p. 7 | Review and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 30. (7/27/1911)

The Answer to a Chinese Convert’s Faith

By W. A. S.

IN emphasizing her testimony to the truth that God is still the living God, who does things on earth, Mrs. Howard Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, gives the experience of an elderly convert named Li, who did gospel work in the Yoh-yang district, and conducted a refuge for opium-smokers who were seeking deliverance from that evil habit.

Soon after his conversion from idol-worship, he found the text, “Covetousness, which is idolatry.” Determined not to fall into this kind of idolatry, he gave away all his property, and lived from day to day by the simple hospitality of those among whom he labored. In the opium relief work he often saw hard times, but his trust was in the God who fed Elijah by the ravens. At one time, says Mrs. Taylor, the old man had come to the end of his resources:—

Quite near by, in the large temple of the village, lived a cousin who was priest-in-charge, and who, when he came to see his relative from time to time, would bring a little present of bread or millet from his ample store. The old man, on receiving these gifts, would always say, “T’ien-Fu-tih-en-tien!” (My Heavenly Father’s grace!) meaning that it was through the care and kindness of God that these gifts were brought. But the priest did not approve of that way of looking at it, and at last remonstrated.

“Where does your Heavenly Father’s grace come in, I should like to know. The millet is mine. I bring it to you. And if I did not, you would very soon starve for all that he would care! He has nothing at all to do with it!”

“But it is my Heavenly Father who puts it into your heart to care for me,” replied old Li.

“O, that is all very well!” interrupted the priest. “We shall see what will happen if I bring the millet no more.” And for a week or two he kept away, although his better nature prompted him to care for the old man, whom he could not but esteem for the works of mercy in which he was constantly engaged.

As it happened, this was just the time in which dear old Li was especially short of supplies. At last there came a day when he had nothing left for another meal. The refuge was still empty, and he had not a cash to buy a morsel of bread. Kneeling alone in his room, he poured out his heart in prayer to God. He knew very well that the Father in heaven would not, could not, forget him; and after pleading for blessing on his work and upon the people all around him, he reminded the Lord of what the priest had said, asking that, for the honor of his own great name, he would send him that day his daily bread.

Then and there the answer came. While the old man was still kneeling in prayer, he heard an unusual clamor and cawing and flapping of wings in the courtyard outside, and a noise as of something falling to the ground. He rose, and went to the door to see what was happening. A number of ravens, which are common in that part of China, were flying all about, in great commotion above him, and, as he looked up, a large piece of meat fell at his very feet. One of the birds, chased by others, had dropped it just at that moment on that spot. [In the Orient one is accustomed to the sight of flocks of great crows hovering over the market-place, watching the chance to seize a piece of meat from a butcher’s stall.]

Thankfully the old man took up the unexpected portion, saying, “My Heavenly Father’s kindness!” and then, glancing about him to see what had fallen before he came out, he discovered a large piece of Indian-meal bread, all cooked and ready for eating. Another bird had dropped that also, and there was his dinner bountifully provided. Evidently the ravens had been on a foraging expedition, and, overtaken by stronger birds, had let go their booty. But whose hand had guided them to relinquish their prize right above his little courtyard?

With a wondering heart, overflowing with joy, the dear old man kindled a fire to prepare the welcome meal; and while the pot was still boiling, the door opened, and, to his great delight, his cousin, the priest, walked in.

“Look and see,” responded the old man, smiling, as he indicated the simmering vessel on the fire.

For some time the priest would not lift the lid, feeling sure there was nothing boiling there but water; but at length the savory odor was unmistakable, and, overcome by curiosity, he peeped into the earthen pot. What was his astonishment when the excellent dinner was revealed!

“Why,” he cried, “where did you get this?”

“My Heavenly Father sent it,” responded the old man, gladly. “He put it into your heart, you know, to bring me a little millet from time to time; but when you would do so no longer, it was quite easy for him to find another messenger.” And the whole incident, his prayer, and the coming of the ravens, was graphically told.

The priest was so much impressed by what he saw and heard that he became from that time an earnest inquirer, and before long confessed his faith in Christ by baptism. He gave up his comfortable living in the temple for the blessed reality that now satisfied his soul. He supported himself as a teacher, became a much-respected deacon in the church; and during the Boxer troubles of 1900 endured terrible tortures, and finally laid down his life for Jesus’ sake.

The story was told by Mrs. Taylor at an annual meeting of the China Inland Mission, and reported in China’s Millions, the organ of that society.

W. A. S.

Moving Toward a Common End

By C. M. S.

The cry for a world union against war between nations, and the cry for a world union against division in religion, are going up at the same time, and point to a common consummation.

There is no truly Christian heart but longs for the cessation of the bitter business of war, and none but longs for the unity in Christ of all who profess his name. In fact, Christ himself prayed to that end. But nowhere in his recorded teachings do we find warrant for the belief that the organic union of all professed Christendom was in his purpose, or would be accomplished under his direction. The direct teachings of his Word contradict any such idea. His kingdom is not to be ushered in by a universal cessation of hostilities between nations and a universal and voluntary unification of creeds; yet the political air is filled with prognostications of universal peace and international arbitration to bring it about; and the churches are loudly applauding the idea, while they work and plan for and predict the unification of Christendom in a common creed.

This movement for the political and religious unification of the world is one of the most striking developments of our times. Distinctively anti-Biblical, and yet declaredly in the interests of the Redeemer’s kingdom, it is the culminating anomaly and paradox of this dispensation. The wars of the nations fill more space than any other topic recorded in the nations’ histories. The science of war has become the most intensively cultivated of any of the sciences. Differences in denominational dogma have for centuries been regarded as insurmountable. Some sects have come into being out of motives of direct and vital antagonism to organizations with which their members had formerly been affiliated. Disunion was their mother, and of the spirit of disunion they were conceived.

Now, in our generation, comes the remarkable double program: first, that the nations shall learn war no more, shall abandon that business which brought them into being and maintained them as national entities, and become states in one world commonwealth, with an international supreme court over them all; and, second, that the churches of Christendom shall fling aside the differences which brought them into being, and unite

upon the basis of some common creed, and, necessarily, with some individual head.

It can thus be seen that when the nations of the world become states of one all-embracing commonwealth, with one supreme court over all, and when the hitherto warring creeds become a conglomerate fixed in one setting, the influence which will be dominant with that supreme court will be the influence which holds the largest place in the combination of the creeds. That influence will be Rome. Have we reason for such a prediction? Each can answer the question for himself by taking note of the influence exerted by that power to-day in the governments of earth. Who has the ear of presidents like the high officials of the Roman hierarchy? Who sits so high in judicial positions as Catholic judges? Whose jubilees are celebrated with such striking pomp and ceremony, and attended by so many of our national officials, as those of the cardinal of the Roman Church?

Every day there is a narrowing down of the chasm that so long has stood between Catholicism and the great so-called Protestant world. This tendency is being swiftly advanced by the all-embracing church federation movement. That movement, while having directly in view only the union of Protestant bodies, is bringing to light the fact that a strong sentiment exists and is growing for the union of Christendom in one religious body. This was strikingly illustrated but a few weeks ago by an action taken by an Episcopal conference, and by the manner also in which it was received and publicly commented upon by Cardinal Gibbons. Who will be the head of such a union is a problem not difficult of solution for the one who has made a study of those prophecies dealing particularly with the time of the end. And the cardinal himself boldly suggested who that head would be.

The patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, at Constantinople, has been carrying on an active propaganda to bring about the union of Christendom by uniting his own church “with those two grand and venerable offshoots of the Christian religion, the Roman and the Protestant churches.” A theological professor of the Greek Church has written a book advocating the same thing. In this he takes up the various points which divide these three bodies, and the points on which they may unite. He reaches the conclusion that all may come together on the Nicean Creed. This professor and the patriarch of the Greek Catholic Church urge the religious bodies named to study their own characteristics in fraternal charity, with a view to this union.

While this may not be the way in which the union will finally be accomplished, it certainly is significant in showing how the spirit of “confederacy” among religious bodies is being encouraged in various parts of the world. The desire for world union is in the air—and it must be in the air if the prophecy concerning the last days is to be fulfilled.

Concerning the proposal of the patriarch of the Greek Church, the Christian Work and Evangelist says:—

The genial spirit and honest intention of the patriarch and those who are with him are beyond question. . . . We are seeking unity and federation among Protestants. When shall we be as large-minded as this Greek patriarch, and include in our effort the churches of Rome and the East?

There is nothing that takes with this age like the cry of liberality and large-mindedness. It is that cry that is turning schools of theology into schools of infidelity; and the rapidity with which that change is now going on shows the power there is in that rallying cry. The strong drift of the popular tide toward church federation and the abolition of war will soon make manifest the fact that this movement is to find its culmination in the federation of Christendom. Protestantism and Catholicism will soon clasp hands across the gulf which has so long separated them. The prediction that they would do so was made years ago. We see now that movement well under way in which that prediction will find its fulfilment. Then will meet its fulfilment that scripture which reads, “And all the world wondered after the beast.”

The attempts to unite the nations under one supreme court, and the religions of Christendom under one leadership, are inspired by the same power, and point to the same great event. C. M. S.

No Human Saviour

By F. M. W.

HUMANITY can never save itself. Its very nature is weakness and imperfection; “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The tendency of the human heart is continually downward. Says the prophet: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Describing mankind in their natural state, the apostle Paul says they were “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”

From this lost and undone condition there is no power in man to recover himself. Will-power proves unavailing; education and all the refining influences of an advanced civilization can not effect a change; no system of philosophy or of social ethics will work a transformation. In God’s sight the civilized and the educated heathen is no better than the most ignorant barbarian. One may have a finer outward exterior, a gilt and gloss which the other does not possess; but no change has been effected in the soul.

The principle of self-salvation not only permeates the great heathen religions of the world, but it is the very essence of many so-called religious beliefs. Too many professed Christians to-day hold the idea that through intellectual development, or esthetic culture, or perhaps by penance and self-mortification, they may obtain the gift of righteousness, an experience of a changed life. Perhaps in some measure every reader of these words has been beset in his own experience by this stumbling-block. Continually, this evil principle of salvation by works seeks recognition. We need to realize constantly, as expressed by the prophet Isaiah, that “all flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.” Our very best efforts are failures; our greatest wisdom in God’s sight is but foolishness. “Without me,” says the blessed Master, “ye can do nothing.”

The Power of God

God magnifies his wonderful mercy in that while humanity is in this lost and undone condition, he himself becomes their Saviour. “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.” He invites, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” God invites mankind from his fallen state to sonship with himself. He bestows this blessed boon without money and without price: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Sonship is bestowed upon the simple condition of acceptance, of humble, childlike faith in the promise and word of the blessed Master. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power [“the right, or privilege,” margin] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

He bestows the right and privilege to sonship; but he might offer all this, and still man would be utterly powerless to obtain this boon, but with the call to sonship goes the power to attain unto this relationship. He bestows upon us the right to become sons. He gives us the power whereby we may enter as members of his own family, and this boon is bestowed irrespectively of social position or worldly wealth. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” The blessed Saviour meets

every man right where he is. He comes to the king on his throne, to the prisoner in his cell, to the serf in the field; he comes to the man of great intellectual power, and to the poor, ignorant, degraded savage. He only asks that the heart be open to the influence of his Holy Spirit, that the will be yielded to his control, that the life be consecrated to his service; and then by his divine grace he transforms the unregenerated soul into the son of the Highest.

O the depth and magnitude of the unsearchable riches of God’s free grace! His love is beyond our comprehension. Before this great revelation the whole universe at last will stand in speechless amazement. In the great day of final salvation God only will be exalted. The redeemed will cast themselves at his feet, confessing that not by might nor by power, not by human genius nor by intellectual philosophy, but wholly as the free and unmerited gift of God, has their salvation been obtained.

Let us learn the lesson here of ceasing to strive to attain heaven through human effort. Realizing our weakness, let us cast ourselves helplessly at the feet of Jesus, asking him to change our hearts, and to make manifest in our mortal flesh the life of the Lord Jesus. In proportion as we realize the futility of our own efforts and the weakness of our might, will his divine power work in our behalf. Let us realize indeed and truly that all flesh is grass; let God alone be exalted in our experience.

F. M. W.

The Biennial Council in Europe

By William Ambrose Spicer

First Report

The second biennial council of the General Conference Committee is in session in Friedensau, the headquarters of our work in Germany, near the city of Magdeburg. Four years ago the first biennial council was held at Gland, Switzerland. The present council is being largely attended by the believers in Germany. The East German Conference is holding its session at the same time. A large tent, with an extension at the rear, seats two thousand persons; and when all who are present in these opening days gather, the tent is filled, with a few standing outside.

The council proper opened July 4. The believers were present, however, in such numbers that on the evening of July 3 the introductory meeting was held in the large tent, representatives from various lands taking part. The council necessarily brings together the majority of the General Conference Committee. Meeting with the committee, however, in counsel, are a number of missionaries and other representatives from the mission fields, together with a large number of conference presidents and representative laborers of Europe. The following is the list of representatives present, according to countries:—

From America: A. G. Daniells, G. A. Irwin, W. T. Knox, W. A. Spicer, O. A. Olsen, W. B. White, B. G. Wilkinson, Chas. Thompson, S. McVagh, Allen Moon, E. T. Russell, R. A. Underwood, G. F. Watson, E. R. Palmer, H. R. Salisbury, Dr. D. H. Kress, G. B. Thompson, M. E. Olsen. European Division: L. R. Conradi, G. Dail, A. Kuessner, L. Spicer. Asiatic Division: I. H. Evans, J. J. Westrup. South African Union: R. C. Porter, Dr. Geo. Thomason, J. C. Rogers, G. W. Shone. West Africa: D. C. Babcock. East Africa: A. C. Enns, R. Stein, E. Lorntz. South America: E. Forga. Brazil: F. Kluempel, A. Rockel. Australia: M. Lukens. East German Union: H. F. Schuberth, L. Mathe, J. Seefried, E. Bahr, G. W. Schuberth, F. Goettig, W. Prillwitz, F. Kessel, J. F. Huenergardt, O. Schwenecke, O. Luepke, Dr. E. Meyer, W. Krumm, M. H. Wentland, C. Dangschat, K. Amelung, E. Enseleit, H. Meyer, R. Schillinger, R. Cunitz, K. Dierking, C. Bruck, P. Drinkaus, G. W. Hockarth, H. Boex. West German Union: J. H. Schilling, J. G. Oblaender, H. Fenner, K. Sinz, D. F. Gaede, O. E. Reinke, F. Prieser, J. Wolfgarten, R. G. Klingbeil, J. Erzberger, A. O. Janert, F. Gugel, H. Steiner, A. Mueller, F. Gruber, H. Hartkop, F. Grieser, H. Behr, P. John, N. Schwenecke, L. Conradi. Scandinavian Union: J. C. Raft, N. C. Bergersen, C. B. Jensen, Jens Olsen, E. Lind, Ole Olsen, Fred Anderson, L. Muderspach, C. C. Jensen, Erik Arnesen, A. C. Christensen, S. F. Svensson, O. J. Olsen, E. Ahren, Dr. N. P. Nelson, Olaf Olsen. Russian Union: J. T. Boettcher, J. Sprohge, J. Schneider, S. S. Efimow, D. Isaak, K. Schamkow, B. Schmidt, K. Reifschneider, A. Osol, Fr. Koch, O. Wildgrube, H. J. Loebsack, H. Schmitz, K. Sutta, J. Perk, Paul Swiredow. British Union: W. C. Sisley, W. J. Fitzgerald, W. T. Bartlett, H. C. Lacey, W. H. Meredith, H. E. Armstrong, J. J. Gillat, S. G. Haughey, W. H. Wakeham, A. E. Bacon, A. B. Olsen, S. Joyce, J. Nethery. Latin Union: L. P. Tieche, H. H. Dexter, J. Vuilleumier, J. Robert, E. Borle, A. Guenin, P. Steiner, T. Nussbaum, U. Augsbourger, F. Bond, C. E. Rentfro, E. Zecchetto, S. Noulay. Levant Union Mission: E. Frauchiger, W. C. Ising, Z. G. Baharian, R. S. Greaves, G. Keough, A. A. Elshaheed, A. Buzugherian, Dr. V. Pampaian, H. Pietrowsky. Siberian Union Mission: G. Perk, F. Ginter, H. K. Loebsack, E. Gnaedjin, J. Ebel.

Many of these brethren have come in from isolated posts of duty where they have been winning souls to God and enduring varied experiences; and to such it is indeed a feast to be able to join their brethren in counsel and interchange of experience, and to engage together in the study of the Word of God and of plans and methods of work. The presence of the good Spirit of the Lord is very manifest in the meetings. The daily program will be of interest to many:—

Program

A. M. Rising ........................ 5:30 Devotional meeting ............ 6:00-6:45 Workers’ meeting .............. 6:00-6:45 Breakfast ..................... 7:00-7:45 Family worship ................ 8:00-8:45 Bible study ................... 9:00-10:00 Workers’ meeting .............. 9:00-10:00 East German Union Conf. ...... 10:30-12:00 P. M. Dinner ........................ 12:30 Council ....................... 2:00-4:00 Preaching service ............. 3:00-4:15 Open council .................. 4:30-6:00 Supper ........................ 6:00-6:30 Council ....................... 7:00-9:00 Public service ................ 8:00-9:15

Two sessions of the General Conference Committee are held each day in the chapel of the school building, with the representative workers present. The discussions of business are conducted in English without translation, save as here and there little groups of workers of various tongues, who may not understand English, have a brief running translation made as the business proceeds. The third daily session of the council is held as an open meeting in the large tent. At this session the time will largely be given to reports from the various union conferences and the mission-field divisions. These reports are given by translation into German, for the benefit of the vast congregation. When those reporting speak in the German, a brief running translation is put into English (without interrupting the speaker) for the benefit of those who understand the English, who are assigned seats in the group at the end of the large platform.

The time of the first two days in the open council has been devoted to reports from the Russian Union Conference. Our hearts have been stirred as we have heard the leaders of the work in various parts of Russia tell of victories gained amid difficulties. Truly where difficulties abound, there help from God much more abounds. During the last year the Russian Union added 731 new members. At a later time we shall perhaps be able to give some details from these Russian reports.

Actions of the Committee

We may briefly summarize the actions taken by the committee thus far during the first three days of the council:—

1. That we invite to the deliberations of the council the presidents of conferences, superintendents of mission fields, and representatives appointed by the union, also missionaries present from various fields abroad, and the wives of such representatives as may be present.

2. That the next session of the General Conference be held in the United States, in 1913.

3. That the General Conference session be held at about the same time as the one held in 1909—from about May 15 to the close of the first week in June.

4. That the decision as to the definite place of holding the session be left to the spring council of 1912.

5. That the date for the next week of prayer be December 9-16.

6. That the week-of-prayer readings, formerly printed in the Review, be printed as a separate document, and sent to the churches and isolated members. It was agreed that the readings be prepared and printed earlier than heretofore, so that they may reach distant mission fields in time to allow the believers in such fields to hold their week-of-prayer season at the same time as the churches in America and Europe.

7. The treasurer of the General Conference, W. T. Knox, presented the financial report, which was accepted after detailed study and discussion. The following are a few items from the report:—

Ten years ago, the General Conference treasury was expending each year $100,000 for missions. Five years later about $160,000 was being spent. The figures for the last three years are as follows: 1908, $272,000; 1909, $350,000; 1910, $410,000. In ten years the expenditures have increased fourfold.

In the same time, however, the work has expanded in yet greater measure, so that the growing work consumes the income, and keeps the treasury in constant sore need of increasing income. But these things mean the hastening of the work toward the finish. Attention was called to the fact that the shortness of funds in the treasury was due to the opening of many new fields and missions. During the last four years an average of one hundred missionaries a year has gone out into the field. It is certain that this rate can not be maintained without a very material increase of mission funds.

8. The report of the General Conference Subtreasury in Europe was presented by Elder L. R. Conradi. During the last two years the subtreasury had received, from the believers in Europe, $116,573, and had disbursed to the mission fields under the European Division, $112,214. The conferences and unions in Europe have been generous in sharing their tithe with the General Conference. The tithe has largely increased, owing to the fact that in the last two years 7,692 new believers have been taken into the churches in Europe. In 1909, the European tithe was $194,000. In 1910, it was $216,000. Altogether the European Division, with 550,000,000 people within its territories, spent $275,000 in its work last year. The report of the European Subtreasury was accepted.

On Mission Finance

The brethren in the council have spent much time in these first three days studying the evident call of God to move forward, following his opening providences, into the unworked fields; and after thorough discussion, the following series of recommendations was heartily and unanimously adopted:— In view of the great work that still remains to be done by us, and of the urgent calls for help that come from all parts of the world, we feel deeply impressed that we should now, without delay, formulate plans for larger gifts to our world-wide missionary enterprises, and that the plans for raising these funds should be so simple and definite that a permanent reliable basis will be established for the support of our foreign missions; therefore,—

We recommend: 1. That hereafter there be but one general fund for the prosecution of our missionary enterprises, and that all regular contributions to missions be placed in that fund.

2. That all appropriations to mission fields, whether for the support of missionaries, or for providing institutions or other facilities, be made from this fund.

3. That beginning with Jan. 1, 1912, the rate of ten cents a week a member for missions be raised to fifteen cents a week.

4. That the fifteen-cent-a-week fund include all donations to missions except the per cent of the tithe appropriated by conferences to missions and such donations as are specifically applied otherwise by the donors.

5. That during 1911, earnest efforts be made to raise what is still due on the $300,000 Fund.

6. That earnest calls be made at our camp-meetings and other general meetings for contributions to missions, and that all these gifts be applied on the regular mission fund.

The length of this report demands that we stop here, putting into just a few words the joy and courage expressed on every hand as the brethren representing many lands join in counsel and Christian fellowship. That God is leading forward, is the testimony from every land. The preaching services and Bible studies and devotional meetings are seasons of rich blessings. Many of the workers from America and from far lands have spoken of the prayers which they know are going up from believers whom they have left behind, that God may make this council a great blessing to the work. In these councils the great world-wide work is unified, and the laborers are equipped to go forth with yet greater efficiency and power in service. Conviction comes upon all hearts that the Lord is setting his hand to do a quick work.

The daily attendance at this great meeting is perhaps the largest ever attending any of our general councils, and many more are expected in the first Sabbath of the meeting. But our courage is not in the large number, but in the spirit to humble the heart before God, and to seek for the enduement of power from on high.

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.

A Friend Gained During Your Whole Life

“A FRIEND whom you have been gaining during your whole life, you ought not to be displeased with in a moment. A stone is many years becoming a ruby; take care that you do not destroy it in an instant against another stone.”

The Future of Spiritualism

SPEAKING of the blow to Christian Science through the death of its leader, Mrs. Eddy, also of some of the recent manifestations of Spiritualism, the Christian Advocate of July 6, 1911, says:—

Yet we prophesy that there will be a great resurrection of Spiritualism. Its power went down as that of Eddyism went up, but Eddyism has received a hard blow. Two great superstitions rarely flourish contemporaneously. Those who reject true religion either plunge into superstition or into practical or intellectual atheism, or sing the song and dance to the tune of Omar Khayyam.

Of the future of Christian Science as a separate cult, we can not particularly speak; we do know, however, that according to the prophecy of the Bible, Spiritualism in its various forms and phases will constitute the last great deception with which this world will be ensnared. According to Revelation 16, it will be the great influence which will prepare the nations of men for the battle of the last great day. The only safety of the church of God from this delusion, from Christian Science, and from scores of other erroneous theories in the world, is the Scriptures of truth. “To the law and to the testimony,” says the prophet; “if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Let us make the law and the testimony the standard by which we judge of the many “lo heres” and “lo theres” which come to us from every quarter.

Be Courteous

The children of God are enjoined to “be pitiful, be courteous.” Men of the world recognize the value of this spirit. The most successful business houses in the world are those whose employees manifest courtesy and true politeness toward their patrons. It is stated that the Illinois Central Railroad is about to establish what it calls a “School of Courtesy” throughout every branch of its system. Speaking of this, the Columbia State Journal says:—

That will be a real service to the road; for polite employees make an enterprise popular. It is very discouraging for a patron of a road to ask a question of an employee, and get a rude mumbling or “smart Aleck” answer, which is frequently the case. It makes no difference how high or how low a man’s employment is, it is as much his duty to be courteous as it is to be honest. No one has any more right to treat a man rudely than he has to hit him. And especially has a traveler on railroad or often is compelled to ask for information, he is forced to go that way, and very trolley a right to gentle treatment; for tion. It is a sign of bad breeding to answer a polite question in a crabbed and hasty manner. But that is often done.

Continue reading: Statement of the Ten-Cent-a-Week Offering to Missions for Quarter Ending June 30, 1911