J. H. KELLOGG
IT is not the amount we eat that gives us strength, but the amount digested. any quantity of food may be taken into the stomach, but it will not benefit us unless it is thoroughly digested. the larger the meal, the more harmful if it is undigested; for the undigested part simply ferments and decays, and is converted into poisonous matters to be expelled from the system by the liver and kidneys. So it is better to eat less and masticate well, allowing the food to be acted upon by the saliva, by which it is prepared for more complete digestion. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.8
The benefit derived from food does not depend so much on the quantity eaten as on its thorough digestion, nor the gratification of taste so much on the amount of food swallowed as on the length of time it remains in the mouth. — Christian Temperance, 51. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.9
Here is a word upon the digestive process in the stomach:— GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.10
The more liquid there is taken into the stomach with the meals, the more difficult it is for the food to digest, for the liquid must first be absorbed...... Ice-water or iced lemonade taken with meals, will arrest digestion until the system has imparted sufficient warmth to the stomach to enable it to take up its work again. — Christian Temperance, 51. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.11
I do not approve of eating much cold food, for the reason that vitality must be drawn from the system to warm the food until it becomes of the same temperature as the stomach, before the work of digestion can be carried on. — Testimonies for the Church 2:603. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.12
The temperature of the human stomach must be 100 for the food to digest. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.13
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Many have misinterpreted health reform, and have received perverted ideas as to what constitutes right living. Some honestly think that a proper dietary consists largely of porridge. To eat largely of porridge would not insure health to the digestive organs because it is too much like a liquid. — Youth’s Instructor, May 3, 1894. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.14
A gentleman some time ago visited a large distillery in New York. He noticed that in connection with the distillery a large dairy was kept, and the cows were fed upon the mash or residue from the corn and rye used in making whiskey. The cows gave very large quantities of milk; but it was found upon examination that they had lost almost all their teeth, and most of them had dyspepsia. Soft foods are not the best for those who are suffering from dyspepsia. I have cured many cases of indigestion by simply telling the patient to eat dry food. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.15
A great many have wrong ideas of what health reform is. A while ago I met a brother who was thin and pale, his skin was a bad color, and his eyes were bad; and I said to him, “What is the matter?” He said there was nothing the matter. I said to him: “I think there is. Your hands are cold, your eyes are sunken and dull, your skin is a bad color, and you are very thin; there must be something the matter.” Then he said, “Well, doctor, I am trying to live out ‘health reform.’” That is about the idea that some have had of health reform; and it does a great injury to the cause of health reform. Health reform brings good health. It brings strong muscles, good digestion, a clear head. Health reform means pure food in proper quantities, rightly cooked, thoroughly masticated, and properly digested. I have met, I am sure, over a hundred people who have said, “O, I have tried ‘health reform’ and it don’t agree with me.” You might as well say, “I have tried fresh air, and it don’t agree with me;” or “I have tried pure water, and it don’t agree with me.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.1
In some communities there is a very strong feeling against health reform. You touch them upon that point, and there seems to be a feeling come over them that you are going to try to do something to injure them. they have gotten wrong ideas of the subject entirely. It reminds me of a case I heard of in England, which Elder Loughborough told me about. He mentioned the use of oatmeal to a friend of his, as a very excellent thing. the friend thought he would try it. After a few months the brother saw him, and in the course of the conversation, happened to think about recommending the use of oatmeal, and asked him how he liked it. He said, “O, very well, but my wife thinks it would be better if it were cooked. Do you think it would be proper to cook it?” GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.2
And that illustrates very well the ideas and practices of some of our people in regard to the principles of health reform. But if all would simply take what has been given us through Sister White upon the subject, and practice it, there would be no such absurd ideas maintained as many now have. It has all been written out very plain, most of it for many years; but many have not studied it, and, therefore, have not appreciated it. If the people will put these simple statements into actual practice, there would be no complaints that “health reform is a failure.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.3
Here is a point from a personal testimony to one who had poor digestion:— GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.4
Taken in liquid state, your food would not give health, vigor, or tone to the system, but when you change this habit, and eat more solids and less liquids, your stomach will feel disturbed. Notwithstanding, you should not yield the point. You should educate the stomach to bear a more solid diet. — Test., vol. 3, p.74. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.5
You see the stomach can be educated. It may seem to be more uncomfortable when it has proper food than when you use that which is hurtful. the stomach gets used to being whipped. It is like a man who smokes tobacco. He feels exceedingly uncomfortable when he breathes air that has not been filtered through a cigar. When the stomach has been scorched and burned with spices, pepper-sauce, mustard, and the like, it often cannot appreciate proper treatment until it is educated to it. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.6
A while ago a man came into my office with his back all sore and blistered. I said to him, “You have been having your back blistered, haven’t you?” He said he should think he had; that they had put fly-blister, and different kinds of blisters upon his back, and rubbed croton oil upon it until none of these were effective, and finally burnt it with a hot iron, to raise a blister. this only illustrates how nature tries to adapt herself to whatever treatment she receives, and that she can be trained to endure for a time, most barbarous treatment. This man’s back was relieved, under proper treatment, and soon came to respond to the simple treatment of fomentation. So the abused stomach can be trained to a proper course of living, although you may not feel as comfortable at first as when eating after the old ways. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.7
If we would have good health, we should avoid eating vegetables and fruit at the same meal. if the stomach is feeble, there will be distress. The brain will be confused and unable to put forth metal effort. Have fruit at one meal, and vegetables at the next. — Youth’s Instructor, May 31, 1894. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.8
I gave you the reason yesterday why this is injurious. the acid of the fruit prevents the digestion of the vegetables in some stomachs. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.9
Those who are excited, anxious, and in a hurry would do well not to eat until they have found rest or relief, for the vital powers already taxed cannot supply the necessary digestive fluids. — “Christian Temperance”, p.52. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.10
The truth of this was well illustrated by the case of a man whom I advised to use milk. He said, “Doctor, I cannot eat milk. I fear I would not live till morning.” I inquired why he was so much afraid of using milk. He then told me that the last time he took any milk was one night when he came home late, and being very tired and hungry, went to the pantry and drank about three pints of milk. He then went to bed and slept till about one o’clock and was awakened with severe pain in the stomach. He soon felt something in his throat, and reaching down he was able to withdraw the milk from his stomach in the form of a tough curd. As quoted above, the organs were unable to furnish the digestive fluids, and the milk simply formed a hard, solid curd. GCB February 11, 1895, page 90.11
I might say in this connection, Do not drink milk. It should always be chewed. It should be eaten with something hard. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.1
The Liver. — I want to give you a little talk in regard to the work of the liver. I am not trying to give you any systematic course upon digestion. I can simply give a few suggestions here and there, hoping to get you so much interested in these subjects that you will study them up yourselves. the liver stand between us and death. it is a very narrow line which at the liver divides between life and death. It is one of the most interesting organs of the body. Various organs are lacking in different animals; but all animals have a liver, except, perhaps, some of the very lowest. Some animals have no stomach, others no kidneys or spleen, and still others can live when their lungs are removed, but all have livers. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.2
The reason the liver is so important is that it has so many important things to do. In the first place, it secretes the bile. this acts upon the food as soon as it leaves the stomach, performing one of the most important functions in the process of digestion. If the food should be thrown into the system without the action of the secretions of the liver, it would poison the body. The circulation is arranged in such a way that the blood passes to the liver to be purified of poisons before it passes into the general circulation. When the blood is first formed from the food, it is not fit to pass into the tissues of the body. So it passes to the liver to be purified. the liver takes the poison from the blood and stores it up, unless there should be such quantities that it could not take care of them; then they must go into the blood, and the person becomes bilious, and perhaps gets Bright’s disease. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.3
There are poisons forming all the time in the body, from the use of the various organs. The using of the brain and the muscles form poisons, and the liver stands ready to take them. In every little drop of blood there are millions of blood corpuscles, and in the body there are ten pounds of blood. These corpuscles are dying all the while. One corpuscle only lives about six weeks; so you see there are millions of them dying every moment, and the liver is a great cemetery where they are buried. But it makes good use of these dead corpuscles. Not a particle is wasted. In Chicago and other large cities, there are men who go about the city and gather up all the dead dogs, and cats, and horses, etc. which they can find, and take them to a place where the whole animal is rendered and utilized for some purpose or another. The skin is used for leather, the bones for bone-black, the flesh for fertilizer, the fat for soap, the hoofs for glue, etc. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.4
So the liver converts into some use all the little dead corpuscles buried in it. the coloring matter is saved for the hair and the eyes, the potash for bile, which thus helps to digest the fats. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.5
A very important part of digestion is done by the liver. The starch, which has been converted into sugar by the saliva and gastric juice, is converted back into starch by the liver. Instead of this being a needless process, it is a wise provision which natures makes for future needs. Just as starch is put into the grain of wheat or kernel of corn for the little plant to live on by and by, so the liver stores up food in the form of starch and doles it out to the system from hour to hour to apply necessary heat and force. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.6
Another important work which the liver does in protecting the body is to store up metallic poisons, such as lead, zinc, arsenic, antimony, iron, mercury, etc. When taken into the body, these substance are captured by the liver and held back from entering the system at large, so that unless taken in very large quantities, the body is protected from their poisonous influence. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.7
Lastly, I wish to mention another function of the liver, the most important of all, whereby it protects the body from the constantly impending danger of poisoning; namely, its antiseptic property, by means of which it destroys organic poisons — nicotine, the poison of tobacco, strychnia, and vegetable drugs of all sorts being largely destroyed by the liver. This is the reason why only half so large a dose is required if morphia is administered hypodermically as when taken by the stomach. When taken by the stomach, the liver destroys half. The same is true with reference to poisons produced in the stomach and intestines. Decomposition taking place in the alimentary canal is the chief source of the poisons dangerous to life, against which we are protected by the liver. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.8
In many stomachs the food habitually sours, sometimes actually decays, or rots, and becomes very poisonous. It becomes so bad you can even smell it in the breath. The tongue in such cases is covered with germs, which if planted upon a potato, would soon cover it, and have the same bad smell as the breath. Only think of it! The tongue has about six square inches of surface. The same state of things exists all the way down, over several square feet of surface. See what a state of things the bad breath and coated tongue indicate, and what a work the liver has to do to save the life of a person in such a state as this. A bilious man is intoxicated! He is in a condition similar to that of the drunken man. An intoxicated man is simply a poisoned man; and so is the man with the bad breath and the coated tongue. The liver could not destroy all the poison that had been taken into the stomach or formed there, and it has simply passed out into the blood. GCB February 11, 1895, page 91.9
We may take food that is already poisonous, such as cheese, for instance. A very small piece of cheese contains millions of germs and germ poisons. It is simply decayed milk. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.1
But says one, “I have eaten cheese all my life, and it never hurt me.” If you have not been able to notice the injurious effects of it, it is because your liver has been able to destroy the poison. These injurious practices may sometimes be carried on for a long time, but there comes a time by and by when the over-worked system fails, and the health is gone. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.2
[A chart was exhibited before the delegates, representing the condition of the chemical processes of stomach digestion, as determined by exact chemical analysis of the stomach fluid obtained after a test breakfast, based upon the study of the fluids of over 4000 stomachs.] GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.3
By the aid of these investigations many scientific facts have been revealed. We are able to learn with certainty the exact condition of the sufferer from indigestion, and to prescribe the proper treatment and dietary. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.4
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ON Thursday afternoon the subject of the missionary paper was taken up. elder Olsen spoke in substance as follows:— GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.5
We have in the last few days given some thought to the circulation of our books, large and small, and I thought we would this afternoon bring out some thoughts that we have had under consideration concerning our missionary paper in this country. We were quite desirous to have new plans placed in operation with the beginning of 1895, but as the General Conference was so close at hand, where we could have a general representation of our brethren from all parts of the field, we thought it best to let it rest until the present time. From time to time we have been confronted with the question of a cheaper missionary paper; a paper that could be used much more freely than we use the Signs of the Times on account of its price, and it occurred to us that the Signs of the Times could be made just such a paper. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.6
In the first place, it did not seem to me that it would be proper to start another weekly journal, for if we did, it would crowd out something and be an injury in some particulars, where it might be a benefit in others. I will state the idea we have in our minds, and then we shall give an opportunity for the brethren here to express themselves on the subject and if it be thought proper, the Conference can make arrangements to put such an enterprise into operation. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.7
First, it has occurred to me that at present there is serious inactivity among a large proportion of our churches. I may be wrong in this impression but that is the way it appears to me. I do not say that nothing is being done; there are a few very faithful workers, but there are not nearly as many people taking part in active work as there should be. Circumstances change somewhat, and it is our duty and our privilege to keep pace and adjust ourselves to the situation as we find it. This is more of a newspaper age than anything we have ever had before and everything is moving with wonderful rapidity everywhere. At such a time as this, Seventh-day Adventists might circulate one hundred thousand copies of a paper per week, just as well as not. Just think of the large number of workers that we have and if our force were utilized and organized as it might be, we would not stop at a hundred thousand. But you say, We cannot do that unless we get a cheaper paper. that is so; I admit that. We have had in mind to make the Signs of the Times such a paper. first, to reduce its regular subscription price to $1.00 per year to begin with, and retain its present size. It is none too large, but reduce its price to $1.00 a year. Secondly, to offer inducements for large clubs, say 60 or 65 cents for a club of one hundred or more; for a club of five hundred or more, fifty or fifty-five cents, and for a club of a thousand or more, forty-five cents. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.8
Of course these figures are only approximate. On certain conditions the plan would be practicable. First, we should have to have a very large list. We should have a list of one hundred thousand copies. Secondly, we should think it advisable to put in a page or two of proper advertisements. I am aware that there has been some prejudice among our brethren with reference to that, but really, I cannot see where there is any serious evil in the matter. GCB February 11, 1895, page 92.9
I have been in correspondence with the brethren of the Pacific Press and have submitted the proposition that they turn over the Signs of the Times to the General Conference, and if that could be done, it was our idea to make it such a paper. Their response was favorable, and I am satisfied that we shall be able to make arrangements whereby this plan may be carried into effect if it is thought to be feasible by the Conference. I am not in favor of working with a “boom.” Sooner or later a boom always has a reaction. Those to whom I have talked about the matter were in favor of it. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.1
By placing the paper at such a price, it opens the way for our churches to take large clubs. A portion of these papers should be mailed by our missionary societies and sent abroad; and in every church there should be an organized effort to sell the paper. In this way, if properly managed, the paper can be made to largely pay for itself, or at least to such an extent that it would not be so heavy a burden on the church. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.2
The whole plan of the paper — editing, make up, and general arrangement — should all be made with a view to this large circulation. We now give opportunity for the brethren present to express their minds on this question. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.3
Question. Will such a paper be illustrated? GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.4
Answer. I have not decided that in my own mind; that question could come in for consideration. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.5
Q. What is your suggestion with reference to the size of the smallest number in clubs? GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.6
A. One hundred. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.7
Q. Can it not be below that? GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.8
A. I do not know; I have thought of that; I do not wish to make the club so small that it would hurt the undertaking. You may not see the force of that now, but you may see it after awhile. If we make the clubs too small, we will defeat both publishers and patrons in carrying forward the enterprise. At first thought it looks like a tremendous task to get rid of one hundred papers, an insurmountable difficulty; but after you have studied the matter, you will find that the difficulty will be much smaller than it appears to you at the present time. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.9
Where the churches are too small to take a large club, could not the State Society take a large club and then remail them to the small societies, thus giving all the desired opportunity? GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.10
N. W. Allee of Minnesota, said: “I regard the circulation of the Signs of the times as a very important means of introducing the Message, and am much interested in it. I was glad to learn that there was no thought of reducing the size of it; but if it can be published at a lower price, many more copies could be used. Ours being one of the Western conferences, our churches with few exceptions are small and located in the country or in small villages. Clubs of less than one hundred would be more available to most of our churches and brethren. We have endeavored to encourage a revival of the spirit of missionary work by giving special instruction on the different lines, making the use of the Signs of the Times as a prominent feature. We believe it has a special mission in pioneer work. I would favor the insertion of some advertisements of useful articles and commodities as a means of support to publishing the paper. Minnesota will gladly aid in advancing this work.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.11
W. S. Hyatt of Missouri said: “I take a great interest in this periodical work. Our papers are filled with the truths for this present time, while books may lose the special burden of the Message as it advances so very rapidly. Our Conference has been doing something in this work, and we have had some success. I do think that if we could have the price reduced on the Signs, its circulation could be greatly increased. Many of our people we find are glad to engage in this kind of work. We find that it needs care in choosing canvassers for the papers, as all do not succeed. Hence we feel that the small societies need to have clubs of a size that they can take and use.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.12
C. L. Boyd heartily approved of the project, and agreed in general with the plans suggested. He spoke of the success which attended the work of circulating the Present Truth in South Africa by sales, and felt confident the work could successfully be done in America. He did not fully approve of the difference between prices suggested for large and small clubs and single subscribers. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.13
D. A. Robinson stated that the plan of selling papers in England had been adopted, not so much from choice, perhaps, as from necessity. Newspapers cannot be distributed through the mails in the United Kingdom as they are in the United States, because of the far greater postage charged. Publishers enjoy no favors. Each paper posted must be accompanied by a half-penny stamp, and there is no discount on quantities. Another reason why yearly subscriptions cannot be so readily obtained there as here, is that people do not choose to pay a year for that which they use only once a week. The people in other countries have not accustomed themselves to this manner of taking papers, and generally prefer to receive and pay for them as they are issued. GCB February 11, 1895, page 93.14
The speaker thought this mode of circulating periodicals would be adopted in this country with considerable success. GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.1
O. A. Johnson of Wisconsin said: “I am much interested in what has been said about circulating the Signs of the Times. While we have not yet tried to sell them, the matter has been under consideration by some who are confident that it can be done successfully. The point I wish to raise is the practicability of the State Societies becoming responsible for large numbers, thus obtaining the best terms possible, with the agreement that they be sent by the publishers in such quantities as are needed to the different local societies. Or, perhaps it would be practicable for the whole quantity to be sent to the State depository and from there distributed to the local societies.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.2
R. C. Porter of New England spoke as follows: “We have tried the plan of selling papers a little in the New England Conference, and it has worked well. I think a goodly number of papers can be disposed of in that way with proper effort on the part of our churches. I do not think it would be advisable to use material or do the work in a manner to give it a cheap appearance. This would spoil its usefulness in our field. I see no objection to advertisements which are carefully selected being allowed in the paper to help defray the expenses of publishing, so that it can be furnished at a lower rate to missionary workers. I do not favor a boom in this enterprise which would collapse in a short time. I am interested in the question of illustrating our pioneer papers, yet I consider it a difficult undertaking. I would much prefer not to have them illustrated than to see them illustrated with cheap, dauby cuts. Then there is another point which it is essential to consider with care, and that is the character of illustrations to be used. it would not do to use sensational pictures, as newspapers usually do. I am, however, in favor of the move to reduce the price and give the Signs of the Times the widest possible circulation.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.3
H. E. Robinson of the Atlantic Conference spoke thus on the plan of selling periodicals: I desire to supplement the suggestions made in several reports from the District superintendents regarding the periodical work, by a few facts concerning the practical working of the plan in the Atlantic Conference. Most of our population in that field is found in large cities. In these places there are three general classes in respect to finances; the very rich, who as a rule, will not buy books from canvassers; the very poor, who cannot purchase; and the middle class, who usually are the best customers, but during the past two years, have been out of employment to a great extent. Our agents have found it almost impossible to sell the large subscription books under these circumstances. We have, therefore, been led to try the sale of our papers each week, much in the same way that is followed in England with Present Truth. This work has been carried on for only a few weeks, but thus far it gives great satisfaction. Agents have secured from one hundred to three hundred subscriptions to be delivered each week, after only about one month’s labor. they are continually adding to their list, and in a short time each will have as many as he can supply. Already several cases of real interest are developed, and the agents delight to meet their readers. Thus there is a mutual pleasure in the acquaintance formed, and the truth is taught in the most favorable manner. Many can buy a paper each week who would not buy a large book. GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.4
“We are confident that the sale of periodicals will henceforth be one main line of carrying the truth in these large cities. Of course, it is not best for those who can leave home and sell large books successfully to drop that work to sell the papers, but many new laborers can be secured for this purpose. GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.5
“We think that those who devote all their time can sell enough papers to pay them fair wages, and those who can put in but a few hours can at least dispose of them without any loss to themselves. About 1000 copies of our various papers are now sold each week and the list is growing. if we had an illustrated paper many more could be used. All our people are invited to sell wherever they can, and no restriction is made about signing a contract, or making reports. In this department the way is made easy for all to take hold. GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.6
“Other literature is called for by readers who become interested in the paper. One agent has just sold $12 worth of books to a subscriber who read three or four numbers of the Review.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.7
C. McReynolds of Kansas said: “I am much interested in this question of the circulation of our periodicals and especially the Signs of the Times. but if we are to have club rates only when the clubs are one hundred or more, it will cut off a large number of our Western churches which are small and not financially able to take so large a club. We should have club rates apply to clubs as small as ten, to make it of general benefit to our small churches and isolated families. Another point is that if some arrangement cannot be made to send the club papers to State Tract Societies in advance, then the plan to have them take large clubs and distribute them in smaller numbers to local societies in impracticable because the people would receive the papers a week late. Hence I see no way in which this matter can be made practicable unless we make club rates apply to clubs as low as ten.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 94.8
W. B. White, of Nebraska spoke of the work there:— GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.1
“Some years ago a move was made in Nebraska for an extensive circulation of the Signs by short time subscriptions, and thousands of copies were placed before the people. Whether this was the best plan or not, might be questioned, but fruit appeared and many were brought to the truth by reading this paper. I have great confidence in the wide circulation of a missionary sheet and have felt sorry to see a decline in the number of Signs sent to our State. The reason of this is not a lack of interest among our people, but an inability on the part of many of our societies to take a club of papers at the present price. The most of our people are in small companies in rural districts, having no large cities near them, and I hardly know how they could use a club of one hundred copies, or pay for them if they could use them. Smaller clubs would have to be taken by many of our smaller societies, or they would probably prefer to carry forward the work by means of tracts, large numbers of which are already used by our societies and are being blessed of God. if the proposed sheet makes its appearance, our State will do what it can for its circulation.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.2
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THE hour from seven to eight was occupied by the delegate from Central America, F. J. Hutchins. The substance of his discourse is here given:— GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.3
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37, 38. In view of the fact that the harvest truly is plenteous and the laborers are few we are considering the Central American field to-night. I wish to make a comparison of that field with other fields, so that you can see what there is to be done. The State of California contains 1,208,130 inhabitants; Michigan 2,093,888; Central America as a whole contains 3,133,197. Now if you compare these fields, you will see something of the extent of the work yet to be done. The field is large and more than that, it is a difficult one to work. One great reason of the difficulty in working that field is that there is a mixture of languages to start with, and the people are not an educated people. We have to begin at the very bottom, teach them the first principles of morality, and sometimes teach them the first principles of reading and spelling, that they may read the Word of God and be benefited thereby. GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.4
The people are not all colored, but taking the Central American field as a whole, I presume the large majority are colored people. But that is no detriment to the field. For Christ died for all. And he has died for those people down there as well as for those here to-night. Some have asked me, “Isn’t it dreadfully warm down there?” The highest that the thermometer generally registers is 98 and the lowest 58 degrees. It ranges between 80, 85, and 90 the year around. Except a few weeks, which is called the winter season, but so far as that is concerned, one season is about as warm as another. GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.5
The people are far behind in advancement, and are in a measure what we would call uncivilized. There is one place that we visited, the city of Belize, where there seems to be more advancement in methods of living. Belize is in British Honduras. Education is far behind; there are many who cannot read at all, and there are thousands of people in Central America who have no written language at all. GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.6
The climate being so even, they do not need to labor there as they do here to get wood to keep them warm, because they do not need that. They do not have to labor much to get food. their principal diet grows right around them in their plantations, or what they call plantations. Perhaps if you were to see them, you would think it was a wilderness so far as the work of cultivation is concerned. Some have their trees planted in straight lines, and have some idea of cultivation. The principal tool used in their cultivation is a large knife which they call a machete. With this they plow, spade, hoe, cultivate, and chop their fire wood. And nearly everything is done with that one instrument. When they go out to plant corn, they make a hole with this knife, drop in their corn, and brush a little dirt over it. GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.7
The climate being moderate, they are a great people to put things off until to-morrow. there is a great deal of that spirit, and when we first reached there, we could not help noticing how much it seemed to prevail. but for all that, these people have minds that can be touched by the Spirit of God. That is what we are thankful for, and when this gets hold of them they are not as much “Manana” (to-morrow) people as they were before. they get around to-day instead of to-morrow. GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.8
The principal language is Spanish, but many of them speak English quite fluently. The whole of the Central American field is open for work, and in view of that there is need of considering the text that I took: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 95.9
The Bay Islands and the city of Belize are the only places as yet in this field where the truth has entered to make any impression. In this portion of the field, several years ago there was a sister who is now dead, whose people lived in the island of Ruatan. She received the truth in America and went back among her relatives and friends and distributed a great number of books and tracts, especially “Great Controversy between Christ and Satan” and some other of our denominational works. There were a great many in the island interested as a result of her labors. Here is an example of those who do faithful work for Christ, and after their death “their works do follow them.” There are a number who have taken hold of the truth who were prepared to receive it by her faithful work. GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.1
We reached the Bay Islands in the last month of 1891. For the first three months it seemed there was no opening at all. There was, however, one young man took hold of the truth as a result of our labors there. There were several others took hold of the truth, but this young man in particular I wish to speak of. He was formerly a preacher and took hold very cautiously, fearing that he would find something that would discourage him and turn him back. He is now firmly established in the truth. He has circulated hundreds of dollars’ worth of books since that time, and we feel in view of that, that three month’s labor was not all lost. GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.2
At the end of this time, we did not know what to do, but the way opened as a steamer arrived, and the American consul, in whose house we were living, invited us to go to Bonacca the next day on her. We concluded to go. We were treated cordially and found a good class of people. They found out that I was a minister and wanted me to preach that evening. I consented, and we had a very good meeting. the little house was well filled Friday evening we expected to return to Ruatan, so we took as our subject for that meeting, Romans 2:6, and brought in the ten commandments as the will of God, and showed that the Sabbath as given in the fourth commandment was also a part of his will. After the meeting was over, we asked them how many could see and fully believed that the ten commandments really were the will of God and the Sabbath really meant the seventh day, as the commandment said. there were twenty-one that arose to their feet. It was six weeks before we returned; but some of those who had heard the truth had taken their stand for it, and on our return fifteen signed the covenant, and we organized a church of thirteen. And every quarterly meeting since that time there has been a baptism of from one to three, and now there is a church of thirty members. GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.3
We had held our meetings in an old house that was used by the people for any minster or missionary that might visit them. At the same time a new church was being constructed, and as our people had put in quite a large amount of money into this, we decided to buy the church ourselves and have it a Seventh-day Adventist church. So we called a meeting of those who had put money into the church, and laid the plan before them. We said we would either buy or sell, and they decided they would sell. So inside of two hours’ time the house was ours, and we had them all paid off, and it cost only about seventy-five dollars in gold. Now there is another thing I want to mention: after meetings close in that little church, there is a different appearance than there is in many churches. After the benediction, they sit down quietly and sit there for half a minute, and then arise and pass out, and the effect is marvelous. GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.4
The work is going forward. In Bonacca there is in process of erection another church building which when we return we expect to dedicate. The other house was dedicated free from debt two years ago, and they had $5 over, the house costing them $936. At the present time we have in the islands, General Conference property amounting to $1788.60; besides that, there have been books sold in that field amounting to $2,145.54. Brethren and sisters, why not do more to circulate these precious pages? Why should not we, as ministers of the gospel, carry with us a supply of books, and circulate them among the people? Could we not by this means be doing a greater work than we are to-day? It may be interesting to you to know the amount of books that have been sold during the past three years in these islands. During the year 1892, $826.26; 1893, $747.92; in 1894, $544.56 at list prices. there is a text in John 4:35 which explains the situation of this field “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” When we lift up our eyes and look upon this field, it almost overcomes us with the fact that the work can never be done. Yet I was much encouraged the other day in a remark that Elder Olsen made about this great foundation that is being laid, and when the foundation is laid, the Lord then will erect the building in haste and the work will triumph gloriously. GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.5
One great obstacle in the way of pushing the work in that field is the lack of a proper mode of traveling, as we are dependent upon boat traveling entirely. There are no wagon roads, and but very few paths where we can go on horse-back, so we are dependent on boats. We need a missionary boat of from thirty to forty tons that could be used in the distribution of books and tracts, and also to convey the missionaries from place to place as they wish to go. We have wasted two weeks at one time, a few days at another, and a week or two at another, waiting for a boat to sail, expecting it to go every day. This is one reason why the work has gone so slowly, because we have been compelled to go from place to place as best we could. This field is greatly in need of laborers; and where are those who will consecrate themselves to the work there? GCB February 11, 1895, page 96.6