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Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 44.

Special Mention
Earlier text: Read Me a Story

The Organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

By W. C. JOHN

A World-Wide Organization

The growth of this church from a small company of believers in Washington, N. H., to more than 125,000 members distributed all over the world, has developed, by the blessing of God, through the organization given to us by the Spirit of prophecy.
The smallest unit of the church is the individual. A group of individuals associated in a common faith, for the worship and service of God, constitutes a company of believers, to be united into a church when suitable officers have been selected and ordained.
With the common purpose of meeting together to search the Scriptures, to meditate upon the sanctity of God's law, to study and prepare for Christ's second coming, and to hear devout exhortations from the elders of experience, the brethren and sisters in Washington, N. H., nearly forty in all, formed the first Sabbath-keeping company, in the year 1844-45. From this company and those who were raised up shortly after, arose leaders whose labors kindled many beacon lights, which eventually developed into hundreds of churches in this country; and as the message was carried across the seas, new churches were brought into existence in many distant lands.
The growth of the number of churches made it necessary to organize convenient groups of these into conferences. As a rule, the local conferences follow boundaries of the individual States, although in some cases it is necessary to divide a State into two or more conferences. The first conference organized was the Michigan Conference, Oct. 6, 1861. As the conferences increased in number, it was found advisable to bind them together to secure full coöperation. This resulted in the organization of the General Conference in 1863. The conferences which composed the original General Conference were Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio.
The continuous and rapid growth of the local conferences resulted in making the work of administering the General Conference more and more arduous; so eventually the local conferences were regrouped into Union Conferences. The first Union Conference was organized in 1901. This was followed by others, until the United States and Canada were organized into twelve Union Conferences. Similar organizations were created in Europe, Africa, Australia, and South America. The local and the provincial missions were also grouped into Union Missions.
The growth of the work in Europe made it necessary to combine the Union Conferences under one general organization similar to the General Conference. In 1903 both North America and Europe were administered by two vice presidents of the General Conference. In 1909 the Asiatic Division was formed, and a third vice president elected to administer its affairs. This step was followed in 1913 by the setting apart of North America, Europe, and Asia as Division Conferences. South America became a Division Conference in 1916.
This division makes it easier for the General Conference to look after the pressing calls of the unorganized fields, missions, institutions, and other general interests which are continually increasing as the work grows.
At present the Seventh-day Adventist Church is organized as follows:—

General Conference

I. North American Division

1. Atlantic Union Conference: 7 conferences, 1 mission, 174 churches.
2. Central Union Conference: 5 conferences, 264 churches.
3. Columbia Union Conference: 8 conferences, 221 churches.
4. Eastern Canadian Union Conference: 3 conferences, 1 mission, 56 churches.
5. Lake Union Conference: 7 conferences, 385 churches.
6. Northern Union Conference: 4 conferences, 228 churches.
7. North Pacific Union Conference: 6 conferences, 203 churches.
8. Pacific Union Conference: 8 conferences, 1 mission, 175 churches.
9. Southeastern Union Conference: 5 conferences, 104 churches.
10. Southern Union Conference: 5 conferences, 102 churches.
11. Southwestern Union Conference: 6 conferences, 130 churches.
12. Western Canadian Union Conference: 4 conferences, 71 churches.

II. European Division

1. British Union Conference: 1 district, 5 conferences, 1 mission, 67 churches.
2. Central European Conference: 5 conferences, 4 missions, 152 churches.
3. Danube Union Conference: 3 conferences, 2 missions, 106 churches.
4. East German Union Conference: 1 district, 6 conferences, 1 mission, 203 churches.
5. East Russian Union Conference: 3 conferences, 4 missions, 117 churches.
6. Latin Union Conference: 1 district, 2 conferences, 4 missions, 49 churches.
7. Levant Union Mission: 5 missions, 34 churches.
8. Scandinavian Union Conference: 1 district, 5 conferences, 3 missions, 105 churches.
9. West German Union Conference: 1 district, 6 conferences, 2 missions, 192 churches.
10. West Russian Union Conference: 3 conferences, 8 missions, 60 churches.
11. European Division Missions: 20 missions, 99 churches.

III. Asiatic Division

Asiatic Division Mission: 9 missions, 79 churches.
Australasian Union Conference: 6 conferences, 11 missions, 138 churches.
India Union Mission: 5 missions, 14 churches.

IV. South American Division

Austral Union Conference: 2 conferences, 2 missions, 47 churches.
Brazilian Union Conference: 2 conferences, 6 missions, 32 churches.
Inca Union Mission: 3 missions, 9 churches.

Miscellaneous Unions

South African Union Conference: 3 conferences, 11 missions, 34 churches.
West Indian Union Conference: 3 conferences, 102 churches.
Northern Latin American Missions: 8 missions, 27 churches.
Miscellaneous missions: 2 missions, 2 churches.
W. C. JOHN.

The Bible Year

Assignment for September 10-16

September 10: Ezra 8 to 10.
September 12: Psalms 111 to 114, 116.
September 14: Psalms 84, 66, 129.
September 16: Psalms 147 to 150.

Post-Davidic Psalms—Sixth Group

The psalms in this week's assignment “were written presumably by the sons of Korah, Ezra, and others, on the return of the Jews from their captivity in Babylon, in the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia. They recount the mingled emotions of joy, sorrow, and anxiety which possessed the minds of the returning exiles; they refer also to the building and dedication of the second temple, and to the glorious triumphs connected therewith.”

The Praise of Prayer

“The one hundred and seventh psalm was written, in all probability, just after the close of the captivity, when the Hebrews had come back to their dear country. And if we are seeking a theme for it, we can find none so appropriate as ‘The Praise of Prayer.’ For this is the theme with which it is concerned, and the spirit with which it is filled. One after another the beautiful pictures of praying men and their great deliverances rise in the psalmist’s verse. We see the divine mercy flowing down to meet the human supplications; and the refrain which comes back again and again is this:—
““Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their dis- tresses.’
“The first three verses of the psalm refer especially to the restoration of the Jews from Babylon. If any one ought to have a deep and lively sense of the divine goodness, it was the people whom Jehovah had ‘redeemed from the hand of the adversary, and gathered from the lands’ of their dispersion.
“Then the psalm takes a wider sweep, and begins, in the fourth verse, to describe the power of prayer in the most varied scenes of human life, and the readiness of God to deliver those who call upon him from every form of trouble.”—Henry van Dyke.

Shall We Tarry Longer ?

By Mrs. S. N. Haskell

(Concluded from page 2)
“The light given me is, We must provide that which is essential to qualify our youth who desire to be physicians, so that they may intelligently fit themselves to be able to stand the examinations essential to prove their efficiency as physicians. They are to be prepared to stand the essential tests required by law, and to treat understandingly the cases of those who are diseased, so that the door will be closed for any sensible physician to fear that we are not giving in our school the instruction essential for the proper qualification of a physician.”— Id., pp. 30, 31.
God designs that we shall have our medical school so thoroughly equipped that no sensible physician can point to it as a place where inferior instruction is given.
Joshua had good success in the degree that he adhered strictly to the instruction given by Moses. We should be strong and courageous in carrying out the instruction of the servant of the Lord; and in proportion as we do this, success will attend our efforts.
We need an army of medical soul-winners for both home and foreign fields. We cannot hope to receive them from worldly schools. During the last score of years an army of our young people have desired to become medical missionaries, but instead of surrounding them by a Christian influence while obtaining their education, as we have those desiring to become ministers, teachers, or Bible workers, we have sent them out into the world, and the world has wooed them away from their faith. Instead of the army of faithful medical missionaries that we hoped for and greatly need, we have only a few godly medical soul-winners. Alas! many of our noble youth are lost to the cause.
As a denomination, do we not stand guilty before God for being so slow in carrying out the instruction given in regard to equipping our own medical school, “so that our youth need not go to these worldly schools”?
MRS. S. N. HASKELL.

Colporteurs’ Summary for July, 1916

UNIONS AGTS. HRS. BOOKS—VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915 PERIODICALS—NO. COP. VALUE 1916 VALUE 1915
ATLANTIC
Maine 9 819 $1514.35 $2202.00 2721 $272.10 $175.00
N. New England 19 1751 2570.75 853.20 2245 224.50 206.30
Massachusetts 16 796 1130.00 1071.25 5852 585.20 715.70
S. New England 11 718 827.20 516.75 2875 287.50 94.30
E. New York 17 1572 2568.85 3941.82 4113 411.30 135.20
W. New York 20 2165 2063.25 2768.70 3405 340.50 116.40
Gr. New York 10 977 955.35 656.55 6850 685.00 763.80
Totals 102 8798 11629.75 12010.27 28061 2806.10 2206.70
| COLUMBIA | | | | | | | | | Ohio | 28 | 3514 | 3284.05 | 3843.30 | 4014 | 401.40 | 279.90 | | Virginia | 10 | 1655 | 2587.50 | 2403.85 | 675 | 67.50 | 331.50 | | Chesapeake | 15 | 1104 | 1183.05 | 1698.95 | 783 | 78.30 | 155.30 | | E. Pennsylvania | 18 | 1155 | 1022.55 | 3091.60 | 4599 | 459.90 | 133.80 | | Dist. of Columbia | 8 | 634 | 1146.10 | 262.65 | 2405 | 240.50 | 6.00 | | West Virginia | 14 | 1593 | 2858.50 | 1976.78 | 1506 | 150.60 | 31.10 | | W. Pennsylvania | 19 | 3141 | 3627.10 | 971.10 | 1760 | 176.00 | 49.80 | | New Jersey | 3 | 104 | 79.50 | 939.50 | 2550 | 255.00 | 405.50 | | Totals | 115 | 12900 | 15788.35 | 15127.73 | 18292 | 1829.20 | 1392.90 |
| CENTRAL | | | | | | | | | Colorado | 13 | 1379 | 1442.60 | 1747.75 | 580 | 58.00 | 98.30 | | Kansas | 30 | 3701 | 3418.50 | 2401.60 | 821 | 82.10 | 118.00 | | Missouri | 10 | 1729 | 2432.70 | 2137.35 | 2520 | 252.00 | 179.70 | | Nebraska | 22 | 3325 | 4617.30 | 2331.45 | 125 | 12.50 | 14.10 | | Wyoming | 5 | 782 | 1300.70 | 1805.10 | 20 | 2.00 | 21.00 | | Totals | 80 | 10916 | 13211.80 | 10423.25 | 4066 | 406.60 | 431.10 |
| EASTERN CANADIAN | | | | | | | | | Ontario | 15 | | 6587.25 | 1737.04 | 1394 | 139.40 | 257.50 | | Quebec | 4 | | 746.85 | 54.10 | 102 | 10.20 | 5.00 | | Maritime | 2 | | 809.95 | 1057.00 | 1925 | 192.50 | 20.00 | | Newfoundland | | | 1.10 | .25 | 25 | 2.50 | | | Totals | 21 | | 8145.15 | 2848.39 | 3446 | 344.60 | 282.50 |
| LAKE | | | | | | | | | Indiana | 26 | 2366 | 3905.05 | 4175.30 | 237 | 23.70 | 36.20 | | S. Illinois | 23 | 2427 | 2465.65 | 2560.15 | 885 | 88.50 | 251.30 | | N. Illinois | 21 | 2219 | 2180.90 | 1762.25 | 1860 | 186.00 | 273.50 | | S. Wisconsin | 41 | 4916 | 4684.90 | | | | | | N. Wisconsin | 12 | 1271 | 1299.55 | 3312.25 | 2803 | 280.30 | 242.50 | | N. Michigan | 13 | 1069 | 888.30 | 1265.25 | 1460 | 146.00 | 21.00 | | W. Michigan | 12 | 834 | 691.40 | 1391.85 | 29 | 2.90 | 115.20 | | E. Michigan | 19 | 1503 | 1192.60 | 1273.00 | 1676 | 167.60 | 285.00 | | Totals | 167 | 16605 | 17308.35 | 15740.05 | 8950 | 895.00 | 1224.70 |
| SOUTHERN | | | | | | | | | Mississippi | 25 | 1555 | 2666.20 | 2149.10 | 480 | 48.00 | 113.50 | | Kentucky | 10 | 1495 | 2220.85 | 1709.60 | 476 | 47.60 | 131.00 | | Alabama | | 1162 | 1174.60 | 1776.60 | 415 | 41.50 | 98.00 | | Tennessee River | 8 | 879 | 1192.20 | 871.70 | 1230 | 123.00 | 138.50 | | Louisiana | 8 | 335 | 744.60 | 1051.30 | 850 | 85.00 | 95.10 | | Totals | 51 | 5426 | 7998.45 | 7558.30 | 3451 | 345.10 | 576.10 |
| SOUTHEASTERN | | | | | | | | | Cumberland | 10 | 1075 | 749.85 | 629.05 | 680 | 68.00 | 83.50 | | Florida | 7 | 436 | 647.00 | 945.80 | 990 | 99.00 | 100.70 | | Georgia | 16 | 1825 | 2573.92 | 2698.80 | 1185 | 118.50 | 56.00 | | North Carolina | 17 | 1893 | 2676.80 | 1917.66 | 2045 | 204.50 | 295.00 | | South Carolina | 8 | 904 | 2109.60 | 1337.10 | 335 | 33.50 | 32.00 | | Totals | 58 | 6133 | 8757.17 | 7528.41 | 5235 | 523.50 | 567.20 |
| SOUTHWESTERN | | | | | | | | | S. Texas | 19 | 1957 | 4250.95 | 3112.10 | 2382 | 238.20 | 231.00 | | N. Texas | 24 | 1966 | 4216.30 | 1080.35 | 872 | 87.20 | 105.60 | | Oklahoma | 36 | 2691 | 3604.10 | 4548.83 | 2424 | 242.40 | 177.20 | | Arkansas | 19 | 1946 | 2645.40 | 1570.45 | 912 | 91.20 | 21.50 | | W. Texas | 18 | 1518 | 1492.80 | 1311.40 | 225 | 22.50 | 271.00 | | New Mexico | 10 | 548 | 937.35 | 230.00 | 173 | 17.30 | 6.00 | | Totals | 126 | 10626 | 17146.90 | 11853.13 | 6988 | 698.80 | 812.30 |
| NORTHERN | | | | | | | | | North Dakota | 27 | 5819 | 11392.75 | 7168.00 | 1582 | 158.20 | 116.60 | | South Dakota | 20 | 3504 | 5001.15 | 2056.75 | 1875 | 187.50 | 23.00 | | Iowa | 28 | 3937 | 6081.53 | 2654.90 | 6029 | 602.90 | 342.70 | | Minnesota | 30 | 5655 | 6108.30 | 7427.62 | 5835 | 583.50 | 834.60 | | Totals | 105 | 18915 | 28583.73 | 19307.27 | 15321 | 1532.10 | 1316.90 |
| NORTH PACIFIC | | | | | | | | | W. Washington | 7 | 869 | $1558.50 | $301.25 | 1450 | $145.00 | $258.40 | | W. Oregon | 8 | 465 | 734.45 | 215.30 | 760 | 76.00 | 85.50 | | Upper Columbia | 11 | 1385 | 1603.50 | 1385.40 | 180 | 18.00 | 55.00 | | S. Idaho | 7 | 809 | 1229.85 | 1307.05 | 305 | 30.50 | 21.00 | | S. Oregon | | | 537.85 | | 150 | 15.00 | 13.50 | | Montana | 5 | 465 | 1126.25 | 3760.10 | 110 | 11.00 | 118.50 | | Totals | 38 | 3993 | 6252.55 | 7506.95 | 2955 | 295.50 | 551.90 |
| PACIFIC | | | | | | | | | Arizona | 1 | 37 | 56.50 | | 550 | 55.00 | 2.00 | | California | 5 | 393 | 368.35 | 1814.13 | 5829 | 582.90 | 276.10 | | N. W. California | 2 | 160 | 241.20 | | | | | | Cen. California | 9 | 545 | 1391.15 | 612.25 | 125 | 12.50 | 7.50 | | N. California | 11 | 968 | 1873.92 | 985.36 | 415 | 41.50 | 10.00 | | S. California | 4 | 581 | 698.10 | 2577.00 | 2050 | 205.00 | 146.50 | | S. E. California | 4 | 263 | 294.35 | | | | | | Inter-Mountain | 9 | 899 | 1360.90 | 455.70 | 350 | 35.00 | 5.00 | | Totals | 45 | 3846 | 6032.47 | 6444.44 | 9319 | 931.90 | 447.10 |
| WESTERN CANADIAN* | | | | | | | | | Alberta | 14 | 2933 | 4117.08 | 1757.75 | 604 | 60.40 | 64.00 | | Manitoba | 8 | 1793 | 2424.80 | 1957.10 | 1050 | 105.00 | 61.50 | | British Columbia | 4 | 513 | 423.30 | 1213.40 | 480 | 48.00 | 80.00 | | Saskatchewan | 18 | 2858 | 4541.75 | 5852.10 | 1042 | 104.20 | 101.00 | | Totals | 44 | 8097 | 11506.93 | 10780.35 | 3176 | 317.60 | 306.50 | | Foreign and Miscellaneous | | | | | 9958 | 995.80 | 610.10 | | Mailing List | | | | | 32079 | 3207.90 | 4605.90 |
| FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS | | | | | | | | | British | 22 | 2482 | 1449.19 | 6390.81 | 122998 | 2495.84 | 4101.86 | | Australasian | 62 | 4073 | 5661.46 | 9653.60 | 55425 | 1944.14 | 2037.28 | | South African | 12 | 600 | 1228.96 | 779.57 | 1643 | 62.16 | 288.22 | | India | 5 | 239 | 312.10 | 336.92 | 4104 | 181.12 | | | Scandinavian | 125 | 16763 | 12137.30 | 11901.73 | 13938 | 911.25 | 29.06 | | E. German | 63 | 6117 | 2438.48 | 2328.00 | 78541 | 2044.73 | 1720.96 | | W. German | 59 | 6310 | 2766.90 | 1882.02 | 83052 | 1942.87 | 1882.60 | | Danube | 16 | 966 | 740.96 | 497.30 | 938 | | 26.69 | | Gen. European | 57 | 5717 | 2858.50 | 2396.00 | 23936 | 808.44 | 802.95 | | Latin | 13 | 1545 | 1045.89 | 1115.41 | 6856 | 190.33 | 210.78 | | South American | 9 | 655 | 1306.96 | 898.40 | | 14.66 | 35.50 | | Brazilian | 40 | 4706 | 2637.55 | 1809.04 | | | | | Guatemala | 1 | 94 | 42.00 | | | 15.55 | | | W. Caribbean | 4 | 161 | 560.50 | | | | | | Canary Islands | 1 | 120 | 20.92 | 45.31 | | | .40 | | Hawaiian | 2 | 306 | 655.35 | | 500 | 45.00 | | | Japan | | | 42.08 | 9.83 | 4243 | 199.46 | 137.53 | | Porto Rican | 7 | 686 | 868.20 | 442.46 | | | | | Cuban | 10 | 594 | 1361.00 | 2615.35 | | | 5.15 | | Philippine | 23 | 1250 | 1438.95 | 270.42 | | | | | Korean | 45 | | 15.70 | 45.29 | 1398 | 34.95 | 375.31 | | China | | | 73.60 | | 54009 | 2068.14 | | | Totals, foreign | 576 | 53974 | 39671.55 | 43417.51 | 451581 | 12985.33 | 1627.60 | | Totals, N. America | 952 | 106255 | 152361.60 | 127128.51 | 151297 | 15129.70 | 15331.90 | | Grand Totals | 1528 | 160229 | $192033.15 | $170546.02 | 603878 | $28115.03 | $26959.50 |

Comparative Book Summary

1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916
Jan. $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88 $59,697.52 $46,778.58 $60,418.25
Feb. 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12 67,149.45 47,943.61 74,298.80
March 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42 75,962.31 73,414.23 92,431.51
April 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45 85,585.35 78,094.66 94,066.35
May 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,640.05 87,024.10 107,987.69 106,602.30
June 135,888.76 137,838.38 137,373.06 153,480.96 151,199.10 174,415.86
July 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.24 199,116.62 170,546.02 192,033.15
Aug. 91,580.64 103,165.60 111,660.64 105,391.65 118,773.18
Sept. 86,801.72 67,551.70 73,732.14 74,359.96 78,364.70
Oct. 81,367.89 70,219.07 84,015.90 60,357.25 76,102.53
Nov. 67,600.00 77,424.87 73,949.68 57,388.95 69,660.16
Dec. 58,386.24 57,291.01 59,749.92 57,496.17 69,145.88
Totals $976,218.80 $1,017,684.13 $1,049,943.46 $1,083,110.29 $1,088,890.64

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1913 1914 1915¹ 1913 1914 1915¹
Jan.* 177080 152971 170760 July 176772 211040 150880
Feb. 201659 242627 134619 Aug. 153849 171451 152273
Mar. 166499 224757 341095 Sept. 127017 164860 130465
April 152088 162027 183280 Oct. 126557 174182 123027
May 166465 168934 158114 Nov. 100351 142040 98174
June 156550 189897 159635 Dec. 99504 143190 107229
Totals 1804391 2147976 1909515
Summary for July, 1916, 151,297; total, 1,075,728.
*Book report for two months.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town

N. Z. Town . . . General Secretary W. W. Eastman . . . N. Am. Div. Secretary

Our Summary

We are greatly encouraged over the excellent summary which we are able to send out for July. Last year our July book report showed a falling off of nearly $29,000 from the corresponding month for 1914, while this year our report for this, the first month of the last half of the year, shows a gain over the corresponding month of 1915 of nearly $22,000. The same encouraging increase is seen in our magazine and periodical sales. The July report of last year showed a falling off of $48,000 over the previous year, while this year there is a gain of more than $11,000 over 1915.
Nine of the Union Conferences in North America have done better this year than during the same month last year, and the Northern Union has the distinction of sending in the largest monthly report ever received at the department office, their total book sales for the month being $28,583.73. It is encouraging to see that notwithstanding the unsettled conditions in so many countries on account of the war, there is no blank space for 1916 opposite any of our foreign fields.
Word has just come in from W. H. B. Miller, manager of the Australian publishing house, saying that during the yearending June 30, 1916, the sales of that house amounted to $116,445, being an increase of about $11,000 over the previous year. Since January 1 the subscription list of the Australian Signs of the Times has increased from ten thousand to fourteen thousand copies.
We thank God for his protecting care, and for the faithful work which our colporteurs are doing, notwithstanding the apparent difficulties in many places. N. Z. Town.

Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals

January, 1915, 448,128 copies, value $13,166.23; January, 1916, 375,259 copies, value $13,774.74.
February, 1915, 403,134 copies, value $11,357.55; February, 1916, 577,282 copies, value $14,480.57.
March, 1915, 467,626 copies, value $18,243.92; March, 1916, 350,291 copies, value $35,029.10.
April, 1915, 418,884 copies, value $10,001.96; April, 1916, 365,373 copies, value $11,086.68.
May, 1915, 595,740 copies, value $18,200.94; May, 1916, 196,084 copies, value $6,803.98.
June, 1915, 215,051 copies, value $7,974.76; June, 1916, 349,164 copies, value $10,731.82.
July, 1915, 561,531 copies, value $11,627.60; July, 1916, 451,581 copies, value $12,985.33.

"The World's Crisis" in Foreign Tongues

Some time ago a notice appeared in the Review announcing the publication of "The World's Crisis" in Spanish, by our brethren in South America. They have already sold two ten-thousand editions of this little book in the Spanish language. Recently the General Conference Publishing Department has received copies of this book in the Dutch and French languages. The Dutch is published by the South African Union Conference, and the French by the Canadian Publishing Association, Oshawa, Canada. If any who read this have neighbors who speak Spanish, Dutch, or French, they will find that these are splendid little books with which to do missionary work among them. N. Z. Town.

The Carpenter’s Son

By Annie Johnson Flint

The little shop at Nazareth, The peaceful life for which it stood, The clear, strong, ringing hammer-strokes, The droning saw, the riven wood, The murmur of the smoothing plane, The scent of shavings freshly curled,— When Thou hadst left them all behind And gone thy way into the world, Where men would hate thee and revile, And one betray thee with a kiss, And one deny, and all forsake, Was there one added pang in this:
That tools of thy familiar craft Should be the things that wounded thee— The hammer and the driven nails, The wood of that accursed tree? Ah, no! Thou Crowned and Crucified, Thou Power of God that seemed to fail; 'Twas not of wood thy cross was made, 'Twas not the hammer and the nail That drove the blows and fixed thee there, And pierced thy hands and feet at last; Man’s hatred and man’s sin the cross, And love—thy love—that held thee fast: —Annie Johnson Flint.

“The Iron Ring Closing In”

By Editor

THIS is the title of a leading article which appears in the October issue of the Watchman. When we review the war situation, the question arises. Is the end of this terrible slaughter and carnage in sight? With the odds evidently in favor of the allied powers, which are pressing their opponents from all sides, it does not seem that the central powers can hold out much longer. Still, Germany and those nations allied with her are far from defeated.
This article, and the interesting notes in the Outlook department, and the editorials, make this number a live issue, full of the third angel's message from cover to cover. Some of these articles are as follows: “Turbulent Mexico;” “Important Light on the Pellagra Problem;” “Present-Day Events Fulfilling Prophecy;” “Astronomy, or the Kingdom of the Great King;” “No Earthly Priesthood in the New Testament.” There are also timely comments on current issues.
This number is intended for you and for your friends, because it contains new truths that you have not realized, and is full of light for those in darkness. Get the Watchman habit by ordering a supply each month, and sending a copy to each of your friends. Prices as usual, 5 to 40 copies, 5 cents each; 50 or more, 4 cents each. Be an aggressive Christian by circulating the Watchman.

The Greatest Thing in the World

By Editor

Not the Signs of the Times Magazine,—no, no; not at all,—but the message which it conveys to the people; that's the greatest thing in the world. Those of us who have a burden to extend a knowledge of this cherished message would do well to consider the October number of the magazine as a means to that end.
Your neighbors are interested in such topics as San Francisco's bomb outrage; dress and demoralization; militarism and Christianity; and socialism and salvation. These matters are thought of and talked about on every hand. Every intelligent person wishes to be better informed regarding them. Not only have the writers of these articles alluded to conditions, but in every case great emphasis is placed upon the meaning of such conditions.
Nor are these the only articles. Others or equally important subjects are part of this extra good October number. For instance, Elder E. E. Andross writes on “Where Did the Sabbath Come From?” Dr. L. A. Reed furnishes an article entitled, “Harvest of Evolution.” In addition are the following: “Lawlessness, Anarchy, Murder;” “The True Source of Infallibility;” “Mt. Sinai and the Second Coming of Christ;” “Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice;” “Made Righteous by Faith.” A two-page group of striking cartoons occupies the center opening.
A well-balanced bit of missionary ammunition surely! And all for ten cents, too! You pay but four or five cents a copy, depending on whether you order from five to forty at five cents a copy, or fifty or more at four cents a copy. By the way, if not a regular reader yourself, remember the yearly subscription rate is but $1.
If the Signs Magazine is not represented in your district, will you not make it your business to secure an agent or act in that capacity yourself? Free helps to beginners. Take the matter up with your tract society today.

NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

Camp Meetings

ATLANTIC UNION CONFERENCE
Maine, Dover and Foxcroft............ .................... Aug. 31 to Sept. 10
CENTRAL UNION CONFERENCE
Wyoming, Bridgeport, Nebr. Sept. 21 to Oct. 1
COLUMBIA UNION CONFERENCE
West Virginia, Weston. Aug. 31 to Sept. 10
PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE
Arizona......................... Oct. 12 to 22
SOUTHEASTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Florida, St. Petersburg.... Sept. 28 to Oct. 8
Florida, St. Petersburg (colored)............ .................... Sept. 28 to Oct. 8
SOUTHWESTERN UNION CONFERENCE
Arkansas, Springdale......... Sept. 7 to 17

Maine Conference Association

By H. W. Carr; W. O. Howe

THE annual meeting of the Maine Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the Maine conference and camp meeting, at Dover and Foxcroft, Aug. 31 to Sept. 10, 1916, for the purpose of electing trustees, and of transacting such other business as may properly come before the association. The first meeting will be held at 10:30 A. M., Tuesday, September 5. All accredited delegates to the Maine conference are members of the association.
H. W. Carr, President. W. O. Howe, Clerk.

Maine Conference

By H. W. Carr; Mrs. H. W. Carr

The next session of the Maine Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connection with the camp meeting in Foxcroft, Aug. 21 to Sept. 10, 1916. Each local church is entitled to one delegate for the organization, and to one additional delegate for every ten members. This meeting is for the purpose of electing officers for the coming term (in future the conference term will be two years instead of one), and of attending to such other business as may properly come before this body. The first session of the conference is called to convene on the camp ground at Foxcroft, at 9 A. M., September 1.
H. W. Carr, Chairman. Mrs. H. W. Carr, Secretary.

The Florida Conference

By W. H. Heckman; A. L. Bayley

THE twenty-third annual meeting of the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held Sept. 28 to Oct. 8, 1916, in connection with the camp meeting at St. Petersburg, Fla. The election of the conference officers, and various matters of interest to every loyal Seventh-day Adventist, will come before the meeting. Each church will be entitled to one delegate without regard to numbers, and to one additional delegate for every ten members. The first session will be held at 9:30 A. M., September 29.
W. H. HECKMAN, President. A. L. BAYLEY, Secretary.

The Florida Conference Association

By W. H. Heckman; A. L. Bayley

THE tenth annual session of the Florida Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists will convene on the camp ground at St. Petersburg, Fla., at 9:30 A. M., Monday, Oct. 2, 1916, to elect officers for the ensuing year, and to transact such other business as may properly come before the association.
W. H. HECKMAN, President. A. L. BAYLEY, Secretary.

The Florida Sanitarium and Benevolent Association

By W. H. Heckman; R. S. Ingersoll

THE Florida Sanitarium and Benevolent Association will hold its regular annual meeting in connection with the Florida conference at St. Petersburg, Fla., Sept. 28 to Oct. 8, 1916, to elect a board of directors, and to transact such other business as is deemed necessary. The first meeting will be held at 9:30 A. M., Tuesday, October 3. All accredited delegates to the conference are delegates to this association.
W. H. HECKMAN, President. R. S. INGERSOLL, Secretary.
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