art and A414.41,01/14- 
• • 
By T. L. Oswald 
N THE business of missions, 
prayer comes first. When Jesus looked upon 
the whitened harvest fields, He might have 
called immediately for laborers, or organiza- 
4 
�
�
tion, or money. Each plays an important 
part in the missionary enterprise. But more 
important is the release of divine power 
through prayer, so Jesus put prayer fore-
most in the business of missions: "Pray ye 
therefore the Lord of the harvest." 
In the business of prayer, missions come 
first. When Jesus taught His disciples to 
pray, He said, "Our Father which art in 
heaven, hallowed by Thy name. . . ." That 
Vol. 37 �
April, 1950 �
No. 4 
was the reverent approach. Then what? "Thy 
kingdom come." That means missions. Daily 
bread follows. 
So today God admonishes us to lift up 
our eyes and behold the whitened fields, 
for they are ready for the harvest. Each 
day the members of the family of God 
should pray for divine power to direct 
the lives of those that proclaim the message 
in all lands. 
We are facing an unparalleled oppor-
tunity for the spreading of the third angel's 
message in many foreign lands. Japan's 
doors have swung wide open to the spread 
of the gospel. There is such a turning to 
Christianity that every church is crowded; 
many churches refrain from making an-
nouncements of services so that the scanty 
space may not be entirely occupied by 
inquirers, thus depriving the members of 
needed spiritual help. To an unbelievable 
degree, the Japanese have opened their 
hearts to receive the love of our Saviour. It 
is the hour of destiny for the Japanese 
people. They need Christ as never before. 
A new day is dawning in southern Asia. 
There is an interest in the Bible such as 
our old-time workers have never seen. Now 
is the hour to proclaim with power the 
message in India. 
Australasia is appealing. Whole island 
populations have turned to the message of 
a risen and soon-coming Saviour. They 
have been lifted from the lowest degrada-
tion of spiritism to be valiant witnesses for 
Christ. On New Guinea alone we need 
two thousand teachers to gather the soul-
harvest. To the west of New Guinea lies 
Indonesia—Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and 
the Celebes—to mention only the larger 
island fields. God has gone before us and 
prepared the way. What will be our 
response? 
(Please turn to page 2) 
2 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
Stocktaking Time 
As I write these lines, the year 1950 
is just beginning. We have come to the half-
way station in our journey through the 
twentieth century. It is fitting, therefore, 
that we stop and take stock of our move-
ment and our objectives as we move for-
ward into another decade. 
We hold, as a people, some of the 
most solemn truths ever committed to 
men. These truths are ours only by posses-
sion, not by authorship. Our forefathers in 
the message discovered them—dug them 
out of the mine of truth, assorted and 
assembled them in their present beautiful 
setting—but the truths themselves are the 
thoughts and intents of God. They were 
committed by Him to holy men of old, 
who wrote them out for our learning "upon 
whom the ends of the world are come." 
We need to remember that the men 
whom God chose to search out this message 
were men of deep conviction and profound 
students of the Word. They searched dili-
gently day and night and drank deeply 
of the fountain of divine truth as they 
worked and studied together. They gathered 
the stones of truth one by one and built 
these eternal principles into the foundations 
of this movement. 
Today we may express these truths in 
words of our own choosing, but the ideas, 
the truths themselves, represent the thinking 
and experience of the pioneers of this 
movement, who through days and nights 
of prayer and study gave to the remnant 
church the light that God had decreed 
should shine out from His Word in the 
last hours of human history, 
We are, therefore, custodians of divine 
truth. For one hundred years the message 
has been tried and tested. The sound basis 
of its origin has been proved and the 
truths we hold have stood up against every 
attack from enemies within and without. 
Its foundation standeth sure. 
But what of the future? If the past is 
a guide to the future, we need not fear. 
We read: "In reviewing our past history, 
having traveled over every step of advance 
to our present standing, I can say, Praise 
God! As I see what God has wrought, I am 
filled with astonishment, and with con-
fidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing 
to fear for the future except as we shall 
forget the way the Lord has led us. 
"We are now a strong people, if we 
will put our trust in the Lord; for we 
are handling the mighty truths of the Word 
of God. We have everything to be thankful 
for. If we walk in the light as it shines 
upon us from the living oracles of God, we 
shall have large responsibilities, correspond-
ing to the great light given us of God." 
—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 31. 
Yes, thank God, He has led us thus far; 
and He will not forsake us now. The truth 
will triumph. "He that shall come will 
come, and will not tarry." Hebrews 10:37. 
This promise is sure. But what of our 
readiness for that event. Have we completed 
the task that He has given us? The Lord 
cannot come until the task is finished. For 
this He is waiting. He is counting on each 
one of us to do his duty this year. 
Surely the time has come when those 
little jets of light that Sister White saw 
shining from cities and villages in all 
parts of the world should be multiplied a 
thousandfold and join their rays in a great 
flood of glory to light the whole world 
and make ready a people to meet their 
Lord. For this He is waiting. What are 
we waiting for? He is ready. Are we ready? 
I believe that the greatest task that lies 
before us in this mid-century year is to 
clear the way for the Lord to shine through 
every one of our hearts and lives that 
He may illuminate the world with the 
glorious message. He will then cut short 
His work in righteousness. 
—THE EDITOR. 
QUESTION CORNER 
In this column each month will be an-
swered questions on the work and duties of 
church officers or questions concerning any 
problem that may arise in connection with 
the local church or any of its departments. 
We welcome your questions and ask that 
they be sent to the Editor, CHURCH OFFI-
CERS GAZETTE, do General Conference, 
Takoma Park, Washington 12, D. C. 
Other Denominations 
Question: Do you think it is right for 
one of our churches to permit another 
denomination to use our church building 
for religious services? 
Answer: Yes, under certain circumstances 
this would be in harmony with our practice 
in both the home and foreign fields. This 
has been done on many occasions, and 
some of our churches have also used chapels 
of other denominations for their services. 
Sometimes a church company is burned out 
or is rebuilding their church home and 
desires some other place to worship for 
a time. Under such circumstances the Sev-
enth-day Adventist church in the community 
has felt it a brotherly deed to offer the use 
of its building for a time to meet an emer-
gency. In the same way Seventh-day Advent-
ist congregations have used churches of other 
denominations on many occasions. When 
such arrangements are entered into, a com-
plete agreement in writing should be made 
as to the time of the use of the building 
each week, the rental to be charged, the 
janitor work, the cost of heating, lighting, 
et cetera, and also the period for which the 
agreement is to continue. Such an agree-
ment will prevent misunderstanding and 
build a spirit of co-operation between the 
two organizations concerned, 
Prayer and Missions 
(Continued from Page 1) 
To the south lie the great Inter-American 
and South American Divisions, where mul-
titudes reach out for God. Hundreds, yes, 
thousands, once benighted, now prepare 
for the coming of the Lord. 
How cheering is the good news from all 
these lands! Is it not time for us to con-
secrate our talents, time, and energies to 
God for the finishing of His work upon 
earth? In all solemnity, brethren, look over 
a perishing world. Then let us, one and 
all, pray the Lord of the harvest, and act on 
our prayers. 
From behind these doors wide open for 
the giving of the gospel to the millions of 
heathen, can you not hear the call of God 
asking you again this year to put forth the 
supreme effort to bring in at least $18.23 
to support our foreign mission program 
for one minute? Many of us must do much 
more in our Ingathering in 1950. Let us 
each do with our might what our hands 
find to do—and what a task they find in 
this mid-century year! 
Our goal for North America is $2,500,-
000, but we must not be satisfied with only 
reaching the goal. We are aiming and 
praying for $3,000,000. By the time this 
article is read, we shall have scores and 
scores of Minute Man churches. There will 
be Minute Man conferences, such as Florida 
and Alabama-Mississippi. These fields have 
worked hard. What Florida and Alabama-
Mississippi have done, others will do, and 
many others could do. 
In this hour of all hours, let us pray with 
new meaning, "Thy kingdom come." May 
you give your heart and life in a new 
consecration to God and to His closing 
work, and then go out and gather in or 
give at least $18.23 to save judgment-
bound souls. 
May God abundantly bless you with all 
spiritual blessings. 
1 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
3 
Responsibilities of Membership 
in the 
Seventh-day Adventist 
Church 
Sacredness of Church Fellowship 
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and 
members in particular." 1 Corinthians 12: 
27. "Although you may feel that you are 
the least of all saints, yet you are members 
r of Christ's body, and through Him you are 
identified with all His human agencies, 
and with the excellence and power of the 
heavenly intelligences. None of us liveth to 
himself. To each is assigned a post of 
duty, not for his own narrow, selfish in-
terests, but that the influence of each may 
be a strength to all."—Testimonies, Vol. 
7, p. 296. "We . . . are complete only in 
Christ Jesus, who will uplift His people 
from the low level to which sin has degraded 
them, and will place them where they shall 
be acknowledged in the heavenly courts as 
laborers together with God."—led, Vol. 
9, p. 202. 
"Christ has given to the church a sacred 
charge. Every member should be a channel 
through which God can communicate to 
the world the treasures of His grace, the 
unsearchable riches of Christ. There is 
nothing that the Saviour desires so much as 
agents who will represent to the world His 
Spirit and His character. There is nothing 
that the world needs so much as the mani-
festation through humanity of the Saviour's 
love. All heaven is waiting for men and 
• women through whom God can reveal the 
power of Christianity. 
"The church is God's agency for the 
proclamation of truth, empowered by Him 
to do a special work; and if she is loyal 
to Him, obedient to all His commandments, 
there will dwell within her the excellency 
of divine grace. If she will be true to her 
allegiance, if she will honor the Lord God 
of Israel, there is no power that can stand 
against her."—Acts of the Apostles, p. 600. 
"Enfeebled and defective, needing constantly 
to be warned and counseled, the church is 
nevertheless the object of Christ's supreme 
regard."—Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 16. 
Responsibilities of Chinch Membership 
"'The great day of the Lord is near; it 
is near, and hasteth greatly.' Jesus says, 
'Lo, I come quickly.' We should keep these 
words ever in mind, and act as though we 
do indeed believe that the coming of the 
Lord is nigh, and that we are pilgrims and 
strangers upon the earth. The vital energies 
of the church of God must be brought 
into active exercise for the great object of 
self-renovation; every member must be an 
active agent for God."—Id., Vol. 5, p. 266. 
"[The church of God) on earth is to 
assume divine proportions before the world, 
as a temple built of living stones, each one 
reflecting light. It is to be the light of 
the world, as a city set on a hill, which can-
not be hid. It is built of stones laid close 
together, stone fitting to stone, making a 
firm, solid building. Not all the stones are 
of the same form or shape. Some are large, 
some are small, but each has its own place 
to fill. And the value of each stone is 
determined by the light that it reflects. 
This is God's plan. He desires all His 
workers to fill their appointed places in 
the work for this time."—Id, Vol. 8, pp. 
173, 174. 
"The church is God's appointed agency 
for the salvation of men. It was organised 
for service, and its mission is to carry the 
gospel to the world. From the beginning 
it has been God's plan that through His 
church shall be reflected to the world His 
fulness and His sufficiency. The members 
of the church, those whom He has called 
out of darkness into His marvelous light, 
are to show forth His glory. The church 
is the repository of the riches of the grace 
of Christ: and through the church will 
eventually be made manifest, even to 'the 
principalities and powers in heavenly places,' 
the final full display of the love of God." 
—Acts of the Apostles, p. 9. 
"We should improve every opportunity 
of placing ourselves in the channel of 
blessing. Christ has said, 'Where two or 
three are gathered in My name, there am 
I in the midst.' The convocation of the 
church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies 
of the home church, and all occasions 
where there is personal labor for souls, 
are God's appointed opportunities for giv-
ing the early and the latter rain."—Testi-
monies to Ministers, p. 508. "We must 
seek His favors with the whole heart if 
the showers of grace are to come to us."—
Ibid. "Then let us not forsake the assem-
bling of ourselves together, as the manner 
of some is; but exhort one another; and 
so much the more, as we see the day ap-
proaching."—Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 190. 
"We are not to feel that the work of 
the gospel depends principally upon the 
minister. To every man God has given a 
work to do in connection with His kingdom, 
Every one who professes the name of Christ 
is to be an earnest, disinterested worker, 
ready to defend the principles of righteous-
ness. Every soul should take an active part 
in advancing the cause of God. Whatever 
our calling, as Christians we have a work 
to do in making Christ known to the 
world. We are to be missionaries, having 
for our chief aim the winning of souls to 
Christ. To His church God has committed 
the work of diffusing light and bearing the 
message of His love. Our work is not to 
condemn, not to denounce, but to draw 
with Christ, beseeching men to be recon-
ciled to God. We are to encourage souls, 
to attract them, and thus win them to the 
Saviour."—Id., Vol. 6, p. 427. 
"God blesses the work of men's hands, 
that they may return to Him His portion. 
He gives them the sunshine and the rain; 
He causes vegetation to flourish; He gives 
health, and ability to acquire means. Every 
blessing comes from His bountiful hand, 
and He desires men and women to show 
(Please turn to page 32) 
4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
[In this column, from month to month, 
we will present studies that will form 
suggestions for prayer-meeting talks.) 
Is God Particular? 
BY LOUISE C. KLEUSER 
Text: Isaiah 28:17. 
I. Introduction. 
1. Governments are particular. Income 
tax paid to the dollar, Rationing 
boards particular about orders to 
the public. Banks particular about 
checks we write. Highway patrol 
particular about our speed limit. 
2. God particular about His command-
ments. 1 John 3:4. 
3. Gave Son to die because He could 
not condone sin. John 3:16; 1 John 
2:2. 
4. Present tendency to be indifferent to 
our own destruction. 
IL Examples Proving God Too Is Particular. 
1. Eden lost because of disobedience. 
Genesis 2:16-19, 24. 
2. Cain's indifference caused his re-
jection. Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4. 
3. Mighty men of renown rejected in 
Noah's day. Genesis 6:4; 2 Peter 
2:5; Luke 17:26, 27. 
4. Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed be-
cause of disobedience. 2 Peter 2:6; 
Luke 17:28, 29. 
5. Nadab and Abihu perished because 
of strange fire. Leviticus 10:1, 2. 
(What difference does it make? 
preacher's boys reasoned.) 
6. Saul sadly learned God was very 
particular, 1 Samuel 15:22; 31:4. 
7. Lessons from Uzzah and the ark. 
2 Samuel 6:6, 7; Numbers 4:15-20; 
7:9. Even an emergency does not 
excuse disobedience. 
8. Naaman to dip seven times in river. 
2 Kings 5:13-15. 
9. Judas disobeyed to gain thirty pieces 
of silver. Acts 1:25; Matthew 27:3- 
10. 
10. Ananias and Sapphira disobeyed and 
perished. Acts 5. 
III. Acceptance of New Light Always Im- 
portant, 
1. Even good men like Cornelius needed 
added light. Acts 10. 
2. Light for limited period only. John 
12:35, 36. 
3. Sabbath, God's special light in last 
days. Revelation 14:12; 12:17; Exo-
dus 20:8-11. 
4. Following majority is unsafe reason-
ing, Exodus 23:2; Matthew 7:13, 14. 
5. Even leaders not always safe guides. 
John 12:42, 43; Matthew 15:3-9. 
6. Must look to God, not man. Ezekiel 
14:14; John 21:21, 22. 
7. Danger of procrastination. Acts 24:25. 
IV. Blessing of Obeying God's Word. 
"Blessed are they that hear the word of 
God, and keep it." Luke 11:28. 
(Earnestly appeal to walk in all revealed 
truth. Close with prayer.) 
Obedience and Life 
or 
Disobedience and Death 
BY VINNIE GOODNER 
I. Introduction: Weak faith and lack of 
the right faith are present-day dangers. 
Provoking unbelief is another of Satan's 
strong tools to discourage Christians in 
stepping out on God's promises. Satan 
pictures problems and disasters that may 
result from stepping out on Bible faith. 
He promotes doubt and fear. How can 
we meet our greatest enemy? 
II. Warnings Against Unbelief. 
1. Israel's sin of unbelief. Hebrews 3:17-
19. 
2. Similar danger today, Hebrews 4:1, 
11. 
3. Unbelief separates from God. Hebrews 
3:12. 
4. Jews rejected because of unbelief. 
Romans 11:19, 20, 
III. Victory Through Faith. 
1. Our only hope. Hebrews 3:14; Ro-
mans 11:20, last part. 
2. "Believe in the Lord, . . so shall ye 
be established." 2 Chronicles 20:20, 
last part. 
"Unbelief whispers, 'Let us wait till 
the obstructions are removed, and we 
can see our way clearly'; but faith 
courageously urges an advance, hoping 
all things, believing all things."-
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 290. 
IV. Believe, Obey, Rest. 
1. Rest and peace promised. Belief brings 
rest to the heart and peace to the 
mind. Hebrews 4:3; Isaiah 48:18. 
2. "Confidence ... 
 hash great recompence 
of reward." Hebrews 10:35-37. 
3. Perfect peace result of trusting God. 
Isaiah 26:3. 
4. Just shall live by faith. Hebrews 10: 
38. 
V. Two Ways of Decision. 
1. Life or death, Jeremiah 21:8; Deu-
teronomy 30:15; Romans 6:23, 
2. Obedience or disobedience. Hebrews 
10:38, 39. 
3. God's Word must influence our choice. 
Proverbs 14:12. 
VI. Appeal. 
What a privilege truly to believe God! 
Hebrews 10:35-39 is God's message to 
us today. Let us believe that God is able 
to give us a conquering faith. Then let us 
sweetly rest in Him knowing that "the 
just shall live by faith." 
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EDITOR 
MANAGING EDITOR 
Associate Editors 
Theodore L. Oswald �
Eldine W. Dunbar 
E. E. Roenfelt �G. M. Mathews 
Assistant Editors 
Grace Fields �Marjorie W. Marsh 
Arabella Moore Williams �
Mary L. Scott 
PUBLISHED monthly by the SOUTHERN PUBLISH-
ING ASSOCIATION, 2119 Twenty-Fourth Avenue, 
North, Nashville 8, Tennessee. Entered as second-
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in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A., under Act of 
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�
 JAMES I. RonisoN 
STANLEY C. HARRIS 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
5 
NOTES TO OFFICERS 
Hold the Line 
Another Missionary Volunteer Week of 
Prayer has come and gone. Without a doubt, 
in all portions of the world field where 
this Week of Prayer has been observed, the 
Lord has fulfilled His promise and brought 
great blessings to the young men and young 
women who took part. 
We are confident from previous statistics 
gathered that thousands renewed their con-
secration, purposing anew in their hearts 
to let God have His way in their lives. 
Others—a large host—for the first time 
in their experience made the supreme sur-
render in giving their hearts to the Master 
and by faith received Him into their lives. 
For all these blessed victories, we praise 
God. 
In view of the blessings received, the 
victories gained, and the souls won during 
the week, we ask you now as Missionary 
Volunteer leaders, What next? Does our 
responsibility toward these struggling young 
people cease? Shall we now stand by and 
let them drift back into a state of worldli-
ness, lukewarmness, and spiritual lethargy? 
God forbid that we shall leave these young 
- people to themselves in their struggle to 
gain the victory over the world and its 
temptations. Now is the time for Missionary 
Volunteer leaders everywhere to plan wisely 
with their executive committees for aggres-
sive help for these young people in their 
spiritual struggles, encouraging them in 
their daily devotional lives, directing them 
in their social affairs, advising them in 
their daily problems, and, last but not least, 
leading them into active missionary en-
deavor, 
Surely none of us underrates the im-
portance of the Share-Your-Faith plans, 
which are so actively pursued in many 
Missionary Volunteer societies. These mis-
sionary plans and endeavors not only ac-
complish much in the winning of souls but 
also are extremely fruitful in grounding 
and stabilizing the Christian experience of 
more recently converted members. We have 
some important Missionary Volunteer fea-
tures which we like to call "holding fea-
tures." We feel with Mrs. E. G. White that 
"the best- way to prevent the growth of 
evil is to preoccupy the soil."—Messages to 
Young People, p. 282. 
Here is where the devotional features—
daily Bible study, the Character Classics, 
the Bible Year, prayer, and meditation—
are indispensable. Young people grow in 
their Christian experience—overcoming be- 
- setments, resisting sin—to the degree that 
they avail themselves of these essentials: 
(1) Daily Bible Stay. "Thy word have 
I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin 
against Thee." Psalm 119:11. 
(2) Daily Secret Prayer. "Daily prayer 
is as essential to growth in grace, and even 
to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food 
Topic Tips �
May 
SENIOR SOCIETY 
6 Operation Doorbell 
13 Mother's Day 
20 Holidays Afar 
27 Satan's Trojan Horses 
JUNIOR SOCIETY 
6 Let It Shine 
13 Mother's Day 
20 Value of Hobbies 
27 Guard Those Gates! 
to physical well-being."—Messages to 
Young People, p. 115. 
(3) "Meditation upon holy things will 
elevate and refine the mind, and will de-
velop Christian ladies and gentlemen:—
Id., p. 426. 
Let us encourage these recently converted 
youth to form the Morning Watch habit, 
to enroll in the Bible Year or Character 
Classics, and to interest themselves in the 
M.V. class membership. Is it not now high 
time that we pledge ourselves anew under 
God to the happy task of holding the youth 
to this message, of tying their hearts and 
minds inseparably to the movement? To 
make this possible in the lives of many of 
our young people, let us sincerely dedicate 
our service. 
Feature the Bible Year 
Are you pushing the Bible Year all 
through the year and keeping your members 
challenged to read the Bible daily? This 
is one of the Missionary Volunteer features 
which needs constant promotion. It is simi-
lar in this respect to the daily study of the 
Sabbath-school lesson. To be successful, it 
must be promoted excessively. Possibly half 
the members of your society—or more—
could have received a Bible Year Certificate 
last year, but approximately ten per cent 
received them. Do you wish a new way 
and an interesting way to bring this project 
continually before the young people? There 
is a Missionary Volunteer leaflet entitled 
"An Hour with Christ." This M.V. Leaflet 
24 is full of ideas for the devotional 
secretary, and is to be used in promoting 
the daily reading of the Bible. 
Also valuable to you in pushing this 
important project is M.V. Leaflet 15 "On the 
King's Highway"; M.V. Leaflet 16, which 
is the record of the Senior Bible Year; and 
M.V. Leaflet 18 "Read Your Bible." All 
these should be in the hands of the devo-
tional secretary, whose responsibility it is 
to promote the Bible Year, the Morning 
Watch, and the Character Classics. These 
are available through your Book and Bible 
House. 
It seems that the least that can be done 
is for the Missionary Volunteer leader to 
announce regularly the place of reading 
where one should be as a current reader of 
the Bible Year. Some interesting events or 
features to be found in the reading for 
the week to follow can be brought out. A 
Bible quiz can be arranged on the basis 
of the past week's reading. The Bible Year 
chart should be used for a permanent record 
of the progress of the members in this 
important work throughout the year. 
The servant of the Lord wrote, "If the 
people of God would appreciate His Word 
we should have a heaven in the church here 
below."—Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 193. 
—SYF— 
Years ago a businessman eagerly perused 
the book Daniel and Revelation which was 
sold to him by a colporteur. Later the book 
was lost, but the man had become deeply 
impressed by the sections he had read. For 
thirty years he searched for this book on 
prophecy. One day when he was about to 
board a train, he noticed an attractive rack. 
He hastily picked up a tract and was over-
joyed to find in it the prophecies of Daniel 
and Revelation. Hoping that the publishers 
of the tract might help him to locate the 
long-lost book on prophecy, he wrote them 
for information. A colporteur in a neat-by 
district called on him, sold him the wanted 
book and several others, and arranged for 
Bible studies. Today this business leader 
is in the baptismal class. 
Consecration 
Of Daniel we learn that in all his busi-
ness transactions, when subjected to the clos-
est scrutiny, not one fault or error could be 
found. He was a sample of what every 
businessman may be. His history shows 
what may be accomplished by one who con-
secrates the strength of brain and bone and 
muscle, of heart and life, to the service of 
God.—Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Les-
sons, p. 351. 
6 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
April 1 
MIRACLES OF NATURE 
BY B. H. PHIPPS 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
SONG: "This Is My Father's World," No. 
646 in Church Hymnal. 
PRAYER. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
OFFERTORY. 
SYF REPORTS. 
SPECIAL MUSIC. 
DISCUSSION TOPIC: "Miracles of Nature." 
(See Notes to Leaders.) 
SONG: "I Sing the Mighty Power," No. 93. 
BENEDICTION. 
Notes to Leaders 
DISCUSSION GROUPS: Any of the 
topics may be used in a discussion group. 
Sample questions have been given at the 
close of the topic, "Life Processes Are 
Miracles." 
ADDITIONAL POEMS: "A Miracle," 
by George Klingle, Quotable Poems, 
p. 162. 
"Miracle," by L. H. Bailey, Quotable 
Poems, p. 92. 
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND 
STORIES: 
1. J. Arthur Thompson 
The Wonder of Life 
2. E. L. Grant Watson 
Mysteries of Natural History 
3. James Ritchie 
Design in Nature 
4. Merton S. Rice My Father's World 
5. Edwin Way Teale 
Near Horizons 
6. Allen Devoe �
Lives Around Us 
7. Allen Devoe �
Reader's Digest 
February, 1945, p. 93 
April, 1945, p. 123 
May, 1945, p. 93 
August, 1946, p. 88 
November, 1946, p. 126 
May, 1949, p. 121 
This program may serve as an impetus to 
further nature study by your group. Capital-
ize on this awakened interest and organize 
various nature groups as called for or 
thought best. 
Miracles of Nature 
DEFINITION 
A miracle is a contrary of the ordinary 
happening. It cannot be explained by known 
laws. In spite of these statements it is prob-
able that many of the conditions that we call 
miraculous do follow some orderly divine 
law about which we know very little at 
present. Undoubtedly many of us long for 
the day when these things will be made 
plain, as much as we desire other wonderful 
things that have been promised to those 
who love God, 
LIFE ITSELF IS A MIRACLE 
Life exists everywhere about the earth. 
It is present in the giant redwoods of Cali-
fornia and in the microscopic one-celled 
plants that inhabit the neighboring pool. 
No man has ever created life. No one can 
explain it. 
Some persons remind us that it is always 
associated with protoplasm. But what is 
protoplasm? That, too, is a mystery. Others 
claim that it comes about through some 
chemical reactions. If this were true, we 
would still be at sea because we are ignorant 
of the reactions referred to. 
But everywhere life goes on growing, 
moving, manufacturing, reproducing, and 
dying—evidences of an all-wise God and 
of our small intellectual stature. 
"Flower in the crannied wall, 
I pluck you out of the crannies, 
I hold you here, root and all, in my hand, 
Little flower—but if I could understand 
What you are, root and all, and all in all, 
I should know what God and man is." 
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson. 
LIFE'S PROCESSES ARE MIRACLES 
Plants are able to take carbon dioxide 
from the air and water from the soil and 
by some unexplained process manufacture 
most of the foodstuffs that people and ani-
mals eat. We name the process and we know 
that a green pigment in the leaf and the 
sunshine take part, but with all our boasted 
techniques we cannot duplicate it. 
One of the most wonderful phenomena is 
that which we call metamorphosis. A large, 
green tomato "worm" spends its days eating 
leaves. It eats more than its own weight 
in leaves each day, It probably has no other 
pleasures, and it spends its time digesting 
and storing immense quantities of food. 
After a time it begins to secrete a substance 
through its skin, building a protective case 
about it. This is its dormant or pupa stage. 
The pupa case does not conform to the 
shape of the worm, but if it is examined 
closely, one can see grooves where legs will 
lie and others where the folded wings will 
develop. There is a "jug handle" through 
which the coiled proboscis will grow. Dur-
ing this dormant season all the digestive 
organs disintegrate, and then gradually but 
surely new organs develop so that when it 
hatches it will be a beautiful Sphinx moth. 
It will not go back to the tomato plants now 
to eat leaves, but instead will be found 
fluttering above the petunia blossoms with 
its proboscis deep in the nectar bowls of 
the flowers. 
When thinking of this we are led to ask 
questions like these: 
1. Does the tomato "worm" know when 
it has eaten enough to carry it through the 
dormant stage? 
2. Does the tomato "worm" have intelli-
gence enough to anticipate its change and 
consciously start building its case? 
3. Does the tomato "worm" know that it 
will be a moth and so build the case to con-
form to a moth rather than the larva? 
4. Is there consciousness during the pupa 
stage? 
5. Does the Sphinx moth remember that 
it did eat tomato leaves? 
6. How does the Sphinx moth know 
how to use its wings and proboscis? 
7. What causes the Sphinx moth to go 
back to the tomato plant to lay its eggs? 
LIFE'S RELATIONSHIPS ARE MIRACU-
LOUS 
The jellyfish and most of its relatives 
have stinging devices by which they protect 
themselves from enemies and also by which 
they secure their food, 
There is one animal, however, that does 
not seem to be affected by the stinging de-
vices. It is a large relative of the snail, which 
is called a sea slug. The slug eats relatives of 
the jellyfish, stinging cells and all. After 
entering the digestive system of the slug, 
the stinging cells work their way through 
the tissues until they come to rest at the 
surface. Now the slug can go about its way 
protected by the stinging cells which it has 
appropriated from the jellyfish. 
The larva of the Pronuba moth exists 
entirely on the seeds of the yucca. In order 
for this to take place the moth goes from 
flower to flower laying an egg or two in 
each flower. In order to reciprocate, the moth 
carries pollen and pushes it in crevices 
where it can do the most good, As one 
thinks of this relationship, it is evident 
that neither can get along without the other. 
The yucca needs the moth to pollenate it, 
and the moth needs the yucca to provide 
food for its young. 
The yucca like many other plants has its 
"off years" when it does not blossom over 
wide areas. This would seem to be a catas-
trophe, because the young Pronuba moths 
would have nothing to eat. In this case the 
moth would disappear. If that happened the 
yucca could no longer be pollenated and 
would become extinct. Providence, how-
ever, has made provision so that in the 
yucca's barren years the Pronuba remains in 
its pupa case another year to await the 
blossoming. 
INSTINCTS ARE MIRACLES 
J. Arthur Thompson tells us that when 
some newly hatched water birds are thrown 
into the water, they swim instinctively. 
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7 
Some bees do not have a proboscis long 
enough to reach the nectar in the flowers 
of the wood vetch. In this emergency they 
cut a hole in just the right place—exactly 
over a nectar hole—where they can reach it 
with the least difficulty. 
The story is often told of Eumenes, a 
wasp, which places five measuring worms 
that have been previously paralyzed into a 
nest with an egg that will hatch into a male, 
and ten worms into a nest with an egg that 
will hatch into a female. The amount of food 
does not make the difference. Whether it 
would be male or female was determined 
before the egg was laid. We do not know 
how the wasp is stimulated to put different 
amounts of food in each nest. We name 
this ability, instinct, which is merely a name 
for something we do not understand. 
MIGRATIONS ARE MIRACLES 
One of the most interesting examples of 
migration is that of the Monarch butterfly. 
She comes back from the south with wings 
frayed and worn. She lays her eggs upon a 
milkweed plant and dies subsequently. The 
eggs hatch into caterpillars, which feed on 
the leaves of the milkweed for a time, 
pupate, and finally become full-sized adult 
butterflies. 
In September they begin to get uneasy 
and eventually fly to a tree, perhaps some 
miles away, to meet hundreds of other 
Monarchs. This same tree may have been 
the congregating place for their parents and 
grandparents. Shortly afterward they start 
south to find a spot they have never seen, 
with no guide that has made the trip before. 
Many questions enter our minds about their 
knowledge of the butterfly tree and the 
stimulus that causes them to move away 
from coming winter. 
If one could find a place on an island in 
one of our northern lakes where he could 
not be seen, and watch the autumn migra-
tion, he would see thousands of birds of a 
dozen different species arrive during the day. 
The shallows about the island would be 
alive with waterfowl. The trees would be 
full of chipping and chattering perchers. 
Rai-1y the next morning they would all be 
gone, some toward the bayous of Louisiana, 
some toward Mexico, and others headed for 
a flight across the Gulf of Mexico to South 
America, each species having a different 
destination, which they know instinctively. 
How is it that birds time their spring 
migrations so accurately that one could 
almost tell the day of the month by watching 
their return? It was many centuries ago that 
Jeremiah said, "Yea, the stork in the heaven 
knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle 
[dove] and the crane and the swallow 
observe the time of their coming." Jer 8:7. 
How do birds make these remarkable 
journeys with such accuracy? How, indeed, 
do they find their way? They do follow 
definite routes, like the Mississippi flyway, 
but how do many of them know they are 
on the route when they travel at night? 
These are questions we cannot answer. 
(Here quote all or portions of Bryant's 
"To a WaterfowL") 
HIBERNATION IS A MIRACLE 
Some creatures fall asleep in winter 
when food becomes scarce. The bat hangs 
up in an attic or hayloft by his hooks, the 
frog crawls into his watery hole, the ground 
hog seeks a distant part of his burrow. 
These animals eat no food, their respira-
tion and heartbeats almost cease. They do 
not excrete. They become dormant. Some 
call it suspended animation. 
April 8 
THE MUNITIONS OF 
ROCKS 
BY DONALD F. HAYNES 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
DEVOTIONS AND FEATURES 
OPENING SONG: "A Mighty Fortress," No. 
261 in Church Hymnal. 
PRAYER 
OFFERTORY. 
SYF REPORTS. 
SPECIAL MUSIC 
DISCUSSION 
LEADER'S INTRODUCTION. 
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 91 (read responsively 
or recited by someone). 
PROLOGUE. 
DIALOGUE: "The Munitions of Rocks." 
CLOSING 
SONG: "Lord of Our Life," No. 262. 
BENEDICTION. 
Leader's Introduction 
In Testimonies, Volume 9, page 43, we 
find this message from Mrs. E. G. White, 
penned many years ago: "We are on the 
very verge of the time of trouble, and 
perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of 
are before us." 
Our program today will perhaps help us 
realize how near that time of trouble may 
be, and yet give us renewed courage and 
faith in God's protection and care. 
If you wish to increase the length of the 
meeting, you might ask those taking part 
to read farther in the chapters in The 
Great Controversy, entitled "The Time of 
Trouble," and "God's People Delivered," 
and in the dialogue to discuss their remem-
brance of the statements made by the Spirit 
of prophecy about God's care for His people 
during the last days on earth, and His 
deliverance of the faithful commandment-
keepers. 
Prologue 
"As the Sabbath has become the special 
point of controversy throughout Christen-
dom, and religious and secular authorities 
have combined to enforce the observance 
of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of 
a small minority to yield to the popular 
demand, will make them objects of uni-
versal execration. It will be urged that the 
few -who stand in opposition to an institu-
tion of the church and a law of the state, 
ought not to be tolerated; that it is better 
for them to suffer than for whole nations 
to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. 
. �
This argument will appear conclusive; 
and a decree will finally be issued against 
those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth 
commandment, denouncing them as deserv-
ing of the severest punishment, and giving 
the people liberty, after a certain time, 
to put them to death. Romanism in the 
Old World, and apostate Protestantism in 
the New, will pursue a similar course 
toward those who honor all the divine 
precepts. 
"The people of God will then be plunged 
into those scenes of affliction and distress 
described by the prophet as the time of 
Jacob's trouble."—Great Controversy, pp. 
615, 616. 
"As the decree issued by the various rulers 
of Christendom against commandment-keep-
ers shall withdraw the protection of govern-
ment, and abandon them to those who 
desire their destruction, the people of God 
will flee from the cities and villages and 
associate together in companies, dwelling 
in the most desolate and solitary places. 
Many will find refuge in the strongholds 
of the mountains. Like the Christians of 
the Piedmont valleys, they will make the 
high places of the earth their sanctuaries, 
and will thank God for the 'munitions of 
rocks.' But many of all nations, and of all 
classes, high and low, rich and poor, black 
and white, will be cast into the most unjust 
and cruel bondage. The beloved of God 
will pass weary days, bound in chains, 
shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be 
skin, some apparently left to die of starva- 
tion in dark and loathsome dungeons. No 
human ear is open to hear their moans; 
no human hand is ready, to lend them 
help."—Id., p. 626. 
"Though enemies may thrust them into 
prison, yet dungeon walls cannot cut off 
the communication between their souls and 
Christ. One who sees their every weakness, 
who is acquainted with every trial, is above 
all earthly powers; and angels will come 
to them in lonely cells, bringing light and 
peace from heaven. The prison will be as 
a palace; for the rich in faith dwell there, 
and the gloomy -walls will be lighted up 
with heavenly light, as when Paul and 
Silas prayed and sung praises at midnight in 
the Philippian dungeon."—Id., p. 627. 
"Some are assailed in their flight from 
the cities and villages; but the swords raised 
against them break and fall as powerless 
as a straw. Others are defended by angels 
in the form of men of war."—/d., p. 631. 
The Munitions of Rocks 
SCENE: A quiet vale in the Blue Ridge 
Mountains. 
TIME: One week after the beginning of 
the time of trouble. 
CHARACTERS: Brother Davis Harris, 
Sister Harris, George Harris, Jane Harris, 
Brother Herbert McKnight, Sister Mc-
Knight, John McKnight. 
SETTING: The Harris family are gather-
ing for family worship in the entrance of 
the cave they have occupied since they were 
driven from their home in �
 
BROTHER HARRIS (to George): It's hard 
to believe, son, I know, but I don't have 
any idea that this is going to last very long. 
GEORGE: Don't you worry about me, 
Father. I'm here because I want to be here. 
I settled all this when I decided for Christ 
and was baptized into the church. I am 
determined to see Jesus. I don't think it will 
be long either. 
SISTER HARRIS: Father, what do you 
suppose has become of our place in �
 
BROTHER HARRIS: I imagine the author: 
ides have taken over. 
JANE: I have been doing a lot of won- 
deridg about the other Adventists in �
 
and what has become of them. 
BROTHER HARRIS: They have been 
scattered, I suppose, to the four winds of 
heaven. My only regret now is that I did 
not heed the warning of the Spirit of 
prophecy and pull up our stakes a long 
time ago. But the only thing that matters 
now is keeping our gaze upon the day 
so soon now to dawn when we will see 
Jesus. (Footsteps heard in distance.) Listen! 
Do I hear footsteps? Yes, I do, and they 
are coming closer! (Pause—more footsteps, 
and Brother McKnight steps into the 
circle.) Oh, it is Brother McKnight! Good 
evening, Brother, and welcome to this 
temporary hearthstone in the hills. (Mo-
tions him to a seat on a low stone.) We 
are getting ready to begin family worship 
at the coming of the Sabbath. Tell us, where 
is your family? 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT (Sits): I wish I 
knew. Martha and John were separated 
from me when the authorities hailed us 
into court for not going to church on 
Sunday under the provisions of the new 
National Sunday Law. We saw it coming 
and agreed that if we were separated, we 
would meet at or somewhere near this 
spot. I am hoping that they are well on 
their way here. 
BROTHER HARRIS: You were still in 
town when we made our escape. Tell us 
about the church. 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: The church has 
been taken over. 
JANE HARRIS: And the school building? 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: It has been 
turned into a training school for the new 
secret police. 
SISTER HARRIS: What a difference a 
week has made! One week ago we were all 
anticipating the opening moments of an-
other Sabbath. We had worship in our 
homes. We went to young people's meeting 
as usual. Then the first thing Sabbath 
morning, before we had arisen from our 
beds, we were routed out of our homes and 
ordered to appear in the local magistrate's 
court to answer the charges of the Protes-
tant Ministerial Council. We were given 
thirty minutes to make our appearance. We 
chose instead to flee from the city in har-
mony with the instruction of the messenger 
of the Lord. And now, here we are, alone in 
the mountains, cut off from our church, our 
fellow members, our homes, alone in the 
mountains with God and our memories. 
GEORGE: Father, I think I really appre-
ciate tonight for the very first time the 
wonderful worship times we used to have 
at home at the beginning of the Sabbath. 
BROTHER HARRIS: Yes, and how glad 
we all are that even here nothing can keep 
us from family prayer. 
JANE: Not even the absence of a Bible 
or a hymnal. Here's where those wonderful 
memory verses are going to come in, and 
the hymns we have stored away in our 
hearts. 
BROTHER HARRIS: Let us begin our 
worship by repeating our favorite texts. 
Mother, will you start? 
MRS. HARRIS: Right now, I think my 
favorite text is Psalm 34:7: "The angel of 
the Lord encampeth round about them that 
fear Him, and delivereth them." 
BROTHER HARRIS: That's mine, too, 
Mother, but here is another one, Psalm 
46:1, 2: "God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble. Therefore 
will not we fear, though the earth be re-
moved, and though the mountains be car-
ried into the midst of the sea." 
GEORGE: Those texts really meet our 
need tonight. And now, here is mine, 
Psalm 91:1, 11: "He that dwelleth in the 
secret place of the Most High shall abide 
under the shadow of the Almighty. . . . 
For He shall give His angels charge over 
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." 
JANE: I like every one of those. But my 
special text is Psalm 78:15: "He lave the 
rocks in the wilderness, and gave them 
drink as out of the great depths." 
BROTHER HARRIS: Now, Brother Mc-
Knight, we would be happy for you to take 
part. Do you have a text to add to this 
testimony? 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: I certainly do. 
A promise is in two places in Isaiah, 33: 
15, 16 and 42:11: "He that walketh right-
eously, . . . his place of defence shall be 
the munitions of rocks: bread shall be 
given him; his waters shall be sure. . . 
Let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let 
April, 1950 
them shout from the top of the mountains." 
BROTHER HARRIS: In harmony with 
these inspired words let us sing that great 
hymn by Annie Smith, "Long upon the 
mountains, weary, have the scattered flock 
been torn." 
(Group sing, without accompaniment. 
Then faint footsteps are heard in distance.) 
SISTER HARRIS: Amidst the rest and 
peace of this Sabbath which has come to us 
here in this quiet place, I have a strange 
sense of movement out there in the dark-
ness. Have I been actually hearing or 
imagining the approach of footsteps? 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: I thought I heard 
something, too. Of course, that's very easy 
for me as I live in continual hope of seeing 
my loved ones again. 
(Enter Sister McKnight and John. Brother 
McKnight jumps to his feet and starts 
toward them. Others all arise.) 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: My dear ones! 
God has spared you and brought you here! 
SISTER MCKNIGHT: Ah, at last we made 
it. Father, it is not imaginative fancy. We 
are really here, by the miracle of God's 
preserving grace. 
JOHN: Father, I'm so glad to see you. 
I never had a job like this before. I've 
always counted on you for everything. 
But this time I was all alone to take care 
of mother. 
BROTHER MCKNIGHT: Oh, how happy 
I am that our family circle is complete 
again! Now for a little while here and it 
will all be over. Brother Harris, you will 
forgive this interruption in worship. 
BROTHER HARRIS: Bless you, forgive 
it? We welcome it. This is the time to sing, 
"Safe in the Arms of Jesus." 
(Group sing, unaccompanied.) 
* * * 
April 15 
SPIRITUAL SECURITY 
BY FRANK H. YoST 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
OPENING SONG AND PRAYER. 
OFFERTORY. 
SYF REPORTS, 
SPECIAL MUSIC. 
DIALOGUE: "Security in Christ Jesus." 
BIBLE STUDY. 
STUDY: "Three Phases in the Work of Sal- 
vation." 
CLOSING SONG. 
BENEDICTION. 
Security in Christ Jesus 
PASTOR: Come in, Tom. 
TOM: I would like to talk to you about 
something that has been on my mind for 
quite a while. What'must I do to be saved? 
PASTOR: That is the very question the 
jailor in Philippi asked Paul and Silas 
the night the earthquake opened the prison 
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Vol. 37, No. 4 �
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4> 
doors there. Paul's answer was, "Believe 
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt 
be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31. 
TOM: That sounds pretty easy. 
PASTOR: It is. It is intended to be easy. 
Tom: A lot of people don't find it too 
easy to be Christians. I don't find this 
matter of going straight too simple a job 
myself. 
PASTOR: Now you are talking about 
something else. You are talking now about 
the total Christian life. I am talking about 
the moment when you accept Christianity, 
when you can say that you are saved. 
TOM: What's the difference? 
PASTOR: Let me illustrate. That boy 
that lives next door to you enlisted in the 
army, didn't he? 
Tom: Yes. 
PASTOR: When did he become a soldier? 
Tom: As soon as he enlisted. 
PASTOR: When did he become a well-
trained soldier? 
Tom: Not for about six months. He 
was pretty awkward at the start. 
PASTOR: But he was a soldier right from 
the beginning? 
Tom: Yes. 
PASTOR: But it took about six months 
for him to become an efficient soldier? 
Tom: Yes. 
PASTOR: That applies to Christianity. 
A man or woman, boy or girl is saved when 
he surrenders to Jesus Christ—when he 
enlists in the army of the Lord, so to speak. 
If his surrender has been genuine and 
sincere, he belongs to the Lord at that 
point and claims salvation as a child of 
God. He is not at that point an experienced 
Christian. Very often it does not appear 
that he is a very successful Christian. But 
as soon as he makes a genuine surrender to 
Jesus Christ and accepts by faith the idea 
that Jesus Christ has given him salvation, 
he is a Christian. 
ToM: Is that what Paul means? 
PASTOR: That is exactly what Paul means. 
We do not know what kind of life the 
jailor lived after that night when Paul told 
him how to be saved. We have every reason 
to think that the jailor accepted the salvation 
that Paul offered him, because he was 
baptized. We hope and believe that he 
lived after that a Christian life which 
became increasingly successful the longer he 
walked with his Lord. This is the way it 
is to be with us. 
Tom: Then I am saved as soon as I 
accept Jesus Christ? 
PASTOR: Yes, but we must not leave 
that statement to stand alone. You are 
saved at that moment in the sense that all 
your sins have been forgiven. If at the 
moment that you accept Jesus Christ as 
your personal Saviour you could be taken 
up to heaven and look at the books of 
record there, you would find that your page 
would be just as white and clean as though 
you had never done anything wrong. 
Instantly, as soon as you sincerely and 
genuinely accept Jesus Christ as your per-
sonal Saviour, the blood of Jesus Christ 
comes between you and your past sins, and 
your record is clear. If you were to die at 
that moment, you would be saved in the 
kingdom of heaven. 
TOM: But suppose I live on. That is 
what I have done since I have become a 
professing Christian, and I haven't been 
always as good a boy and as successful a 
Christian as I know I should have been. 
How about that? 
PASTOR: That corresponds exactly to the 
period of training through which your 
neighbor soldier friend went. Salvation is 
instantaneous in that when you accept you 
are completely forgiven of your past sins 
if your repentance is complete and genuine 
—and you become a child of God. But 
after that there must come the Christian 
life. You must, as Peter puts it, "grow in 
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18. 
Paul says of his progress in the Christian 
life: "Brethren, I count not myself to have 
apprehended: but this one thing I do, for-
getting those which are behind, and reach-
ing forth unto those things which are 
before, I press toward the mark for the 
prize of the high calling of God in Christ 
Jesus." Philippians 3:13, 14. Just as the 
commanding officer in the army expects his 
soldiers to make progress every day as 
soldiers, and just as an employer expects a 
good employee to become more efficient at 
his work every day, so Jesus Christ expects 
us to become more and more efficient and 
effective as Christians each day we live. 
This is Christian growth. This in fact is 
the process of sanctification of which Mrs. 
E. G. White speaks, and which she calls 
the work of a lifetime. (Acts of the Apostles, 
p. 560.) This is a process of salvation, and 
it is not accomplished in one day. It is, 
we may say, a second phase in this matter 
of being saved. 
ToM: This part of the thing is important, 
I guess, isn't it? 
PASTOR: Indeed it is. It means exercising 
faith and being obedient. It means claiming 
and accepting the power of Christ. It means 
having the constant presence of the Holy 
Spirit in our lives, and His presence every 
Christian can have if he wishes it. It means 
getting spiritual strength from the Bible, 
the word of God. It means talking to the 
Lord in prayer. In fact it means friendship 
and loyalty to the Lord. 
TOM: Are there any more phases to 
this matter of king saved? 
PASTOR: Yes, there is one more. There 
would be no point to Christ's giving us the 
gift of salvation when we repent and accept 
His forgiveness at the very start of our 
Christian life, if we did not grow in our 
Christian life afterward and enjoy that phase 
of salvation which is called the process of 
sanctification. Just so there would be no 
point to these two phases of salvation if 
there wasn't a time coming when Jesus 
Christ would save us from this earth and 
take us into His own presence in the 
heavenly kingdom. This is the third and 
last phase of salvation. It is that phase of 
salvation which Jesus Christ speaks of as 
redemption, when He says, speaking of His 
second coming: "When these things [the 
signs of Christ's second coming] begin to 
come to pass, then look up, and lift up 
your heads; for your redemption draweth 
nigh." Luke 21:28. This, I say, is the third 
and final phase of being saved. It is just 
as certain as anything possibly can be. There 
is no question that Jesus Christ is coming 
again. There is no question that when He 
does come the righteous living will be 
translated into His presence in the heavenly 
kingdom. There is no question that when 
He comes the righteous who have fallen 
asleep in Jesus will be resurrected and 
together with the living righteous will be 
taken up to meet the Lord and be with Him. 
Tom: I have always believed that. 
PASTOR: Yes, I know you have, Tom. 
Now the other phases of salvation are just 
as certain as this. Just as certainly as 'you 
know that Jesus Christ is coming again, 
so certain is it that when you surrendered 
yourself to Him, you actually became a 
child of God at that moment and received 
the gift of salvation. It is just as certain that 
day by day Jesus Christ is.working out His 
will in you and by His abiding presence is 
developing in you a Christian character. 
Tom: But I make so many mistakes. 
PASTOR: Do you remember David? The 
Lord called him "a man after mine own 
heart." (Acts 13:22.) But what kind of 
man was David? Do you remember that 
in his early boyhood he was rather proud 
of himself, and probably pushed himself for-
ward more than he should? Do you remem-
ber that the Bible calls him a man of 
blood? Do you remember the awful sin 
recorded against him in the matter of 
Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 
And yet God called him a man after His 
own heart. How do you account for that? 
Tom: I have been puzzled by that. 
PASTOR: Let me remind you that David 
was determined to serve the Lord. He 
knew that he belonged to God. He made 
his mistakes, sometimes awful ones, too, 
often willful ones. But down underneath he 
always knew he belonged to God and that 
God was saving him. When he sinned, he 
repented; he was not overwhelmed with 
discouragement, but renewed his relation- 
10 
ship with the heavenly Father whom he 
loved. The result was that when he died 
he was accepted of God, and when Jesus 
Christ comes, David will enter into the 
third phase of salvation-redemption-by 
being taken into the kingdom of heaven. 
TOM: I suppose God is the same today. 
PASTOR: Yes. "Jesus Christ the same 
yesterday, and to day, and forever." Hebrews 
13:8. He loves us just the same, and is 
just as merciful as He ever was. We know 
better today than ever before what is right 
and what is wrong. There is less excuse for 
us today for making mistakes than there 
ever was in times past. But God is just as 
forgiving. "If we confess our sins, He is 
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
1 John 1:9. Jesus Christ means just what 
He says. Our sins cannot keep us out of 
heaven if we repent of them and believe 
that we are forgiven. The only reason we 
remember our sins is to draw from our past 
experiences the lessons that will help us 
in the power of Christ not to repeat the 
wrong things we have done. In this way 
we can be assured that Jesus Christ has 
given us salvation. 
Bible Study 
1. What separates God and His children? 
a. Iniquities and sins. Isaiah 59:2. 
2. How can sin be removed from a 
child of God each time it occurs? 
a. Repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. 
b. Confession. 1 John 1:9. 
c. Willingness to "sin no more." John 
5:14. 
d. Acceptance by faith of Christ's 
cleansing from sin. 1 John 1:7, 9. 
e. Realization that Christ has taken 
our sin upon Himself. 2 Corinthians 
5:21; 1 Peter 2:24. 
3. Why have God, Christ, and the Holy 
Spirit made this way of removing sin 
between us and them? 
John 3:16- (emphasize so loved.) 
4. What draws God and His children 
together? 
Romans 8:35-(emphasize love.) 
5. Can anything except sin separate God 
from His children? 
Romans 8:35, 37-39-(emphasize 
from tribulation to sword, and from 
death to creature.) 
6. What are some of the secure and 
permanent ways in which we are held 
firmly in fellowship with God? 
a. Adopted as sons of God. Romans 
8:14, 17. 
b. Taken into partnership with Him. 
Matthew 11:29, 30; Philippians 
4:19; Ephesians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 
1:9. 
c. Enlisted as soldiers of Christ. 2 
Timothy 2:3. 
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE 
d. Called as sheep to the shepherd. 
John 10:14, 15. 
e. Named friends of God. James 2:23; 
John 15:13-15. 
f. Made living stones in His spiritual 
temple. 1 Peter 2:5, 9. 
g. Accepted as is a bride by the bride-
groom. Revelation 21:2. 
h. Heirs with Christ to inherit the 
kingdom of glory. Romans 8:17; 
Matthew 25:34; John 14:2, 3. 
7. How securely are we held in the 
protection of the Lord? 
John 10:28, 29-(emphasize neither 
shall to out of My hand, and no man 
to My Father's hand.) 
NOTE: Illustrate the security promised 
in this scripture by taking a coin to rep-
resent the child of God and placing it in 
the left hand of the speaker. This represents 
security in Christ, as promised in the 
twenty-eighth verse. Then place the right 
hand around the left hand, as representing 
the double security within the Father's care, 
promised in the twenty-ninth verse. 
Additional Material 
ON SECURITY IN CHRIST JESUS 
"Recently," said an evangelist, "I talked 
to a man who had been attending my 
meetings and urged him to accept the Sab-
bath. I knew that he was a professing 
Christian, who believed the Bible. When I 
suggested that he should observe the seventh 
day, he said, 'I do not need to do that. I am 
saved.' 
"I told him that saved men obey God 
and that 'the righteousness of the law' is 
fulfilled in those 'who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the spirit' (Romans 8:4). 
If he were truly saved and living by faith 
as a Christian, he would 'establish the law' 
in his own heart and life, and the law of 
God includes the Sabbath. The more com-
pletely a man has received salvation, the 
more eager he will be to do the will of 
God. ( John 7:17.) It took much prayer 
and further study of the Bible to con-
vince this man that as a Christian he must 
obey all that Christ has commanded. 
"I am glad to say that this man is now 
a faithful commandment-keeper and is prov-
ing by his obedience that he has received the 
gift of salvation." 
Do NOT SAY, "I AM SAVED" 
It is a mistake to claim to be saved be-
cause of pride in one's own spirituality and 
goodness. Security in Christ is security in 
Christ Jesus, not in one's own goodness. 
Mrs. E. G. White uses Peter's experience 
to illustrate this danger. She says: 
"Peter's fall was not instantaneous, but 
gradual. Self-confidence led him to the 
belief that he,was saved, and step after step 
was taken in the downward path, until he 
April, 1950 
could deny his Master. Never can we safely 
put confidence in self, or feel, this side of 
heaven, that we are secure against tempta-
tion. Those who accept the Saviour, however 
sincere their conversion, should never be 
taught to say or to feel that they are saved. 
This is misleading. Every one should be 
taught to cherish hope and faith; but even 
when we give ourselves to Christ and know 
that He accepts us, we are not beyond the 
reach of temptation. God's word declares, 
many shall be purified, and made white, 
and tried. Only he who endures the trial will 
receive the crown of life."-Christ's Object 
Lessons, p. 155. 
Three Phases 
IN THE WORK OF SALVATION FOR EVERY 
MAN 
1. SALVATION FROM PAST SINS: 1 John 
1:9; Psalm 103:12. 
"You cannot atone for your past sins, 
you cannot change your heart, and make 
yourself holy. But God promises to do all 
this for you through Christ, You believe 
that promise. You confess your sins, and 
give yourself to God. You will to serve Him. 
Just as surely as you do this, God will 
fulfill His word to you. If you believe the 
promise-believe that you are forgiven and 
cleansed-God supplies the fact; you are 
made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic 
power to walk when the man believed 
that he was healed. It is so if you believe 
it."-Steps to Christ, p. 55. 
2. SALVATION AS A CONTINUING 
DAILY EXPERIENCE: 2 Peter 3:18; Phi-
lippians 2:12, 13; Ephesians 2:10. 
"Sanctification is not the work of a 
moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. 
It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, 
but is the result of constantly dying to sin, 
and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs 
cannot be righted nor reformations wrought 
in the character by feeble, intermittent 
efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, 
sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we 
shall overcome. We know not one day how 
strong will be our conflict the next. So 
long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to 
subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long 
as life shall last, there will be no stopping 
place, no point which we can reach and 
say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is 
the result of lifelong obedience."-Acts of 
the Apostles, p. 560, 561. 
3. SALVATION UNTO THE KINGDOM 
OF GLORY: 
When Christ redeems us at His second 
coming: Luke 21 : 28; Isaiah 25:9. 
These three phases of salvation are sum-
med up by Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:10. 
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
11 
Vol. 37, No. 4 
April 22 
NEW HORIZONS FOR 
MASTER COMRADES 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
SONG: "Living for Jesus," No. 32 in M.V. 
Songs, 
SCRIPTURE. 
PRAYER. 
OFFERTORY. 
SYF REPORTS. 
SECRETARY'S REPORT. 
DUET OR QUARTET: "Others," No. 64 in 
Gospel in Song. 
TALK: "God's Challenge to You." 
TALK: "Wanted—Leaders!" 
POEM: "Needed—A Big Brother." 
DIALOGUE: "Common Excuses." 
REPEAT IN UNISON: M.V. Pledge. 
ORGANIZATION OF MASTER COMRADE 
CLUB. 
SONG: "Do Your Bit," No. 84 in M.V, 
Songs. 
Notes to Leaders 
The discussion of this topic today should 
arouse an interest in your society to continue 
or to organize (1) a Master Comrade club, 
(2) M.V. Honor classes, (3) J.M.V. clubs, 
(4) branch Missionary Volunteer societies, 
and (5) Junior Camp counselors. No 
Master Comrade should be satisfied to sit 
back and do nothing. His training and this 
program should be an inspiration to do 
great things for God, our church, and our 
young people. It is suggested that you in-
chide present and prospective Master Com-
rades in your plans. 
Perhaps some who are studying and 
working toward Master Comradeship need 
an impetus to complete the course. Perhaps 
others need to be inspired to begin to pre-
pare themselves for leadership among our 
Juniors. There are many new horizons for 
our Master Comrades. 
Before this meeting, write to your con-
ference M.V. secretary for information rela-
tive to Master Comrade clubs. Obtain from 
your Book and Bible House copies of M.V. 
Leaflet 14 "Be a Master Comrade," the 
Master Comrade Manual, Master Comrade 
Record cards (M.V. Record blank 25-5), 
and the M.V. Achievement chart. Lay defi-
nite plans for a group to be organized at 
the close of this meeting. Use your best 
leadership possible. Arrange for M.V. Honor 
clubs, which will appeal to your youth. Of 
the 107 honors there will be many your 
group will wish to complete. Present them to 
the club later through talks, displays of 
collections, or finished objects. Enthusiasti-
cally begin another M.V. Honor class as 
soon as one is over. 
Much will be accomplished when the 
youth realize their responsibility for the 
development of their lives for larger service 
and for giving the work of their Master 
Comrade club priority in their plans and 
energies. Give to each member a copy of 
M.V. Leaflet 10 "40,000 Boys and Girls 
Deserve Leadership"; study with them the 
expanded J.M.V. activity program outlined 
here; and decide on the expanded program 
for your church and society. 
SLOGAN FOR YOUR SOCIETY: Every 
Senior M.V. a Master Comrade! 
God's Challenge to You 
(To be given by the one who could lead 
out in the Master Comrade project.) 
"To know our Juniors is our first respon-
sibility as young men and young women 
and older members of God's family. It is 
the work that lies nearest to us as church 
members. 
"In childhood the heart is like wax in 
receptiveness to impressions, but like bronze 
in retentiveness. Statistics show the Junior 
age to be the harvesttime of souls; the 
majority of conversions occur during that 
age." 
Therefore, "shall we not recognize the 
necessity of doing strong, intelligent work 
to win the boys and girls for Christ, and 
the importance of receiving that training 
which will qualify us to work for them in 
the most effective way?" 
Needed—A Big Brother 
There is many a lad who is willing to go 
And youth who are anxious to do, 
But where is the big brother who knows the 
way 
That will help them their task to pursue? 
There are many young hearts that are full 
of God's love 
And are anxious to serve Him today. 
They are waiting for someone to say, "Fol-
low me." 
They want someone to show them the 
way. 
There must be hard tasks that you need to 
have done. 
Young hearts are just waiting to help 
you. 
Come, my friend, you be captain and tell 
them the plan. 
They will work till the job is all through. 
There would be many workers in ranks of 
our youth 
If someone were willing to lead. 
Who will earnestly give of his strength and 
his time 
And answer this call, this great need? 
—NOLA B. SKINNER. 
"The Junior age is foursquare—physical, 
social, mental, and spiritual. The Juniors 
live seven days a week, twenty-four hours 
a day, not merely an hour or so on Sabbath. 
Their spiritual impulses are received and 
expressed in the physical, social, and mental 
activities in which they are engaged during 
the week. Any work attempted for boys 
and girls which ignores this fourfold life, 
cannot be a success." 
"If our Juniors are to pattern their lives 
after the divine example, they must—
physically, socially, mentally, and religiously 
—find the best and build it into their lives." 
Adolescence is the age of hero worship, 
and whether the Junior's hero is an athlete, 
a pirate, a Christian doctor, a missionary for 
God, or you—a Senior Missionary Volunteer 
right in his own home church—depends 
largely on the influences that surround the 
Junior in his early teens and upon the 
influence you have over that Junior. 
"One of the greatest needs of the church 
today is the need for consecrated young 
men and young women who will enter 
the lives of our Juniors and lead them to 
become acquainted with the Christ; and 
at the same time so direct them in all their 
activities, that they may make a symmetrical, 
well-balanced growth. 
"Such leadership must be trained. To 
furnish this training the Master Comrade 
Class has been provided." Will you help 
save our Juniors? 
(At this point the leader will introduce 
definite, specific plans already laid by the 
executive committee for the first group 
meeting of those who desire to study to be-
come Master Comrades. Also at this time 
the yellow Master Comrade Record card, 
M.V. Record blank 25-S, listing the re-
quirements, should be distributed, so that 
the members of the society can acquaint 
themselves with the outline of requirements 
to be coveted.) 
[The above quotations are taken from 
pages 3-5 of the Master Comrade Manual 
and are offered only as a suggestion for 
attaining the purpose of this meeting. The 
one chosen to sponsor the Master Comrade 
class will vary the appeal to suit the needs 
of his particular society.) 
—JEAN CRAGER PLEASANTS. 
Wanted—Leaders! 
Never was there such a shortage of 
leaders among Seventh-day Adventist young 
people as there is today. Fifty thousand 
members in the Missionary Volunteer ranks 
here in North America could greatly in-
crease their influence in the thousands of 
communities throughout the land if leaders 
of vision and courage could be recruited. 
Many groups are immobile which should 
be activated to accomplish worth-while ob-
jectives through the enthusiasm of the right 
12 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
leader. Think of the unanswered calls, the 
community needs unsupplied, the unwarned 
people living near us, yet no one stands up 
to direct and inspire latent forces. A still 
greater cause for concern is the large number 
of our youth who are enlisted by a repre-
sentative of Satan before a leader for God 
challenges them to employ their talents and 
powers for this third angel's message. 
The church is full of followers; it is 
still looking for leaders. The Missionary 
Volunteer Society with its various bands 
and soul-winning projects, its social and 
recreational activities, its nature and voca-
tional hobby groups cries out for someone 
with organizing ability to transform a 
motionless potential into a dynamic force 
for the accomplishment of amazing results. 
The Sabbath school likewise offers possi-
bilities. Progress and achievement are di-
rectly proportional to the zeal and efficiency 
of its leadership. 
Leadership for Junior-age youth, however, 
is even mote imperative. Environment and 
associations during adolescence have lasting 
effect on the life and often decide destiny. 
Junior Sabbath-school division leaders and 
teachers are wanted. Increasing numbers of 
boys' and girls' clubs are being organized 
to foster the progressive class plans and 
organize activities suitable for this age level. 
Church-school teachers of the caliber worthy 
of the honor of shaping the future for the 
child are in great demand. 
"If it takes a $50,000 man to 
Guide a client, 
Develop a coal mine, 
Put a corporation on its feet, 
What is the teacher worth, who takes 
that 
Boy of yours, 
Guides him, 
Develops him, 
Puts him on his feet, and 
Makes a man of him?" 
This age of hero worship certainly stimu-
lates a leader to live his best every day and 
all the time. 
Yes, leadership exacts a price and pays 
its dividends. It takes time and effort, but 
the investment is rich in returns. It must 
rake priority claim on your schedule of 
activities, but it will help you to avoid less 
profitable use of time and talents. It is 
like the purchase of government bonds—it 
isn't a gift but an investment in the safest 
of securities. 
The satisfaction of enriching another's 
life has no counterpart even approaching it. 
I challenge you to try it. 
—L. A. SKINNER. 
Common Excuses 
(Have three persons take part, one asking 
the questions in turn, one with the badge 
"Counterfeit M.V." answering first, and 
one with the badge "Genuine M.V." re-
sponding last. Use the dialogue form.) 
1. Will you give a talk at M.V. meeting 
on consecration? 
2. Will you be leader of our Literature 
Band? 
3. Will you lead the girls' prayer band? 
4. Will you please make contact with 
these five young people who ought to be 
attending our meetings? 
5. Will you memorize and give this 
poem at our meeting? 
6. Will you be our M.V. secretary for 
the new year? 
7. Please take charge of our Ingathering 
singing band. 
S. Will you teach this class in Christian 
storytelling? 
9. Will you prepare this musical num-
ber for next week? 
10. Please plan to read the scripture and 
offer prayer at our next meeting. 
A COUNTERFEIT M.V. REFUSES 
1. Someone else can do it better. 
2. I don't have time, 
3. I'm not prepared nor qualified. 
4. I'm not interested, 
5. I'm afraid I'll fail. 
6. I'm too shy or timid to stand before 
people. 
7. I like to help, but I can't lead. 
8. I've never done that before. 
9. Someone will laugh at my mistakes. 
10. Some other time I'll take part. 
A GENUINE M.V. ACCEPTS 
1. I'll try my best. 
2. I'll take time to do it. 
3. I'll read instructions and prepare my-
self. 
4. I'm interested in the success of our 
society, 
5. I'll attempt this assignment. 
6. 
be glad to improve my ability to 
stand before people. 
7. I've never led before, but I'll be glad 
to learn. 
8. It's my first time, but I'll try. 
9. Even if they do laugh at my mistakes, 
I'll take my turn. 
10. I'll be present and take part although 
I was to be absent. 
—L. A. SKINNER. 
A Schoolteacher Comes 
Through 
The depression had found its way into 
the Gas Creek region, deep in the Rockies 
of Colorado. David Morton, ten years rest-
ing heavily on his thin young shoulders, 
was not thinking of it in terms of stocks 
and bonds or world conditions; he was 
concerned over something to eat and wear 
and a place to live. 
"It's not fair!" he suddenly shouted to 
a chattering blue jay in a near-by spruce. 
"She's the onliest sister I got." He tried 
to think, but the doctor's words kept 
bothering him. "She needs to cry," the 
doctor had said. But mother couldn't let 
her cry for fear she'd disturb the people 
downstairs, who let them have the rooms 
free of rent. It wasn't father's fault that 
there wasn't work for him, that there wasn't 
enough to eat. David wouldn't complain 
even if father's cut-down overalls and shirt 
did make him look like a scarecrow. Those 
rubber boots for shoes weren't so warm, 
either. As he rounded the bend and the 
stone schoolhouse came into view, one of 
the "gang" caught sight of him and yelled 
derisively, "Hey, fellers, here comes Boots!" 
They all laughed with that unconscious 
cruelty of youth. 
The school bell rang, and the sturdy, 
rosy-cheeked youngsters filed into the school-
room. There were only fourteen or fifteen 
in all, and they came in quietly; for even 
the most mischievous of them had a great 
respect for Miss Nelson, the new teacher. 
She was very different from all their other 
teachers. How vividly they remembered 
that first morning at school! When all were 
in their seats, she said in a soft, clear voice 
(little they knew the courage it had taken 
to do so), "Before we begin our school 
this morning, let us bow our heads and 
ask Jesus to be with us." Every morning 
since then she opened school with a prayer. 
In answer to their many questions as to 
why she closed her eyes and to whom she 
was talking, she taught them the story of 
Jesus—simply, so that they could under-
stand. And she explained that prayer was 
talking to Jesus, asking Him for the things 
they needed, or if they were in trouble, 
asking Him to help them. 
Classes began, but David, incongruous in 
his baggy trousers and big boots, was not 
intent on his arithmetic and spelling; he 
was wondering desperately about prayer 
and Jesus. Recess passed without his having 
a chance to ask his question, but during the 
noon hour, while the others were shouting 
outside in the snow, he approached the 
teacher timidly. "Miss Nelson," his voice 
was anxious, "if I asked Jesus for just three 
things, d'you suppose He'd give them to 
me?" 
 
Miss Nelson smiled. "If you ask, and 
believe that He will answer. What three 
things do you want, David?" 
The words tumbled out, "I'd like some 
clothes like the other fellows wear, so 
they won't laugh at me any more; an' I'd 
like for us to have enough to eat, so we 
wouldn't always be hungry; but, Miss 
Nelson, I want most of all a new place to 
live, so little sister can cry—she'll die 
if she doesn't! Will He give me these 
things, teacher; will He?" 
Miss Nelson's heart was touched, and 
her faith was shaken. Too well she knew 
the poverty of this home, the father's in-
ability to get work, and even if they had 
been able to pay, which they weren't, she 
knew of no vacant house for rent in the 
settlement. But she stilled the doubts in 
her heart and answered, "Yes, David, I 
believe that He will. Do you?" His face 
shone with happiness; of course he believed 
that her Jesus would send the things. Hadn't 
she said that He would? 
All day, as she listened to classes, Ruth 
Nelson's heart was heavy; she did not see 
how the prayer could possibly be answered. 
Here was a test for her faith as well as 
David's. Was all she had taught these 
children about prayer to be shattered in 
13 
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE 
this first test? No, no, that simply couldn't 
be! 
School over, the last tasks at the school-
house finished, she started for the settle-
ment. Every time she thought of David 
and his simple faith, the tears came. Reach-
ing her boarding place, she went in, her 
eyes red with weeping. Planning to go 
directly to her room, she was stopped by 
her landlady's voice. "Come in a minute, 
Ruth," she called. But when the girl ap-
peared in the doorway, she exclaimed, 
"Why, Dearie, what is the matter?" 
Having found a sympathetic listener, 
Ruth Nelson poured out the whole pitiful 
story of David's three desires. She finished 
with a sob, "And now if his prayer fails, 
he'll never believe again, never!" Until 
she was almost through her story, she had 
not noticed Mrs. Black's visitors. Mrs. 
Howard, a neighbor, and Mrs. Richards, 
the leader of the district Parent-Teacher 
Association, were in the room. The three 
women were moved deeply by the story, 
and when it was finished, there was a 
moment of absolute quiet. Who dare say 
that the voice of God was not speaking 
to their hearts? 
Mrs. Black was the first to speak. "I 
know how the second request of that prayer 
is going to be answered," she said. And as 
soon as her company left, she made a 
number of trips to the cellar bringing back 
vegetables, jars of fruit, and other canned 
goods, which all found their way into a 
big basket. When it was full, she surveyed 
it with a smile. "You won't get hungry for 
awhile, laddie, and when this is gone, 
there will be mote." Later that evening the 
heaped basket found its way to the Morton 
door. 
As Mrs. Richards was leaving, she took 
Ruth's hand and said, "I know how the 
laddie's first request is to be answered. Our 
organization will be glad to help this needy 
child and family in our midst. I'll see that 
he has plenty of warm clothes for the rest 
of the winter." The next morning she 
visited the owner of one of the general 
merchandise stores in town, explained what 
she wanted; and that is how David became 
the proud owner of not just one complete 
new outfit of clothes, but two! No more 
boots or overalls or ragged coats for him! 
But the third and most important part 
of the prayer was as yet unanswered—a 
place to live. Mrs. Black's other visitor 
went home without making any promises. 
That evening she told her husband the 
pitiful story. He listened in silence until 
she said that none of the women knew of 
any place where the family might move. 
"Why, I have a place," he interrupted 
gruffly, "that house I've been using for 
a granary. It isn't much for looks, but it 
is a good tight house. Two rooms can easily 
be cleaned out, and they can move in there. 
I don't want any rent, and the baby can 
cry all day!" 
And so David's prayer, prayed in simple 
faith, was answered. Several days later, 
when these wonderful things had been accom-
plished, he approached Miss Nelson's desk 
one noon and looked up into her face with 
shining eyes. "Teacher. Jesus is so good! I 
mustn't forget to thank Him, must I?" 
"Let's do it right now, David," she sug-
gested, and there in the quiet schoolroom 
they knelt together. 
—MRS. LOUIS PINGENOT. 
April 1 
SABBATH NATURE 
TRAILS 
BY MARIE PFEIFLE 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
SONG: "0 Forest Fair!" No. 136 in MY . 
Songs. 
SCRIPTURE: Job 12:7-9. 
PRAYER. 
SECRETARY'S REPORT. 
OFFERING. 
INTRODUCTION BY SUPERINTENDENT. 
SYMPOSIUM: "Why Walk on Sabbath?" 
SPECIAL SONG OR POEM: "This is My 
Father's World." 
ILLUSTRATED TALK: Id en ti f ying Trees." 
TALK: "Suggestions for Juniors Going for 
Nature Walk." 
BENEDICTION. 
ORGANIZED WALK: See suggestion in 
Notes to Superintendents or use ideas 
for nature treasure hunt as given in 
Recreational Plans, 
Notes to Superintendents 
This program has been planned to help 
make nature walks beneficial and interesting, 
It includes plans for a walk to be taken 
after the meeting. Since species of plants 
and animals vary with the locality; each 
leader will need to make adaptations in the 
plan for the walk. 
Different types of walks may be planned. 
You may want to look for trees only, or 
for birds only. You may plan to observe 
as much as possible in a specific area such 
as a marsh, a pasture, a sand dune, or a 
creek bank. Or you may plan a walk for 
a certain time of day, for instance an early 
morning walk to watch the sun rise and 
listen to the world awaken. 
Whatever type of walk you plan, you 
will find the following suggestions useful: 
1. Go over the trail ahead of time by 
yourself. 
2. Secure permission for your group from 
owner of the property where you are to go, 
3. Present some definite objectives to 
the group. 
4. Discuss your plans with the group. 
Help them to know what to look for and 
how to find it. 
5. Divide into small groups of eight to 
ten, if possible, with an adult leader for 
each group. Provide each group with a 
handbook to help identify whatever you 
are observing. 
Why Walk on Sabbath? 
1. TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH 
PLANT AND ANIMAL NEIGHBORS. 
All over the world there are hundreds 
of plants and animals. You should get 
acquainted with those that live near you. 
You can find new friends almost every day. 
Have you ever wished you knew someone 
who had traveled to a faraway land? Then 
get acquainted with some great travelers—
your bird neighbors. You will find that 
birds are also cheerful singers. If you 
listen quietly, they will give you a wonderful 
concert. 
Would you like to know bridge builders, 
architects, soldiers, carpenters, nurses, and 
paper makers? You will meet all of these 
and more among your insect neighbors. 
Do you know mothers who cannot travel, 
yet provide their children with transporta-
tion for a trip? Some of your "tree-mother" 
neighbors supply their "seed-children" with 
balloons, wings, or parachutes. You should 
learn to know them. You will find clever 
advertisers among your flower neighbors. 
They use bright colors and perfume to 
attract insects to use their nectar and carry 
their pollen for them. 
Have you met the original user of gas 
for defensive warfare? Did you know that 
an animal has had bifocals for thousands 
of years? Have you met the animal with 
the first nonskids? Do you know the living 
tank? If not, how about getting outdoors 
and making friends with some of our 
animal neighbors? You will gain some 
lifetime friends by walking in God's great 
world. 
2. To BECOME BETTER ACQUAINTED 
WITH GOD. 
"God has two gates by which He comes 
to us, Nature is His outer gate. He comes 
through the glories of earth and sky. Day 
by day, year by year, He reveals Himself to 
us. Let us see Him, feel Him, in the wild 
flowers, the fragrant woods and the happy 
birds."—John Pulsford. (Quoted by H. W. 
Clark in Ministry of Nature, p. 94.) 
"In itself the beauty of nature leads the 
soul away from sin and worldly attractions, 
and toward purity, peace, and God. . . . In 
the natural world, God has placed in the 
hands of the children of men the key to 
unlock the treasure house of His word. The 
unseen is illustrated by the seen; divine 
wisdom, eternal truth, infinite grace, are 
understood by the things that God has 
made, Then let the children and youth 
become acquainted with nature and nature's 
laws."—Counsels to Teachers, pp. 186-188. 
"So far as possible, let the child from 
his earliest years be placed where this 
wonderful lesson-book shall be open before 
him. Let him behold the glorious scenes 
Vol. 37, No. 4 
14 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE 
April, 1950 
painted by the great Master Artist upon 
the shifting canvas of the heavens, let him 
become acquainted with the wonders of 
earth and sea, let him watch the unfolding 
mysteries of the changing seasons, and, in 
all His works, learn of the Creator."—Edu-
cation, pp. 100, 101. 
3. To PROVIDE MYSELF WITH WORTH-
WHILE ACTIVITY. 
John Burroughs has said, "To understand 
nature is to gain one of the greatest 
resources of life." 
"No one who is interested in nature is 
ever bored by having nothing to do. No 
naturalist ever has to kill time. He always 
has a wholesome interest and a profitable 
activity to engross his energies and occupy 
his time. No matter where he is, whether 
in city or country, whether it be a bumble-
bee visiting a roadside flower or a mud-
dauber wasp provisioning its nest with 
spiders, or the common house sparrow 
picking up its living in our crowded cities, 
—there is always something at hand to 
absorb his attention. 
"In anyone's dooryard there is more than 
he can master in a lifetime."—G. Clyde 
Fisher in the foreword to Nature Encyclo-
pedia. 
Identifying Trees 
NOTE TO SPEAKER: If possible use 
slides to illustrate. (You can make slides by 
using 31/4- by 4-inch etched glass and slide 
inks or crayons available from Keystone 
View Company of Meadeville, Pennsyl-
vania.) Or prepare large pictures; or use 
the blackboard to illustrate the talk. 
Today we are going to get acquainted 
with some tree neighbors. Before we take 
our walk, we shall discuss some facts that 
should help us to know the trees. 
We can recognize some trees by their 
shape. The Lombardy poplar resembles an 
exclamation mark The American elm is a 
beautiful fan or vase shape. The apple tree 
looks like an apple with the stem end down. 
(Illustrate these and others native to the 
local area. Use outline drawings.) 
Bark is a distinguishing characteristic 
of several trees. Smooth gray bark, usually 
with many initials carved in it, belongs to 
the beech tree. You will know the shagbark 
hickory by its shaggy, dark gray bark that 
hangs in shreds along the trunk. The smooth 
white bark of the birch tree discloses its 
identity. (Use drawings of a portion of 
the trunk of each tree.) 
Flowers and fruits also help us to identify 
our tree friends. Acorns grow on oaks, 
but we shall need to look at leaves and bark 
to know which of the fifty species of United 
States oaks any- particular tree belongs to. 
Locust pods mark the trees of the locust 
family. The flowering dogwood and the 
redbud are known for their flowers. 
In summer leaves are an excellent means 
of identification. You can match a leaf 
from the tree with the pictures in your 
tree handbook. (Show drawings of several 
leaves of trees to be observed.) 
After you get acquainted with a few tree 
friends, you will want to learn more about 
some other habits and traits they possess, 
such as their buds and leaf scars. 
This afternoon we shall observe the 
bark, leaves, and general shape (and flowers 
if present), of ten different trees. 
This Is My Father's World 
This is my Father's world, 
And to my listening ears, 
All nature sings, and 'round me rings 
The music of the spheres. 
This is my Father's world; 
I rest me in the thought 
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; 
His hand the wonders wrought. 
This is my Father's world, 
The birds their carols raise; 
The morning light, the lily white, 
Declare their Maker's praise. 
This is my Father's world; 
He shines in all that's fair; 
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, 
He speaks to me everywhere. 
—MALTBIE D. BABCOCK. 
Used by permission of Charles 
Scribner's Sons, publishers. 
Suggestions for Juniors Going 
for Nature Walk 
1. Know what you are looking for. Are 
you observing trees, flowers, or insects? 
2. Observe safety rules at all times. 
3. Follow your leader's instructions. 
4. Walk quietly. 
5. If you have a handbook of flowers, 
trees, or birds, take it with you. 
6. Keep your eyes and ears open. 
April 8 
CHOOSING YOUR 
FRIENDS 
W. B. CLAWSON, JR. 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
OPENING SONG: "My Lord and I," No. 599 
in Christ in Song; No. 532 in Church 
Hymnal. 
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 18:24. 
PRAYER. 
REPORTS. 
OFFERTORY. 
DUET: "The Best Friend Is Jesus," No. 50 
in Christ in Song. 
POEM: "Be a Friend." 
TALK: "Can You Make Friends?" 
SYMPOSIUM: Quotations on friendship. 
STORY: "George's Friends." 
POEM: "Friendship." 
FRIEND-O-GEMS: To be read by a group 
of Juniors. 
CLOSING SONG: "I've Found a Friend," No. 
531 in Church Hymnal. 
BENEDICTION. 
Be a Friend 
Be a friend, You don't need money: 
Just a disposition sunny; 
Just the wish to help another 
Get along some way or other; 
Just a kindly hand extended 
Out to one who's unbefriended; 
Just the will to give or lend, 
This will make you someone's friend. 
Be a friend. You don't need glory. 
Friendship is a simple story. 
Pass by trifling errors blindly, 
Gaze on honest effort kindly, 
Cheer the youth who's bravely trying, 
Pity him who's sadly sighing; 
Just a little labor spend 
On the duties of a friend. 
Be a friend. The pay is bigger 
(Though not written by a figure) 
Than is earned by people clever 
In what's merely self-endeavor. 
You'll have friends instead of neighbors 
For the profits of your labors; 
You'll be richer in the end 
Than a prince, if you'reafriencl. 
—EDGAR A. GUEST. 
In Collected Verse of Edgar A. 
Guest, copyright 1934 by The 
Reilly and Lee Co., Chicago. 
Can You Make Friends? 
Have you ever wondered why it is that 
some other girl—we'll call her Joyce—is 
so much more popular than you are? It 
has nothing to do with brains or looks or , 
being good at games. You can beat Joyce 
in all these points. Yet wherever she goes, 
Joyce is the center of a laughing, chattering 
group, while you are not, 
What is it about Joyce that draws people 
to her? 
It is simply this. She has learned the art ' 
of making friends. That is her secret—a 
very precious one—and because of it Joyce 
will always walk on safe ground. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
15 
But how is it done? The two main 
ingredients of friendship are (1) unsel-
fishness and (2) interest. 
There is an old saying, "To have a 
friend you must be a friend"; and that is 
what is meant by unselfishness. You must 
be prepared to put yourself out a little bit, 
to remember things like birthdays and that 
so-and-so is terrified of cows. 
Suppose, for instance, you hear that a 
friend in your class wants to buy a pair of 
skates; later, reading your local paper, you 
see a pair advertised. Take the trouble to 
let him know—phone him, even write to 
him. 
Then it is no good expecting to make 
friends if you talk only about yourself and 
what interests you. Naturally the other 
person wants you to be interested in him, 
too. 
If people feel that you like them and are 
interested in them, it puts them at their 
'ease. They expand. Because of your interest 
they tell you things—things which are 
important to them, but which they are 
usually far too shy even to mention. You 
have made them feel that they count, and 
they like you for it and want to see you 
again. 
Now for the other point—interest. 
This does not necessarily mean that you 
yourself must be interesting. It does mean, 
however, that you must keep your eyes and 
ears open. 
Read books other than those assigned 
by your teachers and know a little of what 
is happening in the world outside the school 
gates. This will keep your mind from getting 
one-tracked and "soggy"; besides it will 
prevent those awful gaps in conversation 
when you wish the ground would open 
and swallow you up. In this way, too, you 
will find an amazing number of unexpected 
mutual interests—which, after all, is the 
idea, isn't it? 
Remember, you never make friends and 
you never win popularity by sitting down 
and waiting to become popular. "A man 
that hath friends must show himself 
friendly."—E. M. Ferguson, Adapted. 
Symposium 
Jesus is our best friend. John 15:14, 15. 
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever 
I command you. Henceforth I call you 
not servants; for the servant knoweth not 
what his lord doeth: but I have called you 
friends; for all things that I have heard of 
my Father I have made known unto you." 
If we choose friends who have evil habits, 
we shall surely become evil. Proverbs 13:20. 
"He that walketh with wise men shall 
be wise: but a companion of fools shall be 
destroyed." 
We shall have friends in heaven. Steps to 
Christ, page 131. 
"Then the redeemed will be welcomed 
to the home that Jesus is preparing for 
them. There their companions will not be 
the vile of earth; . .. but they will associate 
with those who have overcome Satan, and 
through divine grace have formed perfect 
characters." 
To have friends, we must be friends. Prov-
erbs 18:24, 
"A man that bath friends must show 
himself friendly: and there is a friend that 
sticketh closer than a brother." 
Friends of Jesus will try to please Him. 
John 15:14. 
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever 
I command you." 
The gift of making friends is one of God's 
best gifts. 
"Blessed is the man who has the gift 
of making friends; for it is one of God's 
best gifts. It involves many things, but, 
above all, the power of going out of one's 
own self and seeing and appreciating what-
ever is noble and loving in another man." 
—Thomas Hughes. 
George's Friends 
George Haynes was very popular with all 
the boys. Not only was he a good athlete 
and a fine fellow, but he also had more 
pocket money than the other boys and 
was always generous with treats. 
Then came the crash and Mr. Haynes 
lost heavily. Not only did George have a 
much smaller allowance, but he also began 
working after school hours and on holidays. 
The family moved into a smaller house and 
gave up their extra automobile. 
At first George was too busy with his 
new work to notice that some of his former 
mates seemed less friendly, Then one day 
he asked Jim Barnes, whom he had once 
helped to build a hut, to help him move 
some heavy lumber in his yard. "Oh, I'm 
too busy," said Jim. Later George saw Jim 
sitting idle on his porch. 
Frank Jackson offered to move the wood 
with George. As they worked together, 
George said, "What's the matter with Jim? 
He always used to be glad to do things 
with me." 
"Oh, he's one of those guys that are 
friends as long as he can get anything out 
of you—treats and auto rides. But now he 
thinks it isn't worth while to cater to you." 
"Hum," said George, "nice kind of 
friend to have, Well, I'm glad to find out 
who are my real friends," he added with a 
kitid look at Frank. 
"It strikes me that you are the same 
boy," said Frank, "just as fine a fellow, 
and perhaps even better than when you 
had more money. I'm proud to be allowed 
to be your friend." 
"Shake," said George. 
—RUTH MOWRY BROWN, 
in Young People's Leader. 
Friendship 
One whose grip is a little tighter, 
One whose smile is a little brighter, 
One whose deeds are a little whiter, 
That's what I call a friend. 
One who'll lend as quick as he'll borrow, 
One who's the same today as tomorrow, 
One who will share your joy and sorrow, 
That's what I call a friend. 
One whose thoughts are a little cleaner, 
One whose mind is a little keener, 
One who avoids those things that are 
meaner, 
That's what I call a friend, 
One, when you're gone, who'll miss you 
sadly, 
One who'll welcome you back again, gladly, 
One who, though angered, will not speak 
madly, 
That's what I call a friend. 
One who is always willing to aid you, 
One whose advice has always paid you, 
One who defends when others flay you, 
That's what I call a friend. 
—JOHN BURROUGHS. 
Friend-O-Gems 
"Every man should have a fair-sized 
cemetery in which to bury the faults of his 
friends."—Henry Ward Beecher. 
"Our friends see the best in us, and 
by that very fact call forth the best from us." 
—Hugh Black, 
• "If our friends are badly chosen, they 
will inevitably drag us down; if well, they 
will raise us up."—Lord Avebury. 
"True friendship is like sound health; 
the value of it is seldom known until it be 
lost."—G. C. Colton. 
"A man's friendships are one of the best 
measures of his worth."—Charles Darwin. 
' "Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in 
changing."—Benjamin Franklin. 
"Do good to thy friend to keep him, to 
thy enemy to gain him."—Benjamin Frank-
lin. 
16 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
April 15 
LET'S GO CAMPING 
BY HENRY T. BERGH 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
SONG: "0 Forest Fair!" No. 136 in M.V. 
Songs. 
PRAYER. 
SCRIPTURE: A psalm on nature. 
OFFERING. 
SYF REPORTS. 
LEADER'S INTRODUCTION. (See Notes to 
Superintendents.) 
SPECIAL SONG: "Church in the Wildwood." 
READING: "Things I Like About Junior 
Camp." 
DIALOGUE: "Guess I'll Go, Too!" 
POEM: "The Hiker's Creed." 
TALK: "Planning for Summer Camp." 
POEM: "Did You?" 
DIALOGUE: "Set Campfire Burning." 
POEM: "A Prayer for Campers." 
DISTRIBUTE CAMP APPLICATIONS. 
CLOSING SONG: "To the Mountain," No. 
12 in M.V. Songs, or the camp song for 
your J.M.V. summer camp. 
Notes to Superintendents 
It is the right of every Junior to grow 
and be vigorous, to enjoy nature, to breathe 
the crisp, morning air, to enjoy a tramp and 
a hike, to know something of the woods, 
of the birds, of the insects, to partake of 
exercise that will make of him or her a 
happier, better, brighter, nobler young man 
or young woman. Summer camp helps you 
realize these ideals. 
' Contact your conference M.V. secretary 
for camp applications, a copy of your camp 
song ( if there is one), and other supplies 
that will be helpful to you in giving this 
program, 
"Guess I'll Go, Too!" �
• 
(Jerry Smith is carefully checking various 
items from his jhffiOr Camp check list as 
he tosses each item toward his partially-
wrapped bedroll.) 
JERRY (aloud to himself): Toothbrush 
, toothpaste . . �
bathing suit , �
. 
hmmmh, I can hardly wait to get into that 
water. . . . flashlight . . . packsack , . 
(tries it on as he says): With this new pack-
sack I'll be able to take the longest hike 
this year. (Stretches and flexes muscles ad-
justing imaginary load on packsack. While 
he is musing to himself, door breaks open 
and Jack enters.) 
JACK (speaking excitedly): Jerry, guess 
what just happened. I was going down to 
. . (Abrupt stop is followed by pause, 
then Jack questions): Say, Fella, what's hap-
pening? 
JERRY: Oh, I'm just getting ready for 
summer camp. I go every year. 
JACK: You mean camp where you go 
hiking, and cook your own breakfast out of 
doors, and learn how to track and trail in 
the woods? 
JERRY: Yes, that's right. And at our 
camp we make things like whistle cords, 
belts, key cases, necktie racks, and wall 
plaques. Remember that carved dog I have 
on my dresser? 
JACK: Yes. Did you make that at camp, 
too? 
JERRY: Sure, it was easy. I whittled it 
out during the craft time in the wood-carv-
ing class. 
JACK: Say, that's great! What else did 
you do at camp? 
JERRY: Oh, we did lots of things. During 
the nature time last year I learned all about 
snakes, and we had some real live snakes 
at camp, too. Of course they were in cages. 
JACK: I'd like to learn about snakes. 
What else do you do? 
JERRY: One of the best things at camp 
is the campfire we have every evening. At 
campfire we sing some funny songs, and lots 
of choruses, and listen to stories. Last year 
we had a missionary at camp, and he told 
us the best stories. There's going to be an-
other missionary there this year. 
JACK: Say, do you think they would let 
me in this late? 
JERRY: I think they would. Why don't 
you try? 
JACK: I'm going to see my dad right 
now, and I'll be with you at camp. 
Things I Like About Junior 
Camp 
T—Treasure hunt 
H—Healthful habits 
I—Identifying birds 
N—Nature at its best 
0—Good food 
S—Sabbath in the meadow 
I—Invigorating climate 
L—Likable leaders 
I—Interesting campfires 
K—Kitchen duty 
B—Early to bed and early to rise 
A—Amateur hour 
B—Baseball in the meadow 
0—Overnight hikes 
U—Under the trees for powwow 
T—Time to eat 
J—Joyful songs 
U—Useful crafts 
s—Night time 
I—Inspiring morning exercises 
o—Old �
(name river near camp) 
K—Regularity of work and play 
0—Christian training 
A—Accommodating nurse 
M—Marching to dinner 
p—Prayer bands in the morning 
—ORVILLE LEWIS, age 12, 
Barstow, California. 
The Hiker's Creed 
To find a sense of the gladness of life, 
To teach a love of the winding road, 
To find the measure of your comrade's step; 
To learn to carry your share of the load, 
To love wind-in-the-hair and rain-in-the- 
face, 
To give you possession of a far-off place, 
To feel yourself akin to the sky, 
To find coolness in streams that go rushing by; 
To smother complaints when the road grows 
long, 
To bury fatigue in the joy of a song, 
To find when you come to the journey's end 
A fire and food and the comfort of friends; 
To measure yourself by the tall, straight 
pines— 
This is a fragment of the joy one finds 
Who shoulders his pack and starts away 
To be lord of the earth on a hiking day. 
—AUTHOR UNKNOWN. 
Planning for Summer Camp 
(The person who presents this talk should 
be, if possible, one who is planning to aA 
tend the J.M.V. Summer Training camp, and 
who has earned all or part of his camp fee 
and expenses.) 
I am glad to tell you that I am planning 
to attend Junior Camp, and I have earned 
my camp expenses by � (Here 
have the Junior tell how he has earned, or 
is now earning, all or a part of his camp 
expenses.) 
I know we will get more enjoyment out 
of camp and get more satisfaction out of it, 
because we have been able to earn our own 
way. Camp is still several weeks away, and I 
suppose many of you have other plans for 
raising your camp money. I am sure we 
would all like to hear from some of you 
about how you are raising your money 
and what you are doing to pay your way 
to summer camp. 
(Here let a few who are working on their 
camp expenses or have good ideas to sug-
gest and who have been coached in advance 
come forward and briefly explain.) 
Many plans have been tried in every part 
of the country for meeting camp expenses. 
Raising gardens, caring for lawns, running 
errands, washing windows, selling Bedtime 
Stories, and selling good magazines have 
proved their worth for raising camp ex-
penses. 
I hope everyone who plans to attend 
camp will earn his own way, for it is one 
of the finest projects we could work on this 
summer. 
Set Campfire Burning 
(Five or six boys sitting around campfire 
of small logs with light hid under some red 
cellophane. Two of the boys are Jack and 
Jerry). 
SONG LEADER: Come on, fellows, let's 
sing it again and really sing it out. 
it 
Vol. 37, No. 4 
(Boys sing, "Set the Camp Fire Burning," 
M.V, Songs, No. 155.) 
CAMP LEADER: Now, boys, we are going 
to have a campfire story. 
STORYTELLER: A hardened criminal was 
being pointed to the great, forgiving heart 
of God. His hands were stained with the 
blood of several murders, and his soul was 
tainted with. many vices. Again and again 
he repulsed the appeals of the chaplain to 
accept Christ. It was no easy matter now 
to find the Saviour's forgiveness. 
"If I could just see how He could do it, 
I'd feel better over it all," he said. 
But the chaplain told him, "You must 
not expect to see it or to feel better over 
your sins; you must believe He forgives 
you, because God recorded it for you in 
His Word. Listen. 'For God so loved the 
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in Him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life.' That 
means you, Charlie Black!" Then the minis-
ter read the text again, inserting Charlie's 
name in place of "whosoever." 
"Read it that way again," said the crimi-
nal, as beams of light from the throne of 
God penetrated his sin-darkened soul. 
"Whosoever! Whosoever! Lord, did you 
mean that for me?" He wept as he realized 
how good God is to sinners—to him. 
From then on his life in prison was an 
example of helpfulness. He was able to 
bring his new-found Saviour to many others 
who, like him, had transgressed the law. 
The lesson of "whosoever" was now Charlie 
Black's constant appeal as he led men to the 
loving Saviour. 
SONG LEADER: Let's sing that song, "Into 
My Heart," boys, and really sing out now 
on this last evening of camp. (M.V. Songs, 
No. 30.) 
CAMP LEADER: Now, boys, this is our 
last night at camp, and we would like to 
know how you have enjoyed it. Who'll be 
first to tell us how he feels? 
CAMPER: It's great to be a Christian. If 
any of you fellows don't know what it is 
to follow the Lord, I hope you'll find Him 
before you leave camp. 
JACK: I'm really glad that I got to come 
to camp. I have learned things about the 
Lord that I never knew before. I want to 
be a Christian and want you to pray for me. 
CAMP LEADER: Now fellows, we must 
turn in. But first let's stand and sing our 
good-night song. (Sing, "Taps," M.V. Songs, 
No. 168.) 
"We flatter those we scarcely know, 
We please the fleeting guest, 
And deal full many a thoughtless blow 
To those we love the best." 
A Prayer for Campers 
For busy days at camp, dear Lord, 
We thank Thee, and request 
Thy watchful guidance through the night 
And sleep, by heaven blest. 
For friends whom we have met while here, 
We offer praise to Thee, 
And trust that we may not forget, 
Wherever we may be. 
For hills and river, flowers and trees, 
We offer up our prayer; 
Because we know that when we seek, 
We find Thee, Father, there. 
For skies alight with myriad stars, 
For campfire's lovely glow, 
For songs that spring from happy hearts, 
We thank Thee ere we go. 
—MARY LOU O'BRIEN. 
Did You? 
Did you ever watch the campfire 
When the wood has fallen low; 
And the ashes start to whiten 
'Round the embers' crimson glow; 
With the night sounds all around you, 
Making silence doubly sweet; 
And a full moon high above you 
That the spell may be complete? 
Tell me, were you ever nearer 
To the land of heart's desire, 
Than when you sat there thinking 
With your feet before the fire? 
—AUTHOR UNKNOWN. 
* * * 
April 22 
The Deadly Weapon 
BY KIMBER D. JOHNSON 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
OPENING SONG: "Can the World See Jesus 
in You?" No. 34 in M.V. Songs. 
SCRIPTURE: James 3:2-5. 
PRAYER. 
OFFERING. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
REPORTS. 
SPECIAL MUSIC. 
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
STORY: "The Blue Shirt." 
POEM: "Kind Words." 
TALK: "Out of the Abundance of the Heart." 
REPEAT JUNIOR PLEDGE. 
SONG: "For the Beauty of Jesus," No. 29. 
BENEDICTION. 
Notes to Superintendents 
Our Juniors hear naughty words, swear 
words, and unkind words constantly as they 
rub shoulders with the world. This program 
should help them to sense the importance 
of their words and cause them to begin 
praying for strength to be pure, kind, and 
true in their conversation. 
The Blue Shirt 
It was suppertime at the Jensen home. 
"I've found a place to go to church, 
Dad," announced Carl. "I'm going to Sab-
bath school tomorrow with Kenny King, 
the boy next door." 
"Tomorrow?" questioned his father. 
"How's that? Tomorrow is Saturday, and we 
have some things to unpack and put away 
in the garage. Moving is no easy task; it 
takes a good while to get settled in a new 
place." 
"That must be the Seventh-day Adventist 
church," said Mrs. Jensen. "Aunt Mary at-
tended there before she died. They are such 
nice, friendly people." 
"That is just what Kenny said, Mother. 
He asked me which church we belonged to, 
and when I told him we really didn't belong 
to any, and that since we had just moved 
to this town it didn't matter which one we 
went to, he seemed glad. And right away 
he invited me to go with him tomorrow. 
He said they have a good boys' class, and 
he knows I'll like the teacher. And they 
have a Junior club, too. I'll go and see how 
it is; then if it's all right, sister and I can 
take the boys next time." 
"But," objected Mother Jensen, "how 
about your clothes? I haven't had a chance 
to wash since we moved, and you have only 
one dean shirt left—that blue one." 
"Oh, that will be all right, Mother. I 
mentioned it to Kenny, but he said at his 
church they never notice one's clothes so 
long as they are clean and neat. That blue 
shirt is starched and ironed; so it will be 
all right, Please pass the potatoes, Dad." 
"How are your shoes, Son?" Mr. Jensen 
inquired. "I can't get you new ones until 
next week." 
"Oh, a little polish will fix them. I'll 
keep my feet flat so that no one can see the 
holes in the soles." 
"And the collection?" asked dad. "How 
much do you have to give?" 
"Oh, Kenny explained that, too," said 
Carl, "He said each one gives as he is able. 
His dad pays tithe—that's ten cents on every 
dollar—but he said I was to bring just 
what I could." 
Mr. Jensen leaned back and felt in his 
pocket. 
"Well, here's three cents, Son. That's all 
I can spare until payday. I'll have more for 
you next week." 
"Thanks, Dad; that's just fine. I know I 
am going to like Sabbath school. Kenny told 
me so much about it. I'll help you unpack 
the things in the garage tomorrow night. 
There will be a Junior meeting in the after-
noon, and Kenny wants me to go to that 
with him, too. They learn so many things 
there. He says I can copy from his note-
book, so I won't be so far behind. Excuse 
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
17 
18 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
me, Mother; I'll see if I can find the shoe 
polish." 
After the two smaller boys were in bed, 
Mrs. Jensen and sister washed the dishes 
while Carl blackened his shoes. 
"Are you sure that blue shirt will be all 
right, Carl? There's a patch on one elbow. 
Look and see if all the buttons are on. Next 
week I shall have your white ones laun-
dered." 
"And you will have new shoes, too," 
added Mr. Jensen, 
Mrs. Jensen was sure that Seventh-day 
Adventists are not the kind of people to 
criticize one's clothing. Her Aunt Mary had 
been a member of that church, and a more 
kindhearted person would be hard to find. 
She lived as she believed: "Thou shalt love 
thy neighbor as thyself." How fortunate it 
was that Carl had discovered Aunt Mary's 
church, for the children would be taught 
the Bible there. 
Carl was ready when Kenny called for 
him in the morning. His shabby shoes were 
well polished, his unruly hair was plastered 
down with water, and his blue shirt, clean, 
though patched, reflected the blue of his 
sparkling eyes as he jingled the three cents 
in his pocket. He was excited as he and his 
new friend walked down the sidewalk to-
ward the church. This would be his first 
experience in Sabbath school. 
All too soon, it seemed to the visitor, 
the bell rang for closing. The sweet notes of 
the organ filled the air with a solemn bene-
diction as the boys left their classroom. The 
lesson had been the story of the Good Sa-
maritan, and the memory verse was still 
ringing in their ears, "—and thy neighbor 
as thyself." 
After pausing a moment in the hall to ex-
change friendly greetings, Carl and Kenny 
were soon on their way home. 
"Didn't I tell you we had a good class? 
And our teacher is the best ever. He likes 
you, too, Carl. He told me to be sure to 
bring you to Junior Missionary Volunteer 
meeting this afternoon at his house. It's at 
three o'clock, but I always like to be there 
early." 
Carl was silent. Conflicting emotions 
were stirring under the blue shirt. Should 
he go as he had planned? Could he go after 
what he overheard in the hall as they were 
coming out? How could he disappoint his 
good friend, Kenny, and the teacher who 
seemed so interested in him, who had so 
earnestly applied the lesson and the memory 
verse, "—and thy neighbor as thyself"? 
But, of course, neither the teacher nor 
Kenny knew about those three boys in the 
corner of the hall. They had not seen the 
lifted eyebrows nor heard the cutting re-
marks. 
Kenny was still talking about the coming 
meeting. 
Kind Words 
Kindly words—oh, speak them ever, 
Let them never cease to flow 
Like the gentle rain, refreshing 
Those we meet with here below. 
For 'tis kindly words that help us, 
While our lonely way we go, 
To be cheerful and courageous, 
Neser submitting to the foe. 
Speak a kind word to the lowly, 
Speak a kind word to the great, 
Speak a kind word to the stranger 
Who must pass within thy gate. 
Kindly words will cost us nothing, 
As we journey far and near, 
But they make the path seem brighter 
As some toil-worn heart they cheer. 
Then speak kind words—do the kind 
deeds, 
As you journey on today; 
Help each fellow traveler upward, 
Leave a smile with him today. 
—SARAH M. HEALE. 
"You'll be ready to go about two-thirty, 
won't you, Carl?" 
Carl remained silent. 
"Shall I stop for you at two-thirty?" 
"I'm not going," said Carl quietly. 
Kenny nearly stopped in his tracks. 
"Not going? Why? What's the matter, 
Carl? I thought you had planned all the 
time to go." 
"I'm not going," repeated Carl; and in 
memory he could still see the rude glances, 
could still hear the stinging words: 
"From the country—smell the shoe polish 
—only three cents—spoiled our class rec-
ord—patch on elbow—blue shirt." 
Blue shirt—of course that meant him. 
No, he was not going where he would meet 
those boys—not ever. 
Kenny could not understand, but Carl 
would give no definite reasons for his 
changed attitude. Oh, he had to help his 
dad unpack some things in the garage. But 
' Kenny knew that was only an excuse. 
So Kenny went alone to the Junior Mis-
sionary Volunteer meeting, and Carl wan-
dered about downtown and finally came 
home and unpacked a few things to pass 
away the time. 
It was not until several weeks had passed 
that Mrs. King learned the real reason why 
Mrs. Jensen refused to send her children to 
Sabbath school. 
"Yes, I wanted them to go to your 
church; I wanted them to go where they 
would be taught the Bible. I was so glad 
when your boy invited Carl to go with him 
to the church my Aunt Mary used to attend. 
But I cannot force my children to go where 
they will be ridiculed." 
Then with tears in her eyes she told Mrs. 
King the story of the shoe polish, the three 
cents, and the blue shirt. 
—MRS. JOHN F. UNDERHILL. 
Out of the Abundance of the 
Heart 
"If any man offend not in word, the same 
is a perfect man." Wouldn't it be proper 
to change that just a little and make it read 
this way, "If any boy or girl offend not in 
word, the same is perfect"? Can that be 
true? Are words that important? It must be 
true, and words must be important or it 
wouldn't say so in the Bible. 
Here is another Bible text which shows 
how important it is to be careful about our 
words: "Out of the abundance of the heart 
the mouth speaketh." This text simply means 
that you can tell whether a person is good 
or not by the way he talks. 
Jesus expressed this thought in another 
way when He said, "By their fruits ye shall 
know them." Here's an apple. What kind 
of tree did it come from? That's right. It 
came from an apple tree? That's simple, isn't 
it? Here is an orange. What kind of tree 
did it come from? Again the answer is so 
easy and so simple that it sounds foolish to 
ask it. Oranges always come from orange 
trees. 
So often the Junior who lives on the 
farm and helps with the harvest finds thistle 
growing in the grain fields. This Junior 
knows that he can't destroy thistle by cut-
ting out wheat plants or barley plants. He 
knows that thistle plants produce thistle 
seeds so he goes after the thistle plants. 
Here is a bad word. We won't mention 
it because we just don't say bad words. What 
kind of Junior did this word come from? 
That's simple, too; it came from a bad-
minded Junior. "Out of the abundance of 
the heart the mouth speaketh." 
Here's a swear word. Where did it come 
from? It came from a profane person. 
That's the only kind of person who thinks 
swear words and says swear words. 
Just as surely as night follows day a bad 
tree will bring forth bad fruit and a good 
tree will bring forth good fruit. A bad heart 
will produce bad words, and a good heart 
will produce good words. 
Now it may be that some of us are pro-
ducing the wrong kind of words. Some of 
us may be saying unkind words which make 
quarrels and drive folks away from Jesus 
and away from the church. Some of us 
may be saying bad words and swear words. 
Some of us may be speaking lying words. 
What shall we do? 
Let's pray for clean hearts. Let's pray the 
prayer which David prayed: "Create in me 
a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a right 
spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
19 
For God and Humanity -- A Greater Ingathering! 
Suggestive Program for 
Sabbath, April 1 
OPENING HYMN: "Hark! the Voice of 
Jesus Calling," No. 447 in Church Hym- 
nal. 
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 18:1-3, 25-
35. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS. 
OFFERTORY. 
READING: "What Ingathering Means to 
Missions." 
READING: 
"Advancing God's Work 
Through Ingathering." 
SPECIAL MUSIC OR HYMN: "How Beaute- 
ous Are Their Feet," No. 442. 
READING: "Wanted, A Worker." 
READING: "Organizing for a Speedy Cam- 
paign." 
ANNOUNCEMENT OF LOCAL INGATHER- 
ING PLANS. 
EXPERIENCES. 
CLOSING HYMN: "Christ for the World," 
No. 452. 
BENEDICTION. 
What Ingathering Means to 
Missions 
BY W. G. TURNER 
There is a close connection between the 
money we receive in our annual Ingathering 
appeal and the operation of our world mis-
sion program. Next to the Sabbath-school 
offering, Ingathering provides the greatest 
single amount annually devoted to over-
seas' enterprises. It has made possible both 
the development and maintenance of our 
overseas' work. Without these funds num-
bers of our workers would lack support. 
Medical, publishing, and educational insti-
tutions would be compelled to close, or find 
themselves seriously restricted in their serv-
ice for others: We thank God for Ingather-
ing! 
In terms of mission activity, what does 
Ingathering mean to our home churches? 
Of necessity it revives in all who actively 
engage in the effort a personal interest in 
the cause of missions. Armed with a maga-
zine filled with round-the-world stories and 
fortified with the zeal that this information 
produces, the church members cannot fail 
to find a revived interest in overseas' mis-
sions. To present the paper and to discuss 
with the prospective donor the world-em-
bracing topic of missions is in itself refresh-
ing and invigorating to Christian experience. 
In this way, if a large percentage of the 
members share in the service of Ingather-
ing, there is witnessed and maintained a 
warmth of fellowship, a growth in mem-
bership, and a continuing and enlarging 
interest in world missions that mean much 
both to the workers and the work overseas. 
Leaving the home field upon which we 
are so dependent for the major part of our 
funds, what do we find in the fields over-
seas? What does Ingathering mean to our 
mission work there? It means much more 
than we sometimes visualize. 
In the hearts of the people in many of 
these overseas' fields there is today a con-
sciousness of a tremendous need and a great 
yearning for light and truth. The troubled 
conditions of society, the disasters and after-
math of war, the disturbed thinking of mil-
lions who until recent years lived settled 
and spiritually casual lives, and the increas-
ingly dark outlook for the future all con-
tribute to deepening the sense of need and 
to developing an attitude wherein men 
are ready to turn toward God in the hope 
that in Him may be found a solution to 
their problems. Ingathering funds contrib-
ute a great deal toward meeting this extrem-
ity. 
The funds provide men and material that 
can be employed to turn others to God. 
From the year 1908, when the Ingathering 
plan was first launched, tens of millions of 
dollars have been received through this one 
channel. These funds have been distributed 
throughout the world field. Although money 
alone would be insufficient to advance the 
cause of God, it provides much of the ma-
terial equipment. In addition, there must be 
workers to employ this equipment. Then 
with all in proper combination and always 
directed by the Holy Spirit in service, en-
couraging progress is noted. 
Leaving for the time being the advances 
made in the great land areas of earth, we 
shall briefly note what Ingathering has meant 
to the people of the islands of the South 
Pacific Ocean. 
Pastor Robert Salau, who recently visited 
Europe and North America, is a product of 
our mission work in the Solomon Islands. 
He is but one of thousands in the South 
Sea areas who have found God. The de-
velopment of our work in these island fields 
was largely made possible by our Ingather-
ing efforts. 
Hundreds of American families are un-
broken today because of the service of men 
like Pastor Satan. When loved ones were in 
grave danger during the years of bitter fight-
ing in the Pacific Islands, mission natives 
found them, attended to their wounds, fed 
them, protected them, and ofttimes through 
enemy-occupied territory safely conveyed 
them back to their own lines, and rejoiced 
to see them safe and well. 
Had it not been for Ingathering help, 
the work might have stood still in the South 
Pacific during the pre-war years. It was the 
sacrificial efforts of our missionaries in the 
early days that changed the habits of the 
savages, transformed their lives, and led 
them in later years to be heroic savers of 
others. 
In my own visits to these island groups 
I have frequently witnessed remarkable 
transformations. In 1934 when visiting the 
St. Matthias Group, lying a little to the 
north of New Guinea, I learned from the 
government officials in charge of these areas 
the miracle that had been performed by our 
Solomon Island teachers in Mussau and 
Emira. One officer told me that he had 
never seen, heard, or read of anything like 
it in his life. He asked, "What is it that 
your teachers have done for these people?" 
and concluded his statement by saying, "It 
is a miracle." 
Mr. W. C. Groves, Research Fellow in 
Social Anthropology, later in 1934 visited 
20 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE 
this group in behalf of the Australian gov-
ernment. In reporting his findings to the 
Sydney Morning Herald of August 1, 1934, 
he said: 
"I was no friend of the Seventh-day Ad-
ventists. I mean I had no special desire to 
further their cause. I simply wanted to see 
just what was happening, and how; to evalu-
ate the work from the point of view of pres-
ent native social and economic welfare and 
future development. 
"From the moment we dropped anchor at 
Emira, where we met 'old' Naphtali, a fine, 
honest, hard-working, true Christian, Fijian 
teacher, and saw the whole of the island's 
population hurriedly and excitedly gather-
ing together at the point on the beach where 
our dinghy was landing us—
from that moment of enthusi-
asm and joyous welcome—I 
knew that the 'Seventh-day' 
mission 'had' these people, 
knew, unmistakably with my 
very eyes, that here was no 
decadent people; here no racial 
malaise such as I had recently 
seen in parts of New Ireland. 
"I soon got off alone amongst 
the natives themselves, in their 
settlement. . . . From every 
angle I approached them—try-
ing suggestion, cajolery, ridi-
cule, upon individuals and 
groups. Fast they stood, fast for 
the new life, with no regrets, 
and, as far as I could see, no 
possible ill-effects on their so-
cial or economic lives. In fact, 
in the latter connection I found 
that under Naphtali's leader-
ship they had abundance of 
food, including varieties pre-
viously unknown. 
"I was particularly struck 
with the faithfulness of the 
Solomon Island teachers—such 
black-skinned, joyous types as 
Oti, whose genuine Christian 
belief was apparent in his every 
action. Truly the S. D. A. sta-
tions will become, have become 
already, the focal points of new 
interests, the radiating centers of new life. 
"And what does it all mean to the people 
of Mussau? For those who seek immediate 
spiritual results the crowded services at both 
stations should be sufficient. 
"Improved housing and village hygiene 
may be expected as a result of the mission's 
example and teachings; what, indeed, may 
the S. D. A. Mission not accomplish amongst 
these people, to the lasting credit of the mis- 
sion and the salvation of what was a deca-
dent society, if it proceeds along lines of 
enlightenment and understanding and allows 
of continuity of policy without undue in- 
terferencefrom authorities outside? . . . 
"What a unique opportunity has the S. 
D. A. Mission at Mussau, starting in these 
days of educational enlightenment, to show 
all other organizations the way!" 
As we engage in our Ingathering for the 
current year, we must realize that we have 
little time left in which to work. We face 
great opportunities. Labor while it is day; 
"the night cometh when no man can work." 
Wanted: A Worker 
God never goes to the lazy or the idle 
when He needs men for His service. When 
God wants a worker, He calls a worker. 
When He has work to be done, He goes 
to those who are already at work. When 
God wants a great servant, He calls a busy 
man. Scripture and history attest to this 
truth. 
Moses was busy with his flocks at Horeb. 
Gideon was busy threshing wheat by 
the wine press. 
Saul was busy searching for his father's 
lost beasts. 
David was busy caring for his father's 
sheep. 
Elisha was busy plowing with twelve 
yoke of oxen. 
Nehemiah was busy bearing the king's 
wine cup. 
Amos was busy following the flock. 
Peter and Andrew were busy casting a 
net into the sea. 
James and John were busy mending their 
nets. 
Matthew was busy collecting customs. 
Saul was busy persecuting the friends of 
Jesus. 
William Carey was busy mending and 
making shoes. 
—Selected. 
Advancing God's Work 
Through Ingathering 
Among the things that make life stimu-
lating for the servant of God is his contact 
with all types of humanity. He meets those 
who think, those who do not; those with 
vision, those without; those with a desire 
to know, those lacking any urge for better-
ment. What a mixed multitude it is! Yet, 
in the sight of God all are precious. With 
Him there is no discrimination. All souls 
are as pearls. Regardless of the apparent 
greatness or lowliness of the one who stands 
April, 1950 
before you, God says, "He gave His only 
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
Him should not perish, but have everlasting 
life:' John 3:16. 
We must never forget that God gave all 
that "whosoever" might have the oppor-
tunity to know Him and have everlasting 
life. Everyone, everywhere is desired by the 
heart of love of a true God. There are no 
exceptions. All are to have the privilege 
of accepting or rejecting. The scope of the 
work given to you and me is almost too 
much for our finite minds. Too often we 
fail to recognize that the souls of men are 
subjects for the kingdom of God. 
Our heavenly Father left nothing undone 
for the completion of the task to bring sal-
vation to man. "Having col-
lected the riches of the universe, 
and laid open the resources of 
infinite power, He gives them 
all into the hands of Christ, 
and says, All these are for man. 
Use these gifts to convince 
him that there is no love 
greater than Mine in earth or 
heaven. His greatest happiness 
will be found in loving Me." 
—Desire of Ages, p. 57. 
Have you seen the worth 
of a soul as is pictured here? All 
the riches of the universe were 
made available to win the souls 
of men. Not only were all 
things made available, but the 
instrument in whose hands 
they were placed was made our 
Elder Brother that He might 
reveal to us the love of God. 
"Go out into the highways 
and hedges, and compel them 
to come in," Christ says, "that 
my house may be filled." Luke 
14:23. It is not enough to in-
vite them to come to Christ. 
Compel, or urge them to come. 
Work with a steady purpose, 
an undying interest in behalf of 
the souls of men. We must have 
the spirit of urgency, imploring 
men of every walk of life to 
come to Christ. 
We cannot be selfish with "the pearl of 
great price" that we have found. It must be 
made known to all men. It is the desire of 
God to give everyone the opportunity to 
help speed His work, and for this reason 
He has given us the Ingathering plan. Every 
line of mission endeavor—both home and 
foreign—is fostered in the Ingathering work. 
We work personally for the souls we con-
tact; and, through the funds collected, evan-
gelize those in faraway fields. Thus God's 
work is advanced in the entire world field. 
Ingathering is a unified work for the souls 
of all men everywhere and a preparation of 
esySyCyWc. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
21 
one's own heart for the reception of God's 
Spirit. 
To be successful in Ingathering, as in any 
other phase of the work, one must draw 
near to God. "Nothing is more needed in 
our work than the practical results of com-
munion with God. . . . Communion with 
God will ennoble the character and the life. 
Men will take knowledge of us, as of the 
first disciples, that we have been with Jesus. 
This will impart to the worker a power that 
nothing else can give. Of this power he 
must not allow himself to be deprived."—
Gospel Workers, p. 510. "Pray and work" 
must be the motto of the successful In-
gather. 
This past year approximately one half 
million dollars was gathered in the Pacific 
Union to help in the foreign and home mis-
sion program, and we feel that this was 
largely made possible through the efforts of 
a consecrated people communing and work-
ing with their God. 
Many have reported praying with and for 
those they contacted. The results have been 
seen in larger donations, as well as interest 
in our beliefs and attendance at Sabbath 
services. Prayers that bring tears of repent-
ance to those solicited bring also a desire to 
know God. 
What a wonderful plan Ingathering is—
an opportunity to rearch for the souls of 
men and enlist them to help us advance the 
work of God in all the world! Did you 
pray with those you visited last year? If not, 
try it this year and receive a twofold bless-
ing as you help to advance His cause among 
all peoples. 
—C. L. BAUER. 
Organizing for a Speedy 
Campaign 
"Time is short, and our forces must be 
organized to do a larger work."—Testi- 
monies, Vol. 9, p. 27. Every successful pro-
ject must be well organized. This was 
brought strikingly to our attention during 
World War II, when armies worked out in 
detail every minute procedure. Especially 
was this true in the Normandy invasion of 
the continent. Thorough advance prepara-
tion assured its success. 
A lawyer before going to court spends 
hours and days in preparation. He would 
not think of waiting until time for court 
to convene to organize his case. Likewise, a 
church cannot wait until Ingathering field 
day to organize the members and the terri-
tory. "Those who have leading places in the 
church should give more thought to their 
plans for conducting the work. They should 
arrange matters so that every member of the 
church shall have a part to act."—Christian 
Service, p. 62. 
When building a lean-to we get a few 
poles and a little lumber together and put a 
few men to work. In a short time the struc-
ture is finished. When building a large, 
beautiful structure, however, we spend hours 
of work in preparation, dig a solid founda-
tion, and secure the many materials. The 
beautiful mansion is soon completed with a 
large crew of men following the blueprints. 
Why not make definite plans for the largest 
and greatest Ingathering crusade your church 
has ever launched? 
Plans, of course, will vary according to the 
size of the congregation and the location of 
the community. A short campaign with 
everyone working is much more successful 
than an extended one with only a few mem-
bers working. Any church activity is meant 
for all and not just the few—such as the 
elder or the church officers. 
There are various types of organizations. 
In larger churches the most successful way 
has been to organize into bands. In many 
cases leaders may be the Sabbath-school 
teachers. The pastor, elder, and missionary 
leader should work out all details with the 
band leaders—such as territory to be worked 
and plans for coverage. "The formation of 
small companies as a basis of Christian 
effort has been presented to me by One who 
cannot err."—Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 21, 
22. All those who are qualified to call on 
Notes to Leaders 
If the service that launches the Ingather-
ing campaign is to be a success, it must 
represent a harmonious balancing of in-
spiration, instruction, and organization. As-
sign the various readings far enough ahead 
that adequate preparation can be made by 
those participating. Try to include persons 
of various age levels. One of the readings 
may be given by a young person; the brief 
essay "Wanted, A Worker" might be given 
by a Junior. Try to create the feeling that 
Ingathering is a church project. Some splen-
did organizational plans are given in "Or-
ganizing for a Speedy Campaign" by Don 
R. Rees. 
Fifteen minutes or more may profitably 
be spent in a recital of good Ingathering 
experiences by church members. If desired, 
some good experiences may be gleaned from 
various articles in the general material in-
cluded in the Home Missionary section of 
this month's GAZETTE. Plan these ahead, 
rather than calling for volunteers and run-
ning the risk of things slowing down be-
cause of people's hesitancy to speak. 
Enthusiasm is essential throughout the 
service. Stress the importance of all swing-
ing into action for a quick campaign. There 
is inspiration for the individual member 
in the knowledge that the rest of the church 
is working hard, too. A word of good cheer 
from each band leader is in order if time 
permits. 
business organizations may be placed in 
one or more groups. The residential terri-
tory may be divided and given to other 
groups. The Juniors may have a goal. The 
young people may work in the singing 
bands. When the campaign is presented to 
the entire church, the organization will be 
fully understood by the band leaders. It is 
possible to raise the entire goal in one week 
if every member of the church has been 
properly fitted into the wheel of organi-
zation. 
Smaller churches, of course, will not need 
so many groups or so much detail in organi-
zation. In any case, those who call on the 
business firms should know what they are 
going to say and how they will meet objec-
tions. Everybody should know the canvass 
well and be thoroughly acquainted with the 
content of the Ingathering paper. A good 
preparation removes the fear of meeting the 
public. Smile and thank even those people 
who turn you down. It is said that an ancient 
king of Persia demanded the death penalty 
for all those who came into his presence 
without a smile. Times have changed, but 
the productivity of a cheerful face is still 
with us. It is hard to resist the positive force 
of a smiling face. 
Carol singing and singing bands in large 
and small churches are very effective. In the 
smaller churches where there are not enough 
members to have a singing band, a public 
address system with loud speakers on the 
top of the car may be used featuring sacred 
recordings. Even with a band of three this 
can be done. One can drive and operate the 
machine while the others solicit each side 
of the street. However, if you have more 
solicitors, several can work on each side of 
the street very efficiently. In the Kansas Con-
ference last year we carried on this program 
in every district. The major part of our in-
crease was obtained by the singing band 
method. 
Those who are aged and cannot get out 
can write letters. Many members receive 
hundreds of dollars every year through the 
mail. 
Make covering the territory a goal. Two 
ministers who thought they had finished the 
entire territory noticed across the tracks a 
little house that had been missed. One sug-
gested to the other that they call at this 
home. They received a $5 donation. 
In another church the minister appealed 
to every member to participate in some way. 
Everyone except a nurse indicated his will-
ingness to respond. She was too busy, she 
thought, to take part. The minister called 
on her personally and suggested that she 
should take as a personal goal $500. She 
accepted the challenge. In three weeks she 
had called on all the doctors, nurses, and 
wealthy patients that she knew; and she 
turned in $500. 
22 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE 
One lady called on her neighbors. To her 
next door neighbor, she said, "We have 
talked over the fence many times, but I have 
never called at your home to visit you. My 
mission this morning, you may feel, is rather 
an odd one, but I have come to tell you 
of the wonderful work that Seventh-day 
Adventists are doing around the world. Here 
is a little pamphlet that tells of our work." 
After explaining this and the participation 
of each of our members she asked that her 
neighbor place her name at the top of the 
donor's list. She followed this plan with all 
the folk in the block and received approxi-
mately $25 for the day's solicitation. Have 
you ever systematic-ally solicited your neigh-
borhood? If not, then try it. 
One isolated member living in a western 
How Ingathering Is Done 
in China 
The methods used in the Ingathering 
work in China, and probably in other mis-
sion fields as well, are not necessarily the 
same as these used in the homeland. They 
must be adapted to the customs of the people 
where one is laboring. Having spent the 
larger part of my life in China I can best 
mention those methods found successful in 
the land of my adoption. Thorough and 
careful preparation is a prerequisite in any 
field. 
The large offerings here are usually re-
ceived from government officials and execu-
tives of large firms and banks. It is not 
easy to contact such men, for they are con-
stantly being approached for donations to 
help charitable organizations—some worthy, 
some not so worthy. There are many people 
who make it a business to live without 
working, and such make it difficult for others 
to receive donations for worthy projects. 
It means much to know how to get in to 
see the prospect. It is most essential to know 
his name. If it is new territory, from which 
no record has been made, the names and 
addresses of officials and firms can be se-
cured from an up-to-date business directory 
or telephone book. A list of the names of 
donating firms or officials, their addresses, 
the amount given, and the name of the so-
licitor is kept in the local mission office, and 
a copy is sent to the division Home Mission-
ary secretary. After these lists are received, 
a letter of appreciation is sent to each donor 
from the division office. This does much to 
bring confidence to those who contribute 
section accepted the invitation to work in 
his neighborhood. The first person he called 
on—to his amazement—gave him $25. 
After the day's soliciting he had over $100. 
We appeal to every member to give of 
his talents in whatever way he can approach 
the public. Learn your canvass, study your 
Ingathering magazine, be thrilled over the 
way the work is going around the world and 
the nearness of Jesus' soon coming: then you 
cannot but go out and appeal to your neigh-
bors and friends to help us in the final con-
flict with the adversary. With a detailed 
organization and every member working in 
a short and snappy campaign, you will ac-
complish greater things for your Saviour in 
1950. 
—Doty R. REES. 
and often results in larger donations the fol-
lowing year. The list left in the local mis-
sion office is used the following year for 
reference in making the contacts for that 
year. 
The materials used in the Ingathering 
campaign consist of the following: 
1. Name Cards. Unless it is an old ac-
quaintance, one cannot secure an interview 
unless he first sends in his name card by a 
gate man or secretary. On the name card 
there is space for the prospective donor's 
address, phone number, name of the organi-
zation he represents, and his position. Some 
have felt it best in the past not to put the 
name of a religious organization on their 
name cards when soliciting, but by later 
experience we find in most cases it is an 
advantage rather than a disadvantage. 
2. Ingathering Papers. For our work in 
Chinese they are printed at our publishing 
house in Shanghai. The medical, educational, 
and relief work is stressed; for there is little 
prejudice against giving donations for such 
lines of work. Large clear-cut pictures show-
ing institutions and activities help get atten-
tion. During the short time taken by the 
canvass, it is not possible to read any printed 
material. But for those who take time later 
to look through the report, a few articles 
are included explaining what was accom-
plished during the previous year, the pur-
pose of our medical, educational, and other 
lines of uplift work, and our *needs for the 
current year. Also included is an article on 
our message. This year an announcement of 
the Bible Correspondence School has been 
included with an enrollment blank. 
3. Signature Book. Experience has taught 
us that loose-leaf signature books are the 
April, 1950 
most successful. At the beginning of the 
campaign we call on a few prospects who 
know our work and who yearly contribute 
substantial sums. Their signatures are then 
photographed and sent out to those leading 
in the campaign in the unions and local 
missions. These signature sheets are put into 
their books as a guide for their prospects 
to follow when they sign for their contri-
butions. It is not customary for a donor 
to sign for more than the amount listed for 
the last donor in the book. If he should sign 
for a small amount, which they often do, the 
loose-leaf arrangement permits it to be 
taken out so as not to influence the next 
prospect to sign for a small amount. I per-
sonally carry at least two signature books 
with me, one for large amounts and the 
other for smaller sums. If I know the finan-
cial status of my prospect, I show him the 
book containing amounts comparable to 
what I feel he will be willing to give. The 
power of suggestion means much in deter-
mining the amount received in the Orient. 
4. Receipt Book. For many years a stand-
ard bilingual receipt book has been pre-
pared by the China Division for the In-
gathering campaign. We feel it an advantage 
to use the same form each year, as it is rec-
ognized as being our mission's official re-
ceipt, To save time and not have to return 
later to collect the donation we, as soon as 
the donor begins to sign for his donation, 
take out the receipt book and begin to fill it 
in. He immediately recognizes it as our 
receipt and prepares to pay immediately. 
Always it must be remembered that no 
method will prove a success unless the Holy 
Spirit is present to bless in each contact 
made. Much prayer mingled with tried 
methods will greatly increase the amount 
received and result in more souls saved in 
God's kingdom, 
-GEORGE J. APPEL. 
Angels Are Waiting 
"Thousands upon thousands, and ten 
thousand times ten thousand angels are 
waiting to co-operate with members of 
our churches in communicating the light 
that God has so generously given, that a 
people may be prepared for the coming 
of Christ."—Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 129. 
"The message is first to be given 'in the 
highways,'—to men who have an active 
part in the world's work, to the teachers 
and leaders of the people. Let the Lord's 
messengers bear this in mind. To the 
shepherds of the flock, the teachers divinely 
appointed, it should come as a word to be 
heeded. Those who belong to the higher 
ranks of society are to be sought out with 
tender affection and brotherly regard. Men 
in business life, in high positions of trust, 
men with large inventive faculties and 
scientific insight, men of genius, teachers 
• 
Offilrf Cildt'ig,S'itfry 
la tai Titerfrow &vim? 
ABOUT INGATHERING PUBLICITY 
If you have not used the Ingathering 
publicity kit to make your drive shorter 
and easier, you will be interested in 
what pastors and reporters who have 
tried it are saying. 
* * 
Elder L. H. Pitton, pastor in Gads-
den, Alabama, reported at the close of 
last year's drive: 
"I cannot say too much in praise of 
this material worked out to help in the 
campaign this year. Here in Gadsden, 
Ingathering was something new to a 
good many of the businesses. Many of 
these men who were contacted for do-
nations remarked that they had read 
about it in the newspaper, and some 
said they had heard about it over the 
radio. We feel that it was a great aid in 
our Ingathering program. Three times 
more was raised this year than ever be-
fore. We feel that the ad and the news 
stories helped us in this achievement." 
In Port Colborne, Ontario, Mrs. Ber-
nice Black found that a single article 
about the Ingathering campaign made a 
world of difference: ". . . and then 
perhaps I get $5 where $2 is the most 
I've gotten before or $2 where it has 
been $1 for years." 
Oklahoma's press director, Howard 
Weeks, supplied a mat of one of our 
South Pacific mission launches along 
with an Ingathering story to most of 
the papers in his state. 
* 
When Mrs. Vera Luthye went to ask 
for the official permit required in Perry, 
Oklahoma, for solicitation of the busi-
ness section, she found the city manager 
very nice and courteous. Although the 
permit had previously been deniec, there 
was no difficulty about getting it after 
the news story appeared. The city offi-
cial had seen the article and "was very 
favorably impressed." He said, "You 
should get that and carry it around 
with you." 
* �
* 
"As we visited the various places of 
business," Mrs. Luthye reports, "I be-
lieve half the people mentioned having 
seen the article about the boats and 
thought it very wonderful. I believe it 
really paved the way for our work." 
In Calgary, Alberta, Elder G. D. Hag-
stotz found that the advertisement and 
stones gave the church members them-
selves enthusiasm and confidence they 
had never felt before. "Our goal was 
never reached so easily," he reported. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
23 
of the gospel whose minds have not been 
called to the special truths for this time, 
—these should be the first to hear the 
call."—Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 229, 
230. 
About ten years ago a Sabbath-school 
teacher read and reread that statement. She 
caught, in a small degree, a vision of the 
possibilities of organized planning and its 
power to bring into a reality the command 
involved in those words from the book, 
Christ's Object Lessons. 
She invited the young people of her 
Sabbath-school class to a party at her home, 
and shared with them the plan. They 
caught the thought, and gladly organized 
as a group to send the Signs of the Times 
to the members of the President's Cabinet. 
Then other members of the church caught 
the spirit of the idea, and now the members 
of both Houses of Congress receive the 
paper. The under-secretaries of the Cabinet, 
the Supreme Court Justices and their as-
sociate Justices also have been added to 
the list of official families to receive the 
Signs of the Times. 
The story has been told from, coast to 
coast, and through its inspiration thousands 
and more thousands have sent the Signs 
to the leaders of our public thought and 
responsibilities. The churches of Loma 
Linda have found in these experiences a 
blessing as they have systematically sent the 
light from the press to the members of the 
legislative, judiciary, and executive branches 
of our nation's capital. 
Let us catch a glimpse of future possi-
bilities. Why cannot our churches in every 
state of the union reach the judiciary, 
legislative, and executive personnel of their 
own states in just as systematic a way? 
After the forty-eight states and territorial 
officials have been provided for in an organ-
ized manner, then the same plan can be 
developed in each county seat. But why 
stop there? Let us continue until every 
"city father" of every city, town, and hamlet 
is given the privilege of having our silent 
minister enter weekly into his home to 
show him the way and the light through 
this night of storm, that he may lead his 
flock safely. 
"Often prayer is solicited for those who 
are suffering from illness or adversity; but 
our prayers are most needed by the men 
entrusted with prosperity and influence." 
—Ministry of Healing, p. 212. 
"The greatest men of earth are not 
beyond the power of a wonder-working 
God. If those who are workers together 
with Him will do their duty bravely and 
faithfully, God will convert men who 
occupy responsible places, men of intellect 
and influence."—/d., p. 216. 
And angels are waiting to help. "Thou- 
sands upon thousands, and ten thousand 
times ten thousand angels are waiting to 
co-operate with the members of our 
churches in communicating the light that 
God has so generously given, that a people 
may be prepared for the coming of Christ." 
—Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 129. 
—EVA PUNE MCASSEY. 
The Power of Love 
Love illuminates the countenance and 
subdues the voice; it refines and elevates 
the entire man. It brings him into harmony 
with God; for it is a heavenly attribute.—
Ellen G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 4, 
p. 560. 
Ingathering Publicity 
The good will generated by Seventh-day 
Adventist news stories is ordinarily rather 
difficult to measure. Once a year, however, 
the church "cashes in" on its publicity pro-
gram in a tangible way. Announcements of 
the Ingathering drive in the newspapers and 
over the radio are showing remarkable re-
sults. 
In city after city such announcements are 
bringing our fellow townsmen to our doors 
with generous gifts—before we can visit 
them. They help double the size of the do-
nations of previous years and give Ingather-
ing solicitors a dignity in the eyes of the 
community which they have not previously 
enjoyed. These announcements make it easy 
to obtain official permits, too. 
All of these things actually happened last 
year in places where the publicity kit pre-
pared by the General Conference Press 
Bureau and the ad supplied by the Home 
Missionary Department were used. It sounds 
like magic; but actually we are just discover. 
ing for ourselves the truth of the old slogan, 
"It pays to advertise." 
Again this year the two departments have 
co-operated in preparing materials for giv-
ing over-all publicity to the campaign. These 
include: 
1. Mats from which newspapers can print 
full, half, and quarter-page advertisements. 
These may be obtained from your local 
Home Missionary secretary. 
2. Three newspaper releases to be used 
at intervals during the campaign. 
3. A mat or glossy picture of a mission 
scene to be used with the first of the three 
releases. 
4. Six radio announcements of varying 
lengths. 
5. Detailed directions for using both the 
advertisement and the releases. 
Items two and five will be mailed to all 
pastors and church press secretaries. If you 
fail to receive your set by two weeks before 
the opening of your drive, please notify 
the General Conference Bureau of Press Re-
lations, Washington 12, D. C. 
24 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
Ingathering in the Bahamas 
The famous Lady Oakes lives in Nassau 
and owns much property there. Elder Harold 
Colburn and I tried to get an appointment 
with her to make an Ingathering solicita-
tion, but we had to approach her secretary 
first. The young man was quite insistent 
that we tell him why we wanted to see Lady 
Oakes. Since it was evident that he would 
not get us an appointment until he knew, I 
gave him a thorough canvass and told him 
all the needs of the work. He became deeply 
interested and assured us that he would 
make an appointment for us. He was to let 
us know the next morning. In our prayers 
we asked that God would guide this woman 
to give at least £100 (approximately $400). 
Next morning the secretary called us and 
told us that Lady Oakes was getting ready 
to leave Nassau and could not see us. When 
he told her why we wanted to see her, how-
ever, she told him to send us a check for 
£100. Surely God answered our earnest 
prayer. 
For four days we tried to find one busi-
nessman; and when we finally did, he told 
us to come and see him the next morning. 
When we arrived at his office, he was not 
there; so we waited. When he arrived, he 
apologized for being late and went tight into 
his treasurer's office. In a few minutes he 
came out with a check in his hand and in-
vited us to come into his office. I caught 
a glimpse of the check and saw that it was 
made out to us for £10 (approximately 
$40). We had hoped to get more from him, 
and we were afraid that he was just going 
to give us the check and usher us out of the 
office. Brother Colburn and I walked to his 
desk and sat down on two vacant chairs. I 
immediately began to tell this businessman 
about our work. He laid the check on the 
desk in front of him, but I acted as if I had 
not seen it. I told him some stories of how 
the Gospel had transformed the lives of 
men in heathen lands. Especially did I stress 
the story of Kata Ragoso and how the Japs 
had tortured him for protecting American 
soldiers. The businessman was amazed at 
what the Gospel had done for Kate Ragoso 
and others like him, and I made an appeal 
for a large offering. While we were talking, 
we saw that his interest was deepening; and 
soon he began to play with some envelopes 
on his desk. Then he very adroitly pulled 
the envelopes over the check and covered it. 
We still acted as if we had not seen the 
check. After we made the appeal, he ex- 
cused himself and went to his treasurer's 
office. In a few moments he came back with 
a check for £20 (approximately $80). I am 
convinced that the more we stress spiritual 
accomplishments the more we shall receive. 
Another businessman we contacted gave 
us £50 (approximately $200), and the rest 
of our contributions varied from £5 (ap-
proximately $20) to £20 (approximately 
$80). From twenty-three businessmen we 
gathered $1,368. When we stop to realize 
that in 1944 the total amount raised in all 
the Bahamas was only .2198 .(approximately 
$792), and in 1946 only £325 (approxi-
mately $1,300), we recognize that God has 
indeed blessed us. 
—W. B. BARCLAY. 
Little Medical Missionaries 
Ingather in Walla Walla 
In Walla Walla, Washington, seventeen 
boys and girls raised $166.24 for Ingather-
ing last year. This was done through singing 
bands, writing letters, and street soliciting. 
Laurin, 11, and Diane Dunlap, 7, son 
and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edson Dun-
lap, were dressed to represent our medical 
work. Diane wore a white dress and a 
nurse's cap, and Laurin completed his profes-
sional physician's appearance with a stetho-
scope around his neck. Properly supervised 
they solicited downtown one hour a day for 
seven days. In these seven hours they re-
ceived $61,74. 
Irwin and Diane Dunlap 
Cash, $2; New Members, 29 
One of our sisters who was Ingathering 
in British Columbia heeded the counsel of 
the messenger of the Lord to be alert and 
watch for souls. One morning she contacted 
a lady from whom she received a donation , 
of $2. She saw great possibilities in this 
soul, and she told her husband that she be-
lieved she had fOund a new Seventh-day 
Adventist. In the next few days she returned 
with literature to this lady, asked her to be 
sure to read it, and told her she would be 
back the following week with some more 
interesting material. This went on for a 
few weeks; she finally felt brave enough to 
suggest Bible studies. Arrangements were 
made. 
The first study was on the twenty-fourth 
chapter of Matthew; and, though the hus-
band of this new student of the message 
had said he would not be home for the 
Bible reading, when the time came, the en-
tire family was present. They were all so im-
pressed that they gladly invited this sister 
back for another study the following week. 
To this one contact twenty-four people 
trace their joining of the Seventh-day Ad-
ventist church, and through their influence 
at least five others have already accepted the 
message. My wife is one of this latter group. 
—R. D. STEINKE. 
What Ingathering Has Done 
for Me 
This was my first year Ingathering in the 
business district of our town. In fact, it was 
the first time the downtown area of Lone 
Tree had ever received attention during an 
Ingathering campaign. I had been afraid 
to start; but, though the tempter was pulling 
one way, God was calling me to go. 
I went with our district pastor, who 
helped me get started; and his presence was 
a real encouragement. I listened and watched 
how it was done. 
Though I felt very timid, I went alone 
the following day and finished the unworked 
territory. In doing so I learned many won-
derful things. 
The first and most important lesson I 
learned was to rely on God for the right 
words to say at the right time. He never 
fails us, and I am so thankful that I didn't 
fail Him. 
The next lesson I learned was how to 
meet the public. I had always feared meeting 
businessmen during the Ingathering cam-
paign. Perhaps the fact that I am handi-
capped by the loss of hearing and must 
wear a hearing aid has made me overly 
timid in public, but by going Ingathering 
in the business district I learned to remain 
calm and make myself understood in a 
moderate tone. 
Lyle J. Jones 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
25 
I learned to be very considerate concern-
ing the time of busy people. By courteous 
patience and perseverance I was able to 
break down prejudice against our message 
by presenting our attractive bulletin of our 
world-wide mission work. Then I rejoiced 
in the fact that the money given will help 
spread the Gospel at home and abroad. 
Also, during my soliciting I found people 
who seemed especially interested, to whom 
I can send more of our literature. 
The following poem by Mark K. Bullock 
seems to express what I have found to be 
true in the experience I had this year in In-
gathering: 
"Sometimes God seems so far away 
My feeble lamp of faith grows dim; 
But still He's promised to draw nigh 
If I will draw nigh unto Him. 
And so I to my chamber go 
With earnest heart to kneel and pray. 
God always keeps His promise sure, 
But I must meet Him half the way." 
-LORETTA EDEN. 
Champion Kansas Ingatherer 
Undoubtedly no one in Kansas has helped 
the cause of Ingathering more than our gen-
eral solicitor, Mrs. A. R. Carrick of Du-
quoin. For years she has worked untiringly 
from four to nine months of the year, solicit-
ing in our larger cities and also in many 
scattered towns. 
For a number of years she has faithfully 
and systematically solicited the cities of 
Hutchinson and 
Salina, building 
up the total do-
nations from 
several hundred 
dollars to sev-
eral thousand 
dollars. In Sa-
lina she learned 
to know the 
businessmen 
very well 
through her In-
gathering con- 
A. R. Carrick �
tacts, and was 
able, after the 
Ingathering campaign, to solicit them and 
receive several thousand dollars to be used 
in the erection of a beautiful church in 
that city. During 1948 she personally re-
ceived almost nine thousand dollars, besides 
doing much to train others to do efficient 
Ingathering solicitation. 
This year she worked in Wichita for three 
months and has succeeded in adding scores 
of new donors to our lists. Each day the 
members of the church were anxious to work 
with her and learn her fine methods. While 
soliciting she enrolls many business men in 
the Bible Correspondence School and hands 
out many pieces of literature. 
Kansas truly appreciates the fine work of 
Sister Carrick and the inspiration she has 
brought to the members of our churches, 
as she has worked to make Ingathering a 
great success throughout the years. 
-LEROY J. LEISKE. 
A Thirty-One Year 
Ingathering Record 
Lulu J. Jones dates her Ingathering ex-
periences back to the days of our first In-
gatherer, Jasper Wayne. For the inspiration 
and encouragement of others, her record 
of financial returns is given. The larger 
record, that of souls won, will be revealed 
only in the judgment. 
1919 
$136.00 
1935 
$265.00 
1920 
114.65 
1936 
271.50 
1921 
140.75 
1937 
292.00 
1922 
217.60 
1938 
278.25 
1923 
89.79 
1939 
219.50 
1924 
188.69 
1940 
276.00 
1925 
370.68 
1941 
223.94 
1926 
492.15 
1942 
277.75 
1927 
451.25 
1943 
292.00 
1928 
483.60 
1944 
650.00 
1929 
615.00 
1945 
1036.25 
1930 
472.25 
1946 
675.75 
1931 
270.35 
1947 
1097.36 
1932 
213.14 
1948 
1145.30 
1933 
165.50 
1949 
1014.00 
1934 
135.80 
$12,570.80 
HER OWN STORY 
The first year that Brother Jasper Wayne 
began the Ingathering work, he came to our 
home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was 
then selling tile used for draining swampy 
farm lands, and he asked my father, L. W. 
Jones, who was well known in that vicinity, 
to accompany him and introduce him to the 
farmers near Sioux Falls. 
We had bundles of the Signs of the 
Times which my uncle, Elder E. G. Hayes, 
had accumulated in his work and left at 
our home. Since father never wished to have 
any of our literature wasted, he suggested 
that they take these papers with them on the 
trip and hand them out as they traveled. 
This they did, sometimes receiving a little 
donation for missionary work. 
I understand that from this small begin-
ning Brother Wayne carried on the work 
which has grown into the enormous and 
magnificent enterprise called Ingathering. 
Several years passed before I had the 
courage to enter into this work. I greatly 
admired those who did, but it just seemed 
that I could not go to a stranger and ask for 
money. 
Finally, Elder E. T. Russell, president of 
the South Dakota Conference,, invited me to 
enter the Bible work. When Ingathering 
time came, I felt that I should at least en-
deavor to try to do what I could, that my 
example might be on the side of right. 
At first I went to my father's acquaint-
ances and told them that I was the daughter 
of L. W. Jones, and I think it was for his 
sake that they gave to me. Thus encouraged 
I ventured further. 
One yen Elder Russell held an Ingather-
Mg convention at Madison, South Dakota. 
I was asked to speak on the subject "How 
to Obtain Large Donations." I said in my 
remarks that my donations that year ranged 
from 2 cents to $2, and the only way I knew 
was to just keep at it. 
It was October 14, 1919, that I came to 
Long Beach, California. Soon after arriving 
the church members learned that I had been 
in the Ingathering work in South Dakota; 
so I was immediately urged to enter the 
work here. 
For the past thirty years I have had part 
in the Ingather-
ing campaign in 
Long Beach, 
California. I 
have had many 
grand experi-
ences and have 
met many won-
derful people. 
They seem now 
to be looking 
for me from 
year to year, 
really inviting 
me to come 
again and some thanking me for coming. 
This year one gentleman, from whom I 
have received a liberal donation for a num-
ber of years, said with a smile, "You never 
forget a fellow, do you?" 
I answered, "Well, no, I try not to." He 
gave me the usual offering. 
My work has mostly been with business 
people. I usually take someone with me, 
either one of my immediate family or a 
member of the church. I think that is the 
example Jesus gave us; and, thus, someone 
else is helped to reach his goal. 
Often I have gone with the pastor of our 
church. In the 1945 campaign Elder D. R. 
Schierman and I were together, and he told 
me to set my goal at $1,000. I thought that 
quite a high goal; but we undertook it, and 
with the Lord's help and blessing we made 
This year the donations have ranged from 
25 cents to $100. 
My trust is in the Lord, for I have proved 
Him; I know we can do all things through 
Him who strengthens us. 
-LULU J. JONES. 
26 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
April 1 
Minute Men Are Missionaries 
Into the heart of every sincere Christian 
has come, at one time or another, the in-
tense desire to be a missionary. There surges 
in his heart the thought: "Oh, that I could 
go and give the gospel!" 
That is not always possible, because some 
must remain behind and, as Carey stated, 
as he descended into the fearful pit of hea-
thenism, "Hold the Ropes." • 
This truth is beautifully illustrated in the 
story of two young men both desiring to be 
missionaries. They talked it over, and the 
older said: "You are the younger; you have 
better possibilities than I. I will stay on the 
farm, I will care for father and mother, and 
I will support you when you go to the 
mission field." This he did during the long 
years of his life. Was he not as truly a mis-
sionary as was his brother? Is not this the 
principle stated by David, "As his part is 
that goeth down to the battle, so shall his 
part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall 
part alike"? 1 Samuel 30:24. 
But on the other hand, why should we 
expect these fine missionaries to cut them-
selves from the comforts of civilization, the 
conveniences of modern homes, the oppor-
tunities of rearing their children in pleasant 
surroundings, the pleasant association of 
fellow civilized people, and undergo health 
hazards and a multitude of other privations 
while we, who linger by the stuff, do not 
supply them with the sinews of war? If 
they go in our stead, we owe it to them to 
support them. 
Our hearts were touched repeatedly as 
the natives urged our missionaries in Africa 
to extend a little farther into the villages 
beyond with medical help, with schools, 
and with the gospel, but the missionaries 
sadly shook their heads, saying, "No funds." 
Yes, minute men are our missionaries at 
home just as truly as those are who serve 
in foreign fields. 
—HENRY F. BROWN. 
April 8 
Ingathering—a Search for 
Hungry Hearts 
God has marvelously blessed our people 
in gathering funds for missions during the 
past year. The staggering sum of $2,682,-
748.37 that was raised by our faithful work-
ers and church members during 1949 em-
phasizes the fact that Ingathering is a 
heaven-born plan and that God is richly 
blessing it. However, in the midst of finan-
cial prosperity there is danger for the church. 
We must not focus our eyes on monetary 
gains to the extent that we lose sight of 
souls. Ingathering should be and can be one 
of the greatest missionary campaigns of the 
year. 
The aim of Ingathering is twofold, em-
bracing both the spiritual and the financial 
phases; and we should always keep a true 
balance between the two. We should ponder 
carefully the following words from the mes-
senger of the Lord, "One of the new plans 
for reaching unbelievers is the Harvest In-
gathering campaign for missions."—Chris-
tian Service, p. 167. 
I remember the time I solicited a certain 
man; he gave me a donation of $25, then 
looked up and said quietly, "I hope you are 
not going to be like previous solicitors who 
have visited me. They have taken my money 
and have run without giving me any spirit-
ual help. I need help. Would you be willing 
to pray for me?" 
This was a tremendous rebuke to me, for 
I had not expected to tarry long. I was get-
ting ready to leave and had no plans for 
doing that "better part." Not all we visit 
express themselves as freely as this man did. 
However, there are many hungry hearts that 
need our help, and I trust this experience 
will inspire each of you to be more diligent 
in your search for needy souls as you do 
Ingathering work. 
Here in the Southland two sisters were 
calling on a certain storekeeper who, while 
he was giving them a donation, said, "So 
you are Seventh-day Adventists. The man 
living in the second house from here is a 
Seventh-day Adventist, also." 
The solicitors could hardly wait until 
they had called on the man concerning whom 
the storekeeper had spoken. When they ar-
rived at his house, they were cordially in-
vited in; and the man told them that if he 
could be called anything, he could be called 
a Seventh-day Adventist. He stated: "I don't 
do any work on Saturday, because I believe 
it is the Lord's Sabbath. I believe that the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church is the true 
one, though I am not a member. However, 
I would like to study the Bible with some-
one who could explain it more fully. 
Furthermore, I believe that I can fill this 
room with my friends who would also like 
to study. Do you suppose it would be pos-
sible for someone to study with us?" 
The two sisters received this man's $10 
donation and immediately reported the in-
terest to the pastor. The pastor called on the 
gentleman and during the visit, although 
nothing was said about Ingathering, $20 
more was received. Arrangements were made 
for Bible studies. Only God knows what the 
outcome will be, yet I am very sure that a 
hungry soul like him will not turn back as 
the truth is presented. 
As a result of an Ingathering call some 
years ago an entire family was baptized; and, 
all told, eleven united with the church as a 
result of follow-up work by the one who 
did the soliciting. 
Let us all determine that during the 1950 
Ingathering campaign the spiritual phase of 
our Ingathering work will be more fully 
emphasized and that by precept and example 
all our leaders will do everything in their 
power to cause every member to realize the 
divinely-appointed twofold purpose of this 
great missionary campaign. 
—G. R. NASH. 
April 15 
Ingathering Gives Me a Lift 
Because Ingathering impels me to call at 
the homes of thousands of people each year 
to converse with them about the goodness of 
the Lord. and to ask them to give of their 
means for the advancement of the precious 
cause, I get much spiritual help myself. "He 
that watereth shall be watered also him-
self." Proverbs 11:25. These visits to the 
homes of rich and poor help me to under-
stand their problems. Getting acquainted 
with people and sympathizing with them 
in their poverty or troubles give me an op-
portunity to tell them of a Friend who 
understands and whose help never fails. 
Occasionally I meet individuals who reveal 
an earnest interest in the truths which we are 
proclaiming, and what a joy it is to explain 
some point of truth and later to send them 
literature or possibly enroll them in our 
Bible Correspondence School! 
Ingathering gives me a lift when at the 
close of a busy day I count the receipts and 
visualize the help this money will bring 
to some struggling worker in a far-off mis-
sion station. Ingathering gives me a lift 
when on the Sabbath I see the pastor or 
church missionary leader listing the receipts 
which represent what the church members 
have gathered for the week. To hear church 
members relate their experiences as they 
have gone forth in faith to solicit funds is 
truly inspirational. 
And what a blessing I receive as I, in 
company with other church members, call 
upon businessmen to request substantial 
gifts to sustain our world-wide work. Know-
ing that Ingathering is a part of God's plan 
for spreading the light of truth throughout 
the world, I get a lift through enthusiastic 
participation. 
—R. H. PICKLING. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
27 
April 22 
"Ask and Ye Shall Receive" 
Many people are influenced and prompted 
to give Ingathering donations because they 
know some good Seventh-day Adventist. 
Two of us were visiting stores and offices. 
In one office we asked to see the manager. 
"I'm not interested in giving to the Sev-
enth-day Adventist Church. I belong to the 
Methodist Church," he said. We smiled 
and began to tell him something about our 
local welfare work. Then he surprised us 
with a smile bursting all over his face. "Oh, 
I know all about Seventh-day Adventists. 
My mother-in-law is a good member of 
your church. You people do a marvelous 
foreign mission work. I'll tell you what 
I'll do. If you will promise to use my con-
tribution for work across seas and not use a 
penny for your local church, I'll give you 
this," and he flashed a $5 bill. 
Here was a business man who was more 
interested in foreign missions than in home 
missions. Some feel just the opposite, as the 
next experience will demonstrate. 
In another city two of us were again 
working the business district. One place was 
marked "Restaurant," but from evidences on 
the inside it appeared that they sold more 
drinks than food. It is well at the very be-
ginning to tell people that we are Seventh-
day Adventists. Thus, we approached the 
manager. 
After our brief interview, he said, "I'll 
give you a dollar if you promise to spend 
it for the poor in this city. Otherwise, I 
won't give a penny." 
Should I accept it and give his donation 
to the Dorcas Society for local welfare work? 
I wondered. No, I decided to tell the man 
that it was for foreign missions; and I left 
the results with God. 
I said, "We do local welfare work and 
would like to do more, but this is for foreign 
missions. There are other organizations 
which give temporal aid, such as the Salva-
tion Army and the Red Cross. Right now, 
however, we ate interested primarily in the 
souls of men. It is one thing to put shoes 
on a man's feet, a shirt on his back, and 
food into his stomach. It is another thing to 
strengthen his character. The shoes and shirt 
will wear out, and he'll become hungry 
again. If we can help him to be 'a. man and 
thus help himself to be a help and blessing 
to his family and community, and un-
ashamed to meet God at the end of the way 
—then we have done something even greater 
than meeting the needs of his physical body." 
At that moment it seemed that the hard cold 
look on his face vanished. Without saying a 
word he reached into the cash register and 
handed us a dollar. We thanked him and 
walked out. On the street we looked at each 
other and wondered at the sudden change 
in attitude. We agreed that it pays to be 
frank and truthful in order that God may 
do His work upon human hearts. 
The campaign was over, but we wanted 
an overflow. We thought of one man whom 
we had not yet seen. So the office stenog-
rapher and I went to his place of business. 
He was the owner of a large moving van 
and storage company. His company had 
moved one of our ministers from Texas to 
Baltimore, Maryland; so I told him that 
we were from the Seventh-day Adventist 
conference office. He listened intently as I 
leafed through the Ingathering prospectus. 
"Do you want a donation; is that the 
purpose of your visit?" he asked me. 
I smiled and said, "That's tight." 
"How much do you expect?" he returned. 
A few days before a similar company had 
given us $10; but now I ventured to ask, 
"Would $50 be asking too much?" 
"No," he said, "I think we can give you 
$50. Do you want it now?" 
Of course, we told him that we would 
prefer to take it with us. Since he had never 
seen me before and since $50 is a sizable 
sum to give to a stranger, he asked me for 
my credentials. He took my card in his hand 
and mentioned something about our local 
welfare work. In less than two minutes we 
had the check in our hands. 
When I assured him that we would turn 
any possible business his way, he said, "I'll 
appreciate that, but I'm not giving you this 
because of any business you give me. You 
are doing a good work, and I'm glad to help 
God will impress people to give, but we 
must ask. 
—H. E. VOORHEES. 
April 29 
Ingathering and Dorcas 
Team-Up 
We have been told by the servant of the 
Lord that "we should endeavor to disarm 
prejudice by placing ourselves in the proper 
light before the people." 
The Ingathering campaign is primarily a 
missionary enterprise. Those who engage in 
it should be constantly searching for souls. 
In Christian Service, page 167, we are told, 
"One of the new plans for reaching unbe-
lievers is the Harvest Ingathering campaign 
for missions." And again in the same book, 
on page 169, we are told, "Search diligently 
for perishing souls. . . Watch for souls 
as they that must give an account." There-
fore, Ingathering must have a dual purpose. 
If one is to work for the individual he is 
privileged to visit, he must first make the 
right impression and then gain confidence. 
One way to do this is to let the individual 
know that you are kind and sympathetic to-
ward the needs of the local community. 
With this in mind we have, in different 
places, tried an approach somewhat like this: 
"We have called to solicit your help in 
finding needy cases. We are members of the 
Dorcas Welfare Society of the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church here in this city and are 
prepared, as far as our resources will permit, 
to give help in cases of sickness, material 
need, bereavement, or discouragement. Do 
you happen to know any worthy person in 
this community who is in real need of help? 
If so, we would appreciate it very much if 
you would let us know the individual's need. 
Here is one of our Dorcas Welfare cardr 
that will explain the type of work we have 
done in the local community. It also gives 
our telephone number so that you may call 
us if you happen to find anyone you feel 
would be worthy of our attention. You 
understand, of course, that we are not look-
ing for professional beggars or those chronic 
cases who refuse to help themselves. We 
are on the lookout for those in genuine 
need, that are down and out temporarily 
through no fault of their own and who need 
moral encouragement as well as temporal 
assistance. May I suggest that if you have 
any good used clothing or anything else of 
that nature which you would like to see used 
in this good work, you give us a ring. We 
can assure you that it will be used to good 
advantage. 
"Now, while I am here on this visit, I 
would like to introduce another phase of 
our work which is world-wide in its scope. 
Perhaps you are already acquainted with it as 
a result of our past visits." 
(Now give the regular Ingathering can-
vass, emphasizing that our program is world-
wide in its application and that the funds 
are used in foreign lands as well as in the 
homeland to carry on medical, educational, 
uplift, and evangelical work for needy peo-
ples.) 
One lady following the above approach 
visited twenty-four homes in her experi-
ment. Twelve of these homes were in the 
slums and twelve were among the better 
class of people. She received $24 all told, or, 
in other words, averaged $1 a doorbell rung. 
She also received a goodly amount of ex-
cellent used clothing and found two indi-
viduals who needed help—one in a spiritual 
way and one in a temporal way. In another 
section a lady following this same method 
collected $65 in half a day in virgin terri-
tory. The method can be followed by men 
as well as women. The men can turn their 
cases over to the Dorcas Welfare Society for 
follow-up. 
It is my opinion that the Ingathering 
and Dorcas team-up is good not only for 
Ingathering but that it is a splendid way to 
win friends and do a high type of mission-
ary work. 
—G. R. NASH. 
Horne arid Peirent Ecluccition �
'the•Horne and chool Asst i 
 
and the Christian Home Council 
28 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
Speech Harmony in the Home 
Notes to Leaders 
We realize that many of our smaller 
societies are denied the privilege of hearing 
the practical, instructive lectures given in 
person by our prominent educators, doctors, 
or executives. But such societies need not 
feel discouraged or neglected, for we en-
deavor to bring to you also, in these pages, 
some of the best material presented to our 
larger societies situated in favored centers. 
This month we present just such a 
program. Dr. Charles E. Weniger, head 
of the speech department at the Theological 
Seminary here in Washington, D.C., has 
adapted for the GAZETTE the inspiring 
material he has presented to some of the 
near-by Home and School associations. We 
trust that every society will take advantage 
of this program, for we as parents definitely 
need the help that is given here. 
-ARABELLA MOORE WILLIAMS. 
The Gift of Speech 
BY CHARLES E. WENIGER 
PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS 
Put-pose. It is the purpose of this program 
(1) to study the importance of acceptable 
speech in home, school, and community; 
(2) to describe the characteristics of good 
speech; and (3) to give, in nontechnical 
language, a few basic exercises that will 
help parents, teachers, and children to de-
velop pleasing speech habits. 
Method. Try to depart from the formal 
custom of having only one speaker or a 
few formal speakers. Encourage active par-
ticipation by parents, teachers, and children. 
If the program is carefully directed, all 
who attend will derive much benefit from 
sharing the experience of discussion, dem-
onstration, and unison exercises. 
Background Reading. Participants in the 
program should study prayerfully the fol-
lowing references in the works of Mrs. 
E. G. White: Counsels to Teachers, pp. 
238-240; The Desire of Ages, pp. 253-255; 
Education, pp. 198, 199, 234-237. 
Hymns. Appropriate atmosphere for the 
program may be created by using the 
following hymns, either in chorus or as 
solos or quartets: in The Church Hymnal, 
"My Father Is Rich in Houses and Lands," 
No. 614; "Take My Life and Let It Be," 
No. 273; "If Any Little Word of Mine," 
No. 629. The following are in Christ in 
Song: "Love at Home," No. 580; "Angry 
Words! Oh, Let Them Never," No. 581; 
"Look for the Beautiful," No. 523. 
Scripture Reading. Choose Bible verses 
such as the following, recited by children 
alone or in speaking-groups, or spoken by 
members of the group: Proverbs 18:21; 
25:11; 10:31; 12:18; 29:20; Psalm 15:1-
3; Colossians 4:6; Titus 2:7, 8; Matthew 
12:34; Luke 6:45; 2 Timothy 1:13. Psalm 
19:14 is an appropriate covenant to precede 
the benediction. 
Recitations and Songs. At appropriate 
places in the program the following are 
suggested: 
A Speech Round 
(Tune: "Row Your Boat") 
1. Relax, relax, 
Relax every day. 
Father, mother, sister, brother, 
Relax every day. 
2. Stand tall, stand tall, 
Stand tall every day. Etc. 
3. Breathe deep, breathe deep, 
Breathe deep every day. 
Fathers, mothers, teachers, others, 
Breathe deep every day. 
4. Speak out, speak out, 
Speak out every day. Etc. 
Here are some lines that you may speak 
or chant in unison, or perhaps sing to a 
tune that one of your members may com-
pose: 
Let's all yawn together, Ah-ah-ah-ah-ahl 
Never mind the weather, Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! 
If you're from the East or West, or from 
the North or South, 
Don't forget your manners, hold your hand 
before your mouth, 
And let's all yawn together, Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! 
Visual Aids. Posters on relaxation, posture, 
etc., may be made by grownups and children. 
Look for pictures of babies smiling, and 
of babies and little animals yawning or 
lying completely relaxed. Secure posters on 
posture. The Samuel Higby Camp Institute 
for Better Posture, Empire State Building, 
New York 1, N. Y., can supply such 
posters, as well as excellent free pamphlets 
on good posture, Simple line drawings on 
the blackboard are effective. Magazines 
and newspapers will yield pictures and 
cartoons of value. Watch for "The Voice 
With a Smile." 
Choice Quotations. Use orally, on posters, 
or as mottoes the following selections, or 
similar quotations of your own choosing: 
"The chief requisite of language is that 
it be pure and kind and true—'the outward 
expression of an inward grace.'"—Educa-
tion, p. 235. 
"The power of speech is a talent that 
should be diligently cultivated. Of all the 
gifts we have received from God, none 
is capable of being a greater blessing than 
this. With the voice we convince and per-
suade; with it we offer prayer and praise 
to God, and with it we tell others of the 
Redeemer's love. How important, then, 
that it be so trained as to be most effective 
for good."—Christ's Object Lessons, p. 335. 
"There is no index of character so sure 
as the voice."—Disraeli. 
"Think well before you speak because 
your words may plant the seed of either 
success or failure in the mind of some 
other person."—Napoleon Hill, How to 
Sell Your Way Through Life, p. 293. 
The Dignity of Speech 
"I'm a child of the King, a child of the 
King! 
With Jesus, my Saviour, I'm a child of the 
King!" 
Wonderful thought—"I'm a child of the 
King." You and I, mothers and fathers and 
teachers, and our boys and girls: all are 
children of the King and sons and daughters 
of God, created in His image and candidates 
for immortal life. To us, as sons and 
daughters of God, is given the privilege 
of living and thinking. And, unlike the 
other creatures that our heavenly Father 
has placed on the earth, we can express our 
love and our thoughts in words. 
Speech Power and Beauty 
Words are powerful things. When Jesus, 
the Son of God, came to earth, John called 
Him the Word of God. Jesus was the 
complete expression of the character of 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
29 
God. He came to earth to express what 
God means. "In the beginning was the 
Word, and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God. The same was in the 
beginning with God. All things were made 
by Him; and without Him was not any 
thing made that was made." John 1:1-3. 
At creation God said, "Let there be light: 
and there was light." Genesis 1:3. "By 
the word of the Lord were the heavens 
made; and all the host of them by the 
breath of His mouth. . . . For He spake, 
and it was done; He commanded, and it 
stood fast." Psalm 33:6, 9. God had only to 
speak to bring into being the beauty of 
His ordered creation. Words are not dead 
things; they are symbols of life and activity. 
They are the active expression of love and 
thought. They are creative. "Some say, 'A 
word is dead when it is said'; I say, 'It just 
begins to live that day.'" 
Perhaps no greater compliment was ever 
paid a man than that given Jesus when it 
was said of Him that "the common people 
heard Him gladly.•" Mark 12:37. And it 
was not only what He said but how He said 
it that influenced people to hear Him. "And 
all . �
wondered at •the gracious words 
which proceeded out of His mouth." Luke 
4:22. "He taught them as One that had 
authority, and not as the scribes." Mark 
1:22. 
Speech and Personality 
Speech may be viewed as one of the 
chief factors of personality. Indeed it is 
often considered the chief overt factor in 
personality. Some time ago a number of 
psychologists studied several hundred suc-
cessful persons in an attempt to analyze the 
elements composing their personalities. The 
study revealed that these successful person-
alities showed four cardinal traits: (1) 
liveliness (every person was active and 
vital—he was not a dead fish floating down-
stream); (2) fairness (each person played 
the game honestly and squarely) ; (3) 
originality (each person was different from 
others; he was not merely imitative; he 
was individual, not a stereotype); (4) a 
pleasant voice (every man had a reasonably 
pleasing voice devoid of those characteristics 
that bring displeasure to the hearer). 
It is no wonder that we often form our 
opinion of a person when we first hear 
him speak. Have you ever had to go to a 
new doctor or dentist? Have you sat outside 
his office and felt a great sense of comfort 
as you heard the kind, firm, pleasant voice 
that came from within? Or, on the other 
hand, did you feel painful foreboding as a 
hard, unsympathetic voice met your ears? 
Unconsciously you formed your opinion 
from voice alone. You were glad or sorry 
that you had come to seek his help. 
Tests of Acceptable Speech 
What is acceptable speech? Speech is 
not an end in itself. It is a medium employed 
to reach an end. Its purpose is to convey 
thought and feeling. Adequate speech is a 
transparent medium. To the extent that 
the medium is crude or slovenly, or over-
precise; to the extent that the attention of 
the hearer is distracted from the thought to 
the vehicle of expression, the speech medium 
is defective. 
What, then, are the tests of acceptable 
speech? Ask yourself the following ques-
tions: 1. Can I be heard easily in a class-
room of average size? Being heard is chiefly 
a matter of throwing out one's voice with 
adequate abdominal support. 2. Can my 
words be understood? Being understood is 
largely a matter of articulation. It involves 
free use of tongue, free-moving lips, and re-
laxed jaw. 3. Does my pronunciation follow 
the commonly accepted standard of educated 
people of my geographical region? Is it 
free from slovenly expressions, from crude 
sound substitutes? If I speak English, do 
I say gimme for give me; gonna for going 
to; cancha for can't you? Do I say tin horns, 
when I mean ten horns? Do I say git for 
get; reddish for radish? Do I say goin' and 
comin' and singin' and eatin' instead of 
going and coming and singing and eating? 
Acceptable pronunciation requires careful 
listening and constant practice. 4, Do I 
read ordinary prose interestingly, and do I 
read the beautiful language of the Bible 
expressively? Achievement here requires full 
realization of meaning and feeling as one 
reads. 5. Do I speak in a conversational, 
direct, and interesting manner that catches 
and holds attention? Eye-to-eye communica-
tion requires a desire to share and an interest 
in the listener. 6. Does my voice have a 
reasonably pleasing quality? Is it harsh, 
throaty, strident, nasal, guttural, shrill, weak, 
metallicomonotonous, singsong? A pleasing 
voice, unless there is physical or psysiological 
impairment, is the expression of a buoyant, 
confident, well-rounded personality. It may 
be possessed by everyone who is willing 
to pay the price. 7. Do I have a persuasive 
voice? Does my voice say, "Come now, and 
let us reason together"? Only the persuasive, 
conciliatory voice brings harmony to home 
and school, to church and neighborhood. 
Harsh, dictatorial tones separate friends, 
spoil the morale of the classroom, and ruin 
the spirit of the home. 
Building Acceptable Speech 
How shall we satisfactorily meet these 
tests of acceptable speech? Three founda-
tions must be laid: controlled relaxation, 
acceptable posture, and efficient breathing. 
Relaxation. We are living in an age of 
extreme tensions. Minds are tense with the 
strain of living and hearts are breaking 
with the stress of things. Nervous systems 
grow tense and human bodies tighten. 
And, since the whole is equal to the sum 
of all its parts, body tension includes ten-
sion of the vocal organs, which in turn 
produces tight, disagreeable speech. You 
cannot make a pleasant tone with a tight 
throat. You cannot produce an agreeable 
sound when the delicate muscles of the 
larynx are distorted by tension of the great 
muscles of the throat and neck. The throat 
must be the channel of communication. 
The foundation of effective speech is laid in 
the practice of relaxation. 
Try the following exercises in the family 
circle, in the classroom, or alone. (All 
exercises should be performed as a part of 
the program and, if done in a group, given 
by a leader who has thoroughly assimilated 
their meaning and method.) Sit comfortably 
erect, feet flat on the floor, hands idle in 
the lap. Dismiss all cares and worries, and 
reaffirm your trust in God. Quote such 
texts as: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect 
peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: 
because he trusteth in Thee." Isaiah 26:3. 
Read Education, pp. 260, 261. Feel com-
plete mental relaxation. Stretch your arms 
and legs and then relax them completely. 
Wiggle your fingers and try to shake off your 
hands. Wiggle your toes, stretch your feet 
out and then let them fall limp and heavy • 
to the floor. Remove tenseness from leg and 
arm joints. Allow your muscles to relax 
and hang loose. Communicate the same 
feeling to back, abdomen, chest, and shoul-
ders. Relax your facial mask. Let the eye-
lids drop loose like curtains over the eyes. 
Let the muscles of the cheek, nose, and 
jaw sag. Let the nostrils dilate and relax. 
Let the lower jaw drop loosely from its 
socket and the tongue lie limp. Extend this 
head relaxation to the neck, employing 
light massage with the fingers, and allow 
the head to drop forward until the chin 
touches the chest. Then gently and slowly 
rotate the head toward the right shoulder, 
then back, then toward the left shoulder, 
then forward to the first position with your 
chin again resting on the chest. Be sure that 
your lower jaw sags and that your mouth 
is open throughout the exercise. Finally, 
slowly raise the head to an erect position and 
yawn, imagining that you are swallowing 
your chin—your mouth still open. 
Note that you have a relaxed, wide-open 
throat, as when you respond to the doctor's 
order to say "ah." If this exercise is faithfully 
performed, there can be no tension of the 
vocal mechanism. The ability to relax com-
pletely and especially to relax the throat 
and the jaw is the foundation of acceptable 
speech. Learn to yawn frequently. 
Posture. The second foundation is that 
of good posture. You cannot speak well 
30 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
when you do not breathe well, and you 
cannot breathe well when your body is 
cramped. Do you go about hanging your 
head like a drooping flower protruding 
your abdomen, and letting your whole 
stodgy weight come down upon your heels? 
If so, learn to prefer a body that resembles 
an exclamation point rather than a question 
mark. As a doctor-friend of mine said, 
"Ladies and gentlemen: Pace the world with 
your head and not with your stomach." 
To attain satisfactory posture, try standing 
with a sense of stretching tall. Imagine 
that hooks are inserted in the bones of 
your head just behind the ears and that 
ropes attached to these hooks are gently 
drawing you toward the ceiling. "Keep a 
level eye" and observe how tall you are. 
Note how straight your back becomes. Note, 
too, how much better you feel. Now try 
walking with the same sense of tallness. 
Perhaps the old exercise of carrying a 
heavy book on your head will help you to 
cultivate an acceptable posture. See Edu-
cation, p. 198. 
Breathing. With this foundation in pos-
ture you are now prepared to breathe well. 
Breath is the stuff of which speech is made. 
Your lungs are the storehouse of this 
breath. Your diaphragm and the other 
muscles of the abdomen and thorax are 
the powerhouse of control. Acceptable speak-
ing depends upon deep breathing. 
Here is a little exercise that will help 
you breathe well. Relax and try it. Sit 
or stand comfortably erect. Relax the lower 
jaw and let the lips and teeth slightly part. 
Now imagine that there is beneath your 
feet a tank of cool mountain air fresh with 
the scent of pine and balsam, and that your 
lungs are connected with this air supply 
by means of pipes extending up through 
your legs to the base of your lungs. Draw 
up from below a little gentle breath. Do 
not try to fill the lungs with air. Breathe 
quietly. Observe that the bottom of your 
lungs fill first and that there is no noisy 
sound to your breathing. Exhale easily and 
repeat the exercise. Habitual use of this 
exercise will cure bronchial breathing and 
give strength and support to your tones. 
See Education, pp. 198, 199. 
With foundations of relaxation, posture, 
and breathing well laid, you are ready to 
consider articulation and voice quality. 
Articulation, For articulation the lips 
must be mobile, the jaw must be loose, the 
tongue must be flexible. 
Does your upper lip move freely as you 
speak? Or does it hang dead like a heavy 
curtain draping the space under your nose? 
Clear, resonant speech is impossible with 
dead lips. To overcome stiff lips, try this 
exercise: Close your teeth lightly—don't 
clench them. Now pucker your lips and 
extend them forward as far as you can. Then, 
with teeth still closed, relax the lips and 
open the mouth in a wide smile. Repeat the 
exercise as rapidly as you can and say on-ce-
oo-ee-oo-ee as rapidly as you can. 
Is your jaw loose? Does it swing freely 
as you speak? Or do you sift your words 
through almost-closed teeth? To loosen 
your rigid jaw, try dropping it open till 
you can insert two or three fingers between 
the teeth without stretching. Just drop your 
jaw till you imagine that your chin is 
touching your throat, or better, your chest. 
Try swallowing your chin. Now repeat yes 
or yellow rapidly. 
Is your tongue flexible, obedient to the 
commands of clear speech? Or does it lie 
lazily on the floor of your mouth or fill 
your mouth with an uncontrolled mass of 
muscles? Try flattening your tongue on the 
floor of your mouth. Now let the tip of 
your tongue count your teeth as it moves 
about the inside of the mouth. With mouth 
open, project your tongue between your 
teeth; groove it; try to touch your chin, 
your nose, your ear. School your tongue to 
obey your commands. 
Voice Quality. To attain pleasing voice 
quality, no practice is better than humming. 
Hum a familiar hymn tune or folk song 
and, while you smile with your eyes, feel 
the vibrations in mouth and throat and 
head. Then sing. Sing with free, relaxed 
abandon; and while you sing, think of the 
meaning of the words. Sing at family wor-
ship, sing at church, sing as you go about 
your routine duties. While you are making 
melody with your voice in song, you are 
improving your voice in speech. See 
Counsels to Teachers, pp. 239, 240. 
The Child's Speech 
Whether the child speaks acceptably or 
not depends largely upon the home, the 
school, and the community in which he 
forms his language habits. 
The following suggestions are to the 
point: 
1. Other things being equal, normal 
speech development in the child depends 
on the formation of satisfactory health 
habits. Sufficient rest and sleep, relaxation, 
recreation, and exercise; ample food of 
sufficient variety, with care in the matter 
of vitamins and minerals; proper personal 
hygiene with habitual elimination; and, 
above all, a well-balanced nervous system: 
these are essential. Frequent physical check-
ups are recommended. Especial attention 
should be given to the child's hearing. In 
the United States one child in every twenty 
has some hearing loss. Inadequate hearing 
is the cause of much poor speech. 
2. The home environment is the soil in 
which the plant of good speech flourishes. 
An atmosphere of order, good cheer, hope- 
fulness, joy, and peace encourages the 
normal growth of the plant. Encouragement, 
trust, a sense of being wanted—these are 
the gentle breezes that fan the young leaves. 
And the sun of God's love supplies the 
vital strength of growth. Where the speech 
of the parents is calm and confident, without 
haste and criticism or resentment, the child's 
speech follows the pattern supplied and 
develops normally. Encourage the child to 
take part in the family discussions; do not 
repress his attempts at speech. And be sure 
to provide the comfort of family worship 
and the privilege of audible co-operation 
in the singing, the praying, and the Bible 
reading of the worship hour. Herein lies 
one of the richest contributions of the 
Christian home to the development of the 
child's speech. 
The speech example of the parents is 
of prime significance in the life of the child. 
In a recent speech survey it was learned that 
fifty-two per cent of speech-defective chil-
dren had mothers with the same defect. 
Constant association with the mother caused 
the child to imitate her speech defect. How 
important then that the parents should 
furnish a speech pattern worthy of imitation. 
If the child displays a speech defect—
baby talk, cluttering, lisping, stuttering, 
etc.—in all cases treat him as if he were 
normal. In general ignore the defect and 
attempt to break up the false patterns by 
inspiring confidence. If the defect involves 
the faulty production of individual sounds, 
he will probably outgrow it by the time 
he is eight or ten. If he lisps or stutters, 
seek the help of your grade teacher or of 
a speech correctionist and co-operate in the 
application of remedial agencies. In any 
case be sure that your physician and dentist 
have examined the child. There may be an 
underlying physical or physiological or 
nervous cause. After all, most speech defects 
are symptoms, not diseases, and yield to 
the general, over-all treatment of the child's 
total physical-mental-spiritual personality. 
3. It is the privilege of home and school 
to unite in the proddction of acceptable 
speech in the child. It is the business of 
the teacher to set before the child an ex-
ample of speech worthy of emulation. It is 
the business of the parents to reinforce the 
example of the teacher and to encourage 
the child in stabilizing worthy speech habits. 
Herein lies the challenge to the Home and 
School Association and the Christian Home 
Council. What a blessed.partnership! 
Finally, let us be sure that acceptable 
speech is "pure and kind and true—'the out-
ward expression of an inward grace.'" 
—Education, p. 235. Good speech comes 
spontaneously from the inside. It is never 
put on as a mere decoration. It should be 
the external evidence of a loving and 
lovable Christian experience. 
Vol. 37, No. 4 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
31 
We are most happy 
when to announce some new books 
at this time �
everyone is looking for gifts. Here 
is som ething for 
young and old. They will make lifelong 
gifts which 
remembrances -- �
will uplift and entertain. 
THE STORY OF JESUS 
For many years we have had a life of Christ 
for the children under the name of Christ Our 
Saviour. This book has been reset and reillus-
trated, some of the pictures being in color. A 
good book to add to any child's library. Cloth 
bound. Price, $2.50. Special price, $1.60. 
UP FROM THE 
GODOWNS 
Here is a fresh, interesting, and inspiring story 
of India by Mrs. Alta Hilliard Christensen, 
who spent some years in this far-off land. 
Illustrated by Robert T. Ayres, an Adventist 
artist. Price, $2.00. 
HILLTOP VISTAS 
A book for youth and adults—short, spicy, 
uplifting chapters written by D. D. Rees. It 
is really a look at life from the heights of ex-
perience. It will make an excellent gift. 
Price, only $1.00. 
MAN'S ONLY HOPE 
A good book to loan. Excellent for missionary 
work. It gives, in an interesting way, the 
fundamentals of the message. There are many 
story illustrations throughout the book to 
hold the reader's interest. Author, Robert L. 
Boothby. Heavy paper binding. Price, 75 
cents. 
PLACE ALL ORDERS THROUGH YOUR BOOK AND BIBLE HOUSE 
SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION, BOX 59, NASHVILLE 2, TENNESSEE 
32 �
THE CHURCH OFFICERS' GAZETTE �
April, 1950 
Miraculous Conversion at 
Eleme, East Nigeria 
Some time ago we started a branch 
Sabbath school in the little town of Akpajo. 
We had only two interested people there. 
Since that time our Missionary Volunteers 
have worked hard, visiting regularly and 
preaching in the open markets and beneath 
the trees, until today we have a little 
company of twenty-four souls worshiping 
there every Sabbath. 
Now it so happened, as it often does, 
that the devil had seen our little efforts there 
at Akpajo and determined to undo our 
work. The committee of the N.D.P. (Angli-
can Church) and the town elders (chiefs 
of the village) joined forces to bring our 
work to nought. A plan was laid and a 
day appointed when all young men of the 
town were told to turn up for work on 
the Anglican church-school building. When 
our young men failed to turn up, a charge 
was laid against them in the court, and 
they were told of severe penalties which 
might be enforced. 
This case was never heard, however, 
for at the very time when our members 
should have been tried, the leader of the 
accusers was miraculously converted and 
gave his heart to God, testifying that there 
is power in the Adventist Church. No 
human agent had worked for his conversion; 
it was the power of God. We solicit your 
prayers in behalf of this little company at 
Akpajo. Surely "we have nothing to fear 
for the future except as we forget the way 
that the Lord has led us in the past." 
—ZACCHEUS IMO. 
Hula Village Accepts the 
Third Angel's Message 
Some of the brightest and best boys here 
at the Papuan Missionary School come from 
the village of Hula on the coast of Papua 
east of Port Moresby. Until 1945 this vil-
lage was completely controlled by the Lon-
don Missionary Society, which conducted 
school and other activities very successfully, 
as is shown by the work of some of their 
ex-students we have here today. In 1945 
some of the boys came in contact with a 
Seventh-day Adventist teacher, and after 
listening to some of his stories were con-
verted. Here is the story as told me by 
Joseph, one of the boys concerned. 
"I left the London Missionary Society on 
January 3, 1945. I had seen Seventh-day 
Adventist people and wanted to hear their 
story. Then one day a teacher came with a 
picture roll. When we saw it, we were very 
surprised because of the story of Jesus com-
ing again. We had not seen nor heard this 
at the London Missionary Society. 
"One day we thought we would like to 
change over to the Seventh-day Adventist 
mission. How could we do this? Two of us 
talked together and we said, 'We will work 
on Sunday.' So the next Sunday we started 
work. We were cleaning the place around 
the mission house when the L.M.S. teacher 
saw us. His name was Cook Island. 
"On Monday when the bell rang, we 
went to school and lined up. Then Cook 
Island came, and he said, 'Who worked on 
the Sabbath day? They have broken the 
Sabbath.' He told me to stand up. Iga and I 
and five girls stood up. Then he said, 'Now 
you can go straight to the S.D.A. Mission.' 
We were very happy when he sent us. 
Special Days and Offerings 
April 1 
Ingathering Day 
Topic: Ingathering Mission Advance 
April 1—May 13 
Ingathering Campaign 
April 8 
Second Sabbath Mission 
/ �
Offering 
"Now I have been four and a half years 
with the mission. I was baptized on April 
12, 1947. The man who baptized me was 
Pastor Tauku from the Solomon Islands." 
Hula village today is in two sections. 
The S.D.A. members of the community live 
at one end of the beach and the L.M.S. at 
the other. And so the work of God con-
tinues and grows in this "Land of Dohore" 
(which means by-and-by), 
—B. WISEMAN. 
Responsibilities of Membership 
(Continued from page 3) 
their gratitude by returning Him a portion 
in tithes and offerings—in thank offerings, 
in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. 
They are to devote their means to His 
service, that His vineyard may not remain 
a barren waste. They are to study what the 
Lord would do were He in their place. They 
are to take all difficult matters to Him in 
prayer. They are to reveal an unselfish 
interest in the building up of His work in 
all parts of the world."—Prophets and 
Kings, pp. 707, 708. 
Transfer of Membership 
"When a church member moves from 
one locality to another for a period of 
longer than six months, he should make 
immediate application for a letter of transfer 
to the church nearest his new place of 
residence. Such letters are valid for three 
months from date of issue, and unless acted 
upon within that time ate void."—Church 
Manual, p. 89. "Students are encouraged to 
transfer their membership to the church 
at the school which they attend, and to 
change it again promptly when they leave 
the institution."—Working Policy, p. 82. 
Method of Granting Church Letters 
"Application for a letter should be made 
to the clerk of the church with which the 
member desires to unite. The clerk then 
sends the request to the clerk of the church 
from which the member desires to be trans-
ferred. On receiving this, the clerk brings 
the request to the pastor, if he is an ordained 
minister, or to the church elder, who in 
turn lays the request before the church 
board. After due consideration the board 
recommends to the church that such letter 
be granted. The pastor or elder then brings 
the recommendation to the attention of the 
church, announcing that this is the first 
reading. Final action is then deferred one 
week, when the request is again presented 
to the church and a vote of the church is 
taken. The purpose of deferring action is 
to give any other member opportunity in 
the meantime to object to the granting of 
the letter if he knows of any valid reason 
for withholding it."—Church Manual, pp. 
89, 90. 
Keep in Touch With Your Church 
Keep the church clerk informed as to 
your latest address. If you are away, let the 
church hear from you at least once every 
three months, "It is a serious thing for a 
church member to regard the obligations of 
church membership so lightly that he can 
absent himself for indefinite periods and 
make no report of his faith and hope to 
the church. After an absence of two years 
such a member may be dropped from the 
rolls of the church by a vote of the church, 
provided the church officers can certify that 
they have faithfully endeavored to locate 
and encourage the absent member, but 
without success."—Id., p. 106.