The meeting was opened by prayer by Elder J. W. Raymond. The chairman pressed a desire that the speakers endeavor to be brief in their remarks, in order that as many as possible might take part in the discussions.GCB May 25, 1909, page 139.9

Continuing the discussion of the subject considered in the previous meeting, that of “Religious Liberty Campaigns, and How to Conduct Them,” Elder W. A. Henning, secretary of the Religious Liberty Department of the Australasian Union Conference, read a paper in which he narrated the plans and methods which had been employed in the religious liberty work in Australia. In this work they had been quite successful in securing the publication of a number of religious liberty leaflets in some of the leading papers of the country,—in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, etc. He advocated the systematic distribution of our literature as an important factor in this work. As a result of distributing 75,000 religious liberty leaflets in Sydney, and 150,000 in Melbourne, efforts to secure additional municipal Sunday laws in these cities had been defeated. Public meetings, he said, should not be deferred until the last moment, and the circulating of petitions may be a means of great good; but he thought that personal effort would probably do more good than any other one means. Earnest effort, he said, should be made to enlist the co-operation of influential men and women in teaching the great principles of religious liberty. In all our campaign work we must be sure that our own hearts are filled with the great spirit of liberty.GCB May 25, 1909, page 139.10

Elder J. S. Wightman narrated some recent experience in campaign work in the State of Missouri, in which his wife had, by invitation, spoken twice before the members of the State legislature in the capitol building at Jefferson City. Her addresses were well received, and, from all reports, made a good impression.GCB May 25, 1909, page 139.11

Elder W. A. Westworth read some communications he had just received from the Southeastern Union Conference, stating that one of our brethren there had been arrested, tried, and convicted for chopping a little wood Sunday morning, with which to cook his breakfast. Elder Westworth said he represented what he chose to denominate “the black union;” that is, the union conference pictured on the Sunday-law map as all black, in consequence of all the States in this union having strict Sunday laws. He said they felt the need of some active campaign work in this field, and hoped to arrange soon for the distribution there of a large amount of religious liberty literature.GCB May 25, 1909, page 139.12

Elder H. G. Thurston, of Arizona, spoke of some experiences they have had in this territory recently over the question of Sunday legislation. Arizona, he said, was one of the few remaining portion of the United States which, as yet, has no Sunday law. This is still “white,” and he said by energetic efforts our brethren there intend to keep it white as long as possible.GCB May 25, 1909, page 139.13

Before closing, the chairman answered some questions which had been handed in touching the religious liberty work.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.1

MEDICAL MISSIONARY DEPARTMENT

WASe

Ninth Meeting, May 24, 8 A. M.

Dr. A. B. Olsen read a paper entitled, “Diet from a Scientific View-point.” After giving a brief summary of present knowledge relative to the chemical composition of foods, the doctor gave four reasons why we do not eat flesh food: 1 It is not necessary to take the life of animals; 2 there is a real and increasing danger from flesh food, owing to the fact that animal food is so generally diseased; 3 under the most favorable circumstances, meat from healthy animals, properly cared for, contains refuse which must be more or less deleterious to the system; 4 the vigorous lives of vegetarians and many endurance tests bear out the superiority of a non-meat diet.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.2

Milk, as delivered in our larger cities, is often the dirties food taken into the human stomach. If not known to be clean and wholesome, it should be Pasteurized or boiled.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.3

The objection to narcotics and stimulants is that they are not foods, that their only influence upon the body is that of poison. All artificial appetizers act as irritants, and disturb digestion. There is much more tendency to overeat than to under-eat. Fruits, nuts, and vegetables contain all the elements of food necessary for the nutrition of man.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.4

Dr. J. R. Leadsworth: In order to counteract the putrefaction which readily occurs in the large intestine as a result of a meat diet, sour-milk products are being used freely; but it is doubtful whether the lactic acid from these products reaches the large intestine; the best remedy is a dietary consisting more of grains, paste foods, and rice, with fruits, eliminating meats.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.5

Dr. W. S. Sadler: It is useless to have good digestion and good assimilation unless the system is provided with enough oxygen, through proper breathing. Until people breathe sufficiently, so that the body is supplied with a proper amount of oxygen, these people will have indigestion and other disorders. The body is like a furnace. Our food, like the fuel, may be carefully selected and well prepared; but unless a sufficient amount of oxygen is furnished, the energy stored up can not be made available in heat or power. Oxygen from the air we breathe burns up the poisons in the body, thus overcoming and preventing autointoxication. One may have a good diet and good digestive powers, but without physical exercise, and the fresh air which this demands, he will continue to have indigestion, autointoxication, and other similar disorders. I have lately been in contact with cases treated by proper breathing, and have been surprised at the results accomplished.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.6

Dr. Gardner told how infants suffering with indigestion resulting from an insufficient supply of oxygen have been quickly relieved by a proper supply of fresh air.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.7

Dr. David Paulson stated the fact, demonstrated by experiment, that a person engaged at hard mental labor requires no more food than a person doing no work at all. He recommended a very helpful book, “Scientific Nutrition Simplified,” by Dr. Brown, in which the results of recent discoveries along the line of digestion and nutrition are so presented as to be readily understood by the common people. It has been found that there is a separate gastric juice formed for each kind of food. This explains the benefit of following a simple diet; the body is not so greatly taxed in the process of digestion. Many digestive disorders can be cured by giving but one kind of food for a time. He stated also that blueberries are beneficial in some forms of indigestion, where other fruits can not be used.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.8

Dr. D. H. Kress deplored the lack of attention to dietetics in medical schools. Experiments have shown that at least one-third less food, with proper mastication, is better for the body than the usual amount consumed in the way it is usually eaten. A mistake is made in using too much super-cooked food. Appetizing food should be selected. Even good foods should be relished, if we are to receive from them the benefit we should. The body produces more active digestive juices when there is appetite. We must learn to relish foods that are good. As one has said, “Fix upon that which is right, and custom will make it delightful.”GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.9

J. A. Burden mentioned the fact that boiled milk, preserved fruit juices, dextrinized foods, and other foods changed from their natural state, seem to disagree with many persons.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.10

E. C. Widgery (of British Guiana) related his own experience as a result of following out the statement of one of our foreign missionaries, that the foods natural to the different countries seem to be the best suited to people living in such countries. He had followed a vegetarian diet, using no milk, eggs, or butter, but using in their place, milk from the coconut, and other natural products of the country. His health had been much better than it was fourteen years earlier in the same country, when such a diet was not adhered to.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.11

So lively an interest was manifested in the subject under discussion that it was voted to continue the question of diet in the next meeting.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.12

SABBATH-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

WASe

Fifth Meeting, May 24, 8 A. M.

As the former meeting adjourned without acting upon the resolution presented by the Committee on Reviews (as to length of time, and methods), this matter was called up for consideration.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.13

In the discussion much emphasis was given to the need for preparation on the part of the reviewer. The general review should consist of a brief and impressive presentation of the principal points of the lesson. All were in favor of the Worker giving such help as is practical in the matter of suggesting outline reviews.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.14

The regular topic of the day was “The Sabbath School Worker in Every School.” Miss Ella E. Merickel, the Sabbath-school secretary of Minnesota, presented a paper full of helpful suggestions: “The Sabbath School Worker in every school is, no doubt, a problem that has caused much thought and anxiety to every secretary. If the officers and teachers in our Sabbath-schools can only be aroused to realize that there is help for them in the Worker, that they can get from no other source, and help that they must have in order to make the Sabbath-school what it really ought to be, it will not be a hard matter to get them to take the Worker.”GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.15

Mrs. Anna E. Rambo, from New Jersey, led the discussion, and spoke of the four ways which are commonly used by our secretaries to increase the Worker list: 1 A constant knowledge of the Worker list; 2 correspondence with Sabbath-school officers; 3 use of sample copies, leaflets, etc.; 4 attention to the value of the Worker at conventions and other meetings.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.16

She stated that experience shows that when the secretary is vigilant along the lines suggested, success in placing the Worker in the schools is fairly certain.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.17

Miss Bessie E. Acton, from Ohio, attributed a great deal of the success in the schools to the helpful influence of the Worker. Through its influence the standard of qualifications of teachers is being raised.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.18

Mrs. Edith Cummings, from College View, Neb., was allowed five minutes in which to present the memory-verse cards which she has prepared for use in the children’s divisions. The questions asked, and the interest shown, proves that the memory-verse feature of our work is receiving attention. It is to be hoped that the interest will be deepened by what has been presented at this meeting.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.19

THE EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT

WASe

During the past few days the consideration of resolutions has continued in the council meetings of the Educational Department, the plan being to get these resolutions into the hands of the General Conference Committee on Plans and Finance before taking up the reading of papers. The resolutions themselves, those that are deemed worthy, will appear later in the Conference reports. The discussions have brought out many interesting thoughts, some of which are here given.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.20

On the subject of school gardens, some thought it of little use to undertake them unless the schools can be continued through the summer, when the gardens need most attention. But others were in favor of beginning, no matter what the circumstances may be. In some cities, where there is no land to be cultivated, good work has been done in beautifying the grounds and in raising plants in boxes. Thus the children learn to love the cultivation of the soil, and receive spiritual lessons of great value. Interesting experiences were related. One school realized a profit of $110 from its garden; another garden produced a profit of $45.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.21

In one school a class was started in woodwork; and the interest was so great that when the school board came to erect a permanent building, they provided a room for carpentry and another for sewing.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.22

The relation of our preparatory schools to the training-schools proved to be an interesting and vital question. On the one hand there is danger that the colleges will be loath to let go of preparatory work, and in consequence will think it necessary to maintain too large faculties; and on the other hand, there is danger that preparatory schools will overreach, and attempt to do work for which they are not prepared on account of meager facilities and limited teaching force. This will create difficulty in matching together the work of the two classes of schools. It was the prevailing opinion that it is wise to multiply strong intermediate schools, and to avoid the establishment of weak academies in the territory of training-schools.GCB May 25, 1909, page 140.23

The establishment of German intermediate schools was a subject which aroused much interest. The interest in education among the Germans is increasing. The German department of Union College has doubled in numbers. There is a strong desire to establish intermediate schools in Oklahoma, Kansas, and other localities where there are strong German churches. It was thought that these schools should begin with a low grade of work, adapted to the needs of the students, and build up as fast as possible. Thus more advanced pupils can be supplied to the German training-school.GCB May 25, 1909, page 141.1

DEVOTIONAL MEETING

Bible Study - IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD