Western Washington by DANIEL NETTLETON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

Western Washington

By DANIEL NETTLETON

SABBATH, May 9, was a good day for our church and Sabbath school at Port Townsend. This beautiful day not only brought gladness by its sunshine, flowers, and balmy breeze, but we could all sing,—

“There’s sunshine in my soul today, More glorious and bright Than glows in any earthly sky, For Jesus is my light.”

Three members of our Sabbath school and young people’s society yielded themselves fully to God, and on this Sabbath were buried in the waters of a holy baptism, and thus became members of the church of God. Two of these young people are members of the training class at the sanitarium, and expect to receive their diplomas this coming autumn. They are good, strong young women, who thus far have done good work at the sanitarium, and we hope they may have some place as medical missionaries in the home or foreign mission fields. The one young man baptized will finish his high school course this spring. He is working at the sanitarium when not busy with his school work, and plans to attend Walla Walla College this next year and fit himself for a place in the work of God.

O, how good it is to see our dear young people leave the sin and folly of the world and unite with the remnant people of God, to be blessed and be made a blessing to the cause and work of God! There is joy among the angels of God in heaven, and joy among the people of God here on earth. Well may we sing,—

“O glad, howsoever the deed is done, My sins are pardoned through Christ the Son; O love so precious I never had dreamed; O sweet is the peace of the soul redeemed!”

I believe the conversion of these young people, like the conversion of many others,

is the result of prayer and of proper home influence in Christian living and teaching. These souls were not won by a spasmodic effort, not by some great excitement and pressure brought to bear on them to carry them along into the fold of God, but they took the step deliberately, without any special persuading or urging. The influence of our Sabbath school and young people’s society and the ministry of God’s Word in our Sabbath services and prayer meetings are agencies the Holy Spirit uses in bringing our children and youth into the fold of Christ.

These make sixteen I have baptized since I came to Port Townsend as pastor and Bible teacher in the sanitarium. Two others were baptized by another elder, making eighteen in all. Others have joined by letter or on profession of faith. Only a few of these are with us now. They were nearly all helpers or patients in the sanitarium, and went to other places, we trust, to be witnesses of the present truth. We know of several others who heard and received the message here, who are keeping the Sabbath and letting the light shine where they now live. We thank God and press on with new courage.

Much land ahead to be possessed, I’m going on, I’m going on; And all is mine my feet have pressed, I’m going on, I’m going on.

DANIEL NETTLETON.