p. 13 | Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 27. (7/7/1903)

Earlier text: The Circulation of the Southern Watchman

Confession the Pathway to Health

By Daniel H. Kress

D. H. KRESS

“HOWBEIT, thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.”

The children of Israel had passed through troublous times; they were having a hard time when this confession was made by the representatives of Israel. We are apt to ascribe our hard times to everything but the right cause. We say we are having a hard time because of our enemies, or because of our unfavorable surroundings. If we were only differently situated, things would be different. But this is not true, the trouble lies not in our surroundings, but with us. The sooner we learn this, the better it will be for both us and the cause we desire to advance. No one can injure me but myself. No one can mar or destroy my peace but myself. When I am in trouble, there is but one cause of it, and there is but one way out of the trouble. Finding fault with our surroundings will never help us. “For thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel: In returning from your ways, shall ye be saved: in quietness and pious confidence shall be your strength, and ye would not. But ye said, No, we will flee upon horses: therefore shall ye flee: and we will ride upon the swift, therefore shall they be swift that pursue you.”—Loweth’s Translation.

Jacob was once in trouble. He had a hard time. He fled from the face of his brother Esau. He had the cold earth for a bed, a hard stone for a pillow. What was the cause of Jacob’s trouble? Who was responsible for it?—He himself. But when, in the midst of his trouble, he acknowledged his sin, the Lord appeared unto him. Jacob beheld a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. The word came, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whithersoever thou goest.” Paul adds, “I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” It is only when men do wrong that they begin to fear man. Cain said, “Every one that findeth me shall slay me.” There is a universal law that whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. We can never avoid the reaping until we avoid the sowing. Be not deceived about this.

Is God responsible for the trouble through which we pass? Has he made the way difficult and hard?—No; we are reaping what we have sown. God will help us out of it. We must not find fault with our surroundings, or with

anything or anybody. We must not run away. We must find fault with the one who is responsible for the trouble,—with Jacob, with self. Then we shall say, “Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.” There is no other path leading up out of this horrible pit but the path of confession of individual sin. “Confess your faults one to another . . . that ye may be healed.” When we make this confession, we shall find God not so far off as we had supposed. We shall see the ladder reaching from heaven to earth, on the very spot from which we were desirous of escaping, and with which we were finding fault, and we shall say with Jacob, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” Every spot our feet tread upon becomes a Bethel. Then we shall be able to endure in every place as seeing him who is invisible. The place that looked so parched will appear differently. The change is not in the surroundings, the change is within. Moisture drawn from the river of living waters makes glad the inhabitants of the city of our God. The gospel gives the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In the gospel there is health. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

The Mother’s Power

Know you what especially impels me to industry?—My mother. I shall endeavor to sweeten a part of her life that otherwise has been so unfortunate, and lessen by my help and sympathy the great sorrows she has suffered. To her alone I owe the foundation of my mind and heart.—Jean Paul Richter.

George Herbert said: “One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. In the home she is a lodestone to all hearts and lodestar to all eyes.

De Maistre, in his writings, speaks of his mother with immense love and reverence. He described her as his “sublime mother,” “an angel, to whom God had lent a body for a brief season.” To her he attributed the bent of his character.

One charming feature in the character of Samuel Johnson (notwithstanding his rough exterior) was the tenderness with which he invariably spoke of his mother, who implanted in his mind his first impressions of religion. In the time of his greatest difficulties he contributed out of his slender means to her comfort.

Cromwell’s mother was a woman of spirit and energy equal to her mildness and patience, whose pride was honesty, and whose passion was love, and whose only care, amid all her splendor, was for the safety of her son in his dangerous eminence.

Curran speaks with great affection of his mother, to whose counsel, piety, and ambition he attributed his success in life. He used to say, “If I possess anything more valuable than face or person or wealth, it is that a dear parent gave her child a portion from the treasure of her mind.”

It was Ary Scheffer’s mother, whose beautiful features the painter so loved to reproduce in his pictures, that by great self-denial provided him with the means of pursuing the study of art.

Michelet writes: “I lost my mother thirty years ago; nevertheless she follows me from age to age. She suffered with me in my poverty, and was not allowed to share my better fortune.”

Goethe owed the bias of his mind and character to his mother, who possessed in a high degree the art of stimulating young and active minds. “She was worthy of life,” once said Goethe; and when he visited Frankfort, he sought out every individual who had been kind to her, and thanked them all.

John Randolph said: “I should have been an atheist if it had not been for one recollection, and that was the memory of the time when my mother used to take my little hand in hers and cause me on my knees to say, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven.’”—Selected.

The Bible in the Home

You are wrong in allowing any book to take a place in your heart before the Bible. If you find yourself beginning to love any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any person better than Christ, take alarm; you are in profound danger.

Not long ago several highly cultivated but skeptical men were conversing concerning literature, and the question was asked, “If you had to be limited to one book for a period of time, which one would you choose for your companion?” One said Shakespeare, another Goethe, but the rest unhesitatingly declared in favor of the Bible, giving as their reason that its sources were inexhaustible, its stories entertaining, its literary finish perfect.

Some books win popularity by alluring to evil; the Bible wins by its moral splendor. My advice to all is to give the Bible the place in the home it ought to occupy—upon the throne. Those who let the daily newspaper, or popular magazine, or works by standard authors come between them and the daily reading of God’s Word, are on the downward path, and their moral fiber is weakening.

Ruskin says: “My mother established my soul in life by making me learn accurately several chapters of the Bible. I open my oldest Bible just now—yellow with age and flexible, but not unclean, except that the lower corners of the pages of some chapters are worn thin and dark. Truly, though I have picked up the elements of a little further knowledge in mathematics and the like in after life, and owe not a little to the teaching of many people, still this installation of my mind in the Bible truths I count more confidently as the most precious, and, on the whole, the one essential part of my education. The chapters became protective to me, and conclusive in all modes of thought, and shielded me from all fear and doubt. The command I was made to repeat oftenest is still dearest to me: ‘Let not mercy and truth forsake thee.’”

I am new-fashioned enough and old-fashioned enough to believe that the Bible is the writing of the living God; that though Moses wrote the histories, God guided the pen; David sang sweet melodies to the sorrowing and doubtful in his psalms, still God moved his fingers over the living strings of his harp. Solomon preached a grand sermon, but God directed his lips. I can read John, Peter, Jude, and hear their voices as they tell of the story of Christ, but behind it I hear God speaking—the Invisible, the Almighty, the Eternal. I believe God speaks to-day through many lips and from many pages, but by none does he reach the heart of men so eternally as in his Book which we call the Bible. When I write the words, “Give the Bible the first place in the home,” I mean by that, not on the table in your parlor, but in your heart and mind.—Sunday Strand.

If You Want to Be Happy

A LITTLE bird sat on the limb of a tree, Its song was as joyous, as sweet as could be: It cheerily rang through the dusky old wood, “If you want to be happy, do good, O, do good! No matter how dark the clouds in the sky, He never stopped singing to grumble and sigh, But warbled and chirped just as loud as he could, “If you want to be happy, do good, O, do good.” — Selected.

Leading Strings From the Home to the Saloon

MANY a man has been “driven to drink” by the unpleasant and unwholesome atmosphere in his home. Many a son and many a daughter have drifted to ruin because the home was full of criticism, cheap gossip, slackness, and everything else that was unhomelike.

Frequently the boy and his companions find it more congenial to play in the barn or the woodshed than in their own home. The ever-sounding, “Don’t do this,” or, “Don’t do that,” creates a yearning in the child’s mind for the time when he will be free from the “home bondage.”

Fathers and mothers can do more for the cause of temperance by making home attractive than they can by smashing saloons or pouring liquor into the streets. When the parents cease to take care of their children, the devil will be sure to take care of them; for he is interested in the youth. If you fail to make home attractive, you will pay the penalty in a failure to save your boy or girl. The money which the average drunkard spends each year in the saloon would be amply sufficient to decorate his home, and help make it a little heaven for the wife and mother, and the most attractive spot on earth for his children.— Selected.

HENRY WILLIAMS

By Henry Williams

Hayti

HENRY WILLIAMS

OUR hearts have been made glad from time to time to read in the REVIEW of the progress of the cause in the world-wide field. I believe the readers of our excellent paper will rejoice with us to know that we are no longer the lone two witnesses in Cape Hayti, but that we are now seven. A mother and four children joined with us about six weeks ago in keeping the Sabbath. This sister is from Kingston, Jamaica, where she has an aunt who is an active member in our Kingston church.

This acceptance of the truth is not a hasty matter; it is the result of years of conviction from reading literature that I had given her. She saw where she was in error, but was not prepared to act out her convictions, even having promised to keep the Sabbath two years ago. Her eldest child is a girl twelve years of age. I think both the mother and daughter will be ready for baptism when one of our ministers visits us. Some Sabbaths ago, as this sister was returning home with her children after our morning service, she was met by the monks, and they asked her to give them her two boys as students in their school; but she answered, “I am a Protestant, and disbelieve in the taking of the sacrament by little ones.” They replied, “Do not be afraid of that; if you do not want them to have it, we will not give it to them. See Mr. — and that other Protestant — their children are at school with us.” As they see the obligation that Protestants are under in not having any Protestant school, they claim the field entirely as their own. Will not some of our workers come over and contend against this wholesale usurpation of the kingdom of the coming King?

Coming to Hayti is not coming among savages, to be killed at any moment. It is true that error and superstition prevail, the result of a century of the rule of priestcraft. But the same traits exist in so-called Christian countries, where priestcraft holds sway. Come over and help us to win souls from the teachings and dominion of the “man of sin” and Protestant unbelief and human tradition.

Cape Haytien.

A Christian Village at Malekula

The converts at the mission stations of Malekula have built a Christian village in which they live. All are clothed. They begin and close every day with praise and prayer, and are very happy with one another, giving a daily object-lesson to the heathen of the joy and peace of Christianity. To their village they welcome all new converts, teach them and help to protect them; and if they resolve to live there, all assist in building a new house for them after a given plan on straight streets running parallel with one another, and with streets at right angles. All houses are built on strong wood foundations, wattled and plastered with lime, and whitewashed. The cottages are neat, and are all kept clean—a great contrast to the heathen villages. The village is on a healthy site, near the mission house, so that they may have the help and advice of the missionary in all difficulties raised by the heathen, and may also help the missionary in his work, and receive his constant teaching and care.—John G. Paton, in Missionary Review of the World.

Natural Wonders of Iceland

By David Ostlund

DAVID OSTLUND

ANOTHER phenomenon of Iceland, quite remarkable in connection with the kind of volcanic eruptions, is the earthquakes. These are usually an indication of an eruption to follow. The waves are either from north to south, or from east to west.

History mentions several great earthquakes. Among the most severe are those which occurred in 1896. Not less than two hundred farms were destroyed at that time, though no persons lost their lives.

One of the most remarkable characteristics of Iceland is the warm or boiling springs. There are quite a large number of these. Some are fountains, which at times throw the boiling water several yards into the air. The most remarkable of these are Great Geyser and Strokkur, in the southwestern part of the island. Great Geyser sends forth its water generally once every twenty-four hours, and sometimes to a height of from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet. Strokkur, on the other hand, can be made to throw out water by throwing something into it. If a piece of hard earth is thrown into it, you can hear a noise, and the water comes streaming up, carrying with it that which was cast into the spring.

In a little while the water comes again with a gush. Great Geyser is in action only when the sun is shining; and its pure, clear, high column of white mist, which divides itself into millions of bright crystals, is one of the most beautiful sights one can behold.

Another kind of spring is the warm fountain. Of these there are many. The water gushes slowly out of the ground, and fills a larger or smaller hole, from which it flows. Several of these fountains are utilized for cooking food. It is only necessary to put a pot over the warm water, and it soon boils. These warm fountains are also used as laundries. In a country like Iceland, where there are no forests, it is natural that every opportunity be improved to save fuel, and so these natural wonders serve a good purpose. Every day people may be seen a little way out from Reykjavik, coming to the fountains with their clothing to wash.

This hot water is also used for bathing purposes, although it has to be carried some distance to be cooled. One such bathing institution is found in Reykjavik. But the most celebrated of this kind is in the west. It was built by the celebrated historian, Snorre Sturleson, and is thus nearly seven hundred years old. It is still used, however.

Seydisfirdi.

What a Prophet Is This Jesus

The Hausas near Lake Tchad, who are famous for their powers and energy, are aggressive Mohammedans. Recently the following remarks were heard from them referring to a missionary physician: “Why does the batuse [white man] love us? Why does he suck the death-wound when our own kith and kin would leave us to die?” None ventures to reply. “It is because of his religion,” says the first speaker, after a long pause. “It is because of his Jesus, the Prophet of the white man. He, this same Jesus, taught them in his sacred Book to love all men. Ah, what a Prophet is this Jesus! We have no love among us. We can not trust one another as the white man trusts. We would have fled and left the sick man to die—nay, was he not as dead? But the batuse would not leave him, for he loves his Prophet Jesus. What a Prophet is this! God is, indeed, great.”—Selected.

Hurricane in the Tuamotu Islands

By B. J. Cady

B. J. CADY

HERE in the Society Islands, the people have long rested in security, feeling that they were safe from the calamities and disturbances of nature which have been multiplying so rapidly in distant parts of the world. But we know that in these last days the Lord will send to every place signs which foretell that his coming is near. And now they have come so near to us that we have been made to sense the “troublous times” as we could not when they were farther away.

A few weeks ago a hurricane visited the vicinity of the Tuamotu Islands, and worked havoc among the settlers there. These are adjacent to the Society Group, and quite a number of the Society islanders were living there, and lost their lives at this time.

It was in the midst of the diving season, and many from the other islands were gathered at Hikuera, where the diving for pearl shells was in progress. On this island, out of twelve hundred people about four hundred persons were drowned, and every building was washed away, besides many of the cocoanut trees. The highest points of most of these islands are only four or five feet above the sea level, and yet the people have always felt that there was no danger from the sea. But at this time the sea, being agitated by the wind, arose and flooded the island, and those who survived had to stand for hours in water up to their waists, or cling to cocoanut trees, with only scant clothing to protect them from the fierce wind and rain. They suffered much with cold, and it was indeed a terrible experience.

One by one the cocoanut trees were uprooted or broken off, and many who sought refuge in them were killed. I have been told by those who were there that they felt their helplessness and the power of the sea as never before.

But after about twelve hours the wind subsided, and the sea went back to its proper bounds, leaving about eight hundred people on a lone island with nothing to eat or drink but a few cocoanuts (the water in the nuts is used for drink). It was seven days before any relief came, and they suffered terribly with hunger and thirst, and with the heat by day, and the cold at night.

Their native foods are simply cocoanuts and fish, as the soil is so thin that other trees and vegetables can not be grown. But as they made good wages diving, they were able to buy tinned meats, rice, and bread from the stores. At this time the stores with their contents were all gone, and also most of the cocoanuts had been blown down and washed away. There are no bubbling springs on the island, only a few pools, and these were now full of salt water. They had been dependent on rain water, which was kept in tanks, but now they did not have this, so there was no fresh water, only what was found in the nuts, and that lasted only two days.

To add to the trouble, the many dead bodies washing up on shore could not be properly buried, only a thin layer of sand covering the coral rock, and the stench soon became most unpleasant.

As soon as the disaster became known in Tahiti, as many steamers as were at hand were immediately loaded with food and tanks of water, and sent to relieve the sufferers.

Other islands of that group were also devastated, but we have not heard so much from them. The people of this group are nearly all Roman Catholics or Mormons.

But though these islands are so desolated, they are not to be deserted. The merchants are again putting up buildings for goods and for storing shells, and the people have again begun to dive. The same thing is not liable to happen again, they say. But in these days, how uncertain is everything about this old world! We can depend upon nothing but the Lord and his sure word. These we know will abide forever.

Mission Notes

AT an exhibition held recently in Osaka, Japan, the agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society sold 22,000 Gospels in one day.

A CONGREGATION of one hundred and twenty-five Christian Chinese gave two thousand dollars to foreign missionary work in one year.—Selected.

IT is officially stated that Miss Ellen Stone, whose capture by the brigands has made her name familiar everywhere, will return to Turkey and resume her missionary labors.

THE island world includes not less than two thousand inhabited islands. Only three hundred and fifty of these have as yet been reached by the gospel. Although on a few islands cannibalism is unknown, originally most of them were inhabited by cannibals; and to-day in one group alone it is reported that there are fifty thousand cannibals. To these people the message must be carried. How much longer must they wait for His law? We are answering this question every day by our attitude in prayer, in giving, and in consecration.

AN English missionary journal, the Greater Britain Messenger, speaks of the urgency of the call for self-denying workers in the spiritually destitute portions of the British empire. It says: “Every number of our little magazine contains illustrations of spiritual destitution, of white paganism, and of brave men struggling to minister to districts as large as English counties. Canada and Australia need almost every clergyman who can be got to go. South Africa is crying out for men; and so it is with well nigh every outlying part of our empire.”

OF Cuba as a missionary field, the Missionary Review says: “Except in Havana, where a Protestant church was formed several years ago, mission work in this island has had its beginnings within three years, but has already spread into each one of the six provinces. The following figures, compiled a few months ago by a resident missionary, give some idea of what is being done:— Number of societies............. 12 Churches and preaching stations.. 92 Pastors and teachers............. 137 Church edifices.................. 8 Church membership............... 2,400 Candidates for membership....... 551 Candidates for the ministry...... 17 The Sunday-schools .............. 72 Pupils.......................... 3,450 Church schools................... 51 Pupils.......................... 1,880

Porto Rico

By B. E. CONNERLY

MAYAGUEZ.— We have no reason to feel discouraged, for we believe the paper is now going where we could not, and it is witnessing there. The Catholic priests are cutting some off who are interested, but the truth will go.

I hope to master the language sufficiently to be in the field in three more months. B. E. CONNERLY.

Brazil

By J. W. Westphal

Joinville, Santa Catharina.—We have just closed the third of the series of general meetings, or conferences, for Brazil, and so far we can pronounce them a decided success. They were not all as largely attended as we had hoped, but it was the first real effort to get our brethren to attend such meetings. We think that it will result in a better attendance in future meetings.

Spiritually our brethren have been helped much. At one place the whole church, a large one, seemed nearly gone. A minister had been among them and had worked so shrewdly that they were captivated, and were on the verge of leaving us. During the first few days the enemy raged, and it sometimes seemed as if our meetings would be broken up. But the Lord gave victory to his cause. The confidence of the brethren in the message was fully restored, and it will receive their hearty financial support. This victory alone will bring means enough to cover the expense of all these meetings in a short time.

At each of these meetings resolutions were adopted covering the First-day offering, general missionary work on a systematic plan, and work for the Brazilian paper to make it self-supporting. An effort was made to interest our brethren in all these phases of the work, encouraging them to take part in the discussion and to share in the plans. This we believe has done good.

The brethren in Rio Grande have secured a property at Taquary. The buildings are suitable and sufficiently large for a school. They traded a colony of land (about one hundred and sixty acres) for it, which was given toward the school enterprise. It is expected that more land will be donated near the buildings for the purpose of cultivation. Very little debt has been incurred, and this will soon be met from the pledges already made, and from the sale of "Christ's Object Lessons."

More land is sadly needed at the Brusque school, to give it proper support; and since a good piece is offered close to the school for less than five hundred dollars, it was decided to purchase it as soon as the money can be secured. In this work "Christ's Object Lessons" will have an important part. We think this can easily be done.

We have ridden between five hundred and fifty and six hundred miles on muleback, and by the time we reach the railway for Rio de Janeiro, we shall have gone about one thousand miles. I am standing the trip well. These meetings have done the laborers good, and have brought them closer together, and will give a new impetus to their work. We shall soon start for the next meeting. J. W. Westphal.

The Ontario Camp-Meeting

By R. A. Underwood

This meeting was held at Berlin, June 18-26, in a beautiful park, in the suburbs of the city. There were about one hundred and twenty-five of our people in attendance. Much of the time it was cold and rainy, yet there was a good attendance from the city, some attending almost every service. Thousands of the people of Berlin listened to the message during these meetings. The preaching was thoroughly practical, covering the various features of our faith. It had a convincing and convicting effect. Many became interested, and before the camp-meeting closed, some decided to keep the Lord's Sabbath. Elders Thurston and Evans and the writer were present, besides the local laborers. Elder G. B. Thompson had been in the conference but a few weeks. He is received with a warm welcome to this field by all the laborers in the conference, as well as by all the brethren and sisters.

This field has a good class of young people. The conference will start an industrial school this fall. This will be a great help in developing talent among the young, and will be a source of strength to the conference. Elder Eugene Leland and his wife will take charge of the school, with such other help as may be needed. The school will open about the middle of next September.

The last Sabbath of the meeting seven dear souls were baptized. Elder S. G. Huntington and Elder J. Isaac will follow the excellent interest awakened by the camp-meeting in Berlin with a tent effort. The daily press of the city gave liberal space each day for reports of the meetings. Our brethren

left this meeting, feeling that it had been one of the best meetings ever held in the conference. Many regretted that more of our people were not present to share in the blessings received at this feast of good things.

Berlin is a city of about ten thousand people. We shall look to see a good church raised up as a result of the camp-meeting and the work that will follow this summer. May God greatly bless the work in all its varied branches in this new conference.

R. A. UNDERWOOD.

England

By Ole Andres Olsen

PLYMOUTH.—During the past three months I have labored in the south and west of England and Wales. I have organized a church at Pontypridd, Wales, of nineteen members. There is a good interest, and more have lately taken hold of the truth. Last evening I baptized five here, and to-morrow we expect to organize a church. We see many encouraging features in the work in Great Britain. O. A. Olsen.

Japan

By F. W. Field

TOKYO.—I am glad to report that the work here is progressing. We have no discouraging word to speak. We see evidences that the Lord is working among this people. And while we have frequent reminders that the enemy is also working, we have seen the power of God to help in answer to earnest prayer.

We shall have possession of the house in Kobe, June 1. Dr. Lockwood is planning to move there the last of this month (May). F. W. FIELD.

Danish West Indies

By A. Palmquist

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS.—The work is progressing. A short time ago I spent a week in St. John. The meetings were well attended every day. The people showed the best of interest. Here in St. Thomas our meetings have been well attended, and the interest is increasing.

Brother D. A. Wellman, on returning from Tortola to Antigua, remained with us two days, held quarterly meeting, and baptized two. Several others are now awaiting baptism at first opportunity.

A. PALMQUIST.

Matabele Mission

By M. C. Sturdevant

As a short report of our work here, I would say that everything is moving along nicely. We have some severe battles to fight, but we trust in Christ, who is the victor. There is much fever among the children, but God has blessed our water treatments to the recovering of all without a drop of quinine. The natives outside of our station say there has never been so much fever in one season. I believe our people must wake up to the importance of simple treatments without drugs.

The school work at the mission is onward, and the spiritual interest is increasing. We are of good cheer.

M. C. STURDEVANT.

Central America

By H. C. Goodrich

BELIZE, BRITISH HONDURAS.—Two weeks ago I went with Brother Brauster forty-two miles down the Sittee River, staying ten days. He did well selling books, and our meetings were good. The people urged us to visit them again, which I hope to do in August, and shall plan to stay as long as the interest requires. Four promised to keep the Sabbath, and I have strong hopes of seeing a church raised up there.

I am planning to take a trip with Brother Brauster up the Belize River, to be gone three or four weeks. Far up, we can go across four miles to another river, then down that to a point ninety miles north, at Corozal. We shall take bedding, provisions, books, and a man to help paddle. We have been looking forward to this trip for some time.

I am encouraging our people to do all they can for the building of a church here in Belize. They are all poor, but I feel confident that the Lord will help us, if we work faithfully. I had thought to speak of the need of ministerial help for this colony and the Bay Islands, but I can not. I will do all I can alone, and wait.

We have never had a general meeting in this country. I am working to have such a meeting, July 23 to August 2. We may not have a very large one the first time, but we all need to drop worldly cares and perplexities and seek the Lord. I have been alone in this field for three years. The Lord has been with me, and we have had many precious blessings, and I do praise him for all his goodness to me. I have good health, and am of good courage. I trust that God may open the way before the Mission Board, that the message be not hindered. H. C. GOODRICH.

The Minnesota Conference Proceedings

By Fred Johnson; H. F. Phelps

According to appointment, the forty-third annual conference and camp-meeting of Seventh-day Adventists of Minnesota were held at Stillwater, Minn., May 29 to June 7, 1903, Elder Fred Johnson presiding. Forty-three churches were represented by ninety-six delegates. Visitors and members of the conference were invited to take part in considering all questions that might come before the meeting. Elder Johnson presented a brief address touching the work of the past, and making some suggestions for future aggressive work.

The various committees were nominated by ten men appointed from and by the conference, to act with the conference committee. Their work was accepted, and the committees worked faithfully.

The officers for the ensuing year are as follows:— President, Fred Johnson; Vice-president, A. Mead; Secretary, P. E. Sanford; Treasurer, C. M. Everest; Bookkeeper, Wm. Asp; Executive Committee, Fred Johnson, A. Mead, H. S. Shaw, P. A. Hanson, and H. L. Halverson; Secretary of the Sabbath-school Department, Miss Ella E. Merickel; Educational Secretary, M. B. Van Kirk; State Canvassing Agent, W. W. Ruble; Corresponding Secretary, A. G. Gilbert; Members of the Conference Association, C. M. Everest, H. S. Shaw, A. J. Stone, and A. Mead.

The various secretaries rendered reports from which we gleam the following items: Cash received on tithe, $24,824.23; on Relief and Camp-meeting Fund, $655.37. There are 138 Sabbath-schools in the State, with a membership of 2,439. Donations for the six months past are $966.43, of which $464.19 was reported for missions. Several conventions were held with good results.

The report of the educational secretary gave the number of church schools as twenty-four, with twenty-six teachers employed, the average wage being $14.50. Two hundred and eighty-seven students were enrolled; among these fifty were not of our faith. Under the labors of the teachers, twelve students were awaiting baptism. Fifty-two are ready to enter the industrial school.

The State canvassing agent rendered a verbal report, which indicated progress and interest in the canvassing work.

Credentials were granted to Andrew Mead, H. F. Phelps, W. W. Stebbins, H. S. Shaw, Fred Johnson, H. Steen, A. J. Stone, C. L. Emmerson, J. F. Pogue, O. O. Bernstein, and J. C. Christenson.

Ministerial licenses were given to E. W. Catlin, F. A. Detamore, P. A. Hanson, E. H. Huntley, B. Frances, C. M. Babcock, John F. Anderson, S. E. Jackson, W. W. Ruble, J. O. Peet, Arthur Moon, M. S. Reppe, Geo. L. Budd, Amos Ritchie, A. D. Ewart, M. B. Van Kirk, Frank Kozel, E. M. Chapman, and A. C. Gilbert; and that A. H. Van Kirk should receive license when free to enter the work.

Missionary licenses were given to the Misses Ella E. Merickel, Lena Nichols, and Celia Tichenor; to Mrs. E. H. Huntley, W. H. Wild, Ralph Campbell, Andrew Gilbert, Alfred Battin, Gust Freeman, C. M. Everest, F. E. Rew, H. E. Shelstad, Wm. Asp, P. E. Sanford, C. A. Lavine, Jas. Bellinger, Albert V. Olson, and Gust Henrickson.

A list of twenty-one recommendations was presented by the Committee on Plans, and was carefully considered. These recommendations related to the work at home and in distant lands, and may be summarized briefly, as: Thanks to God that the lives of all our laborers had been preserved since our last conference; extending the time of our support to Brethren A. W. Kuehl and J. M. Hyatt, now in Africa, for another year. This, however, was amended to extend our support to them, as to all laborers, till reversed by vote of the conference. One thousand dollars was appropriated from the tithe fund to the work in distant lands. The ten-cent-a-week plan was re-adopted. An aggressive, organized campaign for the distribution of literature, and institutes for the furtherance of this work; the creation of a health and temperance department, with institutes, and an active campaign for the agitation of this subject, were recommended.

Several recommendations were devoted to the furtherance of the State industrial school. It was also recommended that all Sabbath-school donations, above the actual running expenses, be given to missions, and that the needs of these missions be kept before our schools as an incentive to liberality; that a short ministerial institute be held for the benefit of the younger laborers; that the conference business be not transacted in connection with our camp-meeting; that an allowance be granted from the tithe, which is the inheritance of God's ministers, properly to support sick or aged laborers, also the widows and orphans of those removed by death.

There were two baptismal scenes, thirty-nine candidates receiving the ordinance. About three thousand dollars, in cash and pledges, was donated to the various branches of the work. We were favored with the presence of Elders Butler and Haskell during the latter part of the meeting, and their labors were appreciated by all.

FRED JOHNSON, President. H. F. PHELPS, Secretary.

Continue reading: Report of Pennsylvania Camp-meeting