Progress in South Africa by W. B. WHITE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

Progress in South Africa

By W. B. WHITE

W. B. WHITE

THE work in this field is onward, and we have many reasons for praise and thankfulness to God. We have now about 5,600 yearly subscriptions to the Sentinel and De Wachter, and are printing each month about 25,000 copies of these papers. They are making a deep impression on many minds which seem to be opening to the truth. Some who have been reading are beginning to obey, and in different parts of the country Sabbath keepers are springing up as the result of reading. This is very encouraging to us, and we are more determined than ever before to push forward our home missionary work.

Brother G. H. Clark, formerly our field missionary agent, is now giving his whole time to the circulation of our papers, tracts, and small books, and we look for large results the coming year from this work.

Brother George C. Jenks and family, of Arkansas, have reached us, and he is taking right hold of the work of training agents for our subscription book business. His coming to this field was very timely, and we are certain it will greatly stimulate the sale of our publications.

Elder George McNay, who has recently reached us from the Iowa Conference, is already hard at work in the city of Durban, and we are sure that he will be successful in gathering sheaves for the Master.

We wish to thank the Iowa and Arkansas Conferences for sending us this splendid help in our time of need, and also desire to express our appreciation to the Pacific Union for the helpful and hard-working band of young people it has recently sent to Africa. They have all found their places, and are rendering excellent service.

Elder M. C. Sturdevant, who recently was obliged to relinquish mission work on account of failing health, located in the city of Johannesburg, where he began labor among both whites and natives. Already six Europeans have begun to keep the Sabbath, and many others are interested. Plans are now being laid to build a church in this city, which is much needed, for at the present time there is no appropriate place in which to hold services for those not of our faith.

We are now appealing to the General Conference to send us a good minister for work among the Europeans in the Cape Conference, one who can work in the cities and towns. Many ears are open to hear the truth, and we believe now is the time to carry it to them. Brother Barend de Beer is laboring among the Dutch in the Cape Conference, and recently twelve or fourteen have begun to keep the Sabbath in the vicinity of Oudtshoorn. For all these that are coming to the truth we thank and praise God; but our hearts long to see a greater ingathering to the fold.

In our native work also we have much to encourage us. Among the Kafirs the work is going as never before, and continually some are receiving the truth. Brother A. P. Tarr, who recently has been acting as superintendent of the Tsungwesi Mission, and who has a thorough knowledge of the Xosa, is moving his family to the heart of Kafirland, where he will engage in evangelistic work as the way may open. Other workers will soon follow, and we trust that erelong a great light may be kindled among this powerful tribe.

During the past week an influential chief by the name of Khama has sent word to us desiring to see our representative men, as he wishes us to come and establish work on land that he may grant to us. We feel that the Lord may be opening a door for us here, and we shall enter in and see what he has for us.

We are glad to say also that our native work in Basutoland and the Orange Free State has reached a place where a superintendent is needed to look after its interests. The union conference has recently appointed Brother J. R. Campbell to this position, and he will enter at once upon his duties. The Lord has recently given us a Dutch minister, who has command of the Basuto language. He has been keeping the Sabbath for two years, and will now begin labor among the Basutos, to whom he is greatly attached.

We are planning to extend our work farther northwest in Rhodesia, toward the Kongo border, by planting out schools and by establishing a small station in that region.

The recent visit of Brother Spicer to our field has given a new inspiration to our work, and has been highly appreciated by us all. We in Africa feel that God is assisting us in the work, and we desire to be faithful until it is finished.