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Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 54.

The Loom of Life

Review and Herald

Nov 4, 1915

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 4, 1915

The Loom of Life

By Worthie Harris Holden

Worthie Harris Holden
Sometimes when the day seems a failure As I muse at the setting of sun, I weep o’er the poor, blighted pattern In the weaving so shabbily done.
Methinks that my motives were loyal Though my service so poor for my King, But even my heart may deceive me When it seeks some excuses to bring.
Perhaps if each day brought successes, I might gloat o’er my triumph with pride; It may be He humbles my spirit To keep me fore’er by His side.
I am glad that He knows just the reason, That He honors the love that will try, And some day on a loom in His heaven I shall perfectly weave by and by.
Portland, Oregon.

Note and Comment

Missions Go Begging

We clip the following from the Lutheran of October 21:—
Recently a communion service was held in a country parish of the ministerium of Pennsylvania, where everything was on a big scale, except the cause of missions. Over 1,500 people were present, 618 partook of the Holy Communion, a catechetical class of 50 was confirmed, and the pastor invited to administer private communion to 15 members who were unable to be present at the services. The services began promptly at nine o’clock and were dismissed at twelve o’clock noon. The enormous crowd of people in attendance was conveyed to the church in 182 teams and 106 automobiles. . . .
At this service the special offering for missions amounted to $56.67, or less than four cents per member present, and little more than nine cents per communicant. What a disproportion of the fitness of things! What need for education and enlightenment in the grace of giving! Surely missions went begging here.

The Signs of the Times

THE editor of the New Mexico State Record sees evidences that the prophecies of the Bible are fulfilling in this generation. In his paper of August 6 he says:—
One of the peculiar features of this day's life is the unrest that seems to be apparent throughout the world, and the unusual conditions that are everywhere visible.
It almost seems at times as if the prophecies of the Bible were coming true in this generation.
We are seeing the rising of nation against nation, and are facing what approaches most startlingly a world's war.
Strikes, as the result of the dissatisfaction of the people, are again and again occurring, showing a certain spirit of tumult and insecurity everywhere.
One tragic accident after another where the loss of life is frightful is flashed over the wires, and we are stunned by the catastrophe.
The economic conditions are unsettled, and all about us dissatisfaction is widely apparent.
Even the climatic conditions seem to have been affected, and we hear of the unseasonable weather which has been almost unknown heretofore, and lands that have been classed as desert are flooded with water.
It seems as if there had never been a time when the conditions in all departments of life were so at variance and so unusual, and the scientist and the student have no answer to the question as to what it all means.

Baptist Editorial on Christ’s Coming

By Editor

In the editorial columns of the Western Recorder (Baptist) for October 21, there appeared such a good article on Christ’s coming that we are reproducing it entire for the readers of the REVIEW. We give this editorial, not because its sentiments are new to Seventh-day Adventists, but because it is encouraging to find that others hold these views:—
When our Master ascended to heaven, he left the promise that he would come again. Through the long, weary years, his elect have waited his coming. Many have fallen on sleep, watching for the coming of their King.
We know not when he shall come, but it seems to us that the day is not far distant when he will come to claim his own. The hour of his advent is not known to man, yea, not even the angels in heaven; yet many signs and prophecies point to his speedy coming. Famine, wars and rumors, and unspeakable apostasy would seem to indicate that the time is near at hand.
Mankind has never known such a war as the one now raging. With few exceptions, the great nations have entered the carnival of murder; and annihilation and extermination are the order of the day. At no time in human history could it be said with so much truth that there are “wars and rumors of wars.”
While it is true that wealth has accumulated, it is equally true that gaunt famine stalks abroad in the world. And while the rich have grown richer, in many places the poor have grown poorer. The cry of hunger, the wildest cry of this world, is heard in the distance, till hushed in the silent grave. With the fearful destruction of the world’s resources, it is likely the world will be forced to face the most fearful famine in its history.
It will hardly be denied, even by the most hopeful, that there is a sad falling away from the faith. Satan seems working as never before, and if possible, would deceive the very elect. Antichrist is having his day, and his subjects are magnifying their opportunity; but his day must die away with the coming of our King.
Whether he shall come at noon or at night, he will come with the suddenness of a thief in the night. As in the days of Noah, the world will be blinded by materialism, eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage.
His coming will be in splendor and power and overwhelming glory. We shall behold him coming in the clouds, and with him, all the retinue of the skies. Once he entered the world as a little babe, with the weakness of the flesh; but now as the Lord of lords and King of kings. Once his ears heard the cruel cry, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” but then shall the whole earth hear the far-resounding shout, “Crown him! Crown him! Crown him Lord of all!”
Knowing that he will come, but not knowing the hour of his coming, it behooves us to watch, for “in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Like friends and loved ones, looking far out over the sea for the long-expected ship, shall we be found watching and waiting?
When next we gather at his table, to partake of the emblems of his shed blood and broken body, let us hear his solemn words, “Ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” May it be to us a solemn pledge and blessed reminder that he will come again.
Nor should we fail to comfort one another with the doctrine of his coming. The night has been dark, but the day shall dawn, and the shadows shall forever fly away. In patience, let us possess our souls, hoping that the day of deliverance draweth nigh. No longer need we ask, “Where are the signs of his coming?” for they are many, and may be easily seen by the eyes of faith.

Foreign Trade of the United States Increases

THE phenomenal trade balances which foreign commerce is creating are steadily adding to the wealth and to the financial power of the people of the United States. The Washington Post of October 21 gave the trade balances in favor of the United States as officially reported for the preceding five weeks as:—
Sept. 18, 1915 ............ $35,423,734 Balance for the week ended Sept. 25, 1915 ............ 27,528,703 Balance for the week ended Oct. 2, 1915 ............ 35,469,722 Balance for the week ended Oct. 9, 1915 ............ 35,880,000 Balance for the week ended Oct. 16, 1915 ............ 43,912,598
The editorial comment of the same paper on these figures is noteworthy:—
Based upon these statistics, commercial experts compute the trade balance in favor of the United States for this present fiscal year as approximately $2,000,000,000, or about double that of the record-breaking fiscal year ended June 30, 1915.

Love of the Brethren

By F. M. W.

Love of the brethren is the test of discipleship. Says the Master: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Christ manifested this love in a superlative degree. He gave his life a willing sacrifice even for his enemies.
Moses’ love for his brethren was such that he was willing to have his name blotted from the records of heaven rather than that they should be lost. And the apostle Paul wished himself accursed if by that sacrifice he could save his kinsmen after the flesh.
It is this spirit of love which should characterize the church of Christ today. Its possession by all the believers would revolutionize many conditions which now exist. Scandalmongers, gossip carriers, and backbiters would cease to exist. The good name, and reputation of a brother would be sacredly guarded. None would be found who would take delight in unkind criticism of another while at the same time professing friendship.
A strange love it is which praises one to his face and discredits him behind his back, which, while professing the deepest interest for the welfare of a brother, permits him to continue in a course which will result in eternal ruin.
True love for a brother in error, while it seeks to shield his good name, will at the same time put forth earnest personal labor to save him from the snare of the wicked one.
For this true brotherly love let us seek. Let us cultivate its exercise in the church. It will bring in its train unnumbered blessings to us personally and to all the church of God. F. M. W.

The Waste of War

By G. B. T.

WHEN our attention is called to the large loans called for by the belligerent nations engaged in the shocking slaughter of men across the sea, in order to continue the deadly strife, a glimpse of the tremendous waste of war dawns upon us. The waste is so great as to stagger the imagination, and is beyond the average mind to comprehend. Billions of dollars are called for in a single loan.
But how much is a billion? Does anybody really know? Allowing twenty-four hours to a day, three hundred and sixty days to a year, and seven thousand years since Adam was placed in Eden (and this is not intended as an exact computation), we have considerable less than four billion minutes since the creation of the world.
Our own nation is at peace. At present we are not waging an armed conflict with any nation. Expenses for the equipment and munitions of war are supposed to be on a peace footing, yet we read that the United States spent in the past two years more than a billion dollars for war purposes. Quite a sum indeed! In nineteen centuries of the Christian era there are less than a billion minutes. At peace, yet spending in two years a dollar for every minute since the birth of Christ! And this is called a state of “unpreparedness.” To prepare for what statesmen deem to be the inevitable, billions more are needed.
One writer tells us that a billion dollar bills placed one on top of the other would make a pile fifty-five miles high.
It is interesting to consider what could be accomplished with our war money if turned into constructive and philanthropic channels. I clip the following from the Chicago News of Oct. 21, 1915:—
The very best two-room modern rural school can be built for $4,000. Our annual war bill applied to this purpose would build 2,500 such schools in every State of the Union. If applied every year, it would give every high school student in the United States a high school education and the necessary books. It would also give a free college education to six times the number of people enrolled in our colleges. The price of one battleship would more than pay for all the schoolbooks used in the United States in a year.
From the standpoint of the philanthropist, our yearly war budget would provide the following institutions for the betterment of humanity: Ten hospitals at $200,000 each, two insane asylums at $500,000 each, four blind schools at $250,000 each, four old people's homes at $250,000 each, two reform schools at $250,000 each, two schools for defectives at $250,000 each, four industrial training schools at $250,000, twenty agricultural high schools at $50,000 each, a model farm in every county of the United States at $2,000, one thousand visiting nurses at $100 per month for the prevention of diseases, $250,000 for the relief of the poor, and another million dollars left for any other purpose.
And this awful waste of war takes no account of the wreck and ruin of homes and cities, the stagnation of industries, the slaughter and mutilation of hundreds of thousands in the flower of manhood.
It tells nothing of the anguish and horror as the angel of death hovers near, as wives, fathers, mothers, and other loved ones see bulletined the death of those at the front whom they fondly hoped would return to their homes.
And the awful carnage continues. The most civilized and enlightened nations of the world are turned into a slaughter pit. The storm cloud is growing darker, larger, and more threatening, demanding a greater outlay in money, and a more terrible sacrifice in men. These things ought to admonish us that the end of all nations is here, and we should prepare for a place in the kingdom which shall never be moved. G. B. T.

Among the Mashonas

By W. A. S.

At the Glendale Mission, near Ft. Victoria, Mashonaland, I heard the Shona tongue for the first time. From the eight outschools, far and near (the nearest nine miles distant), the people had come in to the meeting at this newly established station, crowding the little meeting room to the utmost. About one hundred and seventy-five voices sang out the hymn in the Shona tongue:— “Saviour, Saviour, hear my humble cry; While on others thou art calling, Do not pass me by.”
In the Shona it reads like this:— “Yesu Tenzi, Ndo chemere ’Mwi, Mu ka Komborera wame, Musa siye ’ni.”
It is the cry of Mashona hearts that they may not be passed by as the last message of the “everlasting gospel” is hastening on with its call to salvation. How dreadful to be passed by, and left helpless and alone in the dark! I am glad, as I see these animated faces, that our work has begun among the Mashonas. And with that thought, what avision opens up of tribes and tongues yet unreached, waiting for us, in the wilds!
The plan in this new station is the same as in other missions. The Glendale farm has nineteen hundred acres, four hundred of which is tillable valley land. The central school is to be here, students working on the land; and as teachers and evangelists are developed, the regions round about will be entered.
In former days the Matabeles raided Mashonaland for slaves and plunder. Now our first teachers are drawn from our missions in Matabeleland.
“It is hard,” said one of these out-school teachers, “for the Mashonas say to us, ‘Your fathers came down to raid us; how do we know but you will do the same some time!’ They do not forget.”
But the work is winning its way among the Mashonas. Brother T. J. Gibson is the superintendent, and Brother Lawrence Sparrow, who speaks this tongue fluently, is assistant. When I visited them their families were battling with fever, but with never a murmur. The new houses must be completed, giving room and protection from mosquito infection. It is an earnest and, at times, even desperate battle that the workers have to fight in establishing these new missions. The knowledge that the brethren and sisters in the churches are praying for them and supplying the means to go ahead is such a comfort to these missionary homes. And as I meet with these workers, I hear them praying for the home churches. The tie that binds our hearts together is a very real one.
Northeastward across Mashonaland, at Tsungwesi, near Umtala,—which is marked on most maps,—is our first station for the Mashonas, established by Elder M. C. Sturdevant. The station is beautifully laid out. One can see the signs of the heavy tasks that now have compelled Elder Sturdevant to let go the pioneer work for a time, though down in the provinces, at Johannesburg, he is still working in part for the native peoples.
Tsungwesi’s 3,300 acres are spread over a great valley, skirted by mountain ridges. We got it by exchanging a like acreage cut off from the old Solusi farm, our first mission in Africa. Brother A. P. Tarr—twenty-five years ago a student from South Africa at Battle Creek College—has been in charge, but on his transfer to the Kafirland work, Brother F. B. Jewell takes the superintendency, with Brother E. Tarr assisting.
Here, in a little inclosure, I saw the last missionary grave that marks our way in Rhodesia—that of Brother C. Lynn Bowen. It is a part of the price to be paid, and Brother Bowen never shrank from it. Sister Bowen has for a year been teaching in a family school near Bulawayo, but now she returns to Tsungwesi, to join the teaching staff at the mission.
So, on goes the work. The light is shining out from these two stations in Mashonaland. With some very good evidence, many think that Mashonaland was the principal source of the gold of Ophir, which the Sabean traders supplied to Solomon. All about are the marks of a gold mining industry carried on in prehistoric times. But at any rate, we are seeing in our mission work in this land that the grace of God is still able to “make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isa. 13:12. W. A. S.

Our Relationship to Our Sanitariums

By F. M. W.

WHAT part do our sanitariums sustain to this movement? What should be our relation to them? The answer to the second question is determined by the answer to the first.
Our sanitariums constitute, we believe, important agencies in the carrying forward of this work with which we are connected. We shall find many in the kingdom of God who were brought there through the loving ministry of our medical institutions. By what they see and hear and by the lives of physicians and nurses, many will be led to give themselves to God. While obtaining physical and material benefits, they will receive, even above these, spiritual benefits of infinite worth. How widespread this influence has been exerted, only the judgment will reveal.
Constituting as they do an essential part of this movement, our sanitariums deserve our hearty sympathy and support. Indeed, we should feel that they are our institutions, to be nurtured and built up by us, to be sustained by our prayers and by our means.
When we are in need of the ministry which these institutions can give, we should gladly avail ourselves of their aid, thanking God that in our affliction we can commit our cases to physicians and nurses who not only possess as good professional and technical training as physicians and nurses of the world, but who are Christian men and women—our own brethren and sisters in Christ Jesus.
But when we enter our sanitariums as guests, there are involved mutual and reciprocal obligations. The institution on its part should do for us all that lies within its power. Our physicians are expected to bring to bear upon our cases the most skillful, painstaking care and attention. But in doing this, the institution incurs heavy expense, and it is at this point that our obligations begin. Our sanitariums are not ours in the sense that we should make out of them personal gain. We must recognize that they have heavy obligations to meet. Many of them are laboring under a great burden of indebtedness. Indeed, the expense involved in our care may be represented in borrowed money on which the institution is paying interest. It is not right for us to throw upon the institution this burden, so far as we are concerned. And yet some, we fear, among our brethren and sisters have failed to recognize their personal obligation for the care which they have received at our sanitariums.
We find that all our sanitariums are carrying on their books heavy accounts involved in the care of Seventh-day Adventists. Some of these accounts have been running for many years; and when the managers have reminded delinquent ones of their obligations, it has sometimes caused unpleasantness. We believe that the principle enjoined in the Word of God, "Owe no man anything," applies to debts which have been contracted with our sanitariums as well as in our worldly business; and that where our institutions have taken our brethren and sisters in hours of need, and have endeavored to bring them back to health and strength, these same brethren and sisters should appreciate not alone the duty, but above all, the privilege which they have of making some commensurate return for the service rendered them. We believe that the principle of honestyand integrity will lead every Seventh-day Adventist to pay his debts, whether those debts are contracted in the carrying on of his business in the world or whether they are debts which have been contracted in connection with our schools and sanitariums.
We do not know how many who read these words may be concerned in the discussion of this question. We hope, however, that if any of our readers is obligated to our institutions for service which has been rendered him, he will endeavor in the fear of God to pay his just and proper obligations; and we believe that as he endeavors to find ways and means of doing this, the Lord will cooperate with him. The Lord does not want any of his children under the burden and bondage of debt. He wants us to be free men and women in Christ Jesus; and we believe that as we reach out for this freedom and struggle to get rid of every encumbrance, God will respond to this endeavor on our part, and will open ways before us that we did not see, whereby it may be accomplished.
Brethren, let us be honest with the Lord, with our fellows, and with God's institutions. Let us pay our debts. If we owe our local church societies, if we owe the tract society, if we owe our schools, if we owe our sanitariums, let us seek to render to them according to the service and benefit which we have received, and God will bless us in this undertaking.
F. M. W.

A Missionary Experience

By R. C. Porter

A CHURCH missionary worker in Manila reported the following experience, which occurred on Aug. 12, 1915:—
On this day I had decided to go to Caloocan, Rizal, to teach. But it was quite rainy. At first I felt inclined not to go, but I thought that time is gold, on account of its shortness. I therefore decided to go although it was raining hard. When I reached the place, I thanked God greatly, because I found that instead of three, there were four waiting to hear the study. After the study, I asked the one who had met with us for the first time, whether the study was plain to her. She said, “Yes,” I invited her to come to the next study, and she promised to do so. I took two of these persons to Maypajo, where we hold our Sabbath school. They promised me that they would be baptized this month. I thank the Lord.
The Holy Spirit works in the same wonderful way in leading weary, benighted souls into the light of truth in the Philippines as in the homeland. This experience of a church missionary only illustrates what thousands of church members may do in all lands if they but surrender themselves to God for service in winning souls. Who will respond to the Master’s call, and become a channel of light to those who sit in darkness in the vicinity of their own light-filled homes? R. C. PORTER.

Our Schools

By I. H. Evans

Our denominational schools are among our strongest and best facilities for the advancement of our special work. We place our sons and daughters in these schools that they may receive a training to become workers in the cause of God. We expect our schools so to mold and shape the lives of these young people, and to give them such an education, both in character building and in literary attainments, as will fit them to be efficient workmen for the Master. In all parts of the world, graduates from our schools or those who have had more or less training in them are leading in the work of proclaiming the third angel's message.
I am sure all will be glad to know that this year our schools have opened with a good attendance. The Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council held last spring, and the conventions following, gave to our educational leaders and the teachers in our schools new inspiration for better service, and we believe that our educational work is keeping pace with the advancement of the message.
Our educational secretary, Prof. Frederick Griggs, writing under date of October 20, speaks as follows concerning the work of our schools:—
The statistical report for the year 1914 of the schools of the North American Division Conference, shows a total of 565 schools, with an enrollment of 16,176 pupils and 1,054 teachers. This is a gain over the preceding year of 46 schools, with a net gain in enrollment of 656, and in teachers of 43. This increase shows a healthy growth in our school work, not the least encouraging feature of which is the fact that it is quite largely in our elementary schools. These eight-grade schools conducted in our churches are the foundation of our advanced schools. The more we have of them, and the stronger the character of their work, the larger the number of students we shall have in our secondary schools and in our colleges, and accordingly the larger number of workers will be available for both home and foreign fields. Therefore this growth of our church schools is indeed gratifying from every point of view.
During the past summer, following the Educational and Missionary Volunteer Council, six conventions were held in different parts of the United States. This council and these conventions were especially marked by the spirit of consecration on the part of the educators in attendance. Never before have we had such helpful, inspiring educational gatherings. As a consequence we look for a long advance step to be taken by our schools this coming year in spiritual and intellectual growth.
The department is in receipt of reports of the opening of nearly all our secondary schools and colleges. These reports reveal the fact that our teachers are determined to put into effect the spirit and plans of our council and conventions. The opening of the school year of 1915-16 is a cheering one.
Already some of those in charge of our schools have reported concerning their work since the beginning of the school year. Prof. B. F. Machlan, principal of South Lancaster Academy, says:—
At the council in California, as I listened to the instruction given from morning to morning, I felt that the responsibilities resting upon teachers were greater than I had ever realized. Though the burden seemed heavy and to fit pretty snugly upon one's shoulders, yet it gave me a new inspiration for the work of the coming year. All summer long I was praying, and planning what we ought to do as a faculty to make our work more effective, and what I ought to be to my fellow teachers and my students. As the time neared for the opening of the school, I prayed that the Lord would give us as a faculty a special blessing, and that our first meeting might be one that would mark a new era in our work here; and I was much pleased when I saw the faculty line up with me. We have set the following as our goal for the coming year: First, every teacher a soul winner; second, every student converted; third, $500 for the Harvest Ingathering.
Our school opened with about the usual number. They have not come in so fast this year as last, but at the present time we have about the same number that we had last year, and the prospects are that we shall go beyond the enrollment of last year.
On the first Friday evening, five of our young people took their stand for the truth, and on the second Friday evening there were three more. After the regular prayer meeting had closed, I invited those who had a burden for the unconverted and needed special help for themselves, to stay, and about forty remained. These young people expressed a desire to have a part in attaining our goal of seeing every student converted, and banded together to pray and work until this shall be accomplished.
Professor Field, one of our new teachers, said, in students' meeting, that he had been a student in our schools and also a teacher in them, but that he had never seen a greater evidence of consecration and desire to do the Lord's will and work than he saw here at South Lancaster. . . . I am deeply grateful to the Lord for giving me the help here this year that I have. Those who have been on our faculty for several years have taken hold of the work with new vigor.
Prof. H. A. Morrison, president of Union College, under date of September 27, writes as follows concerning the work there since the opening of school:—
Beginning with the very first morning, we organized our regular prayer bands, which meet every day just before chapel. The students are taking part in these bands in a very encouraging way. We are undertaking to call the attention of the young people to the evangelistic and mission work in the great fields that need attention, and are trying to direct the great majority of them along some of these channels for service. We are giving our ministerial band and our Bible workers' classes one hour of the chapel period each week. This brings the entire school in contact with this work.
I am much interested in seeing our young men go into the ministry, and a large number of our young people preparing for the foreign fields. Our teachers here are desirous of making these the great goals of this institution. Several members of our last year's class are in the home field this year, some of whom I believe will make excellent material for mission fields by another year.
We have a splendid class of students; they are well advanced in their studies, and even more mature than in past years. We believe that the Lord has sent us excellent material upon which to work, to prepare men and women for service in his cause. Our teachers are all taking hold of their work with an enthusiasm and earnestness that ought to bring good results. We have now enrolled two hundred and seventy-seven, which is twenty-three more than last year at this time. We know of a number who are yet coming, so we feel quite encouraged as far as attendance is concerned. Already we have forty-six who have been in the canvassing field during the past summer. Thirty-three of these earned one or more scholarships, many of them earning two or three. Several are still in the canvassing work who are planning to be here within a few days.
We are anxious that our students shall get a broad experience while in school, not only in general culture and intellectual development, but in their religious experience as well.
Emmanuel Missionary College sends in a splendid report concerning its prospects and work. Under date of October 4, Prof. O. J. Graf, president of the school, writes:—
We have organized our dormitories into small prayer bands of about six or eight. They meet once a week, one of the older, spiritual students taking charge. I am also planning, as soon as we are sufficiently acquainted with our students, to take up the matter in our faculty meeting, and have each teacher become responsible, as far as possible, for the spiritual welfare of certain students. I realize that there are some objections to this plan, but there is danger, in a large school like this, of “everybody's business being nobody's business.”
I am also planning to visit the students in their dormitories as often as I can, and talk with them about their plans for their future work, etc.
You will be glad to learn that our ministerial band has already been organized, and the members have found several places where they can hold meetings. Last year eight began keeping the Sabbath as a result of the work of this band. The Bible workers' band is organized, with a membership of thirty.
We are planning to have Elders G. B. Thompson and A. G. Daniels give lectures on mission fields. Last year one hundred and twenty students definitely consecrated their lives to work in the foreign fields.
Our enrollment has reached two hundred and twenty-four. An unusually large percentage of these are in the dormitories, which are full to overflowing. We have filled the rooms above the printing office, and two cottages in the grove.
Prof. E. C. Kellogg, of Walla Walla College, sends the following good report of the opening of the school under his charge:—
Our school this year is the largest in its history. The present enrollment is one hundred and twenty-four in the first eight grades, and two hundred and thirty-six in the other grades. There are sixty in the college department. Four years ago there were twenty-five. The increase in the strength and general condition of the school is quite noticeable.
Comparatively few of our young people are not church members. Of course that does not mean that all do not need a continual growth and an earnest experience in spiritual things, and we are doing what we can to help in this matter. In our Missionary Volunteer Society we have a ministerial and Bible workers' band, a Christian Help band, a mailing literature band, and a distributing literature band. The ministerial band is the strongest in the history of the school. The other bands have a large enrollment, and are doing good work. I have felt for some time the need of putting forth especially earnest efforts to encourage our young people to enter the ministry and the Bible work.
Our normal department has twenty-six in training this year. Nearly all these are working on the advanced normal course. This is the best showing we have ever had.
We hold a devotional meeting for the whole school in the chapel every other
Friday evening. Some of our schools hold one every Friday evening, but that does not seem to fit our work so well as the plan we follow. On the alternate Friday evenings the foreign mission band meets. This band has an enrollment of seventy-five. The village prayer bands also meet on these Friday evenings. Our young people hold their Missionary Volunteer Society meeting on Sabbath afternoon. Of course there are prayer meetings in the dormitories, which are held Wednesday evening. Probably we have sufficient organization to accomplish a good work, and we are trying to make the spiritual interests and influence prominent in the school.
Under date of October 19, Prof. A. N. Atteberry, head of the Southern Training School, writes as follows:—
The class of students in attendance this year is very good; but I feel, as do most of the brethren in the field, that the standard in some things must be raised if we hope to man our field with home talent, which is certainly what we should aim to do.
We have ninety-five above primary grades, and seventy-five in the normal school department. This is considerably below the attendance of last year. No doubt the uncertainty of the location and the change in administration, as well as the financial depression over the whole South, will account for a good share of the lessened attendance. On the whole, our school work is moving on well, and especially in the boys' home we feel that progress is being made in raising the standard of discipline. The patrons from the village are manifesting a deep interest in the school, and so far there has been a spirit of cooperation. We are holding biweekly parent-teachers' meetings in the church, discussing principles of our school operation and kindred topics.
Under date of October 21, Prof. J. L. Shaw, president of Washington Missionary College, writes as follows concerning the prospect of his school:—
The enrollment the first week was two hundred and six. This has increased until at the present time there are two hundred and fifty-three enrolled, the increase in attendance being about evenly divided between academic and college students. While a large number of former students have returned, many new ones are in evidence. The ministerial college course has called a number of young men who are taking this course to prepare for the gospel ministry. There will be twelve or fifteen graduates from the college course at the close of the present school year.
Several new teachers of experience have been added to the College faculty, among whom are Prof. E. G. Salisbury, Elder H. H. Votaw, Prof. E. F. Albertsworth, Prof. C. Crager, Prof. C. C. Pulver, and Miss Pauline Schilberg. Special attention is given to field training of evangelistic workers. Elder Votaw gives most of his time to training young men for the ministry. Mrs. Williams has a large class of young women who are being trained in the science and art of giving Bible readings.
Some changes have been made in the language teaching, so that the institution is able to provide a German to teach the German, a Frenchman to teach the French, and a Spanish lady to teach the Spanish. This affords the students an excellent opportunity to acquire a correct pronunciation of these languages.
The increased growth of the College has greatly taxed the facilities of the institution. A building has been rented from the Sanitarium, and fitted up to accommodate twenty-three students. The other dormitories have not been large enough to accommodate the students, and it has therefore been necessary to find rooms outside for a considerable number.
The dining room also is crowded. The chapel, which is arranged to seat one hundred and forty-four students, has over two hundred and fifty crowded into it. The doors have been taken off, and future students will be seated in the hall. The library is so crowded that the students often have to stand while consulting books of reference. Sometimes as many as forty occupy classrooms which should not accommodate more than half that number.
It is the feeling of the board and the College faculty that in order for the institution to do the work assigned to it, more accommodations must be provided.
A strong spiritual influence has prevailed during the opening weeks of the school, and a spirit of earnest work seems to possess the large majority of the students. Twenty-six students earned scholarships in the canvassing field.
Several lectures have been given by Elder A. G. Daniels on the work in the Orient, and a goodly number of students are looking toward Eastern lands, desiring to prepare to answer the calls to the Orient if Providence so wills.
The College of Medical Evangelists, at Loma Linda, Cal., has begun the year's work with very encouraging prospects. Under date of October 6, Dr. Newton Evans writes:—
We are all feeling very grateful at the propitious opening of our school year. We are especially glad this year for the large entering class of special two-year medical evangelistic students. This course has been arranged at the suggestion of a number of our workers, and seems to be giving satisfaction to all.
The opening exercises of the school were held Sunday evening, September 26, in the chapel, and the program was interesting and inspiring. Besides the members of our teaching faculty, there were present Elder E. E. Andross, president of the board, and Elder W. F. Martin, president of the Southeastern California Conference. The school work is proceeding nicely, and with little friction. Both teachers and students seem to be contented and earnest.
We were made especially happy during the last few weeks by the report of the State board examinations which were taken by our graduates in July. The nine graduates who took the examination at that time, all passed successfully. We feel that this is a great blessing, and are thankful to God for his goodness.
We are informed that other schools have opened most encouragingly. It is evident that our educational work is growing, and that our people are more and more inclined to send their children to our denominational schools until they
have finished a thorough course of study. With the entire denomination entering into this educational policy heart and soul, there ought not to be such a lack of available workers in the future as there has been during the past few years. We bespeak for our schools in the North American Division Conference the united prayers and cooperation of our brethren and sisters. The work is a holy, sacred work, and means much not only to individuals and families, but to the cause of God as a whole. Our schools need our hearty support.
I. H. EVANS.
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