DOING OUR DUTY.
We are in this world and life brings its ‘respon-
sibilities, yet how few of us, if we are to judge
by outward appearance, have any just estimate
_ of the responsibility laid upon us. If we are to
believe our Saviour'’s words we are momently
“gathering souls and bringing them nearer to
Christ, or we are causing them to wander from
Him. I am sure, both from words of inspiration
and from what I have seen, that we influence
souls to leave the warmth of God’s love and the
joy there is in surrendering self and giving all to
him when we associate with them, and lack that
complete surrender ourselves. When we are not
completely given to Christ, when we have not
forgotton self, I mean just that ¢forgotten self,”
we cannot really perceive the depths of the voice
when God speaks to us; hence, we are not really
led by Him.
Now if this is true that we must have a vital
- connection with God, be entirely swallowed up
in His will, before we can in any measure impart
that Spirit to others, I wish to ask our Sabbath-
school teachers, have we this vital connection?
Our Sabbath-schools are the nurseries of the
church. They should bring souls to Christ, yes,
clear to him, not part way, and not only bring
them toHim but help them to grow strong. Are
they doing that? Are the pupils in your classes
tender and susceptible to the influence of the
Spirit? If not, is your heart tender? It is ab-
solutely necessary for a Christian to be thus; in
fact that is what it means to be a Christian, to be
in a condition so we can hear God speak. Now
honestly, can we expect those whom we teach to
"have tender hearts or more living experiences
than those who teach them? True "they may
have but not by the teacher’s influence. The pu-
pil will be drawn to Christ in proportion as
Christ is lifted up and the teacher is dead to sin.
As I have been thinking this matter over I have
come to the conclusion that our schools do not
- need better plans so much as the deep moving of
the Spirit of God. It scarcely seer.s possible
- that a scholar can sit under the deep moving of
the Spirit—that is where they should sit if in our
‘classes—and not be moved to aciion in six months,
Ido not see how they could occupy sucha po- .
~ sition for a a year. I aim of the opinion that if I:
have taught a class fc
ye 1d the 1
1 ‘them have not a living Chistian experience, ‘the
“fault is with me. = But in. many Sabbath-schools ~
there i is neither conversion nor growth. Teach-
ers, is it so in yours? If so will you seek the =
reason at the throne above? Let us wake up;
our schools should be alive and active. They do
give to those attending them a good mental
knowledge of the word, but do they give as much
as they ought of that knowledge which is life
eternal? I fear they do not, and Iam afraid the
great reason is, we as teachers, have not as much
of that life as we ought to have. Let us exam-
ine ourselves whether we be in the faith for if
Christ is not in us we are not saved and so of
course cannot save others. We will speak more
of this at another time. In the mean time care-
fully think this over. C. L. Exsmersox.
Review Exercise on the Chinese Mission Field.
Let each draw and bring to the school a map of
China, locating on it the principal rivers and moun-
tain ranges and the great desert, (or point these out
on the large map.)
2. How does China compare with the United States
in size, climate and products?
3. Describe the people of China.
4. What is ““China’s great curse?”
5S. How commonly is it used?
6. Will the Chinese ever hear the gospel? Matt.
24 : 14, Psa, 22; 27.
7. How will they hear it? Rom. 10 : 14, 15,
8. How can a preacher be sent to them?
A. L. L.
¢ NOTES FROM THE FIELD. ¢
WASECA,
I am always glad to read the reports from workers
in the State, or out of the State, so I consider it my
duty to make a brief report of our work.
To begin with I will mention some matters which
will make us think that we are pilgrims and strangers
on earth.
On the 9th inst. I was called to Hutchinson, to see
the aged mother of Sr. John Hons to her last resting
place. On Sunday the 11th inst. the funeral took
place in quite a large Methodist Church about 5 or 6
miles west front Hutchinson. The. church was well
filled, and the good Lord blessed in presenting the
truth as it is in Jesus, in regard to man’s hope for
life beyond the grave. 1 Cor. 15, 22, was the base of
the discourse. I mever. had. a more attentive audience.
While this was an aged lady, and had seén over 70
years pass by, a report came that a two. year old.
child of Bro. and Sr. Garlappw was dead ; the next t day
PHE MINNESOTA, WORKER. |
this atte ad to be séen to: on this occasion the
‘subject of the remarks were based on Matt. 18, 3.
On the 22nd inst I was called to Lake Crystal to at-
tend to Sr.Bertha Cookson’s funeral,which took place
on the 23rd inst in a nice and large Methodist Church.
The church was well filled with attentive hearers.
Job 14, 14 was used for the opening of the remarks.
The facts that man has no hope beyond the grave,
outside of Christ, were dwelt upon, and the fact that
eternal life is given on condition of faith in Christ
only, the Lord made plain.
I am glad to say that this Sr. Cookson passed away
reconciled, without the least struggle. She had only
reached the middle of her 22nd year. ‘Those from
whom she was separated, do not grieve like others
who have no hope; thanks te to the Lord for that.
Now in regard to our work hear at Waseca, I wish
to say a few words. As reported before our attend-
ance has been quite small from the beginning.” Yet
I am glad to report that five have already begun, and
others will, we hore, soon begin to keep the Sabbath
of the Lord.
We have thought of moving our tent this week, but
we see such evidences of the working of God’s Spirit,
that we have been obliged to put it off ; even individ-
uals who have not attended the meetings, are show-
ing a deep interest in the truth, both among Ger-
mans and English people. Surely the Lord will lead
out those people who are honest.
We have sold nearly 225 copies of the extra Sentinel
and 50 Signs per week for the last three weeks. We
hope they may awake some honest souls. At any
rate it affords a good opportunity to meet the people,
and in many cases present the truth to them.
We have had very bitter opposition. We have been
called so bad that the devil in hell refuses to have us.
That however does not make us feel bad at all, for if
that is so we are fully persuaded, the dear Lord will
take pity on us and take us into his kingdom,
We are all of good courage in the Lord.
J. J. GRAF.
MINNEAPOLIS.
WE moved our tent the 29th of July, as was stated
in our last report, nine blocks nearer the center of
the city, and pitched the tents on 21st St. and 10th
Ave. South.
The people around here are mostly Scandinavians
and appear friendly toward us.
We hold meetings every night except Mondays, and
the attendance has been very good from the first.
We have tried to set the truth before the people,
* plain and pointed, as it is in Jesus, -and we begin to
see fruit of our efforts. At present a goodly number
are interested. We trust that these dear souls may
make the right decision, and while we labor for them
we ask all the readers of the WORKER to remember
us and the work at the throne of grace. :
One interesting feature of our meetings, are the
Saturday night meetings, when we answer questions
that have been written and sent in.
The 9th of Sept. Eld. Eriksson leaves for the school -
at College View, and Eld. H. Johnson will take his
place in the tent, and the meetings. will continue as.
long as the weather will permit.
Yours in the Work, :
J. M. ERIKSSON,
F. JOHNSON,
G. HOFFMAN.
HUTCHINSON.
SINCE reading Fld. Allee’s article in the last
WORKER on our local Camp-meetings, I have thought
seriously of the question. How many will appreciate
these blessed privileges? Brethren and sisters, the
Lord says, “New light and power is descending upon
his people,” but in the same *‘Special testimony,’ he
tells us that many are “now dead.” Have you felt
the “new light and power?” Are you certain that
you have? It will not do to be uncertain. There is
too much at stake. In the days of Noah, ‘‘a multi-
tude at first apparently received the warnings of
Noah,” but as ‘‘the period of their probation was
drawing near its close,” they failed to endure the
trial,—Sp. of Proph. vol. 1, p. 71.
“*As the days of Noah were so shall also the com-
ing of the Son of man be.”
Brethren come to these meetings. Come to seek
God for this light and power. You will see by every
paper that the clouds are gathering closer about the
“little flock.” Let us not delay and thus give Satan
more time to invent means to persecute the people of
God. Let us arise, and in the power of God do our
part in closing this message, that we all may the
more quickly regain the kingdom.
CLARENCE SANTEE.
—————
MAHTOWA AND ATKINSON.
SINCE my report in the WORKER which should
have been headed Mahtowa instead of Barnum, I
have commenced meetings at Atkinson four miles
north of Mahtowa. I still hold an occasional service
at Mahtowa and am following up what interest has
developed there by personal work. ‘The interest at
Atkinson is much better than at any time at Mahto-
wa. Our attendance is not large as there is only a
small settlement of Americans in this vicinity. A
few attend regularly and give good attention to the
word.
I am of good courage in the work and hope to so
relate myself to the Lord that he can use me to for-
ward the work in this new field. :
Brethren remember us in your prayers.
M. A. WINCHELL. .
,
Dear WORKER: —
Last Sabbath and Sunday + was
spent with the brethren at Hewitt. The Lord was
present to bless our meeting together and the broth-
ers and sisters were much encouraged in the work of
the Lord. The Sabbath-school occupied quite a
prominent place in the instructions given, especially
was the early inculcation of” reverence for God and
his worship dwelt upon.
*