Earlier text: Notes on Important Eras of Prophetic HistoryThe South Sea Islanders
By J. E. FULTON
AFTER having lived a number of years among the islanders of the South Seas, one is often interested in making comparisons as he comes in contact with another race. In color, the Fijians are darker than any of the Malays. The hair of the Fijian is frizzly, much like that of the Papuan, while that of the Malay is straight, without an appearance of a curl in it, unless there is an admixture of Papuan blood. The Malay, though a well-formed man, is decidedly inferior in stature to the Fijian, Samoan, or Tongan. In character there are many contrasts. The Malay is impassive, reserved, and diffident. Not so the Fijian. He is far more demonstrative in speech and in action. Although not the most emotional being in the world, still the Fijian keeps far from the reserve and indifference of the Malay. I miss very much the singing and the frolicsome laughter of the Fijians and other South Sea islanders. As far as intellect is concerned, it would be hard for me to judge of the shades of difference. The Malays have had a long opportunity with partially civilized and superior races, yet they do not seem to have developed greatly under this tuition. As far as I can see, the Fijian is his equal mentally, and in some respects is his superior. The Fijian shows at least more feeling for art than the Malay. He makes better houses, decorates them in a better style, and keeps them cleaner. He decorates his canoes with carvings, or at least did formerly, but we see little of this among the Malays. The grave Malay may be more reliable and trustworthy in responsible positions. We have seen Malays driving locomotives and electric trains, but we fear that the Fijian would not be fitted for this kind of work. I have noted a very commendable trait among the Malays, and that is their love toward their offspring. Often have I been made sad by the seeming indifference of the Fijian parent, but the Malays are generally kind and gentle with their children, even indulging them. It is certainly gratifying to find a race where the relations between parents and children are as commendable as we find them among the Malays. The greatest contrast we can think of is in numbers. Where there are but a few thousand Fijians, there are millions of Malays. Some one once said that God must greatly love the common people, since he made so many of them. That being so, he must have a high regard for this people also, there are so many of them. We have no doubt that he has. Their great numbers and their sad condition should appeal to us all. Who will “come over and help us”? There is room for many. The Missionary and Civilization
OPPONENTS of foreign missions are deriving scant comfort from recent books of travel which cover missionary fields. Professor Ross praised the Chinese missionary very highly in his recent book on China, “The Changing Chinese;” and now comes another traveler, Prof. Joseph King Goodrich, who, in the course of a work to be published immediately, “Africa of To-Day” (McClurg), gives the missionary the credit for whatever real enlightenment has reached the African native. Mr. Goodrich treats the missionary problem historically, shows the part played by England and America particularly in the carrying of good tidings to the native, points out the opposition of the missionaries to the slave-trade and later abuses of the natives, and concludes his survey in these suggestive words: “Sometimes it is the trader who is the absolute pioneer, in which case the later effort of the missionary is likely to be harder; and so it was in most of Africa. But there was no satisfactory evidence of the breaking away of darkness until there came those who brought the message from God, and also tried to put away the love of strife, so that there might be something of civilization in the highest plane. Gradually, throughout the great continent, it is becoming more and more evident that it is not the most military nation which leads the van, but that this post is held by those who strive for peaceful progress.” THERE is opportunity to do good to some one to-day. There is a battle going on to-day in which we shall be victorious or vanquished. To-day the hand of God is open to pour out blessings on each of us. To-day the kingdom of God will make some progress within each of us if we are true to ourselves and our Lord. To-day we shall take a long step toward our eternal home. To-day something shall be built into our character; shall it be good or bad? We may make some decision to-day which will determine our destiny. To-day the voice of the Lord is sounding within us. Shall we hear, or shall we forbear? “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” HOME may be a sacred refuge, or it may be a mere place of call for breakfast and dinner, and a shelter during the sleeping hours when there is nothing abroad to keep men awake. It may be destitute of attractions—a tolerated spot, instead of a coveted haven. If this be the case, the fault is with those who by their own conduct make it uninviting. Home may be a mere prison, well furnished or otherwise, for the women of the household, while the men look abroad for their interests and diversions. When husbands and wives are runagates, who need be surprised that the children prefer “all outdoors” to all that they can find indoors? Whenever parents find that their offspring are beginning to prefer any other place to home, let them ask themselves these questions, and they may discover the secret of their children’s unfortunate preferences: Does the father strive to make home bright and happy? or is he silent, moody, and unsociable? Are his children furnished with a proper supply of books, papers, magazines, and such other means of amusement and improvement as their natures require? Does the mother make friends and confidants of her daughters? or does she merely dole out to them food and clothing? Do the parents, in short, sympathize in the joys and griefs, the hopes and fears, of their children? or do they ignore all that is most essential to the happiness and genial culture of childhood?—Great Thoughts. CHILDREN not only imitate our faults, and suffer by our carelessness, but govern us through our weaknesses. A friend came to visit me, and brought a generous, frank, and manly boy four years of age; but he disturbed our whole circle by his constant crying. This habit was not in keeping with the brave, proud, independent character of the child; I therefore felt a curiosity to find the cause. My first discovery was, he never shed a tear. His mother wished to take a trip, but could not take her boy. “He’ll torment the life out of you.” “I will, indeed, be most grateful. You may whip him as often as you please.” “I should not strike a child, except in a most extreme case.” “Then you can do nothing with him.” She had gone. The next morning after breakfast Willie asked,— “May I go and play in the yard?” “It rained last night, and it’s too damp now. You may go at ten, not before.” “Boohoo, hoo”—rest. I kept quietly sewing. “Boohoo, hoo”—bass. “Boohoo, hoo”—tenor. I sewed on. “Boohoo, hoo”—double bass. “Boohoo, hoo”—falsetto—rest. “You may go at ten o’clock.” Concert repeated, I silently sewing the while. “Ain’t your head ’most ready to split?” Concert resumed, with the addition of throwing himself on the floor, and knocking his feet up and down. After a while: “Ain’t you ’most crazy yet? Why don’t you shake me, and call me the baddest boy that ever was, and send me out-of-doors?” “Because you are not going out until ten o’clock.” Concert resumed, with the addition of bumping his head as well as his toes—a pause. Then picking himself up, he stood erect before me, with his hands in his pockets. “Why don’t you whip me, and send me off to get rid of my noise?” “Because you are not going out until ten o’clock.” “If I bump my head, ain’t you afraid it will kill me?” “But it does hurt me awfully.” “What can I do next? I’s done all I knows how.” “See if you can not think of something else.” At nine he started up: “Now may I go?” He went back to his blocks without a murmur. It had been his custom to kneel by his mother, say his prayers, and hop into bed. I wished him to kneel with me, by the bed, and say his prayers slowly, and then I would make a short prayer for him. The arrangement did not please him; so the third night he gave battle. Being tired, my head did feel as if it could not, or rather would not, bear it. Out of all patience, I determined to give him a good whipping; but never having struck a child, I was not quite hardened enough to take my slipper, and could not see anything else. As I looked around, a voice, my God speaking through my conscience, asked, “What! whip in anger? whip a little boy because he can not govern his spirit, when you can not govern your own? Another than the boy needs to be prayed for.” And, kneeling, I asked my Father to give me his strength, his grand patience, with a disobedient, self-willed child. As I kneeled, Willie crawled under my arm, and commenced to say his prayers very slowly, and kept still while I prayed a few words, and then asked,— “Now mayn’t I pray myself?” And these were his words: “I’s a real mean little boy. She won’t do nothing ugly a bit, and I’s made her head ’most to split. O God, don’t let me be a mean little boy any more at all.” The splendid little fellow had had a fair trial of strength, and was conquered, and surrendered manfully; and I had no further trouble nor annoyance during the seven weeks he stayed with me. But how nearly I lost my vantage-ground! If we would rule our own spirits, how easy it would be to govern children properly.—Congregationalist. Where My Father Walks
By Arthur W. Spaulding
The twilight drifts upon the land; the night calls come again;
And chafed in spirit from the wiles and artifice of men,
I turn my face from all the pride that at my suffering mocks,
And seek the road that leads away to where my Father walks. Between the mountain heights that loom upon the dark ravine
(The markings of his finger-trace, as of a hand unseen),
My feet are guided to the spot where his have often stood,
And keep the sacred tryst behind the curtains of the wood. I see no face, but in the gloam I dimly trace the care
His loving hand has tak’n to make the trysting-place so fair:
From low rhodora to the pine; from peeping violet
And flaunting rose and galax meek to fir and castanea. The murmur of his soothing voice is in the ’plaining stream,
The lighting of his eye is caught in sunlight’s farewell gleam.
The benediction of his breath is in the stirring air,
The stately steppings of his feet in silence everywhere. The wildness’ solitude uplifts to greet my silent soul,
And waves of peace and thankfulness in glory o’er me roll;
The promises of Holy Writ rejoin the words of prayer;
And when I leave the place, I know my God has met me there. SARATOW.—“They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.” Heb. 11:37. Although some trials have befallen us, and especially our brethren and sisters in the Siberian field, this winter, we have nothing to complain of, since most of what Paul speaks of here has happened to none of us. None of us have been stoned, none of us sawn asunder, none slain with the sword; although some of the brethren have gone about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, in privations, despised for the sake of their faith, and having no abiding-place. Yet we rejoice that our brethren remain steadfast in the Lord, and are not shaken in the faith. It is true that such trials cut to the quick. And there are always some who sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, who murmur, and long for the flesh-pots of Egypt; and yet they do not profit by it, but only bring grief to soul and body. Here we are commanded to fight valiantly. God knows what he is doing. He lays a burden upon us, but he helps us to bear it. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13. And if we are discouraged now, what will we say when Psalm 91 is fulfilled, and a thousand fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand? I can say, to the praise of God, that though poverty is very great in many places, we have received comparatively few requests for help, because our people realize that God's work also is suffering. They long to seek the Lord more earnestly that he may verify his word that he allows no righteous man to beg bread. Ps. 37:25; Isa. 33:16. God is testing us now as he once tried the children of Israel in the wilderness. Now is the time for us to show our courage. We learn, from a letter from Brother Just, of the Kokbekti church, near the Chinese border, which was organized by Brother J. T. Boettcher about a year and a half ago, of how our brethren are getting on who settled in Siberia. He writes:— “We were recognized here by the government, and land was allotted to us legally, and we received our proper papers. In the beginning, the authorities were very much on our side. But when we began to talk with our neighbors concerning present truth, their attitude toward us changed, and without much question, they took away our title to our land, the priests having undertaken to get rid of us. Then we complained, and received our claims again. The priests have drawn up petition after petition, and now we must remove from the land. Our missionary work is considered a propaganda, and a few have been brought to court for it. We must now leave our houses without further ceremony, and must go six hundred versts from here, into a wilderness inhabited by wolves; and it seems, by comparing past experiences with the outlook for the future, as if many of us would have to leave the cities and villages. It seems very hard. We had expected great liberty, but have met just the opposite. Yet we will not despair; but we need patience. We will faithfully look after our donations and what belongs to the Lord, because it is his. But there are many things, such as wheat, potatoes, etc., which can not be sold on account of the continuous rains.” We can see from this what power the Russian clergy can exert when it wishes. It can bring about the exact opposite of that which the czar's manifesto intended. Pharaoh will not let Israel go, and God will have to send punishment until men recognize that the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. The work of the Lord is onward, and in all parts of our field there are souls ready for baptism. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. GERH. PERK. Federated Malay States
By R. P. Montgomery
KUALA LUMPUR.—Although the Federated Malay States are not Chinese territory, but are under the protection of England, yet we have witnessed some of the revolutionary spirit here. The Chinese new year began January 18, and for a few days the shops were closed. The Chinese took sides for and against the revolution, and war in a small way began. While some had cut off their queues, others said they were not going to cut theirs off until they were sure that a republic would be established in China. Those in favor of the revolution caught such and cut off their queues. An extra force of police was put into service, and at times the Chinese attacked them, even going so far as to assault the police station. It was several days before the trouble was stopped. Similar outbreaks were witnessed in the surrounding towns, in the mines, and on the rubber estates. It is estimated that about one thousand persons were killed. We are happy that we can be engaged in a work which is to gather out those who do not care to participate in this world's strife, and make them fit subjects for the kingdom of peace. We have rented a hall in the southern part of Kuala Lumpur, in which we are holding services twice a week. We are having a good attendance of educated Tamils and a few Chinese. Some are much interested in the message. One evening when the subject “The Unrest Among Nations a Sign of Christ’s Coming” was17presented, a Tamil came to us after the meeting, saying he had urged some of his friends to attend the services, assuring them of his belief that we had the truth. He said that the one thought of the nearness of Christ’s coming brought peace to him. The attendance is increasing, and the outlook is good. The Lord has given us good health, and has blessed us in many ways, for which we feel grateful. We are of good courage, and are confident that, erelong, the message will triumph. “What an Old-Fashioned-Looking Girl!”
By John N. Quinn
An electric car in the city of — on Easter Sunday afternoon was filled with passengers, many of them being women and girls dressed in holiday attire. A number of Seventh-day Adventist girls, on their way home from a trip to the Zoological Park, boarded the car, the rather crowded condition of which made it necessary for the girls to separate. A little later one of the passengers was heard to remark, as his eye rested on one of the girls, “What an old-fashioned-looking girl!” Glancing at the unconscious object of the remark, one queried what there was about the girl which made her appear old-fashioned to her fellow passenger. Her cheeks were ruddy, indicative of perfect health; her dress was plain, modest, entirely free from anything flashy; her demeanor reserved, and yet not morose, but cheery. The contrast between this girl (and she was a fair type of her companions) and the other girls in the car was so marked that undoubtedly it was the cause of the remark about her being old-fashioned. The latter girls were dressed in the latest fashion—cobweb stockings, through which the flesh could plainly be seen, and which bordered very closely on the immodest; the dress, low-necked; the hair, not all natural; the hat — well, there was nothing old-fashioned about it or its wearer. Not only was there a lack of “modest apparel,” but there was a lack of sufficient apparel. In these days, no greater compliment can be paid to a Seventh-day Adventist girl than to be called old-fashioned by those of the world. Old-fashioned means to have backbone, so that godliness and common sense shall prevail in the matter of dress. It means a personality which enables the girl to stem the current, and dress according to her own taste and convictions. The world needs old-fashioned girls, who will grow into old-fashioned women,—women who love purity, who fear God and reverence his Word. Old-fashioned wives and old-fashioned mothers are sadly needed in these days of “militant suffragists” and women’s clubs. Old-fashioned homes are needed, where the family altar is erected, where God’s name is respected, and from whence there shall come men and women of character, of faith, of purity, who will proclaim to a perishing world the old-fashioned gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us all uncover our heads to the “old-fashioned girl,” for she is the hope of the nation. Somebody Did a Golden Deed
“Somebody did a golden deed,
Proving himself a friend in need;
Somebody’s work bore joy and peace;
Surely his life will never cease.
Was that somebody you?” Stir Yourself to Right Wrong
“DON’T permit your feelings to become stirred over wrong without stirring yourself to right it.” Colporteur Work in Mexico
By W. F. Mayers
VILLADAMA, NUEVO LEON.—Once more the minds of many are turned toward this republic on account of the revolution headed by Vasquez Gomez. The workers here are watching with interest the outcome of the present conflict, and, I am sure, are praying earnestly that the gospel may have free course. As there are twenty-seven states and three territories in Mexico, we have been able to work without interruption, and with good success. I came to Mexico last August, and began working with our health book “Salud y Hogar.” After about a month, I took up the periodical work. We club the Spanish Life and Health, Little Friend, and the Signs together, and take yearly subscriptions at three dollars, Mexican money. It was a splendid thought to combine our religious papers with the health journal published in Buenos Aires, and since it has been carried out, the subscription list has grown rapidly. With the blessing of God, I have been able to secure over four hundred subscriptions for each of the three papers. After the institute last November, I went to Tampico with Brother Nicholas, and in eight weeks we placed over one thousand pesos’ worth of literature in that thriving city. Tampico is an important deep-water port, and offers excellent opportunities for ship mission work. The climate is somewhat unhealthful, but we were blessed with reasonably good health while there, although many of the people were suffering from attacks of malarial fever. Leaving there, we went to Victoria, the capital of the state of Tamaulipas. This city is located near the mountains. In fifteen days we placed about 260 pesos’ worth of literature there. We then went to Linares, the place where General Reyes surrendered to the government. Business was rather dull there, but we did what we could to make it better, by obtaining about 200 pesos’ worth of subscriptions. Our next stop was at Montemorelos. The Presbyterians have a good membership here. Their meetings were so well attended that they had to enlarge the church in order to accommodate the people, a very unusual thing in Mexico. They have a nice farm located near the city, and their large building for industrial work has machinery for woodworking. They have gone to great expense in order to give their students a good training in industrial work. After placing a goodly number of subscriptions, we left for Monterey, from which place the other workers went to Matamoras, while I went toward Laredo. Arriving at Villadama, I learned of another town seven leagues distant from the railroad, and decided to canvass it first. A ride of about four hours in the coach brought me to Sabinas Hidalgo, where I found a room to live in, which had no window but two heavy wooden doors. There being no way to ventilate the room when the doors were closed, I left them open at night to get the air. The inhabitants are quite peaceable, so there was little danger of robbers. The people in this part of Mexico are much more advanced than those in the interior, and life and property are about as safe as in the United States. I understand that President Taft has advised all Americans to leave those districts where there are uprisings; and in planning the work here, we have left those places for future labors. In Sabinas Hidalgo I stayed eleven days, and took thirty-seven yearly subscriptions. At this writing, I am in Villadama. During the last four days I have canvassed the town, and am now ready to make my delivery. I wish to be faithful, and to do all I can to prepare the people for the soon-coming Saviour. The work goes forward amid trials and temptations, and opposed by the powers of darkness. Here where Rome has ruled for so long, one needs to be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove. I am thankful that the gospel has already done much to break the power of Rome here, and let us pray that many workers may soon enter these dark lands with the great threefold message. The few workers who are here need the prayers of God’s people that they may be kept by the power of God, and preserved amid the perils incident to the work in Mexico at this time. W. F. MAYERS. Bengal, India
By W. R. French
WE were glad to learn that a worker was to be added to our force in Bengal, to help in the Karmatar station, and especially to take up the work in the dispensary. But the one we expected has been appointed to work elsewhere, so Karmatar must wait. Can we not have a medical worker for that station? One hundred seventy-five rupees have been given to help erect a building, which is just now being completed. It seems too bad that the work must suffer, and the people be disappointed. Sister Leech, who has been doing the work there, is going to the hills for a stay of about three months, and there is no one to take her place. Her health is not good, and we fear that even when she returns, she will not be able to do much. I trust that God may guide to his own name's honor and glory. We are in excellent health. I have never worked harder in my life than since coming to India; but by giving a little variety to my work, I find that it agrees with me. India is certainly a field of great need. I think the removal of the capital to Delhi will somewhat lessen the cost of living in Calcutta, which will be a great blessing to our workers who must live here. We have at last purchased a boat for the work in east Bengal, and it is now in process of completion. It is a galvanized steel boat, twenty-five feet long by five feet seven inches beam, and is fitted to accommodate four persons for sleeping. It has awning, sails, motor, and sculls. Its cost, with all the necessaries, will probably be not less than one thousand rupees. Last month was our banner month in the sale of literature in Calcutta. All the workers more than doubled their past record for any single month. Pray for the work and workers in Bengal. WE are glad to have Brother Cary here at this time to assist in the canvassing work. He is now helping to dispose of the New-year's number of our paper. The students did not handle nearly as many this year as we had planned to, so it was very fortunate that some one came along to help out. It is both a great waste so far as the proclamation of this message is concerned and an embarrassment financially when a large number of a special edition is left over unsold. Brother Cary has been able to make his way so far, but how long he can keep it up I do not know. It really is remarkable that he can do as well as he does; for he can not talk in the Japanese at all. However, that seems to be the secret of his success. No matter what the people may say, it is all alike to him. We have had a most beautiful winter. Spring seems to be coming much earlier than usual. We hope it will not turn cold later when the crops need warmth; for if it does, I fear the prophecy of some for a famine this year will come true. W. D. BURDEN. THE following letter was written to Brother I. B. Burton by a native whose wife and daughter Brother Burton had had some conversation with regarding the truth while traveling on the train in South Africa. It shows the importance of being instant in season and out of season in imparting the truths of this message, for we know not which shall prosper, this or that:— “HON. SIR I. B. BURTON: My heart is aching with love of the tidings which my wife told me about you when she met you in the train from King William’s Town to East London. I think it was in June. She told me all about you, and she believed you, not you but the true explanation from the Bible. You will kindly excuse me, as I am not going to utter many things, but have just a few things to say. You are not the first person to illustrate this truth to me, as some friends of mine testified of the same truth, especially telling us of our Lord and Master’s soon coming. I myself have witness the things in this line. I really don’t know how to see you, as my desire is so much I can not tell the way I am longing to see you in person. But trusting to God because I know one thing, that what seems too hard for a person to do is the simplest for God to do; more especially those who trust in him he will never disappoint. Therefore I can say the Almighty will purchase us a chance to see one another before we be changed for his second coming. These words will inspire or revive your heart not to forget me, as if a person whom you knew. Though you don’t know me, brother in faith, I beg to remain with kind regards. Your most obedient brother in faith.”