Western Canada by W. W. Eastman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

Western Canada

By W. W. Eastman

It was my privilege to attend the recent camp meetings in the Western Canadian Union, beginning with the Manitoba meeting at Minnedosa, June 15-25, and ending with the Nanaimo meeting for British Columbia, July 24-30. These meetings have been reported in detail by others, therefore it is not my purpose in this article to speak of each local meeting, but rather of the field as a whole. I think I have never enjoyed a series of camp meetings more than I did these.

The field is an interesting and fruitful one, and gives promise of a strong union conference in the not far distant future.

The country is comparatively new, and the population is made up largely of immigrants. Large numbers of people have come from the various countries of Europe to find homes for themselves, and have been joined later by their neighbors and friends, thus forming colonies of various nationalities, such as Germans, Russians, Bohemians, Serbians, Roumanians, Ruthenians, Swedes, Danes, Syrians, Italians, and French. Then there are reserves, where are to be found various tribes of the North American Indians in considerable numbers; not in their savage state, but civilized, living on farms and ranches, and making a living for themselves like other civilized people.

Among all these nationalities there are some who are waiting for the message of the third angel. This is evidenced by the fact that there were representatives from most, if not all, of them in attendance at some of these camp meetings.

At Saskatoon there were believers present in sufficient numbers to justify the brethren in providing for regular meetings to be held in the Serbian, Roumanian, Bohemian, German, and Swedish languages, besides in the English. It was indeed inspiring to hear the third angel's message being preached to so many nationalities within a radius of a few yards at the same time. It was my privilege to speak to a number of these through an interpreter, and it was plain that they have the same keen appreciation of the present truth as have our English brethren and sisters. It increases one's confidence in the final triumph of the advent movement in gathering out a people from all nations, to see how these brethren and sisters appreciate the message and how eager they are to carry it to their own nationalities.

A very encouraging feature of this interesting field is that the larger part of the population live on farms rather than in cities, and the major portion of them are on their own homesteads. Comparatively few are renters. True, towns and cities are springing up rapidly, but as yet they are small compared to the congested centers in older and more densely populated countries. The land is new and generally productive, and with the present high prices of all farm products, the farmers are experiencing marked prosperity.

This enables our brethren to pay a good tithe and make liberal offerings to the cause, which in turn brings prosperity to the conferences. Among those who have moved to Western Canada are a good many of our brethren from the States. Not only have these been a help and stay to the work, but in many instances they have formed a kind of nucleus around which have grown up churches and companies of believers.

The field is ideal for the sale of our literature. Many young people from our schools find it comparatively easy to earn a scholarship through the sale of

our large subscription books, and in this way not only pay their way through school, but at the same time place the truth in the homes of the people. In many instances these books have already borne fruit in believers who have been added to the churches and have become a strength and support to the cause. In some instances they have become active workers, and are reaching others with the message.

There is a great need of literature in some of these foreign languages in which, up to the present time, but little has been provided. Only a few months ago our brethren of the Alberta Conference got in touch with a missionary to the Indians away up in the north country. This man had learned of the message through our literature. The president of the conference and another worker visited him, and found him quite ready to accept all the light of present truth. He was at the Alberta meeting, full of earnestness and enthusiasm for the message, and returned home with a good supply of our literature, determined to give the message to the Indians. He made a plea for some kind of literature in the Indian language that would aid him in reaching that people for whom he has labored in his former connection, and whom he has learned to love. Thus the message of the third angel is moving on to the various nationalities of earth, and soon, perhaps sooner than most of us realize, God's saints will have been gathered out, and the word will go forth from the heavenly sanctuary, “It is finished.”

It was very refreshing to note the spirit of harmony and unity that prevailed in all these meetings. In most of the conferences excellent camp meeting equipment had been provided. There were good facilities for dining, where the campers could secure good, wholesome food on the cafeteria plan at very reasonable rates.

At Lacombe an excellent academy has been in operation for a number of years. A ten-grade school building is now being constructed at Battleford in the Saskatchewan Conference, and will be ready for occupancy at the opening of school this fall. The brethren have been able to establish these institutions on the cash basis, so that neither the local nor Union Conference is harrowed with the nightmare of debt, and consequently can give their time and energies to the extension of the message. A most excellent class of young people from the various conferences are attending these schools, and give promise of becoming successful workers in the cause.

Elder C. F. McVagh, who has recently been called to the presidency of the Union to take the place of Elder H. S. Shaw, who has faithfully served in that capacity since the Union was organized, but found it necessary to retire for a time to recruit his health, has been cordially received by the brethren, and we foresee a bright future for the work in Western Canada. W. W. EASTMAN.