EASTERN CANADIAN 
MESSENGER 
• 
Volume 24 �
OSHAWA, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 26, 1924 �
Number 8 
QUADRENNIAL REPORT OF HOME MISSION_ 
ARY SECRETARY 
The home missionary report does not re-
present the report of one man, or of one group 
of men or workers, but it is or should be a re-
cord of what the people are doing. We are 
convinced that the accompanying figures do 
not represent fully the activities of our laity. 
The reports have been compiled from such re-
cords as have been obtained by those in charge 
of this departmental work in the different con-
ferences, but with a general laxity in the matter 
of reporting we regret that the picture we 
have given of the Home Missionary Depart-
ment is not in all points as accurate as we 
would find pleasure in giving. It has at least 
the merit of being an underestimated summary, 
based on contact with the different fields, and 
a knowledge of what is actually being done, 
though lack of training or organization has 
-11p. 
interferred with regular reporting. 
The well-known statement of Sister White, 
that this work will never be finished until the 
people comprising our church membership unite 
their labors with those of the ministry in her-
alding to the world the message of a soon-
coming Saviour, loses none of its importance 
by repetition. The progress of the message 
in Eastern Canada is absolutely dependent 
upon well-directed, organized efforts to use 
the laity in every line of missionary endeavor. 
The salvation of our people depends upon it, 
and the salvation of their neighbors. Every 
member added to the church should be one 
more mighty factor in spreading the truth, and 
the responsibility to make him such rests with 
our evangelists and departmental leaders. 
During the past quadrennial period the av-
erage reporting membership has been 578. 
This figure represents those who have in va-
ried ways had some active part in the work, 
including participants in the Harvest Ingath-
ering campaigns. With many, solicitation in 
the annual campaign for missions is the limit 
of their endeavors. Such members can be 
drafted into line as all-the-year-around mis- 
sionary workers. That is our business. 
A thirty thousand increase in the number of 
papers sold this past period over the number 
sold during the previous period we attribute 
to the enthusiastic support given to our Ca-
nadian Watchman. Anticipating a like re-
ception to our Canadian edition of Present 
Truth we look forward to considerable increase 
in the amount of free literature distributed. 
Such a hope we believe is justified by the in-
crease of 73,000 copies given away as shown 
by comparison with that kind of work done 
in the four years, 1916-1919. 
We will refrain from further reference in 
detail to different items of the report. May 
it be that at this conference a larger vision will 
be granted us as workers of our duty in or-
ganizing and training our converts for definite 
work for God. More than this, may it be that 
the laity will be led into systematic service by 
our own consecrated and tireless examples in 
every line of home missionary endeavor. 
J. L. WILSON 
HEARD AT THE CONFERENCE 
" If God would grant me but one miracle I 
would ask that he grant me the miracle of 
being a good man." 
" We must take time to become acquainted 
with Jesus. He is the model for the preacher, 
the teacher, the home missionary, the medical 
missionary. Consider Him." 
" The disciples caught the secret of Jesus 
efficiency in service to mankind when they 
asked, ' Teach us to pray ! ' 
" There is only one voice that the dead can 
hear, the voice of the Son of God. There is 
but one voice the dead in sin can hear. It is 
the same, and He must speak through the min-
istry if men are to be saved through our ef-
forts." 
" There is no power in the world that can 
resist the influence of a consistent godly life, 
remoulded and remodelled after the pattern of 
Jesus Christ." 
2 �
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER 
" A holy life is our credentials. No refine-
ment, no training, no culture will take the place 
of a Christian character." 
" The strongest evidence we can bear to the 
people of Canada that Jesus Christ is the di-
vine Son of God is the harmony and unity that 
exists in the hearts of the believers." 
" While the world is in a tumult, while men's 
hearts are failing them for fear, we can ride 
triumphantly the storms, live above the strife, 
and push the chariot of truth along the high-
way to the kingdom of God." 
Arab Proverb : " We are masters of the 
words we don't speak, but the words we speak 
are our masters." 
" Sensitiveness is conceit set with a hair-
trigger." 
QUEBEC 
F. G. Lane, Pres. �
W. F. Wilson, Sec.-Treas. 
Office address 280 Villeneuve St., W., Montreal, Que. 
DEDICATION OF THE KINGSTON CHURCH 
God has signally blessed His people in King-
ston, Ontario, by providing them with a beau-
tiful and comfortable edifice in which to wor-
ship Him. Joy was brought to all our hearts 
on Sabbath, February 16, as we presented it 
before the Lord and dedicated it to His service. 
The Union Conference being in session here at 
the time, delegates from all parts of the field 
were present. 
Elder E. M. Chapman, from the Maritime 
Conference read the scripture lesson from 1 
Kings 8: 54-61, and truly the spirit of God 
filled the temple as of old, and the Holy Spirit 
came into our hearts with great power as we 
presented before Him another monument to 
witness for the truth. Elder F. G. Lane re-
lated briefly the history of the work in this 
city, showing that it had its beginning about 
twelve years ago through the efforts of a col-
porteur, after which Evangelist Johnston con-
ducted a public effort. About four years ago 
another effort was held by Evangelists Rich-
ards and Belleau. In 1921 the work was con-
tinued by Elders Barrett and Miller, after 
which Elder Joyce spent a year following up 
the interest. Last summer we visited another 
section of the city with a tent effort. These 
labors produced souls for Christ until at the 
present time there is a church membership of 
sixty. 
Elder McVagh made a few remarks on the 
privilege we have of bringing such edifices to 
God and offering them to Him for service, 
but stated that greater than this is the privi-
lege of presenting ourselves as living offerings, 
for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The 
temple of wood and stone will be destroyed, 
but if we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, 
we shall abide forever. We all solemnly knelt 
before God while Elder Young offered the de-
dicatory prayer. 
We purchased this church building, includ-
ing two organs, seats, and all equipment, from 
the Baptists, October, 1923, for the sum of 
$4000, a part of which has been paid, in addi-
tion to changes and repairs that have been 
made, amounting to approximately $800. The 
building seats two hundred people comfortably. 
It is equipped with a baptistry and heater 
which could not be replaced at a cost of $300. 
A new furnace for heating the building was in-
stalled two years ago. 
Following this service another solemn ordi-
nance was performed when two candidates were 
buried with their Lord in baptism, and rose to 
walk in newness of life with Him. Three others 
are keeping the Sabbath and will soon be ready 
for baptism. Two of these have just stepped 
out of the Roman Catholic church here, and 
their shining faces show clearly the love of 
Jesus in their hearts. In a little more than a 
year twenty-three souls have taken their stand 
with the people of God in Kingston. May God 
bless the united efforts of His people here and 
throughout the world field. 
W. B. LINDSAY 
MONTREAL FRENCH WORK 
The work of the French church is going en-
couragingly. The members of the church are 
trying to reach others with the message, and a 
number of interested ones have been found. 
We are praying that these may come fully into 
the truth. 
Sister Landry has faithfully continued her 
work with literature, and in doing so has gained 
access to a number of French families for Bible 
readings. Some of these we believe will prove 
to be sincere and honest of heart. 
A few days ago, I had an interesting visit 
with an old man who had come out of the 
Catholic church some years past, and being the 
only one in his village who was not a Catholic, 
was subjected to terrible persecution. He told 
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER �
3 
w 
• 
me he had wondered how the change in the day 
of rest had come about, and said that he had 
read in Luke 23: 53-24: 1 many times, but had 
never seen it as he does now since our talk on 
the subject. It would seem that one who had 
stood firm when opposers exploded dynamite 
under his house, killed his cow, threatened him 
with death, and burned to death his crippled 
daughter, would make a good, faithful Sabbath 
keeper. Pray for him, and for the other in-
terested ones, brethren and sisters. 
Many of our people know that we were ob-
liged to take down the French tabernacle last 
fall, so that the owners of the lot could build 
a house where it stood. We are now pur-
chasing a very desirable lot, on which to erect 
it again, and we hope to have a meeting-place 
of our own, and not be at the mercy of other 
people. The General Conference has helped us 
in buying the lot, and Elder Passebois has 
raised a good sum for the same purpose. We 
have been much encouraged by the fact that 
some who are not yet members of our church 
have given good offerings to help in our build-
ing work. 
We are rejoicing that the Watchman Press 
is issuing Present Truth in French, and believe 
it will be of great help in our work. We need 
some colporteurs to be steadily placing the 
French books in the homes of the people. 
While writing concerning the French work, 
I take this opportunity to ask our English 
people to circulate French literature among 
their neighbors. Very likely the French people 
who live in English communities will not be so 
closely watched, nor so prejudiced against the 
truth, as those who live in the wholly French 
sections. And it would bring joy to your 
litart to have them accept the truth. Try it, 
please. 
THE ALPINE TRAVELERS 
Three tourists were ascending the Alps. Af-
ter they had gone a considerable distance, and 
were getting nearer to the eternal snows, and 
thus the danger increased it was considered 
necessary to attach the company by ropes to 
one another and to the guides. But one of 
the tourists, an old traveler, was self-confident 
and self-reliant. He carried the doctrine of 
self-help too far, and refused to help his neigh-
bors. He fell down the precipice and lost his 
life. We often best help ourselves by helping 
others.—Selected. 
GIVE GOD THE TITHE 
" Here is another thing: God requires of us 
a tithe of that which he gives us. He calls for 
it. Have we surrendered to Him? Have we 
turned it over? Or have we neglected to do this? 
We will go on the ground of omission, not in-
tentional withholding. There may be plenty 
of that here this morning, but I want to ask 
you how do you expect a Penticostal blessing 
to come upon you while you are refusing to 
pass over to God his own. 
"God pours our income in on us because we 
need it ; we must live today and tomorrow, and 
next week. He gives it to us, and we take it, 
and forget the Giver, and just neglect. How 
can you expect God to come and put the seal 
of his approval and his Pentecostal blessing 
upon you when you neglect to remember Him? 
Have you done that this past year? You 
business men, you people with earning power, 
you young people, have you been thinking of 
God? 
" I remember our dear old church elder, who 
was a great help to me when I was a lad. I 
remember watching him. He had two com-
partments in his pocketbook ; one was his, and 
one was the Lord's. That was for the tithes. 
It was his rule always, when he got a dollar, to 
put ten cents in the Lord's side, faithfully. 
Why, when I saw that old man, gray with years 
working hard in the harvest field—I used to 
bind wheat with him—and when I saw him get 
his pay, and just take it and divide it, and 
put the tithe in the other side, he created con-
fidence in my heart, and had an influence upon 
me." 
(Quoted from a sermon given by Elder A. 
G. Daniells at the last General Conference.) 
F. G. LANE 
OBITUARY 
MACWATERS.—Nellie Turner-MacWaters was born 
November 30, 1883, in London, England. For a number 
of years she resided in Surrey where she was united 
in marriage to Patrick John MacWaters, on August 5, 
1917. Early Wednesday morning, February 13, 1924, 
she quietly fell asleep in Jesus at her late home in 
Walkerton, Ontario. Sister MacWaters lived close to 
her Master whom she served and we feel confident 
when the King shall come to claim His own we shall 
meet her on the sea of glass. Besides her husband, Pa-
trick John MacWaters, she leaves to mourn, her mother, 
three sisters and four brothers. Reverend Wm. H. 
Burgess, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, assisted, 
and conducted the services at the grave. Words of 
comfort were spoken from John 11 : 25. 
S. DONALDSON 
E. W. THURBER 
4 �
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER 
ONTARIO 
D. J. C. Barrett, Pres. Jeannette Donaldson, Sec.-Treas. 
Office address �
3 Awde St., Toronto 
ONTARIO CONFERENCE S. D. A. 
Statement of Tithe and Mission Offerings 
received during January 1924 
Church 
Tithe 
Missions 
Belleville �
$ �
10.72 
$ �
4.95 
Brantford �
121.19 
19.13 
Chatham 
6.77 
Dresden 
20.85 
7.40 
Hamilton 
73.98 
44.10 
Iroquois 
31.35 
5.75 
Lindsay 
15.64 
21.00 
Lynden 
6.65 
10.93 
Oshawa City 
146.25 
61.26 
Oshawa College 
173.49 
105.59 
Owen Sound 
13.00 
4.20 
Paris 
18.87 
8.73 
Picton 
8.50 
2.50 
Port Hope & Cobourg 
7.70 
1.05 
Sault Ste Marie 
17.58 
11.30 
St. Catharines 
24.50 
20.25 
St. Thomas 
36.60 
23.72 
Selton 
11.10 
Toronto 
313.16 
114.53 
Windsor 
86.36 
24.53 
Conference & Isolated 505.11 
278.31 
$ 1,631.50 
$ 786.90 
JEANNETTE H. DONALDSON, Sec'y-Treas. 
PREPARING FOR SERVICE 
If you should walk into the Tract Society 
stockroom in the Toronto Church about 10:00 
a.m. on a Sunday morning, you would find your-
self looking into the faces of a small band of 
earnest workers. These are colporteur-evan-
gelists or prospective colporteurs. 
They gather in this room from week to week 
to gain greater understanding_ of ways and 
means to carry on this soul-saving work and to 
seek closer communion with the Leader of this 
great movement. Brother Thumwood, Ontar-
io Field Missionary Secretary, has charge of 
this gathering. 
Besides seeking increased efficiency these 
men and women are seeking and praying for 
additions to their ranks for they have read that 
where there is one, there should be one hundred 
canvassers. 
Brothers and sisters, are you aware that 
legislation is being sought, forbidding door-to 
door selling? Let us work while it is day. 
Meditate well this fact that never again will 
the time be so favorable as now to start out 
in this God-empowered, soul-saving work. Will 
you pray over this matter NOW? It may be 
too late to-morrow. 
In Toronto there is the nucleus of a good, 
staunch band of canvassing-evangelists. Will 
you join us? If interested write to the On-
tario Tract Society, 3 Awde Street, Toronto, 
Ontario. 
IT CAN BE DONE ! 
P. E. VAN NESS, 
36 Butterworth Avenue, 
Toronto, Ontario. 
MARITIME 
F. W. Stray, Pres. �
Frank Vansickle, Sec.-Treas. 
Office address �
Memramcook, N. B. 
WWWWS"."0 
AT MARITIME 
In a recent letter from our former president, 
Elder J. L. Wilson, he mentioned the fact that 
he had not seen any news in the MESSENGER 
for some time from Maritime Academy. Doubt-
less others would like to know how the school 
is getting along this winter, so we take this 
opportunity to pass on some word relative to 
our work. 
School began this year with twenty students. 
Our beginnings are always extremely small. 
Others came in so that our enrolment has been 
about thirty all the time. There has been 
more coming and going this year than during 
any year since my connection with the school. 
If all had remained the attendance would have 
been about the same as last year, thirty-five. 
The most thorough canvassing for students 
was done this year, but conditions in this con-
ference make it hard for our boys and girls 
to get to school. However, we have as many 
students in the home as usual, the smaller en-
rolment resulting from fewer students residing 
in the vicinity of the school. The bbys' dor-
mitory is filled and we have been forced to use 
one of our class rooms for a student's room. 
We can always find room for one more, so if 
another boy should come we would make room 
for him. We could easily accommodate six 
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER �
5 
more girls who would be a welcome addition 
to the school family. 
Harvest Ingathering was an interesting cam-
paign this year. Automobiles were used to 
reach some towns at least fifty miles away. 
Despite all the car troubles that developed, the 
goal was reached, the students enjoying the 
campaign more than usual. We hope to have 
another campaign when the weather will permit, 
to raise funds to pay for a new electric wash-
ing machine which is now doing excellent serv-
ice for the school. It is especially appreciated 
when we have so few girls. 
The Week of Prayer was a time of refresh-
ing for all. Elder Stray was with us part 
of the time. While results were not as evident 
as they have perhaps been on other occasions 
of this kind, since then the condition prevail-
ing indicates that a permanent work was done 
in several lives. Most of our students make a 
profession. With us the Week of Prayer is 
more of a time of reconsecration. However, 
there were some who made a start for the first 
time, and there are others for whom we are 
praying. We hope to see them take their stand 
before the close of school. 
Most of our students remained at the school 
during the holidays. It was a pleasant time 
for all. The time was used in various ways, 
and all enjoyed the rest from school work. 
So far the winter has been very mild, as com-
pared with the weather of last year. There 
has been one cold spell, lasting two days when 
the thermometer registered twenty-four below 
zero, and the wind varied from thirty to forty 
miles an hour. As the school is situated where 
we get every wind that blows it was surprising 
that the boys who were firing kept the building 
as warm as they did. We are using our second 
forty-ton car of coal, and hope that one more 
car will put us through the school year. Last 
year we used four cars of coal and consider-
able wood. 
So far we have not manufactured any wood-
enware, but have our machines in readiness for 
work. We have done our own repairing on the 
planer and moulder, and the gas engine which 
drives them. We hope to be able to turn out 
enough material when it gets warmer to test 
out our territory for woodworking products. 
Just at present we are getting things in 
readiness for leaving for the Union Conference 
session. This we expect to be a time of refresh-
ing and planning. Our school board meeting 
will be held at Kingston, while the Maritime 
workers are gathered there. 
This directs our thoughts to next year. It 
is not a moment too early for the young people 
in our conference to begin planning to attend 
school next fall. The boy or girl who plans 
usually gets there. In many cases these plans 
must be carried to the parents for counsel. We 
urge the young people to enlist the interest of 
their parents, and the parents should encourage 
.the children in their hopes and plans to secure 
a Christian education. It will be necessary 
for you to take another councillor, the Father 
in Heaven. God wants every boy and girl to 
get a Christian education, and will help you. 
He was a source of help during six years of 
training in my life, but it was necessary to lay 
some plans and it was hard work to carry them 
out, but as much good was derived from the 
efforts put forth to secure the education, as 
was reaped from the training itself. There 
are as many ways to earn your way through 
school as there are boys and girls to do the 
earning. Plan out your work, and then work 
out your plan. Will you not ask God to-
night as you kneel for your evening prayer to 
help you develop your plan? Try it. 
In closing I would like to thank the parents 
for doing their best to be prompt with re-
mittances, and our Heavenly Father for His 
tender care over us. 
I. A. ARMSTRONG 
THE HOME THE FIRST SCHOOL 
The subject under discussion is one of great 
importance to parents, both for the welfare of 
parents and child. Too often this subject is 
regarded lightly by those it should interest and 
concern most. Parents are responsible for the 
training of the child's mind in its earliest de-
velopment. It is the work of the church school 
and teacher to carry on this training begun in 
the home by the parents. 
The first home school of which we have any 
extended account was that of Abraham. This 
scripture declares : " For I know him that he 
will command his household after him." In 
these words are enfolded the first and great 
essentials, that of obedience. This require-
ment is necessary in the home, in the school, 
and in the world. God blessed Abraham be-
cause of his faith and obedience. God will 
bless all such parents and children in the world 
to-day. 
In patriarchal times, the father exercised 
6 �
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER 
an influence over his family, which continued 
even after they (the children) had established 
homes of their own. By this method the fa-
mily was cemented together and kept from the 
contaminating influence around them. This 
was ever the Lord's plan to keep his people 
from idolatry. We have to pass through va-
rious circumstances in order to do this. Abra-
ham was called to leave home, kindred and 
friends, and go into a strange land. 
Children should be taught that obedience in 
the home is not servile, but that the daily round 
of home duties is a school in which to train for 
service. Only as children are brought to re-
alize the responsibility of the home life can 
they ever be fitted for a more responsible place 
in the Lord's great work of saving souls. Pa-
rents, do you want your children to become 
Soul Winners ? The greatest responsibility 
rests with you. 
In the training of the child the will should 
not be broken. This applies to teachers as 
well as parents. In this degenerated age the 
child requires all the will-power he has. While 
they are young their minds are as plastic clay. 
With a kind, gentle, yet firm hand parents and 
instructors should by prayer and earnest ef-
forts beautifully shape the vessels after the di-
vine similitude. What a wonderful field of 
work and effort is here for parents ! Mrs. E. 
G. White has told us that the " training of the 
minds of the youth is the nicest kind of work," 
meaning the most tender and delicate ; and 
true the most delicate touch is needed lest a 
dent will be made in the vessel which will be 
hard to remove. Children are the heritage of 
the Lord given to us to train for His kingdom. 
Is there a greater work for parents and teach-
ers to do? 
Parents should study their children in order 
to know what lessons to teach. Each one is 
a component part of the parent, and no two 
are alike, yet each possessing some charac-
teristic of his parents. Parents, it is your 
duty to guide their thought and actions heaven-
ward. If parents have not failed to do this, 
the work of teachers who continue this mould-
ing is greatly lessened. 
Prominent men of the world whose lives have 
come down to us as examples listened to the ten-
der, careful teaching of mother and father. The 
lives of Moses, Timothy, and Jesus are past 
representatives of the value of Home school. 
Again Mrs. White tells us the first and most 
important education and development of the 
mind should be obtained in the home. Parents 
you need to study in order to impart life-giving 
knowledge to the youth. Let home be the first 
school of your children. 
Heaven gives the strength and skill, 
To carefully train the minds and will 
Of those placed under your care. 
G. HUBLEY 
GERMAN MISERY 
(Continued from last week) 
Owing to this furious depreciation of the 
currency many business houses are now pay-
ing the weekly wages, under pressure of the 
organizations of employees, in two instalments. 
But in a good many cases, especially with 
smaller dealers, they are still paid weekly. All 
classes of society suffer from the same cala-
mity. Thus I happened to be in two different 
places when the wages for the closing week were 
paid, aggregating to 5,000,000,000,000 marks. 
In the one case it was an employee in a de-
partment store and in the other a high official 
in the Foreign Office. 
When in conversation with the last named 
gentleman on the misery in Germany I sug-
gested : " Well, you government officials are 
certainly well off from what I hear and have 
little to suffer as compared to the mass of the 
people." He showed me his credit note that was 
lying on his desk just received from the trea-
sury, saying : " Here are my wages for the 
last week. It is just five billions including 
one billion only in stable bonds amounting to 
$1.50. This really ,represents my earnings 
for the whole week. The balance may be worth 
nothing by to-morrow. So you can judge for 
yourself whether we are not all in the same 
boat. And, mind you, I am a privy-councillor 
of the highest rank, with long service abroad 
and classified in No. 13, which is our highest 
wage scale." Then reaching into his pocket, 
he showed me the money he had received a 
week ago. " This," he continued, " is practi-
cally worth nothing to-day. The paper mark 
has depreciated so fast that I can do absolutely 
nothing with it now." Fortunately for him 
he was not entirely dependent on his wages. 
Generally speaking wages now equal about 
one third of pre-war rates when converted 
theoretically into gold marks on the day of 
payment, while prices are about four times as 
high as in times of peace. But the wages are 
not paid in stable currency but in bad paper 
 
 
 
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER �
7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
which may lose half its value within 24 hours, 
so that the discrepency will be much greater 
by the end of the week when the whole earnings 
may have dwindled down to nothing if kept at 
home. 
Hence it is the policy of the house-wife to 
invest the money immediately on receipt in 
food-stuffs or anything she can get hold of. 
As a friend just writes me : " We all here live 
a nonsensical and really foolish life. One does 
not buy what he needs, but what he chances to 
find available for sale and then when we have it 
we dispose of it just as foolishly. This " dol-
laritis " and the eternal fight with the paper 
mark is sapping our strength and wears us 
out mentally and morally." Women will rush 
for the stores to get ‘` wertbestandige ware," 
goods that keep their value. This mad race 
is causing them much heart-ache. The house-
wife certainly has the poorest lot at present. 
Though she has the reputation as the proverb 
goes of " baking pygmies out of dirt " (Aus 
Dreck Zwerge backen), that is to make a good 
meal out of nothing, this condition of things is 
far beyond her abilities. 
It is even most difficult to buy something for 
your money. Staple goods such as potatoes, 
flour, sugar, fat, etc., are issued in small quan-
tities only and often at places by dealers who 
have had good luck in purchasing some stock. 
It is something common to find long files in 
front of a shop hours before it opens. If there 
is anything for sale, women will keep the secret 
to themselves. If you meet some people stand-
ing file and inquire of them: "What do they sell 
here?" you will invariably get the answer : "We 
don't know." But the good housewife .is not 
easily turned away as she justly reasons within 
herself that there must be something doing, 
otherwise they would not stand here waiting 
and so she joins the procession often, however, 
to be disappointed to find that the little stock 
is sold out by the time her turn comes. 
But people cannot invest all their earnings 
in goods, they must keep some ready cash for 
current bills such as taxes, water, gas, elec-
tricity and the like. which are paid on the gold 
basis issued the day when they are presented 
while the wages which have been laid aside for 
this purpose have greatly lost in value. 
Hence strictest economy is being practised in 
the homes and very many households are re-
turning to medieval customs when the pine 
splinter was in use. Electric bulbs, elaborate 
gas chandeliers and the large petroleum lamps 
will soon become articles of ornament rather 
than of practical worth. Little night-lamps 
are taking the place of these modern furnitures 
and where none are found, having long been 
discarded, they are improvised from small me-
dicine bottles with a wick run through the 
narrow neck reaching down into the oil. The 
stove is heated on Sundays and on other special 
occasions only, provided the fuel can be se-
cured. 
The misery resulting from this state of 
things is certainly beyond description and is 
growing into alarming proportions that must, 
before long, reap a gruesome harvest. Mil-
lions are facing starvation this winter as the 
great army of unemployed is steadily growing 
many of the large business houses having re-
duced their staff to one third and less. Many 
thousands have been able to maintain them-
selves through the generous help extended to 
them by relatives and friends living abroad, 
especially in America, whence many a dollar 
has travelled across the seas to cheer hearts. 
Benevolent societies are at work increasing 
their efforts to cope if possible, with the grow-
ing needs. The Salvation Army is operating 
14 ambulant field-kitchens in the city of Berlin 
alone, their stations being published in the 
paper on a chart so that people are aided in 
finding a place in their neighbourhood where 
they can eat a substantial meal at reduced 
prices. 
It is a fearful situation that is hardly im-
aginable by those far removed from this scene 
of misery when living under more normal and 
stable conditions. Sickness and disease is 
spreading as a result of continual under-feed-
ing and of the mental strain caused by the race 
with the paper mark and the great effort to 
secure some of the necessities of life. People 
are haunted in their dreams at night by the 
long strings of figures, the milliards and billions 
which they have been manipulating during the 
day. Everybody complains of it and many 
clerks in the larger stores and bank officials 
are wont to suffer sudden breakdown in the 
midst of their work as their brain cannot stand 
the pressure brought to bear on it by these 
complicated daily calculations. 
This must be especially h'ard on old people 
not accustomed to deal with such figures and 
often there is even something comical about it 
as revealed in the case of an old lady. On 
entering a shop to buy some article she was 
asked by the clerk : " Well Mother, you must 
8 �
EASTERN CANADIAN MESSENGER 
Eastern Canadian Messenger 
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 
EASTERN CANADIAN UNION CONFERENCE OF 
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS 
Entered as second-class matter. Price one dollar a 
year in advance. 
be getting old these days. I wonder how old 
you are already?" to which the good mother 
replied: " Seventy milliards," evidently con-
fused in her mind in trying to grasp the sums 
of money she must learn to handle in her old 
age. 
Berlin, November 1923. 
THE FIRESIDE CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL 
A New Course in Testimonies 
A course in Spirit of Prophecy has just been 
prepared for the Fireside by the compiler of 
Outline Studies from the Testimonies." Hun-
dreds of our people should sieze the oppor-
tunity of getting acquainted with the messages 
of God to this people at this time. 
There are twenty lessons in the course. Aca-
demic credit, one-half unit. Cost of tuition 
and matriculation fee, $9.10 cash; to former 
students of the F. C. S., $8.10. Special rates 
by instalments. Enroll today. 
Address : 
Fireside Correspondence School, 
Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. 
Office Address 
Miss Amy Frank 
Oshawa, Ont. 
�
 Editor 
REPORT OF HOME MISSONARY WORK 
Eastern Canadian Union Conference 
Items 
1920 
1921 
1922 
1923 
1920-23 
Membership of Churches 
1632 
1607 
1693 
1682 
1654 
Number Reporting 
518 
731 
688 
356 
578 
Letters written 
1982 
3254 
2133 
1498 
9067 
Letters received 
646 
1416 
839 
887 
3788 
Missionary visits 
3596 
10867 
6495 
4438 
25396 
Bible Readings & Cottage Meet. �
837 
1754 
971 
797 
4359 
Sub. for Periodicals 
462 
1249 
473 
408 
2592 
Papers sold 
17204 
31331 
17219 
10223 
75977 
Papers Mailed & given away 
38454 
75251 
53571 
86497 
253773 
Books sold 
9310 
4689 
5015 
4694 
23708 
Books Lent & given 
1928 
2706 
2061 
2313 
9008 
Tracts sold 
1269 
720 
1085 
126 
3200 
Tracts lent and given 
57288 
31879 
27809 
21252 
138228 
Hours Christian help work 
5446 
22509 
10479 
7650 
46084 
Articles Clothing given 
3186 
3612 
3016 
2662 
12476 
Number of meals given 
2726 
5521 
3674 
2814 
14835 
Treatments given 
553 
1215 
746 
509 
3023 
Signers to Temp. Pledge 
21 
13 
20 
20 
74 
Offerings for Home Missions $503.30 
$678.23 
$554.51 
$482.48 
$2,218.52 
Number Conversions 
15 
66 
36 
8 
125 
Name 
COLPORTEUR REPORT MARITIME CONFERENCE 
Month Ending January 31, 1924 
Book �Hours �
Orders �
Value �Helps 
Total Value 
Delivery 
C. A. �
Cole 
H.P. 
82 
10 
67.25 
6.85 
74.10 
67.25 
W .Hayward 
O.D. 
41 
5 
36.00 
3.70 
39.70 
3.70 
S. Findell 
G.C. 
55 
14 
80.00 
80.00 
W. Young 
W.C. 
26.50 
26.50 
Totals 
178 
29 
209.75 
10.55 
220.30 
70.95 
Magazines 
Mrs. Cummings 
C.W. 
200 
50.00 
50.00 
50.00 
Mrs. Fletcher 
C.W. 
200 
50.00 
50.00 
50.00 
Mrs. J. Smith 
C.W. 
400 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
Totals 
178 
829 
409.75 
10.55 
420.30 
270.95