Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 8, 1905
Good Helps for Workers
COLDS: Their Prevention and Cure
By G. H. Heald, M. D.
A little, attractive, practical work upon the subject of colds, especially adapted to the needs of every household.
Its object is to enlighten the public upon the causes of colds, to teach methods of prevention, and to outline proper treatment for their cure.
It contains practical directions for breaking up colds by simple rational treatments without the use of drugs, and gives helpful suggestions for the prevention of colds.
A work in which all the people are interested, and one which they will purchase as soon as the nature of the work is known to them.
Beautifully bound in leatherette.
Price, 25 cents, post-paid
A FRIEND IN THE KITCHEN
By Mrs. Anna L. Colcord
A health cook-book that sells well and meets the wants of all the people.
It is in all particulars up-to-date; does not go into extremes; discards all harmful ingredients; is thoroughly hygienic and common sense; tells how to live economically, yet well, all of its recipes having been thoroughly tested; suggests what to cook for health and how to cook it; its recipes require only such materials as most housewives have at hand; its directions are all concise yet plain and explicit; it is not an advertising medium, but prepared for practical use in the home.
A book that can be sold in nearly every home with profit to the agents as well as to the customers.
Price, paper covers, 25 cents; cloth, 50 cents
OUR PARADISE HOME
By S. H. Lane
A beautiful and attractive little book, containing 128 large pages, nicely illustrated with new designs made especially for the book.
Beginning with the permitting of sin and the fall of Satan, it treats in a plain, interesting manner the gospel facts concerning the Purchased Kingdom; the Three Worlds; Redemption of the World Promised; the Two Kingdoms; the Two Jerusalems; the Three Heavens; the Earnest of the Holy Spirit; the Future Kingdom; the Rest that Remaineth; the Events of the Millennium; the Judgment; the Two Resurrections; the Description of the Kingdom of Glory and the New Jerusalem.
These topics cover the principal points of the message for this time, and they are made so plain and expressive that all are easily interested in the book.
Bound in boards with cover design in colors, 25 cents.
In fine cloth, 50 cents; presentation edition, 75 cents
MAKING HOME HAPPY
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
Containing a bright, wholesome story with a moral; a great subject treated sensibly and simply, revealing how an unhappy home was made happy through loving unselfishness, which is shown to be the secret of a happy home and happy lives. Important lessons are presented for the members of all homes. It is well calculated to make every home more homelike and more desirable, by picturing before the reader the relations that should exist, and the lines of influence that should be created and cultivated in every home. A book which both children and parents would be benefited by reading. It is not only entertaining, but is full of lessons and experiments which serve to educate. Many situations are presented which may be the means of suggesting a better condition in the home. It is a work that can be easily presented, and that will readily attract the attention of all parents.
Neatly and tastefully bound, and illustrated with drawings made especially for the book.
In paper covers, 25 cents; in cloth covers, 50 cents
Review & Herald Publishing Association
Battle Creek, Mich. Washington, D. C.
Editorial
By Editor
A Uniform Testimony
IN another part of this issue of the REVIEW we present brief statements from brethren representing the work in different parts of the world, who thus give expression to their estimate of the recent conference and its influence upon the future of this advent movement. It will be seen that a decided tone of courage and hope pervades all these testimonies. The same is true of the many others for whose testimonies we do not have space in the paper. All are united in saying that this has been a harmonious and profitable gathering. Only once or twice has a discordant note been struck in the conference, and then there was practically no response to it. There has been a hearty and united purpose to rally conferences and individuals to the work of giving the original advent message to all the world in this generation, and this idea has dominated the whole conference. And it has been the uniform testimony of those in attendance that this trend of the meeting has brought blessing and confidence to all hearts. We have been passing through an experience which has confused many minds, and which has tended to discourage those who were not in a position to understand fully the significance of some movements, but the logic of events and a plain statement of facts hitherto unknown to many have cleared up the situation greatly, and plans and policies have been adopted at this conference which unmistakably indicate that this advent message is not to be perverted by a new philosophy, and this advent movement is not to be side-tracked in favor of “another gospel.” The settling of these questions by a positive and aggressive policy which in itself repudiates any new platform or any disintegrating methods, rather than by controversy over troublesome questions, has brought a sense of solidity into this movement, and has renewed the assurance of former days in many minds. This conference was needed. It has accomplished a good work. We can now settle down for four years of earnest effort for the spread of this message, with all parts of the world closely bound together in a common understanding and a common purpose. The outlook is most hopeful.
The General Conference
By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells
THE thirty-sixth session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has just closed. While it would hardly be proper to say that this has been the best conference we have ever held, it is safe to state that without doubt it will always be counted as one of the most important and valuable sessions we have ever held.
It was the first to be held in the capital of the American nation. It is the first we have held in summer and in camp since the conference has reached anything like large proportions. It was more truly a World's Missionary Conference than any preceding session. It was a practical, hard-working conference, and laid the foundation for a broad, progressive work.
The session opened and closed according to the advertised dates, and the general plan that had been arranged was carried out with very little change. The department committee meetings which had been appointed to be held from eight to nine each morning, were kept up every day from the beginning until nearly the last day. It was an inspiring sight to see large circles of leading workers in all the departments of our great cause, grouped in different parts of the camp, engaged in earnest, heart-to-heart discussions regarding the special lines of work committed to them. Many testified to the great value of these daily conferences and discussions.
What was called the “Ministerial Institute” was held each day at eleven o'clock. Many valuable papers were read by different ministers, dealing with important subjects bearing upon the daily work and experiences of ministers, Bible workers, and church officers. It is intended that some of the most important of these papers will be given to our people through the REVIEW.
In harmony with the request of the General Conference Committee, the presidents of union conferences, the superintendents of mission fields, and the leaders of various departments of our work, brought to the conference very carefully prepared reports. The presentation of these reports occupied a great deal of time, but they were so full of interest and instruction that the more ordinary features of the conference gave way for these reports, and every one that had been prepared was given to the delegates. Many of these reports have already been printed in the REVIEW, and others will no doubt appear in the near future.
Two new departments of the conference were created. One was the Medical Missionary Department, and the other was the Foreign Department. Quite a full report of the Medical Missionary Department has already been given. The Foreign Department is designed to develop organized work in behalf of the foreign peoples of the United States. The members of this departmental committee will be composed of the leading representatives of the different nationalities among whom our cause has secured a foothold. Elder Irwin will act as chairman of the Foreign Department, while Elder Haffner and Elder N. P. Nelson, members of the committee, will devote themselves entirely to the German and Scandinavian nationalities. More will be said in the future regarding the work of this department.
The “surprise party” meetings formed a very interesting and cheering part of the conference. Three of these meetings were held, in which the delegates from all parts of the world publicly announced the contributions they had received from their fields in behalf of the Washington fund and the mission fields. It thrilled the hearts of all present to see the delegates come forward and hand to the treasurer thousands of dollars, sent in by our brethren and sisters, with messages of confidence, assurance, and good-will. We know of nothing in the history of our cause that has united the hearts of this people, and4bound them together in the bonds of brotherly love, like this effort to establish the cause of God in its present headquarters.
We might in this report speak of the defects and short-comings of the conference; but this would be of little benefit to the readers. It would perhaps be too much to expect to hold an absolutely ideal conference with our present limitations. After the conference convened, we soon learned that our time would be altogether too short to do all that we would like. This cause has grown to large proportions; it has many important interests. It requires a large amount of time to deal with these practical, everyday affairs in a practical way.
The conference just held was not an occasion for visiting and entertainment. It was not a time of much preaching. The delegates came together for earnest work, and they addressed themselves to their tasks from early morning until late at night throughout the entire meeting. We believe that the plans laid will result in a strong forward movement in all lines, and in all parts of the world. The general sentiment expressed by those who were present was that they were returning to their fields of labor with renewed courage to press the battle to the gates of the enemy. The Lord will surely bless his people as they put forth their best energies in his name to finish his work in the earth.
A. G. DANIELLS.
Coworkers With God
By L. A. S.
THE Almighty could, if he desired to do so, carry on his work in the earth independently of human agencies. He might, if he saw fit, cause his truth to be proclaimed without waiting for human councils to deliberate and lay plans for its advancement, or human messengers to cross the seas and conquer the obstacles of a foreign land. He might use agencies which are not subject to the frailties that beset humanity. All the forces of nature are at his command, vast, and all the host of heaven perform his bidding. He might accompany his message to mankind with a manifestation of his power which no possible obstacle could for a moment withstand.
Yet he waits upon the decisions and movements of human beings, and when they err or fail from any cause to do their part, the work of God is delayed. It suffers from their lack of zeal and earnestness in his service. And thus for ages the work of God for the fulfilment of his eternal purpose in Christ has been delayed because of repeated failure on the part of his people, though there was never any lack of power at his own command.
It is because of the character of God that this is so. His character, and not merely his power, is revealed in this method of carrying forward his work. Though the work is his, and all the means of its accomplishment are supplied by him, he gives to man a proprietorship in it all, just as if man were a copartner with himself.
The will of God that the work should go forward is not enough; man must also will to the same end, just as he would do in a work of his own undertaking. Why pray to and plead with God to remove the obstacles, to supply men and means for the advancement of the cause of truth, when it is his own cause, in the success of which he has more interest than any other being can have?—Simply because God wills that men shall be proprietors with him of the interests and benefits of this cause, both now and hereafter, and they must act the part and manifest the interest of proprietors. They must importune God for help as if the interests and responsibility of the work belonged to them alone.
Let us therefore accept the high position to which we are called by the grace of God, and show all the interest in the advancement of this cause which should be awakened by the wonderful gift of a proprietorship in the greatest enterprise ever undertaken since the beginning of time.
L. A. S.
What the Conference Means
By Milton Charles Wilcox
TRUE Christian life is ever manifest in normal growth. It is not the expansion of the balloon, which, in bursting its shell, collapses. It is rather the growth of the tree, deepening its roots, shooting out its branches, strengthening its fiber of limb and trunk, and fitting itself to bear, and bearing greater and better fruitage.
This thought has been constantly brought to mind at this conference. It is a conference of growth,—growth in knowledge, larger view of the field,—growth in plans,—great growth in the vast mission fields. As with no other conference, it is a world conference, a world's missionary conference. The spirit of the conference is the outflowing, expanding, life-giving Spirit of God. God is love, and the Spirit of God is the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of labor, the spirit of giving, the spirit of life. And this is the dominant note of this conference. It is already manifest in some of our State conferences, which are dividing both tithe and laborers with the great fields beyond. Let the good work go on. Do not bind about the law of life and growth, but let it grow and expand and fructify, according to its own divine, well-balanced, living law.
The writer has attended most of the General Conferences since 1883, but he remembers none where any such degree of missionary spirit has been manifest as in this conference, which marks a new era in our work.
It is a lining-up conference. In every reform work there have always come in principles and views over which there have arisen differences of opinion. This necessarily arises from man's limitations, from previous training, from present environment, from a circumscribed view of the message, and from selfish ambition. Sometimes the development of the message and its fuller inception demand a cross, and the human heart demands an easier way. The truth of God gives no glory to man; but those who seek their own glory are prone to adopt a theory more in harmony with the natural man. Moreover, the great deceiver is doing all in his power to delude, blind, and divide the people of God. But in this conference there is less of doubt, less of uncertainty, and more of a settling down on the great fundamental truths of the last gospel message than we have seen for years. There are doubtless those who are still in doubt, still in uncertainty, but they do not control, nor do they materially hinder, the message.
The trumpet call of the last Sabbath of the conference ought to abide with this people, and we believe will so abide. In the forenoon Elder Butler spoke upon unity in the home, in the church, among brethren, and pleaded eloquently that the Spirit of forgiveness and mercy might abound. In the afternoon, with wonderful vigor and clearness, Sister White called the people to the righteousness of Christ Jesus to save from sin and sinning, and to loyalty to the Bible, to a living religious experience manifest in the home, the church, and in our work everywhere. We were told that while our work should be broadened, while no narrow plans should compass it, we were to stand where we could discern that which is wrong and erroneous, and set our face against all false doctrine, all sophistry, all delusion, all false science, and under no circumstances compromise the truth of God as revealed in his Word. And this we believe will mark the future of this work.
M. C. WILCOX.
Thinking About Others
“ONE great value of thinking about others is that we thereby get a rest from thinking about ourselves, which is the chief cause of personal unhappiness. The less a man thinks about himself, the happier, mathematically and inevitably, he is bound to be. To love somebody, to help somebody, even to worry over somebody, is a far more cheerful business than to be shut up to ‘his Majesty, myself.’ Selfishness always means unhappiness.”
The General Conference
THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION MAY 11-30
Twenty-Eighth Meeting
The twenty-eighth meeting was called at 9:30 A. M., May 28, O. A. Olsen in the chair.
Prayer was offered by W. C. White.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
The finance committee rendered a further report, which was read by C. P. Bollman. On motion to adopt, the report was considered. The following recommendation was presented as subsection “g” in the first resolution of the committee’s report, adopted in the twenty-seventh meeting:—
(g) Considering the importance of the question of the tithe as related to the prosperity of the third angel’s message, we advise that in the election of conference and church officers, and in the choice of gospel workers, whether ministers or Bible readers, care be taken to place such responsibilities upon those who are not only theoretically sound in the faith, but who are ensamples to the flock in all matters that pertain unto life and godliness, including faithfulness in rendering to the Lord his own by the payment of an honest tithe.
Further recommendations were considered, as follows:—
Whereas, The growth and extension of our denominational work has become so varied and extensive that it is impossible for the General Conference, either in itself or through its committee, to familiarize itself with the needs of the cause in every place; therefore,—
6. We recommend, (a) That the General Conference assume no financial responsibility whatsoever in any institution, corporation, or enterprise planned and started in the various parts of the world without a direct action by the General Conference or by the General Conference Committee.
(b) That all parties loaning money to such enterprises should satisfy themselves as to “the security” before making such loans.
In reply to a question as to the aim of such action, it was stated for the committee that the growth of our work calls for a definition of financial relationships and responsibility.
E. W. Farnsworth referred to the impression sometimes given in local enterprises that because a thing is promoted by Seventh-day Adventists, the whole denomination is behind it. He believed the time had come to definitely serve notice that such enterprises can not be laid upon this body when financial pressure comes.
W. C. White referred to the many private enterprises, with good and benevolent aims, being started by members of our denomination. In years past it was considered that anything Seventh-day Adventists were engaged in was a safe thing, and almost without question people were ready to invest in it, thinking the denomination was behind it. It is time to give notice to all our people, and to others, that merely as a matter of common-sense business method, persons loaning money or investing in enterprises, should investigate for themselves, and know the nature of the organization, its responsibility, and its plans. He would rejoice to see brethren with a little capital that they desire to use in a good work, going into a needy field,—as the South,—starting benevolent enterprises, and sharing responsibility and gains or losses as individuals. But it must be understood that the name Seventh-day Adventist does not entitle any organization to lay obligations, moral or legal, upon the denomination.
A. G. Daniells: This resolution is the most important. The discussion of it in this spirit gives hope and courage. It is fundamental that men should understand that when they assume obligations, they are the men who must meet them. It is impossible in any denomination that individuals or organizations should create obligations without definite authority, to throw them back upon the general body as a matter of legal or moral obligation. No union conference can go ahead with the creation of problems to fall back upon the General Conference. And no local conference can of right create obligations for the union conference to bear. Every man and every organization starting an enterprise must know the basis on which they are working, and carry the responsibility of that which they initiate. No union conference can bind the General Conference, and no local conference can bind the union conference. Before a body shall be held responsible for an obligation, it must have the opportunity of deciding whether or not it desires to assume it.
I. H. Evans: The object of the resolution, in the minds of the finance committee, was to put the General Conference on record as not responsible for any enterprises in any part of the world wherein responsibility is not specifically assumed by action of the General Conference or its executive committee. We want it understood that this General Conference declares before the world that, so far as this denomination is concerned, it will not be responsible for obligations that it has not assumed by its own action. It has been suggested that the whole denomination is responsible for anything done by any organization associated with the denomination. We ask the delegates to make it known in their local conferences that the responsibility rests upon those who are operating local enterprises to handle their business affairs in such a way as to take care of their obligations. This placing of local responsibility will develop local resourcefulness.
A. T. Jones was in accord with the resolution. And on the other hand, when individuals originate enterprises, and put their means into them, they are the ones to exercise ownership and control, and no conference can claim oversight and direction. There can not be denominational control in such a case, with, at the same time, local financial responsibility.
P. A. Hansen, of Scandinavia, was glad of the resolution. If it had been worked to years ago, we should have been saved much trouble. The Scandinavian Union Conference has taken such a stand as the resolution defines, and it has proved a great blessing, and brought confidence and courage to all.
W. J. Stone suggested that if a conference—local, union, or General—is financing and managing an institution, it is a denominational institution; but if private parties are operating it, no conference would suggest for a moment that there should be any conference control or direction.
R. A. Underwood spoke of good institutional work being done in the Northern Union Conference by private parties. He rejoiced in it, and welcomed all such development on sound Seventh-day Adventist lines. There had been a sentiment that any one doing such work on individual responsibility was not in the work, and was doing an irregular thing. He deplored this sentiment.
G. I. Butler favored the resolution, but desired it understood that this did not mean any lessening of the responsibility of the general body to give attention to needs in special fields.
R. C. Porter said that in connection with the idea of private enterprises, conference officers must guard one point. He had known enterprises to put names of conference officers on the prospectus of a corporation, in order to have the “influence” of the name in securing investments among the brethren. This should be carefully guarded against, and such use of official names be made impossible.
The next resolution was considered:—
Whereas, From the statistical reports of the General Conference, compiled by the statistical secretary, it appears that some of our institutions and various enterprises are losing money, thus creating a growing deficit, which ultimately means financial embarrassment; therefore,—
7. We recommend, (a) That each and every institution and enterprise operated among us as a people should be conducted on safe business lines.
(b) That each managing board should at once lay such plans that said institution or enterprise shall not run behind, but operate within its appropriations, or its earning capacity.
(c) In order to secure these ends in all our conferences and institutions, we recommend,—
(1) That a trial balance be taken from the books as often as once a month;—
(2) That an annual statement be made showing gain and loss, and present worth;—
(3) That a competent auditor be either elected or appointed to audit every set of books at least once a year, rendering a report thereof, to the responsible board.
W. C. White urged the need of training business men and managers. He said that auditors ought to be instructed not only to do the ordinary auditing work, but to report as to conditions found, making any suggestions possible as to financial leakages or ways of improving the situation, such reports to be made in triplicate—to the manager, the board, and the union conference office.
L. R. Conradi stated that following this plan in Europe had enabled them to turn losses into gains, and to strengthen institutional work, watching over it, even though conference officers were away in the field.
Action was taken on the entire report, which was unanimously adopted.6
The committee on plans presented the following further report:—
North American Foreign Department
Whereas, There is in North America a large population representing the various foreign languages, to which people the third angel’s message must be brought; and,—
Whereas, Under the existing conditions there is not sufficient organized work carried on in behalf of these various nationalities; therefore,—
68. We recommend, (a) That the General Conference create a North American Foreign Department, consisting of five members or more, operating under the advice of the General Conference Committee in behalf of these various nationalities in North America.
(b) That the vice-president of the General Conference for North America act as chairman of this department.
(c) That leaders be appointed by the General Conference Committee for the work among the German and Scandinavian nationalities in North America, and for others as necessity may demand, who shall form a part of this department, said leaders for the German and Scandinavian work to be under the pay of the General Conference.
(d) That all important plans of work be laid before the General Conference Committee for their approval, as in all other departments.
(e) That this department shall take the general oversight of the work of securing and circulating our literature in North America in all the various languages, and assist the organized conferences and mission fields in prosecuting the message among their respective peoples.
In reply to a question—
L. R. Conradi stated that it was the intent of the recommendation that each of the leaders in the German and the Scandinavian work should be active field men, ready to set laborers into needy fields, and help them into work by working with them—to be campaign leaders in active, aggressive work.