ELDER C. G. BELLAH reports the addition of thirteen members to the St. Louis (Mo.) church.
ELDER J. M. HOYT reports the baptism of four adults at Grand Haven, Mich., and five at Loon Lake.
ELDER W. H. SAXBY, writing from Healdsburg, Cal., reports the baptism of eight persons in that vicinity.
FIFTEEN persons, ten of whom were young people, were baptized at the close of the Wyoming camp meeting.
ELDER E. W. WOLFE reports the baptism of thirteen at Cresco, Iowa, where a new church building was recently dedicated.
A SABBATH school of ten members has been organized at Patchogue, Greater New York. Twenty-five new members were received into the Brooklyn church on a recent Sabbath. Twenty-three received baptism.
A NEW church has been organized at Mount Pleasant, Ark., with a membership of fifteen. Eight were received by baptism.
ELDER B. H. SHAW reports that during the last six months eighteen members have been added to the Kansas City (Kans.) church.
ELDER W. C. YOUNG writes from Quebec: “Nine persons were buried in baptism after a short series of meetings held at Sutton Mountain.”
ON a recent Sabbath fifteen persons received baptism at the Ashfield church, New South Wales, Australia. A number of others are preparing to take this step in the near future.
SIX persons have been baptized and seven new members added to the church at Zenith, N. Dak. More than seventy were baptized at the close of their recent conference camp meeting.
A SABBATH school of seventeen members was organized a few weeks ago at Bonesteel, S. Dak. Six new believers have been baptized at Huron, and five new members were added to the church at Watertown on a recent Sabbath.
FIVE persons have recently received baptism at Fairgrove, Mich. A new Sabbath school has been organized at Elkton, and Elder W. D. Parkhurst reports eighteen adults baptized and seventeen new members received into the Jackson church.
ELDER F. A. D’ETAMORE writes from Borneo: “We met out under the trees by the side of a brook and studied for a time, after which ten were buried in baptism. A number of others are keeping the Sabbath, and we think that another company will soon be ready to follow in this rite. Several of these converts have ability to make workers in the Lord’s cause, and it was arranged for some of them to go to the training school at Singapore to get a preparation for teaching the truth.”
SISTERS B. Miller and Florence Shull conducted a most successful Bible institute of three weeks’ duration at Shanghai. At the close thirteen Chinese women were admitted into church fellowship by baptism. Had sickness not prevented, there would have been several others baptized. These dear sisters are untiring in their efforts to reach the women of China, and their efforts are not without results. Last year a good class of women were baptized, all of whom are remaining faithful, and some are making excellent Bible women.
IN the mountain province of Abra, in the northern part of Luzon, there lives a large pagan tribe who have always resisted the efforts of the Catholic Church to convert them to that faith. They are raw pagans, worshiping stones. Four times a year they gather at certain places and offer a pig in sacrifice to these gods. Last month Pastor R. E. Hay and Brother Leon Rhoda visited a Tinguian who has accepted the truth, and held some meetings with the people of the town. Now they are calling for some one to come and teach them the truth.
The Progress of Prohibition
By Fannie Dickerson Chase
PROHIBITION is fast scaling the ladder of progress. Once before it neared the topmost rung, but was forced from its high place by the Civil War. Now for more than half a century it has been endeavoring to regain and transcend its former place. Its phenomenal success in this effort is today a cause of rejoicing to all right-thinking people.
Its last masterly stroke was to fell nearly six thousand saloons at one blow, besides destroying many breweries and distilleries. This it did when Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Montana, on November 7, joined the prohibition ranks. Twenty-three of our forty-eight States have definitely decided for State-wide prohibition; and two others, Utah and Florida, have recently elected governors and legislatures committed to the passage of dry laws. With these two in the prohibition ranks, more than one half the States of the Union will have outlawed the liquor traffic. There are others following so hard and fast upon the example of these that it would seem to be but an easy task now to secure the thirty-six States necessary to ratify an amendment to the Constitution for national prohibition.
But the twenty-five States now committed to State-wide prohibition—Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Florida, and Utah—do not represent the full strength of the prohibition movement in this country; for by means of local option, liquor is excluded from a large part of most of the other States. There are thousands of towns and villages in wet States that are dry through local option. There are but four States—Nevada, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey—that have failed to enact during the last decade advanced temperance legislation. Minnesota claims to have just elected a house committed to dry legislation; and though prohibition in Missouri lost out in the recent election, her second largest city outlawed the liquor traffic, taking to herself the honor of being the largest city in the country that has voluntarily gone dry. With Alaska also now dry, considerably more than three fourths the area of continental United States is dry territory, and sixty per cent of the population live in prohibition territory.
Nearly one half of the 2,123 newspapers listed in the American newspaper directory refuse liquor advertisements. This fact marks a significant advance in prohibition sentiment. Big business has not only espoused the prohibition cause, but is leading in the campaign against the liquor traffic. The year 1916 has done much toward completely divorcing from the traffic the press, the church, school, state, industry, big business, medicine, everything but itself and politics.
The continued victories for the prohibition cause give great inspiration to temperance workers in the effort to attain their goal—National Prohibition by 1920. The New York Times recognizes the remarkable advance of the prohibition cause in the various States, but uses this very success as an argument against national prohibition, thus: “The wonder grows why the agitation for prohibition by a federal amendment is kept up when State prohibition has made such remarkable conquests.” These very conquests prove the chief incentive to increased agitation for national prohibition. The States that have experienced remarkably beneficent results from outlawing the liquor traffic, are solicitous that the whole nation enjoy equal prosperity and happiness. There is no reason for not believing that what is good for the State is equally good for the nation.
The general optimism of the temperance forces of the world is voiced by the Hon. J. Frank Hanly, in the closing words of a recent editorial: “Nineteen sixteen will go into history marking a milepost in the progress of the American people on their journey to nationwide prohibition. There is sunlight upon the mountains! The day is about to break upon us!”
FANNIE DICKERSON CHASE.
The Simla (India) Hydro-Baths
By H. C. Menkel, M. D.
Our work in Simla opened this season with a very marked providence, in making available for our use what is perhaps the most desirable and best-adapted building for medical purposes in this station. This gave us courage to attempt greater things for God; and the results thus far obtained, after five months, indicate that our hopes were not misplaced.
The work is recognized as being on a medical missionary basis, and my patients know that I am also the pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist church. This opens the way to speak freely of religion and present truth.
The records of the past three months show that the institution is appreciated by those high in government circles. We have treated three generals, seven colonels, four majors, six captains, one lieutenant, one judge, two members of the viceroy’s council, two members of the legislative council, two consul generals, two government department heads, and other officials.
Many wounded officers from the Mesopotamian front have been sent to Simla for convalescence. Among those coming under our care have been several with badly wounded arms and legs. The consequent atrophy of muscles, neuritis, and ankylosis presented rather a discouraging outlook at first, but by persistent work we have been able to restore a marked degree of functionation, and some have been so far restored as to return to active service.
The Location
Simla is located in the Himalaya Mountains, at an altitude of seven thousand feet; the eternal snows are in full view the year round. This is the summer headquarters of the government of India and of the Punjab government, and therefore is a station of the first magnitude.
During the eight months of hot weather, thousands come to Simla to escape the heat of the plains, and some come to seek health. Among the latter the Simla Hydro-Baths is winning a reputation as an important means to the desired end.
The Institution
The building we occupy has two stories. The upper floor is used as resident quarters for the workers, and offers accommodation for several in-patients. The ground floor is equipped as treatment-rooms. We have as patients, Europeans, Indians, Christians, Mohammedans, and Hindus.
On the same floor a large room is appropriately fitted up for a chapel. Here our church services are held, and each Sabbath there may be seen at the service some who are attending the treatment-rooms as patients during the week.
Our landlord, who is a devout Mohammedan, when shown the chapel, expressed his appreciation thus: “Many persons have lived in this house, but none have ever set apart a room exclusively for God.”
Two weeks ago I baptized five persons as the result of this season’s effort, and indications give promise of others who are seriously considering this step.
Two years ago we organized a Good Health League, which now has a membership of one hundred and fifty, belonging to the various races and religions. The league has done a good work in popularizing modern ideas of health and temperance in the Indian community. The basis of membership is as follows:
Declaration of Membership
“I am a total abstainer from alcohol and tobacco, and desire to learn and to follow the perfect way of life in all that pertains to health and purity.”
H. C. Menkel, M. D.
Medical Missionary Department
W. A. RUBLE, M. D. - - General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN - Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. - N. Am. Div. Secretary
Episcopal Convention Opposes Liquor Traffic
A STRONG stand on the liquor traffic was taken at the recent Protestant Episcopal General Convention, which was held in St. Louis, Mo. A resolution adopted by the house of deputies placed the church on record as favoring “such action in our legislative assemblies as will preserve the interests of temperance and the repression of the liquor traffic.” The action was an outgrowth of a memorial asking the convention to record itself as favoring nation-wide prohibition, submitted by the Church Temperance Society through Francis Lynde Stetson, of New York. The church, as such, never before took this specific stand relative to the liquor traffic.
American Society for the Relief of French War Orphans
DURING the past few weeks a group of men of national prominence have organized an immense society for the relief of French war orphans. While the endeavor will be directed from this country, there will be a Paris committee working in coöperation. The aim of the new society is nothing less than to raise a fund of $130,000,000, and already the organizers themselves have subscribed more than $125,000. Furthermore, they have pledged themselves to provide the expenses of operation as long as may be necessary during the fifteen years for which the society has been incorporated. The new organization is to be known as the American Society for the Relief of French War Orphans.
The Prospering Hand of God in Our School Work
By W. E. Howell
LIKE the season of nature in the plant world, the harvest time of our schools is in the autumn. With the hay and corn crops securely stored in barns, and with the gathering of the golden corn and many-hued apples and the juicy vegetables in progress, we reap in joy that fruitage of the summer's sowing which is of infinitely greater value—the harvest home of our boys and girls.
The time was when we had no such citadels of moral refuge during the educational period, as are our schools. Till thirty years after the 1844 movement, the need of such institutions was not recognized, and no schools were built. When present truth entered a new household, the children continued going to the secular schools, as did the writer during the first twelve years of his education, and until seven years after the message reached his heart and his home. We were taunted with our religion, while being taught at school the same things as unbelievers, and left with only such a modicum of Christian instruction as was afforded by the Sabbath school.
Little chance of service was held out to us other than to find a place for ourselves in the workaday world about us. Some went into commercial work, some stayed on the farm, some engaged in teaching the same things they were taught in the day school, and in the same way, as did the writer. Some drifted aimlessly. Enough were attracted into the world and lost to the truth to offset largely the increase of converts to the faith. The denominational leaders were wearing themselves out in their arduous labor, and dropping out of the race, with few recruits to take their places or to fill the new openings in a progressive work.
Then came the message, clear and strong, “Educate, educate, educate our young men and women of promise to go forth as laborers into the harvest field.” In response to this message our first college was established in Battle Creek in 1874. This was followed by our first two academies, at South Lancaster, Mass., and Healdsburg, Cal., in 1882; two more colleges, Union at Lincoln, Neb., and Walla Walla, at Walla Walla, Wash., were opened in 1891 and 1892 respectively; and finally the Washington Missionary College was established in 1904. The school at Healdsburg had already been made a college. Young men and women of maturity were pressed into these schools and sent out as laborers.
Again came the message, equally clear and strong, “The children are being neglected. Establish schools to save and instruct them.” Simultaneously, in the later nineties, local schools and academies began to spring up everywhere, until today we have some fifteen thousand boys and girls from the homes of believers, under daily instruction in Christian schools of these two classes.
More than this, the school began to be recognized as an important factor in pioneer missionary effort, especially in heathen lands. In Africa, in the Far East, in the islands of the sea, this idea has grown until we now number more than ten thousand students receiving instruction and training in Seventh-day Adventist mission schools. At home also, in our own Southland, pioneer schools of this mission type are doing a service of no mean extent and value. There are now some thirty of these, with the Normal and Agricultural Institute at Madison, Tenn., as their training school.
Youngest to join our sisterhood of schools is the new College of Medical Evangelists at Loma Linda, Cal., where one hundred or more of our most capable young men and women are being educated for that branch of our denominational effort which has been called “the right arm of the message.”
Under the blessing of God, therefore, our total educational enrolment of all kinds has reached the gratifying number of about thirty-two thousand. Comparing this result with the time when we had no school at all, and bearing in mind the fact that the last twenty years of our seventy-two years of denominational history have witnessed the addition of at least nine tenths of this grand total, we can echo feelingly and intelligently the sentiment of that first electrical message which flashed from the wires of Morse's triumph, “What hath God wrought!”
If we do our duty in giving these schools the support they need to bring the work up to the highest grade of efficiency,—moral and financial support, especially in the form of student patronage and facilities,—who can say what God will accomplish through them in the few years that yet remain for the finishing of the work? W. E. HOWELL.
Educational Work for the Australasian Union Conference
By Frederick Griggs
During the last six weeks I have had the privilege of visiting our schools in the Australasian Union Conference. My first visit was at the Oroua Missionary School, at Longburn, New Zealand, an intermediate school doing about ten grades of work. It is situated very pleasantly in a prosperous district, from which it gets its name. This school has one of the neatest school buildings I have ever seen. The ladies' dormitory is at one end of the building, and the gentlemen's at the other, the kitchen, dining-room, and schoolrooms being in the central part of the building. It is planned in accordance with a number of school buildings which we have in the United States. The dormitories accommodate thirty-five or forty students. This seems to be quite sufficient, as a number of our young people in New Zealand are attending the Australasian Missionary College at Coorranbong.
Brother Joseph Mills, the principal of the Oroua Missionary School, and his associate teachers, are succeeding in conducting a school which is a credit to the educational undertakings of the denomination. The school has a good name among our people throughout the two New Zealand Conferences. We hope that as our work grows in New Zealand, the accommodations of the school will be found too limited, and that additions will have to be made to permit of a larger enrolment of students.
While in New Zealand I visited two of the church schools. They are conducted after the order of our schools in America. The grading, however, is somewhat different, as in Australasia the school year is longer than in America.
I next visited the Australasian Missionary College, which is about seventy-five miles north of Sydney. I had the privilege of being present at the closing exercises, when fifteen students were graduated. This school is located on a farm of about one thousand acres. One hundred and thirty acres have been cleared and are under cultivation. The soil has been brought up to an excellent condition, so that good crops are produced. This region is subject at times to droughts, but an irrigating plant makes possible the irrigation of about twenty acres, thus insuring some of the important crops. The school has about twenty horses and forty or fifty head of cattle, counting the young stock.
In connection with the school is a large food factory, employing quite a number of students. There is also a printing plant, which prints not only publications in English, but also in four native languages. Among the other industries are carpentry, painting, and electrical work. There is also a good blacksmith shop, connected with which are turning lathes. Here is made a large portion of the machinery used in the food factory. In fact, it is the aim to provide for all the needs in keeping up the school plant.
There are about fifteen or twenty buildings, large and small, on the place. Considerable fruit, such as oranges, peaches, apples, quinces, and grapes, is raised. There is an apiary connected with the school.
This school, established in 1894, has graduated one hundred and seventy-one students. Of these almost forty have been laboring at some time in our island fields, or in China, Japan, or other foreign countries. A large proportion of the graduates are engaged directly in gospel work. In addition to these there are scores who have not been graduated from the school, but who have received that instruction which enables them to do gospel work.
Steps are being taken to strengthen the work of this school, so that it will more fully meet the demands of the field. This school now occupies a very important place in the work of the Lord, as it is the leading training school of the Asiatic Division, and from it there must go scores of young men and women to these great heathen lands. It is thus connected with the darkest portion of the world. The managers of the school realize the responsibilities which are thus laid upon them. The sturdy class of young men and women in the school also witnesses to the fact that God is here preparing an important contingent of his great army of Christian workers.
This last year the school has had the largest enrolment in its history, totaling two hundred and twenty. The prospects for the coming year are very encouraging, in spite of the fact that war conditions exist. It is gratifying indeed to find the work of God prospering in the midst of adverse conditions.
The Australian government assumes a very kindly and liberal attitude toward18our work. Our young men are exempt from military drill on the Sabbath and from combatant service. They are being permitted to serve in noncombatant corps. While conscription is enforced, action has been taken by the government exempting students in theological schools from army service. This will greatly help our leaders in preparing young men and women for service in the cause of God.
This school, so long known as the Avondale School for Christian Workers, has had great influence in our educational work. Sister White was here at the time of its establishment, and from this place were written those inspiring Testimonies which have so greatly influenced our educational ideals and achievements. The managers of the school are laying broad plans for the future, to lift and strengthen its intellectual standards and to make it in every way a strong school for the training of men and women for a vigorous part in the closing work of God.
We are certain that the high ideals which have been upheld in this school in the past will be maintained, and will affect its work and the work of our schools throughout the world.
FREDERICK Griggs.
Educational Department
By FREDERICK GRIGGS; W. E. HOWELL
FREDERICK GRIGGS - - General SecretaryW. E. HOWELL - - - Assistant Secretary
Southwestern Junior College
By David Voth
NOVEMBER 16 was a good day for the teachers and students of the Southwestern Junior College. For some time they had been planning to go out with the Harvest Ingathering Signs, for they felt that they also wanted a part in this work. A large supply of papers was ordered. While waiting for them, almost all the teachers and at least seventy-five of the students were organized into small bands, each band having one of the teachers as its leader. Thus just as soon as the papers came, all were ready for the effort.
Keene is not near a large city, so the church there has not the advantages some of our other large churches have. It is out in the country, away from the cities, and for this reason the Keene church and the college have a very poor territory to work. There are about four hundred and fifty members in the church, and one hundred and forty-two students in the college, and it is quite a problem to find territory for so many in a campaign like this. However, they wanted a part in this effort for missions, and so arrangements were made to take the teachers and students to near-by towns in automobiles, wagons, and carriages.
This well-organized band of happy workers left Keene early on Thursday morning. Prof. W. E. Nelson, the principal, took his company to Alvarado. One or two other companies also went to the same town. Others left for Cleburne and near-by towns. In the afternoon all came back with good reports. Many papers had been handed out, and almost $50 received.
We are glad that the Lord is blessing our school, and that there is a good spirit among the teachers and students.
DAVID VOTH.
The Revelation
If one book could be called more important than another in the whole canon of Scripture, surely it would be “the Revelation of Jesus Christ,” given to him by God himself, “to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” It is the Revelation; not the Hidden, the Secret, the Mystery. Its purpose is to show forth, not to obscure.
In the original Greek it is called the Apocalypse, which means “the removal of the veil; the unveiling.” In the face of all this, it is surprising to find this book often referred to as “sealed,” but the Lord himself, knowing that this very thing would be said, gave this instruction to his servant: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.”
Of the book of Revelation, Elder Uriah Smith says: “Scenes of glory surpassing fable are unveiled before us in this book. Appeals of unwonted power bear down upon the impenitent from its sacred pages in threatenings of judgment that have no parallel in any other portion of the Book of God. Consolation which no language can describe is here given to the humble followers of Christ. . . . No other book takes us at once and so irresistibly into another sphere. Long vistas are here opened before us, which are bounded by no terrestrial objects, but carry us forward into other worlds. And if ever themes of thrilling and impressive interest, and grand and lofty imagery, and sublime and magnificent description, can invite the attention of mankind, then the Revelation invites us to a careful study of its pages, which urge upon our notice the realities of a momentous future and an unseen world.”
John, the beloved disciple, and the writer of the Gospel and epistles that bear his name, was “the penman employed by Christ to write out this Revelation for the benefit of his church.” It was written while John, who had miraculously escaped martyrdom, was banished by the emperor Domitian to the isle of Patmos, “a rugged and barren island in the Ægean Sea, twenty miles south of Samos, and twenty-four west of Asia Minor.” From this inhospitable, lonely spot, “where Domitian thought he had forever extinguished at least one torch of truth, there arose the most magnificent Revelation of all the sacred canon, to shed forth its divine luster over the whole Christian world till the end of time.”
Our Slogan
By Matilda Erickson
A Morning Watch Calendar for Every Seventh-day Adventist
A Morning Watch Circle
Not long ago a friend said to me: “I think the Morning Watch is the most important work that the Missionary Volunteer Department is doing. You can never know how the observance of the Morning Watch is influencing the lives of young people who come within the circle of my observation.”
Numerous letters have come in this year (and in fact every year) saying: “The verse for the day always seems to fit my needs exactly.” Workers have found the texts as grouped in the Morning Watch Calendar just the help needed when called on to give studies or to conduct worship. Many timid young Christians have found the Calendar a friend to suggest to them good thoughts for the social meeting. In these and other reasons lies hidden the secret of the marvelous growth of the Morning Watch circle. Each year a larger number of us find the little Calendar so helpful to daily living that we would not be without it.
In 1908 the General Conference Missionary19Volunteer Department sent out the first Morning Watch Calendar. It was printed in the English language only, and about six thousand copies were sold. But in recent years, aside from a large English edition printed in this country, which has reached a circulation of 55,000, England and Australia have printed for their own use. For 1917 Australia is planning an edition of 20,000. Now the Calendar may also be obtained in German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Yes, the Morning Watch circle has grown till Christians in all lands are enjoying its benefits.
If you are not a member of the Morning Watch circle, will you not join it now? Come and let us learn together how to begin the day with God. Spurgeon says: “He who rusheth from his bed to his business, and waiteth not to worship, is . . . as unwise as though he dashed into battle without arms or armor. Be it ours to bathe in the softly flowing river of God before the heat of the wilderness and the burdens of the day begin to oppress us.” Then shall we not thank God for the Morning Watch, which is leading thousands of Christians, young and old, to begin the day with God?
The Calendar for 1917 is based on the Psalms, and is brimful of choice selections from that matchless collection of sacred Hebrew songs. Your tract society will send you one of these Calendars for five cents. Get it, and let it remind you daily of your morning appointment with God, that in quiet communion with him you may learn the secret of living the victorious life.
MATILDA ERICKSON.
Broadview Swedish Seminary
THE Swedish Seminary has just entered upon the most promising year of its history. It is now free from debt, and has been able to raise a substantial improvement fund besides. The present enrolment is the largest it has ever enjoyed. Principal G. E. Nord says in a recent letter:—
“You have undoubtedly heard that our school has been dedicated free of debt. The Lord has helped us in securing the $150,000 to lift the debt, and $6,000 extra for improvements. We are just about to put up a 10,000-gallon tank for water.
“On Monday night after the dedication, the Swedish workers present, with the faculty, students, and friends from Chicago, pledged more than $1,000 toward electric lights.
“At the end of the first week there were about forty students above the eighth grade. We have only two who are taking work below the eighth grade at the present time, and our enrolment is now over sixty. We are still looking for quite a number to come. The opening this year was more encouraging and pleasant than in any previous year.”
Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. Kern - - Secretary
Matilda Erickson - - Assistant Secretary
Mrs. I. H. Evans - - Office Secretary
Meade MacGuire } - - Field Secretaries
C. L. Benson }
J. F. Simon
The Bible
Upon thy Holy Word, O Lord,
The weary ages rest;
Upon their aching heart is poured
This balm of Gilead blest.
Upon this firm foundation set,
Thy church doth stand, O Lord;
Its sword, its crown, its life, is yet
Thine everlasting Word.
O heart of Christ, thy boundless love
In this thy Word doth beat;
Still o'er thy head appears the dove,
The nail prints in thy feet.
Thou answer to all human woes,
Thou guide of every life,
Thou tower of refuge from our foes,
Thou armor strong for strife;
Thou fount of living waters free,
Thou voice of Holy Ghost,
Still daily let me live with thee,
Until I join heaven's host.
THE progress of the gospel movement has ever been marked by eventful happenings. National conditions have arisen which, with a proper turn, have given great impetus to evangelical work. World events have made history for God's cause. Crises among men have been turned to greater advantage for soul-saving. The trend of time has shaped openings for the entrance of the gospel. Doors of opportunity for the Christian church in its foreign missionary work are opening wide in nearly all non-Christian lands. Conditions, as never before, are favorable for the evangelization of the people of heathen countries. This means an open mind and a receptive attitude on the part of the people.
Especially is this true of the nations of eastern Asia, of India, Burma, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, and China. Marvelous changes and developments have recently taken place among these peoples. They are seeing a great awakening in every phase of life. A new vision of life has come to them in their contact with Western ideas. Moving out of their beaten tracks of thirty centuries, they are now endeavoring to build on a new foundation.
The present, therefore, is a period of reconstruction. These people are changing their forms of government, their systems of education, their economic and industrial policies, their social relations, and their religion. In rebuilding they are discarding much of the old for the new.
It is this that makes the present the hour of opportunity for God's last message. The most important part of this reconstruction work is the religious,—the turning away from idolatry, with its debasing superstition, to the elevating, uplifting worship of the living God and the Saviour of men. It is the Christian religion that gives Western civilization its excellence, and this is understood to a greater or less degree by these non-Christian peoples. They understand, in some measure at least, that the adoption of Western ideals and standards for a new national life, means the rejection of old religions for the new.
That this situation is the hour of opportunity for Seventh-day Adventists to do great things for Christ and for millions of lost souls for whom he died, has been recognized by us. We are endeavoring to embrace the opportunity, and to this end have taken some steps of far-reaching importance.
The Organization
At the Autumn Council of the General Conference Committee, held at Loma Linda, Cal., Nov. 5-21, 1915, the Asiatic Division in its present form was organized. A memorial addressed to the committee had come from representatives of the vast mission fields of the Far East, asking for an expansion of our foreign mission policy to meet the existing conditions of the fields. Petition was made that a Division organization be created that would give a more direct and efficient administration of affairs in this vast mission territory of immense populations and many large and difficult problems.
The boundary lines of the Asiatic Division are about as follows: Starting at the Persian Gulf, they run north between Persia and Afghanistan to Turkestan; thence east along the northern boundaries of Mongolia, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan, to the international day line in the Pacific; then south and west so as to include Australia and such islands of the Pacific as are under the supervision of the Australasian Union Conference; thence north to the place of beginning. This territory covers a vast stretch of land and sea. Its population numbers upwards of ten hundred millions—two thirds of the human race.
Formation
As the Asiatic Division now stands, it includes what was formerly the smaller division of the same name, also the India Union Mission and the Australasian Union Conference. The general problems of the former Asiatic Division and of India are practically the same. The plans for pushing evangelistic work, for the production and circulation of literature in the many vernaculars, for the education, direction, and support of native workers, are the same throughout these great non-Christian countries. How to break through the wall of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Mohammedanism, is a problem that taxes the wisdom of all alike.
Australasia was included in this Division because of the great help that field would be able to render in giving counsel, and in supplying young people and funds. In a number of ways Australasia is closely attached to the Asiatic world. She and India are both British. Her island field in the west touches the eastern boundary of the former Asiatic Division. Her northern territory skirts the southern boundary of the East Indies. Her problems in carrying the message to the people of her widely extended island mission fields have many things in common with other parts of this new continental Division.
The organic connection of Australasia with the Asiatic Division will be a constant stimulus to its membership to do its utmost for the finishing of the work. This Union Conference has already rendered excellent service by pioneering the East Indies and the Philippine Islands in evangelistic work, in the sale of literature throughout the field, in the gift of funds, and in sending experienced workers to Malaysia, China, Japan, and India. Years ago, when starting our school in Australia, it was pointed out that that field would send workers to other fields. The Union now is in a condition to render far greater service to the vast territory with which it is connected under the new organization, and it is rising splendidly to its opportunity to give help, and responding generously to the calls made on it for men and means.
The Asiatic Division Conference is composed of six Unions, as follows: The Australasian Union Conference, the India Union Mission, the Northeastern Union Mission, the North China Union Mission, the South China Union Mission, and the East India Union Mission.
The Division has its department secretaries and its executive committee. The officers are: President, R. C. Porter; vice-president and secretary, J. E. Fulton; treasurer and auditor, H. W. Barrows.
The departments and respective secretaries are: Publishing, C. E. Weeks; Sabbath School, Mrs. C. N. Woodward; Educational, S. L. Frost; Medical Missionary, A. C. Selmon, M. D.; Missionary Volunteer, S. L. Frost; Home Missionary, H. M. Blunden.
The executive committee is composed of the officers, Union presidents, department secretaries, and two or three conference presidents.
Thus we have effected a strong organization of the work in this vast territory, similar to our organizations of America and Europe. We may confidently expect that what has been done in these other countries through organization and efficiency will be accomplished in the countries of the Asiatic Division.
General Conditions
Nearly all these teeming millions are heathen. They are intensely religious, but they grope in the darkness of superstition and idolatry. To a very large extent they are without education. They are far behind modern civilized life, and their transformation and uplift present a tremendous task. In many respects this is unquestionably the most difficult field in the world to evangelize. But this work must be done, and we have put our hands to the task.
We have already entered the largest and most important divisions of this great field. Though it seems but a small beginning, our work is already beginning to tell. Our cause is deeply rooted and permanently established in all the places we have entered. The number of people in all these countries who have already accepted the message, their consecration to it, and their eagerness to join us in the finishing of the work, are convincing20evidences to us that thousands more in these lands are waiting for the light; and that when the earth is reaped, there will be a great harvest of rejoicing souls redeemed from the terrible heathenism in which these people are now groping. We have abundant assurance of what can be done in soul-winning endeavor among peoples living in darkest heathenism.