After having spent one year in Brazil, we thought it time those at home were hearing from us. We arrived here the last of January, one year ago. This was the hottest part of the year, but after taking a most beautiful train ride up the mountains, from Santos to Sao Paulo, we found the climate very pleasing. In fact, all nature pleases here, and "only man is vile."
During the past year we have been battling with the language and customs, and doing what we could to help the already overpressed workmen. We are now almost ready to begin work in the Portuguese language. Scarcely no time has been lost by sickness. We brought our baby here at five months of age, a weakly child. Now she is the picture of health, for which we thank God. As every one knows who has been in a field where a strange language is spoken, the first year is a year of trials and difficulties—so much to do that we cannot do because we do not have the language. Yet we have passed through these experiences, and feel closer to God for them.
The work here seems tremendous, yet I never before saw such evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit. Interests are springing up all over the country, many calling for a minister, but there is no one to go. These calls put a zeal in our hearts that we can hardly resist, yet we must content ourselves a few months longer in language study and distributing literature.
A colporteur here sold a tract to a woman, and she has kept the Sabbath for two years12without knowing of us. A man who is waiting for baptism showed another man who came from a distance the fourth commandment, and he went home and told his family, and they all began keeping the Sabbath. He then talked with his neighbors, and thirty or forty of them are interested. This man begged me several times to come and teach them all our doctrines. I could only respond that I would come if I was sent by the conference.
A colporteur called a Baptist minister's attention to the Sabbath, and he responded, "You have taken a burden from my heart that has been there for three years." This man is now obeying God as far as he knows. These experiences show that God is greatly in earnest with us, and his plan is to "finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness." It also shows some of the simple yet effective methods he is using to do the work.
The great increase in our laborers is another encouraging feature of our work. They have almost doubled the past year, and yet they seem only as a drop in the bucket as compared with the needs.
We have just passed through a union conference in which God came very near, and important plans were laid for future work. These no doubt have already been reported by others.
While everything seemed strange at first, yet now we feel at home, and thank God for the courage we have to go forward. We fully believe the work here will soon close. Our confidence is not in ourselves, but in God. This land of Brazil is a goodly land, and we want to go up and possess it. We believe that by the strength of God, by the help that comes from home each year in laborers and means, and by the prayers of the brethren, we shall be "well able to overcome it."
Sao Paulo.
Armenian Mission
By Z. G. Baharian
Z. G. BAHARIAN
After our general meeting in Ovajrik, Nicomedia, it was decided that Brother Touzjian, our worker in Malatia, should return by way of Kaisery, visiting scattered companies on his way. He spent a few days in Gueron also, and was invited to preach in the Congregational church. Gueron is at the southern end of the province of Sivas, and contains about 12,500 Armenians, 500 of whom are Protestants and 2,500 Moslems. Brother Touzjian wrote me about the little interest awakened, and I at once sent my coworker and colporteur, Brother M. Ashikian, to that place. He was successful in selling "Steps to Christ," and tracts on the present truth. At the same time doors were opened to him to hold Bible studies in the homes. Soon a gentleman and a lady took their stand for the truth, and this caused much agitation. Armenian priests began working to bring the man back. Finding their efforts vain, they forbade the people to have any intercourse with him.
Seeing so many doors open, Brother Ashikian called me. I responded at once, traveling four days on horseback through snow-covered mountains. I arrived on December 26, and was glad to see these two souls rejoicing in the truth. Soon the wife of our brother was also encouraged to obey. This increased the threats of the Armenians. We began holding Bible studies in the homes of these believers. Protestants were warned against us. But God opened the home of an aged Protestant, and in it we held meetings every night, and his neighbors showed a good interest. Two other women are at the point of decision.
Satan is not sleeping. One day Brother Ashikian was returning from the house of our brother, where he had gone to hold a Bible study, when a young man attacked him and beat him. Several children also cast snowballs, and women swore at him. His thumb was severely hurt. The chief of the police investigated the case, and told him that these Armenians would kill him but for the government. At present we are continuing our labors, depending upon the Mighty One of Israel.
The school children always run after us with blasphemous utterances, without being rebuked by older ones. Armenians always complain about the persecutions from Kurds, but in turn they do worse to us. We ask the prayers of the people of God. Let them know that this new door was opened while they were unitedly praying during the week of prayer.
Gueron.
Feeling After God
THE following letter by a young Japanese student was addressed to a friendly English missionary, who is in thorough sympathy with students in Japan, and appreciates the intellectual and spiritual ferment amid which they must carry on their studies:—
'I must apologize you for my long staying of the other day, and thank you for your kind present and long explanation about the God. I am very sorry that I could not understand you quite well and reply in affirmative at that time, though I was thanking [you] for your kindness from my heart. But I believe that to say no in truth is much better than to say yes by lying.
'You said that the man who could not believe in God was a pitiful [pitiable] man, and I pity myself also, indeed. I envy the Christian always, for he has a light in his mind named the God, while I have nothing. Although I were immoral and I should be ashamed for myself, I have nothing to sue [plead] and to apologize for my vice. . . . If I have something which redeems me in this case, how happy shall I be!
'What is the God? How can I believe in God? How can I enjoy my life without feeling moral displeasure? These are difficult questions for me. I tried to be converted to Buddhism once, but I found it unfit for me or the younger men, because it taught us only the future life. I think it is a religion for old men and women. I am very much at a loss, not only [as to] the future life but [as to] the present life indeed. . . .
'I am reading the Bible [a gift from the British and Foreign Bible Society] every day before going to bed, and trying to obey the precepts written in the Bible. I am endeavoring to reach the time when I can believe in God.
'I hope you will pity an unbeliever.'
— The Bible in the World.
Maranatha, South Africa
By I. B. Burton
I. B. BURTON
SABBATH, February 7, was a day which will long be remembered by the church at Maranatha. Services were held both forenoon and afternoon, and consisted of Sabbath school, preaching, baptism, social service, and the celebration of the ordinances of the Lord's house.
The Spirit of the Lord came into our hearts during the Sabbath school as the good thoughts of the lesson were considered. Brother Smailes preached from Matt. 1: 21, 23, and at the close of the sermon Brother Sparrow, the elder of the church, invited the candidates for baptism to come forward. Eight persons responded. They were carefully questioned concerning their Christian experience and the reason they desired baptism, and each one responded with a ringing testimony which showed they were taking the step intelligently.
Brethren, I wish you could have heard those cheering, encouraging words, words of faith and of praise, which fell from the lips of those who but a short time ago were following their own ungodly lusts, and whose only pleasure was sin. It would have put many of us to shame who have enjoyed the blessings of Christian homes and associations all our lives. Truly the words of Isa. 42: 16 are being fulfilled: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." We then went down to a kloaf [a ravine] on the mission farm, where nature in all her beauty seemed to smile on the company that gathered. Here the candidates were buried in the watery grave, and arose, we believe, to walk in newness of life.
At the afternoon meeting the newly baptized members were taken into the church, after which every Christian present took part in a social meeting. At its close a call was made for any who desired prayers, and the whole congregation was moved by seeing Botiani arise and with sobs and tears surrender to God and express his desire to walk in newness of life.
Botiani is well on in years, and is the headman of the location where we have opened our new school on Fish River.
Fifty-eight sat down to the Lord's Supper. God blessed us during all the day, for which we praise his holy name. Pray for Kafirland.
A Prayer
By Lillian Odell Lickey
FATHER, hear my humble pleading,
Hear, O Lord, thy child in prayer;
Though the world pass by unheeding,
Be thou near with watchful care.
Thou alone canst heal in sorrow,
Thou alone canst lift the soul;
Give me strength for each tomorrow,
Lead me onward to the goal.
May I know thy love undying,
Love that soothes the troubled heart;
For thy service all denying,
Teach me, Lord, my humble part.
Noon-Hour Prayer
By Editor
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends."
Charles W. McCormick says:—
"There is and can be no limit to the power of prayer which has its inspiration and roots in the will of God and the consent of his child. Time and space are annihilated. Hindrances that baffle knowledge vanish before a faith that 'laughs at impossibilities,' knowing that with God 'all things are possible.' 'All power in heaven and in earth is given,' not only to our Elder Brother, but through him to all who believe in him. There is no longer a question whether God will answer prayer: 'We know that he heareth us.' The contact of a believing soul with God sets free forces that span the earth and penetrate the depths of human consciousness near or remote, and accomplishes results which only he who worketh alway 'to will and to do of his own good pleasure' can measure or understand. Man, in his shortsightedness and impotence, stands aghast at the problem of prayer, until at length he sees that God waits for him to find in the joy of conscious sonship the peace of God for his own soul and the vision of God toward all men. Then, resting in the heart of God, he sees that God 'waits to be gracious'—waits with infinite longing for the redemption of his sons through whom he will usher in his kingdom."
Requests for Prayer
22. A sister in Missouri begs our prayers in behalf of her father, who is passing through a severe trial.
23. A California sister writes: "I am sick physically and mentally. My husband is also ill. He is not a believer in this truth. Pray for us."
24. Another request from the same State (California) comes from a burdened grandmother who desires prayer for her granddaughter.
25. Still another California sister asks prayer for the healing of herself and daughter.
26. "Please pray for the restoration to health of my sister, a daughter, and myself," is the request that comes from another friend in California.
27. A sister in Southern California also desires prayer for healing.
28. Writing from Wisconsin, a burdened sister asks that we pray for the healing of her mind, and the deliverance of her husband from the tobacco habit.
29. An Oregon sister desires prayer for the healing of her niece.
30. An afflicted sister in Pennsylvania begs our prayers for the conversion of her family, and her own healing.
31. A widow in South America requests prayer for herself and family, as they are just now in particularly distressing circumstances.
32. A Canada sister, suffering from asthma and heart trouble, desires healing, if God wills to bless her thus.
33. A Nebraska sister, suffering from a complication of diseases, asks our prayers in her behalf.
34. A brother residing in Washington desires prayer for healing.
35. An anxious Washington mother begs us to pray for the healing of her afflicted son.
36. From Oklahoma a sister sends the earnest request that prayer be offered for the healing and conversion of her brother and his wife.
37. An invalid brother in Florida asks prayer for healing.
38. An afflicted brother in Michigan desires our united prayers for his restoration to health.
Choice Health Hints
By David Paulson, M. D.
DAVID PAULSON, M. D.
Good health is the best form of life insurance.
When you sell health for money, you exchange wealth for trash.
If you want to have health, you must fight those things that cause disease.
Fresh Air and Sunshine
No one has a corner on the air market. There is no fresh air trust.
Your lungs cannot be washed, but they can be aired.
You would not offend your stomach with dirty water; then why offend your lungs with filthy air?
A flood of sunshine in the home may fade carpets, but it puts the bloom of health upon your cheeks. Take your choice.
An open window is better than an open grave.
Warm, stuffy rooms have killed more people than have ever frozen to death.
Those who sleep with their windows open can get along with an hour's less sleep than others. They are that much ahead by breathing fresh air.
One of the most certain ways of producing not only unhealthy blood but also an unhealthy mucous membrane, is to fill the lungs sixteen times a minute with impure air.
Deep Breathing
You will live longer if you take longer breaths, for you will have better blood.
Deep breathing improves the digestion. Practice it frequently during the day. More die of air starvation than food starvation.
After each meal breathe as deeply as you can ten times in succession, then breathe normally for a minute, then take ten more deep breaths. Increase this by one round every day until you take from three hundred to four hundred deep breaths daily as a regular habit.
Dietetic Suggestions
Do not eat a morsel between meals. If you keep your digestive mill constantly grinding, it will soon wear out.
Food must be well relished in order to be well digested.
Many dietetic errors are due to a low conception of eating.
Avoid iced foods and drinks.
Do not make a cold storage plant out of your stomach.
Fletcher has well said: "Do not eat when you are mad, or bad, or sad; only when you are glad."
It is not only necessary to bring a good appetite to the table, but it is also important to come with a good state of mind.
Remember your teeth are put in your mouth, not in your stomach; so the first thing to do is to chew. Chew for your life. If you chew long, you will live long; and you will not need to eat so much.
If you taste your food before you swallow it, you will not have to taste it afterward.
Eat your bread with gladness.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."
Drugs, Spices, and Condiments
Intemperate eating is infinitely more common than intemperance in drinking.
"Avoid patent medicines as you would a pestilence."
Use salt sparingly. Condiments should be wholly discarded, because they irritate the stomach, tending to produce gastric and intestinal catarrh.
Tea and coffee are drugs, not foods, and should come from the drug store instead of the kitchen.
Avoid mustard, pepper, and highly spiced foods that taste hot when they are cold, for they continue being hot after they are swallowed, and even after they are absorbed into the blood. Mustard plasters may properly be applied14externally, but should not be used internally.
It is because we have so little scientific cookery that so many have to resort to mustard, pepper, and other fiery condiments and spices. These things that taste hot when they are really cold, that give the palate a twist, also injure the nervous system.
Water Drinking
Do not drink while eating, nor eat while drinking.
If you drink at mealtime, you should drink between the mouthfuls instead of with the food.
Drink a glass of water on rising and retiring, an hour before each meal, and one to three hours after eating.
The average mortal would live much more comfortably if he drank a larger quantity of water.
Exercise
When one is resting, only one third of the blood in the body is in the muscles; but when one is exercising, two thirds of it is in the muscles. There is no better way of relieving congestion of internal organs than by exercising. The benefit of active exercise remains a long time after it has been taken.
There is no better all-round exercise than vigorous, energetic walking. It should be taken with the head erect, chest up, abdomen drawn in, breathing deeply through the nose, maintaining at the same time a cheerful state of mind, trying to be in harmony with nature and nature's God.
A capital way of strengthening the abdominal muscles is to sit well forward in a chair with chest well up, and then tilt forward and backward, raising the knees each time. Do this a few times a day when you have nothing else to do; you will be astonished in a short time to see how it will strengthen the abdominal muscles; and it is far more important to have strong abdominal muscles than it is to have strong muscles in the arm.
Religion and Health
Health and happiness result from obedience to God's laws. Misery and unhappiness result from disobedience.
We shall make but little progress in this campaign for better health until our souls are gripped with the great truth that the laws of health are the laws of God; that sickness and suffering are directly or indirectly due to the violation of these laws.
If we cooperate intelligently with God in the restoration of health, making use of such opportunities as are within our reach, discarding such things as he has clearly shown us are wrong, he will give us health, and he will bless to our own good and to the good of his work whatever infirmities he permits us to retain, just as he did in Paul's case.
Every invalid should heed the divine injunction: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest," and have implicit, personal faith in that power that upholds the universe and has promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
The Annual Welsh Conference, 1914
By N. Z. Town
THE sixth annual session of the Welsh Conference was held in Mountain Ash, a mining town in south Wales, March 13-15. During the twenty weeks previous to the conference, Brother M. J. Nicholls had been conducting an evangelical effort in the town, which had resulted in bringing out a company of about twenty new Sabbath keepers.
WORKERS AT THE MEETING IN WALES
Before the local annual meetings in Great Britain began, the union conference committee decided to give special attention in these conferences to the home missionary work, in fact, to make them home missionary conferences. In the Welsh conference, which was the first to be held, the home missionary note was struck in the very first meeting, and was sounded to its close. The determination of the Welsh brethren to unite in the world-wide home missionary movement which has been inaugurated, is expressed in the following recommendations, which were enthusiastically discussed and unanimously voted:—
"Resolved, 1. That we as a conference express our gratitude to God for all the blessings enjoyed during the past year, and reconsecrate ourselves anew to his service; and that we heartily accept the policy initiated by the General Conference, that each Seventh-day Adventist endeavor to win at least one soul for the truth during the year 1914.
"1. Whereas, We are told through the spirit of prophecy that 'the work of the Lord in this earth can never be finished until the men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work and unite their efforts with those of ministers and church officers,' and,—
"Whereas, A world home missionary movement has been inaugurated by the General Conference in response to God's plan for the speedy finishing of the work, therefore—
"Resolved, That we enter heartily into this movement by organizing every church and company, as well as our isolated members, for systematic aggressive work."
The delegates present also voted that each member of the conference take fifteen sets of the Family Bible Teacher, for missionary work.
In his annual address, Elder Alfred Bacon, the president, reported eight churches in Wales, with a membership of 273. During the last ten years the membership of the conference has doubled, also the tithe, while the Sabbath school donations were nine times greater in 1913 than in 1903. As several persons were waiting to be baptized, the president expressed the hope that the total membership would soon reach the three hundred mark. Up to the present the conference has received each year an appropriation from the union, but at this meeting it was planned definitely to become self-supporting not later than the beginning of 1916.
The report of the general agent showed that the literature sales during 1913 were more than double those of 1910, and several hundred dollars above those of 1912.
Elder J. T. Boettcher, vice-president of the European Division, attended this meeting, and his reports of the progress of the world-wide message were very much appreciated by the delegates.
About one hundred and fifty of our people were present at the conference, and there was also a fairly good outside attendance at the general services.
At the close of the conference, Brother S. Joyce, the general agent for Great Britain, and the writer conducted a four-day canvassers' institute, the first of the15kind ever held in Wales. Twelve young men were present at this institute, who will be engaged in the sale of our subscription books during this year. As these workers had never had the privilege of such an institute before, they appreciated very much the help received, and returned to their fields of labor determined to push forward in the work more vigorously than ever before.
It was very inspiring to hear the Welsh brethren and sisters sing some of the good old hymns to their native airs. If they work during the year as heartily as they sang during the conference, there is little doubt of their doubling their membership before the year closes.
N. Z. TOWN.
The Southwestern Union Conference and Ministerial Institute
By W. W. Eastman
THE ministerial institute and Southwestern Union conference were held at Keene, Tex., according to appointment, April 1-12. The conference proper was preceded by the ministerial institute, and with the exception of one hour a day used by the writer in the interests of the printed page, the studies were conducted by Elder I. H. Evans, president of the North American Division, and Elder Charles Thompson, president of the Northern Union Conference. These servants of God were greatly blessed in giving a clear-cut, definite message from the Word of God and the Testimonies of the Spirit, which was well received by the laborers of the union, as was evidenced by the regular and prompt attendance, rapt attention, and ready response.
Elder Evans gave his timely studies on the sacred calling of the ministry, which he has been giving in other unions during the winter. These studies have truly been blessed of God, and in every place have proved a general uplift to the brethren. Not only have they been a blessing to the ministry, but to all other classes of workers as well.
Elder G. B. Thompson, who has been carrying an important line of studies at all the other meetings, was called home on account of the sickness of his wife, and Elder Charles Thompson was asked to assist in this meeting in his place. His labors were much appreciated by the brethren. The studies given by him were timely indeed, and were greatly appreciated by the conference.
Three special workers' meetings were called during the institute, each of which was marked by the deep movings of the Spirit as Elder Evans presented with comment some of the plain and cutting Testimonies sent to the ministry in former years.
The business of the conference occupied the last three days of the meeting, and although there were some differences of opinion concerning certain features of the work, yet after free discussion and careful consideration, the business proceeded with harmony and dispatch. The reports rendered showed that a good degree of progress had been made since the last biennial conference, in membership, in tithes and offerings, and in the sale and distribution of our literature.
The home missionary work received its share of attention during the meeting, and all entered heartily into the plan of organizing their churches into active missionary societies. In fact, the work has already begun in some of the conferences with a good degree of success.
Elder G. F. Watson was again elected president of the union; C. E. Smith, secretary and treasurer; H. H. Hamilton, auditor; and A. F. Harrison, general field missionary agent. The meeting closed with the general feeling that it had been the best and most profitable of any of the kind ever held in the union. The brethren returned to their respective fields full of courage and with a new vision of the possibilities for winning souls to the cause of Christ. We confidently believe this meeting will mark a new era in the work in the great Southwest.
All hearts were made sad on the last Sabbath of the meeting, at the death of the little son and only child of Brother and Sister Harry Wilcox, of West Texas, who had come to the meeting bringing their boy strong and well, but were now called to lay him away and return to their work with empty arms and a broken home circle. The funeral services were conducted in the Keene church by the writer, assisted by Elder C. J. Buhalts, the president of the West Texas Conference, in the presence of a large number of friends and sympathizers.
W. W. EASTMAN.
Great Britain
By N. Z. Town
IN planning for their annual conferences for 1914, the British brethren planned for a short canvassers' institute to follow the meetings in Wales, Ireland, Scotland, North England, and the Midlands. March 4, I sailed from New York to attend these conferences and institutes. After an uneventful voyage on the "Olympic," I landed in Plymouth, England, the evening of March 10, reaching Watford, the headquarters of the work in Great Britain, the following morning. During the next two days I had the privilege of attending the annual legal meetings of the International Tract Society, Limited; the International Health Association; the Good Health Association, Limited; and the Seventh-day Adventist Union, Limited. The annual reports from these associations were very encouraging indeed.
The balance sheet of the International Health Association, which handles the health food business in the United Kingdom, showed the net gain of $3,930. Brother W. H. Johnson, the traveling agent for the health food business, gave a very interesting report of his experiences during the year, and told of six persons who had come into the truth directly from his efforts.
Out of its gain, this institution turned over to the British Union £700, or $3,500, for the advancement of the work. Since moving to Watford in 1907, this institution has wiped out a deficit of $7,000 and now shows an annual net gain of $3,000 to $4,000.
The Good Health Association, under the auspices of which the sanitariums in the union are operated, also showed a gain of over $1,500. The sanitariums are enjoying a good patronage, and have the heartiest sympathy and support of our own people.
The International Tract Society had a good year during 1913. Its total literature sales for the year amounted to $71,888. This is a small gain over the previous year. The net financial gain of the publishing house for the year was $5,800. By a vote of the board, $5,000 of this was turned over to the British Union for evangelical work. During the past eleven years this publishing house has given to the union £1,000 annually, or a total of $55,000.
As there are no organized tract societies in the British Union, the publishing house sets aside the ten per cent which ordinarily goes to tract societies, for the support of the general agent and his assistants, to aid needy canvassers, and to endow a bed at the sanitarium for canvassers, and the remainder is divided pro rata among the conferences for supplying the evangelical workers with free literature to use in their tent and hall efforts.
The school also had a prosperous year, the balance sheet showing a small gain. There are at present about seventy earnest young people attending the college, many of whom will enter some part of the work when school closes. A list of all these students was read in a meeting of the union committee, and definite plans were made for each one to have some part in the work. Thirty will enter the canvassing work.
The balance sheet of the Seventh-day Adventist Union, which owns all the institutions in Great Britain, showed a net gain, including institutional donations, of nearly $10,000 for the year.
It was very encouraging indeed to listen to the excellent reports from these institutions, and to see the balances at the end of the year on the right side of the ledger. Our brethren in the British field are very much encouraged by the outlook for 1914.
While the union committee was in session, Elder L. R. Conradi presented an earnest call for three workers from Great Britain for East and West Africa. Notwithstanding the great need of workers in the British field, the conference presidents are responding to Elder Conradi's call. Before he left, one young man was selected for West Africa.
The day Elder Conradi left London, I had the privilege of accompanying him on a visit to see two of the secretaries of the London Missionary Society regarding Madagascar. After we had had our interview with these gentlemen, Brother T. Baker and his fiancée met Elder Conradi in that historic room of the London Missionary Society, where definite arrangements were made with him to go out to West Africa. The young lady will follow later.
The brethren and sisters in the European Division are responding very enthusiastically to the calls from the mission fields, and funds are coming into the treasury faster than men can be secured to send out in response to the demands.
N. Z. Town.
North Dakota
By G. F. Haffner
Lehr.—Elder J. H. Seibel and I began meetings at this place on February 26 and continued until March 29. The Lord greatly blessed in the presentation of his truth, and quite an interest was awakened. The schoolhouse was at times too small, so we were allowed the use of one of the church buildings for a few meetings. But when the leaders saw there was danger that16they might lose some members, they refused us any further use of the church, and began to work against us.
Finally some decided to obey, and three families were disfellowshipped for making this decision. The good work went on. Soon another church trial was appointed by the pastor of this church, and six other families were disfellowshipped because of their determination to keep the commandments of God. One brother stood up six times in his church and asked whether the ten commandments were abolished, but neither the minister nor any one else answered his question. They called him down, passed on his case, and told him to leave the church, which he did.
Ten families and two sisters were brought into the truth as a result of this effort, and quite a number besides are about ready to take their stand.
We organized these persons into a company of twenty-five members, and opened a Sabbath school with thirty-five members. Elder Seibel was called home one week before the meeting closed, but the brethren took hold and helped. We left them of good courage, praising the Lord for the precious light which they have received. We believe that there will be a strong church in this place in the near future.
