THE
MINNESOTA WORKER
	“Whatsoever thy Hand	findeth to, do, do it with thy Might.”	
Volume 8.	MINNEAPOLIS,	MINN., FEBRUARY 17, 1897.	Number 14.
IVfTJSTJTESOTiL WOl^EI},
----I68UED WEEKLY BY THE--
MINNESOTA TRACT SOCIETY.
Subscription Price, 35 cents a year.
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Send all Communications and Subscriptions to THE EDITOR,
L. B. Eosey, -	- Box 989, Minneapolis, Minn.
Entered at the post-office at Minneapolis as second class mail matter .
AT THE CONFERENCE.
After a short visit with my aged father in Mo. I arrived in College View, Neb., evening of January 28.
The first week was spent in counsel meetings, and auditing the accounts of the General ^Conference laborers. Our brethren may have^ Bgvae better ideas of the extent of the message when they learn that there were about three hundred accounts to audit. The counsel meetings were very profitable occasions. Eld. W. C. White from Australia, Elds. E. J. Waggoner and H. P. Holser from the European field, Prof. Prescott, who has just returned from Africa and Australia, with the members of the General Conference from the ditferent parts of the United States, and Pr. Kellogg wss also present for two days while health questions were being considered.
This week the institute work begun. So far the exercises of the day have been as follows :
A. M. 10:30, study of the recent Testimonies, led by Eld. A. T. Jones. These have been most precious seasons. The Spirit of God has come in and wrought in power. Many hearts are melted to tears and a spirit of deep searching of heart is going on, and brotherly love and tenderness is manifested in a remarkable degree, never before experienced by this people.
P. M. 3:30. At this hour Eld. Waggoner conducts a study on the book of Hebrew s, wrhich
is largely attended and intensely interesting.
At 5:00 o’clock the subject of Christian education is considered in an hour’s talk by Prof. Prescott. This is also much appreciated as the Bible is made the basis of all the instruction.
At 7:00 o’clock Eld. Fifield has occupied the pulpit of the large Tabernacle with excellent discourses. The building is w^ell filled at each service. Delegates and visitors are arriving each day, and the little village presents a very lively appearance.
We meet many friends of by-gone days; Time is leaving its marks on many faces, and the furrows, clearly indicate that our pilgrim days are rapidly passing.
The wreather here while not so cold in degrees as Minnesota is more disagreeable wTith chilly winds and variableness in temperature. After all, Minnesota is one of the finest of countries. Our friends there will soon have the privilege of reading the Bulletin which will give the details of the meetings quite complete.
We are expecting a wonderfully interesting meeting of the Conference. Pray for the w ork here.	N. W. Allee.
1,000 Missionary Gardens for 1897.
[For the benefit of those wTho are contemplating “Farming for the Lord”, next season, we republish the following ffom the Iowa Bulletin. Ed.]
Dear Brethren, Sisters, Youth, and Children: I have been deeply interested in the reports of those having missionary gardens. Having had years of experience in gardening, and knowing how hard it is for many to procure good garden seeds, and desiring to aid in this work, I propose to put up at least 1,000 packages of choice seeds. These will contain one packet of each of the following varieties : beet, cabbage, parsnip, radish, tomato, squash, etc., etc. This seed must be used in planting missionary gardens only, the products sold, and the money given for missionary puposes. Each garden, if properly cared for, should realize from $ 1.00 to $10.00.
In writing to me, enclose a two cent stamp, to help pay for postage and packing, and the seeds will
THE MINNESOTA WORKER.
reach you in due time. Also please give me the names and addresses of some persons that you know made sorghum molasses during the past two years. This will aid me much in another line of missionary work.
This invitation is extended to any one outside of our State. Fraying for the blessing of God to rest on every missionary effort, I am,
Yours for the cause,
C. W. Smouse.
(Mt. Tleasant, loua.
# MISSIONARY WORK. -fc
The librarian of the Owatonna Society sends an encouraging report of their work. He says:—
“I praise the Lord for what he has done for us in the past year. Quite a good number of Signs and of Danish papers have been sent out, and a good many tracts used. We have no reason to be discouraged, still I believe that our efforts could be increased. We have supplied each family with the tract on “Home Mission Work”, and I hope and pray that each will see the great need of being at work at this time. More of our members are now taking the Review than formerly, and others will subscribe soon. I think nearly every family will take the Bulletin. Some are working for the Signs, and we are laying plans now to send for some of the new tracts, How the Sabbath came to Me, and do some work with them.” The Secretary also writes : “We have adopted the roll-call plan and like it very much. Last week we sent a large package of papers to the families that lately moved to Mississippi, to use in their work there. Our Help Band has been doing quite a bit of missionary work, and I trust that we may do more before the winter closes.”
The Dodge Center society is also working steadily in different ways. A club of Signs is taken and used. Quite a large number of books and tracts are kept in circulation. The Help Band is doing good work, and has just sent a barrel of clothing and bedding to the Chicago Mission. The larger part of its work, however, has been done in helping the poor in* its own neighborhood and State. Weekly meetings are held with a good attendance, and the regular semi-monthly missionary appointments of the church are well sustained, our elder entering heartily into this arrangement, and faithfully carrying out the recommendation in regard to these meetings.
I am glad to see that our societies are quite generally working on many different lines. I am sure our librarians are making faithful efforts to so plan the work that every one may have a part in it ; and I trust that they may have tl e hearty support and help of the membership. Our privileges as workers together with God i re being so clearly set before us that it truly seems that there can be no excure for ignorance or slackness on the part of any. “Blessed are they that sow beside u\\ waters.”	A. E. E.
* THE SABBATH SCHOOL. *
More Good Reports.
Osakis. “Our Sabbath-school is prospering nicely. During the last quarter the attendance has increased nearly half. They all seem to be very much interested in the lessons. The young people’s class are trying to learn the lessons by heart.”
Amor. “We tried the written examination with good results, all taking part and doing exceedingly well, and all wrere willing to have their papers looked over and corrected. I know of nothing in our school that has been more interesting, and we shall surely try it again. We have ordered the Youth's Instructor for our school and the children have all promised to try and get one or more new subscribers for it during the month of February. Childrens’ meetings are held the first Sabbath in each month and all seem to enjoy them very much.”
Warren. “We meet on the Sabbath when the weather permits, but it is often so stormy, and we live so far apart, that we cannot all be together. But we have nothing to complain of. We have not much to give, as we had poor crops which makes it very hard for many, but we lay our burdens on the Lord; he can carry them. We take a club of papers, and have started a Tract Society to scatter tracts.”
Isanti. “We try, by the grace God gives us, to study our lessons, and His Spirit is with us in our meetings. We did not try the written examination nor text drill. We have many obstacles to meet in carrying on the work by these plans. There is no one to lead us in these lines; and many say that ‘this is merely a form and useless when the Lord’s blessing is with us, the interest is good without these things.’ We
THE MINNESOTA WORKER.
memorize a verse every week to recite before the general review.”
We have had the pleasure of meeting the superintendent who wrote the last report, and know that he is faithfully trying to carry on the work as the Lord would have it. He has some obstacles to meet in the work as does every one, but let us not be discouraged; it is Satan that makes these obstacles look like mountains to us, and faith can remove mountains. Very often the objections to certain new plans arise from a misunderstanding of the object of the plan, or a failure to see the principle underlying it.
This brother says they memorize a verse each Sabbath but do not have the text drill. Now it seems to me they do have a text drill, only they do not call it by that name. All there is to the text drill is repeating a few texts that have been memorized. The idea originated from each one in the school memorizing a verse of scripture and repeating it, just as this brother says they do, and this has always been practiced in our schools more or less. In a large school it takes so much time for each one to repeat a verse separately that it has been suggested that all commit to memory the same texts and repeat them in concert. We cannot see why there need be any more ‘form’ about this way of doing than in the other way. In some schools the praying and singing are formal (any religious exercise is a form if the spirit is lacking); but shall we then do away with singingand praying in all our schools ? Rather let us get Cod’s Holy Spirit into our hearts, and expect it to come into all our services as he wants to do, and we shall find that there is no more “form” in all reciting the same text than there is an all singing the same song; and no more in answering a question in writing than in answering the same question by word of mouth.	A. L. L.
Special Notice to Librarians.
In order to assist in supplying- our librarians with copies of the Religious Liberty Library as they come out, the Review & Herald Pub. Co. have very liberally offered to make a special rate to the librarians only, of 15 cents a year on them. When you consider the extras that may be gotten out from time to time, and also that some of the numbers may be quite good sized pamphlets, we think this a liberal offer ; and one, we hope, every librarian in the State will accept. By this arrangement each librarian will be up with the times in this line, and be prepared to send us orders for more numbers as soon as published. If any librarian does not fee’ able to pay
for it, bring the matter before your society and ask them to help pay for it in the interest of the society.
® NOTES FROM THE FIELD. ®
It has been so long since I sent in my report that I feel a confession of unfaithfulness in this respect is due on my part. I have read with interest the reports of others, and rejoice to see the cause of truth make progress in our State. Somehow of late I have felt impressed with the request of our brethren when leaving the Camp-ground, “Do not forget to write to the Worker”, with more force than ever; and “how can my brethren and sisters offer up prayer to God and be interested in the field where I am laboring, when they know nothing of my wherabouts and my triumphs and trials.”
Since leaving Brownsdale I have labored at St. Cloud, Eden Valley, Pople Creek, North Branch, and am now at Cambridge. I have enjoyed much of God’s blessing in speaking the words of truth to others; and the precious light of the word of, God is shining brighter in my own soul than ever before.
At St. Cloud, the time was spent in moving the church building, attending in part to, and disposing of our missionary garden produce, and the spiritual interest and welfare of the church. Two were baptized and admitted to the church at the fall quarterly meeting.
At Eden Valley, only a few meetings were held. It seemed to us that spiritual blindness, spiritual deception and resistance are about as great among the people who call themselves “The Church of God” as I ever have seen it in my experience.
At Pople Creek, four promised to follow the requirements of God, and a Sabbath-school was organized numbering twenty-four. The others being members of the St. Cloud church.
At North Branch, my labor was in the German language with the company there. Bro. Fred Johnson was with us Sabbath, January 30, and the ordinances were celebrated. All the members excepting two who were absent, taking part. The Sabbath-school was reorganized, which we hop/e will continue faithful until the end. The outside interest was not as we hoped it would be, but the seeds of truth, sown by the Lord’s servants in past days, may in days to come bear fruit to the salvation of souls.
I am at this writing five miles south of Cambridge. Have held five meetings so far, and find some interest which I hope may grow; and, by the grace and wisdom of God, be rightly cared for to the salvation of souls in the Master’s kingdom.
It was also my privilege to be at Sauk Centre during the Week of Prayer, where I enjoyed more spiritual blessings than at any previous occasion of like nature.
I again ask the prayers of my brethren and sisters that the Lord’s work may prosper to the gathering out of his people, and I at last be among those
THE MINNESOTA WORKER.
who shall be saved as “a brand plucked from the fire.”	Your brother in Christ,
J. H. Behrens.
North Branch and Rushford.
The last Sabbath in January I held quarterly meeting with the German church near North Branch. The brethren there have’n’t had the privilege to ‘‘show the Lord’s death till he come”, for a long time so it was indeed a feast to them. The church has been strengthened from the labor of Bro. Behrens, who has been holding meetings around there. There seems to be a promising company there, and if they continue to grow in grace the Lord will surely add ‘‘such as shall be saved”.
February 5 I came to Rushford, where Bro. A. E. Christian has a company under his care. The debate held nere not long ago, between Bro. O. A. Johnson and the Lutherans, turned in favor of the truth, for many declared themselves as being enlightened in seeing truth and the darkness of tradition. I pray that they may also see the love of the truth, “that they might be saved”. In company with Bro. Christian, I visited the Lutheran minister, who held the debate, and he has made up his mind that they must have another. He thinks he can do better by taking longer time and so going through each subject more thoroughly.
I held six meetings while at Rushford ; the Lord greatly blessed, and the brethren were encouraged. An organization consisting of ten members was formed, and Bro. Christian was elected and set apart as their elder, after which we partook of the Lord’s supper.
Not a few around here are under conviction, and some are what we term “Saturday-keepers”, who must be touched with a live coal from off the altar. O, for the life from above that makes the dead bones live! Pray for the workers and for the latter rain,— the refreshing from heaven.
Fred Johnson.
Unjust.
The Minneapolis Journal of February 9, published a lengthly article from the Postum Cereal Co., of Battle Creek, Mich., a company which manufacture a substitute for coffee, similiar to the Caramel Cereal made by the Sanitarium Health Food Co. The above mentioned article is an effort to deceive the people and cast reflections upon Seventh-day Adventists in general, and the Sanitarium in particular by trying to prove that the name and process of making Caramel Cereal was stolen from them by .a representative of the “Adventist Institute.'4’
Everyone who knows anything about it, knows this is not true, as this substitute for coffee has been used by us as a people for years. The name was changed from Caramel Coffee to Caramel Cereal in harmony with the laws of Michigan which require that all foods sold should be labeled what they were. As there was no coffee in the Caramel Cereal the
name Cereal was substituted for Coffee,.—the name Cereal having reference to the grain of which it is composed.
The whole effort on the part of the writer of the aforesaid article skeins t> be to tear down the reputation of their honest competitors to build on their ruins,—a very dishonorable and altogether too common a practice among people in this dishonest age.
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1 iTems. 1
* *
Believe not each accusing tongue,
As most weak people do ;
But still believe that story wrong,
Which ought not to be true.
—Sheridan.
* * *
The St. Paul English Tract Society ordered 1,000 copies of the Lincoln Special Sentinel of February 11, to distribute in their city. How many did your society order ?
* * *
We learn from the Illinois Recorder that Eld. F. M. Wilcox, secretary of the Foreign Mission Board, passed through Chicago last week on his way to Utica, N. Y. with the remains of his wife who died at Boulder, Colo.
***
Mr. E. G. Burdick’s family left last week for Los Angeles, California, where they will visit relatives several months. Mr. Burdick remains in the city, and will confine his attention to the Health Food business as usual.
# * *
The Signs of the Times to ministers has been reduced in price from $1.00 to 50 cents. This is a liberal offer and it is to be hoped that all our ministers will reciprocate by working to increase the circulation of this best of all missionary papers.
#
* *
Truth, forever on the scaffold,
Wrong, forever on the throne ;
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above his own.
—Lowell.
* * *
A comparison made on the Review list between what it was October 27, 18% and for January 25, 1897, in the United States shows that Minnesota gained sixty-six copies during the three months, which was a larger gain than any other State except California, Michigan and Missouri. This is a creditable showing, especially when we consider that these three months are hard months to keep up the list, as a great many subscriptions expire during that time. We hope our librarians, ministers and church elders will do all they can to increase the circulation of this paper until every Seventh-day Adventist family in the State is a subscriber.