Earlier text: Legal Meeting of the Constituency of the Review and Herald Publishing AssociationSouth African Union Conference
By J. V. Willson
Review of the Union Field
THE South African Union Conference is composed of the Cape Colony Conference, the Natal Transvaal Conference, and the mission territory outside the organized conferences. The territory includes Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, the Transvaal Colony, Natal, Basutoland, Zululand, Swaziland, Bechuanaland Protectorate, Rhodesia, and British Central Africa, sometimes called Nyassaland. This is an area of 814,083 square miles, and has a population of 7,370,437, of which 1,131,154 are white, and 6,239,283 are colored. This does not include German West Africa, Portuguese West Africa, or Portuguese East Africa. This union conference was organized in 1902. It now has 21 churches, a gain of 4 churches in the last four years, and a membership of 679, also 9 companies of Sabbath-keepers, numbering 88, being a gain of 295 in the four years. The amount of tithe received in 1908 was $11,896.48, or a tithe per capita of $13.19. There are 18 church buildings, the estimated value of which is $33,498.20. We have 18 ordained ministers, 6 licentiates, 36 licensed missionaries, and 9 canvassers, making a total of 69 laborers. This conference includes Cape Colony and Orange River Colony, an area of 327,101 square miles, and a population of 2,794,000, of which 2,070,000 are colored. The conference was organized in 1892. Within its bounds are located the Claremont Union College, the Cape Sanitarium, the headquarters of the International Tract Society, the union conference office, and the Kimberley Baths, most of these being at Cape Town and its suburbs. Cape Colony Conference has 12 organized churches, with a membership of 471; 3 companies, with 22 members; and 8 isolated Sabbath-keepers, making a total of 501 Sabbath-keepers in all. The tithe for 1908 was $5,235.25. There are 9 church buildings, 2 licensed ministers, 8 licensed missionaries, and 5 canvassers, making a total of 15 laborers. The total value of book sales in 1908 was $4,928.44. Just a word in reference to the peculiar difficulties met by the canvassing work in this territory, owing to the great19distances between the towns and cities and the sparsely settled country districts. Our canvassing work is behind in organization and efficiency. We need practical help in organizing the work and getting it started. We respectfully request that Brother E. R. Palmer, the General Conference canvassing agent of the denomination, be sent to South Africa for a period of at least three months to examine the situation on the ground, and endeavor to put our canvassing work on a proper basis, and train, and set to work, a canvassing agent for our territory. At our last session of the conference, in January, 1909, our hearts were all made glad to welcome back Professor Elffers and his company of eighteen who had been disconnected from the regular organization for some time. The professor is editing and publishing a paper in Dutch, and his two daughters are teaching the Dutch language in connection with our college at Kenilworth. We are sure this accession will prove a great impetus to giving the message to the many Dutch people in Cape Colony. Claremont Union College, at Kenilworth, Cape, was established in 1892. This is our training-school for all South Africa. To it we are looking for the development of laborers. There are many young people in our territory, who ought to attend this school, but who can not pay even a portion of the tuition, owing to the severe financial depression that has swept over the country. To meet this situation the college board is endeavoring to establish an industrial enterprise—brush-making—in connection with the school, in order to provide a way by which those who can not pay their way may earn enough to carry them through school. The college has no capital to start the enterprise, and needs help to the amount of $1,000. The new workers sent over, Prof. C. P. Crager and wife and Miss Mary Cobban, are taking hold with all their might, and we look for brighter days for our college. The present attendance is sixty-three. THE MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK
There are two sanitariums and one set of treatment-rooms under denominational control, and one sanitarium and one set of treatment-rooms under private management. Our leading sanitarium is the Cape Sanitarium, located at Plumstead, Cape Colony. Dr. George Thomason is the physician in charge. This sanitarium has been prospered during the past four years. It was started in a building formerly used as an orphanage. The bath- and treatment-rooms not affording adequate facilities, a new wing was built, the first floor being fitted up for treatment-rooms, and the second floor for a surgical room, and for rooms for patients. This has greatly added to the facilities of the institution. The present worth is $19,124. There are four lady nurses and one gentleman nurse. The institution is just a little more than paying running expenses each year. A training-school is conducted, and has already graduated four nurses. A large amount of medical missionary work is done among the colored population in the neighborhood. This institution was first started about fifteen years ago as a benevolent home for unemployed, stranded men, but this feature was afterward discontinued at the breaking out of the Boer War. During the siege of Kimberley, one 9-pound shell and two large 100-pound shells entered the house and exploded, tearing things to pieces quite generally. But the Lord in his mercy so ordered it that no one was hurt. We were under fire 124 days, and were very glad when the siege was raised, and no more shells came whizzing through the air at us. We were able to make a vegetarian soup during the siege, which was a very agreeable change to hundreds who had been subsisting on horse- and mule-flesh. At the close of the siege our pocket-book showed a gain of $200 profit from this soup. We had a few hills of cucumbers in the garden, and it was marvelous to see how the Lord made those cucumbers grow. The ordinary ones sold for twenty-five cents, and the larger ones for fifty cents each. We also had a few rows of string-beans, and they bore beyond belief. A double handful brought twenty-five cents. The water for the baths was cut off; but we told the military that we must be allowed to bathe the soldiers who lay in the trenches day and night. So they allowed us water for that, and every drop was saved after it had been used for baths, and used to keep the beans and cucumbers thriving. After the siege the bath-rooms were rebuilt at a cost of $10,000. Just before coming to this Conference, a check for $870 was drawn, paying off the last dollar of indebtedness, so we could sing the jubilee song. The present assets of the baths are $13,597.95, and no liabilities. There is something like one fourth of an acre of garden connected with the baths. This has been planted to flowers, and by intensive culture has been made to bring in from $150 to $200 a month income, and sometimes as much as $60 in one day. The physicians of Kimberley have sent us many patients, and many friends have been won by the treatments given. A prosperous private sanitarium has also been started at Bellair, a suburb of Durban. It is located in a beautiful part of the town. There is no Seventh-day Adventist physician in attendance. There are six regular missions in operation,—Solusi, Somabula, Barotseland, Maranatha, Kolo, and Malamulo. The Solusi Mission is located in Matabeleland, Rhodesia, some thirty-five miles west of Bulawayo and 1,300 miles north of Cape Town. This is our oldest mission. Here Elder Tripp labored and laid down his life. Dr. Carmichael, Sister Armitage, and Elder Mead also gave up their lives in service at this mission. The mission owns about 12,000 acres of land, has two well-built brick dwelling-houses, a brick church, and a brick school-house, besides a dining-room, a dormitory for girls, and huts for boys. The total assets of this mission are $13,597.95. As there are no debts, this is also the present worth. There is a school at the mission having an attendance of about 76 pupils, with four white and several colored teachers. There are also one or two out-stations with native teachers. The mission farm has 300 acres of land cleared, and under the plow. They raise Indian corn (mealies), Kafir corn, enyout, peanuts, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. Quite a herd of live stock is kept on the farm. The principal income is from the sale of mealies, peanuts, and butter. This mission is self-supporting, except the salary of the white helpers. In the past, locusts have been a great scourge, sometimes destroying a whole crop of mealies; but now the government supplies an insecticide, with which the swarms of locusts can be destroyed as fast as they appear. Last year Elder Sturdevant destroyed twenty-six swarms. This is a great relief. The school is in a prosperous condition, and many boys are sufficiently trained to be able to teach out-schools. It is planned to establish more out-stations, so as to reach the natives who live far away from the mission. This mission is situated some seventy-five miles northeast of Bulawayo, on the road to Salisbury. It was established by Elder F. B. Armitage, who took a team of oxen and a wagon, and moved out on the veldt, or wild, open ground, collected the native boys and girls, and established a prosperous school of from fifty to sixty. Brother Armitage passed through some interesting experiences. Soon after starting the mission, he bought a mule team at heavy expense, and the team died. He needed more cattle; but did not have the money to buy them. But some lions at some far-away place got after some cattle, and chased them straight to the mission farm, and left them there. Another time, when the mission funds got low, the government issued an order that the natives should muzzle their dogs. They had no muzzles, and there was no place they could buy them, and they could not make them, so they came to the mission for help. Brother Armitage collected all the scraps of sheet-iron and tin and all the pieces of leather he could find, and went to making muzzles at a good price, and so obtained the needed funds. He also turned his hand to mending wagons for his neighbors, and that helped the mission finances also. So, by one way and another, the mission was finally established. Brother Armitage was finally called to the Maranatha Mission, and Brother W. C. Walston was sent to Somabula, with Brother and Sister Butterfield to help him. Brother and Sister Butterfield and little daughter all came down with the fever, and were all very, very sick at the same time. Brother Walston had to care for them, do the cooking, see to the farm and school; and when the little girl died, he had to make the coffin, and attend to the last sad rites all alone, without any white people near him. This was a trying time, but the Lord gave him strength to endure. The mission is now in a prosperous condition. This mission is established among the Kafir natives, near Grahamstown, Cape Colony. It is about four years since work was begun on this mission. A dwelling-house has been built, also a meeting- and school-house, a store, and a two-story building, the first floor to be used for a dining-room and the second floor for a dormitory. The land has been fenced, cleared, and tilled. Meetings have been held, and some forty20families in the neighborhood have become interested in the mission, and the truths taught there. For a long time it seemed impossible to awaken an interest among the natives in regard to our school work. They did not care to come to the mission, but finally Elders Armitage and Hyatt went through the Kafir villages with a wagon and a magic lantern, with views of Bible scenes, and held evening meetings with the natives. They had never seen such things before, and it made a great impression on them. Among other things shown, were views of the beasts mentioned in Daniel 7. The natives thought they were real photographs of the original beasts, and said, “Now we know these things are so, because we have really seen the pictures of those beasts.” The result was that many wanted to go to the school and learn. They have a school of about forty pupils now. When they went with the wagon to gather up the boys, one boy made an appointment with them to meet him at a certain spot. When the wagon was to be there, several weeks from that time, he came a long distance, and waited at the spot five days till the wagon came. This shows how earnest they are to learn. An interest has been awakened in our school all through the Kafir land, and also among the Fingoes. Wherever the wagon went, our missionaries gave treatments to the sick; the Lord blessed these simple treatments wonderfully, and the sick recovered. This mission is situated in Nyassaland, about forty miles south of Blantyre. It was acquired in 1902. Elder Watson gave his life for the work here. The mission farm has 2,000 acres of land. They raise crops for the use of the mission family, but there is no market accessible to sell the farm produce, except the butter, and this they sell in Blantyre. The mission is in charge of Elder J. C. Rogers. There are six out-schools, with an attendance of 162. The central school has about 150 in attendance. The mode of traveling is by machilla, a conveyance similar to a hammock, which is borne on the shoulders of four strong men. By frequent changes, they can travel six miles an hour. There is an out-station at Matandani, about ninety miles north of the central station. This is in charge of Brother S. M. Konigmacher. New out-stations are being established, and soon we hope to spread the knowledge of the third angel's message all through that region. Basutoland is called the Switzerland of South Africa, being mostly at a high elevation, with mountains and hills. It has a very salubrious climate, free from the malaria so common to most parts of the interior of South Africa. It has an area of 10,293 square miles, and a population of 218,903. The Basuto nation dates its origin from Moshesh, perhaps the wisest and most sagacious chief known in South African history. The Basutos are the most highly civilized, the best-educated, and the most powerful tribe in South Africa to-day, being well advanced in agriculture, schools, civil government, etc. The Basuto young men find ready employment in the post-offices in the large towns, business offices, stores, and government offices. The area of Basutoland is 10,293 square miles, with a population of 262,561. We have one mission in Basutoland, the Kolo Mission, of which Brother M. E. Emmerson is superintendent. This mission has been in existence many years; but for various reasons has not made the progress one would like to see. There are strong mission stations established by other societies, with large and costly buildings, fully equipped schools and workshops, and these naturally appeal to the native mind more than our modest little mission stations with total assets of only $2,000. Brother Emmerson, in studying the situation, became convinced that the most promising way of reaching the natives there was by circulating our literature. He started out to sell books containing present truth, but found the natives did not have the money to buy them, but they did have chickens and goat-skins. So he takes a team, and is selling the printed page all through that country. When he comes home after a trip, instead of counting his money, he counts his chickens and goat-skins. In this way, Basutoland is getting the truth. About five years ago, Elder W. H. Anderson started out with three boys on foot to locate a mission in Barotseland, some 250 miles north of Victoria Falls. He traveled until he was overcome by the fever, and at night gave directions to his boys what to do in case of his death, and then lay down, not expecting ever to see another morning. A kind white man found him, and took care of him till he recovered. A site for a mission farm was found,—6,000 acres, well watered by a river, a large creek, and a living spring of water. A grant was obtained of the government, and one year after, active operations were begun. There is now a well-built brick dwelling-house, a good brick school-house, a dining-room and huts for the boys, 200 acres of land under cultivation, a fruit orchard of several acres containing oranges, lemons, guavas, papayas, pineapples, and other fruits, and a prosperous school of forty pupils. The boys are taught in their native language, and qualified to act as teachers in the out-schools. A circle of out-stations is now established, and further outer circles of stations are planned for until the whole districts shall be covered and the third angel's message be brought to every native in that region. Brother Anderson has planned to become acquainted with every kraal in his territory, and to be able to converse with each induna (chief) in his native language this year. Last year, when Brother Anderson was called on to part with his faithful companion, I asked him whether he would leave the mission and return to the home land. He replied no, that he had so much more invested in that field now and that he would go on, and make the mission all that they had planned it to be. A good impression has been created all through that country in regard to our mission work, and a number of mission superintendents of other denominations, including the Roman Catholic, have written him, asking to be instructed in the right way to conduct industrial mission schools. When there, I saw two boys in serious conversation with the superintendent one evening, and on inquiry found they had come to ask for baptism. Since then some seven more have been baptized. So the good work goes on, and souls are gathered out of heathenism to be saved in the kingdom of God. The new railroad up to the large copper mines in the Kongo Free State will be completed this year, and that will open the way for the message to go to the great Kongo State. Six main central stations have been opened up, and thirteen out-stations established, thus making a beginning in Matabeleland, Barotseland, Basutoland, among the Kafirs, and a start in Nyassaland. The work is to be developed in these tribes, and new work opened up in Zululand, with its population of 200,330; in northeastern Rhodesia, with 300,000; in Natal, with 799,780; and in other places in South Africa, containing 1,300,000 souls. Surely here is work to employ all the men and means that can be spared. Work should be started among the Zulus at once. Physically, this race is the finest in South Africa. Their king, Chaka, years ago was a veritable Napoleon in military tactics, training his men in impis, or regiments, and conquering the surrounding tribes. A good training-school should be established among these people. Hitherto the work for the natives has been conducted by the union conference; but the work is so vast, covering such a large territory, that it has been considered advisable to have each local conference take over the responsibility of looking after the natives within their own conference limits. This would bring each conference more directly in touch with the mission work, and so create a more active missionary spirit. This change is planned for in the near future. Ethiopia is stretching forth her hands unto God. The needs of these poor, benighted people appeal to us. Many lives have already been given to this work in Africa. Elders Tripp, Mead, Watson, Dr. Carmichael, Sister Armitage, and Sister Anderson all laid down their lives in service; also Brother and Sister Sturdevant gave their only son; and Brother and Sister Butterfield, their only daughter. Report of the British Union Conference
By W. J. FITZGERALD
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is indisputably one of the most interesting divisions of the world. Politically, it has played a leading rôle for many centuries. Perhaps it is just to say that no other nation in any age has done more to spread abroad in all quarters of the globe the salutary influences of advanced and enlightened civilization. For more than four hundred years, explorers have been going forth from the British Isles to the remotest points in all directions. (Recently Lieutenant Shackleton has been within just a little over one hundred miles of the south pole.) In the immediate wake of Britain's explorers have ever followed hosts of colonists, full of courage, determina-tion.21 and resourcefulness. Great Britain governs nearly one fourth of the world's population, and the empire occupies one fourth of the habitable area of the globe. Not only has she enriched the world by carrying forward successfully a stupendous and superb scheme of colonization and empire, but she has also contributed bountifully to the world's wealth, commerce, science, art, literature, morals, and religion. It is beyond the limits of the human mind to estimate the work accomplished by the British people in the making and distribution of the Holy Scriptures, and other Christian literature. The United Kingdom acted no inconsiderable part in the great religious reform which revolutionized Europe in the sixteenth century. It contributed to that great cause its full quota of bold and brilliant advocates,—both writers and public speakers. It spilt sufficient of the blood of its people of all classes thoroughly to fertilize the reformation soil, and water the seeds of eternal truth deposited therein. No other European country did more in later periods to resuscitate the great reform movement, and carry it forward through successive stages toward the goal of full accomplishment. How great was the work of Bunyan, the Wesleys, Whitefield, Spurgeon, and a host of other valiant servants of God! In the great awakening of the forties of the last century, Great Britain was again found in the forefront of the agitation. Hundreds of her godly ministers of the gospel sounded the judgment alarm and advent tidings, not only in the home land, but in many mission countries of the earth. But what of Great Britain to-day, and the part she is acting and will act in connection with this great closing movement of God's truth in the world? Is she maintaining her past standards, and living up to her splendid traditions? Is there being gathered out from the masses there, a people who rally round the standard of the third angel? Is she moving forward to take her place shoulder to shoulder with those countries which are supplying devoted soldiers of the cross, who are to carry successfully this message to all divisions of mankind? Wherever the banner of British authority and influence waves, it is a positive guaranty of liberty to carry forward the work of the Lord without hindrance. This is so in the mother country; it is also true in far distant lands, influenced for centuries by the superstitions and vagaries of paganism and other false religions. The mighty influence of the British empire is still successfully exerted to keep gateways in all parts of the world open to the missionaries of the cross. This wholesome influence emanates from the United Kingdom, whose territory is the field of the British Union Conference. The British Union is among the smallest in area, and among the largest in population. It is composed of England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, the Shetland and Orkney Islands to the north of Scotland, and the Hebrides and other islands of the west coast of Scotland. Its area is 121,000 square miles, being somewhat larger than the combined areas of the States of New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The population is about 45,000,000, or nearly half that of all North America, exclusive of Old Mexico. At least four distinct and characteristic nationalities,—English, Scottish, Irish, and Welsh,—are manifest to one who visits all divisions of the field. Three languages besides English are spoken by considerable sections of the population, the Welsh in Wales, the Gaelic in Scotland, and the Erse in Ireland being adhered to by thousands; and it requires no stretch of the imagination to discover many minor yet striking distinctions, as regards both customs and dialects. One finds no monotony attaching to a trip from Land's End at the extreme southwest of England, to John O'Groat's at the extreme northeast of Scotland; or from Sandringham in the east of England to Killarney in the west of Ireland. With such a territory and such a population, who could fail to possess inspiration to carry this work forward! Could one desire a better, more interesting, or more promising field? At the opening of the quadrennial term, Jan. 1, 1905, our work in Great Britain was twenty-six years old. There were at that time 2 organized conferences, North England and South England, and 3 mission fields, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, with an aggregate reported membership of 1,364. During the four-year period closing Dec. 31, 1908, two missions—Wales and South Scotland—were organized into conferences, 25 churches were organized, and there were added to the membership 875 by baptism and 128 by vote, or a total of 1,003. On account of a revision of the lists of church-memberships throughout the field, the reported net gain for the General Conference term was reduced to 310, giving the union a membership of 1,674 at the close of the year 1908. It is evident that the real gain in membership for the quadrennial period is much larger than the apparent net gain. The union made a gain of 68 members for the first quarter of 1909, so that on March 31 of the present year we had a total membership of 1,742. That which has been accomplished during the past four years, as regards membership, gives us assurance for the future. Our people have been devoted to the cause and faithful in its support. There has been a very encouraging gain in tithe and offerings during the four years. The tithe for the year 1904, the last year of the preceding General Conference term, amounted to $15,910, or a per capita rate of $10.93. The tithe for the year 1908, the last year of the term for which we are reporting, amounted to $25,078, or a per capita rate of $14.98. Thus the year 1908, as compared with 1904, shows a gain in tithe of $9,168, and a gain of $4.05 in the rate per capita. The total offerings to missions for 1904 amounted to $1,821, or $1.33 a member, while the total offerings to missions for 1908 amounted to $3,541, showing a gain of $1,720; and the per capita rate was increased from $1.32 to $2.17. The total tithe for the four-year period ending Dec. 31, 1908, amounted to $91,798.13, or a yearly average of $22,949. The yearly average per capita was $13.64. The total offerings to missions for the four years amounted to $12,238.99, a yearly average of $3,059.72, and a per capita yearly average of $1.82. It is therefore apparent that at every point of comparison the tithe and offer- ings for the year 1908 show a lead over the yearly average for the quadrennial term, indicating continual growth. The tithe and offerings for the first quarter of 1909 were larger than for any preceding quarter. Our tithe rate of $14.98 per capita for 1908 is $3.69 above the average rate per capita for the world, $2.72 above the average for the United States, $5.60 above the average rate for Europe, and $4.10 higher than the next highest in the European field. Over $7,000 has been raised in cash contributions and by the sale of the book, “Christ's Object Lessons,” for the union conference building fund. Six sevenths of this amount was raised during the latter half of the period. It is encouraging to note that during the last two years, when strenuous efforts have been put forth to secure offerings for the union conference building fund, the offerings to missions showed a decided increase. We find pleasure in being able to make a favorable report concerning our Union Conference. In August, 1906, the British Union Conference incorporated under the name of the Seventh-day Adventist Union, Ltd. At that time the union had no available assets. By the close of the year 1908 it had invested in the purchase of the Stanborough Park estate, and by the erection of buildings and otherwise improving the same, the sum of $78,380.86. Of this sum, the union owed $28,959.45. Thus the union had gained, in two and one-half years, by donations and otherwise, the sum of $49,421.41. Besides the amount invested in Stanborough Park, the union owns, for the execution of its different lines of work, several agencies and properties valued as follows: The International Tract Society, Ltd., $44,141.18; the International Health Association, Ltd., $7,586.93; the Good Health Association, Ltd., $28,328.08; the Stanborough Park Training College, $5,000; making a net present worth of $134,477.60. The different branches named, while operating under their own name and local management, are controlled by, and pay rent to, the union, besides turning into the union treasury all profits that are not needed to keep their business in good working order. We are thankful to report that all these branches are making profits. Full reports of these several departments will be submitted by their respective representatives. The local conferences will also be reported by their presidents. MINISTERS AND OTHER WORKERS
There are regularly employed in this field, to carry forward the work in its several phases, 17 ordained ministers, 11 licensed preachers, 19 missionary licentiates, and 19 other workers in conference employ, 7 teachers, 207 canvassers, 36 medical missionary workers, 30 employees in the publishing house, and 20 in the health food factory, making a grand total of 366. This means that one out of every five of our members is employed in the work for the denomination in some capacity. During the past four years, 11 native British workers, and 4 young workers from America, who had spent some time in our training-school, have gone out to different parts of the great foreign mis-22 sion field. Our union has released workers for at least 3 great mission divisions of the earth. It is still necessary for our field to receive some aid from the General Conference treasury. The amount required for the present year is $3,500. We are glad, however, to note that we turned over to the General Conference more than that amount in offerings last year, not counting the amount of tithe also paid by the union to the General Conference. It is our earnest hope and purpose that we shall need to ask for but one more annual appropriation for the regular work, and that this will be much less than $3,500. It is the desire of all the British believers that our field shall soon become not only fully self-supporting, but also able to help substantially in supporting the great work of carrying this blessed message to the millions who “sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” The British delegates unite most earnestly with you all in seeking an advanced and special preparation for service at this time. We desire to return to our field prepared to transmit to our fellow workers and brethren generally, an inspiration for more effective service. We purpose to march on faithfully with all the loyal ranks to the final great conflict and the final glorious victory. THE willingness of our Heavenly Father to grant us grace sufficient for the duties of the day, was impressively set forth by Elder M. C. Wilcox, the leader of the devotional service. The assurance, “Ask, and it shall be given you,” is for us here this morning. “Seek, and ye shall find,” the Saviour declares even to-day; “knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Our Father is willing to give good things to them that ask him. It is not ours to seek for some great power to use to-morrow or in days to come. This morning we have the privilege of praying for power sufficient to enable us to do aright the work of the day. As Paul has pointed out in the first of Ephesians, it is God’s purpose that his children shall be “to the praise of the glory of his grace;” but the blessings of heaven are bestowed “in all wisdom and prudence.” Increasing needs call for the bestowal of additional power. The speaker dwelt for a moment upon the amazing transformations of character taking place in our world at the present time. There is that in the power of grace that can take the base, and so transmute it that in all ages to come, human beings shall be looked upon as monuments of God’s mercy and glorious handiwork. Following an earnest season of prayer, many testified of the power of God, and of blessings received. “Good is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,” was the sentiment that pervaded the minds of all assembled in the big pavilion at the early morning hour. Prayer was offered by Elders R. F. Andrews, G. W. Amadon, and Wm. Covert. The leader, Elder Covert, read some precious promises, and exhorted the large congregation to be courageous and of good cheer, in view of the wonderful provisions God has made in behalf of his children. For several mornings, many have not had opportunity to testify, for lack of time, and so the leader spoke for only a few moments, and gave the full hour to those who were eager to express their gratitude to God for his mercies toward them, and for the wondrous way in which he is leading his people. Many spoke of their determination to seek God daily for a preparation for efficient service in his cause in days to come. As Sister Edmed, of Natal, South Africa, suggested, it seems as if the message God is giving to his people at this time, “Seek ye my face,” is responded to by every worker with the heartfelt declaration, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Benediction by Elder Wm. Ostrander. The central thought of the morning lesson was the privilege of the Christian to glorify God in the little things of daily life. The leader, Elder F. M. Wilcox, in a few earnest words clearly outlined our great need of learning to live with God in every-day life; of trusting him in the little experiences; of yielding ourselves so fully to him that even our impulses will be under his control; and when we speak without previous thought or planning, or under the stress of circumstances, we shall speak that which his Spirit dictates. With the apostle Paul, we should be able to declare: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20. With some, there is a tendency to long for the mysterious and the miraculous; but before we see these unusual manifestations of the mighty workings of God, we shall have to experience the power of the Spirit in our own lives—in our words and acts when in daily contact with men and women. We shall have to see, first, the power of God enabling us to be earnest, practical Christians in the home-life. The Publishing Work in Great Britain
By W. C. SISLEY
It affords me great pleasure to report that a good degree of prosperity has attended the publishing work of the British Union Conference. This department has moved steadily forward. Since the last General Conference we have moved our publishing business from London to Stanborough Park, Watford, into a new factory built and owned by the British Union Conference. We are glad to report that these new premises are proving in every way satisfactory. We now own a fairly well-equipped printing plant, giving employment to 32 persons. We can now do all our own printing. We have four cylinder presses kept constantly at work printing our denominational literature. Though our membership is small, we have been enabled, by the blessing of God upon the earnest efforts of our workers and people—in all 1,674—to place a large amount of most excellent reading-matter in the homes of some millions of the great population of our field. We have sold, during the last four years, exclusive of our considerable foreign trade, 168,947 books, 6,871,649 periodicals, 23,382 pamphlets, and 964,163 tracts, at a total retail value of $310,221.57; or a yearly average of 42,237 books, 1,717,912 periodicals, 5,840 pamphlets, and 241,041 tracts, at an average annual retail value of $77,555. We have 207 regular book and periodical canvassers, an average of one out of every eight of our members. During the last four years, averaging the sales by our total membership, there were sold for each member 101 books, 4,105 periodicals, 14 pamphlets, and 565 tracts, at a retail value of $185.32. When we consider these amounts, it will be well to bear in mind the fact that the most of our literature sells in the British Isles at from 20 to 50 per cent less than in the States, Australia, and many other countries. The net profits of our publishing work during the past four years have been $19,878. The tract society has donated that sum and $12,832 more of its former profits, or a total of $32,710, to the British Union property fund. It is hoped by the blessing of God, that the publishing house will be able to continue to do something substantial along this line annually. [Hearty amens were heard.] I have often been asked the question, “How is it that you good people in Great Britain, with so small a membership, can sell so much literature?” To this I fear I have never given a very satisfactory answer. About all I can say is that our people love the truth, and more of them in proportion have a mind to work for it than you can find in most countries. Where can you find a union conference where one person out of every eight devotes himself to the sale of our books and papers? If one in every eight out of the 100,000 members in the world would act as agents, you would have 12,500 of them, instead of about 4,000. If the 60,000 members in the United States sold as many papers in proportion as our British brethren do, this country would sell more than 61,500,000 papers each year; and if the members in the world sold as much literature per capita as we do in Great Britain, their total sales would reach the enormous sum of about $5,791,250 a year. I have never heard any one say that we had too many agents in Great Britain, or that we work them too hard. On the contrary, I have heard it said that we ought to have as many again workers, and all ought to do much better work. Those managing our field are by no means satisfied, and never will be until our “good is better, and our better best.” We are, by the help of God, trying hard to practise Pompey’s idea of “parseverance,” which, according to his definition, is, “Take hold fast, hang on, stick to it, never let go.” We have taken hold; we are sticking to it; and, by the grace of God, we never mean to let go until the work is done. The craving for sympathy is natural, and it ought never to be treated harshly, nor thought of as a fault; but it easily becomes ignoble and very morbid, because very selfish.—Herald and Presbyter.