a fair number have attended the services.
Elder G. G. Roth and Brother S. C. Hannon also have a tent pitched at Gladstone, and are laboring for the French people. They are having some interesting experiences in visiting the people, and hope to develop a good work there.
J. J. IRWIN.
The Quebec Conference
By G. B. Thompson
The thirty-fifth annual session of the Quebec Conference was held at South Stukely, June 16-22, 1914. A large tent was pitched in which to hold the daily services. Unfavorable weather, however, made it necessary to hold some of the services in the church, which was near the tent. Those who attended the meeting from a distance were lodged in the homes of those living near.
The attendance was not large, but was marked with a most earnest spirit, and the utmost unity was seen in all the deliberations of the conference.
Brother A. V. Olson was elected president of the conference. He enters upon his work with courage, and with the support of all the believers in the conference. Miss Eva Rickard was elected secretary and treasurer.
The Lord greatly blessed on the Sabbath, and all who were present took a forward step in consecration. A spirit of liberality was manifested in making offerings for the advancement of the work. There were a number present at this meeting who have been long in the message, and who have made many sacrifices in its interests. Their courage and faith cheered our hearts.
Special difficulties have to be overcome in carrying forward the work in this field. One is a foreign language, which is spoken by the larger part of the people. But beyond this is that of the blighting influence of Catholicism. Where the Roman religion has sway, illiteracy, superstition, prejudice, and a spirit of force and persecution especially, predominate. But God has true hearts among this people,—hearts longing for light and hope and comfort, and a salvation that is not purchased by money or works, but obtained without price by all who will take by faith the gift of eternal life offered freely through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The labors put forth during the past year, though carried forward under special difficulties in some instances, have been blessed in bringing souls to the truth. Three new churches were admitted to the conference at this meeting,—two French churches, with a membership of fourteen and nine respectively, and an English church of sixteen members. This was a source of encouragement to all. We believe that the evangelistic efforts to be put forth during the coming year will result in gathering in a number of faithful souls who will rejoice in the blessed hope of the Saviour’s soon coming. The seed sown in both the French and the English language will surely bear fruit. If help can be furnished to this struggling field for a while longer, it will serve to greatly strengthen the work. Brethren, do not forget to pray for the work in Quebec.
G. B. Thompson.
A Young Chinese Girl's Testimony
By SAN A. LIOELZ.
IN the past we had not yet known God. One day a missionary sold some books at our house [in Padang, Sumatra]16afterward he asked us to go to his home. My mother and I went. After that we went every Sabbath afternoon, and after hearing the missionary's teaching we began to obey God. Now we know God, and know, too, that he can hear and help us.
Six months after being baptized and entering the Christian religion, my father died. The Chinese custom is to worship dead people. At this time my brothers and others tried to force us to worship my dead father, but we knew that God had commanded us to worship him only. We love our Lord Jesus, and we want to obey as he commanded, notwithstanding that people make trouble for us; for our hearts are fixed. God helped us to be witnesses for him.
Several days after my father was dead, we went to bury him. Just before we left the house, one person said to us, "Now worship your father; the missionary is not here and will not know." But God helped us to witness rightly for him, and for this we want to thank him very much, because he helped us, and because he has sent a missionary to us, and because we know the "way of salvation."
SAN A. LIOELZ.
