keep as near as I could to the legal side of
the question if he would allow me to go ahead
with my plea.
When I began with the prophet Daniel's
prosecution under the laws of Persia, there was
a laugh from all corners of the court-house,—
and it was well filled,— for this was the point
where his honor had called me down only a
few moments before. The lawyers laughed
quite heartily, and there were a number of
them present.
The Lord helped us in vindicating his truth
and in standing for right principles. I showed
from the state statutes that I had not violated
the letter of the law which_reads “the Lord's
day.” From the Bible I proved that the
Lord’s day is the Sabbath of the fourth com-
mandment, which is the seventh day of the
week, and not the first; that this is God’s holy
rest-day, and Christ the Lord of it. This day
I sacredly keep, and reverence the God who
is Lord of it.
I reminded the court that the law of God
is the code by which all men will be judged,
and that I was living in all good conscience
before its author. I showed from the Decla-
ration of Independence and the Constitution
of the United States that from the beginning
this nation has tried to guard against religious
intolerance, that the Baptists have stood for
religious liberty, and have been persecuted be-
cause they opposed Sunday laws; that a pe-
tition from the Presbyterians caused Congress
to add the first amendment to the United
States Constitution which provides that Con-
gress shall make no law respecting an estab-
lishment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; that the code under which I
worship demands that I keep the seventh day,
and also enjoins that I shall labor six. In
this the Sunday law would prohibit the free
exercise of my religious belief, and therefore
is contrary to the Constitution of the United
States and also of the state of South Caro-
lina. I think the solicitor himself was able to
see that the Sunday law is unconstitutional.
The judge was very lenient, imposing a fine
of only one dollar with no costs. The other
two brethren were fined accordingly, and be-
fore the court adjourned, some one from out-
side who felt kindly toward us paid all of our
fines, and we went out free after the grand
privilege of getting the principles of truth be-
fore so large an audience in a way that will
not be forgotten.
Those indicted were A. A. Johnson, our
Campobello church elder, J. J. Soper, our dea-
con, and the writer. R. T. Nasu.
SMX
“BETTER THAN A CAMP-MEETING ”’
“Wuar is that?”
“The canvasser’s
N. C
“Is that so? I supposed a canvasser’s in-
stitute was to give the canvassers a little dry
instruction and uninteresting to any one else.
You really don’t mean that it could be better
than our good camp-meeting, do you?”
“Just listen to what those in attendance are
saying and judge for yourself:” —
institute at Hildebran,”
THE WATCHMAN
“I have enjoyed this more than the camp-
meeting.”
“That one thought has paid me for coming.”
“T think this is better than the camp-meet-
ing.”
“We ought to have one every year.”
“I wish all of our people could be here.”
“Those that are not here don’t know what
they are missing.”
“I am going to bring my family next time.”
“I am so glad I came.”
“My opinion of the institute is loftier than
when 1 came.”
“We are having some wonderful studies.”
“I wish I could attend every meeting.”
An outsider spent two days with us, and
just sat in astonishment and drank it in. He
said that his eyes had been opened. He
caught the spirit, and returning to his school,
began canvassing his schoolmates, and sent in
an order for ten hooks the third day.
There are only a few in attendance, but this
is the only small thing about it. The Lord
is doing great things for us. A flood of light
is being shed on the word of God. Hearts
are encouraged and made glad. Only those in
attendance can appreciate it. And if you
had been in attendance, you would not miss
another. C. F. Darr,
Campobello, S. C.
P. S.— We expect one just as good at
Campobello. S. C, February 4-24.
EI I
FLORIDA, NOTICE
Your executive committee has designated
Sabbath, February 2, as a day on which we
ask our Florida people to donate liberally to-
ward the school work for the colored people.
You will receive a reading to be read and
carefully studied on that day, which sets forth
our duty in this direction. We shall expect
a liberal donation, as we hope to be able to
place the Plant City school on a substantial
hasis with this offering.
We are sorry that this offering will conflict
with the offering for religious liberty work,
but our plans were all arranged before we
knew of the latter. L. H. CrISLER.
HS 2 8
A YEAR’S WORK IN THE CANVASSING FIELD
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
I BEcAN work at Greenville, S. C., the middle
of January and closed December 24 at Chester,
S.C
I was in Greenville seven months, and the
Lord favored me with many blessed experi-
ences besides helping me to distribute in Green-
ville and neighboring mill towns (reached hy
a belt electric railway) books to the value of
$378.50, a net profit of $186.50 or $26.64 a
month. Of these books 287 were “Coming
King ” and 16 “ Great Controversy.”
During this time I conducted a school for
onc month three hours in the afternoon and
two in the evening, which met expenses, but
took time from the canvassing work. ‘The
school was for the benefit of the mill people.
many of whom cannot read or write their own
names. Some moved away. This reduced
the school, so that T did not think it profitable
to continue longer: hut a good work could
77
be done in that line, separate from the can-
vassing work.
My next place of work was Union. Here
I worked in company with Sister Wing. I
was successful at the Union mills, one of the
largest mills in the state. We also worked
the neighboring mill towns in Union county.
This took us three months.
Again the Lord blessed, and my share of the
work was delivering 109 copies of “Coming
King,” and 9 of “ Great Controversy,” besides
go small books which sold for fifty or seventy-
five cents each. Here my average per month
was $25.93.
We then moved to Chester, where we worked
two months. Here we met with more ob-
stacles, such as the beginning of school, mak-
ing it necessary to buy books; winter supplies
of clothing and fuel also had to be furnished.
Later the holidays came. But, notwithstand-
ing all these things, I averaged $18 a month.
To the Lord be all the praise, who could use
an inexperienced worker in a strange field,
among strange people, enabling me to more
than meet expenses.
I want to say that this has been the most
satisfying year’s work of my life, not in dol-
lars and cents, but in experiences which are
far-reaching. May many respond to the Lord's
call, “Go work to-day in my vineyard,” and
hasten his work and water their own souls.
There are openings for tent effort, Bible work-
ers, health restaurants, and treatment rooms.
Who will go? Mgrs. E. Y. SMITH.
NE
CLOTHING WANTED
Donations of clothing to our mission schools
have not been so numerous this winter as in
former years, while the need is even greater.
We have a larger number of schools and more
pupils in our schools. Our teachers write to
us for clothing, but we have none to send.
Will those who have partly worn clothing that
they can spare please to write to us for ship-
ping directions? It is not a hard matter for
almost any church to make up a barrel or two
of quite serviceable clothing which would be
of inestimable value in our work. Address
Southern Missionary Society, North Station,
Nashville, Tenn.
AFETE.PIN
that has never been role
The guard on the spring pre-
vents tearing the cloth. The
only pin that fastens from either
side and can't slip through. See
that all cards have our name on.
Send 4 cents in stamps for sample
worth double the money.
CONSOLIDATED SAFETY PIN Co.,
Box 159 BLOOMFIELD, N. J.