The Bible abounds with examples which show the importance of early home training in the development of character. The experiences of Joseph, Moses, and Daniel form a striking contrast with those of Manasseh and a number of youthful kings who ruled over Israel and Judah, and “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord,” as soon as responsibility was thrust upon them. The bent of the twig foretells the inclination of the tree; and just as surely the home training in early childhood has very much to do with the trend of later life.
We are told that “higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for his children.” Should the aim of parents, then, be low? To their children they stand in the place of God; and in training those committed to their care, godliness—godlikeness—is the ideal for which they should strive. Fathers and mothers should realize that the most important work they can do is to guide the feet of their little ones along the paths of Christlikeness. At the family altar, as parents and children bow together in worship morning and evening, the “lambs of the flock” should be committed to the care of an all-wise Father. We read in “Ministry of Healing,” pages 396, 397:—
“Let the youth be impressed with the thought that they are not their own. They belong to Christ. They are the purchase of his blood, the claim of his love. They live because he keeps them by his power. Their time, their strength, their capabilities are his, to be developed, to be trained, to be used for him.”
The youth of today must bear the burdens of tomorrow. They must be trained for places of responsibility. This training for efficient service requires years of discipline. God kept Israel out of the land of Canaan for forty years while the younger generation was being trained for his service; and when the time for crossing Jordan finally came, only two of the older men—Caleb and Joshua—went with them to possess the Land of Promise. It was upon the shoulders of the young men that most of the heavy burdens rested.
Parents cannot neglect their God-given work and expect to receive the reward of the faithful at last. We are told by the spirit of prophecy that “every mother should take time to reason with her children, to correct their errors, and patiently teach them the right way. Christian parents should know that they are instructing and fitting their children to become children of God. The entire religious experience of the children is influenced by the instructions given, and the character formed, in childhood. . . . Parents who neglect this important work commit a great error, and sin against their poor children, and against God. . . . Parents should deal faithfully with the souls committed to their trust. . . . Let all your efforts be for their salvation. . . . Parents, help your children. Arouse from the lethargy which has been upon you. Watch continually to cut off the current, and roll back the weight of evil which Satan is pressing in upon your children. The children cannot do this of themselves, but parents can do much. By earnest prayer and living faith, great victories will be gained.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 390-397.
If your children are older, make their interests yours, and by the cords of love hold them from straying. Satan is pleased to see our youth losing ground; but if their early training has been what it should be, the guiding hand of a wise parent will help them to avoid the snares of the evil one.
We are shocked by the great tragedies taking place today on land and sea. The loss of life is appalling, horror grips our hearts, and we wish it were within our power to stay the tide of desolation. But what of the precious little ones intrusted to our care? Many of our youth are drifting with the current of the world, and, lured by the deceiver, are going to destruction. Is there no one to warn them and point out the way of life? It is the duty and privilege of parents so to train their children that they will stand firmly for the right, whatever test of character may come. If we neglect to care for the lambs of the flock, we cannot expect to receive the Master’s “Well done” at last. A great responsibility rests upon us as parents, and frequently we are tempted to become discouraged; but we should remember that “the toils of the road will seem nothing when we get to the end of the way.”
“Then let us hope; ’tis not in vain;
Though moistened by our grief the soil,
The harvest brings us joy for pain,
The rest repays the weary toil;
For they shall reap, who sow in tears,
Rich gladness through eternal years.”
DeWitt, Mich.
Building Character
By D. L. Moody
It takes a long time to build up a character, but you can blast it in a single hour.— D. L. Moody.
The Week of Prayer at College View
By R. C. PORTER
It was a great pleasure to me, after more than seven years’ labor in heathen lands, to renew old acquaintances and associate with friends of former days in a week of prayer service.
On arriving, I thought to organize the faculty and school for a practical campaign of spiritual work before beginning the week of prayer services. I was much pleased to find that the faculty had completed the organization I had contemplated, and were already at work in preparation for a spiritual revival during this prayer season.
They had reduced their class work to half time in order to allow more time to be used for spiritual work. Two hours a day were set apart for public services. One was used for the reading, and one for a Bible study. Each day, personal work with students desiring to renew their consecration, or starting for the first time, was carried on, resulting in sixty conversions. The larger share of this number had previously started in the service of the Lord, but had lost their hold on God; the remainder were starting for the first time. The teachers all joined in this work, and their united labor was rewarded.
The senior class and the mission band of over a hundred, with scarce an exception, expressed themselves as ready for appointment to fields in need of their services as soon as their preparation was completed. Seventeen offered themselves for baptism.
A few union services were held, embracing the college, the sanitarium, and the church. In all of these services, the same revival spirit was seen, showing that the same kind of practical work was being carried forward by Elder Trubey in the sanitarium and Elders Underwood, Christian, and House, in the church. Elder Bernstein, who with his associates is conducting a very successful series of meetings in the city of Lincoln, joined in the closing services of the week at College View.
The sanitarium food factory is preparing an excellent quality of foods, and the sanitarium and college are both doing excellent work in training workers for the great world field. A successful campaign to relieve the college indebtedness is nearing completion.
The spiritual side of the work, which is always one of the most important features in the training of workers, is given a large place in the work of these institutions.
The week of prayer was a season of refreshing in College View. It will mark a new era in the lives of many, as the time when they planted themselves firmly upon the side of Christ by an unconditional surrender, and a victorious faith which brought peace, rest, and joy into their daily experiences.
I had the pleasure of meeting two of my brothers at this meeting, one of whom I had not seen for nearly thirty years, who had but recently given his heart and life to this message. These are bright spots in our pilgrimage, which renew our courage, strengthen our faith, nerve us anew for the conflict, and revive our hope, that with the victors we shall soon stand triumphant, more than conquerors through Christ.
R. C. PORTER.
The Colegio Adventista del Plata During 1915
By H. U. STEVENS
THE school year that has just closed in the Colegio Adventista del Plata has been one of advance. The enrolment has not been so great as in the two previous years, but it has been satisfactory. At the very beginning of the year all the students were present that could be accommodated with the new building unfinished. A good grade of school work has been done and the Lord has blessed us richly. There have been some hard battles won by the young people in their Christian experience, for which we feel deeply thankful.
NEW DORMITORY OF THE COLEGIO ADVENTISTA DEL PLATA
The new dormitory was finished and dedicated on the second of May. About 150 neighbors and friends were present in the large dining room where the services were held, and all enjoyed the reminiscences of the early days of the school, told by some of the pioneers. It was an inspiring occasion, and made us feel like consecrating our lives anew to the educational work in this field, where efforts are so much appreciated. The new building has largely increased the capacity of the school and added to the facility of management, helping materially in the order and discipline.
Daily manual labor on the part of every student and teacher has become an established feature of the school. All the work of the school is done by the students under the supervision and with the cooperation of the teachers. Improvements, also, are made whenever possible, with student labor. During the past year three students who were somewhat experienced in masonry, built the second story of the new power house which is to serve as quarters for the bakery, and thus helped to pay their expenses in school. A sewer nearly half a mile long was constructed, a large part of the labor of digging being done by the students. A garden was planted and cultivated for the benefit of the kitchen,—entirely by student labor under the management of one of the regular teachers, who, besides managing the work, did his full share of the labor.
We are firm believers in the benefits of manual labor and find it one of our best helps in keeping down expenses and in reducing disciplinary troubles. Plans are developing for introducing trades, and we hope to see something realized in this direction during the coming year.
The harvest of souls has been progressing steadily. At times the conflict seemed dark and perplexing; but we are glad to say that a number of the dear children and young people have found their Saviour, and have consecrated their lives to his service. During the year the rite of baptism was celebrated three times, twenty of our students taking this important step.
A short time after the school work began, our primary teacher, Lorenzo Gil, succumbed to a malady with which he had been suffering for months. He made a brave fight for life, ardently desiring to continue to serve his Master, whom he loved devotedly. But the all-wise Father saw fit to lay him away till the Life-giver comes; and while our hearts have bled with anguish, we confidently trust him who does all things well. Our brother rests in the new cemetery which has been opened on our own land, a short distance from the school, the first one to be buried in that sacred spot.
The graduating class consisted of nine students. Six of these are finishing their primary studies, two have completed a two-years' course designed for those preparing for the Bible work, while one has completed the four years' academic course. The six are planning to continue their school work in connection with the secondary department of the school; one will enter the nurses' class in the sanitarium. The two finishing the Bible workers' course will go into the Bible work; while the one who has finished the academic course will be employed as a teacher in the Colegio Adventista the coming year.
The Argentine Conference held its annual session on the school campus immediately after the close of the school17year. Besides many other interests, considerable attention was given to school matters, not only in this center, but throughout the field. During the past year there have been seven church schools operating in this field, and the demand for this class of schools is increasing. We are doing what we can from this center to foster them, and our efforts are meeting with appreciation on the part of the parents. There is a great army of sturdy youth among our people in South America, if only it can be trained for service!
The outlook for the coming year is bright, and we are expecting 1916 to be the best year of our work. The need of trained workers is increasing, and more is expected from the school year by year. May the Lord guide in all the plans that are laid, and give strength and wisdom in carrying them into effect in his name, is the earnest prayer of those who feel the burden of the work at the Colegio Adventista del Plata.
H. U. STEVENS.
Bible Study and Communion With God
By M. E. Kern
The world was separated from God because of sin. Jesus is the ladder which again unites earth with heaven. Through the plan of salvation, communion is again established between man and God. God speaks to man through nature, in his providences, by his Spirit, and through the written Word. Man speaks to God in meditation and prayer.
The Bible is God's message to us, in our own tongue. In it we hear God speaking to our hearts. By this Word we are begotten, and by it we live and grow. Therefore, to maintain an abiding communion with God, we need to read and study the Bible daily. “And remembering that in the divine Word God really speaks to his people, it is obvious that the more that Word is read and meditated upon, the oftener is the divine voice heard, the more readily does the believer respond thereunto, and speak to or commune with the Lord. Hence, therefore, the duty, the necessity, the privilege of searching the Scriptures in order to abiding communion with God.”
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,” Isa. 26:3. Daily reading of the Bible will enable us to do this. As we feed upon his Word, we shall understand better the greatness of his love toward us, and have more of his grace and wisdom. As we habitually study and meditate upon the Bible, we shall be admitted, as it were, into the very audience chamber of the King; we shall understand more fully his plans and purposes for the world and for ourselves individually; and shall be able to serve him more acceptably.
Gladstone, the great English statesman, said, “My only hope for the world is in bringing the human mind into contact with divine revelation.” This is truly the world's only hope. It is our only hope, individually. And he who would be a channel for God's blessing to the world must make the Bible his constant and prayerful study, that it may permeate his life and dominate his thoughts.
If you have not already done so, join the Bible Year Circle, and read the Bible through during 1916.
M. E. Kern.
The Bible Year
Assignment for January 23-29
JANUARY 23: Genesis 40 to 43. From prison to palace; “it is not in me;” the sons of Jacob buy corn of Joseph.
JANUARY 24: Genesis 44 to 47. The test; Joseph makes himself known to his brothers; joy of Jacob; Goshen.
JANUARY 25: Genesis 48 to 50. Last days and death of Jacob and Joseph. Review the whole book briefly.
JANUARY 26: Exodus 1 to 4. Israel in bondage; the chosen deliverer; waiting; the call; Aaron.
JANUARY 29: Exodus 13 to 15. The first Passover; by fire and by cloud; through the Red Sea; a song of triumph.
For Further Study
JANUARY 23: Study the geography of the journey of Jacob’s sons.
JANUARY 24: Name the six leading men of Genesis, and in a few words sum up the characteristics of each.
JANUARY 25: Make a list, with references, of special doctrinal points of the Seventh-day Adventist faith that you noted in your reading of Genesis.
JANUARY 26: Study the geography of the localities mentioned in Exodus 1 to 4.
JANUARY 27: Read (see Bible dictionary) some of the evidences still existing of the work of Israel in Egypt.
JANUARY 28: Read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pages 257-280.
JANUARY 29: Study the geography of Israel’s journey from Rameses across the Red Sea.
A Liberal Education
“A fair knowledge of the Bible is in itself almost a liberal education, as many great masters in literature have testified. It has so entered into law, literature, thought, the whole modern life of the Christian world, that ignorance of it is a most serious disadvantage to the student.”—Charles Dudley Warner.
God’s Textbook
“The Bible is God’s textbook for the earthly training. It is not too much to say that this book he has chosen out of all the earthly writings of the world as that which especially concerns your life. This you need, this you are to study, this it is your duty to study. There is no rational reason why you should not come to have a wide and careful knowledge of it.”—Henry Churchill King.
Bible Biographies
Some of the biographies in the book of Genesis are better known, and have more strongly influenced the world for good,18than the lives of the greatest men of history outside the Bible record. The account of the life of Enoch, brief though it is, shows that evil surroundings need not hinder godly living. He is a type, too, of those who at the close of human history will live pure lives in a corrupt world, and who, like him, will not know death. Noah, a “preacher of righteousness,” is an example of loyal steadfastness of purpose in giving an unpopular message to an unheeding, careless people. The faith of Abraham, “the friend of God,” has been a strength to Christians in every age. The selfishness of Lot, and the destruction that overtook his worldly possessions, point the reader to the vanity of trusting in earthly riches. What character so stands for cunning as the crafty Jacob’s? or whose life so inspires confidence in God in the hour of trouble as that of this same man when his heart was changed, and he became a “prince with God”? Joseph has been the model for purity, brotherly kindness, and filial affection from the days of Moses. These biographies, so briefly told, are like stars shining in the darkness, and have guided many to the way of life.
The Book of Exodus
The book of Exodus takes its name from the Greek, and means the “going out,” referring to the departure of Israel from Egypt. The book may be divided into three parts: History (1 to 18); laws (20 to 24); worship (25 to 50).
Genesis closes with the family of Israel, comfortable and prosperous, pleasantly settled in Egypt. Exodus opens with that same family, grown “more and mightier” than the Egyptians, in bitter bondage and oppression. The book relates in detail the story of their great deliverance, and shows how they became a nation, with a thorough organization, efficient leadership, a complete code of laws, and an established form of worship.
The life of Moses, from his romantic rescue from Egyptian malice in his infancy, through all the thrilling years of his wonderful experiences as the chosen leader of Israel, is of absorbing interest.
The Sweet Sound of Investment
An old woman in a back district disliked, she said, the ringing of church bells. She was finally induced, however, to give five dollars toward one for the mission church.
The first time she heard it ringing, she said: “I’ve always declared I did not like bells. But I will say that is the sweetest-sounding bell I ever heard.”
“Ah!” said the missionary, “the secret of it is this: With every sound of that bell you hear the jingle of your five dollars.”
It is the dollars invested in the work of saving souls that cause the reports of progress from every land to sound like sweetest music in our ears, and the heavier the investment, the greater the joy.
Moving the World
A MAN can never move the world that lets the world move him.—Martin Luther.
A Santal Student Still Interested
By W. A. Barlow
A SHORT time ago I received a post card from one of our old boarding school students (a Santal) who made good progress while in our school, both at Simultala and Babumohal. He was anxious to be baptized and work as a teacher in our mission, but the influence of his heathen wife and family caused him to put it off.
He now writes to me for literature. He has started a school in the tea gardens in Darjeeling, northern India, and invites me to come up there and visit it. I have posted two parcels of our Spirit-filled literature to this young man, with some Santali schoolbooks, and hymn books, which we compiled and had printed at our Watchman Press when it was at Karmatar under the direction of our beloved Brother J. C. Little, now asleep in Christ.
There are thousands of Santal emigrants around Darjeeling, working in the tea gardens, and it may be God is calling us there through one of our old school-boys, to give the closing message to these precious souls who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
Pray, brethren, for these aboriginal tribes of India. W. A. BARLOW.
Missionary Volunteer Department
M. E. KERNGeneral and N. Am. Div. Secretary
C. L. BENSONAssistant Secretary
MEADE MACGUIREN. Am. Div. Field Secretary
The Anvil of God's Word
LAST even I stood before a blacksmith's door,
And heard the anvil ring its vesper chime;
Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
"How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," he answered; then, with twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammer out, you know."
And so the Bible, anvil of God's word,
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
And though the noise of Paine, Voltaire, was heard,
The anvil is unworn—the hammers gone.
Apprentice blows of ignorance, forsooth,
May awe with sound, and blinding sparks death-whirled;
The Master holds and turns the iron, his truth,
And shapes it as he wills, to bless the world.
— Selected.
A Student Movement
By FREDERICK GRIGGS
The other day at Emmanuel Missionary College I had one of the most inspiring experiences I have ever met in our schools. It was the passing of their “$5,000 goal.”
Some months ago the Lake Union Conference set itself to the task of paying off the entire debt of the college. It is not to be doubted that the loyalty of the students had much to do in fixing this determination on the part of the union conference committee and the college board. On April 20, 1915, the students set five thousand dollars as the goal of their efforts in removing the debt. In apportioning the debt, the college board had decided to ask the school to raise this amount. But the students had held their meeting and set this goal for themselves before they knew the wish of the board, and their enthusiasm was naturally increased by the knowledge that they had just met that wish.
Now, five thousand dollars means something to a company of students the majority of whom are obliged to work their way either in part or in whole through their school course. It means sacrifice, and often a sacrifice that hurts. But it also means an education that is of far larger value than that obtained from books alone. Said Longfellow of his “Village Blacksmith,” “Something attempted, something done has earned a night’s repose.” The education gained from attempting and accomplishing a great work for God is of the “higher education,” and will truly earn an eternity of rest.
The goal set in April was never lost sight of. It was to be reached by Jan. 1, 1916. Throughout the spring and summer the Debt Committee was active in corresponding with students, former and prospective. In the churches, at the camp meeting, and everywhere the campaign was carried forward. But on November 10 the committee had to inform their fellow students that there was still lacking the large sum of $2,200. It was then that a flame of determined enthusiasm broke out, and at one sitting of the school this entire amount was pledged.
It is one thing to vow, and another to pay. Every night save Friday and Saturday the Debt Committee met for prayer and counsel. Tuesday and Thursday mornings the school separated into divisions for reports and study of ways and means of accomplishing their fixed purpose. But on November 30 it was found that but $300 of that $2,200 had been raised. The next morning, in chapel, a slogan of “One hundred dollars a day” was adopted. The student body was divided on the lines of the conferences in the union, and the debt apportioned accordingly, those from outside the union—the Foreign Band—bearing their respective part. Then the enthusiasm, a prayerful, wholesome one, reached its height.
There was only $100 remaining unpaid on the nineteenth of December, the day I arrived. That evening this amount and more was secured. This was not the first time in the campaign that the students had overstepped their goal. They had set for themselves a goal of $4,500 before the week of prayer, that during that week they might give themselves without reserve to the spirit of the week. And the night before the week of prayer began they had $4,800 raised.
December 20 the school held their jubilee meeting. It was a shout of victory. The speaking, and the singing expressed the joy of victors. They had striven, they had won. The $5,000 had been raised, and $324.22 more.
I was present at the meeting, and this meeting was the inspiring experience that I mentioned at first. The inspiration lies in this, that God can and will stir the hearts of our young people so that in a perfectly united way they will accomplish great undertakings for him. This spirit woven into the very warp and woof of their education can but make them powerful workers for God in their after-life.
The raising of this $5,000 is one of the greatest, if not indeed the greatest, work ever accomplished by one of our student bodies, and is an inspiring lesson to all. But this spirit of loyalty and cooperation is in our schools. While it has not often shown itself in just the way it did at Emmanuel Missionary College, yet it is present in all of them. Emmanuel Missionary College students have only raised a standard which will provoke others to greater and still greater undertakings. Let me suggest that one of these undertakings be the bringing of every young man and woman in each school territory into the school to which he or she belongs. Pay the debts and fill the schools.
FREDERICK GRIGGS.
Home Missionary Work for Quarter Ending June 30, 1915
By Edith M. Graham
THE report of the home missionary work done during the quarter ending June 30, 1915, gives us some points upon which to reflect. When the last report appeared, we felt very happy to see all but four conferences in the North American Division reporting. This quarter, one of these, Arizona, has reported, showing thereby that its work is now organized. The other three, Maritime, Quebec, and Utah, all small conferences, are planning and working for efficient organization, so they will shortly take their place in the great home missionary movement. But the blank lines against eight other conferences where the work has been organized can only be regarded with feelings of sadness. No doubt many in these conferences were faithfully working, but the absence of reports shows failure somewhere in that strong, united effort that makes for success.
Another sad feature is that every item of work done totals less than in the previous quarter. This drop in the work is more noticeable in the North American Division than in the regions beyond, where more letters were written and received, more books sold, more hours devoted to Christian Help work, more meals provided, treatments given, signatures obtained to the temperance pledge, and more conversions reported for the second quarter than the first. This makes for these countries a gain in eight lines of work and a decrease in ten. In the North American Division there is one gain only, in the number of tracts lent and given away. The credit for this must be given to Minnesota, where a very large quantity of tracts was distributed.
Doubtless the chief reason for this general drop in the amount of work done is due to the fact that this report covers the three months when those engaged in agriculture in any way are naturally very busy. They work early and late to secure a good harvest, and the Lord expects men to be diligent in their business. But must the work for perishing souls suffer because of this? There is a spiritual seed sowing to be done, that a harvest of souls may be gathered. Is the Lord well pleased to have our people remember the material harvest and devote every energy to that, and forget the spiritual harvest? The enemy of souls does not rest in the summer. Is it not possible, and doubtless certain, that careful study of this problem will show our people that they19can continue an aggressive soul-winning campaign, and with it give proper attention to the earthly crops? Could we not expect the Lord to bless the work of those who devote time to his service, so that their harvests would be no less? These are questions that are worthy of careful and prayerful consideration.
Notwithstanding the general drop, the figures are still large, and they show much work done which God can use to save and warn souls. This page of figures means hundreds of thousands, even millions, of people enlightened in regard to the great warning message. A constant stream of work like this cannot fail to accomplish great things, but what will it do when all the members take hold?
EDITH M. GRAHAM.
Educational Department
FREDERICK GRIGGS - General Secretary
W. E. HOWELL - N. Am. Div. Asst. Secretary
Home Missionary Department
E. M. GRAHAMGeneral SecretaryF. W. PAAPN. Am. Div. Secretary
