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HOME DEFENSE SONG 789

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BrtVttA Official Photograph. © Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. FRENCH REFUGEES, ON THE ROAD TO SOMEWHERE Forced to seek shelter behind the British lines when the first attack of the German drive was launched. Many less fortunate were compelled to leave all their possessions behind, driven from home by war. At times one sees wagons on the roads, piled high with movable effects. The men— always old or crippled or too young— are silent and morose. The women do not weep, but sit high throned among their pathetic goods, holding babies in their patient arms, and stare forward toward a future that must seem compact of misery.

The Sick are Healed —Vital Differences By Joseph A. West

In Los Angeles, recently, I had the pleasure of being associated with the elders of that Conference for a little season. I met with some peculiarly interesting experiences, one of which I will relate to the readers of the Era: On one occasion I was trying again to interest a certain good lady, who had previously been a member of our Church, but who had later become a member of the Seventh-day Adventists, in the principles of the gospel; but she resisted my efforts with the statements that her church taught the same things that ours did, and in addition was the only one that "observed the Sabbath day to keep it holy," for all others worshiped on the first instead of the last day of the week. "Besides," said she, "the signs actually follow the believers in our church as in the days of the apostles, especially in the matter of the sick being healed, through the anointing with oil and the prayer of faith." As evi- dence of this, I was invited to attend the services of a Dr. Yoakum where she said veritable pentecostal times were enjoyed every Sunday afternoon. The meetings referred to were held in what was known as the Tabernacle, a large frame building with a saw-dust floor and backless seats. But notwithstanding these unusual conditions, quite a large congregation was assembled. The doctor seemed to be a very plain man, far from eloquent, though very earnest in his work, and his audience was exceedingly responsive to every word he said. After prayer, a song service of considerable length was held which gradually grew in religious fervor until the psychological moment for testimony arrived, when the doctor asked those who had been healed to stand up and boldly testify of the same. The opportunity thus given was seized upon with great alacrity, and for an hour or more varied testimonies of miraculous healings were given, amidst such outbursts of religious enthusiasm as I had never before witnessed. As proof of these healings having actually taken place, great numbers of discarded crutches and invalid chairs were pointed to in different parts of the hall. Even the drunkard had been cured of his evil habits, and the smoker of his tobacco, as was also shown by the many pipes that were suspended above the rostrum. In connection with these testimonies, one man related the

THE SICK ARE HEALED—VITAL DIFFERENCES 791

incidents of his early conversion to Christianity. He was convulsed with laughter during his talk, as were also many of the congregation; although there was nothing connected with what he said that was laughable, except his own ludicrous manner. When I asked why such a scene was permitted in a religious gathering on the Sabbath day, I was told that this was one of the Usual manifestations of the Holy Ghost. We are told in the Scriptures, however, that "much laughter is displeasing in the sight of the Lord." After enough had been said which was intended to convince those present that there must be some miraculous power back of the doctor and his associates, all who wished to be healed were asked to come forward and kneel upon a rude bench encircling the stand. One of the attendants now took a bottle of oil and with the cork made a cross in the forehead of all thus assembled, while the doctor and his disciples placed their hands upon them and engaged in silent prayer. Upon asking the lady who accompanied me how her church could take credit for what Dr. Yoakum was doing, when he was not a member of it, she replied that his work was conducted in the interest of all the churches, and that it was therefore supported and encouraged by them. His congregation was made up of people of many creeds and though having no especial church affiliations he gathered people from the pitfalls of vice in that great city, this being one of his activities, and allows them to join any church for which they might have preference. In taking up the collection, the doctor stated that in addition to what we had witnessed, he was serving 950 meals that day to the poor, for many of whom he was also furnishing clothing and homes. Near by, we saw his once rather pretentious mansion that he had voluntarily given as a place of refuge for the destitute and sin-stained souls of that city. He claimed to be following in the footsteps of the Savior, not only in preaching the gospel to the poor, but in actually healing their moral and physical infirmities; and in addition, administering to their temporal wants. That he is doing a great charitable and philanthropic work none can deny; and so far as I could see, he is taking no particular honor to himself, but is giving God the glory.

Claiming, as we do, to be the only true Church of Christ, endowed with divine authority, may we not with propriety refer, in this connection, to Luke 9:49, 50, which reads as follows: "And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not; for he that is not against us is for us."