“I SAW four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Rev. 7: 1-3.
This work is now going forward in all the earth, and to us as a people is committed, the message that calls men back from false worship to “worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” This message is a call to all people to come back to the keeping of the commandments, including the true Sabbath, which contains the very seal of the law itself. Connected with this is the warning against the worship of that power that has set forth for its mark a false sabbath as the sign of its authority.
The Third Angel’s Message Closes When Michael Stands Up
But a time comes when this work ends. The gospel will then be finished. This time is identical with the standing up of Michael, mentioned in Dan. 12: 1. Christ, the angels, and God’s people on earth are busily engaged in giving the message in all the world until the Father summons his Son to him to receive his kingdom.
“I was pointed down to the time when the third angel’s message was closing. The power of God had rested upon his people; they had accomplished their work, and were prepared for the trying hour before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived. The last great warning had sounded everywhere.”—Early Writings, p. 279.
Little do we now comprehend what it will mean to have the gospel come to an end. Surely it will do us good to stop occasionally and ponder what it would mean to us, to our friends, and to every soul, should there be no Saviour to whom we could go for the forgiveness of sins. That day surely hastens. It is probable that God’s people, who are covered by the righteousness of Christ, will continue to pray to him with consciousness of their unworthiness; but those whose sins are not forgiven, will experience terrible anguish.
A World Famine for Hearing the Word
The prophet says, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of Jehovah, and shall not find it.” Amos 8: 11, 12.
“All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, ‘It is done. It is finished.’ The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, ‘Too late! too late!’”
“Those who had not prized God’s word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the word of the Lord. Said the angel, ‘They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God! But no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day they have slighted salvation, prizing earthly riches and earthly pleasure higher than any heavenly treasure or inducement. They have rejected Jesus and despised his saints. The filthy must remain filthy forever.’”—Id., pp. 281, 282.
“Some were denouncing God, and cursing him. Others rushed to the people of God, and begged to be taught how they might escape his judgments. But the saints had nothing for them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden borne, the last warning given. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested in their salvation, they had no interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it.”—Id., p. 281.
God’s People Covered by the Protection of Holy Angels
While the plagues are coming upon the impenitent, the people of God have the promise of divine protection and care. The prophet Isaiah saw this time, and wrote: “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isa. 26: 20, 21.
But to share this special protection requires a previous preparation.
“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful, and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain,’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord, and to live in his sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation, therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets, and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building.”—Id., p. 71.
This time here spoken of is the very time when Jesus leaves the heavenly sanctuary to go to his Father to receive his kingdom. This takes place in heaven, and is the coming mentioned in Mark 13, and in the other Gospels,—the coming of which no man shall know the day or the hour. Those who are not ready for this event, will not be ready for the personal coming of Jesus in the clouds to this earth some time later. It is on account of this that he admonishes us all to “watch.” Those who are prepared when Christ ceases his work as priest, those whose sins have all been confessed and gone beforehand to judgment, will be ready to say, when they see him as he comes to earth to get his people at the end of this time of trouble, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25: 9.
Therefore the day when Jesus shall rise up and proclaim, “It is finished,” is in reality the end of the world so far as probation is concerned. Of all days, it, perhaps, is the most important. Although time will continue and many events occur upon earth after this, no change will take place in the character11of either the righteous or the wicked.
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” “Seeing then that all these [earthly] things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” 2 Peter 3: 14, 11. “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13: 35-37.
Takoma Park, D. C.
Special Evidences that the Gift of the Spirit of Prophecy was Necessary for the Success of This Message
By G. I. BUTLER
G. I. BUTLER
The most important part of any building is its foundation. However beautiful and imposing its structure, if the foundation is unstable and worthless, its value is naught. The same principle is true of religious doctrines. Christ’s illustration of building on the rock and on the shifting sand is to the point. Christ is the Rock of eternal truth; Satan and multitudinous errors are the shifting sands.
What was the foundation of the third angel’s message? The great fact of Christ’s soon coming as brought to view in the first angel’s message, which was to go to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”
The third message of the series was to be proclaimed to the true believers in the first message. These were scattered and discouraged by the great disappointment, yet they ever believed that the first message was of God. Great numbers had given up their faith in the movement, and had gone back to the churches and to the world; but the honest ones were to be sought out and given a knowledge of the truths of the third message. What was the strongest agency in convincing these believers of the truth of the later message and of unifying the work? We answer, unequivocally, the Spirit of prophecy as manifested in the visions given to Ellen G. Harmon (afterward Mrs. E. G. White).
For nearly ten years the work was confined to the gathering in of those who had accepted the first angel’s message, and the most earnest of them received the advanced light. They knew by their own religious experience that God was in the first message. They would have had to throw away their whole personal religious experience to disown that mighty and glorious message. They knew that God had wrought mightily by his Spirit’s power in their own souls, and in the conversion of thousands. They were experienced Christians.
They recognized at once in Mrs. White’s visions the power of that Spirit which filled their souls with joy and gratitude, and were drawn to this message by them. They saw very quickly that these visions were the same in spirit and character as the visions of Holy Writ. They soon learned, too, that the remnant church, the last church on earth, was to have the Spirit of prophecy, and they plainly saw that these visions were the manifestation of it. There was the statement of the Revelator, and here was the manifestation itself. What could be more convincing? These believers in the first message became the earliest believers in the third angel’s message, thus forming the nucleus of what was to be the remnant church. In the experiences incident to the great disappointment they had proved themselves true and steadfast, and were thereby better fitted to lead out in the later movement than new converts would have been.
The third angel’s message had to have a basis of doctrinal belief. That basis must be composed of solid Bible truths. It was to be a platform upon which God’s true people could stand firm and united during the perils of the last days. Every tradition of the Papacy not sustained by the Scriptures must be discarded, and every truth taught by the apostolic church must be retained. A most thorough and careful investigation of the Holy Scriptures was entered upon. Day and night this study was continued with deepest earnestness and prayer to God for light. Gradually light broke in, to the great joy and gratitude of the earnest believers.
A great help in these investigations was the Spirit of prophecy. Visions of heavenly light shone upon the minds and hearts of the humble pioneers. Among the first of these truths to be made plain was the question of the sanctuary. This explained the great disappointment of 1844. During the first part of the first angel’s message the believers supposed this earth was the sanctuary to be cleansed by fire at the coming of Christ. But upon further study the pioneers saw clearly that this earth could not be the sanctuary. The word itself means “a holy place, a sacred place, the dwelling place of the Most High.” Surely this earth is anything but that. They soon found that the Scriptures teach that there is a sanctuary in heaven, a true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man, and that Christ, our great High Priest, ministers therein. The tabernacle, or sanctuary, on earth was merely a type of this glorious temple in heaven. Heb. 8:1-4.
While these investigations were in progress and the true light began to shine on this great subject, in 1847 Mrs. White had a vision in which the whole sanctuary subject was opened up to her mind. She was shown the heavenly temple. Christ’s ministry in the first apartment was portrayed; his passing to the second apartment, the holy of holies, was shown; the ark of his testament was plainly seen; and his last ministration, and the examination of the books of record connected with the final judgment work, were made plain. From that time until the present the subject of the sanctuary has been one of the most important doctrines advocated by our people. The early believers, and all true believers, recognized the Testimonies as being very helpful in settling this important doctrine.
Another doctrine which is prominent in our system of faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. All believers in the first angel’s message observed Sunday at first as the true Sabbath. Mrs. White herself believed in keeping the first day of the week, even after Elder Joseph Bates began to observe the seventh day. She at first felt that he made that subject too prominent. She did not see its importance. But in the vision in which she saw the sanctuary, she beheld also the ark, which contains the ten commandments. “The four on the first table,” she said, “shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all, for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious—a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross. . . . I saw that the holy Sabbath is and will be the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers.”—“Early Writings,” pp. 32-35. From this time Mrs. White was an earnest observer of the seventh-day Sabbath. Later, when the believers in this movement became organized and took the name of Seventh-day Adventists, they placed this institution among their leading doctrines.
These extracts will clearly show this agency to be very helpful in confirming the believers in the conclusions they had reached from the study of the Scriptures.
A Philosophy of Contentment
By David Swing
LET us be content with what we have; let us get rid of our false estimates, set up all the higher ideals,—a quiet home; vines of our own planting; a few books full of the inspiration of genius; a few friends worthy of being loved and able to love us in turn; a hundred innocent pleasures that bring no pain or sorrow; a devotion to the right that will never swerve; a simple religion empty of all bigotry, full of trust and hope and love: and to such a philosophy this world will give up all the empty joy it has.—David Swing.
Intercessory Prayer
“INTERCESSORY prayer is prayer in its highest form. It is utterly altruistic. It takes a man out of himself, and relates him in a vital, practical way to the life of the world around him. When a man prays continually for himself, it is easy for him to pass over from self-interest to selfishness; but when he prays for others, he is delivered from selfishness. And no man has a right to pray for himself alone, any more than he has a right to live for himself alone.”
The Gift of God’s Son
“THANK God for the gift of his dear Son, and pray that he may not have died for you in vain.”
A Visit to Gospel Village, Shen-si Province, China
By FREDERICK LEE
FREDERICK LEE
HAVING received most urgent calls from the province of Shen-si for more than a year, Dr. A. C. Selmon and I decided to do what we could to answer them. After collecting the necessary articles for traveling, such as cots, bedding, clothes, canned milk, rice, grape nuts, and a few extras, we started on our journey April 17. We had heard that the trip was hard and dangerous, but we were prepared to undertake it in order that we might give the truth to those waiting people.
The first two hundred and seventy miles we traveled by train. We made three changes, the last change being to a freight train, but even this was better than traveling by wheelbarrow or cart. The next two hundred and thirty-five miles we traveled in a Chinese cart. As we had an evangelist and a cook along, we had to hire two carts. A solemn contract was made out by the carters to deliver us at our destination in seven days for $20.
For three long days, from 5 A. M. to 7 P. M., we rode uphill and down vale. We should have enjoyed the fine scenery, but we were continually hidden from it. After two thousand years of traffic, the roads have been worn down into gorges from ten to fifty feet deep, and in many places even sink more than one hundred feet below the surface. At this time the dust in the road was five or six inches deep, and it often blew up in dense clouds, almost choking us. Most of the time we had to ride along with handkerchiefs tied over our noses and mouths, and goggles over our eyes. In most places these roads are wide enough for only one cart. Because of the narrow and winding roads, the carters have to keep up a continual calling to warn any carts ahead. Every little ways a place has been dug out where carts can pass. If they meet at any other place, one horse must be unhitched and fastened to the back of the cart to pull it to a place where the two can pass, as these carts cannot be backed in the usual way. We estimated that we traveled at least eighty-three miles below the surface of the surrounding country.
All through this country most of the people live in caves dug in the sides of the terraced hills. The first day we rode through a hilly country, which is well cultivated and well populated, but we saw no more than a score of houses. A cluster of trees at the mouth of the cave or on top of it, is the only thing to mark the places where people live. Out in the plains of Shen-si the people also live in caves; but there they dig an incline down into the ground, where they excavate an open square. In the sides of this square they dig the caves in which they live. There are also air shafts running to the surface for light and ventilation.
Shen-si is the old kingdom of China, which was at the height of its glory in the days of Isaiah. Isaiah, looking upon this place in vision, saw some coming from the land of Sinim ('kingdom of Chin,' Chinese version of Isa. 49:12). It is from this kingdom of Chin that China has taken her name, and there is no doubt that the prophet refers to this place. As we were following along this ancient road going to the place which Isaiah had seen in vision more than twenty-five hundred years ago, and out of which he had said some were to be gleaned for the kingdom of God, we wondered if we were to be the first agencies in fulfilling this prophecy.
In the early days of Christianity, the gospel was no doubt preached even in this ancient province. Nearly all traces of it have been lost, but there is one record which still remains. It is the Nestorian Tablet, written in A. D. 781, and still preserved at the capital of this province. It shows that at that early date Christianity was in favor at court, and the tablet uses many phrases which can refer only to the doctrines of Christianity. Along with the description of the travels of a Syrian priest in China, are given in Syriac a long list of names of priests. There are also two tablets in this same place on each of which has been chiseled the picture of a man who looks very much like a Jew. The tablet says that the man is a Westerner, named Da Ma (Chinese for Thomas). It is said that this is the picture of Thomas the disciple of Christ, who brought the gospel to this place. Whether this be true or not, we can be sure that west China heard the gospel of Christ very early. But when Mohammedanism came in, Christianity was wiped out.
One year ago a canvasser from Honan went out to Shen-si and sold several thousand of our books and papers. Many people then became interested in the truth, and began writing to our station at Yen-cheng for more information. Then three men came this long distance, and attended our general meeting, held in November, 1915. After studying the message with us, they accepted the truth, were baptized, and returned to their homes to proclaim the message they had heard. Since then the interest has been increasing, and the calls for some one to come and teach them have been pressing upon us.
After being nine days on the road, we arrived at Gospel Village, and were warmly received. This is the name of the place where most of those live who are interested. We at once rented a place and began our meetings, holding four Bible studies each day. For eight days we had a regular attendance of forty-five adults, all of whom have been Christians for fifteen to thirty years. It was a great pleasure to stand before these people, turning from scripture to scripture, and see their enthusiasm grow15as different points of truth were brought out.
This is the way we traveled for one hundred miles both ways. The road has been worn down this way after many years of traffic.
A company of inquirers near Gospel Village.
A few of those studying the truth at Gospel Village, Shen-si.
On the first Sabbath our Sabbath school was divided into seven classes of adults and two of children, with a total attendance of ninety-two. The truths which are so dear to our people in the homeland have the same effect upon these people in this far-away land of Sinim. We have had to step out by faith in coming here, for there is no one available at present to handle this interest, but we believe the God who started it will find some one to look after it, or do it himself.
As we were in the midst of our meetings, trouble broke out in the province, just seven miles away from this place. For some months northern Shen-si has been overrun with brigands. They have been gradually coming south, breaking into city after city. When we arrived at Gospel Village, they were not so very far away. But we had two weeks' peace, and during this time we had opportunity to give these people the principal points of the truth.
On the night after the Sabbath of May 6, the firing of guns was distinctly heard to the north of us. It began at midnight and continued till noon the next day. As this was market day in the village, there was great excitement, no one knowing just what was taking place, but all having many wild rumors to report. The truth was that two bands of soldiers were fighting each other inside a city seven miles away, one band having mutinied. The mutinous band and its officers were all originally brigands. Their chief desired Shen-si to proclaim her independence of Yuan Shikai, together with the southern provinces. But as the governor-general would not do this, these brigand soldiers turned on the loyal soldiers, and began slaughtering them. At the same time they captured the son of the governor-general, who was officer of the loyal troop. This they did in order to force the general's hand.
The next day all was quiet, but we heard that the brigands were being enlisted in a big army, which would soon march south to Singan, the capital of the province. The next morning things began to stir again. Three men on horseback came into the village, demanding horses and guns for the army. On their arms was a white band, on which was written, “The Army to Punish Yuan.” They took all the horses they could get, and went away. During these three days of excitement we continued our meetings, taking up the signs of the times as our subject. Those who came were greatly impressed, and the Lord used the events of these days to convince our hearers that the end is near.
(To be continued)
Progress of the Work in Haiti
By ALBERT F. PRIEGER
ALBERT F. PRIEGER
WE have received many letters from the States making inquiry concerning the work here in Haiti. Most of these we must answer through the REVIEW AND HERALD. We hope those who are praying for the work here, and who gave so liberally to the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering last year, without which the work in Haiti could not have been carried on so successfully, are all subscribers to our good old church paper, and in it will find the answer to their inquiries regarding our work here.
Ten months have passed since my return from the United States, and the Lord has blessed the work of every one who has made any effort to seek for souls during this reconstruction period since the American occupation. The Lord has blessed in such a manner that I was permitted to baptize eighty-seven believers, making a total of ninety with the three baptized by Brother G. G. Roth at St. Marc. Brother Roth made us a visit, of which he gave a report in the REVIEW of June 22. Before me I have the names of twenty-four persons who have presented themselves as candidates for baptism, eight of whom took their stand during our visit into the interior.
Three more churches and one company have been organized, and five church buildings are in process of construction, also a church school building in Grande Rivière. The tithes and offerings for six months from January 1 equal the amount paid during the entire previous year.
I wish there was space to relate experiences as we meet them. While passing through a village it was my privilege to meet the young man who was the only one saved out of that fearful massacre at Port au Prince, where the one hundred and forty in prison were shot. He was in a cell with thirteen others, and when the executioners entered, as the victims were shot down, they of course fell, and this young man dropped under the others, hoping thus to escape. After all had apparently been shot, orders were issued to bayonet every one, for fear that the wounds of some might not be fatal. Although this young man did receive a thrust in the side, inflicting a flesh wound, he never moved nor uttered a sound. After all was over, he was the only living one among them, and later he was rescued. He is not a Seventh-day Adventist, and has not yet given his heart to God, but his father was a very zealous elder of one of our largest churches, and did much to help the work. He died in 1909, leaving his wife, who is also firm in this truth.
Upon hearing this experience, the thought came to me. Who can tell if perhaps because of the faithfulness of the old pastor or the prayers of the aged mother, another lease of life has been given the young man, another opportunity of grace afforded wherein he may prepare to meet Jesus when he comes?
In every place that Brother Arioste Péan and I visited, there was a very good attendance, especially of our own people, and every one consecrated himself anew to God. Wrongs were righted, sins were forgiven, and every one pledged himself to be more faithful in tithes and offerings.
As a result of Brother Péan’s visit, previous to mine, five took their stand for the Lord and were baptized. Brother Gregoire Obas reports eight converts on the island of La Tortue, where he was the first man to carry this message. Brother M. N. Isaac reports two more converts at St. Marc, and the same number are reported by Brother J. J. Baptiste, at Limbé. While I have not yet received a report from Brother E. A. Curdy, who is looking after the building of a church at Port de Paix, I am hoping soon to hear good news from there.
Good News from Ceylon
By A. G. DANIELLS
A. G. DANIELLS
The letters that come from our missionaries hard at work in their various fields, often contain most interesting and encouraging information regarding the progress of the cause. The accounts they give of new openings for the proclamation of the message, and the wonderful experiences of individuals who embrace the truth, bear convincing evidence that a hand greater than that of puny man is in charge of this sacred work. The following from Pastor J. S. James, of India, is most interesting and impressive:—
“About four months ago we received at our office in Madras a request from some people in Jaffna, Ceylon, for copies of all our Tamil literature and the book ‘Daniel and the Revelation.’ We sent them the Tamil tracts and papers, but had to refer them to Lucknow for the English books. Later, the Lucknow office received an order from these same people for ‘Bible Readings,’ ‘The Great Controversy,’ and the American Signs of the Times. Shortly after this I got in personal touch with them, but as I could not make them a visit in the near future, I arranged for Brother E. D. Thomas to go over to Ceylon to see them, and find out something of their situation. . . .
“From what I have learned, these people in Jaffna heard the truth through two of our baptized brethren who were visiting their old home in that community, having come over from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States, where they had received the truth.
“The two leading characters in this company are both well-educated Indian men, and Brother Thomas says the truth has taken a firm hold in their hearts. One of them is a successful lawyer of some means; the other holds the degree of Master of Arts, and has had years of experience in educational work in Ceylon. From what he has written me of his school work I feel that he will be of great service to us when he comes to know the truth a little better. He has begged me very earnestly to come to see him, and I have promised to do so at my earliest opportunity. It is a thousand pities that we do not now have a capable14man in Ceylon to look after the many interests which are springing up all over the island. We ought to have two families there; one man to give his whole time to evangelistic work in the city of Colombo, and another man to look after the vernacular work in the island. I cannot help but appeal to you at this time especially, to consider this favorable situation and to do all in your power to supply the need.”
The following is a portion of Brother Thomas’s letter to Pastor James, telling of his visit to Ceylon:—
“You will be very glad to know that I reached my home safely yesterday, and found all well after two full weeks’ absence from my station.
“Jaffna is at the northernmost part of Ceylon, thirteen hours by train from Colombo. I spent three full days with the company of interested ones there, which consists of a lawyer and his wife, a school man, two widows, and a boy about fourteen years of age. The lawyer is about thirty-five years old, and is a very clean-appearing man. Ever since he accepted this message, he has ceased his attendance at the courts on Sabbath. This has very much reduced his income. He and his wife are honest in their convictions. They feel anxious to have this message preached to the people in Ceylon. He is much inclined to give up his present prospects and begin canvassing for our English literature, such as ‘The Great Controversy’ and ‘Daniel and the Revelation.’ He desires to work among the educated Indians, and feels that he can do a good work for them. His wife is a noble woman, and loves the truth with her whole heart. They are the parents of fine, bright children. They are quite well to do.
“The school man is a graduate of Queen’s College, Canada. He is a native of Jaffna, and has married an Indian lady who was educated in the Isabella Thoburn College, at Lucknow. He is the head master and manager of a school of his own, with three teachers working under him. He has several of our books and is very earnest in his study of them. The opposition he is meeting from his friends and from his wife and children, is making his way difficult at present.
“We organized a Sabbath school, and arranged for the Sabbath school donations and reports to be sent to us until other arrangements can be made. I am planning to write these people often and help them as much as I can. Today I have sent them some of our magazines. They feel very anxious to have a European missionary stationed in Ceylon.”
This is but another example of how the providence of God leads out in the development of missionary endeavor. Somehow we seem unable to keep pace with the onward progress of the message. We have always had more openings than we could fill. This is still true, but these marvelous openings beckon us to greater efforts.
Christianity Is Life
By Ian Maclaren
CHRISTIANITY is not a drill; it is life, full, free, radiant, and rejoicing. What a young man should do is not to vex himself about his imperfections, but to fix his mind on the bright image of perfection.—Ian Maclaren.
Why We Sent Our Children to Church School
By MRS. T. E. BOWEN
MRS. T. E. BOWEN
In connection with the educating of our own children, one statement from the Spirit of prophecy impressed us, and strongly influenced our plans. This thought was, However good may be the instruction and influence thrown around the children in the home, if they are surrounded by the worldly influences of the public schools, the home influence will not be able to counteract the effect of this worldly spirit.
About twenty years ago much was written by Sister White emphasizing the importance of gathering our children into little schools where they could be taught the Word of God in connection with their other studies. We believed these words of counsel. They were full of meaning to us, and we were willing to sacrifice many things that we might be able to pay the small tuition required to keep the children with consecrated teachers, who loved the Lord and the third angel's message, and had the children's welfare at heart.
In the little grievances which arose in connection with the church schools, we sought to uphold the hands of the teacher, taking for granted that the children were very liable to be wrong in their conclusions, although they might be sincere in believing they were right. We tried to coöperate with the teacher; and with the blessing of God, our children have all learned to love the truth, and have given their hearts to the Lord, and have an interest in the message.
Had they not had the influence of our church schools, and later of our more advanced schools, but been thrown out into the worldly influence of the public schools, we know not how easily they might have drifted away from us and into the world.
We believe the dangers are even greater today for the children. All the avenues worldward need to be closed, and the ones heavenward kept watchfully open.
As we now look back over the experiences of the school life of our children, even though some seemed difficult at the time, we truly thank God for the help afforded in our church schools, and do not count the sacrifices made a hardship or a loss, but the rather, a wise investment, which we sincerely hope may yield returns many fold in the kingdom of heaven.
