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Review and Herald, Vol. 91, No. 46.

THE WORK AND THE WORKERS
Earlier text: Tsungwesi Mission, South Africa
THE FIELD WORK
THE FIELD WORK

Nebraska

By D. U. Hale

I HAVE been in this conference a little over two months, and I find an excellent spirit among both laborers and church members.
There have been seven tent meetings held this summer, and the eighth and ninth are in progress now. I do not have reports from all yet, but some report a goodly number having accepted the message. Fairbury reports fifteen, and Seward reports sixteen. Other reports are not so good, but fruit is seen everywhere.
Some of the churches are also at work, with excellent results. Elder House went to Austin to visit one of the church schools and to baptize three persons; but when he reached the place he found others were ready for baptism, and he baptized seven. Red Cloud is urging that some one come to baptize five who have accepted the truth there recently. Kearney is writing for help, and several there are waiting to be baptized. A card from J. W. Miller, the colored worker in Omaha, says that seven took their stand for the truth the past week. Elder C. G. Bellah, of Missouri, has just finished a two weeks' revival at the Nebraska Sanitarium. New life and spiritual interest have taken possession of the forty-five workers there, and prayer bands are daily seeking God's help in the work and life of the institution. We have just received word that the chaplain is continuing the revival. The spiritual life of this institution is better than it has been for years. Truly, God is good to us here in Nebraska. D. U. HALE.

Suppressing Anger

“He who can suppress a moment’s anger may prevent a day of sorrow.”

The Summary

By N. Z. T.

IT is with special gratitude in our hearts that we send out our colporteurs' summary for September. Eight of the twelve American unions show a material increase in book sales over the corresponding month of last year, and nine of these unions show a gain in magazine sales. These reports mean much in some of these unions, especially in the three Southern unions, where there is a severe financial crisis in the cotton trade. But notwithstanding these conditions, each of these unions shows a gain in both book and periodical sales.
We are especially glad to be able to present such a full report from the foreignfields, and to see such good results in the four German unions. A letter which accompanied these summaries states that in the West German Union district, which includes Hamburg, their August sales were the largest they have ever had in that district. It is encouraging to see that notwithstanding the war, such a large company of colporteurs are still carrying on their work. The report from Great Britain also shows that a goodly number of our colporteurs are fighting the battles of the Lord successfully in that field. We believe all the readers of the REVIEW will join with us in thanking the Lord for this excellent showing at this time. N. Z. T.

Bible Workers as Reporters

By Walter L. Burgan

THERE are occasions when a minister engaged in a tent or hall effort can get excellent help in his newspaper reporting from one of his Bible workers. There are several Bible workers in different sections of the country who have spent a portion of their time writing extracts of the minister’s sermons for the local papers, and they have been well repaid for this endeavor. One Bible worker gives this interesting account of a recent experience:—
“Since coming to — to engage in Bible work, I have sent you some papers with outlines of sermons by the two evangelists holding meetings here. The attendance was small, the sermons were excellent, and it seemed such a pity that so few persons were getting the benefits to be had at the tent. I talked with the brethren about writing for the papers. They said they couldn’t do it. I had in the past written some at camp meetings, and tried it here. Everything sent in was used by the leading daily.”
This sister is fascinated with newspaper work; and seeing the possibilities to spread the message through this medium, she has been supplying to the local papers synopses of the Sunday night sermons that have been preached this fall.
Another Bible worker had the burden of supplying reports to three daily papers during a summer’s effort, and she was rewarded by seeing souls accept the message who were attracted to the meetings by her newspaper articles. This sister does considerable writing for the papers, and thus helps to spread the message as well as to keep the denominational name before the public.
That the newspapers are beginning to appreciate the fact that Seventh-day Adventists are acquainted with the prophecies concerning the times in which we live is evident from the comment made in a recent issue of a paper in Minnesota, which contained a report of a sermon on the European war by one of our workers. Among other things the article said:—
“Farmers came as many as ten miles to attend the lecture, which was well illustrated with charts, maps, and flags representing every nation on earth. All went away feeling much impressed that the Seventh-day Adventists have found the correct solution of the problems confronting the nations and the world powers of today.”
WALTER L. BURGAN.

Port de Paix, Haiti

By Michel Nord Isaac

In our Sunday night meeting we had more hearers than ever; a large congregation filled the house to its utmost capacity, and two thirds of the audience remained outside. Many prominent persons staying here a few days while waiting for a boat to take them to Port au Prince, attended the service, and expressed a desire to hear further.
The subject was the prophecy regarding the Turkish Empire (Rev. 9: 10-16; Dan. 11: 44, 45). The remarkable fulfillment of these Bible prophecies impressed the people very much, and drew the attention of the audience in a marked manner to the threefold message.
The day following, Brother Jules Jean Baptiste took a number of French tracts on Turkey and its end and went out to sell them. The people became much interested, and in a little time he sold all the tracts.
A prominent foreign merchant who attended the meetings met me on Wednesday, and expressed his desire to obtain a tract on the Eastern Question. Fortunately I had the tract in my pocket. The merchant was very glad to receive it. The same evening I called a special meeting for the church members, that I might explain to them the best method of bringing souls to Christ. We were astonished to see a large audience gather to hear the Bible truth. We had no preaching, but a conversational study of the Scriptures. Some of our faith were permitted to present strong reasons for objecting to our faith, speaking as if they were Catholics; others would then answer these objections by presenting passages of the Bible, which overthrew them in a convincing manner.
Many passages of Scripture were read which overthrow Catholic tradition. The hearers seemed very much interested. The keynote of our Bible study was salvation by faith in Christ and the necessity of obeying Jesus in all things.
The audience listened attentively until the close of the meeting, which was well conducted and orderly. All enjoyed it, and words of appreciation were spoken. Some inquired the place of meeting in Port au Prince, where they were going. I thank the Lord for the great joy he has given me as I see the Holy Spirit moving upon hearts in such a marked manner.
MICHEL NORD ISAAC.

Utah’s Conference and Camp Meeting

By W. M. Adams

THE fourteenth annual meeting of the Utah Conference was held on the beautiful campus of the school ground in Kaysville, September 7-13.
A camp meeting was held at the same time and was greatly enjoyed by all. It had been seven years since the last camp meeting was held in this State. The people unanimously voted to hold another next year.
The laborers from outside of the conference were Elders E. E. Andross, E. W. Farnsworth, and G. W. Reaser, also Brethren C. Conard and C. E. Weaks. Their help was much appreciated. A good spirit prevailed, and the meetings were of a practical nature. The business of the conference was transacted without a discordant note. The same officers were reelected.
Over $1,100 was pledged for the educational work in the union conference. About eighteen persons were baptized during the last year, and three were baptized at the camp meeting. The sales of our tracts and books amounted to over $4,000. The tithe fell a little short of last year, while the offerings to missions increased over $500. The Sabbath school offerings exceeded those of last year by $209, while our conference raised $100 more than its quota in the Harvest Ingathering work. A new church building is nearing completion in Ogden.
Our people returned to their homes with a new determination to help finish the work. Our laborers also enter upon their work for this year with renewed courage, confidently expecting souls for their hire.
We received a very hearty invitation from the citizens of Kaysville to hold our next conference and camp meeting in their town. Brethren, pray for the work in Utah that it may be finished in God’s way and time.
W. M. ADAMS.

Field Notes

A NEW Sabbath school was recently organized at Grafton, W. Va. Twenty-one converts were baptized at the camp meeting just closed.
ELDER G. W. WELLS reports the baptism of five converts at Mankato, Minn. Nine new believers have united with the Minneapolis Scandinavian church.
FIFTEEN persons have decided to obey the commandments of God as the result of work carried on after the close of the Nebraska camp meeting at Seward.
ONE hundred and twenty-four new Sabbath keepers have been added to the churches in the Kentucky Conference during the past year. Just recently seventeen converts were baptized and taken into the colored church at Louisville.

Publishing Department

By N. Z. Town; W. W. Eastman

N. Z. TOWN — General Secretary W. W. EASTMAN — N. Am. Div. Secretary

Colporteurs’ Summary for September, 1914

UNIONS Books Periodicals
AGTS. HRS. VALUE 1914 VALUE 1913 NO. COP. VALUE 1914 VALUE 1913
ATLANTIC
Maine 2 10 $15.45 $49.75 1060 $106.00 $173.70
N. New England 6 194 215.30 542.30 641 64.10 96.70
Massachusetts 10 342 191.10 77.60 3645 364.50 380.10
S. New England 4 169 875.45 ...... 2199 219.90 176.70
New York 16 829 739.07 432.47 1359 135.90 178.20
W. New York 12 404 295.90 234.30 729 72.90 135.60
Gr. New York 9 641 329.15 281.53 6350 635.00 350.00
Totals 59 2589 2661.42 1617.95 15983 1598.30 1491.00
COLUMBIA
Ohio 29 3221 3519.00 1589.65 5545 554.50 308.10
West Virginia 19 944 863.12 682.25 375 37.50 13.00
Virginia 16 553 555.25 433.15 2261 226.10 75.20
Chesapeake 12 1163 1532.88 352.80 650 65.00 135.20
E. Pennsylvania 13 1123 616.75 596.38 3885 388.50 435.70
W. Pennsylvania 16 1444 1342.35 738.25 768 76.80 154.80
New Jersey 9 698 516.85 567.40 2875 287.50 190.50
Dist. of Columbia .. .... ...... 599.50 2239 223.90 146.60
Totals 114 9146 8946.20 5559.38 18598 1859.80 1459.10
LAKE
E. Michigan 9 773 458.00 234.48 4085 408.50 276.50
W. Michigan 8 935 448.65 67.23 1380 138.00 29.60
N. Michigan 7 655 174.15 212.00 445 44.50 41.00
Wisconsin 11 505 341.45 29.60 1060 106.00 148.60
N. Illinois 9 583 217.62 135.05 3677 367.70 385.20
S. Illinois 14 1618 1651.65 1286.75 1631 163.10 111.00
Indiana 8 1010 591.70 212.00 775 77.50 100.20
Totals 66 6079 3883.22 2177.12 13053 1305.30 1092.10
EASTERN CANADIAN
Ontario 5 269 491.61 232.25 2969 296.90 362.80
Quebec 2 58 103.65 ...... 413 41.30 15.00
Maritime .. .... 22.20 ...... 20 2.00 8.50
Newfoundland .. .... ...... ...... 80 8.00 11.50
Totals 7 327 617.46 232.25 3482 348.20 397.80
SOUTHERN
Louisiana 8 304 187.15 1244.60 750 75.00 27.30
Alabama 16 721 503.95 1179.60 917 91.70 57.20
Kentucky 15 1472 1591.20 881.95 1210 121.00 49.00
Mississippi 19 1965 2519.40 2357.75 735 73.50 39.10
Tennessee River 12 1594 1478.80 431.25 2928 292.80 59.20
Totals 70 6056 6280.50 6095.15 6540 654.00 231.80
SOUTHEASTERN
Cumberland 8 526 321.25 297.00 135 13.50 39.10
Georgia 20 1858 1997.37 1247.95 925 92.50 167.50
North Carolina 17 1878 1759.00 1505.17 995 99.50 36.00
South Carolina 7 591 541.65 794.40 1330 133.00 100.00
Florida 15 1265 1249.05 520.10 1663 166.30 98.60
Totals 67 6118 5868.32 4364.62 5048 504.80 441.20
SOUTHWESTERN
Arkansas 12 902 1878.50 1169.25 587 58.70 17.00
Oklahoma 24 1928 1869.30 848.35 617 61.70 57.30
W. Texas 8 247 391.35 82.30 150 15.00 ......
S. Texas 30 3236 1002.25 500.50 1470 147.00 8.90
N. Texas 32 2068 767.90 716.80 2269 226.90 60.00
New Mexico 4 208 762.00 692.90 ...... ...... 1.00
Totals 110 8589 6671.30 4010.10 5093 509.30 144.20
CENTRAL
N. Missouri } .. .... ...... 827.35 2545 254.50 572.70
S. Missouri }
E. Colorado 5 61 40.25 707.27 565 56.50 40.80
W. Colorado .. .... ...... ...... 2545 254.50 19.00
Nebraska 3 138 141.65 394.90 1711 171.10 92.50
Wyoming 3 188 477.25 141.10 235 23.50 8.50
E. Kansas } 5 237 192.75 333.25 2520 252.00 96.90
W. Kansas }
Totals 16 624 851.90 2303.87 10121 1012.10 830.40
NORTHERN
Iowa 6 349 314.70 158.40 6602 660.20 204.70
Minnesota 1 96 93.50 171.85 7948 794.80 164.60
North Dakota .. .... ...... 170.30 676 67.60 89.50
South Dakota 4 130 161.30 815.90 505 50.50 54.40
Totals 11 575 569.50 1316.45 15731 1573.10 513.20
PACIFIC
California 3 148 $542.00 $326.30 2185 $218.50 $230.20
N. California 6 602 569.95 292.80 520 52.00 16.50
Cen. California 2 138 264.70 422.45 435 43.50 78.80
S. California 6 422 464.50 976.40 4125 412.50 654.60
Arizona 3 136 94.00 93.00 70 7.00 6.50
Utah .. .... ...... ...... 270 27.00 8.50
Totals 20 1446 1935.15 2110.95 7605 760.50 995.10
NORTH PACIFIC
W. Washington 5 250 240.75 753.30 1428 142.80 290.00
Upper Columbia 4 206 449.25 322.75 1350 135.00 303.40
W. Oregon 6 386 609.55 382.75 780 78.00 159.50
S. Oregon 3 60 85.50 71.50 410 41.00 21.70
S. Idaho 4 187 193.25 ...... 341 34.10 51.00
Montana* 7 1000 2185.35 249.55 707 70.70 54.70
Totals 29 2089 3763.65 1779.85 5016 501.60 880.30
WESTERN CANADIAN
Alberta 6 245 173.50 566.50 1693 169.30 106.50
Manitoba 3 140 162.00 594.60 515 51.50 67.00
British Columbia .. .... ...... 443.35 5251 525.10 242.90
Saskatchewan 10 1292 1231.55 580.00 530 53.00 63.40
Totals 19 1677 1567.05 2184.45 7989 798.90 479.80
Foreign and Miscellaneous 15310 1531.00 956.00
Subscription list 35291 3529.10 2771.70
FOREIGN UNION CONFERENCES AND MISSIONS
British 59 4475 1527.85 4122.96 165594 3360.20 2700.03
Australasian 88 5534 9348.99 8692.95 43425 1794.28 2246.34
South African 6 539 749.28 1346.64 ...... ...... ......
Indian 27 2793 591.21 578.46 ...... ...... ......
Scandinavian 88 13339 3764.49 11155.95 3483 205.15 320.87
E. German 87 8659 2275.75 2694.19 39948 1149.97 1526.38
W. German 47 4534 1317.08 2756.96 26462 720.58 1532.05
Danube 10 1019 201.21 801.38 573 ...... ......
Cen. European 87 9719 3060.13 2935.48 11585 259.48 596.15
Russian .. .... ...... 1201.02 ...... ...... 8.32
Siberian .. .... ...... 332.07 ...... ...... ......
Latin 9 444 385.99 386.61 3117 85.60 91.46
Porto Rico* 5 .... 1033.54 ...... ...... 116.00 ......
Cuba 7 348 908.00 854.10 241 195.13 50.90
W. Caribbean 6 477 1059.75 638.23 2025 165.00 168.40
Levant 9 772 120.35 61.84 ...... ...... ......
Korean 15 .... 3.01 3.90 2883 74.32 57.30
South American 22 1617 2746.18 1405.70 ...... 161.89 180.15
Brazil 37 2269 1522.50 ...... ...... ...... ......
Philippine Is. 4 .... 118.40 ...... ...... ...... ......
Japan 7 1190 10.38 11.56 1425 48.28 59.60
Totals, foreign 620 57719 30745.29 39980.00 300761 8336.88 9537.95
Totals, N. Am. 588 45315 43615.67 33752.14 164860 16486.00 12691.70
Grand totals 1208 103034 $74359.96 $73732.14 465621 $24822.88 $22229.65

Comparative Book Summary

1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914
Jan. .... $40,677.06 $42,532.23 $44,495.65 $53,931.97 $64,262.88 $59,697.52
Feb. .... 48,748.21 50,990.34 53,923.57 53,525.18 62,813.12 67,149.45
March ... 52,703.85 55,711.55 73,015.56 73,374.99 66,640.42 75,962.31
April ... 55,109.54 64,042.39 73,548.31 73,027.32 73,520.45 85,685.35
May .... 82,971.94 86,333.58 81,923.78 94,166.15 101,640.01 87,024.10
June ... 124,412.34 112,606.05 135,888.76 137,838.38 137,373.06 153,480.96
July .... 95,445.21 103,919.12 127,256.86 156,166.90 140,576.24 199,116.62
Aug. .... 71,652.97 91,145.11 91,810.46 103,165.69 111,660.64 105,391.65
Sept. ... 55,625.41 66,523.65 86,001.72 67,551.70 73,732.14 74,359.96
Oct. .... 52,669.93 62,461.13 81,367.89 70,219.07 84,013.90
Nov. .... 49,964.99 58,211.68 67,600.00 77,424.87 73,949.68
Dec. .... 45,759.73 54,663.93 58,386.24 57,291.91 59,739.92
Totals $775,741.18 $849,140.76 $976,218.80 $1,017,684.13 $1,051,766.94

Comparative Summary of American Periodicals

1911 1912 1913 1914 1911 1912 1913 1914
Jan.† 122202 121666 177080 152971 July 197582 191937 176772 211040
Feb. 99234 144257 201659 242627 Aug. 215773 183119 153849 171451
March 244003 207529 166499 224757 Sept. 135179 173077 127017 164860
April 192757 189498 152088 162027 Oct. 164537 587830 126562
May 141204 162220 166465 168934 Nov. 110326 108755 100351
June 145025 163120 156550 189897 Dec. 98541 111199 99504
Totals 1866363 2344207 1804396

Is It Right to Report Missionary Work, and Are Such Reports of Any Use?

By E. M. Graham

WHEN asked to report the missionary work they do, many of our people say they think it is not right to report it. This is a mistaken idea, and is not in harmony with the Bible nor the Testimonies.
Much of the Bible consists of reports of work. The very first chapter of the first book is God’s report of his work of creation. Here we have our first example of missionary work, given for the encouragement and enlightenment of human beings. Christ was the Father’s agent in creation. We are told, “Ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21. Here, then, in the very beginning of God’s letter to his children, is an example for us to follow.
Moses recorded his life work in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Daniel gave a report of his life work in the book of Daniel. Ezra and Nehemiah reported their work. The book of Acts is very largely made up of reports, as its name indicates. If all these reports were removed from the Bible, we should sustain an irreparable loss.
We have several records of Paul’s reports of his work. See Acts 14:27; 15:4, 12; 21:19. When he returned from a tour, he gave to the church that sent him, a report of what God had used him to do.
Some may say that these reports in the Bible are right because the Lord directed the writing of them by his Holy Spirit. This is true, and it is equally true that the Lord has, through the messenger he has selected in these last days, directed us to relate our experiences week by week. “Let church members, during the week, act their part faithfully, and on the Sabbath relate their experience. The meeting will then be as meat in due season, bringing to all present new life and fresh vigor.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 19.
“Let all have a part to act. Train the young to do what is appointed them, and from week to week let them bring their reports to the missionary meeting, telling what they have experienced, and through the grace of Christ what success has been theirs. If such reports were brought in by consecrated workers, the missionary meetings would not be dull and tedious. They would be full of interest, and there would be no lack in attendance.”—Id., Vol. VI, page 436.
“Let those who gain such an experience in working for the Lord write anaccount of it for our papers, that others may be encouraged. . . . These reports should find a place in our papers, for they are far-reaching in their influence. They will be as sweet fragrance in the church, a savor of life unto life. Thus it is seen that God works with those who co-operate with him.”—Id., page 336.
These instructions are definite, and show very plainly that the Lord desires his people to report the work they do, both orally in their churches, and in writing, that such reports may appear in the papers. How, then, must the Lord regard the refusals of his people to report?
Some base their refusal to report on the text which says that we should not let our left hand know what our right hand does. We are not, however, left in doubt in regard to just what application this text has; for through the spirit of prophecy there is given this commentary on it: “With many, the left hand does not know what the right hand does, for the right hand does nothing worthy of the notice of the left hand. This lesson of Jesus to his disciples was to rebuke those who wished to receive glory of men. . . . I was shown that this scripture does not apply to those who have the cause of God at heart, and use their means humbly to advance it.”—Id., Vol. I, page 193.
“When thou doest alms,” he said, “let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
“In these words Jesus did not teach that acts of kindness should always be kept secret. Paul the apostle, writing by the Holy Spirit, did not conceal the generous self-sacrifice of the Macedonian Christians, but told of the grace that Christ had wrought in them, and thus others were imbued with the same spirit. He also wrote to the church at Corinth, and said, ‘Your zeal hath stirred up very many.’”
“Christ’s own words make his meaning plain,—that in acts of charity the aim should not be to secure praise and honorfrom men. Real godliness never prompts an effort at display. Those who desire words of praise and flattery, and feed upon them as a sweet morsel, are Christians in name only.
“By their good works, Christ’s followers are to bring glory, not to themselves, but to him through whose grace and power they have wrought. It is through the Holy Spirit that every good work is accomplished, and the Spirit is given to glorify, not the receiver, but the Giver.”—“Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,” pages 120, 121.
Here we are shown that the time when acts of missionary work should not be reported is when individuals have a desire to glorify themselves by relating them. Reports given in a spirit of self-exaltation are not acceptable to God, but the reports of those who love him and give him the glory for all they have done, come up as a sweet savor before him. The result of such reports will be that when persons hear them, they will glorify the Lord, as the hearers did when Paul related his experiences. See Acts 21:20.
There are others among our people who think it is all right to report, but who also think it is a very unimportant matter, and that it is not necessary for them to do so. But is anything unimportant about which the Lord has given definite instructions? Is it safe to disregard even the seemingly small things he tells us to do? “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things.” Matt. 25:23. “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently.” Jer. 48:10, margin.
In the few quotations from the Testimonies we find some reasons why reporting is helpful. Reports make meetings interesting, they bring up the attendance, give to all present new life and fresh vigor, and are far-reaching in their influence, and above all, they glorify God.
Besides the blessing these reports bring to the churches, they convey much useful information to the conference officers. We are in the days of the finishing of this message. Much of the responsibility of finishing the work is laid on the church members, and the duty of setting them to work is laid on the ministers and conference laborers. How are these workers to know what progress they are making in enlisting the church members in service if the members do not report? Without reports they are in the dark as to where they most need to direct their efforts.
Brethren and sisters, are not these reasons sufficient to cause you to be willing to work for the Lord and to report what you do to give his message? If every Sabbath keeper would obtain a Morning Watch Calendar, and form the habit of noting down daily the acts performed for the Lord, the filling out of the weekly report blank would be a small matter. Will you not all do this, and glorify the Lord, who has done so much for you, by reporting the work that he has done through you?
E. M. GRAHAM.

Comparative Summary of Foreign Periodicals

JANUARY, 1913, 402,908 copies, value $10,301.63; 1914, 485,968 copies, value $19,795.36.
February, 1913, 394,257 copies, value $12,342.06; 1914, 372,235 copies, value $10,739.70.
March, 1913, 395,933 copies, value $12,987.49; 1914, 381,017 copies, value $11,168.35.
April, 1913, 630,998 copies, value $17,795.92; 1914, 375,140 copies, value $11,686.31.
May, 1913, 481,712 copies, value $15,547.70; 1914, 297,877 copies, value $8,049.90.
June, 1913, 331,775 copies, value $13,610.33; 1914, 301,582 copies, value $9,509.79.
July, 1913, 335,770 copies, value $10,830.02; 1914, 380,246 copies, value $10,455.83.
August, 1913, 313,746 copies, value $9,999.28; 1914, 196,328 copies, value $5,502.00.
September, 1913, 285,257 copies, value $9,537.95; 1914, 300,761 copies, value $8,336.88.

Should Food Taste Good?

By L. A. H.

THAT the good taste of food is for our enjoyment is seen in the great variety of good-tasting things that is given us by “God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” Many articles of real food value, containing practically no nourishment, are quite essential to the rational bill of fare because of their flavor or because they serve as relishes.
It is said that when young Walter Scott one day expressed his enjoyment of his soup, his father at once mixed with it a pint of water to take the devil out of it. Many others have in one way or another robbed food of its good flavor and taken away the enjoyment of eating it. The enjoyment of a good meal is not wicked indulgence.
Ex-President Eliot of Harvard is quoted as saying: “Sensuous pleasures, like eating and drinking, are sometimes described as animal, and therefore unworthy; but men are animals, and have a right to enjoy without reproach those pleasures of animal existence which maintain health, strength, and life itself.”
The true health reformer will not mistake such a position as one of immoderation or hurtful indulgence. He will agree, however, that the laws of health demand that we get as much rightful pleasure as possible from our meals.

Importance of Palatability

The importance of palatability has been greatly overlooked or ignored. When viewed in its true place as an aid to digestion, nourishment, and resultant health, it becomes an essential hardly second to any dietetic requirement. Careful investigation has demonstrated that food eaten with enjoyment is much more readily digested than food which is not relished, even though the latter be composed of elements naturally more digestible.
Professor Pawlow, of Petrograd, demonstrated by unmistakable evidence that the mere presence of food in the stomach is not sufficient to cause a flow of gastric juice, but that appetite, or desire for food, causes an abundant flow of it. Food eaten without enjoyment may lie like lead in the stomach, doing more harm than good.
On the other hand, a person may have a jaded appetite stimulated by the pleasant flavor of food. Who has not known a “coming appetite” brought on by relishing the food eaten? A poor appetite is a symptom to be treated, and the best remedy is palatable food.
Luther Burbank suggests that if we eliminate palatability from food, it is no more than a medicine, to be taken because it produces certain necessary results. We know how averse most persons are to taking medicine. The same aversion to some foods has been shown by persons, particularly young persons, who have been taught that certain things were good for them, even though they were not good.
What is termed “appetite juice” is one of the most important of all the digestive elements, and has much to do with the health. The man who eats in a mechanical manner, taking no notice of his food, is wanting in this important factor, and is preparing the way for disease. His cure will not come without a reform on this point.
It is not generally known that much of the pleasure of eating comes through the sense of smell. Sweet, sour, salt, and bitter are alone confined to the sense of taste. Hence the importance of flavor and aroma in their relation to the enjoyment of food.
Palatability of food means more than flavoring; hence the mere addition of flavorings does not meet the demands of a true dietary. A careful use of the many flavorings available will be helpful, but the skillful cook will do much more in utilizing and developing the varied and delicate flavors found in different food elements.
Variety is essential to the enjoyment of food. A monotonous diet palls on the appetite, fails to stimulate the digestive organs, and causes dyspepsia and other ills. Within bounds that are quite wide, variety can be secured at no additional cost over a restriction of food materials.
At a conference on diet in schools, held in London, all the speakers agreed that “monotony is the most fatal thing to digestion in both young and old, and that the knowledge that such and such a dish must inevitably come on Monday, and such and such another on Tuesday, is destructive beforehand to appetite, which is essential to good digestion and nutrition.”

Work of Cooks

Persons interested as we are in healthful living can appreciate this question of palatability of food. We recognize at once that those who do the cooking are the ones who carry the greatest responsibility in dietary matters.
Lecturers may talk all they please, and writers may say what they will, but the best argument for wholesome eating lies in the proper preparation of the food. The better the vegetables are cooked, the less need will there be of talking against meat.
Food is cooked to sterilize it, make it more nutritious and more easily digested, and to make it palatable. The last-named purpose of cooking is not the least in importance.
It may be of interest to note how much this matter of palatability is mentioned in connection with the wholesome preparation of food, in the instruction that has come to us in the “Testimonies for the Church.” Only a few of the many statements can be given here. One of the first statements is this:—
“Learn how to cook with simplicity, and yet in a manner to secure the most palatable and healthful food. . . .”
“Some . . . persons call themselves health reformers, but they are not. They do not know how to cook. They prepare cakes, potatoes, and Graham bread, but there is the same round, with scarcely a variation, and the system is not strengthened. They seem to think the time wasted which is devoted to obtaining a thorough experience in the preparation of healthful, palatable food. Some act as though that which they eat were lost, and anything they could toss into the stomach to fill it, would do aswell as food prepared with so much painstaking.”
Then comes this statement, the importance of which deserves more attention, perhaps, than we have given it: “It is important that we relish the food we eat.” Note what follows: “If we cannot do this, but eat mechanically, we fail to be nourished and built up as we would be if we could enjoy the food we take into the stomach.”—Volume I, pages 681, 682.
“Food is prepared without painstaking, and there is continual sameness. There should not be many kinds at one meal, but all meals should not be composed of the same kinds of food without variation. Food should be prepared with simplicity, yet with a nicety which will invite the appetite.”—Id., Vol. II, page 63.
“Old and young should learn how to cook more simply. Wherever the truth is presented, the people are to be taught how to prepare food in a simple, yet appetizing way. . . .
“Some of our people, while conscientiously abstaining from eating improper foods, neglect to supply themselves with the elements necessary for the sustenance of the body. Those who take an extreme view of health reform are in danger of preparing tasteless dishes, making them so insipid that they are not satisfying. Food should be prepared in such a way that it will be appetizing as well as nourishing. . . .
“Let us never bear a testimony against health reform by failing to use wholesome, palatable food in place of the harmful articles of diet that we have discarded.”—Id., Vol. IX, pages 161-163.
Much more could be presented to show that health reform does not mean deprivation of that which is really good, robbing us of the enjoyments of eating, but that true health reform will be marked by a palatability of food that appeals to the natural senses and to common sense. L. A. H.

Confessing Christ

“No more could a soul who possesses Christ be hindered from confessing him than could the waters of Niagara be stopped from flowing over the falls.”

Medical Missionary Department

W. A. RUBLE, M. D. - - General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN - - Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. - N. Am. Div. Secretary

News and Miscellany

Notes and clippings from the daily and weekly press
— Acting Mayor McAneny of New York chose a committee of fifty to welcome the recent arrival at the South Brooklyn pier of the American-Hawaiian line steamship “Nebraskan,” the first to make the trip from Seattle to New York through the Panama Canal, completing the voyage in thirty-five days.
— Thomas Edison has perfected an invention called the telescribe, which records both sides of telephone conversation. It will be of inestimable value in establishing exactly what was agreed upon in business transactions over the telephone. The instrument will be affixed to the ordinary instrument, having phonographic records upon which every sound passing over the wire will be recorded.

NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS

Notice

THE clerk of the First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlanta, Ga., desires information concerning the whereabouts of Mrs. Wilbur Sanders, Mrs. Fannie Allen, and G. B. Cox. Address Mrs. Myrtice Caldwell, 169 Bryan St., Atlanta, Ga.

Treatment Room Items

ONE of our workers conducting treatment rooms in a good-sized city, mentions, among other experiences, the following:—
“Two or three times a week the commissioner of the finances calls over the phone, ‘Get your prophecies ready. I am coming.’ After the bath he lies down and says, ‘Now I am ready. What does Daniel say today?’ Then we have a study on some phase of the truth. The gentleman is a Baptist.
“My wife has some rich experiences, and ladies frequently come in just to ask her to pray for them. She will say, ‘Well, let us do it now,’ so they are soon kneeling in prayer with her.”
Another treatment room worker in an Eastern city writes:—
“I received the copies of Life and Health sent me, and passed them on to my patients. Before this I had sent in some orders for my patients. They like the magazine, as it does not ride a hobby to death.
“A number of my patients are on the Protestant list, and I hope to send the names of five others before long. We have many conversations on these matters, and business men and others are surprised to learn of Catholic activity and teaching. Since the war broke out the men are more willing to listen to the meaning of these things.
“One of my patients was so improved by the electric light bath that he ordered a cabinet through me for one of the hospitals here, as a gift from him.”
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