Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 16.

We are Voyagers
Earlier text: The Influence of a Godly Home

Conditions in Brazil

I WISH I could adequately describe the condition of things here. At the earnest entreaties of our European brethren we have decided to allow one of our few, and hence much-needed, workers to go to Portugal. This reduces our force of ordained ministers to three.
The most southern province of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, compares favorably in territorial respects to one of our largest conferences in the States. In it we now have located, aside from the president of the conference, who, by the way, has his time almost wholly occupied with the general oversight of the field, one other ordained minister and a Bible worker. The population of Rio Grande do Sul is probably about two millions.
Coming farther north, we have the provinces of Santa Catharina and Parana. In these two provinces, which together are larger than Rio Grande do Sul, we have eight organized churches, and about as many companies, besides a number of scattered Sabbath-keepers. In these two provinces we have no ordained minister, and the only worker in this field is a licentiate.
To visit all the Sabbath-keepers, companies, and churches, and do a pastor's duty by each, would require probably four months for one man, necessitating the traveling of from eighteen hundred to two thousand miles on horseback. As I said before, we have no ordained minister in this field, and it is to this field I am now going.
Two years ago last October, I baptized a company of nineteen in Parana. They have not been visited since, and during this time have not celebrated the Lord's supper. Some who wished to be baptized soon after our leaving at that time, have not yet had an opportunity. Brother Emil Hoelzle, a licentiate, is working alone in this vast field; but the truth is gaining ground in new places constantly. As these places can not, with but few exceptions, be reached by rail, the traveling must be done by mule, and this means slow work. At times swollen streams delay progress for days, and even weeks. The roads being bad, very mountainous and steep, only a small distance can be covered in a day, and even this is often strewn with dangers. Food is scarce sometimes. One would consider bread and water a treat if it could be had. In view of all these difficulties, and the fact that most of the people can not read, does it not seem a wonder, after two years and three months, to find these people still faithful to the truth? Would we find it so at home? What would our churches think in the United States if for more than two years a minister should not visit them? Would all remain faithful?
Going still farther north, we have the large and comparatively thickly settled provinces of Sao Paulo, Minas Geraes, and Rio de Janeiro, including the capital. It is estimated that one half of Brazil's population (about ten millions) is found in the three provinces just mentioned. Here traveling is a little more easy, there being more railroads in the district. In this vast territory, and among these millions, the writer is the only ordained minister, while we have one young brother selling papers in Rio, and Brother A. B. Stauffer has recently moved to the city, Sao Paulo, and is doing missionary work there. Even then, I must spend a good portion of my time in other provinces.
As I remarked in my last report, we have capable men in the Rio church, men of good address and a good knowledge of the truth, but even though the need of workers is so great, we can not send these men forth to preach the message of salvation to the millions who are in darkness, because we have not the means with which we can offer a support to them and their families. They do all they can, but their work is naturally limited on account of the necessity of their working at their trades to earn a livelihood for their families. For some time we have been praying and hoping that the Lord would open a way to set at least one of these brethren to work. Perhaps he wants to use some reader of this report to answer our prayer.
North of the province last mentioned, a large share of Brazil is yet untouched. Twelve provinces have never seen a worker; and they contain about a million souls who are in the darkness of Roman superstition, and in the fetters of sin. Brethren, don't you think this is a needy field? As I review it, thinking of its vastness and of the very few laborers, I feel it is very needy.
We feel deeply over the situation here. May the Lord help his dear people to awaken to the needs of this and the many other needy fields, for soon we may not be able to work with the same freedom with which we are working at the present time; and, further, soon the work will be done, and he that shall come will come, and then all hoarded means will only be a source of sorrow. May the Lord ever guide us to be here in our work, and bless us and all his dear people. F. W. SPIES.

J. N. ANDERSON

China

HONAN.—It was my privilege to visit our four different mission stations in Honan during the Chinese New-year season, the last part of January and the first of February. We have now nine adult missionaries in this province. All are in usual health, and fully enlisted in the work. According to previous arrangement, all the workers except Sisters Pilquist and Westrup and their children, came together at Sin-tsai Hsien for a week's counsel and Bible study, January 25-31. As we reviewed our work and personal experiences during the past year, and considered plans for the future, it proved a season of real profit and encouragement to us all.
It is now a little more than three years since the work in Central China was opened up; and it is just three years ago since, out of a small class of inquirers, six were baptized: these were our first Chinese converts on native soil. It was a small, but hopeful beginning, which, during the last three years, has steadily assumed larger proportions. Within that period about fifty additional converts have been baptized, several of whom, however, have been found to be hypocritical and faithless. Of all people in the world, the Chinese are the most commercial, and hence to the great majority of them the gospel has no meaning except as it can be made to serve some material interest. Nor is it at all difficult for the Chinese convert to thus utilize the foreigner and his religion. This is a national trait that always bewilders and baffles the foreign missionary, and one which he must guard with constant vigilance.
Of the converts already mentioned, twenty-four have been organized into a company at Lo-shan, under the leadership of Elder Pilquist. At the close of the Chinese year ending Jan. 25, 1906, there were in operation three day-schools for girls, with an attendance of about forty, and one school for boys, with fourteen enrolled. Regular and systematic dispensary work has been carried on at three of the stations. A nominal charge is made for all medicine given out, and this ministration to the sick is always made to serve a higher end, that of healing the soul. Direct evangelistic work, such as preaching, Bible study, prayer-meetings, and personal work, is, of course, carried on at all the stations, and so far as possible it is made to include both men and women. And all this time steady and very gratifying progress has been made in the study of the language, with the result that those who came a little over two years ago are now able to do active and effective work.
There is still another item connected with the work that must not be overlooked; and that is the training of men and women to act as native helpers. In all our work this is doubtless the first and most important consideration. Several of this class are now being trained to act as preachers, teachers, Bible workers, and printers. This means much, since our work in this field must be done largely by the native himself, though with the sympathetic counsel, and wise, but modest leadership of the foreign worker. Should the foreigner be driven out of the country, as many signs all about might lead us to believe may happen in the not distant future, the message would then, humanly speaking, rest entirely with the native believers, especially the workers. How important, then, that we carefully and thoroughly train a class of good workers, who, in turn, will bear this message forward!
During the last year the little hand press donated to the Chinese work has been set up and put into successful operation by Dr. H. W. Miller at his station, Shang-tsai Hsien. A small monthly paper, of which he is the editor, is now being printed, and sent to our different missions here in China, and a few are going to the States to be used among the Chinese there. Something has also been done in the way of adding to our Chinese literature,—a primer for school use by Dr. A. C. Selmon, and some tracts (translations) by Elder Pilquist.
Elder J. J. Westrup and his family, who came here last fall, are now quite comfortably located at Lo-shan. They are bending all their energies in the study of the language, and what missionary work they can do either in treatments or in teaching the truth through an interpreter. The two nurses, Misses Errickson and Simpson, are still alone at Sin-tsai Hsien, doing a good work in the face of many difficulties. They should be re-enforced, and I hope that day may soon come. At first thought it might seem that Honan, having nine missionaries, is quite generously supplied; but when it is remembered that there are no less than thirty-five million people within its boundaries, twice that number of missionaries could not be considered too great. We are indeed thankful to have even nine, but with each passing day the field seems to enlarge, and the harvest is ripe. Let us, then, all pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers, both native and foreign.

J. N. ANDERSON

Nanking, China.

Work for All

Much has been said and written as to what our young people could do in this greatest of all work, the giving of the last message to a fallen world, if we who are older would plan for and with them. We in Colorado have been trying to do this, and the results are most gratifying. The plan our young people have settled upon is a very simple one; namely, that of giving a birthday offering amounting to at least one penny for each year of their age, and as much more as they like. By this plan our young people have already raised six hundred dollars, and all this goes to fields outside of our conference, as follows: India, one hundred and fifty dollars; this amount, Prof. J. L. Shaw tells us, will support a good worker in that field. Brother Keh, in China, costs us one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and Brother Watanbe, in Japan, one hundred dollars, leaving a remainder of one hundred and seventy-five dollars; and I am sure our young people will be willing to have one hundred dollars of this go to Korea to support a worker there. Aside from this, the children of the West Denver church have sent in money enough to support two native workers in India for one year, and to care for one orphan; also the young people of the Colorado Sanitarium are supporting one worker in India, at a cost of two hundred dollars a year. Adding to this list, Elder Thomas Branch and his daughter Mabel, of Africa, gives a corps of eight workers abroad who receive their support from the Colorado Conference, and I am sure our young people will not be content without a worker in Korea.
May the Master of this great work direct so that the most good can be done in the shortest time. We long for home.
G. F. WATSON.

Help for the Colored Work

There is at least one plan of helping the mission-school work for the colored people that every Seventh-day Adventist can adopt without danger of making any mistake.
We speak thus confidently because the plan to which we refer was given to this people through the spirit of prophecy. Sister White says:—
“One night as I was praying for this needy field [the South], a scene was presented to me which I will describe. “I saw a company of men working, and asked what they were doing. One of them replied, ‘We are making little boxes to be placed in the home of every family that is willing to practise self-denial, and to send of their means to help the work among the colored people in the South.’”
Of the influence such boxes will have in the families where they are used, Sister White says:—
“Such boxes will be a constant reminder of the needs of this race, and the giving of money thus saved by economy and self-denial will be an excellent education for all the members of the family.”
Touching the efforts made by Sister White to interest our people in the use of these boxes, we have these words from her own lips, spoken before a General Conference council, at Lincoln, Neb.:—
“I have written concerning these boxes, and the self-denial they will encourage, and I now ask if you will not accept the light that God has given to his people. These boxes should be used more than they have been, and let no one, either by pen or by voice, hinder their circulation.”
For about two years the Southern Missionary Society has been making and sending out these boxes, attached to calendars, so that they can be conspicuously placed upon the wall, convenient for use by all the family.
We have tried in every way possible to introduce these boxes into every Sabbath-keeping home in the United States. Comparatively few of our people, however, have ever given us opportunity to place these boxes in their homes. We appeal to you, now, brethren and sisters, through the REVIEW AND HERALD, to drop us a card, giving us your address, and asking for one of these calendars and boxes, which will be gladly sent to you, postage prepaid.
We make this urgent request because, first, the colored mission schools need the help that comes to them through the self-denial boxes; second, you need the blessing that will come to you in the use of the boxes.
There are in the Southern field nearly ten million colored people, not one per cent of whom as yet have any intelligent idea of the third angel’s message. These people must have the truth; they must have it in this generation, and in orderthat they may have it in this generation, we must put forth greater efforts than we have yet done to carry it to them.
We appeal to you, brethren and sisters, who have long enjoyed the light of present truth, to come to the help of this work. Let us send each family one of these self-denial boxes, which will serve as a constant reminder of the needs of this field. Please drop us a postal-card, giving your name and address, and we will send the box at once.
C. P. BOLLMAN,
Secretary Southern Missionary Society.

Sanitarium Work in Great Britain

THERE are three small sanitariums in the United Kingdom. The first one was opened more than three years ago in Belfast, Ireland, and is known as the Belfast Sanitarium. It is located at 343 Antrim Road, and is easy of access from all parts of the town, as the electric trams pass the door. The building consists of a double villa with eight bedrooms, drawing-room, dining-room, doctor's office, and three bath and treatment rooms. The institution is comfortably furnished and neatly fitted for the reception and treatment of patients, but the location is not very desirable on account of the noise and turmoil of the city. For some time we have been looking for a country property into which to move the Belfast Sanitarium, but up to the present time, no satisfactory location has been found. The Belfast Sanitarium is in the charge of a local board of management, with Dr. J. J. Bell as superintendent and Mrs. J. J. Bell matron. There is a staff of four or five nurses.
The second sanitarium opened in Great Britain was started in Caterham, Surrey, England, three years ago next June. This is the largest of the three institutions, and has accommodations for thirty-five or forty patients. It is located on a branch of the Southeastern Railway, and is within easy reach of London, being only seventeen miles from Westminster Bridge. The staff of the Caterham Sanitarium at the present time numbers twenty, and consists of a superintendent, matron, two head nurses, six senior and seven junior nurses, and three helpers.
The Leicester Sanitarium was started later in the same year. It also consists of a double house, with a suite of beautiful bath-rooms specially built for the purpose. This institution is furnished to us free of rent by Mr. J. W. Goddard, one of the leading men of the city. He is an enthusiast in health reform, and was so desirous of having a sanitarium established in the city that he made this generous offer to us for a period of ten years. There is a local board of management, of which Dr. F. C. Richards is a member; he is also the superintendent, and Mrs. Sisley-Richards, M. D., is the matron. Their staff of nurses numbers about six. Their accommodations are limited, and their situation, in the midst of a large city, is not the most desirable. The building consists of about twelve bedrooms, with several pleasant reception-rooms, and the suite of bath-rooms already mentioned.
Nearly three years ago a legal corporation was organized for the purpose of holding the sanitarium property. This organization is known as the Good Health Association Limited, and the annual meeting of the association was held on Tuesday, March 13, in London. The meeting was presided over by the president of the association, W. C. Sisley, and encouraging reports were presented by the heads of the various institutions.
Dr. Richards, speaking for the Leicester Sanitarium, mentioned the encouraging reports received from patients after their return home. He reviewed several interesting cases, and especially one concerning a young man who had made a very satisfactory recovery, and has since spent considerable time spreading the principles of health reform which had done so much for him.
W. T. Bartlett, treasurer of the association, presented the financial report, which was quite encouraging. All three institutions have made some little gain during the year 1905,—Belfast Sanitarium about fifty-one pounds, Caterham Sanitarium about three hundred and fifty pounds, and the Leicester Sanitarium nearly fifty pounds. There is no debt on any of the institutions.
After the election of the board of directors for the coming year, the meeting was adjourned.
A. B. OLSEN, M. D.

Statement of Receipts and Disbursements

Statement of the Receipts and Disbursements of the General Conference for the Quarter Ending March 31, 1906

RECEIPTS DISBURSEMENTS
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1906 $14,312.03
Conferences and Tract Societies 1,416.57 $4,282.63
Colored work 2,936.31 5,429.34
Depositors 1,866.09 1,687.50
District of Columbia Evangelical Committee 2,197.52 1,531.73
Expense 667.47
From conferences for support of laborers 4,907.42
General Conference building 1,359.71
General Conference Association 1,297.54 5,834.99
General Conference Corporation 2,633.78
Haskell Home 115.73 1,151.84
Loans 1,098.22 1,296.08
Missionary Acre 100.96
Publishing houses 157.66 3,451.82
Religious Liberty Bureau 489.07 432.49
Specific and special accounts 4,320.21 6,432.75
Washington Building Fund 1,275.94
Annual Offering 31,251.61
First-day offerings 7,857.57
Missions 16,184.81
Midsummer offering 470.28
Sabbath-school donations 7,456.33
Tithe 2,812.00
To mission fields 33,499.05
For laborers 8,120.47
Cash on hand March 31, 1906 24,712.22
Totals $102,523.87 $102,523.87
J. H. EVANS, Treasurer.

The District of Columbia

Some of the visiting ministers who were attending the General Conference Council spoke in the churches of the District of Columbia on Sabbath, April 7. Elder Geo. I. Butler at the Memorial church preached from the familiar words of the fourteenth chapter of Revelation. The following is a brief synopsis of his sermon:—
The eighth verse of this chapter, compared with the seventeenth verse of the twelfth chapter of Revelation, proves that just before the coming of Christ a great message will go to the world, having for its three principal truths the commandments of God, the faith of Jesus, and the spirit of prophecy. Elder Butler spoke of the varied experiences through which he had passed in connection with the great work of the message since its beginning, and of the conflict which is just before us, the last great crisis which we have already entered. He then traced God's work from the time when sin entered into the world. God gave the world a special message in the time of the flood, when all but eight had become so wicked that he could permit them to live no longer. With these eight he started the world again; but in Abraham's time there seemed to be but one lone man who held the truth. Then God wrought with him. And again, at the time of Elijah, when it seemed to the prophet that he alone of all Israel was true to God, the Lord revived his work. Elder Butler then spoke of the crisis in the days of John the Baptist and when Jesus was on earth in person, and next of the great conflict in the time of the Reformation, and of the termination of the conflict of the ages. With this just before us, victory is as sure as the life of God, who has pledged himself to give victory to those who are loyal and true to him.
Coming from one of such long and varied experience in the work of the message, Elder Butler's talk was an inspiration to all who heard it, to be faithful and earnest and loyal to the message until the soon-coming day when eternal victory shall be given to the faithful.
Elder C. Santee spoke at the People's church, Elder R. A. Underwood spoke at the Eighth Street church, and Elder E. W. Farnsworth spoke to the church at Takoma Park. K. C. RUSSELL.

Better to Suffer Wrong Than Do It

It is better to suffer wrong than do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.—Samuel Johnson.

Notes of Progress

The excellent sale of “Heralds of the Morning” in the California-Nevada Conference is a source of great encouragement to the workers. Our readers have doubtless observed from time to time some excellent reports from agents working for this book. The best record, we believe, made thus far was for the week ending March 30, by Brother Clyde Raaths in the city of Bakersfield. He worked forty hours, and took eighty-two orders, mostly among the business men. On his best day he worked eight hours among the business men, and took thirty orders. The splendid success of nearly every agent who has worked during the past year for this book has proved quite an encouragement to students in our schools, who are volunteering for service more readily than in the past.
Recently Brother W. H. Covell has held a canvassers’ convention in our school at Fernando, southern California, where he had a large class in training to sell “Great Controversy,” and another class for “Heralds of the Morning.” At the present time Brother Covell is holding an institute at Healdsburg, where he reports a good class of twenty. When our young people volunteer like this for the canvassing work, it makes us feel more and more that God will yet set his hand to the revival of our subscription book business in the United States; in fact, we have many encouraging evidences that this is so.
In all the territory of the Pacific Press special efforts are being put forth for the sale of “Great Controversy” and “Heralds of the Morning” only. There are several points of advantage in this arrangement: (1) Agents work more enthusiastically if they are all laboring in unison upon one line; (2) State agents can study their work more thoroughly and train agents better if they are giving their whole time to one or two books; (3) territory is worked more thoroughly, and the book is given a better sale, by this direct rotating method; (4) it is quite an advantage to publishers and tract societies to handle fewer kinds of books at a time; for they can do a large business with a smaller investment tied up in stock, and the books can be printed at less expense in large editions.
We are confidently expecting a strong advance in our tract and missionary work during the present season in the Northern Union Conference. The Lord has greatly blessed the brethren in their efforts there of late to secure strong State agents for each conference and mission field. Brother J. S. James, the union conference agent, reports that they now have a good, active man in each section of the field, and he feels that the outlook is very encouraging. Elder Underwood, also, writes that at the recent session of the Northern Union Conference arrangements were made for the publication of a wide-awake union conference paper. We trust that from the beginning this will be a means for placing our tract and missionary work and other conference interests very clearly before our brethren and sisters in that territory. May the Lord greatly bless and give abundant results as a reward for this advance step in the Northern Union.
Another bookmen’s convention willsoon be held at Berrien Springs, Mich. Only a few weeks ago a most enthusiastic convention of this kind was held in Kansas City, Mo., and the universal report from the convention has been that it was a great success, and that it has given a new and better setting to our book work in that prosperous field; and now we are glad to know that the Lake Union, comprising a large group of prosperous States, and having the largest constituency of any union conference in the world, is to enjoy the advantages to be gathered from a convention like this.
Our summary for the month of February shows that several union conferences are keeping up a good record during the winter months. No stronger evidence than this could be furnished to show that the field work is being carefully organized, and that the agents are being well instructed and held well in hand. When all the agents drop out at Christmas time, and the recruiting and instructing have to be done all over again in the spring, much is lost; for it requires the full time and strength of the leaders to gain during the year what was lost at the close of the preceding season. This constancy which is shown by the reports is a good indication. In our work for God we should have no long vacations. It is a steady work month after month and year after year which makes efficient workers for God in this department.

A Cordial Invitation

This is a good time of year for our people, brethren and sisters, everywhere to think seriously whether they will not take up the sale of our books, and thus throw themselves without reserve into the service during the present season, instead of following private and worldly pursuits. “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.” The Lord pays well, even if some payments are deferred. We are promised, however, thirty-, sixty-, and a hundredfold even in this life. In all fields where our book work has been revived, we have received our best help from old, experienced agents who from one cause or another have left the field, expecting soon to return to it. As they have seen the work revive little by little, they have joined their strength and experience, and thus a revival has been accomplished. Now, in nearly all parts of the United States we see the work advancing. There is a “sound of a going.” The times are prosperous. There is promise of a good season this year. Isn’t this the time above all others when the old workers should join the ranks? Is there likely to be a better time? Think seriously of this. We give you all a cordial invitation to the service.
E. R. PALMER, Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Dept.

Summary of Canvassing Work for February, 1906

AGENTS HOURS ORDERS VALUE
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England 3 215 95 $ 373.15
Chesapeake 1 8 5 2.75
Eastern Pennsylvania 8 534 357 430.50
Greater New York
Maine
New Jersey
New York 8 355 236 390.80
Southern New England 4 106 23 104.15
Vermont
Virginia 5 234 111 266.70
Western Pennsylvania 5 202 102 208.83
West Virginia 5 191 75 148.00
Total 39 1,845 1,004 $ 1,024.88
Canadian Union Conference
Total 13 202 $ 520.90
Lake Union Conference
East Michigan 6 209 91 156.75
Indiana 5 144 57 327.50
Northern Illinois 2 63 40 66.75
North Michigan 4 152 32 176.80
Ohio 9 260 212 523.75
Southern Illinois 4 105 30 174.25
West Michigan 1 67 7 26.00
Wisconsin 16 280 67 115.75
Total 47 1,280 537 $ 1,567.55
Southern Union Conference
Alabama 3 137 $ 92.50
Cumberland 7 299 236.75
Florida 4 120 185.00
Georgia 2 174 261.50
Louisiana 2 152 121.75
Mississippi
North Carolina 4 406 303.00
South Carolina 5 353 176.65
Tennessee River 9 395 530.10
Total 36 2,036 $ 1,907.25
Northern Union Conference
Alberta 1 76 26 $ 125.00
Manitoba
Minnesota
North Dakota
South Dakota
Total 1 76 26 $ 125.00
Central Union Conference
Colorado
Iowa 9 112 $ 293.40
Kansas 8 259 49 136.95
Missouri 5 185 35 328.00
Nebraska 1 8.00
Total 23 444 196 $ 766.35
Southwestern Union Conference
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Texas 10 550 156 $ 473.05
Total 10 550 156 $ 473.05
North Pacific Union Conference
British Columbia
Montana
Upper Columbia
Western Oregon
Western Washington
Total
Pacific Union Conference
Arizona
California-Nevada 5 448 399 $ 982.95
Southern California
Utah
Total 5 448 399 $ 982.95
1British Union Conference
Irish Mission Field 4 287 207 $ 175.06
North England 19 1,147 753 710.70
South England 16 1,214 352 736.00
Scotch Mission Field 19 1,187 1,284 1,021.97

Australasian Union Conference

Welsh Mission Field ........................ 3 0 259 0 345 0 157.29
Miscellaneous ............................ 4 0 277 0 65 0 152.24
Total .................................. 65 0 4,371 0 3,006 0 $ 2,953.26

Australasian Union Conference

Victoria ................................ 5 0 529 0 126 0 $ 648.37
South Australia ........................ 8 0 426 0 154 0 572.25
Queensland ............................. 4 0 149 0 80 0 383.18
New South Wales ....................... 24 0 979 0 302 0 1,052.50
New Zealand ........................... 16 0 1,055 0 383 0 1,434.00
Malaysia ................................ 1 0 .... 0 4 0 22.50
Total .................................. 58 0 3,138 0 1,049 0 $ 4,112.80
**South African Union Conference**
Cape Colony Conference ................. 10 0 417 0 361 0 $ 496.50
General Summary
Atlantic Union Conference .............. 39 0 1,845 0 1,004 0 $ 1,380.13
Canadian Union Conference .............. 13 0 .... 0 202 0 520.90
Lake Union Conference .................. 47 0 1,280 0 537 0 1,567.55
Southern Union Conference .............. 36 0 2,036 0 .... 0 1,907.25
Northern Union Conference .............. 1 0 76 0 26 0 125.00
Central Union Conference ............... 23 0 444 0 196 0 766.35
Southwestern Union Conference .......... 10 0 550 0 156 0 473.05
North Pacific Union Conference ......... .. 0 .... 0 .... 0 ........
Pacific Union Conference ............... 5 0 448 0 399 0 982.95
British Union Conference ........... 65 0 4,371 0 3,006 0 2,953.26
Australasian Union Conference ....... 58 0 3,138 0 1,049 0 4,112.80
South African Union Conference ...... 10 0 417 0 361 0 496.50
Grand Total .......................... 307 0 14,605 0 6,836 0 $15,285.74

He Took an Interest in It

WE are in receipt of a letter at the Signs office from a brother who sends three new subscriptions for The Signs of the Times, together with a renewal of his own subscription. He says that he has four other persons on his list whom he hopes to secure as subscribers for the paper.
We frequently receive letters of this kind from the brethren and sisters in the different parts of the field. Is there not something in this that is suggestive to you as you read it? The reason why some of our people succeed in work of this kind is because they take a keen interest in it. They start out to do something, and accomplish it.
We are in the stirring hours of the close of this message; the last days of earth's history are actually reached. Are there not thousands of our people who are willing to do everything within their power to place The Signs of the Times in the hands of readers who may thus have an opportunity of receiving this message of warning?
The undersigned will be glad to correspond with all such persons, and to render them any assistance possible. Remember that the regular subscription price of the Signs is $1.50 a year. Address Mountain View, Cal. A. O. TAIT.

Field Notes

A NEW church building was dedicated at Clearfield, Pa., March 18.
ELDER G. W. ANGLEBARGER reports the recent baptism of seven persons at Denver, Colo.
It is expected that a church will be organized at Lamar, Colo., at an early date.
FIVE persons received baptism at the Erie Street church, Chicago, March 25.
A CHURCH of nine members was organized recently at Fultonville, N. Y.
A REPORT from Plauteau City, Colo., states that ten persons have accepted the truths presented in a course of meetings recently concluded there.
ELDER S. F. SVENSSON reports eight Sabbath-keepers at Central City, Colo., and states that there are also some new believers at Idaho Springs.
ELDER WM. OSTRANDER reports good meetings with the churches at Hillsdale, Ithaca, and Edenville, Mich. At the latter place five persons made a start in the Christian life.
BROTHER H. CLAY GRIFFIN says in a report of work at Ava, Ark.: “Several have taken their stand for the truth for the first time, and others have renewed their covenant. The Lord has wonderfully blessed in giving and hearing the word. We hope to be able to report the baptism of four or five next week.”
IN a report of recent work done at Michael, Ind., Elder J. M. Rees says: “The church was greatly revived, and I am glad to say harmony prevails. Amid all the whispering and undercurrent talks, three good souls took their stand for the truth, two of whom united with the church. I am glad to report, in all, five accessions, three of whom made a start and were baptized at Marion; and a number of others, I am confident, will very soon step out into the truth.”
ELDER E. G. OLSEN reports a good work accomplished at Olin, Iowa. He says: “Before we came to Olin, the church was much discouraged, and it was only a question of time when they would discontinue their Sabbath meetings. Some had given up the Sabbath. But the Lord has blessed us, and the church is greatly revived. The members have made a new start, subscribed for the REVIEW, and ordered a club of our periodicals, with which to do missionary work. Nine have begun to keep the Sabbath, and we hope to have baptism in May.”
Continue reading: A Letter to Congressmen