Earlier text: Forces Uniting for the Final ConflictJOEL C. ROGERS
By Joel C. Rogers
In March I spent considerable time visiting the out-schools in Malamulo District, Brother Konigmacher doing the same in Matandane District. The pictures show some features of this village work. Where the schools are now showing the people the way of God, only heathen ways prevailed before. I will mention some recent experiences, showing growth in the work. We have had three baptismal services this year, fifty-eight souls thus being rescued from heathenism. At the main station a special candidates’ class was formed from the regular class, with some from the village schools, about forty in number. After one month’s careful instruction, twenty-five persons were baptized March 4. Going to the Monekera out-station, in charge of Brother Malinki (native), I found another class of forty, some coming from the other village schools under his charge. Most of this class were adults, and I made the instruction and examination of each individual quite searching. I decided to submit the covenant with additions against heathen customs, as a test of their conversion. This proved the severest test that could have been found. Some said, “How can I promise for the future?” While they discussed it, I retired into the woods to pray, asking God to work it out for their salvation, even if not one was baptized. On returning I asked, “Are any ready to sign?” One large man, his countenance expressing his resolution, arose and came forward to sign. Twenty-four others followed. One man said: “I can not sign. I am working, and my master may not release me.” I could only reply, “I am sorry for you, but you must wait.” Next day he appeared in line at the water’s edge. “How about signing the covenant?” I asked. “O, here is my wife going to be baptized, and I want to go with her.” He signed, and four couples, two by two, were led into the water and baptized together. Thus twenty-six, in all, were added to this company, and the next Sabbath the ordinances were celebrated. We hope to organize a church here soon, which will be the first purely native church in Nyassaland. I next went to Peter Nyambo’s group of five new schools, nearly a hundred miles away. Here I found nine boys and girls who were able to repeat the ten commandments and the beatitudes without any mistake (see picture). Peter is now visiting among the other villages where schools will soon be opened. Returning to Malamulo for the closing of the school there, we arranged for a teachers’ institute to begin April 14. The vacation being only two weeks, a few of our teachers were unable to get back in time, but forty-four came, and about ten others arrived before the close. Some of them live over two hundred miles away, and they are sometimes delayed by sickness or other trouble, at their homes. All our staff had been called to Malamulo, including Brother and Sister Konigmacher, Brother Ellingworth, Mrs. Rogers, and myself. We united in trying to instil the message into the hearts of our fifty teachers, and impress them that they must teach it to their people. One of our head teachers returned with the report that his people in Portuguese Nyassaland desired us to give them schools. Brother Konigmacher volunteered to go at once to interview the people, and, if desirable, the governor of the district. After twelve days he12returned to give me his report at Blantyre just before I was to start for Europe. Both the people and the governor received him kindly, and the latter encouraged us to place our request for a permanent station before him in writing. I wrote the request, and we hope that as soon as we are able to find the worker, we shall gain entrance into that vast Portuguese East Africa, with its millions. Brother Konigmacher is willing to undertake this new work, and is well prepared for it. His present station is on the border, and he speaks the language of the Portuguese natives. May 1, our teachers went out to their schools with many prayers for God to keep them faithful in the heathen darkness of those villages. Brother Konigmacher is in charge at Malamulo while I am absent attending the General Conference Council, and Mrs. Rogers volunteered to go alone to carry on the work at Matandane until other help arrives. An Implement of War
By Orin Belknap
SINCE war has been declared on the common house-fly, the question of a successful campaign against this insect has become an important one. While cleanliness outside and inside the house is all-important, and while tanglefoot and liquid poison are both necessary for thorough work indoors, there is one additional implement of war which, properly used, will finish the very last fly in any room in the house. No makeshift on sale in the stores begins to be as effective; and on many occasions I have proved to the satisfaction of my family that the very last member of this tribe in any room of our house can be exterminated. This hunt for the fly has taught me some new things. One is that near the last end of a successful hunt, the few remaining ones seem to become panic-stricken, and will hide most industriously and cunningly. Again, at this stage of the war, if undisturbed for a few minutes, they seem lonesome, and will often fly to the floor and creep near the dead ones, apparently for company. This implement of war against the fly is not my own invention, and is common in many places; yet so effective is it, and so cheap, that all should have a knowledge of it. Buy a square yard of wire screen of fine mesh (for sale at any hardware store), and cut a piece eight or nine inches wide and fourteen inches long; cut so as to leave the selvage across one end. With a straight-edge or bit of board, fold each edge under for half or three quarters of an inch, puckering the end with no selvage by folding and pressing the corners toward the center, so that the piece of screen may be fastened to a handle. A bit of light wood, or preferably a piece of Japanese cane such as boys use for fish-poles, makes the best handle. In attaching the screen, I drive a small nail through the folds of the screen and the handle, clinching the point of the nail. Have the handle just long enough to reach the ceiling easily. Finish this new-fangled sword by binding the screen to the handle with strong cord. We are now ready for hostilities. The theory of the matter is this: If we strike at a fly with a shingle or any opaque substance, the stroke itself makes a current of air that wafts Mr. Fly to safety without effort of his own; but this device allows the air to pass freely through its meshes, and being made of wire, moves so swiftly through the air that the tormenting creature that has annoyed you with impunity, is struck too quickly to recover from his surprise. It is absolutely impossible for him to escape. And the consciousness that I have a new weapon which makes me master of the situation, after having the flies wander across my bald head, or insist on sampling my bowl of bread and milk before I have a chance at it myself, is indeed comforting. Make half a dozen of these simple tools; give them to the children, and they will take the burden of this war from your shoulders. Economical Fuel
By Mrs. D. A. Fitch
Of the commonly used fuels, such as wood, coal, gas, oil, and gasoline, little need be said, for they are abundant or scarce, expensive or cheap, according to locality, season of the year, etc. Too largely the use of the cook-stove has been relegated to the past, though in some localities this seems almost a necessity, suitable fuel being exceedingly expensive. Yet many like its service much better than being confined to gas, oil, or gasoline. Time and effort, as well as money, are required to dispose of waste material accumulating about the premises, much of which might be utilized as fuel in the kitchen stove, leaving nothing but ashes as waste on the premises. Among these waste materials might be mentioned dried peelings of vegetables, pea-pods, scraps of cloth and paper, dry leaves of the eucalyptus and some other trees, berries of the ornamental pepper-trees, etc. It is entertaining to listen to the burning of these berries, for besides their giving out an intense heat, there is the sound of an abundance of corn popping. In some localities where fuel is scarce and expensive, there may be planing-mills from which shavings may be obtained. These, if moistened with a little crude oil, make a good fire in a cook-stove or grate. They render good service without the oil. They have been my principal fuel for several years. In Mexico, where the closest economy is practised, the fine, dusty portions of coal are well moistened with cooked starch, made from flour. Large patties are formed and dried in the sun, making a fuel nearly equal to the original coal. The same plan works well in this country, for the writer has tried it thoroughly. Some one on the Pacific Coast was at a loss as to what fuel would be best to use. He was advised to take a daily paper. If reduced to minimum size by twisting tightly, the papers will burn well, much better than might at first be13thought. Better than this is the plan of soaking them in water, rolling tightly, and then giving a gentle twist. Thus snugly compacted, they may be piled like cord-wood to dry, and will be found to burn as well as the best soft wood, although they do not cost ten dollars a cord, as wood does in many places. While it may not be necessary for many families to observe so close economy, yet it is interesting to know by actual trial what can be done to lessen expense, and thus retain more means for charitable or other Christian purposes. Love in Deed and in Truth
LET us study diligently and prayerfully the beautiful and perfect life of the meek and lowly Saviour, and day by day try to mold our lives after his, that we may be able to reflect upon the world an influence toward the precious promises in the Lord. We shall find no burdens too heavy, no sacrifices too great for us in following our dear Saviour if we love him with all our soul, strength, and mind. It is then we can forsake father, mother, brother, sister, and lands for Jesus’ sake. Every good deed can be easily performed with pleasure and delight when prompted and acted upon by love. The beloved John knew the poor and needy would be relieved when met by the one who walks in the footsteps of Jesus. “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” The love that lifts up the fallen and helps the needy is love in deed and in truth. There is nothing more beautiful and sublime than the golden rule which Jesus gave to his disciples: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”—Herald and Presbyter. Many a young man would give his week's wages to feel his father's arm thrown over his shoulder once in a while, and hear him say, “Well, my boy, how goes it to-day?” O, we are too sparing of our cordialities, too much afraid of being thought demonstrative or gushing! For our part, we should prefer that people would gush a little than let their love or kind feelings just drip, like icicles under compulsion of a winter sun. How much happier we should all be if we thought more about making others happy! “Let your light shine,” say the Scriptures; yes—but also let your heat be felt.—Selected. Southern California
By William C. White
The annual conference and camp-meeting of the Southern California Conference was held August 7-20, in Long Beach, one of the most prosperous of the beautiful seaside cities that are growing up near Los Angeles. The first four days of the meeting were devoted chiefly to conference business. There were 160 delegates in attendance, representing forty-seven churches. The membership of the conference is about three thousand. Conference business was handled rapidly, and with a hearty good will that showed that the brethren were familiar with the needs of the field at home and abroad, and were of one heart and one mind regarding their duty to give a hearty support to those who are carrying the gospel message far and near. Among the first resolutions adopted were two relating to the support of foreign missions. During the year just closed, this conference had raised over twenty-seven thousand dollars for work outside of its borders, including eighteen thousand dollars sent to Washington for General Conference work, and nine thousand sent to Mountain View for the union conference. By the resolutions adopted regarding the regular payment of fifteen per cent of its tithe to the General Conference, and the raising of missionary contributions to a weekly average of fifteen cents a member, the conference undertakes to furnish ten thousand dollars a year additional to the foreign work. In harmony with recommendations adopted at the Fresno meeting last February, the conference annexed new territory as follows: “That part of Santa Barbara County lying north of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Inyo and Mono counties in California, also Esmeralda, Nye, Lincoln, and Clark counties in Nevada.” This new territory of sixty thousand square miles is a little larger than the State of Illinois. Its population is not large, and is found mostly in a few mining towns. It will be expensive territory to care for, and was accepted because there is a natural connection between these counties and the Southern California Conference. The principal avenues of trade and travel lead to Los Angeles. Another advance step was the decision to take over the Paradise Valley Sanitarium. It was thought to be for the best interests of this sanitarium that it should be owned by the conference, and as a satisfactory agreement had been arrived at between the conference committee and those who have been holding the institution for the conference ever since its establishment seven years ago, and in view of the fact that this sanitarium is doing a good work for the sick, and is paying, in addition to its expenses, from four to five thousand dollars a year on its indebtedness, and it was voted heartily that it should become the property of the conference association. Another important advance move was outlined in a resolution providing for the establishment in Los Angeles of a missionary training-center, where the workers in ministerial, Bible teaching, and medical missionary lines may work unitedly, each helping the others. Elder E. E. Andross was again elected president of the conference. His associates on the executive committee are J. A. Burden, H. G. Lucas, F. W. Paap, J. W. McCord, A. G. Christiansen, and C. E. Ford. The president’s address brought out many interesting facts regarding the year’s work. Fourteen ministers and licensed preachers have been constantly engaged in field work, also sixteen Bible workers. Tent-meetings were held in eleven places. Two hundred eighty-six were baptized and received into church fellowship. Eight new churches were organized. Meeting-houses were built in Orange, Pomona, Brawley, Eden Vale, Gardena, and Garden Grove; and a chapel for the German believers is being erected at Escondido. During the year, books, tracts, and periodicals had been sold to the value of fifteen thousand dollars. At the Fernando Academy, there has been a large attendance. The enrolment in the academic grades was 120, and in the church-school 80. The school home, which has room for 100 students and teachers, was full at the close of the year. During the year the academy purchased a large school building, moved it onto the school grounds, and fitted it up for a boys’ dormitory and normal building. This cost $5,000. The three sanitariums reported busy and prosperous times. Altogether, they have averaged from 120 to 130 patients during the summer, and from 200 to 220 during the winter. Each is increasing its capacity so as to accommodate a larger number of patients next winter. To those who have sacrificed to help in the establishment of these sanitariums, and to those who have carried responsibilities in them when the burdens seemed overwhelming, it was very cheering to hear their reports of financial prosperity, as shown below:—
Glendale Sanitarium, net gain. $ 3,774.40
Paradise Valley ............ 5,217.00
Loma Linda ................ 5,795.41
Total .................... 14,786.81
Los Angeles treatment-rooms,
loss ...................... 1,874.10
Total net gain .......... $12,912.71 At the close of the camp-meeting, the conference secured for its future headquarters and for city treatment-rooms, on a long-time lease, the second, third, and fourth stories of a building forty by14one hundred twenty feet, on Fifth Street, next to the large Auditorium, and overlooking a beautiful park. This change in location will give more room to the conference and tract society offices, and will provide for the enlargement of the work of the city treatment-rooms. By Thursday afternoon the greater part of the conference business was completed, and by Friday evening the four hundred tents in the large camp were occupied by about fifteen hundred people. The weather throughout the next nine days was exceptionally fine. Light clouds and ocean breezes tempered the August weather so that there was but little suffering from the heat. Both Sabbaths were occasions of great solemnity. The mammoth tent was filled at the four principal services, and meetings were held for the Germans and the Mexicans in other tents. During the forenoon of each Sabbath, revival and consecration meetings were conducted by Elders E. E. Andross and G. A. Irwin, assisted by Elders E. W. Farnsworth and J. O. Corliss. The people responded freely. A large number came forward for prayers, and many testified of their determination to live more consecrated lives. On each Sabbath afternoon, and three times during the week, Sister E. G. White spoke to large congregations, on Consecration, Home Religion, Growth in Grace, and kindred subjects. Her last discourse, in which she spoke an hour, was one of special clearness and power. The Sunday congregations were very large, and the evening meetings were attended by two or three hundred of the townpeople. On the last Sunday fifty-six were baptized. A very interesting feature of the meeting was a series of studies conducted by Elder Andross on the Sanctuary and Its Ministration. During the past year some who were formerly engaged in the ministry, but who are now antagonistic to our organized work, have conducted a campaign tending to unsettle faith in the message. A pamphlet containing so-called “new light” regarding the ministry in the heavenly sanctuary has been quite freely circulated among the church-members. This series of studies by Elder Andross bearing on the questions at issue, was well attended and followed with much interest. From the treasure-house of truth were brought forth an array of evidences, new and old, which confirmed the people in the conviction that the pillars supporting the platform of truth on which the remnant church stands, are sure and solid. As many desire to have these studies for careful perusal, Elder Andross has been requested to prepare them for publication. No doubt a pamphlet containing these studies will soon be printed. In the early morning meetings Elder Farnsworth conducted a very profitable series of studies on Prayer and the Holy Spirit. Elder J. N. Loughborough gave several discourses on Last-Day Tokens. Elder Corliss presented in a very clear and forceful way the perils that menace our religious liberty, and the necessity of active effort on our part to make plain to the people the real questions at issue. Elder A. J. Haysmer spoke of the progress of the Negro Department, and of the needs of that branch of our work. In response to this, over five thousand dollars was contributed to the work for the colored people. About the middle of the week, Elder Irwin told the story of the Friedensau conference, and of the reports that were brought to that meeting by representative men regarding the open doors, and the calls from many lands for men and women to bring the light of present truth. At the close of his address, our people made gifts and pledges to the foreign mission work, amounting to $10,860. The two Sabbath-school offerings added $900 to the foreign mission funds. At the evening and afternoon meetings, clear and powerful discourses on various vital truths were given by Elders W. M. Healey, J. H. Behrens, M. H. St. John, J. W. McCord, and C. E. Ford, and by others. Regular meetings were held daily for the Germans, by Elder Valentine Leer. The Mexican brethren held several meetings each day, and were addressed by thirty different speakers. Brother J. F. Blunt and Prof. G. W. Caviness and one or two others spoke to them in Spanish; others through an interpreter. In the young people’s meetings very encouraging reports were given of the work done by this department during the year. The thirty young people’s societies in the conference have a membership of 850. During the year they have engaged in many lines of activity. One of the most interesting of their undertakings was the distribution of 19,550 copies of the Temperance number of the Youth’s Instructor. This opened the way for many talks on temperance to the students in the public schools. It also led to meetings in shops, and to many avenues of temperance work. A spirit of willing service was manifested in the meetings where missionary literature was offered for sale. At one meeting an assortment of small books suitable for lending was offered at one dollar a package. Eighty of these were taken, also eighty one-dollar tract packages. Seventeen five-dollar tract packages were purchased for the tent companies. At another meeting, 250 copies of “Story of Daniel” were taken, and at another, large numbers of bound volumes of “Testimonies for the Church.” Altogether, the book sales during the camp-meeting amounted to $1,887.54. After the camp-meeting a tent was pitched in another part of the city, and Elders Paap and St. John were appointed to follow up the good interest awakened by the camp-meeting. ANGRY words in the morning spoil the whole day. This is an experience to which many of us can testify with lament for days which did not bring their full harvest of accomplishment. Each day is a new beginning endowed with possibilities of work and pleasure, but strictly limited in its allowance of energy. Anger is an irritant, a fever. If we begin the day with it, the fine flower of our vital strength is exhausted in the effort to get back to serenity, and we work all day with the poorer forces of our mind and spirit. If there were no other argument for peaceful home morning hours, this of itself would be worth considering. If the boys or husband robs the mother or housewife of her serenity of soul before leaving for the day’s work, the home is thereby robbed of energy all day. If children go scolded and angry to school, they are in no mood to make the best of their opportunities. The world wants the best work, and will reward nothing less than that. Let us not provoke one another to anger in the hour of beginnings, lest we make ourselves responsible for failure. “Just to be tender, just to be true,
Just to be glad the whole day through,
Just to be merciful, just to be mild,
Just to be trustful as a child,
Just to be helpful with willing feet,
Just to be kind to the friends you meet,
Just to be cheery when things go wrong,
Just to drive sadness away with song,
To all your neighbors just to do
As you’d have others do to you—
This for us is the daily key,
’Tis God’s own will for you and me.”
Moistening Dry Indoor Air
By Designer
DRYNESS of the air tempts to overheating of the living-rooms, for dry air increases the evaporation of perspiration from the skin, thereby increasing the sensation of chilliness. Dry air at seventy-five degrees will feel about as chilly as moist air at sixty-five degrees. Stoves, coils, and furnaces should always have open vessels of water exposed to evaporation for the purpose of properly moistening the air. This moistening of the air will prove a saving of both coal bills and doctor's bills.— Designer. The Canton (China) School
By M. Gertrude Thompson
The last Sabbath before the close of school we had the privilege of witnessing a scene which did our hearts good. Five of the girls from the Bethel School received baptism. It seemed the more precious to us as for some time we had marked their conversion, and seen manifestations of Christian growth in their lives. There are others whom we expect to take this step before long. I have not been able to take so active a part in the school as my sister, but as fast as my little knowledge of the language would permit, have taken charge of such work as I could. Beginning with the opening of the new year in February, we introduced domestic work and some industries. The sewing classes and the oversight of the domestic work fell to my lot. While heretofore we have had two servants,—one as a cook and the other for general work,—this half-year the girls have taken entire care of the home and the schoolroom. This has proved beneficial to them. As no girl in school was exempt from work, there was no one to look down upon those who worked, and they came to look at their work with a degree of pleasant satisfaction. It has been gratifying to see the eagerness manifested in the industries. We have not had to drive the girls to their work, but on the contrary, we have had to watch lest it lead to a neglect of their studies. Class periods were not long enough for them, and they asked permission to take their work to their rooms. Our industries were knitting, sewing, garment-making, and slipper-making. My principal work has been to study the language. This has been a real pleasure to me. It is difficult, but fascinating; and when one is surrounded with these throngs of people, and realizes they are without God and without hope in the world, it brings a sense of the need of haste, and furnishes an incentive which the desire for grades can never give. We feel especially grateful for the blessing of health which I have had since coming to China. We feel that we have been especially blessed in this respect, as we lived in the noisy, hot rooms over a Chinese street. At the close of school we rented a room up on the mountain, where we have a good ocean breeze; and although my sister has been ill, we hope, after spending a quiet vacation, that she will regain what she has lost. Among the Schools
By W. E. Howell
PACIFIC UNION COLLEGE is reached by a drive of eight miles from the nearest railroad station at St. Helena. The first six miles is a steady ascent into the mountains. The first time one goes up, he feels that it is a long, tedious climb, but on reaching his destination this impression is soon lost in the delights of his environment, and he is inclined to take the more philosophical view that the climb is a good introduction to the vigorous work that awaits teacher and student at the top, and that the whole situation—delights at home and the long grade—is a good device to keep people at home and attending to business. At any rate, there is a decidedly business air about “Angwin’s,” as the college property is familiarly called locally. The president is also business manager and general superintendent; his wife is bookkeeper, storekeeper, and commercial teacher; the Bible teacher the past two years has been chief sawyer and woodman; the history teacher has six classes and takes charge of all repairing; the teacher of mathematics and physical science, is one of the builders; the teacher of English is superintendent of the farm (about one hundred acres under cultivation); etc. The first new building, the ladies’ dormitory, is about ready for the plasterers, and will be occupied at the opening of school this year. It is 150 x 40 feet, with individual rooms 12 x 16, and will accommodate 120 students. The plans were drawn by the president in consultation with his faculty, and include dining facilities for the entire school. It is built of lumber sawn mostly out of their own timber, only about $1500 having been paid out in cash so far for material. On completion of this building, a gentlemen’s15dormitory will be begun, to be followed by the main college building. At present the class work is done in the various cottages and other buildings already on the place. The normal department had only two rooms last year, but is to have three this year. The total enrolment last year was one hundred thirty. One notable feature of this school is the maturity of its faculty, their hair all sprinkled with gray or a promise of it. Surely the young men and women in this school ought to have ripe counsel and serious instruction. College of Medical Evangelists
The medical college at Loma Linda was an agreeable surprise. When I left there four years ago, near the close of the first year of the college work, the only new structures were two cottages and a three-story addition to the main building of the sanitarium, partly finished. Now this addition, for bathrooms and physicians’ offices, is completed, its capacity already grown inadequate; fifteen or more cottages are up, to provide for the increasing faculty and others; an $8,000 chapel of unique design, with baptistery, separate from all other buildings but conveniently near, is in use; a two-story building for the bakery, store, printing-shop, and warehouse, stands near the railroad; a large ladies’ dormitory accommodating 120 persons has been built on the west slope of the hill; a medical laboratory of three stories is about half completed, and will be ready for use at the opening of school this fall; an ice-plant and cold storage has been added to the sanitarium; about 80 more acres has been purchased; a gentlemen’s dormitory has been planned, and will be erected next after the laboratory; and an administration building has been designed and located. During the school session of 1910-11, there were eight second-year and twenty-five first-year medical students enrolled. The first week in July twenty medical students had been accepted, with at least thirty definitely in prospect, for the new class. Three of the medical faculty were in the East this summer doing special work, and it has been arranged for each member of the faculty to spend every second summer in post-graduate study in order to keep abreast of the times in medical science. The entrance requirements are up to the standard of the best medical schools. The college is in good and friendly standing with the California State Board of Medical Examiners, whose chairman passes on the qualifications of all applicants for admission to the school. The possibilities for the substantial development of this school are promising. It is situated in a thriving valley, a mile and a half from town. The school property comprises twenty acres of strong, productive soil, every foot of which can be cultivated. Five acres is reserved for the school campus, and the rest is put out to fruit-trees and small fruits, or is used for raising vegetables and poultry. On one side of the school property, a tract of eighteen acres has been leased, and is used for alfalfa and vineyard. On the opposite side is a twenty-acre tract which ought to be added for protection and resource, as the plan of addition to our school land is to be far wiser than that of subtraction, which has greatly weakened some of our older schools. The buildings are substantial and convenient, and will serve the needs of a natural growth for some time to come. The members of the faculty are enthusiastic, have adopted the courses of study and plans of the general convention at Berrien Springs, and are working hard to bring their school to where they think it ought to be. Historically the fourth college established by our denomination, this school has kept the light of Christian education aglow in the growing Northwest for almost twenty years. It is situated in a fertile valley, whose black loamy soil is shown by excavation to be ten feet and more in depth. Improved methods and means of irrigation have greatly increased the productive value of land in recent years. By selling off its land from time to time, the college has reduced its acreage to about one third the original amount, and a large community has built up close to the college property. But it still owns sixty acres, all except the campus being under cultivation, and has other land leased. The college stands on a beautiful spot, and has substantial and commodious buildings for class work and for its industries. Its jubilee song of freedom from debt was sung two or three years ago. It has erected a separate building exclusively for normal work, and has developed one of the strongest normal departments among us. The college has kept on good working terms with the ten academies and intermediate schools in that union, most of which have confined their work to ten grades. There is no good reason why this school may not continue to grow in strength and produce efficient workers. Danish-Norwegian Seminary
This school is located at Hutchinson, a town of exceptional record in civil and moral tone, on the Great Northern Railway. Being on a tract of 160 acres of productive soil, partly wooded, one mile from town, and on a graceful rise above the surrounding level, the school has almost every advantage that nature can confer. Though the building is yet incomplete and not fully furnished, the school has an earnest, hard-working faculty, and has survived well the exigencies and vicissitudes that are always incident to first-year work. We look for this seminary to make itself sensibly felt in the impetus it will help give to the work of the North American Foreign Department. The Ilocanos, of the Philippines
By Leon Roda
(By a young Ilocano brother) The Ilocanos form one of the greatest of the tribes composing the Filipino people. They are noted for industry, perseverance, self-denial, and thrift. The Ilocano home is hospitable, peaceful, and cheerful, and the individual is compassionate, loving, and ever ready to help. But with all these recommendations the Ilocanos are groping in utter darkness. They know nothing of the near coming of the King. Hundreds descend to Christless graves each day. Yet the present truth is due them. Many an honest soul is thirsting for it, and longing for the joy of sure and nigh salvation. Now it is almost too late to help this people. Already the righteous Judge is treading on the threshold. Yet it is a hopeful fact that the harvest will surely be plentiful and easily reaped among the Ilocanos. The Filipino separation from Rome, headed by an Ilocano priest, and consequently followed the most readily by Ilocanos, prepared the way for the truth. Now the Bible is read with open heart. The short-sighted and blind papal policy of keeping the Sacred Book from the people is now a thing of the past. Still the new religion can not save souls. The people still bow down to images, and pray to unconscious beings. Therefore, brethren, for Jesus' sake, come and work for this people. LAST spring we held tent-meetings at Kiosho, April 28 to May 30. We pitched the tent beside a dry river-bed, which ran through the city. The people never saw so large a tent before, and many came to see it. They were astonished when they saw the workers living in a small tent, too. The meeting was not so large as we had expected, but every night from one hundred to one hundred fifty attended; even on stormy nights, quite a number came. We were told that some would cut the tent for mischief, but all who came kept good order. Early one morning when I went out to buy lumber, a gentleman called out to me, “Teacher, teacher!” As he was a stranger to me, I asked him who he was. He told me he wanted me to go to his home. I did so, and he told me how interested he was in the message, and that he had given up his bad habits and idol-worship. “What shall I do about these gods?” he asked. Carefully I explained to him the foolishness of idol-worship, and advised him to either burn them or throw them into the river. He destroyed them, and is now happy in serving the true God. Is not this a manifestation of the power of the gospel? I must tell you about another case. After two weeks’ meetings, a drunkard came in and listened to the sermon; after that he came often, but no one went near him to salute him, or show him the Bible, and he always left the tent before I got down from the pulpit. A little later I noticed that a woman sat by him, and she requested me to study the Bible with her. I called on her, and found that she was the wife of that drunkard. She is very happy, for her husband has ceased drinking liquor, and that he does not stay out nights any more. I was very sorry that we could not continue the meetings several weeks longer, but on account of the rainy season it was impossible. As a result of this tent effort, fifteen signed the covenant; over twenty asked to study the Bible with us. One lawyer and two professors, who are of other denominations, were interested, and I had an opportunity to talk with them. They were convinced that the law of Jehovah never changes, but they could not give up16their positions which give them support. We must pray more; for we need a deep consecration of heart in order to win these darkened souls. Please remember us in your supplications, so that we may gather many souls into the garner of God as a result of our seed-sowing in this country. With Mrs. Kuniya and two young men, I have moved farther south, to Kagoshima, to begin meetings in July. We are planning to preach the gospel of the kingdom in that city this summer.