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Gospel Herald
"In defence and confirmation <.f the Gosp
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of P<
Vol V YTT /Ilirali <f Truth \
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SCOTTDALE, PA., THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1929 fg"*?, Wj«"SSA
No. 1
EDITORIAL
"P>eloved, I would above all thing that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
"Even as thy soul prospereth." This is the only basis upon which wc should wish or pray for good health and prosperity — for ourselves or for anybody else. For many a man good health and material prosperity has been a curse, simply because the soul did not share In the prosperity. "Seek ye first " (Matt. 6:33).
This is the first number of Volume XXII of the Gospel Herald. As we enter a new year in the history of the paper we feel anew the responsibility of the work of supplying reading mat- ter for upwards of fifty thousand readers, counting on this basis, ap- proximately four readers to every home where the paper goes. Wc ask an interest in your prayers that the work may continue to grow and be a blessing to all to whom our influence reaches.
Good Friday. — By the time this reaches the eye of the reader the day set apart in memory of our Savior's resurrection will have passed into his- tory. That day is generally observed — by Christians to the glory of God; by worldlings to their ow n hurt. Hut there is another day, not so generally observed, that has by some been set apart in memory of an event equally important as the resurrection of our Lord. We refer to the day usually known as "Good Friday." Why that name was given to the time set apart to commemorate the crucifixion of our Lord we arc not able to say. Neither are we able to say why churches generally do not pay as much attention to Good Friday as they do to Easter, for the redemptive work of Christ upon the cross is of paramount importance. We are glad
that some of our congregations hal- lowed this event by repairing to the house of the Lord on Good Friday and giving God praise and worship for this great deliverance of our souls from the bonds of death. Here is hoping that the day may not be far distant when churches generally will make Good Friday, as well as Christ- mas and Easter, ;L day of worship and praise.
Ascension Day. — W hile we arc on this subject, wc might call attention to another day, also not so generally observed, but which has been set a- part by some in memory of another of the great events connected with the career of our Savior on earth. We refer to the day known as Ascension day. Unlike Good Friday, this day lies just ahead. Ascension day has been celebrated in some communities by the establishment of a special meeting on this day which is kept in memory of the glorious ascension of our Lord.
Our mind goes back to the time when the disciples were together drinking in the treasures of truth which fell from the lips of our risen Lord. Suddenly He departed from them and took His triumphant flight to glory. Two men in white apparel informed the disciples that this same Jesus should come again in like man- ner in which they watched Him as- cend. They went back to the upper room in Jerusalem, and there contin- ued steadfastly in prayer until they were endued with power from on high. The event was sanctified by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and the conversion of three thousand souls. That our blessed Lord should return at the end of the present age to receive His own unto Himself has ever since that day been the fond hope of the Church. There is no more appropriate time to fan this hope into a mighty flame than on As- cension day.
JOHN 17:21
The kind reader is invited to read and to meditate upon both the text that stands at the head of this column and the entire prayer of which this text is a conspicuous part. This is the kind of unity for which Christian people should work and pray.
There are two kinds of conserva- tives in the Mennonite Church that MUST be held together by "the bond of perfectness" if we are to realize our dream of a whole church solidly united upon a whole-Gospel platform.
The first of these classes insists that we must remain loyal to "all things whatsoever" our Lord com- manded His disciples; that the Church must be disciplined according to Gos- pel standards; and that an attitude of loyalty to Christ of necessity means separation from the world, since "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The second class referred to insists that we must hold together as a unit- ed church ; that "we must hang to- gether," or the chances are that 'we will all hang separately;" that schisms have a demoralizing effect in that members become discouraged or confused and many are lost to the Kingdom ; that during the time that shepherds quarrel among themselves the prowling wolves around enter the flock and carry away the lambs.
To both of these contentions we join in giving hearty approval. The two things emphasized are vital to the welfare of any church, and to turn aside from either means disaster. For light on the matter of obedience to God. read Jno. 14:15; 15:14; Gal. 1:8,9; I Jno. 2:2-4. For light on Gospel unity read Eph. 4:1-16.: Both obedience and unity are included in our Savior's prayer in behalf of His disciples, and both are implied in His command to make disciples of all na- tions. Matt. 28:18-20.
But there is such a thing as empha- sizing one or the other of the above-
i
2
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
named points in a way that makes the very emphasis defeat its own purpose. Emphasize loyalty in a way that the unity of loyalists is discredited or ignored, and the danger is that the Church will be wrecked on the shoals of censoriousness and strife. Empha- size unity in a way that loyalty is ig- nored and loyalists discredited, and we may expect similar results to the Church in the mire of liberalism and indifference to truth. Where cham- pions of loyalty and champions of unity go after one another as they would after enemies, you may look for either a shattering of forces or divisions, usually both. And the rea- son for such results may be found in the fact that under such circumstanc- es the only two classes that are capa- ble of keeping the Church in proper Gospel order are wasting their ener- gies and their resources in combating each other when they ought to stand together in battling against a common foe.
When brethren who are given to emphasizing loyalty combine with this an emphasis on the importance of unity on the part of all loyalists, and brethren given to emphasizing unity combine with this the importance of scriptural loyalty; that is, when both classes put equal emphasis on both points; the two together will consti- tute but one class of God's noblemen who, as a united body of soldiers of the cross and pillars of the faith, have a message which has the power of Heaven back of it; they constitute a united body, standing on a platform against which the gates of hell can not prevail.
Notice, we commenced this mes- sage with a MUST. That raises the question in the minds of some: Can it be done? We answer, YES — if we go about it in the Gospel way. "With God all things are possible." Depend- ing upon our own selves- — our own wisdom or wit, our own shrewdness or, goodness or talents — we can do nothing but fail. At our best we are but "unprofitable servants." But I rusting in the living God, with "the love of Cod shed abroad in our hearts by the lloly Ghost" so that we "love one another with a pure heart fer- vently," so completely armed with "the whole armour of God" that all carnal weapons are excluded, and united in faith and spirit, there can be no question as to either loyalty or unity; for, "Jf we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another."
This discussion would be incom- plete if we did not include another MUST, fully as vital as ihe one so far considered. We refer to the must of "Walk as children of light." We yearn for an ideal Church, and it is well that we should ; for "Where
there is no vision, the people perish." But vision alone will get us nowhere unless we "walk." And walking will get us to the wrong place unless we "walk with the Lord." This of ne- cessity means to cooperate with Him according to His Word, — in doctrine, in daily life, in organization, in disci- pline, in soul-winning, in everything concerning which He gives us light. Love and loyalty to both God and the Church are dependent upon our readi- ness to take God at His word and conduct our lives in accordance with His expressed will. "Be ye followers of me" should never be heard except in connection with "even as I also am of Christ."
When problems arise, the first place to go for a solution of them is at the Throne. And the more intense the problem the more fervent our prayers should be. Corresponding to this in- crease in faith and fervor there is a rise in our spiritual stature — in all things pertaining to life and godli- ness ; a corresponding growth in the spirit of humility and meekness, and deepening of spiritual life; a corres- ponding advance in loyalty and love, in faithfulness and longsuffering, in righteousness and peace, in a burden for souls and for the welfare of the Church.
Speaking of problems, those that give us most trouble are usually of our own creation. One of the most perplexing of these is the one arising from the idea that we dare not insist on maintaining full-Gospel standards for fear that some will leave the Church. That simply means the put- ting off the day of evil and intensify- ing the problem at some future time. Another problem arises from the dis- position to accept the letter of the Word without the Spirit. The "take it easy" road also leads to many per- plexing problems. Let us stand Up like men, dismiss our imaginary prob- lems and attend to the real ones NOW, look to God for light and lead- ership, "light the good light of faith" with weapons that are "not carnal," and (though there may be defections from the Church, as there were in the days of Christ and the apostles and in every generation since that time) in our own hearts and in the Church we may confidently expect that the Word of God will grow mightily and prevail. Acts 19:20.
One of the reasons why we have so many sickly, puny church mem- bers to-day is that they are all the time eating of the forbidden fruit. — Gabriel Shenk.
I can testify with the brother I heard say not long ago that he has gotten more joy out of his tears that he ever did out of his laughter. — A. S. llorst.
Doctrinal
In doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sin- cerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned.—
Titus 2 :7. 8.
But speak thou the things which hecome sound doctrine, — Titus 2:1.
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine: continue in them. — I Timothy 4:16.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. — John 14:15.
GOD III. His Reality
By Orrie D. Yoder
For the Gospel Herald.
The fool hath said in his heart, There
is no God. — Psa. 14:1. (
After God has revealed Himself so definitely and in so many ways there should be absolutely no question in regards to His reality, yet it is alarm- ing how souls living in enlightened Christian lands are crying out, "Is God real?" Modernistic, Atheistic and Pantheistic clouds and storms are sweeping over our own land until thousands of souls are crying out of the remaining ruins, "Is there really a personal God?" It is sad indeed that people in heathen lands, who "are without excuse" (Rom. 1 :20) are blinded by "the god of this world" so that they cannot discern the true re- ality of God. but it is multiplied sad- ness when we behold the thousands who wilfully choose to let Satan close their eves to the realitv of God. II Thes. 2:11.12; II Cor.'4:4. Instead of praising God for bringing them from heathendom to the light of Christianity individuals and groups of individuals are so deluded to-day that they glory and joy to lead souls who once embraced the blessings of Chris- tianity back to a state where they not only think they no longer need God, but where there is no God (so they think).
That is the world, but coming home, how about the Church? Is it not just as appalling to think that there are thousands of professed Christians, and many in the Menno- nite Church, who have never experi- enced a full reality of God. How a- bout the individual who knows little, or nothing of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, or who confesses that he (or she) has never studied the subject of the Holy Spirit, does such an individual know God as He has revealed Himself? Experimentally speaking thev must answer with the Ephesians of old (Acts 19:2) "We ha\e not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."
Ear, far too many professed Chris- tians of to-day worship God just like the heathen believes in and worships his god of wood or stone. The hea- then believes in his unseen god, he prays to him, sacrifices to him and
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
3
worships him just as if his god were real. But does his god hear? No, not for two reasons. First, his god is vanity, and second, consequently there is no living relation between him and his god. Just so do many worshipers worship the true God. Al- though God is real, they have never by living faith laid hold upon Him as such, and consequently their wor- ship has never become a living rela- tionship and a Holy Spirit fellow- ship between them and the true God.
It is time that we in our own church awaken to a clearer vision of the reality of God. Why should we be satisfied to have modern supersti- tions and cloudy visions of God hin- der and imperil the progress and safety of our own beloved Church? Why should we be satisfied with hea- then-like worship which, leads us to pray and sacrifice much (which is right) but never gets us into vital and living relationship with Him and never brings us into the real presence of God by the fellowship and indwell- ing of the Holv Spirit. John 4:24; I John 3:24.
.Ministers, Christian workers, fa- thers and mothers, if we desire to see the present and rising generation of our own people to be untouched and unharmed by the fatal modernistic and atheistic darts of the enemy, we must awaken and bring our people face to face with the reality of God. The God whom we worship must be- come real to us, and more, the God whom we serve must become so real to us that \vc will always choose to whole-heartedly trust and obey Him lather than the modern gods of this age.
Let us worship God in spirit and reality. Let US stand (and also walk) upon the immovable founda- tion of the undeniable evidences of the reality of God as He has placed them before us in a thousand ways. Let the im n am Word of God, the apprehensible voice of Mis Holy Spir- it, and the irrevocable history of God's reality in I lis dealings with His people in the. past, and of His revela- tion to mankind through Christ, the God-man, enlighten us to the reality of God. as a "sun" that will shine through all the storms, mists, and clouds of unbelief and modern infi- delity, even unto the end of time.
Harrisonburg, Ya.
The border line Christian is that individual who is not entirely sepa- rated from the world. Me is the fitfSl to fall away in time Of spiritual stress. — Homer North.
"The whole life of human progress is suspended on the evergrowing in- fluence of the Bible." — William Sew- ard, Secretary of State under Lincoln.
THE LIFE BEYOND AND HOW TO OBTAIN IT
By Oscar K. Buzbee
For the Oospei Hcraiu.
God's laws never change ; they can not be revoked. When He speaks, His words stand for ever and ever. No matter how righteous we live in this world, we must all suffer the first death. But through His great love and mercy He has given us a way through His only Son Christ Je- sus whereby we may enter into His kingdom where life is endless and where sorrow never comes. It is my desire to be a companion with those who are seeking this eternal home The scripture teaches that words can not describe the blessings that are prepared for the faithful. It is need- ful for us, therefore, to be clothed with all the armor that can be receiv- ed in order that we may be able to withstand all evil powers. Let us no- tice a few passages that give proof that God will reveal Himself to all who seek Him. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matt. 5:6). "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (Jno. 7:17). "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said. I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and pru- dent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight" (Luke 10: 21). ' Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it. they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (I Cor. 2:8).
We will look at a few passages from the Old Testament. "The se- cret of the Lord is with them that fear him ; and he will shew them his covenant fPsa. 25:14). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever" (Psa. 111:10). "Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for under- standing: if thou seekest her as sil- ver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures ; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Prov. 2:3-5).
We need the fellowship of Chris tians to-day. and for the lack of this fellowship the love of many has grown cold'. It gives a joy within the soul that nothing else can give. It strengthens the inner man to meet with those who are of the true faith. It seems that to-day we can find few- people w hom we can depend upon as being honest and w hom we can trust. Conditions are changing and these changes are noticeable to almost ev-
ery honest man. Spiritual lukewarm-
ness and hypocrisy are probably the causes of part of the visible change. Many testify to living a righteous life, but their lives are far from what they should be. This makes it hard- er for those who are sincere and causes Christ's name to be reproach- ed by this false testimony. It docs not matter where we live. It is how we live that counts. God can and will hear prayers on earth or sea, if we obey Him. In this life we must prepare for the next, for we will have no chance after this life is past.
I have seen fathers and mothers look on the face of a little child who had been called away. They seemed to love the child so much that they would have been willing to die in its stead, and yet they made no prepara- tion to be with these little ones be- yond the grave. Some one may ask, Is it possible to meet these little ones again? Yes, it is possible for us to be unbroken families in that kingdom. 1 believe that many families have passed on who will meet again up yonder. And I believe it is possible for those who are living to-day to have that same privilege. To be counted worthy to enter into that home, we must shape our lives like unto Him who has called us while living here in this life. We must be born again, and go counter to the na- ture we were born with to ever gain a crown.
"And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made icady before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house while it was in build- ing" (I Kings 6:7). The same ap- plies to us who are spiritual stones in His body or temple to-day. We must be prepared here for the temple up yonder. We must possess the nature of humbleness, love, and he as little children to enter in. The great dif- ference between living here and there is that we have to suffer many things in this life, and there all will be joy, for nothing will be there to harm us. Here we often need to repent and constant prayer is necessary so that we may have daily fellowship with Mini and not yield to the carnal de- sires. There all carnal lusts will be left behind. In this life we will never find a place to dwell where we will be free from trials. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3: 12). "And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let him that hcareth sayt Come. And let him that is a- thirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. He which testifier!) these things saith. Surely I come quickly ; Amen. Even so, come. Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:17. 20).
Otney, Okla.
4
Preacher's Page
LIVING SERMONS
By Rebecca Kauffman For the Gospel Herald.
Have you stopped to consider when a ser- mon you hear, That you're preaching a sermon each day
of the year, On high mountain top, on desert or plain, In times of rejoicing, in sorrow or pain, Wherever you are, and howe'er you may be,
The world and its people your sermon will see.
We preach by our acts — more mighty they are,
Than eloquent words, or fine writing, by far!
Actions speak louder than words, so they do;
Just watch you will always find this to be true.
Your acts and deeds as noticed by men Prove mightier far than the tongue or the pen.
This sermon you preach does not end in a day,
Nor a month, nor a year, nor when life fades away;
But it lives on forever, the good or the ill
'Till God in His mercy all time will fulfil;
Then, there as He sits on His great judg- ment seat,
He will quickly divide the chaff from the wheat.
Nor does it end here, for eternity too Will show the effects of the sermon from you !
For if you have lived in the pathway of sin,
You are sure to have carried another soul in.
While if yon have striven for truth and for God
You have influenced others to tread as you've trod.
So let us consider our thought, word, and deed,
And pray to the Father and all His Word read.
Let us pray that He'll help us to ever be strong
That we may lead no one in paths that are wrong.
We will pray Him to come and to dwell with us too,
Then we know that our sermons will al- ways ring true.
SERMON OUTLINES
PRESENT WORLD EVILS
By J. M. Nissley
Text, "Love nol the world" (1 Jno. 2:15).
1. Covetousness. — Luke 12:15.
a. Love of Money. — I Tim. 6:9, 10. 1). Leads to Stealing. — Rom. 13:9. e. I Jnsrriplural Methods of Business. — Prov. 20:10, 14.23.
d. Extortion.— Ezek. 22:12; I Cor. 5:11.
e. Lying.— Rev. 21:8,27.
f. BuMness on the Lord's Day.
g. Credit Husiiuss.— Rom. 13:8; Psa 37: 21.
2. Social Evils.— Gal. 5:19-21,
a. Flirting.— Prov. 6:25; 10:10.
b. Evil Associations. — I'sa 1:L l'rov 4- 14-17.
c Doing Things in the Dark. — Jno. 3: V); Eph. 5:11, 12.
GOSPEL HERALD
d. Not to Marry. — II Tim. 3:2.
e. Divorce Evil.— Matt. 19:3-9.
3. Worldly Pleasure.— Eph. 5:1-5; I Jno. 2: 15.
4. Intoxicating Drink. — Prov. 23:31-35.
5. Revelling.— I Pet. 4:3.
0. Dress.— Zeph. 1:8; Prov. 7:10; Jer. 4: 30,31.
a. Sex Distinction. — Deut. 22:5; I Cor. 11:4, 5.
7. Pride. Ezek. 16:49; Prov. 16:18; 29:23.
8. Literature. — Acts 19:18, 19.
9. Alluring Pictures. — Ezek. 23:14-16.
10. Despising Authority. — Jude 8; II Pet. 2:10; Heb. 13:17.
11. Disobedience to Parents. — II Tim. 3:2.
12. Organizations:
a. Lodges— Jas. 5:12; II Cor. 6:14-18.
b. Labor Unions. — Acts 19:24,25; Rev. 13:16, 17.
c. Boy Scouts. — Prov. 22:6.
d. Life Insurance. — Psa. 118:8.
13. Educational System. — I Cor. 8:1; Rom. 10:2; II Tim. 3:7.
14. Religion.— II Tim. 3:5; I Tim. 4:1,2.
15. ' Pooularity. — Luke 6:22.
16. Results of these Evils.— Eccl. 11:9. Lead to Poverty. — Prov. 21:7. Hinder Christian Growth. — Luke 8:14. Draw Affections from God. — II Tim. 3:4. Produce Spiritual Death. — I Tim. 5:6. War against the Soul. — I Pet. 2:11. Altoona, Pa.
THE LIVING GOD AND HIS GIFTS
1. The Living God — as contrasted with idols (I Thess. 1:9).
2. The Living Savior — in resurrection power (Rev. 1:18).
3. The Living Spirit — quickening dead souls (Rom. 8:2).
4. The Living Word — nothing can kill it (I Peter 1:23).
5. The Living Faith — proving its life by- works (James 11:26).
6. The Living Works — -proving a living faith (Heb. 9:14).
7. The Living Sacrifice — a reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).
8. The Living Water — a fountain within (Jer. 4:10).
9. The Living Bread — a food from heav- en (Jer. 6:57).
10. The Living Way — into God's pres- ence (Heb. 10:20).
11. The Living Stone — the Church's one foundation (1 Peter 2:5).
12. The Living Hope — of future glorv (I Peter 1:3).
— Selected.
A LETTER FROM A MINISTER AND HIS WIFE TO A BROTH- ER AND SISTER IN THE HOME CONGREGATION
(Contributed)
Dear Bio. and Sister: — Since we are housed up with influenza and un- able to see you all, we take this means to express our deepest appre- ciation for the gift you mailed us. Truly litis was very unexpected to us and above all we feel undeserving' nf such a large gift.
But above all we are appreciative id" the spirit of love which you have tor us that has prompted this gift. Again we appreciate the fact that you have consecrated your all (even your farm) to the Master's service. We are sure that the Lord will bless
April 4
you both temporally and spiritually through this consecration.
We surely desire to express our ap- preciation to you for your interest and loyal support of the work of the Church. Your faithfulness has often given us courage to press onward in the responsible work to which the Lord has called us.
Here we wish to commend you for the way that you are bringing up your family. It is a help to us in bringing up our children. We had wanted to tell you how much we appreciated the length you made your daughter's dress when she was re- ceived into the church. We hope this will help others to take the same stand.
We will close, wishing you God's richest blessings and we assure vou that this gift will be used in a way that will make others happy and that the church may be built up and strengthened. Pray for us that the Lord may use us to this end.
THE DUTY OF THE LAITY TO- WARD THE MINISTRY
By Levi Blauch
Fur the Gospel Herald.
"And we beseech you. brethren, to know them which labour among you. and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you ; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among your- selves" (I Thes. 5:12, 13).
In order to obey this text the laity needs to know how the officials of the Church are concerned about them. If the latter are true to God and the Church they will be deeply concerned and put forth an effort to shepherd the flock according to the teaching of the Word. Great indeed is their re- sponsibility. "Take heed therefore un- to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God. which he hath pur- chased with his own blood" (Acts 20 :28).
The laity also have a great respon- sibility. The}' are commanded to ohev the leaders, and are responsible for their conduct in the Christian war- fare. In Heb. 13:7 Paul says. -Re- member them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God : whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversa- tion." The laity should show by their obedience that they have confi- dence in the work and teaching of the ministers. "Obey them which have the rule over you, and submit your- selves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account : that they may do it with joy. and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you"
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
5
(Heb. 13:17) Just as obedience in the home on the part of the children brings joy and satisfaction to the par- ents, so it is in the Church. The laity should be obedient to the faithful leaders who are called of God and or- dained by the Church to shepherd the flock over whom the Holy Ghost has made them overseers. The minister is powerless when the congregation is indifferent, stubborn, and self-willed. But if the congregation is obedient to God and the Church it is a pleasure to the pastor. Read I Cor. 12:28 and let us as laity prove ourselves faith- ful to God and the Church. Pray earnestly, sincerely, and daily, not forgetting the ministers. The minis- ters should show love and respect for all the members, for they are com- manded to be ensamples to the flock. 1 Pet. 3:3.
The laity needs: first, prayer life; second, study life: third, charity life; fourth, obedient life to God and the Church; fifth, a life wholly consecrat- ed to the Lord. If the laity would be more deeply concerned and live as close to God as they would like the officials to live, then the officials could do more outside work and more souls could then be won to Christ. The Church would have more power. It is evident that the power of God does not manifest itself through the ministers only, but God oftentimes speaks through the laity, provided they are consecrated to God. His Word and work.
The laity should never show par- tiality among the ministers, but in- stead should respect them all alike. "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect an- gels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before anoth- er, doing nothing by partiality" (I Tim. 5:21). "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peace- able, gentle, and easy to be entreated, fu'l of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" Cjas. 3:17). This verse should be carefullv and prayerfully studied by both minister and laity. A congrega- tion without a faithful shepherd can not get along; a shepherd without faithful members can not succeed. Faithfulness to God is demanded from bishops, ministers, deacons, and mem- bers. Without this faithfulness, with- out this connection between officials and members, a congregation cannot glorify God. Johnstown, Pa.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures, thev present- ed unto him gifts; gold, and frankin- cense, and myrrh. — Matt. 2:11.
THE PREACHER'S RESPONSI- BILITY
(Ezek. 3:17-21)
There is a threefold responsibility mentioned in the text:
1. That of a Watchman.
This is not only a position of great responsibility but one that is often dangerous, lie is there fur the inter- ests of the owner or establishment. He is not to loaf or sleep on guard, but to be alert and protect said in- terests to the best of his ability. More than one faithful watchman has lost his life while doing his duty.
Ezekiel was to be a watchman un- to the House of Israel, which was God's possession, and while in a sense he was there for them, and they were looking to him to give the signal or alarm in case of danger, yet he was there to protect God's interests.
Viewing it in this light how great and high is the calling of the preach- er and what responsibilities are his! Paul told the Ephesian elders that they were overseers of the Church of God.
As a watchman the preacher must be on the lookout for either good or evil tidings. He must know the spir- itual status of his flock and report to headquarters as he makes his rounds.
2. That of Hearing the Word from God's Mouth.
Tie must hear from God. God will tell him what to do. what course to take. His heart and mouth will then be full of the words of God, not his own. There will be inspiration, flow, and glow. There may not be ora- tory, but the mighty eloquence of the Spirit. Ts there not a famine in the land for the Word of the Lord? We would not discredit books of Spirit- filled writers. Perchance some of us need to read more of them. We would not discredit study. Most of us need to study more. But above all things we need to pray more and hear God speak. The man who has the words of God will be correct in his theology and doctrine though he may not be able to give theological definitions. Theory is dead when on- ly human, but if clothed with the spirit will impart life.
3. That of Giving Warning from God.
His responsibility here consists of delivering the message God gave Him. Tt is God's message. He is not responsible for it. only for delivering it. It is a message of warning.
The message is directed to two classes, the wicked or nonprofessor and the righteous or professor.
His warning to the wicked is to be that of death or judgment. If he per- sists in his wicked way and if he fails to warn him he will be lost and the
messenger will be held accountable.
What about the preacher who takes judgment of the Bible and cries peace, and prophesies smooth things?
We have no authority to cease thundering the Law from Mount Si- nai. A sermon on hell once in a while would awaken the professor as well as nonprofessor.
Again he is to warn the righteous that he sin not, and be lost. We must warn them of the danger of the soul. There is danger of backsliding and even apostatizing till there is no place of repentance found (Heb. 6:4-6; 12: 16. 17). This apostasy is predicted for the last davs. It is upon us. (II Tim. 4:1-5; if Pet. 2:1-3; I Tim. 4: 1-12).
The tendency of man is not to be- come more spiritual : but less, as the time draws near. We are in an age of compromise and many people are building again the things they once destroyed. Many (some of them preachers) instead of influencing their children and impressing them with the old paths are being influenced by them in a worldly way.
Warning is needed to-day as much as in Ezekiel 's day along these lines. God's Word has not changed. Sin is still sin. The penalty for it remains the same. The message the preacher is called to deliver is the same and if we fail to deliver it and warn the righteous as well as the wicked, many will go astray and be lost and their blood will be required at the preach- er's hand.
Some one will say, "But there is danger of being too radical." I should think more danger of being too lib- eral. Again some one says, "We must not be pessimistic." That is often an excuse for not delivering or not agreeing with one who delivers God's message.
Of course the preacher's heart must be full of love, and when he preaches against the popular sins of the day and the judgment for the same he must have the right spirit. He may have all this and yet his message may not be accepted. They will call him a pessimist, say he is clubbing, etc.. and too often, yea. generally, this comes from those who are not walk- ing in the light. This does not, how- ever, give the preacher license to withhold even the truth, though he may not be encouraged and backed up by ministering brethren at times. To keep himself free from the blood of men he must deliver the warning whether they will hear or whether they will forbear (Ezek. 2:6,7). — E. Mover in "Gospel Banner."
Power of Prayer : — Jesus answered and said. All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. — Matt. 21 :22.
6
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
Family Circle
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. —Joshua 24:15.
Kememt.er now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. — Kcclesiastes 12:1.
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the side of thine house; thy children like olive plants around thy table. — Psalms 128:3.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord ; for this is right. — Knhesians 6:1.
Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise. — Ephesians 6:2.
THE FAMILY BIBLE
Sel. by Emma Weaver
How painfully pleasing the fond recollection
Of youthful emotions and innocent joy, When blest with parental advice and affec- tion,
Surrounded with mercies, with peace from on high.
I still view the chairs of my sire and my mother,
The seats of their offspring as ranged on each hand,
And that richest book which excels every other,
The family Bible which lay on the stand.
That Bible, the volume of God's inspiration, At morn and at evening could yield us de- light,
The prayer of our sire was a sweet invoca- tion,
For mercy by day and for safety through night.
Our hymns of thanksgiving with harmony swelling,
All warm from the hearts of a family baud, Half raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling,
Described in the Bible that lay on the stand.
Ye scenes of tranquility, long have we parted, My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more,
In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted, And wander unknown on a far distant shore.
Yet how can I doubt my dear Savior's pro- tection,
Forgetful of gifts from His bountiful hand ?
Oh, let me with patience receive His cor- rection,
And think of the Bible that lay on the
stand. Lancaster, Pa.
LIFE'S HIDDEN SPRINGS
Sel. by E. W. Bricker
There is an ancient story centred in the land of the Philistines which tells of a people so peeved over the prosperity of Isaac in their land, that they choked up the wells which were the secret of wealth and comfort. In- stead of causing trouble, the ancient patriarch with his servants cleared out the stones, rubbish and dead car- casses cast into the wells, until these clogged springs functioned again for the good of the people.
As one looks at life to-day he can see where many of the springs which have served the people, refreshing their spirits and sustaining their lives,
have become choked up by the flip- pancies, vanities and false standards of life. As a result, fertile valleys are in danger of being turned into moral deserts. We need those who know the value of life's hidden springs and who are determined that they can be unearthed and again released for the good of mankind.
One of the finest springs in the moral life of the nation used to be what was called "The Family Altar," where the father of the home at some period each day gathered his family round the Word of God, and after reading some portion, led the thoughts of the family to "the Throne of Grace." There are thousands of men in the heat of the business and professional world to-day who can look back upon those experiences in the old home, and who frankly admit the influence of those experiences are still with them and vitally affect their lives. It is to be regretted that this spring is not so functioning to-day. It has been clogged and choked up with a hundred things people have felt more important. The rush of life to-day has disintegrated the family circle, and the home has degenerated largely into a house. The various members of the family entering com- mercial life has made it next to im- possible to assemble as in the days of the simpler life. For the good of the home and for the moral well-being of the nation, however, something must be done to open this hidden spring. Religion in the schools and the church can never quite take the place of the religious atmosphere of the home.
For the good of our country anoth- er spring which is increasingly being choked up and must be opened is that of loyalty and love toward the Christian Church. There are modern Philistines who spend much of their time casting stones into this well in their endeavor to bury the springs of church life and efficiency. We recog- nize that churches are quite imperfect and have sometimes failed to satisfy the deepest Longings of the people, but on the whole the Christian Church has been a wonderful spring, convey- ing the water of life to dying souls, and by its influence causing an other- wise moral desert to blossom as the rose. It will never do for a nation to neglect its altars, or turn its back upon places of worship. If we allow sport to take the place of the sanc- tuary, and make Sunday a holiday with no thought of gathering to wor- ship God, we are simply throwing rubbish into a spring that' has poured lortb its blessing upon the people, and strengthened a nation's life.
We need to open afresh the springs of God's Word. Xo book has had such an influence on the Anglo-Saxon
people as the Bible. There was a time when its refreshing waters were buried in a dead language, but men like Wm. Tyndale, and others, gave their lives to open the springs for the common people. There is a danger of losing the spring again by the rationalistic rubbish some would cast into it. There was a time when the laws of Moses were as a well to the people, but the Pharisees and Scribes poured into them such a mass of hu- man folly that the well became chok- ed. So it has been with the Gospel. Christ's sacrifice for sin is the great- est spring ever opened for the good of mankind, and yet this spring has been somewhat choked with false views of God and Christ.
And so it is that the springs which alone can bless mankind can only be kept open at a real sacrifice. It is so easy to clog the springs of life with the rubbish of materialism and self- ishness, and then wonder why the vital elements of a country are' lack- ing. It takes men of vision, patience and courage to discover the hidden springs, and to give their very lives that they may be unearthed till they burst forth as fountains again to re- fresh the land. We owe a real debt of gratitude to those who are devot- ing their lives to the opening of bur- ied wells, that blessing and moral growth may be evident in the lives of the people, and that we might con- tinue to prosper in the higher and nobler things of life.
Calgary, Alta.
HOME MOTTOES
Truth seeks no corners.
A good name is a sound inheritance.
Conduct hath the loudest tongue.
Denying a fault doubles it.
True sincerity seeks no witnesses.
He who would gather roses must not fear thorns.
He who keeps off thin ice will not slip through.
Patience and resignation are the pillars of peace on earth.
Nothing is more precious than time, but nothing less valued.
Hope is the only thing that keeps the heart from breaking.
There is no better' looking glass (ban an old friend.
Slander is the homage which vice frequently pays to virtue.
Religion should be the rule of life, not a casual incident to it.
Sail Ahead
"Live for something, have a purpose And that purpose keep in view:
Drifting like a helmlcss vessel, rhou can'st ne'er to life he true.
Hall the wrecks that strew life's ocean
If some star had been their guide.
Might have now been riding safely. Hut they drifted with the tide."
— D. Carl Yoder.
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
7
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Lesson for April 14, 1928—11 Chron. 30:1-27
HEZEKIAH LEADS HIS PEOPLE BACK TO GOD
Golden Text.— The Lord is gracious aha merci ful. — T I Chron. 30:9.
Introductory. — Hezekiah was the son of a wicked king. The fact that he turned out to be much better than his father is an effective answer to the idea that wicked parents always stand in the way of and make it impossible for children to rise to a higher level. Every child is fortunate who is blessed with godly parents, and unfortunate when one or both of the parents are sinful or ungodly. L'ut that is no assurance that children of godly parents will walk in the foot- steps of their godly ancestors, nor that children of ungodly parents can not walk on the way of holiness if they will. God's promise, "My grace is sufficient for thee," reaches all classes of children of whatever par- entage, on condition that they accept this grace and "walk as children of light." No sooner had Hezekiah come to the throne and made a study of conditions than he began the work of vigorous reform.
The Passover Proclaimed (1-9). — One of the things included in the re- forms instituted by Hezekiah was that of bringing his people back into obedience to God's Word. The ordi- nances of the Lord's house needed to be kept, and the king proceeded with vigor to get things in readiness for the keeping of the passover. But there were obstacles in the way. In the first place, they could not keep the passover at the regular time, the first month, for the priests had not sanctified themselves in time for the proper observance of the feast at that time. But there was a provision in the Law that in case any were not ready for the observance of the feast the first month they might keep it the second month. It was therefore decided to put off the feast until that time. This being decided, they set at work vigorously to make the neces- sary preparations. A proclamation was made throughout the land, calling on the people to make the necessary preparations, giving instructions as to how it should be done. The king was heartily supported in this work by both priests and people, and by the time appointed everything was in readiness. Here let us observe :
1. There are no obstacles in our way so great but that they may be overcome if we take God and His Word and follow- His directions.
2. Faithfulness to God means obe- dience to His commandments. As the passover feast was neglected during
the days when people wandered away from God, so now. when under the leadership of a righteous king the people were coming back to God, they were getting ready to keep this long neglected feast. Read I Jno. 2:2-4.
3. To keep the ordinances of God acceptably in His sight it is necessary to get into proper spiritual condition. Of the communion it is said, "He that cateth and drinketh unworthily, eat- eth and drinketh damnation to him- self." A literal physical observance of any ordinance will profit us nothing if we are not in proper spiritual con- dition. Preparation must precede per- formance. And God's Word is the proper authority which tells us about such preparation and performance.
4. Much depends upon the leaders in any church. In most cases it is, "Like priest, like people." When Ju- dah's kings were bad, the people drifted; when righteous men ascended the throne, the people were brought back to God, at least in a measure. Let the Church apply itself diligently to the work of keeping supplied with faithful leaders.
5. Don't place too much emphasis on the idea that it is impossible to bring the people up to full-Gospel standards. True, there are some peo-
STORIES OF BIBLE CHARACTERS— • SAMSON (Jr).-Judg. 13.
Topic for April 14
MOTTO
"Out of weakness made strong."
OUTLINE STUDY
I. A Deliverer Called to be a Nazarite
Unto God from Birth.
1. The announcement to Manoah's wife.
Judg. 13:2-5.
2. The angel of God also shown to
Manoah. — Judg. 13:6-14.
3. The parents offer an offering unto
the Lord.— Judc. 13:15-23.
4. The child Samson is horn and blessed
of God.— Judg. 13:24.25.
II. Samson is Moved by the Spirit of
God Mightily.
1. When a lion roared against him. —
Judg. 16:5-7.
2. When he paid the Plvlistincs who
found out his riddle. — Judg. 13:8-20.
3. When the Philistines tried to take
him captive.— Judg. 15:14-20.
4. When God gave him back the
strength he had lost by sin. — Judg. 16:28-31.
III. Samson Lost His Power by Sin.
1. He followed after harlots. — Judg. 16:
1.4.
2. He n*ed his strength for pleasure. —
Judg. 16:3-14.
3. He lot love of women deceive h:m.
—Judg. 16:15-20
4. God let the enemy make him a pri-
soner.— Judg. 16 21-27.
pie who insist on "walking after the
course of this world." But even then the number to go that way will be greatly diminished when the leaders are of the Joshua 24:15 type. Usu- ally when "my people would have it BO," the leaders are with them in also wishing to have it so.
Keeping the Feast (25-27).— With the preparations for the feast in mind, we may reasonably expect an event noted for enthusiasm and a God-hon- oring spirit. In this expectation we are not disappointed. The Word tells us, that —
L There was a great crowd of people present (v. 25).
2. "There was great joy in Jeru- salem." Not since the days of David and Solomon had such a wonderful feast been held fv. 26).
3. "Their voice was heard and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven" (v. 27).
In other words, when the people of God are in earnest, especially when they are blessed with the leadership of Spirit-filled men, there is not only satisfaction and joy among the obe- dient worshipers, but their prayers are heard and answered before the Throne. May there be similar faith- fulness and joy in our Gospel feasts of to-day. — K.
SUGGESTIVE ASSIGNMENTS
For Children.
1 Text word. "Strength."
2. Tell the Story of the Angel Visitor.
3. Tell a Story of Samson's Strength.
4. Why Did Samson Lose StrcnRth? 5 How Did His Strength Return?
For Others.
1. What is a Nazaritt?
2. Lessons from Samson's Life.
SEED THOUGHTS
"The whole meaning of Samson's his- tory is. that he was a Nazarite. His strength lay in being a Nazarite: his weak- ness in yielding to his carnal lusts, and thereby becoming unfaithful to his calling In both respects he was not only a type of Israel, but. so to speak, a mirror in which Israel could sec itself and its history. Israel, the Nazarite people — no achieve ment, however marvelous, that it could not and dd not accomplish! Israel, un- faithful to it« vows and yielding to spirit- ual adultery — no degradation so low, that it would not descend to it! The history of Israel was the history of Samson; his victories were like theirs, till, like him. vielding to the seductions of a Delilah. Israel betrayed and lost its Nazarite strength." — Fdersheim.
"Christian walk praverfullv, oft wilt thou fall
If thou forget on thy Savior to call: Safe shalt thou walk through each trial and care.
If thou art clad in the armor of prayer "
— Selected.
Bible Meeting Topic
8
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
Gospel Herald
A Religious Weekly Published in the interests of the Mennonite Church by
MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD
Scottdale, Pa. Aaron Loucks, General Manager
Entered at Scottdale P. O. as second-class matter. Subscription Price, $2.00 per year in advance. Sample copies sent free on application.
Editor Daniel KaufTman
Associate Editor* . . . ,J. A. Ressler, John L. Horst Contributing Editors
John W. Weaver. Union Grove, Pa.
Silvanus Yoder, Goshen, Ind.
H. Frank Reist, Falfurrias, Tex.
Address all communications intended for publication GOSPEL HERALD Scottdale, Pa. Communications relating to the business of the House, such as subscriptions, changes of address, etc., should be addressed
MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE Scottdale, Pa.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1929
Field Notes
A committee to arrange the pro- gram for the annual meeting of the Illinois Sunday School Conference met fit the Old People's Home, Eure- ka, 111., on March 25.
Bro. B. B. Kine; of Ft. Wayne, Ind., was scheduled to begin a series of meetings at the Chicaeo Mennonite Mission on April 3. The meetings are to continue until April 14.
Bro. Amos S. Horst and family ex- pected to spend Easter Sunday with the brotherhood at Oronogo, Mo. Thev were on their way to their home at Ephrata. Pa., after spending the winter in Texas.
A series of meetings will be held, the Lord willing, at the Marietta Mennonite Mission at Marietta, Pa., from June 20 to 30, with Pro. Elias Kulp of Bally. Pa., in charge. The pravers of Cod's people are solicited in behalf of these meetings.
Bro. and Sister Homer M. Kauff- man and Sister Marv Schload of Scottdale spent Easter with home folks in Lancaster Co.. Pa., while Sis- ter Ruth Ressler of Johnstown, Pa., spent the holiday with her parents at Scottdale.
Bro. E. S. Hallman of Falfurrias, Texas, is expecting to spend a few weeks in the near future with the brotherhood at Lake Charles, La., Ly- man, Miss., and several other points in Louisiana and Mississippi, conduct- ing meeting's and holding1 communion services at Lake Charles and Lyman,
Bro. C. D. Esch, missionary on fur- lough from India having a temporary
residence at West Liberty, Ohio, re- turned to his home last week after spending several weeks at Falfurrias, Texas. He left Falfurrias on Sunday night, March 24.
Bro. Rhine W. Benner of Roaring, W. Va., was a visitor at the Publish- ing House on Friday of last week. He stopped here on his way to his home, after conducting a series of meetings at the Mission at Peoria, 111. Good interest and attendance marked the meetings, and two souls confessed Christ as their Savior.
Bro. N. E. Miller of Springs, Pa., is expected to fill an appointment at Elizabethtown, Pa., on Saturday eve- ning, April 6. On Sunday, April 7. he is scheduled to preach at Stick- ler's Church near Middletown. Pa., in the morning, and in the evening at Stauffer's Church near Bachmansville, Dauphin County, Pa.
Bro. Wm. G. Lauver, missionary on furlough from South America, began a series of meetings at the Mission at Baden, Ont, on Sunday, March 31. The meetings are to close with an all- day meeting on April 7. Previous to this Bro. Lauver held evangelistic meetings at the Delaware Church near Thompsontown, Pa., in which nine souls stood to show their will- ingness to follow Christ.
Bro. B. P. Swartzendjfifetr and wife of Upland, Calif., who made an ex- tended tour through the Eas.t and South this winter, are at present vis- iting among friends and brethren in the vicinity of Falfurrias and Tuleta, Texas. They expect, D. V., to attend the General Mission Board meeting near Garden City, Mo., in May, after which it is their intention to' return to their home in California.
Among visitors at the Publishing House last week were Bros. N. F. Miller, Springs, Pa., Chester Lehman. Henry Weaver, Daniel Lehman, and Bro. and Sister Ernest Gehman and little daughter, all of Harrisonburg, Va. They came here from Mason- town, Pa., where they were taking part in a special series of meetings from Good Friday to Faster Sunday. Good interest was shown in these meetings and a number of Scottdale people were in attendance.
An all-day meeting was held at the Mennonite Church at Pinto, Md., on Good Friday. A meeting was also held the evening previous, and be- sides people from the local district, a number of brethren from Virginia took part in the program. The inter- est and attendance were good at these meetings. The work at Pinto is quite encouraging. At the meeting on Thursday evening one brother was
received into the church by water baptism. The brethren at Pinto have also taken steps to open a mission Sunday school in a schoolhouse some
distance away.
V/e are pleased to learn of the mar- riage of Bro. D. H. Bender, President of Hesston College, to Sister Anna M. Kreider, daughter of Bishop J. M. Kreider of Palmyra. Mo. The cere- mony was performed by Maurice A. Yoder at Bro. Bender's home at Hess- ton, Kans., on March 27, 1929. For several years previous to his assuming the principalship of Hesston Academy and Bible School Bro. Bender was of- fice editor of the Gospel Witness and Gospel Herald. The workers of the Publishing House extend their con- gratulations and wish Bro. and Sister Bender many happy years of Christian service in their new relationship. L.
Correspondence
Detroit Lakes, Minn.
(Lake Region congregation)
Dear Herald Readers: — We had very mild winter weather till the first of the year, then January and Feb- ruary were quite cold. The coldest was around 35 to 40 degrees below zero, with quite a lot of snow. As spring was approaching the snow was nearly all gone, until the last week when we had several snows but they too were soon gone again.
Health is pretty good again. Mrs. George Johnson was in the hospital about ten days but was able to go home again last Thursday.
Two Martin families visited in the home of Joe Gingerich one Sunday last fall. One was from Amenia and the other from Fargo, N. Dak.
Jerry Yoder of Wolford, N. Dak., and a Miss Sla'bach of Indiana visited several days with the former's sister Mrs. Joe Stoll. in January.
Finery D. King and family of Har- risonville, Mo., arrived here Feb. 21. to make this their home. Thev seem well pleased with their new location and we are glad to have them with us. The writer and family visited in their home to-dav.
We begin services to-day again in the church we rent for the summer.
We now have five families here, and our little church will be pretty well filled when all are able again to come out to Sunday school and Church. There will be forty-four enrolled. We invite others to come to worship with us.
Bro. Joe Gingerich preached to us to-day from Prow 29:18. first clause. Remember as in your pravers. Mar. 24. 1920. Fannie Stehman.
Collesjeville. Pa.
The time of the year is fast ap-
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
9
proaching when we again expect to partake of the saered emblems of the bread and the cup. Let us remember the words of I Cor. 11:26; "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." Many that were with us a year ago, will not be with us this year. We hope they may drink it new in His kingdom. I therefore appeal to all to make their peace, calling, and election sure. If we can- not have sweet fellowship here, how can we expect to have it in eternity? The following are the places and dates for communion and baptismal services in our district: Ccmmunicn
Skippack, April 28.
Providence, May 5.
Vincent. Mav 12.
Bally, May 19.
Norristnwn, May 26. Baptism
Bally, April 7.
Norristown, April 14
March 25, 1929. Warren G. Bean.
Tuleta, Tex.
Dear Herald Reader^: — A very in- teresting and we believe', profitable Bible Conference was held with the congregation at Tuleta over March 9. 10. About thirty of the brethren and sisters from Falfurrias were with us. Four bishops, two ministers and one deacon were present, as well as a number of other brethren with their families who are spending some time in the South. Though meeting with each other as strangers, there was fel- lowship in the faith, and each session was a real inspiration to us. The meetings closed Sunday night with a missionary sermon by Dr. C. D. Fsch of India.
Bro. A. S. Horst and family, who have been located with us for several months have just left for their home at F.phrata, Pa. We greatly appre- ciated their stay and ministry here and wish them God's blessings wher- ever they go. They were accompa- nied by .Bro. Julius Stut/.man of Ohio, who is also returning to his home.
Others will soon be leaving for their home states, but we hope to welcome them and many others to our pleasant land again in the future.
We feel to say yet with the Psalm- ist, "The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad" (Psa. 126:3). Cor.
Bowdil, Ohio
(Pleasant View congregation) Dear Herald Readers: — We have been enjoying nice spring weather which seems to have arrived earlier this year than usual. We rejoice to know that the Lord is so faithful in granting to us these natural blessings which add much to our pleasure and enjoyment in life.
Those who were unable to worship with us on account of sickness are able to be out again.
We expect to reopen our young people's Bible meeting again soon. It was discontinued through the winter months.
Plans have been started for a scries of meetings at this place some time this summer. Let us pray that this might be a time of spiritual refresh- ment, that through the teaching of the Word. Christ's Church at this place might be strengthened and built up, and become more firmly estab- lished in the faith, also that sinners might receive a conviction of their lost condition and turn to God.
March 26. 1929. Cor.
Detroit. Mich.
(Route 9, Box 2860) Dear Herald Readers, Greetings: — It is with great joy and pleasure that I write regarding some of our hap- penings in our work in Detroit. We are a small group of Christian work- ers, striving hard to do God's work. We are now preparing our Faster program and expect to have a happy Faster.
We have had the pleasure of hav- ing a number of visitors of late from different parts : Bro. Mcnno Stiener, Bro. Clarence Stiener. Sister Stiener and daughter. Sister Alta Stiener, all of Fairview. Mich., and Bro. and Sis- ter Smith, parents of Sister King, of Ohio.
We appreciate our never-tiring Bro. and Sister King. Bro. King met with an accident two weeks ago, and has suffered from a broken right arm as a result. Nevertheless he never stop- ped his work as a minister for our Father in heaven.
We always seem to have a busy week with our membership — Bible Class on Thursday evening. Teachers' Training Class on Tuesday evening, -with Bro. King as our instructor. Our Mission is a little over two years old and we are small in number, but we stand ready and willing to do God's will and we ask for your ear- nest prayers.
Mav God's blessing be upon voit all.
Mar. 27. 1929. Evelyn White.
Port Trevorton, Pa.
(Susquehanna congregation)
On Saturday. Mar. 16. Bro. John A. Brilhart and his son. J. Frank, of Scottdale, Pa. (formerly of this place), came and paid us a short visit. Bro. Brilhart had services frofli the 17th to the 20th and two precious souls accepted Jesus as their Savior and are under instruction at this time. Pray for them that they may hold out
faithfully and trust in the One who is able to keep that which they have "committed unto him against that flay." The interest was very good and many people throughout the com- munity came to hear Bro. Brilhart break the Bread of life. Bro. Frank also gave interesting talks before ev- ery service. We thank them very much for their visit and pray that the Lord may bless the work in their home Church.
In the Master's name. Mar. 27, 1929. Lee Swineford.
Archbold. Ohio
(Central A. M. congregation) Dear Herald Readers, Greetings in the Master'.- hie- sod Name: -On March 17, a very inspiring baptismal service was held here when twenty- seven precious young souls made their vows to God in the presence of many witnesses. It not only brought joy and gladness to the children of God here on earth, but we have rea- sons to believe that there was joy in heaven that these were willing to for- sake sin and live for their Master. May the prayers of God's children continue to ascend to the throne in behalf of these dear souls that they may live the overcoming life. Yours in Him, March 27, 1929. Cor.
Schellsburg. Pa.
Dear Herald Readers: — At a meet- ing on Sunday afternoon. March 24, we elected the officers of the Sunday school for the coming year, as fol- lows-: Supts.. W. E. Replogle. Irvin Wevant : Secy.. Scott Beam: Treas.. I- flic Hoover; Librs.. Ross and John Weyant ; Chars., Sisters Swacy, Hoo- ver and Grime.
We expect to begin our regular Sunday school and preaching service on Sunday afternoon. April 7. at 2 o'clock. We invite all who can to conic and be with us. for we appre- ciate the presence and help of others. Everybody is well at this writing.
Mar. 27. 1029. W. F. Replogle.
Topeka, Ind.
(Emma congregation) Dear Gospel Herald Readers. Greet- ing in Jesus' Name. — On Sunday. March 24. we had a very interesting mission meeting in the afternoon and evenincr. Those on the program were Bros. D. D. Miller. D. D. Trover. S. L. Weldv. and Ray Voder, and Sister Ruth B. Miller, missionary on fur- lough from India, who gave us an in- teresting talk on Glimpses of the In- dia Mission.
The meetings were well attended, both afternoon and evening. On Sun- dav evening. March 17, a number of students from Goshen College had (Continued on pape 13)
10
Miscellaneous
SOMETIME. SOMETIME
By L. I.. Hershbcrger
For (lie Gospel Herald.
Sometime, sometime, somewhere, Beyond the vale of care —
Sometime, somewhere, There'll be a sunny shore Where cares and trials are o'er, And tears shall be no more —
Sometime, somewhere!
Sometime, sometime, somewhere, Removed from every care,
To dwell somewhere. Beyond life's stormy sea, Our crown of bliss shall be In God's eternity —
Sometime, somewhere!
Sometime, sometime, somewhere! O bliss beyond compare!
Sometime, somewhere, When heaven will be our home, 'Mid glories of God's throne, Where naught but bliss is known — ,
Sometime, somewhere!
Nappanee, Ind.
HELPING PRESENT AND FU- TURE GENERATIONS BY ENDOWMENT
By Orie O. Miller
For the Gospel Herald.
We of this generation cannot prize enough, nor acknowledge too often, the help we receive in our lives, in our service and in opportunities for service from endowments built up and passed on by those who have gone before. Most of us are endowed with healthy, strong bodies because of clean-hved forbears; with standards of frugality, simplicity in life and con- duct because of their example. From them is being passed on to us a faith, ideals and forms of worship, organ- ized church activity, avenues and equipment for Christian service, ideals of family life and of world evangelism which our own growing Christian ex- perience and the Word confirm to us as true. These endowments all min- ister to our joy and efficiency in Christian living and service. The least that we can do, and be true stewards of these inherited assets, is to use them so that their capital val- ue may have definitely increased as we pass there on to those following us, not as the servant who received his one talent and later handed back just what he had received, but as the other two who traded and used theirs and turned back double.
This brings us to the thought in this brief message. The endowment funds now being encouraged and ac- cumulated by the various agencies of the Church will, if properly gathered, held, and used, be one way in which we can contribute to this cumulating Heritage1. In no past generation has
GOSPEL HERALD
so little effort been required to make a living and a surplus than in ours. To many this very fact brings fears as to the Church's ability to stem the inroads of temptation and sin result- ant from this material prosperity. Is it not intended, however, by Provi- dence, to be an opportunity to us? We are responsible to God in this day not only for the way we use these opportunities for making money but as well for how and where we spend it. The Church is right in af- fording avenues through which the Christian can serve those coming af- ter with his accumulated wealth.
Those in the Church responsible for and directing the gathering and use of these various endowment funds, as well as other monies given to the Church, need to give much and pray- erful thought to the influence of their service, both on this and coming gen- erations. It seems to me that the following are at least a few points to which they need to give constant and serious concern.
1. It has become apparent to many that certain institutions of the Church have no assurance of benefiting the coming generation at all or of con- tinuing to serve the present one effi- ciently without the help of endow- ment funds. Endowments for our Church schools are as essential as buildings, libraries, and equipment, as essential to a Church school as a meetinghouse is to a congregation. Under present day conditions they
VII. BALANCED
By M. T. Brack-bill
lJor the Gospel Herald.
It is an interesting observation that Nature endeavors to maintain in all her realm a system of balances. There are temporary unbalancings and de- viations from the mean, but there is nearly always, sooner or later, a re- turn to normalcy.
There are balances in the physical human body that Nature tries hard to maintain, and which she does main- lain to a surprising degree in spite of the unbalancing effects of wrong liv- ing. There are balances in the spirit- ual body which the Holy Spirit en- deavors to maintain and does main- tain to a surprising degree in His children in spite of the counter forces of the e\ il one. These balances are often temporarily upset, and some- limes irreparably, with disastrous re- sults. Jusi as asteroidal fragments are sometimes pulled so far out of their orbits that they are plunged to the earth never again to follow celes- tial trails, so youth once strong and
April 4
cannot grow normally unless these endowments grow. This generation serves well the next by a wise study of what institutions can serve best if aided by endowment and under what conditions funds had better be used as given.
2. Of equal importance are the policies and manner of accumulating, holding and using these funds. Just as our meetinghouses, the buildings and furnishings of our various church institutions, ought to reflect our faith and ideals, so should our policies in gathering and holding endowments. "Not slothful in business" should characterize us here. There is a "sep- aration from the world" applicable in method and practice in accumulating and holding endowments of which we need to be examples to those com- ing after.
3. The functions of endowments need to be safeguarded to the end that they actually will contribute to the Church's continuing program. History shows many disappointing experiences along this line. We should profit by then}.
That the special and unique bless- ings of our day may be directed by the Spirit into forms and avenues of usefulness where they can effectively serve His Church and her work until He. the Bridegroom, comes should be a matter of concern and intercession with us more often than it is.
Akron, Pa.
admirable, pulsating with noble pur- pose and high resolve, may. by being drawn too far by this world's carnal attractions, be plunged to abysms where the stars no longer pull or heavenly ideals spur on. There are limits of retrievability.
There are many ways of becoming Unbalanced. In these days of special- izing and intensiveness in everything, it is easy to gravitate to one thing and be swallowed by it. There is business, for instance. With modern machinery, instruments, and methods any reputable business is most inter- esting and fascinating: but there is danger at the fascination point of a business becoming an octopus. It will cut into one's devotion, go with him to church, and may even eventu- ally suck all the spiritual life out of him.
There is a similar tendency to-day in education to early sidetrack the student and make a specialist out of him. It is unbalancing. Our day may necessitate it. but nevertheless it is quite opposed to the rounded out cultural training that enriches and stabilizes. Absorption in any one
PRESENT-DAY MENNONITE YOUNG PEOPLE'S
PROBLEMS
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
11
field of learning will distort a man, cause him to unduly magnify his own particular interest, and belittle and misinterpret everything- else. Too many medical students, as well as other students, are taking their doc- tor's degree and at the same time de- nying that there is a soul. Since they do not study it, dissect it, or see it through a microscope, they do not believe in it. Darwin was once a de- vout Christian, hut his interest in biology grew until it supplanted ev- erything else, his religion included. However, when he was old he was broadminded enough to see its effects upon him, and he said, if he could live his life over again he would read a great poem every day and listen to some good music. Too bad that he could see no greater need.
Wc dare not fail to see that our soul's need should be the first con- sideration. There are faculties of the soul that atrophy with disuse. If we do not exercise our faith it will van- ish. If we do not cultivate our re- ligious thought and sensibilities we shall become unresponsive to spirit- ual truth and guidance. If we neg- lect the soul's need, its manifestation will become so slight that judging from ourselves, we might conclude wifh the skeptic student that there is no soul. If we neglect prayer and companionship with God, we not only deny ourselves the attending blessings of such privileges, but may even come to disbelieve that there is a God.
On the other hand, it is possible to make religion an obsession. It is possible to be as far from the mean on the side of fanaticism as on the side of unbelief. We are too material to become completely absorbed in the spiritual. We arc too spiritual to be- come completely absorbed in the ma- terial. Boiling temperatures, I should think, would be as undesirable to the tongue as lukewarm.
There should, of course, be concen- tration on something, a conscientious thoroughness, a degree of mastery. Rut each one must decide for him- self to what extent he can submerge himself in his business without en- dangering his greatest welfare, phys- ically, mentally, and spiritually.
There is a proper balance, with sufficient latitude, in everything. A- void the extremes as the old sailors did Seylla and Charybdis. Not "ho- lier-than-thou" Pharisaism, nor luke- warm indifference; not indecisive and convictionless, nor too cock-sure and dogmatic ; not too narrow in views, employments, and interests, but rich- ness ; not distraction cither. We should make provision in our pro- gram for work and recreation, for sweating and thinking, for personal improvement and helpfulness to oth- ers, for social contacts and divine
companionship, for reading and medi- tation, for present prospects and dreams for the future, for tears as well as smiles, for purifying and safe- guarding discipline, as well as for satisfied longing-.
We should have a forte, but should not make it a fort from which to shoot at everything else. Wc should not go off on a tangent, tearing loose
XII. BISHOP JACOB HOSTETTER
( 1 77+— 1865)
Ry Ira I). Landis
For the Gospel Herald.
Jacob llostetter. third bishop of the Erisman-Manheim District was born in a log house on the llostetter farm southeast of Manhcim. Lancaster Co., Pa., on Aug. 13, 177-1. Here he grew to manhood, learning sobriety, indus- try, economy and good morals. His education was from the Bible, includ- ing the Apocrypha, Martyr's Mirror f since 1748 available in the German), works of Menno Simons and Dietrich Philips chiefly. He was a man with a commanding figure, being more than average in height, with a broad, high forehead, long locks as was then the custom, and plain dress. He had a cheerful disposition and was a wise counsellor. Mechanically inclined, he made some of his own farm machin- ery and wagons in the basement, while his wife did the spinning up- stairs. He did his own tailoring, his own shoemaking, and later in life, some fine work in basketry, from both hickory and grasses. He was. however, a farmer by occupation, farming the lands (not wooded) now owned by Cephas and F.manuel Hos- tetter, between whose buildings Hie log house was situated wherein he was born,, lived much of his life, and dii'd.
lie was a descendant of Jacob and Anna llostetter. Swiss Mennonite refugees from the Palatinate, prob- ablv near Mannheim, who settled on the north side of the Conestoga. within the present Lancaster City limits at least by 1717. Here they brought up a family of eight children from whom, were descended the three Bishops— Christ Bomberger I and II. and the subject of this sketch — of the Hammer Creek District. He bought a five-hundred-acre tract in the Man- or and thither most of his children resorted, some of them now leaders in the River Brethren Church. The third generation included a Jacob, who was married to Maria Metzler, of Manor who located in the Manheim district on the Hostetter Homestead above referred to.
Jacob, the subject of this sketch, a
from restraining forces that keep us in proper orbits, nor slow down and be overpowered by force* in the other direction. There is danger in ovcr- sp« vializing. There is folly in over- dabbling. ''Every man that strveth for the mastery is temperate in all things."
Harrisonburg, Va.
son of the latter, was married to Eliz- abeth Miller of Hanover, York Co., Pa., in 1800. To this union were born twelve children. The following ten grew to maturity surviving their father: John of Manheim; David (fa- ther of Cephas, Sarah, and Emman- uel) on the home place; Susan, wife of John Shaeffer of Lancaster; Bar- bara, wife of Joseph Hershey, Manor; Ann. wife of Christian Wisler. of Wissler's Mill: Maria, single; Jacob, father of Annie Martin, Neffsville, of Sun Hill: Martha, wife of John Stauffer, of Marietta; Catherine, wife of Christian Erisman, of Sporting Hill; and Fanny, wife of Deacon Da vid Hershey. of Manheim (mother of Amos Hershey. Manheim and Mrs. S. K. Xissley, Lancaster). At least sev- en of these through the influence of a godly home, accepted the faith of their fathers.
He was ordained to the ministry in 1807 at the age of thirty-two to serve the Ilernley and Reist congregations. The latter had a church home on the farm, in Penn Township, now owned by John Reist and in 1860 built at Kaulfman's. In 1831 he was ordained as bishop for part of the present Isaac Brubakcr District, including Erisman's. Reist's. Hernley's, Erb's. Landisville. and Chestnut Hill. He was preceded in this district by John Lehman, at the beginning of the cen- tury, and later, by Samuel Xissley of Landisville. He saw the church growing and his work increasing while Peter Eb\ was moderator of Lancaster Conference. Upon his death in 1843. this responsibility also wa< his. The Board of Bishops at that time included Christian Bomberger. Hammer Creek; Jacob Zimmerman. Weaverland; Henry Shenk. Rohrers- town : John Muma. Donegal; Michael Gingrich. Lebanon: Christian Herr. Strasburg; and. apparently before 1845. John Brubaker (grandfather of Pre. John B. Snavelyi bishop assis- tant to Jacob Hostetter in home dis- trict. Conference met semiannually as at present. Traveling to and fro of course was first by horse-back, later by carriage. Bishop Hostetter seldom traveled outside of his Con- ference District. He did his work faithfully, both as a preacher and as a bishop, teaching both by precept and example, and giving much time
FIFTY MENNONITE LEADERS
12
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
thereto, especially in later life.
His correspondence was profuse for his time, written in German script, folded and mailed without the enve- lope. His letters (showing character and disposition of author) sometimes
opened thus :
"1 hope these lines may find you well, which would afford me sincere pleasure, but should it not be the case, we must receive with patience what the Lord may see fit to bestow upon us. Afflictions are often sent to us of God as means by which we may be drawn nearer to Him. This has already been the experience of many, and through afflictions many have been converted to God. I have often said the enjoyment of health is the noblest gift of God that we can enjoy in the time of grace. May God give grace to all that from Him have ob- tained the light, that they may live to the glory of God, for not one will regret it in that eternal world of joy, when this life is past. I repeat that we should be zealous to work out the salvation of our never- dying souls in the days of health."
To show the nature of his preach- ing, may we note the following from his writings :
' Man was not created and placed in this world to seek his pleasure in the perishable things of earth. This is only a preparation for heaven. Our heart is truly a desert where the voice of the preaching of repent- ance is heard and the Spirit is at work to convince man of sin. A repenting soul that realizes the misery of sin becomes restless and burdened and his sinful heart is broken and mellows like melted wax. A penitent soul is truly sorry so much evil clings to him. The fruits of true repentance are manifest in a changed heart. The tempter is not idle when a person is ready to turn from his service, for which cause we watch and pray. How necessary to enter the school of the Master: "Take my yoke" (Matt. 11:29). What else is that but— Re- ceive my doctrines and commandments, which will be a heavy yoke indeed tor the old man but an easy, light burden for the new man, born of God3 If the confession of sins was necessary at the baptism of John, how much more so for the baptism that Jesus commanded to be administered in the revered name of the Trinity? Bap- tism is called the counsel of God (Luke 7: 29,30) and it is rejected by man to his eternal loss. When the Holy Ghost does not move man to act, his actions will avail nothing. The baptized person renounces his own will, the devil, the service of sin, intemperance, and the world in general, and vows faithfulness to the Lord by the help of God to this end. To arise to a new begin- ning and newness of life is according to the truth as it is in Jesus. Eph. 4:21-3. Christ prayed on the Cross in great agony, "Fa- ther, forgive them." May we be like-mind- ed! Learn of Jesus true meekness and hu- mility of heart. Then will we not be con- formed externally to this world, which is nothing less than an abomination in the sight of God. May we watch and pray and walk in humility, for humility brings us great blessings and opens the way to obtain urace from God. If the guards before the gates of the city fall asleep, the enemy that is before the city may easily enter and spoil it; just so it is when wc cease to watch over our hearts and neglect prayer; then comes I ho enemy to spoil the city of the heart; for Satan is ever busy in his efforts to load man from the narrow into the broad way, because lie i-; the enemy of the happiness of the souls of all men."
On April 6, 1865 he laid his armor by after a ninety-year pilgrimage, fif-
ty-eight years of which were spent as a minister, and thirty-four as bishop and leader in the faith he cherished, nourished and multiplied. One thou- sand people on Sunday, April 9, as- sembled on the premises of their shepherd, when Bishops John Bruba- ker and Benjamin Herr in the Ger- man appropriately spoke from Heb. 13:7,8. At the funeral of his widow who died July 3, 1873, aged ninety- one, there were at least three hundred teams scattered over the premises. The services chiefly in German were from Rev. 14:13, after which she was interred alongside her bosom compan- ion on the Emannuel Hostetter farm to await the resurrection morn.
Peter Nissley (I), with whom he labored, at his demise wrote :
SELF-EXAMINATION PREPARA- TORY TO COMMUNION
By H. F. Reist
For the Gospel Herald.
TEXT: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith. — II Cor. 13:5. As we think of the approaching communion, and the symbols which represent the broken body and shed Wood of our Lord and Master, the ouestion may arise in some minds. Whv these symbols?
Human nature is so constituted that we need something tangible, something concrete, to typify things abstract, things that cannot be seen. We are prone to forget. Tt requires that which the hands can handle and the mind readily "-rasp to keep us in constant remembrance of the things typified. Thus in the communion "As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I Cor. 11 :26).
According to this testimony the communion is for the express pur- pose of keeping before us two fun- damental truths concerning the per- son of Christ and their vital relation to us, namely: (1) The vicarious suf- fering of Jesus; (2) His coming a- gain." The first takes us back to the cross where Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by Lis shed blood, thus •riving US access to God; the second reminds us of the glorious hope of His return to gather His own unto Himself, "and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
The death of Jesus was necessary
"He always spoke with great eloquence and Christian zeal. With weeping eyes he would address the audience, so that every penitent heart would melt to tears. Often did I see his attentive hearers with weeping eyes gaze upon the aged minister as he pro- claimed the joyful news of salvation to re- penting sinners. How many hundreds of all ages whose funeral sermons he preached, lie saw lowered into the grave, but at last also his long-wished for hour arrived. This lie awaited with Christian fortitude, saying with Simeon of old: 'Lord, now lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace ' (Luke 2:
23). His field of labor was very extensive. He went forth to preach and to ordain bish- ops, ministers, and deacons, wherever new ones were needed or vacancies occurred. He was ever ready to obey his Lord and Master's will on earth, and now has gone to the mansions above — the believer's rest— where amid eternal joys, he may glorify Gcd in a more perfect obedience." Landisville, Pa.
to reconcile man to God. There was no human being worthy to atone, for the sins of the world. Jesus alone, who was without sin, was able to furnish the sacrifice necessary to pay the penalty for sin and make it pos- sible for us to return to God.
When we meditate upon the clos- ing scenes of Christ's earthly life we can but in a small degree comprehend the price paid by Him and the Fa- ther for our redemption. Paul tells us that it will take "ages" for God to reveal in their fullness the riches of His grace in redeeming us.
During the Passion week we see Him as the Man of Sorrows and "ac- quainted with grief." The supreme hour of His life had come: the con- summation of His life work was at hand. We see Him weeping over the city of Jerusalem because of the wickedness of its people and their unwillingness to repent and accept the Messiah of Scripture. We see Him forsaken except by a few. who later also left him. He was alone. In the garden of Gethsemane He wrestled alone with the Father in ag- onizing praver while the disciples were asleep. Three times He sought for another way. if possible thereby to redeem man. but each time ex- pressing a willingness to make the sacrifice foreordained if necessary. In this hour of bitter conflict, when it appears as though Satan was trying to crush out His life under the bur- den of the sin of the world and thus frustrate the work of the cross. He bore it all alone. No one but the
Our Weekly Sermon Message
"Preach the WORD: be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsufrering and doctrine
Feed the flock of God."
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
13
Father, who suffered with Him, could comfort and help. There are times in our experience when our friends and loved ones cannot understand nor help us. In those hours when we are alone we, like Jesus, can turn with implicit confidence to One who al- ways can help to lighten our burden.
On the cross we see Him mocked, forsaken, alone. There for six long hours He hung, praying for His ene- mies, making provisions for the care of His mother, speaking words of comfort and assurance to the penitent thief, and finally, crying with a loud triumphant voice, He committed Himself to the Father and died. All this was done for you and for me because He loved us so. Thus did the innocent die for the guilty ; the just for the unjust. He died that we might live, the supreme sacrifice of an immeasurable and boundless love.
As we turn and look into the future it is with a radiant hope. He is coming again — not to suffer, but as Ford of lords and King of kings, to reign with the saints. It is this great and glorious hope that gives us com- fort and the incentive to endure unto the end.
His sacrifice and return are the two great truths which He wants us to remember, and which are typified in the communion. The realization of the significance of these great truths and their relation to us brings a con- sciousness of our dependence upon Christ alone for salvation, upon His finished work, and not upon our own morality or good works.
Fet us examine ourselves, therefore, whether we arc in "the faith." If we do not believe in the atonement nor in the second coming of Christ we are not in "the faith," and therefore can- not partake of the sacred emblems worthily. "The faith" implies all those truths concerning the great plan of redemption as revealed in Holy Writ.
Paul says, "Examine yourselves." I am glad he puts it that way. The ad- monition is not, "Fxamine others," but "Fxamine yourselves." God wants us to partake of these precious sym- bols worthily, therefore He wants us to first examine ourselves to see that we are worthy. Do we from the heart belie\e in Jesus and His re- demptive work? and trust Him for redeeming grace? Is He precious to our souls and docs the hope of I lis return fill us with joyful anticipa- tion? If so, we can worthily partake of the communion.
Every sincere child of God has that feeling of unworthiness born of a consciousness of imperfections. Cer- tain spiritual heights are still unat- tained ; occasional defeats arc suf- fered, and spiritual progress seems to be made very slowly. This feeling
does not necessarily disqualify us to partake of the communion. In our present state no one is perfect. As long as we live we shall be conscious of new heights to gain and of limita- tions hindering us. li we are right with God and with a sincere desire and purpose seek to live according to His will we can worthily participate in the communion service.
However, if there is known sin in the heart, any ill-will towards any human being; or anything that in any way mars our fellowship with God and robs us of the joy of service for llim, we cannot commune worthily. If such should be our condition it ought to spur us on to get right with God and man.
"Examine yourselves." Are you in the faith? Is your heart right? Are you true to your convictions? Are you living up to the knowledge you have by His grace? If so, you can partake of the communion worthily.
May we with the Psalmist pray in all sincerity, "Search me, O God, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts : and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psa. 139:23,24).
Falfurrias, Tex.
CORRESPONDENCE
(Continued from page 9)
charge of our young people's meeting. They rendered an interesting and in- structive program. We are always glad to welcome those from other congregations to worship with us.
On Sunday evening, April 9, Bro. A. J. Miller of Springs, Pa., expects to be with us and tell us of the con- ditions in Russia. We are looking forward to an interesting meeting.
Health is fair at present. There was considerable sickness during the winter and there were a number of deaths.
We are glad to welcome spring a- gain.
I 'ray for the work at this place. Mar. 27, 1929. Cor.
Question Drawer
If >c will inquire, inquire ye. — Isaiah 21:12,
But avoid foolish questions, ami genealogies, ami contentions, and strivings aliout the law ; for they are unprotitalile and vain. — Titus 3 :9.
1. What is the population of the world? 2. What is the number of peo- ple who belong to church? 3. How many unsaved people die every min- ute? N. S.
Answer. — The following statistics are gleaned from the World Almanac and 'Book of Facts for 1928:
1. Fstimated population of the world, 1.849.500,000.
2. Nominal Christians, including Children: Protestants, 206.900.000; Ro- man Catholics. 331,500.000; Orthodox Catholics, 144,000.000; Total. 682.400. 000. Non-Christians : Jews, 15,630. fMXJ; Mohammedan-. 2"i9.i>20.U(MJ ; Hud dhists. 150,180.000; Hindus, 230,150. 000; Confucianists, Taoists, 350.600. 000: Shintoists. 25.000.000; Animists, 135,650.000; Miscellaneous. 50,870.000; Total. 1.167,100,000.
3. It is estimated that 150.000 peo- ple are born every day. and that 100, 000 die in the same time. Approxi- mate calculation reveals that to make this number about 40 non-Christians die every minute. If we take the great number of people among nom- inal Christians whom we could hardly consider saved, we assume that the statement sometimes heard, that an unsaved person dies with every tick of the clock, supposing the clock to tick seconds, is not exaggerated.
J. L. H.
Is it wrong for the Christian not to return thanks after the meal? Do we have any record of Jesus returning thanks? If so, where do we find a record of it? If not. what necessity is there for doing it? F. S. K.
This is one of those things which are more profitable when we seek to find the spirit rather than the letter of it. The nearest scripture l>earinfi on the question at issue is that found in I Thes. 5:18 — "In everything give thanks." W hether this is to be be- fore meals, or after, or both, "let ev- ery man be fully persuaded in his own mind." The same may be said with reference to the question as to whether these thanks should be ex- pressed audibly or silently. But for any man to go to the tabie several times daily and habitually eat his meals without the giving of thanks indicates a lack of appreciation and reverence for the Giver of all good gifts which is not what we expect from a devoted Christian.
In response to the question of what was the record of Jesus on this ques- tion, we might cite you to John 6:11. where Jesus gave thanks before the feeding of the multitudes, and to I Cor. 11:24, where it is said that He gave thanks before He distributed the communion.
But may we say again, let us look at this matter as a Christian privilege rather than as Christian law. When we are in the real spirit of thanksgiv- ing it is as natural for us to give thanks for our daily meals as it is for us to say, "Thank you." when some friend does us a kindness.
I pity a class with a teacher who does not realize his need of getting something from God. — Milo Kauff- man.
14
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
RUINED BY RUM
Scl. l>y Ruth Cowman
Ruined Ijy rum! oh, how sad!
'llit- noble, the brave are laid low; I hu great and the small, the rich and the poor
Are slain by this merciless loe.
Ruined by rum, they sink down
To misery, wretchedness, and shame;
J luy'rc objects of pity wherever found, And rum alone is to blame.
Ruined by rum is the soul
Of the drunkard who lies 'neath the sod; For the Bible declares the drunkard shall not
Inherit the kingdom of God.
Ruined by rum are the homes
Where once the poor victims had dwelt; The orphans' sad cry, the widow's low moan,
Feebly tell ot the anguish they felt'.
East Earl, lJa.
SPECIAL MEETING
Mount Joy, Pa.
Report of a two-day Bible meeting held at tne Mount joy Mennonite Church Adarcn 9, 10, 1929.
Urgaruzation: Mod., Elmer G. Martin; Sec, Elam M. Bomberger; Chors., D. M. Vvenger, Elias Eby. ntfijij
topics Discussed: Place and Power of Prayer in the Christian Life, Noah W. Risser; Book Study from I John, Aaron Mast; II Timothy 2:15, Ira D. Landis; Regeneration, John H. Mosemann; Ser- mon, (Josh. 4:0), Aaron Mast; Christian Growth, John K. Charles; Sermon (Acts Aaron Mast; Evangelistic Sermons (Rev. 19:16 and Luke 16:25), John S.
Hess. tCrlT T- n
Some Thoughts Fresented: Fellowship is the keynote oi the Epistle of John. If sin is the root, s.ns are the fruit. Sin breaks our fellowship wnu God. Get right inside and the outside will come all right. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, ' and not to the everyday world. Let the world know where you stand. Our religion should change our life, con- duct, and associat.ons. Keep the worid out of the Church. A servant of God will not sin willfully. There is no superiority m the Church. Tray lor those who can teach or preach better, thai they may have more power and your jealousy win vanish, ll we are ready to meet Pente- costal 'Conditions we wul have Pentecostal power. > ou never saw children born in the kingdom qi God except there be trav- ail and labor. It we conform in politics we are as much conformed to the worid as if vve are conformed m dress. If you expect to keep steadfast you must do it on your knees. 11 we realized the value of souls no effort would be too great to win them. Salvation is instantaneous but growth ^s a daily continual growing. The reacting of God's Word is a feeding from doll. Pattern after Andrew. There is joy in soul-winning that is hardly equalled by .my joy on earth. If we are not growing look to the root. Young people need our sympathies more than our criticisms. We ought to leave an heritage for our children thai is worth more than money. The lal- iacy in loving the world is because it is passing away. If we wish to live by the world standard, why join the Church? Best on this earth is the Christian life.
Some people say that we are loo serious- minded. I don't believe we can possibly be loo serious minded to be consistent Chris- tians.- Margaret llorst.
CONDENSED REPORT
Of Lancaster Conference Spring Session, P23
i he meeting was .nUd to order by Mod- erator Noah L. Landis. There were pres- ent 11 Bishops, 124 Ministers and Deacons from the Conference District. Among the visitors were Bishop Denton Martin from the Washington County, Md., district, and four ministering brethren from the Virginia district. Also one from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference district. Bishop Benjamin Zimmerman of the Cumberland County District could not be present on account of failing health.
The usual concern for the work and the upbuilding of the Church was manifest in all the testimonies. The meeting felt the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Sec- retary Mack presented the report of the work of the Bishops Board, the items on same, then being approved by Conference.
What follows is quoted from his report:
Gingerich's Chu.co, Lebanon Co., Pa., March 19, 20. 1929.
At a joint meeting of both the Bishop Board and the Mission Board the following members were appointed by the different bishops to serve on the Mission Board For three years, namely,
Bro. Westenberger appointed Bro. Isaac Smith.
Bro. Noah Landis appointed Bro. John S. Hess.
Bro. Isaac Brubaker appointed Bro. Eli
G. Reist and Amos H. Hershey. Bro. Wm. Graybill appointed Bro. Wm.
H. Lauver. Bro. John Sauder appointed Bro. S. H.
Musselman and Joseph Graybill.
Bro. John Moseman appointed Bro. Har- ry L. Herr, John F. Charles and Howard Kreider.
Bro. Noah Mack appointed Bro. Abram Keagy.
Bro. Noah Mack appointed Bro. John Seitz for Bro. Benj. Zimmerman.
Bro. Noah Risser appointed Bro. Chris- tian Heistand.
Bro C. M. Brackbill appointed Pro. John H. Meliinger, John B. Hershey. and Musser Herr.
Decided that the plan of the Welsh Mt. Local Board to raise funds to build an annex to the Welsh Mountain Good Samaritan Home for old people be approved, namely, that a general offering be lilted in the vari- ous churches throughout the Lancaster Con- I'crcncc District and that the balance be supplied out of the General Mission Fund.
Recommended that the building of a meeting house at Cottage City be submitted to the Board of Missions and Charities and they proceed as the Lord leads.
MENNONITE BOARD OF EDU- CATION
Special Called Meeting', Feb. W>, IW
A Syecial Called meeting of the Menno- nite Board of Education was held west oi Goshen, I ml., on Saturday, Feb. lo. W29.
I he meeting w as called to order at 10 o'clock A. M. b> the Chairman, D. A. Voder, President of the Board. Prayer was offered by I) 1). Miller.
The loll was called by the Secretary, when all hut lour members of the Board re- sponded, eitlur present or by proxy. A quorum was declared present to transact the business of the Board.
The Chairman explained the purpose of the meeting as set forth in the notice calling
for the meeting. The meeting was called for to receive and to act upon the report of a special committee appointed to look into the advisability of erecting a dormitory for men on the campus of Goshen College, and suggest plans for its erection and mainte- nance. The brethren S. C. Voder and C. L. (.raber were the Committee appointed.
S. C. Voder reported to the meeting the need of a dormitory for men, on account of the unsuitableness of the present men s dor- mitory and its inadequate accommodation lor the number of men in the College, and also showed the advantage of affording ac- commodations on the campus for all the men in the school.
C. L. Graber and O. O. Miller presented the financial plan, by which a corporation composed of brethren, agreed to erect a suit- able dormitory upon the campus and enable the Board, in the course of years to have full possession of the building, and in the meantime, through a lease of the building, have the use of the same.
After discussions and explanations, which seemed ample to give a clear appreciation of the plan proposed by the committee, the following resolution was passed by the Board : —
Resolved, That the Be^ard of Education approves of the plan offered by the Com- mittee on construction of a dormitory for Goshen College, provided.
1. That the organi ation. The Mennonite Education Financial Corporation, com- posed of brethren who have offered to finance the building of the domitory. saieguard their organization from con- trol by others than members oi the Mennonite Church.
2. That the land upon which the building is to be erected be in no wise estranged from the use of the school and the pur- poses of the Board.
3. That the use of the building erected upon the said land be restricted to the uses oi the school and the purposes of the Board.
4. That no encumbrances be placed upon the building and the land by the Finan- cial Corporation, other than are neces- sary for the construction and equip- ment of the said building.
5. I hat a lease of the building by the Board be so arranged that no embar- rassment to the Board shall result therefrom and no financial obligation revert to the Church, and. That a com- mittee of three brethren, member-. e>f the Board, be appointed to comer with the brethren of the Financial Corpora- tion in drawing up the lease agreement, which agreement shall be finally ap- proved by the Executive Committee of lite Board.
Upon motion, the brethren D. A Voder.
D. D. Miller and 11. S. Bender were ap- pointed the committee to confer with th. Financial Corporation with regard to the lease of the proposed building.
Upon motion being made and acted upon favorably, the Executive Committee of the Mennonite Board of Education was author- i ed to transfer title to t' e Mennonite Edu- cational Finance Corporation, for the con- sideration of One Dollar, i$i.U0), The fol- lowing described property, to wit: —
Beginning at a point 50 feet west of the northeast corner of what is known as the Goshen College campus of Goshen College. Coshcii. Indiana, thence in a straight line u.st. L}9 net: thence in a straight line south. 350 feet; thence in a straight line cast. 139 feet; thence in a straight line north, to the point of starting.
A motion was passed upon as follows: —
1929
That the Kxecutive Committee of the Bnanl be authorized to act for the Board in ap- proving plans, appointing all necessary com- mittees and taking final action relative to the erection and leasing of the building pro- posed by the Mennonite Educational l i nance Corporation.
The following report was received from the Financial Agent, O. O. Miller and the recommendations accepted by the Board:
"Accumulating experience in holding and investing the growing endowment funds, leads the Endowment Committee to feel that the original instructions from the Hoard should be clarified and enlarged to the intent that these funds may be more advantage- ously held and more adequate income be made possible.
"We recommend that the Endowment Committee be authorized to make invest- ments in the name of the Hoard of Educa- tion of any part of its present and accumu- lating funds, and such investments be made only after endorsement by the Board's Fi- nancial Agent and approved by the Board's Executive Committee."
Upon motion it was passed, That we here- by authorize the officers of the Board to make application to do business in the state of Kansas.
It was resolved, That the coming Annual Meeting of the Hoard be held during Gen- eral Conference time, that proper authorities be petitioned lor one day's session (fore- noon and afternoon) for this purpose, and also for a place in the general program for an educational program.
A Resolution of condolence to the family of our late Brother T. M. Erb was ordered to be written by the Secretary and sent in the persons concerned.
The Secretary was ordered to express to the people of the home the appreciation of the Board for the accommodations afforded for this meeting.
Adjournment, sine die.
D. A. Yoder, President. S. 1'". CotYman, Secretary.
Married
Schlegel— -Noel.— -On Feb. 250, 1920, Bio. Dell Schlegel ami Sister Flmu .Noel. !><>th of the Sa- lem congregation near Shickley, Ncbr.. were united in marriage, Bro. 1). G. I.app officiating. May God abundantly bless them through life.
Kins — Roth. — (in Kel>. 27, 11)20, ul the home <>f Bro. A. I. Yoder, (lie officiating minister, oc- curred the marriage of Bid. .Nelson Kinj; of lie Graff, Ohio, and Sister Anna Itotb of Bullefon- taine, Ohio. Both are member* of ihe South Union congregation.
Hlpcher — Bard. — On March 23, 11)21), Jacob 1>. Hipcher of Manor Twp., Lancaster Co., l'a.. und Sister Kmma A. Bard of the Chestnut Hill congregation were united in marriage ai the home of Bro. Seth E. Ebersole. Ma.v the Lord s blessings accompany them through life.
Ruth — Landis. — Bro. Henry L. Ruth of the Line Lexington, I'a., congregation and Sister Susan A. Landis of the Sal ford, l'a.. congrega- tion were united in marriage on March 20, 1920, at the home of the officiating miuister, Bro. Aaron X. Freed. Soudertou, I'a. May the Holy Spirit he their guide through life's journey.
Boyer — Kauffman. — On March 7, L020, Bro. Clifford Boyer of the Clinton Brick congrega- tion, near Middlebury. lad., and Sister Edna Kauffman of the Middlebury congregation were united in the bonds of holy matrimony at the homa of the officiating minister. Bro. Silas Vo- der. May the blessings of God attend them through life.
GOSPEL HERALD
Obituary
l.cighl. — Bro. Allium Leig hi was born Feb. U.r>. 1-S.ri!»; died al his home near Cfaaidbersburg, Pa,, Mar. 10, WJO; aged 70 y. 22 d. He was for many years a member of the Mennonite Church, lie is survived In his second wife, whos.: maiden name was Hoover, and by three sons and four daughter*. Funeral services were held at the ( 'hambersburg church March i!*J. con- ducted by Bros. I). E. Kuhns ami .1. F. Grove. Text, Jno. 14:.'5. fust clause. Interment at Nor- land e •nietery, near ('hambersburg.
Martin. — Fsthr W.. daughter of Christian K. and Grace F. ( Weai rer i Martin, was born Jan. 10, 1!»2!»; died March 17. 1920; aged li in. Id. Death was due to a complication of dis- rates after an illness of nearly two week- through which she was very patient. She i- survivjd by her parents and grandparents, be- sides many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on March 111. at the home by Bro. Ira D. Landis and at tin- Wcaverland Mennonite church by Bro. I. B. Good, iis-i>! ii by Bro. Landis. Text, Fx. 2:4T Interment in the adjoining cemetery.
Rowers. — Henrj S. Bowers was born Feb. lit. 1854; died March 11, 1820; aged 75 y. 20 d. He was a faithful member of tin- Mennonite Church for many yean. His sea' at church was -eldom vacant when health permitted. He was united in marriage to Em aline H. Hershey, who pre reded him in death four years ago. He is sur- vived by one daughter, Mrs. Elmer G. Goch- nuuer, with whom h ■ made his home, also one brother, Benjamin Bowers, and one sister, Mrs. Harry Frew. Funeral servic-s were conducted lit the East Pet -rsburg Mennonite church bj Bros. Frank K rider and John Onrhnnucr.
Rixler. — Joseph A. Bixler, son of Henrj and Susan Hixler. was born in Grundy Co., III.. .Inly 23, 1850 ; tlied at his late home in Fast Lewis town, t lliio. March 7. ltrj'l ; -iced ~- y. 7 in. 1 I d. Heath was due to complications arming from an attack of inlhieiiza. He moved to Ohio from Illinois about 41 years ago. tin Dec. 2~>. 1881, he was united in marriage to Amanda I'urkcv, who with a sister, Mrs. Fli/.abelh Foreman, re- mains to mourn his loss. He united with the Mennonite Church about -In yea em ago and re- mained a faithful member until death. Funeral services were conducted at the Midway Menno- nite Church on March in charge of Bros. A. .1. Sterner and Daniel Lehman. Text. iVi. 138:7.
Maust. — Daniel Webster Matlsl was horn Aug. 4, 1N."»7 in Somerset Co.. I'a.. where he lived most of his life; died March I I. l!l_M. of heart trouble; aged 71 y. 7 in. In d. lie is survived by his widow. 1 daughters, •"• sons, ju grandchildren, and a large circle of friends. He was a faithful member of 'I"' Spring* Men- nonite Church from early life and was always interested in her various activities, being on ! of the Sunday school superintendents ami aerv ing us teacher most of the lime since. lie served in the office of deacon for nearly thirty' eight years. The funeral wus held on March
14 at the Springs Church. < ducted l>\ Bros.
N. F. and G. D. Miller.
Kaufman. — Catherine Spiker Kaufman was born near New Castle, l'a.. Aug. 80, Im'm; died
Feb. 27, 192$); aged 68 y. 5m. 'did. On Jan. 1. 1889, sh.> was married to Jonathan Kaufman.
To this union were born 4 children, li dying in infancy. She is survived by her husband; 1 son, Chajuncey M.. 1 daughter. Mrs. Margaret Lanta, I granddaughter. Marjory Kaufman, and •'. bro- thers, John Spiker. Wayne Co.. Ohio, George and Joseph Spiker. New Castle, l'a., besides many other relatives. In early life he united with the Mennonite Church and remained a faithful member until death. Sin- was u kind
15
neighbor and friend, always ready and willing to give aid and extend a helping hand wherever it was nettled. Funeral servica were conducted ■ •ii March 2, u' the home of her son, in charge of the home minister*. Interment in the Ami-h cemetery.
Kami si. — Katie (Both) Karnetri an- born at Noble, Iowa, F-l.. 1 1880; died at Milord, N.-br.. March IK, 192!»; aged tHty. I m. 17 d. She m united in marriage to Benjamin Knr- m-i. Sept. 28* Is'.mi. To thin union wan l*>rn ."i sons and I daughter. One SOU preceded her in death in infancy. Surviving are the husband, 4 sons (Nicholas, Christian, Itenjamin. and El- mer t, 1 daughter I.Mrs, l'-ter Stu'zmnni. ami 17 grandchildren, 5 brothers, mid 1 sister, be- sides other relatives and friends. Her Iota will lie keenly f-lt in the home and com mini it; . but our loss is her eternal gain. In l^s7 she gave her loan to the Lord and unit. si with the church of her choice, in which faith sh • lived until she was culled home.
"All is over, hands are folded _________
On a i|uiet, peaceful breast ; All her toils and trials ended, And drar Mother i- at rest."
Sturkey. — Christian I*. Sluckci was born on n farm near Arcfabold, Ohio. March ."tn. 1857; died on the same farm where be was born and spent his entire life, March 'SI. l'.i'Jll; agitl 71 y. 11 in. 28 d. He was tin- last member of a fumily of twelve children. On March 28, he was united in marriage to Magdulciiu Lug- hill. This union mu Hi d with three chil- dren i Simon and Clarence, Arcfabold, Ohio, and Anna Stuckey Riehurd, s -ville. o. i. Throe grandchildren and main relatives and friends also remain to mourn his departure. About one yflar ago he complained of trouble in hi- month, which developed into cancer. About thrM weeks ago his condition became alurming be- cause of the rapid progr.-sa the disease was making, but he bore bin suffering patiently, committing himself to tin- Lord. Al the age of he accepted ChrfaU as his Savior ami united >vith the Arahdl Mennonite Church, remaining faithful until d 'nth. Funeral serviei — were held al the Central A. M. Church. March 2li. I'.ej'.l. conducted by Bros. R, I,. Pre) ami Ilea rj Rychener. Text. Rom. ->:lN. Illterinelil ill
1 lockporl ci met sry.
"A precious one from n- i- gone.
A voice w> lured is stilled,
A place is vacant in .>ur home. Which never i'iiii be tilbtl."
Hochstetler. — |va (Miller) Hochstetler. wife of Samuel s. Hochstetler, was born in Johnson Co., Iowa. Muv 10, 1882; liisl at her home. .March 11), (028; ag. .1 IBy. I0nj. ltd. She was united in m.irriag- to Samuel Hocbsteller. Dec. ."1, 1!I(»L To this union v. ere Isiro "> -<ni^
(Omar, Lewis. Monroe. Ra,\ moud. and Robert ». She united with the Amish Mennonite Church
in her youth and rimaim-d a fiiihful m nib -r. She was of a peaceful, qui 't disposition, devoted to her family mid her church, a friend to all who knew her. Sh • will be greatly missitl in the home, church, and community, but we know thill our loss is her gain. She leaves to uioiirti her depart ii re a sorrowing huaband, 5 BOOS, 1 granddaughter, her aged mother. 1 broth t and - >isiers i Fli Miller. Mr-. Mahlon Gingerich, and Mrs. Mahlon Sbibauglii. besides man] ••'her relatives mid friends. the _g| thre- months she was mostly coiilinttl to her ImsI. At tiine- slie si eined to -how signs of improvement, and all was done for her thai loving hand- could do. She submitted to mi operation for appendicitis as a lusl resort, but il proved a failure. She endured much pain without murmuring or nun plaining, being fully resigned to Him who doeth all things well. Funeral services were held at the Fast Union church. Marf'i 21, 1923, con- duct •d bj Bros. D. J. Fisher and Joe i \ Brcn neinan. Text. Rev. Ill :4. Interment in ceme- tery near by.
16
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4, 1929
ITEMS AND COMMENTS
As an indication of what the world may look for after the skies will be filled with airplanes as the highways are now with au- tomobiles is the increasing frequency of air- plane crashes. One of the latest of the larg- er plane mishaps is that which occurred near Newark, N. J., recently when a huge Ford cabin airplane crashed into a box car filled with sand. Result: 14 passengers killed, and a number of others injured. It is referred to as the ''nation's worst plane mishap."
A young man in New York was found re- cently, soon after having committed suicide. By his side lay a note to his sister in which lie explained the cause of this dastardly deed. "This is Nietsche's philosophy," he explain- ed, "when it is no longer possible to live proudly one can at least die with the semb- lance of pride." Nietsche, it will be remem-
bered, was a noted atheist. He held a "phil- osophy" that was most destructive to life — both in this world and in the world to come.
War Outlawed 2500 Years Ago! (Etrus- can inscriptions which have baffled scien- tists, have been deciphered at last).
A painted terra-cotta slab bearing the newly deciphered inscription: "Agrios and Lati, our delegates to the meeting of the League of the World, which abolished and outlawed war from the earth for all time, returned home." The slab dates from the fifth century B. C.
This is a commentary to Secretary Kel- logg's opening sentence in his "covering note" accompanying his new draft of the treaty for outlawing war in which he refers to the age-long aspirations for lasting peace. — Sel.
Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price.— Paul.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities will be held at the Sycamore Grove Church near Garden City, Mo., May 19-21, 1929.
The Executive and Mission Committees of the Board will meet in joint session in the above community on Thursday and Friday, May 16, 17. On Saturday the en- tire Board will meet in an executive and business session to transact such business as may come before it. Sunday, May 19, will be devoted to a Missionary meeting in the afternoon and evening. Monday and Tuesday, May 20, 21, the regular meeting of the Board will be held. The meeting on Sunday. Monday, and Tuesday is open for everybody.
Ali committees and officers whose duties require a report to the meeting will please be prepared to hand in a written report to the Secretary. It will also be greatly ap- preciated if those who speak on the pro- gram will have a manuscript copy of their address ready for the Secretarv.
D. D. Miller, Pres. S. C. Yoder, Secy.
Table of Contents
1— Editorial
2— God— His Reality
3 — The Life beyond and How to Obtain It
4 — Living Sermons (Poem) Sermon Outlines
A Letter from a Minister and His Wife to a Brother and Sister in the Home Congregation
The Duty of the Laity toward the Min- istry
5 — The Preacher's Responsibility
6 — The Family Bible i Poem | Life's Hidden Springs Home Mottoes
7 — Sunday School Lessen Bible Meeting Topic
8 — Field Notes Correspondence
10 — Sometime, Sometime (Poem) Helping Present and Future Generations
by Endowment Mennonite Young People's Problems — Balanced
11 — Fifty Mennonite Leaders — Jacob Hos-
tetter
12— Self-examination Preparatory to Com-
munion (Sermon)
13 — Question Drawer
My Grace is Sufficient ( Po« m >
14 — Ruined by Rum (Poem) Special Meeting Lancaster Conference
Report of Mennonite Board of Educa- tion
15 — Married Obituary
16 — Items and Comments Announcement
17 — Editorial
18 — As Seen by a Newcomer
19— First of All Prayers
20 — Redeemed and Crowned Threescore and Ten (PoenO
21 — South American Mission Page
22— What to Call the Indigenous Church
and Church Members News from Portland, Oreg.
23 — Satan's Soliloquy
24— Ncmad Workers in Africa
26 — What Are You Doing for Sou's?
27— The Word— the World— the Work 23— The Signs of the Times
23 — Prayer
From Our Mission Stations 30 — Financial Report 32 — Gleanings
Now Ready for Delivery
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
RUSSIA FAMINE 1919—1925
A Story of the Race
with the grim reaper DEATH in a land of political revolution and the persecu- tion of a once thrifty and progressive people combined with the results of civil war and finally the monster FAMINE.
Thousands Were I Saved
from starvation through the united effort of Mennonites in America. The book tells how the news of their distress and need first reached H America; what efforts were made to I bring relief; how our contact was made in Russia; how our food was I delivered and finally prepared and H fed to the starving.
}\ You Will Be Interested To Know
how the feeding was done. The story of how the first food was de- livered as a Christmas gift Decem- ber 25, 1921, will thrill any alert reader and the realities of hunger will be realized as probably never before. You will know that your contributions for this great cause were not misplaced and that the re- cipients received your gifts with the greatest appreciation and thank! ill- ness.
The Chapter on Facts and Figures
will he a surprise to all who may be privileged to read it. But this is only one of the many surprises awaiting the reader. The book must he read to be appreciated.
The illustrations tell their own story. They are reproduced from actual pho- tographs. The book is substantially bound in cloth with gold back and side stamp. 465 panes with 60 additional pages of illustrations. Size 6xS''4 inches. Weight 2 pounds. Send your order now or give it to your local agent.
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GOSPEL HERALD
Mission Supplement
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel." "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
Published Monthly in the
EDITORIAL
"I was ashamed to require of the king a band of so'.diers and horsemen to help i s against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the kin?, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him" (Ezra 8:22).
* * *
In an edition of the Mission Man- ual under which some of our earlier missionaries worked in city missions and in India, the foregoing verse was referred to as the proper standard of God's children in relation to the gov- ernments of the countries from which they go or in which they labor. It is still good missionary policy altho it may be that this particular Bible ref- erence has been dropped from the
current Mission Manual.
* • * ♦
Ezra would have had plenty of ex- cuses for asking for a military escort. A mere suggestion on his part would probably have been sufficient to pro- cure the order from the friendly king. Nehcmiah later accepted the soldiers as his guard (so far as we know) without protest. Me might have done as many are doing nowadays, for we protest that iu addition to our trust in (iod for protection we must make all reasonable preparation for meeting opposition add works to our faith, so to speak — use means as well as prayer, and not ask (iod to do for us what we can reasonably be expected to do for ourselves.
All this is reasonable — perhaps even defensible — if we are careful as to where we draw the limits of our de- fenses and how far we allow reason (human reason) to control our faith in God. Hut Ezra looked at it from an, angle different from that of hu- man reason. Ezra's statement of the
APRIL 4, 1929
case is in reverse order so far as time is concerned. It seems that he had been talking to the king about the whole matter. The need of some one going to teach the people the Law; the need of reinforcements in the population — more people needed who were grounded in the Faith of Israel. Perhaps the king then raised the diffi- culty of the long and dangerous jour- ney. There were real dangers: desert sun, lack of water, sickness, weary marches, and robbers, robbers, rob- bers liable to dash, armed to the teeth, from behind every sand drift on the way. (Juick was the reply of Ezra: "The hand of our God is for good upon all them that seek him."
* * *
And new the band of emigrants is ready for the march. The Lord has been good to them. Only people with a pure and unselfish motive wotdd have undertaken such a journey. There was nothing to be gained finan- cially by changing from the fertile valley of the Euphrates to the bar- ren hills of Tudea — and most of the people in exile looked at the financial side of the matter. They were like the wealthy Jew of southern Cali- fornia who was asked if he would not like to see the home land of his people back in old Palestine. lie re- plied, "Xo! southern California is good enough for me. Los Angeles is better for me than b"l Khuds (Jeru- salem i. However, from among those who remained in the land of strang- ers there were some who helped their brethren who were going. In Ezra 8: 24-30, we have an account of the pre- cious metal that was carried by Ez- ra's band — over four million dollars' worth as we count money — what a haul that would have been for the bandits that swarmed along the routes of the caravans ! Twelve men were selected for their honesty and trustworthiness, and the wealth was
Interests of our Mission Activities
entrusted to their care. Every piece was weighed and the value set down on the bill of lading. Every detail had been attended to — to-morrow we go!
* * *
A nervous individual comes to Ezra
after sunset. "Don't you think we'd better send down to the city and ask for a band of soldiers? Think of all that treasure ! Think of the dangers every mile of the way! The vessels are holy, you told the twelve, they are most precious. Not an Israelite would touch them, to be sure, but those villainous Bedouins! They don't know the difference between holy and unholy. They even live by forgetting the difference between "mine" and "thine." Better ask for the escort. You know how friendly the king has been since the Jews have shown themselves so friendly to htm — and the queen would even urge that we take the soldiers."
* * *
It seems as if Ezra hesitated for a moment, then he thought of what he had said to the king on this very sub- ject— and he was ashamed to ask for the escort after what he had told the king. "His wrath is against all them that forsake him." "Eor good that seek him." "What would the king say? 'Ezra's getting weak-kneed. I thought he professed to trust in the power of his God. Now he's asking for some of my soldiers to protect him. Perhaps his faith in his God is not equal to the occasion after all.' Xo ! I can't ask the king for soldiers after what I have said to him. It would not only disgrace us in the eyes of the Persians, and in the eyes of our fellow Jews who remain here, but it would be dishonoring God. My shame at such a course would be far greater than my fear to go on trust- ing in God alone." Ezra's mind was made up. Xext morning they started. The rest of the storv is short but verv
18
satisfactory. The journey was made in about four months— sometimes it took six months— and when they ar- rived the twelve custodians of the treasure weighed their holy vessels in the Temple chambers in the presence of the priests in charge. Not a piece was missing. What accounted for it? "The good hand of our God," was the all-sufficient answer.
* * * Let's learn the lesson from Ezra. "The good hand of our God" (Ezra 8:18) is the motive power that will accomplish more things worth while than all the machinery we can call in- to action. They made an engine down east one time. Nice engine. There were two engines, in fact. One was a little more bright with brass and other shiny metal than the other. They had them both out for a test, and the neighborhood was going to buy the one that turned out best for a threshing engine. They filled them both up with water and fired up the furnace (or whatever the proper place is called). Both engines ran nicely. Then they put on the belt. One (the shiny, brass-ornamented one) began to puff hard, and then it stopped. It took all its steam to run the engine. The other was then tried with the belt. It ran on as if there were no load. They put wheat into the "sep- arater," and still the engine seemed to run freely and without effort. Re- serve power. Power enough and to spare. The neighborhood bought the "Best" engine.
GOSPEL HERALD
give the "good hand of our God upon us" a chance to work.
Machinery is a good thing. We
should not go back to the days of the flail or the horse-trampled threshing. But there is such a thing as multiply- ing the machinery until it takes all the steam to run the engine. There was a time in our Church when we had no concerted action. Each con- gregation was a law unto itself. Con- ferences, mission boards, committees, more committees, and then advisory committees were appointed and or- ganized, until there was danger that it would take all the spiritual energy in the Church to keep the machinery in motion— while the grain in the sacks was pitifully small in quantity (and quality?). I'm glad there is a movement now toward the simplify- ing of Church machinery, bet us
* * * God can use very imperfect instru- ments to accomplish good work. He made faint-hearted Gideon over into a mighty leader, and rough-spoken Simon into the rock-man leader of His Church. But when He wanted a king over Israel to be head of an everlasting dynasty, He chose a "man after His own heart." When He wanted an apostle to testify for Him before kings and governors and the emperor himself, He chose the versa- tile Saul who was also called Paul. But neither David nor Paul trusted in his own culture or perfection. With David it was, "My help cometh from God," and with Paul it was "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The moment we begin to depend upon our shining brass (gold, silver, endowments, an- nuities, boards, committees, sub-com- mittees, and super-committees), that moment we begin to lose power. The "p-ood hand of our God upon us" can use all these things— and will— if they are handed over to Him for control. Other things equal, the better the in- strument, the better the product. But the most perfect instrument is a dead thing and powerless unless the living God gives it power.
* * * How long could you live the nat- ural life in your own strength and by your own will alone? Ten years? One year? A month? A day? A sec- ond? No, sir; not a moment. It is the "good hand of our God upon us" that keeps us breathing, and living, and thinking, and moving. How long could you live spiritually by your own strength? Need we repeat the questions above,? No! Not a moment. The •'good hand of our God upon us" is what keeps us alive. It is not as one is said to have boasted, "I and God," but God alone that does the work. He may work thru us— if we allow Him to— but to Him is all the glory, and on our part is all the de- pendence.
* * * The missionary of to-day can still depend upon the "good hand of our Cod upon us." He is useless if he depends upon anything else. The missionary of to-day depends upon
April 4
that "good hand" for his safety, for his support, for his success in the language study, for his success in soul-winning. He depends upon God to protect him in good report and in evil report. In perils among heathen, and in every other kind of peril (for short read II Cor. 11:25-28), it is the "good hand of our God upon" him that carries him thru. He fails utterly but for that "good hand."
AS SEEN BY A NEWCOMER
By S. Jay Hostetler
For the Gospel Herald.
I cannot speak of the customs and manners and other peculiarities of the Indian people as one can who has lived here as long as the other mis- sionaries. As one lives among them and learns to know them better un- doubtedly his opinions and knowledge take different forms and he can see things in their true proportions and more nearlv as they really are. It may also b'e true that sometimes the newcomer sees more nearly the same things here that the people at home would and undoubtedly many things become commonplace to the older missionaries, but are noticed by the "first graders." I am herewith at- tempting to pass on to you some of the things that have interested me.
One of the first things that attract- ed my attention here was the dress of the' Indians. It varies considerably. Many of the men who are not Chris- tians wear merely a loin cloth. Most of the people wear only one garment, but this is large enough, or rather long enough to cover the body very well. It is generally white and is about a vard wide and five to ten yards long. It is wrapped and folded and wound about the body until the end is reached and this is tucked or folded somewhere where it stays put. No pins are used but all is held by the above process. However many of the men and boys wear trousers and shirts. But usually the trousers reach only to the knees and they do not ha\e their shirts where we are used to seeing them, but they are on the outside of the trousers. Some have collars, but most of them do not. Nearly all of them go barefooted. I saw a young man with his bare feet push the live coals of a bonfire into the fire ami he did it without think- ing about such a thing as burns, ap- parently. 1 believe I would have thought more about burning my shoes than' he did about burning his feet.
I have often heard missionaries tell about the Indian bazaars, but I never reallv knew just what they are. The bazaar is just what the English mean-
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
19
ing of the word suggests. It is a place where the various people come together to buy and sell their parti- cular goods. There are regular places here where this is done, and there are particular days of the week when the bazaar is held. It is a little like the community sales held by the farmers in some places in America. There is a bazaar ground just about half a mile northwest of the bungalow here in Shantipur. There are three vil- lages near here — within a mile of the bungalow and on bazaar day there is a constant line of people going past the bungalow to and from the bazaar. The day for this particular one is every Wednesday. Many are held on Sunday and also on other days. This one is called the Purur Bazaar. Peo- ple come here from many villages round about, and many come out from Dhamtari to buy and sell. It is five miles from Dhamtari and until several hours after it is dark the road has scores of people on it walking back to town from the bazaar. I have seen three separate streams of people go- ing in as many different directions from there, and they formed almosl solid lines for a mile away from the bazaar. The women generally have big loads on their heads and they bal- ance these often without the use of their hands. Some people have rice to sell ; some have earthen pots ; some have brassware ; some have rusty pad- locks and other trinkets, useful and useless ; some have woven baskets ; some need to buy their week's sup- ply of rice; some buy other things; and even oxen and buffaloes are sold there. All these people come to the weekly bazaar to do their buying and selling. Soon after we came here, was the annual Marai, which is an especially big day and is connected with the Hindu religion. I went to the bazaar in the afternoon of that day and I think there must have been four or live thousand people there. They had several "ferris wheels" and ''merry-go-rounds'' and a big proces- sion marched about the grounds. The ferris wheels were about fifteen feet high and were revolved by coolies. There were numerous other forms of amusement to obtain the people's few "pice" similar to those that are in America. (These large meetings are used bv the missionaries for preach- ing, selling Scripture portions and giving out of tracts. — R.).
Religion is of course the most in- teresting of the characteristics of the Indian because that is what we are most concerned about. I have not seen a great deal yet of the indigenous faiths outside of temples and a few external things. However one notices on the foreheads of a number of idol worshipers small, or sometimes large, red or yellow spots which are an in-
dication that the man has performed his worship that morning.
It is a pleasure to see that those who have accepted the Lord as their God and Savior have different appear- ances and feelings from those who still live in heathen darkness. They are better clothed and they look more happy as a rule, and their whole ap- pearance seems to be different. There are many "so called Christians" though, just as there are at home in America, who are hardly different from their heathen neighbors except in name. liut the Christian community on the whole seems to us who are just getting acquainted to be of different appearance. It is a real pleasure to conic to India and see these people who have many years of heathen background take a definite lead in Christian work. They carry on pray- er meeting without the need of mis- sionary assistance if necessary ; they teach others in Sunday school class- es; they conduct discussions in Sun- day school ; they do much Christian service just as well as many of our home Christians who have years of Christian background and training. This is a real pleasure to see. It shows that not all of the native Chris- tians depend on foreign missionaries to keep their faith and their loyalty to the Gospel and to Christ.
But, of course, there is still a great deal to be desired. They still have not overcome many of their past faults and sins. They still have much room for growth spiritually. They still need to be shown how to serve Christ in a more definite way. And there are still millions of souls to be brought to Christ. And so there is still a vast work for us to do. The task is great, and "the laborers are few." We need the power of God in this great work in order that the Church here may be built up and that more souls may be saved and in turn made message bearers.
Dhamtari. C. P., India.
"FIRST OF ALL PRAYERS
By Orrie D. Yoder
For the Gospel Herald.
"First of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks" (1 Tim. 2:1).
The burden of this short message is two-fold, first that there might be more prayer in our Church and mis- sionary activities, and second, that prayer might have its God-given place in all our endeavors. We appeal for more prayer because it is evident that underneath and above our alarming poverty and our sad penury, prayer is the first (and last) and the great- est need that we can know and have. If we are not willing to be used of God to supply the great lack and
need of prayer all other needs must remain unsupplied forever.
As someone has well said, "We can do much for God after we have pray- ed, but we can accomplish nothing for Him until we pray." Certainly this is in direct harmony with the above Scripture, and is verified by the words of Christ Himself, "With- out me ye can do nothing." Apply- ing this logic to our own Church and missionary efforts, we must admit that we could be accomplishing more for Christ and His kingdom, if there was more prayer, and we must conclude that we will never do more for Him until we are willing to do more pray- ing. Yea, if we are ever to meet our God-given obligations to this lost world, we must change our program and put prayer first.
When we speak of prayer, we mean prayer to God, rather than to the people and the Church. We do not mean praying our needs through our Church papers, and through appoint- ed solicitors, but we mean bringing our needs direct to God in prayer, because our needs as we bring them to men may not be our greatest needs as God Himself sees them. Bring- ing our needs to men may be all right and good as far as it goes, but men may turn a deaf ear to our needs. But, God never does. Men may be willing too, but unable to supply the calls for help as they sound out from our various Church institutions and activities, but not so with God. He knows our needs when we know them and often when we do not know them ourselves. He is willing to supply them when man is unwilling, and able when man is not able, then why do we do so much praying to man in- stead of praying to God (Phil. 4:19)? Why not do more praying to God, and let Him act more as solicitor, for He is a thousand times more able than we. If He sends us as collec- tor, let go and trust Him, but may we make our recmests to God (Phil. 4:6) first and then let Him act as solicitor. The more we pray to God. the less we need to pray to men, and be sure of this: God will never fail us. nor give to us blessings that we cannot use. If the wants- of our Church and the goal of her present financial programs cannot be supplied by first praying definitely to God and trusting Him, before we look to man then may He forbid that we should have them.
If workers are needed let us do as the early Church did at Antioch. put prayer first (Acts 13:1. 2). and per- haps there will not be many calls for Mission committees to seek out and locate workers. The workers which were definitely called by the Holy Spirit, were sent forth without any further examination, and their field
20
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
was ready for them without first send- ing a committee to investigate it. Certainly there are at present some calls for committees and investiga- tions, but there is no call for us to try to do what God has shown that He can do for us without expense and without mistake. There is absolutely no call for us to fail to put prayer first in all our efforts. Having put prayer first, we can let God work, and then do only what He leaves for us to do.
Our Scripture above says, "first of all supplications, prayers." Have we put it first on our Mission programs? Is "Prayer and Missions" the first course we offer, or is S. A., India, or Africa Missions and "personal work" our present curriculum and prayer the post-graduate course to be studied on the field if time permits, or left go entirely if there is not time for it? We have no right to boast that we are successors to the Aposto- lic Church, if such is our practice and program, for they put prayer first on their program. Dear brethren of our own Mennonite Church, as we strive to hold fast to the peculiar doc- trines of the faith of our forefathers, let us hold fast to the indispensable doctrine of prayer. Prayer is too, a "peculiar" doctrine and if we let it go, we can do nothing, and be no- thing for God regardless of all other doctrines that we may prize and hold dear. "First of all supplications, pray- ers, intercessions and giving of thanks."
Harrisonburg, Va.
REDEEMED AND CROWNED
By Lina Ressler
For the Gospel Herald.
"Redeemed with the Precious Blood of Christ."
Silently the little motto gave this message, for the room was very quiet. The tiny two-roomed cottage on the alley is still — so very still. The ten- ant has moved. Many tenants have moved before, moved into other homes, perhaps far away. Sometimes they return to the old home, and may even take with them some forgotten article.' But the tenant of the little cottage is gone. He has moved a- mong the "many mansions" and he will never return to or care for any o[ the things in the little cottage or any of the common things of this life.
The motto above tells the life story. Richard knew what being "brought back" meant. His life had been re- claimed from sin, "redee>med by the precious blood of Christ." There w as only one earthly tenant ol the tiny cottage on the alley, but with him lived every day and always a heaver ly Presence, and constant Friend.
The wee cottage is eloquent with memories, for during the sojourn of
the tenant there it was seldom va- cant. The cottage with the tiny, well- kept garden was his home. Richard had many friends. Everybody liked the friendly old man who was always so cheerful, but his "inner circle" of friends was small. He liked to tell of his mother in old England, "the best friend I ever had." Happy the boy who can say that of a Christian mother. His mother was a Christian mother, a friend of Billy Bray, the fisherman preacher of England.
After leaving old England Richard had wandered very far away from the Good Shepherd — far away in the dreary wastes of sin. But the Good Shepherd sought him long and faith- fully, and when the wandering sheep was found, there was rejoicing and the "sheep" was faithful to the Shep- herd.
His place in the church was seldom vacant. The corner of the front seat looks lonely now. As Richard grew older, he had trouble with his hear- ing, and he could not always under- stand; but he loved the "Book" and he knew the message came from it, so he paid close attention anyway. His Christian experience, so clear, so definite, so real made his eyes glow and his heart beat strong.
His wants were few, his necessities very simple. A tiny stove, a cot, a few chairs, and few dishes, and "The Book." And he was always so happy in his Christian life.
Now he is gone.
The funeral seemed so pitifully small — so lonely. Just a few dark figures with reverently bowed heads following the lone hearse in the snow. But I can still recall the glow in Richard's heart at his old expression, "I am doing very well."
As the hearse drove up, I looked from the window. Loving hands bore the casket with its quiet burden and placed it within. And it drove on toward the church. One more stop in the house of his God. Just a few friends among whom he had tarried for a while. Eyes were teary — more perhaps at the loneliness of it all than for real grief. But to Richard that meant nothing. He had lived his own life. The opinions and plaudits and blames of others meant little to him. His life was lived as in the sight of his God.
"Oh, won't the cemetery be lovely to-day!" said a girlish voice as she looked at the softly falling snow. It seemed fitting that the earthly Richard should go to the "city of the. dead" when it was so beautiful. 1 am glad she said it that way. for even the earthly resting place of a real "tem- ple of the Holy Ghost" is worthy of a beautiful abode. Can we not ima- gine the joy in the old heart as he
realizes that the old troubles are all
over?
His testimony was well given. It rang true. He considered it a privi- lege to tell what his Lord had done for him, and usually sealed his testi- mony with a message from "the Book." 1 wish we might all be as faithful. Richard did his part. We shall miss him. We needed him. We needed his cheerful, clear testimony. Not all give it that way. I wish we might. We mince, and explain, and excuse. He simply testified — clear, honest, and hearty. He liked to have Levi tell him when his turn came, for he could not always hear when the others spoke. But he was glad to own his Lord and to recommend Him to others.
I wanted to see the little cottage after the tenant had gone. Reverent- ly we approached it thru the snow. It is still, so very still. But his things are still here. Teakettle and coffepot on the little stove, his few belongings all in their accustomed places. Bible and Testament and Les- son Help all in an orderly pile on the little table. The Xew Testament he had read from cover to cover eleven times, the entire Bible five times. He loved "the Book" and read it to know his Father's will.
In his trunk we found the Bible his mother had given him more than fifty years ago. It had been neglected for a long time, but at last the good seed bore fruit in a faithful. Christian life.
Here are things made by his own hands for use in his little home, all orderly and neat. Here is his cup- board with a few dishes — no luxury, no useless fussiness. Dishes brought in by friends to tempt his failing ap- petite all placed carefully so they might be returned.
Finished the life and the testimony. So simple, so unassuming. I wish we might learn from this disciple of four score and four years a lesson of simple direct living of our testi- mony for our Lord and "The Book."
Scottdale. Pa.
THREESCORE AND TEN
God's Word unto your feet hath been
A lamp to light your way To warn you of the paths of sin
l ost \ou should so astray.
And God hath said. "It shall he light
For you at eventide" — And so we come to you tonight
While st 11 you with us hide
With tokens of our love, dear friend.
To brighten all your way. And may the "threescore years and ten"
Grow on to perfect day
When you shall see His blessed face.
And on your forehead white The finfeer-of the Lord shall trace
I lis name in living light.
—By Mrs. W. P. Varborough
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
SOUTH AMERICAN MISSION PAGE
January, 1929
GLEANINGS FROM THE AN NUAL MISSION COUNCIL
The Setting
For the second time we held our council in a forest about seven miles out from Trenque Lauquen. The mis- sion owns one tent. Three other tents were kindly loaned by the West- ern Railway Co. to us for a week. This year it was decided that we spend one full week in the encamp- ment so as to he able to have time for relaxing and to finish our busi- ness. Another end desired was sort of an Inspirational conference. The grove where we pitched our tents is on a large estancia of about five thou- sand acres. It was planted by the owners many years ago and has been left to grow' up very much as a nat- ural forest. There under enormous trees and thick shade we found room to spread out. The underbrush was cut away leaving an open space for the automobiles, the improvised din- ner table and the tents. A cook was secured so that all of the women folks would have time to take part in the business and inspirational meet- ings. There was plenty of room for the children to run about among the trees amusing themselves while the rest were busv in the various meet- ings. For recreation the men took turns in getting underbrush for fire- wood and bringing water in large milk cans or in going to town to get food supplies.
What is the Mission Council? Wc take it for granted that most of our readers know the nature of our mission council, yet in order to be sure you get the right idea we will briefly state what it is. It is the most important business meeting of the entire year for the missionaries. ft is strictly for the missionaries and for that reason it is all in English. We have no other meeting like it during the year. For that reason the mis- sionaries as well as the children al- ways look forward to this event as one of importance. Some years ago we had only one day for this coun- cil, but we found that we were al- ways so hurried with pure business that we had no time left for inspira- tional meetings. Later we had sev- eral days of it. When the time was extended to a week it was thought that in this way we would have sort of a midsummer vacation along with our business.
The Daily Program The first meeting each morning was the inspirational prayer service.
Each day a different person led the meeting, as the spirit directed, giv- ing a scripture lesson and having a- bout a half hour after prayer. After breakfast the daily business session opened, continuing from 9:30 to 11:30. The afternoon session was usually given over to inspirational talks of some sort. After supper each evening the time was taken for conversation or for some specially prepared pro- gram.
The Business Meetings
Since a great deal of the business must be done during the year by the executive committee, it is not neces- sary for the Council to take final ac- tion on everything. It is rather the purpose of these meetings to take up matters relative to the general policy of the mission. Some of the follow- ing actions will indicate the wide range of subjects discussed: It was decided to move the printing shop from Pehuajo to Trenque Lauquen;
21
fresh inspiration, their new ideas, their message from the home Church. They expressed their joy in being read'v for work on the field, ready to do the Master's will, to be occupied till He come.
In her talk on experiences while on furlough Sister Lantz pictured to us again the home Church and the in- spiration received while visiting a- mong those who love the Lord's work. She emphasized the fact that Bible study in some of the home churches makes them more spiritual and mure deeply interested in mis- sions.
In his message from the Board Bro. Lantz impressed the missionaries with the fact that the board members are a hard working group of men and that their deepest concern is for the progress and welfare of the work in all parts.
In Sister Snyder's talk. Why I Re- solved to Come to the Argentine, she
gave credit to mission study, mis- sionary sermons, missionary pro- grams' and Bible study as the things that help people to find themselves in
A Recent Picture of the School Building in Pehuajo
sonic special decisions were made a- bout changes in the orphanage and in the management of the institution; matters of financing the Bible school and helping needy students were dis- cussed : arrangements were made to tide over the work in the Casares mission until the Lauvers can get back to the field: the reorganization lor the missionary body for the year was made as usual and the mission- aries were assigned their work at the various stations.
Glernings from the Inspirational Meetings
A welcome meeting for the new and returned missionaries was held as one of the first sessions. We welcome these to our midst because we great- Iv need their help, their new and
the Lord's service.
In speaking of the Canadian church and the Argentine Mission. Bro. Sny- der feels that the churches are corn- in- to their place in their interest and support of the mission cause, and he believes that a greater future a- waits the Lord's work because of
this. .
Prayer and its answers was dis- cussed by Sister Emma Shank. She felt that missionaries rarely rise to the greatest possibilities of service because of being too busy to pray much, that they should learn the les- son of takincr time for prayer.
In his talk on the goal of the Ar- gentine Church. Bro. Hershey empha- sized the following goals: To get each Church member into the Sunday school ; To get more, tithers ; To raise
22
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
the weaker members to a higher standard ; To get evil habits out of the lives of the weak members; To get every Church member to be an active one ; To place more responsi- bility on the Argentinian Church.
How to create a greater missionary spirit in the Argentine Mission being discussed by Bro. Shank, brought forth the following thoughts : That the Argentine people must be taught how great is the tragedy of a man dying without Christ ; That the mis- sionary message must be burned into the lives of a few of the most capable workers who will be the Pauls, the Jeremiahs or the Daniels of their own time.
In his talk on securing and training workers, Bro. Litwiller said the best way to get workers is to pray for them as Jesus told us to do. In Ar- gentine as well as elsewhere we must have workers who are trained to think, to study, to select, and to cre- ate.
Sister Rutt in speaking on a Place for Every One and Every One in His Place brought out the following sa- lient points : The Lord gives the gift, the grace and the work; it is a bless- ing to missionaries that they are not all alike ; some have greater and more capabilities than others but every one is fitted for some work for the Lord.
Sister Swartzentruber, on the World's Greatest Need, said: We must see the individual's need and meet it in personal work; we must see society's need and introduce Christ as the only preserver of soci- ety ; we must see the Nation's need of Christ.
Sister Hallman spoke on the future of the orphanage, bringing out the following points : That the institution will soon be in need of its own build- ings and grounds, the present location being too small ; New members should not be brought in too rapidly so that the institution can better care for them, the older ones helping in the training of the new ones.
How to help the poor of our towns was discussed by Sister Litwiller. We help them most, not by indis- criminate giving, but by helping them to help themselves ; Poor children are much neglected ; There would be a great blessing to these children if we could establish a children's clinic.
Sister Gamber speaking on the Se- cret of Power, said in part : With Paul it was in the indwelling pres- ence of the Son of God ; the disciples had most courage when near Christ; the apostles attributed their healing power to the Christ that was working in them.
The transforming power of Christ in missions by Bro. Rutt: How prayer through Christ changes things ; Pres- ent day evidences of these changes.
Sister Hershey discussed the Place of the Holy Spirit in Missions. The
missionary must believe in the Holy Spirit's power, surrender to His lead- ing, obey His promptings. As the Christian community seeks the Lord in prayer, the Spirit's power will come bringing growth.
Bro. Swartzentruber spoke on the mission's finances, bringing out the point that since we have a heavy budget for our work we should aim to conserve our means so as to do as much as possible with what we have. The board expects this of us.
WHAT TO CALL THE INDIGE- NOUS CHURCH AND CHURCH MEMBERS
By J. A. Ressler
For the Gospel Herald.
We used to call it the "Native Church" in India in distinction from people of other lands? such as mis- sionaries and other Europeans and Americans who happened to be living in India. And the people of India used to be called "Natives" when we talked about them.
Oh, you wondered what that long word, indigenous, in the title means? Some few will know because they did as I did just now, looked in the dic- tionary, but it means "Growing natur- ally in the place where it is." I hunt- ed for a general term that would ex- press the proper sense in any land we may be talking about — Europe, Amer- ica, Argentina, Africa, China, or wher- ever. And the reason for this explan- atory article is that I have just edited an article from South America in which the term "National Church" was used. I am not sure that "indi- genous" is the right word. If you find a better one — one you are sure is without objection — let us know.
In India the word "Native" is very objectionable to those born in India and having learned to talk English. "Native Christian" by the Indian is considered a term of extreme con- tempt. So we have learned to speak of "Indian Christians" and the "In- dian Christian Church."
I understand that in South America they have the same difficulty. They have met it by using the word "Na- tional" when referring to the church composed of Argentinian nationals — people whose nation is the Argentine but whose church affiliation is with one or the other Protestant hodv. I changed the name for this time lest some people would not take as much time to work out the problem as I did.
I feared that some might think our people in South America had taken up with a National Established Church in Argentine or something like that, hence for this time we changed it.
If our Argentinian brethren have
something to say about their "Na- tional" Church, the columns of this paper will be open to them — or at least part of one column. Scottdale, Pa.
NEWS FROM PORTLAND, OREGON
The Children's Welfare Home
During the month of February we cared for more children than any month for some time. We are glad that the Lord has put it into the hearts of His people to help those poor little ones.
Several children have gone to their homes and new ones have taken their places. We have at this time one little girl nine months old whose mother deserted her. Her father has asked that we care for her until he can make arrangements to care for her himself. One little boy, 18 months old, has been cared for while his mother works. This makes 10 regular children we care for besides those who come during the day ranging be- tween three to six per day.
The Kindergarten work, being car- ried on this year for the first time, we are sure will bear fruit unto life eternal ; for has He not said, "My word will not return unto me void, but it will accomplish that whereunto I send it." The children are learning the little Bible stories, memorizing passages of Scripture, and singing lit- tle songs of Jesus' love. They are learning to recognize all the gifts of life as coming from the heavenly Fa- ther. Besides this we are made happv to see the principles of kindness, good will, and self-control developed in their lives.
The members of Sister Wenger's Religious Education Class have been helping with the Kindergarten work the past few weeks, thus relieving the regular teacher from some of the work and gaining helpful experience for themselves.
Cottage Prayer Meeting
Our plan for the prayer meetings for 1929 has proved quite successful; yet there is room for much improve- ment. The first meeting of each month is held in the mission hall ; this serves as a stimulant for the month. R. A. Torrey declares in his writing that it is the life and power of the church, develops the member- ship of the church as well as promotes the fellowship. We believe that no member of the church can afford to miss the prayer meetings. Will you pray for the Prayer Meetings of the Portland Mission and all of its mem- bers?
Cradle Roll
Including sixteen on the Cradle
1929
Roll and eleven on the Home Depart- ment our present Sunday school en- rollment is 195 Our average attend- ance for the month of February was 128 and our record attendance 138. We have enrolled six new pupils dur- ing the month. The average attend- ance for January was 133 and the rec- ord attendance 144. During January eleven new pupils were enrolled. Be- cause manv of the people in this part of the city do not permanently locate here, the personnel of the Sunday school is continually changing.
Our Sunday school is divided into fourteen classes; ten of which have pupils of the ages of sixteen and under.
Two new members have been add- ed to our Cradle Roll during the month and we have about eight pros- pective members whom we hope to gain soon.
A few weeks ago one young girl confessed Christ as her Savior and another expressed a desire to renew her covenant with the Lord. A moth- er also recently expressed a desire to actually experience the full blessings of the' Christian life. Will you pray that these individuals will search deep into the riches of the life hid with Christ in God and that they will fol- low where He leads.
The Jail and Rock Pile Meetings Every other Tuesday evening we go to the County Jail for about an hour's service, which consists of songs, prayers and talks to the pris- oners who are housed on the seventh floor in four long corridors ; hence our services are divided into four short ones of about 15 minutes each. Many of these individuals seem to enjoy the services very much, while others are disinterested. The last Tuesday evening we were down, eight or ten of the men reciuested the pray- ers of God's people. This is an oppor- tunity for all to lift those poor, un- fortunate ones to the throne of Grace, that the Spirit might lead them to the foot of the cross; that they might accept the blessed plan of salvation that has been provided for them as well as for each one of us. "The ef- fectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
On the first Friday of each month similar services are held at the Rock Pile, where about 40 prisoners spend their time in quarrying rock which is crushed and used in road building. Here we have had some very inter- ested meetings. Many of them mani- fest a keen interest in the messages delivered. Many of these, too, requesl the prayers of God's people. What a blessed opportunity to lift those souls to God in prayer thai He may cleanse their hearts and wash them white in the blood of the Lamb, and make their lives conformable to His own blessed one. Some one was interested
GOSPEL HERALD
in your and my souls; why should not we be interested in others? May you prav earnestly for the work and workers' at the Portland Mission that God may ever work His will in us.
SATAN'S SOLILOQUY
By J. S. Hartzler
For the Gospel Herald.
I think 1 will visit the Church
this line Sunday morning and see how my interests are getting along there. Well, from the number of machines, there' must be quite a crowd present. Can 1 believe my eyes? There must be more than a hundred autos here. Then think, how many came a-foot. There I see the Joe Hykes' car, a large, expensive one. The dealer re- fused to sell to him with less than half the price in cash. He has been owing [oho [ones and Jake Hanks and possibly a dozen others for years and they can get nothing out of him. I wonder what |oe is doing in the Church. Ah, 1 see. They knew bet- ter than to give him a class, but listen. He is doing most of the talk- ing in the men's Bible class. He is telling what it means to be a Chris- tian. Well, as long as the "blind lead the blind," my work is prospering well enough there.
What is going on in the young la- dies' class? I see something that in- terests me. 1 kept account, and find that eight of the twelve girls in the class have put their hands to their heads at least ten times, each, to see whether their hair was just right. It is easv to know where their minds and hearts are. One of the others took out her pad and looking glass from her vanity case and rubbed her nose for fear that it was getting red. Her mind was in the same place with the other eight. The teacher is pre- senting good thoughts, but she is making very little impression. Either the soil is "poor or the seed is not sown right. I need not have much a- larm for my work in this class. Evi- dcntlv 1*11 get most of them.
The old men's class is always inter- esting. Well, there is John Closefist. Tim Stretcher. Abe Sourpickle. Mike Selfwill and Harry Nogood— five of the eight— all headed my way. The other three. I hate them. I can see Testis Christ in their faces and I fear "the influence that they may have on the others. But the five are so thor- oughly "dyed in the wool." that there is but little danger. Then. too. it will help my cause some because three of the five arc Church officials.
That young men's class seems to be intensely interested. They have a very fine looking young man for a teacher. But listen, he is quoting Fos- dick but, like most of the liberals, he is shrewd enough not to give the
23
name of the author whom he is quot- ing. Some of these young men were taught by their parents to fear such men. How well the teacher knows that! How expert he is at sugar- coating those sayings and making them appear harmless! He is teach- ing good morals, but from what I hear, he will not be able to lead his class to Christ. Hope they keep that teacher for this class. He certainly is a good agent for me. Poor boys! They do not realize that liberalism is sim- ply sugar-coated infidelity.
The Sunday school is dismissed. Mow is the time to visit the young mothers' class and hear what the line of conversation is. Just as I thought. The main topic is girls' and children's dresses. This mother is much inter- ested in seeing that her little girl's dress is adjusted so as to give the best impression, that mother is very careful that she does not take the kinks out of her child's hair. An- other one says, "Ah, you have a new dress. My, how nice you look! It is very prc'ttv and it makes you look pretty." Well, the time may come when' some of these mothers will re- pent and be saved, for they are sow- ing seed into their children which will produce a harvest of bitter tears. This mav lead them to change, but I am prettv sure of getting the children.
1 did "not get time to visit all the classes in this school, but the five vis- ited seem to be a fair sample of the others. But the part that appeals as much to me as anything is the lead- ings of the "higher-ups." Both the superintendent and the preacher teach very sound doctrine, but both are conscious that some of the members have grievances against these officials and have had them for years, and nei- ther have tried to visit the aggrieved parties in the last five years. As long a* they work in this way, I need not fear very much what they say from the pulpit. I hope that neither of them will find out that there is such a scripture as Matt. 5:23 and 24.
Things are going along rather fa- vorable for me here. I shall be care- ful that these people see no "hoofs or horns." I will let them have a good time and help them to believe that this is salvation. I can not expect to get every one, but I certainly have some good agents here, and what is bi tter 'still, manv of them think they are on the right road. What a sur- prise awaits them !
There are a number of other places where my work is not as promising as it is here, and I will turn more of my attention there. I will not say. "Good-bve" to this people. That mi^ht scare them. T may never see some of them again, but I am quite confident that I shall see many of them when we arrive at the Pit. Elkhart, Ind.
24
GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
NOMAD WORKERS IN AMERICA
"Foxes have their holes and the wild birds their nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." Matt. 8:20.
"Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich." II Cor. 8:9.
A rickety automobile of 1912 model stopped beside the road near an or- chard where huge apples lighted the trees with flame and gold. The driv- er of the car leaned forward to ques- tion the men and women on ladders who were stripping the trees of their wealth. The woman sitting with him on the front seat held a baby on her lap and a three year old beside her. A row of tow-heads peered through the ragged curtains of the back seat.
"What's the chance of getting a job here?" called the man in the car.
"Full-up!" replied the man who seemed to be directing the work of the apple pickers. "But it's only four miles to Cashmere where there's an apple knockers' employment office. Might try there. Go four miles the way you're headed now!"
The car wheezed down the road into the town and drew up near the Episcopal church parish house where rows of cars much like his own were parked three deep in the side street. The entire family rolled from the car to the soft green lawn in front of the building, where they found the door blocked by job-seekers.
The five children shouted with glee and even the mother forced a wan smile when the man reappeared at the door and announced, "We've got a job, the first in three weeks. That church-guy's all right. He gave a ticket for us to get some hot soup before we go to the orchard !"
This family is only one of thou- sands who follow the crops all year on the Pacific Coast. Seventy-five per cent of the field workers are Mexican and the language barrier is added to other problems in California where there is a twelve months' rota- tion of crops. In Oregon, Washing- ton and British Columbia, where ninety per cent of the harvesters are American-born and English-speaking, there is a three or four months' inter- mission of work. For a few months in the fruit season of the Pacific Northwest many leave their rented quarters in cities to try a "vacation with wages." The families who travel only a pari of the year hear the title, "one croppers," or "two or three or four croppers." Children's earnings add to the family paycheck.
People with a Vision
What had the Episcopal Church in Cashmere, Washington, to do with
labor distribution? All great, new movements center around a person. Rev. E. C. Schmeiser had come with his wife from a downtown mission in Chicago, both imbued with the spirit of Christian service. After observing one apple season they instituted the free employment service in the parish house, and opened also a reading room with a writing desk. Many workers arrived too early for the jobs and were without means of support until the harvesting provided them with funds. So a soup kitchen was opened with the understanding that all who could do so would pay a small sum after they received wages. Donations of meat, bread, and vege- tables from local merchants and gar- deners helped to keep down expenses of the soup kitchen.
Cashmere merchants declared that this was the first apple season when they had been free from the annoy- ance of a score of interruptions every
There is a need for regulating the migratory labor movement by extend- ing to the Pacific Coast the service of the Farm Labor Division of the De- partment of Labor which now oper- ates chiefly in the Middle West. Un- til these economic needs may be met, the churches seem to be the only or- ganizations with sufficient vision to pioneer in this emergency relief.
The Council of Women for Home Missions has a well-defined social ,-ervice program under the direction of its farm and cannery migrant com- mittee. This has been in operation since 1920 and has included six pro- jects in canneries and truck garden centers on the Atlantic Coast. Since 1924 it has also established six pro- jects in the sections that produce ap- ples, berries, hops and cotton on the Pacific Coast. The interest of the Council was stirred by such instances as the following:
A young mother with a six-months-
The New Church Building at Tampa. Fla.
day from strangers seeking direction to employers. The young minister seldom appeared on the street with- out a string of men trailing along, one talking with him and the others waiting their turns to ask him about jobs, or living quarters or, in some cases, seeking spiritual advice. Be- fore the close of the harvest, workers came for interviews about the most intimate personal and family affairs.
That minister and his wife spent six days a week from 7 A. M. till 6 P. M. in their employment office and often had calls at their home before and after these hours. At the end of the season they were weary and ready to leave for a vacation, but they were radiantly happy and were planning to enlarge their service next year.
The churches in every agricultural community have the same opportuni- ty as in Cashmere in the Wenatchee Valley, Washington, to demonstrate Christ-like sympathy for those who have left their homes to work in sec- tions where specialized crops demand more workers than can supply jobs for the entire year.
old baby in her arms joined other mothers and little children on the truck which started early one morn- ing from the harvest labor camp un- der the stately fir trees by the Willa- mette River in Oregon. Men walked beside the truck. After the boisterous crowd of workers reached the field for the day's work, this young moth- er laid her baby on a pile of canvas sacks. Later a truck driver said:
"1 did not see the baby. B"t, thank Cod ! My horses saw it and shied away from it!"
'1 "he young mother said :
"Yes, it was a narrow escape. But the sacks were dry over on that ground where we had finished pick- ing. The vines are wet where I had to lay my baby down this morning."
Near the row of babies on the wet vines, toddlers, bedraggled with the dew. pulled at their mothers' skirts. Children, just a little older, were picking into their parents' baskets for a part of the time, but were often trampling the vines and causing a sharp rebuke from the check-boss. Those same children who were chilled
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
25
by the dews and the fog of early morning stayed on into the burning sun of noonday. Sickness was caus- ing a labor turnover of 300 to 500 per cent each year during the harvest period on that big hop ranch.
The manager of the ranch put on a health and recreation service the next fall, 1923, which succeeded in holding his crew to its maximum, 1,000, in- stead of his losing all hut 300 at the end of the first ten days, as in 1922. He completed his harvest eight days sooner than usual. He also saved overhead expense of $15,000 to offset his investment of $800 in welfare equipment and in salaries of the workers who administered the day nurseries, daily newspaper, first aid for minor injuries, and evening pro- grams which kept the young people from questionable resorts. The so- cial workers also cooperated with the church people of neighboring towns to conduct religious services on the ranch.
The neighbors of the hop-grower mentioned were impressed by the success of the plan and were ready to cooperate with the Council of Wom- en for Home Missions. As a result, in the summer of 1924. day nurseries, health service and evening entertain- ments were undertaken with supervi- sion by teachers and college students. The employers paid the greater part of the expenses, while women of lo- cal churches provided supplies and some volunteer service. The Council paid a part of the salaries.
The Oregon departments of labor, health, and education started a pro- gram to regulate conditions caused by the large number of transients. Any Christian man or woman with a vision of service to their fellow men could accomplish in any part of the United States, a work similar to that carried on in the Oregon farming community. There are two adjoining counties with 25.000 to 30.000 migra- tory workers every summer.
Women comprised more than half of the 198,147 workers employed in canning establishments of the United States in September of 1919. Only 35,692 workers were engaged by these same establishments in March of that year. The difference represents H>2. 455 workers brought into the cannery districts, from neighboring cities or from the year-round migrants who travel among the canneries, and the garden-truck and fruit harvests. Many women take their children with them for the easier processes of the indus- try or leave them to unsupervised play around the labor camps or rent- ed quarters in the towns. Some can- nery managers deny children en- trance to their plants because of dan- ger from machinery or because of the chiJdjje_n's damage to the fruit.
Government statistics are not avail- able for the number of "fruit-follow- ers." An estimate for the one state of California may be based upon the statement of the department of edu- cation that there are 20.000 children w ho have no chance for an education except in the seasonal schools organ- ized by this state department. Ac- cording to the school census of 1920. the ratio of school children between the ages of 5 to 15 years to the total population of California would indi- cate at least 117.647 migratory work- ers in California agriculture.
A Move Across the Border Mexicans arc the preferred laborers in the cotton, citrous fruit, lints, and vegetables of California, 'Arizona. New Mexico and Texas, and in the beet-growing district of Colorado. A conservative estimate places the num- ber of Mexicans now in the United States at 1.500,000, with possibly three fourths of that number In -the southwestern states. The remainder are scattered through railroad- opera- tions of the Middle West and even in the steel industry of Pennsylvania.
In many sections of the Southwest, the Mexicans live in labor camps which the California Immigration and Housing Commission and the state boards of health in other states find it difficult to make sanitary. The language barrier, the difference in customs and the constant shifting from crop to crop present .difficulties for religious effort which make it the more surprising that the Protestant Church has already in its membership more than 15.000 Mexicans in South- ern California. The Roman Catholic Church, to which the majority oi these Mexican workers are adherents, has a few social service centers for them, but none in agricultural dis- tricts, so far a> reported.
Health and recreation centers wil' go far toward winning to American Standards the masses of dark-skinned neighbors who are pouring into the labof vacuum of the Southwest and whose children, born in the United States, are growing up to American citizenship. The Council has already appointed one fulbtime Spanish-' speaking worker among the migratory Mexicans in the Imperial Valley, and has received requests for organization in other centers as soon as it can en- list sufficient financial support.
On the Atlantic Coast the migrants in the cannery and truck garden cen- ters are from Russia. Italy, and other European countries. The Gulf states report their shrimp cannerv Workers to be the "crackers" or other "poor whites." The large cotton area of ~rhe Old Southland is haT vested large- ly liy the resident Negroes, but the volume of migration to the North and West has left some of the southern
cotton sections in ne.vl of transient harvesters. Secretary James J. Davis of the U. S. Department of Labor re- ports that in 1926 his Farm Labor Division took 227.000. the surplus of cotton pickers and 7.200 cotton chop- pers from the burnt-out districts of Texas where the cotton was a failure, to the great cotton sections of Ar- kansas. Louisiana, and Mississippi where there was a shortage of labor.
Beet-'sugar workers deserve an en- tire story of their own. with their in- creasing numbers, mostly Mexicans, for the summer and fall months, in Idaho. Michigan. Ohio. South Dako- ta. Iowa; Colorado, North Dakota, Wyoming, Kansas, and Wiscon-in Thev are usually brought in on con- tract for the peak of the labor de- mand, and are left at its close without anv help to locate future jobs. Usu- ally thev are without sufficient com- i"nnd of FrHish to tret information. The Creat Western Sugar Conipanv is endeavoring to establish its beet w orkers in Colorado in homes of their own. with gardens to cultivate be-
• w ■•■en the beet seasons. Denver char- itable agencies complain of the hordes of beet workers who drift to them
.r Jvrve<t. and become dazzled by the white lights and unfitted for later erv'ce in agriculture. The churches have here, an opportunity to help these needy people to establish homes
• • (| community life.
The whet belt comprises Texas. Oklahoma, Kansas; Nebraska. North ',} nd South Dakota, certain sections of Montana. Idaho. Oregon. Washington -i- <1 Canada, with limited areas in other states. The Farm Labor Divi- inn nl the I' S Department of La- bor now mobilizes and distributes n- 1 our WO.000 harvesters annuallv. from «K- lune harvest in Texas to Septem- ber-ami October in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Many of these men follow •lie wheat for four or five months. Kansas employs 20.000 to 30.000 w heat harvesters in a normal year. Nebraska somewhat lc-s. Oklahoma 12.000 to (£.000, the Dakotas more than any of the three.
Mr. George E. Tucker, director r>f the Farm Labor Division, estimates that 75 per cent of these are single men or dese'ters. The 25 per cent who are fatuity men represent occu- pations ranging through college pro- fftASnrki students, 'awvers. journalists ditch diggers and skilled mechanics v ho w-iiil a -diange of scene and em- ployment. Of last year's harvesters 55 per i °nt w ere under 30 years of vns. with the largest group at 24 vears. Fiftv-seven tier cent had serv- ed in this capacity for 5 vaars or les&j 43 per cent for more than 5 year ai d 1° per cent for more than 10 M.\u>on*,
; The wheal harvesters live in the
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GOSPEL HERALD
April 4
homes of the farmers, or in bunk- houses and bains. They work hard for long hours, and are too tired for week-night entertainments, but where Sunday is a harvest holiday the local churches have a chance to bring Christ's message and help to these voyagers on the golden sea of wheat. The Methodist Episcopal church at Larned, Kansas, has conducted basket lunch meetings on "shirt-sleeve Sun- days" in the wheat season, and has cooperated with the county agricul- tural agent in a wheat harvesters' recreation center.
Several denominations have done effective service among the men who work in timberlands. In the Wash- ington-Oregon-Idaho region the Pres- byterian Church, U. S. A., is support- ing eleven such workers who bear the name "sky-pilot;" the Christian Church employs one; and the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, about a half dozen workers. The lumber men are more or less saturated with I. W. W. teaching, and sometimes resent social service organized by their employers, but they are less suspicious of the churches.
The men in the logging industry work only a few months at a time, usually from February or March to June and then suspend operations be- cause of the fire hazard in the dry summer months. They resume work in September or October and work until the heavy snow blocks their camps for the winter. Isolation and lack of wholesome recreation, the short term in a locality, and tempta- tions to squander earnings and to sink into vice of the cities between jobs, make this group especially in need of the ministration of the sky- pilot. Books and magazines, forward- ed by arrangement with denomina- tional headquarters, might help make the Church's prayers come true. The sky-pilots cover large areas and can touch each camp at only rare inter- vals. Thousands of camps still re- main without a messenger of Christ, but the agencies of moral destruction surround them on every side.
Clean and decent quarters in the Northwest cities are needed for the lumber-jacks between periods in the timber, with opportunities for read- ing, writing, recreation and rest with- out danger of robbery or moral temp- tation. The First Presbyterian church of Portland, Oregon, has such a cen- ter in its "Men's Resort." Other city churches might supply similar aid.
The denominational church boards are doing little or nothing, and the local churches not much more, for the large numbers of loggers in Minneso- ta. Wisconsin. Michigan, New Hamp- shire and Maine. The Crossett Lum- ber Company in Arkansas supports a Y. M. C. A. at a cost of $7,000, and
maintains a welfare department in the mill town costing $40,000 annually. The Long-Bell Lumber Company and others have made generous appropria- tions for welfare work. The Loyal Legion of Loggers and Lumbermen, popularly known as the "Four L," a cooperative organization which held the North Pacific timber industry steady during the World War, con- tinues its service to the mind and body of the timber workers, but in a limited area. Nineteen states report more than 4,000 workers, each, in this lumber industry, ranging from 4,701 in New Hampshire to 24,371 in Wash- ington.
Constructors, Miners, and Fishermen
Other migratory workers are fish- ermen on our sea coasts, lakes and rivers, and especially in Alaska dur- ing the salmon season ; miners, oil field workers, gangs of construction workers on highways, railroads, irri- gation projects, and hydro-electric de- velopments.
All of these are engaged in essen- tial industries which are contributing to prosperity. Is it right that the workers should have to surrender all the privileges which may be enjoyed by the American home owner? Most important of all, shall they surren- der the right to have the Gospel of Christ preached to them by word and deed? How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall we preach except we be sent?
Will the Church Meet Its Responsibility?
America has become a nation on wheels. Shall leaders in the Church combat the menace which threatens to remove a large part of the popula- tion from all grooves? Shall we help to regulate the migration of workers in agriculture, industries, fisheries, timber and other seasonal occupa- tions, through an enlargement of em- plovment service for interstate dis- tribution of labor? The Church may also influence agriculturists to return to diversification of crops. In the e- mergency before the economic change is wrought, the Church may redeem for Christian citizenship the two mil- lion . men, women and little children who migrate all year in the United States, looking for work. Shall the migratorv workers be an asset or a menace to America? What will the Church do? — By Louise F. Shields. Redondo Beach. Calif., in The Mis- sionary Review of the World.
We all say that we want to go to heaven. But I am sometimes led to question the motives of some who say they want to sro there, for they do not allow the Word and will of God to be the overwhelming power that shapes their lives, — A. S. Horst.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR SOULS?"
Address to Christians
Beloved Brethren and Sisters in Christ:— The day of the apostasy is hastening on with rapid strides, and also the day in which the Lord shall come to snatch His own away. Read II Tim. 3:1-6; I Thes. 4:16,17. The present moment — I am deeply and thoroughly persuaded — is of so sol- emn a character that I feel constrain- ed to address to you this bit of ex- hortation.
Godly men everywhere who watch the signs of the times see the moment approaching which shall terminate the present actings of grace. The time has evidently arrived when one must speak plainly and decisively and ask. "What are you doing for souls?" Scripture sets forth a truth which is of cardinal importance to every saint throughout the world, namely, You have a mission to fulfill — a certain work to perform. You have by grace been gathered out of the seething mass of idolatry and wickedness which now threaten Christendom and the world with an overthrow more awful than that of Sodom and Go- morrah. You are a representative of Christ — it matters not what our posi- tion, or sphere of action — you are ev- er to be a channel of communication between Christ and the world. Have you ever considered this? If you have vou cannot refuse Him the fruit of the travail of His soul. He who hung between two thieves on Calvary's Cross, a spectacle to men and angels and for you.
Believe me. there has never been in the world's history such a time as the present, and Satan is occupied with none as he is with you. He knows that the tendency of the human heart is downward — ever towards the earth and the things of the earth. His ob- ject is to withdraw your attention from Christ while you suppose vou are on safe ground and have nothing to fear. Again. He has His eye es- pecially upon you for the purpose of interposing the world in some form — either in dress, in manners, in talk, lack of spirituality or otherwise — be- tween your soul and Christ. He would destroy you with the very truth itself. Dear Christian reader, I warn vou: mark the subtlety of Satan, realize your danger and peril, and don't let him cast this blinding dust in your eves whereby mischief over- take> you ; for remember you cannot plead ignorance in that day. Keep this in' mind— that you are on safe ground ; but only while Christ is your all in all. Therefore, let us earnestly seek a closer walk with God— deeper Intimacy with the mind of Christ — that the standard of truth and our po-
1929
GOSPEL HERALD
sition be maintained in integrity.
May we now ask ourselves, hon- estly as before the Searcher of hearts, "What are we doing for souls?" How much anxiety have I manifested for the conversion of souls? How far am I discharging my responsibilities? Have I been a help or a hindrance, a contributor or a waster? Which? Be- loved, ponder these cpiestions deep down in your heart.
There is a passage of Scripture bearing upon this theme in Psalm 142:4, "No man cared for my soul." God forbid that either the reader or the writer be guilty of such neglect. The statement that many Christians are chargeable with such neglect and guilt would be called an absurdity by many ; but alas, alas, the truth as to this, among many of the people of Cod is most appalling.
Shame, a crying shame (as some one has said), that it should ever be true of saints going to heaven that they are unconcerned about sinners going to hell. Cod has said, "lie that withhold- eth corn, the people shall curse him" (Prov. 11:26). Oh, the hcartlessness of it! Souls perishing under one's very eyes and no hand stretched out to help, no voice raised to proclaim God's message of love to the lost. Brothers! Sisters! be honest with God. bare the question in His pres- ence. "What are you doing for souls?" Will friends, neighbors, rela- tives rise up in that day and cry out in their anguish and woe, "I have lived beside him for years." "He knew 1 was going to hell." "He never warned me." "I'm damned and he never told me how I might be saved." Shall such be the testimony against you in that day?
Dear reader, let me remind you that this glorious day of grace will very soon close. We are now living in the days of "perilous times" (see II Tim. 3:1). Therefore, it behooves us to think seriously of our true state and service. We have taken the place and privilege of those whose eyes have been opened and whose ears have been unstopped — a most glorious position; but on the other hand if we play fast and loose (and I fear there are many who do — Cod only knows how many) it is a most dreadful po- sition.
God grant that neither the reader nor the writer of these lines be of the fast and loose kind ; or a mere professor (one who has the truth in his head and on his lips; not in his heart ; who has the lamp of profes- sion and not the Spirit of Life) but may we have purged consciences and truly exercised hearts and be fully out and out for Christ: ever seeking souls which arc most precious in His eves. "He that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30).
I know all have not the same gift. All cannot speak in public. All can- not preach to multitudes. Put surely it is not gift that is lacking so much as grace. It takes no special gift to distribute Gospel tracts, or speak a loving word in season to needy souls. If you have "gift" enough to spend hours talking about the weather, or various cpiestions of domestic, busi- ness, social, or political life, you have all the gift that is needed to drop a tender warning message in the ear of a careless one, or to point an anxious person to Christ. We are witnesses for Christ — the channels of commu- nication between the heart of God and the souls of men. "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serv- ice" (Rom. 12:1).
The child of God should ever re- member that he has been purchased with a price — the blood of Christ, that he belongs to Christ, that he is already consecrated— by the death of the Lord Jesus, that the blood and oil have been placed on the ear, the hand and the foot: the ear, to listen for His commandments; the hand, to do His biddings: and the foot, to run in His ways. What a position to oc- cupy! Beloved reader. I plead with vou. Let not the betrothed one be un- faithful to her bridegroom. Neglect not your privilege and opportunity of "gathering;" but let your life be evi- dence of work worthy of a glorious reward from the beloved Master. Time is short. The ambassadors shall soon be called home and their em- bassy be closed forever. The time of rejoicing will soon be at hand. For "the shout of the Lord, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God" will soon resound through the vault- ed heavens announcing the return of the long absent One. the "bright and morning star" (Rev. 22:16).
Let us then be up and doing, for in