Two Years’ Work in South Africa by G. H. Clark

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1911

Two Years’ Work in South Africa

By G. H. Clark

“THANKS be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Eternity alone will reveal all that the two years, ending Aug. 31, 1911, have meant to this field. God has wrought wonderfully for and with his people in every way, especially in the circulation of our books and periodicals.

At the beginning of this period the Natal-Transvaal Conference established a city mission in Johannesburg, our largest city; and from this center about fifty thousand magazines and papers, (valued at $4,700) and three thousand books (valued at $3,800) have gone out to lighten the spiritual darkness, and to bring souls to Christ. The American Life and Health, Watchman, Bible Training School, and Christian Education; the English Good Health, and Present Truth; and the South African Sentinel, De Wachter (Dutch paper), and Signs of the Times,—the latter less than two years old, but very popular,—are the chief periodicals handled by the workers. “Story of Daniel,” “Seer of Patmos,” and a few other books have been used.

Johannesburg is the largest gold-field in the world. Its monthly output amounts to $10,000,000. People flock here from all countries of the world, many remaining but a short time. In this way the literature that is sold is carried to all quarters of the earth. Many of the miners are here without their families, or friends; and after reading the books and magazines, they send them home, and again the light shines upon the pathway of judgment-bound souls. The results of the work done at this place are very far-reaching.

Every city, and almost every large town and village, has been or is being worked with our books and magazines. “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” “Great Controversy,” and “Patriarchs and Prophets” are the large books that have been used, and most of the orders have been for the morocco binding.

One of our regular canvassers has reported ninety-four weeks’ work in the field, seven weeks’ in camp-meetings and institutes, leaving only three weeks in two years out of his regular work. The highest record of orders for any person for one day has been $120; for one week, $405; and for one month, $771. One canvasser has secured $3,780 worth of orders; another, $2,514 worth, of which $2,328 worth, or 93 per cent, was delivered.

The total value of orders for books in this field for the two years, so far as reported, is $44,000. The total value of sales of periodicals has been $6,000, making a grand total of $51,000; and when we take into account that the total white population, with whom we work mostly, is only one and one-half millions, and that this population is scattered in a country a thousand miles long and eight hundred miles wide, we can truly say, “What hath God wrought!” Indeed it is the Lord’s doing, and marvelous in our eyes. To no man can we ascribe praise for all this, but we may be permitted to state that much of our success has been due to the loyal support of the union and local conference officers, especially the presidents.

The canvassers, as a rule, have been true, self-sacrificing, and hard-working men and women. Several persons have been brought into the truth by their direct efforts, while others have come in through reading our literature, and many more are interested who we hope will yet accept the light.

Several times we have spent a day in fasting and prayer for God’s blessing to rest upon our work, especially upon the deliveries, and marked answers have been given. We are truly grateful to the Giver of all past success and victory, and we turn with courage and confidence to the call to scatter the printed page like the leaves of autumn.

G. H. CLARK.