The National Conference on Church and Country Life, held at Columbus, Ohio, December 8-10, under the direction of the Federal Council of the Churches, is presided over by Hon. Gifford Pinchot, participated in by delegates from nearly all Protestant denominations and from every State in the Union, and favored by addresses from Governor Willis of Ohio and President Wilson, may fairly be said to be another long step by modern Christianity in the direction of the latter-day apostasy, foretold by the prophets of the Bible.
Among the leading delegated speakers were Dean Shailer Mathews, of Chicago, president of the Federal Council of the Churches; Bishop W. F. Anderson, of Cincinnati; Prof. W. O. Thompson, president of Ohio State University; Mr. Fred B. Smith, noted as the originator of the Men's Religion and Forward Movement; Dr. Kenyon L. Butterfield, president Massachusetts Agricultural College; Bishop Joseph F. Berry, Philadelphia; Bishop John M. Moore, Nashville, Tenn.; Rev. E. Tallmadge Root, Boston, Mass.; Rev. Henry Wallace, Des Moines, Iowa; Dr. Washington Gladden, Columbus, Ohio; and nearly five hundred others prominent in the movement throughout the country.
The conference concerned itself with the best methods to be employed by the Christian forces in the United States to socialize Christianity, or, in the words of President Butterfield of Massachusetts Agricultural College, to better promote through church influence “good roads, public health, and sanitation, consolidation of schools where possible, social and recreation centers, community beautification, celebration of religious and patriotic holidays, boys’ and girls’ agricultural contests,” etc.
Specifically the result of the conference was to create machinery for the carrying out of these principles by federating the rural churches throughout the land; and to accomplish this, Bishop W. F. Anderson said, “the community church which has the acknowledged leadership should have right of way, while the church or churches which are struggling for existence [meaning the churches of small membership] should step aside.”
Significant Utterances
Some noteworthy statements which unquestionably indicate a swinging away from the Bible plan of saving individual souls, are herewith given:—
Said Rev. Harry F. Ward, of Boston, Mass.: “We have discovered that our program demands that we must establish social justice, which means social righteousness, not alone between individuals, but between groups. Social justice is the demand made of religion. . . . Social justice means justice between groups.”
Section 2 of the report of the committee on federation and cooperation, presided over by Rev. E. Tallmadge Root, Boston, which was unanimously adopted
by the conference, says: “There is a gratifying recognition, on the part of betterment movements, of the fact that all social problems are, in ultimate analysis, moral, and therefore insoluble without the aid of institutions of religion, which alone can bring adequate motives. This gives the church today an opportunity unsurpassed in history. With the proper attitude, as R. Fulton Cutting has shown in his ‘Church and Society,’ they may even cooperate with, and use, ‘the institutions of the democratic state.’”
Gov. Frank B. Willis of Ohio said in his address: “The day of two or three or four small churches in a community of two or three hundred people is past. The times forbid the continuation of sectarian differences that have agitated and at times disrupted the churches of former days. Neighboring churches of all denominations must work together for the solution of their problems. Social conditions must be given consideration.”
Religion by Wholesale
Dean Shailer Mathews said, “Religion is no longer a matter of the closet, but it is a matter of public welfare.” He went on to say that the old idea that Protestantism is broken into fragments is no longer true since the day of federation has dawned. The federation idea “is not endeavoring to correct doctrinal mistakes, but to work out, through the unified life of the church, a sort of social democracy.” “Christianity has not yet been tried in international life,” he continued, “but it is soon to be not only tried, but successfully demonstrated in the working out of international problems.”
The same idea was set forth by Mr. Fred B. Smith, of New York City:—
“Divided Christianity is responsible for the present European war. I believe there was Christian power enough in the world to have stopped the war, if Christianity had spoken with one voice; and, mark you, it will occur again, with a segregated Christianity. We are indulging an idle fancy if we contemplate a permanent peace with a segregated sectarianism.”
After speaking in commendable terms of Huss, Luther, and other reformers down to D. L. Moody, and affirming that these were as truly prophets of God as were any of the Bible characters, he suggested that such persons as Washington Gladden, Jane Addams, Professor Rauschenbusch, and other social workers of the present day are to have an honored place with these among all of God’s prophets. Continuing, he said:—
“The new school of prophets who will lead the church for the next twenty-five years are those who are big enough to say to the church, ‘We must have unified Christianity.’ Either the church must accept the scrap heap or prepare to accept unified action.”
Then, unconsciously including himself among this same company of present-day prophets, he ventured to predict that “in five years the essentials of religion will be taught in every high school and college in the land; in ten years every man will have equal opportunity for the economic advantages of life.”
Thus the representatives of church and state are today building up a tower of Babel with the bricks and mortar of their own reasoning. Thus it was that17the trend of Scripture teaching was conferenced and conventioned away by the church-and-state philosophers of the apostasy period of the early centuries of the Christian era. That early apostasy was plainly foretold by the apostle Paul and other inspired writers, and this latter-day falling away is as plainly foretold by the same godly seers.
God’s Word says concerning this time, “Say ye not, A confederacy”—a unified course of action based on men’s teaching. Then to his people who will be alive to behold this situation, he says, “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread;” then to his messengers, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” After that he points to the secret of the individual Christian’s stability when these things come to pass: “And I will look for him.” Isa. 8:13-17. H. A. WEAVER.
You Will Never Be Sorry
For living a pure life.
For doing your level best.
For looking before leaping.
For hearing before judging.
For being kind to the poor.
For thinking before speaking.
For harboring clean thoughts.
For stopping your ears to gossip.
For standing by your principles.
For being generous to an enemy.
For asking pardon when in error.
For being square in business dealings.
For giving an unfortunate person a lift.
For promptness in keeping your promises.
For putting the best construction on the acts of others.— Selected.
Poverty and Contentment
To be poor is not always pleasant, but worse things than that happen at sea. Small shoes are apt to pinch, but not if you have a small foot; if we have little means, it will be well to have little desires. Poverty is no shame, but being discontented with it is.—Spurgeon.
Religious Liberty Department
By C. S. Longacre
C. S. LONGACRE - - N. Am. Div. Secretary
The Entering Wedge
By Edith M. Graham
“THE people are in sad need of the light shining from the pages of our health books and journals. God desires to use these books and journals as mediums through which flashes of light shall arrest the attention of the people, and cause them to heed the warning of the message of the third angel. Our health journals are instrumentalities in the field to do a special work in disseminating the light that the inhabitants of the world must have in this day of God’s preparation. They wield an untold influence in the interests of health and temperance and social purity reform, and will accomplish great good in presenting these subjects in a proper manner and in their true light to the people.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VII, page 136.
At the present time great interest is being taken in the study of diseases and the best methods of preventing them. Almost every day there is something in the daily papers about a commission to find ways of preventing tuberculosis, an investigation of the causes of cancer, the increase of heart disease, the elimination of the unfit, or some similar subject.
Not only are doctors studying these things, but those who do not belong to the medical profession are showing marked interest in topics that bear upon the building up of bodily strength and vigor. Especially is there a growing interest in the temperance question.
We should take advantage of all this, which has doubtless been brought about by the Lord to open doors for the entrance of his truth. The easiest plan is always to work along the lines of the people’s interests. There we have what is termed “a point of contact,” something we have in common, from which we can lead them to knowledge they do not have.
One excellent way to find these interested people is to circulate the magazine Life and Health. Thousands of copies should be sold each month, and through them ways will be found of introducing other points of truth. I fear our people are losing sight of the value of the circulation of this paper in soul-winning work. There are large numbers of persons now in the truth who say that they believe they should never have been sufficiently interested to study the Seventh-day Adventist faith had their attention not been called to our health publications. Without doubt, there are hundreds who wish to learn more about the things that make strong men and women. They will be impressed by the wisdom and harmony of the health principles of which the Lord has given us a knowledge. But how will they ever hear of them unless we be the Lord’s messengers to take the literature to them?
Those who have become the Lord’s messengers to carry this magazine to the people are having just the experiences the Lord says this health work will bring. Here are a few of them:—
“Last year I earned by my sales $1,287.60.18I thank and praise the Lord for the health and strength received, and above all, for the great joy and pleasure it is to me to do this work. I should rather sell my papers than eat the finest dinner one could give, for it is my life. For years I have earned over $1,000 a year. In 1913 I paid $123 tithe. I have adopted the plan of giving $5 a month to missions, instead of twenty cents a week, and many times have given $5 to the colored work and the educational work. I buy and give away thousands of tracts. Where I do not sell a paper, I give a tract, so that from two to three hundred people a day get a little of the message. To God be all the praise.”
“I decided to use Life and Health first, to make some friends, and now I have regular customers; and since January I have sold Signs, Watchman, Liberty, etc., and some of our larger books.”
“Life and Health is a good magazine to start with in a strange place. Those who take Life and Health say they should not like to be without it.”
“I am certainly seeing good results in canvassing for Life and Health. A great deal of prejudice has been removed from the minds of many, and I am having continued success in my work, notwithstanding this territory has the name of being a hard place to work.”
“During vacation I sold one thousand copies of Life and Health in ninety hours, working from house to house. I do not believe it best for young ladies to work on the streets.”
“I have good success in selling Life and Health among my neighbors. They inquire for it and say that it gives good instruction.”
“There has not been that interest taken in the circulation of our health journals that there should be. The circulation of these journals must not be neglected, or the people will suffer great loss.”—“The Circulation of Our Health Journals,” page 5.
EDITH M. GRAHAM.
Religious Legislation in Congress
By S. B. HORTON
The Sixty-fourth Congress is now in session, having convened December 6. Upon that day several measures were introduced involving the principles of civil and religious liberty. Representative Siegel of New York fathered a measure (H. R. 491) to amend the postal laws as follows:—
“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever a complaint in writing shall be filed with the Postmaster-General, that any publication making use of or being sent through the mails contains any article therein which tends to expose any race, creed, or religion to either hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, he shall forthwith cause an investigation to be made under his direction, and shall within twenty days after receipt of such complaint, if the facts contained therein are true, make an order forbidding the further use of the mails to any such publication; but nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent the Postmaster-General from restoring such use of the mails to any such publication, whenever it shall be established to his satisfaction that the publication has ceased to print or publish such prohibited matter, and given him satisfactory assurances in writing that there will be no further repetition of the same.”
We can but briefly refer to this measure at this time. By the terms of this bill an extraordinary power is proposed to be placed in the hands of the Postmaster-General, a power that could be used to nullify the Constitutional guaranty of the freedom of the press. In the last Congress, legislation of similar character was proposed, but failed to receive the favorable consideration of the committee to which it was referred.
On the same day two rest bills were introduced, one by Representative Buchanan (H. R. 1111), “to grant all employees in the District of Columbia one day of rest in each seven days of employment;” the other by Representative Keating (H. R. 642), providing for the closing of barber shops on Sunday in the District of Columbia.
On December 7 a bill was introduced in the Senate (S. 645) by Mr. Works, “to provide for the closing of barber shops in the District of Columbia on Sunday.”
Other Sunday measures will doubtless find their way to both houses of the present Congress, inasmuch as the Lord’s Day Alliance and kindred organizations have during the current year announced their intention of laying plans to secure from Congress, laws on the subject of Sunday observance.
In the light of the responsibility placed upon Seventh-day Adventists by the threefold message of Revelation 14, it behooves us to study anew the principles involved in the measures referred to, and to be ready to join the Religious Liberty Department in sounding a note of warning to our lawmakers.
S. B. HORTON.
Constitutional Prohibition Amendment
By S. B. Horton
SENATOR SHEPPARD of Texas introduced the following joint resolution (S. J. Res. 30):—
“Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two thirds of each house concurring therein), That the following amendment to the Constitution be, and hereby is, proposed to the States, to become valid as a part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of the several States as provided by the Constitution:—
“Article—
“SECTION 1.—That the sale, manufacture for sale, transportation for sale, importation for sale, of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes in the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and exportation for sale thereof, are forever prohibited.
“SEC. 2.—That the Congress or the States shall have power independently or concurrently to enforce this article by all needful legislation.”
The temperance cause has made important gains within the last two years, and as an evidence of its influence the current report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shows a decline of $25,906,291 from the revenue on liquor and tobacco for the fiscal year ending June 30, last. Commissioner Osborn, commenting on this loss of revenue, says in his report:—
“This, in the main, can probably be attributed to the prohibition laws. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia are operating under prohibition laws; and Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington have passed prohibition laws which will become effective in the near future; and undoubtedly this has had and will continue to have effect upon internal revenue receipts.”
Senator Sheppard introduced another measure (S. 1082) to “prevent the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors in the District of Columbia.” Other bills upon the same subject have been introduced by Senators Wm. H. Thompson of Kansas, W. L. Jones of Washington, and others.
The saloon business in the District of Columbia has been materially decreased within the last year, and it is expected that the nation’s capital will soon be prohibition territory through legislation enacted by the present Congress.
S. B. HORTON.
Home Missionary Department
E. M. GRAHAM General Secretary
F. W. PAAP N. Am. Div. Secretary
Emmanuel Missionary College
By FREDERICK GRIGGS
Our students are largely responsible for the upbuilding of the schools. The word which they send out in their correspondence has a very powerful effect for weal or for woe upon the fortunes of the school. Generally speaking, our students are very loyal in their support of the schools which they are attending. The students of Emmanuel Missionary College have particularly distinguished themselves in the efforts to remove the indebtedness resting on that college. In the plans to remove the indebtedness from the school, the students were assigned $5,000. They entered upon this work heartily at the close of the last school year.
A friend recently handed me a letter written to him from the college, from which I take the liberty of quoting the following:—
“I am sure you will be interested to know of the recent developments concerning the students’ $5,000 goal. The current issue of the Lake Union Herald reports about $2,900 actually received. The remainder is largely covered by good pledges.
“Last Wednesday, in chapel, the matter was again brought to the attention of the teachers and students, and one thousand dollars was pledged. This, to me, certainly seems splendid when one considers that the teachers have been giving about all they can possibly afford, and many of the students who previously gave are now giving the second time. This does not include the old pledges which have not been paid. But these were also renewed. It will certainly mean that some of these students will feel this in their very bodies before their pledges are paid. I believe that the Lord is going to help us to raise our $5,000 by the first of January.
“I have yet to pay $30 on my original pledge, collect $15 on the $100 which I promised at camp meeting time to solicit, and in addition have obligated myself to solicit $30 more. Now, I want you to help me out. Send me over a good check to apply on the $45 which I have obligated myself to solicit. You know there is nothing that succeeds like success. Success begets enthusiasm, and enthusiasm begets success. I never felt so really thankful about any movement, because I certainly believe that it means the paying of the entire debt within the next few months. The student body is fairly alive with the question. About one dozen students promised to go and canvass two days and give the proceeds to this movement. Many other indefinite pledges were made, that are not counted on the $1,000. If necessary, we expect to close the school two days, and some students will canvass, and others work, and give the proceeds to help make up this fund. We do not intend to rest until the goal is reached.
“There is a flood of letters going out from this school to all parts of the Lake Union Conference, and I do certainly believe, since the students and the teachers have sacrificed to the very quick, that the friends of the institution will come forward and help us.”
This commendable spirit on the part of the teachers and the students of Emmanuel Missionary College will certainly be felt to the ends of the Lake Union Conference; and not only to that extent, but such a spirit must have an influence on our school work the world over. It is not simply the question of relief of the school from indebtedness, but it is the question of developing a spirit of loyalty and hearty support to the work of this message. Students who respond loyally to such a call as this have brought into their education an element that will stand them in good stead wherever a spirit of loyalty and devotion to any feature of this cause is demanded.
FREDERICK GRIGGS.
Our Nebraska Sanitariums
By L. A. HANSEN
THE sanitarium at College View is more than holding its own, and this against some disadvantages. With a building originally designed and used as a school dormitory, it has been more or less difficult and inconvenient to adapt it to sanitarium purposes. Changes have been made from time to time.
The management some time ago saw the need of rather extensive repair work. Money was borrowed with which to make the most necessary repairs, and this was repaid in a little while. The halls, lobby, and a number of guest rooms were put in order, with paint and plaster. The bathrooms were replastered, and a new heating system was installed.
Results of this were seen at once in a larger and better-pleased patronage. The work of the institution was done with better credit, and the income increased. No increase of indebtedness has resulted on account of the repair-and-improvement policy, the work being continued as means would permit.
The capacity of the institution is seventy to eighty patients. The past season has seen sixty-five at one time. The patronage largely represents a fairly well-to-do farming class. All lines of sanitarium work are carried on, with a fair proportion of surgery. It is aimed to make the institution representative of our distinct medical field.
A new building has been erected for the Sanitarium Food Company, filling a much-felt need, and placing that department on vantage ground. Two auto deliveries are busy in supplying the local trade. Goods are shipped to surrounding States.
To my mind this sanitarium has an encouraging outlook. The improvement in the general appearance of the place, the changes to insure better service, and the disposition to further develop efficiency are assurances of success.
Nebraska Sanitarium at Hastings
The sanitarium at Hastings was established as a branch of the one at College View, but seems to have rapidly outgrown this relation, becoming quite a fully matured institution in itself, and a very busy one, too. Every room has been full most of the year. It was stated that if the average patronage had been one more, it would have been one too many for the capacity.
An annex is just being completed, with twenty rooms available for the growing needs of the sanitarium. Another building located on the same block, has been purchased. This enables practically all the nurses to room in buildings owned by the institution, and within easy call.
A favorable financial showing is being made, one of the best to be seen anywhere in our sanitarium work. While rates are quite low, the institution more than meets running expenses.
The superintendent, Dr. E. D. Haysmer, is winning the confidence of the community. Outside doctors are showing19a very friendly attitude. Dr. Clara Schunk, the house physician, also maintains a position of respect and confidence, and finds ample opportunity for field work. Thus the sanitarium is gaining in its range of acquaintance and reputation.
At present the work is largely surgical. Not only is the superintendent called to do considerable work of this kind, but surgeons of the vicinity utilize the sanitarium facilities. This gives a larger number of short-stay patients than is usually seen in our sanitariums.
There are advantages in this, and there are also disadvantages. A paying business is thus secured, and workers obtain quite a full training and experience in surgical care and nursing. The opportunity to educate and train patients in health principles is not so good as when they come for general care and remain some time. The spiritual work for guests is likewise reduced.
Help should be given the management in developing a general sanitarium patronage. Our people in that vicinity can do this by calling attention to the work of the institution, and emphasizing the value of its general facilities. We must be careful to make plain the difference between one of our health institutions and the ordinary hospital, and emphasize the fact that our work is not in competition with hospitals, but is a work not done elsewhere.
The sanitarium at Hastings is well prepared to care for all classes of patients usually received by our health institutions. It has a good location and is well-equipped. There is a full corps of capable workers. With the start it already has financially, and with all its good facilities, this institution should make a splendid record. L. A. HANSEN.
The Bright Side
If one looks upon the right side,
It is sure to prove the bright side,
At least that's how I've found it as I've
journeyed through each day;
And it's queer how shadows vanish,
And how easy 'tis to banish
From a bright-side sort of nature every
doleful thing away.
— Selected.
Reformation Begins at Home
“REFORMATION, like charity, begins at home.”
Medical Missionary Department
W. A. RUBLE, M. D. — General Secretary
L. A. HANSEN — Assistant Secretary
H. W. MILLER, M. D. — N. Am. Div. Secretary
Educational Department
FREDERICK GRIGGS — General Secretary
W. E. HOWELL — N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary
“Shall I Be Saved?”
By M. E. Kern
THIS is a question that often comes to us. Perhaps no one can say, “I know that I shall be saved,” because salvation depends not only on the atonement which has been made but on our continual acceptance of God’s grace. Really, the only assurance we have that we shall be saved is the fact that we have confessed our sins and are living in daily fellowship with God.
What is it to live in fellowship with God? Much might be said in answer to this, but surely it includes three things: (1) That God talks to us in his Word; (2) that we talk to him in prayer; and (3) that we work for him.
The three essentials to physical life are food, breath, and exercise. So with the spiritual life. Here are surely—
THREE DAILY ESSENTIALS
“Search the Scriptures”—Food.
“Pray without ceasing”—Breath.
“Go work today in my vineyard”—Exercise.
Samuel Johnson said: “Young man, attend to the voice of one who has possessed a certain degree of fame, and who will shortly appear before his Maker. Read the Bible every day of your life.”
In “Steps to Christ” we read: “If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures. Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven.” “Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory.”—Pages 93, 95.
Prayer must accompany Bible study: “Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given.”—Id., page 96.
“The darkness of the evil one incloses those who neglect to pray” (id., page 98), but prayer brings Jesus to our side; unites us with one another, turns aside the attacks of Satan; moves the arm of Omnipotence. See “Christ’s Object Lessons,” pages 172, 250.
“O Thou by whom we come to God—
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray.”
As true Bible study is accompanied by prayer, so prayer is connected with Christian service. “Those who keep in a prayerful frame of mind will be able to speak a word in season to those who are brought within the sphere of their influence.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 60.
In the light of these truths, is there anything that transcends in importance the formation of the habit of Bible study and prayer? If all our people, young and old, would make a New Year’s resolution to do this, and would keep it, there would doubtless come such power into their lives and into the work of the advent message as has never been witnessed before. It will take such firm determination and will power as some have never exercised. But the results are worth the price.
Some have been greatly stirred during the week of prayer, and have come back to God. Every such one has confessed a failure to pray. Shall we prevent another fall by a conscientious observance of the morning watch during 1916?
The only purpose in the publication of the Morning Watch Calendar is to help our people to form this all-important habit. It contains a helpful text of Scripture for each day of the year on Christian living; it makes practical suggestions on prayer; has gems of devotional thought from the spirit of prophecy and other sources; gives a daily outline for reading the Bible through during 1916; has blanks for daily record of missionary work done; and gives a sunset table from which the time of the beginning of each Sabbath during the year may be ascertained. On its front cover is a picture which will be a constant reminder of Jesus’ habit of prayer.
Such a dainty booklet would usually cost from fifteen to twenty-five cents, but this is sold for five cents. Every Seventh-day Adventist should have one. And we should send copies to our friends. Every minister should see to it that new converts are provided with the Morning Watch Calendar; every teacher should make sure that his pupils have it, and should encourage them to follow it; every church elder should see that his church is supplied. This is one of the little things that mean much. Order from your conference tract society.
M. E. KERN.
Goodness and Health
Be good that you may be well; be well that you may be good.—Phillips Brooks, in “The Beloved Physician.”
The Disappointed
By L. D. SANTEE
L. D. SANTEE
A SONG for the disappointed,
Whose efforts have seemed in vain;
Who have drunk of the waters of Marah,
And trodden the grapes of pain;
Whose efforts were crowned with failure,
Hurled back in the gloom of defeat;
Who walk in the paths of sorrow,
With weary and bleeding feet;
Who have gazed with earnest longing
Afar at the night of the sky,
And have seen the bright stars thronging,
As they move in their splendor by,
And have thought, while the world was
sleeping,
Of the victor crowned with cheers,
While to them belonged the weeping,
And the willow, and the tears.
A song for the disappointed,
Who have borne the heaviest cross;
Who have failed in the race, and with
saddened face
Have suffered regret and loss;
Who have failed in life's great conflict,
And are only left to drain
From the bitter cup of failure
The wine from the grapes of pain.
A song for the disappointed,
Who have gazed with anguished eyes,
While others more swift, with friends
to assist,
Have carried away the prize;
And while praises greet the victors,
Those who in the strife prevail,
O, let my song, as it floats along,
Give honor to those who fail!
The Financial Goal
By M. E. KERN.
Still the question arises as to what offerings apply on the Missionary Volunteer goal. All the money which our young people give for foreign missions, except Sabbath school donations, applies on our $25,000 for missions. What may be given in general collections at the society meetings the society secretary reports. All other offerings to foreign missions, such as the Harvest Ingathering and the Annual Offering, must be reported by the individual on the individual report blank. Otherwise it is not counted; for we depend on the Missionary Volunteer reports, not on the reports of church treasurers, to ascertain how much has been given.
These matters are carefully explained on the reverse sides of the individual and society report blanks. Some, I am sorry to say, however, are still using the old report blanks, and this brings in confusion. Order new individual report blanks from your tract society or the Review and Herald Publishing Association. They are ten cents a hundred. The society blanks are furnished by the conference Missionary Volunteer department.
It is a small thing for each one to report what he has given, but the grand total makes a large showing, which brings courage to the hearts of our missionaries and to our loyal Missionary Volunteers all around the world.
M. E. KERN.
Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. KERN General and N. Am. Div. Secretary
C. L. BENSON Assistant Secretary
MEADE MACGUIRE N. Am. Div. Field Secretary
The Bible Bear
Jan. 1.Genesis 1 to 3: Creation; the Sabbath; Eden; sin; salvation.
Jan. 2.Genesis 4 to 7: Cain and Abel; the ark; the flood; Enoch, the first Adventist. (See Jude 14, 15.)
Jan. 3.Genesis 8 to 11: God's covenant with Noah; beginning of nations; Babel.
Jan. 4.Job 1 to 3: Character of; trial; despair and rebellion.
Jan. 5.Job 4 to 7: Speech of Eliphaz — despise not God's chastening; answer of Job — justifies his complaints.
Jan. 6.Job 8 to 10: First speech of Bildad—exhorts to humility; answer of Job—afflictions no proof of sin.
Jan. 7.Job 11 to 14: First speech of Zophar—urges repentance; Job answers the whole argument—appeals to God.
Jan. 8.Job 15 to 17: Second speech of Eliphaz — fresh accusations; Job replies — protests innocence, desires death.
GENERAL BIBLICAL SYNOPSIS
THE ENTIRE BIBLE—The Lord Jesus Christ. Sin, forgiveness, redemption, justification, sanctification, glory.
THE OLD TESTAMENT—Law and grace. Obedience and life, disobedience and death.
THE NEW TESTAMENT—Grace and law. Faith and salvation, eternal life and peace.
INTRODUCTION
“The Bible is the chosen literature of the chosen writers of the chosen nation. It is the great religious classic of the world. It is the inspired record of God's dealings with men.”
“I use the Scriptures, not as an arsenal to be resorted to only for arms and weapons to defend this party, or defeat its enemies, but as a matchless temple, where I delight to be, to contemplate the beauty, the symmetry, and the magnificence of the structure, and to increase my awe, and excite my devotion to the Deity there preached and adored.”—Robert Boyle.
“A world of varied thought and culture is reflected in the Biblical material. In one place we are face to face with the primitive simplicity of the Semitic nomad; in another we are in touch with the rich culture of the ancient Babylonian civilization; again, we share the experiences incident to the predominantly agricultural type of life of the ancient Hebrew commonwealth; at first we witness the crude and petty warfare between clans or tribes, then the larger struggles of Israel with her near neighbors; next we hear the measured tread of Assyria's victorious armies, creators of the first world monarchy; then, in succession, it is the Babylonian, the Persian, the Greek, and finally the Roman Empire that form the background of the Biblical history.”—“A Standard Bible Dictionary,” article “Bible.”
“Are you habitual students of Holy Writ? Readers of it I believe you are, but are you searchers? The blessing is not for those who merely read, but for those who delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate therein both day and night. Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus, with his Word as your schoolbook? If not, you lack very much of the blessing you might enjoy.”—C. H. Spurgeon.
“All athletic Christians—all those that carry heavy loads, do thorough work, and stand a long pull—are hungry feeders on God's Book. Nothing will impart muscle and sinew to your piety like a thorough study and digestion of the Bible. . . . One strong Bible text lodged in the memory, and turned over and over, and well digested, will be a breakfast for your soul, and in the strength of it you will go through the whole day.”—T. L. Cuyler.